Commitment is vital to accomplish anything in your life. Without it – possibilities disappear  and stagnation will set in. Many people are where they are in their lives all because of their inability to embrace the spirit of commitment. This does not have to be you.

What is commitment? It is an unstoppable driving force that when utilized will transport you to any destination. Any person who is dedicated to work and success will give credit to the level of commitment they carried to get to their accomplishments. We use this instrument in many things in our daily lives. We use it as soon as we wake up in the morning. When we sit up in bed; when we walk over to get our morning coffee; and when we decide to build a 5,000 employee company. It all takes the spirit of commitment to accomplishment all of these things -- big or small.

The legendary NFL head football coach, Vince Lombardi once said, "Most people fail, not because of lack of desire, but because of lack of commitment." He knew even in football that without commitment, success and arrival at your desired destination cannot happen. Vince Lombardi won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. He was a trailblazer in his thinking and leadership who studied the intricacies of success. You need commitment if you want to do the things that you desire in your life. Like winning a Super Bowl. The vehicle of commitment will get you there. I call it a vehicle because it will take you where you want to go when you possess it. The problem is most people do not possess the spirit of commitment in their lives.

A person who knew a lot about commitment was the Apostle Paul. In Paul's life, no matter what he encountered, he gave himself over to the spirit of commit and eventually arrived at each destination he set out for. When Paul was placed in jail, he worshipped the Lord; when he was bit by a poisonous snake, he shook it off. This is not an easy task. Because we have an enemy that is out to try and deter us from arriving at the destination the Lord wants for us. It is why it is pivotal to hold on tight to your commitment -- even when you get knocked down. Doing so will get you through tough times.

When you stay loyal to the spirit of commitment, you will constantly keep your eyes on your task. Outside distractions will not be as important to you as your priority (school, family, business, ministry, etc). Things may not be going the right way in your life because you may have lost your commitment to something. It could be a business or a relationship that ended because of commitment’s absence. Without commitment you will not move. 

A committed person is not distracted from the outside noise. They will not put fun over their commitment. If you have an important test to study for and a friend asks you to go to a once in a lifetime event, you will stay locked on your loyalty to commitment, not the new distraction or pleasure that came to you. This is how the game is won. This is how people are successful. When you are committed, your priorities to that endeavor are in line with its accomplishment.

Paul was an intellectual who turned his obligations into competitions. Before Paul was called by Jesus to do spread his word, he was excited about the traditions that he was a part of, passing many of the people and being highly ranked and positioned because of his commitment. He brought the same zealous nature to the Word of God. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize (New International Version. 1 Corinthians. 9.24-27).

Paul’s commitment was so strong that he ran his race to be the only winner. That’s how competitive and dedicated to commitment he was. It is exactly how committed you and I must be about our obligations in life. We must run to win the race. If you own your own business, it should be run with immense detail with an intent to be the top business in town. God expects his children to give their all, not just in business, but in living the life as a believer. This was the way the Apostle Paul lived his life – running to win the race.

Moving forward, when you are involved with a project, relationship or endeavor – run to win the race. Give it your all. Let go of distractions and stay focused on the task. Your life will change, and so will your confidence.

In the Bible Jesus spoke to many different things, that, as humans we would not naturally think they were supposed to be spoken to. He spoke to things like trees, illnesses & fevers, dead body's, weather, Satan, and other things. This was not to show us that we could simply speak to these things, Jesus was showcasing the dominion that we have on the earth that he has restored to us. This dominion means that you can finally keep your house in order through the power of your words.

In the book of Mark, while Jesus was in the synagogue, he overheard people speaking to Jairus, a synagogue leader, about his daughter being dead. Jesus intervened and told the people, "Don't be afraid; just believe." After Jesus spoke of  this he eventually followed the people to Jairus' home and shared to the people that his daughter was asleep and not dead. At the time many of those people laughed at Jesus when he shared this information. He immediately after that grabbed Jairus' daughter by the hand and spoke. He took her hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means "little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the little girl stood up and began to walk around. What a blessing to see Jesus use the power of the Holy Spirit to revive a family member and cure everyone's broken hearts.

Jesus was showing the people the dominion and power that he has restored through the holy spirit, faith and words. You may not have the power to raise the dead yet, but you do have the power to speak over small things in your life and build up your faith as you go. These small things can be speaking over small sicknesses and speaking organization and structure into your life. Having faith, speaking and telling your arthritis to leave your body in the name of Jesus.

An example would be, "My lungs are healthy, my back is strong. I am healed from high blood pressure and diabetes."  "I have a clear mind and make sound decisions in Jesus' name." Words have power, but they must be backed by faith. Many people have more faith in the negative things that they have been feeding themselves and others, rather than prosperity about themselves. This should not be. Whatever you are sowing, that's what you will eventually reap. It does not matter how things look on the outside, it has to do with what you are saying on the inside. God made it to where the invisible realm controls and influences the physical realm. This is true in all circumstances. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (King James Version. Hebrews. 11.3). Your words are invisible spirits, which justifies and explains Hebrews 11:3. The invisible realm is in control -- not what we see. Start using your words to influence what you can see. Everything you see is subject to change.

When you are faithful and sow life, God is able to make all grace abound toward you; That you will always have all sufficiency in all things. This is what 2 Corinthians 9:8 says about you and your obedience to this. Have faith in life building words and spread them over your life daily. You will begin to experience a change in how you feel. Then you will gain strength to change other things about your life. Jesus said, "All things are possible to them that believe." All you have to do is believe. That is what God needs from you -- your belief!

Proverbs 18:21 shares that, life and death is in the power of the tongue. It is vital to know this verse and remember it in every part of your day because the enemy wants your words for cursing and death. He knows the power of sowing and reaping, especially what words of life can do to an individual's situation. By speaking health to your body and mind daily, your body will respond in a healthy manner -- with vigor and vitality. This may not be an easy task if you have been speaking lack and doubt into your situation for months and maybe even years. Just know that your situation can begin to change today, by just changing what you say about your finances, jobs, relationships and more. The power is in your mouth -- not anyone else's.  Make the change and take the step to growth and freedom. God wants you prosperous. When you have the time, ask God to forgive you for any negative words you have spoken over your life and/or others. This will set you free from the debt you have with the enemy from falling into a pattern of speaking curses.

A popular pastor once shared, "I create my world, and then I walk in it." It fascinated me because I began to understand what he meant by that as I began to grow spiritually in my faith and speaking life into my situation and future. The pastor does this with his words, by believing Mark 11:23., "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast in to the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have what whatsoever he saith." You reap what you sow.

In order for people to understand the concept of sowing and reaping, you must study the Bible and the processes of bible verses. Galatians 6:7-8 was created for proof of what the world called karma. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (New International Version. Galatians. 6.7-8).  If you speak curses, you will reap curses upon your life. If you speak life, you will live a life that has favor and health in it. Some people do wicked and unscrupulous things in secret and try to portray a life that, in the public's eyes, is favorable and nice -- but God will not be mocked -- you will reap whatsoever you sow. Whether it is in public or private.

Speaking positive and life building words can be done in the morning, which will start your day off with strength, confidence and peace. It is important to praise the Lord and declare what your day will be by your words. Tell your day that; My time is not wasted; My day is structured and organized; I have clarity in all that I do; Financial increase is chasing me down; God supplies all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus; I am  blessed and highly favored. You cannot just say these things every once in a while -- you must state them daily. This is a lifestyle of watering your life with the proper words daily -- like exercise. 

Don't be afraid to bless your life with your words. Many people have been speaking curses into their own life and others that it is difficult to speak life into their situation. This is understandable because you may have locked yourself into a bad habit of curses and lack. Reversing it will take effort. And creating a new habit takes time. Be committed to change and loosening yourself from what you have been possibly saying about your situation --  and speak life and freedom. God showed us all throughout the Bible that all things are possible to them that believe; Daniel in the lions den; Ruth; Esther; David and Goliath; And many more. Your change is right at your mouth. Your words have power. Do not waste them. Use them for building up and change. God is with you. May you be prosperous and blessed in all that you do. 

God Bless You!

When the Truth comes into your life you will have an opportunity to receive what comes with it or continue in the way that you understand is comfortable to you. This may not be an easy decision where you stand in your life at the time because the wind of what the world is doing and the habits you have created are aggressive strongholds. This happens because of who is the God of this world. What is the world? It is not earth -- it is the system and pressure that is set up by Satan to influence, trick, bully and guide people into destructive and distorted behavior. It is what is causing all of the chaos and pain on earth. The pain that you have experienced comes due to the worldly establishment -- not because of God. God has given us a choice to bless or a choice to curse. Sadly, more people are cursing instead of blessing. Now we continue to witness the harvest of these choices within the earth.

Truth must come first in your life. You should feel a conviction over yourself if you lie or feel pressured to lie in any given situation. This is when you know that the truth is inside of you. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (New International Version. John. 8.32). That truth is Jesus Christ.

God made it plain and clear where his position is supposed to be in people's lives all throughout the Bible. "I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God." (New International Version. Luke. 12.8-9). It is important to acknowledge Jesus publicly. This is one of the mandates that Jesus will review to see if you are in denial of him or not. How would you feel if one of your friends denied they knew you to the public? Would you believe this was someone you could trust? Would it be someone you would want to let into your home? The next time you may feel embarrassed about Jesus in public think about this Bible verse.

Being proud to stand with Jesus is a deciding factor in knowing that you are truly with him. If you do not know the story, Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, denied him three times after Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Later, after Peter matured into embracing the truth, he stood fearless in the face of opposition.  "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (New International Version. Luke. 14.27). Peter eventually became the perfect representation of the verse Luke 14:27. So much that he decided to be hung upside down at his death. There will be much suffering when you commit to the truth; There will also be much reward.

The Truth comes with distinctions. One of those distinctions is that it divides the fake from the real; The loyal from the disloyal; The good from the bad. "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three." (New International Version. Luke. 12. 51-52). Jesus did not come to the earth to play games. He came to draw a line in the sand and force people to have an opportunity to pick a side. This is division -- dividing people into who and what they are to the Kingdom of God. The decision is totally up to you. How proud are you to stand up for the truth? Is it easy for you? Do you believe in the truth? These are all questions that must be answered in your decision. If it is not easy for you, just keep praying, worshipping and committing to the Word of God. It will eventually come.

It is important to place Jesus first in your life. In the epistles, it is repeatedly mentioned where the kingdom of God must be in your heart and how you must pursue it and water it daily. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33) and the things that people stress about like food, clothing, water and shelter will be taken care of for you with no thought. Being a follower of Jesus Christ it is important to apply a set of standards in your life. These standards must be taken seriously -- not just empty words. Why? Because of 1 Peter 5:8 -- Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. In order to defeat the enemy, you must embrace the truth at every level. The power is in your hands, not anyone else's. Jesus took the keys back from Satan -- now the keys are afforded to you to have a life of abundance, health and protection. You must bring the truth into parenting, school, work, business, relationships and every other part of your life to stay protected. By keeping standards you will be able to overcome the attacks of the enemy that are in total contradiction to the truth. 

If you have had a hard time embracing the truth, this is not new. Many people struggle with it also because it is being challenged and tried daily. Make it a point to read your Bible daily, learning scripture to apply to your life because the God of this world is making every point  to try to tempt you into falling. Be sure to stand firm in faith; Don't give up. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (New International Version. Ephesians. 6.16). The shield of faith is your confidence in knowing that God has given you the power to win and to be an overcomer -- in any and every circumstance. Losing your faith will give Satan leverage over you. You are an overcomer; You are more than a conqueror. God is with you. He has given you all the ammunition you need to win each day -- you just have to be committed to fighting the good fight of faith. 

When God created man He made you to be a life speaking individual -- a person who speaks things into existence. This is the type of power God has given to you. The ability to create and impact with your mouth. There are Bible verses to back this up. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: And the light shall shine upon thy ways. (King James Version. Job. 22.28). What you say matters. It matters in every situation --  not just some. Growth in life is about learning this powerful tool of speaking blessings and utilizing it in every part of your life.

You have an array of departments in your life that must be managed and run properly through the design of what God intended. These parts have to do with your health, mind, obstacles, finances and relationships. You must speak properly into each of these buckets and fill them up with what the Bible says to place in them. Jesus shared this secret with his disciples, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done" (New International Version. Mark. 11.23). Words have power. This verse epitomizes the power that Jesus has given to you. You just have to believe it. What you believe and/or continuously say will come to past in your life -- that's Mark 11:23. 

This belief I am speaking about has to do with faith. It is what backs your words. Whatever you say and truly believe, it has the power to makes its way into the earth. This power works in both directions -- blessings and curses. Speak negatively negative things will happen. Speak positively, positive things will happen in your life. God shares this in the book of Deuteronomy. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. (New International Version. Deuteronomy. 30.19). Notice the Lord involved children in how you speak. That must mean your words will have an effect on you and your children. Many people have been saying things about themselves most of their lives that have come to pass and they do not know or understand why. It's because of Deuteronomy 30:19. These are laws that have been placed into the earth.

If you have been saying that you cannot achieve or do something for many years, you have just manifested the power of your words. Now, you cannot achieve in that area because of what you have continuously stated about your situation or self. It is like placing personal road blocks and mountains in front of your blessings. This is because you placed your faith behind what you have said for so long -- watering a conviction and belief about yourself. You're hurting your future or have hurt your future because of this. How about changing the negative things about yourself or the words that inhibit your future to words and phrases that build and bless? For instance, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (New International Version. Romans. 8.37). That has a better ring to it. 

The Bible teaches you how to speak about your life. It is important to find out all of the things that you can say about your life that the Bible has for you. It takes a conscious effort to read and research the Bible for these statements from God. 

It will change your life for the better!  

In the book of James the apostle speaks about the power of the tongue, and how small of an instrument it is, but how gigantic of an impact it can make in life. He compares the tongue to bits in a horses mouth that turn the whole animal and rudders on ships that guide and turn the entire vessel. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. (New International Version. James. 3.5). One little phrase out of your mouth by your words backed by faith can set an entire seen on fire. I am sure you have seen what gossip can do to a situation. It will light an entire forest on fire. Exactly what the Apostle James speaks about.

Using your mouth is what God wants from you. But He wants it to be used correctly. The proper use is to use your words to build and not tear down; To heal and not hurt; Bless and not curse. God wants you to use your words to speak over your health and finances. So they can move in the right direction. Speaking over your children's future and the purpose God has for your life. Most people do not understand this concept. I am sharing this wisdom with you so you can change your situation.

No matter what you believe or how you feel, always speak life into your situation. Do not allow negative thoughts from the enemy to fill you up with doubt under any circumstance. Because it will root into your heart and whatever is in your heart will eventually come out of your mouth. With anything, it takes practice to get good at something. 

Start today! 

You don't have to sign any contract. All you have to do is change how you speak. Words have power! Your words have power. Begin utilizing that power to your benefit and those that you love -- use it for their benefit too. Your change is in your mouth, not in what anyone else is doing to you. Take control of your life today and speak the power of words into it. 

God bless you! 

The truth is a powerful thing. So powerful that many people are afraid of it. In other cases people run from it. In the well-known movie, A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson is notorious for his powerful statement in the courtroom where he states, "You can't handle the truth!" This is true in so many cases with people on earth. But this should not be how it is. God did not make it where He wanted us to be running from the truth and living a life where we cannot handle the truth. He arranged our lives to embrace the truth, honor it and live by it. The truth can only become neglected when we do not embrace it in our lives at every turn.

If you have read the Bible you will notice that when Jesus walked the earth, people interacted with him in a plethora ways. This was prevalent because of who Jesus is. Jesus is Truth. He does not have truths in him, he is thee "Truth" itself -- the living Word of God. Because lies abound on earth, when Jesus was born and walked in his purpose, there were specific people and groups (e.g., Pharisees, Sadducees, King Herod, etc) who wanted to kill or destroy him. On the contrary, other groups of people embraced him, like the Samaritans, disciples and others who wanted to receive the power of the truth in their lives. Those who wanted to be healed from sickness and diseases, they received the Truth and they were made whole and/or healed. It is not new when people make it their life to bury the truth and keep it away from the public. You can see it today in American politics and in Hollywood. You also see it in nearly every part of life -- even in some churches.

As soon as Jesus was born King Herod wanted him dead because of the intimidating factors of what the truth does to lies. Spiritually, King Herod knew if the truth spreads his kingdom would crumble, so Satan placed fear in him so he would want to kill Jesus. Herod's kingdom was built on lies, which were based on witchcraft, idolatry, necromancy, divinations and spiritists. Lies will always want to kill the truth because they are in total conflict with each other.

Even though Jesus did not come into the earth to hurt anyone, at every turn there were people trying to kill and destroy him. At one point an angry mob wanted to push Jesus off a cliff but the Truth prevailed. Satan tempted Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of a mountain when he was fasting for forty days and forty nights and Jesus was victorious again. The attempts to take-out the Son of man who came to save us was continuous. Jesus came into the world to fix and correct the mess that occurred after the fall -- not condemn it. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (New International Version. John. 3.17).  When lies run rampant, it can be a tall-order to convince people to except the truth. Because what becomes common will become the truth to people, even if it is not. This is how it is today. People are supporting lies and revolting against the truth. It is no different than it was two-thousand years ago.

One of the main things to do when you give your life to Christ is give up lying and commit your life to honesty. This is one of the most important and powerful tools in the process. Being honest about your life who you were and what you need to fix makes big waves in the Kingdom of God. Being truthful to yourself and others is a game-changer also. Relationships cannot be healthy unless they are rooted in the Truth. Rest assure that when you decide to stand for the truth in your life, you will begin to lose or butt-heads with people who cannot handle the truth. Committing to daily honesty must be a conscious effort to be set free from the old you and past problems. When you do this, it is a cleaning out process. Like cleaning out an old storage of junk. Your old ways become junk in your new body and the word of God will begin to aide in its removal.

When you embrace the Truth it is important to get ready for disruptions and backlash. You might have experienced an example of this in a previous circumstance. Maybe you tried to tell the truth at work or school and a higher authority or person did whatever they could to seal it and keep it from getting out. You possibly could have been the individual who was the burrier of the truth in your past. This is not new. It is no different than what Jesus experienced, except his attacks were on a much higher level. Similar today where people want to destroy the truth about things they do not want to come out. The truth can be intimidating, divisive and uncomfortable. But it must be told.

Jesus said, "If you hold onto my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (New International Version. John. 8.31-32).  The key to this verse is "if you hold onto my teachings." You must hold to Jesus' teachings to be set free. Throughout history the truth has played a major role in what happens in society. When huge verdicts get handed down in the courtroom, thousands, sometimes, millions of people can be impacted. The truth can break up a marriage, but it also can save and heal one. The Truth is known to be a corrector and a device of freedom. That's why Jesus said, "the truth will set you free." The Truth is your friend. If you run from the Truth, you have to ask yourself, why?

The impact of the truth is unstoppable; it can break up a political system; dismantle societies; it can also can reset things that are out of order. The Truth is not your enemy. It may seem like that sometimes. Truth only becomes your enemy when you have been convinced of lies or intentionally push lies. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (New International Version. Matthew. 10.34). The Truth does not play games. It has a job to do and it will always stand. You may be able to hide the truth, but it is always there in the same position it has always been in. It can be your best friend if you adopt and support it.

I call you today to stand up for the Truth in all that you do. To be honest in all of your dealings. Do not associate with people who you know tell lies. It will set you free and show God you stand for Him. People who do not support the Truth are ungodly. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (New International Version. Psalms 1.1). 

Jesus is the Word of God. Since God cannot lie, His Word (Jesus) has to be Truth. Jesus continues to correct today, doing exactly what the truth is designed to do. It will always stand. God placed everything under Jesus' feet because of this exact fact. Nothing is above the Truth. Handling the truth can be one of the hardest things to do in life. Sometimes telling the truth can be even harder. Especially, if you have grown-up in an environment of lies. This is why so many people reject Jesus. They have come so accustomed to lies that the Truth feels threatening and uncomfortable. If you have ever had to be the recipient of a surprising truth you did not expect, or did not want to know -- you know exactly what I am talking about.  

Stability is the child of truth. If you want to be stable and empowered you must except and receive the truth in your life in its entirety, not only in one section. This is the only way it works to set you free. Where you are in your life can be a scary thing. What you've done can be even scarier. This is because excepting where you are in your life may come with consequences. God wants to restore and forgive you -- not hurt you.

Understanding who God is should make you feel comforted, not scared and intimidated. These insecurities come from a place of not knowing, and what will happen next once you know the truth. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (New International Version. Matthew. 11.28). Rest can only come from the Lord when you embrace the Truth. Make a decision to embrace the Truth today. In this process, ask the Lord to forgive you of any lies that you have said in your life. When you do this, it will begin to start your life of honesty and freedom.

God Bless You! 

Whenever you study distance runners, you will normally hear the word endurance in relation to how fast or how long an individual can run. In order to win a race, it is impossible to do so without strong endurance or stamina. This is the same thing you need to keep going in life. Take a moment to look at where you are and where you would like to arrive at. The reality is that you will not grow or move out of that place without some kind of endurance or stamina. Each of these things (endurance and stamina) need strength and growth to expand. If you do not expand or grow either of these two muscles, you will remain where you are.

Being stuck is not fun. Most of the time we do not have the audacity to keep going or go to another level because fear is preventing us from our efforts. God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and one of a sound mind. This is what he gave you. You must believe this and declare it daily. The Bible is valuable, but it only works for those who know how to use it properly and do exactly what it says. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, "Run in such a way that you may win." This is speaking about endurance. It is telling us to keep going and to keep pushing. Winning in the word of God means that we continue to keep going in our lives, knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Saying Bible verses and not really knowing the power behind them is wasted words. Many Christians just say Bible verses, but they do not have the knowledge and understanding of what those words are really supposed to do in their lives. Understanding is the key to life. Without understanding, you cannot move forward; you cannot grow. Proverbs 4:7 says, And with all your acquiring, get understanding. This means understanding is supposed to be a daily pursuit in our lives. If you want to climb higher or break free from a situation you can do it with commitment and understanding. This takes a constant pursuit of will power and determination. I understand, some things are harder than others. But with God, all things are possible. Playing the victim does not gain victory. Speaking words of power does. Have you ever met someone who was always negative that was very successful? You more than likely haven't and won't. Because the two can't go together. They don't mix.

The Bible provides us with a road map on how to be successful in every situation. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (New International Version. Ephesians. 6.10) You can only be strong in the Lord and his mighty power if  you have determination and commitment. However, if you do not possess commitment, your understanding will do you no good. Runners have strong endurance because of their commitment level. They commit to getting in shape and pressing through the arduous pockets of the race. Understanding that their sacrifice will give them more endurance and stamina. This is also how you must think when it comes to your daily growth and fight against the enemy; Running to win the race. Remember, you win when you constantly pursue higher stages of the Bible throughout your entire life. God made it so there is always another level to get to. Just know, you cannot exhaust the Bible of its resources.

If you are in a situation that seems unbreakable, cry out to the Lord in your quiet time and ask him for the strength to get through it. Ask him to break the bands of that situation for you. And when you ask Him, know that the answer is yes and it is already done spiritually. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes (The MacArthur Study Bible. 2 Corinthians. 1.20). Your answer is done spiritually. Now, you just have to wait for it to manifest itself in the flesh, continuing to believe and pray until it materializes. This is how we walk by faith; not by sight. Another way to keep going is when you pray for something, believe that you receive it. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you (The MacArthur Study Bible. Mark. 11.24). You cannot just pray and believe that you receive it once, this  must be daily prayer and belief that you have what you are praying for until you get it. That takes stamina as well. Having faith for something unto you possess it physically. When you can gain strength in Mark 11:24, your life will begin to change drastically.

As a human, it is normal to have struggles and challenges. It is normal to feel stuck and tired at times. When you feel this way, it is your opportunity to grow and move to the next level. This is where the Bible's power comes in. For example, if you read the progress of Paul from Acts to Philippians, you will see a man take great strides in his growth. In the book of Acts he was in his beginning stages as a Christian trying to figure out his role while he was spreading the gospel and being attacked and persecuted. However, when you read Philippians, you can see Paul talking about how God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. This is the evidence and power that Paul has received from gaining endurance through the Word of God in his trials. Your life should be the same way. You should be stronger next year than you are this year.

In chapter 3 verse 17, Paul tells the people in Philippi to "join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." This does not sound like a man who is struggling with the Word of God anymore. This is a fearless man, who broke through to another level, utilizing the power of commitment to grow spiritually. You must do the same.

Since most people do not do specifically what the Bible says to do, most people do not get specifically what the Bible says they can have. For every situation that we may find ourselves in, God has created a Bible verse for it. When you begin to understand the Bible, you will begin to possess the power to have it come to life. Wherever you are in your life, make it a point to keep going; continuing to grow in understanding and research of the Word of God. Do not quit! Let us not grow weary in well doing, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (New International Version. Galatians. 6.9). Your harvest is waiting for you. Just keep going. Your time will come. God cannot lie. It is all in your belief system.

The Bible showcases a litany of stories and examples that have to do with the power of the mind. In order for you to keep going in anything, you must decide that you will in your mind first. You may be struggling to finish what you start or get through rough patches, let's decide that it will end in your life today -- for good! David in the Bible was faced with the challenge of facing Goliath, he saw the challenge as a peace of cake. When David's older brothers were asked about the challenge, they responded in fear. Two different sets of people, two different mindsets. Each individual's mindset was based on what they believed they could achieve in their heart through the power of God. The Word of God teaches us that, no matter the situation, you have the victory. Start today. Knowing you have the victory in all that you do through Jesus Christ. Your life will begin to change if you can do so.

God bless you.

Most people are not used to trudging forward in life to get to their destination. They are introduced to an unexpected trial they believe does not provide the proper evidence it is worth the effort and time to keep going through the uncomfortable pocket. When a person never makes the commitment to keep going to find out what is on the other side of their effort, life will continue to be unfulfilling compared to those that do. Individuals who contain the recipe and desire to fight through hardships and challenges taste the pleasures life has to offer. Such as confidence, self-esteem, focus and a unique intrepid characteristic. Those who know how to keep going do not get down on themselves or the situation so easily. They possess a conviction and/or competitive drive, knowing that everything is going to work out to the proper outcome. What is the proper outcome? That everything is going to workout just the way God planned it to benefit and strengthen you.

It is very difficult in many cases to continue forward when times get tough if you do not have a commitment to get the job done no matter what. Is this something you struggle with? Do not be ashamed or embarrassed because of this. There are millions of people who struggle with the ability to keep going. Just know the ability to keep going boils down to standards, training and commitment. Your ability to keep going is a testament to where your standards are and what you have been trained in your life to do once things get tough. Can you look back on your life and pinpoint training from anyone or any system that has given you the ability to keep going during challenging periods? Most people who have been through some sort of training or system that helps them push through in rocky times do not think twice to keep going. It is a natural reaction to finish through. In other cases, there are some people who have never been trained to keep going or possess high standards, they just own an indescribable desire to get through and complete the task. Sometimes it is due to the fear of failure, or not wanting to lose. This is rare.

Now is the part where we focus on helping you get to the point where you believe it is vital to keep going through difficult challenges. The first part starts with what you believe and tell yourself you can achieve and do in life. I can do all things through him who gives me strength (New International Version. Philippians. 3.14). The Bible says that we can do all things. This is the truth, but only if you believe it. If you are always proclaiming doubt over what is in front of you, how do you expect to ever get through your rough patches? It will never happen. You must speak what the Bible says you can accomplish. Use your words. Words are powerful. The Apostle Paul was a tremendous example of using words and belief together to accomplish great things. This applies to you as well. It's all about focusing and getting rid of distractions. The way you get rid of distractions is by placing an enormous priority on getting through what is going on in your life or the challenge that sits before you. Put the situation so high in your mind that it cannot be thought of over anything else. You know that it has to get done, or you must get through it -- no matter what.

Life is about how you learn from and handle obstacles. The more you get through obstacles, the more self-esteem and belief in yourself you will have for the next one. If you never push through your challenges, you will be stuck in a place in life that indicates your lack of growth, also, lack of confidence. People who have not achieved much do not possess much assurance of who they are. It takes grit and determination that crystalizes into self-esteem and a know-how spirit once you accomplish, finish or breakthrough a calamity. This is something that does not come about over night. It takes years of accomplishments and various challenges to achieve. You can rest assure that each time you conquer a challenge, your spirit-man will grow and believe more in itself than it ever has.

Some people go all their lives wishing they would have given their all in something they were a part of to see what could have been. It is a painful and regretful feeling. Do not allow this to be you. When you are a part of anything in life, there will come a point where you are given an opportunity in a time of great distress and/or weight to keep going or quit. In most cases, people do not feel that reward on the other side is worth it to continue. Or, they just do not have high enough standards or self-esteem to push through the trial. This is where the regret arrives and the wonder of what could have been shows up later in life. Regardless of the situation, you must show yourself that you are up for the task. That nothing will keep you down. Understanding the power of commitment and the ability to break through to the other side is critical to every human's success and mental confidence. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (New International Version. James. 1.2-3). Life is about how we handle trials. It's about persevering and building patience. Anyone who has been through many trials in life and has continued to fight through them will possess a certain amount of patience and know-how within themselves. God understands this concept, so he uses it to build his people. God is trying to build you the same way.

There are numerous examples in the Bible of people who kept going in times of stress and turmoil. Jesus kept going to the cross when he could have summoned 12 legions of angels to take care of the soldiers who came to arrest him. The Apostle Paul is someone who kept going during times of despair and pain as well. He worshipped the Lord when he and Silas were placed in prison for preaching the gospel. How he handled negativity and pitfalls was exactly how the Bible shares we should handle them. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, Do you know in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. The Apostle Paul ran his race with full determination and lack of concern of what people thought, all for Jesus Christ, so he could win the prize. The prize I am talking about is all of the rewards Jesus speaks about in the Beatitudes of the New Testament. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (King James Version. Matthew. 5.10). This is just one of the many rewards that are in the Bible for the those that keep going.

If you are trying to graduate from college, you know your reward on the other side is your diploma and robust knowledge of the field you are majoring in. Anyone who has graduated from college, understands the challenges and patience it takes to achieve the reward. You can start today, looking at things you would like to achieve and going after them. Losing weight is a challenge. Getting over a divorce is also a challenge. There are challenges everywhere for you to point out in your life to overcome. It is up to you when to begin and keep going through them when entanglements and bumpy roads arrive. Do not forget to say what the Bible says you can do through your rough patches and watch what happens next time. Here are some Bible verses for you to overcome your rough patches:

1. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

 2. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

3. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

4. There is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cutoff. Proverbs 23:18
 
5. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10.
 
Jesus loves you!

Your Thoughts Are Important 
Your thoughts are a manifestation of your life. They make up every inch of it. How you feel right now is based on how you have been thinking. People who possess a positive attitude toward life, generally carry a good personality and health. They go hand-in-hand. What you think is what you say. The Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). The reason why the Bible says thinketh in his heart, is because once you allow a thought to drive itself down into your heart, that thought is truly what you believe. This is paramount to understand. If you are a woman and believe that all men are bad, you will speak that out of your mouth. The same goes for men who think all women are no good. How you think in your heart is how you act. It is where your convictions lie. Have any insecurities? It will show in your actions and words. How about things you are confident about? This will also show in your actions and words. Think about things you are confident in and how you carry yourself within that thinking. Now do the same with the things you are insecure about. Insecure thoughts work in reverse. This article is to get you to reverse any negative thinking that you have about yourself, things or others. Negative thoughts are proven to cause health issues in people. Sicknesses and a weakened immune system can all be connected to negative thinking. Your adversary, the devil, wants you to think this way, so he can keep all of the things God has for you in your life. When you begin to understand that you are working against an enemy that wants you to keep a negative, downtrodden and pessimistic mentality in order to take or keep your dreams and gifts, you will begin to not allow a negative word and/or thought to leave your mouth again. If you are not educated about this, you will continue to have a careless tongue and say whatever you please. This is not the way it should be.

Thoughts In Your Heart
The heart is the bank of a man's life. What comes out of a man's mouth is currency to either place you in debt or increase your life. It is that simple. God states this concept in the Bible. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live (New International Version. Deuteronomy. 30.19). God has given us an option to speak life or death into our daily circumstances. He has even set witnesses against us when we use our words. But God tell us to choose life, so our children may live. When you have a heart full of hate, un-forgiveness and/or negativity, the body will not have the cash to fill up your body properly for good health. Words can destroy and words can heal. The majority of people know this. It is exactly why people speak disparaging words toward another person when they feel disrespected or angered by them. Many of us just do not know that we are accountable for our words, and the heavens and the earth are the record keepers. Deuteronomy 30:19 states this.

Make It Match 
 In life things have to match in order to work. If you want to lose weight, you must match this desire with proper eating habits and possibly a work out plan to match it. Look at your words as energy builders that you take from your word bank account, which is your heart. When you use negative words you are withdrawing from your bank account. And no one likes to have insufficient funds in their bank account or be in debt to someone. On the other hand, when you use life-filling words of positivity and power, you are filling up your bank account with a positive cash flow, or you are getting out of debt from all of the negative words and curses you spoke. It is important that you get out of debt by changing how you speak. It is possible, but you have to begin with your thoughts first -- always declaring and stating what the Bible says about you. Make it match! Speaking positive things and acting in a positive and uplifting way. You also must understand that the enemy is after your thoughts. He sends thoughts into your mind that have to do with doubt, sadness, anxiety and fear. All of these emotions are dream killers. Your thoughts, if meditated on long enough, will create a chain reaction in your life to how you will feel emotionally.

Change Your Focus 
Understanding the power and detriment of fear, anxiety, sadness and doubt can help you change your life and get on the road to declarations of success, organization, structure, love and more. When you read the Bible, God is constantly telling his people not to fear. He is telling us this because there is not power and a future in fearing. The stability is in faith. When you walk by faith, not by sight, you are using faith to gain control of your life. By doing this, you create a powerful heart that contains strong thoughts. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. No one wants to be around a "Debbie-downer." And more importantly, you do not want to be a Debbie-Downer. Your mission is to root into your heart phrases of power and success. Watching every word that comes out of your mouth. Thinking like this gives the enemy fits  because he will not be able to take from you anymore. And now, you can build your kingdom back and keep it protected. The kingdom I am referring to is your heart, your health and your mind. So, the phrase should say, "As a man thinketh in his kingdom, so is he." Why? Because God made his children kings. It is our job to protect and expand our kingdom daily. We do this by following the Word of God and choosing life to speak into our lives daily. Every person must take an account for his or her words at some point in their life. So, do not be fooled by how you see people living and they do not keep a tight reign on their words. Their are witnesses in heaven and the earth itself, that must hold each person accountable for speaking life or curses.

Have Faith 
You should never question what you can accomplish. The Bible speaks specifically about controlling your thoughts, imaginations and declaring that all things are possible. "Everything is possible for one who believes" (New International Version. Mark. 9.23). Belief comes from the heart. This is why Jesus states this in Mark, because the heart is the chamber for success. If you are having a hard time rooting belief into your heart, you must continue to read it and say it, and read it again. Then say it again. Because faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The intent is to keep doubt out of every crevice of your life. You should never think of yourself in a low manner -- no matter what people say to you, about you, or what thought comes into your mind. Environments are key to success. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. The enemy knows the power of speaking life and cursing into a person, and what it will do to them if they do not have weapons to counter attack it. You must be always ready to defend yourself against negative words spoken toward you. We are not children of God to be trampled by others. We are a royal priesthood. The enemy always uses someone close to you to sow doubt (e.g., a teacher, coach, friend, parent, girlfriend/boyfriend, wife/husband, brother/sister, etc). Why? Because these are the people who you will listen to the most. If what someone says toward you does not line up with what the Bible says about you, rebuke it and do not receive it. This is why it is important to be selective with who you allow into your life, or who you remain around. Because what people say to you can have a profound impact on your life. What you say about yourself will have a stark impact on your life as well. This is why the Bible only speaks life into people. Good things. Empowering words. God knows what words of life do to a soul. The enemy knows what they do as well. Once you understand that this is where the battle is fought, you will always watch your words and thoughts. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (King James Version. Philippians. 4.9). Make it a conscious effort to control the thoughts that you focus on. Things that are lovely and prosperous. Building and fortifying.

A Healthy Life 
Your thoughts and your words are paramount to a healthy life. Be mindful of them daily. This is where the battle of your life is won or lost. Mental illness affects people due to the lack of governing of these two battlefronts. Believing negative thoughts and connecting to negative things will dilapidate your mind. Once your mind is accepting negative words, your life will follow. Are you addicted to social media and all of the activity on their? Do you go out drinking much? What about cannabis? Do you gossip and speak about what others are doing a lot? Many people believe cannabis is healthy for the mind. It may calm you down, but it is an addictive substance, whether people believe it or not. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, the Word of God will heal you from that with no side affects. Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (King James Version. Isaiah. 26.3). All of the peace you've been looking for is in the Bible. Mental illness is a mental junkyard, tarnishing and ruining the value of the real estate in your mind. It's time to clean up and remove all the clutter and junk that has been sitting in your thoughts and coming out of your mouth. This is a process that will take a bit of time and consistent work. But, if you have ever cleaned out an old  garage or a storage full of junk, you understand it takes commitment, strength and the right mindset to do so. It also takes time. Possibly months, or even a year or two to get it where you would like it to be. This is exactly what it takes to clean out the junk that has been stored in your mind. During the cleanup process it is important to not continue to add more junk into your storage, because your actions will go for not. This is the same cure and clean-up that must take place with your thoughts and words. It starts with a plan. Plans have rules to them. Commit to daily thoughts and words from the Bible that you will declare over your life. Set rules of what you watch, read, or listen to before you go to bed. Do the same in the morning. How you begin your day and end your night are critical to your mental health. Who you talk to and what you talk about is essential as well. If you want to be healthy, you must go about seeking out ways to be healthy. This may be difficult because you may have to let go of people you assumed were your good friends. Many times we do not know that the friends that have built a life around are truly not healthy for us. This is something you are going to have to assess for yourself. This can also be the case with family members as well. If they are not healthy for your mind and/or life, it is important to remove yourself from them.

Make The Change
Mental health is curable and fixable through the Word of God. Follow the steps in this article. Make a commitment to changing your life by changing how you think and what you connect with. Gaining back your healthy mind is not an easy task, but it takes standing up to make change in your life. It will be more than worth it. Make the assessment today of your mental connections and ask the Lord to guide you through the Bible and the things that are posted in this article. Jesus loves you. 

Mental Health is the root of many people's problems today. Struggling with depression, lack of focus, anger, sadness, confusion, loneliness, self-esteem and more. This problem seems to be a pandemic in the United States. But, there is also another pandemic matching this problem, and that is the removal of the Word of God in schools, corporations, radio, and in America as a whole. Good mental health cannot be obtained if the Bible and teaching of the Word of God is removed. The Bible says, Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:8). We are dealing with an unhealthy society due to its rejection and removal of the Word of God. Many people are struggling because they are connected to the wrong things. You can have peace, a sound mind, good health, finances, a healthy marriage, good children and more -- if you truly want them.

When it comes to mental health issues, there are two types; one that comes from someone abusing and harassing you; and the other when you connect to substances, information, and people who are toxic (i.e., social media, gossip TV shows, drugs, alcohol, liars, thieves, cheaters, etc). Both have to do with connection. Today I am going to talk about mental health from a toxic or harassing relationship stand point. If you are struggling with mental illness due to a relationship or relationships you are in, you must call unto the Lord to remove you from this destructive bond. Your mind cannot get better if you are in toxic relationships, or if you are connected to someone who is negative or harassing. If someone or people you know are  talking down to you they are doing so to steal the strength you have. Sometimes consciously and others unconsciously. It is the full intent in talking down to you. People who talk down and demean people do so to take the strength from others because they are empty. It is a proven tactic to gain power. This is by taking someone else's. If you remain as a friend or in a relationship with someone who does this to you, they may take all of your strength where you do not have any left to function. Humans cannot connect themselves to things or people that are toxic or negative, it will decrease how you think of yourself and function. This is dangerous.

The Bible speaks about faith a lot. Because faith is what protects and guards us from people who are looking to steal through demeaning and ridicule. A lot of people ridicule through jokes so they can have an escape if you call them out on it. The enemy uses ridicule, doubt, and negative words to build himself up. This is why it is vital to get away from people who are negative. Have you ever felt empty and down after talking to a friend, co-worker or family member? You should not feel this way. When you leave the presence of someone, you should feel empowered and strong, not weak and downtrodden. This will tell you who the person is that you are with. It will also tell you who to surround yourself with or not.

If you are in a toxic relationship, you must ask the Lord to remove you from it. This is where it starts. This is not a relationship that stands to build you. Shouting, screaming, disparaging words, and ridicule are not healthy. You deserve more. Most people who are suffering from mental issues from a toxic relationship do not believe they have the ability to get out, or the ability to be safe on the outside. The reason is because the person has taken so much territory from you in your life that you possibly feel suffocated and do not see a way out. Maybe this ridicule toward you began as a child from your family and now you do not see yourself any other way than someone who is not valued. Let me tell, you are valuable. There is a lot you have to offer the world. But you must walk by faith and not by sight. God can help you. It is why He created the Bible. God is more powerful than any army or human. Many people do not think so because they have never trusted in the Lord 100%. You just have to believe that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask or think. Your answer is to pray to the Lord to free you from your toxic relationship or environment. Ask Him to free you from the mental attacks and control and to place you in an environment that is free from toxicity and abuse. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (New International Version. Ephesians. 3.20). You must believe this Bible verse to be set free. You must trust that God is who He says he is.

When our faith is taken from us we cannot operate properly, and the enemy can hold us down through a person, place, or thing. Most people who suffer from mental issues from a relationship started off pretty well, but the subtle abuse, intimidation and ridicule from the opposing person gradually broke the individual's faith and hope. Sadly, this is the exact design of it. The enemy is a thief. He only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. This is a tactic that always starts with theft. And it starts with your mind. If the enemy can get to your mind and thoughts, he can steal your faith and hope. Mental illness has everything to do with how you think. If you keep your faith and hope, the enemy cannot break you. He will not be able to make you think you do not have a prosperous future. He won't be able to convince you that you will never find someone that will love you. The Bible has confessions that fight against mental illness. Many of them are in the Book of Psalms. But, you cannot grow remaining in a relationship with a person who uses destructive words toward you. Your life is precious. It is valuable. It is why God sent Jesus to die for you. So the enemy cannot continue to torment and depress you anymore.

In this process, it is important to help yourself with what you look at on social media, television, or what type of friends you have. You must begin to eliminate the things gradually that have a dangerous impact on your mind. It will not help you if outside of a toxic relationship, you look at gossip on social media or television, or add to the problem by drinking or doing drugs. Or if you compare your life to what others have. This will exasperate your issues. It is important to go to a healthy church and connect with teachers or ministers on the internet who preach the Word of God in a way that is edible to you. A teacher that can be funny or charismatic or just properly teaches the Word of God. It all depends on your personality and taste. God has placed many different types of ministers and speakers of the Word to feed different types of personalities. This is because God knows we all have different tastes and interests. As you go about your days, pay attention to the food you are eating. Not lettuce and tomatoes food. The food I am speaking of is the food that you listen to, read, watch, and hear. Make sure this food is something healthy. Something that you will leave listening to feeling better and motivated and/or healthier. Something like a youtube video on leadership, cooking, business advice, love and loyalty. You can also buy a book on healing your mind. I think Faith books are great for anyone. They strengthen the soul for people. Buy a Bible. When you understand the great weapon faith is against mental illness, you will make sure that you never lose it. It is the greatest weapon. Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (New International Version. Ephesians. 6.16). 

God teaches us that we must live off what we don't see to be truly successful down here on earth. Also, God lives in the unseen realm. No matter what you see, you must believe that God will set you free from your situation. This is through faith. Faith is when you do not have a job, but know that someone is going to hire you soon. You cannot see the job, but your faith will pull the job to you. Faith is knowing God will set you free from your situation, but it hasn't happened yet. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we operate in the realm of faith, the enemy cannot stop us. Because if we cannot see what we are believing for, neither can he. But we know we have it! That is where the blessing comes. The Bible says in Mark 11:24, that when we pray to believe that we receive it. This is praying with faith.

Mental health issues can only be fixed by detaching and reconnecting. Detaching from the world and what the enemy wants you to be connected to, and connecting to what the Bible says about you. Once you can consistently do this, you will receive a peace and protection that the Bible speaks about. A peace that surpasses all understanding. If you can begin your connecting with faith, the detaching part will fall off eventually, due to the power of the Word of God. You might be weak right now, but in order to strengthen anything, it must be exercised. Begin to exercise your mind today with the Word of God, and the enemy will flee from you. Your mental struggles will leave as well. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (New International Version. James. 4.7). You resist the devil through faith. The Bible is real. Its answers are real as well. Breaking strongholds of the enemy takes time. Do not doubt in the process or it will not work. Keep going until you get your answer, your freedom. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (New International Version. Galatians. 6.9). 

Everything in life works through commitment. The enemy is committed to keeping you down, so you must be committed through faith not to be kept down. Jesus already defeated the enemy through the cross, so all you have to do is do what the Bible says and you will be free. The Bible is your bridge to freedom. Start today and decide that Satan is not going to steal from you anymore. Decide that you are not going to allow the enemy to use a person to take territory over your thoughts by saying negative things to you and about you. You are an overcomer. You're a winner. It takes being fed up with your situation, and standing on the name of Jesus and the Word of God to gain back your life. That's what faith is. Once you start changing your thoughts and who and what you connect with, Satan will know that he is in trouble. That is when you will begin to take your territory back and win the battle. God Bless You!

The Power of Habit 
An important attribute to life is understanding the power of habit. The reason for this is because we are all molded and formed by our habits. This is where finding your identity comes into play. You are who you are today because of your habits. I wrote in "Finding Your Identity" part 2 that you must think about what you want to be identified as in order to apply the proper rules and standards to your life. Want to be identified as smart? Pursue education. How about being a leader? Study management and leadership courses and read books about the greatest military commanders and top head coaches in sports. Rules and habits go hand-and-hand. Place proper rules and laws into your life and strong habits will take shape. You can see this unfold many times on sports teams. The team that implements rules and standards in practice daily and commits wholeheartedly to them, usually commits less penalties and wins more games. This would be the same for you. When you follow rules in your life, you create habits for your life. These habits will create a brand for you that people will identify you as, and you as well will begin to commit less penalties in your life. These penalties I am referring to are setbacks. Proper standards and rules will allow you to eliminate the things in your life that are setting you back.

How Do People See You? 
What do people see you as? This may be a hard question to answer because the truth of your life is in the answer. Could you be known as someone who is always late to things? How about someone who is always there for your friends? Do yo lose your temper a lot? Or how about a person who has not been able to keep a relationship? These are all questions that must be faced with honesty. If you cannot be honest with yourself within finding your identity, you will remain stuck in a place you do not want to be. Philippians 3:13-14 says, But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Forgetting what is behind you is vital for growth. Paul stated this wonderfully. Anyone who cannot let go of the past is impeding their ability for growth and possibly hurting others with their outlook on things as well. Excepting change is key to growing into your identity.

Utilization of Habits 
It is said that it takes about 18-254 days to create a habit. The range of this window illustrates how quick a habit can be formed, and also, how lengthy one can be shaped. Even if you do not have many rules in your life, you still have habits that have shaped your life. This can be a multitude of things. Think about the habits that have made you who you are today. Some may have just started and others may have possibly been a part of your life since you can remember. Some of these habits may be good, and others may not be so good. It is important if you want to find your identity, you focus on who you want to be and not on where you are. This will help you move in the right direction. It's all about your focus. Most people who are struggling in life, lack focus. Especially with social media, it has gotten much worse.

Focus Is Key 
Let's say you would like to stop eating so much sugar. Instead of focusing on I need to stop eating more sugar, focus on how much healthy food you need to implement into you daily diet. Concentrate on the healthy meals you are going to eat daily. Focusing on the sugar not being a part of them. Create this picture and plan for yourself. Doing this places you on a road that will lead you to where you would like to end up. Finding your identity is all about what you would like to be identified as. Place proper eating rules to your daily life when it comes to what you will allow in your body. If you follow these rules, your identity will take shape. If you do not devise any rules to be governed by, you have a great chance of remaining with a struggle of consuming too much sugar and sweets in your daily life. Now, these are only  examples, but if there is a lack of focus in your life on that which will improve your life, the identity you want in your life will continue to evade you.

The times are coming to an end. Jesus is coming back. The time is now to focus on what's right. The only thing that can heal and help you properly is the Bible. Got continues to prepare people the world for things that are to come. Many people are hearing it, but not believing it. Start your new identity today. It may not be popular, but it will save your life. 

One of the biggest parts to finding your identity is to create rules and laws for yourself. I have found that a number of people who do not know who they are do not possess laws that govern their daily choices. Rules and laws are integral in shaping and molding ourselves into what we want to become in our future. If you do not have any rules for yourself, how will you know what you stand for, where you are headed, or what you will or will not do? This is very important. When an individual knows what they stand for, they are not easily moved or influenced by peer pressure or suggestions that do not fit into the description of what they want or intend to be. If you are serious about developing a body that is well-conditioned and highly tuned, you will not allow others to influence the type of foods or drinks you will eat. You will do your research to understand the best foods (e.g., fish, fruit, vegetables, starches) to put into your body that aide in your intention of being extremely fit. You will maintain a governing system to achieve this goal and new lifestyle. The governing system I am speaking of has to do with rules. This is paramount in finding your identity.

Finding your identity is about what you want to be identified as. Do you want to be identified as someone who is fit and well-conditioned? If so, rules must be placed in your life and kept. How about being identified as marriage material? This takes rules. If you do not keep specific rules your identity will not be what you set out for. You will just be in the room of wanting and not moving and molding yourself into something specific. If a woman wants to be identified as a good wife, she will place strict rules on herself to embody that title. She will intentionally keep values to identify herself as such. The Bible has many rules for women who want to be identified as a good wife. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (New International Version. Proverbs. 31.11-12). These are rules that aide in being a good wife.

Many people live life without rules and wonder why things continue to go in a direction they do not want. You will continue to be frustrated and upset about others and how your life continues to go living in the absence of definite rules. When you have rules you have direction. Direction gives you stability and understanding. When a person is stable there will not be precipitous ups and downs in their lives. Not knowing who you are based on rules guarantees a future of disappointment and sadness. If you continue to have inconsistency and imbalance in your life, ask yourself what your rules and standards are in the area of life you continue to encounter hardships. This is a vital question for clarity. Clear direction goes back to values and standards. These things are attached to discipline. If you have rules and do not keep them, you do not have any rules at all. If you make rules, you must keep them if you would like to find your identity.

Finding your identity is actually a molding process. It's an elimination and replacement game. Eliminating things from your personality that are placing you in situations that cause ruin or problems for you, and replacing them with clear rules that when kept push toward the identity you desire. An example of a significant problem lots of people struggle with is procrastination. This personality trait can be one of the hardest things to break in our lives. It is hard to break because it has become a habit in the lives of people that is so strong it is fiercely challenging to correct. It is not that you want to be late so often. It is that you have been late so many times over years and years, the habit of tardiness has become your identity. If you have procrastination issues the only way to fix it is with new rules. If you come up with the proper rules to correct it, and keep them, you will destroy procrastination in your life. Getting up earlier; Having a plan for your day or week; Keeping your word; Putting your clothes out the night before for school or work. Keeping standards like these will obliterate procrastination over time.

It takes courage to take the step to find your identity. The reason why it takes courage is because the old you is going to have to leave and a new you must emerge. You're going to have to change how you see things and conduct yourself. This is guaranteed if you place rules upon your life and keep them. The bible talks about changing and becoming new. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here (New International Version. 2 Corinthians. 5.17)! This is all part of finding your identity.

When you find your identity, life becomes smoother and much easier. Ever been to a town with little to no crime? It is because of the adherence to the rules, laws, and standards that are in place by the citizens. This obedience gives the town an identity of a safe place -- one of order, exactly what we are speaking of. By no means, am I saying that challenges disappear with rules and standards. I am saying that with rules you will have a compass to guide you, which will eliminate the disasters that used to easily trip you up in your past. Having rules and standards gives you clarity and direction. When you know who you are and where you're going in life, your mind, body, and soul are all happy for it. Regardless of what you are doing in your life currently, you are identified as something to the people who know you (e.g., goofball, consistent, tardy, talkative, loyal, gullible, liar, shy, crybaby, rude, kind, smart, etc). Take a look at your life and write down what you would like to be identified as. When you write these titles down, begin to make a list of what rules you must embody to uphold that specific title or titles. Work on this daily and begin to implement your new rules and standards into your life. If you can stick to your new rules and what you want to be identified as, you will begin to see a change in yourself and your life. You will begin to hold your head up higher, embodying confidence and self-esteem. A new you will spring up. This is where you will begin to have less issues and disappointments. You will begin to see things differently.

Life is not easy. But, it is less stressful when you keep rules and standards. Let Jesus be your guide and place healthy standards and rules into your life to stop inconsistency and frustration. Jesus has a job to get you the right identification. Be patient and continue to pick yourself up on your way to this new you. A better you. The Bible is all about rules and standards. The people who know how to obey the Bible's laws and rules best have the most peace in their lives. All of the secrets to life are waiting for you to use them. Start with a few rules in your life today. You can do it. It's just a matter of utilizing them. 

We can go many years throughout our lives and not know our true identity. Associating with groups that give us temporary laughter and intermittent positivity, yet still not know what our identity truly is. This is where many people stand. We can grow up in a household that on the outside looks healthy, but on the inside is broken. It is not easy trying to act like you have it all together when things seem to be breaking down. This happens because of the many forces that attempt to shape us based on traditions, desires, upbringing, preconceived notions, and individual's selfish interests in us. And maybe the individuals we are connected to or raised by do not truly know their identity either. If someone doesn't know their own identity, how can they be a good mother, father, friend, cousin, sister, brother, to you? This is where the problems lie. In order to fix these issues we must have a proven guide to follow in our life. When we make it a point to follow the Lord, things work out much better than if we try to do things on our own.

 Outside forces such as movies, commercials, television programs and social media add to the identity conundrum as well. These factors will make life complicated and exhausting for those that do not have true direction and/or a foundation to stand on.  What I mean by foundation is a roadmap and guide to hold your decisions up to. A gage to know if you are heading in the right direction or not. It can be very difficult to find the proper way of life in society when everything that looks healthy, right, and fun, is many times only a facade from the public, and not really healthy for you. There is a way that seems right, but in the end it leads to death (New International Version. Proverbs.14.12). How can we find our identity if we are engaging in what everyone else is doing or what others always tell us to do? This will not work. We usually find this out much later in our lives. And this is why a foundation is vital.

Have you ever went somewhere you did not want to go to, but you did anyway? You may have felt empty and unfulfilled afterward. It is because you did not make your decision based on a correct roadmap, it was more than likely made by giving into a demand or pressure from an outside source (e.g., friend, parent, sibling, co-worker, etc). This is a constant in a lot of people's lives. If it happens in your life, we want to fix that today. It can change with understanding, and being open-minded to change. Without openness to change, growth, and understanding -- your identity will remain hi-jacked by all of the outside forces I previously mentioned.

Foundations are not easy to lay because there is extensive and consistent faith and labor that must be administered to build them. It takes repetition of things you may not want to do for the necessary time that is needed to lay it down or create it. Your foundation will be laid with interacting consistently with what your burning desire is to do and be in life. This desire must be fed and communicated with continuously. Like a reminder sheet or note for your daily life,  continuing to keep yourself in a lane that is not controlled by emotion or sporadic influences. As you gain a rhythm of connecting with the yearning you have in your life, it will pull your identity to you. Finding your identity can only be accomplished if you are listening to the right voice or voices. This voice can be what you say to yourself consistently or what others say to you. It can even be through music, YouTube Ads, preachers, and anything else that you hear and listen to. The voice you listen to must be a voice of reason, care, and focus. One of the main problems with people is listening to the wrong voices and continuing to do so drives your life in a direction that is partially happy and partially empty.

Finding your identity has a lot to do with being uncluttered and free to test and taste and experience what your eyes and ears draw you too. If you have a cluttered life clarity will not be a part of it. Make sure you do not have friends that are hasty and impetuous. Friends that are not pushing you to do things they only want and not looking out for your interests as well.You will never find your identity with this group of friends. Friends and environment are important. You are the creator and builder of your friends and your environment. Make sure that you remember that. Make rules to what type of company you will keep and what time you will be home when you leave the house. Personal rules are good.

I have learned if you watch someone doing something and you have a burning desire to do that same thing in a perfect or elite way, that action is possibly tied to your identity. Pay attention when this happens. For instance, if you receive packages in the mail and scrutinize the detail of the packaging, coupled with, consistently providing an answer or a more detailed way to package the items, your identity may be in the flower business or something that has to do with packaging and presenting things for people. Maybe an interior designer or wedding planning. Begin to pay attention to what drives you to want to do that thing better than what are seeing. This is your guide to your identity. Presentation is everything in business. Look into that as well. God will be able to use your gift of detail in packaging and/or presentation to change many people's lives. You might be a consultant or a coach, or maybe a manager because your attention to detail.

The only way you will truly be able to have peace in your identity is to involve God in everything you do. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He will open up lanes and opportunities you have never imagined. If you need to find yourself ask God to help you find what he has placed inside of you. If you are patient He will guide you to this destination. It is time to put yourself first. You cannot find your identity going with the flow. Begin today to create rules for your life. Be accountable to these rules, and keep asking the Lord to guide you to your destiny.

When it comes to God you must show Him that you have an interest in His guidance. He can only order your steps and guide you properly if you are interested in living a righteous life. A righteous life is one that lives to work to eliminate sin from its daily actions and thoughts. The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand (New International Version. Psalms. 37.23-24). Finding your identity is not the easiest thing in the world, but if you ask God to guide you and incorporate Bible teaching and rules to abide by -- all things are possible. 

The holidays are supposed to be a cheerful time of year. So why are so many people unhappy,  disappointed, or sad during a time that is designed for joy? There is only one word for it -- focus. Wherever you place your focus will be where your joy and happiness comes from. Many fail to realize this, especially during the holiday season.

Christmas is America's day to recognize the birth of Jesus. The gift that God gave us all to redeem us from the curse of the law. December is a month that is supposed to be recognized about how your life has been protected by Jesus and in full recognition of the love God has for you through forgiving your sins through his son. It is not supposed to be stressed and hard. There shouldn't be family problems, arguments, or emptiness of any sort. There should be total focus on all of the prayers Jesus has answered for you, the comfort Jesus has given to you in your time of need and the light He shines in your life. "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (New International Version. John. 9.5). This time of year should be filled with peace because of the love of Jesus in your life. The light of the world. If you celebrate December for the right reasons, Jesus will  be at the forefront.

Many times family is what causes the most pain in life. The expectations and disappointments that have occurred in our lives from them. Years of pain from a mother or father that you have come to believe is normal and you simply except it as a road that has no exit. This pain and dysfunction for many has been the same with sibling relationships that carry a jar of pain as well, but is suppressed and attempted to be forgotten just like the stain from the parents. There is no true understanding why this time of year has to be so complicated -- every year.

God did not design us to focus on how much we are supposed to receive from someone or give someone on a specific day or time of year. We are supposed to place God first and recognize God for what He has done, not mankind. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law (King James Version. Romans. 13.8). God shares this important verse with us. This means you do not owe anyone a gift or have to give a gift during these times if you do not have the money or want to, except the gift of love. You can give a gift from the heart to people, but you are not obligated to do so. Our focus is supposed to be on the birth of Jesus Christ. If you are having any issues and stresses over family, ask yourself, are we focusing on Jesus? Who is not focusing on Jesus? After you answer the question you will know where the  issue lies. If you are worried about what to give someone and where you have to show up to, the answer will always find its way back to one thing, are the individuals making the month and/or day about the gift God has given to you through the birth of his son Jesus? There is no way around it. Everyone who is dealing with stress and arguments and fighting and animosity during this time of year has allowed the enemy in to disrupt the love of God that is supposed to be present in all and through all, and is not making Jesus their and what he has done for us the focus.

Satan does not want anyone happy during this time of year. It is why he tries to attack your family and create stress from a family member or members you deal with each year. He wants to ruin your Christmas or leave you with an empty feeling after it is over and continue with that same emptiness and sadness into the new year. It's a cycle and a preconceived plan on anyone who is not privy to it. You do not have to be affected by the traps and tricks of the enemy during this time of year if you plan ahead and be sure you go places where the focus is on Jesus, not just a family gathering that decorates, gives gifts, and serves traditional food each year. If you think family is the only thing you have, just know that Jesus will provide you a healthy family if you trust in him and put him first. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (New International Version. Matthew. 6.33).

The Bible is about maturity. It is always testing our maturity. Are you mature enough to read the Bible and do what it says? Are you mature enough to stand up for the Word of God? All of your decisions you make in life are all about maturity or immaturity. The mature person will ask God to guide them when family or a relationship is making them feel sad during a time of year that is supposed to be about Jesus. The mature person will pursue maturity in all they do. When you study the Bible and commit to living it, you will see your maturity come to life right before your eyes, because the Holy Spirit will correct your broken ways and mold you into a righteous person. The mature believer has learned who they can be around during the holidays and who they cannot. Make sure you are assessing your situation and knowing that if there are problems each year God has something better for you. Just ask him. Doing the status quo during December each year does not have to be the way. Ask God to guide and help you be a part of a fulfilling December. He will answer you and provide you with a holiday that is filled with love, peace, care, and maturity. All you have to do is ask. 
 

In the Bible one of the biggest stories about reach is about the woman with the issue of blood. If you do not know the story, it is a tremendous tale of an individual's commitment to get to their  destination. All of us have destinations we must arrive at, whether they are for health, financial increase, knowledge, career, education, marriage, etc. The entire purpose of reach is about getting to your desired place with faith and effort. It is about turning what you cannot see into what you can see. God has given us the Bible to be our tool to achieve what might seem impossible -- and bring it to life.

If you would like to change something about yourself that seems impossible to achieve or get somewhere you do not believe you can get to, the story in the Bible about the woman with the issue of blood is a great example for you to know that all things are possible with your effort through Jesus Christ. "Everything is possible for one who believes" (New International Version. Mark. 9.23). 

A woman who had an issue with her blood looked and searched for physician after physician for twelve years and not one of the doctors could help her or cure her, but the woman did not give up on her faith and mission to be healed. She did not quit or believe what the doctors told her. She continued to search and believe that she could be healed from hemorrhaging. This was an extreme case. 

The power of determination and faith are working together. When you have continued faith, that power will pull the answer right into your life. As the woman prayed and kept believing that she would be healed from her disease, she pulled Jesus to her neighborhood. At that time during Jesus' walk on the earth many people crowded and followed Jesus as he walked through towns and different places. The woman who had the hemorrhaging problem did not carry much energy. She was weak and weary most of the day. When Jesus arrived in her neighborhood she saw him and said within herself, "If I can just touch the hymn of his garment I will be healed." At that moment she did not care who was around Jesus or what he was doing, her faith and determination was so powerful it gave her the ability to reach the farthest she had ever reached in her life to obtain her miracle. The woman reached through the crowd and grabbed Jesus' garment and instantly she was healed. Virtue had left Jesus and he felt that power leave him. Her faith was so strong that she pulled the healing out of Jesus, through his clothes and into her body. This was all because of a person's faith, effort, and reach.

Your situation may not be as dire as the woman with the issue of blood, but the actions and process of what you want changed in your life are the same. Faith is a tool. You must know how to use it in your life to gain what you want. You can change your entire life if you learn how to use your faith properly. Faith is a tool that is used to fight for what you cannot see. This is why the Bible says to fight the good fight of faith. The woman with the issue of blood fought the good fight of faith and won. 

The Bible emphasizes a very vital point, that faith without works is dead. This means you can have faith that you will have a better job, but if you do not do your part by studying for it, prepping for it, and focusing, praying, and believing for it -- it will not work for you. The woman with the issue of blood did her part physically on top of what she was believing mentally. That's faith!

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (New International Version. James. 2.17). God wants you to do your part too. It is a partnership. When you figure this out, you will constantly do your job the way the Bible says so you can make sure the faith system and process works properly. The Woman with the issue of blood had so much faith and works going in her life, she forced God to send Jesus into her neighborhood so she could reach for her healing. This is exactly how faith works. Want a new house? Desire it. Believe that you have it. And mix that with working to get it -- no matter -- that size and God will begin to work on His end. 

In the book of Psalms David, before he became king of Israel, sought the Lord for protection with his faith, and King Saul did not kill or triumph over him. Instead he protected David and kept him ahead of King Saul. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (New International Version. Psalms. 34.4). You can do the same with your faith. God listens to the righteous. If you want the protection of God seek to know more about him. Show him you have an urge to build a relationship with him. With God we must call out to him first, then He will move. Do not be ashamed to talk to the Lord when you wake up or ask Him to give you wisdom. Asking the Lord to give you wisdom and understanding will change the way you see things. Without understanding you cannot have peace in your circumstances. Without wisdom you will not know what to do with the tangible things the Lord has placed in your life. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. (New International Version. Psalms 4.5). If you do not understand something you will not know how to use it. You will also not pass the class. When you begin to get understanding, your life will change for the better.

Begin to focus on your faith today. Be determined to change your circumstances. Be the King or Queen of your domain (life) through Christ Jesus and the Word of God. Do not allow a person or what you see others have or do get you down. You are a child of God. Decide that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Know that you are an overcomer. Plan your day to be successful. You are in charge of your thoughts, not another person. Remember, you have the mind of Christ. And do not forget to guard your heart from pollution and negativity. Keep your heart clean. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (New International Version. Proverbs. 4.23). Begin to practice exercising your faith today on what you want changed in your life. It is a daily fight and commitment. No one has ever failed who trusted in the Lord with all their heart. When you can do that you will never fail also.

The effort you give in your life will make a big difference in your results. Give big effort, you will get big results. Give small effort, your results will be small. It all has to do with what you decide to do in your heart. When you decide in your heart to change how you approach life, wonderful things can begin to happen. All it takes is a decision to "reach" further. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them (New International Version. James. 2.14)? Your reach has to do with your effort, and your effort has to do with your faith. If your effort is weak so is your faith. Straight A students give a large amount of effort to their studies and understanding their material to stay at the top of their class. Professional athletes give substantial effort to their conditioning, study time, and physical strength to remain at the top of their game. All of this has to do with your faith. Your effort has all to do with reaching farther than you are right now in the area you want better results in. Ask yourself this question. Can I give more effort in my life? This question is for you to analyze yourself and your efforts in how you are living your life. It is to challenge you to go to the next level -- to do more. You will not be able to go to the next level without deciding in your heart that you want more in life. Faith, effort, and reach all work together. It's simple math, but you must have the guts to do so or you can become idle.

Staying idle is not good. It is actually a sin. Why? Because when an individual is idle he or she is not growing. Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger (New International Version. (Proverbs. 19.15). God designed you to grow everyday in some way, shape, or form. Being idle creates spiritual death. And anything that is dead has no value. Reading the Bible daily will help you continuously grow. It will nourish you. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (New International Version. Proverbs. 3.8). Continuing your education through webinars, online courses, books, and taking classes in person will nourish you as well. Gaining your education is a wonderful way to enable yourself to reach farther than you ever have. Plus, it will give you confidence. There is always more to learn in life. The most successful people are always challenging their mind to improve and grow. This is why they remain at the top. You can do it as well! Do not be stuck in the wilderness like the Israelites in the book of Numbers. They were stubborn and stuck in their ways, refusing to grow. Their idle ways kept them in a dry place for 40 years. Reading the Bible and pursuing education will keep you from dry places, or being stuck in your life.

Your next step starts with your faith. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (New International Version. Hebrews. 11.1).  Faith is focusing on what you know, and have complete confidence it will happen in your life.  Not what you think will happen, but about what you know will happen. Faith is knowing something is going to happen because you made it happen in your mind first. This can be difficult because what you desire is pending. It also can be difficult because there are a lot of people who carry doubt around us. Faith takes strength to fight off external forces trying to push doubt into your mind. Fight the good fight of faith (New International Version. 1 Timothy. 6.12). Faith is a fight. That is why 1 Timothy 6:12 says to fight the good fight! In order to get what you want on earth, you must fight for it. Those who are willing to fight for their dreams and desires will be successful. This fight will allow you to reach further and further again. It will allow the domino effect of faith, effort, and reach to happen in your life. Once you understand this concept and are willing to pay the price to reach farther, you will begin to see your entire world change. This is when you can begin to pull the promises God has for you in the Bible.

Environment is also critical to your reach. What you hear; Who you talk to; and the things you watch and read are important to expanding. How you were raised has gotten you to a specific point in your life whether it might be good or bad. That all has to do with the environment you were in. Have you ever heard the phrase, "he/she is a product of their environment?" If you are  not in the right environment, your chances for true success will be very limited. Jesus speaks about this when he shares his parable about planting seed in good soil.

Nothing in life is free. If you want to gain something you must give something first. God wanted you and I, so he gave Jesus. It started with God's faith, His effort -- and His reach. Start today. Put your faith on what you desire to have in your life, keep the faith, give maximum effort, and you will definitely be able to reach farther than you ever had.

Living on earth will produce its batch of challenges. In fact, as long as you have life challenges will arise. The important thing is not if the challenge shows up, it is -- how do you prepare yourself to handle and grow from each challenge you experience?

Storms come and go. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some big and some small. Some are long and dragging. Others are quick and powerful. We never know what storm will come next, we just have to make sure we equip ourselves with the necessary things that are at our disposal to protect us during its turbulence. These preparations and protections have to do with spiritual prayers which come directly from the Lord and are in the Bible. God gives us his word to live a protected life. "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." (New International Version. Luke. 10.22). This Bible verse is a gift. A gift that Jesus has given you power over the enemies attacks and actions toward your life. It is a guarantee of safety, protection, and power.

When you read the Bible you must read it in full belief that God cannot lie. God even shares with us in His word that he cannot lie. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the Son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (King James Version. Numbers. 23.19).  This is very important in your walk with Christ. You will never get to your destiny until you believe the Bible one hundred percent. It is vital that you receive this. It is totally up to you to believe the promises of the Bible. God will not force you to believe it. The Christians who believe the Bible 100% and follow it, live a different life than others. There are numerous examples in the Bible of people who did and received the promises and protection the Bible speaks of.

Daniel did not get eaten by Lions when he was cast into the lions den as punishment for praying, because he was in full belief and trust that God would protect him. David did not get caught and killed by King Saul because he knew God was on his side. These are examples of God's Word protecting faithful servants who believe fully in God almighty. God expects you to believe in it the same way.

If you could look back in your life into a situation that was unexpected and difficult, if the circumstance would arise again, would you change your approach to the situation? Maybe think a bit more pragmatically. How about not allowing your emotions to get to you or overtake you?  Or, maybe taking more time when you choose a job. The Bible was created for you to decide if you want to live a protected, guided, and prosperous life or not. God does not force you to live right, it is totally up to you. But he does outline many ways on how to be prosperous on earth. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way of that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night (New International Version. Psalms. 1.1-2). He shares to give ten percent of every check you get to a church that is rooted in the Word of God. He also shares to be honest and not lie. God commands us to not be afraid. These are a few things that will give you a better life, if followed. When something is not going right in your life, look it up in the Bible to correct it. The Bible is not here to hurt you, it is specifically designed to benefit you while on earth.

Many people in life continue to go through the same storms and do nothing to grow, learn and advance out of them. Our job on earth is to continue to advance in life, not staying in the same place -- having the same struggles, complaining about the same things. That is not the way God wants it for you. God wants you to advance. This is why the Lord tells us, "And with all thy getting get understanding" (King James Version. Proverbs. 4.7).  Understanding will give you piece. Have you ever heard of anyone wanting closure with a family member or close one passing away or a break-up? That closure is understanding. That is the individual's soul craving understanding. When you get understanding you gain peace. You can only gain understanding through knowledge. Knowledge is the key to gain understanding.

The next time you are in a challenging place in your life ask God to give you wisdom and understanding in your situation. Read your Bible more and believe that God will grant the answer to you -- and it will happen. Be sure not to waiver in your belief that God will answer your need. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (King James Version. Philippians. 4.19). Challenges are meant to teach us a lesson and strengthen us in life. Do not look at any challenge as a sad time or a problem. Look at every challenge as an opportunity to grow and learn in your life. And also another opportunity for God almighty to supply your need. That's what they are for. So make sure you look at any challenge moving forward as an opportunity.

The Bible is your life preserver and protector. It's your road map and comforter. It will never let you down. All you need in life is inside of the Bible. It is the exact reason God created it. It is the healthiest food and ultimate toolkit. "Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (New International Version. Matthew. 4.4).  The Bible and the Word of God is exactly what got David through his trials and fears when King Saul was hunting him. It is the same thing that will get you through yours. 

Albert Einstein once said, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." If you continue to grow and changed in your life, you should understand why one of the greatest minds of society shared this important sentiment. Albert Einstein was a man who changed from a child that struggled to speak to achieving great things. This could not have been possible without growth and change. Einstein looked at things from many different angles, not just his lens, but from the lens of others as well. He was open to listen, and mainly -- open for growth. After many years of critical analysis of math, physics, and studying of life and self, Einstein came to astounding breakthroughs. This allowed him to invent the gas absorption heat pump, and create the Einstein refrigerator -- amongst other things. Einstein was a man who incessantly made advancements and adjustments to his knowledge, understanding, and experience, because he knew he could not continue to think the same or remain the same, if he wanted to advance. In order to improve your life or advance, you must take a similar stance, analyzing yourself and your decisions at every turn -- making key and critical changes to grow.

When you become untangled from a mess, in order to have the circumstance not repeat itself, personal change has to happen. This change must occur in how you think, and many times, it must occur in a change of environment. Environments typically control the majority of people's thinking and behavior in some way shape or form. For example, if you grow up in a home where the family environment is always early to events and places of interest they have to attend, you will naturally pick this up and be early in everything you have to attend and/or possibly do as well. On the other hand, if your household is late to everything, you will more than likely continue the same trend. Environments are powerful. They are constructs of where an individual will ultimately end up in life. If you can somehow get to the right environment or create the right environment inside of you, by a renewed thinking, your outside circumstances will change and  your freedom will await you.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (New International Version. Romans. 12.2). 

Have you looked at your current circumstances and checked your thinking, choices, and opinions about yourself, others, and life? This is a monumental place to start if you want to begin the untangling process. Who do you hang around? How do they speak? What do you watch on TV? How do you speak? All of these things are making contributions to your life. Whether you believe it or not. You are the product of your mentors, friends, neighborhood, work, and more. This is your environment. They are all making an impact on how you think and see things. As a result, you will act and speak out loud what you accept to listen to. It is your food. This food eventually turns into words and actions.

A great number of people go through life continuing to make the same mistakes with their money, jobs, and relationships and not changing their thinking about the matter. This is having an idol mind. It is stuck. A mind that doesn't move from its current thinking or position. Like an individual who may be stuck in an experience that happened to them when they were young, and continue to harp on it, sharing how terrible it was throughout most of their life. You will never know you have an idol mind until someone you know or are around a lot is educating themselves, learning, changing, and growing in life. This thinking places the spotlight on your past actions and occurrences. When this is happening, you will begin to feel and see a separation in language and viewpoints from anyone who is a foreword thinker or committed to growth. It becomes an uncomfortable feeling. Pay attention to your relationships and see if you are stuck or you are the one advancing your mind with education and learning.

Education and growth create a new being inside of you. One that feels more confident and able. Have you ever learned something new and felt better about yourself because of it? That is because you have just advanced yourself, giving yourself joy and power. When an individual is not making strides or methods to obtain new information for growth, they become a weight or a discomfort to those who are. There becomes an undeniable uneasiness because one party is stuck in its thinking and not cultivating growth and change -- and the other is. Often, a person will become hard to talk to, angry, or bitter because of their idle mind.

Entanglements are a manifestation of your thinking and lack of knowledge. You cannot change or improve in any of your impediments or pitfalls unless you change what and how you think. The Bible emphasizes to renew your mind and change your thinking to become new. Do you want to improve your finances? Change how you think and look at your finances. How about your job and career? Change how you think about it or how you view yourself. Lack of knowledge is what is ruining and keeping people tied up. It is what makes you make the same mistakes -- over-and-over-again. In the Bible the prophet Hosea shared this, My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge (New International Version. Hosea. 4.6.) If you lack knowledge in your life you will continue to feel the pain from it. Or you will continue to carry pain. When an individual continues to have pain or carry pain, they become very bitter. This is exactly why Hosea shared that his people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge.  Lack of knowledge is destructive and very painful. Have you ever heard the phrase, if I only knew then what I know now? That is referring to the days of lacking knowledge and not anymore, in a specific category of Life.

God sent his Word into the earth so you do not have to lack knowledge anymore. That Word is Jesus Christ. Giving your life to Jesus will allow your pain to be removed because of lack of knowledge. Jesus is a teacher. He is the Prince of peace. Jesus is the one who will set you free from all of your pain if you allow him to. Whatever you are involved in, you must involve Jesus. Jesus is the way. He is a lamp to your feet — and much more. Jesus is not just an image of a man on a cross. Jesus is the Lord of the armies. He is the lamb of your salvation. He died so you can be free and untangled. Since He died, now all you have to do is follow what the New Testament says about how to live a life to be free.

It all starts with you. You are the captain of your ship.

Take the next step and believe in yourself. Believe that Jesus will set you free. You are blessed in the city and blessed in the field. Blessed going in and blessed going out. Let go of the pain that was caused to you. Forgive the people who have wronged or betrayed you. Let go of the anger or doubt about yourself. It is okay to not be angry with people. Or not to be bitter at a family member, friend, or ex. Bitterness and anger makes you idle. It will also keep you tangled and affect you mentally. Jesus doesn’t want you tangled and neither do I. Ask the Lord to remove the pain from your heart. Pray to God and ask Him to help you make better decisions with friends and/or mates. Whatever area of your life you are hurting in the most and don’t understand, ask Jesus to guide you in it. It is a step-by-step process. You are special and valuable. And more importantly — you deserve to be FREE!

Do not become comfortable in your entanglements. Do not except detrimental mental thoughts. That is not the way you are supposed to live. It doesn’t matter what your family has achieved or what you have not achieved. You can be free if you want. There is more for you. A life of goodness and mercy. It takes giving your life fully to Jesus and allowing him to do the work as you partner with him. You must pray and read your Bible and change who and what you listen to. Allow yourself to change like the caterpillar. The only way you can do that is by changing your environment and change your thinking.

Think like Jesus. And remember that being entangled is a position that can be changed with the right information And right actions. When you change your environment awesome things can begin to happen in your life. Trust in the Lord. He is the only guarantee. The next time you have tough thoughts, fear, or anxiety read your Bible and begin to watch and feel what happens to you. If you do not have a Bible download our app "GodsGospel," there is a Bible in our app. You deserve better. That better is an understanding and life with Jesus.

God Bless you!

If you want to untangle your life you must do one main thing first -- be honest with yourself. Acknowledging the different roles that were played in your life in an attempt to understand how you arrived at the location you are now — or were in. This is where honesty and the truth play a major role. There is a dissecting process that must take place. Positioning a magnifying glass over your life to be revealed humbling truths about what must change. Understanding that truth is the determinant that will clean up your mess, change you, and fix your life.

Change is not easy. It takes real effort to do so. Sometimes it takes a part of you, you did not know you possessed to make change. The part of you that you have to dig deep to go and get. It is the part of people that they mainly do not want to go and get. People do not want to go and get this part of themselves because it is a journey to retrieve it. And it usually takes a bunch of humility and strong and consistent effort to do so. This is why many people you talk to one day are the same person many years later. They did not reach a place of true humility in regards to their decisions and who they are that needs to change. This is a dangerous place to stay in.

If you truly want to get untangled, the only person that can clean up the mess and set you free is Jesus. It takes a stance of humility and understanding truthfully that you must change in order to have a better life. Then partnering up with the person and spirit whose job is specifically to set you free. You cannot do it alone. The enemy is too crafty. Many people have a Bible and go to church, but do not understand the power that is in their hand. They also do not give their all to the powers of what Biblical change through Jesus Christ can do in their life. As a result, their life remains tangled and a mess. But because they go to church or have mastered the art of masquerading or pretending nothing is wrong, they have become locked-into a lie that everything is perfect and great when they are reeling and drowning in personal problems. Most people that attend church do not know how to use the Bible, and have not been truly set free from the bondage of sin. This is because the majority of people that go to church or call themselves Christians still watch filthy movies, listen to any type of music, they still lie about their actions, get drunk, fornicate, gossip, still speak with vulgarity and do things they do not believe have stiff consequences for. But the Bible clearly states otherwise.

Shockingly there is a Bible verse that covers every action down here on earth. You cannot get around it. Many do not read the Bible because they do not know how to or where to start. Or, if they find the verse that states what they are doing is wrong, they have now been exposed to the truth, and this is where the conflict lies -- having the light shined on their problems and struggles. It is not a good feeling to be exposed of what is wrong with you. Many times it seems to feel better to run from it or pretend you do not have any serious problems with yourself.

The world is a community of followers. Following what the next trend is or what seems popular or cool at that time. Never truly standing for anything. Going with the next wave because the crowd is doing it. The problem solely lies within a lack of knowledge and understanding to what is being seen and said. This is where things feel right in the beginning but it leads to catastrophe or destruction. Like, dating many people or having many partners. For most people, it seems and feels good in the beginning, but it leads to major problems and sometimes disaster, depending on who was involved.  There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs. 14.12). The Bible already speaks of these things. This verse is referring to following the crowd. Just going with the flow. What the crowd is doing usually always feels right when you are not in the word of God. It sometimes may seem right when you are in the Word of God, this is why you must study the Bible and build a relationship with Jesus so you can do what is right and not things that seem right. When you are in the Word of God, you know, no matter what, following the crowd does not lead to much good or any good at all. Maybe following the crowd is part of the reasons for your entanglement. This is a question you must be honest with yourself about.

There are many attachments to your past that make changing difficult. The main obstacle is comfort and being used to what is normal to you. How you talk, the way you see yourself, and maybe what you have been wired to be attracted to. Constant interaction with what you see on social media, the type of commercials you are subjected to, and anything that you hear or see that you are not putting rules on will groom you into something you more than likely do not like in the long-run. This is when people begin to act-out and join relationships because they are craving and desiring fulfillment. These actions, which were set by doing what feels good or following the guidance of someone who is not rooted in the Word of God will -- in the end -- lead to emptiness and heartbreak. This does not have to be the case. You can get untangled and have a better life without emptiness and confusion. It just takes leaning on and trusting the individual who knows how to untangle any size of mess or problem.  Someone who will love you unconditionally through the process, no matter what your past looks like. You need a person who will not attack or criticize your flaws and messy life. This person’s name is Jesus. He is your road to freedom, power, success, and confidence.

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” (New International Version. John. 12.47). Jesus shares it himself. He’s not here to judge you but to save you. He cares for you and wants to steer your ship to a better life. He knows the pain you went through. How they mistreated and wronged you. Just know that it’s your turn now. It’s your turn for freedom and joy. Everything is going to be okay.

Your life is special. It has a significant value. The enemy knows this about you. Satan's only job is to entangle you in a mess, which gives him power and discourages you. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (New International Version. 2 Corinthians. 4.4). Your entanglement is due to blindness, which is a lack of knowledge. This is why the Lord presses for us to get knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefor get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding. (King James Version. Proverbs. 4.7). If you had understanding and wisdom of the Word of God, your life of entanglements would be able to be prevented. If you had wisdom and understanding before you made your decisions, you would not make the same mistakes. Why? Because you would understand the severity of consequences of your actions when you have to choose to do something. This is how the wise person keeps their life at peace. So, use this as a lesson to grow in wisdom and knowledge. You will save yourself headaches and heartache as well. You do not want to be smart in wise in one area of your life, but narrow-minded and stubborn in another one. This makes you off balance, and the enemy always attacks our weaknesses -- that is his way in to entangle you and cause you pain.

Your life does not have to continue in mistakes and/or pain. It can be fixed. You just have to make the decision. Do you want to grow or do you not want to grow? The grow also has to do with "growing-up" -- which is maturity. You must mature. Which is becoming new. New in your decision-making. New in your responses to people. New in how you think of yourself. When these things begin to happen you will become new in speech as well. The Bible says that we must become a new creature in Christ Jesus. The Bible is the originator of emphasizing the importance of growth and change. It is talked about in a myriad of ways. Since most people do not take the time to read and study the Bible, they never find out that all of the answers for what they need in their life are in there. 5-10 minutes a day reading and studying the Bible can make a tremendous impact on you and help with your actions.

There is a way you are supposed to conduct yourself in the Word of God. It is not the way most people that call themselves Christians act. We are supposed to have guardrails in our life to our decisions and choices. Living within rules. This is why the Bible talks about entering in at the straight gate. It is a place that is narrow place. that if you walk in it, it does not allow you to fail or be entangled. It's exactly what dedicating our life to Jesus is all about. If you are not set free by Jesus, there is a lot more you will be blind to and entangled in, and will not know it. This is not what God wants for your life.

God has a proven track record of untangling his children. From Daniel in the lions den, to David dealing with King Saul. Make the commitment to get untangled. Allow the Word of God to change your life and set you free. That's what Jesus is here for. You just have to make the move. He already died for you and put all the works of this world in subjection to him. When you place Jesus on your team his power can and will set you free in any area of your life. 

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. (King James Version. Isaiah. 45.2). God wants your crooked places straight. He wants your life in order. He wants all of the things you seem to struggle with and cannot get over to be cleared and fixed. But God cannot do anything until you move in the direction of correction. It is God's way of partnering with you to get the results you want in your life. It is also what He set for your life from the beginning. You just have to make the first move.

Your life is supposed to be straight and untangled. Not confusing and/or heavy-weighted. Not depressing or helpless. Confusion is what the enemy wants for your life. This is what entangles people. When you believe or act out ways in life that are not in line with the Word of God, your life will become tangled. No matter how good your intentions are -- or used to be. Jesus spoke to the disciples and shared something so critical with them. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (New International Version. John. 15.5). Anytime your life is in tangles, you are apart from Jesus. When you are apart from Jesus, you can do nothing. Why? Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus does not say what He can do or who he is for no reason. It is specifically for you to become free and untangled.  

God shared He would make the crooked places straight for a reason. He also said He would go before you. This is God taking on the mess you made, or the mess you are in, and taking the lead to fix it. God cannot take the lead unless you ask Him to. You have to call out to him, and let him know that you are not capable to fix it, and you are willing to place your life in his hands. This is how you get the all powerful God to move. Don't worry, He sees the mess that has occurred. You are not the only one who has a mess or the only one to ever tangle their life up. We all have. Including, many people in the Bible. From King David, to King Solomon, and Jonah to Job. God writes about people's mistakes in the Bible, so you and I can have examples of others who have stumbled and entangled their lives as well. He also shows you them to prove who he is in your distress and feelings of emptiness and loss. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (New International Version). This speaks directly to people who have tangled their life. It also speaks to the same people who have untangled their life through the Word of God as well. No matter what, you must follow Proverbs 3:5.

You are not supposed to be confused. You also should not feel helpless at times. When this is occurring, you need Jesus. You need a director of your life. One who knows how to clean up and restore. The good news is, spiritually, your life is already cleaned up. You just have to partner with God in the spirit, so your life can reflect the cleanliness from above.

All of your entanglements are due to lack of knowledge and confusion. To understand how to get untangled, you must know what the enemy wants for your life and what Jesus wants for you. It is vital to your success. God shares many things He wants and has for your life -- if you dedicate it to Him. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (King James Version. Jeremiah. 29.11). If you continue to verse twelve, God speaks to us about the order of events we must do to get a response from Him. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (New International Version. Jeremiah. 29.12). This is exactly what I shared earlier about calling out to God. It is all over the Bible, if you seek to find the truth or want a better life, you will call out to the Lord.

The Bible gives us direction at every turn on how to get a response from God. We just have to do exactly what the Bible says to do.

Getting untangled is not easy. Sometimes it seems better to just continue in our ways rather than to make the arduous commitment and sacrifice to get untangled because we know how much of a mess we have made of our life. Quitting always seems much better in the moment. When we think based on the emotion of quitting, we are thinking that the mess is somehow, automatically, going to disappear. The mess never disappears. It only disappears with 100% commitment to the Word of God. You've got to face your mistakes. It took you a long time to make your mess, it will take a process to clean it up. Be patient. Admit wrongs and partner with God. It takes full honesty with yourself.

Your life and your future is totally up to you. God has given you the road map and every device you need to clean up and stand in a position of power. Cleaning up your mess means changing how you think. It's changing the group of people you hang around and/or listen to. Not focusing on what other people have and/or agreeing with what society says about specific topics. It takes real self-awareness to get untangled. Honesty with yourself and others. Changing what you are attracted to. It is a self-examination. Jesus says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." (New International Version. John.15.9). The only way you can remain in Jesus' love is to keep his commandments. Once you do this He will know you are willing to get untangled. That is when the true healing and clean-up process begins.

Many people say that love is hard to find. They say that love doesn't exist anymore. For this reason, a substantial amount of people have given up on love, even though they still want to feel its delight.

Have you ever given up on love? Maybe for a short moment? Maybe you have said one of these statements at one point in your life. It's a very common thing to do at a specific experience in your life. Maybe you believe or believed there is no real love out there anymore. The pain has convinced you of a personal belief. You possibly have shared your views with family or friends. And based on what you see on the news and other relationships, you may be truly convinced of it.  

If you want to get to know love, you must get to know God. Get to know who He is. What He represents. Why He's done the things He's done, and what do they mean. God's biggest expression of love was shown over 2000 years ago. Sending Jesus, as himself, into the earth to die for the world's sins and corruption. Jesus loved at every turn that he could. Jesus was also a man of discipline and rule -- which represents love too.

To understand love you must know that love in its purest form is discipline. Jesus was a disciplined man and he infused discipline and structure with his disciples. This is one of the ways he showed that he wanted to protect them and keep them safe. One of the most interesting actions of love Jesus showed the world was healing the servants ear after it was cut-off in a moment of fury and haste by Peter. And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, "Suffer ye thus far." And he touched his ear, and healed him. (King James Version. Luke. 22. 50-51). When anyone says that love does not exist anymore they are not connected to the Word, which is Jesus. It is not that love does not exist anymore, it is that people do not know where to look to find it. And that usually means they have given up on it. When most of people's time is spent on social media, and television, and not in the Word of God, you are going to have what we are experiencing today -- which is a lost connection to love.

When you are connected to Jesus, you will experience a multitude of things; protection, safety, encouragement, guidance, appreciation, confidence, receiving, laughter, support, and much more. All of the things that fulfill you give you joy and happiness. This is why love gives you joy and happiness. It is fulfilling.

Are you possibly stuck on what a person did to you from the past? Because they cheated on you, lied to you, used you, took your money, talked bad about you, left you hanging, etc.? When these actions happen, and the person who received the mistreatment gave so much, or trusted blindly, they, many times, do not know how to recover and remain stuck on how they were treated.  If you pay attention to Jesus' actions throughout his life on earth, you will see the embodiment of love. If you want to find love read what God did for Adam and Eve after they sinned in the garden. Discipline and clothing them. That is love. You cannot escape discipline without Godly or Biblical love. Read about Jesus and how he treated the Samaritan woman at the well. You will begin to see a pattern of love from God to us. Jesus loves you! He wants to heal any of your wounds and give you rest. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (King James Version. Matthew. 11.28). Finding love is sitting down alone in your closet or bedroom in prayer and telling the Lord what's on your mind. Asking him for things you need. Asking Him for forgiveness of any past transgressions against Him. Or how you are still pained from your past. Maybe frustrated about things that have occurred in your life. Tell him how tired you are and how much you would like to change your situation. Tell Him that you need His help to do it. God is waiting to listen to you. It is up to you if you open your mouth and speak to him or not. Finding love is a commitment away.

You cannot find love if you do not spend the time reading your Bible or praying alone to God. The Lord wants your time. Time that He created and wants you to give back to Him. Time is a valuable entity and how you spend it will show the Lord if you love him. We have no excuses for not giving our time to God. You may be afraid of relationships because of what you have seen or experienced. The answer is implementing the Bible into your relationships. Love will abide in every relationship that both parties follow the Bible. This means both people are welcoming God into their lives.

David cried out to the Lord and the Lord heard him and delivered him from many fears and trials he had. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. (King James Version. Psalm. 34.4). God can heal you of your fears as well. And if you have any fears about loving again, pray to God continually, building a connection with him, and watch what happens to your fears.  They will leave your life. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (King James Version. 1 John. 4.18). Jesus encapsulates love at every turn of his life in the Bible, to show a humanly representation of love. Because the earth had never seen it.

Love is a weapon. It is not always looked-on as one -- but it is. Love casts out stubborn behavior. It gets rid of confusion in people's life. Love makes people feel safe. It rescues the dog who is struggling and trapped in a roaring river. Love tells the truth to people. It listens keenly when you are speaking to him/her. Love is a builder. It builds people who are broken. It builds houses and homes for those who do not have a place to live. Love is also a giver. It gives its share of food so someone else can eat. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (The MACARTHUR Study Bible. John. 3.16). God loves, so He gave. Giving is one of the main characteristics of someone who loves. To understand love, you must understand the act of giving. Not just giving, but giving from your heart.

When you understand love, you practice the truth. Truth will be something that you stand for and represent. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought with God. (The MACARTHUR Study Bible. John. 3.21). Love is a way of life. It is a connection with Jesus. When you have Jesus inside of you, His light shines outward from you, into the world.

Make it a point to understand love. Study it. Represent it. Embody it. Show it. The more you grow in love, the stronger you will become. The stronger you become, the more you can do what the Bible says to do. Once that begins to happen you will begin to receive all of the promises the Bible says you can have.

God designed you to love … to love like He does -- patiently, and kindly. To love with hope and trust. Trusting the power of what love will do in your life. He wants you to do it with no regrets. Not looking back -- and doing it without fear. This is the exact way you were made. Designed to love because of what love is. God created love, which is a piece of Him, for you to use it in all you do. In things such as school, parenting, gardening, travel, work, clothing, designing, music, teaching, coaching, and so much more. God strengthens and so does love. God preserves and conquers. So does love. God never fails. This is the same reason why love never fails.

 God did not design you to be weak or to fail in anything. He designed you to thrive and be successful. He wants you to be similar to Him. And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness. (King James Version. Genesis. 1.26). This is the intention God had from the beginning. It was all in his plan. To make sure you are like him!

The Lord gives a plethora of examples of operating in love throughout the Bible. Abraham and Sarah, Paul and his love for his understudy Timothy, Boaz toward Ruth, and Jesus in his actions all throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Genesis is the beginning of God's love To humans. Creating the heavens and the earth. Placing food on the earth and stars in the sky. Creating water and animals. Giving man dominion over the earth. That is God pouring out His love for man. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: But the earth hath he given to the children of men. (King James Version. Psalm. 115.16). God made the earth for his children. That is a part of His love. If you have excepted Jesus Christ in your life as your Lord and savior, you are God’s child too.

Love is something that must be understood and learned. It must be committed to and embraced, no matter what you have been through. Love begins to be explained and taught in many different ways for us to see at an early age. But, mainly love is not being taught at all. If you did not see or experience the correct type of love, which is with the Word of God, you will be misguided. This is why relationships today, on every level, are inconsistent and feeble. Until you embrace the Word of God, and do what it says to do, you will never understand love. The only way to know is to incorporate 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 into your life.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (King James Version. 1 Corinthians. 13:4).  This Bible verse is a roadmap from the Lord to empower and guide you. It will secure your Life. When you dive into a relationship, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 should be at the forefront of it. Relationship with friends, family, spouse, and pets should all carry and abide by the Bible’s definition of love. If love is missing in your life do not worry. Ask God to help give you understanding of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Place the verse in your home. Stick it on a mirror in your bathroom. Read it and make it the focus of how you will live your life. This will give you a guide and it will remove you from the past way and style of love you knew. When you make 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 the foundation of your life, you allow the Lord to join the journey of your life. Now, he can show you what real love is all about.

We all have hurt in our life from someone who has let us down in some capacity. Maybe even major hurt and pain from our past. But it does not mean you should stop walking in love. A broken heart is painful. When someone lies to you about something you trusted wholeheartedly it can be devastating and sometimes feel like it is not reparable. Learning how to stay in love is one of the biggest tasks you will face in your life because most people have not been taught to be honest or taught to walk in love. Not having an example of what love is in your life as a child or around you is dangerous -- but it is not the end of the world. It does not mean you do not have a chance to experience love and to know how to give love. That‘s what the Bible and the Word of God is for. That’s what your prayers are for. And if you have the commitment inside of you to want to experience love, the Bible teaches you how to do it. You can have a life that is filled with Love. It is possible. If you want love — give love. Give and it shall be given unto you. (King James Version. Luke 6.38). You must pour into something first to get a return on your investment. It shows the Lord that you are selfless and willing to follow his laws of giving and receiving. Once you understand this and you commit to the Bible’s definition of love your life will change. You will feel better about yourself, finding the peace you have been looking for. Love is a lifestyle. It takes daily practice to fully embody the Bible’s definition of it.

When you meet someone who has love inside of them the Bible speaks of — you can feel it. There is no denying what you feel. It is a comfort to be around. The person will not act hastily or be controlled by their feelings. They will be committed to protecting you and staying in the power of walking in love. As you wake up daily, commit to reflecting 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Make it your lifestyle. God will be so proud of you. And you will be proud of yourself as well.

When a relationship has 1 Corinthians love in it, it has God as well. It functions better. It is more sturdy and durable. When two people's relationship has the foundation of love it is easily seen by others. Especially in today's world because of how much love is missing in relationships. When love is seen it is astounding. The astonishment that people see is the motion of God right before their eyes. This is why what you see is so impressive. It is because you are watching the fluidity of the Lord. When you see God at work, you see a thing of beauty. A marvelous motion picture right before you.

Understanding love is not easy until you experience God.  You will not have God in your life until you give your life to Him. This is literal. Handing your physical life over to the one who created it. Then you will be able to experience love like you have never known it. God created you and he knows exactly what you need in your life. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (King James Version. Jeremiah. 29.11). He knows what will produce the greatest results of your life. So, start today. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 again, and again. After you read it declare that you will live a life committed to it -- and watch the miracles that will happen in your life! 

When Jesus walked the earth He continuously shared to his disciples and to the world what a journey of life would be if you were with Him. He gave examples, told stories, and allowed onlookers to see what happens when He is in your life and the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus wanted -- and still wants -- everyone to know whoever chooses to walk with him and dedicate fully to the Word of God, what the journey of life will be. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (King James Version. Matthew. 11.30). Jesus was speaking about the exchange you will receive when you dedicate your life to Him, and follow His ways. This life involves a light burden. Not like the burden society places on you. What family can place on you or many other things. The Lord takes on the heavy weight for you. 1 Peter 5:7 says, casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Jesus is all about you. He points this out time-after-time throughout his days on the earth. How many people do you know who are all about you like Jesus showed his dedication to people in the Bible? What Jesus did for them back then He is doing, and will do the same for you now. His word is always present tense. You just have to believe it and make the sacrifice.

God understands that life down here is a journey. The way he designed it was for Him to be involved with the journey — in every part of the journey. And since God created us, He set rules to life for us to be successful during this path. "..and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it" (King James Version. Genesis. 1.28). These are all commands from the Lord. The matter in all of this is, whether we follow these commands or not. When you follow the commands of the Lord, blessings and a gamut of things surround your life. "Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and Blessed shalt thou be in the field. (King James Version. Deuteronomy 28.3). It means God will bless you in a metropolis and in a rural area. He covers it all. Is God involved with your journey? If not, today is the day to begin to involve Him. Talk to Him. Ask Him in. That is, to be in your life. Ask Him to guide you in school, with your parenting, or your finances. Involve Him with your house decorating or house purchase. Ask the Lord to help you choose the mate he has for you. Or even choosing a new place to rent. God has "ALL" the answers you will ever need. It is up to you on how you would like your life to be. God is the only guarantee. Nothing else.

The process always turns out better when we involve God. He sees the traps and problems down the road that we do not see. You just have to be in full understanding that the guidance the Lord gives is through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and prayer -- and that he has your best interest at heart. There is no way else around it. If you read in the book of Exodus how God delivered the Israelites out of the hands of Pharaoh while they were in Egypt, you will seee that He led them through the desert, and then into the 'Promised Land.' You will see how the process of the Lord works. He sent his word, and healed them, And delivered them from their destruction. (King James Version. Psalm. 107. 20). God wants to deliver you out of your situation, and partner with you. He wants to deliver you out of your destruction if you are in a destructive place too. You must have patience with yourself and with the Lord. You must also call out to the Lord with your whole heart. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (King James Version. Jeremiah 29:13). Your journey will improve when you seek the Lord with your whole heart.

No matter what you have been through or are going through right now, you must believe that the Lord can change your situation. If you remain with the Lord your situation will never be a part of your life again. That's how powerful God is. This is all about improving your journey and turning it into a journey with God. God knows what you are going through and what you have went through. But, He knows what future he has for you as well. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (King James Version. Jeremiah 29.11). Your life is already planned with the Lord. He has an expected end for you. The Lord's end for you is prosperous and protected, guided and clear. You can only activate these blessings when you involve the Lord on your journey. God gives a myriad of laws and statutes in the book of Deuteronomy. He declares blessings and curses that will come about if you act with him and without Him. They are very clear. All we have to do is do what God says to do. This is a daily and hourly commitment. Not just a one day commitment to the Lord. You must remember, it took years for you to get to where you are in your life. So, you must be patience with the Lord's process. If you trust the Lord, you will do whatever He says. Sometimes being still is part of the journey as well. Be still and know that I am God. (King James Version. Psalm. 46. 10). God gives many directives on our journey on earth. It is a distinct process. You just have to do your job and God will do his. 

If you look back on your life you will see a list of journey's you have embarked upon up until this point. When I speak of the word journeys I mean what you have been through -- the good and the bad. The roads you have been on. Your experiences. Elementary school; marriage; divorce; high school; knee surgery; cancun vacation; dating; drinking days; coaching; taking the bus; being arrested; raising kids; living with a roommate; no money in the bank; graduation -- and others you may be able to think of. Journeys are a part of life. They are what made you who you are today. They are everything. And more importantly -- they are inescapable.

The Bible states there is a season for everything. Solomon spoke about the different seasons of life in the book of Ecclesiastes. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. (King James Version. Ecclesiastes. 3:1-3). This is vital to understand because you can be doing something right, but if it is in the wrong season and time, it will not go as planned. This means the turnout will not be good. Have you ever taken a job that seemed to be what you wanted, and it turned out to be unfulfilling? It is because you chose the job at the wrong season and time. Since there is a time and season for everything, and you joined your job in the wrong season and time -- it cannot provide the fruit you desire from it. All of this has to do with your journey with God.

Many people around the world blame the Lord for their problems. It has become a common thing throughout history. When things go bad -- blame God. People do not understand there is seed and harvest in everything you do. Meaning, whatever you plant and continue to do, the harvest of your actions will sprout up before you at some point. Many people call this karma. It is actual 'seed and harvest.' Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (King James Version. Galatians. 6.7).  God is all about seed-time and harvest time. There is no way around it. Why am I bringing up seed-time and harvest time when I am speaking about a 'Journey with God?' This is significant because you must know what you are watering and feeding while you are on your journey of life. Once you understand this concept, you will begin to understand your journey with God better.

There are bible verses that say to lean not on your own understanding, and trust in the Lord with all thine heart. And whosoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life. If you look back on your journey of your life up to this point, you will begin to understand why things have occurred in the fashion they did based upon these laws and rules of the Bible. If you were a child and things happened to you that were forgettable, you can apply these laws and verses to whoever raised you or you grew up being influenced by. This is the journey with God. During our daily journey of life we have an opportunity to lean on the understanding of the Lord and sow to the Spirit or sow to the flesh. Each of our decisions has a spiritual result that is eventually manifested physically.

If you want your journey to improve or be protected, you must sow to your Spirit, which is to the Lord. If you have experienced a very tumultuous life that has been continuously up-and-down, you have been sowing to the flesh and leaning on your own understanding. This is the life most people experience on earth. True peace and joy only comes from God -- no one else. He is the Prince of Peace. This is what comes with a relationship with the Lord. And peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (King James Version. Philipians. 4.7). Nothing else in life can fulfill you like the Word of God can and will. Not drugs. Not sex. Not marriage. Not money. Not gambling. Nothing outside of the Lord. When you put God first in all you do, He will bring His peace into everything you do. He will bring peace into your school, your marriage, your morning, your job, your family and anything else you bring the Lord into. This is how God works. God wants your journey to be rewarded, favored, protected, and blessed.

If it seems like whatever you decide to do doesn't come out right, ask the Lord before you do it. He wants to have a relationship with you. When you do this your seasons will improve, which will in-turn improve your journey. If you have doubt that you can experience a blessed life, remember the Bible says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). Your life is valuable and is destined for greatness. You can only be destined for greatness if you read your bible and spend time with the Lord in your private time. This is exactly how your journey will improve.

When the Lord is at the forefront of your life, you naturally keep in contact with Him to arrange or guide what you must do in the season you are in.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. (King James Version. Proverbs. 3.6). When you do this action your life will produce in all of the right seasons. Things will begin to fall into place.

God did not promise us an easy life while we are down here. What He did promise is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (King James Version. Hebrews. 13.5). In Luke Jesus also tells us, "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (King James Version. Luke. 10.19). This is key to remember in all that you do. Because journeys can have many twists and abrupt turns that cannot be handled properly unless God is involved. When you give your life to the Lord, Jesus gives you power over all the works of the enemy. The things of this life are just not manageable by a human-being alone. God wants to show you what will happen when you trust in Him. There are many stories in the Bible of what happened when a person trusted in the Lord with their whole heart. Daniel in the lions den, David in his 13 year encounter with King Saul, Esther, Ruth, Joshua, and many more.

 Some journeys are much harder than others. The key to each journey is to keep going, and worship and trust the Lord along the way. This is the secret. If you do not pass a journey, you will continue to repeat it. This is what you must ask yourself. Am I partnered with God at my job? Am I trusting in the Lord at school? Is the Lord involved in my marriage? These are all questions you must ask yourself along your journey.

God is bringing a challenge before you so you can grow. But, if you do not pass your test presented by God, you will continue to face the same issue until you pass it. God does not want us thinking the same way as we did 10 years ago. Our thoughts must evolve and so must our mind.

The book of numbers represents a time when the children of Israel were stuck in the desert for 40 years because they could not change their slave-minded thinking. Many people are stuck in the desert of their life because they cannot change their thinking. If you cannot change your thinking, you will remain in the same place. Most people do not realize they have been in the same place for many years, just like the Israelites. Being in the same place does not have to do with where you live, it has to do with how you think. The bible says that you have the mind of Christ. If you have the mind of Christ, you should not be idol. You should be constantly evolving. Being idol is not biblical. You should be a newer person each year. Someone who is smarter, wiser, and stronger, physically and spiritually. When this is happening in your life through the Word of God, your seasons will produce properly in your life, and joy, peace, protection, and blessings will abound.

There are many things about following the Word of God that if you do not search them out or read the Bible faithfully, you will not know how they truly work. Misconceptions, confusion, and judgements abound in Christianity because most people are not doing exactly what the Bible says to do. Doing things by what is believed to be okay or the way you want to do them will not work when it comes to the Word of God. You must do things exactly how the Bible says to do them. And the only way you can find out how things are supposed to be done is by reading and engaging with the Word. When you become a Christ follower you cannot just do what other Christians do -- you must commit to the Word and build a relationship with Jesus yourself. It is going to the source yourself, and finding out the truth of the matter, which should be done in all situations of life. Prayer is important, but if you do not know how to get your prayers answered, you will live in a perpetual state of thinking the Bible is not real, and the Word in it does not work.

Let us look at a Bible verse that is a thread to the topic of prayer. "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." (King James Version. 1 Peter. 3.7). As you read this Bible verse you will notice at the end it emphasizes a point of possible hindrance to prayer -- "that your prayers be not hindered." So, this means your prayers can be hindered. When I discovered this passage, I realized that there must be rules and guidelines to getting your prayers answered and, on the other hand, the same goes for not getting your prayers answered. I do not want to spend time in prayer with the Lord, asking Him of things that are important to me, and not get the result prayer is designed to bring forth. And I am pretty sure you do not either. Many people give up on things, not because they don't want to do it, but because the effort they are putting into it is not rendering the proper outcome. You find this in business, marriage, weight loss, school, and in the church as well. Prayer is the same way. No one really understands the rules to prayer and how to get prayers answered. Most people just think prayer doesn't work, and that is because of their lack of knowledge.

If you have struggled with getting your prayers answered, just know -- it is fixable. Everything is fixable -- through the Word of God. You just have to obey what is said. In the book of Mark, Jesus speaks about prayer in chapter 11. "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (King James Version. Mark. 11.24).  The belief that you must have in your prayer(s), is the belief that God will answer you. You cannot have belief one day and the other day not have belief. This is called being unstable. God does not like this. "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (King James Version. James. 1.6-7). You must believe and expect God to answer your prayers when you pray. And you must stay in belief -- no matter what things look like. If you go in-and-out of your faith and belief in the power of God to answer your prayer, it will not be answered. This is the exact definition of wavering in your faith. Those who do not waver in their prayers and continue to pray about their situation reap the blessings and experience the power of prayer. The Apostle Paul spoke about this in the book of Thessalonians. It is a simple statement. "Pray without ceasing." (King James Version. 1 Thessalonians. 5.19). This means pray until your prayer is answered. Pray continually about the matter. Pray until you see it through. When you do this wonders happen in your life. The impossible is able to occur. All because of your continuous praying, unwavering faith, and belief in God to answer your prayer. God loves this.

The Bible is consistent when it comes to prayer. Those who have gotten prayers answered in the Bible had one thing in common -- contact with the Lord to intervene in a situation that was dire, needed, or a simple want from the heart. Contact is the main word in prayer to God. You must contact him -- call him up, and speak. The Israelites cried out to the Lord many times in the book of Judges and He responded to their prayer. David cried out to God in prayer throughout his life and the Lord answered Him too. "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (King James Version. Psalm. 34.4). This Bible verse is David's cry to the Lord in a place of fear. The young shepherd boy is sharing that God hears the cries of His children. David was honest with the Lord in his wrongs. He was also a man that was after the Lord's heart. This is something that the Lord cannot keep from responding to. Just like some children continuously say they are sorry to their parents from the bottom of their heart until the parent lets them out of time-out or punishment. David was the same way with God. He pursued God's heart when he broke a command from God in his wrong. He was also very good at owning up to his mistakes. Letting God know where you were wrong and asking Him to forgive you is important too. Ownership is what speaks to God. It sends a message that you are aware of what you did and you will not go down that road again. Turning the other way. 

It is a very sad thing to not get your prayers answered -- especially if they are time sensitive or dire. God has feelings just like you do. People think God is just omniscient and omnipotent, and that's it. He is much more than that. When you commit to reading the Bible and speak to the Lord, you will realize your heavenly father has many attributes as yourself. He likes to be included. He wants respect. He doesn't like when people do not keep their word. He loves compliments -- and much more. Get to know the Lord. He is awesome. And the most important thing is, He wants to hear from you. I have shared with you how to improve your prayer life with the Lord if you need to make any adjustments. Reading 'How Does Prayer Work' and 'How Does Prayer Work' part 2 will give you a guide of what you may be doing wrong -- and how to fix it. The Bible is fun when you know how it works. The main thing is that the bible is true. Remember this, speak from your heart when you talk to God and you will see change in your life. Your prayers will begin to get answered and you will have a better relationship with the one who created the heavens and the earth.

Many people pray and do not get the result that is desired. I say many because it is very common for people to pray to God and receive nothing back — but the issue in prayer is not God. Throughout history followers of Christ and people who believe in God almighty have struggled with getting prayers answered. This dilemma has created doubt about prayer and how to get the proper outcome from it. It is a big reason people say that prayer does not work or even do not believe in prayer at all. Are you in this group? Do you get your prayers answered? The Bible is very specific about how to get prayers answered. This article will explain why prayers do not get answered and how to get your prayers answered by God when you pray.

In the Bible God sent Jesus into the earth to fix a lot of things. One was taking the keys back from Satan and giving the power back to His children after the fall in the garden. One of the other many things Jesus was to do was teach Jews and Gentiles how to pray to Him and get their desired results. God knew that many people were praying to Him and not getting any prayers answered or obtaining significant and urgent needs and wants in their lives through prayer. The Lord is the one that created prayer but He designed it to only work in specific ways so not just anyone could get things from Him. Prayer starts with the heart. It is a deep desire, want, or need -- but it must come from within.

Jesus shares what kind of people go through the motions when they pray and describes not to be like them in prayer. "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (King James Version. Matthew. 6.7). The explanation in this Bible verse is for you not to pray repetitively, saying the same thing all the time, over-and-over-again. This will not work. When you begin to do this the prayer will not come from your heart and just be vain words. How can your prayer come from your heart if you just say the same thing all the time? You do not want to become a robot in your prayers. This is why it is important to speak to God daily and have regular conversations with him, so your prayers and things you ask for and want can be conversational too. The Lord is your friend. He is not just your God and Father -- He is a shoulder to lean on too. He is everything you need. You will not find this out unless you spend time daily talking to Him and reading your Bible.

When you read the Bible and begin to understand the Lord, you will learn that He is all about forgiving others of their trespasses. This is a very vital thing to getting your prayers answered. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (King James Version. Matthew. 6.14-15). I know that forgiveness can be very difficult but God designed forgiveness for you not to harbor pain or ill-will in your heart. It is specifically designed to keep your heart healthy and clean. It's designed to free you and keep you from bondage of your past. Unforgiveness robs people of the life God has for them. If you are dealing with hurt and unforgiveness, ask God to help you forgive all who have hurt and/or wronged you. You will feel a weight off your chest when the power of forgiveness occurs. Once you forgive others God will forgive you. If your prayers have not been getting answered, you may have some unforgiveness in your heart toward a person or people. God will forgive you, if you forgive whomever you need to forgive. This specific action opens up the power to get prayers answered.

Many people go to church and know the Bible but they do not delight in the Lord. This means having joy in who God is and also with your experiences with the Word of God. If you do not delight in the Lord this can hinder your prayers as well. "Delight thyself also in the LORD: And he shall give thee the desires of your heart." (King James Version. Psalm. 37.4). If you want your prayers answered you must delight yourself in the Lord and God will give you the desires of your heart. This one is important to God because it shows Him that you love who He is and what He is. You love Him so much that you delight in Him. The repayment for delighting yourself in the Lord is getting your prayers answered. Delight comes from the heart. It is something you cannot fake by your actions. It is a personal relationship between you and the Lord. He knows if you delight in Him and you do too. Delighting yourself in the Lord means that you will not put the Super Bowl before the Lord. You will not place a concert before God's kingdom. When you delight yourself in the Lord you place God first. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto to you." (King James Version. Matthew. 6.33). When you follow what the Bible says, you will get what the Bible says you can have. This is important to note. When you put first the kingdom of God and His righteousness things will be added unto you. The things Matthew 6:33 are referencing are having your prayers answered -- which are the desires of your heart. Things must be in alignment with the Word of God in order to receive what God has for you. There is no exception. The Bible cannot be cheated. There are no shortcuts to it. You must do what it says in order to get exactly what it says you can have.

How you think of yourself can and will determine whether or not your prayers get answered. If you think of yourself as a god or you have more delight in yourself than you have for the Lord, this will hinder your prayers. You cannot be self-absorbed or haughty. It is exhibiting to the Lord that you do not believe in Matthew 6:33. And it shows that you think of yourself much higher than you do of the Lord. This is a big no-no. On the other side of that, if you think of yourself in a lowly manner, this can affect your prayers as well. When you have low estimations of yourself your words will reflect it and this will and can untie a prayer you were asking God for. Most people do not know that you can untie a prayer you just prayed to the Lord by making a statement that is contrary or counter to your prayer.  God does not like negativity or doubt. It cancels out the rewards and things you may truly be desiring of the Lord. So, make sure you watch your words and only speak life into your situation and about yourself. Have faith that God will deliver in the prayer that you are requesting a response to.

Prayers are not complicated when you do what the Bible says. The Bible is also very specific when it comes to praying. When you pay attention to Bible verses that pertain to getting prayers answered you will notice a theme. The theme is commitment to God and a sincere heart. It is not necessarily what you say to God, but how you say it. And what you say while you are speaking outside of prayers have a huge bearing on whether you untie them or not.

You now have a small blueprint that can help you get your prayers answered. Understanding how to get your prayers answered will change your life. People who know how prayer works do not stress about things of life because they know how to pray properly to the Lord. The way God designed it. So make the correction if you have struggled in your prayer. God wants to reward you and give you the desires of your heart. It will change your life.