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I shall not be moved: 10 Prayerful Declarations
Unlike kanye, I am not a God. The rapper released a song this week in which he claims to be a god. I am a human being. I am prone to wander, susceptible to sicknesses, frail. I have moments when I shine, than those other times when I suck. Welcome to the human race. But that does not make me weak, because I know who is God and He has promised me a victorious life. I am more than a conqueror.
I’m afflicted in every way – but I am not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not destroyed. I may carry in my body the death of Christ, but because of His death I live. I’m sick, yet I’m healed.
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:1
Therefore, I declare that I shall not be moved by:
the snare of the fowler… from all the devices of Satan… lies, slander, evil plots and conspiracies
the deadly pestilence… all dangerous maladies… If I don’t have it, I refuse to get it. If I do, it will not make me, nor break me
the terror of the night… treasons, plunder, robbery, and murder… the demons that walk by night
the arrow that flies by day… the arrow of the angel of death shot in the day time
the pestilence that stalks in darkness… hidden and unannounced and sudden tragedy… calamity…
the destruction that wastes at noonday… open and announced treats to hurt and harm through sudden tragedy… calamity
evil… sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh
plague… deadly and infectious disease… injurious outbreak
adder… Its poison kills without the possibility of a remedy. It’s said that it kills by way of sleep. In other words, spiritual slumber is its choice venom.
trouble… agitate mentally or spiritually : worry, disturb, stress, distress…
Because
I dwell in the shelter of the most high.
I abide in the shadow of the Almighty
I’m delivered
He covers me
His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler
He builds a hedge around me
He allows no evil to befall me
I tread on lions and adders and not harms me
He holds fast to me in love
He protects me, calls me by name, saves me from trouble
I declare today that I’m not moved!
Please see Psalm 91; Psalm 30
Hold On
I know you’re praying for a change To see a sunny day Nothing good has come your way for so long You need someone to understand this place your heart is in You just want to dream again and believe Your skies may look dim and grey But know your breakthrough’s not far away
So hold on
You are too close to give up now You have so much to live for Remember what you prayed for Hold on, please don’t let go in this season Know that flowers bloom when rain falls You just hold on
Writers: James Fortune, Cheryl Fortune, Terence Vaughn
Lead Vocals: Monica Brown, Fred Hammond
5 Things that get a great leader snubbed
I often ask myself why some of the smartest people in the world are not the ones calling the shots or running the show? Why is it that some people with great ideas and awesome resume don’t get their projects and ideas approved or get that promotion based on their smarts. Why do they get smack down or shuffled off into other departments in a company or just get completely ignored?
Being smart and full of good ideas are not the only things that get you noticed and keeps you productive and ahead of your peers. Character is the most important trait you could ever possess.
It is rather unfortunate that most smart people get smacked down or get ignored, but it is a reality. From my observation, there are five crucial reasons: Arrogance, Ego, Insincerity, and Over-selling of self and Insubordination. Let’s unpack these:
Arrogance
Unfortunately most arrogant driven people don’t even realize it. They don”t even have to say a word, because their attitude speaks louder. They are snobbish, and love making others feel useless and incompetent. The bible says that, “the Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Ego/ me, myself and I
Ego-centrism is another problem for anyone trying to get ahead in life. At the center of an egotistical person”s life is the personal pronoun “I”. They are selfish, controlling, dominant, arrogant and manipulative. Life is all about them.
Insincerity
Integrity is not a part of their vocabulary. They lie, cheat, double-cross and just about do anything to get ahead. They actually don’t mind using you as long as you are a means to an end. These are some of the smartest and most dangerous people you can ever come across. They know exactly how to play you.
Insubordination
Some people think they are smarter, cuter or better than others. They love to belittle others, size them up and spit them out. When they talk to you, it’s usually in the form of condescension. They show no respect for leadership or anyone above them.
Over-sell
Recently on America”s Got Talent, a very gifted ex-Marine thought it wise to embellish his resume by telling a lie about a speech impediment . Next day it was discovered that he lied. Your gift always speaks for itself. The bible says that your gift will bring you before kings. You have no reason to oversell. See Proverbs 22:29
The common problem with these people is that they have the false notion that their arrogance, ego, insincerity, insubordination and oversell is the key to get them and keep them on top. Unfortunately, these are the very things that bring them down.
The key to getting ahead is through humility, honesty, self-respect and an even greater respect for others, not forgetting that God is the one who lifts and promotes, especially when do things his way. That is what character is all about.
two unchangeable things about God
So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:18
How certain are the promises of God? The writer of the book of Hebrews claims that the certainty of God’s promises are guaranteed by God’s own perfectly trustworthy character. To illustrate this and prove the certainty of God’s promises, the writer uses Abraham as an example of one who through faith and much patience inherited the promises of God. As if that illustration was not enough, the writer makes a bold statement about two unchangeable things about God. What are they? And how important are they?
The two unchangeable things are:
- God’s promise/purpose
- God’s Oath
- one deals with the fact that all the promises of God are yes!
- and the other is more like an assurance that he will certainly deliver on what he promised.
Hebrews 6:13 says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” Many times we fail to hear this reassurance – “Surely”
Hebrews 6:18 says, “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.” Too often we fail to understand that God desires to “convince” us that he will do what he said he will do.
The character of God is holy, and he does not lie. Therefore, all of his promises are sure, and doubly sure when combined with his oath. Oaths were common legal devices in ancient times as in the modern world and they usually required an appeal to some greater authority.
Therefore, the promise of salvation through Jesus’ high priesthood, which, by the way is the subject here in chapter 6, is a secure and trustworthy hope. We can rest assure that he will deliver on that promise – just like he delivered on his promises to Abraham. But the good news here is that every promise God makes is a promise you can believe in and look forward to being fulfilled in your life. All you need to do is stand on those two unchangeable things:
1. It is impossible for God to lie. What he says he will do he does.
2. He always guarantees his promise with an oath. This oath is to reassure you that he meant what he said.
11 Things God is able to do
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.
The word “Able” is translated from the word dunatos (in turn from dunamai) which refers to the power one has by virtue of inherent ability and resources. “Able” describes that which has sufficient or necessary power, means, skill, or resources to accomplish an objective.
I am completely persuaded that God is Able
God is able to create something out of nothing
God is able from these stones to raise up children. Matthew 3:9
God is able to make all grace abound to you
God is able to make all grace abound to you… having all-sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
God is able to deliver
God whom we serve is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will carry us out of your hand… Daniel 3:17
God is able to give you strength to rise above trials
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it… 1 Corinthians 10:13
God is able to save
He is able to keep to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them… Hebrews 7:25
God is able to build you up in Grace
I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified… Acts 20:32
God is able to exceed your expectation… He is able to do exceedingly above all you can ask or imagine
The Lord is able to give you much more than this… 2 Chronicles 25:9
God is able to keep you from falling
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy… Jude 1:24
God is able to Guard the excellent word in you, good deposit in you… to keep you from error
I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within… 2 Timothy 1:12-14
God is able to fulfill His promises
Entirely convinced that God was able to do what he had promised… Romans 4:21
God is able to comfort those who are afflicted
Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any pain, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God… 2 Corinthians 1:4
Please pray for my wife. She lost her dad yesterday. Please remember the entire family in your prayers. That the Lord will comfort their hearts.
Definition of Able via Stephen Weber
Anybody got a testimony?
For all the fathers who knew it all when they were 14
When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. -Mark Twain Happy Father's Day!
What My Soul Needs is God
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
This is one of my most favored Psalms of all-time. It has a humble and longing posture that is most important to anyone who truly wants to know and experience God. The idea of running after or seeking after God is exciting and adventurous. To me, His ways are past finding out, and you might be surprise about what you might discover about Him as you attempt to seek more of Him.
Therefore, for the soul to truly live and thrive, and experience God in meaningful ways, one must understand the things that keep the soul alive and thriving and fight the things that try to hinder it. Because the soul is easily cast down. It easily loses hope and is easily troubled. So here are a few things to consider:
- A sustained hunger and thirst for God through shouts of worship and praise (verse 1 and 11 – As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you; I shall again praise him, ), an unwavering hope (verse 5-Hope in God), prayer without ceasing (verse 8-a prayer to the God of my life), remembering His unfailing love ( verse 8-he commands his steadfast love), rest in the joy of your salvation (verse 11-my salvation and my God), finally, an increasing weight of His glory and anointing (verse 7-all your breakers and your waves have gone over me).
- Fight the things that hinder the soul from living and thriving – “When shall I come and appear before God?”- Anytime. “Where is your God?”- Right where you are. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Yeah – Why? “Why have you forgotten me?” – You know God will never do that. “Why do I go mourning… because of the oppression of the enemy?” – Come On!
I find His presence through worship, praise
I find Him when I am desperately seeking after Him
I find hope in him even in hopeless situations
I know His love is unending… unfailing
My prayer draws me closer
I find rest for my soul
Oh the joy of my salvation!
The weight of His Glory/Anointing/ Spirit comes gushing in when I let Him flow down in my valley like a waterfall
All these things I can experience right here, right now, so why are you downcast within me Soul? Embrace the things that bring you life and fight the things that bring drought.
A Comfort That Shouldn’t Be
The self loathing was a ‘beyond my control, caught in my throat’ kind of oppression. It led to the most emotionally excruciating pain I have ever experienced. The conversations in my mind were increasingly evil. So loud, yet they somehow made perfect sense to me.
I planned ways to die. I yearned deep in my soul to leave the pain behind forever. I saw no end in sight. I would hear a voice whisper with such evil force, “You are not worth anything.” That was an awful voice, but it was familiar.
Yet, I faintly heard another voice that never left me. Screaming, in the most comforting way, to help me.
Heather Mertens
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Walter Bright 
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