Intercessors Overcoming Unbelief

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desparate-prayerHave you ever been praying for something and realized that you don’t really believe that your prayers will be answered? I have.

I think unbelief is one of those hindrances that can, if we allow it, keep us from our prayer closets. This is a little bit intimidating to even bring up. We’ve all heard the criticisms that the “Name It Claim It” groups receive. Some, unwisely, have told someone who is going through a devastating trial that they just don’t have enough faith. Talk about adding insult to injury. It’s easy, in a knee-jerk reaction, to just ignore unbelief. That feels safer. But for those of us that spend a significant part of our time and energy in intercession, it seems like a topic that needs to be brought up if we are going to bear fruit.  In James 1:6, in the context of praying for wisdom, it says, Continue reading →

How to cultivate domination free relationships

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silhouettes-812125_960_720Finding the courage to say no to controlling behavior.

What does it mean to dominate another person?

Do be dominated is to be mastered. The dominator has succeeded in pressuring someone until they yielded to being controlled. Perhaps to avoid the consequences of resisting. The one who yields has been conquered. While the relationship may appear amiable much of the time, differences of opinion will expose domination.

What’s the difference between domination and submission? Continue reading →

Intercessors To The Church – Part 1

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240_F_155972609_4f7rmJI3OtmnnyESIhfGDsoH7VV9dm4XHow Intercessors Can Bless The Church And Its Leadership.

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you feel compelled to pray for the body of Christ. You see needs and have compassion for God’s people. You have been given a great trust and have the potential to do a great amount of good for the body of Christ. You are on the front lines, and often see things before they impact the rest of the body. As you pray, the trajectory of the spiritual realm shifts. Thank you for the sacrifices that you make. There is a cost to intercession, and you are VERY much appreciated. I want to share with you some things that I hope it will make your path a little smoother. Continue reading →

What do you need most when discerning the spirit of slumber?

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maxresdefaultWeariness. Jesus understood the suffering of those who feel it.

We can hear the compassion in Jesus’ voice when He said in Matthew 11:28, “”Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” He knew the weight this spirit can put upon His people. He offers us the solution: Himself.

Isaiah 40 says, “The LORD is the everlasting God…He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Continue reading →

Tips For Holding Onto Joy And Peace Over The Holidays

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human-emotion-happiness-3Christmas. We look forward to it because it’s a symbol of hope. A time of hopeful anticipation when anything can happen. Expectations can run high over the holidays, which makes it all the more painful if depression or anxiety set in. And for those who are experiencing loneliness, the holidays may seem to magnify it. Disappointment can replace joyful anticipation, making Christmas something to endure rather than enjoy. Continue reading →

How God Helped Me Overcome Depression

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reusewmod39Whenever I minister to others who are experiencing depression, one of the first questions I ask is, “When did it begin?” Was there a distressing life event when things shifted? If so, who was involved? What was your perception of God after that event? Sometimes the answer to these questions points the way to the path out of depression. Continue reading →

Endurance in the face of trials and delays

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downloadWe can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment…” Romans 5:3-5

Have you ever found yourself going through a trial that just seemed to go ON and ON and you found yourself asking God if it was EVER going to end? I’ve been asking the Lord that question lately, wondering if this is something that I’ll have to deal with the rest of my life. In that place, I found myself squirming and resisting what the Lord was allowing. A dear friend reminded me of the peace that comes when we allow patience to weave its’ way around the trial that God, for some reason, is asking us to endure. Somehow the trial seems less painful when we stop squirming and surrender to God’s plan for our lives. Continue reading →

Judgmental Christians:

Arlene

Man with BibleWhat does the Bible say about it?

First, I want to offer an acknowledgement that that we Christians have at times judged others in a way that Jesus never intended us to. Secondly, I want to make an appeal to our culture to dig a little deeper to find out exactly what the Bible has to say about judging.

I want to apologize on behalf of the Christian community for every time that we have judged others in a critical, condemning, self-righteous, prideful, or disrespectful
way. Jesus himself made it clear that it is possible to judge others in a wrong way, and Continue reading →

When Protecting Others Turns Into Friendly Fire

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Protecting others is a good thing, right? How could protecting others ever be a bad thing?

Protecting others can go sideways when we forget who The Protector is. There is only One who is able to protect 24/7. God is The Protector, not us. We are only a conduit of His protection. We’re able to protect in a healthy way only when we yoke up with The Protector. When God does the heavy lifting.  Continue reading →