​          Some days ago, I watched a brief video by Pastor Mike Todd. It was just a snippet from one of his sermons but it so caught my attention that I saved it. He was talking about being careful with the words that we speak because they could actually be shaping our life and our world. But one line in particular got my attention: “We have a decision as believers to agree with what we see or agree with what God says.” I think that line right there sums it all up. We do have a choice and I think many times we make the wrong one.
           It can be so easy to go by what we see. We talk about it, we confess it, we complain about it over and over and then wonder why we are still stuck where we are. Now this is not magic or some spooky thing. In the beginning, God spoke the world into being: “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Further down, the Bible says: Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear,” and it was so” (v. 9). God spoke it and it came into being. God’s very Word is so powerful.
          Now we can believe all of this but why is it that when God speaks things about us we don’t believe? Because what we are seeing in front of us just doesn’t seem to be matching up, what we are seeing in front of us seems more real than what God is saying to us.
          I remember when I first heard this, my conscience was pricked and I immediately started putting into practice what I had heard. I became more conscious of what I had been saying all along and started choosing to speak God’s Word in my situation. But let me say this. When we speak what we see and it is negative, our whole mood and attitude is affected by those negative affirmations. When we start, however, to speak what God’s Word has to say our entire mood and attitude changes. We feel more confident, more hopeful, more positive. When that happens any fear present has to flee!
          Every promise that God has spoken in His Word is for us His children. But what if we are living below the standard God has set for us because of constantly speaking what we see instead of speaking God’s Word over our situation? Life will never be perfect but what if some negative situations can be avoided if we would just speak and confess what God says rather than what we are seeing in front of us? The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6a). We either have faith in God, His ability and His Word or we have faith in what we see. The Bible also says that we walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
          I know we know all these things but sometimes we need a much-needed reminder of how God expects us to live ... according to His Word NOT according to what we see or what the devil tells us. I know that when discouragement and fear step in it is so easy to speak what we are seeing instead of what God is saying. God’s Word says: I am a child of God ; I am blessed and not cursed; No weapon formed against me shall prosper; I am the head and not the tail; God’s plans are to prosper me not to harm me to give me hope and a future; As for me and my house we will serve the Lord; I am chosen by God before the foundation of the world; nothing can separate me from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus; I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus... And the list goes on and on.
          If you keep confessing how defeated you are, how incapable you are, how messed up you are, you may never get out of the mess you are in. Guess what? If necessary, ask God’s forgiveness and make it right with Him then ... move on!!! Your negative situation will not last forever. Your trial will come to an end. Whatever God is teaching you in this season, make the best of the lesson and let that be your focus. Whatever you are going through, whether or not it’s your fault, declare that God loves you and He is bringing you out stronger, wiser and better equipped than you ever were before that situation came.
          Jeremiah 15:16 says: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by Your name O Lord God of hosts.” Feed on the Word of God not what you are seeing. I know that is easy to say but as I said when I started speaking God’s Word I felt encouraged, I felt uplifted because I knew that GOD not me would be the One to bring His own Word to pass. So, SPEAK His Word and be encouraged today.
          If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior I encourage you to do so now. We cannot survive this life without God. He has equipped us to overcome through His Word. Come into agreement with Him and what His Word says and watch Him make a difference in your life today!

         Your presence is my greatest weapon
         Pushing back the darkness
         Breaking every chain
         My worship opens up the heavens
         Crushing every stronghold
         When I speak Your name
         ‘Cause Your presence is my weapon
          Your presence is my weapon    
         ("My Weapon," Natalie Grant)                                          
         I don’t feel as yet ready to move on from this song by Natalie Grant “My Weapon” that motivated what I shared in this blog last week. There is a word in the chorus that prompts me to want to stay on this theme just a little longer – that word is “worship.” I think of worship and I am reminded of my experience over the years in this area. God has truly taught me – and is still teaching me – to worship in any and every situation or state in my life. I have learned of course to worship Him when things are going good ... but also when things are not. I recall times when, with tears streaming down my face because of whatever challenge I was facing at the time, I lifted my hands and worshiped God. I think those were and still are my purest times of worship, when I chose to fix my eyes on the only One capable of getting me through that seemingly insurmountable situation. 
          I believe even then that I realized that that was the weapon I needed as I went through that trial, as in desperation I simply clung to the One whom I knew would see me through. I believe that worship is a powerful weapon that actually takes me into the presence of the One who will fight for me, who will defend me, who will cover and protect me when I feel exposed to all sorts of evil. 
          Maybe this is why David wrote so many psalms and was so involved in music. I recall the story of king Saul and the fact that after he had disobeyed God, the Spirit of the Lord left him and a distressing spirit troubled him (1 Samuel 16:14). This was where David stepped onto the scene and as he skillfully played his harp, Saul would feel better and the evil spirit would leave him (v. 23). I would not be surprised if the music David played on that harp was music that glorified God, and as he played God’s presence filled that room where king Saul was and that evil spirit had to flee. It could not stick around once God’s presence was there! 
          I recall also the story of king Jehoshaphat when some nations banded together to fight against Israel (2 Chronicles 20:1). The king became afraid, yet he turned to his God. What did God do? He instructed him and the people of Israel to “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you” (v. 17). In response to this command, the people bowed before the Lord and worshiped Him (v. 18). They did not have to fight, just worship. And as they did that, and focused their eyes on their God, their enemies started fighting among themselves and totally annihilated one another (v. 21-23)! That’s the power of worship right there - inviting God’s presence into a tough situation and allowing God to fight on your behalf.
          Worship is not a song or music per se; you don’t need to worship with music, you can simply glorify God from your heart, telling Him how awesome He is, boasting about His goodness and faithfulness to you. Worship, I believe, is simply an attitude of the heart, a determination to shift focus from all that is happening around us and put our eyes and heart on the One who is bigger, more powerful, than anything or anyone present. It’s a state of confidence that God is more than able to see us through. Just like in the story with king Jehoshaphat, worship crushes strongholds and breaks chains; it pushes back the forces of darkness ... without us even having to lift a finger to fight a battle. As we worship and entrench ourselves in God’s presence, He fights on our behalf!
          I encourage us today to use that weapon that takes us directly into the throne room and motivates God to move on our behalf. I think that besides our faith in Him, worship pleases God more than we may ever know. It’s because I guess our focus becomes fixed on Him and we are saying that we trust Him explicitly. I am sure He likes that and that prompts Him to work on our behalf. Worship sometimes takes effort but it is worth it. Peace comes, confidence comes, hope comes...victory comes.
          If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Saviour, I invite you to make that effort now. We all need a Defender, a Protector, a Shield ... Someone willing and able to act on our behalf and defend us when we need it.

​          I awoke one morning to the song “My Weapon” by Natalie Grant playing in my head. A few weeks ago, it seemed to be a recurring song that I awoke to for a number of mornings. It gives me a sense of comfort knowing that I have a weapon that is greater than any human weapon I could use against the enemy.
         I am reminded of a conversation I had earlier this week with a friend of mine from work. I was asking her how she was going, knowing and understanding some of the challenges she must be facing because of a promotion at her church. Her response caught my attention and brought me a much-needed reminder of where my help comes from along with a sense of comfort and peace. Basically, all she simply replied was that she was staying in God’s presence. That hit me. That was the answer right there to any challenge that we will ever face in life ... staying in that powerful presence that is a shield, a refuge, a fortress, a source of strength. 
         I am reminded of Psalm 91, that psalm that we love to quote as a psalm of protection and it is... “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I will trust’” (v.1-2). Just the opening verses hint to us exactly where we need to be for protection and security. Once we understand that we are in God’s hands and no one can snatch us out to harm us, no one can get to us to destroy us, this should bring a sense of comfort and safety.
         The song I mentioned earlier, is a song about God’s protection over our lives. The chorus states: 
         Your presence is my greatest weapon
         Pushing back the darkness
         Breaking every chain
         My worship opens up the heavens
         Crushing every stronghold
         When I speak Your name
         ‘Cause Your presence is my weapon
         Your presence is my weapon
          I look at David’s life. He is one of my most written about characters in my blog. When you think about it, there is no way David could have survived or escaped the murderous pursuit of king Saul who was backed by an experienced army! Yet, he did. Why? Because he had learned and chosen to put his trust in God. When his own band of men wanted to turn against him when, after returning to their camp, they discovered that their families had been taken captive by the Amalekites, David was in despair especially because his men wanted to stone him, putting all of the blame on him for what had happened (1 Samuel 30:1-6). However, in verse 6 we are told that “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He did not turn to man, he did not rely on his own ability, he turned to the Lord his God. He had an intimate enough relationship with his God that he knew exactly who to turn to in time of trouble and God did not fail him because they were able to rescue all that the Amalekites had stolen from them (1 Samuel 30:7-19)!
         When you know your God and choose to run to the safety of His care, you will always be covered and safe. Even if God allows any evil, it will only be in the end to bring about some good in your life. Being in God’s presence isn’t an oozy feeling. I think it’s about being in a place of consistent and total trust in God, a place where no matter what is going on around you, you are choosing to rest in Him, in His care, in His covering, in His ability to handle anything that comes your way no matter how big or how small. 
         As the song suggests, it’s the place where battles are won and strongholds are crushed; it’s the place where chains are broken and freedom is sure; above all it’s the place where sweet intimacy with the One who created us and loves us can be found and with this comes the strength to face any challenge that comes our way. 
          Like my friend, I am striving to stay in His presence. As I look back over my life I realize that there was no way I could have survived some of the things I’ve been through if it wasn’t for His presence and me learning to rest in it. I don’t know about you but that is the safest place I want and choose to be.
          If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to make that step now. God is the safest place you can be and with the world going through all that it is right now, it is the best place you can ever want to be.

          Last week I looked at the fact that the children of Israel were about to cross the Jordan river to enter the Promised Land. The Jordan river which stood in their way represented that threshold that they needed to cross over to receive all that God had promised them.
          This week, however, I want to focus a little bit more on this. They were about to enter something new, a way they had never gone before (Joshua 3:4) just like we have entered a new year, a way we have never been before. However, besides the other instructions given for crossing over, Joshua told the people to do something in preparation for crossing over – he told them to sanctify themselves. I looked up this word and I found a variety of meanings: to make or pronounce clean, to consecrate, to dedicate, to purify, to prepare. In fact, Joshua’s exact words were: “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). In short, they could not simply cross over, but they had to prepare themselves for this new era in their lives.
          I know we may like to talk about all the new things we expect and hope God to do in the new year. We may even quote scriptures to this effect: “Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it?” (Isaiah 43:19) But what if we too need to prepare ourselves for the new thing that God wants to do in our lives? It is so nice to quote and declare that for the new year God is going to do something new, but what if we aren’t even ready to receive that new thing? What if we too have to prepare our minds and hearts to receive what God has for us? What if the new thing God is going to do is “in” us?! 
          I am reminded of the parable in the New Testament of new wine being put into new bottles (Matthew 9:17). The idea is that if you put new wine into old bottles the bottles will break and the wine would spill out but if you put that new wine into new bottles both are preserved. 
          I don’t doubt that God wants to do something new in our lives but I believe that we need to be ready to receive it or else it may not benefit us in the way that it should. It is nice to look forward with hope and expectation for something new, something better than what we had before but maybe there are some things we need to get rid of in order to make room for the new. I liken this to my Christmas cleaning last year when part of the process was to give away some clothes that I no longer used to others who would benefit more from their use. In this way I was able to make room for new things I had received. Many times we want to hold on to both the old and the new but we can’t. If I had held on to the old there would have been no place for the new. Maybe it’s the same in our lives that the things we need to get rid of are preventing us from being able to receive and enjoy the new things that God has for us.
          My encouragement therefore in this season of new expectations is that we let go of those “old” things that are preventing us from being able to receive and experience the new things God has for us. Maybe some of us need to get rid of bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness because these are hindering us from receiving God’s best for us. Maybe it’s even fear, doubt, worry, negative words and thinking that we need to let go of in order to receive what God has for us. Maybe, in short, we are standing in our own way of receiving something new from God and we need to “sanctify” ourselves, prepare ourselves for all that God has ordained for us to have.
          So I encourage you today to do yourself a favour and let go in order to receive. Let go of those things that may be hindering you from receiving the new thing or things God has for you. God still desires to give us His best but we have to be ready to receive it!
          If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Saviour I encourage you to do so now. God is so willing and ready to give you His best but you have to be ready to receive it. Start by giving Him Your life and watch and see the amazing thing He is going to do with it.