Have you ever worked somewhere, where you had a key to your office/work area? If so, your key only opened that door. It didn't give you access to every room in the whole building. But somewhere, someone had a master key that would give them access to every room. The same goes for hotels. You are given a key to your room, but there is also a master key, giving anyone who has it access to all the rooms.

In the Kingdom of God, this is the master key:  But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV  This one key principle opens the doors to everything you need. 

One scripture, one sentence. But it contains all the "mystery" of the Kingdom of God we truly need. Seek FIRST (above everything else) 1. God's Kingdom and 2. God's righteousness. The preceding scriptures talk about other things we tend to seek: Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Matthew 6:19-21, 24-32

What are you seeking first? When you pray, what are you seeking? Another way of putting it is, "What is your focus?"

This week, I saw a news article that the Lord used to show me how He has worked in my life in ways I didn't even realize. The subject of the article was Americans' growing debt in this time of great inflation. Prices are skyrocketing for our basic needs and people are using credit to make ends meet. But the Holy Spirit showed me immediately how He has put me in a position where this year I have been reducing my debt and also saving money and giving as the Lord leads. When I saw this, I was so very grateful that in this time of great financial difficulty He as blessed me and guided me in my finances! In the Kingdom of God, when we put His Kingdom and His righteousness first, our needs are met. God's Word is true eternally. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25 NKJV  

I am content with what He provides and lack nothing.  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. None of what has happened is in my strength and I do not boast of anything I have done, but I must testify of His goodness and provision and say Glory to God!

God is no respecter of persons. His Word is truth to all who seek Him. Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right." Acts 10:24-25  

I'll share another example. Recently, I heard a woman say that she'd been praying for a godly man for over twenty years and He had never answered her. She said she was getting tired of waiting, now that she was over 60 years old, and God owed her those years! While I understand her frustration and weariness, it sounds like she was seeking a husband (that was her focus) and not seeking after God's Kingdom and His righteousness first. We pray, we tell the Lord God the desire of our heart, but we focus on God's Kingdom and His righteousness. We want more of Him and to be more like Him and we trust that in His time we will receive the desire of our heart. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5 NKJV Again, God's Word is true, He cannot lie, because if He said it, it WILL come to pass. 

When I was dating, I could see that I was going in the wrong direction fast. I repented, and prayed, "Father forgive me, I'm making a mess of this and that is not Your will for me. Remove everyone who is not Your will from my life and show me to the man You have for me." I did not ask Him to show me the man, but for Him to show me to the man. The first thing that happened was that everyone I had been communicating with disappeared! My phone went silent. It was so clearly a God thing! Not many weeks after, I met my husband and found out that at almost the same time I had prayed, he was praying for the Lord to show him who God had for him to marry. Praise the Lord! We pray, but we SEEK after His righteousness and to live our life as citizens in right standing in the Kingdom! We do not seek or focus or even obsess over what we are praying for. We trust the Lord God to answer our prayer!

But what if He doesn't give us what we ask for? Then we trust Him. This is a hard word, but it is God's Truth:  What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:1-3  

He knows what is best for us and for His purpose for your life. "For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’" Isaiah 46:9b-10 AMP 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

When I don't see answers to my prayers or I feel "under attack" I evaluate myself as to whether I am seeking after His Kingdom and His righteousness first. If I believe that I am and don't see an area I need to repent of, I trust Him that there is a reason. He sees all and knows all and that gives me peace.

I want to always have that master key of Matthew 6:33 stored in my heart and soul. Every day, in all I do, I want to have all access in His Kingdom, and you can also!

​Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
​
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.

This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you.

How you see the Lord God determines the level at which He will operate in your life.
 
If you see Him as a friend, He will operate in your life as a friend. But if you see Him as the one true God, Creator of all, Healer, Deliverer, Provider, Protector, Father, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent; you will see His supernatural power operating in your life! Even the Lord Jesus was limited in Nazareth because the people could only see Him as the son of Mary and Joseph, the carpenter. He was “just a guy from the neighborhood”.  Jesus left that part of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His hometown. The next Sabbath He began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They asked, “Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 
 
Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us.”
 
They were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.
 
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their unbelief. Mark 6:1-6
 
“They were deeply offended. . .” I can imagine that they probably also added a “Who does he think he is?”! Because of their unbelief, Jesus did very little in Nazareth.

We are in a season where we must have a revelation of the power and glory of the Lord God that is available to us if we will only believe! See with supernatural eyes what is going on in our world. See it for the spiritual battle that it is. This is surely “the time of evil”. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
 
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Gospel so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
 
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:11-18
 
In Psalm 20, it says:  Some trust in chariots (made by man) and some in horses (nature, God’s creation), but we will remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God. Where do you place your trust? It goes on to say:  They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. Psalm 20:7-9 AMP Yes, they have bowed down and fallen but we have risen and stand upright, because we trust in our Lord God and we know that NOTHING is impossible with Him!
 
Satan has saturated our world with fear, control, manipulation and lies that try to undermine the Lord God’s Kingdom principles and Believers’ faith. We have all seen pastors, ministers and believers, that we thought were strong in the faith, fall away. I have seen them leave their ministry and some have even said they don’t believe in God. It is sad and disheartening to see a “leader of the faith” publicly turn away. But they never truly knew Him. If they did, they would see His power in their lives.  They were caught up in “doing ministry” as their career and didn’t actually know the Lord. When you see His power moving in your life, you will never walk away from Him! I have had countless events in my life where I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt “that was my Father God!” Because of that, I boldly say that I will never doubt or walk away. I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God and all of my Father God’s power and authority are available to operate in my life in Jesus’ name!  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!” John 14:12-14
 
 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:18-19 NKJV
 
Do you believe God’s Word? Then you believe that NOTHING will hurt you. You believe that you have been given ALL power over the enemy—Satan and his demons.
 
When I think of the power and authority of our Father, of His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit which He has given us, I get excited! When you get that revelation, you will not fear the world and all that is in it.
 
Focus your spiritual eyes. See Satan and his demonic angels at work in this world. And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. . . And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Revelation 12:9 & 11 AMP Most important of all, see your Father God for who He is. Nothing is impossible or too hard for Him! Never allow your unbelief to limit His supernatural power in your life! You will be victorious over Satan and every weapon he fires at you because of the blood of Jesus on you, the words you speak and your unshakable faith in the Lord God even in the face of death.
 
Satan is a liar and an illusionist. He is already defeated and we are victorious through the Lord Jesus. Satan has absolutely no power in the Kingdom of God. He only prowls around in the world. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion (it’s only an illusion), looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9a
 
I have “scripture bombs” going off in my mind! Every time I write a little bit, the Holy Spirit gives me more! Fill your mind with God’s Word. Get to know Him better through His Word. If you do, you will see His hand on your life. Your prayers will be more fruitful and powerful. Walk in the power and authority of your Father God. Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them. 1 John 4:4-5 AMP
 
Yes! Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or intimidated. The Lord God is with you wherever you go! (Joshua 1:9)
 
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Be ready,

Deborah Luchie
​
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.

This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you.

It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6  ​They call Hebrews 11 the Faith Chapter, as it recounts many old testament stories of people of great faith. People who believed what God said and did what He told them to do.

But for me, the clearest illustration of what total faith should look like is the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:1-45 I think I love this story so much because I see Jesus' frustration and growing anger at their lack of faith and understanding. If those who were closest to Him couldn't understand and believe, how could anyone?! Mary, Martha and Lazarus were Jesus' dear friends. They believed He was the Messiah, believed He could heal people and loved Him. But even with that knowledge and close personal relationship, they didn't have complete faith and total trust in what Jesus could do. 

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick.  So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” John 11:1-3 Mary and Martha knew if their friend Jesus came, He would heal their brother. But Jesus had a Kingdom lesson to teach! Our greatest lessons are often learned in the face of trials and this was one of those trials. But when Jesus heard about it He said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for the next two days. Finally, He said to His disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” John 11:4-7 

Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus but He waited two days to go. He waited two days for Lazarus to die and be placed in a tomb so that God and His Son Jesus would get the glory for raising Lazarus from the dead. He had healed many people, so it wasn't hard to believe He could heal; but they had never before seen Him--or anyone else--raise someone from the dead! Their faith needed to be stretched and grow to an unprecedented level. The great Teacher was testing their faith and teaching them what limitless faith in the Kingdom was.

This must have also been a very frustrating time for the "human side" of Jesus because they were surely testing His patience with them. First, His disciples didn't want go because they were afraid the people of Judea would stone Him.  But His disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone You. Are you going there again?” John 11:8  Next, when He told them that Lazarus was sleeping, they didn't understand what He meant. He had to tell them point blank for them to understand: Then He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.

So He told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” John 11:11-14 

Next, Thomas reluctantly agreed to do as Jesus said, and to die there. He was faithful to obey Jesus, but believing they would all die! Thomas, nicknamed Didymus, the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” John 11:16 

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Martha went to meet Him to express her disappointment that He was late! When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever you ask.”

Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”

“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” John 11:20-24 (We remember Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42 where Martha was upset that Mary was worshiping as Jesus' feet and not helping her with her preparations, so this isn't her only time of complaining to her friend Jesus) Martha had faith to believe for Lazarus' healing, but not that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead. And Mary, the worshiper, was so upset she didn't even go to meet Him! I think we've all known "Marys and Marthas" in our lives! Jesus had to send word to Mary to come to Him. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within Him, and He was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” He asked them. They told Him, “Lord, come and see.” John 11:32-34 

Can you feel what Jesus was feeling? The very people who should have had complete faith in what He said and what He was able to do, doubted Him. Now He had Mary saying that if He just hadn't been late her brother would still be alive!  Then we come to one of the most well known and most misunderstood verses in the Bible:  Jesus wept. 

Then the Jews who were standing nearby said, “See how much He loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t He have kept Lazarus from dying?”

Jesus was still angry as He arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. John 11:36-39  What a day! I feel His anger and frustration at their lack of faith. They love Him, believe in Him but they are unable to fully see the power that works in Him. Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”  John 11:40 Even in all this unbelief, He brought Lazarus back to life so that God would get the glory and their faith would be increased.

So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing Me. You always hear Me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”  And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:41-44 

What an amazing, faith-building lesson! What is your level of faith? I encourage you to increase your faith to the level of miraculous! If you've already seen it done before, or you can do it in your own strength, it doesn't make a demand on your faith. Also, trust the Lord that if He doesn't do exactly what you are asking for it is because He has something better for you than you could even imagine or think. Have faith in Jesus Christ and trust Him always!   Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do abundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP

Be ready,

Deborah Luchie
​
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Your words have power.  We've all heard that, but I don't think we realize how important it is to live it!  What you say and how you say it will affect your daily life.  Now don't think this is the word of faith message you've heard since the 80s and dismiss it.
  
God created the universe with His words.  He spoke it into being.   Then God  said, “Let there be light,” and there was light...Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”  And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.  God called the space “sky.”...Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened...Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened.   God didn't have to "make" anything.  He created with His Words.  His Words brought life and order to formless chaos!  

Then God created mankind, in His image, to be like Him.  Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”  So God created human beings in His own image.  In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.
​
We may not be creating worlds with our words, but our words affect our world and its quality of life.  Here is what I mean:  Which of these sentences is more faith-building?

"I am a diabetic."

"I have diabetes."
​
"I am dealing with diabetes until Jesus heals me"

Your child doesn't have ADHD, they are "dealing with attention deficit issues until Jesus heals them".  Don't attach negative labels to your child which they will have great difficulty removing.  It becomes a part of who they are.

You are not depressed, or suffering with depression.  But you may be dealing with depression until Jesus heals you.  Your present condition does not define you!  Your relationship with Jesus Christ defines you.  

It's not wordplay, or semantics, and it's not nitpicking.  It is building a framework for your life in a position of faith and total trust.  Don't embrace sickness, disease, mental or emotional disorders or addictions. Don't own them...God never intended for them to be yours.  Satan wants you in a posture of hopelessness and defeat.

You are not your current condition!  

You are a blood-bought believer in Jesus Christ.  You are a son or daughter of the most high God. 

You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have all done it.  "I'm forgetful."  "I'm such a klutz."  "I'm an alcoholic." "I'm a drug addict."  "I am depressed."  "I am an agoraphobic." "You are stupid"  "You are lazy." 

No matter what your issue is, you are not THAT and neither is your child!  You are a child of God.  You are more than a conqueror.  You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God.  You are an overcomer.  You are overcoming alcohol.  You are overcoming drugs.  You are being delivered from an addiction to cigarettes.  

Don't bury yourself under a mound of negative words.  It will bring negative, hopeless feelings that will immobilize you.  Do you want to be healed and whole?  Do you want to rise above your current situation?  Speak where you want to go.  Speak faith.  And trust God's timing.

"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 

I want to encourage you today.  Be aware of what you say.  Speak like a victorious Kingdom citizen.  Here is what I say.  Take it and change the words to fit you.

"I am dealing with arthritis until Jesus heals me. I will not embrace it and it is not mine.  It has been sent by the enemy and is not God's will for my life!  God's timing is perfect.  He's never early but He's never late.  I am a child of the living God.  A citizen of the Kingdom of God.  My faith is in Jesus Christ and I trust Him!"

Genesis 1   Romans 8:35-39   Joshua 1:9   Proverbs 18:21  Matthew 21:21-22  All NLT

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

I have desired to move to the Florida gulf for several years.  I have prayed and believed.  I've put Him first in my life, loved Him and worked to advance His Kingdom.  This year, suddenly, He brought everything together for us to move...to a little home in a smaller city in South Carolina.  It wasn't Florida, but it was everything we needed most of all.  Now, I could have been disappointed, let down, even upset with God and allow it to lessen my faith.  But, having reached a place of trust in the Lord, I could clearly see how He had prepared this place for us and it was exactly what we needed for this time. There have been many great trust-building moments in my life, but this is the most recent reminder. 

In the non-traditional churches of today we are taught about faith and speaking what we are believing for, without doubting; but we aren't taught how to handle disappointment when we don't receive what we believed for. It is often an uncomfortable conversation between believer and leader. 

"Why didn't God answer my prayer?" 

"Why weren't they healed?"

"Why didn't I get that job I was perfect for?"

"Why don't they love me?  I know we would be perfect together!"

It is in those times, if we pay attention, we will discover how much we actually TRUST God.  It is easy to believe He loves us when we are blessed with answered prayers.  But can we trust Him when it seems He hasn't given us what we prayed for?  

Times of great pain and emotion are not the times to teach about trust.  Those lessons should come as a part of being discipled.  We have not prepared His people for the times that He says "No".

Trust is not common in our country today, so most of us haven't experienced having complete trust in someone.  People have let us down.  We've trusted and we've gotten hurt.  Trust, once broken, is very difficult to rebuild.  We approach God in the same way.  We don't freely or naturally trust.  We must cultivate trust in God as we have built our faith in God, over time.  

We must come to understand that He knows everything and we only see a pinpoint view of what we want. We don't see the big picture. Can you trust that He knows better what you need and what you don't need?  He also isn't as concerned with our moment of happiness compared with His purpose and destiny for our lives! That is true unselfish love. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9  

Trust is submitting to God's will for your life, over yours.  Even Jesus had to submit and trust His Father's will over His own.  "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 

It is in those times of disappointment that we grow in our trust, if we will make the effort.  In those times, we say, "Lord I trust you.  I don't understand, but I trust You.  I know You love me and have a plan for my life.  I know that whatever You have for me is better than anything I could ever hope or imagine!"  Close your eyes and feel it as you say it.  Can you feel the "letting go" of what you wanted and grabbing hold of His hand and all that He has for you?  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.  Proverbs 3:5-6  When we trust and truly let go of our will, our desires, we will experience His peace that goes beyond anything we could imagine.  It is a peace that causes people to look at you in times of sorrow and crisis and wonder how you can be so calm.  It is because you trust Your Lord and Savior in every situation.  "...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:7 

Don't think you've done something wrong or "prayed wrong" when a prayer isn't answered.  Don't blame yourself.  Prayers are always answered, God always hears you.  It just may not be answered in the way you thought it would.  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  Romans 8:26-28 

Now, more than ever, Believers in the Kingdom of God must be prepared, emotionally and mentally strong and always ready for battle.  That won't happen by only being fed once a week on what is preached.  Your nutritious food is God's Word and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:8-9  

Now is the time to build up your spirit.  Build your faith and strengthen your trust.  Know that no matter how things may look, God has a plan and has orchestrated your best life.  You just may not know what that life looks like yet.  Trust Him in all things.  The world is getting weaker emotionally and mentally every day.  Kingdom citizens, it's time to be strong and unmovable and place our complete trust in the Lord! Be a witness to the strength and complete peace that comes from having complete trust in the Lord Jesus.

​Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Well Lord, here I am again with that same big, ugly, scary mountain blocking my path, daring me to do something about it.  There's an old gospel song that says "Lord don't move that mountain, just give me strength to climb."  Many took that as gospel, but it's not biblical!  In fact it couldn't be more unbiblical.  From the very beginning, they have spoken their defeat "Lord DON'T move that mountain...!)

No! I reject that.  God's Word says Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”   
Matthew 17:19-20

The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”  Matthew 21:20-22

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.  I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.  I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.  But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”  Mark 11:22-25

We live so far below the life that is here for us in the Kingdom of God!  I have lived in the shadow of this mountain, tip-toed around this mountain, climbed over this mountain!  But the problem with all that effort is that it doesn't destroy that mountain!  No, it's still there and you WILL come around to it again.  Yup!  Here's that same old mountain again, towering over me to see what I will do about it.  I will not be spiritually passive anymore.  I will plant my feet, square my shoulders and say "Be removed and cast into the sea, in Jesus name!  You have no power, no authority and you must GO now!  I will not see you again."

What's your mountain?  What keeps coming back around, challenging you, threatening your peace?  The line in that old gospel song makes you think you must do it in your own strength.  Not this time! I choose to stir up my faith and see the power that is in my words, through God's Word.  How about you?

​We are not called to be passive.  We are not called to do it in our own strength.  We are called to have complete faith in God's Word and to speak it. 

Jesus told us exactly what to do:
  
Remove any unforgiveness from your heart.

Ask the Lord for forgiveness.

Now speak to your mountain, utterly destroy it and cast it into the sea.  It must go in the name of Jesus!

Have faith and watch God work.

Do not doubt...at all.  

Total faith!

Look out mountain.  Your time here is short!
​
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

​Scriptures are all NLT unless noted otherwise.

The past six months of my life have been some of the most faith-challenging months I can remember.  One month ago today I still did not know if I would have a job the next week.  

Even when we have faith in God and we know He is our source for everything, there are moments of weakness when the reality of your situation puts a strain on that faith.

Briefly, my employer of almost eleven years was moving out of state and for months I had the uncertainty of not knowing whether the new employer would hire me.  I know that God is my source, not my employer.  Our employers are the conduit through which His provision flows.  When one stops, God uses another conduit.  So, when I work, I do it as unto the Lord.  He is my provider, the giver of all good things and the provider of all my needs.  Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24 NLT

I prayed, brainstormed, spoke in faith and worked more on my own projects and plans, trying to create more conduits through which God's provision could flow. But there was an internal battle going on to stay strong and walk in complete trust in Him.  The most difficult times were at work, when reality would come crashing down on me.   At my age, it is nearly impossible--in the natural--to apply for a 'regular' job and get called in for an interview, let alone get hired.  Age discrimination exists, but you don't really see it until you are over 50.  Too young to retire, too old to get hired.  That's reality.  Another reality was that I still needed a  steady income.  At work there was talk, uncertainty, some people leaving for various reasons and no answers concerning jobs.  It was in these times of uncertainty that fear and anxiety would try to grab hold of me.  But when my mind quieted, I would hear the still, soft voice of the Holy Spirit say,

"Do you trust Me?"  

"Why, yes Lord!  Of course I trust you.  I know you will make a way.  I know you already have a plan for my future but I just don't see it yet!" 

But there wasn't much peace about it and fear and anxiety kept creeping into my mind and emotions, so did I REALLY trust Him?  I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.  Psalm 37:25 NKJV  I have stood on this scripture many times and it has always been true.  Yet those times of doubt still crept in, bringing fear and anxiety.  

What I experienced in the last few weeks leading up to May 9th, was a new level of faith, having complete trust in Him and His process.  When I'm in a situation like this, I feel that I must be "doing something" to help fix it.  But there are situations we can't fix and we must rest in Him and trust that He will do what we cannot do.  That takes a deeper level of faith and "resting in Him".  We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.  Proverbs 16:9 NLT  I reached the place in my mind and emotions where I was okay with whatever way my situation worked out.  Wherever He put me, He would provide for all my needs.  He would not forsake me nor leave me lacking.  I would step off that cliff of financial uncertainty and trust He would not let me fall.  Peace, that passes all of our understanding, comes. I finally completely settled it in my heart..."Yes Lord.  I trust you.  Whatever happens, I know your hand is upon me.  Whatever You do, is for my benefit and You will supply all my needs!"  That surrender brings total peace.

Back to May 9th....It was my next-to-the-last day of employment.  The 10th I would have gone in to sign my termination papers.  I got a call to come in for an interview.  In just a couple of hours, I had a new position with our new employers!  This position is such a blessing in many ways.  I can see God's hand on this and it is the answer to many prayers I have prayed over the years concerning my job!  My work environment is so peaceful.  And there is peace all around...because I completely submitted my will to His.  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13 NLT  

One last fact I have learned in my life is that God is never early, but He is never late either.  I am a planner who doesn't do things on the fly, so that drives me crazy.  But He reminds me "Do you trust Me?".  Maintaining your trust in the 11th hour isn't easy in our flesh. 

No matter what your situation, when you can finally let go of it all and stop trying to figure out how God will "work it out", you truly have faith.  Rest in Him.  Pray about it and watch how He works.  Just remember, He won't be early and He will probably work it out in a way you would never have imagined! The reward for your faith and trust in Him will be that His answer is far better than what you asked for.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
    and He will show you which path to take.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Whatever you are facing, whatever you are praying for, whatever you desperately need from God...be still and hear "Do you trust Me?" and step off, knowing He won't let you fall. 

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Are you a "doer"?  I am. Give me an assignment, a problem, an idea and I will begin to formulate a plan and a way to make it happen.  Show me a messy desk and I will begin organizing it in my head.  Yes, I'm a doer.  Why, even God's Word talks about being a "doer of the Word"! But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ​ James 1:22-24 NKJV

But one thing a doer may have trouble with is resting in faith that God will do what you cannot do and fulfill His purpose in you.  Doers don't wait well.  Sarai must have been a doer.  She couldn't rest in faith that God could actually give her a son at her advanced age.  She had to "help" God with that promise.  But when she worked it out her way, she ended up with Ishmael and problems!

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.  So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.  So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant.  But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.  Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault!  I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
Genesis 16:1-6  NLT

In 2018, God is greatly changing my life from one that was predictable, stable and even monotonous to one of great unknowns.   Every time God has blessed me with something much better and answered my prayers, He has first removed most of what was my  life.  It was as if He was wiping the slate clean to start again.  It is during those times when the problems seem too big--too many--too impossible, He was also teaching me to rest in Him rather than be a doer.  

I don't want an Ishmael.

I can do "good" in my own strength.  I can take a project, get a plan, break it down and give it a timeline.  I can bring order to chaos.  But I can't do the impossible, the miraculous.  And that is what I'm praying for now.

And the Holy Spirit said "Rest in Him. Have faith".  That is how we get the impossible...the great!  But that is harder than doing!  This year, in this season, I must learn to "be"...To be at peace in every situation... Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:11-13 NLT  ...To be His child, with childlike faith that says I believe my God is able to do everything He has promised.  I can't work it out in my finite mind, but my God all ready has.  

The Lord kept His word and did for Sarah exactly what He had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.  And Abraham named their son Isaac. Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  All who hear about this will laugh with me.  Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”  Genesis 21:1-7  NLT

Can you imagine a couple that old even being alive and well, let alone to have a baby and nurse him?!  Miraculous!  Now what has God promised you that you can't do in your own strength?  What is the heart's desire you have been asking God for?  If it is your heart's desire, it is not anything a doer can make happen in their own strength.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.  Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.  Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and He will help you.  Psalm 37:3-5 NLT

Take a deep breath....you don't have to make this happen.  You just have to TRUST Him.  Breathe out...now, rest in Him.  Your Isaac is coming, but it is only in His strength, not yours. 
​
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you