Tag:

overcome

God’s Word Today – Kick Fear in the Face

by Lily Benson May 22, 2023

Do you need to kick fear in the face? Let’s look at how to embrace God’s strength, power, and peace in your life.

What Does the Bible Say?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Fear is a powerful emotion that can grip your heart. It can paralyze you, preventing you from taking risks, pursuing dreams, and stepping out in faith. But as a follower of Christ, you are called to be courageous, trusting in the power of your God. Let’s look at how to kick fear in the face, drawing inspiration from Scripture, and discovering the strength God provides to overcome fear.

Fear often arises when you focus on your own limitations and uncertainties. You may fear failure, rejection, or the unknown. However, the Bible reminds you repeatedly to trust in God and not be afraid. In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” These words tell you that God is always with you, empowering you to confront fear. You must shift your focus from your own weaknesses to the limitless power and faithfulness of God.

To kick fear in the face, you must anchor your faith in the character of God. The Bible describes Him as your refuge, fortress, and deliverer (Psalm 91:2). When you cultivate a deep understanding of God’s nature, you can trust that He is in control of every situation, and fear will lose its grip on you. You need to remind yourself continually that God is greater than any fear you face.

Fear cannot coexist with love. In 1 John 4:18, we read, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” God’s perfect love casts out fear, reminding you that you are deeply loved and accepted by Him. When you fully grasp the depth of God’s love, you can confront fear without hesitation.

By anchoring yourself in God’s character and understanding His perfect love, you can overcome fear and embrace the abundant life God has prepared for you. Remember the words of 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

With God’s strength, you can confront fear head-on and live victoriously, knowing that He is always with you.

How To Break Chains Of Addiction Off Your Life

by Al Gibson April 23, 2023

written by Al Gibson

Not everyone who is bound wants to break chains of addiction off their life until they finally come to terms with their situation and call out for help. The good news is that with God it is possible to break chains of addiction and be completely set free.

No matter what addiction we face, God offers us a way out. It could be anything from smartphone dependency to drugs and alcohol; or lust and issues related to Sex in the Digital Age.

If you’re caught up in a cycle of addiction, you probably think the way out requires a complex rehab strategy to break chains of addiction but that’s not necessarily the case. With God, things are pretty straightforward, in fact so simple that at times we may not always see the solutions He offers – though they are staring us in the face!

No matter what your struggle is, God knows and He cares and He wants you to be free. He wants to help you break chains of addiction.

Whatever addiction you may be affected by, whether it is what you allow your eyes to see or the amount of food that goes in your mouth, the core problem is our age-old battle against ‘SIN’. Sin comes in many different forms and we all struggle with something. No matter what your struggle is, God knows and He cares and He wants you to be free. That’s why He has made a way out for you and me to break chains of addiction.

You can break chains of addiction

The simple solution is REPENTANCE. As Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Go and sin no more.” Repentance means turning around from the way you’ve been going and to start heading in the opposite direction! It involves coming to terms with the fact that you have a problem and making a decision to turn your back on it.

This means naming the issue. It could be anything from overeating to binge watching TV to all kinds of things that steal your time, health and relationships, robbing you of your family, vocation, and destiny. There is no doubt about it, sin brings devastation. The Bible says the result of sin is death. It also tells us that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. That is what addiction accomplishes for us. Yet many of us continue to flirt with our addiction and its false promises. It may offer temporary comfort but ultimately it will lead us down a trail of destruction.

This reminds me of the well-known quotation… “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” The writer of this statement is unknown but the truth it shares should be made known to everyone to help them break chains of addiction. Even so, we may know what’s best for us and yet somehow, in this world where anything goes, we can easily be anesthetized to the consequences of our negative actions.

The answer as I have said is repentance, which means choosing to follow Jesus no matter what. Remember that old Sunday school song… ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ – “Tho’ none go with me, still I will follow… The world behind me, the Cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.”

Repentance requires naming the problem and refusing to accept its ongoing existence in our lives by putting our faith in Jesus to break chains of addiction. After all, His Name is the Name Above All Names – the name that is higher than sickness and disease, the name above addiction. As we speak His name over the situation, we give Him permission to intervene in our situation and our faith rises to break chains of addiction. And, of course, as we pray and confess our sin to God He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us.

If you are struggling today, trust Jesus to deliver you.

He said He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. He said He came to set the captives free. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life. (Romans 6:23). And that doesn’t just mean life in Heaven where there is no sin, it means having a victorious life on earth. It means we can break chains of addiction no matter what they are.

Yes, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy but Jesus came to give us life and life in abundance (John 10:10). Abundant life is not struggling with sin. God has made it possible for us to be reconciled with Him, forgiven of our sin and empowered to break chains of addiction and live a victorious life.

Sin is like a deep ravine that separates us from God. In order to cross that vast divide, we need a bridge. Jesus is that bridge. As we accept Him as our Savior, we are empowered to live a new life in Christ, putting our past behind and embracing the freedom we can have in Jesus.

For those Christians who continue to struggle – do not feel condemned. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. The Bible also tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Repentance is the first step to break chains of addiction but there is much more we can do to walk in victory. Different Christian writers have different perspectives on how one can overcome, but I would like to share just five things that have worked in my life to break chains of addiction.

5 steps to break chains of addiction

Renew your mind As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out!” If we have spent years putting garbage into our minds it may take as long to change our way of thinking. God’s Word is the only thing that cleanses us and we need to read it and replace our addictive thoughts with scriptures that inspire us towards godly living. Romans 12:1-2 instructs us not to conform to the ways of the world, but to be transformed through the renewing of our minds. We are called to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Sin stems from rebellion against God and our sacrifice to Him is the exact opposite of that.
Fast. Jesus said that some spiritual conditions can only be turned around through fasting in prayer. God delivered me overnight from smoking years ago, but when it comes to overeating I’ve had to learn to live a fasted life. It’s obvious, what we feed grows and what we starve dies. Sometimes we have to cut off certain things, separate ourselves from people who hold us back and avoid particular places that perpetuate a weakness. Fasting is not just about what we eat, it can be about denying ourselves things we know will cause us to stumble. I sometimes do a liquid fast for three days and I feel the supernatural power of God sustaining me. I’m all too aware that I could never do this in my own strength and I encourage you to try fasting and see what God supernaturally accomplishes in your life.
Prayer is simply communicating with God, telling Him your deepest thoughts, including confessing your weaknesses. Run to God every time you mess up, don’t run away from Him. Remember when you have a setback you don’t go all the way back to square one, you can pick yourself up and get back on track. Through prayer, you can learn to come alongside God and walk in His strength to break chains of addiction.
Be on the alert for situations that will take you back into your addiction. We all have triggers and it’s important to know what your triggers are and avoid them. Watching Christian TV is a great way you can learn to live above temptation. This is part of renewing your mind, but it also helps connect you with the testimonies of others who have learned to walk in victory. GOD TV receives e-mails regularly from those who have been delivered from all kinds of addiction, from alcoholism to pornography, drugs and many other life-controlling issues. Many have been able to turn away from an unwanted same sex attraction, others have broken free from fear and anxiety. Trust God to meet you where you are at, break chains of addiction and turn your situation around just as He had for many others.
Have a vision. Discover what God has called you to do. See fulfilling your calling as infinitely greater than wallowing around in your addiction. As the song suggests, trade in your sorrows, trade in your shame. Lay them down for the joy of the Lord. As Jim Elliot says “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Never give up hope.

We serve the God of all hope, full of mercy and compassion. We as believers will always face temptation, but God promises us He will always make a way out. Let’s give up the things that hold us back, break chains of addiction and embrace all God has for us.

Also read: How To Be Free From Addiction: Four Keys To Finding Freedom

April 23, 2023 4 comments

Articles Faith

There is Power in the Name of Jesus to Break Every Chain of Addiction!

by Vance K Jackson January 1, 2022

written by Vance K Jackson

Break Every Chain

Shall we continue in sin (addiction), that grace may abound? God forbid.

The Chains of Addiction

Addiction is man’s false attempt to satisfy a void that only God can fill

Addiction manifests itself in many forms. Some manifestations are tangible and easy to spot, like substance abuse, overeating or gambling. Then, there are other manifestations that are subtle, deep-seated and hidden within in the walls of your soul, like fear, rejection, or even the need to be accepted by people. Nevertheless, addiction is man’s false attempt to satisfy a void that only God can fill. Christ wants to make you whole. He wants to make you complete. There are no substitutes.

Double-edged Sword

Addiction is a double-edged sword. On one side, there’s lust and on the other, rejection. Lust, the unending appetite for more, the overpowering craving for something that will never be quenched or satisfied. And on the other side, there’s rejection, which reveals itself through insecurities and pride. Pride attempts to mask the problem while insecurity feeds pride. A vicious cycle covering a more severe spiritual problem… Barrenness.

Masking the Problem

Addiction is a carnal attempt to mask a spiritual problem.

No matter how you attempt to dress up your problem with fig leaves, your underlying core condition remains the same, your soul has a void and is in need of a Savior. Addiction is a carnal attempt to mask a spiritual problem. Whatever the struggle, stronghold or addiction that has you bound and enslaved to its power, Christ wants to set you free; forever. He wants to become Lord over your entire heart. He wants to fill that void and barren place with His Love. Trust Him.His Love is stronger than your addiction.

How We Overcome Addiction

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

The Word of God crushes every stronghold and defeats every enemy. When you are in Christ, addiction and its false masks of security, have no place or power in Him. Your body, soul, and spirit belong to God. No matter the addiction, that tries to warp its identity around your soul, God’s Word will sever its entanglement.

Declaration prayer 1: Father, I thank you for releasing me from the power and entanglement of addiction.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1 KJV)

In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin.

Addiction is a yoke of bondage, an enslavement that holds you, hostage. It’s an entanglement that wraps itself around your very soul and hijacks your identity. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. Nor are you a servant to its power or chokehold. Your body belongs to Him. You are His treasure, He has paid for you with His Blood. He has set You free.

Declaration prayer 2: I am forgiven and free from every bondage, struggle, and stronghold. The Blood of Jesus washes me, covers me and cleanses me from all unrighteousness. Today I am made whole in God.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:27 KJV)

Jesus Christ is The Anointing

Those who are in Christ, have been given authority by God Himself to enforce His Word and power to command the enemy to flee. When you choose to accept Christ, every stronghold and struggle must loose its grip and it’s condemning power from off of your life. When you are in Christ, He has given you the power to resist the devil, and he will flee. It’s up to you to embrace His Word and trust His promises. The power of sin no longer has it’s death grip on you when you choose Christ and not to serve your flesh. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

Declaration prayer 3: Ask God, to remove your old appetite and taste, and create in you a clean heart, His Heart. Ask God, to allow you to feel how He feels about sin. Ask God, to give you an appetite to read His Word and to discover what He cares about. Draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to you.

If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36 KJV)

When you are in Christ, you are no longer identified by the stain of sin, you are identified by His Love and engrafted into His Heart. You are His child. Choose your identifier. Whether you choose to be identified with sin and serve the former master or live Freely in Christ with liberty and power to be called a son of God, it’s your choice. It’s truly your choice. Step into the new life and Trust Christ. Accept your freedom. Reject condemnation. Choose Christ. You have freedom in Him.

Declaration prayer 4: Father God, In The Name of Jesus, I thank you for your undying Love towards me. Lord, I know that I am new to You. Your Love has set me free. Your Blood washes me, cleanses me and makes me whole. I have no lack in You.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 KJV)

Take Caution

Surround yourself with Godly counsel. Find people who are spiritually stronger and more mature than you in your weak areas. Ask God to send people who are after His Heart to surround you in this critical season – Godly Covenant partners. Lay aside every weight or past temptation that will cause you to stumble. When you feel weak, reach out to God and ask Him for strength, guidance, and direction, He’s always there. “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” (Psalms 91:15 KJV) Next, utilize your pastor and God given Covenant Accountability Partners. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”(Proverbs 11:14 KJV)
Finally, run your race with patience and diligence, continue to move toward God and away from your past, God is with you along the way. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 KJV)

Beware Double Mindedness

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8 KJV). Double minded behavior brings about instability, slows growth and disrupts your process. Deliberately choose not to pick the addiction back up. “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”(Proverbs 26:11 KJV) Release the struggle and let it go. Deliberately shift, repent and turn your sole focus towards God. Choose not to dwell upon your past addiction. He is greater than the addiction.

Truth to Hold on to

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psalms 27:10 KJV)

When others give up, God will never abandon you. He never fails.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 KJV)

He will deliver you from every oppression, depression and every pressure of life.

Trust God. It’s super simple… Just trust God. He will deliver you from every oppression, depression and every pressure of life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

Now unto Him, that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:24, 25 KJV)

Be Blessed. Be Set Free. Be Delivered. It’s time to be Whole!

This article was written by Vance Jackson who serves on the leadership team of Word of Life Christian Ministries in Detroit, MI. Vance is a successful businessman, speaker and writer and leads Bible studies on topics ranging from Marriage to Faith, Family, Business, Stewardship, Emotional Healing and Leadership.

January 1, 2022 1 comment

Articles

Peace Is Not The Absence Of Conflict

by Rhoda Gayle September 24, 2021

written by Rhoda Gayle

God’s peace is not the absence of conflict, it overcomes conflict.

Peace

Paul Martini contradicts the world’s definition of peace as the absence of conflict. Before explaining what peace really is, he first highlighted the importance of any situation we’ve been through. Even in the most difficult situation, we have been through, God is turning that into a message. He turns the mess into a message.

“The mess that God brought me through, He made into a message. It might not be something I had to share on stage one day but whatever God’s bringing you through, whatever mess He’s bringing you through, He’s going to make it into a message. And you’ll have authority to carry that message… So value the mess that God’s bringing you through,” Paul said.

Absence of conflict

Growing up in a home where peace was not felt, Paul wasn’t sure what peace really felt like. However, through the mess that he had been through, God brought a message out of it. Today, he is sharing with us the message about peace that God revealed to him.

“My understanding of peace was actually the world’s understanding of peace which is the absence of conflict… Even when I’m at peace, I’m still worried about when I’m going to lose my peace. I mean, my idea of peace was fragile, it was easily broken, it was not powerful.”

God’s Peace

Contrary to what the world’s definition of peace is, it is not the absence of conflict. The real peace that is found only in God is overcoming the conflict that is in front of us. God didn’t promise us a life without chaos and conflict, however, God promised us that we can overcome it all through His power.

“That’s not God’s peace. See, God’s peace is not the absence of conflict. God’s peace overcomes a conflict, overcomes the chaos, transcends it.”

Peace Is NOT The Absence Of Conflict | Paul Martini

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Reference: YouTube | GOD TV

September 24, 2021 0 comment

Articles

How Can We Overcome Temptation And Avoid Sinning

by Rhoda Gayle July 23, 2021

written by Rhoda Gayle

Evangelist Nathan Morris shares three keys of how can we overcome temptation and avoid falling into sin.

Nathan Morris

Nathan started by emphasizing that temptation is not sinning. It is “only when we succumb to temptation do we fall into sin.” And because we are still in our flesh, it is normal for us to be tempted. The enemy will always find his chance to tempt us to bring us into defeat. However, through the Spirit of God in us, we can overcome any temptation.

So how can we overcome it? The first and most important thing to remember is to never allow our desires to take over our entire being.

“We must never allow our desires to become the forefront of our vision,” Nathan said. “We must bring into captivity every thought that stands against the Word of God, in this, we become overcomers.”

Temptation

Overcome temptation

Nathan then shares three keys that we can use to overcome temptation. The first key is God’s Word.

“We overcome every temptation through the power of God’s Word in us. Never fight temptation with what you think, or your emotion, you will always be defeated,” he explained.

The second key is prayer. As Jesus Christ warned his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, we must watch and pray for us to not enter into temptation.

“When we become sleepy, when we become lukewarm, we are susceptible to temptation… When we pray, when we enter into God’s presence, we are strengthened with might in our inner man.”

The last key is repentance. If you have already fallen into sin, you can get back up again. The Lord is merciful and gracious to cleanse you of your unrighteousness if you just come into Him and repent of all your sins.

“Remember, learn to recognize temptation, overcome it through the power of God’s Word and the power of intimacy and prayer.”

Overcoming Temptation | Nathan Morris

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July 23, 2021 0 comment

Family

6 Ways To Help A Child Deal With Anxiety

by Joanna Flavin June 20, 2021

written by Joanna Flavin

Feeling afraid is a normal part of a child’s emotional development. Have you ever met a child that hasn’t been afraid of the dark at some point? Or maybe a kid that has to be peeled off their parent at pre-school drop-off? They are afraid to separate from their parents, their primary source of comfort. As adults we know anxiety does not come from God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” We know we can fight fear through prayer, and trust that the Prince of Peace is in control of our lives. Even though we know monsters don’t live in the closet, and certainly don’t come out in the dark, our children don’t realize that. Their fear feels very real to them.

As parents, it is our job to comfort an anxious child and also push them towards Christ so they can lean on Him as a way to cope.

Helping My Son Overcome Anxiety

My eldest son had a bout of extreme anxiety this year and we had to really work with him to help him renew and retrain his brain from a fearful place to a peaceful place. It was not easy, and it was extremely painful to see our child suffer mentally, but thank God he is in a much better place!

Here are some of the things we did to guide him from fear to freedom:

1) Prayer

Any time I thought of him, I prayed for him. And when he was home from school I prayed with him. I showed him Bible verses about peace and God instructing us not to be afraid. When he was sleeping, I would go into his room and I would pray and declare freedom from fear over him. I would command anything that wasn’t from God to leave his little mind. Before school, we would blast praise music and “soak” in God’s glory. I even guided him through the salvation prayer so He could know Jesus was living in his heart and he could always call on Him.

2) Gently Pushed Him To Face Fears

Exposing kids to their fears in a slow, gentle manner will help their brains realize that their threat isn’t real. I find role-playing really helps in this situation. If the child has separation anxiety you can walk them through everything that is going to happen before school, at drop-off, during school, and when you’ll pick them up. Maybe remind them the last thing they will do at school before it’s time to go home. Then they will know they are close to being done.

When my son was in the throes of his anxiety, the school nurse would let him call me to hear my voice. I would remind him that I love him, God loves him, and he is safe in school. Something I would never do was pick him up early or let him stay home due to fear. I knew he had to be exposed to school and experience the positive aspects of school instead of hiding from his fear at home.

3) Formed An Anxiety Support Team

By telling other family members, friends, and school faculty about your child’s anxiety, it will create a safe community for him to feel loved and protected instead of ashamed by his fears. My son’s principal and teacher were such a blessing in supporting him at school when we couldn’t be there. We met with them often about his progress, and discussed things that worked or didn’t work. And we were in constant communication about how he was doing and what his current needs were. The would try anything we were trying at home and not only did it help him feel supported, but we felt supported too.

4) Got A Worry Journal

This worry book was a huge tool in helping my son identify his feelings of anxiety and also normalize them. He realized he wasn’t alone and that there were tools to help him cope and succeed. We would do it together and I would even send it to school for him to do with his nurse if he was having a hard time.

5) Scheduled Worry Time

This was the most instrumental piece in rewiring and renewing his mind and finally pulling him to freedom. He would often come to me with a thought that had him worrying. But instead of reassuring him (which would teach him that he could always entertain his worrying because he was always reassured), I told him we could only discuss worries during our designated worry time. He would write his worry down and set it in a worry box for later. Then we set aside 15 minutes once or twice a day to discuss his worries then. Doing this trained his brain into realizing that a thought is just a thought and thoughts are not emergencies that needed to be addressed at that very second. It allowed him to realize his fears didn’t hold as much weight as he thought they did. We got his teacher to also do worry time at school and it really helped him over the hump and out of fear.

6) Counseling / Therapy For Anxiety

Remember, there is no shame in getting professional help. Your brain is an organ, just like your heart or liver are organs. Sometimes the brain needs a little extra attention or even medication to get back to functioning properly. In fact, I have my Master’s in Social Work and used to be a therapist, but still needed someone else, more properly trained in this area to help my child develop techniques to cope with and overcome anxiety. It is so great to start their journey to emotional and mental well-being at a young age!

Don’t forget love, empathy, grace, faith, and patience will help you and your child get over this mountain. You will all be stronger on the other side!

June 20, 2021 0 comment

Articles

Relentless Woman, Overcome Obstacles In Life By Faith

by Christel Berns April 28, 2021

written by Christel Berns

Fear is inevitable. When we give in to the lies the enemy is whispering to us; it paralyzes us. Unknowingly, it leads us not to move and do anything for His glory. We then respond around fear without realizing obstacles have already taken us far from faith.

Facing Obstacles

Choosing faith over fear is easier said than done. Fear is not from God or anything that He has for us, but it is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to choose faith in the place of fear. When we choose faith amidst fear, it’s where breakthroughs happen, and fear disappears. It then becomes the most powerful place to be.

In Hebrews 11:1, faith is clearly defined. It is written, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Thus, we should make our decisions, choices, and responses according to what the Word of God says. Based on what is unseen and what we hope for, not in our circumstance where fear is stirred, and hope is lost.

Moreover, faith is what pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 further explained, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Therefore, woman of God, be the woman who overcomes obstacles by faith. Quit tiptoeing around fear and bravely face your battle with God on your side. Be the woman who seeks God and responds in faith no matter what circumstance. Even though fear can feel so real, a Relentless Woman chooses to step out of her comfort zone and trusts that God will come through for her. That is how you will overcome every struggle and adversity, and Jesus will be glorified in your life.

ALSO READ: Relentless Woman, One Day You’ll See Why God Made You Wait

April 28, 2021 0 comment

Faith

Facing Your Creative Fears & Slaying Your Artistic Giants

by David Lee Martin April 1, 2021

written by David Lee Martin

Often we think the greatest forces that stand in our way are external. The negative forces of too little time, lack of know-how, or a platform to shine on. Maybe it’s concern what others might say or think if we put our creative life on a plate for the world to consume and criticize. Or, as with most creatives, there’s the creeping fear of failure that rises from within.

I have found my greatest fears press in from a different direction. It is not so much the fear of failure that kills my creativity; it is the fear of success. I have heard this said before and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, right! Says the person who’s living the life and busting some moves. Give me a break!”

But the reality of fearing success in areas of my heartfelt hopes was highlighted to me after making the decision to step up and step out into creative projects that were utterly aligned with my passions.

Maybe you have experienced similar fears? It’s easy not to be emotional when we do not care either way how something works out, but when our heart and passion are attached it becomes personal.

Creative: Stepping Toward your Dream

With every tiny step toward fulfilling your dream, you’ll face new challenges.

See, success is not so much measured by the number of people who say it’s great – success is actually stepping out on the things close to your heart. Success is breaking out of the “shadow life” into the light.

How many choose to live a shadow life, hiding in mediocrity because quite frankly it is safer and more secure? The shadow life skirts the edges of creative calling but never dives into the eye of the storm to experience the full force of divinity working in and through your hands to deliver the dream you carry so others can experience it.

Heart Held Hopes

The most vulnerable thing we can share is not our hurts and fears, it is our hopes and dreams. The things we most desire and our most enduring heart-held hopes.

This is where the giants congregate. Goliath doesn’t want to crush you, just keep you in the line. He wants your sling to stay in your pocket and your life to hide in the quaking crowd. Stepping forward and making yourself visible makes you a target for derision. Even brothers and sisters may “tut” at your boldness.

But what’s the cost of staying in line? What shadow falls over the heart when inspiration and playful creativity are quashed.

I believe that God is raising a house of holy creatives. A community of called-out ones with a desire to share their life and color with the world in wildly anointed ways.

Christian artists, authors, entrepreneurs. You are not called to stay in line!

Don’t be afraid to fail. You have the goods and the grace to make a difference.

Face the terror of how terrific it would be to step into your creative calling!

Don’t creep behind your comforts.

Seek and find your tribe.

Each time you push my heart beyond the line, I’ve discovered something new.

Don’t Seek Safety, Seek Christ

In my own journey of discovery, it is not safety that I seek. I long to enjoy a community of Christ-centred lovers looking to lift one another in the art and act of creation.

You do not need not know or have everything before you bring something valuable to the table. Your journey and your challenges, your trembling hopes, fears, and insecurities are as much a part of this mix as the stuff that usually ends up plastered on the pages and posts.

How horrible to think we could live a shadow life and not enjoy the freedom of being all out ourselves. Not perfection, not adulation or success in the conventional sense of the word. A tribe to encourage one another to create, and make, and write, and sing, to dance and delight themselves in the seeds of God coming to fruition.

My Creative Journey

My journey here has been a lengthy one, and there’s still a way to go. I’m holding hard and tight to Jesus as I pick up one more stone and place it carefully in my sling.

This short confession is one way to let that stone fly and find its mark. To slay another giant.

Hopefully, it will resonate with some other bold brothers and sisters ready to challenge whatever Goliath is shouting them down.

I applaud you! Come into the field of creativity and fear not. Facing your fears is admirable, but embracing your success, actually doing and delivering what is really in your heart – the full substance of it, not the shadow, is where the fields of joy are calling you to venture.

April 1, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith

Being Adaptable And Clinging To Christ

by Joanna Flavin March 4, 2021

written by Joanna Flavin

I’ve learned something very interesting this year. I always knew it, but it’s been smacking me in the face lately: Humans are very adaptable. Hear me out because this may come as a surprise as we hear a lot of “we are stuck in our ways.” But this era of the pandemic has proven otherwise.

The Year Of The Pandemic

Think back to a year ago, March 2020. Coronavirus was starting to ravage the United States and lockdowns and quarantines were implemented. Mask mandates were in place and people didn’t really leave the house unless absolutely necessary, I mean people weren’t even going to physicals or teeth cleanings.

Our whole world changed overnight. There wasn’t enough toilet paper, hand sanitizer, face masks, or diapers. I mean, things were WEIRD. People wiped off their groceries with Lysol!!! And we never thought we would stop hoarding toiletries, our kids would ever go back to school, or we would eat at a restaurant ever again.

Back to the present day. You can buy cloth masks everywhere: CVS, grocery stores, clothing stores, companies started using their resources to make a surplus of items they don’t normally make. We have shampoo companies making toilet paper and hand sanitizer. And most every clothing brand has come out with trendy masks to accessorize your outfit. Things that were “weird and scary” a year ago have become the norm, a part of our everyday lives.

Adaptable Beings

Humans are adaptable. God has designed us to be SURVIVORS and OVERCOMERS. He didn’t promise an easy life. In fact, he pretty much promised a hard life on Earth. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” That’s exactly what has happened during this pandemic. We have overcome. We met challenges and scaled mountains, and we are on our way to the top. It wasn’t pleasant, it wasn’t easy, but we adapted and we clung to Jesus and His hope for a better future.

“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

(Psalm 18:1)

As happy as I will be to say goodbye to my masks…I am not going to lie…I have really loved having them on my face on a bitter cold Northeast day!

March 4, 2021 0 comment

Video

Secrets To Prevailing Through Pain, Suffering, And Disappointment

by Kyle Winkler February 22, 2021

written by Kyle Winkler

Prevailing through Pain (The Susie Larson Story)

Watch this video on YouTube

Popular radio host and author, Susie Larson, knows what it’s like to be in pain. From childhood to today, she’s still prevailing, and she’s faced numerous battles, such as:

sexual trauma,
Lyme disease and
Neurological disorder.

At the height of her storms, fraught with symptoms, Susie cried out to God: “What’s going on, Lord? Where are you?” That’s when she received a thundering, but curious word from heaven.

God said, “The storms reveal the lies we believe and the truths we need.”

Empowered by Truth

Not surprisingly, God’s answer caught Susie’s attention and set her on a quest to discover the truths she needed.

And she found them.

With the guidance of God’s hand and the gentleness of His voice, she uncovered powerful truths that strengthened her when she was sick, comforted her when she wondered, “Why me?” and motivated her when she didn’t feel like getting out of bed.

Today, Susie has written 16 books and hosts a national radio program that broadcasts to 100,000 listeners every day. And while she still suffers symptoms, the truths she now stands on are what empower her to prevail through every pain and disappointment.

Prevailing: Answers for You

I think we all can relate to Susie’s experience at some level. None of us have perfect lives. Each one of us are in need of hope through our disappointments and healing of our wounds, whether emotional or physical. Certainly, at times, we all ask God, “Why me?”

That’s why I invited Susie to share her story and the truths she discovered that inspire her to press forward. Tune in to our discussion above to learn:

why God allows the enemy’s attacks,
the answer to your, “Why me?” questions,
tips for how to stay motivated when you’re in pain,
and more.

What storms surround you today? What battles do you face? Join Susie for an impartation of truth, grace, and strength.

February 22, 2021 0 comment

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