Tag: God’s promises

Give Your Body a Pep Talk CONSISTENTLY!

No matter how long you’ve dealt with infertility or some other condition, you can use God’s Word as a tool of transformation by consistently speaking it aloud. When is the last time you spoke to your body? What did you say to it? If you’re like most people it was a put-down, not a pep talk.

Most people will say things to and about their body that are negative—how they don’t like their hips, thighs, hair, chin, skin, muscle tone, etc.

If you are a child of God, it’s important that you speak to your body as if you’re giving it a pep talk. Speak to  it

Positively…

Gently yet with authority…

Intentionally…

Consistently…

and Scripturally.

Pep Talk

The best things you can say to your body come from what God has said in Scripture; after all, He loves you just the way you are because He made you in His image.

So here’s a short reminder of what to do with your words when you give your body a pep talk:

Speak what you seek until you see what God said.

My Gift to You for Your Pep Talk

To help you with that, I’ve created something that will help you develop/enlarge this habit — it’s a Guide, filled with God’s promises.  Click the button below to download your guide. Speak them as a means of whispering to the Fear that’s trying to invade some part of your life. Use them to thank God for His Presence, His grace and peace, and His willingness to bring good things you.

It’s important to remember Proverbs 18:21–The power of death and life are in the tongue (your words). What YOU say about you matters! So, develop this healthy habit of giving your body a pep talk.

Will you say what God said about being healthy until you see what God said?

Give your body a pep talk! Speak what you seek until you see what God said. Click To Tweet

 

 

Will God Fail to Fulfill His Promises?

Has God failed to fulfill his promises? This question is asked and answered by Paul in Romans 9:6-9 to drive home a very important point—that God has NOT failed to fulfill His promises.

“Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people!  Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.  This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.  For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

It doesn’t matter whether it’s God’s promises of fertility, of good health, of prosperity, or of protection. He always keeps all of His promises.

Have you questioned that point? I have from time to time. But I always remind myself that He is indeed a promise keeper! In my laundry room, I’m reminded  of what a good promise keeper He is by a poster I made many years ago…

 

Believe His Promises

 

Promises

So what promise have you pinpointed in God’s Word that you’re waiting on Him to fulfill? Make a decision to remind yourself that His promises have a zero failure rate. That’s right, none of God’s promises have failed. Scripture assures us of this in 1 Kings 8:56 and other passages as well (like Isaiah 45:19).

 

Promise Keeper

 

How will you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises so that, no matter what, you have confidence in them and hold on tightly to them?

Make a decision to remind yourself that God's promises have a zero failure rate. That's right, NONE of His promises have failed! Click To Tweet

God Says You Are Healed

No matter the cause or severity of the infertility or other illness you may be experiencing right now, God says you are healed.

There are numerous scriptures that proclaim your right to healing and health (I’ll share a few below). As a believer in Jesus, you have access to that right. He paid the price for you so that you can enjoy life in its fullness.

The Bible is full of God’s promises of healing. But do you say the same things that God has said about your fertility/health? He wants you to live healed, restored, and full of peace in your body and mind. And your words should align with His.

God Says You Are Healed

God says - good grammar - words of life

Here are a few verses supporting the statement, “God says you are healed”:

Exodus 15:26 NET – I, the LORD, am your healer.

Psalm 107:20 NET – He sent them an assuring word and healed them; he rescued them from the pits where they were trapped.

Proverbs 4:20-22 NET – My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.

2 Corinthians 4:11 NET – So that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.

1 Peter 2:24 NET –  By his wounds you were healed.

What You Say

So, let’s take a moment to look inside at your thoughts and emotions. What do you believe about your fertility/health? What you believe will eventually become what you say. Use the above scriptures as tools to strengthen your belief system by reading them out loud to yourself on a daily basis. Why? Because faith is increased by repeatedly hearing what the word of God says (Romans 10:17).

Do your everyday conversations work to support what God has said or do they counteract His promises? If you find this challenging, let me know how I can help (in the comments section below).

No matter the cause of the infertility or other illness you may be experiencing right now, God says you are healed. Click To Tweet
Speak the Word

What is the Foundation to Answered Prayer for Your Current Challenge?

When you pray, how are your prayers shaped? By your feelings? By what you’ve heard others pray? The foundation to answered prayer always starts with God’s Word.

Scriptures are the building blocks for effective prayer. Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) encourages us to pray the words that God uses in His promises.

So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Tips to Answered Prayer

God already stated that His promises are Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). So take the time to find the specific Scripture that addresses your specific problem/mountain. Then strengthen your belief in that Scripture by repeatedly and consistently speaking it to yourself. That will build your faith in God’s specific promise. Finally, PRAY that Scripture–return it to Him, as Isaiah instructs us to do, by speaking it in prayer to Him. Mark 11:23-24 encourages us because Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

 

I think the key phrase in those verses is if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” Jesus was teaching an important prayer principle. He wanted us to understand that when we pray believing that His work is already done, and believing that the thing we desire is already ours, we can stand knowing that it is a done deal. Even if we don’t yet see it manifested, we can have a heart that stands strong in the belief that it’s done and that thanks God for it! It is confident in receiving answered prayer.

Pray the Word

God is not a liar. His answer is always “Yes” to His Word. Trust Him. It’s through Jesus’ finished work on the cross that we choose to believe that He has already done what He said. He IS a promise keeper!

Let your prayers be shaped by God’s words.

What Scripture(s) do you pray and stand on with gratitude about infertility or some other challenge you’re currently facing?

Jesus taught an important prayer principle here. He wanted us to understand that we can have confidence in experiencing answered prayer. Click To Tweet
What God Says

3 Tips About How to Expect God to Answer Your Prayers

What can we really expect to receive from God?

I’ve been sharing my thoughts through this blog for years. I’ll admit, I’m still surprised when I get notes from women who have finally overcome infertility.

But why am I surprised? Shouldn’t I EXPECT to receive news like that on a regular basis? If I’m praying that someone receive the gift of a child from God, shouldn’t I expect that it will happen? You’d think that I would anticipate it and look for it to happen.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, I should.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV

God’s response to His promises is a resounding “YES” in Christ because Jesus did absolutely everything to make us eligible to receive the promises.

  • He has made us righteous so we can stand before the Father with no shame and no self-condemnation, having only an expectation of good.
  • He took every punishment that was meant to come our way so that we could take every blessing that was meant to come His way.

Jesus did it all because He loved us and valued us above His own life.

3 Tips For How To Expect More

  1. Remind yourself daily that Jesus loves you.
  2. Pray God’s specific promises about your circumstances, with confidence that He meant what He said (yes, that means you’ll need to research Scriptures 🙂 ).
  3. Envision yourself having what He promised, expect to experience it, and thank Him for it in advance.

Jesus did everything it takes for us to experience and enjoy every promise the Father made. That’s why we can confidently expect good gifts and perfect gifts to come our way. Our part is to simply believe His promises.

What are you praying for today? If it’s based on the promises of God, are you EXPECTING what you prayed to happen?

 

 

 

3 Powerful Actions if You’re Tempted to Abandon Hope

When life fails to be all that we had anticipated, we find it easier to abandon hope. Sometimes, we tend to think, “What’s the use? It hasn’t happened yet… and it probably never will.” If this is a description of your current life and mindset, I have 3 tips I’d like to share to help you strengthen and retain hope.

Tip 1

Make a Gratitude List. Pause to give thanks on a daily basis. When you focus more on what you’re thankful for, it begins to shift your attitude. Ultimately, you begin to move beyond discouragement. Acknowledging blessings that you’re currently experiencing will give you a better outlook about your circumstances.

Areas for counting your blessings don’t have to all be “big” or “important” in someone else’s eyes. Here are a few to consider:

  • Jesus’ finished work on the cross
  • The Father’s love
  • Good/improved health
  • Steady income
  • Fun relationships
  • Provision of a home
  • Clean running water
  • Transportation
  • Power over the enemy
  • Opportunities to serve others

What would you add to this list?

Tip 2

Ask for wisdom. God is always willing, even eager, to give you wisdom. What He gives, He does not take away. His wisdom about your circumstances will help you to not abandon hope.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
~ James 1:5 NLT

Wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good (Webster’s Dictionary). It points you in the right direction and helps you make good decisions. Wisdom also helps you to be content until circumstances change because you know that God’s hand of favor continually rests on you.

Tip 3

Do one thing. Choose to take one simple step that serves to increase your trust in God. Focus on a promise that He has made that relates to your situation and then take one easy action step based on that promise. You can rely on God keeping His promise.

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? ~ Numbers 23:19 NLT

Commit to doing that one thing by writing it down and placing it someplace where you’ll be reminded of it and then.. do it!


Hope is one of the three things that 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us will always remain as a resource that allows us to tap into God’s grace. We are to always have hope—the joyful and confident expectation of God coming through for us!

Please share… What you do to maintain/strengthen your hope in seasons of discouragement?

 

Scriptural affirmations

5 of God’s Tools You Need to Use to Improve Your Health (Part 4)

For the past 3 weeks, we’ve been exploring five tools God has given us to use to affect healing in our lives. Today, we’ll focus on Scriptural Affirmations. You can find the previous posts by clicking the links below.

Here are 5 of His tools that can bring restoration to our health:

  1. His Word (The Bible)
  2. Communion
  3. Meditation
  4. Scriptural Affirmations
  5. Praying in Tongues

The Power of Words

God framed the world using His words. He designed our universe to respond to words. He spoke words and big things happened (Genesis 1). That’s why He sent the prophets of the Old Testament— to speak the words that He spoke so that those words would cause His plan to happen within this earth realm.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see so many prophetic words about what was coming in the future through the Messiah. Those prophecies proclaimed specific things to come. Those words would set the things in motion that God included in His plan for mankind. All of those words were eventually fulfilled, accomplished, and completed through Jesus.

God has placed that same significance and power in our words. Our words are able to frame and change our personal world when we speak what God says about our situation. The act of speaking what He has said initiates, strengthens, and builds our faith. Believing and speaking His promises instead of our problems can change our personal world.

If God said it, you can choose to believe it and you can choose to say it. The Apostle Paul encourages us to do so:

“Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 MSG

Paul was conveying to the Corinthians the thought that King David wrote in Psalm 116:10. David, known as a man who pursued the heart of God, encourages us to believe what God said, and then act on what we believe by speaking it.

Affirm God’s Promises

Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge: for it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord.”  Proverbs 22:17,18 AMP

I am still learning how important my words are. Not only do they let others know what I think, but they are actually vessels filled with the power to change things in my life, including my health!

Tips for Scriptural Affirmations

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” ~ Proverbs 4:20-22 NIV

An affirmation is a definitive statement that you vocalize. It is a statement about something that you declare is already existent, even if you’re not currently seeing it or experiencing it with your other senses. Effective affirmations are positive statements, specifically crafted around the promises found in God’s Word. It’s important that they are framed in the present tense. Creating personal affirmations based on God’s Word is a way of increasing your belief that His promises are true for you.

Here are some tips about saying what God has said about your health. These should make it easier for you to develop the habit of crafting Scriptural Affirmations specific to your circumstances and then speaking them:

  • Find what God has said in the Bible about your specific circumstances—healing/ good health. He only wants His best for you! Read it repeatedly to gain clarity.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a better understanding of that particular Scripture and how it relates to your health.
  • Declare that Scripture daily by making it a prayerful decree that’s spoken out loud. Hear yourself confess His Word instead of all your troubling circumstances.
  • Humble yourself by putting aside your own point of view (what seems or appears like truth) and look at your situation the way God does–according to His Word.
  • Decide to speak what God has said about you and your health, especially during your everyday conversations.

God’s Word is Truth. Speak it, believe it, and make it your truth.  When you speak God’s Word about how He wants you to experience good health, you are releasing its power through your lips. Speaking it will help you believe what you say and you’ll grow to speak it with greater faith.

What is an affirmation that you speak over your health? Please share it in the comments.


You can read more about how to develop and use Scriptural Affirmations in my book,
Live to Win! 5 Essentials for Your Victory and Success.

 

overcoming infertility

Overcoming Infertility: A Real-Life Story (Part 2)

Amanda is a 21st century overcomer. Last week, many of you were so excited by her story of overcoming infertility that you couldn’t wait to read “the rest of the story.” Well here it is! 🙂  And in case you missed Part 1, you can read it HERE.

I know her experience in coming out of the season of infertility will encourage you!


Overcoming Infertility: Amanda’s Story (Part 2)

I had the opportunity to attend a fertility retreat hosted by Evangeline and meet her in person. I had been trying to figure out the scripture from Exodus 23:25-26 for months by the time I attended. The part I got stuck on was, “You shall serve only the Lord.” I felt like I was already serving “only” the Lord, so then why did the promise of “no miscarriages”, not apply to me? Evangeline shared a picture that hit at the truth. She said, “you have truths in your head that you read or hear and believe, but they don’t connect with your heart and thus don’t “feel” real. But the thing between your head and your heart is your mouth. You’ve got to speak His promises.”

Speak God’s Promises of Fertility

God wants us to partner with Him. That’s why He gives us promises that belong to us because of what Jesus did for us, but He wants us to own them by speaking them. Equally true, we can speak lies that feed our hearts as well. I started this journey by speaking over myself the lie that “I’d be better off not being a mom, because I’d screw them up” and later agreed with the lie that I had “bad eggs.” To answer my above question, the truth was I probably wasn’t serving “only” the Lord, because I was doing things (seeking answers) in my own power, but more importantly I wasn’t standing on His truth. There were things that I knew about His character, His love, His plans, His timing, but didn’t “feel” them as real and thus I turned to worldly science instead of Him.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ~2 Corinthians 1:20

If He has made a promise, His answer is “Yes” in Christ, but we have to agree. God has promised us our hearts desires if we take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). What better way to do that than to agree with Him? If you haven’t already, look at the number of times that God promised that we won’t be barren and the number of women throughout history who stood on these promises and overcame infertility. It is truly amazing!

Armed with New Weapons for Overcoming Infertility

I left the retreat with a new arsenal of weapons to use against the enemy. I started seeking out God’s promises and speaking them over my life. Instead of questioning Exodus, I just started declaring that the promise of no miscarriages was for me. I fired the infertility clinic and found a new believing doctor that heard my story and the first thing he said was “well it looks like we’re getting closer each time”, a shockingly hopeful statement. I took a full-time job, because I figured based on my previous track record, it would be a while before I got pregnant. God had different plans.

The Blessing Manifested

I tested positive at the beginning part of August 2014 and fear set in hard. It’s easier to speak out truth than it is to walk it out and I entered into a full on war with the devil. I stood on Exodus, shaking, tears flowing down my blubbering face on more than one occasion. We held off on blood work and ultrasounds until 9 weeks, because we didn’t want any “fact” to interfere with God’s truth. If there was going to be life, there would be evidence without doubt by 9 weeks. That was the longest 5 weeks of my life, but on September 10, 2014, there was a beautifully strong, pounding heart beat and a little bean with nubs wiggling away on the screen. Four weeks later he had grown full arms, legs, hands, fingers, feet and toes and the reality finally kicked in, this was my promise. On April 13, 2015, Samuel David Roberts was born  8 lb.-11 oz and 21 inches long.

He has since blossomed into a gentle, joyful, and BIG boy. He just turned one, is weighing almost 30 pounds, and is just shy of 3 ft. tall.

He is amazing. My husband and I are repeatedly lost for words about how awesome he is. He gives us a reason to be thankful every single day and now we get to be thankful for his sister who is due in September. 🙂

Overcoming infertility-Amanda's ultrasound
Evangeline’s reaction: “Baby Girl looks like she’s being cradled in Jesus’ hands!”

Final Thoughts of Encouragement

I’ll leave you with this: I know the choke hold that the lie of infertility can have on your faith, your trust, and your ability to fight. I know there are times when you think there is no fight left, but if I can encourage you with one thing, it is that God knows and He’s not done! The enemy might get to have this season for a time, but if you have a desire to be a mother, God gave it to you and He has a plan to make it a reality. Stand on and speak this truth over your life!

Many blessings to a home filled with the pounding of little feet and squeals of laughter throughout.

Overcoming infertility-family pictureWith Love-

Chris, Amanda, Samuel and Baby girl Roberts

 


Overcoming infertility is possible! For more encouragement so that you can stand on God’s promises, read
A Seed of Hope: God’s Promises of Fertility

Overcoming infertility-A Seed of Hope

Darkness vs. Light in Your Life

Darkness vs Light

A friend of mine has lost a friend to suicide. How dark life must have appeared to that person. She couldn’t see past the darkness even though the light was always shining.

Have you ever felt that hopeless about situations in your life? Ever felt overwhelmed by the darkness?

I pray that at this very moment, you’ll have eyes to see the light that Jesus is  lovingly making available to you. I pray that through His Word, you’ll be able to experience the hope it brings to your situation.

Jesus’ light shines on, even in the midst of darkness; it cannot be extinguished. Darkness cannot overpower the light His Word brings nor can it take authority over it.  Even in the natural realm, darkness cannot absorb light. Actually, light sends darkness fleeing! Just think about what happens when you flip a light switch or turn on a flashlight. Darkness immediately leaves. You’re able to see!

Light always wins.

Today, allow God’s Word to shine brightly and penetrate your darkest thoughts and your toughest situations.  Here’s how: read it, ponder it, speak it out loud to yourself. Repeat. Repeat again. Repeat until that Word gets rooted inside you and you begin to feel the darkness flee. Renew your partnership with God’s promises that address your situation. It’s your means to see His light.

Flip the switch.

 

 

Monday’s Marinade – Trust Your Security Guard

Who provides security in your life? What are you willing to say about the One who protects you like no other?

We use our words for so many things but Psalm 91 gives us an imperative…DECLARE that the Lord is the your life’s security guard. He is reliable and trustworthy! When you have confidence in someone, you’re willing to boldly say so. Use today’s passage as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God by declaring it. Start your week by meditating (thinking and muttering to yourself) on this Word.

Here’s your spiritual marinade about security found in Him:

security