I may sound repetitive, but the Spirit leads me to continually remind us that we, as believers, must be restrained, disciplined, and vigilant. We should focus on Father God, Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! We need to work daily to be Christ-like, with a heart for serving others and efforts each day to stay spiritually aware of our own relationship with our Sovereign Lord.

This will give God glory, and that is our purpose in this life. As His children, we must do this together to overcome evil in our lives because Satan is running rampant, causing discontent, hatred, and violence. We look around and see illness, and racial and social injustice everywhere.

When giving the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says of His Father: “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b, ESV) Just before that, in v. 43-45a he reminded them: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

God is both merciful and just. He is merciful when he gives sunshine and rain to everyone, not just those who follow him. He gives justice when he allows us to suffer the consequences of our choices to disobey, dishonor, and disrespect Him, others, and ourselves.

Christians have a choice to love like Jesus did. We are not puppets but we are asked to treat each other well so it might go well with us. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5, NIV)

But how to get His mindset? Keep reading and acting on word of God.

Continue to seek Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for truth, wisdom, and guidance in all things. Pray daily. Pray without ceasing. Be active and intentional about seeking God’s will instead of our own control, comfort, and convenience. In these ways we can be better to each other and choose godly leadership in our churches, cities, states, and countries. The Spirit will help us discern the truth so we can become doers of the Word, not hearers only.

Ask the Lord about your part in overcoming the globally spreading virus. Become a part of God’s healing process…a doer of the word, not a hearer only!

Recognize God loves you! Ask Him about your part in overcoming hatred of people who are different from us. Be part of God’s reconciliation process… a doer of the word, not a hearer only! Recognize God loves you! Ask about your part in overcoming political divides that prevent us from working together for the good of us all. Be part of God’s justice process… a doer of the word, not a hearer only! Recognize God loves you!

We need to take control of our thoughts. In all this unknown, we cannot allow fear to take over and move in feelings as of failure…change any thought from failure to success. Stop saying “Woe is me!” Instead say, “Even though I suffer, I am saved!” Choose God’s will! Be Christ-like with scripture and prayer we practice and seek God’s will over and in all we do.

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” (Romans 8:28, AMP)

We need to remind ourselves daily of good things – of victories in our lives – and not allow evil to enter in!

Praise God in the midst of setbacks, failures, and disappointments. Victory is ours!  By feeding the homeless and encouraging them through the Word, we are being blessed!  We are receiving His blessing and learning to appreciate more!  It is exciting that I am learning to truly appreciate each homeless person I meet and also what we have. People who are homeless are sharing their joy in helping others. They are counting their blessings including food and safety at the Ark, power in Father God’s name, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, God works good and bad together for His purpose. As we focus on victories and see the miracles – pallets of strawberries, carrots, bottled water and soft drinks, a truck load of (150) watermelons – we are strengthened in confidence!

Together, we are developing our faith walk!  We are being perfected and refined.  Homeless people are not just being served, they are also helping to serve others and saying they find joy in that. Together, we are learning to . give and to receive from each other.

We see the miracles of unexpected food provisions; we praise Our God!  Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from Him! (James 1:17, KJV) We praise and thank Him for His and man’s favor. (Proverbs 3:4, NIV) The same verse in the Amplified Bible says: “So shall you find favor, good understanding and high esteem…”  Thank you, Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

I am appreciating and learning more about giving with people who are homeless. As Proverbs 11:25 says: “Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.”

Another favorite on this topic is: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38, ESV)

Again, Romans 8:28 speaks of His Purposes – God’s purpose not ours. His fulfillment is having created the “mind of Christ in each of us” to glorify Him.  To develop Christ’s mind, attitude, and self-control we must let The Perfector (the Holy Spirit) do His work and we must seek alone time with Father God.  Worldwide, we are put in a situation where we now can have daily alone time with God. Let’s thank Him for the good and the bad. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for help and strength to put away wrong thinking, badmouthing, and fear. Let’s do it in Jesus’ name.

God’s promise, according to Isaiah 44:3 (AMP) says: ”…I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessings upon your descendants.”  John 7:37-39 recalls that promise when telling of the feast day where Jesus called for anyone who is thirsty to come to him and drink. Are you thirsty? Come to him. Drink in His Spirit.

I am compelled to write and to encourage all believers at this uncertain time under the Coronavirus pandemic. I am asked to maintain a true servant’s heart.  We must be watchful of our needs and needs of others.  Together we can and will overcome. 

Satan comes as a thief to rob, steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:7-10) As Christians, we can’t give in to Satan’s lies or our fears and feelings.  We must continue to speak God’s word which does not go out void but will come about successfully.  (Isaiah 55:11) As we continue to practice and do God’s word, we will discern the truth and become doers – not hearers only.  (James 1:22)  

What is our individual part in overcoming this worldwide Coronavirus attack?  We are to follow the prevention rules faith, use-filled action and continue to actively speak faith daily. That means confessing that Jesus is Lord. It means claiming health by the blood of this Lamb (Jesus) and making sure the words of our testimony speak the positive promises He made instead of talking about negativity. Doing these things, we will see that we are healed. 

It is time to take control of our thoughts; to not let fear take over and express doubt and unbelief.  We need to recognize God loves each of us and each of us may be saved by the blood of The Lamb and the word of our testimony. 

I repeat: We need to take control of our thoughts!  In all this unknown, we cannot allow fear to take over. We cannot wallow in feelings of weakness or failure. We must change our thoughts to success and speak positively. We do have that control. What we say is what we get.  The results obedience to God, His Word, and the directives of those in authority will train us with experience to choose God’s will and words. 

We are told to listen to the words of the wise daily whether at work or play.  Practice makes perfect!  The more we practice seeking God’s will, the more we improve in action and response. 

The Psalmist says we must be willing to let God search our hearts. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:2-24) 

Above all, in these strange and difficult times we must not accept being overwhelmed or discouraged.  This is an ongoing process… an ongoing and step-by-step process. God’s loving grace will cover you throughout this whole process.  Our loving heavenly Father will guide each of us, all the way. In James 4:8 the scripture says to draw nigh (come close) to God and He will draw nigh to you.  

When Jesus spoke, He meant literally what He spoke.  “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it.” (Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23)  

I had a knee replacement. It has been a painful process and a miracle that has caused me to continue learning to hear more clearly the voice of Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Also, I am increasing my ability to discern the voice of the devil. You know that the devil also knows God’s Word. So, we really must learn to recognize our Father’s voice. How?

God’s Word promises peace, joy, and that we have what we say that gives us peace and joy! The Word says that we were healed. Read I Peter 2:24 discussing Jesus “by whose stripes [wounds] we were healed.” Note how the scripture doesn’t say “might be” or “going to be” healed. It says we “were” healed. Jesus already did it!  Don’t let Satan use God’s Word to deceive you!  For example, when somebody says, “I’m sick. Will you pray for me?” Satan has distorted the truth. Unconsciously, we’ve openly proclaimed: “I am sick.”

This time of my miracle healing has helped me take hold of what Jesus said! By faith and speaking God’s word, creative power is loosed (permitted) in our live.

“Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray believe that you receive, and you shall have them.”  (Mark 11:24) Useless words work against us. If we say, “I’ve got this problem”, “I’m getting worse,” and “I’m scared about,” are phrases that express doubt, not faith!

We have the power to cause our minds to be quiet. We have God’s promise of triumph, victory. Each of us have setbacks, disappointments, and failures. We are to learn from our mistakes.

From Charles Capps’ book The Tongue, a Creative Force I learned that a) I could react out of habit praying my sickness, hurt, pain… and b) praying my problems will not work to solve them – even if a whole group of people pray.  We must quit praying the problem and pray the answer.

Pray: “I am healed,” or “I have courage!” The solution to a problem is believing and confessing what God’s Word says! By faith, problems will be removed in the name of Jesus. Hebrews 10:38 says that “the just shall live by faith and not by sight.”

Don’t pray by stating that the problem or situation is getting worse. If you do, you’ve released failure by using words without faith. However, as Jesus’ disciples, we might declare: “Lord, increase our faith.” (Luke 17:56) We can pray, “Lord, give us more faith!”

Prayer does not work without faith. So, let us now thank Him for the good and the bad. (Romans 8:28) Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to put away our wrong thinking and declare victory as is God’s purpose, His will that is done at His time! The Holy Spirit continues to develop my faith in God’s word! It’s been 6 months since my surgery and this deeper lesson. Now, how about you? What are you declaring?

By faith in His spoken Word we receive healing and maturity and increase our faith. We become more bold!  Spread the Good News where you are! Having learned this lesson, I now have a greater peace and joy because I have this deeper understanding. Praying for what I know he’s already done for me is the solution. Having the more mature patience to wait for his timing is the answer.  Move in faith. Do not express doubt or unbelief.

Do you remember that the Bible says there is one time appointed by God for each of us to die? (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Trust Him! There is no need to fret about that because when it happens there will be no more pain… streets of gold… mansions… the presence of Jesus. (Read Revelations Chapter 21.)

When we ask for Him, God comes to us.  We develop a two-way dialogue. As we continue our conversation, we grow in our relationship with The Almighty. We draw closer to Him and allow Him to draw closer to us.  Thanks be to God!

There is a ‘righteous anger’.  Jesus taught this and was an example of it. Once was even in the Garden of Gethsemane with his three best friends. He asked them to stay awake and pray with him on the night before he was taken away to be tried and crucified, but they kept falling asleep. So he firmly let them know that was not OK.

Situations need to be handled with Holy Spirit wisdom – not anger!  Have you ever messed up? I have! The Spirit’s wisdom can help us discern and put into practice God’s word versus reacting out of our own emotions!

To become a better musician, poet, artist, programmer, craftsman, nurse, or any other profession we need to practice. It’s the same with anger management.

We must practice allowing the Holy Spirit to help us calm down – to wait before the Lord for the Holy Spirit’s leading. When emotions flare – PRAY! Ask in prayer for needed answers and responses rather than rudely reacting. The Bible even says surrender our all to God and trust Him. Ask for the Holy Spirit to help you; that’s exactly why Jesus asked God to send the Spirit to us. See John 14:16 (Holy Spirit is also translated as Helper, Advocate, Comforter, and Guide, depending on the Bible you are reading.)

We do not need to hinder God’s blessings in our life or the lives of others with our anger. Instead, we need to turn our lives over to Christ’s and the Holy Spirit’s authority. We do not want to be kept in the chains of anger and the prison of unforgiveness. Remember God, through Christ Jesus, is always faithful and will never leave or forsake us.

Romans 8:28 tells us God uses the good and the bad together for His purpose – if we love Him. Therefore, all our frustrations, anger, and emotional baggage can be used for His glory.

Read Romans 8:26 when you don’t know how to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help with your sighs and groans and words you may not understand. Cry if you must. Just use your voice to make sounds. He understands. Trust Him.

Is all anger sin? Anger sometimes serves useful purposes. It can provide the fruit that leads to self-control, motivate work toward justice, or spur us to do something to help others.

Sometimes we need to sit and quietly pray until we are calmed down. Through helping other angry people calm down in bad situations and circumstances, we also will develop new ways to respond and mature. We can learn to resist the temptation to “bad mouth” others or be vindictive and lash out just because we are hurt or angry. It is a process, not an instant thing. Start today.