Your Not The Same Anymore

October 17th, 2009 It’s 5:16 am and I can’t sleep, because the Holy Spirit has given me a Word for you. You the ex-prostitute, ex-con, ex-drug dealer, ex-masturbator, ex-liar, ex-thief, ex-porn addict, ex-gang banger, ex-drug addict and ex-alcoholic. You whom the world and even the church will often time criticize and judge. Our Lord wants you to know that you are not the same anymore! You are His now and forever more. He has waited for you to humble yourself at His feet and realize your need for Him as your Savior. He has waited for you to come to Him with a broken and contrite spirit. When you did He accepted you and cleansed you and made you new in Him. You are a new creation! Do not let the world or even the church make you feel that you are not. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Psalm 51:17)

The Lord is doing a new thing in your life. He wants you to forget the former things of old. Don’t meditate on who you were and what you did. You have entered a new life with new ways, and a new Spirit. He has given you a new heart, one that longs to please Him. He is about to do something new in you. He has already begun! Do you not see it? There will be those that the enemy will use to try to get you to look and turn back to your old ways, but you cannot go there anymore because you are not the same. That person no longer lives. It is Christ that lives in you now. You are a child of the Most High God. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Focus on who you are now. Focus on forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Press forward to what Jesus is calling you to do in this new season of your life. (Isaiah 43:18, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 3:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Philippians 3:13)

Don’t listen to the taunting and accusations of those whom the enemy sends your way. You have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. He is your Righteous Judge who has found you not guilty because Jesus paid the price for all of your sins. Be free in Christ Jesus. It’s time to live the rich and satisfying life that He came to give you. Don’t allow the enemy to kill, steal, and destroy your faith, peace, and hope. Stand on the Rock, the Word of God, it will be your source of strength. (1 Peter 1:18-20, Acts 10:42, Romans 3:25-26, John 10:10, Matthew 7:24-27)

There will be times of testing. This testing is vital for your faith to grow, to humble you, purify your heart, develop godly character, and to teach you to obey the Lord’s commands. Don’t despise this season. You will feel at times like you are in the wilderness all alone. But do not be lead by your emotions or deceived by the enemy. Our Good Shepherd will never leave you alone. You can be sure that He will be walking with you, making a path for you through the wilderness. He will create rivers in the dry and wasteland. Just keep your eyes on Him! Do not turn to the left or to the right. Stay on the narrow road it will always lead to life and favor with Him. Stay off that broad road that is commonly taken not only by the world, but by some who claim the name of Christ. It is the road of compromise, justification, and less resistance which leads to death and the judgment of God. (Isaiah 43:19, Deuteronomy 8:1-5, James 1:2-4, Proverbs 4:27, Matthew 7:13-14)

Draw close to Him in His Word so that you will learn to recognize His voice and you will not be deceived by those that claim to come in His name but only prey on the weak, easily influenced, babes in Christ young in their faith. Fill yourself with the knowledge of the Lord and you will not be lead astray by wishy washy religion and faith that has been dipped in the world. The Word must be the final authority in your life, not the teachings of man or their philosophies. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your teacher. Meditate on the Word day and night so that you will learn what it is that our Lord wants you to do. Do not let His Word depart from your eyes, mind, and heart. The Word will be a light to your feet, directing your path all the days of your life. (James 4:8, John 10:4-5, Proverbs 2:1-5, Colossians 2:8, Luke 12:12,Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 4:20-21, Psalm 119:05)

A warning..temptation to compromise and sin will most assuredly come, so do not be surprised. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, never rely on your own strength. Stay alert and persistent in your prayers, do not forsake fellowship with the Lord by spending time in His Word, and do not forsake fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Our Lord will use them to help hold you up in your times of trouble and weakness. Do not hide from them. Confess your temptations and sins to those that He has placed in your life that have a true heart for Him. They will pray and intercede on your behalf. They will stand in the gap for you and your family. Remember that the temptations in your life are no different from what others experience so do not be ashamed or allow condemnation to torment you. Our Lord has promised and is faithful to not allow the temptations in our lives to be more than we can stand. When we are tempted He will show us a way out so that we can endure. Be sure to take the way out, do not ignore it. (Ephesians 6:10, Zachariah 4:6, Hebrews 10:25,James 5:16, 1 Corinthians 10:13)

Be encouraged brothers and sisters because of all that the Lord is doing in you and through you. Your life will be a testimony to others of God’s redeeming power and faithfulness to save and transform lives. Sit as His feet and allow Him to teach you, to train you up for battle. Once you served in the enemy’s camp and now you will serve the Lord on the front lines. It will be by the word of your testimony and the blood of the Lamb that the Lord will use you to defeat spirits and principalities wherever He sends you. Therefore you must not be afraid to tell of the wonderful things the Lord has done in your life. Speak with boldness and assurance of who you are today in Him. Glorify the Lord not only with your words but with actions. Be lead of the Spirit and walk in love. (Psalm 40:3, Revelation 12:11, Romans 8:14, Ephesians 5:2)

May our God fill you will peace, love, and encouragement as you press forward to all that He has for you today. Be confident of who you are in Him. Blessings to you in Christ Jesus name..

"I See You"

This posting was orginally posted February 22nd, 2009. I just read it again and I wanted to share it once more. Even as I read it now our Lord's love flows through my being. I am encouraged knowing that He is with us in every situation and nothing we go through can separate us from His love. Here is "I See You"..

“For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39



“I see you”, says the Lord. “You know who you are..

“Yes you, I see that you want to give up on life… You can’t it’s not your time yet. You have to keep fighting to live. The enemy of your soul has deceived you and is trying to get you to give up all hope on life. I know that the deceiver has been trying to convince you that I have forgotten you, that I can’t hear you, and that I just don’t care. Don’t believe these lies. I have seen your tears. I keep track of all your sorrows. I have collected all of your tears in My bottle. I have recorded each one in My book. Not one has been wasted.

I have been trying to speak to you this whole time. You ignore Me or say that was just a coincidence. You refuse to accept in your heart that I divinely appoint moments for you to see clearly that it is ME talking to you. I love you and I have a plan for your life if you will only truly trust ME. I have loved you from the first day that I started to form you in your mother’s womb. My plan was never for you to have all this heartache. I do want you to die today..die to yourself, to your flesh, to your own will. Die to fear, give up your life to Me. Lay it down on my altar of love and I will lift you up and give you a new life. A new life in ME, Christ Jesus.”

“I see you”, says the Lord. “You know who you are..

“Yes you, I see you struggling under a heavy burden…When will you stop trying to do things on your own and in your own strength? Have you forgotten that My burden is light and my yolk is easy? You came to me for rest. If you want to find rest for your weary soul then you have to let go of your burdens. Cast all of your cares on Me because I care for you. Stop being so stubborn! Be patient. My timing is not your timing and my thoughts are not your thoughts. My ways of doing things are so much higher than yours. Don’t forget that I see the future. I know what doors to open and what doors to close. You must allow Me to have your worries and stop being so anxious. Trust Me to work things out. The only thing I asked from you is that you have faith. When I tell you to go or do something don’t hesitate do it in faith. The rest I will take care of. Remember that I will always work everything out for your good, no matter what. You can’t figure everything out all the time. You have to allow Me to be God in your life. Stop carrying these heavy burdens that the world has put on you. They did not come from me.”

“I see you”, says the Lord. “You know who you are..

“Yes you, I see you are tired of trying, tired of believing, tired of doing the right thing… Don’t be tired my child. I know that it seems to have been a long time since I gave you the vision. Don’t be discouraged because you have not seen it completely come to pass. Take a look around and you will see that so much has changed since then. All of this must happen for the vision to be complete. Don’t lose hope. I promise if you do not get tired and give up you will reap a harvest of blessings. You have no idea the number of souls that you have influenced with your faith and love for Me. I will give you the strength you need to keep going. I will feed your determination and your desire to do My will. Thou the vision tarry wait on it.”

“I see you”, says the Lord. “You know who you are..

“Yes you, my faithful and obedient servant who loves to spend time with Me… You put a big smile on My face. Your desire and hunger for more of Me is pleasing unto Me. I will fill you will more and more of Me. My Spirit will teach you of many things to come. Your discernment will increase and your love for others will overflow from Me. You will be my conduit of love to the world. Many will see Me in you and will believe and trust in Me. They will love Me because of you. Your love and faithfulness please me.

I see you stumble, sure. But I don’t focus on that my child. What I see is that you put out your hand to hold on to Me. You know that I am always there no matter what. You allow me to help you and so you do not fall. You trust Me. You don’t give up on us. You don’t give up on believing Me no matter what the enemy tries to tell you. You know you are mine. I am you’re True Love."

I see you ALL, my children… You are all mine! I love you and there is nothing that can separate you from Me. I will not allow the enemy to pluck you from My hand. Hold on to My Word because it will be the sword you need to fight till the end. I AM with you always..I see you!! El Roi..

My Testimony for Out of the Miry Clay

I had to write a short testimony for Out of the Miry Clay Ministries and I figured I'd share it with you.

Growing up I always believed that there was a God out there and I believed that He was Jesus but I did not truly believe that He cared about the details of my life. I did not believe that He was there for me. I felt that he did not care about the troubles in my life and in my family. I was deceived by the enemy of our soul for many years. He blinded my eyes so that I could not see the wonderful things that God had planned for me. Out of my own selfishness and desire to have my own way and control my own life I resisted God’s love. I was so lost and misguided by foolishness. I followed all the wrong people down a destructive path. (2 Corinthians 4:4, James 2:14-15, Matthew 7:13-14)

Perhaps it was the death of my mother when I was sixteen or the multiple molestations within the family that caused my heart to harden. I did not know how to love and it was even harder to receive love. From a young teenager I was in and out of jail. I don’t remember ever being scared. I was full of anger, wrath, and bitterness. I loved partying and wild parties. I loved the darkness. I did not care who I hurt or the negative influence that I was having on my younger brother and sister. By the time I was sixteen I caught a drug trafficking charge. I was given five years probation. What a mistake. I violated that probation three times before they finally got tired of my rebellious nature and decided to send me to prison to finish up my sentence. (Galatians 5:19-21)

By this time I had a small child, a gift of God that I did not deserve and I did not truly value. I was just twenty years old on my way to prison, but God had a plan. What the enemy meant to destroy me the Lord turned around for my good and for His glory. He had not forgotten me and left me alone in the mess that I had made out of my life. (Genesis 50:20, Hebrews 13:5-6)

By the time I was sentenced to prison I had surrendered my life to the Lord. I realized that I had made a mess of my life. My will and my way of doing things resulted in chaos and destruction. I decided that I would put my life in the hands of the One who watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of my mother’s womb. He saw me before I was born and every day of my life was recorded in His book. He protected me even when I was in rebellion and did not allow me to be utterly destroyed. (Psalm 139:13-16)

I learned that He has always had precious thoughts about me. His Word showed me that His thoughts about me are so many that they cannot even be numbered. They can’t be counted. They even outnumber the grains of sand! Even when I am sleeping He is thinking about me and He is still with me when I awake! Amazing!! He had always had wonderful plans for me, to prosper me and give me a future and hope in Christ Jesus. If I would only cry out to Him and seek Him with all of my heart. That is exactly what I did and now I am leaving a legacy and inheritance for my descendants. My children are now a heritage of the Lord. Generations are changed because I chose life in Christ Jesus instead of life committed to myself, the world, and sin. (Psalm 139: 17-18, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Psalm 127:3)

Today I am blessed and highly favored of God. He has restored everything that was lost in the years of my disobedience. He has blessed me with seven beautiful children, five of which I had the privilege of birthing. I have a husband who loves me and is committed to God and our family. I serve the Lord full time with all of my heart. God is no respecter of persons. What He has done for me He will do for you. I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. (Joel 2:25, Psalm 40:1-3)

They Too Will Believe

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
And He turned to me and heard my cry,
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
Out of the mud and the mire,
He set my feet on solid ground
And he steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing.
A hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

I love this Psalm! It’s the story of my life. I was a mess before Jesus. Then one day I realized it and I cried out to Him for help. That was the day my life changed forever. He began lifting me up out the terrible mess that I had made of my life. He drew me closer to Him with the hunger He put in my heart for His Word. That is the solid ground that I walk on today, His Word. He truly has steadied me as I walk on this journey through life with Him. He is there holding my hand so that when I stumble I do not fall.

His praises..Well I am always singing praises to our Lord. I love worshipping Him. I lift my hands up and close my eyes knowing with all my heart that I am in His presence. I can be in a crowded church and I don’t care. I sing and worship Him with all of my heart.

This is something that the old Lisa would have never have done. Today I am new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come. What the enemy tried to use to destroy me the Lord turned for my good and for His glory. I now stand on the Rock. He is my source of hope, strength, wisdom, and determination. He is the new song that I sing. Many have seen what He has done for me and are amazed. They too have put their trust in Him.

When I read these verses in Psalm 40 I receive comfort and confirmation that I need not be ashamed to share my testimony. You see I know that I am not the only one who was a mess and had to cry to Jesus for Him to lift them up out the pit of despair. Many people today are in despair and our drowning in the mud and miry clay. They are stuck.

What can give them hope and faith? Our testimonies can. Our lives can. We are to be living testimonies for all to see.

“Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”

It doesn’t get much clearer than that. Others need to know that they are not alone in their mess. They need to know that we were in the pit also at one time but that we cried out to Jesus for salvation and He saved us. Then they will understand why we try to live our lives pleasing to God. Then they will understand why the name of Jesus is always on our lips. Then they too will believe and be saved. Your life can give others hope. So live to glorify Him and be ready to share your story of deliverance. If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it and do it as a representative of our Lord. (1 Peter 3:15)

“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 4:16-17

From the Archives:I AM

It’s Monday again..hopefully your Sunday service was a special as mine was. Thinking about it gives me goose bumps all over again. However, we do not live on goose bumps and feelings. We live by faith. Our faith is in All Mighty God. So as we start off this week let us remember that we serve the great I AM. He is everything that we need. No problem, no trial, no test, there is nothing too big for the Great I AM.

As we think about all the things we want to accomplish this week we have to remember that we no longer have to carry heavy burdens. May the Lord give us wisdom to properly organize our week and manage our time properly. Let us be determined to do our work without grumbling and complaining, always remembering that we actually work for the Creator of Heaven and Earth. So let us bring glory to God in all that we do.

I want to encourage you to leave all of your burdens and cares with our Lord. Leave it all in His hands today. Do your part..whatever He has called you to do, but leave the burden with Him. He is able to carry all of your burdens and relieve you of doubt, fear, anxiety, and worry. Decide to trust in Him and rest in His peace knowing that our God is always in control.

When you feel tempted to worry or meditate on certain problems and situations remember the Words of the Great I Am.

“I AM..Always with you” (Matthew 28:20)
“I AM..Never going to leave you nor forsake you” (Genesis 28:15, Hebrews 13:5)
“I AM..Your strength and comfort” (Psalm 46:1)
“I AM..Your deliver” (Psalm 34:18-19, 2 Timothy 4:18, Psalms 18:1-2)
“I AM..Your provider”(Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:28-33)
“I AM Your defender and vindicator” (Psalm 61:2-4)
“I AM Your healer” (Isaiah 53:4-5, Exodus 15:26)

“I AM all that you need!”

When you mediate on the Word of God instead of your situations you will find freedom and courage to face every day and every situation knowing that He is on your side working everything out for your good. (Romans 8:28-30)

Lord, thank you for your Word that comforts us and gives us hope and faith. We can face each day confidently knowing that the Great I AM is for us. We trust You and meditate on the truth of your Word. We will not be lead by our fickle feelings but we will trust in your Word and leave our cares and burdens in your hands. Let us bring glory to you in all that we do. In Jesus name..Amen.

From The Archives: Pray Much For Others

Our prayer life should not consist solely of seeking God on behalf our own needs. It is our responsibility to compassionately pray and intercede on behalf of the needs of others as well. Look at Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding interceding for others.

“Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth; That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving his life for all mankind. ” (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

We are called to be intercessors praying for the salvation of the lost, for those in authority over us and in positions of great responsibility, and also for other Christians. (Ephesians 6:18) Our prayers guided by the Holy Spirit and full of faith will make a difference in the lives of others and in the world.

James 5:16-18 says, “The prayers of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and one half years! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.” (1 Kings 17:1-7, 18:36-39)

The Lord wants to use us to intercede on behalf of others who have not yet come to know Him. Our prayer should be for God to have mercy on them and for those satanic blinders to be removed from their eyes so that they can see how much God truly loves them and wants to save them. We should pray for them to realize that they are sinners in need of a Savior and that God’s kindness to them has been meant to lead them to repentance.

It is in our best interest to pray for our president and our government. We want to be governed wisely and for God’s will to be done in our country. Praying for those directly in authority over us such as our managers, bosses, and owners is vital to the condition of our daily work environment. Your prayers for the company and its employees will help prosper everyone there spiritually and financially.

Someone right now needs us to stand in the gap for them. Maybe it’s our friend who lost faith, our boss who is going through a divorce and is losing their children, or our widowed landlady who is full of bitterness. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to use us to intercede of behalf of whoever God puts on our heart.

Lord thank you for the privilege we have to come before you not only for our own needs but on behalf of the needs of others. Fill our hearts with compassion and confidence to pray for those around us and in authority over us. We know that our faith filled prayers will help change people’s lives now and forever. Thank you for the power of prayer. In Jesus name..Amen.

Your Break Thru Is Coming!

Don’t give up. Your break thru is coming. Keep praying, fasting, and praising Him because every promise from God shall surely come true. Trust Him no matter what opposition comes against you. Remember that He is always for you and never against you. Let us not get tired of doing what we know is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Consider Mary the mother of Jesus Christ our Lord. She was a mighty woman of faith, who believed that God would do what he said; that is why he gave her such a wonderful blessing. She was carrying the Messiah, the Savior of the world, in her womb. She accepted the honor and was determined to serve her God. She trusted God’s will for her life. She knew that she would face opposition and be talked about and persecuted by those in her community because she became pregnant while she was engaged to her fiancé, Joseph. They were not allowed to have sex until they were married. Joseph could have had her stoned for this apparent unfaithfulness.

Instead of fear she was filled with faith and determination to do God’s will. Mary said to Gabriel, the angel that brought her the good news of her immaculate conception, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” (Luke 1:38)

Like Mary we have to trust our Lord’s Word no matter what. We have to know that He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful to us. We will have trouble and trials but we can not give up and turn from God in anger or disappointment. We must not allow ourselves to be consumed by fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, and unforgiveness to those that have hurt us or even towards God. Our Lord never said that we would have it easy because we are His children. In fact Jesus said, “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.” (John 16:33)

Our peace is in Jesus. Knowing that Jesus is the Word of God, that His Word is truth, and never returns void is powerful! It should give us hope, faith, and determination to keep pressing forward. If we continue to trust His Word and never stop believing it then we will see His Word come to pass and we will fulfill God’s will, just like Mary did. She knew the Word of God and she spoke it out of her mouth and we must do the same. (Luke 1:46-55)

Don’t give up! Start speaking the Word of God with authority and confidence. When you feel that you can’t keep going ask the Holy Spirit to bring to remembrance His promises and then confess them out loud.

Say..”Lord…”

 "I know that you have good plans for me, not for disaster, but to give me a future and a hope. When I pray you will listen. When I look wholeheartedly for you, I will find you." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
 "I know that You cause everything to work together for my good because I love You and I am called according to your purpose." (Romans 8:28)
 "In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me." (Psalm 86:7)
 "I am strong, courageous, and firm; I fear not and am not in terror, for it is the Lord my God Who goes with me; You will not fail me or forsake me." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
 "I will not let the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19)
"You are the source of my hope. Fill me with all joy and peace by means of my faith in Jesus, so that my hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
 "I live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)
 "My faith does not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:5)
 "I’m sticking with You. You have proven to be good to me and to all who passionately wait and diligently seek You. It’s a good thing to quietly hope for help from You." (Lamentations 3:24-26)

Don’t give up your break thru is coming. Keep pressing forward believing and confessing His Word over your circumstances. You are about to reap your harvest!

From the Archives: Free From All Your Fears

Here is a posting I wrote back in July that I needed to revisit. I hope it helps someone the way it did me.

Free From All Your Fears

The Lord is close to those whose hearts are broken. He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. He hears our cries. The eyes of the Lord are intently watching over all who live good lives, and he gives attention when they cry. He will deliver you from all your fears, but you have to put all your trust in Him.

Over the years I have seen the Lord doing a mighty work in my family’s lives. Our Heavenly Father has shown us He is in total control. The past sixteen months have been a pivotal time in my spiritual journey. I was full of fear, anxiety, and inner turmoil. I always wanted to be in control and have all the answers to our dilemmas but my circumstances could not be fixed by me. I was brought to a point where I had to truly humble myself and get on my face before God. I had to leave me fears and problems at His feet and start focusing on serving Him and others. I knew in my heart that while I tended to God’s business He would tend to mine and He has.

The Lord has been trying for years to get my husband and I on one accord and truly submit to Him. We are learning to reverence Him and trust Him no matter what attacks come, no matter what people say. He wants us to put His Word first. He has been drawing us close to Him so that we could find shelter and refuge in Him. So we have! Our lives have forever been changed. As a deer pants for water so we long for the Lord, we thirst for God, the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2)

Trusting God does not mean that you will not have trouble. The good man does not escape troubles he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and everyone. My favorite Psalm is Psalm 34. It speaks of God saving those who reverence Him from all of their fears and troubles. It has given me comfort and helped build my faith since the first day I read it in 1997. I do not walk in fear and anxiety because I meditate on these verses and I know that:

Ø When I cry he answers me. (Ps. 34:4,6)
Ø He frees me from all my fears. (Ps. 34:4)
Ø Our Lord guards and rescues all who reverence Him (Ps:7)
Ø If I reverence Him I will have everything I need and never lack any good thing. (Ps: 9)
Ø His mercies shower down on me because I trust in Him. (Ps:8)
Ø The Lord hears me when I call to him for help, and saves me out of all my troubles.” (Ps. 34:17)

The more you put your trust in Him and learn not to lean on your own understanding the more you will see that He is in control. There is no problem to big for Him! He makes a way when there seems to be none. You don’t have to fret any more! Just truly surrender and you will not lack any good thing. Cast all your cares on Him. Seek His righteousness, goodness, and kingdom then everything else He’s take care of. Put Him first in everything. You can be free from all your fears by simply trusting Him! (Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33, 1 Peter 5:7)

From the Archives: Temptation-Our Daily Battle

Temptation is something that we will battle everyday of our lives. The enemy is constantly using bait such as physical desires, possessions, power, and pride to lure us into disobedience. He knows that our spirit is willing but our body is weak. The enemy knows that sin leads to death so he will be determined to deceive us and get us to disobey God. But if we resist the devil he will flee from us. (James 4:7) But how do we do that?

Jesus set the example for us when we he was tempted in the wilderness by satan. (Matt. 4:1-11) Christ defeated the enemy by responding with the truth of God’s Word. Every time satan spoke to Jesus our Lord responded saying “It is written”. This is the same as saying the "Word of God says". We need to know what the Word of God says in order to withstand the attack of the enemy. He knows what the Word says also and he will try to manipulate it and twist it so that we are confused and unsure. It is in spending time with God in prayer and in studying the bible that we will be equipped and alert ready to defeat temptation.

Jesus is also there to help us when we are being tempted. He knows what we go through and how we are tempted because he was tempted too, although he never sinned. So we can go to God and receive mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) The temptations in our lives are no different from what others experience. God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than we can stand. When we are tempted, he will show us a way out so that we can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God has given us common sense so let us properly evaluate our situations and avoid temptation. Recognize what people or situations cause us temptation and stay away so that we do not stumble. We need to run from anything that gives us evil thoughts and stay close to anything that makes us want to do right. It is good to enjoy the companionships of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts. These are the types of friends that we can trust to help keep us accountable and encourage us not to sin. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Remember that the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us is more powerful than anything in this world and you can defeat temptation because you are no longer a slave to sin. Walk in the wisdom that comes from knowing the Word of God and you will truly begin to comprehend and experience that the Word is truly sharper than any doubled-edged sword. You CAN win this daily battle against temptation in Jesus name! Amen..

Taking It One Day At A Time

“So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble” Matthew 6:34

I love this verse. It has taught me that I only have to deal with today’s problems today. I don’t have to worry about tomorrow’s problems now. In fact I don’t have to worry at all and neither do you, because God’s got it. There is nothing that happens in our life that God is not in full control of. What ever situation we are facing, whatever our need we must remember that we are not in it alone. The Almighty One is on our side. So why worry? Why fret? Why fear? He will bring us thru ever time. He never fails!

“And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?” Matthew 6:27

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

When we are seeking and striving to do God’s will in our life, His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), then all the things that we need will be given to us. He cares for us so much. We just have to trust Him no matter what, knowing that He will work everything out for our good as He has promised. His Word is true and He does not lie.

Definitions for worry: 1) to afflict with mental distress or agitation: make anxious 2) To feel uneasy or concerned about something; be troubled. (Note: this is NOT a fruit of the Spirit! Galatians 5:22-23)

If we sit around worrying and fretting about our situation we are actually saying that we don’t believe God’s Word. We don’t trust Him to do what He said He would do. Instead of mediating on God’s promises to us we begin to listen and reason with the worrisome thoughts that attack our minds. We have to capture these rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

We will find freedom from worry, fear, and anxiety when we lay our life down at His feet and say, “Lord here is my life. Do with it as you please. I trust you.” I believe with all my heart that when we do this we will learn daily, through the power of the Holy Spirit of course, to be content with whatever He decides to do with us.

I don’t know about you but He can have my problems. I know that He can do much more with them than I could ever do. So this is me taking it one day at time. I pray you do too.

Lord, there are times when our minds are attacked by worry or fear. Help us to remember your promises. Let us hear your Words over the loud voice of anxiety. We trust you with our lives because it is no longer our own. Thank you for your promises. In Jesus name. Amen.

Don't Forget The Miracles

“But O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!” (Psalm 42:11)

Do you want to know how to make it through the storms of life with out being utterly consumed and overtaken by the winds? Don’t forget the miracles!! Remember the miracles that our Faithful Lord has done in your life and in those around you. Remind yourself of them especially while you are in the middle a terrible storm. Then meditate on the truth that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still a miracle working God who is capable and willing to save you and bring you through life’s troubles. Expect Him to act!

Don’t doubt Him and think that He has forgotten you! The God we serve is an Awesome and On Time God. We have His power, the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us all the time. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to remind us of the miracles that He has done. By meditating on the past miracles we will be encouraged and our faith will increase as we wait on the Lord. Our focus will not be on everything else going on around us.

When Peter got out of the boat to walk on water he forgot the miracles that he had just seen not even twenty four hours before. He was there when the Lord feed more than five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. He helped pass out the food. He saw there was even food left over. What an awesome miracle!! Immediately after this Jesus sent them out on the boat to cross over to the other side of the sea while he stayed behind to have His personal prayer time. While they are crossing over a storm comes. In the middle of the storm Jesus walks out on the sea to meet them. They see him and freak out thinking that He’s a ghost. Peter said, “Lord, if it is You command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus said, “Come”.

So Peter gets out of the boat determined to walk to Jesus. However, he took his eyes of our Lord and looked around at the circumstances, the wind blowing, the raging water, and probably even looked down and immediately he forgot about the miracles. He forgot about the power of God to feed the multitudes, heal the sick, and cast out demons. He allowed fear to consume him. He doubted God and began to sink. Of course our Lord stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him “O you of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:22-33)

Why do we doubt when we know that our God is consistently faithful and merciful? There will be storms in this life, but blessed is the man who’s trust is the Lord. The righteous cry out, and the Lord delivers them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:8,17,19)

DON’T FORGET THE MIRACLES!!

Lord, we thank you that you are still a miracle working God. We put all of our trust in you because we can not make it through life’s storms without you. As we meditate on all that you have done in our lives remind us that you are still doing miracles in and for us. We love you and thank you Lord. In Jesus name. Amen

Stop!! Be Still..

Do you realize that our Lord wants to talk with you? Yes, He has something to say. He has understanding and wisdom to bestow on you. He wants to give you a revelation of how much He truly loves you and thinks about you daily. But how will you ever know what He has to say if don’t sit still?

Stop moving all around. Stop cleaning. Stop cooking. Stop working, Just be still and be alone in His presence and know that He is God. He is longing for intimate time with you. Just you and your Heavenly Father enjoying each other. Your small daily prayers and talks on the way to and from work are great..but He longs for more of you. He wants you to long for more of Him too.

Go to the room and shut the door. You need this more than you know. You will be renewed, revived, and replenished in His presence. His Spirit will give you peace, joy, and strength as you meditate on His loving kindness and mercy towards you. His praises will come out of your mouth when you stop and be still long enough to see that He has always been there listening and protecting you all the days of your life. It could have been worse for you, but it’s not. You’re alive and He is not done with you yet. You will fulfill your purpose but you must stop and be still in His presence so that He can renew your strength and heal you.

The answers that you need are there. The comfort that you are longing for are there. Run as fast as you can. Close the door behind you. Close your eyes and lift up your arms ask the Holy Spirit to fill you up so that you may overflow with His power and strength. Run into His arms so that you may find rest for your weary soul.

He has been waiting for this moment. This is the time of day that He longs for. This is the time you set aside everything else, all the cares of this world and sit at His feet waiting to receive all that He has to give. Open His Word and expect to hear from God. The answers are there. Wisdom and freedom will be given to you in His presence.

The Spirit of the Lord says, “Be Still and Know that I AM God!”

"You will show me the path of life; In Your Presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11)

"Surely the righteous shall give thaks to Your namel The upright shall dwell in Your presence." (Psalm 140:13)

"But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." (Psalm 4:3-5)

I AM

It’s Monday again..hopefully your Sunday service was a special as mine was. Thinking about it gives me goose bumps all over again. However, we do not live on goose bumps and feelings. We live by faith. Our faith is in All Mighty God. So as we start off this week let us remember that we serve the great I AM. He is everything that we need. No problem, no trial, no test, there is nothing too big for the Great I AM.

As we think about all the things we want to accomplish this week we have to remember that we no longer have to carry heavy burdens. May the Lord give us wisdom to properly organize our week and manage our time properly. Let us be determined to do our work without grumbling and complaining, always remembering that we actually work for the Creator of Heaven and Earth. So let us bring glory to God in all that we do.

I want to encourage you to leave all of your burdens and cares with our Lord. Leave it all in His hands today. Do your part..whatever He has called you to do, but leave the burden with Him. He is able to carry all of your burdens and relieve you of doubt, fear, anxiety, and worry. Decide to trust in Him and rest in His peace knowing that our God is always in control.

When you feel tempted to worry or meditate on certain problems and situations remember the Words of the Great I Am.

“I AM..Always with you” (Matthew 28:20)
“I AM..Never going to leave you nor forsake you” (Genesis 28:15, Hebrews 13:5)
“I AM..Your strength and comfort” (Psalm 46:1)
“I AM..Your deliver” (Psalm 34:18-19, 2 Timothy 4:18, Psalms 18:1-2)
“I AM..Your provider”(Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:28-33)
“I AM Your defender and vindicator” (Psalm 61:2-4)
“I AM Your healer” (Isaiah 53:4-5, Exodus 15:26)

“I AM all that you need!”

When you mediate on the Word of God instead of your situations you will find freedom and courage to face every day and every situation knowing that He is on your side working everything our for your good. (Romans 8:28-30)

Lord, thank you for your Word that comforts us and gives us hope and faith. We can face each day confidently knowing that the Great I AM is for us. We trust You and meditate on the truth of your Word. We will not be lead by our fickle feelings but we will trust in your Word and leave our cares and burdens in your hands. Let us bring glory to you in all that we do. In Jesus name..Amen.

Pray Much For Others

Our prayer life should not consist solely of seeking God on behalf our own needs. It is our responsibility to compassionately pray and intercede on behalf of the needs of others as well. Look at Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding interceding for others.

“Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth; That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving his life for all mankind. ” (2 Timothy 2:1-6)

We are called to be intercessors praying for the salvation of the lost, for those in authority over us and in positions of great responsibility, and also for other Christians. (Ephesians 6:18) Our prayers guided by the Holy Spirit and full of faith will make a difference in the lives of others and in the world.

James 5:16-18 says, “The prayers of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and one half years! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.” (1 Kings 17:1-7, 18:36-39)

The Lord wants to use us to intercede on behalf of others who have not yet come to know Him. Our prayer should be for God to have mercy on them and for those satanic blinders to be removed from their eyes so that they can see how much God truly loves them and wants to save them. We should pray for them to realize that they are sinners in need of a Savior and that God’s kindness to them has been meant to lead them to repentance.

It is in our best interest to pray for our president and our government. We want to be governed wisely and for God’s will to be done in our country. Praying for those directly in authority over us such as our managers, bosses, and owners is vital to the condition of our daily work environment. Your prayers for the company and its employees will help prosper everyone there spiritually and financially.

Someone right now needs us to stand in the gap for them. Maybe it’s our friend who lost faith, our boss who is going through a divorce and is losing their children, or our widowed landlady who is full of bitterness. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to use us to intercede of behalf of whoever God puts on our heart.

Lord thank you for the privilege we have to come before you not only for our own needs but on behalf of the needs of others. Fill our hearts with compassion and confidence to pray for those around us and in authority over us. We know that our faith filled prayers will help change people’s lives now and forever. Thank you for the power of prayer. In Jesus name..Amen.

Pray Without Ceasing

The Lord has laid it on my heart to study and teach on prayer. This is the first of a series of postings on prayer. May Our Lord teach us what we need to help us with where we’re at on our journey. In Jesus name...Amen!

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian lives. Prayer is simply talking with God. He wants nothing more than for us to spend time talking and listening to Him just like we do with anyone we love. The more time we spend talking with God the more we will learn to know Him, love Him, and recognize His voice. Our faith, confidence, and trust in Him will grow as we see our prayers being answered. Just knowing that He hears our prayers and cares about every detail of our lives should cause us to want to spend more time talking with Him.

“But certainly God has heard me; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not rejected my prayer nor removed His mercy and loving –kindness from being [as it always is] with me.” Psalm 66:19-20

We are to be in a constant state of prayer; praying without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) I don’t mean walking around looking like a crazy person. I mean we need to be aware that we are not ever alone. His Holy Spirit is with us all the time. The Lord has given us His Spirit to guide and leads us all the days of our lives. He is there when we wake up, when we are driving to work or school, while we are going through our day, and when we come home. He is always with us not only protecting us and watching over us; He is there wanting to be the first one we call if we just want to talk or are going through something.

Psalm 139:7 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

Joshua 1:5, 9 The Lord said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Almighty God is our Heavenly Father who cares about everything that goes on with us. He wants to provide for ALL our needs. That’s why He says, “Do NOT fret or have any anxiety about ANYTHING, but in EVERY circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) This scripture should give us confidence that we can talk to Him about everything and anything. We can talk to Him about our jobs, our bosses, our enemies, our friends, our spouses, and children. We can ask Him to give us more patience, understanding, wisdom, and compassion. We can request direction and guidance for our lives. There is nothing that we can not talk to our loving God about.

Prayer keeps us dependant on Him. He doesn’t want us to fret, worry, or have anxiety. He wants us to cast all of our cares on Him through prayer, trusting Him to care for our needs. Prayer is our stress relief because once we have prayed and spent time in his presence the peace of God which surpasses all understand will guard our minds and our hearts as we trust Him. Then we can begin to mediate on the fact that He has always been faithful to answer our prayers in the past and we can rejoice and praise Him for His faithfulness and mercy. (Philippians 4:7)

Lord, you are an Awesome God that loves us so much that you long to talk to us and spend time with us through prayer. Remind us that you are always there ready to listen and answer our prayers. Thank you for your Son who as given us full access to your throne room. In Jesus name..Amen

Peace I Leave With You

When fear attacks my mind I remember that the Lord did not give me a spirit of fear, but power of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) For many years I suffered from fear, anxiety, and worry. I was in bondage. About four years ago the Lord said to me, "Stop allowing yourself to be so agitated and full of fear. I have given you my peace. Walk in it"

I knew that I had read that in His Word. It was John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]"

I printed it up and taped it on my bathroom mirror. It is still there to this day. Little did I know how often I would need to see that scripture first thing in the morning or right before I was going to bed. There was even one time when I was going through it and the Lord had one of my best friends send me flowers and in the post card she put that same scripture.

The Lord has gone out of His way to let me know that He wants me have peace and not allow my circumstances to intimidate me. I no longer ALLOW myself to be fearful or cowardly because I know that our God is faithful and He is for me. I fear not because I trust Him!

I encourage you not to allow anything to intimidate you or cause you to be so full of fear that you forget that our God is always on your side. If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31) There will be things that happen in our lives that we do not like or understand why God has allowed, but we must never forget that God is omniscient. He knows what’s going to happen before it has even happened and He has made a way of escape for us.

When your situations gets scary and you don’t know what to do remember what Philippians 4:6-7 says “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, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) We may not like trials and test but they are good for us and we don’t need to fear them.

Lord, thank you for using the trials and tests to make us stronger more useful Christians. Help us to trust at all times and lean not on our own understanding. Give us your peace to protect our minds and hearts as we are in trusting in you to bring us through each of our situations. In Jesus name..Amen

REPOST: Never Alone

We are never left alone. Even when we feel like we have been abandoned by everyone and feel like no one can understand what we’re going through God is with us and He understands us fully.
Sometimes we don’t understand why He allows certain things to happen in our lives. But we can be sure that He will work everything out for our good and for his purpose. Sometimes we will feel so lonely. It will seem that no matter what we do we can’t seem to get out of the mess of emotions that are flooding our minds and hearts. But God..He is there waiting for us to cry out to Him and leave our pain at His feet.

John 14:27 is one of my favorite scriptures. About 4 years ago I taped up on my bathroom mirror not realizing how many times I would need to read it first thing in the morning. The Amplified Bible reads

“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”

My peace comes from knowing that God never leaves me or forsakes me. He says,” I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you)!Assuredly not!. Heb. 13:5

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Free From All Your Fears

The Lord is close to those whose hearts are broken. He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. He hears our cries. The eyes of the Lord are intently watching over all who live good lives, and he gives attention when they cry. He will deliver you from all your fears, but you have to put all your trust in Him.

Over the years I have seen the Lord doing a mighty work in my family’s lives. Our Heavenly Father has shown us He is in total control. The past sixteen months have been a pivotal time in my spiritual journey. I was full of fear, anxiety, and inner turmoil. I always wanted to be in control and have all the answers to our dilemmas but my circumstances could not be fixed by me. I was brought to a point where I had to truly humble myself and get on my face before God. I had to leave me fears and problems at His feet and start focusing on serving Him and others. I knew in my heart that while I tended to God’s business He would tend to mine and He has.

The Lord has been trying for years to get my husband and I on one accord and truly submit to Him. We are learning to reverence Him and trust Him no matter what attacks come, no matter what people say. He wants us to put His Word first. He has been drawing us close to Him so that we could find shelter and refuge in Him. So we have! Our lives have forever been changed. As a deer pants for water so we long for the Lord, we thirst for God, the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2)

Trusting God does not mean that you will not have trouble. The good man does not escape troubles he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and everyone. My favorite Psalm is Psalm 34. It speaks of God saving those who reverence Him from all of their fears and troubles. It has given me comfort and helped build my faith since the first day I read it in 1997. I do not walk in fear and anxiety because I meditate on these verses and I know that:

Ø When I cry he answers me. (Ps. 34:4,6)
Ø He frees me from all my fears. (Ps. 34:4)
Ø Our Lord guards and rescues all who reverence Him (Ps:7)
Ø If I reverence Him I will have everything I need and never lack any good thing. (Ps: 9)
Ø His mercies shower down on me because I trust in Him. (Ps:8)
Ø The Lord hears me when I call to him for help, and saves me out of all my troubles.” (Ps. 34:17)

The more you put your trust in Him and learn not to lean on your own understanding the more you will see that He is in control. There is no problem to big for Him! He makes a way when there seems to be none. You don’t have to fret any more! Just truly surrender and you will not lack any good thing. Cast all your cares on Him. Seek His righteousness, goodness, and kingdom then everything else He’s take care of. Put Him first in everything. You can be free from all your fears by simply trusting Him! (Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33, 1 Peter 5:7)

Satan The Father of Lies

The enemy would have you believe that God is far away from you. He wants you to think that He does not hear your prayers. But that is a lie! God hears your prayer. He sees your tears and He hears your cry.

You have got to trust your Savior; the one who saved your soul from hell. Don’t get worried or scared when you don’t see your prayers answered. You have to trust Him no matter what lies the enemy will tell you. It’s ok to tell your Heavenly Father that you are scared, confused, and maybe even losing faith. He knows it anyways! It’s ok to say, “Lord I believe but help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

Sometimes our Lord does not answer our prayers the way we want or in the time we desire. However, that does not change the fact that He IS still in control! Nothing happens in our lives that God did not know was going to happen. He will be your strength in your time of weakness. He will give you extra faith to believe when you feel you’re scared or overwhelmed.

Just don’t fall for the lies of the enemy. Satan is the father of lies. There is no truth in him. (John 8:44) Jesus IS with you always! He died for your salvation. He promised not to leave us. In fact He sent his Spirit, the Holy Spirit to comfort us. His Spirit will guide and lead us through all of our days. We are never alone in this world with no hope. We have Jesus! His Spirit is with us to remind us of God’s promises when we need them most. (John 14:26) You have to know the Word in order to defeat the father of lies. It is the weapon Jesus used when the devil tried to tempt him. (Luke 4:1-13)

When need to have promises like these in our heart:

Ø “Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Ø “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Ø “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
Ø “I will never leave you; never forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

So when the enemy comes to whisper in your ear you can say “The Word says..”.

Choose to believe God because He if Faithful and True. Choose to believe God because He died for you! Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the believers. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Temptation - Our Daily Battle

Temptation is something that we will battle everyday of our lives. The enemy is constantly using bait such as physical desires, possessions, power, and pride to lure us into disobedience. He knows that our spirit is willing but our body is weak. The enemy knows that sin leads to death so he will be determined to deceive us and get us to disobey God. But if we resist the devil he will flee from us. (James 4:7) But how do we do that?

Jesus set the example for us when we he was tempted in the wilderness by satan. (Matt. 4:1-11) Christ defeated the enemy by responding with the truth of God’s Word. Every time satan spoke to Jesus our Lord responded saying “It is written”. This is the same as saying the "Word of God says". We need to know what the Word of God says in order to withstand the attack of the enemy. He knows what the Word says also and he will try to manipulate it and twist it so that we are confused and unsure. It is in spending time with God in prayer and in studying the bible that we will be equipped and alert ready to defeat temptation.

Jesus is also there to help us when we are being tempted. He knows what we go through and how we are tempted because he was tempted too, although he never sinned. So we can go to God and receive mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) The temptations in our lives are no different from what others experience. God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than we can stand. When we are tempted, he will show us a way out so that we can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God has given us common sense so let us properly evaluate our situations and avoid temptation. Recognize what people or situations cause us temptation and stay away so that we do not stumble. We need to run from anything that gives us evil thoughts and stay close to anything that makes us want to do right. It is good to enjoy the companionships of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts. These are the types of friends that we can trust to help keep us accountable and encourage us not to sin. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Remember that the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us is more powerful than anything in this world and you can defeat temptation because you are no longer a slave to sin. Walk in the wisdom that comes from knowing the Word of God and you will truly begin to comprehend and experience that the Word is truly sharper than any doubled-edged sword. You CAN win this daily battle against temptation in Jesus name! Amen..