1-12-05
Praise Him

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight"
Psalm 19:14


When we capture God’s Word each morning, we are
feeding our spirit man, gaining strength for each new
day. The psalmist parallels the meditation of the heart
with the words of the mouth so that when our speech
agrees with God’s, we make a melody in the spirit.
The two concepts (meditation and words) are to harmonize
to blend God’s lyrics to our “sheet music.”
The Hebrew word for meditate again is
“hagah,” but this time the psalmist uses it as if to cause
the reader to speak out loud in order to make music in
the heart. In fact, the Hebrew word “higgayon” refers
to the music of a harp (Psalm 92:3) and is intended to
bring peace and encouragement to the heart (Psalm
9:16).
When you focus on seeing yourself as what
you are to become, then it brings such joy to the heart
that you will make music or give a sound of victory. A
joyous shout will come, a heart of laughter will burst
forth and a feeling of comfort will ring in your ears!
Read Ephesians 5:19, 20 and begin to make a joyful
sound.
Make music with your words and become
God’s instrument of praise!

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1-13-05

What is on Your Mind?

"Think on these things."
Philippians 4:8


The level of our potential depends upon the level of
our thinking. If we let our minds wonder into doubt
and unbelief, we will drown in fear. Fear is false
evidence appearing real. We cannot allow ourselves to
daydream and let the devil take control of our thinking.
Some Christians need to get rid of stinking thinking
and get a check up from the neck up.
Paul compelled the Philippians to think
thoughts that are true, just, pure, lovely, of good report,
of virtue and of praise. Negative thinking will
not only prevent you from reaching your potential, it
will kill your dreams. A person who cannot dream will
eventually start having nightmares.
All this week we have been focusing on our
thoughts and on meditation. The Hebrew word we
have focused on is, “hagah.” The same word can be
translated differently and according to the mental
images of the individual. “Hagah” also means to murmur,
mutter or mourn. Isaiah declared, “Your tongue
hath muttered perverseness,” (59:3).
God’s people had committed iniquity after
they changed their vocabulary. Their conversation
was negative because their mental picture was negative.
That is why Jesus said, “For out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaketh,” (Matthew
12:34).

God's Treasures

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,"
2 Corinthians 4:7


"God has made you to be His show case, so show it off."
Have you ever felt worthless, or did not perceive the
value you have? Have people ever tried to make you
feel less than you should about yourself? But who
determines your value? Who decides what your appraisal
should be? The answer is God.
God has made you, and you are a rare vase.
You are a treasure in an earthen vessel. You are a vessel
of honor. Did you know that God does not have a
junkyard? The devil tries to convince us that we are
useless and obtain no value. But the devil is a liar.
God made you and loves you the way you are.
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Believe today that God will show Himself to you and
allow you to see yourself from His view. Pray this
prayer: “Father, I am Your gift, and I will declare
Your glory. I worship you this day in the beauty of
your holiness. I accept myself for who I am because I
am wonderfully and fearfully made. I am made in
your image to reflect your image. Amen.”

God’s Calling

"Who ... called us ... not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace,"
2 Timothy 1:9


Growing up I often found myself in trouble because I
was always talking in class. My schoolteachers told
my mom that if I could control my mouth, I might
have a future. But my mouth seemed to put me in the
corner or at odds with my peers. My classmates nicknamed
me "MM" meaning "motor mouth" because I
never shut up.
But God had a purpose with this talkative
girl. My mouth never stopped, that was true, but
what they did not know was that God was training my
voice to take the gospel to the nations. Sometimes
people try to define who you are by what you have
done. Do not be deceived by their outlook. You are
who you are because you are an heir of God, jointheirs
with Christ.
Today, God wants you to discover that all
you have been through happened to make you conform
to His purpose. It is not according to your
works, but His workmanship! You have been molded,
shaped and designed since your childhood. "All things
work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose,"
(Romans 8:28).

Don’t You Cry No More

"Woman, why weepest thou?"
John 20:13

What has made you cry until your tears become a
continuous fountain? Have you ever had someone
embarrass you publicly, and they enjoyed it? What
about when you look at your check and you have been
cheated out of your bonus. Ever been laid off? What
was your reaction when someone hit your car in the
parking lot with a grocery cart and did not leave you a
note on how to find them? It does not take much to
break your heart when someone has attacked you,
violated you or let you down.
Mary was heartbroken that early Sunday
morning. She wept with deep sorrow because she did
not know what was happening. She was confused.
Her Savior, her friend, her Deliverer, her Lord was
gone and she did not know where He was. What was
precious to her was taken away. She lost the most
important person in her life. Now life was worthless
and hopeless without Him. She had lost any hope for
a future. Her dream was dead and her promise was
broken. And now she did not know how to get it back.
Something that God had given her was now misplaced.
Jesus was hiding in the bushes and watching
this whole episode before His eyes. He watched Peter
and John run to the tomb. He saw the angels appear
and give their resurrection message of hope, but Mary
did not receive it. She was crushed beyond repair for
any man to restore her heart. Jesus was standing right
in front of her, and she had mistaken Him for the
gardener. Mary was about to find her miracle in the
midst of her mess. Jesus stepped forward and revealed
Himself by calling her by her name, "Mary."
Just when you think it is the darkest day,
Jesus is hiding in the bushes ready to appear and reveal
Himself. I do not know what you may be going
through today, but know this: you are going through.
When you think you have lost your mind, Jesus is
ready to appear. When you thought you could never
show yourself again, Jesus is ready to appear.

Bury Your Past

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13, 14

"Your future is depending on your decision of the past. Let it go."
The apostle Paul reflects in this passage that he has
not yet arrived, but there is one thing that is imperative
for him to do in order to go forth?he must forget
the past. He must let go of all his yesterdays. Whether
yesterday was good or bad, he must release it.
Like Paul, you cannot enter your tomorrow
as long as you hold on to your past. You must let it go.
That may sound easier than done. For some, your
past may contain brokenness, disappointment and scars
from life’s tragedies. So what will it take to let it go?
Are you ready to have a funeral, bury your past? Your
tomorrow does not need to end up like your yesterdays.
In fact, it is a tragedy to plan your future by
comparing it to your past! I encourage you from my
own experience: Stop using what happened to you
before to determine what will happen in your future.
Where I came from does not determine
where I am going. That is good news for many of us.
Too many people have predicted their ending, based
on their beginning. Let God interrupt your life and
change the course of history in your life for the good.

The Divine Transfer

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
1 Peter 5:7


In today’s busy and hectic schedule you may find yourself
facing the pressure of being a single mother, the
pressures of raising your children, or the pressure trying
to balance your finances. The fact remains that
despite all our convenient amenities, life is not any
easier, and issues are not any simpler. We are all trying
to find answers and relief from stress. Suicide and
divorce is all too common in today’s churches, let
alone in our society. But there are real answers for
tough questions.
You can give your care over to God, and He
will never fail you. He will destroy every yoke that
will try to weigh you down. The counselor can bring
temporary relief, but only God can permanently remove
it. What so many people have a hard time doing
is letting go of their pain and giving it to God. I know
that is hard to believe, but it is true. Why is it like this?
Does God have an answer? Can you find a way out?
Disappointment and setbacks are two of
Satan’s most successful attacks against the believer.
When promises are not kept, and dreams are shattered,
people’s hearts are broken. Whether your heart
was broken as the result of someone else’s sinful or
treacherous behavior, or whether a self-inflicted blow
broke it, it does not matter. Too many broken hearts
create a broken world, no matter how the damage was
done in the first place.
The answer is found in the dumping ground.
You do not have to carry your pain. By holding on to
it, you are telling God you can handle it. Decide today
to turn your care upon Him.

Words That Last

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Matthew 24:35

If my thoughts, philosophies, ideas, or reasoning are
built on anything but the Word of God, they are
nothing but sinking sand. They will not last. They will
not produce the promises God has guaranteed me in
His Word. I must get rid of my old ways of thinking.
I must build a new thought process based upon the
Word of God.
That means that no matter what my teachers,
my doctors, my friends, my family, or even my
pastor say, it is not going to matter unless it is in
alignment and in agreement with the Word of God.
God’s Word produces God’s promises. We are to be
changed from glory to glory.
Paul tells us to be changed by the renewing
of our mind. The word renew also can mean renovation.
A few years ago we had a portion of our home
renovated. It was quite a process and an undertaking.
We had to repair, restore, take away the old, and
make new. The Holy Spirit is the foreman of the
construction site over your life, and the Word of God
is the tool that is to be used for the process.

Real Worship

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance … Praise ye the Lord.”
Psalm 149:6-9

One afternoon, I invited some friends over for a barbecue. After dinner, we began to play Bible Trivia, and before long we began to talk about the goodness of God. I sensed the Spirit of God moving in an unusual way, when suddenly we found ourselves deep in worship on our face before God in the living room. It was extraordinary, one of those times we are sure if you were to open your eyes, Jesus would be standing in the midst of the room.
Hours seemed like minutes as we prayed intensely in the Spirit, when something amazing happened. I clearly felt as if something that had gripped me from my feet up to my head had been released— something like chains. It was as if a bondage that had held me so tightly before was now gone.
I did not realize it at the time, but what took place was in the power of praise. While worshipping and praising God, the very chains the enemy had used to bind me were broken. For nearly a year after receiving Christ as Savior, I continued to struggle with bulimia. I begged God to forgive me and to take it away, knowing that I was destroying my body and soul. From that day forth, I never had a desire to purge myself of food again. The true image of myself was revealed and restored.
Whatever you are going through, I challenge you to take the time today to spend a few moments with the Master. Begin to pray in the power of the Spirit. Maybe a praise tape will help you focus. Just allow yourself to turn your praise into a weapon of war. Through the Word of God, and through speaking words of truth to yourself, receive your healing and restoration.

Jesus is MY strenght,if it wasn't for him.. I just don't know. Thank-you my Dear Jesusfor hearing me. If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans8:31

Dare To Be Different

“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”
Matthew 14:29

We are all familiar with the apostle Peter’s attempt to walk on water with Jesus. I have heard all kinds of criticism about how Peter began to sink because he had too little faith. But Peter did something that the rest of the disciples failed to do. He got out of the boat!
When we look at this story the emphasis is too often focused on Peter’s failure. Some have even tried to convince us that Peter got out of the boat with fleshly confidence in his fishing abilities, and that is why he was not afraid of the storm. One problem with that is that one other time the Bible records that there was a storm, and Jesus was asleep in the boat. The disciples woke up Jesus, fearful for their lives. I do not care how many times Peter went fishing previously, he never had walked on water.
Peter may not have made it all the way, but he made it farther than all the rest. He exercised some faith, but the others exercised no faith. When you get out of the boat, you put the people inside the boat in an awkward position. They must now justify why they are still in the boat. Don’t listen to them! A quest for the acceptance of people can be disastrous. Often people will suppress you or hold you back to justify their own weaknesses.
If you fail or come short in your walk, Jesus is standing nearby to give His rescuing hand. What is important is that you stepped out. It might be lonely on the water, but keep on walking. In the same way, do not let anyone hold you back or to make you a prisoner of your past. Remember, you have become a new creation in Christ.

A True Calling

“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
Romans 11:29

One evening I was invited to a friend’s house for dinner. There was a missionary there who told adventurous stories of his life on the mission field. I was in awe of how God used him to win souls and change an entire nation for His glory. I was somewhat envious. As I listened to his testimony, I ceased to glory in his success and began to realize that God had given me a vision years earlier that I was to go to the nations. But not only had it not taken place yet, I began to feel like a failure. How could God use me?
The call of God on my life had long been all but forgotten, hidden, and buried in remorse and in excuses. Then suddenly, while I was focusing on the failures in my calling, this missionary turned and looked right at me. It was if he knew the secrets God had shared with me. But because of my disappointments with the tragedies, I did not believe God would use me.
The faithful missionary told me my calling was “without repentance,” which means it is irrevocable. God does not change His mind when He calls a man or woman of God or places an assignment on his or her life. God is omniscient (all-knowing). He knows the past, the present, and the future. That night it dawned on me that if God knows all, He knew every mistake that I would ever make, and the troubles that would occur in my life, when He chose to call me. Who am I to bring judgment against what God has chosen, even if it is me He has chosen?
Do not let anyone hold you back. Do not give them the opportunity to trouble you with your past. If God has set you free, then who are people to keep you bound? Chose today to reflect on what God has promised you, not on what you have done up to this point. The same God that saved you, called you. The God who called you, gifted you. The God who has a place and a position for you.

Turn Back

“Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.”
Acts 13:13

On the first journey of the apostle Paul, Barnabas and John Mark went with him. They landed on the island of Cyprus, and after two successful “camp meetings” the missionaries boarded a boat to Asia Minor. But not Mark. He remained behind and took a different path. He returned back home to Jerusalem.
From all appearances, Mark failed. Several years later, Paul and Barnabas split ways after a disagreement concerning taking John Mark with them on their next missionary trip (Acts 15:37-40). But apparently Mark recovered from his past and turned back to ministry. While Paul was in prison at the end of his life, he calls for Mark and declares how profitable and useful he is in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
It does not matter what you have done or how far you have fallen. God can interrupt your life and change it for His glory—if you allow Him to. Far too many people see themselves as victims of their yesterdays because they have listened to the voice of the enemy. Listen to this: The devil is a liar!
Through Christ Jesus, you are not a victim of your past, but a victor in your tomorrows; but it is vital you do not fall to the “woe is me” mentality. Mark could have listened to others say, “You are a quitter.” But instead he realized that God is not limited by time. He can go back to your yesterday and be the “balm of Gilead” on your wounds. Allow God to pour fresh oil and rivers of His healing water over your past, your pain, and your failures. Pick yourself up and get back into the fight of faith. Welcome back.

Everlasting Love

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Jeremiah 31:3

With each step in my walk with the Spirit of God, He has wrapped His loving arms around me. He walked me through the journey. He helped me die to old habits and ways of thinking. He enabled me to discover who God is not, so that I could understand who He is. He forgave the unforgivable, delivered me from my past, and gently removed my masks so I could finally be myself. Like a master sculptor creating a fine piece of art, He replaced my useless empty fantasies with a carefully designed life that continues.
Has the enemy ever tried to blind you and keep you from the love of God? Our adversary will try to distort our view of the love of God through damaged relationships, broken promises, and disillusionment. God’s love is able to reach you this day, and despite the deepest pit of your life, He will pull you out of your mess and set you on the solid rock to stay.
He is able to heal any hurt or heartache, even if it has been broken and shattered into a million pieces. He is able to take the ashes of your life and create beauty. He is able to provide for you a safe and secure environment in a mean and cruel world. He is able to be your super hero. He is not just able, but He is also ready and willing to do so, because He wants so much for you to know that He loves you.

Knowing Him

“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:19

The word “know” in the original Greek language carries the concept “to feel.” That kind of knowing takes us beyond intellectual knowledge and reaches into our hearts. God wants to instill His love in us so that we not only acknowledge it, but also experience it. God desires to be intimate with you, so much so that the Song of Solomon illustrates His passionate love for His bride—and you are His bride. God will woo you to draw you to Himself. He is in love with you.
God has demonstrated His love for me again and again. Every time I begin to feel unworthy, or assume that I do not really deserve the love of God because of my old ways of thinking, God pours out His love in abundance. He has revealed His love in many different ways. His tender mercies come from all directions, and He often works through people. But the loving message has only one source: God Himself.
The moment I met Him, God began to do a quick work in my life. He used special messengers to communicate with me. When I became a Christian, three elderly women took me under their wing, and through their demonstration I immersed myself into the Word of God. I started reading the Word every day. I could not get enough of it. For two years I read nothing but the Bible. God used these ladies to teach me discipline, and they demonstrated His love to me.
God has someone for you. God will put people in our paths to direct us and help us experience the love of God. Pray today for the love of God to be demonstrated in your life.
Get ready to experience an engulfing presence of His love. It will go beyond your mental reasoning and cause you to be filled with the fullness of God.

Give and Receive

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:38

My husband Randy and I have learned to live by a lifestyle of giving. God has never failed us, and through our trials, we have come to understand the principles of giving and receiving God’s harvest. I love to give. It is one of my greatest joys in life. When I give in abundance over and beyond my tithe, I see God’s harvest in abundance (2 Corinthians 9:6).
But I have found it easier to give than to receive. Sometimes people have a more difficult time receiving, because they are not in control. Let me explain. When you give, you have control. When you receive, you do not. What I mean is that through giving you can make the terms and conditions. But when you receive, you do not make the terms and conditions. You are forced to receive what you did not work for. If you did not work for it, you feel guilty having it, saying to yourself, “Oh, I should not have this.” You begin to think that if you have it, God might take it away.
The issue with not being able to receive comes from the inability to feel loved. Our self-esteem and self-confidence will cause us to reject the love of others. We hide behind a false humility and respond by saying, “Oh, you do not have to do that.”
When God began to bless us after years of sowing, one of the things that He gave us was a beautiful home. But instead of feeling grateful, the first few weeks I walked around thinking, “Something must be wrong with this picture—it is too good to be true.” I struggled with receiving God’s blessing until one night God spoke to me. Out of nowhere He said, “This is my gift to you, because I love you.” The next time someone attempts to bless you, just say, “Thank you,” and know that you are loved.

Take Control

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:4,5

I want to speak to you this morning concerning imaginations. The word “imaginations” in the Greek language is the word “logosimos,” which denotes the mental reasoning or the emotions in direct response to a thought. When the apostle Paul insists that we cast down our imaginations, he is referring to the emotions connected to the thoughts we perceive. We are not instructed to quit imagining, but to destroy every imagination that is contrary to the will of God.
Emotions can be deceptive. How can you trust something that is not always consistent or reliable? And as far as imagination is concerned, it is God who gave it to us in the first place, so how can it, in and of itself, be bad? However, it must be nurtured properly with perimeters and control. There is a huge difference between fantasy and God’s dream for your life. What distinguishes and sets them apart from each other is their source.
The battle is in your mind. You are bombarded with thoughts every day that can lead you astray and produce destruction in your life. The problem is not that you are not to imagine, for it will take imagination to produce the dream of God in your life. But you are to fight off the imaginations that will lead you into fantasy living and into daydreams that are contrary to God’s purpose and plan for your life.

True Delight

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Psalm 37:4

God knows better than anyone that we always will pursue what we desire. The more we want something, the more we will go after it. The magnitude of our craving will determine the extent of our pursuit. Everyone, regardless of your gender, has been created to desire things. Of course, it is more noticeable in women, but it is a God given attribute. A desire fulfilled by the wrong relationship or pursued in the wrong motive can become disastrous in your life.
Our desire for love is not wrong in itself, but our search for it often takes us in the wrong direction. We live in a culture and society that bombard us with a “fantasy lifestyle.” Daytime soap operas hold millions of women captive with their steamy, seductive “love plots.” All too often we have compared our success to the Hollywood Tinsel Town couples.
We create “super humans” out of movie stars, celebrities and sports heroes and stand in awe of their popularity. Fans spend billions of dollars for tickets to the latest box-office hit. Movies promise pleasure, not just for two hours of viewing, but by providing a lingering memory that somehow causes you to feel cheated, as if God has left you out.
Listen, God will plant wholesome desires into your heart, but they will not feed your ego. You need to compare yourself with yourself, not with someone else. Do not try to rewrite the script of your life with empty fantasies; it will only produce a dead end. God has ordered your steps. Now walk in His footsteps.

God’s Image

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18

Have you ever struggled with self-image? This is not just a woman’s issue. Randy has counseled hundreds of men who hide behind a mask of pretense. Although genders may struggle the same, it will manifest in different ways. For a man it may relate to his job, his automobile, love handles or the proverbial “spare tire.” But for a woman it may be with their weight, complexion, color preference (a tan), or proportions.
Most women, in the privacy of their home, spend hours in front of a mirror, all the while hating what they see, and thus be late for their timely occasion or activity. But if they come near a mirror in public, they run for cover.
Who do you see when you look in the mirror? Today’s scripture verse tells us that when we behold the glass (a mirror), we are changed into His image to reflect His glory. If you despise yourself, you despise the God in you. You are not beautiful because of your cosmetics or comeliness—you are beautiful because God lives inside of you. But how can you see yourself as God sees you? I suggest that you find something—maybe just one thing, maybe several— about yourself that you like, then begin to thank Him for it repeatedly. Confess it aloud. Express your gratitude verbally and watch your image take on the image of your Maker.

Walk Away

“And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.” Acts 7:3

It is dangerous to hold onto some things that need to be released. God wanted Abraham to establish a nation through his descendants by blessing him and by making his name great. He promised him that his future was going to be much better than his past. And when God began to reveal His plan to Abraham, the first thing He told him was to beware of his family ties.
God showed Abraham what he would inherit, once he was willing to leave everything and pull away from those who would be a snare to his destiny. The thing that gives us power to leave one thing is seeing something better that we are going to inherit. If you cannot see that you have a brighter tomorrow, it becomes far more difficult to leave your yesterdays.
When Abraham got ready to leave the “old” to inherit the “new,” the Bible records that Lot went with him (Genesis 12:4). Lot was Abraham’s nephew, but according to Ancient customs and culture, he was his adopted son. But Lot was not the promised child that would fulfill the prophecy of a nation to come— it was Isaac.
Abraham did not know it at that time, but would later learn that Lot was a distraction—a source of strife and contention. There may be people who are related to you, but they are a distraction and need to be removed from your life before you can inherit the promises that God has for you.

Wait On The Lord

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Hebrews 6:12

IIf God has promised you something, you can be sure you will have it. But you say, “Paula, I have waited, and waited, and it has not come yet.” God is faithful to fulfill every promise He gives to us. Listen to this, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).
Do you remember when God told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house and anoint one of his sons as king (1 Samuel 16:1)? After God refused to allow Samuel to anoint any of Jesse’s sons, confused, he asked him, “Are these all your sons?” There was one left. A young shepherd boy was anointed and appointed to become the next king, and he would become the greatest king Israel would ever know, until Jesus.
But David did not become the king the minute Samuel anointed him. Did you know that while Saul was sitting on the throne, David was anointed for the throne? That is why you should not worry when you see someone else in a position God has promised to you. God will take care of that person, and He does not need your help or mine. But what should you do in the meantime? “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time,” (1 Peter 5:6).
God is faithful. He is not like the people you meet every day who talk big but have short memories. If God has promised you something, it will come to pass. There may be a waiting period, but it will come to pass! I believe that many throw in the towel and quit just before they break through to the promise God has for them. It is through faith and patience that you inherit the promises. So hold on—your blessing is on the way; and it may come today.

Trust Him

“Trust in him at all times; ye people pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 62:8

It is dangerous to commit or trust yourself into the hands of someone when you have not first trusted God. You will inevitably get hurt, simply because man is weak, and without God, wicked. When you develop a trust relationship with God can you discern with whom to develop a trust relationship.
Before Randy and I were married, I was still hesitant about trusting him. I had unconsciously determined to push him out. One day after an emotional disagreement with Randy, I cried out to God, and the Lord spoke to my spirit, saying, “Randy was Mine before he was yours.” I realized that because Randy had first committed himself to God, God would talk to him, and He did not need my assistance. Suddenly I understood that trust could be developed and nurtured in a relationship as two people submit themselves first to God.
You read this and may not be married, but this principle applies to any relationship. Too many of God’s children have shut people out because of an unhealthy paranoia. As I said on Tuesday of this week, people will disappoint you, but at some point you must work through your barriers and build healthy relationships. This can only be accomplished when your confidence is in the Lord.
Trust is a by-product of love. Love is understood through intimacy with God. Intimacy is experienced when we die to ourselves in the act of worship. Through worship you will be able to trust Him. Pour out your heart to God, for He can handle it.

It’s a Gift

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

When we are born again, our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5).
Once we are born again, we are saved and promised heaven. But it is not until you are separated from your body, and receive a glorified one, will your mind and body be saved. So we can say your spirit is saved, but your body and mind are not there yet.
That is why you act, at times, the way you did before you were saved. You must renew your mind and submit your body to the holiness of God. No matter what your body or mind may do or say, you still have a free will. That is why God instructed us in the Word to be transformed, changed, transfigured by the renewing of our mind. You must subject yourself to Christ to keep yourself in check. Make a list of things that you will do to remain vigilant and stay healthy and whole.

Ignorance Can Kill You

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

Without knowledge of the truth, we cannot be free. It is possible to have a right heart for God and yet to have things all wrong in our heads. And with a wrong head, we may very well live in complete defeat and forfeit ground in the kingdom of God that we were never intended to lose.
This may not have anything to do with our hearts or with our worship. For, you see, our lives can be destroyed because of ignorance. We are sometimes ignorant of the truth, and until we learn it, we remain in bondage to our old ways and habits.
It is vital to be in a church that is preaching the whole truth and counsel of God. Then we must study the Word and make it practical and applicable to our daily lives. We can make it so difficult for ourselves by not finding answers to our questions for everyday life issues.
What are you doing to gain truth? Is God’s Word a steady diet in your spiritual meal? Your life depends on it. The saying goes, “he or she is sincere, but sincerely wrong.” Even though our motives are right, if we do not have the proper foundation, our actions bring us short in a long distance race. Evaluate your habits, your prayer life, your church attendance, and your Bible reading. Decide what actions you are to take and put them to practice.

True Freedom

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32

During the first few years of my Christian walk, I made some of the biggest mistakes of my life. I found out that old habits die hard; like manipulation, control games, and well-worn ways of thinking that had been deeply ingrained in me from the past. I struggled with the tension between my head and my heart. Something was definitely new and different on the inside, but the outward behavior did not always project this change.
I was experiencing something different all right—my behavior and my actions did not feel right. It is called conviction. I was unable to recognize that the source of my discomfort was the Holy Spirit. He was trying to guide me and instruct me.
The Holy Spirit began to reveal to me things about myself, giving me the understanding I needed to produce permanent change in my life. I began to diligently apply myself to the Word of God, without excuses or debates. What was true in God’s Word needed to become truth in Paula.
What area of your life can you think of today that needs to be compared or measured by God’s Word? Is there an area of growth that you want to work on? Write it down and then put a favorite verse beside it, claiming the Word as your helper.

God’s Love

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

Over two thousand years ago Jesus walked the earth and went to an old rugged cross called Calvary to pay the ultimate price. Jesus gave His life and shed His blood to redeem mankind (1 John 1:7). He was buried in a borrowed tomb (Matthew 27:60). He descended to hell and took the keys to death, hell, and the grave (Revelation 1:18). Then on the third day He rose again (Luke 24:7). He ascended to heaven, redeeming you and me back to God (Ephesians 4:9).
He did all that to give us life abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus wanted to set you and me free from all bondage, self-deception, and insecurity (John 8:32). What love! Why would someone who we never met do something like that? It was the deepest act of compassion known to mankind.
Focus today on God’s love. Instead of reminding God of your bills, problems or shortcomings, thank Him today for His compassion. Praise Him for the love that dwells in your heart. Profess the love of God over your life, your family and your friends.

Spirit Led

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under law.”
Galatians 5:18

How do I know that God is speaking to me, and it is not me or the devil? First of all, the Spirit leads you. Your spirit is your inner most being, your inner man or your belly (John 7:38). Your flesh is the tabernacle or the house for the Spirit. The Spirit dwells in your house or body. Now, your Spirit connects with your soul, which is your mind, your will, and emotions.
So if you feel something inside your “knower,” how do you know if the Spirit is leading you? You must first know this; the devil cannot talk to your spirit man. Your flesh cannot talk to your spirit man. Your flesh speaks to your soul realm. Do not misunderstand me. You were 180 degrees different after you were saved, but your mind and body are not there yet.
Your flesh must go through the soul realm to get to your spirit man. Your spirit man goes through your soul to reach your flesh. So what is so vital to keep clear, clean and Christ-like is your mind or soul. Begin to renew your mind as you worship God by applying the blood of Christ over your mind. Declare this aloud, “I have the mind of Christ.” Do that several times this morning. Do it this afternoon and tonight before you retire. Expect a change in your thought patterns today!

In Due Time

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.”
I Peter 5:6

If you have ever suffered low self-esteem, you may think to yourself, “How could I possibly humble myself any more than I have already?” It is possible for you to exaggerate everything out of proportion as you attempt to make yourself and everything you do seem bigger and better, in order for you to feel comfortable within your surroundings.
Believe me, I am talking to you out of experience, so stay with me. Peter’s phrase “in due time” is very interesting. In the Greek it means “kyros,” or “set or proper” time. In other words, if you are willing to humble yourself or go through this process, then God Himself will exalt you. God will do this; it is His promise to you. But remember this, it will happen at a pre-set time.
When you are too impatient to wait for the promise of God, you will begin to work things out within your own flesh. When that happens, you often create a whole new set of problems. So start your day by telling God you are willing and ready, but want Him to have His way with you—whenever He sees fit.

Keep On Course

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to rock that is higher than I.”
Psalm 61:2

This Psalm is sometimes called a supplication song. Supplication means to “beseech or implore; to ask or beg in a humble way.” It gives us a glimpse of David in a private moment when he cries out to God, as he is faced with a traumatic situation in life. It is good to know you are not the only person who has ever had a problem. You are not alone. Trouble is not a respecter of persons. It is not prejudiced toward you. It does not care about your social or economic status.
Do you feel like David today? You know you are saved and chosen by God, but heartache and pain continue to visit your doorstep. You cannot simply pray all of your struggles away, because sooner or later God will make you face them head on. There are times when it seems like hell is coming against you.
Then you wonder, “What went wrong? How did I get here? Why am I facing all these problems?” Cry out to God, but do it like David, with humility. God will answer and lead you to your destination. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. You may not know how you are going to get through this, but God will keep you on course.

The Sharp Word

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

God’s Word is sharper than any double-edged sword. It is the mechanism that divides the soul from the spirit. God’s Word will keep your thoughts in check when your flesh wants to chase something that would harm you. God’s Word will protect you when your eyes see something that would put you in harm’s way.
When you are faced with temptation, the devil will begin to talk to your soul realm. Your spirit will not listen to him, but you are the chauffeur of your mind. God will not do for you what you can do for yourself, but the Word of God can prevent you from falling short if you fill your mind with manna from heaven, the bread of life, the Bible. Your flesh will feed off the fat of the world, but your soul and spirit are untied when you put a verse on it. Conquer your battles with the Bible. What verse can you find for today to win your battle?

His Voice

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27

The word “know” is the Greek word, “ginosko,” which means to be intimate with. It is the counterpart word in Hebrew, “yada.” It is used in Genesis 4:1; Adam knew Eve, and she conceived. In other words, it is not head knowledge; it is a knowledge based upon intimacy. Intimacy brings inner sensitivity. When you are intimate with someone, you pick up things from them without the necessity of speech. I know what Randy is thinking by the way he looks. The same is with me for him.
You can discern because of your position, or because you know them. And because we are intimate, we can recognize their voice. You cannot follow God until you first hear God. Many people are trying to find and follow the will of God without hearing H i m .
How can you make life decisions without hearing God? One wrong decision can mess up your future for life. It is not that God is not speaking, but rather, we are not listening. God is not playing hide and seek with your life. He is calling to you today. Hearken unto His voice by worshipping Him. Spend some extra time getting to know Him better.

God’s Timing

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Have your ever heard the proverbial saying, “Hurry up and wait”? Time is something everyone deals with. It was God who created time. He has a set and appointed time to raise you up. There is a set time for every event in your life.
What happens if you are too impatient to wait for God’s time? When you are too impatient to wait for the promise of God, you will begin to work things out within your own flesh. When that happens, you often create a mess that, eventually, you will have to face. Sooner or later, what goes around comes around.
Maybe you have been waiting for that certain job, car, mate, or finances. Just hold on. Your breakthrough has been scheduled before time. Do not try to force what God has set for that “certain” time. Rest assured, God is setting you up for your scheduled date with destiny.

My Heart

”I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart,
which shall fulfill all my will.”
Acts 13:22b

God was close to David, because David’s heart was in pursuit of God. The only prerequisite to finding is seeking, and you will not seek what you are not desperate for. David was desperately seeking God. His life was not about mere existence, but about fulfilling the will of God.
You have a purpose and plan in the mind of the Almighty God who fashioned and formed you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are an intricate piece in His puzzle. Nobody else in all eternity will ever be packaged exactly like you.
David was a man who had troubles. Trouble invaded his life from the time he was anointed as king until his death. That is one thing you can count on; trouble will visit you. It will come through your spouse, your parents, your children, your church, and possibly through your pastor. The secret to prevent bitterness is your heart. Guard it—your heart—to fulfill His will.

How Much Time?

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
James 4:14

At some point in ones life we ask the question, “Why am I here? What is my purpose? And what will happen to me after I die?” Unless Jesus returns, everyone has this one thing in common; we are all going to die. I heard the saying that “birthdays are like cigarettes— too many of them will kill you.”
That is what our life is like. As they say, “Times flies.” But what are we to do about our life in the mean time? I do not want to come to the end of my life and feel that I have not been productive. What do you want to do in your lifetime?
Do you have goals? I have often said, “If you do not have a plan for today, how can you prepare for tomorrow?” Set some basic goals and go from there. If you do not start today, start watching for the final “vapour.” You cannot leave a legacy if you do not have plan.

Uncover What is Hidden

“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light:
for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”
Ephesians 5:13

When Joshua and the Israelites conquered Jericho, they were so confident in their God and the previous results, total annihilation, that when they went out to fight the next city, Ai, they did not send all the troops. But they not only were defeated, they suffered causalities— thirty-six soldiers were dead. It devastated Joshua.
God revealed the source of their defeat. Hidden under the tent of Achan were the spoils of war, which were “off limits.” God had previously warned them to not take anything from the city of Jericho for it was “devoted” or “set-apart” to God as a first fruit.
Sin in our lives will bring harm, not only to us, but also to those whom we love dearly. It is best if we uncover our hidden treasures ourselves. If not, God will expose it eventually. Seek God with a humble spirit today and with honesty. Open every area of your life to God. Allow Him to remove the dirt of shame and fill you with His love.

Daily Renewal

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16

Have you ever been so tired in the morning that you stumbled your way out of bed, professing to your bones to live again? Sometimes I feel like what Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Your body may be telling you one thing, because you have experienced a great number of birthday parties—for you, that is. And you may have a job that flat out wears you out. If this is you, I have a word for you: “get up and let us exercise, that is, exercise your spirit man.”
Your inner man is renewed daily by the washing of the Word, the infilling of the Spirit and the confession of your mouth. You cannot read the Word, and late in the day speak the opposite out of your mouth. It is double jeopardy. Take a few moments and speak to your spirit man aloud declaring a fresh anointing to touch your mind, your body, and your spirit. It will be a better day if you exercise your spirit. Why not start now?

Failproof Faith

“For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
2 Peter 1:10b

The author of this book is the apostle Peter. It strikes me funny that he is the one who writes this. It is obvious that he learned through his experiences, for he was the one who (in my opinion) struggled the most to stand. He loved God, he followed God, he gave to God, he forsook all, but he struggled in the end to stand. Is this not the real issue in your life, as well? I am not talking about your love for God or your obedience to God; I talking about your ability to stand.
When Jesus warned Peter about his denial, Peter guaranteed Jesus that he would have his back. When we are faced with real pressure from our peers and the world, we struggle to stand. But how can you go through and not fall? Peter was the perfect portrait for most people.
His name was Simon, which means, “water.” Water is unstable (taking on the shape according to its environment) in terms of an element. But Jesus renamed him, Peter. Peter means “rock,” the solid element that remains stable and can endure hardship, waves and storms of life. If you remain in Him, you cannot fail.

The Cycle

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9

A struggle or trouble is not a one-time event. It is cyclical. Some things come in cycles. Life can teach us many things, and I have learned that life is nothing but a series of cycles. I can tell my future by looking at the past. It is not something we like to hear, but it is true—history repeats itself. Cities, names, and factors may be different, but the storyline is the same.
You might change churches, but too often we find the same mess we just left. I have discovered that no matter how hard you try, you cannot change certain events in life, no matter how much faith you have.
It takes more faith to walk through the struggle than to be delivered from it. I may not be able to stop things from happening, but I can do something about my attitude towards it. It really does not matter what you go through; what matters is how you go through it. You see, storms do not break us—they make us. The process of faith is the ability to endure. No matter what comes your way, you can make it become a pathway to destiny. Choose to face your current battle and determine to make it a bridge to bigger and better things. God is waiting for you. The first step is yours; then God walks with you.

God’s Direction

“Who … called us … not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,”
2 Timothy 1:9

It is not up to God to create a destiny for you. It is up to you to discover the destiny that has already been created for you. When you walk in your destiny, you will have peace, prosperity, joy and fulfillment. But what will lead you down a path of destruction and death is the walk of the flesh. The flesh can only satisfy for a moment. The Bible states, that “the pleasures of sin [are] for a season,” (Hebrews 11:25). This kind of lifestyle will cloud your vision, make you lose your focus, and miss your destiny.
God desires to lead you into righteousness and goodness. Psalm 35:27 declares, “Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Many times we evaluate our life by measuring it to others, instead of the Word of God. We think that nothing will go our way, because our selfimage does not appear to be changed. Our circumstances dictate to us our destiny, rather than our destiny dictating our circumstances.
If you think you cannot receive His blessings because you do not deserve it, you are right. You do not deserve it; but do not stop there. He does not give us good things because we deserve it, but because we are His children and delights in giving. Open your arms and receive your blessing, your destiny, and your deliverance today from your daddy!

Shine for Jesus

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6

How do you become a living, breathing, tangible touch of God that exposes and reveals the glory? Do you want to manifest His presence that all people may see His fruit produced in your life? What will it take to shine His glory? What is your part to propel a glow of God into a dark world?
Paul says that God commanded light to shine. You cannot be born again and be an undercover Christian. We do not need any CIA (Christians Imitating Atheist) agents, trying to see how much of the world they can stay in and remain saved. No, you are either saved or you are not. God “hath shined in our hearts.” The Greek word here for “hath” means, “to be possessed.” When you are possessed by something, you are fully controlled by it.
In other words, it is not optional. It means if you have it inside of you on Monday, you should not be wondering if you have it on Tuesday. Go out today with confidence that you are the Father’s flashlight, exposing darkness and reflecting God’s glory.


http://www.paulawhite.org/

Move It Yourself

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.”
John 11:39

It was only days away—the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. An urgent message had come to Jesus that his dear friend, Lazarus, was near death because of an illness. It was no secret that Jesus was a close friend to Lazarus, with his two sisters, from Bethany. But Jesus waited four days before he made his journey. You see, everything God does is scheduled. Everything is to happen in its time.
Upon His arrival, Jesus discovered his close companion was dead. Frustration, remorse, confusion and possibly anger filled the minds of those who mourned their loss. The surviving sisters, Mary and Martha, were distraught and puzzled by Jesus’ tardiness. The funeral, the viewing, and the mourning meal were over, and his body had decomposed to the degree that presented a gagging stench. Regardless, the Master requested to go to the gravesite.
When Jesus, the family and onlookers arrived at the grave, it was a cave covered with a hewed stone at the entrance. The emotional Jesus (11:35) was going to give them a prequel to His resurrection, but there was a problem. Something was in the way of this miracle—a tombstone. Jesus was not going to do something they could do for themselves. We must do something to get an end result. What is blocking your way to your miracle? God is waiting on you to do something. Strategize your plan of action!

I love Paula White's stuff. :)