How We Do It!

“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”(Psalm 37:3-5, 7,9 NIV)

There are a number of people who have many questions about a Believer’s faith and why or how we do what we do. The answer for those who truly have a relationship with God is in The Word. This particular Psalm is one of my favorites and I recite and meditate on it to remind me how I know my Father determines when I please Him.

First of all, I must trust Him to do all He says He will do. God is not a man that He should lie, so I can place my total confidence in Him, even when I don’t understand everything He asks me to do. I just do it. Writing this blog every day is in part out of obedience to Him. I don’t know why He wants me to do it, I just do.

Making a conscious decision to allow God to direct our paths is only possible when we trust Him. He created the universe and set all things in motion so I know He has a plan to get me where He wants me to be–I just have to follow Him.

With everything I do, I think about whether or not God will be pleased. Not that I’m perfect, but when I do things that line up with the Word, I can’t go wrong. When He is pleased with what I do–by faith, I know He’ll give me the desires of my heart because His Word is true. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.

As impatient as some of us are, we must learn to rest in Him, knowing He never tires or sleeps, but is always keeping watch over us and His plans for us. We must learn to expect the fulfilled promises in His timing, not ours. We simply praise and worship Him, while patiently waiting and when we least expect it--He’ll show up and show out! That’s how my Daddy does it! Hallelujah!

We acknowledge the evil in the land, know how to identify the spirit behind it, and know how not to be influenced by it, by submitting to God and watching the devil flee. We should never be concerned about the success of those who are duped by Satan, for their success will not last and we’ll be standing by watching their fall. We can pray for God’s mercy to embrace them and for them to repent, but what they get out of life–is completely up to them. We can either do things God’s Way or our way–influenced by an enemy who hates us and God.

I’ve learned that there is nothing like pleasing God and reaping the rewards for being obedient. That’s how we do it–by learning to trust and please Him!

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Yield Not To Temptation!

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” (James 1:13 NIV).

And then James goes on to say that we are tempted by our own lusts (evil desires) and when one yields to the temptation, they yield to sin.

Some years ago, Flip Wilson used the phrase, ” the devil made me do it” in his comic routine.  Many thought this was funny, especially within the context used. However, it is misleading. The devil does not make anyone do anything, any more than God will make anyone do anything. The devil tempts people to do evil and because they have evil desires, they give in to the temptation.

The enemy uses people to tempt others to land into the lake of fire with him. He influences people to murder, molest, abduct, coerce, mangle, manipulate, lie, cheat, steal, cuss, and commit all manner of disastrous acts that lead people deeper into the pit of no return. But they could not be tempted if the desire to do those things were not already present. Those desires begin with thoughts and if the thoughts are not changed, rapidly, they intensify until the thoughts are acted upon and havoc reigns.

If we want to avoid being tempted–by anything or anyone, we have to change our thought patterns before they become acts that cannot be reversed.

Some might say–they are stronger than that–they don’t have to give in. I would encourage all to reflect upon the world events, historically, and recently, that have led to escalated violence and people being killed. All of the acts–began with a thought and thoughts ran rampant–completely unchecked until they became acts.

For change to occur in the world–it must begin with change in every individual’s way of thinking–in a positive manner so we can all live in peace, without the threat of continual violence.

Perhaps, we should all lobby legislators to change the way they think–putting people first–above their own personal agendas. And then we should pray–in the privacy of homes and other personal space–and then “out loud” so the enemy will know what we’re doing and put him on notice.

Don’t allow the evil thoughts and desires to become acts of disaster and then try to claim–God tempted you to do it. He did not. The Word from God will only encourage us to live according to what God says–so we can live to see the promises fulfilled in our lives and to see our future–a future to prosper us and not harm us.

The devil doesn’t do anything he was not created to do–and neither should we. We were created to be a praise unto our God and to give Him glory. Let’s do it!

 

What Love Does!

“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (I John 4:12).

Love is perfected in us, when God’s love abides within

Love does covers (eradicates) a multitude of sin

Love seeks to do good to all – children, men and women

Love chooses to do what is right, hoping everyone wins

The battle against the enemy who does not know Love!

When we truly love God and allow His love to live large in us, we cannot seek or hope for the failure of others. We do wish bad things to happen to those who we simply cannot agree. When we love we do disrespect those in authority because God tells us in His Word that we should pray for those in authority.  If we are disrespecting people, we certainly are not praying for them.

I do not agree with a great deal that the President and Congress, governors and mayors, and many others in authority are doing, but I certainly am not promoting hatred because I don’t agree with them. I am so weary of all the hate-filled propaganda directed at the President by so-called Christians who are making a mockery of truly being one. It is obvious to me that those who proclaim to know God have no clue since God is love. The Tea-Party faction has proven without doubt they have no true knowledge of God or they would cease their promotion of hate. I pray that God does a mighty work in their lives so they can see themselves as they truly are. They certainly are not ambassadors for Christ when they hate without reason. But then again–the religious groups hated Jesus without cause, had Him arrested out of envy and persecuted out of hatred, and they unwittingly were fulfilling God’s plan so that no one has ever forgotten the name of Jesus!

Love promotes goodwill towards all, not hatred. Love looks beyond our faults and sees the potential to rise above circumstances and be victorious in all things. Love prays for those who have lost their way. Love never ceases to encourage others to love like God loves–unconditionally.

Father, I pray that all who are promoting hatred will cease and desist. I pray that You will forgive their sin and fill them with love overflowing so when they look in the mirror, they will understand who You are. I pray for those in authority all over the world, that they will seek You and Your wisdom in governing all people. I further pray for every born-again believer–encourage hearts and strengthen them to stand against every evil that arises against You and Yours. Help us to understand that the only superior race in the world is the human race and that is because of Your love. In Jesus’ name, I pray and declare–all is well! Amen!

Answered Prayers!

“as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many” (2 Corinthians 1:11 NIV).

As Paul relates problems encountered by him and other disciples to the church at Corinth, he also encourages them to pray and thanked them in advance for their continued prayers for others. 

“Then many will thanks on our behalf…” Are there many people giving thanks today for the those who are praying on their behalf, even when they don’t know it?  Sometimes, we have to pray for people we don’t even like–not for us–but for them, so they will have reason to give God thanks for the answers, solutions, to their situations. Do we have to know the situation for every person?  No, we just have to be faithful and pray–without ceasing, always giving thanks to the Father what He does.

I know there are some–a little skeptical about the power of prayer–who after watching the news day after day and see tragedy after tragedy would not see any need to pray.  But there is a need. “The fervent (passionate) effectual (specific to the problems) prayers of the righteous avails (results in answers) much. Let’s try it, now!

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You to touch the lives of everyone who reads this prayer and move upon them to seek You on the behalf of people everywhere–who have suffered trials and tragedies and comfort their hearts.  I ask You to open the spiritual eyes of all who have a need today and give them direction by showing them all You have prepared for them so that every need is met.  I bind the thoughts of the enemy who would dare to feed them negative thoughts and attempt to influence them in unbelief.  I declare healing for every person who will receive it right now. Speak to the hearts of saints everywhere and remind them to show love everywhere they go so all will know, who we are and whose we are. Help us, who know You, to be a living letter, a walking testimony of Your goodness,  mercy, and grace. All these things I ask and thank You for, in Jesus’ name and declare it done!  Amen!

Now, only believe–all things are possible–when we only believe (without doubt)!