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Mondays with Marilyn

Mondays with Marilyn Blog

Triumph and Victory

NOW THANKS BE TO GOD WHO ALWAYS LEADS US IN TRIUMPH IN CHRIST…

-2 Corinthians 2:14

Nine years after David was anointed to be king, he was an outcast of Israel! He was living in a Philistine city, Ziklag, with several hundred of his men and their families. “Ziklag” means “overwhelming despair.” What a place for the future king of Israel to live!

One day after returning home to Ziklag, David and his men found that all their wives, children and possessions had been stolen by the Amalekites. David’s men picked up stones to stone him. Instead of saying, “Go on and get it over with,” David encouraged his men that they were capable of reclaiming their wives, children and possessions from the hands of the Amalekites.

David and his men found the Amalekites camp and not only got back all of their wives, children and possessions; they confiscated all that the Amalekites had as well. When David returned to Ziklag, it was no longer a place of overwhelming despair, it was a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Shortly after returning to camp, men came to tell him that both Saul and Jonathan had been killed and that they wanted David to become king!

What would have happened if David had given up when his men wanted to kill him? He never would have received his promised reward! He would not have been made king. God has given you exceedingly great and precious promises, but if you give up before you receive them, you’ll cut yourself off from a blessing. Hang on! You can do it!

If you have been living in Ziklag, a place of overwhelming despair, purpose in your heart to live in a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Go out and reclaim the promises that satan has stolen from you!

2025-03-31T12:44:28-06:00April 14th, 2025|

Walking on Water

Jesus’ disciples slowly began to realize that dealing with fear was going to be an important part of their lives as His followers. The more time they spent with Him, the more evident that He would not always be with them and that it might not be either popular or safe to identify with Him. Persecution, although not an appealing thought, was a frightening possibility. Indeed, as they soon discovered, it was a certainty. Jesus tried to help them prepare for what lay ahead and remember that they would not be alone:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Although few of us in this country today have experienced it, persecution remains a real possibility for every believer. In addition, there are many other factors in our world that can be sources of fear if we let them. Even when we are walking in the perfect will of God, fearful circumstances occur because this earth is still in the possession of the enemy. Natural conditions such as blizzards, tornadoes, or earthquakes can give us a feeling of total helplessness, but knowing we can call on God to save us should be a great comfort.

One day, immediately after feeding five thousand people with three loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while He dismissed the crowds. As night fell, a storm arose and the boat was badly battered by the high waves. Simon Peter and the other disciples were battling the winds, rowing in the dark, and probably scared half to death. Nevertheless, they were right where Jesus had sent them. They may not have known it at the time, but Jesus had not left them alone:

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25-27).

Recognizing their fear, Jesus immediately calmed them with the words, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” No matter how alone we may feel or how frightening a situation may be that we find ourselves in, we can take courage in the fact that Jesus is always with us; we are never alone;

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18).

I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

When we are willing to trust Jesus no matter what the circumstances, He can enable us to do anything. Fear. However, can cause us to fail. Peter discovered this after he saw Jesus’ walking on the water:

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31).

Peter was doing fine walking on the water until he looked around and focused on his circumstances. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, doubt and then fear overcame him. His physical senses took over. He heard the howling of the wind, saw the storm clouds moving, and felt the thrust of the waves against his body. This change of focus caused Peter to lose sight of his goal. He began to sink, even though moments before he had been walking on the water.  In fear and desperation, Peter called out to Jesus, who reached out and saved him.

Jesus also rebuked him: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Apparently, Peter’s faith was not the problem; after all, he had walked on the water for a few seconds. It was when fear took over and his courage failed that Peter began to sink. It only takes a little faith—childlike faith—to walk on water, but it also only takes a little fear to sink us.

Courage Restored

Later on, Simon Peter had another crisis of courage that could have been disastrous for him and for the church as a whole. On the very evening that He was arrested, Jesus spoke these words to Peter:

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat, 32 But I have prayed for you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:31-34).

Jesus prayed that Simon Peter’s faith would not fail—and it didn’t. Wait a minute! You may be thinking. Didn’t Peter’s faith fail when he denied Jesus? No, Peter certainly did deny Jesus three times, just as Jesus said he would, but it was not Peter’s faith that failed; it was his courage. Peter loved Jesus with all his heart and knew that He was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. After all, it was Peter who answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” with the words, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus knew all about Peter’s faith and understood Peter’s struggle with fear, just as He understand ours.

Peter was devastated by the failure of his courage and his inability to stand by his Master’s side when the chips were down. After the crucifixion, Peter became depressed and discouraged, one day he decided to go fishing and convinced several of the other disciples to go with him. They fished all night and caught nothing. When morning came, a man on the shore called out to them and asked, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”   then told them exactly where to cast their net. Peter and the others complied, and suddenly they found their net so full of fish that they could not haul it in. It was at this moment that John recognized the man on shore as Jesus:

Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. (John 21:7).

No effort to walk on water this time; no excuses or bravado; impulsive Peter simply jumped into the water and began to swim to shore because it was the fastest way to get to Jesus. Such was Peter’s love for the Lord, even in spite of his own failures.

Jesus had built a fire on the shore and invited the men to bring their fish and eat with Him. After breakfast, He spoke to Peter. He wanted to be sure Peter heard Him, so He called him Simon, which means, “the listening one”:

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and three times Peter replied that he did. The first two times that Jesus asked, “Do you love Me?” He used the word agape, which means, as the Amplified Bible states it, “reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father.” Both times, when Peter answered, “You know that I love You,” he used a different word for “love” phileo. This word means “deep, instinctive, personal affection… as for a close friend” (John 21:15 AMP). Peter did not feel he could claim the higher kind of love represented by agape.

When Jesus asked, “Do you love Me?” for the third time, He used Peter’s word, phileo. Jesus came down to Peter’s level to bring Peter up to His. What was the significance of this? Three times Peter had denied Jesus and now Jesus gave Peter three changes to reaffirm his love for Him. In this way, Peter once again declared the deep love and devotion he held for his Lord.

During this same encounter, Jesus, in His loving way, let Peter know that when his time to die came, he would be able to resist fear:

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” (John 21:18-19).

Peter’s faith was strong and in time his courage grew to match his faith. History records that Peter was crucified for his faith. According to tradition, Peter insisted on being crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Like, Peter we can triumph over our fear! The death and resurrection of Christ sets us free to live our new life unhindered by the fears that characterized the old life. The presence and power of God in us through the Holy Spirit can banish the fear that so often seems to control us. The more we love and trust the Lord, the less power fear will have over us.

2025-03-13T12:13:13-06:00April 7th, 2025|

Overwhelming Victory

DECLARE:  TODAY IS MY DAY OF OVERWHELMING VICTORY.
NOW THANKS BE TO GOD WHO ALWAYS LEADS US IN TRIUMPH IN CHRIST…-2 Corinthians 2:14

Nine years after David was anointed to be king, he was an outcast of Israel! He was living in a Philistine city, Ziklag, with several hundred of his men and their families. “Ziklag” means “overwhelming despair.” What a place for the future king of Israel to live!

One day after returning home to Ziklag, David and his men found that all their wives, children and possessions had been stolen by the Amalekites. David’s men picked up stones to stone him. Instead of saying, “Go on and get it over with,” David encouraged his men that they were capable of reclaiming their wives, children and possessions from the hands of the Amalekites.

David and his men found the Amalekites camp and not only got back all of their wives, children and possessions; they confiscated all that the Amalekites had as well. When David returned to Ziklag, it was no longer a place of overwhelming despair, it was a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Shortly after returning to camp, men came to tell him that both Saul and Jonathan had been killed and that they wanted David to become king!

What would have happened if David had given up when his men wanted to kill him? He never would have received his promised reward! He would not have been made king. God has given you exceedingly great and precious promises, but if you give up before you receive them, you’ll cut yourself off from a blessing. Hang on! You can do it!

If you have been living in Ziklag, a place of overwhelming despair, purpose in your heart to live in a place of OVERWHELMING VICTORY. Go out and reclaim the promises that satan has stolen from you!

2025-03-12T13:25:24-06:00March 31st, 2025|

The Hall of Fame of Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 is the “hall of fame” of faith. It includes people like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and Noah. Today, we’ll talk about a few of these heroes of faith.

Noah: Faith for Your Family

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

God told him that He was going to send a flood. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. But right believing brings right living, and because Noah had faith, he was obedient to God. Put your hand on your heart and say, “I’ll never forget — faith obeys.”

So Noah built an ark, and everyone thought he was crazy. Everyone but his family, that is. His wife and sons believed that he heard from God. And by walking in faith, Noah saved his family. All the people who didn’t believe in God drowned, but Noah’s family was saved.

Noah leaves that legacy for us today—that his faith brought righteousness. When we believe God, He makes us righteous. Stop trying to do things to become righteous. Just obey His Word and have faith in His Word. God can save your household if you walk in faith. You can claim this promise.

Abraham: Faith for Provision

Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:13, KJV)

In Genesis 22, God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac, the promised son who was born to him when he was 100 years old, and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah.

What must Abraham have been feeling? Hebrews 11:19 tells us Abraham believed that even if his son died, God would raise him from the dead. What?! Abraham believed in a resurrection before there was one?! Absolutely! I believe he was the first to believe.

Alone on the mountain, Isaac asked his father, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb?” And Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb.” God will provide. Abraham never took his eyes off the Father!

Once Abraham had prepared the fire and the wood, he put Isaac on the altar. And just in time, a voice spoke to him and said, “Lift up your eyes.” I would say that to you today! Get your eyes on what God can do rather than what your problem is. Lift up your eyes. Abraham did, and saw a ram caught in the thicket. God had provided the sacrifice!

Do you realize that at the same time Abraham and Isaac were going up Mount Moriah, the ram was coming up the other side? When we’re going up the mountain, God has a provision coming up to meet us! Abraham substituted the ram for Isaac and called God a very special name: Jehovah-Jireh, which means the God who provides. But it’s more than just provides. It means the God who sees ahead and has a provision for us!

Rahab: Faith Comes by Hearing and Believing

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

So, how does one receive faith? Let’s look at the life of Rahab (see Joshua 2 and 6)? She, along with all of Jericho’s inhabitants, had heard about the God of the Hebrews, but Rahab alone heard and believed. Not only did she believe in her heart, but she confessed it with her mouth and acted out her faith by hiding the Israelite spies.

Faith does come by hearing God’s Word (see Romans 10:17). But many people hear God’s Word and don’t believe it, so they don’t get its benefits.

Because of Rahab’s willingness to believe what she had heard, she was rewarded beyond her wildest imagination. When the rest of Jericho was destroyed, the walls of Rahab’s dwelling remained standing — as a testimony to her belief in God’s Word.

We can hear God’s Word continually, but until we believe what we hear and then act on it, it is not profitable to us. When you hear the Word of God, don’t just casually receive it in your mind. Meditate on it. Accept it and receive it as a special message from God to you. Then use it to benefit your life.

Just as Noah’s faith saved his household and Abraham’s faith saved Isaac, the first thing Rahab did when she made a covenant with the Israelites was to ask protection for her family (see Joshua 2:12-13). When you get saved, you want your whole family to be saved. When we become faithful followers of Christ, meditating on His Word day and night, God will bless us and make our homes prosperous.

2025-02-27T11:15:50-07:00March 24th, 2025|

Stand on the Word of God

Do you realize how important it is to spend time reading and meditating on the Word? When we surround ourselves with the favor of God’s Word, we can confidently step out in faith and change situations around us.  The wisdom of the Word in your spirit will give you favor, regardless of the circumstances which may confront you or the people whom you may meet.  Again, remember Psalm 5:12, “For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.” You have an invisible shield of favor surrounding you.

Whenever you are in a state of doubt, fear, or anxiety, remind God of His promises: “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). Likewise, Hebrews 10:35 tells us to “not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Always lift your head high above all circumstances. You are wearing His glorious crown of divine favor.

Many times, we experience deep levels of grief and frustration, but if we hold fast to God’s promises, any situation can be altered! Hebrews 10:23 commands us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

David understood the awesome power of favor because in Psalm 30 he writes, “Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong…” (v. 7). If God’s favor is powerful enough to hold you up, no matter how heavy the pressures may be which come against you! Always remember that He is “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). If you are standing on His Word, you can count on Him to uphold all the things in your life and give you wide open doors of favor. Hallelujah!

Today’s blog post was taken from Marilyn’s book, Wide Open Doors.

2025-02-26T10:30:19-07:00March 17th, 2025|

I’m the Answer and Way

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This verse is from a portion of Scripture where Jesus is preparing His disciples for His death. In chapter 13, He washes their feet and here He is leaving His final words with them. He tells his friends that He is going before them to prepare a place for them. The apostle Thomas asks, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Jesus responds to his worries by saying “I am the way!”

Family, how many times do we overthink the blessings of God? Jesus is telling his friends that there is a place for them, that He is preparing a blessing for them in the future! This is a good thing, a gift from Him. But Thomas is confused. He doesn’t know what Jesus means and He is uncomfortable with not knowing. He doesn’t want to miss out on any of the blessings that God has for him, so he asks Jesus for some clarification.

I imagine that Thomas wanted Jesus to tell him one of two things. Either to describe the details of the place Jesus was preparing for him, or a step-by-step list on how to get there. Instead, Jesus says “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Thomas wanted an easy answer. He wanted Jesus to tell him what to do, when to do it, and what was on the other side. Instead, Jesus refocused him. “It’s all about me!” He said, “I am the way, you don’t need to do anything else except know Me!”

How many times have you wanted Jesus to give you answers to your questions. “Jesus, what should I do for my next job? Jesus when will I get healed of this-or-that? Jesus, will my friends ever turn back to you?” These are questions that have answers, and it would be easy for Jesus to give us a simple answer. However, more often than not, He reminds us of who He is. Jesus is the answer. He knows it all, sees it all, and can do anything. So, when He responds to our questions and says, “Just be with me,” that is the most comforting thing He could say. How relieving is it to know that Jesus is the way? I think about all the different ways that I’ve failed, and I am filled with comfort knowing that it’s not by my own strength.

The next time you feel overwhelmed with your situations and all the “Jesus, why?” questions start to crowd your mind, remember, He is the answer. Take rest in Him. Know that He is the way, and He will get you through.

2025-02-26T09:41:32-07:00March 10th, 2025|

Trust in God’s Presence

God sent His Son to earth so man could experience His presence, not as Old Testament believers did in tents, temples, and tabernacles but through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. If you are born again, the presence and power of God is in you! You’re a walking tabernacle, and God is ever present to lead, protect, and guide you regardless of where you go or what you’re doing. First Corinthians 3:16 says, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

In John 14, Jesus told His disciples that even though He was going to return to heaven, they would not be without His presence. He would not leave them comfortless, but promised to send them the Holy Spirit, who would lead and guide them into all truth. This promise was fulfilled in Acts 2 when the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit and the presence of God filled them. It was this point that God’s presence began to tabernacle with man.

Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. Simply put, this means God inhabits everything we do to glorify Him. Adam and Eve lived in a garden, and the presence of God was there. The Israelites lived in a tent, so God said, “Put me in a tent.” When His people built a temple, God said, “Put me in a temple.” Finally, God said, “Put me in people so that I can be with them all of the time.”

Many people can name times when they’ve experienced God’s presence. This can happen everywhere—I’ve experienced the presence of God in airports and on airplanes. For some, God may have manifested His presence at church, in their cars, while they were preparing dinner, or getting ready for work. One thing is certain, God’s presence can be felt.

2025-02-26T08:35:06-07:00March 3rd, 2025|

God Is Always Leading Us

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  (Psalms 23:1-3 NKJV)

You must realize—and if you absorb this truth, it will change your life—God never leads His people aimlessly.  He always has a direction, a plan, a purpose.  He leads us with divine precision and accuracy, and always for good.

Keep your mind and heart tuned to the Great Shepherd’s voice and He will continually lead you into places of provision, security, restoration, and righteousness.

If you continue to follow Him, you will be going somewhere, and that somewhere will be a place full of God’s promise and power.

2025-01-29T12:40:00-07:00February 24th, 2025|

The Gift of Encouragement

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The gift of encouragement is important because all believers need encouragement: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  Acts 4:36 tells us of Joses, who operated in the gift of encouragement. Joses was a wealthy priest from Cyprus who got saved and gave his wealth to help persecuted believers.  He was such an encouragement that the disciples called him “Barnabas,” which means “Son of Encouragement.” By encouraging others, we not only uplift them, but we establish areas of service that minister to generations of people after us. Barnabas operated in such a ministry.

When the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas to be missionaries, John Mark went along to serve and learn from them (see Acts 12:25; 13:2). Though called to the ministry, he was still young, immature, and unprepared for the hardships that a missionary had to endure.  He ended up going home mid-journey.  That’s why on their second mission trip, Paul didn’t want John Mark to come along, so they separated.  Barnabas took John Mark with him. This time, John Mark didn’t run home.  Barnabas encouraged, trained, and discipled him because he saw who John Mark could be a hardworking, seasoned minister.  John Mark became a very successful minister of the gospel—he wrote the book of Mark. Through this episode with John Mark, even Paul learned the profound results that encouragement could bring.  John Mark was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24). At the end of his life, Paul sent for John Mark because he was so useful (2 Timothy 4:11).

Like Paul, we may forsake other people because they have disappointed us in the past, but we can also learn to minister encouragement. How? By applying three simple keys found in Hebrew 10, you can unfold your gift of encouragement.

  1. Draw near to God. Hebrews 10:22 tells us to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” To encourage others successfully, you must first draw near to God and fellowship with Him daily. People who are experiencing difficulties need to hear encouragement that comes straight from Jesus’s heart—not something we think He might say.
  2. Develop patience. Fellowship with the Lord gives a spiritual foundation upon which to base a ministry of encouragement. However, it’s crucial that we don’t allow impatience to erode that foundation; “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Unfortunately, most of us begin to lose patience if we don’t see results in ten seconds or less.  We must wait patiently and steadfastly for answers.
  3. Determine needed actions. Hebrews 10:24 states, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” We can speak encouraging words all day, but if they don’t instill in others the faith to act, remember that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word of God, the most powerful force in the universe, will instill faith in people’s hearts and encourage them to act. Our responsibility is simply to speak forth the Word.

Remember, everyone needs encouragement.  Begin today to share your gift encouragement, and you’ll bless the body of Christ for many generations.

This blog post is excerpted from Marilyn’s 101-day devotional, Beautiful Inheritance.

2025-01-29T12:04:50-07:00February 17th, 2025|

The Peace that Passes All Understanding

Fear is the opposite of peace. No one enjoys being frightened. In Hebrew, the word “baath” means to be “affrightened.” Job poetically used this word to describe his grief after his great trials. The word “baath” conveys the meaning of desert winds, grievous visions, discomforting pain and a panting heart.

God has freely given us a remedy for all the above calamities. Philippians 4:7 tells us,

…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When you keep your mind on Jesus Christ, God’s Incarnate Word, you will never be “affrightened;” you will remain in “perfect peace.”

Concentrate today upon keeping your mind focused on Jesus. When you enter a difficulty, ask yourself, “How would Jesus handle this situation?” Do you remember what He said to the storm? He said, “Peace, be still.” Do the same in all your difficult circumstances! Speak PEACE to them.

2025-02-18T10:00:02-07:00February 10th, 2025|

Love With God’s Love

We will reap what we sow, and today I want you to decide to sow LOVE. In John 13:34-35, Jesus said,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The love we demonstrate for each other is infectious. Non-Christians will see it and want what we have—Jesus! Decide today to correct any differences that you may have with someone else. Go out of your way to walk “the extra mile” to love the person who has offended you. You will not be sorry. Why? Because you’ll be acting like Jesus.

Remember He loved us while we were in sin, and His love was so strong that He was willing to die for us. Because He first demonstrated His love towards us, we love Him. Purpose in your heart to SOW LOVE to someone who is not expecting it. Surprise someone by showing them the LOVE OF JESUS today!

2025-01-16T11:48:28-07:00February 3rd, 2025|

Ask Marilyn

Q. I’m not sure I know how to lead someone to the Lord. Are there any specific “rules” I should follow? What do I say?

A. Any Christian can lead someone to the Lord, so let me first encourage you not to succumb to fear or worry about what to say. Pray first and ask the Lord to fill your mouth with the words He would have you say. Then, follow this simple scriptural approach:

  1. Open a Bible to Romans 10. Have the individual read aloud verses 9 and 10.
  2. Explain to the individual that because these scriptures say that “… confession is made unto salvation,” you are going to lead him in a short prayer. Ask the individual to repeat after you as you pray.
  3. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer so that the individual will be sure to
  • Acknowledge that he is a sinner (repentance).
  • Ask the Father to cleanse him, by the blood of Jesus, from every sin committed.
  • Invite Jesus to come into their heart and to be Master and Lord of his life.
  • Thank God for saving his soul
  1. Ask the individual to read Romans 10:13 aloud. Now, ask him to read it again, but this time have him substitute their own name for “whoever” in this verse.

The individual will realize that he has fulfilled the simple requirements of verse 13 and that he is saved according to God’s Word, whether or not they feel any different!

You may warmly affirm this momentous decision and welcome your new brother or sister to the Body of Christ.

Q. What can I do to help a friend receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

A. The individual for the baptism in the Holy Spirit must be a born-again child of God. The work of the Holy Spirit is essential for Christian growth. Through this baptism God empowers the believer to develop and express his new life in Jesus Christ.

Many people desire to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but they don’t know how to do so. Frequently, I open the conversation by saying, “I would love to pray with you to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit.” Then I proceed to

  1. Open a Bible to Luke 11:10-13 and ask the individual to read this passage aloud. These verses establish the way to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We simply “ask” in faith because we know that our loving heavenly Father would never give us a “counterfeit.”
  2. Ask the individual to read Acts 2:4 aloud. Assure the individual that just as Jesus’ disciples spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came upon them, the candidate will also speak in tongues when baptized in the Holy Spirit.
  3. Ask the individual to read Romans 8:26-28 aloud. This will confirm the purpose and the benefits of praying in “tongues.”
  4. Lead the candidate in a short prayer during which he asks the Father to baptize him with the Holy Spirit. Now tell the candidate that, by faith, you are going to pray in the Spirit together. Encourage the individual to speak freely—as the Holy Spirit directs—regardless of how it may sound to the natural ear.
  5. You, the leader, should begin to pray aloud in tongues. After you have prayed together in tongues for a while, you may wish to sing in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15).

Although the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a one-time event, the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event, the “infilling” of the Holy Spirit goes on and one and never stops. Encourage your friend to pray in the Spirit every day and to expect to find a new richness in his Christian experience.

2025-01-29T12:34:36-07:00January 29th, 2025|

Take Hold of God’s Promises

After three thirsty days in the wilderness, the children of Israel finally arrived at a huge pool of water.  However, when the people tried to drink the water, they could not because it was terribly bitter. Therefore, the people complained and murmured against Moses—and they named the place Marah, meaning “bitter.” Moses could have told the people to shut up. He even could have told the Lord, “I’m tired of this crowd of murmurers!” But Moses did neither of these things.

So, he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statue and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said said, “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 15:25-26 emphasis added)

God told Moses to throw a tree into the water, and Moses obeyed. Moses was given something to do in order for the miracle to take place. Moses believed God, but his faith had to be accompanied with action. So, it is with all of us; faith demands action. You can talk faith, but you must also walk faith. When Moses threw the tree into the waters of Marah, they were sweetened. Then Jehovah revealed Himself to His people in a new way as Jehovah-Rophe. If the people walked uprightly before the Lord, then He would not only be their healer but their health as well. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we never got sick? God desires that His people have divine health.

At Marah, God revealed Jehovah-Rophe as one of His covenant names. God was telling His people they would have none of the world’s diseases if they obeyed Him and His Word. Egypt, a type of the world, was full of disease because the Egyptians practiced idolatry. God said to Israel, “You will have none of Egypt’s diseases if you listen to my Words because I am the Lord your health. I am Jehovah-Rophe!”

2024-12-19T09:51:36-07:00January 20th, 2025|

You Must Remember This

“These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:7)

God likes to remind His people to certain things.  Jesus has given Christians two very special things to remember, and if we keep both of these things in mind, we can have victory over past failures, victory over present circumstances, and victory every day throughout our lives.

Remember how the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the promised land?  The waters miraculously parted, and they walked across.  Then God told Joshua to set up two memorials of 12 large stones one was in the midst of the river, and one was on the riverbank (Joshua 4:20). The stones were to be memorials to the Israelites so that:

“When your children ask in time to come saying, ‘What do these stones

              mean to you?” Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan

              were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD…these stones

              shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7)

The heap of stones at the site where they crossed the Jordan was to remind them of all the miracles God wanted to work on their behalf in the present and the future.  They were to keep their eyes on God’s miracles and His promises—and never look back at the past.  They were constant reminders of God’s miraculous care and provision.  Each time they saw the memorials, their faith would increase, and increased faith meant increased victory.

God’s two memorials for Christians are designed the same way.  The first memorial is baptism.  In John 1:28, we learn that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at Bethabara.  Bethabara means “house of the ford or passage.” I believe this is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan.  Jesus went there to be baptized by John.  The one who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) went under the waters, which pictures His death for you and me. But that’s not all.  You were buried with Jesus—that is what your baptism symbolizes: “buried with Him in baptism” (Colossians 2:12). That’s how God transformed your past—He eliminated it!

The second memorial that Christians celebrate is communion.  First Corinthians 11:26 tells us that in communion, we remember not only the Lord’s death but also His second coming: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” In communion, we have a reminder of the daily power needed to live a victorious life (Christ’s life within) and the glorious future that awaits us (Christ second coming).

Like Israel, God has forgiven our past and provided for present and future needs in our lives. Sometimes we forget that God has done everything He can do to ensure we live triumphant Christian lives.  That’s when we need to take a long look at the two memorials God placed in our lives: baptism and communion.  When you recall that your past, present, and future are taken care of by the death, resurrection, and return of Jesus, your faith will increase, and your life will be transformed.

2024-12-19T09:52:22-07:00January 13th, 2025|

Take God’s Word Like a Medicine

Moses lived on God’s Word, and its truth became a reality in his life. The Word was Spirit and life to Moses because he believed it and acted upon it. By trusting Jehovah-Rophe, God’s life and health became a personal revelation to Moses. When he died, Moses was 120 years old; and Deuteronomy 34:7 tell us, his eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. Jehovah-Rophe wants to be personal to you, also. He wants to heal you and make you whole!

God’s Word is like medicine; when you take His Word, you are taking health. That is why God told His people to heed His Word! God wants His children to be full of His life. You may believe God heals, and that’s great, but you must also receive His healing to be well. You will receive your healing and walk in divine health only by reading, meditating, and claiming the Word. God’s words of life, health, and healing must your continual feast.

In Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah prophesied the sufferings of Christ at Calvary when he wrote, Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Notice that it was not for Himself that Jesus suffered rejection and sorrow, but it was for you and me. In order to be whole persons, we not only need to be healed physically, but we need to be healed of those things which bring sickness to the soul. God has a special medicine cabinet that contains a sure cure for all kinds of sickness. If you are hurting in your body, mind, or emotions, Jehovah-Rophe has made provision for you. Don’t try to carry your grief or sorrow; cast it on Jesus and set yourself free!

A familiar chorus, taken from Isaiah 61:3, exhorts us to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Have you ever gone into a service feeling “heavy”—sorrowful and depressed—or just plain down? But, when you began to worship and praise the Lord, lifting your hands and singing, what happened? Your spirit was lifted, and you received healing in your soul. Those people who abide in praise, abide in the Lord and life in health!

The Sweet Smell of Victory

Song of Solomon 1:13 says, A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me. Who is this bundle of myrrh? Of course, He is Jesus. Myrrh has a delightful aroma, either crushed or left as twigs, and because of this, it has been used in many ways: on clothing, in incense and oil, and in sacrifices. Jesus is the perfume in our lives. He is not just a drop or a pinch, but He is a whole bundle for every heartache and heartbreak we experience. When you allow Jesus to heal wounds in your soul as well as your body, you will smell sweet like Jesus.

The three Hebrew children were thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to his statue, but the fire did not touch them. When these Hebrews were taken out alive, they did not even smell smoke. Why? Because Jesus was in the fire with them. They probably didn’t even want to leave the furnace because of the Lord’s presence, and I don’t blame them!

Perhaps you have come out of some negative experiences that wounded you, and you smell like smoke. You still talk and complain about them, the wounds still show. Friend, come to Jesus; cast the hurt upon Him. Let Jesus remove that smoky smell and give you the sweet smell of myrrh—the smell of victory. Jesus has healing for sin, backsliding, physical diseases, heartaches, depression, rejection—Jehovah-Rophe has a prescription for whatever ails you!

Pray this prayer:

Father, I believe that you are my healer. You are the God who is life and health to me! You proved your love for me when you gave your Son, Jesus, to die for me. His blood was shed for all my sicknesses and diseases—and all means all! That includes all my aches and pains. It includes all the mental attacks that may attempt to entrap me. It includes all my emotional ups and downs. Matthew 4:23 tells me that “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” Jesus, you delivered the demon-possessed: healed paralytics, made the blind see and deaf to hear, and even raised the dead. Since God never changes, the same is true now, and you are able to heal me today. I put my trust in your and believe that I am healed and delivered in Jesus’s name.

2024-12-19T05:50:49-07:00January 6th, 2025|

Share of the Fruit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22, 23 NKJV)

The fruit of the Spirit is to be very evident in our lives.  When we are born again, we receive the fruits of LOVE, JOY, and PEACE.  These are for our personal enjoyment.  We experience love, joy, and peace.

In addition to these three fruits, there are three more that relate to others:  We need LONGSUFFERING in dealing with other people.  We also need GENTLENESS and GOODNESS.  Thus, not only do we enjoy personal fruit for ourselves, but we can extend His fruit to others.

Lastly, three final fruits deal with our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We give FAITH back to Him, along with MEEKNESS and TEMPERANCE.

Here is a beautiful picture of FRUIT THAT WE OURSELVES CAN ENJOY, FRUIT THAT WE GIVE TO OTHERS, and FRUIT THAT WE MANIFEST TO THE FATHER.  How complete God has made us in Jesus!  If you have Jesus, you have the seed of all nine of these fruits.  Partake of them all.

Dear Heavenly Father,

No law can win against love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance—the supernatural traits of Jesus Christ.  Thank You, Father, that these abide in us in our new birth.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

2024-12-04T12:16:45-07:00December 23rd, 2024|

Integrity of the Heart

The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. (Proverbs 11:3)

God wants you to be blessed in your health, relationships, finances, and in every area in which you have need.  Sometimes we miss God’s blessing because we try to cover up our shortcomings or hidden sins.  But God will bless the person who openly confesses and forsakes the gray areas within their heart.  The Bible calls that person full of “integrity,” and that’s the kind of person God wants you to be.

God wants us to be completely transparent with Him so that He can dispel any darkness we may try to hide.  If there’s some secret sin you’re covering up, allow the Lord to cleanse your heart from any defilement so that you can begin to enjoy the benefits of integrity.

Integrity will guide you: “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (Proverbs 11:3). Sin in our lives will block God’s directions for making right choices.  Clear up any sin that may be hindering you from receiving God’s instructions and godly wisdom.  Integrity of the heart will make it easy for God to speak to you and make a straight path before you to follow.

Integrity will preserve and uphold you: “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You” (Psalm 25:21).  David knew that the benefits of integrity were long-lasting.  In addition, your personal integrity will be evident to those around you, and it will be a protection in times of need.  Look at Job.  Even God commented on his integrity after he had lost everything he had, except a nagging wife (see Job 2:1-10).

He was so intent on maintaining his integrity that when he was defending his righteousness, he said, “Let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity” (Job 31:6).  In the end, God upheld him in his circumstances, and he was preserved.

Integrity will bless you.  I believe that Christians don’t have to be poor because God wants to meet all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).  And look at what Proverbs 19:1 says: “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.” Do you see how important integrity is to God?  God says it’s better to have integrity and be poor than to have everything and be living in darkness.

It’s okay to go to God with some dark spots in our hearts; He doesn’t expect us to wait until our hearts are perfect before we approach Him.  Let Him cleanse away the sin and darkness and set you free.  Walking in integrity will allow God to bless you!

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Beautiful Inheritance, A 101-Day Devotional.

2024-12-04T12:07:16-07:00December 16th, 2024|

How To Stand in Faith and Victory

First Position of Victory:  Stand Praying

Now is the time to STAND and see your victory.  Jesus told us, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…” Mark 11:25 (NKJ).  So, our first position of victory is to stand praying.  And when we pray, we must forgive those who have wronged us.  You cannot stand in victory if you harbor unforgiveness in your heart.

According to Colossians 4:12, prayers should cause us to “…stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  Prayer matures and perfects our Christian faith.  Whenever we encounter obstacles to our faith that refuse to move, we need to go to prayer and learn what it is that is hindering us from walking in complete victory.

How long do we stand in prayer?  Until we change the circumstances around us!

Second Position of Victory:  Stand Fast on the Word

Our second position of victory is to stand fast on the Word of God.  Psalms 111:8 says, “They [God’s commandments] stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.”

Paul said something similar about standing when he wrote to the Ephesians: “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness” Ephesians 6:14 (NKJ).  We must take our stand on the truth standing on the Word with the breastplate of righteousness.  And if we try to stand on the Word, but live in an ungodly way, it won’t work.  Truth and righteousness go hand in hand—you can’t be a winner while you’re living in sin.  God’s Word will always point you to holiness as the way to stand in faith.

Third Position of Victory:  Stand for Holiness

To stand for righteousness is to stand against evil.  Psalms 94:16 says, “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?  Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?”  God is calling us to take a stand for Him—to make a bold stand for holiness in our own lives and within our country.  Someone has said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything!”

Queen Esther took a stand that could have cost her very life!  Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, told her of an evil plot to wipe out all the Jews in Persia.  Esther had to choose whether to take a stand by revealing her Jewish nationality to the king, or to remain silent and see her countrymen slain.  She chose to stand for what was right, and she came out victoriously.

People need to know where we stand.  They need to know that we are Christians—that we read our Bibles—that we pray—that we are faithful to our spouses.  Yes, we must make a stand for holiness.

Fourth Position of Victory:  Stand Fast in the Faith

Sometimes when I’ve been standing for something a long, long time, I start thinking, “It looks like this is never going to happen.”  Have you ever thought that?  Sometimes it seems that no matter how much you pray and confess the Word, discouragement hovers like a dark cloud.  That’s the time to heed Paul’s words in I Corinthians 16:13 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

God hasn’t called us to be Christian “wimps”; so, when discouragement rolls in like the fog, that’s the time to stand in faith all the more.  To “be strong” means to keep exercising your faith moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day.  When you feel faith ebbing away, feed your faith with more of the Word of God; the bread of life, and the water of the Spirit will strengthen you to stand fast in faith.

Fifth Position of Victory:  Stand Together

Standing in prayer, standing fast on the Word, standing for holiness, and standing fast in the faith are all things that you can do alone.  You cannot end this year in faith, however, until you’ve learned to stand together.  I need you, and you need me.

As great as Moses was, he wasn’t able to lead the Jews alone.  Over one million Israelites had left Egypt under Moses’ direction, but the responsibilities of governing that many people were too much for one man.  God’s solution is found in Numbers 11:16: “So the Lord said to Moses:  Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you.”

Like Moses, God intends for us to help one another and stand with one another.  Ask of us have financial, physical, mental, material, and spiritual needs.  We can’t meet all those needs ourselves, but we can stand for one another’s need and watch God work!

I know of a woman who had cancer, and the doctors told her she had one month to live.  A group of Christians went to her and began to pray.  Nothing happened at first, but they just kept praying and fasting.  The woman couldn’t do anything for herself by this time, but the group of Christians wouldn’t give up.  Finally, 20 days later, she was able to eat some lettuce, and then some bread, and then some…

You know how this story ends—eventually that woman overcame cancer.  She’s alive and serving God today because she didn’t stand alone.  As we stand together, God is able to get the greater victories.

IF YOU want to end this year in victory, find other Christians who will stand in prayer—stand fast on the Word—stand for holiness—and stand fast in the faith with you.  The devil doesn’t have a chance when we’re standing together to defeat him!

Sixth Position of Victory:  Stand as a Conqueror

The last stand you must take is found in Ephesians 6:13: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.”  The “evil day” is whenever you have a crisis!  And in that day, you’re to put on God’s armor from head to foot and then STAND—as a conqueror!

We are stand as conquerors by faith and by saying—and saying—God’s Word!  Get others to say the Word for you too.  Stand together, and speak the Word for each other.

As you stand in prayer—and on the Word—and for holiness—it’s as a conqueror.  And when you stand fast in the faith and stand together, IT WILL BE AS A CONQUEROR!  Live each day from a position of victory, and you will end this year in faith.

2024-12-04T11:54:21-07:00December 9th, 2024|

Joy Makes Life Worth Living

“. . . The Joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Our God is a joyful God, and it is with His joy that we become stronger, more powerful Christians. What is joy? One of the Hebrew words for joy is chedvah, which means “rejoicing, gladness.” In Galatians 5:22, joy is the Greek word chara, which means “cheerfulness, delight.” So, joy helps you worship God, and it makes you glad, cheerful, and a delight to be around. You will even start to like yourself better when you receive God’s joy.

Receive God’s Joy!

You receive the joy of the Lord when you are anointed with the Holy Spirit. This anointing starts at the top of your head and goes all the way to your feet: God begins with your head because your thought life gives you direction—it either gets you in trouble or sets you on the right path.

If you think being righteous means being as sober as a judge, then you haven’t read Acts 2. On the day of Pentecost, the people didn’t appear sober when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit—they acted like they were drunk! People who saw them said, “. . . They are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13). When you are baptized in the Spirit and receive the anointing, you too will act joyful.

Some get nervous when they see other people respond in joy. They don’t think it’s scriptural, but being jubilant is VERY scriptural. Psalms 66:1 says, “Make a joyful shout to God . . .” In fact, there are seven references in the Psalms about making a “joyful noise” to the Lord.

Make a JOYFUL noise!

The Hebrew word for joyful in Psalms 66:1 is renanah, which means “shout for joy, singing, triumphing.” Joyful expressions are loud and noisy. Have you ever tried to laugh and keep it all inside? It’s nearly impossible. It’s the same way with the joy that the Holy Spirit places inside you; it has to come bubbling out. Romans 14:17 says the kingdom of God “. . . is not eating and drinking; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” If you are moving in the Holy Spirit, you will have the joy that comes with Him.

As a Christian, God calls you to be joyful, Isaiah 51:11 says, “So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” The redeemed are supposed to have so much joy it comes out of their mouths. It is necessary for Christians to be joyful in order to give glory to God and to witness to the lost.

Your Daily Joy

Like your zeal for the Lord and your dedication to keep His commandments, you must commit to daily maintenance of joy. Isaiah 12:3 says, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” When Jesus lives in your heart, then you already have joy inside. All you have to do is pull some out every day.

Fullness of joy is found in God’s presence, so start your day by entering into His presence with joy and praise. When you get up in the morning, say, “This is the day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalms 118:24).

It is also important to watch what you think, say, and do. Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth…” so watch what you are saying. You can say words that will bring depression into your heart. If you’re not diligent, you can lose your joy! In Psalms 51:12, David said, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation . . .” He wrote this after he had an affair with Bath-Sheba and had Uriah killed. He lost his joy because of sin; and the same thing can happen to us.

Sometimes it isn’t a major crisis that steals your joy—you lost it because of your own indifference to God. If you don’t read your Bible, don’t pray, don’t set your priorities according to God’s will, or get into sin, then you will not feel the joy of the Lord because you are not dwelling in His presence.

With repentance, God’s joy returns. David knew that his salvation would restore his joy. There is no question that David’s joy returned—he remained a man after God’s own heart and God sent the Messiah through him. Proverbs 15:13 tells us that “. . . by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

When you focus on heartbreak, you lose your joy. Don’t let problems overcome you; instead let promises take over problems. God wants you to be joyful in times of trouble because the strength found in joy will bring you through your problems. If depression has killed your joy, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you again. He will resurrect your joyful heart.

The anointing destroys the yoke. If you are depressed, sad, or living under a burden of oppression or circumstances, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you with joy. God will break those bondages and set you free. According to John 10:10 in the Amplified Bible, Jesus came “. . . that [we] may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” This is the level of blessing that God wants for each of use. When we decide to be led by a joyful heart, strive to joyfully express our love for God, and commit to maintain our joy by seeking God daily, God’s true power can be released—and we can have the overflowing abundance of joy the Word promises.

2024-12-04T11:46:02-07:00December 4th, 2024|

Thanksgiving Joy

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”  Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)

God has often dealt with me about the act of thanksgiving.  There is power in the giving of thanks.  In the Old Testament there was a special offering just for thanksgiving.  The New Testament says that when we pray, we are to do so with thanksgiving.  We are to thank God for our food.  Then our blessings will be sanctified and set apart for us.

Thanksgiving is like yeast:  Thanksgiving causes your requests to rise with faith into the presence of God, just as yeast causes bread to rise.  The Word teaches that if you are not thankful for the things that God does, He will take away what He has given you.

Of the ten lepers, nine never gave thanks to Jesus.  Only one returned to thank Him.  I believe that because that one leper gave thanks, he received SPIRITUAL wholeness, as well as PHYSICAL wholeness.  Thanksgiving also will help you to be whole—physical, emotionally, and spiritually.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us to live in an attitude of thanksgiving.  When we give You our praise and thanks, we know that You will bless us in body, soul and Spirit.  Thank You for all the good things that You do. 

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

2024-10-31T12:04:44-06:00November 25th, 2024|

GO FORWARD in the Power of God’s Encouragement

Has God shown you your “promised land” but you have yet to possess it? Or does His “promise” seem to be so far into the future that you’ve given up all hope of ever receiving and enjoying it?

As He did with Joshua, God wants to encourage you in every area of your life. He does not want you to wander in the wilderness of defeat and discouragement, He wants you to move forward in Him in the power of encouragement. Discouragement can totally immobilize you. It can depress your spirit, soul, and body. It can cause you to lose ground spiritually, mentally, and emotionally; and rob you of the blessings God has for you. Whenever I think of someone looking back or going a backward route, I think of Lot’s wife. She was not encouraged about going forward; she was discouraged, and when she looked back, she became a pillar of salt!

Sow Encouragement

When we encourage one another, we put the power of God to work. The Bible is filled with examples of people who refused to look back in the face of adversity. They chose to receive encouragement, were encouraged by God, or encouraged themselves even when those around them wanted to stone them!

God will move on the hearts of others to encourage you in tough situations, and He may even speak a personal Word of encouragement to you. In Deuteronomy 1:38, God told Moses to encourage Joshua, who took up Moses’ mantle to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land: “Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.”

So, Moses gave Joshua a charge and said, “…Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you” (Deuteronomy 31:23).

Then, when Joshua was getting ready to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, God spoke a personal Word of encouragement to him. “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their father to give them” (Joshua 1:6).

Joshua was encouraged to fulfill the call of God on his life. He remained open to encouragement, and closed to discouragement, even when the 10 spies gave the bad report (see Numbers 13 and 14).

The direction you look in the face of adversity will determine your final outcome. If you look back you will be discouraged, but if you look ahead to what God says, keep a single eye on Jesus, and look for God’s glory and His goodness, you will be encouraged and triumph in every situation.

The Apostle Paul had opportunity after opportunity to get his eyes off of God and onto his discouraging circumstances. He was shipwrecked, he was stoned, he was beaten, he was left for dead—if anyone could have given into discouragement, it was Paul. Instead of becoming discouraged, however, Paul glorified God in his tribulations and remained encouraged. As a result, he wrote two-thirds of the New Testament!

Paul’s secret to perseverance can be found in Philippians 3:10, 11: That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. 11If, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Regardless of his circumstances, Paul was determined not to go backward but to go forward in the power of God’s encouragement! “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13, 14).

Encourage Yourself

There are times when it may seem like everyone in the world has deserted you, but it is during those times that you should press into God and not depend on others; learn to encourage yourself in the things of God.

David exemplified this more than anyone. Saul had chased him for nine years and tried to kill him 21 times. But while David was in the wilderness, Jonathan, Saul’s son, came to him and encouraged him in his circumstances: “Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). He said, “David, you’re going to be the king. You’re going to win, so don’t be discouraged.”

Later David found himself faced with a desperate situation and no one was there to encourage him. “So, David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fires; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:3, 6)

And then the most wonderful thing happened. God spoke a personal word of encouragement to David in the midst of one of the most discouraging times in his life, God said, “…Pursue: for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” (1 Samuel 30:8).

There is power in encouragement! And like David, you, too, can learn to sow and reap encouragement, as well as encourage yourself in the face of the darkest circumstances! Because David had learned about the power of encouragement, he was able to write Psalm 27:14: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord!”

After David learned to encourage himself in the things of God, he was able also to encourage his son, Solomon, in the work God had called him to do: “And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV)

Do you need the power of encouragement in your life? Pray and listen for what God says to you in the midst of your circumstances. And while you are waiting, His Word promises He will strengthen you so you can go forward and not be moved by what you see.

Perhaps, like Joshua, God has called you to fulfill what seems to be an insurmountable task, or like David, there are “King Sauls” chasing you and trying to destroy you. Whatever your situation, remember you do not have to become shipwrecked. The power of encouragement can put to flight the meanest of foes and cause you to move forward in the power of God and His resurrection! 

2024-10-31T11:57:36-06:00November 11th, 2024|

The Power of a Joyful Attitude

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:74 NIV)

When a man of God receives grace for himself, he becomes a blessing to others.  Hopeful people bring gladness wherever they go.

What do you bring to your friends and family?  Do you remind them of all the bad things that have happened or might happen?  Do you give them a catalog of your aches and pains?  If your conversations are full of complaints, worries, and problems, then you are not testifying for God.

Your attitude alone can be a testimony to the gifts of God.  You have been forgiven!  You are assured of eternal life!  Considering the magnitude of these gifts, what do you have to complain about?

Reflect your joy and gratitude in every situation — you will be a blessing to your friends and family and, most of all, to God.

2024-12-19T12:45:42-07:00November 4th, 2024|

Your Power Source

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses…For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

I’m sure you’ve experienced the frustration of human weakness.  Whether physical or otherwise, each of us experiences some inadequacy or a serious setback.  Most people desire to succeed in every circumstance.  Overall, that’s a sound, biblical approach to life.  When we face life on our best footing, we tend to face the day with confident assurance.  We expect positive outcome because we’ve done everything right.  However, when something upsets the delicate balance of “feeling in control,” our true weakness becomes evident.

The good news is that, regardless of the world’s wisdom or even your own past experiences, your success is not based upon your strength—and failure is not formed in your weakness.  We must surrender our desire to be in control to God, giving Him total access to our lives and our weaknesses.  Paul is the perfect example.  Paul was well-acquainted with weakness, yet God used him to accomplish much.  When a “thorn in his flesh” tormented him, he cried out to God for relief: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV).

Knowing all that God still had planned for Paul, you might think He would have removed every hindrance—especially the thorn that caused him such pain.   Instead, God showed Paul a new way of looking at his weakness.  God knows that man’s strength can only go so far, for so long.  Ultimately, our strength is insufficient.  When we acknowledge that fact and turn to Him, we switch from our own “power supply” to His grace—His limitless ability exercised on our behalf.

After God’s unexpected answer, the apostle gained a new perspective on weakness: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses…For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).  Instead of begging God to fix the problem, Paul boasted and delighted in it.  Paul delighted in his weakened condition because he realized that with God backing him up, every obstacle became an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated.

Allow weakness to work for you and for the kingdom.  Ask God what you can learn through periods of seeming failure, defeat, or frailty.  Acknowledge God’s strength.  Release yourself into His hands and draw on His unending power.  Even when weakness is all your natural eye can see, you can enjoy the genuine victory that comes only from God.  Each deflated expectation can turn out to be your open door to accomplishment.  Any challenging experience can become an equipping moment of success—when you allow God to work through your weakness.

Finally, when you’ve feeling weak or inadequate, remember that Jesus Himself was ridiculed as He hung on the cross (see Mark 15:32).  Beaten and bloodied, He was not the world’s typical picture of strength.  Yet His “weakness” was used by God to bring salvation to the world!

Today’s blog is an excerpt from Marilyn’s 101-day devotional, Beautiful inheritance.

2024-09-19T07:43:52-06:00October 21st, 2024|

Endure to Reap the Blessing

James 5:11 says, …we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job…” Job endured terrible trials. Was he happy when God restored and multiplied all that he had lost? Was he happy when his life-span was increased? Was he happy when his wealth was increased and doubled? Yes! He illustrates the truth that if you endure, the happiness and peace of God will be your reward.

Do you feel a burden, a weight that doesn’t seem to leave you? Are the circumstances of life bearing down on you? Is there a someone in your life—a child, a loved one—who seems to be holding you down, so that you are unable to rise to the level where you want to be in your walk with the Lord?

Hebrews 12:2, tells us to look unto Jesus, “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus bore the burdens of the whole world—sickness, sin, poverty, oppression, depression—and a whole host of other things. Now, He is seated on the throne next to the Father, has many crowns, is exalted, and has a name that is above all names. One day, every knee will bow at the name of Jesus, to the glory of God the Father, because He endured the Cross.

Look to Jesus, the forerunner Who pioneered the way for us to follow. If you take up your cross and endure by the power of God, a crown awaits you.

There are 7,000 promises you can claim to help you through the hard times. Cling to them, meditate on them, memorize them, believe in them—His Word is true. The Word works!

You can endure and you will go from glory to glory because God wants you to rule and reign!

2024-09-19T06:33:18-06:00October 14th, 2024|

Mountain Moving Faith

Do your prayers move mountains, mole hills or nothing at all? Would you like to see the mountain of defeat, depression and heartache lifted? Today you will put an end to defeat; you will MOVE MOUNTAINS!

In Mark 11:23, Jesus taught,

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

When was the last time you spoke to the mountains that have covered your heart? God didn’t say, “Pray to Me and I will remove them.” The Word commands us to speak to them and tell them what to do. What is bothering you? Right now, address the problem in the name of Jesus and tell in to be removed and cast into the sea. Whenever the problem tries to resurface, speak the Word against it and command it to be removed. Believe that what you say will come to pass; believe that your commands will move your mountains of problems and circumstances.

When you pray, don’t pray the problem; pray the answer to the problem. Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Pray the things that your heart desires. MOVE YOUR MOUNTAINS today, and call rivers of joy into your heart.

2024-09-19T06:34:42-06:00October 7th, 2024|

Questions and Answers

Questions & Answers

  1. I have an overwhelming problem with jealousy. It is so ugly, and it is practically killing me. Can you help me conquer this?
  2. The Bible says that jealously is as cruel as the grave (Song of Solomon 8:6). Jealousy motivates revenge and can cause you many problems unless you repent. The only way you can overcome jealousy is to go to God and ask Him to help you with your problem. God guarantees in His Word that if we resist the devil he will have to flee (James 4:7). As you feel this spirit of jealousy trying to overtake you, speak out loud, “Jealousy, I resist you in Jesus’ name.” Remember the root of jealousy is fear, and perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
  3. I have heard you say we are not to take up another’s offense. Is there a scripture reference to support this statement?
  4. Proverbs 26:17 gives us advice about keeping out of someone else’s quarrel. In the Amplified Bible it reads, “He who, passing by, stops to meddle with strife that is not his business is like one who takes a dog by the ears.”
  5. Is it ever proper to judge someone?
  6. I encourage everyone in the Body of Christ to look at others as having the potential of Jesus inside. There is no proper or improper time to judge another. The Bible tells us that such behavior will get us into a world of trouble. The consequences of judging are found in Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1; and Galatians 6:7,8.

God will help us love others in the Church, and through that love we won’t have to judge or evaluate them. After all, we are God’s servants and it is God alone who is able to make us stand (see Romans 14:4). Each of us is to evaluate and judge ourselves—then we will not need to judge one another.

  1. I have a real hard time forgiving myself when I’ve offended someone or done something stupid. What should I do?

Peter, Paul, David, Abraham, and Isaac all sinned. The key to their success and greatness was that they received forgiveness and cleansing from their sin and went on with God. Realize that you are not perfect but you do have the perfect One living inside of you. Whenever you feel you’ve blown it, repent to God and to anyone else who may be involved. Then forgive yourself and thank God that you are in Christ and no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1, 2). His Word is true and He forgives every repentant sinner according to 1 John 1:9.

  1. I have been deeply hurt by people telling lies about me. How do I handle this kind of gossip?
  2. First of all, you must guard your own heart according to Proverbs 4:23. I was once deeply offended by another Christian. I felt he was being very unjust toward me, and my first reaction was to tell him off; but the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart to do good to those who hate me (Matthew 5:44). I made a decision to act on the Word, to pray for the person who offended me, and to do good for him if the opportunity arose.

Likewise, it is important for you to forgive the people who are gossiping about you and to make sure that your relationship with the Lord continues to be good. As you walk in holiness and righteousness before Him, God will make your enemies to be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7). If you sow bitterness, you will reap bitter results; but God will richly bless you if you flow in His forgiveness and grace toward these people.

2024-09-19T08:06:18-06:00September 28th, 2024|

Your Anchor of Integrity

The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7)

When it seems like the world has gone crazy, anchor yourself to integrity, for it is a key to God’s best.  Even when you blow it, God can give you another change and bring you through.  God wants you to have integrity in every area, because integrity pays big dividends.  Don’t just go with the flow.  Choose integrity and avoid the heart-wrenching consequences.

Integrity, or the lack of it, really shows up when you are under pressure.  When the pressure is on, are you going to hold on to your anchor of integrity?  Even if you’ve blown it and have not shown integrity at times, there’s hope.  Three of the Bible’s greatest men—Abraham, Jacob, and Job—became men of integrity after acting just the opposite.

  • Abraham “the Liar”: Out of fear, Abraham lied two times, saying Sarah was his sister instead of his wife.
  • Jacob “the Cheater”: Jacob deceived his brother and his father. He manipulated his brother, Esau, into selling his birthright for a bowl of stew.  Later, Jacob impersonated his brother to get all his father’s blessings.
  • Job “the Blamer”: Job had an incredible number of trials. He became bitter with God and his friends and wished he had never been born.  He felt like God had deserted him.

Under pressure, each of these men blew it.  Yet each one made a quantum leap and developed integrity.  God saw potential in these men of failed integrity, and He sees potential in you, too!

  • God told Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice (Genesis 22), and he obeyed. God called Abraham a “man of faith.”
  • Following his wrestling match with a man, God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” and even named the nation of Israel after him (Genesis 32:28).
  • God Himself confronted Job and told him. “You are talking wrong, thinking wrong, and acting wrong. Look to me.” Job repented, and God restored double everything he’d lost (See Job 38-42).

How did these men make such a quantum leap of change?  They pursued God.  The pursuit of godly integrity is well worth it.

  • Integrity will preserve you: “Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You” (Psalm 25:20-21).
  • Integrity will uphold you: “You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever” (Psalm 41:12).
  • Integrity preserves your children: “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7).

If God could bring Abraham, Jacob, and Job through their messes, He will bring you through, too.  Ask Jesus to help you learn integrity.  Begin to study “integrity” in God’s Word.  Like Abraham, Jacob, and Job, integrity can be your anchor.

2024-09-05T10:59:43-06:00September 23rd, 2024|

Favor for Your Health

In 2 Kings 5, we find the story of a man, a valiant soldier, who was in a completely unfavorable health circumstance—he had leprosy.  Yet, there was a young girl who found favor with this man, and her favor not only transformed his life but many other situations as well.

The man’s name was Naaman.  He was a brave, successful commanding general in the Syrian army.  During one of Syria’s raids, they had taken a young Israelites girl captive, and she became a servant to Naaman’s wife.  The Bible never tells us her name, but we do know that someone had planted the Word of God into her heart when she was very young.  Even in captivity, she held fast to the Word and shared it with others. In spite of her circumstances, this girl found favor with God because she confidently witnessed His Word and allowed the truth to remain in her.

For her young age, she had a good understanding of Naaman’s suffering and his needs. One day, she told Naaman’s wife that he should visit the prophet Elisha in order to receive healing for his leprosy.  When Naaman heard the suggestion, he gathered much wealth and brought it with him on his journey to Israel.

When Naaman first arrived in the land, he presented a letter written by the king of Syria to the king of Israel.  This letter announced that he was sending Naaman to Israel to be healed.  The king of Syria really put the king of Israel on the spot! The Israelite king heatedly replied by saying, “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore, please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me” (2 Kings 5:7).

Seeing that the king’s situation was far different from that of the young maid’s, I thought that it was interesting to note that she had more compassion for Naaman’s circumstances than the king did!  She realized the source for his healing was God’s power, whereas the king didn’t.  Furthermore, the king of Israel lacked understanding, mercy, and truth, so Naaman was wasting his time trying to find favor with him!

Hearing that the king responded to Naaman by tearing his clothes over the situation, Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10). Naaman wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of washing himself in the Jordan seven times.  When he heard Elisha’s prescription for his condition, he was disgusted.  What did Naaman expect Elisha to do? The Bible says:

Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’” (2 Kings 5:11)

It is interesting to note the important roles which the servants played in this story. First, we see that Naaman’s servant girl told him to go to Israel to seek his healing. Naaman would have left Israel enraged by his anger had not his other servants encouraged him to follow the prophet’s advice: “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:14).

There was a reason why Naaman had favor in the sight of the Lord. God’s promise to Abraham was: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). This promise not only applied to Abraham, but it also applied to his seed.  There young servant girl was the seed of Abraham.  We can surmise that Naaman must have been a very good master to his servants because in verse 13 they affectionately called him “Father” and they earnestly desired to see him healed. Even though she was a captive, I believe Naaman’s kindness to the Jewish girl gave him favor in the sight of the Lord, and this favor led to his physical and spiritual healing.

After Naaman’s miraculous healing, he returned to Elisha, and with much gratitude, he tried to persuade him to accept the treasure which he had brought, but Elisha refused.  According to verses 18-19, we see that Naaman repented of his idolatrous past and was forgiven of his sins.  After he was healed and forgiven, he asked Elisha for some direct because he wanted to take it back to his home in Syria, where he planned to kneel on it and worship the God of the Jews. He was really touched by his healing, wasn’t he? He abandoned the worship of Rimmon, the god of Babylon, and he learned to worship Jehovah, the true and living God!

Healing and salvation are often found together throughout the Bible. We hardly ever see them separated.  Naaman’s entire life was transformed through his encounter with God, which brought about his physical and spiritual healings. Both ancient history and the Bible agree that Syria attacked Israel many times after this incident, but there is no indication that Naaman ever led the Syrian army in battle against Israel after his miraculous healing. Isn’t it wonderful how God touches us as individuals in order to place us in the path of His divine will? Once God puts His finger on your life, you’re not only transformed, but the consequences of His divine touch are also often quite far-reaching, as they were in the case of Naaman.

Do you want favor for healing that will go beyond just your own body and circumstances and change the course of history as well? Nothing is too big for God!

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Rebuild Restoring Your God-Given Identity.

2024-09-05T08:05:14-06:00September 16th, 2024|

Declare Today-I am Resting in the Lord.

Declare Today-I am Resting int he Lord.
My Heart will Trust in Him and I’ll not Fear.

Did you know that Solomon wrote Psalm 127 just before the death of his father, David? Solomon’s brother, Adonijah, was trying to take the throne by deceitful means, even though the kingship was promised to Solomon. Instead of fighting with Adonijah over the throne, Solomon wrote this Psalm. Basically, it says, “Why worry? If God wants me on the throne, I’ll be there.” His heart was at peace with the Lord.

Solomon had received a spiritual name from Nathan, the prophet. The name was Jedidah, which means “beloved.” When Solomon wrote Psalm 127, he said, “For so He gives His beloved sleep” (vs. 2). Solomon was really inserting his own name, Jedidah. Read this Psalm, and you can insert your name, too, for you are dear to His heart; you are His beloved.

Can you take the step of faith that Solomon took? Can you look at your own situation and say, “Why worry? God’s Word is true; He will perform that which He has promised!” Of course you can! As you go to sleep tonight, remind yourself of who He says that you are. “God calls things that are not as though they were,” and He has given this awesome power to you! Once you speak His Word over your situation, the work is already accomplished, whether or not you see the work as completed with your natural eye. Let your heart REST in the assurance of His Word. Stop worrying, you are of His beloved; He has called you “Jedidah.” You are His bride, His chosen, and you above all others should let your heart REST in Him.

2024-08-22T12:59:47-06:00September 9th, 2024|

Choose to be a Winner

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says…the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22, 25 NIV)

Approach every day as though it were the only day you have to achieve your goals and be a winner.  In reality, that is true.  Yesterday is gone forever, and tomorrow isn’t here yet.  Nevertheless, yesterday is the foundation you’re building today on, and today is the foundation for tomorrow.  Too soon, today will be gone and you will be faced with tomorrow.  What you do right now sets the stage for your future, for achievement or failure.  Choose to be a winner.

We hear a great deal today about stress and how to handle it.  Our society seems to be plagued with stress, which manifests in confusion, frustration, anxiety, fear, etc.  Let me give you valuable keys to stress management.  Put God first, plan each day wisely, schedule your time, write things down, stick to your goals, and avoid delay.  This will enable you to eliminate a great amount of stress.

God wants His people to reflect joy and walk in victory.  He doesn’t want them stressed out under their circumstances.  Remember, others are watching you.  The world needs to see a different kind of person—an optimist instead of a pessimist, a winner not a loser, an overcomer rather than an underachiever.  That kind of person just might have the opportunity to lead others to Christ.  Will you be that person?

2024-09-05T07:06:25-06:00September 5th, 2024|

Ask Marilyn – Hearing From God and Knowing His Will

Q: I’m not sure if I’m hearing God’s voice or someone else’s. What does God’s voice sound like?

A: We all struggle with the question, “Is this the voice of God?” John 10 offers us a wonderful promise: The Lord’s sheep know His voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. The voice of God can come to us in different ways. In the Old Testament the voice of God is described as a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11, 12). Most often God’s voice sounds very much like our own thoughts. But these thoughts do not originate from the mind; they come from deep within our own spirit.

Believers have been promised that as we continue to walk with God, He will guide us with His eye upon us and lead us in the way that we should go (Psalms 32:8). And according to Galatians 5:16, we can know that we are being led by the Holy Spirit if we are walking in the Spirit; and walking in the Spirit means to act on God’s Word, no matter what “sense-knowledge” tells us. I believe that our flesh seeks after signs—something we can see or feel. Check out the leadings you have by asking yourself, “Is this my flesh wanting a sign, or is this God’s Word directing my spirit?” If you follow the Word, you will never be disappointed.

Q: What do people mean when they talk about revelation knowledge?

A: God is continually giving us deeper revelation knowledge (insight) into His Word. However, they key to revelation knowledge is that it must always line up with and be tested according to the known Word of God—the Bible. Revealed knowledge often opens up God’s Word to us in a fresh way—not adding to the Word nor taking away from it, but revealing it to us in a deeper way: But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Jesus very clearly indicated to us that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher and teach us things by revelation (see John 14). I believe the apostle Paul was referring to revelation knowledge when he wrote about the revelation of mystery (Romans 16:25) and when he instructed the Corinthians in the use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul also prayed that God would give the Church revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17).

Nevertheless, Paul also warned that if anyone, including an angel from heaven, came with a revelation other than the gospel which was brought to the world by Jesus, then we would know that revelation was not from God. So, then any “revealed knowledge” beyond God’s Word as found in the Bible is not of God. Nearly every cult has an additional source of written authority besides the Bible. These extra-Biblical scriptures are not from God.

Q: I’m resting now from near burnout from church duties, outside women’s organizations, my family responsibilities, etc. My quiet times during this time were not what they should be, but now I find myself having regular, quality quiet time but feeling a lack of fulfillment. I don’t seem to have any vision, and the Lord seems to be silent. Do you have any suggestions or scriptures?

A: The answer to your burnout problem and present lack of fulfillment is found in John 15:1, 2: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

In every life there are seasons of bearing fruit, pruning, growing, and bearing more fruit. Certainly, in the times of “fruit bearing,” where there is evidence of what our life is producing, we have a sense of fulfillment because we can “see” what we have done.

However, there are necessary times when God puts us in a “dormant” state so that we can abide in Him and He in us: “…as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4). I believe you may be experiencing an “abiding time” in your life. God is giving you a season of rest, consolidation, and a chance to re-energize. Enjoy it! Receive this time as God’s wisdom for this season in your life.

If the Lord is silent, then you can be certain that you are in His will! The Holy Spirit gets “noisy” within us when we begin to walk outside of God’s will.

Q: I know that God has a calling on my life either to preach or to teach so I quit my job because I didn’t want anything to hold me back. Some doors have been opened, but I really need more financial support. Would it be all right for me to work part-time at a secular job?

A: Yes, you can be called to the ministry and still work at a secular job. There are many faithful men and women in the ministry today who are holding down full or part-time jobs in order to support themselves. And in the Bible, we find that it was the apostle Paul’s custom to provide for his needs by working with his own hands (see 2 Thessalonians 3:8).

Q: Marilyn, I just don’t understand how someone can be truly close to God, like David in the Bible, and still sin so terribly.

A: Being close to God does not make one exempt from sin. Saul, David, and Solomon certainly had the hand of God upon them, but as humans they were still given to temptation and sin. Like each of us, these great men had a choice—each day brought new opportunities either to be defeated or to be victorious. These Old Testament men did not have the New Testament covenant rights that we now have, which include understanding our authority and power through God’s Word.

Because all humans have a sin nature, there is no person on earth who is exempt from temptation and sin. We have seen that in the Body of Christ when great men and women of God have been tempted and, in a time of weakness, have fallen. You have experienced this type of temptations and succumbed to sin, and so have I. Being in a leadership position often makes a person even more vulnerable because Satan has assigned demons spirits to tempt leaders and try to cause them to fall. That is why it is important for all of us to stay close to God through His Word, prayer, and fellowship with one another.

And always remember the good news that “…The things which as impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). The word possible refers to “miracle-working power.” The miracle-working power of God’s grace can keep you in His righteousness.

2024-08-14T10:06:39-06:00August 26th, 2024|

Your Personal Trainer

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)

One day I asked the Lord, “What do Christians need to know to come out triumphantly when they go through tests and trials?” The Lord had me turn to Hebrews 12:5-6, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”  I began to see some truths that were comforting concerning the matter of God’s chastening.  I found out that chastening means “child training, instruction, being educated.” What a difference that makes!

Every Christian will experience trials, temptations, infirmities, and afflictions, but God has promised that His personal training can cause you to win over them all.  To triumph over tests and trials, we must understand that God uses them as training grounds to help us win “the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).  The Christians life is like a race with hurdles and obstacles to overcome.  A hill or two may test our endurance and stretch our faith.  If we are going to run and finish the race, then we will have to lay aside some weights (sin) that can slow us down and eventually lead to defeat (see Hebrews 12:1). We can’t finish the course God has set before us if we allow sin to distract us from running the course.

Often, when we are confronted with a test, trial, or temptation, we think God is mad at us, but He isn’t!  There are two wrong ways to respond to God’s training, found in Hebrews 12:5-6:  you can despise God’s training, and you can be discouraged and despair of it.  When you despise the Lord’s chastening, you treat it lightly.  If you have bitterness, covetousness, or bad habits and the Lord uses a person or a situation to deal with it, so why can’t I?” If you ignore God’s chastening, you are treating it lightly and could end up out of the race.

Another wrong way to respond is to despair of God’s training.  The Lord may put His hand on you and say, “I don’t like this thing (weight) in your life, it keeps you from being victorious,” You can accept God’s dealing and act on His words; or you can say, “Oh, God, I just can’t help it.  I’ve tried and tried to overcome it, and I just can’t.  It’s hopeless.”  But it’s not hopeless!  Remember: “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6).  Don’t faint or despair over your situation: rather, know that God’s wonderful hand of love is behind it.

Training brings profit into your life.  If you refuse to allow the Lord to train and discipline you, you won’t mature in your Christian faith.  If you despise God’s training or despair in the middle of a trial, then your spiritual growth stagnates, and you are no longer of any profit to God’s kingdom.  How tragic!  The Lord wants us to be constant producers who grow to maturity in Him because maturity leads to fruit-bearing.  The Lord’s chastening will yield “the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

Tests and trials are opportunities for spiritual exercise that strengthens our inner man and gets us ready for bigger and better things from God.  The more we exercise in the spiritual realm, the more we are equipped to enter into spiritual warfare for ourselves, our loved one, and the unsaved all around us.  So, embark on God’s personal training program today!

2024-08-14T08:17:07-06:00August 19th, 2024|

Joy Makes Life Worth Living

“… The Joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Our God is a joyful God, and it is with His joy that we become stronger, more powerful Christians. What is joy? One of the Hebrew words for joy is chedvah, which means “rejoicing, gladness.” In Galatians 5:22, joy is the Greek word chara, which means “cheerfulness, delight.” So, joy helps you worship God, and it makes you glad, cheerful, and a delight to be around. You will even start to like yourself better when you receive God’s joy.

Dear God,
I pray you give me strength through Your joy.  Help me be a blessing to those around me and spread Your joy to everyone I meet.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen

2024-07-18T06:10:20-06:00August 12th, 2024|

The Promise of a Joyful Life

All this joy is mine as I follow your ways!  Psalm 119:56 (Passion)

The Word will sustain you under affliction, and enable you to survive ridicule.  It gives you a tender heart for the worldly and wicked.  The Word furnishes songs of hope and comfort in the still, dark night.

All this happiness and comfort can come from only one thing:  keeping the Word of God.  When you abide in the will of God, you will find peace and joy unlike anything the world can offer.

Practice is defined as “a customary or habitual performance.”  When it becomes your practice to obey God’s ways, the Word becomes an inseparable part of you.

Lord, I will make it my practice to read, meditate upon, and obey Your ways.

2024-07-18T05:52:26-06:00August 5th, 2024|

Ask Marilyn–Health and Healing

Q:  Does God still heal people today? I’ve heard that physical healing was just for the first-century Church.

A:  Yes, God still heals people today! I’ve heard that rumor about the first-century Church, too; but I can tell you that God loves us just as much as He loved those, Christians. Jesus’ final words to His disciples included this promise: “And these signs will follow those who believe; In My name they will cast out demons; …they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17, 18).

I’ve seen many, many healings take place, and I’ve experienced healing in my own body as well. It often takes consistency in prayer, standing on the Word, and persistent patience.

Sometimes people plant the healing “seeds” of God’s Word at an advanced stage of illness, and the death process is too far advanced for the life of God’s Word to manifest. It is important to plant God’s Word in our hearts before Satan ever tries to attack us with sickness so that the roots of sickness and disease will have no place in our lives. This is one reason people are sometimes no healed. There are many other reasons, and we don’t know each individual’s discouragement or level of faith for healing. The important thing is to remember that God’s Word is ALWAYS true, and the Word is our standard of truth.

The Scriptures are loaded with dynamite promises for healing. Among these promises are Exodus 15:26; Psalm 91; 103:3; Proverbs 4:20-23; Isaiah 53:4, 5; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 8:16, 17; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24; and 3 John 2.

Q:  Marilyn, I heard you talking about daily health scriptures. What did you mean?

A:  I’m sure you know that Jesus was anointed with power to heal those oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38); you may even be sure that healing is of God. Well, now I want to help you see that walking in divine health is even better! That’s why I take my daily dose of health scriptures—I speak scriptures that affirm the divine health that God wants for my life. Some scriptures that you can use for this purpose are Psalms 91:10; Proverbs 3:8; 4:20, 22; 16:24; and Romans 6:13.

As you confess scriptures like these, they are like a prescription of healing from the Lord. I know that these scriptures will not go forth in your life and return void; I am absolutely certain that they will produce health for you.

Q:  I have prayed and prayed for healing, but I still have the symptoms of my disease. Why haven’t I been healed?

A:  Sometimes when believers lay hands on sick people, the healing manifests instantly. It is a wonderful miracle; but when someone doesn’t recover immediately, it is important to keep your faith in God’s Word and not look at the symptoms.

When healing takes a period of time, it is important to understand that God’s Word works like a seed planted in your spirit. When you plant a carrot seed, you don’t run outside the next day expecting to pull carrots! It is sometimes necessary to stand in faith for a long time; but as you continue to stand, the day will come when healing is evident because the seed will have matured.

We know that all sickness and disease originated with the devil (Acts 10:38), and sometimes demonic personalities manifest various diseases or disorders in people. Nevertheless, believers have power and authority given by Christ to rebuke any such thing (Luke 10:18, 19). When you are praying for yourself or another, “cover all the bases” by coming against Satan and any demonic activity that may be present as well as speaking the healing Word of God to the body and soul. I know an evangelist who comes against all sickness, disease, and infirmity as though it comes directly from evil spirits; and he has unusual success. You do have the victory over all these things in the name of Jesus (1 John 3:8).

Q:  Is it an indication of unbelief for me to follow the instruction of a physician and not lean solely on God?

A:  First of all, God is your healer (Psalms 103:2, 3); and you should depend upon Him, through the promises of His Word, to perform healing on your behalf.

However, that does not mean that you are wrong to take advantage of a doctor’s knowledge. Jesus said that the sick has need of a physician (Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17; and Luke 5:31). We need to use balance and wisdom in every area of our life, and I believe it is only good wisdom to use modern medicine to aid in the healing of our bodies.

I want to reiterate that all healing comes from God. Sometimes healing comes in a supernatural manner; sometimes it comes through the natural processes of healing with the assistance of the medical profession. Either way, the healing is from Him and He is to receive the glory for it.

2024-07-03T11:15:08-06:00July 22nd, 2024|

The Grace Advantage

Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:13)

After the fall, God could have sought revenge for Adam and Eve’s disobedience.  Instead, God promised to send His only Son to be an offering for sins.  Grace, in this instance involved the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin to restore man’s fellowship with His Creator.

Because God extended grace, both sides benefitted:  God and man received an increase over what each possessed originally.  God not only received back his Son from the dead, but Jesus was also “The firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).  God got an increase on His sacrifice—He got the church!  You may not think you’re an advantage to God, but He thinks you are worth the price of Jesus’s death!  Throughout the centuries, every person who has been born again is God’s increase.

You benefitted too.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost the garden of Eden, but the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).  They lived in Eden, but you sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).  Adam was given dominion to subdue and conquer the earth, but you are mor than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37). God always wants to give you more than you had before.

So, how do you treat others when you are wronged?  Is seeking revenge the first thing that pops into your mind?  The Bible teaches the principle of extending grace in order to turn your disadvantage into an advantage.  But first, you need to cast that irritation on the Lord: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  Regardless of what the person did to you, the Word tells us to forgive one another, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:13). The key to doing that is to recall that Christ forgave you.

If you are born-again, then you received grace when you were saved.  You didn’t deserve it, but as we have seen, Jesus gave you more than you ever had before; consequently, you’re now enjoying a life of grace and blessings.  We have the grace to forgive others.  If you dispense that grace by forgiving others, you will end up richer.

Because God extended grace, both you and the person who offended you can benefit.  So, do as the Lord did: don’t seek revenge.  Rather, extend grace!

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Beautiful Inheritance A 101 Daily Devotional.

2024-07-03T10:49:52-06:00July 15th, 2024|

Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22, 23 (NKJV)

The fruit of the Spirit is to be very evident in our lives.  When we are born again, we receive the fruits of LOVE, JOY, and PEACE.  These are for our personal enjoyment.  We experience love, joy, and peace.

In addition to these three fruits, there are three more that relate to others:  We need LONGSUFFERING in dealing with other people.  We also need GENTLENESS and GOODNESS.  Thus, not only do we enjoy personal fruit for ourselves, but we can extend His fruit to others.

Lastly, three final fruits deal with our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We give FAITH back to Him, along with MEEKNESS and TEMPERANCE.

Here is a beautiful picture of FRUIT THAT WE OURSELVES CAN ENJOY, FRUIT THAT WE GIVE TO OTHERS, and FRUIT THAT WE MANIFEST TO THE FATHER.  How complete God has made us in Jesus!  If you have Jesus, you have the seed of all nine of these fruits.  Partake of them all.

Dear Heavenly Father,

No law can win against love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance—the supernatural traits of Jesus Christ.  Thank You, Father, that these abide in us in our new birth.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

2024-06-20T11:09:04-06:00July 8th, 2024|

Blessed is the Nation

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” – Psalm 33:12a

Did you know that the United States began its life as a Christian nation?  Our forefathers fled to this country so that they could worship God in the manner they wished.  Our constitution, our Declaration of Independence, and our Bill of Rights all mention God.  We were birthed as a nation of God, and we are blessed for it.

God has used America to bless the world.  Our confidence is in God—it is even printed on our money!  There are certainly tremendous needs in our nation today, but there are also tremendous Christians who are taking God’s Word to intercede for this country.  We are the salt that preserves this nation—let’s not lose our saltiness.  We are the light that overcomes the darkness of this nation—let’s not hide our lights under a bushel.

Let’s stand boldly in God, speak against evil, pray, and believe God for the miraculous outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh in the United States.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You today that our nation is blessed because of the Christians who are praying and believing You.  Thank You for doing great and mighty things in our midst and raising up laborers and intercessors.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

2024-06-20T11:40:06-06:00July 1st, 2024|

Ask Marilyn

Question: Marilyn, I just don’t understand how someone can be truly close to God, like David in the Bible, and still sin so terribly.

Being close to God does not make one exempt from sin.  Saul, David, and Solomon certainly had the hand of God upon them, but as humans they were still given to temptation and sin.  Like each of us, these great men had a choice—each day brought new opportunities either to be defeated or to be victorious.  These Old Testament men did not have the New Testament covenant rights that we now have, which include understanding our authority and power through God’s Word.

Because all humans have a sin nature, there is no person on earth who is exempt from temptation and sin.  We have seen that in the Body of Christ when great men and women of God have been tempted and, in a time of weakness, have fallen.  You have experienced this type of temptation and succumbed to sin, and so have I. Being in a leadership position often makes a person even more vulnerable because Satan has assigned demon spirits to tempt leaders and try to cause them to fall.  That is why it is important for all of us to stay close to God through His Word, prayer, and fellowship with one another.

And always remember the good news that “…The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NKJV). The word possible refers to “miracle-working power.” The miracle-working power of God’s grace can keep you in His righteousness.

2024-06-12T11:06:26-06:00June 24th, 2024|

Restoring Your God-Given Identity

The subject of identity has become a hot-button issue in the last several years. Self-help books and blogs abound, and more and more people are consulting mental health experts to find out “who they really are.” They delve into the past, looking for clues to their identities, searching genealogy websites to learn where they came from. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to know your family’s history. However, even more important than understanding where you came from is realizing who God made you to be and that He made you in His image (Genesis 1:26).

When you were born, you had a destiny, a divine appointment, already planned for you from before the foundation of the world. As a born-again Christian, you are uniquely created to fulfill a specific purpose and you have a unique calling that only you can fulfill.

God wants you to fulfill every facet of your identity and accomplish all you set your hand to, just as He does. Romans 8:29 echoes this: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” The way to fulfill your place in His kingdom is to conform to the identity of Jesus Christ.

Many people mistakenly try to imitate someone else’s image, ministry, or calling. It’s fine to admire other people—but it’s wrong to assume that your ministry call is the same as someone else’s. Each of us need to discover our personal identity and purpose in Christ. Second Corinthians 3:18 tells us how this is done: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Unfortunately, many Christians are discontented because they have taken their eyes off the identity that God has for them. They start looking at their circumstances or other Christians to compare themselves—but that’s not what God has called us to focus on! God is the only one who can complete or “repair” your identity.

Romans 12:2 tells you how-to walk-in God’s image: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Word of God is the mirror of all that He has for you—when you look in it and see Him, you recognize your image. When you behold Him and fulfill His image for you, God’s perfect plan for your life will go from glory to glory!

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Rebuild Restoring Your God-Given Identity.

2024-06-12T10:54:19-06:00June 17th, 2024|

Names of God – Elohim

The Sovereign, Mighty Creator

Elohim is the very first title of God that you encounter in the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

The Hebrew word for the name God is actually El, or Elohim. Fascinating in its translation, this name is one of God’s more frequently occurring titles; it shows up more than 2,500 times in the Bible! It is important that we understand its meaning.

El is the root word of Elohim, and describes God’s greatness and glory; it displays God’s power and sovereignty. Although this word is composed of only two letters, it offers a glimpse into the depth of the Hebrew language, which is a language of pictures.

Consider the name Elohim, which extends the scope of El’s root meaning. Elohim brings forth a new dimension to the God of power: He becomes the God who creates! Thus far, two facets of God make up the word Elohim: (1) total power, might, and complete sovereignty; and (2) complete creativity.

Notice that in the Bible’s very first verse, God was shown as the Creator! In using the name Elohim, Genesis 1:1 makes the statement that tremendous, unimaginable power is involved in the force of God’s creativity. Elohim, in His mighty power and creativity, caused our vast universe to exist.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

God’s name, Elohim, is amazing in itself, but it bears another striking characteristic that makes it even more distinctive: the Hebrew ending for Elohim is plural! Why? Because it describes the divine trinity of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No singular word could describe this element of God’s personality.

Several places throughout the Bible confirm this plurality. Genesis 1 says this about the creation of the first man, Adam:

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image… 27 So God created man in His own image in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all involved in the powerful creative process that occurred upon the earth. Genesis 1 shows that the Holy Spirit was present: “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” (Genesis 1:2-3). Why was the Holy Spirit moving upon the face of the waters? Because He was preparing to create! Jesus was actively involved in the creation process, too:

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

Active, present, and full of creative power: Elohim! Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This increase the impact of Jesus’ shocking statement to the religious men of His day: “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). What an exciting infinite personality!

I like this analogy: God is the Architect, Jesus is the Builder, and the Holy Spirit is He who breathes the life of God into the structure. Elohim: those who are mighty and powerful; those who are creative and sovereign.

There is yet another facet of Elohim, making Him an active part of His creation.  It is Elohim who makes covenants with those whom He created! Later, you will study the name Jehovah, the name in which God reveals His ways. Elohim is the name in which God reveals His power. It is this very power and creativity that allows God Himself to enter into a covenant relationship with you and me. The apostle Paul had a revelation of Elohim:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

Paul said, “God’s covenant of salvation with you and me is His power!” Don’t ever speak lightly of the gospel, God’s covenant with us, because that is His power that gave us eternal life, His power that saved us now and forever! Our covenant-making God, Elohim, sustain all that He created through His own might. Throughout Genesis, whenever God created, He spoke first and then manifested His power.

Naturally, Elohim loved His creation, and He desired to preserve it. Although God was protective toward the people of His creation, they only seemed to get better and better at being worse and worse! As the people sinned, they separated themselves further from their Creator. God is merciful, but He is also holy and righteous. Sin was (and still is) offensive to Him, and something had to be done before the people destroyed themselves. Elohim observed that this growing sinfulness was spreading like cancer through each successive generation.

To read more about the powerful names of God, get Marilyn’s best selling book here.

2024-06-11T07:22:07-06:00June 10th, 2024|

The Power of a Joyful Attitude

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.  (Psalm 119:74 NIV)

When a man of God receives grace for himself, he becomes a blessing to others.  Hopeful people bring gladness wherever they go.

What do you bring to your friends and family?  Do you remind them of all the bad things that have happened or might happen?  Do you give them a catalog of your aches and pains?  If your conversations are full of complaints, worries, and problems, then you are not testifying for God.

Your attitude alone can be a testimony to the gifts of God.  You have been forgiven!  You are assured of eternal life!  Considering the magnitude of these gifts, what do you have to complain about?

Reflect your joy and gratitude in every situation — you will be a blessing to your friends and family and, most of all, to God.

2024-06-11T07:21:38-06:00June 3rd, 2024|

One Who Serves

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Luke 22:27

Jesus came to serve people who are sick. Jesus came to serve people who are wounded and hurting. Jesus came to serve the brokenhearted.

That’s who Jesus is. He loves us. He wants to serve us, and actually, Jesus serves us all of our days and throughout all eternity. You say, “Well is He serving me now?” Oh, yes, He is! He lives to make intercession for you. So right now, Jesus is serving you. He knows what your needs are. He makes intercession according to the will of God. He never quits serving you, and His life is an example of how we are to live.

Think about the miracles that Jesus performed. Now, who really participated in those miracles? The servants! They got to be a part of the miracle. When Jesus turned the water into wine (see John 2), it was the servants who filled the water pots then poured wine into all the guests’ glasses. We see the same thing when Lazarus is raised from the dead (see John 11). It was the servants who rolled away the stone in front of the tomb and who removed the grave clothing from Lazarus. The ones who serve get to be part of the miracle!

Dear Heavenly Father, through the life of Your Son, I see that You always want us to serve. I declare that I will start everything with “How can I serve?” not “How can I be served?”

2024-05-15T14:12:28-06:00May 26th, 2024|

The Joy of the Lord

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

Do you think God wants you to enjoy your life? Absolutely, He does! I’m going to tell you one of the most hilarious times of my life. Many years ago, I was invited to speak at a big seminary and all of their leadership was coming. At that time, all of the leadership was men and I was the only woman invited. Some people said to me, “Why did they invite you?” I wondered the same.

So, I had a lot of fear and anxiety about the event. I was praying, believing God, fasting and crying out, “God, what do You want me to do?” And He said, “I want you to have fun.” I thought, “That can’t be from God!” But He said it over and over to me, “I want you to go and have fun.”

I went with a message prepared, but God didn’t let me preach it. I got up on the platform and I just had to follow Him. So I began to rejoice in God and the joy of the Lord hit the whole place. People began to fall under the power of the Holy Spirit. Men, all dressed in their nice suits, were up at the front rejoicing in God. People were laughing and praying, and what did I do? I had fun! And it was beautiful.

Jesus, I declare that You came so that we could have an enjoy life, in abundance and to the full. Help me to have fun today, because I am so filled with the joy of the Lord! Amen.

2024-05-15T13:49:26-06:00May 20th, 2024|

A Mother’s Faith

The seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21 KJV)

Whether they are grown and living a life of sin or still peacefully at home under your influence, the transforming power of God’s Word is available to help your children.  God promises that “The seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Proverbs 11:21 KJV).

There is something unique about a mother’s faith.  Remember how the Syrophoenician mother reached out in supernatural faith on behalf of her hurting daughter?  She begged Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, but Jesus ignored her.  She persisted, and finally, Jesus said:

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

              Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.”

 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:24-28)

This woman was not about to let anything stop her from claiming God’s transforming power for her daughter.  Your children need that same kind of spiritual tenacity exerted on their behalf.  Put your faith in God and His Word.  Although your children may be involved in ungodly lifestyles, don’t let go of God’s transforming power.  Remember the Prodigal Son.  The Bible says, “he came to himself” (Luke 15:17). In other words, his eyes were suddenly opened, and he saw things from the perspective of the Word rather than the world.  Your wayward children can do the same.  One day, they will hear the Holy Spirit speaking to their hearts and respond.  They’ll get up, repent, and serve God.  Don’t give up on God’s transforming power for their lives!

You hold the key.  Your faith in God’s power to transform can determine the course of your child’s life.  Look at Moses’s mother, Jochebed.  Pharaoh ordered all the newborn male Hebrews to be murdered, but Jochebed trusted God, “So the women conceived and bore a son…she hid him three months” (Exodus 2:2).  Jochebed had a mother’s faith for her baby.  She hid him, then put him in an ark and floated him down a river full of crocodiles.  The baby ended up in the bathtub of Pharaoh’s daughter.  She named him “Moses” and raised him as her own.  Because of his mother’s faith, Moses’s life was spared.  He received an education and had the best of everything.  It wasn’t until after committing murder and running away that Moses answered the call of God and was used of the Lord in tremendous ways.  Looking back on the circumstances of Moses’s birth, no one would have foreseen all of this in his future.  God’s transforming power turned Moses’s life around.

Maybe your decision hasn’t always served God, and you’ve made some mistakes in raising your children.  The good news is, regardless of their beginnings, God has plans for your children—they may be future deliverers in the body of Christ.  Stop feeling guilty about past mistakes!  Seek God and repent.  Stand on His Word—the transforming power for their lives—and see what God does.

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Beautiful Inheritance, A 101-Day Devotional.

2024-05-13T15:02:38-06:00May 12th, 2024|

There’s a Miracle in That Mess

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Are you having problems with your job, your finances, or a relationship?  Are you suffering from an illness?  Is your heart aching for a loved one who is far from God?  Could you summarize the situation by saying, “My life, or the life of someone I love, is a muddled mess!”? The good news is that your mess can be God’s means to bring a miraculous blessing into your life.

Your situation may seem overwhelming, but in every mess a Christian encounter, there is a miracle in the making.  Most of the time, we look at trouble as something bad.  But when we overcome a difficult situation through God’s grace and power, our victory is an opportunity to receive glory (greater blessings) and give glory (praise and thanks) to God.  We also have the great privilege of reflecting His glory.  A little trouble can yield a heap of glory.

God says your afflictions are light compared to the heavy blessings they can bring into your life: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  Who in the natural would think that financial problems, sickness, or any other difficulty could be a benefit?  But in God’s supernatural world, afflictions can lead to glory.  God wants to use the very thing the devil works against you to bring glory into your life.

God has a process to bring His glory into your life; if you grasp the process, you’ll receive the glory.  The way we handle hard times and deal with difficult moments provides a foundation upon which God builds a beautiful life.  Joseph is a good example of someone who grasped this process.  God turned a mess into a miracle in Joseph’s life, and He can work a wonder in yours, too.  So, let’s look at how you can get God’s glory in your situation.  Consider these four keys.

  1. Focus on the Word of God: While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).  Look at what God says about you and your problems.  No matter what others say or how things look in the natural, look at the invisible.
  1. Confess the Word: Don’t just read the Word – speak it, confessing the invisible. If you have spoken negatively into your situation, ask for forgiveness and begin to speak positive, Bible-backed confessions.
  1. Have patience and faith. Hebrews 6:12 says that is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God.  Patiently walk by faith.  Some people want their glory now.  The don’t want to wait, but God needs to work on us first to prepare us for the glory to come.
  1. Take hold of joy. While you are waiting for your victory, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).  Look at your mess the way Jesus looked upon His excruciated death on the cross as the means to a miracle: “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).

When problems arise, focus on and confess God’s Word.  Walk in faith and patience while you take hold of joy.  Your mess is merely the means to your miracle.  Your glory is on the way!

2024-05-07T06:56:05-06:00May 7th, 2024|

Stay Fixed on Jesus

How do you overcome test, trials, and temptations? Don’t focus on the apparent size or strength of the problem, and don’t try to win in your own strength. The key to victory is to keep your eyes focused on the Lord, who is your source of strength and power. Children often learn by watching their parents. In the same way, we learn to be like Jesus by watching Him and doing what He did. The writer of Hebrews said:

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, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV)

Some Christians experience a great victory only to have a harder trial rise up immediately afterward. In some cases, this is a counterattack by the enemy, but in others it is the result of their letting their guard down and allowing themselves to depend on someone or something other than God. Be very careful about this! If God is not your source for everything, you are stepping into the devil’s territory.

When you come safely and successfully through a temptation or trial (and you will), continue to build on your victory. Don’t allow yourself to become complacent. Once you pull down a stronghold of sin or evil, be sure to erect a stronghold or fortress of the Word of God in its place. The book of James provides three practical steps in this process that will help you neutralize an attack of the enemy:

  1. Look ahead. Watch out for “good-looking” bait disguising the hidden hook of sin. Consider the consequences of sin—death. Don’t take the bait! “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:16). 
  1. Look around. See and proclaim the goodness of God. He has provision for your every need. When you meet temptation, say, “Why give in to that trap? God has much better things for me.” He wants you to have a miracle!” “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” (James 1:17). 
  1. Look within to the nature of Jesus Christ. See that you are clothed with His righteousness. When God looks at you, He says, “You are the best! You have My nature within.” “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). 

Once you know what lies ahead—what miracles and blessings are yours in the future—suddenly the trial or test you are going through now won’t seem as difficult to bear. Instead of giving into murmuring, speak the Word. During your trials, remember that while God has prepared a miracle for the “outside,” He also wants to do a work on the “inside” as well:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4).

2024-04-18T06:47:46-06:00April 22nd, 2024|

Walk in Victory

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says…the man who looks
intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this,
not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22, 25 NIV)

Approach every day as though it were the only day you have to achieve your goals and be a winner.  In reality, that is true.  Yesterday is gone forever, and tomorrow isn’t here yet.  Nevertheless, yesterday is the foundation you’re building today on, and today is the foundation for tomorrow.  Too soon, today will be gone and you will be faced with tomorrow.  What you do right now sets the stage for your future, for achievement or failure.  Choose to be a winner.

We hear a great deal today about stress and how to handle it.  Our society seems to be plagued with stress, which manifests in confusion, frustration, anxiety, fear, etc.  Let me give you valuable keys to stress management.  Put God first, plan each day wisely, schedule your time, write things down, stick to your goals, and avoid delay.  This will enable you to eliminate a great amount of stress.

God wants His people to reflect joy and walk in victory.  He doesn’t want them stressed out under their circumstances.  Remember, others are watching you.  The world needs to see a different kind of person—an optimist instead of a pessimist, a winner not a loser, an overcomer rather than an underachiever.  That kind of person just might have the opportunity to lead others to Christ.  Will you be that person?

2024-04-04T09:15:41-06:00April 15th, 2024|

Elijah and Elisha-Receive a double portion of the anointing!

Elijah was a tremendous prophet who moved in the miraculous. He was called by God to minister during a very dark period in the history of the Israelites. Their nation had been divided into the north kingdom, which was called “Israel,” and the southern kingdom, which was called “Judah.” Ahab and Jezebel were the king and queen of the northern kingdom, and they were evil leaders who rejected God and His ways and turned the nation to the worship of Baal, the false god of a religion that even included child sacrifice. (See, for example Jeremiah 19:5). Elijah preached against them, and the nation made a turnaround during the time of his ministry.

Then, God called Elisha to be Elijah’s successor, and he became a “servant” or “attendant” to Elijah for a time. (See 1 Kings 19:16-21). Elisha apparently learned from observing Elijah; he saw how God had anointed his life with power to fulfill what he had been called to do. Therefore, when it came time for Elijah to be taken to heaven. Elisha was very bold, telling the older prophet, in effect, “I want a double portion of the anointing you have from God.” (See 2 Kings 2:9). Elijah replied, “You have asked a hard thing” (verse 10).

If you want a double portion of God’s anointing, don’t think of it as a little thing. It is a hard thing. But Elijah told Elisha that if he saw him when he left, he could have what he had asked for. Here is how that transpired:

Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle [“cloak” NIV] of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. (verses 11-13).

After receiving Elijah’s mantle, Elisha repeated what Elijah repeated what Elijah had done a little while earlier (see verse 8), to enable them both to cross the Jordan River: “Then [Elisha] took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over” (2 Kings 2:14).

If you count the miracles of Elijah in the Bible, you will see that there are eight. If you count the miracles of Elisha, you will find sixteen. Elisha did receive a double portion of the anointing!

2024-04-04T08:56:51-06:00April 8th, 2024|

Thanksgiving Brings Joy

Can you imagine the emotional and spiritual rollercoaster the disciples experienced during Jesus’s last few weeks on earth?

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with large crowds of people singing Hosanna and praising Jesus as the Messiah? The sheer anger of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus and their inability to control Him?

Or the last supper, when Jesus shared His most intimate moments yet by washing their feet, telling of His imminent betrayal by one of them, and His talk of death?

There was also the agony of His prayers in the garden; His arrest, scam trial, and beatings; His execution on the cross.

Then, after three miserable days of hope lost and unfulfilled expectations, Jesus returns. Alive.

For the next 40 days, His followers were able to see Him just a little more, and then He said goodbye as He ascended to heaven until His second coming.

They had seen it all, and in these final moments with Him, He left them as He was blessing them. They knew with certainty He was the Messiah, He loved them, and He was coming back again.

So what did they do?

They worshiped Him, a form of thanksgiving. This allowed them to return to Jerusalem with hearts full of joy, a joy that would carry them through the miraculous establishment of the church over the remainder of their lives.

When you receive the blessings, God has for you and respond by worshiping Him with a thankful heart, the same joy they experienced will be yours.

Worship Him. Praise Him. Thank Him—until joy overwhelms your heart as you become lost in His presence.

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s book, Treasures of a Thankful Heart.

2024-03-21T12:43:25-06:00April 1st, 2024|

Easter and the Power of Redemption

Do you know that there are two ways of looking at the death and resurrection of Jesus? From a human perspective, Easter proclaims the good news that our Redeemer lives! From the Lord’s perspective, Jesus’s death and resurrection were the price God paid to purchase a group of people—you and me—called “the redeemed” (see Hebrews 12:23 AMPC). God has always desired to redeem fallen man.

Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage is a beautiful picture of the way God works to redeem His people. “I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments” (Exodus 6:6). The Israelites had been in Egypt for almost 400 years—through no fault of their own. Jacob and his whole family had moved there at Joseph’s invitation. Eventually, however, Joseph died, the Pharaoh who ruled during Joseph’s lifetime died, and circumstances turned against the Israelites.

Has it ever seemed to you that you were in bondage to a certain habit or situation for the longest time? There comes a point when God says, “I’m going to get you out!” Jesus wants to redeem you out of those circumstances. To redeem means many things, a few of which are: “to break off,” “to deliver,” “to free by paying a ransom.” That’s what God wants to do for you and me. He wants to set us free from bondage so that we can walk in resurrection life—living victoriously every day.

Redemption for the Guilty

Have you ever thought, Well, I got myself into this mess. I’ll just have to get myself out of it? It’s easy for us to believe that God will redeem us when we’re innocent victims of oppression. But when the bondage is our own fault, we sometimes think God is going to sit back and watch us squirm to get free. But He doesn’t! Look what happened to Israel: after God set them free from bondage to Pharaoh, they eventually turned their backs on Him and were taken into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity.

God could have said, “Tough luck! You’re guilty. Get yourselves out of this one!” But He didn’t. He said, “And they shall call them The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12). The Jews had blown it—they had forsaken the Lord—and were led away as captives. But God still considered them “the redeemed.” After they had repented, God brought them back into the promised land. God will also bless you if you repent and turn back to Him.

Always remember, you are the redeemed of the Lord (see Isaiah 51:11). When we look at the events of Easter, we see that we have a Redeemer who lives eternally. Because of Easter, as the redeemed, we can enjoy the power and benefits of redemption eternally.

When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, the Bible says He did it with “an outstretched arm and with great judgments” (Exodus 6:6). It took only one arm to redeem the Israelites. But in the New Testament, we see that it took two outstretched arms on the cross to redeem all mankind from sin. Your redemption took both outstretched arms of Jesus, didn’t it? By that act, Jesus redeemed you from your past, your present, and your future. That’s the good news of Easter!

Kinsman Redemption

Redemption includes one other aspect that will help you. This aspect is found in the Old Testament book of Ruth. Do you remember Ruth’s beautiful story? Originally a woman named Naomi and her husband left Bethlehem with their two sons. They traveled to Moab (which was a cursed place due to the idolatry and incestuous roots of the Moabites), and Naomi’s husband and two sons eventually died. The sons had married Moabite girls, and one of them, Ruth, chose to return to Bethlehem with Naomi. Ruth also chose Naomi’s God (see Ruth 1:16), so she was a believer; redeemed, delivered, bought, and set free. But she was about to experience the fuller meaning of redemption during her stay in Bethlehem!

Ruth began to glean barley in the field of a rich man named Boaz. But this wasn’t just any rich man. It just so happened that Boaz was a relative of Ruth’s dead husband, and Mosaic law made it the duty of the next-of-kin to marry the widow and raise up children in the dead man’s name. Boaz desired to marry Ruth; but in order to marry her, he first had to prove his family ties to her dead husband, buy back the land that used to belong to her husband, and be willing to raise his children under the name of Ruth’s dead husband. This was called the law of the kinsman redeemer.

The Hebrew word for redeemer is “ga’al” and it is translated 18 times as “redeemer,” 14 times as “kinsman,” and six times as “avenger.”

Jesus is all of these things to you and me. Jesus is our kinsman. He emptied Himself of His divinity and came down to earth clothes in humanity. In order to be your “relative” and to understand where you are coming from, He had to be tempted in all ways. Then He died for you. He shed His own blood for you. Those who are born again belong the Father. Jesus became your kinsman redeemer.

Another thing that the kinsman did in the Old Testament was to seek revenge on anyone who hurt his relatives. Jesus does the same for you. When the enemy comes against you, “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Jesus took vengeance upon death itself. The book of Hebrews states:

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV)

Do you remember the story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis? Gain murdered Abel out of jealousy. But God came to Cain and told him, “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). He then avenged Abel’s death by cursing Cain. In the New Testament we are told that the blood of Jesus speaks of better things than the blood of Abel.

You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:23-24 NIV)

This means that Jesus’s blood speaks to the Father and says that you are redeemed, delivered, bought, set free, and that you are a very close relative!

Activating Your Redemption

What does this mean for our life? Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” If Christ is your living Redeemer and you are the redeemed, then you need to say what God says about you!

God says you are free, whole, healthy, prosperous, joyous, wise, forgiven, and much, much more! That’s what you should be saying about yourself. If ever there was a man you had a right not to say he was redeemed, it was Job. But look at what he said:

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God. (Job 19:25-26)

Job said, “If I die and worms destroy my body, I will still stand and see my Redeemer at the latter day upon the earth!” No matter how bad it looked in the natural for Job, he had a Redeemer, he was redeemed, and he spoke it!

You need to know the benefits of redemption, and the power of confessing them for yourself. Psalm 103:1-4 tells us the redeemed have all their sins forgiven, their diseases healed, and their lives saved from destruction! You and I have all the benefits of the redeemed because Jesus stretched out both of his arms on the cross for us. He redeemed us with outstretched arms.

There is nothing you can do to earn this redemption. Jesus redeemed you when you were innocent, and He redeemed you when you were guilty. He redeemed you from sickness, and He is your avenger upon the devil. But there is one thing the Bible says you are to do, and it’s found in Ephesians 5:16: you are to redeem the time because the days are evil.

Redeem the time by what you say with your mouth. Do you spend your time whining and gossiping? From now on, redeem your time by speaking what God says about you and about your situation! Pray with me, and let’s begin redeeming our time right now.

Heavenly Father, I know that my Redeemer lives. I am delivered, loosed, set free, bought back from bondage, and a very close relative to Jesus, who is my avenger upon the devil! From now on, Lord, everyone will know that my Redeemer lives because I am going to say so! Amen.

If you’d like additional prayer, call 888-637-4545, or visit https://marilynandsarah.netviewshop.com/prayer.

2024-03-13T11:28:14-06:00March 25th, 2024|

Waves of Victory

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt shortly before His death, the people mobbed Him, throwing their cloaks before Him and waving palm branches. They cried out, “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” (John 12:13). That first Palm Sunday was quite a victory Sunday because the people celebrated Jesus and acknowledged Him as their king! Some time ago, when I was meditating on this passage, I wondered, Of all the plants, why did they use palms? What was so significant about palm branches? That’s when the Holy Spirit directed me to the Old Testament.

Palms and Willows

After the Israelites left Egypt, God gave them seven feasts to celebrate Him, His work, and what He would do in them and through them. One of these feasts was the Feast of Tabernacles, which they celebrated by constructing booths made of palm and willow branches. For seven days they lived in the booths, commemorating what the Lord had done for them.

You shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Leviticus 23:40

God specifically told the Israelites to use palms and willows to build these booths. Palm trees were very important to that culture. They were a source of food and drink, the leaves were used to make ropes, and the trunk was used to make furniture. Palms eventually came to represent victory for the Israelites, so when God told them to use palm branches to make the booths, He was reminding them of their victories.

Willow branches are also mentioned specifically in the passage above. Here in American, we call them “weeping willows.” The willows had to do with the heartaches the Israelites experienced in the wilderness. The wilderness wasn’t a picnic. At one time, the earth opened up and swallowed up Korah and 250 men who were in rebellion. Mirian and her brother criticized Moses and she immediately got leprosy. The Israelites turned to idolatry, caused innumerable headaches for Moses, and had loads of problems. So, the willows were used on the booths to remind them of all the hardships they endured before they inherited the promised land.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he knew it was a time of victory. He also knew that between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, He would die on the cross. There would be a willow—a time of heartache. In our lives, we experience some wonderful victories, but we also have willows. Yet, if we will bring our willows to the Lord, He can transform them into victories. When you hit those willow times, don’t hold onto them; hand them over to God and watch them become palm branches.

One of the members of my prayer team once told me about a true transformation that had occurred in her life. For most of her life she had been an alcoholic. One day, 18 years before, she was in a bar telling another alcoholic all her problems. The other woman responded by telling her about Job, saying, “Well, if you think things are so bad, why don’t you read the book of Job in the Bible. You’ll find out you don’t have it so bad.” This woman did just that. She went home, found a Bible, and began reading it. The Lord began to deal with her out of that book and she got saved! When she turned her life over to the Lord, He took her willows and transformed them into palms. That bar—her alcoholism—became the turning point of victory in her life.

As this woman discovered, Job holds a crucial key for allowing God to turn willows into palms. Job lost everything, but did you notice the devil spared his wife? Why? Because his wife could keep needling him and giving him a hard time. The devil was using her to get to Job. Rather than listen to his wife’s admonition to “curse God and die,” Job turned everything over to God and put his afflictions into the hands of the Lord: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him” (Job 13:15).

Later, Job went on to give the first prophecy related to the resurrection:

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God. (Job 19:25-26)

Job believed in his “willow time” that he would be victorious and there would be a resurrection. Job had an inner revelation of the Redeemer who would appear and bring resurrection. Likewise, when we talk about resurrection, we have an inner revelation that Jesus not only died for us, but that He lives. What a victory!

We all experience willow times. But whether they shatter you or lead you to victory depends on whose hand you put them into. If you keep them in your hands, they won’t change. But if you put them in God’s hands, He can bring transformation.

Remember too, that Scripture tells us, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). In the natural it’s difficult to understand just how this work. But when you become a child of God, you have an inner revelation that He loves you so much, that if you will put your circumstances in His hands, He can cause you to triumph.

The Ultimate Victory

I think a lot of folks believe that getting older is a “willow.” Things don’t button the way they used to, there’s too much hair left behind in their brushes, and there are too many wrinkles staring back at them in the mirror. That’s because they’re corruptible. But there’s a palm coming! Look at what Paul said: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:42). What are we raised in? Incorruption! We know by the Spirit that we don’t just have a life here; we’re going to live in a new body that doesn’t decay, get old, lose hair, or wrinkle.

In subsequent verses, Paul also tells us that death is a dishonor; it’s a willow. Then he says believers will be raised in glory. When Jesus died, that was a dishonor. But when He was raised, it brought glory to the Father. He’s the first fruit of resurrection and we’re going to follow him! Paul continues to compare mortality and immortality and arrives at this conclusion:

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Eternal life will be wonderful! There is no sting of death for believers because Jesus has already borne the penalty of the law for our sins. When we claim Him, we can claim His resurrection and know that we will spend eternity in heaven with Him. Just imagine it: forever in His presence, rejoicing in the victory that He bought for us, and celebrating Jesus by waving palm branches:

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9, emphasis added)

We’re not going to carry willows in heaven because God will wipe away every tear. Rather, we will carry palm branches because we’re not defeated—we were made victorious in Christ!

You might have a willow in your life right now that hurts and causes you great pain. Maybe it’s a broken marriage, prodigal children, or an unsaved loved one. Perhaps you need healing in your body or finances. Take those cares and place them into the hand of Jesus and allow Him to turn those willows into palms of victory. Pray with me:

Father, thank you that Jesus is the victory. I take all these willows and the heartache and weeping they represent and place them in your hands. I believe that you will transform them into palm branches of victory in each circumstance. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen.

If you’d like additional prayer, call 888-637-4545, or visit https://marilynandsarah.netviewshop.com/prayer.

2024-03-07T11:15:38-07:00March 18th, 2024|

Queen Esther and the Origin of Purim

In a couple weeks, the Jewish holiday of Purim will be celebrated around the world. In honor of this joyous occasion, today’s post is about the book of Esther and the history of Purim.

Esther lived in a historically dark time. Following the Persian Empire’s destruction of Babylon, many Jews had been displaced to Persia. Their king, Ahasuerus, ruled a kingdom of 127 provinces extending from India to Ethiopia. He was extremely wealthy and very astute in worldly matters.

As a demonstration of his worldly wealth, Ahasuerus called all the leaders of his provinces together for a six-month celebration. Can you imagine holding a six-month party? Talk about guests who made themselves at home! After these six months, he held a seven-day feast for everyone in the palace. The palace was elaborately decorated with gold and silver. Even the wine was served in golden vessels, each differing from the next. It was one of the most extravagant celebrations the world has ever known.

During that time in history, it was not customary for men and women to mingle at feasts. Therefore, Ahasuerus’s queen, Vashti, hosted a special feast elsewhere in the palace for the women. During the feast, the king became drunk with wine and bragged about what a knock-out his queen was, and sent word for Vashti to come into the court so that he could show her off. Some historians and Bible commentators say that he asked her to come in and expose herself indecently. “But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him” (Esther 1:12). Vashti had the guts to exercise some class and say, “I’m a human being, and I refuse to be exhibited like one of your golden vessels.”

Ahasuerus consulted his seven princely “wise men” about Vashti’s behavior. One wise man, Memucan, was particularly upset with Vashti. My guess is that Memucan was henpecked at home, and he probably thought this was a great opportunity to take out his frustration on women. He advised the king, “You had better handle this woman because she’s too gutsy. If you let her get away with this, all the women in the empire are going to rebel against their husbands. They won’t cook meals, wash the clothes, or take care of the children! You have got to do something about her!” Memucan then recommended that the king divorce Vashti, saying:

“If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.” (Esther 1:19)

In a moment of anger, King Ahasuerus took Memucan’s advice and deposed Vashti. But he soon realized that he had made a big mistake because he truly loved her. Unfortunately, it was too late. In those days, the king’s laws couldn’t be retracted. After the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti and what had been decreed against her. In an effort to cheer him, the king’s servants suggested that he hold a beauty contest in which all the beautiful women in his empire could participate. The servants said, “Surely there is a woman in your vast empire who could become a suitable queen.” The king eagerly agreed to hold the contest.

Esther was a young Jewish girl who lived near the palace. Evidently, her family had been killed during the first Babylonian invasion, and she had been adopted by her cousin Mordecai, who was raising her as his own daughter. Mordecai and Esther were both captured during the second Babylonian invasion and exiled to Persia. While in Persia, Mordecai changed Esther’s name from Hadassah to disguise her ancestry. He gave her the Persian name Esther, meaning “star.” I think her new name really fit her. Like a star, Esther allowed the light of God to shine through her to penetrate a very dark generation.

However, Mordecai and Esther started out on the wrong foot. The prophet Jeremiah had instructed the Jews to return to Jerusalem after their 70-year captivity, but most refused. Only 60,000 Jews had chosen to return. The rest — over 2 million — decided to remain in Persian territory, including Mordecai and Esther. Besides that, Mordecai decided to enter Esther into the king’s beauty contest, which wasn’t a very holy thing to do. If she didn’t win, she would automatically become a concubine to the king!

For one full year, all the beauty contestants were groomed and trained in a manner appropriate for a queen. At the end of the year, they were presented to the king one by one. When Esther went before the king, the Bible says, “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17).

Esther delighted the king, and she was chosen to be his queen. Remember, the king loved to eat, so he held a great feast in Esther’s honor. He also “proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king” (v. 18). All to celebrate the beautiful new wife he had chosen.

Do you think that God ordained this marriage? From our natural viewpoint, the union between a Jewess and a rich, materialistic, heathen king doesn’t appear to be a match made in heaven. But remember, God is a God of providence. Providence means forethought of care and supply. God provided Esther with special access to an ungodly king so that she could divert her generation from impending destruction. God’s providence is evident throughout the entire book of Esther. But I want to point out a very strange fact: God’s name is not mentioned even once in this book! Although no one mentions God during this entire time period, He is present to move and guide the course of events that occur. Occasionally, it appears that God’s people have forgotten Him, but He never forgets His people. He is still a God who can provide needed help. He is always a God of providence.

One day, Mordecai overheard two of the king’s doorkeepers scheming to kill the king. Evil plots were nothing new in those days — nor in our day. Mordecai sent an urgent message to Esther, and Esther informed the king, giving credit to Mordecai. The two doorkeepers were executed, and the plot was squelched.

What was done to reward Mordecai? Initially, nothing. No one said, “Oh, Mordecai, you’re such a hero!” Have you ever done something that went completely unnoticed or maybe even backfired? Maybe you thought, No good deed goes unpunished! It’s not worth it. Believe me, if you stay true to God, then His hand will be in your situation. Eventually, you will reap what you sow. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

It seems as though there’s a villain in every story, and Esther’s is no different. In Esther 3:1, Ahasuerus promoted a very ungodly man, Haman, to the number one position in the kingdom. Haman, as the highest of the king’s princes, was consumed with pride. He loved his position in the Persian Empire. Haman, however, was not a Persian, he was an Agagite, which means he was of Amalekite descent. Why does this matter? Well, the Amalekites were descendants of the Edomites, and the Edomites were descended from Esau. The sons of Esau hated the sons of Jacob, and this went on for centuries. So we have a generational curse: antisemitism. This isn’t a new thing, and it’s satanic. It’s the devil’s plan.

Now, Haman’s position required everyone to bow down to him when he passed on the street. No one dared to defy Haman! But Mordecai refused to bow — I think he saw right through Haman all along. The king’s servants tried to get Mordecai to bow down, but Mordecai stood firm. Now watch God move on Mordecai’s behalf . . .

Haman was furious with Mordecai. Mordecai had suddenly come out of his quiet corner and taken a daring stand against Haman. What a blow to Haman’s ego! Although he was enraged, Haman was afraid to confront Mordecai directly. So Haman went to the king and said:

“There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”

So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.” (Esther 3:8–11)

The king signed Haman’s decree, which proclaimed that all the Jews were to be killed. The decree was translated into all the languages of the provinces, and messengers were sent out to proclaim that all the Jews, both young and old, would be killed. Remember, no one except Mordecai knew Esther was Jewish. Since she was secluded in the palace, she was in a real predicament and didn’t even know it. She was included in the death decree, and the law of a Persian king couldn’t be altered once it was passed.

When Mordecai heard the decree, he put on sackcloth and ashes and began to weep in front of the palace gate. Someone went to Esther and said, “Your cousin is outside crying. He looks awful. He’s wearing sackcloth and ashes!” (Esther 4:4).

Esther did what many women do when they hear bad news — she went shopping! Esther bought Mordecai a brand-new outfit and sent a messenger to tell him to take off his sackcloth and ashes. She probably thought that new clothes would help cheer him up. But Mordecai told the messenger, “Send the outfit back to Esther and let her know that we are in a very serious situation. The king has signed a decree to kill all the Jews. Plead to the king on our behalf.” But Esther hesitated. The king hadn’t called for her in over 30 days, which very well could have meant that she had fallen out of favor with him. There was a law among the Persian kings that if you went into the court and the king didn’t extend his golden scepter to you, you would be executed. Even though she was the queen, Esther could die if she went before the king without being summoned by him. But Mordecai wouldn’t take no for an answer:

“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14)

Esther’s response is the key to our favor: “. . . I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16). Why is this the key? Because she surrenders her will to the will of God. When we surrender ourselves to God, it brings favor. It’s not easy, and we usually have to surrender more than once. In fact, we usually end up having to surrender over and over again! But when we surrender and lay down our life, that’s when God shows up!

God gave Esther a plan, and she told Mordecai to gather a group of Jews to fast with her for three days; then she would go in to see the king, even if she ended up being executed for breaking the law. This young Jewish maiden made a commitment to trust God and allow Him to use her in His divine plan to rescue the entire Jewish nation. When you surrender to God, He gives you His favor. When you have favor with God, He gives you favor with man, and that’s exactly what happened with Esther. After the Jews had fasted and prayed, Esther went to see the king:

So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you — up to half the kingdom!” (Esther 5:2–3)

God again gave Esther favor with the king. Esther thought it would be wise to ease into the request and maybe butter the king up a little bit, so she replied, “I just wanted to ask you and Haman to come to dinner tonight.”

That evening at dinner, the king was so enamored by Esther that he said to her again, “Ask whatever you like. I will give you up to half of my kingdom!” Esther responded with a second dinner invitation for the next evening, promising the king that she would then give him her request.

Haman must have really thought he had it made now that he had been invited to two of the queen’s dinner parties. Little did he know that the next banquet would be a “necktie” party and he would be the guest of honor. Haman told his wife Zeresh, “I love my life, and I just love my job. The only flaw is Mordecai, the man at the gate who won’t bow to me.”

Zeresh exclaimed, “I have an idea! Build tall gallows and hang Mordecai from it. That will take care of him!” Haman leaped at his wife’s suggestion. He wanted revenge so badly that he ordered his men to build gallows 75 feet high just to kill Mordecai (Esther 5:9–14). Why did Haman build such tall gallows? I think He wanted to make a big example out of Mordecai! The future looked pretty bleak for Esther’s cousin, but remember, God is a God of providence. Whenever His children call on His name, He will move heaven and earth to protect them.

The Bible says that pride always precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Haman was ensnared in a tremendous web of pride, and he was about to plunge into disaster. After Haman had the gallows built, King Ahasuerus had a sleepless night. Who do you think was keeping the king awake? God. He used a simple little thing like sleep to change the course of history.

After tossing and turning for a while, the king finally gave into his insomnia and decided to get some work done. He asked his servants to read to him from the book which contained everyone’s name who had blessed the king. “And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus” (Esther 6:2).

The king asked his servants, “Mordecai saved my life. Has he ever been rewarded for his noble deed?”

“Nothing has been done for him,” they replied.

Now, Haman had just walked into the court to speak with the king about hanging Mordecai, but before he was given an opportunity, the king asked him, “Haman, what could I do to honor a man who has been especially good to me?”

Thinking that he was the one to be honored, Haman replied:

“For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’” (Esther 6:7–9)

Haman pictured himself wearing the king’s beautiful robes and parading through the streets on the king’s horse, while everyone — including Mordecai — bowed down to him.

But before Haman could ask the king, “Who is to be honored?”

The king said, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken” (Esther 6:10).

Haman was greatly disappointed. After he had fulfilled the king’s wishes and paraded Mordecai through town, Haman rushed home to tell his wife and friends what had happened. They became frightened and said: “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).

No situation is impossible for God. He can interrupt the devil’s plans and change a curse into a blessing. Watch how God reversed the devil’s plot to annihilate the Jews.

At Esther’s second banquet, the king must have been on pins and needles, wondering what Esther could possibly want. Finally, she made her request, “My people have been condemned to death, and I want them to be saved.”

Realizing that he had signed his own wife’s death warrant, the king became so upset that he went for a walk in the palace garden. Haman knew he was in big trouble, so he ran over to the couch upon which Esther was reclining and began to beg for his life. Upon his return to the banquet room, the king saw Haman had fallen over Esther on the couch and yelled, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” (Esther 7:8).

One would think that nothing more could go wrong for Haman, but, in reality, his trouble was just beginning. He was taken back to his house not in honor but as a condemned prisoner. Not wanting such fine workmanship to go to waste, the king sentenced Haman to die on his own gallows. Then he gave over to Esther the property of Haman, and she appointed Mordecai to oversee it. (Esther 7:9–8:2)

In the meantime, the Jews were still sentenced to death. So, Esther approached the king and pleaded with him on their behalf. King Ahasuerus answered her and Mordecai by saying:

“You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.” (Esther 8:8)

Talk about favor! Mordecai and Esther called in the scribes and wrote a letter permitting “the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives — to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them” (Esther 8:11). The chapter finishes by saying:

The Jews had light and gladness, joy and honor. And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them. (Esther 8:16–17)

This feast became the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is celebrated by Jews all around the world to this day.

The book of Esther beautifully illustrates how God transforms seemingly average people into glorious vessels that he can use to penetrate dark and sinful times. Just as God enabled Esther to become a woman of favor and thwart Haman’s plot against the Jews, God can enable you to halt ungodly forces against your family, community, and nation.

God wants to use you in His providence during this time on the earth, and His hand is on you in a supernatural way!

Today’s blog post is taken from Marilyn’s new book, Wide Open Doors: Heaven’s Favor for Opportunity, Influence, and Success.

2024-03-07T11:22:48-07:00March 11th, 2024|

The Benefits of His Presence

Are you hungry for the presence of God? I believe in the heart of every human being there is a longing to feel God’s presence. Since we desire the presence of God, it’s good to know that He is omnipresent—He’s everywhere! In the words of the psalmist, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Psalm 139:7).

In good times and bad, God is there. God’s presence is among sinners as well as saints. The thief and the drug addict can’t flee from it any more than the believer can—the difference is that generally the sinner tried to flee from His presence, whereas the believer runs to it. In His presence the sinner often finds conviction, but the saint finds comfort.

Even more awesome than the omnipresence of God is His manifest presence. God’s manifest presence is often experienced in a worship service, but He’s not limited to church services. Many times His presence is with us, but we fail to realize it. Jacob had a vision of a ladder with angels ascending and descending from heaven before he recognized the presence of God at Bethel. In the vision, God spoke to him and told him no matter where he’d go, God would go with him to bring him back to the promised land. Then, “Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it’” (Genesis 28:16).

Jacob had blown it big time. He’s lied, deceived, and done all kinds of wrong things. Following his vision, Jacob made a new commitment to God and promised that he would indeed serve Him if only He would bring him back home. The manifest presence of God changed Jacob’s life.

In the New Testament, Saul’s life was also dramatically changed when he encountered the manifest presence of God. Meeting the risen Lord, Saul became so totally transformed that he shook up the civilized world at that time and wrote 13 books of the New Testament.

There are times when God will manifest Himself without you doing anything or even consciously seeking Him, as in Jacob’s and Paul’s case. At other times, the things you do can cause His presence to manifest. One of these is praise: “You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered]” (Psalm 22:3 AMPC). I’m sure this is why Psalm 95:2 tells us to come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to Him. Praise brings God’s presence. You can praise Him wherever you are, no matter what you’re doing. Don’t just praise Him in church; praise Him in your car, your home, and your office.

God also bestows gifts upon those who dwell in His presence, which makes living in His presence so wonderful. There are several things that happen when God’s presence is manifested.

Benefit #1: Joy and Strength

Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” When you’re feeling tired or weak, the joy of the Lord can quicken you because “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). I have encountered this same joy many times. When I can’t sleep and start praising the Lord and thanking Him for all His blessings, there are no bags under my eyes in the morning and I feel totally invigorated for the day of ministry ahead of me.

The Holy Spirit will then move upon the people to whom I minister, and they will also experience His presence and joy. I know of one woman who got really “drunk” in the Spirit following a service in which the joy of the Lord flowed. On the way home, she was stopped by a policeman who thought she was drunk and tested her for alcohol. When the test showed nothing, she explained to him that the only thing she was drinking was the Holy Spirit and shared what happened at the meeting. He began to cry! Apparently, he was a backslidden Christian. He was so convicted he prayed and rededicated his life to Jesus. When God manifests, we’ll have people getting saved all over the place.

Benefit #2: Freedom from Sins

The second benefit is seen in that the presence of God brought joy to the woman but conviction to the policeman. This was evidenced also in the garden of Eden after the fall. When God’s presence showed up, Adam and Eve hid from Him because they recognized their sin. I saw the same thing happen in at one of my Bible Encounters many years ago. God’s presence was so heavy that people were coming up to me confessing their sins. They couldn’t stand the weight of their sins anymore. I didn’t tell them to do this; the presence of God was doing it. As they confessed their sins and repented, they were set free!

Benefit #3: Enemies Will Flee

“When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence” (Psalm 9:3). When God’s presence comes on the scene, your enemies will be repulsed—this applies to natural and supernatural enemies like sickness, disease, and poverty. This was marvelously demonstrated during one of my meetings in Texas. One of the women there fell—literally—under the power of the Holy Spirit. When she tried to get up, she couldn’t and fell back down. She tried again and still couldn’t get up. She finally asked, “God, what are you doing?”

“I’m healing you!” He answered. She had a serious fertility problem and couldn’t have a child. She felt God doing a work, and after the meeting, she received proof of her healing. It became possible for her to have a baby—the enemy fled!

Benefit #4: Direction and Rest

The fourth benefit of God’s presence is that it brings direction. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, their sins finally drove God from them.  Even though they had experienced His manifest presence and divine direction in the pillars of cloud and fire, heard His voice, and knew His warmth and love, they continually rebelled against Him. Finally, God had had it. He told them He would no longer live in their midst but would instead send an angel to go with them. The people were so distressed that they pleaded with Moses to do something. Moses told them to repent and sanctify themselves. As Moses interceded on their behalf, God told them, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Notice, God not only promised to continue to guide them, but He also promised them rest.

Benefit #5: Help During Affliction

Fifth, God’s presence is manifest in the midst of affliction:

In all their affliction He was afflicted,

And the Angel of His Presence saved them;

In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;

And He bore them and carried them

All the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)

Are you afflicted or in a crisis? God is there! Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Jesus was in the first with them. When you are in a difficult season or circumstance, pray and trust Him. Instead of falling apart and having a nervous breakdown, pray: “Lord, I believe you can manifest yourself in this situation.” Who knows what He will do? Expect Him to show up and do wonderful things in crisis times.

Benefit #6: Foretaste of Eternity

I saved the best benefit until last. This relates to God’s eternal presence. What is it about us that longs for the touch of God—that desires to know Him in a very personal way? Jude 24-25 tells us:

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—

To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). (AMPC)

Jesus is going to present us before the presence of God’s glory with joy. Think about it. We are going to live eternally in His presence. What we experience here on earth is just the faintest touch of what we will one day experience in heaven. No wonder we are so hungry. We were made for the presence of God!

2024-02-29T11:53:20-07:00March 4th, 2024|

Power and Wisdom from the Holy Spirit

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’” (Judges 6:12). An angel comes to Gideon and says, “Gideon, you mighty man of valor!” But Gideon doesn’t look like a man of courage, and he doesn’t talk like one either! He says to the angel, “Pardon me?”

But the angel just keeps speaking faith to him. He says, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel!” But Gideon doesn’t answer in faith. He says again, “Pardon me, but…” and then comes up with all kinds of excuses why it will never work. “My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe, and I am the least in my family,” he said. But the angel of the Lord doesn’t give up. “I will be with you,” he says to Gideon.

Gideon has the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon him, but he seemed to have so many holes of unbelief that the Spirit had to clothe him with His power to make Gideon the deliverer that he needed to be.

Do you ever feel like Gideon? I know I do! But when we feel like we are the weakest in our tribe and the least in our family, God will continually show up to prove that He is who He says He is, and He will cover us in the power of the Holy Spirit. Just like He did for Gideon.

How do I know that this same power is available to us today? Because Jesus spoke of this! He said, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). What did the Father promise? The Holy Spirit!

Have you ever prayed to be Spirit-filled? If so, you know how wonderful it is. If you haven’t and would like to know how, I’m going to tell you. The Bible says in Luke 11:13, “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” So how do you get Spirit-filled? Ask! It’s that simple. You ask to get saved. You ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So that is step one.

Then we find the second step in Acts 2:4, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Who speaks? The Holy Spirit? No! They began to speak. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are the ones who must take a step of faith by speaking. You won’t understand the words that you speak, but the Spirit will speak through you if you let Him inside your heart and open your mouth. It will almost sound like childish gibberish to you, but you’re acting in faith and doing what the Word says.

Now, the last step to being Spirit-filled we know from Romans 8:26, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” So when I pray in the Spirit, my mind doesn’t know what to pray for, but He knows. He intercedes for us according to the will of God.

I remember when I first went to a Vietnamese salon to have a manicure. These four sisters worked there and they were so friendly. But they had a big statue of Buddha in there. I asked God, “How do I talk to them?” And the Lord said to me, “Chocolate.” Now that seems a strange word to hear in your spirit, and not very Biblical. I expected Him to say “love them” or something like that. But He said chocolate, so I took them a box of chocolates. And let me tell you, I took chocolates from then on and all four of them got saved. Hallelujah! Listening in your spirit will give you wisdom!

How do you do it? Well, of course you read the Word, because the Spirit and the Word work together. But also you have to stop and listen. Sometimes you’ll just be talking to somebody and you have to stop and pray “Lord, I don’t know how to answer them,” and you just take a moment to listen in your spirit.

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). Zechariah had eight visions from God that he recorded. I said to the Lord one time, “I don’t have many dreams and visions. You know, my goodness, Zechariah got an interpreting angel. I don’t get an interpreting angel.” And the Lord said, “But you get the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will lead you to all truth.” We can listen in the Spirit and hear from God with the same might and power that Zechariah did!

 

2024-02-14T11:18:09-07:00February 26th, 2024|

Pray to Change the World

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many
to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)

Do you want to shine as the brightness of the firmament, full of God’s glory? You will reap vast, eternal riches when you pray for nations. Perhaps you cannot personally go and minister God’s Word in the uttermost parts of the earth, but your prayers will touch the people who are there; and they can touch the people who bring the gospel into those countries.

God is even preparing the hearts of the people for whom He wants you to pray. Therefore, it is important for you to esteem His priorities and to pray for nations:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1–2)

You may ask, “How do I do that?” You can obey this Scripture by praying each day for a nation and for that nation’s leader. Today is President’s Day in the United States, so you can begin by lifting up our president and his staff. Here are some guidelines that God has given us for effective prayer.

  1. Pray that decisions against the gospel will be brought to confusion. Psalm 109:29 says, “Let my accusers . . . cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.” We must put the devil’s work to confusion because a house divided against itself cannot stand.
  2. Pray that leaders who live in spiritual darkness will receive a personal message of God’s love and repent of their evil ways. Second Chronicles 33 tells about Manasseh, who was so evil that history says he had the prophet Isaiah sawed in half. After 55 years of wickedness, the Assyrians took Manasseh and his nation into captivity. While in prison, Manasseh sought God and repented of his evil. God restored Manasseh to the throne, and he led the entire nation to repentance! Likewise, we should never look at any ruler and say, “He will never change.”
  3. Pray that leaders will find knowledge and wisdom in God’s Word. I pray this Scripture for our president every day: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1). When you claim this verse for those in authority, you are loosing the power of God’s divine direction on their behalf.
  4. Pray that leaders in war-torn nations will grow weary of bloodshed. I believe that spirits of violence cause leaders to become power-hungry. Bind these powers, principalities, and rulers of darkness in the name of Jesus; exalt the name of Jesus over those nations (Ephesians 6:12). Pray that war-torn countries will find rest and peace in Jesus!
  5. Pray that leaders will know that their earthly kingdoms were given by God. Nebuchadnezzar ruled the greatest empire that the world had ever known (see Daniel 2). One day, he exalted himself and said, “Look at this great kingdom that I built!” Even history acknowledges that the man went stark-raving mad. Seven years later, he looked up to heaven, began praising the Lord, and his sanity returned! Fervently pray that rulers will praise God—not themselves!

By faith, you can decree salvation unto the uttermost parts of the earth (see Hebrews 11:33). Decree the salvation of nations by faith—your faith pleases the Lord. Dedicate yourself to pray for the nations in the uttermost parts of the earth. Your intercession can turn nations to eternal righteousness, and you will shine as the stars forever and ever!

This blog post is excerpted from Marilyn’s 101-day devotional, Beautiful Inheritance.

2024-02-14T11:08:28-07:00February 19th, 2024|

God’s Rx for Hurting Hearts

This week we celebrate Valentine’s Day here in the U.S. This day commemorates matters of the heart—mostly romantic love. However, many people suffer from hurting hearts. God is the only one who has the full prescription for healing this malady and His prescription is not experimental, it is guaranteed to work!

Everyone has experienced hurts, sorrows, disappointments, and failures, but isn’t it just like God to have one old-fashioned, heaven-sent remedy that will heal them all? He is so efficient, and His apothecary is absolutely within everyone’s price range: it’s free! His remedy is all-inclusive; it covers every imaginable pain. It doesn’t taste bitter; it tastes sweet, and by taking it you will “fulfill all your days” and increase your lifespan!

Is your curiosity aroused? Do you want to know what it is? It is Myrrh, a beautiful, aromatic spice with healing properties. I am going to show you where to find it and how and when to apply it. Get prepared to receive a bundle of blessings!!!

At the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus prophesied the end result of His mission by reading from the Book of Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Is there anyone whom this prophecy doesn’t cover?

What do the brokenhearted, the captives, the imprisoned, and the mournful have in common? They all have deep hurts within their hearts that are in need of healing. Isn’t it wonderful that from the very beginning of His ministry, the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus with a special anointing to heal the hurting and the brokenhearted?

Have you ever had an emotional hurt? Well, God has a special anointing specifically designed to heal your heart when it hurts. Sometimes we mistakenly look to other Christians or to our spouses when we are hurting, but often they are not as sensitive to us as we need them to be. Actually, I think that their insensitivity can work for our good, because it will make us look to the only one to whom we should turn: Jesus! Through Jesus, we can draw from that anointing of healing that God planned for us to have.

Where are we supposed to go in order to learn where to find healing after our hearts have been wounded or broken? When we’re in a state like this, we need love.

Did you know that there is a beautiful story in the Bible that is full of illustrations of perfect love? That love story is the “Song of Solomon.” The “Song of Solomon” had always been a puzzling book to me until the Lord gave me a simple key, which unlocked the whole book. We have to see the book written as a bridegroom speaking to his bride. I had always read it and interpreted it in the light of seeing Jesus as my Savior, but God said, “Don’t read it like that! Instead of looking at me as your Savior, look at me as your Bridegroom. Then you will understand what I am saying to you.”

A sachet of myrrh is my lover,

like a tied-up bundle of myrrh resting over my heart. (Song of Songs 1:13 TPT)

This passage is saying that Jesus, my beloved (or in this version, “lover”) is myrrh to me, and He is lying upon my heart. I knew that I had to discover the spiritual signifi­cance of myrrh. What is myrrh? It’s a beautiful, aromatic fragrance. It can come in the form of sticks, crushed leaves, or oil. In order to discover the signifi­cance of myrrh, I began to look in Genesis, and my search took me through Revelation!

I found that myrrh is very expensive. When Jacob’s sons had to go into Egypt to get food, Jacob wanted to send Pharaoh an appropriate present. He chose myrrh because it was very costly. This illustration shows that when we begin to look at myrrh as a healing substance for the heart, we must realize that it is very, very expen­sive. It cost Jesus His life to heal your broken heart.

There are all kinds of hurting hearts. Someone is hurt because they have been rejected by a mate; someone else is hurt because they have had an emotional crisis in their childhood and never been set free from the pain; another is hurt because of a set-back in a career or the death of a loved one. Hurt comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, but remember that Jesus is the precious, expensive balm that heals broken hearts.

In the Old Testament, I found that the sacrifices offered by the priests were mingled with myrrh. This was done to make the sacrifice have a sweet aroma. Can you imagine the smell of animals burning on the brazen altar? They burned the entire animal. The priests sprinkled the anointing oil, which was composed of a combination of myrrh and other aromatic spices, on the sacrifice for the purpose of making it smell more pleasant as it was burning.

Have you ever had to make a sacrifice, and it really hurt? Jesus can show you how to make your sacrifices smell good—how you can make it easier to bear. He will touch your heart, and whatever you have to give up will suddenly not matter to you anymore.

I had the opportunity to apply myrrh to a very dear sacrifice during the early days of my marriage. As a young bride, I had always wanted a home. Both Wally and I realized the importance of acquiring our first home as soon as possible, and we purchased it just as soon as we were financially able. Prior to marrying Wally, I had a sneaking suspicion that he might be called into the ministry, and I realized there were very few young couples in the ministry who were able to afford their own homes. Before I married my husband, I told him, “If you are considering the minis­try, I will never marry you.”

“Oh, I’m not called into the ministry,” he reassured me. Do you know what he did? He trapped me. After we were married, he was suddenly called into the ministry, and we had to give up our home. Oh, that hurt me so much! It was such a sacrifice for me. I moaned and groaned and griped and grumbled.

Then one day, the Lord just touched my heart, and it was as though that house meant nothing to me. By that time, we were in the ministry as traveling evangelists, and He put myrrh on my sacrifice, and it smelled so good to me. What’s a house? After that, I didn’t even want a house for a while.

Another characteristic of myrrh is that it is a preser­vative. When they took the body of Jesus down from the cross, they anointed His body and His burial clothes with myrrh. They wanted to take advantage of the natural preservative qualities of this spice.

If you don’t get your emotional and heart wounds healed, you can actually shorten your lifespan. Did you know that people die of broken hearts? But the healing myrrh of Jesus upon your heart will preserve you from a premature death, physical distress, and many things that can hurt you and make you physically sick all of your life. Some people are always sick because they are wounded emotionally. Jesus is myrrh to them if they’ll only turn to Him. He is a preservative to keep you from having a short lifespan.

Myrrh is also used as a disinfectant. I had to laugh about this, because my mother told me that when she was a little girl, her mother would put a little bag of camphor around her neck to keep her from getting colds. It was a kind of disinfectant. I thought, Jesus is a bundle of myrrh to us, and when we wear Him on our hearts, He keeps us from catching hurts and wounds. Some people are offended at every little thing. If you don’t look at them just the right way, they become all uptight, and you have to ask them, “What’s the matter now?” I have noticed that if I keep Jesus and the sweetness of His myrrh upon my heart, I’m not as easily offended nor am I so sensitive to the hurts that come my direction.

Queen Esther used myrrh to make herself beautiful (Esther 2:12). Myrrh upon your heart, a healed heart, a whole heart, is very beautiful. Do you know what people see? They see Jesus on your heart. People who do not have wounded spirits and are not always uptight about something have a lovely fragrance about their person. I believe that myrrh doesn’t just beautify and perfume the outside of an individual. The myrrh of Jesus on your heart will radiate from the inside of your being to the outer man. Jesus is Myrrh, and He desires to make you beautiful!

Did you know that prior to going in before King Ahasuerus, Esther had to go through a ritual of purification for one year? During six months of the year, she was anoint­ed with the oil of myrrh. This spice not only purified her, it covered her with a rich fragrance, and made her very beautiful. Can you imagine how beautiful you would look if you held Jesus on your heart and allowed His Word to purify you for the rest of your life if Esther was made beautiful after only six months?

Hegai, the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, was responsible for giving each woman who had an audience with the king, anything that they thought would make them more beautiful. When it was time for Esther’s turn to go in before the king, she asked for nothing; rather, she relied upon Hegai’s judgment. Undoubtedly, Hegai had faithfully served the king for years, and he was well aware of the king’s tastes. Just as Hegai carefully chose the things that would make Esther beautiful and find favor in the sight of the king, Jesus Christ will do the same for you. If you put His rich anointing of myrrh upon your heart, a supernatu­ral beauty will radiate from your inner being, and you will find favor with both God and man.

Priests were also anointed with myrrh. When they prepared to go into the temple for their priestly minis­try, they anointed themselves with special oil, which was partially made with myrrh. We are kings and priests, and we are sent to heal the brokenhearted. We are anointed with myrrh so we can be priests to people and minister to their broken hearts. I just love that!

One time when I was in the Chicago airport, a woman beside me was crying; she was very distressed and disturbed. Not long before my flight, she tapped me on the shoulder and asked for an aspirin. I told her that I didn’t have any, but she would be able to get one from the flight attendant on her flight. I asked her if she was sick, and because I was concerned, I asked if there was anything I could do.

She said, “I’m in terrible trouble, and I saw you reading your Bible.” (You should carry your Bible everywhere; it opens doors for ministering.) “I wondered if you are Orthodox,” she said.

“What’s Orthodox?” I questioned.

“I’m Russian Orthodox,” she said, “and I believe that Jesus is the way to the Father.”

I replied, “If that is the definition, then I’m Orthodox.”

She then told me that her husband had hijacked a plane in the United States and that he was in prison. She had come from Paris to visit him. “We’re in trouble, and he’s a political prisoner,” she said. I don’t know what we’re going to do, and I thought that since you have a Bible, you could possibly help me.”

I prayed, “Lord, how am I going to heal this woman? How am I going to help her?”

They were calling my flight, and I didn’t know what to do. Instantly, the Lord showed me the most unique thing to do. He said, “Just take her into your arms and hold her. My love will continue to flow from me into you, and it will flow from you into her.” Praise God! That was wonderful! I will never forget it as long as I live! We’re anointed to be priests. You have a healing anointing of myrrh residing in you as a believer—use it!

The priests also used myrrh when they prayed. Myrrh was placed on the altar of incense and as they prayed, their prayers would rise up to the Father as a sweet-smelling savor, and He would take delight in them. When we pray and intercede for the brokenhearted, I believe that an anointed fragrance of myrrh rises to the Father, and He takes delight in our sacrifices of prayer; and He heals our loved ones. Psalm 141:2 says: “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

I thought about Jesus and looked at the times He was involved with myrrh. At His birth, the wise men brought gifts to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is for a king, and Jesus is a King; frankin­cense is for a prophet, and Jesus is a Prophet; myrrh is for a priest, and Jesus is our “Great High Priest” and “He always lives to make intercession for [us]” (Hebrews 7:25). The myrrh was specifically brought for His anointing as a priest.

When Jesus was on the cross, we again see myrrh involved in His life. Myrrh has an anesthetic effect, and it deadens pain. Mark 15:23 tells us: “Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.” Why didn’t He take it? Wouldn’t you have taken it? If He had taken that wine, it would have deadened His pain. Instead, I believe Jesus was saying, “I won’t take any pain medication; I want to take all the pain of the cross so I can deaden yours.” That’s why He refused myrrh.

Here is an interesting side thought that will bless you. “New wine” is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and often in Scripture, we see wine as a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ. God the Father has mingled the myrrh of Jesus Christ with the “new wine” of the Holy Spirit together with the cleansing power of the earthly counterpart of wine and myrrh when He was on the cross, the Father graciously allows us to partake of the heavenly counterpart: the “new wine” of the Spirit that has been lovingly mingled with the healing myrrh of Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of His blood. Praise God! Isn’t that beautiful? The “new wine” of the Spirit and the blood and myrrh of Jesus will anesthetize, cleanse, and deaden every one of our hurts and pains.

There are times when our hurts are so very deep that simply deadening the pain of them and allow­ing them to heal naturally is not enough. Remember, Scripture says, “A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me” (Song of Solomon 1:13). He isn’t just a little bottle of oil, or a few crushed leaves; He’s a whole bundle. At times, you need a bundle because sometimes you have a bundle of hurts. He provided myrrh for each one of your hurts. He is not only a pain killer for the hurting heart, He is the healer of your hurting heart.

When Jesus was born, He was given myrrh; on the cross He was offered myrrh; and in His death He was anointed with myrrh. Why was He wrapped in myrrh at His burial? Because myrrh has a very sweet smell. “All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad” (Psalm 45:8).

Other than being resurrected, this was one of the very last prophecies Jesus had to fulfill. Jesus smells like myrrh; He smells so good! Why? Because He smells like healing. He smells as though He is everything I need. He is that beautiful, satisfying smell; the fragrance that makes our hearts glad. Let’s look again at Song of Solomon 1:13; it tells us when we are healed my beloved is a bundle of myrrh to me; He shall lie all night upon my heart.

There is also a beautiful verse in Psalms that ties in with the same thought. “It is vain for you to . . . eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2). Did you know that even while you are asleep Jesus is healing you? He wants you to be whole and at peace all the time. If you’ve been hurt and are out-of-it, tonight just go to sleep in Jesus. Allow that precious myrrh of Jesus to deaden and take away all the awful pain you’ve been bearing.

When you let Jesus heal your wounds, you begin to smell like He smells. Then you won’t need to go around saying, “If you’d been through what I’ve been through . . .” Have you ever been around people who have been through a trial and are still hurting from it? When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, they didn’t even smell like smoke (Daniel 3:27)! When you’ve been with Jesus, you smell great. He always smells good. But when some of us come out of trials we smell like smoke! We still gripe and groan. If you’ll take a little myrrh, you’ll stop griping and groaning and you’ll smell like Jesus. You won’t smell like smoke! He will heal your broken heart.

This blog post is excerpted from Marilyn’s mini book, God’s Rx for a Hurting Heart

2024-02-07T13:19:33-07:00February 12th, 2024|

A Study of Psalm 43

This month’s verse is taken from Psalm 43. So, I thought it would be appropriate to do a short study of this beautiful Psalm.

Author: Hezekiah

Background: Psalm 43 was written by Hezekiah, king of Judah, just before the efforts of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, to capture Jerusalem. At the height of the siege, an angel of the Lord struck the Assyrian camp, killing 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (see 2 Kings 19). The dark moods of the first part of this song (which is Psalm 42) begin to give way to more positive prayers.

Theme: This Psalm is a wonderful companion to Psalm 42. Together, they make a sadly beautiful song, and some Hebrew texts even present them as one. We see several refrains repeated in both psalms: “Why go I mourning?” (42:9 and 43:2) and “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” (42:5, 42:11, and 43:5).

The psalmist pleads for light and truth to dispel the darkness and insecurity of Psalm 42. When our back is against the wall, we should rehearse past victories and put all our confidence in the Lord. We can delight in his joy, even when circumstances remain unchanged.

Personal Application: In your walk with Christ, there will be circumstances where no victory is in sight. When this happens, don’t give up! This is the time to start thinking about the marvelous things your heavenly Father has done for you in the past. Can you remember a time when you were backed into a corner with no way out, and God opened a door for you to escape from your difficulty? Of course you can. The same God who delivered you previously certainly come to your aid now. All you have to do is call on Him.

Memorize the beautiful refrain from verse 5: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (KJV). Put all of your hope in the God of your salvation, and He will give you joy even in adversity. The joy of knowing that, through Him, you are assured of ultimate victory.

Psalm 43

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (KJV)

This blog post is excerpted from Marilyn’s book, Experiencing God’s Heart: The Book of Psalms for Today.

2024-02-07T12:56:56-07:00February 7th, 2024|

You Can Have Joy in Your Home

You don’t have to put up with a troubled home.  Instead, find out what’s wrong, and do something about it!

I remember when we first started pastoring; Wally and I called on every family who came to our church.  Some of the homes we visited were warm and loving, others seemed cold, empty, broken, and without love.  They were much like a house in our old neighborhood.  Driving by it one day, we saw the police bring out a handcuffed man.  That sight so touched me that every time I’d drive by that house, I’d pray over it.  Later when I drove by, I noticed the house was cleaned up, and had a “For Sale” sign in the yard.

Maybe you feel your house is cold, empty, or broken.  There may be things “left over” from your family, such as generation curses of alcohol, drugs, strife, confusion, divorce, pornography, violence, and anger.  I have good news for you—it doesn’t have to stay that way.  Make Jesus the master of your home and He will turn the situation around.  With the Living Word at the head of your home, the devil—and his ways—will never again have a foothold.

Evicting the “Strongman”

Matthew 12:29 says, “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.”

The only way you can spoil the strongman and reclaim your home for Christ is through Jesus.  You can have good intentions for the welfare of your family, but if Jesus isn’t Lord, you will have a problem.  No matter how well you plan financially or have everything else in order, Jesus has to be at the helm of your ship.  If He isn’t, one stronger than you will be steering a course for the jagged rocks of destruction.

Making Jesus Lord is only the beginning.  He must stay Lord.  Matthew 12:43-45 states:

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

When your house is cleansed and Jesus is made Lord, demons that have lived there for generations flee, but they will attempt to regain entry.  If the devil succeeds this time, he will come back with seven spirits that are worse.  It’s important to not only make Jesus Lord of your house and family, but to make sure He remains master.

Authority of the Believer

Jesus has all authority, and the Bible says He has delegated that authority to you through His name.  When the devil comes marching up to your door, you can absolutely bind him and kick him out!

The husband of a friend of mine would not sleep with her.  She couldn’t understand why.  We prayed together that God would work in their lives.  Finally she prayed, “God bring out the truth of what is wrong.  Why don’t I have a marriage?”

Finally, her husband confessed that he had sexually molested their daughter from the time she was two years old until she was 18.  My friend was so distraught.  Her husband was sentenced to prison, and she divorced him.

Their daughter attended a university, became born again and Spirit-filled, and married a young Christian man.  But she took tons of baggage into her marriage.  Once, her husband called me and said, “She is always threatening to leave.”  I advised him, “Tell her you will help her pack.  Don’t bow to her tantrums.”  I asked him, “Are you praying taking authority in your home?”  The Holy Spirit spoke to him, and he began praying in tongues and reading his Bible every day.

When he did this, something began to happen to his wife.  She became as spiritually “turned on” as he was.  In addition, he and his wife became assistant pastors and God has prospered them financially.  The turnaround started when the husband made Jesus master and believed that He could take them through their challenging situation.

Stand Until You Win!

Prayer is the foundation for everything.  Establish Jesus’s authority in your household through prayer.  In Exodus 17:8-13, as long as Moses’s hands were raised in prayer, the Israelites won the battle.  Yet, when Moses became weary and his hands came down, the Israelites would begin to lose.

As Spirit-filled people of faith, we have the Holy Spirit to hold up our hands—to strengthen us as we pray and stand against the enemy of our families and homes.  If you refuse to give in to discouragement, you and your family will win.

Jesus has given you authority over the enemy.  In John 14:12, Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. Ask, believe, and take the God-given place of authority over your house.

Build Your Child’s Confidence—Six Godly Ways

Whether your children are young or old, obedient or rebellious, confident or insecure, you can build them up by expressing your love!  Establish a weekly, 10-15 minute time with your family to tell each person what you love and appreciate about them.

  1. Say, “I love you. I’m delighted God gave you to me.” (See Mark 1:11.)
  2. Identity enjoyable character traits. Verbalize your appreciation for each child’s personality type.  (See Proverbs 31:26; Psalms 49:3.)
  3. Praise your children when they act appropriately. (See Proverbs 12:18.)
  4. Build confidence by affirming, “God made you. He loves you.  You are God’s treasure to me.”  (See Psalms 139:14.)
  5. Reinforce their potential, “God has a special plan for your life.” (See Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10.)
  6. Introduce children to their heavenly Father—the only perfect parent. Teach your children Who God is, what God thinks, and how God acts.  (See Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Psalms 34:11-14.)
2024-01-23T12:28:37-07:00January 29th, 2024|

Finding God’s Strength

If you’ve ever felt “out of it” in any way—ill-equipped, ill-prepared, or just plain ill—you know the frustration of human weakness. Whether physical or otherwise, each of us experiences some type of inadequacy at one time or another: a failed business, serious health condition, damaged marriage, or a serious setback.

Most people desire to meet every challenge and succeed in every circumstance. Overall, that’s a sound, Biblical approach to life, but in a world that’s performance-oriented, it can easily become distorted.

We’re comfortable when we face life on our best footing. When we’re prayed up, rested up, built up, and dressed up, we tend to face the day with confident assurance. There’s a sense that we’re positioned for a positive outcome because we have done everything right.

However, when something upsets the delicate balance of feeling in control, our true weakness becomes evident. We must surrender our desire to be in control to God and allow Him complete access to our lives—even our weaknesses.

A Fresh Take on Weakness

I have good news for you, regardless of the world’s wisdom or even your own past experiences, your success is not based upon your strength—and failure is not formed in your weakness.

The Apostle Paul was well acquainted with weakness, yet God used him to accomplish much. When a “thorn in his flesh” beset him, he cried out to God for relief. “I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’…”. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NKJV)

Knowing all that God still had planned for Paul, you might think He would have removed every hindrance—especially the thorn that caused the Apostle such pain. Instead, God showed Paul a new way of looking at his weakness.

God knows that man’s strength can only go so far…for so long. Ultimately, our strength is insufficient. When we acknowledge that fact and turn to Him, we switch from our own “power supply” to His grace—His limitless ability exercised on our behalf.

After three pleas from Paul and God’s unexpected answer, the Apostle gained a new perspective on weakness:

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV)

Instead of begging God to fix the problem, Paul boasted and delighted in it. Think about that. According to the New King James Version, Paul took pleasure in his weakness!

Rest in Real Strength

When I feel weak, the first thought that comes to mind is not pleasure, but exasperation! How could Paul have delighted in his weakened condition? Simple—he realized that, with God backing Him up, every obstacle became an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated.

Moments of weakness turned to strength

The Bible is filled with testimonies of God’s grace at work. Jacob, the strong-willed and accomplished son Isaac, worked for his father-in-law Laban and brought him great wealth. After twenty years, Jacob took his wives and headed for his homeland. But to go forward, he would have to face his estranged brother, Esau. Jacob was terrified because he knew that on his own, he was no match for Esau and his troops.

Before the dreaded meeting with Esau, Jacob had an encounter with God at Peniel, which means, “face of God”:

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. (Genesis 32:24-25 NKJV)

After this experience, Jacob would never be the same. His self-reliance was gone forever. He was left with a limp—a permanent reminders that he was not in control. Jacob’s weakness became his greatest strength—because it produced an unshakeable trust in God.

The Source of our Strength

When you’re feeling weak or inadequate, remember that Jesus Himself was ridiculed as He hung on the cross (see Mark 15:32). Beaten and bloodied, He was not the world’s typical picture of strength. Yet His “weakness” was used by God to bring salvation to the world!

Allow times of weakness to work for you and for the kingdom. Ask God what you can learn through periods of seeming failure, defeat, or frailty. Take full advantage of every opportunity to acknowledge God’s strength. Most of all, cling to Him as Jacob did at Peniel (Genesis 32:26). Release yourself into His hand, and draw on His unending power.

Even when weakness is all your natural eye can see, you can enjoy the genuine victory that comes only from God. Each deflated expectation can turn out to be your open door to accomplishment. Any challenging experience can become an equipping moment of success—when you allow God to work through your weakness.

2024-01-17T12:50:35-07:00January 22nd, 2024|

Bring Back the Joy!

Is there some area of your life where you’ve lost your joy? Far too many of us find ourselves robbed of one of the most valuable assets available—our joy. In many cases, it’s the devil who is to blame. If the devil can take your joy, then he can get to your possessions, your health, your spiritual wellbeing, your strength, and more. I’m flat out mad at him, while my spirit is stirred with compassion for those of you who’ve been recently attacked by him. It’s time to bring the joy back!

The true definition of joy differs from that of “happiness.” Happiness can be a fleeting, temporal condition that depends upon the comfort of your flesh. Joy is not based on outward circumstances but upon the condition of your heart and the spiritual stance you take when you have been attacked by the enemy.

I realize that you may be sitting there right now in the middle of a problem. You may even feel as though it will never be over. But, dear friend, Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

If you are a person of faith (even a mustard seed of faith), it doesn’t matter how dark conditions may be right now. You can rest assured, your brighter day is on the way! Regardless of how dark or bleak things may seem right now—even if circumstances are devastating—God’s joy can be yours!

It’s time to knock down the gates of hell that have built up joy-robbing strongholds in your life. It’s that plain and simple. You can experience some substantial victories in your circumstances, in Jesus’s name. So, here’s what I want you to do:

  1. Bombard the gates of hell with your prayers! Your joy is coming back! Use your faith, your authority, the anointing that’s resting on you as a Christian, and the Word of God to activate the weapons of your warfare. That’s why 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
  2. Step out in faith and give a gift of faith and joy to someone in need. I have found that the quickest way to get a miracle rejuvenation of joy is by opening your heart and giving the best gift you can—and it doesn’t have to be money. Shovel someone’s sidewalk, offer to watch their kids, take some cookies to a neighbor, pick up groceries for a lonely senior citizen—whatever you can give, give.

Now believe for breakthrough miracles to be released in your life and circumstances—and watch the joy return!

Today’s blog is an excerpt from Marilyn’s 101-day devotional, Beautiful inheritance.

2024-01-04T08:32:39-07:00January 15th, 2024|

Joy Makes Life Worth Living

“. . . The Joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Our God is a joyful God, and it is with His joy that we become stronger, more powerful Christians. What is joy? One of the Hebrew words for joy is chedvah, which means “rejoicing, gladness.” In Galatians 5:22, joy is the Greek word chara, which means “cheerfulness, delight.” So, joy helps you worship God, and it makes you glad, cheerful, and a delight to be around. You will even start to like yourself better when you receive God’s joy.

Receive God’s Joy!

You receive the joy of the Lord when you are anointed with the Holy Spirit. This anointing starts at the top of your head and goes all the way to your feet: God begins with your head because your thought life gives you direction—it either gets you in trouble or sets you on the right path.

If you think being righteous means being as sober as a judge, then you haven’t read Acts 2. On the day of Pentecost, the people didn’t appear sober when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit—they acted like they were drunk! People who saw them said, “They are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13). When you are baptized in the Spirit and receive the anointing, you too will act joyful.

Some get nervous when they see other people respond in joy. They don’t think it’s scriptural, but being jubilant is very scriptural. Psalms 66:1 says, “Make a joyful shout to God.” In fact, there are seven references in the Psalms about making a “joyful noise” to the Lord.

Make a Joyful Noise!

The Hebrew word for joyful in Psalms 66:1 is renanah, which means “shout for joy, singing, triumphing.” Joyful expressions are loud and noisy. Have you ever tried to laugh and keep it all inside? It’s nearly impossible. It’s the same way with the joy that the Holy Spirit places inside you; it has to come bubbling out. Romans 14:17 says, “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” If you are moving in the Holy Spirit, you will have the joy that comes with Him.

As a Christian, God calls you to be joyful, Isaiah 51:11 says, “So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” The redeemed are supposed to have so much joy it comes out of their mouths. It is necessary for Christians to be joyful in order to give glory to God and to witness to the lost.

Your Daily Joy

Like your zeal for the Lord and your dedication to keep His commandments, you must commit to daily maintenance of joy. Isaiah 12:3 says, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” When Jesus lives in your heart, then you already have joy inside. All you have to do is pull some out every day.

Fullness of joy is found in God’s presence, so start your day by entering into His presence with joy and praise. When you get up in the morning, say, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24).

It is also important to watch what you think, say, and do. Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth…”. Watch what you are saying. You can say words that will bring depression into your heart. If you’re not diligent, you can lose your joy! In Psalms 51:12, David said, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation . . .”. He wrote this after he had an affair with Bath-Sheba and had Uriah killed. He lost his joy because of sin; and the same thing can happen to us.

Sometimes it isn’t a major crisis that steals your joy—you lost it because of your own indifference to God. If you don’t read your Bible, don’t pray, don’t set your priorities according to God’s will, or get into sin, then you will not feel the joy of the Lord because you are not dwelling in His presence.

With repentance, God’s joy returns. David knew that his salvation would restore his joy. There is no question that David’s joy returned—he remained a man after God’s own heart and God sent the Messiah through him. Proverbs 15:13 tells us that “by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

When you focus on heartbreak, you lose your joy. Don’t let problems overcome you; instead let promises take over problems. God wants you to be joyful in times of trouble because the strength found in joy will bring you through your problems. If depression has killed your joy, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you again. He will resurrect your joyful heart.

The anointing destroys the yoke. If you are depressed, sad, or living under a burden of oppression or circumstances, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you with joy. God will break those bondages and set you free. According to John 10:10 in the Amplified Bible, Jesus “came that [we] may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” This is the level of blessing that God wants for each of use. When we decide to be led by a joyful heart, strive to joyfully express our love for God, and commit to maintain our joy by seeking God daily, God’s true power can be released—and we can have the overflowing abundance of joy the Word promises.

2024-01-04T08:13:07-07:00January 8th, 2024|

Fresh Anointing for the New Year

Happy New Year! I want you to start your new year off with a fresh anointing of joy, miracles, and supernatural supply! When the miracle anointing of God is applied to a need, Scripture teaches us that the “yoke” of that difficult circumstance is broken and removed from your back. The powers of darkness are defenseless. Lying spirits are speechless. The possibilities for supernatural solutions are endless!

Perhaps you are dealing with a deep hurt in your heart—a heartache or heartbreak. In fact, you might feel like you are about to fall apart emotionally. But there is an anointing that can break that yoke!

Maybe you have a physical affliction. Or maybe, like a lot of people, you want to lose weight this year. You have prayed; tried to eat the right things; done everything you know to do and yet, you have a dilemma in this area. What would break that? The anointing! Isaiah 10:27 states:

It shall come to pass in that day

That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,

And his yoke from your neck,

And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

You may have awakened this very morning with a longing and yearning for reconciliation in your marriage or with a family member or friend. You’ve asked yourself, “Can the joy come back? Can the love, communication, and happiness return?” The Holy Spirit is directing me to say to you: “The anointing can destroy your yoke of broken and wounded relationships!”

Maybe you are in a financial pit. You feel as though this hole is getting deeper and the chances for your recovery are growing weaker. The anointing can work in the pit and break the yoke of financial difficulty.

I believe this year can mark the start of new anointings for some of the greatest days you’ve ever known in your life. It is possible for you to receive the perfect personal anointing from God for:

  • His health, strength, peace, rest, and joy. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).
  • His supply for your needs, wants, and desires. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
  • His opportunity for you to see dreams come true. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).
  • His love in your family, marriage, home, and relationships. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
  • His victory in your spiritual walk. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).
  • His answer for what you’ve been needing from Him. “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).

Wouldn’t that be wonderful? It’s more than wonderful, it is altogether possible through the biblical principles of anointing and prayer! When something is anointed, it is tangibly blessed. Therefore, it is empowered to prosper. When the presence of that anointing comes, the curse is removed! Wherever God brings His anointing, those things which were not growing and were failing to be fruitful suddenly blossom and become productive again.

An anointing that comes from God impacts every level of your life. God is still in the anointing business today! And when God want to place an anointing upon you, there is a choice you have to make: you can exercise your faith and receive the anointing, or you can refuse the anointing and try to make it alone. I want you to receive the anointing for miracles in 2024!

Here’s what I want you to do:

  1. Get some anointing oil (you can use anything that is available to you—even cooking oil!) and put some on your fingers. Touch and anoint the doors of your house. I want angels to stand guard at each entry of your home and keep the powers of darkness out as the Spirit of God comes in to minister to your every need.
  2. Let God lead you as you touch and anoint anything that can link your faith and the power of His anointing to your need! Anoint your checkbook. Anoint the pillows where your children or grandchildren lay their heads. The anointing:
    • Destroys the yoke.
    • Breaks bondages.
    • Stops harassment.
    • Heals hurts.
    • Removes barriers.
    • Dismantles blockades.
    • Lifts the burden from your shoulders, mind, and heart.
  3. Find a Scripture that speaks to your needs, wants, and desires, and speak those over your life. If you need help finding a Scripture, there are free, topical lists on my website: https://marilynandsarah.netviewshop.com/shop/MHDL&page=1&rpp=all
  4. If you’d like someone from my team to pray for you, please call 888-637-4545 or you can submit your prayer request on my website: https://marilynandsarah.netviewshop.com/prayer

Finally, plant a seed that God can bless! When you give a gift to God and desire a blessing to grow in your life, you give your gift as though it were a seed. That seed must be planted in spiritual soil that is rich in faith. The seed becomes effective when you sow it with a specific purpose or need in mind. The harvest grows to maturity as you keep on believing, staying in faith, and trusting God.

Get ready to see supernatural things happen in 2024!

2023-12-06T12:12:18-07:00January 1st, 2024|

The Christmas Star

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalms 19:1

When Jesus was born, God Himself was incarnate. This was a tremendous moment. He became the physical image of God, His righteousness and the outbeaming of His glory. The face of Jesus carries all the beauty of heaven in it. The birth of Jesus is one of the most powerful moments in history.

So, it would make sense that the stars would announce His birth. The heavens shifted to declare His birth, rejoicing that the earth was blessed with the gift of Christ. The Christmas star was seen by the wisemen, and they immediately set out to find Jesus. They had heard from some of their wise counterparts about the prophecies surrounding the birth of the Messiah, so they set off. The star brought them to Jesus.

Matthew 2:9-11 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The miracle of Jesus’s birth is extravagant. Creation itself rearranged itself to appropriately celebrate the most important birth in history. How are you celebrating the birth of Christ? We all have our traditions and Christmas is such a special time to celebrate, but what about in your own heart? We can put on a good show for our families, but in private, how do we respond to the truth of the miracle of His birth? The wisemen saw the star and they rejoiced, and then when they saw Jesus they fell down and worshipped Him. How are you responding? The miracle of Jesus’s birth should fill us with joy and cause us to worship Him. But, the wisemen were led to the Lord by the star. It was the evidence that they needed to believe in Christ.

What is your Christmas Star? What is the evidence of Jesus in your life that you can celebrate and remember to lead you into a heart of worship? I know for me, when I see my children and grandchildren serving the Lord, I am reminded of God’s goodness and His faithfulness, and I am so grateful to Him.

So, today, look around you? Where are the blessings of God that lead us to thanksgiving and worship?

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

2023-12-06T11:57:18-07:00December 25th, 2023|

What Is Peace?

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

This verse tells us that God will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is on Him. But, the questions is what is peace?

In simple words, peace is a state of rest and calmness for your soul. It is when your soul isn’t full of anxiety or worry, but when it is at rest. But what does peace look like? What does it feel like? How do we know if peace is from God? These are all good questions, let’s look at what the Word says about peace.

Here is what peace is:

  • It passes all understanding (Phil 4:7)
  • It brings rest to the weary (Ps 119:16)
  • It has no confusion (1 Cor 14:33)
  • It comes through believing (Rom 15:13)
  • It is a part of the “blameless man” (Ps 37:37)
  • It is given by God (John 14:27).

When you know what true peace is, when you are overcome by it, there is no mistaking it. If you are wondering if you have peace from God, ask yourself “Do I have rest? Am I believing for peace? Is there confusion in my mind? Or, is it still, like quiet waters?”

But, the Bible doesn’t only tell us what peace is, it tells us what peace is not.

Here are some examples of what peace is not. Peace is nothing like what the world can give. Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “For the wicked.” There are people and organizations that claim to offer peace. But, the truth is that real peace only comes from God. What comes from other sources is not peace. It can be calm, it can be a break, but peace can only come from God. True rest, which has no confusion, is what Jesus leaves to us.

Peace is also not temporary. It’s not written on paper, it is written on the tablets of our hearts. Peace from God is not something that can pass away or be burned up in a refining fire. Real peace is always there, we just need to remember that we have access to it. God has not called us to live in chaos or wondering what is going to happen or to live in anxiety. He wants to give you lasting peace.

Peace is a good gift from God. It never goes away and it is all encompassing. Remember that God has given you peace and choose to walk in it today!

2023-12-06T11:57:55-07:00December 18th, 2023|

A Tradition of Silence

Isabell Bowling, Guest Blogger

Isabell is the daughter of Sarah Bowling and the granddaughter of Marilyn Hickey. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with her bachelors in Historical and Philosophical Theology and received the award for Theology Student of the Year upon graduation.

She is excited for what this next season brings and is looking forward to learning and growing under the tutelage of her mother and grandmother. In the future, she also hopes to continue her educational journey by seeking a graduate degree in Europe.

We pray Isabell’s blog post blesses you today!

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

I absolutely love the season of Hanukkah and Christmas. In college, I minored in Hebrew, so studying the culture and story of the miracle of Hannukah has always fascinated me. More than the story, I love the traditions that surround it. In this season of the year, my absolute favorite thing to do is to uphold our family traditions. For me, there is a comfort that is held in traditions.

When I was in high school, I took a trip to Europe to learn about my roots as a Christian. This meant that we spent a lot of time in Catholic Churches, at holy sites around Europe, and attending different kinds of church services. Experiencing “high church” services and the myriad of traditions brought a reverence to my walk with God that I had not known before. The main thing that I loved was the silence. The hushed voices of whispered prayers, the long, quiet pauses in the middle of service, and the moment of anticipation before the organ boomed out the chords for the next hymn felt like holy moments. About two years later, I was able to visit Israel and dive even deeper into my roots as a Christian. To my surprise, the trend of silence continued. We had multiple opportunities to sit quietly and reflect on the goodness of God. The silence of the waves at the Sea of Galilee, the rustling of the olive tree leaves in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the quiet tears rolling down the older women’s faces while they prayed at the Wailing Wall are key moments where I remember feeling the presence of God deeply.

The power of silence is a beautiful thing. In the story of Hanukkah, the light of the miracle menorah shone for 8 days and nights when the Jews of the time only had enough oil for one night. Think about it: the gold menorah shining its light while they slept, the miracle continuing to shine through their silence. Or think about the miracle of the birth of Christ. We sing the song, Silent Night, every year, but let’s pause and reflect on the moment of silence, where the exhausted Mary lay back on Joseph, as Jesus slept in her arms and her husband bent his head down to comfort her. The silence of that moment is beautiful.

So many times, we are uncomfortable with silence, because we are afraid that we aren’t saying enough. There is a fear that we might not be praising God enough, so we say more and more things. Or, there is a fear that we aren’t doing His will, so we go out and try and volunteer for everything, or start rushing around trying to solve everyone’s problems for them. But, Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep us in perfect peace, because we trust in Him. We can trust that He is able to do His will while we are still. We can trust that He will speak when He wants to, and that He treasures time with us, not just because we are able to worship Him with our voices, but also with our silence. When we worship Him with silence, we are being quiet and still, reverent in the face of the Almighty.

In the holiday season, we can get caught up in trying to maintain the traditions and cook all the meals and buy all the gifts. But how many of us have silence as our tradition? One of my favorite Christmas traditions that my church has is the candlelight service. On Christmas Eve, we have a moment in service where we light the candles and then we sit silently. The pause and the power of this moment overwhelms me with joy every year. But, for me, when it snows at night, I go outside and sit under my porch light and watch the snow fall.  Maintaining this private tradition has been one my most treasured honors, and when I began to understand that God lives in our silence, that knowledge has made my time with Him all the more special.

This year, as we think on the miracles that dictate this season, the miracle of Hannukah and the miracle of the incarnation of Christ, let’s remember that silence plays a beautiful part in these traditions. Silently sitting with God, allowing His presence to inundate your moments throughout this season can be your newest tradition:)

-Isabell

2023-12-06T12:00:06-07:00December 11th, 2023|

Light Bearers

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

At the end of this week, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins. This holiday remembers the miracle of the light of the menorah, which shone for eight days and nights, when the Jews at the time only had enough oil for one night. This was a real miracle of provision for the people! In fact, we know that Jeus celebrated Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, because he was in Jerusalem during the Feast in John 10:22.

At the time of the Hanukkah miracle, the land of Israel and the Jewish people were under siege by a man who sought to eradicate any idea, image, or tradition of God. In the middle of all this attack, God still provided light and hope, and saved the Jews from his evil plans. The light of Hanukkah represents the miracle of peace and hope for His provision.

You know, years ago I got to go to Bethlehem around Christmas time, and we got to see the large, gold menorah that sits in the Jewish quarter. This large lamp stands as a reminder for the miracle of the lamp, and God’s deliverance of the Jewish people.

As we consider the state of the world, let’s remember this miracle and keep in mind His perfect peace will overcome in every situation. God has called us to be lights to the world, so today, ask the Lord how you can bring peace. Is there a situation in your family, workplace, or friendships that needs the miracle of peace? Ask God to use you to shine your light into the dark places of trouble and remember the miracle.

We are called to be bearers of the light of God. How can you stand as a reminder of hope and peace for those around us? Well, you have to rely on God and to be filled with His hope and peace!

I believe God has a special anointing to give you hope, just like He renewed hope to the Jews by providing them with their miracle. I know that God has miracles for you, but today I want you to ask God for the miracle of hope. He is faithful to give it!

2023-12-06T12:02:21-07:00December 4th, 2023|

A Miracle in the Mess

Are you having problems with your job, your finances, or a relationship? Are you suffering from an illness? Is your heart aching for a loved one who is far from God? Could you summarize the situation by saying, “My life, or the life of someone I love, is a muddled mess!”? The good news is that your mess can be God’s means to bring a miraculous blessing into your life.

Your situation may seem overwhelming, but in every mess a Christian encounters, there is a miracle in the making. Most of the time, we look at trouble as something bad. But when we overcome a difficult situation through God’s grace and power, our victory is an opportunity to receive glory (greater blessings) and give glory (praise and thanks) to God. We also have the great privilege of reflecting His glory. A little trouble can yield a heap of glory.

God says your afflictions are light compared to the heavy blessings they can bring into your life: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Who in the natural would think that financial problems, sickness, or any other difficulty could be a benefit? But in God’s supernatural world, afflictions can lead to glory. God wants to use the very thing the devil works against you to bring glory into your life.

God has a process to bring His glory into your life; if you grasp the process, you’ll receive the glory. The way we handle hard times and deal with difficult moments provides a foundation upon which God builds a beautiful life. Joseph is a good example of someone who grasped this process. God turned a mess into a miracle in Joseph’s life, and He can work a wonder in yours, too. So, let’s look at how you can get God’s glory in your situation. Consider these four keys.

  1. Focus on the Word of God: “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Look at what God says about you and your problems. No matter what others say or how things look in the natural, look at the invisible.
  2. Confess the Word. Don’t just read the Word—speak it, confessing the invisible. If you have spoken negatively into your situation, ask for forgiveness and begin to speak positive, Bible-backed confessions.
  3. Have patience and faith. Hebrews 6:12 says that it is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. Patiently walk by faith. Some people want their glory now. They don’t want to wait, but God needs to work on us first to prepare us for the glory to come.
  4. Take hold of joy. While you are waiting for your victory, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Look at your mess the way Jesus looked upon His excruciating death on the cross as the means to a miracle: “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2).

When problems arise, focus on and confess God’s Word. Walk in faith and patience while you take hold of joy. Your mess is merely the means to your miracle. Your glory is on the way!

Today’s post was excerpted from Marilyn’s devotional, Beautiful Inheritance.

2023-11-01T14:34:10-06:00November 27th, 2023|

Thanksgiving Brings Endurance

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 16:24-26, NIV)

Forever. Beyond the measurement of time.

It’s difficult for us to comprehend a love that literally has no beginning and no end. But that is the love God has for us.

God is so good. He wants His best for each of us.

We fail Him. Every day.

His love never fails.

We seek after our own way. We ignore Him. We reject His wisdom and advice.

Israel repeated this same cycle for hundreds of years. They had the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle as reminders of God’s miracles and laws. The ark and the tabernacle were mobile, carried across the wilderness for years. Set it up, worship, break it down, and move on. Repeat.

Finally, Israel had taken possession of the promised land and David was king. Jerusalem was established as God’s place on Earth, and the ark and tabernacle were finally home. As David and the priests gathered all of Israel to celebrate this great moment together, He offered a song of thanksgiving. David concludes this song of praise with a thankful heart, proclaiming: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever.”

God’s love endures forever indeed. It has no end, and it is available to you right now. Give thanks to God, for He is good. He is everlasting.

May you have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Today’s blog post was taken from Marilyn’s new book, Treasures of a Thankful Heart.

2023-10-04T16:20:07-06:00November 20th, 2023|

Sanctification through Him

Isabell Bowling, Guest Blogger

Isabell is the daughter of Sarah Bowling and the granddaughter of Marilyn Hickey. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with her bachelors in Historical and Philosophical Theology and received the award for Theology Student of the Year upon graduation.

She is excited for what this next season brings and is looking forward to learning and growing under the tutelage of her mother and grandmother. In the future, she also hopes to continue her educational journey by seeking a graduate degree in Europe.

We pray Isabell’s blog post blesses you today!

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17

Have you ever wanted to be holy? Not holey like Swiss cheese, holy like Jesus is holy. Here’s the good news: we are already sanctified! Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves of God’s truth and live like we know that we’re holy.  I love the idea of sanctification, because it’s so final and it’s completely out of our control. Sanctification is the process by which we become holy. It is a process, but the good news is we have already begun it.

First, we enter into sanctification when we give our lives to Christ. We are set apart because we need to be in order to house the Holy Spirit. We are all temples for Holy Spirit to sit and dwell within us, so there’s step one of our sanctification. We just have to say yes to Jesus living in our hearts.

The second step is continually choosing to set ourselves apart. We do this by living righteously and meditating on the Word. Oh man, this part is so tricky! I know especially in high school, I did not want to believe that my physical actions had consequences on my soul, but the truth is that they do. When we are not kind to ourselves or others, this has a wholistic effect on our being. Here’s an example: when we gossip, it can have negative side-effects on our relationships here on Earth, but it can also be poisonous to our Spirit. God tells us not to gossip or slander, so when we act out of disobedience, it is sickness to our spirit, which is designed to be in equilibrium with the Father. This can sound scary, and unrealistic, but the truth is Jesus said, “Now you are already clean [sanctified] because of the word which I have spoken to you’.” (John 15:3) He has called us clean, holy, and set apart. That—more than any sin we may commit—is the truth.

The third part of sanctification—where we live righteously and meditate on the Word—comes from a proper understanding of the truth of who we are. We are already holy and set apart, so our actions need to reflect that. In my own life, when I am wrestling with fleshy sin, I can get really down on myself and very critical of myself. Other times, I see someone else struggling with sin and I see their sin first. But, when God sees us, He doesn’t see the sin we are struggling with, He sees us. The sanctified temples that He loves. When we shift our attitude about ourselves and others and bring it into alignment with what God says, we start to have a proper understanding of just how valuable we all are. C.S. Lewis in his book Weight of Glory says, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” (C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory. P46) People are important. We are important. But this importance comes from the weight of significance that God puts on us.

Let’s remember today that we are holy. We are sanctified. Out of that knowledge, we choose to live our lives in a way that reflects the truth of who we are. Let’s love well, respect people, and seek God in everything we do.

–Isabell

2023-10-04T16:25:12-06:00November 13th, 2023|

Sanctified in Truth

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17

Jesus spoke these words during His prayer to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Up to this point, Jesus had imparted to the disciples everything God expected—His Word and an understanding of His character. Like Jesus, the disciples were set apart from the world. Their affiliation with the living God (rather than the dead works of the law) would draw hatred from those who did not know Father or Son (see John 16:3).

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:14-16)

Jesus asked the Father to protect His own from the enemy. His request was essentially, “Don’t let his snares abort their mission.” Note that:

  • Jesus did not suggest that they should be removed from the world.
  • In order to fulfill the call of God and glorify Jesus (see John 17:10), the disciples had to remain in the world.
  • Keeping the disciples in the world was a sign of Jesus’s love for the world.

In difficult times, Job, Moses, Elijah, and Jonah each prayed to be taken out of the world. Their prayers were not answered. Our relationship with the world should reflect the love of Christ: we are here to bring the Word to the world. Some will receive it. Some will not.

To remain in the world and yet not be part of it, the disciples would need sanctification—to be “set apart” through the Word of God.

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:17-19)

Ephesians 6:14 says, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.” The disciples would be fortified by the truth and by feeding on the Word, they would think, speak, and act differently than the world. Instead of being absorbed into the world, they would stand out from it and bring glory to God.

This sanctification was Jesus’s final request to the Father on behalf of the disciples. Jesus spoke of His own sanctification in John 10:36, but here He states that He will sanctify Himself for the disciples’ sake. The Anointed One had always been set apart, but here the consecration of the sacrifice rather than preparation for a task is implied. The Living Bible states it this way:

Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, and I consecrate myself to meet their need for growth in truth and holiness. (John 17:17-19 TLB)

Because Jesus was sanctified when He entered through the veil, we too can be sanctified by His Word. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19).

Next week, my granddaughter, Isabell, will be posting on what sanctification means for us today!

Today’s blog post is from Marilyn’s master class, John: The Gospel for Real Life. For more information, please visit https://www.mentoredbymarilyn.org/

2023-10-04T16:16:18-06:00November 6th, 2023|

The Conclusion of the Matter

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13

Ecclesiastes is a beautiful book. It starts with groaning, but it ends with joy. We can groan a lot, but if we can get hold of the joy of the Lord, it will be our strength for this life.

You say, “Where’s Jesus in this? Is Jesus in here, in the midst of all the vanity and groaning?” Oh yes! If you look at chapter 12, at the 11th verse, it says: “The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.” A goad is a stick or a cattle-prod, something used to move you in the right direction. So the words of the Shepherd will give us direction, and they’ll hold us tight like a well-driven nail. We can hang our life on the Shepherd’s words. Notice the capital “S” for Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd referred to in this Scripture!

In Ecclesiastes, we see Solomon look for satisfaction in everything but God, but in the final chapter he comes back to the living God; he saw the Son, the Shepherd King, and it transformed his life. I believe when we get to Heaven, we can sit down with Solomon and he can tell you, “I tried everything and it was empty, but when I got hold of Jesus, I knew that was life and life abundant.”

Solomon’s final conclusion is that the whole of life is to fear God, to keep His commandments, and to live forever with Him. This is the chief thing in life and the only eternally rewarding thing. Don’t spend your life frivolously looking for a purpose. Find God’s purpose for your life!

2023-09-20T11:47:01-06:00October 23rd, 2023|

The Hall of Fame of Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11 is the “hall of fame” of faith. It includes people like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and Noah. Today, we’ll talk about a few of these heroes of faith.

Noah: Faith for Your Family

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

God told him that He was going to send a flood. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. But right believing brings right living, and because Noah had faith, he was obedient to God. Put your hand on your heart and say, “I’ll never forget — faith obeys.”

So Noah built an ark, and everyone thought he was crazy. Everyone but his family, that is. His wife and sons believed that he heard from God. And by walking in faith, Noah saved his family. All the people who didn’t believe in God drowned, but Noah’s family was saved.

Noah leaves that legacy for us today—that his faith brought righteousness. When we believe God, He makes us righteous. Stop trying to do things to become righteous. Just obey His Word and have faith in His Word. God can save your household if you walk in faith. You can claim this promise.

Abraham: Faith for Provision

Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:13, KJV)

In Genesis 22, God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac, the promised son who was born to him when he was 100 years old, and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah.

What must Abraham have been feeling? Hebrews 11:19 tells us Abraham believed that even if his son died, God would raise him from the dead. What?! Abraham believed in a resurrection before there was one?! Absolutely! I believe he was the first to believe.

Alone on the mountain, Isaac asked his father, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb?” And Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb.” God will provide. Abraham never took his eyes off the Father!

Once Abraham had prepared the fire and the wood, he put Isaac on the altar. And just in time, a voice spoke to him and said, “Lift up your eyes.” I would say that to you today! Get your eyes on what God can do rather than what your problem is. Lift up your eyes. Abraham did, and saw a ram caught in the thicket. God had provided the sacrifice!

Do you realize that at the same time Abraham and Isaac were going up Mount Moriah, the ram was coming up the other side? When we’re going up the mountain, God has a provision coming up to meet us! Abraham substituted the ram for Isaac and called God a very special name: Jehovah-Jireh, which means the God who provides. But it’s more than just provides. It means the God who sees ahead and has a provision for us!

Rahab: Faith Comes by Hearing and Believing

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

So, how does one receive faith? Let’s look at the life of Rahab (see Joshua 2 and 6)? She, along with all of Jericho’s inhabitants, had heard about the God of the Hebrews, but Rahab alone heard and believed. Not only did she believe in her heart, but she confessed it with her mouth and acted out her faith by hiding the Israelite spies.

Faith does come by hearing God’s Word (see Romans 10:17). But many people hear God’s Word and don’t believe it, so they don’t get its benefits.

Because of Rahab’s willingness to believe what she had heard, she was rewarded beyond her wildest imagination. When the rest of Jericho was destroyed, the walls of Rahab’s dwelling remained standing — as a testimony to her belief in God’s Word.

We can hear God’s Word continually, but until we believe what we hear and then act on it, it is not profitable to us. When you hear the Word of God, don’t just casually receive it in your mind. Meditate on it. Accept it and receive it as a special message from God to you. Then use it to benefit your life.

Just as Noah’s faith saved his household and Abraham’s faith saved Isaac, the first thing Rahab did when she made a covenant with the Israelites was to ask protection for her family (see Joshua 2:12-13). When you get saved, you want your whole family to be saved. When we become faithful followers of Christ, meditating on His Word day and night, God will bless us and make our homes prosperous.

2023-09-20T11:37:34-06:00October 16th, 2023|

The Great Commission

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

In His last recorded words, Jesus told the disciples that they were to be “witnesses” in (1) Jerusalem, (2) Judea, (3) Samaria, and (4) the ends of the earth.

The first preaching of the gospel was in their own neighborhood of Jerusalem, then it spread by the disciples into nearby Judea. It went on into Samaria through Philip and the deacons, plus the apostles. Then, the gospel went into the uttermost parts of the earth with Paul. Again Jesus is reminding us that the Gospel is for all people, not just the Jews, but also for the Gentiles, the Samaritans and for every nation.

Now I think it is important to note that Jesus called us to be “witnesses.” “Witness” has to do with the root word “martyr.” It’s not always easy to be a witness, but it is oh so powerful and wonderful!

Stephen was the first martyr for the sake of Christ, but Stephen rejoiced in the opportunity to lay down his life. How do we know he rejoiced? Because he didn’t appear to be in agony. Scripture says that his face was like the face of an angel (see Acts 6:15).

When we face trials of any kind, remember that this is the life we signed up for when we accepted Christ. Jesus promised that in this life there would be trouble. Why? Because when we become witnesses for Christ, we must demonstrate the life that He lived, which was one of persecution. But we can rejoice in our suffering because our reward in heaven will far outweigh anything we come up against in this life.

2023-09-20T11:34:43-06:00October 9th, 2023|

Salvation Brings Transformation

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Many people think that it’s difficult to be “saved.” But Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” You might be thinking, “That’s too easy — too simple.” It is simple to receive eternal life — for one reason: Jesus has done what is necessary. It is not what we have done. It has already been done. We must simply believe that He has done it for us.

If we call upon the name of the Lord, repent of our sins, invite Jesus into our hearts, and confess it boldly with our mouths, the Bible says that we will be saved. Jesus did it all. He paid it all so that we might have inherit eternal life. It is not by our works; it’s by our faith and what He did. It’s salvation by faith; it’s transformation.

When I think of transformation, I think of God taking us as a caterpillar and making us into a beautiful butterfly. This is so evident in the life of Saul. Saul goes from persecuting Christians to being willing to die for the people if it meant they would come to know Jesus. How did this transformation happen? Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and God transformed him into an apostle, which means “sent.” As we see so often in the Bible, even his name was changed to reflect the transformation! He was sent by God to minister to the Gentiles, and because he was sent to the Gentiles, he was given a Gentile name: Paul.

Naturally, the Jews didn’t trust him. They came up with a conspiracy to kill him, but Paul’s followers lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city gates so that he could escape. God always has provision, doesn’t He? Whether it is a basket, a rope, the right people to hold on to the rope, or the Savior Jesus Christ, God always provides a way of escape. First Corinthians 10:13 says:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Romans is out of this world because it really shows us that we have all sinned, but Jesus is the answer for all sinners. We can never do enough because Jesus did it all. When He died on the cross, He said, “It is finished.”

The finished work of Jesus brings transformation and eternal life!

2023-09-20T11:31:51-06:00October 2nd, 2023|

Seeing Jesus in Sukkot

In 2023, Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) follows the Feast of Atonement on September 29-October 6. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they spent 40 years in the wilderness. God visited them and took care of them, providing food, water, clothing, even helping them defeat their enemies.  Though they lived in tents, their needs were always met.

The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated every year because they wanted to remember and celebrate how God not only took care of them, but how His presence came down and lived with them.  Every year, each family set up a little tabernacle in a tent, and for seven days the family lived in the tent, celebrating the presence of God with them during those hard times, celebrating that He brought them into the promised land.

As the seventh feast, symbolizing the day of rest, God called them to rest and to enjoy His presence.  Seven is also the number of completion.  All the other feasts were very busy, but the seventh one was a big celebration full of rest and enjoyment.

This feast emphasized the presence of God with us—no matter where we are, His tabernacle is with us, in our hearts.  Where we are, He wants to be.  This is seen in the original building of the Tabernacle, in the Garden with Adam and Eve, and in the greatest presence of all, when He comes down and lives in our hearts.

This is a blueprint of Jesus.  Through the Feast of Tabernacles, we see God’s plan for us, the sending of His Son so we could have His constant presence, not just once a year, but every day! Tabernacles also represent that one day, Jesus will come back and establish the ultimate tabernacle, His Kingdom.

To see more about the Jewish Feasts, click here.

2023-09-20T11:39:53-06:00September 25th, 2023|

Seeing Jesus in Yom Kippur

This year, Yom Kippur (the Feast of Atonement) is September 24-25. In Leviticus 23:26-32, the Feast of Atonement was special, and required a 24-hour feast of repentance.  This feast isn’t for the church, but for the Israelites—God’s old covenant people.  For 24 hours they reflected on the previous year and repented of their sins.

On that day, no one was to work, only spending time focusing on how they had sinned, seeking repentance, and asking God to have mercy on them. This feast was all about cleansing Israel with an offering of a lamb (blood sacrifice), covering their sins in full.  God gave us a future picture with this feast because Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to take away the sin of the world, for both the Jew and the Gentile.  Jesus’s blood atoned for (covered) our sin so we could walk in freedom.

Zechariah 12:10 tells us there’s coming a day when Israel will look on Jesus, the Lamb of God, who they pierced and know in an instant that He is their Messiah.  A nation will be saved on that day.  They will see Him and know Him as the wounded one, the Bread of Life.  They will feast on the Bread of Life.  This feast has everything to do with you because the Old Covenant is your foundation, and we’ll be blessed when we pray for Israel.

Remember, Jesus is our Feast of Atonement!

To see more about the Jewish Feasts, click here.

2023-08-23T13:18:18-06:00September 18th, 2023|

Seeing Jesus in Rosh Hashanah

The Feast of Trumpets (also known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year) starts on September 15 this year. In the Old Testament (Leviticus 23:25), it was in preparation for the Feast of Atonement and announced the voice of God and His might in warfare, gatherings, and coronations. When the feast was eaten, the people knew that were eating victory, that nothing was impossible with God, and that they could be free from anything.

During this time in history, the ram’s horn was very important, serving as a representation of Jesus’s victory in our lives. Every feast began with the blowing of the shofar (a trumpet made from the ram’s horn), then the people would feast on who God was, giving them a revelation of their true Messiah. The first time we see the horn of a ram mentioned in Scripture was when Abraham was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord, but God provided a ram instead, sparing Isaac’s life (see Genesis 22:13).

Several hundred years later, the Israelites blew the trumpets as they conquered Jericho. They marched once around the city for seven days, then on the seventh day they marched seven times—each time they marched around, the priests blew their trumpets. This blowing of the trumpets gave the people confidence that they were going to win because God would make them victorious.

Seen throughout the Bible close to 20 times, the blowing of the trumpets had several different meanings and announcements to the people:

  • Trumpets were blown before going into battle, claiming victory (Numbers 10:9).
  • In the year of Jubilee, the trumpets were blown to kick off the celebration (Leviticus 25).
  • The trumpets were blown for a calling to repentance, and repentance led to victory (Leviticus 23).
  • Trumpets were blown when someone became king (2 Samuel 15:10; 2 Kings 9:13; 11:14, 2 Chronicles 23:13).
  • Isaiah 27:12-13 reveals the prophecy of the coming of Jesus through the blowing of trumpets. This meant that Jesus would raise the believers from the dead and take them to heaven to be with Him eternally.
  • The harvest resurrection will start with the sound of a trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

The greatest Feast of Trumpets will be when Jesus comes back, and we are all caught up to be with Him in heaven. Just as the trumpets were blown for the coronation of a king, the trumpets will again sound when the King of Kings comes to reign victoriously forever!

To see more about the Jewish Feasts, click here.

2023-08-23T13:18:44-06:00September 11th, 2023|

A Study of Psalm 118

This month’s verse is Psalm 118:24. To give context for this verse, a study of the entire Psalm is excerpted below from my book, Experiencing God’s Heart: The Book of Psalms for Today. I pray you are blessed today and throughout the month of September as we discuss the theme of hope and joy; and celebrate the Jewish Feast of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Psalm 118

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will a]”>[a]destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has chastenedb]”>[b] me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Author of Psalm 118: Anonymous

Background: Psalm 118 is the last of the Great Hallel psalms and was sung following the Passover meal. Nearly a century after the return of the Jewish people to Palestine, Nehemiah engineered the reconstruction of the walls around Jerusalem in 52 days! We believe this psalm, which was sung by our Lord and His apostles (see below), was written commemorating this joyous occasion.

Theme: The eternal merciful nature of God inspires thanksgiving and trust. To those who confidently call upon Him in times of distress, He will valiantly deliver.

Psalm 118 Quoted in the New Testament: Verse 6 is quoted in Hebrews 13:6 by the author of Hebrews in his instructions to the Jewish people regarding godly living. Verse 22 is quoted by Jesus (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; and Luke 20:17) and by Peter (Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7) referring to the rejection of Jesus by Jewish leaders. Verse 26 is quoted in Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; 19:38; and John 12:13 referring to Jesus as the Messiah.

Personal Application: Christians experience varying levels of trials while walking with Jesus and are frequently challenged to exercise faith. Whatever situation you are experiencing right now, have faith that God is able to deliver you. Read Psalm 118 many times and think about the great trial Jesus faced as He prepared to die on the cross. Be courageous and joyful knowing full well that the same God who resurrected Jesus is also working on your behalf!

2023-08-24T09:15:55-06:00September 4th, 2023|

Q&A: Jesus, God, and the Bible

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me questions about Jesus, God, and the Bible. I have compiled a few of those questions and answered them below. I hope that you will find the answers informative and that they will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

Q: I’ve been baptized in Jesus’s name. Though I pray daily, I don’t read the Bible daily and I don’t attend church weekly.  When I die will I go to heaven or hell?

A: Being baptized does not assure one’s salvation. Even reading the Bible daily and going to church regularly do not assure you of a place in heaven.  There is only one way to avoid hell and go to heaven.  Jesus said that we must be “born again” to enter the kingdom of God (see John 3:5-8). If you have not been “born again,” you will go to hell. But I have good news for you! The Bible also tells us how we can be born again. To be born again, you must receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: “…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. For with the heart believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).  If you have not made such a confession but have a desire to do this, simply pray this prayer sincerely:

“Dear Jesus, I believe that you died for me and that you rose again on the third day.  I confess to you that I am a sinner and that I need your love and forgiveness.  Come into my life, forgive my sins, and give me eternal life. I believe that God has raised you from the dead, and I now confess you as my Lord.  Thank you for causing me to be born again!”

If you have received Jesus as your personal Savior, I want to encourage you to find a Spirit-filled church that can help you grow in the things of the Lord.

Q: How do we know Jesus is God?

A: The Bible, which is the final authority for every Christian, says in John 1:1, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Philippians 2:6, 7: “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” These verses refer to Jesus Christ.  They tell us that Jesus is God who became man and lived here on earth. If Jesus is not God, then we, of all people—that is to say Christians—are the most to be pitied.  If Jesus is not God, then we have no hope for eternal life because a mere man could not ascend into heaven and sit at the Father’s right hand as the Scriptures record. I would encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to open up your eyes to the fact that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.  Come before Him in prayer and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a personal way.  If you are honestly seeking for the truth, then I know that He will do this for you.

Q: Why should I read the whole Bible?

A:  The Bible is God’s primary method of communicating with His creation, mankind. It is His revealed Word and will to man.  Through reading and studying the Bible, you can meet, get to know, and establish a one-on-one relationship with the one true God, your creator.  As such, the Bible can be your best friend. Its two major divisions, the Old Testament and the New Testament, both point to Jesus as the redeemer of the human race.  The Old Testament prepared the way for Jesus, and the New Testament prepares a people to receive Him. That’s why it’s so important for you to read every book in the Bible—you can behold Jesus in every book of the Bible! Each book reveals to you Jesus and His love for you. When you read the whole Bible, you will recognize the unity of the Bible, and can apply its truths to every area of your life.

Q: How do you know God wrote the Bible?

A: The Bible claims God as its author, and a knowledge of the Word makes this apparent. There are 66 books in the Bible—written by more than 30 different persons over a period of thousands of years, and yet there is a consistent theme running from Genesis to Revelation.  The Bible describes the fall of man, his utter sinfulness, and God’s redemptive plan through the blood sacrifice of His Son. If the scriptures were not written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the mortal men who penned them surely would not present man as totally depraved and in need of salvation. Man’s “religion” always teaches access to God through human effort, but the Bible clearly states that mankind is dead in trespasses and sin. Dead men can’t work their way to God; they can only accept God’s provision of a new life in Christ Jesus. Each of the prophets declared that it was the Word of the Lord that came to them; and with the exception of end-time prophecy, all prophecy has been fulfilled to the letter—even as God said it would be (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Q: Is the Bible really God’s infallible Word?

A: Yes, the Bible is God’s infallible Word. Even though there are Scriptures which, when read, may seem “inconsistent,” one must know the whole counsel of God’s Word to see there is no contradiction.

Q: What is the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

A: The purpose of the Old Testament is to show us man’s creation, his sin (fall), and to show us God’s preparation for a redeemer to come who would make salvation available to all men. This redeemer (Jesus) came through the Jewish nation; thus, the Old Testament is the story of their history—good and bad. In the New Testament we have the manifestation of the redeemer and His manifestation through His people (those who receive Him).  We also see the culmination of God’s plan of redemption in the book of Revelation.

Q: Which version of the Bible do you believe is the most accurate?

A: From the time that God confused language at the tower of Babel until now, the human race has been trying to communicate through the imperfect vehicle of foreign languages. The Bible was written in Hebrews, Aramaic, and Greek.  Because different words can be translated in a variety of ways, we have different Bible versions, which essentially are different translations. Modern translations are taken from the original Greek and Hebrew; but even so, there is still a problem in that one word can have various shades and meanings and thereby can be translated differently.  So, each person who translates a work must do it on the basis of the context in which the word is written in order to determine the original meaning.  Different scholars have different opinions on how these words should be translated; thus, we have a variety of translations, and all of these translations depend upon the text from which that particular language was translated. My personal preference is the New King James Version.

Q: What does it mean to walk with God every day? How can I walk with Him every day?

A: “To walk with God” means to live your life in harmony with Christ’s life in you. This comes about through prayer and Bible study.  Speak to God in prayer and let Him speak to you through the Bible.

Q: Please explain what “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) means.

A: The Bible says that no Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, but that Scripture is to be interpreted through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. “Rightly dividing the word of truth” refers to this and means to take the Scriptures within the context they are given in order to interpret the Scriptures.  Not only are we to take Scriptures within the context that they are given in the chapter but also within the context of the Old and New Testaments as well.  You must take into consideration the full counsel of God in light of how Jesus revealed the Father to us while He was here on earth.

Q: Marilyn, please explain the Trinity. If Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God and God the Father is God, how can Jesus sit at the right hand of Himself?

A: The concept of the Trinity (three-in-one and one-in-three) is ultimately a mystery to our human, finite minds! I can only tell you what I understand about it as I read through the Bible. Ultimately the truth about the Godhead must be accepted by faith so long as we are in these human bodies. Although the word “trinity” is never mentioned in the Bible, its existence is clearly spoken of in Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14.  God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4) yet made up of three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Just as a family is one unit made up of several family members, so the Godhead is one unit with three members.  Each person of the Trinity has a specific role, differing from the other two; and yet together, they make up a single unit with a single purpose, carrying out a perfect and complete plan.

The Heavenly Father is the architect or planner of the Trinity; Jesus is the contractor or the one who carries out the plan; and the Holy Spirit is the laborer or the one who gives life to the plan.  Let’s look at the creation record.  The Father planned it, Jesus did it, and the Holy Spirit gave it life.  These three distinct roles, or ministries, of the Trinity can be seen in the creation of man and the birth and resurrection of Jesus in the flesh. (See Genesis 1:2; 1:26; and John 1:2).

The Old Testament Scriptures which refer to God as one God, literally mean that He is a unit, not that He is only one individual.  When you see this relationship, you can understand that Jesus the Son can sit at the right-hand of the Father.

Q: Please explain what happened during the years between Malachi and Matthew.

A: The years between the time of Malachi and Matthew were years in which Israel had no prophet. No new Words of God were communicated, and no prophets nor spokesmen were available to Israel.  According to Jewish history, Israel was occupied and ruled by foreigners and there were several uprisings such as the Maccabean uprising—but for the most part these times of rebellion had little positive result. During this time, the Roman Empire was expanding and eventually controlled much of the known world—including Israel.  It was during the time of the Roman occupation of Israel that God raised up two intercessors—Anna and Simeon—who prayed that they might see the Redeemer.  The answer to their prayers was manifested in Jesus. (See Luke 2:25-38).

2023-08-21T14:26:27-06:00August 28th, 2023|

Leading People to Jesus

In light of our blog posts on Jesus being “the way, the truth, and the life,” I want you to have confidence that you can lead someone to salvation and baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is a very simple, scriptural approach to these life-changing decisions.

How to Lead a Person to Christ

  1. Open a Bible to Romans 10. Have the person you’re speaking with read aloud verses 9-10.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

  1. Explain to them that because these Scriptures say that “it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved,” you are going to lead them in a short prayer, and they should repeat after you as you pray.
  2. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer so that the candidate will be sure to:
  • Acknowledge that they are a sinner.
  • Ask the Father to cleanse him by the blood of Jesus for every sin they have committed—from the day they were born to this very moment.
  • Invite Jesus to come into their heart and be master and Lord of their life.
  • Thank God for saving their soul.
  1. Ask them to read Romans 10:13 out loud: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
  2. Now, ask them to read it again, but this time them substitute their own name for “whoever” in this verse (some versions might say “everyone” or “whosoever”). Through doing this, they will realize that they have fulfilled the simple requirements of being saved according to God’s Word—whether or not they feel differently!

How to Pray with Someone to Receive the Holy Spirit Baptism

The candidate for Holy Spirit baptism is someone who is a born-again child of God. The work of the Holy Spirit is essential for Christian growth. Through this baptism, God empowers the believer to develop and express their new life in Jesus Christ.

Many people desire to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but they don’t know how to do so. Frequently, I open the conversation by saying, “I would love to pray with you to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit.” Then proceed to:

  1. Open a Bible to Luke 11:10-13 and ask the candidate to read this passage out loud.

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (NIV)

These verses establish the way to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. We simply ask in faith because we know that our loving heavenly Father would never give us a “counterfeit.”

  1. Ask them candidate to read Acts 2:4 out loud: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Assure them that just as Jesus’s disciples spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came on them, they will also speak in tongues when they are baptized by the Holy Spirit.
  2. Ask the candidate to read Romans 8:26-28 out loud. This will confirm the purpose and benefits of praying in tongues.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

  1. Lead the candidate in a short prayer, during which they ask the Father to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. Now, tell the candidate that, by faith, you are going to pray in the Spirit together. Encourage them to speak freely as the Holy Spirit directs regardless of how it may sound to the natural ear.
  2. You should begin to pray out loud in tongues. After you have prayed awhile, you may want to sing in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15).

Although the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a one-time event, the infilling of the Spirit goes on and on and never stops. Encourage them to pray in the Spirit every day and expect a new richness in their Christian experience.

2023-11-01T14:29:07-06:00August 21st, 2023|

I Am The Answer

Isabell Bowling, Guest Blogger

Isabell is the daughter of Sarah Bowling and the granddaughter of Marilyn Hickey. She graduated from Oral Roberts University with her bachelors in Historical and Philosophical Theology and received the award for Theology Student of the Year upon graduation.

She is excited for what this next season brings and is looking forward to learning and growing under the tutelage of her mother and grandmother. In the future, she also hopes to continue her educational journey by seeking a graduate degree in Europe.

We are excited for Isabell to be our first guest blogger on Mondays with Marilyn. God put this message on her heart in light of John 14:6. We pray it blesses you today!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This verse is from a portion of Scripture where Jesus is preparing His disciples for His death. In chapter 13, He washes their feet and here He is leaving His final words with them. He tells his friends that He is going before them to prepare a place for them. The apostle Thomas asks, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Jesus responds to his worries by saying “I am the way!”

Family, how many times do we overthink the blessings of God? Jesus is telling his friends that there is a place for them, that He is preparing a blessing for them in the future! This is a good thing, a gift from Him. But Thomas is confused. He doesn’t know what Jesus means and He is uncomfortable with not knowing. He doesn’t want to miss out on any of the blessings that God has for him, so he asks Jesus for some clarification.

I imagine that Thomas wanted Jesus to tell him one of two things. Either to describe the details of the place Jesus was preparing for him, or a step-by-step list on how to get there. Instead, Jesus says “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Thomas wanted an easy answer. He wanted Jesus to tell him what to do, when to do it, and what was on the other side. Instead, Jesus refocused him. “It’s all about me!” He said, “I am the way, you don’t need to do anything else except know me!”

How many times have you wanted Jesus to give you answers to your questions. “Jesus, what should I do for my next job? Jesus when will I get healed of this-or-that? Jesus, will my friends ever turn back to you?” These are questions that have answers, and it would be easy for Jesus to give us a simple answer. However, more often than not, He reminds us of who He is. Jesus is the answer. He knows it all, sees it all, and can do anything. So, when He responds to our questions and says, “Just be with me,” that is the most comforting thing He could say. How relieving is it to know that Jesus is the way? I think about all the different ways that I’ve failed, and I am filled with comfort knowing that it’s not by my own strength.

The next time you feel overwhelmed with your situations and all the “Jesus, why?” questions start to crowd your mind, remember, He is the answer. Take rest in Him. Know that He is the way, and He will get you through.

–Isabell

2023-07-31T11:26:35-06:00August 14th, 2023|

I Am The Way

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

This is the sixth “I Am” statement Jesus makes in the Gospel of John and it’s our theme verse for the month of August. There are a few things I want to point out:

  • Jesus is the only way to the Father.
  • Jesus is the truth which reveals the Father.
  • Jesus if the life that brings regeneration (rebirth) to man.

As the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus was the embodiment of three basic Jewish concepts:

  1. The Jews knew about the way.

In Deuteronomy 31:29, Moses warned the Israelites about straying from the way after his death:

“For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

David asked to learn the way in Psalm 27:11:

Teach me Your way, O Lord,

And lead me in a smooth path.

Isaiah spoke about God leading us in the way:

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“This is the way, walk in it,”

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

A few chapters later, Isaiah prophesied a return to the way:

A highway shall be there, and a road,

And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.

The unclean shall not pass over it,

But it shall be for others.

Whoever walks the road, although a fool,

Shall not go astray. (Isaiah 35:8)

Jesus didn’t explain the way, He said, “I am the way.” Jesus didn’t give directions, He said, “I am the direction.” Jesus didn’t point His people there, He said “I will take you there.”

  1. The Old Covenant taught the truth.

David professed to having walked in truth:

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth. (Psalm 26:3)

David vowed to walk in God’s truth:

Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth. (Psalm 86:11)

The author of Psalm 119 chose truth:

I have chosen the way of truth. (v. 30)

A man can teach truth, but not walk in it. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” All moral perfection is found in Jesus, the truth.

  1. The Scriptures emphasized life.

Moses commanded Israel to choose life in 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.”

David trusted God to show him the road to life:

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Solomon said correction and instruction give life:

For the commandment is a lamp,

And the law a light;

Reproofs of instruction are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:23)

Jesus isn’t just a path to life, He said, “I am the life.” Remember that Jesus demonstrated the sixth “I Am” statement in the healing of the nobleman’s son in John 4:46-53. The nobleman believed the truth in Christ, went on his way, and his son received life (vv. 50-51).

Jesus will do the same for us. He’ll be the truth and all we need. He’ll be the way and make a way for us. He’ll give us the life we need to please Him.

Today’s blog post is from Marilyn’s master class, John: The Gospel for Real Life. For more information, please visit https://www.mentoredbymarilyn.org/

2023-07-31T11:01:02-06:00August 7th, 2023|

Q&A: Discouragement, Burnout, and Hearing God’s Voice

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me questions about discouragement in ministry, burnout, and hearing God’s voice. I have compiled a few of those questions and answered them below. I hope that you will find the answers informative and that they will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

Q: I am struggling trying to keep the vision of my ministry. Have you ever been discouraged about serving God?

A: My heart has been deeply touched as I’ve traveled and have met many individuals in the five-fold ministry asking similar questions. I do know how it feels to be discouraged, and at times I wondered whether I was really in God’s will for my life and my ministry. I want to encourage you not to give up hope. Please continue to press on to victory—it will come eventually as you trust in God’s ability to deliver you from your circumstances. God promises us in Matthew 28:20 that “[He is] with you always, even to the end of the age.” Hebrews 10:35-36 says, “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (NASB).

Q: I’m resting from near burnout from church duties, outside women’s organizations, my family responsibilities, etc. During that season, my quiet times were not what they should be. Now I find myself having regular, quality quiet time but feeling a lack of fulfillment. I don’t seem to have any vision, and the Lord seems to be silent. Do you have any suggestions or Scriptures?

A: The answer to your burnout problem and present lack of fulfillment is found in John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” In life, there are seasons of bearing fruit, pruning, growing, and bearing more fruit. Certainly, in the times of “fruit bearing,” where there is evidence of what our life is producing, we have a sense of fulfillment because we can “see” what we have done. However, there are necessary times when God puts us in a “dormant” state so that we can abide in Him and He in us. John 15 goes on to say, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (v. 4). I believe you may be experiencing a time of “abiding” in your life. God is giving you a season of rest, consolidation, and a chance to re-energize. Enjoy it! Receive this time as God’s wisdom for this season in your life. If the Lord is silent, then you can be certain that you are in His will! The Holy Spirit gets “noisy” within us when we begin to walk outside of God’s will.

Q: I’m not sure if I’m hearing God’s voice or someone else’s voice. What does God’s voice sound like?

A: We all struggle with the question, “Is this the voice of God?” As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, John 10:3-5 offers us a wonderful promise: “…the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” The voice of God can come to us in different ways. In the Old Testament, the voice of God is described as a still, small voice (1Kings 19:11-2). Most often, God’s voice sounds very much like our own thoughts. But these thoughts do not originate from the mind, they come from deep within our own spirit. Believers have been promised that as we continue to walk with God, He will guide us with His eye upon us and lead us in the way we should go (Psalm 32:8). According to Galatians 5:16, we can know that we are being led by the Holy Spirit if we are walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit means to act on God’s Word no matter what our senses (or “sense-knowledge”) tells us. I believe our flesh seeks after signs—something we can see or feel. Check out the leading you have by asking yourself, “Is this my flesh wanting a sign, or is this God’s Word directing my spirit?” If you follow the Word, you will never be disappointed.

Q. Several people have told me that God has a special call on my life. How do I find out what God’s will is for my life?

A. I want to share with you three steps that have helped me discern the will of God for my life:

  1. the desire must line up with the Word;
  2. you should have an inner witness of your leading—the Holy Spirit bears witness with God’s Word in your spirit which brings you peace; and
  3. circumstances should line up accordingly. At times there may be a waiting period.  The desire may be scriptural; you may have an inner witness; but circumstances may take some time before coming together.  When this happens, it’s important to be patient.  It is never wise to try to make things come together on your own. God will bring to completion what He’s begun (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You can trust God for your future.  As you learn to rely more on Him and less on your own “feelings,” you will find a peace that truly passes all understanding.  Be very careful about accepting any “Word from the Lord” from others.  Remember, all “words” must line up with the Word, your own inner witness, and the circumstances.  Anytime we depend on someone else’s understanding of God’s will for our lives, we are putting ourselves in a place of danger.

2023-07-06T10:21:28-06:00July 24th, 2023|

Mind Games

Success is a mind game. If you’re not in the right frame of mind, your chances of success are diminished. What you think and believe will play an important role in your success. The devil will do what he can to make your best efforts fail by playing mind games with you.

The devil wants you to live in fear. All of us have attacks of fear. You may be afraid to try because you are afraid to fail. I believe that not trying is the biggest failure of all. If God told you to do something, you’re better off trying to do it and failing than not trying at all! You will never succeed if you give in to the fear of trying. Successful people overcome the fear of trying.

When you’re tired, you can make some wrong decisions. Elijah became exhausted and made the wrong decision. He had just experienced the power of God like never before: He called down fire on Mt. Carmel, had the prophets of Baal killed, prayed for rain, and then ran 20 miles in the mud from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel (1 Kings 18). But when Jezebel threatened to take his life, he ran off scared; he left the revival that had started on Mt. Carmel. Why? I believe it was because he was physically tired. He wasn’t thinking straight, or he wouldn’t have feared Jezebel’s threat. So, God put him to sleep. You will be up to the Lord’s work if you are physically sound and mentally alert; don’t sacrifice good judgment to fatigue. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is sleep!

We are living in the “Information Age,” and with all this information comes what I call the “frenzies.” It’s easy to get into a state of panic if we look at all the negative things going on around us. But, Paul told us not to walk as the gentiles walk “in the futility of their mind” (Ephesians 4:17), but to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23). When Paul was dragged outside the city of Lystra, stoned, and left for dead (see Acts 14), the disciples could have gotten into a frenzy of anguish; instead, they said, “Paul, in Jesus’s name, get up!” Their faith brought Paul back to life. Don’t surrender to frenzy; surrender to faith!

Our minds won’t let us forget the past—past failures, past hurts, past sins. But God has no trouble forgetting those things as long as we have confessed them and forsaken them. The Bible says that “He will . . . subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Your past failures are no excuse for your present inaction because God has put a “No Fishing” sign beside the sea of forgetfulness! What He’s forgotten, you need to forget. Don’t let past hurts keep you from present joys—don’t surrender to past experiences of failure!

I believe that this is the beginning of a whole new wave of success for you. Get out there and do what the Lord has told you to do! Don’t let others or the devil lead you down the path to failure. In areas where you have had constant defeat, you are going to see real victory; so rejoice in your newly found freedom.

Excerpt taken from Marilyn’s devotional, Beautiful Inheritance.

2023-07-06T09:31:28-06:00July 17th, 2023|

Freedom from Fear

Fear is the Christian’s most dangerous enemy. Hebrews 2:15 says that Jesus delivered us from a lifetime of bondage to fear, but as a Christian you probably know that fear still creeps in at times. Fear attacks us today as it attacked Jesus’s disciples when they walked with Him on this earth. Jesus continually said, “Fear not, fear not, fear not.” He acknowledged that fear was indeed a very real threat to faith; and that is why He wants to set us free from it.

Following chronologically through Peter’s life, I found a pattern of fear that is too often very real for Christians. His life is an example of how fear does not always disappear overnight; but it shows the restorative process that Christ wants to create in all of us. By maturing in His divine restoration, you discover how to not only get free from fear, but to stay free from it.

Not long after making the greatest statement that a man could make, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15–16), Peter made the worst statement: he denied knowing Jesus at all. How could a man be so extreme? He did the best — and he did the worst.

How did Peter get himself into this position of denial?

I know what is behind it: fear. Jesus had been his intimate friend, guide, and counselor for three years. Now He had been taken away for trial and judgment, and Peter was afraid that he also would be taken and tried. When the Lord’s enemies recognized Peter they said, “You’ve been with that Galilean; you’re one of His disciples” (Matthew 29:69, author’s paraphrase).

Peter abhorred the thought of crucifixion. He was filled with fear, and he began cursing and swearing. Out of terror for his own life, Peter denied knowing his Lord. Peter didn’t just suddenly come into this fear, however. I have seen that fear is very subtle, and it is a very gradual process. Just as when you begin reading God’s Word and grow in revelation knowledge, you can also regress in a process of fear. Faith will take you from strength to strength and glory to glory; fear will take you into growing weakness until it manifests itself in sin.

I want you to look at Peter’s life to see how he started with one statement of fear, and eventually found himself in its control. His first real mistake with fear — strangely enough — happened immediately after he made the tremendous statement, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

After Peter confessed Christ’s lordship, Jesus began explaining to His disciples that he would have to die on the cross and be resurrected. Peter could not imagine losing his Lord, and he reacted violently:

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:22–23)

Peter’s first step towards really blowing it was by denying the cross of Jesus Christ. Why did he do it? Was it out of compassion for Jesus? No, it stemmed from fear. He’d been thinking, We’ve found the Son of God, the Messiah. He’s ours. He’s going to deliver us from Roman rule, and we’re going to rule and reign with Him.

But he could not see this simple truth: before the crown must come the cross. As far as Peter was concerned, anything having to do with the cross would put the crown away. How could the Messiah establish His rule if He died? No way. Peter’s first fear was a fear of the cross.

That fear still exists today, because inherent in the human personality is also a struggle with the fear of the cross. We are fearful about having to die to our own desires. We so often fall short of willingness to say, “Jesus, I am willing to surrender all to your cross.” That unwillingness to surrender our old nature is fear. Paul had a revelation that we must “die” at the cross by faith:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Whether you like it or not, you must be willing to crucify the hidden corners of your life. You have to allow the Holy Spirit to shine His searchlight through your soul and show you how to crucify those dark areas. The fear of allowing our old nature to die is a deceiver, for before the crown must come the cross.

The cross is a place of victory, not a place of fear.

But Peter was blind to the truth about Jesus’s crucifixion. He could not see that Jesus had to die before He could bring life. Fear had entered in, and it began popping up all over the place. He made one negative statement, and soon he found himself making more of them. Matthew 26:33-35 shows that Peter was still not seeing God’s Word because he began boasting in himself.: “Oh Jesus, the rest of the disciples may be offended because of you. But I would never do that. I would die with you first” (author’s paraphrase).

Have you ever heard other believers exalt their own strength in this way? They’ll tell you, “Have you heard about so-and-so? They really blew it, but I would never dream of doing what they did.”

That is nothing more than confidence in the flesh. Instead, you can say, “Jesus in me is greater than he that is in the world.” You can say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Confidence in God’s Word will always keep you and bring you through during a trial. But Peter’s misplaced assurance in his own ability is what failed him. You see, fear brings you to a point where you rely on your own courage and bravery: “I’ll be brave! I’ll be brave!” But the characteristics of true bravery and courage aren’t found in the flesh; they are only found in the Spirit.

In John 18, we see Peter getting into a really zealous spirit; but it is not Word-inspired. Again, I see it tying into his inner fear of the cross; he just cannot bear thinking about Jesus going to the cross because that spoils all of his plans. So, when the Jews came to take Jesus away, Peter was overtaken with a spirit of fear, and it drove him into a wrong zeal in his own motives: “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear” (John 18:10).

He’s trying to help Jesus avoid the cross! Oh, that fear was just chewing on Peter, and it was starting to show up in his conduct. Jesus was led away, and Peter followed Him. But in what way did he follow? The Bible says that Peter “followed Him at a distance” (Matthew 26:58). Fear puts a distance between you and your Lord because it deteriorates your trust. Oh, you’re following Him, but there becomes a distance because you are relying on personal works, not on faith.

How did Peter get so far away from Jesus? It started with his first statement, “I’ll never let you go to the cross.” It ended up with, “I’ll die before you go to the cross; I’ll cut off people’s ears before you go to the cross.” Then in Mark 14:66–67, Peter’s fear reached its peak:

Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Peter denied it. He denied it again. And finally, when they said, “We can tell you’re one of His by the way you speak,” what did Peter do? He began to curse and swear. He said, “I do not know the Man!” (Matthew 26:72).

As he spoke those words, a cock crowed in the distance and the Words of his Lord came rushing back, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:34). Peter was now flooded with guilt and sorrow.

Fear never justifies wrong deeds; it only creates them. It begins as a seedling, and soon it brings its close companions of condemnation and sorrow. All of this denial began with a seed of fear: the fear of the cross implanting itself into Peter’s soul. Now it had saturated all of his actions.

Fear of losing Jesus, fear of having to die for his faith, fear of losing his security blinded Peter to the victory of the cross. Fear never respects the things of God because it is a deceiver.

But in the midst of this dark picture, I also found the steps of restoration that Jesus planted. Jesus always wants to help you overcome fear and you overcome fear by applying the same process to your life that Jesus applied to Peter.

#1: Jesus Prays for You

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31–32)

Jesus is focusing Peter’s attention on God’s Word: “Although you will know Satan’s attempts to sift your faith, listen I’ve prayed for you. Remember: I’ve prayed for you.”

You may say, “His faith did fail.”

No, it did not fail. It was Peter’s courage that failed him, and that is why we must be cautious about where we place our reliance. Our own courage will never be enough. Peter’s courage may have failed him; but his faith did not fail. After he denied Jesus, he wept bitterly because he still believed.

Sometimes you may feel as though you really failed, and the devil will lie to you, “Why bother trying again? You can’t do it.” But although you may have blown it, you may have said wrong things, done wrong things, and faltered in courage, hold on to Him. Your faith will not fail you, and it will hold you up if your bravery lets you down.

Your first step out of fear is to know and believe that Jesus has prayed for you, and that He still prays for you. In John 17:20, before His death, Jesus prayed to His Father and in that prayer He said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.”

Then in Hebrews 7:25 it says that Jesus “always lives to make intercession for [us].” He prayed for you then. He’s praying for you now. When you come against fear you can say, “Satan’s trying to sift me; but my faith won’t fail because Jesus is making intercession for me to come through.”

#2: Jesus Sees You

In Luke 22:61, at the same time Peter says, “I don’t know Him,” Jesus turns and looks at him. What do you suppose that look said? “Peter, you are letting me down when I need you the most. You said you would die for me, but now you are cursing me.”

No, I don’t believe Jesus’s look said that at all. I believe that He was looking to Peter’s soul and saying, “Oh, Peter, don’t do this to yourself.”

So, the second part of knowing what to do when fear strikes is to remember that Jesus sees you. He isn’t condemning you; He wants to help. He sees you right where you are, and He still loves you.

#3: Jesus Sends You a Message

Jesus also has a third step of restoration from fear, and it is shown after Jesus’s resurrection. Remember, the last look Peter had from Jesus right before His death on the cross was the one after Peter denied Him. Then after Jesus’s resurrection from death, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome visited the tomb with the intent of anointing Jesus’s body for burial. The stone had been rolled away, and as they entered, they saw a man sitting on the right side. He spoke to them:

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” (Mark 16:6–7)

Why didn’t he just say, “Tell His disciples that He is going before you to Galilee?” Why “and Peter?”

I believe it was because Jesus wanted Peter to have a personal message of His love. Have you ever noticed that in a heavy attack of fear, Jesus will give you a personal message through His Word? Once, during a trial where the natural circumstances were almost impossible to bear, I called out to God for a personal message: “God, I must have something fresh from you. I know that I claim these daily Scriptures, but I need something straight from you.”

He gave me the most precious Scripture from the book of Haggai, and I still use it against fear today: “According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!” (Haggai 2:5). Jesus has a personal message for you in His Word. It’s not just “God’s Word for Christians.” It is for you today.

In 1 Corinthians, I saw that not only did Jesus send Peter a personal message, but He also had a personal meeting with him directly after His resurrection: “He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:5).

I always imagined Jesus’s appearance to the disciples in the locked room as His first. But Jesus went to Peter before He talked to the rest of His disciples. He wanted to say, “Peter, I still love you. I prayed for you, I saw you, I sent you a message—and you’re coming through.”

Have you ever awakened in the night with fear flooding in through every fiber of your soul and the warmth of Jesus’s presence comes to drive it away? Those personal moments with Jesus will dissipate any fear surrounding you; He wants to calm the storm within, and that is why He promised, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.” These quiet times alone with Jesus are carved from God’s love, especially for your reassurance.

#4: Jesus Will Deliver You

Now that these steps toward pulling Peter out of fear had taken place, Jesus still had to deal directly with what happened, and the way He totally delivered Peter from fear is dynamite!

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also. They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish . . . (John 21:1-6, 9–11)

One man, Simon Peter, managed to drag the entire net of fish to the shore all by himself. Why is it that seven of them couldn’t muster the strength to draw in the net — but one man did it alone? It is because after Peter had received a vision and a touch from Jesus, he received strength. Once you get a vision of Jesus, nothing is the same again; you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (see Philippians 4:13).

Now Jesus was going to deal with him. Notice that when the disciples came to the land, Jesus had a fire burning. Peter might’ve thought, I remember the last fire I warmed myself near; it was when I denied you. Jesus had that fire ready on purpose. He wanted to heal those memories of the enemy’s fire by allowing Peter to warm himself over the fire of a friend who is closer than a brother.

Jesus said, “Simon Peter, do you love me more than these?”

“Oh, yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus replied, “Feed my lambs.” Meaning, “Give my young disciples (lambs) nourishment from the Word.”

Jesus asked him again, “Simon, do you love me?”

Simon said, “Lord, you know that I love you. You know what kind of love I have for you—because you know me.”

Jesus replied, “Tend my sheep.” Meaning to shepherd or pastor. Notice that Jesus is not speaking of lambs, but sheep. Given the best of nourishment, the disciples mature into the ability to receive training and direction.

But now Jesus looked at Simon and asked him, “Simon, son of Jonah. Do you love me? Do you even love me as a friend?”

And Peter’s heart wrenched; he was grieved. “Oh, Jesus, do you even doubt my reciprocal love for you?” Then, “Lord, you know all things, including my love for you.”

Now came the calling, “Feed my sheep.” The Lord called Simon Peter from being a fisher of men to a teacher of sheep. “Nourish and love them; nourish and love them.”

I found it interesting that Peter professed his love for Jesus three times—exactly as many times as he had denied Him. Within those confessions came the warmth of healing and restoration. From the restoration came the call: feed my sheep.

Jesus then probed into the exact place from where Peter’s fear originated:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” (John 21:18–19)

Jesus was saying, “I know your fear; I know that you have been fearing the cross all along.”

Peter was martyred on a cross, and Jesus told him about it before it ever happened. Historians say that when Peter was crucified, he refused to die in the same manner as his Lord; he cried, “I am not worthy.” He was crucified upside-down.

Talk about somebody moving right in and taking the fear. If someone came and told me that I would be crucified, my first thought would be, I’ll never go to another foreign country.

But Jesus brought Peter to such complete deliverance that he was willing to go anyway. It didn’t matter to him, because suddenly he saw that the cross was a place of victory: first the cross, then the crown. I believe Jesus was saying, “Peter, you won’t be fearful, because I’ll be there to take you right out of it.”

Not only did Jesus completely restore Peter from his fear of the cross, not only did He forgive all of his faults, but He brought him back into the ministry he was called to fulfill.

In Acts 2:14, he was a changed man: “Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.’ ”

He preached a sermon that wouldn’t stop! They could have killed him, but he didn’t care; instead, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” was the message that he preached, and 3,000 men were converted that day! Is that the Peter of fear? No, that is the Peter who was restored by the hand of the Lord Himself.

Be a Simon and dismiss fear when it comes your way. Be a hearing one. Jesus did not come to give you fear; He came to deliver you from it. Psalm 112:7 speaks of the fearless man: “He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Be bold! Let your flesh and your fear die at the cross and start living in the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. Jesus took Peter right to the cross and delivered him from fear; He wants you to receive your deliverance at the cross also. First the cross, then the crown.

This post has been excerpted and adapted from Freedom from Bondages (Marilyn Hickey Ministries, 2021).

2023-07-06T12:30:55-06:00July 10th, 2023|

Meditations on Strength and Courage

Tomorrow, all across the United States, we will be celebrating freedom. Today, I want to talk about freedom, but not freedom from a tyrannical government. Rather, I want to discuss freedom from fear—a tyrannical weapon of Satan.

Sixty-three times in the Bible, it says “Fear not.” God told Joshua five times to be strong and courageous. Why? Because he must have needed to hear it! And to Joshua’s credit, he believed it, and he took the promised land in less than seven years! I don’t believe it’s a sin to become afraid, but I do think it is a sin to stay afraid.  Joshua 1:9 states: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.”

One key way to overcome fear can be found in the verse preceding this:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (v. 8)

When I first began studying Joshua 1:8, I was troubled and thought, Lord, how can I possibly meditate on your Word day and night? You must not understand my schedule.

The Lord began dealing with me and said, “Did you know that Joshua was responsible for the food, water, clothing, and spiritual and military guidance for over a million people?”

Think about that.

While God provided everything while the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, after they crossed the Jordan River and entered the promised land, this became Joshua’s responsibility.

I’ve discovered that God has a lot to say about meditating, and it is exciting what meditating on His Word can accomplish. Meditation on the Word changes lives—in fact, it is life.  If you meditate on the Word day and night, you’ll implement the key element of being blessed, prosperous, and successful in every area of your life!

Since this month’s theme is hope with an emphasis on optimism, and our key verse is Joshua 1:9, I’ve provided one meditation below for each day this week, including today. It’s time to overcome unhealthy fears and become strong and courageous!

Day #1: In Him

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

We can conquer because He has conquered. The footprints of Jesus are on everything, including you. Everything you meet; He has already met.

The greatest outpouring of God’s miracle-working power was unleashed at the moment Jesus was raised from the dead—when life conquered death. Jesus gives that same resurrection power to believers when they are baptized with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8).

The Christian life is not a struggle but a surrender. It is receiving and appropriating what He has purchased for us with His death and resurrection and being aware that we are in Him. Knowledge and formula are not enough; we must be in Him.

Each day, look to Him and say, “I’m wholly yours, Lord: my spirit, my soul, and my body are yours.” If one day brings a defeat or a disappointment, use it as an opportunity to gain another victory that will glorify the Lord. After a while, this way of life becomes a habit. It’s not a struggle; instead, it’s spontaneous living! Then you will realize you are every bit whole in Him—spirit, soul, and body. You are no longer living life under the sun. Now, you are living life under the Son! This is God’s victorious lifestyle for those who are wholly committed to Him.

Day #2: Dead-end Fears

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:12-13

The first words Jesus spoke after the resurrection were, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10). The road that leads to fear is a dead-end road. Sometimes, fear can be constructive and beneficial. When I was growing up, my parents set rules for us in our home. If we broke them, there were consequences. I had a healthy fear of disobeying them. Likewise, we can have a healthy fear of God. But when fear becomes our master, it produces dead-end results.

Fear comes into your life when you focus more on your circumstances than on Jesus. It will torment your soul and your body. The spirit of fear will move into all areas of your life, hindering you and hurting you, and when you give in to them, they will grow until they become bondages. When a fear is not surrendered to God, it will become a phobia that will envelop your mind and make you paranoid. Many diseases are rooted in fear.

Jesus fashioned us for faith and confidence. When you are afraid, be honest with the Lord. Tell Him that you’re afraid, that you don’t want to be afraid, because you know it’s the opposite of faith, and that you’re sorry for it. Then repent, saying, “Lord, I’m going to trust you to take care of me in this matter.” Saturate yourself in God’s love. He cares for you and wants to take away your fears. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Day #3: Sweet Surrender

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

When we know Jesus as “the way,” we find truth and life (see John 14:6). Jesus fulfills our total being. He is the way for our will, the truth for our intellect, and the life for our emotions. Life surrendered to Him is abundant life.

Surrender helps us overcome fear. Jesus struggled in great agony when faced with the cross. He knew He could walk away from it all, leave you and me behind. However, He conquered His fear and surrendered to His Father, saying, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). How was Jesus able to face the cross? He surrendered to God because the Father’s will was best.

Surrendering our fears, bitterness, and grief to God is the only way to overcome them. When we are bitter, we must examine the reasons why we feel that way so we can get rid of it by laying it at Jesus’s feet. If we don’t allow grief to follow its natural course—taking our pain to the Lord and allowing ourselves to feel it—we will become angry and discontented. We must turn to God so that He can move in our situations and heal our attitudes and emotions.

Finally, surrendering to God can help us defeat depression in our lives. Depression causes us to feel burdened, gloomy, and sad. We can fight sadness and depression with the joy of the Lord. Cast your burdens on Him and begin to worship Him. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Rejoicing in the Lord will elevate you above the situation and enable you to maintain a childlike faith.

Sometimes, surrender is needed hour by hour or minute by minute. But I have found that surrendering to Him brings great peace in the midst of difficult situations.

Day #4: Dealing with Reality

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16

There are three ways we can approach life: 1) we do all we can to escape reality; 2) we constantly rebel against reality; 3) we hand over our realities to Jesus let Him develop us.

Too often, people turn to alcohol, narcotics, food, or other addictions to escape the weights of life. As they keep facing the same harsh realities, they soon discover that they can’t escape them. Christ came to set us free in our realities, not from our realities.

In real life, I am a woman. In our culture, there are certain negative stereotypes associated with my gender: lack of intelligence, lack of leadership abilities, lack of toughness, and many other falsehoods, which can limit me if I let them. But I have found the exact opposite to be true in Christ. God did not make a mistake when He made woman. I have experienced abundant favor. I have lived in His ability to develop daily miracles; and He can do the same for you!

Day #5: Kingdom Reality

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9

Did Jesus ignore reality? The raising of Jairus’s daughter is told in three of the four Gospels (see Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; and Luke 8:40-56). Jairus asked Jesus to heal his dying daughter. In Matthew’s account, as Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jairus’s house, a sick woman in the crowd reach out and touched Jesus’s cloak, and she received healing for an issue of blood. While Jesus was talking to the woman, Jairus’s servants arrived with news that his daughter had died. Was Jesus unable to juggle the two realities? If so, why was He sidetracked with the case of this woman?

Jesus knew that there was a higher set of facts at play—kingdom facts. There is always a higher level of reality than what we see before us. Jesus lived in two worlds—earth and heaven. This story demonstrates how choosing the higher way of heaven can affect the lower way of earth.

When Jesus came into the ruler’s (Jairus’s) house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. Matthew 9:23-25

Jairus’s daughter lived, showing us that the kingdom of God runs on faith. Is anything impossible with God?

Day #6: Living for Today

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC)

When we try to live for yesterday, today, and tomorrow all at the same time, we get confused. If you try to go in three directions, you will get nothing but dizzy. Be a today person. If you carry all the worries of the past, present, and future, they will weigh you down and overwhelm you. Jesus says in Matthew 6:34:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Jesus wants you to live in the present. When you try to live in the past and future, you cut off the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Often, I have wasted hours worrying about some event in the future, and, when that time came, the things I feared never occurred. What a waste of time that was! Cast your cares on Him and enjoy every good thing today!

Day #7: The Ongoing Work of Christ

Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]. (Ephesians 1:23 AMPC)

In the opening chapter of Acts, Luke gives an account “of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen” (Acts 1:1-2). But Jesus was not finished with His apostles. He was sending them the Holy Spirit who would empower them to do all that they were called to do (see John 14:26).

To me, this suggests that as long as I have breath, Jesus is still working in me. Christ in us is a constant hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27). Jesus came to give us abundant life (see John 10:10). As I have gotten older, I have found new abundances.

Revelation 21:5 says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Jesus makes new beginnings. What He begins in your life, He wants to continue. Keep your eyes open for daily miracle. He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).

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This post has been excerpted and adapted from 30 Meditations on Jesus (Whitaker House, 2014).

2023-05-08T14:19:51-06:00July 3rd, 2023|

Q&A: Fasting and Prayer

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me questions about the topics of prayer and fasting. I have compiled a few of those questions and answered them below.  In last week’s blog I answered many questions related to fasting, so this week’s post mostly answers questions about prayer. I hope that you will find the answers informative and that they will encourage you in your prayer walk.

Q: Can a person “pray without ceasing” according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17? How long should we pray every day?

A: Prayer is an intimate conversation with the Father. First Thessalonians is a reminder to always be in an attitude of prayer. Whatever we’re doing and wherever we are, there should be no time when we are void of the assurance of the presence of God with us and in us. Paul was indicating in that verse that God gave us the gift of praying in tongues so that we could be in communion with Him all day. By praying in the Spirit, we can redeem what might otherwise be wasted time. I have found that praying in the Spirit is wonderful when I am driving, cooking dinner, studying, etc. Whatever I’m doing, praying only heightens the end results. If you think about it, God has given us many, many opportunities to pray throughout each day. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you can flow in a continuous refreshing of the Holy Spirit.

As far as setting aside daily prayer time, all Christians should pray every day. God’s Word says that if we seek Him early, we will find Him (see Proverbs 8:17 KJV). I like to take that Scripture literally. In the morning your mind is like a blank slate—and that’s the best time for God to write on it! You don’t have to pray for 10 hours every day but give God some special time each day to prepare you for walking in His will. I want God’s wisdom for my day, and I know that you do too!

Q: Why did David say in the psalms that he prayed against his enemies, but Jesus commands us to pray for our enemies and love them?

A: When David prayed for death and destruction toward his enemies in the psalms, I don’t believe he was praying against flesh and blood. David was coming against the principalities and powers—the demonic forces—behind the person who was causing him trouble. Ephesians 6:12 says, “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.” Therefore, it was scriptural for David to pray that the work of his enemies be destroyed. It was good spiritual warfare to pull down the strongholds that had come against his life.

However, we are to bless our enemies as Jesus commanded (see Luke 6:28) in order that they might come into the knowledge of God and receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Sometimes I have thought that God allows us to have enemies just so we could bless them, pray for them, and do good to them. Once, a man in my city said some very ugly things about me to his congregation. He even called me a false prophetess. Personally, I wanted to tell him off. But the Lord asked me, “How do I treat my enemies?”

“You love them,” I replied.

The Lord then told me, “Treat him the way I would.”

From that time on, whenever I heard that pastor’s name, I said, “Lord, bless him.” Then one day God gave me special instructions to bless him through promoting his church. I obeyed the Lord and saw the fruit of my obedience. Not long afterward some people from the man’s congregation called me saying their pastor’s attitude had completely changed. He now spoke highly of me, and he had even invited his congregation to read through the Bible using my devotional plan!

I asked the Lord, “What happened?”

He responded, “When your ways please me, I make even your enemies to be at peace with you.”

I don’t think you need to speak God’s blessing directly to a person who offends you. Sometimes that “enemy” might live in another state or country, and then you cannot speak to them in person. But bless them in your prayers and pray that God would do good to them. Then, if possible, bless them with your actions. Send a letter or some flowers just to say, “I care about you.” If you will bless your enemies, pray for them, and do good to them, God will transform those relationships!

Q: Why do we have to pray to the Father in Jesus’s name? Can’t we call upon Jesus directly? Aren’t they one-in-the-same?

A: The reason we need to address the Father in Jesus’s name is because Jesus gave us this instruction (see John 16:23). He did this because the position of the Father in the Godhead is one of authority.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct individuals who are one in unity. Jesus is not unequal to the Father, but He submits to the Father’s authority. A similar illustration would be that a wife is not unequal to her husband, but she is in submission to his headship. As the architect of the universe, Father God is the one who has the responsibility to fulfill the prayers we ask according to His Word. Jesus is our mediator because of His sacrifice. Therefore, we come in Jesus’s name.

Q: What does the writer of James mean when he mentions “praying amiss?”

A: Asking “amiss” is defined by James as a prayer which satisfies our own worldly lusts (see James 4:2-4). This chapter also discusses other reasons for unanswered prayer: lust, murders, covetousness, strife, adulteries, pride, rebellion against God, backsliding, sin, and doublemindedness.

On the other hand, any prayer that is prayed according to the promises of God will never be “amiss” (see 1 John 5:14-15).

Q: How can someone determine God’s voice and know they are led by the Spirit of God and not their own thoughts or desires?

A: In John 10: 2-5, Jesus offers us a wonderful promise:

“He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep . . . the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out . . . the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

There have been times when I felt certain that God was leading me, yet I discovered that the “leading” was nothing more than a fleshly thought. I cried out, “God, show me how to walk by the Spirit!” And He began to show me a helpful way to know that I am being led by the Spirit. In Galatians 5:16 we are told, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Basically, I have found that walking in the Spirit means that we are not living according to the instincts of our senses. To walk after the flesh means that we are living by what we smell, see, taste, feel, and fear. But to walk by the Spirit means to act on God’s Word, no matter what sense-knowledge tells us. When Christians get off-track, they are usually walking according to their senses rather than by faith in God’s Word.

One time, many years ago, I received several letters saying that I should go on the radio in a certain needy area of the U.S. I asked my staff for counsel on this, and they said, “That situation would not produce enough positive results. Your efforts would be better spent in some other area or project.” But I kept receiving the letters, so I made a personal decision to broadcast my program in that area. I had prayed about the situation, but I hadn’t really prayed for the leading of the Lord. Just as my staff had warned, the radio broadcast in this area never went anywhere. Eventually, I had to admit that I went on that station from a personal leading, rather than a leading from the Holy Spirit. I had listened to the voice of my flesh and the letters being sent to me, without seeking the voice of the Lord. Had I asked God for His leading, He could have directed me to use that money in a wiser way to benefit more people.

I believe that our flesh seeks after “signs”—something we can see or feel. But Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign . . . ” (Matthew 16:4). Such people are walking after their sense-knowledge. We aren’t supposed to look for signs. We are supposed to look to God’s Word and allow signs to follow us! Check the leadings you have and ask yourself, “Is this my flesh wanting a sign, or is this God’s Word directing my spirit?” If you follow the Word, you will never be disappointed.

Q: Jesus said that the bride doesn’t fast while the bridegroom is with her (see Mark 2:19). Jesus is fully with us, isn’t He? Why do you encourage people to fast?

A: Mark 2:19 and Matthew 9:15 speak of the bridegroom and fasting. However, in Matthew 9:15 Jesus says, “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” He also said in John 15 that He would be taken away and it was to our advantage that He go away since He would send the Holy Spirit who would be with us as our helper. Technically speaking, it is not Jesus in the fullness of His being who is with us, rather it is the Holy Spirit who indwells us.

Q: What are the spiritual benefits of fasting? How should a person prepare to go on a fast? How do you know if the Lord is directing you to do so?

A: By studying Joel 2 and Isaiah 58, you can get a good idea of what fasting will do for you. Matthew 17:21 connects prayer and fasting with overcoming disbelief or, in other words, feeding your faith and starving your doubts.

Jesus was spiritually prepared before the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to fast for 40 days (see Matthew 4:1). If you are going to fast or if you sense in your spirit that God is calling you to a fast, seek Him in prayer for a specific direction. The Spirit’s leading is a still, small voice within your spirit. It is also known as an “inner witness” (see 1 Kings 19:12). I wouldn’t suggest that you be like Jesus and fast for 40 days because it could be very dangerous. Instead, be led of the Spirit in your fasting; and let the Lord lead you in setting up a time frame. Check out last week’s blog for more details.

2023-05-04T13:14:07-06:00June 26th, 2023|

Fasting and Prayer

I believe that the two subjects of fasting and prayer go together. People who have never fasted may not know what is involved; and fasting usually sounds like drudgery and difficulty. I’ve heard people talk about such long fasts that I thought, If I fasted that long, I’d die. I couldn’t possibly do that. I used to associate fasting with these long, long periods of time; yet a fast can be as short as one meal and still allow God to do some wonderful things in your life.

My late husband, Wally, had never been taught fasting, but when he first began to serve the Lord, he had a friend in a mental hospital about whom he was very concerned. As he prayed for his friend, the Lord spoke to him out of the Scriptures saying, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). Like I said, Wally didn’t know anything about fasting, so he “only” fasted one meal. Ever after such a short fast, the man was released from the hospital!

So, I don’t want you to think about the length of time you will fast, but how you can get your heart in line with the Lord and let Him speak to you.

WHAT FASTING DOES

First of all, let’s talk about the benefits of fasting and how God will prepare you to fast. If you can get sold on what fasting will do in your life, you will want to fast.

Jesus was spiritually prepared before the Lord led Him to fast for 40 days. Matthew 4:1 says, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” If you are going to fast, you need to be led by the Spirit. That’s why Jesus could endure 40 days of fasting. Forty days is a long time, and it could kill you if you aren’t really led of the Spirit. I don’t suggest that you suddenly decide to be like Jesus and fast for 40 days because it could be very dangerous. Instead, I suggest you be led by the Holy Spirit and let the Lord lead you in setting up the time frame.

Elijah also went on a fast for 40 days, but God prepared him for it. He was very defeated at the time God called him to fast. He had just called down the fire at Mount Carmel and had a tremendous victory over the prophets of Baal. God then opened the heavens in response to Elijah’s prayer for rain. Finally, in a supernatural anointing of strength, Elijah outran Ahab’s chariot into Jezreel.

However, upon arriving in Jezreel, Ahab’s hateful wife, Jezebel, sent him a message. She wasn’t very happy about the fact that Elijah had killed all her prophets. In fact, she was furious and threatened to kill Elijah. In a weak moment, Elijah became full of fear and ran into the wilderness, hid under a tree, and told God, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah left the revival because of a message from a woman.

Looking at Elijah, I see that God was determined for him to be a winner. I think God is just as determined for you to be a winner. Elijah had blown it, but God did something wonderful for him: He sent an angel to encourage him and give him food. Then Elijah went back to sleep after having eaten. Evidently, he really needed rest. Again, the angel woke him and fed him, but this time he said to Elijah, “I want you to go to Horeb, and it is a 40-day trip. You won’t have to eat anything because the food I gave you will sustain you” (1 Kings 19:7-8, author’s paraphrase). Elijah was prepared for his 40-day fast. He didn’t just decide to fast that long in his own strength. The angel of the Lord came to encourage him and prepare him.

When Elijah went to Horeb, the Lord revealed where he had “missed it.” He saw the fire, the wind, the earthquake—many manifestations of the Lord. But then he heard a still, small voice saying, “Elijah, you missed it because you didn’t wait for the leading of my Spirit. You looked at Jezebel and her message and ran away. Wait for the still, small voice. Learn to be led of the Spirit so you won’t miss it anymore.”

Never again do we read of defeat in Elijah’s life. Here was a man who had been very defeated. Yet he was led into a 40-day fast, heard the voice of God, learned how to be led of the Spirit, and was transformed. God will do the same for you when you fast.

Let’s go back to Matthew 17. Jesus had just descended from the mount of transfiguration when a man whose son was demon-possessed came to Him and said, “I brought [my son] to Your disciples, but they could not cure him” (v. 16). Jesus prayed for the son, and he was delivered. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t cast out the demon, Jesus answered, “Because of your unbelief; . . . However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (vv. 20-21).

What is the purpose of fasting? To cure unbelief. This is the key to fasting. Jesus told His disciples they were unable to cast out the evil spirit because of their unbelief. If they had been fasting and praying, however, they would have had the faith to cast them out. Fasting will put you in a position of higher faith. There are several biblical examples of fasting, including the Israelites (see 1 Samuel 7:6), Esther and the Jews living in Shushan (see Esther 4:16), and the Assyrians (see Jonah 3:5). But I want to talk about a very unusual fast recorded in Judges 19-20.

These chapters tell of a Levite man living in Ephraim who was supposed to have been a priest. However, he wasn’t much of a man of God. After all, during the time of the judges, Israel did what was right in their own eyes instead of following God’s Law. This Levite man had a concubine who went to visit her father. When he went after her to take her back to Ephraim, he stayed a long time with her father. After the two men ate and drank a great deal, the Levite and his concubine started back to Ephraim. They entered a town of Benjaminites, where they had no place to stay for the night. Finally, a man invited them into his house. The Benjaminites were well-known for their cruelty and immorality, and they gathered around the man’s house asking to have immoral relations with the Levite. Instead, the Levite gave his concubine to them for the night. They abused her and left her to die on the doorstep of the house where she and the Levite were staying.

When he was ready to leave the next morning, the Levite found his concubine dead outside the front door. He then cut her body into 12 pieces and sent one section to each tribe of Israel, saying, “This is what the Benjaminites have done to my concubine!” (Judges 19:30 and 20:4-7, author’s paraphrase). So, the other tribes came against Benjamin and said, “Give us those men so we can punish them!”

The tribe of Benjamin answered, “No, we won’t do that,” and prepared for battle. The other 11 tribes joined together to fight the Benjaminites, who were left-handed and were so outstanding at throwing stones that they never missed. It shocked me to learn that the Benjaminites won the first two battles in which 40,000 men were killed! This seemed unfair to me. I thought, God, the other tribes were right. Why did you let the Benjaminites win? But after two major losses . . .

. . . All the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord . . . saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?”

And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.” (Judges 20:26-28)

They only fasted one day! But after this short time of fasting and praying, they won the war and defeated the Benjaminites. Why did they lose the first two battles? Because Israel was so backslidden that the powers of darkness had overwhelmed them. This shows how it took fasting and prayer to finally break the powers of darkness so that the 11 tribes could win. Fasting and prayer will not only bind up your unbelief; it will also break the powers of darkness.

WHEN TO FAST

There are many times when God may call you to fast, below are just a few examples.

  • I think that when you’re not seeing results after having stood on the Word and having had people pray, you need to fast and pray. Then you will see the powers of darkness break.
  • When you are stumbling, or in an overwhelming situation and don’t know what to do, fast!
  • I believe a person who is involved in weekly fasting and prayer begins to manifest the fruit of the Spirit and something spiritual happens to push his old nature out. If you are very impatient, or if you have personality problems, be consistent with your fasting and prayer. It will change you.
  • Fasting and prayer will help you go out in the anointing of God into the ministry He wants you to have. Paul began fasting as a brand-new Christian (see Acts 9:8-9) and continued throughout his ministry (see Acts 13:2, Acts 27:39, and 2 Corinthians 6:5). I believe fasting was the “secret” of the anointing upon Paul’s ministry.

TIPS FOR FASTING

  • Fasting is to be done in secret. Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18:

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

  • Fast with pure motives and a clean heart, confessing your sin to the Lord (see Isaiah 58 and Zechariah 7:5-7).
  • I personally believe that the best kind of fasting is consistent fasting. It is easy to fast when you get in trouble. However, if you were consistent in fasting and prayer, would you get into trouble so often? Fasting and prayer can keep you in a place of faith and victory so that when crises come, you will be so full of the Word and the Spirit that they won’t even be a crisis to you. You will already be prepared.
  • As far as a length of time, if God speaks to you to go on a three-day fast and you have that witness in your spirit, do it. If He leads you to go on a fast for one, seven, or ten days, do that. It is good to be led by the Spirit in fasting. At one point in my life, God led me to fast seven meals each week. I didn’t do them all in one or two days, and I did different meals depending on my traveling schedule. This is only an example to encourage you to seek your own plan from the Lord.
  • When you’re fasting, consider donating to a local food bank or other church/organization that helps the less fortunate (see Isaiah 58:7).
  • Fasting will help you know how to pray and have compassion for people, and you will see them come forth to victory (see Isaiah 58:7).
  • Speak powerful words in your fasting and keep your conversations right. Don’t have a critical attitude or talk about your problems when you’re fasting. If you fast and gripe, you may as well buy a hamburger and forget it.

PRAYER WITH FASTING

I studied the Scriptures on prayer, and I found that all the men with tremendous prayer lives prayed early in the morning. Jesus prayed early in the morning, long before daybreak (see Mark 1:35). To encourage yourself in this, look up: 1 Samuel 1:19, Job 1:5, Psalm 57:8-9, Psalm 88:13, Psalm 119:147, and Proverbs 8:17. Why is prayer good early in the morning? Because it gives you a good start. In the morning you are not yet occupied with the things of the day.

When does dew come? Early in the morning. When the sun comes up, the dew evaporates. The dew is often taught as a type of the presence of the Lord, teaching that there is a special presence of the Lord early in the morning. To get up early in the morning is to get the dew of His presence. This isn’t to say you can’t pray throughout your day; Daniel and David both prayed three times a day. But I do strongly encourage you to begin your day with prayer.

Finally, prayer must accompany fasting. Keep them together and you will have an amazingly effective prayer life!

***Before commencing a fast you should assess your health and consider visiting a health professional.

Marilyn Hickey Ministries acknowledges and embraces the numerous references found in the Bible that speak to the practice of fasting. We believe that Christ encouraged fasting for His disciples and for us, through His example. We believe that the purpose of periodic fasting is to accompany prayer, but we do not believe that there is a biblical requirement or instruction for everyone to participate in fasting. Christ in Scripture, distinguished between appropriate and inappropriate times for fasting.

As in all other aspects of your relationship with God, you should make a decision to participate in fasting only after taking into consideration whether fasting is appropriate for you as an individual—apart from and without any involvement in a group that may be fasting. We encourage you to thoroughly confirm your spiritual and physical suitability before fasting for any period of time. Carefully consider your personal health condition, contraindications of any medicines you may be taking, as well as the appropriate fasting procedures and measures to conclude a fast. These factors are the responsibility of the individual (you). We always recommend that a person consult his or her physician before a strict or prolonged fast.

For more on the topic of prayer and fasting, click here.

2023-05-04T13:13:11-06:00June 19th, 2023|

The Tabernacle Prayer Plan: Part 2

If you haven’t read “The Tabernacle Prayer Plan: Part 1” yet, we encourage you to read that before continuing below.

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD

The brazen laver marked the separation of the outer court from the holy place, which was the inner tent within the tabernacle walls. The first item in the holy place was the table of shewbread–a ceremonial stand with twelve loaves of bread representing the needs of the twelve tribes of Israel. The priests ate the bread as a sign to the Lord that He was their source who would meet all of their needs.

The shewbread represents our physical needs, the Word as our food (Matthew 4:4, John 4:34) and Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35). When we enter God’s presence, we should be hungry for revelation and eager to feed on His Word.

Remember the travelers on the road to Emmaus? “Now it came to pass, as [Jesus] sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:30-31). When we open our Bibles and feed on God’s Word, we should expect to see Jesus, to sense His presence in every passage and teaching. His presence sustains us. The writer of Hebrews says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (v. 3 NIV, emphasis added).

None of us would dream of going days without food. God is telling us that we need to regularly feed on His Word. This is what will sustain us through each season of our lives.

THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK

Next to the table of shewbread was the golden candlestick with one long branch in the middle and three offshoots on each side. Unlike our candlesticks today, the golden candlestick didn’t hold wax candles, but oil, much like a lamp.

The priests kept the golden candlestick lit to provide light for both the holy place and the holy of holies, so they could see and obey the Lord in their service. Remember, light, flame, and oil all represent the presence of the Spirit of the Lord, which should constantly be burning in us.

The golden candlestick reminds us to never let the flame of the Holy Spirit grow dim in our lives so we can see what God is doing and constantly burn bright, lighting up our lives for the glory of God. Paul encouraged Timothy “to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you . . . “ (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV). Likewise, we should seek out the Spirit of God in our lives and watch for His presence in all that we do. When we are in touch with His presence, we shine brightly in the world. We become the golden candlestick that illuminates situations and brings understanding to others.

One day, we will see the seven golden candlesticks blazing before the throne of God Almighty. Our daily prayer should be to keep the Spirit of God alive in our lives so that we can clearly see His path and His direction in serving others.

THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

The last piece of furniture in the holy place was the altar of incense. The incense was continuously burning, filling both the holy place and the holy of holies with a sweet aroma that attracted God’s presence. For the people of Israel, this incense, made from a very special combination of spices and oils, was a symbol of intercession.

At the altar of incense, the priest would intercede for the people. The altar was lit with coals from the brazen altar, reminding us that our prayer must come humbly before God with an understanding of both our sin and the sacrifice that Jesus made.

There were several times when “strange fire” (this was any fire that didn’t come from the brazen altar) was used to light the altar of incense. Each time, God severely judged those who didn’t follow His instructions.

Prayer Plan: The altar of incense represents how our High Priest, Jesus, is always interceding before God on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). When we pray, we should put the needs and requests of others before our own. When you pray for other people, your words to God on their behalf can have a powerful impact on their lives. Letting others know you are praying for them is a great encouragement when they are going through a dark time. These prayers of the saints are like incense, having a sweet aroma to God that pleases Him (Revelation 5:8).

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

After going through the outer court and the holy place, the priest would enter the holy of holies–the place where only the high priest could go before the Lord, and then, only with an offering of blood. Here was where you would find the ark of the covenant, which had two pieces. The bottom piece was a container where the Ten Commandments, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron’s budding rod were kept. The golden pot of manna symbolized God’s supernatural provision for His people, the budding rod demonstrated His delegated authority through human leadership, and the Ten Commandments represented His truth.

Prayer Plan: When you come before the Lord in prayer, ask for His provision. That’s what Jesus did. His model prayer included the simple request for daily food. Relying on the Lord for our daily needs is a way of expressing our humility, showing that we rely on Him for all things.

Praying for people in authority is a practice encouraged by the apostle Paul, a man whose native country was occupied by a foreign army. When we are in the holy presence of God, we can find the spiritual strength to pray for our enemies and those who may be abusing their power over us. Wise leaders also need our prayer support because they are constantly under attack from the enemy.

Finally, the truth of God’s commands is the way to freedom. Therefore, pray in spirit and truth, seeking the truth about yourself and your situations, and asking for truth to be revealed.

THE MERCY SEAT

The second, or top, piece of the ark was called the mercy seat. It was made of pure gold and fashioned with two cherubim guarding the throne. The presence of God, in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, hovered over the mercy seat between the two cherubim.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat for the remission of sin. Here God would speak to the high priest and give him instruction and guidance for all of the people. The message of the holy of holies? God relates to you in mercy and truth. We need mercy from God to overcome problems, difficulties, and enemies. But we also have attitudes, character flaws, and areas we need to change, so we need truth.

Prayer Plan: When you come before God in His presence, He’s not going to play around and ignore the issues He has asked you to change. But when He knows you are listening and that you’ll embrace truth, then you will not only experience His mercy, but enjoy it as well.

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For more on this topic, click here.

2023-05-04T13:14:33-06:00June 12th, 2023|

The Tabernacle Prayer Plan: Part 1

One of the most important stories in the Bible is the “Exodus”–the story of how God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt and brought them into a new, promised land.

The Exodus is a pattern that represents how Jesus rescued us from the slavery of sin and gave us a new life of freedom.

After God used Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and away from Pharaoh’s armies, He met with Moses on Mount Sinai. It was here that Moses received the Ten Commandments. But many fail to realize that God also gave Moses instructions to build the tabernacle–the resting place for the presence of God.

The details and pattern of the tabernacle are a symbol of Jesus’s death on the cross, His atoning blood that was shed for the world, and His role as the only mediator between God and man. The tabernacle pointed to the day when God would send His Holy Spirit to live no just in the holy of holies, but in the heart of every man, woman, and child who receives Him. That day has come!

Sometimes, if God seems far off, if you don’t feel like your prayers are being heard, or if you don’t know where to go when you’re stuck in the “wilderness,” it is difficult to know how to pray. That’s why the tabernacle is so important! It gives us a pattern, a way to approach God with confidence.

In this blog, we will walk through the patterns of the tabernacle, and at each step along the way, we believe God is going to speak to you and show you how the tabernacle point you to a life filled with God’s presence!

THE BRAZEN ALTAR

When entering the tabernacle’s outer court, the first thing you would have seen was the brazen altar. Early altars in Israel’s history were made out of rocks, stone, or mounds of dirt, but the brazen altar of the tabernacle was built of brass-covered wood.

Before they could go any closer into God’s presence, the priests had to offer a sacrifice both for their own sin and the sin of the people. The beginning of their relationship with God started with recognizing their own humanity and wrongdoing before a holy God who loved them perfectly.

The brazen altar points all of humanity to the perfect sacrifice that ended the practice–when Jesus, our High Priest, offered Himself. Hebrews 7:26-27 says, “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

Prayer Plan: Thanks to Jesus’s perfect sacrifice for sin, no longer is there the need for the shedding of blood. Instead, God asks us to become living sacrifices, to begin our days humbling ourselves before God and asking for His help to do His will, and not our own. The apostle Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). He took up his cross every day, and in doing so, he found freedom from the slavery of his former life.

THE BRAZEN LAVER

Blood sacrifices are, by their nature, shocking. Imagine the area surrounding the brazen altar where the animals were slaughtered. Blood would be pooled everywhere, splattered on clothing, and filling the air with its heavy metallic smell. Who could enter the presence of a holy God in such a condition? So, after the brazen altar, there was a brazen laver–a ceremonial washing bowl made of brass. Here, the priest washed clean the blood spilled on him from the sacrifice.

In the same way, even though our sacrifice has been made, we still need cleansing because we’re imperfect. Our lives get messy, and we need to wash off anything that’s unclean as we serve a holy God. The brazen laver was God’s way of making the priests pause and purify themselves before entering His presence. Sacrifice and humility before God are important, but what He longs for is a pure heart. A heart prepared to listen and obey.

David, a man after God’s own heart, pleaded for God to create in him a clean heart:

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:2, 7, 10)

Prayer Plan: No one can read these verses and not be touched by his sincerity. When we pray with a pure, cleansed heart–washed in the blood of the lamb–and come before our Father, our prayers are powerful!

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Next Week: The Tabernacle Prayer Plan: Part 2

For more on this topic, click here.

2023-05-04T13:16:13-06:00June 5th, 2023|

Q&A: Being Filled with the Spirit

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me questions about being filled with the Spirit and praying in tongues. I have compiled a few of those questions and answered them below. I pray that you will find the answers informative and that they will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

Q: How can I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

A: Acts 1:8 promises that “. . . you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; . . .”. Jesus states in Luke 11:13, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”  So, the Word tells you that when you ask, be ready to receive. Tell God that you do receive His gift. Thank Him for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and believe His Word. Once you believe that you receive, then by faith begin to speak out loud in syllables and sounds that aren’t English. This will sound strange in your mind, you may think, “This can’t be the Holy Spirit!” But Romans 8:7 tells us that our fleshly mind opposes the things of God. If this happens, simply make the decision to trust the Word. Acts 2:4 says that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Q: Is the gift of tongues scriptural? Would you please give me some Scripture references?

A: Yes, the gift of tongues is scriptural. It is found in Acts 2:4 (see question above) and 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. Tongues is more certainly of God. As you read the book of Acts, you will see many instances and references to the operation of this important gift from God. First Corinthians 14:39 states, “Therefore, brethren, . . . do not forbid to speak with tongues.” This same chapter even provides us with a scriptural order in operating in the gifts of the Spirit. When a message in tongues is given to the church, an interpretation must also be given. It is possible that several people can receive the interpretation for the message in tongues; but in order to eliminate confusion, only one and at the most two people are to give an interpretation.

Q: If tongues is a real language as spoken of in Acts, why do people who minister overseas have to have an interpreter to translate?

A: When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit prays through us (Romans 8:26-27). What may at first seem like mumbo-jumbo is in reality a heavenly language which neither our earthly minds nor Satan can understand. In my own experience however, the more you pray in tongues, the more you can begin to recognize certain phrases and sounds. Sometimes, I ask for an interpretation and God tells me through my spirit what I am praying (more about this in an answer below). I have also received reports from many missionaries who have gone to foreign countries, preached in tongues, and the people have understood. So tongues is as valid today as it was in Acts 2:6, but it is as the Holy Spirit directs. God can use tongues, but He can also use an interpreter.

Q: Is there a difference in the “prayer language” in the book of Acts and “tongues” in 1 Corinthians 14?

A: There is a difference between tongues and a prayer language. A prayer language is personal, direct intercession/petition/communication to the Father from the Holy Spirit within us. This builds or edifies us personally (Jude 20). A public tongue must be accompanied by a supernatural interpretation. This is the equivalent of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:5).

Q: I am a born-again believer and know that I am filled with the Holy Spirit, but I do not speak in tongues. My question is, can you be Spirit-filled and not speak in tongues?

A: The answer to your question is found in Mark 16:17 when Jesus states, “These signs will follow those who believe . . . they will speak with new tongues.” It’s very clear here that the signs Jesus lists in verses 17-18 will accompany those who believe. The scriptural pattern in the book of Acts beginning with the 120 in the upper room is that those who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit manifested it with the evidence of tongues. This, however, does not necessarily mean that you are not Spirit-filled. I have met several people who by faith received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and later manifested tongues. But I believe that tongues will always be manifested in those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit if they are open to all God has for them. Speech is a mechanical operation used either by our mind or spirit. Most people, when properly instructed on how to yield the instrument of speech, will receive their language. 

Q: How can I find out what I am saying in tongues?

A: Many of the early Christians must have asked this question as well because Paul made sure he addressed this point in his first letter to the Corinthians: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful” (14:14). The Bible tells you that you spirit knows what you are saying, but your mind does not. So, the only way you can find out what you are praying by the Spirit is to ask the Lord to give you revelation so you can interpret what you are praying. Nonetheless, I have found that it is important not to get caught up in trying to figure out what I am saying, but it is important to be consistent in prayer and to trust the Holy Spirit to pray that perfect prayer through me. Sometimes I will pray with the Spirit and then I will be impressed of the Lord to interpret what I have said. In this way, I find out what the Holy Spirit has been praying through me and my understanding is then enlightened. Another place in Scripture says we speak mysteries, but 1 Corinthians 2 tells us that the Spirit reveals these mysteries as we pray in the Spirit. So, claim His promise to show you by revelation what you are speaking.

Q: Must I first confess my sins and repent before I use my prayer language?

A: When we pray in the Spirit (tongues), we have immediate access to the throne of God. The Holy Spirit Himself is praying through us as we pray in the Spirit, and there is no sin in the Holy Spirit. In times of emergency, the very first thing we should do is pray in the Spirit. Romans 8:26-27 says:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit knows our weaknesses and our infirmities, so He makes intercession for us through our prayer language. He prays a perfect prayer and God hears His own Spirit as quickly as you hear your own voice when you speak. It is also important to understand that because you have become righteous through Jesus Christ, you stand in a place before the Father through Jesus. Certainly, there is a time and place for us to confess our sins, but this is only necessary as the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins.

Q: How can I grow from devotional tongues to the gift of diverse tongues?

A: Your devotional tongue was given to you when you were baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is a part of your prayer life and can be used at your will. However, the gift of diverse tongues is an operation of the Holy Spirit through an individual and may be used only as the Holy Spirit wills. This gift is for the edification of the body of Christ and must be accompanied with the gift of interpretation.

2023-05-04T13:20:31-06:00May 29th, 2023|

The Holy Spirit in Acts

This year, Pentecost is on May 28–that’s just a couple of days away! A few weeks ago, we previewed the background of Pentecost and how it started after the Israelites worshiped the golden calf, Moses interceded on their behalf, and God’s covenant with them was renewed (Exodus 34:22). If you didn’t get a chance to read this post, I recommend taking the time to review it.

Jesus dominates the Gospels, but the Holy Spirit dominates the book of Acts. He unveils Himself as the comforter, helper, teacher, and miracle worker. Jesus knew that just as He had walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church must also be clothed with the Spirit. He told His disciples that they must wait in Jerusalem to be baptized in Holy Ghost power.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit was to give the disciples power to be witnesses of Christ throughout the earth. The word power here is dunamis, which means “miracle–working power” or “inherent strength or ability to perform effectively.” It is the living and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit which overflows and uses men and women to be powerful and skillful in word and deed.

As witnesses, the disciples could perform the miraculous and have the ability to live moral, clean lives. The signs and wonders would win others to Christ and give full assurance of the gospel message. The power of the Holy Spirit would also cause the new converts to endure and be strong in times of severe suffering and weaknesses.

In Acts 2:1 we have the feast of Pentecost, which is also known as the Feast of Weeks. There were three major feasts that were held in Jerusalem and attended by thousands of Jewish males annually: the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), the Feast of First Fruits, and the Feast of Tabernacles. At these great Jewish feasts, as many as 180,000 men came to Jerusalem to worship.

It was during Pentecost that the 120 tarried in the upper room in Jerusalem for the enduement of the Holy Spirit that Christ had promised. The King James version of Acts 2:3 says, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” and a great and mighty wind filled the room. As they began to speak with other tongues, a universal sign of the New Covenant was given. God had judged the Tower of Babel by confusing their tongues. At Pentecost, He brought unity through the speaking in tongues by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost marked a new beginning of the work of the Holy Spirit. Unlike the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit now abides in all Christians on a permanent basis as opposed to just visiting or empowering a select few.

The glory had fallen on the temple in Solomon’s day, and at Pentecost the glory fell upon the New Testament Church. John the Baptist had foretold this event when he said there would come one after him who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit wasn’t just for one man (see Joel 2:28); it was meant for the entire Church. The gift of the Holy Spirit is as extensive as the gift of salvation. Not only is His infilling for the entire Body of Christ, but Scriptures bear out that there is more than one filling. Acts 4:8 and 31 says that both Peter and the others who had been in the upper room and were baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire, were “filled” with the Holy Spirit. There is an initial baptism, and as the believers continue in Him, there are special fillings or anointings for special occasions.

THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE OCCASION

When Peter stood up to preach, he was anointed for that occasion. When the disciples prayed and asked for boldness, they received an anointing for boldness. The three words that are the keys to the book of Acts include logos, which occurs 35 times in Acts and means “the Word of God”; onoma, which means “name” and is used to refer to the name of Jesus approximately 33 times in Acts; and pneuma, which means “breath,” “spirit,” or “soul” and is used 53 times in Acts to denote the Holy Spirit. These are also the keys which unlock the door to the power of God in our lives today.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND JUDGMENT

Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter had told them that the promise of the Holy Spirit was for those “whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). Ananias and Sapphira chose to disobey the Holy Spirit and lie to Him. Acts 5 shows us that the Holy Spirit has feelings, and, like Jesus, He is acquainted with grief (see Psalm 78:40; 95:10; Isaiah 53:3; 63:10; Micah 2:7).

The Holy Spirit has power and authority just as the Father and the Son have power and authority. He is to pervade our entire lives. Ananias and Sapphira tried to separate their spiritual life from their financial dealings. Lying to the Holy Spirit is the same as lying to God. Peter’s discerning of spirits, or word of knowledge, was also a manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WISDOM

The Holy Spirit revealed Himself as the Spirit of Wisdom in Acts 6:1–3. The Grecian and Hebrew Christians were at odds and the Holy Spirit gave wisdom to the disciples to resolve the situation. Guided by the Spirit, the disciples directed the church to elect seven men who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to serve the people, thus putting an end to the conflict. Each time we see the Spirit’s wisdom in Acts 5 and 6, we also see an increase of the Word of God and its effect (see Acts 6:7).

The Holy Spirit aided these men in the time of trials and caused them to look to Christ instead of their circumstances. In Acts 7, Stephen rebuked his listeners for resisting the Holy Ghost. They responded by stoning him. But, being full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen looked up and saw Jesus. He became the first martyr, full of the Holy Spirit, with his last view on this earth of Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of the Father, waiting to receive him.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND REVIVAL

Philip was also full of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8). He ministered to the Samaritans and a tremendous revival occurred when Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. The word here for receive is lambano, which indicates that as the disciples laid hands upon them, one–by–one they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

This filling of the Holy Spirit was such an outward manifestation, that, Simon, a new convert who recently had been a part of the occult, wanted to buy the power to pray for people to receive the Holy Spirit. Philip was then led by the Spirit to minister to an Ethiopian eunuch. After baptizing the eunuch, “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away” (Acts 8:39) and he was later found at Azotus and in various other cities.

There are various works of the Spirit here. We see men filled with the Spirit. We see men directed of the Holy Spirit. Phillip was caught away by the Spirit in much the same way Ezekiel was. The Holy Spirit is ever the same in the Old and New Testaments.

In Chapter 9, we have evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit drawing Paul and sending an unknown believer to him—not from Jerusalem or one of the original apostles, but Ananias who was responsive to His voice. Ananias laid hands on Paul and he was filled with the Spirit. We know certainly that Paul spoke in tongues because later he says, “I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18).

Again, we see the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of individuals and throughout the churches in Acts 9. The Church walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit and was multiplied. Wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is life and multiplication. The more the Spirit is poured out, the more life, blessing, and multiplication there is.

THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS UNITY

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit changed the direction of the Church. He broke down the walls of prejudice and brought unity in the book of Acts. The Samaritans, whom the Jews considered less than dirt, received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Jews viewed the Gentiles as dogs, but God sent Peter to preach the Gospel to them and the Holy Spirit baptized them in His power. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles was God’s seal that they had already believed in Christ.

THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES WITNESSES

In Acts 11 a prophet is moved by the Holy Spirit to prophesy things to come. In Acts 13, we see more of the fulfillment of Jesus’s command that they would be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Here, the Spirit separates Barnabas and Saul for the work that He called them to do, and they were sent forth in Holy Ghost power.

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE DISCERNER

Although He is often symbolized as a dove, the Holy Spirit can also bring judgment. On the island of Cyprus, a sorcerer tried to withstand Paul, but filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul spoke words of judgment against him.

We also see a fresh filling of joy which accompanies the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. Of course, one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. How beautifully the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit are shown in this book. In the Jerusalem Council, we see the Holy Spirit bearing witness and the council receiving the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s word of wisdom through Peter and James brought the believers into one accord (see Acts 15:8–9,12–29). Of course, the Spirit’s presence in their midst was sufficient for any problem and they were willing to give him credit for it.

In Acts 16, we see the wisdom and direction of the Holy Spirit in Paul. His tour goes through Galatia to Troas. The Spirit not only led him, but He also stopped Him when he was going in the wrong direction (see 16:6–7). God directs His children. Being led by the Spirit of God is a charismatic mark of the Spirit–filled believer.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD

The power of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts comes when it is needed. In Acts 19:6, we have the third occasion when tongues was specifically mentioned in the book of Acts. This occurred 20 years after Pentecost. The speaking in tongues and prophesying in Acts 19 were outward evidences of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. These visible signs were just as important then as with the 12 disciples and other believers on the day of Pentecost. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we see an outpouring of the Word in Acts 19:10 (KJV), “. . . so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” In Acts 19:20, we see a revival broke out: “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Special miracles began to come to pass. It seems that more and more people were responding directly to the Holy Spirit. As a result, more and more miracles were coming to pass.

PRISONERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We can be led by the Holy Spirit, and we can also be bound by Him. The Holy Spirit brings boldness and victory, but we have to become His willing prisoners. We have to accept the boundaries and constraints He sets forth because they are necessary for His purposes. We know this from Acts 16:6–8.

As Paul made his journey to Jerusalem, he went in the Spirit (see Acts 20:22). He wanted to go to Rome and then to Spain. He went to Rome in chains as a prisoner, but more than that, he was a prisoner of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moved upon people to warn him about going to Jerusalem (see Acts 21:4,10–11). If Paul had gone to Jerusalem, ignoring all these warnings, the Judaizers would have taken his arrest as a judgment of God. This would have certainly brought great confusion to the Church. But the Spirit bore witness to Paul and the Gospel he preached through this Spirit manifestation.

The Spirit is the protector and unquestionably the guide of the Church. The book of Acts shows us that all believers are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, empowered by Him, taught to be His disciples, and directed and constrained by Him. Every believer is to be a witness by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the picture of the Church in the book of Acts.

Next Monday, I’ll be answering some questions about being filled in the Spirit and praying in tongues.

2023-05-04T13:21:01-06:00May 22nd, 2023|
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