Praise is a Weapon

Praise is a Weapon

When you are weary, lift up your eyes to me and begin to praise me. Give me thanks for everything that you are grateful for. Praise me even for the struggles that you are facing. For even in the trials that have come, can be used to make you stronger and wiser.
With every praise, you will enter into my glory and be raised up into my Throneroom. Seated in heavenly places, my child, you will see just how capable you are. You will see that these struggles are nothing for me and that I can turn any circumstance in your favor. I can turn everything into good.
So lift your eyes up to Me and put your gaze upon Me. When you do, you will see just how big I am and just how small your problems are. So praise me today and know that with each praise, you also put the devil beneath your feet. Indeed, my child, the weapons of your warfare that I have given you, are strong and mighty, and they can turn your life around! Lift me up, my child, for I am in you and as you do, you also, will be lifted up, says the Lord. Amen.

Laboring Christ's Strength

“To this end I also labor, striving according
to His working which works in me mightily.”
COLOSSIANS 1:29

The one who rests in Christ will produce more fruit than the one who strives with self-effort. This is demonstrated in Scripture and in the real-life experience of countless saints.
There is no question that Paul worked, labored, and toiled. But the difference with Paul is he knew that he was laboring according to Christ working in him. Was Paul lazy? By contrast, he was more fruitful than ever. The end result is his statement, “I labored more abundantly than them all,” quickly qualified with, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). The “I can do all things” must always be followed with “through Christ Who strengthens me.” If we trust in the Life we will be anything but passive.
Source: The Church in the Wilderness by Chip Brogden

Run Your Race

Run Your Race

As a child, when you had the chance to run in a race, there is the excitement of standing at the starting line, hearing the gun go off and then running as hard as you can. There is a joy in the physicality of feeling the muscles in your legs work, and your breath pumping through your lungs. More than anything, it is the excitement of knowing your are running toward a goal with everything inside of you. Remember the zeal and passion that you had when you first started this journey with Me. You have been called for a purpose.
Regardless of what you do, or how it feels, know that the fire that I have put inside of you to run with passion and abandon is always inside of you. When the burdens and cares of life weigh you down, reconnecting to that fire is as easy as stepping into my presence. So, remember the joy of running your race, and know that I am running right alongside you!

I Pave the way Before You

I Pave the way Before You

The way is open before you my child. I have prepared a road that is just for you and all you need to do is place your hand in mine so that I can lead you in the way that you should go.
You are not the one who has to worry about creating a way. I have done that already. All you have to worry about is to stand in faith and trust me, that I know where I am taking you, how I am taking you there and when.
I have you in the palm of my hands and love you so much. I have called you and given you something special. So run with all your zeal and allow me to mold and shape you.
Trust in me and walk on the open way. Don’t hold back or try to go a different way because somehow this doesn’t make sense to you. This is my way and I will carry you through, says the Lord.

Who is the Elder?

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 TIMOTHY 4:12

An older person is not necessarily a spiritual elder. We do not look to the age of a person’s physical body when determining their spiritual maturity. Of course, we owe a certain amount of respect to the aged by virtue of their seniority; but they may not necessarily be our elder in the things of the Lord.
One can be older chronologically and be quite immature in spiritual matters. Likewise, a relatively young man or woman can have a deep relationship with the Lord and be light years ahead of those two or three times their age. A young man or woman who knows God is more elder than a senior citizen who does not know God. We cannot judge by the flesh, or we will be misled.
Source: The Church in the Wilderness by Chip Brogden

When Things Get Quiet

When Things Get Quiet

There are times when I need to speak to you in the quiet my child. In these times I will draw you unto myself and the noise around you will stop. In moments such as these you can feel uncertain about yourself. Doors that should have opened stay closed. Opportunities that should be yours, are delayed. When you see these things happen, do not be discouraged my child. Rather realize that I am calling you to myself.
For I have many things that I want to show you. I have many things that I want to tell you about the road that you are walking. However, if you are always so busy walking, then how can I tell you which step to take? And so, I will arrange circumstances and draw you into a time of silence. A time when it feels like nothing is moving. It is then that I will show you the next step. So do not fight my hand my child, rather embrace it.
Come to me in the quiet and see that I have set this time aside for you and I to talk. See that I am drawing you unto myself so that I can express my heart to you. For you have sought me for answers. You have sought me for direction. It is in the quiet that you will receive that direction. So come to me today and see the wonderful things that I have in store for you my child.

God's Power Revealed

“The message of the cross... to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18

It does not matter what your situation is; the Cross is sufficient. If the Cross is the power of God for salvation, then the Cross is also the power of God for your relationships, your spiritual growth and development, your life’s purpose, your encouragement and strength, and your victory over everything which hinders and distracts and comes against you. At one time in your life you learned you could not save yourself – that was the work of the Cross.
Now, accept the work of the Cross and learn that just as you could not save yourself, neither can you love God, love your neighbor, forgive those who have sinned against you, cast out devils, be a bold witness for Christ, or fulfill your destiny in your own strength. Just as you once relied upon Christ to save you, so now you must rely upon Christ to live through you every day. Just as you continually rely upon Christ for salvation, so you must continually rely upon Christ for everything else.
Source: Embrace the Cross by Chip Brogden