A person’s anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.—  Proverbs 12:24 God’s Word Translation

No tricks. No gimmicks. It is possible to rid yourself of unwanted weight. Anxiety, hurts, baggage, hang-ups, attitudes and addictions can be gone (or leaving) by the time you finish this article. People are worried about so many things. The anxieties of today are only minimally different than those of any person in human history. The causes do vary, but the results are the same. Heavy hearts, preoccupied minds and eventually unhealthy bodies are all bi products of excess emotional weight. Bottom line—you just have to let it go.

Ecclesiastes 11:10 says, “So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body… .”  Another translation of the same verse reads, “So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy…” A third commands, “Get rid of what troubles you or wears down your body… .”

It is our responsibility as Christians to keep ourselves cleansed from worry, offenses and additions. More importantly, we must be God’s voice to those who need, as Proverbs 12:24 call it, an encouraging word. How can you who are weighed down so heavily with your own issues notice someone else in need, let alone cheer them up? God built your body to rid itself of waste of every kind; this includes the ability to excrete emotional toxins such as offense and worry.

Here are three practical steps from the Bible for instant weight loss.

Instant Weight Loss Formula

Step 1: Release every weight to God.

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).— Psalm 55:22 AMP

Wow! What a verse. This covers everything. Personal problems, damaged emotions and concerns of every kind can be classified as burdens. My husband and I recently had a disagreement because he’d made a decision on something totally out of frustration and the anxiety of the moment.  I asked him if he’d consulted the Lord on the issue, he honestly said no. When he did so, several more sensible options became available to him. Making a conscious effort to immediately cast things off on God keeps you open to be used as His vessel; in return, you get the answers you need. Otherwise, we spend the balance of our day (and many times longer) totally heavy, distracted and detached from our surroundings. Lose weight immediately!

Step 2: Tell the truth in love (and/or respect).

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. — Ephesians 4:15-16, 25-27

Many times we feel as if we should not speak up for ourselves in certain situations. Or, we allow an offense to weigh on us indefinitely. The truth is, if something bothers you to the point of stifling, you need to deal with it ASAP. There is always a right and a wrong way to do so. Take care to handle potentially inflammatory situations with a cool head, if possible, face to face (emails and text messages are not recommended). The offender could your spouse, a friend or a superior at work. You have to let it go—excrete it from your emotional storage space. James 5:16 AMP gives detailed instructions, “Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored….” Waste poisons you, and weighs you down. Get rid of it with the truth!

Step 3: Reap the benefits of weight loss.
To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. — Isaiah 61:3 AMP

We all know someone who has achieved a lofty physical weight loss goal, succeeded after the loss of a loved one or a major life setback, or overcome the emotional heaviness of abuse. Their very lives are an inspiration. Meeting these people and hearing their testimonies make most of our modern day “worries” seem minute and trivial. If some lofty, strong, magnificent and distinguished person came to cheer you up during what you would consider a bad day, wouldn’t you receive them? Wouldn’t you straighten up and hear them out? Especially if they proceeded to tell you of their own misfortunes, offenses and heartaches, surely your focus would shift. Why not lose weight and become that person to someone else. God has promised to not only take that heavy burden, but to replace it with joy, beauty and praise. I know because He does it for me on a continuous basis. I’m constantly losing weight!

Weight Loss Assignment

I have one assignment for you before I close. Tonight when you have quiet time before bed, make a list of all your worries, offenses (even ones years old) and fears. Exhaust yourself. Rehearse the verses from this article to yourself. Then make a list on the other side of the paper. This list is of people you know who are dealing with challenging situations, and pray for each one by name. Finally, make an effort daily to say a kind word to at least one person. Repeat daily until it becomes routine. Instant weight loss is guaranteed!

Blessings!

Shon

In this message taken from accounts of physically barren women in the Bible I draw parallels on how we can be delivered from spiritual barrenness.

An enemy is the most vulnerable when he is attacking. Taken from the gospel accounts of the demoniac of Gadarene’s, I minister about satan’s plan destroy our lives and how to overcome his strategies, the greatest of which is deception rooted in fear.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LED

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14 NKJV

I want to say first of all that this is by no means an exhaustive study on being led by the Spirit. This is such a vast subject I am only giving a representative overview to get you started in the exciting, fulfilling life of being led by the Spirit. We spend our life learning to be led by the Spirit and developing sensitivity through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that one of the primary marks of our sonship is the ability and willingness to be led by the Spirit of God. It is possible to know the principles of redemption, faith and confession and not be led and still fail. Many believers are trying to override God’s leading with confession (don’t get me wrong, confession is a vital part of walking in victory). I heard a good example of this from Bro. Keith Moore. He was working for Kenneth Hagin Ministries taking calls for prayer. A lady called and said that she claimed Psalm 91 over herself and got mugged anyway. She wanted to know why her angel did not protect her. After questioning her for a few minutes he found out that where she was mugged was a rough part of town. He then asked if she felt she needed to go there, to which she responded not only did she not feel she needed to go, she actually got a check in her spirit about going from the Holy Spirit. Please understand me, I am not being critical, I have done it. Many of us has done it. But let us not kid ourselves. We cannot override God’s leading with confession. This is why some people go home to heaven early.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By Need.

Many ministers in particular wear themselves out because they are not led. They never have time for their own families because they are not led in to whom they minister to. I realize I am not called to help everyone. We would be a lot more effective if we were led. Many bankrupt themselves ministering to the poor. Jesus said that the poor we would have with us always (Matthew 26:11). So if we are led by need there will never be enough. There are also many worthy causes that need millions of dollars of support. So the answer is be led. If everyone does what God leads them to do, God’s purpose will be carried out in the earth. God himself is not and cannot be moved by need. Jesus is touched by the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15) but not moved by them. God can only move through our faith in the Word of God. If God was moved by needs there would not be a need in the world. Our need moved God 2000 years ago when He sent His Son to the cross. In that act of redemption every need of ours was met in the mind of God. We have to appropriate it by faith. So if we are going to be led by the Spirit we cannot be led by need.

We Are To Be Led By The Spirit And Not By “Fleeces”

Many believers are “putting out fleeces before the Lord”. If you are not familiar with this line of thinking it comes from a misappropriation of the story of Gideon in Judges 6.

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—  look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.  Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”  And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:36-40 NKJV

Although it is true that Gideon did ask to be led by wet and dry fleeces and God honored it, we have to view this story in light of its historical context. First of all the Bible is progressive revelation.

But the word of the LORD was to them, “ Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,”… Isaiah 28:11 NKJV

Simply put the characters in the Old Testament did not know everything we know under the New Covenant. Both Paul and Jesus said they were revealing mysteries kept secret from the foundation of the world. So we cannot get away with doing some of the things people did under the Old Covenant because they were walking in all the light they had. We, however, should know better.
The second thing to consider about Gideon, as well as all other Old Testament believers, is they were spiritually dead. The New Birth was not available as we know it until Jesus presented His blood on the Heavenly Holy of Holies. That is why God had to deal with His people in such drastic ways. They did not have the Spirit of God residing in their spirit to the same degree we do under the New Covenant.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 NKJV

The Holy Spirit would come upon the prophet, priest, and king to accomplish a particular task. Jesus had the Spirit of God come upon Him and remain.

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34 NKJV

Jesus also said when we receive the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant, that He would remain with us.

Now that we have the Holy Spirit we should flow with God’s process under the New Covenant which is being led by the Spirit.
The third fact about Gideon is that his whole nation was out of fellowship with God. The whole reason God called upon Gideon to deliver His people is because they had gone into captivity because of their rebellion.
You may say, “Well brother that is all well and good, but I have never put out a fleece.” There are different variations of the fleece that believers use all the time. The underlying principle of the fleece mentality is trying to determine the will of God through natural circumstances. Some say, “Lord, if this is Your will, open the door, if not close it.” That is a fleece prayer. We are led by the Spirit, not opportunities. Satan will always offer a shortcut to your divine destiny. This is what satan did when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus would ultimately gain authority over the world through His death burial and resurrection. Satan was offering it to Him without having to pay the price for it. So if we require evidence in the seen realm to follow God’s leading Satan can compensate us with a counterfeit. On the other hand we are not to be led by “closed doors”. If you are led this way, all satan has to do is throw up a few roadblocks and you will say, “well, it must not have been the will of God after all”. No! If we have God’s Word and leading on it we should keep standing and keep knocking until the door opens.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-9 NKJV

Another example of a fleece prayer is, “Lord, if this is really you, let three men with red hats walk by.”  Once again, if you are looking in the natural seen realm, you are opening yourself up for deception.

If you want to be in position to expect to receive God’s leading, you must be led by the Spirit.

Another way God led his believers that was valid under the Old Covenant was casting lots. This is how the apostles selected Matthias.

This part is a little blind to us in English. In the Greek the word “sons” is the word “Huios” (pronounced whee-os). It literally means mature sons. Contrast that word with “children” in Romans 8:16.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:16 NKJV

The word translated children is the Greek word “teknon” which simply means offspring. In Hebrew culture when a son reached maturity his father would take him to the city gates, where all the business of that day was carried out (much like city hall or the courthouse of our day), and would say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear him.” From that day forward when the son spoke it was as if the father was speaking. He carried all the clout of the father. He would give him his signet ring that acted as a stamp that is just like the fathers signature. This is when he transitioned from a child (teknon) to a son (huios). So according to Paul, being led by the Spirit is one way we are released into greater measures of responsibility.

Not Seeking God’s Leading Is A Manifestation Of Pride.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know whatwill happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 NKJV

When we refuse to seek God’s direction we deny His Lordship which is the height of arrogance thus causing God’s grace to wane off of our life.

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-7 NKJV

It is also not wisdom to not seek counsel from someone eternal when we are finite (see James 4:14).

God’s Provision Is Tied To His Leading.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1 NIV

To the degree we submit to God as our Shepherd is to the degree we can expect to walk in His provision. We see this illustrated in the life of Elijah in the time of famine.

“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.  And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

1 Kings 17:3-4 NKJV

The provision was at the Brook Cherith. Had he not gone there he would  not have received God’s provision. Just when he started to get settled in God led him to move again.

Talent and intelligence are no substitute for God. Do a Google search on suicide rates, and you will see that Physicians have a higher suicide rate than the general population. Although it’s hard to validate the statistics, Psychiatrists in America are believed to be the highest of all. What good is it to have money but no happiness?

“The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.” – Proverbs 10:17

It’s a simple formula, No God = No Wisdom.

There are some who will read this post and receive it at once, and there are others who will write a flaming comment. This, too, is in the Bible. “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.” – Proverbs 9:7

If you want to add to your wisdom, read a chapter from Proverbs every day. To get even more out of it, read it out loud. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” – Romans 10:17

I encourage you, if you hear the Word, share the Word.

—Hosea 4:6

It’s an inaccurate cliché—ignorance is bliss. Hosea specifically states that a lack of knowledge can actually destroy you. Ignorance is a blessing blocker. And even though they are often used interchangeably, ignorance and stupidity are not synonyms. Stupidity means lacking in intelligence, foolish or idiotic. In contrast, ignorance is the state of being uninformed, uneducated or unaware—without knowledge. It’s like the difference between a restroom and a bathroom. They have some similar traits, but they are not the same. A person can actually act in ignorance and stupidity simultaneously. The trust be told, most stupid people aren’t ignorant at all (that’s another article). But what you don’t know can hurt you, leave you in financial ruins and cause you to miss out on God’s best for your life.

If you’ve been walking in a state of ignorance, you are vulnerable. A lack of knowledge causes you to be easily led astray. And, ignorance doesn’t give you a free pass. Let me give you an example. Being ignorant of the law is no excuse for breaking it. If you are pulled over and given a citation for driving 40 mph in a 30 mph zone, you can’t use the excuse that you didn’t know what the speed limit was to evade the ticket. It’s similar to saying, “Lord I didn’t know I was supposed to tithe. Can’t you just bless my finances anyway?” No. Your ignorance had placed you under the curse.

The first place a Christian should go for knowledge is the Word of God. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” According to this verse, it’s the foolish (or stupid) person who despises wisdom, not the ignorant. Jesus said that the truth would set us free. And, Paul told Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God….” Paul also started phrases this way on more than one occasion, “Brothers, I would not have you ignorant….” Our greatest weapon against the enemy is the Word of God in our mouths. We can not be ignorant where it is concerned. Jesus overcame the enemy with the Word (Matthew 4:3-12) and we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). But how can we, if we are ignorant of it?

Examples from the Word

I want to share some occasions in the Bible where people were ignorant of the Word. They were being blocked from receiving the blessings of God. Notice how they reacted, how they corrected it and the results of their actions.

Josiah was just a young boy when he became king (2 Kings 22). He had begun to make some repairs on the temple when the Book of the Law was found and read to him. When he became aware of all the ways they were not obeying God, he was immediately distraught.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

—2 Kings 22:11-13

The previous generation had been led astray, and now the people were walking in ignorance. Yes they were also being disobedient, but remember the traffic ticket example. Once Josiah inquired of the Lord, the report came to him that his life would be spared, and he would be buried in peace.

Nehemiah had a similar experience after rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 8). When the people heard the words from the Book of the Law, they wept. Their hearts and minds were being enlightened by the Word of God. They had been operating in ignorance, and it grieved them.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

—Nehemiah 8:9-11

After the celebration, the people repented and rededicated themselves to the Lord. Study the final chapters of Nehemiah. It is a great example of what should be done when someone comes out of ignorance into knowledge.

And finally, the prison guard in Acts 16. I love this story! Paul and Silas were in chains in prison praying and praising God! They weren’t in the today’s version of the United States Federal Penetintury either. This was a scene I’m sure none of us would want to find ourselves in—and they were praising God! As a result (and because of the Blessing of the Lord on their lives), the entire prison was shaken and everyone’s shackles were loosed! Hallelujah!

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

—Acts 16:27-30

This ignorant prison guard came into the knowledge of the Living God. What did he do next? Read the rest of the account. He gathered his entire household to be saved and baptized. He cleaned the wombs of Paul and Silas, fed them and rejoiced in God! If the man was stupid, after being freed from ignorance he would have completed his suicide or attempted to recapture the prisoners. There’s the difference.

Notice in each example the reactions of the people when they realized they were ignorant. They wept and repented. They chose God’s way and simultaneously chose His Blessing. You will never rise above the level of your knowledge. What you don’t know can block the Blessing of God from your life and destroy you. Don’t be ignorant and don’t be destroyed—get in the Word and get some knowledge today!

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

—Shontta

Psalm 138:8

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. – 1 Timothy 6:10 (King James Version)

Notice that this passage says the LOVE OF MONEY. This is a heart condition not a financial condition.

A poor person can love money just as much as a rich person.

Money, by itself, is neutral. It is neither good or evil. However, it is a powerful instrument. Whether the instrument is used as a weapon of destruction or a channel for blessing is strictly dependent upon the POSSESSOR of it. If it’s in your heart to do good, then money in your hands will be used to help people. If it’s in your heart to do evil, your money will be used for your own selfish pleasures.

PROSERITY THROUGH OBEDIENCE

With money, comes responsibility. When you have money, you have the ability to change your world and the world of others. This ability is not limited to money; however, money, in a very practical way, makes things possible that simply can’t be achieved without it. As an example, how will missionaries be sent to China or Africa or anywhere else without a plane ticket? How will you buy a ticket without money?

There is a right way to prosper and a wrong way. The right way is submitting to God’s plan, purpose, and will for your life. If you do this, then, you have can experience wealth without the problems:

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. – Proverbs 10:22 (King James Version)

One of the first things that you need to do after being saved is to get into financial covenant with God. How do you do this? Through the tithe. The tithe is sometimes a controversial subject because it hits people right where it matters — in the heart. Do you love God more than you love money? What hold first place in your life?
8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

- Malachi 3:8-10 (King James Version)

There are some people, even preachers, who will say that the tithe is not for today. However, this doesn’t make sense. The principle of giving first fruits was demonstrated since the beginning of man. Even Adam was asked to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

- Genesis 2:16,17

Adam’s sons brought offerings to God. Notice that Abel’s offering included the first-born of his flock, and it was accepted. Cain brought fruit of the ground, but not the first, and it was not accepted.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

- Genesis 4:3-7

These examples, as well as that of Abraham and others, were before the Law was ever given to Moses. To give you further confirmation that the tithe is just as relevant today as ever, consider the following passage:

18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

- Genesis 14:18-20

As great as Abram (later God changed his name to Abraham) was, he gave a tenth of all the plunder to Melchizedek, priest of the most high God. We see in the passage below that Jesus’ priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek. There are only two situations where Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible. First, he is mentioned in relationship to Abraham giving him the tithe. Second, he is mentioned in relationship to Jesus, who is our high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. – Hebrews 6:20

If you really want to understand this priesthood, and how it relates to Aaron’s priesthood, read Hebrews chapter seven. This chapter is very clear on the tithe, and giving it to Jesus, the one declared to be living. If you are not currently tithing, start immediately. Don’t let religion, selfishness, or greed rob you of Abraham’s Covenant Blessing.

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

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.—Proverbs 15:18

Strife is stifling because it creates an immediate barrier between the parties involved; nothing positive is flowing through and neither side is able to hear the other. Obviously it is tangible because it can be felt and recurring because it keeps on coming. Strife negatively influences your decision making and frustrates your emotions. Recall a situation in which you are currently dealing or have dealt with strife and you will find that the acronym is an accurate portrayal.

If you have been married for any length of time, honeymooners included, you have had opportunities to get into strife. I used marriage, but this applies to all interpersonal relationships. The Blessing of the Lord (Genesis 12:2-3; Deuteronomy 28:1-14) requires us to live strife-free lives. Strife can limit or even bring to a standstill the flow of the Blessing.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle….—Genesis 13:7

Here we see an example of strife infiltrating what had been a prosperous business venture for Lot. Originally Abram wasn’t supposed to bring any family members along with him (Genesis 12:2). But since Lot was with his uncle Abram, he prospered. If you study this passage in Genesis 13, you will notice that it is a turning point for both Abram and Lot. Abram took the high road and allowed Lot to choose which way he wanted to go.

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. —Genesis 13:8-9

Abram employed a key principle here to avoid and eradicate strife. He immediately found the source and severed the relationship. Thus, he continued to walk in the Blessing and Lot didn’t. When we find ourselves in this situation, we should go out of our way to avoid strife. I understand that there may be longtime friendships, business relationships or even relatives involved.  Apply Romans 8:28 to the situation, and make the tough call required to walk in the Blessing.

“But Shontta, I’m in strife with my spouse and children,” you might say. “Am I to sever those relationships?”  If there are no threats to your life or physical safety, you should seek out the source strife, expose it and work through it. Otherwise, seek professional help immediately. Once again, I’d like to show you how these blessing blockers affect your physical body.

Marital conflict can boost proinflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream and slow wound healing. These results add to the growing evidence that marital strife can impair both mental and physical health. While many studies have demonstrated the benefits of marriage in terms of promoting physical and mental health, what happens to couples who engage in verbal spats and power plays for years, maybe decades? One study, for example, found that unhappily married subjects were 25 times more likely to experience a major depressive disorder than were happily married ones. Another found that among women with coronary heart disease, marital stress worsened their prognosis threefold. And now a new study, published in the December 2005 Archives of General Psychiatry, has found that marital bickering can raise, in the bloodstream, levels of proinflammatory cytokines—that is, the kind of cytokines that sabotages healing instead of promoting it. *

STRIFE is tangible and it is obvious here that it penetrates and negatively works against your mind and your physical body. Don’t lose your life (John 10:10). Confront STRIFE with the Word and, if necessary, professional help. Keep the Blessing flowing. I am totally out of space. I trust you were enlightened and are now hungry to learn more on this topic.

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

—Shontta

*Marital Strife May Keep Wounds from Healing by Joan Arehart-Treichel http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/3/22

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.-Psalm 19:14

When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.-Proverbs 16:7

The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.-Proverbs 15:26

I want to be in that place at all times where my ways are pleasing to the Lord. So, I challenge you today to ask yourself, “Are my ways pleasing to the Lord?”