To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Eccl. 3

I thought of this scripture as I read a prophetic word by Marsha Burns today.  It was sent to me by a partner.

In a vision I saw a man pluck a piece of ripe fruit from a tree.  He ate the fruit and planted the seeds that would grow other trees.  And I heard the Lord say, “You will not only reap at this time, but you will also sow seeds that will produce a long-term, significant harvest that will last for years.  Be thoughtful and deliberate in your planting.”  Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS

I love this word!  I believe with all my heart we are in a time of harvest.  A time of reaping.  I feel it with every part of me.  During times of reaping, we must remember to keep sowing.  Keep planting.  As this word says, be deliberate in our sowing.

Deliberate is defined in the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary as; To weigh in the mind; to consider and examine the reasons for and against a measure; to estimate the weight or force of arguments, or the probable consequences of a measure, in order to a choice or decision; to pause and consider.

2 Corinthians 9:7 say; So, let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

We will sow seeds that will produce long-term, significant harvest, that will last for years.

When we sow our seed this month, let’s remember and declare this word.  Declare with me,  “As I deliberately sow this seed, it will produce a long-term, significant harvest that will last for years.”

Proverbs 11:25 says; The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

Luke 6:38 says; Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

Most of us know this truth – as we give it will be given unto us.  That alone is great news.  Add to that this word from God, and the news only gets better.  Our seeds in this season will cause a long-term, significant harvest that will last for years!  I don’t know about you but that brings me great joy!

I am excited about this season of reaping AND I even more excited about the anointing that will be on my giving during this season.  We are literally sowing into our future.  The Lord of the Harvest is truly anointing our seed at this time!  Praise God and thank You Jesus!

I believe we have entered into a time of 2 Corinthians 9:8, which says; And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Remember, as we sow our seed…sow deliberate seeds.  And do so knowing, you are sowing a seed that will produce a long-term significant harvest that will last for a lifetime.

Praise the Lord, our Lord of the harvest!

Meditate on this:

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Recently, Breanne and I were having a conversation and a name came up of a lady who had taught Breanne much of what she now knows about horses.  It all began with this woman God brought across Breanne’s life.

This happens to be a lady whom she doesn’t talk to as often as she once did, however there was a time, a season, when this lady was a big part of Breanne’s life.

As we talked, Breanne said to me, “if I never saw her again, she taught me so much, I gained so much from her, even for the short time she was in my life.”  She went on to say, “all people come into your life for a reason and for a season.”

Eccl. 3:1 says; To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

This is true for people in our lives as well.

There have been people who have come into my life for a short season yet who have greatly impacted my life.  There have been ministers I have heard preach ONE time who have said things, even one short sentence, that has changed the way I see things.  Which in turn changed my life.

God has brought some people into my life for short seasons.  There are others who God brings across my path that become friends and remain for many seasons, for both, I am thankful.

Regardless of which it is, I gain something from these wonderful people crossing my path in life.

Even as I write, the faces of people who have been a blessing in my life flashes before my eyes…I am so thankful.  This year, more than ever, one of my goals is make sure people know how they have impacted my life and how very grateful I am for them.

Just this week, as I was getting out additional blankets for the approaching cold, I came across a couple of afghans one of our partners had crocheted for me.  I love them!  First of all, they are lovely, but mostly, I think of the time and effort she put into making these precious gifts for me.   As I looked at this gift, I was reminded of how this gift blessed me and continues to bless me.

Another partner sent me a set of personalized scriptures that set on my desk and daily remind me of the word of God to ME…this too is a precious gift to me.

Now, why have I said all this?  To say, “watch for the people that God sends into your life and make sure they know the impact they have made on your life and how much you appreciate them…never take them for granted.”

I could not possibly name the people who have been a blessing in my life.  I pray I have been a blessing to many myself.  And this year, I have purposed in my heart to be a blessing to many more.

I want to bless others and show them that their actions or words have not gone unnoticed.

It doesn’t take much to let someone know they are appreciated.  A simple text.  A short email.  A quick phone call.  A card in the mail.  It’s simple really yet it can often mean so very much.

Today, more than ever, make sure you let the people who are a blessing to you just how much they mean to you.  Take the time to shower them with love and kindness.  Set your heart and mind to be a blessing to someone each and every day.

Remember those who have impacted your life in a positive way and let them know.  We are blessed to be a blessing…therefore, let’s be a blessing!  After all, God sent them across your path for a reason and for a season.

Meditate on this:

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted.  Ephesians 4:32

Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

This is one of my favorite scriptures and one I think of often.  It came to mind today as I spoke with a friend about the season I am in.  One she finds herself in as well.

Let me set the stage of this particular scripture; God called Jeremiah to be a prophet.  Jeremiah was prophesying there would be a coming destruction, if the people did not turn back to God.

The people were worshipping idols.  Beyond that, there was great sin in the nation.  Therefore, God sent Jeremiah to warn the people to turn back to God and His ways.

Jeremiah must have felt very lonely during this time. He was not in agreement with his fellow priests and prophets. While he was crying out warnings the rest of the priests and prophets were prophesying, “all is well.”

It became so bad that they tried to kill him several times.  Even his family members came against him and what he was prophesying.  Yet, Jeremiah continued to go Gods way and cry out for those around him to go God’s way as well.

The old paths refer to God’s truth as revealed in His Word. I can think of no better time than now to turn back to Gods word.  Not only for us an individuals, but as a nation.

Jeremiah was telling them to look back to the ways of Abraham, who hoped against hope and believed God even when it looked impossible.  He was telling them to look back to Moses and how he served God, even in the most difficult times.  He was pointing them to the people who walked with God.  Who obeyed His word and kept His ways.  He was encouraging them to take the same path these great men of God had taken.  The path of obedience and holiness.

Jeremiah gave two instructions; ask for the old path where the good way is AND walk in it.

I am concerned for those who are captivated by the prophetic, yet are not grounded in the word of God.

The prophetic is of God and it is exciting to hear a word from God.  However, more often than not you are going to need a solid foundation of the word of God to stand and war until you see the manifestation of that prophetic word.  It will take effort, perseverance and determination.  And for that, you must be rooted and grounded in the word of God and in HIS WAYS.

Today, for me, my thoughts went to the old path as I talked to my friend about the season I was in.

Immediately the scripture in Jeremiah came to mind and I suddenly felt totally at peace with where I am, and all the things God had been speaking to me about this month.  I love when God confirms His word.  It’s like a cool drink of water to me.

Some of us have walked through difficult seasons, seasons that have lasted several years.  During that time, we often lose our passion or our ONENESS with God, at least with the way it was in the beginning.  That child-like faith and trust can become defiled by years of disappointment.

I believe it is in times like these that God says, “Look for the old path, where the good way is and walk in it.”

Are you one of those whose walk with God was much different BEFORE the season of adversity?  If so, today, I encourage you to look for the old path and walk in it and rebuild.  I encourage you to regain your passion for God and His word and walk in that passion.

If you are one of those who have simply gotten off the path of God, it is so easy to get back on.  Repent, ask for the old path and begin to walk in it.  Begin to walk in the truth of His word and begin to walk in the ways of God.  It is a way of blessing, just as Jeremiah said…and there, there alone, you will find rest for your soul.  The word of God is the tried and true path.

May your soul find rest as you walk in His ways and His word today.

Meditate on this:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

Over the weekend I was thinking about declarations and the power in our words, I simply could not get Proverbs 18:21 off my mind.

Most of us are very familiar with this scripture and many of us realize the importance of the words that come out of our mouth.

However, as I pondered on this scripture, the Lord opened up to me a new depth to these words and I want to share that insight with you today.

Proverbs 18:21 says; Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

As I read those words over the weekend, the word that jumped out at me was POWER.  Death and life are in the POWER of the tongue.  I decided to look up that word and find the meaning, fully expecting it to be dunamis which is the word for power quite often in the bible.

However, I found the word for power in this scripture is YAD.  It means strength, power, repetition, and axle.  Ahhh…interesting

An axle is a piece of iron, fitted for insertion in the hobs or naves of wheels, on which the wheels turn.

The power in our words is therefore defined as the piece of iron on which everything else turns.

Isn’t that interesting?  Our words cause everything else in our life to turn and to begin motion.

Are there things in your life that feel stuck?  What are you speaking over those situations?

Are there things in your life that are not going the way you want them to go?  What are you speaking over them?

It has been my experience in ministry that many people will begin speaking the right thing but then as time passes and they become weary.  Once they become weary, their words often change.

Can you imagine a vehicle going down the road, gaining momentum and then something happens that damages the axle or the axle comes off?  Suddenly there is no movement, and everything comes to a screeching halt.  No more movement.  No more momentum.

This is what happens when we start out speaking the word of God in faith, our wheels of destiny begin to turn.  And turn.  Taking us to our desired destination.  However, if mid-way our words change, what happens?

What takes place if we begin to murmur and complain and speak the opposite of what we want to see?  Simple.  It stops our wheel from turning and we have no more movement, no more momentum.

Our axle is broken.  When our axle is broken, we can no longer move.  Why?  The power is in the tongue.  The movement, the power, comes from the words that are spoken from our mouth.

James 1:26 says; If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

In the Amplified Bible, James 3:4-5 says; Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.  Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!

Our tongue has the power, the axle, the strength, to create or to burn down.  Which one we use it for is up to us entirely.  I pray you think about that truth for the next few days and be aware of what is coming out of your mouth.  Use your power for good.  Use the power of your words to create and build up, not to burn up or tear down.

On a final note, if you recall, one meaning of the word power in the verse in Proverbs was repetition.  Speak God’s word over your situation, over and over again, until it is so ingrained in you that you can’t imagine the outcome being any other way.  Friends, there is great power in what comes out of your mouth, use that power for your advantage, not your destruction.

Meditate on this:

For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  1 Peter 3:10

This week I have been seeking God and praying about a personal need/ desire.  In doing so, He has taken me to many scriptures and instances in the Bible.

I know enough to know that if I have a need, I am often required to sow a seed.  Which I am happy to do.  As always, I have taken time to seek the Lord about the need before determining my seed.

As I sat before the Lord this morning, He reminded me of a seed I sowed into a need exactly like this several years ago.  I remember that day as if it were yesterday…it was the days of the miracle of a dollar.  I will share more on that later, but for now, let’s go to Matthew 14:13-21…

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

We are all familiar with the miracle of the fishes and the loaves.  It never ceases to amaze me how Jesus took FIVE fish and TWO loaves and fed 5,000 people.  Stop and picture that for a moment.  That my friend, is supernatural increase.

Yet, without the five fish and the two loaves there would have been no miracle at all.  If we are not willing to give our five fish and two loaf offerings, we will never see this type of miracle.

In the days of Jesus, that was indeed a miracle.  One that happened not once, but twice as we see in scripture.  God is in the working of miracles of multiplication!

Now, back to what God reminded me of today.

Many of you were with us several years ago when Breanne and Brandon were buying their home.  They had everything in order as far as they were told by the people they were working with.  However, two weeks before closing, things changed, and they suddenly needed $5,000 extra dollars.  They did not have it.  They had no way of getting it.

I sent a prayer request to our closest partners.  One of our partners, a dear friend, Pastor Derek, sent me an email.  He shared with me what he felt the Lord had said.  He went on to explain that God had showed him if each partner would give $1.00, sow that one dollar into Breanne and Brandon, their need would be met.

We didn’t have 5,000 partners.  But I prayed about his word from God and felt it was indeed, from God.  We sent out a letter explaining this to our partners.  We made sure they knew they didn’t have to give, we weren’t even asking them to give, we were simply sharing what the man of God felt led to do.

In the next two weeks, when we would go to the post office there would be hundreds of envelopes with $1.00 in them.  It was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen.  Breanne cried a lot….out of sheer gratitude and the goodness of her God.  In the end, they had the $5,000 and it came one dollar at a time.

Breanne did just what Jesus did.

The Bible says, He lifted the fish and loaves to heaven and gave thanks and blessed it.  As He did, it continued to multiply.  Breanne gave thanks for every single dollar.  She still has all the envelopes they came in…it reminds her of the goodness of God.

Today, I find myself in that same place.  God showed me that I sowed into that need of Breanne and Brandon’s.  I have seed in the ground.  God reminded me of that. And He reminded me of the miracle of the dollar.  How great is our God!

Friends, it does not take a big seed.  It only takes obedience in whatever seed God says sow.  Even if it is a dollar.  His anointing on a dollar can feed the multitudes.  Never forget that!  And His anointing on your seed…and my seed…can and will meet the need.

Meditate on this:

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6

I was listening to a song today, actually watching and listening on youtube.com, that I want to share with you.  If you haven’t heard it, you certainly need to.  And you need to hear the story that goes with it.  Here are the lyrics.

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Bethel Music, Jonathan David Hesler

As I was listening, I thought about the 23^rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will well in the house of the Lord
Forever.

God does not promise to take us away into a hidden corner to eat of what He has for us.  Actually, He says He will prepare our table in the very midst of our enemies.  It is in THIS place that we must stand firm.

I love what the song says;

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

He praises in the presence of the enemy telling him that he is defeated.

He praised louder than the unbelief that is attempting to overtake his mind.

He praises and allows his song to be his weapon of choice.

And then…heaven comes to fight for him.  And for you.

What do you do when you hear a bad report?  What is your initial reaction?  When the giant of unbelief stands before you – what words come out of your mouth?  What is your weapon as you stand before the enemy or sit in his presence?

The Bible says, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  What is coming out of your heart today?  Do you believe the word of the Lord?  Or has fear overtaken you?

I hate fear.  It is the tool of the enemy.  And it is an enemy of the word of God and the promises of God.  However, we do not have to walk in fear.  We don’t even have to allow it into our midst.  The Bible says if we resist the devil he must flee.  Always, always resist fear.  Give it no place in your life, or your heart.

Look again at the words of this song;

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

Fear must lose it’s hold on us before we can gain victory.  Fear is really faith in what we believe the enemy can do.  Don’t put your faith in him – keep your faith firmly in God and His word.  He will not fail you.

My friends, when the enemy shows up – it is not time to cower down – it is time to raise a hallelujah…in his very presence.

Mediate on this:

Great is Your faithfulness God.  Deut. 31:6

Silence is not new to me.  I am very comfortable in silence.  Many are not – many need noise to feel at peace.  Not so with me.

However, lately, the silence is much greater and deeper. I have come to believe it is a spiritual thing.

After completing a time of fasting, I found I had much less to say.  When I speak, it is the word of God or something that agrees with it.  Otherwise I am silent.

People have even begun to ask me why I am not responding to their conversations.  I thought this was just something God was working in me…that is until I spoke with a couple friends in the faith.

Each one was going through a very critical situation.  Each one made the same comment.  They said, “God is telling me to keep my mouth shut.”  Ahhh.

Today, in my quiet time with God, I was thinking about this.  As I did, I heard a statement from the Lord.  He gently spoke to my spirit and said, “silence in the Kingdom.”

For another hour or so I continued to think about this silence and what it could mean.  I stood up to walk into my kitchen when the Lord again spoke to me.  This time it was much louder and quite firm.  He said, “there’s a shout coming!”

He went on to say, “after the silence comes the shout.”

Joshua 6 tells us the story of the walls of Jericho.  God revealed His plan of victory to Joshua.  The plan was for the children of Israel to walk around the walls seven days in a row.  They were to keep silent as they marched.  For six days they marched around that wall in silence.

On the seventh day, they again marched around that wall.  This day was to be different.  This day the walls would come down.  When the trumpets blew, Joshua told the people to shout.  And shout they did!  As they shouted the walls came down.

It’s a wonderful story of the victory of God for His people.  They obeyed the word of God, kept silent as long as they were commanded to.  And then shouted, when they were commanded to shout.  The Bible says their enemy was utterly destroyed.  They even took all the spoil of their enemy.

But that’s not my favorite part.  After the battle was won, Joshua went on to say; “cursed be the one who tries to rebuild this city.”

God had given His people the city.  The enemy was destroyed, once and for all.  It would not rise again.  That enemy that stood in their way would never come against them again.

I am reminded of another time in scripture when the enemy was seen no more.  It is found in Exodus 14:13;

But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

We see God utterly destroying another enemy, once and for all.  Never to come against His people again.  They only had to refuse fear and be still.  They only had to trust God in the silence.

This is not usual to God.  Jesus, Himself, said, “I only do what I see the Father do, and I only say what I hear the Father say.”  If God wasn’t speaking, Jesus didn’t speak.

If God is not speaking, we often need to remain silent.  To be still until God says move.

To walk in silence, until God says shout.

With all that being said, I feel God is saying this to His people today…

We are, now, in this time, walking around every wall that has been standing before us.  We are being silent, waiting for God to give us the words to say.  Waiting for God to speak through us.  Being still and waiting on the Lord.  BUT…there is a shout coming!  That shout is going to cause every wall standing before us to crumble.  The wall WILL crumble and we will take the spoil of the enemy.  Not only that – but this affliction – this enemy – whatever it is – will NOT ARISE AGAIN.  It will be utterly destroyed by the shout. 

God has given you the land.  It is yours!  Keep walking.  Stay tuned in to His voice.  Wait until He says speak…until then, let there be silence in the kingdom.  Trust Him in the silence.  AND…get ready for the shout!  When God says shout…then SHOUT!!!!

When you shout those walls will come down.  And that enemy you now see, you will see no more.  God did it for Joshua.  He did it for Moses and the children of Israel.  He will do it for you.

I want to share one more scripture with you, it is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.  It says, “and the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout.”

Trust Him in the silence…and in the shout.  For after the silence, comes the shout.  We have His word on it.

Meditate on this:

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting.  Job 8:21

I have continued to study soul prosperity, as I believe it is a key to our breakthrough in many areas.

Over the weekend, as I studied this subject, I heard a statement.

It was, “complaining reveals we are losing the battle over our thoughts.”

Complaining is the evidence you are losing the battle over your thoughts…or over your mind.

1 Corinthians 10:9-11 says; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.

This scripture is warning us against the consequences of complaining.

Exodus 16:8 says; Also, Moses said, “This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

Now, let’s look at Philippians 2:14-16 in the Amplified…

Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], holding out and offering to everyone the word of life.

If we choose to complain and murmur…there are some things we must remember.

First, we are complaining, not about the situation, but about God.  Our complaint is against the Lord if He is the one our trust is in.

Secondly, we are contaminated, children of God with a blemish.

It is only when we refuse to complain that we will be found blameless, innocent and uncontaminated.  It is only when we continue to stand in faith, our words lining up with HIS words that, we are bright lights in a dark world.

Complaining is nothing but unbelief.  Make no mistake about it.

By our words we are condemned and by our words we are justified.  What are your words saying today?

Are you complaining against God?  Or are you shining as a child of God, a bright light in the midst of a dark world?  You cannot have it both ways.  Life and death are in the power of our tongue – we must choose.  As for me, I choose to be a light in this world…I pray you do too.

Meditate on this:

Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].  Ephesians 4:29

While writing Fridays teaching, I realized that for many people, it’s not so easy to imagine a prospering soul.  A prospering mind or thought life.

Perhaps your soul has been damaged by trauma or a past event that was difficult to walk through.

I have experienced things like that myself.  I have also watched those I love walk through things that were meant to destroy their faith and their thoughts toward a loving God.

When this happens, often a soul, or mind, needs to not only be renewed with the word of God, but it may also need to be restored by an awesome God.

Psalm 23:3, a verse we are all familiar with, comes to mind.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake.

The word restore in this verse means to bring back, to restore, refresh, repair, to be returned, be restored, be brought back.

Brought back to what?  To the condition it was BEFORE the trauma.  Before the challenging season.  Because the enemy attempted to destroy your faith in God.  Before he attempted to destroy your belief in the word of the living God.

Now, let’s look at another scripture I came across today.

Psalm 19:7 says; The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

For me, this scripture goes even deeper than the 23^rd Psalm!

This phrase, converting the soul, means; to continually, convert, deliver, fetch home again, get oneself back again, recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, requite, rescue, restore, retrieve.

Have you ever gone through a time when you felt you just couldn’t pick yourself up?

Where you felt like you were no longer yourself?  I know I have!  This word from God takes care of all that!

God will restore your soul AND His word will continually keep you restored, if you allow it to.  If you feed on His word.

God’s word is perfect!  It will continually convert, deliver, bring you home again to a place of fully relying on God.  It will recompense you and cause you to recover.  Oh, how I love that word!

My friends, there is nothing God cannot do.  He will restore every broken soul.  He will restore our minds.  His word will keep us walking in a place of rest in our soul, in our thoughts.  Everything we have need of is covered in the blood of Jesus and the word of God.  It’s up to us to partake of it.

My prayer for you today is a restored soul.  May you walk in a place of continual peace and rest in your mind, your will and your emotions.  In your restored soul.

Mediate on this:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  John 14:1

Everyone wants to prosper. Most people need prosperity in their lives. Either in their body or their finances. It is the two prayer requests we hear most often.

Last week, I was spending some time praying for our partners. I began to pray about prosperity when God brought a scripture to mind. It is found in 3 John.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

The Lord gently spoke to my heart and said, “you can’t have physical or financial prosperity until your soul prospers.”
Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. It all comes from our thought life.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “as a man thinks, so is he.”

The Bible also tells us that for us, born again believers, things work from the inside out. It is not the outside, what we can see, that prospers first. We must first prosper on the inside in our thoughts.

So how do we do that?

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

First, we must continually renew our minds to the word of God.

Romans 8:6 says; For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

We must choose to set out mind on the things of God and not everything we see or hear going on around us. It is only when we keep our mind stayed on God and His word that our mind is at peace. (Isaiah 26:3)

Philippians gives us further instructions for our thought life…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

If our mind is not daily renewed, we will not be able to prosper in our mind. And if we don’t prosper on the inside, we may never see the prosperity we desire to see on the outside.

The Kingdom of God is within us. Once that part of us prospers, EVERYTHING and I do mean everything else, will be added to us.
God’s way is not hard. But it does take discipline. And it begins in our mind, our thoughts.

Today, I encourage you, feed your soul. Help it to prosper. As you do, you will be sowing perpetual prosperity into every area of your life.

Meditate on this:
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24