Faith Refresher 3

Bill Winston Faith Refresher

Bill Winston Faith Refreshner 1

The Power of Life & Death

The Power of Life & Death

At “new birth”, you receive the authority to become a child of God. Authority is effective only if it is exercised. The potential of the “new birth” at salvation is unlimited! However, the actual results you see in your life depend on the exercise of authority that goes with it. In other words, what you will become or see released in your life is determined by the extent to which you exercise your God-given authority.
In verse 1 and 2 of Deuteronomy 19, Moses deals with the cause of blessings:

“If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments… all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God…”

More literally, the first part could be translated, “If you will LISTEN LISTENING to the voice of the Lord your God…” The repetition of the verb “to listen” gives added emphasis. Simply stated, the conditions for enjoying the blessings are:
FIRST: Listening to the voice of God
SECOND: Doing what He says.
Blessings are promised to those who hear and obey his voice.
In Deuteronomy 28:15, Moses states the primary cause of all curses:
“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…”
The cause of curses is exactly the opposite to that of blessings. They result from not hearing God’s voice and not doing what He says. The refusal to hear and obey God’s voice can be summed up in one word: REBELLION.
The meaning of curse in the Hebrew, as it is used here is “vilification.” Let’s really process what this word means:
To vilify is:
1: to lower in estimation or importance;
2: to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame.
The main vehicle of both blessings and curse is WORDS! What you speak is a result of who you believe you are! What is in you, will eventually come out! In Hebrews 11:3, God’s Word declares that “the worlds were framed by the word of god.” If creation would have remained in the heart of god and never proceeded out of the mouth of god, there would be no world today. Say what you want not what you see!

“ An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour:
but through knowledge shall the just be delivered”
Prov 11:9 KJV

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life:
but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
Prov 15:4 KJV

“ Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Prov 18:21 KJV

“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth –
thou art taken with the words of thy mouth”
(Prov 6:2)

The Apostle James had much to say about the use of words. He points out that the tongue is a small member of the body, but the hardest of all to control:

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
James 3:5-8

James emphasizes the tremendous power that words have to affect people…. either for good or for evil. You hide yourself from the enemies in your life by speaking His Word. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit..put it in your mouth and speak it!

“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips,
I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer”
Ps 17:4

When you speak the Word of God over yourself, you are establishing yourself. His Word causes you to be stable and not waver.
Our mouth gives expression to what we think, feel and want. Your words reveal what you believe. What you speak is a result of who you believe you are! I’ve talked with you about how the main vehicle of both blessings and curses is WORDS! You must exercise your authority to choose what you speak – whether you will “vilify” or whether you will “kneel.” God wants to transform you into His original intention – a mighty vessel of honor, used to bring heaven to earth in His mighty name!

Fear Leads To Worry

Fear Leads to Worry

by Joyce Meyer - posted April 29, 2016

And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?
—Matthew 6:27
Fear and worry are closely related. You might say fear is the parent of every kind of worry because every worry starts as a fear. The Bible clearly teaches that God’s children are not to worry. When we worry, we rotate our minds around and around a problem and come up with no answers. The more we do it, the more anxious we feel. When we worry, we actually torment ourselves with a type of thinking that produces no good fruit. Worry starts with our thoughts, but it affects our moods and even our physical bodies.
A person can worry so much that it makes them feel depressed and sad. Worry places stress on your entire system and causes a lot of physical ailments like headaches, tension in muscles, stomach problems, and many other things. It never helps, and it does not solve our problems.
We can worry about hundreds of different things, from what people think of us to what will happen to us as we age. How long will we be able to work? Who will take care of us when we get old? What happens if the stock market crashes? What if gas prices go up? What if I lose my job? Quite often, worry does not even have a basis or a nugget of truth to it. There is no known reason to even think about the things that worry and then frighten us.
The only answer is to stop worrying by placing your trust in God. He has the future all planned, and He knows the answer to everything. What we worry about frequently never happens anyway, and if it is going to happen, worrying won’t prevent it. God’s Word promises us that He will take care of us if we trust in Him.
Trust in Him: What are you worrying about? Cast your cares on Jesus. He wants you to trust Him with every thought, burden, and worry that you’re carrying because He’s fully capable of taking care of you (see 1 Peter 5:7).

Bill Winston: The Life Of Faith: 3

Bill Winston: The Life of Faith 2

Bill Winston: The Life of Faith 1

Making Our Lives Matter

Making Our Lives Matter

Hirshel Jaffe | April 19, 2016 | Inspiring, Living

When I was diagnosed with leukemia I thought, “Why not me?” As a rabbi visiting patients for so many years, I realized that no one is immune and anyone can get sick – the rich and the poor, the young and the old. My childhood nickname was “Sunshine”, and with my bright outlook and positive spirit I asked the doctor, “What can we do?”
The belief in the possibility of hope is the narrative of the Jewish people. We have historically been geniuses of hope. The gateway to Hell in Dante’s Divine Comedy has the inscription, “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” Playwright Eugene O’Neill said, “Human hope is the greatest power in life and the only thing that defeats death.”
False hope is dysfunctional, and can lead to to disillusionment. False hope makes people vulnerable to hucksters and simplistic “pie in the sky by and by.” But we can believe in the extraordinary around us.

The quality of hopefulness should not be left to chance. Hopefulness comes from immersing our lives in values larger than ourselves, enabling our lives to touch the eternal and leave a lasting impression on the world.

One of the problems of living in a self-centered culture is that we avoid dedicating ourselves to changing the world for the good of others. Why is it that so many World War II veterans are reported to have looked back on their experience as the best part of their lives? Why is it that many people do not start living until they face the end of their lives?
It is because deep within us we want our existence to matter. We worry that we may leave without having and impact, that the fact that we lived will never be noticed or remembered. That we may have lived for nothing.
If my people could overcome the despair of the death camps, then certainly life can be filled with hope each and every day. The song of the Jewish partisans during the Holocaust proclaims, “Never Say You Walk the Final Road!”
As long as we live and breathe, hope glimmers within; with our every act and encounter we can touch other lives. In his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” the psychiatrist Victor Frankl describes how he endured the Nazi concentration camps and lost almost all of his family in the Holocaust.
While Frankl was in Dachau and Auschwitz he observed that how the prisoners reacted differently to the same conditions of great suffering. Frankl discovered that he people who had a greater chance of surviving were those who set a purpose for themselves. Their positive attitude attitude helped the to triumph over their circumstances; for example to cling to the hope that they would be reunited with their loved ones.

Frankl says we can’t always chose the circumstances of our ordeals, but we can and must chose how we will react to suffering and adversity.

No matter what our plight, we are free to chose our attitude toward the tough times. @TheRunningRabbi
(Click to Tweet!)

So we can find meaning and hope even in the darkest days.
In the words of the Psalmist. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”

Thought For The Day

"When you say no to the wrong people, it opens up the space For The Right People To Show Up.:)
"Peace and Blessings" Pete Ross

Todays's Word With Joel and Victoria

Today’s Scripture “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” (Proverbs 4:18, ESV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Enjoy the Journey Oftentimes, people tend to get wrapped up and busy with things that don’t really matter in eternity. It’s easy to get consumed by your career and stay focused on your goals. It’s good to work hard, but you’ve got to learn how to play hard, too, so that you can stay in balance. I heard somebody say, “It’s not that life is so short, it’s that we wait so long to begin living.” If we want to truly enjoy the journey of life, we have to take time to stop and smell the roses. Do you appreciate the people you love? Do you hug your children before you leave each day and give your spouse a kiss? When was the last time you called your parents to tell them how much you love them? That’s how we can enjoy the journey. If you’ll stay determined to enjoy the journey of life, you’ll live with no regrets. You’ll see your path shine brighter and brighter, and at the end, you’ll be able to say, “I made the most of my life. I enjoyed my family. I enjoyed my friends. I finished my course with joy.” A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life. Teach me to enjoy my relationships more because they are all that matter in eternity. Help me to enjoy the journey of life as my path shines brighter and brighter until the full day in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

A Rock Solid Foundation

A Rock-Solid Foundation

by Joyce Meyer - posted April 23, 2016

[Jesus] said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:15-16
— Matthew 16:15-16
When Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, it was a statement of faith. In making this statement, Peter was displaying faith.
I don’t think Peter just casually or nonchalantly made that statement. I think he did it with a surety and a certainty that impressed Jesus because He immediately turned to Peter and told him that he was blessed. Then He went on to say that it was upon this rock-solid foundation of faith that He would build His church.
Jesus was saying to Peter, “If you maintain this faith, it will be a rocklike substance in your life upon which I will be able to build My kingdom in you, and through you. Your faith will be developed to the place that even the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against you.”
There have been many times in my life when I have been discouraged and not known what to do, or felt that nothing was working and that everybody was against me. The words I have heard over and over again are, “Only believe.”
This promise was not just for Peter alone. Jesus is saying the same thing to you and me. Only believe!

Suddenly: Deliverance

Suddenly: Deliverance

Whatever has restricted, confined, limited and held you back - the foundation of it is about to be rocked! God desires to break the yoke that would confine you and hold you back from His destiny for your life. GOD HAS A SUDDENLY FOR YOUR DELIVERANCE!

Destiny is often delivered through the doorway of difficulty. Looking at David’s life, we see God’s kingdom principles at work. David had to go to Ziklag before Zion, or “the Battle before the Breakthrough.” There might be a battle in my life, but it indicates my breakthrough. Sometimes, God decides He is going to sovereignly do a thing. The God who works miracles sometimes just decides He is going to deliver you SUDDENLY! Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit, He delivers you instantly! Not because of your fight, or because of anything you’ve done to earn it, but because God sovereignly declares that you shall be free in the name of Jesus!
We often think because we are called and committed to God, we won’t go through difficult times. The truth is quite the opposite – Jesus said in the world we would have trouble, but not to fear because He had already overcome the world. Your faith doesn’t stop “life”; it carries you through life. God has deliverance for every trouble you face!
God split the Red Sea in half so an estimated one million people could walk through on dry land to safety. God’s people were taken out of slavery and released into freedom, where they were embarking on a journey to their Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. I want to tell you today that we, too, have a “Promised Land,” but we have to be free to pursue it! That’s why God has a suddenly deliverance for you!
Jesus feels our pain, our grief, our sorrows, and as our High Priest has a supernatural ability to sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). He truly understands the things that hurt us, and is capable of empathizing completely with our conditions and our past wounding. Many of us have been through disaster, life-shattering episodes that changed everything. But God doesn’t want us to hurt, He wants to deliver us completely!

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake,
so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:
and immediately all the doors were opened,
and every one's bands were loosed.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep,
and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword,
and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling,
and fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord,
and to all that were in his house.
Acts 16:25-32

If there is anything that is keeping you anchored to cares of the world, or keeping you from God’s best, I want you to do this right now. I want to share with you 5 steps to approaching God for deliverance:

1. Acknowledge and renounce.
   

Acknowledge what is really going on to God. Speak truth to God and ourselves. Renounce anything that has had control over you.

2. Forgive.
   

Overcome bitterness and gain freedom by releasing others from their sins. Forgiveness is for you, not them!

3. Submit.
   

Submit to God and His way of doing things.
Every good and perfect gift is from Him!

4. Take responsibility.
   

Take responsibility of your own actions to gain full freedom.
Never give anyone or anything the credit for what you do, except God!

5. Disown.
   

Disown sinful influences that come from associations.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:30, “If your right arm causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it far from you!”
The definition of “restoration” is the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it and/or cleaning it. Restoration is the act of bringing back something that existed before as well as the act of returning something that was stolen or taken. This is everything that God wants to do for you! God has FREEDOM in a PROMISED LAND for you! God sees you not from your current condition, but from your future state!   God is the same yesterday, today and forever - it is always God’s desire to see His people set free, so they can move into destiny!  In this season, God has a suddenly deliverance for you!

What Forgiveness Really Is

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES God's Prescription for a Healthy Life

What Forgiveness Really Is By Rick Warren — Apr 23, 2016 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34a NIV). Forgiveness may be the most misused, misapplied, and misunderstood quality in our culture. We think we know what forgiveness is all about, but we really don’t. Before reading further, take a minute to do this little quiz by deciding if each statement is true or false. A person should not be forgiven until he asks for it. Forgiving includes minimizing the offense and the pain caused. Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship. You haven’t really forgiven until you’ve forgotten the offense. When you see somebody hurt, it is your duty to forgive the offender. When you read the Bible and see what God has to say about forgiveness, you discover that all five of those statements are false. How did you do? We’re going to spend the next few days looking at what forgiveness really is, because most people don’t understand forgiveness. First, real forgiveness is unconditional. There’s no attachment to it. You don’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. You don’t bargain for it. Forgiveness is not based on a promise to never do it again. You offer it to somebody whether they ask for it or not. When Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” nobody had asked for it (Luke 23:34a NIV). Nobody had said, “Please forgive me, Jesus, for what we’re doing to you.” He just offered it. He took the initiative. Second, forgiveness isn’t minimizing the seriousness of the offense. When somebody asks for your forgiveness and you say, “It’s no big deal. It really didn’t hurt,” that actually cheapens forgiveness. If it wasn’t a big deal, you don’t need forgiveness and you don’t need to offer it. Forgiveness is only for the big stuff. You don’t use it for slights that are just minor issues. If something really requires forgiveness, then you should not minimize it when somebody asks you for forgiveness. You shouldn’t say it wasn’t a big deal. It was a big deal! If it wasn’t a big deal, just say, “You don’t need to ask forgiveness.” But if it is a big deal, then you need to admit it. There are a lot of big deals in life. Have you noticed that? But there is a difference in being wounded and being wronged. Being wounded requires patience and acceptance, not forgiveness, because the person did it unintentionally. Being wronged requires forgiveness. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are the wounds you’ve been waiting for someone to apologize for that you just need to accept? Why is it so hard to offer forgiveness to someone who has not asked for it? How can you move past this? How does your attitude on forgiveness change when you consider how Christ forgave you?

Prayer & Restoration

Prayer & Restoration

“Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:17-20

Prayer is simply communication with God. Relationships need to be cultivated to grow. We do that through communication. Just like relationships with other people, communication with God strengthens your connection to Him. He is always there, and He is always speaking, but we are not always listening. Prayer keeps you in tune with God’s heart, voice and direction for your life. As you pray and your connection with God through Jesus Christ begins to grow, your life shifts into a different place – a place of greater victory and where the promises of God await you. Everything in your life flows out of this one relationship – your relationship to God through Christ Jesus.
There are a few things to keep in mind as you become restored into everything that God would have you become. God’s original intention for you – before you came to be in your mother’s womb is his final decision for your life! These are your principles for restoration as you execute effective prayer.
In the text above, Nehemiah has a plan. He has a strategy to rebuild that which has been broken down. Like God, Nehemiah is a master strategist with a systematic, step-by-step plan of action. Success is not a secret; it is a “system”!
In our text, Nehemiah will assemble the people, which will aggravate and activate the enemy. The enemy doesn’t mind you “dreaming” – he minds you “doing”! He minds you being a part of something that is bigger than just you. Your action of obedience to God sends a chilling message to the kingdom of darkness. You’re a threat!
Just like Nehemiah, the minute you receive the Word and step out in faith on the Word God has given you, you will face opposition. But Nehemiah is already going to rally the people behind him to encourage them.
Nehemiah’s first words to the people of God called to rebuild the wall and the city reveal God’s perspective of things. “Ye see the DISTRESS (evil, bad, adversity) that WE are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste and that the gates thereof are burned with fire. Come let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that WE be no more a reproach (disgrace, shame).” In other words, let us, by building our walls, put an end to the miserable condition which gives our adversaries occasion to reproach us. They were sick of being ashamed of who they were, and sick of existing in the current condition!
Like the Psalmist cried out in Psalms 22:6-8 NIV:
“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
If you ever have a vision of something great, you will have to have people who believe in you and support you. You won’t have to prime them, pump them, deceive them, market to them or really even network a whole lot. There is nothing wrong with most of those things, but God will bring people to you to champion His cause. Nehemiah says to the people God brought there, “Let us build up the wall.”
Nehemiah energizes people by speaking the truth and proclaiming his faith and what God has shown him. He says where they are and where they want to be and declares, “We can do this because, the hand of God is good on me.” Nehemiah knew that if God says, “yes” it doesn’t matter what man says “no”.
The people responded with a clarion call.. “LET US RISE UP and BUILD.” There was no restoration until the people united in agreement and aligned with Nehemiah, and by extension with God’s plan and purpose. They strengthened their hands for this good work. This word “STRENGTHENED” means “bind together in covenant.” The people covenanted together for the cause with their power, influence, resources, talents and favor.
This is exactly what gets the enemy drawn to them – because they are challenging the enemy’s dominion with the powerful force of unity and agreement. Remember, every step forward for you is a loss for the kingdom of darkness. When you step forward in unity and agreement with other believers, how much greater the gain is for you and the kingdom of God! When purpose begins to manifest in your life, the enemy gets intimidated because you are now a threat.
Nehemiah had the power of unity; one people with one God working towards one cause! Psalms 133: 1-3 KJV says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
When the people of God came together assembled, it aggravated and activated the enemy. You don’t conquer without conflict; you don’t win without war.
“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
The three who challenged Nehemiah represent three things – Sanballat represents Satan. Tobiah represents the carnal mind and Geshem represents the world system, or world’s way of doing things apart from God.
The builders of the wall were surrounded by the lands of the people of their enemy on every side. That’s where they first challenge Nehemiah. Nehemiah replies three things clearly. Rebuilding the wall was God’s work; they are God’s servants, and Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem had no part in the matter.

“the God of all heaven, He will prosper us, therefore we His servants will arise and build but ye have no portion (inheritance), Nor Right (Righteousness), nor memorial (memory or remembrance) in Jerusalem.”

NO ENEMY CAN STOP WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU! Jesus triumphed over all principalities and powers. Jesus destroyed the devil (1 Cor15:26). Jesus put the devil down and rendered his kingdom subject to every blood-bought child of God.
Therefore the clarion call to you today, “Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach”. Come, there is an invitation to do something grand for God – let us rise up, unite and build!
Prayer is simply communication with God. Relationships need to be cultivated to grow. We do that through communication. As you become restored into the person God intended you to become before time began, remember that communication with God strengthens your connection to Him. He is always there, always speaking, and always has a strategy to overcome. Prayer keeps you in tune with God’s heart, voice and direction for your life. Like Nehemiah, as you pray and your connection with God through Jesus Christ begins to grow, your life will shift into a different place, a restored place – a place of greater victory where His promises await you. God’s original intention for you, before you came to be in your mother’s womb, is his final decision for your life!

Joyce Meyer

Be Blessed

by Joyce Meyer - posted April 16, 2016

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
—Proverbs 31:28-29
A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband…(Proverbs 12:4). She enjoys the praise of her children and husband. They rise up to call her blessed. Her husband says that many daughters have been virtuous and noble but that she exceeds them all. In other words, he says that she is the best wife anyone could ever have. He applauds and celebrates her strength of character and goodness.
One year my birthday happened to be during one of our conferences, and my husband, Dave, stood up and read Proverbs 31 to me in front of a room filled with people. Then my children one by one rose up to say kind and edifying things to me. There is no better feeling than to spend years raising your children, and then have them tell you that they honor you, love you, and don’t believe they could have had a better mother. Or to have your husband say you are the best wife in the world. Those comments certainly were confidence boosters for me.
Lord, whether anyone ever gives me these commendations, I want to live my life in a way that brings joy and blessing to others. Build strength into my character. Amen.

Joel & Victoria's Blog

Find Rest Post by Victoria Osteen on April 15, 2016     One time, I was moving a large mirror from one spot in my house to another. Joel wasn't around, and it didn't seem like a big deal, so I just decided to move it myself.  I grabbed a hold of this mirror and started carrying it across the house. I knew exactly where I was taking it and was almost there, but I didn't realize it was going to be as heavy as it was. I thought to myself, "I'm struggling so much. I can't believe it's this much work!" Even though it was heavy, I was determined to press on. But then something on the inside of me said, "Well, why don't you just put it down for a minute and take a break?"  It seemed simple enough, but I was so intent on reaching my destination. I finally did set the mirror down, repositioned my hands, and took a nice, deep breath. Very quickly, I started feeling a whole lot better.  With my renewed strength, I picked up that mirror again and made it to where I was going. I think Christians are like this sometimes. We hold on so tightly to things that we begin to struggle. We struggle in our faith and in the promises of God.  We see where we're going, and we get so determined to get there that sometimes we do it in our own strength. I believe God is saying to us, "Slow down. Be patient. Don't just run until you hit the wall. Let Me help you. Put down the heavy load for a minute. Take a deep breath, reposition your hands, and then you'll be renewed to continue." Notice, I never let go of the mirror. If I had, it would have gone crashing down to the ground. However, I did let go of the struggle. I took just a minute to reevaluate how I was handling things. Maybe that's what you need to do today. Are you carrying a load in your own strength? Do you need to pause for a moment to reposition yourself? Why don't you ask the Holy Spirit to show you a better way? He wants to take that heavy burden and lighten your load. He wants you to be restored so that you can find rest. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

Prayer:Practical Applications

Prayer: Practical Applications

There are a few things to keep in mind as you build a powerful prayer life. These are your principles for victory as you execute effective prayer. Let’s examine the practical application of the different types of prayer:

Prayer of Faith
The prayer of faith is the prayer of petition to change things. Matthew 21:22 KJV tells us, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” This prayer is always to be based on God’s revealed will in His Word.
For example, 3 John 2 reveals, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth”.
Here we know for certain God says it is His WILL for you to have material prosperity, your bodily healing and health, and for your soul to prosper. So, when you get sick… HOW do you pray?
You pray the prayer of faith. Not, “IF it be your will, heal me.” It is already God’s WILL for you to be healthy. God does not change. His WILL does not change. You stand on the Word of God believing! Here is what you pray:
“Thank you for my healing, Lord. Your WORD says: You are the God that healeth thee. You gave us power to heal all manner of sickness (Matt 10:1). You were wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon you and by your stripes I am healed.”

Prayer of Consecration
This is the prayer of dedication of our lives for God’s use. To CONSECRATE means: “To make or declare sacred or holy, to set apart or to devote to the service or worship of God”. It means to go anywhere and do anything for God.
This is the type of prayer Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. “Saying, Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will but thine be done” Luke 22:42. In other words, Jesus was saying: “I don’t want to go through with this Father,”
He asked three times for the Father to take this cup from him. Can’t you hear him? “I don’t want to do this – BUT not my will… YOUR WILL be done. When do we pray this?
We pray this for personal dedication and devotion to God. For example, sometimes you want tall, dark and handsome, but God wants you set aside for this season. The prayer of Consecration is to die to self desires for His WILL. When John said in John 3:30 KJV, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” we see this principle at work. John wasn’t praying here, of course, but he was illustrating the principle of consecration and of dying to self before receiving what God has promised. The prayer of consecration is for personal dedication and devotion to God.
Prayer of Commitment
This prayer is to give it all over to God. 1 Peter 5:7 comforts us, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you”. Also, Phillipians 4:6-7 KJV encourages us:

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This scripture commands us, “Be anxious about nothing, take no thought”. It means you are not to tolerate anxiety or worry – God alone will and can help you if you give it all over to Him. It is not biblical to worry – give it to God. This is the prayer of commitment!
When you do, the Bible says He will give you a peace that passes all understanding. Let’s break down what this means. The word “peace” in the Greek means “to join, peace, by implication prosperity”. The phrase “that passes” in the Greek means “to hold oneself above, superior, higher, supreme”. The words “all understanding” in the Greek means “intellect, the mind, meaning.”
Prayer of Worship

“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”
Acts 13:2-3 KJV

“And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”
Luke 24:52-53 KJV

The prayer of Worship is to give Him honor, homage, respect and exalt Him for His worth. We can find prayers and confessions of worship throughout the Psalms:

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God”
(PS 48)

“Blessed be the Lord our God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things”
(PS 72)

“The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the multitude of the isles be glad”
(PS 97)

The Psalmist is saying.. “I exalt You God, I worship You, Praise You”.
Intercessory Prayer

“ And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”
2 CHRON. 7:12-15

The prayer of intercession is when you “stand in the gap” on behalf of someone else, an entire family, community, city, country or organization. You pray the prayers for them that they cannot pray but desperately need to pray for themselves or for an entire community, country or organization. Christ stands in the gap for you and intercedes for you day and night, but there are times when He calls us to intercede on behalf of someone else, or a group of people.
GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERs. GOD CHOOSES THE HOUSE OF THE LORD TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO. HE WILL REVERSE HIS OWN DOING IF WE PRAY. IF WE REPENT HE WILL HEAL THE LAND. IF WE HUMBLE OURSELVES HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND. IF WE SEEK HIS FACE, HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND AND FORGIVE OUR SIN. God is attentive and opens His ears to prayers that come from His House of Sacrifice.
Here are specific intercessory prayers that your prayer is desperately needed for:

1. Pray for the people of our nation to humble themselves
2. Pray for repentance to come to our nation
3. Pray for our president, his cabinet and all those in authority
4. Pray for revival to come to america
5. Pray for the advancement of the vision god has given ndcc
6. Pray for the people of ndcc to catch the vision and run with it
7. Pray for our city that god would be glorified in Orlando
8. Pray for the healing of families in our land.

Just like relationships with people, communication with God strengthens your connection to Him. Prayer keeps you in tune with God’s heart, voice and direction for your life. As you pray and your connection with God through Jesus Christ begins to grow, your life shifts into a different place – a place of greater victory and where the promises of God await you. Child of God, you have the power through Christ to use the tools of prayer – prayer of faith, consecration, commitment, worship and intercessory prayer to execute God’s desires in your life and shake the nations!

Bill Winston Faith Refresher

 Build your faith and you will change your life!

God's Delight

God’s Delight

by Joyce Meyer - posted April 06, 2016

May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
—Psalm 35:27 NIV
When you are waiting for your needs to be met, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are being punished for something you have done wrong in your life. God is merciful, He is good, and He wants your needs to be met. He wants you to have a good job, a decent place to live, transportation to get you where you need to go, good friends, and a great spiritual life.
God wants you to be blessed in every area of your life—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and socially.
There are times when we have to wait for the things we want and need, and we should trust God during these times and remain emotionally stable while we are waiting. We all have to wait for things that we want in life. Trust God to be your Vindicator because only He can make wrong things right, and He does so at the right time.
While you wait, keep believing and thinking: God abundantly supplies all my needs; I will get out of debt; the Lord takes pleasure in my prosperity; God gives me favor; He opens right doors for me and closes wrong ones; God wants to bless me, and I’m willing to take it.
Power Thought: God takes pleasure in my well-being—spirit, soul, and body.

Meditate Right and Believe Right

06 Apr

Meditate On For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 The Divine Exchange The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:9 that for our sakes Jesus became poor so that we through His poverty might be made rich. At the cross, Jesus took on all our sin and poverty. He was humiliated, spat upon and stripped naked. The Roman soldiers even gambled for His clothes. The One who fed more than 5,000 people, gave fishermen a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish, and who placed the gold, diamonds and rubies in the earth, took your place of poverty at the cross, just so that you can take His place of abundance. A divine exchange occurred at Calvary—your sin for His righteousness and your poverty for His provision. My friend, Jesus is the reason you can be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. He is the reason you can be blessed to be a blessing. Put your trust in His presence in your life and what His finished work has accomplished for you!

Are You Giving up . . . But Calling It Surrender?

Are You Giving up . . . But Calling It Surrender?

Christine Hassler | April 5, 2016 | Living

Think of something in your life you really want. Maybe it’s a new career, or a romantic relationship, or a healthier body. Now consider how devoted you are to creating it.
If you are like most people, there was probably a point when you were super psyched about taking steps to make it happen – maybe you even set a New Year’s resolution. Now that time has gone by and you may not be getting the results you hoped for, you have decided to surrender. You are letting it go and leaving it up to the Universe.
And that process of surrender is awesome unless . . .

You are actually giving up, not surrendering. I explain the difference, which can be very subtle, in the vlog below.

I see way to many people slip into resignation and call it surrender. Resignation has a feeling of giving up that comes with it. It puts us into a vibration of hopelessness and defeat. Yuck! Who wants that? Well none of us set out to resign, yet we end up doing it often very unconsciously. Why? Here are the three main reasons:
1.) We get discouraged. We have tried. We have taken steps. We have changed, grown, and devoured personal growth books. And it is sill not happening. So we feel defeated and just give up. So to make ourselves feel a little better (and still spiritual) we call it surrender.
2.) We stop believing. As much as we desire something, our own self-doubt and worthiness issues creep up. It is hard to maintain momentum when our opinion of ourselves is low. So it is easier to give up and continue reaffirming our limiting beliefs. We stay in the comfort zone of our story rather than having to feel the pain of an expectation hangover.
3.) We do not want to do what it takes. Dreams are not something you can order in a drive-thru. They take dedication, intention, time, energy and commitment. It is not always easy or immediate. But we want what we want now so we work really, really hard for it. Then once we become absolutely exhausted or distracted by something else, we say we are “surrendering it to the Universe” when really we are just being lazy.

Now that you are clear on the sneaky ways that you are resigning and calling it surrender, let’s get clear on what surrender actually means.

Surrender is the process of letting go of attachment not action or intention @christinhassler (Click to Tweet!)

We surrender when we stop clinging to form and timing. For instance, if you desire to surrender regarding a job search, it does not mean you stop looking and just hope the Universe delivers one to you. Instead, you let go of attachment to a particular type of job or the timing it needs to come by. You still are taking action steps but in different ways like going to networking events instead of submitting resumes on line.
Now you are probably thinking, “Gee whiz I really thought surrender meant letting go of something by not taking action to force it to happen.” And you are correct. Sometimes it does mean that but let’s circle back to the word intention. When we surrender something in terms of the form or the timing it comes in, it does not mean we let go of the desire. In order for something to manifest in our lives, we need to preserve our longing. Take a romantic relationship for example. You may surrender the who, what, how, and when but it is important to hold onto the longing in your heart. Remain intentional about staying open, creating space in your life, and holding a positive vision for it!!
Please, please do not slip into resignation when it comes to your dreams and call it surrender. Keep the faith. Remain active and intentional. Allow yourself to feel the longings in your heart.
Love,
Christine

Today's Word with Joel and Victoria

Today’s Scripture “...Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27, NKJV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS He Delights in Your Prosperity We serve a God of abundance! He doesn’t want you to have just barely enough to meet your own needs; He wants you to be so blessed that you have more than enough to meet the needs of the people around you. He wants you to be so blessed in your finances that not only can you pay your bills and accomplish your own dreams, but you can be a blessing to others. In the same way that a parent loves to see their children doing well and excelling, God wants to see you doing well and excelling in every area. That’s why the scripture says that He takes pleasure in prospering you. But the key is that you have to make room for it in your thinking. You have to expect that He wants to bless you. Today, begin to thank Him for His abundance in every area of your life. Declare that because you walk in obedience, God’s blessings are going to chase you down! Don’t just settle for a “good enough” mentality; develop an overflow mentality because He delights in your prosperity! A Prayer for Today “Father, today I surrender my thoughts to You. Give me an overflow mentality. Direct my mind toward You and teach me to be a blessing everywhere I go in Jesus’ name. Amen.”