We all know that Eve had a bad hair day in the Garden and messed up!

Everything looked hopeless, until God stepped in after Adam and Eve’s  disobedience.

Adam and Eve immediately knew they had been wrong and tried to hide from God.

Genesis 3:8 tells us, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees in the garden.”

Sounds familiar?  What is the first thing you do when you know you have been wrong and sinned against the Lord.  Most of the time we hide in the shame of disobedience.

Pride blocks our willingness to admit we were wrong and opens the door for deception to operate in our soul.

When God questioned them, “who told you were naked?” (vs.11) Adam responded,

“The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” (vs12)

“And the Lord said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “the serpent deceived me and I ate.” (vs13)

God then shared the consequences of their sin.  This is a life changing chapter, read it and meditate asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the mysteries hidden within.

Matthew 13:11 tells us “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” You, child of God, must learn the mysteries of the Kingdom to live in freedom of fear and sin in this world. This is the beginning and you need to understand how to live in the Kingdom of God walking the runway of life.

What we see in this testimony of Adam and Eve is: Adam did not take responsibility for this mistake (sin). This curse is alive in the world today. It is always someone else’s fault.

Eve immediately took responsibility for her sin, her mistake. She admitted she had been deceived and ate the fruit. That is repentance!

The word repentance means, admission of guilt; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in someway to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible.

Genesis 4:25 says, “…for God has appointed another seed for me…” Seth was born and the Scripture says, “…then men began to call on the name of the Lord.” (vs 26) this was the  lineage for Jesus to come to the earth to show us the way of salvation!

Eve, my hero showed me the way of the cross!  When we repent and turn back to Him, He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness! (1John 1:9)

Repentances is not optional if we want to have a relationship with God, it is the first step to faith in Jesus Christ and continuing throughout our life in this world. Yes, like Eve, we will mess up in this world, but we have a God in heaven that washes our sins away when we repent.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”. (1 Cor. 10:13)

 We need to look at Eve and follow her example showing us the way of escape!   Repent!

 

To learn more about  Eve, read my book, Eve, what really happened in the Garden.

It is available on Amazon. 

 

 

 

 

 

What you see is what shapes your future!  Think about it!

We think the devil is our biggest problem, but what we choose to think is our biggest problem or can be our greatest asset.

You are the only one that determines what you think about.  Your only real freedom in life is the freedom of choice.

If you choose to focus on lack, insecurities and the wrongs you have suffered, you are going to be miserable and always fighting to get your way.

Do you think on what God’s Word tells you to think on?, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

That Scripture is very clear on where we need to focus.  Our futures are being shaped by our thoughts, attitudes, and faith.  We sow seeds everyday through our thoughts and words.

The fruit of your life reveals what seeds have been planted.  Your actions reveal what’s in your heart.

I love Martha!  According to Scripture, Martha and Mary both knew Jesus when He dropped by Martha’s house. “…she (Martha) had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word.”  This tells us they both knew Jesus and they both had heard His word! (Luke 10:30)

Mary received the Word and developed spiritual insight. Martha heard the Word but was too busy to meditate the Word to receive spiritual sight.  She was still seeing everything from her natural sight, the world’s view.

In Ephesians 1:15-18, Paul prays that our spiritual eyes would be opened to give us  a spirit of wisdom and revelation.  Revelation of God’s Word is how our spiritual sight is developed.

One day shaped by our spiritual understanding can be the beginning of the exceeding and abundant promises of God in our life. We can learn from Jesus life on earth. One of my favorite testimonies in the Word of God is feeding of the multiples.  Jesus didn’t complain about lack, He took what He had and gave thanks. (Mark 8:1-9)

Thankfulness for what we have will always open the door for the grace of God in our lives.  Jesus understood what He had in His hands was not enough, or it could be used as seed! Jesus chose to believe with His spiritual eyes, not with his natural sight.

Spiritual vision has the power to change our future.  I believe that Martha finally got it when she saw her brother Lazarus walk out of the grave!

When Jesus finally arrived on the scene after being told 2 days before that Lazarus was sick, she was the first one to run out to Him.  She approached Him in an accusing matter, “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. (John 11:21)  A little later, Mary went out to meet Jesus, she fell at His feet in worship and spoke the very same words that Martha spoke.(vs.32)

Both women spoke the same words to the same person and received two different responses.  What was different.  The attitude of the heart.

I believe when Lazarus walked out of the grave, Martha finally got it!  The next chapter we see them all together with Jesus, working together. Please read and meditate on the wonderful miracles of everyday life that are shared with us in the Bible.

Romans 15:4 tells us “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Do you need hope today, then learn from those who have walked before us and learn how God worked all things for their good as they worked with Him.

Repentance is the key.  Repentance is the pivotal point between ruin and restoration.

How is your spiritual sight?  Do you have limited vision because you are looking through your natural eyes of limited resources and the challenged of life or do you see through your spiritual eyes the blessings of the Lord with a grateful heart.

The choice is yours –  do you see the need or the seed?

 

 

 

 

” Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.”

 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”      (Luke 10:38-42).

We have all heard about Martha and Mary! Martha mouth and merry Mary!

 As I was reading these verses one day, a certain phase caught my attention!  “A certain village; a certain woman name Martha.  “Certain,” Jesus was on a mission!  It had been established that He must go to this village to meet this woman. There was a purpose for this meeting, to help a woman find her place and her gift in the body of Christ.

 Martha’s admirable qualities are easily overlooked when we simply see her as a busybody who refused to sit at Jesus’ feet.  We see she opened her doors wide to Jesus and his friends and as always Martha’s desire was to make them comfortable and give her very best to meet their needs.

Martha had a serving gift (Romans 12). Some call these motivation gifts!  These gift when used correctly are to give you joy and fulfillment in your daily life.  Along with your gift you must learn to discern the time and how to use your gift for the edification of the body of Christ!

There are several things we can glean from Martha’s testimony. Jesus knows where you are and how to get you where you belong!  God saw the potential in Martha and understood the frustration she was going through, if she didn’t fulfill the purpose of her gifting, to serve others.

This visit was not the first time Mary and Martha encountered Jesus. Verse 39 tells us, “ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.”  This indicates at one time both Mary and Martha had set at the feet of Jesus.

This time they were in Martha’s house and she felt a responsibility to make them comfortable. In her hustle and bustle to get everything perfect for the visit, she catches a glimpse of Mary setting at the feet of Jesus, enjoying her time with Him.  A fiery dart of the enemy entered her mind and she blew up!  Wow, I can relate to that.

She was immediately caught up in self-pity!  She had allowed a thorn of life to enter and take over her thoughts which affected her attitude and forgot her purpose in preparing the meal.

 

The thorns of life had caught her off guard and instead of a servant attitude she was caught up in good works with a wrong motivation!  Her “good works” became a thorn, a snare, that choked out the Word of God.(Mark 4:18-19)  She was no longer surrendered to the Lord using her gifts for the good of the body, but full of jealousy and frustration, causing her to lose sight of the purpose for her life.

Jesus didn’t bat an eye as He allowed Martha to rant on about her situation. He didn’t get offended in the middle of her emotional upheaval.  He loves His children and longs to hear everything that concerns them!  He is eager to listen.

After Jesus listens, He offers her the path to peace. “But one thing is needed…..” This was an invitation for Martha to come and set, enjoy your friends and receive the anointing that will give you the peace that passes all understanding.

Martha had a gift that brought joy to her life, but we must learn to discern the seasons of life.  Sometimes a peanut butter sandwich will do, you don’t need a 7-course dinner.  Martha did not discern the time and purpose of this visit.

One thing Martha knew, where to go for help!  She went directly to the highest authority in the room! We need to learn the ways of the Holy Spirit in our everyday walk of life.

John 16:7 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Do you understand you have an advantage over the world?  You have a helper in this world. Just like Martha,

all you have to do is ask!  Jesus understands bad hair days and frustration in this world and that is why He sent you a helper.  Are you taking an advantage over the frustrations of daily life.

All that is required is surrender!  This includes your time and talent!  Time is your greatest asset.

A little time in God’s Word over time builds character and strength that will sustain the gift that is with you!

Just as Jesus was interested in Martha and her daily life, He is interested in you!  All you have to do is surrender!  Ask for help and walk in His presence.  You are that “certain” woman Jesus is looking for!

 

 

 

 

 “…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”                 (John 14:27)

 

Life is full of temptations but God’s grace is sufficient!

  God’s grace gives you the power and ability to overcome the trials of life

^” Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and  find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:16)

If our “heart” is not established, we will be overcome by the world!

“Surely, he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.”( Ps.112:6-8)

2 Corinthian 11:3 says,   “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

One of the most amazing gifts that God has given us is the human mind and the ability to choose!  Life is made up of choices and constructed by our words. The ability to choose, to learn and think is what makes us who we are.

The thoughts and inclinations of the heart shape the reality of who we are, ultimately shaping our actions. Your thoughts matter!

Everything you do flows from the heart. (Proverbs 4:23) Jesus said you will know a tree by its fruit. Who you are is evidenced by the thoughts or roots of your heart!

When our minds are corrupted (2 Cor. 11:3) we are easily deceived from the simplicity of Christ and our heart is hardened.

Our mind and our mouth were created to work together!

 Matthew 12:35 tells us, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things”.

Words are seeds that have a source.  The source is the heart.

Matthew 12:34 says, “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ” Our thoughts, desires and emotions are always expressed through our speech.

We were born again by the power of our words!  Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Words have no power until they are believed!  I said the sinner’s prayer three times and was never born again because I did not believe in my heart!  I spoke those words to get others to stop preaching to me.  BUT one day, the Holy Spirit came upon me and convicted me of my way of living and I confessed and believed!

My future was instantly changed by what I believed in my heart and spoke with my mouth!  If this doesn’t show us the power of our heart and mind, I don’t know what does.

We hear a lot about “faith” and many different opinions are floating around, but faith is simply the soil of the heart receiving and believing the seeds of God’s Word.

God’s Word will prosper where it is sent and it’s purpose is to give you a future and hope. Your future and God’s purpose for you depend on the condition of your heart and how you receive God’s Word!  Your spoken words reveal the condition of your heart.

Remember our first verse , “…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) It is your responsibility to grow in the knowledge of God and plant the seeds of God’s Word in your heart.  His Word will not return void, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11)

Seeds carry the invisible future into the visible present.

How often are our minds corrupted from the simplicity of Christ by our thoughts and words and we limit the power of God from working in our lives?  Think about it!

 

Society may hold you to an impossible physical standard, but here’s the truth. 

 

Body image and weight issues are two of the most overwhelming issues a person deals with daily. We receive constant reminders on billboards, radio, TV and in the news about what our body should look like and how we are to act. One day we are to be superwoman—the next day, Suzy Homemaker.

 

We soon find that we are living in a tug-of-war between the world’s unrealistic standard of beauty and God’s reality for our body. When we buy into the world’s unattainable standard of outward beauty we believe a lie of the enemy. When we believe a lie, we empower the liar.

Buying into the world’s unattainable standard of outward beauty is easy to do in today’s world. As we try to gain acceptance by the world’s standard, we find bondage that leads us to discouragement and depression. We have been caught in the snare of the enemy that our happiness depends on our outward beauty.

Second Peter 3:2 says, “I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior command through your apostles.”

He is writing to refresh our memories and stimulate wholesome thinking! 

He also warns us “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth, and following their own desires.” (vs.3)

The “truth” is what sets us free!  John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  As a child of God, we need to stop blaming politics and race for the problems of the world.  There is nothing new under the sun!  From the beginning it has been good versus evil!”

If the church does not stand up and stand out, God cannot step in!

Peter is reminding us to be on guard against the ways of the wicked, they will be mockers of truth and most importantly, he reminds us that “the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief! (Read and mediate 2 Peter 3.)

        Jochebed, a great woman of God, insignificant to the world, understood the anointing of giving birth and bringing deliverance.  She was willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world!

She was called to fulfill an extraordinary purpose: not only the birthing of Moses, but also the sacrifice of giving him fully to the Father.   In her womb she held the answer to the dilemma of an entire nation.

As a child of God, we carry the same anointing, to birth something much greater than we know, to be a part of a bigger testimony; to endure the wilderness, to have the wisdom to stay hidden and come forth at the appointed time.

Men and women are entrusted with the assignment of deliverance in this world. As we pray and ask God for help, he searches the earth for faithful men and women to anoint to arise and face the challenge.     

Surrendered people empowered by the Holy Spirit can break through where others fail, and achieve seemingly impossible exploits in tearing down and uprooting demonic systems and bondages.

God is looking for the Jochebed’s of this day to dream with Him, to build with Him, and to adventure with Him.  It is time to give birth to what heaven has called you to!  We cannot stand still when innocent blood is being shed through out our nation!

“Is there not a cause?” This was the question a young shepherd boy, David, cried out as he faced the giant!

Have you studied the great works of God lately?  “The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.” (Psalms 111:2)   What do you take pleasure in?

Romans 15:4 tells us, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

We are to learn from those who have walked before us!  This is our heritage as men and women of God!  This is our family history! God works through men and women on this earth! We have the same command as Adam and Eve in the Garden; be fruitful and multiply!

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

The devil torments, lack of knowledge destroys!

Your choice!  Are you willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world?

 

 

 

A young orphan girl, Hadassah, found herself not just living in an unfamiliar world but reigning over it. We do not know her childhood history; how her parents died, did she have brothers and sisters, but we know from her testimony that God had HIS hand on her. She was raised by her cousin, Mordecai.

As Queen Esther, she lived in a palace, but it was not “home!” The people, traditions, and clothing, nothing felt like home.

She had to hide her real name, living a double life, unable to share who she was, where she came from, as she learned her new role in life.

She did not choose this season of life, but adapted to life as Queen, not knowing her future at the time.

She had been taught to keep her focus on the God of her fathers. She was the only Jewish woman in the area, and she didn’t have a life outside the palace. Her family history was a secret. I am sure she had memories of her Hebrew ancestors and how they wandered the wilderness yearning for a home.

She had lived in the palace five years, when she received a message from her cousin, Mordecai. He asked her to go to the King to reverse the edict against her people.  She hesitated and sent a message to Mordecai. No one went before the King without an invitation.  They could be put to death.

His reply, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place…. and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-17 NIV)

 

• Esther had to walk in wisdom, she understood the enemy had the King’s ear.
• Esther prepared for the battle!
• Three days of fasting for herself and her attendants, Mordecai and all Jews.
• Two banquets to gain favor with the King.
• A public confession of her heritage.
• She had been trained in social skills to approach the King! And she was dressed in her Royal Robes which identified her.

Esther walked in confidence and made her request before the King. She used all her resources and followed God’s strategy for victory!

Esther came to the place where she realized it was no longer about her. She had a God given purpose! She grew from an orphan girl following directions to becoming a strong, courageous Queen.  She became a leader for her day.

Esther’s KEY to fulfilling her God given assignment on earth:  Preparation and peace!

Her heart was established in the God she served.  “Their hearts are secure; they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”  (Ps. 112:8 NIV)

Jesus understood how important peace was to our daily walk, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)

Esther put herself in a place to hear and follow the Lord, even though she did not understand everything that was going on.  Her heart was established, and the peace of God kept her in position to complete the task before her.

You, woman of God, were brought to the Kingdom for such a time as this! God has designed your robe of righteousness and garment of praise to keep you and lead you by the still waters.  (Is. 61:3;10).

He also encourages us in Revelation 16:15, “Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”(NLT)

What condition are your garments in? No matter what shape you are in, if you are totally unraveled,  or just have a few loose edges, all you have to do is submit the threads of hurt and heartache; the thorns of life, to the Lord. He will use the loose ends and weave your life into the original design created just for you!

There will be many trials in this earth, but as you established your heart in HIS peace, He will lead you by the still waters into a land flowing with milk and honey!.

 

 

 

 

 

God has designed His children to be dependent on Him and for our lives to be directly affected by what we speak! 

James 3:1-12 speaks clearly about our tongue and the effect it has on our life. He shares that the tongue, even though a small member can direct our lives or set on fire the course of nature!  No man can tame the tongue. BUT with the help of the Holy Spirit our tongue can be brought in line with God’s Word. God creates the fruit of our lips! (Is. 57:19)  

Ponder James 3 and ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your understanding regarding your mouth.

We can see in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Your heart and your mouth are connected! Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Again, Matthew tells us, “Therefore take no thought, saying,…” So, a thought isn’t activated in your life until you speak it! (6:31-34 KJV)

When the child of God, a new creation born again person, realizes the power that is in the tongue, they can begin bearing fruit that comes forth when they declare God’s Word.  His plan for us is to use His creative power through our words, to change the fruit of our lives and quench the fiery darts of the enemy!

We also must understand that faith and patience work together. (James 1:4)

Our tongue, like a rudder, can change the direction of our lives.  Once the rudder has directed the ship, it takes time to turn the ship around. We must also give time for the works of God to be completed.

This is the time we need to practice, “Be still and know that I am God.”

(Is.46:10) We need to ask God to, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3) We must protect our robe of righteousness with our garment of praise and enter His court with thanksgiving in our heart.

Life is a journey, and only with the help of the Holy Spirit, directing our everyday lives can we find the joy and peace promised to us!  God has equipped you for life on earth!  Your life is a miracle, a testimony to the goodness of God as we bring heaven to earth with our responses in our relationships with others.

 ^“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalms 19:14)  

We were clothed with the robe of righteousness and the garment of praise, but we must put on the armor of God to protect our robes. (Is. 61:3, 10)

Your royal robe of righteousness and your garment of praise are what turns heads when you walk into a room.  People know there is something different about you.  You are confident, you are walking in peace and the joy of the Lord!                                                                                     

The enemy keeps trying to shoot his fiery darts at you, by plotting evil thoughts against you.  Your interaction with other people is the ground the enemy uses to cause strife, jealousy, and contention.  If you don’t have your armor in place, your robe soon becomes tattered and torn, allowing fear, anxiety, and bitterness into your life.

Have you checked your spiritual wardrobe lately? 

Are you frustrated because prayers aren’t being answered, you’ve lost your joy and it seems nothing is going right?  I don’t care what is going on in the world; what virus, who is in office, democrat or republican, it has nothing to do with your peace of mind!

You must dress for success as you, woman of God, walk the runway of life in the world, traveling to your “promised land!”

You have everything you need to bring heaven to earth!  Yes, there is a battle all day, every day all around you.  Yes, we still live in the earth, like Job sometimes on the ash heap, or Paul in prison, we have to deal with the evil and relational hardships in this world that we live in.

Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and made Him Lord of your life, you have been promoted to a position of victory.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).  Always remember, you, woman of God, have home court advantage!

Satan knows he can not destroy you.  The best he can do is make you miserable on your journey of life.  He cannot “unseat” you, but he can intimidate you and cause you to be paralyzed with fear.

We must keep our garment of praise wrapped securely around our robe of righteousness.  Learn your enemies’ tactics and sharpen your weapons!  Paul clearly understood the enemies’ tactics and he also understood that he was not to be target practice for the enemy.

He shares with us in, Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  Read and meditate Ephesians 6:10-20 until you have revelation of your spiritual armor then every time the enemy is near, he flees!

You must be alert as your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour! (1 Peter 5:8) Your spiritual armor is not something you take off and on!

You must remember being a child of God doesn’t give you immunity from assaults of the enemy, but it does give you access to the Kingdom of Heaven and the power of the Holy Spirit to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy.

Starting with girding yourself with truth!  It is the truth that sets you free! (John 8:32) When truth becomes your starting place, everything else begins to fall into place.  Truth is the core, the foundation on which you build life. It supplies the support you need in times of trouble.         Truth holds all things together and gives stability.  The truth holds your breastplate of righteousness in place which covers your heart.   Your heart is the source of life in the natural and the spirit. We put on the breastplate of righteousness by making a conscious effort to renew our mind. This is not once in a lifetime, but a lifelong journey.

The enemy knows the power of peace!  A lack of peace in your life, opens the door for his influence.  He is master at trying to stir up chaos and confusion. He wants you unbalanced, stumbly in your walk with God full of anxiety.

A life without peace is simply unprotected, disabled, unable to move forward in your spiritual walk.   Internal instability allows the fiery darts of the enemy to hit their target shredding your breastplate of righteousness.

Our shield of faith is formed by our faith-filled words spoken from our heart.  You came into the Kingdom by speaking faith-filled words you believed in your heart! (Romans 10:10).  Your shield of faith protecting your heart is strengthened by the words you speak.  Isaiah 57:19 tells us, “I create the fruit of your lips…”

Our helmet of salvation gives us hope and protects our soul; our mind, will and emotions.  Hope keeps our focus on the goodness of God.  The sword of the Spirit is the only weapon of our warfare that we are told specifically what it is: the Word of God. The Word of God has the power to discern our thoughts and attitudes that are contrary to God’s Word. The Word is an offensive tool and every time you open the Word of God you are preparing for spiritual warfare!

Prayer is the glue that keeps us all together as we learn to use our armor. We have done all; now we are standing.  While we are standing, we are praying.  Standing does not mean we are doing nothing!

For a complete study of our armor, read The Real Woman grows roses from the thorns of life  .

We have the responsibility to care for our garments of salvation!  Our garment of praise must be wrapped around our robe of righteousness protecting us from darts of the enemy! God dressed you for success!

              Don’t get caught naked and ashamed.

 

 

Think about this!  It is the promised land.  That means we must possess it.  I have heard there are over 8,000 promises in the Bible.  I have been born again over 40 years and I have not possessed 8,000 promises!

I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and the desire of my heart it to keep keeping on as I walk the runway of life to the “promised land!”

In this world we have dual focus, the hope of heaven and the reality of His presence in our daily walk.

Our life on this earth as a child of God parallels the children of Israel coming out of Egypt to their promised land flowing with milk and honey!  Millions left Egypt and two walked into the promised land, Caleb and Joshua.

Nobody has said it was easy.  Jesus told us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)   The King James versions says tribulation instead of trouble, both words here mean pressure.

The Scripture speaks with honesty and integrity. Jesus was speaking to His disciples and wanted them to understand they would be facing trouble in the world.  They would face opposition just because they knew HIM and encounter evil simply because we live in a fallen world.

Are you prepared for this world? Do you heed Jesus’ warning?  For many of us our walk of faith is routine; worship service, perhaps a small-study group and maybe a little evangelizing.

There is nothing wrong with having a routine, but there is a fine line between a rut and a routine! As humans we want to “figure” everything out and understand what is going on.  I have found in my walk with God, I had to give up the right to understand to find the peace that passes all understanding!

Philippians 4:7 says, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  This is the faith walk that leads us to the promised land!

As the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt, the Lord told them all about the land of milk and honey.  He also told them He would not give them all the land in one year, or the land would become desolate and the beasts in the land become too many for them. They had been slaves; they did not know “how to” fight their evil enemies!

“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.  I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.  But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.  Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.” (Exodus 23:27-30 NIV)

God expected them to learn to fight the good fight of faith! He expects the same thing from you and me.  That is why He gave us a Helper, to reveal the truth of His Word to our spirit.  With revelation of His Word, we thrive! Without it we dry up.

We have to learn to face disappointment and discouragement in the world.  Face our enemies and tear down the strongholds that have been built in our minds.

I urged you to go beyond “a church attender” and “surrender all!”  It is one thing to accept the Lord as Savior, but have you allowed Him to become “Lord of ALL?”

                                When we quit trying to “figure everything out” and surrender, we will experience                                                                           that “peace that passes all understanding!”

Psalms 107:20 tells us, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.”  As a born- again child of God we have a deep craving within us that most of us don’t recognize as a longing to know Him and the power of His resurrection! (Phil. 3:10)

There are many voices in the world and many very tempting temptations!

We must learn to recognize the cravings of our life.  If you are not hungry and thirsty for the Word of God, then that is the first thing you ask the Holy Spirit, “Holy Spirit plant within my heart a hunger and thirst for God!”

We are what we eat in the natural and the Spirit.  If we don’t fill our body with nourishment from good food, we get sick.  If we don’t fill our spirit with the Word of God, we become full of anxiety and depression, bitterness and anger set in, and we can no longer hear “the voice of the Lord.”

Don’t die of malnutrition!  It’s your choice.  He is the “bread of life” which will sustain in the natural and spiritual world!  Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Don’t forget, it is the promised land!  You must go in and possess it!

You are not a grasshopper!  “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33)

How do you see yourself?   Think about it!