by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“For you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36
Patience…it’s a word that most of us do not like. But, today I want to show you how vital the fruit of patience is to receive the promises of God in your life. Did you know that patience is also defined as endurance and perseverance? The Greek word for endurance is “hupomone.” (Please stay with me for a moment as we define the Greek word, “hupomone” and get a clearer picture of why patience is so imperative to our spiritual life). “Hupomone” means, “constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out and patient endurance”. “Hupo” literally means, “under,” and “mone” literally means, “to remain.”
Therefore, we can define patience as: “The ability to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful staying power that actively resists weariness and defeat.”
This is good news, because most of us give up too soon. Once we receive a promise from the Word of God we want an immediate manifestation of that promise – like NOW! But it usually does not work that way. Just as Abraham had to wait patiently before he received his promise – so do we. There is a slice of time between the PROMISE and the PROVISION where the POWER of PATIENCE is vital. You see, during this in-between time is when the enemy attacks you the most. The devil will do everything within his power to distract, discourage and pull you off track. When the attack comes – you will need the power of patience. You need the supernatural power of endurance to bear up under the trials of this life and ACTIVELY resist weariness and defeat. The truth is YOU WIN – if you do not lose hope!
I encourage you today to ask God for the power of patience to manifest in your life. Whether you need it now or sometime in the near future – the “hupomone” power of God will help you to wait patiently and receive your promise!
Prayer:
Lord, I need the power of patience in my life. Help me to bear up under difficult circumstances with a hopeful resilience that actively resists weariness and defeat. When the enemy comes like a roaring lion, I declare the supernatural power of endurance is manifested in my life. I will not give up. I will not lose sight. I will be victorious and receive ALL the promises of God in my life. Amen.
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing.” Psalm 126:5 Amplified
As I look back over my life, I can honestly say that God has fulfilled this scripture in my life. Most of you who read Tuesdays with Tracy on a regular basis know of my story and how my childhood was far from perfect. What I had to endure as a child would have put anyone in therapy – LOL! But through it all, God has been good to me. He was the One after all, who saved me, healed me and delivered me. And God is the One who will turn your tears which you have sown into joy and singing.
My life is not perfect by any means, but let us not confuse happiness which is earthly and temporal, with joy that is eternal. The truth is that I still remember the pain of my past and I will never forget the abuse and agony I had to endure as a teenager, but just like Jesus whose hands still display the scar from the nails that pierced His hands on the cross, the memories from my past are also a reminder of God’s resurrection power in my own life.
No matter what you have or are currently going through, hold on because Jesus will do the same for you as He has done for me. He will take your tears and turn them into joy. I will never forget the time when I was sitting on the lawn of Asbury University, soaking in God’s Word…and then it happened, I heard a still small voice speak to me, “Tracy you have been through much pain and sown many tears, but your future is filled with great joy.” I held onto that promise and it would be years later that I would find these words written in Psalm 126:5. The Holy Spirit spoke this to me and He is speaking this into your life today – the question is – will you listen to what He has to say to you and will you believe Him? Friends, Psalm 126:5 is true for me and it is also true for you. Every tear that you have sown will reap a harvest of joy and singing in your life – I declare it for the glory of God.
Prayer:
“Lord, I give you my life and I choose to believe Psalm 126:5. All the tears of pain that I have sown will reap abundant joy and singing in my future. I will not let my past hold me down any longer but I will press on and expect Your goodness and mercy to follow me all the days of my life. Please line up my thoughts and my words with this truth today. I give you my pain and ask that it be sown into a bountiful harvest of joy unspeakable and full of glory. Amen.”
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!” Psalm 42:11, NLT
Has your life ever seemed to be going smoothly, but then out of nowhere a circumstance arises and you are suddenly full of fear? Fear is something all of us battle at one time or another. I have learned over the years when fear emerges that somehow, somewhere, I began to place my hope in something or someone other than God.
Take our economy for instance. If we place our hope in the housing market right now, we are going to battle fear and anxiety. And what about the Presidential election today? If we place our hope in our nominee and he is not chosen, what then? If your choice for 2008 is not elected, you may be tempted to give into overwhelming fear. But if we place our hope in God -Who reigns over the housing market and Who reigns over America’s choice for President in 2008, we can remain in perfect peace!
So let me ask you, to what or whom is your hope placed in today? Is your hope placed in man, your bank account, beauty, performance or children? If your hope is placed in anything of this world, you will be gravely disappointed. But if your hope is in Jesus Christ, then everything will be a-okay and you can rest in His perfect peace.
If you are battling fear and discouragement today, I encourage you to place your hope in God. Begin to rehearse all that He has done for you. Let thanksgiving take over your worried mind. No matter what you are going through, God is for you and fighting on your behalf. Psalm 44:8 tells us to give glory to God all day long and constantly praise His name. It’s time for us to once again receive God’s love and give Him glory all day long. God is faithful and He will never let us down.
Remember to cast your vote today – but again, no matter who wins this election, you can remain in perfect peace. God knew who would be President in 2008 before you were in your mother’s womb. God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. Whoever wins today, we are called by God to uphold him in prayer. It does not matter what we think or what party we are affiliated with. God is in control and we are to rest in His will for the United States of America and for us.
Prayer:
Lord, I give you all my fears this day. Forgive me for placing my hope in anything other than You. You are my God and You reign over every situation in my life. I declare faith to arise within my spirit. I rebuke every attack of the enemy and ask according to Psalm 37:14-15, that when the wicked draws their sword at me, they will in return be stabbed through the heart with their own swords and their bows will be broken in Jesus Name. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. And I make a decision today that no matter who is elected President, I will not fear and I will respect this man of authority through prayer. Amen.”
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“For He (God) foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent).” Ephesians 1:5, Amplified Version
There are times in our lives when we get so bombarded with what the world says about us that we forget who we are in Christ Jesus. Today I want us to declare what God says about us. Pay no attention to your feelings – your feelings will lie to you, but God always tells you the truth. You have a choice today – will you continue to believe your feelings over the Word of God or will you declare and let your faith arise to what God’s Word says about you?
The truth is – we have authority over the devil and his lies – he does not have authority over us! If you are in a battle concerning your self-worth – join me in declaring Ephesians Chapter One over your life.
Let’s say this OUT LOUD together:
According to Ephesians Chapter One, I am:
Blessed (vs. 3)
Chosen (vs. 4)
Holy (vs.4)
Blameless (vs.4)
Predestined (vs. 5)
Redeemed (vs. 7)
Forgiven (vs.7)
In Christ I have:
Wisdom (vs. eight)
Understanding (vs. eight)
I know the mystery of His will (vs. eight)
I am made for God’s glory (vs. eight)
I am seated with the Holy Spirit of Promise (vs. 13)
I have an inheritance (vs. 14)
I am God’s possession (vs. 14)
I have hope (vs. 18)
I am Enlightened (vs. 18)
I have resurrection power (vs. 19)
I have a mighty strength! (vs. 19)
We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! No matter what you are currently going through, remember that in Christ you have everything you need and that your victory is just around the corner!
Prayer:
I am Yours Lord – everything I’ve got and everything I am! Forgive me for believing the lies of the world concerning my worth. I agree with Your Word today that I am blessed, redeemed, forgiven and that I have a hope! I will no longer allow my feelings to dictate my life, but I choose to believe the Word of God. Amen.
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“The Lord also will ROAR from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16, NKJ
The roar of a lion will stop you dead in your tracks and bring a chill down you spine – trust me on this! I was able a few years back to go behind the scenes at the Atlanta Zoo and I will never forget my encounter with the lion! I was so thankful for the steel bars that were present between this massive creature and me!
According to the scripture above, God is a ROARING lion and if you feel like you are in a battle – hold tight – because God will ROAR from Zion on your behalf!
When God speaks, the earth cannot help but tremble. So can you imagine the impact on the earth and the enemies of God when He ROARS? I believe that when God ROARS from Zion on our behalf, everything that is standing between us and God will be shaken down! God is our shelter during the storms of life and He is our strength when we are weak. Be encouraged friend – If you are currently in a battle – run to the shelter of God’s love and know that He will protect you. Make no mistake that the enemies of God will not prosper much longer. God is fighting on behalf of His chosen people!
Prayer:
Lord, I run to you for shelter this day. You are my refuge and my present help in trouble. No weapon formed against me shall prosper and I declare, “If God is for me – who can be against me?” Father, I thank you for your ROAR from Zion concerning your people and Israel this day! I know the end of the story – WE WIN! I love you God and I trust that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Amen.
Photo Above is from: www.freefoto.com
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy, Warfare
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12, NKJ
Who is your real enemy anyway? Is it your slandering neighbor or the “friend” who is pulling your son or daughter away from God? Is it the person spreading lies about you or the family member who has betrayed you? Or could the real enemy in your life be unseen to the natural eye? Let’s take a closer look at what I believe is one of the greatest deceptions of our day.
Just as God is looking for people to flow in His love and grace, the devil is also looking for those who will flow in his evil plans of death and destruction. As an adult, I am now aware that the people behind my abuse were never my real enemy, but simply vessels used by the devil to try and destroy me. The devil was the author behind my abuse and God was the author behind my rescue!
The truth is that no weapon formed against us shall ever prosper and every evil tongue that rises against us, the Lord will condemn. What the enemy meant for our evil, God will turn it around and use it for His Kingdom purposes. Jesus can make purpose out of our pain.
Here is a spiritual key that will help free you from your past: HATE THE DEVIL AND NOT THE PEOPLE HE USES!
You have a choice today – will you be used to flow in God’s love and grace? Or will you be a vessel used to bring death and destruction? Do you mean that I can be used by the devil? If you allow hate, gossip, slander, offense, abuse, murder, destructive words or any evil thing to borrow your mouth or actions – you are being used for enemy purposes. But the reciprocal is also true; you can be used for God purposes as well. God can use your mouth and actions to speak and show His love to those you come into contact with today. Selah (pause and think about this for a moment). Whose voice will you follow today?
Prayer:
“Lord, forgive me for every evil thing I have ever said or done. I no longer want to be used to bring death and destruction, but life and hope to those who are hurting. I give You my mouth, that I may speak Your Words. I give you my ears, that I may hear your voice. I give you my mind, that I may think Your thoughts. I give you my feet, that I may walk out Your will for myself and for others. Please use my entire being God to bring healing and restoration. I acknowledge that my real enemy is not made of flesh and blood, but spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. I choose to serve God this day and forevermore.” Amen.
