"But, whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25 KJV)

You must be a doer and not a forgetful hearer if you want to be blessed in what it is that you do in life (your deed). Many folks read the Bible, (they look into he perfect Law of Liberty) but you would never know it to watch how they behave and live! They don't retain (keep in their memory) what they have read to use in their life. Therefore, they are NOT blessed in what they do.

 The steps to being blessed are clearly defined in this promise.

• First, you look into the Law of Liberty (the Word of God).
• Secondly, you continue in it (don't quit, be faithful).
• Thirdly, Don't be a forgetful hearer (remember what you have read).
• And, fourthly, be a doer of the work(do what is said to do).

As a result, there will be a blessing added to what you do!

"I prayed to the Lord and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears and troubles." (Psalms 34:4-8 GNT)

I love the fact that we serve a personal and powerful God who we can approach with great confidence knowing that He actually hears us, answers us, and does something about what we ask! And I love that he frees me from ALL my fears and ALL my troubles.

Negative Feelings

As I was thinking about the part of this verse referring to "all of my fears," I noticed that it was plural and not singular, meaning more than one fear was being talked about here. He didn't explain what each fear was, but it was definitely more than one. Usually fearful people are fearful in many areas at the same time. Fear is really just negative feelings, and you can actually do something about your fearful feelings when you understand it is something you have the power to control. 

Recognize and take control!

The first step to overcoming a negative feeling is to recognize it and then take control of it. (Fear, anger, or some other negative thing). A helpful principle to understand: "A feeling named is a feeling tamed!" Explanation: An unidentified feeling can take control of you. But, you can take control of a named feeling once you have recognized it and then take control of it. Then ask God to help you knowing that He can and He will.

"You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Cor. 9-11 NIV)

It will result in thanksgiving to God!

God will "enrich you in every way!" Wow, think of that promise! That is huge! But, notice that the reason for enrichment is explained clearly. It is NOT to make you greedy! It is to enable you to be generous on every occasion resulting in thanksgiving to God!

 Develop an attitude of gratitude!

It's about your attitude. And it's about understanding that blessings from God are intended to help you serve the Lord's people which will cause them to then overflow with many expressions of thanks to God! That's what the next verse in the promise above says clearly:

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (2 Cor. 9:12 NIV). It's a lot to praise God for?

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (1:4) by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

 Makes me want to shout!

I can hardly read this about how we have "escaped corruption" and how we have become "partakers of God's divine nature" without running around and shouting Praises to God about it! It is absolutely wonderful! Notice that "partaking of God's divine nature" happens through "the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises!"

 Obtained through knowledge!

Most Christians miss out on these wonderful benefits out of ignorance of them. Notice that the promise says these things are obtained "through knowledge". But many don't know the promises of God listed in the Bible so they cannot apply them to their lives!

 A sad story

I heard a true story about a man who had died under a bridge where he had been living for a long time. He had very little food or clothing. But, when they took his fingerprints to find out who the dead man was they discovered that he was actually a very wealthy man, but he didn't know it! He had inherited millions of dollars but no one could locate him to inform him. It's a sad story but you can say the same thing about Christians who don't bother to learn about the more than 8,000 promises from the Word of God that they have inherited from Jesus! Remember 2 Cor. 1:20, that says "all the promises of God are yes, through Jesus." But, sadly, that can only be true for the ones that have been searched out and put to use!

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:45 KJV)

 "Auto Responder" Mechanism

I spend a lot of time finding and applying God's promises to my life! Because of this habit, the promises are always on my mind and often just roll off my tongue instantly and without thinking while I'm in a conversation with just about anyone. This 'auto responder mechanism' happens because "out of the abundance of a man's heart, so he speaks".

 It happens for everyone

This auto-process actually happens for everyone, not just for me! But the subject matter varies. My sports minded friends can roll off amazing sports facts and statistics instantly because that is what they love, think about, concentrate on, are passionate about, and have filled their minds with, and so it just instantly comes out of their mouths effortlessly. I have some friends who are always "talking politics" and other friends with other interests they care a lot about, and so that's what they talk constantly about. Whatever is foremost on their minds gets talked about with enthusiasm and often passionately. Some of these friends are amazed that I can quote so much scripture without looking at the Bible.

How I Do It

They sometimes ask me how I am able to do it. Truthfully, I do not work at memorizing Bible verses, I just spend a lot of time reading the Bible, looking up things and thinking about what I have read. And, because that is what I am focused on, it comes out easily in conversation. Truthfully, I am amazed at others who can remember so much sports stuff. But again, it's a matter of focus. If you want to have the powerful Word of God at work in your life and have it pour out your mouth easily, you have to make the Word of God your "treasure". Incidentally, a few years ago I had a booth at a business trade show and spent several days talking business to many prospects who stopped by to talk about my products. When the show ended, and I was packing up, a man from the booth next to mine came over to speak with me. He reached out to shake my hand and got tears in his eyes as he spoke to me. He said, "Mike, it was a pleasure being next to you and it was such a blessing and inspiration to me. I am a brand new Christian and I just marveled over and over how easily you quoted scripture to people and shared your faith so easily with people!" I thanked him for his kind words, but truthfully, I couldn't remember having spoken to a single person at that trade show about God! But, that's what happens when the Word of God becomes a part of your normal speech. It just happens without you really noticing. Make God's Word your focus and eventually you will "have the mind of Christ" and His Word will come out of your mouth from "the abundance of your heart!"

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (1 Cor. 10:3-5 KJV)

There is so much "meat" to meditate about; to claim for yourself, and to praise God for, in the above scripture! It is absolutely powerful! As usual, it helps to look at each part of any passage of scripture, dissecting it, so to speak, to find out what is really being said.

Breaking it down and looking at it piece by piece closely (My comments in parentheses) ...

 "For though we walk in the flesh, (we do live in a human body, it's a fact) we do not war after the flesh: (our battle is not fought physically using our fleshly body). For the weapons of our warfare (yes, it's an actual war but we DO have weapons available to fight and win it!) are not carnal (carnal means "of the flesh" and of the "human senses" - of touch, taste, sight, hear and smell) but mighty through God (how mighty is this?!! Why would we ever give into worry?!) to the pulling down of strong holds; (for pulling down those gripping, insidious, sins/problems/any disease orsickness/the lack of any kind of need being met - the list goes on and on of serious things that have held onto you so strongly). Casting down (exactly what it says!) imaginations, (most of the fearful things attack your mind and make you "imagine" worse case scenarios) and every high thing that exalteth itself (anything that claims to be higher and more powerful than God! Which, of course, is a lie from the pit of hell!) against the knowledge of God, (notice that the attack is against "the knowledge" of God, what you know about Him) and bringing into captivity (captures it) every (every means, well, it means"every"!) thought (what you think) to the obedience of Christ."

Therefore...

Know this, that your primary battle is fought and won within your mind! That's because "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Prov 23:7 NKJV). You win every battle with the Word of God! In fact, it's already won by what Jesus did on the cross for you. You have a multitude of God's promises to cover every single need. And they are all "Yes" and promised by Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20). But, the devil tells you they won't work for you! So you doubt the Word of God! And that makes faith not work! But understand this, the devil cannot do anything to you without your cooperation! Remember this huge promise, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!" (John 8:36). And, this one, too, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13 NKJV).

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:16 KJV)

Happy Valentine's Day!

The day the world celebrates its definition of love. In fact, I bought my beautiful bride a dozen roses. I feel so blessed that God has brought her into my life! I won the "wonderful woman lottery" the day I married her over 44 years ago!

The Greatest Thing! 

By the way, last week I was in a shopping mall in Seattle with Susan. She was looking for a dress to wear at our youngest son, Mark's, upcoming wedding. In one store I got into a brief conversation with the young salesclerk who was waiting on us. At one point in the conversation I told her that the greatest thing you can have in your life is God. Then she quickly replied, "No! The greatest thing you can have in your life is 'love!'" I said, "You are absolutely correct! But, did you know that the Bible says that 'God IS love!'? And, to have 'real love' in your life, you would have to have God in your life!"

I could tell immediately that I had not reached the salesclerk with my definition of love! Because she immediately shrunk back and quickly stepped away from me. I sometimes scare people like that.

Most Get It Wrong!

But, I am not really surprised at the salesclerk's reaction because most people get the definition of love wrong! The Bible does make it clear that God IS love. And, that he loved us so much that He gave Jesus to redeem us (John 3:16-17). And love is defined clearly in 1 Cor. 13 (TLB), "love is patient, love is kind, love is never envious, never haughty, is never selfish, and it is never rude. Love never demands its own way! That is the way God is toward us! And that is how we should behave toward others! We can be like that when we learn how to make our life reflect Jesus! The last part of the verse at the top says it this way: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." And that is a wonderful and powerful promise, indeed!

The following is a long one, but very very important, because the devil has wrongly convinced many of God's kids to have a poverty mentality to defund the work of God so that the covenant of God won't be established! If you think you must be poor than that is what you will always be! If, on the other hand, you see yourself prospering and successful by God's hand for the right reasons you will prosper!

"But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV)

Money Is Not the Problem!

Many Christians believe that God wants them to be poor because they equate being poor to being godly. But, nothing could be further from the truth! Having money and being wealthy is not evil. It's actually the "love of money" that the Bible says is the "root" of all kinds of evil." (1 Tim. 6:10). And you can look around you and see that that statement is certainly true! But you can biblically say the same fact about lots of other things because loving them could also lead you into evil.  For instance loving food can lead you into serious problems (gluttony) and hurt your body which is called "God's temple". Loving sleep,  can lead you into serious problems (slothfulness) and into poverty. And loving wine can lead you to serious problems (alcoholism), but, Jesus turned the water into wine, so wine in itself isn't bad.

It's a Blessing to "Establish God's Covenant" and much more! 

Having money, or anything else for that matter, is a blessing if you don't "love" it more than you love God. Understand that money and everything else you have is a blessing from God and He blesses you so you can "establish His covenant", and so that you are able to be a blessing to others. The promise at the top says that God "gives you power to get wealth" in order to "establish His covenant... as it is to this day." Knowing what wealth is for is the important thing to remember. It's a great blessing personally and It's a great ministry tool. "I will bless you so that you will be a blessing to others." (Gen. 12:2). "You will be enriched in all ways so that you will be able to be generous on all occasions." (2 Cor. 9:11). Just think what a wonderful blessing it is to be able to give generously to promote God's Kingdom! I love that I can do that and I do! Praise God for it!

But wait, there's more!  

PS - When I told someone this recently (someone who is very religious and always struggles financially, by the way), they said, "Jesus was poor!" And I pointed out to them that he was NOT in fact poor! Even as a baby, wealthy people sought Him out to give riches to Him (the wise men in chapter 2 of the gospel of Luke). He was in fact the "King of Kings and the Lord of Lords" but, He deliberately "lowered himself" in order to accomplish His specific mission to bring redemption. (Phil. 2:7). Even so, many wealthy people followed and supported Him. And the only people who criticized him were religious people. When a woman broke a bottle of very expensive perfume onto Jesus they complained about it! (Mark 14). And later, when He was crucified the soldiers nearby cast lots for his robe because it was valuable. And he was buried in a rich man's tomb.

Do not lay up treasure "for yourself" but, be "rich towards God!"

And of course we should never look to wealth and riches to find our happiness. In the gospel of Luke, verses 12:17-21, a rich man planned to build bigger barns to store up his excess grain, "but thinking to himself, he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. And God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Notice the last part here, that he "layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God". The problem wasn't that the man was wealthy. It was that he was selfish and he was storing up his wealth only for himself and not to be used "toward God".

Have the same mind of Christ

And we should have the "same mind" of Christ (Phil. 2) to do what is needed according to the calling God has called us to. The Apostle Paul said it this way in 1 Cor. 9:19, "Although I am free from all men, I have made myself to be a slave to all that I might win the more.... and I do it all for the sake of the gospel that I may share the blessing therein." And, keep in mind that what Jesus did on the cross paid for over 8,000 powerful promises that covers every possible provision. And the main thing to understand is to use whatever you have been given by God to serve Him and others and to "establish His Covenant on earth." By the way, I have been poor and also rich, and rich is far better! And I don't apologize how God blesses me. Psalm 68:19 - "Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits."

What you plant is what you get! 

"Remember this: whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly." (2 Cor. 9:6 NIV)

The  Bible says plainly that "you reap what you sow" and everything you sow (good and bad) works like a seed in God's kingdom way of doing things. And there are many, many verses in the Old and New Testament that clearly say this. Yes, it is very important to understand "seed, time, and harvest" principles. And yes, you need to be planting good seeds into God's kingdom. This is the main way God blesses his kids. In fact, this is something that God tells you to test Him about (Malachi 3:10), and He says the blessing will be so large you won't be able to contain it.

Don't throw out the baby! 

So, don't get put off by looking at people you are turned off personally by who tell you to send them your "seed faith" money. Just because there are people who may be using these principles in ways you don't like don't make God's Word and promises of provision untrue. Don't throw out "the baby with the bath"! The devil loves to get you to not do God's principles (for any negative reason) so that you won't benefit from them!

Check out the fruit

Yes, you MUST plant money as seed, but do what I do! I find ministries that I really trust and believe in and then I support them! I look at their fruit (you will know them by their fruit). And I check them out in other ways too (through legitimate agencies who track non-profit's money usage), so that I can make sure my money is being used as they claim it is and in ways which bring the most increase. And I then give cheerfully to them because "God loves a cheerful giver!"

Don't eat your seed! 

By the way, when I first discovered these principles, I had very little. And I was tempted to eat my seed rather than to sow it! But God showed me something powerful about sowing seed in the following verse: "Be not deceived, God is not mocked! Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7 NKJ). First, you always get the same thing you plant! If you plant a radish seed, you won't get potatoes! If you plant discord you won't get peace. It works the same way with everything in God's created world, including money! Secondly, you get more than what you plant! If you plant just one corn seed, you don't get back just one corn seed, you get a plant with lots and lots of corn! So, it doesn't take much seed to get a great harvest! And then thirdly, it comes later (takes time). Seed not only must planted in good soil, but it takes time for it to grow and produce a crop that you can harvest. That's why it is important to be planting good seed of all kinds continuously.

Be a cheerful giver. God loves them! 

I give every way I can and I am very much blessed because of it! I now am able to sow hundreds of dollars each month, even thousands, and do so cheerfully. I once only had little to plant, but now I can sow and reap much more. Praise God!!!!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" (eremiah 29:11 NLT)

God's plans for your "good"! And they are not for disaster (failure). They are for a wonderful "future" filled with "hope!"

It's time for you to get your hopes up because God is able and willing to give you these blessed promises, in fact, He already has! And the devil is a robber and a liar and has been telling you that things for you are "hopeless". Don't you believe his lies any longer! Because doing so will only make you sick! "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12-14). And remember this truth, "Faith is the substance of things HOPED for..." (Heb. 11:1). So again, hope BIG and with great assurance that God does what He says He will do! Even for you!