💥Here is the best planning advice anyone could give you. You aren’t meant to lead. Some will take that with offense, but others will feel the relief it is meant to bring! ...YOU AREN'T MEANT TO LEAD.

You are meant to be led, by someone, partnered with Someone who carries the burden. There is an easy yoke involved...

Today being Tranquil Tues in Peace Be Still's podcast, we use an image from scripture to spend time in His presence.

Our image today comes from Matthew 11:28-30. Many of you may know these verses by heart. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

These are words of Jesus. A yoke was a common reference to people in the 1st century. Their economy was largely based upon agricultural trade. The land had to be worked and prepared for the seed. Heavy cargo also needed to be carried into the marketplace. So oxen and other burden bearing animals were paired together with a wooden beam to labor together. The wooden beam joining the animals is the yoke.

This is the visual Jesus wants us to reflect on when he says, “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This makes sense when you consider how the animals were paired up. Seasoned and strong burden bearers were paired with less experienced, weaker laborers. The weight of the yoke was mostly carried by the stronger among the two, therefore easing the burden of the weaker, coaching and leading the way.

Jesus is obviously revealing Himself as the strong One who bears the burden for you. He is sooooooooooooo much stronger than you. He will faithfully lead and guide you!

This is revelation for soul rest. You aren't to go it alone. Jesus is telling us we are to pair up, to partner with Him. This is inspiration for today's visual. Jesus is telling us He will bear the burden of our souls. He is telling us to come to Him and learn from Him. He’ll shift the weight on to himself and carry it for you. He is gentle and humble in heart, leading you to rest.

Let’s pray.

"Father, thank you for Jesus, our burden bearer. Thank you for sending us a gentle Shepherd to lead and guide us to rest. Jesus, we look to you to teach us your ways. Lord help us let go of striving. Holy Spirit help this one see any area of their life where they are laboring and burdened, going it alone. Shift the weight Holy One, carrying it for us so that our soul may rest. Amen."

What are you attempting to carry in your own power? See yourself setting it down, walking away from it.

In your mind’s eye, come near to Jesus.

See that He is welcoming you, His gentle ways encouraging you closer.

What does it look like to collapse near him, completely letting go? Feel the relief of letting everything go...
​
(to complete this visualization, listen to today's exercise found here.

The Dawn will visit us from on high... Luke 1:78 Berean Study Bible
Today visualize the light of Christ piercing your darkness.  It’s why He has come.

Zechariah called him the Dawn who would visit us from on high. 

That language is part of his prophetic praise found in Luke 1:68-80.

To review the account of Zechariah in full, and his part in the birth story of Jesus, read Luke 1:5-25 and verses 57-80. 

Part of this account is that Zechariah was muted for 9 months during the miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth.  This happened because he didn’t believe in the angel Gabriel’s message of a promised son as answer to his prayers. 

Consider... How many of us are muted in some way because we refuse to believe in promises of God, in the miracle working power of God? 

Is your faith bigger than your limitations?  Are you believing in the whispers of His holy Word?

We know that Zechariah didn’t stay muted.  After John the Baptist was born, Zechariah’s tongue was set free, and he began to speak praising God. 

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about the One coming who would redeem his people in order to forgive, set free, rescue, remember His holy covenant, enable God’s people to serve him without fear.  He prophesied how Zechariah's son John, would prepare the way for the Most High.

And here is how his prophesy ends…

Luke 1:78-79 ...Because of our God’s deep compassion,
    the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
     to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
        to guide us on the path of peace.”

In the Berean translation, Jesus is the Dawn with a capital D.  Other translations say “day spring”, the Sunrise with a capital “S”, the morning light. Christ confirmed these truths by boldly proclaiming that yes, He was the light of the world, John 8:12.  

John 1:4-5 says that "in him was life and that life was the light of ALL of mankind.  The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:9 says Christ is the true light that gives light to all men and he was coming into the world.

To give light to those sitting in darkness... Where are you sitting in darkness?

Darkness in both verses from John 1 and Luke 1 is shadiness, obscurity, blindness, ignorance of divine things, ungodliness, immorality, a spiritual state where darkness becomes visible and holds sway.

Are you blinded by unbelief?  Is your faith muted because of unbelief?  What is the last step of faith you took beyond your own ability and resources?  Is your vision shrouded by confusion, despair, hopelessness?  What is the darkness you are dwelling in, sitting in today?  

Because of his deep compassion, the Dawn from Heaven breaks upon you, to give you light, to guide you in a path of peace.

Let’s pray.  Christ our true light, the Dawn who came to visit us from on high, pierce this one’s darkness with your marvelous light.  Lord, because of your tender mercy, flood their heart with light from on high.  

(Pause- By faith, see His light flooding your heart and mind.)  

Pray, "grant me vision Jesus." 

"Give light to my eyes.  I admit ignorance about divine things.  Pierce my darkness.  Give light to my darkness.  Rescue me from the shadow of death, thoughts that are hopeless, choices that are dead ends, feelings that snuff out life and faith.  Forgive my unbelief.  Cleanse me of ungodly thoughts and ways.  Purify me with your light.  Guide my feet into your path of peace."

Now take a few minutes and still yourself in His presence.  See the Dawn from on high coming from on high, His light surrounding you like a shield, lighting a pathway of peace before you.  Rest in his holy light.

This season give thanks for the Dawn who descended from on high.  Do not be silent.  Speak about Him.  Take steps of faith believing His life is your guiding light in the darkness.

And pray for someone you love or know that needs Christ's light to pierce their darkness.  Ask Jesus to surround them with His holy light.  Take the time to envision His light descending and giving light to their darkness, guiding them into the way of peace.

Did you enjoy this reflection?  If so, take a listen to more Advent reflections on our podcast that began on December 1st.  Visit the podcast tab to listen or find PEACE BE STILL DAILY PRAYER DOWNLOAD on your podcast provider!

We're approaching Thanksgiving!  Seems time has flown!  Lots to be thankful for as this year winds down, despite this crazy, chaotic world and all of its bad news! 

In such turbulent times, our center and stronghold in Christ and his promises guides us and stabilizes us.  The world's news is not our news.  He is our victory and supply and future.  He is our right now promise.  His peace is to rule in our hearts!  With Him as our Good Shepherd, we lack nothing!  He alone is our reason to be thankful, even if all we would have on our table this Thanksgiving were a dry crust.

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.- Proverbs 17:1

His Peace is a precious gift, such a gift that it is to be chosen over a house of feasting with strife. It's time to be a peacemaker when so many are quick to offense and argument.  I speak this to myself as much as to you.  Should we engage in that political discussion? How should we reply to that relative who is bitter and miserable?  Are we bringing peace to the discussion, to table of fellowship? 

Meditate on Proverbs 17:1 and Colossians 3:15 as you approach a season of gathering with family.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts in these gatherings.  Be prayed up before you go!  Let others know why Christ's peace satisfies your deepest needs, and fills you in a way nothing and no one else can!  

ON to some updates!  It's been about a month since you last got an email or blog from me.  Things have been busy; and ministry fruitful!  Podcast listenership continues to grow!  I traveled to Iowa and held my first in-person group session in over 2 years!  What a blessing it was!  Witnessed on flights going out and coming back!  That's a whole blog on it's own!  But know that the meditation event that I put together (Prayer Rhythms) was wonderful!  God spoke and ministered deeply and sweetly to participants!  I'll be holding that session for another private group first week of December!  Oh how I have missed in-person ministry!  (If you have interest in in-person private group sessions, please reply to this email.)

And look for an email on some online sessions upcoming for PRAYER RHYTHMS!

In addition, social media reach is still a wilderness to navigate, but since it is where so many people are "gathering", I'm believing God for breakthrough!  I keep hearing whispers and promptings from the Spirit to not give up, but boy is there so much to learn!  Pray for reach and breakthrough!  It takes a lot of time and energy!  But I believe the whispers and victory is coming!

My "every day" includes writing, recording, editing audio, creating social media images and posts, praying for and connecting with people online, learning social media, etc.  The days fly by!  Also every Friday, I'm still doing a live prayer broadcast with Cheryl Wells (sweet friend, ministry partner, and our Board Chair).  

Have you listened to the podcast of late?  Over the last many weeks, I've been recording a series on the Holy Spirit (starting with episode 399).  It is still going!  There is so many scriptures about His role in our faith life!  Many of us need to connect with the Holy Spirit on deeper levels, acknowledging His role.  He is One of the Trinity, not an it.  I pray you listen to one or all of the 19 sessions so far!  Here is some detail from the first handful of episodes, but know today was episode 418, so this is just a sampling!  Access the podcast on any podcast app or listen from the podcast tab.

• Episode 399- For today's breath prayer and silence exercise, we are focusing on the creative, supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Listen in for the role of the Holy Spirit to execute God's Word and shine light from within darkness. It is a supernatural work for transformation that only the Spirit of God can produce. He is your path to peace and hope and life and power. Press in! Please share with a friend!
• Episode 402- Very often we will question what God's will is for us throughout our time here on earth. We need answers that come from the Holy Spirit. So today is an opportunity to practice a spirit-filled prayer request pulled directly from scripture. Listen in for this Spirit-filled prayer language; and position with expectation on Spirit filled answers. Practice praying it over yourself and others; and stay to the end to hear more Spirit inspired scripture prayed over you! Please share with a friend! Blessings!
• Episode 403- Today is a little different, a first hand account of a miraculous healing experienced by a woman I met at the end of 2020.  She suffered tortuous pain (from an incurable disease) for over 6 years with it progressing to a point of not being able to care for herself at all, or sleep!  There were no medicines that brought relief.  Despite it all, she never wavered that Jesus would heal her!  Listen in as she describes how her faith brought her through, how the Word of God was her stronghold, and how the real healing came in a way no one expected.  Be blessed and stick around to the end to receive a prayer of healing!
• Episode 404- Renew a right spirit within me- Daily we need renewal. Daily we need the power of God's life and Spirit to "right" us. Using your breath and the simple, but powerful prayer phrase from Psalm 51:10 you'll call on the Holy Spirit to renew you. Memorize this breath prayer to incorporate it into your every day language. Pray it in moments where you need to center yourself and call upon His life and power. The Holy Spirit promises supernatural renewal. Not our power, but His power renewing us. Release striving and come into and under the power of God's promises. Ask to be made new by the Holy Spirit of Jesus. Please share with a friend who needs to experience the promises and peace of Jesus.

It's been a 12 hour day at this point, so time to sign off!  If this ministry is a blessing to you, will you please consider making a donation?  We are asking God for more reach, but our budget is limited.  Twitter advertisements cost minimum of $50.  Instagram ads are a minimum of $20.  Facebook ads are a minimum of $25.  All of these are minimal reach, but we have seen success!  Additionally, some technology updates are needed.  As well, annual fees are approaching.  So we would be so appreciative of one-time gifts or new monthly supporters!  Thank you for praying about supporting our mission to help people linger longer with God, resourcing the earnest to draw near and know Christ!  

Have a blessed Thanksgiving as you rejoice in the goodness of God and the peace of Christ!

In the last blog I mentioned I had participated in a Christian mindfulness presentation that included some interactive exercises.  It was being sponsored and hosted by a well-known national denomination.  This gave it some credibility in my mind, so I signed up.  I was interested in how it would be approached by the Christian PHD (doctor of philosophy) who taught it.  I was hopeful I could learn something and find similarities in what God has called me to do through Into the Waters.  Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.  But God showed up in it, and gave me a message I understood.  This is a long post; but an important one.  I’ll share some of what I experienced in the session; but first briefly touch on mindfulness as a current cultural trend.

Mindfulness is a buzz word right now, but it is not new.  It has deep spiritual roots going back thousands of years.  Some roots are from Christianity, others are not.  It has gained traction in our current culture because it has been presented as non-religious, useful for all people regardless of spiritual beliefs.  Various forms of mindfulness are being encouraged, taught, and implemented in school systems, corporate training programs, healthcare systems, sports training, consulting practices, armed forces drills, etc.    This article states it is the fastest growing health trend in America.

Mindfulness practices are intriguing to people because “statistics show”  it lowers stress, improves productivity, increases mental focus, betters physical health, strengthens relationships, stokes creativity, lowers employee turnover, etc.  Some are even claiming it has the power to obliterate fear! Pretty impressive!  

Should I believe the hype?  What is mindfulness exactly and as a Christian, how is it to be practiced, if at all?  What are its implications?  Does it square with Christianity? 
 
According to Oxford dictionary, mindfulness is “a mental state achieved by concentrating on the present moment, while calmly accepting the feelings and thoughts that come to you, used as a technique to help you relax.” 

Oxford dictionary also credits mindfulness as a concept from Zen Buddhism.  Mindfulness practices typically include exercises of breathing, visualizing, noticing feeling and thoughts within present moment in order to make better choices to respond in calm and self-controlled ways.  Those practices are very commonly considered mindfulness meditation techniques. 

Prepare to be confused…. 

In contrast, a mindfulness organization states it is NOT about achieving a state of calm.  They state, “it is just about noticing whatever experience we're having, including all the thoughts, feelings or physical sensations that are a part of it… we learn the skill of becoming aware of our thoughts, without necessarily doing anything with them. By just noticing thoughts, we learn how to unhook ourselves from our identification with them. This is different from pushing thoughts away. It’s how we relate to our thoughts, not the absence of them.”  So are you confused by that?  I am.  (If interested, click here to read their entire document. )

It is a frustrating prospect to me that I am to notice my thoughts and feelings and not necessarily do anything with them, except "unhook" myself from them, whatever that means.  And if I am to rely on my own power to make better choices in moments, again, losing prospect for me personally.  I don't have that power.  God has shown me my desperate, urgent every day need for mind renewal on His terms, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

But let’s not throw mindfulness aside yet, because mindfulness is actually God's concept and here is his definition- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Going further, mindfulness as God intends, involves the biblical practice of meditation.  

We can see the importance God places on meditation in Joshua 1:8 when He tells His people that, if done His way, meditation guarantees prosperity and success.  If He is taken out of that equation, it is a worldly concept and smoke and mirrors.
  
Now let me give you a practical example to sort through.  Let's go back to the event I mentioned in the beginning…  It was marketed as Christian Mindfulness and Spirituality, so I figured it would be presented in a biblical way that aligned with God's definition of mindfulness and meditation.  Instead, it was a dangerous mix of truth and lies. 

The presenter shared in the first segment that Christian mindfulness practices go back thousands of years to early monastic and nomadic communities.  These early Christian believers practiced “constant prayer” in quiet settings in order to contemplate God and His Word and experience His presence.  So far so good, until… great emphasis was placed on present moment awareness and how to respond.  The presenter referenced John 10:10 to emphasize Jesus’ promise to give life and life in abundance.   A great promise!  But the scripture was used as backdrop to support present moment awareness.  She stated we are to focus on what can be seen in order to recognize the ordinary abundance all around us in order to fill us. 

Do you see what is wrong with the presenter’s interpretation? 

Focusing on what can be seen to be filled is NOT the context of what Jesus meant at all.  He did not mean that we are to focus on life all around us to fill us.  He meant that the promised life of abundance came through His life that He would give us.  We are to be filled by Him, Romans 15:13.  Since she was incorrectly interpreting the meaning of John 10:10, this was where I began to get uncomfortable in the presentation. 

She continued by inviting us to have an attitude of curiosity.  This meant to practice noticing ordinary abundance and to be present in a moment.  She instructed us to close our eyes and imagine ourselves as an alien visiting the earth for the first time.  Then, as an alien, we were to reach out our hand and pick something up from earth.  Since we were visiting earth, it would be something we had never seen before.  We were to look at it, feel it, observe it, engage all of our senses, and manipulate it if possible.  We were told this was an exercise to train our brains to be more mindful by focusing intently on a present moment.  As she presented this exercise, I suddenly became very mindful of something rising up in me.  My feelings and thoughts were't pleasant, nor was I feeling very calm suddenly.  Maybe this was to be the point I "unhooked" myself, LOL.    

Would you have participated in this exercise? 

I did not do the exercise.  I was shocked.  Jesus’ beautiful promise to give life in abundance was twisted.  There was no suggestion to pick up something God designed, like a beautiful rose for example.  We could have closed our eyes and noticed the intricacies of God’s handiwork and how it awakened all of our senses, causing us to wonder at the glory of God.  Instead, I was to be an alien and pick up “something” I had never seen before.  Given the fact that there was no encouragement at all to give God glory for whatever the created thing was, she lost me as a participant at this exercise.

However, I didn’t disconnect from the presentation.  I still hoped it would get better, but truly was more curious as to how much worse it could get.   

Shortly after the alien exercise, she mentioned Matthew 11:28 which is Jesus’ invitation to all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest.  She used it to illustrate a mindfulness point that when we are weary and burdened, we can train ourselves to choose our response.  Red flag.  Her translation was way outside of the boundary of what Jesus was saying.  He wants us to come to Him with our weakness and learn from him so he can restore us.  He never encourages us to train ourselves to choose our response in our own power.

At this point in the online presentation, something fell to the ground which startled the presenter, causing her to swing around in her chair and grab the item on the ground very quickly.  When she came back into view, she looked a bit shocked.  But then she quickly closed her eyes and breathed deeply to take a mindfulness moment.  She then explained to all of us, that a candle had fallen to the ground suddenly.  Since it was lit, she needed to get it immediately, stating she was fearful it would cause a fire.  But, she noted she was immediately relieved, because the candle had gone out upon hitting the ground. 

At this, I smiled and was mindful of sudden relief.  I took it as God’s little wink to me that He was connecting with my upset.  This was not a Spirit-filled Christian mindfulness session.  It was a session where the light was snuffed out.  Bad sign.

The crescendo was a poem she shared from a well-known writer who has recently passed away, and who, by the way, was an atheist.  Yes of course, perfect ending, inspire me with an atheist's words of not knowing how to pray.  Yes, the poem she shared emphasized not knowing how to pray, but knowing how to fall down into the grass and pay attention.  I was seriously in a state of shock.

Could it get any worse?  I stuck around to the very end hoping the host or participants might reveal their dismay.  But the host praised her.  Only 2 participants made comments; and they were also praises!  Ugh. 

I know this is a long post, but it is so important.  Some might think I am overly critical or harsh.  But I politely disagree.  So many are being led as sheep to the slaughter by the enemy who delights in twisting and perverting God's ways.  We should be hyper-vigilant in these times to honor God and meditate on His Word in context.  We must be rooted and grounded in God’s word to discern between good and evil, Hebrews 5:13-14.  God calls us to exercise our spiritual senses through constant use in order to discern.  Are you exercising your spiritual senses?   

Into the Waters offers resources to train yourself to exercise your spiritual senses through prayer and meditation in context of His truth.  Our classes and online resources emphasize the critical nature of lingering with God, inviting the Holy Spirit, meditating on His Word, talking openly and vulnerably with Him, waiting in His presence, giving Him glory, and surrendering to His leading.  Practice those type of exercises with us!
 
We are holding a session Sunday March 15th at 8pm EST called the Word of God.  We will ponder 4 different ways the enemy of our soul attacks us.  There is also challenge to ask God to do something new and supernatural.  There are exercises to quiet yourself and renew in His presence.  Join us!  Sign up here.  And stay tuned because I will also be announcing an April session related to new life, just prior to Easter.  I hope you join one or both!   And if you are looking for even more, try this biblically based mindfulness challenge that I posted recently on our Facebook and Instagram page.  Try it with a friend!  Click on the picture below for instructions.

Since Fall of last year, Into the Waters' prayer and meditation sessions have been held in an online format. They have been going very well, with every survey revealing 100% would recommend the session to others! It is precious time with God.

Here is one comment from a participant in the January 25th session-

"I liked the ability to do this online in my own space. Great job in guiding us through the exercises."

It was an early morning start at 8am EST, with the majority connecting from the East Coast, a couple others connecting from CST, and a couple more from the PST (a 5am start!) This the very cool thing of gathering for a session online. You connect from the comfort of your own space and time zone! God will bless those early birds!

I started the session by sharing a few personal examples of difficult moments of mental battle, confusion, and burden that have happened since the start of the year. For the most part I started the year pretty positive; but it didn't take long until battle ensued. I've learned God leads me in a process, taking me through lessons that are not just for me; but for others. As I share, I see that my experience comforts and encourages others, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. We are in this together! God wants us to know we are not alone in our trials. You will experience that if you participate in a session.

Related to the lessons God took me through, I was able to share how God led me to victory in 3 different ways; the lesson being there is no formula with God. We need to hone our skill set in spiritual terms and tune to the leading of the Spirit. Do you know how to do that? He wants us to be aware of the variety of weapons at our disposal to gain victory in our troubles. Do you know what some spiritual weapons might be?

Most Christians are very limited in knowing how to battle through. So as I got closer to the session, I realized that the WORD of GOD session was to partly be about how we overcome. I shared 4 ways the enemy of our souls attacks us. Participants were led through prayerful reflection time with God to meditate and ponder how the enemy might be tempting them. 50% of participants noted they received revelation from God on an area that needed healing. PRAISE GOD!

"My joy of the Lord was restored in realizing I was allowing it to be stolen." - Jan 25th participant

Also the sessions always include a good portion of time to still ourselves before Him and invite His presence. 70% of participants particularly enjoyed being able to still and quiet themselves in His presence. In the hustle and bustle of our attention deprived lives, it is more critical than ever to make hard stops, to be vigilant in protecting quiet time with the LORD. Many of us need to be hyper-vigilant in an aggressive way, especially if we are exhausted, depleted, burdened, complaining, and anxious. We say we don't have time, but Jesus was very clear with Martha telling her that only one thing was truly necessary. He stood in defense of her sister Mary who chose time at the Lord's feet. He made it clear IT WOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER, Luke 10:42. God's defense of your time with Him is already there, are you letting Him defend your time with Him?

"I really sense a need to be more mindful of listening better this year. I tend to want to do all the talking. This process was very helpful to me in practicing that." - January 25th participant

That feedback makes me so happy and thankful! It's testimony of one who is being self-reflective and wanting to "practice"! We can talk, talk, talk to God; but do we stop and listen? Each session always includes time to ask God for things, for vision of the unseen, and then wait on what is impressed, to make note of what comes to mind as we meditate on His truths. In the last session, we asked God to do something new! Something supernatural and of the Spirit! ASK.

"God insists that we ask, not because He needs to know our situation, but because we need the spiritual discipline of asking."- Catherine Marshall, author (1914-1983)

To close this post out, I want to point out the word "mindful" that was used in the participant's quote above. It has become a real buzzword in our culture. And Christians are being led astray related to it. I want to share more about mindfulness; but won't be sharing about it in this blog. I will in the next. It will be about a session I attended recently that was hosted by a national Christian denomination. I signed up hopeful to learn from the PHD who lead it. Unfortunately, I came away very disappointed and concerned. It didn't calm me or benefit my spirit. Will share more next week.

These blogs are sent to those who sign up for our blog email. Please sign up to get announcements of events and resources. Sign up here. Blessings!

Hello! Have you signed up for our next session yet? It’s approaching! Saturday January 25th at 8am is the date and time! Sign up here! The session is called the “WORD of GOD” and it’s tied to the 2020 WORD “ASCEND” that I shared in the first blog of the year. Read it here.

Over the past several months I have had conversations with 2 different men who both diminished to not just tears, but deep sobbing as I spoke with them. One man was about to put his dog down. He was going alone to do it. He started out stoic in the conversation, until I mentioned God. The other was just betrayed and left by his wife after 25 years of marriage. He started out complaining, until I mentioned God. Neither were believers in God to my knowledge. My conversations with each were different; but a common “WORD” I said to each was, “I will pray that God comforts you, that you know you are not alone.” With those words, emotion broke through. The intensity of their emotion surprised me, but I took it as a holy moment, and prayed for their souls while they released pain. Each were in desperate need of a sustaining WORD from God.

While searching for a picture for this blog I found this one without copyright restrictions. The man who took the photo made this comment about what it means- "...I always keep a wide smile on my mouth, but sometimes I feel that I am lifting mountains of depression on my chest. Wondering why? My keyboard will run out of alphabets if I answered that question! MAY GOD HELP ME!"

That's a big unspoken confession. Mountains of depression! Prayers alone, without the WORD of God, are they enough to sustain us? See below on 4 temptations of Jesus. How did Jesus reply, with prayer or in another way?

Each of us, no matter our circumstances, need a sustaining WORD from God... as regularly as the meals we eat! Jesus was clear that we do not live on bread alone, i.e. on things that sustain our flesh. But we live by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. What is the last sustaining WORD that God has spoken to you? Can and do you quiet yourself to hear it? Do you need to practice sitting quietly with God to receive it? Is the hustle and bustle of life preventing you from taking a good hour to be with God and His WORDS? If so, sign up for January 25th!

The first handful of scriptures in the Gospel of John tell us that the WORD (Jesus) “was” already. In the beginning, Jesus already “was”. Therefore, Jesus is eternal. Jesus is self-existent, just like God the Father. Before the beginning, Jesus was with GOD the Father. And Jesus is God. John tells us that Jesus is the Source and Creator of all things. In Him is life. He alone possesses life. His life is the source of light to all. Therefore, if you do not have his life in you, you do not have light in you. His light overcomes darkness. Darkness cannot lay hold of his light; it cannot overtake his light. Darkness can only be transformed by his light.

Here are the actual scriptures of John 1:1-5:
In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him, without Him nothing was made that had been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines through the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it.

John chapter 1 goes on to say that the WORD became flesh and dwelt here on earth among us… If the WORD of God became flesh in Jesus, it is to become flesh in us! You can practice that with the group who is already signed up for January 25th! Sign up!

Why practice? Because you are a target for attack. If you look at the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4 ,and drill it down to Satan’s strategy, what do you see? You see that Satan attacked the identity of Jesus, the Son of God. And what did he tempt Jesus to do? This is not an exclusive list, but there are 4 big things that I saw as I meditated upon it this week:

1. Prove yourself.
2. Satisfy your flesh.
3. Harm yourself.
4. Forfeit your soul.

How many of those can you identify as attacks you have faced, are facing? How hard are you working to prove yourself? How are you driven by your flesh at the expense of your soul health? What thoughts or actions are pervasive and causing real harm to yourself or others? How consumed are you with things of the world at the detriment of your soul?

“If you are the Son of God…”

Jesus when tempted by Satan, responded with the WORD of God that was in Him. He told Satan that man does not live on bread alone but on every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. He didn’t need bread to feed his flesh. He himself was the WORD that sustains. He himself is the WORD that sustains you.

For a WORD from God, Jesus wants us to consume His WORD. He wants us to hide it in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him. If Jesus had to battle using the WORD of GOD, we do also! Is His WORD in you to quickly refute and overcome lies, temptations, anxiety, fear, hopelessness, anger, judgment, self-obsession, self-hatred, pride? How do you battle and gain victory over the negative thoughts and temptations that entice your flesh desires? Or are you giving in to temptation?

Jesus has a sustaining word of the Spirit for you. A WORD from God sustains! A WORD from God heals. A WORD from God reaches into the deepest places within to restore, renew, and reframe our mind.

What is the last WORD from him that sustained you? That fed you?

The session on January 25th is about taking our eyes off of what can be seen. Because what can be seen is temporal. Instead we will focus our eyes on what is unseen, because what is unseen is eternal. We are to focus on the invisible. Looking up, reaching up, climbing up, ascending to the realm of God’s WORD. His supernatural WORD descending in us to raise us up in the power of the Spirit. Sign up for January 25th! Tell a friend!

If you ____________, then you will be prosperous and successful...

What did you fill in the blank with?  January 25th at 8am EST is our next prayer and meditation session.  We will be meditating on the WORD of God with some reflection in our heart and mind on what God is saying to us through His Word.  Jesus as the WORD of God encompasses all of God’s promises!  He tells us to keep his words on our lips, to meditate upon them day and night, Joshua 1:8.  The outcome is that we shall be prosperous and successful!  There is the fill in the blank answer!

He tells us we do not live on bread alone; but on every word that proceeds from His mouth, Matthew 4:4.  Christ himself modeled responding with the Word of God when tempted and attacked by evil, Matthew 4: 4,7, 10).  Is His Word readily on your lips, hidden in our heart so that we do not sin against him?  Are we looking up with eyes that see the unseen, or focusing more on what we can see?  Are we low and surrendered or striving and exhausted?  Do you want to start 2020 with practicing hiding his Word within, looking up, and positioning low?   He will lift you up! 
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If yes, join the WORD of God event on January 25th at 8am EST!  He will lead your soul to prosper!  He will grant you success as you invest in His WORD!  Click the button below to register for the session!