just as Jesus, who is at the right hand of the Father, is
interceding on our behalf so His followers are also called to do intercede in
lifting one another's burdens expecting by faith to receive an answer to our
prayers.
More Topics:
Focus: What we concentrate on, the center of our vision, the heart of a matter, the hub, the spotlight, the center of attention, limelight, main interest.
In these last days, we need to be very alert about what we allow our minds to dwell on. The enemy wants us to concentrate on the distractions and interruptions he has brought into our lives.
The devil loves when we let ourselves become overwhelmed by a spirit of fear. We need to realize fear is false evidence appearing real. Jesus is NOT the author of the spirit of fear. Fear is meant to destroy the focal point of Christ in our lives. If we keep Christ in the center of our focus, we will not be paralyzed. We will be able to move with great momentum into the timing and plans of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.". (sound mind: safe thinking, good judgment, disciplined thought patterns and the ability to understand and make right decision, it includes the qualities of self-control and self discipline)
The enemy's destructive plans are to:
Steal the timing of God's destiny for us.
Kill our passion and zeal for the Lord and our commitment to Him.
Destroy our ability to focus on God's vision for our future.
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 they may have it more abundantly."
Jesus came to bring abundant life to this disciples. The level at which we place Christ in our lives will determine the intensity of abundant life He allows us to walk in as believers. To walk in a fullness of Jesus' abundance, we must let Him reign and rule over 100% of our heats and lives.
One excellent way to always focus on Jesus and what He wants for our lives is to read His Word Daily. As we read His Word daily, we can ask Him to renew our minds and cause us to have the mind of Christ, the thoughts, feelings and purposes of Jesus' heart.
1 Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified Version) "For who has know or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings) and purposes of His heart."
When we keep Jesus as the center of our lives. He will provide us with His peace. Having Holy Spirit peace will free our minds of spiritual debris. When we don't have tormenting thoughts and emotions bouncing around, we can stay focused on our full commitment to Christ.
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You, trust in the Lord forever."
Philippians 4:6-7 (Amplified Version) "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything; but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort hat is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hears and minds in Christ Jesus."
Our God is big enough to bring into being His destiny for our lives. We can trust Him to act on our behalf. We can be assured He has a hope and a great future for us.
Jeremiah 29:22-24 (Amplified Version) "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require ME (as in a vital necessity) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from the captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive."
As we focus on His Goodness, we will be prepared to go to higher levels of commitment to our Lord. He alone is the one capable of releasing us from the plans of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy our lives. We must put our all into letting the Holy Spirit not our flesh/fantasy guide our lives. When we were children we entertained childish imaginations and fantasies. We are called to leave the childish things behind and be mature men and women of faith.
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| Phone: | 217-528-8447 |
| Email: | prayer@livingwaterchurchspringfield.org |
