Grumbling And Complaining

Do you talk like an atheist? One who spreads evil reports almost denies the existence of God. I read this many years ago. I thought to myself ‘I have complained my whole life. Complaining drags us deep into a muddy pit.

It’s like the account of the Israelites and the giant cluster of grapes. The grapes should have encouraged the Israelites that the land was full of bounty, just as God promised. However, they interpreted the huge grapes differently. They used them as evidence that the land was inhabited by unconquerable giants. “What would expect from the vineyards of giants. Isn’t it strange how two people can look at the same thing -such as a cluster of grapes and come to two opposite conclusions? To Joshua and Caleb, the giant grapes were a good thing. To the Israelites the giant grapes were a sign of despair.

God said He heard the grumbling and the complaints of the children of Israel. He hears our complaints also. The sin of grumbling is related to the sin of gossip. Both are forms of evil speech, both result from a critical sprit,

I have a friend, that constantly complains and grumbles. Her life is in shambles because of it. Everyone around her is starting to avoid her. I have to say, When I see her name come up on my phone, I feel dread. I used to be able to get there thinking of the good things in her life. But, now she doesn’t even hear it. She doesn’t understand why all her friends avoid her.

She’s like a cranky five-year old, who you take to the zoo, they see the lions, but is sulking because you didn’t by the Candy they wanted. You take them to see the zebras, but they are angry because they have to hold your hand in the large crowd. You take them to see the monkeys, but they are having a fit because they wanted French fries. You buy them French fried but the complain that they were soggy. At the end of the day, they did not see the lions, zebras, or monkeys. They have had a miserable day and so have you. The child transformed what could have been a wonderful day into a horrible day for no good reason.

It’s easy to look at a situation like that and realize how foolish and unruly the child is being, it’s harder to realize that our own complaints, and grumbling are just as petty. Adults are usually sophisticated enough to disguise their childish tantrums and inner discontentment. We disguise them as serious adult issues, concerns, and complaints. But on closer investigation, many of those issues tend to be no more than sulking over soggy French fries. But it’s not a zoo, it’s our life.

If you spend it fussing and sulking, you will never enjoy the good things that God is continually doing for you. And you will never notice any of them.

I spent 20 years, complaining and grumbling. And definitely not seeing the good God was doing in my life. I was hurt, depressed, and angry, and I’m sure not very happy to be around. I was definitely like “the atheist.”

The Bible teaches that God hears all of our complaints and negatively. The Bible teachers in Israel compare the complainer to the atheist because they have no faith in the goodness of God.

What are some good things you have that God has laid before you?

God has been good to me, I have everything I need; Shelter, food, a car to drive, clothes to wear, a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful children. And many more if I think about it.

Yes, there will be times when we feel discouraged, disappointed, angry, or sad, but we have to learn to respond on the truth of God’s Word, and not allow our feelings/emotions to rule/lead us.

Is it going to be easy to not complain? No, it can be difficult at times. Life is hard and challenging. With the Lords help we can see victory over complaining in life’s situations.

Revelation 9 Notes From Bible Study

Revelation 9

Verse 1-3 describes the first two woes. The trumpets 5 and 6.

The fifth trumpet brings a 5-month period of torment on the unbelievers of the earth. The ‘stat’ is either a angel of God (compare to verses 1:20 and 20:1) or Satan, the one who has authority over the pit.

The bottomless pit is the Abyss – the abode of evil spirits (demons).

The key represents authority. The smoke from the pit indicates fires below.

The locusts like creatures come out of the smoke. They are not literal locusts is indicated. In The Old Testament locusts are symbolic of destruction.

Considering the identity of their king and the Abyss from which they came.

These locusts probably represent demons. They are like scorpions- they can hurt people.

In the first 13 verses, John employs the image of a pit seven times to describe hell. Each pit being associated with demons, it is also associated with the unsaved. (Romans 10:7).

This image of hell may imply to darkness and imprisonment since pits were often used as prison in ancient times. Obviously the pit appears to be a place of torment and suffering.

Many have trouble believing God could ever make a hell, remember it was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Those who go to hell, are in essence choosing to spend eternity with Satan rather than with Christ.

In Revelation 9:1 and the 5th angel sounded, and John saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit

Revelation is hard to understand because John described things from the time he was alive. Not the way we see and know things.

We know that Jesus holds the key to the bottomless pit (hell) He took the key away from Satan when He was there, and went and preached.

Bottomless put literally means pit of the abyss. Mentioned seven times in Revelation.

It always refers to the prison where some of the demonic hordes are incarcerated, the place of severe torment and isolation.

Many people believe that satan reigns in some kind of kingdom in hell.

In Revelation 9:2 it says that he opened the bottomless pit and that smoke that arose from it was as a great furnace and the sun and air were darkened by this smoke. Some say it the great volcanoes erupting. And many natural disasters. From a spiritual standpoint this could be a time when people’s minds are darkened with false doctrines and evil thoughts.

God commanded Satan to carry out the punishment here. This covers the spiritual and the physical. God gave Satan back the keys so that he could continue to carry out this punishment.

Satan had the permission of God to afflict Job. The Bible says that Satan only comes to steal kill and destroy. (John 10:10, Luke 22:31,1 Peter 5:8).

The Abyss is the home of Satan and the demons. When Satan opens the Abyss, here come the demons in force to deceive and destroy. They had such a vicious nature that God had to bind them to keep the human race from being annihilated before the appointed time, but now the restraints are off.

And out of the smoke came forth locusts (demons). Upon the earth, and power was given to them. They were to,d not to hurt and grass of the earth or any green thing, or any tree. But only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

The demons have a king over them. (A angel of the bottomless pit -Satan). Whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek Apollyon- both names mean destruction or destroyer.

This is the one who seems to send the plagues that God sends to the followers of the Antichrist to hinder them from proselytizing among the uncommitted of the world.

It gives the tribulation saints some time to prepare themselves for the horrors of the soon to come Great Tribulation.

There will be a flood of false doctrine and defaming of the Lord. It will be a kind of religion of the flesh which is going on today.

After the true believers of God are raptured. There will be no light on earth. Satan will have control over the earth and what ever or who ever is left behind.

This part of the tribulation whether physical pain or torment from fall out causing sores and torture there is terrible suffering that is brought on by constant attacks from Satan for 5 months.

It is thought to be as Hiroshima, those who survived the bomb, wished they were dead. Great sores and deformities and torment beyond our comprehension took place. In many cases, it took 5 months to die. A terrible burn would have the pain of a scorpion’s sting.

Revelation 9:6 says, “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. Their torment will find no relief. Even their unimaginable attempts to end their misery in suicide will be unsuccessful.

This is just the first of the three woes

Bible Verse Psalm 11

Psalm 11

Strengthening Our Foundation With God.

“In theLord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, ‘flee as a bird to your mountain?’ For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the strings, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:1-3

God is telling us that thought we want to “Flee as a bird…when the wicked bend their bow” (the enemy attacks us) God has a different plan

Through this Psalm we will learn how to “pass tests” from God that are intended to refine us and give us a stronger foundation of faith and trust in the Lord.

With every attack that comes against us, Satan hopes to destroy our faith in God. God uses these attacks to strengthen and increase our faith. By praying this Psalm we can be trained by the Holy Sprit through God’s refining process. (known as Sanctification).

“The Lord is in His Holy Temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; His eyes examines them. The Lord Examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates. Psalm 11:4-5

God is clear… He hates ungodliness and will “test” (refine) His children to cleanse us from it. The refining process works to train us to “walk in righteousness .” In the place where God can bless and protect us from the enemies attacks.

“Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.” Psalm 11:6

God teaches us that “the wages of sin is death.” (Spiritual death). We have righteousness in our spirit through faith in Jesus and the cross, but it is in the process of “testing and trials” that righteousness is established in our soul and body,

When we have “tests and trials“ we need to pray and accept what God wants to do in each of us and in His body (the church). We are in the greatest season of refining (sanctification) in the history of the church and we time to be trained by it.

“For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men (and women) will see His face.” Psalm 11:7

The goal of the Lord’s testing/refining is righteousness in us… Spirit, soul, and body. The fruit (the growth) of this is a deeper relationship with God and walking continually in His blessing, provision, and protection.

Bible Verse Psalm 10

Psalm 10

This is a intercessory prayer for the oppressed.

“Why do you stand far off, Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?“ Psalm 10:1

Gos knows at times we feel like this. We still need to send a prayer petition for He wants to give us. Asking Him to strengthen our faith according to His Word. Ask for God’s deliverance for ourselves and others.

We need specific prayer to pray against the attacks of the enemy. To stop the “plots devised” against us and cause them to backfire on the enemy.

“In His arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.” Psalm 10:2

Never forget God’s definition of “humble.” This is someone who admits God is their only hope, and respects God enough to obey Him. Pray for God’s help based on our humility, those who are praying to humble themselves before God.

“Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.” Psalm 10:12

This is our “faith declaration.” We learned that when we pray and worship God with the Words He give us, it is the expression of our faith and trust in God. When we pray with the words in the Psalms we should expect to receive the promises that is given.

“But you, God see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are thr helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14

We should pray this intercessory prayer by declaring our faith in believing God has heard our prayers and given us victory over the enemy.

“O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.” Psalm 10:17-18

Note: When God, says “fatherless in His Word. He is speaking of vulnerable children whose fathers were dead or absent and whose mothers were limited in their ability to provide for the family because women didn’t traditionally work or own property.

Types Of Boundaries You May Need

We all need boundaries.

Boundaries keep us safe.

Boundaries differentiate me from you,

Boundaries help us focus on what’s important to us.

And boundaries improve relationships by creating clear expectations and responsibilities.

But it can be hard to figure out what boundaries you need to set.

What boundaries do you need?

One way to identify your boundaries is to think about the areas of your life where you’re experiencing problems. Do you constantly feel exhausted? Do you feel uncomfortable around someone in your life? Each of these problems is telling you that you’re lacking boundaries in this area of your life.

There are several common types of boundaries. Understanding each type can help you clarify the specific boundaries that you may need.

I have had some real issues setting boundaries in my life. Partly because I thought I would hurt people in my life. But, I ended up hurting myself instead.

  • Physical Boundaries

Physical boundaries protect your space and body, you have a right no to be touched, to have privacy, and to meet your physical needs such as resting or eating. They tell others how close they can get to you, what kind of physical touch (if any) is okay, how much privacy you need, and how to behave in your personal space. A physical boundary clearly defines that your body and personal space belongs to you.

Have you ever sat somewhere and someone sit uncomfortably close to you, and you move away, because you need more physical space? That’s an example of personal space.

  • Sexual Boundaries

Sexual boundaries protect your right to consent, to ask for what you like sexually, and to honesty about your sexual history. They define what kind of sexual touch and intimacy you want, how often, when, where, and with whom.

Maybe your personal policy is not having sex on the first date. Or saying in what way you want to be touched.

  • Emotional or Mental Boundaries

Emotional or mental boundaries protect your right to have your own feelings and thoughts, to not have your feeling criticized or invalidated, and not to have to take care of other people feelings. Emotional boundaries differentiate your feelings from other people’s, so your accountable for your own feelings, but no responsible for how others feel. Emotional boundaries also allow us to create emotional safety by respecting each other’s feelings m not oversharing personal information that’s inappropriate for the nature or level of closeness in a relationship.

Your free to say, “I don’t feel comfortable discussing this…

Or, “I feel embarrassed and powerless when you chastise me in front of other people. I’d like you to stop.”

  • Spiritual or Religious Boundaries

Spiritual boundaries protect your right to believe in what you want, worship as you wish, and practice your spiritual or religious beliefs.

Maybe saying, “I’m going to take a moment and say a silent prayer before we eat.” To let other people pray or thank anyone for the food, without pushing your beliefs on others.

Another example is:

I go to church alone because my spouse doesn’t share my beliefs. I don’t want other to have to break their boundaries because I believe in one way and they believe another.

  • Financial and Material Boundaries

Financial and material boundaries protect your financial resources and possessions, your right to spend your money as you choose, to not give or loan your money or possessions if you don’t want to, and your right to be paid by an employer as agreed.

Saying, “I’m on a budget, so I brought my lunch from home and won’t be ordering lunch today. Without being disrespected.

Or, “Please don’t borrow my car without asking.”

  • Time Boundaries

Time boundaries protect how you spend your time. They provide you from agreeing to do things you don’t want to do, having people waste your time, and being overworked.

Maybe, your boss asks if you will take some work home to do. You can say, “I reserve my evenings for family time, but I will get starting working first thing in the morning.

  • Non-Negotiable Boundaries

Non-negotiable boundaries are deal breakers, things that you absolutely must have in order to feel safe. They usually pertain to safety issues such as physical violence, emotional abuse, or drug and alcohol use, fidelity, and life threatening health issues.

Like saying “Mom, if you don’t install a fence around your pool, my children will not be able to come to your house.

Any type of abuse is a deal breaker for me and if someone abuses me, or my trust, they will not be part of my life anymore.

We all need some non-negotiable boundaries, but we also need to be careful that we don’t put too many of our boundaries into this category. If a non-negotiable boundary is going to have any meaning, you have to be willing to follow through on it.

It’s counter-productive to set non-negotiable boundaries that you don’t enforce them.

Crushed, Under Pressure, Pressed, In Darkness

Grapes must be crushed to make wine. Diamonds form under pressure. Olives are pressed to release oil. Seeds grow in darkness. Whenever you feel crushed, under pressure, pressed, or in darkness, you’re in a powerful place of transformation and transmutation. Trust the process. Trust God.

Bible Verse Psalm 9

Psalm 9

“ I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tells of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2

Through this verse The Holy Spirit will teach and empower us to defeat the enemy through praise, and “our testimony.” We will learn to replace discouragement, worry, and doubt, with faith and the joy of the Lord. This is God’s way to fight a battle.

Let every prayer be praise from this song, and that God fill us with faith and His peace.

“For You have maintained my right and my cause; you sat on the throne, judging in righteousness. You have rebuke the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.”Psalm 9:4-5

Our reason to rejoice in God’s promise that He is watching over us to maintain our cause, and defend us from every enemy. We need to worship with this promise, and the praise that it builds for our faith.

“ The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.‘ Psalm 9:9

Every prayer in this Psalm is praising God for promises given. This is the “telling of His marvelous works” that brings joy and His peace into our lives.

“ The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble; Those who know your name, crossing you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you,” Psalm 9:9-10

God is teaching us to “put our trust in Him.” We say, “we trust Him,” but now is the time to do it His way. Your mouth declaring and praising Him with the Words He gives us to express that trust.

“ be gracious to me, Lord; consider my affliction at the hand of those who hate me. Lift me up from the gates of death, so that I may declare all your praises. I will rejoice in your salvation.” Psalm 9;13-14

God wants us “telling of His praise“ to god’s people around us. This keeps us in His joy, His peace, and in His protection. Keep praying and praising Him with His promises. As this becomes part of you, you will “rejoice in the salvation of God every day.”

Ways To Put God First In Your Life

7 Ways

What is the greatest deed we can do as believers in Christ? Our faith calls us to many actions: love, forgiveness, hope. But what action is the greatest?

The first commandment is “Love the Lord.” A lawyer asked Jesus, “Master which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus replied “love the Lord, your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind. This is first and the greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:34-38).

Putting God first in our lives should be our foremost concern as believers. When we talk about people or things that we live or strongly enjoy, God should be at the top of the list. Only then are we fulfilling the first commandment.

Even though we know this, Jesus’s Words in the passage do not give us an automatic answer for living out this truth. The Bible tells us thee answers if we’re willing to search a bit further.

What does it mean to put God first?

“If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15)

To put anything first in life we have to make it a priority. We can determine our priorities based on where we devote the most of our time and energy. Someone who prioritizes their job spends most of their day working or thinking about work. Someone who prioritizes family will frequently be engaged with family activities. In both examples, the priority is valued about other things whether it is people or activities.

The same is true when we put God first in our lives. Holding God as a priority means focusing on God throughout the day. The Scripture says, “if we put God first everything will follow.” So, how do we put God first in our daily life? Prayer, attending church, participating in a Bible study group, or simply reading the Bible.

Of course, our relationship with God operated differently from or work, or our family. But how much time do you spend on social media, or playing on your phone? All this time is devoted away from God. And we are not even physical with God as we are with anything else.

Since our connection with God differs from the areas, putting God fires means keeping Him in mind when we are engaging with other people or activities. We can prioritize God without always going to church. We can achieve this by seeking to glorify Him with all that we do.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

If everything we do in life as believers should honor God, the Scripture above mentions such mundane and daily activities like eating and drinking.

If God is kept in mind with every choice we make, then we are making Him a priority no matter what responsibility we fulfill.

“But seek first the kindness of God and His righteousness and all things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

“In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6)

7 Ways to put God first

1. Spend Time With God

We know that people and activities get most of our time and what we care about The most. By shifting our focus more to God, we will do better at acknowledging Him throughout every moment of every day. Much like we have a specified time for work or hanging out with friends, we can schedule time with God to ensure we spend time with Him everyday.

I get up a little earlier each day, to sit and drink my coffee and spend time with God.

If we choose to keep prayer reading scripture and listening to God, the end result will be a tighter bond with God.

2. Pray Daily

God wants to hear from usm and one way we can do that,nis to pray. We can pray by thinking, speaking out loud, or even writing out thoughts down. No matter what route you take it establishes communication with God.

While we are honest in our relationships with spouses or children, nothing compares to what we an have with God. He observes us in every moment of our lives. Knowing that He is all knowing. We never have to be afraid talk to Him or ask for help.

The Bible encourages us to pray so we can make our requests known to God, gain wisdom for following Him, and to give God our thanks.

3. Thank God Continually

Can we truly appreciate any activity or person without being grateful for their existence? The same question applies to God and the life He has given us. Scripture exhorts us to give thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Giving God thanks is a sign of humility and our dependence on Him. This may sound silly, but when I have to go to the city, I always pray and thank God for watching over my vehicle and keeping me safe.

4. Ask God How You Can Serve

Praying to God opens us to learning more about God’s will for our lives. Jesus identified the greatest commandments, but there are many others to follow. It can be focusing on the gifts God has laid in your life. If God calls you do something He will give you the power to do it. Ask God, “What do you want me to do for you?” Without praying to God we will remain unaware of His wishes for us. God will never call us to something we cannot handle.

5. Read Scripture Daily

In order to understand what being a believer means, we cannot solely rely on our feelings about what is right or wrong, or the guidance of other people. God’s Word is the best place to go when your trying to discern how God wants us to live (2 Timothy 3:16). Never take other people’s word (Even a Church leader). It’s called “Testing the Spirit. Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. (1 John 4:1-6). Scripture provides us with a great deal of wisdom on how to live and serve God and others,

6. Fast

You may think ‘Oh, No Really?’ I have always had a hard time fasting. I don’t like to go hungry, One day I asked my pastor about fasting. “What’s the trick to fasting?” I learned there a something called “The Daniel Fast.” Scripture indicates that we can only serve one master (Matthew 6:24). And fasting is a great way to test whether we value something over our relationship with God. To promote our connection to God. If God is to be our priority or first,I’ve, we have to be willing to make sacrifices to ensure this,

7. Obey Him Always

We may not always like what Gods does in our lives, or like what God did in the Bible. However, knowing scripture means realizing how God knows far beyond what we could ever know. God is smarter, wiser, and more powerful than any person can ever become. When God issues a commandment (even a personal one), or duty is to trust and follow Him I whatever’s direction He takes us. I tell you, I love to play bingo, a few years ago I used to go a couple times a week. Then God, to,d me not to go anymore. I had a very difficult time, doing that. But eventually I stopped, in the end I was not disappointed, every time we obey God, He will bless us. But, we have to put our trust in God and put Him first.

Shame And Guilt: What’s The Solution

No amount of guilt or shame can do what grace is able to do. You will never understand your struggle with that unless you grasp that, At the very root of it is a heart problem. It’s not a problem of bad behavior, although it seems to always go there. It’s not even a temptation problem, although it causes us to give in to temptations draw. It’s not a location or a situation although it expresses itself there.

It’s the sin of the heart that’s at the root of it all. If we look at the Bible it uses many terms for the inner, spiritual, desiring, motivational you, but all these terms are gathered together and summarized by one big collective term… heart. It’s one of the most often used terms in the Bible. We cannot begin to understand the transforming message of the Bible, unless you understand this term.

There’s something that I learned being a believer through the years. The heart is at the core of our personhood. It’s the seat of our thoughts, emotions, desires, and motivations. It is the worship center of yourself.

The heart is reason we do the things we do and say the things we do.we literally live out of our hearts. Sin lives in our hearts, and because it does, it corrupts our thoughts, desires, choices, and motivations. Our flesh (sin) always looks to be satisfied. God created us to do His will, but our flesh makes us lovers of self. We were made to worship God (not ourselves). We were designed to live for God’s glory (and when we do, He will bless us). And unless these things change in our hearts, or behavior won’t change at all, or if it does change, it won’t for very long.

No amount of commitment to self-reformation will change our heart. No amount of work we do will alter bad habits will change our heart. No amount of running from certain situations, locations, and relationships have the power to change your heart. We cannot run from our flesh (sin) because we can’t run from ourselves. The most outrageous acts of repentance in the world are powerless to do what needs to be done – radically change our heart.

So you and I are left with one final option. It is the only choice that makes any sense; everything else is insanity. And we need to do this again and again until we don’t need it anymore.

We need to run to the grace of Jesus. Run for forgiveness. Run for power. Run for transformation. Run for deliverance. Run, Run, Run. Don’t ever stop running to grace until Jesus has taken you home to a place where you don’t need to run anymore.

Life is impossible. We cannot do anything without the grace of Jesus. He died for us. For us to have grace.

Bible Verse Psalm 8

Believers operate in their God-Given authority

O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above thr heavens Psalm 8:1

God Is our highest authority in the universe. Expect the Holy Spirit to lead you to new heights and depths in your respective with God. Expect “newness in everything” from God as you pray this Psalm.

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

The “babies” God is talking about are You And Me. We are children of God. Compared to Our Father in Heaven, we look like “infants.” God sees us as soldiers and ambassadors, and reveals His plan to use us to silence His enemies. And His enemies are our enemies.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of Him, And the son of man that You visit Him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:3-5

This is “an Authority Transfer.” God is talking about us…”just below the angels.” But given Honor and Authority from God to operate in the earth.

You made him to have dominion over the works if your hands; You have put all things under his feet. Psalm 8:6

Jesus is Lord, and ‘all things are under His feet.” Our faith makes us joint heirs with Him and partners in the Authority structure of God to defeat His (Our) enemies.

O Lord our Lord how excellent is your man in all the earth. Psalm 8:9

The Psalm ends where it began, and so should we. God is the Highest Authority in the universe. But had given us authority in the earth! If we accept this we will fulfill God’s purpose for our life. Praising God “for His excellence” will flow out of you because of your “new-found” joy in being useful to God for His purposes in the earth.

I completely believe that God’s (and our) enemies are trying to destroy the church and His people because if we found out how powerful we are. But we have to praise God and take authority over our enemies. Prayer is a powerful weapon.