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God gave us an imagination for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is to see what we say. God gave us power in our speech. What we say, positive or negative, will come to pass. When we understand the power we have, we can use our imagination to see what we said.

For instance, when we declare sickness to leave our bodies, we should use our imagination to see a blob of sickness coming out of our bodies and going back to hell. When we declare our finances to increase, we should imagine the number in our bank account with three extra zeros. When we declare demonic influences be removed from a person, we should envision an ugly creature coming out the person and being destroyed.

These are the types of things that will solidify our faith in what we say. Negative thoughts and current circumstances will attempt to make us lose sight of what we’ve imagined. But, if we hold on and continue to see what we said, what we said will manifest into reality.

God having Abraham use his imagination.

Genesis 15:5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

When situations arise, our flesh wants to turn to other outlets outside of God. There are positive and negative outlets. Positive outlets include, exercise for stress, therapy for depression, or a financial adviser for our finances. Negative outlets include, drugs for stress, self-harm for depression, or investing in a get-rich-quick scheme to ease our financial troubles.

Regardless if the outlets are positive or negative, relying solely on these outlets pushes God out. Prioritizing something else above God is called idolatry.

God knew we would face negative situations in our lives and between His Word, His Spirit, and the finished works of Jesus, God’s already provided our help. God may direct us to some of these positive outlets. but He doesn’t want us to rely solely on them.

Let’s not push God out of our problems and reach towards our outlets. Let God be THE only Outlet in our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Revelations 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

We’ve all gone through some difficult situations. Some of us have overcome abuse, addictions, and endured tragic events. Regardless of what we’ve gone through, it’s beneficial to share our story with someone else.

When we share our story, it can help someone else in a few ways. They can relate. They’ll say within themselves if they overcame, I can overcome. Or, they’ll minimize. They’ll say, I am going through problems but, it’s not as bad as what they’ve gone through. Or, they’ll find an outlet in us. Since we shared our story, they may feel comfortable sharing their process with us.

It’s also beneficial to share how we overcame. We know it’s God Who delivered us but, between our negative event and our deliverance, there are several steps we should share. Those steps may be practical as well as spiritual. Those steps may include counseling, daily confessions, physical exercise, or meditating on the Word of God.

When the opportunity presents itself, don’t be ashamed to share your story. Your story may save someone’s life.

Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

What if it doesn’t work? What if my spouse is having an affair? What if we can’t pay the bills? What if it doesn’t get better? What if I don’t get the promotion? What if my business is not successful? What if the sadness never goes away?

Negative what if questions are forms of worry from Satan. Worry is a form of fear. Satan’s goal is to make us lose faith in God. He’s wanting us to believe the lie of God’s Word won’t come to pass in our lives.

When negative forms of what if questions enter our minds, minimize the questions and counter them with the Word of God.
What if my spouse is having an affair?…I rebuke fear. My spouse loves me the way Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25).
What if it doesn’t get better?….Never mind, I’ve been healed by the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24).
What if I don’t get the promotion?…Oh well, no good thing will God withhold from me (Psalm 84:11)

Don’t entertain Satan’s thoughts, ideas, or suggestions any longer. Counter them with the Truth.

There’s power in consistency. The thing that will benefit us the most is our unchanging faith in God.

Negative circumstances will come. How we respond to those circumstances determines the level of our faith. Enduring faith, a short burst of faith, and no faith are our options.

Example: You and your family are standing in faith for a new house.
Negative Circumstance: Your spouse gets laid off which forces the household finances to be cut in half.
Option 1: You continue to stand in faith for the house. You continue to look at floor plans, make confessions, and watch HGTV for ideas.
Option 2: You remain in faith until the bills are due and you realize you barely have enough to pay the current bills. After a month, your faith for a house is tainted with doubt and you slowly stop believing.
Option 3: You immediately stop believing because you can’t logically see how buying a house now is going to happen.

God can work around any negative circumstance if we continue to believe.

We must make a decision. Will we doubt, lose hope, and give up on God’s promises or will we stand firm and wait on the promises of God? Regardless of the circumstance, have unchanging faith and believe in God.

Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is Him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.

Matthew 21:21 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

People like consistency. We like consistency in our relationships. We want our spouse’s attitude to remain the same. Not, happy in the morning then angry in the evening. We like consistency from our supervisors. We want a supervisor to treat everyone the same. We like consistency from our children in school. Not, one semester making straight A’s then the next semester C’s and D’s.

God understands our desire for consistency. When someone is consistent, it makes it easier for us to put our trust in them. God reassures us that He’ll remain consistent through His Word. He told us that He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He did it before, He’ll do it again. That’s awesome.

Some of us know God is consistent, but certain situations attempt to scare us into thinking God won’t fulfill His Word. Don’t give into fear. If He said it, He meant it. He is and He’ll always remain consistent. Put your faith, hope, and confidence in God’s Word.

Malachi 3:6 “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Satan’s plan is to influence our minds with his ideas. His schemes are so clever until they seem like our own thoughts. They appear logical and intelligent.

Revelation 12:9 says, Satan deceives the whole world. To be deceived means a person thinks they’re right but, they’re actually wrong. Since Satan is the master deceiver, he’s deceived the most intellectual people into thinking God doesn’t exist. A combination of Satan’s deception and facts provides great arguments as to why God doesn’t exist.

Since certain people are viewed as intelligent, they have a following. If we were the devil, wouldn’t it make sense to deceive intellectual people who can influence others? Those people learn deceptive arguments from intellectuals that can influence others.

At the end of the day, it’s all about what we choose to believe. We can be deceived into believing books as to why God doesn’t exist. These books give us no hope for our future. We just cease to exist when we die. Or, we can believe the book (The Bible) that shows us the way to get to God.

Don’t be deceived. Believe the Word of God.

Revelations 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

It’s important to know our enemy, the devil (2 Cor. 2:11). Satan’s only attack is to influence our minds with his ideas. His schemes are so clever until they seem like our own thoughts.

Another thing Satan has convinced a lot of people of is satanically influenced free will/free choice. We’re living in a time where people are encouraged to do whatever feels good to them. If people want to get high, that’s okay. If people want 20 sexual partners, that’s fine. If people want to spend all their money on clothes, do what makes you happy. And if anyone criticizes these behaviors, they’re in the wrong.

God’s Word is clear about these subjects but, satanic influence of free will often overrides God’s will. God didn’t make these rules for the sake of making up rules. He’s our Creator and knows what’s best for our lives. He knows these behaviors can destroy our lives, destroy His design for family, and destroy our future.

Don’t allow Satan to destroy what God has planned for you. Strive to obey God’s Word. He knows what is best for every part of our lives.

Revelations 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

It’s important to know our enemy, the devil (2 Cor. 2:11). Satan’s only attack is to influence our minds with his ideas. His schemes are so clever until they seem like our own thoughts. They appear logical and intelligent.

One thing Satan has convinced some of is his lack of existence. People believe Satan is not real and he’s not making people do bad things. People do bad things from their own decisions.

How clever is that? He’s convinced some that he doesn’t exist meanwhile, they’re unknowingly doing his will, but thinking it’s their own ideas. Those people are partially correct. He’s not making us do anything, but his influences can be so strong until it seems like our ideas.

People are spreading hatred, but thinking they’re just being honest. Their relationships are crumbling, but they’re thinking they’re just acting on how they feel. Impulse decisions are being made but, they’re thinking they were acting out of wisdom.

Satan is real. His influential thoughts that seem like our own or like good ideas are meant to destroy our lives. Before acting on any decision, consult God three times, if necessary, to confirm if it’s His will or not.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

2 Corinthians 2:11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

In war, a country uses spies to provide intelligence about their enemy. In sports, a team views film to know the strengths and weakness of their opponent. If knowing an enemy or opponent is important in the natural, one would think it would be very important to know our ultimate enemy: the devil.

The devil can’t just invade our lives without our consent. He can’t just freely possess our bodies like in the movie The Exorcist. The devil’s only attack is to bombard our thoughts with ideas and suggestions contrary to God’s Word and His will.

He’ll tell us we can’t make it. Life is not worth living. We’ll never have that type of money.
He’ll tell us to cheat on our spouse. Cheat on our taxes. No one will know.
He’ll tell us to stay where we are for job security when we know God called us to bigger and better things.

If we act on those ideas or internalize those lies, we’re being influenced by the devil.

Get to know God’s Word and His will for your life. Submit to God’s will and resist the influences of the devil and he will flee (James 4:7).

2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

The Ammonites came to battle Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat didn’t know what to do. As king, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast to seek the Lord throughout Judah. Everyone, including children, sought the Lord for an answer. As they sought the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord came upon an ordinary person (Jahaziel). Jahaziel gave the king a plan of action that ultimately gave Jehoshaphat the victory (v. 14-18). Jehoshaphat proclaimed the fast, but Jahaziel provided the answer.

As heads of our households, if a problem arises and we don’t know what to do, have the family seek the Lord through a fast. A fast amplifies the voice of God. Like Jehoshaphat, the answer may come through someone else. It may come through our spouse or even our children. Some mistakenly assume that because children are young, they can’t hear the voice of God. Let’s not forget Joel 2:28 which says, our sons and daughters will prophesy. This concept also works with believers at work. Proclaim a fast to improve productivity or provide a solution to an unanswered problem at our places of employment.

So, fast and be in tune as we seek the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

When we don’t know what to do. Look to God. Life can be so troubling and confusing until we don’t know what to do. That’s when it’s most beneficial to look to God.

Look to Him through His Word. Read His Word regarding what He’s promised us despite what our circumstances say.

Look to Him through prayer. Communicate with God. Tell Him all that you’re going through and expect Him to talk back. He’ll provide a daily plan on how to maintain your sanity and how to overcome those circumstances.

Look to Him through fasting. One day, two days, or ten days. It doesn’t matter. Fasting silences the things within us and around us and amplifies God’s voice.

No matter if the problem is great or small, this is how we overcome. Look to God and get your answer.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

A born-again believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit can laugh. It may shock some people, but we can enjoy ourselves too. It’s not a sin.

We don’t have to be this deep somber person with only spiritual things on our minds. Through Christ, we have the freedom to laugh and have a good time (Rom. 8:1-4; Gal. 5:1). We can see entertaining movies, play games, go to a comedy show and more.

Just know, we don’t have to limit ourselves to reading the Bible, listening to only Christian music, and watching only Christian TV. That’s extremely beneficial for us but, it’s not the only thing we can do. We can be holy and have fun.

If we’re not in control of our emotions, our emotions can lead us down the wrong direction. We all know about negative emotions such as, depression, anger, and hatred. These emotions can lead us to suicide, imprisonment, and becoming a bitter person. We focus on negative emotions but, “positive emotions” can lead us down the wrong path as well.

We may have the positive emotion of excitement to make an impulse purchase. That excitement will eventually fade but, we’re stuck with debt or an item we really don’t use. We may have happy feelings in a relationship that will have us marrying a person too soon. After a year into the marriage, we may see the true side of our spouse and not be satisfied with our decision.

We were never meant to be controlled by our emotions. We are to be led by the Spirit of God. He will tell us how to handle that situation when we get angry. He will also show us how to calm down and make a wise decision. Let’s control our emotions and allow the Spirit of God to direct us in all our ways.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Inspired by Creflo Dollar

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

For every born-again believer, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Cursed means, empowered to fail. The curse is still operational and being felt by the world but we, the believers, have been rescued from the curse and placed into the blessing.

The curse of the law can be found in Deuteronomy 28:15-63. Some of those curses include cursed in our bodies, in our careers, and in our families.

Our redemption from the curse is good news for the believer. If we see something in our lives that appears cursed, we can use our God-given authority to declare that thing line up with the blessing. If it seems like our bodies are constantly being attacked with sickness, we tell our sickness we’ve been redeemed from the curse and we tell our bodies to line up with the blessing. If we’re being attacked with feelings of depression, we tell depression we’ve been redeemed from the curse and we tell our mind to line up with the blessing.

Whatever the situation is, reverse the curse and release the blessing. This is our covenant right we have in Christ. Use it!

Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

God can do nothing apart from our belief. It’s simple. If we can believe it and it aligns with God’s Word, we can have it. But, if we allow doubt and unbelief to enter our hearts, we won’t receive a thing.

It’s the enemy’s job to fill our heads up with doubt and unbelief. He’ll use family members, friends, statistics, and logic to lead us down the path of unbelief. Thoughts of unbelief may come, but, we don’t have to accept them. We reject those thoughts with the Word of God.

The enemy may say, we won’t get that house, job, or healing because of…..whatever. We reject those thoughts by declaring the Word of God. We believe that we received our needs and/or desires met in Jesus name.

From the most basic need to the most out of the box desire, allow God to manifest it through your belief.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

There are so many promises God has for us and a lot of us want them all immediately. God operates in wisdom and it would be unwise to give a maturing believer every promise at once. We would destroy ourselves and potentially forsake God. We must be patient and practice contentment.

Let’s be patient with ourselves. We’re still naturally maturing. We have to give ourselves time to grow in wisdom. It would make no sense for God to give us $1,000,000 if we’re still making bad investments with $100.

Secondly, we’re still spiritually maturing. In our maturing process, we should ask ourselves, why we want these promises. Is it so that we can boast about having the best? Or, is it so that we can have resources to impact the lives of others? We can do both, but if our motive is to boast, we still have some maturing to do.

Finally, be patient with God’s timing. When God blesses us, He has more on His mind than us. The timing of our manifested blessing will not only impact our lives but it could impact someone else at the same time.

Don’t be anxious. Be patient and continue to prepare yourselves for the expected promises of God.

Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

Some have made it a sign of weakness to go to the church for assistance or go to God for help. They’ll say, since we can’t handle our problems ourselves, we have to resort to God. This concept is untrue.

As we can see from this story, people may try to make us feel ashamed for going to God for help but, God won’t. They tried to silence blind Bartimaeus from getting help from Jesus. They tried to shame him into thinking he was inconveniencing Jesus. Bartimaeus’ situation was bad enough for him to put his shame aside, reject all the naysayers, and find a solution in Jesus. We should do the same.

Don’t allow the words, giggles, or stares from others to stop us from going to God. Even if people are looking, if we have to whisper confessions to ourselves to prevent us from losing our minds, so be it. If we have to look crazy for going to our cars during our lunch break to have a moment of worship to prevent a moment of breakdown, oh well. If we need to go to the front of the church for prayer every Sunday, we have to do what we have to do.

God never created us to handle any problem ourselves. He always wants to be included. Never be ashamed to go to God and implement His plan for our solution.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

If someone were to take this scripture out of context, they may assume there’s no sacrifice or forgiveness for a person if they knowingly and intentionally do what’s wrong. They may conclude there’s no forgiveness for the homosexual, adulterer, or the habitual liar because they knowingly live a life contrary to God’s will. That’s NOT TRUE because every sin we commit is knowingly and intentionally.

This scripture is referring to the sin of unbelief. If a person has heard the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ and still chooses not to believe in Him as Lord, there remains no sacrifice for their sins. There’s no sacrifice/forgiveness for their sins because they rejected the payment (Jesus) for sins.

When we accept the payment of Jesus as Lord, we receive full coverage for sins (Rom. 6:10). Every sin that we’ll ever commit has been covered by this payment. There’s not one thing we can do that’s not covered. This is not a license to sin but, this is an assurance that if we sin, forgiveness has already been made available for us.

Don’t allow condemnation to set in your hearts. God’s forgiveness encompasses all.

Romans 6:10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11 So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.