Power To Move Forward – Part Three

August 13, 2013Leave a comment

Today is the perfect day for a new beginning! You can move forward past pain, fear, hopelessness and anger. The process begins with opening your heart to God. Here are five points, along with scriptures, to encourage you as you embark on a beautiful journey…forward!

Before we proceed, let’s quickly review…

Part One – to live victoriously in the new life God has for you, the old you must die

Part Two – unhook yourself from the anchor of the past and connect with God’s power

Ok, now we are ready!

1. Go to God

He is always ready with open arms to comfort and strengthen you. Go to Him and He will gently guide you towards your victorious future. Prayer and praise are two of the best ways to communicate with Him day or night.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,
and shall be quiet from fear of evil. – Proverbs 1:33

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2. Remind Yourself

Throughout this journey, you will have to continually remind yourself of who you are. You must always know that your Heavenly Father loves you immensely. Your faith and confidence to step away from the old and into the new is strengthened by His love. Your spiritual identity will bring peace about the future and keep you connected to the promises of God.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:26

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is He that is in you,
than he that is in the world. – 1 John 4:4

3. Forgive

Yes, forgiveness is mandatory for your growth, your progress and your freedom. Forgive your parents, your ex, your friends, your children, your enemies and most importantly, forgive yourself. God has already forgiven you of any and everything. Forgiveness is a vital step in the process of moving forward. You must now completely trust that God, in His infinite wisdom, will take care of all who have hurt you.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:32

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto [God’s] wrath:
for it is written,Vengeance is mine;
I will repay, saith the Lord. – Romans 12:19

4. Be New

Moving forward means…new thoughts, new talk, new trust, new opportunities and new direction! This requires renewing your mind and speaking the Word of God into your own life. This does not happen overnight so you must be patient and persistent. Each day, visualize yourself the way God sees you…spotless and pure. Find scriptures that are encouraging and speak them daily. Guard yourself against negative people and those who want to keep you in the past. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see the goodness and newness inside of you!

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear [be amazed], and shall trust in the Lord. – Psalm 40:3

5. Go Forward
Freedom from the past expels fear and trepidation about the future. Take the first step forward into the victorious life God has for you. He is always with you even when you mess up. Trust God and experience His power.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. – Isaiah 41:10

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

Go ahead! Go Forward!

If you want to learn more on how to move forward with God, go to Week 26: Look Ahead in the Power Over All book.

Power To Move Forward – Part Two

July 17, 2013Leave a comment

You can move forward and live victoriously with the amazing power of God! As mentioned in Part One, moving forward requires leaving the past behind. Letting go is not always easy, but if you do, you will be free to access a new future.

Why is it so difficult to let go of the past?

The past wants to be a permanent anchor in your life. Not a shiny, robust one that stabilizes you during the storms of life; but an old, rusty one that consumes your soul. It securely attaches itself to your pain, shame, regrets, negative emotions and your flesh (a carnal mindset). It is a stubborn reminder of your imperfections and the person you no longer want to be. This anchor is heavy and burdensome.

At times you think you are making forward progress, but you realize you are only going around in circles. You can spend years entangled in its existence. This anchor constrains and blocks you from reaching your future destination. It redirects your hopes and dreams, causing you to miss the path God has specifically mapped out for you. It is a faith destroyer. An anchor of this magnitude requires supernatural assistance to retrieve.

How do I let go of it?

Go to God. He is the only one who can redeem you from your past. He will heal you of all your wounds. He will protect you. He will strengthen you. He will deal justly with all who have harmed you. God will restore you! Your anchor of the past will no longer exist. Instead, you will discover your spiritual anchor, grounded in the Word of God, keeping you on course toward success and teaching you how to thrive.

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear:
Because thou shalt forget thy misery,
and remember it as waters that pass away: – Job 11:15-16

I am thankful that God was the only one to free me from my deep-rooted anger. Much of me was still chained to that rusty, old anchor of the past. I began the process of letting go by drawing closer to God. I had to trust Him with every aspect of my life. I had to think higher thoughts. I had to accept His grace and forgive. The more I sought out God and…

His Love,

His Ways,

His Words,

and His Power

the more my heart was opened to the new direction God had for me. My soul was liberated and I was finally able to take steps forward. You can move forward, too. My prayer is that you let God in and allow Him to release you from the past. It is time to live victoriously!

If you want to learn more on how to move forward with God, go to Week 26: Look Ahead in the Power Over All book.

(Remember the discount code found in the post – Thank You For Power dated June 21, 2013)

Power to Move Forward – Part One

July 2, 2013July 2, 20134 Comments

Are you ready to move forward and leave the past behind? Ready to live a life full of peace and joy? If you are ready to live victoriously, then a part of you must also be prepared to die.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
– Romans 8:13

Your flesh is a carnal mindset that opposes God and keeps you centered on self. This is the part of you that must die in order to move forward. A carnal mindset will indulge in activities such as: fear, lust, imaginations, bitterness, worry, gossip, addictions, pride, negative emotions, sneakiness, greed, strife, self-pity and selfishness. It is purposed to keep you distracted from God and consumed with your needs. The flesh blocks spiritual progress and suffocates hope for the future.

So how do you die to self and move forward?

Trust God and relinquish every area of your life over to Him. This includes your opinions, your decisions and your private thoughts. It is a process. Do not get discouraged or condemned. Leave everything – all your burdens, all your cares – with God. He knows how to properly dispose of them. He loves you and will never use them against you.

Renew your mind with the promises and words of God. Keep your thoughts on Him each and every day. This renewal process makes room for the Spirit of God to dwell inside you and lead you through life. Your faith will grow and you will begin to look ahead with a confidence and excitement never before experienced.

Be prepared – your flesh will not die without a fight. God knows you are not equipped to fight this battle alone so He provides His Son, the Holy Spirit and His Word to conquer on your behalf. Through personal time with Him, you will learn how to access His provisions for you.

Not only will God bring you out of any situation, He will strengthen and empower you to move forward victoriously!

Thank You for Power

June 21, 2013June 21, 2013Leave a comment

Thank you for your support and growing in God’s awesome power with me!

Use this 20% discount code: EGYDUWE4 to purchase your very own personal copy of Power Over All or to sow into the life of someone special.Promotional code can only be used for book orders through this blog site until July 31, 2013. Feel free to share this code with family and friends. I promise you will be empowered and inspired to live victoriously!

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet,
because that your faith groweth exceedingly,
and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
– 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Power Over All Interview on Babbie’s House

June 18, 2013June 18, 20131 Comment

I had the pleasure of siting down with Babbie Mason as her special guest on Babbie’s House. Check out this video interview about the book, Power Over All: A 52-Week Guide to Victorious Living. Help spread the good news – God loves us and is ready to transform lives with His amazing power!

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. – 2 John 1:3

You Are Not Alone

June 13, 2013June 13, 2013Leave a comment

What do you do when you feel broken and hopeless?

Any situation that has caused (or is causing) you deep misery and anguish can be difficult to overcome alone. You may respond like I once did… holding your head in your hands while crying excessively. Or maybe you ball your hands in a tight fist ranting cuss words and lashing out venom on innocent bystanders. Maybe you seclude yourself and gradually descend into self-pity. Whatever the response, they are all ineffective in gaining true victory over your situation.

If you are tired of hurting, I have good news to share. God loves you and is ready to bring you into a place of peace, restoration and joy! God can and will bring you out of anything you encounter – your darkest valley, your unspeakable shame, your unbearable grief, your misfortunes, your depression, your failures, your fears and your seemingly incurable pain.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. – Isaiah 41:10

All you have to do is seek Him.

Now is the best time to go towards God. It does not matter if you have never had a relationship with God before or you cannot remember the last time you spoke to Him. Today is your day. Seek Him through prayer, praise and meditation of His Word. He desires for you to know Him more intimately. God is ready to show you His power and His response to your situation!

If you want to learn more on how God delivers you from any situation go to Week 45: Free from Bondage in the Power Over All book.

Power Over Your Enemy

May 30, 2013June 1, 2013Leave a comment

What does your enemy look like? An enemy, for this purpose, is defined as anything that harms you and opposes the righteousness of God. Does your enemy disguise itself through an emotion, circumstance or habit?

Emotions are perfectly normal, but if they are not controlled they begin to rule over you and your decision making. Unrestrained emotions of anger, bitterness, self-pity, greed and fear are very dangerous. Unchecked, they become an enemy to your spiritual growth.

Circumstances of life can be overwhelming at times. An unexpected tragedy, an illness, or an end of a serious relationship can attempt to separate you from the love of God. If they isolate you, they steal your confidence and become an enemy to your faith.

Habits can be good for you. However, those such as lying, gluttony, procrastination and addictions are detrimental. Bad habits keep you in bondage and become an enemy to your anointing.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy:
and nothing shall by any means hurt you. – Luke 10:19

Meditating on the word of God will combat the escalation of negative emotions. Daily fellowship with Him can transform bad habits into good ones. Using every circumstance of life to draw you closer to God provides wisdom for victory in that situation. When you are with God, you have power over all the ways the enemy may show up in your life. In addition, nothing will hurt you no matter how intimidating it may first appear.

Rejoice, you have the power to dominate over any enemy!

If you want to learn more about your power over the enemy go to Week 4: You Are Anointed in the Power Over All book.

Power of Your Words

May 7, 20132 Comments

word collage Everything you say can and will be used against you – or for you. Regardless of race, gender, age or financial status, words have the ability to release a blessing or unleash a curse. Do not underestimate the power to transform your life through the words spoken from your own mouth.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:21

So what would your life look like if every word you spoke actually manifested? Do your words produce hope and life?

“This is the start of something good” “Anything is possible”
“I am healed and healthy beyond measure” “I believe in you”

Or do your words produce hopelessness and death?

“I am sick and tired of…” “I am losing my mind”
“This ____ is killing me” “Nothing is working, I give up!”

Too often, I have let words associated with fear, anger, pain or doubt slip out of my mouth. I must continually take inventory of my words and thoughts to create a positive atmosphere around me. My goal is to be filled with words and thoughts that align with the promises of God. Then, I will naturally speak words of love, victory and faith in every situation!

What words of life can you add to your vocabulary today?

If you want to read more on the power of your words, go to Week 14: Power of the Tongue in the Power Over All book.

Power of Love

March 15, 2013Leave a comment

Have you ever thought that love makes you weak or vulnerable? Maybe you have regarded love as an erratic emotion instead of a spiritual force. For too long, my life consisted of exchanging “conditional” love. I had a fear and mistrust of love so the conditions were my way of preserving my heart. However, this type of love put me and others into bondage – always working to qualify for it. I realized that loving this way was unstable and selfish. This “conditional” love was hardening my heart with unforgiveness and negatively impacting my quality of life. As a result, I was not able to give love freely or access its power.

God’s love is often unappreciated, misunderstood and underestimated. God wants us to love Him, each other and ourselves with a pure love. When we love the way God loves us, we experience the greatest power in the universe. This pure love creates, protects and overcomes any circumstance. Even when we are told to love our enemies and those that despitefully use us, God’s love does not require us to be subject to any abuse or wickedness. We can love our adversaries through prayer and He will take care of the rest.

The Lord preserveth all them that love him:
but all the wicked will he destroy. – Psalm 145:20

It is very important to know and experience God’s everlasting love for ourselves. Our relationships, marriages and self-esteem will abound in the joy, peace and power that God’s love provides. I am still learning to love like God and often renew my mind to the biblical definition of love…

Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New Living Translation)

I encourage you to draw closer to Him and experience the power of love. To read more about God’s love, go to Week 3: Love in the Power Over All book.

Trusting God with the Unexpected

March 4, 2013March 4, 20138 Comments

My husband Daires and me

One summer morning, I woke up eager to go to church. While getting dressed, God spoke to me about completely trusting Him in every area of my life. I remember that my heart was full of expectation and I was ready to receive the Word. That particular Sunday was extremely crowded (plus I was a little late) so the usher had to search for an available seat for me. She finally found one and sat me between two gentlemen I had never seen before.

A strange thing happened that day.

Once the pastor began service, his microphone stopped working and the entire sound system went out. The congregation went silent. We then were asked to turn to each other, exchange prayer requests and begin praying for each other in small groups of two or three. I turned to my left, touched the arm of the man next to me, listened to his request and began to pray. When I finished, he thanked me, took my hand and earnestly prayed for me. His spirit immediately ministered to mine. As he prayed, my heart released bitterness that had been deeply suppressed. Maybe two minutes into the prayer, I collapsed to my knees and wept in front of everyone. It was so embarrassing, but I could not control the flood of tears. It felt like my soul was purging. I never experienced anything like this before, especially not in church in front of so many others. Instead of stopping to see if I was OK, the tall man held my hand tighter and continued to intercede for me through prayer.

He stayed strong while I was weak.

The usher brought tissues and the other prayer groups nearby cleared a little space for her to check on me. As his prayer ended, my tears subsided. Eventually, I was able to regain my composure. Although my make-up smeared, my sundress wrinkled and I felt totally exposed, the stranger just smiled at me with all sincerity. The sound system began working and the pastor resumed service. Almost an hour went by and I realized I was still holding hands with a man I just met and whose name I did not even know. Yes, it was very awkward, but it was one of the most peaceful encounters I have ever experienced in life. I knew God was present and trusted Him with this unexpected journey I was about to embark on.

And that is how I met my husband.

I greatly appreciate how we work together at our marriage and respect each other’s personal relationship with God. One thing that has helped us tremendously is that we continue to pray for each other daily. Prayer is powerful and essential for victorious living! Through all of our growing pains, my husband loves me, encourages me and leads me…still holding my hand.

AKILAH GRANT

Power, Love and Inspirations

Author: Akilah Grant