Pray the following prayer out loud:

"Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I come before you asking for your help in all areas of my life. Your word says that You "hear the prayers of the humble" and that You "resist the proud" (James 4:6). So I humble myself before You, asking, believing, and in trusting You now to hear and answer my prayers.

I ask You Father for Your Wisdom to know what to do concerning my financial affairs. Help me to obey Your commands to tithe and give offerings that the windows of heaven may be open to me and I am positioned to receive your overflowing blessings. As I do, I thank You for rebuking the devourer for my sake and the sake of my family in all areas of our lives, in Jesus' mighty name I pray!

I ask that You will fully reveal to me You, Your Covenant, all You have planned and provided for those who love You. I confess my love for You today, and I ask that You teach me all Your will so that my life may bring glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving to You, in Jesus' mighty name!

I ask for and do receive by faith your gift of love and salvation. I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. I yield myself wholly to You Lord that by Your Spirit at work in me and through me You may fulfill your good plan and purposes. Thank You for revealing your eternal Covenant of blessings. I receive by faith Your Covenant of peace, love, joy, grace and mercy, forgiveness of sin, wealth and riches, blessings and favor, glory and honor, safety and protection, strength and faith, endurance and perseverance, long life and eternal life to come [seen and fully manifested] in all areas of my life, where I am blessed to be a blessing, in Jesus' mighty name. I ask it of You Father according to what Jesus' promised, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13-14).

I thank You Father for it all, in Jesus' mighty name!

Now that you have prayed this prayer, obey God's Word to tithe, give, and live a life that is pleasing to Him, walking in love towards all people, and expect God to fulfill His promises to you.

See change and turn around in all areas of your life. See the Wisdom of God directing your goings, your decisions, causing you to walk in the manifestation of that prayer, as you submit yourself to His Word.

If you desire us to pray with you and for you, the "Prayer of Agreement"; which God promises to honor [to hear and answer] whatever we ask in Jesus' name [because our hearts and motives are right, and filled with His Will]. Jesus tells us in John's Gospel, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye [you] shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you" [to you] (John 16:23b).

"I tell you this: Whatsoever you shall bind [forbid or prohibit] on earth, shall be bound [forbidden and prohibited] in heaven, and whatsoever you loose [permit or allow] on earth, shall be loosed [permitted or allowed] in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:18-20)

Here God is revealing to us the power that He has divinely given to us to exercise - AGREEMENT ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. But if we don't use it - the weapons of our warfare in Christ - then we are permitting, giving the devil permission to do what he wants in our lives and in the earth. This was not and is not God's plan. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil and deprived the devil power to harm us ( 1 John 3:8). The devil no longer has power or control over us. But not until we renew our minds to this truth, will we walk in the manfestation of God's good purpose for our lives.

When we exercise the authority given unto us in the Name of Jesus, and when two or more agree "asking" for whatever they will, according to His Will, in His name, He hears Himself [His Word] and it's guaranteed answered prayer, if we don't allow doubt and unbelief to have any place. When doubt and unbelief comes, command them to leave, to fall for your sake, in Jesus' name, on the grounds of the Blood Covenant!

God through Christ has given to us, His people, all we need to live victoriously even in this present evil world. He instructs us to take unto ourselves the whole armor of God (click here). He promised that "a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand" but the destruction that comes to the wicked, "shall not come nigh thee" [you] who will dwell in the secret place of the Most High God [in Him, His Word]. Click Psalms 91 and read the promise. We must hold fast to the promise, no matter the what comes against us. As we trust in God, His Promise, His faithfulness to fulfill it, we will see the manifestation of it.

These principalities, powers and rulers of darkness mentioned are the angelic beings that were cast down from heaven along with Lucifer [also known as Satan, the devil]. These fallen angels [are known as demon forces, rebellious angels] who have been sent by Satan's command to war with and against the Children God, since He cannot touch or overcome God, he figured he would try to get at Him through us. But God has given unto us Jesus [His Word] and through the knoweldge of Him we acquire the weapons we need to overcome and to live victoriously! But it's going to be up to us to learn of them and to use them.

Everyone is involved in this spiritual warfare [whether they know it or not], which will continue until Christ returns for the Church - His Body of believers. And we His people, who believe and receive of Him, will be caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air, to forever be with Him; and it is our desire according to His Word to hear Him say unto us, "Well done, My good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord; come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

Until then, we must contend while we fulfill His work in the earth. He has given to through Covenant [a binding agreement] everything we will ever need while we are here to live a happy, blessed, safe, and victorious life where we are blessed [empowered to prosper], empowering others to prosper! It is He who gives power [ideas, enlightment, understanding, etc.] to obtain wealth that He may establish and manifest His Covenant which He swore to our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [Israel] (Deuteronomy 8:18).

So if you are experiencing something other than blessings, it's designed to lead you to seek and find Him. When we call out to God in earnest [sincerely] to know and understand "why", He will speak and reveal to us what we need to do to see change and turn around. It starts with hearing His Word day and night. It's God's Will and Testament to His Children. If we never go to the Lawyer's Office [church, the designated place where God's Word is read aloud to the people to hear and to learn and understand the Will], hearing the Will read, we will never know what He left in the inheritance for us to claim as ours. So if we never take the time, because we were too tired, too busy, or had something else better to do [so we thought], yet we remain broke and disgusted not realizing that we are multi-millionaires and we just have to open the Will, reference the paragraph that promises it to us, and go to the Father [God] and request payment, receive it with thanksgiving knowing that it is being wiretransferred [delivered, added] to us.

The forces of darkness have sought to keep you and I ignorant to the Covenant, the Will of God, and what is ours by Covenant right; knowing that if we knew, they would be rendered powerless [tooless] against us. Now that we know [have knowledge of it] nothing can hold back what God has for us when we are willing to accept the terms of the agreement and fulfill our part, nor will we be prevented to press in and obtain.

The warfare is spiritual, and can only be won through spiritual means [heavenly resources: the weapons God's Word provides [His power and anointing], and His Heavenly Host of angels whom He has given charge over us to keep and defend us in all our ways (Psalms 91:11-12). Because He has given the solution to receiving answered prayer, we would be pleased and honored to pray in agreement with you. Please click here , complete the form, and we will pray in agreement regarding your need and desire, accoring to His Word. Our prayers are with you as you continue to grow in the knowledge and grace of God!

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and Lord and would like to receive Him today, Click here.

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," we are told in Proverbs 23:7. We can no longer blame our parents, our bosses, or anyone else for the results in our lives. We must take responsibility for our own thoughts, attitdes, what we think, say and do, even though we may not have been in control as to how we were raised, taught or trained, or not raised taught or trained. We must now take responsibility for our own success.

God will not do anything for us until we ask of Him. But He gives to everyone who asks in Jesus' Name! Today is your day for change! Ask Him today for that change. Let your mind be renewed according to God's Will and good plan for you! Through Christ nothing is impossible. Thank Him for the answers continually. If your mind can conceive it - nothing is impossible!

Everyone thinks the principle thing to the tree is its fruit, but in fact the principle thing is the seed. (Friedrich Wehim Nietzche (1844-1900). You will see that this is ture. Everything we see began as a thought, a mental picture is someone's mind. The images of our minds become our reality, or what we will experience, because what we think, we shall be. Poor images thoughts [lack, not enough] will not produce prosperity. Thoughts become things and every thought has a consequence or a reward. Our thoughts our seeds. What you focus on is sure to develop. Any negative thought transmits like radio waves. People can sense them; animals too. The entire energy system around you is affected. You must rid yourself of such thoughts. Think positive life-giving and producing thoughts and think intensely - seeing the images; speaking only life-giving words - the Word of God - what He shows and reveals through your time of studying His Word.

What you think, you will eventually speak, and what you speak, like a magnet causes those things to come to you, and will manifest in your life. The Word of God says it this way, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7)"Death and life is in the power of the tongue; and they that love it will eat the fruit thereof." (Proverbs 18:21)

Renew your mind each day, click here and and select the day of the day of the month, or a subject, and let the mind of Christ be formed in you: see, receive, and enjoy all the good God has planned for you!

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show you great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3)

This scripture has been referred to as God's Telephone Number. He instructs us to call unto Him, to pray unto Him, and He would answer us and show us great a mighty things, which we do not know. If you would like us to pray with and for you, please click here.

The meaning and practice of prayer are probably different for every individual. For me, prayer is a constant feeling of spiritual awareness as I go through my activities of the day. For instance, as I write a letter, I ask for God's guidance. In a telephone call, I am conscious of wanting to say the right thing. At the annoyance of things not getting done in the office, I admit it may be partly my fault. When I disagree with anyone, I have trained myself to be kind and caring as I express a difference. This, and a lot more, could not happen if I had not saturated my mind, my nature, and my spirit with the attitude of prayer.

To me, prayer is not always words. In a group, yes, we need to pray aloud, share our deep longings for God's grace, ask for His blessings. But private prayer can, and often should be, more a feeling of God's presence surrounding, undergirding, and guiding our lives.

The greatest excitement is my prayer life is asking for, and receiving God's guidance; seeing the manifestation of His Word in my life, seeing His faithfulness to hear and answer!

Prayer is asking God persistently in faith for the right thing with the right motive. Answered prayer is the result of prayer according to the knoweldge of what is right; according to God's Word.

Let's quickly reflect on this definition of prayer:

1. Asking God. Even though God knows what we need before we ask Him (see Matthew

6:8), He still bids us to ask (see Matthew 7:7). Prayer is a "declaration of dependence"

on God, and acknowledgment that everything good in our lives is given to us by God

(see James 1:17)

2. Persistently. On more than one occasion, Jesus taught His disciples that we are never to

give up in bring our needs to God (see Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-5). This is sometimes called

importunate prayer. It means we are to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking

[thanking God for the answers], until the manifestation (see Luke 11:9).

3. In Faith. Jesus also taught His disciples that if they ask God [the Father] for

something, they must believe He will answer. If they believe without doubting, they will

receive what they ask for (see Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23). James says that to do

otherwise is to be like the waves of the sea tossed by the wind, to be double-minded,

and a double-minded man will receive nothing because does not really yet believe

(James 1:6-8).

4. For the Right Thing. The Lord's Prayer teaches us that it is always right to pray that

God be glorified, that His will be done, that our real needs be met, and that we be kept

from evil (see Matthew 6:9-13). Beyond these things, it is always right to pray for what

God has revealed to be His will in the Bible (see 1 John 5:14-15), to believe that He will

answer if we do His revealed will (see 1 John 3:22), and if He reveals and shows that He

did it for someone else, then He will certainly do it for you.

5. With the Right Motive. The right motive in prayer is to seek the honor and glory of

the Lord Jesus Christ in what we ask (see John 12:28; 17:1). When our prayers are

"gimme" prayers, when we seek to satisfy our own desires instead of God's, we know

at that onset we will not receive what we ask for (see James 4:3).

As believers, we sometimes wonder if we are praying for the right thing with the right motive. If we have been conscientious in following the principles just outlined, we can stop worrying. We have an intercessor dwelling within, the Holy Spirit, who passes our requests through the grid of God's Will, and the Father receives our requests through the mind of the Spirit (see Romans 8:27). Finally, we have an Intercessor dwelling with the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, who constantly pleads our case (see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1).

There are different types and topics of Prayer. Unless we consciously include the different types of prayer (e.g., confession, thanksgiving, praise, supplication, intercession), as well as the different topics of prayer (e.g. for government leaders, family members, friends, healing, guidance [the Wisdom of God in all areas of our lvies], revival) in our devotional prayer times, we may omit certain vital aspects of our prayer life and find our prayers reduce to personal petitions at times of extremity.

"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 honesty." (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Confession

Jesus, following the Lord's Supper illustrates, the basic reason why we as Christians need to confess our sins daily. Jesus got up, laid aside His outer garments, and tied a towel around His waist. He then knelt down and proceeded to wash the disciple's feet, drying them with the towel. When He came to Peter, he protested. And not until after Jesus explained the purpose did he ask Jesus to wash his hands and head as well (acknowledging his sinfulness by this request). Jesus' response to Peter sets forth the condition of a believer who has sinned as well as the remedy for this condition:

"Jesus said unto him, 'He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'" (John 13:10)

A believer is cleansed once completely when he or she first comes to Christ in repentance and receives Christ as Saviour (1 John 1:9). Thereafter, when we sin, it is like an ancient traveler whose feet are dirty from walking on the dusty roads in open sandals. When the traveler comes in off the road, he just needs to have his feet washed to be completely clean again. When we confess the particular sins we have committed since the last time we confess them to God, the Lord declares us forgiven and completely cleansed from all unrighteousness.

The effectsof unconfessed and unforsaken sin or the believer are far more serious than unwashed feet! since God made us to have fellowship with Himself, any sin in the life of a child of God has the effect of breaking fellowship between that person and his or her heavenly Father. Essentially, this was the experience Jesus had on the cross as He bore our sins, and was the reason He cried out: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46)

His relationship with the Father was unbroken; He was still the Son of God. But the communication lines were down since God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil." (Habakkuk 1:13). Our relationship with God remains secure, even when we sin. But we are no longer on speaking terms with Him and are not at the point usable in His service. How important to keep short accounts with God!

The Holy Spirit will show us those things in our lives that are displeasing to God, if we will listen to Him as He applies God's Word to our hearts:

"And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:8)

The following passages deal with confession and are followed by sample prayers that may help the reader to get started in this area of prayer:

Scripture: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3)

Prayer: Father, please forgive me for my self-centered prayers, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "We have sinned and committed inquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments." (Daniel 9:5)

Prayer: "Father, have mercy on America, in Jesus' mighty name!

Thanksgiving

Everything worthwile in life, including life itself, is a gift of God:

"Every good gift and 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)

When someone receives a gift, the most natural thing, indeed the expected thing, is to express gratitude to the giver. Perhaphs that is why the Lord expressed surprise when only one out of the ten lepers whom He cleansed bothered to return to give thanks, and that one was a Samaritan:

"So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give flory to Gode except this foreigner?"(Luke 17:17-18)

One sign of falleness, of human beings in rebellion against God, is ingratitude. This was true at the beginning when human beings rejected the knoweldge they had of the true God for that which is false:

"Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful..." (Romans 1:21)

This will be true at the end when self-centered human beings regard themselves as self-sufficient:

"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy..." (2 Timothy 3:2)

The opposite is true of a child of God. The believer knows where his or her blessings come from! In fact, when any really good thing happens to a Christian, the spontaneous response of his or her heart is exult:

"Thank you, Lord!" or "Praise the Lord!" "Hallelujah!"

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Scripture: "The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." (Psalm 29:11)

Prayer: Thank You Father for giving me peace in the middle of the storm, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (Psalms 103:2)

Prayer: Where do I begin to thank You Father for all You have done for me through Christ Jesus, and all You have given me?....

Scripture: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Prayer: Thank You Father for healing me [spirit, soul, and body], in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statues." (Psalm 119:71)

Prayer: Thank You Father for the lessons of Your discipline and for helping me by Your Spirit to both will and to do all Your good pleausre, in Jesus' mighty name!

Praise

Praise is pure worship. Whereas thanksgiving is the believer's response to God for what he has done, praise is the beliver's response to God for Who He is. The two are closely related in many of the psalms:

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and enter into His courts with praise. Be thanksful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4)

The angels of heaven likewise pour out their praise before God:

"All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 7:11-12)

The prayer the Lord taught His disciples begins and ends with praise:

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name...For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9, 13)

Praise is the creature's response to the Creator. God alone is worthy of adoration. To worship anything or anyone else is idolatry. Again, such idolatry is another mark of fallen, rebellious creatures: "Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:25)

It is significant that Satan's fall resulted from trying to displace the Creator as the object of worship. It is also significant that the devil tried to tempt Jesus to worship him, to which Jesus responded: "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." (Matthew 4:10)

Interestingly, we never rise so high as when we are on our face before the Lord. Worship lifts and ennobles us because it demonstrates that we are made in the image of God - made for worship and a personal relationship with our Creator. By contrast, nothing debases us so much as we fail to honor the one true God.

Scripture: "For in Him we live, and move and have our being,..." (Acts 17:28)

Prayer: I worship You Lord God as my Creator, Sustainer, Healer, Provider - my everything, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

Prayer: "O Lord, I adore You more than life itself...

Scripture: "My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning..." (Psalm 130:6)

Prayer: O Lord, I could not wait to have my devotion time with you this morning!...

Scripture: "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place..." (Matthew 6:6)

Prayer: Lord, it is good to be alone with You...

Scripture: "He has put a new song in my mouth - Praise to our God..." (Psalm 40:3)

Prayer: You alone make me break out into songs of praise...

Supplication

Definition: "Prayer is asking God persistently..."

This definition relates more closely to supplication as Paul urges: "Be anxious for nothing, buti n everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4;6)

Supplication is asking with a sense of urgency; it amounts to begging or beseeching. When we come to God with our petitions, it should never be casually or indifferently. It shouldbe with our whole heart and be poured out before the Lord in earnest prayer.

In a sense, everything we ask God for could be considered supplication, and that is the use of the term in the acrostic A C T S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). Specifically, it includes all the personal petitions, all requests to meet personal needs. It is with this large category of prayer in mind that the Lord teaches His disciple to pray:

"Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11)

God wants to be involved in everyday details of our lives. He wans us to come to Him with everything. Why? Because He loves us and delights to demonstrate His love in supplying our every need (see Philippians 4:19; 1 Peter 5:7).

Why do we not come to the Lord with all of our burdens and needs? There are two primary reasons: (1) we do not really want God's will in every situation (we have a better idea!); and (2) we do not really believe God loves us and has our best interests at heart. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus Christ deals with both reasons (or rather, rationalizations). On the first account, Jesus places a petition for the will of God to be done before the petition for God to meet our daily needs:

"Your kindgom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

In the second case, Jesus shames His disciples by pointing to them God's care for birds and plants and then asking, why they do not beleive God would care for them (Matthew 6:26, 30). He concludes by saying (really, commanding) that pursing God's will ensures God's provision:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

Scripture: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Prayer: Lord, I'm asking....in Jesus's name!

Scripture: "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread." (Psalm 37:25)

Prayer: O Father, I have lost my job and need to feed my family...

Scritpure: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 4:31)

Prayer: Father, send a Holy Ghost revival to our church!

Scripture: "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray..." (Matthew 14:23)

Prayer: Father, the world crowds in, and I need a touch from You...

Scripture: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying int he Holy Spirit." (Jude 20)

Prayer: Holy Spirit, make up what is lacking in my prayer...in Jesus' mighty name!

Intercession

A special form of prayer or supplication is prayer on behalf of others. Such prayer is called intercession. Aside from pure worship (praise or adoration) of God Himself, there is no nobler type of prayer than to intercede before God on behalf of the needs of others. In the Old Testament, this was a special responsibility of prophets. Even when Israel sinned against God by asking for a king, Samuel did not abandone his role as an intercessor for the nation:

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you..." (1 Samuel 12:23)

Later on, when Israel faced extinction as a nation, God saw there were no faithful prophets interceding for His people:

"He was that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor..." (Isaiah 59:16)

In the New Testament, the responsibility for intercessory prayer is extended to all believers:

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men..." (1 Timothy 2:1)

Having said this, we need to examine our commitment in saying to others, "I'm praying for you." We must faithfully intercede for them, and not just express polite words of concern. They are counting on us!

For the Christian, the most significant intercessory prayer that goes on is the ministry performed on our behalf by the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ. In the case of the Holy Spirit, we are told:

"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." (Romans 8:26)

In addition, the Lord Jesus is "even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34) We count on Their intercession; others count on us.

Scripture: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men." (1 Timothy 2:1)

Prayer: Lord, You know who is weighing heavily on my heart right now. I ask that you would help, bless, strengthen,...in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "Peter was therefore kept in prision, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." (Acts 12:5)

Prayer: Lord, please protect...., in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink." (Matthew 25:42)

Prayer: Father, give me compassion for the starving of this world..., in Jesus' mighty name!

Specific Prayers

Not only are there specific types of prayer we should incorporate into our devotions, but there are specific topics of prayer - matters for which, and for persons for whom, we should be praying for on a regualr basis. They include the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, etc.- and specific issues and needs - temptation, comfort, healing, financial needs, the unsaved, etc. They also should include specific individuals - spouses, parents, children, political leaders, church leaders, social leaders, missionaries, colleagues, friends, enemies, etc.

The main reason we should pray for these various topics is that we are commanded to do so. Even in the case of the fruit of the Spirit. God commands us to exhibit these character traits. We all face temptation on a daily basis and this was one topic Jesus included in the model prayer He taught His disciples: "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (Matthew 6:13)

Bereavment is another universal human experience, and we are to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). As we comfort others, we know we have the Comforter Himself dwelling within us (John 14:16-17). Illness is still another occasion for us to minister to one another. Again, we are commanded to pray for healing and health (James 5:16). A catastrophic illness, the loss of a job, the general economy - all of these things can throw our budgets into a tail spin. God wants us to trust Him and come to Him to meet our financial needs as well, and He will. (Philippinas 4:19). Finally we are commanded in the Great Commission to go into all the world and reach the lost for Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). In all these areas, God wants us to pray specifically. If we do not, we will not receive specific answers: "You do not have because you do not ask." (James 4:2)

Scripture: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)

Prayer: Help me Father to show love and concern to others by serving them and being a blessing, a help to them, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up." (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Prayer: I confess that my expression of love have been far too selfish and self-seeking. Help me Father. Fill me with Your love full and to the overflow, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "In this love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the Propitation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

Prayer: Father, I praise You for sending Jesus to die for my sins...

Scripture: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 19;19)

Prayer: Father, forgive me Lord, for not loving my neighbor, my spouse, my co-worker, etc. as You have loved me, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27)

Prayer: I have been so bitter against...Show me something concrete I can do to bless him/her Father, in Jesus' mighty name I pray!

Scripture: "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge this: that if One died for all, then all died." (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Prayer: If You loved me enough to die for me, how can I do less than live for You?

The Key to Answered Prayer

Anyone can pray a prayer and make a request about anything, but unless the heart of that prayer is for God's Will to be done according to His Word, and they are willing to hear and do what is right before God, according to His Word [revealed Will], those prayers will go unanswered. Answered prayer is not based on need, but faith of the one who is asking according to God's Will.

Why? Because God is a God of Covenant and has established covenants promising to meet man's needs, if he will accept Him as God; and promised to keep Covenant forever with them who believe; who keep His Covenant Commands. It is through this Covenant [His Word, the Bible] that he has established relationship with them, "I will be their God and they will be my people." Through this Covenant He has made Agreements, oaths, and promises to take care of them, provide for them, heal them, deliver them, protect them, etc., and that they would lack for no good or beneficial thing. And it is His Covenant commands, that when kept, allow for the promises to manifest.

God's Word is true and has been proven faithful, not only in our lives, but in those who have truly believed and live accordingly. His Word reveals the condition with the promise so that there is no misunderstanding of what His Will is. We only must be willing to do what He is asking of us. By obeying His instructions, we demonstrate our faith, trust, and confidence in Him to do what He promised. When faith is seen and proven, the promise will manifest.

Proven? Yes. Genuine faith is always proven faith. Faith is not faith unless it has been proven [or tested]. Just like Abraham, his faith in God to give him a son; God did and then later God made a demand upon his faith, to see if he would give up his son for God, the son whom he loved so much. Abraham moved to action, in obedience to God's request and did not hold back, until God told Him to stop. God was testing Abrahams love, loyalty and commitment to God and the Covenant. Abraham judged God as faithful, that if He asked for His son, that He would also raise Him from the dead, because He knew God to keep Covenant forever.

When God sees that you are committed, not wavering in what you believe that you have received from Him according to His Word, even though you do not yet see the manifestation, God will honor your faith and give you what you have believed.

After you have done the will of God, then shall you receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:36)

The Lord is looking for faith in the earth.

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect [made ready, peaceable] toward Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9) and again, Jesus says, "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

Faith is defined as "the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen."

(Hebrews 11:1) In order for us to have true faith according to God's Word, our faith must be based upon things that we hope for, that He has promised, but have no physical evidence of. Just like Abraham, his trust was in God's Word [what He promised and told him that He would do].

God our Father, has given us His Word - Jesus - by which we are to base our faith upon; His promises established in His shed blood and broken body - the promises of both the new an old Covenants. Faith that He is the Son of God, born of a virgin, as God declared the Savior of the world, who came in the flesh, who lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins; taking the penalty for us and purchasing through His shed blood [God's Covenant] life and that life more abundantly for all who would belive and receive Him.(John 10:10)

Every man has been given the measure of faith. But it depends on what we have done or not done with it that determines how strong or weak it is. If we are not developing by "hearing" God's Word [promises] through Bible reading and studying, then our faith is in a weakened state and will not produce the results we desire to see.

Faith hears the Word of God [His Covenant Promises]; faith believes the Word of God [His Covenant Promises]; faith speaks the Word of God [His Covenant Promises]; and faith acts upon [and obeys] the Word of God [His Covenant Promises], and faith siezes [takes possession] of the promises of God and will not let them go! God honors this kind of faith.

His Word declares that faith saves, will make you whole, and what things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:22, Luke 7:50, Luke 8:48). "without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

It is impossible to please Him without faith as He reveals in His Word, and that is why so many people unfortunately go without His apparent help and lack His blessings. Not because He doesn't want them to be blessed, not because He is powerless to help them, but because He only honors HIS WORD, no the word of a man, not the imaginations of a man, but His Word and promises, based on the instructions for fulfillment.

He said, "..learn of Me." (Matthew 11:29) We must take upon us His "yoke", His method by which to be trained in the knowledge of Him, so that we may KNOW Him, love Him, obey Him, and to receive from Him.

He is the Souce of all things that we need and is faithful to supply. "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven nor is it beyond the sea, But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. In that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish. 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; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days". (Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

Our decision or indecision will produce whatever we choose. The choice of blessings, life, and prosperity are ours!

Many are experiencing the curse [devastation and destruction in their lives, families and finances, resulting from disobedience, rebellion, and the lack of knowledge; and are not even aware of it, because they do not really know God [His Word] and are not walking in a right relationship with Him. We want God to save and deliver us and to provide, but are we willing to represent Him in the earth as He has asked us to do? Are we willing to do as he asks of us?

It really comes down to knowing and understanding God's Will, what to say, pray, do, believe and receive that enables us to walk in the manifestation of the promises of God.

The relationship He has called us to is not one-sided, but mutual agreement, based on His Covenant promises out of love for you and I. We need to rekindle the fire of love for Him. Many have left their first love and have been drawn away, seduced by the enemy of their souls; they have followed other gods.

Today is the day to repent and renew our committment and communication with Jesus. If you never invited Him to be your Lord and Saviour, do so today!

It's a heart of commitment to Him that He is looking for.

Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:15:7). "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If you kep My commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." (John 15:9-10)

Financial Concerns

In studying the principles of God's Word we find that God gives clear direction and instructions concerning our finances and material possessions.

We are instructed to:

1. "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse" (Malachi 3:10); to that place where God is and wants to feed us His Word; spiritual meat. It is the place He will guide us to as we "ask". It is in this church fellowship were you will be fed, nourished, strengthened, and become fruitful by the hearing of His Word. This means we cannot succomb to the lie of the devil that "I don't have to be in church to receive from God," or "It's not necessary for me to go to church to be saved".

It's God's command and revealed will. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting on another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

Tithing is God's means to establishing Covenant and is the one method by which He declares that He will open heaven's windows and pour us out an overflowing blessing. Let's take a look at what He says, "I am the Lord, I do not changed. That is why you decendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed. ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my laws and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty. But you ask, 'How can we return when we have never gone away?' Should people cheat [rob] God? Yet you have cheated [robbed] Me! But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat [rob] you?' You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for you whole nation has been cheating [robbing] me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!" " And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations [people] shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3:6-12)

What is tithing? God's promise is to bless and increase those who would honor Him by giving the tithes and offerings according to His Word. Tithing is honoring the Lord with the first 10% of all our increase [financially and otherwise [if you harvest crops, then your tithe would be the first and best part of your crops, or the finances your receive from selling your crops - whatever we receive in making a living, or receive as increase]. For more of an understanding concerning Tithing, click here. Tithe is vital to our total well being!

The Lord promised that He would rebuke the devour [the thief, the curse] from operating against us and our families if we obeyed in tithing. His promise is increase, health, wealth, blessed family/relationships, finances! Covenant relationship entered into and kept will cause all things in your life to change, enabling you to walk in God's revealed Covenant blessings - whereby working out all things together for your good and His glory!

2. "Give and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall [God cause] men [to] give into your bosom. For the same measure that ye mete withal shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38) Our giving is that above our tithes. Giving also is not limited to money.

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

This principle is called "seedtime and harvest", "sowing and reaping". It means that you must sow to reap [give to receive], and whatever kind [or type] of seed you sow, it is that you will reap in harvest.

God is the one who causes this miracle of multiplication. Each seed is designed to produce after its kind - it is a law and cannot be changed. If we do not sow, we will not reap.

Seeds can be anything: words, actions, any material thing. In the same way God multiplies a farmer's seed, He causes our seeds to multiply. The hundredfold, sixty-fold, or thirty-fold increase is not limited to the agricultural harvest. If you sow a seed of any kind, you will reap a harvest [more than you planted] of the same. So it behooves us to check out the seeds we have been sowing, and determine if that is what we want to receive in our harvest - coming back to us in multiplication.

God promised to multiply back to those who would sow into "good ground." He shows us in His Word that good ground represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hearts of those who will be hearers and doers of His Word. When you financially support the Kingdom of God [meeting the needs of His people] and supporting the message of Christ, supporting those who are doing the same, you are sowing on good ground. A consistent and continual sowing equals a consistent and continual harvest. Any gaps in sowing will produce gaps in reaping as with any crop.

We must maintain our crops, by keeping pests from eating at our fruit, we must rebuke the devour [that which comes to steal, kill, or destroy] for our sakes through our obedience to "bring" our "tithes" to the storehouse, and "giving" our "offerings"; living a life pleasing to God; discern deception so that we don't walk in it - being deceived into doubt so that we eat [or consume] our seed rather than sow it. Without a seed, there is no harvest!

How do we expect to increase, if we have not rebuked the devourer?

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

God is the one who gives us the seed, and it is He who gives us our bread [food].

"Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power [the ability, know how, strength, creativity, idea, etc.] to become rich [obtain wealth], and he does it to fulfill the covenant [promise] he made to your ancestors" (Deuteronomy 8:18)

So we must "ask" for the seed to sow, and where [what good ground] we are to sow it in. "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7)

It's important that if you are not already studying God's Word, to obtain a Bible of your own, and to begin asking the Lord by His Holy Spirit to lead and guide you into all the truth of His Word; giving you understanding of His Will, so that you may walk in it being pleasing to Him, whereby inheriting all the blessings and benefits of His Wisdom and Salvation.

We are instructed to study and meditated it God's Word day and night (Joshua 1:8), that we may make our way prosperous and that we may have good success. We are enabled for success and prosperity because we have obey His instructions to add to hear and receive, speak and believe His Word - adding to our faith. If we don't do it, it won't happen!

The promises is that we would inherit "ALL that pertains to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:1-11, click here and read), and remember, it comes only through the knoweldge and understanding of Him [His Covenant]. He will lead and guide our decisions for resolution for all situations and circumstances that confront us as we looking to Him [His Word] and trust in Him - asking, believing [without doubting], and receiving the promises it by faith!

God has a good plan for your life and He wants to fulfill it. He's only waiting for you to ask. He's waiting for us to "Learn of Him", and allow His Word to abide, dwell, and remain in us, teaching us to choose His Will and good pleasure. For "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure", He is working in you, through His Word, giving you the desire to obey Him, and the power [the ability], faith, strength, desire, and wisdom to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13). This is the only way any of us can do His Will.

Financial Needs

Scripture: "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10: 22)

Prayer: O Lord, You are the Source of every material blessing; I need not feel guilty for what You have placed in my hands, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "And you shall remember the Lord Your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth." (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Prayer: Father, please forgive me for taking the credit for what You have enabled me to earn, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17)

Scripture: "And God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Prayer: "Father, You know my financial needs right now, and You have promised to me them, in Jesus' mighty name!

Scripture: "And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all suffiicency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Prayer: How wonderful to know that You will always provide enough for me to be able to give to Your work as well as meet my need...

If you have read this far, truly you are seeking to know, understand, and to do the Will of God. So let us pray by asking, obeying Him by learning of Him [taking the time each and everyday to read and study His Word, asking for understanding of His Will, and the power to obey it, and then allow daily His Word to work in you.

The Armor of God

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the fact that the whole armor is necessary if we are to defeat Satan.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…" (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Jesus is God’s revealed Word, as noted in John 1:1 and we are to clothe ourselves with Him.

The key is complete protection:

The Belt [Girdle] of Truth: Since Satan is a liar, we must oppose him with God's truth. In oriental countries, people wore girdles to bind up their flowing garments and hold everything together. It is God's truth that must hold everything together in our lives. As Christians, we must love truth and live truth. Walking according to the truth of God’s Word, speaking truly, dealing truly, and living truly). "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth" (3 John 4). Unless we are motivated and directed by truth, we will be defeated by the enemy. If we permit deception to enter our lives, we have weakened our position and cannot fithe the battle victoriously. The girdle of Truth is not an offensive weapon; for it is for protection. When a believer has "an attitude of truth" in his life, this protects him from Satan's attacks. It does not prevent these attacks; it keeps the believer from being harmed by them.

The Breastplate of Righteousness: This piece of armor covered the fron of the soldier's body, from the neck to the upper part of the thighs. It protected vital organs. The righteousness of Christ is what we receive when we trust him. He gives us right standing with God through faith in what He did on Calvary's Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Only those who recognize they are sinners in need of forgiviness flee the wrath of God and receive His forgiveness and gift of righteousness. "He made HIm who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthina 5:21).

Satan is the accuser, and he attacks us by reminding us of our sin. It is through faith in Christ that we have his righteousness imputed to us, put to our account. When a sinner trusts in Christ and is born again, the very righteousness of Christ is put into his account, and this never changes. As the believer walks with the Lord and yields to the Spirit, the righteousness of Christ is imparted to him and he becomes more like Christ. "And put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:24). Also understand the term "justification." It is the gracious act of God whereby he declares the believing sinner righteous through the merits of Jesus Christ. Justification never changes. Once God has declared you righteous, your standing before him is settled for eternity. However, your state - your walk - is quite another matter. This changes as we yield to the Spirit and obey the Word of God. As a breastplate, it is God’s righteousness [His love and favor] that surrounds us and protects us, as we trust in Him. It is also worth noting that the breastplate covers the heart, which suggests that our feelings ought to be protected by Christ's righteousness. Because we know we have been accepted by God and are righteous in Jesus Christ, we need not fear or fret when Satan throws accusations at us. Often Satan will use people - including Christians - to slander and accuse us; and we are tempted to fight back. But these "fiery darts" must not be allowed to penetrate and hit the vital organs. Rest on the finish work of Christ; realize that you are "accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6); and know that God's righteousness, imputed to you, will never be removed.

The Shoes/Boots of Peace: Roman soldiers wore hob-nailed shoes for stability and mobility. How you stand pretty well determines how you will fight. If a fighter loses his footing, he may loose the battle. The Christian with solid footing is going to have confidence as he faces the enemy. He is also going tobe able to respond to Satan's various attacks should the enemy change his strategy. We stand because the gospel. We know that:

"Christ dided for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). It is this victory that gives us a safe and solid standing as we fight the devil. Whenever we walk, we stand on victory ground! "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; we exalt in hope of the glory of God." (Romonas 5:1, 2). The word "preparation" means "equippment, readiness." It means that the believer is prepared for the devil's attack. He stands, and therefore he is able to fight. His Savior has already won the victory, and he stands in that victory. Paradoxically as it may seem, the Christian soldier wages peace, not war. He fights Satan that he might bring peace. Satan is the cause of sin and unrest and division in the world. The Christian Soldier wages peace by opposing Satan. The gospel message is one of peace, but it is a declaration of war as far as Satan is concerned. We have peace, in knowing; ready and prepared come by hearing the Good News of the Gospel of Christ and produces peace within and around us, and enables us to pursue peace with others—being peacemakers.

The Shield of Faith: The Roman shield was two feet by four feet, made of wood covered with leather and metal. It served as a movable wall that protected them from the burning arrows shot by the enemy. It is your faith in Christ that quenches these fiery darts. Just as much as you trust him, you will share His victory. What are the "fiery darts" that Satan shoots at us? I take it that they are thoughts of one kind or another - doubts, fears, worries, and so on. I have sometimes been prayerfully meditating on the Word when suddenly a terrible thought would invade my mind. Of course, Satan wants us to think that we are to blame, because this kind of thinking would make us discouraged with our Christian walk. But he is to blame! If we do not quench these darts, they will ignite whatever they touch, and we will have a destructive fire to put out. I have found that trusting God's promises and laying hold of his Word will quench these fiery darts. How important it is for the Christian to know Bible doctrine! (This is why the Christian soldier is described in Chapter 6 of Ephesians. Paul spends the first three chapters explaining basic doctrine, and the next two on basic Christian living.) We do not quench the darts by faith in ourselves (even our past victories), faith in faith, or faith in some creed. It is faith in Christ and His Word. We cannot stop Satan from throwing the darts, but we can keep them from starting a fire. As Martin Luther once said, "I cannot keep the sparrows from flying about my head, but I cankeep them from making a nest in my hair!"

The important thing is to quench that dart immediately. Instantlylook to Christ by faith, recall some promise from the Word, and believe it, speak it forth. If you don't, the fire will spread, and if you add fuel to the fire by agreeing with it, or not doing anything about it, your feelings will get aroused and upset, and before long Satan will be in control.

Faith [confident trust and expectation in God, His Word, His Promises] protects us from the flaming arrows [lies, deception, weapons of doubt and unbelief] of darkness. Faith only works by love [loving God above all others, and loving our neighbor as our selves—which means we must love ourselves, as God loves us], and faith without works is dead. God being faithful, we clothe ourselves in that same faithfulness [faithful to our word and promises]; clothed in the confidence His Word gives [confidence that He is working in us and through us to both will and to do His good pleasure]; clothed in courage and boldness carry out His will [Word] in the earth, and to use all the weapons of warfare.

The Helmet of Salvation: We should relate this to 1 Thessalonians 5:8, " ...and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." We believe Paul is referring to the hope the believers has in the return of Jesus Christ. Satan oftens uses discouragement and hopelessness as weapons to oppose us. It is when we are discouraged that we are the most vulnerable. We will make foolish decisions and be susceptible to all kinds of temptations. When the mind is protected by the "blessed hope" of the Lord's return, Satan cannot use discouragement to attack and defeat us. Discouragement is a lethal weapon in the hands of the enemy. Moses and Elijah became so discouraged they asked God to kill them. When your mind and outlook are focused on the return of Christ, it protects you against the despair and discouragement that always comes to the life of dedicated believers. Salvation [well-being, preservation, provision—including redemption from sin and death], taking to ourselves the mind of Christ, the mind set that knows (has knowledge of God, His Covenant promises—provision, etc.), and having and holding to the thoughts, feelings, and purposes of His heart.

The Sword of the Spirit: This is an offensive weapon; the other parts of the armor are for defense. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edge sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). The spiritual sword of the Word of God is different from any material sword that man may wield. A material sword gets dull with the using, but the Word of God remains sharp. A material sword must be handled by physical power, but the spiritual sword already has life and power in it. The Spirit of God enables us to use the Word of God effectively! Our Lord used the sword of the Spirit when he met and defeated Satain in the wilderness temptations. "It is written!" he said, and he quoted the Old Testament Scriptures. The spoken [declared] Word of God [from the mouth of a Believer]. God’s Word is Spirit and Life, radiant health to all our flesh and strength to our bones; producing faith [confident trust in God] when it is heard, builds perseverance, endurance, strength, giving long life and eternal life to come.

This is the armour God has provided for us. He has made Jesus [His Word come in the flesh] to become all things to us, the Source and Supplier of all our needs and desires. He promised as we delight ourselves in him [be soft and pliable in His hands, allowing Him to have His way in our lives (His Word and His Spirit at work in us and through us)], that He would give us the desires of our hearts (Psalms 37:4). “Then when you delight yourself in the Almighty and lookup to God you will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. Whatever you decide to do [thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee] will be accomplished, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. If someone is brought low and you say, ‘Help him up”, God will save the downcast. Then even sinners will be rescued by your pure hands.” (Job 22:26-30)

It’s faith in Christ shed blood [what He did for us] that makes us right with God and causes us to have pure hands.

We put on the armor by means of prayer, and we pray my means of the Holy Spirit.

Just like you get up each morning and put on your clothes. Dedicate your body, mind and will, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you to the overflow with His power and might, and then by faith, put on the put on the pieces of the armor.

Empowered with His Might & Spirit—Living by His Spirit

When we choose to live according to God’s Word, we must choose to be crucified with Christ [to die to self, selfishness, and our strong desires], to take up our “Cross” the tasks, the vision, the assignment given to us by God, and follow after Him [Jesus], to do the Will of God.

Our “Cross” or assignment is given to us by God, even as Jesus’ was. His mission was to “seek and save the lost”, “to destroy the works of the Devil”, etc. The Lord will reveal to you what He wants to accomplish through you in that time of communion and fellowship [quietness]—as you ABIDE in Him. Jesus said in John 15:4-8 “Abide in me, and I in you”, “Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine…and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you were the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remaining you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted. My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.”

He is explaining that we are like branches that must be vitally connected to Him [His Word], if we expect to be fruitful. This fruitfulness is results, manifestation. Manifestation of anything we could ask.

As you submit your life to Him, being joined with Him—become one with Him, He will empower and equip [anoint] you for service, enabling you to carry it all His Will and your desires, and will provide all you need to do so.

It is through fellowship and communion, meditating and contemplation in His Word that we become like Him [transformed into His image—bearing His likeness, His character]. He produces in us His love, peace, joy, humility, meekness, kindness, self-control, gentleness, patience endurance—the fruit of the Spirit—where we are crowned with His glory and honor [favor], receiving a new, pure, and obedient heart and spirit [through the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit] when we will one to study His Word [seeing it, hearing it, believing it and receive it’s truth and receiving all that He promised and provided NOW, and speaking and walking in His revealed Will [His Word]—clothed in His armour, victoriously overcoming the enemy!

Through what Christ did for us [the sacrifice of shedding His Blood and being beaten in our behalf, dying and giving His life that we may live, being wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. He haven borne that for us, He continues to give His love, His salvation—all that pertains to life and godliness, but it only comes through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Having been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we are made over comers by the Blood of the Lamb [Jesus’ shed blood], and the word of our testimony [speaking and declaring what we believe God has done, is doing, and will bring to pass in our lives according to His Covenant [that which He promised in His Word—His binding agreement to bless and prosper us, as we come to learn of Him and keep our part of the agreement].

There will be things [people, circumstances, thoughts, imaginations that will be formed against you to try to discourage, hinder and prevent you from accomplishing God’s Will], but as Isaiah prophesied, “no weapon formed shall prosper”. (Isaiah 54:17)

Here is a piece of information the devil doesn’t want God’s people to know. Read Isaiah 54.8-17.

We see that God created everything, even the weapons. But because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and have accepted His Covenant [the terms and conditions], being servants of the Lord, and His Children, “no weapon formed shall prosper” because we now know [have knowledge of]:

How to defeat and overcome them through the knowledge of what He did for us, Whose and who we are in Him, and the authority that is ours in Jesus’ name.

The weapons were designed to try by testing everyone in the earth. Those who know who they are will not allow the weapon formed to prosper, because they know the authority that is theirs in Christ, and the authority to command the weapons “to fall” for their sake is in their control, as the righteousness of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “all power is given unto me in heaven and earth.” He shows us in Matthew 18:18 that “whatever you shall bind [or prohibit] on earth, is bound [or prohibited] in heaven, and whatever you loose [or permit] on earth is loosed [or permitted] in heaven”.

It is up to us to bind the strongman that seeks to enter our house and to loose the anointing of God in the earth, to commission the angels of the Lord to go and bring in that which we ask of the Father according to His Word, in Jesus’ name! This authority and dominion is ours to exercise. But if we don’t know, we will never exercise it. And then we remain tormented and oppressed by the weapons that are formed, and burdened under the curse because we lack the knowledge of God and His Covenant.

We must declare the Word of the Lord, ‘it is written”, even as Jesus did! Take dominion through God, you are in control, not the devil. He is saying “walk in the confidence of my Word! Give it, share it, and plant it. It is life giving to those who will receive it.

We must walk in the confidence of God’s Word [who Hes, and what He promised to do]. Confidence comes as a result of hearing what God wants to do, hearing what He’s already done to secure it, hearing how He is enabling us to do what He wants us to do, so we can have what He has purposed for us. Then we must believe it and receive it, take His Word to Him and ask for the manifestation of what it is you need, thanking Him, dancing and declaring the victory. When He hears His Word and sees your faith, He sends it out. He’s even gracious enough to send it when we call on Him even before we can finish asking.

He has given His angels to minister in our behalf as the heirs of salvation. And it is His ministering spirits [angels] that hearken unto the voice of His Word—they are the administrators the ones who deliver the goods.

So you see God is waiting on us, all the while we have been waiting on Him. It is written in Hebrews 10:36, “After you have done the Will of God, you shall receive the promise.”

We have to get intense and find out what the Will of God is for the specific things we are desiring or needing. We must be willing and obedient to meet the conditions, the terms of the promise, and then we shall receive the manifestation.

When you trust God, His angels will assist you and deliver you. Trust God regarding all that concerns you and God will intervene in your behalf. His angels are ministering servants to the heirs of salvation. Ministering spirits sent forth to minister in behalf of them that believe (Hebrews 1:14).

Loose the your ministering angels [send them forth] in Jesus’ name to go and minister in your behalf and others, bringing into full manifestation God’s divine will, plan, and purposes in all areas of your life!