Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV) The only way you will fulfill God’s destiny for you this decade is to rely on God’s strength. And that means you have to confess ‘I can’t’ before you can agree ‘God can.’ Otherwise, we’ll just keep thinking there’s still some ability (competency, sufficiency) in us that will allow us –...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “I will answer them before they even call to Me…” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT) TODAY’S WORD Have you ever thought about something you wanted or needed, and suddenly that need was supplied even before you had time to stop and pray? God knows your needs before you even speak them. He wants to provide for you and answer the very desires of your heart. Don’t ever think God is too busy to answer you. Don’t ever think...

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV) We’re not as strong as we think we are, but God is stronger than we think. You become strong through God’s strength. His strength enters your life, delivered by the Holy Spirit—Jesus within—and the more dependent you are on God, the stronger in him you become. In our weakness, he is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). “I can do everything . . .” doesn’t...

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV) Living this decade for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything else. It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of the easy one. Steve Adams, our pastor to children at Saddleback Church, says when we are moving forward in the direction God tells us, “Action...

“[God’s] peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (NIV)   The final test in recognizing God’s voice is to ask yourself, “Do I sense God’s peace about it?” If you think you’ve heard from God, it measures up to God’s Word, you’ve gotten advice from other people and passed the other tests, but you still feel confused or anxious, then it doesn’t pass the seventh test. Why?...

“There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NLT)   When you get an idea and you are wondering if it is from God, the sixth question to ask yourself is, “Is it convicting or is it condemning?” If it convicts, then it is from God, but if it condemns then it is from Satan. A lot of Christians live under condemnation, or constant guilt, and they think it is from God. It isn’t. Condemnation comes...

“We will all be judged one day, not by each other’s standards, or even our own, but by the judgment of God … it is to God alone that we shall have to answer for our actions.” Romans 14:10, 13 (PH)   If something is not your responsibility, why should God talk to you about it? Wouldn’t he just talk directly to the person it concerns? This is the fifth test to consider when you wonder if an idea or impression you have comes...

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)   The fourth test for confirming a word from God is to ask yourself, “Is it consistent with how God shaped me?” At  Church, we use the acronym SHAPE to describe the collection of a person’s Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experiences. These five things make you unique from...

“God’s intent is that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.” Ephesians 3:10 (NIV) God has not meant for anyone to go through life alone. He made us to live in relationship with other people. So when it comes to hearing God’s voice, you need to listen to the people around you. You need a church family and a small group to confirm whether what you sense God directing you to do is true or not. This is the...

“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 (NCV) God’s number one purpose in your life is to make you like Jesus. He is the standard for your life in how you think, act, feel and speak. That’s why the second test to determining whether an impression is from God or not is to ask this question: “Does it make me more like Christ?” God is never going to tell you something in your mind that would cause...

How to Recognize God’s Voice – The First Test   “Don’t believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God; test it first to see if it really is!” 1 John 4:1 (LB) When I get an idea in my mind, how do I know if it’s from God? How do I know it’s not my own desire or even a lie from Satan? The answer is clear in 1 John 4:1 – I must test it to find out. This week I want to share...

“You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you.” (Colossians 3:10a NCV) Every day Jesus wants you to become a little more like him: “You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you.” (Colossians 3:10a NCV) Today we’re obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than...

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “…for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength)” (2 Corinthians 12:10, AMP) TODAY’S WORD No matter what weakness you think you may have, no matter what inadequacies or setbacks you’ve encountered, God wants to give you His divine strength! He wants to make up the difference and put you further ahead than you ever thought possible. One time in the...

Punch a Hole in the Dam “So [Israel] came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote the [Philistines] there. Then David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the bursting forth of waters; therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim(Lord of breaking through).” (1 Chronicles 14:11) Like the bursting forth of waters. I love that phrase! It paints such a powerful and accurate picture of a breakthrough. Do you...

Love is Patient (1 Corinthians 13:4)   Patience is the red carpet upon which God’s grace approaches us. The Greek word used here for patience is a descriptive one. It figuratively means “taking a long time to boil.” Think about a pot of boiling water. What factors determine the speed at which it boils? The size of the stove? No. The pot? The utensil may have an influence, but the primary factor is the intensity of the flame....