Acknowledge God in ALL Your Ways

Proverbs 3:6 (KJV) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


Proverbs 3:6 (AMP) In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.


Proverbs 3:6 (CEV) Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

Only God can make your crooked paths plain and straight!!!  Only God can clear the road ahead of you, so that you can follow HIM!!! 

Isaiah 45:2 (KJV) I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

What is God’s Best for our lives?

James 1:17 (CEB) ¹⁷ Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.

Best means that there is NOTHING that can be any better!!!
Perfect means as good as it can get or be!!!

So, when the Bible talks about every good gift, every perfect gift coming from the Father then there can be no other gift that is any better.  The gifts that come from above are the BEST!!!

So, if getting God’s Best means that there cannot be anything better for us, then God’s Best is Perfect!!!

Therefore, when we receive that Perfect gift, we are receiving God’s Best!!!  Wow!!!  That is so cool!!!  Just to realize that God’s Best for us is what is just right for us; what is Perfect for us!!!

We have been told that it is okay to compromise, and to settle.  After all, “You can’t have everything you want.”  And of course, “You just can’t have it all.” 

That’s NOT what God’s Word says!  It says delight in the Lord and He shall give us the desires of our heart!!!  Ps. 37:4    

We’ve been told, that we can’t always have everything our way.  I agree!!!  I certainly do not always get my own way.  And even though I sometimes think that would like to, I know that I can’t always have things my way.

But I also never said that I always know what is best for me.  But God does!!!  He knows what is BEST for each and every one of us.  That is why we have to pray and seek God for HIS Perfect Will for our lives, every day. 

It is a day-by-day process.  That’s why we shouldn’t wait to pray when things get bad, we need to make sure that God is in everything that we do.  Then we are ready when the trials come or when the going gets rough. 

Every day, we need to take time out to ask God to lead and guide us in everything that we plan to do.  Proverbs 3:6 (KJV) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We acknowledge God, by going to Him in prayer with our plans and saying, “Father, here are my plans for today.  What do you want me to do today?” 

We would be so blessed, if we would let God lead us.  We would do what God wants us to do and HE would help us get our stuff done, too.  Wow!  Wouldn’t that be nice?

When God is leading us and directing our paths, we can be ready for the unexpected.  We can be ready for those situations that just don’t feel right in our gut (or the pit of our stomachs.)   

Like when people come our way offering us something that looks or seems to be good, but we just get this funny feeling in the pit of our stomachs and for some reason, we feel uneasy!!!

That is the Holy Spirit, telling us that something is NOT right about what is being offered to us!!! 

All my life I have heard, “ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD!”  Today, this came to mind as I was writing.

All that glitters is not gold is a well-known saying, meaning that not everything that looks precious is precious.  Wiki-pedia

Appearances can be deceiving!!!  That is why we have the Holy Spirit!!  To reveal the truth to us.  John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Mark 4:22, Luke 8:17

So, how do I know that something is definitely from God???  2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV) ²⁰ For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

To make it very simple!!!  IF IT DOES NOT LINE UP WITH THE WORD OF GOD, THEN IT IS NOT TRUE, IT IS NOT RIGHT, AND IT IS NOT FROM GOD!!! 

Most likely, if you feel uneasy about something, then you need to take its measure!!!  Measure it against the Word of God.  See if it lines up.

Remember, God is NOT the author of confusion, but of peace.  1 Corinthians 14:33

So, if you can’t get any peace about a situation, you know it is NOT of God. 

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

 

And God tells us in HIS WORD…

Jeremiah 29:11 (CEB) ¹¹ I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.

         

You can't give up now!!!

You have to know that God hasn’t given up on you!!!  Don’t give up on Him!!!!  GOD IS GOING TO BRING YOU OUT!!!!

Sometimes, when we are trying so hard to STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD, it seems like ALL HELL breaks loose!!!  The devil starts attacking us from all sides!!!  But God reminds us that when we have done all to stand, we are to stand therefore. 

Ephesians 6:10-14  ¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.   God is NOT telling us to be strong in ourselves!  He is telling us to be STRONG IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!!! 

Wow, you mean I don’t have to do it all by myself???  Nope!!!  You can use THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT!!! 

¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

And guess what?  When you put on God’s armor, the devil can’t see who is inside of it!!!  “For all he knows, GOD could be inside that armor!!!” - Kenneth Copeland

Wiles (from the Free Online Dictionary) - Trickery; cunning; a trick intended to deceive or ensnare.  When the devil comes to trick, deceive or ensnare us, we have to stand against (resist) him!!!  And we can, if we are wearing God’s armor and walking in the Power of His Might!!! 

¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We have to remember that we are NOT wrestling against flesh and blood.  So, when the devil uses someone in a human body to come against us, we don’t slap them, tell them off or treat them ugly!!!  We have to pray and bind the enemy who is using them.  Luke 6:28, Matthew 18:18  

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When you think that there is NO WAY, that you can possibly stand any more, JUST HANG ON!!!  KEEP STANDING in FAITH and know that GOD is on His way to rescue you!!!

¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,

The loins are the very fiber of your being.  Your loins include your reproductive organs, as well as your spinal column. 

So, if you do NOT protect your loins, then NOT only can your enemy keep you from reproducing, but he can also paralyze you.  If he can keep you from moving around in a battle, that would be fatal!!!  If you are unable to move, then you cannot fight! 

That is why HIS WORD tells us that we have to girt up our loins; protect our very being by tightly wrapping the TRUTH around us!!! 

...and having on the breastplate of righteousness


The breastplate is a shield that covers the heart.  A wound to the heart will kill us, so we have to keep our HEARTS COVERED with HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; the righteousness that belongs to JESUS!

Our righteousness is as filthy rags…  Isaiah 64:6 

So, here the picture!!!


HERE WE ARE!!!  STANDING!!!  Doing all we can to hang on, ‘cause we know if we wait long enough…. 

And then we hear this SHOUT FROM HEAVEN!!!!  And suddenly, there is GOD ALMIGHTY, and HE looks just like RAMBO!!!!!! 

He’s putting a knife between His teeth and tying a rag around His head and He hollers down to us,  "I AM COMING TO GET YOU OUT!!!!" 

I just had to borrow this example from T.D. Jakes, ‘cause it really got me ALL FIRED UP!!!  And it REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART!!!!   I am telling you that I cried and I shouted on Sunday when I heard him use this example, when I heard him say that he could see GOD standing there, looking just like RAMBO!!!! 

And God just gave me this!!!  GOD NEVER LEAVES US BEHIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HE NEVER LEAVES A FALLEN SOLDIER BEHIND!!!  I was going to say a FALLEN MAN, but God said, "A FALLEN SOLDIER!!!"  That’s the one who has been and is fighting the GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!!! 
 

They may be weary and they may be worn, but they haven’t given up!!!  They may be wounded, bleeding and dying, but they refuse to quit fighting!!!  THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP!!!  

 

I stopped worrying about it!!!

If you are worrying, then you aren’t standing on the WORD of GOD.  And I can tell you that from personal experience!!! 

For several years now, from time to time, one of both of my ears would start to get sore.  Now, I don’t have much wax in my ears, so every morning I put alcohol in my ears to dry up the water that is left in them from showering and washing my hair. 

But every once in a while one of them would try to start getting sore.  

So, I would do something a woman of God had told me years ago.  I would heat up maybe ¼ of a tsp of sweet oil and put it in which ever ear was hurting.  Then I would wear cotton in my ear to keep the wind out.  And I would go on and forget about it.

I have been doing this for years!!! 

Earlier this summer, when I was doing a lot of swimming, my ears began to hurt off and on.  I say ears because sometimes the pain would shift from one side to another.  Now just about anyone would say that sounds strange.  

Finally, I got the one ear to stop hurting and being sore, but I couldn’t seem to get the other ear to stop hurting.  It would stop for a while and then start up again!!!

Mind you, all this time, I was going to the track and walking and listening to the Word of God.  Some of these messages were about healing.  I would listen and stand on the Word.  And that ear would stop hurting and then kind of sneaky-like, in a few days or maybe a week, it would start again.   
   

And I really couldn’t figure out why it would do that.  All I could figure out was that it was the devil.  You see it had to be him because there is good and there is evil.  I think we can all agree that an ear ache is NOT good!!! 

And we know that all good things come from God.  James 1:17

So, here I was with an ear that sometimes ached just a little or was sore, and then sometimes it would just ring.  It would not really hurt on those days; it would just ring.  I kept speaking the Word over it and doing a little doctoring on it.  And then one day when I was in a hurry, I forgot to heat-up the sweet oil.  BIG MISTAKE!!!  

After just a few minutes, I knew something was wrong.  I couldn’t hear.  So, now, I have this ear full of sweet oil and that is exactly what it felt like!!!  It felt like I had stuffed something down in my ear and it wouldn’t come out!!!  AND…  I COULDN’T HEAR!!! 

So, a week went by while I was praying over it and standing on the Word of GOD!!!  And my ear would clear up for just a little while and then I would realize that it was feeling full again and I couldn’t hear.    

So, then I got to worrying and I told God, “This is serious, God, I can’t hear!!!  You have got to do something!!!”  "I have prayed and I am standing on Your Word!!!  Why can’t I hear?  I am healed, but I can’t hear!  Why can’t I hear, God???" 

Then while a friend of mine and I were praying, God said to tell her to pray for my ear.  So, she did.  Then she said, “Oh! My!”  God had showed her a little tiny angel going down into my ear and taking something out!  She said it was black and it was a spirit, but it looked like a bug! 

I felt so good after she prayed for me, but I didn’t dare tell her that I still couldn’t hear.  I had expected for my ear to be totally healed after she prayed!!!  So, when I still couldn't hear, I got scared!!! 

Then of course the devil started to tell me that I had a bug down in my ear.  So, at first, that really freaked me out, but then I remembered that the devil is a liar.  John 8:44

So, here is what I would do:  I would go to the track at least 4 to 5 times a week, and I would pray and walk and listen to God’s WORD!!!  And as I walked, I would pray and confess these scriptures. 

I am standing on Is. 53:5 which says, …by His stripes I am healed, devil.  I have prayed the prayer of faith and I am standing on Mk. 11:23-24 which says, …That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 

Then I would say, I bind you satan because God’s Word in Mt. 18:18, says whatever I bind on this earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever I loose on this earth shall be loosed in Heaven.  And, Lord I believe that my ear is healed. 

Lord, the devil is trying to steal my hearing, and I have to be able to hear to preach the gospel.  I stand on Your Word, Lord which says in John 14:13-14, if I ask anything of the Father in Jesus’ Name, it shall be done!!!  I am saying that my ear is healed and I know it is done!!! 

And every morning when I woke up, I would check my ear, and when I couldn't hear, I would wonder if this was the day that my ear would be healed. 

So, finally, I began to cry out to God and say, "I just don’t understand God, why my ear still feels full.  I don’t understand why I can’t hear; I know that my ear is healed!  I just don’t understand this, Lord!!!" 

Then I finally got my answer!!!  You see, I knew that I had to be doing something wrong because I knew THE WORD worked!!!  I had stood on it so many times before in order to get my healing. 

As I was going to the track one day, God spoke to me.  He asked me what I usually did when the devil tried to make me have an upset stomach?  And as I thought about it the light came on!!!  

I said, “Well, Lord, I say, devil, you are a liar!!!  I refuse to be sick in Jesus’ Name" and I go on!  I don’t worry about it because I know that I am healed, and I don’t have time to be sick!”

And the Lord said, “Why don’t your do that with your ear and quit worrying about it!” 

I mean to tell you that all the bells and whistles started going off (in my mind) like what you see in the movies when someone is playing a slots machine and wins!!!! 

I don’t know how you feel when God reveals something good to you, but I was so excited!!!  I remember thinking, “I’ve got you now, you old devil, you!!!  I am gonna stomp you now!!!”

So, I would walk, and listen to my preaching messages and when the devil would say, “You still can’t hear.”  I would say, “Shut up, devil.  You are a liar!  I am healed in the Name of Jesus!!!”  And I refused to worry about it!!!  I just knew that I was healed!!! 

AND I STOPPED CHECKING MY EAR EVERY DAY TO SEE IF I COULD HEAR!!! 

Once I stopped worrying about my ear, and how soon I would be able to hear out of it again, “I got my healing!!!!”  I can’t even tell you when it happened!!!  Because I had truly stopped worrying about it!  I had decided to believe God’s Word and know that I was healed!!! 

After I realized one day that I could actually hear out of that ear, I told my friend.  She was so thrilled for me!!!

That doesn’t mean that I will never again have to fight for my healing!!! 
Anyone who preaches the Word will tell you that they preach what they have had to walk through. 

And then sometimes because they have preached the Word, they have to go through tests and trials to see if they can stand on the WORD!!! 

I am still a work in progress and I am still learning!!!  

BUT BY HIS STRIPES, I AM HEALED!!!  

Standing on the Word

How do I stand on the Word of God???  How do I know that I can have his promises???

To stand on God’s Word and His Promises, we must first find out what those 
promises are.  And how do we do that???  We must read HIS Word.  We must 
learn HIS WORD by studying it.  All of His Promises are in HIS WORD!!!!  

The truth is…  The only way we will ever get to know GOD is to spend time 
with Him in HIS WORD!!!  

Isn’t that how we get to know other people?  By spending time with them.  When we spend time with people, we get to know them and they get to know us.  In truth, we show people how much we really love them when we spend time with them!!! 

Isn’t it true, that we spend more time with the ones we love, than with anyone else???    

Just ask people!  I can guarantee you that folks will tell you that the people they value most are the ones that spend time with them.  They value your time more than anything else that you can give them.       

So, when we spend time with God, we are taking time to get to know Him.  His Word tells us all about Him!!!  It tells us what His promises are and how He thinks!  It tells us that although times may seem tough, that we only have to call upon Him, and He will answer us!  It tells us that when His people began to cry out to Him, He would always rescue them!!!

Look at Daniel in the lions' den.  In Daniel 6, God shut the mouths of those hungry lions.  Look how God rescued those 3 Hebrew men out of the fiery furnace.  The fire burned away the ropes that bound them, but it didn't touch a hair on their heads, nor did they smell like smoke. Daniel 3  

God delivered Jericho into the hands of the children of Israel after they walked around it for 7 days.  Hebrews 11:30  And when they shouted on that 7th day (like God told them to) and the walls crumbled and fell down flat.  They were able to walk right over those walls and go into the city.  Joshua 6 

God even threw great stones out of Heaven upon the enemies of the children of Israel during one battle!  The Bible tells us that there were more of the enemy killed by the hail stones that day than were killed by the sword.  Joshua 10 

Look at Gideon and how God called him to lead the children of Israel into battle and then confirmed that He was going to give the victory to Gideon.  Let’s get real!!!  God sent Gideon in to spy out the camp.  Then as Gideon and his servant got close to the enemies’ camp, they heard 2 men talking.  One man was telling his friend what he had dreamed the night before.  And the man's friend tells him that his dream means that God is going to give the city to Gideon!!!  Judges 7:9-15      

Just look at how God parted the Red Sea for the children of Israel.  And then He made the wind to blow all night long, so that the children of Israel could walk through the sea on dry ground.

Then when that mean old Pharaoh decided to come after them, God closed the Red Sea up so that Pharaoh and all his army were drown.  Exodus 14:13-31  So, not only did God kill their enemies, but the children of Israel didn’t even have to get their shoes muddy!  He loved them that much!!!    

On more than one occasion Jesus fed over 5000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.  A great multitude had followed Jesus out into the country side to hear Him preach and when He was finished, the disciples wanted to send them away.  But Jesus said that they had been with Him all day and that they needed to be fed.  He cared so much for them all!!!  Mark 6:33-44, Matthew 14:13-21 

In John 6:5-13, the disciples looked around and found one little boy that had brought his lunch.  The little boy gave them his lunch of 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. 

Jesus took that little lunch that the boy had given them so graciously and He blessed it and everyone there that day was fed.  Jesus had the disciples gather the leftovers so that nothing would be wasted!!!   

Just think what would happen if we would spend time with Him.  If only we would graciously give Him all that we have.  He would take all that we have and bless it and make so much more out of it!!!  And nothing in our lives would ever be wasted!!!  

Ephesians 3:20 King James Version (KJV)  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Ephesians 3:20 Common English Bible (CEB)  Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us.

You know some folks would like to say that all these things and that all God’s promises are only made to the Jewish people, but God knows everything.  And He has it all covered.  It’s in His Word! 

Ephesians 3:5-8  Contemporary English Version (CEV)  ⁵No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets. ⁶And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises that God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.

⁷God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. ⁸ I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured.


God tells us in His Word that He will bless us!!!  He says that His promises are ours!!!  He says that He will open up the windows of heaven… 

Malachi 3:10  Contemporary English Version (CEV)  I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.

Luke 6:38 (KJV)  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.

Psalm 23:5 (KJV)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:5 (CEV)  You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.

God is so good to us!  He wants all of us to know and to have His Promises!!!  His promises are in His Word!!!  And they are for whosoever will!!! 

If we will only believe what He says in His Word!!!  And stand in FAITH and say, I believe, no matter what happens!!!  I choose to believe what God says in His Word and I WILL SEE IT COME TO PASS!!! 

 

Mark 11:22-24 Common English Bible (CEB) ²² Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! ²³ I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you.

Mark 11:22-24 (AMP) ²²And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].  ²³Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.  ²⁴For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

We first have to get in the Word and learn it!  Then we take The Word, that we now know and we hide it in our hearts. 

Colossians 3:16 (AMP) Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

Proverbs 2:1-12 (KJV)  ¹My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; ²So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

³Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;   ⁴If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

⁵Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. ⁶For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
 
⁷He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. ⁸He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

⁹Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. ¹⁰When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

¹¹Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: ¹²To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things
  

Faith Is...

What is Faith???    Faith is trust, hope and belief in the goodness, trustworthiness or reliability of a person, concept or entity.  It can also refer to beliefs that are not based on proof.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith

The Word of God says in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  

In the Amplified Bible it says:  Heb. 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Everyone knows that if I buy a car or a piece of land, I am going to get a deed or title showing that it belongs to me.  Having the car’s title shows (or proves) to anyone who sees it that I own the car and that I am entitled to drive it or give it to someone.  I can do what I want with the car because I own it.  For a piece of property, having the deed not only shows that I own the property, but it also shows that I have the right to pour a foundation and build a house on my property.  


OUR FAITH entitles us to the promises in God’s Word!!!  We can use His Promises to change our lives.  We can and should build the foundation of our lives on the Word of God!!! 

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 Common English Bible (CEB) ¹⁰ I laid a foundation like a wise master builder according to God’s grace that was given to me, but someone else is building on top of it. Each person needs to pay attention to the way they build on it. ¹¹ No one can lay any other foundation besides the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

        

So, how do I get Faith and where does it come from? 

Well, Heb. 12:2 calls Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  

So, now we know that Faith comes from God!!!  Could it be that simple??  Yes, it is!  The Word says,   …to every man the measure of Faith is given.  Romans 12:3 

It does NOT say A MEASURE OF FAITH.  (As in Kathy gets a whole bunch and Susie gets just a little bit!!!)  NO!!!  It says, THE MEASURE of FAITH. 

Meaning that no matter who I am or what I have done God has given me the same amount of faith that HE gave Billy Graham and Kenneth Copeland.  I can just hear someone now saying, “Well, that just can’t be true!!!  Both of those men are great men of FAITH!!!”

What we need to realize is this.  Faith is like having muscles.  Actually, God just said, “It is just like having muscles because everyone has muscles and God gave them to us!!!”

And we all know that the more we exercise our muscles, the more they grow.  They get large and stronger, as long as you keep working them.  But if you don’t use them for a while, then you can almost watch them melt or shrink away.  You get puny and weak!!!  

The same thing happens with FAITH.  The more we exercise or use our Faith, the stronger our Faith becomes.  The more our Faith will grow!!!  But when we don’t use our Faith, we become puny and weak!!! 

So, how do we keep our Faith going strong??? 

We read The Word of God and let it feed our Faith, just as food feeds our muscles.  Just as we have to eat good food for our body to grow strong, we have to feed our Faith in the Word of God for it to grow strong. 

Romans 10:14 Contemporary English Version (CEV) How can people have faith in the Lord and ask Him to save them, if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them?  The Common English Bible says, And how can they hear without a preacher?


Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  There are several ways that we can hear the Word of God!!!  We only have to choose one:  Church, TV, Radio, Tapes, CD’s, and now mp3’s.  And of course, we need to read and study. 

2 Timothy 2:15 Common English Bible (CEB) Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.

That means that we have to get in the Word and study it, so we will know what God is saying to us in His Word.  It is like taking a test and refusing to even open the book.  EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS IN THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ALL THE ANSWERS ARE IN THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Why do we have to have FAITH???  And do we really need FAITH?  Yes.  Without Faith, you cannot please God. 

Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Cast Your Cares on the Lord

Take your cares, your troubles, and even your heartaches to the LORD!!!  He’s big enough to handle them ALL!!!!

1 Peter 5:7 (CEV) God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him.


1 Peter 5:7 Amplified Bible (AMP) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

You know, sometimes we just do NOT understand what is happening in our lives!!!  Or maybe it is in the life of our child or a close friend!!  We just don’t understand what God is doing!!!  Or why certain things are happening!!!  



That is when we have to realize that God sees the whole picture.  He sees the future!!!  He doesn’t just see today or tomorrow.  He sees what will happen in 20 or 30 years!!!  Or maybe 50 years down the road!!!!! 

He doesn’t see just who we are, but who we will become!!! 

 

Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) 


⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.


Years ago, I realized that "FATHER really does know BEST!!!"  We need to learn to trust God and to understand that He loves us and wants the best for us! 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)


⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)


⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 

⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

You know, I would rather trust in God, and do things HIS way and know that He will make a way for me!!!  God knows where the traps in life are and where there are bumps in the road.  He knows when life will seem so hard than I just want to runaway and hide or have him stop the world so I can get off!!! 

Psalm 18:30 (AMP) As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

Proverbs 14:12 (AMP) There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

He even tells us that He will make our crooked places straight!!! 

Isaiah 45:2-3 (KJV)


² I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 
³And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

God knows where the truly good things in life are!!!  He knows where to find the green pastures, the clear, clean rivers, and yes, He even knows where to find the smooth roads in life!!!      

   

Psalm 23:1-6


¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.   

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  

⁴Yea, 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.  

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

Do You Ever Get...

Do you ever get upset, frustrated, scared, worried, stressed out, or just plain mad???

Well, quite frankly, if you NEVER feel one of these ways, then either someone has been putting happy drops in your tea, or …..    Hmmm…….  You could be telling a big fat ….. 

It is one thing to feel that way some of the time, and it is another thing to KEEP feeling that way!!! 

I can already hear someone saying, “Do you mean to tell me that you don’t always feel peaceful, Kathy???”  And if I said, that my life was always perfect and I always had perfect peace, then I would be a liar!!!! 

You know, there are even shirts that say, “STUFF HAPPENS!!!”  And we’ve all heard, “Someone must have peed in his Post Toasties!!!” or “She must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed!!!”  Or, what about, “Did it rain on your parade??? 

Well, sometimes, I just want to holler at the top of my lungs, “YES!!!!  IT DID!!!” 

Of course, then everyone, but the devil would be running and hiding!!!  And, he’d be standing there, laughing at me!!! 

Sometimes, it’s a battle to be “UP!” or Stay Happy!!! or Be peaceful, all the time!!!  BUT, IT IS A BATTLE THAT WE CAN WIN!!!  To be truthful, I have to fight this battle more often than I would like to admit!!!  That’s what the Word means when it says, the violent take it by force!!!      

When I feel sad or discouraged or something is bothering me, the Lord always reminds me of these words:  Let not your heart be troubled…

John 14:27 (KJV) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Amplified Bible really breaks it down!!!  John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] 

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Truthfully, the Lord doesn’t want us to be upset!!!  When we are upset, we do unwise things, and we make unwise choices!!!  And sometimes, we let our mouths overload our butts!!!  Of course, I am sure that I am the only that has ever done that!!!  

So, what should I do, when bad things happen to me, or my friend doesn’t treat me right, or everything doesn’t go my way???  Or as Joyce Meyer says, “My neighbor’s dog keeps pooping on my lawn!!!” 

Well, first I say, “God, you are gonna have to help me!!!  Then I “zip my lip” until I can pray and I begin to feel His Peace flood my soul!!! 

God often reminds me of these 3 scriptures:  Philippians 4:7 (KJV) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

John 14:27 (KJV) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

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

I keep these 3 scriptures in my cell phone, so I can find them when I need them.  ("The Word of God is medicine to my soul."  -  Apply when needed!!!)   

God also reminds me, that I can have whatsoever I ask in Jesus’ name and that if I confess with my mouth and do not doubt in my heart, I shall have whatsoever I say!!!  John 14:13-14 & Mk. 11:23-24     

The Lord has always spoken this scripture to me when I could not understand what was happening!!!  It has always brought such peace to my soul to knowing that God is in control.  Romans 8:28 (KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 

Here are some more scriptures that God gave me as I was writing, today!!! 

John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

Romans 8:37 (KJV) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.  (Click here to read this same verse in the Amplified Bible.)

When I read that verse, I think of being the person that gets to spend all the riches that have been won in war.  My beloved has gone into battle, has won the war, and brought home all gold, jewels of all sorts, and other riches that he has taken from the enemy!!!  

So, I know that I am more than a conqueror because I read the back of the book and we win!!!  We will rule and reign with Christ Jesus!!! 

Well, now I am all cheered up!!!  I am ready to go kick the devil’s butt!!!  I must admit, when I get to talking about my God and reading His Word, I get all excited!!!  

By His Stripes

Did you know that Jesus died NOT ONLY to save us from our sins, but also to set us free from sickness and disease? 

He also wants us to be set free from all the things that hinder us!!!  Pain, stress, worries, anxiety and any other thing that cause us grief or suffering!!!   

It tells us so in His Word!!!  1 Peter 2:24 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Isaiah 53:4-6 ⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  ⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Here are only a few of the many scriptures in the Bible that tell us how Jesus healed all those who came to HIM!!!  Jesus healed all those that asked to be healed!!  

Matthew 8:2-3, 5-7²And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ³And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

⁵And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, ⁶And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. ⁷And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

Matt. 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matt. 12:15  …great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.

LUKE 6:17-19  ¹⁷…and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.  ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

LUKE 9:10-11  ...And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. ¹¹And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

You know, Joyce Meyer says, that we believe the things that WE say out of our mouths more than what anyone else says about us!!!

YOU can Claim Your Healing by standing on these scriptures.  1 Peter 2:24 & Is. 53:5 …by HIS stripes, I am healed!!!   

Mk. 11:23-24 …but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. ²⁴Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.   

John 14:13-14 ¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Remember:  1) Ask, 2) Believe that you receive, and 3) Confess your healing with your mouth!!!  When the devil comes to tell you that you didn’t get it, just say to him, devil, you are a liar!!!  

I am standing on Is. 53:5 which says, by His stripes I am healed.  I am also standing on John 14:13-14 because Jesus says if I ask for anything in His Name He would do it!!!  And I am confessing with my mouth that I am healed according to Mk 11:23-24!!!

Please know that if I had listed all the healing scriptures that I have found, this post could and would have gone on forever!!!  I found this list of Healing Scriptures to be very useful in helping a friend!!!  (Just click on the link.)  This is only one of many sites that have scriptures!  Be sure to double check any scripture you find.  I love to use Bible Gateway because of its many Bibles!!!

 

Jesus is the Answer

Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 (Sorry, but I posted after midnight.)

Today as I was thinking about what to post, I could hear this song in my head!!!  Jesus Is The Answer for the World Today…

Jesus Is The Answer
(Here are the some of the words to this song!!!)

Chorus:
Jesus is the Answer for the World Today
Above Him there's no other, Jesus is the way
Jesus is the Answer for the World Today
Above Him there's no other, Jesus is the way

Last Verse:
He's the truth and the light (Jesus is the way)
No one comes to the Father (Jesus is the way)
Except by the Son (Jesus is the way)
That's all because Jesus is the way!

I am not sure how many times I have heard this song, but I had no idea that the last 4 verses were scripture, let alone that they were some of the very same scriptures that I have been studying!!!

Here’s what happened that lead me to this study!!!  

The other day, one of my prayer partners and I prayed for a dear friend of mine to be saved, and set free!  As a true and wise woman of God, my friend prayed that the truth be shown to this person.  She prayed that God would open up this person’s eyes, so that he/she would see the truth!!!   

After we prayed my friend explained to me why she had prayed for the truth to be shown to this person.  She shared with me how she had come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior!!  She told me that God had opened up her eyes and had shown her the truth, so that she could accept Christ as her savior.   

After she shared her awesome experience with me, I kept hearing these words!!!  “The Truth shall be revealed!”

I didn’t hear these words just once, but over and over again!!  Even as I lay down to rest, I would hear in my heart, “The TRUTH shall be revealed!!!” 

Finally, The Lord said to me, “You can’t make others see the truth, but you can pray that it be revealed to them!!!” 

As I sought the Lord about this, He brought these words to my mind:  I am the way, the truth, and the life.

I have heard this scripture many, many times, but I had to look it up!!!  And when I did, I found this familiar scripture.  John 14:6 (KJV) ⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

So, when the Lord said to me that the Truth would be revealed, He was referring to the fact that His Son, Jesus Christ, will be revealed to all the earth and all those in the earth!!!

We have a choice!!!  We can choose to accept Jesus and to get to know Him!!!  We can find out how much He loves us!!! 

Here are Jesus’ words to his followers.  John 8:31-32 (KJV) ³¹Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³²And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Both the Contempory English Version (CEV) and the Common English Bible (CEB) say, ³²You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  

The last part of that verse just rings in my soul!!!  “And the truth shall set you free!!!” 


We can choose to be free!!!  If we ask Him, Jesus will free us from anything that tries to hold on to us: drugs, alcohol, sex, sickness and disease, and anything else that is trying to take over our lives!!!  He will help us deal with other people and He will show us how to stand up for ourselves in the right way!!!  He will help us to deal with our own emotions (anger, depression, and fear.) 

There is nothing that you can think of that is too big for Jesus to handle!!!

You see, whether we like it of not, the Bible says that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord!!!  Phil. 2:9-11  (KJV) ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And HE is NOT just talking about every earthly knee (meaning us.)  He is also talking about every devil in Hell!!! 

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the devil isn’t real!!!  He is very real and he wants to trick us into thinking that we don’t need Jesus!!!  The devil wants us to think that we can do things by ourselves!!!  That we don’t need anyone!!!  And yet, he knows, there are only 2 paths to choose: good or evil!!! 

It’s your choice today!!   Will you choose good or evil?  Will you choose eternal life or eternal damnation?    

Will you let Jesus make all your crooked places straight??? 

Will you choose our Father in Heaven that knows how many hairs you have on your head?  Will you choose The God that knew you before you were formed in your Mama’s womb?  The God that knew you before you were a twinkle in your Papa’s eye???