Take Authority Over The Darkness! by Myra Boozer

Satan wants us to carry every trivial little problem until it grows so huge that it breaks us down. He wants us to be so covered over by it that we can't see the light of day. He is a LIAR and the father of lies, but for some reason, we just keep letting him talk. And talk he will as long as we give him an audience.

It is time to take authority over any and all voices that tell you there is no hope. It seems that so many people are hopeless today... so many troubles, trials, sicknesses, and heartbreaks.

We cry out, “Lord, when will our country wake up and quit all this hate and evil that spews from so many?”

There seems to be a great shadow of darkness hovering over this world like a giant blanket. It is coming because many people have let trivial things bring them so low that they cannot stand up in Faith and take authority over them!

NO, it isn't easy to take authority over the darkness, but we must! We must pray continually for GOD to push back the darkness!! Jesus is LIGHT...He is HOPE...He is PEACE. Don't allow all the sorrows of this world to pile up on your heart and break you down. Take them each one to the LORD! He knows our every concern, and He will help us deal with all the turmoil of our day.

Resting in His POWER to push back darkness is the key to making it! Jesus gives us the strength to go on until HE COMES! Encourage one another with the FACT He is COMING SOON! Take Authority Over The Darkness! 

How Do We Respond When Confronted By The Enemy?

1 Samuel 17:40, “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine...45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand;...”

What is the significance of the smooth stones that David chose? The smooth stones were more aerodynamic. They would fly straight. David knew this not because he had studied physics at the University of Jerusalem. He knew this through his own practical experience with a slingshot. This was a tried and true weapon in the hands of a proficient champion. David used what he had in his hands. He used what he knew best, his faith in the Lord God of Israel and his slingshot. The combination of the two was a sure formula for victory.

What do we do when confronted by the enemy? Much like the armies of Israel when confronted by the Philistines and their champion, we stand motionless in fear at the very prospect of defeat. Thoughts of doubt and uncertainty flood our minds and cause us to lose heart. In our minds, we are defeated already! And if that is our mindset, then we are defeated before we even engage the enemy. Let us be reminded of who we represent. We enter the plain of battle in the name of the same Lord God Jehovah that David represented. We have the same resources! Use what is in your hand and trust God! (continued) 

The Worth Of Your Soul? by Myra Boozer

I was awakened in the early morning hours with this thought, “the worth of a soul!” My thoughts automatically went to the scripture. "Behold, all souls are mine..." Ezekiel 18:4a. I actually went back to sleep, and the thought was with me when I got up. I was searching and thinking, “The worth of a soul?” It has got to be enormous because of the price Jesus paid. He bought us with his precious blood. So we are valuable! But how valuable? What are we worth?

Some may put a great value upon themselves, thinking of themselves more highly than they should. But they will never come to the value that God the Father and His Son have placed upon them. What makes something worth anything? Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it!

I found this in an article that came from Rescuing Wayward Children. "Can we imagine that the Savior, innocent of sin, who had assumed the staggering weight of the demands of justice until vessels broke and blood seeped from every pore of His suffering body, who had submitted Himself to brutal beatings, to unconscionable humiliation, to arrogant injustice, to the torture of a thirty-nine-lash scourging, to the horror of being stripped and stretched violently upon a cross, to being raised up to hang, full-body weight, from those spikes until He allowed death to overwhelm Him – can we imagine that after the Redeemer had paid that immeasurable price to ransom every individual, that He would lose interest in a sinner, give up, or stop short of His rescuing effort?"

Wow, this was overwhelming for me to read. I don't usually go that deep into my thinking about His suffering. I much rather think of His Resurrection. It makes me smile and rejoice that, because He lives, I can live also.

But to find my answer, I had to acquaint myself afresh with His suffering. I had to go there and experience the thoughts of what He was so willing to pay. He paid the ultimate price for me and for YOU. That puts a big price tag on us, all because of Him, not because of any good thing we have done.

It will take a revelation from the Lord for us to see people in the same light that Jesus does. "When we fix our eyes on what is really important to God, it will be people." Jesus died for ALL PEOPLE! He paid the price, making each one as valuable as the other. When our eyes are opened, we will "see the great value and plan that God has for all people." (I wrote this some time ago, but the message is still relevant for today.) 

Lost Souls, Lost For Eternity?

Matt. 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Don’t postpone the harvest! The harvest is ready! I am hearing the message of Jesus’ soon coming more each day, and I believe that is the inspiration of God, allowing us to know that time is short. We cannot delay in fulfilling Christ’s commission to preach the Gospel and make disciples for Jesus. We cannot afford to delay or be negligent in our Divine task. There is too much at stake. The salvation of those we love and influence is at risk! Who will reach them if we are not obedient to His calling? How can we escape if we neglect this great salvation? The time to win them is while God is calling us! If He is instructing us to take the message, He is preparing hearts to receive the message!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to the needs of all people. In the book of Luke, the angel's announcement of the birth of Christ was the proclamation of Good News for all mankind. Luke 2:10, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” All men must hear the message of redemption and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Our “Mission” is ordained and empowered by God. Christ commissioned the Church, but as His disciples, we must embrace His command and accept individual responsibility to share the “Good News.” The Church will fulfill Her role and complete Her Mission. As individuals, we have a choice. We will either embrace His call or settle for something less than complete surrender. Without total abandon for Christ, we cannot finish our assignment successfully. We cannot afford to fail in this endeavor.

Matt. 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Lost Souls, Lost For Eternity!!! 

God Is Not Hiding! by Myra Boozer

As the wind speaks to the leaves, they obey! They move in the direction the wind bids them to go, up, down, left, right, or in a circle. They seem to delightfully sway as though they enjoy the rhythm of the song.

When the winds get loud and rowdy, everything seems to scream HELP! The trees bow so low and obey as much as possible. It is so dependent upon the tree's flexibility and the root system if they survive. Sometimes the wind is so boisterous that it doesn't matter how strong the tree is; it will twist so hard that a healthy limb will pop right off. I know this because I had to place a perfectly fine-looking limb on the curb due to strong winds and pick up many smaller limbs. They had already died and were ready for removal, but the green one had plans for next spring; the evidence was there with the green berries.

Actually, when I see the stirring in the trees, I sense they are just worshiping the Creator, and with such pleasure. It is a most enjoyable sight. We call this a summer breeze here in the South. It is most welcome, especially to the hard-working person who needs refreshing. It can make a most miserable day become enjoyable.

As I write about this, I am reminded that we cannot see the wind, but we certainly see the effects of it, just as I can see the effects of what God is doing in our world. I don't actually see God, but I know He is here. He is everywhere. He is working among all people on earth to bring about His plan for these last days. From the Middle East to North Korea, China, and Europe, from the West Coast of California to the Gulf of Mexico to the East Coast of Maine, from hate that is foaming across our land to the little child being bullied by a classmate, God is working, and nothing escapes His gaze.

It may appear to some that God is hiding out in the heavens. But He is moving just like the wind. He is stirring, blowing, and is about to howl because of the sin in this world. Just as the wind, God is not seen by man. John 1:18, "No man hath seen God at any time:" But, He is in the midst of every situation. Nothing takes Him by surprise! Man may think he has it all in the bag, that plans have been laid, and the program will go as he has designed. But God, like the wind, makes the calls, and man must obey, yield to His will, or be tossed to the curb.

Isaiah 46:10, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" 

Through It All!

Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

Many years ago, I began a journey of eternal consequence. I made a conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ and be His disciple. This journey has taken me to many places and introduced me to many people, many different circumstances, and many different results. I have followed Christ through a changing world and the evolution of man to where we stand at this point in time.

Many things continue to change as I endeavor to continue and even finish this journey. However, I am fully aware that there has always been one constant in the noise of all the changes. That constant has been the Lord Jesus Christ and His timeless and unobstructed love for me. His loving kindness endures forever!

As I have traveled this circle of life, I have seen the hand of Almighty God all around me. He has always been with me to provide the solution to my confusion, and to provide all the necessities that I have required to accomplish His mission in my life. However, He continues to call me back to my beginning, to that place of first encounter and His vision that He has set in my heart. It is the reality of that beginning that continues to provide the strength to continue His mission.

The words of an old song come to mind. The song was written by Andre Crouch. The title of the song is, Through It All, and I offer it here for contemplation and reflection.

I’ve had many tears and sorrow

I’ve had questions for tomorrow

There were times I didn’t know right from wrong

But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation

That my trials only come to make me strong

I’ve been a lot of places

I’ve seen a lot of faces

But there were times that I felt so all alone

But in my lonely hour, those precious lonely hours

Jesus let me know that I was His own

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word

So I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys

And I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through

For if I’d never had a problem, I’d never know God could solve them

I’d never know what faith in His Word could do.

One day very soon, we will finish this Circle of Life. And that which has been and that which is will be no more, and the only thing new under the sun will be ETERNITY. We have only this life, and it will soon be completed. Only our discipleship in Jesus Christ will be important in ETERNITY! 

The Road! by Myra Boozer

The road may seem long and winding as you set out on your day.

You may have faced adversity or danger along the way.

Troubles and trials may have arisen, obscuring your light of day.

But don't give up...for Rest is on His way.

Rest is not elusive, for He is here to stay.

He comes in time to reveal and heal.

He comes from God the Father...the Trusting, Faithful One.

He understands your heartache and captures all your tears.

So put your hand in His hand and steady your pace,

Tomorrow you may lay your eyes on His Heavenly Face…