To You belongs all the glory and honor. There is no God but You. I worship none but You. I do not consider the idols of those who know You not: they are not even real.

You are my hope and my salvation. You are the fortress I run to when I am afraid.  I know You will keep me safe. I know You will provide for me every good thing.

I am one of the saints in whom You take delight: I am the apple of Your eye; I am beloved, I am cherished, I am Your child.

You have determined my days. You brought me into this world and You will carry me out when it is my time. I am confident in the knowledge that there is no pestilence, no terror, no disaster which can rob me of life. I am secure and at peace with the portion and the cup You assigned for me.

I praise You Lord. You are not silent. Your spirit speaks to me. It guides me. You are my counselor and my teacher. I will make time in my day to listen to Your voice. I will train my mind to pray constantly. I will pray without ceasing. I will pray and not faint. I will anticipate and relish You presence at all times. If You are always before me, always behind me, to the right of me, to the left, above and below me holding me up, what shall I fear?  Who shall I fear? How can I be shaken? What terror, sickness, disaster or demon from Hell can move me?

I will rejoice in Your presence and Your love. I will rest secure. I have no fear that You will leave me or forsake me. That is Your promise and You are not a mere man who will renege.

This life is not all that there is.  This life is not all that I have hope in: I am not such a foolish one. This life is but a tiny slice of eternity. In You I will live forever.

Because I have set my love upon You O Lord, I know You have delivered me.
Because I have known Your name, You have set me on high,
I know I can call upon You, and You will answer me;
You will be with me in times of trouble;
You  will deliver me  and honor me.
With Eternal life You will satisfy me,
And show me Your salvation, Dabar YHVH, Yehoshua, Yeshua, Jesus

In His name I pray, amen.

Gracious, merciful Father in Heaven. To whom can we compare you? There is no other God. There is no other Power. You and you nature are the principle upon which this Universe is built. You are love. Love is built into the fabric of space-time. It is not limited by time nor distance.

You are not remote from me. You are within me. You surround me. You are the ground upon which I step. You are the force which gives me life. Without your Spirit, I am just flesh and bones, dust and water.

I look about me at the beauty of your creation. I see you at work in the wonders of the universe. I see in the diversity of life upon this planet. I see you in the changing of the color of the leaves. I see in the process in which the seasons change but nature changes from one form of beauty to another.

I am honored that you have taken up residence within me.  I long to be a fit temple for your presence. I daily renew my mind that my affections are turned less towards the things this fleeting world has to offer me and more and more toward the eternal things of the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is my heart’s desire that your kingdom manifest on earth as it does in Heaven. My hope is that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I seek after the treasure that is your presence, your righteousness, your shalom. You peace which I cannot get my mind around now, but I hope to. I hope to be able to grasp it if it is possible. I hope to be able to preach it as Jesus Did. That your peace, your shalom, your Kingdom is here, right now.

Father, I cast all my worries about my finances at your feet. Guide me in the way I should go to meet my obligations. Point me in the direction of the resources I need. Bless me with the power to get wealth that I may in turn be a blessing to others.

I thank you for your provision. I thank you that you care not just about my spiritual riches, but you desire that I prosper in this earth plane as well. I am confident that there is no limit to your ability or willingness to meet my every need. There are no shortages in the Kingdom. There is no rationing nor apportionments. Bless me father, Bless me Indeed.

I know however, that my true treasure is within this jar of clay. Your precious Holy Spirit. Thank you for your Son through whom this gift is made possible.

In Jesus name, Amen

Abba, Father

You, O Lord, are my salvation and strength. You are the source of my inspiration: the reason my heart sings, my mouth shouts, my feet dance, and my soul rejoices. I rejoice over your kindness towards me, the length, width, depth, and height of your love.

I trust in your word. I have witnessed Your power. You and I have a track record. I have seen time and again how You have worked mightily, miraculously, and, wisely in my life: straightening out the crooked places, smoothing out the rough spots and the demolishing all the obstacles in my way. My present suffering is before me, yet I will stand back and see Your salvation.

My healing is sure. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. I shall live, and declare the works of the Lord. Open up to me the gates of my future and I will walk through them with boldness and assurance – not in me, nor in my own ability, but in Your mighty Spirit which works within me.

I long to be with You but I place my body completely at Your disposal. I will live and be a blessing to all I come in contact with. To those who need hope, I will share the reason for the hope I have.

To those in need of consolation, I will console them with the consolation I have received from You.

To those who need strength to make it through another day, I will introduce them to the Source of My strength. The One in whom I can do ALL THINGS.

To those who need prayer, I will offer the fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous one. Not my own righteousness, but that which is mine in Christ Jesus.

Those those in despair, I will rejoice and praise You with song and thanksgiving with all the fervor and abandon of David.

It is day and not night. I must be about my Father’s business. I will do the work that He for-ordained that I should do before the foundation of the world. Your perfect word equips me for every good work. Your Spirit gives me dynamite power I need to be Your witness to the world.

I choose life. I choose blessing. I choose service. I choose to do your will. My flesh will follow my renewed mind.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

To you belong all the power and all the glory. There is no God but you.
My Yesha.  God who saves. My salvation.  Yshw’ah. Yahweh is Salvation.

You are my Father and Lord, My Protector and my Guide. You are the Good shepherd who attends to me, a the speckled and spotted lamb that you loved, delivered and placed in your flock. I have no lack. I am safe from all enemies.

You direct my path. I am not worried about my destination: You will never mislead me or misguide me. Where ever you take me I am willing to follow. For I know I will find there love, peace, and consolation.

If I come to you with my soul  heavy with the cares of this world, you will lighten my load. If I am weary of crying, you will wipe away every tear. If I am weakened and distraught from sickness and disease, you will lift up my head and speak to my spirit hope and deliverance

In Spirit, I am healed from all afflictions. I am a holy, pure, spotless soul redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb.

In my darkest moments you are there. When  men can offer me no hope, you are my hope and my refuge. I can not fear any evil because I am not alone. The Omnipotent one is by my side. I am not afraid of the terrors in the daytime nor the pestilence lurking in the darkness. There is no demon, no disease, no disaster you cannot deliver me from.

In the midst of my trial your Spirit flows over my like anointing oil. You are training me for battle. You are preparing me to war against every power, every principality, every thought, every imagination which would dare exalt its self against the knowledge of God. My thoughts imprison and make them obedient under the Anointed One, Christ.

I know you have wonderful plans for my life. I have a future and a hope. There is much for me to do and to be here on this earth. I long to be with you, Lord, but it is needful that I remain and be a blessing to the body and to those who you have purposed I minister to.  My best days are now and tomorrow.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a woman
A woman who was hurt and torn by parents and siblings who seemed to be so needy but beyond her ability to help. But who resolves to raise her children up in the fear and admonition of the Lord

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a young woman
who has witness devastating turmoil in her family. Unfaithfulness, selfishness, bitterness, lack of love. But she looks within finds the God given strength to smile. To excel at school. To pray and meditate upon the word. She has learned that there is one who will never leave her nor forsake her. Who has nothing but thoughts of love and peace towards her and promises her a future and a hope.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a woman
who is little in her own eyes but who allows the very big God within her to guide here and direct her as she works as a resource and a consolation to people all over the community.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man
who faces a number of mountain high obstacles to enjoying a peaceful, productive, and spiritual life for himself and his children. Though at times the the way seems dim, he does not give up. He trusts in God who is working within and so he keeps fighting, he keeps struggling. As as he does, the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter and brighter and larger and larger and nearer and nearer.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a woman
who as struggled with past relationships and been hurt. Though the hurt was in a public fashion, she did not withdraw into the shadows, but launched a church and a ministry which is poised to bless the world.

What is your parable of the Kingdom?

I am grateful that you hear me. It is my desire to know you, your way, and your will. I know because your word tells me and Your spirit agrees with my spirit that if I ask according to your will, you hear me and will grant my request. The word of God is complete salvation and peace. My every need is met. I can face the pressures of this day knowing that  You  are with me.

I resolve to renew my mind. I take charge of my body. My appetite submits to my will. My will submits to the Holy Spirit within me. I will live a consistent, disciplined life. Though this body is temporary and I look forward to my perfect, glorified body, I will appreciate and  care for this fearfully and wonderfully designed temple over which you have made me steward.

I resolve to renew my mind to be able to focus my sight upon what is unseen to the physical eye, yet can be felt, examined, and handled with my spiritual senses. I am free from worry and anxiety because I trust my God. The peace of God surrounds and permeates my being. I know I am loved and cared for.

I resolve to renew my mind that I may  be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; of the love of Christ. A love which passes knowledge.  I am filled with all the fullness of my God.   My broken heart is healed. My joy is renewed. I know what true happiness is.

I resolve to renew my mind with the knowledge that You give those You love- and I know you love me — a full and restful night’s sleep. I wake up refreshed and ready for  whatever the new day may bring.

I resolve to renew my mind and  keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. I present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto You. My recreated  spirit longs to do this very thing: for this is the most reasonable, practical, sensible and logical way I can serve you. The Holy Spirit purifies me spirit, soul, and body that I might be a fit and righteous vessel for my Lord.

Thank you Father: For Yours is the kingdom the power and the glory.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

This is what I stand upon. I am not commanding God to heal. And I do not blame myself or God if my healing does not come when, where,  or how I want. My prayer is to align my mind, my will, my spirit with God to such a degree that I, like Paul, can pray to the Father three times in  full faith and confidence, and be at peace when He answers and says to me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Corinthians 12:9,10

Or like Job, who said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.   He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite (or profane, godless person)  shall not come before him.” Job 13:15,16

My goal, through prayer, is to strengthen up the inner man. Ephesians 3:16 says this: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

Who or what is is This inner man? If you are born again, your spirit is reborn. It is new. It is our minds which we have to work upon.  Paul says this, in Romans 12:2;

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The word translated “renewing” is anakainosis ( an ak ah’ ee noh sis) strongs number 342 and it means: renovation, complete change for the better. The mind must be renovated to come into harmony with our recreated spirits. II Corinthians 5:17,

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 4:23, 24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Now think about the process of renovation. If  I were to renovate a home in the natural , I might follow the steps:

Designing  and Planning . Have an idea of what want to have done. What will my new home look like?

• Begin examining and renovating the Roof, Foundation, Siding, Windows to make certain the house won’t collapse on me
• I  may have to do some  demolition work.
• I may need to  perform some structural  work such as Moving  or constructing new walls, enlarging window openings, Adding beams to support a greater weight, adding or removing doors.
• Redesigning Heating, AC, Electrical, and Plumbing systems
• Install new insulation and  Drywall
• Installing the new flooring
• Install replacement windows.
• I will need to do non-structural  carpentry work such installing baseboards, molding, trim around windows and doors
• I’ll need to do Interior Painting, Wallpapering
• And finally do the Siding and Gutters

Contrast this process to the process of  building a new home.  I would need at a minimum the following:

• Hire an architect who produces my blueprints,
• hire an engineer to assure that the plans are sound and complete
• buy A plot to build upon
• get A building permit
• Get Cost estimates, financing options
• hire  A surveyor, a building contractor.
• Lay the foundation
• hire a master carpenter
• hire Framers and builders, and other finishers

As we strive to renovate our minds, know that we have at our side the Lord Jesus Christ  who was  not only a  Carpenter and a carpenter’s son in the flesh, but He is also the creator of all that is in heaven, on the earth, the visible, and the invisible.   Jesus is our teacher, our example, our foundation, and our pattern.  He is the author/designer/architect/engineer and the finisher of our faith. He is the one who assures that the whole building process is complete and perfect. And we have the Holy Spirit who guides us, comforts us, assures us, and strengthens us during  every step of the way,  through the word, rhema revelation, and the still, small, voice within.

And as our mind comes into resonance, into harmony with our recreated spirits, our bodies will follow along. The physical toll of worry and stress is attenuated. We are reasserting dominion over our appetites for foods and drugs which harm us. And we strive as God gives us knowledge and strength to become fit temples for the Holy Spirit. When er renew our minds, after the new man, our body follows suit.

Now, we respond to what Jesus said here in many ways.:

• We might say: I can’t just stand there and let someone attack me and not fight back. My survival instincts  will take over. It is foolish not to try to defend yourself.We could think, I have to protect the things I worked for. No one can just come up and take what belongs to me without a fight.
• Or we could say, and some commentators say that Jesus was speaking to a 1st century Jewish audience. He gave them the wise way to handle the abusive tactics of the Roman soldiers. He was teaching how to live in a godly, dignified way in the face of an oppressive state.
• I might even say, I don’t understand what Jesus is saying. But I know this. No one is going to disrespect me. I can’t be a push over. I can’t be used and abused. I can’t be a doormat, a pushover, a punk, a weakling, a wuss. Lay a hand on me and draw back a nub
• What is your reaction?

The issue Jesus raises here is in keeping  with the general message of the Sermon on the Mount. In the Kingdom of God there is a new paradigm of living. A new way of relating to others and to God. A radical change which is in opposition to the old way of life.

The old way of life which was dominated by the flesh– not the physical body, by flesh I mean the sinful nature, as the old-time black preachers used to say, the flush. In Hebrew, it is the  Yetzer ha-Ra. (evil inclination). The problem is that the flush does not want to relinquish control. The concept of life of the spirit the words, of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is foolishness to him.

But, what if Jesus meant what he said -literally? What if a child of God in the Kingdom of God is expected to turn the other cheek. To allow others to hurt us, cheat us and steal from us?

Let’s return to the Sermon on the mount where  Jesus says, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:” The Greek word translated resist here can also mean stand against, withstand, oppose. (antihistemi). Example. We are told to Resist the Devil and he will flee. (James 4:7). It goes without saying -but I will say it anyway less I be misunderstood – obviously we are to resist Satan and his imps. But for as humanity  is concerned – and especially our brothers and sisters – there is another way.

Here is an example of the new way of thinking we should have. 1 Corinthians 6:7 Paul is talking about Christians suing Christians who wrong them. Paul says,

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Now in this,  Jesus  is our prime example. Here is what Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 2:19-23.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even here unto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  1 Peter 2:19-23.

Paul says this in Romans 12:17-19
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

God does not want us to be punching bags: but we must. have faith in God. We must trust God.  There was an incident in Luke chapter 4: around the 18th verse. Jesus had given perhaps his inaugural message in his home church,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord

Jesus sensed their doubt and unbelief and he prophesied against them. The people became so angry they grabbed him, took him out of the city and  started to throw him off a cliff. Now Jesus didn’t say. “I will suffer thee to toss me off yon cliff. Yea though you toss me of yon cliff anon and breaketh my body, yet wilst I rise again. No it says in verse 30 that Jesus passed through their midst and went His way to the next town. It was not his time. God provided a way of escape for Jesus. And He will for us as well

1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation (testing, trial) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Scripture:

And the Prayer:

I command my soul to be still and quiet. God is at work  delivering me from the aggravations and stressors which once plagued me. Fear is an enemy I will never see again. Want and envy are vanquished. Insecurity is removed from its high place in my mind.  Self-reliance is exposed  for the lie and the burden and the trap it really is. Worry is exposed as a lack of faith and trust. I am not afraid nor am I bothered by those who can only hurt me physically. No one can take from me what God has given me.

I view my situation with spiritual eyes, not eyes of flesh. I am:

• hard pressed, but not crushed
• perplexed, but not in despair;
• persecuted, but not abandoned
• struck down, but not destroyed.

God will fight my battles. He will fight for me and I can enjoy true peace. I do not lose heart. Though outwardly as it appears I am are wasting away,  inwardly I am are being renewed. My aggravations are light, temporary, vaporous. God is working through them. As I walk in the spirit with full reliance and trust in Him, my  light and momentary troubles are achieving  an eternal glory for me that is so marvelous, I can’t find the words to describe. I  fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. The Lord will fight my battles. I will rest and enjoy Sholom.

We need to learn to see Him. We need to learn how to be conscious of His presence and His workings at all times. A phrase some Christians use is “Practicing the  Presence of God.” The following are some verses which can help us detect our Lord and increase the strength and accuracy of our “Godar.”

• Genesis 17:1: God is behind me.
  • And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
• Deuteronomy 13:4: God is before me.
  • Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
• Psalm 91:1 : God is above me.
  • He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
• Psalms 40:2 Beneath me as my rock
  • He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
• Genesis 6:9 &  Genesis 5:24 , Revelation 3:4:God is beside me.
  • And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
  • Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy
• Psalm 16:8 : God is on my right.(south)
  • I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
• Job 23:9 : God is on my left (north).
  • On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
• Psalm 34:7 : God is all around me.
  • 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them
• Colossians 1:27 : Christ is in me.
  • To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(adopted from http://www.ministrylive.org/index.php/2008/09/15/practicing-the-presence-of-god/)

If we know that God is:

• Before us
• Behind us
• Beneath us
• Above us
• To our right
• To our left
• With me and,
• Within me

We can understand what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1.6:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

And also Philippians 4:6,7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus