You may not think so, but it’s true. Over time, influences like friends, co-workers and television can chip away at truths that were already established in your heart through the Word of God.
Suddenly, biblical truths seem “outdated” or “fanatical,” and the opinions of others trump what you once studied to learn.
Could this really happen to you?
Second Timothy 4:3 says it can unless you guard your heart. John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (ESV).
You can learn to be led by the Spirit and avoid being swept away by deception. Here are three Ways to Let the Holy Spirit Lead You Into All Truth.
1. Lean Not on Your Own Understanding
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) tells us one way we allow the Lord to direct our steps is by not leaning on our own understanding to make decisions in life. That goes against the natural grain, but it’s the only safe way to live.
Our own understanding is often led by emotion or limited facts. It’s fickle, ever-changing, and often driven by the opinions of others that sound right in the moment.
The only truth is found in God’s Word. But it’s hard to stand up for the truth if you don’t know it. Too many Christians are ill-equipped to stand for truth.
2. Pull Down Strongholds
A stronghold is a belief system that is so ingrained in someone, it colors their perception of themselves and those around them. It can come from a cultural norm, a political ideology, religious traditions or even a social movement.
Of strongholds, Andrew Wommack says, “The one who is holding to the stronghold may not wish to be against God in their thinking, but the stronghold is so deeply rooted that they aren’t even aware that they are filtering God’s Truth through the lens of the stronghold. Strongholds allow deception. The fundamental characteristic about deception is that the one who is deceived doesn’t know it. The stronghold has become a part of their approach to life and their approach to Truth. Even Truth must be shaped and filtered to fit the mold of the stronghold.”
We battle strongholds in the spiritual realm through prayer, binding wrong spirits and speaking the Word of God. That’s why 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (ESV).
3. Put God First Place in Your Life
The only surefire way to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth is to know His voice and hear it louder than any other voice in your life. And the only way to know His still, small voice is to put God first place in your life.
You do this by:
Spending time with Him every day–in His Word and in prayer.
Praying continuously throughout your day.
Remembering to pray in the Holy Spirit! As Kenneth Copeland says, ” When you speak with the tongues of men and angels in love, you can find out anything.”
Seeking Him all week long–not just on Sundays.
Allowing Him to bring correction to your heart.
Being open to hearing from Him on all matters.
Looking in His Word in its entirety for answers.
When you truly desire to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth–He will. Don’t become so stuck in your ways that you fail to see the truth right in front of you. Be willing to be wrong–be humble and teachable. Then, you will be free from deception and walk in the light of the truth all the days of your life.
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you how to strengthen your inner man to stay prepared for challenging times.
One thing is sure: We need prophets. God has set them among us to protect, watch, release miracles, confirm and impart gifts, engage culture, uproot, plant, tear down, and build–all through speaking out God’s message to His people, at His direction.
You have a part to play in helping the prophetic word come to pass. (See How to Respond to a Prophecy.) As you prepare your heart to do so, here are some scriptures about the prophet you can study. As you seek the Lord, ask Him to help you learn about the ministry of the prophet.
All scriptures taken from the Modern English Version, unless otherwise noted.
“God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues.” -1 Corinthians 12:28
“The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” -1 Corinthians 14:32
“Go and proclaim these words to the north, and say: Return, backsliding Israel, says the LORD, and I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful, says the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.” -Jeremiah 3:12
“Cry aloud, do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins.” -Isaiah 58:1
“And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.'” -Matthew 13:57
“And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we can inquire of the LORD. But I hate him because he never prophesies good for me, but always evil.’ And Jehoshaphat said, ‘Let not the king say so.'” -1 Kings 22:8
“God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts and ministries that are uniquely ours. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, you must activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy.” -Romans 12:6 (TPT)
“Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Oh, that all the people of the Lord were prophets, and that the LORD would put His spirit upon them!'” -Numbers 11:2.
“And when Asa heard these words of the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged and removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he captured in the hills of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule of the Lord.” -2 Chronicles 15:8
“My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.” -James 5:10
“But if all prophesy [giving inspired testimony and interpreting the divine will and purpose] and an unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of his sin and reproved and convicted and convinced by all, and his defects and needs are examined (estimated, determined) and he is called to account by all.” -1 Corinthians 14:24 (AMPC )
“You hypocrites, Isaiah well prophesied of you.” -Matthew 15:7
“Do not touch my anointed ones, and do no harm to my prophets.” -Psalm 105:15
“See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” -Isaiah 42:9
“He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, but he who prophecies edifies the church.” -1 Corinthians 14:4
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. If anything is revealed to another that sits by, let the first keep silent. For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” -1 Corinthians 14:29-32
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” -2 Corinthians 10:4
While this is just a small sampling of scriptures about the prophet, as you read the Word each day, zero in on every verse that mentions the prophetic. Ask the Lord to show you how you can be part of receiving and furthering prophetic words uttered by Him through His chosen vessels. Your faith is needed to propel His will forward!
Watch Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim talk about prophecies in the Psalms.
God’s power is so vast, no one name could ever describe Him.
Everything about His nature is designed to meet every need and desire you could ever experience on the earth. When you learn who He is to you, you’ll gain greater confidence in going boldly to His throne with your needs, knowing that who He is has already met those needs.
Everything God has is available to you. Find out what the Names of God mean to you and how to receive everything He desires you to enjoy.
1. Elohim–The Sovereign Mighty Creator
The greatness, glory, power, and sovereignty of God is wrapped up in this powerful Name. He created the vast universe, everything in heaven and earth, and…you. There is no greater power in all the earth. And it is available to you.
2. Jehovah–The Unchangeable, Intimate God
There are so many things in life that are unpredictable and unreliable. Not God. He is unchanging. You can count on Him in any situation.
3. El Shaddai–The All-Sufficient One
Do you feel like your needs are a mile long? You have the God who is more than enough on your side. Bring Him into your journey.
4. Adonai–Lord and Master
There are so many benefits to making Jesus your Lord and Master. When He’s in control, you know things will work out for your good. He is a gracious and loving Master.
5. Jehovah Jireh–The Lord My Provider
There is no need that God cannot meet. His will is for you to live in abundance in every area of your life. If you are missing something in this life, it’s time to fully surrender to the Lord who provides.
6. Jehovah M’Kaddesh–The Lord My Sanctifier
God sanctifies you, cleanses you from evil, and separates you from sin. Avoid the traps of guilt and shame. Let the Lord, your Sanctifier, release you and deliver you.
7. Jehovah Nissi–The Lord My Banner of Victory
Found in Exodus 17:15, this Name for God is used to show you that He intends to give you the victory. His presence and power will bring you through any battle with victory. Never expect defeat in life–go to Jehovah Nissi. He is the Victory.
8. Jehovah Rapha–The Lord My Healer
God Himself is your Healer! No matter what your situation, He is Jehovah Rapha–your Healer. Don’t settle for sickness and disease when you have a Healer just waiting for you to receive.
9. Jehovah Rohi–The Lord My Shepherd
God will lead you on the path to righteousness and success. He will guide you to victory. All you have to do is follow Him.
10. Jehovah Tsidkenu–The Lord My Righteousness
Jeremiah 23:6 says by Him, and only by Him, we are called righteous.
11. Jehovah Shalom–The Lord My Peace and Wholeness
There is a peace that comes from being whole–whole in your spirit, soul and body. Whole in your family, your health and your finances. God wants you to experience peace in your life–wholeness in every area. Don’t settle for less.
12. Jehovah Shammah–God Is There
No matter what it feels like, God is always there with you. Lean on Him and trust Him.
13. El Elyon–Most High God
This name emphasizes God’s supremacy. Remember, no matter what you are facing, God is greater, and His power can cause you to go beyond your circumstances–if you put Him first place.
14. Jehovah Sabaoth–The Lord of Hosts
God is the Commander of heaven’s army–the angels! And He has sent them to be of service to you.
15. Jehovah Makkeh–The Lord Who Molds Me
The Lord wants to make you into your best self. Allow Him to correct you and guide you. You’ll reach heights you never knew possible.
16. Jehovah Gmolah–The Lord Who Rewards
He rewards those who diligently seek Him, and He also repays evil. The word also means “recompense”–He will repay injustices on our behalf.
Now that you know what the names of God mean to you, when you are faced with any situation, you can run to the Name above all names in confidence. He is everything, and has all things, and He has given you access to every part of His unending riches and power. You can count on it!
*For a deeper study on the meaning behind the different names of God, check out Marilyn Hickey’s powerful book The Names of God.
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach why the Names of God reveal His covenant.
One of the best ways to improve your love walk is to imitate those who are most loving toward you. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says the same thing: “Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah)” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
1. Recognize True Love
Now, keep in mind, the people who really show you love are not those who agree with you all the time or only say what you like to hear. In fact, the most loving people will often make you uncomfortable when they call you to a higher level–but that’s true love!
They are also a picture of 1 Corinthians 13–patient, kind, thoughtful, not rude or prideful, not easily angered, and not grudge holders. They believe in justice and truth, persevere, believe the best in others, and keep hoping even during difficult times.
2. Imitate the Words and Actions of Those Who Love Well
If you are blessed to know someone like this, pay close attention to how they talk and what they do. Imitate the words and actions of those who love well. Let the loving way they live their lives become a pattern for you.
Noticing how others practically express God’s love can inspire you and instruct you as you seek to make love a reality in your daily life. When you find your heart warmed and your spirit lifted by the sweet smile and kind words of another, you can adopt the same habit and pass that love along. When you’re blessed by someone who consistently finds the best in you, rather than just enjoying the benefits of their love, you can practice their example and look for the best in others, too.
3. Learn from Examples of Real Love
Kenneth and Gloria have a dear friend who learned to love from her father like that. She says he was the kindest person anyone could ever know. He didn’t even seem to see the faults in others. He loved everyone unconditionally with a strong yet gentle love.
Although he was not given to words of flattery, she said that every time he looked into your eyes, you could see that he appreciated you. He had a way of making you feel you were the most loved person on earth. At times, he would hear a preacher deliver a sermon full of mistakes, yet afterward when others were berating the minister, my friend’s father would have something good to say. He would find some point to agree with and exclaim, “Oh, I was so blessed by that brother today!” The others around him would quickly grow quiet, sensing that his love was far superior to their doctrinal correctness.
We can learn from examples of real love in our own lives if we seek them out. Even better, perhaps someone will begin watching you.
4. Remember the Ultimate Example of Love
Perhaps you have no one in your life who sets such a loving example for you. Perhaps you have no flesh-and-blood father to follow. If so, draw from others what you can, and then remember the ultimate example of love–your Friend and Savior, Jesus. Study His love life in the Scriptures and ask Him to help you become an inspiration to those who will follow in your footsteps. Become for them what you so long to find–a real-life example of love.
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you why love changes everything.
Are your doors locked? Alarm set? Guards in place? Have you checked the perimeter?
No, we’re not talking about your house or cars–we’re talking about your spiritual borders. In the Bible, a fortified city was considered a blessing, a place of security and strength, and something to be desired.
We, too, should desire the blessing of fortified walls around every area of our lives–health, finances and family. But the devil is roaming around like a lion looking for the tiniest breach at any point of entry in your life.
Learn the importance of guarding your spiritual walls with these scriptures about the power of fortified borders.
All scriptures are referenced in the English Standard Version.
Exodus 23:31
And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
Deuteronomy 1:28
The cities are great and fortified up to heaven.
Deuteronomy 3:5
All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides very many unwalled villages.
Deuteronomy 9:1
Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven.
Numbers 13:28
However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.
Numbers 32:17
But we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
2 Chronicles 8:5
He also built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars.
2 Chronicles 14:6
He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the Lord gave him peace.
2 Chronicles 21:3
Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
2 Samuel 20:6
And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he get himself to fortified cities and escape from us.”
Isaiah 60:18
And violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.
Jeremiah 1:18
And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
Nehemiah 1:3, 2:17
And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire…. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”
Psalm 147:13-14
For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
When you use these scriptures to get a revelation about the power of fortifying walls and borders in the natural, it will help you see how critical it is to do the same in the spirit realm. Spend time locating scripture to fortify each specific area of your life–your health, your family, your finances, your faith–and speak them aloud regularly. (Try 7 Strategies for Building a Psalm 91 House.) Defend your territory from the enemy, and keep him out for good!
Watch Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim teach you how to develop the power to fight for your family.
When you think of praise and worship, your thoughts likely jump to music at the beginning of a church service. But praise is much more than that–it is a spiritual weapon.
When you praise the Lord, it can turn any situation around. Consider these praise-induced victories to stir your faith for your own triumph.
“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:22, NIV).
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened” (Acts 16:25-26, ESV).
“And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you the city'” (Joshua 6:16, ESV).
What do these verses tell us?
Praise precedes the victory. Andrew Wommack testifies the same about a victory he once experienced in his family: “I truly believe that my choice to praise God, even after getting the report that my son was dead, was one of the biggest factors in seeing him raised from the dead after nearly five hours.”
If you need a victory today–the answer is in praising the Lord! Though there are countless reasons to praise the Lord, we’ve compiled a list of 36 reasons to get you started filling up your praise and seeing your victory. (Tip: Read them out loud to stir up a spirit of praise on the inside of you–you’ll be dancing and shouting by the end of the list!)
1. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).
2. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13).
3. He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
4. He is the Great I AM (Exodus 3:14).
5. He heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3).
6. He sets the captives free (Luke 4:18).
7. He is your Healer (Isaiah 53:5).
8. He rescues you from your enemies (Psalm 18:48).
9. He sets you high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5).
10. He comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1:4).
11. He gives you an abundant harvest (Genesis 27:28).
12. He restores what the enemy has stolen (Deuteronomy 30:3)
13. He hides you in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:4).
14. He delivers you from evil (Psalm 91).
15. He rescues you from every trap (Psalm 25:15, CEV).
16. He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
17. He is the Name above all names (Philippians 2:9).
18. He is your Defender (Proverbs 22:23).
19. He is your Provider (Genesis 22:14).
20. He is Mercy (Deuteronomy 4:31).
21. He is a God of justice (Isaiah 30:18).
22. He never changes (Hebrews 13:8).
23. He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).
24. He calls you friend (John 15:15).
25. He is your Savior (John 3:16).
26. He is the Perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).
27. He gives you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
28. He wants to give you exceeding, abundantly above all you could hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
29. He rebukes the devourer on your behalf (Malachi 3:11).
30. He takes pleasure in your prosperity (Psalm 35:27).
31. He delivers us from our distresses (Psalm 107:6, 19).
32. He always causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14).
33. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).
34. He is so worthy, if we do not praise Him, the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40).
35. His joy is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
36. He is Love (1 John 4:8).
Kenneth Copeland says, “Praise is the big gun of faith.” Don’t make praising God the last weapon you take out of your arsenal in troubled times. Praise the Lord. Praise Him with all your might like David did. Praise Him until your victory breaks forth and changes even the most impossible situation.
Sitting at home, following government guidelines for quarantine, has left many feeling helpless during these challenging times. The coronavirus has been elevated in the media and throughout the world, yet we must remind ourselves that the Name of Jesus is higher than any other name. The Name of Jesus is higher than the name of coronavirus!
You can take authority over the coronavirus (COVID-19) and any other sickness or disease by applying the blood of Jesus to your life. Remember–the coronavirus is a curse, and you have been redeemed from the curse (Galatians 3:13)!
In a recent broadcast, Kenneth Copeland led the taking of Communion over the coronavirus. You can do the same at home today.
Here are seven tips for taking Communion over the coronavirus:
Purchase a Communion set for your own personal use. (You can find these online.) There are even individual, prefilled cup and wafer sets with a long shelf life available for easy use or transport.
You can take Communion alone, or with a family member or friend.
You can take Communion every day. Taking Communion is appropriating the blood of Jesus over your life, thanking Him for ALL He has done. It isn’t a religious ceremony, so you don’t have to wait for a minister to serve it to you.
Examine yourself before you take Communion. Before we partake, the Bible tells us to examine our hearts (1 Corinthians 11:28-29). Ask God for forgiveness in areas where you’ve missed the mark (strife, unforgiveness, jealousy, envy, hatred, covetousness, fear, worry, unbelief, etc.). Also, be sure you are not receiving Communion just as a religious exercise, rather than accepting everything Jesus’ sacrifice provided. Don’t receive it halfway; that will keep you from receiving everything provided by Jesus’ sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:30).
Partake of the bread, which symbolizes the physical and spiritual torment Jesus bore to redeem us from all areas of the curse. With this in mind, say:
Lord, it’s not right that I suffer from sickness or disease or even fear of a plague like the coronavirus. I judge it now as being from Satan, and I reject it. I refuse to receive it. I partake of the sacrifice of Your Son’s body, and I receive the abundant life that You have provided, in Jesus’ Name.
Partake of the cup and make this confession:
Father, I give You thanks for all You have provided for me through the new covenant in Christ Jesus. I partake of those promises now! Because of the blood of Jesus, I am healed. I am redeemed. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. I take the protection from the coronavirus You sacrificed to give me, and I thank You and praise You for it, in Jesus’ Name.
Be settled on the matter. Once you have taken Communion, settle your protection and healing in your heart according to God’s Word. Don’t just hope it is done–know it.
The power of the blood of Jesus broke the curse of COVID-19 more than 2,000 years ago! The coronavirus has no chance against the blood of Jesus when you release the power with your FAITH. You can be protected and delivered through properly receiving the Lord’s Supper. Through Him, you have the victory over the coronavirus!
The consumption of media in today’s world is staggering. The average American consumes five hours per day of television, and that doesn’t include time spent on social media, listening to music, playing video games or reading magazines. (We don’t recommend this!)
Spending so much time immersed in media is how Christians are most likely to get tripped up. Why? Because it is exposure to ideas and images that directly oppose the Word of God. Let’s face it. Today’s media is about as far away from biblical values as you can get.
While there is no one solution for every Christian when it comes to media consumption, you can take the standards of the Bible, along with our suggestions below, to determine what is spiritually healthy for you to consume.
Our guide to making wise media choices is designed to help you create a solid plan for protecting yourself and your family from the influences of the world.
When considering a movie, television show, music or any other media, ask yourself the following questions.
1. Is it positive?
Philippians 4:8 instructs us about what our thoughts should be fixed on as believers. This is a checklist from that verse to compare against your media choices:
Whatever is true
Whatever is honorable and right
Whatever is pure, lovely and admirable
Whatever is excellent, worthy of praise and of a good report
Gossip TV, falsified news and distorted views of the family do not check these boxes.
Instead of binging on such forms of entertainment, determine to let your time be used for your benefit. Consider reducing the amount of time you spend consuming media, and replace just one hour per day with the Word of God, watching encouraging teaching on VICTORY Channel™, or reading a book about success. You’ll be amazed by how much your life will change!
2. Is it blatantly against biblical values?
Ask yourself the following about any television show, movie, book, magazine or music you’re considering:
Does it promote premarital sex?
Does it glorify divorce?
Does it normalize homosexuality or transgenderism?
Does it attack Christians or Christian values?
Does it depict women as sexual objects?
Does it use foul language?
Does it include mysticism (fortunetelling, psychics, witchcraft, ghost activity or other demonic activity)?
Does it include graphic violence?
Are all the ideas presented things I would want to teach my children or grandchildren?
How can you know if media contains these items in advance of watching them? Much of the time, discernment will be the answer. An R-rated movie is designated that for a reason. If you need additional help, there are Christian organizations, such as pluggedin.com, which offer media reviews from a Christian perspective.
3. How does it make me feel?
A good question to ask yourself to determine if a TV show, movie, magazine or song is a wise media choice is: How does it makes me feel?
Does it elicit feelings of anger or frustration? Does it shock you or make you fearful?
If you’ve been desensitized to sex, violence or profanity, your feelings may not be a reliable guide right now. But if you take the time to tune in to how the evening news or any other programming makes you feel (perhaps discouraged, sad, angry), you may realize that it was affecting you more than you thought.
4. Have I started to imagine the bad things I watch could happen to me?
The Bible renews your mind to the truth of God’s Word and causes you to expect good things in your life. On the contrary, poor media choices retrain your mind in the opposite direction–to expect bad things to happen.
Ask yourself the following:
Am I afraid to be alone in my house at night?
Do I hear noises that scare me, but they turn out to be nothing?
Am I concerned I’ll get in a car accident when I leave to go somewhere?
Am I concerned about contracting the latest virus?
Am I concerned about losing my job based on recent reports?
If you answered yes to any of these, it’s time to consider the media you’ve been consuming. Even neighborhood FacebookTM posts announcing the dangers of the nearby highway can instill fear in you. Keeping up with the local happenings is not worth opening a door of fear in your life.
5. Am I disturbed thinking about images or ideas after having watched or listened to the programming?
If any media causes you to replay disturbing ideas or images in your mind or lament the state of society today, it is not a wise media choice. Choose programming that is inspiring, encouraging, uplifting or just fun. Guard yourself from entertainment authored by our enemy.
After reviewing this guide to making wise media choices and consulting with the Lord, if you discovered some areas that need changing, don’t allow yourself to be condemned, ashamed or discouraged–get empowered! Many Christians have found themselves hauling heaps of DVDs and CDs to their trash bin after having a similar revelation. Don’t look back with regret; look forward with excitement to the freedom and faith you’re about to enjoy!
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you how to let God guide you every day.
Finding the right spouse = finding the perfect person for you.
The truth is there is a lot more to choosing someone to share your life with than most people know. And it has less to do with waiting than you might think.
If your heart is longing to find that special someone to talk with, dream with and enjoy life with, you may be on the brink of discouragement. Maybe you’ve even fallen into the trap of praying, waiting, feeling lonely and discouraged, then repeating the process all over again. You may even be wondering…
Can I find the right husband or wife and live happily ever after?
Absolutely.
There are four steps in a foolproof method for finding the right spouse. Let’s begin with…
Step 1 — Become the Right Husband or Wife First
God’s commands about relationships are pretty simple:
Think about others far more than we think about ourselves.
So, if you’ve been praying and praying to find the right husband or wife, but you find yourself single year after year, it’s time to do this.
Become the right husband or wife first.
That’s right.
Just like any other relationship, the quality of your marriage has a lot to do with…YOU.
Perhaps Zig Ziglar put it best: “Doing the right things with the wrong person can make the wrong person the right person, and doing the wrong things with the right person can make the right person the wrong person.”
Did you catch that?
As you stand in faith and believe God to bring you a husband or wife, you can prepare your heart to receive by studying how to become a good spouse. How?
Find books or other resources that teach you how to love a spouse.
There are specific needs that wives have that are different than a husband’s needs. And vice versa. Find out what they are and start practicing!
Meet with one or two successful couples who have been married happily for a long time. Ask them what you need to know and how you can best prepare your heart. If you’re a man seeking a wife, ask what a husband should focus on, and if you’re a woman, do the same about being a wife.
Then, work to become that person.
By doing so, you’ll be positioning yourself to receive from God. You’ll be sowing toward your desired promise.
Step 2 — Make Spiritual Growth Your Top Priority
If you’re looking for a mate, here’s something you need to know…
It is God’s will for you to find a husband or wife (Genesis 2:18). That means you can count on it.
Like anything else, though, your relationship with God is key. Though it may be tempting to focus all your thoughts and attention on what’s missing in your life–do this instead…
Make spiritual growth your top priority.
When you seek God first (Matthew 6:33), all these things–spouse included–will be added to your life. That’s a pretty good deal, if you think about it. You spend time praising God, reading His Word and listening for His voice; and He takes care of the rest.
Step 3 — Resist the Urge to Rush the Process
Have you ever heard the saying? “Give me patience…and I want it now!”
When we want something…we want it, right?
But here’s the danger in approaching your desires with an impatient heart–impatience gives birth to Ishmaels. That’s just what happened with Abraham. When God’s promise of numerous descendants through a child didn’t come to pass quickly enough, he decided to hurry the situation along by having a baby with his wife’s handmaiden. This child, named Ishmael, caused a lot of trouble (and his descendants continue to do so today).
Rushing into any situation ahead of God will never bring about the results He has in mind for us. So don’t rush the process when looking for a husband or wife. You don’t want an Ishmael for a spouse!
Rushing into a relationship because of loneliness or watching one friend after another get married can lead to a lifetime of heartache. Since marriage is for life, as God intended, this decision is the most important one you’ll ever make–second only to making Jesus Lord of your life.
On waiting for the right mate, Gloria Copeland says this:
“Faith with patience wins. Sometimes it takes a while to believe God. If you’re believing for a mate and you believe you receive when you pray–if a month or two goes by, do you say ‘Well, it’s curtains. I’m never going to get married. I’ll never find him?’ No. You just keep standing where you are. That’s the way we do anything by faith.”
Don’t give up. Your husband or wife is on the way!
Step 4 — Look for Good Character
How can you know when you find the right husband or wife?
Aside from a peace in your heart from the Holy Spirit, there are some character traits the Bible tells us to look for.
A Christian should marry a Christian, not an unbeliever. (2 Corinthians 6:14)
The right husband or wife will not be easily angered. (Proverbs 22:24)
The right spouse will be patient, kind and not easily offended. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
The right spouse will not want to put divorce on the table–EVER. They’re in it for the long haul. (Mark 10:9; Malachi 2:16)
Good looks, a sense of humor or an adventurous personality are fun initially, but don’t let them blind you to the character traits that stand the test of time. At the same time, just as you aren’t perfect, you can’t expect your future spouse to be either. Part of your job in loving your spouse is to give them the kind of grace you’ll surely need yourself.
When you use this foolproof method to find the right husband or wife, you can rest easy that when you hear wedding bells, your new life partner (and new best friend), will be by your side. We here at Kenneth Copeland Ministries are standing in agreement with you that you will find the right husband or wife and be blessed in abundance in your marriage!
Watch Kenneth and Gloria Copeland teach you why it’s so essential to start believing when you pray.
Today, when something happens in which you could be in danger (hurricane, shooting, etc.), social media has made a feature available in which you can “mark yourself safe.” This is published as an update to your account, so your family and friends will know you’re all right.
Well, did you know…you can be “marked safe”– no matter what is happening around you? When you put faith in God’s ability to protect you and make God your personal refuge, you have security in Him. Just like a newborn baby wrapped in a warm, secure blanket, God wraps us in His love, power and protection.
God’s power to mark you safe in an unsafe world is undeniable. Here are 3 ways He protects you:
1. God Assigns Angels to Protect You
One of the ways God carries out your deliverance and your protection is through angels. You literally have angels at your service.
If you’re a Christian, Psalm 34:7 and Psalm 91 say you’re marked safe. Angels just set up camp wherever you are. When you move, they move. When you go to town, they go to town. When you go to the grocery store, they go to the grocery store. When you go to war, they go to war.
There was a missionary who had been called by God to visit an island where a cannibalistic tribe resided deep in the jungle. Miraculously, he had helped the tribe chief get born again! As a result, the whole tribe was saved. One day, as they were visiting, the chief asked the missionary, “Do you remember the day you arrived here on the island?”
The missionary relayed the story of feeling deep darkness surrounding him as he walked through the jungle. The chief responded, “Yes. We were surrounding you and were about to kill you. But, now that we are friends, will you tell me something? Who were those shining men all around you?”
The shining men the chief referred to were not men at all; they were angels. God assigned angels to go with the missionary and protect him. The missionary didn’t even know they were there. It’s the same with you. Even though you can’t see them, your angels are always with you.
2. God’s Word Encircles You With Protection
According to the Scriptures, God encircles, encompasses, covers and shields those who make Him their refuge. His presence–His Anointing–is a kind of force field of protection making you inaccessible to the enemy–no matter what the circumstances.
His encircling protection has kept many a person safe during all kinds of danger and war:
Daniel in the lion’s den.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
There was a group of soldiers in World War II from a very small town named Seadrift, Texas. Every day the women of Seadrift prayed Psalm 91 over those men and as a result, they all returned home safely. What a miracle!
Watch this testimony from KCM Partner Chaplain Hardie Higgens. More than 6,000 soldiers went through his brigade and not one was wounded. See how God made that happen through the power of Psalm 91:
There is nothing anyone can come up with that is not covered by the promises of protection in God’s Word. When you find your refuge and claim the promises of protection in the Bible, God’s Word encircles you with protection.
3. God Has Covered You With a Garment of Light
God Himself is encircled by what Scripture calls a garment of light (Psalm 104:1-2).
As believers in Christ, God lives in us, and we should radiate His presence and love. He has covered us with a garment, or shield, of light. We may not always be able to see it, but rest assured, beings in the spirit realm (including devils and demons) see and recognize the glory of God on us.
Occasionally, this garment of light is visible in the natural, too. Someone once sent us a copy of a picture they had taken of Brother Hagin preaching at one of our Believers’ Conventions. He was surrounded by God’s glory. A shield of light was visible around him in the photo.
ONE FINAL NOTE: Your security will be determined by how much time and attention you give to God and His Word in this life.
Attach yourself to God.
Go after the things of God. Go after His Word. Make it a priority to spend time with Him every day in the secret place. The commentary on Psalm 121 in the Tehillim says, “To the extent that man pays attention to the word of [God] and safeguards His commands, [God] will safeguard him.”
When you understand God’s power to mark you as safe in an unsafe world, no matter what is happening around, you can remain free from fear and rejoice because…
God’s got you covered!
Watch Gloria Copeland and Pastor George Pearsons teach you more about the protection of angels.
Your calling is God’s special plan for your life. Whether you realize it or not, you were born for a high calling God has tailor-made to fit just one person–YOU. It’s not something He thought of yesterday or last week, or when you found out about it. You came out of your mother’s womb with that calling already on your life, and He has been preparing you to stand in that place all your life.
You may already know your calling–whether you’re called to be a doctor, teacher, businessman, homemaker or pastor–but maybe up until now, you haven’t discovered how to get there.
Or, perhaps you’re uncertain as to what the Lord has in mind for your calling. Just because your father, grandfather and great-grandfather were pastors doesn’t mean that’s your calling. Be careful not to let the traditions of men or the callings of close relatives cloud your own purpose and rob you of your own true calling.
If you’ve always wondered what your high calling on this earth is, now is your time to find out. Use these three simple tips for finding your calling:
1. Commit to Three Days of Prayer
Kenneth Copeland often recommends that you commit to three days of prayer when seeking an answer from the Lord. He personally sets aside three days, during which time he prays about nothing other than the issue before him. More importantly, he spends time listening. He says he always receives the answer when he does this.
What is he doing? He’s pressing.
In Philippians 3:14, Paul tells us he does the same: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (KJV).
To press spiritually is to press yourself into God’s service–going forward with energetic or determined effort. That’s the way you press in the spiritual realm–with determination. As you do, follow the instructions found in Colossians 1:9, and “ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.” You may even want to include a time of fasting. (Learn more about fasting HERE.)
God wants you to know your calling, so you can go forward in it with all confidence. God will be faithful to reveal it to you as you press into Him by prayer.
(Get more great prayer tips when you watch VICTORY!)
2. Walk in the Will of God
Psalm 139 speaks of God’s amazing love for each of us personally. It also emphasizes the importance of staying on the path He has for us–staying in His will. Not only does that mean following the individual plan He has for each of us, but it also means obeying the instructions He’s already given us in His Word. If we aren’t obeying God’s Word and endeavoring to walk in His will, how can He trust us to obey Him in our calling?
Some people want to jump into their calling when they haven’t yet mastered things like forgiveness, walking in love and humility. There are training grounds that come ahead of your calling that are not only there for your protection, but for those whom you’re called to impact down the road. There is no higher calling than walking in love. That’s how Jesus flows out of you to other people.
Second Peter 1:10 says, “Work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.” When you get in line with the Word and walk in the will of God, that’s where you’ll find your calling.
3. Take a Spiritual Gifts Test
There are many wonderful tools available to help Christians uncover some of their spiritual gifts, and these tools include spiritual gifts tests. While it’s imperative to seek God first in prayer to hear what He says about finding your calling, you can confirm and enhance your understanding of what He says through a spiritual gifts test.
Consider trying one or two different types of spiritual gifts tests (hard copy, online or both) to see where the results fall. Approach this tip with prayer, and preferably under the guidance and counsel of a spiritual mentor or pastor.
These three simple tips for finding your calling will give you clarity and confidence for the specific plan and path God has for you. Once you discover your calling, you might not see how you can walk in it or how you can fulfill it, but that’s OK. God doesn’t expect you to know how. He expects you to let Him do it through you. So, when God calls you to something, never say, “I can’t do that.” Instead, just say, “I will,” and let God do the doing. He’ll make you able.
And no matter what, be sure to stay in the flow of your calling! Don’t deviate or take on a role that doesn’t fit. Your calling is the safest and most blessed place you could ever be!
Watch Kenneth Copeland and Marilyn Hickey share why staying in the process is how you win!
There’s just one way to go free–the truth! Whatever you’ve been taught by family members or churches, there’s only one source of truth, and that’s God’s Word. If you’ve been believing that miracles aren’t for today, healing isn’t for everyone, or God is the author of anything evil in this world, it’s time to break through those traditions and let the truth set you free to live the life of abundance, peace and joy Jesus died to give you!
Jesus said the traditions of men have made the word of God of no effect (Mark 7:13). It’s time to bust through every misconception of God’s Word and tap into the power of the Scriptures. Begin today by renewing your mind with these 70 tradition-busting scriptures!
Traditions: Healing is not for today. Healing is not for everyone.
Tradition-Busting Scriptures:
All scriptures are referenced in the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
1. Exodus 15:26
If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
2. Exodus 23:25-26
And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
3. Deuteronomy 7:14-15
Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
4. Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
5. 1 Kings 8:56
Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
6. Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
7. Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
8. Psalm 107:17, 19-21
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9. Psalm 118:17
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
10. Proverbs 4:20-24
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
11. Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
12. Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
13. Jeremiah 1:12
Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
14. Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
15. Jeremiah 30:17
For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.
16. Joel 3:10
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
17. Nahum 1:9
What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
18. Matthew 8:2-3
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
19. Matthew 8:16-17
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
20. Matthew 15:30-31
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
21. Matthew 18:18-19
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Matthew 21:21-22
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
23. Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24. Mark 10:27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
25. Mark 11:22-24
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, 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. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
26. Mark 16:14-18
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
27. Luke 6:19
And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
28. Luke 9:2
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
29. Luke 13:16
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
30. Acts 5:16
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
31. Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
32. Romans 4:16-21
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
33. Romans 8:2, 11
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
34. 2 Corinthians 4:18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
35. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
36. Galatians 3:13-14, 29
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
37. Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
38. Philippians 2:13 (AMPC)
[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
39. Philippians 4:6-9 (AMPC)
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
40. 2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
41. Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).
42. Hebrews 10:35-36
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
43. Hebrews 11:11
Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
44. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
45. James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
46. James 5:14-16
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
47. 1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
48. 1 John 3:21-22
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
49. 1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
50. 3 John 2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
51. Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Tradition: Christians Should Not Seek Financial Prosperity
Tradition-Busting Scriptures:
(All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible.)
52. Leviticus 26:3-5
If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
53. Deuteronomy 2:7
For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
54. Deuteronomy 11:13-15
And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.
55. Deuteronomy 28:1-11
Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
56. Deuteronomy 28:13
And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
57. Deuteronomy 30:15-16
See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
58. 1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.
59. 1 Chronicles 22:13
Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.
60. 2 Chronicles 26:5
…as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.
61. Job 36:11
If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
62. Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Tradition: God Is In Control of Everything
Tradition-Busting Scriptures:
(All scriptures are from the New King James Version of the Bible.)
63. Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
64. Matthew 13:58
Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
65. Luke 10:19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
66. Ephesians 4:26-27
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
67. Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
68. James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
69. James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
70. 1 John 3:8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
When you base your beliefs on what the Bible says instead of what man has taught, you will see breakthroughs in your life like never before! Learn to dig into the Word of God whenever you hear a tradition or a new idea–find out for yourself. Never live in the darkness of tradition again!
Watch Gloria Copeland and Pastor George Pearsons bust through the tradition that prosperity is evil.
You are being watched. Everything you say and do is a testimony of who you are and what you stand for.
Compromise is everywhere. From elections to boardrooms, from marriage vows to financial schemes, worldly compromise is truly all around us. That’s why it’s so important for God’s people to take a stand against unholy compromise in their lives. Whether it’s cheating on taxes, electing officials who don’t honor God or being unfaithful to a spouse, compromise is never a good thing and always ends up bringing some kind of death (moral, marital or financial).
Integrity is so important to living a blessed life, Kenneth Copeland talks about it often. Here, he shares a story from his childhood that forever changed how he approached his own character–this is a story of integrity.
As a young man I understood honor because my father raised me that way. I understood it because both my grandfathers were honorable men; they would rather die than lie. And my grandmothers were honorable women.
I understand what the psalmist means when he writes about the kind of honor that “swears to its own hurt and changes not” (Psalm 15:4). I understand and respect the kind of person who is going to do the right thing, regardless of what it may cost.
My dad lived this way in front of me.
Dad was a tither since the day he and my mother were married in 1927. On their wedding day, they made a commitment to one another and to God that they would tithe every dollar God gave them all the days of their married life.
God honored that commitment and supported them through the years. Many things God tried to teach them they did not understand because they knew very little about faith. However, The LORD took care of them anyway. During the Great Depression, my dad never went 24 hours without a job.
Mother and Dad lived on an old dry land farm in northwest Texas. The only things in abundance there were sand and flies. Yet, my daddy had a job because God took care of them.
Eventually, a fellow hired Dad to work in the insurance business. Dad was very successful at it; so just a few weeks after he went with the company, he was moved to Fort Worth as district manager. The man who hired Dad had been planning for a long time to start his own company. He was building up reserves while still working for the company that hired my dad.
But this company had laws, rules and regulations against the sort of thing this man was doing, and some of it was even against the laws of the state of Texas.
This man finally announced he was starting his own company. He had the money and backing to do it, but he needed my father to make it work. He offered Dad a lot of money and a big chunk of the company. He wanted Dad to do for him in the new company exactly what he had been doing under him with the other company. This man based a great deal of his planning on Dad’s acceptance of his offer.
It came down to a lawsuit between Dad’s company and this man. If they could prove he had done some things wrong, it would cut off over $100,000 from his new company’s financing. Now that was about 1956 when $100,000 was a great deal of money. This man was depending on this money to help establish his new insurance business.
At the trial, my dad was the deciding witness. If the lawyer asked him, “Has this man ever approached you to work for him doing the same job you’re doing for your present employers?” and Dad answered no, then the case would be closed. The man would get the $100,000 financing, and my father would get a huge chunk of stock and lots of money, along with a high position and much prestige.
If Dad testified that the man had offered him a job with the new company he was planning to start, then the man would lose the $100,000, and Dad would get the privilege of keeping his old job.
I was about 19 years old at the time, and I was thinking: Whew, what’s Dad going to do? If he takes the stand and answers that question one way, he’s an instant multimillionaire. (The money was already in the till, and the stock was already made out.) If he answers the other way, all he gets is his old job.
Wondering what Dad was going to do, I watched as he took the stand. He wasn’t a bit nervous or anxious. He didn’t have any sweat breaking out on his brow. I couldn’t believe he could be so calm.
The lawyer asked the question: “Did this man offer you a job with his new company doing the same thing that you are doing now?”
Without a second’s hesitation Dad answered, “Yes, he did.”
When it was over, he stood up and walked away. He left all that money lying on the table and the stock untouched. Later I said, “Boy, Dad, how did you keep from saying what that man wanted you to say?”
“It would have been a lie.”
It was as simple as that. To get that money, that stock, that position, Dad would have had to lie. There was never any question in his mind. He just went right on with his business. He gave no more thought to the matter. Every time he would see the man he had testified against, he would walk up, shake his hand and ask how the new company was coming along. That man had such respect for my dad; he loved my dad all his life.
One of the reasons Dad was so quick to tell the truth is because it is the honorable thing to do. He learned early in life the meaning of honor.
Honor and integrity are important to The LORD. It is who He is and what He represents. So, if you’re looking to be like Him, please Him and receive promotion from Him, endeavor to live your life with the utmost integrity. You never know who’s watching.
Watch Gloria Copeland and George Pearsons share why integrity is a prerequisite for promotion in your life.
Source: Honor: Walking in Honesty, Truth and Integrity by Kenneth Copeland
Many Christians don’t know about their inheritance in Christ. Some even believe God withholds from them. Others simply don’t realize that everything the Father has belongs to them–now.
When you read the Bible, you’re also reading “The Will.” When you study the Word, you’ll find out you are an heir to your Father’s vast fortune. You’ll learn how to see yourself as God sees you. Moreover, you will discover what is included in your inheritance, so you can take it by faith.
Galatians 4:7 says, “You are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (NKJV).
If you’ve ever questioned whether you are entitled to all of God’s blessings, we’re setting the record straight today with these 3 Reasons Why You Are an Heir of God.
1. You Are an Heir of God Because You Are a Child of God
If you are a born-again believer in Christ Jesus, you are a child of God and an heir to all that belongs to the Father. Think about it. Children of the King have a right to partake of their inheritance. You have full access to the largest inheritance known to man!
Romans 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”(NIV).
Gloria Copeland explains it so simply, but so powerfully, when she says, “When you were born again, Jesus moved in with everything He has. I became an heir to a fortune…when I gave my life to Jesus.”
What a precious promise and amazing truth. Everything in the Bible–every blessing, every benefit–belongs to us. But we have to take it!
2. You Are an Heir Because You Are Redeemed From the Curse
You could probably already guess, but sickness, disease, poverty, lack, depression and strife are all under the curse, which should be no surprise–they’re not good! However, God is good, and He set out to be sure we were delivered from every single part of that curse.
Christ Jesus. His only Son says He redeemed us from the curse by being made a curse for us so that THE BLESSING of Abraham would come on us and be made available to us.
Right about now, you might be thinking, but that’s not for everyone, is it? Only those God chooses to heal, deliver or bless with finances, right?
It’s as if God knew you would ask because just a few verses down, He answers you: “And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to the promise”. (
That’s it. It’s clear as crystal and outlined in “The Will”–you are an heir!
3. You Are an Heir Because You Are a Joint Heir With Jesus
If you’ve had trouble seeing yourself as a child of the Most High God, it’s time to get rid of the religious attitude that says you’re just a sinner saved by grace. It’s time to start seeing yourself, instead, as a joint heir with Jesus!
When you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you joined God’s family. You became one of His children, and you received the same rights and privileges that Jesus has. Romans 8:17,NKJV,refers to you as a joint heir with Jesus. What a powerful description! You are no longer a sinner saved by grace; you are a joint heir with Jesus, raised up to do the Father’s business. And you have work to do! Of course, you can’t even begin to be effective in what God has called you to do until you see yourself the way God sees you.
In Christ Jesus, we are heirs to the vast fortune of our loving heavenly Father–simply by being born again into THE Royal Family. So, fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32,NKJV).
If these three reasons you are an heir of God don’t convince you, read them again! Don’t wait another moment. You were born into The Royal Family that owns and operates the universe. It is time to start acting like an heir of God!
Watch Gloria Copeland and Pastor George Pearsons teach you why you are an heir of God.
Have you heard? The family that lives out their faith together sees victory together! Even if you weren’t raised in an atmosphere of faith, you can create one for your children, your grandchildren and your entire family when you set out to create an atmosphere that puts God first place and pursues Him every day in every way.
Create your own legacy of faith and make faith a family affair with these four fun and easy tips!
1. Make Faith a Family Affair by Using the Power of Repetition
Faith comes by hearing and hearing and speaking and speaking the Word of God. Repetition builds faith! You can use the power of repetition in your family to make faith a family affair.
Children, especially, enjoy repetition. It feels safe, secure and predictable. The familiar, like a well-loved, warm blanket, is comforting. The same is true with traditions and routines in your family. You can make faith a routine using the power of repetition:
Establish a family scripture verse that embodies what you stand for. Matthew 6:33 is one example. Create a routine in which you say this verse aloud as a family at a particular time each day–maybe around the dinner table or when going to bed. If using Matthew 6:33, for example, you could say, “The Jones family seeks first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. As we do, everything we need and desire will be given to us.”
Speak a blessing of protection over the family each morning using the same words and scripture. Psalm 91 is a great one.
Jeremy and Sarah Pearsons gather with their two children each evening as they get ready to go to bed and say the same thing together: “By Your grace, by the leadership of Your Holy Spirit, we will always be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing with the right people.”
Use the power of repetition in your own family and make faith a family affair!
2. Make Faith a Family Affair by Making It Fun to Learn About the Bible
It’s easy to keep your quiet time to yourself in your own corner, but if you want to make faith a family affair, it’s time to get everyone involved and make learning about the Bible fun! To get started, try a few of these ideas:
Encourage each family member to spend their own time in the Word each day in preparation for family activities.
When kids are getting bored and a bit on the wild side, grab a bowl of chocolate chips or M&Ms from the cupboard and ask if they want to play The Chocolate Chip Game or The M&M Game. (Note: They’ll say yes!) Then, start asking questions about the Bible. Each correct answer earns one piece of candy (or any other treat you choose).
Hint: Stay within their age range. (Unpacking Revelation or discussing the stoning of Stephen is probably not for kids 12 and under!) Stick with things they likely know, and then throw in a few to challenge them so they’ll be motivated to do some digging on their own before the next game.
Question ideas for ages 2-4: Who made the world? Who made you? Who is God’s Son? Where will we go to see Jesus?
Question ideas for ages 5-7: Name three books in the Bible. Name as many of Jesus’ disciples as you can. How old was Moses when he died? Who defeated Goliath?
Question ideas for ages 8-12: Who wrote most of the books in the New Testament? Who are some of the prophets in the Bible?
As they grow in this activity, you can plan to host a Family Bible Challenge. Assign kids of any age (up to teens!) one or two small challenges and one significant challenge in Bible knowledge. Allow them a week or so to prepare and set a date for the big day.
Make it an event! Include snacks, music and prizes. For each small challenge, they may receive a trinket of some sort (think Hot Wheels™, scented erasers, bouncy balls or nail polish). Then, for the greater challenge, you can offer a more significant prize (gift-wrap the item to make it more intriguing).
Challenges can include short memory verses or the reading of a long passage of Scripture before the challenge, followed by discussion questions.
More substantial challenges can include memorizing longer passages of scripture, like Psalm 91 (With help, kids as young as 3 have accomplished this feat!)
These are just a few samples of what you can do. There are so many ways to make the Bible fun. Look for ways that fit you and your family, and make faith a family affair!
3. Make Faith a Family Affair by Talking About God’s Goodness All the Time
Make the decision today to never let a day with your family go by without talking about the goodness of God. It can be a short mention of His goodness or sharing a powerful miracle God did for you recently. Make a point of talking about His goodness when you wake up, when you’re out and about, and when you’re hanging around the house.
At dinnertime, go around the dinner table and ask each person share one thing they’re praying for and one answer to prayer or miracle they’ve seen God work in their lives recently.
4. Make Faith a Family Affair by Praying Together
You make faith a family affair when you make it a point to pray together. Many people are shy about praying in front of others. You can change that!
You can model powerful prayer in front of your family and demonstrate how to use spiritual warfare in any situation. Be bold in your prayers, and show them that prayer and faith are nothing to be ashamed of.
Gather your family around for a time of prayer together. Ask for each family member’s input about what should be prayed over at that moment. Maybe your family will pray for your nation, your community, the schools or the neighborhood. Perhaps there is someone you know who is facing a trial, and your family can join together to intercede.
As the Holy Spirit leads, you can even prophesy over one another and lay hands on each other. Let it be a sweet time of ministry in your home as you make faith a family affair. You can use these four fun and easy tips to make faith a family affair and build your own legacy of faith. But don’t stop there! Keep looking for new ways to bring faith to the center of your home and life, and let your light shine in your family and your community.
Watch Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim share with you a prayer you can pray every day for the protection and provision of your family.
You’ve heard from God. Maybe it was while you were praying or listening to someone preach the Word–or perhaps it was while you were getting ready for your day. He spoke to you and corrected you or gave you an instruction. And because it came from Him, you know it’s important.
Whenever God speaks, you know to listen because obedience is the key to promotion, breakthrough, and manifestation. Yet the question remains: Now what?
You can feel confident in knowing how to respond when God gives correction or instruction. Here’s how:
1. When God Gives Correction or Instruction, Don’t Take It Lightly
It seems obvious, but what God says isn’t always easy to take. Many people don’t want to hear that they have an area to fix–they just want to focus the blame on the devil. And God’s instructions? If you’ve been walking with the Lord very long, you know they aren’t always within your comfort zone.
What should you do? Don’t take God’s correction or instruction lightly.
The key here is to not shrug God’s correction or instruction off out of insecurity over your shortcomings or fear of taking a leap of faith. Ignoring the correction or instruction will only do one thing: Slow. You. Down. And that breakthrough you need? It will stay on pause.
Instead, take God seriously. He’s trying to help you push fast forward on your manifestation. That’s why Psalm 23 says His rod (correction) and His staff (instruction) will comfort you.
It isn’t always fun to hear that you missed the mark–that you have pride to deal with, anger to control, or patience that needs refining. The more you mature as a Christian, the more you’ll learn to value correction–even look for it–because you’ll know its purpose and end result is for your good and advancement.
Take everything you hear from God seriously–don’t brush it off. It will get you on the fast track to victory, and that’s well worth any momentary discomfort!
2. When God Gives Correction or Instruction, Pray About It
God has bought something to your attention, and you are eager to get it done. But don’t jump the gun–pray about it first.
When God corrects or instructs you, He is calling you to begin what may be a process. You respond to Him by doing the following:
Repent. Ask Him to forgive you for missing the mark.
Ask Him to help you as you move forward to change in the area He’s highlighted.
Thank Him for loving you enough to correct you and help you grow closer to Him.
If it’s an instruction He’s given, you need to ask Him to show you how He’d like you to move forward–don’t just cannonball in. Faith doesn’t hesitate, but it also waits for the Master to give the next command. His instruction may require an instant response, or it may call for further information. Either way, stay at your post with expectancy.
3. When God Gives You Correction or Instruction, Respond to It
Once God has spoken to you–either with
correction or instruction–don’t assume He’s going to do all the work! In speaking to you, He’s expecting you to respond.
If it is correction:
Keep the area of correction at the forefront of your mind. For example, if you have been corrected about having a critical spirit, be more mindful of the words you speak and the emails or texts you send. Ask yourself, “Am I being critical? Can I say this in another way?”
Don’t beat yourself up when you miss it. It takes time to form a new habit! If you didn’t know you were behaving pridefully, for example, it has probably become a habit you weren’t even thinking about. You may miss it five times a day for a while, but as you keep working with the Lord, it will become fewer and fewer until it supernaturally disappears.
Keep at it! Don’t give up and say, “That’s just how I am,” or “I don’t think I’m all that bad.” Keep pressing in and believing for change. It will come.
If you received an instruction:
Did God tell you to sow a significant seed? You know, the kind that makes your mouth drop open? Find out where He wants you to sow, pray and believe He will provide, and sow the seed.
Did He tell you to move to another location? Start small and step out by looking at real estate and researching the area. Allow Him to speak to you as you put feet to your faith.
Seek counsel. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (NIV).If the instruction involves big life decisions, it may be wise to sit down with your pastor or those who are spiritually mature and inquire of them. God may speak through them with additional wisdom or guidance.
Hearing from the Lord is one of life’s greatest blessings, so knowing how to respond when God gives you correction or instruction will strengthen your relationship with Him. He wants you to have the desires of your heart. Let Him help you. Listen, pray, respond and get on the road to victory!
Watch Gloria and Kellie Copeland talk about the blessing of correction and the resulting freedom.
Some people are born with God-given musical talent. But without practice and intentional development of that talent, it won’t come to anything great. The same is true of faith. God has already given you a measure of faith on the inside, but you have to develop it, practice it and train to use it.
If you want to develop the kind of faith that never shrinks back, never settles for defeat, and always receives the answer, begin using this foolproof strategy for developing fearless faith.
1. Develop Fearless Faith by Agreeing With God’s Word
The first step to develop fearless faith is to agree with God’s Word. Why? Faith in God begins with faith in His Word. If you don’t believe what He says, or believe it’s His will for you personally, you’ve already lost the victory. But if you can come into agreement with His Word and refuse to let anything talk you out of it, there’s no way you won’t win.
That’s how Hebrews 10:35 describes fearless faith: “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward”(AMPC).
To receive a great and glorious reward–Isn’t that worth the fight? It most certainly is!
Faith in God’s Word always produces results!
2. Develop Fearless Faith by Keeping Company With Strong Believers
Another part of the way to develop fearless faith is by keeping company with strong believers. You have to make sure you don’t surround yourself with people who think and speak negatively. (The world will preach the law of sin and death to you all the time.) This may take a bit of uncomfortable pruning.
What qualities should you look for in the company you keep?
Spend time with the kind of people who will help you develop your faith. Find people who are more in tune with God than you are–those who are living the kind of life you want to live.
Choose friends who take God at His Word and know how to stand fast–even in the hardest of times.
Stick with people who are led by the Spirit.
Once you have developed strong faith, you’ll be able to help others grow, but always stay connected to someone who has stronger faith than you.
You can grow by yourself if you have to, but when the Lord brings people into your life to help you grow, be sure to learn all you can about the fearless faith you see in them.
3. Develop Fearless Faith by Never Letting Go
The last step of our foolproof strategy to develop fearless faith is to never let go! This is a must. You must refuse to be moved from your stand on God’s Word. This means you won’t go by what you can see, feel or hear–you will go by what you know to be true. You won’t wobble to and fro in doubt and unbelief because you know wavering equals receiving nothing (James 1:8).
That’s why Paul encourages us in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (KJV).
Fearless faith will never let go; it never gives up until it sees the promise manifest. It’s going to take patience–a lot of patience–but this is a foolproof way to get to your victory. “How long do I have to never let go?” you ask. As long as it takes.
Just keep walking on the road of faith. Keep speaking the Word. Keep receiving and responding to God’s correction. Keep sowing. Keep believing. Whatever you do: Don’t. Let. Go.
When you follow this foolproof strategy for developing fearless faith, you will receive the reward because God, who promised, is faithful. It may not happen overnight, but if you believe the Word of God, keep company with strong believers, and refuse to let go, you’ll see victories come that seemed to have been on hold for years. You’ll find yourself on the fast track to places you’ve wanted to go as long as you can remember. This is the victory that belongs to you! So, stop hesitating, and be fearless!
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you how to build your faith muscle.
There is great power in honor. Did you know that? God has prepared great rewards for those who obey Him and honor those He has commanded us to honor. If you’ve felt like your life has become stagnant in any area or that you know you could reach higher in your faith, how you honor God and others is a great place to examine. Something so impactful, yet so simple, is worth working toward!
Are you ready to take the 10-Day Honor Challenge? Here’s what to do: Beginning on a Monday, if possible, and for the next 10 days, rotate through each of these 10 people God says you should honor. Be intentional about taking action to show these people honor and keeping yourself from dishonorable behavior. Take the 10-Day Honor Challenge, and learn to live in line with God’s will–your life will forever be changed!
Day 1: Honor God
While we will rotate through the others, we will focus on honoring God for the full 10 days.
Spend time with Him morning and night for these 10 days.
Take Communion at home. Focus on worshipping and praising Him.
Tithe.
Set out to walk in love toward others.
Speak only the Word over your life and the lives of others.
Day 2: Honor Your Parents
During your time with the Lord today, spend time letting Him uncover any areas of unforgiveness you have in your heart toward your parents. Then, make a decision to forgive them for anything and everything–no matter how far back you have to go.
Pray for them. Pray that they will be blessed, healed and delivered; and that there will be a powerful move of God in their lives.
Call your parents or send them a gift if you feel led to do so.
Speak to them and about them with the greatest respect.
Day 3: Honor Your Spouse
Husbands: Today, you will focus on speaking lovingly to your wife, opening doors for her, listening when she talks, and encouraging her in everything she does. Buy her a gift if you feel led.
Wives: Today, you will focus on speaking with the highest respect to your husband and aim to be a support to him; cook his favorite meal or join him in one of his favorite recreational activities (golfing, fishing, hunting).
Day 4: Honor Those Who are Older
Today, invite an older neighbor or church member to your home for lunch.
Stop and have a conversation with an older person as you go about your day.
Have patience on the road and in public places. Smile and be a blessing!
Ask for an older person’s advice. (Be sincere!)
Day 5: Honor Church Leaders
Today, be on time for church, turn off your phone, and really listen to the message.
Offer a word of encouragement to your pastor, and refuse to participate in any conversation that is critical of him.
Refuse to post negative comments on any social media platform about any pastor or minister of the gospel. They may not be perfect, but they are God’s anointed leaders!
Day 6: Honor Your Boss
Today, focus on the way you treat your boss. Respond to every request with enthusiasm and respect.
Refuse to speak against your boss to your co-workers.
Offer a compliment or encouragement. (He or she likely needs it!)
Day 7: Honor Government Officials
Spend some time today praying for the mayor of your town, your local leaders, your legislators, the governor and the president of the United States. Intercede with fervency for righteousness in our nation, wisdom for leaders, and anointing and blessing for each of them.
Refuse to participate in negative conversations about any leader and don’t post negative remarks on social media!
Day 8: Honor Police & Military
Today, be on the lookout for any police officers or members of the military whom you can bless. If you see them in a restaurant, pay for their meal or deliver breakfast to a local police station if you feel led to bless them in that way.
Smile at them.
Thank them for their service.
Day 9: Honor Your Children
If your children are grown, look for a way to bless them today. Keep from giving unsolicited advice or criticism, and focus on offering words of encouragement.
Pray for them.
If you are still raising your children, take the day off or arrange to spend quality time with them today. Take them out for their favorite meal or treat, or enjoy their favorite activity with them.
Spend one-on-one time just listening.
Tell them you love them. Tell them you believe in them.
Day 10: Honor Everyone Else
Today, we are going to honor everyone else, just as the Word of God tells us to do. That means you are to treat everyone you come in contact with, even those you don’t know, with honor and respect.
Speak kindly, be patient, smile or offer a compliment. (It may be the only one they receive today!)
Let others go first.
Don’t tailgate!
Offer help if the opportunity presents itself.
Congratulations! You completed the 10-Day Honor Challenge! Ten days of living in God-ordained and God-pleasing honor. How did you do? Has anything changed in your life? Now that you have learned the blessing of honoring God by honoring others, aim to make this a way of life! You can choose to take this challenge a second or third time to renew your mind and make living a life of honor one that will give glory to God!
Watch Kenneth Copeland as he teaches you how to renew your mind to the love of God to become a giver of His love!
“I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason. They repay me evil for good and oppose me” (Psalm 38:19-20). Do you ever feel the way David did here?
People speak against you for no reason, betray you, or try to keep you from success. Enemies are something each of us has to deal with in this life, and they can try us in every possible way.
Our natural response to enemies is often to fight back, get even, put them in their place, or demand justice. We can even find ourselves distressed as we try to figure out why they are against us in the first place. The next thing we know, it’s consuming all our thoughts and causing us torment.
When you obey Jesus and respond to your enemies with love, prayer, forgiveness and blessing, you take yourself out of satan’s line of fire and make room for God to handle justice as only He can. You don’t have to worry about your enemies. God says He will handle them on your behalf. How? Here are five ways God promises to deal with your enemies.
He will bring everything hidden into the light. Enemies can be sneaky. They will say cutting remarks to you no one else notices, threaten you when others aren’t around, or try to quietly cheat you out of money, opportunities or relationships. Even so, there is One who sees everything that is done in secret, and He says, “Nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17, NKJV). Next time you have an enemy coming against you, obey Luke 6:27-36, then pray Luke 8:17 and thank God that He will bring everything hidden into the light.
He will avenge you. That desire you have for justice? That comes from the One in whose image you were created. He is the God of justice, and He loves justice. It’s good to want justice in the world, but when you try to get it for yourself, you’ve put yourself in His place. Romans 12:19 says, “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (ESV).
Under THE BLESSING, God has promised to deal with our enemies. Gloria Copeland says, “The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face. This is THE BLESSING; this belongs to you. They will come against you one way but flee before you seven ways. When you are under the curse, you run from your enemies, but under THE BLESSING, they run from you.” You may not see it firsthand, but you can count on Him to carry out what He has promised.
He won’t let enemies succeed against you. Your greatest enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy. And he doesn’t work alone. He’ll use other people (even Christians) to carry out his plans. Sometimes, it even seems like those plans are succeeding. Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn” (NKJV).So, if you have people trying to sue you or harm you in some way, you just walk in love toward them, and stand on that scripture. Faith has no fear.
He will prepare a table before you. When you’re walking in love and in obedience to God’s Word, no matter who comes against you, they can’t stop the blessings God has in store for you. Satan uses people to try and get us into offense. He knows if he can get us in strife and out of love, we’re out of position to receive the blessings of God. So, stay on the love line and don’t budge. No matter how much wrong is done to you, forgive, love and pray. Then, declare and receive His promise to prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23:5).
He will help you defeat the real enemy. At the end of the day, you might think your enemy is your co-worker, your neighbor or your mother-in-law, but the true enemy is the one pulling all the strings. Ephesians 6:12-13 tells us that we do not fight against flesh-and-blood enemies but against evil spirits. Most of us know this truth, but it takes a constant reminder when flesh and blood are right in front of us causing so much trouble! God has given you all authority over the enemy. So, when he tries to send people your way, rebuke him, send him packing, and remind him that he must go back where he belongs–under your feet!
These are five ways God promises to deal with our enemies. Remember, like any other promise, they require obedience on our part. If we are unforgiving and unloving toward our enemies, the promises are off the table. If we are worried, trying to take justice into our own hands, or gossiping about the situation–no deal. Stay in obedience, and let God deal with your enemies.
Watch Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim share how knowing your enemy will determine your victory.
We are BLESSED. The Bible is chock-full of verses saying just that. Jesus paid the price for everything we could ever need or desire now and for eternity. Yet, so many Christians are crying out to God and acting like He hasn’t already provided for them.
Instead of begging God to BLESS us, what we ought to be doing is developing our faith in what He has already done for us. We should be meditating on what the Bible says about who we are and THE BLESSING that is on us, so that we become aware of it all the time.
We should be thinking about it every day, putting it on 3-by-5-inch cards on the refrigerator and on our bathroom mirrors to remind ourselves of it, and constantly saying to ourselves: “I am as BLESSED as Adam was before the Fall. I am as BLESSED as Abraham was. I am as BLESSED as Jesus is. I am BLESSED!”
When you catch a revelation of what THE BLESSING has done and is doing for you, your life will never be the same. Allow the Word of God to convert your thinking, fuel your faith, and accomplish God’s will for your life. Failure is not an option! Set yourself on the path to guaranteed success today with these 10 scriptures about the power of THE BLESSING in every area of your life!
1. “BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED us [past tense!]with every spiritual BLESSING in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” -Ephesians 1:3-4 (NKJV)
2. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that THE BLESSING of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” -Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
3. “Then God BLESSED them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'” -Genesis 1:28 (NKJV)
4. “For You, O Lord, will BLESS the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” –Psalm 5:12(NKJV)
5. “For whatever is born of God [THE BLESSING] overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.” -1 John 5:4 (NKJV)
6. “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise[of THE BLESSING] might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” -Romans 4:16 (NKJV)
7. “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: ‘BLESSED shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. ‘BLESSED shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. ‘BLESSED shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ‘BLESSED shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. ‘The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. ‘The Lord will command THE BLESSING on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will BLESS you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.'” -Deuteronomy 28:1-8
8. “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God BLESSED them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.'”–Genesis 1:26-28
9. “THE BLESSING of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” –Proverbs 10:22
10. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” -Psalm 103:2-5
We are BLESSED! It’s time we, as believers, started acting as if those verses are true. It’s time we stopped going before the Lord in prayer saying, “Oh God, please BLESS me!” That is an absolute waste of breath because we are already BLESSED. We are as BLESSED as we can possibly be.
Set aside some time to meditate on these verses, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. Obey Jesus. Think about the ravens and how God feeds them. Think about how much more you mean to your Father than the birds. Kick out the thoughts of how little you’re worth. Jesus loves you and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20). Fix that in your heart and mind. Don’t put it off! Do it now.
Talk about it to yourself. Then reach out to someone. Do something to BLESS someone. Let the truth about the power of THE BLESSING become more real to you than anything else in your life!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches how God’s Word mixed with faith will bring THE BLESSING alive in your life.
When it comes to living in divine health, or anything else for that matter, there is a delicate balance between living by faith and putting feet to your faith (having works that match the faith). We know that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17), but there can also be a temptation to move completely over into the flesh and operate fully in the natural.
The good news? God has called us to live by faith and works, and He always provides a way for us to obey Him. Here are three ways to combine faith with works to live in divine health.
1. Consult the Word of God First
One way to keep yourself from moving into the flesh is to consult the Word of God first in every situation. When it comes to living in divine health, you may be trying to change your diet, find motivation for exercising, or find the right medical care. Whatever your question, the Word of God is the answer. The Bible is a living document. What is so amazing about this is that God can use His Word to get a personal and specific message right to you. All you have to do is have an ear to hear and a heart to perceive. Spend time in His Word, and allow Him to give you counsel about those things you desire to know.
2. Tune In to the Holy Spirit
God’s will is for you to live in divine health–with energy and vitality, at a healthy weight, sleeping well, with a clear mind and the confidence to go along with it. His will is not for you to have sickness, disease, degeneration of any kind, or to age like the world does. He wants you to live long and strong on the earth, and fulfill His plans and purposes for your life!
So, you can be sure He is speaking to you about these very things. If you seek Him, you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). How do you seek Him with all your heart? You pursue Him by reading His Word, spending daily time in prayer, and listening to His still, small voice.
Ask Him to tell you what to do about any areas of your health that concern you. Seek Him. Then…listen. You may have to keep listening before you hear Him loud and clear, but He will speak to you. Then, be willing to make changes where He points out a need to do so.
3. Take Steps in the Natural
When you’re faced with a situation in your health, it may be tempting to do just what makes sense in the natural. To combine faith with works, any steps you take in the natural should be fueled by faith, and faith has nothing to do with fear. If your actions are motivated by fear, you can be sure you are out of alignment.
Many Christians ask, “Is it OK to take medicine if I’m standing in faith for healing?” Kenneth Copeland has said many times that it is not wise to stop taking medication or to refuse to seek medical advice when you are standing in faith for healing. You continue to do what you have been advised until your faith rises up, and you receive your healing.
Ultimately, everything you do in the natural should be according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Before you make up your mind to do something, seek Him and listen. Then, step out with works that correspond to your faith, based on the peace in your heart. When you’ve spent time on the first two steps, you’ll be prepared to operate in wisdom when it’s time to take steps in the natural.
When it comes to living in divine health, there are a lot of opinions out there! The only way to be certain you are doing what is right for your body is to consult the Creator. Allow Him to be part of keeping you in divine health. Then, and only then, will you feel confident in stepping out and taking action.
When you consult the Word of God and tune in to the Holy Spirit, you can be certain that your actions will be faith-filled and bring results! Don’t overthink it–you can stand in faith, take action in the natural, and see God work in miraculous ways. You can live in divine health all your days!
Watch Kenneth Copeland and Keith Moore teach you how to be led by the Spirit.
This may seem obvious and simple, but the fact is many Christians don’t consider this factor when making a decision. There are times when you need to inquire of God, but others when you don’t because He’s already given the answer. Second Timothy 2:15 tells us that we are to rightly divide the Word of God, which means to handle it correctly and consider every verse in context, and in comparison to other verses in the Bible.
That’s why it is important to remember that “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14, NKJV).Well, not everything is God’s will. The only way to find out if the desires of your heart line up with His Word is to study the Scriptures and find out.
Here are a few examples of desires you may have and scriptures that reveal God’s will:
I would like to own a home and a car, and have plenty left over to be a blessing to others.
Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the Lord…. whatever he does shall prosper” (NKJV).
Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (NKJV).
I desire to have a spouse and children.
Proverbs 18:22: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord” (NKJV).
Deuteronomy 7:14: “You shall be blessed above all peoples. There shall not be male or female barren among you” (ESV).
I would like to use credit cards to buy what I want, so I don’t have to wait.
Romans 13:8: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another” (KJV).
I’m not happy in my marriage. I want to get a divorce.
Mark 10:9: “What God has joined together let no one separate” (NIV).
Luke 16:18: “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery” (NIV).
It will be easy to know if the desires of your heart are God’s will when you know the Word. Many of your desires have already been addressed in the Bible. However, if your desire isn’t specifically addressed in His Word, it will require this next point below.
2. You heard from Him.
In many cases concerning God’s will, you need to hear from Him directly before taking a faith stand and believing Him to deliver the desires of your heart into your hands. Examples of these desires might include your specific career path or the individual you should marry. In these cases, you cannot know if it is God’s will until you have heard from Him. The more time you spend in the Word of God, the quicker you will recognize His voice and hear from Him regarding your heart’s desires.
Whenever your heart’s desires are God’s will for you–it will require that you depend on Him. Spend time in prayer, ask Him to reveal His will to you, and have ears to hear. You may hear the answer as an inward witness, He may send someone to give you a word in season, or you may have a peace in your heart from the Holy Spirit. When in doubt–wait. Don’t get ahead of God. Being in His will is the safest place to be.
3. You’re in God’s will in other areas.
If you’re seeking God’s will in a particular area of your life, one thing can hinder the answer–being out of His will in another area. If you’re looking for direction or guidance in your finances, but you’re busy disobeying His Word by refusing to forgive, for example, you may miss His instructions because you aren’t in tune with His voice.
If you can clearly hear His correction and rebuke, you’ll be able to clearly hear His answers to your questions, as well. Make it a point to get in line with God’s Word in every area of your life. Then, when you need an answer as to which way you should go–you’ll be tuned in and hear His answer loud and clear.
When you look to the Word, hear from God, and stay in His will in other areas, you’ll be in position to know with certainty if the desires of your heart are God’s will for you. The closer you get to Him, the more your desires will automatically be His will. No matter what you’re seeking, know this: God’s will for you is wholeness and abundance–spirit, soul and body!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches you to activate your ability to hear God.
Suppose Henry Ford walked up, handed you a book, and said, “This book contains every secret I have learned in the automobile industry, in the manufacturing business and in the stock market. If you read it and meditate on it each day, it is guaranteed to bring you great success.” If you were guaranteed the same success as Henry Ford, you’d probably do exactly what he said, right? Well, this and so much more is available to you in the Word of God! However, to maximize the benefits you receive from it, you not only need to read His Word, but you also need to meditate on His Word. Begin today with these three steps to successfully meditate on the Word of God.
1.Turn On Your Spiritual Ears
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Those are the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 11:15 when He was offering special instruction and guidance. However, Jesus wasn’t talking about hearing with your physical ears–He was talking about hearing with your spiritual ears.
That means we don’t just listen and comprehend what God is saying when we read His Word, we also receive it by faith, and reflect on it until it is planted in our hearts, moving us to act on it.
You see, people can go to theological seminaries and study the Word year after year, and still graduate with absolutely no understanding (or revelation knowledge) whatsoever to take with them! That is not the kind of hearing Jesus was referring to.
When the knowledge of God’s Word comes into a person’s heart, understanding (revelation) enables him or her to walk it, talk it, and apply it to his or her life. When this happens, living the Christian life will no longer be a matter of keeping a set of rules and regulations. Instead, it will become a supernatural walk of following God in the spirit, unhindered and undefeated.
Take the time to turn on your spiritual ears during your quiet time by receiving what you read by faith, reflecting on it, and applying it to your life. When you do, you’ll begin to successfully meditate on the Word of God!
2.Keep from Being Distracted
Have you ever tried to sit down to a quiet time only to be distracted by a sink full of dirty dishes, text messages or a dog begging for attention? You’re not alone! But there is another distraction that is even more of a threat to you being able to successfully meditate on the Word of God–competing thoughts.
One of these competing thoughts is worry. Let’s say God has instructed you to be completely debt free, but you don’t have enough cash yet to buy everything you need. Instead of meditating on the problem and thinking, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to afford to buy anything, make a change. Start meditating on what God says in Philippians 4:19.
When you worry, you are meditating on the words of the devil. Don’t tolerate that! When thoughts of worry, fear or anxiety come to mind–resist him and resist him quickly. Don’t allow him to hang around, pressuring your mind. At the first symptom of unbelief, command Satan to flee. At the first symptom of sickness, act on God’s Word and resist it in Jesus’ Name. At the first symptom of lack, command it to go. Do not procrastinate in spiritual things. Act immediately at the first sign of temptation. This will keep you from being distracted, and will help you stay focused on meditating on what is true and right–God’s Word!
3.Take It Personally
When you successfully meditate on God’s Word, you won’t just read it–you’ll take it into your heart in a very personal way and apply it to your own situation. When you read a scripture about the blessing of prosperity, for example, don’t think, Hey, that sounds nice, but I could never have it. Instead, apply it to yourself and say, “Hallelujah! That’s God’s Word to me. He says He’ll meet my need liberally, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, and I’m expecting Him to do that in my situation!”
If you’ve been reading the Bible like a history book, make a change and begin to see it as God talking directly to you. Take time to meditate on it. Think about it. Digest it. Take it so personally that it moves from your head to your heart, and it will become powerful and active in your life.
To lay hold of that kind of abundance, you need to do what Joshua 1:8 says. You need to “meditate the Word.” To meditate means to “fix your mind.” So, fix your mind on the Word of God every day. Apply it to yourself personally. Allow the Holy Spirit to make it a reality in your heart.
Carefully ponder how the Word you’ve read applies to your life. Ask yourself, “What does this word from God say to me? What does it mean in my life? How can it change my situation?”
Then place yourself in agreement with what God says about you in that word. Make up your mind that you are who God says you are. You can do what God says you can do. And you can have what He says you can have. Put yourself in agreement with Him, and then receive it.
When you put these three steps to successfully meditate on God’s Word into practice during your quiet time and throughout the day, you will begin to see a dramatic shift in your thinking, believing, speaking and receiving. Don’t be a spectator in this life–reach out and take the supernatural success God has in store for you!
Watch Kenneth Copeland as he shares how meditation brings revelation!
Healing always comes. You don’t have to wonder if it’s God’s will for you or if you just have to live with your symptoms for the rest of your life. Healing belongs to you. But while this is true, and you can expect to receive healing, there are some things you need to do to get yourself ready. Here are four ways to prepare yourself to receive your healing.
1. Make adjustments in your life.
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19, NKJV). That’s pretty simple, isn’t it? We like to talk about eating the good of the land, but what about the willingness and obedience? As you prepare to receive your healing, God is talking to you about adjustments you need to make in your life. Do you hear Him?
Take the time to listen. It might be diet, exercise, sleep habits or sin that needs to be eradicated from your life once and for all. This is a critical part of preparing your heart and body to receive healing. Gloria Copeland shared this same principle in Healing School years ago: “You see, that’s why the Lord and I get along so well. I’m simple. I’m just so simple that I believe that He is smarter than I am, and so when He says something, I listen. I change. I make adjustments. I pay attention. I change my way of thinking. And that’s what you need to do if you want to be healed.”
2. Forgive.
Naturally speaking, unforgiveness has been proven to actually cause disease. So, it would certainly make sense that forgiveness is an important step toward ridding the body of sickness. In the spirit, the same is true. The power that forgives us our sins is the same power that heals us. That means the power of unforgiveness is the power of the curse! We don’t need the curse involved when we are going after healing.
Remember, forgiving isn’t condoning an offense or even re-establishing a relationship. It’s a matter of the heart. Satan will try to keep you in unforgiveness to keep you from receiving your healing. Don’t take the bait. Forgive anyone of the smallest (or biggest) offense, and get ready to receive your healing!
3. Focus on love.
Do you walk in love toward others? If you answered yes right away, it’s a sure sign that you don’t. You see, no one is perfect in this area–and while you may not get angry or easily annoyed with others, there is always an area of the love walk that can use improving.
Is there someone you need to apologize to? Do you tend to be critical of others, even if just in your heart? Do you mumble under your breath about bad drivers or people who move slowly in the grocery store? Are you ever impatient, unkind, envious or boastful? Do you feel like you’re better than others? These are all real questions that cannot be answered with a quick yes or no. If you really want to walk in love, you’ll take the time to thoughtfully consider each of these questions, and allow the Lord to reveal to you any areas where you need to show love.
This could perhaps be the greatest hindrance to receiving anything–including healing–from God. It’s the second greatest commandment! Don’t let a stubborn heart keep you from being healed. Dig into the Word, open up your heart, and ask God to show you where you can grow and love others better. It might just be the key that opens the door to your healing.
4. Become an expert.
Are you an expert on what the Bible says about healing? Become one! You don’t have to go to Bible college or seminary to become an expert on the subject of healing. God designed it that way. It’s so simple to understand, but it takes knowledge to get to unwavering faith.
When you get rid of traditional thinking, the way you were raised, and what the pharmaceutical commercials, the doctors and your neighbors say, you’ll make room for the truth in God’s Word. Healing will come when you convert yourself to agree with God concerning healing. Give God and what He says authority in your life, and you will be prepared to receive your healing.
This is your assignment: Make any necessary adjustments in your life, forgive anyone and everyone, tighten up on your love walk, and get to work becoming an expert at what God’s Word says about healing. God is a good God. It’s His will for you to be healed. We’re not waiting on Him. He’s waiting on us. Prepare to receive your healing!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches you about the healing power of forgiveness.
When you are abiding in God–obeying His Word, seeking Him with all your heart, loving Him and others–you have the right to utilize the ministry of angels God has provided. It’s part of your salvation package! He provided these powerful beings to aid you on the earth, to bless you, and to minister to you. If you haven’t been tapping into this powerful, supernatural resource, begin today with these five ways to put your angels to work.
1. Speak the Word
When you find yourself in a situation–one of possible physical danger, one where you need deliverance, or one where you require material or financial help–speak the Word only. And do so in faith. This allows your angels to minister to you on your behalf–to work for you, to intervene. When you speak against the Word of God, their hands are tied–they can’t move an inch to help you.
Gloria Copeland shares how she does this: “Whatever happens in my life–if I’m in danger–I don’t panic. I stay calm, and I start reciting Psalm 91. I say, ‘God is my refuge, God is my deliverance.’ It has saved my life before.”
Years ago, when she and Kenneth were getting ready to travel to South Africa, many people encouraged them to take security with them because it was volatile there at the time. Gloria responded, “I don’t go anywhere without security. Glory to God. Every time I go to the grocery store, I have security. The Bible says angels encamp around those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:7).
2. Command your angels
Can you really do this? In short, yes. Keep in mind, you aren’t commanding them in the same way you are commanding and rebuking the devil. You are releasing them to do the work they’ve been assigned to perform on your behalf.
You have been given the authority of Jesus Christ, as an heir, and you can command your angels to move on your behalf to carry out the Word (Psalm 103:20). Kenneth Copeland advises saying something like this: “In the Name of Jesus, ministering spirits, I assign you according to Hebrews 1:13-14 to see to it that I have protection in this car, in this airplane, in this building. I claim this right as an heir to salvation.”
Isn’t it good to know you don’t have to depend on your own abilities for protection and deliverance? Get your angels involved in your life. God’s will is for you to enjoy everything He provided through Jesus on the cross, and He’s provided all the help you’ll ever need!
Watch Gloria Copeland and Billye Brim share how angels are working for you.
If you are a Christian, then you are probably familiar with the concept of giving. You know that Jesus gave His life for you and all of humanity, so we could be saved. You know the Bible tells you to tithe to your local church (Malachi 3:10). You probably even know that you should give to those ministries that feed you spiritually and give to take care of those less fortunate than you. But what about other ways to give that don’t involve money? If you think giving only has to do with money, then you are missing out. All around you…every day…there are ways you can give that don’t involve money.
1. Give Into the Lives of the People Around You
Galatians 6:7-10 says, “Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone–especially to those in the family of faith.”
Every day you have the choice to give, or sow, good things into the lives of those around you. You can sow seeds of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). When you give into the lives of those around you, you help them see Jesus. You help them see the difference that a relationship with Him can make. It can be even more powerful and life-changing than any altar call because it is God’s love in action.
So, when you correct a co-worker with kindness instead of anger and judgment, you are giving. When you have patience with your children and spouse, you are giving. When you listen to a stranger who is hurting, you are giving. These things cost nothing monetarily, but they can mean the world–and the salvation–to those involved.
2. Give Your Time
Most people admit to being busy–busy with family, work, church, school, little league practices, PTA and more. Often giving time can be even more difficult than writing a check, but each time you give–or sow–your time and energy into helping someone else in their times of need, you are giving.
Here are a few ways you can give your time:
Volunteer at your church
Deliver meals to the elderly or disabled
Hand out water to the homeless during the summer
Organize a coat drive for the homeless in winter
Collect food for a food pantry.
These are just a few of the ways you can give your time to help those in need and make a difference for the Kingdom.
3. Give Words of Encouragement
Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (KJV).The words you speak have the ability to build up or tear down.
These days, more and more people need a word of encouragement, spoken in faith, from God’s people. They need to know how much God cares for them, and you can be His voice in the world. You can play a vital part in letting them know how much He cares for them, and how their lives can be changed through faith in Him.
How can you give a word of encouragement? Here are just a few suggestions:
Eat lunch with a new co-worker or neighbor
Introduce yourself to (and get to know) a visitor at your church
Call a distant family member
Pray for those who are hurting
Send a card to a friend
Give an encouraging note to someone in need.
Opportunities to give are all around you… and they don’t have to involve money. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” As you go through your day, purpose to give to those around you–acts of kindness, your time and words of encouragement. It’ll cost you nothing more than your attention!
Everywhere you turn negativity pops up–news, social media, gossip columns, workplace water coolers, talk radio, even the family dinner table. If you’re not on guard, that negativity will color the way you look at your life, work, family and home. Now is the time to follow the words written by the Apostle Paul: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8). And to help you on your journey, here are five keys to help you stay positive in a hostile world.
1. Stay Positive by Avoiding Negativity Hot Spots
You control what you take into your mind, so avoid those places or things that feed you hostility, negativity and fear. Turn off the news and talk radio. Get off social media. Avoid celebrity magazines and gossip internet sites.
2. Stay Positive by Feeding Your Mind
Put positive teaching into your mind by listening to Spirit-led ministers and positive music. Also, consider learning something new–take up a new hobby, read about a new interest, or learn a new skill.
3. Stay Positive by Remaining Thankful
Make it a habit to thank God daily for something in your life. You may even choose to make this a dinnertime conversation, allowing each family member to list something good about his or her day.
4. Stay Positive by Walking Away From Workplace Gossip
No workplace is perfect, but if you constantly hear and feed on the gossip in your office, you’ll soon detest your job. Make the decision to speak positively about your workplace, and pray for your leaders.
5. Stay Positive by Encouraging Positive Relationships
The people you spend time with will affect how you think. Find Spirit-led friends who are positive and encouraging. If you don’t know any in your hometown, visit KCM’s Partner Communitywhere you will find like-minded believers who share your interests.
Patience has a twin–faith. Kenneth Copeland calls patience and faith “the power twins,” and with good reason. Often looked at as a giant goal to attain, patience is more like the vehicle that takes your faith to the finish line–where manifestation and victory are found. In fact, faith won’t get you where you want to go if patience isn’t there to undergird it, strengthen it and keep it from caving in. Hebrews 6:12 tells us that those who inherit the promises of God are those who employ both faith and patience in their journey.
Without patience you will give up and you’ll never see the answer you desire. Your faith will wear out. Without all the fruit of the spirit working together, you’ll quit before you get the manifestation. Answers don’t always come immediately. We sure wish they would–but they don’t.
However, you can’t just decide to have patience any more than you can decide to have faith. Yes, God gives everyone a measure of faith, but it has to be developed. Faith is developed by hearing, speaking and acting on the Word of God. And that takes practice! Patience is developed through tests and trials (James 1:3) and through practicing walking in the spirit to grow the fruit of the spirit, which includes patience.
If you don’t think you need to work on patience, the Bible has something to say to you! “For [you] have need of patience” (Hebrews 10:36, KJV).Some people may struggle more than others, but no one is perfect in this area. We all have need of patience, and that comes from an intentional effort to live and walk by the spirit–to practice patience every day.
If you want to get to the place where you can stand in faith as long as it takes to obtain the promise, you can get there! But if you aren’t operating in patience in every area of your life, it’s going to be very difficult to be patient while you wait for a manifestation. If you’re ready to make a change, here are three ways to practice patience every day.
1. Practice Patience by Letting Love Rule Your Life
What does love have to do with faith and patience? Everything. Patience includes enduring wrong and ill treatment without anger or the feeling of revenge. It means enduring with people as much as it means enduring through a trial. Love, joy, faith, patience–these are all interconnected. If one is missing, the others won’t work right, and you’ll be left wondering why you aren’t getting a manifestation. Patience springs from love. The Bible says “love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4).
So, if you want to have patience that fuels faith, you’ve got to be walking in love and showing patience to those around you. That means your life will reflect the following:
You don’t snap at people when they frustrate you.
You don’t make critical or rude remarks to others.
You are not easily angered.
You assume the best about others.
You don’t respond impatiently in stores or on the road.
You are a patient spouse and parent.
You don’t become frustrated by the passage of time in any given situation.
You don’t expect Christians to be perfect. You have patience with their spiritual growth, just as God has patience with you.
You have patience at all times and in all situations.
Lester Sumrall said, “Long-suffering (patience) is love on trial, love refined and selfishness conquered.” So, if you struggle with patience, you’re struggling with love. And if you don’t have patience working in you, you are not going to reveal a Christlike image to the world.
2. Practice Patience by Correcting Yourself Quickly
As you work to practice patience in every area of your life, you’re going to learn quickly that it takes time! But don’t give up–you can do it! The key is to practice patience by correcting yourself quickly. When you feel yourself responding impatiently, try the following quick tips to reroute your thoughts, words and behaviors:
Speak this out loud: “I am patient. I have the God kind of patience. I am extraordinarily patient.”
Be quick to apologize if you respond to anyone in an impatient manner.
Have a list of verses on hand about patience, love, kindness and perseverance to read throughout the day as a refresher.
When you’re tempted to be frustrated, stop and think of an alternate response rooted in love.
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you supernatural anointing to operate in patience–He wants you to have the fruit of His Spirit!
3. Practice Patience by Learning to Wait
It’s OK to wait. In this microwave society, it seems some people have forgotten that! Your time is no more important than anyone else’s, so learn to wait–wait in line, wait your turn in the parking lot, wait for someone who is moving slowly and do it patiently.
In the spirit realm, you must do the same. Once you’ve put seeds in the ground, it takes time for them to come up! The problem is, most believers don’t last that long. They start planting well enough, but then when they don’t see immediate results, when the bank account gets low and the rent is past due, they get discouraged and begin to speak words of lack and defeat. They tear up their crop with the words of their own mouths, and they never get to enjoy the fruit of it.
Determine not to let waiting frustrate or discourage you. Put patience to work. You’ll fuel your faith, increase your love, and you will receive your harvest.
When you practice patience in these three ways every day, it will begin to develop in your life. You’ll begin to see a change in the spirit realm. You’ll learn to be patient and wait for faith to bring the manifestation. You won’t be so easily moved by your circumstances because the love of God will be a driving force within you, you’ll know how to correct yourself quickly, and you’ll know that it’s OK to wait. Patience will bring you to the end of the promise. The longer you walk in faith and patience, the more victories you’ll enjoy!
Watch as Gloria Copeland talks about how patience completes the process of faith:
Applying the Word of God to your life and ministry is the key to success. But sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the hows and whys of applying God’s Word to any given situation. It isn’t meant to be difficult–it’s simple to see the power of God at work!
Years ago, a great man of God shared this three-step formula with Kenneth Copeland, and it has proven true many times over. If you will take these truths and apply them seriously, you will have success in every area of your life. Nothing can hold it back from you. Every Christian endeavor, no matter what it is, will succeed when it is backed with this kind of prayer and dedication, because God Himself is behind it.
Here is a three-step formula for success that you can apply to your life and ministry in faith.
Find the will of God concerning your situation.
That is the desire of most believers, but oftentimes, they just don’t know where to begin. You have the right to know God’s plan for your life. God’s Word is always His will. So, seek God by prayer and meditation in the Word concerning your specific situation. While you are seeking God’s will, ask questions of others if you must, but God’s Word is always the ultimate authority.
Confer no more with flesh and blood.
In other words, once you have determined what the will of God is, don’t ask any more questions. Don’t seek any more advice. Don’t hesitate. Just look to the Word and stand firmly on it. Certainly, the devil will come quickly and try to talk you out of it–don’t listen! Confer no more with flesh and blood. The world and the Word don’t always agree, and the world will come to you with “common sense” and “logic.” Remember–there are facts and then there is the TRUTH. Facts can be changed by the truth. You stand firmly on the truth and don’t budge.
Get the job done at all costs.
If God has called you to do something–no matter how impossible it may seem–then with God, you can do it! You are capable of doing anything the Word says you can do. You are what the Word says you are. Therefore, you can get the job done, so do it at all costs.
It’s likely that you will often find yourself in a position in which it will look so much easier to follow anything else other than the Word. Don’t do it! Put God’s Word first place in your life, and allow it to be final authority. You will have success. All of heaven’s resources–Almighty God, Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy Spirit, all the hosts of heaven–and everything in the Bible promises you that YOU WILL GET YOUR JOB DONE! AND GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED IN YOU!
When you put this three-step formula for success to work in your life and ministry, you will be standing solidly on a rock! No weapon formed against you will prosper. Nothing will be impossible for you. You are a child of the Most High God!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches you to believe, say and act on God’s Word!
Satan is a cruel, merciless being. He doesn’t care if you are 3 years old or 93. His ambition is to steal, kill and destroy, and he will do it if you let him. Satan will pressure you into acting on fear and then condemn you for it. He will push you into a corner until you act on his demands, and then he’ll bring you under condemnation and use it against you as long as you let him.
You need to realize that one thing leads to another when you cooperate with Satan. He will try to get you in deeper and deeper. He doesn’t play fair. You have to get to a place where you refuse to act on fear. Don’t cooperate with doubt. Don’t cooperate with despondency. Refuse to act on Satan’s demands. The following is biblical truth about how to respond when Satan attacks.
1. Make a Decision to Stand in Faith
When you make a decision to stand in faith, Satan will challenge you. Satan wants to steal the Word of God out of your mouth. If he can steal the Word, he can steal the promise. That’s the only way he can gain access to you. If you make up your mind ahead of time that you are not going to allow Satan to change your confession of faith, you won’t have such a struggle. But if you wait until he’s caught you off guard, you may have a mess to clean up, and while you’re doing that, he gains ground.
Have a strong will against the devil–strong purpose, intention and determination. Have bulldog faith, and keep the Word of God in your mouth–no matter what. Make a decision to stand and not be moved. As a result, you will be able to accomplish God’s will and receive what was promised.
2. Resist the Devil
James 4:7 (KJV) tells us what to do when the devil is lurking in the shadows of our lives: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” How do you resist him? Gloria Copeland says, “You resist him with the words of your mouth–the same way you submit to him.”
If you have submitted yourself to God’s Word, then you need to refuse to receive or give thought to anything that the devil throws your way. Gloria Copeland reminds us, “Your words either defeat you, or bring you victory.”
Go for victory! Watch your words. It’s the best way to resist the devil.
3. Give Your Attention to God’s Word
When Satan attacks, his main purpose is to divert your attention away from God’s Word and over to your circumstances. That’s why Proverbs 4:20-23 says this:
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Give your attention to the Word of God–it will give you peace, guidance and wisdom in times of trial. Gloria Copeland says, “The more attention you give God’s Word, the easier the other steps will be in resisting Satan’s attacks.”
4. Count It All Joy
This is a tough one because trials and attacks don’t feel joyful! But, there is a secret power in enduring through trials.
James 1:2-4 says: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
What happens when we count it all joy and endure with patience?
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12.)
When you trust in God’s covenant to provide what you need, you will be blessed! And, as Gloria Copeland has learned, “When you prove to Satan enough times that you will not compromise God’s Word, he will stay out of your way.”
Yes, you can learn how to respond when Satan attacks! You don’t have to sit idly by waiting for something to change. Make a decision to stand in faith, resist the devil, give your attention to God’s Word, and count it all joy when enduring trials. When you do, you will come out the victor and take all the spoils with you. Remember, the enemy has already been defeated–now go remind him of it!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches more about how to Take Your Authority Over the Devil.
There is a great ingathering of souls taking place before Christ’s return, and He has sent you to take your own unique place as a reaper in the harvest! Even the shyest person can take the good news of God’s love and reach people for Christ. You can easily and successfully share your faith in God’s Word of forgiveness and salvation with anyone you meet–and you can do it with confidence!
Soul winning is not complicated! In fact, the simpler you keep it, the more effective you will be when sharing the truths from God’s Word that will save and change people’s lives. Do you remember what pulled you out of the empty life you were living before Jesus came into your life? You were on an endless road going nowhere when someone talked to you. Someone invited you to church; maybe it was a co-worker. Or someone handed you a gospel tract. You are a witness of God’s love. Let’s never forget the time we got saved!
That’s the idea behind evangelism–to leave the people with whom you come into contact in a better place spiritually than before you met them.
If you are ready to develop your evangelism skills and fearlessly share the gospel to a lost and hurting world, use these five tips for sharing your faith from KCM Minister of Evangelism Riley Stephenson, and become the soul winner you know God has called you to be!
Watch evangelism training with Riley Stephenson at Kenneth Copeland Ministries in the video below:
Sharing Your Faith Tip No. 1–Don’t Debate
We are called to reap a harvest of people’s souls (Mark 16:15), not debate with other religions or even other Christian denominations. Many believers feel it’s their responsibility to “defend the Lord” when they’re witnessing. But our job is simply to give out His Word and to allow the Word to do the work. Remember, His Word is His power (Romans 1:16). Going beyond that by arguing and debating is a distraction and a time-waster, and it should be avoided. So, don’t debate! Just share the truth in love.
Sharing Your Faith Tip No. 2–Have Good Timing
When someone is working or obviously in the middle of something that requires their full attention, that’s not the time to start sharing the gospel. That will only frustrate people and turn them off to your message. To be effective, be sure to have good timing. Even when people seem available, purpose to make it short and sweet. Riley Stephenson’s soul winning card takes less than three minutes.
Sharing Your Faith Tip No. 3–Don’t Overuse Christian Jargon
When witnessing to the unsaved, it’s important not to speak “Christianese.” In other words, using a lot of words that are familiar only in Christian circles, or using too many Christian “catch phrases” is almost like speaking a foreign language to those with whom you are sharing!
The unsaved have difficulty enough understanding or discerning these things without confusing them with words like “hallelujah,” or “I’m saved and sanctified,” or “I’m redeemed.” However, the Spirit of God can minister life to them if we’ll keep our message very simple and direct, don’t use Christian jargon, and deliver it with compassion instead of in a “preachy” way.
Sharing Your Faith Tip No. 4–Leave Something in Their Hands
It’s a good idea to leave a tract of some kind with people that they can read later. You can keep them in your car, wallet or purse. Remember, a tract is not a substitute for sharing the good news personally and praying the prayer of salvation with others. Nevertheless, it is an important evangelism tool.
There will be times when you will not be able to share what’s on the pocket card or pray with the person. For example, you might catch a businessperson on his or her way to a meeting. In a case like that, it’s wonderful to be able to leave something in their hands and say, “Read this when you get a chance.”
Sharing Your Faith Tip No. 5– Be Friendly and Smile!
Have fun sharing the Word of God with others! After all, it’s not you saving the person or doing the work. God’s Word is His power, and He does the work. Your only job is to share God’s Word and pray. God will do the rest, transforming people’s hearts from darkness to light!
Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly….” People will not be open to you or your message if you are unfriendly toward them. So, determine to be friendly and smile, and allow the joy of Jesus to shine from your heart outward to others. Your joy will be contagious and difficult to resist!
Using these five tips for sharing your faith will help you “keep it simple” and speak the truth in love, giving the Lord room to work His wonders in the hearts and lives of the people He came to save! The how-tos of soul winning are not complicated. In fact, the simpler we can keep things, the more effective we’ll be at communicating the very simple truths from God’s Word that will save and change people’s lives…forever!
Fasting is a willingness to separate yourself from the things of this world and put your focus solely on the Lord. It has been a powerful spiritual tool used by Christians and ministry leaders the world over and was modeled in biblical contexts throughout Scripture in times of trial, in seeking divine direction, and for deliverance from sin and evil.
The spiritual benefits and rewards of fasting are clear. But not only does it open the door to greater revelation through the Holy Spirit, our bodies are actually designed to live a fasted lifestyle. According to Dr. Don Colbert, fasting provides many health benefits, as well. Before you begin a fast, it is important to put yourself in a position to receive from God spiritually. You can do this by using this six-step checklist for fasting.
1. Decide the type of fast.
If you’ve been desiring to embark on a spiritual fast but haven’t known when it is appropriate or where to start, the first thing you want to do is decide the type of fast you want to do and for how long. You can approach a spiritual fast several different ways: A fast doesn’t have to be long. It can be one meal, 24 hours, three days or longer, as the Lord leads.*
You may participate in a corporate fast or an individual fast.
A regular fast involves abstaining from all food and only drinking water.
A juice fast includes abstaining from all food, but allows for drinking fruit juices and herbal tea.
A partial fast involves fasting particular items, such as coffee and desserts, or restricting your eating to vegetables only, for example.
*People who are pregnant or have health problems should consult their doctors before fasting from food. For more information, see Dr. Don Colbert’s advice on how to stay healthy while fasting.
Some people are concerned about the discomfort of going without food. Certainly, this is part of learning to subdue your flesh, resist temptation and hear God more clearly. But keep in mind, the more often you fast, the easier it will become. It is meant to be a lifestyle–something that is done regularly, and when you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, God will give you the grace to overcome the flesh.
2. Decide the purpose of the fast.
No matter what you are seeking from the Lord, decide the purpose of the fast before you begin. Find God’s promises that cover your situation, and believe you receive before the fast begins. If you are seeking revelation, expect to receive it. If you need deliverance, determine to receive it during your time of fasting.
3. Proclaim your fast before the Lord.
To proclaim your fast before the Lord, simply open your fast in prayer–dedicating this time to Him and expressing a desire to fellowship with Him. Whether proclaimed or personal, it must be declared before God. Otherwise, you will be tempted to break it. This must be a decision of quality. Say, “Father, with You as my Helper, in the Name of Jesus, I have settled this today, and until this time tomorrow food will not pass my lips.” Once you have made that firm commitment, you will stick by it.
4. Believe you receive the reward of the fast.
The reward will probably be related to the first step. The purpose of the fast will have a great deal to do with the rewards involved. If you are fasting for revelation knowledge, the reward would be receiving the knowledge you desire. The key is to believe you receive the reward!
5. Minister to the Lord during your fast.
A biblical fast is a precious time for a believer to minister to the Lord. How? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16, KJV).One of the best things you can do to learn how to minister to the Lord during your fast is to read and pray from the Psalms because the Psalms speak of God’s mighty works.
When you begin to praise and minister to Him, He will get involved with you! You need to fellowship with Him. He needs to hear praise and thanksgiving–and so does your spirit!
6. Minister to others after the fast.
As God leads, it’s always a good idea to minister to others after your fast. If you fast according to the Word of God, you will be spiritually built up, and now you can use the spiritual power within you to meet the needs of other people.
You may be tempted to think after your fast, Well, I’m never going to fast again. I didn’t receive a thing from God during the whole time I was on that fast. Yes, you did. Now, minister to other people, and you will find out that you did receive from God. As you minister, you will see that the power of God is great upon you!
When you use this six-step checklist for fasting according to God’s Word, you will see and reap the results of your spiritual fast for years to come. You will think that you must surely be the most blessed person in the world. Things will come to you for which you have not even prayed or asked God. And as with any biblical fast, your Father will reward you!
Watch as Kenneth Copeland and Dr. Don Colbert talk more about how to handle food God’s way, including the health benefits of fasting.
When you were born again, you weren’t half-reborn, you weren’t made half-righteous or a quarter righteous. You were made the righteousness of God in Christ! You were made a “joint heir with Him.” According to Strong’s Concordance, the term joint heir refers to “a personal equality based on an equality of possession.” But do you know the benefits of being righteous?
Jesus went to the cross to give you what He already possessed. He rose again so you could be re-created in His image. You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.
It doesn’t matter how badly you may have messed things up yesterday or how many mistakes you have made, you can begin this day knowing you are righteous! Not because of anything you’ve done but because you’ve received, by faith in Jesus, the very righteousness of God.
Just look at all the benefits that being righteous will bring. God’s Word says:
“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” –Psalm 92:12(NKJV)
“The seed of the righteous shall be delivered.” -Proverbs 11:21(KJV)
“The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” -1 Peter 3:12 (KJV)
“You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” -Psalm 5:12 (NKJV)
“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” -Psalm 34:17 (NKJV)
“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” -Psalm 37:25 (NKJV)
“The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.” –Psalm 37:29(NKJV)
Don’t let the devil rob you of even one of these blessings by telling you you’re unworthy of them. Run him off. Shout out loud, “I am the righteousness of God!” Then step out in faith and enjoy the privileges God has prepared for you!
Once you dare to accept that fact, your life will be forever changed. You’ll no longer be satisfied to just sit around whining and wishing things were different. You’ll want to step up to the position of authority that Jesus has given you, take your rightful place beside Him, and learn to operate the way He does.
If you’ll receive that message, if you’ll dare to believe it, if you’ll dare to put it into action, it will radically alter your life. As one who has been made the righteousness of God, you can enjoy the benefits of the righteous. It will take you from religion to reality!
Watch Kenneth Copeland and Bill Winston teach on how you are righteous in God’s eyes.
Faith is a powerful force. Everything that happens to us supernaturally happens by faith. Somewhere, somehow, someone has to release faith for the supernatural to happen in our lives.
Faith, as powerful as it is, won’t accomplish anything as long as it’s just sitting inside us. So, whether it’s getting us born again or getting us healed, whether it’s avoiding a financial disaster or avoiding a fatal car wreck, faith must be released.
You can develop the faith you need to do the impossible! No matter what God has called you to do or what godly desires He has placed in you, strong and active faith is what you need to accomplish them. Build your faith, then release it to see BIG results in your life!
Understanding the depth and power of faith will give you confidence to operate in it every single day.
Here are 25 faith essentials every Christian needs to know:
2. We walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
3. It is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
4. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
5. Faith is of the heart and not the head. (Romans 10:10)
6. Faith is both a creative and a destructive force. (Genesis 1:3; Mark 11:23)
7. Faith is released by words. We must speak the Word only. (2 Corinthians 4:13; Matthew 8:5-10)
8. Faith begins where the will of God is known. (1 John 5:14-15)
9. Faith stops at the question mark. (James 1:5-8)
10. Your faith will never rise above the level of your confession. The stronger your confession, the stronger your faith will become. (Proverbs 18:7, 21)
11. Faith focuses on the desired result–not the dreaded outcome. (Isaiah 46:9-10)
12. Every born-again believer has the God kind of faith. (Romans 12:1-3)
13. Every born-again believer has the right to use his or her faith. (Mark 11:23)
14. Faith must be developed by exercise, use and action. (Hebrews 12:2; James 1:22-25, 2:17)
15. Meditation in the Word builds a capacity for greater faith. (Psalm 1; Joshua 1:8)
16. You can use your faith like a mechanic uses a wrench–on purpose. (Mark 4:35-41)
17. Your faith can grow exceedingly. (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
18. Our faith is the victory that overcomes and conquers the world. (1 John 5:4)
19. Faith works by love. (Galatians 5:6)
20. Faith calls things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)
21. Faith says, “I see it now.” If you can see it, you can have it. (Joshua 1:8)
22. Faith says, “I take it now.” What God provides by His grace, we lay hold of and take with our faith. (Mark 11:24)
23. Faith says, “I have it now.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)
24. The greatest faith is faith in God’s Word and its authority alone, not demanding any physical evidence of proof. (Matthew 8:5-13)
25. Faith gives praise and thanksgiving while waiting for the manifestation of the desired result. (Philippians 4:4-7; Psalm 34:1)
Now declare out loud, “My faith is awake, alive, activated, working, vibrant, strong, stirred up and growing exceedingly; and is producing victorious results. I release my faith for the overflow in every area of my life.”
When you understand and meditate on the power of faith through these 25 essentials about faith every Christian needs to know, you will stir up a faith inside you that will bring results. Remember–no Word, no faith. Ten percent WORD, 10 percent faith, 10 percent results. One hundred percent WORD, 100 percent results. That’s the definition of walking by faith. Now take your faith and put it to work!
If you’ve been standing on the Word of God for finances, healing, a family relationship–or anything else–but haven’t seen a manifestation, there might be a very good reason. You see, the love of God is unconditional, but His promises are not. Even salvation is attached to a prerequisite–an “if”–which we see in Romans 10:9 where it says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (NKJV).
So, when you feel like you’re in a spiritual stalemate, go to the Word of God and find the “if” that leads to your promise. Go with an open heart, willing to change, willing to be obedient, willing to be real about where you might be missing it. That’s how you get over the bump in the road, the place where you feel you’ve been sitting for eons longer than you ever imagined.
The following is a list of “If…thens” in the Bible that pertain to specific promises. Spend time meditating on each one. Ask the Lord to give you revelation into where you might need to make an adjustment. Then get to work, and get moving toward your promise again!*
The Promise of Prosperity
1. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)
2. “If you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.” (Deuteronomy 11:13-15)
3. “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
4. “The Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance– only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments.” (Deuteronomy 15:4-5)
5. “The Lord your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good…. if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 30:9-10)
The Promise of Divine Health and Healing
1. “So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments…then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:14)
2. “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)
The Promise of Favor and Promotion
1. “If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1)
2. “And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” (Deuteronomy 28:13)
3. “…. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:5-10)
The Promise of Guidance and Wisdom
1. “If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)
2. “If you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, ifyou cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1-5)
For Every Promise
1. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)
2. “If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.” (Matthew 21:21)
3. “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
4. “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)
5. “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
The Promise of Fellowship With Him
1. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14)
2. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
3. “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” (2 Timothy 2:12)
4. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
5. “If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)
6. “We know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3)
7. “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12)
Notice that most of the “ifs” are centered around obedience to God’s Word–not just some of His commands–all of them. Any area of disobedience–unforgiveness, failing to walk in love, dishonesty, strife, envy–will get in between you and your promise. So, determine to fulfill your end of the deal! Study the “ifs” and take a good, honest look at what you can work to correct. Then, buckle your seat belt because you’re about to launch into the promise!
*All verses are taken from the New King James Version.
Who is Jesus to you? The Gospel of John records seven times when Jesus referred to Himself as “I AM.” Each of these verses reveals an aspect of who Jesus is, and He wants to be these things to you. As you read the seven ways Jesus is your I AM, take each of these verses and make them personal in your relationship with Him. Receive Him as your I AM!
1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35)
According to minister and Greek scholar Rick Renner, the word bread in the Old Testament Greek Septuagint is the word manna, which describes a heavenly provision of supernatural sustenance like bread.
In his book Sparkling Gems From the Greek Volume II, Renner says of this provision, “We don’t always know how He imparts His divine supply to us, but we are thankful when He does. With each touch of His hand on our spirits, bodies and minds, we are strengthened, refilled and replenished. It is supernatural provision! And God superabundantly supplies whatever we need.”
That is what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the bread of life.” He is our Source of supply, not only for natural needs, but for supernatural provision. He is EVERYTHING you’ll ever need.
2. “I am the light of the world.”(John 8:12)
Light is the ultimate power of all material things. It is at the center of all. When you were born again, you were reconnected to the light Source–the light of life; the light energy of God; life.
But if you aren’t walking in the light intentionally and staying out of darkness, you can go to church every day, and you might occasionally get a little glimpse of light here and there, but it’ll quickly leave you. The first time you get under pressure, you’ll walk away from the light.
Jesus says He is the Light of the world. To let Him be the Light to you, you’ve got to stay in it with a determined purpose.
3. “I am the door.”(John 10:9, NKJV)
A door represents the entrance to a specific place. In this case, the place is salvation and a prosperous life. Notice the verse says the door, not a door, or one of the doors. He is the one and only Door to salvation. Verses 9-10 continue, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 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.”
In the literal sense, a shepherd who keeps sheep acts as a door. No sheep can get out and no enemy can come in except over his body. Once you have entered the door of salvation through Jesus, you enter into a supernatural protection from the enemy, as well.
You ought to be living in heaven on earth right now instead of hell on earth. If you come through the door, it doesn’t matter where you go in this world, you are going to find pasture. It’s not dependent on anyone else. It’s not dependent on whom you work for. It’s not dependent on what you do for a living. It belongs to you.
You don’t get through the door by works or water baptism–you get through the door by faith in Jesus. When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, let Him keep you safe and prosper you behind that door.
4. “I am the good shepherd.”(John 10:11)
A shepherd guides and leads. A shepherd keeps sheep on the right path, protects them, and provides for them. Jesus is describing Himself in the same way. How does He guide, protect and provide for you?
In John 10:27, He said, “My sheep hear my voice” (KJV).You can settle that right now. Jesus is speaking to you all the time. He is guiding you. But you have to listen. Be willing. Spend time with Him, and then tune in. He’ll keep you on the right path and help you live life abundantly.
5. “I am the resurrection and the life.”(John 11:25)
When He says “I am the resurrection,” He is saying, “I am the Anointing.” He is the Anointing of power that overcomes any situation–even death itself. When you’re looking at Jesus, you’re looking at the Resurrection, you’re looking at the Bank, you’re looking at Healing, you’re looking at promises that go far beyond anything you could ever dream of.
When He raised Lazarus from the dead, He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He is the power over death–He is Life itself. That’s what He is to you–eternal Life and healed, whole and prosperous Life here on earth.
6. “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. You don’t have to live life confused or in distress. If you have a need or a problem, His Word is the answer. When you face temptation, God always matches it with a way of escape or the way to defeat it.
So, when you say, “There’s no way!” Jesus says, “I am the Way.” When you follow Him, you can be sure you’re always on the right path. Stick with Him. Don’t turn to the world’s ways–those lead to death and destruction.
“I am the way…. No man can come to the Father except through me.” You don’t have to know where you are going–you just need to know who you are following. What Jesus did at Calvary for you will always supply your every need.
7. “I am the vine.” (John 15:5, NKJV)
He is our Vine. What does that mean? Jesus continues, “You are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
“Without Me you can do nothing.” Why? Because there’s no anointing without Him. In other words, who bears the fruit, the vine or the branch? The vine enables the branch to bear fruit. In the same way, He enables you to bear fruit. What kind of fruit? Healing, prosperity, overflow, strong family relationships, promotion, increase, love, peace, joy (to name a few).
To be connected to the Vine, you must abide in Him and He in you. That is a connection that can only come from spending enough time in the Word and in prayer that the Word becomes more real on the inside of you than anything else on this planet.
Spend some time meditating on the seven ways Jesus is your I AM. When you begin to believe that Jesus is your Source, you will live the way He intended from the beginning. You can have every good and perfect gift, you can live in overflow, and you can walk in victory!
The path to victory is one we all must walk to arrive at our destination. Of course, most of us would really like to skip right to the end without making all the necessary stops. But it doesn’t work that way! To receive from God and see breakthrough in our lives, we must first follow the path laid out for us in the Word of God.
Your first stop on the path to victory is–LOVE. Keeping God’s commands is a prerequisite to receiving from Him, and God says love is keeping His commandments. But God has done more than require love–He’s given you instructions so you can know how to love as He loves.
All you have to do is follow what He says, and you’ll be walking in love.
If you’ve made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, you’ve already taken the first step of obedience. The love of God has been born within you. But, unless you decide to take steps to develop it, that love will remain hidden within you.
Love is a decision! In fact, it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Here are four ways you can start walking in love today.
1. Decide to forgive.
One of the most important aspects of the love walk is forgiveness. You simply can’t walk in love toward others if you are holding onto bitterness and grudges. Spiritually speaking, unforgiveness is downright dangerous. It will make your spirit feeble and your prayers ineffective. Unforgiveness will pull the plug on your faith so completely that you won’t have enough power to move the molehills in your life–much less the mountains.
So, decide today to forgive anyone whom you haven’t yet, and determine to instantly forgive those who cause you harm in the future. When you do, you’ll keep the door wide open for blessing!
2. Decide to hold your tongue.
Love isn’t rude or critical. It doesn’t need to tell everyone what it thinks all the time. That’s why Proverbs 10:19 tells us, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” In other words, if you don’t say anything, you’re less likely to fall into sin and step out of love.
Choose today to change how you talk. Refuse to criticize anyone or gossip. Let your words be edifying only. Be a blessing!
3. Decide to believe the best.
Love believes the best about others. You can decide today to start looking at people the way God does. Don’t assume the person rushing past you at the airport is being rude–perhaps he has a family emergency or is about to miss his flight. Don’t assume the person who looks at you a certain way is someone you won’t like or is untrustworthy. And don’t take gossip at face value. Every story sounds true until you hear the other side (Proverbs 18:17). Begin today to believe the best about others, and watch as your love grows!
4. Decide to not get offended.
What do you do or say when someone cuts you off in traffic? What about when someone criticizes you or speaks rudely to you? Being offended can actually become a habit in your life if you don’t pay attention. Without knowing it, you’ll be on the lookout for those who might dare to offend you. Don’t be that person!
The love line is very narrow. The devil wants to get you off it, so he can take what’s yours. Don’t let him! Remember, taking offense never comes from God. He says we’re to be rooted and grounded in love. So, reject those feelings of offense. Give yourself to that person in love and in prayer. You’ll be able to walk right on through that situation without ever stumbling at all. No matter what–stay on the love line!
When you put these four tips into practice, you’ll become more and more proficient at walking in love and be one step closer to VICTORY. It will keep the airways clear for your prayers and open the door to the supernatural. More importantly, you’ll find you have a newfound peace and joy in your heart–one that will fuel your love for years to come!
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (NKJV).
Have you ever seen wood when it has first been cut for furniture? It’s rough and full of splinters, and it’s nothing you’d want to sit on! But then come the finishing touches–sanding, whittling, smoothing. The artist takes a rough block of wood and turns it into something smooth and beautiful–a finished product.
When we are first born again, we are a bit like that rough, splintery block of wood. Jesus authors our faith when we are born again, but we aren’t quite finished! Jesus is the Author and the Developer of our faith. He is the finish Man.
Can we ever really be finished? Well, the Greek word for finisher is also translated developer. That’s what happens when we put our faith on the line–the Developer comes on the scene to finish our faith. But we must allow Him to do it.
Here are three ways you can actively allow Jesus to finish your faith.
1. Lay Aside Every Weight
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) tells us Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith.” But in verse 1, it gives us instruction to “lay aside very weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.”
That’s the first step in allowing Jesus to be the Finisher of your faith. He’s already the Author of your faith–we all have the same measure of faith deposited into us when we become born again. Your part is to walk in faith by laying aside every weight, which is anything that holds you back from getting where God is taking you. That can be sin, or it can also be bad relationships, a poor use of time, or a lack of time with Him.
Whatever is holding you back may not be obvious right now, so go to God in prayer and turn on your spiritual ears. Be willing to hear what He reveals. Then, whatever it is–get rid of it! Get excited about laying aside very weight. It’s the only way He can finish what He has begun in you.
2. Look to Him.
Hebrews 12:2 says we must look to Him to be the Finisher of our faith. That’s the way we run the race–looking to Him. We can’t look in the natural realm. We can’t even look at our own natural abilities. God’s not counting on our natural abilities. He’s counting on His ability in us to do the job.
When Peter got out of the boat, he actually had to walk on the water to get close enough for Jesus to pull him up. When he started looking in the wrong places–looking at natural circumstances–that’s when he started to sink. As long as he looked at Jesus, he walked on the water, but when he started looking at the wind and the sea, he started to sink.
That’s what stops us from achieving what God has for us–when we look away from Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and look at circumstances instead. We begin to look at our own failure, our own ability, our symptoms, our bank account. Then we start to sink.
You can’t look at the wind and the sea. You have to look at the Master. Look at the One who called you. Looking to Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith. That’s the way you run the race and win.
3. Die to Yourself.
God will never start something that He cannot finish. The promises of healing, living debt-free, restoring family relationships–God has every intention of bringing those promises to pass. As far as God is concerned, they’re already done.
Your part?
Die to yourself and allow Jesus to fully develop your faith (1 Corinthians 15:1). That means you release everything to Him, hand Him the reins, and fully surrender. You set aside what you want in the moment and focus on God alone. It means your own desires are not at the forefront of your mind–God is. That can be tough! But it’s how you demonstrate your faith.
Now that you know how to allow Jesus to be the Finisher of your faith through laying aside every weight, looking to Him and dying to yourself, you are on your way to a powerful faith life! Whatever you’re believing for, He is waiting to help you get there. Keep believing, keep surrendering, and believe that God is going to finish what He started in you!
Always need to have the last word? Can’t stand it when you can’t respond to a criticism? Have trouble avoiding gossip?
It’s time for a crash course in holding your tongue! By your words you are justified, by your words you are condemned–so don’t condemn yourself!
Your tongue is the way to victory or destruction. Choose life. Choose victory. Choose God’s way. Choose to hold your tongue.
Here are five quick tips for holding your tongue, no matter what the situation.
1. Recite scriptures in your mind.
The temptation to speak can sometimes feel like more than we can bear! But it isn’t. God says He will always give us a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). So, when you find yourself wanting to criticize, snap back at someone, gossip or speak anything against the Word of God–STOP. Begin reciting scriptures and confessions over and over in your mind. Try these:
Wisdom is silent. -Proverbs 29:11
Love is not easily angered. -1 Corinthians 13:5
Lord, set a guard over my mouth. -Proverbs 17:28
I only speak what is edifying and encouraging. -Ephesians 4:29
2. Forgive instantly.
Are you quick to forgive? Or are you someone who knows you have to and eventually will, but first hold onto the grudge as long as you think you can? Friend, unforgiveness spells trouble in more ways than one. It will keep you from walking in love, block your blessings, and cause even more sin through words you’ll later regret.
To avoid saying something in the moment when someone insults or offends you, forgive instantly. You might say, “That’s going to take some serious work.” Did you know you can forgive by faith? God is always ready to help you obey His Word. Ask Him to help you forgive by faith. Then, your words will fall in line with His will.
3. Love your way out of it.
You can love your way out of temptation. Did you know that? Love is the key to victory. Love is the answer to everything you need and want. Love opens the way wide and clear for God to move and work. When you are walking in love, holding your tongue will become easier every day. You won’t have those feelings on the inside that cause you to slip up with your words. You just won’t want to say those things anymore!
As you work toward this place, when a situation arises where you feel tempted to speak an unkind, harsh or critical word–pause in the natural. Begin to think about the love of God that is shed abroad in your heart (Romans 5:5). Say in your heart, I surround this person with faith and love. I have the love of God on the inside of me. I walk in love and honor His command to do so right now in this moment.
Watch how love will douse strife, fear, and anger in you and those around you. It really will amaze you.
4. Stay silent.
The world enjoys a good debate. You don’t have to look far to find people across the world who are eager to share their opinions. In a world of television, social media and idle chatter, finding someone who remains quiet is rare.
Remember this: Anyone can spout off his opinions. It takes wisdom to know when to be quiet. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (NKJV). Sure, there are times to speak up, but there is power in silence to douse the fire of strife and keep from entering into sin. Of the many times Jesus was attacked, criticized and accused, there were times when He would respond, but there were many times when He remained silent.
In your life, when all else fails, there’s a foolproof way to hold your tongue–stay silent! That can be a challenge like no other, but you can do it! If your husband or wife or anyone in your life is telling you just what they think, insulting you left and right–button your lips and hold on tight. Don’t give in. You may have the perfect comeback, but it isn’t perfect if it isn’t said in love.
James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (NIV).
Next time someone tries to pick a fight with you or comes at you harshly, stay silent and watch how fast the fire dies down.
5. Walk away from gossip.
Maybe you were raised in a family of women who call each other on the phone to gossip or spend family gatherings dishing about the latest scandal. Or perhaps there is a group of people that like to gossip after church, and they want to include you. Did you know that even if you don’t participate, you’re on dangerous ground?
The Bible warns us about those who gossip:
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” -Proverbs 20:19, NIV
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” -Proverbs 16:28, NIV
“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” -Proverbs 11:12, ESV
In other words, if you spend time with someone who gossips, you are participating in divisive activities. Just as you wouldn’t hang around while someone used curse words, so too should you walk away when gossip starts.
When you aren’t around those who gossip, you’ll find it much easier to resist the temptation to do so yourself. When the temptation comes to share information or opinions about others–make the choice–DON’T. If you’re concerned about someone, don’t talk to others about it, just pray for that person. Bring God into the equation, not meddlers.
When you put these 5 tips into practice, you’ll become more and more proficient at holding your tongue and staying far away from sin. It will help you walk in love and keep the airways clear for your prayers. More importantly, you’ll find you have a newfound peace and joy in your heart–one you won’t hesitate to talk about!
It takes more than just reading the Bible to grow spiritually. When you learn how to meditate on the Word of God, you can move into a believing faith that always receives!
Do you ever have trouble believing the Word of God? Not just agreeing with it mentally, but really believing that what it says will work for you?
There are times when the promises in the Word can stagger the mind. We can feel so defeated and the circumstances around us can look so bad, it can be tough to believe we are “more than conquerors” even though God says we are.
What can you do when your mind staggers at a promise of God? You can meditate on that promise. When you learn how to meditate on what God says, you can move into a believing faith that always receives!
What does meditate mean? The dictionary defines meditate as to “think deeply or carefully about something.” So, when you find a promise from God that’s hard to believe, that’s when you want to think deeply about it. Joshua 1:8 says, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
Here are five steps to help you learn how to meditate on the Word of God.
1. Set yourself before the Lord.
When you set yourself before the Lord, you are submitting to His Word, His instruction and His authority. You are inviting Him to minister to your heart. To help prepare your heart for what He wants to speak to you, try spending some time quietly praying in the spirit. Acknowledge the integrity of His Word, and be open to whatever He wants to reveal to you.
2. Forgive.
Unforgiveness, strife, bitterness and anger will block so many things in your life–your blessings, your peace and your ability to hear from the Lord. To meditate on the Word and to receive from it, you must first forgive. Part of that means obeying God’s command to put away anger.
Take the time to say, “Anger, in the Name of Jesus, you leave me. You get down from any place of authority. I take complete authority over anger, and I command you to not operate until it is biblically correct for you to operate.”
Once you’ve forgiven and put away anger, you will be in position to hear from the Lord as you study His Word.
3. Dwell on the Word of God.
Scriptural meditation simply means thinking about and reflecting on the Word of God. It means pondering a particular scripture and mentally applying it to your own circumstances again and again until that scripture permanently marks your consciousness. Don’t just read a verse. No, stop and camp there for a while. Dissect it. Let the Holy Spirit give you revelation about that verse. Let it convict you, sharpen you, refine you and encourage you. Don’t just read it and walk away. Let it change you.
That kind of meditation can affect your life in a way that almost nothing else can. It can, quite literally, alter your mind and renew it to the truth of God’s Word. Read Romans 12:2.
4. Apply the Word personally.
When you need healing, for example, take the time to think again and again on the Word. You will begin to paint a profile of yourself in your spirit that lines up with the Word of God. Then, instead of wondering what you’re going to do when you need healing, your spirit already knows you have it, so you’ll begin to act on it. You’ll receive it.
To meditate on the Word means you make it your first source, your first line of defense, and the final word on any matter you’re facing.
5. Let the Word mold and reform your thoughts.
This is what meditation is all about–taking time to envision the promise of God until it becomes a reality inside you. It’s tremendously powerful, and by focusing on the scriptural promises God has given you, you can put it to work in your life. As you meditate, you will renew your mind to the truth in His Word. It will change you and refine you and the way you respond to situations.
When you let the Word mold and reform your thoughts, you’ll know what to do in any situation. You’ll deal wisely in the affairs of life, and adopt courage and strength. You’ll have the confidence to do whatever the Word says, no matter what anyone else thinks.
How can meditating on the Word of God change your life?
When David was meditating on the Word of God, even when he had opportunity to kill Saul, he wouldn’t do it, because he knew that Saul was anointed by God, and it would be dishonoring to God’s Word to do so. He made right decisions, and he was blessed and prospered. But, when he stopped meditating on the Word of God, he got in trouble. He broke God’s commandments when he fell into sin with Bathsheba and then committed murder. So much trouble ensued when he was not meditating on the Word.
Meditating on the Word will prosper you and keep you safe in the will of God. John 15:7 says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (NIV).
Real faith is built on the Word. We should meditate on the Word: Dig deeply into it and feed on it. Then, the Word will become a part of us just as natural food becomes a part of our physical bodies when we eat. We must feed upon the Word until acting on the Word is all we want to do.
Don’t just read the Word. Use these steps to meditate on it today.
