Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 13:1–20
Key Verse: Numbers 13:18
[Moses said,] “See what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many.”
Just as God led the Israelites to the land of promise and told them to “see what it is like,” so He will tell you to go to the place He has promised you. He wants you to open your eyes and assess what is going on. Is the land strong, weak, or overwhelming?
God shows you how you are outnumbered and overwhelmed so He can get you geared up for a miracle. He wants you to look at the promise so He can tell you, “I have something for you, but I want to show you what lies in front of it: I have your enemies guarding your blessing.”
Are you bold enough to press in? God is setting you up so that no one can get the credit but Him. There was a day when you would not face trouble, but after coming through so much, you now look at trouble and say, “Trouble, you cannot stop me.”
God says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isa. 54:17 NKJV). That may mean that He will let you see your enemy form the weapon, but it just will not be successful. That is what happened in the lives of Queen Esther and Mordecai—they watched Haman form a gallows for Mordecai and a death decree for Esther and the Jewish people. Yet those weapons went unused. When God shows you the weapon, just pray:
Today's Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, that this weapon is not going to prosper. Thank You for revealing the enemy’s plots and plans and for removing their power to hurt me. You are gearing me up for a miracle, for my life is not my own; I have been bought with a price. I bless You, Lord of heaven and earth.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Watch Your Language
Kenneth Copeland
"In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent."
(Proverbs 10:19, Amp)
We believers need to start watching our language! We need to quit throwing words around like they weren't important and start using them like our lives depended on it--because, according to the Word of God, they do! (Prov. 18:21).
Too many of us have what Proverbs 19:1 calls a perverted mouth. Having a perverted mouth means more than lying and using profanity. It means having a disobedient mouth. It means saying things that are out of line with the Word of God.
All of us have done that at one time or another. We'll say, for instance, that we're believing God for our healing and then we'll turn right around to someone and make a statement like, "This pain is about to kill me!"
That's perverted! It's backwards from what God's Word says.
"Oh well, Brother Copeland, I know I said that, but it's not really what I meant."
Listen, the world of the spirit doesn't operate on what you mean. It operates on what you say. Mark 11:23 tells us that "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Take note. That verse didn't say you shall have whatsoever you mean. It says you'll have what you say. It's what you say that counts.
Now, I'm not suggesting you should be tied up in knots all the time worrying about what your next phrase might be. Just use the wisdom God has given you. Train your mouth to be obedient to His Word. Then, when you need it most, you'll find that Word dwelling richly in you.
Scripture Study: Proverbs 10:11-21
"In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent."
(Proverbs 10:19, Amp)
We believers need to start watching our language! We need to quit throwing words around like they weren't important and start using them like our lives depended on it--because, according to the Word of God, they do! (Prov. 18:21).
Too many of us have what Proverbs 19:1 calls a perverted mouth. Having a perverted mouth means more than lying and using profanity. It means having a disobedient mouth. It means saying things that are out of line with the Word of God.
All of us have done that at one time or another. We'll say, for instance, that we're believing God for our healing and then we'll turn right around to someone and make a statement like, "This pain is about to kill me!"
That's perverted! It's backwards from what God's Word says.
"Oh well, Brother Copeland, I know I said that, but it's not really what I meant."
Listen, the world of the spirit doesn't operate on what you mean. It operates on what you say. Mark 11:23 tells us that "whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Take note. That verse didn't say you shall have whatsoever you mean. It says you'll have what you say. It's what you say that counts.
Now, I'm not suggesting you should be tied up in knots all the time worrying about what your next phrase might be. Just use the wisdom God has given you. Train your mouth to be obedient to His Word. Then, when you need it most, you'll find that Word dwelling richly in you.
Scripture Study: Proverbs 10:11-21
Humility in Relationships
Os Hillman
1 Peter 5:5 - All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:5 - All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
I'll never forget the first time I discovered what a feeling was. It was in my early forties. Surely not! you may be thinking. Yes, it is true. Since then, I have discovered many men still live in this condition. It took an older mentor to help me understand the difference between information and a feeling. Wives are frustrated because their husbands share information, but not their feelings. They want to know what is going on inside their man. The fact is, most men have not been taught to identify feelings, much less how to share them. It is something that men must learn to do because it is not a natural trait. If they do share their feelings, society often portrays them as weak. No man willingly wants to be portrayed as weak.In order to become an effective friend and leader, one must learn to be vulnerable with others and develop an ability to share feelings. It is a vital step to becoming a real person with whom others can connect emotionally. This is not easy to do if your parents did not teach you to share your emotional life with others. Emotional vulnerability is especially hard for men. Author Dr. Larry Crabb states,
Men who as boys felt neglected by their dads often remain distant from their own children. The sins of fathers are passed on to children, often through the dynamic of self-protection. It hurts to be neglected, and it creates questions about our value to others. So to avoid feeling the sting of further rejection, we refuse to give that part of ourselves we fear might once again be received with indifference. When our approach to life revolves around discipline, commitment, and knowledge [which the Greek influence teaches us] but runs from feeling the hurt of unmet longings that come from a lack of deeper relationships, then our efforts to love will be marked more by required action than by liberating passion. We will be known as reliable, but not involved. Honest friends will report that they enjoy being with us, but have trouble feeling close. Even our best friends (including spouses) will feel guarded around us, a little tense and vaguely distant. It's not uncommon for Christian leaders to have no real friends. [Larry Crabb, Inside Out (Colorado Springs, Colorado: Navpress, n.d.), 98-99.]
If this describes you, why not begin on a new journey of opening up your life to others in a way that others can see who you really are? It might be scary at first, but as you grow in this area, you will find new freedom in your life. Then, others will more readily connect with you.
Perception Is Not Reality
Os Hillman
Job 4:10 - The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.
In the advertising business we often say that "perception is reality" for the person who views our advertising message. It does not matter whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they believe it or only perceive it.
The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we buy into his lie, we are believing only what we have chosen to perceive to be true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear, thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.
Satan's name means "accuser." He travels to and fro to accuse the brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but little bite.
The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and evaluate the situation in light of God's Word. Perception is not always reality.
Think on These...
If you are a stranger to prayer…you are a stranger to power.
We study because our mind is hungry for knowledge,
we pray because our soul is hungry for God.
Prayer should be your steering wheel,
not your spare tire.
To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible
than to be alive without breathing.
If we don’t believe God when circumstances seem against us,
then we do not believe Him at all.
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