Monday, June 13, 2011
What Can Faith Do?
I love this song! This is what faith can do!!!!
Here are a few verses about faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root and be thou planted in the sea and it should obey you.
Luke 17:6
And Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Matthew 15:20
...verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20
For more verses on faith click on this link and it will take you to Blue Letter Bible's list of verses.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?criteria=faith&page=1&sf=5&t=KJV
Lemmings
We used to play a computer game called "Lemmings". In this game we had to build walls, bridges, stairs etc. to make a safe path for lemmings to reach their destination. If we didn't build fast enough the lemmings would walk right into utter destruction and our whole group of lemmings we were trying so hard to save would die right before our eyes.
In light of this game I found it very interesting today when I heard the definition of lemmings.
1. subarctic rodent: a rodent with a small thick furry body and furry feet that lives in subarctic regions. Lemmings are noted for their mass migrations in search of food during population explosions, which has given rise to the myth that they flock to the sea to drown themselves. Native to: Arctic and northern regions. Genus Lemmus, Dicrostonyx.
2. doomed conformist: a member of a large group of people who blindly follow one another on a course of action that will lead to destruction for all of them
When I heard definition 2 I had to think of my own walk of life. As a Christian am I standing apart from the crowd and being Holy Spirit led or am I trying to fit in the crowd and blindly headed for destruction. Am I really stepping out of the confusion of a mass group of traditional beliefs and letting God lead me? Am I being a lemming?
Sunday, June 12, 2011
WARFARE PRAYER
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, I arise and establish my legal right and dominion over this region and territory which You have given me. According to Daniel 9:4,You are the only "Great and Dreadful" GOD; keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love You and to them that keep Your commandments.
I appeal to the GOD who said in 2 Chronicles 7:13-16, if I shut up the Heaven there will be no more rain, if I command the locust to devour the land, if I send pestilance among my people, if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, I will hear from Heaven and forgive their sin, I will heal their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attend to their prayer that is made into this place. For now have I chosen and sactified this house that My name may be there forever and my eyes and my heart shall be perpetually there. I declare that this place is sactified. I present my body as a living sacrifice by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. Make these prayers holy and acceptable unto You.
I confess my sins and the sins of our Fathers. Let grace and mercy prevail over us. I declare I have a free passage for my prayers to ascend into the realm of the supernatural and they will not be earth bound. I come into agreement with the supreme good of Heaven. I am seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus; therefore, war from this plan and realm. I declare that the annointing of GOD breaks every yolk; open every portal and assign angels to reinforce me as I advance into new levels, new dimentions, new realms, and territories. Let there be a breakthrough in the heavens. I tap into apostolic and prophetic veins. I shatter glass ceilings, I smash spiritual bars and higher membranes. I declare a breakthrough atmosphere is established. I recalibrate the spiritual climate and decree that every bit of lukewarmness must be replaced with the fire and zeal of GOD. Baptize me with the Holy Spirit and fire; let there be fire in my mouth as I advance in this prayer. I take authority over demonic satanic atmospheres and climates created by cultic activities,destiny altering images, incantations, ill spoken words, witchcraft hostil environments, fear, terrorism, hatred, and violence in the name of JESUS. I command the spirituanl climate to shift, the economic climate to shift, the social climate to shift,cultural climate to shift, educational climate to shift, political climate to shift, Ecclesiastical climate to shift in the name of JESUS. I command the atmosphere must be filled with the glory of GOD. Father, fill the atmosphere, fill the environment with Your glory ! I alter this environment and declare, it is now suitable for my ministry to thrive, my relationships to thrive, my children to thrive, my loved ones to thrive, my business to thrive, my ideas to thrive, my nation to thrive, and my economy to thrive. I establish a supernatural environment for miracles to occur. I war in the name of JESUS and by His shed blood, which is the shed blood of the Lamb. The Lamb that was slain before the foundations of the world. By Him evil must be destroyed; for this reason was the Son of God made manifest that He would destroy the works of darkness. I decree and declare that the works of darkness are destroyed. I breakthrough the prevailing and sustaining powers of darkness over this region in the name of JESUS. Amen " But thanks be to GOD, which giveth us the VICTORY through our LORD JESUS CHRIST" 1 Corinthians 15:57 ~Abundant Blessings and Love~
(Please feel free to copy or repost)
I appeal to the GOD who said in 2 Chronicles 7:13-16, if I shut up the Heaven there will be no more rain, if I command the locust to devour the land, if I send pestilance among my people, if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, I will hear from Heaven and forgive their sin, I will heal their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attend to their prayer that is made into this place. For now have I chosen and sactified this house that My name may be there forever and my eyes and my heart shall be perpetually there. I declare that this place is sactified. I present my body as a living sacrifice by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. Make these prayers holy and acceptable unto You.
I confess my sins and the sins of our Fathers. Let grace and mercy prevail over us. I declare I have a free passage for my prayers to ascend into the realm of the supernatural and they will not be earth bound. I come into agreement with the supreme good of Heaven. I am seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus; therefore, war from this plan and realm. I declare that the annointing of GOD breaks every yolk; open every portal and assign angels to reinforce me as I advance into new levels, new dimentions, new realms, and territories. Let there be a breakthrough in the heavens. I tap into apostolic and prophetic veins. I shatter glass ceilings, I smash spiritual bars and higher membranes. I declare a breakthrough atmosphere is established. I recalibrate the spiritual climate and decree that every bit of lukewarmness must be replaced with the fire and zeal of GOD. Baptize me with the Holy Spirit and fire; let there be fire in my mouth as I advance in this prayer. I take authority over demonic satanic atmospheres and climates created by cultic activities,destiny altering images, incantations, ill spoken words, witchcraft hostil environments, fear, terrorism, hatred, and violence in the name of JESUS. I command the spirituanl climate to shift, the economic climate to shift, the social climate to shift,cultural climate to shift, educational climate to shift, political climate to shift, Ecclesiastical climate to shift in the name of JESUS. I command the atmosphere must be filled with the glory of GOD. Father, fill the atmosphere, fill the environment with Your glory ! I alter this environment and declare, it is now suitable for my ministry to thrive, my relationships to thrive, my children to thrive, my loved ones to thrive, my business to thrive, my ideas to thrive, my nation to thrive, and my economy to thrive. I establish a supernatural environment for miracles to occur. I war in the name of JESUS and by His shed blood, which is the shed blood of the Lamb. The Lamb that was slain before the foundations of the world. By Him evil must be destroyed; for this reason was the Son of God made manifest that He would destroy the works of darkness. I decree and declare that the works of darkness are destroyed. I breakthrough the prevailing and sustaining powers of darkness over this region in the name of JESUS. Amen " But thanks be to GOD, which giveth us the VICTORY through our LORD JESUS CHRIST" 1 Corinthians 15:57 ~Abundant Blessings and Love~
(Please feel free to copy or repost)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Mathew 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
I got curious and looked up what exactly the roots on this tree are like. Here is what I found...
The sycamore tree found in Palenstine had very large and deep root structure. The sycamine tree was known to have one of the deepest root structures of all trees in the Middle East. It was a vigorous and robust tree that grew to a height of 30' or more. Because it's roots went down so deep into the earth, it was very difficult to kill. Hot weather and blistering temperatures had little effect on this tree because it's roots grew into a water source deep under the earth. Even cutting it to it's base would not guarantee it's death because it's roots, hidden deep under the ground, would draw from underground sources of water, enabling it to keep resurfacing again and again. The sycamine tree grew very quickly and grew best where little rain fell and water was sparce. In other words, this tree was very difficult to kill.
What are the "sycamine roots" in your life? Do you need them moved?
I got curious and looked up what exactly the roots on this tree are like. Here is what I found...
The sycamore tree found in Palenstine had very large and deep root structure. The sycamine tree was known to have one of the deepest root structures of all trees in the Middle East. It was a vigorous and robust tree that grew to a height of 30' or more. Because it's roots went down so deep into the earth, it was very difficult to kill. Hot weather and blistering temperatures had little effect on this tree because it's roots grew into a water source deep under the earth. Even cutting it to it's base would not guarantee it's death because it's roots, hidden deep under the ground, would draw from underground sources of water, enabling it to keep resurfacing again and again. The sycamine tree grew very quickly and grew best where little rain fell and water was sparce. In other words, this tree was very difficult to kill.
What are the "sycamine roots" in your life? Do you need them moved?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
Several weeks ago we had healing/communion services at church with a special request for healing for my 9 year old brothers eyes.
The Dr. had said his eyes were bad (especially the one) and it seemed to us they were getting continuously worse. He couldn't see far and anytime he would watch a movie he would get as close as he was allowed to get and close one eye and squint the other eye.
Yesterday he was with Dad in town and looking way ahead saw and recognized something in the distance that normally to him would have just looked like a blob!
Today we had a "Kids Sing Praise" video on and he suddenly realized he was across the room from it and could see it very clearly!
We have had other praise reports from that Sunday also! Praise God, praise God , Praise God!!!!! He's and awesome God! He loves us deeply and he DOES hear! Just believe it!
"By whose stripes you were healed" (1Peter 2:24) Past tense. Already done! Just receive it!
Believe that he did it already on the cross! It's done, now receive it!
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases …” (Psalm 103:2)
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:19)
“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me.” (Psalm 30:2)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds … Great is our Lord, and mighty in power …” (Psalm 147:3)
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)
Several weeks ago we had healing/communion services at church with a special request for healing for my 9 year old brothers eyes.
The Dr. had said his eyes were bad (especially the one) and it seemed to us they were getting continuously worse. He couldn't see far and anytime he would watch a movie he would get as close as he was allowed to get and close one eye and squint the other eye.
Yesterday he was with Dad in town and looking way ahead saw and recognized something in the distance that normally to him would have just looked like a blob!
Today we had a "Kids Sing Praise" video on and he suddenly realized he was across the room from it and could see it very clearly!
We have had other praise reports from that Sunday also! Praise God, praise God , Praise God!!!!! He's and awesome God! He loves us deeply and he DOES hear! Just believe it!
"By whose stripes you were healed" (1Peter 2:24) Past tense. Already done! Just receive it!
Believe that he did it already on the cross! It's done, now receive it!
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases …” (Psalm 103:2)
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:19)
“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me.” (Psalm 30:2)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds … Great is our Lord, and mighty in power …” (Psalm 147:3)
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
“Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Gods Amazing Ways
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.Isaiah 55:8
This verse became very real to me a couple weeks ago when I was out with my children running a few errands.
I had gotten a few checks cashed at the bank then went to the library to drop of some books. I was then going to go to McDonalds drive-thru. It was in the middle of rush hour and the area I was in was very congested. Being stopped at a red light just a short distance from McDonalds I decided to go ahead and get the money ready that I had gotten from the bank. When I reached down to get it it was gone! My first thought was that my daughter had gotten the money caught in the books she took into the library. I started frantically searching, glancing up occasionally to make sure traffic hadn't started to move yet.When I saw the vehicle in front of me was moving foward I let off the brake then looked down again to try once more to find that money. All the while I'm thinking 'why am I not just waiting till I get to the McDonalds parking lot to do this? I'm probably holding up traffic behind me. All of a sudden we came to a jolting halt! I hadn't even realized I was moving! I had simply taken my foot off the brake and had not put it on the gas pedal. (And just for the record I do not have a history of bumping into cars or things!)
I looked up and saw a door fly open.A young lady jumps out and throws her hands up in the air as if to say "WHY did you just do THAT!!?" I had no words. What was I to say? I tried to stammer out an "I'm sorry!" but it sounded kinda lame. I really had no excuse to give for what had just happen.She was obviously very upset and pulling out her phone, began making a phone call. Then came the words that just about stopped my heart. She says,"My mom is in there having a heart attack!" I thought 'No! No, that can't be! I didn't hit them that hard! Please, God, what do I do now?' I then learned they had just come from the local hospital and had been sent to a hospital across the mountain who is better equipped for the bigger emergencies.That's where they were headed. Although that was a small relief since that meant I at least had not caused her heart attack I still couldn't believe it. Of all the vehicles to hit why did it have to be them? I just knew the trauma of the little bump was going to send this lady into a full-fledged heart attack.She was going to die right there and it was going to be my fault.
I don't know if my feeling of devastation showed on my face or what but this dear young lady who was in the middle of her own nightmare all of a sudden gives me a hug and tells me, "It's alright. Things happen for a reason and maybe God wanted her to go by squad instead of us taking her." Now that is grace! I did not deserve that comfort from her! I should been trying to comfort them!
I asked one of the women from the SUV if I could have her phone number to call her the next day to check how her mom was doing then went back to my van to wait for the police.
(To add a little humor to the whole thing I have to tell you a few minutes prior to rear-ending this person I was giving my daughter a speech on defensive driving!)
I wasn't back in my van long when one young women motioned me back out and said her mom wanted to see me. As I was walking to their vehicle I was wondering, what do I say to her? When I got to her she smiled and immediately reached out to give me a hug (more grace).I was standing there holding her hand when a little thought came to me "pray for her". As I thought about it I felt a sense of relief. Since it didn't feel quite right to pray out loud (maybe it was just lack of courage on my part) I prayed silently for her. I'm not sure exactly what I prayed although I know I said that He(Jesus) had said "Whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13) and that I was asking for her healing. I asked that when she got to the hospital doctors would say there had been no heart attack.
The state police showed up and released me with no charges and I took my little crew of children to McDonalds drive-thru like I had originally planned to do. I'm not sure when my money came back into the picture. All I know is when I got into the McDonalds parking lot it was where it was supposed to have been all along.
And that's the end of my little incident.... But wait! It's not quite! This is the part that makes me want to shout for joy and sing praises to my Wonderful, Merciful, Almighty God!! I called one of the daughters the next day and asked her how her mom is doing. These are the words I heard.. "she didn't have a heart attack". SHE DIDNT HAVE A HEART ATTACK !!!! Even now those words are wonderful music to my ears!!
As I looked back on that whole thing I started wondering if there was more to this than I has seen at the time. Did God allow this whole thing to happen this way for a reason? After all, no one was hurt and there was no damage to any vehicles. I had to wonder how many times in the past I've gotten so wrapped up in the fact that I was in the middle of a bad situation that I didn't allow God to do through me what He would have if I would have turned the situation over to Him.
Again I go back to the verse, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." Isaiah 55:8
This verse became very real to me a couple weeks ago when I was out with my children running a few errands.
I had gotten a few checks cashed at the bank then went to the library to drop of some books. I was then going to go to McDonalds drive-thru. It was in the middle of rush hour and the area I was in was very congested. Being stopped at a red light just a short distance from McDonalds I decided to go ahead and get the money ready that I had gotten from the bank. When I reached down to get it it was gone! My first thought was that my daughter had gotten the money caught in the books she took into the library. I started frantically searching, glancing up occasionally to make sure traffic hadn't started to move yet.When I saw the vehicle in front of me was moving foward I let off the brake then looked down again to try once more to find that money. All the while I'm thinking 'why am I not just waiting till I get to the McDonalds parking lot to do this? I'm probably holding up traffic behind me. All of a sudden we came to a jolting halt! I hadn't even realized I was moving! I had simply taken my foot off the brake and had not put it on the gas pedal. (And just for the record I do not have a history of bumping into cars or things!)
I looked up and saw a door fly open.A young lady jumps out and throws her hands up in the air as if to say "WHY did you just do THAT!!?" I had no words. What was I to say? I tried to stammer out an "I'm sorry!" but it sounded kinda lame. I really had no excuse to give for what had just happen.She was obviously very upset and pulling out her phone, began making a phone call. Then came the words that just about stopped my heart. She says,"My mom is in there having a heart attack!" I thought 'No! No, that can't be! I didn't hit them that hard! Please, God, what do I do now?' I then learned they had just come from the local hospital and had been sent to a hospital across the mountain who is better equipped for the bigger emergencies.That's where they were headed. Although that was a small relief since that meant I at least had not caused her heart attack I still couldn't believe it. Of all the vehicles to hit why did it have to be them? I just knew the trauma of the little bump was going to send this lady into a full-fledged heart attack.She was going to die right there and it was going to be my fault.
I don't know if my feeling of devastation showed on my face or what but this dear young lady who was in the middle of her own nightmare all of a sudden gives me a hug and tells me, "It's alright. Things happen for a reason and maybe God wanted her to go by squad instead of us taking her." Now that is grace! I did not deserve that comfort from her! I should been trying to comfort them!
I asked one of the women from the SUV if I could have her phone number to call her the next day to check how her mom was doing then went back to my van to wait for the police.
(To add a little humor to the whole thing I have to tell you a few minutes prior to rear-ending this person I was giving my daughter a speech on defensive driving!)
I wasn't back in my van long when one young women motioned me back out and said her mom wanted to see me. As I was walking to their vehicle I was wondering, what do I say to her? When I got to her she smiled and immediately reached out to give me a hug (more grace).I was standing there holding her hand when a little thought came to me "pray for her". As I thought about it I felt a sense of relief. Since it didn't feel quite right to pray out loud (maybe it was just lack of courage on my part) I prayed silently for her. I'm not sure exactly what I prayed although I know I said that He(Jesus) had said "Whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13) and that I was asking for her healing. I asked that when she got to the hospital doctors would say there had been no heart attack.
The state police showed up and released me with no charges and I took my little crew of children to McDonalds drive-thru like I had originally planned to do. I'm not sure when my money came back into the picture. All I know is when I got into the McDonalds parking lot it was where it was supposed to have been all along.
And that's the end of my little incident.... But wait! It's not quite! This is the part that makes me want to shout for joy and sing praises to my Wonderful, Merciful, Almighty God!! I called one of the daughters the next day and asked her how her mom is doing. These are the words I heard.. "she didn't have a heart attack". SHE DIDNT HAVE A HEART ATTACK !!!! Even now those words are wonderful music to my ears!!
As I looked back on that whole thing I started wondering if there was more to this than I has seen at the time. Did God allow this whole thing to happen this way for a reason? After all, no one was hurt and there was no damage to any vehicles. I had to wonder how many times in the past I've gotten so wrapped up in the fact that I was in the middle of a bad situation that I didn't allow God to do through me what He would have if I would have turned the situation over to Him.
Again I go back to the verse, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." Isaiah 55:8
Monday, September 20, 2010
Don't Fear Failure and Rejection
I have this fear of starting something and failing, making me feel totally inadequate and dumb. So rather than start and find out what I can't do I'd rather just never start and imagine that if I tried I actually would be successful.
I have a fear of speaking. Speaking in crowds or speaking on a one-to-one level. I just know I'll fail at appearing to be the halfway intelligent person they might think I am if I just hadn't opened my mouth. Or I might offend someone or end up looking like a fool because maybe my ideas won't match the general run of popularity.
I have a fear of writing, fear that I won't be able to do it properly or that what I write won't make sense or that it will read just plain stupid.
As I was thinking about fear and what it can do to a person I realized- thats exactly what satan wants us to do! He wants us to fear failure so we never start, therefore thwarting any plans God might have for our lives, never fulfilling the dreams He has placed in our hearts.
I think sometimes 'If God would just speak audibly to me and tell me what to do I wouldn't be so afraid of failing'. Probably not true. Moses apparently felt fear and inadequacy even though God was speaking directly to him. When God spoke to him from the burning bush he argued with God and said (Exodus 3) "Who am I that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? and God told Him, "Certainly I will be with thee." Moses says, But who am I supposed to say sent me? God said, Tell them I AM THAT I AM sent you. (chapter 4) Moses says, But they won't believe me. They'll say 'The Lord didn't appear unto you'. God said (paraphrased), If they don't believe you start showing them these signs I just showed you. Moses says, But Lord I'm not eloquent, I'm slow of speech and slow of tongue. God said, who made mans mouth, or who made the dumb or deaf or the seeing or the blind? Didn't I? Now go and I'll be your mouth and teach you what to say.
After pondering over this I came to the conclusion that fear is the devils #1 tool and we so easily fall prey to it.
God didn't tell Joshua- 'Be very careful you don't fail in this important mission I have given you'. He said (Joshua 1:6 )"Be strong and of a good courage..." (v.7) "Only be thou strong and very courageous..." (v.9) Be strong and of a good courage;be not afraid neither be thou dismayed..."
God can't steer a ship that's not moving (well he can but He won't force us). If we never move off the spot because we're afraid we're not even giving Him the chance to show us the supernatural things He would do in our lives. Fear of failure and rejection paralizes! God gave us a vision bigger than we are so we have to grow to fulfill it but it takes Him to pull it off. If God put a dream in our heart than at some point it will require the supernatural to fulfill it. That's what satan does not want! He wants us to fear failure to the point that we just sit back and do nothing therefore not giving God the chance to work the supernatural.
So if there is something in your life you fear- embrace it! That is probably the very area that you will succeed in and satan wants to stop you.
There will be times when you will fail. But don't be defeated. God says, Be strong and couragous I will be with you.
Failure doesn't mean you done for- it just means you figured out what doesn't work. One less thing to figure out before success. God says you stand up and I'll stand with you!
I have a fear of speaking. Speaking in crowds or speaking on a one-to-one level. I just know I'll fail at appearing to be the halfway intelligent person they might think I am if I just hadn't opened my mouth. Or I might offend someone or end up looking like a fool because maybe my ideas won't match the general run of popularity.
I have a fear of writing, fear that I won't be able to do it properly or that what I write won't make sense or that it will read just plain stupid.
As I was thinking about fear and what it can do to a person I realized- thats exactly what satan wants us to do! He wants us to fear failure so we never start, therefore thwarting any plans God might have for our lives, never fulfilling the dreams He has placed in our hearts.
I think sometimes 'If God would just speak audibly to me and tell me what to do I wouldn't be so afraid of failing'. Probably not true. Moses apparently felt fear and inadequacy even though God was speaking directly to him. When God spoke to him from the burning bush he argued with God and said (Exodus 3) "Who am I that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? and God told Him, "Certainly I will be with thee." Moses says, But who am I supposed to say sent me? God said, Tell them I AM THAT I AM sent you. (chapter 4) Moses says, But they won't believe me. They'll say 'The Lord didn't appear unto you'. God said (paraphrased), If they don't believe you start showing them these signs I just showed you. Moses says, But Lord I'm not eloquent, I'm slow of speech and slow of tongue. God said, who made mans mouth, or who made the dumb or deaf or the seeing or the blind? Didn't I? Now go and I'll be your mouth and teach you what to say.
After pondering over this I came to the conclusion that fear is the devils #1 tool and we so easily fall prey to it.
God didn't tell Joshua- 'Be very careful you don't fail in this important mission I have given you'. He said (Joshua 1:6 )"Be strong and of a good courage..." (v.7) "Only be thou strong and very courageous..." (v.9) Be strong and of a good courage;be not afraid neither be thou dismayed..."
God can't steer a ship that's not moving (well he can but He won't force us). If we never move off the spot because we're afraid we're not even giving Him the chance to show us the supernatural things He would do in our lives. Fear of failure and rejection paralizes! God gave us a vision bigger than we are so we have to grow to fulfill it but it takes Him to pull it off. If God put a dream in our heart than at some point it will require the supernatural to fulfill it. That's what satan does not want! He wants us to fear failure to the point that we just sit back and do nothing therefore not giving God the chance to work the supernatural.
So if there is something in your life you fear- embrace it! That is probably the very area that you will succeed in and satan wants to stop you.
There will be times when you will fail. But don't be defeated. God says, Be strong and couragous I will be with you.
Failure doesn't mean you done for- it just means you figured out what doesn't work. One less thing to figure out before success. God says you stand up and I'll stand with you!
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