Developing “Staying Power” to Remain Free

Hi Everybody!

For the past few days during the Daniel Fast, the Lord has been speaking to me about maintaining “Staying Power”. At first I had no clue what He meant since I knew it was a business term so I had to look it up and this is what it is defined as:

stay·ing pow·er

Noun The ability to maintain an activity or commitment despite fatigue or difficulty; stamina. Long-term popularity of a product or trend: “hip-hop has a remarkable staying power”.

Synonyms endurance – stamina – durability – hardiness – resistance

And according to investorworlds.com “Staying Power” in business terms is defined as:

The ability of a person or entity to endure for a long period of time, even through rough times or situations. “During every economic downturn, the company was able to weather the storm and remain profitable. This was a true testament to the company’s staying power.”

Why mention STAYING POWER?

Through this fast, Daniel learned an important lesson when he prayed and fasted for God to come down with the answers he sought for; He learned the true power of ENDURANCE in order to obtain his breakthrough. Many people want breakthroughs in life but have not past the test of ENDURANCE to stay the course. I have found that it’s easy to start something with much passion and enthusiasm in the beginning, but the true test is whether one can endure to the end. This is a matter of Starting and Finishing something.

Now, for Daniel he had hindrances that he did not realize he had to fight in the spiritual realm in order to receive a message of confirmation from the Lord spoken by an angel. Many people fight unseen forces and underestimate the intensity of the battle when they give up too early. According to Daniel 10:12-14, the angel revealed to him that on the very first day the Lord had answered his prayer but he had to battle the principality of Persia.

Daniel 10:12-14

¹² Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

In this Fast, the Lord wants to train our spirits to practice ENDURANCE in Spiritual Warfare. Don’t give up too easily as you pray with expectancy for instruction, direction and confirmation of God’s Word in your life. As you press through do not be naive and underestimate the enemy who seeks to Kill, Steal and Destroy your Hope and Faith during this fast (John 10:10). You’ve got to fix your eyes on JESUS.

The Bible says that we cannot work by MIGHT nor by Power, but by HIS SPIRIT (Zechariah 4:6). If we want to endure during this Fast and if we want to strengthen ourselves for battle, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to provide us guidance to maintain our STAYING POWER in the Lord. Staying Power only comes from the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT.

How does one maintain STAYING POWER to stay the course?

1. By Practicing Humility – You need to know that you need God to help you endure the tests and the trials that you may encounter this year no matter what comes your way. Also confess your sins and weaknesses to God by practicing daily repentance so that the Accuser has no room to hinder the progress of your prayers by petitioning against your soul. Recognize your mentors and respect them when they chastise you and guide you because they are the people that God plants in your life to watch out for your soul. Disrespecting them only closes doors of opportunity in your life and will definitely leave you in a vulnerable position for the enemy to attack you ruthlessly.

James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5
[ Submit to God, Resist the Devil ] Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Hebrews 12:7
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

2. Practice Worship DAILY – this is your battle axe weapon of warfare in this fast. Keep your mind, body, soul meditating on God’s Word so that the enemy can’t kill, steal or destroy your hope and your faith.

2 Corinthians 10:4
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

3. Being specific in your Prayer life – You need to be specific in your prayers so that you hit the target. Don’t be vague otherwise you will not receive what you truly require during this fast. The most important thing to pray for is WISDOM. It is worth far more than rubies or diamonds and this can take you a long long way.

2 Chronicles 1:10-12

¹⁰ Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

¹¹ Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— ¹² wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

4. Meditate on the Word – Guard your spirit from UNBELIEF by abiding in the Truth that is contained in God’s Word. The Bible says that you must meditate on the Word day and night so that it does not depart from your mouth.

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

These are the things that I can think of at the moment that will help you develop Staying Power. If anybody has anything to add, feel free to comment down below.

The Lord continues to emphasize in my prayer life the importance of Humility.  Humility will take you to your destiny; Pride will kick you off the path. Let the Grace of God be with you during this 21 Day Daniel Fast because God resists the proud only because they do not believe they need God to direct their path.

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Those that can endure during this season of prayer and fasting, whatever you are seeking from the Lord shall be saved and you will receive your reward for your endurance. Do not falter in your Christianity, do not lose hope, even if you stumble along the way, get yourself back up again and continue to run towards God with all that you’ve got! Seek God to purify your heart so that your flesh decreases and the Spirit of God increases in you.

1 Corinthians 3:14
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

2 Timothy 2:3
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

So everybody, the Staying Power of God is the ability to ENDURE through hardship and remain standing strong and firm in the Faith. This is how one also maintains their ANOINTING like the 5 wise virgins (refer back to The Bride of Christ is Anointed post) who kept a supply of fresh oil to keep their lamps burning. Do not be like the 5 foolish ones that did not prepare properly to keep their lamps burning. You need divine wisdom in order to continue the course and endure the race set before you. Keep in mind that yesterdays anointing cannot sustain you for tomorrows troubles, so it is important to always seek a fresh Word, a fresh anointing, a fresh direction through revelation to continue on the path that lays ahead of you.

The Kingdom of God shall not be shaken, so be guided by the instruction of the Holy Spirit and remain in obedience to God’s Guidance by yielding to HIS WISDOM and stay strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might (Ephesians 6:10).

You can become free from bondages and things that hindered you from progress by maintaining your Humility, practicing your worship unto God daily, being specific in your prayer life and by meditating on God’s Word day and night to fortify your SOUL.

Daniel 6:26
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

I have a song by Kierra Sheard called Free to bless your spirit today. God bless you Everybody!

The Role of Angels in Spiritual Warfare

Hi Everybody!

So today I feel like the Lord is pressing me to talk about something that isn’t really talked about let alone thought about because Angels are always left in hindsight when they are an important and intergral part of our Christian walk, especially in regards to SPIRITUAL WARFARE. 

Every person whether they are Christian or not are assigned an angel(s) from the day they were born.  When we pray, angels are released; when we fast, angels are released and when we praise, angels are released. Why am I saying this??? Spiritual Warfare is always present in our lives whether we are aware of this or not. There is a constant battle in the Spiritual Realm for every persons life regardless of whether you believe what I am saying or not. I think that if everybody had spiritual eyes and could see the spiritual realm in its fullness they would be shocked to see what is surrounding them at the moment.

If you look at the US Presidential elections that just passed this year….the fact that the elections swayed too and fro in a 50/50 almost tied stale-mate…you can tell that the prayers of the American Christians was causing a type of pressure in the Spiritual realm  that left people wondering what would be the final outcome. Although Obama won the election, what I want Americans to understand is that “Christians..your prayers were definitely being heard in Heaven at this time!”. Even in the face of a hurricane…there was Spiritual Warfare present throughout the season of the elections. Your petitions throughout the election period released a multitude of angelic hosts to fight forces of darkness  (in particular the principalities and powers and the spiritual wickedness in the high places Ephesians 6:12) hovering over the land in an effective battle…

1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

In a way it didn’t matter who won…What American Christians need to know right now is that Obama and Romney don’t hold the future of America in their Hands…the Church of Jesus Christ holds the future of America in their hands by their fasting and praying and also in their Praise and Worship.

My Message to you is “Do not stop doing these things until you see change!”

James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I’ve read many blogs that have been stipulating that God is going to judge America because of the level of unrighteousness present in the land. They are not really far from the truth in a way; however, what I would like to say is that what I’m hearing in the Spirit is that Judgment can be halted by what Christians do right now during this season as we reach the close of the Year of Divine Government 2012.

I think it’s time to step your game up Christians of America. I know I’m not American…but you have so much power within you right now that this isn’t the time to give up….

Apply pressure in the Spiritual realm with your Praise to God. I believe that at the present time…though the state of affairs is that America is still recovering from the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy, don’t stop applying pressure in the Spiritual realm right now. Something is happening….I am sensing that there is a great shaking in the spiritual realm over the land and what is interesting is that the voices of the Lord’s people became more pronounced during this election season than any other one in previous years which was something the world did not anticipate nor expect to see. This year is indeed very different and very unique. It would have been rather fearful to think of what the future holds for America had the Christians remained silent in the face of this election. 

Angels are released everytime a believer prays. I believe that in the present time…no matter where you are…you can even pray by proxy…keep praying to see change manifest in your nation. The worst thing is to give up too early when the fight has just begun.  When you understand the roles of Angels…you will prepare yourself effectively in your prayer life especially for the new year in preparation for the 21 DAY DANIEL FAST  that some churches will be participating in the New Year.

It is so important to understand the role of Angels so here is my list to help you understand what they do for you: 

Angels Protect you –

Psalm 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

Angels send messages of Warning –

Genesis 19:15  When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.”

Angels can be seen in your dreams –

Genesis 28:12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Angels heed to the voice of God –

Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.

Angels are Heavenly Ministers  –

Psalm 104:4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

Matthew 4:11
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Angels are Worshipers and Praise God –

Psalm 148:2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

Hebrews 1:6
But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Revelation 7:11
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

Angels are Reapers of the End time Harvest –

Matthew 13:39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Angels administer God’s Judgement –

Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,

Matthew 13:49
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,

Angels are assigned to every person when they are born (including unbelievers) –

Matthew 18:10
[ The Parable of the Lost Sheep ] “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

The Devil and his evil angels are already sentenced to hell –

Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

There is an army of Angels in Heaven that can be released at the command of Jesus when you pray –

Matthew 26:53
Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Hebrews 12:22
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Angels are present with you when you Fast –

Mark 1:13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Angels are present when you confess your sins and your faith to GOD –

 Luke 12:8
[ Confess Christ Before Men ] “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.

Angels rejoice for every soul that is saved–

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Angels can look like people –

Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Angels release the Prophetic Word –

Daniel 10:19-20

¹⁹ And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”²⁰ Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

Although this list is no way an exhaustive list of what they can do…I just want people to understand that as Christians…when we go through Spiritual Warfare…it is important that you understand the role that angels play in your life.

I have seen some of them in my life…and sometimes I wish people could see them too, but the most important thing is to understand that they are with you always. Christians are powerful when they believe. Every prayer releases millions to billions of angels each time. If 1 person can put 1000 to flight and if 2 people can put tens of thousands to flight…what say you with a congregation of 100 people????

Deuteronomy 32:30
How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

So today, apply pressure in the Spiritual Realm in your Fasting, in your Prayer life and in your Praise and Worship. Angels are waiting for Christians to be active in their Faith, AMEN!

I have here a song by Micah Stampley called War Cry. I pray that it blesses you today. God Bless you everybody!

Dealing with the Hamans in your Life – Spiritual Warfare Prayer

Hi Everybody!

So today I have been contemplating on strategic intercession and spiritual warfare prayer. It is important that you understand that prayer is an important and integral part of your Christian walk. I admit that it was kind of hard for me to get into the habit of it when I was a babe in Christ, but we’ve got to wean off of the baby way of babbling to the Lord and now walk in maturity of mind and start learning to Command our mornings, to pray without ceasing and just have our spirits in tune and meditating on the Word so that we pray with authority.

James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

The Devil doesn’t know the meaning of sleep because he won’t rest until the children of God are destroyed. So in knowing that we have to step our game up in our prayer lives if we want to protect ourselves and our families from any hidden agendas and assignment(s) from our adversary.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Today, I feel led to talk about the Haman spirit.

What is the Haman spirit?

Read the Book of Esther Chapters 4-7

In my older post called Fasting with a Purpose – Hit the Target Pt. 1, I refer back to Queen Esther and how Haman the evil prince convinced King Ahasuerus to legalize an evil decree to kill every Jew in the Persian Kingdom. King Ahasuerus did not know that his concubine, Queen Esther was a Jew and that this evil decree would serve not only to harm her and the children of Israel, but it would potential harm her cousin Mordecai as well.

Queen Esther

Esther was a strategic prayer warrior for a queen and knew what Spiritual warfare was all about. She pronounced what I call a 3-day-crisis fast to pray against the plot of Haman. At this time, her cousin Mordecai had been arrested and was sentenced to the gallows to be hanged because of Haman’s scheme at work. You will see that at this point also, the assignment against Esther and the Jews were in full force and effect and she had to step her game up and act on the wisdom she recieved during her time of prayer and fasting that she initiated to convince the King to reverse this assignment plotted by the evil Prince Haman. When King Ahasuerus found out that Esther was in fact a Jew and how he was tricked by the evil Prince Haman into instituting this evil law that would not only jeopardize the children of Israel’s lives, but would also mean that his Queen would die as well with her cousin Mordecai that was already awaiting to be hanged in the gallows, King Ahasuerus was infuriated by Haman’s deception. The prayer and fasting that Queen Esther initiated gave her divine wisdom and strategy to overcome this evil plot which not only saved her life and her cousin Mordecai, but it also served to save the lives of all the Jews.

The end result is something I will quote from that fasting post:

 “The King loved Esther so much and was heavily enraged by Haman’s evil plot to trick him into killing her and the Jews that King Ahasuerus decided to free Mordecai from the unjust sentence and sentenced Haman into the gallows for his evil deeds. The evil plot and conspiracy against the Jews was reversed in this Fast. “

Esther 7  (NKJV)

Haman Hanged Instead of Mordecai

7 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. ² And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”

³ Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. ⁴ For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.”

Haman – The Evil, Conniving Prince

⁵ So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?”

⁶ And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!”

So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.

⁷ Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. ⁸ When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?”

As the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. ⁹ Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.”

Then the king said, “Hang him on it!”

¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.

The most important thing to note here is that the curse that was directed to harm Queen Esther, the Jews and Mordecai was reversed and was sent back to sender who was Haman – the evil, corrupt and conniving prince.

This is just a Biblical example of how prayer and fasting (if necessary) can work to reverse an outcome and also work to backfire the plans of your enemies.

People, you may have some Haman’s in your life trying to plot things against you and your family. When you discern their agenda, this isn’t the time to crack under pressure and let them have their way with you.

Stop being complacent! You’ve got to go to God and petition to the KING of KINGS, and if necessary, YOU’VE GOT TO GET ON YOUR KNEES!!!! 

You are a Child of the Most high God so prayer and fasting maybe required in some cases to deliver you from the assignment that some people may have against your life depending on the degree of the assignment. The stronger the attack the higher measures you have to take.  If you have several Hamans in your life, you’ve got to step your game up in prayer so that you receive divine wisdom and strategy to overcome their assignments.

Rather than reacting to the assignment, respond to it strategically. Seek God to reverse the curse/assignment so that it goes back to the source. This is serious stuff folks. You cannot afford to be passive in your prayer life. The days are evil and your enemy the Devil, isn’t playing around with you. If the assignment is huge, then you’ve got to do something greater in your prayer life to counter-act the assignment. The greater the assignment, the more important it is to up the ante in your prayer life.

I stress the importance of having a prayer partner and seeking even elders in the church to pray with you as you go about your prayer life business if you have no idea what to do. Don’t act in isolation, seek people to pray with you in agreement. Call prayer lines or something but you’ve got to Pray. Sometimes, in the wee hours of the Morning like around 12 midnight-6:00am (the witching hours) you might have to wake your lovely head up and pray. For those of you that think Sleep seems too good to do that, I’m here to tell you that it won’t feel so good when the enemy of your soul has petitioned for your life on the line and/or has petitioned against your family as well and you didn’t do anything to counter-act that petition because you enjoyed your sleep. The Devil never sleeps, so make no mistake about this because he’d rather see you cry a river rather than you picking up your armor and doing your sword work out routine on a daily basis.

Some people maybe going through some court battles involving their children…parents…step your game up in prayer…

Some people may have heard a bad report in the medical room, step your game up in prayer.

Some people have heard rumors of firings in the workplace….step your game up in prayer.

Some are on the verge of losing their homes and/or businesses….step your game up in prayer.

Some have heard that they only have a few months to live….step your game up in prayer.

Some are being harassed and have no peace … step your game up in prayer.

Some have heard there is a plan to uproot you from your place of destiny…step your game up in prayer.

People…I hope you are catching my drift here. STEP YOUR GAME UP IN PRAYER! I don’t know how to emphasize this enough, but this has been in my spirit for that past few days, so if you don’t know how to pray or are not even part of a church…the first step is get yourself in a Bible-believing church. The second thing is get some prayer partners, the third is to get some books on the topic of prayer especially, intercessory prayer, the fourth thing is get into a cell group, the fifth thing is get involved in ministry so that you are surrounded with like-minded people that can serve as intercessory partners and guide you in your pray life dependent on the level of their spiritual maturity. Isolation only serves to make you vulnerable to being attacked. You have to guard yourself up and get with the program and realize you need help! At the end of the day, you make the decision on how you are going to proceed from here on out.

Wisdom says, step your game up and PRAY with the WORD as your Spiritual WEAPON of WARFARE. Foolishness says, sleep, sleep, sleep….need I say more?

For those that would like some reading material, I would recommend John Eckhardt’s prayer books and Mary K Baxter’s book called The Divine Revelation of Prayer as starters, but you can look for others on your own. Spiritual warfare is what it is…. a WAR in the spirit. Feed your spirit with the Word and use the Word when you pray. Essentially, we have to learn to use the weapons of our warfare that are not carnal and are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4) otherwise we will succumb to the schemes and assignments from the enem(ies) in our lives. Don’t wait to be on the defensive when you can be on the offensive right now.

Here are snap shots of the books. There are obviously more you can get at a Christian bookstore but it’s up to you to get serious in your prayer life. I recommend http://www.Christianbooks.com. They have a valuable resource of books that are discounted and they also use Paypal and credit cards for your convenience.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I have a song to minister to you today from  Kurt Carr called We Declare War. I love this song and it always gets me going. I pray that it ministers to your spirit today. God Bless you everybody!

Scriptures to Meditate

John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,

1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray without ceasing,

2 Timothy 1:3
[ Timothy’s Faith and Heritage ] I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

2 Corinthians 10:4
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

John 12:35
Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

Deuteronomy 28:2
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:

2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Focusing on What’s Important – Clearing the Air in your Mind

via Shejus.deviantart.com

Day 1 of 21 Day Daniel Fast – So today my church and I have started the fast. I know some of you started on January 1 but I’ve officially started today January 3rd, 2012. I know my blogger friend Nadie is chronicling her food adventures of this fast which is amazing. She even has a great link to help people make food appropriate choices for the Fast at www.daniel-fast.com. I totally recommend checking that out for your own piece of FYI and just to encourage you with recipes that you can utilize and experiment with in alignment with this Fast. Thanks again Nadie for your post “Daniel Fast Day 1 pt 2”. Very imformative and encouraging to know that there are more people interested in doing the Fast right.

For today’s meditation I want to focus on what is important. It’s not so much that you are doing a spiritual exercise, but it’s what you gain from it. I have expectations of hearing God’s voice clearly. He talks all the time but are our ears inclined to hear what He has to say? You’ve got to ask yourself that question when you start or prepare for your meditations. Sometimes, He’ll give us rude awakenings on our habits, personalities and flaws in our character that need changing in order to walk in holiness. The thing here is, are you willing to embark on that journey to transform your current way of thinking and ways of doing things?

I find that when I meditate on the Word, God shows me things that I need to personally change in order to become a better person. Sometimes we don’t like being corrected by Him when He shows us a character flaw that we need to curb with intense enthusiasm because we like to be stuck in our ways, but that sort of defeats the purpose of the Fast now doesn’t it? In order to have your dreams become realized, you have to be prepared to receive the long awaited dream by changing the way you are now so that when you receive it, you will have the right character and frame of mind to manage the dream, maintain the dream and keep the dream alive.

Confusion can cause us to make mistakes so during your time of meditation, focus on seeking God for clarity for situations that you cannot make sense of with your own might and power. Seek God’s face even in the smallest of your affairs so that He becomes magnified in your mind that you will habitually seek His opinions on things that matter. The importance is to maintain the focus. I even ask God for direction when I’m shopping for something and believe it or not, He helps me find the items I need when I’m in search for something specific.  This is what I mean when I say seek Him even in the smallest of your affairs because once you start doing that, He will walk with you even when the largest events happen in your life. Keep Him Sovereign.

My Encouragement today is Focus on the importance of building your RELATIONSHIP with the Lord by including Him even in the smallest of your affairs so that you walk with HIM in mind everyday and at each moment. Also remember that you must always be specific in your prayer life so that you get what you ask for instead of being vague. Target prayers require specificity.

Scriptures to Meditate on:

Deuteronomy 5:33
You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

Deuteronomy 10:12
[ The Essence of the Law ] “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

1 Kings 8:23
and he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “ I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

Isaiah 50:4
“ The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

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

Revelation 2:7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Revelation 2:17
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

Believing for the Best that is Yet to Come

Prepare your heart for Harvest. You have to do your part in order to reap the rewards of your labor. The Scripture that comes to mind when I thought this was:

Proverbs 20:4
The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

In preparation of the 21 Day Daniel Fast, we are all planting and sowing spiritual seeds for a physical and spiritual manifestation of God’s Presence in our lives in this year of DIVINE GOVERNANCE. I recommend Tarisai’s post regarding the insight to this special year of DIVINE GOVERNANCE and WISDOM that brings ORDER.

I will repeat myself and say that do not do things in vain if you don’t have a heart that is expecting. Your mind, your spirit, your soul should be expecting during this Fast if you are participating. Let me tell you that each year when I face the 21 Day Fast, I always seem to struggle with Fasting my Tea. I love Tea like you cannot believe and to think that I won’t have it for 21 days straight is going to be wow for me, and I mean WOW!!! I’m a person who drinks it morning, noon and night — thanks to my Grandpa lol. I am still preparing my mind for the withdrawal symptoms lol.  There are other things besides tea that I have to set aside but the whole point is, the Fast is a sacrifice of fleshy desires to gain things that are Spiritual.

The fleshy things of this world can be likened to drugs. Sometimes you have no idea what you’ve fed your body  in a spiritual, soulful and physical sense until you starve it by fasting on the things that you’re use to. We can be junkies of the fleshy stuff and when we start to set aside those things on our spiritual journey, God starts to shake all that junk out of your system as a means of purification which is another form of CONSECRATION. So the Daniel Fast isn’t just a warfare Fast, it is also a time of Consecration. You set aside the things that the world feeds you to obtain the things that God wants to feed you in your spirit-man.

Sometimes people want things of the Spirit without putting effort into working for it. Relationships with people are hard work and even cultivating a relationship with God takes work. Many of us must move away from always expecting stuff from God without having a relationship with Him. Would you like it if you had a friend that always took stuff from you but after receiving what they wanted from you, they ignore you and act like you aren’t there until they need yet another thing from you? This is how some people have treated God on many occasions. People enjoy the blessings of God without the relationship. Let’s face it, people can be incredibly selfish.

Deuteronomy 7:12
[ Blessings of Obedience ] “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 28:1
[ Blessings on Obedience ] “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

These are two sets of blessings that come from OBEDIENCE. This isn’t just a personal blessing but a generational one. We must pursue GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS.

Let me tell you that Fasting isn’t easy and I’ll be the first to say that in the past, I slipped up during this fast because the withdrawal was soo intense and I succumbed to eating that which I shouldn’t because I was immature and also inexperienced, so even now I will not claim to be a pro on this at all. I had to learn a lot through practicing personal fasts which I do periodically in the year now and the discipline I obtain from that has helped me realize that it is achievable and it can be done. So do not feel discouraged if or when you slip up in this fast, just recognize that it takes mental preparation, discipline and personal determination and resolve. Do things with purpose and with expectation. Always expect the best that is yet to come for you are sowing seeds for a great Harvest in your spiritual journey with the Lord. This is a relationship building activity as it is a spiritual one. Be encouraged and work your Faith out. Perseverance is the Key here.

I have yet another awesome song to fill you today. It is again from Deitrick Haddon called Power. Fill your spirit with prayer, praise and worship so that you maintain the focus on the One helping you to Gain that which He has in the palm of His hand. God has not intention of withholding anything Good from you when you seek His face. So Seek diligently with great expectation.

“Why am I not getting my Answer???!” – Hindrances to Prayers Pt. 3 [FINAL]

(Cont’d pt.3)

3. Spiritual hindrances (Daniel prayer) – Spiritual hindrances have a way of holding up things that you request of the Lord. For such prayers, fasting maybe required when your dealing with higher level spiritual wickedness in the high places. Daniel had to fast for 21 days and pray when he had to come against the Prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13). This isn’t some mamby pamby demon either. Daniel was dealing with a high level spirit that ruled the country of Persia during the reign of King Cyrus. Although this is just one Biblical example of a spiritual hindrance to prayer, there are times when fasting is required to deal with things you cannot see that are holding up your promises and answers from God. If you want to receive some breakthroughs that are being held up in the spirit, you’ll need a whole lot of spiritual discipline and meditation of God’s Word to come against these demonic forces. Think of the 40 day and night fast that Jesus had to go through alone in the desert. The demon he was up against was Satan himself (Matthew 4:1-11) and Satan tried multiple times to tempt Jesus to be disobedient but Jesus’ Spirit was already heightened and sharp to discern Satan’s schemes that he was able to overcome Satan’s temptations to contradict the Word of God. Can you imagine what would have happened had Jesus succumbed to the schemes of the Devil? Salvation would not even be a word that would be in existence to this day. Jesus was successful in this fight because He knew what He was up against (Ephesians 6:12).

---

This is why we have to step our game up and do some things above just praying by including fasting in order to fine tune our spirit with the Holy Spirit who will give us the answers we need to tackle  these things effectively and also sharpen our discernment to point out what is causing the hindrance. Remember, it’s not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). I remember when I decided to pray for something I really needed but encountered several problems because I couldn’t see what in the world was going on. I wondered what was the hold up? I then ended up fasting and praying and then the Lord pointed out a few people that were standing in between me and my miracle through spiritual discernment.

---

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) – For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Emphasis added]

I then proceeded to pray for wisdom to handle these individuals because I could not rely on my own understanding to deal with the issue. In this instance…the Lord removed them out of my path and I received my breakthrough miracle. You do your part in the spiritual battle by fasting (if need be) and praying and God will do His part to help bring you to your promise.

---

Seek Spiritual Wisdom in this Arena.

1 Corinthians 2: 6-16 (NKJV)

⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
⁹ But as it is written:

“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”^[c]

¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy^[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”^[e] But we have the mind of Christ. [Emphasis added]

---

4. Lack of Repentance rooted in bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)-

Believe it or not even UNFORGIVENESS holds up our prayers from being answered. Look back on Jesus’ teaching of the Lord’s prayer. He instructs us to forgive those who trespass against us in (Matthew 6:12,14). Now I know it’s hard to forgive people who have hurt us in ways that are difficult to come to terms with but let me be straight with you and tell you that if you refuse to forgive, your prayers will not reach Heaven. This is why we need to practice daily deliverance and we must seek the Lord to help us forgive people we harbor bitterness towards. Remember that Jesus didn’t have to go on the cross for us to forgive mankind for sins we have committed, but God so loved the World that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

I strongly suggest those that are dealing with unforgiveness and bitterness to read the book The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. This book really helped me to see how bitterness can hinder the prayers we have been pressing for God to answer. We have to learn to FORGIVE if we want God to Hear Our Prayers. 

---

Consider these Scriptures to help you think about Forgiving people and letting go of Bitterness:

Mark 11:25-27 (NKJV)

[ Forgiveness and Prayer ]  “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.  [Emphasis added]

---

Matthew 18:22-35 (NKJV) – ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. ²³Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet^[a] and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’^[b] 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. ³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. ³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
³⁵ “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” [Emphasis added]

---

---

Hebrews 12:12-17 (NKJV)

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. [Emphasis added]

---

I think you now get my point right? Well, I’m sure there are more reasons  why certain prayers don’t get answered by the Lord, but these are what I have been able to come up with. I hope this may help you and enhance your prayer life and spiritual growth in the Lord. Change the things that you need to change and consider these things carefully and repent to God if you struggle with areas of unforgiveness. I will fess up and say that I still have issues with bitterness that I need to deal with so this is an ongoing journey for me. Stay blessed and seek Gods face with honesty and sincerity and He will hear from Heaven.

---

For more information regarding Prayer and Praying effectively, I recommend reading books on the topic (this includes the BIBLE) and seeking wise counsel with those that are seasoned in the Word that are able to help you. Those that are called to be Intercessors specifically by calling are great to talk to since they live and breathe prayer. They are very good resources in the prayer arena. Don’t forget your pastors, priests or spiritual leaders that you serve under who are also able to help you in this area of prayer. Seek and you shall find your answers to the hindrances in your prayer life.

Tarisai has a great post that I would certainly recommend reading that touches on How to increase your prayer life Pt 1 and How to Increase your prayer Life Pt. 2.