Hearing God
I had been listening to this song by Anthony Brown and group TherApy called, “Speak Your Name.” Some of the words to the song just kept playing over and over in my head…When we speak your name something happens in the room, our hands go up, we can't wait to see what you're gonna do… When we speak your name, power is released. As we bow down before you every demon has to flee. Before we do anything else (yeah) we call on you (we call on you).
Before we do (yeah-yeah) anything else we call on you, we call you Jesus. As I meditated on those words while working I could not hear God say anything. I was asking some questions. I said, “God, I am working and my mind is quite. I am listening for you, but I do not hear you saying anything.”
Later, he reminded me of a time when I took a trip with my dear friend and sister in Christ. We had taken a trip to Tennessee and decided to drive to Kentucky so we could go see the Ark Encounter . It was about a five hour drive and we used our GPS to give us instructions on how to get to the location. At one point in the drive, we noticed that our GPS had stopped talking. We were like, “Why is this system not saying anything?” We turned off the phone to start the navigation system over again and we noticed that it was still not saying anything. At some point the Holy Spirit revealed that it was not talking because we were headed in the right direction. When something needed to change the GPS would tell us.
The Holy Spirit was saying the same thing to me when I was questioning him. He said, “You checked in with me, I gave you instructions and you were following them.” If he needed me to do anything different he would tell me. It’s funny I remembered that we had this same conversation in the car! Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit and he is here to help lead, guide and direct us. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— John 14:16. Therefore, if you have checked in and he has not said anything else, keep going because you are on the right track!
Key points:
Do not let Satan put doubt in your mind, you can always hear God speaking to you.
Be assured that if God needs you to change directions, he knows how to get your attention.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
A Time to Die
…a time to be born and a time to die… Ecclesiastes 3:2
I was serving at our church some years back helping with facilitating the opening part of services. I was on schedule for one of the Saturday evening services and my hubby asked my sister if she wanted to attend with me. At first she had said, “No, she had other plans,” but later she called and asked if she could go with me. She said, “I need to be at that service.”
It was my sister's first time attending our church so she really did not know anyone there. She lived in Fairfield, California and our church was in Sacramento. I invited her to go with me to our check-in meeting prior to the services. She attended and while there I introduced her to those in the room, including our associate pastor.
When service started she sat on the front row with me. After I had completed my task, I sat backdown with her. Our associate Pastor was speaking that night. When she came on stage she started to give her message and then stopped. She said that the Holy spirit has a message for some people and she called out a gentleman who came up front and she spoke over him.
After the associate Pastor spoke to him she called out my sister. She told the audience that she had not met my sister until a few minutes ago and she began to tell her what was coming into her life. She told my sister things only God knew. She then said, “You should write this day down because blessings are going to flow to you from the east, the west, the north and the south and by next year this time your life will be completely different!
Everything she said came true. Everything changed within a few months because my sister’s husband passed away and God sent blessings from all over the place! When God had the associate pastor decreed the blessing over my sister’s life, the time for her husband’s life had already been decided. We all have a time to die! We do not know the day, the time nor the hour; only God knows that. He scheduled when we were to be born and our date to leave this earth has already been ordained. Remember when the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and told him to get his house in order because he was going to die? Listen, Hezekiah prayed and asked God for some additional years and God granted him 15 more years, but he still had a “time” to die Isaiah 38:1-21.
Everyday we are a day closer to leaving this place. See I believe we are all here for an assignment and the time we have been given in our body is all the time we need to fulfill that assignment. We must make sure we have our house (i.e., meaning our life) in order with Christ because not one hour is promised to us. The only guarantee he has given us is this present moment. …And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’”
Key points:
Death is unavoidable, but life in Christ is your choice.
Prepare yourself while you have the chance for the eternity to come.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
God Reveals
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:1-5, ESV
In the past when I read the passage above, it did not occur to me that God made the darkness. I would skip over that part thinking it was just dark on the earth and God had to bring his light. But the word teaches that God created the darkness and he has purpose for the dark. Isaiah 45:7 says I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create calamity: I the Lord do all these things. While I was reading this passage the thought came to me, why did God create darkness? So I asked God and he showed me through scripture. I read, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9, ESV
After reading that scripture, God said I gave man a choice. He reminded me of what he did in the garden of Eden. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9, ESV I heard him say, “I wanted man to chose their own way. Adam and Eve chose evil because they did not believe the word I told them.”
God is all righteous and in his righteousness he gives man the option to make their choice. Our Bishop said in one of his message that darkness is part of the plan in order for God to reveal that there is darkness that comes, but the light brings revelation.
The Holy Spirit is the revealer of light. He reveals to us what God’s plan is for us. The Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. We learn who we are through the Holy Spirit guiding us into righteousness. Many times we have no idea that we are in darkness until the Holy Spirit whispers to our spirit that we are headed in the wrong direction. When we do not listen to his whisper, he allows situations to happen that opens our eyes to the light. He always directs us back to God’s plan for our life.
It can be the smallest and simplest of things, but God is not going to let us get away with it. I am reminded of the time when my husband told me to take his hand to cross this small little creek and I said, “No. I can do it.” Listen I made the first step over the water, but by the second step I was all the way in the creek! I now have a injured finger to remind me that I was in disobedience, because my husband said, “Take my hand.” If someone had of asked me if I was living in darkness, I would have said no. But the Holy Spirit revealed to me that darkness still exists and he used that situation to bring revelation. I am sure he had been tugging at my heart in other ways, but I was not listening. So, now I know! Everyday the Holy Spirit is drawing us out of darkness and into God’s marvelous light!
Key points:
The Holy Spirit is hovering over you right now to bring you revelation.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Darkness
I was reading over some notes I had taken from a message that someone had spoken back in 2023. I wrote, “The greatest work of my life is done in the darkness.” Those words hit me again just as it did when the speaker was giving the message.
Darkness has purpose. Darkness protects, hides and covers what God does not want to be seen. The scripture says that, Our frame was not hidden from God, when we were being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. His eyes saw our unformed substance. Psalm 139. Many times when we are in the dark, we want to get to the light as soon as possible. We want to get out of the uncomfortable situation.
Jesus demonstrated how we are to handle the dark. When he was in the wilderness, he fasted, prayed and sought God. In the darkest of places the Holy Spirit is there with us. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2 We are of the earth! Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7 The dark places in our lives have purpose for our growth, maturity, and to move us into a new level of faith and trust in God.
David had been anointed by the prophet to be king, but before he was crowned king, he was running from King Saul who was desiring to kill him. David was being trained to rule the kingdom and training came in the dark. Queen Esther was hidden in the king’s chambers for a whole year before she was selected to be queen. Joseph was sold as a slave and put in prison before he became second in command of Egypt to Pharaoh.
Darkness is the place where God trains, disciplines and prepares us for what will be revealed later. I remember when our children were toddlers, we would train them to use proper table manners at home. We knew that they would not always be at home eating so we prepared them for when we took them out. About once a month on Sundays after church we would take them to a fine dining restaurant to have them practice what they had been taught. Our children would see other children throwing food on the floor, yelling, and jumping on the seats, but they would sit quietly and color and have conservation with their family. They had been prepared in the dark so that they would know how to behave in the light.
God does the same with us. He puts us behind closed doors in the dark, the wilderness where we cannot be seen, until we are ready to be presented to the world. The darkness teaches us how to hear God and allows all of our mistakes to be hidden. It prepares us for all that will be ahead of us. It does not matter how frustrated we get, God will not release us until we are ready.
I have several social media accounts and God has directed me to post daily messages. Many times when I go back and review the posts, I would find there had been only one person that viewed the post. In the beginning I was frustrated and I would get discouraged, but God said to me, “I am keeping you in the dark. This is training, it will not always be this way.” One of the Minsters at our church said, “Comparison is a thief of joy,” and I would add to that, “It is also a trick of the enemy.” I want to encourage you to rest in the arms of Jesus while he has you in a dark place and journal your experience. You will be surprised when you look back and see the blessings of the dark.
Key points:
When darkness comes in your life, prepare to grow.
Anyone walking in the manifestation of their anointing has spent time in the darkness.
Don’t fight the darkness, but meditate and seek to hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Help Is Available
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, ESV
In the passage above Jesus invites everyone who is burdened, or heavy laden to come to him and he would give them rest. The word labor in greek is Kopiao and it means: labor, to grow weary, tired, exhausted with toll or burdens, grief and to labor with wearisome effort, bodily labor, toiling and is translated “bestow labor.” In this passage Jesus is not saying I will take all your hard work away, but he will give you rest in your “inner man” in your soul. When we take him on and seek to learn from him, he will teach us his ways so we can leave worry, fear, doubt and all those emotions that cause us to be drained on him so that our inner man can rest in joy and peace.
The word “rest” in the passage above means to refresh so as to recover strength. We consistently have so much information coming into our inner man that our brain does not get the opportunity to rest. Jesus is saying if you come to him and take on his yoke metaphorically to take on the submission of his authority rather than Satan’s; which we all are currently under because of sin and you will have rest.
Satan’s job is to devour us; especially since we are yoked up with Christ. His goal is to steal our rest and peace. One morning I woke up and all the cares of the world hit me. A list of all the things that I needed to get completed was waiting for me as I opened my eyes. Instead of speaking God’s word, I let my mind focus on what was before me and my peace was instantly gone. My stomach ached and my mind and soul was in turmoil. I could feel the heavinesses weighing me down.
I knew that prayer would release this burden. So, I headed down to my prayer room. I prayed and I worshipped God. As I worshipped God I could literally feel the turmoil leave and peace return. The more I praised God and gave thanks the more peace and joy came over me. I could feel the Holy Spirit taking away all the heaviness and replacing it with rest. My burdens had become light! Jesus teaches us that he inhabits the praise of his people. As we praise him, he comes in and his presence overshadows anything that we are dealing with! We get all of him and he takes all of our concerns.
I still had to get all those items completed, but God directed my path in such a way that every task was easy and light. I was not doing the work alone, he was in the midst of guiding me to completion. I’m reminded of the scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Key points:
Help is available to anyone who accepts it.
Rest, joy and peace are knocking at your door.
Praise brings deliverance to the soul.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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The Dust
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13, ESV
I was vacuuming our stairs and I was thinking about how the dust just comes. No matter how many times I clean the floor, the dust returns. The Holy Spirit said that is how the enemy is, he is always lurking around seeking whom he can devour. Scripture teaches us to resist the devil and he will flee. But as we know, when the devil had finished all of his tempting with Jesus, he left him until another opportune time. Luke 4:13. That is why the Bible says to meditate on the word day and night, because day and night we are under attack.
My husband and I had a great morning, we spent time praying and taking communion. After which he mentioned to me that there was a celebration for the Cambodian New Year. He wanted to go and I was hesitant because it was being held at the Buddhist temple. He waited for me to finish my work so I could go with him. The event was nice, but a little muddy from the rain. Everyone seemed to be having a good time! We watched individuals do the traditional dances and songs. We enjoyed learning about their culture. While we were there we noticed all these huge statues with bright colors that everyone was posing for pictures in front of. I begin to understand that these images represented their gods that they worshipped. There were prayer boxes in front of these images and we saw individuals bowing down praying to these statues. My heart was heavy for the people because they truly believed that these images could answer their prayers. So I prayed for God to give them insight to the “true and living God.”
Later that day after we returned home, I noticed that my husband and I were going at each other for no reason. We would snap at each other and I knew in my heart that it was a spirit. Satan was dropping dust particles because I had prayed against his image.
My husband called me over and said we needed to pray. As he began to pray for us he asked God to remove whatever spirit that was on us. Satan is always looking for a place to devour. We can keep our house clean of dust particles by consistently being “aware” of the enemies tactics.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Layers
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at[a] the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2Corinthians 3:18, CSB
It was early spring and the Holy Spirit told me to harvest the rest of my cabbage so that I could get my garden ready for replanting. I went out and harvested the last three, or four cabbages and took them inside to get them cleaned up.
When I opened up the first one, I started to pull off some of the leaves that had holes in them. As I pulled back a layer of leaves there were cabbageworms inside of the leaves. Now cabbage grows into a really tight ball. So, you would think it would be too tight and impossible for anything to get inside. But there they were! Cabbageworms all throughout that cabbage! Now I have come to know with gardening that you have to deal with all kinds of bugs and worms, but this was a bit much for me. So, I threw the whole cabbage away! Although I knew all the leaves were good, I was just too grossed out to keep it!
I said to the Holy Spirit, “What is the lesson in this?” He said, “Just like I had to pull back every layer to see if there were any more cabbageworms, he does the same thing with us.” He reveals to us what is on the inside of us. Many times we think that we are doing just fine and then the Holy Spirt reveals another part of ourselves that is hidden to us. Many times when he brings the revelation, Satan will try to make us feel condemned. But God is revealing to us what is hidden so that we can be perfected.
It is just like when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and Peter protested. Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean John 13:8-10,ESV. See when you accept Jesus as your personal Savior you are completely cleaned, but what follows is a process of daily pulling back of the layers and getting rid of the worms of sin. Everyday we are being transformed into the image of Christ!
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at[a] the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2Corinthians 3:18, CSB
Take aways:
Do not be discouraged or condemned by the revelation of layers, God is just perfecting you!
God says come as you are, but he will never leave you as you are!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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The Door
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8, ESV
I have a Hebrew calendar that I follow and this year is 5784 which began September 2023 and ends October 2024. The number 5784 stands for open doors and so much more. I have been speaking these words over our lives and repeating that this is the year of open doors for the believers. I have watched as God has supernaturally opened doors for us this year!
But I have learned that open doors do not always come in the way you expect. Yes, it is wonderful when God open doors for you, or shall I say, moves you to the open door and you have to take a step to walk through it. But it is the walking through to get in and on the other side that I did not expect the things God would do to get us to move!
Sometime you are just comfortable where you are and you want God to open the door, but you kind of want things to stay the same along with the additional blessings. Listen, it is not going to happen that way! Every open door requires change and movement. He will open the door, but you have to move through it. I have a cookie business and my husband has a Jazz band and we have seen doors of opportunity fly open for us. But the work involved to get through the door and the sacrifice required is a big responsibility. God is not going to do that part for you.
Remember the Hebrew boys? Their open door came under siege. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. He then commanded Ashpenaz, his chief Eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, competent to stand in the king's palace and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Daniel 1
Ashpenaz chose Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. They were eventually chosen to stand and serve before the king because God blessed them with more knowledge and wisdom than all the nobles. Throughout their service to the king, God used them as a testimony to teach the king who the true God is. Because of their faithfulness to God, King Nebuchadnezzar eventually became a believer.
We do not know where, when or how God will open the door for us, but we have to be willing to do take the leap of faith and move hand in hand with God.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Spirit of God Dwells in You
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Romans 8:9, ESV
I know at times it can be overwhelming to try and comprehend that the Spirit of the almighty God lives within every believer. He literally sits inside every believer and directs them everyday towards righteousness. I love that scripture teaches that God has richly poured out to us all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1 Our flesh may not be able to understand everything that God has given us, but little by little, or precept upon precept, we gain understanding.
It reminds me of little babies who have not yet learned how to walk. They have all they need to walk and yet they don’t understand the concept of walking. We have a grand-baby who has all the physical attributes to raise his head and look around, but he has not mastered the ability to do that. When we pick him up we hold his head. He has not yet learned that he has the muscles to lift and hold his head. My daughter gives him “tummy time” which he does not like, but it causes him to lift his head.
This reminds me of us and all that God has poured into us. We have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us, with all the wisdom and understanding waiting for us to use. We think we lack the ability, or that we don’t have the knowledge to do something, but in truth it is all there. We have to strengthen our muscles and we do this through “tummy time,”or reading the Word. We can lay on our stomach and put the Bible in front of us and read. The words in the Bible are full of the Spirit and life. When we read the word of God, we learn how to use what has already been deposited into us. It is our instruction manual. The more we read and study the word the more we will be able to access all the wisdom and understanding from the Spirit who dwells within.
I encourage you to do some “tummy time” exercises for twenty minuets a day! Set a timer and read the word. You will be surprised at what happens in your life and the changes that you will see manifest. The word is living and it goes into action when you speak it!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Who are you Tracking?
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Mark 10:15, AMP
Our daughter arrived at our home for a visit with our grandson. While she unpacked the car I took the baby and was talking with him. I noticed that the whole time she was taking things out of the car, her son was tracking his mom’s every move. I was trying to get his attention, but he was focused on seeing where his mother was going. It was to the point that he was trying to turn his whole body. We all laughed at how much he was tracking her and started trying to do other things to get him distracted.
Later that evening, the Holy Spirit said to me, “Do you track God like that? Are you focused on his very move? What does it take to get you off track?” I thought about it and I knew I could do better. My mind went to the Bible verse above with the focus on the part that said, come to the Kingdom of God like a child. This little baby who was barely two months old would not let us distract him from his mom. I thought about how when our grandson felt something was wrong, he cries out for his mom. He did not look to anyone else, he just focused on her. He cried to his answer and he kept his eyes on his answer until help came.
God showed me that if we could just be like that in everything, our life would be so much easier. We could always live in a place of peace and have the joy of the Lord in our heart. Scripture says that “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear Isaiah 65:24. Instead we look around and try to fix the problem ourselves before we come to him.
God has taught me that he wants to be involved in every aspect or our lives. Listen, I ask him what to wear when I get up in the morning. I ask him how to respond to my husband. I ask him how to say, “Hello” and how to answer the phone. God has told us to seek him first; that is on everything single thing. He did not tell us to depend on ourselves. However, when it is something that we do everyday, we think we can handle it. So, we do not ask him. God wants our attention and to rely on him for every single thing in our life. He already has everything worked out. He holds our future in his hands!
I want to encourage you to be just like a baby with God. I want to encourage you to be just like our grandson. Track God for everything! He is “the answer” and he answers! Hallelujah!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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His Weapon for Battle
“You are my war club, my weapon for battle—with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms, Jeremiah 51:20, NIV
Why does God need weapons to fight in the battle with Satan? When Adam and Eve turned the earth over to Satan, they put their lineage (us) against God and there was nothing anyone in the world could do to change it. The earth and everything in it belongs to God. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ are his agents to bring the message of salvation to those who do not know him.
I was listening to a pastor speak and he said that we are God’s weapons of war. We are not only here for worship, but for war. That statement reminded me of when I was younger. My parents had put me and my siblings in our church’s little children’s choir. One of the songs we used to sing was, “We are Soldiers in the Army of God.”
At that time I did not understand why we would had to fight in God’s army if he had already won the war. I did not understand that everyday there are battles to save the souls of lost individuals. We are God’s weapon against Satan and our fight is to stand in the word and offer love to the world.
The challenge comes when Satan tries to tempt us to step out of our position. How does he do that? I remember one time I had bought a beautiful dress for church and work. I was so excited about it and on this particular day I wore it to work. On break one of my coworkers and I decided to go pick up shaved ice for everyone at work. We were at the shop and on our way into the building this lady honked at me and told me to move my car. We just looked at her like, “what?” There were plenty of parking spaces for her and we went inside the building.
There were a lot of people inside the building waiting for their orders. When the lady who honked at me got inside the building she asked them if she could purchase a certain type of soda, but they did not carry it. So instead she asked for a cup of water. Now mind you this place is packed with people and everyone could see and hear her. When they gave her the cup of water, she took it and threw it at my dress. All down the front of the dress was wet and then she said, “Oh, I’m sorry.” I was in such shock that I could not move.
The owner of the store and everyone around started to try and help me get the water dried up off my dress. My coworker kept saying, “Are you alright? Do we need to get this chick?” Listen Satan’s move was to get me out of position, but instead God held me. I was shocked at myself because I just kept telling everyone that I was good. It was only by the grace of God that I was kept as a weapon for him. I did not move and his love was displayed for all those in that shop to see his glory!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Promise of God
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? Numbers 23:19, KJV
In the passage above God was correcting Balaam because he went back to God a second time on behalf of King Barak, who was over Moab, seeking to bring a curse on the Israelites. God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt and they had just come from a victory over the Amorites and they were camped on the outskirts of Moab. The people of Moab dreaded and feared Israel. King Balak sent for Balaam to curse them. However, the words God gave to Balaam were only to speak blessings over Israel. King Balak was angry and insisted that Balaam go back to God to receive words to bring a curse on Israel. The passage above is part of the response God had for the King of Moab.
Look at the kind of God we serve! The people of Israel had no idea that someone was trying to put a curse on them! Their God was protecting them and they did not even know it! As a matter of fact, God was speaking more blessings on Israel. This is exactly how God takes care of us. He says that he is watching over you and will never leave you. He is also in all the secret boardrooms arranging blessings for you that you know nothing about!
The people of Israel had done nothing to Moab. Moab was fearful because of the blessing God had placed on Israel. If you look back at the history of Israel, the only reason the Egyptians put Israel in bondage, was because of the blessing God put on them. God blessed the Israelites and the people feared them. Exodus 1
There is nothing that can stop God from keeping his word and watching over his people. God told Abraham, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.” Every word God told Abraham is exactly what happened. The covenant was between God and Abraham. And even though Abraham had long since died, God never failed to keep his promise.
Everything God said concerning believers he has done. He has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He has chosen and marked us in Christ and sealed us with the promised Holy Spirit. We have been given the same power that was used to raise Christ from the dead and we have been made alive in Christ. He raised us up with him and seated us in the heavenly realm. If that is not enough he gave us a spirit of love, power and a sound mind; which is the mind of Christ. He sent the Holy Spirit who is with us 24/7 and is our deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.
Listen, everything God said he will do for you, he has done! You can take him at his word! If you want to know more about his promises to you, read Ephesians 1-3.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The power of Agreement
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20, NIV
The passage above is a guarantee! Jesus was giving instructions on how to resolve an issue between brothers who sin against each other. In conclusion, he says anything that two people agree on in his name, it will be done for them! Listen! When Jesus was giving these instructions he was saying that anything you agree on in his name, it will not only happen, but he will be in the midst of the request!
There is so much in the verse mentioned above! It is powerful when we agree and submit our requests to God! Apostle Paul told Timothy that he urged him to teach the church to make petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for all people: kings and all those in authority, so that they may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness.
When we come together in corporate prayer we see change. Daniel was told that the king had asked his wise men to tell him the meaning of his dream, but they could not. The King became so angry that he issued a decree to have all of the wise men killed. When Daniel, Shadrach, Mishael, and Abednego were told about this they came together and prayed for God to bring revelation and God answered their prayer. He revealed the king’s dream and gave Daniel the interpretation.
When the Israelites were under harsh labor by Egyptians, they came together and prayed for God to deliver them from the hand of Pharaoh. God sent Moses with a staff and his brother Aaron to Egypt and he delivered his people. The power of corporate prayer is undeniable!
There are so many examples in the Bible of when the church came together for prayer and the power of God moved. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” Acts 12:5-11, ESV
When we stand in agreement with God, everything is possible!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Jehovah Rohi
The Lord is my Shepherd…Psalm 23:1, ESV
In this Bible Study, I attend we have been reading the book The Power of God’s Names by Tony Evans. The Study has been phenomenal! A few weeks ago we covered the name Jehovah Rohi, which means God is our Shepherd.
In Ezekiel 34, God tells us that he is our shepherd and he takes care of his sheep. The shepherd feeds the flock, strengthens the weak, heals the sick, binds up the broken-hearted, brings back the strays and seeks the lost. When anyone accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior he becomes their shepherd. He takes over taking care of all their needs.
As believers it may seem like God is not taking very good care of us. When we fall into sickness, disease, trouble and problems we wonder, “Where is our shepherd?” But God is not far away. The Bible does not say that the shepherd will stop us from getting sick, or even prevent us from having problems, but he will be there to take care of us.
Actually, scripture tells us that this world is full of sin and we will have problems John 16:33. It even tells us that because we are of Christ, the world hated him so they will hate us John 15:18-19. We are not to be surprised by the challenges that come in our lives, but with every problem we are to bring them to our shepherd.
In Psalm 23, David makes a declaration that God is his shepherd and he shall not want. It does not mean that he had no problems or that he was not in need of God’s help, it means he knew that everything came from God and therefore because God was his shepherd. There was no need for want because his God had it all!
It is the same for each of us. We can make the same declaration as David, that God is our shepherd and he has promised to take care of every one of our needs! Therefore we shall not be in want! Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Never Down
Within a couple of weeks of each other, our cell phones would not work and then our internet had gone completely down. Our cell phone carrier had been hacked and they were working fervently to get their system back online. We learned that the same thing had happened to other internet carriers. I told my husband that it looked like someone is testing the vulnerability of our nation’s network systems to see if they could take them over.
During the time our system was down, we were doing everything possible to get things working again. While sitting at my computer, I heard in my heart the Holy Spirit say, “I am never down.” He said, “All of these systems will fail, but I will never fail you. I am with you always and forever. I am always here in your presence to assist you at anytime.”
The Holy Spirit was sent to us by Jesus Christ as the guarantor of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a person, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Therefore, he is never in need of rest because he does not have a body comprised of flesh. Being the third person of the God-head, he is always available and ready to serve the believers of Jesus Christ.
I have heard it said that there are two things guaranteed to everyone on earth; taxes and death. But I beg to differ! There are three individuals that are guaranteed to never let you down and that you can always depend on: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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God’s Instruction
God has this way of getting his word directly to you when you least expect it. I was in Carmel with my husband celebrating my birthday, when I received a phone call. A dear friend of mine had called, but I did not pick up because I was at the counter of a coffee shop ordering a tea. When I got an opportunity to look at my phone I saw her missed call and that she had left me a voicemail message.
When I listened to the message, she said that God told her to give me a one minute sermon. It was literally one minute and 52 seconds. That message could have been preached for a year and I still would not have unpacked all that God had said in it!
I had been pondering some of the things God told me to do in his message through my friend. I thought about what the consequences would be if I did not do what he had instructed. I learned that when I am not obedient to God, I give Satan room to build an empire against me. I lose protection while I am pondering whether or not I’m moving with God. Satan is strategically planning his next move. He is counting on me not moving as God instructed so that he can build his empire against me and all those I love.
When Jesus was sitting with his disciples at the last supper, he told Peter that he would deny him three times before the cock crowed that night. Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat. Jesus knew Satan’s request, but Peter had no idea. Jesus told Peter that he had prayed for him and told Peter to pray that he did not come into temptation. But Peter fell asleep while he was supposed to be praying. We have no idea what Satan is up to, but we can bet money it is not good! When God gives us instructions, no matter how hard it seems, we must follow and do it immediately!
This reminds me of Abraham. When God told him to go and sacrifice his son Isaac, he immediately left the following morning to do it. Although his son was spared, this was a test of Abraham’s obedience to God. He made haste in obeying God and so should we!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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He does What He Says
It always amazes me when people say that we have a loving God who is not going to judge people. They believe that because he is so loving, no one will be going to hell. I was reading a story about King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel Chapter 3 of the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar had built a golden image and he commanded everyone to bow down to it when certain music was played. If the people did not obey, they would be thrown into a furnace of fire.
There were three Hebrew men who loved God and had been working with the king for a while. In truth the king had conquered their country and took them from their homes and then hand selected them to serve before him. He changed their names from Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedenego. When the king commanded everyone to bow down and worship the golden image they refused.
When the king was told that Shadrach, Meshach and Abedenego was not following his orders, he became angry and called them in. When they came before the king he offered them another opportunity to bow down to his image. But they responded, “O’ Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then king Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression on his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered that the furnace be heated seven times more than what it was usually heated. He also ordered them to be bound and cast into the fiery furnace.
If we know that king Nebuchadnezzar did exactly as he decreed, and he is merely a man made by God, how much more will the God who created and owns everything not do what he says to what he created! God’s track record has proven that he will do exactly as he says! He told Saul that he would make him king, and he did. Later on, Saul became disobedient and God eventually took the kingdom from him. (1 Samuel) God told the people of Israel if they obeyed and kept his commandments he would prosper them and if they disobeyed they would be conquered by their enemies (as stated all throughout the Old Testament). The angel told Mary that she would give birth to a son through the Holy Spirit and she was to call his name Jesus [Luke 1:2]. Listen! What God says he will do, he will do! “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” [2 Peter 3:10]
Let us not be deceived by what others say, God is coming soon and we want to be ready. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Up
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…Matthew 14:23, ESV
I was having a discussion with a dear friend about the scripture above. And she was saying in her study time that the Holy Spirit pointed out to her that Jesus went up into the “supernatural” to pray. It made so much sense as we talked about it, but I never had that revelation before. Later in the week I was reading Genesis 1 and the word “up” floated across my mind again. I asked the Holy Spirit, ”How can I miss what is right in front of me?” He said, “You are too focused on what you want to study, or what you are trying to understand that you do not give me the time to tell you what I am saying.”
I was just about through the first chapter of Genesis when I was having this conversation with the Holy Spirit again, I said, “Should I start over with reading this chapter?” He said, “Sure.” Immediately as I started to read the first verse he started speaking to my spirit. He said, “Everything is embodied in me.” I wanted to make sure that I understood what he was saying, so I looked up the word embodied. It means: one that embodies something; include or contain (something) as a constituent part.
Everything came from God and he spoke what he wanted to come out of him and into the world for his creation to learn, experience and enjoy. He said, “It does not matter if people like it or not, understands it or not, everything comes from him. I asked for an example, and he said, “Your writings, they come from you. It does not matter if people believe you, agree with you, like you, or what you wrote. It is your truth and it comes from you.” I just sat and meditated on what he had just dropped into my spirit. Revelation was opening up in my mind. He was teaching me!
I thought, “Wow! No one has to believe what he said is true, but it is his truth. No one has to believe that he is the one and only true God, but he is!” Everyone can do and believe whatever they want, but his truth will always stand; just like my truth and your truth will stand. It is embodied within us and as we release it, it speaks.
I said to the Holy Spirit, “Just a few minutes ago when I read the first chapter of Genesis, I did not get any of this.” He said, “It’s because you had your own agenda. Had I not let the simple word “up” cross your spirit you would have missed this again. Take the time to let me tell you about me. Come open and ready to receive; because I am ready to give.”
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15, ESV
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Ways of Life
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. Proverbs 16:9
I had just written the words above when the Holy Spirit reminded me of something he had me pray and write about. When I had finished praying I knew that there was something he said, but I could not remember what it was, however, he reminded me of it later on.
I was praying about the season that I was in and I was giving thanks to God for everything: the good, difficult and hard times. All of it! Everything that I had been experiencing I was giving him thanks. He then reminded me of the many people I had come across within the last few days that were in their various seasons. I just began to pray for every single individual that I saw.
He then said these words, “There is no situation that I do not see, no heart that I do not hear, no need that I cannot meet, no pain that I cannot heal. I am God! I began to rejoice because at that moment I had a deeper revelation about my God!
Everyday we are going to experience something different. Our situations and seasons change as we move through our days, months and years. Our relationship with God changes. Sometimes we may feel close to him and other times he may seem far away, but that is a part of the journey. He never leaves us, but just like a parent with children there is a time to be very close and a time to give some space.
He has ordained our journey and our path lead us to intimacy with him. Many times when we look back over our lives we never would have expected to be put in this place and relationship with him. I know all the crazy things I did, the trouble I caused and situations that happened to me that were pure evil, yet God still kept me and used every one of those situations to grow me into this space with Him. I cannot explain how the unfair painful things that I went through helped me get to this space, but I now know each one of them drew me closer to the answer.
Whether you are in a situation where you cannot pray and there are no words that come, God is there and he has you covered. If you are in a place where you are angry with God for what has happened to you, or your loved one, he knows and feels your pain. He will comfort you. Every situation of pain, sorrow, brokenness, he is the fourth man in the fire. Scripture says the Lord is my shepherd which means no matter what season you are experiencing, the shepherd is going to take care of his sheep.
Father, thank you that we get to call you our Father! That is what you said, “you are our Father!” Hallelujah! There are paths that we are experiencing that are hard, difficult, painful, unfair and everything else in between and we sometimes feel that we can’t make it. Thank you for the reminder that you are here and you are directing our paths to a quiet, peaceful, joyful place full of abundance in you! Hallelujah! To you be the glory and praise. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Invitation
It was in the very early morning when the Holy Spirit woke me up. My body was so tired, I did not want to move. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit comes when you are receiving your best sleep! I laid there talking to God and fighting what my body was feeling. I was truly trying to find a way to go back to sleep. My spirit wanted to be with God, but my soul and flesh wanted the bed.
I finally said to myself get up and move! When I got up I felt energetic enough to get to my prayer room. Once I was in the prayer room I started my prayer with a slow tired praise. I heard the Holy Spirit say God has invited you early in the morning to sit with him and this is how you respond? Listen! Everything in me changed. Elohim had waken me up early in the morning to sit with Him. What?! This was a divine appointment for me and Him! All of a sudden praise took over and that tired body was gone!
God revealed so much to me in those moments of praise and sitting. My spirit went into this song that I had never heard before. All kinds of beautiful songs and prayers lifted off my lips and I knew it was Jehovah praying through me. What a wonderful fellowship I experienced at the throne of God! Listen, if you are reading this, God is speaking to you. He wants you to come to his invitation. He wants you to know that the invitation may be a challenge for you but come. He has made special arrangements to sit with you!
Father, I magnify and glorify your name. Thank you for choosing me to have this privilege at your throne right now. I pray for strength to overcome my will so that I can respond with gratitude and praise to your invitation to sit with you. I look forward to our quiet time together. I thank you in Jesus’ name amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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