Category: Self-control

If you follow the Holy Spirit, there will be a pop quiz…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Luke 4:1-13 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit for (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry.

Then the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf [of bread]. And Jesus replied to him, it is written*, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God.

*[A physical temptation scenario]

Then the devil took Him up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time [in the twinkling of an eye]. And he said to Him, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will. Therefore, if You will do homage to and worship me [just once], it shall all be Yours.

And Jesus replied to him, Get behind Me, Satan! It is written**, you shall do homage to and worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.

**[An idol temptation scenario]

Then he took Him to Jerusalem and set Him on a gable of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you to guard and watch over you closely and carefully; and on their hands, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. And Jesus replied to him, [The Scripture] says***, you shall not tempt (try, test exceedingly) the Lord your God.

***[A prideful temptation scenario]

And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.

Reflection:

When I was in school I use to dislike pop quizzes. For a person like myself that wanted to be prepared for every test, pop quizzes left me feeling ill-equipped.  I never really missed class or had any outstanding homework, but the simple fact that I didn’t know the date and the time that my knowledge was going to be tested, I always felt that was unfair and not a true representation of my knowledge. What is wrong with that thought process, Saints?

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

When Jesus was lead into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, the devil harassed Him for forty days (V2), but didn’t come to speak with Jesus until He was depleted of all human resistance. Isn’t that just like a coward?  Then and only then, did the Lord allow the devil to administer a “pop quiz”.

First the enemy of our souls, suggested a physical temptation scenario.  Physical temptations can take the form of an immediate and present threat to your physical life or your loved ones; a threat to your livelihood; and/or a threat to your generational inheritance. Next the devil suggested an idol temptation scenario.  Idol temptations can take the form of people and/or things that we place in a more important position in our hearts than the Lord – good or bad intentions, it is an indication our priorities are out of whack.  The final scenario was a prideful temptation.  The devil uses “it is written”, an indication that he was acknowledging Jesus’s knowledge of the Word.  However, knowledge of the Word is not enough to overcome this temptation, it is only by abiding with the Lord habitually that we can all respond like Jesus did in wisdom and in truth.  Prideful temptations come only when we as Saints believe that we have arrived in our walk with God.  Doesn’t the Bible explicitly say – the pride comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18)?   One’s over confidence in the things of the Spirit is an indication that there are still some blind spots in your spiritual sight lines (Romans 11:25).        

As Believers, we are not only preparing in prayer for the known, but we also should be preparing for the unknown. As we praise, we are not praising for only the current difficult circumstances, but for the unknown manifestations of grace that are about to break forth on the horizon.  Staying in a perpetual state of readiness is what is going to aid you through the storms of life, because let’s face it, storms don’t give us any warning and at times, can be relentless.  It is in these times, we must have the Word sown so deep within us, fully persuaded in truth, that the waves/circumstances around us must lay down and be muzzled.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14

Jesus said it Himself that there will be trials and tribulations, but He has overcome the world for us (John 16:33).  The word “world” in this scripture, doesn’t really leave anything left for you to do, but to praise Him for what He has already done.

Don’t ever be discouraged in your wilderness season; don’t be dismayed when the Lord allows for a test to be administered; and certainly, don’t look around at your circumstances as nothing more than a temporal landscape. You are being tested because what you “know” is being challenged to make room for more of what you have yet to know.  Embrace each obstacle through praise and worship and watch the devil flee every single time!    

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Think back to a wilderness season in your life. What were the challenges that you faced (i.e. physical, mental, etc.)?
  • What series of events lead you into that isolated place with the Holy Spirit?
  • What series of events lead you out of that isolated place with the Holy Spirit?
  • What is your testimony having gone through that storm?
  • How has that season prepared you for your current season?

Beloved, when you get tempted to quit in your wilderness…think back to your lowest valley prior to this…be grateful that you are not there, but here and that you know that the Lord is working on moving you from here to another victory … very soon your “here” will be a distant memory just like your “there”…just hold on and keep looking up and out to the Lord.

When praising doesn’t make sense…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

James 1:2-4 New King James (NKJV)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Hebrews 13:15 New King James (NKJV)

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

1 Peter 4:16 New King James (NKJV)

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

Reflection:

Have you ever been so mad that you felt like your head would pop? The last thing one thinks about at that time is praising God. Instead we want to talk about the issue with a friend, prepare a pre-meditated response the next time we come across that situation. Anger, similarly to sadness or hopeless are jarring emotions that draw us out of the spiritual realm into the natural.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:8 whoever sows to their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Along those same lines, my pastor shared a great quote recently with the congregation: “If Satan can keep you in the sense realm he will destroy you, but if you keep him in the faith realm we will keep him under our feet.”  At the time the quote went off in my spirit like a bomb.  Not realizing, the Lord was preparing me for the upcoming. That week turned out to be very challenging on multiple fronts.  The Holy Spirit knew and that is why it had such an impact on me when I initially heard it.  With my daily devotionals, I was able to stay in rest despite what was going on around me.

When waves of emotion start crashing against your soul the only solace we have is the Word of God. It is very counter intuitive to the flesh to praise, when all you feel like doing is screaming; praise, when all you feel like doing is crying; or praise, when all you feel like doing is ignoring the situation.  Screaming, crying, or ignoring will only keep you in bondage.  The Lord inhabits the praises of His people.  Think about it for a minute, praising Him through words or songs breaks the bonds keeping you in the sense realm and transfers you back into the faith realm. That alone should have you shouting right now! There is power in praise and worship.  Don’t ever let the devil steal your praise.  In James 3:10 it says, out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  Praise is the fuel that drives you towards victory every time.  What a better witness for Christ, by responding to people and situations in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.  So the next time you feel like your head is going to pop, take a deep breath in and exhale out the emotion that is trying to over take your spirit and praise the Lord instead.

The only way to truly be thankful is to have lost something.

Praise the Lord.

The only way to truly be grateful is to have lived through something.

Praise the Lord.

The only way to truly be humble is to have a testimony to share with some on the other side.

Praise the Lord.

Live each day as if it were your last; listen with compassion; and love unconditionally like our Lord has taught us to.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Sit down and honestly reflect on the individuals and/or situations that “push your buttons”
  • Present your list to the Lord and ask Him what emotion(s) is drawing you way from Him.
  • The next time you find yourself feeling “fleshly”, make it a point to pause and praise yourself from under that emotional bondage.
  • Repeat this exercise often.

Distraction Free Zone

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Psalm 46:10-11 King James Version (KJV)

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Exodus 3:5 New International Version (NIV)

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Exodus 14:13-14 King James Version (KJV)

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Reflection:

The silence is deafening…I don’t know about you, but daily meditation on the Word of God is a workout in-and-of itself. It doesn’t matter the time of day, when it gets quiet, that is when my mental to-do list starts rolling.  I have a million and one things that I am thinking about at any given moment.  Always…always with a sinking feeling that I am forgetting something when things are running too smoothly.  Can you relate?

So, with one’s mind always conducting an audit, how can we really focus in on what the Lord is telling us? Although these things at some point needs to get done, it is not as important as the daily instructions we receive from the Lord (whether we are listening or not) that is getting drowned out by this constant mental dialogue. As a result, the only way to obtain these daily instructions is shut off the mind and focus in more on what the Holy Spirit is saying.  How?

For me, it has been going old school-limiting electronics during my devotional time. Years ago, I started using my phone for playing worship music or looking up scripture quickly – all good things.  At the same time, there were text messages, emails, and task reminders.  Recognizing the distraction, I shifted back to a regular digital clock for time management; I now use CD or MP3 players for worship; and lastly, a pad of paper for study notes and then a different smaller pad of paper for thoughts that pop up that is not related to the task at hand.  I went so far as breaking out my concordance for looking up scriptures.

Making these slight adjustments has “slowed down” my devotional time. For example, instead of looking it up on my phone, I take time to finding the scripture that the Lord puts on my heart in my concordance – it makes the process more methodical and I get so much more out of the seeking process.  Don’t get me wrong, outside my devotional time quick look ups are essential to get me through the day.  However, our daily communion time with the Lord should be treated a little differently… essentially a distraction free zone.

Like Abraham approaching the burning bush in Exodus, saints, we should treat our devotional time with the Lord as a sacred time and space. Despite the distractions, always strive to create this atmosphere of habitation with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, you will never be disappointed.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Identify things/habits that may be disturbing your devotional time.
  • Think of ways that you can minimize these distractions – it may require a sacrifice on your part.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you with this process.
  • Periodically audit your devotional time to make sure you are putting first things first.

 

Clean Slate

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Lamentations 3:22-23 King James Version (KJV)

Not is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Romans 12:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Reflection:

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall…I love all seasons for different reasons. Winter, is seen as the season of rest and waiting. Spring, the season of new birth.  Summer, the season of fulfillment.  And then Fall, a natural firework in all its colorful glory, celebrating a cycle well done.

I particularly love Spring for the simple fact that all things in nature that seemed “dead”, come alive again. Although it is a long-term example in the Lord, we can look at this cycle of the seasons in our lives in the short term.  New years have the promise of greatness to come, but it is what we do with our time that will determine if the landscape of our lives remain the same or it changes.  You can’t get anywhere you haven’t been without directions. We have an opportunity to recalibrate every day of our lives.  If we approach life on an incremental/compartmentalized basis, when we get to days like the first of the year or your birthday, you can look back and see all the miracles and testimonies that have happened along the way.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • *Set a small goal for each area of your life (spiritual, personal, family, career, etc.)
  • Search for a promise in the Word that supports that goal. Commit your list to the Lord.
  • What has helped me in the past is finding an accountability buddy. You can help each other stay on track.
  • Keep it up, you can do it! All of us here at Prayer Warriors Advance would love to hear your testimonies throughout the year as to how faithful our Lord has been to you.

*This may take the month of January to complete.

TV is like quick sand…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Ecclesiastes 1:8 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Words cannot fully explain things, but people continue speaking. Words come again and again to our ears, but our ears don’t become full. And our eyes don’t become full of what we see. 

Proverbs 27: 20 New King James Version (NKJV)

Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Reflection:

My husband and I have two different approaches to TV. He likes it on, even if it is just for back ground noise, whereas I like it quiet.  I remember when you waited all week for a specific show to come on and then when that show was done, off went the TV.  Now a days there are cable and satellite packages that have hundreds of channels to surf through. Granted some of them could be duplicates, but by the time you get to it you don’t notice the repetition.  It doesn’t matter what is on the TV, it calls its viewers to the screen, like a siren to the rocky cove.  Don’t get me wrong like the internet there is some valuable information that can be communicated via the TV, however it is all the other stuff that comes across that lulls some into an unproductive stupor.

I speak for myself when I say I have way too much to do around the house – hobbies and house work to be bogged down by sensory overload. I get more accomplished on a given evening when we come in and don’t turn on any TV than when my husband puts it on first thing as a way for him to unwind from his day.  The issue is that this pass time gives the elusion that things can wait, while you relax from your day.  Instead it is like quicksand, the more you try to accomplish with it on, the less motivated you become to keep moving and ultimately abandon your task to watch your favorite episode of Friends for the 100th time.  In our opening passages in the Bible warns us about our eye gates that if we don’t guard them, they will turn around and rule our behavior. I sincerely believe this is the issue young and older individuals alike when it comes to things like video games or pornography.  It starts off as something that is fun, a manageable activity then before the person knows it; they have sunk so far down into the quicksand that they can’t mentally/physically get out.  Thank God for His Word, in 1 Corinthians 10:13 it reads,  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. You may lead a sedentary life style, pinned up and trapped in by your desires and temptations; however the Word is that branch that if you reach out and grab hold will get you out of the deepest pits and put you back on solid ground.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • What are your biggest temptations or time burners?
  • Determine in your heart that you will leave unproductive cycles in 2017 and look ahead to a totally different 2018
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you gradually release and abandon these temptations.

Play back the tape…

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Matthew 12:35-37 King James Version (KJV)

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Reflection:

I few years ago, I started really watching my words. I have never been big on curse words so that was easy to cut out whatever remained.  However, it became harder for phrases like “we can’t afford that” or “your being dramatic” or “so and so is an idiot”.  Re-read the opening passage again. Pause and think about that for a second….in the day of judgment the Lord is going to read back through the transcript of your life.  Every single word good and bad will be looked at….every single word.  That includes gossip, outburst of frustration, self-righteous talk the list goes on and on.

Thank God for his mercy and grace and that Jesus left the Holy Spirit to convict us when we say and do things not quite right. Don’t get convict confused with condemn….the devil will whisper to you that you have messed up too many times and the Lord won’t forgive you this time. The Holy Sprit convicts us so that we can change our behavior so that we can be a better witness for the Lord.  However if we choose to become dull to these promptings or have delayed responses then not only are we faulty witnesses for Christ, we are blocking our own blessings.  God has so much in store for you Beloved.  The Bible says, In 1 Corinthians 2:9 –  But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  If you are not living up to this promise in the Bible then you maybe blocking your own blessing.  Don’t look for someone to blame, if the same cycle of events with people and situations keep happening it is good chance that it is you and your words keeping in a pit.  Don’t wait for eternity, play back the tape on your life each and every day.   

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • List events in your life that seem to keep happening. Things that get you upset, things that get you sad, things that get you frustrated, etc.
  • Write out for each thing without a filter what you think would resolve the issue/situation. Put the list away for a week.
  • Re-read your list and explanations. Do you still agree with everything you have written?
  • Present your list to the Holy Spirit. Does He convict you on any of your statements? If so ask Him to help you break that negative cycle.

 

Weeds, weeds, everywhere….

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Scriptural Foundation:

Luke 8:5-8 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

A farmer went out to sow seed. While he was scattering the seed, some of it fell beside the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it all. 6 Other seed fell on rock. It began to grow but then died because it had no water. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. This seed grew, but later the weeds stopped the plants from growing. 8 The rest of the seed fell on good ground. This seed grew and made 100 times more grain.”

Jesus finished the story. Then he called out, “You people who hear me, listen!”

 Luke 8: 14 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

“What about the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That is like the people who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life stop them from growing. So they never produce a crop.

Reflection:

In or around the second week in June, it never fails, every year our front yard overnight becomes over run with weeds. It is like time and space speeds up in a blink of an eye.  Our subdivision was built in the middle of a forest…that is a romantic idea…until we bagged about thirty plus bags of leaves our first fall.  One moment the trees are budding and the next moment my husband and I are dragging many big bags of weeds to the curb…and that is just the front yard.  This past year it was the worst, because it was our first year since we purchased this home a couple of years ago that we’re clearing out the gutters….did I mention that we lived in a forest…. There was so much debris that were in the gutters, but the worst one was one in the front of the house…the one that inspired this post.

I looked up one day and saw tall weeds growing in gutter! When my husband climbed up there, he found that the gutter was overflowing with soil…basically a make shift flower basket.  It was evident that this particular gutter hadn’t been cleaned out for several seasons.  The Lord spoke to my heart and said “My children maintain their hearts like you do your yard.”  Well since, we do weeding about twice over the spring and summer months, He got my attention.  As with everything, I asked Him to give me a scripture. The Holy Spirit brought me to Luke’s gospel. As Believers, we have an obligation as ambassadors for Christ to main a constant connection with the Lord.  Similar to the constant care one need to have when maintaining flower beds in ones yard……sure, you can get by a couple of weeks without weeding, however eventually it will affect the appearance of your yard or in the spirit realm your witnessing for Christ.  Suddenly it takes you twice as long to clean up/catch up, than just doing a little bit daily.  Due to exhaustion, frustration, impatience or all of the above at some point we may look to cut corners to get the faster results. From afar the yard (aka our lives) looks good, but at close observations looks rough at untidy. The Lord is calling for all of us to take an assessment of our hearts and pluck out anything that is not beneficial to the advancement of the Kingdom.  Will that mean that you have to be more attentive in your daily walk…yes!  However, I promise you your life will never be the same.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Ask the Holy Spirit to identify what areas of your life are over run with weeds.
  • Think back, how did things get into this state?
  • Ask the Holy Spirit what you can do in these areas to better maintain your spiritual walk/witness.

Got Salt?

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation: 

Matthew 5:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

Reflection:

Every season of your life, provides the seasoning for your life’s purpose. Think about that! When cooking seasoning by itself doesn’t taste that great, you’re not going to eat a bowl full of onions are you?  However seasonings applied to meat or vegetables in concert together taste amazing.  The same is true about life…this season in your life may not be the most favorable memory, but it will provide a better life for you and your family having gone through it.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your note book.

  • List every area in your life (i.e. Relationship with the Lord, husband, kids, home, work, study group, etc)
  • In the reflection we mentioned meat (aka dying to self – dead flesh) and vegetables (aka – raw resources/situations the Lord puts in your path). Identify the items on your list as a meat or vegetable.
  • Present your list to the Lord, ask Him where you have lost your flavor and then for those items ask Him to restore its flavor for the sake of the Kingdom.

 

 

 

 

 

Advance

Posted on by Prayer Warriors Advance, LLC

Scriptural Foundation:

Philippians 2:21-23 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

For the others all seek [to advance] their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  But Timothy’s tested worth you know, how as a son with his father he has toiled with me zealously in [serving and helping to advance] the good news (the Gospel). I hope therefore to send him promptly, just as soon as I know how my case is going to turn out.

1 Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

Reflection:

Continuing with our theme of definitions for the words that make up our name and what this body of Believers encompasses – we come to the word – advance. The definition of advance: to move forward in a purposeful way; to move forward in time; make or cause to make progress.  It is not enough anymore to know we are battle in the spirit realm.  Your assignment as a Prayer Warrior is to stay vigilant in prayer and thanksgiving at all times looking for any and all opportunities to spread the good news of the Gospel to everyone you come in contact with.

The Word of God calls us to renew our mind daily. Why is that important? We need to stand in the gap for our country, local government, home church, and home front in prayer.  We can bring hope to the hopeless and can change the atmosphere of our mission fields (home, work, school, etc.).  Each day we should be looking for opportunity to advance and take back territory from the kingdom of this world.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

  • Ask the Holy Spirit to show areas in your life that you need to cover in prayer. Make no room for the enemy and watch how your prayer life will take off.\
  • Once you have covered your home front ask Him to show areas in your interactions outside the home that you can advance the Kingdom of God. Walk in the light that you have and watch God move mountains.