Be Yourself!

I'm free to be me; I'm free to be unique and to express the life of the Lord in me and to glorify Him. I minister to Him by fully embracing my "part" of the Body of Christ. I am an Intercessor and I fight on today - the Good Fight of faith. 

“You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his “body”: apostles prophets teachers miracle workers healers helpers organizers those who pray in tongues. But it’s obvious by now, isn’t it, that Christ’s church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It’s not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts. But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:27-31‬ ‭MSG‬‬
http://bible.com/97/1co.12.27-31.msg

We Are Sustained By the Promises of God

We were speaking in Bible study of being strengthened by the Lord last night and we read that Jesus revealed when He was being tempted that man (we) shall not be sustained by natural food but by God's Word, which I'm learning include His promises. For example, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 and "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38, and so many, many more promises.  It is no wonder I was once so weak, emaciated and unable to stand. I was not feeding on the promises of God - His Word. So today you can find me at the buffet and I'm going for a second helping!

“And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭AMP‬‬
http://bible.com/8/luk.4.4.amp

We Have Received the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: This is No Small Thing

In all of God's creation, the birds, the trees, the oceans, the sun, moon and sky, nothing else besides man has received his Holy Spirit. We have been filled with HIS Spirit. Yes, I speak in tongue's, and yes have fallen out under the anointing, but more importantly, He healed, delivered and restored me from addiction, He raised my Lord Jesus from the grave after three days by His Spirit and by this same Spirit conceived in Mary my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - Emmanuel, God with us. No, it is no small thing this gift of the Holy Spirit! We are 'new creations' most certainly.

 His kingdom will have no end." 34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.…

http://biblehub.com/luke/1-34.htm

Wrap It Up

The Lord decrees to me today  "No longer be hampered by earthly and temporary passions - distractions, addictions, heart-throbs and codependencies and the such that won't last, are wasteful, and subject to rot." Yes, I put these things away and will instead turn my heart towards heaven - on heavens treasures like peace, joy, life and abundance - on Christ himself. Amen!

“Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

 

Matthew 6:19 AMP

Let God Do the Heavy Lifting

I want breakthrough in my family and victory over these circumstances (the trials) that concern me. It's an overwhelming task and really it's outside my scope of ability. So the job of changing hearts and minds, I'll entrust to Him and do my part which is to believe He can and that He cares. Yes, I'll let God do the heavy lifting.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:30
for we walk by faith, not by sight-
2 Corinthians 5:7

Take Hold of Peace

Staying peaceful demonstrates that we've humbled (settled it in my heart that He cares about me and will do what's best) ourselves and are trusting Him to Work it all out. Amen!

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Jeremiah 29:11 and the Steps of the Righteous

More on Jeremiah 29:11 - The Lord's plans for me have me on a journey whose road does not intersect with hurt, harm, or confusion, rather its destination is the outcome I hoped for. He's protecting and guarding my life. He's the Good Shepherd.  For it is written that 'The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.' Psalm 37:23

"Trust Me"

When I pray to the Father many times I don't get the answer the way I think I should be getting it but He says to me what Jeremiah 29:11 says,  "I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” ‭‭MSG 29:11. Therefore in essence He is saying, what He says to us all, "Trust me." Amen.

Don't despise your prayers!

The Lord said to me, “Don't despise  your  prayers,” and I suppose that in a shame-based culture it’s natural to want to conceal our deep needs by telling ourselves that we've got it all under control or that we really don’t have a need.” But we do have needs and God knows we have them and He is longing to provide for us. His name is Jehovah Jireh!

Psalm 102:17 (NIV) promises, "He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea."

So, be encouraged and confident before the Lord in your prayers. Jesus cares and He will regard our prayers and not despise them!

Confidence and Quietness

Isaiah 32:17
For years I prayed for a quiet spirit (to be calm, confident, and settled inside) like so many women I admired and this day He has answered my prayers. In this chapter and verse of Isaiah, I that His righteousness, which clothes me, results in inner peace and external peace - the quietness I sought. Therefore I have the quietness I prayed for as a result of Christ's righteousness  AND confidence, which is a bonus!

God is my strength, I will not be afraid

l asked the Lord how I would be able to lead a Recovery Ministry and he gave me Psalm 107
Psalm 107:2 NIV:
'Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,' and
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my Salvation." Isaiah 12:2-3
So, I am just going to go for it.

I was so concerned, but God..

He showed me His promise after I prayed:
2 Samuel 22:33-34 (WEB)
33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.
34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.

I don't have to worry, I don't have to fret, and I don't have to be concerned about things not working out. I will not fail because he strengthens me and He's steadied me. God provides all the strength I need and the power I need to do His will. I can 'walk out' His purposes and plans for my life. What plans and purposes are asking the Lord to make happen and to help you with?

A Watched Pot Never Boils

I hear the Lord speaking to me to remember this and be patient.  Doubts are like lifting the lid and checking to see if the waters hot yet. It just continues to simmer because the heat is let out time and time again. So, since I know God is faithful and His promises are "Yes" and "Amen", this is the day I stop watching the pot.

ASK, KNOCK, and SEEK

Matthew 7:7-11
7 ``Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 ``For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 ``Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10 ``Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
11 ``If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Praise God, He's good. agree?!  What is it that you ask for, need, that you want God to do for you?  A greater anointing? More peace? A pay increase or stronger relationships?  How about marriage and children (shout out to all the singles!) I am not going to hesitate from going to the Father for EVERYTHING from this point on.  If He has something else in mind for me, He will gently remove any desire that is not in line with His plans and purposes for me.  I do not think we need to preface our prayers with, "IF it's Your will Father, I would like this or that."  James 1:17 says that, 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow'. So I am going to just ASK, KNOCK, and SEEK.

Commit your plans to Him and HE will do it!

It's such a relief to finally say, "Yes" to God and to let Him take control.

Proverbs 16:3

The Lord is on my side..

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
PSALM 118:6

Whenever I tremble or begin to feel anxious about a poor outcome to a trying situation, I take my concerns to God in prayer and He's already there - He's already provided the answer and comforted me. He's Faithful!



Psalm 18:32-34  the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer  and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-strength-25-encouraging-scripture-quotes/#ixzz3TWKlm9o9

The depth of our pain determines the height of our passion for the things of God and for change.

Giving Back to Jesus

I realized that I needed a big love in my heart.  So I asked the Lord to fill me up with a big and passionate love for Him and others.  It then occurred to the that He has already sown in my heart His love and that my desire to present to Him a sweet-smelling and tasty fruit of love is from the seeds of love He's sown in me.
I think the Parable the Sower Jesus taught the disciples about refers to love as well as salvation. I once thought that the 'seeds' that Christ was speaking of were 'acts of evangelism' and to gather souls for the Kingdom but now I see that is the ultimate result of His love IS love.  So today I know the love He has planted in my heart bears fruit of more love to give back to Him.  May He feast on me!  Read Matt 13 1-9
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold.  Matthew 13:8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew13:8&version=KJV

Joyce Meyers.... Seven Secrets of a Confident Women

The Lord said to me that this would be a season to learn to 'trust'.  As I submitted to the process in this season therefore, and of learning to trust on a deeper level, not only in Him but in every aspect of my live, I soon realized that a mistrusting mindset with fruits of insecurity, is the root of fearful thoughts and attitudes.  So I prayed that God would teach me how to unlearn 'fear' and teach me to how to trust.  You know, how does it look and feel and behave?  Soon, praise the Lord, wouldn't you know it, as I lie in bed with the cold/flu bug that's been going around and which has left me with zero energy to get up and get dressed, this archived message appears in my devotional e-subscriptions.  I guess this is where I need to be today.  May you be blessed and encouraged too.
Much love!