As we continue our study of the wounded spirit, let’s acknowledge the effect of sexual promiscuity on our hearts and lives.  In truth, sexual promiscuity will wound our spirits. Using our bodies in ungodly ways, rape, incest, molestation, and personal violations can wound as well as deeply damage us. There are so many people today that are victims of sexual abuse. It is truly an epidemic of evil inflicted on the innocent.

This sexual misconduct creates a barrier to emotional growth in an individual’s life. A person can literally get “stuck” emotionally at the age the offense occurs. This results in forty-year-old women with eleven-year-old emotional growth. The little girl is still inside that adult body waiting for healing from those traumatic moments in her earlier life.

Rejection is another major contributor to wounded spirits.  Rejection from family, friends, parents, leaders, ministers, or anyone causes wounds. Can you imagine growing up in a home where you heard words spoken to...

As we continue with this study of the wounded spirit, let me share two relatable examples from my own life.

My younger brother got polio when he was just a small toddler. Because of this he had to wear a leg brace and use crutches during his grade school years. The children in school would call him “Captain Peg Leg.”  That cruel name not only wounded him emotionally, but it also really bothered me as his older sister and brought hurt to my heart as well.

I still vividly remember when he joined the basketball team at a later age. They would let him play in the games once in a while. There he was running with a crippled leg, trying to bounce the ball and shoot a basket. It was extremely hard work for him as he tried to participate. It was also extremely painful for me to watch, yet I admired his courage and his willingness to try to overcome his physical disabilities.

After I married and had children, we went through a time when my daughter was a victim of gossip during her high schoo...

As I began to learn more about how the Lord could heal wounded hearts, I was brought back in my memories to an incident that occurred at a relative’s home when I was around seven or eight years old. Somehow during a ten-day visit with family, I had come down with pneumonia and my parents had to take me to the doctor. I vividly remember that the medicine prescribed for me cost eight dollars which was rather expensive at that time so many years ago.

When we returned to the relative’s house my mother started to express her concern about the price of the doctor’s visit and the medicine. As she entered the kitchen she turned around and yelled at me, “You should have worn a sweatshirt like I told you. Then this would never have happened. You would not have gotten sick if you had dressed warmly.”

Being sick, scared, tired, and now embarrassed and shamed, I looked at her in shock. Something internally happened to me that day. I began to think that when someone was scolded, it had to be MY fa...

Proverbs 18: 14 (NKJV) says, “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit (a wounded spirit)?”  Our natural spirit can withstand much pressure and stress, but when our heart/spirit gets wounded, crushed, shattered or bruised, we have a difficult time recovering and moving forward. 

Our spirit is hurt when it is wounded. It is like trying to walk when our leg is broken. We are trying to live and overcome challenges, but part of our being is injured or festering with hurt.

Psalm 38: 1-22 (NKJV) really exemplifies this whole situation well.

• O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!
• For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down.
• There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.
• For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
• My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness.
• I am troub
...

Many years ago I found myself sitting in a women’s Bible study listening to ladies share their hearts regarding hurtful situations. Just as the time of sharing was closing, one of the women said to me, “Sharon, why don’t you lead worship at our next meeting?”  I was absolutely stunned and then proceeded to tell her all the reasons why I could never do that – because I could not sing! After I finished my tirade of excuses she simply responded to me, “You CAN sing. I’ve heard you.”

I tried to reinforce my statements about my singing inabilities but she just kept countering every argument with, “Yes, yes you can!”  Finally she said, “Who told you that you couldn’t sing?” 

I then explained to her about a time long ago when I was asked to prepare a singing lesson for an elementary education class I was taking in college. The requirements for the course included getting up in front of our class and leading all the students in a song. When my turn came, I mustered up all the strength and co...

As women leaders and Mothers of Nations, for this coming year of 2022 let’s remember that God has chosen us and equipped us for this specific time in history. We are His contemporary Esthers! Ladies, be bold and go before the people and pave the way for the new ideas God has prepared for this year. Be innovative and creative, operating in faith and love.

John the Baptist knew where he came from and what his assignment on earth was in his day. Do we know our assignments?

First of all, we live to honor God in all we do and say. Secondly, we were born to be a vessel for the Master’s use. Thirdly, as a woman we are to yield to God’s will every step of the way. We are a witness of His love and are destined to make a difference in our community and all our relationships. Finally, we are God’s messengers of hope to our confused and lost world. 

Remember that John the Baptist lived in obscurity until his time came. And now WE are entering OUR time in 2022! Let’s take our territory for the K...

Jesus said in John 15: 8:  "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."  As we come into the Christmas season, we start to think about gifts. What could we buy for our kids, grandkids, relatives, spouse, and special friends. For me, this process seems to have become more complicated as the kids get older. Tastes change. Color preferences change. Interests change.  I have found myself looking at the shelves in the stores and thinking, “Should I get this? Should I get that?”  And yet the process is enjoyable and gift-giving is a blessing.

But . . . I do believe that there are “gifts” we can give not only at Christmas, but all year round that have no questions or wonderings around them!  

The Word of God tells us to “bear fruit” . . .  and lots of it. We can do this daily by bringing people to Christ, touching the lives of others with encouragement, meeting needs, and remaining in the Vine. All of this type of giving is part of “bearing fruit....

You Are Amazing!

When I think about the people who serve God I am reminded about just how amazing they are. The word “amazing” has so many meanings including astonishing, incredible, marvelous, breathtaking, awesome, wonderful, and so many more.

Thinking about how God created mankind, we realize that our image is unique. Our strengths and weaknesses are developed by Him. Our choices are based upon our understanding of His love and His nature. His grace gives us courage and boldness when under fire.

God gave us an amazing ability to touch lives – even to turn the world upside down! Created for the Master’s use, we are His chosen vessels of clay.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of all that encompasses “amazing.”  Let me list some of the most amazing facts about our Savior.

He received His Name from angel.

He was born in a stable, yet rose to be King of the world. 

He was prophesied about before He even arrived.

He has the most famous book in the world written about ...

I don't know about you, but I would love to experience a divine encounter! I am talking about a special moment with God that I will never forget -- one that reveals a deeper revelation of Him and imparts a supernatural change in my life for His glory.

In the book of Acts, the disciples were waiting in the upper room praying.  I am not sure if they had any clue as to "what" they were waiting for, but what happened was definitely enough to change them forever.  They were supernaturally endued with Holy Ghost power to impact the world around them.  They no longer feared man but rather God.  They received an impartation of love, mercy, grace, power, and so much more.

• Moses had a divine encounter that sent him to his governmental leaders to confront slavery and idolatry.
• Joshua met the Lord of Hosts.
• Gideon was commissioned by an angel sent from God.
• Isaiah was caught up in God's Presence and encountered holiness that revealed his own sinful nature.  He was called and commissioned to
...

MOTHERS OF NATIONS

As Mothers of Nations we receive our call to go,

Prepared, delivered, and fully in the know.

Activated for global impact and a harvest of souls,

Motivated with purpose and full of Godly goals.

God said to Sarah, “I will bless her and she shall be,

A Mother of Nations where kings of people develop and see.”

Sarah knew the need to arise with courage and faith in God,

The need to pioneer and take risks God does well applaud.

We become Mothers that serve with a kindness of heart,

Women who minister in power and love from the start.

We are prayer warriors of the strongest kind,

Without vengeance or hate, but with goodness in mind.

Prophetic, apostolic, and anointed to bring life,

Dedicated to our Master as an intimate wife.

We are Mothers of Nations with hearts to obey,

Loving our Lord more and more every day.

Blessed by the Lord with an anointing of power,

God will keep us all faithful until our final hour!

By Dr. Sharon Predovich