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Plans for You

Jeremiah 1:5  NKJV 

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you... "

God knew you, as He knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you.

When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that He has a purpose in mind for you.

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Are You Ready?

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Dreams of the Heart

Jump Start Your Dreams

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he". 

What  is the dream that God's placed in your heart? I'm not asking if you have one, I already know it's there because God gives all of us dreams.

I've  seen people do all kinds of things to their dreams. Some people bury them so deep in their hearts in order to protect them from the criticism of others. Some people set them out of sight so they don't have to think about them anymore. And some people finally just give up on their dreams because it just seems to be too much to hold on to.

So many of our greatest inventions came about as a result of a dream, a vision and finally a goal that God placed into someone's heart. Dreams like: electricity, automobiles, and flying planes. Dreams like: a bread toasters, microwaves, frozen pizza. Dreams like: having your own garage or beauty shop or creating lovely jewelry out of old bottle caps. All of these things are dreams that God placed into someone's heart - but it's takes holding on to those dreams and then taking the necessary steps to see them come to fruition.

If  your dream needs a jump-start, there are two things I want you to remember. First, you need to get a vision that's clear. And second, you must keep your vision in front of you at all times. Don't let anyone tell you that it's foolish or a waste of time or silly. This is your dream that God placed inside of you and it's up to you to protect it, nourish it and baby it along until your dream becomes a reality.

But  having a vision doesn't mean that it will instantly appear. God is every bit as interested in the process of vision as He is in the end result. Enjoy it together.

The  apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13 that he had learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. In other words, he never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment, he was always looking forward to where he could be.

That  means you, like Paul, need to find a balance between contentment and ambition. Here's the key: Learn to enjoy where you are on the way to where you're going.

When  you have a dream or a vision, you have to keep it in front of you all the time. If it helps, write it down in detail. Make a list (shoot! make several lists!) What you need, what you want, what you need to do- step by step by step; learning as you go. And remember, God will help you live the dream He's given you, step-by-step, one day at a time.

                                           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precious Jesus, even though I don't always feel like it and life tries to get me to quit, I believe You have a great plan for my life. Inside of me is a dream, a vision, a goal and I choose to trust You to help me live the dream You've given me. I choose to trust in You more than I trust my circumstances. Help me to hang on to my dream in spite of others that say I am wasting my time or that it will never happen. Guide me gently into Your divine plan for my life. It is in Your Holy Name that I pray and give thanks for the dream You have placed within me. Amen and Amen.

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Living Life In the Vine

A Life of Weeds and Roses

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing…” Isaiah 35:1-2

God says that your wilderness will blossom, and not just blossom, but it will blossom “abundantly.”  Can you claim and receive into your spirit this Word today from the Book of Isaiah?

If so, but you really are not seeing the evidence of it in your life, then dig around a little in your rose garden and see if you have believed any lies about yourself or lies about those around you. Lies from the enemy will stunt your growth. A lack of peace and a stunted spiritual growth are symptoms that nasty little weed lies have been embraced; rooted and have allowed to grow. And we can not have that; can we?

Just as a natural rose garden must be cleared of the weeds and debris, the heart needs to be cleared of any lies we have believed. Lies we have believed about ourselves and lies we have believed about others.

Did you know that every thought that you have is not your own?

Thoughts like: “I’m worthless”, “I can’t do anything right”, “I’m not good enough,” or "he'll never change" are not from God, they are from the enemy. The enemy plants thoughts like these into our minds and we embrace them fully as if they were  the truth. If you believe his lies, they can choke out the truth; much like weeds choke out the life in the garden. Believing lies will utterly destroy your life. Lies will kill your life. Lies will steal your life. Lies just plain make you miserable. 

These weeds in your garden must be pulled out so the roses can grow. But not just grow but flourish in abundance. To break out in joy and song.

Look to your own garden. What is growing in it, roses or weeds? If your life is not in full bloom, clear out every the lie you have believed and you will soon blossom abundantly.

What Does The Holy Word Say?

Bible Word Study
WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?

1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin". 

COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS
THE STRONGEST BOND - BUILT TO LAST FOREVER

A covenant is one of the strongest types of agreement known to man. By definition, it's "a pledge, vow, or promise between two or more parties to carry out the terms agreed on."

A covenant is not based on feelings, but on agreement. When you are in a covenant relationship, you love when it's good and when it's bad ... regardless of the circumstances, you love.

Relationships affect our lives like no other resource. Our friends have the potential to influence us for greatness and godliness, and we can influence other people in the same way. It doesn't matter how strong you are in the Word. It doesn't matter what a great person of faith you are.

Regardless of what a powerful prayer warrior you may be or how "spiritual" you are ... If your relationships aren't what they ought to be, God is going to have a hard time getting good things into your life. Relationships are to be based on the love of God that's been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit.

WORD STUDY
Study on the following words

'Walk' (Greek wôk):

1. The gait of a human or other biped in which the feet are lifted alternately with one part of a foot always on the ground
2. To move over a surface by taking steps with the feet at a slower pace
3. To go or travel on foot 
 

'Fellowship' (Greek fe'l-o'shp):

1. Friendship; comradeship
2. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms
3. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences,


'Cleanses' (Greek kle'nz):

1. To free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean.
2. To make or become clear by the removal of impurities
3. The act or process of removing physical impurities

God's Word holds some powerful promises where relationships are concerned. If we follow after God's principles of covenant relationships, we will surely know true prosperity in every area of our lives.

Luke 2:52
How does this verse relate to us and our relationships?
 

Psalms 133:1-3
What does this verse say about good relationships?
 

Proverbs18:24
How can we be sure to be the right kind of friend?

GOD'S DOORWAY

Nearly everything that comes into your life; good or bad, comes through the vehicle of relationships. When God wants to bring blessing, increase, instruction or encouragement to you, He'll almost always use a relationship to do it.
 
The Hand of God at Work

When God wants to bless you financially, He doesn't stick a giant hand out of the clouds and drop a bag of gold on your head. Or begin floating down $100 dollar bills from Heaven. No; He'll move on someone's heart to be the instrument of that blessing.

When God wants to encourage you, you don't hear a booming voice from Heaven saying, "Be thou encouraged my child." Nor will you see a celestial note float down from the sky. No, He sends a brother or sister in Christ to put an arm around you, give you a squeeze and say, "I sure do appreciate you." The same is true for every form of blessing and help God wants to give you.

The Devil's Door, Too

Unfortunately, blessing isn't the only thing entering your life through the door of relationships. If your relationships aren't right, trouble, heartache and disappointment will come waltzing through that door with painful frequency. The devil works overtime to keep your relationships from prospering. He'll do everything in his power to keep you and your spouse mad at each other. He'll pull every trick in the book to sow discord in your home, in your workplace and in your church.

Standing on the Promises with the Anointing:

Like any of the promises of God, these promises concerning your relationships don't automatically bloom in your life the day you are born-again. They are seeds that must be planted in your heart and cultivated through faith, confession and corresponding action. As you make a quality decision to prosper relationally, the anointing and power of God will be released in your relationships like never before.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON

The person we're at odds with may be the one God wants to use to meet our needs. But if we've spoken badly of them or refused to forgive them, how can God help us? The management of our relationships will certainly affect and impact our quality of life. God does things in the earth through human beings. Even the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, came through the faith of Abraham and the faith of a teenage girl by the name of Mary, who believed God.

People in the world today know little about the unconditional love of God; the kind of love that abides and endures through changing times and the stormy winds of adversity and uncertainty. People everywhere long for relationships motivated by such a love. And in the midst of the chaos and unpredictability of the world today, God has made a way through Jesus Christ for each of us to have that kind of a relationship with God Himself and with those He has brought into our lives ... spouses, children, family, friends and neighbors.

Tend carefully to the Relationship Garden between you and God. The bounty is truly awesome!

Breaking Yokes Part VII. Conclusion

~ Breaking Yokes - Part VII. - Conclusion ~


So; here we are at the conclusion of this very important study. By now you should have in your possession most every Scripture that was ever written Just For You! to break the yokes of negative thinking and come out from under bondage. And make no mistake about it; It Is Bondage. Rather it is the chains of the Isrealites; prior to Moses freeing them from Pharoh and leading them out of Egypt or your own feelings of negative self worth- Chains are Chains. You either have on shackles and leg irons or you have on the Ephesians Armour.

I can not urge you enough to go back and study these eighty lessons. Read a little here and a little there. Print them out and make yourself a booklet. Do whatever you want with them but study them with all of your power and all of your might and then go out and share what you have been taught here these many weeks. Ultimately; that is what it is all about. Sharing what you have been given.

Someday, at some point, I'd like to hear if this has helped you in any way in your walk with the Lord. That's my reward. Being able to Praise the Lord right along side you! because finally and at lost last you have come out of Egypt and left your chains behind.

God Bless You in the Reading of the Word!
      In His Service,
~ Dr. Angel Koerner Ph.D ~


36. That Person Has Really Gone Too Far. They've Really Devastated Me.

Today we're fasting from the thought that says: "That person has really gone too far. They've really devastated me." 

Too often we give people more power over our lives than what they actually have. By thinking they can have that big of an effect on you, you become enslaved to their whims and their attitude flavor of the month.

1. Fix your mind on Jesus - look at His life.
He was denied by His close disciple, Peter, betrayed by Judas, and forsaken by the rest of His disciples. He was lied about, accused and maligned. None of it stopped Him. In fact, He used each betrayal or personal blow against Him as a path to God's greater purpose for His life.

2. CELEBRATE when someone hurts you, betrays you or accuses you.
It says in 1 Corinthians 11:23, "in the night He was betrayed (while His betrayal was in progress!), He took bread with His disciples..." In the gospel of Mark, he writes afterwards, "They went to the Mount of Olives and sang a hymn."

3. See people's stumbling stones as stepping stones.
Jesus knew that Judas' actions would only serve God's purpose, one way or another. Don't give people's actions PERMISSION to defeat you or hinder you. Rather, use them to step into more of God's will.

4. Stay ATTACHED (one meaning for love = attached) to the promises of God's Word.
Psalm 119:165 says, "Those who LOVE (stay attached to) God's Word have great peace, and nothing offends them." We insulate ourselves from being offended when we love God's Word more than our feelings.

5. Get rid of retaliation thinking.
Entrust yourself to the One who judges righteously.
1 Peter 2:24 says Jesus kept handing Himself over to God, when reviled and falsely accused. When they did their worst to Him, He kept entrusting Himself to the hands of God. Do that today - ENTRUST YOURSELF TO THE HANDS OF GOD.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

No matter what anyone says or does to me, I will not be devastated by it. I will not give them that kind of power over me. I fix my mind on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.

I choose to celebrate, rejoice and live happily when someone accuses me or betrays me. I will not live in denial, as if it didn't happen, but I will celebrate what Jesus did for me, anyway. I will see other's actions as an opportunity for me to step further into God's will.

I trust that God will cause all things to work together for my good (Romans 8:29). I stay attached to what God says about it and I REFUSE to get offended.

God will avenge me. I will not take vengeance or become bitter. I will continue to entrust myself to Him, as I know that He will judge righteously, and defend my cause!



37. My Life Is Out Of Control.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: "My life is out of control!" No it's not! 

That's what the devil wants you to think. He wants you to feel helpless and "under" the circumstances. When you think this way, you get discouraged. You lose hope. You give into things. Like a jellyfish, you are carried by the prevailing current.

1. Think: Above.
Stop for a moment and understand what I'm saying here. Think "above" - think from a higher point of view. Look down at life rather than "up" at it. When Elisha's servant saw from "above", he realized there were more for him than those against him. (2 Kings 6:14-17)
Notice, God didn't add any chariots. They were always there. Elisha's servant just couldn't see them, because he wasn't thinking "above." THINK ABOVE.

2. Don't see the bigger picture today.
That's not a typo! Think of your situation and your world as small. Think of yourself bigger. Don't forget - how YOU see yourself, is how life will see you. That's how the devil will see you. That's how your mountain will see you. If you see yourself bigger than the mountain (Greater is He that is in you - that makes you big!), then the mountain will respect what you say when you tell it to move!

3. The best day of your life is the day you decide your choices are your own; therefore, your life is your own.
No excuses. No one to blame. Remember the lame man at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. He stayed in his condition because he told Jesus what he had believed for all those years: "I have no one to help me." (John 5:7) DECIDE TO OWN YOUR CHOICES and you will own the life God wants you to have.

4. Focus on the inside, not the outside.
If you're like me, there are several things on the outside that are not fully under control, but that's not my job. My job is to get control of the inside. That's what this fast from wrong thinking is about. It's taking care of the INSIDE. Deal with your thoughts by continually going over these verses, these mindsets. YOU ARE IN CONTROL IF YOU CONTROL YOUR THOUGHT LIFE.

5. Take control of your day, one thought at a time.
Don't be overwhelmed. Isaiah 28:13 says that we build God's Word and God's thoughts in our lives: "line upon line, precept upon precept."

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am in control of my life, because I am in control of my thoughts. I rule my life by ruling my thoughts. My thoughts liberate my emotions, my health, my relationships and my whole life.

I think ABOVE beginning today. I choose to look down at life, rather than look up at it. I see it from God's point of view. I'm bigger than my problem, bigger than the mountain, bigger than any enemy I face today.

Greater, larger and more dominant is HE that is in me, than he that is in the world. TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, because I have control of the choices I make.

I will not stay in a defeated, lonely, sick, depressed condition another day of my life. I will focus on the inside. I know the thoughts of victory that I am developing will take care of my outside. This fast from wrong thinking is working IN ME, in Jesus' name.




38.  Why Don't I Have More?

As we continue our Fast from Wrong Thinking, I really want to help you get the most out of your relationship with God. He is in you. He is with you! Yet, so many people have asked how to deepen their walk with God.

I believe one of the keys is: fasting from the thought that says, "Why don't I have more?" (Whether it's more time, money, success, friends, etc.)

I remember complaining to God a while back, as I watched other people in my field getting blessed, having quicker success, etc., while I just steadily plodded along, little by little. When I was done whining, I had a sort of "Solomon" moment and heard the Lord ask me this: "Would you rather have those things, or substance and deep meaning in your relationship with me?"

Knowing that I couldn't say "both," I responded- of course- with the obvious answer. Then I heard this: "The things you've gone through and learned slowly are the precious secrets that you have built your life upon. Now you have something of substance to give that no one else can offer in the same way." That set me free. Then He said, "Now more will come."

I wouldn't trade the depth of relationship with God for anything in this world!

How do we fast from the thought that says: "Why don't I have more?"

1. Choose His face, rather than His hand.
(You'll end up with both.) Spend time with God- start with a verse, or these thoughts, etc.

2. Think positively about your adversity, rather than striving to avoid it.
Let me be clear. I am not saying that adversity comes from God, BUT IT DOES COME. Psalm 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Know that adversity comes. Expect Him to deliver you. Expect to become better as result.)

3. See your life is a gift from God and for others.
Realize that your relationship with God and your life experiences have uniquely qualified you to make a difference in this world. Everyone has a motivational gift according to Romans 12:6-8. Perhaps to show mercy, or lead others through servanthood, or the gift of making money to give.

4. Don't ever want what other people have.
Solomon said, "Give me what you have prescribed." This doesn't mean to settle for less than all that God has for you; but don't determine what He has for you based on what other people have. God knows what He's doing in your life. Philippians 1:6 says, "Faithful is He who began a good work in you. He will complete it until the day of His return."

5. THINK SECURELY.
God has reserved a place at the table for you. God told Saul not to worry about where he stood compared to others. "There is a place at the table and a portion that has been set aside for you." (1 Samuel 9:23, 24)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I choose the face of God. I look positively at adversity, rather than fighting to avoid it. I expect God to deliver me from all afflictions and trials.

I choose to see my life as a gift from God and for others. I have a unique and special gift that will make a difference in this world. I won't settle for less than what God has for me, but I will not desire or covet what others have.

I know that God has a portion reserved for me. He has a place for me at His table, and I think securely, therefore I live securely. In Jesus' name.




39. I Wonder If I'm Doing Enough For God.

Have you ever asked the question, "I wonder if I'm doing enough for God?" This kind of thinking produces in us a "works-mentality" and hinders the freedom and joy that God wants us to experience. Let's fast from it!

Christianity is not a life of attainment and achievement. It's a life of acknowledgment. This means to recognize, appreciate and accept.

The problem with so many believers is that they are striving to get God to do something or try to make God's promises come to pass in their lives. Gang, listen to 3 of the most important words you'll ever hear: IT'S ALREADY DONE!

1. Everything God has is yours!
You have a covenant with Him through the blood of Jesus. Luke 15:31 is a picture of God and us, the father said to his son: "All that is mine is yours!"

2. THINK "BLESSED" not "cursed."
You are blessed not cursed. Stop thinking that since you're mother or father had a disease or anger, or some other problem, that you will have it too. You are of a new blood line - the blood of Jesus. You have a new DNA - the DNA of Jesus. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us on the cross, that the blessing of Abraham might come to us."

3. IT IS FINISHED -
ahh, the magnificent final words of Jesus on the cross! (John 19:30) There's nothing more that has to be done for you to be saved. Nothing more that has to be done for you to be accepted by God. Nothing more that has to be done for you to be approved and loved! Nothing more that has to be done for you to be free.

4. Realize that your job is to acknowledge and to recognize.
God has done it. You must accept it. This is the true meaning of "confess." It means to acknowledge. We're not trying to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN by confessing God's Word. We're acknowledging what is already done, what is already ours, and that's what brings it out of the invisible world into the visible world. Think about "confession of sin." When you confessed your sin, that's not when you sinned. You were simply acknowledging what was ALREADY done. When we "confess God's promises," it's the same thing. We're acknowledging what is already done. Philemon 1:6 says your faith becomes effective by acknowledging every good thing that is already in you.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I have a covenant with God, already! I'm not trying to get God to do something for me. I'm going to focus on believing what He has already done. This is what the Christian life is about - acknowledging what is already in us, and recognizing what He has already done.

I'm already blessed. I'm already healed. I'm already everything that God says I am. I will live a life of acknowledgment - recognizing and praising God for what is already mine through the blood of Jesus.

I'm "blessing" conscious rather than "cursed" conscious. I'm connected to the blood of Jesus; therefore, I have the DNA of blessing. Goodness and mercy WILL follow me all the days of my life.

I accept that I already have in me everything pertaining to life and godliness. I lack no good thing. It's already done! IT IS FINISHED.



40. It's Just Impossible.

As we come to the close of our Study, we need to take the limits off of our thinking. In order to do so, we have to fast from the thought that says: "It's IMPOSSIBLE."

Jesus said "All things are possible to him who believes!" (Mark 9:23)

What is in your life today that you have given up on or considered impossible? Whatever it is (provided it's legal!), don't ever give up. NEVER NEVER NEVER give up!

There is no greater story than the resurrection of Jesus! If a man can rise from the dead, anything is possible!

1. Think about the resurrection every day!
This reveals the miraculous power of God to do anything!

2. Eliminate thinking that says, "I can't believe that."
Cynicism and skepticism have filled our culture. We need to get out of the habit of questioning and doubting the possibility of things. When you think there's no way, JESUS IS THE WAY!

3. Deal with the real problem.
It's not whether God will help. It's whether we believe. The man with the demon-possessed son came to Jesus and said, "If you can do anything, help us..." Jesus responded and said, "If you can believe..." See it's not whether God can do it. It's whether we can believe it. And remember that faith comes from hearing God's Word. (Romans 10:17)

4. Believe that your words move mountains.
Matthew 17:20 says, "You shall say to this mountain 'Remove from here to there', and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

5. Meditate on people who had an impossible situation turn around. Abraham was 99 years old when he had a son. Sarah was 90! Moses parted the Red Sea. The list goes on and on. Find those people in the Bible and fill your mind with their testimonies.
Hebrews 12:1 says, "We have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us..." If it could happen for them, it can happen for you and IT WILL, if you don't throw away your confidence in God's promise...because THE ONLY THING IN THIS WORLD THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE is that: it is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Since Jesus rose from the dead, anything is possible. I expect impossible situations to become possible today. I CAN BELIEVE THAT!

Jesus is my way when there seems to be no way. I BELIEVE GOD CAN AND WILL DO ANYTHING IN HIS WORD THAT I BELIEVE.

Since my words can move mountains, nothing will be impossible to me. I will not throw away my confidence in God's promises, because there is only one thing in this world that is impossible - for God to lie. Therefore, His promises WILL happen in my life, beginning today!

* Today as we approach the end of our fast from wrong thinking, I want you to acknowledge (to recognize) some things. And as you do, I hope you'll join me in taking a personal Communion at some point. Just have your wine/waffer or grape juice/bread ready, set a date and then carry through with it.

See; communion is a RECOGNITION that He is already with you, in you, and for you. Remember in Luke when the 2 men on the road to Emmaus thought Jesus was a stranger. When they took bread, it says "they recognized Him." You see, He was already with them, but when they took communion they were able to recognize and EXPERIENCE His presence. Take your communion and enter into the presense of God!

1 Cor. 11:23-26 NIV
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.


Concluding Communion Prayer:

Father, we thank You for this opportunity to come together as a united Christian front, the many membered body of Christ to partake of the Supper in honor of You.

You!! who are so worthy of all praise and glory. You! who watches over our comings and our goings. Lord thank you for the price You paid on our behalf at Calvary. And we know that even during that painful time You saw us through the ages and were pleased at the people we would become and will continue to become as we grow in You.

Thank You Jesus for loving us and guiding us as we walk this Path called Righteousness. Though oftentimes it is difficult- You are with us and it is always worth it.

Reveal to each of us in Your perfect timing those things that You would have us to do that will bring You the Greater Glory.

It Is In Your Precious Name We Pray, Amen!

Breaking Yokes - Part VI.

Breaking Yokes - Part VI.


Continuing on with our Study on breaking the yokes of negative thinking that we have been bound up in for years. It is so past time to let these things stop eating away at us. Amen?!


31. I feel guilty

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says: "I feel guilty."

Ever thought that or felt that way? Honestly; I use to be so eat up in guilt that I didn't need anyone else to beat me up- I did a good enough job on my own. But I don't beat myself up anymore and I don't allow anyone else to either. And neither should you!

Or how about its cousin thoughts: "You don't do enough. You're not good enough. You don't say the right things. You don't take care of yourself. You don't measure up. You don't do as much for others as you should. You aren't a very good Christian. You aren't a good enough mother, wife, husband, sister, brother, son, daughter etc. etc." Blast if the list isn't endless when it comes to us feeling like we aren't absolutely Perfect people- something we can NEVER BE but that doesn't stop us from feeling like a complete and total failure because we aren't.  Ohhh the guilt. Yes, Guilt.

All this line of thinking produces is guilt, which leads to self-hatred, anger toward others, bad decisions, harsh words, procrastination and fear.

So often, we feel guilt because we THINK we don't do enough for God and for others. We're not good and holy enough.

This thinking has enslaved people for centuries.

Nothing seems to rob us of our true purpose more than thoughts and feelings of guilt.

God doesn't motivate by guilt. That's manipulation. God motivates by love. Romans 2:4 says "It's the love and kindness of God that leads us to change."

Often people put a guilt trip on us, to get us to do something or to give in to them. God isn't like that, and He wants you free.

Let's fast from guilt:

1. Jesus declares you: NOT GUILTY. This doesn't mean that you've never done wrong. This means, that He washes your wrong with His blood.

2. See what God sees. Accept Colossians 1:22 which says through His blood "He presents you holy and faultless and unblameable in the Father's eyes."

3. Meditate on Job 10:7 which says "According to your knowledge, I AM INDEED NOT GUILTY..."

4. When you blow it, don't deny it. Admit it; confess it. 1 John 1:9 says "If you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you and to CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

5. It's already done! Believe that it is already done! Hebrews 1:3 says "He cleansed us from our sin."

6. Stop thinking that you have to FEEL GUILTY to be forgiven. Sometimes we think we owe it to people to feel guilty and feel bad for everything. Stop thinking that. You don't owe anyone. Don't think guilt somehow pays for something. The blood of Jesus paid it all. It's an insult to His blood, when we feel like we owe God guilt or we owe it to others to wallow in guilt.

7. Stop beating yourself up about what you haven't done. How? Live in the "now". Living in the now, stops your mind from bombarding you about the past and future. Enjoy that moment in the now. When you're praying, the devil says "you should be cleaning." When you're cleaning, the devil says, "you should be reading your Bible." Shut that garbage up. Live in the now. Hebrews 11:1 says "NOW FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for." And 2 Corinthians 6:2 says "NOW IS THE TIME OF SALVATION."

8. Rest in the fact that you don't have to be perfect. God is not holding you to a perfect standard. Jesus is your perfection. JUST REST!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Jesus has declared me: NOT GUILTY. Even when I feel I don't do enough, or that I'm not good enough, God says FAITH IN HIM IS ENOUGH.

I don't have to feel guilt to be forgiven and I am not going to feel guilty when I blow it. I will receive God's forgiveness, since He already cleansed from my sin. I will admit it, receive His mercy and move on.

I stop TODAY, beating myself up about all that I haven't done, or have done. I choose to live in the now. I will enjoy the moment that I'm in and praise God in the midst of it.

I rest in the fact that He is my perfection. I don't have to be perfect. He already is, and I put my faith in Him.



32.  I'm Not Worthy. I Don't Deserve To Be Blessed
 (After All I've Done Wrong).


The battles of life are won or lost between our ears. It's in our heads. 

Satan understands that the root to everything in our lives is what we think about. That's why he fights so much to fill your mind with wrong thinking. But we have declared war on wrong thinking!

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says:

"I'm not worthy. I don't deserve to be blessed (after all I've done wrong)."

I can't be the only who has had this thought. The below steps take us deeper in our freedom from guilt.

1. Stop focusing on your "wrongs," and focus on His "rights."
We've all done enough wrong in life, to send us straight to hell. But God doesn't judge us based on our right or wrong. He judges us based on what Jesus did right. We just need to believe it.

2. He doesn't bless us because we deserve it.
He blesses us because He promised He would. This will free you when you know that God is a God of promise. Genesis 17:1 says, "I will bless you and multiply you and make you exceedingly fruitful."

3. Blessing flows when you believe you are forgiven.
Romans 4:7 says, "Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven." This is amazing! Putting your faith in God's forgiveness is the gateway to blessing in your life. That's why Jesus said to the paralytic man, whose friends lowered him through the roof, "Son, your sins are forgiven." THEN He said, "Take up your pallet and walk." You see, the blessing of healing was the RESULT of BELIEVING HIS SINS WERE FORGIVEN. (Mark 2)

4. Jesus IS WORTHY of God's blessing, and you are IN HIM.
Galatians 3:29 says, "If we belong to Christ, we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise." Galations 3:9 says, "Those who are of faith are blessed..."

5. Stop condemning yourself.
STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE. Romans 14:22 says, "Blessed (happy) is the man who does not condemn himself."

6. He took the curse so you could take the blessing!
He deserves to see you blessed, because of what He went through to take your curse! "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... on the cross...that the blessing of Abraham might come on us through Jesus Christ." (Galatians 3:13)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I take my eyes off all that I have done wrong, and put my eyes on all that He has done right for me.

He blesses me because He promised that He would, therefore I expect to be blessed coming in and blessed coming out.

I choose to believe I am forgiven, and therefore BLESSING FLOWS. I belong to Christ, therefore I am blessed with Abraham. Genesis 24:1 says, Abraham was blessed IN ALL THINGS - therefore that's what I expect.




33. It's Not Going To Happen For Me.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: "It's not going to happen for me." Ever heard that or thought that? 

Or thoughts like: "I'm not going to get the job. I'm not going to find the right guy or girl. My situation is not going to turn around."

Let's begin thinking that it is going to happen for us. Ready?

1. Expect something good to happen to you today.
The Lord has done great things for us! (Psalm 118:24 & Psalm 126:3)

2. Know that God has a good plan for you today!
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good, to give you a future and a hope." (Notice those 2 words: "I know." This means that God is certain about it. It's definitely going to happen. Take it to the bank! It's coming!)

3. Expect doors to open.
Psalm 5:12 says, "Favor surrounds the righteous like a shield." Favor means: God opens doors that no one can close. Expect doors to open today.

4. Believe in God's fairness.
Life's not always fair, but God is! Romans 12:19-21 says He will right every wrong. Remember, it happened for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; therefore, it will happen for you. The Bible says, "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) That doesn't mean He doesn't respect you. It means that He won't show partiality - blessing one person and not another. But you have to believe it and expect it. What He did for Abraham, He has promised He would do for you. Galatians 3:29 says, "For if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed, and heirs of the promise!"

5. Think "solution thoughts".
No matter what the problem is, no matter what hasn't seemed to happen for you yet, expect a solution. Expect an answer. James 1:6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, ask of God...who gives to ALL men generously." Notice, He gives to all men, not some. You're one of those who He does give it to. You're not just in line. You're in the front of the line!

6. Think about some good that has happened in your life.
This shows the past faithfulness of God. Since He never changes - expect His faithfulness AGAIN today! (Psalm 23:6)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Something good is going to happen for me today. Things are going to work out. God has a good plan for my life today. He is certain that it is good, therefore I'm certain as well.

I expect favor today. Favor surrounds me like a shield. Doors are going to open for me that no one can close.

God is going to right every wrong, and show the same help to me as He did for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He gives me wisdom and holds nothing back. I am in the front of the line.

I remember the good that God has already done, and therefore I expect Him to do it again. Good and right things are going to happen in my life today - goodness and mercy shall FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE!



34. Things Aren't Getting Better. They're Getting Worse!

Today we're fasting from the thought that says, "Things aren't getting better. They're getting worse!"

Gang, thinking this way is NOT AN OPTION.

This thinking keeps us bound to the past, or moving backwards. The media espouses negativity. The spirit of darkness is behind all these thoughts. The devil promotes doom and gloom, to get people depressed, on drugs, fearful and timid, distracted from the worship of God and the work of the gospel.

The world is full of bad news - the economy is getting worse, society is getting worse, etc.

But we reject this thought TODAY!

1. The path of the righteous ... gets brighter and brighter until the full day.(Proverbs 4:18)

2. "Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13) But the opposite is true about you! Goodness follows you, therefore, you go from good to better!

3. Don't think "glass half full or glass half empty." Think: My cup runs over! (Psalm 23:4)

4. Your life is going to end up better than it started!
Eccl. 7:8 says, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning."
Haggai 2:9 says, "The latter days of this house shall be greater than the former."

5. Believe that God has saved the best for last.
John 2:10 says, "...But you have saved the best for last!"

6. God only has the best in mind for you.
In Luke 15:22 the father said, "bring the best robe, and put it on my son..."

Follow the pattern of how God does things-

He takes us from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from the blood of animals to the blood of Jesus; from law to grace; from sin to righteousness; from sickness to health; from adversity to prosperity; from defeat to victory; from unclean to clean; from empty to filled.

Everything in God's kingdom gets better and better.

The kingdom of God is in you (Luke 17:21) therefore, expect things to get better and better in every area of your life.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

No matter what is happening in this world, things are getting better and better for me! God has made me righteous through His blood; therefore, my path is getting brighter and brighter every day.

My inner man is being renewed, day by day. Evil people may go from bad to worse, but the goodness of God follows me, so I go from good to better, every day.

I can celebrate in the presence of my enemies, because my cup runs over, and never runs out! God has saved the best for last in my life, and my latter days will be better than my former days, in Jesus' Name.



35.  I Just Can't Stop Blowing It. I Always Seem To Mess It Up.

As we celebrate another awesome day in Christ Jesus, I want us to particularly fast from thoughts that take for granted what Jesus did for us. We need to appreciate the power of His blood, and the power of His sacrifice.

Today we're fasting from the thought that says, "I just can't stop blowing it. I always seem to mess it up."

Jesus did more than just forgive us from our sins when He died on the cross and rose again. He gave us power over sin! No more should we see ourselves victims of a defeated, beaten life. We are the head and not the tail; above only and not beneath!

1. Rejoice in the grace of God.
Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace." Titus 2:11-12 says the grace of God enables us to say "NO" to ungodliness.

2. Stop beating yourself up.
Romans 14:22 says, "Happy is he who does not condemn himself..." Remember, God doesn't beat you up, He builds you up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "Love builds up!"

3. Remember the woman caught in adultery.
In John 8:1-11 Jesus said to her, "I don't condemn you. Now go and sin no more." Notice, first there was acceptance and forgiveness. Then there was POWER over sin. The power over sin was the RESULT of recognizing her freedom from it. Sometimes we feel we have to repent of everything before we can be forgiven. Jesus forgives first, and that gives us the power to be free.

4. Believe in the power of the blood.
Paul said not to drink the communion cup in an unworthy manner. We need to renew our mind about what makes us worthy. It's not our holiness that makes us worthy to drink the cup. It's the "cup"; it's the blood of Jesus that has the WORTHINESS to cleanse us and empower us to overcome anything. (1 Corinthians 11)

5. Think about the 3 gifts God gives in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but POWER, LOVE AND DISCIPLINE." You have the power of discipline and self-control. Stop thinking you are out of control and realize you have been given the power of self-control.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am not a slave to sin. I have dominion over it. It doesn't have dominion over me because I am not under the law, I'm under grace.

I expect the free gift of God's grace to enable me to say NO to ungodliness. I am free because I am forgiven. God is love and love builds me up today!

I put my faith in the blood of Jesus to forgive me if I have fallen; but also to empower me to be free from the things that I'm struggling with.

I have the power of self-control. I am no longer out of control. I have been given power, love and a sound mind. I am free from fear and free from sin.

Breaking Yokes - Part III.

Breaking Yokes - Part III.

* Just a Reminder *

"Fasting" is about "abstaining" from something. In our case, we are Abstaining or GIVING UP wrong ways of thinking. This is not a "Fast" in the traditional sense where we abstain from food and drink for a period of time- but a "Fast" where we will abstain from having these negative thoughts while the Holy Word and Holy Spirit speaks to us on these issues. So; as you find your mind wandering over to the "negative trail" then with purpose! we will stop our thoughts as they come up and replace them with this study. This is how yokes are broken!

Too often, we make things harder and much more complicated than they really are. Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." He did the heavy lifting. Now our job is to 'enter into His rest', by believing what He has already done for us.



11. Don't get your hopes up

I hope you're starting to see a pattern of positive, Biblical thinking replacing negative unbiblical thinking! That's what this fast is designed to do-replace long-believed lies with the truth. Thought patterns shape our expectations, and our actions. Like a magnet, our thought life "attracts" the things that our mind is full of. 

We're fasting from the thought that says: "Don't get your hopes up".

This mindset has subtly found its way into our heads. We have been trained by doubt and unbelief to lower our expectations- to brace ourselves for mediocrity and status quo.

To hope is to look up-to have expectation! To hope is to live. Hope is like oxygen. It's like light-in a dark and negative world.

Proverbs 13:12 says: "hope deferred makes the heart sick." There are many great truths from this scripture.

When hope is "put off to the side", your heart becomes sick. When your hopes are "dashed to the ground", your heart becomes sick. Most importantly, your heart becomes sick when you STOP hoping. Hope HEALS!

Let's fast from this thought and replace it with these:

A. GET YOUR HOPES UP. No matter what. Ps. 78:7 "That they might set their hope in God."

B. KEEP THEM UP. I John 3:3 FIX your hope on Him, and it will purify you.

C. When you don't see something happening, hope even more. The fact that you don't see it, gives hope a reason to remain alive in your heart. Once you have something and see it, you don't need to hope for it anymore. It's when you don't see it, that your hope has a reason to exist.

D. Get Faith. Faith is not like hope. Faith cannot be deferred. Faith is a tangible force. It is substance. If you are exercising faith, no one will be able to tell you that God's promise will not come to pass. All fear and doubt pass away and you will be thoroughly convinced of God's promise in your life. There are no ups and downs, just a knowing and a sense of his presence. Faith will overcome all opposition. Faith is the fulfillment of your hope; it is the tree of life. Romans 15:4 "Hope comes from the encouragement of Scripture." And Romans 10:17, "faith comes from hearing the Word".

E. Meditate on the love of God. Hope that IS NOT DEFERRED (delayed, or disappointed) comes from Love. Romans 5:5 "...and hope does not disappoint (or leave you with shame), because the love of God has been shed abroad in your heart."

F. Free yourself from people who think they're doing you a favor by "managing" your expectations, or "protecting" you from disappointment. Get around hopers and dreamers and people who are filled with expectation!


THINK IT & SAY IT:

 My hopes are up! I eliminate the notion of lowering my expectations. I refuse to accept people's advice to "not get my hopes up". I get my hopes up NOW and I keep them up.

I expect God's promises to come to pass in my life today!

I expect good to come to my life today-In my family, in my home, in my church, in my job, in my relationships, in my body and in my finances.

I expect ideas, favor, and wisdom. I look up, expecting to receive the best of what God has for me today. I have unlimited and unhindered hope and expectation.



12. The victim mentality

Our lives don't improve through external changes. We change from the inside out. This is why it's essential that we connect every day as a Christian body.  
 
When you fast from food, it affects your ENTIRE day. We need this FAST from wrong thinking to be a part of our ENTIRE day. Joshua 1:8 says as you meditate on the Word, day and night, wherever you go, you'll prosper, and whatever you do, will be blessed. That's because the creative power and energy of God is cultivated and released in the soil of your thought life.

Now we're fasting from a "victim" mentality.

This includes thoughts that say, "It's their fault." "I was mistreated." "If someone gave me a break, I could make it too." "It's the government's fault." "It's how I grew up." "It's not my fault.", etc.

Viktor Frankl survived the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz by defining ultimate freedom as the ability "to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to chose one's own way."

The worst prison in the world is the one we put ourselves in - in our mind. Mindsets and victim mentalities strip us of the power God has given us to rule our lives in victory.

This is a thought we need to take time and care to dismantle. Let's go:

A. No one can keep you in your current situation except you. We must begin TODAY to accept total responsibility to become victors, not victims.

B. People may have had something to do with how you got in the situation, but only YOU can decide whether you stay in the situation.

C. The "victim" mentality ends when we TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY for our attitude and direction in life. Deuteronomy 30:15, 19 says, "See, I have set before you this day, life and prosperity and death and adversity...so choose life, that both you and your descendants might LIVE (the victorious, abundant, God-kind-of life)."

D. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Full responsibility doesn't mean, we're in it, alone. God is on our side and He will help us. It's natural to look for help - but let's get it from God. John 16:13 says the Holy Spirit is "Our Helper"! When you have His help, you don't need to blame anyone for anything! We blame when we're helpless - but we're NOT!

E. Understand the root word of "responsibility" is response. We may not be able to control everything that others do to us, but we can control our RESPONSE. In our response lies our freedom and our growth!

F. Don't give away your power. We give away our power to live in victory, health and success - when we allow others to determine how we RESPOND. We have the power to choose; the power to forgive; the power to recover; the power to overcome anything. When we blame others, we give away that power to them.

G. TAKE CHARGE OF WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. The master said to the servant who hid his talent: "Why didn't you at least invest my money so I could have received interest?" (Matthew 25:24-27) He blamed the master, and excused himself. As a result, he fell to the temptation of resentment and fear. He lost everything because he had a victim mentality.

THINK IT & SPEAK IT:
  
No one can keep me down.

I am not a victim. I am a victor. I take full responsibility for my responses in life - my attitudes and my decisions.

God has set before me prosperity or adversity. He has given me the power to choose. I choose prosperity!

Holy Spirit, I am asking for your help. You live in me, and you are my Helper! I refuse to give away my power by blaming others. I choose to respond to life with God's Word.

I take responsibility for my thoughts, my actions and my REACTIONS. I abandon the idea that my situation is the fault of anyone else.

I am an overcomer. I am more than a conqueror through God's great love.



13. I'm not that smart

The thought that we're fasting from is: "I'm not that smart'" ("I'm not smart enough." "Everyone seems to figure it out except me", etc.) Some may think this is not that important, but make no mistake, this thought permeates our thinking and keeps us limited in what we can do, and what influence we can have. 

It's another thought that the devil uses to try to make us feel inferior.

Most media and institutions of "higher learning" are not as smart as they think. Think about how the media reports on politics, health and the economy. Who understands what they're saying? I don't think they do! This world's system is designed to make you feel you don't know enough about what's going on, so you will be dependent on what they say you should think, feel and do.

If you're born-again, you are brilliant! YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. His mind is far smarter than the smartest businessmen, educators, politicians and newsmakers of this life. And you have His mind!"

Let's abstain from the thought: "I'm not that smart." We're giving it up for the rest of our lives beginning today! Now let's replace it:

A. You have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14.) You have the ability to see things the way God sees, understand the way He understands, and choose the way He would choose. STOP listening to any thought otherwise.

B. EXPECT wisdom today. James 1:5-6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously; but let him ask in faith without doubting".

C. Psalm 16:7 "my mind instructs me in the night." Friends, you are so smart that your mind is even teaching you while you're sleeping!

D. If you ever feel foolish or less educated than the mentally "elite", remember: "He takes the foolish things to confound the wise."

E. Don't think small anymore; and don't talk small. You are made in the image of God, with His intelligence, His brilliance, His understanding.

THINK IT & SPEAK IT:

I have the mind of Christ. I think His thoughts and understand His ways!

I will never again submit to the thought that "I'm not that smart" or "I can't figure it out." I am smart and I can figure it out.

I expect wisdom today and I expect MY MIND TO INSTRUCT ME IN THE NIGHT! I make wise and intelligent decisions.

I will never again be intimidated by the mentally "elite." I am made in His image, filled with His intelligence, His brilliance and His understanding.



14. It's no use 

We're fasting from the thought that says: "It's no use." These thoughts go with it: "I might as well give up." "It doesn't work for me." 
 
This is wrong thinking. It's a mindset that will defeat you. Some people think this way until it becomes a disease. We 'dis-ease' ourselves with defeatist thinking. Winners don't think like that. People don't want this kind of spirit around them.

Overcome this today by taking these steps!

A. Go into partnership with God, where you cannot fail. Psalm 124:2 says "The Lord is on your side!" This is not religion. This is common sense. You cannot fail when you awaken to the fact that He walks with you!
 
B. Recognize the problem exists for you to conquer it. When things go wrong, and money is short, or you lost your job, find out what is wrong and conquer it. Numbers 13:30 says "We should by all means go up and possess the land, and conquer it!"
 
C. Get understanding. Proverbs 3:15 says, "She (understanding) is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares to her." Ask for it, and God will always give it. Evaluate what you have, and use it!
 
D. It does work for you. It works for anyone. Remember, Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "Whosoever will say to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea', and does not doubt, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted!." THINK this marvelous promise. BELIEVE this marvelous promise!
 
E. Stop waiting for opportunity to come. Stop thinking that you don't have the opportunities that others have. Fight the fight of faith, and don't GIVE UP until opportunity SHOWS UP! Do it regardless of your feelings.

THINK IT & SPEAK IT:

I give up on, giving up. I am in partnership with God. He is on my side. Therefore I cannot fail.

My problems don't devour me. I eat them for lunch! I have the spirit of might and power.

I will conquer my problems in every way, and by every means. God gives me understanding, which is true wealth.

Things DO work out for me. They work out for whosoever believes! And I'm a believer, not a doubter.

Opportunity comes to me, because I expect it to. I will not waver, give up or quit until God-ordained opportunities come to me!



15. I guess this is all there is 

We are fasting from the thought that says: "I guess this is all there is. I'll just have to settle with what I have." To "settle" means to accept something that is not ideal or desirable, because you don't believe it could be better. 
 
Many people settle for less than God's best in their life, not because it can't get better, but because they don't THINK it can. This mindset is destructive because it accepts life the way it is rather than making it the way you want it to be.

For 38 years, the lame man settled by the pool of Bethesda accepting that he would never get better; that he would never get the help he needed to be healed. (John 5:1-10) He was discouraged and beaten UNTIL Jesus showed up in his life and showed him -- he didn't have to settle. And neither do you!

What does it take to change our wrong thinking here?

Desire -- Jesus said in essence, "you have to want it!" Get desire back in your life. Desire to improve. Desire to get better. Desire to make something great of your life.
 
Eliminate "excuse making." "No one helps me; no one understands; no one gives me a break." "I was just meant to suffer in this way." Shut those thoughts up! The lame man said, "I have no man to help me." (John 5:7) Stop making excuses.
 
Do something now to make things better. Improve yourself. Learn something new. Take a class. Learn a language or an instrument. Don't let life dictate to you that "this is all there is."
 
Believe in the God who is able "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20)
 
Don't settle for less than God's best. Don't settle for that sickness. Don't settle for just getting by. Don't settle for the way things are. In Mark 10:46-52 blind Bartimaeus would not settle for his current condition. He cried out to Jesus and was healed.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I will never again settle for a mediocre, average existence.

I will not settle for things the way they are. There is more to this life that God has for me, and I expect Him to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think.

I will think big, and ask big. Then I will experience BIG.

I desire to improve, to get better and to make something great of my life. I am NOT an excuse maker. I am always improving; always adding value to my life and the lives of others.

Jesus came to give me life -- abundant in quantity and superior in quality; life to the full; life that overflows.


16. God must not want me to have this 

Do you realize that your life is changing for the better, just as the Bible said it would? We are being TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds - and we are coming into the perfect will of God. Yesterday we continued our fast from wrong thinking by eliminating the thought of: "I guess this is all there is. I'll just have to settle."

I want to build upon that. Many times our mind (and the devil) tells us that if things don't go our way, that must be God's will. "God must not want me to have this." Or "Whatever happens must be God's will."

Please note, I realize many of us reading this know that God's will is for good. But in our lives, when we face resistance or it seems like God is not responding, we're tempted to give up and let whatever happens happen.

Not anymore! Let's replace this wrong thinking with right thinking:

Mark 10:46-52. Blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus, and began to cry out "Jesus, have mercy on me." MANY PEOPLE TOLD HIM TO BE QUIET, but he cried out even more.

You must stop listening to the many voices trying to keep you the way you are. There are voices in your head saying, "keep quiet." There are voices from others saying, "Stay the way you are." There are voices saying, "God must not want you to have this." NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. Say "no" to those voices and keep going after what God has promised in His Word.
 
In verse 48, when people tried to shut Bartimaeus up, he cried out EVEN MORE. When you face resistance, add persistence! Press through!
 
When Jesus heard Bartimeaus crying out, HE STOOD STILL. (Now I'm preaching here!) If you don't give up, you will get Jesus' attention!
 
BELIEVE God wants to fulfill your desires, not just your needs. In verse 51, Jesus said, "What do you WANT Me to do for you?" (Bartimaeus didn't NEED to see. He could still live without sight. But Jesus asked him what he WANTED.) God doesn't just meet our needs. He fulfills our desire. (Provided that our desires are founded in scriptural promises.)
 
Make up your mind that you will not be denied. The woman with the issue of blood would not be denied. The mother of the demon-possessed daughter would not be denied. Bartimaeus would not be denied. You and I will not be denied.
 
WE MUST RECOGNIZE that our acceptance and tolerance of our present condition is the result of our acceptance of this wrong thinking.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I decide today that I will stop listening to the voices in my head and around me that are telling me to stay the way I am.

I will not be quiet when asking God to fulfill His promises. My prayers will not be silenced by doubt, fear or opposition.

At times when I may feel God is not answering, I will stick to His Word, which says, "Call unto Me and I will answer." God says "Yes" to what He has already promised, therefore I will stand on His promises in all areas of my life. And I will not be denied. I will not tolerate a life of mediocrity or status quo.

I believe that God wants to give me the desires of my heart, and not just my needs. When I face resistance I will add persistence.

I will not give up or give in to my present condition. I will press through the opposition and not be denied. I will not tolerate a present condition of discouragement, sickness, poverty or mediocrity - NOT ANOTHER DAY OF MY LIFE.

Psalm 37:4 says, "He will give me the desires of my heart." I will keep thinking this, believing this, and expecting this until something changes for my good, in Jesus' Name!



17. I'm limited by my financial status

We are fasting from the thought that says: "I'm limited by my financial status." 
 
I know that as you replace this wrong thinking, with RIGHT THINKING, you are going to see things change quickly in your finances and your peace of mind!

Today we deal with what I call a "limitation mentality".

The mindset that always tells you that you are limited; that you don't have enough; that if you only had more money you could be happy or do more for God. All those thoughts actually keep us from doing more, and from being happy.

A. Be happy NOW. "Happy is the man who fears the Lord." (Psalm 112:1).
When you THINK that you need more to be happy, you program yourself to stay unhappy until you have more. This is a dangerous attitude. The truth is when you are grateful for what you have, you will become magnetic to more. More will come.

B. We need to recognize that God is not limited by money, therefore you do not need to be. You are made in God's image. He fed them manna from heaven. He commanded water out of a rock. He sent a raven to feed Elijah and a prominent family to take care of Elisha.

C. Believe in the God of ideas! Proverbs 8 says He will give us witty inventions. These are ideas. When God opens up the windows of heaven, He is raining ideas, not $100 bills.

D. GET WISDOM. When offered one request from God, Solomon asked for wisdom. God was so impressed, that He gave Solomon wisdom, and with it came wealth, power, answers. James 1:5 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to ALL men generously."

E. Don't underestimate the power of imagination. We are to cast down "imaginations" THAT EXALT themselves above the knowledge of God. But God-given imagination is a MUST. Ephesians 3:20"He is able to do exceeding abundantly above and beyond all that you can ask, think or imagine." Note the emphasis on: "YOU CAN ASK, THINK AND IMAGINE." You CAN and you MUST! says,

F. Expect open heavens. When God said, He would open the windows of heaven, He wasn't saying He would just dump money in your lap. Heaven has a supply of so much more than money. Expect the heavens to open to you with angelic intervention, wisdom, ideas, hope, words of knowledge, etc.

G. Be "provision conscious", not "need conscious". Make your mind expect that God will provide. Put your thoughts on His generosity and provision, rather than on what YOU NEED or what don't have. EVERY time we give something valuable to God, we prove we are "provision conscious", not "money conscious".

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I fear, reverence and respect God, therefore I AM happy now.

I don't need any more to be happy. I am happy already. This present happiness will attract more of what I need, to my life.

God can work in my life, regardless of my financial status. He is not limited by money, therefore neither am I.

When He needed bread, He multiplied the 5 loaves He had been given. When He needed tax money, He got it out of a fish's mouth. When He needed wine, He used water! I believe God is a God of ideas. He has put His Spirit in me, therefore I expect ideas. Ideas are worth more than money. And I will be a vessel of God-given ideas.

I think wisdom, and ask for wisdom. God richly supplies me with wisdom, every time I ask for it. I will ask, think and imagine what God can do, and He will exceed my expectations and imaginations!

I do believe that the heavens will open over my life. I choose to be "provision conscious" rather than "need conscious".

I believe by changing the way I think, I become a magnet that attracts God's provision for my life.



18. I Could Succeed if I Had the Right Surroundings, the Right People or the Right Breaks

We are fasting from the thought: "I could succeed if I had the right surroundings, the right people or the right breaks."

Nonsense! Yet many people believe that if their surroundings were better they would succeed. If they just moved to a different city or had a better boss or if someone gave them a chance, they would prosper. They use these thoughts as excuses for why things don't get better, or why they don't reach their goals and improve their life. This way of thinking makes people blame others and their circumstances for why they don't change.

Replace that thought with this thought:

A. It's not what surrounds you, but what's inside you that causes success!
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "Therefore, we do not lose heart. For though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." Notice, Paul is saying, even when things go the opposite direction on the outside, something good can be happening on the inside.

When things go wrong on the outside, deal with the inside! This is the key to success. And what does God say we should do on the inside? Be renewed, day by day. Be filled with the Word day by day! Absorb these scriptures day by day, and the INSIDE with OVERTAKE the OUTSIDE!

B. Success or failure in life is created by how you think. Joshua 1:8 says "...but you shall meditate on the Word of God day and night...for THEN you shall make your way prosperous and THEN you shall have good SUCCESS."

C. Understand the source of blessing. Psalm 1:1-3 says, "Blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly...but he meditates on the Word day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, whose leaf does not wither, who bears fruit in his season, and whatever he does, prospers!"

D. The root to true success is a prosperous soul. 3 John 2 says, "Beloved I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers."

E. Remember Joseph...thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery. Genesis 39:2 says, "But the Lord was with Joseph, and so he became a successful man." Notice, even though his surroundings were terrible, HE STILL BECAME A SUCCESSFUL MAN. He had bad surroundings, bad breaks, was surrounded by bad people, and yet still succeeded BECAUSE GOD WAS WITH HIM.

F. We create our surroundings and we create our breaks by the thoughts we think and the choices we make. Deut. 30:15, 19 says, "I have set before you life and prosperity; or death and adversity" Choose life!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

It's not what surrounds me that determines my success. It's what's inside me.

I will not lose heart. Even when things go wrong on the outside, I am being renewed on the inside by the Word of God, which will bring success in every areas of my life.

My success is created by how I think. I agree with God's thoughts, and meditate on God's Word day and night. Success follows me. I prosper in my soul - in my mind. I fill my mind with the richness of God's Word, and therefore it spills over into every area of my life.

Like Joseph, I will not allow my negative circumstances to determine my success or failure. I AM A SUCCESSFUL and PROSPEROUS MAN OR WOMAN, because God is with me. I create positive surroundings and I create good breaks by choosing life today!



19. Prosperity is defined by how much money we have 

Over the past couple of studies, we have focused on fasting from wrong thinking where success is concerned. And the truth is, success or failure in life is created by how we think. So let's create some success with right thinking. Today, I want to give you a little more of an impartation, as this is a subject that is often misunderstood.

We are fasting from the thought that says, "Prosperity is defined by how much money we have."

That is wrong thinking. The prosperity God emphasizes is the PROSPERITY OF OUR SOUL. 3 John 2 says, "Beloved I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health, even as your SOUL PROSPERS." As our soul goes, so goes every area of our life. Therefore, true success or prosperity means TAKING CARE OF YOUR SOUL.

"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul." In our pursuit of "gain" many people forget to take care of their soul. This is the key to real success.

Let me share with you several things that will make your soul prosperous, which in turn will bless every other area of your life:

A. Meditate on the Word of God.
It's not just meditating on "financial" verses, though this is fine, and there are many. It's meditating on the riches that are yours in Christ - not financial riches; BUT "soul" riches: such as wisdom, grace, righteousness. The result will be: your soul will prosper; and then your outside will catch up with your inside.

The great missionary Hudson Taylor was approached by his wife on the missionfield when they were out of money - "What is left, Hudson?" she asked. "We have 25 cents, dear", he responded, "and all the promises of God."

B. Develop a righteousness consciousness - this is irreplaceable. Fill your mind with the blessings of being the righteousness of God. The devil is called in Acts 13:10 the enemy of righteousness - that's what he opposes; because that's what changes us. When we awake to righteousness, we will sin not. (1 Corinthians 15:34)

C. Confidence in the love of God. Mark 1:11 says, "You are His beloved son or daughter."

D. Develop covenant relationships. This is a term that is often misunderstood. It means connecting with people of like mind and spirit, who are going in the same direction with God as you are. I gladly extend my covenant with you. When we have the strength of covenant partnership we will be able to handle anything - that is success and prosperity.

E. Don't take things personally. This is one of the great forces of "soul-poverty." When you become the victim in someone else's drama, your soul becomes poor. Clear your heart and mind of all that I call "people guilt." This is where we carry around with us the responsibility for how everyone feels toward us; we feel like we have to be the "host" at everyone's pity party; etc.

F. Stop comparing yourself to others. This will rob your soul of prosperity, as you languish in what you don't have, rather than meditating on what you do have. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says that we are without understanding and without happiness when we compare ourselves to others.

THINK IT & SAY IT

I live a life of meditation on the Word of God. I am blessed with the wisdom of God, the grace of God, and the righteousness of God.

I have all the promises of God - which makes my soul prosper. I awake to being righteous in God's eyes, through the blood of Jesus, not by anything I can do.

I put my faith and confidence in God's love for me. He loves me and is on my side. Therefore I am satisfied by His love.

I open myself to covenant relationships that will bring strength and blessing to me and those I am in covenant partnership with. My soul will continue to prosper as I refuse to take things personally. I will not absorb people's guilt or manipulation.

I choose to stop comparing myself to others, as this robs my soul of its health and well-being. I am grateful for what God has done in my life, and choose to focus on what I already have.



20. I just can't hold it all together

We're fasting from (abstaining from and eliminating) the thought that says: "I just can't hold it all together" 
 
This thought can be paralyzing. It gets us thinking about how hard things are, how many things depend on us, and the possibility of things falling apart.

How many of us think that about our jobs, our daily responsibilities, OUR EMOTIONS? How about our families, kids, and all the activities: school, extra-curricular stuff, etc.?

Thoughts feed into expectations. Expectations feed into manifestations. Manifestations become imprinted in our minds, forming our habits of expectation, and our character (our consistent patterns of behavior).

That's why it is vital to FAST from WRONG THINKING, and replace wrong thoughts with right ones. Let's do it:

A. Let's go back to Philippians 4:13 which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." The way to turn this thought into a reality is through the decision to believe it. DECISION is the doorway into reality. We take a wrong thought captive, by bullying it with the right thought. Make this new thought PRESS against the wrong one, until there's no room in your head for the wrong one.

B. You are not alone. You're not in it by yourself. Fill your mind with this thought. Hebrews 13:6 says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." When the thought comes, "I can't hold it all together", RESPOND to that thought with this: "I'm not doing this by myself. God is with me. And He will never leave me alone!" Whether you are a single parent or a single person, God is in this with you - married or divorced. Struggling financially or wealthiest man alive - He is with you in your struggle and in your daily responsibilities.

C. God holds together the things we turn over to Him. 2 Timothy 1:12 says, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep (hold together) that which I have committed unto Him." You see, whatever we COMMIT to Him, He will keep, guard and hold together for us. If there is an area of your life, that seems like it's falling apart, COMMIT it to Him, and He will get involved.

D. Fill your mind with this thought: "The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me." (Psalm 138:8) He will accomplish, complete, perfect...He will get involved with the things that concern me, and He will add His grace to my situation!

E. "God upholds the universe by His Word..." (Hebrews 1:3) If His Word can uphold (keep together) the universe, IT CAN uphold your stuff! Get the Word into the deep core of your being. Make God's Word the base/foundation of everything you think, decide and do.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Even when I feel I can't keep it all together, I declare that I can do all things through Christ. He gives me the strength I need, when I don't have enough.

I decide to believe in His strength. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

I am not alone, because He will never leave me nor forsake me. I am not a victim. I am a victor. I have committed my life, my body, my family, my money to God, THEREFORE, He will hold together the things that I have committed to Him.

He is EVEN NOW involved with AND accomplishing those things that concern or trouble me.

His Word upholds the universe, therefore I will think, believe and say His Word throughout my day, which is MORE THAN ENOUGH to hold my world together. In Jesus. Name!