Philippians 4:6-7 NIRV; Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him.  Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, this is easier said than done! It takes practice to not worry, doesn’t it! I’ve actually taken to talking out loud to myself each time I recognize I’m going down the ‘worry road’. Regardless of the deadline or how high and wide the obstacle, the lack of finances, the impossibility of the situation, ‘no matter what happens’, tell God. He’s always listening, never too busy, never sleeps or gets tired, so the very first thing we should do is pray.

My mom and dad used to sing a song, “It’s Me Again, Lord”. The chorus went like this; “It’s me again, Lord. I’ve got a prayer that needs and answer. It’s me again, Lord. I’ve got a problem that I can’t solve. I don’t mean to worry you, but here I am facing something new and I need help that only comes from you. It’s me again, Lord.” Not that we can ever ‘worry’ God because He doesn’t. He knows the end of things from the very start and can handle the biggest problem, the scariest darkness, the most desperate of circumstances with no problem at all. I hate to say this, but it’s really DUMB to worry!

Have you ever just surrendered a problem to the Lord? You know, just physically lifted your hands and dropped them at His throne? I have, many times in fact. Each time I do, I walk away lighter, with a peace that’s indescribable. During our whole ordeal with our home, we adapted a little saying to remind ourselves it wasn’t our problem anymore. It was, ‘Not my circus! Not my monkey!’ When we were tempted to talk the problem, someone would chime in, ‘not my circus, not my monkey’ and we’d just move on. It helped us remember that God has this! We left it in His hands and have chosen to trust Him with it, we’re not taking it back.

Father, thank you that this day is another day that we don’t have to worry about tomorrow because You hold tomorrow. Each day, I place my life and the lives of those that surround me, near and far, into Your very capable hands. Your Word says that You are well able to keep what I’ve committed unto you. I won’t try to take it back and do it myself cause I would only make a mess of it. I will place my hope and trust in You. I thank you that when I call on you, you answer me and show me great and mighty things I don’t know. You give me wisdom and your favor follows me, wait, it overtakes me! I’m so excited for the journey we are on together. My best is yet to come. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Isaiah 61:8-9 NIRV; The Lord says, “I love those who do what is right. I hate it when people steal and do other sinful things. So I will be faithful to my people. And I will bless them. I will make a covenant with them that will last forever.  Their children after them will be famous among the nations. Their families will be praised by people everywhere. All those who see them will agree that I have blessed them.”

“I will be faithful to my people.” Isn’t that a wonderful way to start your day? Just thinking about the faithfulness of God. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to commit to do right things today. To make a conscious decision to allow the mercy and grace that God has given me, flow freely onto the lives of those around me. To learn to be like my Father who is love. That people will look at us and say, ‘Wow! The favor of God sure are on the Gregory’s! Look, even their children are blessed!’ God has made a covenant with us. Not just the Gregory’s, but you as well.

I hear some argue that God was talking about Israel and His people. That is true, but because of what Jesus did, we’ve been adopted and are now His own. I Peter 2:9 says, “But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Famous! Special treasure! Not so that we can be all that and a bag of chips, but so that we can give Him praise.

Oh Father, the fruit of my lips give you praise today. I want others to see you in me. To know who they are and what is theirs. Oh Lord, how I love you. I make a joyful noise to you, a sweet song of worship that will turn your head and cause you to lean in and listen. Here I am, Lord. Remember me, the one you love. May I bless you today in all I do. I place all that I have into your capable hands and know that you will keep what I’ve committed to you. It’s in Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Psalm 35:27-28; Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”  And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.

All day yesterday, I kept hearing ‘the Lord takes great delight in the prosperity of His people’. We think of prospering as great wealth, but the word prosper actually means successful or fortunate, to thrive. It’s not enough to be wealthy, especially if you don’t use it wisely. What’s important is that you’re successful in every good thing you put your hands to, that you thrive in wisdom and walk in the promises that God spoke over you. Money comes and goes, but to be perpetually successful in all you do, now that is a blessing of the Lord.

The first part of this passage speaks of shouting for joy and being glad. When was the last time you shouted? Was it over a touchdown your favorite team made? How about a shout out to our God, the one who constantly watches over us and keeps us even when we do stupid things. He has our back! No one ever has your back like Jesus! There are things you aren’t even aware of that He’s kept you from. Can you give a shout out to your God?

‘And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.‘ Everyday, all day long, on the job, off the job. Watching your children play or sleep. When you think about what He’s blessed you with, tell it out loud. When you think of where you might be opposed to where you are, give Him praise! You woke up this morning, give Him praise! You have a job, give Him praise! You have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, food in your frig, hey, you HAVE a frig and it runs. GIVE THE LORD SOME PRAISE!

Oh Father, I praise your holy name. There is no one like you in all the earth. No one can compare to the deep love you have for me and you show me daily. You have given me so much, may I never take it for granted. I thank you for my job, for a good boss and a paycheck. Thank you that each time I bring you back what is yours, you smile and heap on me blessings I’m not even aware of. You watch over me, my husband and my children. You’re such a great God and I love you so much. I ask that you receive all the glory and honor for all that I do, I do it for you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Isaiah 55:8-11 ERV; The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

Job 19:25, I know that there is someone to defend me and that he lives! And in the end, he will stand here on earth and defend me.

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, and it is He who defends us when we’re unjustly accused. Job had ‘friends’ who tried to figure out why all the bad things happened to him. They each had their opinion and freely gave it. Job must have been very weary of hearing them go on and on and on as they each tried to analyze why God would put such a curse on him and take away everything he had. But we know the WHOLE story, don’t we. It wasn’t God who did it at all, He merely lifted the hedge that was placed around Job so that Satan had access to everything he had.

Let’s face it, we’ve all either had friends like that, or have been a friend like that. Sometimes people just need someone to hug them, hold them, sit with them, make them laugh, help them cry, or just be a distraction. Talking about the problem all the time only makes it amplified, larger then it needs to be for sure. I’m sure Job didn’t need a reminder; he was wearing it in the form of boils. Those painful, horrible, oozing boils. And that was only the exterior pain he felt. Remember, he lost his children, his marriage, his livelihood, all in a New York minute.

“I know that there is someone to defend me and that he lives! And in the end, he will stand here on earth and defend me.” Job was proclaiming that in spite of all that had happened, all he was being accused of, God still lived and would defend him. When you read the final chapter, you realize that’s exactly what God did. He defended Job. He chastised him a little, but He defended him and then, HE BLESSED HIM. Gave him double for his trouble. Turned his losses to gains. Healed, saved, delivered and left him with more then he had. Wow!

Thank you Father that regardless of what I go through in life, all my losses you will turn to gains and all my sorrow you will turn to joy. I will keep my eyes on your faithfulness and remain thankful for grace and mercy. Regardless of what man says, I will only listen to you. How I love you. You fill me up with peace that passes understanding, you never lose sight of me. Everything that concerns me, you’ve already made provision for. I’m thankful that you defend me day and night against the words of my enemies. It’s in Jesus’ name I give you praise. Amen

Luke 4:3-4, And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

I know I wrote on this last week, but this morning, I felt the Lord prompting me to read Luke’s version of the story. I hope you won’t be bored! In verses 1-2, he tells us this, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” HUNGRY? Ya think? I once fasted for 21 days and thought my body was eating itself! Ok, and did you see that part about him being tempted for 40 days? We only hear about the part when the devil spoke to him AFTER the fact. 40 days, alone, being tempted. Most of us couldn’t make it an hour after a commercial for pizza hits the t.v.. Can I get a witness?

I wonder what would happen to temptation if like Jesus, we would speak out loud, “I can’t live by pizza alone, but by filling my heart and mind with the Words of God.” Most of us would hear, “I’m not asking to live by it, I’m asking for one pizza…NOW!” What we see, we think on. What we think on, we say. What we say, we end up doing. That’s just how temptation works, doesn’t it. Perhaps we should guard our eye-gates and ear-gates just a little bit better!

I love what Paul says in Hebrews 4:15, “Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned.” So that’s the reason for the 40 days in the dessert. Jesus needed to overcome in every area we would ever be tempted in so that he could understand our weaknesses. He is, after all, our advocate with the Father. He pleads our case for us, but we need to remember that He also showed us the way to victory. Talk the Word.

Make a plan, so that when temptation comes, and it will, you will know what to say. Don’t try to appease your appetite with something else. Just say NO! Be consistent, so that when temptation strikes, the Word of God is in your heart and comes out of your mouth. Tell your body to ‘shut up’! Oh, it will talk to you, for sure! But the key to overcoming is, stop giving into it. Just like a spoiled child, the more consistent you are in saying no and keeping your word, soon your body will know you mean business and it will back down.

Father, I have no idea what all Jesus was tempted with, but I’m so thankful that He pleads my case each and every day. When temptation overwhelms me, I pray in my Heavenly prayer language and fortify my spirit. I know that I overcome by the blood of Jesus and I walk in the victory He provided for me, but I also know I need to add to that the Word of my testimony. Each time I win a battle, I need to catalog it and tell myself, “I overcame this last week. I can do it again today!” You made me to be an overcomer, and I thank you for that! Today, I walk in victory. Today, I put on Your robe of righteousness and walk in the authority you gave me. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Mark 10:12-13 ERV; Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals. Then angels came and helped him.

This story has always intrigued me for several reasons. First of all, who in their right mind would go into a desert alone? He had no tent, no camping gear, no food or water, AND, there were wild animals! Some of us wouldn’t make it in a rural campsite for 3 days with all the equipment needed to make up camp. Let’s top that off with these luxury accommodations, that he was tempted the entire time by Satan. That’s worse then telling ghost stories around a campfire with a bunch of other people! I don’t know about you, but I would have been scared out of my mind and running our after the first night!

Then what’s the lesson in this wilderness experience? What can we learn from this experience Jesus went through? I believe we have all been in dry and lonely places. We’ve all been tempted, harassed and afraid. Matthews account of this gives a little more detail of what happened. You can find it in Matthew chapter 4 and I encourage you to read it for yourself. He shows Jesus answering every temptation with the Word of God. He used the Word as it should be used; as a weapon.

You see, the devil can’t refute the truth of the Word of God. By using the Word, we win every time regardless of the situation we face. If the devil tries to convince you that you’re weak and exhausted, you can answer him, “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” and, “I will run and not be weary, I will walk and not faint!” When he tempts you to believe that you’ve got a horrid disease or sickness in your body, you can say that, “By the stripes Jesus took on his back, I am healed!” and “He sent forth his Word and healed them and delivered them from all their diseases!” That Word is for someone reading this today. Don’t allow the devil to mess with your mind and emotions. Tell him what the Word says. He knows it, he’s just trying to see if YOU know it.

You can’t expect to put out a forest fire with a squirt gun. No, you have to pull out the water planes and call in reinforcements from other cities. So if you’re facing something that’s overwhelming you, find one or two of your friends who are strong in faith and know the Word. Tell them what you’re facing and what you’re believing for so that they can stand with you and help you fight the battle. Resist the temptation to talk about the problem, especially to people who are going to sympathize with you instead of bolstering your faith. You don’t need whiners, you need winners!

Father, I sense that someone out there is fighting a raging battle right now. I ask that You would fortify their faith. As they read the Word this morning, show them how victorious they are in You. May they never doubt that You’re doing a good and perfect work in them and are faithful to keep them. You said to acknowledge You in all our ways and You would direct our steps. Thank you Father. Great Physician, whatever we face, we know You are excellent in all Your ways. Great Provider, You have taken into account everything we will ever need for life and fulfilling Your purpose and we thank You for that provision. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Psalm 9:9-10, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

That word, oppressed means: to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power: to lie heavily upon (the mind, a person, etc.): to weigh down, as sleep or weariness does.  I’d like to focus on the last two definitions this morning. Have you ever had something weigh you down? Be so heavy on your mind that you lose sleep over it? I have. It could be your children, grandchildren, loss of job, your car, sickness, possibly a report of cancer. Any or all of these things can weigh heavy on our hearts and minds. But I love the next part of this verse, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Simply put, when we know our God and are familiar with His name, we can trust Him because He won’t forsake those who seek Him. Is God familiar with your voice? Do you know Him? Not just know about Him, but are you familiar with His name, all of His names? Do you know Him as Provider? Healer? Redeemer? Transformer? Deliverer? Peace giver? Savior? Helper? Counselor? Father? Breasty One? All Sufficient One? There are countless names because He is everything you have ever needed or will need. What a wonderful God we serve.

Oh Father, I’m so thankful that I can come to You when I’m downhearted, lonely or in despair. I’m so thankful that when I call on You, You’re right there to comfort, keep and protect me. Thank You for watching over our sons and daughters, our granddaughters and grandsons. Thank you for giving them rest, wisdom and protection. You’re not a phone call away, You’re as close as the mention of Your name. What a wonderful, wonderful relief from everything that weighs me down. I love you Lord and I yield myself to your good pleasure today. It’s in Jesus Name, Amen.

Mark 4:14-20; And He said to them, “The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;  and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,  and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

A couple times a week before work, I meet with a great prayer warrior from the church and we pray for our pastor, the leadership and our city. Yesterday, we began declaring freedom for the people of St Pete and suddenly, I saw a large angel, bending over my prayer partner, attentively listening to what she was saying. As soon as she finished, the angel left on assignment to do what she had said only to be replaced with another, who was leaning in, listening. She was a sower, sowing the Word and the ground she sowed in was good ground. We expect a great harvest from the seeds sown.

We know that angels surround us to protect us, but were you aware that they are listening for assignments? Psalm 103:20 says that they “do His Word, listening to the voice of His Word.” Who is it that carries and speaks His Word? We do. So angels are listening. Now please don’t use this as a liberty for your road rage! It doesn’t work like that! Learn to declare liberty to those who are lost (even stupid drivers!), healing to those who are sick, freedom to those who are oppressed. Instead of dwelling on the ISIS crisis in the middle east, begin speaking freedom to the captives. If God set free the children of Israel from Egypt, is He not able to free the Christian captives from their captors? Angels aren’t interested in what you see, they’re more interested in what you don’t see yet. Be purposeful with your words today, just like a farmer planting seed. Don’t just throw it on the ground and hope for the best, look for good soil and plant it for optimal harvest.

Father, forgive us for our careless speaking. Purify our hearts, for out of our hearts, our mouth speaks. May we only speak Your Word to impossible situations. May faith arise in our hearts to believe that what You have said, will come to pass simply because You said it. Your Word is alive. Your Word is active. Your Word is powerful and has purpose. May that same living and active Word be at work in me as I go about my day. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Romans 14:17 AMP;  [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

How many of us have had the occasion to pray the Lords prayer? “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Countless times, right? Even unbelievers have probably heard it at sometime in their lives. The part, “Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” I pray daily over my own life. But what does it mean? Paul says that it’s not a matter of food and drink, or getting the things you want or need, instead it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Let’s break down the word righteousness if we may. The amplified shows it as being in a state that makes a person acceptable to God. That does not mean that because I live in Florida, I’m acceptable to God, in case you were wondering! I’ve also heard it defined as being in right standing with God. I would like to make this statement; when you know who you are and whose you are, you have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Why? Because now we have the understanding that it’s not because of what we do, that makes us right with God, it’s because of what Jesus did that forever makes us right with God. We don’t have to do a thing but know that we ARE the righteousness of God in and through Jesus Christ.

That right there is pivotal in whether we keep our peace and joy or constantly struggle and strain to get what we need. Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” So I’m merely to seek to live my life knowing that I’m in right standing with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me with His peace and joy, then everything I need will be added to me. WOW! That’s a full time job right there, isn’t it!

I was just telling Walt the other day, when our girls were little, they never worried about clothing or food. Even when he was out of work and we had very little, they never gave a thought to what we would eat for dinner. They were children and they relied on us to take care of them. It didn’t affect the way they played with their friends. It never kept them from laughing and singing. They still wanted me to read them stories and play hide and seek with them. (P.S., never play hide and seek with a mom who has attention deficit disorder, LOL) You see what I’m saying, right? Knowing who our Father is and trusting His provision, brings us peace and joy. Not the kind the world has, but the kind that only He can give.

Father, thank you for making me righteous. I don’t have to do right to get right, I AM right because Jesus did right. Because of that wonderful gift, I can sit with You and You sing over me, read to me, talk to me and laugh with me. You’ve given me joy unspeakable. You’ve surrounded me with peace, loving kindness and tender mercies. I walk in health and prosperity because that is how it is in Heaven and it’s how you intended me to live on earth. Each time I sit with you, I come away with greater understanding of your intentions for me. How I love you, Daddy. Today, I trust you to keep me in your perfect peace as I keep my mind on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen