Declare what the Bible says. Not what you feel. Not what you see. The power of the Word of Life will bring the physical realm into submission. The spoken Word in faith goes forth like a flood of light and disintegrates the works of darkness before you.
One day I asked the Lord, "WHY don't You just come down and make my way easy?? It's in Your power to remove all adversity!"
Then in my exhaustion I suddenly fell asleep. As soon as I fell asleep GOD SPOKE.
He said, "YES... BUT IT'S A RACE YOU MUST WIN!"
As soon as I heard these words I woke up. I was asleep for only a few moments. I was amazed at His words and immediately remembered scripture that confirms them.
I'm a runner. I enjoyed endurance running from the time I was 15 years old. I understand the pain of running, the endurance it requires, the importance of staying focused and motivated, the will power it takes to finish and the joy and satisfaction of victory. The Bible compares this to our life on earth.
๐ The prize waiting at the finish line is far greater than temporary comfort or hardship here on Earth. So do not lose heart in the pain, and do not mistake adversity for abandonment. God has not forgotten you. He is training you, strengthening you, refining you, and preparing you for an IMPERISHABLE CROWN. Keep running. Keep fighting. Keep enduring. The race is hard because God is preparing us for an eternal throne.
๐ฅ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
"Do you not know that those who RUN in a RACE all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate (practices self-control) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an IMPERISHABLE CROWN. Therefore I RUN thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I FIGHT: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
๐ฅHebrews 12:1-3
"... therefore let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. So consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
In a dream I saw what looked like a warrior clad in armor from head to toe. I heard these words: "Praise & worship is strong, contemporary armor!"
Contemporary definition --> Occurring at the same time.
WHILE you praise & worship the Lord, you are armored by that praise and worship. It becomes your armor. No devil in hell can penetrate that shield of glory.
Finished. 16x20 original painting on stretched canvas.
Your PRAISE can change everything. God taught me this.
Paul and Silas praised at the midnight hour... symbolic of the darkest part of the night. Many, including me are in the darkest part of their night facing mountains that won't move.
Paul and Silas genuinely praised God in their trials and the bible says, "suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyoneโs chains came loose..."
Our praise can break our chains, shatter the foundations of that mountain, become the stone that takes out Goliath, the sword that severs that tormenting demon's head off, the wings that make us an eagle, the catalyst for our answered prayer...
How hard it is to find our praise in the face of great storm... but if we do, our praise will change everything.
My storm is raging. But I am determined to praise the Lord.