Is your destination a life full of joy, peace and freedom? Do you feel frustrated in your journey? Consider this booklet spiritual GPS to help you move from where you are today to where you want to be. How God Heals Our Hearts will help you identity where you are on the journey to an abundant life and point you in the direction you need to go to get there. These time-tested biblical principles will help you walk and live in freedom.

Learn more at Expectancy Press

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How many of you know it’s in the DNA of every man to be the one who comes to the rescue? We need to be the one who saves the day. Especially in the eyes of our wives and kids, we must be the hero.

So what happens when all we can do is watch the baggage? We do what we can and wait patiently for hope to be actualized.

Paul says us we have to be patient with hope:

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25 (New International Version)

I know it’s not easy. But don’t give up being patient.

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

Wouldn’t it make more sense for David to wait for his fighting force to recover? The Amalakites where a larger force and they were slowed down with all the plunder. Every man had a stake in the fight and every extra sword would undoubtably be appreciated.

But David had inquired of the Lord and asked what he was to do. He set off to do what he could with the resources he had.

The path of peace is moving the direction you know God has told you to go, using the resources you have available.

That may mean staying back patiently with the baggage, it may mean attacking with even worse odds.

The key here is to get momentum on your side. Hope works well with momentum and a little step can start that momentum. When I pray for someone with pain, I ask them to put a number to that pain. “If 1 is no pain and 10 is the worst you’ve ever felt, what would you say it is right now?”

Once they tell me a number, we can use that to see how they respond to ministry. I pray short prayers and give short commands. After each one I ask “What’s the pain doing? Is it better or worse? What number would you say?” As soon as they notice the pain go down – let’s say from a six to a five – it only takes a few minutes for them to say the pain is at zero!

Why is that? There’s a few things going on that aren’t the topic for this post, but momentum is a big part. Faith builds faith. You only need a mustard seed amount of faith to move a mountain.

Hope doesn’t say, “I can’t do anything.” Hope does what it can and sees greater things done in the future.

What that means is after you’ve heard from God, and refocused – take whatever step you can and don’t be upset if it can’t be bigger.

Step by step by step, impossible situations can change. Hope needs momentum, so get going in the right direction.

To have hope at the end of the rope you need to do what you can. What step can you take today in the direction you know the Father wants you to go?

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit. 1 Samuel 30:9-10

One third of David’s men were too tired to continue on. Does that mean they didn’t have hope? No. They did what they could.

Once you’ve cried, avoided bitterness, inquired of God, refocused on the promise, you need to do what God has told you to do.

You’ve got to do what you can.

The key to doing what you can is following the path of peace. We’ll examine what that is in the next post

You can jump ahead at HopeInTransition.com

Here’s a question I got this week from a reader of RevTrev.com. It’s a desperate situation from someone who’s trying to do what’s right. If you any insight on this, please make sure you leave your comments below. I know she’ll appreciate your help. I’ve withheld the names and removed clues to the location. You can read my answers to more questions here.

Question:

My husband has 2 adult sons and they are both married with children.

I have a daughter and she is 25 and lives on her on.

My stepson had been sending my daughter sexual text messages and they were bad. We confronted him and told him to stop and told him if he has a problem with sexual he needs to see get help. He promised he would stop but about 3 months later he woke my daughter up at 1 am by texting her wanting to come to her house to have sex with her. My daughter went to my parents house the rest of the night.

Me and my husband told his  wife and showed her all the messages that he sent my daughter. She was very hurt. Well all of this made my other stepson mad because we told on his brother so he confronted me and told me I had no right starting trouble with his brother and wife. So things got pretty heated up with them and me and my husband. The last thing they told me I could no longer see my granddaughter.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I told him his brother was wrong and he said his brother could do no wrong and him and his wife told me to stay away from my granddaughter because she is nothing to me now and I wasn’t family anymore.

Me and my husband haven’t seen our granddaughter in 6 months. We have tried to reason with them and told them they should have stayed out of it but they wouldn’t.

I told them I was sorry for hurting them in any way. I thought saying we were sorry they may let us see our granddaughter but even that didn’t work.

I have been praying for them . I pray God will soften their hearts.

I never seen Christians act that way especially if someone is the wrong. It is crazy.

We went to church together and now they have quit and are going somewhere else.

We have talked to our pastor and he is so shocked. He called my stepson wanting to talk with them and he told our pastor he would not have a meeting. Our pastor told him it was wrong because they won’t let us see our granddaughter because of what his brother did.  He said he just see thing different from the way we see them. My stepson told our pastor he didn’t want to talk to him.

I just don’t get it. None of us do. I know I am so hurt for they way they have treated my daughter and wont let us see our granddaughter. None of it makes sense. . That all I know to say for now . It is so upsetting and I get mad but God is helping me. Thank God.

Hope you can give us some advice

Answer:

Your step-sons call themselves Christians?

I know from experience there is more involved. Usually when there’s a reaction like that to sin, it comes from disbelief, a shaking of systems, or from pain from past wounds.

If they are Christians, keep praying for the Holy Spirit to speak to them. It’s the will of God you’re agreeing with.  They are His sheep they will (eventually) hear His voice.

Even if they aren’t Christians you can do what Christ did on the cross when He said “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”

It’s called identificational repentance. We’ve seen attitudes change overnight and over time as we’ve stood in the place of people acting stupid and asked God to forgive them.

Keep showing them love to the extent they will let you show them love. Your job is to love. It’s up to them how they respond. I know you must be angry. That’s understandable. Just don’t sin in your anger.

I really get the sense that there’s more to it what you can share in an email…the reaction of the one son and his wife seems completely irrational. I would be interested to hear how they rationalize it. I suspect this might have been the “straw that broke the camel’s back” and saying sorry isn’t enough.

Can you ask them how you can built a relationship back with them?

Don’t tell them this, but it’s for their sake as much as their child’s. Too often I see the measure parents use to judge others measured out on them by their kids later in life.

I don’t know if any of this helps. Would you mind if I posted it on revtrev.com? Maybe someone else has more insight than I do and can comment?

- Trevor

Can you rest? Busy-ness cannot be a badge of honor in a Kingdom that promises righteousness, peace and joy.

God’s been leading me to a few passages to slow me down and rest in His presence.

This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15 (New Living Translation)

I have to admit, I get a little offended at that last statement “but you would have none of it”. But once I slow down and thank Him, slow down and love Him, slow down and listen to Him…there’s no judgement only enjoyment and joy.

Jesus said (according to Peterson)

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Rest today. Enjoy God. Be at peace with Him, yourself and those around you.

Then make it habit. Try the 40 day fast from negativity love to have you join us.

How do we steward our destiny? There comes a time for us to “go” and as we go, we need to go as Jesus went.

Jesus Set the Pattern

I can’t tell you when it’s time for you to go. But I’m glad to say Jesus gave us the pattern for how we are to “go”. In John chapter 20 Jesus was already crucified and buried and rose again. His disciples where hiding behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders and Jesus appeared and showed them his hands and side. Then He said: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends us. The same manner and the same means and with the same Spirit in which the Father sent the Son, so the Son tells us to “go”.

So How Did the Father Send the Son?

From the context, we see “the going” is earmarked by peace.  He said; “Peace be with you” Jesus earlier said: So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus’ walk is permeated with peace. He didn’t fear storms. He didn’t fear demons. He didn’t fear men. He didn’t fear impossibilities.  I think we can see how He walked in that peace.

He Kept in Step with the Spirit

Jesus only did what He saw the Father do He only said what He heard the Father say. The intimate relationship that Jesus had with the Father is what’s available to us today.  As we go, we don’t have to worry, because we keep in step with the Spirit.

He Obeyed

Jesus obeyed to the point of death on the cross. The widow obeyed the prophet and took what she had and took what she borrowed and in faith poured out the only thing she had of value.  As we go, it’s not just that we have this mind-shattering relationship with the creator of the universe, it’s that we obey what He tells us to do.

This is liberating…this is why I can say we “steward a prophetic call.” Your prophetic call is entirely on His shoulders. It’s what He’s entrusted you to share with others.  You steward the treasure He’s entrusted with you. You manage the destiny He has planned for you. You’re responsibility to move in your prophetic destiny is to keep in step with the Spirit and obey what He says. It’s an amazing partnership deal. There is no downside to this…as long as you understand God is good and in a good mood.

He Had Friendship With God

The final point of “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” is that as we keep in step with the Spirit, and as we obey what He tells us to do, Jesus says that we’re no longer servants, we are His friends. We are His friends because we know the Father’s plans.

As we go, we go in peace. We go in peace because we keep in step with the Spirit and obey what He says. Because we obey what He says, He know longer calls us servants He calls us friends. He calls us friends because He reveals all the Father reveals to Him.  Our steps are ordered by God because we are friends with God.  As the Father has sent the Son, so the Son tells us to go.

photo credit: Jos Dielis

I’ve had many comments in emails and on some of the social networks I belong to that sound like warnings not to rock the boat. Most suggest, people are preaching the gospel if they simply teach “Jesus came, lived, died, rose again, ascended, and is coming back to judge the living and the dead, so REPENT!”

I agree. This is the kerygma of Paul. This is his main message. But something that has me thinking is that Jesus preached about the Kingdom… and he wasn’t talking about those things.

Now before I get the emails, hear me out… Jesus did teach “these things must happen” but it’s clear His disciples didn’t understand and it’s also clear when He started to talk about His body being real food and His blood being real drink, He lost followers. (John 6:54-66)

Jesus went out teaching and showing the Kingdom.

And we’re happy just filling the committed with knowledge. Comfort kills us slowly.

The Kingdom drives out demons. The Kingdom heals the sick. The Kingdom starts small and grows big.

The Kingdom is, where ever the Father’s will is done. Where the King rules, that’s where the Kingdom exists.

So if I’m offending the ones who don’t believe in miracles anyway – why are you reading this blog? If I’m offending those working hard for the Lord; follow the one who’s yoke is easy and burden is light.

Did you really think His mission for you would be something you can accomplish on your own? What did Paul rant about to the Galatians?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (Galatians 3:3 NIV)

Sure, Paul in context is talking about circumcision, but is their a difference to striving in your own effort? Paul’s definition of fully proclaiming the gospel of Christ is…

…by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:19 (New International Version)

And ours can’t be anything less.

This is really good news when you think about it… It’s not up to you. You can’t preform signs and wonders. God can through you – and He longs to do it. So give Him opportunity.

Pray for the sick expectantly. Speak out words of encouragement and seek the Father for greater insight. Be faithful in what you’ve been given, and more will be given to you.

Remember the Kingdom starts small and grows.

Love to hear what you think. We really enjoy imparting power to people who are hungry for more of God.

Truth:

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. Philippians 1:28 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

When God places us as His salt and light in an environment that is extremely negative, our peace can change the weather around us.

Peace isn’t being self-assured; it’s being assured that God is good.

Francis Frangipane wrote in an email concerning spiritual warfare:

We will never know Christ’s victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. When you truly have authority over something, you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory.

The disciples were scared at the storm on the lake, while Jesus slept in peace (Matthew 8:23-27). When they woke Him up He didn’t fight against the storm or fear it. He used His authority in perfect peace.

When did Jesus ever argue with demons? Even satan was simply answered with truth.

Jesus was so calm as He stood before Pilate that in a matter of moments, it was no longer Jesus who was on trial, but satan, Pilate and the religious establishment in Israel.

Francis Frangipane continued:

Satan’s arsenal consists of such things as fear, worry, doubt and self-pity. Every one of these weapons robs us of peace and leaves us troubled inside. Do you want to discern where the enemy is coming against you? In the network of your relationships, wherever you do not have peace–you have war. Conversely, wherever you have peace–you have victory. When satan hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ’s victory.

Paul told the Philippians:

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. Philippians 1:28 (New Living Translation)

He’s saying that our peace is a sign to others that God is in control and we’re on the winning side. You’ll remember a couple of days ago I confessed I need to be careful how I react to actions, attitudes and spirits that set themselves up against the knowledge of Christ. I tend to get aggressive and confrontational. At least I did, until God decided to teach me more about peace. He’s doing it by showing me Jesus.

Jesus was never in a hurry. He ignored ignorant arguments. He took time for people. He took time to laugh. Even the darkest moments He spent in prayer. He was overwhelmed with grief, but never crushed. He never used His circumstance as an excuse to step out of the will of God. It’s tough to understand His peace.

That’s the kind of peace I’m after and it’s the kind of peace I get when I live out Philippians 4:4-8.

We’ll conclude with Francis Frangipane’s conclusion:

Rest precedes rule. Peace precedes power. Do not seek to rule over the devil until you are submitting to God’s rule over you. The focal point of all victory comes from seeking God until you find Him, and having found Him, allowing His presence to fill your spirit with His peace. From full assurance at His right hand, as you rest in His victory, so will you rule in the midst of your enemies.

So seek peace and pursue it.

Prayer:

Lord, I know You are the God of peace and have peace that passes understanding available to me as I rejoice, am gentle, am thankful and take everything to You in prayer. Spirit, help me to always fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable. Help me to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise so that Christ’s authority in me can be seen.

Challenge:

Seek peace by seeking God. Allow His presence to fill you with His peace. Don’t be intimated by people and circumstance. Spend time with God to be reminded He is good and He is great.

Declaration:

I choose to change my negative environment by seeking God and pursuing His peace.

Peace or Understanding?

Truth:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

When you are going through a situation that doesn’t line up with the will of God expressed in Scripture, it’s natural for anyone to want to make sense of it. We need to find purpose in the problem. We want to know a reason why. It’s in our nature – our fallen nature – to want to make reasonable sense out of life. If we make sense of everything, where’s our life of faith?

God has promised us a peace that passes understanding but how can we expect that if we worry about trying to understand everything about what we’re going through?

God’s peace passes understanding. Why would we want to settle for understanding?

Asking “Why?” usually gets our focus onto what God hasn’t done. We point the finger at God and others.  It’s counter-intuitive for living un-offended at God.

So how do we get the peace that passes understanding?

1.    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Choose joy despite the circumstance.

2.    Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5)

Don’t use your hurt as an excuse to hurt others. Too often we do that to those who are closest to us first and most. God is gentle with us, be gentle in your words and actions.

3.   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:7)

Take all your concerns and leave them with God. Pray the Psalms if you need a good lament, but be sure to turn it back to the good things about God.

Wow, that sure seems like a good lesson to fast from negativity.

It does appear strange to give up the right to understand, but the secret is we can only make sense of some situations when we have the peace that passes understanding. We don’t get that peace by trying to understand.

True, at times we will make sense of some very negative events this side of heaven.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2)

But it’s also true when we choose to live un-offended at God, sometimes understanding it all just won’t matter once we have the peace that passes it.

Prayer:

Lord, I need the peace that passes understanding. I call on my Lord who spoke “Peace” to the storm and it obeyed. In my life there is a storm and I need You to change me or change my situation, or change both. Lord, I will rejoice in You always, my gentleness will be evident to all, and I will present all my requests to You with thanksgiving. You are good and You are great. Thank You, Lord.

Challenge:

Rejoice, be gentle, and take everything to God with thanksgiving. Live life with the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

Declaration:

I choose to live un-offended at God. I agree with the Bible that God is Good and God is Great. Even though I don’t understand my circumstance, I give up my right to understand so that I can have the peace that passes understanding.

Truth:

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

When we were in New Zealand, everyone was so laid-back compared with what we were used to in North America. When you signaled to change lanes on a busy motorway, people would actually give way to you. It was astounding.

Few were in a hurry. “No worries” is the standard reply. No one seemed busy… unless you were in the church.

I spoke to some of my pastor friends about this: “How can you reach a culture that’s laid-back, when you seem to take pride in being busy?” I suppose what I meant was, how can the church teach peace when they don’t experience it?

I’m not pointing fingers here. In North America it’s so much worse. We add church programs into a busy schedule and feel holiest when we are close to burnout. How can we have “feet fitted with the gospel of peace” when we don’t have peace?

But we can have peace. It’s our choice to obey God.

We can fix our thoughts on Him (Isaiah 26:3) and take all of our requests to Him with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-8). We can forgive others for our sake and choose to live un-offended at God. We can cease striving and give up our right to understand so we can have the peace that passes understanding.

So will you?

Prayer:

Lord, in my weakness You are strong and I need Your strength to help me choose peace. I need Your peace to share Your good news. I need Your peace to calm me in the storm. I need Your peace so others will see Your goodness and greatness in me.  I choose today to seek peace and pursue it.

Challenge:

Take everything you are worrying about and thank God for the answers that are promised in His word. Meditate on Matthew 6:7-34.

Declaration:

I choose to reflect the light of the Son to the side of the world that’s away from the Son. I choose to put on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Truth:

But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.
Jeremiah 23:22 (New International Version)

Thought:

Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) because everything not done by faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Faith is our obedient response to hearing the voice of God.

Faith is what protects us; it is our shield. The Roman shield covered everything the soldier was responsible for. So to our faith cover us. Faith is an excellent verb and a debilitating noun.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the present-spoken words of God (Romans 10:17).

How do we know what we’re responsible for until we read it in the Bible or it’s quickened in our Spirits?

What this means is we need to regularly have some quiet time with God. My brother-in-law coined my favorite term for it : “shut-up and listen time.”

Jesus was pronounced “Immanuel” – God with us. We don’t live in the 400 years before John, when God didn’t speak to His people. We don’t live in a time before Samuel when the word of God was rare. We are in a relationship with the One who spoke the worlds into being. Because of the blood of Christ we have direct access to the Father. Because of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to communicate with God beyond our understanding. God still speaks to us today.

John 15:15 says that when we obey God, we are friends with Christ, no longer servants because servants don’t we can know the plans of their Master. But Jesus lets us know what he learns from the Father.

Do we take the time to listen? When we listen, we can walk by faith. When we don’t take time to listen, is it really faith we’re walking in?

When you come before Him, quiet your Spirit, focus on His love and expect Him to speak, He does!

And He still speaks the words of life today (John 6:8). He speaks peace to the storms and there is fullness of joy in His presence. When we quiet ourselves and invite Him to speak, He will. When we’re quick to obey – that’s faith.

Test it and see.

Prayer:

Father, I come in the name of Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and praise and as I wait expectantly upon You now, I do my best to listen to Your voice. I stand before You, Almighty God and seek Your counsel. Please reveal any information I need; any strategies that I can employ right now so that I can be knowing and doing what You want.

Challenge:

Spend some “shut-up and listen time” (quiet time) alone with God today. Finish up your requests and leave time for Him to speak to you. Focus on His love. Cease striving and rest. Expect Him to speak. Some worshipful music can help. If you can’t do it for more than two minutes, take a scripture and think about it from every possible angle with the love of God in full view.

Declaration:

I choose to put on the full armor of God. I put on truth. I put on righteousness. I put on peace. I put on faith. I put on salvation. And I choose to learn to use the word of God with great power and in love.

Truth:

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Philemon 1:6 (New International Version)

Thought:

The shoes described in Ephesians 6 were strong, heavy sandals that were durable and provided mobility and availability to the commander.  In our case, our commander is Jesus.

We need to be prepared to have an intelligent account of the Gospel. So many Christians don’t even understand the basics of the Gospel. The kerygma (message) of Paul is straightforward -

Jesus Christ has come in the flesh He died for our sins, was crucified, buried and raised from the dead, He ascended to heaven and will one day return to judge the living and the dead so repent!

It is a Gospel of Peace. We can only transfer peace to others if we have it ourselves. If we don’t have peace then it’s no use trying to give it to someone else. If you need peace, meditate on, and put into practice Isaiah 26:3, Romans 15:13 and Philippians 4:6-9.

Erwin McManus has an incredible story about a radio talk show host asking him: “So are everyone but Christians going to hell?”

He responded with something similar to, “Let me be up-front, I am a follower of Christ and know that He said He is the way to the Father. But He also didn’t come into the world to condemn the world, so that’s not something I can do either.”

I enjoy Erwin’s thinking because it’s similar to my own. I was speaking to a Comparative Religions Class at a local university about the early church councils. It led beautifully into the question, “Is Jesus God?” I asked, “Have you ever been offended by someone telling you Jesus is the only way?” All but three were quick to agree.

I responded, “I’m a follower of Jesus and I ask you for forgiveness for others who name His name and use His words to condemn you. I’m sorry.”

That got their attention, so I continued, “It would be perfectly legitimate to feel offended at Jesus, if He was just a man and He said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ But what if He was more than a man? What if He was the one who put 400 million stars in our galaxy and 400 million galaxies in our universe, and who knows how many more universes there are left to imagine? It would mean He wasn’t being exclusive when He said He was the way, it would mean He was being inclusive, making a way where we couldn’t make one on our own.”

If the teacher wasn’t a Muslim, I would have tried an altar call. People respond to a gospel of peace.

Having your shoes on means often doing for God right there what He tells you to do. You obey without hesitation. You don’t stall in communicating the Gospel of Peace in a way that meets people’s needs right there and then.

Are you ready to put into practice the will of God expressed in Scripture?

Prayer:

Lord, I know You want me to be active in sharing my faith. I know You’re not willing that any should perish. I know You will tell me what to say. I know You want my conversation full of grace seasoned with salt so I’ll know how to answer everyone. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for empowering me to be Christ’s witness. Empower me to make the most of every opportunity today to plant, water, or harvest Your word. I’ll do it all for the glory of God.

Challenge:

Find someone to share the Gospel of Peace with today. Pray knowing its God’s will for you to share your faith. Pray believing the Holy Spirit will teach you what to say. Then share your stories with us

Declaration:

I choose to put on the full armor of God. I put on truth. I put on righteousness. I put on peace. I put on faith. I put on salvation. And I choose to learn to use the word of God with great power and in love.

Out of the Gospel Faith Messenger conference with Rodney Francis, I started attending a bi-weekly prayer group that met in the home of Bill and Anne Ridd. It didn’t take long before on alternating weeks a group met in our home.

I would usually be tucking in the kids for the night when people arrived.

Trevor welcomed them in and they’d get started. He was assuming I knew them from the conference or the Ridd’s. Often I didn’t and Trevor didn’t know I didn’t know them until they left and he asked me questions about them.

Every week different people came. Every week something different happened. Some nights got pretty wild, others seemed reflective and deep.

It was a time to build eternal relationships, a safe environment in which we could exercise our God-given tools of the trade. The Holy Spirit was always present, teaching and directing and we were all very eager to learn. We sang, we danced, we waited, and we prayed … heaven opened over us.

I had the opportunity to pray for people I new nothing about. As the Holy Spirit instructed me I would pray and speak encouragement. It amazed me when the words I spoke had such impact on individuals – perhaps even surprised me at first. But then why should it be such a surprise when God’s intent is to speak to his beloved creation.

I love the prophetic.  My simple definition of it is having an open ear in heaven and a willing mouth here on earth. There are so many people in this world so hungry and in need of their creator. Prophecy is like love letters from God. I’m not a prophet but I long to exercise this gift, this tool in order to speak love and life into the lives of people the Lord sets across my path. I once heard someone say that we are potential answers to other people’s prayers.

How about you? When was the last time you were the answer to someone’s prayer? Make it your prayer to be that today.

–Karen Lund

It’s a hilarious story I heard at my Grandma’s funeral. If you knew her, you’d know how embarrassed she would have been when it happened. Her church was putting together a cookbook or something like that and she was asked to include her favorite verse.

Well, in at least two places in her house she had plaques with Isaiah 26:3 written to remind her of the peace she had at her disposal. When life happened and troubles came, she could remind herself of the promise of God. Peace was so much of her character; it was an obvious verse to include in the cookbook.

Somehow the verse was put in wrong and someone looked up the reference by her name. It was Isaiah 20:4 “So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”

Needless to say she was quite taken back when she was asked why it was her favorite verse.

We didn’t have peace in New Zealand. I was turned down for jobs I was over qualified for, qualified for, and capable of doing. “Why God did you call us down here?” I couldn’t adequately describe it at the time, but I knew I didn’t give up everything just to re-establish ourselves in a new country, doing the same thing we could be doing at home.

I had an idea for a business I was getting excited about but one Sunday out-of-the-blue God said “It’s a waste of time.” I took it hard. But God was the one I wanted to keep in step with so I gave it back to him.

The next morning I was about to start on a ministry website I had agreed to set up, but I knew I needed to talk to God. I went for a walk and poured my complaint out to God.

It ended with a cry from my heart: “What do you want me to do?” The response was instant and was without doubt the voice of God. He said “I’ve given you time to write, why are you doing everything but?”

I didn’t worry about fitting society’s expectation any longer. God had commissioned me and when I heard his voice, I had complete peace to do his will. We’d all have a lot less stress, if we waited on God to hear his voice. How much time do you give him to speak to you?

Would you describe your life as one of peace?

-Trevor Lund