A thief wouldn’t break into a house to steal merchandise he knows isn’t there. So the next time the devil attacks your mind with lies about inadequacies, insufficiencies, and other flaws, remember his strategy is to make you think you don’t possess what he’s after.

The thief knows you got the GOODS!

A thief in the natural world dismantles the security system leaving the structure vulnerable to his invasion. The same stands in the realm of darkness; the enemy comes to implant seeds of doubt to obstruct our confidence in God’s Word, resulting in him controlling our thoughts and actions. When the devil can exchange our faith for his fears, we are more likely to fall for his lies when he says things like:

• You can’t do anything right.
• You’re crazy.
• You’re stupid.
• You’re worthless.

The thief comes to weaken our faith’s immune system.

That negativity isn’t from God; the Lord builds us up; He doesn’t tear us down. Discouraging thoughts like those are confidence stealers; it weakens our faith’s immune system to ward off disbelief. God needs His people to immediately cast down the devil’s lies and walk in faith.

We are everything the devil tells us we’re not.

We can use the enemy’s lies to work against him and, at the same time, build our confidence—by knowing the thief only comes for what’s in our possession. Therefore, walk in boldness:

• We are the workmanship of God. (Ephesians 2:10)
• We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)
• We have been made righteous through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• We are loved by God. (John 3:16)
• and so on. . .

What could the thief be stealing that you didn’t realize you had?

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

Will a God of love discipline His children when they disobey?

Yes—of course, and thank goodness He does. By in large, people are prideful, lustful, corruptible, and the list goes on. When ungodly characteristics shape behavior, our heavenly Father will do what needs to be done to make His point.

Would you rather face God’s firm discipline, Who loves you, or be destroyed by the devil, who hates you?

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth  

 (Hebrews 12:6, KJV).

Tough love: experience is a powerful teacher.

I know the thought that a loving God will allow or cause hardship to discipline His children is controversial. But look at it as tough love. Allowing believers to experience the consequences of their sinful choices is a good deterrent when temptation comes knocking again.

I’m not saying all hardship results from disobedience; some adversities come basically to strengthen and test our faith. Those examinations are crucial for assessing faith development. But, on the other hand, when blatant, willful sin is the cause for our rebellion, our Father has no problem chastening us.

For instance, when the Israelites turned away from God and started worshiping other gods and idols, He allowed their enemy, the Babylonians, to enslave them for seventy years. After they repented, they were released, and God punished the Babylonians for their mistreatment. This is just one example of how our Lord uses our adversaries’ evilness to discipline. (See the book of Ezekiel.)

The best weapon against the devil is to be a broken, submissive vessel for God.

Contrary to the devil’s plans to keep us bound and convicted with guilt, God is forgiving, and His mercy offers ample chances for repentance. Therefore, there’s no condemnation for those in Christ (see Romans 8:1) because our Redeemer sacrificed His life and paid our sin bill on the Cross.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, KJV).

When corrections come, submit and say:

Lord, even though my flesh will have a SCREAMING FIT—discipline me!

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job13:15).

 

© 2022

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When facing a hard-pressed predicament, ask the Lord, “Did You set this up?” Once you examine the circumstances from that stance, your attention will focus more on your spiritual growth and maturity than on the problem. Of course, you want the matter resolved ASAP, but instead of praying for deliverance as your first defense, pray to hear what the Lord has to say because if He set it up—there’s something He wants you and/or others to learn before you are delivered.

Only You, Lord, can fix this!

 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ³ now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness (1 Peter 2:2-3, NLT).

Some learning possibilities:

• Walk by faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
• Put your trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5)
• Seek God first. (Matthew 6:33)
• Impossible for man; possible for God. (Luke 18:27)
• God’s grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Your faith will grasp the joy; your fear will grasp the hurt.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy (James 1:2, NLT).

So, why does James tell us to consider our troubles as opportunities for joy? He said that because he knows if we submit to God, hard times will transform us into the likeness of Christ, and anytime our actions reflect the Lord’s, that glorifies Him because of the spiritual advancement it produces.

Lord, did You set this up for Your glory?

© 2022

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I don’t watch television without having the remote control close at hand so I can mute it as I please. So likewise, we believers in Christ can mute the nerve-shattering roars of the devil by putting our faith in the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who resides within us (see John 14:16-17). Even though we can’t stop these frightening growls, it’s good to know there’s a safe, effective way to have them muted.

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

The roar is worse than the bite.

The enemy has meticulously studied our vulnerabilities; he knows more about our frailties than we do. Like a maestro conducting a symphony, he knows the opportune time to strike the perfect pitch of resounding roars of worry.

The more we focus on problematic legal issues, failing health, broken families, rebellious children, and other dire circumstances, the louder the roars. Unfortunately, the world’s remedies for quieting the noise are more harmful than the roars.

If you despise the roars, personalize your relationship with the Holy Spirit—get to know Him Intimately!

Why should believers worry about roars when the Holy Spirit resides in them?

© 2022

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When heartstrings are being pulled, it’s hard to pray, with sincerity, “Lord, Your will be done.” That blind step of faith pleases God in that we trust His outcome in the matter. But all in all, that’s still a hard prayer to pray; I know because I haven’t prayed that prayer yet without adding my two cents on how things should go.

Letting God have His way is the ultimate test of our faith.  

When our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, He knew that doing His Father’s will meant He had to accept the bitter cup of wrath. That decision wasn’t easy; He toiled all night in agony; but concluded, “Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou would have me to do” (see Mark 14:36).

The apostle Paul received an invaluable revelation about God’s ways are best after he pleaded three times for the Lord to take the thorn away that Satan was allowed to dispense. I’m pretty sure Paul gave God a list of logical reasonings why the thorn should be removed. But God responded: “My grace is sufficient.”

And he said unto 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 (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Once Paul realized that God’s grace supplied all the strength he needed to endure whatever infirmities and distresses came his way, it was his honor to showcase God’s power in those trying times.

But think about this: Satan can no longer control our emotions when we have resolved life’s outcomes to God’s will be done.

© 2022

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We pray; then, we tend to give God instructions on answering our requests; those step-by-step directions reveal we don’t have the faith to leave everything in His royal hands. We often forget that our omniscient Lord knows more about our appeals than we ever could. He dealt with the matter long before there was an issue to address. His reasoning for doing what He does reaches far beyond our understanding. So tell me, how can our finite brains advise a sovereign God?

Genuine faith gives no instructions.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Do we trust God’s ways, or do we just want His power to execute our plans?

Yes, we believe God knows best but is that what we want, or do we just want Him to execute our best-laid plans? Do we trust His ways will satisfy our desires?

However, when we truly understand how much God loves us, His desires become our desires which loosens our tight grip on trying to control everything. And when we love Him in return, everything works together for our good (see Romans 8:28). So the sooner we trade our instructions in for His ways, the sooner God can get to work on our behalf.

Think about these questions:

• Did God need Noah’s advice on building the ark?
• Did God ask Moses for instructions on parting the Red Sea?
• Did God take lessons from Elijah on stopping the rain?

Of course not, and like so, God doesn’t need any instructions from us on starting our businesses, shielding us from evil plots, healing our bodies, saving our children, or any other circumstances we face. The truth of the matter is:

God doesn’t need any instructions—about anything.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

© 2022

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The world has customized “truth” to fit its iniquitous lifestyles; whatever feels good, seems right, brings pleasure, or any jam-freeing fabrication is acceptable these days. Nevertheless, God warns His followers to keep the belt of His Truth wrapped tightly around their waist. We are in spiritual warfare, and functioning in the Truth is part of His armor (see Ephesians 6:10-17).

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist. (v.14, NIV)

Too many are tightening the wrong belts.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Unfortunately, sometimes followers aren’t aware they have conformed to the world; therefore, they have tightened the wrong belt. Some conformities come from having a complacent attitude towards spiritual matters; sometimes, conformism can also result from misquoting and taking out of context God’s Word for generations.

While in prison, the apostle Paul writes a letter to Timothy, an elder of the church at Ephesus, to stay encouraged during challenging times, hold fast to the doctrine, and reject and correct wrong teachings.

The advice Paul gave to Timothy is what we are to remember and take to heart. But we can’t differentiate God’s Truth from “truths” if we don’t read and study the Word for ourselves. I can’t overemphasize studying the Word for yourself; for when we do, we’ll better recognize misinterpretations. Also, when we don’t know the Truth, we miss out on the power it renders. For instance, knowing the Word of God keeps us from:

• wrapping ourselves in falsehoods,
• being incompletely armed for battle,
• being spiritually deaf,
• staying spiritually underdeveloped.

If you find understanding the Bible difficult, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a translation that you can comprehend. If you prefer listening, there are audio versions you might find enlightening.

The format we choose isn’t essential; receiving the knowledge of the Word is what’s important so that we won’t tighten the wrong belt.

© 2022

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Just because an evil, worrisome thought pops into your head doesn’t mean you have to think that thought through. This can be easier said than done because even the Christians who can properly decern when the devil is talking to them will still, at times, listen and allow his lies to overtake what the Lord said about a situation.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

Invest time in faith, not fears.

The longer we ponder the enemy’s lies, the more our faith weakens, and his stronghold strengthens. Of course, we can’t stop the devil’s illegal suggestions (wicked thoughts) from entering our heads; no more than we can prevent birds from flying over our heads, but it is within our control not to give time to every thought.

Not until recently, I felt defeated whenever I found myself worrying, but the Holy Spirit brought to my attention that for the past two weeks, I was casting down those illegal suggestions. Because as soon as I realized one of the devil’s lies had entered my head, I vetoed it immediately and replaced it with what the Lord said about the matter. And the times when I couldn’t recall a verse to quote, or a personal word from the Holy Spirit to cast it down with, I just called: Jesus! What a relief when the Lord revealed that to me. Those two weeks of consciously taking control of my thinking will eventually become how my thoughts are processed in the future.

Why trade God’s peace for the devil’s torment? 

A measuring rod of spiritual growth:

• How much time do you allow the enemy’s frightening thoughts to linger in your head?
• Do you give those thoughts less time now than you did a year ago?

Remember, you don’t have to think about every thought—choose what you think—wisely.

© 2022

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God is sending us some undeniable warnings of things to come. Ignoring the current ominous happenings that were foretold in biblical prophecy by sticking our heads in the sand won’t make it not so; this fuse was lit back in Garden of Eden, and now we’re in the path of its fiery blaze.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1, NIV)

Everything we’re witnessing was prophesied thousands of years ago.

We are characters who have been placed in this real-life drama. For those in Christ, there’s nothing to fear as each act unfolds. As a matter of fact, if we view what’s going on as God revealing His sovereignty right before our eyes, then these times are pretty exciting.

But the body of Christ has work to do in the vineyard (see Luke 10:1-2). And we can’t be effective witnesses if we bury ourselves and do not face what’s going on from a spiritual perspective. We are to cry loudly and alert others to prepare for Jesus’ return.

Right in plain sight!

On a particular day, Jesus went to the synagogue, opened the book of Isaiah, found Himself in Scripture, read it, then closed the book, and sat down (see Luke 4:16-20).

God revealed His long-range plan to prophets like Ezekiel; therefore, like Jesus, we should open the Scriptures and find our place.

The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here (Romans 13:12a, LAB).

 

© 2022

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Can’t see it? Check the power line if you are a believer who can’t believe beyond the physical realm. There’s a disconnect somewhere if you can’t see those things that are not—as if they really are. After you receive salvation, your mind must be renewed; your old way of thinking must rise to a supernatural level and begin to see and call things like God wants you to see and call them.

Once you have prayed:

• If you’re sick—don’t keep talking about how ill you are.
• If your money is low—don’t keep talking about how broke you are.
• If you’re forgetful—don’t keep making jokes about your fading memory.

Calling those things which are not . . .  

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews11:1).

I speak only for me; I can’t be contained anymore by “religious restrictions” that leave me powerless when I know the Holy Spirit wants to take me to a supernatural realm where faith—is the predictable outcome—not a random incident. And for faith to have its way, my attention must be on God and His promises. Because what He says should be my reality; if not, do I really believe and trust God?

To see things the way the Holy Spirit wants us to see them—requires us to regularly spend one-on-one quality time with Him on a personal level. As our relationship matures, we become humbly honored just to be in His presence, not necessarily wanting anything but Him. That’s when a bond begins to form; intimacy develops; we want what He desires; we recognize His guidance and quickly obey the promptings of His voice; then our measure of faith begins to delete cataracts caused by doubts and fears; our spiritual vision comes into focus.

Is your power line connected?

Power line inspection:

• Is God your number one priority? (Matthew 22:37)
• Are your thoughts aligned with His Word? (2 Corinthians 10:5)
• Can you discern God’s voice from all the noise? (John 10:4; 1 John 4:1)
• Do you trust Him no matter what you don’t see? (Hebrews 11:1; Mark 9:23)
• Do you stay suited in the whole armor of God? (Ephesians 6:10-18)
• Do you think God is pleased with your relationship with Him? (John 14:15,21)

If you can’t see clearly through the lens of faith, don’t become discouraged; ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and believe what He tells you, and do what He says.

Our faith connected to the Power Source—Oh, My Goodness; we’re getting ready to see some stuff! 

© 2022

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With all the different beliefs in the world, coming to a consensus about anything is highly unlikely. Yet, one undisputed unanimous action will take place in the end: every knee will bow, every tongue will confess—Jesus Christ is LORD.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

The Great Commission

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded His disciples to go out and spread the gospel; today’s Christians are mandated to do likewise. (See Matthew 28:16-20.) The way things are going in today’s world, this is not the hour for believers to hide their light under a bushel; if they don’t step up now, then—when?

I genuinely believe the Holy Spirit has assigned each Christian specific people to witness to; they could be in their families, on their jobs, a stranger in a grocery-store line, or across the seas. They might accept the gospel or not; nevertheless, it won’t change the fact that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess:

Jesus Christ is LORD!

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

© 2022

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Is it just me, or have you noticed the world has gotten a whole lot smaller? It’s small enough to fit in my backyard; its troubles are now my problems—tribulations come in one size fits all. Could this be God’s way of letting us know we are all joined together despite our man-made lines of division?

 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God (2 Corinthians 1:4).

We all need one another—God created us that way.

We are at our best when our humanitarian traits work together in harmony. An example of that was last week when many outcries poured for prayer for a country in crisis. It’s beautiful to see the world pulling together in this joint effort. Oh, if we would only stay on this path. Today them—tomorrow could be us.

Keep praying—our well-being depends on it!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. ² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).

© 2022

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Pain in our bodies is not without a cause; it’s a signal from the nervous system that something is wrong. The same is true for our dear planet earth; it’s receiving electrified surges of pain that translate worldwide as something is wrong. We can ignore all this distress, but things will only worsen if we do. You see, because of our wrongdoings: turning our backs on God and mistreating one another is why the earth is in such pain.

The land suffers for the sins of its people. The earth languishes, the crops wither, the skies refuse their rain, The land is defiled by crime; the people have twisted the laws of God and broken his everlasting commands (Isaiah 24:4-5, LAB).

How we treat people reflects our love for God; our love for God reflects how we treat people.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:20)

When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment? He replied, Love the Lord with all your heart and soul. And the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40)

Instead of hundreds and hundreds of commands that we must adhere to—we only have two. Jesus said everything—hangs on those two conditions.

The Hatfields and the McCoys kept their feud going for over a century, as the story goes. But unfortunately, the same is true for many of us. We weren’t born with these prejudices; they were taught. We’re doing our loved ones a disservice when we pass those same biases to the next generations to come, without counting the cost that God meant what He said.

When I taught school, I was always looking for ways to lead the students to the correct answers. In Matthew 7:12, God leads us to the correct answer on how to treat others:

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets (NRSV).

To my fellow Christians, we are on display; the world is listening when we say we love the Lord, but they “hear” our actions.

If we don’t change our ways, earth pains will continue.

© 2022

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It’s not a far stretch of the imagination to conclude that we are in spiritual warfare. The apostle Paul said that we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high places; we are to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11-17)

The Armor:

• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Shoes of Peace
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (verse. 13).

We should never take any piece of God’s armor off, not that anyone would knowingly. But, if we aren’t paying attention, Satan has ways of slithering in like a laser removing pieces that we’re unaware are missing until we’re in a battle. For example, the shoes of peace are the easiest for him to remove by setting us up against one another.

I learned something new about the armor the other day when Satan attacked me. From my outer appearance, I looked like a fierce warrior on the battlefield; for every lie he told, I held up the shield (faith) and cut him with the sword (the Word). This back and forth went on for almost an hour; I never caved in, but when it was over, I felt defeated. So, I asked the Holy Spirit, “Did I do something wrong?”

The Holy Spirit whispered in my spirit: You didn’t have the helmet on—that’s why you thought—you were defeated.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (verse 17)

Never take the helmet off.

Now I’m beginning to see, in my opinion, the helmet of salvation, walking in the confidence of Christ, is the glue that holds the armor together because it protects the mind where wrong thinking starts. Continually reminding ourselves who we are in Him is one way to stay victorious (see 2 Corthinains 5:17). When our thinking is defective, it leaves portals for the enemy to insert fears, doubts, and other mind-controlling emotions, like him telling me I was defeated when I really wasn’t.

Therefore, when we start each day, we should ask the Holy Spirit if we are dressed adequately for battle—are we leaving any pieces behind?

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

 

Christians have an advantage over nonbelievers; they have the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, residing in them. But even though many believers can quote scriptures stating that truth, not as many have the revelation of what it really means to have the availability of God’s power and wisdom living in them as their on-the-spot—go-to.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Is the Holy Spirit your primary prayer partner?

Sadly, too many Christians bypass the power they have access to and allow the devil to drown them in fear and confusion. They lean to outside help skipping over the One who knows more about the matter and has more wisdom than anyone else. The Holy Spirit is the on-the-spot—go-to with everything needed for the situation.

The Holy Spirit is our Secret Weapon.

There will be times when calling a prayer session together to get a prayer through isn’t fitting. We have to know the Holy Spirit for ourselves; nothing is more important than developing an intimate relationship with Him. Then when the enemy comes ranting and raving, we are able to (a lot of the time secretly), on-the-spot, call on our inner Strength and Power. Never underestimate the power of a believer who knows how to pray effectively.

My On-the-Spot—Go-to!

I can recall several times as a principal when I listened to hostile parents going after each others’ throats. By the expression on my face and my eye movement focusing on the person talking at that moment, one would have thought I was listening intently; to the contrary, I was silently screaming for the Holy Spirit to HELP me. My physical posture was sitting in a chair looking professionally; however, my spirit bowed before God crying.

The Holy Spirit never let me down; He always told me the perfect thing to say, ending those disputes with smiles, handshakes, and sometimes hugs.

God wants us to experience the Holy Spirit and not just talk about Him theoretically.

For the past few weeks, God has led me to write about the Holy Spirit. He wants us to know Who He is beyond a theoretical standpoint but from an experiential knowledge base. God wants us to know the Spirit that resides in each Christian and that He is our on-the-spot—go-to.

Once we understand, the enemy better WATCH OUT!

© 2022

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Born-again Christians are vessels equipped to perform mind-boggling supernatural miracles. God is pouring out His power across the world through the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit, in turn, empowers believers to demonstrate His glory on earth.

God established the plan, Jesus executed the plan, and the Holy Spirit enables us to walk the plan out.

Not until recently did I realize the critical role of the Holy Spirit in my daily life. Even though I grew up in a Christian home, I was never taught that the Holy Spirit is the liaison to which the power of God is channeled; and that He is the embodiment of Christ living in me to teach, comfort, guide, and help whenever needed.

But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shines within us—is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own (2 Corinthians 4:7, LAB).

My mind is still processing the truth that this invisible Person living in me is as real as anybody in the natural that I can see and touch. And the more He and I converse throughout the day, and the more I involve Him in everything I do, the more conscious I am of His presence, which makes me more available for His use.

But we can become of no use when our faith gets gridlocked focusing on the frailties and shortcomings of these clay vessels rather than concentrating on the Supreme Power that says: You can’t—but I Can!

The Holy Spirit fortifies our prayers.

The Holy Spirit knows our hearts when we pray, and He knows the mind and will of God; therefore, He takes our imperfect prayers, makes interceptions, and presents them to the Father as perfect prayers. (See Romans 8:26-27.)

Who wouldn’t have faith in the Holy Spirit’s prayers?

We hear people say they want to see more of God’s power manifested in the world; however, He waits on submissive vessels for His Spirit to work through.

When we provide the vessels, the Holy Spirit will provide the power!

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

Do you use the help God sent, or do you prefer doing things the hard way on your own? If you are a born-again Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). God has given every believer the help to be comforted, strengthen, and will remain on standby for whatever might occur.

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I [Jesus] go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you] (John 16:7, AMP).

Don’t wait for a fleshy feeling before you recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence.

• Do you need strength? The Strengthener lives in you.
• Do you need comforting? Reach inside and draw from the Comforter.
• Do you need someone to come to your defense? Appeal to the Advocator that dwells in you.
• Do you need wisdom? Call on the Counselor right inside.

Help has already arrived.

Most of the things we are longing for are already inside of us. The Holy Spirit is all-inclusive; not only does He have everything that we need, but the power to bring it about. Therefore, He should be our first interaction in time of need. The extent to which we can take advantage of this Superpower will depend solely on our faith to believe. Jesus’ disciples were in direct contact with Him, but so are we through His Holy Spirit.

God wants us to experience His power and not just talk about it theoretically.

But do we have a practical understanding of using the help God sent? I don’t know about you, but as for me, just knowing the Holy Spirit lives in me makes me want to know how to use Him more effectively in my life and the lives of others. I’m making this my life’s mission; I can’t think of anything more important for me to do.

The more we immerse ourselves in the presence of God, the more His proximity becomes undeniable.

Learn how to make the most of the Help God sent.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help! ² My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not permit thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber (Psalm 121:1-3, NKJV).

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.

 

“Lord, please don’t let me let You go” is one of my regular prayers. I know He will never let me go, but that doesn’t mean I won’t let Him go. Right now, I’m on fire for God; He has my full attention; He is all I want to talk about. As a matter of fact, you can’t engage me in a conversation for long before I turn it, in some way or another, to God. But, I can’t take this passion for granted when the enemy is out to steal it.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

I started praying this prayer when I heard Christians say things like they don’t have the fire they once had; despite one’s enthusiasm for God, they made it sound inevitable you’ll lose some of the zeal over time.

It’s on us to tend the flame.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart

(Jeremiah 29:13).

To be honest with you, what these believers said was frightening to hear until the Holy Spirit let me know that it was up to each individual, no one else, to keep themselves stirred up for Christ. If Paul had put the responsibility of keeping himself spiritually inspired on others, he probably wouldn’t have written the books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon while in prison.

Paul’s stimulation came from the same place we must receive ours, and that’s from the Holy Spirit within. And the best way to stay inspired is to continue building a personal relationship with God by involving Him and His ways in everything we do. The moment we become slack is an opened door for the devil to enter.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Look, for the most part, the enemy isn’t going to blow a die-hard Christian’s fire out suddenly; he’s too cunning for that; instead, he patiently dwindles the flame until it’s no longer a threat. Therefore, the moment you notice that you’re not advancing in your spiritual walk, and you’re not on fire, as you once were—reach out and cry:

Lord, please don’t let me let You go!

© 2022

   See you next time on Paulette Talks Faith.