Today, the lyrics to that William McDowell song is going through my spirit

I remember the things that God spoke to me years ago. It was a warning of sorts. Instead of heeding to the warning, I watched while it happened. However, the words that God spoke to me were forever alive in my spirit. Now, I am working on obeying what God said. And I can see all of the progress that I have made.

As in everything, of course the enemy came to test my faith. I noticed myself slipping into old habits (just a little). Then the word of God came back to me, and I realized. I don’t want the things that I used to. I don’t want ( nor am I really tempted) to go back to that old me. I can’t testify – I have been changed.

Philippians 3:13-14

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ”

Luke 9:62

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. ”

An important lesson for every believer to learn it to NOT look back. Don’t look back at your past failures, the wrong you have done, the mistakes you have made. Sometimes it is not good to even look back at your past successes. Looking back at your past will cause you to fall in your present. Once you have repented and God has forgiven you, let the past go and move on. If you need to get things right with people, do that and move on.

It is important to elevate your mind, and change your old perspective. For it is hard to move to new ground with old thinking patterns. That is what caused my transgression into old behaviors.

God is good, because he allowed me to recognize where I was headed way before I even got there. God promised he would provide a way of escape with every temptation. Our job is to recognize the escape route and take it.

I thank God for this song, for I have determined that I won’t go back to what God has delivered me from. My prayer is the same for anyone who reads this. Don’t give up before you get to where God is trying to take you. Stay the course. If it is too hard to push, stand still and watch God move it. Just don’t give up, don’t go back to the way it used to be.

I love you all, be blessed and have a great night.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. ”

God knows how to whisper things into your spirit that will automatically encourage you to push farther than you thought you could ever go. Because of this we cannot trust in the wisdom of man to do only what the power of God can.

God has blessings designed just for you, your name is written on it. No one else is able to receive it or walk in it just because it is tailor made for you. People can encourage you to seek after God to receive what he has for you. But only you can take the steps that will position you to receive. God is so good that he reveals to you, by his spirit, a glimpse of the blessing. But you will never know the fullness of the blessing until you exercise your faith to receive.

Seek after God. Trust in him. Speak life by faith, and remove negative words from your vocabulary. Walk in what he has for you.

Have a blessed day.

1 Peter 3:10-12 NIV

“10. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

11. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

12. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

It is surprising how many people want to achieve higher heights in God, without make a change to the way they live their lives. We see the mega ministries, we see the multi book deals, and award winning singers, etc. in operation and they desire it as well. This is not a bad thing. Where the error lies is the belief is that you can get there without exercising some Godly self control.

Godly self control will help you to develop good habits that will propel you into these blessings. Habits such as hard work, perseverance, consistency, and self confidence, etc. Godly self control will help to keep you from laziness. It will encourage you when it seems like everyone else is against you.

Godly self control will allow you to hold your tongue when everything in you wants to tell someone off. This self control will allow you to do good and seek peace with everyone. Godly self control will keep God’s eyes on you and he will watch over your prayers.

What I believe is an equally important benefit, is Godly self control will keep you from evil. This is extremely important, because when you see these mega ministries, Christian authors, and musical artists, we always hear about the scandals they have become embroiled with. Exercising Godly self control will keep you from making the same mistakes, and to avoid certain pitfalls.

I am not talking about the person who wants to do wrong. No matter what, this person will find a way to do wrong, and find someone to do wrong with them.

But for the person who wants to do right, he or she will need to exercise Godly self control to help to keep themselves from falling. We cannot do anything without God, but through him we can do all things because he strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Exercise self control and grow!

Have a blessed evening.

Proverbs 24:27 NIV

“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”

Ezekiel 38:7 NIV

“Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them.”

God is getting ready to do something great in the lives of his people. Be prepared to receive it. Put everything in order in your life. Prepare for the blessings to come.

When you get ready, stay ready, and encourage all around you to do the same, for it is coming quickly.

So very excited about the 30 day prayer challenge. Set yourself to really hear from God with a thankful and obedient heart. Keep writing in your prayer journal. God will provide you enough to build your house – both spiritually and naturally.

Have a blessed night OTP family.

Please feel free to adjust the challenge to include a specific thing or situation that is on your heart. Pray earnestly and consistently. Don’t give up, but truly seek/pursue God on behalf of someone else, or the situation, and watch God move.

Your journal entries are important because it will chronicle your journey and allow you to write the things God has spoken in your spirit.

At the end of the 30 days you will have your journal as a tool to remember what God said. Or a gift for the person for which you were praying.

The blessings are two fold – You will draw closer to God, and you will gain experience on hearing from God. The additional blessing is that you will also gain experience in obeying the voice of God.

Please feel free to post your comments on this thread throughout the challenge.

Have a blessed night and enjoy the challenge.

God wants your obedience not your bribe.

1 Samuel 15;22

“And Samuel said,

Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

God wants you to obey his word as well as that thing that he has been whispering in your spirit. As Nike said, just do it.

Have a blessed day.

Definitions:

Revived is to restore to life or consciousness.

Refreshed is to give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate.

Renewed is to resume (an activity) after an interruption.

Romans 8:18-19

“18. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

19. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.“

Many times we forget that the gifts, anointing, callings, talents, etc. give to us by God is not just for us. They were entrusted to us to use faithfully to build up the kingdom of God and to bring glory to his name. Because of these gifts we suffer. But the scriptures warn and encourage us that to whom much is given, much is also required (Luke 12:48). But we are all designed (by God) to win. The suffering is not to kill us, it is to build us. It is to strengthen and prepare us to use these gifts in excellence and to be effective.

There are times, however, when we forget the fight is fixed and we lose our way in the suffering (trials, trouble, sickness, etc.). There are times when we need a jump start to continue the race that is set before us.

Isn’t it wonderful to know we serve a savior who can revive, refresh and renew us? The word of God has regeneration power. The word itself is spirit and life (John 6:63). When we read, study, or meditate on the word of God, we are breathing in spirit and life. The word quickens and inspires us pick up and continue on in Jesus’ name.

Romans 8:18-19 reminds us that yes, we will suffer for the cause of Christ, but we must continue because the world is waiting on us (the children of God) to take our place. The world needs us to work these gifts, anointing, calling, talents, etc. so the body can be delivered, strengthened and set free.

We are the church of the most high God. It is time to stop looking and acting like the world. It time to be set apart and holy. It is time to work while it is day, for the night is coming and no man can work. Get up, accept the reviving, refreshing, and renewing from God. Work in the ministry that God has called you to, and be effective.

Do not wallow in self pity, allow your gift to make room, and fill up the space provided. Do not compare your self to another. If you do, you are doing yourself and God a disservice.

Be encouraged and know that God called you because he has a work for you to do. Let that knowledge be enough and get to work.

Have a blessed day.