Take good counsel and accept corrections–that’s the way to live wisely and well.  We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.  Proverbs 19:20-21 Message

We think we know but do we really know? We ask for God’s plan and we get a glimpse and say, “I see!” But seeing what we see and seeing the end and the road to that end is something completely out of our view.

Two well known verses come to mind:

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23

I’ve covered these in prior blogs, but let me add to it that only God knows the end from the beginning. Why? Because He doesn’t work within the boundaries of our time. God works outside of time so He know’s everything about everything. He saw the end of your life at the beginning of your life. His entire plan for you, done! Not because we don’t have a free will, but because he saw our choices before we made them and accommodated for them.

God has always desired for you to have intimate relationship with Him. He created you for that! But He won’t force himself or His plans on you, He simply beckons you to come. Your plan B can become your plan A if you choose to surrender to Him and trust Him just as a child trusts.

I know, you’re an adult, right? You don’t need anyone to take care of you, you can take care of yourself. That is until you need Him. Until you’re desperate for a miracle healing, a miracle provision, then you’re all in! He wants you for you and needs you to want Him for Him. Not to come to Him with your Christmas list and challenge, but with a broken spirit submitting to the Father Spirit.

I surrender to You! My heart belongs to You, not just in name, but in actions. I just want to know more about You. It’s in Your name and for Your glory, Amen.

Hope this song encourages you today!

Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward. Children born to a young couple will one day rise to protect and provide for their parents. Happy will be the couple who has many of them! A household full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies, for your offspring will have influence and honor to prevail on your behalf! Psalm 127:3-5 TPT

We’ve heard true stories from our fathers about our rich heritage. We will continue to tell our children and not hide from the rising generation the great marvels of our God—
his miracles and power that have brought us all this far. Psalm 78:3-4 TPT

I promised I would demonstrate how I have personalized the Word over various situations I’ve faced over the years. Again, this is from a personal revelation I’ve received and implemented. It’s not used to manipulate God into doing what I want, it’s merely putting Him in remembrance of His Word and showing the enemy that I know my rights.

As David stated, it’s important to not hide the Word from our children, but to tell them about God, what He’s done in the past and able to do in the future. What they do with that teaching is between God and them, but the Word is very clear in stating that when we train them up in the way they should go, when they’re old they won’t depart from that truth. So that is my foundation when going before the Lord.

Lord, I thank you for our daughters who are gifts from You. Regardless of what they are doing presently, they are a gift and one day they will rise to protect and provide the care we need. Thank You that the Word has been planted in their hearts and will one day yield a fruitful harvest.

Father, I give the care of my children over to You because I trust You with them. I’m thankful that Your blood covers them, that they walk in forgiveness of sin and that you sent Your Word to deliver them and heal them of all diseases. No harm will come near their homes or their bodies. You give Your angels charge over them to keep them in all their ways.

Thank You for exposing the works of the enemy and his plans to harm them, for according to Jeremiah 33:6, You will bring health and healing; You will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. My children will walk in peace. Every situation they face will end up being used for good and not evil. You will use them in mighty ways to utter Your truth in the earth.

I thank You for giving my children and my grandchildren a hunger and thirst for righteousness knowing that You will fill them to the full till they overflow onto others. Because the light of Your Word lives in them, they in turn will be a light to the world that will not be hidden. That light will expose evil by shining Your stunning love into the hearts of those around them.

It’s in Jesus mighty and wonderful name I give You praise. Your Word will remain active, alive and working in their lives that You may be glorified in the earth. Amen.

Now, stop speaking doubt, fear and unbelief and only speak what the Word says. Regardless of what you see in the natural, His Word NEVER falls short or misses the mark. Trust me, my faith has been tested many times by what goes on in this natural realm, but I chose to believe what God says. He always makes good on His promises even when it doesn’t turn out the way you think it should. Be encouraged today! God still reigns!

I have a long standing love for the Word of God. It’s a part of my DNA which I can trace back in my lineage from pastors, evangelists, missionaries and church planters several generations back. Just as people who do a DNA search and find they’re from a specific country or tribe, I can say with absolute certainty that I’m my Fathers child and a part of His Kingdom.

For years now, I’ve been on a journey of discovery, one that has opened my eyes to some critical errors in not only how I was taught by traditional church’s I’ve attended and served in, but also things I’ve believed were true without checking it’s validity. I have concluded that it’s impossible to know God without knowing His nature. To have knowledge of someone is not the same as knowing them intimately.

In the words of Paul to Timothy, “Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 TPT

I’ve been called out on my views by multiple people over the years and it doesn’t bother me. I’m not a Biblical scholar. I haven’t attended a Seminary school or rubbed elbows with the great teachers over the years, but I’ve spent a lifetime at the feet of Jesus, alone in my room, seeking to know Him and honing my skills in hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit who leads me into all truth. If that’s not qualification enough, it’s all good in the hood. Move along and keep your opinions to yourself. It’s not that I’m unteachable, I just tell it like it’s given to me.

In the process of learning about my foundation, God has given me some amazing teachers to pour into me which He always uses to confirm His Word to me. That’s right! I study, read, listen and sit and when I have questions about what I’m learning, I ask and He always answers me. How He answers is always unique and different, but He always does.

As I branch out into this week of sharing what I’ve learned over the years, I hope there’s something in it that either confirms what you know or challenges you to snuggle up to the One who loves you more then anyone in the world will ever love you. If you don’t take the time to become intimately acquainted with Him, you’ll have nothing to gage the strength of the truth you lean heavily upon.

Father, You’re so easy to love, even when I don’t get what I want, I know I’ve neither got what I’ve deserved. You said that I would know the Truth and it would make me free. You also said You would lead me into that truth. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I will not stumble and fall for You watch over my steps. Continue to increase me in wisdom and to give me a deeper love for Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue and they that love it will eat it’s fruit. Proverbs 18:21

It’s amazing to me how few people understand the meaning and application of this verse. It seems we are a society given to speaking what we feel without measuring the cost involved. Accusations hurled without knowing the facts, repeating what we hear rather then what we know. Our world is at an all time low when it comes to our words.

Even so called Christians get on the band wagon to cry out for everyone and anyones right to do what they please without consulting what the Word says about it. There are times I have to check to see who in their right mind would post such things on social media when not even Jesus shared that point of view.

Since our words are a weapon, we must be careful with what we say and how we say it. We can’t use our words to express our feelings then when we need to experience healing or provision, change our words to line up with Gods. That’s fickle or as it says in James 1:8, double mindedness.

There’s nothing more disconcerting then someone who quotes the Bible but is not acquainted with the nature of God. He is LOVE! He loves to give good gifts to His Children! Heaven help us if He can’t tell the difference between you and the world. Clearly somehow we’ve missed the ‘come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing’ part.

I will close with this passage from 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 from the Message translation:

Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

“I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God.
“Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.
I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.”
The Word of the Master, God.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG

The word ‘indispensable’ means absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite: incapable of being disregarded or neglected. So when Paul says that God’s Word is an indispensable weapon, we need to understand that without using it, we lose! Until we truly know how to use the Word, it’s merely a book filled with words.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17 NKJV

You see, knowing who you are in Christ is extremely important! But you can tell your enemy you are the righteousness of God in Christ till your blue in the face, but it’s the Word that wins the fight. Peace is awesome! Faith in God shields you and will keep the darts from penetrating, but if you don’t know your rights and use the Word to remind your enemy of your rights, they will run you over! This ain’t no child play!

So when do you use a sword? When you’re under attack! You use it to protect yourself, right? When it gets personal, you personalize the Word. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says it like this; The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. You can’t fight a spiritual battle by using physical weapons.

Also, you will be tested! Your enemy (Satan) runs around like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. If you’re not a threat, he will leave you alone because he’s already got you! But when he sees you studying the Word, sitting with the Father, asking for revelation, hold on! You take what you’ve learned and just as Jesus did, speak the Word. Catch him in his lie. Tell him, “That’s not what the Word says. It says…..”

If it doesn’t sound quite right, it probably isn’t. Take the time to look it up and speak it out loud. If the devil is after your mind, tell him that God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. He can’t refute that because he knows the Word is irrefutable, but it doesn’t mean he won’t try to wear you down and get you to change your confession of faith.

I’m going to blog about this all week so stay tuned in. If we don’t learn how to use the Word and teach this to others, we’re not using all the weapons in our arsenal.

Father, show me your ways and teach me your paths. Help me to know Your Word that I might find favor in Your sight and win the war waged against me. For Your glory, great King of kings and Lord of lords, Amen.

Who stood up for me against the wicked? Who took my side against evil workers? If God hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. Psalm 94:16-19 Message

Have you ever experienced injustice or seen it happen to someone you love? There’s nothing that lights me up like watching someone be falsely accused, to see a friend be fired for something someone else was responsible for but wouldn’t come forward to claim responsibility.

As I was reading this entire Psalm and listened to Davids heart as he poured out his cry against injustice, it reminded me that it’s okay to be upset about something, but to always land on the reminder of where our help comes from; the Lord. The minute we start slipping and don’t cry out for help, we continue to be more self-aware then aware of God.

Not only did David allow God to rescue Him, he allowed the peace of God to calm him and the joy of God to cheer him up. The peace of God may not rule in the world, but it can rule in our hearts. Jesus said, “Don’t let your heart be troubled or afraid!” How do we exchange trouble for peace? It’s a position found only in knowing who we are. Once we are confident of that, no amount of trouble can move us.

So when does the joy come flooding in? It’s the moment when the injustice we saw shrinks down in size to a tiny ant and we see how easy it is to crush it. It becomes laughable, really. When you think it was such a big deal yet our capable God takes it down to size and then uses it for our good. To watch the evil become a blessing in our life instead of the curse we felt moments earlier.

I’m singing for joy, Father! “It’s bubbling, it’s bubbling, it’s bubbling in my soul. There’s singing and dancing since Jesus made me whole. Folks don’t understand it, nor can I reason why! It’s bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling day and night!” I will walk in Your peace today regardless of what things look like around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fear and intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place. Proverbs 29:25 TPT

The definition of fear is; a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Intimidation is to make timid; fill with fear. Interesting! 

I say that because generally when I’m fearful, it’s because I don’t see what’s coming but I know something is coming. Like the screeching of tires just before a collision or a late night phone call from the police department. Fear is definitely a very real distressing emotion that holds you frozen in place, or as this verse says, holds you back.

Lets continue to the second part of that verse; But when you place your confidence (full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability) in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place. What’s so special about ‘the high place’, you ask? It’s all about vantage point. When you’re in an elevated position, things look different. You’re able to see from a different perspective, perhaps even from God’s perspective.

2 Kings 6:14-17 is a good story to look at that best demonstrates perspective.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

David calls Him the Lord Most High for a reason. There is no one above Him! No one! You can’t get to a safer place than that. You can’t find a higher position than that. Everything we consider high is low compared to Him.

Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling. Psalm 91:9-12 Message

So you see what we have going for us? This isn’t just a pie in the sky promise, this is real! More real then any feeling of fear is the promise that we are seated in the High place just looking on as God deals with the things that threaten to disturb our peace.

Oh thank You Father. The thing that threatened me is being dealt with once and for all. I will not be afraid, I will crawl into Your huge lap and rest while You deal with the chaos and the noise. I refuse to allow this to change my position as Your child and attempt to take away my peace and promise. I rejoice in Your victory. Amen!

“Please forgive the wrongdoing of this people out of the extravagance of your loyal love just as all along, from the time they left Egypt, you have been forgiving this people.”

God said, “I forgive them, honoring your words. But as I live and as the Glory of God fills the whole Earth—not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me—not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.

“But my servant Caleb—this is a different story. He has a different spirit; he follows me passionately. I’ll bring him into the land that he scouted and his children will inherit it.” Numbers 14:19-24 MSG

There are a couple things I’d like to address in these passages:

1. God honored Moses words. Remember those who believed the bad report and grumbled and complained, wanting to go back into slavery-those people! God wanted to destroy them all and start over with Moses but Moses stood in the gap and interceded for them. But God wouldn’t be limited by small minded people. He wanted to do more then they would allow Him to do so He basically put His foot down and said they’d never see the promise fulfilled. Pretty sad, don’t you think?
2. Caleb has a different spirit. Look at that! God noticed that Caleb pursued Him passionately. Those who do will see the promise regardless of age or circumstances. Caleb and Joshua were the only two of the scouts that possessed the land of promise. Once again, God kept His Word.

I don’t know what you’re facing right now nor how long you’ve been facing it but I do know this, God will keep His Word. Jeremiah 29:13 says; “You will seek Me and find Me if you seek Me with all your heart.” God’s not being illusive. He will never hide Himself from you. What you treasure you will pursue, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus said it like this in Matthew 6:33; Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. I love The Passion Translation of this; “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.”

Father, You alone are my priority today. I want to hear Your voice and quickly obey what you ask me to do. I trust in You and because I do, I will never be ashamed and my enemies will never triumph over me.  Your ways are better! You are so much bigger! I will passionately pursue You with all of my heart and trust You to take me where I’ve never been before. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

God spoke to Moses: “Send men to scout out the country of Canaan that I am giving to the People of Israel. Send one man from each ancestral tribe, each one a tried-and-true leader in the tribe.” Numbers 13:1-2 MSG

We’re all familiar with the story where 12 scouts or spies were sent into Canaan to check out the land God promised the Israelites would possess. And we also remember that it was 10 to 2 in favor of staying safe in the wilderness or returning to Egypt and resuming their slave status.

Let me also remind you that these men were tried-and-true leaders in their tribes. I will also say that each one of these people had seen and experienced protection during the plagues in Egypt, walked across the floor of the Red Sea and watched as their enemies were drowned when the sea closed over them.

Seems they still had a very low opinion of Gods ability to deliver them. They were so focused on the giants that roamed Canaan and their fear of facing those giants, that they wanted to run back to the very land they had begged to be delivered from. Some people just never learn.

Wait, this could be us! We all desire the blessings, right? But to achieve blessings, risk is always involved. With the promise of houses and lands came obedience and trust. It’s simply impossible to go from point A to point B without actually moving your feet. Yet they refused to go forward.

Your scenery won’t change until you change your location and your location won’t change till you get up and move. Yes it’s scary! But the Word says He will never leave us or forsake us. The Word also promises you will be blessed in whatever you set your hand to and it will prosper. If you truly believe, you must be proactive and start moving.

Father, forgive me for my inactivity. I have allowed my fears to over-ride my trust in Your faithfulness.  You are a great God and there is no one else like You. You have been waiting on me to move so each day, I will do just that. The rest will become plain to me as I rise up and head out. Give me wisdom and discernment in each step I take in Jesus’ name and for Your glory. Amen

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We can be distracted so easily by what we see happening around us. We could be watching the news, receive a phone call from a friend or family member that can tip us on edge. Things can change in a heartbeat, a moment, but my friend it’s so important to focus on what never changes–Gods Word.

Lets remember for a moment everything Paul went through when he wrote these letters to encourage generations of believers like you and me. Don’t you think that the enemy of God knew what he held inside of him? Why do you think he was under such attack? Why do you think you’re under attack? Let’s put this in perspective and gain insight today-the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds.

Like Paul, you are children of God sent to do His pleasure. This life isn’t your own to live anymore, it belongs to God. If you position yourself in humility to serve God then everything you do will come under attack not because of who you are, but because of who you serve. Some may read this and say, “No way am I serving God! I’m not opening myself up for that kind of attack!” But some of you will say, “Life without God in the center would simply not be worth living. I will choose the hard way because that is the ONLY way I will make a difference in the earth!”

Satan knows you’re powerful so he tries to convince you you’re not. Don’t give him an inch of leeway! The things we go through are not for us. Allow God to work through you to encourage and build others.  The Word is in you, even in your mouth. Use it to bring life to others today.

Father, I don’t like this attack I’ve found myself under. It doesn’t feel good at all, but if this will help someone else along the way, I’m more then willing to go through it. For YOUR glory! Just as Paul, I have discovered that they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! It’s all in Jesus’ name, Amen.