Our Guest: Stephanie Vigers
Stephanie co-pastors a church with her husband, Donnell. They have 3 grown children. She has experienced God’s freedom! Stephanie has authored 2 books and co-authored another. She hosted her own talk show, “Awakening the Diamonds” and has been a guest on various other Christian shows. Stephanie and Donnell served as hosts for the Reinhard Bonnke Crusade in Houston in 2015. They continue to facilitate and lead other city-wide prayer and evangelistic gatherings.
Key Thoughts and Scriptures on Freedom and Faith:
- I wanted someone to love me.
- We all have our struggles.
- Your kids can see you walk through difficult times in a godly way.
- The Lord has always provided, even before Stephanie knew Him.
- Even when I was lost in my darkness, God was still good to us and our family.
- “’Abandon all hope ye who enter here”- Dante’s Inferno
- When feeling suicidal, God used that phrase to remind Stephanie that tomorrow might be better.
Joshua 24:15 NKJV …Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…
- “How can I say that I love God and want to follow Him and want to kill myself? Those don’t mix together, so something is wrong.”
- The one who called me to the altar was Him.
God can get through and minister freedom no matter what.
- I choose you, Lord.
- Stephanie had deliverance even when she didn’t know what deliverance was.
- When I read the Bible for myself, I discovered that it was different from what I’d been taught.
- My freedom set me on a journey for truth.
- I lined up what I was being taught against the Word, so I would no longer be deceived.
- Stephanie learned who the Lord actually is according to His Word, not according to what others said or their perspective.
James 1:27 NLT Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Romans 8:37 NIV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
One of the things that I love about the Lord is that He gives us a choice (freedom).
- He also gives us the power to do what’s right.
John 16:33 NLT I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
- As a child of God, I had no right to be unmerciful or unforgiving.
- Sin is sin in the eyes of the Lord.
- God has great love not only for me, but for others as well.
- Lord, my will is to forgive them. My feelings aren’t there, so please help me forgive them.
- Hurt people hurt people.
- The more I fell in love with Jesus the more the hate and anger went away (freedom).
- As we become more like Him the more the things that are not of the Spirit fade away.
Ezekiel 36:26 NLT And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
God helps you through the process when you’re willing.
- When you make the choice of obedience, God will do the rest.
- Forgiveness is more about ourselves than it is about the other person.
- Unforgiveness keeps us in bondage.
- There’s freedom in forgiveness.
- It isn’t an easy process, but it is a needed process.
- To forgive and love is something that you can only do with the power of the Holy Spirit in you.
- I sought the Lord seeking to find my purpose in life.
- “No, someone else is not going to teach you. You’re going to walk alongside Me and I’m going to instruct you.”
- We need to be intentional in making sure our kids are grounded in the faith.
- “If the Lord tells me to do something, I just do it. Then I freak out later.”
- God wants the churches to work together because we are one family.
- Sometimes we lead, sometimes we serve, but we do it all for the glory of the Lord.
- The walls are coming down between churches and their leaders.
- There is a greater hunger for the Lord.
Isaiah 55:11 NKJV So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
John 15:34-35 NIV “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
When the Body of Christ can come together in love, people will be astonished.
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- God is bringing us back to the basics: Love, Love, Love.
Ways to Get Unstuck from Bad Relationships or Struggles from the Past:
- Know that God is Love and that He isn’t abusive
- Also, know what Love is (1 Corinthians 13 NIV)
- Love is not hurt/pain
- There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18 NIV)
- Love doesn’t dishonor other people
- It always protects
- Through Jesus we are worthy of love
- In Christ, you have the power to overcome.
- Call upon the Name of the Lord (Acts 2:21 NKJV)
- The Lord will hear and answer (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV)
- Surrender it all to the Lord
- Allow God to be God
Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says 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.
Romans 8:28 NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Rahab’s Story (The Unlikely One)
Joshua 2 NIV, Joshua 6 NIV, Matthew 1:5 NIV, Hebrews 11:31 NIV, James 2:25 NIV
- God was able to use Rahab despite who she was and her past.
- He can use and transform anybody.
- God continues to transform us into who He has created us to be.
Jeremiah 31:13b NIV I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
- Faith in Jesus Christ and forgiveness are keys to healing.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Romans 10:9 NKJV That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Matthew 28:20 NKJV …And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
Books on Freedom and Faith:
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Misery Has Lost Its Grip On Me by Stephanie Vigers (Some of this story may be disturbing)
Fire Starters: Unleashing the Fire Within You by Stephanie Vigers
Preparing for Revival Instruction Manual by Donnell and Stephanie Vigers
Connect with Us:
Website: HerGodStory.org
Website: SomebodyCares.org,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomebodyCaresAmerica/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/somebodycaresamerica
Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/SomebodyCares
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_SomebodyCares
Somebody Cares Prayer Line (855) 459-CARE (2273) or [email protected]
Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Yes, we accept cryptocurrency!
Share this message of freedom with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration!
You can also receive periodic ministry updates from Somebody Cares, and/or weekly Provoke-a-Thought emails, monthly teaching emails, or join our prayer team by signing up here!