Romans 4:17…even God, Who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

Out of His great love for us, God speaks life and blessings into existence on our behalf. We experience “MIRACLES OUT OF NOWHERE” in every area of life.

FAMILY MIRACLE

In Genesis 24 the chapter begins with: “By that time Abraham was very old. The Lord had blessed him in every way.” This Truth is also to be the favor we have upon our lives because of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross and because you and I are under the “Blessing of Abraham“ (See Galatians 3). The rest of Genesis 24 goes on to tell about a marriage miracle.  You probably know the story of how Abraham sent his servant to find Abraham’s son, Isaac, a wife from among the people of God instead of Isaac finding a wife from among the “pagan nations.”

Genesis 24:11-15 (NIRV)  He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening. It was the time when women go out to get water. Then he prayed, “Lord, You are the God of my master Abraham. Give me success today. Be kind to my master Abraham. I’m standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water.  “I will speak to a young woman. I’ll say, ‘Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.’ Suppose she says, ‘Have a drink of water. And I’ll get some for your camels too.’ Then let her be the one You have chosen for Your servant Isaac. That’s how I’ll know You have been kind to my master.”  Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She had a jar on her shoulder…

Rebekah said the exact words the servant prayed she would say as a sign and the rest is history. Rebekah went back to meet Isaac and they were married and gave birth to a nation of people for God. A very successful marriage occurred “sight unseen” as God brought about one of many “MIRACLES OUT OF NOWHERE.” God is faithful and has miracles for you and I today.

FINANCIAL MIRACLE

Matthew 2:11 (NIRV)  The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the Child with His mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave Him gold, incense and myrrh.

Joseph, Mary’s husband, was a man of God who worked hard as a carpenter to provide for his family. However, God also works on Joseph’s behalf and our behalf as well. God orchestrated “wise men” to bring gifts including gold to Jesus, Joseph and Mary. This gold was undoubtedly enough to provide for their living expenses for years to come.

Matthew 17:24-27 (NIRV)  Jesus said to him. “But we don’t want to make them angry. So go to the lake and throw out your fishing line. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth. There you will find the exact coin you need. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Later in Jesus’ life, Jesus brought miraculous blessings through the work that Peter was gifted at: fishing. His favor + our faith in what He asks us to do = “MIRACLES OUT OF NOWHERE.”

PHYSICAL MIRACLE

John 6:8-12 (NIRV) Another of His disciples spoke up. It was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He said, “Here is a boy with five small loaves of barley bread. He also has two small fish. But how far will that go in such a large crowd?”  Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down. The number of men among them was about 5,000.  Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. He handed out the bread to those who were seated. He gave them as much as they wanted. And He did the same with the fish.  When all of them had enough to eat, Jesus spoke to His disciples. “Gather the leftover pieces,” He said. “Don’t waste anything.”

Jesus provided all that the people wanted to eat plus they had some extra to spare. Our God is a generous and good God providing all that we need and then some. He abundantly blesses us with “MIRACLES OUT OF NOWHERE.”

SPIRITUAL MIRACLE

Acts 2:2, 4, 17-18, 21 (NIRV) Suddenly a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong wind blowing. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Spirit gave them the ability to do this.  He said, ” ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Holy Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have dreams.  In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on those who serve Me, both men and women. When I do, they will prophesy.  Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.’

MENTAL MIRACLE

Acts 17:21-28 (NIRV)  All the people of Athens spent their time talking about and listening to the latest ideas. People from other lands who lived there did the same. Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus. He said, “Men of Athens! I see that you are very religious in every way. As I walked around, I looked carefully at the things you worship. I even found an altar with “to an unknown god” written on it. Now I am going to tell you about this ‘unknown god’ that you worship. “He is the God Who made the world. He also made everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples built by hands. He is not served by human hands. He doesn’t need anything. He Himself gives life and breath to all people. He also gives them everything else they have. From one man He made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And He decided exactly where they should live. God did this so that people would seek Him. Then perhaps they would reach out for Him and find Him. They would find Him even though He is not far from any of us. ‘In Him we live and move and exist.’ As some of your own poets have also said, ‘We are His children.’

Just as the Apostle Paul and other followers of Jesus spent time in the Presence of God and God revealed amazing Truths to them, God will give each of us “miraculous revelations” beyond what our mere human minds can conceive (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ).  We then can share this wisdom with others who need hope in this hopeless world.

SOCIAL MIRACLE

Acts 18:2-4, 9-11 (NIRV)  There he (Paul) met a Jew named Aquila, who was a native of Pontus. Aquila had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. The emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see Aquila and Priscilla. They were tentmakers, just as he was. So he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath day he went to the synagogue. He was trying to get both Jews and Greeks to believe in the Lord.  One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Keep on speaking. Don’t be silent. I am with you. No one will attack you and harm you. I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed there for a year and a half. He taught them God’s Word.

God will provide His people with people of faith to walk out this LIFE with, as we were all created for community. God has brought people into my path for a day or for years that have encouraged me and “strengthened me in the faith.” These precious people were “MIRACLES OUT OF NOWHERE.” God will provide everything you and I need for every area of life.  This week be on the lookout for His “MIRACLES OUT OF NOWHERE.”

This is a snapshot of being in the Presence of the Lord:

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)  For this reason I kneel before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

In His Presence He gives us our identity. From our Heavenly Father comes our “name” and our identity. In His Presence H reveals who you and I were really created to be. Then He seals our true identity in us.

Psalm 16:5, 8 (NIV)  LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure…I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

In the Presence of God we realize what has truly been accomplished for each of us.

I John 4:9-10 (NIV)  This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

In His Presence He shows us how BIG His love is for you and I.  His love is both HIGH and DEEP.

Psalms 103:11 (CEV)  How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth!

WOW!!! How BIG His love is for us.  He is so RICH in love.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NASB) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

In His Presence He shows us how thorough and complete His forgiveness is in our lives.

Psalms 103:12 (CEV)  How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!

His forgiveness is so W-I-D-E…wider than any sin we have ever committed.

In His Presence He shows us how LONG His blessings last.

Psalm 21:6 (NIV)  Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence.

Psalm 21:6 (AMP) For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence. [Gen. 12:2.]

BLESSED FOREVER AND FOREVER BLESSED

If we benefit so greatly from spending time in His Presence, why do we rush around and not make time for Jesus daily? We inventory the things in life that are worth very little and do not inventory the things that are worth a price far greater than gold.  Today, most of our lives are ruled by anxiousness not by peace. We are all addicted to the }emotional rush” and we fear not having that rush. In God’s Presence it is usually not a hyped experience but a time of peace, joy and love. The things we need much more than an emotional rush. Jesus gives us a verbal and written invitation into His Presence today:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The one thing most of us need most today is peace and rest for our souls…that is our minds, wills and emotions.  Jesus invites us to that place of rest. When we enter that place of peace, joy and love; He shows us the Divine Inventory He has given us.

First, we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)  “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Second, we are the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Third of all, we have the Holy Spirit…the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us. By His Holy Spirit, He gives us a brand new willpower.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)  Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

From having His Holy Spirit constantly dwelling in us, we have an incredible inventory to pull from for every situation that comes our way in life.

We have the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22-23)
We have the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
We have the offices of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:11-14)
We have the motivations of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 12:6-8)
We have the Word made flesh within us. (John 1:14)

May we make time to sit in God’s Presence today in order to know all that He has freely given us. This will inspire us today and every day, especially those days when we feel empty like we are just going through the motions of life.

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

Why does the world hate Jesus?

John 7:7 (NCV) (Jesus says) “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I tell it the evil things it does.”

Jesus with His perfect life and perfect words challenged the world. The people of the world were challenged with the fact that what each person does is wrong. This causes each person to hate Jesus as no one likes to be told that they are living the wrong way.

Matthew 20:19 NCV (Jesus says)  “They will give the Son of Man to the non-Jewish people to laugh at Him and beat Him with whips and crucify Him. But on the third day, He will be raised to life again.”

JESUS SAYS AND THE WORLD DOES…

John 19:1-3, 16 (NCV) Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and whipped. The soldiers made a crown from some thorny branches and put it on Jesus’ head and put a purple robe around Him. Then they came to Him many times and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and hit Him in the face…So Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. The soldiers took charge of Jesus.

HATERS tortured Jesus and then killed Him. The perfect all-loving Lamb of God was killed by HATERS. Here is what Jesus did for the world and each of us.

John 3:16 (NKJV)  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus loved the world and loves the world.  Jesus loved each person’s life more than He loved His Own Life.

Romans 5:8 (NCV) But God shows His great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

GOD’S WRATH AND GOD’S FAVOR

John 3:36 (NIV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

God’s wrath is upon all people who have done evil. Oh man!!! You and I have done evil. However, the Good News is that Jesus, in His love for us, took ALL the wrath of God upon Himself. Because Jesus received ALL of God’s anger, we suffer zero punishment for our sins. In fact, Jesus took all the evil, wicked and sinful acts of every person who ever lived or is living now upon His body on the Cross. For those speak able and unspeakable sins you and I committed in word, thought and deed; Jesus had placed upon His body. Jesus felt the full weight of every sin ever committed or to be committed. Then God punished Jesus with ALL the force of His wrath. Jesus was punished for our sins. Jesus was punished with ALL of God’s wrath for your sins and mine. Take a minute and feel the weight of this Truth!!!

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Jesus was flogged for our flaws. Our punishment pierced His hands and feet.

Our curse was nailed to the Cross. Jesus got all the punishment and we got all the peace. Jesus got all the curse and we receive all the blessing from God.

Jesus received the floggings and beatings; we receive the favor and blessings.

Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV)  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Jesus’ death on the Cross was the proof of love to HATERS.

I John 4:10 (NIV)  This is Love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

FORGIVENESS FIRST AND THEN FAVOR FOREVER

Jesus’ death upon the Cross bought each of us forgiveness from our past sins, present sins and future sins.  After all, every sin we have ever committed in life was future tense” from the time that Jesus shed His Blood for us.  Jesus had to deal with our problem of sin before we even sinned.  He had to forgive us first before favor could flow.

Hebrews 8:11-12 (NIV)  “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

He remembers your sins and mine “NO MORE.” With sin out of the way, the blessings can flow freely into your life and mine. Forgiveness first and favor forever…

2 Peter 1:3 (AMP) May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in (the full, personal, precise, and correct) knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Even when you and I were HATERS of God, He was reaching out to us with love.

He was pursuing us with mercy and favor.  Now that we are “Children of Favor,” He still pursues us wanting to bless us richly and abundantly. Forgiveness first and then favor forever… You are a “Child of Favor.”

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

Though some days we do not feel like it, we have great POWER within us.

John 1:12 (NRSV)  But to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave POWER to become children of God…

Acts 1:8 (NIV)  “But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”

It is good to hear this Truth again and again…

John 1:12 (AMP) But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (POWER, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His Name–[Isaiah 56:5].

Jesus is in you and me. Jesus has placed within us the right to be a child of God….  Right = POWER to act, authority. POWER “to be“…not to do.  We do not have to do something to earn our POWER, our Position in life and our Portion from Him (Psalm 16:5).  He has already gained POWER for our lives on the Cross by His Blood and by sending us His Holy Spirit.  The POWER of His Name…the POWER of His Blood…the POWER of His love.

John 1:12 (NCV) But to all who did accept Him and believe in Him He gave the right to become children of God.

Jesus has placed the POWER to be a child of God within each of us.  However, sometimes the circumstances of life and our fears and feelings can cause us to have a crisis.

IDENTITY CRISIS

An identity crisis is temporarily forgetting THE POWER WITHIN.  We all go through Identity Crisis’s from time to time…forgetting who we are and Who

He is in us.  In those times, we need to focus on God’s Identity. We are in Him and He is in us. John14:20 – says that He is in us, we are in Him and He is in the Father. This is the Holy Embrace.  We are held in this Holy Embrace. Soak in this Truth that the Holy Spirit is in you and you are in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father.  Feel that comforting embrace all around you now.

John 14:20 (NCV) “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me and I am in you.”

We are held in this powerful Truth of Who He is.  Focus on God’s Identity. God is a King. God is a Prophet. God is a warrior. Jesus is a Lamb and He is a lion.

God is love. God is all these traits and more and He dwells in us. The fruit of the Spirit of God is exploding inside of us.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NCV)  But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.

This is our Identity. This is THE POWER WITHIN. God is Faithful and True. That is His Identity within us.  All the things the Word says about God is Who and what dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.  Because God dwells within us, we have all the POWER we need to face any situation in life. Turn your focus from what you are feeling to what God’s Identity is in you.

It is okay to feel the way you feel right now.  You don’t have to feel something good all of the time to be sure that God is with you and in you.  The Holy Spirit in you is greater than your feelings and mine. He will comfort us no matter what we are feeling.

John 14:16 (AMP) “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever–”

We are creatures of comfort. When we have pain, we seek comfort from various areas. People have used everything from drugs and alcohol to sexual affairs to comfort themselves. There are also ways to escape pain into a mental comfort zone by plugging in TV shows or movies or sports or music. We all have our addictions. With that in mind, even though we seek these places of comfort, there is only one place to receive true comfort. In fact, there is only One Who truly comforts us and that is the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He is THE POWER WITHIN.

Isaiah 51:12 (NCV) The Lord says, “I am the One Who comforts you. So why should you be afraid of people, who die? Why should you fear people who die like the grass?

Recently I went to be with friends who suffer from various kinds of addictions.

I spent time with them understanding where they were coming from in life right now. This meeting really took me back to the place I was before I knew Jesus.  I had pain in my heart (not God’s POWER) and needed to be healed. I was using the quick fix of my addictions attempting to comfort the pain, but the pain would not go away. Anyway, as I talked with these friends who are precious in His sight, this is what I felt the cry of their hearts were:

“Feeling like a failure. Fighting for life.  Fighting to be loved. The drugs ease the pain of broken relationships and broken dreams.”

At the end of the night, these friends with wounded hearts had experience just a small touch of healing from the Holy Spirit.  They did not want us to leave. They did not want us to leave because we have life within us.  In those hours with them we were giving them life, hope and the adventure of knowing God’s forgiveness and favor. Each one of us that were there embracing these friends with the love of God had been where these friends were in our pasts.

So I want to say to you: You have the POWER of hope and the POWER of love within you. You know where the comfort and healing of the heart comes from.  You have that POWER dwelling within you. It is powerful. That is THE POWER WITHIN. God wants to restore all to relationship with Him first and then relationships with others. God wants to give us back our dreams in tact. He has a great future and hope for each of us. He is THE POWER WITHIN.

2 Peter 1:3 (GW) – God’s divine POWER has given us everything we need for life and godliness.  This POWER was given to us through knowledge of the One Who called us by His own glory and integrity.

Jesus in you is Invincible!!!

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

No person can truly make another person happy. Only the Lord and the Word of God can deliver true JOY or happiness within each of us.

JESUS IS THE BRINGER OF JOY

Luke 2:10 (AMP)  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great JOY which will come to all the people.”

Some of us have lost our JOY and energy in this loveless and fearful world we live in.  Today, we take back the JOY that our Lord Jesus has delivered to each of us. Let’s stimulate true JOY together.

Psalms 51:8 (AMP)  Make me to hear JOY and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

Psalms 51:12 (NLT) Restore to me the JOY of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.

JOY IS REFUELED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NIV) Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and JOY are in His dwelling place.

Many times I have substituted entertainment for “entering into the Presence of the Lord.” Entertainment has its place but not if we are seeking to find rest and restore our JOY.

Deuteronomy 16:15 (NIV)  For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose.  For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your JOY will be complete.

WOW!!! SEVEN DAYS OF WORSHIP OPENS ALL THE DOORS OF BLESSING AND JOY. Hmmm? Is this God’s definition of a real vacation?

1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV) I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with JOY how willingly Your people who are here have given to you.

IT IS PURE JOY TO GIVE TO THE LORD…LOVE, TIME, WORSHIP AND GIFTS

2 Chronicles 30:23 (NIV)  The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully.

THERE IS JOY IN CELEBRATION. CELEBRATE THE SMALL AND THE GREAT VICTORIES IN LIFE. GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AND I EVERY VICTORY.

Psalm 21:1 (NIV) The king rejoices in Your Strength, Lord . How great is his JOY in the victories You give!

Job 8:21 (NIV) He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of JOY.

Job 33:28 (NIV) God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enJOY the light of life.’

A RENEWED KNOWLEDGE OF OUR SALVATION BRINGS JOY AND LIVING LIFE IN ABUNDANCE.  A RENEWED KNOWLEDGE OF JOY ALSO COMES THROUGH  FORGIVENESS.

Psalm 19:8 (NIV)  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving JOY to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

OH LORD, YOUR WORD IGNITES OUR HEARTS AND MINDS WITH JOY.

Revelation 1:3 (AMP) Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who reads aloud [in the assemblies] the Word of this prophecy; and blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who hear [it read] and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it [heeding them and laying them to heart], for the time [for them to be fulfilled] is near.

YOUR WORD IS THE BRINGER OF JOY TO EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV) Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great JOY, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTMAS TIME. JOY IS IN THE AIR AND WE EXPERIENCE GREAT JOY WHEN WE GIVE TO EACH OTHER…THE GIFTS OF TIME, LOVE AND GIFTS THAT MEET OTHERS’ NEEDS.  JOY IS REGAINED WHEN WE GIVE. STIMULATE JOY WITH GRATITUDE TOWARD GOD AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Maximum JOY comes from celebrating the Lord in our lives; celebrating Who He is and all the good things He has done for me.   James 1:17 says that all good and perfect gifts come from God.  Psalm 68:6 says God placed each of us in a family so we would not be lonely. Psalm 103 talks about all the benefits God has graciously given you and I. Philippians 4:19 promises that God meets all of our needs. You and I have always had food to eat, clothing to wear and a roof over our heads…these were only the beginnings of His great blessings toward us. Ephesians, Galatians and Romans discuss how God has adopted you and me and gave us a “Blood transfusion” so that we would have royal Blood flowing through us.  WOW!!! Are we experiencing JOY yet?

TRULY WE ARE HAPPIEST IN LIFE WHEN THE LORD IS OUR JOY.

Matthew 5:6 (AMP) Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born again child of God enJOYs His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied.

John 15:11 (NIV) (Jesus says) “I have told you this so that My JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete.”

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 15:13)

Today, more than 70 organizations promote the healing power of joy and laughter. Some time ago, I read an article where a man took large quantities of Vitamin C daily along with a consistent flow of comedy videos, which caused his body to overcome cancer without any type of surgery or radiation treatment. Amazing!!! There truly is healing power in joy.

God’s Word is filled with verses about the power of joy in our lives.  God has graciously given us the gift of joy to fuel our energy level each day and even heal our lives.

Job 8:21 (NIV) He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

Psalm 21:6 (NIV) Surely You have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your Presence.

Psalm 20:5 (NIV)  May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the Name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.

Today, we take a look at what can steal our God given joy and what we can do to restore our joy.

THE “KILL JOY”

Real quickly, we are going to look at what can steal our joy – the “kill joy.”

Stress can steal our joy and strength.  Stress can affect our health…mind, body then spirit. Joy and laughter are stress relief. What happens when we experience the opposite of joy?

Luke 22:45 (NIV)  When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

As Jesus prayed His prayer of passion in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples did not pray with Him as He had asked them to do.  His closest friends and followers were worn out (exhausted) from stress, sorrow and the absence of joy.  Joy indeed is the secret ingredient that provides you and I strength and without joy we lack energy and vitality.

Nehemiah 8:10 NIV…”This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Jesus even leaned on joy to carry Him through His great time of torture and agony for you and I from the garden to the grave.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before Him He endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus on the Cross and in all the pain leading up to His final breath, He was thinking of you and I being one with Him.  He was inspired by the joy of knowing that we would be with Him and Him with us today, everyday and forever.  His joy overcame His pain.

THE FOE OF FEAR

Stress likes to team up with fear.  The emotion of fear can steal our joy very quickly if we allow it to. Fear has a tendency to multiply in our minds adding one fear to another thus drowning out joy, energy, creativity and life itself.

The evil one is the bringer of fear. Fear is upside down faith (Job 3:25). Fear causes us to temporarily forget the talents, skills and abilities God has ‘willingly given us. Fear causes us to forget our Identity in Jesus. Bottom line is we can lose our joy in life and be paralyzed by fear. In ourselves, we are weak; but taking refuge in Jesus, we are stronger than any foe.

Psalms 5:11-12 (GW) But let all who take refuge in You rejoice. Let them sing with joy forever. Protect them, and let those who love Your Name triumph in You. You bless righteous people, O Lord. Like a large shield, You surround them with Your favor.

BRINGER OF JOY

Luke 2:10 (NIV) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

God always sends “Good News” to encourage each of us and give us joy.  God knows we need joy in our lives so He has given us many avenues to restore joy and energy in life. Two of the most powerful ways to be recharged with joy is to sit or “soak” in the Presence of the Lord and the other is to read or “meditate” on His healing Word.

Psalm 16:11 (NIV)  You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence, with eternal pleasures at Your Right Hand.

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NIV)  Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place.

“LORD, I WANT TO BE IN YOUR DWELLING PLACE.  IN YOUR PRESENCE STRENGTH AND JOY FLOW.”

Psalm 19:8 (NIV) The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

By getting into the Lord’s Presence, He embraces us with love, joy and peace.

He drives the foe of fear away and heals our minds of stress.  He replaces our fear with His Word which gives “joy to the heart” and energy to our lives.

Joy is refueled in the Presence of God.  Joy is the Holy Spirit driven power to overcome anything (Galatians 5:22 & Romans 14:17).

Job 33:28 (NIV) God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to ENJOY the light of life. (James 1:2)

Life is filled with challenges for each of us.  However, like our Great Leader, Jesus, Who faced the greatest challenge of all with joy;  we, too, can face any challenge in life if we are refueled and energized by His joy. There is healing power in joy.

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

Every second of every day I am convinced that you and I either walk in fear or freedom.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

One of the fears that we constantly face is the “fear of failure”.  When fear rises up to haunt our minds, you and I must “end the fear” by:

1) Identifying our fear…”fear of failure”…”fear of man”…”fear of death”…etc.

2) Next we must confess our fear to the Lord Who cares deeply for us. Then we ask for His forgiveness.  Forgiveness is freedom from that which holds us back.  Usually “that” is the “disorder” of fear.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV) – For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…

3) After the Presence of the God falls upon us and His Peace covers our fear, we must then replace our fear with faith from the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 (NAS) – So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.

Following are seven more doses of faith to conquer our fears.  Take one a day for seven days and meditate on the Word and the goodness of God.

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 1 ><>)

Isaiah 54:4 (NIV)  “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.”

We have all made many mistakes in the past.  I am so glad that the Lord God does not remember our sins or mistakes.  He only remembers that He loves us.

Jeremiah 31:34 (NIV)  “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 2 ><>)

Matthew 14:27 (NIV) But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

You and I can rejoice that Jesus always shows up to remove our fears and restore our joy and faith.  He is our confidence today and every day.  Where His confidence is, there is no “fear of failure.”

Psalm 71:5 (NIV)  For You have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 3 ><>)

Isaiah 8:12 (NIV)  “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.”

Do not let other people’s fears rub off on you.  Listen to the Word of God not people’s feelings and fears.  The Word of God says:

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) 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.

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 4 ><>)

Genesis 43:23 (NIV)  “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” …

The Lord God has given you a treasure — the ability to succeed no matter what challenge you are facing.  So don’t be afraid.

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV)  But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 5 ><>)

Proverbs 3:25-26 (NIV)  Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

When fear invades our minds, we must strike back.  The Presence of the Lord and His Truth eliminates all fear.  Fear is a lying feeling.  Jesus “blows” our fears away.

John 20:19, 22 (NIV)  On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”…And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 6 ><>)

Isaiah 43:5 (NIV) Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

“No fear here”.  this is what I saw on a T-shirt at the gym the other day.  As I got closer, there was also small print on the shirt that said “Jesus is Lord.”

Where Jesus reigns in a heart, there is no fear.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

(<>< FEARLESS DAY 7 ><>)

II Kings 6:16 (NIV)  “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

The Lord God created all people, angels and animals. Can He not at anytime overpower any of His creations? Yes, He can.

I John 4:4 (NIV)  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Let’s Pray Together:

Lord God, You are good and it is incredible how you work in my live with Your Presence and Power.  I confess to you that I am fearful.  My fear is ________________________.  Please forgive me of my fear(s).  I need Your Power and Love to overcome my fear(s).  Heavenly Father, Your forgiveness is a “good thing”.  Your forgiveness is my freedom.  I am free in Jesus’ Name.

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

Isaiah 54:17 NIV “…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord , and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the Lord.

You and I both know that “life is a battle.” You and I are going to go through challenges in this life.  However, we have guaranteed hope of victory. Jesus stated it this way:

John 16:33 33 “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.”

You and I were created and even recreated (2 Corinthians 5:17) for love and war.

Mark 12:30-31 (AMP) And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

2 Corinthians 6:7 (AMP)  By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]…

We have been prepared for the battle of life.  The battle has been won on the Cross and we have been given the victory.

1 John 2:13 (NIV) I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 5:4 (NIV)…for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

God has more than prepared us by giving us His Spirit to dwell within us, His Blood to cover us, His Word to flow through us and His Name to speak over us. Angels stand ready for our battle cry in Jesus’ Name.

HIS SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES

When we accepted Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior, He filled us with His Holy Spirit.  His Holy Spirit is peace, love, joy, gentleness, kindness, goodness, self-control, faithfulness and patience (in trusting God and not forcing things  to happen on our own). Because these traits are within us, we can tap into them continuously. When we bow our attitude to the Spirit; then joy, peace, patience, love and the rest of the fruit of the Holy Spirit  rises to the surface of our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

Matthew 27:50 (NIV)  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His Spirit.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He gave up His Spirit so that you and I could have His Holy Spirit and His power for LIFE.   He had to go away so we could have His Holy Spirit.  He sent His “Sevenfold Spirit into all the earth.”

Revelation 5:6 (AMP) And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth.

His Spirit He has place within us is called the “sevenfold Holy Spirit.”  As you know in the Kingdom of God, SEVEN is the number of completeness or perfection. The Holy Spirit in you and I makes us complete and perfect in Jesus.  His Spirit gives us the power we need to overcome any battle in life.

Acts 2:17-18 (NIV)  “In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

John 14:16-17,20, (NIV) (Jesus says)  “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you…On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you…But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Today, sit in His Presence and welcome Him to supercharge you through His Holy Spirit that dwells in you.  Allow His Spirit to crush anything in your heart or mind that does not line up with the Word of God.  The Holy Spirit brings Truth to battle against our minds which play tricks on us.  Our minds today have a bad habit of “self-criticism.” This is a huge battle that has been won already on the Cross and the victory is confirmed by the Spirit of God in us.

Our flesh criticizes us and the Holy Spirit encourages us.

1 John 3:18-20 (MSG)  My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

1 John 3:21-24 (MSG) And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God!  We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what He said, doing what pleases Him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in His personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep His commands, we live deeply and surely in Him, and He lives in us. And this is how we experience His deep and abiding Presence in us: by the Spirit He gave us.

In His Presence, the world, our flesh and the devil must “get right or get out” as each foe has been overcome by the victory won on the Cross and by His reassuring Holy Spirit within each of us.

I John 4:4 (NIV) You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

WOW IDENTITY RESOURCES:

http://www.webministries.info/papers/whoiamin.htm

http://uniquewebdesign4u.com/Document/MyDailyConfessions.pdf

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/52be0d37e4b0f4346e91fe9b/t/54e5cabbe4b0b6946e90d5cb/1424345787879/Declarations.2014.pdf

http://strength4.org/2/2009-rhema-confessions-15-faith-freedom-fellowship-book-w2072/

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

In the business world, they are called affirmations. In the Kingdom of God, they are called proclamations or declarations. These are faith-based statements that seal our IDENTITY and build our confidence. It says in the Word that faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The Word says in Romans 12:2 that we have to renew our minds with the Word of God. Our minds have been programmed with fear from the world and “downers“ from our past which can control our IDENTITY which affects our BELIEFS and ACTIONS.  Fear, our past and false identity will only control us if we allow them to. Jesus paved the way on the Cross for us to walk in His IDENTITY of freedom (Galatians 5:1).

He has also given us the written Word of God that is more powerful than anything our minds have been subject to.  In the Word we find our IDENTITY:

1 Corinthians 12:13 (MSG)  Each of us is now a part of His resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—His Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to IDENTIFY ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.

By the Blood of Jesus you are now a “Citizen of Heaven” (Philippians 3:20) and of a Royal Bloodline (1 Peter 2:9).  Because your IDENITY is now hidden in Jesus (Colossians 3:3), you now have a very powerful and strong IDENTITY that has an unmovable foundation and solid pillars you can build your life securely upon. Below are just a few IDENTITY traits that come to mind:

* We were created in the image of God.  (Genesis 1:26-27 & Genesis 2:7)

* He proclaimed you and I, His creations, to be very good and wonderful.

(Genesis 1:31 & Psalm 139:13-14)

* We have been chosen and adopted to be a Child of God forever.

(Ephesians 1:3-8, John 1:12, Romans 8:14-16 & 9:25-26, Galatians 3:26 & 4:6, 1 John 3:1, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, Revelation 21:7, Isaiah 56:5, Hosea 1:10…)

* We are welcomed and accepted by God today and every day. (Romans 15:7)

* We are “more than a conquerors” and can overcome anything in life through Jesus. (Romans 8:37 & Philippians 4:13)

* We are dearly loved by God as Jesus is the Lover of our Soul. (Ephesians 2:4 & Colossians 3:12)

* We are “highly favored“ and His favor or blessing is all around us. (Psalm 5:12)

* We are the “head not the tail” as God calls us to be a leader of people not a follower of the world.  (Deuteronomy 28:13 & Romans 12:1-2)

*  Because we messed up our lives, God recreated us into something “very good” and “wonderful” again.  (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10 & 1 Peter 1:23)

* In Jesus alone, we have forever been made good, perfect, holy and righteous.  (2 Corinthians 5:21& 1 Corinthians 1:30)

These Truths are what make up your new IDENITY and mine. My Heavenly ID is below and I call it “Spiritual Vitamins and Minerals.” Prayerfully put together your own affirmations, proclamations or declarations from the Word as mine will not be as important or as motivating to you as your own Holy Spirit inspired list of the words that blast away your past and make your future strong in Him.

Vitamins

* I can do all things through Jesus who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

* I am strong.  I am courageous.  The Lord God is all powerful and is with me everywhere I go.  (Joshua 1:9)

* I am filled with every spiritual blessing that God has to offer.  (Ephesians 1:3)

* Everything I put my hand to in the Name of Jesus will prosper. (Psalm 1:2-3)

* The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds me because I trust Him.  (Psalm 32:10)

* The Lord surrounds me with His favor and blessings like a shield.  (Psalm 5:12)

* The Lord is gracious to me and blesses me and makes His favor covers my life. (Psalm 67:1)

* My God has unlimited resources and provides all my needs out of Jesus’ eternal storehouses. (Philippians 4:19)

* I have an anointing from the Holy Spirit, who is in me and around me, to  succeed at work, worship, rest, play, workout and in everything I do.  (1 John 1:20, 27)

* I have overcome the enemy and every challenge in life by the Blood of Jesus that covers me and by the Word of Truth I boldly speak to myself and others daily. (Revelation 12:11)

Minerals

Lord Jesus…

In You I am loved.  You are the Lover of my soul.

In You I am strong.  I can do all things through You who strengthens me.

In You I have joy.  I am joyful and Your joy makes me strong.

In You I am blessed.  It is to Your glory to bless me and produce much fruit through me.

In You I am healed. I have health and healing, abundant peace and security.

In You I have knowledge and I am wise.  I have the mind of Christ.

In You I am delivered from all my fears and doubts.  The Spirit of Power and Love dwells in me and is more powerful than anything or anyone.

In You I am wealthy.  I have been given the ability to produce wealth.  You have also given me a wealth of love that I may love others.

In You I have life.  You have given me the choice of life or death, blessing or curse.

Today, I choose the blessing of life.  I want to be blessed in You.

(Philippians 4:13, Nehemiah 8:10, Ephesians 1:3, Galatians 5:22, Jeremiah 33:6, 1 Corinthians 2:16,

Psalm 34:4, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:18, 15-16, 30)

As we read aloud our IDENTITY, ID, Heavenly Passport, proclamations, declarations or spiritual affirmations, it will change our lives both in the spiritual, mental and physical realms. I encourage you to take your spiritual ID that you have created and read it aloud daily. Take your spiritual ID and record it on your phone so you can listen to it when you cannot read it aloud like when you are eating a meal or driving. Read these verses out loud so as to seal God’s IDENTITY in your mind. This IDENTITY is who God says you are from His Word.  We are all familiar with the scripture that says life and death is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Therefore, may we use the spoken Word to break any wrong belief or wrong attitude and to stimulate LIFE within ourselves.  Speak the Word to yourself and to others to encourage your heart and theirs unto good works that God has called us to do because we love Him.

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr

Our IDENTITY is secure in Jesus Christ but sometimes our minds will play tricks on us and convince us otherwise.  This is why I believe it is important to personalize our IDENTITY found in the Word of God to the extent that we put it in print.

Habakkuk 2:2 (NAS) Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe {it} on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.”

When we truly know who we are and who God created us to be it puts energy and enthusiasm into our lives.  It excites our hearts and minds to know that He has called us by name and put His IDENTITY and Name upon us and in us.

Jeremiah 15:16 (GW)  Your words were found, and I devoured them. Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight, because I am called by Your Name, O Lord God of Armies.

God’s Word gives us joy, vision and purpose.  His Word delights our hearts with Truth and strengthens us against the ridiculous lies of our own flesh, the world and the devil as they try to tell us who we are.

YOUR WORD IDENTITY

Create your own ID from the Word.  We all need to combat our past places and present phases in life with the Word.  If you wrestle with fear, then combat with “fear not.” If you suffered from neglect as a child or in other relationships, you may experience the feeling of abandonment. Stand on the Word as your IDENTITY not on feelings and woes from the past.  Take the Word of God and apply it to the specific areas of life to rid your life of all the lies about you. Replace these lies with the Truth. There are several areas in life we all struggle with in order to secure our IDENTITY.  I focus on the areas of fear and abandonment as these have been my two areas of conflict most of my life (maybe you have others that are more of a hassle to you).

ABANDONMENT

Many of us have felt that we have been abandoned by someone in the past and that feeling of abandonment may haunt us even today.  The Word of God combats that stating that God is faithful and He will never leave or forsake us or abandon us as He is always with us.

Jeremiah 29:10-11 (MSG)  This is God ’s Word on the subject: “…I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

Deuteronomy 4:31 (NIV) For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which He confirmed to them by oath.

FEAR

Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)…”FEAR NOT, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)  “Be strong and courageous. DO NOT BE AFRAID or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

It is interesting to me how the troubles or trials in life will trigger these negative feelings fear and abandonment that only the Word of God and the Spirit of God can melt away.  Abandonment, Fear, Doubt, Worry, Insecurity and several other IDENTITY challenging thoughts will be discussed as you and I put together our IDENTITY on paper from the pages of the Word of God.  Everything the Word says we are, we are.  Everything the Word says we have, we have.  The Promises of God are what comfort us, inspire us and ignite our hearts with joy and life in light of the lies all around us.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV)  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

As guided by the Holy Spirit, put together your ID.  Your ID that is from the Word of God brings healing to your heart and empowers you with the Kingdom authority that God has given you.  Our youngest daughter just recently turned 16  and right now is in the process of getting her driver’s license.  Right now she does not have the authority to drive by herself.  But her driver’s license or ID is very important to her on earth because it gives her the authority to drive, she can travel the country with this ID and in future years will give her the right to vote. Her ID confirms she is a U.S. citizen and with that citizenship comes certain privileges and authority. Likewise, you and I are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20).  We have a heavenly ID or IDENTITY.  Our new IDENTITY in Jesus is the Word of God.  The Word defines who we are and what authority we have by the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross, the Name of Jesus (John 14:13-14 & 15:7,14) and the power of our spoken words (Mark 11:22-25 and Matthew 16:19, 18:18).

Revelation 12:11 (NASB)  And they overcame him (satan) because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

The “word” mentioned is Revelation 12:11 is the Word that we have taken in and stand on from day to day.  This is also our IDENTITY and “passport to LIFE”.   What is your passport to life?  What does it look like?  Is your IDENTITY from the Word, the world or your constantly changing feelings?  In the next WOW, Lord willing, we will look at an example of a Heavenly ID taken from the Word.  This week I hope you will begin to prayerfully put together your IDENTITY from the Word of God.  You may already have some of your ID in mind.  Your ID verses could be the verses that have carried you through the highs and lows of life for a long time now. Take some of your favorite verses that inspire your life and personalize them.  In conclusion, below is one personalized verses from my Heavenly IDENTITY:

“I am strong. I am courageous. The Lord God is all powerful and is with me everywhere I go.”

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

All of God’s Love to you,

Gary and Debbie Landon

www.wowwordoftheweek.co.nr