Renewing the mind

Afformations, Faith, the Subconscious and Believing Prayer

AFFORMATIONS (no misprint) help your subconscious to believe your prayers in faith. Read more of this high impact article below.

Success in Marriage

Success in Marriage


Give Success in Marriage as a Gift through Amazon. Thanks for your thoughtfulness and support! Click this link:
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=i0a46-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004DUMY0W&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

Read Kindle books on your PC without a Kindle. Convenient download right here: http://tinyurl.com/33wwd5b
=================================================================================
AFFORMATIONS (no misprint) help your subconscious to believe your prayers in faith.

Behaviour modification is difficult to achieve because our actions are largely driven by our subconscious. The patterns of behaviour that we have recorded on the video of our lives are registered in our subconscious and play a major role in our future actions.

The subconscious uses this pattern to determine which actions are in line with who we are. Some of us do not steal because that is NOT who we are. Some of us exercise regularly because that is who we are.

Making significant change requires us to modify the who we are picture that the subconscious has. Staying in bed instead of going jogging is not who we are so we dutifully resist the suggestion from the conscious mind to turn over and draw the covers over our head.

Smokers are challenged to get their subconscious to be aligned with the thought that that are someone that does not crave nicotine and the smoking habit.

Afformations is a clever technique for bypassing the doorkeeper to the subconscious mind and slipping in ideas that would normally be blocked.

The technique tricks the doorkeeper that stops new ideas coming from your conscious thoughts from interfering with what your subconscious has grown used to accepting as reality.

Learn more here:  http://www.noahtools.com/cmd.php?af=1260954&p=6

Many times we mouth prayers but we really do not believe that they will be answered favourably. Consequently, we fail to move forward in faith as if God had already granted our wishes. That is the essence of believing prayer.

Afformations work on the stubborn disbelief lodged in our subconscious and bring us to the point where we are able to accept that what we have asked for is in fact being granted. It helps us to move towards the surety with which Joshua marched around Jericho.

It might be a long walk but these walls will come down.

Before you go, please take a minute to check out our high impact coaching library with multi-media e-books,training videos and a palette of coaching resources  http://www.swpacademy.com/products.php?prod_id=17/

Thanks!

Trevor

1 CommentLeave a comment

Getting ready

Some of us are still on the warm up track stretching and getting ready for the race while the starter’s pistol has gone off in the stadium.

We sometimes miss opportunities because we fail to recognize when the time has come to shift from preparation to active engagement.

We fail to get to market because we fiddle around with the product … just a little longer. We fail to contact customers because we need to spend some more time getting our sales pitch right.

The time has come for action!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

The time has not yet come…

The time has not yet come

Haggai 1: 1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua[a] son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built.’ ”
3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

The time has not yet come …. that implies an inaccurate reading of the situation, procrastination, inertia, fear, lack of commitment.

Haggai wrote during the period when some Jews had returned home from the Babylonian exile. This remnant had the responsibility to re-build the temple. Led by Zerubbabel they completed the foundation within two years (536BC). This raised concern among the Samaritans and other neighbours and the work was halted.

When Darius came to power in 522 BC he facilitated the earnest renewal of the re-building process. Haggai was conscious of the fact that the Jews were more to blame for their inactivity, with respect to the re-building of the temple, than their opponents. His mission was to arouse them from their lethargy.
He sought to point out that the time has indeed come!

The question I ask today is: Has the time come for us today? What is it that we have been putting off in the belief that the time has not yet come?

What is the equivalent of a panelled house that we have built while neglecting the things of God?
Could it be that the reason why we plant much and harvest little is because we have failed to deal with something whose time has come?

Are we eating and never having enough because we have been pushing back something that needs to be addressed now thinking that the time has not yet come?

Do our purses and pockets have holes torn out because of neglect of action we should have taken but have put off because we feel the time has not yet come?

Today, devoted Christians are an embattled minority. We are the remnant charged with defending the faith. It is our responsibility to undertake the re-building process. We have to stand up and be counted.

Yet alas, like Haggai, I sense that we are guilty of thinking that the time has not yet come for us to take bold and decisive action in the process of re-building.

Like Haggai, I have a sense that we are using the cover of a number of factors and situations to mask and justify our inactivity. Today, the call is for us to arise from our lethargy and to be proactive in the service of God and Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Do you have a sense that Church membership is growing by leaps and bounds or dwindling?

Is there a sense that those who are still attached to the Church are getting increasingly more active and dedicated?

Are we getting better at sending the Gospel message out to those who are perishing outside of Christ?

What about the number of Christians who are falling away or becoming lukewarm? Are we excelling in keeping on fire for Christ?

What of our fellowship? Are bringing more and more of our brothers and sisters into our inner circle? Are we more interested in their well being? Are we more integrated in their lives?

Like Haggai, I suggest that the time has indeed come for action!

The time has come for us to shake off sloth and lethargy. We must wake up to the reality that our inactivity represents a misreading of the situation. There is a compelling urgency to get active now. This is not a time for complacency.

The laid back, lukewarm, spectator approaches make a lie of the fact that as the remnant, God looks to us to defend the faith and to re-build the Church. As many walk aimlessly without Christ and our nation careens toward destruction there is an urgent call for us to get into action.

Haggai pointed to the Jews living in panelled houses while the temple remained in ruins. What is it that so engages us that we are unable to pay due regard to our responsibilities as children of God?

What is it that is so compelling that you are not able to consistently worship with the saints? What is it that detains you such that you cannot attend Bible Study or in some cases, even study the Bible?

The Jews are admonished to ponder on whether the hardships that they are encountering are not as a result of their misplaced priorities. Can this be true for us today?

Are we generating less income than we need? Are we persistently hungry and thirsty psychologically and spiritually? Do we have a feeling of emptiness?

Is there a sense that we are not filled spiritually? We want more and we somehow never seem to get enough and so frustration sets in and we become even more empty. Could it be that the root cause is that we have been living as if the time has not yet come?

Could it be that we have not been ready? Could it be that we have not faced the starter’s pistol?

While we have been on the warm up track getting ready, the race has in fact started. When we should be pushing toward the finish line we are still stretching and thinking about how we plan to run the race. The race is on in earnest and we are being left behind.

By the time we wake up to the reality it will be time for the awards and we will wonder in amazement how we could have missed. We did all the training signed up for the race. We were even there on race day but somehow missed because we failed to realize that the time had come for a different kind of action.

The time for preparation had passed but we did not we did not see that. So we continued in our getting ready mode. We act as if the race is some time in the future.

Does that apply to us collectively and to some of us individually? We are in perpetual preparation but never ever being engaged in the real action. We spend our time on the warm up track but never venture into the stadium where it really counts.

The vacuum that we sense is of our own creation. It is a result of our failure to be fully engaged in the process, individually and collectively. The time has indeed come for bold decisive action in the arena where it counts.

More people are dying in their sins than ever before.
More Christians are being enticed from the faith than ever before.
More Christians are living lives that are indistinguishable from those who are in the world.
More young people have the need for Christian mentoring than ever before.
More businesses need strong Christians to stem the tide of corruption and unethical practices than ever before.
More communities are need in Christian influence and outreach than ever before.
There is an ever increasing demand for resources that a proactive Church could provide.

The time has indeed come!

The time has come for us to be present physically, mentally and spiritually in our worship, Bible Study, fellowship and outreach activities.
The old rationalizations have worn thin. You are presenting them to God…not man. He sets the standard as to what is acceptable. He will be the judge.

The time has come for us to be more engaged in our study of Scriptures. The more informed we are the more we understand God’s will for our lives.

The time has come for us to be more willing to share the Gospel and the impact of God in our lives with others. Social networking is all the rage. The time has come for us to reflect God in our postings. Let people know where we stand in defence of the faith.

Friendship evangelism is the most effective means of encouraging people to come to Christ. The time has come for us to encourage people to want to go to heaven because that is where their friends will be.

The time has come for us to be more proactive in engaging our young. This is a time for Christian mentors to step forward and take charge of providing guidance to our youth. Dysfunctional homes leave many without any source of proper guidance. If ever there was a time for Christians to shelter and protect our youth it is now. Friends the time has indeed come.

The time has come for us to be generous in our giving – to the church and to those in need. Haggai links holes in purses to inactivity. Are we stopping God’s blessings in our lives because we are stingy in our giving to Him?

Malachi 3: 6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

The time has come for us to draw closer to our brothers and sisters. Again, the old excuses have worn thin. If you feel left out, who have you sought to let in?
So what if someone has said or done something that upset you? Ever had a little spat in your family? Did you abandon them because of that?

The time for reconciliation among brethren has indeed come. We need to move past whatever differences, reservations, hurts, mistrust, frustrations we are carrying. The time has come for us to pull out a clean sheet and start again. It does not matter whether the other party is a brother, sister, evangelist, group leader or not. The time has come for clean sheets… the time has indeed come for reconciliation and a new beginning.

The time has come for more high impact outreach activities. Even as we emphasize friendship evangelism we still need to increase our influence in communities. The time has come for vibrant and fruitful outreach programmes that impact the lives of those who might not otherwise be encouraged to give their lives to Christ.

The time has come for the renewing of our minds. The time has come for us to re-dedicate our lives to Christ and to re-capture that energy and excitement that accompanies the baptismal experience. The time has indeed come for us to set aside all distractions, to beat back all the wiles of the devil and to commit now to being proactively engaged in putting God first in our lives.

The time is indeed here when we need to be seen as beacons for Christ in a world that needs for each and every Christian to let their light shine brightly.

Will you recognize what time it is? Will you fully grasp that the time has indeed come?

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Processing life’s events

How we file or process life’s events dictate how we respond to them.

Smoking kills: I quit. Smoking is hip: I smoke.

Mind control = File it right to get it right.

We can turn the other cheek as long as we do not file the incident as a brutal attack on our person. That prompts us to retaliate.

We should train ourselves to put a desirable face on unfolding events. We will be amazed at how much better we respond to them.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Can Resisting Temptation be Contagious?

Can Resisting Temptation be Contagious?

According to new research…YES! Many people believe that “self-control” is an individual attribute, and if you are not one of the lucky few that possess this gift, it is unlikely that you will triumph over the battle to resist temptation. However, a new study by Michelle van Dellen, a psychologist at the University of Georgia, concluded that self-control does in fact have a social component and the ability to resist temptation is contagious.

In one study, a group of students watched an individual choose a carrot instead of a cookie, while the other group watched an individual eat the cookie instead of the carrot. Next, the students were put through a test of self-control and those who watched the individual choose the carrot displayed more discipline than those who watched the individual eat the cookie. The behavior of the students reinforces the idea that RESISTING TEMPTATION IS CONTAGIOUS.

If you are lacking self-discipline and easily succumb to temptation, MedHelp offers tools and online community support to help you succeed. In their new Tracker Gallery, you can view other member’s trackers for motivation and share your own to help inspire others. So what are you waiting for? Log on now and kick that habit today!

http://www.medhelp.org

That is one of the great benefits of staying in fellowship with Christian believers!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Uniting in Christian Love – A thought on Valentine’s Day

Uniting in Christian Love

Today is celebrated as Valentine’s Day and has the theme of LOVE. I will explore some foundation principles related to bonding that can be applied to our families, a congregation and any team or group to which we are attached.

Why is cohesiveness – bonding, unity, team spirit – relevant?

1. As the popular saying goes in a team – Together Each Achieves More. Team and group work is more effective that independent individual effort.

2. Despite His mighty power, one of the first things Christ did at the start of His ministry was to pull together a team that would lead the process and sustain it after His departure.

3. Even among His elite team, cohesiveness challenges were present. Why should we expect to be different?

If we think of our bonding as improving teamwork then it is useful to reflect on a definition of TEAM:
“A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.”

What can we learn from this definition?

1. People with complementary skills

It is important to note Team work and Team Cohesiveness do NOT mean that everybody has to be same. We do not have to be clones to achieve unity and have high team spirit.

Even a quick examination of God’s handiwork will show that He wants to promote diversity. He introduces variety at every opportunity.

Calls for unity and commonality of purpose should NOT be equated with stripping us of our individuality. Successful teams need people to bring different talents, perspectives and ideas to the table.

I put it more strongly: One sign of a successful team is the fact that it helps its members to achieve self-fulfilment. Members feel empowered and move closer to the vision that they have of themselves in fully functional teams.

2. People who are committed to a common purpose.

The glue that holds the entire thing together is the commitment to the common purpose. Without the commitment to the common purpose the team loses its compass and finds it impossible to steer a clear and predictable path.

Without the commitment to the common purpose, members do not have any point of reference that can hold them together. It is like using rubber bands to tie a team of wild horses together and expecting them to pull your chariot along a prescribed path.

This requirement has two distinct and critically important components:

There must be a clearly identified purpose that is understood in the same way by all the members of the team. The purpose cannot be something that one person dreams up and fails to share with every member of the team.

The second component is that all the members of a functional team commit to the same understanding of the common purpose. One indelible sign of a dysfunctional team is the fact that some members are wavering in their commitment to the common purpose.

The importance of this focus on commitment to a common purpose is not lost in the scriptures:

Eph 4: 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Phil 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.

3. People who are committed to a set of performance goals and approach

Successful teams know where they are going. They also know how they are going to get there. In addition, they know if they are on track.

Successful teams are clear on the strategies and the activities that will lead them to the achievement of the common purpose.

Successful teams have guidelines and yardsticks that indicate to them whether they are on course or not.

Successful teams do not lose bearing and lose momentum because they have set performance goals that keep them on track.

In successful teams members know and commit to the performance goals. They understand that the guidelines and yardsticks are directly linked to the attainment of the common purpose. Consequently, the failure to meet a performance goal is a step away from achievement of the common purpose to which they are committed.

In successful teams members buy into an agreed approach. One that is tied to performance goals that lead to attainment of the common purpose.

In successful teams members strive to understand the agreed approach and its implications for them and for the team.

In successful teams members do NOT come up with their own approaches and guidelines as they deem fit. This is NOT what is meant by your being able to keep your individuality.

4. People who are mutually accountable
Jesus was an exceptional team coach. Flip through the Gospels again with a mind set to look for issues related to working in groups, team spirit and team cohesiveness and see how Jesus handled them.

He understood the importance of the internal workings of the team. Issues concerning how members interact with each other.

Matt 12: 25:
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

The ultimate advice with respect to unity and bonding for the Christian is given by Christ himself:

Matt 22: 34 – 40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

What are the characteristics of this love that we ought to have for our neighbours:

1 Cor 13:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

For me, some of the clearest instructions on how to Christians are to bond is reflected in Romans 12:

Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Also Col 3:
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Key to self-control and discipline

The key to self-control and discipline:
If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James
3:2

Thought usually precedes speech. So if tongue control = perfection we have to discipline our thoughts to achieve self-control. This is the renewal of the mind.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

When trouble comes knocking: 10-step strategy

When trouble comes knocking

All of us can expect at some point in the future to get into some difficulty. Sooner or later trouble will come knocking.

One of the interesting features of life is that we seem to be regularly caught off guard by things that are inevitable. How prepared are you to deal with trouble when it makes its inevitable call on you? Do you have a strategy for dealing with trouble?

I want to share with you ten tips to help you better cope when trouble comes knocking:

One: Focus on the issue at hand

All too often when trouble comes knocking we get lost in non-essential and distracting things that lead us away from finding a solution. We tend to cloud the issue by bringing in past events or personality issues that are really NOT central to this issue.

It is said that if you find yourself in a crocodile infested swamp; mosquitoes are really not a central concern. One key to coping when trouble comes knocking is strip away all the distractions and identify what is the real issue at this point in time. We do not want to lose energy dealing with non-essential things.

We must resist the temptation of letting the personalities that are involved in the issue cloud our thinking and blind us to what are the substantial challenges.

Two: Avoid rushing off into playing the BLAME GAME

Many of us thrive on affixing blame whenever negative events occur. Our attention is immediately drawn to answering the question: “Whose fault is it?” We are consumed by that inquiry and we are drawn away from the core challenges that we face.

Often, those of us who are honest with ourselves place the blame squarely on our own shoulders. All this is happening because of something we did or did not do and now we must pay the price.

Others look to find a scapegoat to blame for challenging developments. They place themselves in the role of victims and hold others accountable for the situation in which they find themselves.

Whether we blame ourselves or others, the fact is that at the end of the blaming exercise we are not likely to be closer to resolution of the situation. Problem solving requires more than affixing blame.

Resolving issues does require that we get to the underlying problem. That we get to the heart of the matter. This may in fact end up pointing to someone who is the source of the problem. That is OK. However, letting the naming of scapegoats get in the way of meaningful resolution of the issue is another matter and should be avoided.

Three: Be proactive

Many people respond to trouble by pretending not to hear the knocking. They appear to believe that if they ignore the knocking long enough it will go away. They see TIME as the great healer and take a “Sit and wait” approach to problem solving.

The fact is that elapsed time by itself will not resolve issues. Other forces must be brought into play during the passage of time to produce new results. When trouble comes knocking we must seek to take positive action to deal with it and to correct the situation.

It is action that solves problem not the mere passage of time.

Four: Avoid alarmists

When trouble comes knocking you want to ensure that you stay clear of the influence of alarmists. These are people who magnify the problem and who paint a gloomy picture about the prospects for early resolution of the problem.

Consider Number 13 with respect to naysaying.

Some people develop great competence in making situations look a lot worse than they are in reality. They spin a web of hopelessness and despair to ensnare us. We need to steer clear of that web less it renders us powerless and ineffectual.

Like Joshua and Caleb we must resist the naysayers and resellers of doom and gloom.

Num 14: 6 – 9

Five: Do not panic and remain calm

As we just read “….but the LORD is with us”. The confidence that Christians can have in facing adversity comes not from themselves but from the fact that we live in a world that is controlled by God our Father. The God who rescued Daniel from the lions’ den, Shadrach from the fiery furnace, protected Paul through numerous treacherous situation watches over us. We need not have a spirit of fear.

Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The other thing to recall as you seek to still your nerves is the thought that the situation is temporary. This too will pass. You will find that with the help of God, you either find a solution to the problem or learn to accommodate it.

One thing is sure and that is that addressing trouble with an emotional mindset is likely to produce inferior results to taking a reasoned approached to understanding and dealing with the issue.

Six: In your choice of action stick to what is right

Sometimes in response to the significance of the situation and what is a stake, we contemplate taking short-cuts to achieve what we consider to be a desirable solution. We think that if we use deceit or use illegal tactics we can resolve pressing issues and come out victorious.

All too often these unrighteous schemes backfire and cause us even more grief. But even if they were to succeed consider Matt 16:26

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Going against the will of God to suit our own purposes is a dangerous practice as evidenced by Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5: 1 – 6

Seven: Summon up courage from outside of yourself

David’s confidence before the giant Goliath 1 Sam 17 and lessons from Gideon’s army Judges 6-7 highlight the fact that God is in control and if we are aligned with God and are obedient to His will we can achieve great things.

Phillipians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Eight: Call on available resources

The Book of Esther recounts the wonderful story of how Mordecai was able to turn the tables on the mighty Haman by calling on the resources of the girl he had sponsored and groomed – Esther. She had become favoured in the king’s court and was now able to save not only Mordecai but her compatriots.

Some times we feel that when trouble comes knocking, what it brings is so sensitive and embarrassing that we are afraid to seek assistance.

At other times, we let pride get in the way of seeking help. Again, we feel that the issue does not lend itself to outside support and we try to go it alone.

Self-reliance is good. At the same time, we are not islands unto ourselves. We live and have our being in interaction with others. Lightening each other’s burden makes them easier to bear.

Nine: Rely on the power prayer

Job 42: 10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver [a] and a gold ring.

Jonah 2: 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

Acts 9: 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

James 5: 13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Ten: Prepare yourself for life’s challenges.

One of the keys to coping when trouble comes knocking is to have prepared ourselves in advance. Adversity readiness preparation should be a constant feature of our existence.

Adversity readiness preparation includes deepening our faith.

Hebrews 11: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Acts 3: 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see

Romans 1: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What about your faith? Are you firmly grounded? Will you be able to use your faith as a buffer when trouble comes knocking?

0 CommentsLeave a comment