Who Am I?

Written By: Judy Smith

One of the greatest steps in discovering who we are is discovering who God is. God is a God of justice and righteousness without guilt or sin. He is pure and He is Holy. Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

After Moses had been with God, his face glowed. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he was very much aware of his own sinfulness. But in the heart of God a way had been prepared for Jesus from the beginning. God gave His perfect gift, His Son, and through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, blood has spilled on the doorframe of the hearts of every man and woman who trusts in Him. We must draw near to God with a sincere heart of faith. Who we are in ourselves is not enough, but who we are in Christ is everything.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being.

God’s power is at work within in us everyday, therefore we can learn to live beyond our feelings. Paul learned to live beyond his flesh and feelings. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 we learn that His grace is sufficient. Grace signifies unmerited favor, undeserved blessing, a free gift. God’s grace is His power exceeding what we could achieve or hope for if we were on our own. His grace gives us the ability to sustain, endure, and maintain all that He is enabling us to and become in Christ.

His grace enables us to manage our feelings. Although feelings can be very strong and demanding, we do not have to allow them to rule our lives. We must manage our emotions rather than allowing them to manage us. We have free will and can make decisions that are not based on feelings. I am so grateful that I don’t have to wait and see how I feel everyday before I know how to act. With Jesus’ help I am going to live beyond my feelings. I’m going to live the joy-filled life that Jesus came to give me.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-19 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

What is your heart’s cry? God hears your heart! Our words for the most part cannot express everything that is inside of us. Our words fall hopelessly short of expressing our sorrows, frustrations, hopes, and dreams.

God wants to hear our hearts so the Holy Spirit examines our conscience and subconscious innermost thoughts and feelings. I thank God for His Holy Spirit and my heavenly language that prays my heart. Jesus cares more about our heart’s cry than our words.

Romans 8:27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. When we mess up, the first thing we say is “God knows my heart.” Yes He does! Do you? 

Prosper

Written By: Remaliah Evans

“My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.” This is a quote from a Huffington Post article, and this same article states that 85% of what we worry about never happens. 85%!  Which tells me that my real problem is what I spend my time thinking about. I would like to think I’m an optimist or even a “realist,” however I’m pretty sure that I’m more of a pessimist. I thank God because He knows how to get my attention, and He encourages me to walk in faith, not pessimism or over analyzing.

 I was listening to a message on YouTube and the speaker said, “if we really believed what we say we believe, we’d pray a lot more.” This is not an uncommon saying in the church world, nor should it be, because it is the truth. As I was meditating on that, I was reminded that if I really believed and focused on the promises and the declarations in the bible, my entire perspective and attitude would instantly shift because I would have heaven’s perspective.

 Lately my attitude has been funky because I just can’t seem make progress in certain areas despite my best efforts. Fact #1 my best efforts don’t matter when I am trying to do everything out of my own strength instead of putting God first and allowing Him to direct my path as we are instructed to do in Proverbs 3:5-6. Fact #2 The word is powerful!  Joshua 1:8 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.

 Here we have some very clear and profound instructions: speak the word, meditate on the word, and do the word… and then your way will be prosperous, and then you will have success. The word prosperous here means to advance, to make progress, to succeed, and to be profitable

 When we think of prosperity and success we tend to immediately think of money, influence, and major life achievements. All of those things are great, and I definitely want them, but what about prospering in our soul? What about prospering in peace, prospering in clear thinking, or prospering in joy? Well when we meditate on the word, declare the word, and do the word, we can have both.

 That said, I would like to share a praise report. I have never struggled more with worry, fear, and a bad attitude than I have in the past year. This week the Lord brought me to the same verse twice in one day. The verse is Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Ok now, not every problem is from the devil. I’ve done a great job creating my own problems and drama. But when I heard this verse, I knew the Lord was speaking to me and telling me not to fear opposition or failure because He is in control and He will crush the enemy. I smiled broader than I’ve smiled in a long time because I remembered that I’m not alone and that God has already promised victory. Romans 16:20 is one of the verses that I have began to meditate on and decree. I have to choose many times each day to meditate on the word instead of meditating on worry. Every time I choose to meditate on the word, the God of peace is faithful to prosper me in peace, clarity of mind, and understanding. I hope that this has encouraged you and I pray that as you meditate on the word you will prosper in every way.

Prisoner of Fear

Written By Remaliah Evans

I was four years old watching Shaka Zulu and then I could not sleep later that night because I was afraid of being kidnapped. My Mom explained that no one would kidnap me, she prayed with me, pled the blood of Jesus over me, and then made me memorize 2 Timothy 1:7. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Since that day whenever I am afraid I say this verse because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This verse has carried me through many situations.

Still, I struggle with two major fears: fear of failure and fear of success. I have been blessed to work with the same company for ten years. However I should have found another job years ago. But I didn’t. I didn’t leave because I was afraid that I would fail in a new position or get fired because of cutbacks. I didn’t leave because I was afraid of what it would be like to succeed in a new position. Would the responsibility of success eventually crush me? Would I become a workaholic? I was paralyzed by fear. I updated my resume and I looked for jobs but I didn’t look too hard because I was afraid. I was very picky about the positions I would apply for, and although I was “looking” I only applied to a handful of jobs each year.

Fortunately for me God knows how to shake me up and get me moving, but I was quite stubborn. I kept adjusting and adapting to changes that were designed to guide me into a new position. Instead of taking the hint, I decided that I would rather deal with being uncomfortable than face the fear of failure, the fear of success, or the fear of the unknown. Until my admin quit. My admin had been with me for three years and she was overqualified, so she decided to move on.

When she quit I realized that she had the good sense to move on, and I didn’t. I was angry at myself for staying longer than I should have. I was angry because I realized that I had allowed fear to hold me prisoner. I had even received a prophecy that said, “The prison door is open, all you have to do is walk out.” I didn’t get it at the time. Honestly, I just got that right now. To top it off I had another prophecy confirming that there had been not one, but several times where I could have transitioned out my job and I chose not to. That truth was hard to hear.

I now refuse to turn down opportunities simply because I am afraid that I might fail, or because I am afraid that I might succeed.

As angry and as stupid as I felt when my admin quit, I must tell you that it was another six months before I even applied for a new position, and I did not get the job. I’m still here, in the same position. The good news is that I am now facing fear head on and still declaring that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Every day. The other good news is that I now refuse to turn down opportunities simply because I am afraid that I might fail, or because I am afraid that I might succeed. I had even stopped writing for some time because I was afraid that my writing would not make an impact. Throughout this whole process I have seen the Lord’s faithfulness and I have seen that no one is more committed to me than He is. No matter how strenuous and impossible the situation, God’s grace is sufficient.

It was never about the job, success, writing, or moving on. It has been about knowing Him more intimately.  Trusting Him, and trusting Him enough to follow Him even when the future seems uncertain.  I am no longer a prisoner of fear.

Limitless

How God causes us to take Quantum Leaps in our Development

Written By Lynn Waters

It has been six weeks since our Limitless Conference, and I am still so appreciative of this time well spent. I arrived to the conference early along with many others who were excited and ready to help. Several cars worth of equipment and supplies were unloaded as we headed into the conference area. Teams of women were decorating and within minutes the centerpieces and table settings were in place, and stunning.

There was such togetherness. It was as though we were of one mind: to make the day the best ever. We all worked and set up everything in record time. Then, with tired feet, I sat in the room before the conference began and just enjoyed being there. As I looked around the room, I noticed a small detail. The beautiful flower pots and the napkins matched. Did any of you notice this? I will remember this thoughtful gesture. I had already found out that my favorite duet was going to be sung. I had asked God for that song to be sung at the conference and God answered my prayer. I had heard the first soprano and alto sing it before and I had gotten goose bumps on my arms when I heard it. The singers were anointed. So I was sitting there anticipating the song that I call the “Jabez Song” because it talks about widening your tent pegs and being limitless. I felt this was the best Life Builder Conference we have ever had.

The guest speaker discussed the term “quantum leap,” explaining that quantum leap occurs when an electron appears to “get excited” and BAM leaps to the next level within in an atom. To me the atom is God and we are the little electrons, running around and around until we gain energy then we BAM jump to a new level in God. How do we run around and get energy? We do this by focusing on God, studying our Bible and praying. As we spend our day focusing on God and His goodness, we gain energy and BAM move to a new level with God. As we focus on the goodness of God and not on our problems, we get a new perspective. We move higher, our problems get smaller, and we experience less stress.

As we get higher and higher, we BAM experience that joy that only comes from God. We don’t have the perspective of a turkey anymore. Instead, we go higher and higher and BAM we start seeing things from the perspective of an eagle. We become an eagle Christian. We begin to see our lives from the Father’s perspective. We change, our families change and our whole lives change.

If you have ever been with someone that has the joy of the Lord, you know it is from the inside and the person glows with God’s light. This joy affects all those around them. I have never seen her in person, however Heidi Baker has this joy emanating from her. It is not what she is doing- going to the wilds of Africa, setting people free, and introducing Jesus to them- it is that she is connected to God all the time. When you get this joy, this connection, it does not necessarily guarantee you a missionary trip to a remote area, however it does mean that you will mount up with wings as eagles. And BAM you will move higher and do what God wants YOU to do: what you were created to do. You will be who He has created you to be.

There is joy and overpowering gladness that envelops every cell of your being when discovering your identity in Christ. You begin to shed the negative self-perception, and others can no longer dictate your identity, potential, or worth. Suddenly, you are free to live limitlessly. Then no matter where you go, you bring people to a saving knowledge of God, heal, and set people free. At the grocery store, work, wherever you go, God will bring someone to you that needs Him. BAM you have a new life full of fun and adventure. Life is never dull for a Christian.

There is no way we can lose when we focus on God and His goodness. God is intoxicating and when you start spending time with Him, you will never want to leave His presence.

 

 
 

God’s Tunnel Vision

You can see your Goal, but how do you get there?

Written by Tina Cobian

…but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord Save Me!” Matthew 14:23

There are so many negative connotations related to the expression “Tunnel Vision” but when you think about what it actually means in the spirit, it’s an amazing concept. In fact one natural cause of Tunnel Vision is through extreme elation or a surge of adrenaline. How many times have you caught hold of a dream or a vision God has for you and you take off towards your goal with His tunnel vision? All you can see is that finish line God has placed at the end. God’s Tunnel Vision is not dark and gloomy, like one would picture in the natural. In God’s tunnel vision, His light surrounds you and marks your goal. However, when you become distracted by life, storms, fear, people and false visions, that tunnel can quickly turn into a dark and gloomy place.

Are you lost in the dark tunnel vision? Do you feel weak, lonely and scared? Is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel now so far off that you can barely remember the dream or the vision much less see it clearly? Maybe you have somehow exchanged God’s tunnel vision for the wrong vision. I have to think about Joseph and the dream that God gave him. He saw the sun, the moon and the stars bowing down to him. In the pit he had to remind himself of that vision and recognize that where he was at that moment was not his final destination. Each time, through every trial, he reminded himself of the higher purpose of God in his life. Even the day he looked out over all Pharaoh had given him charge over, at all of his possessions, the treasures and even his family. He must have gazed out at the night sky from his bedroom in the palace and said to himself. “I see the sun, the moon and the stars and THIS is not my final destination. He knew that God had further purpose for him and his dream had not yet been realized.

I would love to say that on every one of my trips through that tunnel, I slid happily through it on a rainbow where puffy clouds of cotton candy (with no calories) met me at every twist and turn until I finally arrived at my destination. The truth is that there are struggles along the way and realizing your dreams will not always come easy. I can compare one of my journeys to a trip our family took to a water park. I decided to take a ride on a giant water slide. I sat down at the top and as I let go, I realized how high I was and how fast I was going. I became fearful and put my hands out to slow myself down. Have you ever tried to pull a water balloon through a tube? (Please don’t camp there in that visual, you may never reach the end of this story.) Well that was me inching my way to the bottom of this long winding water slide. In an attempt to save some portion of my pride I let go of the walls right before my triumphant exit. I pictured my children’s applause, heard it, and envisioned the moment. The problem was that I had just enough time to gain enough momentum, get scared, and make a failed attempt to stop myself as I shot out of the tube flipped over and landed face down in the water. Yes, my children saw me. No they did not applaud.

Have you ever asked God why it isn’t just a straight shot from vision to end goal? Here is what happens in these times of trials or times when you see the goal but don’t know how to get there. You turn to Father and ask. There will be plenty of questions on the way and He has all the
answers. As an example, I started a new job about a year or so ago. The work can be difficult and every day I am met with one or more questions or problems I simply cannot answer or fix on my own. The company placed me right next to a mentor and when I get stuck, I go to her for answers. Throughout this year, I have had the great pleasure of getting to know her beyond the relationship of “co-worker”. She is my friend and the process I have gone through daily with her has allowed me to build that relationship…are you getting it?

So we catch the vision, we are awakened to a dream, we get God’s tunnel vision and take off. Remember that we can take and keep hold of His hand the entire time. He knows each step we need to take and when each step needs to be taken. He delights in the journey with us and will impart wisdom in the process. It can be exciting to try and run ahead but the dream will only be realized in His perfect time. If you get lost, stop and listen for His voice to get you back on track and back into HIS tunnel vision…Be encouraged for hasn’t He declared to you that He KNOWS the plans that He has for you…? (Jeremiah 29:11)There is such power in that scripture. God, Himself is speaking purpose over our lives, we just have to keep focused.

 
 
 

Character Assassination

When some people are at their worst, God is at His best

Written by Remaliah Evans

I hired a new administrative assistant named “Linda” who soon decided that she wanted to work for a client. Working for our clients is expressly forbidden by our client contracts. At 6pm on a Friday I received an email from Linda stating that I was not a personable supervisor, I did not provide the tools that she needed to succeed, and therefore she was forced to quit without notice. On Monday, another administrative assistant informed me and my Regional Manager that Linda was working for our client. Per the client contract our Operations Director promptly sent the client an invoice totaling 6 months of Linda’s salary.

Linda proceeded to accuse me of not training her, not paying her overtime, and not following up with her harassment claim involving another admin. She continued accusing me for two months and then threatened to sue my company unless we rescinded the invoice to our client. Fortunately I had a plethora of documentation to prove that Linda was not telling the truth. However I spent two months tormented with the fear that my professional reputation might be destroyed and concerned that I might lose my job.

It seemed that all I could do was dwell on the accusations. I found myself bursting into tears whenever I was alone because I felt betrayed. No one had ever tried to assassinate my character and have me fired before, and when it happened my heart broke in a way that I never knew it could break. I had invested a great deal of time into training Linda because she had great potential and I wanted to create a team environment and eventually promote her.

During this time family and friends prayed with me constantly and I was led to these verses:

Psalms 103:1-4 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit.

Psalms 37:5-6 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Every time I would worry and get emotional, I would thank the Lord for redeeming my life from the pit and I would thank the Him for vindicating me. It was a very long two months, however in the end, the Lord did just what He promised. He completely protected and redeemed my reputation!

Dwelling on a negative situation is torment. When I started to dwell on the Father’s promises, I found hope. And then I saw that even though it all worked out in the end, I had to forgive. Not just say I forgave her, but really forgive her in my heart. I thought I had forgiven Linda but then God gave me a dream. In the dream, Linda came to ask me for forgiveness and I did not forgive her. I love God’s persistence speaks, if I am not listening during the day, He’ll talk to me through dreams! So God had me pray for her and bless her and her son daily; which was not easy. Through God’s grace and mercy, I was finally able to completely forgive her. These were hard lessons, however I thank God for teaching me, loving me, and sending me people to pray with me and speak truth. Oh! And after Linda left, God blessed with an admin who is reliable, incredibly easy to work with, and overqualified!

 
 
 
 

The Beauty of a Promise

Encouraging and Beautiful Poem

Written By Mashani Allen

As a student of the Bible it’s amazing to me how I can read a chapter in a few minutes and not really consider the years that happen from one chapter to the next. To see a promise given by God take years before its answered. The time frame of manifestation does not disregard the fact that there was still a promise given. Unfortunately the time in between is where the real battle exist. Do you still believe although its been 5, 10, 20 years since the promise was given? It takes so much effort to still believe while the clock ticks and the years come and go. A decision must be made in spite of everything else to still believe. I heard a minister say, “Does it really matter how long it takes if you get it?” Let patience be the order of the day and dust off your promise. When God makes you a promise it’s a done deal. Don’t allow life, people or circumstances to cause you to let go. Hold on to your promise, remind yourself of your promise, remind the enemy of your promise. God is faithful and just, we must be patient and trust. Let the words below bless you as you pick up every promise.

 

The Promise

It runs through your DNA and flows through your veins, My plan for your life to rule and to reign, The Promise.

It comes with much battle, it come with much fight, it is not for the faint at heart, or those quick to take flight, The Promise.

It was a mystery that only I knew and now I’ve revealed, it silences doubt and causes fear to be still, The Promise.

A plan only the ultimate architect could design, transcending cultures, gender and time, The Promise.

A gift I gave you when I released you into the earth, it confirms your potential, your value and your worth, The Promise.

I’ve shown it to you in visions, I’ve shown it to you in dreams, it causes you to smile and your eyes to dance and beam, The Promise.

It is not empty but overflowing to the full, it is not limited by external factors or man made rules, The Promise.

I fulfill it to the righteous those in right standing with Me, and I do it in the open for all the world to see, The Promise.

I place My honor upon them, I show them as My prize, I endow them with wisdom, upon them I rise, The Promise.

It comes with great anticipation, it comes with great delight, it brings open shame to the enemy and puts demons to flight, The Promise.

For the promise fulfilled cannot be denied, its full of my majesty and glory which cannot hide, The Promise.

It beams in their confidence, it shines through their grin, the promise fulfilled causes others to turn from sin, The Promise.

For the carriers of the promise understand the weight of the call, they have humbled themselves completely, they have surrendered all, The Promise.

I am the God of reward and My promise is with me, blessings of abundance in the natural and a crown of glory in eternity.

The Promise.

For more from MaShani Allen please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beauty-of-Holiness/112862342082193.

Mashani will also be at our next conference! If you’d like to see her live, Register here!