Blog – sheriyates.com
August 6, 2018 August 6, 2018 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
July 21, 2018 July 21, 2018 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
What happens when you’re praying for a miracle, and you don’t get it?
June 6, 2018 May 30, 2018 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
There is not a day that there are not many prayer needs.
Did you know that the medical field is now the #1 business in our nation? People are sicker today than ever historically. We have huge opportunity to pray for the sick, but why are so many are too shy or scared to pray? Is it because:
You don’t know how to pray for the sick?
You think “What if they die?”
You have prayed before, and it didn’t work?
You are heartsick because you have lost someone you loved and needed?
First of all, I am so sorry if your heart is hurting because the people you loved are no longer here with you. I have experienced this pain.
In 2003, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. That was when I realized when I personally did not know God’s will. I did not know if it was his will to heal my mom or if it was her time to go. I sought God and his will like never did before. I read my bible round the clock, at the stop sign, waiting in parking lots. Every spare minute, my nose was in the word.
It was during that time that the Lord opened my eyes to John 10:10. It changed the entire direction of my life. “The thief came only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give life and life abundantly.” You see, up to that point, I thought sickness and disease were just a part of life. I didn’t realize that that was a thief. But Jesus came that we could have life and life abundantly. Cancer is not abundant life. Sickness—if you talk to any sick person—you will find out that it is not abundant life. I realized at that time that I didn’t know the difference between God’s fingerprints and the thief’s. Because of that, I wasn’t able to resist the thief’s fingerprints. I was fearful of sickness because I didn’t understand God’s purpose for me was to have an abundant life.
Still knowing this truth, I prayed for my mom night and day, but on February 6, 2006, I lost my mom. I was heartbroken. Did God not come through for my mom and me? Do I quit praying for others? How do I continue when the miracle didn’t come?
Most of us try to understand what happened? We come up with our own understanding and then with the best intentions share it with those who have lost have a deep loss, like it is somehow going to make it all better:
“God just said, ‘No.’”
“In time, everything will be okay.”
None of this is helpful to a hurting soul.
But if this does not help, how then are we to respond?
Just do not try to make sense of it. We are not supposed to understand (Proverbs 3:5-6), but we are supposed to pray about everything so we can have the peace that is BETTER than understanding (Phil. 4:6-7). When we try to explain it, we put limits on God.
Stop trying to understand. Stop trying to explain why. You do not know or understand. In fact, Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to not even lean on your own understanding. There is something better than understanding, and you can find it in Philippians 4:6-7. It’s the peace of God that guards your heart and your mind!
After we don’t see the miracle, many of us back off from praying because we feel inept. We wonder: “Does healing really work?” “Am I qualified to pray?” “Maybe I don’t have this gift.” When mom wasn’t healed, I felt unsure, and my questions caused me to stop praying for miracles for almost four months. It rocked my foundation because I was carrying the weight of the outcome. The burden was never mine to bear, but I did! Never allow your circumstances and own understanding to cause you to make up our own doctrine. The thief wants us to stop to shrink back, but all of God’s people should say, NO WAY – not today!
So what happens when you’re praying for a miracle, and you don’t get it?
Let’s say your father asks you to go fishing with him. Some of you are already cringing, but fishing isn’t about how many fish you catch, it’s about spending time with your dad. It’s like Father God has asked you to go on a mission trip with Him, and it’s not about how many souls you save or miracles you witness, it’s about doing it together.
Are you ready to join Him because He’s asked?
We are supposed to share the good news gospel. Does this mean that every time we do, but people aren’t saved that we just quit? By no means! We are also supposed to place their hands on sick people. It doesn’t say, “You make them well.” The weight of the outcome was never meant to be on your shoulders.
Believing isn’t seeing—it’s continuing to believe even when we do not see.
Since the loss of my mom, I began to pray for everyone, everywhere in every way, believing and knowing that God is for us. He is not against us. He is for us, not against us. He came to bring life and life abundantly. I was convicted that instead of praying, “Lord, if you will,” “If you are willing,” or “If it agrees with your will,” I knew God’s will at that time. I knew for sure that it was God’s will to bring abundant life. I begin to pray with that expectation. I know the Lord is bringing abundant life.
I prayed with someone who had a broken toe and it was healed immediately. I got to witness it. I prayed with someone that had one leg shorter than the other and their leg is perfectly healed and whole now. I’ve seen the power of God bringing abundant life, bringing healing. But I have also not seen it. I came upon an accident where a pedestrian had been hit in the street. I pulled over, jumped out of my car, ran up to her, laid hands over her, and prayed over her. She didn’t get up. Nothing changed. I heard from the news that she lived a day and a half. I don’t know how my prayer impacted her or anyone on the scene or if it did at all.
But faith isn’t seeing. Faith is not knowing. Faith believes even when you do not see. Faith is following God and doing his will even when you do not see the results and believing the results are happening somewhere regardless of what happens. Some miracles I’ve seen immediately, and other miracles I’ve seen nothing happen. When I prayed over someone’s eyes recently, nothing changed. They were still blurry; the symptoms were still fully present. But if I say, “Well, it didn’t work. It must not be God’s will,” if I lose heart and give up hope and give up faith just because nothing happened, it would be going in complete opposition of what I know God’s will is which is to give life and life abundantly.
So I press forward, running towards the goal, continuing to pray and believe in every single thing that I pray about because I know the Lord. He is good. I know he is a good father. He desires healing and miracles to happen. When the miraculous occurs, a crowd gathers because they want to know, they want to have a part of the power. So you prayed, but didn’t get the miracle right away; don’t stop, just believe. Never stop believing in a God who sent his son to die so you could have abundant life.
March 27, 2018 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
December 4, 2017 October 22, 2017 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
Revive Your Dreams: What is your comfort zone?
November 27, 2017 October 22, 2017 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
Do you long to discover God’s miraculous power through your life? Jesus’s disciple Peter certainly experienced His crazy magnificent power! You can read about his amazing experience in Matthew 14. The disciples were on the boat when a storm came. The boat was taking a beating. The disciples were afraid.
Jesus came walking out to them on the water. Peter was the only one on the boat who asked Jesus if he could walk on the water. The other disciples probably presumed Peter was crazy! Their minds might have worried about what would happen to Peter when he stepped out of the boat. Will he sink? Will the waves take him under? Peter wasn’t considering any of those things. He was ready to walk on water! “Come,” Jesus declared. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus (Matthew 14:29).
All the other disciples were fearfully clinging to a sinking ship. Being in the ship was probably their comfort zone. Although their ship was basically drowning, they decided to embrace what they knew. They held onto the familiar when it clearly led to destruction. Their tightly clutched grip on the sinking boat caused them to miss out on the impressive miracle Peter experienced. Their rut kept them from experiencing a life-altering miracle!
How about you? What is your comfort zone?
Jesus tells us again and again not to be afraid. It’s time to dig deep and define what limits are holding you back from God’s dreams. You can’t move out of your comfort zone if you haven’t identified it.
Now, don’t misunderstand what I am saying. God can still work in your life. He will meet you where you are. But wouldn’t you rather step out in faith and do what He wants you to do? Stop focusing on what could fail and imagine what could succeed! Focus on Philippians 4:13, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Nothing can stand in your way because God is for you!
Get outside your comfort zone because God is worthy of you taking a risk! God is worth it! He is worthy of all you have. He is worthy of the hard labor. Remembering this will keep you motivated.
Your view of God will be strengthened as you step outside your comfort zone to live by truth and faith!
November 13, 2017 November 5, 2017 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
Revive your dreams: What is keeping you from being a dream lifter?
November 6, 2017 November 5, 2017 Sheri YatesLeave a comment	
We consistently note that young children are dreamers! Young adults are quieter and more reserved. They are hesitant to share and seem shy or embarrassed to announce their dreams openly. Adults are a mixed bag. Sometimes, we get the ones who don’t dream at all for themselves, and other times we meet those who are still dreaming machines.
What has to occur to turn the free, young-spirited dreamer into the reserved teen / young adult, and finally the pessimistic adult? What point in our lives are our dreams suppressed? I am going to draw from the Bible to suggest three life events that often suppress our ability to dream: fear, previous failures, and loss or devastation.
Fear – Fear will always keep you from walking in total freedom. Harboring fear will cause you to trust in things and circumstances, rather than God.
Failure – Failure is a dream killer. Feelings of failure will prevent you from ever trying anything new.
Loss/Devastation – Devastating circumstances limit your ability to observe with faith and dream God’s dreams! Loss and devastation can prevent progress. Living in the past, prevents us from being aware of God’s work today.
If it’s not a past full of fear, failure, or loss that is keeping you from being a dream lifter, it could be a pessimistic pattern that prevents you from opening your life to God’s dreams for you. Sometimes we get stuck in a negative mind-set because of our own internal assessment, and other times, we are influenced by the opinions of others.
The root of a negative mind-set about your dreams is usually the desire to please other people. Man’s opinion is often more valued than God’s. When we reason our own way out of doing something that God has told us to do, we value our own discernment more than we trust God’s commands.
But if we replace negative thoughts with God’s truth, we can become filled with His dreams for us. When we partner with Him, He can achieve more than we could ever imagine. Trust that God’s wisdom is higher than your own. It’s not too late. Keep pressing through the pages. Let God stir you and help you realize you are worthy to do what He’s called you to! Release past failures, fears, and despair. Give it all to God. Today. Listen to God, and you can become a dream lifter!