See Yourself Strong - Gloria Copeland

And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 13:33

How does the devil see you? Does he see you as a terrifying and mighty warrior of God...or does he see you as a wimp he can whip in a minute?

The answer to that question depends on you. I realized that one day as I was studying the children of Israel and their failure to enter the Promised Land. The key to their failure is found in these words: "And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in theirs."

The reason the Israelites were so terrified to fight the giants in Canaan wasn't because those giants were so big. It was because the Israelites saw themselves as so small! It was what they were in their own sight that defeated them.

The same thing is true for you as a believer. It's what you are in your own sight that will make the difference. If, in your own sight, you're a weak, powerless Christian, the devil will run over you three or four times a day or more if he's not busy. But when you begin to see yourself as God sees you, as a conquering son or daughter of the Almighty God equipped with the very power of God Himself, the devil will want to steer clear of you.

The devil would rather do anything than come against somebody who's bold and courageous, because he's a coward himself. In fact, ever since Jesus came up out of that grave, Satan's heart has melted within him at the sound of that Name in the mouth of one who has faith in it.

If you're not strong in the Lord in your own sight, you need to change that. You need to get so full of God's Word and so full of the Holy Ghost that you walk around like a spiritual giant. Turn the tables on the devil and let him find out what it feels like to be a grasshopper for a change

God's Compassion

2 Peter 3:9

Common English Bible (CEB)

⁹ The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.

I walked outside today without shoes on my feet and instantly my feet began to burn from the heat of the concrete. Today, it is 113 degrees in Arizona.  That is HOT, ya'll!!  But it made me think about God's long suffering, compassion and patience.  God continuously delays Christ's return because He wants more children in His family.  The heat searing though my feet was a reminder that God had a redemptive plan in place before the beginning of time.

He not only spared us from death and Hell, but He provided supernatural provision and abundance in this life.  God shared His bounty with us.  Shouldn't we share that news with others?  Choose to share the mercy of God's love with someone today.  It literally means the difference between life and death.

Gentle Reminder

Matthew 10:30 (CEV)

"Even the hairs on your head are counted. "

A few days ago, I was fighting a bout of loneliness. As I near the end of my doctoral studies, I realized that I do not have anyone with whom I will share the accomplishment. Yes, I have my parents and my children but I do not have a spouse. I had to cast down imaginations (2 Cor 10:5) of loneliness and focus on God’s love. 

I went into a furniture store looking for an item for my daughter. As I walked to the counter to purchase her bedroom set. I noticed an entertainment center. I have wanted an entertainment center for my family room for about a year. However, the one I really wanted was almost $1200 and nothing in me wanted to pay that price. I walked over to the item and looked at the tag that read, “$398.” Yes, you read correctly. The brand new unit normally priced at $1150 was marked down to $398. This was not a clearance item. It was brand new on the sales floor. The cashier and the sales person were amazed at the price. The sales representative verified the price with the manager who promptly removed the tag. (I bought the unit for $398.) The cashier later confirmed the item should have been $898. 

Initially, I was just excited to get the item. I return the tithe and sow into God’s kingdom; therefore, I expect favor to reign in my life. Later that day, I stopped and really thought about the situation. God cared enough to give me the exact entertainment center I wanted for my family room. The item is insignificant in the wide-scheme of things. However, God’s attention to detail gives us the most intimate desires of our hearts. If God cares enough to give me an entertainment center, does He not care enough to present me to the man who will care for me and treat me like the precious gem that I am? The entire scenario makes Jesus’ affirmation in Matthew 6:25-33 very real. 

Choose to believe God’s love and word. Turn that belief in to faith with corresponding actions. God loves you.  Pass the word.

Play to Win By Kenneth Copeland

Who is he that over cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:5

I've often heard people say, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." That's nonsense. If you play the game right, you'll win!

Any coach will tell you that part of playing the game right is having a winning attitude. That's what God wants us, as believers, to have. He wants us to have so much faith in Him that we expect to whip any obstacle the devil brings our way. He wants us to expect to win at the game of life.

We don't always come by that attitude easily. We're so accustomed to losing that we have to totally change our way of thinking if we want to have a winning mind-set. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul told the Church to renew their minds. They needed to change their attitudes, to renew their minds to the fact that Jesus has overcome the world.

If you haven't already, you need to do that too! You need to develop a glorious sense of confidence that says, "Hey, devil, I'm going to be victorious and there's not a thing you can do to stop me!"

"But, Brother Copeland, you don't know the kinds of problems I'm facing."

I know I don't, but Jesus does and He said you should "cheer up" because He can give you peace in the midst of tribulation. He said that when Satan comes against you with everything he has, you should take heart because He's already beaten it-- Jesus has already overcome it and so can you!

First John 5:5 puts it this way, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Do you know what that scripture means? It means that if you are a born-again believer, you have an absolute right to be a winner, to overcome every aspect of this evil world. Think about that. Meditate on it. Start developing a winning attitude today