You cannot turn off the Light by Robert Ricciardelli

You Cannot Turn Off the Light by Robert Ricciardelli

By Robert Ricciardelli

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Dualism remains a problem for many Christ followers. They compartmentalize their lives and miss the presence and light of God in every moment, breath, and context of life.

Here are some scriptural truths on the matter:

Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

 

Proverbs 4:18 – The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

 

John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Ministry by definition: the spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians

One of the greatest revelations we can ever embrace is that whatever we do in life, IS MINISTRY, because the light of God in us and through us never goes dim.

Every job, every assignment, our family, our leisure, and whatever pathway that the Holy Spirit may lead us, IS MINISTRY.

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.  Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everything We Do Can Serve the King and His Kingdom!

No matter what you are doing, you are to do it all for Him, serving Him and His kingdom. If every believer can grasp the revelation that they are carrying His presence wherever they go, it will transform them and many around them. They will desire to walk in His nature, His love, and His purposes, while establishing the kingdom of God upon the earth today.

When I first began falling deeper and deeper in love with the God, I thought that the natural progression for me would to become a full time ecclesiastic, in the four walls, type of organizational ministry. This false impression came with a guise that I would be loving God more that way. As I put myself more and more into the ecclesiastical pattern of service, I seemed to be getting more and more restless. The Lord finally had to hit me upside the head and say, “You’re going the wrong way.” I finally got the message and understanding that God had a different plan for me.

I finally understood that as I am in Him and He is in me, everything I did in obedience was just as spiritual as being a pope, a pastor, a prophet or any other title that religion might bestow upon any of us. The Father seemed to say to me, “As you continue to hear my voice and obey my words, I will continue to take pleasure in every part of your life with me.”

As the Lord continues to conform us into His image, the world begins to see Him work through us in all phases of life. We become His divine stewards of our families, businesses, and in the communities in which we live. The stewardship of all that the Lord has for us becomes full-time ministry for each of us, because we never stop representing Him.  We are called to be full-time ministers throughout our business day as well, regardless of what we do.  A bus driver’s ministry as the light of Christ is just as valid as those who shine His light from behind a pulpit. Mothers, you are full time ministers to your family and community, even if you never work outside of the home.

Everything We Do is for the Glory of God.

We become an act of worship to our Father in all that we do. In the name of Jesus, we become a people of character and integrity that bring salt and light to the world around us. In many ways and applications, ecclesiastic ministry may never reach or be relevant to those that are in the marketplace. But those in the marketplace who walk in the love and power of God, can be transformational instruments for His purposes.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. But this precious treasure-this light and power that now shine within us – is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

We Carry His Presence Wherever We Go!

What an honor and joy it is to know that we bring His glory into every jurisdiction, situation and application in life. Just His presence alone can set people free. I have witnessed the presence of God transform lives through the simplicity of conversation or a relational engagement. There have been times when the people I am relating with feel amazingly safe in sharing their deepest and darkest secrets with me. They will often say, “I have never told that to anyone, but there is something different about you, I trust you.” Well, we know what that difference is and what it isn’t. It certainly is not you or me outside of God. It is God in us, and it is His presence through us that will will allow the blind to see and the lost to finally find their journey in God.

Knowing we are activating His ministry every moment of every day, we must continue to be living epistles of grace and mercy to all we come in contact with. This does not mean we will necessarily preach. It just means we will be prepared to hear His voice, and give what He says we are to give. Our lives will preach beyond words, because of His presence. When we try and wear our own spiritual clothes, it becomes a fruitless occasion. He may want us to give a word fitly spoken without chapter and verse, or just deliver some love, understanding, and encouragement. We must have an ear to hear; which only comes from intimacy and time spent with the Father and His Word. With this intimacy, we gain a sensitivity to hear what He has for another during those opportune moments.

We cannot shut out the light of God. It is in us, on us, and through us at all times.  We need every false religious tendency to die in order for us to flow in the life and experience of God. We must love supernaturally in bringing forth the Kingdom of God in powerful ways. Father, give us wisdom and revelation as we serve in the marketplace and impart your glory to the world in Jesus name…Amen.

Robert Ricciardelli

www.convergingzone.com

Recognizing the Voice of the Lord by Michael Krysty

Recognizing the Voice of the Lord by Michael Krysty

By Michael Krysty

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“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

God desires, that we all as his children are able to recognize his voice, and the specific blueprints that he has for our lives. We cannot walk in the full measure that God has for our life, until we can learn to hear and follow his voice, in every single detail. In the secret place is where we really start to learn how to recognize, follow and hear the voice of the Lord.

In the Secret Place

When I was in drug rehab when I was first saved at the age of 19, I began to have many encounters. I used to go into this broken down shower room in the back of the bunks and pray. I put a desk in there and created my own little secret place; since there were so many guys in this drug program it was hard for me to get alone and find a place to get away with the Lord. This was my place to get away and run away with my King.

We cannot begin to recognize the voice of God in the public until we begin understanding how to hear his voice in the private in our secret place. The Secret place is a time of awakening, not just a place for conviction but a place to bring a time of greater acceleration. This is where blueprints for what God is wanting to do in you and through you in your life is given.

Learning the Blueprint

Two to three weeks after being saved, I started to have visions as I began seeking the Lord in the secret place. I began to see visions of tattoos, of the Tasmanian Devil, and Marvin the Martian I didn’t know what it was. I thought I was going through detox from the drugs and having hallucinations. That very week I was preparing my room because another man was coming to bunk in my room with me and another guy whom I had already been rooming with. As this guy came in, he started getting ready for bed he took off his shirt, and as he took of his shirt I recognized that this guy had the same tattoos on his arm that I had in my encounter. He had the Tasmanian Devil and Marvin the Martian on his arm. All of a sudden I  got an ‘ooh spirit’, like a check in my heart. I knew instantly I had to stay away from this guy and guard myself. This is where the Lord began teaching me about details.

The Lord began to show me through these tattoos throughout my stay in drug rehab, who I was to team up with and who I was to avoid. It was like God’s divine protection over my life as a newly saved Christian. It was prophetic protection! The Lord was speaking through visions and impressions, who to make friends with and who not. This protected me from the guys who weren’t serious about getting clean and were just in rehab to mess around.

Learn Like Moses

A few years later I was sleeping  in my room and the Lord woke me up and told me it was time to pray. It was in my old house in Circleville, Ohio. He told me to get up and go to my car and read Exodus 4, he had a word for me that I wouldn’t receive until I went out to my car. So I got up and went out to my car.

As I began to read Exodus 4 a scripture popped off of the page and the Lord began downloading things to me. The Lord told me, to now go back into the house he wanted me to look up the word and see what it meant. I began to argue with God, I was like, “God you just had me go out to my car now I’m out here at 3:30 in the morning and now you want me to go back in? I’m already out here why do you want me to go back in my house?” The Lord said to me, “Michael you have to do this, I’m teaching you about the blueprint and giving you a blueprint to follow event to receive this message”

I went back into the house, and God began to speak to me and release a message about the blueprints of heaven and how to recognize his voice in the glory. The Lord began to teach me how to walk from point A to point B and to take me to the 1,2,3’s. Since you can’t get to two without the one, and you can’t get to the four without the three. The Lord began to show me that you have to take each step you can’t just get to the 5th level until you pass the 2nd and the 3rd.

Remember the Details

God began speaking to me he said, “Michael there are details that you have to get to, in order to go to the next level.” I began to understand and see how important the details were. Everything has to be done in order according to his voice. There are certain things that the Lord wants us to do to activate the spiritual realm. If we don’t do this we can never get to the next level in the Glory.

God always wants to take us from Glory to Glory. There are reasons though, why everyone isn’t walking in the fullness right now. There are reasons why everyone isn’t walking in their full call right now, if God were to give you everything that you were destined for but you weren’t ready for it would crush you. God loves you so much, he can’t give you this great glory if you’re not strong enough to carry it, because he knows how heavy it is. A good father with never give you a gift that will crush you!

The Blueprint and your Destiny through Intimacy

I began to learn and understand how to see the blueprint through visions, dreams, and discernment of the voice of the Father and it has dynamically changed everything that we do in ministry because we have gotten a deep revelation from the Lord. Right when we get a plan from God we know exactly what  to do with it, we know exactly how to handle it, and we understand how to discern it. It may take some time to unfold the mysterious, but give us a prophetic word from the Lord and we will learn the prophetic journey to unwrap and release it!

The greatest key to go deeper in revelation is intimacy with the Holy Spirit. In Exodus 4, Moses has an encounter with God in the secret place that changes his life and ministry.

Follow the Lord’s Voice

You cannot apply the blueprint, until you actually believe there are details within a blueprint. In Exodus 4 Moses is being called into Ministry, he receives a great  encounter with the Lord, first with the burning bush, now in Exodus 4 he is in the secret place there is no one else there accept him and God. The Lord begins to teach him and speak to him. If the Lord has called you he can equip you and bring people into your life that can help you fulfill these plans! Like Moses brother Aaron was a compliment to Moses and his call.

The Lord can and will still equip you and use you despite all of the circumstances around you, and any failures and weaknesses you might have, as long as you’re willing to pay attention and listen to his voice. Moses wasn’t perfect and God was still able to use him, as long as he was willing to follow the Lord each step of the way. God teaches Moses in Exodus 4 in the secret place, how to be one on one with the Lord. This is where he tells Moses to throw his staff on the ground, Moses throws it on the ground and it turns into a snake he tells him to pick it back up and it turns into a Staph. He says to Moses I want you to stick your hand in your cloak he sticks his hand in his cloak and it turns leprous, then he tells him to pull it out, an as he pulls it out and is healed. God was doing something there In Exodus 4:21 he was showing Moses the divine blueprints.

“And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand…” Exodus 4:21

God was showing Moses that if he followed the Lords voice and the details and steps that he had, he would be able to perform in front of Pharaoh everything that he had given him the Power to do.

I asked the Lord as I began to receive revelation about this: “When did you give Moses the power?” The Lord began to speak to me so clearly he said, “Right then and there when I told him to throw his staff on the ground it turned into a snake and pulled it up and turned back into a staph again, and when he put his hand in the cloak and pulled it out was leprous put it back in and was healed. That’s when I gave Moses the power!” The Lord gave Moses the power, when he became so in tune with the Lords voice and the specific details that he had for that moment. God was releasing him a Blueprint on how to do ministry. He was releasing to Moses in Exodus 4 the ministry of Signs, Wonders, and Healing and how to do it.

As I began to meditate on verse 21 of Exodus 4 and the Lord began to tell me that I needed to look up the word perform in the Hebrew. I was astounded in what I found it kept getting deeper, and deeper the word that I found was (Asah) in Hebrew means to: perform, to duplicate, to replicate, and to fashion after another. The Lord was asking Moses to do it again, to duplicate the miracles that the Lord had shown him to Pharaoh. God was giving Moses a blueprint. Moses actions in the courts of Pharaoh were a replication of the blueprints of the Lord! It would be as if I was a painter and I was painting a picture and what I was painting was what was right in front of me. I am replicating, duplicating and fashioning after another. Moses just copied what he saw in the secret place!

I believe God wants to take us to a place where our secret place become the “greater” reality. What we do for the Lord in the natural now becomes us doing it again after we have seen and done it in the secret place.

This is exactly how Jesus did ministry! The blueprint!

John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

Build it in the Glory

In construction you use a blueprint as a guide to build something, but first before you even start to build, you have to understand the language of the blueprint through details. If there is something on the map or on the blueprint that is wrong, we begin to build everything else wrong, not because we missed it but because we were reading the blueprint wrong. For this reason the blueprint is very important to our every day walk with the Lord.

The heart of God, desires that we his children are able to recognize his voice, and be able to listen to the plans and instructions he has for our lives. He gives us specific details as a grid work for us to work with, as a blueprint and guide. When we begin to pay attention to every specific detail that the Lord speaks to us. His directions become clearer and we learn to recognize the voice of the Lord. He is speaking right now to you and I believe with the measure you use what God shows you it will be measured back to you. What an exciting and adventurous journey!

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.” Mark 4:23-24

Michael Krysty

www.InhabitFire.com

The Gift of Discernment by Francis Frangipane

The Gift of Discernment by Francis Frangipane

By Francis Frangipane

If we will move in true discernment, our view of life must be purged of human thoughts and reactions. We must perceive life through the eyes of Christ.

To Discern, You Cannot Judge

We will never possess true discernment until we crucify our instincts to judge. Realistically, this can take months or even years of uprooting old thought-systems that have not been planted in the divine soil of faith and love for people. To appropriate the discernment that is in the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), we must first find the heart of Christ. The heart and love of Jesus is summed up in His own words: “I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”(John 12:47)

Spiritual discernment is the grace to see into the unseen. It is a gift of the Spirit to perceive the realm of the spirit. Its purpose is to understand the nature of that which is veiled. However, the first veil that must be removed is the veil over our own hearts. For the capacity to see into that which is in another’s heart comes from Christ revealing that which is in our own hearts. Before He reveals the sin of another, Jesus demands we grasp our own deep need of His mercy. Thus, out of the grace that we have received, we can compassionately minister grace to others. We will know thoroughly that the true gift of discernment is not a faculty of our minds.

Christ’s goal is to save, not judge. We are called to navigate the narrow and well-hidden path into the true nature of men’s needs. If we would truly help men, we must remember, we are following a Lamb.

This foundation must be laid correctly, for in order to discern, you cannot react. To perceive, you must make yourself blind to what seems apparent. People may react to you, but you cannot react to them. You must always remain forgiving in nature, for the demons you cast out will challenge you, masquerading as the very voice of the person you seek to deliver. You must discern the difference between the oppressing spirit and the person oppressed.

Thus, Jesus prepared His disciples to be proactive in their forgiveness. Using Himself as their example, He taught, “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him.” (Luke 12:10)  Jesus prepared His heart to forgive men before they ever sinned against Him. He knew His mission was to die for men, not condemn them.

Likewise, we are called to His mission as well. In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them.” (John 17:18) We are called to die that others may live. Therefore, we must realize that before our perception develops, our love must mature until our normal attitude is one of forgiveness. Should God reveal to us the hearts of men and then call us to release them from captivity, we cannot react to what they say. As our perception becomes more like Christ Himself and the secrets of men’s hearts are revealed to us, we cannot even react to what they think.

If we do not move in divine forgiveness, we will walk in much deception. We will presume we have discernment when, in truth, we are seeing through the veil of a critical spirit. We must know our weaknesses, for if we are blind to our sins, what we assume we discern in men will merely be the reflection of ourselves. Indeed, if we do not move in love, we will actually become a menace to the body of Christ.

This is exactly what Jesus taught when He said:

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:1-5

Repentance is the removal of the “logs” within our vision; it is the true beginning of seeing clearly. There are many who suppose they are receiving the Lord’s discernment concerning one thing or another. Perhaps in some things they are; only God knows. But many are simply judging others and calling it discernment. Jesus commanded us to judge not. The same eternal hand that wrote the Law on stones in the old covenant is writing the law of the kingdom on tablets of flesh today. This word to “not judge” (by “outer appearance”) is just as immutable as His Ten Commandments. It is still God speaking.

The Goal is to See Clearly

The judgmental carnal mind always sees the image of itself in others. Without realizing it is seeing itself, it assumes it is perceiving others. Jesus refers to the person who judges as a “hypocrite.” The Lord is not saying we should totally stop thinking about people. He wants us to be able to help one another. The emphasis in Jesus’ command to “not judge” is summarized in His concluding remark: “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” The way we help is not by judging but by seeing clearly. And we do not see clearly until we have been through deep and thorough repentance, until the instinct to judge after the flesh is uprooted.

We have seen that Jesus paralleled speaking to people about their sins with taking specks out of their eyes. The eye is the most tender, most sensitive part of the human body. How do you take a speck out of someone’s eye? Very carefully! First, you must win their trust. This means consistently demonstrating an attitude that does not judge, one that will not instinctively condemn. To help others, we must see clearly.

If you seek to have a heart that does not condemn, you must truly crucify your instinct to judge. Then you will have laid a true foundation for the gift of discernment, for you will have prepared your heart to receive the dreams, visions and insights from God. You will be unstained by human bias and corruption.

Francis Frangipane

www.frangipane.org

Dream Big! by Patrick Carden

Dream Big! by Patrick Carden

By Patrick Carden

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Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. Ephesians 3:20 (AMP)

John Maxwell says “A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.”

Every one of us has hopes and dreams within our heart that we would like to see fulfilled.  What are your hopes and dreams for your life?  For your family?  For your career?  For your relationships?

Over the Rainbow

There’s a line in “Over the Rainbow” that says, “Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.”

That’s where many of us end up in life.  Somewhere…..there’s a place better than I’m in now.  Somewhere…..there’s a place where my dreams are fulfilled.  Someday…..I’ll get there.  The problem is that we have limited this somewhere and someday to when we die and are in Heaven.  But, what about here and now?  Are we supposed to always live between somewhere and someday?  Are we saved to live in depression and discouragement, barely making it through until Jesus returns?  No!  “…..I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10b (AMP)

We’re not supposed to check our dreams at the door.  We’re saved for a reason.  And it’s not to just go with the flow and barely get by.  What would you dream of doing if you had no hindrances?  Well, there aren’t any.  The light is always green.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.” – Mark Twain

Greatness Inside

We all must dream dreams; for every area of our lives.  We definitely should have goals we are working towards other than just making it into heaven.  There is something inside each of us that will lead to greatness that was placed there by The Creator. Sadly, many will choose not to tap into that greatness.  We have to work towards are dreams, if need be incrementally and at times large steps will be necessary.

If we choose, we can exist in the somewhere-someday mentality and never accomplish anything.  We’re just coasting through life, letting things happen to us.  But that’s not living.  That’s not our purpose.  Our purpose is greatness.

A paradigm is a way through which we view something.  It’s how we interpret something based on how we see it.  It’s the way things are supposed to be, according to our perceptions.  In other words, what we see is often determined by our view of the world.  Why is it so hard for us to dream big dreams?  Why do we have so much trouble dreaming big dreams?  Because many times it goes against our perceptions, the way we think things should be.  It goes against our paradigm.  Maybe it’s outside of the box we’ve been confined to either by ourselves, our church, our family or friends.

Change your Paradigm

What would you dream if you dared to dream outside of the box?  What dreams are you going to dream?  Will you dream big?  Or will you be trapped in the somewhere-someday mentality?  Decide to dream outside your paradigm.  Then dream some big dreams and set some goals to achieve those dreams.  Work at those goals incrementally if necessary or take big steps when needed.

Get a new paradigm.  Don’t get stuck between somewhere and someday.  Dare to dream big dreams.  Get out of the box.  Call on and access the Christ inside of you and make your dreams come true.

Patrick Carden

www.abridgetochange.com

cardenpd@gmail.com

Having Done All to Stand, Stand! by Angela Greenig

Having Done All to Stand, Stand! by Angela Greenig

By Angela Greenig

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Mountain top experiences are awesome.  We are joyful, loving, and not only can we see, but we feel Jesus everywhere!  No one can say or do anything that would make us question His love and goodness towards us.  It would be awesome to live in that place; but we can’t always have a mountain top experience.  We have to walk in the valleys to appreciate our mountain tops.  Valley experiences are not fun.  Sometimes it feels like your face is stuck in the dirt in the deepest part of that valley and it doesn’t matter how hard you try, you can’t get up.  Oftentimes it is that valley experience that we figure out who we really are, what we are made of and more importantly, who Christ is.  We have to find Him for ourselves in the valley seasons.  We have to put in our time building relationship with Him.  It is this building and strengthening of our relationship with Him that we come out of that valley.

We have all been in that spot where we can’t feel Him. We have prayed seemingly fruitless prayers.  We questioned if we missed it, or if we’ve done something wrong, if we were in the right place but didn’t recognize it.  Maybe we question if we’ve heard Him properly.  If you are in this low spot, I’ve got great news!!  You determine how long you are in your valley and this, my friend, is the greatest character building, endurance training, and faith magnifying thing you may ever do!  The beautiful thing is you can do it. You know why?  Because you can!

You Need Prayer

Absolutely seek prayer from trusted praying individuals because where two or more are gathered…..not just prayer as a form of communication and relationship building but prayers that declare who He is.  Job 22:28 says you will decree a thing and it will be established for you.  When you speak out, you are battling the lies of the enemy.  Pray His word!

John 1:12 God’s child                         Rom. 5:1 Holy & Acceptable                        Col. 1:14 Redeemed

Rom. 8:25 Can’t be separated          Heb. 4:16 Grace & Mercy in my need         John 15:16 Hand picked

Phil. 4:13 You can do all things         Gen. 1:27 Made in His image                      Matt. 6:31-33 I am your Provider

Zeph. 3:17 Mighty to save                 Jer. 33:3 Call and I will answer you              Is 54:17 Not weapon will prosper

God considers our prayers a sacrifice ascending to him in faith and devotion.  In Acts 10:4 the angel of the Lord tells Cornelius that his prayers have come up as a memorial offering before God.  He wants us to come to Him.  He wants us to confide in Him and cry on His shoulder and tell Him our struggles.  Psalm 142:2 says I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him I tell my trouble.

Devote Yourself to Prayer

Life comes at us with many obstacles, road blocks and detours.  Satan and the weakness of our human nature will try to cause us to neglect prayer itself or to become distracted while praying.  As the New Testament Christians devoted themselves to prayer, devote yourself to prayer (Acts 2:42).  They understood that God’s kingdom could not be manifested in its full power with only a few minutes of prayer a day.  Colossians 4:2 says devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful.  Being watchful means to continue, be steadfast, and persevere.  This implies strong persistence and fervor; a holding fast to prayer; being spiritually awake or on alert.

God says ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).  Jesus encourages perseverance in prayer.  Verse eight is a continued action; He is telling us that we must keep asking, seeking, knocking.

Keys to Unlocking the Door

When you are asking, it implies consciousness of need and the belief that God hears our prayer.  Seeking implies earnest petitioning along with obedience to God’s will and knocking is perseverance in coming to God even when He does not respond quickly.  Jesus re-assures us that those who ask will receive what they ask; it is based on these five keys to unlock the door.

• Seeking first the kingdom of God
• Recognizing God’s Fatherly goodness and love
• Praying according to God’s will
• Maintaining fellowship with Christ
• Obeying Christ/effective praying

Effective prayer is communicating with the Lord.  We are calling on God and He hears us (Psalm 17:6); we call on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26); we cry aloud to the Lord and He answers us (Psalm 3:4). To Him we lift up our soul (Psalm 25:1).  We seek the Lord (Isaiah 55:6) and as we approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) and draw near to God (Hebrews 10:22), He sustains us and fills in our valleys and walks us out.  Prayer is the link, a bridge of hope, and the fulfillment of His promises.  All we need is already at arm’s reach…ask, seek, and knock.

Prayers are Powerful and Effective

We are over-comers.  Daniel 10 verses 12 & 13 says: Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them; and when the Holy Spirit comes, things happen.  He enables us to receive spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1) and we are brought in to fellowship with God which brings us grace, mercy and peace.  We will be built up spiritually (Jude 20).

The prayers of a righteous man or woman are powerful and effective.  We are given insight in to Christ’s provision for us because of our prayers.  We have access to God the Father and everything we need.  We will be able to stand when all else around us is shaken and one day we will be awarded with the crown of righteousness; not just to us but also to all who have longed for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

Angela Greenig

www.angelagreenig.com