In An Effort to Bring Loved Ones Closer to God - Stop Talking to Them About God.... and Start Praying (and Talking) to God About Them (12.19.17)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen - Ephesians 3:20-21

Faith Believers,
Through the prayers of his wife, a former co-worker of mine accepted Christ. For many months his wife was concerned about his spiritual welfare. She continually witnessed to him, but he did not respond.

Finally, she quit talking to her husband about GOD and started talking to GOD about her husband. He then surrendered his life to Jesus. He has been a faithful witness and minister of the Gospel ever since.

GOD is able to do far beyond anything that we can imagine. As much as we may love friends and family members, GOD loves them more. As much as we desire to help them, GOD can help them more. He can bring circumstances into their lives that will lead them to the Cross.

For the sake of our friends and family we must pray.

  -  Marilyn

~ Prayer ~
Loving Father,

Your Love is impossible to comprehend!

So often I want to fix the lives of those I love and care about, when You want so much more for them than I could ever do in my own strength.

Teach me to seek Your Face for others, rather than attempting to convince them with my words.

May I continually be compelled to bring those I care for, to Your Throne.

Amen

Each Trial is a Stepping Stone to Greater Faith, A Faith that Produces Fruit that will Last (12.18.17)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

    
     

My Child,
In everything give thanks, for this is My Will.

Give thanks when you are going through struggles,
     knowing that struggles produce patient and endurance.
Understand that I Am at work behind the scenes.
I Am at work to give you the desires of your heart.
I Am at work to smooth the rough edges in your life.

So be patient when trials come, and understand that with each test, you should develop your faith in Me.

       

Do not be impatient, but as you become patient expect Me to deliver an outcome. I will never allow more than what you are able to handle, but I will always make a way - whereby you shall grow and mature in your faith.

In essence, each trial is a stepping-stone to greater faith.

        

Do not believe the enemy when he comes like a roaring lion
     to devour you.
Do not back down to his schemes, nor be intimidated
     by his viciousness.

he is unable to make you fall, for I have posted my angels round about you; and My Banner is over you.

       

Trials and testings will come My Child; but there is a purpose for everything I allow to happen. I Am working everything out for your good. So do not be afraid when trials of all sorts come; but embrace them, and give thanks to Me, your Heavenly Father, who is working on your behalf to produce fruit in your life that will last.

       

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

       

Faith Believers,
I'm praying for you. That the peace of GOD will flood your soul, and send any fears holding you back, running. 

So that the vision the Lord has given you will come to pass.
  -  Marilyn

God has Our Back.... (12.17.17)

Faith Believers,
What a wonderful promise the Lord has made to us!
Not only will the Lord go before us in battle,
     but He will be our rear guard.

In other words, He defends from behind to support and protect us in all our ways, when we abide in Him.  His Word says "Goodness and Mercy shall follow us."

GOD has our back.

Just as the Lord went before the children of Israel during their journey, and was behind them to separate them from the enemy who pursued them; He is also there for us as well. He will whisper words of Spirit and Truth to us as we let him lead us on the path He has chosen for our life. And you will hear a small, still voice behind you saying "This is the way, walk there in it."

       

Our minds can be at peace knowing that Jesus is leading the way and the Holy Spirit is also behind us. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are an all-consuming wall of fire around us. the enemy has no power to stop us as we walk through this journey.

We do not have to understand everything the Lord is doing but we must believe and trust in Him, knowing that all is going to be well; and that He is working things out for our good.

I'm praying for you.  That the peace of GOD will flood your soul, and send any fears holding you back - running.  So that the vision the Lord has given you, will come to pass.
  -  Marilyn
 

       

The Lord will go before you, and the GOD of Israel will be your rear guard. - Isaiah 52:12

       

#ScriptureReflection - Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 (12.16.17)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.

It's Time. Decree God's Word Over Your House TODAY (12.15.17)

Deuteronomy 6:6-7;9 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. 

My Child,
It is time to forget your season of pain and to embrace your season of fruitfulness.  It’s time to decree the Word of the Lord over your house, this day. For even as you declare it, it shall be placed into motion in the realm of the spirit. And each time you decree My Word, it shall grow and be birthed into manifestation for you.

Job 22:28 - Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 

Regardless of what hardships you have been through, it has always been My Plan to work things out for your good and to move you forward to the next chapter. The trials and pain you've endured have birthed blessings into your life. Whether your hardships were from years ago, or just occurred yesterday, I want you to put that season of toil behind you.

Even as Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh, it was his declaration that he had forgotten his years of hardship. And that is what I Am asking you to do - to decree that your years of struggle and toil are behind you now.

Genesis 41:51-52 - And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For GOD, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: for GOD hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction

I caused Joseph to forget all his hardship and the pain from his past.
I wanted him to forget the struggles, trials, and pain he suffered
     growing up, as he prepared himself to move into
     the next chapter of his life. 
Maybe your upbringing was filled with similar memories.
Well, this is your Ephraim chapter. 

This is your fruitful season.
Leave the past behind, press forward and in the midst of what
     you’re going through, your turmoil will bring forth fruitfulness. 

Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus. 

This day, choose to distance yourself from all the negative experiences. 
Do not allow them to keep you down anymore. 
Decree this is your season for double blessings.

Dwell on the blessings of the Lord and forget the pain of the past.
Start now and proclaim a continual blessing over your house. 

Speak it by faith and watch My Word become reality in the
     atmosphere of your home.

Don’t hesitate, let today be the day
     to decree the Word of GOD over your house.

Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

Hebrews 6:15 - And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 

Speak Increase, Stop Putting Limits on the Lord, Stand on the Promises of God & Stand on His Word (12.14.17)

Faith Believers,
Speak your way into your destination, and you will be amazed at how GOD will move into your life, as you line up your confession with the Word of GOD. Speak increase into your life, not decrease. Declare out loud what the Word of GOD says about your situation. Stop putting limits on the Lord. 

It's GOD's desire to bless you. GOD wants to move in our lives and upon our situations more than we realize. However, GOD will only move on words of faith (keep in mind if your faith is negative, you will be blessed with what you say, the negative). He can't bless you if you are always complaining, whining, speaking words of doubt and unbelief. Those words don't move our Lord. He simply stands still and allows us to come to the end of ourselves. Then He steps in and blesses us beyond measure.

Wherever you are today in life, could it be that the words you spoke, put you there? You could have either spoke blessings or curses over your life. Stop and look where you are right now, did you bless yourself or curse yourself? A lot of times we do this without thinking about what we are saying.

Our words carry life or death, they impact our lives.
We must remember at all times that faith moves the Lord.
When we stop confessing and believing His words,
     we stop our blessings from coming forth. 

The Word says the enemy came to steal, kill and destroy.
he wants to steal the Word out of your mouth.
If he can get you to talk against GOD's Will for your life, then he has won.
Do not allow the enemy to steal anything GOD has ordained for you.
Stand on the promises of GOD and stand on His Word.

The enemy has no right (unless you give it to him) to touch us. Jesus paid the price for all our sins. When He said "it was finished" on the Cross, it meant just that. It was finished.

the enemy's hold on mankind had been destroyed by the blood of Jesus.

he knows this and he wants to get you to the point that you start doubting GOD's Will for your life. If he can get you to that point, then you will start believing GOD isn't going to come through for you.

GOD is faithful and He will stand by His Word to see it come to pass.
Start confessing the Word, even if you don't feel like it.
  -  Marilyn

Open up your mouth and give GOD some praise!!!!

Now is the Time. Get Priorities in Order, Do Not Delay, Leave the Past in the Past, Let Things Go & Prepare to MOVE (12.13.17)

My Child,
Do not delay in making the necessary changes I have
     shown you, because it is time to move.

You know where I have called you to go.  Now, is the time for you to begin to move out. Each delay will cause you to miss the opportunities that I have arranged for you and your door of opportunity.
 
Please do not hesitate to take the first step
     in this new chapter in your life.
Just as I have been with you in the past,
     I will continue to be with you.
Therefore, turn loose the things that are holding you back.
Let them go.  You don’t need them anymore.
 
It’s time to leave the past behind you, for that is where it belongs… in the past.

Get your priorities in order and prepare to move, as I direct you.
There is much yet to do.
No more time to procrastinate.

Please be obedient to My Word, and be ready to move.  
 

Read and Meditate on His Word:

Isaiah 30:21 - And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 
 
Judges 18:9 - And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
 
Romans 12:11 - Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
 
Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

 

God has the Best in Mind for You, He has Already Worked Things Out for You (12.12.17)

My Child,
I know the times and seasons in your life.
I know the timing of all things.
I also know that when I don’t move in the way you think
     I should, you believe that I do not care.

Those thoughts were put into your mind by the enemy. You know they are all lies to convince you to give up on Me and take matters into your own hands.

You have not begun to imagine what I have for you.
If I told you everything, you would have a hard time
     believing it; because it’s greater than you can imagine.

However, as a loving Father, I know when My Children need reassurance that they are not forgotten. The greatest assurance I can give you is My Word.

Read it, meditate on it, then read it out loud.

Allow My Words to penetrate deep within your spirit.
Your eyes can see My Word, but your spirit needs
     to hear My Word.
Faith comes by hearing My Word.

It’s your spirit that needs convincing that what I’ve spoken will come to pass.

I have the best in mind for you, and I’ve already worked things out for you. Believe that which you have prayed for shall come to pass, and it will be done.

Now, what more can I say?

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word:

Numbers 23:19 - GOD is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Isaiah 55:11 - So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Mark 11:23 - For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith

John 14:1 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in GOD, believe also in me.

Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of GOD.

Arise, Do Not Doubt God's Word. Trust Him.... (12.11.17)

My Child,
Once again, doubt and unbelief have stopped you
     from living a victorious life.

You know these two things are not your friends. Why do you allow them to interfere in your life? The enemy sent them to you to convince you that I would not deliver on My Promises. he wants you to take back your confession of faith and fight the battle yourself.

Don’t you dare!
This battle is Mine.
 
Leave your burdens with Me, and trust that I Am able to supply all your needs. Do not ever doubt Me, for I Am greater than the mountains you face. Trust Me to not only fight the battle; but also trust Me to win the battle. Take your thoughts captive and turn them around to a positive statement of trust in ME. You must conquer all doubt and unbelief.
 
This trial of your faith that you are going through
     is your training ground.
It is not meant to destroy you,
     it is meant to strengthen you.
Learn to lean on Me, and to trust Me completely.

It is time you put doubt and unbelief under your feet!
Declare and decree that you will trust in Me,
     even when your back is against the wall.
Take authority over the enemy in the Name of My Son, Jesus Christ! 
 
Command things to line up according to the My Word.
Do not allow the enemy to have access to any area of your life.
Fill yourself up to overflowing with the Word of GOD.
Oil and water do not mix therefore you cannot mix faith and trust,
     with doubt and unbelief - they just do not mix.

When doubt has a place in your life, faith cannot operate.
Faith cannot operate with reasoning.
Faith operates with complete trust in Me.
 
You must believe in Me when I say, “If thou can believe, all things are possible.” You must believe, “You can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens you."

Declare these statements out loud, daily, as often as you can.

Remember, the enemy can only operate when you let him.
Shut him out.

Arise above the things, which held you captive.
Arise and be victorious over all the enemies of your soul!

Arise, I say!

 

Read and Meditate on His Word:

2 Chronicles 20:15 - And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but GOD's.

Matthew 21:21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  

Mark 9:23 - Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1 Peter 1:6-7 - Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 5:6-8 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

 

 

God's Word Lives in Me & I Live My Life in Him - So That I May be Truly Transformed to His Perfect Will (12.10.17)

Faith Believers,
The living Word of GOD, Jesus Christ, lives within me and Scripture compels me to live my life in Him: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him - Colossians 2:6. 

As rejoicing and thankfulness take root in my spirit, I will become equipped to offer my body as a living sacrifice for His sake:  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to GOD—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what GOD’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will - Romans 12:1-2.

As I ponder this, it seems the most practical thing I can do is to humbly and earnestly call upon the indwelling Spirit of GOD to meet me in every moment - mundane or significant, joyful or sad, peace-filled or fearful, quiet or filled with turmoil…  For He is GOD and He lives within me!

Holy Father, may I truly be transformed so that Your Perfect Will is shaped within me, for the purposes of Your Kingdom.  I will pray the following prayer to You Lord, as a pleasing sacrifice to GOD who lives within me… A prayer for my everyday life, in addition to the Lord's Prayer, which You gave to us to pray as well.
  -  Marilyn

~ Prayer ~
Indwelling Spirit of GOD,

I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing
     to You as my true and proper worship.

In every moment, I long to be continually transformed
     as You renew my mind, and focus it upon Your Good,
     Pleasing and Perfect Will for my life.

Teach me to be attentive to Your Voice,
     regardless of what is transpiring in my life.

Help me to be fully obedient to Your Will, Lord.

Amen