Tag - hope

The Devil’s Primary Tactic

July 19, 2023

Blog Post title: The Devil’s Primary Tactic

Picture Adam and Eve…enjoying the love, the connectedness, the intimacy, the Voice and the beauty of God in the garden. What could have been better? The aroma of floral scents visiting them… The cool breeze of His love whisking over them… The sound of freedom regularly affirming who they were with Him… The wonder of His fruit at the ready. The fabulous connectedness of healthy family…

And then, the fall…
when they messed up…
and everything changed because it was all their fault…
and they saw what they did…
and hated their nakedness and ickiness…
and experienced a heavy weight of shame…
and tried to fix everything with their own hands…
to make everything better…
fashioning some fig leaves to cover over their mistake…
by protecting themselves…
by taking things into their own hands…
by hiding out from the One who would know how bad they were…
to stay out of His sight…
because He must be mad…
and because they knew they were bad, bad icky kiddies.

Shame is a primary tactic in the devil’s game. The confusion that comes in from sin tricks us. Then, it isolates us, driving us away from God, making us hate ourselves.

I can only write about this because I know about all this. Friends, I hate shame. I hate it!!!! It works like this: We mess up with a family member and then want to run away from them. We act how we don’t want to and then suppose God is angry at us. We remember that old sin we did long ago and think it is still making God angry at us. We remind ourselves how far from God we’ve been lately and determine the road is hard to get back to Him. We are angry at ourselves for how we acted and then want to punish ourselves to get better. We call ourselves names because we hate the sin we see. We judge our performance and try to make up ways to do better. We think we are not good enough, or we are too much and then judge ourselves.

What does shame look like in your life?

The devil uses shame to drive us away from His Name, The Name Above All Names. The devil insists we need to take things into our own hands because God will not be there for us anymore…

Yet, scripture tells us another story:

“Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.” (Col. 1:22-23)

Friends, the only way to beat the devil at his own game is to believe in the power of His Name, Jesus! Jesus has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light. We are not striving to be in His love — we are already in it! Nothing can separate us from His love!

Now, it is so easy to repent of sin. We cast off what was and, immediately, move back into what is: we are holy, blameless, we stand before Him without a single fault.

Friends, nothing — no sin, no mess up, no mistake, no person — can separate us from His love!

Prayer: Father, thank you that we are not in shame anymore because we are in your love. Thank you for your son Jesus who saved us and is continually saving us. We are forever grateful. Help us to live by our new nature and not to revert back to our old nature. May we not return again to a yoke of slavery. We are loved, accepted, wanted, holy and blameless. We praise your name for all these things. We boldly come into your presence for all the grace and mercy we so desperately need. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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What The Enemy Can’t Stand

June 22, 2023

purposefulfaith

devil, faith, hope

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Standing in a hallway, I wanted to do what was right in God’s sight.

I remembered back a couple days ago…how I stated my opinion in a group meeting, how I stood for what I believed in, how I spoke up and used my voice. Did I come off too strong? Maybe. Plus, I sensed one man was not too happy with me. I didn’t agree with his opinion.

I knew he was only 20 feet away, in the room next to the hallway.

Wanting to do what was right, I stuck my head into the room and I said to him, “I just want to apologize if I came off strong the other day…”

He answered in a way that I did not expect, he said, “Absolutely, you did!!!! You are ___.” He called me a slur name and went on a short tirade.

Everything in me was shocked. I was apologizing and, now, everything was going sideways. The words he was speaking were shocking. What would I do now? I had to defend myself! I had to tell him what my heart was! I had to tell him that this is no way to talk to me, didn’t I?

“When they hurled their insults at him (Jesus), he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Pet. 2:23)

Wanting to do what was right, wanting to trust my Savior to be my Defender, I took the insults…without speaking anything, but, “I am sorry”. I will tell you all — it wasn’t easy. I grabbed my two kids by hand, backed out of that room, and found refuge in a vacant room.

I started to cry. My sweet children heard it all and tended to my heart.

I felt so loved. God defended my tender spirit as I saw their outpouring love. It was a momma moment that was so precious. I got to tell them how I trust Jesus to defend me. They got to see that trust in action.

None of this is because I am so great; I am not. In fact, I probably was too overzealous in that initial meeting. In any case, I saw the man today, weeks later… As he passed by, I smiled and said hello.

My kids were with me. They asked, “Mommy, was it hard to do that?”

I said, “Yes, but I don’t want the enemy to win. And, if I am angry or resentful, the enemy wins.”

I hope my kids got the message, in reality — love is the only force the enemy can’t defeat; against love, the enemy can’t ever win.

Who might you be prone to argue against? What if you gave up your fight? What value is it adding anyway? What if you trusted God to fight on your behalf?

You know, I can’t help but think — we don’t fight against flesh and blood. We fight against a real-live enemy who is dead-set on luring us into bitterness, anger, rage, online quarrels, resentment and futility. We don’t have to take his bait.

I am not saying there is not a time that we don’t stand up for ourselves or use our voice (there most certainly is times God calls us to do this), but what I am saying is — we must remember: Love never fails. And, Jesus laid down His life for His friends.

Laying down can be hard to do, but loving others is always a winning game in God’s eyes.

Prayer: Father God, forgive me for being so easily offended. Forgive me for my anger. Forgive me for my sin. I am coming before you today, to humble myself in your sight. I want to be love, as you are love. I want to be gracious and kind, as you are towards me. Please give me all the grace I need today to let go of my rights and to find myself wholly loved, defended and cared for in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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God, Please Help!

June 9, 2023

purposefulfaith

doubt, faith, hope

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When I was a little girl, we had the coolest way to wash our hands. We pressed a little peddle on the ground. This caused a water-fountain like flow to shoot out, in a circle of directions. It was a sprinkler in a sink. I loved it! The high arch of the water made me feel like I was washing in a rainbow. There was more than enough water for all us girls to circle around. There was a bounty of water for everyone!

It was fun.

I imagine this water sort of experience is what the woman at the well encountered too. There she was, all by herself in the heat of the day, with all those husbands in her past.

What did she see when she walked up to that well? Did she see a lack of good men…? The filth of her own mistakes…? All the friends she didn’t have…? Hatred for life she was living…? Her own future as an impossible case…?

And then comes along comes Jesus.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (Jo. 4:10)

(Meaning, she could access fountains upon fountains of all she ever needed, but never realized she wanted)

“…Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jo. 4:13)

(In other words, for her, this fountain would never run dry or run out)
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water….”
And then, off she went, filled, like a jug, with living water, telling everyone, everywhere, all about the man who told her all she ever did. There was something in this water; she became the first evangelist. And, she was good at it!
The living waters this woman drank of — were abundant, resplendent, and calling-activating.

And, do we even realize it — the same waters are available to us today, my friends?!

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (Jo. 7:38)

All the living water available to her is now made available to us.

So, how do we access it?

Oh friend, we take the time to drink deeply of God. We take a pause to soak in His word. We take what is naturally afflicting us and give it no more credence against a God who is all powerful…

I realize, some of us have experienced a time of lack, so much so that we can’t see the abundance of God anymore. I realize, some of us are so carefully looking at what God hasn’t done, that we can’t see what He is doing. I realize that some of us are so upset at ourselves, it seems we can’t receive God’s grace anymore. I realize some of us are so upset at a spouse, love feels impossible again.

So what? The flow of living water is so abundant, so plentiful and so filled with equipping power it can do anything — and everything — through you!

The fountains speak a different story.There is a deeper access point you can drink from. It is through the Spirit of God. It is via the flow of God’s true and real covenantal promises, His mercy and His love, regained, for you. It found in worship that comes from all your heart.

Then, like this woman, will you be able to say, “All my fountains are in you.” (Ps. 87:7)

The fountains of God are the empowerment of God.

When you access His flow, you will mean what you say and say what you mean. You will be filled to overflow! Your whole past will look different. Your future will have new gleam and glisten to it. Your God will excite you again!

Prayer: Father God, may You be the source of all my joy and all my life. May I continually walk fully found in You. May I overflow with the greatness of who You are and what You do. May I abound, in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Encouragement that will Refresh your Soul

May 31, 2023

purposefulfaith

faith, hope, peace

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This morning, I marveled at the flowers before me. I couldn’t believe it! The small and stodgy stems of the calla lilies my husband bought for me weeks ago, were now perky, tall, radiant and in full bloom. For weeks these things had lived, fully alive and shooting higher than I ever expected!

I marveled because these flowers were completely unlike the flowers I put in a vase. Those flowers are droopy and dead within a week.

What’s the difference?

The difference is these calla lilies (which were my wedding bouquet flowers, by the way) are deeply connected to their life source. They are potted and not cut off at their roots. Instead, they have a deep root system which soaks up water. They are next to the window. I notice how they are reaching for the sun.

All of this makes me realize how vitally important it is that I live the same way. When I am cut off from my life-source – when I am busy and self-sufficient, when I am worried and doing my own thing, when I am wrestling with my flesh, when I get full of self-will, when I do not live by the Spirit of God, when I am worn out and looking for numbing outlets other than God, when I am in my own mind rather than praising and worshipping him – I live cut off at the roots. I wilt within a week. I get tired and cranky in life.

But, when I stay connected, when I lean on Him in trust, when I pray to Him with an authentic heart, when I think of Him during the day, when I open my ears to what He is saying, when I talk to Him as I go through the hours of what feels routine, when I sing a little song, when I meditate on His Word, when I worship with all my heart, I soak up nourishment from His living water, because my roots are deep. I perk up. I find life. My beauty shines radiantly, in the light of The Son.

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 AMPC)

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (Jo. 15:4)

Are you connected and growing or are you cut off and wilting? How can you re-engage your prayer-life, your heart connection and your vital union with God?

What would it look like for you to renew connection to restore your heart and soul?

You know, the difference between being full and alive and dead and droopy is often how much we are relishing in the goodness of the Lord.

I want to be like the beautiful lilies, happy and perky, tall and pretty, growing and green, vital and leaning towards the Son. Today, I will choose to talk with God and tell Him all the little ways I love Him.

Prayer: Father God, you are so good. You are so marvelous. You are so perfect in all your ways. Reconnect my heart to yours. Renew my Spirit in all my ways. Keep me in constant prayer and connection with you. You are the source of my life. I love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Your Outlook Makes All The Difference

May 24, 2023

purposefulfaith

faith, grace, hope, Love & Health

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I sent a text message, then instantly deleted it.

My friend wrote, “Kelly, what do you need prayer for?”

My initial text answer was cliché, a rote response that seemed right. But, what was it that I really needed prayer for? I deleted what I wrote and paused. What do I really want? What do I really need? The more I thought, my mind traveled…

And, before I knew it, something caught my eye. I picked it up. All it was, was a piece of foil that someone in my family trashed on the table. But, when the light shined on it from the nearby window? What that foil looked like on the table was — a diamond.

Light changes everything.

In Ephesians, Paul prayed, “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Eph. 1:18 NIV)

Light changes things. Light makes everything look different. Light gives us understanding. Light tells us who we are — and demystifies who we are not. Light brings hope — and confidence that God has a plan. Light illuminates our calling. God’s light on our life is more valuable than any diamond.

Light is the aha-moment! It may make us say, “Wow. Now, I know what I need to do!” Or, “Whoa, I didn’t think about it like that; now everything makes a lot of sense.” Or, “Oh, I misunderstood everything that person was saying and now we can restore loving connection.” Or, “Oh my goodness, I know God is wanting me to love in this way.” Or, “Wow, God I understand Your immensity and sovereignty now!”

Light lets us see all things in life, in right order.

Where do you need the eyes of your heart enlightened so you can regain hope and confidence?

God’s light lets us see where – and how – He intends for us to go. It reveals His truth and His way.

I texted my friend and essentially requested, “Please pray that God illuminates my heart with His light so I understand His calling and what He wants me to see, through Him.”

Light gives hope and illuminates God’s best paths. It refocuses our outlook. It reframes our future.

Let’s pray: Father, open the eyes of my heart. Open my eyes so I can see what you want me to see. Open my eyes so I can regain hope and confidence in you and through you. Show me what you know that I need to see. Reveal to me real understanding of who you are and who I am in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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As You Think, So You Are…

May 2, 2023

purposefulfaith

faith, grace, hope

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My friend, about to get in the car loaded up with her boys, was saying final goodbyes to me, when I made a colossal verbal gaffe…

Wanting to please her son and connect with him, I advised him, “You know, if you had me as your mom, I’d take you, right now, out to the gas station and buy you a super yummy treat — whatever you wanted!”

The second I blurted these words, I wanted to take them back. Has that ever happened to you?

My words silently communicated to this son (and his mother):
I am better than your mom…
I have good things for you that she doesn’t…
I am great; my ways are the best!

The arrogance! I have no idea where this obnoxiousness came from.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9 NIV)

The deceit of our heart can impact the words of our mouth, if we fail to pause and use self-control. Our thoughts affect our words our words affect our relationships and our relationships impact the course of our life.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Prov. 23:7 KJV)

Do you know the thoughts of your heart? How are they directing your words? Do you speak in haste? Do you say what you don’t mean to say? Do you get angry easily? Do you give advice to people when you don’t want to? Do you speak critical, condemning or negative words?

Did you know the face of your world will change as the thoughts of your heart are transformed by the power of God’s grace?

I received God’s grace and apologized to my friend, immediately. I examined my heart and discovered a need to be loved. I don’t need man’s love, I have God’s. He completely accepts me. I repented and received Jesus’ grace to move forward in a new way. I took my thought captive.

You can too.

Tonight starts the 4-Month Take Every Thought Captive Coaching Intensive. This is a free training to help us all stand strong of mind during these times, to know who we are in Christ Jesus, and to be transformed so that we can discern God’s will in our lives! Again, this event is entirely FREE with a book purchase.

Get “Take Every Thought Captive”, then sign up here for the coaching program!
Also, did you know — achieving goals is far easier and more reachable when two gather together as accountability partners? Consider inviting a friend!

I am developing “Check-In Questions” that can be texted to help keep you accountable during the week. Build relationship and grow together. Simply forward this email and invite a friend to journey along with you. Two are better than one!

About the Book, “Take Every Thought Captive”
In Take Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ, author and speaker Kelly Balarie encourages readers to seize the power of God’s Word to not only profess truth, but possess it in their mind, heart, and actions.
Take Every Thought Captive helps readers:

• transform their minds and release the worries, burdens, and lies from the enemy
• pray through times of mental and emotional strife
• become warriors and fight for God’s plan and purpose
• use God’s Word proactively instead of living defensively and defeated

Prayer: Father God, I ask you to renew me in the pattern of my mind that I will be able to discern the perfect, pleasing, and good will of God. I know that I cannot do this in my strength, but I can do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. I ask for Your grace and power to do so. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Learn How to Take Every Thought Captive

March 28, 2023

purposefulfaith

faith, hope

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The most life-changing and transformative thing you can change in your life is… your thoughts.

If you think someone is going to abandon you, you’ll likely abandon them first.
If you think you are bound to fail, you’ll probably procrastinate and never try.
If you perceive that a woman hates you, you’ll never talk to her (even though she could have been your best friend).
If you think God has forgotten you, you’ll far more easily numb your emotions (He doesn’t see you, anyway, right?) and subtly turn away from God.

What we think, can hurt us. And, it often does.

Some of us are looking at external hurdles when what we are really facing is internal thinking issues. The barrier isn’t that — it’s how you are thinking about that!

But, to be renewed in the pattern of your mind? To think God’s Word? To believe His love? Wow. That is what moves a heart, mind, and soul from incarceration to liberation.

Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jo. 8:31-32)

The truth found in the power of the Word frees us by the equipping and enabling power of grace.

What would your life look like if your mind no longer held you back? If ruts and mental scripts didn’t limit you? If you actually believed God’s Word 100% as God’s Word?

I love you all, who read this blog. I am going to be offering a 4-Month “Take Every Thought Captive Coaching Intensive” (please don’t sign up on this link — sign up on the link below). It is going to provide prayer, support, accountability, activation and chapter-by-chapter instruction. We will go through the book together!

For those of you who join my launch team — (which means you purchase, share the book as you can, read it, and try to review it), you get a free ticket and special pre-order gifts from me! Then, we will walk through the transformation of your mind through Christ Jesus, together.

Why wait? Change your life, by immersing your Mind and heart in the Word of God. Sign ups are only open for a few more days.

To be on the launch — sign up here.

About Take Every Thought Captive:
Exchange The Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ –

We do not have a spirit of fear and timidity; we have a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. When we walk by the Spirit, we are not conformed to a world of worry and anxiety. Bad habits must cease. Negativity, confusion, and worry are banished. The enemy has no playground.

In this book, learn how to:

recognize the lies of the enemy
replace those lies with the truth of God
pray through times of mental and emotional strife
offensively use God’s Word instead of living defensively defeated

If you long for clarity, purpose or peace of mind, the clear, actionable steps laid out in this book will be a game-changer.

P.S. Refer a friend to join the launch (by having them sign up here) — and you will both be entered to win a gift card:

Join the launch team today.
Link for your friend to sign up: https://forms.gle/KZUEgZzcAEiqFxgi6

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Take Every Thought Captive!

March 23, 2023

purposefulfaith

Contentment

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It is the oddest thing. When I drink water, I count.

One gulp of water and I think in my head…1,2. Second gulp. 3, 4. Third gulp, 5, 6. Fourth gulp, 7, 8. Fifth gulp 9, 10.

Why do I think this way?

When I was a little girl, I was told when drinking water at school to drink only for 10 seconds. After finishing counting in my head, I was then to give up my fountain drinking spot and let the next kid go.

As a result of mentally counting, time and time again, I formed a neural pathway. Now, even though I am far older than an elementary student, I still count in my mind. It happens naturally. I count without even thinking of it. It just happens.

Many of us, have formed neural pathways (or, thought-tracks in which our mind is prone to think). We think a certain way and, because it is so engrained, we don’t even realize it. These thoughts have been with us since childhood, or for years, so we don’t even realize how we think.

What happened now informs our mind to what is happening:

Negative things happened as a kid, so we think bad things are bound to happen.

People hurt us, so we regularly think, “I can’t trust anyone.”

There wasn’t enough in the past, so we think, we will always lack.

Repeated friends hurt us behind our back, so we doubt anyone really likes us.

A father put us down, so we think God must not be that happy with us either.

We weren’t heard as a child, so we think God doesn’t hear our prayers.

We were rushed as a child, so we think, I’ve got to hurry so I’m not late.

Think about the thoughts you don’t think about anymore – thoughts you’ve been thinking for years. Do they line up with God’s truth? Are they excellent? Of good report? True? Biblical? Or are they lies? Negative? Full of worry? Doubt-filled?

How we think determines much of how we feel. Worry, fear, and unrest tend to be sourced from thoughts out of line with godly beliefs. Self-protection, insecurity and defensive mindsets lead to walls that block out great relationships.

All this is, in part, why I wrote my newest book, “Take Every Thought Captive.” Friends, I need help! This is why I dug into God’s Word to see how I could really put verses like these into action:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Ro. 12:2 NLT)

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV)

I wrote this book because I understood: If I want my life to track a new way (with new habits, new peace, and new breakthroughs), I needed to think a new way.

I couldn’t afford any longer to allow my thoughts to fall on a table like spilling spaghetti, going wherever they please. I couldn’t afford to react rashly, rather than responding calmly. I couldn’t afford to be emotionally insecure rather than identity-sure in Christ Jesus.

If I was going to live God’s Word, I knew I needed to own it in my mind, then I would not only profess the power of love, but I would possess it. Then, I could be a better mom, more fully do God’s will in my life, and have peace in life and in relationships.

What about you? How are your thoughts? Do you think about what is good or do you fear? Are your thoughts filled with God’s Word or with worry? Do you love as Jesus loves or do you usually react emotionally? To change our thoughts is to change our life! Plus, I have BIG gifts for you…

2 FREE Gifts/Awesome Opportunities for you:

1: If you pre-order Take Every Thought Captive on Amazon (before April 11), and you fill out the form at www.itakethoughtscaptive.com, you will get a free copy of my e-book, “Battle Ready: Train Your Mind To Conquer Challenges..!”

2. If you join the launch team (which includes fun, gifts, community, sharing with others about the book, writing an amazon review), you will receive a FREE invitation to join my 4-month, bi-monthly, “Take Every Thought Captive Coaching Intensive!

Here, you will gain:

• Chapter-by-chapter instruction and help

• A 2-step methodology to transform your self-defeating thoughts into life-giving God-centered truths

• Equipping activations for mind renewal

• Accountability to change mindsets and habits

• Prayer support

• Teaching and wisdom from Kelly as we go chapter-by-chapter through the book

• Printable thought-tracker

• Group Chat & Prizes on the Book Launch Page

• Daily Declaration download

• Personal interaction with Kelly

Join the launch team today and get the help you need to transform your mind!

You are part of this book, my friend. Remember when I asked Purposeful Faith, what book would bless them? You all chose — this book! I would be so blessed and honored to have your help in launching this book with me. Plus, I would love to pray for you and to see your face on the Coaching Intensive week-by-week.

Prayer: Father, thank you for each and every person reading this blog post. Guide them in all their ways. I ask for you to renew and transform their minds in Christ Jesus. Help them to to think as Jesus thinks and to love as Jesus loves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Just a Word From God Can Change it All

March 8, 2023

purposefulfaith

awe, faith, hope

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One word from God has the power to change: everything.

I’m serious. And, one word from God has the power to change: everything in your life.

The question is – will we allow His Word to change us? Will we make space enough for our mind to receive His Word as our word? Or, will the busyness of life, the distractions of the internet, the hustle of the day’s routine, the worries and cares of today — crowd it out?

This morning, I flipped open the bible. I don’t know how I landed on this exact page, at this exact time, other than it being God’s doing, but there I was – staring face-to-face with words that had real power to change my entire relationship with my kids.

These words from God came as a direct answer to what was only a hope and possibly a prayer. The words were:

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].” (1 Cor. 13:7 AMPC)

Friends, I have a horrible bad-habit… I tend to believe the worst about family members, before I believe the best. I tend to think they have done something wrong, before I offer them the benefit of the doubt. I tend to speak judgment before extending grace or understanding their why.

I just react! I don’t hope in all circumstances, I point out what is wrong. I respond emotionally, in many cases.

Why do I do this? Perhaps, it was because of a message that came through to me as a child: “Kelly, you can’t trust anyone!”

But, this is not God’s message to me – so it has to go!

What messages came to you, as a child, that have to go?

The Word of God speaks loud and bold redirection. This morning, it said to me, “Kelly, believe the best,” and you will see your relationships change.

God’s Word has all power to transform our lives – if we let it, if I own it, receive it, make room for it, understand it, dwell on it, yield to it and seize it. The Word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of heart (Heb 4:12). It radically divides soul and spirit. It bridges the gap between our bad habit repeated over and over again and God’s Word realized in our lives.

But, many of us just get it’s message in the morning, but don’t live it in the afternoon.
Many of us connect with God only to feel worried and anxious later.
Many of us have memorized His Word, but we hardly live it.

How do we allow His truth to own us, drive us and propel us so much so that we are walking testimonies, full of Holy Spirit power for the cause of Christ?

We encounter God in His Word.

Join me for an “Encounter God in His Word” Workshop Night.

During this 1.5-hour session, you will:

1. Learn practical prayers and tips to encounter God through The Word of God.
2. Hold on to The Word of God that has the power to change your life
3. Discover how to create daily habits to put God first.
4. Glean wisdom from the Word and wield the Sword of the Spirit that demolishes strongholds.

Attend via Zoom (or get the recorded version) on Mar 16, 7:00 PM Eastern Time.

The cost is $25, which covers administrative costs and is also a blessing to Kelly & Purposeful Faith. Click here to attend.

**Subscribe for all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.

1 Tip: Loving as our Greatest Calling

February 14, 2023

purposefulfaith

Contentment, faith, hope, Love & Health

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Valentine’s Day was super hard for me. Isn’t it horrible when what America has deemed a dream, goes all wrong?

On what is supposed to be a day of chocolate, kisses and love, instead, I ruined it all. My husband told me I should rest; I got offended. Why? Because I was sure of my plan. I already had it all road-mapped out. I had determination in my eye and resolve in my footing. So, when he essentially said, “Chill out,” everything in me wanted to protest. Which I did do…by the way (not that I am proud of it).

Offense and defensiveness are easy, aren’t they? We feel so entitled to hold on to our anger, our reasoning and our way. People just don’t get it!

At the same time, the other side of me knew: to be in offense delivers me straight out of abiding-connection with Jesus Christ and the empowering nature of the Holy Spirit.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” (Romans 8:5-8 NLT)

Offense is actually hostile, not only to my husband, but directly to God. Not only that, but it hinders me from effectively being controlled and led by the Holy Spirit. I can’t love people as well. I don’t bring peace. I am not led by the Spirit into things of life and purpose. I am not controlled or directed by the Holy Spirit. I am unpleasing to God.

Have you been crippled by offense? Has someone thrown you off track? Might you consider forgiving them for the greater gain of God? For the increase of being led by Him? No one is perfect. We are not and neither are they.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NLT)

I have found out, the hard way, it is impossible to follow God when I am following my own emotions. I cannot successfully go forward by my own flesh, when only the Spirit leads to life. A mind of offense automatically supersedes the Mind of Christ.

The way of God is the only way.

Speaking of finding their way of God…there is good news! So many who attended the “What’s My Calling” Workshop, discovered their calling. Glory to God! They heard heard from God and got wisdom in walking in His ways.

If you wanted to attend — but did not sign up in time, it is not too late. You still may purchase the recorded version of “What’s My Calling?” by clicking here. I am confident you gain insight and clarity by attending.

Also, I got to thinking….maybe some of you already know your calling (to be a great mom, leader, businesswoman, non-profit leader). Maybe you just need encouragement not to give up and not to give in the enemy. I am putting together a “Encouragement to Love” support and prayer night. This will be a night of wisdom on how to fight the schemes of the enemy as we seek to love God and others. During this special night, experience encouragement in breakout groups and personalized prayer support. The cost is $25 which will help cover platform fees and will also be a personal blessing to me and my family. Even if you are still seeking God in your calling, this will be a great event for you! Find yourself surrounded by personal support and with sisters who love you.

Come join us!

I expect this to be a super encouraging night! We will hear mini-messages, breakout in support groups and receive personal prayer.

**Subscribe for all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.