Tag: speak the word

silence of lambs

The Silence of Lambs Keeps the Door Open to the Enemy

Posted on by Evangeline

How can the silence of lambs be detrimental to them? When sheep are being attacked, they will make noise to let the other sheep (and the shepherd) know that they are in trouble. If they fail to scream, other sheep can come under attack and the shepherd won’t be aware of the danger the sheep is facing.

Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd and called believers His sheep (John 10:11, 14). He likened Himself to a shepherd saying that He would go after the one that has strayed off and gotten in trouble. Matthew 18:12 AMP reminds us of how much Jesus cares for each one of us:

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray and gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost?

It behooves us to remind ourselves of His love and how much He cares. When we are silent lambs, we tend to forget about the amazing ways that He shows up in our lives.

Jesus set the example of not being silent in the midst of trouble, temptation, and struggle. When He was questioned by Satan with words that could fill Him with doubt, Jesus didn’t stay silent…He spoke up! He told His enemy — our enemy — what His Father had already said through the Scriptures (Matthew 4:1-11). That’s the example that we are to follow.

Jesus set the example of not being silent in the midst of trouble, temptation, and struggle. When He was questioned by Satan with words that could fill Him with doubt, Jesus didn't stay silent. He spoke up to His enemy -- our enemy.… Click To Tweet

Speak the Word

Don’t be a Silent Lamb…Speak God’s Promises

When faced with infertility’s opportunities to doubt God’s promises of fertility, we need to speak up! Speak the specific Word of God to your enemy about your fertility! When faced with a health challenge, speak God’s promises of health. If faced with a financial challenge, speak God’s promises of provision. Facing a relationship challenge? Speak God’s promises of loving connection. God has spoken about everything that we face in life and has equipped us well through His Word (2 Peter 1:3). It’s there in the Scriptures. Find what relates to your circumstances and then use it.

In a way, our silence is a means for the devil to keep that door of doubt wide open. Don’t give him that opportunity! Use the Word of God by SPEAKING His Word consistently to remove doubt, to strengthen your faith, and to close the door to the enemy.

God supports you in the midst of your challenges because once you have asked Jesus to be your Savior, He is always right there with you. It’s up to you to not be silent about His presence, His promises, and His power.

So, let this be the last day of your silence!

No Matter the Problem, God’s Answer for it is in His Word

Posted on by Evangeline

God's answer is in the wordGod’s answer to any situation can always be found in His Word.

Do you find that hard to believe? Maybe you’re thinking, “How can an ancient book have the answer to all modern-day problems?” Here’s proof.

I once heard Dr. Bill Winston tell the story of how he had been trying to get an airplane for his growing worldwide ministry.

He had prayed about getting to all the places God was taking him to in a more timely fashion than having to adhere to restrictive commercial airline schedules. He knew that he had the green light from God to pursue a plane for the ministry but nothing seemed to be happening to bring that desire to pass. His prayer practice was to pray Scripture. He knew the word “airplane” was not in the Bible so he didn’t have a specific scripture to stand on. It was beginning to be difficult to have confidence that he had clearly heard from God. But God was giving little nudges as time passed, letting Dr. Winston know that a plane was in his future. One of those nudges included an elderly lady bringing a small airplane part to him! 🙂

God’s Answer

One day during a service at his church, a pastor from a country in Africa was the guest speaker. Right in the middle of the sermon, this pastor took a step back, turned to look at Dr. Winston, and said to him, “Your airplane is in Ecclesiastes 10:20.” He then turned back around and resumed preaching without hesitation or explanation. Dr Winston picked up his Bible and feverishly searched for that passage. He read:

“for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

This was the promise Dr. Winston needed so he could continue to stand in faith for his airplane (bird)! The scripture even pointed to the purpose of the plane…to carry his voice around the world! He continued to believe for the plane until it manifested.

The Power of the Word

Follow Dr. Winston’s example and find a scripture(s) that specifically relates to your circumstances. Stand on that Word. Express gratitude for that Word and the thing it will bring into your life. Choose to praise God in advance of seeing that thing come to pass.

Don’t give up on what God has promised!

God's answer to any situation can always be found in His Word. Click To Tweet

Speak the Word

What is the Foundation to Answered Prayer for Your Current Challenge?

Posted on by Evangeline

When you pray, how are your prayers shaped? By your feelings? By what you’ve heard others pray? The foundation to answered prayer always starts with God’s Word.

Scriptures are the building blocks for effective prayer. Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) encourages us to pray the words that God uses in His promises.

So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Tips to Answered Prayer

God already stated that His promises are Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). So take the time to find the specific Scripture that addresses your specific problem/mountain. Then strengthen your belief in that Scripture by repeatedly and consistently speaking it to yourself. That will build your faith in God’s specific promise. Finally, PRAY that Scripture–return it to Him, as Isaiah instructs us to do, by speaking it in prayer to Him. Mark 11:23-24 encourages us because Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

 

I think the key phrase in those verses is “if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” Jesus was teaching an important prayer principle. He wanted us to understand that when we pray believing that His work is already done, and believing that the thing we desire is already ours, we can stand knowing that it is a done deal. Even if we don’t yet see it manifested, we can have a heart that stands strong in the belief that it’s done and that thanks God for it! It is confident in receiving answered prayer.

Pray the Word

God is not a liar. His answer is always “Yes” to His Word. Trust Him. It’s through Jesus’ finished work on the cross that we choose to believe that He has already done what He said. He IS a promise keeper!

Let your prayers be shaped by God’s words.

What Scripture(s) do you pray and stand on with gratitude about infertility or some other challenge you’re currently facing?

Jesus taught an important prayer principle here. He wanted us to understand that we can have confidence in experiencing answered prayer. Click To Tweet
God says - prayer - stand firm

A Prayer To Help You Through the Season of Infertility

Posted on by Evangeline

You can always decide to have a new prayer season, one in which you stand firm on a Scripture that addresses your current problem. Here’s another Scripture-based prayer for you to use during the season of infertility:

Heavenly Father, I know You see me. I know You love me. But it’s difficult to see Your purpose in this season of infertility. Despite that, I know that You’re working, even when I don’t feel like You are. Thank You for that.

Would You please comfort me right now? Open my eyes and my heart so that I can see and receive Your love. Help me to remain focused on the solution (Jesus) and not on the problem (infertility). Show me how to speak Your Word to this mountain. I need wisdom and instruction about how to rest in Your willingness and ability to change my circumstances.

Help me to remain focused on the solution (Jesus) and not on the problem (infertility). Click To Tweet

I pray that I’ll walk in Love daily so that I can see the supernatural take place. Help me live each day in faith, being confident in Your power and in Your love for me. Please give me insight about how to mix faith with patience, so that I will stand strong in Christ for the blessing of children to be manifested in my life. I desire a fresh vision, to see myself with the child(ren) You have planned for me and my husband.  

I ask that You help me dwell in Your presence and that You will show Yourself strong on our behalf.

In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

If you decide to have a new prayer season, how will you use this prayer? Please share in the comments below.

#Don’tStopBelieving! 

7 Gifts From God and How to Get Them

Posted on by Evangeline

There are seven power-packed gifts from God that are mentioned in Proverbs 3:16-18. These gifts are available to any believer in Jesus Christ because He performed the finished work on the cross in order to make us eligible to receive them. The exciting news is, according to Jewish traditions, this list of seven gifts includes children!

It amazes me how God has packed so much into a very short passage of Scripture:

She (God’s Wisdom) is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy. – Proverbs 3:16-18 CSB

 

Through God’s written Word, and the Living Word– Jesus, He has given us:

  1. Long life
  2. Wealth
  3. Honor
  4. Wisdom
  5. Children
  6. Favor
  7. Peace

The 7 Gifts From God

Long Life – God’s words have power! Keeping His words in your heart will help you enjoy well-being and live a long and fulfilling life.

“Let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life; and peace they will add to you.” –Proverbs 3:1, 2

Wealth – God desires for believers to prosper. In the midst of famine, God caused Isaac to prosper.

“Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” -Psalm 35:27 NKJV

Honor – God provides high respect and esteem for those who receive His love and, who love His Son, Jesus.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. -Psalm 91:14, 15

Wisdom – The wisdom of God is delineated in the Word. It is not burdensome. It doesn’t impose difficulties upon the believer. Instead, it shows believers the right path to choose; it’s a road map of life and it always leads to truth and justice.

“Make your ear attentive to wisdom.” – Proverbs 2:2 NASB

“The Lord gives wisdom.” – Proverbs 2:6

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom.” – Proverbs 3:13

Children, Favor and Peace: Gifts from God

Children – Jewish tradition, through the Vilna Gaon, explains that “the tree of life” and its fruit refer to a person’s children. Someone who dies and leaves a son to fill his place is not considered dead; thus they are his tree of life.

“The fruit of a righteous one is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 11:30

“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 NLT

Favor –  The Lord’s favor is available to surround us and bring grace into our daily lives. His favor never runs out!

“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” – Psalm 5:12

“Your marvelous favor makes us even stronger, lifting us even higher!” – Psalm 89:17 TPT

“His loving favor lasts a lifetime!” – Psalm 30:5 TPT

Peace – Jesus is our source of peace. When we keep our attention turned toward Him instead of our problems, we experience a deeper and greater tranquillity and contentment.

“For He Himself is our peace.” – Ephesians 2:14

“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

How will you receive and accept these seven gifts from God that are available to you?

Strike Out the Negative Thoughts So That You Live With More Hope and Power

Posted on by Evangeline

Kamilah Giraud - Thought StoppingIt’s my pleasure to provide a “rerun” of Kamilah Browning Giraud’s guest blog post from 2015. She shares with us how she used “thought stopping” to get through her mother’s illnesses as well as her own struggle with infertility/miscarriages. Kamilah made the decision that she could depend more on God’s Word than she did on the doctors’ diagnoses. I hope her words encourage you to use the “STRIKE” method to turn away your negative thoughts and live with the hope, positivity, and power that God’s Word brings!

Be sure to read the 2018 Update below! 🙂 

Strike ‘Em Out by Kamilah Giraud

How many times do you go through a day and have “random” thoughts that are completely unrelated to your job, or to the task at hand? I’m sure there are some statistics that give an average, but I can even share with you that in the few minutes it has taken me to sit down and share the first few sentences with you, I have already thought about; how cute my co-worker’s shirt is (as she walked by my door), whether or not I will eat the salad I brought to work, or go to the cafeteria (as my stomach growled), and I even thought about what color I should get my nails painted next (as I looked down at the keyboard while typing). Now as trivial and harmless as these “random” thoughts may be, they all still served the same purpose–taking my focus away from what it is I have set out to do.

TOXIC THOUGHTS

While some may perceive these “mental vacations” as healthy breaks, others might find them as nuisances. I tend to ignore them most of the time because if I gave those thoughts much thought, then I would not have time for anything else. This scenario can be a little entertaining, but what about more disturbing thoughts that sound like, “Why bother running, you’ll always be fat”, or “It’s too hard to save money and pay my bills, so I’m probably never going to buy a house.” And what about the thought that comes up that sounds like, “Why keep trying? It hasn’t happened yet. I am fooling myself.”?

These  less trivial, less mundane, and certainly less entertaining thoughts can so easily surface throughout the course of the day and yes… they too serve the same purpose of taking your focus off that which you have set out to do. So then what type of recourse do we have against these thoughts? Well a good friend of mine name Paul, (whom I have actually never met) was imprisoned and wrote some most amazing letters that reflected how in spite of being in a place of true suffering, we can still choose joy. Even though I never met my friend Paul, and although his letters might originally been written in about 62 A.D, you cannot tell me that he didn’t address me directly in his letters too!

Philippians 4:8  says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Paul understood how these “random” thoughts can come to steal your peace. I can bet while he was imprisoned he had more than a few thoughts that popped up serving the sole purpose of stealing his focus off of spreading the gospel.

Paul said to fix your thoughts, which to me implies the need to replace “broken” thoughts. Broken thoughts are the ones that shatter your dreams, and distort your promises. Broken thoughts are lies from the enemy, and broken thoughts are contrary to the truth. So let’s do what my friend Paul urges. Let’s fix those broken thoughts by using thought-stopping, or what I call the STRIKE method.

S.T.R.I.K.E. Method

Stop the Thought
Replace it with God’s Word
Imagine what it looks like
Keep seeing it
Embrace the truth

As the broken thoughts begin to surface you can stop the thought. Many times that is an internal stop, but I have had to audibly say “Stop” in order to refrain from repeating the broken thought in my head.

As soon as you “stop the thought”, you need to replace it with God’s Word. Replace it with the truth–those thoughts that are honorable, right and pure. Replace it by thinking of things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

As you think on those things, imagine it and see yourself in the manifestation of it.

Keep visualizing the thoughts and keep seeing it. This is a faith walk, and we cannot be moved by what we see in the natural, so allow yourself to keep seeing through the eyes of Christ, and know that He sees His promises.

Embrace the truth! God’s word is true. As believers, we are not exempt from the suffering that’s inherent to human existence, but the good news is our faith gives us a different and hopeful perspective that is based on the truth. God is forever faithful and the truth is that He has plans for you to prosper and not to harm you. He has plans to give you hope and a future. That is the truth and you can embrace it.

S.T.R.I.K.E. out your negative thoughts: Stop the Thought. Replace it with God’s Word. Imagine what it looks like. Keep seeing it. Embrace the truth. Click To Tweet

Our thoughts may or may not respond to 3 STRIKES and be “out”, but if the negative thought comes to bat again, just as sure as a pitcher’s form and speed improves with practice, yours can too. All you need to do is throw another STRIKE.

Thought Stopping - Philippians 4:8

 

2018 UPDATE:

Kamilah is an overcomer! She consistently replaced the negative thoughts with Word-based positive thoughts. She meditated on the best, not the worst. Knowing that the power of life and death were in the words she spoke, she made her conversations align with God’s promises (Proverbs 18:21). Kamilah acknowledged that her miracle was in God’s hands AND her mouth!

She is now the mother of a beautiful baby girl! 

Battling Infertility? Here’s an Effective Scripture-Based Prayer

Posted on by Evangeline

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have already been given the victory over everything the devil can throw at you… even if you’re battling infertility. In Him, you’ve been redeemed and made a partner to the biggest winner of all time! Prayer is a means of accessing the victory.

How do you pray? Have your prayers been filled with words of defeat, self-pity, and unbelief? Or do you pray with confidence that God’s promises of victory are for YOU?

Battling Infertility with Prayer

Here’s a prayer that can galvanize you in the belief that you are a victor and not a victim:

Prayer - Battling InfertilityFather, I’m Your child and I stand in the truth of your Word. I am in covenant with You and an heir to all your blessings. My spouse and I desire to have a baby. I stand on Your Word, with expectancy and thanksgiving, that  I receive that special gift from You. In the authority I have in Jesus, I speak to the “mountain” of infertility, “Be dried up at the root, never to affect our bodies again.”

We are redeemed from the curse. I believe that my womb is blessed and is a safe environment for our baby to grow. We look to experience a beautiful pregnancy, with no suffering during it.  Our expectation is a safe delivery that goes smoothly and quickly.

Thank You Father, for loving me.

Thanks for answering this prayer for the precious child you have created specifically for us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

[Scripture references: Galatians 3:26, 29; Ephesians 2:4-6; Philippians 4:6; Mark 11:12-14, 20-24]

Coach’s Corner:

Here are a 3 questions to ponder. I encourage you to write the answers in your journal (or start one if you don’t have one!) .

  • How satisfied am I about my current level of expectancy and joy?
  • What does God’s Word say about expecting Him to come through on His promises?
  • How can I more effectively “speak to the mountain” of infertility using God’s Word?

If you’d like more encouragement and insight so that you more fully address the spiritual aspect of infertility, contact me to see if personal coaching might be of benefit to you. I’d love to talk with you about it!  🙂  #iHopeCoaching

 

 

Image courtesy of Nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Real Love

God’s Love for You is REAL Love and He Wants You Well

Posted on by Evangeline

Every human being is searching for REAL love. When you look to Jesus, you will find it. His love is a certainty. God loves you and He wants you to always be well. There is nothing that can separate you from His love or His healing power.

Jesus was the epitome of love. He never turned anyone away that asked for healing. Everyone who came believing in His willingness to heal them got healed–without exception. Jesus never said, “I won’t heal you because this illness/disease has been put on you so God can teach you a lesson and work something out in your life.” If He didn’t say it then, He doesn’t say it now because He’s the same today as He was back then and He won’t change in the future (Hebrews 13:8). If it was His will back then for ALL to be healed, it’s His will for ALL to be healed now, and that includes you.

REAL Love

Real love heals, it doesn’t cause pain. God is love and only desires to see us enjoy life!

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

If you know His love, you know there is no pain or sickness caused by love.

If you believe in His love, you are not fearful that He won’t keep His word and uphold His promises.

When you keep His love at the top of your mind, doubt has a tough time infiltrating your thoughts and making you think that God has brought sickness and failure your way.

REAL love heals, forgives, sets your heart free, and desires to only do good.

Jesus’ love is the only real love. Your search for real love can stop right now as you allow yourself to be the object of His affection, blessing, and power. When you tap into His love, nothing can separate you from it (Romans 8:35,39).

What You Say

Tap into His love by seeing what God says in His Word about your circumstances and then start saying the same thing that He says about them.

What YOU say matters. Use the authority of God’s Word to bring about the good He desires for your life. As you speak His words of love over your life, you’ll see how REAL love works.

If you believe in His love, you are not fearful that He won't keep His word and uphold His promises. Click To Tweet

Focus Friday – Believe It

Posted on by Evangeline

Believe - FaithBelieve.

It means to be fully persuaded by someone or something. Are you fully persuaded by what God has said and what Jesus has done about your situation? Have you cut off all other options and decided  to believe that God’s Word is your truth?

Focus on the following scripture throughout the day because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day– by doing so, you’ll encourage yourself!

“I have sworn by my own name;

I have spoken the truth

I will never go back on my word.”

Isaiah 45:23a  [NLT]

Focus Friday – Confidence in the Truth of God’s Word

Posted on by Evangeline

Focus on the truth of the following scripture throughout the day.

God’s Word is Truth. Believe it is true for you. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day.

Truth - Isaiah 45:22-23