It’s so funny how smart we all think we are. I remember the days thinking I was oh so intelligent until I got the revelation that in my ignorance I was just racing to gain more ignorance. Go figure! What’s amazing though is how we can experience the ways of His wisdom when we just out of our intellectual ways. To truly have a God experience will require laying down your intellect. Experiencing the ways of His wisdom come through seeking Him.
I was reading Kings 3 about the word Elisha spoke and how the kings listened to the word from the prophet. What a lesson- listen to the prophet when he speaks! But then I saw something that only God could do-and that even in my amount of intellect I could not begin to 1) do what God has done, 2) think high enough to do what God has done and still continues to do.
So the question is: are you limiting God by your intelligence? Has your intellect gotten in the way of God’s wisdom and what He can do in you, to you and through you? Get out of the way and let God be God- and then witness, experience and share it. The kings did and the water was red. They experienced miracles only delivered by God. Aren’t you ready for that too?
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Today’s Scripture
Psalm 37:30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
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Forgiveness Tip #23
Forgiveness and unforgiveness alike are both lifestyles; it’s just one is of life.
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Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people mature in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
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For more about growing in Christ visit www.julieblair.com
We all make decisions daily. Some are better than others do doubt. When it comes to making decisions who do you consult? Business partners? Spouse? Mentors? One step to enhanced decisions is rather simple. Seek the Lord first. By default; seeking the Lord first your decisions most likely will be different. We examine King Jehoshaphat and the lessons of seeking the Lord first and not doing so and the outcomes of such decisions.
King Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22 is known for his love of the Lord and how he stayed in the presence of the Lord and told other kings too that they should consult the Lord. No doubt that he is following the lineage of King David that he is from.
Through his seeking he was given great victory. He and his people sought the Lord before battle. They prayed, they worshipped; they won. it was like David and Goliath all over again. Victory in the house of the Lord! Wouldn’t you like to be that- the winner known for seeking the Lord? Or the one who sought the Lord and won. It’s one simple decision repeated for everything. Seek the Lord.
On the other side; Jehoshaphat also demonstrates what happens when you skip this step. Failure ensumes. We see this clearly in 2 Chronicls 35-37, ‘Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.’ (NIV)
We can take this learning lesson t and get it quick so that we won’t fall into the trap of siding with the enemy; whether in business, marriage or just life in general. Making the wrong alliances always hurts in the end so be careful. Take the first lesson from the King and just consult Him first; for everything. You won’t ever regret it!
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Today’s Scripture
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
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Forgiveness Tip #20
When you get entangled in wrong decisions repent and seek forgiveness so that times of refreshing may come.
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Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people mature in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
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How’s your faith? Seriously how is your faith? On a scale of 1-10 what would you say it is? You may say it’s ever changing and when we look at the widow with the oil in 1Kings we see hers too was flip floppy even though she experienced miraculous things in the presence of the Lord. How soon we forget His goodness. Measuring your measure of faith will help you stay not only in His presence but also remembering all the good He has done for you.
In examining the widow most focus on the never ending jugs of oil and water that God provided. I get it. I just started looking at the gaps in between that. You see; she was faithful- to a point. She followed what the prophet Elijah spoke to her as we see here in 1Kings 17:15 “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
She followed and God worked it out. When we believe it’s amazing what happens isn’t it?
Now when we don’t believe we too see what occurs and how easy it is for the enemy to steal our thoughts. Let’s examine verse 17: ‘Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” (NIV)
How quickly it was forgotten what she just experienced by the Lord. He just supplied for her and well; that was then right? How often has God supplied for you and you forgot?
How often have you witnessed God’s grace, goodness, mercy, miracles, signs, wonders and still missed it?
It wasn’t until the end after God revived her son that she got it. Imagine though if she got it the first time; would God have needed to take that step? Would Elijah have had to experience that as well? When we keep our eyes focused on the Lord with the amount of faith that is becoming of all of us it’s incredible what increase in every good area of our lives we will have to share with others.
So today; pray for an increase in measure of faith and then watch what God does- and then remember to share it with others so they too can grow in their measure.
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Today’s Scripture
1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
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Forgiveness Tip #19
When you forgive you are no longer tripping over the past but are moving from the present to your future.
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Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people mature in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
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In the story of the widow in 2 Kings we learn much about our thinking. Her story is one that sheds light to the power of perception and how God can bring overflow into our lives when we are ready to receive. As such the widow learned the lesson and rather quickly.
When the woman was asked by the prophet Elisha what she had her reply was probably as most today would reply, “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” (2Kings 4:2)
In the big scheme of things she saw what she didn’t have; and the one tiny thing she did have. It was the tiny thing that became the largest.
When you look at your life do you spend more time looking at the largest thinking that only the largest things bring in the largest things? This story proves the exact opposite is true. Her story ends with so many jars of oil filled that in today’s economy she would probably be a billionaire.
Don’t limit yourself or limit God by what you think you don’t have. You have more than enough and you are already a conqueror. It’s just a matter of believing, receiving and living based upon it.
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Today’s Scripture
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
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Forgiveness Tip #4
Forgiveness is the oil that changes lives and brings the outpour. ______________________________________________________
For more about forgiveness and abundant living visit www.julieblair.com
Watch Living in Forgiveness nightly at 9:30pm CST on the UANetwork.
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It’s time to get ready for bikini season; and most hit the gym. Actually; more people join gyms in March than other month although starting now is a great time. The best way to lose weight is to forgive. After all forgiveness is the greatest weight loss and cheapest face lift.
I didn’t really know just how much extra weight I was carrying with me; all those pounds of resentment, bitterness, anger, and you probably don’t either. If you have back pain or arthritis it has an impact. Brittle bones; yep that’s unforgiveness tied to the bitterness. You see; when unforgiveness is released everything that is tied to it is too. And what does that mean? Weight loss!
What’s fascinating isn’t just the internal clutter tied to forgiveness; but rather the number of people on medications for mental health issues. Did you know that 70% of Americans are some form of medication? (http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/almost-70-percent-of-americans-take-at-least-one-prescription-medication-study-finds) When we examine this fact alone; it tells us that we have a larger issue at hand. You see; when you cover something up with medication you are not actually dealing with the issue at hand- the issue is still there. Your depression will be released! Your joy can be restored and the fog removed. Forgiveness will bring your joy back in the name of Jesus. Not only this; the added weight from the side effects of the medication are just added pounds no one needs. (And no I am not saying drop all your medication- talk to Jesus about that!) Oh- and when you forgive your relationship with Jesus changes which of course is the best part- and that alone is freedom! And if you have ever noticed how free people can jump and run; and skip and smile- look around. You will see it. And that is yours for the taking!
When we get to the root issue and actually look at what it is in full detail then we have something to work with. If the issue is within; which most of the time it is because how can it not be. What is inside is reflected outward. It’s time to get real and get with the One who is the Healer, the Redeemer, The Miracle Worker; and stop running. Is it an issue of stress? Hypertension, Arthritis, Resentment, Bitterness, Fear: of change, letting go, moving forward, living, failure, success, abandonment, rejection, you aren’t enough; Panic, anger, divorce, marriage, no children, too many children- or combination of a few? All of this and more will complicate your life and steal years from it. No amount of cover up can truly bring forth a fountain of life. It just can’t!
When you get to the place of being sick and tired of being sick and tired your life will change. I had absolutely no idea what internally was growing and breeding in the depths of who I am. None. I had absolutely no clue how to truly forgive. None. Church told me to forgive but not how so I was faced with doing something I really had never done before. I did it. And I had no clue just how much every single aspect of my life would change; and how much weight I would lose. None.
And so if you are sick and tired of being sick and tired you are in the best place you could ever be in. This means you are ready for change. You are ready to let go and move on. You are ready to drop the pounds and start living your life; the real life God intended from the very beginning. You are ready to take back the power that you gave to others by saying no more poison are you going to accept.
It’s time for you now to experience weight loss internally and externally once and for all and for all the days of the rest of your life. That is what happens when you forgive. Going through the full process of forgiveness is literally a death; which would make sense because God’s Word tells us in order to live for Him we must die to self and that’s exactly what happens. You are no longer who you were. You cannot be!
If you want to experience true, genuine weight loss with no artificial ingredients, needles or weight gaining side effects then forgive. Go before the Father and share with Him everything; go find that mountain top. Let Him carry you while your transformation takes place; and the pounds are released. Let Him be the One who does a new thing in you so that you can be lighter, more filled with Him; and live your real life experiencing God in ways you never could before. Do it today as the season for the new you is waiting.
For more about forgiveness and freedom in Christ watch ‘Living in Forgiveness’ weeknights on the UANetwork.
To have Julie speak at your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
The story of Hannah provides us much to reflect on. It is one where you can be like her in the beginning or the end- it’s your choice. But rest assured if you try in all your own strength you will fail. Why? Because God’s Word tells us that apart from Him we can do no good thing. (John 15:5) How hard it must have been for her to desire something so much and yet get it; that is until she surrendered. You may think that you are so smart investing in the stock market; and when it fully collapses what will you have? Anger toward God? Bitterness of the loss when in reality you just didn’t listen to God Almighty? Surrender to Him now. The reality is that you have nothing to lose and if you don’t; well you will lose and more than you know.
You see; you can’t have it both ways: serving yourself and God at the same time. You must choose. Hannah finally got the memo and guess what? It was ‘God’ who blessed her with a baby. No one else. No dead god or universe will bless you. It can’t. It doesn’t even know you! But the God who created you and knows every hair on your head can! It is always God and if you deny His ways then you will live with the consequences. It doesn’t matter if you are one individual or one nation turning your back on Him will prove to be disastrous- and one only need to look around and see the devastation surrounding us.
The good news is that there is still time! Who knows how long but rest assured if you do what Hannah did and repent and seek forgiveness; times of refreshing may come. Her bitterness left her ‘and then’ she became pregnant. Now- this would make sense right because bitterness rots the bones so in reality how would she be able to carry a baby to term with bitter bones? But if you choose to be independent and pride yourself for it you will fall. And why fall on your face when you can stand on God’s Word and live to tell about it?
It’s a wake up call for each of us to recognize that regardless of the amount of wisdom you think you have; you don’t. You did not create yourself and you really are not the best thing since sliced bread and when that sinks in and you understand that it isn’t about you but about Him your life will change. When I got over myself and all my accolades of man made ideas and trophies everything changed. Remember that on judgment day there simply won’t be a trophy or stupid ribbon given to you just because you were born. God is a just God and if you don’t choose to show up you won’t reap the rewards. Choose Him now.
Love in today’s society must reign. it doesn’t matter what part of the world or who you are. Love must reign. It must if we intend to live as Christians. And in these times; we must stand in accordance with God’s Word to love our neighbors regardless of what we think of them. We must love and be prepared in and out of season to walk and live in love.
In a recent conversation; I listened to a story about a group of people were discouraged and disappointed after studying and watching to learn about the Shemitah, the blood moons; and other various things that were expected to take place.
These people followed along intently and believed all the words spoken and all the concepts taught; and waited for what would occur. Sounds great right? Except; it didn’t. The expected calamity did not strike on the day or the days that were prophecied. As a result; the group was left with a bitter taste in their mouths.
Situations like this are not uncommon; they are just not probably talked about daily at the dinner table. It is one though that leads us all to be prepared and in a way that only is in love.
You see; you can be the best prepper and listen to this alleged prophet or that and have every study guide and 2,000 rounds of ammo but if you have no love for your neighbor you have nothing. What do you think you will do when calamity strikes and you instead of love; hate? What will happen to not only your neighbor but to you as well? If you allow yourself to get discouraged by one person then what will happen when there are three or four or more that have a false word? There can be no room for anything but love; and love for another.
No one is doubting that these are tough times for the world. One doesn’t need bifocals or binoculars to see it. It’s here. Look around. Some are looking for that specific date except the largest clue that is evident when Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 25:13: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (NIV) The search to know this or that instead of focusing on love and hearing from God will only serve as a distraction and right now; who needs more distractions?
It is time that in order to know and be in the know that it isn’t about this person teaching or speaking that; but the Almighty God speaking directly to you. Period. When you get to a place of hearing directly from Him and in love- you will be more prepared for anything than you can possibly imagine.
Forgiveness is a command. It is a way of life that brings peace, restoration, healing and much more that each person will experience through the lifestyle of forgiveness. While there are the commonly known ’10 Commandments’ there are also others that are important to note.
The most relevant for discussion is reviewed in Matthew 18-21-22 “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” What is of utmost importance in these scriptures is not the fact that Peter asked the questions in the first place as most would think. The most important and unnoticed point is that Peter already knew he was to forgive! Yes he knew what he was supposed to do; although it may appear that he too struggled with it because he too was just a man.
Forgiveness and the command to do it is not the shock for most; it is the fact that they actually have to that is where life gets tricky! It is the letting go of the emotions of pain, anger, hurt, resentment, and myriad of others that take poll position. In the position of Peter; he already knew that his brothers would sin against him. He already knew that it would be more than one time and for more than one thing. He knew. He again is no different than you or me. Do you not know that people are all alike and all fall short of His glory? With this; it then should make simple the mere fact that people are going to make mistakes; no different than you or me.
Through forgiveness and it being a lifestyle; it will help deter the attack from the enemy when there is pain. You see; if you are on the offense in forgiveness; when others come against you in some form or fashion you will know how to handle it properly. It is when there is no proper understanding in place that when a situation brings a blind-side to your life that you won’t have to take longer to heal and recover from. You will already know and will be on the offense. Does it mean there will be no pain? Certainly not. But what it is does mean is that like Peter; you must know that pain and hurt will come and that forgiveness will be required.
This is why it is imperative to be on the side of God and know His Word so that when times of pain come; you are equipped to stand firm on His Word and believe and accept that He will never leave you or forsake you. This is why it too is important to understand and grasp forgiveness so that you are able to be obedient to the command in God’s Word and also live in the freedom that it provides. If not; the consequences will be in abundance and leave you living in lack overall with a reduced quality of life. And that certainly is not one that is befitting of a Christian who is expected to live in the authority of Jesus Christ.
People today are no different. We all already know we need to forgive; however, as a result of God being God His Word provides everyone who has ears to hear and eyes to see with the ability to know His Word and be able to follow all the commands in it. God provides the instruction, direction and outcome of all of His Word. There is not one answer not provided for in His Word. Forgiveness is one such a command that has everything inclusive of it for the act to be delivered and the rewards that come through and with it.
What must be understood is that regardless of what other people think or do; obedience to His Word should and must reign supreme for all Believers. Forgiveness is not the excusing of any act or behavior but rather a display of an act of the command to forgive. And to be obey is better than to sacrifice.
How does your future look? It is like a breath of fresh air or more like the stock market; not so good? Your future will have a different look to it simply based upon forgiveness. Your future delivered through forgiveness will tell the world where you are and where you are going. Easy as that. So the question is what do you want your future to look like? You can get the better future and through forgiveness what your future will never be the same.
What does this mean? It means that you may be at a fork in the road; and you may or may not know it. If you are like me; I had no idea! I had no clue 1) that I had unforgiveness, 2) how to deal with it, 3) the impact it would have, 4) that it would be the deliverance that I needed, 5) that a forgiveness and deliverance ministry would have been born out of it. This is what you don’t know when you live in unforgiveness. You can’t know. You can’t know what you need to know because what you need to know is blocked because you haven’t yet removed it and been healed and delivered. And that is what is keeping you from your real future. Of course it is inclusive of the entire future that God created you for in the first place.
Bottom line is this: if you are sick and tired of being sick and tired it’s time to get real. It’s time to stop playing church. It’s time to stop pretending everything is fine. It’s time to stop placating the message of forgiveness. It’s time to get the fact that unless you deal with it; your future will look like your past. It cannot look like anything else. I am not saying this because it’s funny; but because it’s what I lived. And for far too long!
What it is time for is to be honest, to look in the mirror, to humble thyself and to go before God and ask of Him: “What unforgiveness and it’s symptoms do I have? What in its entirety must I repent of? To whom do I need to forgive?” It is time to get the revelation that unless you understand it in full that there are almost ’40’ symptoms you may have one or two; or if you are like me I had them all and didn’t know it! It’s time to get that your future is waiting for you and it’s up to you to do something about it.
When and only when you grasp that your future is based upon the level of forgiveness you choose will your life change. It is only when you grasp that reality that you were created for more than what you are probably living right now and that on the other side of unforgiveness is where it is then you can be moving toward the life and its abundance. It’s only when you recognize that Christ died so that you don’t have to live in the wreckage and bondage of life that you can be healed and delivered. It’s when you step up and take the reigns of obedience to Christ will your future come forth and in big ways.
It is when you are on your knees before the Most Holy One being real that you are in fact a sinner and that you are ready for healing, deliverance and forgiveness to reign that your life will change. For me it was two full days of it. I cried the entire time because the pain of my past was so wretched. The horrific things that happened to me I couldn’t bear- and I didn’t have to! You see He died for me. And He died for you too. I was healed and my soul was restored. I was reunited with the Father in the ways unimaginable. My eye color and my voice changed! And this ministry came forth so that you too can be free, delivered and healed through the message of forgiveness. Think about the lives of those whom you will change once you too are on the other side. It will blow your mind. It did mind. And that’s the God we serve!
That wonderful future is there for you. You simply just have to make a choice- life or death. Freedom or bondage. Sure you may try to tell yourself you are fine- and how’s that working out for you? I did it so I know; I get it. I now see through. You may think you are so smart to fool others but fooling yourself is more dangerous and know you can’t fool God. But what you can do is go to Him. You can do that. I know you can. I know too that you can get to the full life that He already has planned for you. And I can tell you too that it’s far better than living in the high rise, sitting in owners boxes of NHL teams, flying in private jets and driving sports cars. It’s better than going to private Bare Naked Ladies concerts and having dinner with the Red Wings or Miami Dolphins; or sharing seats with Paul Newman. It’s better than all that. By far. So today get what’s better for you. Get forgiveness. Get free. Get your future.
For more about forgiveness watch ‘Living in Forgiveness’ M-F at 9:30 pm on the UANetwork. Check your local listing.
Deliverance comes through many avenues and I remember the time when I just needed to be delivered from myself. I just couldn’t take it any longer. What I didn’t know was that all the time I spent seeking all the other ideas it’s what God revealed to me that forever changed my life. I needed deliverance and now understand that there is deliverance through forgiveness. That deliverance will too change your life.
You see Jesus came to set the captives free. So then ask yourself: “Am I free? Am I really free?” If you look deep within are you where you want to be? Have you achieved what you want to achieve? Are you living in the full abundance of what God has in store for you? If not why not? It’s all there; waiting just for you.
I knew there was a whole life for me. I knew it but knowing it didn’t change anything. I can know the sky is blue but so what? I felt for many years that I was retarded but couldn’t fix it. If you have been there you know how frustrating that it is and that it’s the most helpless feeling in the world. The best news is that as you forgive your deliverance and healing will be evident. How do I know? Experience.
The level of unforgiveness I allowed in my life was killing me. It was a slow death for decades and while I felt justified in harboring it; there could be no times of refreshing until I made the choice to be refreshed. Acts 3:19 is clear to ‘Repent, and seek forgiveness so that times of refreshing may come.’ NIV) So when we look at this first it starts with a repentance and then forgiveness. What comes after the seeking of forgiveness is the refreshing. This makes it clear that there is 1) a process to follow, 2) something that occurs during that process, 3) there is an end result.
For me it was the end result I was after. I wanted peace. I wanted to grow closer to Christ. I wanted an expanded territory. I wanted so much internally and prior to the point of forgiveness; I had no means of getting it. I couldn’t. What the process of forgiveness reveals is that there it is in and of itself deliverance. As you forgive you are being delivered of that which is not of God. As you forgive in accordance with His Word you are being forever changed into the person He created you to be. As you forgive the past will remain where it needs to be; behind you.
You will no longer do or be; or desire what you once did because you will be delivered as you forgive. You don’t need more therapy to talk about how you feel about the past. You don’t need to dwell on what others have or haven’t done for you that they don’t even know they should or need to do. You don’t need to focus on what you are or are not. You don’t need any of that. You only need forgiveness to move through you swiftly so that you are delivered. Remember that you don’t need to pray to be delivered for your trials for your trials are your deliverance; and through forgiveness you are delivered.