The disturbances and confusion of the world is not a call to a monastic life, but rather a call to a higher thought life. Our victory is not found in fleeing the pressures of a secular world, but in keeping our thoughts in line with God’s thoughts in the midst of Satan’s bombardment.

God is for me! Who can be against me? With these words ringing in your ears—I challenge you today to get up and get going—no one else can do it for you! Regardless of how difficult the crisis is that you may be facing, continue on! God will guide you in your everyday affairs. He is committed to you more than you could ever commit to Him!

So often our circumstances shout, “This is impossible!” “It’s over!” “You’re wasting your time!” Sometimes your closest friends or even your spouse might say, “This is stupid, what are you doing?” “This faith stuff isn’t working!”

I plead with you—at that moment when it’s very hard and you think you will fail and want to quit—BELIEVE in the Word of God and DON’T GIVE UP!!

When I arrive in a new country and the plane lands, I walk out on to the ground with the full expectation that I will change that nation. People will find Christ. Leaders will discover a new inspiration for life and thousands will be physically and mentally healed.  It does not matter how many witch doctors, thieves, or corrupt people want to stop me. I come with the Hope of the World in my heart. The Gospel we bring is the power of God that produces salvation in every single person who will receive it.

During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man…the truth is, I am an utterly craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.” Years later when Patton’s autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”

If you are to do anything in life you will face the risk of failure. There are healthy fears that protect you, like a fear of jumping off the garage roof. These type of fears protect you, but there are many unhealthy fears that paralyze you, like fear of tomorrow, fear of poverty, fear of sickness, fear of failure, etc.  We have been given the weapons to live a fear-free life, but we must use those weapons to address the fears. Patton had it right, don’t take council of your fears!

Here on earth we think we know what we’re seeing, but when we get to heaven we will see things as they really are. If we’re wise we will focus on understanding the eternal picture, so we can live in the present with a proper perspective.

1 Corinthians 13:12
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Life began in the womb. For nine months that was your world. Some people probably spent all their time there trying to keep it clean and orderly. Others just thought life was an entitlement of free food and a warm bed, a place where they could kick and punch all day long with no rules.

Suddenly, life dramatically changed and you popped out into a whole new atmosphere. You were no longer top dog and king of the hill. Now you were low on the totem pole and had to scream to get some attention. You looked back and realized you had life all wrong. You had to adjust your thinking of what life really was like.

In the same manner soon you are going to pop out of this earth suit you are wearing into another totally different environment where real life begins. That day is coming. Prepare for it. The only manual for real success in the next life is God’s Word!

When I walk out the airplane door and onto the airport runway to face a crowd of people who have been waiting, planning, and expecting good things from my visit, I am the embodiment of hope for that nation.

I am not concerned about how many witch doctors have planned to put curses on me. I am not concerned about how many news articles the religious hierarchy may have paid for to give negative press to our coming.

Rather, I posture my thoughts to be a blessing. I consider the great prophecies that have gone before us concerning the day that we live in. I consider the great promises that Jesus has spoken concerning those who go in His Name. I consider the great need of hurting humanity and the goods news that God has paid the price to meet that need.

These are the things that inspire me as I consider traveling thousands of miles to stand in front of the lost, sick, poverty stricken and fearful society of a nation. The living church is the cure for the world and the world is the cause for the church!

Do the same as you walk out your door this morning!

When I was a young boy, an old Ford factory shift worker came to my grade school looking for boys who wanted to learn to play tennis. The idea jumped in me so I pursued it—despite having a bad case of pigeon-toed feet and starting the game with the racket in the wrong hand!

The coach made an instant determination that I wouldn’t make it. He devised a tournament to eliminate some of the boys he thought were hopeless and wouldn’t make the grade. I was scheduled to play the best player. I was facing immediate termination and it was assumed I would quietly disappear into the night.

However, the day before the tournament began, the star player was hit in the head by a baseball and knocked unconscious. He couldn’t play, and I ended up winning the tournament, which turned the thinking of everyone upside down! Where they had seen no promise of success, they were now forced to acknowledge more than a promise!

Well, that first tournament victory was followed by over 100 more! Those days prepared me for the challenges of today. Follow your dream! Don’t let your pigeon-toed feet or lack of knowledge hinder your opportunity for victory!

Your were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom (Galatians 5:7-8 NLT).

King David was not even considered by his own father or family to be thought of as a prospect for anything other than a shepherd. Yet the prophet Samuel singled him out as the one with the destiny to be King of Israel.

What did he do when he received this great announcement and anointing? He went back to shepherding. The difference was, the idea was now birthed in his heart and he began to dream of himself as a king!

But it was neither the prophet nor the dream that made David a king. It was the victory gained through the challenge of Goliath that put him on the path to kingship. Confronting this giant was a decision he had to make alone, but something within him rose up and moved him to face Israel’s enemy. Where others saw a young boy tending sheep in the present, the Lord saw a mighty man leading Israel to greatness in the future.

Search your heart, seize the moment and be bold because of the Greater One living within you!

In the dynamics of life there should be evidence of a person’s innermost being. Who we are on the inside will eventually pop out, and it usually happens in the moments we don’t plan for!

Tea gives its flavor when put in hot water. It’s usually in pressing moments that our inner self reveals outer fruit. In times of fear, faith will paint a picture for the future in the believer. In times of sickness, confidence in the Healer will emerge. In times of anger, peace will calm the storm within. In times of wrongdoing, forgiveness will cover the multitude of sin.

This fruit will show up on a believer’s tree. It is not the fruit of a charismatic, Pentecostal, Baptist, Evangelical, Catholic or any other denomination. It is the fruit of a Christian with Jesus Christ alive on the inside!

“…And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:22).

Jesus is saying that there is a force inside the heart. It is a force so powerful that even a natural obstacle as large as a mountain cannot withstand its power. This power is called heart-faith, and every day people are using it for either their benefit or their destruction.

Faith is as natural to the heart as air is to the lungs. Most people think it is something only for the super spiritual or saintly, but in reality all of us have it. Where we put it in action will determine our future outcome to our joy or dismay.

What counter-force will short circuit this power? Doubt. When doubt is operating in your heart then fears rise and sleep is lost. Nervousness, sickness and anger spring up, causing wrong decisions with bad consequences. Keep doubt out by using your words to keep your dreams alive!