Stop asking God for easy and get into a fighter’s frame of mind!

Paul tells Timothy to take the prophecies that were spoken over him and use them as weapons in the fight (1 Tim 1:18). Our human tendency is to hear a word from God and then take a “wait and see” attitude to see if it comes to pass. Timothy’s mentor was coaching him into a more mature perspective of taking all God has said and believing for all God will do as an active expression of faith!

We can slowly grow cynical becoming calloused in our faith if we allow frustration and disappointment to lessen the fire in our lives. Discouragement tries to train our faith to shut up and sit down leaving us in a conquerable frame of mind. The revelation of just one word from God can move us from a conquerable frame of mind to a conquering frame of mind if we will fight but we must rise up and declare God’s Word!

We were never created to live out a life that we could live without God’s help. A life we can live without him is not the life He’s called us to live. Stop looking at your checkbook for validation of your dream! God isn’t consulting your budget to determine your dream. It shouldn’t be a surprise when God asks you to do bigger things than you are capable of doing. Stop rehearsing your mountain to your God and start rehearsing your God to your mountain.

When we read Ezekiel 37 and we find God asking Ezekiel if the very dry bones in the valley can live we quickly understand that our opinion about our situation matters to God. God’s not just trying to get us to break through. God is trying to get us to know him more intimately so we become more specifically who He has designed us to be. WE ARE THE GIANT KILLERS OF OUR GENERATION!

God will take you further than discouragement wants to allow you to go. Rise above discouraging perspectives by rehearsing encouraging perspectives today. Here are a few weapons to empower you to fight more effectively:

1 Tim 1:18This command I entrust to you, Timothy, myson, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight. NAS

Ezek 37:1-10 Your opinion about your situation matters! Can these bones live?

 Ex 1:12“more they were oppressed, more they multiplied & spread…”

2 Thess 3:5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. (NIV)

Ps 118:13-14I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. NIV

1 Tim 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith… NIV

Isa 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..NIV

 Jer 1:19They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. NIV

 2 Cor 4:8-9, 16-17We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV

Psalms112:5-8  “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.” ESV

 Peace comes from the presence of God not the absence of problems