Women Who Pray

As a very young woman, in my late 20’s, I went to a pro-family, pro-life meeting, and listened to a lady, telling me why I should be involved with what was going on in my nation. The Word that she brought that day has remained in my heart all these years. The time period was before my 3rd son was born, so it was more than 30 years ago. How amazing is our God!

The prophet Ezekiel was Israel’s watchman, and in Chapter 33, it begins:
The Word of the Lord came to me; Son of man, speak to your people
and tell them: Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the
people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as
their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and
blows his trumpet to warn the people. Then, if anyone hears the
sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning, and the sword comes
and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. Since he
heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his blood
is on his own hands. If he had taken warning, he would have saved
his life. However, if the watchman sees the sword coming but
doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the
sword comes and takes away their lives, then they have been
taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman
accountable for their blood. As for you, son of man, I have made
you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word
from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked:
Wicked one, you will surely die, but you do not speak out to warn him
about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will
hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked person
to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his
iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

As an ambassador for Christ, with the ministry of reconciliation, I am blowing the trumpet in Zion. Israel was God’s chosen people. He was their God, and, yet, in Ezekiel 33: the Lord God is saying through the prophet and watchman, Ezekiel, to tell the House of Israel:

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the
wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of
Your evil ways! Why will you die, House of Israel?”

Now, in the Church, today…and I must say a very spoiled church we are here in the U.S. …there is very little preaching on Holiness and living Holy Lives! In many cases, the best of the Church families are very compromised today, if we compare us to the Church families of the past. I mean, we have as many divorces as unbelievers. We have children living the homosexual life style, we have children living with significant others instead of husbands or wives, and we have children outwardly adorning their bodies with clothes, jewelry, and artwork that is not Christ-like. And, yet, they are naming the Name of Christ.

I’m not sure what happened. I was in my teens, when the Beatles and all the Hippy revolution hit our nation. It was very easy to dress as a wannabe, but the Fear of God kept me from crossing over the line. The floppy hats, no makeup, no bra, barefoot, etc., is as close as I got. At 24 years old, and with 2 small children, I repented. I had to throw away anything to do with what sign I was born under, toss love stories and magazines, give up soap operas, and renounce yoga. All were taking me away from my Lord. Once I knew that I was grieving the Holy Spirit, I had to run from the deceiver, the devourer, the enemy of God.

God has not changed! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! In Revelation, when He says there will be no adulterers and whoremongers in Heaven, are we so foolish – so wise in our own eyes – that we believe He does not mean what He says! I know that God is who He says He is! I know that He will do what He says He will do! That’s not only positive thinking – that’s Word! It not only means I’m in the beloved and blessed! It means that the Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.
I don’t believe the Church is walking and living in the Fear of God! I hear Christians – at least they say they are – defaming the Name of Jesus! I hear them – especially the younger ones say – those words said in all the movies and even on the t.v. and the life-styles portrayed – aren’t so bad to say or watch. God didn’t really mean when He said not to look or even mention such depraved things. He didn’t mean when He said keep your tongue from evil!

These same precious people are praying, and they have no idea why God is not answering their prayer. God has His rules. He requires obedience. God doesn’t say I will bless all my disobedient children. He says Obedience is better than sacrifice. If you are a man and you are not the head of your home, leading your wife and children in the way they should go, each and every day, 24/7, then, you are disobedient. The Word says that anyone who cannot rule his home should not be a deacon or a pastor. If you are a woman and you are contentious, not submissive to the head of your home, not making your children obey you and their father, then you are disobedient. The Word of God is hindered and blasphemed. Obviously, iniquity is regarded in your heart, and He can’t hear your prayer.

Let me tell you how often I’ve been corrected – disciplined – by my Heavenly Father for my rebellion to His Word. That’s why I’m sharing with you. The Lord corrects the one He loves. If you’ve not been corrected by the Lover of our souls, then are you truly His son or daughter. The Word says, if we’re not disciplined by Him, we are bastard children.

I know this is bold and tough to take. But, Church!!! Bride of Christ!!!! I blow the trumpet!!! The sword is coming upon the land, and it is the Lord God Almighty, Himself, and He will judge His House first. If we do not judge ourselves first, confessing our sin and turning from our wicked ways, He will judge us when we see Him. Ezekiel says in verses 13 -16, paraphrased, that if the righteous man trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteousness will be remembered. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed. The wicked man, who confesses and repents from his sin and does what is just and right will certainly live. None of his sins will be held against him.

You may say that’s the O.T., Teddi, not the N.T. Let’s look at Hebrews 3, after Paul is talking about Israel, and the testing in the desert, he says beginning with verse 12:
Watch out, brothers, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.

There’s no more time to play Church. No more time to sit waiting on Jesus to come for an immature, very blemished Bride. It is time for us to join in one voice across this world in intercession for our Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Make ready! Fill your lamps “wise virgins” – have all the oil needed to shine brightly and replenish as we await our groom. “Foolish virgins” will run out of oil, and while they go to get more, He will come and the door will be shut. Forever! Matthew 24 and 25 are prophetical!

I am a watchman on the walls of the Church and Israel. We are in one fold since the veil was rent at the crucifixion of our Lord. In Jesus there’s no Jew of gentile. We are One. Isaiah 52 says the watchmen will see the coming of Zion! We watch daily, now for 8 full years. Many have now joined us across this earth to pray in one voice with us. As a Watchman I blow the Trumpet because I see the sword of God’s judgment coming upon this land – my nation – and all the nations of this earth. The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof!

The Lord is returning, and we must ready ourselves to meet Him while it is still Today!!!!

In Jesus’ Name…

Amen and Amen.

I was reminded of this blog that I had written, when talking with someone I love recently. I heard the words, “ I don’t have time.” My response was, “You have the same amount of time that I do.”

I’ve said those same words so many times, but ever since the Lord showed me this precious gem of Truth, I have operated differently.

TIME

Make time! Take time! Time out! On time! Behind time! Have time! Mark time! Time time American time! Over time! Out of time!

Today was the fourth day with snow on the ground, and for us who live in Metro Atlanta, it is not the norm during the winter. I’ve listened to all the voices around me, as we’ve gone from enjoying the wonder of the beauty of snow and enjoyed playing in it …to being extremely stir crazy, doing without our mail and garbage pick-up — things we do indeed take for granted. Unusual for this area, the temperatures have remained very cold and the melting snow and ice today has refrozen and there was more slipping and sliding today than yesterday.

As all this unfolds I am reminded of the first words I heard when the snow first blanketed us. Be still and know that I AM God. God is still on His throne, and all is right with the world. As the voices have changed from voices of wonder to voices of complaint and unrest, I hear the Lord say,

“Just like Israel. After I answer their prayers, they mumble and complain. Did you not say, I need more time with my family. I need time to clean my house. I need time to read a book. I don’t have time to pray. I don’t have time to study my Bible.” Have I not heard you and answered your prayer? Have I not given you four days, and many of you have tomorrow — 5 days. Five is the number of grace! Grace to you, my children. You ask, and I answer..and you still murmur and complain.”

If you place your hand into this water, it will not displace the water. Yet, your hand is in the water. Time is like this. You must make time to do anything that you need to or want to do. If you stop doing anything you’ve been doing everyday, it is hard to fit it back in. You will wonder how you ever had time for that activity. If you want to spend time with God, you must set aside and make your divine appointment with him everyday. What a wonderful thing…time. We pray, “Lord, redeem the time. In Jesus’ Name Amen and Amen!”

He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

As you seek Him first every single day, spending time with Him in the Secret Place every morning before you begin the day, you will find that the time you have to do everything you need to do is redeemed. Obedience. Order. All Biblical words, therefore, THE WORD!

We call the day, our day. We talk about time like the same amount is not available to each of us. We Martha around, so often forgetting, that if we don’t Mary, we don’t do what God loves best! We do what we want to do instead of what He sees as the best!!

Do you have needs? Then, Seek Him first, everyday, tarry for that hour or more, and as the time gets closer to His return, with others in agreement, chasing more than 1,000 – that’s not enough for the Last Days Church. We must join in one voice, combating the enemy with the Word only that slays the enemy!

Have a blessed day today, and arise in the morning committed to the Secret Place first and foremost. If you can arise with others, like I do, DO IT!!! You won’t be the same!!! I promise!!!

Love you much in the Lord!

Teddi

I am just in from spending time in the mountains with my hubby and bestfriend of 42 years. We really enjoy our children and our grandchildren and all our family, but to get away even for 24 hours like we do every 2 or 3 weeks is precious. We talk about things that there’s no time to discuss every night when we are tired after the day. Like most Americans, we spend time in front of the tv each night, and we calm down in order to sleep.

There’s only the 2 of us now, and we are very thankful that we have made to effort to be friends. After all these years, if we weren’t — if we didn’t like to do things together — that would be so sad. We know each other well, often anticipating the next move or conversation…we’re a good team. Discussing children, and grandchildren, and finances, and food, and whatever — sometimes both of us having to compromise to do that.

My husband and I are in relationship. We care about each other. He is very protective, to the point that I have missed his meaning at times and just thought he was being bossy. I didn’t want him to sound like my Dad. My mistake. As I look back at all the times, my submitting, even kicking and screaming, was always the right way to go…I did not want to give in…I thought my idea was just as good as his… but when I did, things turned out right.

I’ve always been able to count on my husband. I have sometimes thought he could work a little less and be with me a little more, or I’ve thought he could be romantic and send flowers or a card more often. However, this man has provided for me and my children all these years. Faithful to me! I have confidence in him, and I believe that he has that in me and considers me faithful.

Tonight, at 7:35 pm eastern standard time, in Georgia, in the US, I am comparing my marriage to my walk with the Lord. I used to see Him as way up in heaven, and I spoke elegantly to Him — Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father! Then, I heard, a prayer one day that caused my hairs to stand on end, when the young woman said, “Father, God,” and I knew that her Father filled my mother’s living room.

As the years have gone by, I can say with confidence, that He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. That’s no longer just a song I sang as a little girl. That is an anthem in my heart! My 5 minutes…or 10 min…or 20 min. a day has grown. Now, I don’t have quiet time, where I silently pray or Bible Study time where I just read the Word. All that has become one continuous walk. I spend 1 1/2 hours as I awaken with sisters in Christ, praying aloud…proclaiming God’s Word about all that He has told me to pray — all that concerns me — every area of my life.

When I leave that place each morning, I have marinated in the Word. So different than reading the Word and praying my words. My desire to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind and my neighbor as myself — thus fulfilling the law — thus obeying the 10 commandments — and that is according to the Lord Jesus, Himself — has been accomplished! Glory to God!

As I go through the day, caring for my granddaughter, paying bills, grocery shopping, ministering on our website and our fb page, or talking on the phone, I respond differently than I did. You can’t marinate in God’s Word…You can’t remain in or abide in the Secret Place of the Most High and not see a change in yourself and your circumstances…causing change in those around you and their circumstances. It is infectious — contagious — to proclaim the Word all the time.

This intimacy I share with my Lord is much like that with my husband. I can count on Jesus. He never fails me. He knows me as I am and He loves me anyway. I love Him as He is and I love Him anyway. I hear people say, “I don’t want a God that will send anyone to hell.” Or, “What about all the starving children? Or the earthquakes, tornadoes, and psunamis?” Well, I can only speak of what I know! My god is good all the time. He sends no one to hell…we choose life or death…it is a choice! We are not promised tomorrow. We can only count on today. Today is the day of salvation. If we’re saved, we’re safe, and death is only a door away. Perfect love has cast out all fear!

I implore you to marinate in the Word! Come on in…it is wonderful!!!! 🙂

Love in Jesus’ Name,

Teddi

I come before You, Lord, knowing that You have summoned me to this writing. You who visited me as I was in the shower, washing my hair, and I begin hearing and then singing unto You, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Blessed be the Name of the Lord! He is worthy to be praised and adored!
So just lift up Holy Hands in ONE ACCORD! Singing Blessed be the Name!
Blessed be the Name! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!!!

Father, as I sang it over and over unto You, I could see the Church throughout this earth singing over and over! We are not our own, Lord! We have been bought with a price – the precious blood of the Lord Jesus! I hear the cries, Lord, not only about me, my family members, friends, community, but I hear the cries across this ministry. You have allowed us to hear the cries of the saints unto the uttermost…any who have computers and can come on the internet, You in your infinite perfection have granted this privilege of speaking to each other through the nations.

You have told us that we can speak Life and death. You have given us the power of the tongue. We pray with our tongue – we speak things that are not as though they are. We are Your vessels. We are Your children. We begin newborn as infants, and we grow into the Sons of God! In You, Lord, there’s no gender, no color, no Jew and Gentile. In Jesus, we are one. The picture is magnificent! But, just as my grandchild colored messily and out of line for her granddaddy the first picture, she compared to her cousin’s elegant colored picture, and she promptly sat down and worked harder – more fervently – and he Pop was soooo proud of her! He noticed her thought process, her determination to perfect the imperfect and He praised her not only to herself in front of me and the older cousin, but again in front of her parents. Such a picture God of what is going on!

Lord may we the elders, the ones who spend the time with You and hear from You, make way for the younger ones, even the babes…May we not enable them to do less than what the Fear of the Lord requires. Without that, there’s no wisdom or knowledge. May we convey to these young ones the urgency of the hour to color inside the lines so to speak. May we not just let them continue to be babes. May we encourage and praise them as they grow and increase, and may we not be part of giving all trophies, even those who fail, like goes on throughout my nation for the ball teams. If all win the same trophy, how do we know when we reach the goal?

You, Lord have commanded us to Seek You First! If we don’t have our needs met, and we are not finding time to Seek You first, then, it’s pretty clear the problem here. If we focus on the negative, the problems, then out of our mouth comes the problems..complaining, criticizing, moaning..it is the way of us beings. We speak what we see and hear, not what the Word says! If we speak what Jesus says about Himself – believing He is who He says He is in the Word, and He will do what He says He will do – and we believe we are who He says we are and can do all things through Christ – then circumstances change. How do we do this? By filling on the Word – praying His prayer – His Word about everything! No matter how sweet and elegant my prayers – my words are – even including the Word here and there – nothing is powerful to pull down strongholds – to slay the enemy – but the Word.

The Communist Manifesto was a written document. It was believed and spoken by Marx, and Lenin, etc., and at one time in my life, when you looked at a map – even when I first began teaching in Aug 1991 – so much of Europe and Asia was red. It was communist. Another profound document is the Constitution of the United States, based on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and believed, fought and died for, has allowed freedom throughout so much of the world, especially in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Another document that arose about 500 AD, first written, believed, and now has spread into every nation of the world – the Qaran. This is not simply another religion. This religion preaches the annihilation of Israel and all Christians. Those friends on fb with us in some of the middle eastern countries governed by Islam, even if they are from other nations, say they cannot have Bibles. Also, there are still underground churches in many places. To convert to Christianity places the convert and his/her family in danger.

The Lord, today, says, to get ready Church, stand and sing – Blessed be the Name of the Lord! He is Worthy to be Praised and adored! So just lift up Holy Hands unto the Lord! Singing, Blessed be the Name! Blessed be the Name! Blessed Be the Name of the Lord! Thou art worthy! Thou art worthy! Thou art worthy O LORD! To receive glory! Glory and Honor! Glory, and Honor, and Power! For Thou has created, has all things created…For Thou hast created all things! And for Your pleasure, we are created! Thou art worthy O LORD!!!

You might say to me, Teddi, or Mama, or Sister, that I have so much more time than you do because I am retired. I did not begin praying for over one hour every morning in the Secret Place of the Most High when I retired. I began praying as I do now, very early in the morning, over eight years ago. Before that, I prayed early but less time. I know I’m called to pray, but so is anyone who wants change in their circumstances — anyone who hears the Lord as He goes to and fro across the earth looking for ONE to stand for a family, a city, a nation, the world…

We all begin like Isaiah who feels so unclean before the Lord – we all feel like we’re not old enough or not elegant or adequate enough – just like Jeremiah, and Moses, and Gideon. The Lord does not call the mighty! Our God calls the common and He makes them Mighty!! This God I serve is the God of the individual. Our walk with Him is personal – very intimate. We may be foolish enough to take it lightly but He does not take it lightly.

As a young believer, I approached the Lord with elegant words I had heard others pray, and then, I would go to prayer meetings and come home more burdened after I’d been. I had to learn much. The Lord does not hear me because I say elegant words. He does not hear me when I act like he’s my bud. The Lord tells me when He hears me, and as I have grown more familiar, more intimate with Him, I know that He hears me because I pray according to His Word. He says so in James 5 and I believe Him. I also know that if I regard iniquity in my heart, He will not hear me. If I have wronged someone, broken any of the commandments, in fact, or I’m just disappointed and unforgiving of anything or anyone, then, until I right all that, He can’t hear me. It’s not because He doesn’t love me or want to hear, but He does not change – not just for me. His Word is written – it is finished – complete! As long as I am contrary to the Word, I am in sin.

Whew! Hard to say! Hard to speak the Truth, Lord – but Your Church, Your children, are fearful, and unfaithful, and unforgiving, and ….unsubmissive to authority…and complaining, and moaning, and groaning…we’re just so pitiful at times. Pity parties all over! We don’t want to put for the effort to obey You! You say, Lord, Obedience is better than sacrifice! You say, Lord, Children obey your parents. Honor your Father and Mother. That doesn’t stop with age. Being 21 means you can buy some things, but it is not your right and privilege now to fix your parents, or to disregard their advice. Sure, there are some parents that don’t know the Lord, and ones that live in outrageous sin – obviously they are not to be followed. However, we who have been blessed with Godly parents need to listen much more carefully to what they say…and to watch what they do. Wisdom has been ordained by God for the righteous elders in the family, community, Church..and so many times we push them out of the way…calling them senior citizens…but many were retired to early by the businesses…including education…at least in this nation I live in. No matter how charismatic – how wonderful the young woman or man is – unless they have followed, they’ll never lead well. Unless they have submitted to authority, God will not honor them as a leader.

We see it in the Word! Don’t let the novice teach! We have always seen in the world, the master and the apprentice. If we can’t sit under a teacher or leader and be taught or led, then we can’t lead! An unteachable spirit is not of God! When we see signs that say don’t and we do, or when we know the law, and somehow think it doesn’t apply to us, our God is just waiting for us to grow up and stop staying babies. Growing up takes effort! As we spend time with the Lord, His Word, His people that walk and live by Faith, who eat, drink, and sleep the Word, then we are waiting on the Lord, serving Him with all our heart, learning to live the abundant life He has called us to! It’s not just a privilege, His Word is a command! He promises that we will rule in the future, but He clearly defines that some will rule one city and some 10. With the talents, one was given 2, and one 5, and one 1. The one who received 1 hid it in the ground. The one with 2 doubled. The one with 5 doubled. God took that 1 and gave to the one who had 10.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. I believe you are here , reading this by divine appointment. Some are here to repent, and I pray you will. The good thing about God is that He already knows, and He’s just waiting on you to tell Him you know. Then, all is washed away, never to be seen again. You may be here to be confirmed in what You have already heard the Lord say to you. I pray that as you leave here, you will lift up your Holy Hands and sing with me, Blessed be the Name of the Lord! He is worthy to be praised and adored! Let’s just lift up Holy Hands to the LORD! Singing…Blessed be the Name! Blessed be the Name! Blessed be the Name of the LORD!!
Love in you in the LORD,
Teddi

Today, I hear of so much strife and bickering among family members. It’s more than the normal sibling rivalry that most of us have seen in our families, but separating of ties — having nothing to do with each other. There’s not only the huge increase in divorce — even in the Church — but there’s the separation of parents and their children. So much pain! There’s also great division among members in the body of Christ. This should not be so.

I want to share with you a prayer that we pray as part of our prayer blanket every day. It comes from Chapter 7 of Stormie Omartian’s The Power of the Praying Parent. We pray this for our families, and all our tent (which includes you), and for all of the Family of God:

Lord, we pray for all of the children in this tent, including Your children, Lord, and for their relationship with all family members. Protect and preserve them from any unresolved or permanent breach. Fill their hearts with Your love and give them an abundance of compassion and forgiveness that will overflow to each member of the family. We pray for close, happy, loving, and fulfilling relationships between daughters and mothers, sisters, brothers, sisters and brothers, fathers and sons, and all sisters and brothers in Christ for all of the days of their lives. May there always be good communication between them and may unforgiveness have no root in their hearts. Help all our children and Your children Lord to love, value, appreciate, and respect one another so that the Godordained tie between them cannot be broken. We pray according to Your Word, that they “be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

Teach all to resolve misunderstandings according to Your Word. And if any division has already begun, if any relationship is strained or severed, Lord, we pray that You will drive out the wedge of division and bring healing. We pray that there be no strain, breach, misunderstanding, arguing, fighting, or separating of ties. Give each one a heart of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Your Word instructs us toe “be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” Help us to live accordingly, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. In Jesus’ Name we pray that You would instill a love and compassion in all of us for all our family members including the Family of God that is strong and unending, like a cord that cannot be broken.

May we each pray this each day for our homes, and all our tent, and for the Body of Christ. Jesus prayed in John 17, in the Garden of Gethsemane, that we will be one as He and the Father are one! Without family unity, that cannot and will not happen. Without Church family unity, that also cannot and will not happen. We waiting on Him to come, and He’s waiting on us to be ONE! It doesn’t just happen. It takes effort not to separate. It takes patience and love to unite.

The prayer we learned as children, at least most of us did. Those my age, we prayed this publicly at PTA meetings and community meetings. We called it the Lord’s Prayer. There’s one little word that makes a world of difference in that prayer. It is a 2-letter word…the word AS. The part I’m referring to is where it says …”Forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Do we have people that have trespassed against us that we are still angry with or at least we have nothing to do with them. Are they a family member? Are they a member of the Family of God? Or here’s a hard one..Did Jesus also die for their sin, that they not perish, but have everlasting life..even if they’ve not yet received?

Create in us a clean heart O God! Renew in us a right spirit! Wash away all the hardness in our hearts toward our family members and our pastors and any and all who have trespassed against us! May we forgive even our enemies. We’re told to judge not and that the same measure that we use in the judgment of others is the one the Lord will use with us. I want a humongous measuring stick or tape! 🙂

I am excited about what will happen if we all take this message to heart! I believe that is the love 1 Cor. 13 is talking about. We hold nothing against anyone..we endure all things to walk in that love!

In Jesus’ Name,

Teddi

In order to train our tongue, we have to maintain a sound mind. For out of the issues of our heart, the mouth speaks. If we are hurt, we will think critically about the one who hurt us, judging them and being judged with that same measuring stick by our God…or … we might feel so unworthy like we deserve the hurt …or like no one loves us so we need to go eat worms as the childhood song went .. that is what I call a pity party. Been there done that! Who did it help? Not me, and surely not anyone else.

As I abide in the Lord, and He abides in me daily, I have and am still learning that I must practice thinking soundly. I do not have this perfected, as the thoughts can run helter skelter, until I willfully choose to place them where the Lord says. This practice is just like any other practice. To play the piana excellently, I must practice. To sing well, I must practice. To sew beautifully…or cook elegantly…takes practice. I can go on…basketball, baseball, and all sports takes what? practice. Anwered prayer takes practice. Walking the walk and talking the talk takes practice.

My tongue is not and can not be trained by me, but the Holy Spirit in me can straighten my tongue by my practice of a sound mind. Sounds like work huh? It is! It is effort! That’s why the Word says, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!” Notice the words, effectual and fervent. That doesn’t sound like a person who throws a little prayer up here or there. That sounds like effort to me! Elijah is the example given for this kind of prayer. He prayed that the rain stop, and it stopped for 3 years. Then He prayed for it to rain, and it did! I believe that is effective prayer! Obviously, Elijah had a sound mind.

The Lord gives us clear instruction for a sound mind, in Galatians 4: 4-9, written by Paul to the Church at Philippi. It is therefore for us today!
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice? Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Paul tells the Church of Galatia, in Galatians 5: 25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Just a few verses above (v. 22-23), he tells us what the fruit of the Spirit is. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there no law.” In Matthew 7, Jesus said that a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit, then, in v. 20, it says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

I tried to walk in the Spirit for many years. Some days I would be doing well all the good and right things. Then, I’d explode or just fail miserably. My fruit was definitely questionable. Not until, I began to spend more and more time in the Word every day could I begin to walk that walk I wanted so badly. Then, eight years ago, I began proclaiming the Word for over an hour in agreement with others, and the hearing of the Word out of my mouth and the others with me, did my faith increase to the point of knowing that God hears and answers my prayer because I pray His Word. His Word is what He hears and acts on.

Our mind is a battle field. Our enemy wants our minds! He wants us to dwell on the meditate on things that are harmful, hurtful, critical, judgmental, mean, sad, hopeless, helpless, dark, etc., he wants us to give all that time to him and his kingdom. Sound minds are part of our salvation package. Our redeemer not only forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, but the chastisement of our peace is on Him. He wants us to prosper as our soul prospers. Our soul is our mind and will. Psalm 103 begins, “Bless the Lord, O my soul..” David’s spirit is speaking to his mind and will — and saying Bless the Lord! Out of the issues of our heart, we speak. Therefore, the issues of our heart — the meditations of our heart and mind — must be stayed on Him!

Let us therefore, this very day, truly speak aloud to our minds and say, “I’m not going there!” Every time we are tempted to dwell on hurts, pain, sin, perversion, anger, mean, or any thoughts that are not only not right but cause us to be sick and miserable. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine is a Proverb to guard your heart with. Rejoicing always, praising and having a grateful heart all the time take work …they take effort…but we are new creatures according to the Word. As our thoughts are aright, as we meditate on the Word, our mouth comes in line and speaks things that are not as though they are as our Father does. Our bodies line up…all resentment, and bitterness, etc., left behind…confessed and under the blood of Jesus not to be returned to ever again. And, thus, we begin to live the abundant life that our Lord has promised us.

We do what He has said to do in order to receive what He has told us we can have! Glory to God! We’re on our way!!! The Bride is getting her act together to meet her Lord!!! Amen and Amen!

James nails this one in Chapter 3: 6-10.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be so.

Paul said in Romans 12:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (v. 14) Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. (v. 17)
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (v.18) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (v.19) Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him adrink; For in so doing you will heap coals on his head. (v. 20) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (v. 21)

Solomon wrote many times about self-control.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Prov. 16: 32)

He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (Prov. 17: 27-28)

The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. (Prov. 17: 14)

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Prov. 15:1)

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalt folly. (Prov. 14: 29)

A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. (Prov. 18: 6-7)

Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. (Prov. 19:13)

Better to dwell in a wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman. (Prov. 21: 19)

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. (Prov. 21: 21)

Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease. (Prov. 22: 10)

Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. (Prov. 22: 24-25).

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tendero-hearted, For He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1Peter 3: 8-12)

Let no corrupt word proceed ot of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4: 29-32)

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Prov. 18: 20-21)

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. (Prov. 4: 23-24).

As in all things, practice makes perfect. In fact, without repetition of controlling your tongue…you will not have the habit of self-control. If we pray without ceasing, and if we rejoice always, there is not time to think evil or hurtful things about others or to be depressed or in despair about our circumstances. If we are becoming one as Jesus prayed for us in John 17, then we can’t expect everyone to think like us or act like us . The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ..His body…His bride..is the Church Triumphant. Our common ground is Jesus.

As Beth Moore said to us who are and have studied her Believing God Bible Study, “God is in the process of raising mighty warriors. The common denominator will not be human leadership, denomination, ethnicity, or giftedness. The common denominators will be consistent with those throughout Biblical history (Eph. 6:10-19):
*The shield of Faith (without this we can’t please God)
* The Sword of the Spirit (The WORD of GOD)
* Communication with the Commander (prayer)
(Me talking to God and Him talking to me)

Our opinion about anything does not matter. Our murmuring and complaining, our judging others, our causing discord…God hates all of this. There are consequences for our actions. God’s Word is what matters. We will speak as our Father speaks — speaking things that be not as though they are! Glory!