Practical Steps You Can Take As singles, couples, moms or dads, we all face the temptation to be anxious about circumstances, loved ones and the future. But the Bible teaches that we can walk in God’s supernatural peace because we are in Christ Jesus. Jesus Himself is our Peace. We can resist the temptation to give in to worry. We can choose, instead, to abide in God’s wonderful peace.
Peter the apostle wrote, "[Cast] the whole of your care–all you anxieties, all your worries, all you concerns, once and for all-on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully." There are three truths we can glean out of this one verse:
God never intended for you to carry your own burdens. He wants to carry them for you.
You have to do something when it comes to worry. You have to cast worry off of yourself and trust God with your problems. It takes humility to say, God, I give this problem to You because You can take care of it much better that I can.
God You need to understand the Father’s loving care for you as His child. Only then will you fully release the weight of each problem to Him. Worry, like other negative thoughts, is actually a thief-stealing our peace, energy, time and joy.
Many years ago, after a tragic situation, I was bombarded by negative thoughts almost 24 hours a day. But then I came to my senses and realized that I needed to take control of those thoughts. It seemed like such an impossibility at first, but I decided to do it one thought at a time.
Each time I had a negative thought, I pulled it down through prayer. I said, I pull that thought down, make it obedient to Jesus and refuse to dwell on it. I will believe what the Word of God says about me instead. I will come out of this situation in victory!
When I first started this, there was a storm in my mind constantly, but after a while, my mind became calmer. Every day it got better, until one day I realized that I was completely free in my thought life concerning that situation.
The same can be true for you. Determine today that you are not going to allow worry to control your life, but that you will believe God for His victory so that you can walk in His supernatural peace.
" I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]"
(Psalm 119:96, AMP).
Did you know you can actually limit your life by dwelling on the wrong things? So often, wrong thinking keeps people stuck right where they are. If you think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, then your life will follow your thoughts. If you think you don’t have the talent, the connections or the funds, then you are limiting yourself. We have to remember that God’s promises are forever settled in heaven. His Word stands true throughout all eternity!
Don’t limit what God can do in your life by focusing only on what you see in the natural realm. You have to realize that you serve a supernatural God, and just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will thrust you to a whole new level. He has explosive blessings in store that can blast you out of where you are and into a place of abundance. If you’ll shift your focus from this earthly realm and start looking at God’s supernatural realm, you’ll see His unlimited possibilities for your future. Take the limits off by setting your thoughts on what He can do in your life today!
Father in heaven, today I lift my eyes to You. You alone are the source of my strength, peace and provision. I choose to delight myself in You knowing that You will give me the desires of my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
I was reading about this doctor in Europe. He had patients who were very sick. They had been treated through traditional methods but had not gotten any better. So this doctor gave them a very unusual prescription. He had them say three or four times an hour, "I am getting better and better, every day, in every way." Over the next few months, he saw remarkable results. The same patients who had not improved with traditional medications, all of the sudden, began to get better and better. What happened? As they heard themselves saying over and over, "I'm getting better. I'm improving. My health is coming back," those words began to create a new image on the inside. Before long, they started seeing themselves strong, healthy and whole. We see this principle all throughout scripture that once you get a picture of something on the inside, then God can bring it to pass on the outside.
I know so many people who would go to a whole new level in life if they would just practice this principle. We all know people who are always tired and rundown. And what are they constantly saying? "I'm so tired. I just don't have any energy." They've talked about it so long that it's become a reality.
The more we talk about something the more we draw it into our lives. If you get up in the morning and just talk about how you feel, how you're tired and how you're not going to make it, you are digging your own hole with your words. Instead of talking about the problem, talk about the solution! That's why the Scripture says, "Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" Notice it doesn't say, "Let the weak talk about their weakness. Let the weak call five friends and discuss their weakness." "Let the weak complain about their weakness." No, it says in effect, "Let the weak say exactly the opposite of how they feel." In other words, don't talk about the way you are, talk about the way you want to be. If you get up in the morning feeling tired and lethargic, instead of complaining, more than ever you need to declare, "I am strong in the Lord. I am full of energy. My strength is being renewed. This is going to be a great day."
When you declare what God says about you, not only will it change how you feel, it will change how you think, and it will change how you act. It will change your reality! You won't go out with a weak, defeated, victim mentality. You'll go out with a victor's mentality, strong and well able to embrace the blessings God has in store for you!
Every day, life brings new opportunities and thousands of new choices. One of the first choices you get to make each day is about your attitude. When you wake up with enthusiasm and choose to be grateful,you are "putting on" the right attitude. You are setting your day up for success and opening the door to be used by God in a powerful way!
Whether you realize it or not, attitude is a choice. We can't just wait and allow our circumstances to dictate our attitude. We have to be on the offensive and choose our perspective for each day. I've heard it said that attitude determines altitude. Everyone faces difficulties. We all have obstacles that seem impossible to overcome. However, the difference between those who are able to rise above their adversities and those who get stuck in them is attitude.
You don't have to be around this ministry very long to hear a message on having a thankful attitude. A thankful attitude is a form of praise that shows that your faith and hope is in God. I believe it is one of the main keys to living the abundant life God has in store because when you choose a thankful attitude, you are connecting yourself to your Creator God—the source of all life, peace, joy and provision.
Today, you may have had some negative things happen. You may have some challenges or unexpected situations in your path; but remember, a thankful attitude and a heart of praise will empower you to rise above any adversity you may face and carry you into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!
God knows the hearts of man, and He holds the future. Trust Him to guide you in every decision in life!
Recently, we were invited to a Halloween party. We declined. The look of confusion on our friends faces told us that they did not approve of our decision and felt that we were forbidding our children to partake in one of the most common secular and pagan rituals.
Let me state our position loud and clear, we do not celebrate the dead, witches, satan, monsters or anything of the like. Instead we will purchase some candy for our children and stay at home and spend time with them. We do not want to give occasion to the devil in any part and I do not want my kids thinking that it is ok. Even if their heart is in the right place. As Christians we are called to be set apart and that is what we strive to do. Instead we will reading bible stories to the kids and talking about the one we should be celebrating, Jesus !
We hope everyone has a safe Halloween if you choose to participate. Be careful and be on guard even seemingly allow
" May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace"
(2 Thessalonians 1:2, NLT) .
Grace and peace are such powerful forces in the life of the believer. Grace empowers us and peace directs us. It’s like this: grace is the gas and peace is the navigation system. You need both to reach your destination.
The Bible tells us that we are saved by God’s grace through faith. We don’t deserve it and can’t earn His grace and forgiveness, but He gives it to us anyway. Grace opens the door to salvation, but it doesn’t stop there. His grace is supernatural empowerment to live the life God has called us to here on earth.
Peace is every bit as powerful. It’s not just a feeling; it’s a state of being. Peace literally means “to set at one again.” When we are at one with the Father in thought, word and deed, we can physically feel it on the inside. We are settled internally. And nothing external can move us from our position of peace.
Today, receive His grace and peace and let them carry you into the destiny He has ordained for you!
Father in heaven, thank You for Your grace and peace at work in my life. I choose to stand in my position of peace by following Your Word. Thank You for guiding me into the life of blessing You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
A couple of years ago, I was at an amusement park with my sister and brother's children. We were waiting in a very long line for a popular ride. At first, it was a single-file line, but when we got closer to the front, everyone bunched up into a small room to wait to get on the ride. The room was about 20' x 20'. We were the first ones in this new batch, and so we naturally just walked up to the front area of the little room. But when the other people came from behind us, most of them kids, they were so excited and so anxious about getting on that ride that somehow they maneuvered their way in front of us. Now I'm more laid back, and I wasn't going to get in there and fight with them or try to "stand our ground." But when all the people finished shoveling in, we ended up at the very back of the room—right where we came in. In a couple of minutes, a young lady who worked the ride came in, made some announcements, and gave us instructions about what was going to happen. Then she said, "Is everybody ready to go?" and everybody said, "Yeah!" She said, "Okay, turn around and go back out the doors you just came in." The very doors we were standing in front of. Of course, I wanted to say, "Nanny-nanny-boo-boo" to all those kids, but we were just happy to get on the ride. I thought we would be last, but we ended up being first.
I've found that a lot of times life works out just like that. You may be headed somewhere in your life, and it looks like people or circumstances are pushing you back. It may seem like you're getting further and further away from where you want to be. But all God has to do is change the direction of the wind, and you'll be first in line. That's God's favor on your life. He can turn things around and make you first in line for a new job opportunity, a new home, a new relationship or a medical miracle. Today, you may feel like you're in the back of the line and nothing is going your way, but get ready because God is about to turn things around for you!
I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate the emails and the incredible messages that you leave for me. They truly have made what we do a blessing. Just like in anything that you may do there will be people that oppose what you are doing for various reasons and it is because of you that we continue forward blessing you because you have blessed us ~ I dedicate the following to you: We love you guys ~
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."
(Matthew 12:34-35)
Words won't work without faith any more than faith will work without words! It takes them both to put the law of faith in motion.
Many believers don't realize that. They'll continually speak words of doubt and unbelief, then they'll jump up one day and say a couple of faith words and expect mountains to move-- and to their dismay, they don't.
Why not?
Because as Matthew 12:34-35 says, it's the words that come from the heart that produce results. The person who just throws in a couple of faith words now and then isn't speaking them from the abundance of his heart, so they're not effective.
Does that mean you shouldn't start speaking words of faith until you're sure you have the faith to back them?
No! Speaking words of faith is good spiritual exercise. If you want to receive healing by faith, for example, fasten your mind and your mouth on the Word of God where your health is concerned. Instead of talking about how miserable you feel, quote Isaiah 53:5. Say, "Jesus was wounded for my transgressions. He was bruised for my iniquities. The chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, praise God, I was healed!"
If you'll continue to meditate on those words and continue to say them, the truth in them will begin to sink in. They'll take root in your heart and begin to grow. And eventually you really will be speaking from the abundance of your heart.
When that happens, it won't matter what the circumstances look like. You'll know you have what you've been believing for and the devil himself won't be able to talk you out of it. You'll cross the line from hope to faith, and you'll start seeing those mountains move!
"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
(Luke 18:27)
Right now you and I are standing face-to-face with situations in our nation that need to be changed. Some of those situations look totally impossible. But they're not. Because this country belongs to God.
He's the One Who brought the United States of America into existence. He had a special purpose for it. He needed a country where the gospel could be preached freely and not suppressed.
It was God Himself Who stirred the heart and mind of Christopher Columbus and planted within him the dream of charting a new course to the West. Columbus said so in his own journals. He wrote: "It was the Lord Who put into my mind--I could feel His hand upon me--the fact that I could sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There's no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures."
Who brought Christopher Columbus to America? God brought him. This is God's nation. He raised it up, and it's not going to be taken away from Him.
The next time you're tempted to look at situations in this country as impossible, remember Who it belongs to. Then you can discover America just like Christopher Columbus did--by faith.
|
RSS Feed