Author: Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

God’s Word will not return void. . .

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Isaiah 55:10-12 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

Reflection:

As I get further along my Salvation journey, I find that I speak less and listen more. The more I listen, is the more my heart and soul hears…the soft still voice of the Lord. Words matter (Hebrews 11:3). Do you realize that every word that we have spoken in this life, we will have to give an account for?

For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother. – Romans 14:11-13

It is a sobering thought and one I meditate on often. I want the words that I speak to have a purpose and an impact for the Kingdom for those that hear them. The same is true in my prayer time, my Father God is so good to me that my requests for myself are few and I have the overwhelming joy of praying for others. Don’t get me wrong, I have my challenges. I have certain things that I have prayed for, that has taken years to manifest. Do I get weary in the wait…yes…do I want to change my words to match what I see instead of what it is that I am expecting from the Lord…sure. What keeps me from doing that is the Word:

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. – Joshua 1:8 (AMPC)

In our foundational scripture we find the Lord reminding us of a key character trait of His…consistency. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals to us despite time, space, and imperfect children; the plan that He put in place for the redemption of the world could not be taken off track. We had a guest speaker a few Sundays ago that said something that struck me. “It is easy to see who God was from the past (Old Testament) and it is easy to see who God will be in the future (New Testament), but we seem to miss who God is.”

And God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am and What I Am, and I Will Be What I Will Be; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you! – Exodus 3:14

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. – Hebrews 11:1(AMPC)

We are eternal beings placed on this earth for a time/place and for a definitive purpose. God is ever present in every circumstance and every season of your life. He is the God of the present just as much as the God is the past and future.

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). – Hebrews 13:8 (AMPC)

What is going to get your and my prayers to manifest in our present is to be constantly aware that we are speaking spirits.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. – Proverbs 18:21 (AMPC)

If you don’t want something for yourself or others don’t utter a negative word about them or the situation. Instead speak life in the dark place. You will find that God’s light through his Word will always overcome the darkness.

All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]. – John 1:3-5(AMPC)

What prayer requests have you been waiting to manifest? It is not a question that God hasn’t answered it. If it is in line with the Word of God the Bible says His answers are yea and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). So, what do you do in the mean time? Send out more Word into this world! Come along someone in prayer and agree with them for their requests. It is like planting a flower bed…the different testimonies, like flowers will brighten up your year and provide sweet smell up to the throne room of Heaven.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Do you have a running list of your prayer requests? If not, you should start keeping a journal specifically for them. Gratitude is a arsenal that the devil can’t touch, each time you look at how the Lord has responded to each of your requests (every answer, even if it is not the answer we envisioned is for our good) is like another “grenade” that we can use against the enemy when he tries to discourage/distract us in the natural.
  • Keep a prayer list for your family and friends. Not only will their testimonies be just as encouraging, it will refresh you will you wait for your manifestations.

 

Need prayer, have a testimony? We would love to hear from you!

 

What are you doing with your manna?

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Exodus 16:15-31 New King James Version (NKJV)

So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So, when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. So, they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ”  So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none. And the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?  See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day.

And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

Reflection:

The world is in a perpetual state of decay. There are very few things that one can “set it and forget it”. Maybe that is why I think I like working in information technology field. For the most part once you set a configuration to run, it runs until that piece of hardware fails or is replaced.  Sure, at times there may be a power outage, but once the power is back on, that piece of hardware is restored.  The Lord set the world in motion with His words.  He breathed life into us for a specific purpose at a specific point in time and we will run (if you submit to Him) until we expire.

In our foundational scriptures, the children of Israel had left Egypt traveled for thirty days into the Wilderness of Sin before they encountered manna.  One would think after their first pity party on the other side of the Red Sea, this group of former slaves would rejoice at the road ahead (Exodus 15:24-27).  Instead, God had to revisit very quickly His lesson on provision.

After the Red sea, His people rested in Elim. Elim was a lovely place to visit after escaping Egypt, but it was not the promise land for the Israelites.  They had to continue moving forward towards their inheritance.  Unfortunately for them, in order to receive this inheritance, they all had to go through the Wilderness of Sin and receive a mindset adjustment.

The Lord orchestrated their escape, but the Israelites had to walk out their freedom.  Strongholds of slavery in the mind does not go away overnight.  It must be a purposeful and diligent process in the right direction to get ourselves to our ultimate destination.  The Lord provided the water first (Exodus 15:24) to His people and then He provided the bread (Exodus 16:15).  The latter required His people to DO something.

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. – James 2:23-24

Our Father is a loving provider, but He will only give us what we have prepared our hearts and minds for in Him to receive.  He gave Israelites manna, which means ‘what is it?’ – I think they questioned it, because they were not used to the idea of gathering something for themselves.

We all work in some form or fashion, there is a big difference as to the purpose behind that work. A person working for another may have a different work ethic, then someone working for himself/herself.  The Bible says that shouldn’t be the case.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

For the first time in their lives/generation, the Israelites were gathering for their own households. Manna appeared every morning for six days.  There were clear instructions as to when and how much to gather.  The Bible cites specifically that ‘some of the people’ failed to follow these instructions.  This learning process wasn’t without some hiccups, we see later only a few from this generation made it to the promise land.

In our generation, the Lord gives us revelation for the purpose of application.  We can’t wait until we feel comfortable to share the Word with others. If we try to store it up in our hearts what we have read/heard in our personal devotional time, it will decay like the manna in the wilderness.  Instead we should be seeking the Lords face daily to receive our manna from Heaven using this three-step process:

  • Logos – Written Word of God – Read your Bible every day
  • Mana – What is this? – Meditate on scriptures – seek the Lord for revelation
  • Rhema – Utterance of the Word of God – Read the Bible out loud and create confessions from scripture for the things that you are believing the Lord for.

I heard a great quote the other day – “Manna makes greed impossible, it is distributed specifically, and it cannot be hoarded.” Lord gives you specific instructions daily to live out.  You will be tested to see if the Word that you have heard is in fact applied to your life.  The evidence will be in your words and actions and your fruit will be wonders and miracles radiating God’s glory from your life.  If these things are not currently happening in your life, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, what are you doing with your manna?

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • What was the last thing that the Lord put on your heart to do?
    • Did you obey, immediately?
    • If not, why?
  • Meditate on the following scripture: His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ – Matthew 25:21
    • This should be the heartbeat of your heart to hear the words above from our Heavenly Father.

Christianity is not a spectator sport…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 New King James Version (NKJV)

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Reflection:

I competed in sports from middle school through college. For every sport I played the same discipline was required to succeed.  I had to be present for every practice, while maintaining my course load and GPA.  If I did not do either of those two things, I was not able to play in the next game/run in the next meet.  The coach wanted only the people that were prepared for the match to be on the field.  At the same time, everyone had to be ready to be called onto the field if needed.

When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you became a part of the Body of Christ. Depending on where you are in life, you may feel like your contribution to the Kingdom is not making a difference, but the truth is when you became a new being, every breathe you take has a purpose for the Kingdom.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. – 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

The Holy Spirit requires that we “practice” the Word on ourselves, “maintaining” your relationship with the King of Kings and the Lord or Lords through studying the Bible. Our game time is any and everyone that crosses our path!   The is just one objective:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

As a Believer you are no longer a spectator in life. You have a responsibility to reach out to the lost.  Everyone has a story to share, a heart ache that is relatable, a scar that is memorable…seek out the lost, share the joy and the love of the Lord as you go.  That doesn’t mean to be loud, it means to be soft and patience just like the Holy Spirit is soft and patient.   You may know every need to say a word.

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. – Acts 5:14-16

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was going through a difficult situation. I helped her as the Lord lead me to help.  She called me up one day and told me that her father was adamant that I was an imaginary friend.  “People don’t just help people like that, they would be crazy if they did.” She and I laughed about it, but it blessed me to know what I thought was a little thing, was having ripple effects in the thoughts of others.  I pray that her father comes to the saving knowledge of Christ, but just being in the shadow of my dear friend’s trial.

Beloved, it is all about souls. Resolve in your heart to be purposeful about your interactions with the individuals around you.  Listen to their words and apply what you have learned from the Word to the situation.  Revival starts with one, be that one Beloved, be that one!

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Have you been shy about sharing your faith with someone else? Why is that? Write down the worst thing that could happen?
  • Sharing faith comes in all different forms. You may not have to even speak, but people just sense something is different about you. Think back, write down any past experiences that you have shared your love for the Lord without saying a word.
  • Now pray and have the Lord put certain people on your heart to love on. Every little action is a seed sown into eternity. Reflect often on your words and actions towards others, you will be surprised the ripple effect that you have!

 

Thank the Lord, He has selective listening…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Exodus 3:14 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

And God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am and What I Am, and I Will Be What I Will Be; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you!

John 14:13 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.

Reflection:

I have asked and pleaded with the Lord for some squirrelly things in the past. They were never anything bad…”Lord, I would really like to get on the soccer team”;” Lord, I would like to get that job”; “Lord, that guy seems like a good one, can he be the one?”…etc.

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. – Psalm 5:21

Looking back now, each time when the Lord held His peace after certain requests, it brought me from a place of ‘self-reliance’ to one of ‘God-dependence’. I heard a quote on the radio today; “God is only giving you what you would’ve given yourself, if you knew everything He knew.” Even if it doesn’t feel like it, the Lord sees us every moment of our journey through this life.  In the valleys and on the mountain tops, He is the same (Exodus 3:14).

For great example of perspective are activity books vs corn mazes. Unlike mazes in activity books, one cannot gauge if one is really making progress in a corn maze.  Even with the clues, you are bound to miss a turn and hit a dead end at some point during the process.  Same is true in life.  Don’t you feel like that sometimes? Like you have been praying and praying and then suddenly you feel like you have hit a “dead end”. Fear not, Beloved! The Lord has pre-destined our paths…if you allow Him to lead…we may go through similar storms; our life will look different than others.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” – Matthew 7:24-27

We all are going to go through difficult situations, however what our lives look like after those storms will be determined by our foundation. The Will of God for your life is not a hidden secret; it is a natural as your next heartbeat or you next inhaled breath. The plans He has for you are good, they are “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11).  So, if you are in a valley today, look up to the Lord, resolve in your heart that despite what you see and what you hear you are moving through this valley.  Read the Word, it is filled with promises.  Confess those promises over your specific situation that applies.  God is waiting and listening to bless you, you just need to get back on your path.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and for throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” – 2 Chronicles 16:9

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Think back to past valleys in your life. How was God faithful to you then? Describe the mountain top just beyond that valley.
  • I know that no other valley or pit can compare to the one you may presently be in, but the truth is that God is every present and you will get through this one too.   Three things to consistently do every day:
      • Pray for wisdom and discernment
      • Confess scriptural promises over your situation
      • Be thankful for the small things
  • Soon Beloved this too shall pass and you will be stronger in the Lord for it!

 

Hit the P.A.U.S.E Button

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Psalm 37:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Reflection:

Years ago, my friend said that if she could have a super power it would be to pause time. Not for the purposes of savoring a moment now, but for the purposes of catching up with her life.  After getting past the annoyance that it was just her and her husband and her cushy low stress high paying job in her world…she thinks she is busy… That was when the Holy Spirit took me by the “ear”.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. – Galatians 6:4-5

It made me really look at my reflection in the Word and think things through, which usually always has me saying “forgive me, Father”. I took a step back and asked the Holy Spirit what was the root of this irritation concerning my friend’s wish?

In my observation, the two hardest things to do in this life is 1 – to pause in the natural and 2 – rest in the Spirit. I wish I had both of these things mastered, I relish sitting down in the presence of the Lord and resting in the Sprit.  However, in the natural, I feel like I am always playing catch up.

When I get home from work I have two choices, 1 – to sit down for a minute and rest or 2- to keep going until the evening routine is done. Neither of which gives me any true sense of accomplishment.  If I rest, dinner, homework, and bath time get done much later.  On the other hand, I keep going and things get done, but I am totally exhausted by the end and have no time for myself or my husband.  In both cases the mountain of laundry…mind you…clean clothes are still not put away.

Despite what it looks like, we do have power, a super natural power that lies in our covenant with the One true God. The key to unlock this is prayer.  To truly pray, you have to first be still and then wait…we often forget the waiting part.  We speak out our prayers, but don’t wait for Him to respond.  The wait, the pause of silence is often the point where most Believers get caught back up in their thoughts and miss Him speaking.

The more I reflected on my friends wishful thinking of a pause power, the more I realized that we as the heirs of the most High God, eternal beings with the power through Jesus Christ can create a pause affect in our lives. We need to recognize that when we pray, it is our battle stance.  This battle stance in the Spirit will create adversity.  However, if we take the time to be still and wait, God will make all things right in His divine timing.

Beloveds, prayer brings on adversity, which ultimately produces sacrifice, and then the expectation of victory.

Prayer – our battle stance, an offensive position

Adversity – the enemy’s defensive stance

Ultimately – eventually the path will be made clear

Sacrifice – to proceed down the narrow path will require a humble transformation

Expectation – once that transformation is complete all there is left is victory

Take it from me, the best place to use this “super power” is with the people and the situations that cause you the most irritation. Frustration is a weakness and the sooner you shine the light of the Word on it, the sooner you can use your P.A.U.S.E. button to remedy your fleshly short comings.  The best peace you will every find, is the peace that you are in the center of God’s will.  Use your pause button often and watch the Lord transform your life!

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • List out the top five frustrations you have in your life?
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your what is the spiritual root of that frustration.
  • Mediate on specific scriptures as antidotes to that issue.
  • Continue to practice using your P.A.U.S.E. button.

 

 

You have a voice for a reason…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Matthew 7:7-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Psalm 66:16-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.

 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.

But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!

Reflection:

God created us to be in His likeness to be speaking spirits…

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:3-4

With our words and within His will, we are to speak out change into this dark world. This platform is not a “these four and no more” provision. What you are asking/praying for, should stretch far beyond the four walls of your home. It should impact your neighbor…your city…your state…and this country.

It is not like we don’t know how to use our mouths…we tend to speak a lot more negative than the positive these days – sadly this includes the Body of Christ. The Bible is clear that bitter and fresh water can’t come out of the same place (James 3:10-12). So why when we are instructed to speak “fresh” word that edifies, we instead chose to speak non-profitable things? This is our challenge as Believers, when our voices among the ‘sons of disobedience’ (Ephesians 2:2) start sounding like the same dialect, our witness for Christ is weakened.

It is hard to be the only one talking positive in a negative world…and I am not talking about the manufactured speaking points some use that doesn’t come across sincere…sometimes that is even worse.

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. – James 2:14-17

Beloved, we must pray boldly, think boldly, and then in turn speak out boldly for the Kingdom of God.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:15-16

Godly actions require one thing from us. It is for us to open our mouths and allow God to fill it with His Words. I know that it sounds so simple, but that is all that is needed. Granted the putting down of our flesh to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us is the true fight…but it is not insurmountable.

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” – Mark 10:27

In our foundational scriptures we see that the Lord is waiting for us to speak out to bring our miracles to manifestation. We have not because we ask not…again so simple but what distracts us all is the waiting period between our confessions and that manifestation. These aborted prayers are not one the part of our Father, but on us. Shake of the guilt of the past; repent to the Lord for missing the mark; and start again. The world is waiting for your prayerful impact to change. Now let’s get after it!

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • What are things or areas in your life you would like to see a change happen?
    • In your family; on the job; in your town; in your state; in the country, etc.
  • Find a scriptural promise that supports that change in your life.
  • Write down that scripture-based confession and speak it out whenever your five senses are telling you the opposite.
    • Example: Dealing with a difficult person in your life
    • Confession: Thank you Lord you have made me in your likeness when interacting with ________. With this person I am always gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love. Amen. (Based on Psalm 148:8)

 

 

 

Your supposed to be different…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Psalm 139:13-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

Romans 8:29-31 New King James Version (NKJV)

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Reflection:

Do you remember your cafeteria experience growing up? If your school didn’t have a cafeteria, anywhere where large groups of kids hung out and socialized. Some of you don’t have to think back that far, because you have a cafeteria at your place of employment…where sometimes…just sometimes…people act like children.

It is amazing no matter how many years lapse there are still the same type of groups – the in-crowd, the out-crowd, and the in-between crowd. Depending on which crowd you were/are in, you experience life experiences from a different perspective than your peers. For me, I fell in with the in-between crowd, I was not popular, but at the same time I wasn’t relentlessly bullied. In a society that defines success as perfection, it is not a surprise that un-satisfaction and anxiety is on the rise.   The manufactured social media posts only perpetuate this idea that our best is not good enough and that we are failing in life despite our greatest efforts.

It is when I feel my most awkward, I grab my Bible and remind my heart what is the truth in the face of a sensory overload of inadequacy. The Bible says in Psalm 139:14 that we are wonderfully made. It didn’t say “perfectly” made, it didn’t say “cookie cutter” made; it said wonderfully made!

The God of the universes created you to be different! When He said “let there be light”, He had you in mind. He predestined all of your days.  You are the apple of His eye!  Your life in the Lord, is an orbit/a singular universe to attract souls to Him.  The Son that lives in you, holds this world in the palm of His hand.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible – Hebrews 11:3

So, if we are supposed to be different, then why do we all feel a need to fit in? In my observation, to be in a crowd is to relinquish responsibility for the injustices that we see every day.  I am not talking about on the grand cultural stage, I am talking about our daily interactions with others.   At the same time, to purposely isolate one’s self to avoid rejection or “march to your own drum” can at times have an even worst ramification.  So where does that leave us?

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. – Galatians 5:16-18

Our flesh wants to be a part of something in this decaying – counterfeit world, but our spirit knows that our citizenship is in Heaven. Unfortunately, until we get there we will have to continue to play this internal tug of war.  With that said, constantly reflect in comparison to what the Word says, your thoughts…intentions…words…and actions.  Teach and/or mentor the young adults and the little lambs in your sphere of influence to be different in the Lord.  Yes, it is not going to be easy, but in the end it will all be worth it.  Always remember Saints:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. – 1 Peter 5:8-9

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Think back to grammar school, middle school, high school and/or college
    • What crowd were you a part of during that season of life?
  • What is the crowd break down in your current life?
  • For those of you that have kids or nieces/nephews, what crowds do you observe in their lives? Are they similar to what you experience as a child? (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
    • How are you helping them navigate their awkwardness? Are you reaching for a man-made fixe or a Bible proven truth?
  • Make is a habit to mediate on a scriptural promise every week. Embrace the truth that we are made to be different!

 

I am ok with me…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

1 Timothy 6:11-16 New International Version (NIV)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:16-19 New International Version (NIV)

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Reflection:

It took me a long time to utter these words out loud of my mouth: “I am ok with me”. It wasn’t in a moment where I felt the most accomplished; but in the midst of a horrendous situation and at a point of complete brokenness. It was in that moment, re-playing the situation for the millionth time in my mind, I felt the peace of the Lord fill me. I heard a Pastor once say, “Your reason, will be your reward.” Rewards are good, right? Not necessarily, have you ever watched a debrief of any Hollywood awards show? You will always hear who was the best dress and the worst dressed. Looking back my reason in that terrible situation was not a positive one. My intent was good, I did everything in the name of love, but my reason, my actions, were not. My actions were motivated by fear. I experienced the fear of abandonment each time I came in contact with this certain individual. My fear ultimately provided my reward…that person eventually abandoning me.

The good news is, I have a soul scar, from that situation. A soul scar represents a healed situation (a testimony). Since then, I have approached all my relationships the same (Romans 2:11). We are instructed in one of our foundational scriptures to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Everyone is responsible for their actions. As Believers, we are set apart to talk and act differently than the world.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. – Romans 12:17-19

Ah, Beloved I can hear you now, “what if the person that hurt you was a Believer?” You are in good company then. Paul speaks a lot about relational disappointments in the ministry and Jesus had one of his closest friends betray Him. The closer the person is to you, the deeper the wound, but God can heal all wounds in time.

As a solider in the Army of the Living God, it is your mission to ensure that your soul wounds are cleansed in praise and wrapped in the anointing of prayer. We don’t have the luxury of staying wounded…yeah I know those things are polar opposites. A luxury is something of pleasure and a wound is something of pain – this the definition a stronghold, my friend! As Believers, we don’t have the “pleasure” of staying in pain like the rest of the world, because we have the One that is reconciling us to Himself daily. It is truly our choice to remain a wounded soldier, but where is the joy and testimony for the Lord in that?

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Are you in a situation today that is causing you both pleasure and pain?’
    • Describe the situation in detail
    • List the things that cause you the most pleasure
    • List the things that cause you the most pain
  • Set it aside for a few days.
  • Re-visit your lists during your devotional time with the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit for direction as to how to deal with this soul wound.
    • Write down what the Lord reveals to you. (Spoiler alert to your current mindset, it will be a challenge.)
    • Say out of your mouth that you “receive the answer” the Lord has provided to you.
    • Date your page and close your notebook

Change will not come overnight, if anything it will become harder before it becomes better (the devils MO to discourage you from the healing process). If you consistently renew your mind daily in the Word of God, change will come…not by your might, but by the power of the Lord within you.  Remember the Lord is with you in every trial/storm and you will get to the other side*.

We love hearing testimonies! If you need prayer or would like to brag on God a little, give us a shout!  – Prayer Requests/Testimonies

The Gift that never stops giving…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

John 14:15-27; 25-27 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Reflection:

As the glow of Christmas and New Year’s fade into our rear-view mirrors and the horizon of the 2019 stretches out in front of us; I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but feel a mix between exhaustion and expectation…like my glass is half full.

Christmas is my favorite day of the year! The remembrance of the birth of Christ, ushered in from eternity into time – God’s perfect gift of redemption. Though, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day can be a pressure cooker of emotions that climatically release, like fireworks on the thirty-first of December; the new year is also symbolic of a clean slate of possibility and opportunity.  What a fitting time to remember the birth of our Lord at the close of all things old and familiar; on the cusp of all things new. Although God’s gift to us has since left the earth (exited time back into eternity), He has left a part of Himself in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is truly the gift that never stops giving. An eternal present wrapped in the folds of time. Can a calendar really define the evolution that the Lord has brought in your life?

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”. 

– Lamentations 3:22-24

Instead of looking at 2019 through the same old earthly lens, look at it from an eternal perspective. Our days on this earth are numbered and our Lord Jesus can return at any time, either way you look at it, thinking from a calendar perspective is unacceptable. Instead we must exam ourselves on a moment to moment basis. Our thoughts…our words…our actions.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. – 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

God gave us His son and when He completed His assignment, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit. When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you invited the Holy Spirit to take residence in your heart. Spending time in prayer and meditating on the Word daily, will change your calendar view to an eternal view. We are the Body of Christ; our assignment is to touch any and everyone we meet for the Lord. So slow down in this new year, take the time to love on people whether they are loveable or not. Make your light shine for all to see, then you too will become a channel for the Gift that never stops giving.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Think back to the best gift that you ever received? Write down in detail, the event – how you felt, what did you do with the item, what ultimately happened to that gift – did you play/use it until it was all used up?
  • Think back to the first time you accepted the Lord into your heart? Write down in detail, the moment – the circumstances leading up to it, that moment, and then the days/weeks/months to follow.
  •  Now write down a vision – a life with no boundaries – what would you be doing?
    • Is that vision earthly or eternally purposed?
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you catch the vision that the Lord has for your life. More likely than not you are living far below your heavenly potential.

Remember Saints…

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

 

 

 

What is the point of china…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Matthew 25:1-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Reflection:

My husband and I have been together over fourteen years. As I dragged out our Christmas tots this year, I noticed yet again our “good” china still stacked up in moving boxes tucked in the back of the basement closet.  I asked myself, what is the point of china when we don’t use it?

I remembered the joy when registering for wedding gifts, one of the musts, was china. My husband and I like to host, but not in the formal way as to require china, but since it a something people register for when they get married, I signed us up.  Our family and friends were very generous with the gifts that were given and every piece of china we asked for we received.

Fast forward till now, we have moved twice and have hosted dozens of times over the years, but there hasn’t been an occasion (even Aunt Bunny’s 90th birthday party) that we pulled out this precious china.  So again…what is the point of china?

In our foundational scriptures, there were ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the Bridegroom. Five of them, stayed vigilant and prepared during the waiting period, while the other five got caught up in the day-to-day activities of life.  The Bridegroom came unexpectedly and the virgins that were ready, were the ones taken to the wedding.

The Lord, revealed to me the parallel between our wedding gifts and the anointing that is given to all Believers through the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, at that moment, the predestined plan of God is activated in our lives.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. – Romans 8:28-30

We have an obligation as vessels of the Lord to keep the oil of the anointing pure and fresh within us. Although, we may not feel like we are making a difference in the lives of those around us; if we stay vigilant in our daily prayer/devotional time, when the time arrives, and we are called upon by the Lord, we will be ready.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:19-21

I have purposed in my heart, in the upcoming year, to use our wedding china. There is no better time than the present to prepare for the coming of the Lord.  A formal gathering, to love on our family and friends independent of a calendar special day, is as unexpected as the arrival of the Bridegroom.  As we gather around the table this Christmas, remember the true reason for the season about all else.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Have you been putting off something in your life, waiting for the perfect moment?
  • What is your hesitation?
  • Has the Lord put on your heart a family member or friend this holiday season?
  • What is stopping you from reaching out?
  • What changes do you need to make in the new year to put you in a better position to hear from the Lord.
  • What are you willing to sacrifice to reach that goal?