One of the greatest stories of God’s faithfulness in being with us when we need him most is a story many people don’t know. It happened 800 years before Jesus came to earth. Israel was split into two Kingdoms, Judah to the South and Israel to the North. Israel was an ungodly nation, let by King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel. Yet, God was faithful to his people in Israel. God gave Israel Elijah and then Elisha as prophets to lead and protect Israel. Aram, a Syrian nation, had attacked Israel in a series of raids.2 Kings 6:8-23 NIV tells the story:8 When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.”9 But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” 10 So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there.11 The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”12 “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!”13 “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.”And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.” 14 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.18 As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please make them blind.” So the LORD struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.Elisha led them to Samaria and the king.21 When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”22 “Of course not!” Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master.”23 So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.The king of Aram wisely decided to leave Israel alone after this. You would leave a nation with a god that powerful alone too!I Will Never Leave You or Forsake YouLike Elisha’s servant, you may be outnumbered by your enemies, facing an impossible situation right now. But like Elisha, God is on your side. Throughout scripture, God again and again tells his people, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” No matter what you are facing today, here is God’s personal promise to you: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them [your enemies or circumstances], for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 [added for clarity] This promise is repeated in Joshua 1:5, 1:9 and in Hebrews 13:5. The same promise is made in different words in Isaiah 41:10 ERV:So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.ActivationDo the activation to deal with fear and anxiety in your circumstances. Declar

Rick Warren’s son succumbed to depression and took his own life. Rick was surprised to get letters from people his son had led to Christ. In God’s grace, even broken people bear fruit for God. 00:00 Matthew Warren’s Tortured Life2:41 We’re all Broken3:47 Jesus Will Never Reject You4:17 Your Faith In Jesus makes you holy Before God5:00 Peter and Paul were Broken People Just Like You and I8:02 When You are Weak, Then You Are Strong8:58 Your Greatest Ministry Will Come Out of Your Greatest Pain9:43 ActivationJesus will Never Reject YouMatthew 12:20 says of Jesus, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out…” You may be spiritually, physically or morally bruised, your light for God sputtering, smoldering, about to go out, but Jesus will not reject you.  He will bless you and bring you to Him. Your faith in Jesus justifies you (makes you holy, righteous) before God.Romans 3:20, 28 NIV Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Ephesians 3:8-9 NIVFor it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.Justification is the exchange of our sins for Jesus’ righteousness when we believed in Jesus. We are all broken people.Did Jesus reject Peter and throw him on the scrapheap of humanity when Peter denied Christ 3 times in one night? No! In fact, Jesus restored him. And on the day of Pentecost, when power from heaven fell on Christians for service to God, who spoke and won to Christ 3,000 souls that day? Peter!! (See John 18, 21, and Acts 2)Did Jesus disqualify Paul who had imprisioned and killed Christians as he zealously tried to protect the Jewish religion? No! Jesus went after him. He wanted Paul’s brilliant intellect and his religious zeal to be used to establish Christianity, not destroy it. A murderer and persecutor of the Church established churches throughout Asia. And God gave Paul the privilege of writing 2/3 of the New Testament – the most read, most influential book in the history of the world. What God did for them, he has done for you. By faith in Jesus, you are made righteous before God.  When I am weak, then I am strong.God will use your weaknesses to strengthen others. In our weakest times, God reveals His strength. He becomes strong in and through us, even as our strength fails.  See 2 Corinthians 12:10 NIVYour Greatest Ministry Will Come Out of Your Greatest PainRick Warren concludes, “Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest pain. I say that from experience. There's not a week go by that somebody famous calls me with either a mental illness issue or a suicide issue, and I'm talking about from the highest of the highest people, personalities in politics and in celebrity. And Kay and I did not ask for this ministry of ministering to families with mental illness and ministering to families struggling with suicide of a family member. I didn't want that ministry, but it's one that God gave us, and I'm not going to waste the pain.You're going to go through pain in life; just don't waste it. If you're going to go through pain, you might as well use it to help somebody else out.”See Rick Warren's interview with Matt Crouch of TBN where he discusses this in detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCUbog65dP4

What voice are you listening to? This video explores how despite negative voices in our lives we can actually possess every spiritual blessing in heaven through Jesus Christ. There is a life-changing activation at the end of this video. Please don’t just watch the video and walk away. Do the activation at the end and let it change your life. 0:00 You’ll Never Make it – False Words from an authority figure in my life4:13 What voices are you listening to?4:40 Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm6:11 In Christ, In Him, In whom scriptures are your true identity.8:01 Activation I almost listened to an angry teacher who told me not to waste my time applying to university as I would never make it through. Years later, I went to night school and eventually got a doctorate in law and for years I taught in universities around the world.  What voices are you listening to?We all have had negative voices in our lives. Maybe an overly stern father, a local bully who terrorized you as a kid, or your own voice relentlessly tearing down your self-esteem. Satan uses those voices to steal our identity and our destiny. If you listen to the voices of this world you will never become who God already made you to be.  When you were born again, your life was united with Jesus’ life. Your spirit was made holy and forever united with His. Your identity from that point on was not who you are, but who you are IN CHRIST.  Everything Jesus has becomes yours. This is the promise of Ephesians 1:3. NIV “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Every spiritual blessing in heaven is yours because of the life you now share with Jesus, the union you have with him. God blessed you with every spiritual blessing. God gave you those blessings. No man or devil can take them away.  This happened because your whole life is lived as a branch connected to Jesus, the vine. The life of the vine flows into the branches. Jesus’ life, all the spiritual blessings of heaven, naturally flow into your life. Not in heaven someday, but here, on earth, how. (See John 15) Bible teacher and author, John Stott, wrote: The expressions “in Christ,” “in the Lord,” and “in him” occur 164 times in the letters of Paul alone, and are indispensable to an understanding of the New Testament. To be “in Christ” does not mean to be inside Christ, as tools are in a box or our clothes in a closet, but to be organically united to Christ, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree. It is this personal relationship with Christ that is the distinctive mark of his authentic followers.” In Christ, In Him, In whom scriptures are your true identity.  In Christ you are made holy and set free from guilt and shame.Romans 8:1 NIVTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… In Christ you are loved. Romans 8:39 NIVneither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ you are made complete.2 Corinthians 9:10 NASBand in Him you have been made complete In Christ, you have all the promises of God. Every spiritual blessing in heaven is yours in and through Jesus.2 Corinthians 1:20 NIVFor no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. ActivationDo this! Life changing!

The Secret Of True Lasting Joy Is Not To Seek Joy For Yourself But For Others.00:00 Esther – a joyful servant2:56 “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”4:43 Faith that Doesn’t Give up on People5:52 Activation:  Find True, Lasting Joy by Seeking Joy For OthersShe was almost 80 when I met her, an ordinary-looking woman, but she had such joy I did a double take. Her name was Esther. She had been crippled, walking with a walker for over 10 years when God supernaturally healed her as my pastor prayed for her. She came to know him as few of us do.I came to know Esther well as she, our friend Gladys, Karen (my wife) and I went door to door in our small town and offered to pray for the people who lived in every home. We went every week until we had covered every street in our town. It took months. Esther as she listened to people with rapt attention. She connected with them. People opened up to Esther. They could tell she really cared. Esther prayed from intimacy with the Father. She and God  approached God as a much-loved daughter would approach her Dad, knowing he wanted to give her what she needed. She just talked to Him. It was so real and so personal. Her prayers made God real to those she prayed for. Karen and I moved to South Florida shortly after that. The next time we saw Esther, she was in a nursing home. We had talked a few times on the phone. She was always upbeat, but we were concerned about her. We shouldn’t have been.Upon arriving at the nursing home, Esther had rolled up her sleeves and gotten involved. She helped with social activities. She visited people who never had visitors. And she prayed, oh she prayed for the residents of that home. She prayed for their souls. She prayed for healing. She prayed for whatever people needed.Esther moved into that nursing home not as just another resident, but as a servant of God sent there to bless the people in that home. And she blessed them as her servant heart. We saw it firsthand. We asked and Esther told us stories of what God was doing in the home. And we praised God together.Esther had health problems, but she didn’t want to talk about those. They weren't on her radar. She was wrapped up in the lives of her family and her new friends at the home.I believe some of greatest people in heaven will be some of the most humble people here on earth.The best definition of humility I've heard is:  “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Rick WarrenC. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, described true humility:“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. … you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”Lewis just described Esther' life. Humble, cheerful and enjoying life so easily. Can you imagine going to a nursing home and visiting an old friend, only to find out she had more joy than you did? We didn’t need to worry about Esther. We needed what she had.Esther had discovered that The Secret Of True Lasting Joy Is Not To Seek Joy For Yourself But For Others.Matthew 23:11-12 AMP says:But the greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor.The key to Esther's life, her consummate joy, was a servant heart. She was one of few people I've met who truly didn't live for herself; she found joy in living for others.

00:00 Taking a Risk –Gretchen’s Teeth3:18 It Takes Courage to Love5:01 Love Overcomes Fear6:49 Jesus’ Love Completes Us9:03 Activation Prayer: Jesus, Resurrect (bring to life) My Courage to LoveMany of us are like I was with Gretchen. People or circumstances have beat us up and we don’t want to let anyone get too close. We’re afraid we will get hurt again. That same fear keeps us from really knowing Jesus or experiencing his love. The love that will heal us. It takes courage to love.   The whole point of this is that it takes risk to overcome fear. Letting God love us is a risk, loving others is a risk. It’s not just one risk but many, many risks. Faith is a lifestyle of taking risks. Faith works in and through love.  Paul wrote in Galatians 5:6 (NIV):For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Paul is saying that it’s not about the do’s and don’ts anymore. It’s not about the rules or the law. We have a new, relationship covenant with God through Jesus. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” 1 John 4:16 AMP16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. Courage rises in our hearts as we experience the love of Jesus. It takes courage to go against your culture, the beliefs of your family and friends. It takes courage to open your heart to the love of Christ.  Jesus’ death brings resurrection life – resurrection power to us. Jesus resurrects courage in us to hope, to believe, to receive God’s love  and to love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 EXBAnd now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.  Jesus’ Love Completes Us 1 John 4:17-19 (NIV)17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  As we surrender to the love of Jesus, 1. His love is made complete in us (He fills us with His love). And our faith, our confidence in Jesus grows. Faith works in and through love. Faith expresses itself through acts of love. (See Galatians 5:6) 2. He makes us like Him (not someday in heaven, but here, now, on earth). “1 John 4:17 “In this world we are like Jesus.” 3. Fear is driven out. Jesus’ perfect love replaces fear. What fear?*Fear of changing, fear of new ideas*Fear of punishment because of our sins or our past. When you know you have grace (the undeserved favor of God through relationship with Jesus) you aren’t afraid of your mistakes or sins. You love Jesus. And He loves you. And His love covers your sins and flaws. You are forgiven – past, present, and future as you continue to walk with Jesus. *Fear of what people think. Jesus’ love draws us to live for his approval and his alone. It becomes the only thing that really matters. Activation (Pray the Activation Prayer in the Video)

You want to serve Jesus. But your job is hectic, your family is demanding, and there life is just overwhelming. You don’t have time or energy to do much. What can you do?00:00 George Muller’s Secret3:04 Seek God First and He Will Give You Everything Else4:40 True Worship is Us Surrendering Our Lives to God6:12 Activation The Story of George Muller’s Secret Source: Roger Steer, George Müller, Delighted in God. See the video description for links to this book. https://amzn.to/3TRoSvVThe Autobiography Of George Muller https://amzn.to/3ISfPVdThe Life Of Trust - The Classic Autobiography Of George Müller https://amzn.to/3IUA8BC  (These links are affiliate links. You pay the same price, but I receive a small commission for sales. It's one of the ways I pay for the podcast. Thanks) George Mueller lived completely dependent on God for 68 years. He never told anyone of needs, he never asked anyone for anything, he never took a salary, and never went into debt. He established five orphanages and cared for 10,023 orphans during his lifetime. He also sponsored hundreds of missionaries and gave away thousands of Bibles. He kept a daily journal of God’s provision. Over his lifetime, people contributed over $7 million to his work (this was from 1830-1898). George Mueller’s faith – his absolute trust in God for everything, was anchored in his daily Bible reading and prayer. He was known to begin his day with at least two hours reading scripture and praying. His daily journal records over 5,000 answered prayers. And he read through the Bible over 200 times in his lifetime.  George Mueller’s life is living proof of God’s promise in Matthew 6:31-33Matthew 6:31-33 NLTSo do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Despite an incredibly busy life as a pastor, the founder and director of five orphanages, and other work distributing Bibles, supporting missionaries around the world, and running a Christian school, George Mueller knew that the first and most important thing he had to do every day was spend time with God, reading His Word, and praying.In fact, if you look at the lives of great men and women of God you will find the same secret to their success. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” and everything else in your life will fall into place.  Martin Luther offered this insight: "I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." That’s not typical time management advice. But it is God’s advice.  * When you have the desire to spend more time with God and to do things for God, He will make a way.God will free you from your limitations, your distractions, and the time/energy/resource stealers in your life. You will grow closer to Jesus and you, like George Mueller, will do great things for God. True Worship is Us Surrendering Our Lives to God It’s amazing what God can do with one life surrendered to Him.  Romans 12:1 NIVTherefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Activation – Surrender/Commitment Prayer

There is tremendous power in choosing to rejoice in God in the most difficult times of your life. Philippians 4:4 is a key that will unlock the door to a supernatural life of God’s presence and His power. You need this! 00:00 Rejoice in the Lord AlwaysPaul and Silas (beaten and in jail) Choose to Rejoice in GodGod Responds to Paul and Silas’ FaithGod Uses Adversity for Your GoodHow God Enabled Me to Choose Joy While in Severe PainActivate Your Faith – Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 AMPRejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!Rejoice here simply means to renew your joy in the Lord. It begins with the decision to choose joy. You may hear that and reply, “But Dave, you don’t know what I’m going through.“Maybe you just lost someone you loved and your whole world collapsed.Or maybe your husband just left you with 3 hungry kids, a stack of bills and he took the only car you have.  Maybe you’re homeless and struggling just to survive another day. You might be single and lonely, dreading a life spent alone. Or you might be in great pain physically or emotionally with no hope in sight. You’re right. I don’t know what you’re going through. But I know that Paul wrote “rejoice in the Lord always” from a Roman prison.  Paul wasn’t writing rhetoric or some pious sentiment. This letter is written to the Philippians. These words would be meaningful to the Philippians. In Philippi, Paul proved we can rejoice in God even in our darkest times.  Paul and Silas in Philippi: Acts 16 It made no sense. Paul and Silas were where God called them to be, when He told them to be there – all confirmed by Paul’s dream. They were preaching the gospel and had cast a demon out of a girl just as Jesus did. And the result was were mobbed by a crowd, unjustly arrested, severely flogged and thrown into prison. Chained and put in stocks. They couldn’t even scatch the itching welts on their backs. That may be like you right now. You may be in the right place, at the right time, doing what God wants you to do, but all hell has come against you. It doesn’t make sense. It isn’t fair. And it just isn’t right! What you do next will determine what God is able to do through you.  God uses our adversity to to do 2 very important things:1. set people free from sin and death and restore them to God’s family2. develop our character – to make us more like Jesus.  What is happening to you make not make sense, may not be fair or just,  but God will use it to His glory and for your good. Romans 8:28 NASBAnd we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose  ActivationI don’t know what you’re facing, it may be something truly horrendous, but this I do know: whatever it is, God is greater.  In John 16:33 NIV, Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Your faith in Jesus makes His victory your victory: 1 John 5:4 NASBFor whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Today by faith you are going to overcome the world. You’re going to overcome your circumstances and everything that the world, every force of darkness can throw at you. Today, choose joy!!

Worry means: “to seize, especially by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another.”  Worry is Satan, grabbing you with vicious teeth and shaking you back and forth until you are totally disoriented. Then batting you around as you stagger in confusion and try to escape the thoughts that are tormenting you. Satan "worries" us the way a cat "worries" a small mouse.Satan's teeth are thoughts, the concerns/ the worries that grab on to us and won't let go. Worry also means: “to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts.” Dictionary.com This video shows you, step by step, God’s way to overcome Worry in your life.00:00 Pepper’s story2:34 Activation3:12 1st Step: Zero Tolerance for Anxious Thoughts or Fears3:56 2nd Step: Faith Repels Fear4:26 3rd Step: Pray Specifically and Thank God.5:20 4th Step: God’s peace will guard your mind and your heart.6:10 Overcome Worry Through Holy Spirit, God’s Word, Faith and Perseverance Philippians 4:6-7 gives us God's instructions how to overcome an anxious mind.ACTIVATION: Break these verses into action steps. Step by step you will overcome worry and live in God's peace. 1st Step – Decide not to accept anxious thoughts or allow them a foothold in our minds and hearts.Fear is not from God. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJVFor God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Philippians 4:6 NIV6 Never worry about anything.NEVER – not ever, not even once. Have zero tolerance for fear or worry in your thoughts. Immediately overcome them! This is not only possible. This is God’s normal for you. Expect and accept nothing less.2nd Faith repels fear. The two cannot coexist. Let your faith in God’s goodness, His love for you, and His power give you faith to pray through what you are worrying about. Your faith is based on God’s character – not the specific result you desire.Philippians 4:6TPTBe saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. 3rd Step Pray Specifically and Thank God. Philippians 4:6“Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,”Tell God your problem and ask Him to help. Tell him everything. Then thank him in advance Hebrews 11:1 EASY “This is what it means to trust God: We will be sure about the things that we hope for. We will be sure in our minds about things that we cannot even see.” Our faith is in the character of God. Think of all he has done for you and your faith will soar. Faith thanks God for the victory before we see the answer in the physical realm. 4th Step God’s peace will guard your mind and your heart.Philippians 4:7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.Peace guards your heart against worry, questions that would undermine your faith, even bad news. God’s peace gives you authority to calm the storms in your life, just as Jesus calmed a storm (See Mark 4:35-41) Worry is a nagging spirit. It will come back again and again. Worry’s strategy is to wear you down and wear you out until you give up and let worry and fear run rampant in your mind. Holy Spirit will help you!1 John 4:4 ICBMany of God’s promises are achieved only through faith and endurance. Endurance is patient perseverance.Hebrews 6:11-12“... follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”

0:00 How God Called Gideon into His Identity and Destiny3:40 God calls us to affirm the value of others4:04 Activation:  how to affirm othersEvery person on the planet needs significance, acceptance and approval.  You have the power to give it to them. Today!You and I are surrounded by people who are struggling with feelings of self-doubt, insignificance and rejection.  We can change that if we take a few minutes to affirm them with healing words. “The tongue has the power of life…” Proverbs 18:21 NIVGod Calls Us Out of Our Circumstances and Up to Our IdentityHow God called Gideon up to his true identity.God affirmed Abraham’s destiny by changing His name.God calls you and I to this same ministry of affirming the value of others. People need to hear how God see them. Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 (NLT) Activation:   Choose to Affirm 1 Person Today.Today, I am going to give someone significance.I’m going to give someone acceptance.I’m going to endorse someone, approve of them – validate them.Words Can Hurt.  Words can Heal.You know how words can hurt.  You’ve been cut to the bone by words.  Words have bruised and battered you.  The power of death is in the tongue.  Now, the good news.  Your tongue can bring life and healing.The tongue has the power of life…. Proverbs 18:21Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.  Proverbs 12:18 (NLT)What do you see?Anyone can look at someone and see what’s wrong with them.  To affirm people, we need to see beyond what’s wrong with a person, their obvious flaws..  And that’s not always easy.Christian Life Coach, Tony Stoltzfus, observes that there are three basic types of affirmation:what someone did in the past,someone’s potential for the future, andsomeone’s identity (now).Affirming past actions is the least powerful because you are simply talking about actions – what they did, not who they are.Affirming someone’s future potential can be powerful, but it is in the future.To greatly impact someone, affirm who you see they are – their identity.Practical Steps to Affirm SomeoneFind someone who needs the healing, life-giving power of your affirmation. It’s not hard; look around you.What do you see that would affirm how awesome they are?Better yet, ask Jesus: “Jesus, how do you see (person’s name)?  How do you want me to affirm them?” (Get quiet.  Listen.  You will have an impression, think of a scripture, hear or see something.  Jesus will answer that prayer!!)Find that person. Open your mouth and give them significance, acceptance, and approval. I’ve done this with groups and individually and it is amazingly powerful. Sometimes people cry. Other times, they stand taller, their sense of worth, significance, acceptance or approval restored. Share what you did and how it impacted the person you affirmed in a comment below. (Change names and details to protect their privacy.)Today, the world just became a better place because YOU were in it. My prayer is that you will make this a lifestyle.

 We had a late night encounter with a Buddhist family in a Hong Kong ICU where God overcame paralyzing fear with faith in His love and compassion for them and their father who was fighting for his life. Activate your faith in 4 practical steps at the end of this video. Overcome fear in your life.  0:00 Late Night at the Intensive Care Unit in Hong Kong2:47 Fear Paralyzes 4:01 But You Have Overcome the World5:23 You are the Ruling Council of God on the Earth5:57 Activation – Practical Steps to Overcome Worry and Fear – Philippians 4:6-76:23 Step 1 Don’t be anxious.6:40 Step 2 Ask God to Help You7:53 Step 3 Come Near to God and He Will Come Near to You8:18 Step 4. Now peace will come to guard your heart and your mind, in Christ’s power. Fear Paralyzes Bad things will happen to you. We live in a fallen world. Fear wants to paralyze you, make you feel you’re helpless, defeated. You lost your job. Fear moves in and whispers, "You're going to lose your car, they will foreclose on your house., You won't be able to pay your bills. What about food for your family?" All these horrible thoughts swirl through your mind. Fear wants you, who carry the Holy Spirit (God, Himself) inside you, to think you are a victim, powerless and hopeless.  1 John 4:4 EXB·God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world You are no more a victim than Samson was a weakling. Samson lost his strength only when he wandered away from God. The same is true for us. Jesus said: "apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 NKJV. But Paul reassured us: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 2:13 NKJV Fear want to keep you from running to God – your proper response when adversity slams into your life. Fear rules the minds and hearts of those separated from God.   But You Have Overcome the WorldJesus told his disciples to not fear what would happen to them. Here's why: John 16:33 AMPI have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” ... We live from a place of victory. Jesus won complete authority over Satan and his demons through the cross. Jesus gives that authority to us who believe in Him. We are the ekklesia of God on the earth. Ekklesia is the Greek word  for “church” used in the New Testament  114 times. It isn’t a religious word, it’s a government word from Greek ancient culture. The Ekklesia was a group of people summoned and gathered to govern a city. They sat as the ruling council of that city. Interesting way to describe the church, isn’t it? Activation – Practical Steps to Overcome Worry and FearStep 1 Don’t be anxious.Fear is not from God. Christians should never accept fear in our lives. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJVStep 2 Ask God to Help You*** Come to God in faith, knowing He is good, knowing He loves you, and knowing He will help you. Begin to think of all the things He has already done for you.Hebrews 11:6 TPT  Our faith is based on God’s character and His love for us, not our circumstances.3.James 4:8 When you stepped closer to God, He came to you. Now, with God at your side, boldly command fear to leave you. 4. Now peace will come to guard your heart and your mind, in Christ’s power. His peace that transcends all understanding.