THE SOURCE OF PURE DELIGHT

By Brenda J. Davis

Several years ago I was introduced to the poignant Irish hymn "Be Thou My Vision" for the first time. It quickly became a favorite, especially the stanza that reads: "Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise / Thou mine inheritance, now and always / Thou and Thou only, first in my heart / High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

"Whenever I hear this verse—and I sing it often—I imagine the glorious, eternal riches of our inheritance in Christ. It is true that on Earth and in heaven, God has by His grace provided for us "one blessing after another" (John 1:16, NIV). Yet without eyes to see Christ as our inheritance and our chief aim, we don't recognize His blessings for what they are.

King David wrote: "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance" (Ps. 16:5).

In His sovereign, loving, infinite wisdom, God apportions to each of us what is to be ours. And He chooses better for us than we would choose for ourselves.

God selected an inheritance for Abraham that was beyond anything he knew to ask for. But He also told him, "'I am your shield, your very great reward'" (Gen. 15:1). Seeing God Himself as his true reward moved Abraham to forfeit the earthly, temporal riches of Haran in order to claim the eternal wealth of Canaan and a heritage through which all the peoples of the earth would be blessed (see Gen. 12:2).

In The Pursuit of God renowned preacher and author A.W. Tozer wrote about the significance of making God our treasure: "The man who has God for His treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness.

"Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately and forever.

"Although God deals with each of us in unique ways, His intentions toward us are the same as they were toward Abraham--to bless us and through us to bless others. The key to receiving His blessing is to see ourselves and our inheritance from heaven's perspective.

It will take this kind of spiritually enhanced vision to take our land, because in every case, there will most certainly be giants to conquer—enemies within and without. But we must believe that possessing our territory for ourselves and our descendants is worth the fight of faith we'll have to engage in.

Shake off any weariness or discouragement and take one faithful step at a time, boldly staking your claim: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion [inheritance] forever" (Ps. 73:26).

PRAISE YOUR WAY TO A BREAKTHOUGH!

Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

Do you need God to make a way out of no way? The swiftness and surety of your deliverance starts with how you respond to hard times and difficult situations. Hear me when I say that it is not just enough to thank God and honor Him only when you've received a blessing. God wants you to show the extent of your faithfulness and trust in Him even in the midst of going through a challenge. The power of your praise will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough.

Praise is not just clapping your hands or applauding God. It is showing respect, honor, and gratefulness using your whole heart, mind, spirit and body despite your circumstances. Paul and Silas didn't wait until they experienced a breakthrough to praise and thank God. In the midst of difficult circumstances, they praised God and received the breakthrough they desired.

Acts 16:25, 26 (New Living Translation) reveals, "Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!"

Paul and Silas praised God even when their backs were bleeding and their feet and hands were in chains. Despite the pain and suffering they were going through, they praised God anyway; and as a result, God shook the very foundations of the prison, setting them free. God will shake the foundation of your prison; your bondage, your problem...if you make a decision to praise and give Him thanks, no matter what.

Praising God should become second-nature for all Believers. "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord" (Psalm 102:18). We were created to praise God, and it becomes a natural expression of your love for the Father when you spend time in the Word and meditate on His goodness.

When you have a heart for God and you know He loves you, your confidence in His ability to deliver you soars. You know help is on the way and you eagerly anticipate it. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (NLT). God doesn't tell you to thank Him for negative circumstances; He says to thank Him while you're in the midst of them. Doing this shows that you trust Him to bring you out.

The storms of life are going to come; but don't let them disturb your peace and affect your thoughts and emotions. This will only move you into self-pity and frustration. Instead, maintain an attitude of praise.

Your first line of defense is the Word of God. Meditate on it and give it life by speaking it over your circumstances. If you need healing meditate on scriptures that reveal God's ability to heal. Receive that Word in your spirit and begin praising God for your healing.

The Word of God declares, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7, NIV).

When you are in a situation and there seems to be no way out, open your mouth and praise the Lord-and don't stop. Instead of crying and complaining, give God praise because you know He has a plan for you that includes deliverance, restoration and peace. Thank Him for His goodness because your praise will stop the enemy and move the hand of God

When your deliverance comes, continue to praise Him because He has more in store for you. Thank Him for breakthrough in your home, on your job and with your children. Through your authority in Jesus, place a demand on your breakthrough and watch God show up in your life in ways you would have never imagined.

HEALED BY HIS WORD

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. —Psalm 107:20

You can be healed if you will hear the Word. This Word says it is by faith, that it might be by grace. Grace is omnipotence. It is activity, benevolence, and mercy. It is truth, perfection, and God's inheritance in the soul that can believe.

Grace is God. You open the door by faith, and God comes in with all you want. It cannot be otherwise, for it is, "of faith that it might be by grace" (Rom. 4:16).

This is believing, and most people want healing by feeling. It cannot be.

By Thy Word, not my feelings,
I am healed. Hallelujah!

AN ANSWERED PRAYER

by Bonnie St. John

And he said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV) In the church I attend, the pastor always stops at one point in the service to ask the congregation if we have praises or requests to share. It seems that every Sunday, there are people who ask us to join them in praying for a friend or family member struggling with some sort of physical ailment.

"Please pray for my Aunt Jenny who was in a car accident last week. Pray that she won't have to have her leg amputated."

"My friend at work, his son has cancer. Please pray for healing and courage."

"My wife has macular degeneration. Her eyesight is slowing fading. Pray that the doctors can stop the spread of the disease."

We all want these physical calamities to be healed so that our loved ones do not have to suffer the pain, the discomfort, and the long-term, day-to-day indignities of life with a disability. No one would wish a physical disability on anyone else. We pray that God could give our loved one an easier life.

My mother must have felt this way when the doctor told her, shortly after I was born, that my right leg would not grow normally.

"I recommend that you amputate the leg as soon as possible," he told her.

My mother prayed that there would be another solution besides disfiguring her baby--a baby who looked so fragile and so perfect. She actively searched for any alternatives. She fitted me with orthopedic braces and shoes. She consulted doctor after doctor. But most of all, she continued praying.

When I reached age five, she finally capitulated to the inevitable and agreed to let go of my emaciated limb.

Should she conclude that her prayers were not answered? Should all of us who pray every Sunday for healing, remission, and miracle cures be disappointed with God when things don't go the way we think they should?

If only my mother could have known how things would turn out! How could she have any idea that her one-legged daughter from San Diego would become the first African-American to win Olympic or Paralympic medals in ski racing, of all sports!?!

Yes, you heard that right: a black, one-legged girl who grew up in San Diego with no snow turned into a world class ski racer winning two bronze medals and the silver for overall performance in the 1984 Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria - and made African-American history in the process. My "disability" has opened so many doors and created so many opportunities for me that I couldn't possibly describe them all here. As just one example, I have been invited to be a part of the official Presidential delegation to Vancouver for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympics! I will once again have the honor of representing my country at the Olympics, 26 years after my performance as an athlete.

So many of us enjoyed watching the perfection of human physical performance in Winter Olympic competition in Canada, but fewer people are aware that the Paralympics are beginning, in the same Vancouver ice rinks, ski slopes and bobsled runs, on March 12th. While the athletes are far less perfect--missing arms and legs, paralyzed and blind--their performances are perhaps more astoundingly poignant and beautiful for that very reason.

At disabled sports competitions, I have always felt as though I have stumbled upon a place where Jesus has recently passed through. Looking around you, it seems that miraculous healing has occurred. Blind racers ski at 50 miles per hour around the red and blue gates, paralyzed men in low-profile sleds aggressively play hockey, and women with no arms speed by on Nordic skis. These extraordinary people have not just escaped their fate of disability, but stand as incredible examples of our ability, with faith, to transcend disability itself.

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

If you want to see the hand of God at work, go online and watch the Paralympic events if you can't get them through your local TV provider. You will be amazed. And, you will be reminded of what God can do in your life, if you will give up your "brokenness" to Him.

Now, I work as a full time inspirational writer, speaker, and trainer...boasting of my disabilities and how God has shown his strength in my weakness. Indeed, "I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Every day, know that your prayers will be answered - even if that answer is sometimes not the answer you would have preferred. Perhaps you or a loved one may have to endure more than you think you can. But if you will put your suffering on the altar and let Him take control, conquering your challenges can be not only proof of His strength, but a shining light to others who stand in need.

IN THE SILENCE

by John C. Richards Jr.

And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." - 1 Kings 19:10

Nothing.
Nada.
No answer.
Not even a hint.

What happens when God is silent? Many will not admit periods in their lives when it seems that God is not speaking. Often, this is driven by the fear that others will not see us as "spiritual" as they thought us to be. I'll be honest and tell you that there are times in my life when I feel that God is silent. Yes, even seminary-trained, Greek and Hebrew exegeting, theologically thinking men and women of faith have periods of silence in their lives.

Has there been a period of time in your life when it just felt like God wasn't speaking? You're in good company. The prophet Elijah went through a similar period. Like many Christians, he was very zealous for the Lord. He knew the word of God and had not abandoned his faith. But, he still had questions.

"God, others live their lives in ways that don't glorify you. Yet, they still prosper. Can you explain that to me? They have torn down the altars and refuse to worship you with all their heart, mind and soul. To make matters worse, they have killed your prophets with the sword."

The prophetic can symbolize dreams in our lives. Have you ever had your dreams slain by others? "You sure you want to do that?" "Did you pray about that?" Have you encountered any prophet killers (dream killers)?

Elijah was living in a cave.
He was isolated and alone.
And he sought God, fully expecting to hear an answer.

Silence...

How did God eventually respond? He told Elijah to "go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord" (1 Kings 19:11). I can imagine Elijah. "That's not what I asked you, Lord? Why do you have me doing this? I wanted an answer from you." What a wonderful revelation on how to operate in the silence. It's no surprise that Elijah was told to go stand on the mountain.

It reminds me of a tradition of early settlers in America. Many found that building their dwelling places on hills allowed them to avoid the dangers of poisonous snakes found in the valley. They called this, "living above the snake line". Their discovery? Once you go above that line certain animals,especially snakes, cannot comfortably live there. Do you live above the snake line? Does the enemy/devil still have access to you? If so, I encourage you to climb higher. Snakes (often symbolic of the devil) can't live up there. My greatest problem isn't with the enemy. Personally, I would say that I live above the snake line. My greatest enemy is found within. There are times when I feel like I have missed God. How do I overcome this in the silence?

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a small still voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12).

How does God operate in the silence? In a small still voice. I often make the mistake of looking for wind, earthquakes, and fires from God. I want something huge to happen. Especially when it comes to making big decisions in my life.

But this passage teaches us that God comforts us in a small still voice. No wonder we are exhorted to "be still and know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10). If you are going through a period of silence I want to encourage you to celebrate your silence. Eliminate outside noise. Find a high place. Listen up!

For your answer is found in getting alone with God and listening for... His small still voice.

GOD DISTORTION

Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. —Mark 4:15

Satan goes to great lengths to distort our concepts of God. But because such distortions can serve his "interests" in our lives, Satan is willing to invest as much time and work as it takes to secure those vulnerable areas of our minds for his own purposes. Those inaccurate, inadequate concepts place us in great peril. To the degree that our ideas about God are lower than the truth of God, to that degree we are surely weakened and defeated. In those places and upon the foundation of distorted truth Satan is able to gain ground and set up his strongholds in our lives.

{ PRAYER STARTER }
If there are inaccurate, distorted images of You within my life, Father, take them from me and reveal the truth of Your holiness. Satan will have no stronghold in my life.

by Mike Bickle

LIMITING LABELS

by anthony fernando

Jacob sat in his chair quietly next to his mom and dad as his grade 3 teacher Mrs. Carter gave them an update on his progress at school.

“Jacob is what we call a slow learner” said Mrs. Carter quietly.

Jacob held his breath and sank a little lower into his chair. He looked up at his dad to see if he was in trouble. His father glanced down, smiled and gave him a quick wink.

In the car on the way home from the Parent-Teacher night, Jacob thought about what Mrs. Carter had called him – ‘Slow Learner’. Deep down Jacob knew that what she really meant was that he was dumb.

Later that evening, Jacob’s dad came into his room carrying a piece of paper and a pen.
He sat down on the side of the bed and said, “Hey Jake, I wanted to talk to you about what Mrs. Carter said today.”

Jacob thought he might still be in trouble for being a slow learner so he didn’t say anything.

“Mrs. Carter called you something today Jake, do you know what it was?”


“A Slow Learner” replied Jake who had already taken the words to heart.

“That’s right” said his dad as he wrote the words ‘Slow Learner’ on the piece of paper.

“Do you know what this says?”

“Slow Learner” replied Jacob nodding sadly.

Jacob’s dad then held up the piece of paper in front of his son and purposefully tore it into two.

Jacob’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Mrs. Carter was wrong Jake” said Jacob’s dad as he continued to tear the paper into smaller and smaller pieces.

“You’re not a slow learner.”

“I’m not?”

“No, and starting tomorrow, you and I are going to show that Mrs. Carter she was wrong, OK?”


“OK” Jacob hugged his dad, snuggled down into his pillow and fell asleep with a smile on his face and a warm glow in his heart.

From that day on, Jacob’s dad spent one hour per day helping Jacob with his reading and writing. By the end of the year, Jacob was doing much better at school and interestingly no-one ever labeled him a ‘Slow Learner’ again.

Jacob’s dad knew that when a child receives a label from a person in authority such as a teacher or parent, they often take that label to heart and it becomes a part of their self identity for the rest of their lives.

To avoid this from happening to his son, Jacob’s dad created a tangible representation of the ‘Slow Learner’ label and tore it up it in front of Jacob so that the label would not become a part of his child’s self concept.

Today I’d like to invite you to do the same exercise. To begin, find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed and think about the labels that people have given to you in the past.

Perhaps you were given a label by one of your parents, your teacher or your spouse. What is the label that resonates in your mind? Is there a label that has become part of your self identity because it was given to you by a person in a position of authority?


If so, write this label down on a blank sheet of paper and hold it up to see it for what it really is – A Label.

It is a label – nothing more. It is not part of you and you do not have to accept it as part of your self identity any longer.

As you begin to see the label for what it really is – Rip it in half and enjoy the feeling of destroying the label once and for all.

When you do this exercise you will feel a surge of motivation to take action to ensure that no one attempts to give you this label again in the future.

Just as Jacob’s dad took action and helped his son with his school work, make sure you follow through and do whatever you need to do to eliminate the remnants of the label from your life forever.

Until next time,

Dare To Dream

Anthony
www.anthonyfernando.com