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What is the Spirit of Power and Might and How Can I Get it to Overcome Fear and Discouragement?

“Don’t spend those three dollars; keep it for the babysitter tonight,” Jim told me.

“Okay.” A friend was taking me to a women’s meeting the next morning and driving, so I didn’t need gasoline; I thought, no problem.

It was October 12, 1978, and our last payroll check had been spent. The last of our savings was gone, too. I totaled the bills: $252.00! We had expected to have another job by now, but we didn’t. We prayed over the bills and gave them to the Lord.

The longer I looked at the bills, the more frightened I became. Confused and desperate, I decided to take a shower. I didn’t know it would be with my own tears. Fear as I had never known enveloped me.

I thought about the words of Jesus after he said not to worry about what we shall eat or drink or wear, “Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). But Really? How can this possibly be true for a time like this?

After my shower, I put away the bills, got out my Bible, sat down, and turned to Ephesians 6. It read, “Wherefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

I said, “Lord, we have presented ourselves to you, no strings attached, and nothing has happened yet as we had expected. We’ve done all we know to do in order to obey you, and we will stand.” Immediately, peace flooded my soul.

I thought, this must be the peace that passes all understanding that the Bible talks about, (see Phil. 4:7). I began to see that Jesus and His Word truly are one and the same and that His Word is powerful. His living Word dispelled all fear and discouragement!

This was just the beginning of when I learned what it meant to overcome in God’s power and might, rather than my own. I will share the rest of the story soon but know that by the time you finish reading this article, you will know that God’s purposes will ONLY be accomplished by the Spirit of Power and Might in our lives and on this earth. In fact, no good thing will stand without it, for without HIM, we can do NOTHING! (John 15:5).

The Spirit of Power and Might: What is His Name?

As a reminder, Isaiah’s seven-spirit prophecy says a BRANCH will grow (Jesus Christ), and “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and MIGHT the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2 NKJV).

“For Your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called” (Isaiah 54:5 Amplified).

The Lord of hosts’ Hebrew name is Jehovah-Sabaoth. It has a dual meaning – that of our Bridegroom who is coming for His Bride, the Church worldwide, very soon, and as Supreme Commander of the Universe.

Host means, tsâbâ’, “The basic meaning is service done for a superior, usually military service . . . . Although the title of tsâbâ’ has military overtones, it points directly to Jehovah’s rulership over the entire universe. He stands ready to intervene for His people at any moment.”5 The Lord of hosts took David from among the sheep to rule over His people Israel (see 2 Sam. 7: 8).

He did this by working through David who killed the giant Goliath saying, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted” (1 Sam. 17:45 NASB); thus, the Lord of hosts intervened for Israel in defeating the Philistines through one willing vessel—David.

What is The Meaning of ‘Might’?

The Hebrew word for might is chayil, meaning strength, POWER, force, might–especially an army; valor, substance, wealth. It basically means force, especially military strength. This definition defines Jehovah-Sabaoth who is more powerful than any force on earth. He is assembling His military army bride today.

The Hebrew word tsâbâ’ (Sabaoth) for ‘host’ is derived from a verbal root which means to amass (an army or servants), to assemble, to muster (soldiers, 11 Kings 25:19; Jer. 52:25), to collect, to fight, to perform, to go forth to war, to wage war (Num. 31:7: Isa. 29:7, 8; 31:4. Zech. 14:12) to do military service.9

Psalm 110:3 speaks of people who will volunteer freely in the day of His power—as in military service of the Lord. Are we not seeing this today among ordinary people?

The Power of God Is Shown Best Through Vessels of Clay

The greatest displays of God’s power are not necessarily episodes of military force, mighty acts, or creative splendor. Rather, the supremacy of God’s power is seen in the way He accomplishes His purposes through mere vessels of clay made mighty because He has infused them with His power by His Spirit. They are His Bride.

The book of Zechariah gives an overall picture of the might and power of God at work in Earth and in our lives. Except for the book of Ezekiel, Zechariah prophesies the most details of the coming of Messiah/Jesus four hundred years before He is born.

The prophet Zechariah calls the Israelis to repent after 50,000 of them returned to Jerusalem which was destroyed by Babylon. After 70 years of captivity, under an edict of Cyrus with the leadership of Zerubbabel, they quickly rebuilt the altar and began repair on the temple.

We soon learn that the temple would not be finished through muscular power or physical stamina of the workmen; rather, it would be accomplished by the empowering of the Spirit of God.

It’s NOT by Might, nor by POWER, but only by God’s Spirit Anything Is Accomplished

Before long, apathy set in as they were opposed by Samaritans who got an order from the Persian government to halt construction. For twelve long years construction was halted by discouragement and preoccupation with other pursuits.

Zechariah urged the people to return to the Lord and His purpose to restore the ruined temple. The Spirit of the Lord gave him visions that encouraged the people.

One vision was to encourage Zerubbabel who was about to succumb to discouragement. From the Message Bible you will recognize this from Revelation 4:5 and the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God”––the menorah, as described in my previous article:The 7 Spirits of God Key to Supernatural Life of a Christian.

Menorah 7 Lamps of fire
The 7 Spirits of God – Menorah

A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees: The Spirit of Power and Might

The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep.

The Lampstand

He said, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl.”

Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, “What does this mean, sir?”

The Messenger-Angel said, “Can’t you tell?”

“No, sir,” I said.

Then he said, “This is God’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. ‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’”

After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!”

Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”

The Two Olive Trees

“And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?” I asked. “What’s the meaning of them? And while you’re at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?”

He said, “You haven’t figured that out?”

I said, “No, sir.”

He said, “These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide.” – Zechariah, chapter 4

This passage says, ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

The New King James Version says, it’s ‘Not by Might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Discouragement can always be answered with God’s ability to grace and empower the human soul. His might is seen by what He does through the weak, the insignificant, the powerless – a Babe born in Bethlehem, a timid fearful Gideon, a melancholy Jeremiah, a band of twelve ordinary men, and a remnant Church of weary warriors.

As long as the heart is turned toward Him in childlike trust, He will enable anyone to complete the work to which He has called them. And so, they completed repairing the temple.

What is the Spirit of Power and Might and How Can I Get it to Overcome Fear and Discouragement

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Zechariah Had Two Visions That Show God’s Supreme Power on Earth

The following two short visions from Zechariah, chapter 5, I believe, are being fulfilled as well as other end-time prophesies from his book.

The Flying Book shows God’s power and judgment over evil. The size of the book denounces the sins of perjury and of thieves. God is reaping and dividing the tares from the wheat––which is written to only be done at the end-time harvest (Matthew 13:30).

The Flying Book

I looked up again and saw—surprise!—a book on the wing! A book flying!

The Messenger-Angel said to me, “What do you see now?”

I said, “I see a book flying, a huge book—thirty feet long and fifteen wide!”

He told me, “This book is the verdict going out worldwide against thieves and liars. The first half of the book disposes of everyone who steals; the second half takes care of everyone who lies. I launched it”—Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies—“and so it will fly into the house of every thief and every liar. It will land in each house and tear it down, timbers and stones.”

A Woman in a Basket

This vision shows forth God’s ultimate power over sin and wickedness in the earth:

The Messenger-Angel appeared and said, “Look up. Tell me what you see.”

I said, “What in the world is that?”

He said, “This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone, everywhere.”

Then the lid made of lead was removed from the basket—and there was a woman sitting in it!

He said, “This is Miss Wickedness.” He pushed her back down into the basket and clamped the lead lid over her.

Then I looked up and to my surprise saw two women flying. On outstretched wings they airlifted the bushel basket into the sky.

I said to the Messenger-Angel, “Where are they taking the bushel basket?”

He said, “East to the land of Shinar. They will build a garage to house it. When it’s finished, the basket will be stored there.”

As it says in “Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

We know Jesus Christ died once for ALL mankind. He paid the price for ALL sin and overturned the state of the sin nature in man which came upon him through the sin of Adam and Eve.

But ONLY those who receive what Jesus did for him/her personally will receive eternal life and be saved from eternal death and punishment in hell. We will be held accountable for sin and the choice we make, and if we choose against the blood Jesus shed for us, we will pay the price in our body that He paid for us in His body on the cross.

What is the POWER God gives us and how can we get it?

I continually see people striving to achieve eternal life in their own power. They are believing doctrines of demons telling them lies that they can reach a higher state of consciousness looking within for their own strength––that they can be God.

Without realizing it, I was there, too, until one day God spoke in my ear the words, no good in me. I wondered if these words were in the Bible. I found them in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells, for to will is present with me; but how to perform what is good I do not find.”

Immediately, I realized I was trying to be good in my own strength, and that I could never attain God’s‘good’ Spirit of Power and Might in my life. He gave me a vision that when He looked at me, He saw Jesus’ red blood He shed for me. He saw Jesus’ perfection––His goodness only.

It would not be long until Acts 1:8 caught my attention: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When we receive the Spirit of Almighty God, we are receiving the same dynamos power that raised Jesus from the dead. He comes to live inside us, for “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).

What is the Spirit of Power and Might and How Can I Get it to Overcome Fear and Discouragement?

My journey in how to receive this power from God is documented in detail in my booklet I give away on this site, Eyes Wide Open. Life has been a powerful and exciting journey ever since. I know it will help you.

The Bible records 695 times in the New Testament where Jesus talks about His power and the giving of it to his disciples; there are 655 occurrences in the Old Testament.

My favorite in the O.T. is Psalm 62:11, “God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That Power belongs to God!”

My favorite in the N.T. is Jesus speaking in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

What Should I Do with God’s Power and Might and HOW?

The first step in knowing what to do with the power God gives us is to know what He has NOT given us. He has NOT given us the spirit of fear which is from Satan.

I challenge you to memorize from the Amplified version, 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God did NOT give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power, and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

When you are faced with a fear of any kind: a need of healing, health in midst of plagues (remember Psalm 91), marriage problems, parenting problems, whatever, speak aloud God’s Word over it and yourself and you will find peace that passes understanding.

Be obedient to what God reveals to you. You will experience God’s power over the situation. He is the One who makes you an over comer! Click here for Scripture printable pdf: Quick Start Guide to Supernatural Answers to Your Concerns

When You Don’t Know How to Pray for the Spirit of Power and Might for Peace

When you don’t know how to pray, confess the Zechariah 4:6 Rock:

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” – “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

My problem just so happened to be money in 1978. Money has not been a problem since that whole year without steady employment and every need met:

The ending of my beginning story:

The next morning my friend came to pick me up. The meeting was like nothing I had ever attended. The speaker spoke about victory in all our trials and that we will have many Jordan Rivers to cross in our lifetime.

At the conclusion, the attendees were asked to give an offering. Small envelopes were on the table for that gift. I thought about the three dollars in my purse and what Jim had said. Then, my thoughts wandered to the widow Jesus observed giving into the temple treasury. “Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny” (Mark 12:41-42).

Jesus told his disciples that she had put in more than all the others. “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43).

I wondered, what happened to that poor widow who gave all she had? The Bible doesn’t say. So, without hesitating, I pulled out the three dollars and stuffed it in the envelope. After the meeting, I saw a hand, out of the corner of my eye, put something in my outside purse pocket.

Retreating to the car, heart beating wildly, I opened the envelope. There was $11.00—a ten- dollar bill plus one dollar for the tithe! I was overcome with the feeling I was in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, who says that whoever believes in Him, streams of living water will flow from within him—a never-ending stream of joy (see John 7:38). I asked my friend if she had put that envelope in my purse. She had not.

Jim gave $5.00 to our Bible study leaders (to God) that night, leaving $5.00 for the babysitter and one dollar for us. After the meeting, our leader said, “It’s time we give our tithe to the Lord from the proceeds of these meetings. We do that by giving away one night’s offering.” Then he said it would go to us. We had not told him about our situation, but he said he would call us later with the amount. It was $254.00—two dollars over our immediate needs we had written down and taken to the Lord, and one dollar was the tithe returned to us. I thought, in determining our needs, why hadn’t we added in the tithe?*

My soul, wait ONLY upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. He ONLY is my ROCK and my SALVATION; He is my DEFENSE and my FORTRESS. I shall not be moved! Psalm 62:5-6 NKJV

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21 NKJV

*The above story is an excerpt from the workbook God gave me in 2008. Forty other people’s stories, besides my family’s, help the reader understand who they are by knowing who God is . . . and what faith is and how to implement it to receive all God has for them. Since then, I’ve taught it in small groups and one on one to help new and nominal believers understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and be ready for His return. I’ve seen no better workbook to accomplish this goal. You can check it out here: GOD Who Are You? AND Who Am I? Knowing and Experiencing God by His Hebrew Names.

What is the Spirit of Power and Might and How Can I Get it to Overcome Fear and Discouragement

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Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, Used by permission of Zondervan

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HOW TO PRAY 4 Steps to Victory for ANY Problem with a Strategic Plan

My husband’s parents taught me how to pray, even though they never knew it. They didn’t know they were teaching me how to have victory in prayer; in other words, how to receive the Victor’s Crown when this life is over.

How to Pray: Quick-Start Guide for Beginners to Supernatural Answers to Your Concerns

Victor was the name of the foreman for the job of constructing the roof to the house we bought a few years ago. It had to have a new roof quickly after we closed the sale so that our homeowner’s insurance would cover it. Our only job was to let the roofing company know when we finished moving.

We were shocked when the very next morning at 7:00 a.m. the roofers showed up. They tore off the old and replaced them with beautiful new shingles on our 3,000 sq. ft. house and picked up all the nails in the yard with a magnet machine.  They left at 6:00 p.m. the job completed!

We could hardly believe what had just happened. When the business owner came to see us the next day to get his final payment, we learned the secret to his success. He pays his employees by the shingle bundle, not by the hour, and they are docked pay if one nail is found afterwards.

This event made me think about how Victor had crowned our home with success. I felt absolutely loved by my Creator, highly favored and honored––only a small portion of what it will be like in heaven when we receive the real imperishable crown, or as it is also termed––the Victor’s Crown.

When I Learned How To Pray

I thought back over my life to Jim’s parent’s prayer that God would shield him and his brother when they were in Vietnam. After we were married upon his return, Jim told me he could feel bullets whiz by his head, but they never found him. I learned about power in prayer right then.

I would need that assurance after ten years of marriage when we found ourselves without a job for one year. God met our every need when we crossed our DRY RIVER BED. We learned the facts of faith that year.

I later found 53 Scriptures that give us the ‘shield’ promise we can claim.

I didn’t know I would need to know those Scriptures and how to pray when our own sons were deployed overseas:

·         Oldest son: after Desert Storm

·         Middle son: twice in Iraq

·         Son-in-law – 5 times in Iraq and Afghanistan, now in South Korea and soon to be in Germany the second time.

OR: during open heart surgery for our oldest immediately after he graduated from West Point Military Academy and married his high school sweetheart; then nine years later another surgery because the first valve was too small…doctors told him he was one heart-beat away.

OR: when our youngest son’s daughter was born premature and his wife very ill with pre-eclampsia.

I thought back over all these trials and attacks of the enemy and remembered Isaiah 54:15, “If anyone attacks you, it will not be God’s doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to YOU.”

Yes, we have overcome and continue to do so. These hard times have made us who we are today and give us confidence in the LORD for tomorrow. That’s why I pray you will take this article very seriously, because I know you have trials, too.

There is victory in Jesus! But, also, like the awesome roofing company we experienced, there are secrets to success––especially in spiritual growth. I’m sharing the facts of faith we learned with you today so your problems will surrender to YOU. As you learn how to pray, you will overcome any problem and discover the 5 ETERNAL CROWN REWARDS now and in heaven.

What is the Victor’s Crown that teaches us how to pray?

The incorruptible victor’s crown is described in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Verse 26 is what we are addressing today:

24. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26. “Therefore I run thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.”

If the roofing company had come without a strategic plan, they would still be here––as though they were beating the air. The following is the strategic, certain plan for victory:

The B-E-A-R Facts of Faith: how to pray in faith believing––or how to fight like a bear

How to Pray: The B-E-A-R Facts of Faith with 2 Free Printables

B – Believing the Word – Believing Comes Before Seeing

Some Christians believe parts of His Word have passed away and cannot be believed for today. However, God says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35), and Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Miracles seen in the Bible are the same for us today, if we believe. Jesus even tells us that if we believe, He will do greater miracles through us than He did while on earth (see John 14:12). Even He could do no mighty works because of unbelief in His hometown (see Matt. 13:58).

Before God spoke, “Let there be light,” He saw in His mind what He wanted the formless dark earth and water to be. He believed it would happen and planned for success.  The story of Lazarus drives home this point.

Jesus waited four days to see his friend Lazarus, because he knew the lesson he wanted to teach. When Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away from Lazarus’ tomb, Martha, the sister of the dead man said, “By this time there is a bad odor, for he has been dead four days.”

Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40). Jesus spoke directly to Lazarus, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he did so.

Believing comes before seeing, if you want to know how to pray for answers.

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E – Expecting from the Word – Having Eyes on the Circumstances and on the Word at the Same Time is Impossible

After we believe God has our answer, our hearts are filled with expectation. Until we expect to see something happen, we will not know when the answer comes.

When Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Moab and Ammon came to make war. Surrounded by a vast army, the Israelites came together to seek the Lord. The king encouraged the people, saying to the Lord, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (2 Chron. 20:12).

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Janaziel, son of Zechariah, who said,

“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them . . . . You will not have to fight in this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” –2 Chronicles 20:15-17

Keeping our eyes on the Lord means keeping our eyes in His Word. When we look at His Word, we are looking to Jesus who is the “Word made flesh.”

The first chapter of John says Jesus was the second person of the Trinity who spoke into existence everything that was made. “In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

The bottom line is this: when our eyes are not in the Word, we are not looking to Jesus. When we are not expecting from the Word, we are focused on the problem, or the circumstances, allowing fear, doubt and worry to overtake us. We cannot keep our eyes focused on the problematic situation and on the Lord at the same time. The word from our mouth, working in conjunction with His Word, opens the door for Him to fight those battles.

Earnest expectation that turns the head from any distraction assumes that once we have made a quality decision to trust God concerning a situation, we can expect opposition, harassment, trials and challenges.

Words contradicting what we believe will come. That’s when we must fix our heart and keep on believing, saying out loud, “[I] will have no fear of bad news; [my] heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Ps. 112:7).

We can lay our requests before God each morning (see Ps. 5:3), but unless we expect something to happen, it’s unlikely we will see any results.

Having Eyes on the Circumstances and on the Word at the Same Time is Impossible if you want to see results from learning how to pray.

Having Eyes on the Circumstances and on the Word at the Same Time is Impossible - if you want to see results from learning how to pray. Click to Tweet

A – Asking from the Word – Praying the Scripture, not the Problem

The book of James tells us what to do when we have a problem. After we begin to believe God’s Word has a solution for every situation and embrace hopeful expectation for the answer, we need wisdom such as Jehoshaphat received through Janaziel.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Furthermore, he says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

Jehoshaphat did this very thing. Alarmed, he resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for himself and all Judah. He praised the Lord, recounting the covenant promise to Abraham and God’s deliverances in the past.

He put his faith in God’s ability, rather than his own, to take care of things in the present. He then spoke positive, believing words, “You will hear us and save us” (2 Chron. 20:9). He did not belabor the problem. God already knew it, and he knows ours, too.

Asking from the Word means praying the Scripture. His Word is His will. His Word contains the answer to any problem we could have. The more we take our words from God’s Word, the more we are looking to Jesus who fights for us. For God says, “. . . I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12 Amplified).

Jesus himself defeated Satan during his forty days of temptation with Scripture saying, “It is written.” He tells us, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).

Seeking God’s wisdom, and asking from His Word, involves hard work much like digging for hidden treasure, such as picking up acorns one by one like bears should naturally do. Furthermore, having God’s revealed wisdom and then doing something about it is a matter of life and death—to our marriages, children, cities and nation.

As we put voice to Scripture during our situation, the entrance of His Word gives light and brings victory (see Ps. 119:130).

Pray the Scripture, not the Problem, if you want to know how to pray for answers.

Pray the Scripture, not the Problem, if you want to know how to pray for answers. Click to Tweet

R – Receiving from the Word – Confessing the Word and Living the Word

We can receive answers to prayer through Believing, Expecting and then Asking through Scripture. However, the “R” of our faith-bear is reserved for the critical battles. It requires a more disciplined decision to battle with faith to overcome the most trying circumstances.

Therefore, it is wise to choose our battles wisely, and know what is truly important and worth fighting for.

Without the “R” there might be no answer to prayer. We could pray, believe, expect, and ask, but unless we are willing to receive, there could be no victory. This is where many Christians miss out on the joy of their salvation, because this is the hardest part.

Receiving from the Lord involves two aspects: a deeper knowledge of what faith is and how it works with words of praise with positive actions. Receiving from the Lord requires us to understand “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20 KJV).

The mature Christian knows that “works” are tied to our words, because positive words spring forth positive actions based on what we believe from the Word.

The mature Christian knows that “works” are tied to our words, because positive words spring forth positive actions based on what we believe from the Word. Click to Tweet

One thing Jesus said about believing is puzzling: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

We all want to receive, but what does it mean, to “believe that you receive?”

The verse before this one gives us our first clue: “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” So, we know receiving has to do with what we truly believe and, therefore, speak (like Jesus spoke TO Lazarus).

Our next clue is found in 1 John 5:14-15. This Amplified translation says it plainly: know that God has “granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him” when it’s in agreement with His plans for us. This is what faith is, and what the B-E-A-R Facts of Faith are all about.

Faith is further defined in Hebrews:

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and conviction of their reality–faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. –Hebrews 11:1 AMP

By faith, we already have the title-deed to what we have requested from the Lord. Faith is “perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.”

If we can claim for ourselves what we want to see happen, knowing God has already granted (past tense) what we have asked for as our present possessions, then would we not have already received? Almost, but not quite.

With this knowledge, our words are still the key. Hosea tells us, “Take words with you and return to the Lord” (Hosea 14:2). Then, God says, “I will create the fruit of the lips”—what our words say.

The Amplified translation explains how God uses His own faith-filled words: “God . . . who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed” (Rom. 4:17).

So, does not our creative power with God lie in speaking of the nonexistent things as if they already existed and then acting that way? Yes!

How to Pray: 4 Steps to Victory for Any Problem

How Jehoshaphat Put the ‘R’ on His Fighting BEAR

Jehoshaphat and his people had to put the R on B-E-A-. Early the next morning after they sought the Lord, Jehoshaphat spoke words that perceived as real fact what was not yet revealed to his senses. He told them, “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld . . . .” 2 Chron. 20:20).

Because of what he believed, expected and asked of God, he appointed singers to praise the Lord as they went out at the head of the army—a work of faith. His actions were bold. Though still fearful, the people began to sing and praise (a positive action). The Lord sent ambushes against their enemies; no one escaped. Most were destroyed by each other.

Praise puts the R on B-E-A-. When we praise the Lord, no matter how we feel, we are receiving the past tense of what God said He would do. In different words, praise claims our requests. Until we have a thankful heart toward God, we will never receive His best.

When we praise the Lord, no matter how we feel, we are receiving the past tense of what God said He would do. In different words, praise claims our requests. Click to Tweet

Without the R, there is no enduring faith, and without faith, we cannot please God—there is no “mama or papa bear” who is caring and fighting for their cubs. With God-given faith we have His knowledge that brings light and victory in ALL situations.

Confess the Word and Live the Word daily to receive answers to your prayers.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat the fruit of it [for death or life]” Proverbs 18:21 Amplified, meaning we bear the consequences of our words.

Laura W. was diagnosed with rectal cancer that reoccurred FIVE times. She had FOUR surgeries with radiation. By the fifth time, she was maxed out on radiation and no more tissue could be excised. So, what did she do?

She turned from looking only to her doctors and formed a prayer group and learned how to pray in faith believing. Shortly thereafter, the doctor told her, “We see no sign of disease!”

Learning how to pray takes time, study and work, yes. But if we are to have victory, peace, joy and life now––which will result in receiving the Victor’s Crown when this life is over––we must live above our circumstances. It takes the B E A R Facts of Faith–a strategic, certain plan for success to overcome.

Gaining victory will be confessing the Word through your tears, but the result is SO worth it: HOW I LEARNED TO RECEIVE BY FAITH

Here are two wonderful tools below to assist you in your faith journey:

B-E-A-R Facts of Faith Laminate fold and cut into a 5 x 7 sheet laminate to keep in your Bible–a summary of the above.

Quick Start Guide to Supernatural Answers to Your Concerns -Scriptures for every situation

For an introduction to the 5 Eternal Crown Rewards and their meanings, with links to the article about them, click this link for a nice printable summary>>5 ETERNAL CROWN REWARDS.

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M4F How I Learned to Receive by Faith: My Psalm One Man & Egg Dream

My Learning About Faith Story

Green landscape with text overlay How I learned to receive by faith

After one year at ETSU in Commerce, Texas, a job opened up in Carthage, Texas, Dean of Special Services at Panola Junior College. Jim welcomed this job to pay our mounting debt, so we moved. He worked all day, planned and supervised classes at night, and drove back the 150 miles to Commerce on Saturdays to complete two courses he lacked for his degree. Thus began our adventure in learning what faith was all about.

Jim became a walking zombie, drained of all zeal for living. Since returning from Vietnam, he’d had no downtime: marriage three weeks after returning home, then children, school, and now more school with a very demanding job. He excelled at every challenge, coaching football while a student and seeing them go to bowl games. He started a wrestling program after he started teaching, and took them to state. But now, he had nothing left to give.

FEAR got my attention. I became honest with myself and asked the Lord, “What does our future hold?” Immediately, I could see if things continued as they were, I would be a single mother.

 

Psalm One Man of Faith

My Psalm One Man of Faith

For the first time, I began to diligently pray. I made a firm, quality, conscious choice to pray every day for my husband, even if he was the only person I ever prayed for. A devotional in the book, God Calling, compiled by A. J. Russell, spoke loud and clear to me. It said that when Jesus called His disciples, he had known them for a period of time. Then, one day as He walked along the seashore, He said, “Come, follow Me.”

The Holy Spirit revealed to me that to follow Jesus, to be his disciple, meant being disciplined–disciple being the root word of “discipline.” After asking God for wisdom (James 1:5) in how to pray, I was led to read the first Psalm. I knew this is what I needed to pray. I praised and thanked God every day for my Psalm-One man. I told Jim, “I’ve given you to the Lord. It’s up to Him to help you now.”

At the same time, the words from Evelyn Christenson’s book, Lord Change Me, rang in my head, “Lord, don’t change my husband, don’t change my children, Lord, change me.” Reluctantly, I added that to my prayer.

Whenever there was bad news to bear, I turned my head to washing dishes or folding clothes. Through my tears, I repeated back to God, these memorized Words, claiming Psalm 1:1-3 from the Amplified version of the Bible:

Blessed-happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable-is the man (my Jim) who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, not sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law-the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God-he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth his fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not fade or wither, and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

Believe that You Receive

As I praised the Lord every day for my Psalm-One Man, “a strong tree planted by the water bearing fruit in his season,” Mark 11:23-24 came alive to me, that I would “receive” whatever I “said,” whether it was negative or positive. I realized I’d better make sure what I said day in and day out was in agreement with what I believed God for.
I meditated on James 1:6. It says, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

My priority in life became to trust God to “guard my mouth,” (Ps. 141:3) while replacing my words with Psalm 1. As one thing led to another, I discovered 2 Corinthians 10:5 that says we are to bring every ‘thought’ captive to the obedience of Christ. So, to guard my mouth meant I had to guard my thoughts before they could come out of my mouth. Talk about discipline! But, it was worth it.

In a matter of weeks, Jim came home one Saturday, excited and enthusiastic about God’s Word, actually preaching to me. I could hardly believe the change I was witnessing before my eyes of what God was doing, and so quickly. It seems the real estate agent who found the rental home for us had given him some teaching tapes. He listened to them as he traveled to and from Commerce on Saturdays.

“I’ve tried to change you for ten years, and now it’s up to the Lord.” Jim said to me.

Oh really? He said he had already noticed that I was somehow different. He didn’t know about my prayer or of the dream the Lord had given me:

My Egg Dream

faith

The dream was one of those loving disciplines from a heavenly Father that sears the soul without hurting, and you cannot tell anyone. It was one of those hiding-in-the-heart kind of things. Before completely waking one morning, I saw an egg with a soft center. The word WORDS!– like heat from all sides-kept hitting the egg until the yolk was hard.

Then I saw a hand, God’s hand, envelop that egg. God impressed upon me these words, “I can work the impossible. I can take that egg and make it soft again. I can make out of it whatever I want. I can make scrambled eggs, poached, over-easy, or put it with something else to make a tempting dessert.”

I thought, I didn’t know my words were causing Jim’s heart to harden against me, but they were. I’m a pretty laid-back person, but I found my words did not have to be loud or angry to be destructive. Again, God revealed to me that His Word is an attitude book, not just a book of commandments to live by. It’s a book of Love.

Faith is Not Feeling

faith is not feeling

I found that God’s love in us loves as He loves, unconditionally. Jesus gives us love we don’t deserve and have not earned, because He believes and trusts His Father for the best in us. Likewise, He requires the same of us-to believe for the best in others, especially our mate. The Holy Spirit revealed to me if I truly believed to receive my husband as the Psalm-One Man, I had to treat him as though he were already that man, “perceiving as real fact what was not yet revealed to my senses” (Heb. 11:1 Amplified). In other words, faith is not feeling. My actions had to back up what I was receiving from the Lord.

By faith, I began to see Jesus in Jim. I began to direct my actions toward him as though they were toward Jesus. The words from the Bible “as unto the Lord,” grew in meaning for me.

Only then, did things change–the feeling arrived later.

Jim and I discovered that the mystery that brought unity and communication into our marriage and changed it so drastically is grounded in faith. The transformation we were experiencing came from a “mutual submission,” which we later found in the Bible: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit [respect] to your husbands as to the Lord . . . . Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:21, 22, 25 emphasis added).

We found when we prayed about something before talking to each other, we connected. Getting God in the triangle of our relationship brought agreement. If we didn’t agree on a matter, we learned God probably was not in it, and we saved the decision until we agreed-or threw it out. For the first time in ten years, we began to seek the Lord together and to come before Him with our needs for our family and future.

One evening, as we were seated on the couch, Jim prayed, “Lord, I wish I could have just one year to study your Word.” My eyes shot open while he finished praying, and I thought, Oh no, Lord! What’s going to happen now?

 

HERE is your exercise: MODULE 4 EXERCISE

This printable is designed to be folded and cut into a 5″ x 7″ handy reminder that can be laminated and put in your Bible. One Side is a Prayer for your Family. Here is your B-E-A-R Facts of Faith Laminate. 

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A COUPLE AT DINNER SHOWING A BIBLE STUDY FOR COUPLES IN FAITH FAMILY LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS