Extraordinary Transformation

Peace is the experience of those in love with God’s Word. Loving the Word is not demonstrated by how much you can recite it but by how much it governs your actions. When you love the Word, which has preeminence in your life, you are not disturbed or distracted by situations or circumstances. There is peace. The Word and its direction govern actions that come from your emotions and feelings. In times of triumph, the Word and its truth give way to praise, gratitude, and adoration. In times of trial, the Word and its truth give way to thanksgiving, remembrance, and renewed trust. At all times and in all things, the Word provides direction, comfort, clarity, insight, strength, hope, and assurance. Sometimes, all of these are at once, and sometimes only one, but it is always enough to anchor and help you.

Beloved, a love for the Word, brings a perspective and understanding of things that cannot be shaken by rumor, innuendo, pettiness, envy, or flattery. It is your protection from deception and imbalance. But again, I remind you that strength and power do not come from simply reciting it. Truth be told, hearing is even a little more nuanced than we often teach, but consider this: if listening to sound bites alone would get you closer to God, then we’d be in a different situation in the world. Still, the truth remains as the Bible declares that you must hear with the heart and a commitment to obey. If you’ve ever wondered how you or anyone else can hear the word and not experience lasting change. Please know it is not a failure on God’s end, nor is he delaying his mighty power. The hearer must hear with a heart inclined to obey. The thrill that comes from what you hear will dissipate if you listen, dance, and shout but do not obey the word. It is the power that comes from the word that sustains. So then your heart must declare, I WILL OBEY THE WORD, for it is in the obedience that you experience the true power and liberty that comes from its truth.  The one who knows this truth walks in peace.  The noise of the world does not easily move him.  He is busy with his work and keeps his heart toward the Lord.  The storm does not move him, nor is he restless in times of peace. He has learned to be content and to find delight in the Lord, knowing that all things work together for His good. He trusts in God and God’s plan.

May the love of God reign in your heart and mind today as the wisdom of this Word moves you into a deeper relationship with him so that your life may reveal that He created you and He is faithful to do everything He started. May you know the experience of extraordinary peace.

Blessings to you

One of the questions I frequently pose following a group prayer session with fellow intercessors is, “What did God say?”

This question often leads to a period of silence, during which people seem puzzled, as if expecting immediate responses during a divine conversation is odd.

It essentially raises the next question: how much time does God require to answer our prayers?

Your thoughts and beliefs about this question impact your prayer life.

They may erode your faith and, subsequently, your relationship with the Father.

It is not God’s responsiveness that falls short but rather our own actions and faith in our prayers.

So then, we must change.

What if we elevate our mindset and genuinely believe God is present and prepared to respond? By learning to surrender wholly, accept His will, maintain consistency in our approach, and engage Him with simple child-like faith through pure dialogue –

What if we believed He would indeed answer us?  

What if we believe that, as an ever-loving Father, He takes our insufficiencies, imperfections, and misaligned thoughts during the prayer conversation and transforms them?  What if, through prayer, we gained an awareness of His truth, also known as the truth and the power of His love and plan for our lives?  What if, through these daily conversations, our lives began to be transformed? What if we began to understand the plan for our lives better and live with great peace, clarity, joy, and fulfillment? What if, through daily conversations, he guided us toward the right thinking, right speaking, and right actions?  What if this was the experience of prayer?

Beloved, it is.

Prayer embodies a profound paradox. Though its essence is simple, its complexity has the power to alter circumstances and soften even the most hardened hearts. It represents not only a privilege and an honor but also a solemn duty that necessitates the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, working in concert with you as His creation.

Today, I am sharing a clip from a morning prayer session and key takeaways discussed post-prayer that intercessors should consider.

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, or your other favorite beverage, listen to the prayer, and settle in and pray along with it. The words are still relevant today. God is alive, and the healing, freedom, and strength present then are available now. But also stay alert to the experience of prayer. Review the insights again after your prayer or listening to the prayer session.

Morning Prayer Insights 05.27.24

1. Humility is required in prayer and life. Humility is a cornerstone of both. It does not entail diminishing your power, gifts, skills, or talents; instead, it involves acknowledging that God is paramount and that everything stems from Him for His glory. Reflect upon this principle and let it inform your prayer practice and interactions with others.

2. Receiving God’s love means allowing it to work in and through you.  The evidence of God is that Embracing God’s love fosters compassion, mercy, and reconciliation.

3. God is able to turn any situation around.  He is a healer and has the power to regenerate and resurrect. God has the power to transform any situation. Our faith must be active and vibrant—anchored in Him and His capabilities rather than our circumstances. Remembering He is the great, “I AM,” we should remove limitations placed on God to allow Him to manifest fully in our lives as well as those around us. God is omnipotent; there is no situation beyond His control due to His regenerative power.

4. Take the limits off of God. Often, we view prayer merely as a practice of religious comfort when it encompasses so much more. Prayer fundamentally connects us with God—it teaches us to trust Him as a loving Father while laying down our concerns and absorbing His word, guidance, and will into our lives. Frequently, though, we tend toward over-spiritualization at the expense of genuine transformation (a topic worthy of further discussion).

5. Discern his voice and walk in truth. Today’s message emphasizes the importance of discerning God’s voice in every prayer encounter and understanding how to follow His guidance. Often, people claim they have heard God and are acting on His instructions, yet they find themselves without success, peace, or consistent joy. This raises the question: does this align with God’s methods? I believe it does not. Therefore, it’s imperative to elevate your thinking so there is no gap between your faith and experience.

Beloved, it may be time for a mindset shift—when it comes to prayer or spiritual growth, for that matter.

You have big goals, dreams, ideas, and a profound purpose that demands fulfillment; prayer is the anchor of your success and satisfaction. Effective prayer remains vital in achieving your goals while maintaining joy and peace.

If you feel called to deepen your understanding of prayer or want to learn more about effectively praying for yourself and others, join me for the Prophetic Prayer Strategy Session, held on the last Monday of each month at 4 p.m. PT. Register today to secure your spot!

Listen to the BONUS PRAYER SESSION HERE

Listen to the BONUS Prayer Session Here

Remembering with love and gratitude those who gave all for the freedoms we embrace today. Their bravery and commitment to serve always remind me that we are made in the image and likeness of God, who gave himself so that we might have life and life more abundantly.

Let us live each day in faith with gratitude for a price paid so that we might have life. Let us demonstrate our appreciation by living and loving well with compassion, mercy, and a spirit of reconciliation. May your life each day be filled with the hope and strength that comes from knowing that you have another opportunity to do it again, do it better, or just do it.

Beloved, each day is a present. Unwrap it with joy and gratitude, and always honor the giver. So that in the final analysis, others will look back and remember that you, too, ran your race well so that others could take up the baton and keep moving forward.

I am grateful today for those who helped me remember all these things: friends, family, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who I am confident God created and charged to do just what they did so his name would be honored.

On Memorial Day, I remember your life and the deposit you made into mine, and I praise our Father.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

In about 34 days, we will observe Pentecost. Many will talk about the power that fell in the upper room and speaking in tongues; opinions will vary, but before you get caught up in ALL that, here’s a question. Are you living in the power of the Spirit? Do you know what it means to be led by the Spirit? Is it a reality for your life or a fanciful thought?

Beloved, is your experience with God filled with the life, power, peace, and purpose he planned? You were created to live an extraordinary life, to be led by the Spirit, and to change the world (your world). You matter, and you were born for a specific purpose.

This is the hour of your revelation. You must be courageous. Yet this type of courage is not about doing the next thing or developing the next plan. It’s not about more “grind” or “hustle.” Your courage must be set toward obeying the word of the Lord. Are you courageous enough to stand? To believe? Beloved, obedience, and submission follow belief. Let’s connect and clarify how we will do it together this next season. Join our mailing list to stay in the know.

Beloved, extraordinary living begins with a thought. Let’s elevate our thoughts about Wealth and Wisdom. If you are in pursuit of an extraordinary life but seem to get stuck in a unproductive, unfruitful, and truth be told sometimes downright depressing cycles, it’s time to get out of your own way and on to a life you love. God designed it for you; now, you must be courageous and live it. Join me for Think Tank Thursdays, and let’s start the journey to your extraordinary.

Context matters. We often recite this verse to encourage others to think positively about themselves or elicit an accurate viewpoint of their self-worth. With good intentions and positivity in mind, this view might not be the worst thing ever; however, the context here gives essential insight into the spiritual impact of belief, specifically the phenomena that occur when things aren’t what they appear to be.

Wisdom says that what a person believes (internal) can affect you more than what he says. (external)
This is particularly important to understand when someone speaks kind or flattering words. It sounds good, and it’s welcomed. The words influence us because we want them to be true because they connect to our longings. We desire kindness, attention, accolades, or even connections.

The situation becomes even more complicated when connected to invitations, especially if there is an intense desire to connect.
The difficulty occurs when you respond to the words and do not consider the source. You may be excited or pleased with flattery or nice words; however, what the person believes impacts your inner man and the spiritual reality.

This is because what a man believes governs what comes next. Belief is the catalyst for action. Your thoughts have power.

Deception occurs when there is a miscommunication between what a person thinks and what he says. Flattering words can be deceptive and draw you in because of your desires. The words may soothe a longing of your soul, but you will only achieve long-lasting transformation and satisfaction if they are connected to the actual thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Beloved, don’t miss this; we are set to understand when relationships are not optimal; however, we must not get spiritually spooky and think that there is deception every time something feels off.

Remember, you must balance your knowledge with willing and humble prayerful submission to the Creator. Your protection comes through your faith in the finished work of the Son. Your triumphant victory comes from following the Holy Spirit’s leading. God desires that you live an extraordinary life and have extraordinary relationships.

Are you ready to live your extraordinary?  If  you’re ready to bring better balance to your life and relationships, it might be time to connect with a faith coach. Schedule a 30-minute  discovery call to learn more about how FLAME coaching can ignite your journey to extraordinary.

Blessings to you,

MC