Trusting God's Process - August 8, 2014

21 Days of Prayer - Day – 5  Joshua 1-6  God’s Process!

Understand this, the Victory or Breakthough we are praying for is not an event, it’s a process and God likes the process. So, trust the process.

Joshua is about to lead the Israelites into the new land. The people go through a preparation process of getting ready (Joshua 2-5). They are now ready to take Jericho.

However, taking Jericho was not an event either, it was a process. God could have taken the city in one day but He wants us to appreciate His timing, His process.

Joshua 6:1 says the doors of the city were bolted, no one could get in or get out.

Three things to learn about God’s process:

1)    V. 2  God’s promise is always in His process.  In v.2 God had given the city though it was not yet a reality. That’s God’s promise. God’s promise is always in His process. So we must trust the promise.  Knowing.. The word of God is True!

 

2)  V. 20 There is tremendous power in the process. When God moves there is great power. The people marched around the city 7 times, on the 7th time shouting and the walls falling down.  Make room for the supernatural to happen when you trust God’s process. God is able!

 

3)  V. 24-25 There is always purpose in God’s process and promise. The walls falling down didn’t just let Israel in, it also let Rahab out (verse 1 no one could get in or get out).

 

The scope of your breakthrough or victory blesses you but also benefits others.

 

So let’s continue to praise God for His process. Trust in His promises, look and claim His power, praying for the supernatural, and knowing  and praising Him for His purposes.

 

Posted on August 8, 2014 .

Life and Death - May 5, 2014

 

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

I hope that “Loving God, loving people, and loving life” becomes a defining theme at Better Life Church. It expresses our personal passion to build a healthy church full of healthy people who have a relationship with God.

I am a positive person and desire so much for this to flow through our congregation that people say, “it is so positive there.”  This, I pray, will serve as a contrast to those who think that the “church” is a place that is dead and lifeless. Sadly, there are some churches that were once thriving places of worship but have degenerated to a state of ill-health. Somewhere along the line they began to lose the spark of life.

The analogy between the Church and a human body is scriptural, yet the “body of Christ” was never meant to represent a dead, lifeless corpse. Instead, we should reflect a body that is pulsating with life, energy and creativity – the image of the very Source of Life Himself.

Jesus is synonymous with life. Everything about Him points towards healing and wholeness but there are some who blame God for their ill health. I have never found scripture that says His will for us is sickness. On the contrary, Jesus said: “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.” (John 10:10)

The elements of an abundant life don’t include suffering and sickness. Death and destruction is the desire of the devil. Jesus referred to him as a “thief” and he will always try to rob us of the life God intends for us.

During our lives, we will find ourselves facing the health hazards the devil throws our way. These could be attacks against our physical bodies, emotions, relationships, and even our churches.

The good news is that God has ensured that we are well equipped and positioned to win. The Bible provides us with the wisdom we need to sustain health and life across the spectrum of our lives.

**adopted from “How to Maximize Your Life”, by Brian Houston, p. 159-160

Posted on May 6, 2014 .

Take Action - April 11, 2014

"Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6

I have heard that there are two types of people in the world; the ones who wait for something to happen and  the ones who make something happen. One of the few mistakes we cannot recover from is the mistake of never being willing to make one in the first place! God works through our faith, not our fear. Don't sit on the sidelines of life wishing you were doing the things you see other people doing. Take action and enjoy life!

If a person is naturally introverted or extroverted, they will always have greater tendencies toward that natural trait - and that is not wrong. However, we can have the life we desire and still not deny who we are. So search your heart and ask yourself what you believe God wants you to do-and then do it. Where He guides, He always provides. If God is asking you to step out into something that is uncomfortable for you, I can assure you that when you take the step of faith, you will find Him walking right beside you.

When you want to do something, don't let yourself think about all the things that could go wrong. Be positive and think about the exciting things that can happen. Your attitude makes all the difference in your life. Have a positive, aggressive, take-action attitude, and you will enjoy your life more. It may be difficult at first, but it will be worth it in the end.

Thought: What sideline have you been sitting on, just wishing and waiting? What's keeping you from trusting God? Take action! You can do something today with the courage God gives you! 

(reprinted from Joyce Meyer, "Trusting God Day by Day", Faith Words pub. 2012, p.120)

Posted on April 11, 2014 .