Our Words are Either Blessings or Curses

Last year my husband and I decided to build a new house, our oldest son was going to be starting Jr. High that fall and we knew if we didn’t move to another area he would be going to a school that had many gangs and a lot of drug problems. We found the lot in the neighborhood that I had been dreaming of moving into, we found the perfect floor plan and put down our earnest money. Once my husband returned to work (he works overseas) I was having a hard time sleeping, thinking of not being able to sell our current house, finance issues, etc. I woke up one night and sent my husband an IM and by ‘chance’ he was in his room and asked why I was awake, I explained my mind wouldn’t turn off and we began to talk, after a few minutes I realized what was really bothering me – we had never prayed and asked GOD if buying this house was HIS will, and we needed to repent (you see we had come to an agreement a few years prior, that all major purchases we would seek GOD’s will and not ours, to help keep our flesh under control). So we both prayed and like a weight lifted off me, I felt peace, I knew GOD was going to bless us with this new house, I knew that no matter what happened during this process, that we had GOD’s blessings and that we were to get this house.

I had decided that as a new stay at home Mom (I had always worked and just ‘retired’ a few months prior) that our new house would be the home that all the kids could hang out at. I would know what my kids were doing and who they were hanging out with. I would take the neighborhood kids to church with us on Wednesdays and Sundays, our house was not only going to be a blessing to us, but to those around us.

We put down almost all our savings on the house after the financing was approved, but after we put that money down we started having issues with financing the closer we got to completion of the house, it became very nerve wracking. Everybody we talked to said we couldn’t finance because of my husbands income was foreign income in a war zone (lots of technicalities about the laws changed that January). We didn’t have a single showing on the other house either, now our other home was beautiful, we loved it and it really was a great home, but not a single person inquired about it from January until May. So here I have a few major issues going against us in the buying of our new home, but I had that promise from GOD, so even though the world was telling me NO, I remembered GOD had told me YES!

When people would ask how the showing was on the old house or how the new house was, I just kept speaking words of faith and saying everything was going to be perfect, this house was going to be a blessing to us and we were going to be blessing whomever bought our other house. We had already decided we were not trying to make a profit on the other house, we listed it only for what we owed on the house and were going to be giving them all the appliances and some furniture as well.

At our final walk through of the new house, I received a call from the loan officer and was told that they wouldn't be able to help us get the house. Well, I didn’t believe that was the final word, so my husband and I went up and talked to him, and he went to the President of the bank and he signed off on the loan for us!

We moved into our new home and blessings were still abundant, we decided to rent out the other house and maybe do a lease to own financing. It took a few months, but we found the perfect family for our other house, but at this point my words changed. People would ask how the new house was and I stopped blessing it and began cursing it – I would say, "well, it’s great, BUT you know we put all our savings into it and we still have the other house and now I’m making two mortgages, two electric and water bils, it’s really draining our finances."

At first I had the neighborhood kids coming over, I took them to church, I did all that I had said I would…but then my words began to put me in bondage. I was depressed over our finances, I didn’t want kids over, I didn’t want to do all that I had told GOD I was going to do with our blessing – because now I was speaking curses, even though I was still believing in GOD to change our circumstances, even though I was praying and serving GOD, my words were destroying all that GOD had given us.

Just this past week, I learned the power of my words, and the power I had given those words over our situation. The situation we are in will only improve or get worst, depending on the words we speak over it. When we were in the process of buying the new house, I had stood firm on faith and cast out all those negative words before they could get into my thoughts; but once we were in the house, my words changed, I began listening and worrying, and I would speak out negative, a foothold became a stronghold. I even knew when I spoke those words, that they were death and cursing and not blessing and life, I felt that check from the Holy Spirit in me, telling me that I ought not say those things, but I did anyways. I’m a full disclosure kind of person (obviously) so I’ve learned that sometimes, I don’t need to say everything, I don't need to say what 'is', but speak out in faith of GOD's blessings. I should have been saying, 'The house is great, GOD blessed us abundantly, we are going to be a blessing to others and GOD will continue to bless us through our new home and the selling of our old home!'

Our situation just received new life, GOD is good like that, HE breathed new life and blessings into our finances after my husband and I joined together in prayer over our finances, and I confessed the cursing of my words. I honestly couldn’t believe how fast GOD blessed us with this, literally days after I confessed the cursing and prayed with my husband, GOD gave us mercy (I’ve been told before, when we confess, that the faith channel is unblocked and that mercy flows quickly and I believe it did for us). The bondage of the last 8 months has been huge, but the freedom from it has been life changing!

I honestly believe the breakthrough in our prayers and receiving mercy, grace and blessings from GOD concerning our prayers was due to alignment of our words with GOD's Word and our prayers without ceasing. Below is what I learned concerning the power of our words, I hope it blesses you and encourages you!

GOD created the heavens and the universe with HIS Words, HE spoke and it became. GOD created us in HIS own image, we are in HIS likeness. Then Adam corrupted that likeness, and our spirits were given death instead of life .

But the Lord warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 NLT)

When HE sent HIS Son to die for us, and we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we became ‘new creations’ – we no longer were born to death that Adam brought on us, life was breathed into us again from GOD, our Spirits were new and full of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

As a believer you know, that all it took to be a new creation in Christ was to confess with your mouth and SPEAK the words that Jesus is the Son of GOD, that HE died on the cross for our sins and that GOD raised HIM from the dead on the 3^rd day and that HE sits at GOD’s right hand in heaven – those words spoken, that confession; made you an adopted child of GOD, gave you full rights to GOD’s Kingdom, gave you the authority of Christ. So those WORDS breathed new life into you and gave you the power of GOD’s Word.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations (or peoples), baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

Wow, you see, we are disciples of Christ, Jesus gave us this authority. Why did HE give us this authority, because HE knew we would need it to fight the enemy. Satan is the ‘god of this world’ (2 Corinthians 4:4) but his powers are limited to this world, we have Christ’s authority to fight Satan and defeat him!

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT)

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT)

Those false arguments are those whispers of the devil, the lies and deception that the enemy tries to convince us of.  The weapon that is our main defense against the enemy is the Word of GOD, we can speak out GOD’s Word and claim the promises of GOD and defeat the enemy with the words we speak!

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 AMP)

We have to have salvation to be able to use the Word of GOD to defeat the enemy, we have to be believers to speak out and win against the devil, without salvation, we don’t have the Holy Spirit and we are not new creations with the authority of Christ.

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 AMP)

Words are the key to blessings and cursing. The Bible is full of scripture that warns us about our words and almost every chapter of Proverbs has at least one scripture related to our words, this isn't by chance, no it's because our words are that powerful!

My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. (Proverbs 4:4 NLT)

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain…(Proverbs 10:11a NLT)

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. (Proverbs 12:18 NLT)

The tongue can bring death or life..(Proverbs 18:21a NLT)

For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. (Proverbs 22:18 NLT)

By keeping GOD’s Word in our heart and on our lips, it is easier to speak out the truth that comes from GOD instead of the lies of the devil.

…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. (Matthew 12:34b NLT)

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can SAY to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.  (Mark 11:22-23a NLT)

I capitilaized the word ‘SAY’ because Jesus told us that we have to have faith and then SPEAK out, it’s a two part process, believe what you say and when you say it, it will be. I’m going to end this with James 3, there’s a whole lesson in our words because they are so powerful, I cannot do it all justice, but wanted to share with you a part of what I have learned. If you want to, do a study on Words on Bible Gateway, it’s amazing all the scripture for our words, GOD has given the power and the authority to defeat the devil, we just need to know our weapons to be able to use them effectively!

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.  Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.  And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,  but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.  Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.  (James 3:1 – 12 NLT)

Since we started building our home, this scripture was impressed on me to be on our entranceway, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. " Joshua 24:15

My husband, me, my oldest son - Hunter, Max and my step-daughter Celina outside our new beautiful home

Pray Without Ceasing

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16b NLT)

Sometimes answered prayers can take you by surprise, not that they came to be, but that they came so fast! In my joy and excitement of winning one of the faith fights that have been occurring my life, I wanted to share what I’ve learned during this ‘Battle’ I’m in.

If you haven’t had a breakthrough in your prayer, do a self evaluation and make sure you haven’t missed something. I recently learned that taking offense was a sin and that I cannot expect GOD to answer my prayers when I haven’t forgiven someone else of an offense they’ve done to me.   An offense is a stumbling block, it’s a trap and a snare of the devil, don’t let that grudge keep you from receiving what GOD has for you; seek forgiveness and be blessed!

 “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:24-25 NLT)

After you’ve done your evaluation, ask a friend to pray with you and stand in agreement for your request, Jesus told us that…

I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (Matthew 18:19 NLT)

GOD will answer our prayers, it might not be the answer we expect, but HE does answer them in three ways 1) with a ‘Yes’, (2)  ‘Yes, but you need to grow your patience’, (3) ‘No, I’ve got something MUCH better planned for you’. I wonder how people go about their lives without GOD, I can get totally bogged down with stress and feel like I’m dying from all the physical symptoms and yet, I have GOD with me, I know HE will not allow any harm to come to me….

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 )

No weapon means any worldly force, you see the devil can only use what’s available to him on the earth, he doesn’t have the ability to use anything supernatural. BUT remember we have the Armor of GOD, we have the Authority of Christ, we are adopted children of GOD, we are the brothers and sisters of Christ, we are the Body of Christ –we have a supernatural GOD that can ‘make’ anything happen.  The phrase ‘shall prosper’ means that for a time, things might happen to us, we might go through more ‘fights’ in our battle, but remember the VICTORY is already ours, Jesus already won.

Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV)

So why do we worry, why do we let fear sneak in and gain a foothold, that foothold can become a stronghold and then we can end up hanging on to the lies of the enemy instead of the promises of GOD. It doesn’t come about overnight, no, the whispers begin as soon as we get bad news or if something happens that disrupts our plans, then if we dwell on that news and then start speaking out the negative from those whispers; well our spring shower can turn into a Tsunami.  We have to learn to block those thoughts when they enter our mind, and speak out GOD’s Word and promises, before those whispers become something bigger than the lie the devil is deceiving us with. That’s why it’s so important to get into GOD’s Word, HIS Word is full of HIS promises for HIS children, GOD wants to bless us. We need to change our focus, tell the devil to shut up and remember that GOD sent HIS Son to die on a cross that we might live and live abundantly, free from sickness, burdens, and depression. GOD never changes and HIS Word is always the same.  So don’t stop praying, keep believing and you will receive your blessing!

Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV)

For I am the Lord, I do not change. (Malachi 3:6a NKJV)

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8 NLT)

Words

I watched a sermon yesterday that suggested we be more selective with our words and we'll become more effective. After which I considered a fast from talking - but due to my family situation, I wouldn't be able to do a complete fast from talking, so I've decided to speak LESS and let those few words be MORE.

Instead of writing my thoughts, I'm only going to include some scriptures that I am trusting in right now - when GOD's Word is in you, HIS Words will come through you!

Words

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. (James 3:2 NLT)

Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (Proverbs 18:20, 21 NLT)

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. (Ephesians 4:29 NCV)

Speak FAITH not fear

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT)

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (1 John 4:4 NLT)

But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Isaiah 54:17 NLT)

If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. (Deuteronomy 28:13 NLT)

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. (Psalm 91:5-7 NLT)

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 NLT)

**(Revised 2/15/12) At the top of my Blog are tabs, one tab has a "Prayer Confession for our Words" by Kenneth Copeland, if you would like to take a type of 'Fasting of your Words' please read Copeland's book and then confess this prayer he wrote.

Healing by the Authority of Christ

Our beloved family dog, Jedi, was diagnosed with cancer this week and only given a month or so to live. BUT that diagnosis was from a human and I have a heavenly Father in heaven that created this universe and nothing is too difficult or too small for him! I’ve had to take a lesson from my blog’s title here and stir myself up, I’ve had to spend some time digging in scripture, singing praise and worship to my King and praying in the Spirit in between sobs, but I’ve stirred myself up, I’m fired up and I’m ready to battle!

I believe in healing, I believe in miracles, I believe that as child of GOD and sister in Christ and part of the body of Christ, that I have the authority of Christ, and as the Mother in our household, I have dominion over my children and our pets. I believe that GOD loves me and my family, and that he loves all HIS creations, I also believe because we care about our dog, as he is like one of our children; that means that GOD cares for him as well.

Here are a few of the scriptures we've been declaring over our Jedi:

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1 NKJV)

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. (Luke 10:19 NLT)

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:22, 23 NLT)

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16 NLT)

The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11 NKJV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good  things,  So that  your youth is renewed like the eagles. (Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV)

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great  is  our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding  is  infinite. (Psalm 147:3-5 NKJV)

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT)

He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:29-31 NLT)

"No unbelief or distrust made him (Abraham) waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised." (Romans 4:20-22 AMP)

This is the prayer we prayed over our Jedi today:

This victory is ours, the devil has no power over me or my household! He will depart and he will not be allowed back in, we have claimed victory in Jesus name, there will be no sickness and there will be no fear, with God at my side and the power of Christ, we have already won!! Thank you Jesus, the victory is ours and the people will see a miracle and many will believe, because we can do all things through Christ strengthens us!!

Expressing the Blessing by Guest Blogger: Heather Yanta

Heather Yanta is my guest Blogger today, a friend from school that I’ve been able to reconnect with and create a new and improved friendship through Facebook and the mutual love we share for GOD. Heather is also an admin on my Facebook page, Stir Me Up Lord, and has helped me personally through a trial I have been battling recently. She is a passionate believer in God's word, Wife and homeschool Mom from south Texas. I know you’ll enjoy her blog today and I promise you’ll be blessed!

  

In May of 2008, God brought me back to a place of actively seeking Him and the Kingdom through a book by Watchman Nee.  It was called Breaking the Outer Man and The Release of the Spirit.  As I read this book, I became increasingly aware that there was something IN ME that needed to come out.  It really opened my eyes....for all these years; I thought God needed me to submit my intellectual, mental and physical talents to Him for His use here on earth.  But as I read this book, God opened my eyes that He didn't need any of this and neither did others around me....He needed something on the inside of me, something deposited there by Him.

Well, this really piqued my interest.  I decided I wanted to find out what it was on the inside.  I realized that for so many years, I had been trying to give God my mind or other talents but had little knowledge of what precious deposit He had placed in my inner man, the real me, my spirit. Stirred by this new pursuit, I began seeking earnestly the Word of God.  Then I forgot about this book and what had sent me on this pursuit of knowing who I really was. 

Over the years, though, I have begun to learn a lot about who I am in Christ, about this Kingdom we have been translated into and the blessings & tools God has given us to complete His call. (at the end of this blog, will be a listing of the books & teachings that have marked me profoundly).

After almost 4 years of an intensive searching & researching of God's word, and seeing so many answers to prayers, miracles and changes in my life & in the lives of others, I can say this has been an awesome journey - and I know it's only the beginning. 

Recently, I cracked open that same Watchman Nee book....mainly out of nostalgia for this book that had shaken me so much and changed what I thought about me and my relationship with God.  As I re-read the book, I was overwhelmed in remembering the questions it had put in my mind about what exactly is it that God is trying to get out of me and what others need from me that will truly bless them.  However, this time, I knew that I had many (I'm sure not all) of the answers!

God has placed within me - Himself.  He has invested everything He is in me!  He has blessed me with dominion, authority and the ability to plant seeds and determine the future in the harvests my seed brings.  He has given me the ability to speak.  Words are how we express our dominion - our authority.  Words are a major source of the seeds that we plant in our hearts and in the hearts of others.  He has given me an imagination that can dream big and words that can speak those dreams into existence! 

Oh, how many of us use these very gifts He has given us against ourselves and others!  How many of us use these amazing imaginations to imagine every sort of bad thing that might happen while we worry, fret and ponder the circumstances of our lives.  Jesus said as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Yet we pay little attention to the thoughts we allow to float around in our mind. 

How many of us use words to tear down rather than build up, to plant seeds that bring negative harvests rather than life giving harvests!  Our words have the power of life and death, yet we just let words fly out of our mouths as if they don't really matter.  Worse yet....when a situation would benefit by a child of God opening their mouths with authority and dominion to bring life - we remain silent.

Or how many of us just don't think about or appreciate these gifts at all.  How many days we do go through our lives as if we are 'mere' humans facing life and situations with no hope, no authority, no ability to imagine and speak and change things.

We are filled with power.  Yet so many of us choose to not express that power or ignore it altogether.  Our words are filled with the creative power of God, yet we don't use them as we should. 

Out of our hearts flow the issues - the boundaries, the forces - of life.  How many of our hearts are stopped up with worry, unable to forgive, bitterness, strife, the cares of this world?  Oh, to remove all those things and let LIFE FORCES rush out of us and change situations!  To lay hands on the sick and they recover in the name of Jesus - whose we are and who we serve!   To see our prayers answered, our loved ones saved and God's kingdom expanded all around us.

I challenge you to not think so lightly of yourself any longer.  I beg you to begin to meditate on the word of God concerning all the blessings, power, life, and LOVE He has placed in you.  (Romans 5:5, Ephesians 1 and 3)  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure He wants us to yield our natural gifts & talents to Him as well....but those pale in comparison to the spiritual blessings He has invested in us.

Then watch how life changes as you YIELD all God has placed within you to Him - using your words, your imagination, your sowing & reaping, your love, your life forces - for His glory.  As we focus on doing this, we are truly seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  All those other things that we worry about God will take care of Himself!  (Matthew 6:33)

God has deposited Himself and all He is inside you.  Will you Yield these gifts to Him and watch how He can touch others through you, change you, and bring you into your destiny?

I will.  I refuse to live as a mere human any longer, but live to fully express the blessings within me.

Expressing the Blessing ~ that's my new focus in life!

Books Recommend by Guest Blogger, Heather Yanta

Contact with God: The Amazing Power of Prayer by Jeanne Wilkerson

Unseen Forces Beyond This World by Phillip and Fern Halverson

The Master is Calling by Lynne Hammond

The Blood and The Glory by Billye Brim

Any & everything by Charles Capps!

Love: The Way to Victory by Kenneth E. Hagin

The Believer's Authority by Kenneth E. Hagin

The Blessing of the Lord Maketh Rich by Kenneth Copeland

Mercy by Kenneth Copeland

The Law of Confession by Bill Winston

The Kingdom of God in You by Bill Winston

Transforming Your Thinking, Transforming Your Life by Bill Winston

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

To Know Him by Gloria Copeland

Blessed Beyond Measure by Gloria Copeland

Tell Them I Love Them by Joyce Meyer

The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word

You've Already Got It by Andrew Wommack

Day 6 of 21-Day Challenge: Boldness

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31 NLT)

BOLDNESS is actually translated from the Greek word, parrhesia (Strong’s #3954): Outspokenness, unreserved utterance, freedom of speech, with frankness, candor, cheerful courage, and the opposite of cowardice, timidity, or fear. Here it denotes a divine enablement that come to ordinary and unprofessional people exhibiting spiritual power and authority. It also refers to a clear presentation of the gospel without ambiguous or unintelligible. Parrhesia is not a human quality but a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

I want that kind of boldness, I want to walk without hesitation and fearlessly stand before man and share GOD’s love. I want to be a laborer that harvests a great number of souls for the Lord (1). I want to be a child after GOD’s own heart.  One day when I stand before our Lord, I want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”(2) Until my last breath, I want to fight the good fight, I want to finish the race, keeping my faith and lay a crown before my King.(3)

Jesus died for me, so I can live for HIM. I want to see Brothers and Sisters in Christ standing up for their faith, sharing GOD’s love, true doctrine and not preaching hatred.(4) I want to comfort the broken hearted and take care of the widows and orphans. (5) I want others to see a light shining in me and my family, to experience the joy and peace that this world can never deliver, that only the creator of the Heavens and earth can give. (6) I want to show people that it’s my relationship with Jesus Christ that has made me a new creation, not a religion of rules and hollow traditions. (7) There is a thirst inside every person that can only be filled by GOD, we were made to seek HIM and only by acknowledging Jesus as Lord can we be saved.(8)

That is my challenge for all today, be bold in our faith. Pray for boldness, strength, and the words to speak to non-believers. Ask GOD for encouragement in our boldness; ask GOD to allow you to bless and share HIS love with others. Pray for wisdom that we would follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance and not our flesh. Pray that people not only hear us speaking about GOD’s love, but see us sharing GOD’s love, so that we would be doers of GOD’s Word. Be bold in our faith so that when others see the trials we are going through, they will notice we are standing strong on the Solid Rock and not faltering in the howling winds from the storms of life.  Our faith in GOD and HIS Son, Jesus Christ, has set us free from the bondages of death and sin; so let us live with the boldness that our Savior has given us by HIS righteousness!

1)Matthew 9:37 NKJV

2)Matthew 25:21 NKJV

3)2 Timothy 4:7-8, Revelation 4:10

4) John 3:16-21, 1 John 4:16-20

5) Psalm 34:18, James 1:27

6) Mark 4:21, Romans 15:13, John 14:27

7) Luke 12:21, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew 23:1-33

8) John 4:10-14, 1 Chronicles 16:11-36, John 14:6-7, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13, Ephesians 2:8-9

Day 5 of 21-Day Challenge: Accountability

I’m going to pick up my 21-day challenge with accountability. Who are you accountable to? Do you have a Girlfriend in GOD  that you can go to and request her to stand in the gap for you? Have you ever thought of asking someone to help you with the areas of your faith or life that you struggle with? GOD created us to lean on HIM, yet HE also created us to need one another. Although my husband is my best friend, I still need girlfriends (sisters in faith) that can relate to our struggles and issues, but most importantly that we can encourage each other in our walk with GOD and have some accountability with.

I was on fire, I was doing so great with my 21-day challenge (well at least I thought I was), but out of the blue I was given the opportunity to go spend time away with my husband while he was at training in the states. It was wonderful since he was only going to be in country for 3 weeks and already had been gone for 3 months! I was encouraged by my mentors in my church, when they assured me that it’s okay to take time off from my blog, my FB page and my volunteer work at my church when my husband is home.

Unfortunately, I let that lack of accountability go a bit overboard during that time; I didn’t read my Bible or say my prayers during that time (I usually spend about an hour a day praying for others and reading my Bible and devotions). I learned this Sunday that the reasons for my behavior was rooted in fear.  I was afraid I was disappointing GOD, and ended up letting the enemy whisper his lies to me, I felt shame and guilt, so I avoided GOD, instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness.  I know I’m happiest when I’m close to GOD and following HIS will, so why did I allow myself to listen to those lies, was it the lack of accountability? If I had a girlfriend in God that I could be honest enough with and say, "I haven't been praying or reading my Bible, I feel terrible, I want to, but I keep coming up with excuses" maybe if I had someone to nudge me and say, "I know your hubby is home for a short time, but what if you just take 30 mins a day for GOD instead of your usual time...". In the end, the blame is all mine, but it's something that has been a burden to me and now that I'm getting back into my routine again, I needed to share this, to keep myself accountable and to hopefully encourage you if you've ever 'fallen off the wagon' before or if you ever do in the future. I’m comforted knowing that God never left me and because I have a repentant heart and spirit, I’m just as much a beloved child of GOD today as I was before. I also know that GOD teaches us, even when we don’t see a teachable moment or event in our life, GOD can use any circumstance to build up ourselves and others.