Tag: Hope

Blessing

“I am” is covenant talk in the Bible, so when I read “I am” I know that it’s the same as reading “Jesus is” because Jesus paid the price for me to be in a Blood Covenant. As He is, so am I.

In my hunger for growth this year, I decided to focus on the Blessing of Abraham. I’ve heard it before, and it seems that everyone is writing about it this year, but I wanted to know more. So, I’m going to share some of my revelation with you!

Since I am the seed of Abraham, according to Galatians 3:13-14, 29, “Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree; that the Blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles (me) through Jesus Christ; that I might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith…And if I am Christ’s, then I am Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Therefore, I have the Blessing because I am Abraham’s seed thanks to Jesus’ shed Blood! (His Blood Covenant with me!)

As I meditated on these scriptures, I began getting a deeper revelation of the Blood Covenant I have with Father God. Just as God was faithful to Abraham and Jesus, He’s faith to me. Abraham, Jesus and I have the same exact Covenant with God because of our faith! WOW! How awesome is that!! I’m not under the curse, or the Law, any more! I’m blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places because I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and Abraham’s blessing is my blessing!

I don’t have to be in lack or under finan-cial curse any more. I don’t have to have sickness or disease in my body any more! I’ve been redeemed from the curse and re-positioned into the Blessing of Abraham!

“It’s the Blessing of the Lord that makes us rich and He adds no sorrow to it!” Proverbs 10:22. I challenge you to take your rightful position in the Blessing today!

A Fresh Crop

“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him.” Revelations 22:1-3.

I’m convinced, as you read this verse, you are like me in that you will have new revelation of God’s Word explode on the inside of you! Lately, as I’ve read and studied the Word of God, a new hunger has been stirred on the inside of me! I hunger and thirst for more revelation knowledge of the Word because I’ve come to the realization that I’m not walking in revelation of what I already have – what Jesus has already paid the price for me to possess!

As l read these verses, “yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” came alive to me. In the natural, I can’t name a tree that produces new fruit every month? However, in the spiritual realm, this means a continuous harvest of a fresh crop is available to us; a continuous harvest of healing. Not just healing for the physical body, but healing for the mind (revelation); healing for finances (restoration); healing for every area of your life, for every person in Christ!

Psalm 103:2, reads, “Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits.”

Every month you have a fresh crop of healing! That mean in your personal age – where you are right now, this very moment; your personal situation, you have access to fresh healing, fresh restoration, fresh mercy, because it is one of God’s benefits.

“It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

God is faithful to deliver what you stand in faith to receive; be it healing, restoration, mercy, grace, or whatever you need. He is faithful!

Decree A Thing

There’s power in your words! “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” Proverbs 18:21.

God created the world and everything in it by His words and it still stands today. When a king gives a decree, it is carried out as he decreed it. We’re made in God’s image and He’s given us His Name and authority to rule and reign in our domain by the power of our words. We’re heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. That in itself should give you revelation that you were created for victory!

Since Jesus is the King of kings and we are joint heirs with him; we’re created to rule and reign in our domain and speak forth decrees, just as a king would do to fulfill what he wants accomplished in his kingdom.

My three favorite Bible versions are The Message Bible, The Amplified Bible, and the New American Standard Bible. It’s good to read and study different Bible translations to get a better understanding of God’s word. Therefore, I want to share Job 22:28 in those three versions.

“You’ll take delight in God, the Mighty One, and look to him joyfully, boldly. You’ll pray to him and he’ll listen; he’ll help you do what you’ve promised. You’ll decide what you want and it will happen; your life will be bathed in light. To those who feel low you’ll say, ‘Chin up! Be brave! And God will save them. Yes, even the guilty will escape, escape through God’s grace in your life.”

“You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.”

“You will also decree a thing and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.”

I believe this is a life-time nugget to personalize for yourself; to meditate on; to ponder and let it explode into revelation knowledge!

As you decide what you want your life to look like, start decreeing it as the king you are! Just as God spoke the world into existence, you can use your words to speak and decree your world into existence according to Job 22:28. Open your mouth. Fill it with good words. Decree your victorious future and watch it manifest before your eyes!

Strength

You may have weakness, but God has strength. You may have sin, but God has grace. You may fail, but God remains faithful!

We have all felt weak at some point in our life – or we will feel weak and inadequate in the future, if not now! However, in Hebrews 11:33-34, we learn about the great men of faith…”who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

And in Second Corinthians 13:1-10 we read what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.”

God is able to prove Himself strong on our behalf when our knees are shaking, or when we are weak emotionally.

Focus

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward–to Jesus.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision–you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God. Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves. (Philippians 3 & 4, The Message Bible)

Relationships

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)  Who have you been associating with over the past few weeks or months that has sharpened you spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially?  A recent trip to the Smokey Mountains presented this subject to me; as a matter of fact, it was an in-your-face presentation! Up close and personal presentation!

I will tell you straight up – I was sharpened! My flesh was in great pain. My emotions and attitudes were called to attention. Change was on the horizon!

Imagine a dull knife blade being laid on the grinding stone to be sharpened by the blade smith.  Although the metal resists, the pressure of the blade against the stone creates a smooth, razor sharp edge removing all the dull edges. A knife sharpener doesn’t always move quickly, but applies steady, consistent pressure. To sharpen a good quality steel knife that is new, he uses a high quality, diamond, knife sharpening steel. A few strokes every time before being used and it will keep the knife razor sharp.

It is the same principle when you position yourself to be sharpened by a friend. Find that “diamond” friend who will speak high quality words into your life so you’ll be sharpened to a razor sharp edge.

If the knife is very dull, a carpenter’s sharpening flat stone is very good at reviving the knife’s edge. Just be aware that the angle you sharpen a knife at is crucial. It’s best to take dull knives to a professional sharpener, and then maintain them as noted above. There will be times in our life when we get dull.  As painful as it may be at the moment, present yourself you to your “diamond” friend and allow their words to sharpen you.  At times, it may not be the words you want to hear; however, a “diamond” friend will present those hard words to turn dull edges into razors sharp tools.   

Contrary to what some people believe, sharp knives cut people far less than blunt knives. When a knife is sharp, less pressure is used to cut. Care for your knives and they will last a lifetime.  How fitting for this subject.  When you stay sharpen by the Word of God and the relationships you cultivate, you don’t hurt other people and you can help others become sharp.  The sharper you are, the less pressure you have to withstand. 

Take time to hang out with those people who will sharpen you and help you become a better person.

Provision

When you come to the end of yourself – there you are!! Usually empty handed, disappointed, frustrated, and broken hearted. Probably wondering why things are working the way you thought they should be.

Been there! Done that! Got the t-shirt!!! Wore it out!! How about you?  Well guess what, when you find yourself in this position, you can always look up and find help; usually a prayer’s whisper away, because God is always watching and listening, waiting to answer your call. He doesn’t sleep or slumber.  Psalm 121:4

At the alter, my alter – white sitting behind my car’s steering wheel driving to town – last month, I had a come to Jesus meeting! I simply ask him why I wasn’t receiving the things I’d been believing Him for.  He told me it was because I was putting my expectations in the wrong places, on the wrong people. I could hardly believe it, but knew it was, in fact, true!

I repented, asked him to forgive me for not trusting Him, made a simple heart adjustment, and the results have been amazing! 

I share the victories and blessings this past month with you because I want to brag on my Father God – El Shaddai – the God who is more than enough! The All Sufficient One!

He bought me a sewing machine in a nice wood cabinet. He brought more babycaring jobs to my daughters. He gave two of my daughters with jobs at a boutique of which they have been blessed with awesome, stylish clothes and accessories. He blessed me with a four-day trip out of town with friends. He blessed our family with unexpected, delicious food. He blessed me with the opportunity to be a blessing to someone else by doing yard work, which I love! My husband and daughters fixed an awesome dinner for birthday. And I got a raise with my job.

I’ve been overwhelmed with His goodness to me this past month…and it’s all because I changed the focus of my expectation to Him, El Shaddai – The All Sufficient One!!!  Thank you, Lord. I will magnify you because you delight in my prosperity! Psalm 35:27 

He will do the same for you because He’s no respecter of persons.  Just trust Him and believe that He is faithful to His Word.

Purpose

Have you ever wondered why you are here – right now, doing what you’re doing? You may have had thoughts that you were not planned by your parents or that they really didn’t want you, or you may be the result of a rape incident. Quite frankly, all that doesn’t matter!

According to Jeremiah 1:5, God knew you before you were ever conceived. The Word says, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you… that’s what I had in mind for you.” Jeremiah 1:5

And, not only that, He loves you with an everlasting love according to Jeremiah 31:3. “The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” So you see, it really doesn’t matter what your parents thought about you or how you came into existence, because God has a purpose for your life, and He loves you passionately and forever…so much so, that He knows the exact number of hairs on your head! Matthew 10:29-31

“You may not know Him, be He knows everything about you.” Psalm 139:1.He knows you intimately; to include your biggest dreams and your deepest fears. He loves you no matter what you do, how you act, or what you think! There’s nothing you can do to make Him love you more than He does right now. Plus, there’s nothing you can do to make Him love you any less! His love for you doesn’t change.

He is intimately involved in every area of your life; it doesn’t matter how insignificant it may be to you, God chose you when He planned creation and He’s promised to never leave you or forsake you. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” To Him, you aren’t just another statistic; you are incredibly unique, with a special purpose only you can fulfill.

It’s sad to say, but many of us have been taught that God sits in heaven just waiting for us to mess up and then He punishes us. We’ve been taught that He is very legalistic and there’s no room for error, which is so contrary to the Word of God. He draws us to Himself with lovingkindnes. God is a merciful God, His mercies are new every morning and they endure for forever. Actually, He’s not distant or angry, but He is the complete expression of love. “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16 ESV

The fact is this – you don’t have to do anything special to receive God’s love and grace. You just have to receive His offer of eternal life and put your trust in Him. The more you spend time with Him, the more you will trust Him, the more you trust Him the more your heart will be knit to His and His purpose for your life will be realized. And remember Jeremiah 29:11, which reads, “I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for,” because He is the perfect Father. Matthew 5:48

Believe

“Have faith in God,” replied Jesus to them. “I tell you that if anyone should say to this hill, ‘Get up and throw yourself into the sea’, and without any doubt in his heart believe that what he says will happen, then it will happen! That is why I tell you, whatever you pray about and ask for, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, you must forgive anything that you are holding against anyone else, and your Heavenly Father will forgive you your sins.” Mark 11: 22-26 – J.B. Phillips New Testament.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just beginning your walk of faith or if you’ve been walking by faith for many years, Mark 11:24 is your baseline verse to stand on when you want to receive something from God! The prayer of faith won’t work unless you believe in your heart.

Sometimes believing is easier than it is at other times; however, the key is to learn to take God at His word and stand! Mark 11:24 tells us how simple it is… “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – English Standard Version. There is something magical that happens when you bin believing. Not in a weird sense, but it’s a sense of confidential settling in your spirit man that you will receive what you’ve asked God to give you.

When you fail to receive what you’re believing God for, many times it’s because you’re walking by sight and not by faith in the promises God’s given you in His Word. When this happens it’s called “Thomas” faith. I’m sure you’ve heard someone called Doubting Thomas before. This comes from John 20:25, “So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

However, you should desire to walk in faith like Abraham walked in faith. In Romans 4:18-19, it reads, “against hope believed in hope…according to that which was spoken…and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body…” Abraham didn’t consider his natural circumstances. Instead, he believed he already received God’s promises many years before he actually saw the answer to his prayer, and Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

The Word says to believe that you receive when you pray, and you will have it. More often than not, people don’t receive when they pray because they are so tied to the natural realm instead of the spiritual realm. They want to reason everything out in their minds and see it with their natural eyes first, and then they’ll believe they’ve received it.

It’s takes effort to believe God’s Word and stand on His promises, but it’s time to go beyond your five physical senses and take God at His Word. You must renew your mind with the Word of God or your own thinking will try to keep you in the natural realm. Faith is believing God’s Word in your heart…just as Jesus said in Mark 11:23, “….all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you”.

To grow spiritually, be persistent in believing God’s Word in your heart, and you’ll grow strong in faith – no matter what your head tells you, you’ll get results.

Creativity

Have you ever wanted to step out and begin a new project, a new business, a new job, learn a new computer program or anything new, but lacked the self-confidence or certainty to believe that you could actually be successful?

I challenge you today to break free! I challenge you to believe in yourself! When you realize Who lives on the inside of you, it will be easier to believe in yourself and step out into the unknown.

You may be asking yourself, “Who lives on the inside of me?” It’s pretty phenomenal when you stop and take some time to think about it: The fullness of the Godhead bodily lives on the inside of you.

Now, you may be asking yourself “What does that mean?” Here is your answer!! “Live creatively, friends…make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Colossians 2:8-10 NASB. I also like how the English Standard Version reads, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”

I found a definition of creativity online that explains it this way: Creativity is coming up with a solution or idea that is non-conformist, original to you. It’s your own way of doing something, but not just that, after all, people have their own ways of speaking or walking but you wouldn’t call them creative! Creativity is something done with flair- something that makes people say or think, ‘I would never have thought of doing it (whatever it is) like that’. Creativity can be inspired internally by a thought or a feeling or is a response to external stimuli such as a beautiful landscape…creativity can be a way of coping or organizing your thoughts and feelings…just look at the word itself for a definition: CREATE; it’s when we create something new!”

Of all places the Creator, or Holy Spirit, could choose to live, He picked your heart! The Creator of the universe lives on the inside of you! The Creator that spoke this beautiful world into existence and it still exists today. The Creator that spoke galaxies into existence and we still enjoy them today. The same creative power is available to you – you just have to tap into the grace to be creative. It doesn’t matter if you are creating a floral arrangement or a business plan, the creative power is available for you.

Proverbs 8:12 in the King James Version reads, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” The Young’s Literal Translation reads, “I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, and a knowledge of devices I find out.”

Today is your day! You can do it! Step out in faith and ask the Holy Spirit, the Creator of the universe, to help you be creative. Don’t be afraid to fail because the Word of God tells you that “everything you set your hands to is blessed and will prosper.” Deuteronomy 28:8.

Believe in your heart that you will be creative. Confess the scriptures above over yourself and thank God that He’s given you creative ideas and abilities. Before you know it, you will have the desires of your heart to be creative.