Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 NKJV).

Moreover, in God we have hope which the world doesn’t have! God may allow hardships in your life but you will not be defeated by them. All you have to do is call out to Him. At times of duress is especially when you need go to God. But some people do the opposite.They shut down and hope the problem will go away or try to solve the problem themselves. Some people find it hard to pray at troubling times, they may feel like their prayers aren’t being answered. In the beginning of my prayer life I struggled with some of the same issues. I would try to pray to God, but often felt like my prayers were bouncing off a wall, not getting through. But I desperately wanted to know the purpose for my life and the reason I kept going through so many trials so I persistently kept seeking His face. I now realize He had to allow me to go through some things, to perfect my prayer language. Have you ever been in so much pain that you’re desperate? That situation hurt so bad it brought you to your knees, prostrate before God like King David in 2 Samuel 12:1 when his son died? That pain was the key that unlocked my spiritual door! God had to allow me to get to the end of myself, my lowest point, only then would I be able to surrender all. When I hit rock bottom, that’s when I met God in my spiritual closet. That’s how I learned to intercede in prayer. Saints you have to learn how to press in. Don’t let your prayer life be dictated by emotions and feelings. I thought when I prayed I was supposed to feel God’s presence in a tangible way. Whether you feel His presence or not, pray on anyhow. We have to learn to keep praying until we breakthrough to heaven.

Oftentimes we approach our relationship with God the same way we do with human relationships. We have expectations of God to relate to us in a palpable manner. But the difference is, when we communicate with a physical human being we have the ability to gauge body language, facial expression, emotions; then we react accordingly. But when we worship God, it’s in spirit, there is no physical body to relate to so it requires a great level of trust. Trust that He hears us, trust what His word says, and trust that the situation is under His control. The devil will try to tell you God isn’t hearing you. He will do everything he can to try to distract you from praying or have you believe prayer doesn’t work. That’s why it is imperative that you make up your mind to emphatically trust God no matter what it looks like or feels like.

It also takes a certain level of persistence in prayer. Keep pressing in, pushing through until you get through to the spirit realm. Overtime you will notice your prayer life expanding into longer prayers times and deeper intimacy. I am a living witness of answered prayer, pressing through, touching the heart of God. Some things that I have prayed years for I have seen God unfold right in front of my very eyes! I cannot begin to describe the feeling when you see how God answers your petitions.

Beloved it’s a simple fact that suffering is tantamount to Christianity. You will go through peaks and valleys, mountains and tough terrain. I wish I could say it will be smooth sailing, but it won’t. There are just some things you must go through that only suffering will produce a kind of fruit in you needed to serve in God’s kingdom. A fruit that gives you a heart of compassion, a heart for people, and a hunger for God. If we examine the Apostle Paul’s life after his conversion from Saul, he was a zealot traveling from region to region proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but nonetheless, in 2 Corinthians 12:7,8 he pleads with the Lord three times regarding the thorn in his side. We all have a thorns, some prickly thorns, but beloved it’s those thorns that keep us humbled, that doesn’t let us swell up with pride and arrogance and that keeps us dependant on God.

I have learned it is really about your attitude when going through a trial. Do you complain, grumble and murmur like the children of Israel? Sometimes we shorten God’s hand on our life by being disgruntled. In the beginning of my Christian walk I spent too much time than I care to admit in the wilderness because of an unappreciative attitude. Overtime, what I was beginning to see through my trials was how God was producing character, patience and trust in me. It truly was bittersweet. That’s why the Bible tells us to glory in our tribulations:

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3,4).

For many years I struggled with this verse. I just could not juxtapose it to my misery. Why would I find glory in suffering? But After meditating on it, I learned it’s not that we are glad this bad thing happened to us but are glad because of the change in character it produced in us. We must learn to wait on God when we are going through dark seasons. Quite honestly I believe God allowed me to go through some things I went through because I was too impatient. Not only was patience a character trait I needed developed, I learned not to go ahead of God. I learned to wait on His timing, His deliverance, and His solution to the problem. When you take your hands off your problems and give them to God and learn to just rest in His peace that’s when you will begin to see how God is working things out in your life. Beloved, when you go through the fire a few times and come out unscathed, that’s when you will learn to trust God.

The more trials you face the more you will see God’s faithfulness and mercy on your life. It gives you a deeper conviction and fervor for Christ. It gives you a greater testament to the faithfulness of God. It gives you a closer more profound walk with God. Have you ever met somebody whose really been through something? Somebody who’s been to hell and back, and who God delivered out of the trenches of death? The anointing just emanates from them. It exudes the heart of God. Beloved, the book of Psalms was written out of that suffering.

I have to diligently remind myself to walk by faith and not by sight. Yes we hear that verse time and time again. But saints we must studiously incorporate it into our daily lives. Oftentimes I theorize Christians as soldiers going to the battlefield. We are gravely defeated if we aren’t suited for the war. All we have to do is show up wearing our armour but it is God who will fight the battle.

We cannot be complacent in the kingdom of God. We simply cannot just do nothing. Being a Christian involves constant change. We have to prepare ourselves in advance of attacks, and in the midst of an attack saturate ourselves in the presence of God.

These are tools for spiritual warfare that personally helps me when I’m faced with a difficult situation:

1. Meditate in the word: look up scriptures that pertain to your situation. It will not only take your mind off the problem but you will be actively committing scripture to memory.

2. Pray without ceasing. When you are going through a trial don’t just rely on others to pray for you, but you can get through to God as well. You must be proactive in your own Prayer life.

3. Books. Arm yourself with books by authors who have gone through what you may be going through to find out how they overcame the situation. Besides the Bible, we should carry Christian books with us at all times. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been encouraged and uplifted just from reading others’ testimonies in the midst of a bad day.

4. Praise and worship music. Beloved, God ministers through music! There has been many times God has ministered to my heart in song. There’s a sweet peace that rests in Christian music.

5. Podcasts/youtube. I love love podcasts and youtube. You can literally go to church right in the middle of your living room. At a click on the screen you can get a word for that situation you are going through. Sometimes all we need is a little encouragement.

6. Internet. With advanced technology, Christians today have it so much easier that there is just no excuse not to study God’s word. Just do a search on any topic for online inspiration.

Don’t take defeat lying down. As soon as the attack comes arm yourselves with your spiritual weapons and drown out the enemy’s voice. Moreover, I’ve learned to relinquish control and let God do His perfect work in my life. Yes there will be days when the enemy’s attack is vicious. Those are the times our Father is calling us closer to Him; to cast out, bind, plead the blood on His behalf. Oftentimes, that’s what it takes to get us out of complacency. To get us to be proactive instead of reactive. Moreover, there are things conspiring in the spirit realm that our physical eyes cannot see and mind cannot comprehend. If God only gave us a glimpse into the spirit world we would be terrified beyond measure. And lastly, how will you truly know God is a provider, redeemer, and healer if you never went through anything to see how He delivered you out! It should be our prayer that God would allow any fiery trials from the enemy that are meant to refine us. When you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders just know that God is working it out behind the scenes according to His plan…but for your glory!

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread (Psalm 37:25).

It’s not just men and women who think differently from each other. People in general are raised with different values and beliefs systems. Some come from two parent homes with a foundational upbringing, some come from broken, single parent homes. And, a good share come from abusive, (whether mentally, physically, or sexually), dysfunctional, or homes where there was alcohol abuse. Likewise, a person may have had a background of any variation of these interchangeably. Our relationship compass is based on a module of our parents’ (or parental figures) relations with each other, and with us as children. Thus, that’s how we first learned our behavioral language. Subsequently, environments such as school, work, or social environments as well as romantic relationships, peer pressure, and religion also shaped the way we behave and relate to one another. Therefore, we all enter relationships with pre-programmed information; what we deem is right, wrong, acceptable or intolerable based on perceptions of our own individual reality.

A problem occurs when some cannot incorporate another’s “reality” into a relationship and accept the person and their life’s experience, and work toward finding a common ground. With this mindset many have an insular view of those not like them. They deem their experience, beliefs, and outlook on life as being superior than another. This behavior speaks of a person who is unwilling to compromise in relating to others’ needs and has a shallow, one-sided expectation of how they expect to be treated within a relationship. Oftentimes, this results in said person(s) taking on a role as a dominator or aggressor; or becoming passive in the relationship.

Some people are narrow-minded in their perception of others, and are truly blinded outside of how they were raised. Because they have not grown up in or experienced a certain environment, they can be very judgemental and unwilling to accept a person different from themselves for who they are. Or may feel that they are superior or better than the person.

There are many in the church who have given their lives to the Lord, and sit under sound doctrine and teaching, that exhibit these dominating characteristics. There are some who enter ministry and because of position, develop a superiority complex, and become puffed up with a condescending spirit of pride and importance. Many spiritually bruising those new sheep that enter the flock. I call them Bible Bullies! They are ever ready quoting scriptures, holding prayer meetings, at every church conference; but their tongue speaks of condemnation, and heart of judgement.

This behavior is was what turned me away from Christianity in my formative years as a Christian. Fast forward, years later when I came back to Christ and started going to a new church. A young lady in the church befriended me, as I hardly knew anyone at the church I was happy to make new friends. She seemed nice at first, she would invite me over to her house for prayer meetings, and different church functions. At her prayer meetings, the way she delegated authority instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead, I started to see a dominating spirit but just brushed it aside. The more I fellowshipped with her the more uncomfortable I became. She slowly began picking me apart; she didn’t like my hair, put down the way I dressed, I was too quiet, I didn’t talk enough in her prayer meetings, she didn’t like the career I was in at the time. The list went on an on. A full grown adult, I felt like a child being scolded by my mother again. She was very verbal and offensive in her opinions, and she had a very dominating personality. As a young Christian I would tell myself, “this is my sister in Christ,” to try to keep the body of Christ in unity, and after all, I was supposed to “suffer long” as the Bible tells us to do. Many days this lady would tell me something so hurtful it brought me to tears; but she was a leader in the church, she was well-respected, and she knew the word of God. Unfortunately, this would not be the only “Christian” relationship that I tried to hold on to at the expense of my own self-value and self-worth.

As a baby Christian, I just could not understand how people purporting to live for Christ could be so mean and cruel. I would go through the motions with them like clock work: argue, feel guilty, repent, forgive, argue again.
Everybody kept preaching forgive, forgive, but what I couldn’t understand was how to forgive a person who kept hurting me over and over again. A person who keeps reopening wounds that have healed. I kept meditating on Matthew 18:22: forgive your brother seventy times seven. But really, how do you know when it’s time to just walk away from a relationship, Christian or otherwise? How do you know when it’s not just about forgiveness, but you are being abused? I simply didn’t know how to separate forgiving a person from loving them from a distance. So after contemplating and praying profusely about it, I feel God put an answer on my heart.

Signs that you should FORGIVE, but love from a distance:

1. Physical, verbal, mental abuse
2. Violence
3. Constant attacks on your character
4. Condescending i.e always putting you down
5. Can’t accept you for the person God divinely made you to be
6. Tries to change you
7. Tries to get you involved in illegal activity
8. Person is not willing to compromise
9. Person has a gossiping spirit and constantly spreads others’ affairs
10. Jealous, envious, competitive spirit. Not happy for your success

If it is a struggle to be in a relationship with a certain person and you feel drained every time you go around them, for your own peace of mind and sanity you may have to walk away from the relationship. Sometimes it can be just for a season. God is not the author of confusion (1Corinthians 14:33). Where there is no peace, beloved, God simply is not there.

However, I have had experiences where people came into my life and I truly suffered long with them and there was a spiritual sharpening and pruning in either person, resulting in long-lasting friendships. Beloved, every relationship in your life should be brought before God in prayer and fasting to get His clear discerment and purpose for that person in your life. Again, those lasting friendships were interceded daily for God’s discernment.

I prayed, fasted, and interceded for the aforementioned friendship but after seven years I had to walk away; walk away in tears might I add! After all those years she didn’t change. The answer God told me was that some people give their lives to him, but not their mind. My former friend was a Christian but her mind was still operating in the world system. She had not given God full control of her mind! Moreover, all of us have had strongholds that we had to surrender to God once we became a Christian, and for some it may have taken years to be delivered. But if you truly want to be set free, first there must be a confession, then repentance, and a willingness to change. Beloved, God speaks in confirmations. If you keep getting the same message from different sources, God is trying to get your attention! Sadly, my former friend had the same problem in every area of her life, but refused to become accountable for her actions. Oftentimes, “Bible Bully” would boast ‘this is the way I am and I’m not going to change.’ Sorry…if the stench of your behavior is insulting and offensive to your fellow brethern, you are polluting the fragrance of Christ.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 2 Corinthians 2:15.

Being a Christian is so much more than being busy for God or doing things for the Kingdom. The foundation of Christendom is based on relationships, period! God is the author of relationships having first created man, Adam, then creating a help mate, Eve to be in relation with him (Genesis 2:22). In Genesis 7:9 God commanded Noah to take the animals in two’s aboard the ark. Beloved, it takes “two” to procreate. The most important relationship of all: God exemplified the ultimate act of love by sending his own beloved son down to earth to die for us sinners so we can have salvation (Romans 5:8). More than that, back in the Old Testament God spoke to people only through prophets: Moses (Exodus 19:3-25, 20:1-17); Elijah (1Kings 18); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:1-7). Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:1-28); Jonah (Jonah 3:1-10). Those desiring to follow God did not have the luxury as we do today to communicate directly with God. God loved us so much He sent us a comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), as a conduit to be able to communicate with Him one on one, so we can have a personal, intimate relationship with Him!

So if God built His kingdom on the foundation of relationships, how much more does He want us to have a personal and loving relationship with each other according to the scriptures?

1 John 4:9-11: In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us and sent His son to die for us, we also ought to be able to love without criticism and condemnation, as God’s grace overlooked our filthy sins. If we began to model all of our relationships after the relationship The Father has with us, maybe we will learn to accept each others differences, idiosyncracies, habits, and behaviors with tolerance, and open-mindedness; rather than heavy-handed judgement and ridicule. Maybe we will learn to accept others’ shortcomings with patience and edification rather than shunning them because they’re not like us, or trying to make others fit into our mold. God is not a Bible Bully!

John 4:8 says:

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Me: God can I ask you a question?

God: Sure

Me: Promise you won’t get mad

God: I promise

Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

God: What do you mean?

Me: Well, I woke up late,

God: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start,

God: Okay…

Me: At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait,

God: Huummmm…

Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call…

God: All right…

Me: And on top of it all, when I got home I just wanted to soak my feet in my new foot massager and relax, but it wouldn’t work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

God: Let me see, the Death Angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that

Me: (humbled) OH

GOD: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed)…

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work.

Me: (embarrassed) Ok

God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me: (softly) I see God…

God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I’m sorry God

God: Don’t be sorry, just learn to trust me…in all things, the good and the bad.

Me: I will trust you

God: And don’t doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.

Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

God: You’re welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children…

~Anonymous

Commentary: what a wonderful admonition to teach us to walk by faith and not by sight. We have the faintest idea of how God protects us on a day-to-day basis from spiritual attacks, forseen and unforseen, by the enemy. This story reminded me that no matter what I may go through or how I may feel, to trust God, because He’s always in control!

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

As I sat watching Daniel Brown’s story on a TV program, I was astounded and heartbroken to learn about this man losing the innocence of his life. Mr. Brown was alleged to have raped and murdered a female companion whom he had casually dated. Danny, as his family called him, had a rock solid alibi and there was no physical or tangible evidence connecting him to the crime. The only witness to the murder was the deceased’s six-year-old son. And unfortunately, it was because of his sole testimony–albeit ambigious–Mr. Brown was sentenced to a lifetime in prison.

Sadly, there was no justice in this case for either side; Mr. Brown would spend 19 years locked up in a jail cell while three small children would be emotionally locked up not being able to enjoy the precious gift of a mother. After almost two decades later Mr. Brown, who was never before in trouble with the law, was eventually exonerated at the advent of DNA technology. The DNA evidence linked the murder to that of a known serial killer. But unfortunately–at press time of this writing–the state of Ohio refuses to expunge Danny’s criminal record, maligning him still a convicted murderer.

I kept turning this story over and over in my mind, contemplating the physical loss of human life: death and incarceration. This is one but of many cases of injustice in the legal system, but I couldn’t help but ponder the injustices many also endure in the religious system. An injustice where in some parts of the world Christians are forced to worship covertly–in underground hideouts, dugouts, and even caves–for fear of their lives. It made me think about the the physical bondage many Christians endure simply by claiming Jesus as their Lord and savior.

http://www.jesus-loves-you.org/?p=4804

Those disciples that have a call on their lives to serve in the ministry, I believe, are attacked most severely because satan is still aggressively trying to stop the movement of the Gospel. Likewise, he tries the case with no evidence but is ever ready to convict. He assigns his counsel of chief demons–in the form of man–to viciously persecute God’s saints! This was the same diabolical spirit that was sent to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden at the very beginning of God’s creation in the Old Testament. And, also the same spirit that was responsible for the Apostle Paul’s numerous stonings, lashings and imprisonment that ultimately resulted in him being beheaded in the New Testament.

In the book of John God admonished his disciples, telling them that the world, or the spirit that’s in the world will not receive them because they are following Christ:

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you~John 15:18-20.

Unfortunately, Mr. Brown spent the prime years of his young life physically and mentally locked up behind bars, enduring tumultuous years of hardship, isolation, and one would suppose hopelesness, for a crime he didn’t commit. But how many Christians across the globe are serving the same life sentences; being beaten, tortured, burned, mutilated, and killed for a crime waged against them by a false witness–the crime of loving Jesus.

If you would like to read about Danny Brown’s story or have a loved one that you believe is falsely incarcerated please visit Centurion ministries’ website for more information:

http://www.centurionministries.org/cases/daniel-brown/index.php

http://forejustice.org/db/Brown–Daniel—Danny—.html

Please also get involved and support a ministry that helps persecuted Christians. Here are a few to consider:

http://www.persecution.org/

http://www.smyrnaministries.org/africa

http://injesusname.org/

http://www.christianpersecution.info/

It took a few years but you put in the hard work and it has paid off! Your faith is renewed, your hope restored and your soul is at peace. There you are walking down the street head held high, hair blowing in the wind, with confidence as your stride! You are glowing! Your light is shining so bright…you almost cause an accident!! That tall, dark, and handsome man was so blinded by your emanation that he slammed on breaks–nearly parking in the street–to jump out of his car just to talk to you! You…quite flattered, just couldn’t stop blushing.

He approaches you quite gentlemanly with such admiration and such adorning words. “Ok, you got my attention,” you think to yourself. As he furthers along in his adulation, thoughts are running through your mind faster than a high speed car chase! You smirk in confirmation,”this is it! This is exactly what I have been praying for!” The young man tells you that he is a Christian and that he has been praying for a wife, and God told him you are the one! Heart palpitating, in your mind you exclaim: “yes! God has answered my prayer!” Your attention is now perked higher than a Doberman Pension’s ears! “Tell me more!”–your heart is faintly uttering. As tall, dark, and handsome continues you notice him licking his lips. “Did he just lick his lips?” Now cautiously listening to his rhetoric, you notice his eyes are scanning your body like an X-ray machine at JFK airport. “Aah…hello…my face is up here!” You exclaim. “Um…did he just just do that?–RED FLAG! Ok…you squeamishly still listen. He then proceeds to ask your name, you reluctantly tell him. For the sake of tact you ask his name. He replies Ishmael!–the sound of a scratched record screeches loudly in your mind! Momentarily frozen in your tracts, you then take off running faster than Usain Bolt ran the men’s100! Poor guy is left standing there, wondering what went wrong.

As a good friend shared this true story with me of what happened to her one day on a busy street in New York, we couldn’t help but laugh hysterically at its literalasis. God does have a sense of humor! And after all, the Bible does say laughter is good for the soul! (Proverbs 17:22). But Beloved when life has taken you around the block a few times–humm…up and down the block and draged around the block too–you get to a place where you surrender it all to God. You desire the heart of God and desire to be obedient to his word and want to walk in His will. My friend and I went on to talk about how the story of Abraham and Sarah greatly influenced her in her early Christian walk. She was very well versed in the book of Genesis. She was not about to settle for an Ishmael when God promised her an Issac. Of course this story does not speak on behalf of all Ishmael’s, but in this instance, because my friend was a diligent spiritual student, she knew this man was not from God.

The problem is when we don’t know who we are in Christ, when we are not sensitive to that still small voice to hear what He tells us do. When we are not proactively studying the word, is when we entertain the enemy’s voice!

My friend put in the time to get to know God. She equipped herself with the armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). Therefore she knew the enemy when he showed up! How many of you have been spiritually blinded and a wolf showed up in your life and you thought is was a sheep? (Matthew 7:15). Beloved if a person tries to change the essence of who you are, you may need to find out who answered your prayer! Maybe you are celibate and someone is trying to convince you sex is a natural, human behavior outside of marriage. Maybe You don’t eat beef and he’s trying to give you a million ways why beef is good. Or maybe you have given your life to the Lord and she is trying to get you to go out to clubs and drink alcohol, telling you there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun and a few drinks. Or Perhaps He is trying to convince you to lie, steal, or cheat. The devil answers prayers too!

When you pray the devil will sometimes send a replica; he sends an answer that looks exactly like what you may have prayed for. But the Bible gives us wise counsel:

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:17, 18 NKJV).

Beloved, the enemy knows God’s commands for our lives and he will try to do everything he can to thwart the word of God. As Christians it is imperative to learn the teachings of the 3 voices.

There are three voices that speak into our spirit:
1. God’s voice
2. Our own voice
3. Satan’s voice

Many Christians struggle in this area of their walk. Many are often in utter confusion as what voice is speaking into their spirit at any given time or find it difficult to hear the voice of God. The Bible says:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27 KJV).

Beloved, it’s our right as Christians to be able to discern the voice of the Father when he speaks to us! This is where spiritual warfare comes in. If we want to be effective witnesses for Christ we must learn how to pray doctrinal prayers. Doctrinal prayers are simply praying God’s written word back to Him; reciting Bible verses aloud. Moreover, you must learn how to cover yourselves when you go into the prayer closet. Firstly, you have to get in the habit of asking for the assistance of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26 ESV). Then you must test the spirit by asking if it is indeed God’s spirit, particularly if you are praying in tounges! God answers! You must also bind any spirit that is not a spirit of God and command it to leave your presence.

Example: “Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of your son Jesus Christ. I ask for the assistance of the Holy Spirit because the Bible says we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Father I ask that you reveal yourself to me in this prayer hour. Let your voice be tangible to my spirit. Any spirit that is not the voice of God I command you to leave my presence, in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

A great book that teaches on spiritual warfare is “Overcoming the Adversary,” by Mark I. Bubeck. It also has a plethora of great spiritual warfare prayers pertaining to different areas of life. If you began to pray in this fashion, diligently study the word of God, and incorporate fasting into your Christian walk, God’s voice will start to become more clearer to you.

When you begin to grow in your Christian walk your ears will become more sensitive to the spirit. You will gain spiritual discernment and God will begin to reveal things to you in the spirit realm. Additionally, when God gives you a promise you have to stand still until you receive further instructions. Oftentimes we get a word from God and go ahead of Him in our flesh and that’s when disaster happens. If we go back to the book of Genesis, remember the promise God gave to Abraham?:

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir” (Genesis 15:1-4 ESV).

But we learn later in Genesis 16 that Sarah went ahead of God and gave her Egyptian hand maiden Hagar to her husband Abraham, thus Ishmael was conceived. God still blessed Ishmael’s seed, but Sarah had to endure the consequences of Hagar’s contempt.

The enemy wants to rob you of God’s promises for your life. The career, spouse, ministry, children, peace, and joy that God has ordained specifically for you!

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV).

Beloved, the Bible says:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17 NKJV).

Make time for God to ensure it is He who answers your prayers!

Overcoming the Adversary

For those who said I thought I was too good, thank you! It caused me to look within and appreciate the person God created me to be and, it showed me that I am a diligent student, striving to model my life based on the principles of the word of God.

For those who said I wasn’t smart enough, thank you! It caused me to be the professor of my own classroom and self-educate myself to fill in the gaps where the educational system often fails inner city youth. Thank you for the books that took me on a journey all around the world in my mind!

Thank you to those who said I wasn’t pretty enough! It taught me that beauty is: a compassionate heart, loving spirit, integrity, honesty, and human kindness. Thank you! It allowed God to plant the fruits of the spirit within me, Galatians 5:22-24, which I am happy to see are sprouting daily!

For those that said I was too skinny, thank you! It propelled me on the road to health and fitness. It caused me to take charge of my own health and not be another statistic to diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and sickness.

Thank you to those that wouldn’t hire me. It taught me how to trust and wait on the Lord for the job that He has for me. It caused me to know that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 ESV).

Thank you to those who fired me, it caused me to take control of my own destiny and not depend on man for my future! It taught me that God closed those doors to steer me on the path to my appointed calling.

Thank you for not loving me because it forced me to find the courage to love myself! I now know that I AM worthy, I AM valuable, I AM loveable, I AM precious. I am the apple of God’s eye! (Zechariah 2:8). It taught me that where my own love fails, God’s love is Perfect.

For those that walked out of my life, thank you! It opened the door for great people to enter! Thank you for teaching me that people come into our lives for a reason, a season and an appointed time. Thank you! It taught me that I was either the teacher or the student at that time in my life, either way, I learned valuable lessons.

For those that lied on me, thank you! Jesus gives me comfort in knowing that in spite of, I am blessed anyway: Matthew 5:10-12. He gives me the strength to smile through my pain. While your lies spread like a virus I patiently waited on the Lord because He said: “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV). I’m still standing.

For those that ostracized me, thank you! It drove me on my knees to God in prayer. But He told me that I am: “…a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). Thank you! It caused me to sympathise with the dejected, outcasts, and the rejects of this world. Furthermore, I contend to follow Moses’ example: “Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25 ESV).

Thank you to those who rejected me! Because of you I now know that in God’s sight I am chosen and precious! (1Peter 2:4). Your renunciation was only a minute indifference compared to the rejection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: for He was the Chief cornerstone that the builders rejected (Acts 4:11, Psalm 118:22).

Thank you to those who were hateful to me. For it taught me how to love others with the love of Christ. I chose to override your hate with the belief that we are All one in God: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…” (Acts 17:26 NKJV). It taught me that love is transparent: it sees no color, creed, social status, economic or political position– it lives where it is accepted.

Thank you to those who made me cry. Every time I cry God cleanses my soul with His tears. He comforts me with His promise that: “…Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NKJV). Most importantly, I found out that God loves me so much that He puts my tears into a bottle! Psalm 56:8.

Thank you to those who were insensitive to my handicaps. I tearfully asked God why am I different, “And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV). I agree with the apostle Paul! Thank you! It allows me to have compassion for those who are physically, mentally, or emotionally challenged. It taught me that all handicaps are not visible, and to treat others as I would like to be treated.

I extend the utmost gratitude. If it were not for you, I would have never known who I am in Christ. I would have never known that I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Psalm 139:14. I would have never been on the highway to my divine destination.

Again I say,
Thank You!

Some of you may have experienced set backs, rejection, racism or discrimination in your life. I ask that you do not become bitter, but better. Defeat is designed to steer you in the right direction, get you out of your comfort zone, and get you to step out on faith! It is all apart of God’s divine plan. You are the only one standing in your own way. Defy the odds, break down walls and barriers, and proclaim your freedom! Most importantly, build bridges for others to cross who walk in your footsteps!

~Puja Nagual

The reason I asked you to reanswer the aforementioned questions is to get you to think about your romantic relationships, if you are in one. And, if you’re not to examine your behavior when you were previously in a relationship. Again, if you answered “no” to any of the questions, really, are you prepared for a divine mate?

The vertical relationship with God is paramount. Until you perfect this relationship, you will never know how to love within a horizontal relationship! Think about it…God consummated this love by dying on the cross for us! Beloved, God is a person. When you learn how to love God first, then all other relationships will take on that precedent of love.

So many profess to love God but live a fruitless life. They have their own agenda’s, plans, goals and God is really on the back burner. They have a self-centered view of what love should look like or be like. When you really dissected it it’s based on past hurts, failures, fear, selfishness. And, oftentimes pride.

The truth of the matter is some people don’t even love themselves. And quite sadly, because of life’s dissapointment’s, feel like God doesn’t love them either. Here in lies the problem…you can’t give away what you do not have! If you don’t love yourself how can you possibly love someone else? In many relationships today, people are yearning for love from another person and want someone else to make them happy! They want the other person to make them feel good about themselves. Beloved, you need to have love in you already, your love tank needs to already be full before entering a relationship. Another person can only compliment that love.

The only relationship you are having at any given time is that between yourself and God, not the other person! The other person is only a reflection of God. He wants to see how you will love him when He’s hungry, when He’s sick, when He’s in need, even when He’s cantankerous. Do you remember the story in Matthew 25:31-40? Furthermore, the way you treat yourself is the way you will treat other people. If you are unloving towards yourself, impatient, and critical, that’s how you will treat other people.

Human beings go into relationships with such false expectations, facades, masks, hopes and dreams.

Marriage is not a fantasy that you wish to come true. Contrary to popular belief you don’t just fall in love. Scientists believe that in the first stages of a relationship there is a chemical reaction that takes place between two individuals that produces an euphoric state–if there is any validity to that theory–however, when that feeling subsides both people face the harsh reality of each one’s faults and the baggage both brought into the union. What do you do then? The Bible teaches us that we do not base our decisions on emotions (Galatians 5:16-24). Emotions are fickle and are constantly changing. It takes a conscious choice (concerted effort) to continue to love someone despite what challenges a relationship may bring. Of course it takes a lot of work and learning how to. But the Bible is the blueprint of love!

God is love (1John 4:8). We first must establish a dependant, intimate relationship with God. Not by name only but by spending quality time with The Father, getting to know His heart, His mind, and His desires; what He wants for us. Isn’t that what we do when we’re courting someone? If we don’t learn how to love God first, we will never be able to love ourselves, let alone another person. He teaches us how to love unconditionally. Christ is the epitome of love (Isaiah 53:5). Once you perfect your heavenly relationship with The Father you’ll know what it feels like to have a loving, healthy, pure relationship with another human being.

Many have become bitter, and some have resulted to fornication because they are tired of waiting on God. The Bible says: “every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed,” (James 1:14) NKJV. Beloved, If you cannot be faithful to God how can you possibly be faithful to man who lives in this flesh, fallible and apt to disappoint?

Once you fall in love with Jesus, it is truly a love you have never felt before! It fills all voids, loneliness, emptiness, and pain. It completes you and gives you an unspeakable joy! It wraps its loving arms around you despite your failures and shortcomings. So I ask, why settle for a moment of pleasure when God can give you a lifetime of joy! As Kirk Whalum admonishes in his ode to Christ: “falling in love with Jesus was the best thing I ever done!” He is the love of your life!

I must say I am taken aback every time a Christian brother or sister goes the route of dating websites. Now they even have so called Christian dating websites. A purported 84% of the population consider themselves Christian. Christendom means different things to different people: some are conservative in their beliefs and some are very liberal. What’s more, there are those who claim the title “Christian” but lifestyles are contrary.

With such a wide array of different beliefs and attitudes towards Christianity, saints who put themselves in a position of online dating are setting themselves up as plenty of fish in a sea of sharks! Pun intended : ). This is dangerous water to tread as 1 peter 5:8 states “…Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour ” (NKJV). Sure there are some resulting marriages perhaps, but that’s the minority, not the majority! The question is, how long will they last? Several of my Christian friends and acquaintances have tried online dating. Quite frankly, more than not. And what’s interesting is their stories all seem to correlate with one another–not the happily ever after ending at all.

Take Gina for instance (name changed to protect identity). As Gina and I conversed about online dating her objective was to debunk my partial theory. She proceeded to elaborate anecdotes of men she met and dated online. Emphatically proclaiming a few “good” men wined and dined her, flew her to see them or lavished her with gifts. Shockingly, some were married! She deemed to paint a very glamorous picture of her mail suitors. Gina said she frequently dated lots of men online and was having fun.

Something was telling me that there was more to the stories than she was willing to admit. So I proceeded from a different angle–catching her off guard–delving more into her behavior; what was in fact causing her to date so many men, online or otherwise? That’s when Pandora’s Box opened! The picture was not as pretty as she painted it to be after all.

In our session it was concluded that Gina did not even know what a healthy relationship looked like and freely admitted that the men who gave her those fabulous gifts ALL expected sexual favors in return. When she didn’t comply they all abandoned her. Even the ones she did have sex with eventually left her. After further probing she confessed that it had left her feeling angry and hurt. Furthermore, she realized the root of her problem was loneliness.

By conversation’s end, Gina was soaked in tears. Turns out, God had been trying to get her attention for some time. Ain’t God good! Needless to say, Gina changed her perspective on dating websites and is now on the road to recovery. Hallelujah!

The internet is the devil’s playground. He is particularly on the hunt, hiding behind the computer screen to viciously attack those who live for Christ.

Moreover, as Christians if we desire a mate shouldn’t our first response be to go to God and ask in prayer (Matthew 21:22), then patiently wait on Him? Shouldn’t we put our faith in God opposed to the internet? Surely He can pick a better mate for us than we can for ourselves.

Women are most vulnerable in this area. So many women in the church desire husbands and may feel like they have the career, the house, the car and all they are missing is a husband. Many I know have prayed earnestly for a mate and many are struggling with loneliness. But are you really ready for that divine mate? Are you really ready for God to answer your prayer for a husband/wife right now?

Let’s take a test to find out:
(Simply answer yes or no).

1. Is God priority in your life over your career, money, friends, sports?

2. Do you make it a priority every day to talk to and meditate with God?

3. Do you have a reciprocal relationship with God or do you order demands and requests and expect God to comply?

4. Do you go to God only when you are in trouble or when you need something? Moreover, is God an afterthought?

5. Do you get upset when you feel like God doesn’t answer your prayers– lashing out in anger and temper tantrums? “Why me’s” and “You dont love me’s”?

6. Is your desire for a mate stronger than your desire for a personal, intimate relationship with God?

7. Are you sold out for Christ? Is He truly the Love of your life?

8. Do you desire to be constantly in the presence of God worshiping Him, loving on Him. Meeting with Him in His Sanctuary?

9. Do you talk to Him (prayer) and listens to what He has to say back to you (Bible reading) even though it may not be what you want to hear or do?

10. Do you go to God first when problems arise or do you seek counsel from momma, family, or friends?

If you answered “no” to any one of these questions maybe it’s time to reevaluate your Love walk. The Bible says that we as Christians are the Bride (Rev 19:7-9), so then if we are the bride…Christ is our husband.
If you say you love God then you have a committed, covenant relationship with Him right? Ok, if Christ is your husband, how are you nurturing this relationship? Are you giving God your first fruits? Do you acknowledge and honor God upon waking? Is God the the apple of your eye as He says we are to Him (Zechariah 2:8)?

I’m going to conclude Part 1 here. I felt God had so much to say regarding this subject that while writing it it became quite lengthy. We will recommence with the second part tomorrow.

According to Matthew 28:20 God says “…Lo I am with you always.” He was right there by your side! So I ask you, my brothers and sisters to perhaps think about your situations from a different perspective. Was there a common theme related to the pain, struggle, and hardship you endured this past year? Perhaps there was an area in your life God needed to bring to your attention. Maybe God allowed it to prune, refine, and complete you.

The theme that was a constant challenge in my life this past year was in the area of relationships. It seemed like I was being attacked on every side and in every aspect of my relationships; whether personal, family, or professional. After tirelessly, and frustratingly trying to work things out in my own strength I was humbled to my knees in prayer. God began to show me things about myself that I had not submitted to His will. In each relationship God used the other person to show me a mirror reflection of myself! The traits that I often had problems with in others were some of the same traits God was trying to perfect in me. Wow! And, on the other hand, I also struggled with character traits in others that were the extreme opposite of mine! Nonetheless, I could see how God allowed those situations to make me aware of my own behavior. When I realized the things that I was doing out of habit, stubbornness, or selfishness it was truly a wake up call! It wasn’t comfortable going through that season but I’m glad that I did! I learned a lot from those experiences and am very thankful God showed me what was in my own heart!

So I now ask you to revisit your trials and tests from the previous year. Now that you are looking at them through spiritual glasses, were there trying areas in your life where maybe God was building your character or maturing you spiritually? Spiritual growth often comes in the form of pain. It’s in those tough times that you learn how to depend on God. You strengthen your faith muscle when God delivers you out of trial after trial! Hallelujah! That’s how you get your spiritual wings and begin to fly! The more trials overcome, the closer you are to being free. Let’s go into the new year soaring!

~HaPpy NeW YeAr!

Whether we care to admit it or not Kim Kardashian is an outwardly beautiful woman. It seems at the bat of her alluring eyelash the world is under her seductive spell.

In this season, Kim Kardashian’s name is on everyone’s lips and her brand is ubiquitous. I never really paid attention to all the hoopla surrounding her. Then, all of a sudden Ms. Kimberly’s world came crashing into mine! Everywhere I went family, friends, co-worker’s were all watching and talking about her reality show.

So I started to wonder just what is this Kardashian business all about? At one viewing I found myself laughing hysterically at the family’s antics while simultaneously disturbed by the common use of epithets. But, nonetheless I continued watching. It had become a guilty pleasure! I must admit I felt convicted watching it. After about the fourth viewing I had a reality check! I had to ask myself: as a person wanting to know God’s heart more intimately does this show’s values line up with my spiritual walk? Does its message correlate with what the word of God says on how to conduct one’s self: Christ being the head of our life
(1Corinthians 11:3), not worshipping idols (Colossians 3:5), abstaining from premarital sex (Heb 13:4), not lusting after material things (1John 2:16), not lusting after money (1Tim 6:10)? The answer was an astounding no!

Most reality shows deem to portray power, overt sexuality, and covetousness as the status quo, as the worldly trinkets to strive for, while subsconsciously seducing with its superflous, extravagance, and materialism. Its objective to mirror greed, violence, and immorality as common place to a naive viewing audience; ‘this is what the American dream is’, it taunts! It beguiles to make one accept its behavior as normalcy, slowly desensitizing the masses against the very values Christ died for!

Jezebel is a spirit of seduction, sexuality, lust and greed! (Revelation 2:20-23). It looks beautiful and inviting but is inwardly wicked and evil! It lures you in, bates you with its power and worldly riches, then devours you! So many souls are lost each day trying to attain this false image presented before them. More and more isolated incidents are making headline news of people embezzling money, committing suicide, murder, Ponzi schemes trying to bite into the proverbial carrot the devil keeps dangling in front of them.

This spirit seeks to seduce, entice, and brainwash. Anything that is an impasse, it seeks to annihilate; anything unlike itself–just like the priestess Jezebel! In the book of 2 Kings she sent out a decree to kill Elijah:

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” (1Kings 19:2)

Because Elijah killed her prophets who were practicing evil, Jezebel sent out a decree to kill Elijah. Elijah represents Godliness, discipline, holiness. This Jezebel spirit hates righteousness, purity, and integrity.

The Jezebel spirit is particularily rampant in the entertainment industry. This demonic spirit seeks to spiritually demolish those who live for truth, righteousness, vitrue, and morality with spirits of impurity, violence, profanity, and fornication in this generation. The hunt for Elijah is very meticulous yet subtle. This Jezebel spirit is very daunting, imposing, and seducing. Really, just turn on the TV it’s there! It seeks to manipulate and restructure our thinking with excuses such as:
“this is the times we live in, or this is normal,” but in actuality the metaphor I like to use is it’s like a winding, choking, anaconda, slowly enrapturing and swirling around its victim until it goes in for the kill!

Reality TV is only one of the many new millennium tools Jezebel is using to spread her mayhem. As a Christian young woman I am appalled to turn on the TV and see grown women fist fighting and using such obscene language. It saddends me even further that as a daugter, sister, and aunt that most of the female reality shows are laden with violence, sex, and hatred towards one another. Is this really the legacy we have to leave for the next generation? Women that’s made up to look like over sexed, money hungry, street walkers? With no substance and dignity. Revelation 17 calls her the great prostitute, sexually immoral, full of blasphemous names. And most importantly, Revelation 17:6 goes on to say she is drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus!!!
Beloved, we are Elijah! We have to wake up! Jezebel is after us, our children, our families! She wants to kill us! She wants to murder our seed of greatness! We have to fight back! Starting with ourselves, monitor what we are allowing into our spirit: what we are reading, listening to and watching on TV, most importantly; the media and images in the entertainment industry we are allowing our children to ingest into their spirit. Take a stand! Boycott the programs in your home that have no moral value or integrity. Wage a war against Jezebel! Don’t allow her to demoralize your spirit. Pray dilligently and ask God to kill the Jezebel in your life.

In the beginning of this post I opened with the verse referencing Jehu. Jehu was the physical manifestation of Elijah’s prophecy from God of Jezebel’s death.

2 Kings 9:30-37
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.” But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’