Tag: #spiritualwarrior

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The Active Watcher

Jeremiah 1:12 — “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.”

Throughout this series, God Revealed through Women, we have been looking at how God makes His character known through the lives and stories of women in Scripture. We have seen Him as the God of Beauty, the One who provides Covering, and the God of Justice. Each story reveals another facet of who He is and how He works in the world through ordinary people entrusted with extraordinary moments.

In the story of Miriam, we encounter another dimension of God’s nature — the God who actively watches over His word to perform it. Through the quiet faithfulness of a young girl who watched, listened, and stood ready, we see that God is not distant from His promises. He is attentive, intentional, and faithful to bring about what He has spoken.

She watched as her mother wove the basket that would become an ark for her little baby brother. As she watched her mother’s fingers work steadily, she thought of another ark built to save lives and preserve God’s word to the human race — “I will send a deliverer through the seed of the woman.”

As she watched, she remembered overhearing her parents speak of how the Lord’s favor was upon this baby and that there was a great work for him to do. She watched her parents fearlessly disobey Pharaoh’s command to surrender all baby boys to death in the River Nile. She heard their plans to use the very thing ordained as an instrument of death as the instrument of salvation for her baby brother.

Just like the story of Noah and the great flood, the same waters that would destroy many would carry him to a place of new life and victory.

She watched and she listened.

Finally, the day came when her baby brother was to be placed on the River Nile. She watched as her mother wrapped him carefully in his blanket and laid him in the ark. She accompanied her mother to the river and watched her gently place the ark among the reeds.

Her mother left with tears streaming down her cheeks.

But she stayed.

She watched — alert, expectant.

Then she saw an important woman bathing by the river, surrounded by her servants. The woman paused in confusion, looking around, listening, waiting. Her gaze settled on an object — the ark.

She watched as the woman pointed toward it and gave instructions. The servants quickly retrieved the ark and brought it to their mistress. She watched as the woman opened it and lifted her baby brother out.

She saw the look of compassion and wonder on the woman’s face and knew — the waters had carried her baby brother into his new life, his God-appointed life.

Quickly she ran to the woman and asked, “Do you want me to fetch one of the Hebrew mothers? She can nurse the baby for you.”

Though startled, the woman agreed.

Years later, she watched again — this time as her baby brother, now eighty years old, returned as God’s deliverer for their people.

The story of little Miriam gives us a portrait of how God actively watches over His word to perform it in our lives. He does not merely speak a word or send a word; He watches over it. No strategy, device, weapon, or assignment of the adversary can stop the word God is watching over. That word will find its rightful place. That word will connect with the right people. That word will come to pass.

The story of little Miriam gives us a living picture of what it means when God says He is watching over His word to perform it. He does not simply speak and step back. He stays attentive. He watches. He moves. He aligns circumstances, people, and timing so that what He has spoken finds its way into fulfillment.

Just as in the days of Noah, when God instructed him to build an ark to preserve life through the waters of judgment, we see that same pattern again in Moses’ story. The Nile was meant to be a place of death. Pharaoh had decreed it so. Yet the very waters that were meant to destroy became the pathway that carried God’s promise into preservation.

The waters did not have the final say — God’s word did.

For Noah, the flood carried him into a new beginning. For Moses, the river carried him into the household where he would be prepared for his calling. In both stories, the ark became the place where God’s word was protected, and the waters became the avenue that moved His purposes forward.

This is what happens when God watches over His word. What looks like an ending becomes transition. What looks like threat becomes transport. What looks like loss becomes positioning.

No strategy of man, no decree of rulers, no assignment of the enemy can overturn what God has spoken. The environment may look hostile, the circumstances uncertain, but God is actively ensuring that His word reaches its appointed destination.

His word is alive and full of power, making it active, operative, energizing, and effective…. (Hebrews 4:12, AMPC). It will find the right place. It will connect with the right people. It will accomplish what He intends.

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? — numbers 23: 19, NKJV

So today, like Jochebed and Amram, we are invited to reject fear and trust the word God has spoken over our lives.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.—Hebrews 11:23, KJV

 Like Miriam, we are invited to watch with expectancy, believing that even the waters we fear may become the very path God uses to carry us into His promise.

Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” — Jeremiah 1:12, AMPC.

Reflection Questions

  1. Where in my life do I need to trust that God is actively watching over His word, even when circumstances feel uncertain or threatening?
  2. What step of faith might God be inviting me to take today, trusting that He is working behind the scenes to bring His promises to pass?

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You that You are not distant or passive, but alert and active, watching over Your word to perform it. Help me to trust You when I cannot see the outcome and to remain watchful with faith rather than fear. Strengthen my heart to obey You with courage, knowing that no plan of the enemy can overturn what You have spoken. Teach me to rest in Your faithfulness and to believe that every promise You have given will find its fulfillment in Your perfect timing. Amen.

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God Revealed Through Women

In the last post, From Preservation to Promise: Held by Jehovah, we paused with Micah’s piercing question:

“Who is a God like unto You…?” (Micah 7:18)

It is not a question asked for information, but for revelation. It invites us to behold God—not merely to describe Him, but to be transformed by knowing Him.

As we explored Psalms 23, 27, and 127, we listened closely for the psalmist’s testimony and found ourselves repeating those sacred declarations: The Lord is…

Shepherd.

Light.

Refuge.

Builder.

Keeper.

Yet Scripture never allows us to stop at revelation alone. Every unveiling of who God is presses us toward a deeper understanding of who we are. This is where we must begin this new journey.

A Crisis of Identity—and a Biblical Answer

We are living in a time that could rightly be described as a crisis of identity. Across cultures, generations, ethnicities, and genders, humanity is asking the same ancient question:

Who am I?

Old and young. Eastern and Western. Male and female alike are searching for meaning, belonging, and purpose. Yet Scripture consistently offers a clear starting point: identity is never discovered in isolation from God. From the opening pages of Genesis, we are told:

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness…’ So God created mankind in His own image… male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27)

The only way to truly know who we are is to first know whose we are. The more clearly we see God, the more clearly we see ourselves. The more we understand who He is, the more courage we gain to embrace who we are—and where we are—within His purposes.

Identity Formed Through Revelation

This pattern is woven throughout Scripture.

David’s life testifies to it. His confidence, courage, repentance, and perseverance were not rooted in self-awareness alone, but in intimacy with God. Because David knew the Lord, he came to understand who he was, what he could endure, and what he could accomplish by grace.

Peter’s story echoes the same truth. When he declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus immediately revealed something back to him: “You are Peter…” (Matthew 16:16–18). Revelation of Christ produced revelation of identity. This is always God’s way.

Introducing a New Series: God Revealed Through Women

This year, I am beginning a series of women-centered studies—not to elevate women above men, but to recover something Scripture has always held: women’s lives reveal God. Through their encounters with Him, their obedience, their courage, and even their suffering, we see facets of God’s character and His redemptive purposes for humanity.

In this series, we will explore women in the biblical narrative and ask two essential questions:

  1. What does this woman’s story reveal about God?
  2. What does it teach us about who we are—and how we are to live in our generation?

Some of the themes we will explore include:

  • Skin Deep — The God of Beauty
     A study of how God delights in beauty, creates beauty, and uses beauty for His glory. From the daughters of men in Genesis 6 to Sarah, Rebekah, Esther, and others, we will examine how beauty—when rightly stewarded—can function as an equipping for divine purpose.
  • Covered — The God Who Provides Covering.  Looking at the daughters-in-law of Noah and how God, in His mercy, provides relational coverings in seasons of judgment, transition, and impending destruction.
  • The God of Justice—Through the daughters of Zelophehad and Deborah, we will see how God responds to righteous appeals, honors courage, and advances justice through women willing to stand.
  • Builders—Examining women such as Sheerah and the daughters of Shallum, whose stories remind us that God entrusts women with the work of building—cities, legacies, and futures.
  • Keepers of Faith—From little Miriam to the servant girl in Naaman’s household, we will see how faithfulness in obscurity becomes a conduit for healing and deliverance.
  • And much more….


Crowned With Purpose

The psalmist declares:

“You have crowned them with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:5)

Paul affirms this truth even further:

“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God planned beforehand for us.” (Ephesians 2:10, AMPC)

To live an entire life without discovering those works—or daring to walk in them—is a profound loss. 

Scripture reminds us that these accounts were not preserved merely as history:

“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us…” (Romans 15:4, EASY)

“These things occurred as examples for us…” (1 Corinthians 10:6a)

They were written so that we might learn, endure, hope—and live with purpose.


Serving God’s Purpose in Our Generation

My prayer is that each of our lives would echo the testimony of Scripture:

“David served God’s purpose in his own generation…” (Acts 13:36, CEB)

And like Jesus, we might say:

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” (John 4:34, NIV)

This series is an invitation—to look again at God, to see ourselves rightly, and to step fully into the work prepared for us. Walk with me as we uncover these stories together—and discover anew who God is, who we are, and why we are here.

Reflection Questions

  1. How has your understanding of who God is shaped—or limited—your understanding of who you are?

  2. Which biblical women have most impacted your faith, and what do their stories reveal about God’s nature?

  3. Are there aspects of your identity or calling that God may be inviting you to rediscover through Scripture?

  4. What “good works” do you sense God may have prepared for you in this season of your life?

  5. What would it look like for you to intentionally serve God’s purpose in your generation?

Call to Action

As we begin this series, I invite you to do three things:

  1. Read intentionally. Return to the stories of women in Scripture with fresh eyes—not just to learn about them, but to encounter God through them.

  2. Reflect prayerfully. Ask the Lord to reveal what He wants you to see about Himself—and about yourself.

  3. Respond courageously. Do not settle for admiration alone. Allow revelation to move you toward obedience, purpose, and faithful action.

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From Miriam to Christmas: Prophetic Song

This morning, as I sat in the quiet of my devotional time with the Holy Spirit, the Lord opened my eyes to a truth I had never seen before—the truth of prophetic worship, its origin, and its profound relevance to my life today. I was drawn into the story of Exodus 15:1–20, and what I saw there reshaped my understanding of how God channels revelation and secures victory through song.

Moses’ Song of Deliverance

In this passage, Moses and the Israelites had just witnessed God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army had been defeated, and the people were on the other side of liberation, both physically and spiritually. Exodus 15:1 opens with: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD…” 

Moses responded to God’s deliverance with a song, a declaration of God’s power, faithfulness, and deliverance. The people sang with him, echoing the words of triumph and testimony.

Moses’ song is declarative and revelatory. It functions as prophetic proclamation—a theological narration of what God has done, who He is, and what He will yet do. Moses is doing what prophets always do: declaring divine truth. Importantly, Moses is not described as leading the people into worship. There is no mention of instruments, movement, or call-and-response. The people sing with Moses, not under his direction. Moses’ song is prophecy spoken in poetic form, not worship facilitated as a communal practice.

Miriam Initiates Prophetic Worship

Then something extraordinary happens. The narrative shifts decisively in verses 20–21: “Then Miriam the prophetess… took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her… and Miriam answered them…”

Here, Scripture explicitly links her prophetic identity, musical instrumentation, communal leadership, and responsive worship.The verb “answered” (ʿānâ)  indicates call-and-response. Miriam is not declaring theology about God; she is leading the people to proclaim it themselves. This is a different prophetic function.

Miriam, inspired by the Holy Spirit, transforms Moses’ song into prophetic worship. She initiates a dynamic expression of revelation that could be felt, remembered, and passed down.

The Evolution of Prophetic Worship

Miriam is not the first prophet to use poetry. She is the first prophet to be  explicitly named as such while leading worship. She is the first to channel prophecy through music, rhythm, and communal response and to establish worship as a means of remembrance and formation. Her ministry creates a pattern, not just a moment; a pattern that inaugurated a prophetic ministry form—one that Scripture later develops, preserves, and institutionalizes.

By the time of David, prophetic worship evolved into a structured, civic ministry. David himself prophesied through song (the book of Psalms). Later, he formalizes and institutionalizes the practice: David appoints Levites, assigns shifts, and creates a system where worship and song (with instruments) serve as a national vehicle of remembrance and prophecy. What Miriam initiated, David formalized and institutionalized.

Generational Impact Through Song

This legacy continued through generations. The ministry David established did not end with him. It was preserved through prophetic families.

Scripture references Asaph and his sons, Heman and his sons, and other families such as the sons and daughters of Jeduthun as prophets and seers. Asaph’s psalms function as national correction and covenant reminder. Heman is described as a seer, and notably, his prophetic household includes sons and daughters (1 Chr. 25:5–6). Jeduthun’s lineage prophesies through thanksgiving and praise.

They carried the ministry of prophetic worship forward, using instruments and song to channel revelation for their communities over multigenerational lines. Song became more than music—it became a strategy for transmitting God’s word and preserving spiritual memory.

Prophetic Song in the Christmas Story

Fast forward to the advent, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we see the same principle at work. Revelation is channeled through song surrounding His birth. Zechariah sings declaring the purpose and destiny of Jesus (Luke 1:68–79). Mary lifts her voice in a prophetic song that announces God’s mercy and the reversal of worldly power (Luke 1:46–55). The angels, appearing to the shepherds, break forth in song to herald the Savior’s arrival (Luke 2:13–14). From Miriam to Mary, from David to the angels, song is a conduit for prophecy and divine truth.

Song as a Strategy for Memory and Deliverance

As I meditated on the evolution of prophetic worship, I realized that channeling revelation through song—putting God’s words/prophecy  to music—is a strategy that can work for us today. Scientific research confirms what Scripture illustrates: words set to music are retained longer in memory than words spoken alone. Song allows us to internalize revelation, embed promises, and hold fast to God’s identity and calling in our lives. When we sing over ourselves, our families, and our communities, we create spiritual DNA—a memory that can endure across generations.

Practical Ways to Embrace Prophetic Worship This Christmas

This is yet another strategy initiated by an ezer—a helper, a strong supporter, a prophetess in action—that we can adopt in our lives. As we celebrate Christmas and sing carols that have been passed down through centuries, let us also consider creating our own songs, putting to music the revelations God has given us. These songs can preserve tools of deliverance, celebration, and memory for years to come.

This Christmas, I want to encourage you to embrace prophetic song as more than background music or a seasonal tradition. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Declare His faithfulness aloud. Take a verse or a truth about Jesus’ birth and sing it in your own words. Let it flow naturally from your heart.

  2. Sing over your family and future generations. As Miriam’s song carried legacy, allow your worship to declare blessings and victory over those who will come after you.

  3. Use song as a reminder of deliverance. Recall moments when God has intervened in your life, and turn them into melody—this cements His faithfulness in your memory.

  4. Create a daily habit this season. Even a few minutes each day of singing or humming prophetic truths can reset your atmosphere and invite revelation.

Sing not only for joy but for deliverance. Sing not only for today but to pass on the knowledge of your identity and the promises of God for generations to come. Let every note be a declaration of hope, a vessel for prophecy, and a tool for remembrance. 

Have a song-filled Christmas!

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Speaking Strength to Your Own Soul

“I have done it again — fallen into the trap of negative self-talk, speaking from a place of fear rather than faith, believing the lies of my own emotions, and allowing them to script the narrative instead of submitting to the truth of God’s Word.”

Self-talk, in the natural sense, is the internal way we interpret, rehearse, and respond to life’s circumstances. But our words are more than reflections of thought; they are vehicles of spirit — carriers capable of transporting either life or death. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

For the regenerated believer — the one hosting the Spirit of God — self-talk becomes more than psychological; it becomes prophetic. In John 6:63, Jesus says, “The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” When we speak under the influence of His Spirit, our words carry that same life-giving essence. Spirit-led self-talk releases the restorative power of the Holy Spirit into the places where strength has been depleted.

Isaiah 50:4 declares, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” When our inner conversation aligns with God’s Word, our soul becomes a sanctuary — a place where strength is renewed and divine direction is restored.

Spirit-led self-talk is powerful. It is the speech of a soul regenerated by Christ, a vessel hosting the Holy Spirit, a tongue trained to speak a word to the weary — and sometimes, the weary one is you.

Scripture reinforces this practice of speaking to oneself as a means of securing and renewing strength. Consider David at Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1–7). When his men spoke of stoning him, he did not wait for external affirmation. Instead, he “encouraged himself in the Lord.” That word encouraged means strengthened. Before he prayed, he spoke strength to his soul. I believe he reminded himself of who God had been, and in doing so, he found the strength to reach for the ephod — strength to pray, strength to move, strength to continue.

I am also reminded of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7:3–5. Trapped between famine and fear, they spoke to themselves: “Why sit we here until we die?” Their words were not lofty prayers, but they were catalytic. Their self-talk generated momentum. Their internal dialogue infused enough courage into their weakened bodies to move toward deliverance.

My mind then turns to the Psalms, where David frequently addresses his own soul. His words are windows into sanctified self-talk:

  • “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God” (Psalm 42:5).

  • “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:1–2).

  • “My soul shall make her boast in the Lord” (Psalm 34:2).

  • “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2).

This form of speech is not denial — it is the stewardship of strength and the discipleship of the inner man. David commands his emotions to align with eternal truth so that his words can follow suit.

Psalm 77:6 offers a glimpse of this sacred internal dialogue:

“I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.”

This is divine introspection — talking oneself back into alignment with God’s promises.

Pouring Fresh Strength Into the Emotional Space

Words that wounded once found a home in us because they were hosted — given room, rehearsed, and believed. But healing words can be hosted too.

The Spirit of God invites us to make our hearts a dwelling place for truth. When we rehearse His promises, speak what He speaks, and declare His character over our circumstances, His Word begins to pour fresh strength into depleted spaces.

Friends, this is how we speak strength to our own soul. Self-talk rooted in Scripture is not empty affirmation; it is prophetic recall. Part of the stewardship of strength is choosing words that restore rather than words that drain. The right word, spoken at the right time — even when spoken to ourselves — carries restorative power.

Reflection Questions

  1. What internal narratives have you been rehearsing that drain rather than restore your strength?

  2. Which Scriptures can you begin speaking over your own soul to counter emotional depletion?

  3. How can you cultivate a rhythm of Spirit-led self-talk throughout your day?

  4. What would it look like to intentionally host healing words rather than wounded ones in your emotional space?

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Give Thanks!

“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

Every morning as the sun rises, every time the rain falls, every time an animal deposits its waste on the ground (soil), and every time the weight of a bee settles on a flower, it is an opportunity for that plant to receive what it needs to grow and multiply. To some, the heat of the sun, the wetness of the rain, the stench of the manure, and the weight of the bee may be perceived as NEGATIVES, discomfort, and even pain but, to others, these same things are perceived as BLESSINGS.

There is [an] opportunity for growth in EVERY situation that comes our way. This is why the Lord God said, through Paul, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV).

Friends, we can choose to view these situations as earthen vessels with treasures buried within and hunt for the treasures that will enrich our lives with growth and multiplication. OR we can choose to stay at a place of depression and defeat. The choice is yours. Choose well!

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Who told you that you were naked? – Genesis 3:9-11

I was fine until he said, ….

I was sure that I had heard from God but then she asked me, ….

Sisters, we are living in perilous times. Deceptive spirits are on the rise with the agenda to lead us away from the truth. We are constantly being bombarded with knowledge. Every other type of knowledge except the knowledge of God seems to be magnified in our society and if we are not careful we will be led astray. Just like he did in the garden of Eden, as recorded in Genesis 3, that old serpent, our adversary the devil is seeking to cause us to lose our identity. He does this by injecting knowledge (information) that would tempt us to doubt or question what God said about us and to us.

If there ever was a time for us to identify the source of the knowledge that we live by, it is now. Why? Whomever or whatever we allow to inform us has the power to influence our concept and perception of who we are and ultimately our destinies.

Mother Eve gave her ears to the serpent, received and acted on the knowledge that he provided her, and her life changed forever. Not only her life, but the life of those connected to her as well. Her husband listened to her voice and his subsequent actions changed how he viewed himself and her. Before the introduction of that new knowledge, they were naked and unashamed – Genesis 2:25 . A chapter later, we see them hiding, naked and afraid – Genesis 3:9-11. This new knowledge changed how they viewed each other and how they viewed God. It changed their relationship with each other and their relationship with God.

God, after observing their behavior, knew they were listening to someone other than him. He asked Adam, “Where are you?” Adam’s reply was, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” The Lord God asked, “Who told you that you were naked?“

Does that sound similar to you? You used to ….. But not anymore. Your behavior has changed. You give all sorts of excuses for your changed behavior but you know deep on the inside, the change was the result of something you heard. Your pastor told you…. Your spouse told you…. Society told you …. Circumstances told you…. That sickness told you …. Your thoughts told you …. Then you started to doubt and walked away from the truth: you walked into deception.

But today, the Spirit of the Living God has come to remind you of the truth and to set you free. You are not naked! You are not disqualified! You are not rejected! You are not insufficient or incompetent! You are God’s creation, made in His image and likeness – Genesis 1:26. You have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus – 2 Corinthians 5:21. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength – Philippians 4:13.

Knowing the answer to the question, “Who are you?”, frees you to be greater and do greater. It steers you on the path to fulfill your purpose, your assignments here on earth. Do not allow anyone or any circumstance to cause you to lose your identity. Embrace who God says you are and reject all the lies of the enemy!

Prayer: Lord God, forgive me for giving my ear to the voices all around that sought to drown out your voice. I reject any counsel or knowledge that does not align with what you say. Please work in me to desire and act out truth concerning who you say I am and embrace it without fear, in Jesus’ name, AMEN!

DIG DEEPER:

Bible Study 1: Who told you that you were naked?
Bible Study 2: The Power of Knowledge

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It WILL SURVIVE & THRIVE

Yesterday, I received a text message from one of our spiritual children, “We are having the baby! Mrs. has been admitted to the hospital.” Sometime later, another message followed with a host of pictures, “5lbs 10 ounces 18 1/2 inches long.” My heart was overjoyed for this young couple who had recently been launched into church ministry. I responded to them, “A new chapter of your journey begins now. Go WITH God!”

Throughout the evening, my thoughts would drift back to them and settle on their newborn daughter. I was reminded that, with this new birth, a new potential soldier was born into the kingdom, another arrow in the making. I was reminded of the level of warfare that will be surrounding this innocent child and the necessity for vigilance and sobriety on the part of the parents. The knowledge that within each new life, God has hidden a part of His plan for this earth, weighed heavily on my mind and the urgency to, like Joseph with Jesus of old, do what is necessary to keep that child safe. Eventually, I stopped what I was doing and began to pray for that family.

I awoke this morning, and the memory of this new birth came to mind. As I reflected on the time I spent in prayer for this family, I began to think of those of you who may have also recently given birth to something new or are in the process of carrying a vision. In many cases, we plan for the arrival of the new with much joy and anticipation and forget that, for the new to survive and fulfill its purpose within this hostile environment, the optimal atmosphere must be created. Apostle Peter cautions us in 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV), “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Prior to Peter’s epistle, Jesus had taught His disciples, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10, NIV).”

As I write, I am also thinking of those with “children” (visions) that have been birthed some time ago. Some may be thriving on their way to bringing forth fruit of their own. Others may be parched and near death’s door. I pray over all of our children/visions today. I pray that no matter the condition of their physical environment that an atmosphere conducive for growth and development will envelop their lives right now, in Jesus’ name. I call on heaven for angelic assistance to stand guard over and around our children/visions. By the mighty name of Jesus, I rise and disarm every weapon that was fashioned against them and declare, although they have already been formed, they will not succeed in that which they were formed to do (Isaiah 54:17).

That which God has buried within them as hidden treasure to bless this world will come forth, in Jesus’ name. They will execute ALL the will of God in their seasons, in their generation. All that they need to prosper is provided now, in Jesus’ name. May the Holy Spirit breathe fresh life into them and bring them into alignment with that which the Lord is doing in this season. I speak over these children/visions, “Hear ye the word of the Lord. You were sent to earth not to be a failure, not to be a statistic but to accomplish what the Lord has desired and to achieve the purpose for which you were sent” (Isaiah 55: 11, NIV). YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH! YOU WILL PROSPER! You will not only survive but thrive. Go WITH God.

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Still Time to Change

214th day, 30th week, 8th month of 2021

Hello friends! It has been a while since I have taken a break from our journey of self-discovery. I have embarked on yet another adventure in this journey called life and, I am learning so much more about our design by the Master Architect Himself.

I awoke and began thinking about where we are in time: 214th day, 30th week, 8th month of 2021. Then I allowed my thoughts to drift as I reflected on 214 days ago, December 31, 2020. I remembered the word of the Lord to me, “I will perfect that which concerns you…. (KJV, Psalms 138:8)” and I sighed, thinking of all the things that I was hoping to be changed this year, but still have not.

My mind returned to the present and my new growth adventure, pursuing a master’s degree, and all that I am learning from the course in which I am currently enrolled, Brain-Based Learning. Friends, the more I learn, the more I realize that the scientists are playing catch up. They are now finding out more of how God designed humans and, their discovery provides more evidence/proof to what the Bible teaches.

Friends, it is an amazing journey! As I study and work through this course, the Holy Spirit sits with me and teaches me. Just like Jesus used parables to communicate truths, the Holy Spirit is showing me how the scientists are uncovering truths about us, truths that the Lord God has embedded in the design of man(kind). He shows me how as the body houses the spirit of man, so the brain houses the mind (soul) of man and, by studying the brain, we receive insight into the workings of the mind.

Neuroscience, a branch of the life sciences that deals with the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, especially with their relation to learning and behavior, has introduced concepts that scripture teaches (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Concepts such as

  • neuroplasticity – renewing the mind (KJV, Romans 12:2)
  • mirror neurons – learning through imitation (AMP, 1 Corinthians 11:1)
  • readiness (behavior relevance) – desire drives growth (NIV, 1 Peter 2:2)
  • coherent construction – line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little (KJV, Isaiah 28:10)

    AND THE LIST GOES ON ….

As I reflect on all this, a light bulb goes off! The Lord God has designed and built our minds with the capacity for change, daily change. It is not that I cannot change; rather, I have not created an environment for change to occur. The Holy Spirit reminded me that as believers we have an added advantage; we have Him. Consequently, we do not have to do this alone. We have power to attend, to acquire knowledge to retain it and to recall it when needed (KJV, John 14:26; 16:13; Psalm 119:11).

Finally, I thought of you, my friends, and wondered if maybe you too are desiring change that have not yet materialized. I wonder, is there a habit, an attitude, or a mindset over which you need victory? Please hear me today; know that you were designed and built to transform into who God said you are. You are not fixed. Your character is not fixed. You don’t have to stay as you are. God has wired you to be able to change, to transform. We still have 151 days/22 weeks/4 months to partner with the Holy Spirit and work with the Lord God, work with His word and His design so that He can fulfill His word and perfect those things that concerns us.

O Holy Spirit, hear the cry of our hearts; we NEED change! Please direct us to the knowledge that we need to bring about the change in our lives. May this knowledge cause a rewiring and reshaping of our minds In Jesus’name, Amen!

DIG DEEPER:
Bible Study: The Process of Change

REFERENCES:

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Neuroscience. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 2, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuroscience

The Holy Bible, Amplified Bible. (2015). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Amplified-Bible-AMP/ (Original work published 1965)

The Holy Bible, Amplified Bible Classic Edition. (1987). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Amplified-Bible-Classic-Edition-AMPC/ (Original work published 1965)

The Holy Bible, King James Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/King-James-Version-KJV-Bible/ (Original work published 1611)

The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/ (Original work published 1973)

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Prayer: TEMPTATIONS

One of the methods that God allows to teach us warfare is TEMPTATIONS. Temptations may come in the form of bodily conditions, desires, mental states, and outward circumstances. My response to temptations is not to “enter it”; not to yield to its pull on me to sin; not to be diverted from my divine errand; not to lapse from the faith or holiness; nor to rebel against God. Instead, I am expected to use watchfulness and prayer so that I can endure the temptation and find a way to escape that I might be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). My goal is to be like Jesus; return from the temptation in the power of the spirit (Luke 4:14).

My Father, in heaven, holy is your name. Let your kingdom come. May you will be done in me, in my day, right here on Earth as it is done in heaven.

Father, I look to you for my daily bread: that which you have prepared and provided to sustain me today; that which will give me energy – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank you for what I have already received from the Bread of Heaven today. May that which I have eaten strengthen me to not flee or recede from the temptations or wiles of the enemy. But may it empower me to stand unharmed and prepared to face those wiles of the devil.

May I be strengthened in the inner man to be watchful so that I would not yield to the pull to sin; not be diverted from my divine errand; not lapse from the faith or holiness; nor rebel against you Lord. Father, Holy Spirit sensitize my spirit to find ways of escape so that I may be able to bear / endure these temptations.

Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray so that I do not enter these temptations. Thank you for this tool of growth and development. May my hands be taught to war and my fingers to fight.

Father, remember my loved ones, my spiritual brothers and sisters all over this world. May they too receive their daily bread so that they may be empowered to endure their temptations. Dear Lord, consider the weakness of our flesh and teach us how to work with the Holy Spirit so that your right hand and your arm and the light of your countenance can save us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father , I thank you for commanding victories and deliverances for us today. I thank you that, through you, we shall push down our enemies; and through your name we shall tread them under who rise up against us. I thank you that we can trust and lean upon you. Please continue to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go, guiding and counseling us with your eye. I love you Father. AMEN!!

Matthew 6:13; Matthew 26:41; James 1:12; Galatians 4:14; Judges 3: 1-4; Psalms 44:4; Psalms 32:8

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Profitable Losses

Have you, like me, had experiences where you prayed to the Lord about a situation, felt like you clearly heard and understood His directive, yet when you followed through on it you experienced loss instead of profit? In this account of the battle between the children of Israel and the children of Benjamin, we are introduced to a concept that I call Profitable Loss.

Judges 21:25 states that “in those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Yet we read of an account in Judges 20 where the children of Israel “arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God” (vs.18). It seemed right in their eyes to know the mind of God concerning the decision that they had made to wage war against the children of Benjamin.

The children of Israel asked God, “Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first” (vs.18). So they obeyed God and went up against the children of Benjamin with 400,000 men. In their obedience, they suffered loss: the death of 22,000 men. The children of Benjamin had defeated them.

We are told in the next verse that “the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day” (vs.22). But first they went up before the Lord and again asked counsel of Him, “Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him” (vs.23). They obeyed God a second time and suffered loss a second time: the death of 18,000 men. The children of Benjamin defeated them again.

“Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.  And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days….” They asked God, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?”

NOTE: This would now be the third time that they would be launching an attack. They had already lost the battle twice before and lost a total of 40,000 men; this loss occurred after trusting/believing God’s word and encouraging themselves because of it. I can imagine their thoughts: maybe Phinehas the priest had missed God. Maybe he hadn’t heard correctly. Maybe we should “cease” going forward with this warfare. They sat there at the house of God, fasting and waiting. Then the Lord answered, “Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand” (vs. 26-28).

A third time they obeyed God and “the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day 25, 100 (of their 26,700) men” (vs.35). This time around 30 men of the children of Israel lost their lives but, the men of Israel won the battle.

Friends, when we choose to obey and trust God, prepare to experience some loss. Loss is not evidence of ultimate defeat for one who is obeying (1) “Go up”, (2) “Go up again”, and (3) “Go up again.” Encourage yourself with the counsel of God. This time, the 3rd time, after you have wept, sat and waited on God, fasted, given offerings, and inquired of the Lord, you will experience the victory that outweighs your loss. NOTE: Israel lost 40,030/400,000 men….about a fraction over 10% of their army. But Benjamin lost 25,000/26,700 …. about a little over 90% of their army. Israel experienced a profitable loss.

Dear Holy Spirit, please help me to be prepared for the loss that is necessary for me to experience victory i.e. the defeat of the enemy in this battle. Prepare me for the test, the trial, the probation that comes through the loss of the 40 (18 + 22). Prepare me for the 3-day wait in the belly of the whale/earth. Help me to hang in there, encouraged, until my 3rd day when I will rise again.

Holy Spirit, teach me how to weep and help me in my infirmities: for I do not know what I should pray for as I ought to pray (Romans 8:26). Dear Holy Spirit, teach me how to just sit there and wait in Your Presence. Help me to fast the fast that you have chosen (Isaiah 58). Show me what offerings I need to give and, help me not to stop inquiring of You), even if I have to do it through Phinehas – the set man of God for Your house.

As I go this day, Holy Spirit, please keep speaking and revealing more of Your word to me and more of You to me so that I will not do according to what is right in my eyes. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!