In Boldness, Vigor and Great Style

Psalm 37:7-11......7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret--it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD,
They shall inherit the earth. 
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  NKJV

Ever tried to hurry God in something you want or need to happen now? Has someone insulted you or ridiculed you in some manner that seems to be ongoing with no end to it? Are we wanting some uncomfortable face to face with someone to be over, yet know not how to handle it?

It is in waiting in prayer and the Word that we find, what some may overlook or not even discover, but is His peace. Being captive by something that overtakes our thinking, causes us to overlook, and to not see the benefit of waiting in God's presence and can send us to a place of turmoil and upheaval. He surely knows our wants and desires, but all are not of benefit to us. Surely He knows bills have to be paid and the children cared for, and He also knows the messes we sometimes get ourselves into while making this journey through life. It may be some conflict at home, or at the workplace. It may be someone who just does not like you, and makes every effort to get some peeps on-board with their thoughts against you. But God is greater and He will show us how to walk through the ordeal and to remain meek, but bold in the Lord!

I think of the times when our daughter at a young age wanted something desperately. She would think her life would be over if she did not get some little thing right now. At even a young age of six, she could debate the issue with the best of them. She could maneuver as the Stealth through quiet and low key questions as to why she could not have the "thing she wanted". Even today, she moves through as the Stealth, but she is moving in the power of God and through the Holy Spirit that keeps her under the radar of ordinary man, to minister at just the right time the life and truth of God's word to someone on her radar. She seeks their good in God's plan.

In showing her from a young age the importance of waiting and working toward a certain goal came quicker than she ever thought it would. She could turn her focus in being happy where she was at and what she was doing at the time, and continually be persistence to hold before her the truth that a new toy, a new bike or a car could come into her hands. She became diligent to walk toward that which she desired, keeping the goal, and helping others get to where they needed to go as well with their goals. She walked the talk about the new thing she desired.

Today, she and her husband show our grand-daughter the same importance of speaking God's word and sowing finances toward that end! Anytime our grand-daughter gets money, she is ready to sow some seed into fertile soil. She is ready to sow some toys, that are still good condition that another younger child might like. She is looking out to sow where she can, even her clothes when she outgrows them too soon.  It is seen in her life and her parents as well, the importance of sowing. When we do, it will surely come back to us in that which we have sown.

Jesus told us that the meek shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5....5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  NIV

Those humble, expectant, and with all gentleness shall inherit the earth. They shall be those who have been hurt by insults, ridiculed, or even far worse, and turned to give all gentleness back to the one who insulted them, to the one who ridiculed them. Gentleness will harbor no anger or resentment toward another when the other gets a new home, or a new car, or another trip to Hawaii or abroad. The meek shall speak out in joy for the one who has received maybe something they were believing for from God and are still waiting expectantly for it.

Whatever the injury to our person, we are to rise above to that peace in God that He is with us. He will show us the benefits of walking in meekness of heart.

We are told in:

Titus 3:1-8....3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 

NKJV

James 1:19-20.....19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

NKJV

We are to be those who speak evil of no one, but being gentle toward others, even those who may be haters and who live in a place of envy. We are to be eager to hear, and slow to speak, slow to wrath, for that wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:21-22.....21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.KJV

Receiving God's word protects us in the workplace and the world. Any place we may have to partake of, we have the choice to choose whom we will serve. Will we serve ourselves, or be ready to humble ourselves and let God take care of the injustices? In serving ourselves, we are actually serving our emotions. Man's first response to any insult or ridicule is to protect himself! But Jesus told us to turn the other cheek when having a face to face with someone who is against us, who has envy or hate toward us.

I really like the scripture verse from the Living Bible. It states:
James 1:21-27.....21 So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.

22 And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don't fool yourselves. 23 For if a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; 24 as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. 25 But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God's law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.

26 Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn't worth much. 27 The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father's point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord-not soiled and dirtied by his contacts with the world.     TLB

In our daughter's Junior High years, she had eczema over some of her body.  Some of the "kids" in school would make fun of her. But it was no fun for her. She had such a time of pain and itch. Her sheets would look like someone had bleed on them overnight. In those times, she kept her focus on her school work. She was given the award of Student of the Term three times in those two years. She kept a perfect 4.0 GPA in those times of pain and chaos.  With those new friends she made and kept, she gave them encouragement.
I remember our daughter in her first year of high school had a friend who had a car.  He would sometimes come by and pick her up for school so she would not have to ride the bus.  Some of those who ridiculed her in Junior High had to ride the bus everyday. So our daughter's friend, a young man who lived in our neighborhood would come by and they would go to school together. He would talk of his needing a paint job on his car. His car ran really well for an older model but he surely spoke correctly about the paint job. Our daughter believed with him for new paint. She did not complain about her "desires" at the time but only spoke of her friend. Well the young man got his paint job. He was so joyful about it and wanted to show everyone when he got his car back from the Paint and Body Shop!
We choose each day how we will act to any insult or ridicule made against us!
From scripture we see meekness as a Christian grace. In Galatians 5:22-23.....it is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23.....22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  KJV

2 Corinthians 10:1-9.......10:1 I plead with you-yes, I, Paul-and I plead gently, as Christ himself would do. Yet some of you are saying, "Paul's letters are bold enough when he is far away, but when he gets here he will be afraid to raise his voice!"

2 I hope I won't need to show you when I come how harsh and rough I can be. I don't want to carry out my present plans against some of you who seem to think my deeds and words are merely those of an ordinary man. 3 It is true that I am an ordinary, weak human being, but I don't use human plans and methods to win my battles. 4 I use God's mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil's strongholds. 5 These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts' desire is obedience to Christ. 6 I will use these weapons against every rebel who remains after I have first used them on you yourselves and you surrender to Christ.

7 The trouble with you is that you look at me and I seem weak and powerless, but you don't look beneath the surface. Yet if anyone can claim the power and authority of Christ, I certainly can. 8 I may seem to be boasting more than I should about my authority over you-authority to help you, not to hurt you-but I shall make good every claim. 9 I say this so that you will not think I am just blustering when I scold you in my letters. TLB

Paul directed his letter to say, I plead with you gently as Christ himself would do. He wrote that others would say "that he was bold while far away, but when present with them, that he, Paul would be afraid to raise his voice."  In truth, being humble, does not look like the weak and the ordinary.
Paul stated that he was not using human plans or man's way to win the battles. Paul wrote that he used the mighty weapons of God to knock the devil's strongholds. Those weapons were breaking down every proud argument against God! Paul wrote that he could capture rebels and bring them back to God and see their hearts change to obedience to Christ. Paul stated in verse 7 that the authority was beneath the surface. He was claiming the authority he walked in was that given him by Christ Jesus. Paul said, " I shall make good every claim, not to hurt them but to show them the way in which to walk. Paul was exhibiting boldness and vigor in his letters. Paul wrote many letters and he always illustrated everything by his life. He always referenced Jesus in the things he wrote about. Paul knew of his trust in the Good News. He was held by the peace of God in knowing he had seen God do great things in and through him. He continued to walk in that place in looking out for others even when they rebelled against what he preached and taught!

I close with this:
In ministry, I found times like when ministering at the jail one of those places that was a delight but a hard place to give the Word. Not that the Word of God is hard to give, no, not at all. What I am saying is that you can face those who come to hear and face those some who just go to chapel to get out of the cell or out of the module.

 I found those who did not care for the Word of God, and would try talking during the message! If the chatter continued, all I had to do was walk back to the back rows of the chapel where the "chatter" was going on, and continue with the scriptures and the examples the Lord wanted me to give in that teaching. I would look them in the eye and continue to teach. I can tell you that the "chatter" would stop immediately. We need to know that being humble and meek, is being submitted to God, His plan and His Word. It is not appearing weak and sickly! No, He will direct our paths in boldness, when we look out for others. Ours was not to go into the chapel to cause problems, to cause others pain, but our's was to go in and minister life to those women in jail. Our hope was to make a difference in others lives as God had made in ours. And we certainly saw many continue to receive and walk in the Word and prayer to God for their lives. We saw great things that God did for some of those women in the jail. They would even show up coming out of the elevator with the guard and be singing songs of praise to our God! And this was before chapel began. Yes, it was awesome to see. We stood our ground with a boldness, vigor and a great style that comes through Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory!
Look out for others today and you will see God move on your behalf!

Father, thank You for the Word of God that has manifested in our lives. His name is Jesus and He is the way, the truth and the life to us.
We are told that those who are meek shall inherit the earth, and delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalm 37:11)
We ask for help, Your guidance in keeping to a walk of being the meek man. Lord, we seek to be governed by the love of God. It is by faith that we clothe ourselves with the new man giving ourselves to the Word of God and to prayer. We know that we cannot do this by ourselves. It takes power of the Holy Spirit to direct us into that perfect love, to love others, as we work, as we play, and as we live with our families.
We loose the Holy Spirit to mortify our inner man purging out any insecurities, intimidation, and lusts that have hindered our lives.
We are looking to live by the Spirit and have the fruit of the Spirit that is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith. (Gal.5:22-23)
Whatever the injury to our person,  help us Lord to rise above any insult or injury to our person, and invade us with the peace in God that He is with us. Show us the benefits of walking in meekness of heart and we will always give thanks. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

Who Then Is The Faithful and Wise Servant?

The Faithful and the Wise:

Matthew 24:45-51......45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  NKJV

Each of us has a role in the kingdom of God! Each have been given the choice being faithful to God, to teach God's words to others, and to serve God always! Yes, but Shelley I am no teacher. Each of us have had children or even nieces or nephews that we could teach the Word of God to in time. In being faithful to God and serving Him, we are submitting to His authority, and the example of influence to those in our family or the family of God.
Even those who have no children today, but are planning a family in the next few years, now is a good time to start finding those faith building books on the Bible. Now is a good time to ask the Lord how to lead your family into God's plan. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak about your future children to come to you!
Each of us should have the fire to want to spend time with God and hear His plans for the day.


Joshua 24:14-15......14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."    NKJV

In the body of Christ, some are called to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists ( those who evangelize a community or those who travel overseas), Pastors, and the ministry gifts. There is the Miracles and Gifts of healings ( one may flow in healing of headaches and another may flow in the healing for aching back) as regarded as a distinct ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:28) There is the Helps ( which envelops the praise and worship) it also includes those who give financially into the kingdom, Governments ( as pastors of administrating), and Diversity of Tongues. (1 Corinthian 12: 28, 30). Each of us as a place to stand in, and we all have a role in teaching our children and their children how to be a faithful servant. That is, doing what the Lord told us to do and then continue to do it. Like teaching, that is all you want to do is teach. One who loves the Word of God and desires to spend time looking up the different scriptures finding you spent all morning or a portion of a day on "one thing" and enjoying it!

Some are not called to hold a specific office in the Body of Christ, but all are called to teach and tell others of Jesus  and the love of God! Each of us has a role in His kingdom!

Are we THE wise?

Foolish…from the Greek word moros which is dull or stupid.

James 3:17-18...17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. NKJV

Always asking God for “the wisdom that comes from heaven [ which ] is first of all pure, peaceable (peace-loving), considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”

Matthew 5:14-16………..14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV

Light, that revelation knowledge of who Jesus is and what He did for us is to grow continually. That light will grow brighter and brighter lighting the path we are to travel on this journey. It is one that takes some time reading and praying. It is not looking up what someone else wrote or said, but it is looking into the "the perfect law of liberty" and finding what speaks to us that specific day.  Never just take my word or anyone else's for that matter but look into the Bible and find what speaks to you. I can teach, but I also remind everyone everywhere to search the scriptures yourself. Look up that which you are believing to come to pass in your life. GOD'S PRESENCE WILL BE EVIDENT WHEN YOU LOOK INTO a teaching ......if the one you are reading seems like a vacant land with no life, then look elsewhere. Any teaching should always reflect Jesus and not about man.

If it is more peace you need, then search peace, If it is more wisdom, ask like James 1:4 says.
James 1:4-7.......... 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  NIV

Attribute of wise man: controls his emotions, is not led by them
Proverbs 29:11.....11 A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.   NKJV

Attribute of the wise: he heeds counsel

Proverbs 12:15…..15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But he who heeds counsel is wise. NKJV

Attribute of a fool: despises authority and will not follow

Proverbs 15:5…..5 A fool despises his father's instruction,

But he who receives correction is prudent. NKJV

Attribute of a wise man: is a peacemaker

Proverbs 20:3….3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.  NKJV

Attribute of wise men: turn away wrath, seeking good for all

Proverbs 29:8......8 Scoffers set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.   NKJV

Whatever God has placed within us, we are to see that it grows.

Matthew 25:19-30......19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'   NKJV

I like what my husband always speaks, "we each need to know our roles in how to lead others. If any of us is over a group of people to lead them, then we must know what is available to us to lead them." "If we do not know to teach and that which will encourage and cause them to grow (either in the workplace or home) we do not equip anyone to follow in doing the same that should have been instructed." 

I think of those who minister in music. Some I have known are exhorters as well. They encourage and can do it through song.

I think of this one lady and I will call her Jody.   She has children but two were diagnosed with autism. Although they were diagnosed, it does not have them. She works with them to see they have the normal life like everyone else. She sees to it that they are in church, having their class in the Word of God. She encourages them and others as well. She always gives her time to working within the workplace (as in conferences, etc) to see others know about autism and how it does not defeat people. She is a teacher! She teaches what she has been equipped to do! She is doing an awesome work in the power of God to see change for many others and not just for her own. She is the faithful and wise servant!

Influence is important, and knowing our role is important. It is not flaunting, but always reflecting that light, revelation knowledge of the scriptures laid down by Jesus. May the Lord find us fulfilling Matthew 24:46. May we be that wise servant fulfilling our role in what was established for us from the foundation of the world.

Father, we pray in Jesus' name, that in this ministry to our family  and those who watch us like at work or even driving on the highway, we know we are influencing others. We also know that we have received mercy and we desire to not lose heart. For we who follow YOU have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling of the word of God deceitfully. We do not try to trick anyone into believing, and we are not interested in fooling anyone. Today I stand to teach others what You have shown me and as standing in Your presence, I speak to tell the truth to all who know me will agree. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) Living Bible

Father, we know that we never try to teach what the Bible does not say, but what is revealed to our hearts through Your Holy Spirit.

We know from the Word of God (verse 3) that the word hidden is to the one who is on the road to eternal death. Our eyes have been opened to see the glorious light of the Gospel. That word is shining upon us to know the amazing message about the glory of Christ, who is God. 

We pray that any and all who come across our paths, will see light in the darkness. We pray for eyes to open that have been blind to the good news the Gospel. We say together, "let there be light in the darkness..........that is the glory that is seen in the face of  Jesus Christ", our Lord and Master.(verse 6, Living Bible)

We desire to be diligent in being the wise servant doing what YOU asked us to do. Help those see who know not what their call is, to find the place and do what burns in their bellies to do. AND MAY THEY STAND FAITHFUL TO DO THAT CALL YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM. We ask to be the influence that radiates the light of Jesus to the dark world and find favor from YOU Father to fulfill the plan You set forth for each of us. May it be to Your glory and praise. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

A Happening in the Winepress

Are we hiding away like Gideon? Do we do the daily things we need to do, but do it in the dark, at night, when no one is around?
When the Angel of the LORD appears, Gideon speaks. He declares what is in his heart. "If YOU the Lord are with us, why has all this happened to us?
Ever wonder sometimes why some things continue to occur in our lives, and there are no miracles?

Interesting to note in the passage below, Gideon ventures to ask if God is with them, then why has this all happened to us, but clearly God is with them. He came to give correction and to find Gideon hiding away in the "winepress" threshing wheat! What?
Are we actively doing our job, doing ministry, and not in the right place to be effective and a producer of what God desires for our part in His kingdom?
Was Gideon meditating on the fact that he was following a course set by the nation itself?

Judges 6:11-33,.............11 Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" 13 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."

14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man." 17 Then he said to Him, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You." And He said, "I will wait until you come back."

In verse 14, the LORD tells Gideon, that he is sent to do something. "Have I not sent you?" Gideon responds, "how can I save Israel?" That would be like us responding today, "how can I save the United States of America?" The LORD tells him that Gideon will defeat the enemy, the Midianites as one man. UNITY! And then it is Gideon who wants a sign that it is God who speaks! Gideon makes the plans to worship the LORD with his offering and  to set it before HIM! The LORD said He would wait for his return with the offering. In reading this passage I am prompted to think of how many times the Lord comes, and He says "I will wait here for your offering" and how times do we not bring it to Him? For preparation takes some time, right, and it must be done to bring honor to God Himself, so how long does the LORD wait on us to make a move when He first speaks?
I believe that the LORD heard Gideon's heart while he worked at threshing wheat in the "winepress".

19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. 20 The Angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so.

Gideon made ready the offering of meat and the unleavened bread. When consumed, the LORD had departed. Gideon was now sanctified to do what the LORD asked him to do.

21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. 22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face." 23 Then the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die." 24 So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 

Now in verse 25, we still find the LORD speaking to Gideon. Even though Gideon saw Him depart out of his sight in verse 21, Gideon is made aware  by His speaking to him about what was next in the instructions to him!

25 Now it came to pass the same night that the LORD said to him, "Take your father's young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down." 27 So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the LORD had said to him. But because he feared his father's household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night. 

Following instructions: "OH no, take the father's young bull. SECOND bull of seven years old. Take down the altar of Baal, cut down the wooden image that is beside the altar. BUILD: an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this rock in proper arrangement. TAKE SECOND BULL AND OFFER IT AS BURNT SACRIFICE WITH THE WOODEN IMAGE YOU SHALL CUT DOWN.
Taking ten men with him, the work was done as to the LORD'S command, but done at night!
Instruction was clear: cut down those idols in your life!

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built. 29 So they said to one another, "Who has done this thing?" And when they had inquired and asked, they said, "Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing." 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that was beside it." 31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!" 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar."


The city men rose early and saw what had been done to the altar to Baal. Seems like many had the character of following the Baal god. They had the bent toward worshiping idols of such. The right spirit did not exist in Israel at the time. These men were leading their families down the path of being carnal and bent toward the things to be worshiped as in false gods, and not in God Himself. When Gideon obeyed, he moved out of the river of deception into the river that produces life and that is by God and in Him as well. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being.
Acts 17:28.................28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' NKJV

In this instance, we certainly see man choosing as Adam and Eve had chosen. In the garden we saw two people who chose to serve the false gods and the false idols of that day.  Gideon's obedience brought to him and those who wanted change, to a new day, and a new way, that God was wanting that "open door" to do His thing in a "miracle".  God desired for the Israelites to be enslaved no more by the Midianites.  A seven year.curse is a long one dealing with worshiping idols. It certainly sent Gideon into the winepress for threshing wheat! For whatever surplus of any crop, the Midianites would soon take it from the Israelites, so threshing wheat at the winepress kept it a secret.

In verse 31, we see Joash being inspired by his son Gideon, to act in way representing courage. He told the men of the city, if Baal had a problem with it, for Baal to take care of the matter. For if Baal were God, then he would be expected to avenge that which had been done to him. Simple and direct that if Baal had a problem with his altar being destroyed, now was the time to speak for himself!

33 Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

Being instructed and moving, Gideon blew the trumpet......when the Spirit of the LORD is there, as He is within us, He will clothe you where you are going. He anoints You to do the SPECIFIC THING HE DESIRES FOR YOU IN HIS PLAN!

When God does this, it is He who qualifies you to do that thing to where He is sending you.
I knew the day that He was clothing me, qualifying me to do something in Outreach Ministry. I knew the hour it all changed and that He was lining things up for me to move into position to minister at the jail and the Women's shelter. God certainly knows what He has planned and will see it done for your life. Another thing I noticed, was I had this confidence that God was with me no matter what,and that He was directing me as an orchestra and making the most beautiful music to display His glory at the jail and the women's shelter. Truly God is good, and He gives His children courage to move out in faith and see His will accomplished on earth!

When Gideon blew the trumpet, too many men came to help. Awesome that so many showed up and had a vote for change from serving the Midianites, but God wanted those who "would qualify". Read below!


Judges 7:4-18......................4 But the LORD said to Gideon, "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' the same shall not go." 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink." 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. 7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place." 8 So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. 

9 It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 11 and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp." Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. 13 And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed." 14 Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp." 

15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand." 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. 17 And he said to them, "Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' " NKJV

Now there is much more to the story, but the point here today, is that the Lord will direct us out of hiding when He desires to clothe us and anoint for the ministry where we are going. There is a time for such study in the Word of God and prayer. And there is time where qualifying is now and you move to the place God has planned. God does not make mistakes.
Though the people of  Midian could be numbered as locust, all God needed was three hundred men with the same "heart". One heart with God is important to us! All God needed was those saying "yes" and compassionate to move out of idol worship and give God what He asks... for one........to be "willing and obedient to eat the good of the land".
Isaiah 1:19-20................19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword";.For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. NKJV

Father, today, we pray for the willing heart to move when YOU speak to our hearts. We desire to be those who have set life before us. That is our desire Lord to Keep YOUR ways and Keep Your commands for You say that You will bless and multiply us in the land which we go to possess. According to Deuteronomy 30 and verses 15-20....we pray to not have hearts to turn from YOU But to TURN to YOU that we may live with life that came through Jesus and His shed Blood at Calvary. We know that YOU told us to choose life and not death. Choosing YOUR life, our descendants have life. We desire to be directed by YOUR Holy Spirit and to hear YOUR voice speak and show us the way to walk.
Father, today we pray in Jesus' name to be those who will continually wash in YOUR word and choose to put evil away from us. Help us Lord to see what needs to be changed in our lives. We require Your wisdom, and today we submit to Your leading for good that leads us to justice in our land. Father, we desire to not put anything in Your place, to worship it as if it can give life, but only takes us further away from You and Your plan for our lives. We understand the idol to be anything that takes up more time away from YOU our treasure, our life. We ask You to show us those things that take up quality time that we could be having with You!

 Father, our yard does not bring us life, we ask only to do it in timely manner each time the lawn mower comes out of the garage. We pray for friends, but those who will encourage in the way we are walking with YOU and not distract us to do things out of Your will for our lives. We pray if there is a hobby taking too much of our time, we pray it to be removed from our heart and only have a hobby which will add to someone else's life for good. If we devote all our time to music and the band, then are we  missing the call You have for set for our lives? This we know, that in just singing one song for two hours will certainly bring the glory in and see the Holy Spirit move over the WHOLE OF THE CROWD FOR MIRACLES because our hearts can see what YOU have done in just one "praise" song to YOU!  We know it is not about the lawn, the hobby, or friends but IT is seeing our hearts kneel before YOU in worship! YOU are more interested in what holds "a place" our "hearts'! In 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10......our faith is toward God and turned from any idols to serve the living and true God. We are those who wait for His Son (Jesus) from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.  Father, in   Revelation 3:11-13....We are told to.....Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' ( NKJV )  Father thank YOU for hearing and we believe we receive the answer of our expectancy to hold on through Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

Legacy

What legacy could we leave for our children and our children's children? In my early years I always thought of money or property, but ask me today and I will tell you that it is far more than that!
Leaving a legacy to me is your children knowing you have walked with God. They will know that you knew the Lord intimately and trusted Him every step of the way through every possible trial and tribulation. They will know without a doubt that our trust is in Him and Him alone.

Proverbs 3:35.....35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.  NKJV

Of all the things that one might pursue in this world, the lasting one for all eternity is knowing God. In hearing some teaching this morning, I was challenged with the question of legacy. But my days of recent reflect my strong trust in Him Whom created this earth and the heavens. Our focus daily is to always come and ask to be shown the mysteries of the unknown.

Daniel 2:47.......47 The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery." NIV

Daniel 2:47........47 "Truly, O Daniel," the king said, "your God is the God of gods, Ruler of kings, the Revealer of mysteries, because he has told you this secret." 

TLB

Would you not want God to tell you secrets? I like hearing secrets. Our grand-daughter likes telling her grandparents secrets. She loves to whisper in our ears. Then she smiles and silently tries to bring her pointer finger to her lips meaning "don't tell anyone our secret"......then she follows with ........sh.sh..sh..sh..sh.. all the while trying not to laugh!

I believe our Father in Heaven desires to tell us secrets. I know Him to pursue us as we pursue Him, for He has much to tell those willing patiently to hear Him. Yes, God is the Revealer of mysteries. 

Luke 8:9-10............9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 

'Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.'    NKJV

Mysteries are surely given to those who are ready and willing to see and hear Him. What a great thing in those days to have Jesus to teach you. Today we have the Holy Spirit sent to abide with us. He is dwelling in our hearts for those who have received Jesus.

The Jews who walked according to the Law accomplished their daily walk with the Law. But God came to set them free from that which continually created more bondage to them as men bent on legalism.  

Jesus told them of the "kingdom of God"!

Luke 8:11-15.......11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. 

Luke 8:16-18

16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." NKJV

John the Baptist came and told the Pharisees to repent…..Matthew 3:1-12.....3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' " 

4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."    NKJV

Then Jesus preached the "kingdom of heaven" after John was imprisoned.

Matthew 4:12-17……….12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles:  16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death  Light has dawned."  17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."    NKJV

Galatians 4:3-7......... 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.   NKJV

A lasting legacy came through Jesus: a new covenant that brought to us righteousness .....Romans 3:21-24.....21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. , 
brought to us life (Romans 8:2), brought to us liberty (James 1:25), makes us free ..John 8:31-32...31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Galatians 5:1), .....was the human sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12)....... and saves to the uttermost....Hebrews 7:25..... 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.    NKJV

Mysteries of the world should not be as important as finding out the mysteries that God desires to speak to us through His Holy Spirit. What Jesus did for us gave us the promise of a great legacy to leave to our children and their children. 

What secrets, those mysteries does He want to tell you?

Father, we have our salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Through His shed blood, He made a way for the new in Him and to life everlasting. We pray in His name today to be those to come with open ears to hear the mysteries, those secrets You desire to speak to us. We know that giving thanks to You will throw open a door and keep it wide open for us. For this we are truly thankful. We desire and ask for fellowship with You that is far and beyond of what we know for You desire to tell us the mysteries, those secrets of Your kingdom. We pray to be diligent in seeking that secret place to hear secrets from YOU!

We praise You our Lord, our trust is in You

            Lord we give thanks and dwell in the land and feed on Your faithfulness

            We delight in YOU O Lord and YOU give the desires of our hearts

            Lord thank YOU for showing us the way, and we commit to YOUR way

            Our trust is in YOU and YOU bring it to pass

            You have brought forth our righteousness as the light, and our justice as the noonday.

            We rest in YOU and sing praise as we wait patiently for YOU

Gracious Father, it is YOU who knows the days of the upright and our inheritance shall be forever.

We shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine we shall be satisfied.

Lord it is YOU who upholds us with Your hand and we are thankful.

We have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread, our descendants are blessed of the Lord.(Psalm 37:1-40)  Father, we pray for our families today and plead the blood of Jesus over them. We plead that blood over the portals of their minds, their wills and their emotions. We pray for Your watch over them as we confess and profess Your goodness to us all in the land of the living. Thank You for hearing our plea, we set ourselves to obey YOUR commands and be mindful to keep our watch to pray for them. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

Dealing with Pain

Ever dealt with pain? I mean pain that continues with no relief.  In seeing people dealing with their pain I think how easy it is today to take a pill. There are many who must get their relief  in the pharmacy with a prescription or in one over the counter. I thought today of days early on in my life when a game of basketball with friends at school brought me to grief on the floor when my foot got entangled with my sister's foot in making a shot.

Yes, for years I went to chiropractors and doctors alike. There were times the pain brought me down from my regular routine to bed time for days and weeks at a time. The pain would come and go. Finally I decided, I needed another's help. So applying God's word has helped me so much. He has given me wisdom to know which nutrients I need to keep peace in my muscles. One thing I have seen in the many years, that when one suffers with pain from any source, one can be stopped in their tracks. Literally anyone with a confrontation of pain, heartache, and death can stop someone cold. They will freeze up, unable to cope with the situation that faces them.

I love to walk and hike some distances. But we had not been able to do that till we found relief in the Word. Early on, we would hike the long canyons in Colorado. Another was a hike out of a reservoir area we were hunting one year for elk. I would not want to do that again in mid October. But praise the Lord for His goodness to those who do their own thing!

But the subject of pain can bring tears, and remembrances of hard times of doing nothing in life. Pain can separate a person from other people. Nothing from our past can add to our future. Taking baggage with us from the past only brings the past to this present moment. Dwelling on hurts and disappointments only brings despair. 

Ecclesiastes 1:12-16....I discovered that the lot of man, which God has dealt to him, is not a happy one. It is all foolishness, chasing the wind. What is wrong cannot be righted; it is water over the dam; and there is no use thinking of what might have been. 

16 I said to myself, "Look, I am better educated than any of the kings before me in Jerusalem. I have greater wisdom and knowledge." So I worked hard to be wise instead of foolish --but now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind. For the more my wisdom, the more my grief; to increase knowledge only increases distress.     TLB

In the Living Bible this verse is paraphrased, “What is wrong cannot be righted; it is water over the dam and there is no use thinking of what might have been.”

Only God can restore. He can change that which needs to change and a lot of the time it starts with each of us. As my daughter always says, “it’s a heart issue, Mom!”

We can be encouraged that whatever is dealt to us may be as bitter lemon, but God can make lemonade out of it and see us prosper in the future.

In the scripture above, the increase in  knowledge is that of the world. People think the more head knowledge they have the more happy and prosperous they will be, but it is the wisdom of God that leads us to life in abundance, a more set for a course of glorifying Him and not us. Learning something that helps us become more equipped in the course of life as a nurse, a doctor, and/ or lawyer always take some education. But to keep getting an education in something you cannot get a job in is futile.

In life there is always going to be disappointments, discouragements, and pain, but how we address them and move on determines our success in moving forward in life. Applying God's Word to that source of pain helps tremendously. In applying that life-giving word, we are taking God's pill for the situation.

 Psalm 38:6-8...6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long. 

7 For my loins are full of inflammation,

And there is no soundness in my flesh. 

8 I am feeble and severely broken;

I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. NKJV

Turmoil in the heart is a serious thing.  Being consumed about an illness, a family in chaos, illness of family member miles away, over a child's rebellion at home and in school, or just feeling abandoned in times of pain, can cause turmoil. It can cause us to stop. Have you or anyone around you ever mention, "I do not like this ride anymore and I want to get off? Or "just stop this planet please, I would like to try another?" I have!

Weariness can drag a person down when they continually mourn the thing for which they meditate on in regard to loss and or pain. They might see disappointment as to a job loss, or a ministry. They might see a family breaking apart by the most unusual circumstances, and not know what to do to stop it. Although the person above in Psalm 38 was most likely dealing with some sickness or disease within their body, he surely meditated on hearing the verdict of the illness.  He was groaning in his heart because of the magnitude of the circumstance.

Psalm 38:17-20.....17 For I am ready to fall,
And my sorrow is continually before me. 
18 For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in anguish over my sin. 
19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;
And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. 
20 Those also who render evil for good,
They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.  NKJV

David was mentioning his sorrow, his pain was continually before him. He points to sin that he had to declare to God. Even though he felt his enemies were strong and even those who hated him had multiplied, he courted the truth that God would help him since he followed after good. 
In experiencing pain, we can feel as weak as the weakest elderly person alive today, with no resistance available. But where we are weak God makes us strong.


We are to cast our care upon God for He cares for us!

Psalm 55:22........2 Cast your burden on the LORD,

And He shall sustain you;  He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.  NKJV

1 Peter 5:6-10....6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.   NKJV

Father, I pray for all who need peace today, that they would be settled in YOUR peace and plan. Today, I pray for all those who are dealing with pain in their hearts, that they would rise up knowing Jesus took this to the cross. As the Great Sacrifice, He came to give us hope in our final outcome. Jesus came to make sure that we would be perfected, established, strengthened and settled, understanding that life is to be lived in unity with You our Father. We pray this in His name, that today, men and women everywhere would be those with eyes open to see the adversary for what he is and that he is a liar. YOU Lord came to give us life and life more abundant. 

Jesus told us in Matthew 10:39 ......39 "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it. TLB

We know that we must surrender everything to God. He instructs us of total self-sacrifice in devotion to God's will. We are told to deny self to gain the spiritual life.  For if we do not completely and wholeheartedly relinquish our life for the higher life in God, we will lose both.  Today, we seek to pray in self-examination asking if we have truly relinquished everything to You our Father. We desire to abandon our former life of pain and heartache. We know this, that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us His power, His love and His sound mind. Father, for wherever we are not settled in this word, help us to be strengthened as YOU give us Your Word in prayer time, that secret place in meditating Your truth. Help us to say NO to pain and live the life YOU planned for each of us. We thank You we are not alone in pain of the body or the mind but You are an ever-present help in trouble. Amen!

 You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV