Have you ever faced a battle that was so big, you knew there was absolutely no way to win? Perhaps it was in court, or maybe a doctors report, a wayward child. I’ve faced all of these and although the battle was intense, I placed my trust in the Lord, did what He said to do and came out victorious. I’m not bragging, I’m stating a fact. The Word says that those who put their hope and trust in the Lord will not be ashamed nor will their enemies triumph over them.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, King Jehoshaphat was faced with a battle he knew he couldn’t win. There were so many armies of his enemies rising against the nation of Judah and Jerusalem that the bible says he was afraid. That’s the first thing the enemy does to you, he brings fear. ‘What are we going to do? What’s going to happen to us?’ If we’re not careful, we’ll have our funeral planned and paid for before anything materializes.

But King Jehoshaphat did the right thing, he went to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast. He knew that focus needed to be on the spirit, not the flesh, so he got everyone involved in this fast. There are times when the attack is so severe, you have to get your family involved, call a fast and set apart time to seek the Lord together. And when they all gathered together, he prayed this before the Lord:

“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?  Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Whatever you’re going through right now, I want you to read this prayer and put your name and your situation in it before the Lord. Remind Him of His great power and faithfulness. Expect to hear from Him and don’t leave until you do. See what happened next:

“Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

Ok, now worship the Lord! Sing songs to Him, bless His holy name. Dance before Him! Lift up your hands, give a shout of victory! Say the name of Jesus over and over. You will sense His presence rush in, because He always comes when invited.

If you read the remaining verses, you will find that they did indeed win the battle and didn’t even have to fight. God set ambushes up and their enemies destroyed each other. It took Israel 3 days to collect all the spoils. So not only did they stand still and allow God to fight the battle, God lavished them with riches in the process. They had peace for years because everyone was afraid to attack Israel because God was with them.

Father, I’m so thankful for victory in Jesus, my savior forever! Everything I need, You’ve provided. There is nothing too hard for You, nothing You are incapable of. My reasoning is silly compared to Your great wisdom. I trust in You and You alone. I rejoice in Your great love. You are well able to keep what I’ve committed to You. There will always be naysayers, but You always keep Your Word. You are my Rock and my Fortress and my soul finds rest in You. It’s in Jesus’ name and for Your glory that we walk in victory. Amen!

Psalm 92:4 & 5, “You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great miracles you do! And how deep are your thoughts.”

Though life throws many waves my way and I’m tossed on every side.  Though I’m worn out from treading water, trying to keep my head up that I might not drown.  I anticipate my time in your presence, Lord. Your arms reach down and lift me out every night, you give me sweet sleep as your angels watch over me. I see your eyes of love watching as I draw near to you.

Like a big warm blanket on a cool morning, your love wraps around me. You thrill me! I clap my hands in applause of your strength. It’s never enough time, this hour with you in the mornings. This is the place I belong and the longer I’m away, the more I long for you. Could it be you miss me too? I know you’re always with me, for your Word says it and I sense it throughout the day, but oh the sweetness of THIS time.

You take my breath away! Its the young love and the ancient love together as one. Until tomorrow than, I will faithfully do as you ask of me this day.  I so look forward to our alone time tomorrow. Amen

Mark 11:22-24 GW: ” Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God! I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.”

The focus today is in the very first part, “Have faith in God!” He also ends it the same way, “have faith” that you’ve already received it when you say it. We don’t believe it till we see it because we say, ‘seeing is believing’ but God says the opposite. Did you catch that. Who are we to have faith in? God. It’s never about our ability, it’s about His.

Wait, so he’s asking us to trust him completely even when we don’t see it for years? Correct! What does the timing of a thing matter to you, you’re merely a servant of the Lord sent to do his bidding, the rest is all on Him. It’s not ‘positive speaking’ I’m talking about here. This is about spending time listening and speaking what he tells you to speak. If we are to be His voice in the earth then we must speak His Word to the earth.

Did you catch that? The Word spoken over the earth in your closet has power. You don’t have to be heard by anyone but God. Faith doesn’t come any other way but hearing (Romans 10:17). Let me say it this way, faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing, but if you never open your mouth to speak it, you will never see what you say come to pass. Faith without works is dead (James 2:20), or faith without proclaiming can’t activate the end result.

What else do the angels have to do but listen for the Word of the Lord. It only takes a little yeast to cause the bread to rise and it only takes vision of who God is to speak with authority and expectation. Nothing happened? Jesus walked away from the fig tree fully knowing that the tree had heard him. When he returned, it was manifested but it was done the moment He spoke. Let he who has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the Bride.

No more selfish prayers! No more ‘I want, I want, I want!’ He said to believe you receive when you pray and you’ll have it. Stop trying to figure God out, he’s God! No matter how well you know Him, you’ll never know all of him until He reveals himself to you. Just seek him, that’s all he asks of you.  Jeremiah 29:13, “Seek me and you’ll find me if you seek me with all your heart.” He’s not hiding from you. He said if we knock, he’ll open the door and have fellowship with us.

Oh Mighty and Awesome God, my heart cries out to You, “MORE! I want to know You More!” And you draw back the curtain, revealing more of who You are. I open my mouth and declare health to all my flesh, prosperity in my bank account, peace and undisturbed composure to my children. I declare Jesus as Lord over my household and my city. There is nothing too hard for You and nothing You withhold from those who love You. I am Yours and I live for Your pleasure to do Your will in the earth. So Kingdom come! Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. It’s in Jesus name I claim this, Amen.

Many of you will remember the old hymn; Only Believe, all things are possible, Only Believe. We hear this same message repeatedly in the bible as we read it. As I was searching, some form of believe showed up in the bible 270 times.

Dictionary.com defines the word believe, (verb without object); to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. And with object: to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to. I think you get the drift here.

Psalm 27:13, David penned these words; I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Isaiah 43:10 says, “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.  Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.”

Since the Kingdom of God is based on belief, you can see how important it is to do just that. If satan can convince you that it won’t happen for you, if he can cast doubt and unbelief into your heart, you simply won’t see your miracle manifest. Below are some examples to base this on.

Matthew 8:13, Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Matthew 9:28-30a, And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.

If you’re standing in faith for something, these are the stories you should be reading. These accounts and events build faith because you can be assured of this one thing, if Jesus did it and told us to do it, the only ingredient needed to get your end result is BELIEF. Not in our ability, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He has equipped us and given us the power but even with all of that, belief is the key ingredient.

Father, I believe, help my unbelief. I will not entertain failure, for I know and You said that whatever I put my hands to will prosper! You are well able to keep what I’ve committed to You. Your power is limitless. Your love is unending. My future does not rest in the hands of man, but in the hand of a Mighty God. Nothing’s too hard for You so nothing’s too hard for me when I place my trust in You. Each battle causes me to grow stronger. I overcome by the Blood and the Word, those two things are powerful ingredients. I set my eyes on You Jesus, for it’s in Your name, the Name above all names I pray this, Amen.

Recently, I sent a friend for a physical therapy consult based on some issues with her hip. It turned out that the muscles were so weak that her hip kept coming out of the socket causing very intense pain. After giving her a regiment of exercises to strengthen those specific muscles, she had hope that as she did her exercises, her hip wouldn’t give her those problems anymore.

Now she had a choice to make; she could either do the exercises and get well, or not do them and have the same issues. She said she kept forgetting to do them, but would remember when it started to bother her. What she had to do was develop a habit of doing to avoid the having.

This morning, the Lord allowed me to see some things about this as related to faith. If we wait until something goes wrong with our body, our mind, our emotions, our finances before we do anything about it, we’re merely treating the symptoms. But if we work out our faith muscles on a daily basis by feeding our faith and using our faith, than when we need our faith, it will work for us.

Unused muscles become weak, everyone should know that. If we don’t use it, we lose it. Your mind is the same way, it must have protein, good fats and exercise for it to continue working properly. You must fill your mind with good things so that it thinks right thoughts. If you allow your mind to think whatever it wants, you will soon act out what you think on. So it is with faith. What you feed grows but what you neglect, don’t expect it to work when you need it.

James 2:20, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” Nothing improves without work and faith is not exception. We’ve all been given the same amount of faith (Romans 12:3b), but as you work your faith muscle, it will get stronger and support what you’re expecting. Just remember this from our brother James (1:8),  you must be single focused because a double minded man is unstable and won’t receive anything.

If you’re training for a race, you must practice. If you’re going to sing a song, you must practice. If you’re going to be a doctor, you must practice. If you’re believing for a miracle, you must practice. Saturate yourself with the Word. Watch faith teachers. Read faith books. Stop hanging out with doubt and unbelief and surround yourself with faith friends. Your faith will be tested, but if you continue to resist the lies of the enemy you will possess the promise.

Father, thank you for making faith the bridge to manifestation. It’s faith that made me believe that You are and that You reward those who diligently seek You. It’s faith in You that continually moves the mountains, calms the storms, brings peace and rest. Oh great and mighty God, there is no one that compares with You. I cannot do anything in Your Kingdom without faith. If there be any unbelief in me, root it out. If there be any religious thinking, destroy it. I want to please You, and I can only do that with my faith is fully developed. Thank You for the workout this morning, Lord. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

There I stood waist deep, hands lifted, heart stilled in the ebb and flow of the water. Beside me stood Jesus, arm around my waist, speaking so quietly I had to strain to hear over the music. “What, Lord?” I asked. “The music is loud and I can’t hear you!” He replied, “Focus on my voice, my still small voice.” Suddenly his voice was so clear even though I could hear the music the same, as though he was speaking directly in my ear.

Relief washed over me. I love to hear his voice, my best friend, my confidant and love. Then he lowered me into the water as if baptizing me again. When I came out of the water, he began pulling off what remained on me. I felt so free, so focused, so complete. It reminded me of Psalm 51:10-13 “Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me. Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. Then I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you.”

I wanted to share this, simply so that you can understand something. No matter who you are or what you do, when you live in the world, the world gets on you. You don’t even realize it. You’re not doing it intentionally. But everything you watch on t.v., everything you surround yourself with, people who throw their cares on you instead of the Lord, it all leaves a residue on you.

When we learn to tune other noises out and focus on Him, we allow His voice to speak louder into us then the rest of what screams for our attention. Oh the sweetness of His voice. The indescribeable combination of joy, peace and love that floods your soul reminds me of how Moses must have looked and felt when He was in the presence of God.

Thats why it’s so important to stand close to Jesus, allowing him to wash you daily of the stuff thats come on you. To constantly be ‘baptized’ by the Word (Eph. 5:26), and by the Spirit (Acts 11:16) so that you can present your self holy to the Lord (Romans 12:1). We were not made to be part of the world, but to be separate. If we look like the world, talk like the world and act like the world, we are not doing what he asked us to do. Time to examine ourselves and ask God to wash us and make us totally his.

Father, I come into Your presence this morning knowing that You have washed me, so I am clean. I am redeemed by the blood of Your spotless Lamb. I love You, Lord. You quiet my spirit as I partake of Your Word and You give me understanding, helping me to apply it to every area of my life today. You change my goals to Your goals. You put things into perspective. You lead and direct my steps. You never leave me, I only need to close my eyes and refocus to see You clearly. Thank You for Your still small voice. Thank You for Your deep abiding love. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Seems sometimes my mind has exploded into a gazillion tiny thoughts, all pointing in the wrong direction. How do I get back on track? How do I round up all those fragmented, futile thoughts?

Let me direct you to 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Paul teaches us that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but principalities, powers we can’t see. OK, so again, how do I get back on track? How do I keep my thoughts from spilling over into my words and actions? Romans 12:2 talks of renewing our mind, (And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God), but I love Ephesians 5:26 because it shows what the Word of God does; it washes (that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word).

Bottom line, unless you spend time in the Word, using it as a scrub brush to clean away all the gunk left by the news, what we are exposed to, our thought life will continue to explode and grow. Lets remember one thing; as believers, we are not of this world so therefore we must not conform and be like those in this world. We must be like our Father, God. How can we be like someone we don’t know. How can we speak like him, think like him, act like him, be like him. How can we love like him, heal like him, give like him? If we want to capture our thoughts and words, We must study the Father. The more we think on Him, the less we think on other things.

Father, today I will practice what I teach. I will think of the Word to my mind, as dish soap is to my dishes. It’s useless if it remains in the bottle, but if I use it, it does it’s job. So I will trust that Your Word will do it’s perfect work in me, and take the evil imaginations out of my mind and keep them from turning into bad words. I surrender! All of my worries and cares, all of my dreams and plans, every fragmented thought that is a distraction to Your will and ways. I submit my mind to Your keeping today. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

So much to do, so little time. Ever felt overwhelmed with the task at hand? If you could only have more time, just extend the deadline by an hour, a day. Jesus felt like this when he knew his end was near. He literally downloaded everything he possibly could into the ones who served him faithfully.

Today, we live as if we had all the time in the world but my friends, we are not of this world but citizens of the Kingdom of God and our commission is to go into all the world and preach. Mark 16:15-18 says; And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

What is your world? Where have you been commissioned? I’ve always taught my girls that God is preparing them for the place He has commissioned them to be for his plans and purposes. It’s not about making money, although it’s nice, it’s about that one person who’s been crying out for answers you have stored inside of you. It’s about souls, it always has been, it always will be.

When we lose the ‘me’ mentality and get the ‘them’ vision, we will make the journey with sure steps because we’ll be following in HIS footsteps not our own. When he sent them, he gave specific instructions to not take anything with them, just the Word, (Matthew 10:7-10) he would take care of the rest. Our life is a journey with the King, keep your light bright so that when you get to the end you will hear the words, “Well done!”

Father, for that one who is waiting for truth, a miracle, may I forever be watchful and ready to deliver the Word needed. I’m not in my job to earn a living because You have supplied everything I will ever need for this life. I’m in my job because of the people who come in needing hope. I’m Your hope carrier to others. Thank You Lord for the opportunity to be what You called me out to be. Jesus, I will do greater works than you did because You went to the Father and constantly intercede for me. It’s in Your name I pray these things, Amen.

Who said? I remember saying that often to my sister when she tried to boss me around. Like, who gave you authority to tell me what to do. Have you ever questioned? Especially when someone tells you something you don’t want to hear? I have! Man, it’s something I’ve struggled with most of my life. I know this comes as a huge surprise to most of you. LOL!

Luke 10:19 NLT, “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” We think of enemies as something we can see, but did you know that the biggest enemy we face is unseen? That’s right!  II Corinth 10:4 says, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”

It’s time we started back talking the devil! Who says, liar! Who says, I’m sick-liar! By His stripes I’m healed! Who says I’m broke-liar! My God will supply all my needs! Who says I’m afraid-liar! He gave his angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. 1000 may fall here and 10,000 may fall there but it won’t come near me! We need to learn to recognize the lies we’re being told and stop believing those lies, but we can’t if we first don’t know the truth.

Know who you are! Know your authority! Use your weapons because they are mighty-Use the Word. Every one of the things said in the previous paragraph is taken from the Word, but if you don’t know it, you can’t use it. When Jesus had the face-off with Satan in the wilderness, He answered every question and temptation with the Word of God. Funny, the Word that became flesh used the Word of God to overcome the lies of the devil. Why would we do anything less?

Father, every day I think on Your Word and the power behind them. Each time I speak Your Word, You watch over it. I will not entertain the thoughts and plans of the enemy when Your plans are so much better. In You I live and move and have my very life. You said it so I say it. Your Words are life and health to my flesh. I’m excited to do this day with You. May those around me know and recognize the Word alive in me. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.