Showing posts with label worry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worry. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Kathi Pelton: "Divine Strategies for Breakthrough - Trust God and the Seeds He Plants!" - THE ELIJAH LIST

Kathi Pelton: "Divine Strategies for Breakthrough - Trust God and the Seeds He Plants!"


THE ELIJAH LIST Feb 28, 2017
Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:
There are times that we struggle with our circumstances and desires that have not happened yet...in our timing. It can be frustrating in the process of waiting for your breakthrough.
This word by Kathi Pelton will really help you to get a higher perspective as she shares:
God is not late nor is He silent. When our primary focus is on our natural need, even when they are good and necessary, then our discernment is tainted by what our natural eyes see and minds understand. This focus can rob us of the pure seed planted in our hearts by the Spirit.

We must trust God with the seeds that He plants in us. His words over us are wrapped in His faithful promises and never-ending love. They require the softness of our heart to grow deep roots and break through the ground of faith so that they will manifest in the earthly realm. We cannot demand how God grows the seed or when it will move from the soil of faith to the visible realm. We must allow the roots to go deep so that when trouble comes, our seed will not be plucked up while still in its tender beginnings.
Now that's a good word! I pray this article by Kathi will help you to get a better understanding...as He truly is bringing His Divine Breakthrough into your life! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here.)
Enjoy! And thanks for forwarding this to your friends! They can subscribe here.
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Every month I receive scores of letters from Believers who are distraught, despairing, depressed and disillusioned. Sometimes, this can become overwhelming and requires me to go up higher in order to get above the noise and the atmosphere of hopelessness to find truth and greater revelation of the goodness of God and His perspective.
His Dwelling Place
Recently one morning, as I allowed God's Spirit to usher me into His tabernacle, I began to experience the contrast between Heaven and earth. Heaven is a realm where joy and peace are fully present; hopelessness and despair do not exist there. In the Lord's dwelling place His people are washed in His love and renewed by His truth. Our hearts are softened to receive seeds of revelation. 

As I spent time being revived today, I felt Heaven's longing for God's people to dwell—tabernacle—with Him so that they would receive breakthrough from depression and disillusionment and instead experience joy and peace.

There is a spiritual breakthrough that ushers in natural breakthroughs that many need. Often, if we are merely provided natural breakthroughs, we miss what is most needed to truly steward and enjoy what God intends to manifest in our lives. He is jealous for our affections and for a relationship of mutual longing that draws us into intimacy. King Jesus desires His Bride and her affections!
Summoned to Come Before the King
Psalm 45 is a beautiful Messianic song about the King marrying a princess. After describing the magnificent King, we then read about the bride:
The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold.
She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; the virgin, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King's palace.
 (Psalm 45:13-15). (Photo via Pixabay)

We are being summoned to come to the place of His dwelling where our hearts are softened and we are made glorious by learning the ways of His Kingdom. We then share intimacy with Him and from that place our breakthrough comes, our requests are answered and our enemies are defeated by the glorious Mighty One who rides forth in victory (see Psalm 45:3-5; Revelation 19:11-16).
The Softened Heart Receives the Seed
The enemy seeks to harden our hearts through disappointments and perceived delays but the love of Christ restores and softens our hearts so that we will never doubt His love and intentions toward us. The enemy always seeks to divide us from the One who loves us the most, but God invites us into the deep affections of His love that unites us with Him, His Kingdom, His promises and truth. This unity is not circumstantial but secured by love. Our hearts are kept soft in the tender place of His affections and love.

Sometimes we are troubled about the words hardened hearts because we immediately assume it always refers to a person in rebellion. This can certainly be true; but it also refers to lack of understanding. The disciples of Jesus were often corrected for hardness of heart.
When God speaks a word to us they are like seeds planted in the soft soil of our hearts. We are often thrilled momentarily when God speaks a word or does marvelous works in us and through us, but when trouble comes, those "seeds" are easily plucked up if we allow our hearts to be dulled with the cares of this world.
As life's trials and troubles come, we must continually enter into the dwelling place (the secret place) with our King, where intimacy keeps our heart soft. We do not do this to get a natural result but rather to enter into the mutual affections with our God. The amazing thing is that as we show honor and reverence to God's words and activities in our lives, the soil of our hearts is kept soft and watered by His Word, and we will surely see natural results follow.
ElijahList Prophetic Resources
Discerning the Activities of God in Our Lives
It takes spiritual eyes and sensitivity to discern the movements of God in our everyday lives. Our focus must be turned from what isn't to what is. Sometimes His words come as a whisper and His movements like a gentle breeze moving through the branches of our lives, but as we seek first the King and His Kingdom we will discern His voice and His faithfulness through each day.

God is not late nor is He silent. When our primary focus is on our natural need, even when they are good and necessary, then our discernment is tainted by what our natural eyes see and minds understand. This focus can rob us of the pure seed planted in our hearts by the Spirit.

We must trust God with the seeds that He plants in us. His words over us are wrapped in His faithful promises and never-ending love. They require the softness of our heart to grow deep roots and break through the ground of faith so that they will manifest in the earthly realm. We cannot demand how God grows the seed or when it will move from the soil of faith to the visible realm. We must allow the roots to go deep so that when trouble comes, our seed will not be plucked up while still in its tender beginnings.
Do Not Worry
God knows your physical needs. We must trust Him with those details of our lives. He addresses this in His Word and God does not lie. Matthew 6 speaks so clearly His promise to care for our needs. Let these Words wash over you and free you from the burden that is weighing you down and shifting your focus from the spiritual vision to natural concerns:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Photo via Pixabay)
"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34).

God is jealous over us, over the seeds He's planted in our hearts and over the focus of our affections. He is our breakthrough; when we allow our hearts to be fully turned toward Him the doubts, fears, worries and despair fall away and the seeds of promise grow and flourish. The enemy tries to steal from us while the seed is still in the form of faith. It is in the secret place of intimacy and absolute trust that the planting of the Lord is protected and grows.

God is summoning His people into the chambers of His affections...and from those chambers we will see breakthroughs first in the spirit and then in the natural. Joy will come! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here.)
Kathi Pelton
Inscribe Ministries

Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.inscribeministries.com
Jeffrey and Kathi Pelton understand our culture's need for encouragement and hope. Through writing and speaking, they escort individuals into awareness of God's profound compassion and mercy that heals brokenness, and they have a unique ability to help anyone seeking pathways into His kind embrace. For several years, Jeffrey and Kathi led a house of prayer located in Kelowna, British Columbia. Currently, they travel extensively, working with prayer and prophetic movements. Recently, Jeffrey and Kathi, their grown children, and their one grandson relocated from Northern California to Eugene, Oregon. They continue to travel and have begun networking with prayer ministries in the Pacific Northwest. They are also part of a development team for Kairos Ministries, a local church plant.
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Thursday, November 17, 2016

How God Healed Me From Acid Reflux and Stomach Pain - MARK DEJESUS CHARISMA MAGAZINE


Healing stomach pain
Listening to fear of the future and dread does nothing to help us. (Getty Images )

How God Healed Me From Acid Reflux and Stomach Pain

MARK DEJESUS  CHARISMA MAGAZINE
For years I had to take the purple pill to alleviate the pain I experienced while eating the foods I enjoyed. The spicier, the better.
Being half-Hispanic, I loved foods with rich spices, but I also had a terrible time afterwards, often experiencing incredible abdominal pain.
In addition, I inherited what I often call a "Puerto Rican stomach" that includes nausea first thing in the morning. Many people try to cure this with a cup of coffee and small breakfast because the appetite is often weak first thing in the morning. In addition, a nervous stomach also seemed to follow me around, meaning my appetite would go up and down depending on what was happening in my life. 
I found out I had acid reflux, where stomach contents leak back into the esophagus, creating a great deal of pain. After a while, the purple pill was not helping, so I ended up going to a stronger medication to help with my recurring stomach pain. My stomach trouble even landed me in the hospital twice with such incredible abdominal pain I could not even stand up straight. I was further diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, a condition where part of the stomach sticks upward into the chest. 
After an investigative procedure, I was told to simply lose weight and stop eating all of the foods I enjoyed. At the same time, God was doing a deep renovation in my life, healing my heart and delivering me from ways of thinking that were working against my growth in Him. Becoming free from various works of fear in my life was a key part of this transformation. As God was healing my heart and delivering me from oppressive thinking, I became aware that the stinking thinking I had allowed to infiltrate my life was also affecting my gastrointestinal tract. 
Fear's Work Against the Stomach
I went before God about the fear issues of my life and began to see how fear compromises the health of our digestive system, robbing us of enjoying foods and of the ability to process the nutrition they offer. If the nervous system senses any lack of peace within us, over time, the stomach and intestines can begin to lose the productive jobs they were designed to do. In fact, there is a separate nervous system that surrounds the stomach called the enteric nervous system. Your body is keenly aware of unresolved fear issues. 

The Fear Issues I Addressed

Here are the fear issues relating to my stomach issues. I addressed them with authority and began to take my peace over them. 

Insecurity

I began to come before God and repent for serving insecurity. I was living in constant performance and perfectionism pressure, but had never realized how much it affected my life. My identity was wrapped around what I did and how well I did it. I listened to the thoughts of rejection telling me that the pressure was on when it came to ministry, singing, speaking or putting an event together. Once and for all, I received the love Father God had for me and began to take my peace over my identity. I renounced living for approval and instead began to live from the approval Father God had already given me.

Fear of Failure

This is a big one if you want to overcome gastrointestinal issues of any kind. I recognized a fear of failure was robbing me behind the scenes. I would live each day focusing on what dreading events or scenarios were coming my way. I took pride in being able to calculate everything that could go wrong. This was working against me, because I had lost my peace regarding the future and could not enjoy the present. 

Worry

Even though Jesus commanded us not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6-7) I had a hard time walking in that. I had to receive a revelation of the Father's love for me, knowing He would take care of me and provide for my every need. I had to renounce the fear of failure that drove me to strive and put so much energy into avoiding things going wrong. Instead of simply doing my best and taking my peace, I was tormented with the pressures I had allowed the enemy to put on my heart. The worrywart had to be put away. 

Shifting a Generational Pattern 

On top of that, I had to practice taking my peace daily with God and the situations I found myself in. My family line is riddled with worrywarts and restless minds, so I knew I was confronting a generational way of thinking. In overcoming this trait, I was not only letting God change my mind, but I was giving Him room to even rewire my personality into one that was not afraid to fail and would refuse to be tormented by tomorrow. I was free to enjoy the day in front of me. This wasn't just about my stomach being healed. This was about a new way of seeing life.
Jesus taught that we have enough trouble to focus on today. We don't need to project what could go wrong onto tomorrow. Listening to fear of the future and dread does nothing to help us. Too many live in a private shame of all our worries and fear, thinking, "Well, this is just the way I am." We lose any sight of a better future with health and wholeness. 

Healing Manifestation

As I began to walk this process out of turning from fear, anxiousness and worry, my stomach was healed. No more acid reflux. No more purple pills (or any pills) for my abdominal pain. No hiatal hernia. And no one even laid hands on me for healing. I was able to eat what I wanted and take my peace again.
My body came into health as I aligned myself with heaven's way of thinking. There is no worry in heaven, so walking in that kind of peace gives us the health that God designed us to possess. 
Am I perfect in this walk-out? No way! I still have a dump truck of thoughts God is working out in my life. But I am excited about it, because He is faithful to patiently love us through each stage so we become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. I am enjoying learning to be an overcomer, and my body thanks me for it. 
He is faithful to love the fear out of us and deliver us from all our fears.  
Mark DeJesus has been equipping people in a full-time capacity since 1995, serving in various roles, including teaching people of all ages, communicating through music, authoring books, leading and mentoring. Mark's deepest love is his family: his wife, Melissa, son Maximus and daughter Abigail. Mark is a teacher, author and mentor who uses many forms of media, including the written word, a weekly radio podcast show and videos. His deepest call involves equipping people to live as overcomers. Through understanding inside-out transformation, Mark's message involves getting to the root of issues that contribute to the breakdown of our relationships, our health and our day-to-day peace. He is passionately reaching his world with a transforming message of love, healing and freedom. Out of their own personal renewal, Mark and Melissa founded Turning Hearts Ministries, a ministry dedicated to inside-out transformation. Mark also founded Transformed You, a communication platform for his teachings, writing and broadcasts designed to encourage people in their journey of transformation.
For the original article, visit markdejesus.com.
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Monday, November 17, 2014

"Satan Is Attacking Many With Depression – That's About To End" by Al Thomas


"Satan Is Attacking Many With Depression 
– That's About To End"
Al Thomas, Hagerstown, MD
The Elijah List

Many Years Ago God Delivered Me From Depression and Worry

As a young man, I was living in California, and after a hard day at work and just returning from an evening Bible college class, I was greatly depressed. I wanted someone to talk to and share my heavy heart, but I met an empty house. At that time, a lot of pressures were weighing me down. My family life was in turmoil, my job frustrating, and all the while my stress level was increasing to an explosive point. My mind was confused and bewildered. All alone, I felt an urge to pray.

I went to my bedroom, fell to my knees, and cried out to God in desperation. After briefly praying, I was so emotionally exhausted I crawled up on the bed and fell fast asleep. After twenty minutes or so, I was awakened by a majestic voice that said, "ISAIAH 26:3." The voice was full of authority and love.

I grabbed my Bible and read the verse, "[I] wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on [Me]." As soon as I finished reading, an amazing thing happened: I felt as if hot oil was being poured on my head, going right through me. It seemed as if His peace claimed me and took up residence. (Photo via Flickr)

Proverbs 12:25 says, "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." I had received a good word. Since then I have faced many trials and a few life-altering catastrophes. Pressures and problems still come, but I can honestly say I have rarely worried about anything since that time or experienced depression. I do not put my head in the sand when troubles come; I simply have a divine perspective about them and a great peace within. This was a manifestation of Jesus' promise of peace and it has abided.

Depression Is One of the Most Lethal Weapons the Enemy Uses

The world is in a perilous state. Fear of war, another terrorist attack, or any number of uncertainties abound. Many are facing health problems and financial woes. Others are facing despair because of family members who are not walking with Jesus or are simply in disunity. As long as we are on this earth, there will always be some kind of trouble facing us. Job 5:7 says,"Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." No one (as long as they are breathing) is exempt.

Before despair wedges its way into your life, you must learn how to deal with it and overcome it. Yes, I said overcome it.

David said "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" (Psalm 43:5). Don't be ashamed if you're depressed, but recognize that Jesus said we don't have to live with it (see John 16:33). Joy is your inheritance, not depression. Jesus said: "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). Depression robs you of energy and makes you think God is not pleased with you.

Stop Looking In the Rearview Mirror

This is often the root cause of depression. But it is the last place you should go – the past. There is nothing there but despair. Before all the "wringing of hands," the "sweating of the brow," and the "woe is me," talk to yourself and others and go to the Source: God Himself. You may say: "Come on, that's too simple; I've cried out time and time again, etc." Some say, "I did, He didn't say anything."

Here is the key: Then put your anchor down and start waiting. Read Hebrews 6:15-19. Also, remember what David said: "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed" (Psalm 9:9). Psalm 25:5 says"Lead me in Thy truth and teach me; for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day." (Photo via Freeimages)

People want an instant solution. Instead, God wants us to trust and be patient. Some don't like to hear that, but that is where maturity is manifested. The Hebrew word for "wait" means to "expect." He is waiting for you to wait on Him."For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock"(Psalm 27:5).

God is calling: "When thou saidst, 'Seek ye My face'; my heart said unto Thee, 'Thy face, Lord, will I seek'" (Psalm 27:8).

God has been described in many ways. One of my favorites is, "God is a huge guy with a big coat that has millions of pockets. Some are small and others larger," and if you get close enough, He will reach in one of those pockets and "give you something." 

God is an amazing Giver. God gave the Son. The Son gave the Spirit. The Spirit gives gifts. The Father is a contagious giver. Get close to Him. He has something for you, and it is always good. Be waiting, be expectant... joy is coming in place of depression.

ElijahList Prophetic Resources

See God's View – No Room For Depression

Have you ever felt like you were wasting your time and bearing no fruit? Sometimes depression is a lack of proper focus. God is never depressed. Keith Green sang, "The view from here (earth) is nothing near to what it is for You."

The way God sees you and the way you see yourself must come into alignment. Why?Because how God views problems is different from how we do. (Photo via Pixabay)

Elijah thought he was the only prophet in the land. "...I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away" (1 Kings 19:10). Elijah was telling God false information – and not only once, but twice (see verse 14)! Elijah's problem? He didn't have all the facts.

Tip: Elijah wasn't alone (see verse 18). Neither are you. The enemy wants you to feel trapped and come up with a worldly solution to your problem rather than waiting for God. Remember King Saul? He didn't wait for the prophet (Samuel) to arrive for the sacrifice; instead he goes ahead (see 1 Samuel 13:9). He felt pressured, got nervous and... the devil fooled him. That foolishness cost him a kingdom (see verses 9-14).

Ask God to open your eyes. You're not surrounded, your enemies are (see 2 Kings 6:16-17). It's how you view things. Get God's perspective, He's got 20/20 spiritual vision (past, present, and future). He sees all, knows all, and never panics. When we have His perspective, joy rules our hearts. Peter said we would "be glad... with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:13). That word "exceeding" means "super abundant."

See God's Solution – Not Your Own

Too often we want to "figure things out" instead of waiting on God. David (Saul's replacement) wrote, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD" (Psalm 27:14). God is not ignoring the seriousness of your dilemma, nor about to give you the usual shallow "Christianese" buzz words, expecting you to suddenly start jumping for joy. Yet, at the same time, God's answers are usually quite simple.

The greatest discoveries are those that reduce complex things into very simple things. Often, we start to imagine in our own minds how God is going to help us. Don't do this. You see, God is always going somewhere. Don't start going somewhere until you know for sure that is the direction God is going. Blessed is the man who finds out which way God is moving and then gets going in the same direction.

Sometimes Biblical trust has nothing to do with logic or circumstances. God's peace can come even though understanding escapes us (see Philippians 4:7). We are looking through a glass darkly (see 1 Corinthians 13:12). So don't let anyone rob you of God's "on-the-way" blessing. Firmly resist satan (see James 4:7), then listen for the sound (see Psalm 89:15).

Heaven is making a sound. Faith hears that sound. The train is coming around the corner, the whistle is blowing. I hear shaking and I see chains falling off of many (see Acts 16:26). If I were you, I'd start rejoicing by faith (see Philippians 4:4). You see, that Engineer is wearing a huge coat... and if you pay attention, you'll see all kinds of blessings fall out of His pockets and depression suddenly disappear.(Photo via Pixabay)

Al Thomas
Celebrating His Life

Al Thomas is a noted Bible teacher who travels mostly east of the Mississippi with a ministry of encouragement to the Body of Christ. He teaches heavenly truths with down-to-earth practicality and humor. Al and his wife Sherry publish a free teaching newsletter that reaches many homes each month. 

Al has pastored in California and Wisconsin and was mentored by evangelist Jim Spillman. Al and Sherry minister in churches of all denominations, and are known for the gift of faith to be in operation in their meetings. Al and Sherry move prophetically and see many healed in their meetings. They have four children and six grandchildren. They reside in central Maryland.

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