Here Fido!

"Imitate God, since you are the children he loves." (Ephesians 5:1)

"(as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist." (Romans 4:17, AMP)

It has been a long time since I’ve written a blogpost. I don’t currently blog as consistently as I have in the past and many have very lovingly asked, “What happened?” Mostly, homeschooling seventh and eighth grade happened. These upper grades have been more demanding than previous grades; thus, we are in a new season resulting in prioritizing (Psalm 37:23)

I miss blogging on the wonderful goodness of God! This past weekend, one of my closest friends encouraged me to blog again. And recently I’ve sensed the LORD prompting me to write about “giving place” in areas of our lives.  So, here we are!

First, please allow me to say, we travel a lot and we have the privilege of attending many different churches throughout any given year. This blogpost is not about a church in particular. In other words, this is not about pointing out someone’s faults or shortcomings. It is about using experiences to correct situations in our lives, immediately, so the chance for it to escalate is quashed.

Several months ago, I had an experience that taught me the power of “giving place”. We were in a church service and as soon as I walked into the sanctuary, there was a heaviness. I assumed it would lift as soon as worship service began. The heaviness didn’t lift at all. It seemed to only intensify. I was about to chalk it up to being an issue with me but when the pastor took the platform, the pastor seemed confused and said, “There is a heaviness in here today.” 

Several people shook their heads in agreement.

The LORD immediately and powerfully spoke to my spirit and said, “Don’t ever give place to that. You call those things that are as though they were.” (Ephesians 4:27, Ephesians 5:1, Romans 4:17)

Although the teaching was great, the heaviness increased and intensified during and to the end of the service. 

I learned a very powerful lesson. I saw firsthand how our words affect our atmosphere.

For example, we begin our week early Monday morning with a great attitude and ready to conquer the world! And then “little foxes” dart in and out all day long and by the end of the day (or at times, by noon) leave us feeling, well, like less than a conqueror! (Song of Solomon 2:15, Romans 8:37)

It’s during these times we have to turn to God’s Word and use it to combat everything that attempts to rise against us! (John 10:10, Ephesians 6:12, Isaiah 54:17)

I believe Dr. Larry Ollison (www.faithman.org) teaches it best. I’ve heard him describe it this way:

When our dog is outside and we go to the door to call our dog inside, we don’t say what we see but we say what we want to see. 

We don’t say, “There Fido! Oh! Over there Fido!” 

As Fido continues to run around, we don’t continue to say what we see. 

Most can agree, that would be confusing to Fido 

as well as everyone else who is within earshot. 

Instead, we say and continue to say, “Here Fido!” 

If Fido continues to run around all over the place, we don’t change what we say, regardless of what we see and feel. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Likewise, when the storms of life rage against us, we don’t waver from God’s promises. Instead, we bear down and bring every thought and make it obedient to Christ (because it is not automatic), we align our words with everything God says, and we encamp ourselves with only the ones who can walk in full agreement with us being fully persuaded! (Proverbs 18:21, Luke 6:45, Romans 4:20-21, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Matthew 7:24-27, 2 Corinthians 10:5)    

The easiest and most affective way I’ve found to accomplish these things is to practice His presence! (Matthew 6:33, Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

But what does this look like on a day to day basis?

When faced with an opportunity to overcome (i.e. a battle rages against me), I dig in God’s Word and find a scripture or scriptures that will keep me on track. I turn that scripture into a confession and I write my confession down on a little index card. And then, I speak that confession over myself every time I need it. (Psalm 73:26, Luke 1:37)

For example, let’s say I receive a troubling phone call/email/text/Facebook post. I use John 14:27 which says, “I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.” I write my confession as, “Thank You Jesus for giving me the gift of peace! You gave me peace of mind and heart! In the name of Jesus, I refuse to allow my heart to be troubled or afraid! 

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader and I thank You in advance for your gift of peace that protects their heart and minds. I thank You for opportunities to teach us to be fully persuaded in Your promises. I thank You for Your Word that is alive and working on our behalf. I pray each reader be changed by what they've read here today and I thank You they are fully persuaded in You and Your promises!

The Master Chef

"I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20, NLT)

One of my BFFs is the furtherest thing from being a master chef...ever.
She and I happily share that commonality. 

Mucho Mahalos Bitstrips!

She has no interest in being a cook, let alone a master chef. I can pray over her, declare to her, and proclaim to the world that she is a master chef. However, unless she gets into agreement with me about becoming a master chef, she will never become a master chef.

I have faith to move mountains; however, my faith and my words won’t necessarily yield a harvest in her life without her agreement.

That said, there are many things she and I come into agreement about and we decree those things and they are established. (Hosea 10:12) 

Two are better than one! (Ecc. 4:9-12) My words coupled with her words (agreement) are absolutely unstoppable! God is always faithful! (1 Corinthians 1:9)

"I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20, NLT) 

Never, ever quit! (Galatians 6:9)

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader right now to gain a new level of tenacity in You! Help us Lord, see through Your eyes past the temporal into the eternal in the name of Jesus! Show us Your Heavenly perspective! We determine to have a spirit and attitude of I will never, ever quit! We determine to have a spirit and attitude of, "God said it in His Word! I believe everything He said! I never waver at His promises! He has a good plan for my life! I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! God loves me...unconditionally, no matter what!" Thank You Lord for your precious promises! 

Standing!

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23, NKJV)

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, New Living Translation)

This morning I woke up with the Legacy Church (www.legacykona.com) Praise Team singing in my head. Loud and clear, I could hear William McDowell's version of  "Standing".   

"We are stand-ing... stand-ing...

Standing on the promise of Christ our Savior!"

If you've never heard that version of the song, I encourage you to meditate on it. It will really bless you. I so deeply appreciate the impact worship teams have on congregations! Life giving words set to music and whole heartedly belted out during services in a "corporate setting" continue to minister days, weeks, even months or years later! I consistently revert to praise songs I heard over twenty years ago. Worship teams, don't ever fall for the lie that you are not impacting His kingdom. 

But, praise teams is not what this post is about. Today's post is about standing on His promises! 

After I worshipped the LORD with that song, thanked Him for His great faithfulness, and enjoyed His amazing presence, I asked Him what He would have me write today. He said, "Standing!"

In a previous blog post, I discussed speech issues that we've battled with my youngest child. If you missed that post, you can read it here.  

http://keytovblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/stay-in-it-to-win-it.html

The following Sunday after Gracie's initial consultation, I took her to our pastor,  Dr. Larry Ollison. He prayed for her and declared all would be right with her. Additionally, he spoke life and peace into me. That moment was a turning point. From fear and despair to faith and hope. 

This morning God brought to my remembrance, our family's confession for the past 4 + years during the speech battle with Gracie. Basic, simple and very uncomplicated, every time the LORD brought it to our remembrance or every time the enemy would whisper in our ear, "It's been so long, she will never speak correctly." We laid our hands on Gracie's head and gently spoke, "Perfect speech in the name of Jesus." We also taught her and her sister to stay in agreement with us by speaking the same thing. We refused to get in agreement with what we were seeing and hearing. Instead, we were standing in agreement with His promises. 

Last year, when Gracie was six years old, she was tested by a www.chea-elks.org speech pathologist. At that time, her speech was at a five year old level (one year behind). Last week, she was re-tested, her speech is now at an eight year old level (one year ahead).

In this fast food nation, the temptation to give up if immediate results don't manifest may strike. Strike back! It is more crucial now than ever, to forego what we are told in the natural and hold fast to that which is permanent without wavering because He who has promised is faithful! 

"We are stand-ing... stand-ing...

Standing on the promise of Christ our Savior!"