TWO CHOICES

The book of Zechariah prophesied how the King of the Jews would come as the triumphant, victorious leader, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV).

That prophetic Word was fulfilled when they brought a colt to Jesus. They threw their cloaks over it for Him to sit. Many spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna! (“Lord save us!”). Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:7-10 NIV).

Many witnessed Jesus’ miracles and believed He was their Jewish king who would deliver them from under the heavy and oppressive yoke of Rome. Unfortunately, they had a worldly perspective and not a heavenly understanding that Jesus was indeed their deliverer, but not from Rome. He wanted to deliver them from the yoke of sin, death, and eternal separation from God (John 1:29).

Five days following Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, He stood before the Roman official, Pontius Pilate, who asked the people to choose whether to free Barabbas, a sinner and murderer, or, to free the innocent and sinless Christ whom they had welcomed into Jerusalem as their king. They would reject Jesus and chose the thief and a murderer. 

Barabbas represents the sinful and unrepentant who reject Jesus in a world that is governed by Satan—a thief and a murderer (John 8:44). Jesus represents forgiveness given to those who accept His offer of salvation and rebirth into His kingdom. Unfortunately, like the crowd that chose the world and death, many in today’s world are making that same choice. Some even try to live a conflicted life of worldliness with a pseudo godliness.  

Jesus cautioned us to, “enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The wide road is the easy road lined with enticing worldly distractions to lure us into living lives separate from God who created us. 

You may be asking, “If God is so good, why is the pathway to Him so narrow, that “few find it?” However, if we read His statement made previous to this one, we have our answer. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:77-8). Jesus made it clear: the narrow path leads to eternal life and is open to all who ask, because He alone is the door to eternal life. 

Eternal life is open to all, so why is the path to salvation narrow? Because there is only one way and not multiple ways to God. The world confuses us with conflicting messages, shouting that there are many different paths to God.

The Pew Research Center found that 52% of American Christians believe that non-Christian faiths such as Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism can lead to eternal life. Unfortunately, there are also several “Christian” churches preaching heresy and leading astray well-meaning people who are searching for truth. 

Jesus said, “I am the way (the narrow way) and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”(John 14:6). Those who choose the narrow way have crucified the flesh with Christ. They focus on the Lord and live life by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and gave His life for us (Galatians 2:20). When Christ becomes the main focus of a person’s affection, then earthly desires give way to a godly perspective. The things of this world no longer take precedence over the things of God. 

When traveling, have you ever left the shorter more direct route of the Interstate to take the longer, less traveled and narrow, back-country roads? Most winding backroads force us to slow down. It is only then that we can see and enjoy the beauty that was missed when we traveled the faster, wider road. 

God calls us to take the narrow road that requires us to slow down and take in all the beauty that comes from seeing a different kind of spiritual landscape and truth that can only come through His eyes. Conversely, Satan has paved a very wide and appealing highway with every fleshly temptation, worldly attraction, and compromise in morality and beliefs to capture our attention. 

The world has come to a standstill. God is allowing this interruption in our daily lives for you and for me to re-evaluate where we are spiritually. Are we casual Christians who give more attention to the things and concerns of this world? Maybe some give little thought to their eternal destination and assume that all people go to heaven. Perhaps at one time there was a passion for Christ but now only a small ember of faith burns. Or possibly an event precipitated a running from God instead of running to Him. Lastly, is our spiritual temperature hot, cold, or indifferent for the things of God?

God is calling the world to Him, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The caveat to this invitation is repentance. 

Why is repentance important? Repentance is a daily act that shows sincere remorse and regret for sin that we knowingly or unknowingly commit daily with our thoughts, words, and actions. We also repent for being apathetic towards the things of God. 

Repentance is a surrendering of the will, mind, and emotions to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Repentance allows God to restore, forgive, and purify us. Repentance opens our heart to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, whom from the beginning was with God, who sent His Son to save us and call us to a holy life. Jesus came to destroy death and bring life and immortality through His Word (John 1:1-14; 2 Timothy 1:10). Therefore, we must ask ourselves, “On what road am I traveling in this brief journey called life?

PRAYER: FATHER, I repent for any disobedience or unbelief. It is by grace that I am saved through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is Your gift to me and not by my own efforts, that I might boast. I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You prepared beforehand. Forgive me for any intentional or unintentional sins and reveal what You would have me do and help me accomplish them while on this earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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OFFENCE BUILDS A FENCE

Above all, love each other deeply,  Because love covers over a multitude of sins. (I Peter 4:8)

Have you innocently offended someone or maybe you have been offended? Regrettably, I have unintentionally offended without realizing it.

Years ago, a pastor was preaching on forgiveness. He closed the service with, "If anyone has offence against another, go to that person and forgive them." A lady, whom I had met once, approached me and said, "I forgive you." I was stunned and asked what I had done. She answered, "You said you didn't like White Castle hamburgers and that offended me." I quickly apologized.

It is amazing how easily humans take offence, especially since we are all very imperfect people who hold to varying likes, dislikes, beliefs, opinions, and life experiences. Nevertheless, Christians are called to extend grace to those who express themselves differently or hold views and values that differ from our own. Proverbs 19:11 tells us that good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is our glory to overlook an offense.

An offence can build a fence of separation when words or actions are misinterpreted as being hurtful, judgmental, neglectful, or dishonest. Unfortunately, the one offended seldom tells the person who offended them. However, the Word of God states, that if we believe a fellow Christian has sinned against us, we are to go and confront them privately. If they listen, we have won a brother (Matthew 18:15). Failing to inform the “offender” denies them the opportunity to apologize and make things right. In the meantime, the offended person harbors anger, resentment, and unforgiveness. 

What is an offense? An offense is defined as an annoyance, anger, resentment, indignation, irritation, exasperation, wrath, displeasure, animosity, or ill feeling as a result of another person’s words, actions, or failure to respond. The world is a cauldron of offenses, opinions, violence, hatreds, judgments, bitterness, unforgiveness, and lawlessness in which we must navigate according to biblical principles.

Satan, the author of offense, creates disunity, disharmony, and division within churches, marriages, families, friendships, places of work, and government. Turn on the news and the door opens to offence. Or, peruse Facebook and view comments that can be interpreted as offensive, especially if you disagree with their opinion. Even people resort to road rage when offended by the actions of another driver. However, those inappropriate and dangerous responses come from a heart that holds insecurities, misperceptions, stresses, disappointments, and particular beliefs and opinions that determine how the information is processed and then projected to others. 

I was surprised to discover that many pastors have written books to help Christians, considered “the most sensitive and easily offended group of people,” to learn how to cope with offence. Imagine having to write books to help Christians learn what causes offence, how to deal with offence, how not to offend, how to appropriately respond to offence, and the varying degrees of offence. 

Offence can fracture friendships and marriages, destroy churches, cause pain, and create disunity among the brethren. The enemy of our soul knows that unity can accomplish great things for God's Kingdom; therefore, he creates divisiveness to halt the plans of God.

God's Word tells us that if we speak the languages of men and angels but we fail to love one another, then we are nothing but clanging cymbals making a lot of noise. If we have the gift of prophecy and understand the mysteries of God, and have all knowledge and faith that moves mountains, but we don't have love, then we have nothing. Even if we do good deeds, give money to the needy and poor, but don't love, we have gained nothing for God's kingdom (I Corinthians 13).

The Sadducees and Pharisees gathered together to test Jesus by asking, “What was the greatest commandment in the Law of Moses?” Jesus brilliantly condensed the entire Law into two commandments: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

The carnal nature of humans is easily offended and will justify anger, bitterness, judgment, unforgiveness, and grudges. However, love covers all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12). But for love to cover, we must love others as we love ourselves. The caveat to loving ourselves is first loving God and understanding how God sees us.

Genesis 2:7 states that Man was created as a "living soul." The soul consists of the mind (which includes the conscience), the will, and the emotions. The soul and the spirit are tied together and make up what scriptures refer to as the "heart."

It is impossible to have agape love for others unless the heart is fully surrendered to God. Responses to people are either emotional and of the flesh, or those responses draw from a well of biblical truths that have been stored within that heart.

The "heart" is central to our emotions and will. The heart can be unyielding and hardened as was Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:14; 8:15). For that reason, we are told to watch over our heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life (Prov. 4:23 NASB). The heart can be deeply troubled (Genesis 6:6). It can be obstinate and proud and led astray (Deuteronomy 2:30; 8:13-14; 17:70). Hate and lust can be held in the heart (Leviticus 19:17; Numbers 15:39). But a pure heart is obedient and faithful to God, compassionate, loving, and forgiving (Matthew 18:35).

God is a God of reconciliation. He reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-19).

What is reconciliation? It is a reuniting and bringing together what was once broken. When we became reconciled to God, He not only accepted us as we were with all of our flaws and brokenness, He didn't hold our sins against us. As He has loved us, we are called to be ministers of reconciliation within our own souls and with others.

 Love is patient and kind. It doesn't envy, boast, or dishonor another. Love doesn't hold grudges (offences). Love isn't easily angered and does not keep record of wrongs. Love rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, boast, or dishonor others. It is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and  perseveres. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-7). 

PRAYER: FATHER, according to Your Word, we are not to be easily angered or to keep record of offences (I Corinthians 13:5). Help me to always extend grace and forgive quickly. And if I have unknowingly offended another, I pray that person would have courage to seek me out that we may be reconciled. In Jesus name, amen.  

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Death and Resurrection

God had been revealing things in my life that required correction. So, when I awoke to a beautiful, sunny Good Friday morning, there was a joyful and fresh appreciation for the day, which led me to study the following Scriptures. 

Seven-hundred years before Jesus arrived on earth, Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be rejected, despised, and put to death: “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?  He (Jesus) grew up before Him (God) like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him; nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces” (Isaiah 53:1-3 NIV).

He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. (Does the world hold Jesus in low esteem today?). “Surely, He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV).

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray each of us has turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment, He was taken away. Yet who of His generation protested? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.” Isaiah 53:6-9 NIV). 

After He has suffered, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:11-12).

We see Isaiah’s prophecy unfolding in the Garden of Gethsemane, where after Jesus prayed, He was arrested. His captors then mocked Him and beat Him while spewing blasphemies (Luke 22:63-65).

The following morning, the elders, chief priests, and scribes, came together and led Jesus into their council, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But Jesus answered that even if He said He was, they would not believe Him or let Him go. He then said, “Hereafter, the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” He answered them, “You rightly say that I am.” This infuriated them, and they screamed, “What further testimony do we need. For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.” (Luke 22: 66-71).

The entire group led Jesus to Pilate and falsely accused Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King. So, Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus responded, “It is as you say.” Amazingly, Pilate turned to the chief priests and the crowd and said, “I find no fault in this Man.” (Luke 23: 1-4).

Pilate, discovering that Jesus was a Galilean, sent him to Herod’s jurisdiction. But when Jesus stood before Herod, He refused to answer his questions. Then Harrod and his men treated Jesus with contempt, mocking Him before sending Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:6-12). 

So, the chief priest, rulers, and the people gathered together and went to Pilate. Pilate responded, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; No, neither did Herod. “Indeed, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. I will, therefore, chastise Him and release Him” (Luke 23:13-22).

Pilate had a dilemma. He was struggling between what he knew was right and just and what the majority wanted. Pilate wanted to free Jesus, but when placed before the crowd and asked to choose between Jesus and the murderer, Barabbas, they chose the murderer to be spared. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11). Fearing the wrath of his opposers, Pilate turned Jesus over to be flogged and crucified. 

How often have we known the right thing to do, but instead, we went along with the crowd? Jesus said to enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it (Matthew 7:13). His sacrifice gave us the choice between the narrow gate or the broad path. For sin and death came into the world through one man (Adam), so death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12 ESV). 

The wages of sin are death, but through Christ’s death and resurrection, those who accept Him as Savior and Lord, receive eternal life. The record of debt that stood against us was nailed to the cross that Good Friday. Satan’s power and all the spiritual forces were disarmed. For Jesus, who took on our sins that day, released us from the bondage of sin and separation from Him.

Easter Sunday, we will celebrate Jesus’ ultimate victory over death and the grave. For He said, “I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18 ESV).

Throughout this nation and the world, many are struggling for answers during this difficult crisis. Though some may question the goodness of God, the truth is that His love for us is so great that though He does not cause suffering, He will allow suffering to wake us up to what is really important. “For we know that the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory in Christ, after we have suffered a little while, will Himself restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

PRAYER: FATHER, I believe that You are calling Your Church at this time in history to reflect on our lives and to ask ourselves what we really believe. Are we casual Christians, who attend church and live life according to our own agenda? Have we truly surrendered our hearts and will to You? Help us search our hearts, as we look to the cross and give thanks to Your Son for His sacrifice that opened the door to eternal life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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"SEEK ME"

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with ALL your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

What does it mean to seek God with all your heart? Seek has two Hebrew meanings. The first is darash, meaning to inquire or search carefully for something. The second is bakash, which means to request something. The King James Dictionary defines “seek” as to go after and to press in.

To be completely transparent, I thought I was seeking and pressing into God with all my heart. Every day, my early mornings were spent in prayer and studying His Word. I would then ask God for His direction before writing. Some mornings, I would praise and worship Him and then listen for His still voice to speak into my spirit. Unfortunately, I was inconsistent in praising and listening. But God, in His vast mercy, honored my efforts. 

The other day, as I was asking God what He wanted me to write for this week’s blog, I received an unexpected, loving reproof that I was not daily pressing in and seeking intimacy with Him. God impressed upon my heart that it is imperative to spend time in His presence, conversing as one friend would with another, yet recognizing and honoring His sovereignty and deity.

Until the fall of man, there was sweet fellowship as “God walked in the garden and talked with Adam as a man talks with his friend” (Genesis 3:8). A friend is defined as a person with whom we develop a bond of mutual affection and respect. Friendship is a close relationship and trust between two people that develops over time. We might interact occasionally or on a regular basis with people, but “a friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). God is still looking for those whom He can talk with as a man talks with a friend.

Human friendship requires an investment of time in one another, so that trust may develop, thereby allowing vulnerability and an exchange of thoughts and opinions. Eventually, a bond forms, permitting each to confide their deepest thoughts without fear of rejection or recrimination. True friendship is a heart-to-heart connection, not easily broken.

A friend not only shares their heart, they listen to the other. A friend forgives and is nonjudgmental. A friend loves at all times, (Proverbs 17:17) “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). A friend is honest and lovingly corrects for “open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed” (Proverbs 27:5). A friend comforts and encourages. A friend is faithful and is always there for the other.

The friendship that we build with God has the potential to be so much more than what we can have with a human friend. God and Adam had the purest of friendships, because sin had not yet entered the world. It wasn’t until Adam and Eve sinned, that they hid from God and broke fellowship with Him.

Jesus, being God, became flesh to redeem mankind and re-establish relationship with God (Philippians 2:4-7). He said, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father, I have made known to you “ (John 15:15). Jesus paved the way for us to have an intimate relationship with God, the Father, because from the beginning, God created man to have relationship with Him. 

God wants us to always seek Him and His strength with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13;1 Chronicles 16:11). We should thirst for Him just as a deer pants for the water (Psalm 42:1). King David said, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). 

There are times when our soul feels dry and parched. We grow weary from trying to navigate the obstacles and challenges of life. We get so caught up in our struggles, that we forget to stop and meet with God who can direct and comfort our souls. We long for relief, but do we thirst and long for God? Those who seek Him are never forsaken (Psalm 9:10). 

Hebrew 11:6 in the NKJV says, “He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” Diligently means to do what is right, especially in one’s work or duties. The NIV uses the word, earnestly, defined as having intense conviction. Therefore, we must daily seek Him with an intense conviction, knowing that in seeking Him, He will respond. 

We seek God by reading His Word, for His Word is a direct connection to Him and a reflection of His heart. We also connect with God through prayer. However, God is relational; therefore, we must ask ourselves if prayer has become only a one-way street where we ask God to respond to our needs, or, is there communication flowing in both directions.

Part of prayer is praising Him and seeking His heart. How do we accomplish that? We worship Him with words from our heart. We worship by speaking His Word. And we worship Him with songs of praise. I often use the Psalms as a prayer, and I use Psalms to worship God. As an example, I personalized part of Psalm 145 as a prayerful praise of worship: 

“Lord, I give you praise, for You are righteous in all Your ways and faithful in all You do. You are near to all who call on You, to all who call on You in truth. You fulfill the desires of those who fear You. You hear my cry and save me. You watch over all who love You, but all the wicked You will destroy. My mouth will continually praise You” (Psalm 145: 17-21).

After worshipping God, we then sit quietly and listen for His Spirit to gently speak into our spirit. However, do not become discouraged if God’s Spirit does not immediately respond. There are times when He responds with a thought that directs us. He may use Scripture, nature, people, a song, a circumstance, or a word from another person. He has a myriad of ways to communicate, but we must be open to receiving.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). The key word is “listen.” The closer we follow His Word, the better able we are to hear God’s voice when He speaks. We are then able to worship Him in spirit and in truth, as He inhabits our praises (Psalm 22:3). 

PRAYER: God, I know that You passionately love me and desire sweet fellowship with me. You want me to know Your heart and Your plans for my life. Though You know me intimately and my every thought, You desire that I share my heart to build and strengthen our relationship and my trust in You. During this season of great stress and confinement, help me to heed Your words, “Come to Me when weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You are a holy and righteous God, but You are also my friend and my Father who loves and cares for me. Help me each day to be faithful in seeking You with all my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

"You Can Do It"

Has God ever asked you to do something for which you felt totally unqualified? As a result, you held back, fearing failure, or offending someone, or making a fool of yourself. You might have even argued with God and told Him to find someone who would be better suited for the job.

Most assuredly, there have been times in my journey with God, when He called me to do, say, or write things that were as far out of my comfort zone as the North Pole is from the South Pole. Several years ago, God gave me an assignment that seemed far removed from my abilities. In my insecurities, I quickly protested and listed every reason why I was not qualified. I then heard God firmly speak into my spirit, “Are you going to be like Moses, who argued that he was not articulate and was slow of speech.” 

We find that conversation between God and Moses in Exodus 6:29-30. “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt everything that I say to you.” (God had not made a request of Moses; He issued a direct command.) However, Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Moses had limitations that he believed were too great to overcome. Another limitation that most likely created fear in his heart, was that 40 years prior, he fled from Pharaoh’s house after slaying an Egyptian. Now, God was requiring that he return to Egypt and stand before Pharaoh with His demands. Instead, Moses allowed fear and his insecurities to dictate his negative response to God.

Trusting God is paramount to having faith and obeying Him when circumstances shout, “You can’t do it!” However, God knows our capabilities and is saying, “Assuredly, you can do it.” After all, He placed within us gifts, talents, and abilities, which we often fail to discover due to insecurities and self-doubts. The result is that we allow those heinous thieves of self-doubt and fear to rob us of our full potential. 

Needless to say, despite my doubts, I chose to trust God and comply with His directive. In that reluctant obedience, God surfaced abilities I never knew I possessed. That single experience gave me assurance that God knows me far better than I know myself, and I can, with all certainty, trust His guidance and leadership.  

Not long after the Red Sea crossing, God instructed Moses to send one representative from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to spy out the land of Canaan. Forty days later, they returned with the report that the land was flowing with milk and honey. They even showed the enormous fruit that they had gathered. But ten of the 12 spies argued, “We can’t attack those people! They’re too strong for us!” So they began to spread lies among the Israelites about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored is one that devours those who live there. All the people we saw there are very tall.” “We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that’s how we must have looked to them” (Number 13:31-33).

The enemy of our soul will always use lies to discourage us from trusting and obeying God. And as expected, fear spread throughout the community as the people raised their voices all night in protest to Moses and Aaron (Numbers 14:1). However, God is never happy with lies, because lies give life to doubt and unbelief. In fact, ten of the twelve spies’ behavior was so egregious, that it angered God and subsequently, all ten died from a plague. Only Joshua and Caleb, who had brought back a good report would eventually go on to lead God’s people (Numbers 14:36). 

Upon Moses’ death, God entrusted Joshua with Moses’ mantle of leadership and said, “No man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. I will be with you just as I have been with Moses. I will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone. Be strong and have strength of heart (Joshua 1:5-6).

God would give Joshua another directive: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them” “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6, 9). 

There must be trust, faith, and obedience to achieve victory, whether we are in a spiritual or physical battle, for victory will always come on the heels of a battle. One such battle involved the five kings of the Amorites who had joined forces and moved up with all their troops, taking positions against Gibeon, and then they attacked. The men of Gibeon sent Joshua a message asking for help. “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come quickly and save and help us. All the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us” (Joshua 10:5-6).

Joshua had a steely, uncompromised, and unwavering faith and trust in God. So, when he received the Gibeonites’ cry for help, he did not hesitate and immediately responded. It was in his response, that the Lord assured him, “Do not be afraid of them (the five kings); I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

God promises blessings, but blessings never come easily nor without purposeful action on our part. We cannot climb life’s mountains without putting forth effort and that effort requires sacrifice, perseverance, and faith that with God’s help we can reach the goal and complete the mission. Throughout Scripture, prayer and faith were prerequisites to successfully warring in the flesh and in the spirit. Only then did God secure the victory.   

We live in very difficult and uncertain times, and God is looking for faithful, prayerful people whose eyes are continually fixed upon Him, and who will respond to His call and willingly to do the difficult. He wants us to trust that He has already imbued us with unique capabilities needed to accomplish whatever task He is requiring of us. And if we obey and move forward in faith, God will do for us what He did for Joshua, who witnessed the hand of God supernaturally defeat the enemy.

God is capable of doing amazing things through us, if we cooperate with Him. However, He will not honor or tolerate disobedience and unbelief. Joshua could have been like the other 10 spies who argued that there were too many obstacles and too many adversaries. The difference between Joshua and the others was that Joshua implicitly believed and trusted God to be faithful to His Word. He was not trusting in himself and his abilities. He was trusting in the abilities and faithfulness of God whom he served.  

PRAYER: FATHER, I desire to be Your obedient servant who walks in faith and trusts You wholeheartedly. May I always hold Your Word close to my heart, knowing that You will never ask me to do something that You have not prepared the way for success. For I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who gives me strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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GOD'S CHOSEN

Recently, I was challenged by a person who does not believe that those who curse Israel will be cursed and those who bless Israel will be blessed. Unfortunately, this person is among many other Christians who believe in replacement theology, which asserts that the New Covenant through Jesus Christ replaces the Old Covenant, thereby, rejecting Jews as God’s chosen people. However, the Word tells us that the LORD, will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage (Psalm 94:14).

Historically, God promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites. He states the consequences of refusing to bless His people: “I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you, I will curse. And in you (Israel) all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

The world has received a multitude of blessings, resulting from Israel’s ingenuity, innovation and technology. They are recipients of multiple awards for over 45 inventions, some of which are PillCam (capsule endoscopy); the micro robotic system used in surgery; the USB SanDisk flash-drive; Netafim, a drip irrigation system that grows food in parched land; the Iron Dome missile and rocket interceptor; Waze GPS Mobile—developed by an Israeli company and then acquired by Google in 2013; and Watergen—cutting edge technology for renewable source of fresh water. 

God had said to Abram, “For all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. God uses the word “forever” and “everlasting” repeatedly throughout Scripture. The promises that God made to Israel centuries ago are irrevocable and eternal, for He says, “I am the Lord; I change not” (Malachi 3:6).

God was even more specific when He said to Abram (Abraham) “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). That area includes modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, most of Turkey, and the land east of the Nile River.

Following the death of Moses, that same promise made to Abram and Moses was repeated to Joshua who was then called by God to take His people into the land He had promised for an inheritance (1:4-6). Unfortunately, over the centuries, Israel has either given or surrendered much of their “Promised Land” in hopes of achieving and maintaining peace. Their area of land is now the size of New Jersey and yet their enemies want all of Israel’s land and the annihilation of all Jews.

If we look in the Old Testament, we read that the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Philistines, Assyrians, and Babylonians, to name a few, lost their place of power and prominence, because they cursed Israel and attempted to destroy her. Instead, they were crushed under the hand of God.

Clearly, God has not forgotten, forsaken, nor has He replaced the Jews. In fact, He declared His intentions through the Apostle Peter, when he addressed the Jewish Christians, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar (special, unusual) people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (I Peter 2: 9-10). 

The Apostle Paul, when questioned by the Gentiles if God had rejected the Jews, he answered, “Again, I ask: ‘Did [the Jews] stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!’  I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people (the Jews) to envy and save some of them. For if [the Jews] rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:11-15 NIV). 

The Apostle Paul gives us further insight into God’s heart regarding the Jews, “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles come to Christ” (Romans 11:25-29 NLT). As this final age in history comes to a close, more Jews are accepting the One whom they had rejected. 

It is important to know that the Lord chose Jerusalem and is exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion (Zechariah 3:2; Isaiah 45:13; I Kings 11:36). He has chosen to dwell on Mount Zion forever  (Psalms 68:16 and 132:13–14). It is His resting place. God refers to Jerusalem as My City and declares, “I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt” (Zechariah 1:14, 16). Jesus is coming back to Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4). 

Two American president grasped the biblical significance of supporting Israel. The first was President Harry S. Truman, who on May 14, 1948, signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence, acknowledging the sovereign state of israel, along with 160 other countries that recognized Israel’s legitimacy. The other is President Donald J. Trump, who showed his support by making good on past presidents’ promises to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. For “Blessed be the LORD from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 135:21).

The Prophet Zachariah foretold what would happen in the last days and warned us to “Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming soon!” On that day the Lord will gather together the nations to fight Jerusalem.” “Then the Lord will go out fully armed for war, to fight against those nations.” “Jerusalem will be raised up in its original place and will be inhabited all the way from the Benjamin Gate over to the site of the Old gate, then to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. And Jerusalem will be filled, safe at last, never again to be cursed and destroyed” (Zachariah 14:1, 6, 10,11). 

PRAYER: FATHER, clearly Israel is Your treasured possession. You watch over her day and night. May we all recognize that Your beloved city of Jerusalem is Your eternal city and Your love for Your people has never wavered. May we as Christians continue to bless Your people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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"ALL IS WELL"

We know that Christian faith is built on the foundation of God’s Word. However, the dichotomy of this truth is believing and practicing the truth of God’s Word when challenged and tested by the fires of adversity. 

A profound shaking of my faith began on Friday evening, the 6th of March, when excruciating pain surged throughout my mouth. Monday morning I prayed and asked God to make available an appointment with my dentist.

Unable to reach the dentist by phone, I drove to the office to explain my situation. The receptionist politely said that the dentist was booked solid. Remember, I had prayed that God would make a way for me to be seen. She must have seen the pain etched on my face, because she excused herself for a few minutes and upon returning, informed me that an x-ray would be taken and the dentist would see me.

The doctor noted that the back molar had several severe cracks, so a temporary protective shield was placed over the tooth until a crown could be made the next morning. 

Tuesday morning the 10th at 8:30 a.m., I was in the dental chair for a two-hour procedure. The crown was done, and prednisone was prescribed for inflammation. Unfortunately, after the numbness from the shots wore off, the pain was even more intolerable than before. What was going on? Why was I still in pain? 

Wednesday night, the pain was so severe that my blood pressure was at stroke level, and I was violently shaking. Thursday morning, I called the dentist and was quickly fit into his morning schedule. After taking more x-rays, he suspected I needed a root canal. He referred me to an endodontist, who did an emergency root canal that same morning.

Thursday afternoon, after the injections had worn off and feeling had returned, I was thrilled that the pain was gone. Unfortunately, my euphoria would not last. Later that evening, an unrelenting pain hit me like a jackhammer. Confused as to why I still had pain when the nerve was dead, I spent a sleepless night in prayer, speaking God’s Word, and pleading for His intervention. 

Neither the dentist nor the endodontist has Friday hours. So, first thing that morning, my husband and I prayed that God would make a way to see the family doctor, and in faith, we headed for the doctor’s office. When we arrived, I told them my problem and the scheduler said, “You are lucky. We just had a cancellation a few minutes ago.” I immediately thought, No, it was not luck! That was answered prayer! I was quickly seen and prescribed an antibiotic and a pain med. Within 24 hours of taking the meds, I noticed a significant reduction in pain. 

During this fiery and very painful trial, I was reminded of 2 Kings 4:26, in which a Shunammite woman’s son had died. She sought the prophet, Elisha, to ask if he would come to her home. He saw her coming from afar off and told his servant Gehazi, “Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, “It is well.” 

What an amazing statement to make, when in truth, her son had just died. However, she believed that God would raise her son from the dead through the Prophet Elisha. Her faith was not moved by the circumstances. Her statement was speaking things that were not as though they were (Romans 4:17). God responded to her statement of faith, and her son was brought back to life. 

God responds to faith and not to fear. Unfortunately, the enemy has a way of re-directing us towards fear, especially when we are caught in circumstances beyond our control, such as the current Coronavirus pandemic. However, God calls us to live by faith, not by sight nor by what we may feel (2 Corinthians 5:7). That walk can be challenging when illness or pain attacks the body with a vengeance. If we are not careful, our focus can be diverted away from God and onto the problem. 

The Word cautions us not to be shocked when there is a testing of our faith, for “You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:3 NIV). Granted, we cannot ignore pain or difficult circumstances. However, we are called to persevere with a determined and committed persistent faith and trust in God’s Word. For we have this assurance that everything is possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23). 

God calls us to be strong and courageous. “Do not be afraid or terrified because of those things, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). God went before me and made a way for me to see three different doctors without appointments. 

The more years that are added to our lives, the more we encounter challenges that require faith and trust in God. As I post this blog, I am no longer in pain and my blood pressure, although not yet perfect, is far more stable. 

We must never forget that when we encounter the unexpected, God is faithful if we remain strong in Him and His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). After a few days into my struggle and being reminded of the Shunammite woman, I spoke those powerful words of faith and praise, “All is well.” And when I said those three words to the enemy of my soul, God began to move mightily.

PRAYER: FATHER, the fires of affliction can be scary and unrelenting. Help me to be like the Shunammite woman who spoke what was not as though it were. She was not bound by what she saw, for she knew in her heart that nothing is too difficult for You. Help me to have that same unrelenting, persistent and confident faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Choose Well

Three very important events happened in three different gardens. And each event has had a lasting impact on mankind. So, let us begin our tour. 

Genesis opens with God stating that everything He made was good. Good is defined as all things pleasurable, enjoyable, satisfying, pleasing, and desirable. It was a perfect world. 

God had planted the first garden in the east, in Eden (The Garden of Eden) and there He put the “First Adam” whom He had formed. He then instructed him, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die”(Genesis 2:8-16 NIV). 

You might question why God would place the forbidden tree in the garden. Wouldn’t it guarantee temptation? God does not want programmed androids. He desires daily fellowship; therefore, He has given us the choice between surrendering our hearts to Him or pursuing worldly things that hold the heart captive. 

Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve into believing that God was a withholder of good things. So, “when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6 NIV). 

The Apostle John repackaged the warning given to Adam and Eve: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17 NIV)

Adam and Eve’s disobedience and desire to be like God, plunged the world into death and darkness. However, God’s great mercy and love for His creation, sent Jesus Christ, the life and light of the world, to redeem mankind from eternal separation from God. Jesus would take our place and carry the weight of our sin upon Himself. We have the same challenge that Adam and Eve faced—whether to accept or reject a surrendered life to God. 

The second garden was The Garden of Gethsemane. It was there that Jesus, as “the last Adam,” chose obedience, unlike the first Adam who chose disobedience. Jesus would then be tested as He battled good and evil and the flesh and the devil (1 Corinthians 15:45). In sorrow and great distress, He knew what His Father was requiring of Him, as He sweat great drops of blood, which fell to the ground (Luke 22:44).

After Adam and Eve sinned, God had said to them, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19 NIV). The blood that fell and soaked the dusty earth would reclaim man who had come from dust. Jesus accepted the cross, hewn from a tree different from the forbidden one in Eden. Then, as the propitiation for our sins, He restored mankind to God and declared from the cross, “It is finished.”

God has given us all power and authority through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to walk by the Spirit, so we do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Rather, we shut down every lie spoken by the enemy. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent us from doing what we should (Galatians 5:16-18).

This world’s offerings are enticing and numerous. As in the Garden of Eden, the Tempter has not stopped luring people into sin. He goes out of his way to disguise sin as being normal, acceptable, appealing, natural, and good.  However, we are warned of what happens to those who buy into the enemy’s lies. They become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasures, rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

The third garden is The Garden Tomb, located just outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Next to The Garden Tomb, is Golgotha, which in the Aramaic, means “place of the skull,” also referred to as Scull Hill. The Latin word for skull is calvaria, which in the English vernacular translates to Calvary, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus was laid to rest in the tomb, but on the third day, He rose from the dead, forever conquering death and the grave. 

While writing this blog, I was reminded of the 1989 movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Archaeologist, Indiana Jones joined his father, who was preoccupied with ancient lore, which claimed the existence of a Holy Grail that housed the chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper. Eventually, Indy and his father located the Holy Grail, but faced a dilemma. There was not just one chalice; there were multiple golden chalices inlayed with precious gems—and one simple wooden chalice. 

The caretaker of the Holy Grail told them that to choose poorly would cost them their lives, so he cautioned them to “choose well.” Indiana Jones reasoned that Christ, having lived an unpretentious life, would have used a simple chalice. He chose the wooden chalice, and the priest said, “You have chosen well.”

Never judge a book by its cover. The Israelites rejected their long-awaited Messiah, because He did not look and act like the warrior king they had expected. However, 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied that “…when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). 

Today, many are looking for a leader to solve the world’s problems. Unfortunately, like the Jews, they fail to see Jesus as the answer they seek. They embrace false doctrines, false gods, unhealthy lifestyles, warped beliefs, and pleasures that oppose the tenets of Christ’s teachings. 

In the first Garden, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and chose poorly, resulting in death to themselves and all living things. The second garden was a place of obedience, necessary to redeem what had been lost in Eden. And in the third Garden all was restored from what had been lost in the first garden. Today, God is calling us not to be moved by outward appearances but to “choose well.” 

PRAYER: FATHER, help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit that leads, guides, and teaches. Correct me if what I am doing, thinking or saying is not aligning with Your Word, so that I may choose well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The Soil of the Heart

As I typed this during a very rainy morning, I was reminded of the unfortunate fact that we have an area in our backyard that becomes a muddy mess when it rains. Instead of mud, I would enjoy flowering plants in all of their blooming glory. However, my husband is voting for River Rock.  

As a novice with most things involving horticulture, my original plan had been to pour new enriched topsoil over the area, drop some seed­ in, add water, and be done. Easy-peasy—right? Hoping that my husband might see the benefit of planting something living verses lifeless River Rock, I did a little research in planting flowers.

Seeds absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil for germination and growth. Therefore, the quality of the soil, light, moisture, and placement are important. If the ground is properly prepared and the seeds are correctly planted, they will germinate new growth, but if poorly positioned or carelessly “scattered,” those seeds become food for birds and squirrels. To maintain growth, the area must be kept free of weeds that would encroach and choke out what was planted. 

I love the Lord’s use of creation to teach us important life-lessons. We see one such valuable lesson in the Parable of the Sower.

Jesus told of a farmer who scattered seed on the ground. Some fell along the path where it was trampled, and the birds ate it. Some fell on the rocky soil, and when it sprouted, the plants died for lack of water. Other seed fell among thorns, which choked out the plants. However, there was seed that fell on good soil, which yielded a crop a hundred times more than what was planted.                                                                                                                                        

• The seed, which fell along the path, represents those who hear the Word, but the devil comes and takes it from their hearts so they will not believe and be saved. 

• The seed that fell on rocky soil are those who receive the Word with joy, but it never takes root. They believe for a while, but when there is a time of testing, they fall away from the Lord. 

• The seed that fell among the thorns are those who hear the Word, but life’s worries, riches, and pleasures lure them away. 

• The seed that fell on good ground represents those who receive and love the Word and keep it in their hearts, which then builds faith (Luke 8:5-15).                                                                                     

The quality and preparation of the soil cannot be left to chance if we want beautiful flowers that will not only bring visual enjoyment but also benefit nature. The same holds true for planting a garden. If done properly, it will yield vegetables that provide health and vitality to our bodies. Likewise, the soil of our heart requires preparation through prayer and reading the Word. Only then, can the Word become deeply rooted in the rich soil of our heart, which has been cultivated with truth from God’s Word, revealed through the Holy Spirit. And it is that Word that uproots destructive weeds of doubt, unbelief, and worldliness, so that room is made for faith, hope, and trust in God. 

It is imperative to read the Word so that we know truth and can discern lies in a world that entertains many false and conflicting beliefs. According to a Bana report, only 17% of Christians have a biblical worldview. Here are a few noteworthy findings of others who identify as Christians, yet they adhere to some or all of the following beliefs:

• 61% agree with ideas rooted in New Spirituality – all people pray to the same god or spirit. Those who do good receive good karma and those who do bad receive bad karma. But Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

•  54% resonate with postmodernist views — what is right or wrong is subjective. Biblical absolutes are either a fallacy or passé.  However, the Bible tells us, “The Word of the Lord remains forever” (I Peter 1:25).

•  36% accept ideas associated with Marxism/Socialism — the government should control resources to insure everyone gets their fair share, (which requires taking from one to give to another). The Word says, “Woe to those who plan iniquity to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes; they rob them of their inheritance. Therefore, the Lord says: ‘I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves’” (Micah 2:2-3).

•  29% believe ideas based on secularism — a belief that church and state should be separate. However, the Constitution’s First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." There is no mention of separation of church and state. 

• They believe a proposed fact must be proven by science to be accepted; however, God’s Word states, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV).

• This group also believes that the meaning and purpose of life is found in work and accomplishments. However, the Word says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 ESV).

When the Word is planted in the good soil of an accepting heart, then attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, choices, beliefs, as well as one’s level of faith, commitment, obedience, and love for God will align with biblical truths. His Words then become sweet to our taste, sweeter than honey to our mouths (Psalm 119:103). And like the sweet fragrance of a beautiful flower, His Word that comes forth from our mouths becomes acceptable unto the hearing of God.

PRAYER:  FATHER, help me to cultivate good soil, where the seed of Your life-changing Word flourishes through the watering of Your Holy Spirit. For it is in that good soil of my heart that truth resonates and faith and the love of Your Word grow. May my faith continue to grow and may the words that I speak be words of faith, acceptable in Your hearing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The Words We Speak

In the beginning was the Word. The Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness (sin) has not overcome the Light. Jesus, who said, “I am the Light of the world,” is the incarnate Word. Therefore, every scriptural Word that we speak has power over the enemy, because the Word is alive and active (John 1:1-5; John 8:12).

Recently, I felt God’s urging to examine the words I speak, because life and death are in the power of the tongue. Words can bring hope or despair; they can build up or tear down; they can encourage or discourage; and they can create faith or generate unbelief. Therefore, we are all called to examine our hearts and ask what our mouths are confessing, and what are we speaking about ourselves, others, and our loved ones? (Proverbs 18:21).

God’s Words have purpose and are proof of His Spirit, His power, character, and His love for mankind. He created all things with His spoken word, except for one. God said to His Son, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness.” God wanted a personal, hands-on relationship with mankind, so, with His hands, He lovingly created, shaped and formed man of the dust of the ground and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life to become a living, human being. (Genesis 1:26; 2:7; Proverbs 6:16-19). 

God is very intentional with all that He does and speaks. Every word that comes forth from His mouth holds life and power. That is why it is so important that the words we speak and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to God. We should daily ask Him to set a guard over our mouths and keep watch over the door of our lips, because too much talk leads to sin. King David understood the importance of his words when he said, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 NASB: Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 10:19).

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking and their mouth gives wise counsel. For wise words bring many benefits, but a reckless word pierces like a sword. The wise guard their mouth to preserve their life; the unwise say too much and come to ruin (Proverbs 15:28; 10:31; 12:18; 12:14; 13:3). The Apostle Paul said, “Do not let any unwholesome (unhealthy, poisonous, harmful, injurious, detrimental, destructive, damaging) talk come from your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).

The words that we speak about ourselves and about others have eternal consequences. Words have the potential to destroy our own spirit as well as the spirit of another. Words have power to inflict deep wounds or to soothe and heal. Gracious words are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones; gentle words turn away wrath and are a tree of life. Words are so important that God tells us that “for every idle (pointless) word [we] speak, [we] will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by [our] words [we] will be justified, and by [our] words [we] will be condemned.” That scripture puts a godly fear in my heart to consider every thought before it becomes a spoken word (Proverbs 15:1-4; Matthew 12:36-37).

A problem that I had and many people have is taking ownership of sickness and disease with our words: MY cancer, MY high blood pressure, MY heart disease, MY poor health, etc. God does not want us to own sickness, because it is an uninvited invader. People will also verbally berate themselves with dishonoring and negative self-talk. To counter these negative confessions, we should be speaking positive, biblical statements of truth:

Negative: “My” (naming the medical issue).  Positive: “This (disease, sickness, affliction) is not mine to own! Therefore, I will not let my heart be troubled, because God sent His Word and healed and delivered me from destruction. With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible, and all things work together for good. So, I will cooperate with medical and all help provided, believing that God will do the rest. For it is by Jesus stripes, I am healed” (Jeremiah 29:11; John 14:1; Psalms 107:20; Matthew 19:26; Isaiah 53:5).                       

Negative: “I can’t seem to get ahead.” Positive: “I reject that thought, because God’s Word promises that He will meet all my needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Negative: “I will never be able to do this.” Positive: “No, I reject that thought, because ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and in all these things, I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me” (Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:37).

Negative: “I am so afraid of…”  Positive: “No, I will not fear, because God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Negative: “What a dummy. I can’t do anything right.”  Positive: “I cast that thought down. I am created in the image of God and have the mind of Christ” (Genesis 1:27; I Corinthians 2:16). 

Negative: “God will never answer my prayer.” Positive: “No! God’s Word says, ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ He will answer because His eyes are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to my prayer” (1 Peter 3:12).

The battlefield is in the mind, which is Satan’s playground—if we allow him in. We must remember that all negative thoughts are generated from the enemy. But “all Scripture is God-breathed.” For that reason, we should always be intentional in speaking the restorative, delivering Word of God that has all power to countermand every fearful, negative thought, and dispel Satan’s lies. 

It is imperative to daily protect our thought life with God’s Word, because thoughts generate the words we speak, and what we speak reveals what the heart contains. Is our heart full of fear and doubt, or does it contain hope, trust, and faith? Our thought life will give us the answer. Thus, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy—we are to think on those things. (2 Timothy 3:16; Philippians 4:8; Matthew 12:34) 

PRAYER: FATHER, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Help me to daily build my faith by guarding my thought and mouth, so that I think and speak what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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Affirmations of Faith

We live in a world that is groaning under the weight of evil, but God does not want us to fear or feel hopeless or helpless. He wants us to be a beacon of hope for others. To accomplish that assignment, we must believe and never doubt that God’s Word is more powerful than the enemy of this world. "So shall My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). We can count on His Word!

I have written a prayer that conforms to scriptural truths and affirms God’s promises, His extraordinary love for us, and our need for Him. As we speak these affirmations of faith, may His promises resonate deep within our souls and encourage and embolden us to walk in faith and obedience to the One who created us.  _______________________

AFFIRMATIONS

Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You formed my inward parts and knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret. Your eyes saw my unformed substance. All the days ordained for me were written in You Book before one of them came to be. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before I speak a word, you know it. “You hem me in behind and before: You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 8; Psalm 139).

You made me alive with Christ, established in righteousness, and free from the law of sin and death, all oppression, condemnation, and fear. Thank you, that I am anointed and sealed for all eternity (Romans 8:1-2; Isaiah 54:14; 2 Corinthians 1:21).

You chose and appointed me, that I might bear fruit that will last. As a new creation and the fruit of Your workmanship, I am able to do good works, that You prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them (John 15:16: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).

Lord, You see that the people’s hearts have grown callous; they close their ears and eyes to truth. But You placed me on Earth for such a time as this, so that Your Word can be heard through all who love and serve You. Therefore, I will not be discouraged or intimidated, because You daily walk with me (Matthew 13:16; Esther 4:14; Psalm 37:23; Joshua 1:9).

I will not be afraid, because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. In Your power, I am an overcomer and partaker of Your divine nature to be Your ambassador in the earth. With my shield of faith, I can quench every fiery dart of the enemy (Psalm 118:6; Mark 6:17-18; Philippians 4:13; Revelation 12:11; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 2; Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:16).

You have given me great and precious promises and are faithful to me. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. Therefore, I have all assurance of Your help and unparalleled wisdom that You give liberally without reproach (John 15:16; 2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Peter 1:4; James 1:5). 

I will bring into captivity every negative and opposing thought to the obedience of Christ because thoughts produce beliefs. And beliefs form habits that shape character and ultimately shape my destiny, which must coincide with Your purpose and plans, established before the foundation of the earth (2 Corinthians 10:5; Isaiah 48:13).

I will seek Your truth and perspective in all circumstances of my life, so that I can perceive any deception that contradicts Your Word and will. May I always be united in one thought with You, so that I can walk in peace, that surpasses all understanding (2 Corinthians 4:18; Philippians 4:7).

Search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Reveal any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Daily fill me with a hunger for Your Word that I may be transformed by Your Word and not conformed to this world. Then I will know Your good, pleasing, and perfect will (Psalm 139:23-24; Romans 12:2).

I choose to be in harmony with You and Your will, so that I hear Your voice speaking into my spirit. May my affirmations always be “Yes” and “Amen” for all Your promises are “Yes” in Christ, and through Him, “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God (1 Thessalonians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 1:20).

Thank you that I am firmly rooted and established in faith. I have the hope of my calling, the riches of my inheritance, and the resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead. Because of these things, and so much more, I can never be separated from Your love. May Your saving, delivering Word always be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. In Jesus’ name, amen. (Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 1:18-21; Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 119:105).

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Living by Faith

Recently, I came across a very interesting article about the perils of unrest and worry, written by Sigurd Rudolf Guldbrandsen Bratlie. This Norwegian missionary clearly had first-hand experience with the subject. He traveled widely as a missionary and drew international media attention when in 1978, he was imprisoned for 143 days for holding Christian meetings in Baghdad, Iraq. The following excerpt was taken from an article he wrote for the Norweigian Christian Journel, Skjulte Skatter. This statement gave me pause for serious introspection: 

"All unrest, complaining, sighing, and anxiety stems from the soulish (fleshly) man who fights for his life. The spiritual man lives by faith in God’s Word. All things serve him for good. He has a mind for laying down his life, and he rests in God. What a glorious life and peace this is – a kingdom that cannot be moved.”                                                                       

The Apostle Paul provided a shining example of a spiritual man who believed that all things served him for good. Although he had every reason to complain, worry, and fret, he conveyed this message:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews [39] lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods; one I was pelted with stones. Three times I was shipwrecked, and I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Paul grasped the truth that for all that he suffered it was not his own strength that carried him; it was the strength of God who sustained him.                                                  

Paul admitted that he had been a very prideful man, which had required God’s intervention: 

“…to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-11).

Paul’s statement that his weakness gave him strength may sound counterintuitive, but I have discovered that whatever struggles I may be experiencing, whether big or small, those are the times when I seek God with even greater fervor, and He never disappoints me. For truly, both struggles and successes present new opportunities to learn and to build a strengthened faith and deeper relationship with God.  

Paul expressed his complete dependence on God, who was his sustainer and deliverer. He lived out the words of John the Baptist, who said, “[Christ] must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). In other words, both Paul and John wanted the focus to be on Jesus Christ and not on them. Therefore, all that we do should point to the cross and not to us.

The Apostle John stated, “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). He was not suggesting that we physically die for the cause of Christ. He was asking us to die to self and to surrender our will, which if not submitted to God, can quickly morph into earthly mindedness. Conversely, the heavenly minded yield their will to God. At that level of surrender and unreserved trust, faith develops, yielding a peaceful assurance of God’s goodness that settles deep within the soul.

As humans who inhabit earthly bodies, we are vulnerable to worldliness on a daily basis; therefore, if we are not careful, we could quickly slip into the trap of becoming earthly-minded instead of heavenly-minded. That is why we are encouraged to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).  

Bratlie’s comment was my wake-up call to be that much more intentional in walking by faith. For there is always great temptation to trust in what we see and feel, thus making us more vulnerable to fear, worry, unrest, doubt, and unbelief. Those things not only impede faith, they have the power to destroy faith. If Paul had allowed his flesh to be governed by his feelings, he would have failed in overcoming the hardships that he suffered. The end result would have been a missed opportunity to reach multitudes and complete God’s assignment on earth.

God has given every Christian an assignment that is very specific to their talents and giftings. My prayer is to stay the course and complete my assignment. My goal is to be more heavenly minded and unwavering in my faith when challenged by circumstances. And I choose to give thanks in all things, because God promises us that all things will work together for good because we are His and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 

PRAYER: FATHER, forgive me for those times of complaining and remind me to praise You in all situations. May I always trust You and not the circumstances. Correct me when I begin to lean towards soulishness. Reveal those things that could potentially hinder my faith, and set my feet on a sure path that leads others to the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE TWINS OF FEAR AND WORRY

We are all guilty of worrying about something or someone. As much as I would like to deny it, there have been times when I kept myself awake at night fretting over something that I could not control or change. 

The dictionary defines worry as fretting, fearing, being anxious, overthinking, brooding, panicking, losing sleep, stressing, and entertaining tormenting thoughts. Fortunately, God has the remedy, if applied to our lives: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) 

HOW TO AVOID WORRY:

1. Do not be anxious about anything.

2. In everything, pray.  

3. Present your requests to God with thanksgiving.

THE BENEFITS FROM NOT WORRYING:

            1. We will have peace that transcends all understanding

            2. Our hearts and minds will be guarded in Christ Jesus. 

How do we arrive at that place of not being anxious about anything? We begin by trusting and believing in the goodness of God. And how do we do that? We do not doubt His Word and His promises. Otherwise, a door is opened to our nemesis, “doubt,” which breeds fear, which then leads to worry.

The mind is where the enemy wages battles, and the heart is a reservoir that holds either God’s truths or the enemies lies. For that reason, we are told that above all else, we must guard our heart, for everything we do, think, and say flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). And how do we guard our heart? We fill it with the Word of God.

A very important component of overcoming worry is being thankful, regardless of the circumstances. Offering God thanks in a difficult situation is obedience to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Pay particular attention to that small, two-letter preposition “in.” The scripture tells us to be thankful in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, whether good or bad. In other words, we pray, “Lord, I don’t understand why this is happening, but I thank You that I am Yours, and I trust You to bring good from this.” 

Unfortunately, “in” has been changed by many to read, “for.” You might question the importance of those seemingly inconsequential little words. However, God was, is, and will eternally be intentional in every Word that comes forth from His mouth. That is why He issued this warning: I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”(Matthew 12:36-37 ESV). Each word is an expression of a truth that we believe and is a container that holds the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21).

“In” is defined as a period of time during which an event takes place or is a stagnant situation. “For” means to be in support or in favor of something. Clearly, we do not favor nor support illness, accidents, or any other misfortune. However, if and when those things happen, God tells us not to be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make our requests known to Him. 

Years ago, as a divorced mother of a two-year-old son, I had a full-time job in the art department of a large marketing company. Unfortunately, the 1973–1974 stock market crash brought about a recession, which in turn, caused the company to let 800 employees go the day before Thanksgiving. Rather than panic, I decided to be intentional in praising and trusting God in the midst of my sudden unemployment. The more I praised Him, the more I was filled with His peace. I believed and did not doubt that He had a plan for my life and would direct my steps. 

Praise is a powerful tool against worry and fear. Praise awakens our spirit to the goodness of God and His sovereignty. There are approximately 250 commands in God’s Word to praise Him. Sometimes when I lack words to praise God, I go to the Psalms and personalize them. 

•  “Lord, I praise You, for Your merciful kindness is great towards me and Your truth endures forever.” (Psalm 117:1-2) 

• “I praise You for Your mighty acts; I praise You according to Your excellent greatness.” (Psalm 150:2)       

• “I praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things for me.” (Isaiah 25:1)

It was not long after losing my job, that God opened doors to return to college on a full scholarship that included a work-study program, which guaranteed a wage. I also received a stipend for daycare. Not only did God provide for our every need, I was able to complete my degree with honors.

We must never forget that God is a good God. He loves us with a perfect love. That is why the command to “fear not” is repeated throughout His Word 365 times for each day of the year. For every day presents an opportunity to either entertain paralyzing worry, thus trapping us in a prison of anxiety, apprehension, and doubt, or, we can choose to praise God in the situation. Therefore, I personalized the following scriptures to be spoken when the enemy attacks your thoughts.

• Thanks be to God! You give me victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57)

• In all these things, I am more than a conqueror through You who loves me. (Romans 8:37)

• You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)

• You are in our midst, the mighty One who will save; You will rejoice over me with gladness; You will quiet me by Your love; You will exalt over me with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) 

• Oh Lord, I cast my burden on You, and You sustain me; You will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22) 

• Even if I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)                                                                          

• You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

• In all things You work for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Jesus left us with these life-affirming words of comfort to those who believe and do not doubt: Peace, I leave with you; My peace (mental calm, serenity, tranquility) I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid (John 14:27 ESV). If we adhere to this truth, we will walk a path alight with God’s peace and joy.

PRAYER: FATHER, teach me to speak life-affirming words into my life and the lives of others. May I carefully consider my words before I speak them, for they have power to build up or to tear down. Words have power to generate fear and worry or they can birth hope and peace. Remind me that when worry begins to invade my thoughts, that I must praise you in the midst of what is troubling me, because I know that You have the answer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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"And God Heard"

Sunday evening, my husband and I watched the 2019 movie, Breakthrough. For those who have not seen the movie, it is a true story about 14-year-old, John Smith, who in 2015, died in a drowning accident after falling through the ice on Lake St. Louis in St. Charles County, Missouri.   

Throughout the movie, we see the unshakable faith of John’s adoptive mother, Joyce, who stated, “I believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He say He will do.” She told John’s attending physician, “You do what you do best and my God will do the rest.”       

When interviewed, Joyce recounted that the E.R. doctor told her to talk to her son. She did not realize that her son had been dead for 45 minutes and they were preparing to “call time of death.” Believing there was still a chance, she went to John’s bedside and cried out, “God, send your Holy Spirit to save my son.” Immediately, the heart monitor began beeping.                   

Joyce’s faith was unwavering, so when she heard the attending physician, nurses, and other doctors, express doubts that John would survive, she told them, “The power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Do not speak negative words about my son or around my son. He can hear you!” (John was in a medically induced coma.)

Joyce’s aggressive and controlling behavior managed to alienate her from others, including her husband, Brian, whom she told, “John would be dead if not for me.” Pride had raised its ugly head as she claimed credit for John being alive. She failed to acknowledge that she was only the instrument; the Holy Spirit resurrected her son.  

Brian quickly let her know that her rude and prideful conduct was offensive to everyone, including the medical staff. Joyce then retreated to the hospital’s rooftop to pray. There, she asked God to forgive her inappropriate behavior and for being prideful. With tears streaming, she humbly said, “Whatever you have for John, for Brian, for me, I surrender. I surrender.”  In that moment of humility and surrender, God began to answer her prayer.

After ten days in the hospital, John walked out of Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital completely healed. His doctors agreed that there was no medical explanation for his recovery, other than being a miracle.  

When we question why some prayers are answered and others are not, there are so many variables involved. Is there unforgiveness, pride, rebellion, disobedience, or any other kind of sin that is hindering our prayers? I had prayed for eight years for a particular healing, and when I finally asked God why I was not healed, He said, “You have a prideful spirit.” I tearfully repented of pride and surrendered my will and desires to God, and healing came. 

A very dear friend was critically ill in the hospital. One day as I was crying out to God to heal her, He responded in my spirit, “I cannot heal her.” I was stunned and asked why. He answered, “Because she refuses to forgive.” I went to the hospital to share with her what God had said. She then revealed what her husband had done and said, “I will NEVER forgive him!” She died the next day. 

“Breakthrough” is an amazing account of a miraculous event and a woman’s relentless faith. But what may be overlooked is that God was dealing with Joyce’s pride, her willful arrogance, and bad attitude. He would also deal with John, an angry young man, who lashed out and rejected authority, because his biological mother had rejected him.                                       

God wants to be our all-sufficient Lord, Master, Savior, and Friend. He has a plan for each of us. He knows us intimately, because He created our inmost being and knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). For that reason, He is first and foremost concerned with the health of our soul.

God deals with us individually; therefore, we do not receive answers or healing in the same way. Eleven years ago, my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given two months to live, yet he is alive but not cancer free. So, why is God delaying? 

God, like the refiner and purifier of silver, is refining His people like gold and silver (Malachi 3:3). And in that process, He is waiting for us to seek Him for those hidden roadblocks that hinder our prayers. Make no mistake, God will test our faith, trust, and obedience, as He did with Naaman, who was told to wash seven times in the Jordon River to be healed (2 Kings 5:10). At first, he resisted, because he saw it as foolishness. However, Naaman eventually obeyed and was healed.  

Jesus put mud and spit on a man’s eyes, which must have seemed very strange to the man. Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “sent”). So, the man obediently went and washed, and came back seeing (John 9:6). Hezekiah was instructed to use a poultice of figs to heal boils and he obeyed (Isa. 38:21). As you can see, obedience is a very important ingredient to answered prayer. 

For some, healing came through a piece of cloth from the Apostle Paul (Acts 19:12). The sick in Samaria heard, believed, and were healed upon hearing the preaching of God’s Word (Acts 8:4-8). Some went to the Pool of Bethesda and were healed (John 5:4). Believing in the infallibility of God’s Word and responding is critical to receiving.  

Throughout the Bible, men and women’s prayerful petitions were answered, but most importantly, the words, “And God heard,” are repeated throughout scripture. We can have confidence that He hears and answers in His time and according to His purposes. 

Every person’s experience will be different. Whatever the need may be, whether it is physical healing, restoration of a marriage, a wayward child returning home, a financial need, or any other need that requires God’s intervention, He is there, waiting for us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things will be added (Matthew 6:33).  

God keeps His Word to those who are faithful to Him and believe His Word. What had appeared to be a hopeless tragedy, God brought good from it, so that the world would know that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did over 2,000 years ago, He will do today.  

John’s experience gave him a new perspective on what is important in life. He now enjoys a strong bond with his family and with God. And Joyce learned that arrogance and pride will hinder prayers, but repentance causes God to hear and respond to the cry of our heart. 

PRAYER: FATHER, I pray as King David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV). I want to be securely grounded in Your Word and Your will, so that Your purposes for my life may be fulfilled. In Jesus’ name, amen.    

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REFUSE TO GIVE UP

Have you every wished that you could sleep like a baby with no cares or worries? While praying this morning, I was pondering the word, “faith.” What is faith? The generic definition is an unwavering belief in someone or something. However, the Apostle Paul gives us a very specific definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). 

Faith is trust that allows rest in God. Faith puts the cares and concerns into God’s hands. Faith does not demand evidence, for faith believes before it sees and trusts that God is faithful to answer in His time and according to His purposes. Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).   

It was by faith that Noah, being warned by God 120 years before the coming flood, constructed an ark to save his household.   

By faith Abraham obeyed and went, not knowing where he was going, to a foreign land of promise. By faith Sarah received power to conceive in her old age.

By faith, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing instead to follow God and reject the fleeting wealth and pleasures of sin.

By faith Moses led God’s people through the Red Sea as on dry land, and God saved them from the pursuing Egyptians.

By faith, the Israelites obeyed God and for seven day marched around Jericho that had walls approximately 5 to 7 feet thick, 12 to 17 feet high, with a defensive tower that stood 28 feet high. On the seventh day, they marched again and with a great shout, the walls fell down.

By faith, when the angel announced to Mary that she would carry the Son of God, she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

There were many more men and women, who responded to God in faith and obedience. How did these men and women of the Bible have faith to believe God? They saw themselves as servants (devoted followers) of the Lord and believed His Word and His promises.

A great example of faith was a Canaanite woman, who cried out to Jesus, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” His disciples begged Jesus to send her away. He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.”  He answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table” (Matthew 15:20-27).                                                          

Why did Jesus respond to the woman in this way? Jesus was creating a metaphor meant to explain the priorities of His ministry and to teach His disciples a lesson in faith. 

Jews referred to Gentiles as “dogs.” Non-Jews were considered unspiritual and unclean. However, much of Jesus’ ministry exposed prejudices (Matthew 11:19). Jesus had purposefully left Israel, to minister to the Gentiles in Gentile territory (Matthew 15:21). So, when the Canaanite woman tearfully approached Jesus with her request, Jesus’ response is puzzling to us unless we understand what He was trying to accomplish.

Jesus frequently tested people, especially the Sadducees and Pharisees, to reveal their intentions and their wrong thinking. And He was about to test the disciples and show them their extreme prejudice. Jesus being God, knows the hearts of man. He already knew how the disciples would respond to this woman and He knew how the woman would respond in faith.                                                                                        

Jesus went on to explain that His duty was first to the people of Israel and not to the Gentiles (Matthew 15:24). To take attention from Israel would violate His mission. It would be like a father taking food from His children and giving it to their pets (Matthews 15:26). The exact word Jesus used in Greek was kunarion, meaning “small dog” or “pet dog.” This is a different word from the Greek word kuon, meaning unspiritual people or an “unclean” animal.                                              

In testing the woman’s faith, Jesus declined her request and explained that she had no legitimate expectation to receive His help. The woman, however, had faith like the persistent widow who did not give up in asking for justice (Luke 18:1-8). The Canaanite woman responded, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table” (Matthew 15:20-27). Her response proved that though she understood what Jesus had said, it was her bold faith that moved Jesus to action (Matthew 15:27). Jesus acknowledged her faith by calling it “great,” and granted her request (Matthew 15:28).                                                                     

Jesus looks for us to have faith to ask and believe that we will receive from Him. He had every intention of answering this woman’s prayer, but He wanted to test her faith and reveal to the disciples their prejudices. Though He came first for the Jew, He also came for the gentile (all those not Jewish).

Many Jews thought that God loved them more than the gentiles, but Peter would come to understand and teach others that God does not show favoritism. He wants people of all nations to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). Not only does God love and accept all nationalities, he wants the world to accept His Son as the truth, the way, and the life, knowing that God is faithful, who has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 1:9).

We will always have trials and challenges in this life. …“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Chris” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Has your prayer not been answered? Rejoice! God’s timing and purposes are sovereign and perfect. His delays are not His denials. Maybe we need to be more like the widow who refused to give up until she received justice, or like the Canaanite women who was not discouraged by Jesus’ comments, but showed her faith in pressing in until Jesus gave her the miracle she requested.

PRAYER: FATHER, I have been carrying these cares and worries to the point of exhaustion. I know Your Word tells me to pray without ceasing, but I am discouraged because I see no answer in sight. Help me to trust in You, whom I cannot see, and forgive me for trusting in what I see. Give me that measure of faith to press forward like the widow and the Canaanite women who refused to give up. In Jesus’ name, amen.

IT IS WELL

It is safe to say that in living life, we cannot avoid trials, misfortunes, heartaches, afflictions, adversities, calamities, catastrophes, or death. Knowing that, we should ask ourselves, “Am I spiritually prepared for any eventuality, and how would I respond to God in any one of those scenarios?” 

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a successful Chicago attorney, church elder, and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Anna, and four daughters lived a philanthropic life and served their church. Then in 1871, The Great Chicago Fire wiped out his successful law firm, his law library, his livelihood, and his lucrative real estate investment business. 

In 1873, Horatio decided that after suffering such great losses, he would take a two-year sabbatical and travel to England with his wife, their four daughters, the governess, and their dear friends, the Goodwins. He wanted his daughters to enjoy the museums and galleries and to meet the famous Baptist minister, Charles H. Spurgeon. And He looked forward to accompanying evangelist and friend, D.L. Moody on the next crusade. 

Plans can change in a millisecond, and Horatio’s plans quickly changed after receiving an urgent message that a business problem required his immediate attention. Not wanting to disappoint his wife and daughters, he encouraged them to sail without him, with the promise that upon concluding business, he would join them in England.

Several days after his family and friends’ were out to sea, Horatio received tragic news. The Ville de Havre was struck by an iron sailing vessel out of England. It sunk within 12 minutes, taking the lives of 226 souls. The day after Horatio received that tragic news, a telegram arrived from his wife, which read, “Survived alone. What shall I do?” Upon receipt of his wife’s message, he boarded a ship to be by her side.

It is difficult to comprehend their losses and the level and magnitude of grief that Horatio and his wife must have suffered. Yet we see faith in action through Anna’s words, “God gave me my four, little daughters; it is He who has taken them from me. He will make me to understand and accept His will.” 

With so many tragedies suffered, how was it possible that Horatio did not shake his fist at God and scream, “Why God!!!!” Even Job unexpectedly suffered losses beyond human comprehension. Yet despite all of his horrific suffering and his wife’s and friends’ constant badgering to curse God, he said, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15).

During Horatio’s voyage to join his wife, the captain of the ship called him to the bridge, and said, “A careful reckoning (current position) has been made, and I believe we are now passing the very place where the Ville de Havre sank.” It was during that poignant moment, Horatio looked into the watery grave below and penned the poem that would eventually become the great hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.” Even though you may have sung this song numerous times, I encourage you to carefully read and digest the full meaning of each word.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Lyrics by Horatio Spafford; music by composer and songwriter, Philip Paul Bliss 

What is most interesting about this song is that Horatio did not focus on what He had lost. Rather, he focused on the hope that he had in Christ to sustain and carry him through his grief. We see his grounded faith in a letter he had written to Anna’s half-sister Rachel:

“On Thursday last, we passed over the spot where [the ship] went down in mid ocean, the water being three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, folded, the dear lambs, and there, before very long, we shall be, too. In the meantime, thanks to God, we have an opportunity to serve and praise Him for His love and mercy to us and ours. ‘I will praise Him while I have my being.’ May we each one arise, leave all, and follow Him.”

Years later, they had two more daughters and a son. But tragedy struck again when their son died from Scarlett Fever at age three. They then relocated to Jerusalem where they created the American Colony, a philanthropic society that met the needs of the people of Jerusalem through soup kitchens, hospitals, and orphanages. 

Horatio and Anna were living testaments to what it means to trust God, believe His many promises, and move forward with Him. One such promise is that “the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10). 

When faith is tested, even the strongest Christian can find it difficult to hope. For that reason, whatever life may bring our way, God wants us filled with His Word so that we can trust and not doubt Him.  Yes, we have experienced and will continue to enjoy times of joy and successes, but we are also reminded by daily world events that life is very imperfect, fragile, and subject to change. If and when that sudden and unexpected change occurs, will you and I be ready? Will our faith in God sustain us? Will the words, “It is well with my soul” be upon our lips? 

PRAYER: FATHER, thank you for sending Your Son, the sinless Christ, who willingly became the propitiation for my sins and for all who accept and believe that He came into this world to redeem the lost. May I always hope and believe in Your promises, for “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). May my hope, faith, and trust always be in You and Your Word, so that I will be able to say in all circumstances, “It is well with my soul.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Hope for 2020

As we approach the closing hours of 2019, I am sharing my prayer for the coming New Year of 2020:

“Lord, I confess any sins of disobedience, pride, and willfulness and ask that You continue to transform my heart, mind, and life by the power of Your Holy Spirit and Your living Word. Only then, can I know Your good and perfect will for my life (Romans 12:2). 

Thank you for Your abundant and unmerited love and faithfulness throughout 2019 and all the previous years. I am grateful for Your sovereign, providential hand upon my life and my family, for You have been and continue to be our Sustainer, Protector, Counselor, and Provider in every circumstance.

The year 2020 will bring good things, but with the good will come challenges, uncertainties, deceptions, and false narratives that will further convince multitudes to conform to this world-system and its morals. Help me pursue Your truth that I may know truth and not be swayed by the masses, popular opinion, or my own limited understanding and knowledge. You alone are my hope and the Hope of this world. You make crooked paths straight and sure. 

Father, I ask that You lead, guide, and protect my family. May we each seek You and become vessels of honor that embody Your truth, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Give us the gift of faith, endurance, courage, perseverance, and strength to trust and obey You in every situation, so that we each finish our course that You set before us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

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Hidden Idols

The Book of I Kings reveals the downfall and demise of kings, because they worshiped idols, refused to worship the one true God, and sought godless counsel. Many combined the worship of both God and idols. They were unrepentant, covetous, disobedient, rebellious, and lusted after power.

We have been warned “that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power"  (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Sadly, the biblical description accurately defines today’s America that has fallen into the same rebellious, unrepentant, covetous apostasy as did the ancient kings. Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. We cannot serve both God and this world (Matthew 6:24 NIV).

Americans have fallen into the trap of crass materialism, which is promoted through advertising, movies, television, videos, books, and other forms of media. This ungodly counsil promises that if we buy into their propaganda, we will look and feel better, be more successful, smarter, and wiser, and live longer healthier, happier lives, very much like the promises the enemy made in the Garden of Eden—and we know how that ended. This daily, minute-by-minute capitalistic infusion of a worldview has created a self-indulgent, idol worshiping culture, trained to worship all things that satisfy and gratify the flesh.

Today’s idols are not limited to Ashtoreth poles, shrines, totems, or other manmade deities. Instead, they are stealthily hidden in all things that draw our focus away from God and cause us to look to ourselves, people, and the world to meet our wants and expectations for pleasure, entertainment, success, health, and happiness.

According to a Nielson report, United States adults watch a minimum of five hours and four minutes of television per day,which is 35.5 hours per week. Now, smartphones are outpacing even the most advanced televisions, because phones are with us 24/7.

Smartphone technology allows us to access television programs, movies, the weather, GPS, games, newsfeeds, the Internet, social media, and so much more. Although moderation is the key to T.V. viewing and cellphone use, too many people cannot divorce themselves from their televisions and phones long enough to have a meaningful conversation with others, and teens are the largest group of cellphone abusers.

The Radiological Society of North America looked at the brains of teens who use smartphones and had Internet addiction. They discovered differences in the chemistry of the reward circuits of the brain. Interestingly, the brain chemistry changed and looked like non-addicted controls in those teens who received cognitive behavior therapy (CBT).

One out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. And cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. How does one know if cell phone use has become an addiction? When that person would rather be on their cell phone then have a conversation with another person and when texting while driving and walking is more important than personal safety and the safety of others.

According to Nielsen, Pew Research Center, comScore, SmartInsights, and other organizations, the average person spends over four hours a day on their device, although many young people far exceed that. Scientists are also linking cellphone use to insomnia, irritability, depression, bullying, and suicide.

We need to take inventory of how much time we spend watching T.V. or scanning Facebook or any of the other 65 plus social networking sites? Do these activities lend any real lasting value to our lives? Yes, television can be a form of relaxation after a long day and there are valid reasons to post certain things on social media, but at what point do we draw the line?

So, if people spend an average of five hours a day watching television and four hours on their cell phones, that is nine hours for personal leisure. Then there are those obligations to family, church, work, maintaining a home, outside activities, hobbies, and sports. So, when do we fit God into our schedules? Could it be that we should consider spending less time perusing Facebook or watching television, so that we can make time for God?

Jesus said not to worry about what we eat, drink, or wear. For the pagans run after all these things. But our heavenly Father knows what we need. Therefore, we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:30-34).

At age 27, I returned to college to finish my degree. I was a divorced mother working full time and attending college full time. Sometimes, I felt overwhelmed in trying to be a good mother, provider, and student. I would always pray for my day, but one day the Lord challenged me to read His Word before I started studying. This became a habit that truly became a blessing. When I gave time to God, He multiplied time back to me. He even guided me in what was important to study for a test; I made the Dean’s List each year.

We have 24 hours in a day as a gift from God. How are we going to use that gift? We all have daily obligations, but we also have a responsibility to give back to God a portion of our time to fellowship with Him, to pray, and to study His Word.

America’s motto is “In God We Trust.” But in reality, in what and whom do we really trust and believe? To whom or what do we seek for help and answers? In whom or what do we give the most attention? In whom or what do we depend upon for our rest, peace, and joy?

God is preparing His Church for His coming. Satan is preparing the world to receive the Antichrist. If people are so focused on what they see, they will be misled and believe a lie (2 Thessalonians 2). That is why God calls us to put away idols and seek Him while He may be found.

We are sojourners passing though this world. God never intended it to be our permanent home. Nor did He intend that we seek the pleasures of this world to satisfy our souls that long for love, peace, happiness, and joy. Those things can only be found in God.

PRAYER: FATHER, You know the thoughts that You think toward me—thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give me an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). I thank you for Your gracious mercy and unending faithfulness to me. I repent for not keeping You as my first priority. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me, that I may eagerly seek You first and desire Your will and purpose for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving should be more than a once-a-year observance. Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart in which we daily express our love, appreciation, and devotion to God, regardless of what is happening in our lives. His Word instructs the believer to give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18). That expression of thanks affirms to our wonderful Creator, that no matter the situation we trust in His goodness and faithfulness to protect, provide, and guide us through any challenge or difficulty that life may bring.

As many of you know, ten years ago, my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer. The doctors gave us the devastating prognosis of two to three months to live. At first, our response was, “Why God?” But we quickly realized that we needed to draw nearer to God and “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let [our] requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

We did not thank God for the cancer, because He is not the author of sickness and disease. However, there are times when God allows adversity to achieve a greater purpose in our lives, and in our case, our faith and trust in Him has grown exponentially.

Unfortunately, all of us were birthed into a fallen, sin-ridden world where Satan has his domain and is the author of sickness, disease, destruction, and death. Of course, we cannot lend all the blame to Satan, because some of the things that happen to us are brought about through careless living and destructive lifestyles.

We know that “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than [our] ways and [His] thoughts than [our] thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). We also know that the thoughts that He thinks towards us, are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Armed with those truths, we were able to move forward with faith, knowing that God has a plan for us.

Despite the fact that my husband is not yet cancer-free, we give thanks each day for another day, because each day is a precious gift not to be wasted. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so we embrace each day as an opportunity to draw closer to God, learn from Him, and express our gratitude for the many blessings that He provides.

PRAYER: FATHER, I thank you for your never-ending goodness and love. Help me, each day, to have a heart of gratitude. Give me the faith to hold onto the promise that I am never alone, because You are with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). May I always trust You to guide my steps as we walk together through the valleys and over the mountaintops. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A Testimony of Forgiveness

Have you ever struggled to forgive someone, or possibly you are currently struggling with forgiveness? If so, count yourselves among multitudes who have that war waging within their souls. As long as there is breath in us, there will be opportunities to be offended.

One of the most powerful testimonies of forgiveness is found in the Old Testament story of Joseph. His brothers’ jealousy and hatred for the seventeen-year-old, caused them to plot his murder. Instead, their brother, Reuben, convinced them to sell Joseph to a caravan of Midianites passing through the country. The Midianites then sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials and the captain of the guard (Genesis 37:36). 

Joseph, from his youngest years, had a steadfast faith in God and recognized that His providential hand was upon him. His faith and unreserved trust in God would give Joseph strength for what was to come.

Joseph served Potiphar for three years and then spent approximately ten years in prison for a crime of which he was falsely accused. Eventually, after a series of events, he was released to interpret Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams. He told Pharaoh that there would be seven years of prosperity and seven years of famine and that in those years of prosperity, surplus grain needed to be stored to carry the nation through the coming famine. Joseph found favor in Pharaoh’s eyes and was made vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh.

During the famine, Joseph’s brothers traveled to Egypt from Canaan. Not recognizing Joseph, they stood before him to ask if they might purchase grain. After a series of events, Joseph eventually revealed his identity to his brothers, who then became terrified. They feared for their lives, because of their sin against Joseph, who was now the second most powerful man in Egypt. Their fate was clearly in his hands. However, the unexpected happened. 

Joseph extended immense kindness, mercy, grace, and unconditional forgiveness to his brothers and said, “'Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:19-21). 

Joseph had every reason to be bitter and unforgiving, yet he consistently trusted God throughout his life. He recognized that all that happened to him was for a greater purpose; therefore, because of that trust, he was able to show an amazing level of forgiveness towards his brothers. 

We must never forget that what the enemy intends for evil, God has the power to use it to accomplish His will and to bless us. For “we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Forgiveness brings healing and blessings to the one who forgives. Unforgiveness closes the channels to God, who provides wisdom, guidance, revelation, healing, and restoration. When we comprehend the breadth, length, depth, and height of God’s love for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, how can we not forgive? Jesus, in unimaginable pain and agony, looked to heaven from the cross and said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). 

True forgiveness comes when we understand that forgiveness, like love, is not a feeling; it is a choice that we make through the power of Christ’s shed blood. Neither is forgiveness an option. “If you refuse to forgive others, your Father [God] will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15 NLT). Thus, unforgiveness is an act of disobedience that stops God’s blessings.

Granted, there are times when the crime, action, or behavior is so heinous that we cannot justify forgiving that person. In my case, I struggled to forgive my ex-husband for things that had happened in our marriage, however, forgiveness is a process.

In the beginning of my journey to forgive, I felt like a hypocrite, because I did not “feel” like praying for my ex-husband. Regardless, I chose to obey Jesus’ command, “I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be [children] of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44 NKJV). So, each day, for almost a year, I prayed for him, until one day, I realized that compassion, mercy, and forgiveness had replaced pain, bitterness, and unforgiveness. 

Forgiveness does not condone the actions of that person. Rather, it sets the injured party free from the bondage of hate, which destroys us emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Unforgiveness literally has the power to make us sick, even to the point of death. Unforgiveness can drive us to make rash decisions that yield permanent, negative consequences. Unforgiveness breeds seeds of hatred that choke out love for oneself and for others. That is why our hearts must be kept with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). 

God has called us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other as God has forgiven us through His Son (Ephesians 4:31-32). For we are to be “imitators of God,” loving as Christ loved us and gave His life for us (Ephesians 5:1-2).

If you have struggled with forgiving someone—maybe even God—be encouraged in knowing that forgiveness will set you free from the bondage of pain, resentment, and hate that can become a soul-eating cancer. True forgiveness can only come when we pray for the offender.

A cautionary warning: Verbally repeating the mantra, “I forgive…” will never free you, because it is not coming from the heart. Only praying daily for the offender can open your heart, so that God can do a work in those areas of pain and brokenness. Once you step into an attitude of prayer, the day will come when you too will be able to give your testimony of forgiveness and freedom.                                                                                                                                               

PRAYER: FATHER, Your Word reminds me that forgiveness is not an option but a command. I choose to forgive (name the person(s) and ask that You forgive me. Heal my soul and restore the broken areas of my life. Show me how to pray each day for (name(s) that I may be set free from painful memories that have kept me in bondage. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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