February 8, 2015
Overcoming Adversity with Grace
by OrphanCareMovement.org
[source: What is Grace]
We encounter varying kinds of trials and tribulations on a daily basis. From overwhelming health issues like a diagnosis with a terminal cancer to financial difficulties, job loss, loss of a loved one, to the ordinary stresses of life.
In John 16:33, Jesus Christ said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is right that we will have trouble in this world. Trouble is everywhere. There is hardly a person who is not affected by trials and troubles. But why should his followers who live on earth take heart or have courage because he has overcome? One can say its fine for you Jesus that you have overcome the world, I haven’t and I am suffering for it. The reason Jesus said that is seen in the scriptures. That is we are one with Christ.
When we received God’s grace, that grace made us to become sons (children) of God. As a result of that, we are one with Christ Jesus. Understanding our oneness with Jesus is very important in understanding God’s grace to us. God’s grace that made us one with Jesus also empowers us to overcome challenges as Jesus. That’s why Paul was able to say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) Why? Because Jesus lives in him and he lives in Jesus. He and Jesus are spiritually one. Jesus not only strengthens him but also endures with him. In the same way, when Paul talks about his labor in the work of God, he ascribes that to God’s grace working in him (1 Cor. 15:10). That grace is Jesus Christ living in him and working in him by his Holy Spirit.
The scriptures demonstrate our oneness with Jesus in many other ways. We are called the body of Christ and the bride of Christ. A person is one with his own body and with his wife.
In John 14:20, Jesus said, in that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you.
The Bible takes the demonstration of this oneness even further. When we are insulted Christ is insulted. When we are beaten Christ is beaten. Here are some verses that show that:
Acts 26:14 records that “We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” In this passage of the Bible, Paul who at this stage in his life is a Pharisee is going about persecuting and killing Christians. He is on his way to Damascus to arrest and kill or punish Christians. In response to this, Jesus charges Paul with persecuting him, not with persecuting Christians. So Jesus clearly identifies the Christians being persecuted as him! We and he are one, he feels our pain!
Well, now you know that God loves us more than you love yourself, that God knows us more than we know ourselves, that you and Jesus are one and we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.
We are in Jesus, Jesus is in the father. Jesus died as us and for us. He is seated on God’s right hand as us and for us and again that we are in him, you can face trials with confidence that God is going through the trial and feeling the pain. Not only so but that Jesus has won, and so have you!
The Law and Faith in Christ; The Law and God’s Promise; God’s Children through Faith.
I would like to point out that Paul wrote this book to the Galatians circa 49 AD. That is 49 YEARS after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Yahshua). [source: Book of Galatians Overview, Insight.org] Whereas, Mohammad was born into this world according to Islamic scholars, in the Year of the Elephant which corresponds to the year 570 AD or 571 AD. That is 570 YEARS after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Yahshua). [source: Biography of the Prophet, Islamqa.info]
Do you understand where I am leading you? Mohammad was born over 500 YEARS LATER and the Quran was written AFTER Mohammad died circa 666 AD. Mohammad's first wife's cousin translated the Bible that already had over 4,000 YEARS of history and teachings BEFORE Mohammad was born. The whole Bible was twisted and maimed to suit their evil Islamic ends and keep God's children (ALL of humanity) living under obscene condemnation, obscene oppression, enslaved and even killed for not submitting to their demonic god.
One last thing, Mohammad is NOT the Advocate Jesus referred to as the Islamist have lied about and changed what was written in the Bible over 500 YEARS BEFORE Mohammad was even born. Jesus (Yahshua) is the Living Breathing WORD of God and the Holy Spirit is the BREATH of God. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Advocate, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who Jesus sends to live inside of us, inside our spirit. Allah is NOT the God of the Bible. Allah is NOT the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Allah is NOT the God who created the Heavens and Earth and ALL that dwell therein. Allah is NOT our Creator, NOT our Source of the LIVING. Allah is an ancient Mesopotamian demonic moon god of the underworld. You shall know them by their fruit. Only DEATH and DESTRUCTION follow Allah and his worshipers. Islamist are not even allowed to leave Islam or else they will be murdered. There is nothing divinely spiritual in Islamic doctrines, because Islam is a cult.
One last thing, Mohammad is NOT the Advocate Jesus referred to as the Islamist have lied about and changed what was written in the Bible over 500 YEARS BEFORE Mohammad was even born. Jesus (Yahshua) is the Living Breathing WORD of God and the Holy Spirit is the BREATH of God. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Advocate, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who Jesus sends to live inside of us, inside our spirit. Allah is NOT the God of the Bible. Allah is NOT the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Allah is NOT the God who created the Heavens and Earth and ALL that dwell therein. Allah is NOT our Creator, NOT our Source of the LIVING. Allah is an ancient Mesopotamian demonic moon god of the underworld. You shall know them by their fruit. Only DEATH and DESTRUCTION follow Allah and his worshipers. Islamist are not even allowed to leave Islam or else they will be murdered. There is nothing divinely spiritual in Islamic doctrines, because Islam is a cult.
Galatians 3 Amplified version (AMP)
[source: Biblegateway]
The Law and Faith in Christ
1 O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified?
2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?]
3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)—if it really is to no purpose and in vain?
5 Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your believing in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard?
6 Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action).
7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed.
9 So then, those who are people of faith are blessed and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fellowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham.
10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them.
11 Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live.
12 But the Law does not rest on faith [does not require faith, has nothing to do with faith], for it itself says, He who does them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [not by faith].
13 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);
14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.
The Law and God’s Promise
15 To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, [if] even a man makes a last will and testament (a merely human covenant), no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed).
16 Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir). He [God] does not say, And to seeds (descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obviously referring to one individual, Who is [none other than] Christ (the Messiah).
17 This is my argument: The Law, which began 430 years after the covenant [concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the promise and make it void.
18 For if the inheritance [of the promise depends on observing] the Law [as these false teachers would like you to believe], it no longer [depends] on the promise; however, God gave it to Abraham [as a free gift solely] by virtue of His promise.
19 What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man].
20 Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with and implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person]. Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both].
21 Is the Law then contrary and opposed to the promises of God? Of course not! For if a Law had been given which could confer [spiritual] life, then righteousness and right standing with God would certainly have come by Law.
22 But the Scriptures [picture all mankind as sinners] shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that [the inheritance, blessing] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered, and committed) to [all] those who believe [who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him].
God’s Children through Faith
23 Now before the faith came, we were perpetually guarded under the Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, disclosed),
24 So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith.
25 But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer (the guardian of our childhood).
26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.
27 For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.
28 There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek [gentiles, non-Jews], there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.
Scriptures to Strengthen Your Faith: Gems from God's Word ♥
Scriptures to Strengthen Your Faith
[source: Our Little Place]
Let Him (God) have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. [1 Peter 5:7]
I (Jesus) am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. [John 14:27]
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ. [Philippians 4:6-7]
I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things He did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in Him. [Psalms 40:1-3]
Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for help, and saves him out of all his troubles. The Lord is close to those whose heart is breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. The good man does not escape all troubles - he has them, too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. [Psalms 34:17-19]
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. [Isaiah 40:31]
Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. [John 14:1-3]
Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. [Deuteronomy 31:6]
Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand. [Isaiah 41:10]
Such a man will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God's constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes. [Psalms 112:6-8]
You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory. I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. Don't be like a senseless horse or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line! [Psalms 32:7-9]
Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised. His coming will not be delayed much longer. And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting Him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them. [Hebrews 10:35-38]
He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord always, for in the Lord, Jehovah, is your everlasting strength. [Isaiah 26:3-4]
Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him to act. Don't be envious of evil men who prosper. [Psalms 37:7]
What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son for us but gave Him up for us all, won't He also surely give us everything else? [Romans 8:31-32]
I am holding you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God - and I say to you, don't be afraid; I am here to help you. Despised though you are, fear not, Oh Israel; for I will help you. I am the Lord, your Redeemer; I am the Holy One of Israel. [Isaiah 41:13-14]
Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you." That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, "The Lord is my Helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me." Remember your leaders who have taught you the Word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and try to trust the Lord as they do. [Hebrews 13:5-7]
I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, Oh Lord, you will keep me safe. [Psalms 4:8]
For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but My kindness shall not leave you. My promise of peace for you will never be broken, says the Lord Who has mercy upon you. [Isaiah 54:10]
No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm - I will come to you. [John 14:18]
Trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. [Proverbs 3:5-6]
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty, or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ Who gives me the strength and power. [Philippians 4:11-13]
Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don't fret and worry - it only leads to harm. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing. Only a little while and the wicked shall disappear. You will look for them in vain. But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace. [Psalms 37:8-11]
But you will not need to fight! Take your places; stand quietly and see the incredible rescue operation God will perform for you, Oh people of Judah and Jerusalem! Don't be afraid or discouraged! Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you! [2 Chronicles 20:17]
And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans. [Romans 8:28]
Overcoming Confusion by the Power of The Holy Spirit
[source: The Holy Spirit]
Confusion comes of the devil, because there is no truth in him. He is a liar and a thief, and Lucifer will always try and confuse, confound, and mislead us. We can overcome confusion through the Word, and through the Blood of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Here are some scriptures that clearly define and contrast the works of the Father vs. the fallen angel Lucifer (not God’s opposite, but a fallen angel who was created).
Of the devil (Jesus here speaking to the Pharisees who interestingly enough were trying to cause confusion)…John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him (i.e. – only lies and confusion). When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
However, we know that Jesus came to destroy ALL the works of the devil, even confusion and the obstruction of truth…
1 John 3:8 …For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
God is a God of order. He created the universe and the very laws of science that hold everything in place. He gave us His Word and He gives peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (here, the term peace can also be translated to mean a quiet and restful mind, not troubled by confusion or doubt).
We must not allow ourselves to concentrate on the confusion or the lies, but look instead to the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus spent little time being distracted by the works of the devil…in fact He would not allow the demonic to even speak but commanded them to “hold their peace” or to not speak forth things that would add confusion.
Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Therefore, when confusion comes in, we must take authority over the confusion by pleading the Blood of Jesus Christ and by standing on what God PROMISES us as believers and children. We must be proactive in our warfare against confusion as Paul states…
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations (literally - confused thoughts), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
We should not fear this warfare but have knowledge that through Christ there is love, power and clarity of thought.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Praying in the Spirit helps to bring us out of these times of confusion because when we know not what to pray the Spirit will intercede…
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Pray without ceasing in the Spirit especially during those times when confusion abounds because we are promised…
Isaiah 59:19 … When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Finally…be proactive in giving your mind a preventative remedy against the confusion returning…
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Five Ways to Overcome a Spiritual Attack
written by Mary E. DeMuth
[source: Lifeway.com]
This article is courtesy of HomeLife Magazine.
"Mommy, I'm hearing voices," my youngest daughter told us when we lived overseas. "They're telling me to do bad things like kick my brother and disobey you. They're waking me up at night and scaring me."
We'd recognized her belligerence, but we chalked it up to culture shock and navigating a foreign school system. My husband, Patrick, had been under spiritual attack since the moment we moved to France, so in some ways we weren't surprised. But we didn't expect voices.
So we prayed for our daughter. She was the only one in our family who didn't yet know Jesus. We told her about Him again, how He's bigger than those voices, but she wasn't ready to surrender to Him. Though you may not face such an overt attack on your family, the truth is that spiritual warfare exists. We have a very real enemy, Satan, who wants nothing more than to destroy our lives, our thoughts, our walks with Jesus (John 10:10). He, along with his hoard of demons, roams the earth, seeking ways to wreak havoc on God's kingdom (1 Peter 5:8). Unfortunately, we tend to live in two extremes: as though Satan doesn't exist or as though he's bigger than God. Neither is correct. Satan does exist. He's a created being who used to experience the paradise of God. For one defining moment, he averted his eyes from God's glory and rejoiced in his own (Ezekiel 28:12-15). In that, he rebelled, deceiving a third of the angels in heaven (Revelation 12:4). And he's waged war ever since. God sent His Son for a specific purpose. Consider: "The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil's works" (1 John 3:8). And destroy, He did. Every encounter Jesus had with demons ended in a victory for God. And on the cross, He dealt the final blow - Jesus died for the very sin Satan incited in the Garden of Eden. With that as a backdrop, we don't need to fear. We serve a conquering, powerful God who has destroyed Satan's work. Because of the cross and the amazing resurrection, we have power to defeat the enemy's ploys.
But how? What are some practical things we can do right now when we feel attacked?
Action 1: Pray.
Our first response to spiritual attack shouldn't be panic, but prayer. In our own strength, we can't fight. But when we ask God for help and seek His power, then we experience victory. After our daughter heard voices, Patrick and I prayed - for her, with her, about her. We sent a mass email to our prayer team, asking them to intercede for our daughter. During the middle of this ordeal, Patrick and I had to leave to go to a leadership summit. Two moms and a daughter from our church in Texas graciously came to watch our children. We let them know what was going on with our youngest, and they also prayed for her.
Action 2: Speak and believe truth.
Jesus personifies truth. "I am the truth," He said (John 14:6). But Satan is a big, fat liar. Jesus said this about him: "He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars" (John 8:44). Satan's native tongue is deceit. So one of the best ways to combat his untruth is to surround ourselves, our families, and our minds with truth.
Patrick and I shared the truth about Jesus with our daughter. Others did, too. And we reminded ourselves that our battle wasn't against her behavior, but against the evil forces in the world. Paul reminds us, "For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens" (Ephesians 6:12). When our daughter struggled, we assured her that Jesus would defeat those voices if she gave her heart to Him.
Action 3: Choose not to fear.
The natural reaction to a spiritual attack is first fear, then worry. If we stay in that place of panic, we forget to do the first two actions: pray and speak the truth. And if we camp in fear's tent, we shrink back from the joy and power Jesus wants to give us in the midst of the battle. Ultimately, this comes down to a question of God's bigness. Do we believe God is bigger than our worry? Than Satan's attack? Than the fears that keep us up at night? We have a choice to give into fearful thinking or surrender it to God. Of course, we initially feared and freaked out a bit when our daughter confessed her battle to us. It took moxie to choose to lay that fear at Jesus' feet. A VeggieTales song has it right: God is bigger than the boogey man. If you're facing a battle where fear rages, consider this exercise in relinquishment:
Jesus, I'm afraid. Please help me to hand my fear over to You. Give me Your perspective in this situation. Forgive me for running first to fear and not to You. Please rescue us from this situation. Enlarge my faith. I choose to rest my fear in Your capable arms, and I promise, with the strength You provide, not to snatch it back.
Action 4: Let go of control.
When we encounter a spiritual battle, we tend to want to make everything right in our own strength. We want the battle to stop, so we try to fix the situation or make a person behave a certain way. Unfortunately, we can't control others. We can't micromanage difficult situations. We can't orchestrate outcomes. We are not God.
And that's the crux. God is bigger than the situation. He's the Sovereign One who runs the universe without our help. The fact that we sleep every night, and the world keeps running sans us, testifies to this.
When our daughter heard voices, we realized how little control we had. We couldn't make her become a Christian, though we shared Jesus with her. Patrick and I had to entrust her to Jesus, knowing that He loves her more than we do, and He was quite aware of the situation. Giving up control isn't something that comes naturally to us, but it was the only thing we could do to find peace.
Action 5: Watch God work.
God is always at work, something author Henry Blackaby reminds us in his book Experiencing God. The amazing thing about God is that He's creative and doesn't always achieve His ends in ways we would anticipate. His ways are mysterious. If we live in light of this, we'll live with holy expectation of the adventure He will bring. We must have faith enough to believe in God's unpredictable creativity.
When Patrick and I left our children and attended the leadership summit, we received a phone call from our daughter. She left this message: "Daddy, Mommy, I just wanted to let you know that I became a Christian."
At home, we heard the story. The 12-year-old daughter of one of the moms shared the gospel again with our daughter and asked if she wanted to follow Jesus. This time, our daughter did. Still worried about those voices when I later talked to her, I asked, "Are you still hearing those voices?"
"No, I'm hearing one voice, and He's telling me to make wise choices," she replied.
I sighed in relief. "That's the Holy Spirit," I told her, marveling at the way God worked. He brought a preteen halfway around the world to France to share Jesus with my daughter, who had been tormented by evil voices. And He delivered her without Patrick and me being there. Spiritual warfare exists. Just look around this crazy world for evidence. But we don't need to fret and wring our hands, even if it's our loved ones in the middle of the mire. Remember, we can pray. Remind ourselves of the truth. Refuse to let fear have its way. Relinquish control and rest in God's creative work. Our daughter gave me permission to share her story. By God's grace, she doesn't remember hearing those voices. But she does remember her baptism - which her daddy had the privilege of performing in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Most Common Attack: Who God Is
If Satan can get you to believe God is punishing, demanding, harsh, and altogether an abusive grump, he wins. Sure, you still believe statements that God is love, that He created everything, and that He sent His Son to die because of His love for us. But when hard times come, do you see Him as sad for your pain in the struggle, tenderly holding you in His arms, weeping with you as He wept for Lazarus' siblings, red up over the poison sin leaks over the world? Or do you see Him as a distant observer, telling you that this horrible ordeal is making you more Christlike, so toughen up?
You may have the right theology in your head (God is good and loving), but your heart may dread His notice in your life. If so, ood your mind and heart with truth:
"Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion." - Isaiah 30:18
"He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the fold of His garment. He gently leads those that are nursing." - Isaiah 40:11
"So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was lled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him." - Luke 15:20
"The LORD is good to everyone; His compassion rests on all He has made." - Psalm 145:9
How to Put the Devil in His Place
written by Joyce Meyer
[source: Joyce Meyer ministries]
It’s tragic when people receive Jesus as their Savior and then never have any victory in their life on this earth. Jesus didn’t give His life on the cross just so we could barely get by and struggle through life until we get to heaven. He came so we could have life and enjoy it! (See John 10:10.)
The devil, on the other hand, wants to steal, kill and destroy – that’s his sole purpose. He’s a liar, deceiver, destroyer, controller, manipulator and accuser. He wants to take from you and doesn’t want you to enjoy anything. And he’s the source of evil in this world.
What Gave the Devil the Upper Hand in My Life
For many years I went to church every Sunday and didn’t realize the devil was a problem in my life. I read about him in the Bible and knew he had a few arguments with Jesus, but I really didn’t get it that he was directly affecting my life. Like most people, I believed my problems were just the way life is, and I had to muddle through things day by day, just hoping to make it.
I was deceived.
I believed I would always have a second-class life because my father had abused me. I believed every time I made a mistake God was mad at me and I had to work my way back into His good graces. I felt like it was ungodly not to feel guilty and it was “spiritual” to feel bad about myself all the time.
It was pitiful. It seemed I would never get over my past. I knew nothing about righteousness, had no peace or joy, and was hard to get along with. I was going to church every week but I wasn’t learning how to live the Christian life.
But I eventually learned the truth!
How the Truth Will Set You Free
You see, the devil is real. He’s against anything and anyone who is for righteousness, peace, love, joy, generosity, compassion and kindness. He vehemently opposes our progress or spiritual growth. While we don’t need to pay an excessive amount of attention to him, we do need to understand his strategies so we can live victoriously and not struggle all the time.
The Word of God is a powerful weapon we must use to overcome the enemy. It shows us who we are in Christ and that we’re fighting our battles from a position of victory, not for victory. What I mean by this is we don’t have to strive to get victory – we already have it in Christ.
Here are some great scriptures that confirm this truth:
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. [1 John 4:4 NLT]
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.[Romans 8:34 NLT]
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, [Colossians 1:13 NLT]
Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. [Luke 10:19 NLT]
Our protection is the Word of God. We must know it, love it, obey it and use it against the enemy when he comes against us. Just as Jesus responded to the devil by speaking God’s Word), we need to speak out the Word of God against the enemy’s lies. As you do, the truth will set you free!
I want to encourage you to be aggressive, not passive, in living the Christian life. When people do nothing, that’s when evil takes over. But if we will actively choose to learn the Word and be determined to trust the Truth it brings, we will be free to live the abundant, victorious life in Christ!
This article is taken from Joyce's four-CD series:
What the Devil Doesn't Want You to Know.
OVERVIEW: Satan’s on the prowl. And if we’re not careful, we can become his prey. But if you arm yourself with these powerful messages, you’ll be able to…
•Discern Satan’s lies from God’s truth
•Avoid being blindsided by his tactics
•Block his path of stealing from you
•Use the weapons God gave you to fight and win!
What the Devil Doesn't Want You to Know.
OVERVIEW: Satan’s on the prowl. And if we’re not careful, we can become his prey. But if you arm yourself with these powerful messages, you’ll be able to…
•Discern Satan’s lies from God’s truth
•Avoid being blindsided by his tactics
•Block his path of stealing from you
•Use the weapons God gave you to fight and win!
Spiritual Warfare: How to Plead and Pray “The Blood of Jesus Prayer”
written by Ministry staff
[source: The Joseph Plan]
The most powerful spiritual warfare prayer! I recommend all true Christians learn how to use it. But this isn’t something you just jump into and do. Please take the time to study this entire presentation before using it.
This is an excellent explanation of the “Blood of Jesus Prayer”. It is one of the most powerful prayers one can learn. The most powerful prayer one can say. But, it has to be done right.
In the hands of a true believer, with a repentant and surrendered heart, one can truly see the mountains be moved. The enemy moved back. Victory over evil claimed.
‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
I borrowed the following article from www.Bible-Knowledge.com. I could not have written a better article. Please visit their site. It is a very good resource.
It is an excellent study guide on this very important subject.
How to Plead the Blood of Jesus for Deliverance and Protection
There are many Christians who attack this form of prayer. They ask where in Scripture is there proof that we can use this kind of prayer for either protection or deliverance when we will really need it. There was no evidence that the early apostles ever pled the blood to heal, to cast out demons, or to get God’s basic protection on them.
I believe there are three specific things contained in the Blood of Jesus – forgiveness, deliverance, and protection. Many Christians only know about the first one – forgiveness. They have no idea there are two other things available to them that will enable them to live a victorious and overcoming life in the Lord while still living down here on this earth. Here is a brief discussion on each one of these three things.
1. Forgiveness
As Christians, we all know there is definitely forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus. This is the basic central message of true Christianity – that God the Father sent His one and only begotten Son Jesus Christ down to our earth in the flesh [God's WORD was made flesh to walk among us. John 1:14 (Emphasis mine)] to physically die on a cross in order to save us and give us total and permanent forgiveness for all of our sins.
Without Jesus dying and shedding His blood on the cross, there would be no forgiveness and remission of any of our sins. Here are some extremely powerful verses from Scripture specifically telling us this:
1.“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
2.“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
3.“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
4.“For the life of the flesh is in the blood … for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)
Notice the emphasis on the word “blood” in these verses. There is no question that in these verses, and others in the Bible, that the blood that Jesus personally shed for us on the cross is what leads all of us to be able to receive eternal salvation, the forgiveness of all of our sins, and entrance into heaven when we die and cross over.
2. Deliverance
Now what are the Scriptural grounds that will give us the legal right to be able to use the blood of Jesus when taking on any attacks that may come our way? As you will see in some of the stories in the Testimonies section of our site, you can Plead the Blood of Jesus against specific types of attacks such as attacks from demons or other evil people, any kind of physical illness or disease, or any kinds of addictions like drugs and alcohol.
Many Christians are not aware of this second component that is in the Blood of Jesus which will entitle us to be able to use His Blood to go on the offensive against any adversity that may come our way.
Something else happened that day when Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins. The Bible tells us that Jesus also defeated Satan and all of the powers of darkness that day! Here are several good verses from Scripture proving this point to you:
1.“… that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14)
2.“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13)
3.“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
4.“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
5.“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
What defeated Satan and all his dark powers? The physical death of Jesus on the cross. And what did Jesus do when He died that day on the cross for all of us? He shed His Blood!
This is why Pleading the Blood of Jesus works so well in real life combat situations when it really is needed to defeat attacks that are coming against us from the dark side.
Many Christians are not fully aware of this second fact about the Blood of Jesus – that the Blood of Jesus can also be used to engage with our enemies when they do try to launch any kind of an attack against us. I believe that all of the above Scripture verses definitely tell us that the blood that Jesus shed that day on the cross has totally defeated Satan and all of his dark powers.
The only thing left is for all Christians to fully realize this incredible fact, and to grab a hold of this powerful truth and not to be afraid to use when they need it – especially when demons or other evil people are attempting to come against them with any type of unjust action or attack.
Here are four more good powerful verses from Scripture showing that all Christians now have God’s supernatural power and anointing available to them so they can use it to engage with the dark side of this life:
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)
Notice in this verse we have God’s power over all the power of our enemies, not just against some or part of their powers. This means we have the ability to come out completely victorious in some of life’s battles and struggles, but only if we learn how to properly use what is now available to us.
“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1)
Notice in this verse that Jesus gives the twelve apostles power over all demons, not just some of them. If we have God’s power available to us to defeat all demons, then I believe that we also have God’s power to defeat any and all humans who may try to come against us with any type of unjust action or attack.
“… but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)
“Knowing their God” means that we have spent good quality time in establishing a good personal relationship with the Lord. If we do this, then this verse is telling us that God will strengthen and empower us when we need His power to be able to carry out great exploits and great adventures for Him.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
This verse is telling us that God is actually looking for people that He can anoint with His power and show Himself strong through, but the implication appears to be that He really cannot find many people who are willing to pay the price to be able to really walk with His anointing.
As you can see from the way all of the above Scripture verses are worded – true Christianity is not a weak, wimpy, or passive religion. As born-again believers, we all have the Holy Spirit literally living on the inside of us.
As a result, our bodies have now become the actual temple of the Holy Spirit. His supernatural power is now fully available to all of us in order to help us handle some of the storm clouds that can come against us in this life.
Learning how to properly Plead the Blood of Jesus for any deliverance and protection that you may need is just one part of our arsenal. I will be doing other articles in the near future covering some of the other aspects on this part of our walk with the Lord.
3. Protection
As you will see in the next section, you can also Plead the Blood of Jesus on specific things that you will want protected before any kind of adversity could strike them – like your body, house, car, and finances.
The goal is to Plead the Blood of Jesus on those things in order to protect you before any kind of adversity could ever come your way.
If the above verses are showing us that we can Plead the Blood of Jesus against any attacks that may have already come our way, then I believe it only stands to reason that we can also go one step further with the Blood of Jesus – and that is to use it for protection before any kind of attack could actually come our way. In this case, you simply Plead the Blood of Jesus on whatever you want God’s full protection on before any attacks could possibly come your way.
I believe there is something else in the Bible that gives us another clue that entitles us to be able to Plead the Blood for this specific purpose. In the Old Testament, God the Father had it arranged with His chosen people, the Jews, that in order for them to be able to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, they had to have some kind of temporary covering for their sins. Jesus had not come yet, so there was no full remission for any of the sins that had occurred back at that time.
What God the Father had set up was the sacrifice of blemish-free animals such as bulls, goats and lambs. Their blood had to be shed once per year on what was called the Day of Atonement. The shedding of these animals blood was what gave the Jewish people a temporary covering for their sins so they could then enter into a personal relationship with God the Father.
This is why Jesus is called the “Lamb of God.” He is an extension of the lambs used by His Father in the Old Testament to give the Jewish people a temporary covering for their sins. Once Jesus had come to shed His own blood on the cross, there was no more need for any more animal sacrifices. His death on the cross had completed and fulfilled what His Father had started in the Old Testament with the sacrifice of these animals.
Now watch this analogy. In the shedding of the lamb’s blood on the Day of Atonement, there was a temporary covering for the sins of the Jewish people. Then Jesus comes in the New Testament, and the shedding of His blood now gives all believers complete and total forgiveness for all of their sins.
Now here is where I feel that something else occurred back in the Old Testament that may entitle us to be able to use the Blood of Jesus for divine protection. In the story of the Passover, God had sent His servant Moses to rescue the children of Israel from their captivity to the Egyptians. God had thrown ten whopper plagues at the Pharaoh in an effort to try and get him to release His people from his rule.
On one of those plagues, God tells Pharaoh that He is going to allow an angel of death to come through their camp to kill all of their firstborn children. However, before God sets all of this up to occur, He tells His own people to shed the blood of a blemish-free lamb and to put that shed blood on the door posts and lintels of their houses.
God tells His people that the angel of death will bypass their house if he sees this shed blood put on their door posts and lintels. This angel of death will thus not kill any of the Israelite’s firstborn – but only if he sees the blood properly applied to the door posts and lintels of their houses.
In other words, the blood of this blemish-free lamb was being used for divine protection before this attack would ever come their way. Had each person not properly applied this blood on their door posts, their firstborn children would have also been killed, along with the rest of the firstborn children of the Egyptians.
Here is my argument on this:
If the shed blood of the Old Testament lambs used for the temporary covering of sins eventually leads to the shedding of Jesus’ blood for permanent and total forgiveness of all of our sins – can we also use that same analogy and say that the shed blood of the lambs used in the Passover for divine protection could also lead to the shed Blood of Jesus having divine protection in it?
I personally believe the answer is yes, and that is why God the Father seems willing to work with any believer who will plead the blood of Jesus on whatever they want protection on before any attack can come their way – just like He did in the story of the Passover with His own chosen people.
Before I go into the specifics on how to Plead the Blood of Jesus for deliverance and protection, there is one more area that each Christian must make a big personal decision on before God will give you this kind of full divine protection.
Saved and Surrendered
In order to be able to Plead the Blood of Jesus for any kind of deliverance or protection you may need, there are two requirements that must be met.
1. Saved
You must be a saved and born-again Christian. A nonbeliever cannot use the blood of Jesus. In the story of the Passover, only God’s chosen people were allowed to apply the blood of the lamb on their door posts to get His full protection on them.
It is the same way in the New Testament. Only born-again, Christian believers can use the blood of Jesus for deliverance and protection.
2. The Full Surrender
However, for those who are already saved and born-again Christians, there is now one more big thing that you will have to do before you can start to get God’s best to start flowing into your life – which will include getting His maximum protection on you and your life. And that is to be willing to make a full and complete surrender of your entire being and your entire life over to God the Father.
You have to be both saved and surrendered in order to be able to step from the dugout out onto the real playing field where the real walk with the Lord is really at. God is wanting you to fully surrender four specific things to Him:
■Your body
■Your soul
■Your spirit
■Your entire life
The Bible tells us that we have three parts to our beings – body, soul and spirit. God wants all three parts of our being completely surrendered over to Him. The fourth thing that God will also want from you is for you to fully surrender your entire life over to Him. And when I say entire life, I mean literally everything in your life.
The Bible tells us that with the measure we use, will be the measure that will be measured back to us. In other words, if you want God’s best to start flowing into your life, then you will have to give God your personal best – and your personal best is being willing to fully surrender every part of your being and every part of your life over to the Lord for His full direction and handling. It’s your all for His all.
This full surrender to the Lord is where many Christians are really missing the boat with Him. They are saved through the blood of Jesus, but they are not walking in this full surrender with God the Father. As a result, God is not working full force in their lives. The only way to get God to start working full force in your life is to come under a complete and full surrender with Him.
Bottom line – God’s knowledge and wisdom is perfect on all matters – yours is not! God can see into the future and knows exactly what is going to happen to you – you cannot. God knows you better than you can ever know yourself, and as a result, He knows what your true potential and capabilities are going to be in this life – you do not.
Your powers are limited, but God’s powers are not. The Bible tells us that God is all-powerful and that there is nothing that He cannot do or accomplish. Nothing is impossible with God.
After chewing on all of the above, who do you want running your life? Yourself, with your limited powers, wisdom, and knowledge – or God the Father, who has maximum power and knowledge to do and accomplish anything He will want to do?
This lack of a full surrender to God the Father is what is getting so many Christians beat to a pulp in the playing field of life. They do not have God’s full protection on them, and as a result, they are coming under severe attacks from demons, evil people, and just some of the natural cause and effects that can occur at a moment’s notice such as different kinds of accidents, catastrophes, mishaps, and illnesses that can hit anyone of us at anytime.
Without God’s maximum protection, anyone of us can get hit by these types of severe storm clouds. Only God’s divine protection can keep you safe and out of harms way from some of these types of storm clouds. And the only way to get God’s maximum protection on you and your life is to come under this full and complete surrender with Him.
If you want to take this last and final step with the Lord, then I can give you a very short, but powerful prayer to go to God the Father with to come into this full surrender with Him.
This prayer should be said at least once or twice a week after you do it the first time. You need to show God that you mean serious business with Him on this, and by continuing to recite this prayer back to Him on a once or twice per year basis, you will be showing Him that you are really serious about this full surrender, and that you will continue to let Him have full control of your entire life for the rest of your earthly life.
I will give you both parts of this prayer – the initial prayer that you will go to God the Father with to make the initial full surrender, and then the second part of this prayer that will continue to keep you under this full surrender with the Lord for the rest of your earthly life.
A) The Full Surrender Prayer
“Heavenly Father,
In the name of Jesus Christ, I now place my body, my soul, my spirit, and my entire life into Your hands. I now ask that You place me into Your perfect will for my life. From this moment on, I will choose to stay fully surrendered to You all the days of my life and will allow You to lead and direct my life in the direction that You will want it to go in.
Thank you Father.
Thank you Jesus.”
B) To Stay in the Full Surrender
“Heavenly Father,
In the name of Jesus, I continue to place my body, my soul, my spirit, and my entire life in Your hands. I choose to stay fully surrendered to You all the days of my life and ask that you continue to keep me in Your perfect will for my life.
Thank you Father.
Thank you Jesus.”
A Parable: Safe Passage Home
The following is a beautifully written parable that I have borrowed from the book "Fire In The Soul":
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, before even Grandfather Sky had given birth to the stars, there was only One Being. One pure consciousness of LOVE resting in the completeness of its own untold Stories and mute Songs unsung.
Then, one day, for reasons no one remembers, if in fact anyone ever knew, the One became restless. Some say It decided to play a cosmic game of hide and seek, splitting its LIGHT into tiny sparks, each with the full potential of the Whole. In this way the One could know itself and grow itself.
So each spark was clothed in a costume of flesh and its LIGHT and wisdom hidden deep within its heart. The challenge of the game was for all parts of the the Whole to discover their way back Home again having lived all the Stories and sung all the Songs that would make them wise and compassionate co-creators and companions to the One.
The fledgling souls took many roads Home. Each Way had its own Story and each soul responded to that Story with the gift of FREE WILL, embroidering new stories on the dream-tapestry of the One Great Dreamer. And the sun rose and the the sun set. The tides came in and the tides went out. New flesh was born and old flesh went back to the earth. And the One saw new stories grow in the Theater of the Many.
Some of these stories led closer to Home. These were the ones in which fear was conquered by LOVE. Some of these stories led down blind alleys. These were the ones in which LOVE was hidden by fear. The plays were long and the distractions many. One by one most souls forgot that they were on a journey at all. They fell asleep to the first stories that the One had left as eternal roadmaps and guides so that each soul could find its way back Home.
Believing that they were alone and separate these lost souls wandered in a strange land dominated by the illusion that death was real and that love was as transitory as a shadow. Some sought solace in money, others in power. Some found it in food or drugs or alcohol or anger or television or possessions, gossip or judgment or a jealous god who whispered lies. You are special, you are saved, there is only one way Home and this is it.
In its LOVE and mercy for its lost parts of itself the One sent alarm bells out into the Universe to wake its sparks up from their dreams of fear and to guide them back into paths of LOVE and longing for reunion with the Great Cosmic Beloved. These wake-up calls of pain roused the souls from their sleep of forgetfulness.
And their cries for help were heard by their brothers and sisters throughout the Universe. Seen and unseen helpers came whenever they were drawn by the intent, the powerful pull of will of any soul who appealed to the Source with a true longing for reunion, forgiveness and love. And they helped those souls to become FREE from the bondage of limiting beliefs and past unloving or ignorant actions so that they could find safe passage Home.
They will give you safe passage too, if you ask with faith, even the size of a mustard seed, and if you are patient and willing to listen to the directions of the Universe, even if they are not what you wanted to hear. Thy will, not mine, be done --- this is the understanding that will bring you Home.
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, before even Grandfather Sky had given birth to the stars, there was only One Being. One pure consciousness of LOVE resting in the completeness of its own untold Stories and mute Songs unsung.
Then, one day, for reasons no one remembers, if in fact anyone ever knew, the One became restless. Some say It decided to play a cosmic game of hide and seek, splitting its LIGHT into tiny sparks, each with the full potential of the Whole. In this way the One could know itself and grow itself.
So each spark was clothed in a costume of flesh and its LIGHT and wisdom hidden deep within its heart. The challenge of the game was for all parts of the the Whole to discover their way back Home again having lived all the Stories and sung all the Songs that would make them wise and compassionate co-creators and companions to the One.
The fledgling souls took many roads Home. Each Way had its own Story and each soul responded to that Story with the gift of FREE WILL, embroidering new stories on the dream-tapestry of the One Great Dreamer. And the sun rose and the the sun set. The tides came in and the tides went out. New flesh was born and old flesh went back to the earth. And the One saw new stories grow in the Theater of the Many.
Some of these stories led closer to Home. These were the ones in which fear was conquered by LOVE. Some of these stories led down blind alleys. These were the ones in which LOVE was hidden by fear. The plays were long and the distractions many. One by one most souls forgot that they were on a journey at all. They fell asleep to the first stories that the One had left as eternal roadmaps and guides so that each soul could find its way back Home.
Believing that they were alone and separate these lost souls wandered in a strange land dominated by the illusion that death was real and that love was as transitory as a shadow. Some sought solace in money, others in power. Some found it in food or drugs or alcohol or anger or television or possessions, gossip or judgment or a jealous god who whispered lies. You are special, you are saved, there is only one way Home and this is it.
In its LOVE and mercy for its lost parts of itself the One sent alarm bells out into the Universe to wake its sparks up from their dreams of fear and to guide them back into paths of LOVE and longing for reunion with the Great Cosmic Beloved. These wake-up calls of pain roused the souls from their sleep of forgetfulness.
And their cries for help were heard by their brothers and sisters throughout the Universe. Seen and unseen helpers came whenever they were drawn by the intent, the powerful pull of will of any soul who appealed to the Source with a true longing for reunion, forgiveness and love. And they helped those souls to become FREE from the bondage of limiting beliefs and past unloving or ignorant actions so that they could find safe passage Home.
They will give you safe passage too, if you ask with faith, even the size of a mustard seed, and if you are patient and willing to listen to the directions of the Universe, even if they are not what you wanted to hear. Thy will, not mine, be done --- this is the understanding that will bring you Home.
Fire In The Soul... ♥
I've posted this message many times before. The first time I shared this book in December 2007. Nevertheless, the parable described in this book keeps playing in my spirit. Therefore, I am re-posting this book followed by the parable for all of my new readers.
"Fire in the Soul" is a great book written by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. back in 1993. I randomly chose to read this book out of a list of books given by my English 101 Professor for a book report. It's said that there is NO such thing as coincidence. I truly believe that. Because after only reading the preface, and without even knowing, it was precisely the book/message I needed to read at that time. Here is a little excerpt taken directly from the book. Enjoy! :)
****************************************************************
This is a book about freedom, about breaking the chains of old beliefs and fears that keep us in bondage to the illusion that we are separate from each other and from All That Is.
Freedom is the destiny of every living being. We become free by waking from our dreams of fear, scarcity, blame and guilt, by taking responsibility for acting, to the best of our knowledge, with care and loving-kindness that we may kindle the LIGHT of love within and by that LIGHT see our way home and serve as beacons for others along the way.
It is most often suffering that kindles love, loss that deepens understanding, hurt that opens the eyes of the heart that see forgiveness as a way of life and peace of mind as our birthright.
The Road Less Traveled (re-post from 12/29/07)
This is such a fantastic book written by M. Scott Peck. I read this book in my early 20's and it was revolutionary thinking for me. It was one of the many books that helped me become a better person. I highly recommend this book to everyone, including teenagers.
The Road Less Traveled, published in 1978, is Peck's best-known work, and the one that made his reputation. It is, in short, a description of the attributes that make for a fulfilled human being, based largely on his insights as a psychiatrist and a person.
In the first section of the work Peck talks about discipline, which he considers essential for emotional, spiritual and psychological health, and which he describes as "the means of spiritual evolution". The elements of discipline that make for such health include the ability to delay gratification, accepting responsibility for oneself and one's actions, a dedication to truth and balancing.
In the second section, Peck considers the nature of love, which he considers the driving force behind spiritual growth. The section mainly attacks a number of misconceptions about love: that romantic love exists (he considers it a very destructive myth), that it is about dependency, that true love is not "falling in love". That type of love is cathexis, it is a feeling. Instead "true" love is about the extending of one's ego boundaries to include another, and about the spiritual nurturing of another, in short, love is effort.
The final section describes Grace, the powerful force originating outside human consciousness that nurtures spiritual growth in human beings. To do so he describes the miracles of health, the unconscious, and serendipity—phenomena which Peck says:
The Road Less Traveled, published in 1978, is Peck's best-known work, and the one that made his reputation. It is, in short, a description of the attributes that make for a fulfilled human being, based largely on his insights as a psychiatrist and a person.
In the first section of the work Peck talks about discipline, which he considers essential for emotional, spiritual and psychological health, and which he describes as "the means of spiritual evolution". The elements of discipline that make for such health include the ability to delay gratification, accepting responsibility for oneself and one's actions, a dedication to truth and balancing.
In the second section, Peck considers the nature of love, which he considers the driving force behind spiritual growth. The section mainly attacks a number of misconceptions about love: that romantic love exists (he considers it a very destructive myth), that it is about dependency, that true love is not "falling in love". That type of love is cathexis, it is a feeling. Instead "true" love is about the extending of one's ego boundaries to include another, and about the spiritual nurturing of another, in short, love is effort.
The final section describes Grace, the powerful force originating outside human consciousness that nurtures spiritual growth in human beings. To do so he describes the miracles of health, the unconscious, and serendipity—phenomena which Peck says:
- nurture human life and spiritual growth
- are incompletely understood by scientific thinking
- are commonplace among humanity
- originate outside conscious human will
He concludes that "the miracles described indicate that our growth as human beings is being assisted by a force other than our conscious will".
Taking responsibility for our problems is perhaps the most difficult. Only by accepting the fact that we have problems can we solve them. An attitude of ‘It’s not my problem!’ will not take us anywhere. Neurosis and character-disorder are the two disorders of responsibility. Neurotics assume too much responsibility and feel culpable for everything that goes wrong in their life. The latter instead, shirk responsibility, and blame others for their problems. ‘Neurotics make themselves miserable, character-disordered people make everyone else miserable.’ All of us are neurotics or character-disordered at some time or the other. Neurotics must realize that they need not be excessively guilt-ridden, while character-disordered ones must learn to take things in stride, instead of becoming a yoke to the society. The words of Eldridge Cleaver, “If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem”, hold good for all of us.
Dedication to the TRUTH comes next. We ALL have a certain worldview that MUST be constantly UPDATED and REVISED as we find ourselves EXPOSED to new data. If our viewpoint is NARROW, misleading and outdated, then we will be LOST. The same applies to our life experiences. A bitter childhood can leave a person with the false idea that the world is a hostile and inhuman place. Yet, if the person has to grow, he must set aside this prejudice and revise his worldview. Being true also implies a life of genuine self-examination, a willingness to be personally challenged by others, and total honesty to oneself and others.
The Power to Change Your Life: Ten Keys to Resilient Living
The Power to Change Your Life: Ten Keys to Resilient Living
Stress Hardiness and a Resilient Mindset
These statistics might prompt some people to become even more worried, but that is not our intention. If we recognize the effect stress has on our lives, we will be better prepared to manage it and learn to lead more productive, satisfying, healthy, and resilient lives. Being resilient does not mean we eliminate all risks or adverse conditions, but rather when they arise we deal with these conditions effectively.
Resilient individuals possess a particular mindset and accompanying skills that help them respond to life’s challenges with confidence and grace. What are the features of this mindset? What assumptions do resilient people have about themselves that reduce their vulnerability to stress and help them to cope more productively? Certainly, one’s lifestyle, including exercise, diet, and sleep all influence the effectiveness with which stress is managed. But how do you nurture such a healthy existence? In this article, we will describe ten keys for developing stress hardiness and a resilient mindset and lifestyle. As you read about each key, ask yourself, “Am I practicing this? If not, what must I change to strengthen my resilient mindset?” Also, remember that changing one’s mindset and behavior takes time. Be realistic in what you can accomplish within a certain timeframe. Each small step leads to reaching a larger goal.
Key #1: Rewrite Your Negative Scripts
Do you find yourself saying or doing the same ineffective things over and over again? It is impressive how many people do. We often become trapped, blindly following a prescribed script that does not allow for change or creativity in the face of stress and problems. Yet, we are the authors of our lives. We can move from less satisfying, less productive scripts, to ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that foster a resilient mindset. Identify the negative scripts in your life or things you would like to change. Define short and long-term goals related to these issues. Consider new scripts, select one that you believe has the greatest chance for success, plan for obstacles, and follow through. Change cannot take place unless we become active participants in our lives.
Key #2: Choose a Path to Become Stress Hardy Rather Than Stressed Out
Research indicates that stress hardy people engage in activities that bring purpose or meaning to their lives whether in their role as parent, spouse, co-worker, or friend or in the volunteer work they do. What would you list as the priorities in your life and do you spend time engaged in these activities? In addition, stress hardy individuals view difficult situations as an expected part of life. When such situations arise, they interpret them as challenges to confront and learn from rather than as stress to avoid. It is helpful to recall that in the Chinese language the same word is used for “crisis” and “opportunity with danger.” Stress hardy people can define the factors over which they have control and those that they don’t, focusing their time and energy on situations within their sphere of influence. You might wish to do the following. Make a list of five things you want to see different in your life and then next to each item write down whether someone else has to change first for you to achieve your goal. If you discover that your happiness is based on another person changing first, whomever it may be, you might be waiting a long time to become happy. You are likely to become increasingly stressed during the wait. You will feel empowered if you focus your time and energy on what you can do differently to improve particular situations.
Key #3: View Life Through the Eyes of Others
Resilient individuals develop satisfying relationships in their lives. A cornerstone of such relationships is the capacity to be empathic and to place oneself inside the shoes of others and see the world through their eyes. To become more empathic ask yourself, “In anything I say or do, what do I hope to accomplish? Do I say or do things in ways that will motivate others to be willing to listen and respond to me? Do I behave towards others in the same way I would like them to behave towards me?” Make a list of the words you hope people would use to describe you and then the words you think they would actually use. Reflect upon what actions you might take to change your behavior so that the two lists of words are more in accord with each other.
Key #4: Communicate Effectively
The ability to communicate effectively is an integral component of resilience and is closely linked to empathy. Effective communication includes an appreciation of how our verbal and nonverbal messages are perceived by others and our capacity to be an active listener. Active listeners attempt to understand what the other person is expressing and even if they disagree they are respectful and validate that they “hear” the other person’s viewpoint. The more effectively we learn to convey our feelings, thoughts, and beliefs verbally and nonverbally, the more successful and resilient we will be.
Key #5: Accept Yourself and Others
If you are to nurture a resilient mindset, you must learn to accept yourself. Acceptance implies possessing realistic expectations and goals, recognizing your strengths as well as vulnerabilities, and leading an authentic, balanced life in which your behaviors are in accord with your values and goals. Make a list of five things that are important to you and consider why these are important. View each item on your list and reflect upon how much of your time and energy is expended to achieve what you have listed. As you learn to accept yourself, as you gain a clear picture of your strengths and vulnerabilities, as you articulate your values, you will be in a position to remove those factors that serve as obstacles to realizing a more honest, enriched life.
Key #6: Make Connections and Display Compassion
It is difficult to be resilient if we do not nurture connections in our lives—connections to other people, to ideals, to our faith, to causes. Psychologist Julius Segal, when discussing individuals who enrich the lives of children, referred to them as “charismatic adults,” people from whom children “gather strength.” Even as adults we need people in our lives from whom we gather strength. In addition, our resilience will be enhanced if we serve as a source of strength and support for others. In this regard, consider the following questions: “Who are the two or three people who serve as charismatic adults in my life? What have they done that has prompted me to list them in this way? What people would say that I am the charismatic adult in their lives, and why? Aside from relationships with people, what other activities in my life supply me with a sense of connectedness? In what ways am I compassionate and giving?” Being connected to and helping others provide meaning to our lives and serve as nutriments for resilience.
Key #7: Learn to Deal with Mistakes
The ways in which we understand and respond to mistakes and failure are an integral part of a resilient mindset. When you make a mistake, what do you tell yourself? How do you react? Resilient people consider mistakes as experiences for learning and growth. They ask themselves, “What can I do differently next time to succeed?” Those who are not resilient typically interpret mistakes as attributable to conditions that cannot be easily corrected, such as a lack of intelligence. They feel defeated by mistakes and often end up blaming others or quitting or refusing to attempt things. Observe what you say to yourself when you make a mistake. It will give you a clue to how resilient you are and what you might have to change.
Key #8: Learn to Deal with Success and Build Islands of Competence
Just as the manner in which we understand and respond to setbacks is an integral part of a resilient mindset so too, is the way we react to successes in our lives. Think about how you understand your achievements. Those who are resilient view their accomplishments as based upon their own resources and strengths. This doesn’t mean they fail to acknowledge the support of others. Rather, they don’t dismiss or minimize what they have achieved. In contrast, people who are not resilient tend to attribute their success to factors outside their control such as luck or chance or fate. Consequently, they are not as confident or optimistic about being successful in the future. There is another feature of resilient people we wish to highlight. While they do not deny their vulnerabilities, they are able to identify their strengths or what we call their “islands of competence.” What would you list as your islands of competence? Do you regularly engage in these strengths to bolster your resilience?
Key #9: Continue Developing Self-Discipline and Self-Control
Self-discipline and self-control play a significant role in our daily activities. When we think before we act, when we consider the feelings of others, when we reflect upon possible solutions to problems, when we behave in a rational and thoughtful way, when we engage in developing a business plan, when we keep from screaming at someone who has done something to make us angry, we are displaying self-discipline and self-control. It is a major component of stress-hardiness and resilience. Self-discipline and self-control must be exercised in the following ways: Accept ownership for your behavior. Be consistent, but not rigid. Become a proactive problem solver, thinking of different solutions before you act. Believe that every problem has a possible solution. Remember that with effort and patience, possible solutions become probable solutions. It is difficult to be resilient and have satisfying relationships if you are impulsive, arbitrary, and unpredictable. We believe that these negative traits can be changed as long as we first acknowledge their existence and then develop a realistic plan of action to modify these counterproductive behaviors.
Key #10: Maintaining Your Resilient Lifestyle Takes Work
If we abandon well-established diets and exercise, our health will suffer. The same principle is true when we consider the maintenance of a resilient lifestyle. Once you have developed the features associated with a resilient mindset and lifestyle, you cannot settle back and assume these qualities will be maintained on automatic pilot. Expected and unexpected challenges will emerge that will test your ability to be resilient. The more you understand the characteristics of resilient individuals, the more you can engage in daily and long-term exercises to maintain, and even strengthen, a resilient mindset. Each and every day consider: “Have I listened and communicated effectively with others? Have I responded to stress, mistakes, and setbacks in thoughtful ways? Have I maintained connections to people, ideals, causes, and faith?” Leading a resilient lifestyle should be in constant focus.
A Resilient Mindset Will Change Your Life
The road towards nurturing a resilient mindset and lifestyle, one that leads to stress hardiness, is neither straightforward, nor direct. The road often contains obstacles and detours that interfere with reaching your destinations. However, the more knowledgeable you are about the components of a resilient mindset, as well as the roadblocks to its attainment, the more diligent you can become to change any existing counterproductive ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. By so doing, you will become better equipped and confident to discover those paths that lead to a productive, fulfilling life, a life that encourages you to plan and dream, to bring joy to others, to laugh, and to appreciate that you truly are the author of your own life.
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