"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; To seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him the greatest human achievement." -Augustine of Hippo
“The way you’ve got to approach God, humbly, taking His Word, no matter what it looks like. There God just said so. I believe it and that settles it.” William Marrion Branham In Luke 3 we read of Jesus, the Son of God, being baptized. …
“Creation is the canvas on which God has painted His character.” – Author unknown Genesis 1:1-3a “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit …
“Spiritual joy arises from purity of the heart and perseverance in prayers.” Francis of Assisi
“Unconditional Surrender” Grant
Lieutenant General Hiram Ulysses Grant, better known as U.S.Grant, led Federal forces to victory in the Civil War from 1864 until 1869 and later was elected for two terms as the 18th president of the United States.
From the beginning of the Civil War President Abraham Lincoln had been having troubles with his generals. Finally the President found a general he could trust and who would push forward hard and not want to give in. U.S. Grant was that man and was praised by historians for his “military genius”. He fought strategically and was not willing to give up until victory was achieved. At the time he was the only general during the Civil War who received the surrender of three Confederate armies. During the war, President Abraham Lincoln sent a short note of encouragement to General Grant stating that he agreed with Grant’s decisions and that he needed to “… hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke, as much as possible.” Which is exactly what Grant did.
As a result of his eventual victory which was one of the Union’s first in the war, newspapers remarked (and President Abraham Lincoln endorsed) that Grant’s first two initials, “U.S.” stood for “Unconditional Surrender” which would later become his nickname.
Passion and Perseverance
Whether or not General Grant was a believer in Jesus we don’t know and, yes, he was only a human who made many mistakes but one has to admire his passion and ruthless perseverance on the battlefield. He received his orders and saw the battle at hand as one that simply had to be won no matter what the cost. We read of many such warriors in the Bible who received their orders from God and ruthlessly went for the kill with everything they had. Likewise we are encouraged time and again in scripture that our own battles should be approached in the same way. That we also need to value God’s promises to us and to trust Him to bring them to fulfillment – and with passion! These promises are so much more than merely nice thoughts that He has for us. They are part of our inheritance and they are His will for our lives.
Fight the good fight of faith
The enemy will try everything in his power to steal God’s promises from us and therefore we have been given the authority to step on the snakes and the scorpions (Luke 10:19). We have received weapons which has divine power to demolish strongholds, arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)! We need to resist the enemy and to stand firm in the faith (1 Peter 5:8,9). We have this promise during our battles that no weapon formed against us will prosper and that every tongue that accuses us in judgment will be condemned. This is our heritage as servants of the Lord and our vindication is from God (Is.54:17)! We are encouraged to fight the good fight of the faith. What happens in the spirit when we fight our battles of faith? Joshua 23 tells us “One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised.” In the words of Paul, “what then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Romans 8:31
This is what the Lord says to us today: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15) So let us press on.
Attrition warfare
U.S. Grant used attrition without regard. According to Wikipedia, “attrition warfare” is a “military strategy consisting of belligerent attempts to win a war by wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and material. The war will usually be won by the side with greater such resources.” In the kingdom our resources will never run out, and what’s more, the war has already been won on the cross two thousand years ago. We need to realize that the enemy is still prowling around like a roaring lion and that we need to use our authority in Christ to enforce the same “attrition warfare” strategy against the enemy by fighting from a place of victory, standing on God’s Word until the enemy is worn out and has to step down.
To keep on keeping on until the breakthrough is manifested!
Matthew 7:7 tells us to “ask”, “seek”, “knock”. These words are found in the present imperative tense which means the idea is that of persistence, continuance and constancy. Meaning: keep asking, seeking, knocking. To keep asking until it is given to us, to keep seeking until we find, to keep knocking until it shall be opened unto us.
Therefore, like a bulldog grabbing on to the Word, declaring it and not letting go until the promises are fulfilled. To keep on keeping on until the enemy who came from one directions flees from us into seven directions (Deuteronomy 28) and until God’s promises are fulfilled in our lives.
No holding back!
“The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.” This was a quote by George Washington and it is so true. Reading this I think of climbing mountains. The high mountains has the best view and yes, every mountain has a summit. Seasons change and battles pass. Whatever you are facing now will have an end. It will not last forever. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Take a look a the following scriptures
– 2 Corinthians 4:8 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not dismayed.”
– Revelations 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
– Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
This is how we fight our battles: with “unconditional surrender” toward God and not accepting anything but “unconditional surrender” from the enemy. No Holding back!!
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in …
David wrote “I will lift up my eyes to the HILLS— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Ps.121:1,2
Recently, God spoke to me through a dream one night. Amongst other things, I dreamt of an evangelist or missionary walking past me. I instantly knew that he has been working for the Lord for many years and that I can learn from him. In the dream, he turned toward me and he said, “Remember, Janine, we live from the “high places”!” I felt to share this with you and even as I am typing this blog, I feel the excitement in my spirit.
Moses met with God on the MOUNTAIN. He spent 40 days and 40 nights in God’s Presence. He then returned with the Ten Commandments.
We read how Jesus “ went out to the MOUNTAIN to pray...” Luk.6:12
Later still, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the MOUNTAIN “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.”(Matt.17)”…While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
The “high places” in the above-mentioned scripture verses refer to meeting with God. Separating one’s self from the crowds and the noises of the world and spending time in God’s Presence. And living from that place of meeting. It is ultimately the best way to start the day. Not only making time for Him but also inviting Him to speak or do whatever He pleases. Inviting His Holy Spirit to minister to us. Pursuing His manifested Presence.
Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous speech said the following of his mountain-top experience: ”We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, 
that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!” (“I have a dream” speech, Aug. 28, 1963).
Rev.4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” Brene Brown This is so true… If there is no gratitude then nothing seems to be a privilege anymore. Nothing is appreciated anymore. We grow up in a culture of entitlement, living from a place of constantly thinking …
“All to You, I surrender everything, every part of me. All to You, I surrender, all of my dreams, all of me. Your love makes it worth it all.” A.W. Tozer There is a saying “You are only as strong as your weakest link”. It …
“It is a sad thing when you hear Christians with a groan in them. When I meet the groaner, I say in my heart, “God, move that man on into the place where he comprehends what Christianity is.” – John G Lake
“Christian” – in Greek means “follower of Christ”, “anointed one”.
Ever heard people say that they experience Christians to be sad, without joy and mostly depressed, not great people to do business with?
Well, let’s face it. Being a follower of Christ means we chose Him to be Lord of our life. Making that choice we step into a new world of battles and challenges as well as victories. Many ups and downs. Sometimes it is almost like fasting: Denying yourself the privilege to respond to issues the way the world would in order to follow Jesus. Choosing to persevere and push through, bite the bullet. Yes, it is many times stretching and difficult, but it’s what we chose when we chose to follow Christ. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
When we find ourselves in such a season then the world views us a sad, unhappy, stressed or depressed. When fasting, Jesus told us to do the following…
Matt. 6:17,18 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
God sees your sacrifice, your suffering when you go through it and He also sees that you still choose Him in the midst of it. You
still choose to follow Him even though you are being stretched and challenged to what feels like your limits. And for that, you will receive your reward – the result of what you have been praying for or trusting God for. Heb. 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Gen.15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Our suffering is between us and God. The idea is not to put on a happy face like a hypocrite and act like everything is okay, rather, it is to get back to the feet of Jesus and ask Him to “anoint our head and wash our face”. Reading Matt.6:16 reminds me of Psalm 23 where David writes “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”
Psalm 91:1 (msg) “You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow.”
When we sit down in the High God’s Presence He clothes us with Himself, He keeps our fire burning, He leads us in wisdom… I love Habakkuk’s attitude and he is only one example of many in the Bible who chose to turn to God in the midst of suffering and loss, choosing that God will give him new strength and joy even if the breakthrough is not there yet. He did not only live that to the outside world, but he also wrote about it. Thinking about this I get such a sense that Habakkuk was walking in deeper freedom than we even understand… trials and tribulations did not dictate his walk and talk. He still allowed God to be in lordship of his life and emotions. To him, God was no “genie in the bottle” who is only called upon when in trouble and in need of a miracle and then dismissed when the miracle happened. God was more to him. God was Friend, Father, Lord to him. Kind of gives a new definition to relationship with God, doesn’t it?
Hab.3:17-19 “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”
We do our challenges and difficulties and exhaustion in our room with Jesus in the morning… “But you, when you pray, go into 
your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matt.6:6
When we leave our room for the day, we go out into the world with a washed face and a head anointed with oil, shining His light in a world so desperately in need of it.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt.5:16
Notice: it does not say “when things are going well and you are in an easy season feeling great and everything is going your way”! It simply says “Let your light shine…” It is a choice we make to meet daily with Jesus and whether or not we do will be evident in our lives through the fruit we produce.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.” Luk.11:34-35
Know who you are… “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Pet.2:9
And know Who He is in you and what He is capable of when we allow Him and make Him part of our day…
“The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” Rev.21:23
“No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.” Eph.4:14-16 (msg)
This is what maturity in our relationship with Christ will look like: living from the Truth and not from reality. Truth is what God says, Who He is to us – today. Reality is our circumstances. What the world sees and experiences about us will all depend on if we have relationship with Jesus.
Stability comes from relationship, relationship involves communication and communication happens during daily meetings.
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” Rom.8:19
Come on, church!
You can wholeheartedly and passionately serve only one god. The “who” makes a massive difference though. Idolatry of things, food, people brings bondage. Worshipping God brings freedom. Checking your heart right now, do you feel bound or free? “Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of …
