Monthly Archives: January 2022

5 Secrets to Living Life in the Fast Lane

5 Secrets To Living Life in the Faith Lane

 

When you jump on a highway, you have a choice.

You can drive in the slow lane, cruise along in the middle lane, or move over to the fast lane. In life, you have choices, too, regarding which lane you’ll cruise in. You can hang out in the cynical lane, the “safe” lane, the waiting-for-everything-to-fall-in-your-lap lane, the guarded lane, the angry and bitter lane. You get the point. Or you can live life in the faith lane. That is the lane that cruises at an altitude much higher than the others, ignores the “directions” the world gives, and dares to believe for more. The best part? It always arrives at its destination.

If you’ve been stuck in traffic on the way to your dreams, it’s time to change lanes. Here, we’re sharing 5 Secrets To Living Life in the Faith Lane that are guaranteed to get you to your destination—victory!

1. Choose Life

“I have placed before you today life and happiness, and death and adversity…. So choose life.” –Deuteronomy 30:15,19 (NASB)

When you wake up in the morning, you’re going to move into a lane of life. Some people start their day grumbling about how tired they are, how they don’t want to go to work, or expecting things to go just as they always have. Uh oh. They choose incorrectly. That’s life in the slowest lane there is.

Instead, God tells us to “choose life” that we might live life in the faith lane! How do we choose life? Deuteronomy 30 tells us:

  • Love God. To love God is to receive His love for you, love others and obey Him.
  • Walk in His ways. (Take time to do a study on what it looks like to walk in His ways and live an upright life.)
  • Keep His commandments, statutes and judgments. This means all of them! If you attend church and tithe but attack people verbally or become angry easily, you’re not keeping the greatest commandment—to love others. Endeavor to keep all of God’s commands.We are not called to be perfect in the sense that we are without a single flaw (that’s impossible), but we are called to be perfect in the biblical sense, which is to become spiritually mature.

When you choose life, you’re choosing success! That means you wake up with a spirit of expectancy about you. You know it’s going to be a great day because the Lord is with you, and He has great plans for your life!

2. Speak Only Life Words

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” –James 1:6-7 (ESV)

On a two-lane road, you can go one direction or the other, but you can’t go both ways at the same time. You have to pick a lane!

In life, if you want to stay in the faith lane, it is critical that you speak only life words. Your words are the steering wheel of your life. When you speak God’s Word and God’s will over your life, it propels you farther down the faith lane toward victory in that situation. Conversely, every time you speak negativity, doubt, fear, self-pity or defeat you flip yourself around and start driving the other way—away from everything you want! Backtracking is not fun on a road trip, and it is no better on the way to your dreams.

Stay in the faith lane by making sure everything you say agrees with what God says. Be consistent. Don’t believe and speak faith today, but then tomorrow say, “Well, I’m not sure if it will happen.” As long as you’re flip-flopping, you’re guaranteeing you won’t receive what you’re after (James 1:6-8).

The more you speak only life words, the more your faith will grow. It will keep you from being in the faith lane one day then out of it the next. Spending regular time meditating on God’s Word is key to keeping your words in line and staying in the faith lane.

And resist every temptation to speak wrong words! Those temptations will come—daily even—but unless you want to drive away from victory, you won’t give in. When the devil tempts you to tell it like it is instead of like you want it to be, say, “No, devil! I’m not going to slam on the brakes. I’m staying in the faith lane!”

3. Be Intentional About Being Obedient

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” –John 14:15 (ESV)

The reason God has commandments and statutes is to keep us safely within the lines of the faith lane. Whenever we disobey, we move outside the faith lane, where we’re safest and moving toward all the benefits of THE BLESSING.

The plans He has for us work out step by step—obeying Him in the little things that lead us right up to the big things. Now, we may miss a step from time to time, and sometimes the result of missing a step or disobeying may seem insignificant. But Gloria Copeland believes otherwise: “I am convinced there is no insignificant disobedience.” That’s why we must approach every moment in tune with His voice and obedient to His Word.

It may seem harmless to slip up and be dishonest or fly off the handle in anger or share some gossip, but those small moments of disobedience take us off track and sometimes cause us to wander around when we didn’t have to.

God has given us His written Word and placed His Spirit within us to provide moment-by-moment direction for our lives. Obedience is worth the effort!

Luke 11:28 tells us that those who hear God’s Word and keep it are blessed—it’s as simple as that. His plan and purpose for your life is not dependent upon what you can or cannot do. It depends on your doing what He tells you to do when He tells you to do it.

It takes being intentional about being obedient to make it happen! Though it becomes easier as we grow and mature in the Lord, there will always be work to do—faith muscles to exercise. How do we grow in spiritual maturity? Practice, practice, practice. You can do this by prioritizing:

  • More time meditating on the Word of God and applying it to your own life
  • More time listening for and responding to correction
  • More time practicing holding your tongue, being patient, thinking of others
  • More time forgiving others (even from offenses of long ago)
  • More time praying for God’s help.

So, don’t give in to the temptation to disobey God’s Word in any area—especially when it comes to walking in love. Be intentional about obeying Him and keep yourself cruising along at full speed in the faith lane!

4. Live by Faith on Purpose

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” –Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)

What does it mean to live by faith on purpose?

When you turn onto a road to start driving, you choose which lane you want to drive on and you do so on purpose. Living life in the faith lane doesn’t happen by accident or on a wish—it is intentional and with purposeful effort. What does that look like? Instead of winging it from one day to the next, you have a plan. It includes making the following decisions for yourself.

  • I am going to speak words of faith, and I am not going to speak words of doubt
  • I am going to believe God, no matter what my five senses are telling me
  • I am going to obey God, even when my flesh is shouting out and demanding otherwise
  • I am going to read, study, memorize and meditate on the Word of God daily
  • I am going to receive correction from God and those around me so that I can become more and more pleasing to God and stay qualified for promotion.

Now, are you going to be perfect? Of course not. But it is this intentional effort—living life in the faith lane on purpose—that will keep you moving in the direction God has for you—straight to your dreams and the plans and purposes He has for you.

5. Overcome Hindrances to Faith

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” –Hebrews 11:6 (MEV)

But I have faith and I’m still not seeing results!

If that’s where you are, it’s time to take an inventory, and find out where you can make an adjustment to get back on your way to victory!

Kenneth Copeland said at a recent faith event, “When you pull a card from the promise box, make sure you go to the Promise Book and read the verses before and after it because it’s probably conditional.”

Every promise has a note of correction in it—a place you need to adjust or a condition that must be met to receive it. So, if something isn’t working in our lives, we know it isn’t on God’s end. But that’s OK! He always gives us a way to get back in the faith lane and in position to receive everything we desire.

While there are a number of conditions to God’s promises (see The “Ifs” Between You and Your Promise), the greatest hindrance to faith is failing to walk in love. Walking in love isn’t “being nice,” but rather, a state of the heart that yields the fruit of the spirit in every situation toward every person. It’s the driving force behind a person who can remain calm when being insulted, bless someone who cuts them off in traffic, and forgive quickly and completely. It isn’t fake exterior behaviors, but a sincere attitude that flows from a heart that has been fully developed in the love of God.

And no matter how long you’ve been at it—it takes work! You will never stop having to work at walking in love. But it’s worth the effort because it is by far the greatest hindrance to receiving from God. If something is missing in your life, it is almost certainly tied to your love walk.

To get yourself back in the faith lane, overcome any hindrances that may have crept up and driven you into the wrong flow of traffic. It is so much better to acknowledge areas where you’ve missed it and correct them than remain in denial and stay perpetually stuck in the same place in life.

You can live life in the faith lane! When you take these five secrets and apply them one by one to your life, you will see a change. Keep making the slight corrections needed to stay in your faith lane, and before you know it, you will arrive at the destination of your dreams!

 

Related Articles:

A Prayer to Stay In the Faith Lane

 

 

 

5 Battle Strategies To Win the War on Fear

5 Battle Strategies To Win the War on Fear

 

“Who Dares Wins.”

This widely admired motto of the British Special Air Service (SAS) has often been repeated by the United States military during special or dangerous missions as motivation to overcome and conquer. In essence, it is a call to defy fear to achieve victory in the face of perilous circumstances. It is a call to rise boldly above everything the flesh tells you to think, feel and do.

As Christians, we can see a similar theme throughout the Bible. He who dares to believe God, stand in faith, face persecution, and take God at His Word, wins. To dare means to have the courage to confront something boldly without questioning yourself or thinking about the “what ifs.”

At KCM, we’re declaring war on fear. Do you dare join us? Do you dare to look fear in the face and talk back with the Word of God? Do you dare to have faith when everyone around says you should be afraid? To help you prepare for battle, we’ve put together 5 Battle Strategies To Win the War on Fear that will turn you into the spiritual warrior you were created to be.

1. Get In Fear’s Face

“God has not given us a spirit of fear.” –2 Timothy 1:7

Some of the greatest soldiers in the world—particularly special forces units—are trained to deal with fear head-on. That’s because they know fear is a great threat to success. It causes all people—not just soldiers—to make poor decisions, often resulting in failure.

It’s that same reason Jesus went to great effort to deliver us from all fear and oppression. Jesus didn’t cope with the works of the devil. He destroyed them. That was His whole reason for coming to this earth (1 John 3:8). He destroyed the power of sin and death, and delivered us who were in bondage to fear (Hebrews 2:14-15).

While most of us will never face the life-threatening experiences of a special forces unit, we can take a hint from how they prepare. They practice, they laugh at fear, they see themselves having a successful outcome, and they guard their inner dialogue. Sound familiar? Those are each in line with how the Bible tells us to respond to fear. In other words, we’re called to get in fear’s face and refuse to allow it the last word.

Though we no longer have to be subject to fear, we still live in a world that’s held captive by it. This means we will encounter it, and we will have to deal with it. There’s a huge difference between just coping with fear—trying to “make it” through life while still allowing ourselves to be subject to all its oppression—and being delivered from fear where it’s totally and completely out of our lives forever.

Do you dare to get in fear’s face when it tries to come on you?

You’ll need to prepare, practice and see yourself getting in fear’s face before it happens. See yourself resisting the devil. See yourself winning. Speak only the truth of the Word. The devil cannot ever win against the Word.

2. Use Counterintelligence

“For we are not ignorant of his devices.” –2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)

Your enemy is planning to use a weapon against you. It is quite powerful, and often very effective at defeating its intended victim. But there is a weak point in the weaponry, and only one thing can destroy it—without fail.

To win the war on fear, you’ll need to use counterintelligence in your battle strategy. The good news is that this information has already been compiled for you. Here is the summary:

1. Your enemy is planning to steal, kill and destroy everything he can (John 10:10).

2. He is going to use fear—every form of fear—to cross your borders and gain access (Isaiah 41:10; Proverbs 29:25).

3. The weaponry of fear is powerful and can only be defeated with one anti-fear missile (1 John 4:18).

4. The anti-fear weapon is this: LOVE (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Once you’ve identified the threat and determined the course of action, it’s time to win the war on fear by deploying your anti-fear weapon—LOVE. Perfect love casts out fear. Psalm 91 protection comes from dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. Dwelling in the secret place is only possible if you receive His Love; love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.

To win the war on fear—study love. Read about it everywhere you can find it in God’s Word. Read books about it (Kenneth E. Hagin’s Love: The Way to Victory is a great place to start). Listen to teachings (like Kenneth Copeland’s The Love Factor—Living Life Without Fear CD series). Speak love scriptures. Refuse to leave the love line under any circumstance. Keep firing your anti-fear missiles of love, and you’ll be sure to win the war because love never fails.

3. Plan a Threefold Attack

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” –Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

One of the greatest warriors in the Bible was Joshua. One of only two who had the faith and courage to take the Promised Land, he succeeded Moses before spending decades of his life in battle, as he took the land section by section. God’s instructions for success? Three things.

1. Don’t Stop Speaking the Word.

2. Meditate On the Word Continually.

3. Do Everything Written in It.

In other words, God’s presence with Joshua was not enough to win the battle against the terror he would soon face and overcome. Joshua had a part to play as well. Joshua was to speak the Word…meditate the Word…and do the Word. And he was to do all three continually. Only then would he defeat fear, prosper and have good success.

So, what did God tell Joshua to meditate on?

The Word of God…the Love of God. Because it’s that Love that casts out fear. When you’re focused on the Word of God, fear will disappear into thin air. You won’t see it, smell it or taste it. It will just be…gone.

Getting rid of fear takes some action on our part. Like Joshua, we have to meditate—constantly give our attention to—the Word of God.

That means keeping our minds stayed on Him, keeping our minds stayed on His WORD, and keeping our minds stayed on His Love. And we have to do that until we receive revelation of Hebrews 13:5-6: “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”

These days, we cannot saturate our minds with all the media reports of death, destruction, biological and chemical warfare, and terrorism, and still walk free of fear. We have to get our mind off what the world says and onto what the Word says.

Take God’s plan for success for Joshua and put it into practice as your own battle strategy. It is a guaranteed plan of attack to win the war on fear.

4. Keep Your Spiritual Composure

“Having done all…stand.” –Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)

It’s no secret that the devil uses rapid-fire artillery against the people of God. It’s what Pastor George Pearsons calls “the pileup technique.” One thing after another, after another—all at the same time. This technique is designed to wear you down and force you to quit.

To win the war on fear, when one thing after another is fired at you to try to get you into fear, it is critical that you keep your spiritual composure. That’s what Paul was saying when he instructed us to put on the armor of God for spiritual battle. Once we’ve done all, the next thing is to stand.

But standing isn’t a passive act. It is an intentional decision to stand firm in faith without fainting or giving up. That’s because you cannot afford, as Andrew Wommack would say, to “fall apart like a $2 suitcase” every time something challenging comes your way.

You win the war on fear when you keep your spiritual composure—no matter how many fiery darts are launched your way. Don’t give up. You’re about to win.

5. Don’t Ever Ring the Bell

“We will reap, if we do not give up.” –Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

During Navy SEAL training, known as some of the most intense physical and mental military training in the world, a brass bell stands in the center of the training compound in perfect view of all the students. On Day 1, all SEAL hopefuls are made aware that if they want to stop the hardships, the pain, the cold, the brutal workouts, all they have to do is ring the bell—all they have to do is quit.

In war, fear is designed to weaken the enemy and ultimately get him to retreat—to give up. That’s what your enemy is trying to do, too. He wants you so far in fear, you’ll get weaker and weaker until you just give up.

Fighting the battle with fear? Find 7 Confessions To Speak When You Want To Quit HERE.

Here is the most important battle strategy of all—don’t ever ring the bell. When you quit, you give up your rights. When you quit, you let the devil win. When you quit, you lose the bold-as-a-lion grit that always gets the promise.

No matter how hard it is right now—don’t you dare quit. Don’t give up on what God has put in your heart. You have it in you to get there. Jesus Christ paid a high price to give you everything you need to win. You can win the war on fear, and live a life filled with joy and peace!

Don’t ever ring the bell.

These five battle strategies will help you win the war on fear. Do you want to win in this life? Dare to look fear in the face, and resist it in Jesus’ Name, no matter what the circumstances look like. Dare to have faith when everyone around you says you should be afraid. Dare to keep holding on even when you don’t think you have anything left in you. “Who Dares Wins.”

Related Article:

7 Confessions To Speak When You Want To Quit

How to Receive the Restoration of God

How To Receive the Restoration of God

 

Something is missing.

Maybe you haven’t thought about it in a while or had resolved to get over it and move on. But the devil has stolen something from you. The failed business that robbed you of your retirement account, your sleep and your joy. The opportunity that was pulled right out from under you. The money spent on a health problem that persisted. A relationship that suffered damage or ended altogether.

God never intended for you to accept defeat in that area. He still doesn’t. That’s because God is a God of restoration. Not as the world would define it—putting things back as they should be. No. He doesn’t do things the world’s way. God’s plan for restoration always involves restoring things to you better than they would have been.

Brother Copeland recently prophesied that in 2022, things are going to happen that you know should have come to pass a long time ago. It’s going to be the greatest year you’ve ever had. Like any prophecy, we each have a part to play in seeing it come to pass. It’s time to see a full restoration of everything the devil has stolen. Here, we’re sharing how to receive restoration from God this year and always.

1. Make a List of What You Want Restored

“Write the vision; make it plain.” –Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)

Most of us know what’s been stolen and would love to see a turnaround, but often we’ve put much of it out of our minds and haven’t known to expect restoration in certain areas.

That’s why it is so important to take time to identify those things—big and small—that should have been. Restoration begins with making a list of what you want restored. During your next quiet time, grab your journal and a pen, and get quiet with the Lord.

Think about the things that have been stolen in one way or another, but not in a sad or self-pitying way. You’ve likely already mourned those things. But rather, you are bringing to your remembrance the things that need restoring with the intention of seeing a victory. That is how you receive restoration from God.

Then, write it down. Make a list of everything you’d like to see restored. It could be your marriage, a friendship, finances, time, sleep, health, joy, the return of taste and smell after COVID, an opportunity, a promotion, your reputation, or anything else. Acts 3:21 tells us that God restores everything. Hallelujah!

Then, get ready to….

2. Ask God for Restoration

“No one says, ‘Restore!’’’ –Isaiah 42:22 (NKJV)

Have you said it out loud?

Have you said, “Restore!” as Isaiah 42:22 mentions?

It’s time! It’s time to walk your house saying, “Restore! God, I ask You to restore my marriage, restore my finances, restore the car that was wrecked, restore my reputation, restore that promotion, restore the years I lost to illness. Restore!” Something turns loose when you do this. Something breaks free in you and around you. It’s how you receive restoration from God.

God says He will restore to you the years the locust has eaten, and He will do so because He is Compassion (Joel 2:25; Zechariah 10:6). So, when you ask Him to restore, it is imperative that you also believe that He will. James 1:6-8 says if you ask Him but don’t really, truly, excitedly believe it will happen, you won’t get it. And it’s OK to ask God to help you have faith to receive it. He wants to help you!

Ask Him. Go down the list. Ask for restoration. Put pressure on the circumstance with the Word of God. Against, hope, believe. Against what you can see, taste and smell—believe. When all hope is gone in the natural—believe. This is what pleases God.

Quit looking at the ashes and the pain. Look up to God. Begin to tell Him that you love Him and inquire of Him. There is a miracle and a double portion at the end of this. Ask Him to show you what to do. He will show you. Now, it may not all come to pass by next Tuesday, but when He shows you the first step, move on it. It could be so simple, but take that step and then the next one; and before you know it, this whole thing will be turned around.

Watch this timeless message from Kenneth Copeland and Keith Moore about Restoration of that Which Is God’s Heart.

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3. Seek Correction

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” –Proverbs 12:1 (ESV)

When it comes to restoration, one thing is sure—nothing changes if nothing changes.

Restoration is God’s will for you. But seeing things come to pass that should have manifested a long time ago begins with seeking correction.

Correction—though not always pleasant—gets you in perfect position to receive what you’re believing for. If you don’t ever want to hear anything about yourself that involves making an adjustment, you’re lacking in wisdom. Worse, you’ll never be in alignment to receive the restoration God wants to give you.

It’s easy to get caught up in what others have stolen from you or where you feel you’ve been shortchanged. But no matter what is going on in your life, God is concerned with one thing—your growth and development. You want promotion, but if you don’t have it, it’s because you aren’t prepared for it yet. It would be dangerous for you to receive it without making the necessary adjustments.

Terri Savelle Foy once shared how God told her she would receive restoration of her marriage, finances and life dreams: Forget everything going on around you. You work on you.

Maybe you’ve allowed yourself to fall into a victim mentality—the idea that life just happens to you, and you can’t do anything about it. The idea that people control your circumstances or that things will never change. The idea that you’re powerless (read: “I have no one to put me in the pool” John 5:7 or “He stole my birthright and my blessing!” Genesis 27:36).

If you’re always the victim, you’ll never be the victor. A victim approach refuses to take any personal responsibility, but rather, focuses on unjust events or perceived wrong treatment from others. It specializes in the blame game, as in, “It was that woman You gave me!”

It’s time for you to see a restoration of everything that’s been stolen! It begins by understanding this one thing: You are not a victim. In Christ, we are no longer powerless. Through His power, authority, grace and mercy, we are victorious overcomers!

Becoming a victor, rather than a victim, begins with not just being willing to receive correction when it comes, but seeking it out! Ask a trusted mentor or friend to share one or two items for you to work on. And don’t be easily offended when they do. Love isn’t easily offended—and neither is wisdom. None of us is above correction, nor are we ever without a time when we need it.

At the same time, ask the Lord to shine His light on the dark places in your heart, too. Allow Him to dig around and reveal those areas of weakness you may not have even known were there. Then, ask Him to help you fix them. When He gives you a step to take—do it! It may be something humbling or uncomfortable but do it anyway. The road to restoration isn’t always an easy one, but the reward is sure.

4. Sow a Restoration Seed

“If [the thief] be found, he shall restore sevenfold.” –Proverbs 6:31 (KJV)

Jerry Savelle says it best: “When you say ‘need’, God says ‘seed’!”

Once you’ve made a list of things that need restoring, asked God for restoration, and sought correction, you’re ready to sow a restoration seed. Proverbs tells us that the enemy must not only give us back what was stolen but restore sevenfold. That kind of harvest needs seed.

Go the Lord and ask Him, “Lord, what would You have me sow for restoration?” He may have a specific seed for each area of restoration. Be tuned in to hear His direction, and give with a thankful and expectant heart.

5. Ramp Up Your Gratitude

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” –1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

You won’t see a Christian harvesting a blessing without gratitude any more than you’ll see a farmer harvesting a crop without going out and intentionally bringing it in. Gratitude is the harvester.

You prepared the soil by asking God for restoration and seeking correction. You planted the seed by sowing where He instructed. Now, you’re ready to harvest by ramping up your gratitude.

A gratitude journal is a perfect place to start. Take the time to write down 10 things each morning that you are grateful for. It can be anything—even something as simple as your cup of coffee. Then, spend time thanking God for each of them. You’ll be amazed at how much it will lift your spirit over time. In fact, Dr. Don Colbert prescribes keeping a gratitude journal to many of his patients for physical and emotional healing.

There is so much untapped spiritual power in praise and thanksgiving.

The devil wants to keep you from being grateful while you’re in the process of believing, because he knows it’s an important key to breakthrough. Remember when Paul and Silas were locked up in the bowels of a prison? Things looked pretty grim. Most people would be begging and pleading with God to get them out, or considering all the ways they’d served Him and wondering how they could possibly deserve what was happening.

Instead, Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25, NIV). The result? “All the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (verse 26, NIV). All the doors. Every chain. All because of praise and thanksgiving—hearts of gratitude toward God.

So, as you’re believing for restoration, when you pray, “enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4, KJV). A heart of praise, thanksgiving and gratitude are integral parts of prayer. They are you and God working together—your prayer and His power. You can pray amiss, but you can’t praise amiss.

Never underestimate the importance of gratitude and praise in receiving restoration and manifestations you’ve been waiting to see for a long time. It’s one of the most powerful spiritual weapons you have!

You can take these steps to receive restoration from God and turn it into a year you’ll remember forever! It’s time to move into the victor’s circle again. It’s time to shout, “Restore!”

 

Related Articles:

10 Power-Packed Declarations for Restoration

How To Reclaim What the Devil Has Stolen

A 6-Step Guide to Responding To Your Enemies