Happy New Year! I was thinking of you and wanted to give you something to meditate on as we entered 2010. As always, I’m so excited about what lies ahead. And why not be excited, God has already told me what’s going to happen. He plans to prosper you and not to harm you. He’s given you hope and a wonderful future (based on Jeremiah 29:11). Did you know that God has already blessed this year? When I started collecting scriptures for this article, I was lead to Genesis and Revelation (and some points in between)—I saw blessing from beginning to end. Please enjoy reading what the Holy Spirit gave me for you.

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
—Psalm 65:11 NIV

Don’t look at what the world is experiencing. The Lord has already crowned this year with bounty! Remember He is the Ancient of Days. He knows all things and holds time in His hand. Everything He created was called good. In order to experience the Blessing all year long, we need to remind ourselves daily of Psalm 118:24 which says, “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!” That’s 365 blessed days and it equals a year crowned with bounty!

In the beginning God created. What did He create—time, days and seasons for people to enjoy. And, He said it was all good. Genesis 1:31 recounts, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” So regardless of what the media, politicians or your co workers are saying, THIS YEAR IS GOOD AND WILL BE GOOD BECAUSE GOD CREATED IT. Furthermore, His reason for making it good was and still is for His children to enjoy.

A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
—Deuteronomy 11:12

His eyes are upon you if you are in covenant with Him. This is included in our Blessing. The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:6). And we have biblical proof that anything God makes is bountiful, blessed and flowing with abundance. This should be our experience no matter what year it is or the economic status of our country. As a matter of fact, I believe when the world has lean times, it is a better opportunity for God to show off in our lives. People will want to know why and how our days and years continue to prosper.

Finally I’d also like you to meditate on God ending things the same way He began. Creating. Revelation gives us a glimpse. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal (Revelation 21:1-2, 10-11). This sounds like bounty to me! If none of the other verses convinced you, just focus on these. They will remind you of how the Lord is living and His expectations for you this year and every year until His return. He created it, crowned it and blessed it and He expects you to have a blessed year from beginning to end.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!
Psalm 138:8
—Shontta

It’s not mysterious or spooky. You don’t have to be super spiritual or carry a 20-year-salvation card. To follow the Spirit of God, all you have to do is follow the Word of God. “It can’t be that easy!” you say? Yes, it’s that easy. Right off the bat you must understand that God’s will is His Word and His Word was written by His Spirit. Peter wrote that holy men of old were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:20-21). All scripture is God-breathed according to second Timothy 3:16. Walking by the Word is following the Spirit. As you do this, the Holy Spirit is able to direct you on specific details of your life. Take the following steps and enhance your ability to follow the Spirit of God:

Step One. Pray the Word. It is the perfect will of God. Hearing the Word of God not only builds your faith, it sows the Word directly into your heart and enables the Spirit to speak. Many times you will be reading/praying the Word and get your answer.

Step Two. Pray in the Spirit. It is another form of perfect prayer. Your natural mind is unfruitful and can’t hinder your prayer (1 Corinthians 14:14).

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

—Romans 8:26-27

Step Three. Live by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Verses 22-23 later list the following fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you intentionally personify these traits everyday, when the Spirit does give you a command you know it because there will be no mental clutter.

Step Four. Listen and obey. We have the secret! In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). All we have to do is obey. Imagine a person who lived their whole life totally committed to God’s Word—obeying it to the letter. This person, however, never actually “heard” from God. He only did what the Bible taught. What are the odds that his life would be successful? You get the picture.

Of course the scenario in step four is impossible because a man or woman of that stature would surely hear from God many times. Even sinners on occasion hear from God—it’s called a conscience. We are spirit beings. Now the conscience can be seared (1 Timothy 4:2) and therefore become ineffective. But, it was put in every human by God. So the more you discipline yourself to follow His Word, you will inevitably be following His Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice (John 10:27).” You learn to know His voice by knowing His Word.

Clues that Expose the Enemy’s Voice

1. If the voice is talking about killing, stealing or destroying, it’s not of God (John 10:10; Jeremiah 29:11).
2. If you can’t verify it in the Bible, it’s not from the Lord (1 John 4:1). Any voice you hear should line up with Scripture.
3. If it’s negative, it’s not God (Psalm 145:13). Even in chastisement, God is gracious.

Tips for Following the Spirit in Decision Making

1. Go in the direction of peace, even when your flesh is unsure. Know that your steps are ordered and it’s all working out for your good (Psalm 37:23; Romans 8:28).
2. Don’t stop moving. If you’ve not gotten a clear answer, just keep doing the right things and stay prepared. My natural father always tells me, “Stay ready so you won’t have to get ready.” This way when God speaks you’re nimble.
3. Have a short memory—forget past mistakes. So you flubbed a decision, who hasn’t? Psalm 138:8 is true concerning you. Don’t get deterred from following the Spirit just because you miss it.

Again, follow the Word and you’ll always be in line with the Spirit. My goal in this series of articles is to simplify the processes of life by the Spirit and prayer in the Spirit. I give Scripture references to encourage you to seek these things out for yourself. It is the best way to start following the Spirit of God. It’s just like following a recipe. You may not get it perfect the first time, but the more you tweak your life by the Word, the better it becomes.

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

—Shontta
Psalm 138:8

The Holy Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Ghost—is familiar to even non Christians. And, most people are somewhat knowledgeable about the first two. But the third person, the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, is mystery to most. Perhaps this is because His very being has never been a human being. It could be that proper information on the Holy Spirit hasn’t been thoroughly explained to the masses. In truth, the Holy Spirit doesn’t make you weird or spooky; instead, you become more keen and discerning. Your intuition becomes amplified. You always know what to do when you don’t know what to do. Jesus promised us this gift upon His departure. Since Christ thought it important we have the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t we be aware of why? Now just as much as ever, we need the Holy Spirit.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

—John 16:13 AMP

Jesus explains clearly what the purpose of the Holy Spirit is. He tells us what happens when we allow The Spirit to dwell in us. Let’s look at the three reasons here:

1. He guides us into all truth. This is for the times when you need to make a decision or are trying to get to the bottom of something. Personally, I have used this portion of scripture anytime I am looking for anything. It has been valuable in teaching my young son how to depend on the Holy Spirit to help him. Most recently, he was looking for one of his favorite toys that his father bought for him. We prayed, “Holy Spirit you know all things. Show us where the toy is. We thank you for doing it in Jesus’ name.” At first my son was frustrated because he had looked everywhere, but I told him to be quiet and go on with his day. You see, the Spirit is a gentle guide—we can’t be led while in a frazzle. A couple of days passed and we hadn’t found the toy. I asked my son, “Has the Holy Spirit ever let us down? Don’t we always find what we’re looking for?” He agreed. His faith and belief in the Spirit is strong because I’ve taught him to depend on Him for guidance. Yes, of course, we found the toy and praised God!

1. He relays messages to us from the Father. This is what is called a rhema word—or a word spoken directly from God to the believer by His Holy Spirit. The verse says that He tells whatever He hears from the Father and makes it known to you. So the Spirit is, in effect, a conduit or channel to the Father and we gain access by the Son Jesus Christ. This is why prayer in the Spirit (in other tongues) is mandatory if you want clear messages from the Father. At some point, we need to shut off our natural minds and pray the perfect will of God. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:14, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.” Sometimes we are like my son, so mentally frustrated that we can’t hear what God is trying to say to us by His Spirit. But, when the rhema word comes and tells us exactly how to handle a situation, it always leaves us in awe. Praying in the Spirit and praying the Word—these are the only two ways I know to pray the perfect will of God. Then, those messages from Him become more clear and easier to recognize.

1. He tells us what will happen in the future. Wow! Who knows how many volumes could be written on the testimonies from this portion of the verse? How many scores of believers have averted disaster, become wealthy and broken engagements because the Spirit told them what would happen in the future? I’ve noticed however, individuals be hindered at two extremes. On one hand, the Spirit tells them the future and they become afraid and shrink back. On the other, some become arrogant and trample God’s grace and favor by self righteous acts and narcissism. Nevertheless, don’t be stifled! God always provides provision for the vision. After all, it is His vision for your life (Philippians 1:6). Joshua saw his future and God himself encouraged him to be strong and courageous (Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1:38; Joshua 1). Forty years prior, Joshua saw what his future held. He could have become arrogant or fearful being privy to this information, but he held fast to the promise of God, got quiet and lived his life. Do you need to know your future? Get full of the Holy Ghost and He’ll tell you.

If you have not had an Acts 2 experience, this is what is necessary for you to receive the gift of tongues. The Holy Spirit is not supposed to lay dormant in you. You must exercise it daily in prayer. Allow Him to guide you as the verse says. This will revolutionize your thinking and change your life! Solomon wrote in the Old Testament, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-7).”I know people all around you are panicking, but if they were saved and full of the Holy Spirit they would be at peace. What about you? Are you afraid? Confused? Don’t know how to handle your situation? Trust in the Words of Christ, get baptized in the Holy Spirit and pray in the Spirit—He will guide you into all the Truth.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!

—Shontta

Psalm 138:8

If you’ve been feeling like your prayer life is stagnate or that your prayers are not being heard, this article is for you. Perhaps your spiritual ears are dull. Maybe you feel like the Holy Spirit hasn’t been guiding you in decision-making. In short, you need a spiritual tune up. We all face times when we feel like we’ve hit the wall so to speak in our prayer lives. But not to worry, I’ve got the answer for you. The following are three simple steps you can take to tune up your spirit any time you feel you’re at an unproductive point in your Christian walk or your prayer life:

Step One: Pray the Word of God

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.—James 5:16 NIV

One thing that almost always hinders our prayer lives is improper forms of prayer. According to this scripture there is a form of prayer that is effective; so, there must also be forms of prayer that are ineffective. The best way to avoid this and know that you’ve succeeded in prayer is to rehearse God’s word back to Him. Two great places to start are Psalms and Proverbs for daily confessions. I suggest reading a Proverb a day; whatever the date is read that Proverb aloud. Some faith-building Psalms to start with are 1, 23, 34, 91, 103, 112,121 and 138. As you grow in this, begin to inject your favorite passages from all over the Bible into your daily confessions. For example, before I teach a fitness class of any kind, I recite Psalm 121. I also attach several other scriptures regarding the tongue. I ask the Lord to guide me with His eye (Psalm 32:8). These are Word-based prayers and I can have full confidence in their effectiveness. To me, praying the Word is the equivalent of taking the purest form of an anecdote. Uncut is the strongest form possible. When you begin to pray this way, your prayers will almost always be aloud. Remember in Mark 11:23 Jesus said that you will have whatever you say.

Step Two: Pray in the Holy Spirit

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.—Jude 1:20 NIV

The gift of the Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues is your secret weapon; it is your sixth sense. Paul said that the one who prays in the Spirit edifies or builds himself up (2 Corinthians 14:4). When you need a spiritual tune up, this is exactly what could be hindering you—your spirit is not built up. Again in my profession as a fitness instructor, I am constantly in contact with people who are strong and well built in their physical bodies. In their spirits and minds however, they are fragile and weak. People are confused and doubtful about their lives—not sure who or what to believe. But Jesus said, “But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future] (John 16:13 AMP).” When we use our prayer language our spiritual sense becomes heightened, we are more aware of people and situations around us and God’s presence is more tangible in our daily lives. By praying in the Spirit, Romans 8 becomes real to you because you are then led by the Spirit.

Step Three: Hear the Word of God

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.—Romans 10:17

The concept is simple, the more you hear (and obey) the Word of God the more you hear God. Your ability to hear the voice of God is directly related to the amount of His word you hear. Jesus told us to be careful how we listen because to the one who has spiritual knowledge would more be given (Luke 8:18 AMP). Here are three ways to hear the Word. One, through your own mouth (see step one). Next, go to a Word-based church at least twice a week and hear the Word preached. And finally, use technology—listen to cds, watch television or internet broadcasts and load up that mp3 player with the Word so you can listen to it while you’re working out or in your car. The difference in your awareness will be amazing. It’s the same concept as tuning up your car so it performs better. You too will perform better by taking these steps to tune up your spirit. And in hearing the Word, remember what James told us. He said in James 1:22 do not just listen to the word and deceive yourself, do what it says.

In these times it is imperative that you as a child of God know, hear and follow His voice. Jesus said in John 10:4-5, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” This is how you live above the circumstances and experience plenty in a time of famine. Tune up your spirit—pray the Word, pray in the Spirit and hear the Word of God!

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!

Psalm 138:8

—Shontta

We say it all the time. “I can’t wait until this summer!” “I can’t wait until my daughter’s potty trained!” “I can’t wait until football season starts!” Then what happens? That time you couldn’t wait for comes and goes. And before you know it, an entire decade passes and you’re wondering where the time went. Some time ago, I was expressing my inability to wait on a particular event or happening and my spirit took notice. I asked the Lord to show me a better way to express my enthusiasm or to control my anticipation. Patience is, after all, one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

For many, patience connotes an arduous task. This could very well be your situation, and life has its share of discomfort. The Bible encourages us to run with patience the race set before us, and fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). I believe that mastering patience, regardless of the situation, can instill an ability to enjoy or learn in every nuance of life.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently on Him …” –Psalm 37:7a

James tells us to let patience have her perfect work so that we can be perfect and entire lacking nothing (James 1:4). So it’s possible to lack nothing. By allowing patience to have her perfect work, you hold out for the best every time. You end up lacking nothing and enjoying the journey. Before you disagree, lend me your eyes. Look through the eyes of God. He never gave up on you—and He never will! “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance,” reads the Amplified Bible’s version of 2 Peter 3:9. He waited for you and He continues to wait for you. He wants you to get it.

And one day, I got it. The Holy Spirit ministered to my spirit. We started saying things like, “I’m excited about the party this weekend!” Instead of, “I can’t wait for the party this weekend!” You see, by saying you’re excited about or you’re looking forward to or you’re interested in seeing this or that, you acknowledge where you are right now. Take the potty training comment. I tried not to focus on rushing my daughter through it, rather we celebrated the task! It gave me the opportunity to teach her more about worshipping God. Every time she produced positive results, we shouted, “Hallelujah!” or “Praise the Lord!” Now in addition to being well potty trained, she loves to worship God! Patience had her perfect work.

Now for the more serious instances, I’ll share a more difficult experience. During the weeks and months following the death of my first son, I wanted to totally escape. I literally could not wait for the gut-wrenching pain to end. But, I had need of patience. I had to count it as joy. There is no quick fix—no immediate way to totally heal (physically, spiritually or emotionally). After this tragedy, I had to be healed from the inside out. God was with me the entire time. Had I decided to yield to escapism by evading the emotions I was experiencing, I would not have been healed. Patiently, I allowed the Lord to help me deal with the hurt, anger and confusion I was feeling. Even in cases of instantaneous divine healing, there is still work to be done on the individual’s part in order to maintain the healing. So it is a work in progress. Jesus told the man healed at the Pool of Bethesda, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14).”

Let’s finish with Brother James. Again, he tells us in James 1:2-4 to, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” We can count it as joy because we know this—that our faith will be tried and if we endure, we will want nothing (Psalm 23:1). Your father God is patient, imitate Him. Enjoy the time you have. Patiently stand in that line and if you can find nothing positive about it but the fact that you have healthy legs to stand on, praise God for that! Know that your steps are ordered and there may be a reason for the unexpected delay. Clean that oatmeal off the wall with joy! One day you may have to set an appointment with your children in order to have a meal with them! I think you get the picture now. There is something positive and beautiful in every experience and season of your life. Yes, you can wait.

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

Psalm 138:8

—Shontta