Inspirational Living: 3 Keys for Living in the Joy of the Lord and Laughing Your Troubles Away!

Keeping the Joy of the Lord Flowing in Your Life!

Living in the joy of the Lord is the only way to live.

And do you know that even in times of trouble,

joy does not have to leave you?

Yes, it is possible to be peaceful and cheerful…

in the midst of trouble. Why? Because Jesus said so!

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” 
– John 16:33

3 Keys for Keeping the Joy of the Lord Flowing in Your Life:

1. Do Not Let Trouble Shock You

Just because the storms of life blow through, doesn’t mean you have to lose your joy. It is often said that the key to success in life does not depend on the hand you’ve been dealt, but how you deal with what you’ve been dealt.

That means that how we choose to react to trouble is what will determine our success. Problems and tribulations are a part of life, but they don’t have to steal our joy.

2. Laugh at Trouble

Learn to laugh at your trouble and choose joy over worry and anxiety. We can trust God or worry. Either way we’ll still be confronted with trouble in life. Why go through it in misery if you can instead overcome it with joy?

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4

Christ has already overcome the world and in Him we have power and authority to overcome. Realizing and believing that is a key to not losing any precious joy. Choose to focus on the promise and not the problem.

3. Confess Promises to the Problem

Replace the moaning, groaning, whining, and complaining with rejoicing. Rejoicing about what? Rejoicing about the promises God has given us in His Word. Dig deep into every promise so you can and dwell in that secret place of the Most High.

God is for you so quit fretting about who is against you. On a daily basis, refill yourself with joy by getting into the Word and confronting troubles with promises.

For example, if sickness tries to attack your body, then confront it by confessing:  ‘By His stripes I am healed.’ (1 Peter 2:24)

We were created to walk in the joy of the Lord, not to worry about every little thing. His joy can keep us living well. The healing power of joy works like medicine to our bodies.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” 
– Proverbs 17:22

If you feel yourself growing weary, then confess: ‘I am steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord and knowing my work is not in vain.’ (1 Corinthians 15:58)

If you are facing financial troubles then confess the promise: ‘My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:19)

Bottom line: The Word of God is filled with promises that are bigger than any type of trouble that comes our way. We can live with joy because Jesus has overcome the world and in Him we are more than conquerors. Resist any negative thoughts of failure or defeat and continually refill yourself with joy.

May your life abundantly flow with the joy of the Lord and growing prosperity!

God bless you always,
Brenda

Encouragement of Hope! Why All the Sad Faces if this is the Happiest Time of the Year?

Discover Encouragement Affirmations to Live with Hope for Tomorrow!

Encouragement to face the light and…

live with hope for tomorrow is -

much needed during the holiday season.

The music, movies, commercials, etc…

all shout that the holidays are the happiest time of the year.

If this is the case, why are there so many sad,

discouraged, and depressed people walking around?

In the USA alone, the suicide rate back in 2007 was stated at Suicidology.org to be 34,598, or about 95 suicides per day. That is about one fatal outcome every 15 minutes. What a terrible tragedy to have so much self-destruction when life is so precious.

The Discouragement Factor

Why do so many people take their own lives? The primary reason is overwhelming discouragement. Discouragement is a destructive force that changes a person’s mindset and outlook to become dark, negative, and hopeless. They lose their courage and find it replaced with fear.

Holiday seasons come with the expectation that happiness is required. However, the fact is, holidays tend to have added stressors on top of the rest of life’s challenges, including financial trouble, illness, loss of loved ones, and more. And unfortunately, many people find themselves discouraged and depressed during this season.

Victims of discouragement can quickly end up with hindered decision making skills and in no condition to do things effectively. Their whole mentality is placed at a disadvantage as their mind becomes depressed. Discouragement darkens the mind and can cause a person to make fatally wrong decisions.

The Encouragement Treatment

Discouragement stems from a feeling of separateness from God and this causes a consciousness of weakness and a feeling of standing alone. Treat this disease by conquering those mental enemies with positive affirmations. Drive out fear, anxiety, worry, and the “blues” by affirming your connection with God.

“We are all ‘under fire’ all our lives, and the real hero is the one who keeps straight on in spite of discouragements and disappointments, never losing one jot of heart or courage, never giving way to despair, trusting always in the Divine Power that will lead him to his goal.” 
– Orison Swett Marden

Begin to eliminate those negative things that stand between you and your Maker and allow free access to the flow of God’s Divine Power by regularly affirming His truths.

Encouragement Affirmations:

Say to yourself:

‘I am a child of the King of kings and there is something inside of me that is bigger than my circumstances. I am a co-heir with Christ and all that He has.’

‘I am strong, courageous, confident, and hopeful for the future. My mind is serene and I sleep peacefully knowing my destiny is in the hands of Him who controls everything and who does all things well.’

‘I declare my power to conquer difficulty and overcome. I trust in God and forge ahead. I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. His truth is my shield and protector.’

The truth is: We can allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by discouragement, OR we can rise above it. Overcome by speaking positive, encouraging, success affirmations. Strengthen your mind by using positive thoughts to drive out negative thoughts.

Choose to encourage yourself and others regularly, so that you keep a heart of courage, thoughts of hope, and trust always in the Divine Power of God in your life.

May you be encouraged, keep your face toward God’s light, and live a life of growing prosperity!

 God bless you always,
Brenda

P.S. This article is inspired by Marden’s book “How to Get What You Want” and specifically the chapter “Discouragement – How to Cure It”

Spiritual Power – Tap Into Help from God and let His Spiritual Light Guide You Thru the Storms of Life!

Why Have You Failed to Turn to God for Help?

Spiritual power and help from God are…

available to all of us.

Have you lost trust in people?

Have you been let down by them in the past over and over again?

Are you unable to trust those that you used to reply on for help?

Great! That is actually a good thing. Why? Because now you are able to turn to God for help; the one who has the power to rescue any person who is ready to be rescued.

Do You Turn to God for Help?

Far above any human weakness is God, and the truth of His Word. All problems can be solved with help from God, regardless of how long they have been troubling you. There are no exceptions. The following issues and more can be eliminated: stress, anxiety, shame, depression, sickness, loneliness, confusion, lack, pain, loss, anger, and fear.

Tapping into God’s help shines a powerful, spiritual light on all the dark and difficult problems and makes them disappear.

It is strange, but true, that people often fail to get help from God. Why? Simply because they refuse to see that their condition is far worse than it appears on the surface. People fear facing their situation and admitting they don’t have a solution. So they go ahead and deceive themselves into believing the problem is really no big deal.

Where does this leave God? Completely left out!

Do You Leave God Out of the Equation?

Have the courage to face the storms of life that surround you and admit that you don’t have the answers. Don’t be ashamed or fear that fact. Humble yourself before God, and reach out to Him for help to attract the answer to you. Let God be your personal guide through the storm and take you safely to the other side.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
– Psalm 46:1

Spiritual information from the truth of God’s Word is spiritual power that also helps us in the natural. To be a sincere seeker of God’s help requires eliminating resistance to His spiritual information and wisdom.  God gives us His Word to help only, and not hurt.

Spiritual Power, Help from God

There is God, and there is you. Your help is over there with God right now, just waiting for your arrival.

• Reach out by faith and tap into God’s spiritual power.
• Dig into His Word and find guidance.
• Cry out to Him in prayer and wait patiently for His answer.
• Meditate on His Word and allow His revelation knowledge to manifest in your life.

Are you feeling helpless and hopeless today? Then put your trust in God. He is the helper to the helpless and ruler over all. You don’t have to solve your problems, you just have to acknowledge them and turn them over to the Lord. The Almighty God is your ever present help in time of need.

May you tap into the help of God and His spiritual power and live a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always-

Soar higher in Him,
Brenda

Intimacy with God – Do You Make This Your Key Priority in Life?

Tap into the Great Power Source and Change Your Outlook!

Intimacy with God is a great power source in life.

Unfortunately, the natural thing for most of us to do…

is become absorbed in our day-to-day problems and demands.

On any given day, many people face stressful situations,

extreme trials, and even heartbreaks with marriages,

family members, or friends. 

All this tends to keep the focus on self.

Learning to Look Beyond

When we learn to look beyond the trials and obstacles and fix our eyes on Jesus, and believe God is Sovereign, we will begin to have a different perspective and response to everything we face. The Bible teaches us that God uses all things, even the painful things, for the good of believers. One of the positive results of trials is the intimacy that can develop when we turn to the Lord for help.

“We know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” 
– Romans 8:28

Intimacy with God – A Key Priority

God desires an intimate, loving relationship with us, and we should make this relationship our TOP priority. Intimacy with God begins with turning to Him and humbling ourselves before Him. It involves regular time in His Word, time in prayer, and patiently waiting for Him to speak to our hearts.

As we develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, we will understand that every hardship has a purpose. We have lessons to be learned and maturity to be gained. And remember, God has promised to meet the needs of His children, if they come to Him, seek Him diligently, and obey Him.

We can’t live above our circumstances in our own strength, but we certainly can by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Steps for a Closer Walk with the Lord

One – Give God the daily worship He deserves because of who He is and His finished work on the cross. Let Him know you love Him.

Two – Take time to confess all known sin; knowing that if you do, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Three – Give thanks regularly to God for all He has done in your life and in your world.

Fourth – Take time to pray daily and ask God to supply your needs.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 
– Philippians 4:6

What’s stopping you? Why not tap into the great power source in life? For each of us, our priority in life should be intimacy with God.

May you continually walk closer to the Lord and live a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always -

Cheers,
Brenda

Help Me! How on Earth Do I Know What God’s Purpose and Will is for My Life?

Knowing God’s Will and God’s Purpose for Your Life

Who, at some point, hasn’t asked:

“What is God’s plan and purpose for my life?”

We sooner or later reach a time in life when we find our self questioning why we are here. We come to a point of knowing, deep inside, that there must be something more God would have for us to do with our lives.

Well, how can you know the will of God and what you should do with your life? Good question. And it all starts with the Word of God, since God’s Word is God’s will.

Knowing God’s General Will

The Bible teaches us how to live our lives. It is filled with instructions and directions and it reveals God’s general will for all of us. So, first and foremost, we need to get into God’s Word so that we can know what He wants from us. His Word is very powerful and will guide us.

Here are just a couple examples:

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God’s will for man is not a hidden mystery. Anyone can open the Book and quickly see many things that God wants them to do (and not do). The chief aim and purpose of our lives should be to live according to His revealed will.

Knowing God’s Specific Will

Now you might be asking, “How do I know God’s specific plan for my life?” People often want God to tell them specifically what to do; like where to live, where to work, where to go to school, who to marry, etcetera.

Well, God can show us in many different ways. A loud, audible voice from heaven is not required, but listening to that still, small voice is. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance. The Spirit of truth is here to guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)

God can also direct us, through the events happening around us.  And if we are already living daily according to God’s revealed will, decisions will be much clearer and easier to make. There is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives.

To get answers, we also need to pray and ask for God’s help and direction. When deciding between two options, the one that brings a greater peace is usually God’s will. Emotions sometimes create a false peace, but true peace will remain even after emotions fall.

Keep in mind: God allows us to make choices, but He is ultimately in control. We should trust Him always in faith that He will accomplish His will in our lives.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Plus, questions we should be asking are, “Am I doing this for me or for God?  Is this what I want or what God wants?”  The key is to desire to make choices that agree with God’s will. If a decision does not go against the Word of God, then we can follow our heart.

“It was the Lord who put it into my mind… I could feel His hand upon me… There is no question the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous illumination from the Holy Scriptures… No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.” 
– Christopher Columbus (from his diary, in reference to his discovery of ‘the New World’)

Created with a Purpose

God does have great plans for your life! You were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. (Jeremiah 29:11) We have all been given unique gifts and talents. And just like our physical body is made up of many different parts, all unique, and all important to having a fully functioning body; so it is with the body of Christ.

Your gifts and talents have been given to you so you can be a blessing to the kingdom of God and make a positive contribution in life. So step out and act on the revealed knowledge you have already been given and use the talents you already have.

Then trust God to reveal more to you after you are faithful first in the little. Be confident that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. (Philippians 1:6) God’s purpose for all is that He is glorified and the gospel and kingdom of God be advanced.

In Conclusion: The wise king Solomon tells us the conclusion of the whole matter and duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13) He also encourages us to enjoy life and be happy with our work. Keep the Word of God your foundation and watch His great plan revealed before your very eyes. God is for you and He will help you.

May you seek first the kingdom of God and live a life full of growing prosperity!

God bless you,
Brenda

Abundant Prosperity – Wisdom and Focus is Your 2 Ticket Winning Combination for Success

The Power of Increased Wisdom and Focus for Growing Prosperity!

Abundant prosperity seems to have a way of following after…

wisdom and focus.

What areas of your life do you find yourself -

overwhelmed, troubled, and not prospering in at this time?

Well, why not take a look at the - 

winning combination of wisdom and focus…

and find out how it can turn that troubled area into success?

Wisdom to Prosper

Obviously, when it comes to dealing successfully with the trials and storms of life that blow through, the wisdom of God is a very powerful commodity. The book of Proverbs shows us over and over that wisdom brings the knowledge of what to do in situations, and it results in a prosperous, successful, and long life.

“If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed.” – James 1:5-6

Single Minded Focus to Prosper

When trouble comes, we usually encounter a lack of wisdom. And this tends to be on top of an unstable mind, which is of course also lacking the single minded focus needed to prosper. A double minded person is moved in whichever direction the winds of adversity blow.

“For let not that man think he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” – James 1:7-8

Wisdom, Focus, and Asking in Faith

So how do we get the wisdom needed to attract abundant prosperity and success? By asking God in faith; and confidently trusting Him to give the wisdom He said He would give when we ask.

This should come as no surprise, since everything in the believer’s life comes back to faith.

How do we ask in faith? It is not difficult! Simply ask God according to His Word.

Sample prayer for wisdom and provision:

“Lord, Your Word says in James 1, that if anyone lacks wisdom they are to ask of You, and You will give it liberally. Lord, I ask in faith right now for Your wisdom in this matter. I believe I receive what I’ve asked for according to Your Word. Philippians 4:19 says that You shall supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. And in Colossians 2:2-3, You said that in Jesus are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, I have wisdom and all my needs are taken care of. I know that You have heard me, and I know I have the petition that I have asked. I thank You for these things. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Now we move forward in confidence, knowing and acting as if we have received. We stay mentally fixed, focused, and immovable that God’s Word will come to pass and manifest in our lives. That is asking in faith.

On the other hand, if someone asks timidly and full of doubt, they are like a wave being moved in whichever way the wind blows and never receiving anything.  The wavering believer says, “I am healed. No, I think I’m sick. Yes, I’m healed. Wait, I think I feel sick.” The double minded believer is not going to receive anything.

Bottom line: Wisdom is required to live an abundant, prosperous life. And God is just waiting to provide that wisdom to those who ask Him for it by faith. Overcome unbelief and doubt by keeping a fixed, single minded focus on the request made in faith according to the Word of God. Let wisdom and focus be your winning combination for success and abundant prosperity.

May your increased wisdom and focus be followed by the abundance of God and a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing -

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. I’d love to hear your comments and image thanks to Billy Alexander!

Growing Prosperity – 3 Insights Of What You See By Faith Is What You Get In Abundance!

Seeing Through the Eyes of Faith

Growing prosperity needs to be in your vision before it can abound in your life.

If you have subscribed to the saying:

“I’ll believe it when I see it”…

then you are probably still waiting around for abundance to be physically manifest in your life.

The fact is: If you only believe the things that you can physically see and touch, then unfortunately you are lacking the faith needed to create a life of growing prosperity.

3 Insights of ‘What You See By Faith Is What You Get In Abundance’:

1. Real Vision to Prosper Through the Eyes of Faith

Looking back through time, we see that the prosperous individuals of real ‘vision’ subscribe to the overriding principle of “What you see by faith is what you get.”

What is the powerful difference here? These people understand that the images in their minds actually precede the images of the physically manifested objects.

Men and women of vision expect the images in their minds to come to pass in the physical world. Regardless of critics speaking contrary to their vision, they have faith in what is initially only visible in their mind’s eye.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 
– Hebrews 11:1

2. Prospering as Your Mind Prospers

The mind is a magnificent thing and allows us the creative power of thought. Understand that images are mental pictures made from our thoughts and we can choose to create whatever images we desire. We are the directors of our own life movie.

Our soul (mind) must embrace prosperity first. We must have the will and desire to prosper.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you might prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” 
– 3 John 2

Remember that we are a spirit; we have a soul (mind, will, and emotions), and live in a body. Our soul is the link that connects our spirit with our physical body. Our soul is our conscious mind that guides and directs our physical actions.

A prosperous soul will produce a prosperous image inside of us. If our soul is not prospering, we will have a bad image of failure, lack, defeat, or sickness.

Become aware of the truth that everything we do is preceded by an image. First we think and form an image; then we do the work that will see the image expressed in our material world.

3. Vision That Inspires Prosperous Action

As we program our mind with positive, prosperous images, it eventually inspires us to also speak and confess these things by faith. The power of confession helps deposit the beliefs into our subconscious (heart).

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” 
– Proverbs 23:7

We become the image and beliefs we allow in our heart. Our subconscious (often referred to as our heart) acts on what it has been programmed, and goes to work to make it a reality. Why not program your heart and mind with powerful, prosperous images from the Word of God and let that become a reality in your life?

Bottom line: We control our innermost thoughts, and the images we allow are what we attract. The prosperous images we see in our mind are what we will ultimately get in our life.

May you catch a vision of the abundance of God and create a life of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing -

Cheers,
Brenda

Future Hope - Top 10 Inspiring Reasons to Believe Your Future Is Bright!

A Future Filled with Hope and Success

Hope for the future is available…

but it can sometimes seem hard to come by.

It is often said we have our whole life ahead of us.

Yet, many people go through difficult seasons in life and question what there is to look forward to.

No matter where you are, hope for the future is available for you to grab onto.

10 Inspiring Reasons to Believe Your Future is Bright:

1. Mistakes in Life Do Not Have the Final Say

If you make mistakes, you can start over. Mistakes are a part of the growing process and learning curve of life. As we start putting our mistakes in the past, our future begins to look bright.

2. You are a Work in Progress

God has promised to keep on working in you and with you. Growing and developing takes time and we should expect continued personal growth in our future.

3. Never Too Young or Old

You are never too young or old to fill your days with meaning and purpose. Consider Moses: He was 80 years old when God called him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt!

4. Every Day is a New Day

Each day is new and fresh. You can make the most of each one. If we’ve fallen short today, we can look forward to a new day tomorrow. Thank God that His grace and mercy is new every day. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

5. You are Never Alone

God said He would never leave you or abandon you. (Hebrews 13:5) People may leave us, but God will not. The future is bright knowing God is in it.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13

6. God Loves You

God loves you unconditionally! God loves you just the way you are. But like the saying goes, He also loves you too much to leave you the way you are.

7. You Have a Purpose in Life

God created you with a purpose and you can discover it. We have all been given unique gifts and talents that help us fulfill our purpose. Discovering our purpose and living it makes the future bright not only for us, but also those around us.

8. God Shall Supply All Your Needs

God will take care of your needs as you seek and obey His Word. (Philippians 4:19) “The Lord is my portion, says my soul: therefore will I hope in Him.” – Lamentations 3:24

9. Mansions in Heaven

God has created a wondrous place in heaven for His children. We have hope that after our life on earth we graduate to eternal life in heaven. “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.” – John 14:2

10. Guidance from the Most High God

If we trust, rely on, and acknowledge God, He will direct our life. The God that created the universe is available to help guide our life. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:6

Hope for the future may have faded for you. You may feel like you are in a prison and have no future. But no matter where you are, God has promised to bless you with a future filled with hope and success, not suffering. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Do yourself a favor: Have hope and believe your future is bright. Let the truth of God’s love set you free. God is a miracle-working God. He does not punish us all our life for our mistakes.  He wants us to look forward and not backward. Put your hope and trust in God and allow Him to be an active part of your life.

May your hope be strong, your future bright, and your life full of growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing -

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. Feel free to share your thoughts… and thanks to Billy Alexander for this fun image – you can view more of his creative images here.