Watch What You Say...

Psalm 91:2
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”
 
When a great storm arose as Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, He did not say to His disciples, “The storm is here to teach us courage.”  Instead, he took authority over the storm and said, “Please, be still!”  And there was a perfect calm (Mark 4:39)

When He met the widow of Nain whose only son had died, and on another occasion, the two sisters whose brother Lazarus had died, He didn’t tell them, “God wanted to take him home.”  No, He spoke to the dead son: “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  (Luke 7:14)  And standing outside Lazarus’ tomb, He said, “Lazarus, come forth!”  (John 11:43)  And both men came back to life.

What have you been saying about your situation?

When you feel the pain in your body, don’t say of the Lord, “God wants me sick to teach me to trust Him more.”  Instead, say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

While trying to make ends meet, don’t say of the Lord, “The Lord keeps me poor to keep me humble.”  Instead say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

And if you have an intimidating boss at work, don’t say, “The Lord is my patience, I will endure.”  Instead say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can mad do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

We are living in the last days when there are terrorist attacks and deadly viruses lurking around, and the world is afraid.  But we will not speak negative words and be fearful like the people of the world.  Instead, we will speak God’s Word and reign over these things.  Like the psalmist, we will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my god, in Him I will trust.”

So find out what God’s Word says about your situation, believe it and declare it.  And because God’s Word cannot return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), you will see what you believe!  So, confess (say) the Word of God and SEE it come to pass!  Hallelujah!

God Loves You and I Love You! Pastor Erwin

Turn Your Worries Into Prayers

Philippians 4:6
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

God doesn’t want you to fret, fear or be anxious.  Instead, He wants you to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

So when you have a care or worry, straightaway, turn that care or worry into prayer.  That is supplication.  And when you are troubled by a care or worry that you don’t know how to pray for, pray in the Spirit or tongues.  And in the midst of that prayer, thank God that He has already healed you, and has given you victory...that’s thanksgiving!

If I am worried about something, how long should I pray?  Keep on praying.  Pray in the Spirit until the worry lifts or dissipates, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

The one who prays in unimportant...that’s you!  But to whom prayer is made unto...that’s God!  True prayer is focused only on God, not on the one praying...again, that’s you!   Our prayer must be focused on God alone.  Prayer is God responding to us...not us responding, complaining and murmuring back to God!

If you focus on your needs and cares when you pray...and you do not focus on God...what is magnified are your needs and cares...not God!

Friends, our prayers must be based on the Living Word of God...and not on our words...if we pray with our own words, we are not praying...we’re just complaining to God.  remember Daniel who prayed to God and as he waited and fasted for 21 days...and angel appeared on the 21st day and told Daniel that when he prayed to God on the first day, God heard  his prayer and dispatched the angel right then and then...but the angel was “delayed” because he had to complete another assignment (from God) to fight the “enemy” (Daniel, chapters 9 and 10).  Trust that God heard your prayer (as long as you focus on God) the first time and you must wait for His answer...Remember that God’s delays are not His denials.  So, turn your worries into PRAYER with Purpose, Power, and Passion!

We Need But One Thing...

Proverbs 4:20-21
20My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  21Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;
 
George Muller, who lived in the 1800s, cared more than 2,000 orphans in his five large orphanages.  But he  never allowed his huge responsibility to take him away from the Word of God.  he said that every day, he would set aside time to study the scriptures until his inner man was happy in the Lord.

Once, Muller met a man who worked between 14 and 16 hours every day.  He told the man, “You are destroying your health.  you don’t have time for  your family and most importantly, you don’t have time to nourish your inner man with the Word of God.”

The man replied, “I hear you, but I can’t see how I can cut down my working hours and spend time win the Word because even with the 14 to 16 hours I put in each day, I still can’t pull enough bread on the table for my family.”

As the man walked away, Muller said, “He doesn’t believe that if he gives time to God’s Word first, God will take care of all his needs.”

Likewise, do you really believe that every day, we need but one thing?  Even if the bills don’t get paid, the children are not making any headway in their studies and the office work is not completed, all these things can wait.  We Need But One Thing - that we spend time in the Word of God.

When Martha complained to Jesus that her sister Mary had left her to serve alone (Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing His Word), Jesus defended Mary by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Friends, you will not lose out when you take time to sit down and listen to God’s Word.  Even your health and well-being will be blessed.  (Proverbs 4:22)  So take time today to meditate on His Word.  It will make your way prosperous (Joshua 1:8-9), and give you divine health and good success!  So, be diligent in ONE THING...the Word of God!

God Loves You and I Love You! Pastor Erwin