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3 Steps to Change Your Destiny

3 Steps to Change Your Destiny

 

Words have power, so follow these 3 Steps to Change our Destiny for the better with those words!

The old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” used to be something that parents taught their children, in the hopes that they would respond with indifference to an insult, rather than fight. It may be a catchy phrase, but it is not true; anyone who has been the recipient of an insult knows that words do hurt!

Words have power. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (NKJV). You will experience the fruit of your words, whether good or bad. The good news is that no matter what anyone has said to you, or even what you have already said about yourself, you have the ability to change the trajectory of your destiny today. Follow these 3 Steps To Change Your Destiny for the better with the words of your mouth.

Step 1: Put Right Words Into Your Heart

“What you say flows from what is in your heart.” –Luke 6:45

From the very beginning, God created the world with words. “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Romans 4:17 says, “…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (NKJV). God not only created the world this way, but He also expects you to shape your world this way.

Read The Power of First Words

You don’t have the ability to change the way God set up the system of the world—that the world responds to words. But you do have the ability to choose what words you put into your heart. Galatians 6:8 says, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (NKJV). You can’t watch movies or spend your time on social media all day and expect to fulfill your destiny. Instead of sowing to the flesh, you can sow to the spirit by taking the time to put the right words into your heart.

How do you get good words into your heart? You spend time with your heavenly Father by reading the Bible and listening to good faith teachings. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). And whatever is in your heart in abundance is going to come out of your mouth. When you choose to put right words into your heart, you are changing your destiny to line up with God’s perfect will for your life.

Step 2: Choose To Speak Right Words

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” –Mark 11:23

Contrary to what many people think, you can’t just speak empty words and expect something to happen. Your words must be filled with faith. And the way you get faith into your heart is by listening to and meditating on the Word of God. Whatever you put into your heart is what will come out of your mouth. Matthew 12:34-35 says, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”

Even when you know the truth about speaking the right words, choosing to speak those words can sometimes be difficult. Jerry Savelle, a renowned minister of faith, used to compare it to paddling upstream. The whole world is going in one direction; it’s drifting downstream in a negative direction where people are sick and broke and eventually die. He says you have to build yourself a spiritual canoe with God’s Word. You have to grab your faith oars, get yourself turned around, and start rowing the other way.

Watch Jerry Savelle share about faith-filled words:

You will have what you say. Your words have authority to create every time you speak. The Lord told Charles Capps, another minister of faith, “I have told My people that they can have what they say, and they are saying what they have.” Start today by saying what you desire to happen in any situation you’re facing today. Choosing to speak the right words by making everything you say agree with what God says, will usher God’s wonderful destiny into your life.

Step 3: Don’t Change Your Confession

“But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” –James 1:6-7

Make the decision that you are not going to change your confession of faith. This will require you to cast down any thoughts that are contrary to what you are believing. “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NKJV).

Satan has one tactic in mind—to get you to doubt the Word of God. He wants to trick you into saying something contrary to what you are believing. James 4:7 says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Resist his thoughts and suggestions.

Choose not to waver like a wave of the sea. If you waver, you won’t receive. With your words, you either resist or comply with Satan’s demands. With your words, you either resist or comply with God’s Word. It’s your choice. You are in charge; the decision is yours. If you stay steady and don’t change your confession of faith, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, you will see your God-ordained destiny unfold before your eyes.

Read 10 Confessions to Change Your Destiny

God’s destiny for you lies within your heart and your mouth, and by following these 3 Steps To Change Your Destiny, you are moving your life in the right direction, and your words are setting your future—your destiny—in motion (James 3:1-12). Instead of speaking the doubt-filled, fear-filled words you may have heard growing up, or the familiar sayings and phrases of your family, you can choose to fill your heart with the Word of God, speak out in faith, and not only change your destiny but the lives of those who come after you!

Related Articles:

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10 Ways God Proves He Is Faithful to You

10 Ways God Proves He Is Faithful to You

 

A faithful person—someone you can depend on who won’t let you down—can be hard to find. Learn to count on God with 10 Ways God Proves He Is faithful to You.

No one enters a marriage relationship expecting the other person to be unfaithful to them, and yet it happens. Everyone can say they know someone who has divorced, and no matter what the circumstances of the divorce, each spouse can feel that the other person has in some way been unfaithful to them, not keeping the marriage vows they agreed upon.

Many Christians have the same mentality when it comes to their relationship with God. You may think that God has let you down or not kept a promise to you. The circumstances of life can paint a picture that God has not been faithful to you. Maybe you didn’t get something you wanted, or a situation didn’t turn out the way you had hoped. No matter what occurred, the way God feels about you has not changed; He loves you! And He loves to demonstrate to you that He can be trusted.

The union you have with God as a believer is much like a marriage relationship. Just as it takes time with a spouse to get to know and trust them, it takes time with God to get to know Him. The better you know God, the more you are able to recognize Him at work in your life. God is faithful. You can depend on Him; He will not let you down. Spend time with God today, meditating on 10 Ways God Proves He Is Faithful to You, and as you do, you will be able to recognize and discern other ways He has been faithful to you.

1. God Is Faithful To Save

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” –Luke 19:10

When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, He is faithful to save you spiritually and make you a part of His family. John wrote, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God” (1 John 5:1). Think back to the moment when you first made Jesus the Lord of your life. How did God demonstrate His faithfulness to you? Remember the things that He did for you and thank Him.

2. God Is Faithful To Forgive

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” –1 John 1:9

After you are born again, there are times you need to remember that God is faithful to forgive. When you sin—when the Holy Spirit convicts you of wrongdoing—you can confess your specific sins to God, and He is faithful to forgive you. Is there anything you need to confess to Him right now? No matter what you have done, God proves His faithfulness to you by forgiving you.

3. God Is Faithful To Fill

“Ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit.” –Ephesians 5:18 (AMPC)

God is faithful to fill you with the Holy Spirit, just like He did with the early Church in the book of Acts. Acts 2:4 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (NKJV). This was never meant to be a one-time experience. That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 5:18  to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. If you go to God and His Word, then He will be faithful to fill you—over and over again.

4. God Is Faithful To Provide

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:19

Resources like money, food and clothing are needed to live in the world; and despite how you make a living or what you earn in wages, God promises that as you obey Him, He will be faithful to provide for you. Jesus says, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear…. Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” (Matthew 6:25-26). God is faithful to provide whatever you have need of in your life.      

5. God Is Faithful To Heal

“I am the Lord who heals you.” –Exodus 15:26

God’s Word is full of promises that reveal God is faithful to heal you. He will heal your physical body. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “By his [Jesus’] wounds, you are healed.” God also provided healing for your broken heart and emotional wounds. Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” And throughout the Gospels, Jesus healed the sick—the feverish, the lame, the diseased, the bleeding, the oppressed, the downcast—and He even raised the dead. If He did it for them, He is faithful to heal you.  

Read this testimony about God being faithful to heal.

Read 5 Hidden Truths About Healing HERE.

6. God Is Faithful To Answer

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” –Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

God has promised that when you call to Him, He will be faithful to answer. It doesn’t always mean that you will get the answer immediately, but God promises that He will answer your question as you stay in faith believing Him, seeking Him and putting His Word first place in your life. In fact, your answer oftentimes will come as you are spending time reading the Word of God. He is faithful to answer you.

Learn to depend on God by understanding that God is faithful in this timeless teaching by Jerry Savelle.

7. God Is Faithful To Give You Peace

“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 4:6-7

Even though you live in this world, where there can be chaos at times, God is faithful to give you peace. You are in this world; you are not of it (John 17:16). You can live in a place of peace, even when there is chaos all around you. You can live without worry, anxious thoughts or being stressed out. You can have supernatural peace by giving God all your cares and concerns; He is faithful to give you peace (1 Peter 5:7).

8. God Is Faithful To Be With You In Trouble

“I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.” –Psalm 91:14-15

When you encounter troubles of any kind, God is faithful to be with you there. If you call on Him in faith, He will deliver you. You might say, “I got myself into this mess. It’s my own fault.” God is so good and merciful that He will never fail you nor abandon you (Hebrews 13:5). No matter how many times you find yourself in a tight spot, God is faithful to be with you in trouble.

9. God Is Faithful To Give You Authority

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you,” –Luke 10:19

God provided for you by sending Jesus, then gave you authority over every attack of the enemy. There is nothing the devil can throw at you that you do not have power and authority over. You are seated at the right hand of God with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). God thought about you ahead of time, and is faithful to give you the authority you need in the earth to combat every attack of the enemy.

Read 7 Facts About Your Authority as a Believer HERE.

10. God Is Faithful To Be Faithful

“God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” –1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful to be faithful to you; He will do what He says. God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19)! It’s absolutely impossible for Him not to be faithful to you. Everything He has promised, He will do. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” You can count on God to be faithful in His faithfulness to you.

There are not just 10 Ways God Proves He Is Faithful to You There are many more examples in the Word of God showing how He is faithful to His people. Choose today to begin meditating on these 10 promises. By doing so, you’ll be filled with confidence in your relationship with Him. Much like a marriage relationship, choosing to make an investment of time spent with God in His Word will open your eyes to other ways that He has been faithful and will be faithful to you!

Related Articles:

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A Study of God’s Love

10 Things You Should Know About Delegated Authority

10 Things You Should Know About Delegated Authority

 

If you happen to cross paths with someone wearing a badge, holstering a firearm, and driving a vehicle with flashing lights and a siren, you know that this is probably someone you should respect. That person is packing plenty of delegated authority—and they can have a great impact on your life.

Like any law-enforcement officer, you, as a believer and follower of Jesus, carry your own share of delegated authority. You’ve been deputized by Jesus—endued with Kingdom power and authority—to marshal great impact in the world for the kingdom of God (Matthew 28:18-20).

Ask yourself these questions: Are you walking in the full extent, strength and benefit of that authority? Are you effectively enforcing God’s Word and exerting His power in your personal life and the community around you? If you recognize that you could be using more of the authority you have in Christ to make a lasting impact in the world, read on for 10 Things You Should Know About Delegated Authority.

1. Know your authority—by studying up on it.

As a 12-year-old, Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem on His own and sat under the religious teachers of His day, listening and asking questions (Luke 2:46-47). He was learning who He was as a follower and Son of God, which included His authority as a believer. You can do the same by reading and studying God’s Word, communing with Him, listening to the preached Word, and fellowshipping with other believers.

2. Know the source of your authority—then set your focus.

All authority comes from God (Romans 13:1), so don’t let the enemy, your flesh or natural circumstances talk you out of it. Keep your focus on the truth: God has put “all things” under your feet (Psalm 8:6), and no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

3. Know the value of your authority—then prioritize accordingly.

When Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus had wandered off by Himself without approval from them, and was at the Temple in Jerusalem listening to the religious teachers, they couldn’t comprehend His explanation: “But why did you need to search?… Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:48-49). For Jesus, finding His identity—and authority—in God was an important priority. You can do the same by finding your identity in Christ in the Word.

4. Know the purpose of your authority—then make it your legacy.

Peter testified that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). Everything God gives you is found in THE BLESSING. Take what He has given you and minister it to everyone you encounter. Build an eternally minded legacy while you’re on this earth.

5. Know the jurisdiction of your authority—then go for it.

Jesus told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations [peoples]” (Matthew 28:18-19). Where is it that God has specifically sent you to go and make disciples? Ask God for your “Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

6. Know the power behind your authority—then activate it with faith.

Again, Jesus told His disciples, “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name…speak in new languages…. handle snakes with safety…. place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed” (Mark 16:17-18). Release your faith and walk in your God-given power as Jesus intended. Boldly pray, lay hands on the sick, and declare God’s goodness everywhere you go.

7. Know the limitations of your authority—then follow the plan.

Jesus modeled staying within certain boundaries: “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say” (John 12:49-50). Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading. Go where He says to go. Do what He says to do. And keep listening for what’s next.

8. Know the challenges to your authority—then stand your ground.

Law-enforcement officers wear body armor for good reason, and so should we: “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12). The next time the enemy comes against you—because he will—stand strong against him knowing that he cannot penetrate your armor.

9. Know how to delegate your authority—then pass it along.

Jesus knew how and when to teach, empower and delegate to His disciples (Matthew 10:1)—and you’re charged to do the same. You can also empower—delegate to—the angels of heaven what needs to be done, because authority is always transferred with words—words spoken in faith (Matthew 26:53-54; Luke 7:6-8).

10. Know there’s always room to grow—so start where you are and continue to exercise your authority.

“By my authority he will grow in power. I will extend his rule over the sea, his dominion over the rivers. And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation’” (Psalm 89:24-26). In Jesus’ early days of ministry, people noticed two particular qualities about Him: the authority with which He ministered and the power that backed that authority (Luke 4:31-40). But even the Son of God had to grow and develop in that authority and power. And you can too!

Meditate on these 10 Things You Should Know About Delegated Authority. They will help you walk out God’s specific plan for your life with power, take authority over any obstacle that gets in your way, and minister life and healing to others!

Related Articles:

Did You Know That You Have Authority In Christ?

10 Scriptures That Prove Your Authority as a Believer

7 Strategic Ways To Exercise Authority—and Stand Your Ground!

What Is My Role In This Election Season?

What Is My Role In This Election Season?

 

The United States of America was birthed from a foundation on the Word of God. Our Founding Fathers understood the supremacy of Scripture and the standards it set forth in critical matters of life—the value and protection of human life; the stewardship of our God-given resources; the key building blocks of government, marriage and family; as well as a covenant relationship with the people of Israel. They understood that prioritizing these core biblical issues would help secure a sound, civilized and successful nation.

But what the creators of our Constitution and forgers of our freedom also understood was doing their duty—and for them, that meant establishing a new, never-seen-before form of government.

So, what about us today? What’s our duty? How do we keep alive what first-generation Americans created nearly 250 years ago? We find ourselves asking, What Is My Role In This Election Season?

Finding the Who To Do the What

By the design of our Founding Fathers, all political roads leading up to the birth of America pointed back to the Creator and heavenly Father, and to His Word and standards of living. And what America’s fathers could all agree on was two major takeaways from Scripture.

First, they saw early on that God advocated a representative form of government, as explained here by Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, at a time when Moses was being overrun with the sole responsibility of civil leadership:

“Let me give you a word of advice…. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him…. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten” (Exodus 18:19, 21).

Long before Israel ever had kings for national leaders, a republic form of government was set up by choosing leaders to represent the people at multiple levels. A similar version of this kind of government was later used by the Church (Acts 6:1-6).

America’s Founding Fathers drew from this precedence established by God and added to it another vital piece necessary for what would become our nation’s unique democratic republic. Again, they would draw from God’s Word, and the Originator of government Himself. Because, when it came time for God to form His own nation and choose its leaders, His fundamental standards were clear and simple:

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).

In choosing a leader for His people, Israel, God had to correct His official spokesperson, the prophet Samuel. As the nation’s top spiritual leader, it was Samuel’s job to anoint and officially declare who this king (handpicked by God) would be. With the list of candidates narrowed down to eight, Samuel was willing to go with who he thought was the obvious choice. The problem was that he based his choice on the natural senses, not on the wisdom and insight of God.

As a national leader, King Solomon later echoed God’s point to Samuel: “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart” (Proverbs 21:1-2).

So, the second major takeaway from Scripture by America’s early leaders was that God judges a nation, its people and leaders based on principles, not personalities. With America’s newly formed democratic republic in place, the idea was that—all across the country—local, state and national elections would be held to elect officials and keep them accountable. For citizens, that meant voting according to principles, not personalities, which would prove challenging.

How To Vote Godly

In our nation’s early years, the idea of duty was considered a legally binding, contractual obligation. It was understood that all American citizens had a responsibility to acknowledge God, obey His will, be grateful for His benefits in this country, then implore His protection and favor.

Sadly, today there exists a mindset that political issues are inconsequential, i.e., “My vote doesn’t matter!” Then there’s the idea—particularly among “church” people—that politics and government are “secular” matters, meaning they’re not of God, are dirty and corrupt, and are not to be touched for fear of becoming corrupted by them. But how can that be when it was God who created the idea and process of government to begin with?

Research in America over the last 21 national elections—a span of 42 years—indicates that it only took 26% of voters to get a candidate elected to Congress, and only 19% to put a president in office. The bottom line: People who vote get to choose our leaders, which was just as the Founding Fathers intended. But the 1776 champions of our democratic republic at least expected us to exercise our God-given right by getting out to vote!

Granted, candidates running for political offices may not always seem very promising or godly. But remember, our election process is not about personalitiesit’s about principles. And to put that into perspective: Keep in mind that when newly elected U.S. presidents report for duty these days, they typically carry with them the responsibility of appointing a team of 9,000 staffers to help run all the executive agencies they are obligated to oversee. And with those 9,000 leaders come only one brand of doing business, one political party’s agenda for running a nation. Ultimately, each administration’s brand of ethics, policies and morality will trickle all the way down to your local school board.

So, it’s incumbent on us to do our due diligence. Candidates have voting records, and those records reveal how committed they are to their political party’s platform. Their track records will show their stand on issues and policies. Our responsibility in the selection process, then, is to identify principles based on God’s Word and vote for the legislation and candidates based on party platforms and voting records that align with those principles.

In the end, we the people are responsible for the actions of our executive, legislative and judicial officials at the federal, state and local levels. And if we don’t agree with the laws they’re enacting, policies they’re making, and positions they’re taking, we can only look in the mirror and acknowledge what we have been willing to tolerate.

It’s Not Over Until You Say Amen!

As soon as the first Congress finalized the Bill of Rights in 1789, and President George Washington sent copies to the states to be ratified by them, he issued the first presidential “Thanksgiving Proclamation,” encouraging citizens to “unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations,” thanking God for the country’s new government.

With America’s newly formed government finally in place, the national duty of citizens was still not complete. There remained the matter of getting before God and believing for Him to unite such a diverse people, such a unique plan, and such a body politic.

So, What Is My Role In This Election Season? Each of us is required to pray, become informed, vote and then thank the great Lord and Ruler of Nations! Here are some additional resources with details on local and national candidate voting records, sample ballots and even a Voter Prayer & Confession card:

America Stands Election Resources – America Stands

20 Breakthrough Scriptures To Stand On

20 Breakthrough Scriptures To Stand On Real Help Article

God, being the loving and generous Father He is, wants the best for us. He’s an over-the-top God, especially when it comes to His children. Scripture tells us that when David became king, he was immediately challenged by Israel’s longtime enemy, the Philistines. So he went to God for direction—and did God stand by and wait to see how things would play out, hoping His people would get by? Not according to David’s account! ‘“The LORD did it!’ David exclaimed. ‘He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!’” (2 Samuel 5:20).

To honor God’s intervention and overwhelming victory that day, David named the place Baal-perazim, which means “Lord of breaking through.”

What is it that you’re needing your “Lord of the Breakthrough” to show up and do on your behalf?

Consider these 20 Breakthrough Scriptures To Stand On and let them encourage your faith.

    1. “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).
    2. “But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:17),
    3. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
    4. “I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them” (Isaiah 22:22).
    5. “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
    6. “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19, AMPC).
    7. “I will go before you and level the mountains [to make the crooked places straight]; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron” (Isaiah 45:2, AMPC).
    8. ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
    9. “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come” (Jeremiah 33:3).
    10. “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed” (Habakkuk 2:3).
    11. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
    12. “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it” (Matthew 21:22).
    13. “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).
    14. “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
    15. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).
    16. “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
    17. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).
    18. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
    19. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5).
    20. “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me” (Revelation 3:8).

    © 1997 – 2024 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc. Aka Kenneth Copeland Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
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God Accomplishes All His Plans for You

God Accomplishes All His Plans for You

 

When you receive a natural promise from a natural source—be it your spouse, a friend or the company where you work—what do you do? You get excited. The natural part of you gets excited in your mind and your emotions. You anticipate that promise and you can’t wait for it to come to pass!

When you have a promise that comes from God Himself, backed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, what do you do? You get excited, too. But this time, it’s more than the natural part of you that gets excited. It’s more than the natural part of you that begins to expect, to anticipate, to hope, to look for it coming. Your inner man—your spirit—receives by faith and rejoices at what God is going to do!

Jeremiah 1:11-12 is promise for us all about God’s promises: “Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a branch or shoot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]. Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it” (AMPC).

God watches over His Word to perform it—to bring it to pass. The New Living Translation says verse 12 this way: “And the LORD said, ‘That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.’”

If you have been watching the BVOV television broadcasts or the 2024 Southwest Believers’ Convention in Fort Worth, then you most likely released your faith for something—finances, breakthrough, answers, healing, hope, mental health, peace, joy, happiness, your marriage, your children, your friendships, restoration, redemption, deliverance…whatever was pressing on you that needed to change and be made new. It’s that thing you prayed for, prepared for, believed for and thanked God for. Perhaps you had a list of things you were believing for—and the corresponding verses you were standing on. And you’re still standing in faith. Praise God! It’s coming!

For whatever it is that you’ve believed and released your faith to receive, Jeremiah 1:11-12 is the perfect scripture for you to stand on now. God is watching over His Word—the Word you’ve been speaking, confessing and declaring by faith—to perform it. That means He’s ready to accomplish it. Because God Accomplishes All His Plans for You.

Be Aware of the Thief

Now, there’s no doubt that when you immerse yourself in the Word of God, like people do when they attend or watch the broadcasts, the enemy will always try to steal the seed of the Word you heard. He’s a thief, and he’ll always try to steal the ground you’ve taken. But whatever you received, it’s God’s will that you keep it and that you walk in it.

Mark 4:14-15 teaches us, “The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.”

Satan is the thief, and he comes at once! John 10:10 tells us the nature of the thief and the nature of God: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” God wants your seed to grow and flourish. God Accomplishes All His Plans for You.

The Truth Still Supersedes the Facts

What is it for which you’ve believed? Where do you need breakthrough? It’s the will of God that you walk in all that God’s Word provides.

If you were believing for your healing, and you were standing on Psalm 103:1-5, keep standing. “Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!” (AMPC).

The enemy would love nothing more than for you to grow discouraged and quit confessing the truth—the truth that supersedes the facts of your condition.

If you were believing for financial breakthrough, then keep standing. God has called you to prosper—spirit, soul and body. “Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit” (3 John 2). God keeps His Word. What’s more, God Accomplishes All His Plans for You.

Stop the Thief

Many times, when the devil comes to steal the Word—the Word that God is watching over to accomplish in our lives—we forget to resist him. We fail to stop him. But Ephesians 4:28 (AMPC) tells us to “let the thief steal no more”! And James 4:7 tell us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

It’s up to us to stay in resistance mode, and resisting requires faith. It requires doing what the Word says, to fight the one who comes to steal the Word that we’ve received. Ephesians 6:10-13 tells us, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”

Stand in God’s armor all the time. This is how we keep the door closed to the enemy, both when he attacks, and when we’ve experienced a breakthrough. This is how we keep the door open to God as God Accomplishes All His Plans for You.

Hold Fast to the Word         

When we receive a breakthrough in our finances or healing in our body, when we’ve stood in faith for something and the Word is working on our behalf, there is still work to do. First Thessalonians 5:21 (AMPC) tells us to “hold fast.” To hold fast means to continue to believe in or adhere to something.

What is it that you have received? Hold fast to it! Continue to feed daily on the Word of God. Continue to speak your confessions you’ve written out, based on the Word. Continue to believe. Continue to declare that you receive.

What Jesus said still stands: “Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, AMPC). Our spirits need bread every day. Our faith needs bread every day. So, we’re to hold fast to words of life, words of prosperity, words of hope, peace and joy. Feeding daily on the Word of God keeps us spiritually strong.

We hold fast to sound words of teaching: “Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me, in [all] the faith and love which are [for us] in Christ Jesus. Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth] which has been entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy Spirit Who makes His home in us” (2 Timothy 1:13-14, AMPC).

We are to hold fast to our confession of faith: “So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word” (Hebrews 10:23, AMPC).

When we fight the good fight of faith, we hold fast with our words in line with His Word (1 Timothy 6:12-14). We trust and believe Jeremiah 1:11-12—that God watches over his Word to perform it. To accomplish it. To bring it to pass. Because God Accomplishes All His Plans for You.

7 Benefits of a Strong Spirit

7 Benefits of a Strong Spirit

 

We are living in the end times. We are living in the age when the intensity of the world is increasing. Second Timothy 3:1 (NKJV) describes this season as perilous: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”

When Jesus talked about these times, He said, “You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:6-13).

In 2010, Kenneth Copeland spoke a word from the Lord that’s as applicable today as it was then, because these are the times that Jesus warned us about.

“The world is in serious trouble. But for the household of faith and those who will cling to My WORD…everything is going to be all right.

“The world, I’ll tell you again, is in serious trouble. Some very hard things are coming, in different places around the world. Very difficult times in a lot of places. They’re that way now, but they’ll not get better. They will continue to get worse and worse and worse. It is on a downhill run that the world cannot stop. But, for the household of faith, everything’s going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right.

“Oh yeah—you’ll have to make a stand. You’ll have to fight the good fight of faith. But when did you not have to do that?”

We Are the Household of Faith

Being part of the household of faith means we build our lives on the rock of the Word of God. Jesus said, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins” (Luke 6:47-49).

Being part of the household of faith means we live by faith. “For we live by believing and not by seeing” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Being part of the household of faith means we cling to the Word. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23).

Being part of the household of faith means we are doers of the Word and not hearers only. “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says” (James 1:22).

Being part of the household of faith means we are “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).

Being part of the household of faith means we do not let our hearts be troubled, but we believe in God (John 14:1).

Being part of the household of faith means that we are not subject to the times, but the times are subject to us. We do not have to cave in to the pressures of the present day. But, like everything else in our spiritual walk, if we don’t develop a strong spirit, we won’t have it. If we don’t receive it by faith, we won’t have it. If we don’t mature spiritually to the point that we can stand in the face of any adversity, then we will cave in. We will be troubled. We will be affected by the times in which we live.

It’s time to build up our inner man, to mature, to develop our faith more and to strengthen our spirits. The Word tells us that it’s the spirit of a man that will sustain him (Proverbs 18:14). Sustain means “to carry or to withstand under pressure.” Our spirits have to be strong in these days, and the only way we can grow a strong spirit is by feeding it the Word of God.

As you continue strengthening your spirit, consider these 7 Benefits of a Strong Spirit based on the Word of God.

  1. A strong spirit will get you through anything.
    Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.”
  2. A strong spirit will help you receive from God.
    Hebrews 6:12 says, “Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”
  3. A strong spirit will help you hold on to what you receive.
    Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”
  4. A strong spirit will help you resist the devil and temptation.
    Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city” (AMPC).
  5. A strong spirit will help you to help others.
    Luke 22:31-32 says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
  6. A strong spirit will help you withstand impact and pressure.
    James 1:2-4 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
  7. A strong spirit will build a protective barrier around your heart.
    Psalm 112:6-8 says, “Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.”

To strengthen your spirit so it will sustain you in the days and weeks to come, continue to feed it the Word of God. Feeding on the Word will flush out all fear. Feeding means eating, so ingest the Word. Act like the household of faith that you are: Read the Word, think about it, meditate it, confess it and declare it in Jesus’ Name. That’s what will get you through the times in which we live and bring you the 7 Benefits of a Strong Spirit!

You Should Expect BLESSING Every Day

You Should Expect BLESSING Every Day

 

God is a giver—and He gives to us out of who He is, which is good! Psalm 68:19 says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah” (NKJV). And Psalm 107:1 promises us that God is good, and out of His goodness, He daily loads us with those benefits. When David got a glimpse of how good God is, it overcame everything that looked like it was going to destroy him. In Psalm 9, he repeatedly praises God for His goodness and for His marvelous works. By the time David penned Psalm 68, he couldn’t help but write that the Lord is the One who daily loads us with benefits.

The word benefit means “something that aids or promotes well-being.” God is literally looking for a way—every day—to bless us with things that aid or promote our well-being. He doesn’t want any of us to hurt. He doesn’t want any of us to suffer. He doesn’t want any of us to barely exist or barely get by. No, he wants to load us with benefits, and who doesn’t want benefits? When we are offered a new position with a company, aren’t the pay and benefits one of the first things we want to know? Will it be a fair wage for the work involved? Will there be insurance, paid time off and an opportunity to contribute to a retirement plan? We naturally want to know these things, because the value of the pay and benefits are part of our decision-making in whether we accept the job offer.

God is such a good God that He daily loads us with His benefits—and they are never-ending, always abounding and overflowing. He gives us everything He has. It’s actually the reason He created mankind in the first place. The last act of Creation wasn’t creating Adam and Eve; it was BLESSING them! “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God BLESSED them…” (Genesis 1:27-28, NKJV).

God BLESSED Adam and Eve before sickness and disease ever existed. He BLESSED them before poverty, lack or want ever existed. He BLESSED them before suffering, affliction, pain or calamity ever existed. Yes, they became subject to the sin in this world after they sinned, but Jesus came and restored all that God originally created for us all. Genesis 1:26-28 reveals God’s original intent and that was for us to live blessed every day of our lives!

Psalm 115:12-13 says, “The LORD has been mindful of us;He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great” (NKJV). It’s on God’s mind 24/7 to BLESS us!

What’s more, we know from Jeremiah 29:11, that God’s thoughts toward us are good and not evil, to give us the future we hope for.

Wrong Thinking Holds Back THE BLESSING

When we don’t fully understand how God wants to load us daily with His benefits, our wrong thinking gets in the way of our receiving THE BLESSING and all it provides. What we need to do is meditate on the Word of God and renew our minds (Romans 12) so we can understand that God is love—and love gives! John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son…” (NKJV).

God’s love for us far outweighs any reason we might hesitate to receive THE BLESSING in our lives. His love surpasses anything done to us or anything we might have done. Romans 8:39 promises us, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul prayed for us to get a revelation of this: “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:16-21).

Psalm 68:19 (NKJV) says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah.” Selah at the end means “stop and think about this.” God wants us to stop and mediate on the truth of His Word—that He daily loads us with benefits! When we meditate on the Word of God, we gain revelation of it. When we meditate on the heart of Psalm 68:19, we begin to understand the importance of receiving THE BLESSING and all it provides in our lives, including daily benefits.

Being a Christian Isn’t a Burden

Other translations of Psalm 68:19, including the AMPC, tell us that the Lord “bears our burdens and carries us day by day.” But what we often do, perhaps because we don’t realize that God is our burden-bearer, is we carry our burdens. What’s more, oftentimes we make a burden out of being a Christian. But God never meant for us to weighed down by sin. He never meant for us to be weighed down by the law. He never meant for us to be weighed down by our cares. In fact, He said that we should roll our cares over on Him: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Being a Christian Gives Us Life

In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (NKJV). The AMPC translation of this verse reads, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” Having a life of blessing is having a life that we live to the full. It’s the overflowing life that swallows up our needs and moves us on to living in abundance.

It’s Time for Us To Expect THE BLESSING

God’s role in our lives is to see to it that we are overly supplied and overly protected. It’s His desire that we live highly favored. “For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, AMPC).

God sees us already in heaven, though we are clearly still here on this earth. Therefore, it’s His desire that we live here with everything that’s there. When Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,” it included all the benefits God wants to load us with daily; all the benefits that originate in Him. What’s more, bread is symbolic or representative of sustenance or provision. So even in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus was saying that we can expect something from God every day.

God gives us whatever we need, but we know He is more than that. He is a God of abundance who goes beyond our needs to give us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). When we renew our minds to the reality that God is a God of abundance, that He wants to load us with benefits daily, it should create in us a sense of expectancy. And the more we expect it, the more we will experience it. When we live our lives with expectant hope, and with our switch of faith turned on, looking for all that God’s promised, ready to receive it, THE BLESSING will overtake our lives. It’s time for us to start each day expecting THE BLESSING of God. It’s time for us to start each day expecting the favor of God to manifest in some way before the end of each day. It’s time to live loaded—loaded with God’s benefits!

God’s Power at Work Through Prayer

God’s Power at Work Through Prayer

 

Prayer is crucial to our success in every area of our lives. Through prayer, we discover that God is good and that He is faithful. Through our personal prayer, we gain the confidence to know God’s Word is true and that when we pray, He hears and answers us. When we base our prayers on God’s Word, which is His will, our prayers are effective—and they produce the success we want. In other words, we get to see God’s Power at Work Through Prayer.

Our prayers are like incense rising before the Lord (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4). Even in the Temple, incense served as a reminder to the children of Israel to pray, and assured them that their prayers were a sweet-smelling fragrance to the Lord (Exodus 30). God is pleased with our prayers, and prayers based on His Word changes things (and us!).

First Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (New King James Version). Pray without ceasing? How do we do that? In the words of Kenneth Copeland, we are to pray about anything and everything. We are to pray about ALL things ALL the time.

But how do we really do that? Well, a good way to start is to learn about and incorporate the many different kinds of prayer found in the Bible. Ephesians 6:18 says for us to “pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).

Based on this verse, we’re to:

  1. Pray at all times, on every occasion and in every season.
  2. When we do, we’re to pray in the spirit.
  3. And we’re to pray with all manner of prayer and entreaty.
  4. Then we’re to watch and continue interceding.

Prayer is meant to be a full-time aspect of our everyday lives, not something reserved for Sundays or church services or emergencies—although by all means pray then too! When we pray using all manner of prayer—and God answers our prayers—we experience God’s Power at Work Through Prayer.

Pray In Agreement With Someone

According to Kenneth Copeland, when two of his children, Kellie and John, were just children, they fussed all the time, like siblings often do. But one day, Kellie told her dad that she and John wanted a boat. Kenneth’s response was, “OK, but I tell you what: You and John are going to have to believe for it. And Mom and I won’t get out of agreement, but you’re going to have to use your faith. We’ll agree with you, but it’s going to be based on your faith.” He emphasized that she and John couldn’t fight with each other any longer…they had to agree in faith!

By telling Kellie that he and Gloria would agree with their faith, he was teaching Kellie about one of the kinds of prayer—the Prayer of Agreement—that Ephesians 6:18 refers to when it says “all manner of prayer.” Now the Bible doesn’t label any specific instance as the Prayer of Agreement, but that’s what we call it for teaching and communicating purposes. Much like when Jesus prayed the Lord’s Prayer, He did not call it that. He was simply praying to His heavenly Father. People labeled it the Lord’s Prayer, and that’s what we still call it today. Likewise, when Jesus told His disciples, “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you” (Matthew 18:19), He was establishing what we call the Prayer of Agreement.

Well, when Kenneth put the challenge before Kellie, she knew exactly what to do. She was old enough to write, so she wrote out her and John’s agreement, based on the Word of God—based on John 16:23. “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.”

This is what she had been raised to do—to write out a Prayer of Petition based on the Scripture, believing it would be granted. What’s more, the Prayer of Agreement won’t work unless Jesus is Partner in the agreement. Once Kellie finished her petition, she signed it and John scribbled what he could. But their actions established their faith. Their faith was based on a foundation of a promise from God’s Word. And they were in agreement.

Kellie put their Prayer of Agreement on the refrigerator door and when they would pass by, they would declare by faith, “Thank You, Jesus, for the boat.” They understood the words of Matthew 18:19, “My Father in heaven will do it for you.” It will be done. What strong language God used!

Not too long after Kellie posted their Prayer of Agreement, someone called Kenneth saying they wanted to give him a fishing boat. Kenneth had wanted one, so he was thrilled; and naturally, it would have been completely understandable to think that was the answer to Kellie and John’s faith, but they weren’t believing for just a fishing boat. They believed for ‘the perfect boat.’ And when Kenneth asked Kellie what that meant, she said they needed to be able to fish and also to stay out all night in it to just have fun. Well, not too long after the first boat was given, someone else called Kenneth, and they gave him another boat. John and Kellie’s prayer and faith yielded not one boat, but two! Their ‘perfect boat’ was actually two boats! That’s God’s Power at Work Through Prayer!

Pray About Everything

The Lord once told Kenneth Copeland, Let My Word fight its own fight. In other words, incorporate God’s Word in our prayers and let it get to work on our behalf. That’s how we fight the good fight of faith—through prayer, through releasing our faith in prayer, and through praying prayers based on the Word of God.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:23-24).

You can pray for anything. You can pray about anything. And it will be done.

Are you anxious? Pray.

“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 4:6-7).

Are you fearful? Pray.

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4).

Are you worried? Pray.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (Matthew 6:25-26).

Do you need money? Pray.

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Do you want to surrender your life to Christ? Pray.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Is there someone you need to forgive? Pray.

“When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (Mark 11:25).

Are you rejoicing about answered prayer? Pray.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4).

The gift and exercise of prayer in the life of the believer is not a monologue that lands on deaf ears. It’s not meant to be us praying scattershot, as Kenneth Copeland says, where we say every religious and spiritual thing we’ve ever heard. No. It is intentional communication with God based on His Word, which we can always be confident is His will.

Prayer is the foundation of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and it should be the foundation of every believer. Make it yours today. Then you’ll see God’s Power at Work Through Prayer in your life.

Why Is Faith-Building Important for Healing?

Why Is Faith-Building Important for Healing?

 

Aviation has always been a part of Kenneth Copeland’s life. From his days as a private commercial pilot, to serving as Oral Roberts’ pilot when he was a student at ORU, to the present day, Kenneth has studied almost everything to do with flying airplanes. Naturally then, particularly when he was a new believer, God showed him that just like there are fundamentals of flying that apply to every kind of aircraft, so there are fundamental laws of faith that apply to anything we need to receive by faith including salvation, healing, finances, restoration or a miracle.

Hebrews 11:1-3 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (NKJV).

By faith. That’s how we receive. Hebrews 11 shows us so much about this, including how so many of the Old Testament saints lived and received by faith. Note these examples from the New King James Version.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (verse 8).

“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (verses 9-10).

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (verse 11).

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac” (verse 17).

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come” (verse 20).

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped” (verse 21).

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones” (verse 22).

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command” (verse 23).

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy thepassing pleasures of sin” (verses 24-25).

“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (verse 27).

“By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them” (verse 28).

“By faith [the children of Israel] passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned” (verse 29).

And on Hebrews 11 goes, so much so, that the Scripture later says, “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (verses 32-34).

Never Let the Devil See You Sweat

It is by faith we receive, and if we are believing God to receive our healing, then this is how we are going to receive it. Therefore, it’s essential that we develop the measure of faith God has given each one of us (Romans 12:3).

So how do we develop our faith? We strengthen it with the Word of God; we read and study everything God says about our faith and receiving our healing by faith (Romans 10:17). We put God’s Word in our hearts and in our mouths (verses 8-9). We say it and declare the end from the beginning (Matthew 8:8; Isaiah 46:10). And, as God taught Kenneth, we never let the devil see us sweat.

He learned this years ago when he was a student at ORU and was putting into practice listening to the Holy Spirit in preparation to pray for people to be healed. One time, he and Gloria had driven home to Fort Worth for a visit with family, and no sooner had they arrived, than Kenneth’s mother received a call that they needed to come to the hospital quickly because his great-aunt Eiley was dying.

His mother said immediately that they needed to hurry, to jump in the car and go. But Kenneth didn’t have the same sense of urgency. He had been learning to turn inward and listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit, just like he’d learned in aviation to “stop and wind your watch.” That’s an aviation phrase pilots use to express what to do if something starts to fail with an aircraft. The meaning is that if systems start to fail, instead of panicking and fearing that the plane will fall out of the sky, which it won’t, pause and maintain your composure, begin to think of your checklist, and go through it.

In a spiritual sense, to stop and wind your watch is to turn inward and listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit for what course of action to take; because, after all, He is our helper (John 14:26).

“Kenneth,” his mother pressed, “if we want to see her, then we need to get there quick.”

But he told his mother, “I need to go change my shirt.” As he went into the bedroom and began to change his shirt, he turned to the Lord for direction and as he said, “Lord,” he immediately heard the Lord say, “Don’t ever let the devil see you sweat. You get over there and I’ll tell you what to do.”

When they headed out the door to leave, Kenneth told his mother, “You drive, and drive slowly, please.”

“Kenneth!” she exclaimed.

When they arrived, a family member was already making funeral arrangements on the phone. Kenneth went on over to the bed and said, “Aunt Eiley, open your eyes.”

“Kenneth,” she responded, “what are you doing here?”

“I came to pray for you,” Kenneth told her.

About that time, Kenneth’s mother said, “Look at that thing. That’s what’s choking her to death.”

And Kenneth declared, “Well, no, not anymore,” and he went on to pray what the Holy Spirit told him to pray.

The result was that Aunt Eiley was healed, and she continued to live alone for two more years!

Here’s the point: Kenneth hand learned to stop and wind his watch, spiritually speaking. He had developed his faith by feeding his spirit with the Word of God, particularly all the verses that teach us how to live by faith, release our faith, declare our faith, and use our faith to receive. He had developed his faith to believe for healing—for himself, for his family and for anyone else who wanted to be made whole.

It’s a lesson for us all. How important it is when we hear a difficult report and are standing in faith to receive, to stop and wind our watch. To turn inward and listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit so we stay in faith, keep walking by faith, and continue to respond with faith.

10 Scriptures To Build Your Faith for Healing

Sometimes, when we’re focusing so hard on receiving and, in particular, receiving our healing, we need to give equal attention to developing our faith, because it is by faith that we receive. To help you build your faith for healing, consider the following verses on faith. Memorize them. Personalize them. Say them daily. And watch faith rise up on the inside of you.

  1. “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]” (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC).
  2. “Have faith in God [or have the faith of God]…. You can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart” (Mark 11:22-23).
  3. “You can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).
  4. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV).
  5. Faith works by love (see Galatians 5:6).
  6. “So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe” (Romans 4:16).
  7. “Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen’” (Matthew 21:21).
  8. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4).
  9. “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name” (John 16:23).
  10. “(As it is written, ‘I have made you [Abraham] a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17, NKJV).

It was Smith Wigglesworth who said, “I’m not moved by what I see. I’m not moved by what I feel. I’m moved only by what I believe.” Let’s remember this as we build our faith to receive our healing.