Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?
by Brotha DC

Steps Ordered by God

I recall being in a situation where I witnessed a horrific multi-vehicle accident on the highway I frequently travel. I thanked God for ordering my steps so that I might miss that situation.

²³The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
²⁴Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.
²⁵I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.
²⁶All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed.
²⁷Depart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever [securely].
²⁸For the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:23-28 [AMP]

A friend questioned me about my assertion that God protected me from that event. His question:

Are you saying that the people who were in that crash did not have
their “lives ordered by the Lord?” Or, for that matter, the people who lost
their lives in Katrina in New Orleans, or the big earthquake in Japan, or
the floods all over the world every year, or the recent tornadoes in the
south… were they all not spared because the Lord wasn’t ordering their
lives?

Deep, questions. Is it true that God is playing favorites, or that He chooses to ignore certain people in favor of others?

At the risk of falling into a theological quagmire, I provided the most honest answer that my understanding could generate. After all, this is the kind of idea that theologians spend countless hours discussing… and debating. This is the type of philosophical conundrum about which thousands of pages of dissertation are written.

Thinking back to the tragedy of 9/11, I recall a common thread while listening to the stories of those who survived... or who missed the tragic events altogether.

Many who survived said that “something” told them to sleep in late... or that “a feeling” led them to be a few hours late that day. One gentleman offered to buy his daughter a sandwich for her lunch and she insisted on going to a deli that was so far off his beaten path that it set him way behind his typical schedule and, as a result, caused him to miss what might have been a fatal encounter with the followers of Osama bin Laden.
Even more interesting is the interview with a gate attendant who saw the two men who would crash one of the jets into one of the world trade towers. This gentleman said that he had “a funny feeling” about those guys... but the line was long and he didn’t want to delay the flight.

I think a lot of people have those funny feelings... or feel a prompting from that “Je n’ai sais pas” that tells them to do or not do something. What most people fail to realize (or, to accept) is that these is not just random premonitions or some sort of intuition. What is it?

God is talking to you!

God is saying, “Hey, watch out... something is about to happen.”

Perhaps, if some of the victims of that wreck that I witnessed were interviewed, one might hear them say things like:

• “Something told me not to turn on my blackberry while driving...”
• “Something told me to watch the road and not fiddle with the radio...”
• “I had a feeling I shouldn’t have sped up to cut off that 18-wheeler...”

God speaks to His chidren. Unfortunately, those not in a personal relationship with Him are not tuned into His frequency and may often miss the message. In my experiences and observations, even those who have given their lives to Him through Christ Jesus often allow things to drown out that still small voice (1 Kings 19:12).

I myself miss it quite often, but lately have been exercising myself to be more attentive -- and it pays off. If you are inclined to do the same, be aware of a few important things:

The Inner Witness

As a born again believer, the Holy Spirit of God lives and resides within you. You are His temple.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

1 Corinthians 6:19 [AMP]

God is not a billion miles away. He is right there... closer than your skin as the poet wrote. We don’t need to get into a prayer line or a confessional booth. We can boldly go to the throne of Almighty God Himself just like a child will crawl into his daddy’s lap for comfort, for love, for whatever we stand in need of. God is our Abba (the Hebrew word for Daddy) Father.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 4:16 [AMP]

For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

Romans 8:15 [AMP]

And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [ Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!

Galatians 4:6 [AMP]

As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].

Psalm 103:13 [AMP]

We are His sheep (Psalm 95:7 and Psalm 100:3). He is our Shepherd (John 10:14). He speaks to us. We incline our hearts to hear Him.

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

John 10:27 [AMP]

We must listen to and hear the voice of the Lord. How do we do so?

¹⁶But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?
¹⁷So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
¹⁸But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.

Romans 10:16-18 [AMP]

We need to have faith in order to be pleasing to God -- to believe that He is God, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). As we spend time in the Bible... and communicating with God through constant prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), we will grow in our ability to hear from God.

As if to prove His power to speak to us... the Lord gave Judypie the following on this same topic.  Coincidence?  Nope.  Just Him ordering our steps.

The Word and His Voice
by Judy Ann

Thank you Father, for teaching and training me to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. I’ll not follow the voice of a stranger. Your Voice and Your Word agree; You and Your Word are one. Thank You for Truth that exposes the false and counterfeit. I delight in Your Word, which is eternal. Your Word is Light dispelling the darkness. Your Word is Life swallowing up death. Hallelujah! I praise You in the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Directs Your Path
by Judy Ann

Father, may I always listen for Your gentle whisper. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to take me by the hand and guide me into all the truth. He speaks only what He hears, and He will tell me what is yet to come. In all my ways I acknowledge You, and You shall direct my path. In the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your great love for me. Amen.

^11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."

    A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper

1 Kings 19:11-12 [MSG]

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

John 16:13 [AMP]

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 [AMP]

Lord’s Path
by Judy Ann

The Lord’s path is paved with love and mercy for everyone willing to stop and ask for directions -— for those who cling to His life-giving promises.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalm 25:10 [AMP]

Prayer to Begin the Day
by Judy Ann

Father, I come before You rejoicing, for this is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. To obey is better than sacrifice, so I am making a decision to submit to Your will today, that my plans and purposes may be conducted in a manner that will bring honor and glory to You. Cause me to be spiritually and mentally alert in this time of meditation and prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 [AMP]

Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22 [AMP]

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 [AMP]

Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord

One of the most popular search items on the internet is some variation of casting your cares upon the Lord.

Apparently, a lot of people are having severe troubles in their lives and are looking for a way to get relief from those problems.  They could be dealing with:

• Financial problems
• Fear of terrorist attacks
• Unemployment
• Bad relationships

If you are seeking in this area, know that the answer is as close as your Bible.

St. Peter tells us, in his first epistle:

⁶Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
⁷Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
⁸Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

1 Peter 5:6-8 [AMP]

Whatever is bothering you... whatever is taking your sleep away... whatever is driving your blood pressure upwards... whatever seems an insurmountable obstacle... just humble yourself under God’s mighty hand.

You can’t handle it yourself... so why even deceive yourself by thinking that you are big and bad and tough enough to handle it?  Just take it to the throne of Almighty God (who loves you more than you could ever comprehend) and let Him deal with it... and then keep your eyes open so that satan can’t harm you.




By the way, you can listen to the original Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord podcast using the audio control below:



Germaine Copeland of Word Ministries wrote the following:

The human body and central nervous system cannot tolerate the burden of worry, fretting, and anxiety. This type of burden causes a chemical imbalance in your DNA and interferes with the production of necessary hormones for physical, mental and emotional health. Worry is probably the major cause of sickness. The Holy Spirit taught me to cast all my burdens on the Lord during a crucial time in my life. I chose not to worry and declared that God cared for me and my household. The Holy Spirit taught me how to take off my cares and lay them on the Lord. I approached God boldly in prayer and read His Word aloud to myself until worry subsided. Today I teach classes on Overcoming Worry, but find that some Christians are determined to worry and have their anxiety attacks. The choice is yours. You can lug around the worries and cares or you can talk to the Lord about any situation whether it is financial, marriage relationship, the death of a loved one, or children gone astray. Choose to cast the care of any circumstance that is causing you to worry over on the Lord because He cares for you.

That about says it all, doesn’t it? Worry makes you sick. Worry makes you physically weak. Worry makes you spiritually weak. Worry is like faith in reverse... rather than believing God for the victory, you are believing your problems for defeat. How about making a decision to exorcise worry from your life, once and for all?

Have you ever said, “That person gets on my nerves” or possibly had someone say that about you? Well… if people are getting on your nerves, don’t worry. Judypie has a meditation to deal with that too! Just pray this prayer:

To you, O Lord, I pray. My enemies will not triumph over me, and I will never be disgraced for trusting you. Show me the path where I should go, point out the right road for me to walk. Lead and teach me for you are the God who gives me salvation. Thank you for seeing me through eyes of everlasting love and kindness. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 25
A Psalm of David

^1-2 My head is high, God, held high; I'm looking to you, God;
No hangdog skulking for me.

³ I've thrown in my lot with you;
You won't embarrass me, will you?
Or let my enemies get the best of me?
Don't embarrass any of us
Who went out on a limb for you.
It's the traitors who should be humiliated.

⁴ Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.

⁵ Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren't you?

⁶ Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

⁷ Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!

⁸ God is fair and just;
He corrects the misdirected,
Sends them in the right direction.

⁹ He gives the rejects his hand,
And leads them step-by-step.

¹⁰ From now on every road you travel
Will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs;
Read the charted directions.

¹¹ Keep up your reputation, God;
Forgive my bad life;
It's been a very bad life.

¹² My question: What are God-worshipers like?
Your answer: Arrows aimed at God's bull's-eye.

¹³ They settle down in a promising place;
Their kids inherit a prosperous farm.

¹⁴ God-friendship is for God-worshipers;
They are the ones he confides in.

¹⁵ If I keep my eyes on God,
I won't trip over my own feet.

¹⁶ Look at me and help me!
I'm all alone and in big trouble.

¹⁷ My heart and kidneys are fighting each other;
Call a truce to this civil war.

¹⁸ Take a hard look at my life of hard labor,
Then lift this ton of sin.

¹⁹ Do you see how many people
Have it in for me?
How viciously they hate me?

²⁰ Keep watch over me and keep me out of trouble;
Don't let me down when I run to you.

²¹ Use all your skill to put me together;
I wait to see your finished product.

²² God, give your people a break
From this run of bad luck.

Psalm 25 [MESSAGE]

Fear is a Killer

We listen to Pastor Gregory Dickow each week and are impressed by his 40 day fast from wrong thinking. It has nothing to do with not eating... but it has a lot to do with not worrying! Free your mind... and the rest will follow!

With the economy in the worst condition since the 1930’s, people have been killing themselves. Even worst, and as a first, some have murdered their spouse and children before taking their own life. Why? Because of fear of the consequences of the economic downturn. Hey folks, fear is a killer! Jesus Himself said so:

Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

Luke 21:26 [AMP]

Although it is one thing for people to be so afraid that they faint or drop dead... it is another to take a gun, knife, or bottle of pills and do the job yourself.

Or, even worse... to do harm to innocent family members. The sad truth is that satan is trying to draw souls into hell by causing them to deny the salvation freely offered by Jesus and choosing to handle their problems themselves.

If you have a friend or a family member who is going through some difficulty because of the pressures of this life and the world system that is turning upside down on itself, you can help by having them slam some of the word of God into their iPod or MP3 player.

Suicide is not the answer... it only opens the door for problems your loved ones will spend their lives dealing with... and if you don’t know Christ as your Savior, you will have an eternity to deal with it!

Wisdom from Judypie

Do you know the reason we are stressed? Because we think our needs are not going to be met. We say, “Oh my goodness, I'm not going to have what I need!” Jesus tells us not to worry about what you are going to eat. And don’t worry about what you are going to wear. He’s saying only one thing is important — His righteousness. These things don't even take significance until your deepest needs are met. You are to find your satisfaction in Him. If you don't find your satisfaction in Him, you're going to be stressed. Are you stressed out about something today? Turn it over to Jesus and turn your focus to Him. Let Jesus meet your needs and transform your heart today. (Adrian Rogers)

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:30 [AMP]

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”-

Psalm 46:10

Father, You are leading me on paths I do not know, past all my fantasies, hopes, doubts and fear. When I go through deep waters and great trouble, You will be with me. When I go through rivers of difficulty, I will not drown! When I walk through the fire of oppression, I will not be burned up -- the flames will not consume me. Even though I walk through the shadow of death I will fear no evil. You lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. In the name of Jesus I will rejoice in You and be glad. Amen.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.

Isaiah 43:2 [AMP]

¹ THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
² He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
³ He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.
⁴ Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
⁶ Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Psalm 23 [AMP]

Father, in the name of Jesus, I clothe myself with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from me]. I repent and renounce pride and arrogance. Father, You give grace to the humble. Therefore I humble myself under Your mighty hand, that in due time you may exalt me. Amen.

⁶ But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
⁷ So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-7 [AMP]

³⁴ Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted.
³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory (all honor and good) but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools.

Proverbs 3:34-35 [AMP]

Are you worried, anxious about anything? I encourage you to pray this prayer aloud:

In the name of Jesus, I cast the whole of my care [all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns for my future, my family, once and for all] on You, for You care for me affectionately and care about me watchfully. Amen!

⁵ Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)--[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)--[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.
⁶ Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
⁷ Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

1^st Peter 5:5-7 [AMP]

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Philippians 4:6 [AMP]

Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord, Part Two

In our last blog on the subject of Casting Your Cares Upon the Lord, Part One, we made note of the fact that the most popular search item on the Powerhouse Podcasts site is our seven minutes of wisdom podcast entitled Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord!

On last check... we are still getting more hits on that subject than on any other at the Powerhouse. And so, we thought we should bring a little bit more on that subject to you.

Germaine Copeland of Word Ministries wrote the following:

The human body and central nervous system cannot tolerate the burden of worry, fretting, and anxiety. This type of burden causes a chemical imbalance in your DNA and interferes with the production of necessary hormones for physical, mental and emotional health. Worry is probably the major cause of sickness. The Holy Spirit taught me to cast all my burdens on the Lord during a crucial time in my life. I chose not to worry and declared that God cared for me and my household. The Holy Spirit taught me how to take off my cares and lay them on the Lord. I approached God boldly in prayer and read His Word aloud to myself until worry subsided. Today I teach classes on Overcoming Worry, but find that some Christians are determined to worry and have their anxiety attacks. The choice is yours. You can lug around the worries and cares or you can talk to the Lord about any situation whether it is financial, marriage relationship, the death of a loved one, or children gone astray. Choose to cast the care of any circumstance that is causing you to worry over on the Lord because He cares for you.

That about says it all, doesn’t it? Worry makes you sick. Worry makes you physically weak. Worry makes you spiritually weak. Worry is like faith in reverse... rather than believing God for the victory, you are believing your problems for defeat. How about making a decision to exorcise worry from your life, once and for all?

Have you ever said, “That person gets on my nerves” or possibly had someone say that about you? Well… if people are getting on your nerves, don’t worry. Judypie has a meditation to deal with that too! Just pray this prayer:

To you, O Lord, I pray. My enemies will not triumph over me, and I will never be disgraced for trusting you. Show me the path where I should go, point out the right road for me to walk. Lead and teach me for you are the God who gives me salvation. Thank you for seeing me through eyes of everlasting love and kindness. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

And, after praying that prayer... read Psalm 25.

We listen to Pastor Gregory Dickow each week and are impressed by his 40 day fast from wrong thinking. It has nothing to do with not eating... but it has a lot to do with not worrying! Free your mind... and the rest will follow!

By the way, you can listen to our Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord podcast by clicking here.

For additional blogs on casing your cares, click the links below:

Cast Your Cares - Part 1

Judypie: Cast Your Care

Strength in Difficult Times

Spiritual Strength

Suicide Ain’t Painless

Having Done All... Stand

Perfect Peace

In The Time of Trouble

No Condemnation

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul

Worry

In the Midst of the Storm

Psalm Eight

How Much Do You Really Trust God

Perfect Peace

Joy and Gladness

Being Rejected


And, on that note, we present you with the following meditation from our gospel powerhouse, Judypie.

---

All Things are Possible

Jesus made an amazing statement when he said that all things are possible to him who believes. How is it possible for the impossible to become possible? Establish your belief system according to the word of God, and bring your thoughts into agreement with your God-given hopes and dreams. Take control of your thoughts for they will give birth to your words, words will become actions, actions will become habits, and habits will become character and your character becomes your destiny. Your faith-filled words will give substance to your hopes and your destiny will be fulfilled.

Heavenly Father, I am not limited in doing what You have called me to do. Jesus, my Lord, said that everything is possible for him who believes. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. The circumstances, finances, connections, the skilled people and the anointing needed to fulfill your will have already been provided. You have made every provision I will ever need. I affirm that no word from my Father is without power or impossible of fulfillment! I will stand and look to You for all my needs. In Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture meditations (hold your mouse over the following):

• Mark 9:12
• Luke 1:37

As you focus on the meditation and scriptures above that Judypie have given us, you can feel your faith growing, now, as your cares and worries wash away.

If you feel that maybe God can’t or won’t bless you because of some sin in your life... here is another meditation from Judypie that answers those issues:

Receiving Forgiveness

Father, You are my source of love, forgiveness and acceptance. All other sources have left me emotionally wounded and confused. I built my walls of self-protection, turned my back on You and the spring of living water; I dug my own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. I repent of my transgressions. In the name of Jesus, I ask You to cleanse me and take away my guilt. Jesus, I drink from the living water; I believe on You, and out of my innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. Amen.

Scripture meditations (hold your mouse over the following):

• Jeremiah 2:13
• John 7:37-39
• Psalm 51:2, 7

Forgiveness is a given for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 1 John 1:9 in the Bible tells us that. But if you have never accepted Jesus... then the next meditation from Judypie allows you to put that care to rest permanently. And, if you are already saved... this meditation will bolster the assurance of your salvation:

Salvation

Father, we believe in our hearts that You raised Jesus from the dead, and we confess Jesus is Lord over our spirits, souls and bodies. Father-God, You planted us like strong and graceful oaks for Your own glory, and anointed us to rebuild the ancient ruins… reviving them though they have lain there many generations. We thank You for forgiving all our iniquities and healing all our diseases. We decree that our families and future generations shall come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

Romans 10:9-10 [AMP]

¹BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
²Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits--
³Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
⁴Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
⁵Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!
⁶The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
⁸The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.
⁹He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.
¹⁰He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.
¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
¹³As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].
¹⁴For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.
¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
¹⁶For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.
¹⁷But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children--
¹⁸To such as keep His covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who [earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on their hearts].
¹⁹The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.
²⁰Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.
²¹Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, all you His hosts, you His ministers who do His pleasure.
²²Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion; bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 103 [AMP]

Eternal Life

Father, this is eternal life that we may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I thank You for sending Jesus to earth; to know Him is to know You. I thank You for the Holy Spirit who comforts and helps me – teaching me all things that You have said. I pause and take time to meditate on Your promises as they are first place in my thoughts, in the name of Jesus. You are my Strength, my Light and my Salvation. Amen.

Click on the following scriptures to study more on Eternal Life:

• John 17:3 [AMP]
• John 14 [AMP]
• Psalm 27 [AMP]

And now that you have exorcised worry from your life IN THE NAME OF JESUS, now you can devote your energy to living a pure life. Here are some additional meditations from Judypie that will help you throughout the upcoming days:

A Pure Heart

What is in your heart will be revealed during times of stress, trial or tribulation. Some Christians do not give heed to what they are watching on television or the music they hear or the material they are reading, and they fill their minds with ungodly thinking. Some major on negative, pessimistic thinking, and they do not see a silver lining anywhere. To be pure in heart you must saturate your mind with the Word of God through reading, meditation and prayer. Scriptural prayers that are written to help you renew your mind to God’s Word. Develop the mind of Christ by choosing to concentrate on the magnitude of God and His promises to you. You can change your attitude from negative to positive and become a world changer!

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long. Laus Deo!

Father, it is you who creates a pure heart and a steadfast spirit within me. Lord Jesus, thank You for cleansing me. You have blotted out and canceled my transgressions, and you will remember them no longer. You do not keep a record of my sin because I have truly repented and turned from my wicked ways. I am cleansed and pruned by the living word which you have given me. I will not forget all your benefits but affectionately and gratefully bless your name. You heal all my diseases and forgive all my iniquities. Thank you. Amen.

Scripture Meditations (hold your mouse over the following):

• Psalm 51:10
• Isaiah 43:25
• John 15:3

We hope that this will help you in the area of casting your cares upon the Lord. We will close this post with one final prayer and scripture meditation from Judypie:

Security

Father, in the name of Jesus, I bless my family and co-workers daily with faith and love. May we be filled with hope for the word of truth; the gospel is our mainstay. The Prince of Peace is our Companion and Strength for this day. We are secure, for we have received Your abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ. At night we rest in perfect peace, consoled by thoughts of Your love for us, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture Meditations (hold your mouse over the following):

• Colossians 1:5
• Romans 5:17

Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord, Part One

One of the most popular search items on the Powerhouse Podcasts site is casting your cares upon the Lord. Apparently, a lot of people are having severe troubles in their lives and are looking for a way to get relief from those problems.  They could be dealing with:

• Financial problems
• Fear of terrorist attacks
• Unemployment
• Bad relationships

If you are seeking in this area, know that the answer is as close as your Bible.  The Apostle Peter tells us, in his first epistle:

⁶Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
⁷Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
⁸Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

1 Peter 5:6-8 [AMP]

Whatever is bothering you... whatever is taking your sleep away... whatever is driving your blood pressure upwards... whatever seems an insurmountable obstacle... just humble yourself under God’s mighty hand.

You can’t handle it yourself... so why even deceive yourself by thinking that you are big and bad and tough enough to handle it?  Just take it to the throne of Almighty God (who loves you more than you could ever comprehend) and let Him deal with it... and then keep your eyes open so that satan can’t harm you.

By the way, you can listen to our Cast Your Cares Upon the Lord podcast by clicking here.


For additional blogs on casing your cares, click the links below:

Cast Your Cares - Part 2

Judypie: Cast Your Care

Strength in Difficult Times

Spiritual Strength

Suicide Ain’t Painless

Having Done All... Stand

Perfect Peace

In The Time of Trouble

No Condemnation

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul

Worry

In the Midst of the Storm

Psalm Eight

How Much Do You Really Trust God

Perfect Peace

Joy and Gladness

Being Rejected

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Below are some meditations from Judypie that will also help you to cast those cares of yours upon the Lord:

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Trust in the Lord

LORD, You are my rock, my fortress, my Deliverer, my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation. You are my High Tower. For Your name’s sake lead me, and guide me. You brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and You established my goings. You are my Strong Habitation, whereunto I may continually resort; You gave the commandment to save me for You are my Rock and my Fortress. In the name of Jesus, You are my Foundation. Amen.


Hold your mouse over or click these scriptures:

• Psalm 18:2
• Psalm 31:3
• Psalm 40:2
• Psalm 71:3

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Meditation

Oh, LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, even purposes planned of old [and fulfilled] in faithfulness and truth. Father, You so loved the world that You sent Your only begotten Son to take away our sins. Jesus, I turn to You in every situation for You are my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I bind my emotions to the control of the Holy Spirit and my thoughts to the wisdom of God. I renounce old, unpleasant memories that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God, and choose to bring them into obedience to the Royal Law of Love. Prince of Peace I pray that you will be glorified in my public and private life, and in all my relationships, in the name of Jesus. Amen.


Hold your mouse over or click these scriptures:

• Isaiah 25:1
• John 3:16
• Isaiah 9:6-7

“I shall grow old, but never lose life’s zest,
Because the road’s last turn will be my best”
In My Father’s house are many mansions... John 14:1

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The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength

Lord, I thank you for loving me. When I feel weary, I choose to release my faith by acknowledging you as my Strength, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer and my Shield. Your Word is active, operative, energizing, and effective. I give thanks to you, my Lord, I sing praises to Your name, O Most High, I choose to show forth Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night for You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Amen.


Click these scriptures:

• Psalm 18
• Hebrews 4:12
• Psalm 92
• Nehemiah. 8:10
• Philippians 4:13

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In A Time of Trouble

Father, give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. It is through You that we will do valiantly, for You shall tread down our enemies. You arm us with strength and make our way perfect. You make our feet like the feet of a deer and we stand on the heights. You train our hands for battle, give us Your shield of victory, and Your right hand sustains us. In the name of Jesus we are more than conquerors through You, our LORD, our God. Amen.


Hold your mouse over or click these scriptures:

• Psalm 18:32-35
•  Psalm 108:12-13

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Free from Fear

You can turn fear out of doors by declaring your faith in God's Word. Praying aloud will stop the tormenting thoughts. Believe God; He is faithful, and He watches over His word to perform it.
Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for delivering me from the fear of death. You are with me; I will not be afraid. You are my God, and I will not be dismayed. I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but I have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Amen.


Hold your mouse over or click these scriptures:

• Hebrews 2:14-15
• Isaiah 41:10
• Romans 8:15
• Psalm 34:4

Wisdom from Judypie: Commit Your Way to The Lord

Heavenly Father, I choose to let go of the past and receive the new transformation that you are working in me according to Your Word. You are upholding me with Your victorious right hand, and I make it my primary goal to know You better and more intimately. I ask You to fill me with Your mighty, glorious strength so that I can keep going no matter what happens — always full of the joy of the Lord. This year I will love, laugh and spread the joy that You have set before me in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Read these scriptures:

• Genesis 1-3
• Matthew 1
• Colossians 1