Understanding the purpose of hope in a believer’s life is significant as it is one of the three things that abide: faith, hope and love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

 

Hope is a unique gift to the born-again child of God. Our hope in the promise maker sustains our faith in the promises.  Hope encourages us in our walk with God as we wait for the promise.

Hope is a sustaining force helping us to keep our focus, causing us to be vigilant, giving us the grace to give up the things of this world and prioritize our life.

Faith and hope are inseparable, they are also distinct.  To have strong faith we must have sustaining hope!

Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The substance of our faith is our hope in the unseen, and the evidence (proof) of the unseen is manifest because of this hope.

As we walk through life on earth as a child of God, trusting in the Lord to meet our needs as He has promised, we must understand the seasons of life.  In this world we have dual focus, the hope of heaven and the reality of His presence in our daily walk.

Everything in the Kingdom of God starts with a seed.  This seed is the Word of God. (Luke 8:13)   The seed carries the promises of God and must be nourished.

One Scripture that I have pondered on many times is Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

The big question is, how do we handle deferred hope.  When our prayer is not answered when we expect.  When it seems everything is delayed?  Do we let the frustration fester and make our heart sick, or do we fight the good fight of faith? (1Timothy 6:12)

Hope deferred (prolonged) is a growing season.  Our Lord understands disappointment.  He knows that “not getting what you want” is frustrating and discouraging.

That’s why the Lord’s desire is for us to hang on to Him. He’s waiting for the moment we come to the end of ourselves, our plans and dreams and realize our hope is found only in Him.  “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits and in his word, I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5).

Hope deferred is not denial, it is delay until the perfect time when God knows we are ready.  We put our hope in God’s Word and the wisdom and promises it contains.  We “ask” the Holy Spirit, our teacher and comforter, to reveal to us the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 13:11)

As we are waiting, we water the seed that we have sown in the Garden of our heart with praise and thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is the force that moves the mountain and prepares the way for a miracle!

I study the men and women in the Bible.  They are real people in this world facing the same problems that we face in our daily life.  God tells us in Romans 15:4, “…these things are written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The testimonies reveal “how God works through His people to help them bring heaven to earth and overcomes the pressure of this world.

Jochebed, the mother of Moses, is one of my favorite testimonies.  Living in slavery with two children and pregnant, Pharaoh gives a decree to kill all baby boys at birth by placing them in the river.  As a mother, I can’t imagine being placed in this position!  How did she overcome?  Hebrews 11:23 tell us, “By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (man) command.”

Meditating on this testimony gives me HOPE! By faith, because they saw. Faith sees the promises of God!  Only those that see the invisible can do the impossible!

When your hope becomes faith, faith launches you into another realm that is beyond understanding.  You are no longer trying to understand “how to fix the mess!”

Paul calls this, “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 7)

Jochebed followed God’s plan, she placed Moses in a basket and placed him in the river!  The same river that Pharaoh commanded all baby boys would die! God had another plan, and he was looking for a man and woman that would trust Him to bring about His miracle in their life.  Read Jochebed’s testimony in Exodus 1:22, and 2:1-10.

When did Jochebed’s hope become faith?  When she placed her baby in the river!

When our prayers are answered and our needs met, it’s “like eating from the tree of life.” Suddenly, life is good, and all is well!

We choose how to handle deferred hope. Let’s learn from those that have walked before us.  The Exodus is the story of God’s people leaving Egypt and beginning their journey to the Promised Land. A whole generation did not enter because it was too hard!  It was a long journey involving many battles and betrayals. We are told to fight the good fight of faith and to stand!

Receiving the promises requires an investment of your energy and effort. We must live intentional. Our journey with God is an active adventure that requires total surrender of our life, spirit, soul, and body

The secret of navigating your hope is total surrender! 

Obedience is a fruit of surrender.

Once we give up, God moves in!

 

  Paul tells us that the pressures of this world builds our character and gives us renewed hope, not for the fulfillments of our needs, but for a deeper knowledge and relationship with God.  Our hope will not disappoint! (Romans 5:3-5)

 

 

 Memories can be inspiration or create anxiety!

Most of our responses to situations in our life are formed in childhood that determine how we do life in this world.

Our outlook and behavior are colored to a degree by our ability to deal with events of the past.  The good news is God can take the sting out of the past!

 I’m so thankful for our Helper, the Holy Spirit!  We need comfort and power to walk through the hurts and heartaches of this world.  I have walked with God 45 years, and I still need help every day to overcome the pressure of this world.

I was reading John 14 today and the first verse, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”   A reminder, that I had a part to play in keeping my heart in a place where I could hear His voice, daily!

Peace in our life is the bedrock for facing memories that the enemy tries to use to choke the life from us causing anxiety and depression.

The Apostle Paul talked about this in Philippians at a time he was in prison. He had an abundance of time to think!  Choosing what we think on is a key to peace.

Philippians 4:7 says, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Walking in God’s peace is a sure protection from destructive thought patterns bombarding our mind.

Peace only comes as we learn to allow the Holy Spirit to be our Helper.

Philippians 4:8 tells us “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.”

 I feel Paul’s frustration in that word, finally!  This is your part! 

God gave you the gift of choice in the Garden.  You have a choice about what you think on.

You can be humiliated, lied against, deceived and betrayed, and you can get over it when you cultivate a mindset that says, through Christ I can conquer the pressure of this world! (Romans 8:37).

As a born-again child of God, you have a helper, you are not alone. (John 16:7)

If you allow painful memories of the past to  hang over you like a cloud, you will continue to be miserable in this world.

As I was murmuring about a situation in my life, God spoke to me one day, “shut up and be content!”  Wow, that got my attention.  I wanted sympathy.  God knew that I needed truth.

I began to read and study Philippians because I knew that in Chapter 4, verse 11, Paul said “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”  It did not just happen, he had to learn to be content.  He had to build his faith “in God,” trusting Him to know best and turn the situation into good.

After doing this for some time, one day a verse caught my attention! Philippians 3:13, states “…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…”

I said, “God how do I forget?”  The enemy is always reminding me of everything I have done wrong!  He instantly responded saying, “you remember!”

Remember, I thought…. He then said, “when you remember, you are choosing your thoughts!”

I got it!  I choose what I am thinking about!  Is it really that simple, YES!

One of my favorite verses is, 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, that somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

It is not hard to follow Jesus and live a Christ-centered life in this world.  You must live intentionally on purpose! Use your gift of choice!

God has always been in the restoration business. It has always been His desire to restore to those created in His image to a right relationship with Himself. We are not meant to be burdened with painful memories that hinder our daily walk with God and experiencing His joy and peace.

The Word of God shares many testimonies of men and women who persevered in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Do not rehearse the trauma or heartache of your past. God can bring healing to those memories as you meditate on His goodness and faithfulness.

Remember, you have a choice on what you think on!

Change your life by changing your thinking.

That is the simplicity that is in Christ!

As I was thinking about all the controversy about women and their role in society, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Mothers are Leaders.”   As I pondered these words, He brought to my remembrance Jochebed.     

Most Bible readers don’t know her by name. She is mentioned twice in the Bible by her name, Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:39.

Without doubt her life was not a bed or roses. She was raised in slavery, but she never lost hope for her household. Her character was forged in a brutal world, but she never lost her love for the God of Israel, and her faith in Him developed her character which she imparted into her children.

She had the unique position of raising three leaders: Moses, Aaron and Miriam. She is listed in Hebrews Chapter 11 with other great leaders.

After many years of favor in Egypt, Pharaoh became threatened by the children of Israel and inflicted them with hard labor, but the more he did, the stronger they became.  In his effort to stop them, He commanded that all baby boys be cast into the river at birth.

As Jochebed gave birth and the cry of her newborn baby cut through the home, she was distracted by the remembrance of the king’s command. “It’s a boy,” she was told.  “Give me my son,” she responded.

As she held her son, she saw that he was a beautiful child. As she looked him over from head to toe, she had a sudden awareness that this child was a gift from God and was convinced that God had plans for her child.  Hebrews 11:23 tells us, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.”  By faith….because they saw!  Faith saw the promise of God, that He gives life! By faith they were obedient to God and they were not afraid of man!

During the next three months insecurities tried to plague her, but her assurance and confidence in her God gave her the courage to fight for her son’s life. Because she was not bound by natural thinking, God’s plan in heaven began to form in her mind.  It was simple, waterproof your basket, place your baby in it and place it in the river.

Her motivation was not only the love for her child, but obedience to God.

As Jochebed placed Moses in the basket, she gave Miriam instructions to stand at the river’s edge to see what would happen.

Pharaoh’s daughter just happened to be in the river. When she saw the basket she recognized this was a Hebrew baby and her heart was filled with compassion. She knew what her father had commanded, but God has a way to change the heart of men and women living in this earth. When Miriam saw this, she stepped forward with the same peace of her mother and asked if she should call a woman to nurse the baby. “Go,” she answered, and Miriam called her mother.

When Jochebed came forward, Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So, the woman took the child and nursed him.” (Exodus 2:9) She no longer had to hide her baby and received wages for nursing him.  Only God!

Jochebed’s next step of faith was to return her baby to the house of her enemy!

Moses ultimately led the children of Israel out of Egypt, but his mother set the plan into action by her obedience to God!  Her faith had been tested. Her family saw what a small thing it was for God to change their circumstances and put their enemies under His feet! 

He has not changed!  He is the same God that parted the Red Sea, that changed the heart of a woman and filled her with compassion, and she had no idea she was being used of God for His plan for man on this earth!

There is nothing new under the sun, the same enemy of man is still determined to steal, kill and destroy everything that God has created in this earth!  The same God is searching for men and women that will stand strong in their faith and hear His voice and be willing and obedient to follow His plan to bring His Kingdom to earth.

Psalm 119:111 tells us, “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart.”  Testimonies in the Bible tell us our “family history.” They also give us God’s perspective and His version of history, imparting insight and reality from His point of view.

Meditating on the testimonies is a training ground for renewing our minds. The prophetic anointing carried through testimonies brings encouragement and comfort in our time of need giving us that quiet assurance that all things are possible with God!  Read and study this testimony in Exodus 1:22, 2:1-10 and Hebrews 11:23.

 

 

 

 

Many have grown weary with all the unknowns that surround us. It seems that “suddenly” we were cast into the middle of a pandemic that I do not think anyone was prepared for.

Our enemy wants us to feel isolated, alone, and powerless—we are not!  Jesus is still the head of the Church and the Spirit of the Lord is still moving throughout the earth!  The weapons of our warfare are mighty and have not been diminished by the 21^st century technology.

We must not be driven by the storms of life but navigate the storms from a point of orientation. We are a child of God, and God is shaking the earth to prepare us for the events to come. We are being refined and prepared!

I, personally, have had to do some soul searching in my own life.  As a child of God, we must discern the signs of the seasons.  God gives us a clear blueprint in His Word.

I found myself getting agitated and frustrated with the virus, the riots and constant changing news of what was going on. The Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,because he trusts in You.”   This was a wake-up call! “Who was I trusting?”

As I began to “think” I saw how easily I had gotten “caught up” in letting the creators of technology determine what is possible. Where was my mind? What is my trust in? As I meditated this scripture, I realized just how easy it was to slip back into the influence of the world.

Jeremiah 32:17 says, ^‘”Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”

The Creator of all things, the greatest power you will ever know, the one that created you in your mother’s womb, desires to partner with you as you walk the runway of life, to give you a different set of possibilities and outcome!

Why would we settle for the same life that people who don’t know God have?

I’m not against technology, it has made my life much easier, but I can not allow it to “transform” my mind to think like the world. Science, medicine, and technology tend to limit possibilities!  BUT as a born-again child of God you are a “new creation in Christ Jesus.”

We must understand the mystery of transformation. Only God can transform an ugly thorn bush into a beautiful rose bush! Transform a worm crawling on its belly into a beautiful butterfly that can fly above the challenges in the world.

I cannot transform myself, but I can create the conditions in which spiritual transformation can take place.

 As a born-again child of God, I have the privilege of changing the way I exist in this world—from an ugly thorn bush to a beautiful rose bush. One thing we must remember— roses bloom in season, but thorns are always there.  I call this finding the rhythm of grace.  Only by the grace of God can spiritual transformation take place, from the deepest desire of our heart.

We must choose a way of life that opens us to the presence of God in our deepest desire and longings.  This desire will take us to a place of discipline in our daily life.  The habits and disciplines we use will shape our desire for the basis of our spiritual life.

Romans 12:2 (NASB) says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Renewing our mind is not a onetime experience and it’s done!  It is a daily, intentional purpose to know the ways of God.  We must learn the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven, so God’s desire of bringing heaven to earth can be done.

Your transformation begins with a longing that stirs deep within you, above the noise and activities of your life.  It is not always comfortable to confront pride, selfish ambition, self-protection, and many other motives that lurk from our old life.

Spiritual fatigue syndrome comes from a weary soul with unresolved issues that come from an unrenewed mind. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Your “due season” is coming!  Keep you eyes on Jesus, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews (12:2).

We must heed Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “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.”

The simplicity that is in Christ is, walking in obedience to His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to bring “life” to us from His Word, so that we can “hear” the voice of the Lord and follow Him. (John 10:27)

He will lead us by the still waters! (Psalms 23)

 

 

 

 

We are living in a season that we were not expecting, and it seems to be wearing everyone down.  The bottom line is, we cannot do what we want to do when we want to!

We were enjoying life for the most part, going about our lives without much thought of being prepared for a pandemic to hit our lives!  As a child of God, we are told to be alert!  The enemy roams the earth seeking for an open door!

As a born-again child of God, we have been given uniquely powerful tools to live in this world.   Many of us tend to think of our spiritual life in the context of our church involvement; we are faithful in attendance, volunteer and give money to the church. We confessed our sins and signed for church membership and that’s it.

Our faith is about the basic choices we make every day. It is about the words we use and our relationships. It is about how we manage our resources and how we use our time and talents.

2 Corinthians 11:3 tells us, “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.”

I find it staggering that Eve could be deceived! She lived in a beautiful Garden, God met every need and walked with her and Adam in the Garden. Sin was unknown. Paul was concerned that we would be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  Paul clearly tells us, “it is our minds that can be corrupted!” This should make us stop and think!

Our minds are linked with our emotions and influence our choices. The mind is both a battleground and the key to transformation. Our mind must be trained to think from heaven to earth. It does not come by chance; it takes work and intentionality.

Eve had a fatal attraction; she set her mind on one tree. She had been warned about the tree and knew the consequences, but her appetite won!

Do you understand the power of appetite?  Appetite is a desire to satisfy any bodily need or craving, an appetite for food, power, or pleasure. Addictions are overrunning our world. Addiction to food, drugs,  alcohol, tobacco, porn and gambling to name a few. Addiction starts in our mind.

Eve was willing to risk death to eat from the forbidden tree.  She wanted wisdom and all she had to do was ask God for it.  Esau was also caught at a vulnerable moment, but if he had valued what was his he would not have chosen to satisfy his flesh over receiving a Spiritual blessing later.

Eve could not remove the tree, but she had a choice to remove herself from the presence of the tree. David looked on Bathsheba and allowed lust to fill his heart. Solomon married foreign women and allowed their gods within his home. Yes, the power of appetite has taken over the lives of many as they submitted to it.

There are many examples for us in the Word of God for our learning.  We must value the testimonies in the Word of God, they are to teach us how to live in this world. (Romans 15:4).

Satan’s target is your mind because that is the only entrance he has access to. If we are not sincere in our faith and pure in our devotion to God, we are open to the enemy just like Eve was.

I believe this season of our life is giving us the opportunity to look deep within our hearts and repent where we have allowed a lax attitude in our priorities in life to turn more towards the world for the pleasures of this life.

You must understand the struggle that is going on and where that battle is fought; it is in your mind as Paul warned us. Public officials cannot resolve the problems facing us today because they are spiritual issues.

We must create an environment around us that supports us and where we can hear the voice of the Lord. That is our only safety net! He has promised to lead us beside still waters, to restore our soul and prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

Have you ever thought, what would Jesus say to us in the middle of this pandemic, riots and total chaos in the world system? Why are you afraid? Are you reading the Word of God, wearing the helmet of salvation and using the sword of the Spirit? Are you decreeing my Word into the darkness?  Did you think I would leave you and forsake you? Is my shed blood not enough?

We must understand what happened in the Garden of Eden and what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane to build our Garden of Life in this earth!

The Holy Spirit is your helper and only by the grace of God can we build a wall of protection to guard our heart and mind as we walk the runway of life. You must always fight the good fight of faith and be alert.  Remember, it is a “fixed” fight, we win!

The tools we have been given—prayer, repentance, thanksgiving, and the authority of Jesus’ name on the lips of His children can change the course of human history, but to be effective they must be used! Read and study Ephesians 6:10-18 to learn about your spiritual weapons.

 

“But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

The Bible tells us that we are aliens, strangers on the earth. Jesus is ultimately going to establish His kingdom with His values on earth. As born-again children of God, we are given the power and privilege of leaving the world’s flawed value system and living for eternity.

But at this time, we are living in a sin-filled world where we are not only overcoming the temptation of sin in our personal lives, but we can see the impact of sin all around us.

Our family moved to the United Kingdom, where we lived for 12 years. When I took my first drive on the wrong side of the street, my first roundabout, I was hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life.

I had gone out to get bread for my family. I was quite pleased to find a parking space right in front of the store. After shopping, I left the store to discover a policeman standing next to my car writing out a ticket. I approached him and asked what he was doing, and he said, “You broke the law. You have no right to park here.”

I tried to explain that I had just moved to the U.K., and he said, “I don’t care where you came from, the laws of the United States don’t protect you in the United Kingdom, and ignorance is no excuse!”

That hurt! But I have never forgotten those words, “Ignorance is no excuse.” I told him I was sorry and promised to study the rules of the road for the U.K. I was a citizen of the U.S., but I was living in the U.K., and I had to learn the laws of the land where I was now living.

When God grants us citizenship in the kingdom of heaven, we become “new creatures” (2 Cor. 5:17). We become citizens of an eternal kingdom where our Father is the King! He sends the Holy Spirit to indwell our spirits, and our bodies become His temple. His goal is to make us as much like Jesus as possible in this life. As we learn to submit our thoughts and ways to Him, the Holy Spirit begins to transform our hearts to glorify God, our Father in heaven.

Our focus turns toward eternal things and storing up treasures in heaven. We are reaching out for something different than the people who are not in Christ, and this means we have another set of values with different goals to attain in this world.

We are finding His ways are higher than the world’s ways. Forgiveness releases us from our past and we now have the power to forgive others who have hurt and betrayed us. This allows us to walk in the freedom of joy and peace in this earth. We do not have to live under the bondage of others, trying to get even.

I’m always amazed as I travel and minister that I still have women coming to me saying they are not accepted because they are a woman! “My church won’t let me preach or teach or pray for people. They only let me serve in the kitchen or clean the church.” I always say, “You need to look to God, not man, for open doors for your gift.

What does God really think about women?

Long before He formed the woman’s physical body from the rib of man, He had her in His heart. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth'” (Gen. 1:26-28).

In the New Testament we find the man, Paul, whom some quote as being against women, saying, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

It is very important to understand the beginning of mankind. Women, you are not an afterthought. You were clearly in God’s heart before He formed you according to Scripture. Women have graced this earth with insight, sensitivity and beauty, spiritually and physically. Eve entered the physical world not in a dominant or subservient role, but equal to man. “Let them” is repeated several times in Genesis.

It was God who said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Gen. 2:18). God created woman and brought her to man! Adam had nothing to do with her creation other than taking a nap!

When God formed woman, He took the feminine, the nurturing and tenderness of His nature that had already been breathed into Adam, and gave woman those strengths. Man was left with the stewardship of the earth; to guide, guard and govern; the disciplinarian, the tough one.

When we begin to understand how God originally created men and women, and the uniqueness that was placed within each one, then we begin to comprehend the problems we are facing in the world today. Men and women both have a uniqueness that needs to be fulfilled.

Unfortunately, religion has twisted the scriptures to their ideal to lift up men. In the Jewish culture, women were not treated much better than their Roman and Greek sisters. We know that God used women in the Old Testament with great influence, but in general, women were considered a commodity. Women were not permitted to learn, to speak to men in public, even to her own husband.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and to restore God’s original design for men and women and their purpose in this world. When Jesus saw women crushed and hidden behind closed doors, He flung the door wide open! He took these abused female image bearers and put them center stage to play leading roles in God’s redemptive plan for the world.

God made the way for mankind, including women. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12). You, men and women, are children of God if you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

No wonder women followed Jesus. He satisfied their uniqueness as women. He treated them as peers, and joint-heirs with Him. God created man and woman to be unique; and where that is impaired there is division, and division opens the doorway for deception.

Walk in your uniqueness as a Woman and Man of God. You are to honor God with the life He created in you. Men feel they have to perform and women feel they have to conform, but God says we are both to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. When we honor each other as we function in our divine purpose, God commands His blessing.

I thank God every day that my husband has given me the freedom to develop the gift that God has imparted within my spirit. He has encouraged me in every step of my ministry and supported me in everything God has called me to do. Have we had some disagreements? How can two become one without a few good disagreements, and yes, a little shouting!

“Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matt. 13:11, NKJV).

A mystery is a truth to be revealed. As a child of God we thrive on revelation. John tells us that the truth will set you free. As always there is that little word with significant meaning. Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32, NKJV).

If you abide in My word, you will know the truth. Only the truth, the mystery that is revealed to you, will set you free. Until we receive the revelation of the truth, we will go around that mountain one more time! It is time to turn, go north. That is what the Lord spoke to the children of Israel. “You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward” (Deuteronomy 2:3, NKJV).

Conversion gives you the ability to see. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, NKJV). Jesus also told the disciples in John 16:7 that you have an advantage over the world, and the Helper will come to guide you into all truth. Read John, chapters 14, 15 and 16. It is just as important for you as it was for the disciples when Jesus was preparing them for His departure.

In Ephesians 1:15-17, Paul says, “After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, [I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Notice, it was after he heard of their faith. He knew they now had the ability “to see.”

When you embrace mystery in one hand and revelation in the other one, you are on your way to building a life full of faith and walking in the promises of God. That is where you live, at the corner of mystery and revelation! You must read the Word, meditate the Word, ask for revelation of the Word and then you will live the Word and experience the promises in your life!

In Exodus 23:29-30 (NIV), the Lord told the children of Israel, “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.”

God knows where you are and if you are ready to destroy the giants in your land. He tests your faith so you will know if you are ready to slay the giants. James 1:2-3 (NKJV) says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Various trials are in the world. They come in relationships, finances, health and matters of everyday life you face in the world. Faith is a spiritual force. James is talking about your faith being tested so you will know where you are. Are you able to slay the giants?

The “key” to this testing is found in James 1, verse 12, NKJV: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Blessed is the man who endures temptation, not the man who endured the trial or test.

The temptation for the child of God is to doubt God’s Word. If you have a revelation of the promises, you will stand tall and walk in faith and see the end intended by the Lord (see James 5:11).

Time is your most valuable asset, and choice is your only real freedom. When you choose to invest a small amount of time, over time it will bring increase in areas that matter most! God is looking for men and women of God to be intentional and consistent in learning to navigate the pain and disappointments of life.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7).

Though we are born again through faith in Christ, we still have the same physical body. We know that if our earthly house, this tent, were to be destroyed, we have an eternal building of God in the heavens, a house not made with hands” (2 Cor. 5:1).

As a new creation in Christ, we still live in the framework of ordinary human lives. Yes, we are “earthen vessels,” frail, vulnerable, inadequate, originally fashioned from dust.

We have been likened to clay pots (see Job 10:9). The Lord fully understands our makeup, and the Lord does not expect anything from us but to be a container for a heavenly treasure. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7).

When Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure in John Chapters 14-16, He knew what they were facing, and He knew they were fragile earthen vessels and they needed help! Read and study these verses in John, because you and I need help walking in this world.

John 14:16-17 (NKJV) says: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you..” This truth assures us that we are never alone.

How will the Holy Spirit help us? “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:25-26). Once again, Jesus uses the word “Helper” to describe the promise of the Father. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance the Word that you need to face any temptation or challenge you face in this world.

In John 16:7, Jesus once again confirms to the disciples He is leaving, but they will not be alone. “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.” The disciples were full of grief that Jesus was leaving. He was their leader, He was the way maker, the miracle worker!

Jesus understood their feelings. He explains more about the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives in John 16:12-14 (MEV): “I have yet many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you.”

These verses are full of amazing promises, Jesus wants to tell them more, but He understands where they are. He also understands where you are in your daily walk with God. You and I, as born-again children of God, have the same promise of the Holy Spirit, a treasure in our earthen vessel!

The bottom line is quite simple: We need help as we walk the runway of life!

First Corinthians 2:12 tells us, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.”

The Word of God is full of treasures waiting to be discovered. We have been given everything for life and godliness through the promises in God’s Word (See 2 Pet. 1-3). These treasures are not hidden from us, but for us so that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God!

You, child of God, have Someone living in you who knows the will of God for your life! You are invited to a friendship with this treasure that is within you. You don’t have to stumble in this world. All you have to do is ask!

John 16:24 says, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

God’s plan is to impart heavenly treasures into ordinary earthen vessels so that the attention will go to the contents, not the container, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

These Scriptures come just before the long list of heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11, which illustrates confidence and endurance. I am always encouraged when I read about these great women and men of faith. They endured, and they received the promise!

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which will be greatly rewarded. For you need patience, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35-36).

These testimonies are written and given to us to build hope and encourage us in times of trials in this world. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3, NKJV). This Scripture mentions “various trials” and a testing of your faith. Trials of this world can be found in relationships, finances, sickness and disease, and world events.

A testing of your faith is a spiritual issue, and faith is a spiritual force. As long as we are in this world, there will be trials and tribulations. Jesus told us this in John 16:33 (MEV), “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.'”

Living in this world requires enduring faith. If you can have faith in God’s love to save your soul from hell, why do you stop there? He sent His Word to heal you and deliver you from all destruction (Ps. 107:20).

God is interested in your day-to-day life. If His power is enough to defeat sin and raise His Son from the dead, surely, He can help deliver you from the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy. You had enough faith to place your life in His hands; trust Him as you walk the runway of life!

We are not saved because we endured the trials of life. We endure because we had enough confidence in God to ask Him for help! Endurance is evidence of genuine faith.

One day, I was meditating on the Scripture above, Hebrews 10:36 (NKJV), “… for you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise,” when God asked me a question, “Joyce, do you know the will of God?” As I thought about this, rather amazed that He asked this question, I said, “What is the will of God?” He immediately dropped in my heart, “Ask.”

Ask, I thought, that’s it? Immediately the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). In John 15:7 (NKJV, author’s emphasis), He tells us, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

The secret to “asking” is abiding! “If you abide.” When you are abiding, and trials arise in this world, the first thing you do is ask for His help in your time of need. Scripture says, “you will ask.” It is an automatic response to those who are abiding.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15, NKJV, author’s emphasis).

Sometimes, our biggest problem is just not asking! We think God is just going to take care of this, but He said, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24b). When you know and have confidence in God’s love for you and you know the promises of God, asking is an automatic response from the child of God.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” If you are stumbling around in this world, then turn the light up!

These last few weeks of mandatory separation from others have been a time of reflection on myself, my attitudes and my thoughts. Like many others, I never thought I would see anything like this in my country.

I have had the privilege of traveling to many nations of the world and seeing the devastation of wars, sickness and disease, socialism and communism, and suddenly I am seeing fear like I have never seen in the United States.

I believe this will go down in history as a time the church stood strong and saw the salvation of the Lord! I believe God can part the sea of destruction and disease that the enemy has tried to bring to destroy our nation. Let us stand fast, together in unity, where God’s blessings flow!