Preparing For Your Calling Series: “Single Mindedâ€
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
—2 Timothy 2:20
This is the fourth message in my series on preparing for your calling. Follow this link to read previous posts in this series. Last week, I talked about God taking us through the wilderness to empty us and fill us with His Word, so we can be equipped to walk in faith until Jesus returns. When we are going through times of intense testing, it’s important to remember God’s faithfulness and keep our minds focused on Him. Whenever the Israelites saw God perform a miracle, they believed and praised Him. But the moment they were in need they quickly doubted His faithfulness.
The Bible says, “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. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does†(James 1:2-8).
My greatest weakness used to be doubt. I was extremely double-minded. My husband would often ask me how I could have so much faith one moment, but when circumstances changed I’d quickly lose it. It was easy to believe God when I saw Him bless me. But just like the Israelites, I’d quickly return to doubting God the moment I was in need.
I didn’t understand why I struggled with doubt so much. In my heart I believed God was who He said He was. I believed His Word was true. I felt like the father that cried out to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief†(Mark 9:24). It didn’t make sense to me. How could I believe and have unbelief?
I didn’t understand that my carnal mind that I operated in before I knew Jesus was defiled with unbelief. “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled†(Titus 1:15). I was double-minded because I was still used to operating in my carnal mind. My mind needed to be transformed and renewed into my new Spiritual mind, the mind of Christ.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16, KJV
Whenever a storm suddenly arose, I’d naturally default to my carnal mind because that was dominant in me. I believe that’s why the disciples quickly lost faith when they were hit with a storm soon after following Jesus in Matthew 8:23-26. It takes time to put off our old thinking and start operating in the Spirit.
… if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Ephesians 4:21-24, NASB
The Israelites wouldn’t lay aside their carnal mind. They often complained that they would’ve been better off in Egypt. They kept their minds focused on what they left behind. If they would’ve kept their minds on God, and allowed Him to change their thinking, they wouldn’t have wandered around for forty years and died in the wilderness.
This is why Satan attacks our minds. That’s where our spiritual battle takes place (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Satan knows if he can get us to keep our minds off the Spirit, then we won’t follow the Spirit. God leads us into the wilderness. But He doesn’t force us to follow Him. We can turn back any time we want. Satan knows once we accept Christ, it is a critical time to hinder us from following Christ to the end. Satan and his army go full force trying to get us to turn back and return to captivity. We must not give him the glory by letting him succeed.
I spent many years struggling in the wilderness. Once I learned the importance of renewing my mind, I committed myself to being in the Word daily. Within only five months of seeking God daily I saw my life take a dramatic turn. I was able to quit the job I had been praying to leave for many years and take the first step into God’s calling for my life.
The Bible says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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).Â
If things aren’t going well in your life right now, don’t give up seeking God and His Word daily. In due season, you will reap a bountiful harvest if you continue to persevere. God is faithful. Praise Him and speak His Word out loud to help keep your mind focused on Him. Don’t let your mind think about your problems. Change directions by shifting your focus to God’s faithfulness in His Word.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Â He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
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For our prayer this week, I want to close with a psalm David wrote when he was in the Desert of Judah (Psalm 63:1-8).
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
In Jesus name, I lift my voice in praise!
Verses To Meditate On:
Joshua 7:13; Daniel 10:12; Hebrews 11
*If you’d like to learn more about renewing your mind, follow this link to a post I shared on renovating my mind using the example in Nehemiah of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
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*Come back next Monday as the series continues.
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Preparing For Your Calling Series and tagged Disciple, Discipleship, Holy Spirit, Renewing Your mind by Amanda Beth with
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Preparing For Your Calling Series: “Loving God More Than The Worldâ€
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
—2 Timothy 2:20
This is the second message in my series on preparing for your calling. If you missed last week’s message about being called to be Jesus’ disciples follow this link. This week we will focus on the first step in discipleship, learning to love God more than the world. When Jesus called his first disciples they immediately left everything to follow Him.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,†Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.†At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-21
What made these men drop everything and immediately follow Jesus? The first disciples were lowly fisherman. They were unschooled, ordinary men (Acts 4:13). I imagine the world wasn’t working well in their favor. When Jesus came, in my opinion, they saw a wonderful opportunity for change.
By the time my eyes were opened to see the truth about Jesus, I was desperate for change. It wasn’t hard for me to follow Jesus. I already despised the things of the world because I witnessed and experienced many of the evil consequences of sin by then.
I witnessed the evil behind drugs and alcohol as I watched it destroyed close family members and friends. I witnessed the evil behind unforgiveness and bitterness as I watched it separate and destroy many relationships. I witnessed the evil behind sexual immorality as it stole my innocence and robbed me of my childhood. Â I witnessed the evil behind flirting with worldly lusts as it tore apart my marriage and family.
Looking back now, I know the devil used the evil consequences of sin to try and keep me away from God. But it did the opposite. It sent me running into the arms of Jesus. By the time He came to me, I was ready to leave everything and follow Him. I had despised sin so much that I knew God’s road had to be better.
My past that I once despised turned into the greatest blessing for me. If I had not experienced those things, I wouldn’t have hated sin because I wouldn’t have known how evil it really is. If I had enjoyed the pleasures of this world, I wouldn’t have seen a need to follow Jesus.
I was talking to an atheist once. I was explaining why we need God’s love and protection, and he replied that everything was working well for him. He never had a problem that didn’t work itself out. He was getting by just fine in life without God. He didn’t see a need to follow God because the world was working for him. He hadn’t yet come face to face with the evil demons behind sin.
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.â€
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only .’â€
Luke 4:5-8
The pleasures of this world—the great deception of the devil to keep people from following Jesus. Sadly there are many Christians who also fall into this deception. They may have received Jesus’ atonement for sin to keep them out of hell, but they see no need to live for Him here. The world works well for them. They haven’t experienced the destructive power of sin yet.
Revelation 3:15-16 says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.â€
This is a harsh statement. But it’s the truth. We can’t love God and love the sinful pleasures of this world. We can’t follow God’s calling on our lives while walking in the dark. Jesus said, “The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going†(John 12:35). He also said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.†(John 8:12).Â
Though my experiences with sin were at times extremely painful, they gave me an awareness that made it easy for me to lay things down once I started following Jesus. I started laying anything down that I felt would feed my flesh instead of His spirit in me. I got rid of the trashy television shows, movies, and books, and started reading the Bible, joining Bible studies and watching things that would help me grow in my relationship with the Lord.
Each time I’d lay something down, God would open my eyes and I’d see those things in a new light—His light of truth. He showed me the danger behind those things so that I wouldn’t want to pick them up again. As I saw how much God loved me and wanted to protect me I began to fall deeper in love with Him.
Even though I’ve fallen many times in my walk with God, I can honestly say I have never enjoyed living in sin. I despise it so deeply that my heart aches when I see sin and the things of this world glorified over God.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Jude 1:17-23
If your life hasn’t been terribly affected by the sinful nature of this world, and you are having a hard time following Jesus with all your heart, I encourage you to pray and ask God to help you. You don’t have to have something bad happen to you for God to show you the truth. He is faithful to lead you into His will and fill your heart with His love. As He shows you what to turn away from, you’ll begin to see the destructive influence behind those things. And you’ll start to desire to follow Christ with all your heart.
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Prayer For The Week:
Heavenly Father,
I praise You for showing me the destructive power of sin that leads to death. Thank You for sending Jesus to set me free from it, and giving me life here on earth and eternally in Heaven with You. Help me lay everything down that is hindering me from following Jesus with all my heart. Prepare me and teach me so that I can be fully equipped to do what You have called me to do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
Verses To Meditate On:
Ephesians 2:1-10; Ephesians 4:17-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17
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*Come back next Monday as the series continues.
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
**I’m going to be interviewed by author Deborah H. Bateman this evening at 9pm EST doing a live teleseminar. Follow this link for info to call in and talk with us about ministry and publishing.
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Preparing For Your Calling Series and tagged Disciple of Jesus Christ, Discipleship, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Sin, Your Calling by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Ask and You Shall Receive!
Since I talked about prayer last week, and started a “Praying the Word Wednesdays†on my Facebook page, I wanted to share this post on prayer I wrote when I started my blog two years ago. I pray it inspires us to seek God in everything!
Ask and You Shall Receive!
I was talking to a woman once. She said she was shopping one day and having a hard time finding something in the grocery store. She thought about asking God to help her, but quickly changed her mind and thought, “Why would I bother God for that when I can find it myself?â€
It’s funny how we think we’re bothering God when we have a request. Do we think God is too busy to take the time to help us find something in the grocery store? Do we think God is inconvenienced by us when we have a need? On the contrary, God wants us to seek Him and depend on Him for everything!
Why struggle doing things ourselves when we can have God helping us? He knows everything. So why not seek Him first in everything? Asking for God’s help and guidance doesn’t mean we’re lazy and shifting our responsibilities off on Him. It means we’re relying on Him to help us do what we need to do.
If I lose something and ask God to help me find it, I don’t just sit there and wait for it to appear out of nowhere. I still look for it. But I rely on God to direct me to the right spot. God created us to be dependent on Him. We still have our responsibilities, but we depend on Him to help and guide us in those responsibilities.
A man told me recently that he started asking God for wisdom in his job. He has a job where he has to troubleshoot and come up with new ideas. He said it’s often difficult and stressful for him. As he started asking God for direction and wisdom, he noticed a dramatic change in his ability. He was coming up with great ideas and solutions to help his company. He said he knows that wisdom is coming from God and is not his own. This man still has to think and do the work, but God supernaturally supplies the ideas.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3
God’s wisdom is so far beyond our own that we should gladly accept it over our own wisdom. Even the areas we think we’re smart in and don’t need any help, God is smarter and His ways are greater.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9
When I first started walking with God I knew I could come to Him with everything. However, I had a hard time putting my trust in Him because I struggled with patience. I needed to see it happen right away. Otherwise, I’d lose faith and try to handle it on my own. This led me to make many wrong decisions.
One example was with my finances. Every time my husband and I were hit with something, I’d stress out trying to figure out how to come up with enough money to make ends meet. I would ask God first, but I wouldn’t even wait for the answer. I would immediately search for my own solution. Most of the time, my solution would be extreme and something I would end up regretting. At one point, I was seriously considering selling everything in our house to pay our bills.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James 1:6-8
God kept nudging me to receive His help. He kept encouraging me to give my worries over to Him in exchange for His wisdom, His guidance, and His help. God showed me that my way wasn’t getting us anywhere except deeper in debt and leaving me stressed out.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
Once I handed our finances over to God, and trusted Him without doubt, my faith grew to see His provisions. By seeing that God provides, it helped me become more dependent on Him. I look back to all the days I wasted trying to figure everything out on my own, only to find myself frustrated and burdened greatly. Now I enjoy giving everything over to God and seeking His help. I enjoy the peace He gives me in exchange for my worries. I also enjoy seeing how He works everything out. It becomes exciting depending on God. You never know when and how God will show up.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:8
This doesn’t mean God gives us whatever we want, whenever we want. It obviously has to be in His will and timing. But as God works in us, our desires start to change into His desires. Then, we start asking for things that He puts in our hearts, which line up with His will. Once we become dependent on God, His desires will become a reality in our lives.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28
Heavenly Father,
We praise You that we can come to You for everything we need. You are never tired or too busy for us. Help us to seek You in everything we do. Help us to put our trust in You and look expectantly to You. We praise You that You will out do our expectations when all our expectations are in You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
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*I have started “Praying the Word Wednesdays†on my Facebook page. Every Wednesday, post your prayer request on my Facebook wall. I’ll post a relevant verse and pray the Word of God over your request. There is great power in believing God and His Word!
“‘If you can’?†said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.â€
Mark 9:23
“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.â€
Isaiah 55:11, KJV
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Posted in Monday's Blogs, Prayer and tagged God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Prayer by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Stop, Drop, and Pray!
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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.â€
Matthew 11:28-30
Over the summer, God kept bringing these verses to my attention. The load I carry can get heavy. I have four children. I’m potty training one. I homeschool the other three. Most of the household and family responsibilities are on me due to my husband’s work hours. I take my kids to and from all their activities. I teach at my kid’s homeschool co-op class. I lead a weekly Bible study in my home. I write blogs every week. I am writing and publishing several books. I am involved in many groups and social media outlets online. And somewhere in between I manage to get a few hours of sleep at night.
I’m learning that when I start to feel overwhelmed, I am trying to carry that load on my own. I can only carry it for so long before it weighs down on me.
The original Greek word the NIV translated as “easy†in Matthew 11:30 above is pronounced “khrase-tos,†which means: fit for use, virtuous, manageable, mild, pleasant.
Even if our loads are heavy, when we rely on Jesus to carry them for us, they will be manageable and pleasant for us to bear. When I start to not enjoy what I am doing, and it’s more of a burden than a blessing, I need to stop what I’m doing, drop my load, pray, and leave my burdens at the feet of Jesus.
A couple weeks ago, my kids were overly irritating one another. Every time one would aggravate the other, they’d come running to me yelling, “MOM! He did this! MOM! She did that!†Feeling overwhelmed, I dropped to my knees and started praying. As my kids stood above me screaming “MOM,†wondering why I wasn’t answering them, I felt a peace come over me and the overwhelming feeling went away instantly. I was then able to peacefully manage and train my children accordingly.
I ignored the screaming and fighting for a moment and ran to the feet of Jesus to drop off my burden. When I got up, my load was light because I was only carrying His peace.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:1, KJV
In Luke 10:38-42, Martha opened her home to Jesus, but then became overwhelmed by the preparations that needed to be made. If Martha had stopped, dropped to her knees, and laid down her burdens at the feet of Jesus, as Mary did, she would’ve had the peace she needed to joyfully manage all the preparations.
Martha, Martha,†the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.â€
Luke 10:41-42
As God’s been speaking to me the last few months to lay my burdens down and learn from Jesus, I’ve been paying close attention to my prayer life. I am amazed how many decisions I make without asking God first. One of the reasons God led me to take a four month break offline was because I overloaded myself with too many commitments. God is not obligated to help us carry a load that He hasn’t laid upon us.
Since writing and being online, I’ve gotten a lot of requests. In the last year, I’ve accepted many requests without praying first. At one point, I was reading four books at a time, and posting on other people’s blogs more than my own. I realized it was not in God’s plan when it became an unpleasant burden. If I would have prayed before committing to those things, I wouldn’t have burnt myself out and neglected the work God had prepared for me to do.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
I encourage you today if you are feeling overwhelmed, stop what you’re doing, drop to your knees, and pray. Leave your heavy load at the feet of Jesus. Ask God to show you what He has prepared for you to do, and lay everything else down that is not in His will. Receive Jesus’ peace and strength, so you can pleasantly manage everything God’s called you to do.
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.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Heavenly Father,
We praise You that we don’t have to carry our burdens on our own. Help us to drop to our knees each day, lay down our loads at the feet of Jesus, and joyfully manage all that you’ve called us to do. Teach us and lead us into Your will.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
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*Dr. Linda Travelute has a wonderful article titled “How to Give God Your Heavy Load & Grab a Lighter One Instead.†Follow this link to read it.
I have started “Praying the Word Wednesdays†on my Facebook page. Every Wednesday, post your prayer request on my Facebook wall. I’ll post a relevant verse and pray the Word of God over your request. There is great power in believing God and His Word!
 “‘If you can’?†said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.â€
Mark 9:23
“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.â€
Isaiah 55:11, KJV
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Prayer and tagged God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, pray, Righteous living by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Pursuing Godliness “The Path of Least Resistance”
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
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This is the last blog in our series on “Pursuing Godliness.†Today we will close with choosing the narrow path, rather than the path of least resistance. When we choose to follow God and His will, we will face resistance. Revelation 12:17 says that Satan wages war against those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
I shared in the last blog that I am hosting a powerful study in my home titled: “Believing God†by Beth Moore. We have only just begun the study and have already had much resistance. I could fill up this blog with all that has happened in the last few weeks. I’ve led many Bible studies in the past, but never one as powerful as this one. I’ve never had so many women plan to come to a study and not show up because of all the resistance this study has brought.
Matthew 7:13-14 says: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
When we want to pursue the things of God, Satan and those who are opposed to God will try to stop us. I can understand why many give up and only a few find the life God intended. It’s hard to press on through difficulties to continue pursuing the things of God. But the difficulties we experience on the narrow path are nothing compared to the glory we will see God work in and through us along the way.
Romans 5:3-4 says, “Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation†(AMP).
When I am experiencing a lot of opposition and trials, I have learned that I have two choices. I can give up and let those trials drag me down deeper into sin. Or I can press on and allow God to use those trials to bring me out of sin, and develop and mature His fruit in me.
Paul told Timothy, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of… (2 Timothy 3:10-14).
It’s very tempting to take the easier road in life, the road of least resistance. But knowing the easy road is the road that leads to our destruction, and the narrow road is the road that leads to the life Christ died to give us, should motivate us to resist that temptation at all cost. As you see in the verses above, even though Paul faced many persecutions, God delivered him from them all.
1 John 4:4 says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.â€
We shouldn’t be fearful of opposition. We should face each trial with confidence, knowing God is doing an amazing work through us. Satan can’t win. He can irritate us and throw a bunch of roadblocks in front of us. But when we press on, God will turn every one of those roadblocks into a blessing. We won’t find those special blessings on the broad road of least resistance.
This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves. But you said that you wouldn’t live that way.
Jeremiah 6:16, GW
This probably isn’t the greatest example, but it should help illustrate my point. My kids and I belong to a weekly homeschool co-op group where each parent volunteers to teach or assist in teaching classes. My sister-in-law and I volunteered to teach two classes of twenty-six 3 and 4-year-olds. We volunteered because my three-year-old son and her three-year-old twin boys are so attached to us, we can’t leave them with anyone.
Raising my four children has never been easy for me. Every one of them was difficult from the time they were born through toddler-hood. I’ve never had easy babies like many moms I knew. I’ve never been able to leave them in nursery at church without them crying. I can count on my fingers the amount of times I sat through a full church service without having my infant or toddler’s number pop up on the screen to be picked up.
I recently came home from my co-op class and jokingly told my husband I expelled our son from my class. He got into a fight with a kid, and he spit at and hit the teacher (me)! I expressed to my husband, “Can’t anything with our kids be easy!â€
The following week, my husband tempted me with the offer to keep our son at home with him for the rest of the year while I taught the class. It would be the easiest way for me, but I knew it wouldn’t be the best way. My son had to learn how to get along with other children, and respect me as his mother and as his teacher. With a prayer and some determination I took him with me the following week.
He played with the other kids, obeyed me and even did all the activities we had planned! I never imagined he would improve so much in one week. I was amazed! If I wouldn’t have tried one more week, I wouldn’t have seen such a wonderful change take place in him. I thought, “How many times are we one step away from our blessings?†If we would just press on through the opposition, instead of giving up and taking the road of least resistance, we would find our breakthroughs and blessings we’ve been waiting for.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.†But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 10:35-39
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for giving us victory over all those who are opposed to You. Help us not back down in fear of opposition. Help us to press on and take hold of the life Jesus died to give us. We rejoice in our trials, knowing You are maturing us in Christ, and Your glory will be revealed in and through us.
In Jesus name, Amen!
Have a blessed week walking on God’s road!
If you missed any blogs in this series, follow these links:
Retaining The Word In Our Hearts
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Pursuing Godliness Series and tagged 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Christ, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, narrow road, path of least resistance, Righteous living by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Pursuing Godliness “Faith Leads to Godlinessâ€
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
This is the fourth message in our series on “Pursuing Godliness.†Today, I want to focus on faith, believing God to help us live godly lives.
2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.â€
God’s divine power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, has given (meaning we already have it) us everything we need to live godly lives through our knowledge of Him (faith in Him).
Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.â€
Faith is the doorway to God’s promises. If God promises He will give us everything we need to live godly lives here on earth, we must believe it to receive it.
I am currently hosting a powerful Bible study in my home titled: “Believing God†by Beth Moore. The study focuses on Romans chapter four, which explains how we are justified by faith, not by works. In the course of the study we will have read the chapter at least twenty times. The purpose is to meditate on it until it lives in us.
Romans 4:2-8, 23-25 explain:
“If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’
Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
‘Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’
The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.â€
After turning my heart to Christ twelve years ago, I tried for many years to live a godly life. When I read the Bible I would get overwhelmed because I failed every command. I would write notes with verses and put them all over my house to help me. I would set reminders on my phone with the verses I struggled with most. I would surround myself with God’s Word through Bible studies, church, books, and teachings on the radio and television. But no matter what I did, I only seemed to act worse. I was bewildered that those I knew who rarely opened their Bibles had more godly characteristics than I had. I thought to myself, “Something isn’t right. I must be doing something wrong.â€
After years of frustration, I had an emotional breakdown while sitting in my church parking lot waiting to pick my daughter up from summer camp. I was tired of trying to be godly, and tired of failing miserably. I cried out to God telling Him I had enough. I couldn’t do it anymore. God spoke to me that moment through a minister on the radio. It was a message I had heard many times before, but it hadn’t registered in my heart until that moment. The message was about believing God to change me. A message so simple, yet it took me so long to receive it. Once I surrendered and stopped trying to obey His Word on my own, my heart finally opened up to receive God’s help.
Once I learned God has given us everything we need to walk in godliness, by the fruit of His Spirit, a burden was lifted from me. I was then able to joyfully receive God’s Word by faith, instead of feeling overwhelmed thinking His Word was a hammer pounding me down with every command. Once I started walking in faith, believing I would walk in godliness by His Spirit, my actions began to change.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Galatians 3:2-5
It’s a wonderful feeling knowing we have everything we need to live a life of godliness. We don’t have to worry about how to develop godliness. We already have it in our spirits. It just needs to manifest in us.
Awhile back, I needed healing in an area. I had been dealing with this hurt for a long time. I cried out to Jesus one evening with all my heart. I told Him I had enough of that pain and I needed His healing. I cried, “If You were here on earth today, You’d touch me and I would be healed instantly! I know You haven’t changed! I know You are still the same today! You are here! Touch me and I will be healed!!â€
In the middle of the night, I awoke from my sleep and saw that my husband was awake. I hadn’t told him I was still hurting in this area. He didn’t know what I had prayed. Before we went back to sleep, my husband said, “Oh, by the way, I don’t know what’s going on, but God told me to tell you that you are healed. Whatever you needed healing for, you’ve got it!â€
I was elated! Knowing that God told me I was healed increased my faith to believe Him for that healing. From that moment on, I had no doubt that I was healed. I didn’t see my full healing manifest right away, but whenever the problem arose I just smiled and reminded myself that I was already healed. God’s power, working through faith, weakened the power of that stronghold, and then my healing began to manifest in me.
I believed God because He spoke to me. We can also believe God because He spoke to us in His Word. If God tells us something in His Word, we can believe it will happen just as He promised.
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us…
1 Kings 8:56-57
I want to encourage you to believe God to help you walk in godliness. He will never leave you. He will never give up on you. He will never stop working in you. He will transform you into a vessel for His glory. Don’t ever give up believing Him. He will do just as He has promised!
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:17-23
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for cleansing us from all our sins, and giving us everything we need for life and godliness through our faith in You. Help us to live by faith and walk in step with Your Holy Spirit. We surrender our lives to You. Transform our lowly bodies, and make us into vessels for Your glory!
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
Have a blessed week believing God!
*Come back next Monday for more in this series. You can subscribe below to receive an email reminder of new posts. You can also use the share tabs below to help spread the word of this series to bless others.
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Pursuing Godliness Series and tagged God, Godliness, Holy Spirit, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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“Healed” By Krish Fernandez
This is the last message in my series on healing. Thank you to everyone who sent me your healing messages and miracles. I wish I could post them all! God is doing an amazing work through this series!
To those who are struggling with doubt on the subject of healing, remember what I said in the first post, seek God and ask Him to show you the truth. Don’t just take my word, or anyone else’s word. Seek God and His Word, and you will find the answer.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Follow these links if you missed any posts in this series:
Is It God’s Will To Heal You?
“God’s Grace†By Dr. Dorothy Hooks
Healing Testimony By Dave Moore
Today, I want to close with this wonderful teaching I read recently on Krish Fernandez’s blog. I pray it blesses you as much as it blessed me!
Healed
By Krish Fernandez
The redemptive work of Christ has not only redeemed and delivered you but it has also healed you. If you are sick; it could be a simple cold, an allergy or even a life-threatening disease like cancer, this message is especially for you to receive your miracle. And if you are in good health, do not wait until sickness comes rather read this post and prepare yourself to walk in divine health all the days of your life.
Healing is your inheritance and you need to take possession of it. When the Israelites were journeying to the Land of Promise, God told them: I have given you the Land. (Deuteronomy 1:8) (Numbers 33:53) Notice that God spoke in the past tense. The land already had their names written on it. The land was already deposited into their account. But the Israelites never entered into the land because of their unbelief. They just could not see themselves in the land. They could not see that God had already given it to them. (Hebrews 3:16-19). The story of the Israelites is in the Bible so that we can learn from them and not repeat their mistakes. Let not unbelief come in the way of you taking possession of your inheritance of health and healing.
Healed
Isaiah 53:4, in most Bibles reads as:Â Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. This is an inaccurate translation. The word that was translated as grief should really be translated as sickness and the word translated as sorrows should really be translated as pain. You can look this up here | Isaiah 53:4 Hebrew Text Analysis
So the accurate translation reads: Surely he hath borne our sickness, and carried our pain, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. Notice that the verse is in the past tense. The next verse reads by his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5). When Peter quoted this verse he quoted it in the past tense. He said by his stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:24). This is similar to God telling the Israelites: I have given you the land of Canaan. God has healed you. 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ died on the Cross, he bore your sickness, carried your pain and healing and health were deposited into your account that very day, even before you were born. What I am telling has to be spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
God healed you even before you were born, but the reason you are not walking in healing and health is because you did not know that you were healed (Proverbs 23:7) and because you did not know, you were not able to take possession of it. The Israelites did not enter the Land of Promise, not because God did not give it to them, but because they did not take it. (Numbers 32:13) (Numbers 14:33). To live in health is your inheritance and you need to take possession of it.
Isn’t that a relief? You are not trying to get God to heal you. God has already healed you and He says: Son, see I have already healed you, go and take possession of it. (Deuteronomy 1:8). God has already healed all the people of the world but it is only those who know it and appropriate it that receive healing and walk in divine health. (Psalm 103:1-3)
Taking Possession of your Healing
So how do we take possession of our healing? Remember, God has already healed you by his grace. It is nothing you did or did not do. He healed you, even before you were born. And it is by faith that we have access to this grace. (Romans 5:2). So the grace of God has given health and healing and it is by faith that we take possession of it. The Bible teaches that saving faith always produces works. (James 2:17) (James 2:26). When God told the Israelites: Go and take… it required the Israelites to act on their faith. Similarly for you to Go and take possession of your health and healing requires you to act on your faith by speaking words that give you life, exercising authority in Christ, Thanking God, Meditating on the Scriptures and Speaking to your Mountains.
Speaking Words that give Life
One of the ways you act on your faith is by speaking words that give you life. Peter said: If you love life and want to see good days, you will keep your tongue from evil… (1 Peter 3:10). James spoke of the same thing by saying: the tongue is like a small spark that sets the forest on fire (James 3:6) or a small rudder that steers your entire life (James 3:4-5). There are many Old Testament references as well that speak about the proper use of the tongue. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) The bible also says: A man eats the fruits of his lips (Proverbs 13:2-3) (Proverbs 21:23). According to all these scripture, you are what you speak and therefore you must obey the Bible and begin speaking words that give you life. Speak the words of the Bible and do not speak words of death.
Some Healing and Health Confessions:
Surely he bore my sickness and carried my pain (Isaiah 53:4)
By his stripes I was healed (Isaiah 53:5)
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is in me and He will also give life to my mortal body (Romans 8:11)
Now I am not teaching you some mantras to repeat every day. You can repeat the above verses 1,000 times and still not take possession of your healing if you do not believe them. You need to first believe that God has already healed you and then speak these words of faith. If somebody asks you how are you feeling today? You should confess: I am healed in the Name of Jesus. Even, if you do not feel like it, confess that you are healed, not as a mantra but with faith, because you believe that God has already healed you.
Exercising Authority in Christ
Another way to act on your faith is to exercise your Authority in Christ. When Satan tries to steal your inheritance of health and healing and test your faith with the symptoms of a sickness, you have to be ready with the Scriptures like Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) (Luke 4:1-12). That is when you need to say: Away from me Satan. For it is written: Surely he bore my sickness and carried my pain. I am healed in the Name of Jesus. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7) and do not give him a foothold in your life (Ephesians 4:27). You got to be ready with “it is Written”. And remember, it is not God who tests and tempts you with sickness but Satan (John 10:10). That is why James said: consider it pure joy when you face trials because that is when Satan tests you and you can prove him wrong with what is written. (James 1:2-4).
Hearts overflowing with ThankfulnessÂ
When you believe that you are already healed and begin to walk in the light of that truth, your heart begins to overflow with thankfulness. You no longer ask God to heal you, rather you begin to thank him for what he has already done. Thanking God for what he has already done is another way of acting on your faith. I am sure you understand now, why Paul always spoke about rejoicing and thanking God. (Philippians 4:4-7) (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I believe that the majority of Paul’s prayers were prayers of thanksgiving and not prayers of asking God for something. That is because he had tremendous Revelations with respect to what God had already given to him in Christ.
Meditating on the Word of Healing and Renewing the Mind
Another important work is meditation. (Joshua 1:8) (Psalms 1:1-3) (Psalm 119:148) (Psalm 119:15). Now the word Mediation in Hebrew really means: to study, to mutter, to ponder, to muse and to declare. (Hebrew-English | Mediate) It can even include singing. It is important we continuously bring the scriptures of healing to our memory by muttering them to ourselves, studying the bible, pondering on them and even singing them day and night. It is like one preacher says: you need to first get the sickness out of your mind before you get it out of your body. Paul urged the believers to be transformed by the renewing of their mind. (Romans 12:2). The way you think is how you will live. (Proverbs 23:7) (3 John 1:2).
Speaking to your Mountain
We already spoke about speaking words that give life but Jesus also taught us that we should speak to our mountains. (Matthew 21:18-22) (Mark 11:12-14, 20-23) Now the mountains that he is referring to here are the trials we face in life. When we come across trials of many kinds, we start talking to God, our family, friends and neighbors about our trials. But that is not the right approach. It is like one preacher says: You got to speak to your mountain and not about your mountain.
Some believers can spend their entire prayer time weeping before God talking about their trials. The right approach is not to speak to God about your mountain but to speak to your mountain about God. So when you get a headache, you shouldn’t be telling everybody: My head hurts. Rather you should be speaking to your headache about God. That is how you act on your faith and take possession of your healing and health. You say: Surely Jesus bore my sickness and carried my pain. Headache I command you to leave in the name of Jesus. Same goes for the cancer or any other sickness in your body.
When you pray or speak to your mountain, you need to believe that you have received them and then you will have them. (Mark 11:24) What do you think that means? You need to first believe that God has already healed you and deposited healing and health into your account. Then speak to your mountain: that you were healed, therefore you are healed and finally thank God for the promise of healing and health.
The more you speak about your trial the bigger it gets, but when you speak to your trial about God, you begin to see it in the right perspective: your trial is small and powerless when compared to the exceeding greatness of God’s power that works towards us who believe. (Ephesians 1:19-20) (Ephesians 3:20)
Krish accepted Jesus as his Savior in 2009. After that, God in his grace began to open up the scriptures to him. God has impressed a strong desire in his heart to teach His Word to all.
But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9)
You can learn more about Krish at:
Website – http://mumbaichristiancounselor.blogspot.in/
Blog – http://mumbaichristiandiary.blogspot.in/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/maderighteous/
*Thank you, Krish, for allowing me to share this powerful teaching. I found the same mistake in some translations for Isaiah 53:4. I shared the original Greek word for it in my first post. It does mean “sickness.” I love how God pointed that out to both of us. 🙂
 *Follow this link to read all the messages in this series.
Posted in Guest Bloggers, Healing and tagged Christ, God, healing, Holy Spirit, Inheritance, Jesus, Krish Fernandez by Amanda Beth with
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Healing Testimony By Dave Moore
This is the fourth blog in my series on healing. Follow these links if you would like to read the first three messages in this series:
Is It God’s Will To Heal You?
“God’s Grace†By Dr. Dorothy Hooks
Today, I want to share a story I read in Dave Moore’s book “The Father’s Love.” In his book, Dave shares how a frantic cross-country search for his missing son led Dave into the arms of His Heavenly Father. At the end of the book, Dave shares several miraculous stories of healing he and his family experienced. I want to share this story of God healing Dave and Dorinda’s son, David. May it bless you and increase your faith!
Not long after David received Christ as his savior, he became close friends with our youth pastors, Justin and Jaime Stewart. Both David and Justin are very sports-minded young men. They soon formed a flag football team, which played in an indoor league. I became the cameraman who recorded their games.
One night early in a game, David was running hard covering a receiver on defense. As the ball was coming down, David jumped in the air to try to intercept the pass. The receiver’s feet bumped David in the air knocking him off balance. David came down on his back, flipped over and ended up on his hands and knees.
Justin immediately ran up to him to see if he was okay. He then prayed over him. David slowly got up and walked back to the huddle. He played the rest of the game. When the game ended, David came up to me and I noticed that his voice sounded different. I asked him if he felt sick. He said that he didn’t.
The team was going to Justin’s house to watch the film from the game. I told David that if he started to feel worse to call me. At 1:00 a.m. David called. He said he felt okay but that Justin said he sounded worse. He was going to go to the emergency room.  I jumped out of bed, dressed, and met them there.
David seemed to be fine except for the sound of his voice. He sounded like he had a cold. We waited three hours before being taken back to see a doctor. After examining David, the doctor started acting nervous. He went outside the room and soon the nurses came back with a crash cart, the kind used to restart someone’s heart.
Dorinda walked in, followed by the doctor. The doctor said that he was ordering x-rays. Soon the x-rays were done and the doctor came in with the news. He said that David had a hole in his esophagus and that he also had a broken neck. He had called the hospital throat specialist. They planned to put a tube down David’s throat to find the hole in his esophagus. They would then do immediate surgery.
I was shocked. I told David that I needed to go outside and call people to pray. When Dorinda and I reached the parking lot I remembered something that I had told others when they needed God:
“When you need God, get on your face and tell him you need him.â€
Right there in the middle of the road I fell on my hands and knees and cried out to God to heal my son. After a few minutes we made a few calls and went back inside. The doctor had come to place the tube down David’s throat to find the hole. He looked very concerned as he began the procedure. After a few minutes he began to look puzzled. Then he looked at me and smiled.
As he started shaking his head side to side he said that it didn’t make any sense. There was air behind David’s lungs. The only way for it to get there was for there to be a hole in his esophagus. But there was no hole or at least there wasn’t one now. Just then another doctor came in with a second set of x-rays of David’s neck. The break that they saw in the first set of x-rays was gone. God had healed David.
The specialist soon came into our room. She said that they were admitting him into surgical intensive care. She would later tell me that when the emergency room had called her, the first question that she asked them was, “Is the patient still alive?â€
She told us that with this injury, if there is not surgery within one hour, one hundred percent of the patients die. Of those who received surgery within the hour ninety percent still die. David never had any surgery at all. God again had shown His miraculous power by answering prayer and healing David.
After several days, the doctors finally decided to discharge David. Four doctors, including the specialist, came into his room. They told us that they knew that we were Christians, so they could give us their opinion. They said that they had no explanation for what had happened to David except that God had healed him. Praise my God!
*You can read more about Dave and connect with him at:
Website: www.thefatherslovebook.com
Facebook: The Father’s love page
Twitter: The Father’s Love
LinkedIn: Dave Moore
 *Follow this link to read all the messages in this series on healing.
Posted in Guest Bloggers, Healing and tagged Dave Moore, God, healing, health, Holy Spirit, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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2 comments.
Pray For The Gift Of Healing
This is the second message in my series on healing. If you didn’t read the first message, follow this link to yesterday’s post “Is It God’s Will To Heal You?â€
Pray For the Gift of Healing
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“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
… And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-31
Do you desire and pray for the gift of healing?
After Paul exhorted the Corinthians to eagerly desire the greater gifts, He explained, “And now I will show you the most excellent way. I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing†(1 Cor. 12:32, 13:1).
Love should be our basis for desiring spiritual gifts. We should eagerly desire the greater gifts in order to lead others to salvation. The signs and wonders displayed through us are a testimony of God’s salvation.
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:1-4
We should earnestly desire the Holy Spirit to display His power through us, not to make us look good, but to bring glory to Jesus by doing what He did when He walked this earth.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father†(John 14:12).
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it†(Mark 16:17-18).
After praying for God to baptize (see immerse blog) me with His Holy Spirit, I prayed for His power and spiritual gifts to flow through me. Shortly after, I had an opportunity to bring glory to Jesus when my aunt went into the hospital. After being admitted, her health and mind began to quickly deteriorate. The doctors didn’t seem to offer much hope. But my mother and I didn’t give up hope.
We laid hands on my aunt and read scriptures of healing daily, praying for God to administer His healing through us. My aunt slowly began to regain her mind and improve enough to be released from the hospital.
My mother and I knew without a doubt it was a miracle from God. However, my aunt didn’t see it and give God the glory. Instead she blamed the hospital for causing her illness, despite the fact that she lived an unhealthy lifestyle. I believe she would have received complete healing had she fully opened her heart to receive it.
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?†Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.â€
Luke 17:17-19
My husband became very sick one day that he couldn’t move to get out of bed. I went upstairs to our bedroom, laid hands on him in Jesus’ name, and returned downstairs. A few seconds later I heard a loud thump. Startled, I turned around to see my husband jump down the stairs smiling ear to ear. He was healed instantly.
…Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus…. … By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:12-13, 16
My two-year-old nephew had problems going to the bathroom since he was born. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law tried every natural and medical remedy they could, but nothing worked. The day before an appointment with their doctor to decide if he needed surgery, I laid hands on my nephew while praying with my sister-in-law for his healing in Jesus. The next day, just as the doctor was going to make the decision for surgery, my nephew had a massive blowout in his diaper on the doctor’s table. He didn’t need surgery. We praised God as Jesus was glorified through His healing.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
1 Peter 4:10-11, NKJV
I encourage you to ask God to administer His healing power in and through you. Ask God for His gift of healing, as well as other spiritual gifts, so you can lead others to salvation, and Jesus can be glorified through you!
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.â€
Luke 24:49, NLT
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Heavenly Father,
We praise You for giving us Your Holy Spirit. Completely immerse us with Your Spirit. Fill us with power from Heaven to do Your will and bring glory to Jesus. Use us to bring hope to others. Display Your healing power and perform miracles through us as a testimony to Your salvation. Â
In Jesus’ name, Amen!!
*Come back tomorrow as Dr. Dorothy Hooks shares her miraculous story of God’s healing power in her life.
* Follow this link to read all the messages in this healing series.
 *All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
Posted in Healing and tagged God, healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Is It God’s Will To Heal You?
I am starting a series today on healing. I usually only post on Mondays, but next week I will be taking a four month leave from the internet to work on my next book. I am going to post every day this week. Today and tomorrow I will share what God has taught me about healing and my experiences with it. Wednesday through Friday, I will share guest posts and testimonies on healing. You can follow this link to read all the messages in this series.
I believe this series will be life-changing for anyone seeking God’s will on healing. Please share this series with others by using the share tabs below.
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DOES GOD HEAL EVERYONE?
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals ALL your diseases.
Psalm 103:1-3
I am overwhelmed with grief at all the sicknesses and suffering I see around me. But I am even more grieved at the ignorance and lack of belief I see in the body of Christ today regarding healing.
A lot of teachings today don’t support the truth that God heals through His Holy Spirit dwelling in His people, just as His Holy Spirit did through Jesus and His Disciples. Many Christians (including many pastors) believe God chooses who He wants to heal. But in my heart I can’t accept that teaching, because in the Bible Jesus healed ALL who came to Him to receive healing.
“Many followed him, and he healed ALL their sick†(Matthew 12:15).
“…and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them ALL†(Luke 6:19).
“…and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed ALL the sick†(Matthew 8:16).
“…and people brought to him ALL who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them†(Matthew 4:24).
Jesus never said to anyone who came to Him, “I can’t heal you, because it’s God’s will for you to remain sick,†(neither did His disciples). On the contrary, Jesus was quick to respond to those who needed healing (Matthew 8:3).
Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…†The original Greek word translated in the NIV as “infirmities†in this verse is “choliy,†which means “sickness†(see reference).
If the Bible says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:7), and if it says He carried our sicknesses, why wouldn’t it apply to us today? Why would God only work His healing power through His Disciples in the Bible, but not through His Disciples today?
I’ve had many experiences with God’s healing. My first experience came shortly after giving my life over to Christ. My daughter was about 6 months old at the time. My husband accidentally left a battery charger with the cord hanging down off his tall dresser. It was about ten years ago, so the battery chargers weren’t thin and light like they are today. My daughter crawled over to the dresser, pulled the cord, and the charger came crashing down and left an indent in her head.
Panicking, I quickly laid my hands on her head and cried out to God to heal her. After praying, I opened my eyes and saw that her head was healed completely. There was no indent, mark or bruise. After that incident, I was filled with faith knowing God heals us.
Through the years, God’s taught me a lot about healing. I don’t have all the answers, but I will share with you what I have learned so far. I want to also encourage you to seek God’s heart and ask Him to show you His will on healing. I’ve heard and read many teachings on this subject. God always leads me to check them with His Word to keep me free from deception. I encourage you to do the same. Don’t just accept every teaching. Seek God’s truth for yourself.
“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.â€
Acts 17:11
Through my experience, and God’s Word, I’ve learned several things that can hinder our healing.
UNBELIEF
 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Luke 18:42
Those who didn’t receive healing in the Bible were those who didn’t come to Jesus for healing, because either they didn’t understand, or they didn’t believe. In His hometown, Jesus couldn’t do many miracles because of their unbelief.
Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.†He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith†(Mark 6:4-6).
We can’t receive something we don’t believe is available to us. I was talking to a Christian woman recently. She told me her son needs surgery this summer. I said I would pray for his healing. She replied “No, it’s already been diagnosed. They already scheduled it.â€
I was shocked that she didn’t even consider it was possible that God could turn things around and heal her son. How could she receive God’s healing if she didn’t believe it?
In Acts 14, before healing a crippled man, Paul observed him intently to see if he had the faith to be healed before commanding him to stand up: “And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,  said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet!’ And he leaped and walkedâ€Â (Acts 14:8-10).
A couple years ago, my brother and sister-in-law were told that their daughter had cerebral palsy. The doctor scheduled them to see a specialist to confirm this diagnosis. At the time, my niece was 11 months old and still hadn’t been able to stand on her legs. Normally after birth, when you hold an infant up, they stretch their legs out firm. My niece’s legs were like Jell-O. She had no strength in them.
A week before their appointment with the specialist, I noticed my sister-in-law was overwhelmed with grief and hopelessness. I told her not to accept the diagnosis just yet. There was still hope. I told her I saw her daughter through God’s eyes, not through the doctor’s eyes. I told her I saw her as a beautiful, healthy, normal baby, just as God saw her.
I believe that sparked a little faith in my sister-in-law. A few days later her mother was watching her daughter when suddenly she stood firm on her legs. She continued to stand on her legs and even started walking along the furniture. It was a miracle. Everyone was amazed!
My brother and sister-in-law took my niece to the doctor. The doctor was shocked. He said he never witnessed that kind of improvement in such a short time. They also went to specialist to be sure. The specialist couldn’t find anything wrong with my niece. She was completely healed.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40
SIN
…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:14-15
Sin doesn’t just affect our spiritual health. It also affects our physical health. When Jesus healed the man at the pool, He said, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you†(John 5:14). Our poor physical health could be a result of our poor spiritual health.
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.
Proverbs 4:20-22
In the past, God opened my eyes to sin many times through a sickness, either in me or a loved one.
My daughter passed out in my arms when she was two years old and had to be rushed to the hospital. It was the most horrifying experience. I thought I lost her. At the same time, it was also a big awakening. I had been ignoring the Lord’s conviction on a certain sin in my life. I don’t believe God brought the sickness on my daughter, but I do believe He allowed it to open my eyes and turn me from my sin.
 UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We can’t test God by purposely doing things that are harmful to our health, and expect Him to always heal us. I read a message by a preacher recently on how Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23 to: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities†(AKJV).
The preacher suggested that the water was causing the frequent illness, possibly due to contamination. So the preacher suggested that Paul was saying, “Don’t be foolish! If you know what is causing it, stop it!â€
My husband recently heard a Christian radio show host use that same verse, and ignore all the many other verses that support healing, to say that God does not heal everyone who comes to Him because Timothy was sick. We can’t take one Scripture and twist it around to support our own beliefs. We must look at the Bible as a whole and seek God for His knowledge, not settle for our own understanding.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
Sometimes when we are sick, it can also be an indication that we need rest. In our drive-through society, we want a quick fix for everything. We run to the doctors every time we’re sick and expect them to give us a pill to quickly make us better. Those who believe in God’s healing will often run to God and expect Him to instantly heal every cold, flu, virus, etc. I have experienced many sudden healings, but I’ve also had to wait out many sicknesses because my body needed rest.
 GOD’S PLAN
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.â€
John 9:3
My husband was sick for many years with a stomach ulcer. His sickness affected our lives greatly. The doctors tried everything they could to heal him, but nothing worked. My faith started to wither as I became discouraged and thought my prayers were no longer effective.
God was still faithful despite my struggle with doubt. He eventually led my husband to a natural doctor. The doctor put my husband on a program with natural vitamins and it completely healed his ulcer.
I believe God led us to the natural doctor to teach us to take care of our bodies, and not neglect our health.
I also believe God led us that route in order to help others. Since then, God’s used us to lead many people to natural medicine. My husband recently referred his co-worker’s sister to his natural doctor for an ulcer problem. She is now on the same program he was on.
In the book “The Heavenly Man-The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun,” God delivered many miracles in and through Brother Yun. At one point, he was sick in prison and kept in the hospital for a period of time. He said he believes he wasn’t healed right away to keep him in the hospital to share the gospel. Each time he experienced a delay in healing, there was always a reason, and God always worked it out for his benefit.
AN ATTACK FROM SATAN
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. … When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,†he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.â€
Mark 9:17, 25
My husband and I attended a marriage Bible study at a couple’s home years ago. Shortly before the study began the woman became ill. Despite her illness, she felt led to start the study to help save another couple’s marriage.
The study was going well. We were enjoying great fellowship, and drawing closer to the Lord and our spouses. Then one day, her doctor told her to enjoy her family because she didn’t have long to live.
She was devastated. My heart ached for her and her family. I didn’t know much about healing at the time, but I was confident God wanted her to be healed. So I turned to God and sought His Word. I was determined to find answers to help her. In my heart, I felt the sickness was an attack from Satan and it was not God’s will to take her life that way.
After searching all the Scriptures on healing, and studying how Jesus healed and His disciples healed, I started sharing what I learned with her. She was optimistic at first, until her husband didn’t accept it. He insisted IF it was God’s will, God would heal her. Because of her husband’s unbelief, I called my natural doctor and asked if they could do anything to help her. They were confident they could help her, so I shared the information with her and even offered to pay for her treatment.
But after talking to her husband again, she declined the offer. Because of her poor health, she had to cancel the study. And sadly, a couple from the study divorced shortly after.
Satan will try anything he can to keep us out of the will of God. When I started writing my first book, my family was attacked greatly. It so obvious that even others noticed we were being attacked. One attack was sores all over my kids’ bodies. I tried everything I could to get rid of the sores.
I laid hands on them. I prayed to receive healing. I believed by the blood of Jesus they were healed and even shouted it out loud many times to keep me from doubting. But nothing changed.
I took my kids to the doctors. The doctors couldn’t diagnose the sores. They had no idea what they were. They kept giving us different medicines and creams to try, but they only made them worse. I also went the natural route and spent a fortune trying to get rid of the sores. But nothing worked.
My kids had to have Band-Aids on their sores and wear socks on their hands and feet. They looked like mummies covered head to toe in bandages. After two months of praying, changing bandages daily, applying creams, and forcing my kids to drink nasty concoctions, I realized the sickness was consuming my life. It left me no time to work on my book. At that moment, I knew the sickness was an attack to keep me from the will of God.
I handed the sickness over to God. I told Him I couldn’t fight it anymore. I wasn’t going to let it stop me from doing His will. I took off the bandages, stopped the creams, medicines, and nasty concoctions. The next day, the sores started clearing up. By the following week, the sores were gone completely and they never returned.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
I pray these stories encourage you to take hold of your healing bought to you by the precious blood of Jesus. I heard someone say recently, “Faith trumps facts.†It may be a fact that you have a sickness. But faith can change that fact!
A woman recently told me that she is believing God for the healing of marriage. She said the healing already took place although she doesn’t see it yet. She said she is walking by faith and not by sight.
Believe your healing has already taken place. Put your trust in God. Don’t listen to what others say. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13) and lead you to your healing.
Heavenly Father,
We praise You that Your Word is true. If You healed through Your Spirit in Jesus and His disciples, You will heal through Your Spirit in us. We receive Your healing over any sickness or stronghold we are carrying today. We know that healing has been giving to us in our spiritual bodies, let it manifest right now into our physical bodies. Glorify Your Son, Jesus, through Your power flowing through us. Help us with our doubts. If we don’t see the result yet, help us to hold on to your Word and continue believing that You have already healed us. It will manifest!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!
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*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
Posted in Healing, Monday's Blogs and tagged God, healing, health, Holy Spirit, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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