Author: debo

There are some places that I put strategic scriptures, and one place in on my refrigerator. I know how important it is to be encouraged, so I encourage myself in the Word, every time I open my refrigerator! One I keep really handy is from Is 61:1 which was quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18. It says:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
Because He has anointed me
To preach the good news to the poor.
He sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
To proclaim FREEDOM for the captives,
And the release from darkness for the prisoners

Of course we know that is what Jesus came to do, but we know that is our mission too. He sent us out and anointed us to tell others the good news, and it is about freedom! God’s Spirit lives within us, and His favor is on us. Let’s be about our Father’s business of bringing freedom to those who are bound! We run into people all the time who are broken hearted and are prisoners to something. Let’s use our words to let them know that Jesus died to set them free. They can know the same freedom we have experienced. Remember, God’s spirit is on you and in you to help others. Open your mouth and let them know!

One scripture I love to use in prayer is in Romans 8:2. It says in Romans 8:2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. What an amazing thing, through Christ we are set free from the power of sin in our lives. The law of sin that started in the garden through disobedience to God by Adam and Eve, has been revoked on our behalf through Jesus. Glory! We can live above the temptations of the enemy. We are no longer slaves to sin. To be set free from the bondage of sin and to be able to live in that realm where the Spirit of Life resides, is true freedom. The law of love, overrides the law of sin. When love came to earth in the form of Jesus, and died on a cross, he made us more than conquerors. Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave, and made us free to live above the world’s system, and to walk in, live in, and abide in the spirit. He was the conqueror and he gave us His victory! How amazing! Is there some area of bondage in your life that keeps hooking you in? The enemy knows where our hooks are. We can rise above his tactics that steal and destroy and live in the abundant life that Jesus paid a huge price for us to receive. Let’s live in that freedom.

Do you remember this song? He whom the Son sets free is free indeed, completely liberated from the curse of the law. It continues….He whom the son sets free is free indeed, free to be a servant of the most high God. It’s an oldie, with a 2 great truths wrapped up in those first two lines. What a wonderful privilege we have in Christ….we can be completely liberated from the curse of the law. The Bible says that the law was the school master, to lead us to Christ, and true liberty. Jesus told the Jews who had believed Him, in John 8:31 and 32, that “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” He was talking about the freedom from being slaves to sin. And in John 8, verse 36, he reiterates His point. So if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed. The next line in the song talks about servanthood. When we are set free from the slavery of sin, we are free to be servants to God. It sounds a little bit backward, that freedom in Christ, makes you free to serve, but the Kingdom of God is a bit opposite to the world’s system. Our freedom makes us want to serve, not only God but others too. I encourage you today, to serve someone as proof of your freedom in Christ!

As a nation we are about to celebrate Independence Day. The 4th of July is about freedom and independence and being free is awesome! Hi this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. What a joy to know Christ and have total freedom because of our relationship with Him. Cherish and value your freedom and remember that you are completely liberated because of Jesus! John 8:32 And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free. Celebrate our freedom in Christ and in our nation this week!

Freedom isn’t free, it cost somebody something. I love looking in history books, and reading about people who gave their lives for something great. You think about some of the events in our own American history and we are thankful for people who were committed to liberty, so much so that they said, Give me freedom, whatever the cost. Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 stood up in Virginia’s House of Burgess and said, there is no room for hope….the situation had gone from bad to worse. He continued, if we want to be free, we have to fight. 3 million people armed with the cause of liberty, began the American War for Independence with these words….. “We shall not fight alone, God presides over the destinies of nations, and will raise up friends for us. The battle is not for the strong alone, it is for the vigilant, the active, the brave….Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” What powerful words. He knew a secret that I believe he found in the Word of God. Once you’ve tasted freedom, you never want to go back into bondage. Remember the freedoms you enjoy today, and thank God that Jesus has set you free.

Have you ever put a quarter in a vending machine and nothing happens? There is a malfunction of some kind, and you get nothing. Bummer! There is a very important place where we don’t want a malfunction. We really do want the quarter to drop from our head to our heart, so we can put into action what God is speaking to our hearts. We call that revelation or insight. Sometimes you do things just because you know it is good for you to do. We call that head knowledge or just being smart! Then there are sometimes you know on the inside that God has something for you to do, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to be obedient. We call that heart knowledge – when knowledge becomes revelation or insight. I also call that knowing in your knower! As people who believe in Jesus, we have a direct line of communication with our Father God, and he wants to speak to you. Prayer is that connection – we communicate to God through prayer. Prayer really is just talking to God. The Bible says that God will give revelation to our sons and daughters, and that is who we are! God wants to pour out His Spirit on you and let what He is speaking to your heart become real in your life. Make sure you connect daily with God. He likes to hear from you, and He wants you to listen to Him.

We all want to know the secret to powerful prayer. What really is the best kind of prayer the best answer I know for that question is…the one that is needed at the moment. God has given us the keys to the kingdom and has shown us how we can pray to change circumstances on the earth. It is important that we know that prayer is our responsibility, and at the same time, it is a privilege. The God of the universe wants us to communicate meaningfully with us. How amazing. Living a life with God at the center makes prayer as natural as breathing. A need arises, talk to God. Something praiseworthy happens, thank God. It isn’t the last resort, it is what we do first. We abide in Him, and we will bear much fruit. Our prayer life will be fruitful when His Words abide in us.

As we conclude this week talking about this inexhaustible topic of prayer, I want to encourage you more than ever, line your prayers up with the Word of God. Know what God says on a topic and pray according to the will of God. Pray with all the different kinds of prayer. Be specific when you pray, and expect things to change. Prayer changes things, but it also changes people. Choosing to be a person of prayer will change you. Let’s pray effectively, to accomplish what God wants to have done on the earth!
II Tim 1:6 tells us to fan the flame and stir ourselves up! Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching. Guard and Keep the precious and excellent truth which has been entrusted to you to be an effective prayer. Make a commitment today to make prayer more of a priority in your life!

It is easy to be distracted, and lose focus. God wants us to be attentive and listen. We are to listen and be familiar with His voice. You get to know someone’s voice by being around them, and listening. It says in John 10:4,5 that I know His voice, I won’t follow the voice of a stranger. Listening is more than hearing with your natural ears. The Bible tells us over and over, he/she that hath an ear, let Him hear. Mark 7:16 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend by hearing is how it is stated in the Amplified Bible. God knows how to speak to you! He spoke through a donkey in Num 22, so surely He can handle speaking to and through you! Be attentive, and pay attention! He’ll bring the Word to your remembrance – John 14:26. The important part of remembering it is having it in your heart to begin with. That is why we are to hide His Word in our hearts. Get the Word in! Jesus will take what is God’s and reveal it to you! John 16:14-15. If we’ll be teachable and attentive to His Words, He will teach us if we will listen! I John 2:27. It is proof that we are God’s sons and daughters when we are led by His Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Rom 8:14
Pay attention to God in your prayer life by stopping, looking and listening. He needs our spirit to be quiet and concentrating on Him, and our ears and eyes attentive to what He wants us to see and hear. If we want our prayer to be effective, we must stay vitally connected to the vine, and whatever you ask will be yours. John 15:5-7 What a promise!

I don’t want to miss anything that God has for me! I want my eyes wide open. Today we’re going to talk about how important it is for us to be watchful, or to look and see what God is doing. In John 5:19-20,30, Jesus said that He did what He saw His father do. God discloses, or shows Jesus everything that God Himself does. He isn’t hiding from us! He wants us to see, so keep your eyes open. There are clues for you to find, just by having your eyes open.

The Holy Spirit wants to lead and guide us and will lead and guide us to the truth if we are willing to stop, look and listen. (John 16:12-13) God can impress images on your heart – pray those things that He shows you. He can put a word in your heart and give you insight that you wouldn’t know by your natural mind. During a time of prayer today, I was impressed to call a friend of mine who today needed God’s intervention. I wouldn’t have known that other than by the Spirit of God.

It is important that we don’t try to make something happen or try to impress others with how spiritual we are. It’s not about us, it’s about Jesus! Relax and let the Spirit of God do His work in you! The gifts of the spirit and the leading of the Holy Spirit are for us today as it says in I Cor 12. They are given to believers. The Spirit divides them to every person as he wills or desires. Be alert and have a heart of expectation – and be ready with your eyes open! Be a watcher! Every time I hear or sing the song, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord, I remember the scriptures that God wants to show us great and mighty things. I want my eyes open! Let’s pray effectively and see God do great things on the earth.

One of the best ways to pray is to be Spirit led while praying. Instead of just following a list, or going through a set pattern, it is good to stop, look and listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him direct your prayers. Today we’re going to look at the importance of stopping, taking time and just giving ourselves a moment to be still in God’s presence. When we quiet our heart, we can be prepared to hear effectively. If we want our strength renewed, the Bible says in Is 40:31 for us to wait on God and we won’t be weary and we won’t faint! Is 30:15-18 – says that in quietness and confidence we will find our strength, and there is a blessing for all who earnestly wait for Him. Is 64:4 says that eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard what God has prepared for those who wait on God. Is 49:23 says we will not be ashamed when we wait on God. Busyness and activity can keep us from hearing from God. We can look at Mary and Martha and see a visible example of this. Martha’s timing was off. She was busy when she should have been still. It was time to lay aside busyness and concentrate on what was most important at the moment. Don’t miss your visitation with God because of busyness! A friend of mine say this, busyness isn’t of the devil, it is the devil. Don’t let the enemy or activity steal your time with God. Two final scriptures today are found in Ps 37:7 where it says to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. And probably one of my favorites when it comes to stopping to listen is found in Ps 46:10 where we are told to be still. God wants us to know that He is God. He sees the big picture, He knows all the details, and we can rest in Him. How encouraging is that!

Have you ever noticed how many different kinds of prayer are listed in the Bible? With this week’s emphasis on prayer, I’m going to give you a quick overview of the top 8 kinds of prayer.

1) Casting Your Cares Prayer: Don’t Worry, be Happy! I Peter 5:7 Don’t worry about your life Matt 6:25-34. Rom 4:21 God is able to keep His Word and do what He promised. It’s not refusing to think about them, it is giving them to God, and then replacing them with faith in God’s Word. They key is cast and leave in God’s care!

2) Consecration – Choosing God’s will over my own – Jesus exemplified this in the Garden, Paul ran with endurance the course before him, choosing God’s will over his own Gal 2:20 .

3) United Prayer – Lifting up your voice to God in one accord – Acts 4:24 Dramatic changes in a church, in people groups, and countries, with the result of an open heaven where there is no opposition in the spirit realm.

4) The Prayer of Praise, Worship and Thanksgiving – Heb 13:15 Power is released as we worship God and God deserves our worship! He is worthy! It is a great way to be plugged into power. Worship is the language of faith- you believe, you pray, you worship, you receive. Paul and Silas sang praises and praised the power down! –Doors are opened, and bands are loosed in worship.

5) The Prayer of Faith – Mark 11:22-24 There is a praying part, and a saying part. Get God’s Word on it (know what you believe), then begin by asking the Father in Jesus Name, speak directly to the Father. Thanksgiving follows, because you believe you receive as you pray.

6) The Prayer of Agreement – Matt 18:19-20 When two or three agree there is a symphony created with our prayers – Every pray-er must be following the same conductor. Ecc 4:9-12 A three fold cord is not easily broken. Power is multiplied

7) The Prayer of Supplication – heartfelt fervency – earnest, sincere, desperation for God to move. Phil 4:6, by prayer and supplication, not a casual request, a great desire. Supplication is asking fervently for what you earnestly desire.

8) The Prayer of Intercession – Ez 22:30 Someone to stand in the gap, loving someone else enough to interecede until they get what they need.

Each prayer has it’s place and it is good for us to know which prayer to pray in each circumstance. How encouraging to know that effectual, fervent prayer produces great results.