Dare To Believe

        Mark 9 records the story of a man who brought his son to the disciples to be delivered. They were unable to help the man, and a crowd gathers. When Jesus shows up, He says, "Bring him to Me." The man brings his son, and asks, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (Mark 9:22).
Look at Jesus' reply: "If you can! All things are possible for one who believes."
How many times have we prayed this way, "Lord, if you can do anything." We might have even used more faith-filled words, but deep down in our hearts was that little seed of doubt – "if." We're often like the father with his son. He'd already tried out the disciples and nothing happened. As if to punctuate his fear, the spirit threw the boy on the ground in a fit right as Jesus showed up on the scene. The father didn't realize that this demonstration was the demon's last stand when it saw just Who had come. In the same manner, we look at our circumstances, wonder if our prayers are working when it seems that things are getting worse instead of better and wonder "if."
Jesus' answer makes that "if" sound almost comical – "If I can do anything?" The Creator of the Universe stood before His creation. He is the One of whom Jeremiah exclaimed, "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You" (Jeremiah 32:17).

Your focus will determine what you believe. "When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do, but on what God said He would do." God is not slow in keeping His promises, but the enemy will try to attack you in the interim as you wait. Don't get focused on the negative. Don't let fear overwhelm you. Even Jesus was tested by satan with the question, "If...", but Jesus did not focus on Himself, He focused on what God said about Himself. Like Jesus, we have a defense to guard our hearts and our minds and stand firm in faith – the true Word of God's promises.
Standing on His Promises

Armin Gesswein wrote, "Promises predict the answers to prayer. They are the molds into which we pour our prayers. They foretell what to expect... This makes Christian praying different! How? In a very real sense we pray from the answer... This is the way of the Lord, the way of faith. He promises – we believe."

Caleb had one promise, and he lived on that promise for forty years until he possessed it, "Give me my mountain!" The strength of that word sustained him through the wilderness and gave strength to his aging body when he had to face giants to lay claim to his promised inheritance. It was never an "if" but "when" for him.

All God's promises are "Yes and Amen" in Jesus. He is the First and the Last. Everything begins and ends with Jesus. You have more than 8,000 promises that have been delivered to you in the exchange at Calvary.

The more you get in tune with His Word, meditate on Scripture, beholding Jesus, the Lamb of God, the more you will become congruent with the One who can and is faithful to fulfill all His promises. As you do so, you will have less and less room to consider "if." As you step out of your possibility, the level of your prayer will immediately go to a higher level because you are now believing for things that only God can do.

Our journey is a journey like our father Abraham's. At each step of the way as we move forward in response to God's promise, we discover the faithfulness of God as He meets us there. At each crossroad we blaze a trail that not only becomes part of our testimony of faith, but opens the way for our children, our loved ones and others to partake of the blessings there. This living testimony is filled with the anointing and power of God to "do it again."
Yes, He Can
Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. Romans 4:17-18, The Message
Abraham became a father because he had child-like faith in His Father. He understood that when God makes a promise, He is as good as His word. When He gives a promise, He will make it happen. Abraham held onto those promises and used them as the road map for his journey and the mold for his every prayer. His faithfulness to believe God's promise became the vehicle through which we all have become heirs through Christ.

Abraham is the model for our faith. He believed God for the impossible! What promises are you hanging on to today? What dreams seem to linger in the world of impossibilities? What miracle do you need for your breakthrough today? If you have started to waver because the natural circumstances aren't measuring up, the Lord is saying to you today, "Bring them to Me."

      God wants to come in this hour and show Himself strong on your behalf. He wants to demonstrate His glory and faithfulness through you. Are you ready? Then dare to believe!!

Be Still Snd Know

Be still and know I am God - I think that is sometimes the most difficult thing to do. However, that is often what I hear God speaking to me - just be still and know I am God. The Amplified says it like this: Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.

Perhaps you have found yourself in a situation where God is speaking to you to be still - or let it be - and know He is God. When He says this, all He is saying is 'trust Me.'

We may find ourselves in a situation where we suddenly are without a job - be still and know He is God. Or we may find ourselves in a place where there is division in our marriage - be still and know He is God. We may find ourselves with a disease that is out of our control - be still and know He is God. We may find ourselves without the money to pay a bill that is already past due - be still and know He is God.

One thing I have learned - He will not fail you. However, sometimes the hardest time is between the moment we pray and the time of manifestation of the answer. You see, we often pray and ask God to do something and we know He has heard us because we feel His awesome presence and He gives us peace. Then a few more days go by. What happens in this time is vital to your outcome.

When it appears - and keep in mind, I said 'appears' as if it is not going the way you prayed - it is vital what you do with your mouth during this time. If you begin to dig up the seeds of the word of God that you have prayed over the situation - then you are right back where you started BEFORE you prayed in the first place.

How do you pull up the seeds of the word of God? By saying things like 'this is just not working' or 'I'm so tired of this, it is never going to end, or get any better' or 'I prayed about this and God isn't doing anything.' What is happening here is that the words you prayed have been dug up before they even had time to produce the desired results. And this is what the Bible calls a double minded man - unstable in his ways - who receives NOTHING from the Lord.

Let me ask you today? What are you saying - not when you are praying - but the rest of the time - what are you saying? When it looks bad, what do you say? When the pressure is on, what do you say? When you want to say only negative things or when you want to just complain about what is happening, what are you saying? Whatever you say in that moment is what determines how long this battle will last. It is also what determines your outcome.

If you can only say what the word of God says - the battle will be shorter and the victory sweeter - you can count on that. But you must discipline yourself to get into agreement with God and His word and say nothing else - nothing else - refuse to speak UNLESS YOU SAY WHAT YOU WANT THE FINAL OUTCOME TO BE. Say only what you desire the final outcome to be. This is key to your victory. If you can get this one thing, you are on your way to victory.

I am not saying to keep silent - No! Keep saying what you desire the outcome to be - keep calling it into the now - keep declaring 'light be.' Don't keep silent - but don't say ANYTHING that goes against the word of God or what you want the final outcome to be.

I once heard a quote that I thought was awesome, it said; when eagles are silent, parrots begin to jabber. This is so true - if you are not speaking like an eagle - then you are jabbering and jabbering is dangerous to your promise manifesting. Keep that in mind. Speak as an eagle - always - saying what God says - always and in all situations. When you do that - you will always soar high above your circumstances - you will catch the wind of the spirit and ride on wings of victory - ultimate victory.

"A Place called Blessing" by John Trent

     A place called Blessing is one of a kind,being new to this author;this is a good book.This is a story about a boy that has felt rejected all his life, no one to trust or look out for him. Couldn't find a heart to call home and decided not to let any one in his. Josh is a interesting character, and his story speaks close to home.How he moved from one end of his life to the other and faces his greatest fears of all,....his story will touch your heart and cause you to reconsider some things in ones life.
    
    What I like most about this book it that it teaches and sees life from another end (Josh's end).The author used Biblical principles to deliver his message. It was quite inspiring, thought-provoking and a challenge to work in Love towards another.No matter how messed-up we might think we are,God's arm is always wide open and his Love never fails us. The book added that being at "a place called blessing" is not limited to material things.

I will highly recommend this book, to anyone struggling with trust and forgiveness to anyone who has been hurt, this is a book emotional healing. And to all those that read this book, do keep it close and read over again; i know i will.

Looking to read the author's other book "The Blessing"!!


 *I received this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> for review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.