Let His Life
Shine Through Yours
Through many encounters this week I could not help but realize the importance of speaking life. A lifelong friend lost a family member. When a loss so deep happens it is not uncommon to look over a lifetime of events both good and bad. Life takes on a more precious quality for those remaining if only for a time.
Speak Life!
We are in a season on earth of so much degradation and death that now more than ever you must speak life. Speak life to your family. Speak life to your dreams. Speak life to your vision. Speak life to your relationships. Speak life to yourself. I hear spouses speaking negativity over their household for menial slights. I hear parents speak exasperation over their children. I hear people speak such vile things over other people. I hear people speak such negativity over themselves. Choose today to speak life. You can choose to reflect the darkness of the world. Instead, choose to shine in your world.
There are certainly times that you may feel upset with good reason. Just do not park there. Do not carry that in your conversation to others and build on it. Do not add life to the negative you have experienced. Doing that will only morph into a growing distorted view of everything and everyone around you. Instead, speak life to the positive. It does not matter what is going on in your life, there are blessings. Focus on those. Speak of those.
Oh The Power In Your Choices!
Often, presumably well-meaning people will actually speak death over some situation in your life. Do not let that into your spirit. It is critical, especially now, to be ever watchful over what you say and what you allow into your heart that you hear. Step away from those who continually spew negativity. It will get all over you. In time, it will change you. Walk circumspectly.
You truly do have the power over life and death in your words. Choose wisely on every level. Each choice builds on another and ultimately creates your situation. Someone told me this week that they had made very poor life choices for a lifetime. Here is the excellent news: it is never too late to choose well. Whether you have made a lifetime of poor choices or just a few, decide from today to make better choices each and every day. This same person asked how to bridge the gap in life between being worldly and being Kingdom. It starts one choice at a time.
Think of all the choices you make in a day: what you speak in your mind over every part of your life; who to talk to; who to have meals with; where to go; what you will do and more. Every single choice has implications. Every single choice has implications. Read that again. Every single choice has implications.
What Choice Will You Make?
Think of all the healing stories in the Bible. Jesus often told people to arise, go, and be healed. They clearly had a choice. They could have chosen to stay down, not move forward and remain infirm. Not one time will you read that they chose to stay in the condition from which Jesus offered relief.
How about you? Will you choose to stay under the unwieldy cloak of negativity or arise and go forward in life? A healed life is a life framed in the spoken Word of life. Jesus Christ is the life, the truth and the way. Get close to Him and follow His truth. Choose Him first and foremost and follow His lead to a healed life.
This week really look at every word and action as you go through each day. Do you add positive or negative to your life? Are you continually speaking life or death? Your life is so very precious. Cherish every moment with thanksgiving. Nurture yourself and others who share your life with you whether for a season or for a lifetime.
It Is Never Too Late!
If you have not yet made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart, do it now. Do not wait another minute. Speak to Him from your heart (for it is always a heart issue). Tell Him you have fallen short in your life. Sincerely apologize for your sins. Ask Him to cleanse you and come into your heart and be Lord over your life. From this moment forward let His Spirit guide you along the narrow road that leads to everlasting life.
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me...” ~Jesus, John 14:6
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” ~John 10:10
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-17
“But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.”~ 1 Corinthians 12:31
“I call heaven and earth as witness this day 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” ~Deuteronomy 30:19
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” ~Proverbs 18:21
“You are Lord and You are mighty and You are merciful. Raise up all who would call upon Your name. Raise up those that love You and seek You and trust You. Lord, we need an army of believers that would stand on Your Word above all else. Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees; who will worship You with their whole hearts, Lord. Lord, call us to battle that we may proclaim the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Raise them up, Lord. Raise them up!” ~Miss Clara, War Room the Movie
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father God, We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to set us free. Equip each of us to speak life over every person and situation we encounter. Grant us a deep appreciation and thanksgiving for every moment of life You choose to grace to us. Direct our steps, our words, our actions, our hearts to be ever pleasing to You and to lead others to You. Let us not look to the left or to the right but to stay ever focused as You direct on bringing Your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven through us.. Great is Your faithfulness, Oh God! We pray this in agreement in Jesus’ name. Amen and Amen.
Arise ‘For Such a Time as This!’
We are at a crossroads in this country. More than ever in our history we are a country divided. We are a church divided. If we, as disciples not just believers, expect to see God move in this situation then we must come together now. The election is just months away. The absence of Christians at the polls in the last election resulted in the change we are now seeing. Spread the word that we must come together in unity across all lines of race, denomination, sex and occupation to rise up victorious in this season. If you are simply ‘playing church,’ stop now. Be the church. Unite the church. Raise up the church. This is our shining hour if we each choose to play our part.
It is incumbent on each and every leader to embolden his or her people to vote for the candidate most closely aligned with Biblical principles. Many leaders are afraid of losing their 501(c) (3) tax exempt status so they choose not to discuss voting at all. Here is a link to share that clearly states the main thing you cannot do is endorse a particular candidate or party. https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501(c)(3)-Tax-Exempt-Organizations
You can and should promote participation in the election process. Only God can turn this around but His people must play a part in the process. Whether a leader or a disciple of Jesus Christ, encourage all you know to vote. If you attend a church, ask your pastor to encourage the congregation to go to the polls. We have a platform. Let’s use it. Our vote counts only if it is cast!
“I’ve known Dr. Ben Carson for many years and have a lot of respect for him. A few days ago he announced that he is joining forces with an organization called My Faith Votes to help get more Christians out to vote. Their goal is to make the 2016 general election the largest turnout of Christians the country has ever seen. That’s my goal—and my prayer—as well. That’s why I’m going to the capitals of all 50 states this year with the Decision America Tour to hold prayer rallies and urge Christians to get involved in the political process and by all means, VOTE! In the last four presidential elections, an average of less than 5 million votes separated the major candidates—yet, more than 25 million Christians didn’t bother to even show up at the polls in 2012. That’s just a shame. Ben Carson is right when he said, “I believe Christians in this country can easily determine the next president of the United States and all other national and local leaders, should they simply show up at the polls.” ~Franklin Graham 3/12/16
A Prayer Request
These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour. #Pray for America.
Please join us in prayer: https://drmicheleburke.org/esthers-warriors-ministry/
We thank You , Father God, that You keep Your hand on America. Forgive our sin and heal our land that we will remain One Nation Under God. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. We continue to pray for truth to prevail concerning Benghazi and all issues as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.