Tag: Prayer

Walking the Path of Faith

Featured ~ Suzanne Davis Harden ~ Leave a comment

Album Notes: Paths of Faith Christian Prayersongs Inspired by the Holy Spirit

It is with a humble, grateful heart that I announce the publication of my 29th musical album to God’s precious children, inspired by His Holy Spirit, who enabled me to create it through the risen Lord Jesus Christ within me, to the glory of our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name.

Paths of Faith is an appropriate title for this album of prayersongs, the first vocal album the Lord has inspired me to release since Paths of Mercy in 2019, just before the Coronavirus Pandemic broke out in December of that year.

In 2009 the Lord gave me the gift to sing and create instrumental music. He had to ask me three times if I would sing for Him so reluctant was I to be a musician for His glory.
I had been a visual artist all my life and art was my passion. I had always prayed to be an excellent artist, illustrator, and children’s book writer for His glory. When He asked me to sing for Him, He said that He needed my voice of all things!~I felt I needed to remind Him that my little boy had howled when I’d sung Him “Jesus Loves Me” once.
Undaunted, the Lord would not give up. He wanted me to surrender my will and to walk a new path with Him by faith.
I loved the Lord so much. He had given up everything for me when He suffered and died on the cross to redeem our souls. How could I not now give up everything for Him? Though it felt like dying, I said I would sing and make music for Him. I hardly knew what I was getting myself in for, but trusted that my Lord Jesus Christ would never do anything to hurt me.
At first I felt like I was being thrown to the lions. Having been a professional in one career, now He was plunging me on a path where I would be like a baby learning to crawl, following Him, whom I could only see and hear by faith.
What is faith?
The Bible tells us “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear…
But without faith it is impossible to please (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:1-3,6 – KJV

I knew nothing at all about the music industry but trusted God to guide me every step of the way. He instructed me to do everything the opposite of the way the world does things. Which made no sense. All He would say was, “Trust Me, My child.”
After all, it was His music. I had not up and made myself a musician~ the Lord had. He knew what His plans for it were.
I learned that the Lord wanted to communicate to His children through His music. I should have known that from the beginning. Duh.
The songs were inspired by His word through His Holy Spirit.
They were motivated by prayer and worship from abiding in my Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus had said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 – KJV

The Lord told me that the songs were to be “Musical Conversations” with His children. If they would take the song titles and go into their prayer closets with their bibles and look up the reference that the title referred to in their bibles and meditate on the verses or bible story and study the word of God and pray to Him and abide in Him alone, that He would speak to them what He wanted to say to them.
The important thing was that His children should get back to their prayer closets and abide in Christ and return to studying His word, allowing HIM to teach them through His Holy Spirit.
The Lord was seeking a personal relationship with His children. He said they were distracted by many things and had lost sight of Him. They had gone after the world. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 – KJV (Mammon means money or the world or anything that makes the soul’s heart beat faster than Jesus or God~ mammon therefore is another word for an idol.)
Anything that takes the Christian’s attention away from the Lord Jesus Christ can become an idol whether it be a relationship, a hobby, social media, a ministry, an organization, politics, any pursuit whatsoever that seems right but misses the mark ever so slightly. In fact another translation for the word “sin” is to “miss the mark.”
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 – KJV

The Path of Faith is one in which we keep our eyes on our Master who is the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, who is the Lord Jesus Christ and we surrender our wills and lay our lives down for Him.

Christians must not keep our eyes on this world. No matter what is going on.
Paul lived under the malevolent emperor Nero of Rome of whom it was believed that he torched the city to justify building a more magnificent one. Because of the intense criticism he received, he devised a plan where he blamed the followers of Christ for the crime. In A.D. 64 brutal persecution erupted there against the Christians.
Tacitus (c. A.D. 60-120) a Roman Historian, wrote in his Annals (XV.44).
“…Besides being put to death they were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.
Nero had thrown open his grounds for the display, and was putting on a show in the circus, where he mingled with the people in the dress of charioteer or drove about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, even towards men whose guilt merited the most exemplary punishment; for it was felt that they were being destroyed not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.” ~quoted from http://christiancourier.com

Despite this horror, what does Paul say when he mentions the government? He wrote: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – KJV

Peter wrote, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:16-19 – KJV

Both Peter and Paul mentioned in their epistles that our true Kingdom is not of this world. It would have been truly foolish and dangerous for them to go about writing “our true Emperor and King ~the Only Lord and God Jesus Christ to whom we alone pay honor and allegiance….and we don’t obey any laws but His…” Instead, they wrote as the Holy Spirit led them. They must stay alive and preach the Gospel which was their true mission therefore they must be peacemakers so they could carry out the Lord’s work, keeping Christ’s command to walk in love.
James the Apostles wrote: 17 “But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: “First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others.“ ERV James 3:17

Jesus told Pilate when asked if He was a king, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight…” John 18:36
The apostles did not go looking for a fight. Paul wrote, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4 – KJV

Their true commitment was to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom they loved with all their heart, soul and mind and strength. If a worldly law conflicted with God’s Holy Law, of course they must obey God.
For example, in the Old Testament when the Pharaoh commanded all the baby boys to be drowned Moses’s parents did not comply with his edict but obeyed the Lord to save their child.
For the Lord Almighty is our true King and His commandments must prevail and this is what the word of God teaches.
The apostles imply this even when they don’t come right out and say it for the danger it might have presented.
They walked a Path of Faith ~ surely Peter had trod this Path with Christ on the Sea of Galilee when he’d briefly walked on its waters with the Lord before taking his eyes off his Master, then sank beneath the waves. The Lord had quickly rescued his Apostle when Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!”
The Prayersong on my album “Thy Voice Comes Over The Waters” was inspired by this Bible story and it deals with trying to recognize Christ in the gray areas of His word.
Peter wrote, “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. (*Sinful desires are any desires opposed to God’s will~not exhibiting the love of Christ is disobeying Christ’s will for Christ said, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 – CSB)

Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day He visits.
Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by Him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.
For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:11-17 – CSB

Paul wrote: “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,
since there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command,
and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves…” Hebrews 13:1-3

Eventually because the early Christians trusted Christ and walked according to the word of God and the path of faith, they obeyed both Christ and His word to submit to human authority for the sake of the Lord, by the third century under the Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.

Christians had but to obey Christ their true King for this to happen.
They had to always be abiding in Christ to know and understand His will. Paul wrote, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17 – KJV

Jesus said, “But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.”
 
Abiding in Christ is getting alone with our risen Lord and Savior by faith and reading His word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us apart from the distractions of social media, friends, or work, or anything else.
It is a very private, sacred holy affair between you and the Lord and the only way we can will grow closer to the Lord.
Jesus said, “ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

Christ may lead us down a thorny path.
No one can or should judge any child of God for the Path that Christ leads them to follow. Never judge a child of God by their afflictions.

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” ~James 4:11 – KJV

Who are we to condemn the child whom Christ suffered, bled, and died to redeem? My prayersong “Father, Forgive Me” deals with how our sin hurts others and Christ ultimately.

The Path of Faith may lead to persecution or martyrdom. Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 – KJV
Jesus said, “And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of Me will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39 -CSB

The Path of Faith is the path that leads with Christ to the cross. It is a path of suffering. But if we go to the cross with Christ we will also rise with Him in His resurrection!
For we are being conformed to His image on this journey.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 – KJV

Along this path we must learn to let go of our own will and say to our Heavenly Father along with Christ, “Father, not My will, but Thy will.”
We must pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
But those who will not love as Christ loved us, who will only read Christ’s words and filter out the parts they do not agree with, do not truly love Christ for Christ said,

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.”
John 14:23-24 – CSB

The word parse means to break down, analyze, or scrutinize and is the opposite of accepting by faith as a little child.
One cannot parse a cup of water Christ gives them to drink. We either drink it in front of Him or pour it on the ground and say “No thank You, Lord, I don’t trust it.”

Christ and His Holy Spirit are the Living Water of Life. We receive the Lord by faith. We receive His words by faith. If we fight and rebel and scrutinize, analyze complain, revile and scorn, we don’t love the Lord or keep or believe His word.

Paul wrote that Christ was the Rock in the wilderness, where Moses got the water for the Israelites and they grumbled and grieved God over their unbelief.
“Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness.
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 – CSB

“Today If You Hear God’s Voice” Vocal Prayersong is a song the Lord gave me on my new album to witness to that Bible story.
Listen to the song or to a clip. Then go into your prayer closet with your bible and look up and read the story in the scriptures it refers to.
Pray and ask the Lord to help you hear His voice and to walk His path of faith.

There are many prayersongs on this album that refer to bible stories and concepts. Please use the songs to let God speak to your hearts through His Holy Word, and abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, our True Vine.
He is speaking through His word, through His Holy Spirit in these songs He inspired from His Word.
May He help us turn our attention towards Him and away from all that distracts us in this world.
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
For the joy that lay before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.
In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:1-4 – CSB

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this new album of beautiful prayer songs inspired from Thy word. Thank You for encouraging me to walk Thy path of faith with You even though its been so difficult, for You have been with me all the way and so faithful even as You promised. Please encourage Thy children to walk with You down the path of faith and to trust You in the way You are asking them to and never to doubt that You keep every promise forever. Help each one to hear Thy voice speaking to them in their hearts today and through Thy holy word and may You guide them with Thy wisdom and discernment, and fill them with Thy holy love and mercy and grace, In Jesus’ name, amen. Thank You, Lord, we love You.

More Encouraging Scriptures

Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath,
because it is written, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,” says the Lord.
But If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Romans 12:16-21 – CSB

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,
since there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command,
and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.
Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority?
Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
For it is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason.
For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.
And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.
Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another,
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor.

Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:1-10 – CSB

Jesus Loves You 🖤

Paths of Faith Album Notes: Copyright © 2021 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved.

Album Cover Paths of Faith Christian Prayersongs Inspired by the Holy Spirit Original Illustration by Suzanne Davis Harden Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved.

Through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by The Holy Spirit, to the Glory of God the Father, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Quotations: King James Bible: Public Domain/ The Christian Standard Bible: Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers/
ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible) Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
 
History Quotations from Tacitus (c. A.D. 60-120) Roman Historian, Annals (XV.44) christiancourier.com

Midnight Prayers & Meditations Volume Two

Featured ~ Suzanne Davis Harden ~ Leave a comment
Album 28 of Music Inspired by the Holy Spirit since 2013

Original Keyboard Instrumental Prayers Featuring the Various Instrumental Voices of Guitar, Strings, & Piano Solos Performed by Suzanne Davis Harden, through the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father, In Jesus’ name, amen.

Midnight Prayers and Meditations, Volume 2, is the second chapter of the album of original keyboard instrumentals inspired by the Holy Spirit. I published the first volume of Midnight Prayers & Meditations last Autumn in the twilight of 2020, forever to be remembered as the year of the Pandemic.

I had several of the songs on this second volume ready to publish even back then, but the Lord had me wait to publish the current album for various reasons.
God’s word says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 – KJV

The Lord has blessed me with much music for His glory through the risen Lord Jesus Christ in me. But He only directs me to publish what He wishes according to His plans and purposes.
It is as if the Lord uses each song or composition to teach me that not everything is chosen for the spotlight right now, and yet everything is loved and special at all times.

All of the music He has blessed me with was created for His glory and glorifies Him in its own way whether it gets published a month from now, in six months or ten years, or whether it never gets published at all.
I truly believe that all of His music serves a divine purpose and brings Him glory in the way He has chosen in its own time.

If we could only understand that each one of us are like the musical compositions He inspires. We all exist because the Lord wanted to create us; He loves us all very much.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send Him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him.” ~John 3:16-17 – ERV

God is infinite and His love and mercy toward us are measureless.

His thoughts are far beyond our thoughts and He does not think as we think.
We can’t wrap our minds around an infinite Being.


“The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will confuse the understanding of the intelligent.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 – ERV

God is as far above us as the universe is wide.
If we try to define Him by putting Him in a neat box of rationalizations we fail.
He is not a black and white formula.
He does not make sense at all to our rational minds.
He will blow us away when we truly come to know Him.

“So what does this say about the philosopher, the law expert, or anyone in this world who is skilled in making clever arguments?
God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish.
This is what God in His wisdom decided: Since the world did not find Him through its own wisdom, He used the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe it.”
1 Corinthians 1:20-21 – ERV

We will go insane trying to define Him in any traditional sense. He won’t be standardized, denominationalized, fit into neat theologies, philosophies, and so forth; for the minute we try we fall flat on our faces and He has to pick us up; dust us off and say, “Read My Word again.”

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 – KJV

We might not like or agree with His word in all its completeness.
And we might be tempted to pick and choose what we want to believe out of it.
But have we never considered listening to Jesus Christ?

Jesus teaches us how to read His word.
He spoke in parables.
He spoke in metaphor and pictures.

His word is spiritual.
Many of His disciples left Him when He spoke to them spiritually.
Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life. The flesh profits nothing.” (John 6:6:63)

If we approach Christ and His word with a literal mind we are not going to know Him or understand His word.

We must walk by faith and not by sight. (*See 2 Corinthians 5:7)

We must trust and believe that He is real:


“Faith is what makes real the things we hope for.
It is proof of what we cannot see.
God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this.
Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by His command.
This means that the things we see were made by something that cannot be seen.
Without faith no one can please God.
Whoever comes to God must believe that He is real and that He rewards those who sincerely try to find Him.”
Hebrews 11:1-3,6 – ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible)

I sing by faith.
I play the keyboard by faith. I have no real background in music.
Really.
All of my background and training are in the visual arts.

I did not grow up with any musical gift or any idea of becoming a musician.
My whole passion and goal was to become a visual artist.
Art was the love of my life. Music merely existed to stimulate my artistic creativity. In other words, I listened to it while I created my art.

God sovereignly gave me a gift of music in 2009 and I accepted it by faith.
Since then I have played the piano nearly every day; songs the Lord gives me by faith.
My songs are more like prayers ascending to Heaven.
I pray and it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ within me by His Holy Spirit who inspires the music and who plays through me.

It is the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ within me who creates all the music.
I know that sounds strange.
But Jesus Christ is a risen, living Savior.
He is alive within me!

This is what Christianity teaches.
Jesus said, “On that day you will know that I am in the Father. You will know that you are in Me and I am in you. Those who really love Me are the ones who not only know My commands but also obey them. My Father will love such people, and I will love them. I will make Myself known to them.” ~John 14:20-21 – ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible)

If someone who calls themself a Christian says this is not true then they are denying the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Jesus Christ said He is a living, risen Savior.
He said that He has risen from the dead, that He lives inside those who accept Him as their Savior and Lord, that He seals them with His Holy Spirit, that He does give His children gifts with which to glorify Him on this earth, and that no one can dictate to Him what kind of gifts He is allowed to give His children.
The Lord is a God of miracles and He is in the Heavens, the Bible declares, and He does whatever He pleases.

“Our God is in heaven, and He does whatever He wants.”
Psalm 115:3 – ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible)

God did what He wanted when He gave me the gift of music.
I praise Him for this beautiful gift and will use it to glorify Him for as long as He enables me to by His almighty grace and power.

For it is through Christ alone that I can create any music or do any of the creative things He blesses me with.

I will publicly proclaim that it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ in me doing these works because when Christ walked the earth He said it was His Father in Him who did the miracles that He accomplished and not Himself.


“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” ~ John 5:19 – KJV (King James Version Bible)

The Bible asserts that we are to live as Christ lived who always glorified His Heavenly Father.


I want to always glorify my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as far as He enables me to.


“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6 – KJV

Surely I fail miserably at walking as Jesus walked because I’m not perfect like Jesus was. But I know that following Christ is a little like driving.

If I point my car at some target and drive toward it, then I’m more likely to get to my object than if I don’t aim at any goal at all.

So every day I try to aim my whole heart at the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes I have fender benders, sometimes I run off the road into the ditch when I take my eyes off my Lord, sometimes another “car” runs into me and hurts me terribly; then I have to forgive them.
So many things can happen on this journey with Christ.
But God’s word has good directions to follow to help me.
And Christ’s love sustains me.
Jesus has paid the price for all my sins on His cross.

When I confess them to Him and tell Him I’m sorry for grieving Him, He forgives me, dusts me off and sets me right again on my journey with Him.
God is love. (1 John 4:8)
He loves me more than I will ever begin to comprehend.

If I meditate on Christ’s suffering on the cross maybe I can understand a little about God’s love.
His agony and death on the cross make me weep.
For I learn that God loved me so much that He would allow Himself to be tortured to pay the price for my sins to be forgiven so that I could be His child and be given eternal life and fellowship with Him.

Not only that, but so that He could put a portion of His Holy Spirit inside of me and bring glory to His name throughout Heaven and earth through my weak vessel to demonstrate His reality.

God is real.
Christ is real. He lives inside of me and has made all of the music I’ve published through me.
Twenty eight albums inspired by the Holy Spirit now since 2013.

But more importantly, Christ wants a living, vital relationship with people.

Jesus Christ wants all to believe in His reality in the 21st century: that He is a living, resurrected Savior, not someone who only lived two thousand years ago only to be studied and quoted by an elite few.

If He can use a weak vessel who suffers from daily migraines,
ME Chronic Fatigue syndrome, and painful fibromyalgia to accomplish His purposes on this earth, then I know that He can use anyone who will simply believe and walk by faith to glorify Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ wants to live and shine through all who will invite Him into their hearts and who love and obey Him~ “For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:11 – KJV

May those who hear my music understand this message and be encouraged to believe that Christ cherishes them and desires an abiding, eternal friendship with them.

Jesus said, “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.
… If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” ~John 14:21,23 – KJV

May our merciful loving God be forever honored, loved, and praised. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Midnight Prayers & Meditations, Volume Two, is dedicated to my Heavenly Abba Father, Beloved Lord Jesus Christ, and Beloved Lord Holy Spirit, through the risen Lord Jesus Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the glory and honor of God the Father, to proclaim their praises throughout the earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.

*Special Thanks and Dedication to my beloved husband Mark for all his technical assistance in Copyrighting my music and uploading my files despite many recent health challenges. May God bless you forever and always for all you do, sweet Mark!

Peaceangelsong, Copyright © 2021 by Suzanne Davis Harden, Inspired by the Holy Spirit, All Rights Reserved. Midnight Prayers & Meditations, Volume Two, Copyright © (P) 2021, by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved.

Scripture Quotations from the ERV (Easy to Read Version Bible) Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International

The Rabbit Writer

Featured ~ Suzanne Davis Harden ~ Leave a comment

I drew this whimsical rabbit writer several years ago when I was doing a lot of pen & ink work before I came down with the virus that caused my auto immune illness.
In those days I drew and painted or wrote incessantly; from the time I woke up until I went to bed at night.
Like the rabbit character in the illustration I was always thinking of something to draw, write, or create.
I was certain that the Lord had put me on the earth to make things.

That is until I got sick with a mysterious debilitating virus and could neither write or draw, or even walk or do anything for almost four months but sit in a darkened room.
I experienced excruciating migraines.


I prayed fervently and listened to the Lord. He spoke to my heart. He told me that I had value apart from my gifts.

The Lord said that if I never drew or painted or wrote another thing, but just sat in my chair in the dark and prayed to Him I was still glorifying Him by living for Him.


For to live for Him as He chose for me to, even if I had no gift or talent to display, was to glorify Him, as long as I was doing His will, and not my own will.


He told me that I thought I had no value apart from my gifts and He needed to assure me that my value did not rest in what I could or could not do, in my gifts or talents, in my occupation, in my role as a mother or wife, in what I did for any church, in where I lived, or what kind of car I drove, or my economic status, and so forth.


My value as a human being came from Him, for I was His creation made in His holy image.
I needed to understand that.
Nothing I did or did not do could or would change His love for me.


Christ had redeemed me apart from my merits, I did nothing to earn His salvation, His grace, His forgiveness.
God loved me for me.


The Lord spoke these things to me every day.
And all I could do was listen.
It was very hard to go from someone who had walked six miles a day and created all the time, to someone who could do nothing.

As much as most might tend to avoid such verses, I clung to scriptures like those penned by the prophet Jeremiah below:


“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.
The Lord is good unto them
that wait for Him,
to the soul that seeketh Him.


It is good that a man should both hope
and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
He sitteth alone and keepeth silence,
because He hath borne it upon him.
He putteth his mouth in the dust;
if so be there may be hope.


He giveth his cheek to Him that smiteth him:
he is filled full with reproach.
For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
But though He cause grief,
yet will He have compassion
according to the multitude of His mercies.


For He doth not afflict willingly
nor grieve the children of men.
Lamentations 3:24-26,28-33 – KJV

We take for granted that if we have many talents then it is the Lord’s will that we use all that energy like mad and think we are doing it for His glory.


In my case the parable of the talents haunted me.
I didn’t want to get to Heaven and have Christ say to me that I had hidden the talents He had invested in me.


I’d had that parable drummed into me since I was a child.
But when I got sick I discovered He wanted me to sit at His feet and worship Him and love Him and listen to Him and get to know Him.


He wanted to be my God, not art and writing and creating things.
For all those things I was making were going to burn up some day, but only those things I did that were truly His will would abide forever.

(“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:17 – KJV )


For the things that are God’s will bear eternal fruit. But the things that I manufacture from my own plans, purposes, and goals are born out of my own worldly desires.


Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 – KJV


When the Lord finally restored me, He never gave me back the health I had enjoyed before I got that simple virus that changed the whole course of my life back in 2007.


He promised me back then that He was going to heal me, but that my healing was going to be a journey.


It was like I had fallen from the top of a great mountain and now the Lord was going to walk with me every day as we climbed together back up.

But this time I would go with Him, I would be getting to know Him, and holding His hand every day, and learning His voice and doing His will and not my own.


He had to knock that false god out of my heart that I had not known I had. For indeed I had believed I was worshiping Him and doing His will.

But through my illness He showed me that the light within me was very dark.


God is indeed merciful. We can be completely blind to our idols.

How I thank Him now that He came along and set me straight. As the Psalmist wrote: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” ~Psalm 119:67 – KJV

I lost track of my Rabbit Writer Illustration for many years, then when I was going through my files recently I found him again and thought he’d make a great gift for my Peaceangelsong’s shop.


So I asked the Lord if He would inspire a good digital card from this illustration and He gave me this one.

https://peaceangelsongsgifts.com/collections/digital-fine-art-encouraging-cards-1/products/digital-download-writer-at-work-digital-art-card-illustrated-by-suzanne-davis-harden

May this whimsical card inspire the writer or even the artist in you and be a card that will always bring a smile to your face!

The Lord also gave me a companion poetry print for this illustration~ see the variation in our shop; it is a whimsical take on the rabbit writer.

https://peaceangelsongsgifts.com/collections/digital-fine-art-encouraging-cards-1/products/digital-download-writer-at-work-digital-art-card-illustrated-by-suzanne-davis-harden

If you identify with this poem, then it’s simple to download, print and frame and add to your office.
Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you will come visit us at my new Peaceangelsong’s Gifts Shop! (My Shopify Store) https://peaceangelsongsgifts.com

Whether you choose to just browse or purchase anything, I’d love for to visit us. May you be encouraged by the gifts the Lord has given me to share with you!

In His Grace~Suzanne

Reprinted from Peaceangelsong’s Gifts Blog by Suzanne Davis Harden; Copyright © 2021 SD Harden, All rights Reserved.

Poems and Illustrations, Copyright © by Suzanne Davis Harden, Through the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the Glory of the Heavenly Father, In Jesus’ name, amen, All Rights Reserved.

Emancipation Day

Featured ~ Suzanne Davis Harden ~ Leave a comment

Juneteenth is a holiday observed on June 19th that celebrates the emancipation of the former slaves in the United States.

“Emancipation Day” is truly a holiday in our country that everyone should honor and consider thoughtfully and with great thanksgiving to God.

For His word says  “…The Lord frees prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are oppressed…” ~ Psalm 146:7- CSB

Was it not the Lord Almighty who heard the many prayers of these enslaved oppressed souls and answered them in His own way and time as He answers all prayer? 

To everything a season… Ecclesiastes 3:1

 Was it not He who controls the destinies of all nations who opened the eyes of the leaders to see their blindness and hypocrisy in harboring slavery in a land founded on freedom and Christian morality?

The Lord is the One who sets the prisoners free ultimately.

I believe that the enslaved peoples of our nation, based on their great spirituals and hymns, would agree that it was the Lord God who had heard their fervent cries for freedom and brought about their ultimate deliverance. 

For they were truly a longsuffering people of great faith. 

Their patience teaches us to trust the Lord and believe and hope no matter how discouraging things look, or impossible or hopeless the situation seems. 

They inspire us to never give up believing. 

Most of these persevering people kept singing, praising, and working for the unseen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom they truly belonged, who had made them His own redeemed children through His death on the cross despite their hardship in the physical world. 

His Kingdom was not of this world and they served Himwho was every and all colors, for He was the Great Creator who had made them. 
And His was the color of love.

The Lord had no favorites. 
They could see this even if those who had enslaved them were blind~though they too claimed to serve Christ. 

The Bible says, “For there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2:11 – KJV)
In Him there was no white nor black, male nor female, slave nor free.

All were one in Christ. (*See Galatians 3:28)

In Christ all were made free, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17) 

He had made them free in the spiritual realm and one day they knew in their hearts that He would make them free in the material world.

What eyes could not see, their hearts could.

These courageous souls walked by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) 

When their freedom in this world finally came, these former slaves knew that their prayers had been answered and they gave praise and thanks to the Lord their Deliverer.

“For the Lord hears the needy 
And does not despise His who are prisoners.” ~ Psalm 69:33 – AMP

Though this holiday has not widely been observed or celebrated in our nation, many of the children of the former slaves have kept up with the tradition of remembrance since the first Emancipation Day.

For It truly is a Day of Thanksgiving and praise, to gather and celebrate freedom and to honor God and praise Him for the deliverance He brought about for those who were so long enslaved in this land.

He sets the captives free and those who were first delivered from their bondage knew who to praise for their liberty.

They loved the Lord with all their heart and their songs and spirituals remain as a testimony forever to eternity of their faith in Him.

“…The Lord loves the righteous…” Psalm 146:8 CSB

Happy Juneteenth Card available at Peaceangelsongsgifts.com

Peaceangelsong’s Gifts, Copyright © 2021, by Suzanne Davis Harden through the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the Glory of God the Father, In Jesus’ name, all rights reserved.