Will You Praise Him in Advance–BEFORE You Receive?

Posted on by Evangeline

What are you willing to do to see your heart’s desire come to fruition?

This week, I’m fasting and praying. And while that may not be the direction God takes you in, there is something else you can do.

Here’s something simple that can help you, no matter the situation you’re facing: Praise Him in Advance!

Praise Him in Advance

 

Before you see, have, or experience what you’re hoping for, verbally praise and thank God for it now.

Regardless of what you see, don’t let it hinder your praise.

No matter what you feel in your body, don’t let it hinder your praise.

Even if a friend or family member discourages you, don’t let it hinder your praise.

Praising God in advance takes faith. But it also builds your faith. Why? Because faith comes by hearing. As you hear yourself saying thanks to God before your desire is manifested, you are declaring a deeper trust; you’re adding to your faith and increasing your certainty in what God has already declared about that desire.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1

I hope that you’ll always take the “risk” of saying thanks to God before you receive what you’ve asked Him for. It may feel weird or seem counterintuitive, but trust me, praise is powerful. David and Jesus tell us so (Psalm 8:2 and Matthew 21:16). Praising God effectively serves us by silencing the enemy and putting us in a strong and strategic position. Take advantage of that TODAY!

Need a tool to help you BELIEVE that praise and gratitude in advance is something for you? Check out my devotional, BELIEVE You Can Reign in Life.

Believe You Can Reign Devotional

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by Evangeline

merry christmas

 

Have a blessed holiday season
as you celebrate the Reason!

“For God so loved the world that he gave
 his one and only Son, Jesus Christ,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

Make a Decision to Declare — “Enough is Enough!”

Posted on by Evangeline

 

Have you reached the point of saying “Enough!” to a particularly trying circumstance?

I think sometimes it takes reaching a point of where we’re no longer willing to tolerate a negative circumstance before we take faith-rooted action. You know, that “last straw” that makes us decide to firmly speak to that “mountain” (Mark 11:23) so that we begin to experience relief from its oppression. This oppression is part of the curse outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Yes, over 50 verses speak to the bad stuff that the enemy is waiting for an opportunity to introduce into your life.

Included are:

  • confusion
  • frustration
  • sicknesses
  • inflammation
  • chronic illnesses
  • poverty
  • drought
  • oppressed and robbed continually
  • defeat in wars
  • and sooo much more!

It’s a long litany of various curses found in those verses.

Thankfully, there’s a Holy BUT…

BUT (!), don’t be scared of these things. The good news is that there is a powerful antidote to every curse! Galatians 3:13 assures us that Jesus became cursed for us so that we could be redeemed from all the effects of the curse. He paid the price that set us free from every curse. Jesus bought us so that we can no longer be held captive to defeat, sickness, poverty, etc., when we use the authority He’s given us. What was the price? His life. And once we receive Him as Savior we’re officially released from that captivity and He blesses us by making us kings and priests with Him.

But here’s the deal— using the antidote means you’ve got to speak to that mountain! You’ve been given the authority to do it. So if you’ve never spoken to your “mountain” of infertility, miscarriage, chronic illness, poverty, hopelessness, etc., it’s time to get mad, and be resolute in addressing this mountain and consistently telling it, “Enough!”. Find scriptures that promise what you need. No matter what the doctors, lawyers, bosses, or other authority figures have said, understand what God has said about your situation. His Word is settled and true (Psalm 119:89; John 17:17)!

How to say “Enough”

So how can you say “Enough!” to your circumstances? By consistently saying to your circumstances what God has said in His Word about them.

The passage in Deuteronomy 28:61 gives us an overview of the curse regarding your health:

Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.

And that covers everything that tries to attack your body. But because Jesus has redeemed those that believe in Him, this verse also shows that He has redeemed you from every form of sickness.

Declare Enough is Enough!

Psalm 107:2 CSB encourages you to speak up, to say “Enough!” by saying that you are redeemed from the curse by the Lord God Almighty:

Let the redeemed of the LORD proclaim that He has redeemed them from the power of the foe.

So here’s an affirmation you can speak and believe daily as you confidently wait for the manifestation of your healing:

(Name of the condition), you are from the curse. BUT God’s Word says I am redeemed from the curse because Jesus became cursed on my behalf. I praise God that I am now and forever redeemed from this condition!

No matter how long you’ve dealt with it, the condition must bow to the name and finished work of Jesus!

Because He loves you, you can take God at His Word. So decide to use His Word as your way to say “Enough!”!

Truth Bomb – Facts Are Not Always Truth

Posted on by Evangeline
truth bomb

 

Recently, my 15-year-old godson had some time in the car with my husband, Freeman, on the way to basketball practice.  Later that evening, he told his mom that Uncle Freeman had dropped some “truth bombs” on him during the ride. Essentially, Freeman gave him some perspective about a few things that made the life of this teen a little bit better.

 

May I drop a truth bomb on you–about Truth?

 

In our day-to-day lives, facts can challenge us. It can be a fact that you’ve seen test results about a negative health condition. Or your fact could be a very low bank account balance. Maybe it’s a fact that a relationship has started to decline. But, facts aren’t absolute–they are always subject to change. They are influenced by so many different elements.

 

However, Truth IS absolute. It does not change. Truth has the power to set you free from the “facts” of your health, your finances, your relationship issues, etc.

 

You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. – John 8:32

Another way to say that is “knowing the Truth is freeing”. I’m so glad that Jesus dropped this truth bomb!
When you  KNOW God’s love for you, it frees you from fear and torment.
Knowing that the promises of healing, provision, and protection found in God’s Word are meant for you, frees you to expect the best out of life.

 

Here’s another truth bomb that Jesus dropped as He prayed to the Father–

Your word is truth. – John 17:17

By definition, Truth is unchanging; it is certain. Truth is absolute and it’s above all else. It is complete in itself, is independent of anything else, and has inherent power. God’s Word is all of those things.

 

I pray that in the midst of your issues today, no matter how challenging or long lasting they may be, you will recognize you don’t have to be stuck in the facts of your life. Your facts are subject to change so choose to focus on the truth– God’s Word –and get FREE!

 

Find more truth bombs that help you live victoriously in my book, Live to Win!

Tethered to Grace for this Race!

Posted on by Evangeline

 

Tethered to Grace

Recently, a loved one was telling me how tough it was being connected to a dialysis machine in their home every night.  While he was thankful for the technology that allowed him to do the treatments at home, he felt as if he was tethered to something that greatly limited his mobility. He didn’t like that feeling.

His experience caused me to do some introspection regarding what was setting boundaries/limitations for me, but on a mental and spiritual level rather than physical. Thinking through some things that were holding me back became a good lesson for me. And it helped me make a key decision:

I want my heart tethered to Grace!

Being tethered to God’s grace will mean that I am never without hope because He is always with me. And as His daughter due to the finished work of Christ on the cross, I am identified as His beloved. Due to the outpouring of His grace,

  • I am accepted in the Beloved.  (Ephesians 1:6)
  • He is well pleased with me because I am in (joined with) Christ. (Romans 8:1)
  • There is great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18)
  • Hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. (Hebrews 6:19)

Hope is a result of accepting God’s grace. So yes, I want to always be tethered to grace so that I can gladly be tied to the anchor for our souls! It won’t act to limit me in a negative way.

Believe You Can Reign Devotional

 

Helping others see their way to the grace of God is something I love doing. To  tighten your heart’s ties to Grace and to increase your hope for victory over your life’s circumstances, check out my latest book, Believe You Can Reign In Life, a 31-day devotional.

(Bonus–It’s on sale through this weekend!) Sale ends 9/27/21.

 

 

 

 

 

Being tethered to God's grace will mean that I am never without hope because He is always with me. Share on X

What Do You Pray for Your Husband?

Posted on by Evangeline

 

I’ll be honest…sometimes, I realize that it’s been a while since I’ve prayed a targeted prayer for my husband. You know, something more than “God bless him with favor at work” or, “Help him Lord to do what it takes to be healthy”.

Using Scripture in your prayers is not only wise, it’s strategic and powerful! I know the importance and effectiveness of praying God’s Word and yet there are times when I don’t do it. Can you relate?

How often do you find yourself praying for your husband? When you do, are you praying strategically and using God’s Word in your prayers?

I’d like to share one of the Word-based prayers I’ve prayed for my husband before. It’s based on Ephesians 3:16. Here it is from The Passion Translation:

And I pray that He would unveil within you the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His divine might and explosive power.

See how much more powerful that is than my somewhat puny prayer of “God bless him with favor”? 🙂

Praying His Word assures me that God hears my prayer (see 1John 5:14-15). It helps me pray with confidence and boldness. I simply read Scripture to the Lord as part of my prayer time! It blesses me AND I know that I’m praying according to His will.

Here’s another scripture I’ve prayed for my husband (Zechariah 4:6 EXB):

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. 

This verse applies to a multitude of “issues” that I might feel led to pray about.

Do you pray Scripture? If so, what Scripture have you recently prayed for your husband? Please share it in the comments below.

Using Scripture in your prayers is not only wise, it's strategic and powerful! Share on X

 

I’m Back! Did You Miss Me?

Posted on by Evangeline

Did you miss me

 

HEY! Did you miss me? 🙂

I’ve been MIA from this blog and other social media for quite some time. My husband, Freeman, had major surgery in early May 2021 and I needed to be an attentive care giver while he recovered. So I decided to give myself a “grace break” from most things that had nothing to do with his recovery. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. There was no guilt or self-condemnation about being gone from here as I focused on helping my man have the best healing experience. I knew you would understand and possibly even pray for me when you noticed that nothing new was showing up in this space.

Freeman is doing well now! He has recently been cleared to return to work and I feel a release to return to what I do for others.

Has there ever been a time when you felt the need to take a break from important things in your life so that you could focus on something even more important? Was it difficult or easy to navigate a “grace break” during that trying experience?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below, even if it’s simply a friendly “Hello”.

I hope all is well with you.

Don't give up on God

Even if You Feel Like You Should Give Up on God – DON’T!

Posted on by Evangeline

This is a RELOADED post–one that I originally shared a year ago. Lately I’m meeting more women who are on the verge of hopelessness. They’re ready to give up on God and His promises of fertility. Are you feeling like those women? Take a moment to read and remember this promise from God:

You shall be blessed above all peoples;
there will be no male or female barren (childless, infertile) among you.
Deuteronomy 7:14 AMP

Now, read on for some additional encouragement!

The enemy would like nothing better than for us to give up on God.  To give up on His love. To give up on our God-given desires and goals.

When we feel like God is not following through on His promises…

When we don’t see the results we anticipated…

We need a plan. A plan that we can count on to pull us through the tears, the fears, and the dread that comes when we experience delay. I think the best plan for maintaining hope and for changing any circumstance in our lives always needs to include the power of God’s Word. The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe loves us without fail and is always on our side. The Bible makes it clear that God loves us with a no-matter-what love. Incorporating His promises into our plan makes it an effective battle plan so that we maintain hope and strongly resist giving up.

The Alternative to Giving Up

David encouraged himself when he was on the verge of giving up (1 Samuel 30:6).  You could do the same, couldn’t you?

Here are 4 examples from Scripture that you can use as a part of your battle plan to ultimately live as the victor God created you to be. Use them to keep yourself encouraged about experiencing what God has promised:

  • “But as for you, be strong and do not give up.” – 2 Chronicles 15:7
  • “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” – James 1:12
  • “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

  • “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore 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. Stand firm then.” – Ephesians 6:12-14

Bottom line, don’t give up on God!

What other scriptures would you add to this list? Please share one in the comments! 🙂 

The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe is on our side and loves us with a no-matter-what love. It makes our plan into an effective battle plan so that we maintain hope and strongly resist giving up. Share on X

God is Saying, “I See You!”

Posted on by Evangeline

Do you ever feel overlooked or dismissed by others? Or find yourself telling yourself your life doesn’t seem to carry much value?  Or worse than that, do you feel overlooked by God Himself? Hold on to this…God is saying, “I see you!”

Let go of the kind of thinking that makes you feel ignored and isolated. Because the truth is that God Himself sees you, loves you, and values you. The story of Hagar found in Genesis 16 (Message Bible), gives us reason to be assured of that…

Sarai, Abram’s wife, hadn’t yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “God has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her.” Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.

So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took her Egyptian maid Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. Abram had been living ten years in Canaan when this took place. He slept with Hagar and she got pregnant. When Hagar learned she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress….Sarai was abusive to Hagar and Hagar ran away.

An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. He said, “Hagar, maid of Sarai, what are you doing here?” She said, “I’m running away from Sarai my mistress.”

The angel of God said, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse.” He continued, “I’m going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you’ll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you…She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me! Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!”

 

Hagar was an Egyptian slave, and likely worshipped Egyptian idols. And yet, God saw her. He poured out His mercy on her. And He encouraged her. He displayed the attributes of one of His descriptive names, El Roi, the God who sees.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, “how much more” will God see you and do for you? (See Matthew 7:11)  He wants you to hear Him saying, “I see you!”

Hagar chose to not run away from the problem. Instead, she received His instruction and accepted His help. She realized that the God of the universe did indeed notice her and cared about her situation.

I hope you will too.

If you’re needing more encouragement,
consider Christian coaching that helps you focus on the right thing.
www.iHopeCoaching.com

Need to “Spring Clean” Mental Clutter? Join Me at This Event

Posted on by Evangeline

springSpring is the season that prompts us to think about cleaning up the grimy, removing the clutter, getting rid of the old, and making room for the new. It typically applies to our homes. But I want to encourage you to also view Spring Cleaning from the perspective of getting rid of mental clutter.

What mental clutter is holding you back in life? You know:

  • The worries that hinder joy and delight from bubbling up in your everyday existence. 
  • The stress from some form of loss during the difficult year of 2020. 
  • The frustration of missing the social interaction and hugs from family and friends.
  • Those repetitive thoughts that you’re not good enough. 

Have you experienced any of those thoughts? Then it’s time to clear out the dust, clutter, and grime that have been collecting in your mind! God’s Word says we can have our mental “eyes” focused and clear and  that our thoughts can be renewed and revitalized with His energy and strength when we let the light of His Truth show us the way.

Spring is a good time to refresh YOU! Let’s do it together. 🙂

Spring Clean Event

Join me as I host the Spring Clean Your Life online event on Saturday, 3/27/21. Let’s work together to remove the mental clutter and cobwebs of negativity from your mind. Then it’s easier to make room the positive—more clarity, a fresh outlook and more peace of mind.  

I’m excited to partner with you to spruce up on the inside.

You’re worth it!

Click here to get all the details of this interactive online event.