Seven out of ten...  Yep, seven out of ten.  That's the number of ways the enemy digs his claws into me, shoots his arrows straight to the place I am not covered over; seven out of ten ways he gets to me.  It's a little scary how well the enemy crafts his own strategic plan to get between me and God, me and others and me and the rest of the world.

In Fervent by Priscilla Shirer, she sheds light on the enemy's dark and sinister plan.  She exposes the enemy's plot and teaches how to craft a personal battle plan through fervent, specific - targeted prayer.

Not only does Priscilla expose the enemy for who he is and what he does, she points directly to scripture for the truth... Of who we are, how God loves and sees us... She gets down to business.

Fervent helps me take back my life - through prayer... Strategic - targeted prayer!

In this eye opening book I see how the enemy gets into aspects of my life and creates havoc...  The enemy comes to kill and destroy - and against me he aims his arrow:

 - Against my focus
 - Against my identity
 - Against my confidence
 - Against my calling
 - Against my rest and contentment
 - Against my heart
 - Against my relationships

Those are my seven...  But God...  To quote one of my favorite phrases in her book; We have hope and reassurance... Reassurance that always points directly to God.

In one of my many favorite parts of the book Priscilla reminds us "that the enemy has boundaries and limitations" -  did you read that?  The enemy has boundaries (he can only go so far) and he has limitations (he is limited, unlike God).  I needed to read her words...

   "The enemy cannot be everywhere at once (only God is omnipresent)
        The enemy cannot read your mind, (only God is omniscient)
     He is an illusionist, using cunning trickery to deceive and mislead
        (only God can work flat-out, unmistakable miracles)
     And last but not least the enemy is running out of time (only God is eternal)"

All of that reassures me and I am so thankful for her words! I know these things, I do, but sometimes when I am in the "thick" of life's deepest muck I need to remember that my God is bigger.  He has no equal or opposite.  There is no better time to remember this than during my prayer time - Praise God!

Prayer is so much more than saying Grace before a meal or praying your kids to sleep with request of sweet dreams. It's our direct communication line to God. It's our specific and focused conversations with the Almighty for our needs, our families (husbands and children), our hearts, our fears... Praying on the full armor of faith found in Ephesians.

So regardless of where you are with your prayer life; at the very beginning, where you never pray out loud or a seasoned prayer warrior - this book will expose the ways the enemy targets you.  It will help draw you closer with God and craft your own strategic battle plan...

Now, pick up a copy and head to your WarRoom!

Fervent is available from BHPublishing Group, Amazon or may be found in your favorite bookstore.

 ~~~ I received this book from the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review if this book as part of receiving it. ~~~

That is what I am thankful for this year, things unseen. 

Several years ago I was listening to a radio station, it was the new year of whatever year it was... The beginning of January, the station challenged their listeners to come up with a word for the year to focus on, maybe something needing attention in life... something that keeps coming up... after weeks of thinking about it, praying about it - my word became real. 

Real relationships, real people, real tangible outreach...  Real me.  Transformative and yet so simple.  I have tried other words in the years proceeding but none have stuck like real and sometimes I go back to real when I feel myself saying "yes" to things not needing a yes, when I allow myself to get sucked into a situation which doesn't require me... when I have slid away from real in an attempt to fit into someone else's mold of real. 

I am "real"ly me.  I cannot be undone or changed by someone else's version of me... I want and desire real relationships and I want real tangible outreach - I still don't fit into a box but all of that might be for another blog... 

This time is meant for Thanksgiving... real Thanks... 

Thanksgiving is defined as the act of giving thanks, a prayer expressing gratitude, a public celebration of divine goodness.  My personal favorite definition, An act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God.  

Expressing gratitude, especially to God.

Eucharisteo, of Greek origin, meaning to be grateful, feel thankful and to give thanks.

The first time I heard this word was at a Women of Faith Conference, Ann Voskamp was speaking and I was riveted.  Her story was real and I sat on the edge of my seat.  Eucharisteo, thankful in all things, for all things... grateful in all things and for all things.  Joyfully thankful and grateful.  These words, now hang in red in my kitchen. 

Thankful, grateful and joyful in all seasons at all times, giving thanks... even when it's hard to do.  I can think of a few times since that conference when giving thanks didn't make sense... like my husbands sudden job loss, my broken ankle and subsequent surgery, the loss of a friend...  finding joy in those moments for more time at home and organization, the joy in someone sending an unexpected way to pay for groceries, learning how to trust our community of "real" people or celebrating the life of someone so beautiful who touched so many... 

This week, this day,  I am thankful for the things unseen.  For walks and talks with my children.  For being privileged to be their mommy and hold their hands while they make me laugh and cry. 

Thankful for relationships which surpass understanding, those relationships which remain solid when the rest of the world passes judgement and says it's time to throw in the towel... thankful that my husband and I remain faithful and true to our vows beforefore God and have stuck it out.  

Thankful and grateful for the dozen women whom I consider my "porch-people"; those friendships which don't make sense... the women who don't want to "one-up", "climb-over" or "walk-on" someone else to get ahead.  The women who come along side, bear-burdens, hold hands and hold me up when I need it the most and most importantly, allow me to do the same.  Those women who I do life with... locally and across the miles - you know who you are and I love you, am thankful for you and feel blessed. 

I am thankful for my little church and the body that make up the church, we are few but we are mighty.  We do life a little differently than most and it's hard sometimes and messy sometimes but its amazing all the time.... Joyfully thankful and grateful.   

Back to Eucharisteo, the word, meaning something a bit more.  Made up of the word Eucharist, breaking bread - synonymous with the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.  Remembering Christ's sacrifice for all mankind on the cross.  Something which would cause Jesus harm and pain, though he blessed, broke and gave thanks... 

Most of all, I am considering myself thankful with all joy... that I have been lost and found.  That there is a God who loves me, who never leaves me.  God, who listens to my prayers, who answers them, in His time.  God, who created me, sought after me and a God who has prepared a place for me.  My God who works actively in every detail of my life and the lives of all people.  A God who makes the impossible possible... who molds a life I could have only dreamed of into something He saw all along --- ever present, never ceasing and as I live and breathe, more love than I could imagine.