I have a praise report to share with y’all. First, I want to thank all of you who have been walking with me on this journey. Thank you for your support and prayers. For those who don’t know, I have been struggling with surrendering my will to God when it has come to my custody litigation to have my parental rights restored. Like Jacob, I have been wrestling with God in the desert.

Last night, I fully surrender myself to the Lord’s will for me - whether it be victory in court or another period of growing in heart-character moving me even closer to the Holy Spirit. I have been saying, “I am sick and tired of suffering and persevering that leads to character. I just want my circumstances to change.” As I surrendered to whatever the Father has in store for me, I came to a point in my walk where I was willing to endure more waiting, pain, work, and hardship if that meant that I could have even more of God, more intimacy. Before I even stepped foot into that virtual courtroom, I had already received the blessing and answered prayer for a greater capacity to know and have more of the Holy Spirit in my life. God had to knock my hip out of my socket, but I was truly in His presence as I received this blessing.

As for the court proceedings, they are now an after thought. Icing on the cake of the greater blessing of a deeper and more intimate walk with the Holy Spirit. But here is a summary of the requests I made:

1. Lord, I request that I can talk to Katie this weekend. (waiting)

2. Lord, I request that I could visit Katie in New Jersey under supervision. (waiting)

3. Lord, I request that Katie would be removed from the restraining order. (waiting)

4. Lord, I request that Jane not be able to harm me by being a gatekeeper to seeing Katie. (waiting)

5. Lord, I request that I receive an opportunity to create a preponderance of evidence such that it demonstrates that I am mentally stable and a fit parent to have legal and physical custody of Katie. (waiting)

6. Lord, I request that I will have all these opportunities without creating financial hardship on me or my ex-wife. (waiting)

7. Lord, I request that I would maintain my composure throughout the hearing. (waiting)

8. Lord, I request that the flaming arrows of the enemy would not penetrate the shield of faith you have given me. (waiting)

In making these petitions, I drew upon the format that Paul provides in Philippians 4:6-7.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I have used this format many times in my walk, and God has been faithful many times to fulfill my “requests” just like I’ve presented them.

Not for answered prayer requests, but because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, the only sacrifice I have left to give is a sacrifice of praise.

Here we are on the other side of the mountain. Progress has been made on all of my requests even though I cannot see it. I am still waiting on the fulfillment of all of them. And waiting is hard. If you could walk with me a little longer as I endure my most difficult challenge - waiting - it would give so much glory to God.

And just as a testimony to how much God has worked in my life over this past year, I’m proud to say that I wrote this praise report the night before the hearing, thanking God in advance for what He was going to do. Praise God!

Thanks again! Your prayers are powerful.