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

Joel 2:25-27 ERV; “I, the Lord, sent my army against you. The swarming locusts and the hopping locusts and the destroying locusts and the cutting locusts ate everything you had. But I will pay you back for those years of trouble. Then you will have plenty to eat. You will be full. You will praise the name of the Lord your God. He has done wonderful things for you. My people will never again be ashamed. You will know that I am with Israel. You will know that I am the Lord your God. There is no other God. My people will never be ashamed again.”

A couple weeks ago, the Lord instructed me to give this passage to some dear friends of mine. They have experienced senseless loss in almost every area of their lives. Sometimes loss just doesn’t make sense, does it! But the Lord reminded me this morning that HE did this, so it had to have purpose. Our steps are planned for purpose, not our own, but His. We can whine and complain about our losses or we can bless the Lord that even in the midst of the loss, He’s planning to pay us back for all the years of trouble.

God says, “Stop looking at the losses! Stop counting how many times you’ve failed! Get back on your feet and praise me one more time because I’m getting ready to open up the windows of Heaven and pour you out an abundance of blessing you don’t even have room for yet. Get ready! Push back the curtains of your dwelling place. I have more for you than this. I took you from ‘that place’ because that was a temporary residence. Don’t look back and wish for what was because I have bigger plans for you. What you had won’t contain what I have for you. Stop asking ‘why’ and start rejoicing for what is coming. You cannot go forward when you’re walking backward.”

Oh, I like that! You can’t go forward walking backward. When investments don’t pan out, take the little you have left and ask God what you should do with it. Whatever he says, ESPECIALLY if it doesn’t make sense, DO IT! If He can turn water into wine, take a two piece fish dinner and feed 5000 men plus women and children, you can trust Him with the little you have left. Invest it in the Kingdom and walk away, it’s no longer yours, it’s Gods. As long as you keep looking at it, you never gave it to Him in the first place.

If it’s friends you’ve lost, trust God to bring you new ones. They’ve moved on to be an influence in another community, allow God to use you the same way. Stop looking back! Not that you can’t still have them as friends, it’s just in a different way. In other words, if your hands are full, how will you catch the new things God is going to throw your way? Sometimes you have to lay down what is no longer yours so that God can bless you with more than you’ve ever dreamed you could have.

Father, I look back on my life and what I thought were losses, You’ve set me up for great gains. You are always looking out for me and You always have the best blessings in mind for me. All of what I viewed as setbacks, were merely setups. Everything that devours is not from the devil, sometimes You send them to strip away and make room for more. I love You for that. You have planned for me a future I can’t comprehend. My hope and trust are in You alone. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

I Corinthians 2:9-12;  But as the Scriptures say, “No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God.  It is like this: No one knows the thoughts that another person has. Only the person’s spirit that lives inside knows those thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit.  We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.

Have you ever read something for the umpteenth time and come away feeling it’s the first time you’ve truly seen it? Who better to show us God’s heart but the Spirit of God. Who better to open us up to know the depths of His love, His grace and His mercy. His plan all along was to give us His Spirit so that regardless of where we are or our status in life, we gain access to the Father. We don’t have to make a journey to find Him. We don’t have to go through rituals to gain access. He has made us carriers of His presence.

Let’s pause and think on that statement for just a moment, ‘He has made us carriers of His presence’. Just as a glass carries water, a mailbox carries mail, a purse carries valuables, we carry the powerful presence of God. Isn’t that super amazing? I don’t just have access to His presence, but I have access to everything He is or has. Wow. No wonder the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy us. He’s not afraid of us, he simply fears what we carry, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want us to know the power and potential we have within us.

If I’m sick, I have access to the Great Physician. If I have a financial need, I have access to the Great Provider. If I am sad or lonely, I have access to the Great Comforter. If I need wisdom, I have access to the God of wisdom and insight. He will not withhold anything from me when I ask, but there are times I must contend for it. Like I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I must use all the weapons in my arsenal and stand, unmoved by what I see, and cast down vain imaginations and every lofty thought that tries to exalt itself against the knowledge of God.

You see, it’s not enough to know about God, we must know God. We must have relationship with Him, not just when it’s convenient or when we have time, we must be intentional and make time to tap into the resources we have within us. How very sad it would be to stand before God and realize we’ve only used a fraction of our potential simply because we opted to do it on our own, without the Spirit of God. I’d rather have five minutes in His presence, then 24 hours of doing it on my own.

Father, I’m so excited for the day You’ve prepared for me. Just being aware that You’re with me all the time, everyday and that You love to plan out my path and order my steps. I’m excited for all the possibilities of showing Your love to others around me. May they clearly see the glory of Your Spirit in me and on my life. Your favor, Your grace and Your love will surround me today. It’s in Jesus Name I pray. Amen