Life - Liberty - Happiness can be yours!

POWER THOUGHT:

LIFE - LIBERTY - HAPPINESS CAN BE YOURS!

Scripture:  Psalms 1: 1-2 (Amplified)

“Blessed, happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly (following their advice, plans and purposes nor stands submissive and inactive) in the path where sinners walk nor sits down (to relax and rest) where the scornful and mockers gather.”

Who would not desire to experience being blessed, happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable?  In Psalms 1 God gives us a plan that will bring this into our reality as we meditate on His wisdom!

Also, Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address said:  “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights to life, liberty and happiness!”

Our Scripture focuses our attention on the man or woman who will put God’s word first so they will be in a position to enjoy the benefits of the blessed life God has in store for them.

Being aware that you are here on earth at this time in history, no longer by the will of man, but the will of God, can activate your faith so that God’s plans can be realized.  John 1:12-13 says: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God!”

Meditating on that alone until it becomes real to you that you are chosen by God to be His child and, to repeat a phrase spoken by someone years ago, “And God don’t make no junk,” will help you to have faith that God has great things in store for you!

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago….” Ephesians 2:10 NLT.

Also Psalms 1:2 illuminates how we get there!  “But his delight and desires are in the Law (the Word) of the Lord and on His law (the precepts, the instruction and the teachings of God) he habitually meditates, ponders and studies by day and by night.”

The word “meditate” is very impacting when we understand that it is more than reading a Scripture or hearing a Scripture perhaps being taught or preached on. To realize the power God wants the Word to have in our lives He wants us to meditate, which means to muse, to ponder, to consider and study closely.  We draw inner wisdom and strength when we think on the Word again and again and allow it to become part of our inner man.

I remember as a teenager there were different genres of music that I loved to hear and sing.  Do you know after singing along with the music over a period of time it became second nature to me.  I knew every word, every pause and the rhythm as soon as the song started playing.

That is how God would have us to be with His Word.  Meditating on it and musing or thinking about what it says and means will cause it to become second nature to us so that we can live in the good of it.

Then the result of focusing on what God has to say about our life and situations when conversation or communication that is contrary to what God says about it arises, you will be well versed as to whether it fits the criteria of Psalms 1:1 “Blessed, happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable!”  Those are the ultimate goals God has in mind for you, your family, your nation, etc.  Being fully persuaded, which is one of the meanings of faith, equips you to be able to make quality decisions.

For instance, are you feeling unhappy?  Who have you been spending time with?  Jesus said, “I came to give you life and give it to you in a more abundant way.”  Changing your focus from situations that foster negative emotions to what our Savior said His mission was can cleanse your thought processes so you are drawing from your meditation on the Word and the truth becomes activated in your life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17.  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

When we find ourselves experiencing lack in any area of life, I have heard it said, it is caused by a lack in wisdom.  As we seek God’s direction, He will put people in our path that have experienced success in the area we need help with.  I love the Scripture in Proverbs 11:14 “Where no advice is, the people fail; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety, {victory and wisdom}”

Again, being mindful of where your counsel and advice is coming from is important in having the success in life that God intends.

One of the main areas that we must be mindful of is information, advertisements and pictures that come to us through Media.  What is broadcast may be factual in the natural world, but not necessarily the truth in God’s economy!

Envying others?  Envying is a strong feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s qualities, possessions or perceived luck.  God wants us to be so aware that He created us for His pleasure and has opportunities for us that only we can fulfill through seeking His wisdom will keep you from feeling let down or left out when others seem to be having an advantage.  Stay in faith that you are special to Him and that is the way to let go of discontentment or resentfulness!

When we use our faith to acknowledge that we are actually His workmanship created for good works to walk in, this can open channels for us to live the life Jesus paid for us to experience.

Jesus said His purpose for coming to earth was to give us life and give it to us in a more abundant way.  Life in this Scripture means:  the state of one who is possessed of vitality, a fountain of intelligence, a life active and vigorous devoted to God, blessed even in this world with every kind of blessing of those who put their trust in Christ! 

This Scripture says every blessing paid for by Christ belongs to you and the more you put your trust in Christ through knowledge of what He has done, the more faith is released to receive it!

Galatians 5:1 says:  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (or bondage).”

True happiness and liberty comes through us spending time with the Lord and asking Him to reveal who we are because He lives in us.

In order to be happy, it is important to realize that success in life is a journey, not a destination. 

Each day is a gift.  We can realize true life, liberty and happiness when we focus on delighting ourselves in our Creator.  We do this by sharing and talking with Him, praying and petitioning Him according to His Word and expecting with great faith that answers are on their way.

As Abraham Lincoln said, “God has given each person a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.” 

Even though he had failed with many setbacks through life, one of his famous quotes was “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”  Could he have been speaking of Jesus? 

As we take time to ask ourselves important questions such as: “Is my life going in the direction God desires for me?   Where should I be focusing my attention?  Find out what makes you happy inside, where Christ lives, and begin to let this be your prayer focus and believe that God will help you as you pursue your talent and purpose you were created for because it says in Colossians 1:27 “To them (that includes you) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 

Also, today be aware as Psalms 1 says: “Of where you walk, where  you sit and relax and who you are listening to,” because you will either move into greatness listening to God’s truths or falter by listening to others’ opinions that may or may not be the truth.

God has blessed us with the ability to make great choices every day that will bring Him glory.  When you know the truth and the Truth Giver, Jesus, the choice is easy because then you can live life in liberty while pursuing the happiness He ordained from the beginning for you to walk in!

As you take time to meditate on this teaching, I pray Life - Liberty and Happiness will become yours more than ever before in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

Will YOU BE THE ONE TO SAY RESTORE?

WILL YOU BE THE ONE TO SAY “RESTORE?

SCRIPTURE:  ISAIAH 42: 21-23

“It was the Lord’s pleasure for His righteousness sake to magnify instruction and revelation and glorify them.  But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes and hidden in houses of bondage.  They have become a prey, with no one to deliver them, a spoil, with no one to say, RESTORE THEM.”

Restore means to bring something back to its original state, to good health or vigor, to put back into a former position, to renew or to make better!

The word “restore” describes the finished work of the Cross.  What Adam and Eve gave away by choosing the lies and deceptive words spoken by Satan, Jesus Christ paid the price for us with His own life to give back to mankind what God had intended for us from the beginning.

Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him, male and female He created them.  And God blessed them and said to them: Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it (using all its vast resources in the service of God and man);….

Basically, man abdicated his position of having dominion and gave it to a fallen angel.  That brought chaos, sickness and lack to mankind which God never intended.

But Jesus bought back our rights to enjoy fellowship with God and the blessings of having dominion and being fruitful in our life’s endeavors.

How do we know this? 

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”  Verse 17 says, “For if by one man’s offense/trespass death reigned through the one, MUCH MORE those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

This Scripture means we are to reign in life in the here and now!

This word “reign” means to rule as a king or queen, to prevail or be prevalent! 

You may say to yourself, how can this really be?  We do this according to God’s word through the life that has been given to us through Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:9 says: “For in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power.”

Yet, because of believing the lies, insinuations and deceptions of the devil or lack of knowledge of God’s true intentions for mankind, men and women still today are living life trapped, plundered, robbed and prisoners in life.

Hosea 4:6 says: “My people are destroyed and perish because of a lack of knowledge.”

This is taking place even though the Lord’s desire is that His people, His kids, live through His provision, Jesus Christ, abundant, prosperous and healthy lives for His sake and pleasure.

Can you remember when you have done something special for someone or bought them something and it was barely acknowledged or appreciated how that felt?  Can you imagine how much pleasure it gives the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit when we are mindful and appropriate and appreciate the blessings He paid for us to have?

With that thought in mind, let this be our resolve today:  If the Lord is looking for someone to say “Restore,” He can sure count on me!

I will exercise my faith in the knowledge that God wants me and my loved ones as well as those He puts on my heart to receive back everything that has been plundered, robbed or stolen!  I will make the choice to rule and reign in life through Jesus Christ.

Because God says He is looking for someone to say “Restore,” I will boldly declare and believe for all that “Restore” means which is to bring something back to its original state, to good health and vigor and to be renewed each day!  That is how we enter into God’s plan through Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Remember: He spoke to the wind, to fish, to trees, to bodies, to money, etc., and they obeyed.

Jesus declaration that He came that we might have life and have it MORE ABUNDANTLY is for you……However you must receive it!

Proverbs 22:12 says:  “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”

Our lead Scripture shows how much importance God places on His Word:

“IT WAS THE LORD’S PLEASURE FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE TO MAGNIFY INSTRUCTION AND REVELATION AND GLORIFY THEM.”

So, trust that if the Lord asked the question:  “Who will say “RESTORE,” He has some plans in mind to fulfill your requests!

Take time to be specific.  Visualize yourself having what you are desiring.  Jesus said:  “Nothing or NO THING will be impossible to those that believe.” Luke 1:37

Then, do not try to figure out how God will do it, just trust, be specific  and stay in faith for it to happen!

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!