~ DJS ~ KNOW THE TRUTH

True Confessions and Repentance

djs25 — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:17:00 GMT

Please listen to what God is speaking: While living on this planet called earth, man has truly offended a HOLY, LOVING, JUST and Righteous God who has gave the ultimate sacrifice to insure our preservation for eternity. We have insulted Our Creator with our pretentious conversations,our self-serving board meetings and bureaucratic verbage, with our self-righteous efforts to seek Him and our pitiful giving and sharing of all that He has created for our maintenance,sustenance and enjoyment. Since the beginning we havebeen unable and unwilling to personallyaccept any responsonsibility for our poor,miserable condition and have blatently refused to come forward,confess our sins and repent. God has decided it is time now, for us to either adjust our thinking or to pay the price for our ungodlydecisions. We say, we have done nothing. In Isaiah 59, for example, God clearly states His case against us. He does not admonish us about the pastor's aide committee cancelling the bake sale on Saturday at the last minute because no one wanted to work. There is a far deeper cry from the heart of God than we really care to hear, again. Our Savior was killed by all of us, every single saved and unconverted individual on the planet earth had a hammer and a nail in His hand and stood on Calvary's Cross and murdered the Son of God. We asssassinate him everyday in our churches whenwe cut and torment the heirs of Christ with issues that do not pertain to the Doctrine of Salvation, the Healing Ministry of the Holy Spirit or the Process of Transformation, our Translation from beast to the nobility of stature and countenance of Jesus Christ in the natural and the spiritual that are only learned by being governed,counseled,taught,mentored and tutored to walk in the Spirit. People are on standing room only in many churches and have never been touched by the Spirit of the Living God. Publicly appearing Strong and annoited, but privately struggling. People have learned to talk the talk but living nothing. Many standing in the pulpits around the world will never experience a real move of God in their churches or their homes until they push harder into the spirit realm for the annointing that will break through their tedious traditions and seek whole-heartedly a new,deeper revelation about Christ's Project, THE CHURCH. The reconciliation of people to God, Our Father. In the Bible, The Word of God, God has continually asked us, prodded us, coaxed us and outright tried bribing us to do the right thing and live a superior lifestyle of holinesswith Him that will allow His chosen to walk in the blessings of the righteous, instead of the treachery of the pleasures of sin for a season. He has brought forth a myriad of messages that literally beg His people to confess our sins and repent, to come before Him as humbly as we are able, to pray, to seek His face and turn from our wicked, hateful ways. Isn't it interesting that we all believe that we did that already? We must ask the Lord to reveal us to us, confess our sins and repent to the Lord that our unwillingness to change our ways is not out of ignorance, but out of rejection to the true will of God. This means that every bought child of God would have to start all over again and hit the hedges and highways and make the changes that we need to make in our lives to accomodate those that we bring in. We will have to leave our comfy little coners and our taped messages and our little classrooms where we are taught how to say it just right and reteach ourselves the BOOK of Acts. Humbling ourselves before Him for the purification and sancctification of our souls to be ready to receive Him will net us the holy instructions and directions that we need to personally and corporately see the Body of Christ arise from the dust. The populus of Christians attend church on Sunday morning and have no idea what it really means to be set apart to a Holy God. There is no way to escape ,evangelism is our primary call. We all, (no matter how grand, righteous and pompous we have become) owe God some real kneeling time on the behalf of the unconverted, those who are truly ignorantof the devil's devices. It is time for us to make a sacrifice and make more of a sincere effort to seek God to find out how we can personally do more to enhanceand increase the spiritual and natural condition of the lives of the unconverted and the unheard. I don't if any of you are going through what feels like hell at the moment but I serve a True God. There isn't anything my God can't do. Read Isaiah 59:16 "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto Him; and his righteousness, it sustained Him

Daily Devotional Day 361 December 27, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:56:00 GMT


Verses for the Day Proverbs Day 361 (KJV): Proverbs 31:21-22 (KJV): 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Proverbs 31:21-22 (AMP): 21 She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple (such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made).


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs give us a description of how the virtuous woman clothes herself, and her household. The physical clothing and coverings are a type of the spiritual covering we have in Christ through His blood. The scripture mentions here that she is not afraid for her household when cold weather comes, because she has taken care of them in advance, by seeing to it that they are all clothed properly. The term "clothed with scarlet" also has a spiritual application, as the scarlet wool used by Moses in the Old Testament is spoken of in the New Testament, in relation to the blood that Jesus shed for the remission of sins for all people. Therefore, when we are "clothed with scarlet," we are covered by the blood of Jesus, meaning we are saved by the shedding of His blood on the cross. This, then, would mean that the virtuous woman saw to it that all of her household was saved by faith in the blood of Jesus. Covered by the blood of Jesus, we will not fear any cold and dark night of trial. He will see us through it. Hebrews 9:19-22: 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Studying the scripture, we will find that "scarlet thread" running throughout the Bible. In the book of Joshua, we find a woman named Rahab (who was not an Israelite) that helped God's people by hiding two of the spies that came to spy out the land of Jericho, where she lived. Even though she was a harlot, she acknowledged the God of Israel and asked the two spies to spare her life and the lives of her family when the Israelite army came to invade the city. They agreed to do this because she saved their lives. They told her to tie a scarlet ribbon in the window of her home and they would instruct the soldiers not to invade that house. Again, we see a type of the blood of Jesus sparing a life. Joshua 2:18-19: 18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. 19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. This same type is seen when the blood of lambs was put on the doorposts by the Israelites the night of the Passover in Egypt. Whenever the blood was on the doorpost of that household, the death angel passed it by and the first-born son was spared. Exodus 12:22-23: 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. In Proverbs 31:22, the virtuous woman also made other clothing and coverings. This verse mentions that her clothing was made from fine linen. This also has a spiritual application as we find that the bride of Christ is mentioned as wearing white linen garments that represent righteousness and holiness that come with salvation. Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Revelation 19:7-8: 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. We can all be dressed in this fine linen that is white (representing purity) by accepting Christ as our Saviour. This happens by exchanging our scarlet sins for the scarlet blood of Jesus, Who cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Isaiah 1:18: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for my sins. Lord, I thank You for washing me clean by the blood of Jesus. Lord, give me the holy boldness to share what You have done for me with others, so that they too might know salvation and deliverance from their sins.� Thank You that I can wear the robe of righteousness and may I never tarnish it in the sight of the world.� Grant that I remain a faithful witness. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 360 December 26, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:53:00 GMT


Verses for the Day Proverbs Day 360 (KJV): Proverbs 31:19-20 (KJV): 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:19-20 (AMP): 19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy (whether in body, mind or spirit).


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs continue to describe how the virtuous woman works with her own hands and reaches out to the poor and ministers to them with a portion of the fruits of her labor. In verse 19,we see that part of the work that she does is spinning and weaving, as the spindle (rod) and distaff (staff) were used to wind either wool or flax on them. Using this "rod" and "staff," she was able to create the threads that would be used to weave clothing. In Psalm 23, we find another "rod" and "staff" mentioned that brings comfort to the shepherd's sheep. Although this was a different kind of rod and staff, the shepherd used them to protect and guide the sheep, and retrieve them when they got into dangerous places; they still were important tools that brought comfort. The clothing that this woman made for her family also brought comfort by keeping them warm. Psalm 23:1-6: 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. This wonderful Psalm has brought comfort to countless people over the centuries. It is a picture of our Lord as a shepherd caring for His sheep; and we, as His people, can identify with the sheep. The shepherd takes care of all the needs of the sheep, so that they lack nothing. He causes them to lie down and rest in beautiful green pastures where they can graze. He then leads them to a place where they can drink in "still water," as opposed to swift running water where they could be in danger of drowning, if they got caught in the currents. Since sheep can have heavy coats of wool on them, they would not be able to swim in swift water and it would be death for them. The Lord restores our soul, as He causes us to lie down, as the shepherd does his sheep. He also leads us in paths of righteousness, as He knows there is safety in those paths. Even when we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is there with us, so that we do not fear any evil. Notice that we do not walk in the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death. A shadow cannot harm us, although it could look ominous to us. The Lord will also prepare a table for us to eat, even in the presence of our enemies. When our enemy, the devil, tries to tell us that God is nowhere in sight and will not be able to help us, the Lord is right there with food and guidance for our soul, to lead us through the battles and trials that face us. He will give us such a wonderful victory that our cup will run over when we stay close to the Shepherd. He will anoint us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we are able to triumph in all things. His goodness and His mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. I asked the Lord one time why goodness and mercy "followed us," instead of going before us. He spoke to my heart that "goodness and mercy" were behind us to catch us when we fall down. He is there to catch us and lift us back up, so we can continue on the path of the Lord. We are promised that we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Verse 19 in today's study tells us that the virtuous woman is also a woman of compassion. She reaches out to those who are poor and needy and helps them in many ways. This woman not only gives of her money and goods, but she also gives of herself. Sometimes giving money is easier than the giving of our time and energy to help others. This woman was a giver, so she gave in every way. This is one reason she was so blessed, as those who give to the poor are promised a special blessing. When we celebrate our Lord's birth at Christmas each year, one of the main things Christians do is reach out and feed and give to the poor. There is more joy in this, than just giving gifts to our family members. Giving to the cause of Christ is the best gift we can give anyone. Luke 6:38: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the account of the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible. Lord, may we all be inspired by her virtue and love.� Lord, may we be givers like she was. May we reach out not only to the poor and needy, but to all those who You lead us to help.� Strengthen me to not only give of my money, but also to give of myself.� May I share my faith, my love, and my time with those who need encouragement and help.� Lord, help me to be sensitive to the needs of those around me and not to just walk by when someone needs the help that I could give them.� I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 359 December 25, 2007 Merry Christmas!!!!

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:52:00 GMT

Proverbs Day 359 (KJV):

Proverbs 31:17-18 (KJV):
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Proverbs 31:17-18 (AMP):
17 She girds herself with strength (spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task) and makes her arms strong and firm.
18 She tastes and sees that her gain from work (with and for God) is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night (of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust).


Thoughts for the Day These verses tell us how the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is a woman of strength and perseverance because she does the things that are good and right, that cause her business to prosper. Verse 17 uses the expression "girdeth her loins" which means to "gird (up) one's loins;" and according to Webster's Dictionary, this term means "to get ready to do something difficult or strenuous." Therefore, we know that this woman was the kind who prepared herself to tackle tough jobs. We all face difficult situations in life, at times, and if we are to overcome them, we need to be strong at the onset of them, whether they be physical, mental, or spiritual trials. How do we strengthen ourselves in the face of life's challenges? We need to do the things that cause us to be in good health spiritually, mentally, and physically. Man is a trichotomy and is composed of three parts (he is a spirit, with a soul, who lives in a body.) The soul is composed of our mind, emotions and will. Each part affects the other parts, so our goal should be to remain strong in all three of them. The spiritual man must be fed spiritual food, which is gained by feeding (reading and meditating) upon the Word of God, the Bible. The soul of man is strengthened by study that enlightens the mind (intellect) and emotions; while our physical man must be strengthened with the right kind of diet and good exercise. Obviously, one can get "out of balance" in any of these areas. With so much emphasis on proper eating and physical exercise here in America, it has caused many to examine their lifestyles. Many people have now become imbalanced by putting too much emphasis on the physical man, while neglecting the spiritual man. The Lord desires this area also to be in balance, as our physical condition, if it is not properly cared for, affects our spiritual condition. The spiritual man should always be given top priority, as its influence over the physical man is greater than the physical man's influence over it. 1 Timothy 4:8: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. We need the proper balance between neglecting our bodies, and giving them too much attention. One of the greatest sins in the United States is gluttony. Food has become the god of millions. Jesus has never been made "Lord of the Fork." The Word of God has much to say about man's eating habits. Many sicknesses that are plaguing mankind stem directly from unhealthy eating habits. How should Christians eat? Are all the so-called health foods the answer to our diet problem? The Word of God has the answer to our questions, as to what is healthy for us to eat. So many have been eating according to the tradition of men instead of seeing what God's Word says about this subject. If we do not eat by the Word of God, our eating habits will be dictated by the patterns of the country in which we were born and by our upbringing. True strength comes by taking care of every area of our lives; then when we face trials, we are able to overcome because we are strong physically, as well as being strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Verse 18 says the virtuous woman examines her merchandise to make sure it is good and she also is one who does what it takes to make sure her work is good and acceptable. Physically, it may, at times, take extra hours and "burning the candle" at night to complete a particular job and see that something is finished. Spiritually, her candle will not go out when her night of trouble, sorrow, fear, doubt, etc., come to try and stop her. She prevails because she is spiritually, mentally and physically strong.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for all the good things You have given us. I am thankful to have work to do. Lord, may I always do excellent work at my job. Lord, give me the grace to take care of my physical body properly in the way I eat and how I exercise. Teach me how to make healthy choices regarding my food ,so that my body is healthy, as I need strength to do the things at my job, and in my home, and most of all, in the kingdom of God.� Dear Lord, may I also keep my spirit man strong by reading the Word of God daily, and spending the necessary time in prayer to commune with You, as I desire to be like the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 358 December 24, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:51:00 GMT

Proverbs Day 358 (KJV):

Proverbs 31:15-16 (KJV):
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Proverbs 31:15-16 (AMP):
15 She rises while it is yet night and gets (spiritual) food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.
16 She considers a (new) field before she buys or accepts it (expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties); with her savings (of time and strength) she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs tell us that the virtuous woman is one who is disciplined to rise early and make preparations spiritually, as well as physically, for the day at hand. She is also a capable businesswoman who not only saves, but also has the wisdom to purchase land, and plant a vineyard. Those who are successful and accomplish anything in this world all have one thing in common, and that is a life of discipline. Some people are just disciplined to rise early and plan their day, while those who are godly, may rise early, but their agenda is different -- they rise to pray and seek God before they begin their day. One of the best habits a person can develop is the habit of prayer and daily Bible reading. This is where our spiritual strength and guidance come from. I like to do what I call preventative prayers. When I have rushed out without prayer in the morning, and later on in the day run into problems, which force me to stop and pray, it is because I have failed to pray preventative prayers (those prayers that would have prevented the problem in the first place). The Lord spoke to me one time that if I prayed about my problems as much as I talked about my problems, I would not even have the problems. Seeking God early equips us to not only hear God for our own guidance, but we can also help those who work for us or with us. The virtuous woman will spiritually feed her household, as well as provide breakfast in the morning. Verse 16 tells us this wise woman also had the ability to execute business negotiations. She found a field (a piece of land) and looked it over very carefully before she considered buying it. She also took into consideration as to how she would have the time and energy to plant and oversee the vineyard she planned on planting in this field. Planning and organizing are both necessary skills to make any enterprise a success. There is an old adage that says, "If we fail to plan, we will plan to fail." Once plans are made, then the hard part of executing those plans comes into play. Many people are exuberant upon starting a new project, but one must be steadfast, and dedicated to the task, if they aim to see their business a success. This woman also knew she must not neglect other duties in order to launch out in this endeavor. Those who pursue business endeavors at the expense of neglecting their families are not pleasing to God. It takes hard work and personal sacrifice to take care of both responsibilities properly, so one should "count the cost" before deciding to take on a business endeavor, on top of the domestic duties of family and home. One of the reasons some women become resentful is that many are holding down an outside job, along with the job of homemaking, and the two have become burdensome. The question of whether or not a woman should work outside the home and leave her children in the care of others has been a much debated one in the church. The ideal, especially when children are small, would be for the woman to stay home and rear the family. However, if a woman can handle her household responsibilities plus an outside job, the Scripture certainly does not forbid her from working away from home. The main thing is to follow the Lord's plan for your life and always do things in love. If the Lord is leading us to do something, He will provide all that we need to accomplish it. And whatever we do, we should do it fervently as unto the Lord. We must never be slothful in our business, because how we run our business is a reflection of how much we are allowing the Lord to rule our lives. Romans 12:10-13: 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving me the grace and strength to accomplish all that You have called me to do. Lord, help me to be more disciplined, especially in my prayer life. Give me a love for Your Word so that I never neglect the reading of the Bible. Help me to hear Your voice so that I can follow Your advice in all of my affairs. May I also reflect Your nature in all of my business dealings. May kindness and consideration be a part of my nature. Give me the grace to reach out and help others and to be hospitable to all who enter my home. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 357 December 23, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:50:00 GMT

Proverbs Day 357 (KJV):

Proverbs 31:13-14 (KJV):
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

Proverbs 31:13-14 (AMP):
13 She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands (to develop it).
14 She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far (country).


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs begin to list all the different duties and things that this virtuous woman in this chapter is involved in doing. Among them are her household duties of seeing that her family is clothed and fed. We find she is a very industrious woman, as she shops for the wool and flax she will need to create the necessary clothing for her family. This was no easy task, as most everything was made from the raw materials in the individual homes. "Ready-made" items were too costly for the common man. Most families bought the wool and flax at the market and brought it home to spin and weave it into fabric. Flax is the oldest textile fiber and one of the earliest plants cultivated in Egypt and Palestine. Like wool, it was a chief textile material. Flax was also made into girdles and garments. The fleece or soft fine hair of sheep was also used in Bible times for coverings, clothing and coats. The "Proverbs 31" woman not only went to the market and purchased her wool and flax, she also worked with it with her own hands to develop it, and spin it, so that it could be woven into the proper clothes and covers for the household. Verse 14 also records another one of her domestic duties, and that was the daily duty of preparing meals for her family. This took a great deal of time also, because in those days there was no refrigeration, so this meant daily trips to the market for fresh foods, such as meats, vegetables and fresh fruits. Bread was baked almost every day from grain that was ground into flour. Other staple foods were dried legumes, dried fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, honey, salt, spices and olive oil. All meals were prepared from "scratch" and the first step was to go to the market and find the different ingredients needed to cook the meals. Many of her items would come from afar, such as the dates, spices, salt and grain. Looking at the verses, we can see one of the attributes of a virtuous woman is that she is industrious and a hard worker. The love she had for her family was expressed in the way she took care of them. In the verses below, one of the admonitions given to women in the New Testament is that they be "keepers at home." Titus 2:3-5: 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Looking at these scriptures, we see that the older Christian women were charged to be examples to the younger ones in their behavior. They were to be holy, pure and not false accusers. They were not to become drunk and they were to teach the younger women how to love their husbands and their children. We should take note that love is not a feeling here, but something that is to be taught and learned. Our deeds are an expression of our love; therefore, if we are to love our husbands and children, we must be discreet, chaste, good, submissive to our husbands and we must keep our homes in order. That means one of the main things we are to do is to keep a clean house, wash the clothes, and prepare the meals for our families. The home is to be a refuge for the whole family, so the wife is charged with the care of it, while the husband is to provide the means to maintain it. One thing we notice about these verses is that the older women are instructed to teach the younger women how to love their husbands. In our society, we have the idea that when we fall in love with a man, this love (emotion) will keep the marriage together. This is far from the truth. Of course, emotional love is part of marriage, but the kind of love that the Scripture is referring to here in these verses has to be taught and learned. It is God's love as spoken of in I Corinthians 13. We might also call it character. The first step in learning how to love a husband, or anyone else for that matter, is to receive Christ into our hearts and let Him become our teacher. As we love Him and He loves us, that love spills over to those around us. We learn how to love others through reading, studying and applying God's Word to our hearts and our lives. Those who are older and more experienced can share with the younger ladies, in order that they may be spared many heartaches by heeding their godly advice. Let us not think that we have all the answers but truly be open to the advice of those who are older and wiser, whether they be in the church, or part of our family. Remember, the first commandment with a promise is the one that says, "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for instructing us, as women, in Your ways. Lord, I do ask that You teach me to love my husband the way that I should. Lord, I am asking You to give me your love and grace, not only to love my husband, but my children as well. May I express Your love to them in the daily affairs of life. Give me the strength to be a good housekeeper and cook, along with my other duties as a wife and mother. Deliver me from selfishness and let me consider my family before my own needs. Lord, I know when I do this, that You will take care of my needs. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 356 December 22, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:48:00 GMT

Proverbs Day 356 (KJV):

Proverbs 31:10-12 (KJV):
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:10-12 (AMP):
10 A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman -- who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of (honest) gain or need of (dishonest) spoil.
12 She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs ask the question, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" The next verses and the remainder of this chapter proceed with giving a description of this incredible woman. King Lemuel's mother apparently was a good woman herself, and advised him in regard to choosing a good mate. The first thing that is established is the price of a virtuous woman, and according to verse 10, her price is far above jewels like rubies; so who can find such a valuable woman? I believe every man needs God's help to find this kind of woman. If a man prays, and asks God to send him the right mate and partner, so that they can serve God together in this life, God is delighted to answer this petition. Finding this woman happens as a man goes about doing the will of God, and she is brought into his life at the appointed time, because of God's favor on his life. Proverbs 18:22: Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Verse 11 tells us that her husband can trust her completely and he does not have to impress her with his ability to make money, so he is never tempted to take anything by dishonest gain. She is the kind of woman that loves her husband for himself, not what he can do for her. Women who marry a man for his money, or for the security he provides, are not marrying a man for the right motives, because they are looking to have their needs met, instead of looking to meeting the needs of their mate. When two people go into a marriage with the idea of loving and serving the other one, then that marriage will be blessed, because it is not based on selfishness. We know that it is the Lord's will for people to have a mate, if they desire one. In the beginning when God created Adam, God Himself made this statement: Genesis 2:18 (KJV): "... It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him" Genesis 2:18 (AMP): "Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helpermeet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him." The Lord wants to bring a mate to those who will ask Him and have the patience to wait for His choice. Choosing that right person should not be based on our emotions alone, as many times our emotions need to be cleansed, as they are not the sign of love. The true definition of love is "God is love." If God is not in a relationship, it is not true love. What this world calls love is really lust since it is built on what the other person does for me, not what I can do for him or her. If the other person fails to keep up his end of the bargain, a divorce occurs because the offended mate is no longer pleased. This is the attitude of the world's so-called "love." God's love loves without receiving back; God's love is forgiving and patient. God's love is gentle and kind. Man's emotions are not a reliable gauge upon which to establish a marriage relationship. We must know in the Spirit that it is God's will. It is much better to marry for character than for emotion. Emotions fluctuate; character doesn't. Emotions are in the soulish realm, and unless the carnal mind has been renewed, Satan can give us emotions or feelings of love for someone of his choosing. (If he did not have this in his power, he could not split up marriages.) "Falling" in love is Satan's way. The very expression of these words should tell us something. A Christian should not blindly "fall" into any trap. Love is bigger than simply falling for someone. Certainly, the Lord gives us a wonderful emotional feeling for the one we are to marry. However, this "feeling" without God's direction can be disastrous, as Satan can tamper with our emotions and feelings, too. Marriage, in a Christian's life, should be based on a decision directed by the Holy Spirit. A Christian's love for another is a commitment. Of course, the Lord will supply the emotions for the mate He sends, but that should not be the criterion for making the decision to marry. The Lord should be sought, and whatever He speaks to us, we should do. He knows the future and what is best for us. If we trust Him, He will not fail us in this or any other important area. Women or men who allow emotions to rule them will never be victorious Christians. Emotions should always follow, never lead. The Lord wants to bless marriage unions and see His plans fulfilled in both mates' lives. What a glorious plan He had from the beginning for both male and female. We can trust Him in this important decision. If we will totally commit to do His will, we will never be disappointed in the one He sends into our lives. A man who finds that virtuous woman will find she is a woman of character, as Proverbs 31:12 says, she will be a comfort to her husband by encouraging him and doing him good all the days of her life, as she will never leave him or divorce him.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending me a wonderful husband. Let me always be a good and virtuous woman to him. Lord, I pray for all those who are seeking mates, that You will send them the right one for their lives. I also lift up those who have troubled marriages and I ask that You heal them and restore that first love in their hearts for each other. Give them Your Love for each other. Help them overcome selfishness, and heal each of them from the wounds that they have inflicted on one another by their angry and hurtful words. You are the God of miracles, perform a miracle for those who need one in their marriages. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 355 December 21, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:47:00 GMT


Verses for the Day Proverbs Day 355 (KJV): Proverbs 31:8-9 (KJV): 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9 (AMP): 8 Open your mouth for the dumb (those unable to speak for themselves), for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless; 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs record more advice from a mother telling her son the things that he should do as a king, and an important one is to speak up for the cause of the poor and needy. The Bible teaches compassion toward the poor and the helpless. We find that many of the benevolent practices in society have their roots in Christianity. Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those who were practicing Christ's commands would begin to reach out to help the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages and rescue missions were all founded by Christians in keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to demonstrate His love to a needy world. God has always been interested in helping the weak, the feeble and the afflicted. The instruction in these verses encourages the king to speak up, not only for the cause of the poor, but for those who will perish, if there is not an intervention. Throughout scripture, we see God's concern and love for the poor, as He instructs His people to give to them and treat them with equity. By so doing, we bring honor to the Lord. God maintains the cause of the poor by raising up people to help them. Psalm 140:12: I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Leviticus 19:15: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. In judgment we are not to show preferential treatment to those who hold a high position over those who are poor. As God's children, we are commanded to be fair and just in our dealings. The very nature of our Lord is to seek out the poor and help them. When we give to the poor and help them with material assistance, it opens the door so that we might present the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is interested in every soul. As we reach out to others with His love and compassion, we are able to lead them to salvation. Since this is God's attitude toward the poor, then it should be ours. If we fail to help the poor and needy, we can be guilty of one of the sins that caused the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Ezekiel 16:49: Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. The first sin listed that Sodom and Gomorrah committed was the sin of pride; then she was full because she had an abundance of food, and she was also idle, which was caused by having plenty of everything. In spite of her wealth and free time, she used it on self-indulgence, instead of helping those who were bound in poverty. Ezekiel 22:29-31: 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. There is a penalty to pay, should any nation fall into oppression and robbery as a way of life, and also make it difficult for the poor and needy. The people that do this shall reap what they sow. If those in authority and those who are kings heed this warning and become a defender of the poor, then all the people will be blessed instead of cursed.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, I am thankful that You are a compassionate God and a defender of the poor and needy. Lord, may we also be concerned about the struggles of the poor and reach out and help them. Thank You for blessing me with material blessings and may I reach out and bless those less fortunate than I with my goods. Lord, I also want to share Jesus with those who are needy and poor, because when they know You, they will always have someone to call upon who will never fail them. They can find peace, love and joy in the midst of their circumstances and rise above their poverty and need, because You will never forsake them. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 354 December 20, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:46:00 GMT


Verses for the Day Proverbs Day 354 (KJV): Proverbs 31:4-7 (KJV): 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Proverbs 31:4-7 (AMP): 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink, 5 Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink (as medicine) to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty and (seriously) remember his want and misery no more.


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs are a mother's advice to her son, who is king, and she warns of the danger of drinking wine and strong drink because it causes one to forget what the law requires, and pervert justice, especially in the cause of those who are afflicted. The only time, according to these verses, that alcohol is recommended is when a person is in pain or extreme distress, and then it can be administered medicinally. Even today, we find alcohol as an ingredient in a number of prescription compounds, and they can be used for good, when the situation calls for it; however, this mother knew that to be a wise king, it would be best to avoid drinking wine and alcohol altogether. Drinking alcohol has perverted the judgment of many people, causing great heartache for those who are its victims. This was a wise mother who gave this advice. Drinking wine was popular during Bible days and many references are made to this act. Does the Bible say it is sinful to drink wine? The answer to this question is that the wine itself is not sinful, because sin is in the heart of man and does not exist in any object of itself. It is the drunkenness and intoxication that come about, when a man drinks too much, that causes him to sin. The Bible teaches discipline and moderation; even eating too much food is a sin and is called the sin of gluttony in the Bible. The problem with drinking wine or strong drink is that it causes poor judgment and also changes many people's personalities. Men can end up raging and brawling and doing things in a drunken stupor that are very unwise and that they will also regret. The Bible does make a distinction, as to the affect that strong drinks (alcoholic beverages like whiskey, vodka, etc.) have on a person, as opposed to wine, showing that the strong alcoholic drinks are far worse at causing men to become out of their heads and violent. The wine is bad enough, as it can cause men to lose their senses due to their inebriation. So what should our position be as Christians, since we know the many sorrows that drunkenness causes? We know that alcoholism is responsible for many broken homes because of the abusive behavior toward family and others. We know the many deaths on our highways caused by drinking and driving. What about the many premature deaths caused by health problems stemming from alcoholism? Yes, drunkenness is a very evil sin that hurts the whole nation. The Bible says all drunkards who do not repent will not inherit the kingdom of God. Although a Christian may be free to drink moderately as long as they do not become drunk, is that the highest and wisest thing we should do? Paul stated in the New Testament that he would not allow his liberty to be a license to sin, nor would he do anything that would cause a brother to stumble. Galatians 5:13: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." 1 Corinthians 8:9: "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." We must all give an account of ourselves before our Lord. What would please Him? Would it not be pleasing to Him, if we loved others enough to give up those things we could have, for a greater cause? Would it not be a more powerful witness to others in our age to stand out as one who did not drink alcoholic beverages because we had no need to do so? When we are filled with the Spirit of God, His spirit gives us the joy and release that many are seeking by drinking. May we instead desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit and have no need for "spirits." Ephesians 5:18-20: 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, What wonderful advice we find written in the pages of the Bible. May we all adhere to the wisdom we find in it, and especially the wisdom given for kings. Lord, spiritually, You have made us kings and priests, so we need to act like a king and a priest. We need to be wise and holy, so we can rule and reign in a dark and evil world. Deliver us from all things that would cause us to have poor judgment and give us Your wisdom. May I live a righteous life before the world and be a true and faithful witness for You. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 353 December 19, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:44:00 GMT


Verses for the Day Proverbs Day 353 (KJV): Proverbs 31:1-3 (KJV): 1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. Proverbs 31:1-3 (AMP): 1 The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? What, son of my womb? What (shall I advise you), son of my vows and dedication to God? 3 Give not your strength to (loose) women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs are advice given to a king by his mother to keep him from ruining his life and destroying his position. Lemuel is thought possibly to have been another name for Solomon (a similar usage to our modern day nicknames). As a young man, Solomon was a man of splendid character, and much of this was because of his mother's (Bathsheba's) influence. This chapter begins with a conversation between his mother and him. In speaking to him, she asks the question as to what kind of advice she should give him in verse 2. She also mentions that he is a son of her vows, which means she has dedicated him to the Lord. God has used many children in great ways over the centuries, as other mothers made these same vows. Susanna Wesley was such a woman and her two sons, John and Charles, were responsible for touching the lives of many people. John Wesley was the founder of Methodism, while his brother, Charles, wrote over 9000 hymns and poems. John Wesley received much of his early spiritual and academic training from his mother, Susanna Wesley. The year 2003 marked the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley. His life is still influencing people today and Susanna receives much of the credit for her faithfulness as a dedicated mother, who taught her children in the ways of the Lord. Another great woman of prayer in the Bible also dedicated her son to God, and he was used in a mighty way in the days when the light of God was burning low during Israel's history. Her name was Hannah, and her son served as the great prophet, Samuel. 1 Samuel 1:20-28: 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. Women who pray and dedicate their children to the Lord are also the kind of women who instruct their children in the Word of God, and the ways of the Lord. The first instruction that Lemuel is given by his mother in Proverbs 31:3 is for him to stay away from loose women. She also warns him to stay away from all bad companions that would ruin or destroy his life. We need to remember, as this woman did, it is our responsibility to warn our children of the dangers of hanging out with the wrong crowd. Also, there are warnings in the Bible to young people to stay away from habitual sinners. There is an old saying stating that, "Birds of a feather flock together." If we do not want to be like the kinds of people that are evil, we must not be buddies with them, nor allow our children to buddy with them. There is another saying, "If you play with fire, you will get burned." Young people, and older people as well, cannot entertain the notion that you can be close to wickedness and not find yourself being drug into the same wicked deeds that they do. If we do not resist evil, it will soon overtake us. Smaller sins eventually lead to bigger ones. This mother knew if her son was to remain a king, he must act with integrity and be careful who he chose to be his friends. There are three temptations that can bring a good man down. These are the misuse of wealth, and the tendency of pride because of fame, and the involvement with the wrong women. These are especially true for a king or anyone who is in a position of authority.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the many women over the years who have dedicated their children to the Lord and those children have in turn, served You. May I, and all mothers, realize the awesome responsibility and opportunity we have to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Use our children in Your kingdom and cause them to become strong Christian witnesses. May they speak the Word of the Lord, even as we speak and teach the Word to them. Use them as Your humble servants and keep them from evil. I ask this in the name of the Lord, Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotional Day 352 December 18, 2007

djs25 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:41:00 GMT

Proverbs Day 352 (KJV):

Proverbs 30:32-33 (KJV):
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Proverbs 30:32-33 (AMP):
32 If you have done foolishly in exalting yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.


Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs instruct us not to exalt ourselves and also to guard our mouths from speaking the evil things that we think. We are also warned if we force wrath, we will get into strife. Verse 32 warns against pride and self exaltation, as they are serious sins; and the best way to avoid these sins is to be careful not to brag about our own deeds. We see examples of those in the Bible who yielded to this sin and faced grave consequences. King Saul in the Old Testament was one of those people. When he no longer was "little in his own eyes" we find that he took matters in his own hands and disobeyed what the Lord told him to do. Because of this, he lost his position as king, because God rejected him. Although he made sacrifices unto the Lord, God was not pleased with him because he did not obey Him. Samuel, the Prophet of the Lord, told him that obedience was better than sacrifice. The root of Saul's disobedience was pride in thinking he could do it his own way. 1 Samuel 15:10-23: 10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. 12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. Proverbs 30:33 tells us another thing to avoid is getting into strife. It gives an illustration of how the churning of milk will produce butter, and someone who forcefully picks their nose will cause it to bleed; in the same way someone who forces an angry, wrathful issue will surely cause strife. Someone who does this is often referred to as a person who stirs up trouble. My husband, Bud, in his ranching days, recalls a time when he gave the ranch hands some advice about the way to avoid situations that would cause trouble. He told them, "You cowboys can just walk through that cow pen and get to the other side and you won't smell a thing; but if you take a stick and stir up the manure while you walk through it, it's gonna smell real bad." This proverb gives the same advice -- just walk on by when there is trouble brewing. Proverbs 15:1-2: 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for teaching us wisdom from Your Word. Lord, help me to guard my mouth, and not to think thoughts that cause me to think too highly of myself. I desire to remain humble in Your sight and the sight of men. Lord, I am nothing without You, and the things I do accomplish are simply done by Your grace in my life. Lord, may I also answer softly to those who would try to stir me to anger. Help me to be silent when I should not speak, and to speak up when I should. May my words be like Yours. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

~Dorothy's suggested books to read~

djs25 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:24:00 GMT

I have been blessed to read the following books. I pray that those that are on a journey to find themselves will allow God to truly speak to their hearts, minds, and souls. Remember God truly does love you and there isn't nothing in your life he can't fix. Be blessed! Dorothy, ~DJS25~

1. Title: A Devine Revelations of Hell

Author: Mary K. Baxter

2. Title: The Power of the Blood

Author: Mary K. Baxter

3. Title: 23 Minutes in Hell

Author: Tim Weise

4. Title: Can't you Talk Louder God (Secrets of hearing the voice of God)

Author: Steve Shultz

5. Title: Manifest Your Destiny

Author: Wayne W. Dyer

6. Title: Christians Going To Hell

Author: Seung Woo Dyun

7. Title: Devine Revelations Of The Spirit Realm

Author: Mary K. Baxter

What is Fasting? What does God think of it?

djs25 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:20:00 GMT

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT...

FASTING?

The "key" of fasting to receive God's authority in His kingdom, will be covered in this teaching. The Lord said He would give us the "keys to the kingdom." What did He mean by that statement? Keys to the kingdom are actually keys of authority.

Matthew 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."

KEYS OF AUTHORITY

When Jesus becomes our Lord, we are automatically transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:12-13 says, "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son." Now that we have a new king and live in a new kingdom, we must understand "kingdom principles" if we are to be victorious Christians. We cannot overcome until we have the keys that unlock the kingdom of heaven. The Lord never meant for us to wait until we die to experience heaven but purposed for us to bring heaven to the earth through the power of His Spirit. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). We are unable to receive God's healing, provision and blessing if we do not know the keys the Lord has given us to accomplish kingdom living. Keys represent authority in the Kingdom of God, and authority is gained by using them. Fasting is only one of the keys to the kingdom; others are prayer, praise, worship, intercession and travail (a prayer burden from the Lord).

The key of fasting has nearly been lost to the modern church. It is also one that some say was only for early day Christians. Looking closely at the Word of God, we find that the Lord never did away with the principle of fasting, but it has been man who has attempted to make it obsolete. Fasting is still a valid key that can be used today to bring us into kingdom living. What is fasting? It is another means by which we can suffer for the Lord, through the voluntary abstinence from eating. Biblical fasting is done to bring spiritual results and is not simply for physical purposes. Doctors today are discovering the physical benefits of this practice and have found that abstaining from food (not water) for several days has a wonderful cleansing effect upon the body. Many impurities are burned up within the body as it is denied food, thus clearing the mind, and cleansing and healing the body. Even nature shows us that fasting is good medicine as we automatically lose our appetites when sickness strikes. Many people in the world are practicing fasting and finding it not only healthful, but even a wonderful way to lose weight quickly. However, even though we may enjoy these benefits while fasting, the Christian primarily fasts for spiritual purposes and not for health reasons. Obeying spiritual principles can produce positive physical results, but they are added blessings. Even people that are underweight who fast for spiritual purposes have been known to gain weight after completing their fasts.

The Lord tells us in Matthew 6:16-18 that when we fast, we are to do it unto the Lord. He doesn't say if we fast.

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." We can see that our motives in fasting must be pure. We are not to do it in order to broadcast it, but we are to do it as quietly and simply as possible so as not to attract attention to ourselves. We are to appear to others as though we are not fasting. There are exceptions, such as when we are fasting as a group for a specific thing. Then it must be announced so that others can take part. We find this in Joel 1:14, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord." The main thing the Lord desires is that it be done unto Him and not as a show unto men. Our heart attitude must be right to produce spiritual results.

Jesus, by fasting, set an example that we might follow in His steps. Matthew 4:1-4, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

This Scripture shows us that the Lord drank water but did not eat food, for it says that after forty days he was hungry. The normal fast is without food, drinking water only.

There are also absolute fasts recorded in the Bible. Upon Saul's conversion in Acts 9:9, he immediately went on an absolute fast for three days, having neither food nor water. ("And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.") The body can go for a number of days without food, but cannot go for long periods without water. Therefore, the Bible does not record any absolute fasts that go beyond three days, except the account of Moses spending forty days and nights on top of Mount Sinai (Horeb) without food or water. This was a supernatural encounter with God and he was sustained during that time, because otherwise he would have died, as the human body cannot go without water that long.

Exodus 34:28-29, "And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shown while he talked with him."

We can see that because Moses was in the literal presence of the Lord, it was that presence that sustained him so he neither needed food nor water. This, of course, is an exceptional fast.

The Lord did not set up any specific duration that we are to fast, but from His teachings, we see that he did expect us to fast.

Luke 5:34-35, "And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."

Fasting can be done for one meal, one day, one month or for however long God leads. It depends on how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Shorter fasts are easier to endure until we have built up our "spiritual muscles". A helpful book we recommend is Arthur Wallis', God's Chosen Fast. It is a spiritual and practical guide to fasting. A three day fast is most beneficial as a spiritual cleansing. An example of this is Paul's being thrust into his fast upon conversion. After the three days of cleansing, he received the Holy Spirit and his eyesight when Ananias laid hands on him (Acts 9:17-18). We also can be spiritually cleansed by fasting so that we receive more of the Lord's Spirit and have our spiritual eyes opened to new dimensions. A three day fast is also especially helpful in breaking any addictive habits.

These then are two reasons for fasting: We receive spiritual cleansing and our spiritual eyes are opened, and we also obtain victory over the devil. When Jesus encountered Satan, He was able to overcome Him because His fasting had given Him spiritual strength. Isaiah 58:6 also gives us light on this purpose of fasting: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" Many people believe that fasting is to move the hand of God, when in actuality it is to make Satan turn loose of the things he is holding.

Fasting looses the bands of wickedness. When Jesus discussed the keys to the kingdom, He told us to bind and loose. When we fast, we loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, set the oppressed free, and break every yoke of the enemy. Fasting is an important key to getting the victory over hard situations that do not seem to respond to normal prayer.

Fasting builds our faith. In fact, this is what Jesus meant when he spoke to the disciples in Matthew 17:21 in answer to why they were not able to cast a demon out of a child. He said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." He was telling them if they wanted their faith to be at such a level as to be able to cast out demons, then they must fast and pray for their faith to increase.

Fasting also makes it easier for us to hear the voice of the Lord. We find an account of this in Acts 13:2-3:

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

While fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them and gave them direction. We too can be directed by the Lord if we seek Him through prayer and fasting.

Fasting and mourning are closely associated in the Bible. Two examples of this are found in Ezra and Nehemiah.

Ezra 10:6, "Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away." Nehemiah 1:4, "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven."

From these Scriptures, we see that fasting and travail (a prayer burden from the Lord that brings crying and tears) were combined. Both of these men were fasting for the repentance of God's people. How we need this same kind of intercession today. Here were men so burdened for the sins of their people that they fasted, travailed and prayed.

Today, God is looking for people who are willing to take the same kind of burdens in the Spirit. After being filled with the Holy Spirit, so many are eager to do something for the Lord; however, due to a lack of proper teaching, they end up doing works in the flesh instead of works in the Spirit. Works that we do in our own strength profit nothing, but works that are inspired by the Spirit are profitable and bring results. Prayer is work in the Spirit. That is why it is not easy to pray. Travail and fasting are works in the Spirit. Witnessing under God's leadership is a spiritual work. God is looking for laborers who are ready to go to work for Him. (Matthew 9:37-38, "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.") The Lord is looking for workers, people who will labor to produce eternal results. Laboring in the Spirit brings many into the kingdom of God and causes much growth in the church.

Fasting is also one of these labors. It is a form of afflicting our soul. (Isaiah 58:3, "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?...") By afflicting our soul, we say to our flesh, "Flesh, you are demanding to eat, but Christ is stronger than the desires of my soul. My spirit shall rule my soul, and my soul shall not have dominion over me." Numerous individuals today are in bondage to their appetites because they have never denied themselves anything. The Lord wants us to be ruled by the Spirit, not by the flesh. Fasting brings the flesh unto subjection of the Spirit. (Matthew 4:4, "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.")

Fasting is also a way we can minister unto the Lord. We read in Acts 13:2 that they ministered unto the Lord and fasted. It is a way we can offer the time we generally spend in eating as unto the Lord in prayer. As we spend this time with Him, it causes things to happen in the Spirit. We do not understand this principle any more than other mysteries in the Bible, but we find that by applying it we get results. There are many things I don't understand with my natural mind, but I receive them by faith because the Word of God says they are true. If God's Word says it, that settles it. I don't even understand why Jesus had to die on a cross to save us from our sins. However, because I believed that He did and received His forgiveness in my heart, I was "born again." Likewise, I do not understand all the principles of fasting, but I do know they work.

We have discussed the absolute and the normal fasts, but we need to also mention the partial fast. This is a fast where we restrict our intake of food, but do not totally abstain. We have a record of this in Daniel 10:2-3, "In those days I, Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled". Daniel went on a three-week partial fast, restricting his diet of all pleasant food, meat and wine. It was during this time that he had a visitation from an angel. Fasting always suppresses the flesh and heightens our spiritual sensitivity. Generally speaking, we hear the Lord's voice more easily while fasting.

We all can benefit by giving up our pleasant bread for a season. The Lord blesses us for whatever sacrifices we make for Him. Our country is suffering under a spirit of gluttony and it would be a great blessing for the United States to have a time of national fasting unto God. We sit down and eat many times when we are not even hungry, simply because it is a habit. We should not eat out of habit or tradition, but rather that we might glorify Christ in our bodies. (I Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.")

Fasting sometimes comes spontaneously. Often if people are grieving they lose their appetites and unconsciously fast. That is why mourning and fasting are mentioned together in the Bible. Another type of spontaneous fasting occurs when we are so busy seeking God about a situation or a spiritual goal that we simply forget to eat. (We are moving too fast to take time to eat because we are concentrating on the things of the Spirit. We are moving in the spirit in a "fast" way. The fasting acts as spiritual dynamite to speed things up in the Spirit that would normally take a longer time to come to pass.) Some Christians are forced to fast due to a lack of food in their part of the world. They can dedicate this time to God and He will bless it as He would a voluntary fast.

Does fasting move the hand of God? No. If we believe that God withholds from us and we have to fight to get Him to bless us, then we have a wrong conception of the Lord. Isaiah 58:6 indicates that fasting is not to move the hand of the Lord, but it is to make Satan turn loose of what he is holding back that rightfully belongs to us. Jesus died so we could have the blessings. They belong to us as His children. However, we must press in and demand the enemy to release some things. This is our right as sons of God. Sometimes Satan still controls much territory in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. He has many in bondage. Fasting is a key that breaks loose the bands of wickedness. As we fast and pray, Satan must let our children who are bound by spirits of rebellion and drugs go free. He must take his hands off our loved ones, our friends and family. Some people are so bound that only fasting can loose them from the wicked chains of darkness.

We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as to when fasting is needed. Sometimes it is not necessary because the problem has already been "prayed through." We need simply to rest in the Lord until His time for our answer to arrive. If we fast at those times, we will just be going hungry. We need also to seek the Lord as to whether He would have us go on a partial fast, normal fast or total fast. If we will ask, He will let us know. He will confirm His will to us. If we cannot hear His voice too clearly, He will send somebody to speak His counsel to us. We must trust Him.

We need also to check our motives when we fast. If they are selfish, our fast will not be accepted by the Lord. We see this in Jeremiah 14:10 and 12, "Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence." We cannot fast and have evil, unrepented sin or selfishness in our lives and expect God to answer our prayers. Many times we don't even recognize selfish prayers. When we pray for our loved ones to be saved or delivered, and our motive is to only bring relief to ourselves instead of being concerned that they receive the peace and joy of Jesus, we are wrong. Let us examine our hearts when we seek God for anything.

Isaiah 58 is the great fasting chapter. Here we read how this key can break the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens and bring healing. It frees the oppressed and the depressed. It breaks every yoke. Some people are yoked to bad habits in this world, and fasting can break those yokes so they can be free to enter into the kingdom of God. A three-day fast will break most addictions.

Isaiah 58:7 also says, "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?" Fasting makes it possible for us not only to give "spiritual bread" to those that are hungry, but also releases our finances so that we can give "natural bread" to the poor and needy. The Lord wants us to have an abundance so we can be a blessing to others. He will bring the poor to our houses to be fed. He wants us to be able to minister to others. He will give us a ministry and cause people to be drawn to our doorstep by the Holy Spirit for counsel and prayer.

Verse 7 continues, "when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him." We are to cover others' sin through fasting and prayers of mercy. We are to ask God to forgive them and give them another chance. If we were stripped naked right now and our lives were bared before the world, every one of us would be ashamed and embarrassed about our past sins. None of us could stand. All of us would fall down naked, exposed and humiliated. However, we do not have to suffer this because Jesus paid the price for our sins and washed those things away. Praise God! They are not there anymore; God does not remember them, and neither should we. (Hebrews 10:17, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.") We need to pray for others to be released from the burden of sin that is upon their lives.

Verse 7 also says, "...and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" One trick of the enemy is to get us so busy ministering to others that we fail to minister to our own flesh. We must also ask the Lord to do a work of cleansing in our lives, and also make sure that we take time to let the Lord minister to us through His word, and in time spent alone with Him. Also, we are not to neglect our own flesh and blood. We must not get so busy with others' needs that we do not minister to our own families. We are to fast for them, pray for them and spend time with them.

In verse 8 we see the fruits of fasting, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward." Healing will come forth quickly through fasting. If we have a besetting sin that we cannot get the victory over, fasting will strengthen us spiritually and deliver us from that bondage so that our righteousness can go before us. What a beautiful promise that the glory of the Lord shall be our reward! We receive a reward during the time of fasting, but it does not stop there. We also will be rewarded by seeing things come forth in the future as answers to our prayers.

Verse 9 says, "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity." By this we see there are conditions to our fast. We cannot point our fingers at others in condemnation if we expect our prayers to be answered. We must come humbly before the Lord if we desire to see our prayers answered.

The remainder of Isaiah 58 explains that the Lord will cause us to be lights to others, and that we shall not walk in darkness but have the Lord continually guiding us. He says we shall be taken care of in drought. No matter what is happening in the land, we shall have plenty. Waste places shall be rebuilt, and the Lord will restore and repair the damage that has been done to our lives. We shall ride upon the high places of the earth and shall inherit God's blessings. Fasting brings restoration not only in our individual lives but in the life of the church also.

To sum up the different kinds of fasts:

(1.) Normal Fast - No food, water only.

(2.) Absolute Fast - Absolutely no food or water (Caution: Should not be undertaken over 3 days and only then if you have a clear directive from the Lord and are in good health).

(3.) Partial Fast - Abstinence from certain kinds of foods (i.e.: No meat or sweets, soup only, fruit and vegetables only, etc. In Daniel 10:3, Daniel ate no pleasant bread).

(4.) Juice Fast - Fruit and vegetable juices only.

(5.) Corporate Fast - A church or group of people who feel God has called them to fast together for a certain period of time.

(6.) Chain Fast - A church or group of people who commit to fasting for a long period of time and each individual commits to fast for a day or longer and signs up for so many days so that the entire period is covered for the designated fasting period. (Our church did this for an entire year at one time.)

(7.) Jewish Fasting Period - The Jewish fast began at 6:00 P.M. in the evening and ended the next day at 6:00 P.M. (Some people follow this time period to begin and end fasts.)

(8.) Fasting Plus Prayer -- Remember, fasting should be combined with prayer. God called us to fast and pray, not fast and preach, nor fast and work. God did not call us to fast and do hard physical work. Although some work and certain responsibilities cannot be avoided while fasting, accounts in the Bible reveal that they arranged times to fast and pray when they did not have to work so they could make seeking God the focal point during the fast, especially when the fasts exceeded 3 days. Giving up our free weekends and vacations to fast, is one way we can sacrifice to the Lord.

(9.) Fasting and Abstinence -- Although the word "fast" is used as abstaining from food in the Bible and does not refer to giving up other things, during a fast one can practice abstinence from other pleasures as well, such as entertainment, T.V, hobbies and sex, as spoken about in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.

If you are considering an extended fast, you should seek competent medical supervision of someone familiar with fasting. This is especially needed if you are taking any medications. (This article is informational and spiritually directive and is not intended to take the place of medical advice). We would also recommend you reading these books for detailed information on fasting: God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis or The Coming Revival by Dr. Bill Bright.

RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH

We are living in the time of restoration of the church now. God has begun a work of restoration in us. The power of the Holy Spirit is being restored to the church. God is healing His people and giving back to them the things Satan has robbed. The Lord is restoring truth to the church again, so she can rise from obscurity and be seen in love and power, even as she was in New Testament days.

The world is looking for a church that has the power to heal and bless, a church that walks in victory. The world wants to see a church that is not hypocritical, a church that is holy and full of love. We are the individual members of that church if we are born again. The work must begin in us personally before it can manifest itself corporately. The Lord is returning for a bride without spot or blemish. God is preparing her. We must have the keys to the kingdom so that we can come to that place in God where the world can tell the difference between "us" and "them."

Fasting is a wonderful tool given to help bring us to that place. God's ultimate desire is that we live "fasted" lives, thus reducing the need for periodic fasting. However, until we come to the place where the kingdom of God means more to us than food, we need to set our wills to fast in order to bring our bodies under subjection to the Spirit of the Lord.

Paul was an overcomer and says in I Corinthians 9:27, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." For us to overcome we must do likewise. To grow in God we must follow the methods He mapped out in His Word. The Lord is encouraging us to walk in His footsteps so that we might attain the same victory that Paul did. It is not impossible; we just have not understood God's ultimate purpose for our lives; we have lived far below the level God intended. Even though we will walk through some hard places in this life, we will be able to say it was worth it all when we come into the same perfection that Paul did.

II Corinthians 11:27, "In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." Philippians 3:8, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

The keys of prayer, praise, worship, intercession, travail and fasting will bring us to the same place that Paul attained through Jesus. We can have a similar anointing in our lives, and be used as Paul was to achieve God's victories in the name of Jesus. We can enter into the Lord's authority so that the demons and devils obey us. We can expose Satan's devices and learn the ways by which we overcome him. These important keys will unlock many from the chains of darkness. Let us use all the keys to the kingdom so that the kingdom of God might be formed in us.

"Father, You know each one that is reading this today, and I ask You to reach out and meet their needs. Lord, minister to their need now through the power of the Holy Spirit. If there are those who have not been filled with Your Spirit, I pray that You would fill them now to overflowing. Lord, to those who need You as Savior, touch them and come into their hearts; may they be born again and placed into Your kingdom. For those who need healing in their bodies, touch them with Your creative power. Father, deliver and set free those who are suffering from depression and are bound by the things of this world. Bless Your people, Lord, as they seek Your will and way for their lives. Give them Your strength to use the keys of the kingdom to overcome the enemy. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Are you ready for a challenge?

djs25 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:37:00 GMT

I found a really cool site for those of you who would like to see some real changes in your marriage or relationship. Please go to the folliwing web site www.ReviveOurHearts.com

Once connected to the site please scroll down to Nancy's Challenges Online. Choose the 30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives.

Don't worry men you can also do this, just change instead of wives praying for your husbands.....to Husbands praying for their wives as you do the daily prayers.

Don't worry if your single you can still do this. Your speaking it into existence....Your declaring and decreeing what your future spouse will be like.

I pray all of you will be blessed!

~DJS25~ Dorothy

"Over coming FEAR"

djs25 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:44:00 GMT

2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

CONQUERING FEAR

We live in an hour in the earth that the Bible speaks of as the "last days." Because we are in the end times we know that according to prophecy it will be a time of great tribulation and trouble. 2 Timothy 3:1 says, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." More scripture describing the end times is spoken of by Jesus himself in these verses:

Matthew 24: 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This is certainly a description of our present world. However, notice in verse 6 the Lord told us this "...see that you are not troubled." There is only one way we can be without fear in a world of turmoil, hatred, war, and uncertainty. The way to do this is to trust the One who told us not to be troubled or fearful. Only through Christ's power can we walk in peace and safety. We must give our lives completely to the Lord and yield to His will as to what He wants us to do, where He wants us to live, what He wants us to sell or give away and what we are to do with our time. This is a total commitment to give God first place of our time, money, careers, family and future.

The Word of God tells us, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord'' (Psalm 112:7). Fear is the opposite of trust. The devil continually tries to get us to be fearful. The Bible says in Luke 21:26, "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.'' Many people shall not overcome fear, but be overcome by it. As Christians, we are not to be fearful but are to trust in the Lord. Should Satan come against us with his lies and fear, we are to turn to God and ask that the fear be removed. People's fears are many. Some fear death, others are afraid of getting cancer, afraid of losing their loved ones, afraid of the house burning down, afraid of having car wrecks or afraid of flying in airplanes, afraid of the future. Others are tormented with the fear of the dark, fear of being molested or fear of staying alone. Fear is a horrible monster no matter what form it takes. After we seek God for the removal of our fear, we then should quote the Word of God concerning that subject to the devil. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind'' (2Timothy 1:7).

As we listen to the Holy Spirit, He usually speaks something positive for us to do. It could be we are to sing to the Lord, pray in the spirit or read the Bible. If we obey, the Holy Spirit will then drive the "spirit of fear'' from us. If we cannot get free and find we are in bondage to an evil spirit of fear, we may need to have this evil spirit "cast out.'' If we are simply overcoming a weakness of fear in our flesh, submitting to God and resisting the devil will accomplish the victory. We should not be discouraged if we do not get the victory the first time. It sometimes takes several bouts with the devil to win the round. If we lose one battle, it does not mean we are losing the war. The Lord will bring the victory if we are determined and have chosen to trust God and not to fear.

This same approach applied to any weakness will bring us success. The place to begin is with a decision of the will. A decision allowed us to come into the kingdom of God. We decided to accept the Lord's forgiveness and reconciliation. At the time of this decision we were "born anew'' and received the gift of life in Christ. This was all accomplished by faith in God's Word. The same method will work in overcoming any weakness in our lives. We must first decide we want to be an overcomer. Then the power of God will perform this in us as we trust Him by faith to do so. We must not be double-minded once we set our course, since a double- minded man receives nothing. "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.'' (James 1:6-8). True faith rests in the victory of Jesus.

When we come to the Lord, we are "re-born'' and our life with God begins with a clean slate. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new'' (2 Corinthians 5:17). Sometimes past sins and mistakes cause us to fear the future or fear exposure of our former deeds. The Lord wants the pain of our past erased so we can function without the hurt of those wounds. We should not dig up the past unless the Holy Spirit specifically sees the need to touch an area with His healing, and only then if that healing requires facing the past. With His love He will remove the hurt and fear of those days.

However, if we have hurt people it would be in order to ask their forgiveness. We should also try to right the wrong if by doing so it would not bring the involved party more hurt. As Christians we should restore to those we have defrauded and publicly apologize if we have failed a group or brought reproach upon them. We should confess the truth if we have lied or gossiped. When the Lord shows us how we have hurt others we should always seek to make amends. If we have stolen something, we should restore it. Sweeping things under the rug will never bring recovery and restoration. It will only lead to more fear and deception. The only way we can walk in truth is to replace the lie with the truth of God's Word.

Emotional stress and fear can also cause physical sickness. Inner emotional healing is sometimes the key to receiving a physical healing. We can be suffering with ulcers because we have not forgiven someone, or arthritis can possibly be the result of a bitter and prideful spirit. Heart problems can occur because of fear and stress. The Lord begins our healing from the inside out. Once we have been cleansed in our hearts and souls, then the body will also respond and experience healing. When we prosper in our souls, then we will also prosper in our bodies. The Bible says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth'' (3 John 2).

If we are overwhelmed by depression or hopelessness or fear and we are unable to pray or read God's Word, we can ask the Holy Spirit to speak to someone to pray for us. The Lord knows that many times we are too weak to pray and that we need the body of Christ, the church. They can stand and pray with us until we get the victory. We need not feel embarrassed to ask others to pray. We need each other. It is also helpful to have someone pray the prayer of agreement with you when trying to overcome a weakness or fear. This will bring strength to your decision to overcome in the areas needed. "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven'' (Matthew 18:19). This is a wonderful agreement that should be utilized by husbands and wives. The wife can agree that her husband's weakness will be overcome in Christ, while the husband can make the same agreement for his wife. Satan tries to divide all relationships with critical thoughts and words about each other's weaknesses.

One of the greatest fears people are fighting at this time is fear of financial loss and fear of the future since many of the prophets of God are declaring times of trouble and tribulation in the U.S.A. and the world. The Lord knew the hour we would be living in and we can rest assured He has a plan of protection and provision for all of His committed people. What we must all do is seek the Lord with our whole heart and get His plan for our individual lives since these are perilous times. The only safe place for any of us is in the will of God! If we are in His will we will find His provision and direction. He wants to speak to us. However, we must be close to Him to hear. In the physical world the farther away you are in distance from someone the harder time you have in being able to hear them. The same principle applies to the spirit world. Hearing God is a matter of proximity.

Psalm 91:15-16: "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation."

Reviewing how to overcome fear or any negative emotion, we must:

(1) Ask the Lord to remove it.
(2) Quote the Word of God.
(3) Listen to the Holy Spirit.
(4) Obey His guidance.
(5) Praise Him for the answer.