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Spiritual Warfare Venting and My Experience

A Little Spiritual Warfare Venting and Rambling for today…

What the Enemy Intends for Bad – God Will Work for Good!

First, I want to apologize to you for the website being down for almost three days.

My web host provider had some unexpected issues over the weekend that took my site down and it just went live again mid-day today!  I’m thankful God answered my prayer and the site is back up without errors.

It definitely gave me practice with patience, overcoming frustration, etc.!

Sword of the SpiritIt also had me thinking about spiritual warfare and reflecting back on things in life. You know, I’m finally getting old enough, and wise enough, to realize things aren’t just coincidence. And that the enemy of this world is up to more than we realize

I started thinking about my site going down and how it not only was in the group that went down, but it was the last one to get back up and running. I’ve had many other sites over the years, either personally or that I’ve managed for others. Never have I experienced this type of down time.

Yet none of the other sites were related to spiritual matters and encouraging people to keep God first in life.

As I reflected back, it is clear that the times in my life that I’ve had the most attacks and trials were either times that I clearly chose to walk away from God, and do my own thing, or times when I decided to step out in a significant way for the Lord.

When I chose to do my own thing in the past, and disobey God, it is understandable that I was going to have to face the consequences of those wrong choices.

However, it used to appear like bad timing when trouble would bombard me during the times I was trying to do the right thing.

For instance, when I purposed to start attending church regularly – BAMM – attacks! When I bought a new Bible and study materials to get into the Word – BAMM – attacks! When I got myself and my girls involved in a good church and started volunteering – BAMM – attacks!

Earlier this year, when I decided to finally move forward and put this site up, I was at first constantly amazed at how so many details easily fell into place and worked out. I thank God often for the provision and ability He continues to give me to be able to do this.

Yet there is, once again, clearly this battle going on at the same time…

On one hand, I know God is helping me and guiding me and adjusting me as I go. However, on the other hand, I am again battling attacks. I seem to have gotten a whole whammy of them since I started this site. Physical attacks against my health, mental attacks against my thoughts, and also attacks against my finances and relationships.

They left me doubting if I should be doing this and I did and continue to keep praying for wisdom and guidance. Everything in me keeps saying move forward.

Well anyway – today I started to get mad, thinking about the enemy attacking me (and I also know of a few others personally under attack for stepping out in a significant way to serve God). I feel like battle on!

God is on my side, how can I lose? What the devil intends for bad, my God will work to good!

I serve a really Good God, and a really Big God! And He has helped me overcome the attacks of the enemy. My health and thought life is better … and my relationships are better … and God gave me some ideas and the energy lately to start implementing them that will improve my finances.

Plus on top of it all, with each attack the enemy has thrown at me… I’ve not only come through, but I’ve come through stronger, wiser, and learning how to use the Word of God to lessen the impact of the attacks. I’ve experienced to a greater degree the importance of not living with doubt and fear, but remaining confident and living by faith.

I refuse to let the enemy steal my joy!

My main web site (and others) went down for almost three days – and No – I was not happy about it, but the funny thing is – I didn’t get emotionally upset. I knew that God was going to take care of things and I was able to maintain a peace in the midst of this little storm of life.

I did get mad at the devil though and it has spurred me to write a few articles on spiritual warfare.

Okay – I’m done venting and rambling on… and I’ll end now with this:

“The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” 
– Hebrews 4:12

“The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.”
– 2 Thessalonians 3:3

“Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.”
– 2 Corinthians 2:14

“May the God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
– Hebrews 13:21

May you walk close to God and your life be filled with growing prosperity!

God bless you & keep you –
Brenda

P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts, comments, or suggestions on the subject…

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Dare To Prosper – Blow The Limits Off Small Thinking!

Dare To Prosper – Blow The Limits Off Small Thinking!

Discover How to Kick Your Life Into High Gear and Prosper With Abundant Thinking!

Blow the Limits Off Small Thinking and Prosper!Prosperity requires knowing what you want. Do you want to prosper, yet expect someone else to figure out what you want and drop it off on your front door step?

Before you can receive anything in life, you first have to know exactly what you want.

Think about that for a minute.

You need to know exactly what you want, then boldly declare it to receive it.

GET FREE FROM SMALL THINKING

Are you like many people who pretend they don’t want the things they think they can never have? Small thinking keeps you from having growing prosperity. You can be free to be all that God has created you to be and free to have all that He said you can have.

It is liberating to know God through His Word. John 8:32 tells us that in His Word you’ll know the truth and it will set you free.

Truth is, the desire of God is to bless His children and see them prosper. He made us the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. We are blessed going in and blessed going out, and everything we set our hands to will prosper (Deut. 28:1-8)!

PUT ON ABUNDANT THINKING

Follow the law of attraction and keep your thoughts focused on what you believe to receive and attract. God wants to abundantly supply what you ask for and bring you into a deeper level with Him. Just be obedient to follow His ways and be determined to receive everything He has promised to you in His Word.

“I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.”  –  Jesus Christ

Open your eyes to some powerful little phrases. You’ll often come across words in the Bible like: what things soever you desire, whatsoever you say, all things, anything, and what you will. These should impact and challenge us to always say exactly what we want and blow the limits off our small thinking!

NOW GO PROSPER

Come to the point where you are determined to get what you want. Fight off any negative or small thinking that will keep you down and willing to settle for less than God’s best. No matter what you need and desire in life, learn to depend on a God that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think. I dare you to prosper. 😉

May you put on abundant thinking and continue to have growing prosperity in your life!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Lifehouse Everything Drama Video

Lifehouse Everything Drama Video

If You Are Battling to Hang on – Don’t Quit!
There is a God Who Wants to Help!

I know this video skit is popular and you may have already watched it, but it is worth viewing again…

We have an enemy in this world. We are not ignorant of that. But just remember we have help available.

I encourage you … whatever battle you are going through – Don’t Give Up! Keep fighting!

Cry out to The Living God and He will help. Ask His forgiveness. There is nothing anyone has done that the blood Jesus paid on the cross can’t wash away and make as white as snow. Put your trust in Jesus. In Him is the power to overcome and be victorious!

POWER TO OVERCOME:

“Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpants and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  — Luke 10:19

ANGELS ONASSIGNMENT:

“Bless the Lord, you His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word.” — Psalm 103:20

A PROSPEROUS FUTURE:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

God loves you! 🙂 And Jesus too!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. The enemy tried to take my life, but The Living God pulled me out of the pit and makes me stand victorious! That is why I know He can do the same for you . . . and I know He will do for my daughters who I see the enemy attacking . . . don’t fight your battles alone, keep crying out to The Living God for help!

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How On Earth Do You Stand Steadfast When Your World is Crashing In?

How On Earth Do You Stand Steadfast When Your World is Crashing In?

Discover strength to make it through your storm stronger than you started!

You can overcome the storms of lifeWithin the last week I’ve had a number friends and family share with me that they are hanging on by a thread and going through some very difficult trials. Some lost loved ones, another has a family member with a terminal cancer diagnosis, and also another is struggling mentally with panic attacks and anxiety.

It just so happens that last night at mid week service, my pastor shared a very encouraging message on standing steadfast during trials. So I thought I would try to summarize and share as encouragement…

For starters, he pointed out that there are some things that will never be developed in us without going through the struggles of life. After the storm, you will know and be able to say … ‘if it hadn’t been for the Lord’.  Your confidence and trust in the Lord will increase and you’ll know it wasn’t your own doing that brought you through.

No doubt about it, when there’s a knock on the door at the midnight hour you need more than your own strength or theory of who God is. You need God – with no trepidation and fear. You need to KNOW God. And you need to know God did not bring you this far to leave you now. God is your very present help in time of trouble.

Bear in mind also, if your heart is still beating you are a target for the devil. But what the devil meant for bad, God can turn to good! God’s grace is sufficient for you during your trials. 

Like my pastor often says, ‘Life is life for everyone’.

In 1 Peter 4:12 it tells you not to think it strange concerning the fiery trial as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice. James 1:2 says to count it all joy (throw a party my pastor likes to say) when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Some key references to help you through the storm:

Temptation is common, but God is faithful and will provide a way of escape.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous but God delivers them out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)
The waters will not overflow us and the fire will not burn us because the Lord is our God and He is with us. (Isaiah 43:2-3)
When I am weak, then I am strong through Him. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Cast All your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Are you with me? You must remember that you are not staying in the trial, but going through. To overcome your trials the word of God must abide in you.  We are told in 1 Peter 5:9 to resist the devil steadfast in our faith (get more scripture happy). Standing steadfast is speaking only what the word of God says.

It’s no secret that, many of our struggles are attacks from the enemy. But we have help to overcome. The sword of the spirit is the spoken word of God and an offensive weapon. We have the ability to speak and chose our words, so chose them wisely. Imitate Jesus when He was tempted and say ‘it is written’, ‘it is written’, ‘it is written’ and speak what is written in the word of God over your situation.

Don’t abandon ship during the storm, because we are told in 1 Peter 5:10 that after we have suffered a while, the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, will make us perfect, established, strengthened, and settled. God’s grace is sufficient to bring us through the storm better developed than ever before.

May God strengthen and develop you as you overcome trials through your faith in Him!

God bless you,
Brenda

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What Gives Us the Right to Enter God’s Presence?

What Gives Us the Right to Enter God’s Presence?

We enjoyed guest ministers, Mark and Trina Hankins, last night at our church. They’ll actually be ministering to us three nights in a row.

They taught on what seems to be a taboo message that freaks people out a little. And frankly, I think the only reason that is, is because it’s not talked about enough. The blood of Jesus.

Mark Hankins taught on the things connected and associated with the power that is available in the blood that Jesus paid on the cross. His main reference was in Hebrews 10:19-22 and how because of the blood we can boldly access the throne of God.

We have boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19

The price Jesus paid covers more than forgiveness & our salvation. The blood also pays for freedom from a sin consciousness and freedom from the curse (such as poverty, sickness, and depression). Our faith in the blood is the currency that pays for these freedoms.

What Christ did is perfect and the blood alone has done everything. Perfect.

But our access to it (which is by faith) can be imperfect.

In the Old Testament only the high priest was able to enter the throne room and he did it in fear. We now have a better covenant and not only have access to the Holiest, but we are told to go boldly.

Our conscious (inner voice, reminding us of past sins) can shut down our heart and keep us from entering into the presence of God. Our heart needs to be open to fully move into His presence.

It’s the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit working together that opens up our heart and has a magnetic like pull to take us into the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:22 tells us to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

Have unshakeable assurance that God, our Father, is eager to see us. When we show up He is happy to see us.  :0) He wants to fellowship with us!

God wants us to draw near to him, but we have to do the “drawing near”. Mark Hankins reminded us that God has not moved. We are the ones who have drawn back.

We are to go boldly to the throne of God to obtain mercy and grace for help in time of need (Heb 4:16). If we don’t get bold and go, we’ll continue to carry our own burdens. And we have to be bold; because the devil is doing everything he can to distract us!

Like any will, that is only available to the inheritors after a death, God’s will in the New Testament became available after the death of Jesus.

The apostle Paul says that as believers we have a massive inheritance! Everything He gave to Jesus is ours. Equal possession with equal position.

If the enemy can hinder us to take our position, he can take our possession.

You have to take your position to take your possession and prosper. Open your heart to the fellowship of the Father. And don’t be satisfied with an intellectual relationship.

God is our Father. He wants and desires us to come to Him. He wants to fellowship and have a close relationship with us. And because of the price Jesus paid we have the right to be in the presence of God.

How do we know if we have been in His presence? If we have joy.

You cannot access His presence without being changed and come out with joy. In His presence is the fullness of joy!

I pray that we all may purpose to spend more time in His life changing presence!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. The Mark Hankins Ministry is online at www.MarkHankins.org.  A large selection of Mark Hankins Resources can also be found on Amazon.  My mom is a big fan of Trina Hankins music ministry.

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How to Prosper by Overcoming Anxiety with Abundant Favor!

How to Prosper by Overcoming Anxiety with Abundant Favor!

God Gives an Abundance of Favor for Your Confidence to Prosper

Our minds often get conditioned to accept a low level of confidence because of past experiences we’ve had as far back as our childhood. The stresses, pressures and daily attacks on our minds can have us living in fear, anxiety and depression. However, that does not have to be the case.

God’s love and favor heals insecurities and anxieties!

Begin to realize the divine favor you have with God and man and learn how to put it to work in your life. God’s blessing of favor flowing in your life is not based on your background, talents, or anything you have learned.  Ephesians 6:24 says that grace is with all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Grace means favor you do not deserve.

Start the favor of God flowing in your life by daily confessing what God promises. Then you will see yourself walking in His favor in every area of your life. Speak words of favor over and over during the day until your spirit is revived.  When the truth of God’s love and favor get planted into your spirit, it will replace the insecurities and anxieties you have.

Many people confess doubt and failure over and over during their lifetime until their spirit is depressed and broken. Do not be one of those people! Within just a few days you can experience a very dramatic change with God’s abundant favor.
 

Get started right now with these confessions on favor and confidence:

I am blessed with God’s grace. God pours out on me a river of favor with God and with those around me.

You, Lord bless me with favor and You surround me as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)

I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)

The Greater One lives in me. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

I am being filled with God’s fullness. I am being rooted and grounded in love. God is doing exceeding and abundantly above all that I ask or think. His mighty power is taking over in me. (Eph. 3:17-20)

I grow strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace and favor of God is upon me. (Luke 2:40)

The truth of God’s Word makes me free. (John 8:32)

Thank You, Lord, that I have favor with You and man and people go out of their way to bless me and do good to me today.

Favor flows by standing on the living Word of God in faith.  Reject the negative things you have been feeding into your mind. Accept only what the Lord has told you. Repeat the above confessions until doubt disappears.

Learn to walk in God’s favor. It is for you today. Speak favor. Live favor. Be prosperous. Live life expecting something great to happen daily and it will. Remember, with God nothing is impossible. Let His truth take root in you. Favor is God’s promise to every believer from His Word. All you have to do is receive it and prosper.

Enjoy growing prosperity as the favor of God flows in your life!

God bless you,
Brenda

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Prosperity – Only If You Think So!

Prosperity – Only If You Think So!

Are Your Thoughts Holding a Vision for Growing Prosperity?

Living a prosperous life and attracting those things that make it abundant and fulfilling require directing your thoughts. General concepts, vague desires, fuzzy or wishful thinking do not have the power to create a specific result because they are not specific thoughts.

The following three keys will help you prosper by directing your thoughts correctly: 
 

#1 Have a Clear Mental Picture

You must form a clear vision of what you want to do, have, or become. It is key to know specifically what you want, before you can ask for it. It is not enough to have a general thought of desire for wealth, health, or a loving relationship. Most people wish for these things.  A clear, specific, mental picture of what you want must be formed in your thoughts in order to put the creative power of your mind into action.
 

#2 Keep a Clear Mental Picture in Your Mind Continually

A clear vision of what you want must continually be in your thoughts. If your mental picture is clear and specific with details, the more you’ll think on it and the more you’ll desire it. Your desire must be strong enough to keep your thoughts directed toward that thing continually. The stronger the desire becomes the easier it will be to keep your focus on what you want. This in turn acts like a magnet drawing that desired thing to you.

#3 Unwavering Faith is Required to Take Possession of the Thought

A clear and concise, constant mental image also requires an unwavering faith to materialize and take possession of the vision. Live in the mental realm with full enjoyment of what you desire until it takes form around you physically. Take possession of it in your mind with the full power of faith that it is actually yours. Do not waver in your faith for even one instant that it is real.

Jesus told us in Mark 11:24 “Whatsoever things you ask for when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” Also note that in verse 22 He said “Have faith in God.” Then in verse 23 He also said “Do not doubt in your heart.”

Grow prosperity in your life by formulating your thoughts into specific, clear, mental images of what you desire. Take mental ownership of the desire in your vision and keep it continually in your thoughts. Keep the vision with unwavering faith until you obtain it and prosper.

May you experience growing prosperity in your life as you direct your thoughts daily in faith!

Cheers,
Brenda

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