WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? IT DOES MATTER!

Scripture: Psalms 35:27-28

“….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.”

Did you know you have a miracle in your mouth?  Our Scripture tells us how we can talk ourselves into blessings, health, and great relationships, etc.  When we talk about how great our God is and His righteousness which is His faithfulness, He causes our way to become prosperous and He is thus magnified.  People will want to know how all these wonderful things are transpiring in your life, and it will give you the opportunity to give glory to God.

Isn’t it interesting that the Scripture says, LET the Lord be magnified?

It is important to realize when you give your voice in thanksgiving and honor of what God has promised in His Word, you are participating with the Lord.  So many have been led to believe God just does whatever He wants but this Scripture teaches He wants our cooperation in our faith, beliefs and conversation.  He wants us to give Him something to work with.

The following story in Judges 6 will showcase this as well:

This is about a man named Gideon and his family.  They were part of God’s covenant to bless His people but they decided to do things their own way and ignore God’s directions.  By doing so, they put themselves into bad situations which caused their family lots of pain and sorrow.  Also, every time they would start getting ahead, people would come and steal from them and disrupt their lives.  It got so bad, they started hiding from their enemies to keep what they had produced from being stolen.  This kept going on until one day they asked God for help and a messenger from God showed up and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”  Gideon was totally shocked because he had been defeated so many times that he saw himself and his family helpless, frustrated and his life inconsequential.  The Lord told him things were getting ready to change but Gideon had to be willing to change his conversation and how he saw himself for it to work. 

When he began to agree with God’s message and messenger things turned around for him, his family and even the people living around them.

God had something great on His mind for him.  If you are going through similar situations, family problems, business failures, and financial losses, you can reverse the troubles as well by making a decision you will put your trust and confidence in God’s faithfulness and see yourself as a mighty man or woman of valor.  As you can see from this story, it only took one man, Gideon, getting on board with the truth of who he was destined to be to make big changes in the lives of those around him.

Gideon became so fully persuaded that he built an altar to worship the Lord and called it, “The Lord is Peace.”  This is an exciting principle for all of us today to realize because of the significance of how things changed for Gideon when he acknowledged who God wanted to be in his life.  When he called Him, “the Lord is Peace, he was saying the Lord wants me to be safe in my mind, my body and my estate or business and family life.  He was saying God wants me to experience restitution and restoration and to be prosperous and whole! 

Could you use some of those changes in your life? 

Your conversation and how you see your circumstances has so much to do with how things can change in your life.  I know that has been my experience.  I can’t count the number of times I had to make the choice to talk about what God had promised me as His child instead of what I was experiencing.  And you know what?  What God promised started coming to pass!

Would you take the time today to analyze your conversation and whether it is opening the door for the Lord to bring prosperity and peace into your life?

Do realize your tongue and what you say can be used to bring miracles or messes!

When you begin agreeing with God and believe that He sees you happy, victorious and blessed and, refuse to see yourself limited by your current circumstances, things will begin to turn as they did for Gideon.

Did you know that one of the big mindsets today that can hinder you fulfilling your dreams and living the life God planned for you is unbelief in the goodness of God.  Everyone believes in something or someone.  Check out who or what you are putting your confidence in.

In this time we are living in, there are so many voices and opinions vying for our attention.  More than ever, we need to be hearing what God would have to say.

Do you find yourself saying words like “My family never has had anything or had anything good happen to us; it is too late for me, nothing will ever change; I probably won’t get a promotion this year; or no-one believes in God like that,” etc., etc.? These are all self-inflicting words and beliefs that will block your success and close doors in your life that should be open.

Gideon had the choice to keep making excuses or to change his image and thoughts about himself and agree with God.

The same choice is ours!  Begin applying these truths to your life and circumstances and watch what happens.

Realize that “What you are consistently talking about does matter!”

Why? James 3:5 says “the tongue is a small part of the body but boasts of great things.” 

Now is the time to begin speaking of His righteousness and faithfulness to you and begin receiving the good things He has planned for you through faith in His Word!  Decide you will indeed let the Lord be magnified through your life and circumstances and thank Him daily for all He has done and all He wants to do in your life.

Then, get ready for His great plans for You to begin to unfold in extraordinary ways!

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO ENTER YOUR PROMISE LAND?

Scripture:  Acts 10:34

“Then Peter began to speak I now know how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

What an awesome God we serve!  I like to call Him the “Equal Opportunity God.”  He is no respecter of persons but does respect those who honor and revere Him.  He is the One who respects faith.  Do you know why?  It gives Him the opportunity to act on the faith you release with your prayers and actions.  True faith is the ability to trust the only True God and Jesus Christ, and to have confidence in the promises that He has given us to live by.

There is a powerful story in Numbers 13 where God told Moses to send 12 leaders to spy out the promise land, He had prepared for them.  I believe God was excited about His children finally being able to enter their promise land but something very interesting happened.

All the twelve leaders saw a land flowing with milk and honey but there were giants in the land.  Ten of the leaders came back to the people reporting: “The land was flowing with milk and honey, and it was also flowing with giants.  We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Because of their fear based on what they saw with their natural eyes and their negative thinking, they assumed that they looked like grasshoppers.

The other two leaders reported: “The land we passed through is exceedingly good and, if the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us and give us the land, only do not be afraid of the people.”

But the whole assembly listened to the negative report, and completely overlooked the fact that the promise land was flowing with all they had ever desired. The only two that entered the promise land were Joshua and Caleb because they stood in faith and trust that God would be with them.

The others missed getting what God had planned for them because they saw themselves in their own abilities and because they lacked trust in God’s promise to them and His ability working through them to enter into abundant living.  The negative report believed caused them to forfeit blessings that God had in store for them. It is interesting that the ones bringing back the negative report were leaders.

What does this mean for us today?  Hebrews 4:2 says “For we have heard the Good News just as they did.  They heard the message, but it did no good because when they heard it, they did not accept it with faith!

Think about the essence of the story and how it may relate to your life.  Do you have a tendency to listen to negative reports?  Do you frequently join in with friends, family or co-workers who often talk about how bad things are? Are there situations where you see yourself as a grasshopper rather than someone created in the image and likeness of God?

Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created mankind in His own image, in His own likeness, He created them male and female.”

God did not create humanity to be fearful, frail or insignificant.    He created us to be Co-laborers with Him according to                  1 Cor. 3:9!

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV is a life enhancing verse everyone should memorize and receive it with faith that if God said it, and we have faith in His Word, not someone else’ word, it will come to pass!

“For I know the PLANS I have for you, declares the Lord, PLANS to prosper you and not to harm you, PLANS to give you hope and a future.”

And, I love the same verse in the King James Version which says:  “For I know the THOUGHTS that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

God has you on His mind!

Does your future feel overwhelming because of what you see going on around you?  If there are negative reports going on around you remember Joshua and Caleb’s actions and refuse to join in.  Often it is people who see themselves independent of God who accept what others are saying about situations. It is important to be mindful that because of these 10 men coming back with a bad report the whole nation, except for two, were made powerless.  Joshua and Caleb got to experience all the major blessings! 

A case in point that I wrote about in my small FOCUS FAITH book:

 I remember when I was working for an international company that sold equipment for making fabrics.  During coffee breaks and at lunch time, many of the staff members would sit together and gripe and complain about the company and employer and all kinds of negative things were said about their jobs.  I had learned the principle of being mindful of what I agreed with people about as well as being appreciative I had a job, so I didn’t enter into the conversations when there was so much discontent.  I was often made fun of by some of the staff.  But when the day came for salary reviews each one filed past my desk in frustration after having been told there was a freeze on wages.  I was later called in by the VP of Finance and was told I would be getting an increase and, it was a substantial one.  I am fully persuaded that if I had joined in with the negative crowd as the Israelites had done, I would not have gotten the increase.  I probably would have forfeited it!

Isaiah 57:19 “I create the fruit of the lips…...!”

We can expect good things from God just like He planned good things for the Israelites but let us be mindful to believe and receive the words and promises of a loving faithful God and not doubt and unbelief from others!

For us, as believers in Christ through accepting Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we have been transferred out of bondage to live in liberty and freedom through faith in His word.

Colossians 1:13 NLT “For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.”

Rise up in faith knowing that God plus you equal a majority!  Allow God to show Himself strong on your behalf by believing His promises are for you and those you pray for.

After all, Jesus did say, “WITH GOD, nothing shall be impossible to those who believe.” Mark 9:23 NKJV

Today, I encourage you to set your heart and determine you will not let what others think, say, or feel hinder you from entering the promise land God has for you!

Focused Faith Gets Results (part 2 )

ARE YOU USING YOUR GOD-GIVEN SPIRITUAL BINOCULARS?

Focused faith gets results!  Focus on God’s promises adjusts your spiritual binoculars to see the promises that are for you so that you can experience success, joy and fulfillment in your daily life!

You might be thinking, I did not even realize I have spiritual binoculars to use.  Well, you do!  We are not talking about just any faith, which is vital for success, but faith that focuses on God’s promises.

Faith originated with Jesus.  Hebrews 12:2 refers to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith. “It says that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God!”

His faith was focused on “the end result”—the vision.

Proverbs 29:18 is such a profound Scripture because it describes the results of not having a vision concerning God’s plans and direction in our lives in clear focus.  It says: “Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish, but he who keeps the law [the Word] of God, (which includes that of man) is blessed, happy, fortunate and enviable.” Amplified

The actual meaning of vision is to mentally perceive, to contemplate with pleasure and to constantly anticipate something great is going to happen.  Basically, a vision is faith in your mind’s eye like an architect would draw up a blueprint.  He sees the finished product before it is even started!

Hebrews 11:1 refers to faith as something you start with, with a picture or definite focus in mind. “NOW FAITH, is the assurance (the title deed) of the things [we] hope for,

being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” Amplified

The Bible says your faith, your vision, your dream is like a title deed…a title deed is proof that you own something.

God showed a man in the Old Testament, just like you and me, how important it was for him to focus his attention on the vast number of stars in the sky so that He could show him how focused faith works.

Since the Old Testament is written in the Hebrew language, it will help us understand better the depth of what focus means because it is based on word pictures.  So, the definition of focus is as follows: to concentrate, to think hard and, to adjust like a camera or binoculars, and to get a clear picture!

I particularly like the part where it describes focus as adjusting like a camera or binoculars so that a clearer picture comes up.  Don’t we all need our thought processes and mind imaging adjusted to see a clear path? By getting a clear focused picture with our God-given spiritual binoculars, there is potential to change circumstances, to be more creative and productive.  Just like with binoculars or a camera, we adjust the lens which causes objects that are far away to seem closer enabling us to see a clearer picture of the objects we want to see. 

Focused Faith Gets Results (part 1)

Hebrews 11:1 refers to faith as something you start with, with a picture or definite focus in mind. “NOW FAITH, is the assurance (the title deed) of the things [we] hope for,

being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” Amplified

The Bible says your faith, your vision, your dream is like a title deed…a title deed is proof that you own something.

God showed a man in the Old Testament, just like you and me, how important it was for him to focus his attention on the vast number of stars in the sky so that He could show him how focused faith works.

Since the Old Testament is written in the Hebrew language, it will help us understand better the depth of what focus means because it is based on word pictures.  So, the definition of focus is as follows: to concentrate, to think hard and, to adjust like a camera or binoculars, and to get a clear picture!

I particularly like the part where it describes focus as adjusting like a camera or binoculars so that a clearer picture comes up.  Don’t we all need our thought processes and mind imaging adjusted to see a clear path? By getting a clear focused picture with our God-given spiritual binoculars, there is potential to change circumstances, to be more creative and productive.  Just like with binoculars or a camera, we adjust the lens which causes objects that are far away to seem closer enabling us to see a clearer picture of the objects we want to see.

What Are You Talking About? Does It Matter?

POWER THOUGHT: What Are You Talking About? It Does Matter! Scripture: Psalms 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.” In the Book of Judges, Chapter 6, there is a powerful story of a man named Gideon. His life and that of his family, and even broader than that, the children of Israel are about to be changed. But first God had to change this man’s very poor self- image so that His will could be performed. Gideon had to be willing. Here was a man threshing wheat by the winepress, trying to survive, while hiding from his enemies. Gideon's experiences had taught him that every time he would sow something and produce crops, his enemies would come and steal from him. But, when his people began to cry out to God for answers, something wonderful happened. In essence, the Lord said that He had brought them up from Egypt and out of the house of bondage. He told them He had delivered them out of the hands of all who oppressed them and, not only that, but He gave them their land. He also told them, I am the Lord, your God. (God is interested in you as an individual!) Do not fear their gods in whose land you dwell, but you have not obeyed my voice. What was God saying? I had a great plan for you . . . but you forgot and chose another direction. In verse 12, it says, “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon, in shock that someone thought that highly of him said, "0h my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles, which our Fathers told us about saying, did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now He has forsaken us and delivered us into their hands.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites, have I not sent you?” So Gideon said to the Lord, “How can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my Father's house.” Can you relate to some of the questions that Gideon asked God? Let’s look at some powerful truths: 1. God brought the children of Israel out of bondage to bring them into something great. When they took their eyes off of God-and quit talking about His greatness and all that He had done for them and was planning to do, they began to fear and fell captive to their enemies. Fear leads to a feeling of despair that then leads to questioning the faithfulness of God. God had to get Gideon to see himself in the light of who He was and what His purposes were for him. That is why God addressed him as "a mighty man of valor" when, in essence, Gideon, at that time, was anything but a man of valor. He was literally hiding himself from his enemies. He was living in fear. Gideon basically said to God, “Do you realize who you are talking to? Don't you know, God, there is not anyone who has any respect for our family. We are the least in the city?” In verse 24, after God had convinced Gideon he was a mighty man of valor, it says that Gideon built an altar and called it, “The Lord is Peace.” He then became what God declared him to be when he accepted and declared who God was to him. 4. The exciting principle here for everyone who puts their faith and trust in God is that peace and prosperity are God's ideas. The literal meaning in Hebrew for these two words, peace and prosperity, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, is Shalom. Take this to heart today - Shalom means the following: To be made safe in mind, body or estate To be complete To make restitution and restoration To fare well - to be prosperous and whole! As our leading scripture so clearly affirms, if you will favor God's righteous cause, which has so much to do with your conversation, the Lord will be magnified. As you go about the Father’s business growing in the knowledge of His intentions that He has established in His Word, prosperity and peace will be the outworking of this lifestyle which gives the Father much pleasure! That is how you (Let) the Lord be magnified. He is a God of restoration of that which has been lost. 5. Gideon had to destroy the altars of Baal that his family had set up before God could give him victory. Did you know that one of the big mindsets today that can hinder you fulfilling your dream is unbelief? Doubting the goodness of God is unbelief. Everyone believes in something or someone. Check out who or what your confidence is in. Words like, "My family never has had anything. It won't change now or, where I live there are no opportunities or, no one believes in God like that, and I don’t suppose I can expect a promotion this year?” etc. etc. Are all self-inflicting words that bring defeat, despair and open the door for lack to come into your life. Gideon had a choice to stay with the “same old image” or go with God’s image. The same choice is yours. Apply that truth to your situations in life and watch out! Realize that if “what you have been talking about” is not what God has to say about you or your situations, now is the time to begin speaking of His righteousness and all He has planned for you through faith in His Word! And it shall come to pass! Decide today to become a mighty man or woman of valor. This means to become a person of virtue, a person of strength, of might, of power, riches and substance. Decide to agree with God! Start today. That is God’s plan for you!

New 37 Week Series, Power Thoughts to bring power into your daily life , each week you will receive a new teaching.

POWER THOUGHT: Power Thoughts for Triumphant Living is a compilation of words of encouragement given by the Holy Spirit through prayer, study and seeking His wisdom. Early in my Christian walk, I accepted the truth about what the Bible says in Hebrews 12:2 “That we are to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” It is Jesus who said, “Take no thought by saying, what shall we eat, what shall we drink, what shall we wear? In other words, do not give power to your thoughts by saying statements that question God’s ability or desire to provide, because these are the very issues that send individuals into a tailspin and scrambling in their daily life. He also said, “Take care what you listen to and how you listen,” because words are so very important! Power Thoughts for Triumphant Living has been written to encourage the reader to take the Lord Jesus Christ at His Word and to put their confident trust in Him. The way to do this is to accept and declare His promises because the words spoken become seeds planted that will spring up to new life, a good life! James, Jesus’ brother, says our tongue can set the course of hell in our lives, or guide us as a rudder is used to guide a big ship to its destination. We make the choice by how we use our tongue! It is of utmost important for individuals to realize also that there is a cycle of time from the planting of a seed until the harvest. The space of time between the Yes, I agree with your promises (seed) and the Amen, the answer is here, is a span of time where circumstances, relationships, life itself are conforming to the power of the spoken word that originated with our thoughts. Power Thoughts for Triumphant Living is also based on the fact that what you think you will ultimately become. In order for your life to become triumphant, you have been given the choice to exchange negative thoughts for positive thoughts. My experiences have been that the Word of God is a life giving force based on the life of the author of our faith, Jesus Christ, who said the words I speak are spirit and life. Again, in this truth, the “law of opposites” must be considered that the words you speak are both spirit and life or spirit and death. My prayer is that as you read and consider the power thoughts in these weekly teachings, you will experience in a greater way than ever before the abundant life Jesus promised!

RENEWING OUR MIND DAILY – IS IT IMPORTANT?

Scripture:  Romans 12:1 & 2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

And DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD but BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.

Have you ever wondered why God, through a man, the Apostle Paul, would have taken the time to literally beg, appeal to, beseech, implore, literally request earnestly, that we re-new (one translation say “restart” our minds to think like God would have us to think instead of relying on what has been passed on to us through the world system?  God here is begging!  Think about that!  Does He want to strongly get our attention?  Is there any question about that?  But, it is, of course, for a vital purpose that He desires His will for our lives which this scripture says is:  Good---Acceptable—Perfect!

If something needs to be renewed, it obviously is in need of change, not in the best condition or otherwise there would be no need for change. When you refurbish a beautiful piece of furniture, the basic components and character of the piece remain the same but because of often years of neglect, abuse or simply environmental effects in order to get that furniture to become useful and often beautiful again, the old needs to be removed and, with a master’s touch, new applied!  Then it is good and acceptable and perfect again.

The Bible states in Hosea 4:6 that My People are destroyed because of lack of knowledge…not because of God’s unwillingness or lack of power or ability to make things new or give breakthroughs in individuals lives, but through not having renewed minds to recognize that when something comes on the scene contrary to what God has spoken to be good and acceptable, it must be challenged and resisted with the wisdom God gives us.  Then instead of perishing or being destroyed, we become more than conquerors and triumphant!

So, transformation literally means – metamorphosis – change of form.  It is symbolic of the caterpillar in a cocoon which presses, and splits open the walls of confinement to become an extraordinary beautiful butterfly which soars to heights never reached before.  That is what God’s wisdom will do for YOU.

What are some of God’s desires for You:

1.      That you might have life and have it more abundantly, overflowing.  Jesus said it!

2.       That you might know that Jesus came to destroy the “works of the devil” of which some of these are confusion, strife, divisions, lack, poverty, depression, oppression.  Jesus bore all these works on the cross so that You could walk in peace and victory and as the Bible says: (You) Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee (run) in terror.  So, this is a vital reason for you not to be conformed to this world because Satan is the “god of this world (system) and we belong to the “Word” System who is Jesus and transformation of our minds as to all that Jesus did brings us into the victory God had planned for each and every person before the foundation of the world!

3.      Jeremiah 29:11 says:  I know the thoughts I have for you…plans to do you good and not evil…to give you an expected end!  Do you believe that God is saying that to You as an individual or has life dealt so many blows that your expectancy is for where the next trouble or frustration or debt etc. is going to show up? 

Then it is time to be transformed!  The great British Minister of the Gospel, Smith Wigglesworth, is quoted as saying:  God said it.  I believe it.  That settles it!  Do you believe what God has said about you?  Then settle it and declare it in the face of opposition and opportunities and see what will happen.  That is what “not being conformed but being transformed” is all about.  Get a spirit of expectancy that God is on your side and no weapon formed against you shall prosper.  Get rid of the lies. 

4.      Realize that just as Satan challenged God’s Word, Truth and Integrity to Eve, he will seek to do the same in your life.  Daily – seek Truth from God’s Word.  When you are challenged with a lie or circumstance that is contrary to that Truth, hold on until you see the tide turn.  It shall come to pass!

5.  Jesus said: “My Peace I give unto You.”  Receive it in a fresh way today.  Do you realize  

     that in that one statement Jesus offered to you and me everything that Peace is: Hebrew 

     for Shalom—Prosperity, continuous well-being in all areas of life, completeness.  It   

     is Jesus saying to You:  Be Healthy.  Be in Peace.  Be Prosperous!

Today realize that You are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus unto Good Works.  You are very special in His sight. 

Ask God to show you specific areas in your life that you have become “conformed” to what the world has to say about you.  If you have been rejected, spoken untruthfully about, failed in business or job, maybe you are in a family turmoil, or have financial troubles, transformation is yours already when you realize that God has already made plans for the turnaround in your life.  He is saying:  BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK.  IF ANYONE (THAT INCLUDES YOU!) HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND DINE WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME! REVELATIONS 3:20. 

Will you accept His invitation?  Spend time in His Word and Listen in prayer for wisdom and direction and in prayer ask Him to show you His truth about your life.

It does not take God a long time to do something big.  His desire is to release you from your past and pain and fulfil His purposes for your life.  Release your faith in Him today.

Remember – He sent the Apostle Paul to BEG you to listen to what He has to say about His plans for your life!  Our prayer is that you will hear His voice and experience breakthroughs in your life where You need them the most!!!