1 Timothy 6:12 

I've always hated boxing. 

It never made much sense to me. But now... I look at it from a different perspective. It takes a lot of courage OR stupidy to get up after being punched over, and over, and over again. 

It's actually a great picture of what life looks like at times. Hence the notion of "Fighting the Good FIGHT of Faith!" 

Sometimes our desire is to lay down and throw in the towel. BUT by nothing less than the strength, courage and sheer will of walking in the presence of the Holy Spirit can we find our HOPE in the midst of the battle. 

So today, choose to get back up. Get back up! Get back up and "Fight the Good Fight of Faith!" 

It's in that place of faith in God that our HOPE will be restored!

The power of our words!

Life and death is in the power of the tongue so choose to speak life over yourself and others.

Blessings and curses are in the power of the tongue so choose to speak blessings over people even when they’ve done you wrong or hurt you.

Scripture says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing unto you Lord” Psalm 19:14 – Your words often reflect what is in your heart. Ask yourself, do you speak more positive or negative words? If negative, ask the Lord to reveal WHY and WHERE the negative words are coming from. Then as you examine your heart, take the next step by asking the Lord to remove/heal any areas of your heart that harbor negative or harmful thoughts.

In the future, be mindful to guard your mind by being careful what you allow into your mind (through the gateway of your eyes). People forget the power that images have on our soul: television, internet, pornography, violence in video games, negative conversations etc…

Fill your heart, mind and spirit with the WORD of God. It will cleanse you from the negative within your heart as well as transform how you think, feel and speak. Good will begin to overflow out of you… because you’ve filled yourself with the goodness of God’s word.

The power of the Holy Spirit is within you so use your voice/words to speak blessings and life over your life, the life of your children, family, friends, body of Christ and nation! WHY? Because there is POWER, healing, restoration, blessing, deliverance, hope, faith and direction in the spoken WORD of God! 

“Cast down every imagination and take every thought captive!” 2 Cor. 10:5

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old…” Isaiah 43:18

Ask the Holy Spirit to heal those wounded places by removing the old and replacing it with the good of God’s word and promises over your life. The key is that you have to READ the Word of God for yourself. Just like you have to eat food for nourishment and strength, you have to READ, (ingest) the Word of God to feed your spirit!!

God can give you his mind of Christ, so if you keep replaying negative/bad episodes in your life, then ask the Lord to give you His mind by washing away all of the bad/negative memories.

Replace the negative with the positive with the goodness found in the Word of God!

Remind yourself WHO you are in Christ and allow yourself to see yourself the way that the Lord sees you.

You are…

“Fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

“And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them.” Deuteronomy 28:13

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“God doesn’t look at the outward appearance, He looks at the HEART.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Ask yourself this…

Is my life all about how I look?

How the world perceives me?

How successful I am in the eyes of others?

My outward persona?

OR

Is my life about having a right heart before the Lord?

Walking out God’s purpose for my life.

Having a heart to serve others rather than always serving myself?

It’s okay… be honest.

Most of us fit into the first category. I know I do. But as you grow in Christ you realize that life isn’t about YOU being fulfilled and happy… it’s actually about pleasing the Lord, serving others and fulfilling the plans and purpose that the Lord has for our lives. It’s about getting our heart right by making sure that the motives of our hearts our right before the Lord.

Ask yourself…

Why do I do what I do?

Why do I want what I want?

Examine the MOTIVE of your heart. And if it’s not lined up with how the Lord wants your heart to be….like the heart of God…. Then ask the Lord to transform your heart into HIS heart!  And as crazy as this sounds, when we do this then THIS is where we find true HAPPINESS!

“Faith without works is dead!”

Faith requires action so just start by taking a step forward. As you go, the Lord will direct. Remember the scripture that says, “As they went they were healed.” (Luke 17:14)  Healing wasn’t instant in this case, as they moved forward they experienced the process of healing.  Direction is progressive as well.

“The Steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23) The Lord will order your steps as you seek Him and ask Him for guidance during the process.

“The Word of God be a lamp unto my feet and a light into my path.” (Psalm 119:105) As you read the Word,  God will often use scripture to answer your questions and give you wisdom of what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Just TRUST God!

To take the right steps it’s also about having ‘wisdom’ in the process.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Psalm 119:105)  Find out as much information as possible so that as you move forward in faith, you are also equipped with information necessary to move forward.

Allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit. Seek God continuously! Praise God with every step! Trust God in the process! And love God by knowing that HE is a good God no matter what!

Remember:  “You will show me the path of life, in your presence is FULLNESS of JOY… at your right hand are pleasures forevermore!” Psalm 16:9

1- Repent (turn from your ways)

2- Shore up in the word (read the Bible)

3 -Make the choice to get back up and get back in the game

Kristi's Thoughts: Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins (past, present and future), so technically, the sin, has already been paid for and washed away through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. Now don’t get me wrong, there are still earthy consequences of sin and spiritual consequences if repentance (a turn from one’s behavior and change of heart) isn’t ushered in. But the key is to remember that God’s grace and mercy is limitless.

NOW,  if we continue to wound the heart of God by continuing in the same sin, then we must begin to examine our own heart. It's vital that we ask the Lord to step into those weak and broken places within our hearts.

WHY? So God can heal us, deliver us, strengthen us and restore us.

It’s by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT that can break the ties of sin, failures and fall-outs AS WELL AS empower us to get back up and get back into the game of life.   

Also, we have to remember the power we have through our words!  Speak the WORD of God… with boldness and authority over our lives… reminding us WHO we are in Christ and WHO Christ is to US. It's in that place of knowing who we are in Christ that we can leave the past behind and begina  new day in Christ!

1 -Look away and turn your focus onto God – tell Jesus your struggles and ask for HIS strength to choose the ‘exit’ door

2- Turn away from the temptation -- (Physically remove yourself, Emotional detach yourself and Mentally adjust your thinking to the things of Christ)

3- Call for back-up – seek out strong Christian friends who can pray with you/ pray for you and to act as an

accountability partner to overcome the temptation

READ Matthew 25: 14-30 (Story if the Parable of the Talents)

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Phil 2:13

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Heb 13:21

Now may the God of peace, …equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life;  you will fill me with joy in your presence,  with eternal pleasures at your right hand

1- Read the Bible --(LEARN about God)

2- Pray -- (TALK to God) 

3- Worship -- (GIVE thanks to God)

Scriptures:

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Ephesians 3:19 

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Psalm 63:1

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water

• God does not lie

• If God said it, He will do it

• Every thing God does is motivated by love because HE IS LOVE

Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.…

Your HOMEWORK: Look up scriptures varifying each point. Does the scriptures reveal that God is TRUSTWORTHY? Don't take my word for it... see for yourself ;)

1- Blessings, Count them

2- Choose to SEE the good in your life

3- With your words give THANKS to GOD for everything

Scriptures:

Psalms 118:1-18 

O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.  

Psalms 103:2 

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Psalm 103:2  

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Philippians 4:8  

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Psalm 103:2-5

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things.