Kim Walker-Smith and Jesus Culture give one of the longest, most passionate performances of the year. The title track of their new album, Love Has a Name, is an 11-minute worship opus. They perform the full song live before a massive crowd in this video.

A lot of our lateral experiences with human beings inevitably affect how we receive Abba in our hearts. The broken promises we have experienced in our lives at the hands of our fathers, mothers, family members, teachers, former significant others, or friends can make it seem as if no one keeps his promises. The stories we hear of preachers falling into sexual sin, mishandling money, and protecting their own interests before those of the church even lend to this idea that integrity is nonexistent.

Unfortunately the judgments and conclusions we place on others often become the limitations we project on Abba. Therefore the same way that we expect nothing from people’s word, we expect nothing from God. We stop looking for the manifestation of Abba’s Word in our lives. Take a look at any election cycle, broken marriages, dysfunctional families, the prison system and the marginalized sections of our cities and nation, and it will be easy to see that promises are made every day and broken.

We have become conditioned to expect that promises will be broken and that hoping for integrity in someone is unwise. Living anchored in disappointment breeds skepticism that frames our lives with the mentality of “I’ll believe it when I see it.” The problem is that we often take this attitude with us into our times of prayer and apply it to God’s promises for our lives. This approach to life keeps us from seeing the manifestations of God’s Word because, as Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Faith fuels the impossible in our lives. When we don’t believe God for the manifestation of His promises until we see them, there is no faith. Therefore, the Word of God for our lives remains dormant or happens without our even taking notice because we never stood in expectation of it.

However, God wants you to know that He is not your broken promises. He is Abba, a promise keeper. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He spoken, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

When God speaks, we should pay close attention, obey and await the promised blessing. God is His Word, and because of that He puts the full weight of every resource He has to bring His Word to pass on behalf of His people.

Our experiences with a lack of integrity, broken promises, disappointments and the limitations of chronological time should never be the basis of our not fully receiving the revelation of Abba’s Word and promises in our lives. Instead, they should be an inspiration to help elevate our expectation and faith in Abba’s ability to bring forth the manifestation of His Word. If we look at our lives, I guarantee we can match some of the worst seasons of life to a promise of God.

When God’s Word seems not to manifest, it can also be a sign of an assault on a promise. Satan wants to continue the propagation of the lie that God is not a god of His Word. So his strategy is to distract our focus from God, dismantle our hope, and destroy our faith in God with disappointments and broken promises. That was the strategy Satan deployed in the Garden of Eden. The promise God made to Adam and Eve was that human beings would have dominion and rule as well as multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:26, 28). The devil fought this promise with a lie that ushered fear, separation, disappointment and a lack of integrity into the earth because he wants to rule the earth.

Since God’s Word cannot fail, the promise of humans having dominion, ruling, multiplying and filling the earth could not fail. So God countered Satan’s lie with a promise about Jesus centuries before He was born. God promised that Jesus’s destiny was to crush the head of the devil and restore humans back to their rightful place of dominion, as God originally spoke.

God’s Word not only set up humanity for redemption, but it also exposed the lie that Satan still tries to use even today to cause people to lose hope in Abba’s promises. Satan wants people to believe that God is not who He says He is and that His Word concerning us is not true.

Without God’s Word in the garden, the lie of the devil concerning Abba’s identity and our identity in God would have continued. Hence God had to step in. Wherever you see a lie at work in your life, whether it be a lack of integrity, brokenness or disappointment, know that God is speaking a promise for you. There is only one thing more powerful than a lie, and it is a promise kept. When Satan releases lies against you, God always speaks a sure word of promise on your behalf. {eoa}

Matthew L. Stevenson is a powerful governmental prophet and an apostolic overseer. He has been in ministry for sixteen years and has served as the senior pastor of All Nations Worship Assembly for twelve years. He holds three academic degrees in the areas of leadership, education, and ministry. He oversees more than sixty ministries through The GATE Network, which is a family of churches and ministries around the world that look to him for supervision, oversight, and apostolic leadership. He is the husband of Dr. Kamilah Stevenson and the father of three. This passage is an excerpt of his book Abba (Charisma House, 2017).

How many times could you ask your boss to do your job before he’d just fire you? Bill Johnson believes it’s the same way with God. We keep praying for God to cast out demons or do mighty works—but Christ has already given us that power and responsibility.

In this special Viewpoint Segment, We will discuss the current Black Death Plague that is spreading in Madagascar that has now resulted in over a hundred dead and over a thousand infected and putting nine countries on high alert.

In this special Viewpoint segment, We will discuss the current Black Death plague that is spreading in Madagascar that has now resulted in over a hundred dead and over a thousand infected and put nine countries on high alert.

A fourth tip to increase patience toward your spouse is to experience the pure power of patience. The Proverbs state in 16:32 that a patient man wins a city.

Now go back in time to the writer of Proverbs’ time. What was the primary protective structure of a city in Old Testament times? That’s right; it was the big, thick wall that surrounded the city.

I can’t think of a better picture of an angry person than a walled off city. Now how would a patient man win a city?  Why not a cruel man, a strong man, a clever man or a great warrior?

I thought and thought about this proverb. I remember stories and movies about wars where a general would camp outside of a city. He would encircle the city so no one could leave. He would cut off its water and food supplies and wait. He would wait while the enemy city would get weak, dehydrated and starved. They would fight internally and eventually open their gates to their well-fed and watered conqueror. Patience was the force this general would use. You see, patience is raw power.

Anger needs food sources. Your impatience is the food source of anger. As you react, overreact or just act plain silly, anger gets stronger. That anger mocks your impatience and can turn the focus toward you and never be dealt with.

I have found that patience cannot nourish anger. Patience is to anger what kryptonite is to Superman. The angry person feels the adrenaline rush, their thoughts race faster, and they have x-ray vision of seeing into your history and your feeble impatience.

Yet with the kryptonite of patience, it’s not you who looks foolish. It’s not you whose rationale is faulty. No, it’s you who appears together, confident and calm in the wings of your spouse. They eat up their resources rapidly and eventually need to open up and get honest.

It doesn’t happen the first time you are patient. Like the general who waits day after day, the spouse becomes weakened because the food of your reactive impatience is no longer feeding them.

You see the power of patience is that it is an intentional force. Like an intentional blow a black belt would strike an opponent with, so is patience. Patience is an action. Patience is not some passive state of agreement or being walked all over.

Patience is power. When I am patient with myself, Lisa, my children and any of my staff or counselors, it is always a better experience than if I responded impatiently.

The next tip I would like you to consider is that patience is a seed. In Galatians 5:22 it talks about patience being a fruit of the spirit. Fruits all have seeds. Fruit trees all grow the same way; the fruit (i.e., an apple, orange, etc.) falls off the tree, the rotten fruit gives way to seeds. The seeds go into the ground and with the conditions of soil, rain and light it creates a new fruit tree—this process has been going on for thousands of years.

The power of a seed is incredible. Humans are still just fancy dirt. Remember Adam was created from dirt. When we see an act of patience like a listening ear, silence about a spouse’s mistake, a laugh instead of a glare, we are sowing patience into our spouse’s being. Patience allows us to discipline our responses toward our spouse and some of his/her difficult behavior.

Now seeds like these don’t grow instantly. Seeds take time to mature. As I intentionally plant the seeds of patience, I won’t reap instantly, but I will reap eventually. I have found that as I have become more patient (by Lisa’s assessment) I have also received more patience.

I am a sinner until death. I feel sorry for Lisa that I will sin and will absolutely need her patience. I want to keep planting the seed of patience in the soil of Lisa because there are days I need to eat the fruit of patience she has grown.

I also have had Lisa sow patience into my soul. This process also allows me to remember how she has been patient with me, and therefore I am more patient with her. I think you can see the principle of sowing and reaping that can happen in a marriage. Sow like the wind and reap a harvest when the season comes for you to need a harvest.

This last tip may not seem like a pleasant one, but it does help when your goal is being more patient. This tip is about forbearance. Forbearance means there are just some things in life that will not change either in a lifetime or at least not your lifetime.

Things that are unchanging such as things about your spouse, you will just simply need to forbear. I know it’s not glamorous, but in every marriage you get to be like Christ and forbear.

Being patient can motivate you to change and become more compatible with your spouse and modify your behaviors that can be annoying. Patience can help you through this season with your spouse.

Although spouses feel they must communicate the little things that bother them, this doesn’t always bring about change. Just think about how many times the Holy Spirit has reminded you about change. If you take a moment, there have been some things He has talked with you about for years.

The Holy Spirit has forbeared many of your less-than-wonderful characteristics. Forbearing your spouse’s shortcomings is an opportunity for you to grow the fruit of patience.

Now, if you’re forbearing, don’t do it grudgingly. When you are forbearing, a good sense of humor helps. I have found that if I can laugh I can enjoy my spouse instead of merely tolerating her. She is the daughter of God, and she has flaws. Her flaws can be cute or annoying depending on where my heart is. So see if you can smile before you start talking to yourself about the wonderful gift of your spouse. {eoa}

Doug Weiss, Ph.D., is a nationally known author, speaker and licensed psychologist. He is the executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the author of several books including, The 7 Love Agreements. You may contact Dr. Weiss via his website,  or on his Facebook or by phone at 719-278-3708 or through email at heart2heart@.

Natural situations can sometimes unlock spiritual revelations. As I walked into my office, I saw my driver’s license facedown on the scanner, waiting to be duplicated.

At that moment, the Lord spoke to my heart. He showed me He was giving out new names and unlocking new identities in this season. The enemy tried to “dupe” many of you. He accused you and maligned your character. But God is giving you a new name for this season. A blessed name.

Check out this teaching and let it encourage your heart.

Many in the body of Christ have walked through a difficult season of justice, slander, persecution, cursing and other demon-inspired attacks through people.

The strategy is clear: The enemy is trying to put out the fire of the burning ones through a constant assault on character, finances and relationships.

If that’s you, it’s time to celebrate. I heard the Lord say, “Justice served.” Hear the word of the Lord:

“I am releasing judgments in this season—righteous judgments against the enemies of your soul, who have instigated and initiated injustices against you. For I am a God of justice and I release vindication and vengeance in My timing.

“My timing is now for those who have stood in faith and willfully chosen to return good for evil done to them. I am serving up justice for the merciful who have prayed for their persecutors and blessed those who cursed them.

“This is a season of justice. Walk in it.”

If you are growing weary in well-doing when the wrong thing is happening to you, this is reason for rejoicing. You can expect a hearty serving of God’s justice if you have kept your heart right. If you have grown bitter in the battle, now is the time to repent, forgive and otherwise get your heart right so you can see the recompense God wants to pour out.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to bless our enemies—to bless those who curse us (Matt. 5:43-48). He wasn’t talking about blessing the devil, who is the real enemy, but people who the enemy is using to harm us. When you understand the Greek word for bless, you may cringe, but there’s power in obeying this command.

The Greek word for bless is eulogeo. According to The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon, it means, “to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; to ask God’s blessing on a thing; pray God to bless in one’s use; pronounce a consecratory blessing on; to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on.”

This radical concept of blessing can be difficult to swallow, but the blessings that boomerang back on you will be difficult to contain.

Armed with this revelation, pray blessings on your enemies until you sincerely mean what you pray. This will deliver you from any unforgiveness, increase your authority in the spirit and position you for radical justice in this season.

Today I want to write to those of you who, no matter how hard you try, feel stuck. Maybe you’ve been following Jesus for years, or perhaps you’re just getting started—but you find yourself unable to overcome a certain struggle that keeps rearing its ugly head.

If this describes you, keep reading.

First, know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Jesus will never stop forgiving you. He sees the torment your sin brings you every time you fall. He knows you truly want to be free. And by His grace, these words today can help you.

So if you’ve fallen, or keep falling, don’t stay in shame. Every time you fall, keep getting back up, keep repenting, and keep running boldly before the Throne of Grace, where you find mercy (Hebrews 4:16).

Next, though—and this is key—I want you to examine your motive for changing. If your heart is not in the right place, you’ll likely find it very difficult to get and stay free from whatever you are struggling with. That’s what I experienced in my own life. Allow me to share my story.

Years ago, I struggled with an addiction to pornography. I became addicted several years before coming to Christ and even after getting married and working in ministry, I could not get free. I once had one of the most well-respected ministers in America lay hands on me and pray for me to be delivered from my addiction. None of it worked.

My freedom didn’t come until I changed my priorities. In the beginning, my desire to be free was driven by fear. I wanted God to set me free because I feared my sin would get in the way of my ministry and God’s call on my life. I was afraid of getting caught and being exposed. In other words, my motivation for being free was self-focused. I was worried about the negative effects my sin would have in my own life.

But then my heart shifted in a powerful way. God revealed to me that even in my repentance, I was making it all about me. I stopped being motivated by fear and instead, I allowed love to be the driving force for change. Fear looks inward at the self, but love looks outward.

More than anything else, I began to focus on how my decisions were affecting my intimacy with Jesus. I started caring about how my sin affected God. I became grieved over my sin because I realized I was hurting the heart of the One I loved.

To put it differently, I began to experience true godly sorrow over my sin.

This was a game-changer.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul contrasts two kinds of sorrows—godly sorrow that leads to salvation and worldly sorrow that brings death. My story illustrates both of these sorrows. At first, my sorrow was worldly, meaning it was self-focused. I was worrying about what would happen to me as a consequence of my sin.

But later, my sorrow became godly. I became concerned over how my sin was hurting God and others. The focus of my sorrow and repentance shifted from fear to love.

It has made all the difference.

If you want to get and stay free, start with your why. Without the right force driving you, you’ll just keep spinning your wheels. {eoa}

John Bevere and his wife, Lisa Bevere, are the founders of Messengers International. A minister and best-selling author, John delivers messages of uncompromising truth. His resources have been translated into over 100 languages, and millions of copies have been given to pastors and leaders worldwide. John’s past two books, Good or God? and Driven by Eternity, have each sold over 100,000 copies within the first six months of release. When he’s home, John tries to convince Lisa to take up golf and spends time with his four sons, daughter-in-law and grandbabies.

This article originally appeared at .

We’re in the midst of repurposing the basement area of our home as the original space it was intended to be—a family room. We envision hosting extended family gatherings, small groups from church and fun time with friends and family.

Since we move to this house 18 years ago, the basement has served to house foster children and young adults. Through the years little has been done to the basement. To bring it back to its intended design, we are in our own season of demolition.

Remodeling

As always one thing leads to another and before new flooring can be installed, the old carpets and pads had to be removed along with tack strips. Then, the floor has to be prepped and leveled. Before that happens, though, the walls have to be primed and then painted. And before that, baseboards have to be removed.

Then, somewhere in the process, the decision has to be made to paint or not paint the brick fireplace. Finally, the flooring has to be installed and baseboards reinstalled. Then, window coverings, furnishings and finishing touches completed.

The tasks seem endless because one thing leads to another. Often in the midst, we just need a break from it all and tell ourselves why we are doing this in the first place.

It so reminds me of my weight-loss journey. I knew with the state I was in, I needed a major upheaval of some sort, but I had no idea how to get there. I really thought I just needed to lose weight. That in itself was a daunting task since I weighed 430 pounds at the time.

Surrender

What I finally realized, though, was that I needed to surrender all the obstacles standing in my way of going forward towards the life God had already designed for me.

That initial process was hard because the first thing that had to go was my dependence on sugar. I had to admit to God and myself that I was a sugar addict and that my life had become unmanageable. I was weak around sugar. I couldn’t say, “no.” Still, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this was my main issue.

So I laid that on God’s altar. Out of love and obedience, I surrendered sugar to God. I asked Him to show me the next step, to show me how to walk out the journey.

He brought people into my life to help me, to guide me and goad me, to coach me and encourage me. Without them, I never would have gotten as far as I have on my own life-repurposing project. I would have stopped halfway through and gone back to my addiction. I would undoubtedly be in a much worse shape than I was when I started.

Transformed

Instead, my life has changed, transformed in astronomical ways. Not only have I lost 260 pounds and kept it off for over four years, but I’ve written four books and two study guides and have over 800 blog posts on my website.

Then, God called me to coach others. He and I have coached hundreds of people who have lost thousands of pounds. By the grace of God, I have appeared on numerous Christian television shows and shared in workshops and speaking at numerous places, always knowing the God in me will not fail to give me the right words to say.

None of this was in my mind when I began my journey. I had two things I wanted. I wanted to lose weight and I wanted to write a book that mattered. God took my destiny far beyond my limited imagination.

Designed to Live

It reminds me of Joanna Gaines on Fixer Upper. She can walk into an old, dilapidated house and immediately see the potential. Through the magic of television, we see in her mind the drawings of what she is thinking as she removes walls, moves hallways around and remodels bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms.

Usually, the homeowners want three or four bedrooms and an open floor plan, but when Joanna and Chip, her husband the Demo Day guy, get done, the house is something that is beyond the homeowners’ wildest dreams.

That’s what God did for me. I look at myself in the mirror today and I am amazed at what I see. From where I was to where I am today is so over the top. He did far more than I could ever imagine or guess or request in my wildest dreams! God had more in mind for me than I did.

I’m so glad I allowed God to change me from the inside out. He showed me that only happens when I take my eyes off myself and my own selfish desires and fix my attention on Him.

This week in Sweet Change Group, we’re talking about Demo Day and surrendering what stands in our way of becoming everything God wants us to be in order to allow Him to repurpose our lives.

Believe me, friends, what Jesus has in mind for us only comes through surrender based on loving and obeying Him.

This journey we are on starts and ends in Him. He is our author and our finisher. If we stay close to Him and follow Him in everything He tells us and shows us, we can’t help but be repurposed, remodeled and remade into the new design He has waiting for us. {eoa}

 Teresa Shields Parker is the author of seven books, all available on Amazon. Her latest book, Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God, is available now, and Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds is the No. 1 Christian weight-loss memoir. She is also a writing and weight-loss coach, blogger, speaker, wife and mother. Visit her online at  to find her books, coaching programs and free gifts.

This article originally appeared at .