Iron Rose Sister Ministries

As I read Paul’s description of the armor of God in Ephesians 6, I picture the times I have tried to recreate that armor for Vacation Bible Schools and children’s classes over the years. Drawing and crafts are not some of my strengths, but the children proudly wore their armor and pretended to battle, with all the passion of a valiant soldier of God.
God’s armor is much sturdier than our feeble attempts, but the facet of the armor that I want to highlight today is found in verse 18:
“...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication...”
The description of the armor of God concludes with prayer. It is like the glue that holds the armor together in the battle.
This month, as Christian brothers and sisters across the world lift Iron Rose Sister Ministries in prayer, and specifically today, prayers for me personally, I am reminded of the vital place prayer fills in the armor of God.
No matter where God takes me, no matter what the spiritual battle I am facing, your prayers are my glue. I feel the spiritual strength of your words to the Father on my behalf. And I thank you.
I never feel alone when I travel, write, speak, or serve. Your prayers have carried me before the Father’s throne and accompany me through all the steps and aspects of what He has called us to as a ministry.
Please know that you are in my prayers as well—many of you by name. May our combined prayers be the glue of our spiritual armor!

Taken from I already AM: Testimonies of Faith in the Great I AM, written by Michelle J. Goff

A peaceful state in God’s right hand comes when we trust His provision. The I AM gave my family a concrete example of that when I was in high school…

Dad had lost his job in corporate downsizing after having worked for the same company for fourteen years. We were all in shock and his job search lasted a year and a half.

In the meantime, mom recertified and took a job at as a special education teacher in an inner-city elementary school; we girls rotated cooking dinner and other household responsibilities; and we all got creative in our spending—or lack thereof.

Through it all, the I AM’s provision was astounding and humbling…

During the stressful, yet joyful year and a half, each and every one of our needs were met without fail—sometimes anonymously and at other times through our Christian brothers and sisters.

Always on her feet as a teacher, my mom valued her comfortable shoes for standing and worked to make them last. One afternoon after school, she took her worn pair of shoes to the cobbler wanting to stretch their usefulness as long as possible.

“Well, ma’am. I can stitch them here, but they’ll come apart over there. I can glue this, but it’s not going to hold. There’s really nothing more I can do with these shoes. I think it’s time to get a new pair.”

Mom returned to the van where we girls were waiting, “Ladies, our forty years in the wilderness are about up. God promised the Israelites that their shoes would not wear out (Deut. 29:5). My shoes have finally worn out, so it must be time for your dad to get a job.”
One month later, he did.

As soon as my dad got a job, each of my sisters hit a growth spurt (aged 14, 12, and 6 at the time), I left for college, and mom got a new pair of shoes for teaching.

YHWH Jireh means the LORD Provides. And the I AM’s provision is always perfect—in His way, in His timing.