And this is difficult to remember, but TRUE🤔

If you’ve experienced this, can I get an Amen?? Amen 🙂

A BOLD APPROACH IS NEEDED:)

How BOLD are you feeling? Now, that’s an odd question isn’t it?
Our War Room study tells us that we need to do our fighting in PRAYER.

HEBREWS 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Prayer is our approach to God, and we are to come “boldly unto the throne of grace.” Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung, afraid to ask Him to meet their needs. Others pray flippantly with little thought. Come with reverence, for He is your King, but come with bold assurance,  for He is your Friend and Counselor.

To approach God boldly does not mean we can approach Him disrespectfully or pridefully- but as God’s children enjoying a “freedom of speech” before our loving Father. Because of what Jesus has done for us we are no longer enemies inhibited by sin, guilt, shame, or doubt.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We are beloved children who, by faith, can pray openly and freely with confidence in our Father’s care for us and ability to handle any request.

Let’s remember to ask God to remove anything that would hinder us from praying freely, confidently, and boldly today and every day :))

AN undeserved, but FAVORED pathway…

We need to realize that we aren’t walking on the Christian pathway  alone, nor are we walking daily due to our own  self-sufficiency.
We are studying the War Room Bible study at my church, and the lesson focuses on LIVING THE GOSPEL.
The Gospel doesn’t just save us from hell. Christ Kingdom is one where the inhabitants’ lives are transformed daily to look more like Him.
So it’s not only by God’s GRACE that we are saved. It is by God’s GRACE that we are changed.

GRACE: Undeserved favor from God

EPHESIANS 2:4-9
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, charity, and goodness, and not merely please ourselves.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: While no action or “work” we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in works of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Him and build up the church (4:12).

Let’s remember as we walk on this pathway with God, we need to focus our attention on the real meaning of GRACE and allow God’s LOVE to overflow in our lives TODAY AND EVERYDAY!! 🙂

It’s really a matter of ACCOUNTABILITY:))

Do you know that we are accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ? We are:))
We are in SESSION 2 of our WAR ROOM Bible study, and the lesson is on Accountability.

PROVERBS 27:6
The Wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

Accountability: The quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.
A friend has the best interest at heart; they may give us unpleasant advice, but know it’s for our good. The enemy, on the other hand, says sweet words and happily sends you on your way to ruin.
Sometimes our friends or family many need to be encouraged with Godly wisdom. A person can be so caught up in their struggle that they may lose perspective of the entire situation. As Christians, we should come alongside them and gently critique them. Such as a family member who has stopped going to church and soon several weeks of missing becomes several months, and before they know it, they’ve lost their excitement about going to learn about or to Worship our ALL MIGHTY God.
Nobody likes criticism,

but everybody can benefit from it when it is given wisely and taken humbly.

David suggested how to accept criticism; 1. don’t refuse it, 2. consider it a kindness

3. keep quiet and don’t fight back.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We must always pray for God’s guidance and the wisdom that we stand in need of to help those that we are accountable to and to those that need encouragement to get back on the right path with the Lord.

Let’s do our best to critique gently where needed today and every day!!!!    🙂

The seventh piece truly means completion and perfection:)

Did you know that Prayer is part of the FULL Armour of God? It is!!

While participating in doing my homework for the War Room Bible study, I’ve come to understand this important aspect. I count six pieces of the armor, but prayer makes seven. Most of us know that in  the Bible the number seven represents completion or perfection. I’d say that prayer truly is both! 🙂
In Ephesians 6:10-17, we are told that in the Christian life we battle against “principalities and powers.” (the powerful evil forces or fallen angels headed by satan who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5:8). To withstand the attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armour. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the church. The whole body needs to be armed.
As we do battle against “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit.

One does not commonly equate prayer with battle attire, but it is no accident that Paul commands believers to pray when engaging in spiritual warfare.
EPHESIANS 6:18
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
One way to pray constantly is to make quick, brief prayers our habitual response to every situation we meet throughout the day. Another way is to order our life around God’s desires and teachings so that our very life becomes a prayer
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We don’t have to isolate ourselves from other people and from daily work in order to pray regularly. We can make our prayer our life and our life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence.

Let’s remember that we have a POWERFUL WEAPON and that we can use it today and every day! 🙂

Rooted, BUILT UP and ESTABLISHED!

Do you know that there is a BIG difference between claiming to be a Christian and knowing Christ and actually living as a maturing believer?

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Christians are brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated-we are new creatures, living in vital union with Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). We are not merely turning over a new leaf; we are beginning a new life under a new Master.
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Accepting Christ as Lord of our life is the beginning of life with Christ. But we must continue to follow His leadership by being rooted, built up, and established in the faith. Every day He desires to guide us and help us with our daily problems in the faith.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Paul used the illustration of our being rooted in or connected to Christ. As plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life-giving strength from Christ.

Let’s draw our life from Christ, and not be fooled by those who falsely claim to have life’s answers (2:8).

LUKEWARM…EWWW NO THANKS!!

We are starting a five week Bible study this evening on the WAR ROOM movie.

The primary focus is how PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON!

Jesus invites us into a closer and more intimate fellowship with Him. Prayer is our ultimate conversation with Him, and He wants us to be on fire for Him.

The first lesson addresses LUKEWARMNESS
Revelation 3:14-22
Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye salve. But the city always had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool-only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city.
Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn’t stand for anything; indifference had led them to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself.
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: God does not want us to be cold, but there is more hope for a rebel to repent than for a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. Don’t settle for following God half way.

Let Christ fire up our faith and get us into the action today and every day!  :))

Get a hold on your thinking:)

TRY IT because ALL we have to lose is our negative attitudes:))

Can I get an AMEN?

A Guarded HEART condition produces PEACE :))

Do you believe that positive thinking plays a BIG part in how we live our daily lives?
It does, but what’s more important is focusing on God’s Word and keeping IT in our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:7-9

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (John 14:27). It is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings Real peace comes from knowing that because God is in control, our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set and our victory over sin in certain.
What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Examine what we are putting into our mind through television, books, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material.

Let’s read God’s Word and pray. Ask Him to help us focus our mind on what is good and pure TODAY AND EVERY DAY!