Where Our Confidence Should Be!

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Proverbs 25:19 KJV
Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  Psalm 118:4-9 KJV

No matter what happens for the balance of this day, the year or my life, I know in whom I can trust and my complete confidence is in God--who knows the end from the beginning.

Though my confidence is in Him, I know that nothing worthwhile happens without active engagement. Therefore, I will be actively engaged in fighting injustice while I yet have the ability to breathe on my own and use my fingers to encourage others to stay in the battle until victory is won.

This was the attitude of the colonists who fought to get out from British rule and won forming the United States of America. These same Americans--those who resisted oppressive rule and domination--made provision for all who followed them to do the same--without reprisal from authoritarian leaders.

This is America--this is not a communist region under the thumb of a dictator and we will not be dominated by an ego-driven maniac who lacks self-discipline, wisdom and knowledge.

Every battle for justice has been won because people stood up and actively engaged in the process--for the Suffragettes, for Civil Rights, for Women's Rights, to protest Viet Nam involvement and for so many other matters--we stand up and speak up when we see our rights being trampled upon by those who would attempt to rule by bullying tactics. 

Silence implies consent in matters where people submit and cave to the dictates of others. Resistors are always the group of people who make change happen--we will not be silent and we will not stop standing, speaking up, marching, and writing opinions--expressing truths and giving voice to those who think they are not heard.

We will maintain our stance  like Noah who was mocked for building an ark and talking about rain; like Moses in the presence in the Pharaoh; like David standing against Goliath; like Job who refused to listen to his friends; like John the Baptist crying in the wilderness; like Jesus who knew what He had to do to save mankind, like Paul who though once an enemy to those "in the way" became a lion in promoting "the way."

We will not be silent so don't expect us to be quiet in the face of danger from a megalomaniac who does not know how to think and whose handlers are afraid to tell him the truth. 

The real impediment to peace in this country are those who think in boxes and never see the bigger picture. For one or two agendas, they promoted a pathological liar as God's choice for president. They overlooked the welfare of all Americans to appease the few. And now, the welfare--of all is in jeopardy--the sticky wickedness held in the web of deceit.

But my God--the creator of all things and without whom nothing was ever created--is faithful and just and it is in Him, my faith and confidence will continue--in spite of having a clown in the White House whose only concern is what appeases his ego and those who stroke it.

Lord, thank You for giving us the courage and strength to stand and remain standing against the wiles of the enemy, being a voice for those without a voice, resisting the evil that tries to encompass and rule us. We praise You for all Your mighty acts and for victory in all things that honor You. In Jesus' name I pray and thank You, Amen!

Speaking With Confidence!

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:12-19 NIV

Having the love of Christ abiding within our hearts is more important than anything else we could obtain. With His love, we can boldly approach the throne of Grace and place our petitions before Him, knowing He hears and will respond.

Therefore, with the love of Christ, overflowing in my heart, I boldly speak, with confidence that God's plan will prevail--no matter what we think about anything and that includes the political climate.

The email situation won't matter any more than being lewd and crude will matter in the greater scheme of God's plans.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is residing within--we can see the evidence--from without. Where there is love, not hate; where there is love, not fear; where there is love, not doubt; where there is love, not fear-mongering; where there is love, not rumor-mills feeding gossip; where there is love, not encouragement to do violence. Where there is love, there is a desire to serve God and people. Where there is love--we know, who knows God. 

What we all must do is to seek Him, hear and obey.

I have sought Him and according to His Word, I have obeyed.

Don't Worry About People!

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:6-9 NKJV

People--they can love on you one minute and hate you the next--depending upon whether you agree with them or disagree with them. There's the rub--mere mortals are too fickle to trust or to have great confidence in. This is why we have to trust in The Lord, who knows all things and the hearts of all people.

People will say one thing when actually they mean another. This is evident in what we see in this election cycle. Yeah, I know--here I go again, but I think it is important to point out material differences in what is reported in the media and what is actuality. Take for instance the visit to Detroit by the Republican nominee. On the surface  or rather from the angle pictures were taken and publicized, it would appear that the church was full. It was not, another picture as seen below--was taken from the rear of the church. Here we see a completely different story. The true story--one the nominee will never tell. In fact, there were more people outside the church protesting his visit than inside.

It is this kind of "manipulation" with truth that causes confusion and misleads others. Now, think about it. How much else has been manipulated so that the media publicizes one thing, but just the opposite is true? And for the record, the visit that was supposed to be an attempt to reach out to "African Americans" was a smokescreen--more manipulation and none of us in the Black Community were fooled by it. In fact, many of us saw this manipulation as insulting. The fake humility, the attempt to "teach" Black Americans about Lincoln, and then--in a church where people read the bible--consistently--he tries to school them about a passage of scripture. Absolutely laughable!

Even with all the negativity--tossed by both parties--those of us who know The Lord are not fooled by it. And most of us, would rather the candidates speak to the issues, not the personal insults because the bottom line is--one is less honest than the other (though neither has been completely transparent).
Fear--as a tool to manipulate--is actually a tool of the devil. For The Word tells us that perfect love, casts out fear. Since we know God is Love--then fear has to represent the devil--who works on the minds of people, causing them doubt. And we know, that when doubt enters in the mind of people, fear resides in their hearts. Doubt and faith cannot reside in the same place at the same time and we are told that those who doubt what God can do is a double-minded person, unstable in all their ways.  

For those of us who have both natural eyes to see what's in front of us and spiritual eyes to see through the smokescreens, we know--for our confidence is in The Lord, not man.

With the screaming and fear-mongering about Hillary and emails and Benghazi (all investigated and clearing her), not much has been said about the corrupt business deals that have caused people to lose their businesses and many people to lose money with misleading claims made to people about Trump University, the modeling agency, the casinos, and so much more. The bottom line for me is this--he may have money, but it is how his wealth was obtained--taking advantage of people-- that leaves a really nasty taste in my mouth. And before anyone attempts to chastise me, all this information is public knowledge--I'm just restating it for the record. I really feel sorry for all those who have bought into his rhetoric that is nothing more than lies. I believe the facts--speak louder than the innuendo by those who are capable of critical thinking. 

So we have a choice to make in November and it is less about someone trying to take away guns (that's never been said, but it has been manipulated to cause fear in others) than it's about--who's qualified to get the job done. If a person who is a business man can now create "millions of jobs" why didn't they do it as a private citizen? Of course, we know Trump exaggerates everything, so his word actually means nothing. Even when he keeps claiming he's not a politician, he hasn't realized that running for a public, elected position is the definition of a politician.

They both have some confidence building to do with all people. And while I support Hillary Clinton as the most qualified person to get the job done, my confidence remains in The Lord, not her and certainly not Trump.

Tooting Your Own Horn!

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:1,2 NIV

I can remember as a kid hearing the "older folks" say, "When you have to toot your own horn, you're just making noise." They would go on to explain that when a person has really done something worthwhile, praise coming from other people about the accomplishment means so much more than when a person exalts themselves.

That makes sense to me. Hearing someone else tell you how great you are at doing anything does two things for the average person. It bolsters confidence and instills humility at the same time.

I'm usually amazed at some of the things people say to me; especially since I don't see me the way others see me. I'm competitive--by nature--and I'm usually competing with myself--always trying to find a way to do something better. As a kid, while other kids were outside playing, I was in the house reading a book because I wanted to be a better reader. When we (the girls) played sports with the boys, I wanted to be a better player, so I didn't play like the girls (Miss Prissy); I played like the boys and was a tomboy until after I was fifteen years old. I loved playing touch football and beating the boys we played against. But it was because of those boys that I learned how to swing a bat and release after a hit without knocking someone out with the bat. I learned how to play basketball really well competing with the boys because they were taller and I had to try harder.

As an educator, I am always surprised when a colleague tells me what other students say about me. Personally, I thought my students hated my guts, so when either students or instructors tell me how my former Hearing that makes me feel like I really have to step up my game--to keep the momentum going because I don't want to disappoint me or others. students recommend me to others--that's invigorating, yet humbling. And though I think I'm a pretty good teacher, but I've seldom said that to anyone. I'm creative and always looking for new ways to present basic--humdrum information because I don't like being bored.

When introducing myself to a new class, I simply tell them my name and give them their first writing assignment--to Google me and then write about what they discover.  They share what they discover with the class and we move on from that point. I want them to know--I know about writing, but I don't think I should spend class time trying to convince them.

So, when implementing this particular proverb to my daily life--I'd rather hear what others have to say about me than to say anything about me. Since I don't see me as others do, I probably wouldn't do a good job of telling anyone anything. I see me with the flaws and imperfections, but thankfully, a number of people look past them or don't recognize them until I say something about them.

More importantly, I strive to please God, not people. I know if I live according to His Word, more than likely He'll be pleased, even when I don't think I'm good enough--I know, He still loves me. And maybe, just maybe, I'm a little too hard on myself. But I'd rather look at me--with a critical eye, than to look at me with an appraising eye and attempt to say anything about me.

What I've discovered about most people is this--if they have to tell who they are--chances are--they are not all they think they are. The more people brag about themselves, the greater the likelihood that others will see their flaws and not their accomplishments. That's what happens when we have to toot our own horns; we invite closer inspection.

Who Do We Turn To?

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:12-16 NIV

When in trouble--who are we going to call? Perhaps, one of the reasons we are facing such difficult times in our society is that we are looking in the wrong direction for help. There is no help from the government coming our way unless The Lord moves upon the hearts of all those in authority to make a real difference in our world. And while many of those in authority do not have a heart for God, it is up to us who do--to seek Him to radically change hearts towards Him.

The Word of God tells us, "We don't have what we need because we don't know how to ask for it." (James 4:2,3)  How do we ask? We boldly approach God, knowing that our Father loves us and only wants the best for us, therefore His ear is inclined to hear us. When we know we live to please Him, we don't need to hesitate to put our requests before Him and have faith that He will respond to our requests.

Unfortunately, too many people approach God timidly--fearful and hesitant--because they think He won't hear them.  They are like that child who wants something from their parents, but mumble under their breath--afraid to speak up--with their heads down--not wanting to face them. Some parents have to prod this child to even understand what it is they are asking and sometimes, frustration gets in the way of the request and no one is happy. Is that how we approach God when we need help? Are our heads hanging down because we know we have not obeyed His Word? Is this why we are hesitant and fearful?

It's not like He doesn't know what we need or want before we even ask. He just wants us to be bold enough to ask Him. That boldness is demonstrated in an assurance that He will grant our request--not arrogance in thinking He has to do anything--but confidence in His love and living right before Him.

Instead of looking for an individual--mere mortals in government to change our situations--let's look to The Lord, boldly putting our requests before Him and then let's listen to what He has to say and obey!  If our motives are right, He will hear and grant our request--of that we can be sure of!

It Is Written!

"It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
"It is also written:'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
"Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 NIV

Three times, Jesus told Satan who was trying to entice Him by engaging Him in nonsensical conversation and behavior. Tempting him to be a magician--"turn these stones into bread." Tempting Him to destroy himself to prove himself--"throw yourself down" from the highest point of the temple. Tempting Him by offering what was not his to give--"All this I will give you if you bow down and worship me." Satan was offering Jesus that which was already His.

And because Jesus knew who He was--confident in His role determined by the Father, He didn't argue with Satan; He simply said, "it is written."

Now, there was an assumption here on the part of Jesus and that was--Satan's ability to read with understanding. Most educators know that not everyone who claims to know how to read, actually read with understanding. Some people are simply word-callers--they recognize and can sound out the words, but they do not understand the relationship between words in order to comprehend the context of what is being said.

The most tragic part of assessing a person's ability to understand what is written is to determine that though many adults claim to read, they lack comprehension skills. And this is why--many are combative, angry, and irritable--they lack understanding and if we lack understanding, our confidence level sinks.

In order to know how to effectively avoid engagement with those who would attempt to deter us from destined path, we need to know what God says about us and the only we can know that is to get into His Word and seek Him for understanding. Then, when the enemy comes to tempt us, we can say, "It is written" for we have read what was written and understand it.

Having read instructions, directions, and even for entertainment, we can build our confidence in the knowledge that we comprehend and this strategy is useful in all walks of life. This is why having a paper trail--written communication--in business engagement is crucial. People forget, but if they attempt to say they were not informed and it was written, they have no argument.

So, let us endeavor to negate argumentative situations--no matter who instigates them by countering with, "It is written" and leaving it alone.

By Faith, Not Foolishness!

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is the what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV)

Many people have varying opinions about what faith is and how it should operate in our lives, but this particular passage of scripture reminds us how God defines faith. Having faith is being confident about those things we hope to see and the assurance about what we do not see.

By faith, we sit on chairs we did not see built, expecting them to support us without collapsing.

By faith, we live in our houses made from the wood of trees we did not grow and most of us--unless we built from the ground up--did not see the framework built, the foundation poured, or the roof installed, yet we expect the house to withstand the elements and we rest with assurance that it will keep us safe--every time we go to sleep.

By faith, we eat food in restaurants we did not cook, expecting not to become ill and the food will nourish us.

By faith, we walk outside expecting to breathe in oxygen, even though we cannot see it--we never challenge it is there.

By faith, we start up cars--expecting them to get us from one point to the other and we have no idea whether the car was built correctly or even if those responsible for inspecting the finished product, even knew how to do their jobs. We keep buying cars and driving them with assurance--until there is a mechanical problem.

By faith, we buy produce and other products from supermarkets--expecting them to be good even though we did not have a hand in growing anything or manufacturing anything we purchase.

By faith, we bring children into an uncertain world--confident that we will see them survive and thrive beyond the uncertainties and we do what we can--without being able to see into the future--to make sure they have a good life.

By faith, we teach our children to be careful when crossing streets, confident that when we have taught them, they will not foolishly walk in front of moving traffic.

By faith, when we know that all the utilities have been paid, we turn on water and light switches without checking to see if the pipes and wires are working. We simply expect them to be.

There are so many things we do by faith (not feelings--for feelings are fickle) without even thing about it, but when it comes to the things of God--our faith--confidence in Him--wavers because we listen to the naysayers and doubt.

Jesus said, "When we pray, we must believe we receive" that for which we have asked so if we have received, why ask for it again? Faith--to receive what we have asked for is demonstrated in our thanksgiving until it manifests itself--not in constantly asking for the same thing.

On the other hand, those who deliberately do dumb things and expect God to save them are not acting in faith, but foolishly. We can expect God to save us from situations we did not create or know about, but to do things foolishly in anticipation of Him being a magician--is foolish.

Now--is the time--we must have faith in God with complete confidence that all He has promised--He will provide and all we have to do is--believe it will come to pass.

Our Response!

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 NIV)

As always, when I post something using a selected verse of scripture, I encourage the reader to read the entire passage to maintain the context!

Whenever we run into the naysayers and those who would attempt to make us feel foolish about our beliefs and faith, we merely have to recognize the enemy at work. We remember--if God is for us, who can be against us? Only those who are influenced by the enemy! The Lord knows those who are His and so does the enemy.

The enemy--that old devil--knows who is already acting on his behalf--they are his and they do all he influences them to do. These are the liars, the murderers, the thieves, the child molesters and abusers, the manipulators, those wearing sheep's clothing--masquerading as Christians when they do everything in opposition to God's Word. These proclaim to promote--love--when in actuality they promote lust. These proclaim that only part of God's Word is true and the rest is ancient mythology. These proclaim that modern society should rid itself of the Truths of God's Word and simply allow everybody to do whatever they want. These do not understand that without God and a standard of morality, man will cease to exist as have some civilizations.

Whenever man has chosen to do whatever the flesh desired, others suffered the consequences of those actions. We still are.

When see arbitrary behavior that denies God's existence and His intent for mankind, our response should simply be--"We know who we are, Satan and we will obey God, not you!"

When thoughts come into our minds that could lead to depression-our response is, "The joy of The Lord is our strength!"

When someone says we are already defeated our response is, "We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!"

When our wallets and bank accounts are almost depleted our response is, "All my needs are met through Christ Jesus!"

When we receive negative reports from doctors our response is, "By His stripes we are healed and made whole!"

When someone attempts to make us believe we are nothing our response is, "We are children of the Most High God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus!"

For The Word says we are not ignorant of the enemy's devices--his MO. And when we recognize who's behind an incident, we simply say what God says and keep it moving. We don't have to argue about it--God has declared and we stand on what He says, not the enemy who was thrown out of heaven because of disobedience and rebellion.

Hallelujah Jesus! We are Yours and You are ours--our comforter, and guiding light; You reveal all Truth to us and we will hear and obey You--giving the devil no place in our lives!

We Have To Trust Him!

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him," (Nahum 1:7 NIV)

How many times do we see the word "trust" as it pertains to trusting God? The word appears 134 times--either to say trust in God or not to put our trust in man or things.

For those who are apt to refute God's goodness by pointing to all the ills of the world, I would have to ask, where those problems are--is it because of a lack of trust in God or too much trust in man?
For those who have never acknowledged Him, how can He help them? For those who refuse to obey Him, how can He help them?

The reality is--God is good and for those who know Him, not just about Him, they know they can trust Him, implicitly. Does that mean that we get everything we want? Absolutely not! Sometimes, the things we want are the very things that would take our focus off Him and because He loves us, He not will give us those things.

People have been skeptical of my faith and trust in God, but when I pray, I pray for wisdom--not things. I proclaim the promises fulfilled, even though I may have to wait to see them. I thank God always for providing everything I need and the desires of my heart when I please Him. And He answers every prayer.

We have been thanking God for 1 + Million readers of my books. We believe that God will honor our request and fulfill it. When He will honor it--is on Him; we are simply confident that He will. And it is because of that confidence in Him that I keep writing. He blesses the works of our hands when what we do honors Him.

There are no magic bullets that will increase our faith, trust or confidence in His Word. That only happens within the relationship and all relationships take time to develop. If you haven't started developing a right relationship with God, now is a good time. He's waiting just for you because He loves you and only wants the best for you!

Our faith and trust in Him, results in seeing the blessings He pours upon us, when we least expect it. He responds to our faith, not our tears--though the tears may cleanse us when we repent--they do not move God, our faith and trust in Him--results in Him acting on our behalf.

Confidence and a Clear Conscience!

"We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you." (2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT)

When Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, he was reminding believers that he and the other disciples had lived life--with holiness as the foundation for living--and they could say it with confidence and a clear conscience--having no need to be ashamed of the life they had lived. Can we say the same?

If we were writing a letter to encourage someone to live a holy life--according to God's Word--could we say what needed to be said with confidence and a clear conscience? Considering the fact that the apostles who had a relationship with Christ before He ascended and even after--especially those who were in "the upper room" when the fire fell from heaven, were walking spirit-filled lives--do we even have a chance to measure up to their standards?

While we may not be able to proclaim doing all that they did, we should have our testimony--how we arrived at a place where we believed and were saved. When we share our testimonies--sincerely and without fanfare--we can have confidence of what we say and with a clear conscience--knowing we are not trying to scam anyone into believing Christ Jesus--we can effect life changes for many.

If we share--how we were once lost and guilty of indulging in any and everything we thought we wanted--and with our experience, understood what it meant to be in need of a Savior--came into the light, confessing all we had done and repenting of it--people can relate and have hope for themselves or their loved ones. "The blood of the lamb and our testimony" offers hope of salvation to all who are willing to hear and receive.

Imagine--for a moment--what life would be like for you and others if--after knowing the Truth, you continued along the path you were taking. How much different would life be right now? If someone had not shared the Gospel with you, where would you be? If you had not recognized the need to change--how many lives would have been affected--negatively? Would you have a clear conscience now or would you be riding guilt (some go through life so burdened with guilt that they carry it with them wherever they go) through life?

We can have a clear conscience and say with confidence that we are living life with holiness as a foundation--when we look to Him who is able to accomplish all things through us.

Just Curious!

If The Word tells us "we can" do all things through Christ who strengthens us, why is it that many have become so comfortable with, "I can't" that they don't even try?

Either God is lying or those who say, "I can't" are lying. I'm willing to stake my life on the fact that God is not lying, but people are lazy and complacent. Or they do not know how to say, "I don't know how" or "I don't do things as well as.." or "I simply do things differently."

Can't--the four letter word that keeps people from trying has become an excuse for Christians who say, "I can," but never try and then their voice echoes with, "I can'ts' for others to pick up the rhythm and sing the chorus,

"I can't, I can't, I can't
Even though God says I can,
With all my aches and pains,
I'll take my ill-informed stand
Allowing the enemy's lies to reign,
I can't, I can't, I can't."

Okay, I think the point has been made. I don't know how to drive a stick-shift well, but you won't hear me say, I can't. My artwork consists of mostly stick-people, but you won't hear me say, I can't draw. There are so many things that I probably don't know how to do, but you won't hear me say, I can't--if I've never tried, I don't know what I can do in my own power, but with Him, "I can do all things" to His glory!

Just Curious--what are your thoughts?

**Physical incapacity--must include the inability to sit on your own or the inability to stand on your own. If you can do these two things, there are many things "you can do" without thinking about, "I can't."***

When We Pray!

"The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer" (Psalm 6:9 NLT).

One of the reasons that many do not see their prayers "answered" is because they do not believe that The Lord hears them the first time, so they repeat "often" the same prayer--using the same words--as though God has a memory problem.

Jesus said, "whatever we ask of the Father in His name, would be given." He also said we must have faith, without doubting--if we have faith and don't doubt--we have no need to "ask" again, not for the same thing, using the same words. Once we ask, we simply thank Him for hearing and answering prayer.

One of the biggest problems with "prayers" is the belief that there is only one prayer--The Lord's Prayer--which is inappropriately named. This model prayer should be called, "The Model Prayer" since within it are the elements that Jesus needed to teach the disciples as they requested--before He returned to the Father. The Lord's Prayer--the prayer that He prayed in the garden before being arrested is found in John 17--this is "His prayer" and if we want to teach people His prayer, this is passage of scripture that should be taught. 
                   To Whom do we pray? We pray to The Father--in Jesus' name.
                    If we need to repent--repent.
                    Deliverance is available through the work on the cross--no need to keep asking, unless    one has not been delivered.
                   Our daily bread--provisions for the natural body as well as the spiritual body in His Word.

The point I'm making is that The Model Prayer was provided when He was still here--before His crucifixion and His resurrection. Everything in the Model Prayer has already been accomplished, so why would we ask for it again? Is it because we do not know the power and purpose of prayer?

Prayer should not be a litany of words repeated to sound spiritual, but prayer should be a heartfelt conversation with God--one in which we talk and He talks. He listens and we listen--this is prayer--communication with Him.

If we look closely at what John tells us, Jesus tells exactly when we could ask for whatever we wanted (aligned with The Word of course) and it would be given (John 14:12-14).

Think about prayer--as communication--this way. If we are in relationship with someone else and we are communicating with them--do we say the same thing over and over again or do we listen and respond, while they listen and respond?

Develop a right relationship with God and see the difference our prayers make and His response. We can pray with confidence and know that He hears and will answer our prayers.

I am so confident that He hears my prayers, I have no need to repeat the request, but I do keep thanking Him for whatever it is requested, until the answer is manifested. He always hears and answers my prayers, but sometimes--I simply don't like His response--but He does answer.

Pray--with faith and confidence in Him--and He will answer, but listen closely to what He is saying.

Don't Throw It Away!

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward" (Hebrews 10:35 NKJV).

Of course, to understand exactly what Paul is saying (and we can conclude that it is Paul from verse 34) one would have to read the entire preceding verses. Does this have application to us today?

Absolutely! We cannot allow all the trials and tribulations we suffer to deter us or to cancel out our faith and confidence in the One who gives us life!

So what--if a job was lost--take a deep breath, look up and see the favor of The Lord being showered upon you!

So what--if a bad report is given by a doctor about an illness--look up and remember to thank Him for your healing when He was beaten before being raised on the cross.

So what--if a spouse leaves--look up and remember that we are never alone because He promised to always be with us.

So what--if people think our faith in God is foolishness--I'd rather God judge my foolishness in my obedience to Him than be a tool for the enemy to use.

So what--if things don't always go your way--stop and think about whether your way is also God's way and if not, turn and adjust--keeping your sight on the path on which He would have you follow.

If we don't quit when the going gets tough, but persevere until the end of the matter--we will reap the reward for endurance and know the blessings of The Lord!

Don't allow the enemy to trick you into throwing away your confidence in God--just because stuff doesn't happen the way you want it to happen or when you want it to happen. Our timetable, is not God's timetable and we should really seek Him to get on His.

We were warned," in the world we would have tribulations and persecutions," but He has overcome the world and we shall triumph and have victory in every situation that comes against us. Hallelujah for our Risen Savior who has given us the victory over sin, doubt, and unbelief--carving our confidence in Him in our hearts with His Word!

Now, get up and shake the dust from your feet (and the doubt from your mind), He is able to do all things and do them well and because we have confidence in Him, so can we!  Move 'em out! In Jesus' name!

Defeating Giants In Your Life

"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers 13:33).

Whenever a person's "mind is set" upon a specific outcome--due to inferior complexes, insecurities, or simply fear, their perspective of the situation is colored by the moment and their feelings. Earlier in this passage of scripture, we see Caleb being sent out to spy out the land--to see what the Children of Israel would be up against when they moved forward. While Caleb admitted to Moses and the people that there were indeed giants in the land, he was also confident in their ability to overcome the obstacles before them.

If our confidence is in the God we serve, we can indeed overcome and defeat any giants that attempt to get in our way. We can only be defeated by our circumstances when our confidence is in our own ability without God. Caleb understood this very basic premise--trust in The Lord--no matter what things look like--and hold to His promises and know they will be fulfilled. God's promises were fulfilled then and they will be fulfilled now. After all, God is not a respecter of persons and so His love for us is the same as His love for the Children of Israel as they traversed the land.

What giants are threatening to decimate you? Debt, sickness, disease, fear, intimidation, poverty, insecurity, family issues, personality conflicts--all can cause one's perspective to see the obstacle bigger than they are.

Be encouraged--though there are giants that arise in everyone's life--we have the power of the Holy Spirit operating within us and nothing--no weapon shall prosper against us. We have all we need to be conquer any giant in the land or in our lives as long as our trust is in God and not self. In order to defeat the giants, we must see ourselves as Caleb saw things--"we are well able to overcome the giants" those things that "we think" are bigger than our God.

Our God is awesome, He's great and with Him going before us--every day we wake, He is more than enough to cause us to be victorious--no matter what. Nothing is impossible with God. We must remember that the battles we encounter with anything are not ours, but His and He is King of Kings. Victory is ours, when we keep our focus on Him, and not on us and our own abilities. Now, it's time to face the giants and defeat them!

We Can Ask Anything?

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (I John 5:14 NIV).

I just came to a conclusion about expounding upon scriptures, verse by verse. If I wrote about any "one" scripture a day, I would probably not live long enough to address all of them. Therefore, I try to explicate those that encourage confidence in our belief and promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, remind of instructions given and rewards for obedience, and warn of the consequences of disobedience.

Verse twelve and thirteen of this same passage provide us with a foundation for our beliefs. John says that "whoever has the Son of God has life (hope for eternal life) and whoever does not have Him, does not" and then he explains why he's writing to the churches.

If we believe that we have Jesus in our lives, and we have given Him authority over our lives, we have access to heaven and our mansions. If we don't believe, we won't have. But with the belief comes the confidence that we can go to God, on our own, and ask Him anything, and we know He hears us. If He hears us, will He not respond to us?

There are many who do not believe in God, and certainly don't have conversations with Him, but for those of us, who do--we know-we can talk to Him any time, expect Him to hear us and respond to our requests. When we ask of Him anything that aligns with His Word (His Word is His will), we can expect to receive it. John knew there were those who scorned believers and tried to make them feel foolish because of their beliefs and he wrote to them to remind them--they knew Truth and they could count on Truth to do all He said He would do.

So, go ahead, ask God--anything--in Jesus' name--and see for yourself that He will respond. For believers, you know what I mean.

For scorners who don't believe--don't believe! Asking God for anything foolish or evil will not happen, but then if you don't believe, why ask Him anything?

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You to strengthen the faith of believers everywhere so they will develop confidence in You and know that whatever we ask of You in Your Son's name, will be given. Amen!

He Knows!

"Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely" (Psalm 139:4 NIV).

When we say, we have a relationship with God, we have no excuse to do those things or say them that are contrary to His Word.

Psalm 94:11 tells us that He knows our thoughts, and in this verse, He knows what we will say before we say it. Whatever is in our hearts, usually comes up and makes itself known when we speak.

If evil is in our heart, this is what others will see. If righteousness is in our hearts, this is what others will see.

Changing how we think and what we think, will change what others think of us and we will be more effective in promoting the Gospel.

If we have a filthy mouth, it is because our thoughts are filthy.

If we only think of lust, we will only speak of lustful things and ideas.

If we think about unconditional love and what that means, we will speak and promote love.

Whatever we think about the most, is what we'll become and do. We cannot fool God at any time, and we can only fool man for a moment. Our thoughts become our deeds and deeds our ways and before we say anything, God already knows what is in our hearts and what will come out of our mouths.

God knows, we cannot hide from Him. The psalmist goes on to ask a question in verse seven: "Where can we go that God will not be there?" There is no running away, but we can run into His arms and know we are safe from the enemy. However, it is our choice and before we can even say anything to justify our choices, God knows.

The God Who Guides!

"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end" (Psalm 48:14 NIV).

The Sons of Korah had a revelation about which God truly has power. They knew the history of the Israel who had been caught up with worshipping gods made--with the hands of man--whose only power was in the superstitious belief of the people. But now, they understood that there is a God--one whom man had not created and could not be seen with the natural eye--who had power to change the course of things and did. With the discovery and understanding, they praised Him for His mighty acts on their behalf and submitted to His guidance.

 How many gods are people worshipping today? Are they worshipping the gods made by the hands of man--cars, careers, money, status, power--their idols (trophies, certificates, degrees, all which can be seen and touched) and for some--their spouses? What real power do any of these things have? How can they guide a person anywhere? How can anyone really put their trust in these things or people and expect them to last forever?

At one time--as recorded in the history books and in the bible--images were made of men and things (animals in particular) and the things were given power by the imaginations of the people. The best record of their total impotence is the story of "their gods" pitted against God with Elijah and the "fire consumed everything" in the troughs and around them. No magic, just the power of a God who created all things and without whom, nothing was created. The Sons of Korah got it--have we?

We should not expect our God to act like a magician when we need anything, but we certainly need to learn to listen and hear Him when He speaks so He can guide us into the direction in which we will receive all we desire. The true power of God lies within us and in our obedience to God. As He told Joshua, "if we will keep His commandments, then everything we put our hands to would prosper and we would have good success." Are we obeying? Have we made any effort to accomplish anything?

When we don't receive the answers we want from God, perhaps we should look at our responses to Him when He speaks to us. Can He count on us to do what He asks us to do? Will we obey Him even when we don't understand what it is He wants us to do? Have we clearly demonstrated that our trust is in Him and Him alone?

 Consider the "things" that you have amassed. What power have you given them? Do you trust them to guide you in all things? Can they provide you with answers to questions that arise in your life? Are you building a kingdom in which you want to reign or are you a Kingdom Builder--leading others to the God who reigns forever? 

 Father, in the name of Jesus, help us to be as wise as those who have gone before us in recognizing that though there may be many gods that people worship; You are the only God who guides--forever. Amen!

Having Everything We Need!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3 NIV).

Peter reminds us that Holy Spirit is God's divine power, working in us and through us so that we can live the life that God intends for us to live--through our knowledge of Him.

What is Holy Spirit's role? His role is to guide and instruct and to bring back to our remembrance all that we have been taught, according to Jesus through John's Gospel. If we are listening to Holy Spirit and obeying Him, we have no need to worry about anything and that includes the things that are happening in this world, in which we have no control. People--because of their self-interest without the knowledge of God--will do exactly what they are doing.

But we who are called--out of darkness and into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ--are without excuse; especially when we proclaim to know God. We are to be the example to the world. Our light (the light of love) should shine so brightly that it dispels darkness and the works of darkness where ever we go. The joy of the Lord should be so overwhelming in us that it flows from us onto others so they too will gain understanding. Our peace--should stand as a model for others during times of restless economy and uncertain attitudes that start wars.  We are the ones who should be able to put ten thousands to flight when we know we live the life that God has ordained us to live. We should not fear what the enemy can do because we have the greater one living within us.

If we are indeed clothed for the battle of spiritual warfare--we are protected from the enemy's fiery darts and we are armed with the Word of God--that two-edged sword that cuts going in and coming out. If we are fearful in the midst of chaos, what else could we expect from those who do not know God? Fear--leads to confusion--which leads to uncertainty and making wrong decisions.  "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind."

Our confidence is in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and in knowing that we can do all things through Him. Where there is confidence, there is no need for fear to have room to operate.

Now, let's get ready to move out--in the spirit--and do battle to the glory of Glory, knowing we have everything we need to obtain victory in Christ Jesus! Move 'em out! It is time for those of who have a relationship with God to show the world how to live and love as God does--openly; not behind closed doors or by being secret agents. Hallelujah! God is using us to show up and show out on our behalf--let Him have His perfect way in your life today! We win!

Fulfilling His Purposes!

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

If we, as believers in God, accept His Word as His revealed purpose for our lives, then what He spoke through Jeremiah speaks volumes as to God's plans for our lives. "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" (29:11 NIV).

When we prosper (and not just in material wealth), we are fulfilling God's good purpose for our lives. Our prosperity is a result of our obedience in all things and therefore we should not be ashamed to declare what God has done and is doing in our lives.

With all of the head-shaking and murmurs against "prosperity preachers" one would have to wonder if those complaining read and understood and had God reveal His truth about His Word. God is not against our prosperity--He might have some issues with how some have prospered, especially if the means to prosper encompassed misleading people or lying, or being corrupt. Not every so-called prosperity preacher is just preaching prosperity. We need to listen with our whole "spiritual ears" and hear what is being said.  The notion that God intended for His children to live like paupers is so beneath a loving, Father, that I wonder--who people are really serving when they think God wants us to be poor!

Throughout The Word, we are told the outcome or results, if you will, of our being obedient: we would have good success and everything we put some effort into would prosper; His blessings will overtake us and we'll be the lenders, not the borrowers; we'll be the head and not the tail in business; and this list could go on and on. When Jesus was teaching His disciples just before His return, He told, "whatever you ask of the Father in my name, that I will do." So, where's the problem with prosperity?

Some want to amass riches for their own purposes, but there are many of us who have faith and confidence in God's Word so that we can "assist those in need." The more we prosper, the more we can help others and this is the Will of God that we--born-again believers--help those who cannot help themselves. If we were doing this right now, this country would not need welfare benefits, but it is because of those in political offices--those who have become greedy and forgot the needy, that this country is in such a mess. When those who God has promoted to positions to help, forget how they got there, chaos and confusion reign and their only concern is what they can get out of the situation; not in helping others. We see that right now--with a Congress that won't work for the people, but are more interested in pushing their own agenda. This is not part of God's plan--this is pure politics. Since that is the case--I can only conclude the politicians involved are not acting in accordance to God's plan to fulfill His good purposes.

Father, help us to understand You better.  Give us a heart like Your heart.  Give us a mind-set so we can think like You think. Move every obstacle out of our way so we can accomplish all that You have planned for us so Your good purposes will be fulfilled. In Jesus' name, I pray and thank You, Amen!

What I Have Learned!

"He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you" (John 16:14 NIV).

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples, just before He returned to His Father, He was reminding them of the role of the Holy Spirit (His Spirit) who would remain in the earth realm to guide, reveal, remind, and instruct.

The Holy Spirit will guide us through tumultuous times--economic downturns, chaos and confusion across the land, and in the midst of a disturbance of our peace, He reminds us that God's peace surpasses all understanding. I've learned that if I rest in His peace, what is happening all around me, won't disturb me, but gives me purpose in prayer.

By His spirit, we will receive insight to things to come and when we are totally submitted and committed, He will create in us the spirit of "a watchman", warning the people.  If we warn them and they do not heed the warning, their blood is on their own hands.  If we do not warn them of impending danger, their blood when disaster strikes will be on our hands.  I've learned some people will never listen because they think they know everything.

Perhaps, more importantly, the role of the Holy Spirit is to remind us of The Word when we need it in a moment, and to instruct us in our behavior towards others--exercising discernment and wisdom. I've learned that no matter what I do or say, I'll never please everyone, so I concentrate on pleasing God.  If I please Him and others are pleased as a by-product--amen.  If they are not pleased as I please Him--oh well!

I've learned how to live holy, maintaining my relationship with God, seeking always to please Him and expecting to see fulfillment of His promises towards me. Some may think I'm being arrogant in my faith in God's promises, but I am simply being confident in Him, who cannot lie and will bring to pass every promise, and complete everything He ignites in us to do. I've learned to love--even those who appear to not care at all, but I love any way.  Again, their disdain gives my prayer purpose.  In fact, everything that I know I cannot control, gives my prayer purpose.

And when I pray, my communication with God is a two-way conversation.  While I talk, He listens and when He speaks, I listen. I pray with confidence, knowing He will respond. I always thank God for the desired result and because I pray in alignment with His Word, He will respond favorably.

Looking back over my life, I realize I have learned a great deal and still have much more to learn. What have you learned?

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for keeping my heart and spirit tuned-in to You so I may know how to proceed on a daily basis and for loving me enough to keep teaching me! Amen!