Your Destiny

Have you ever pondered in your heart why you are here and are there really a plan and purpose for your life? Does God actually have something important for me to do? And if so, how do I find it out and walk in it? In Psalms 139:16, the Word of God tells us "your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." In other words, God fashioned our destiny before we were even born. He is the Master Potter who sculpted us and brought our future into existence. Yes, even before you were formed in your mother's womb, God was sketching out your life.

What life did God design for you? Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. I looked up that word expected and found it to mean "an expectation and the thing that I long for ." God has things that He longs for in your life. What are they? According to Jeremiah 29:11, two of them are to have peace and to have no evil. Surely, we all wish those things were true in our lives!

Did you know that you also have a "holy" calling from God? In 2 Timothy 1:9 the scripture tell us what kind of calling we have and why--"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. This calling has nothing to do with how great we may think we are, it is not because we have talent, even though He uses our talents and personality with the gifts He has given us. It is because of who He is and because it is His divine calling which makes our calling holy. He has designed you and called you to meet a need in the body of Christ that nobody else can meet quite like you. Our walk is supposed to have meaning--to fulfill God's plans.

How do we allow God to contribute His plans to our plans? First, we need to understand that our life does not belong to us anymore. It has been purchased by God through the blood of His son Jesus. Therefore, God must be the one who orders our steps, not others or ourselves. Jeremiah 10:23-24 says it so clearly, I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. We must learn that our lives are predestined to His calling. You do not determine your destiny, you are to discover God's destiny for you. If you go through your whole life creating your own destiny, you will probably miss God's perfect will and plan for your life. For me, this relieves a lot of unnecessary stress. I do not have to create my destiny. I only need to go to God and ask Him what is next on the agenda; be at peace, and trust Him with the outcome.

Psalms 16:11 tells us that He does make known His path of life to us. Yes, it is important to learn to hear God's voice so that you can clearly have a vision for your life. You may make mistakes as you walk out your destiny and stuff will always happen that you didn't expect, but God has already calculated that into the equation, so you don't have to worry. He's got you covered! Just love on Him, stay close to Him, is quick to repent and His divine plan will be accomplished in your life.

I personally have a quiet time everyday with the Lord. It is not always easy to have that time with God in a world that has you turning like a spinning top, but it is vital to make quality time with Him in order for your God given purpose and future to be revealed. This close abiding is necessary and it takes effort on our part to get close to God but the rewards are out of this world. It produces a harvest of blessing and a prosperous future.

We have been summoned into His Majesty's service and He expects us to complete His plans and purpose for us. I really like what Colossians 4:17 says, "Take heed to the ministry (official service) which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill (complete, fill to satisfaction, finish) it.” Wow! I like how that sounds "official service." Those of us who thought that being 'just a' homemaker or mother or 'just a' blue collar worker or any other 'just a' position was an unimportant position; can now know that we serve in a very lofty position. We have a royal calling that is important enough for the King of the Universe to summon us to.

Ephesians. 2:10 is worth memorizing and reminding ourselves of often. "For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." How many times have you heard people say that they want to live the good life? Well, there it is. God's plan for you IS the good life. This world has nothing good to offer you. This world is temporal but God's world is eternal. God's 'good life' is worth having and striving for.

Ponder this, I know many of you are in church, working on an auxilary or some office in ministry, is it God's perfect will for you? I encourage you to seek after God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and reach higher than you ever have before to grab hold of the good life He has destined for you. It is worth reaching for.

The Whole Armor Of God

God has provided us a wardrobe to wear as we enter in battle each day. As you dress in the morning, you need to suit up in God's armor as well(Ephesians 6:10-18).

Belt of Truth: For the first item in the armor of God, Paul writes to "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist." Truth is having sound doctrine which can only come with careful study of the Bible. Many times, Satan uses half-truths, or lies which sound like the truth, to deceive those who do not know better. As Paul encouraged Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Knowledge of God's word provides you with the truth they need to combat Satan. Buckle it securely around your waist. Know that God is with you every step of the way. He alone is the truth in life. Spend time in His Word and learn His truth.

Breastplate of Righteousness: The breastplate of righteousness is the second piece of the armor of God. Righteousness comes from standing free of condemnation before God, but it is not something that anyone earns. In (Romans 4:6-7), the apostle Paul writes, "David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. 'Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Satan may confront you with past sins but God's forgiveness provides you with the breastplate of righteousness you need to protect you from Satan's attacks. As you put on your breastplate, thank God for His never ending mercy towards us. He has given us righteousness when we follow Him. He will teach us every day if we open our eyes and ears to see and hear Him. The cross is an excellent example of God's mercy to us. He gave His Son for us so that we may spend eternity with Him.

Sandals of Peace: Paul identifies the next part of the armor of God when he writes that you should have their "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." This alludes to what the prophet Isaiah wrote, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7). Those who have spiritual footwear are prepared to go out and share Christ's gospel with those who will listen. Without God in our lives, we could not have peace. The "peace that transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) is available to us only as we give our lives entirely over to His control. As you strap on your sandals each day, give your cares and concerns to Him and ask Him to carry them. God's Peace will be left in their place.

Shield of Faith: For the fourth item in the armor of God, you are encouraged to "take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." The shield protects the soldier's body and can be moved to counter an attack. Likewise, faith in God's promise of eternal life serves to deflect the doubts and fears that assault you. Faith has to be developed. As stated in (Romans 10:17), "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word Of God." So therefore, faith can only grow through continual Bible study. This is another defensive weapon in our arsenal. We use this piece of armor to guard against the constant assaults by the enemy. Each morning as you pick up your shield, thank God for your faith. Faith that comes in knowing He will never leave or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Helmet of Salvation: An important part of the armor of God is the "helmet of salvation." In (1 Thessalonians 5:8), Paul also refers to the helmet as "the hope of salvation." One of Satan's schemes is to cast doubt into the minds of believers, making them wonder if God is real of if his promises are true.The helmet of salvation is based on "a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised from the beginning of time." (Titus 1:2).When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are given this defensive piece of armor to protect us. We know that we have been saved to battle with Him here on the planet Earth. We can do so willingly, knowing that we will spend eternity with Him.

The Sword of the Spirit: The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God; the holy scriptures. When faced with temptations or some other moral choices, using scripture can help to win the battle. As (II Corinthians 10:3-5 )declares, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This is our only offensive weapon in the armor of God mentioned in this passage. Our sword is His Word, the Bible. With it we can slay the evil in the world as it presents itself to us. Read your Bible, learn His Word and memorize verses. Keep it on the tip of your tongue. Dressed in this armor daily, we are prepared to enter the world. Without it we will be prey to attack. Think about each piece as you put it on. Thank God for supplying us with His armor to protect us. God Bless You,The Worship Center

Daniel Fast

Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is modeled after the spiritual practices of Daniel. Basically, the Daniel fast is to eat only what come from the ground that have not been refined or processed. The fast does not stand alone, it is a part of a larger spiritual practice that includes regular and consistent prayer.

In Daniel 10, we learn that Daniel received a revelation that he did not understand until he had fasted for 21 days. On the 24th day he had the vision of a man who explained the revelation to him. For 21 days Daniel “ate no choice food.” This practice probably goes back to when He, with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, came to live in Babylon and refused to eat the king’s food. He requested only vegetables and water. “At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds” (Daniel 1:15-17).

Daniel exercised spiritual discipline by denying the body “pleasant food” so he could have deeper spiritual understanding. Daniel distinguished himself from among his peers because “an excellent spirit was in him.” It is this excellence of spirit we desire as we pursue a stronger relationship with God in fasting and prayer.

Daniel’s faithfulness in prayer is another demonstration of his commitment to spiritual discipline. In Daniel 6, where we learn about Daniel in the lions’ den, it is clear that Daniel was steadfast in prayer under the most difficult of circumstances. Though King Darius had signed an injunction that said whomever prayed to another besides himself would be thrown into the lions’ den, Daniel continued his practice of praying 3 times a day: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10).

During a Daniel Fast, we pray 3 times a day, like Daniel. I usually pray at 6 a.m. 12 noon and 6 p.m. In addition to fasting and prayer, we must also abstain from anything that would personally distract us from our purposes in the fast (e.g. television, internet, hanging out, idle conversations, gossip etc.).

Isaiah 58 makes it clear that fasting does not absolve us from responsibilities of love, kindness and justice.

Remember, we eat these:

• Fruits

• Vegetables

• Whole Grains

• Nuts and Seeds

• Legumes (I call ‘em beans)

• Healthy Oils

• Water (some folk drink herbal teas without stimulants)

• Herbs, Spices, vinegar (some folk avoid this and use citrus juices with oils on their salads)

• Vegetable juice – take care with the acidity of tomato juice (this is a fruit, isn’t it?)

• Fruit juice in moderation – consider the sugar content and take care with the acidity in citrus. Consider restricting fruit juices altogether.

• Water

• Water

• Water

We don’t eat these:

• All refined and processed foods!

• White flour products

• White rice

• Dairy

• Meat

• Sugar, honey etc.

• Bread

• Fried Foods

• Unhealthy Fats (the ones that turn solid)

• Anything other beverage than what you see above

Prayer and Fasting

Prayer
Fasting
What is Fasting?
Why Fast?

Prayer

Prayer is the language of the spirit. This is language over which you have no control. When you enter into prayer, you may enter because of some need or desire, but prayer only takes place when the Spirit takes over and you are carried away as by the current of a river.
When we study the life of Jesus, we see that Jesus did not pray between his periods of work and ministry, Jesus worked and ministered between His times of prayer. Prayer must be our first priority. It is through prayer that we strengthen our relationship with God and access the power of God for our living.

O what peace we often forfeitO what needless pains we bearAll because we do not carryEverything to God in prayer.

We’ve got to pray openly and honestly. Admit to God when you don’t feel like it or when the tv or someone is pulling you in another direction. Hey, we all have that wandering inclination and God is big enough to handle it. Just ask for more strength and discipline to be constant in prayer.
Remember, this is a practice. Just because it is the right thing to do doesn’t mean that it will happen for us overnight. Just keep being committed to the practice of prayer.
God’s faithfulness to us is our shield and armor! (Psalm 91:4) God knows we can be wishy-washy. That’s what grace is for!

So, take it easy on yourself. God loves you and wants you to reach where you’re trying to go… in Him.

Fasting

Prayer needs fasting for its full growth. Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible. Fasting is the other hand, the one with which we let go of the visible.– Andrew Murray
Fasting is abstaining from food with a spiritual purpose in mind. Jesus teaches us that fasting and prayer are a powerful combination. While fasting is not explicitly commanded by Jesus in the Gospels, it seems that it is assumed that fasting would be a part of the life of the believer: “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18).

Remember, the Fast should change your routine. If you are going about your regular routine merely with a change in diet, you are not fasting, you are on a diet! Fasting must change our routine. The Fast is to refocus us on the things of God. We should expect to be different when this time of fasting is over and not just physically…• By the time the fast is over, we should have created an atmosphere in our lives, our homes, our churches in which God is pleased to dwell.• By the time the Fast is over, we should have created such an atmosphere in prayer that miracles become daily events in our lives.• By the time the Fast is over, we should have prayed the yoke of bondage off of our sisters and brothers.

Yes, by the time a Fast concludes, we should have walked through the doorway of Kingdom Living! All this is accomplished through prayer and fasting. So, commit to a fast and do not grow weary nor take lightly the fast you commit to God. Divine opportunities are waiting all around for us to seize them in fasting and in prayer. God moves in powerful ways during sincere fasts (see 2 Chronicles 20:1-23).

Remember, the fast is to the Lord. The fast should cause us to redirect our focus, our attention. It should more regularly direct us to our prayer closets because fasting and prayer go hand in hand. Prayer is our Priority! And not just during the course of this Lenten fast, but in life. We’ve got to make every effort to ensure we add more and more time with God in prayer and meditation each and everyday for this is where we find LOVE, JOY and PEACE! God honors it when we deny the flesh and sow to the spirit. This is consistent with what we learn in Galatians 5:16-25 and in Colossians 3:1-17. Fasting is to honor the life of our spirits. Be assured, to nurture and to refine the spirit-life has eternal significance.

Remember, fasting is to abstain from food with spiritual purposes in mind. Our purposes are many:• we are seeking to grow even closer to God• to see the Gifts of the Holy Spirit fully operating in the Body of Christ• to experience the Fruit of the Holy Spirit being borne out in the lives of the people of God• to break the power of the enemy over our lives and the lives of those around us• to scatter the plans of the enemy• to gain more spiritual power• to wrestle ourselves away from unhealthy attachments• to see the Kingdom of God grow exponentially• to experience good physical, mental and spiritual health• to walk in miracles• to transform our minds• ultimately, to live our lives in ways pleasing to God

All our purposes will be fulfilled by the Power of God through fasting and prayer! Don’t waiver in unbelief. God is true to His Word! AND DON’T STOP PRAYING BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE ANSWER OR BECAUSE YOU DON’T FEEL ANYTHING. God moves in God’s time. And, be assured, whether you feel anything or not, God is listening!
The promise of God in Christ Jesus is this: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7 - but read the whole passage). This is an amazing promise, but what is “abiding”?

• Abiding is to dwell constantly in the secret place of the Most High (Psalm 91:1).• Abiding is to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)• Abiding is to have a song in your heart to God at all times (Ephesians 5:19)• Abiding is to write the Word of God on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 7:2-3; Psalm 119:16)• Abiding is learning and strengthening ourselves through fasting and prayer.

The Fast is not to be an event that will pass, nor an experience that we will merely have; but, it is an entrance into a life of continual abiding in God, a pathway into the deeper things of God, a seat in the Presence of God.

What is Fasting?

Fasting is abstaining from food. This is the general definition. Breakfast is to break the fast of the previous night. Specific to our purposes, fasting in abstaining from food with a spiritual purpose at heart. Because fasting is spiritual in nature, when you abstain from food, you should also abstain from behaviors and activities that would distract you from your spiritual goals.
You fast because you are seeking to allow your spirit to become stronger.

Fasting shifts your attention from your flesh to your spirit and allows you to be more attuned to God. God is a Spirit and we must come to God in spirit and truth (John 4:24 ). Fasting is effectively shedding your flesh with all it’s whining and complaining and neediness so that you can feed your spirit. When you spirit becomes stronger, so will your body and your emotions. Spirit permeates everything there is, so to ignore your spirit is really to disconnect and isolate yourself. To ignore your spirit is to miss out on the fullness of life. To ignore your spirit is to ignore yourself.

Your spirit is at your center. Your spirit is your core. This is the "secret place of the Most High" the psalmist sings about in Psalm 91 . Here is where God resides. Many people seek all over the place for God only to find that the search ends within themselves (John 4:19-24 ). This is God’s promise to us: God will be with us and in us (John 14:16-17 ). Fasting helps us to reach our Center.

Why Fast?

We fast to strengthen our relationship with God (Nehemiah 9). Jesus assumes fasting will be a regular practice (Matthew 6:16-18 ). The regular practice of fasting helps us grow spiritually stronger like exercise helps the body.

Fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. Fasting is a spiritual practice and prayer is the language of the spirit. You fast to empower your prayer life. There are many reasons to fast and pray:
Fast and pray to hear God’s voice more clearly and to know God’s Will (Daniel 9:3-4 ).
Fast and pray for spiritual clarity (Daniel 10 ).
Fast and pray to bring down strongholds in your life and the lives of those around you.
Fast and pray for direction and clarity in making decisions (Acts 13:1-3).
Fast and pray to free yourself and others of addictions.
Fast and pray to become more spiritually empowered.
Fast and pray for spiritual breakthrough (Joel 2:15-32 ).
Fast and pray for clarity and healing (Isaiah 58:6-9 ).
Fast and pray to create order in your life and in your household.
Fast and pray for God’s help against the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 ).

A FRIEND OF GOD

How good is your relationship with Jesus? Jesus Christ doesn't want a relationship where you visit Him once a week on Sundays, just because it's Sunday and it's the thing to do. No, Jesus wants to have a deep, intimate, daily relationship with you. No matter where you've been or what you've done, Jesus loves you and wants you to know Him in a deep and beautiful way. I can't have a good friendship with you if the only time we spend together is these three minutes where I talk and never hear the sound of your voice. The precise same thing goes with Jesus Christ.

The only way you can have a deep relationship is for there to be an continuing dialogue between God and yourself. A continuing dialogue means that you don't just read God's Word, but you talk with Jesus and wait on His response. Whether it's in His Word or that small whisper on your heart. Or any way God chooses to respond to you.

A relationship with Jesus is such a beautiful thing and I want each one of you to experience it, because believe me, there's no relationship like it. Just when you think you've got Jesus figured out, He takes you deeper into His character, grace and love.

So today, why don't you start building a relationship that will only grow throughout your time on earth and stretch into eternity? Talk to Jesus not just to ask Him for something but talk with Him like you would a friend, wait on Jesus, then spend time in His Word. Believe me when I say, you won't be disappointed when you do. If you want to have a friendship with Jesus, you must become His child and the only way to become His child is by accepting Jesus Christ as your savior. As Jesus said in John 15:15, those who believe are no longer servants, but friends of Jesus.