The Jezebel spirit is something many people have heard of but don’t understand. Author and prophetic evangelist Jennifer Eivaz unpacks this evil entity in her latest podcast series.

“We always look at certain kinds of women … and we presume they have a spirit of Jezebel if they’re a little too strong in their personality, especially their prophetic, or perhaps have a moment of anger or they don’t do things quite right,” Eivaz says on the Take 10 With Jenn podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network. “And we like to slap that label ‘Jezebel’ on people like that. And then we basically can wash our hands of them. And I understand that tendency with people, but a lot of times it’s a missed label, or it’s a misunderstanding of that dimension.

Eivaz continues, “Years ago on our staff, we had a moral failure on our pastoral team. It was right when my husband and I stepped into the role of ministry here at Harvest Church. … We were new ministers, new pastors [and] we actually experienced a moral failure on our team.

“And you know, it was devastating. And not only was it devastating, but the circumstances of this affair were very hard to accept. It was just a very sick, disgusting situation. And the reason why—and this is part of it—was there was a woman who orchestrated the adulterous relationship behind the scenes. I mean, she didn’t have the affair, but she helped bring it to pass, and she did it intentionally.

“And what was hard to accept was that this woman appeared very spiritual. And she was prayerful, even prophetic. She would literally know things about you that you never told her, things [she] couldn’t possibly know. … And so she was considered prophetic. And so it was all quite confusing at the time about how somebody could be … prophetic and spiritual and prayerful and then have this whole other sinister thing going.

“Well, I learned after some research that this woman—the one that orchestrated the affair behind the scenes, secretly, stealthily and intentionally—fit the classic definition of a person under the influence of a Jezebel spirit.”

To learn more about the Jezebel spirit and how to deal with its evil influence, click here.

COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways. Businesses are closing, workers are being laid off, people are home alone experiencing loneliness and depression, many are afraid and some have even lost their lives. It would be irresponsible to pretend this pandemic is in any way a “blessing in disguise.” However, one life-changing thing that happens during a crisis is we are reminded of what’s most important, and we are called to courageously respond to those reminders.

C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

What’s so impactful about a season of loss—whether it’s loss of income, health, security or community—is that in losing those things, you actually rediscover how important they are to your life.

Here are three crucial reminders we’ve been forced to reevaluate because of COVID-19:

1. We are human first. Super Tuesday was less than two weeks before the CDC first recommended social distancing. Leading up to the presidential primaries, America was more divided than it has been in a very long time. But nothing brings people together like a crisis.

The Bible teaches that “our fight is not against flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:12a). That truth is one we often forget, but this pandemic has given us a tangible representation of it.

This virus has reminded us that before we’re Republican or Democrat; before we’re black or white; and before we’re American, Italian or Chinese, we are human, and we have to look out for one another.

By taking away the things that make us human—freedom, human connection and so on—COVID-19 has really made us human again.

2. We’re not in control. Our nations invest trillions of dollars, billions of hours and millions of people into building robust empires with seemingly limitless technological capabilities, vast economies and incredible military power. We convince ourselves that we are invincible and in control of our lives and destiny.

The coronavirus has reminded us that a tiny, microscopic bug could destroy everything we’ve worked so hard to create. It’s a painful yet vital lesson that we are, in fact, not in control.

And by taking away our sense of control, it forces us to trust in the only one who really is in control.

3. We need each other. In many ways, we are better equipped than any other generation in the history of the world to take on a global pandemic of this magnitude. Many of us can work from home. We can have our groceries and living essentials delivered to our front door. We can continue taking high school or college classes, attending church virtually and even connecting with one another through social media.

Yet none of these technological gifts that we are blessed to have can ever replace our need for face-to-face human connection. That’s easy to forget when we have immediate access to it. But the coronavirus has reminded us just how essential community and human connection are to our mental, emotional and spiritual health.

By taking away our ability to connect with one another fully, COVID-19 has given us a renewed longing for doing life in community.

Pastor Andy Stanley recently said, “When the story of COVID-19 is just a story we tell—a year from now, five years from now, maybe 10 years from now—let’s make sure our stories are stories worth telling.” The choices you make each day during this crisis is writing that story. Stanley says, “To retreat to fear simply means we lose the opportunity of doing something extraordinary in this season of life.” Don’t waste your quarantine. Let’s choose to have extraordinary courage. {eoa}

LightWorkers’ mission is to create engaging, uplifting and inspirational content that breaks through the clutter, building a community of sharing and igniting a movement in the real world that motivates people to celebrate and share the good all around them. Find them at

I recently watched John Tesh on a PBS special, and again on TBN’s Huckabee, in which he shared his amazing story of healing and deliverance from a deadly diagnosis. Even after aggressive treatments the doctors gave little hope of recovery and predicted a short time to live. But he and His believing wife, Connie, turned to God to do what the doctors could not do. They were at war for his very life and had to put on the armor of God, raise their shields of faith and use the weapon of the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit. They were thrust into a war they did not choose, but had to fight anyway.

Among the Scriptures God used were these words spoken by Jesus:

“For truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).

Their mountain seemed impossible to move; but using other Scriptures and working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, they fought the battle and came out victorious. The death sentence was reversed. Their test became a testimony.

The Bible says, “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (see Prov. 18:21a). Words are powerful. The old saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me” is simply not true. Words can build up; encourage; bring love, hope and confidence; and can also demolish a person’s self-esteem, leaving them shattered and unproductive. Jesus said we will give an account for every idle word we speak (see Matt. 12:36). “Idle” here meaning “having no productive effect” or “good fruit.”

We live in a world where words are plentiful. There is no lack of them: good or bad, positive or negative. Whether it’s radio, television, movies, telephones, gatherings or social media, everybody’s talking. Words carry weight. They influence our surroundings. What kind of influence are we?

Jesus also said, “if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them” (Matt. 18:19b). He’s talking about the power of agreement, and we refer to this concerning united prayer. However, if you recall what the Bible says in Genesis concerning the Tower of Babel, God’s concern was their “agreement” for the wrong motive, so He confused their language.

There exists the accuser of the brethren (see Rev. 12:9-11) and the one who is the intercessor for the brethren (Rom. 8:34). Where do you stand? Do you agree with the accuser or the intercessor? Do you bless or curse? Do you criticize or speak faith and hope? What direction are your words headed? As believers, our words carry life and death. Are we speaking life?

We are seeing a global war for the human race unfold before our very eyes: the spiritual war against the invisible forces of evil that enslave men’s souls and the pandemic war unleashed against us by a microscopic virus currently killing thousands. We are seeing the physical results of the virus, and our nation along with other nations is battling against it with every natural resource we have. Its effect is far-reaching. No one is immune, and it has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. It seems like an overwhelming foe. How do we fight this? We fight the same way God commanded in His Word. We are not in this battle alone. Not as individuals, not as a nation and not as a planet. God has not forsaken us, nor will He ever.

Paul reminds us in Romans 8:26-27 that the Spirit makes intercession for us and helps us when we don’t know how to pray. Praying in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18) ensures our praying the will of God. Speaking His will into the atmosphere will carry His authority and establish His kingdom. Will you do it? If not you, who? If not now, when?

So, what is the mountain you are facing? Is it fear? Uncertainty? Illness? Financial pressures? Put on your armor, take up your shield, use the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) and speak to the mountain. Speak to the mountain! Do not doubt! Believe in your heart! You shall have what you say, because King Jesus said so.

Prayer Power for the Week of March 29, 2020

This week, take your place in this invisible war and pray in the Spirit for God’s will to be done in our midst. Ask the Lord for supernatural wisdom for our president and all those working with him to ensure health, safety and provision for our nation. Continue praying for worldwide revival. Maintain an attitude of gratitude and praise God that He will never leave or forsake you and your loved ones. Thank Him that nothing is impossible to Him, and He is all-knowing and will reveal the solution to what appears overwhelming to many. With God, all things are possible. Read: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 12:26, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 6:18.

Our busy culture has birthed an industry of time management experts offering tools and tips to be more effective. One of the first things they advise is for clients to reject interruptions. But that’s difficult to do when our whole world has just been interrupted.

We’ve been blindsided by COVID-19. The sudden onslaught of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes this disease, has removed any illusion of control we thought we had. COVID-19 is rampant, as it targets the most vulnerable of our population: the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Schools are closed. Businesses shuttered. Supermarkets stripped bare. Demand for health care equipment and testing kits is outpacing supply. And of course, there’s fear. Lots and lots of fear.

We may have been caught off guard, but this widespread virus did not surprise God. The one who hung the stars in place is still sovereign over His creation. So why hasn’t He stopped this pandemic?

That question implies I have a right to judge what God is doing. That I have the right to blame Him for what goes wrong in a world corrupted by sin—sin humanity brought on itself.

A Lesson From Job

And then I think of Job. After much suffering and questioning—along with less than helpful advice from friends—Job is finally answered by the Lord Himself. And in Job 38:2-4 God’s first words to Job were: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Prepare yourself like a man; for I will question you, and you shall answer Me. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.'”

After multiple descriptions of His own creative sovereignty, the Lord asks Job (40:8): “Will you indeed annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me, that you may be righteous?”

Ouch! Where did we ever get the idea that God is answerable to us? Humanity wasn’t satisfied with life in a heavenly garden, and now humanity isn’t satisfied with the result of our sin: a broken, corrupted, groaning world. Then we have the nerve to blame God for the mess we made!

Grace, Mercy and Sovereignty

Yet even in a pandemic, there are signs of God’s grace and mercy, if we only open our eyes to them. People slowing down long enough to talk to each other. Neighbors helping neighbors. Folks appreciating the simple things. Acts of compassion among strangers.

Most important of all, many are taking the time to renew relationships not just with each other, but with the Father they had pushed aside when they were just too busy. And God is using this experience to grow His children in ways we would not have been open to in better circumstances.

Let’s pray this pandemic ends soon. Pray for healing for those who are ill and for the health care workers and first responders who are on the frontlines. And pray our nation’s leaders will put aside their differences to work together for the common good.

How and when will this crisis end? I don’t know. But there is one who not only knows the future, He holds the future. Jesus is Savior and Lord of all. Regardless of our situation, He is still in control.

God’s plans always prevail. And even though it may be difficult to see now, He is using even this to work for our ultimate good and His eternal glory. {eoa}

Ava Pennington is a writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She writes for nationally circulated magazines and is published in 32 anthologies, including 25 “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books. She also authored Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, endorsed by Kay Arthur. Learn more at .

This article originally appeared at .

God did not create us to live the faith-life on our own. He makes this clear throughout the Bible. But how do we walk that out?

Dr. Sharon Mancha works to answer that question in her new “intentional living” series on her podcast, The Power of Intimacy With Christ, on the Charisma Podcast Network. Mancha uses the analogy of a pit crew to explain the type of people we need around us to achieve endurance in our faith. “A pit stop crew is those people who are prayed up, those people who are so close to God, those people who are sensitive to the voice of God, those people who care about your success in God, those people who are committed to helping you get to the destination so you can cross the finish line and run to win the race,” she says.

“The Scripture says that the race is not given to the swift nor to the strong, but to those who endure to the end,” Mancha says. “So if you’re going to win this race, you’ve got to have a pit stop crew. You can’t survive on your own. … [God] has provided all these resources that you and I may be perfect in Him, that we may be complete and that we may grow in the fullness of what it means to become more like Christ, and to have fruit in our lives that glorifies God and to really reap the harvest of abundant life.

“There is joy in the Holy Ghost as we learn how to pull over to the pit stop. And so the pit stop is all about knowing when you need help, knowing when your gas is running low or when your spiritual life feels depleted. It’s all about knowing when you have a broken heart, and your tires are flat and you’re losing the passion and the desire to go to church, and the church folks are getting on your nerves. It’s knowing how to pull over and say, ‘Hey, I’m in. I need help.'”

To learn more about assembling your own pit stop crew and how you can use this vital tool to grow in intimacy with Christ, click here.

On the verge of physical and emotional collapse, I recently arrived back home after my final emergency trip to be with my dear, dying mother. Rejoicing that she was safely home with the Lord, yet exhausted on every level, I was grateful that now I had time to rest, heal and replenish—with no stress. That very day, all the stuff hit the fan!

Why is it that just when we think we can’t take any more, the Lord often has other plans?

I’ve been struggling along with everyone else with all the turbulence, compounded by personal grief and loss. I’ve hit bottom more than once, yet I am finally starting to rise above it all. Here are a few things that have been helping me to not merely survive, but actually begin to reclaim God’s joy and peace.

1. Release expectations and entitlements.

We need to unclench our fists, open our hands and let go of what we thought it would or should be. The prophet Habakkuk was preparing to lose everything in an imminent enemy invasion. After much wrestling, he was finally able to let go, releasing his demand for earthly comforts and choosing to cling to God and His eternal promise of salvation, no matter what might happen.

“Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the yield of the olive fails, and the fields produce no food; though the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation” (Hab. 3:17-18).

2. Open your senses to all the good that is around you now.

When was the last time you stepped outside and just listened to the birds sing? Or actually stopped to smell a fragrant flower? Or gazed at the moon or stars?

This morning, I listened to Christmas music, and found myself dancing in the kitchen!

With so much nonstop toxicity bombarding us, we need to choose to refocus on all the goodness the Lord is showering upon us. To physically take in and savor our blessings. Now. In spite of what we may not have at the moment.

“O, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Ps. 34:8).

3. Actively seek God and His truth.

Between news, social media and our own unreliable minds, it’s easy to get depressed, confused, fearful and angry. We desperately want answers to our questions and solutions to the problems. But the harder we try, the deeper down we seem to spiral.

Even people of faith struggle. And possibly feel guilty about not being instantly victorious in the battle. Heartbroken and deeply grieving as I watched my mom shrivel up, one of the most encouraging things was to cling to God’s Word. And having written the book Goodbye for Now to support those losing a loved one, I was able to read to her the Scripture verses in it about salvation and heaven. Just hearing the promises strengthened my faith—and hers—in a very fearful and unfamiliar time.

The Lord never promised we would understand what He is doing or why. But when we choose to seek Him and stop to listen to what He says, our faith is strengthened, and His peace supernaturally overrides our fears.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you” (Matt. 6:33).

Many of us pray the Lord’s prayer, specifically, “Thy will be done.” It never occurred to me that perhaps His will is being done! The supreme example in history was Jesus’ death on the cross for us. It looked like God was gone, unloving or out of control. But now we see that it was His plan all along. And those who receive Him will one day be with Him forever in endless joy and peace.

And there, we will never run out of food, money or tissue. {eoa}

When I gave a public call for spiritual professionals to lead a marketplace transformation (published as the cover story of Charisma Digital, December 2019) I had no idea that within 90 days, the globe would be turned upside down by COVID19, and we would be transformed ourselves.

Here we are in a most interesting posture: brought to our knees in humility and repentance, while in our hearts, we look up to God for new assignments.

Everything has changed, and this is the perfect moment to welcome the Holy Spirit to move mightily within the marketplace, bringing a practical working wisdom that changes everything.

It’s a holy moment. And it’s a new day.

Shifting past COVID19 takes doing business with God at the helm of our lives and all our plans.

I believe that some of the greatest ideas will emerge during this crisis when men and women get still and reconsider the desires and gifts God has placed in them for such a time as this. Some will discover totally new callings and businesses.

The world is looking for solutions, and the answers will flow when men and women embrace their giftings and callings:

—If you are called to train, train your mentees to discover what’s possible in this new day.

—If you are called to preach, preach the gospel of transformation on every platform available to you.

—If you are an entrepreneur, do business with God in a new way to meet the needs of your market now.

—If you are a writer, write the messages God has penned on your heart so others may come to life…

Spiritually, God is revealing His plans through His sons and daughters (you are more ready than you know) in this hour. The process of finding new opportunities and a new normal when the change is so vast requires nothing less than a personal transformation by the Holy Spirit.

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes” (Rom. 12:2, TPT).

3 Steps You Must Take to Shift Into the New Marketplace Transformation

1. Update your assignment (business or job) in light of the current times and needs.
2. Rework your plan: Find new outlets for your products and ideas.
3. Take action: Join a community and shift together.

This is to be our finest hour as we respond to the Holy Spirit and shift our plans, transforming the marketplace!

For more from Linda Fields on marketplace transformation, click here. {eoa}

Linda Fields, MBA, is an American educator, marketplace ministry leader, entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker teaching a unique approach to personal leadership and professional success. She is an ordained evangelical Christian minister and host of The Linda Fields Show on the Charisma Podcast network. Find her at .

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Indeed, I am going to come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you'” (Ex. 19:9a).

It’s springtime in the western North Carolina mountains where I was raised. There are days of beautiful sunshine, blue skies and cool breezes. On such days, the views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains are spectacular. But there are also days when storms roll in, black clouds descend, views are obliterated and the thunder shakes the earth as it ricochets from peak to peak. When the storm passes, all of nature seems refreshed and renewed.

I’m reminded of those fierce storms now, because the threatening black cloud of the coronavirus has enveloped our nation. Its powerful impact is ricocheting from “peak to peak”—place to place—from our families to our homes, to our schools, to our businesses, to our sports, to our economy, to our churches, to our health care facilities … to our entire way of life. It seems to be obliterating our view of freedom, of peace, of happiness. The swiftness of this storm’s advance is stunning and almost breathtaking (pun intended).

As I have prayed, a dramatic scene from the Old Testament has unfolded before my mind’s eye, which I would like to describe for you. It took place when the recently freed Israelite slaves were camped at the base of Mount Sinai. God spoke to Moses, the man He had used to liberate the people from bondage in Egypt. The Lord said He would come in a thick cloud to Moses. The Bible then goes on to describe the thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud (Ex. 19:16, 18).

The people were terrified! But Moses encouraged them, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you so that you do not sin” (Ex. 20:21). The people looked, and “the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud” (Ex. 16:10b).The amazing climax was that Moses then approached and entered the cloud where God was (Ex. 20:21). And it was there, in the cloud, that God spoke to Moses.

In the past four years, I, too, have entered into a black, terrifying cloud. My husband’s sudden, unexpected death; my father’s death three years later; my diagnosis of cancer; and the subsequent surgery and follow-up treatments have been personal storms as fiercely threatening as the storm that has now broken upon all of us. But there was a silver lining to the black cloud in my life because it was in the cloud where I encountered God in a fresh way.

I have “seen” His glory—His character—in the dark cloud. I have experienced God’s faithfulness to meet my needs, His grace to pour out His blessings through family and friends, His strength to enable me to endure triumphantly and His goodness to bring me through one day at a time. Throughout the four stormy years, I never once lost my joy, my inner peace or the steadfast hope that God was in control and would work out all things for my good (Rom. 8:28).

During this time, God spoke to me through His Word: “Anne, even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil; for I am with you” (see Ps. 23:4). “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).

In addition to the above promise, could it be that God is using the coronavirus to get our attention so that we will listen to His message? This is what the Lord says: “When I shut up the heaven and there is no rain, or when I command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence on My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer of this place” (2 Chr. 7:13-15).

It’s time to pray! It’s time to turn away from our sin, self-centeredness and secularism, and turn to God in faith and trust. Now. “Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents from punishing” (Joel 2:13b).

If we heed God’s message, He can calm the storm and bring us through to a time of spiritual revival and national renewal.

Pray with me:

Lord God, as we sincerely place our faith in You, have mercy on us! Please! Hear our prayer. Forgive our sin. Heal our land.

As we repent of our sin and return to You, return to us! There is no one like You to help the powerless against this mighty disease. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You and in Your name we come against this vast, invisible enemy (2 Chr. 14:11). Bring us through so that our faith in You is revived, and we experience a national spiritual renewal.

We pray in the name of the one who is the living proof that You truly care about us … Jesus. Amen.

Could the silver lining in the black cloud of the coronavirus be this? That it causes America to look up and listen to what God has to say, and therefore becomes the trigger for a national spiritual revival? May it be so! {eoa}

Anne Graham Lotz, second child of Billy and Ruth Graham, is the founder of AnGeL Ministries and former chairman for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. She has authored 15 books, including her new release, Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion,

This article originally appeared at .

Prophet Jennifer Eivaz is familiar with the spirit of Leviathan. In fact, she’s dealt with this spirit of pride many times, even in those called to intercede for her and her ministry.

He attacks intercessors, she says on the Take 10 With Jenn podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network, because they “get very wonderful revelations from the Lord. Unfortunately, sometimes they also begin to exalt themselves above everybody around them because of their amazing revelations. They begin to exalt themselves, or they get a little bit offended because somebody didn’t hear them or somebody didn’t listen to what they believed God was saying,” she says. “And so this thing of pride will begin to show up in there, but they’re very good at masking it … under the intercession and the piety and the posturing of prayer.”

This spirit is devious, as Eivaz has shared (see here and here). “That spirit will come looking for a house, and so if the attitude is there, it will hook the person who’s been offended; it will hook the person who wants to be exalted,” she says. “And once that person is hooked … you cannot convince them. They begin to make accusations, they begin to point the finger, they begin to talk out of both sides of their mouth (which is what that spirit is attributed to do; it is considered to be doubleheaded, multiheaded.

“In other words, it creates confusion,” Eivaz says. “And so [people hooked by Leviathan] will do that and then you will try to talk sensibly to them, and they can’t hear anything sensibly … and they can’t humble themselves. They can’t go low anymore, because they have now been hooked by that demon principality.

“And they begin to spin out. … I will see a certain look on their face. … I will look into their face and their features will seem to shift. … And that’s how the Holy Spirit shows it to me and helps me to discern it through the attitudes, as well as this particular look I will see show up on their face. … And that’s what’s sad about it is once they’re hooked, we don’t get them back.”

But there is hope, Eivaz says. Click here to hear what God has taught her about how to deal with the spirit of Leviathan.

“Can your [spouse] be your enemy?” That question came from a minister in Northern Ireland after I preached a sermon on praying for your enemies. “Yes,” I replied. That conversation led me to insert a chapter called “An Unhappy Marriage” in my book Thorn in the Flesh. Paul coined the phrase “thorn in the flesh” to describe an extreme form of God’s chastening, or disciplining. Paul said that God sent to him to keep him humble—to keep him from being conceited or admired too much (2 Cor. 12:7).

Paul admitted to needing a thorn in the flesh. If he needed it, how much more do I need it? Do you need a thorn in the flesh? Paul stated that he needed this because he had seen so many revelations and visions. These experiences of God could tempt him to boast a lot. So in order to keep him from being exalted too much, God sent this thorn in the flesh to him—a painful nuisance that would not go away even though he asked God three times to remove it.

In introducing his thorn in the flesh, the apostle Paul refers to one of his visions—when he was translated to the “third heaven.” Whether this experience was “in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows,” says Paul (2 Cor. 12:2b, NIV).

“God knows”—possibly a throwaway comment—forms the foundation for this book and especially this chapter.

Speaking personally, the very knowledge that God knows is what has served to motivate me to live for an audience of one. He is fully aware of what is going on, what I am thinking and what I say. The God of glory is my audience of one. When I write, I am, of course, aware of you, my reader, but I am mainly writing for Him. It is His approval, not yours, I am after. When I preach, I am speaking before God, though I am aware of my listeners. When I speak to my wife, I am conscious of what I say, but I keep in mind that He is listening. When I speak to people—whether to thousands or to one person on a plane, on a train, at a ticket counter or on the telephone—I must remember that God knows what I am saying. He knows my true motive. If I did not believe that God knows what I am thinking at every moment, I would not need to watch what I say or do. The truth is, whether I like it or not, He does know. It is what motivates me to be a better person in all I think, say and do.

The knowledge that He knows is the most comforting thought I can think of. He knows when I am low. When I am mistreated. When I am spoken evil of. When I am lied about. When I am under financial pressure. When I am ill. When I am depressed. God knows. Hallelujah!

And yet, what is most sobering (often painful) is that God knows my true motive in what I do! I can play games sometimes with myself, but when I pause and reflect that He knows exactly why I am up to something, it often stops me from making a foolish mistake.

If you are like me, one of the more common faults we make is to run ahead of the Lord. Joseph and Mary did this. They went a whole day’s journey, “thinking he was in their company” (Luke 2:44a), but He wasn’t. It is so easy to assume the Lord approves of our plans merely because we truly want to please Him, because we have spent time with Him and have even sensed His approval in so much of what we do. And yet it is still very possible to go ahead of Him, thinking He is behind our plans. When we move ahead like this, we are on our own. It is a precarious place to be! {eoa}

Adapted from For an Audience of One by R. T. Kendall, copyright 2020, published by Charisma House. This book will help you realize the importance of receiving God’s approval above the approval of man. It will help you avoid pitfalls that will lead you into a performance mentality and self-promotion. To order your copy, click on this link.

Prayer Power for the Week of March 22, 2020

This week, let knowing that God knows it all comfort you as you face the enormous challenges we all individually and collectively face as a nation. Continue to pray that our leaders would have supernatural wisdom to make the decisions affecting our nation and the world. Thank the Lord that He has promised to be our healer and our provider as well as our Savior and Lord. Continue to pray for revival and that people, young and old, would call out to Him during this crisis. Read: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 5:7.