Category Archives: Fear

Psalm 91 AMP

29 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, God, Jesus, Nation, Prayer, the Spirit

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CherubsandWoman
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High,
shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.
[ Whose power no foe can withstand.]
I will say of the Lord, His is my Refuge and my Fortress, My God;
on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust! 
For (then) He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and the
deadly pestilence.
(Then) He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall
you trust and find refuge;  His truth and His faithfulness are a shield
and a buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the
evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction
and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand but
none shall come near you, only a spectator shall you be, yourself inaccessible
in the Secret Place of the Most High as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your
dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity
come near your tent.
For He will give His angels (especial) charge over you to accompany and defend 
and preserve you in all of your ways [of obedience and service].
They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone,
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent shall
you trample underfoot.

Because he has set His love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on
high, because he knows and understands my name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness – trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no never].
He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble,  I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Prayers of Grace – Day Five

12 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Prayer, redemption, the Spirit, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, TracyLGatewood

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Whitedove

Heavenly Father,

I praise you and thank you for this day. Your Spirit is my true Advocate, my Teacher and the One that leads and guides me into all good things. Your Spirit is the one true compass and true Oracle. Your Spirit is the one that releases favor.  I am grateful for the relationships and divine appointments that you have allowed to intersect with me and encounter during this season. Your ways are perfect, O Lord,  as are your times and seasons.

Because I walk righteously and speak uprightly – I do not seek to oppress nor defraud, nor do I seek bribes and I shut my eyes to evil – you will set my feet high upon the heights,  while rewarding me, when needed,  with a fortress hidden among the rocks. You will provide my bread of prosperity and my water will be sure.

As I place the Helmet of Salvation and hope on my head to guard my mind, I have a confident expectation of good for every situation, praising you for my wholeness, restoration, financial protection and deliverance from all evil. I ask for the undelayed manifestation of every blessing given to Abraham as a joint heir of his covenant with you which has been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ my Lord.

I am consumed with the cross of Christ and have been crucified in Christ therefore I am always set above and I am never beneath. I have dominion over every evil thing.

Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
FB: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author: Doorways of Grace,  available on Amazon

Prayers of Grace – Day 3

07 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Fear, Uncategorized

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Whitedove

Almighty God –

I am comforted in knowing that you are always with me – going before me, carrying a lantern of hope to light my path. When my soul becomes fearful, I direct my gaze unto Jesus and remind myself that I am your Beloved and that you are the One that can be trusted.   Jesus is the embodiment of your love for me.

I hate Fear and understand that protracted fear gives my mind entrance to the enemy.  I take my authority over the spirit of fear binding it and commanding it to leave my mind in the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus.  Fear has no right to any place within my mind, body or my environment and will not be allowed to trespass.  I pray for a sprinkling of the holy blood of Jesus over my mind to cleanse it from all fearful and unrighteous thoughts.  As an act of my will, I forgive every person that has harmed  me (Name them) or is harming me  (Name them)  and the action of forgiveness will shut the door to tormenting thoughts. Lord, forgive ME of my fear of man – or any  unfounded fear that keeps me from your assignment on my life.

When  I dwell in your Secret Place I can remain stable and fixed under your Shadow. You are my Rock and my Refuge. You are my Strength and an impenetrable Shield. Whom shall I fear ? I will be a protected spectator kept safely in the Secret Place and will witness the reward of attempts of wickedness towards me.

Father,  I pray that you will shine the light on the places that I respond with Fear so that I can learn to turn and trust. Grow my roots of faith to become more firmly planted and established  in your Son.

Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood

Twitter:  @TracyLGatewood
Author:  Doorways of Grace, Available on Amazon
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Prayers of Grace – Day 1

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Fear, Grace

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Whitedove

Dear Father –

I praise you with thanksgiving for this day, and  for the many blessings that You have set before me.  The work of your Son is complete so as I stand from victory for my prosperity,  my safety and protection, my healing and wholeness, I hold on to the truth of Your Word.  As I look unto Jesus and in the knowledge of His perfect sacrifice, I will move forward in confidence and boldness that He is partnering with me and mediating on my behalf.  I remain fixed and focused on Jesus , relinquishing all self-occupation, fear and condemnation.

I am grateful that I have  a good, good Father that loves me with an immutable, infinite caring love. The knowledge of this great love fills me with the light of hope and happiness.  Knowing that my Father loves me and that Jesus is partnering with me in all family, career and ministry  matters,  keeps me grounded and provides a stable foundation for all areas of my life. While my sapphire foundation was established through affliction, You Lord set my gates, walls and foundation with precious stones.  Your love and kindness never depart from me and your covenant of peace and completeness will never be removed.

I have been established in righteousness and I am in right standing because  I seek to live in conformity to God’s will and His order. I am far from thoughts of oppression or certain destruction because I fully embrace the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ over my life. Righteousness, peace and victory over opposition is my heritage as a servant of my Lord  and my God. I gladly receive the reward of peace as vindication for all unrighteous acts done to me.

 

In the Name of Jesus I Pray – AMEN  (So be it)
Prayers of Grace –
Tracy Gatewood

Twitter:       @TracyLGatewood
Facebook:   Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher
Author:        Doorways of Grace,  available on Amazon

 

My Name is Rose

29 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant

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Cameobrooch

“Hello my name is Rose”, said the elderly, kind-faced woman as she looked straight into my eyes. For a moment, I could not believe her words. I knew the point she was making, as it was impressed into my spirit. I received it with an emotional mixture of shock and extreme gratitude.

When Rose entered the store where I was working as a greeter that bleak Christmas season – she began to admire my cameo brooch.  “It is very unique – your brooch. A very fine example of a cameo. I collect cameos and I know them well”, she said. “This is a beautiful woman depicted on yours, rare, I have seen few like it”.   “It belonged to my grandmother, and I love it”,  I responded.  “One of my most cherished possessions,”.  “I can see why, ” she stated. As she began to walk away she turned, looking me straight in the eyes and said, “My name is Rose.  What is your name?”  My eyes widened, so startled I could barely speak, “My name is Tracy.  My grandmother’s name was Rose.” She smiled and then turned as she walked up the stairway and onto the selling floor.  I dropped my head so no one could see as a big tear rolled down my face. The times I had heard the name Rose used ever could be counted on one hand – less than 5 fingers even. I knew that she had been sent by God – an angel perhaps but certainly sent as one to deliver encouragement in the guise of my long deceased grandmother. He was letting me know that He was with me, and watching all that was happening in that extremely sad and difficult season of my life.

Pruning is a gardening term that can be used to describe a spiritual season where God trims away the dead leaves and branches that are not bearing fruit. The word ‘pruning’ sounds like a gentle snip, snip depicting a peaceful, singing gardener carefully pulling down a branch in a beautifully manicured English garden. As he trims,  it is only the old, really dead leaves and branches that are cut away. Nothing green is considered. Yet in reality, the pruning experience can resemble more like napalm where just a tilted tree stalk remains, standing practically naked bearing only twiggy branches and a few scant leaves. This had been my season as a bud-less sprig, unknowingly ripe for the shears.  😦

John 15:2    Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. 

Isaiah 18:5    For before the harvest, when the blossom is over And the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the sprigs [without buds] with pruning knives, And [He will] remove and cut away the spreading branches.

A real pruning by a loving Father can only be considered good when seen from a rear view mirror advantage and at times even viewed only back through a multi-year lens. It is from this vantage point that I can provide a scope of work that begins to plumb the depths of any comprehension of  God’s goodness and His grace.  His unending, and infinite love – a love so deep and immutable,  that He would even see fit to tweak, this little speck of light down here on earth.

Below is an albeit incomplete collection of highlights on lessons learned through the cutting away –

Regarding the Godhead

God is all love. His love for each of us is so wide and deep. We can only truly understand this depth when we have lost everything (and perhaps everyone) then we can see that He is all we need.

Jesus the Son is the sole representation of our righteousness – not our works, striving or performance. When Jesus is acknowledged as the true source and supply – the benefits of the Covenant for which He died transpire supernaturally and with little human effort.

Jesus is all Truth and all Grace. Grace is a gift given by God to us – we do not earn grace. We are given grace because we are the righteousness of God by our faith in His son.

The Holy Spirit is our best friend and is an essential relationship to cultivate. He is the administrator and coordinator of the benefits of the Covenant. We more commonly know Him as the Comforter, Advocate, Teacher,  Healer.

The sacrifice of Jesus signaled  His finished work on earth. With this act began the Dispensation of Grace (the Church Age) which will end in the great taking away of the believers. He has paid for all sin from the beginning of time to the end of time – it was taken on His body for us. As Jesus’ dropped His head, declaring ‘It is Finished’ He dismissed His own spirit – told His spirit it was OK to leave Him. His life was not taken from Him. He left this earth of His own accord, and in His own natural timing.

Regarding Life

 Chance and Opportunity flow through Him and in His divine timing and the correct season. It is our responsibility to rest in Christ and allow His timing to unfold and His intersections of chance come to pass.

We are deemed righteous by God through Faith …. only. As we move forward in our faith, God moves forward to bring our desires (His desires ) to fruition.

Rejection, which can appear as a lack of opportunity,  is more often a redirection toward a promotion rather than a curse.

We as believers have dominion over evil and must take authority over circumstances through the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus. We can ‘place a demand’  by prayer or through speaking on the New Covenant and what has been paid for through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Fear is a spirit and is as deadly as a fast growing cancer. Fear acts as a gateway for all of the dangerous emotional spirits to enter into a person’s soul.  Fear must be stopped in its tracks and bound up as quickly as it is discerned. Trauma, abuse, abandonment/ rejection, and shame are the most damaging emotions and all tie back to a fear root. These cannot be ignored and should be dealt with through emotional healing prayer.

Many of these points were discussed in depth in my book of testimony, Doorways of Grace.  If you are in a season of pruning, stay in the word and in prayer as God shapes a new and better you – mirrored more in the likeness and the understanding of His Son.

In Defense of Healing

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood, TracyLGatewood

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Romans: 8:32 AMP He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other ) things?

The theology of grace teaches we can walk healed and free because of the sacrifice of Jesus – as we contend through prayer to maintain the healing for which He has already purchased.  Recently I read a blog post on Prosperity Gospel written by a Texas seminary student that theorized  that the Atonement of Jesus’ sacrifice as detailed in Isaiah 53:5 referred to sin only and that His Stripes were not taken for the healing of Diseases. I vigorously disagree.

Matthew 8:17 AMP When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah], 17 so that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES [upon Himself] AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

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We Are ‘In Christ’

 Isaiah 53:5 AMP But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole. Vs 6 all we like Sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to His own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24 AMP He personally bore our sins in His (own) body on the tree (as on an altar and offered Himself on it), that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed. For you were going astray like (so many) sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls.

Every person on earth is made up of three components: Spirit, Soul & Body (the spirit is activated when a person accepts Jesus and the Holy Spirit is imparted). The Soul is comprised of the Mind, Will and the Emotions. Jesus is now the Bishop, or Overseer, of every soul. God has given as a gift to Jesus every person that believes in Him. John 17: 24

The Great News – Our Sins for His Righteousness

It is Christ that imputes His righteousness to us Romans 8:10 AMP – Christ’s righteousness cannot be earned but through His sacrifice on the Cross, this righteousness has been given to us in exchange for our sin. It is not that we now live to strive for righteousness, if we even could live righteously enough on our own, Jesus would not have had to become our sacrifice. He became a propitiation for our sins – our substitute by assuming our obligation to maintain a sin free life because we cannot.  He alone reconciles us to God.  1 John 4:10

It is through recognizing that He paid for our righteousness and that we now look to Him for our transformation into His likeness. I cannot but He can…. Not only that – because our sin was redeemed (bought back) by Jesus, God remembers our sins No More. From the beginning of our life to the end of our life, Jesus’ blood constantly cleanses us from our own sin. We are no longer under condemnation – we have been saved once and for all by a once and for all sacrifice. Oh what a Savior!

But what about habitual sin  1 John 3:9 AMP points out, No one who abides in Him engages in the habitual practice of sin. The key here is the word Abide – like Abiding in the Vine. This does not mean that a person that is sinning habitually is not saved (although it is entirely possible) – it means they are attempting to tackle this sin struggling by their own works or performance – there is no win in their sin. To ABIDE in the grace of our Lord Jesus, recognizing His love and the immutable Love of God despite failings has the capacity to extinguish condemnation and fear while offering the ability to break the cycle of sin. And thankfully –

Where sin increases, Grace increases much more Romans 5:20 AMP
For sin shall no longer be your Master because you are now no longer under Law but under Grace – Romans 6:14 AMP
Furthermore, if we are believers in Jesus, our flesh has now undergone a Spiritual Circumcision:

Colossians 2:11-15 In Him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature], 12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, 14 having canceled out the [g]certificate of debt consisting of [h]legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. [My note: Debt certificate is a reference to the over 600 Jewish Laws.]

So this verse tells us that we no longer live helplessly under the oppressive nature of sin but we have been permanently disconnected from that nature by a spiritual cutting away of our flesh – as we are now “In Christ”.

 THE PRESIDING BISHOP OF YOUR SOUL

For several decades, I have studied physical and emotional healing and personally experienced a season of of divine healings; two were structural, and one was from an illness. I have witnessed healing miracles of others and have attended a multitude of healing conferences. Some people attend college football games, I love a good healing conference (and, I too, am a college football junkie). My remaining remarks on the subject of healing have come through my own personal journey as well as watching circumstances of others at close range. I will not comment or theorize why some people become ill, or even die, unless I have personally observed their situations. Even then I may not have an answer but this I know to be true: there is a direct and undeniable correlation between disease, and our emotions. How we walk through extremely difficult and especially traumatic situations has a profound impact on our health and opening the door to disease.

It is almost without exception that I meet a person struggling with disease or a condition that does not have a spiritual root cause of their disease based on one of the following: Fear, Condemnation, Shame, Anger / Rage, Bitterness, and Unforgiveness or have gone through a protracted experience of Trauma, Rejection / Abandonment, or Emotional or Physical Abuse.  Cancer is one very difficult disease to track but, an extremely high number of people battling Cancer have previously walked through a season of trauma, or protracted period of intense Fear (can be Stress but all Stress is based in Fear). So how does Fear cause cancer?  One way is by giving access to a powerful spirit that wreaks havoc from within the mind, impacting the body, down to its cellular level. Fear also causes heart conditions and heart attacks. You can also believe that Fear is the spiritual root cause of  forms of mental illness – people in extreme poverty live in constant Fear for their survival opening their minds to exposure to schizophrenia, bi-polarity, paranoia.

Jesus is the Overseer of our Souls and the soul is the seat of our emotions. When we maintain our focus and trust on Jesus as our Overseer allowing Him to maintain a reign over (or rein on) our soul, our minds are at rest and we experience peace, and that peace permeates throughout our body. We are trusting God through our valleys and a bi-product of that is health and wholeness. We focus on Jesus and remain in Him. Your Faith is the Positive Response and Acceptance of What God Has Already Provided by His Grace.

So if the work of Jesus is finished and complete, why is understanding emotions important? When one can identify the offending emotion, and underlying cause of the illness, they can release the cause of the emotion to Jesus, resting in what He has done for them by Covenant as enough to guarantee their health, finances, protection and safety.  Petition, Pray, Rest, Focus – again – Petition, Pray, Rest, Focus

“Bless the Lord, O’ My soul and forget not all His benefits; He forgives our iniquities, He heals our diseases, He redeems our lives from the Pit and Crowns us with Love and Compassion and satisfies our desires with good things and renews our youth as the eagles”  Psalm 103

There is a very important reason, imperative to understand in fact, why God admonishes us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. A person impacted by deep emotional stress-ors for a protracted period can and must pray over their own mind and body, binding up their own emotions. Destructive emotions can be controlled. As one exercises their authority, these emotional and negative spirits must submit to the blood and name of Jesus.

1John1:2 NKJV  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

I rest my case.

#healing   #emotionalhealing   #physicalhealing  #trauma   #fear    #faith

Tracy  Gatewood
Writer, Teacher

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Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
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AmazonAuthor: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
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Related Articles on Sacred Ramblings:
The Spirit of Peace
Jesus the Bishop of Our Souls

 

 

The Brilliance of His Glory

06 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by in #HolySpirit, #Proverbs, Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Disasters, Emotions, Fear, Grace

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Diamond (2)

100 miles below the earth’s surface in the mantle; located between the earth’s crust and its super-heated core, the substance called carbon is transformed into diamonds at 2700 degrees Fahrenheit.  The combination of a super-heated state and extreme pressure (equivalent to 4000 men standing in one place) changes the molecular structure of carbon, re-arranging its future by moving it from utilitarian pencil lead (graphite) to a brilliant, and precious cluster of diamonds.

Scientific opinion on the length of time it takes for diamonds to form range from millions to billions of years. The bible sheds light on this timing question –

Ezekiel 28:13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the carnelian, topaz, jasper, chrysolite, beryl, onyx, sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald and your settings and your sockets and engravings were wrought in gold. On the day that you were created, they were prepared.” emphasis mine

The bible confirms that precious stones were prepared on the day that the former archangel Lucifer was created. Satan is a created being as are all angels. Scripture continues, “ You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing wings, and I set you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God, you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire [ like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on Mount Sinai. ] vs 15  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity and guilt were found in you. ” Lucifer was the beautiful worship leader of heaven and his entire body may have been designed as an instrument of worship.

Diamonds buried deep in the crust of the earth are transported to or close to the surface through rock pipes that burst through the earth at Mach 1 speed. The diamond clusters are encased in igneous rock called kimberlite protecting the clusters on their journey to the surface. It seems miraculous that they even arrive at the surface for use.

Ephesians 2:10AMP – “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He pre-arranged and made ready for us].”

Consider the journey that us mere mortals take – just the right sperm must connect to just the right egg in the perfect time and season, created from just the right two people that came together to make you. God knitting you together in the womb of a woman that He chose – you are His workmanship, and the one that has the attributes He needs in the very correct time and season necessary for use. Transporting you from that womb out to earth, then growing you up, keeping you from getting killed or killing yourself – you, a creation of His own design and making, not for display on a person but for personal display on behalf of His Kingdom as a gifted, brilliant light uniquely faceted to reveal hope, healing and transformation to the world.  Accepting God’s Son, doing so drawn by His grace, you are transported to Heaven and seated at His right hand – in Christ Jesus. Crucified with Christ and risen with Him. Wow – what a journey ! [ Ephesians 2:6]

It is also in these inevitable furnaces of life, that re-arrange a person from soft lead to a diamond. The Greek word for diamond is adamas or the word adamant meaning hard, or unconquerable.  We can be confident and comforted that in these furnaces we are encased In Christ Jesus, our own personal Kimberlite and as we are propelled through life, He not only surrounds us but more importantly, His Spirit lives within us. Unlike the formation of diamonds from heat and pressures from external forces – a Christ Follower’s brilliance shines through the pressure and heat from the inside out as Christ is more precisely engineered within His workmanship; the grace-birthed warrior inching closer to the goal of unconquerable. The process, never one of ease, is made more bearable by the Spirit’s power and counsel, while remaining steadfast in the knowledge of the infinite, immutable love of God.

As His masterpiece, you are a Thoroughbred, fashioned for His purposes through the paths that He set for you to walk until you are fully endued with knowledge and understanding on your purpose.  The word “understanding” is referenced in the book of Proverbs 52 times and means to actively seek discernment, mature comprehension and interpretation. Wisdom and understanding are two separate things. Understanding gives one the full ability to execute, strategize or even accurately communicate to others, involved in the assignment.  Might, a third crucial element for purpose, is the great power and strength to walk out understanding.  Might is what is required to erupt from the core up through the surface and into the place of accomplishment to finish the course.  When you pray for your purpose, O Diamond,  ask God for wisdom, understanding and the spirit of might!

Proverbs 4:7 AMP  “The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]”.

As standard bearers, Master-worked for His Kingdom, we must reflect the brilliance of His glory, allowing His light to shine through us,  penetrating into the darkness of the earth.  We are new creations, re-engineered by God for the purposes of the work of His Kingdom.

#KingDavid #NoPressureNoDiamonds #Destiny

Tracy L Gatewood
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The Brilliance of His Glory

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Prayer and the Law of First Mention

05 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Emotions, Fear, God, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Law of First Mention, New Covenant, Prayer, Tracy Gatewood, Tracy Gatewood Prayer, Unity

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God’s Kingdom system works with a set of guidelines much different than secular processes. Leaders are promoted through servant leadership principles, as well as heart attitudes versus achievement through measurable goals and increased revenue. Finances are considered God’s and as stewards, they are protected through a system of tithes and offerings (sowing and reaping).  Prayer is considered the vehicle of communication to God allowing for wants, needs and desires to be met. Prayer also releases blessings on others, healing, prosperity, safety and offers praise to God. The first nod to prayer is found in Genesis 4:26 AMP “And to Seth also a son was born whom he named Enosh. At that point men began to call (upon God) by the name of the Lord.” {Seth was the son of the first Adam }. Although no “how to” guide or FAQ was provided on prayer within the Old Testament scriptures, praying to God was and still is instinctive.

The first recorded prayer is found in Genesis 18 and resembles more of a negotiation between Abraham and God regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham petitions God repeatedly to save these cities from destruction because there were righteous (in right standing with God) people among their numbers. Abraham and God had a unique level of relationship – more like old friends, freely conversant – casual yet respectful.

Genesis 18:23-28 “And Abraham came close and said, Will You destroy the righteous (those upright and in right standing) together with the wicked? Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous ; will You destroy the place and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing – to slay the righteous fare as do the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment and do righteously? And the Lord said, If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous (upright and right standing) I will spare the whole place for their sake. Abraham answered, Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. If five of the fifty righteous should be lacking – will You destroy the whole city for lack of five? He said, If I find forty five, I will not destroy it.”

This negotiation  / prayer continues until the Lord agrees not to destroy these cities for even the sake of 10 found righteous.

Can this dialogue be considered prayer? I must say yes. Prayer is simply communicating with God and primarily in the form of petitions or requests to Him (James 5:13-18). Abraham was clearly petitioning for the survival of these cities which makes this the focus of the very first recorded prayer. A righteous man (and a prophet) stood and interceded for the cause of cities, assuming that there were righteous people living there because his relative Lot and family were in Sodom. We must therefore assume that a merciful God hears the prayers of the righteous on behalf of cities and nations even accepting prayer as the preferred method to achieve His results because of the example of the Law of First Mention.

Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, God dispatched two angels in the appearance of men to find 10 righteous. They were themselves greeted at Lot’s by a homosexual mob surrounding his house, demanding the two come out and “play”. Genesis 19:4-5 { I am not making this up.} From that point it was Das Boot for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is interesting to note that God, prior to the prayer conversation with Abraham, was already in the process of dispatching these two angels as intel to these cities to confirm what He already knew. Had the angels found righteousness among the people, they would have lived. Lot and his family’s lives were spared and were led from this city by the angels of God. (We know Lot’s wife did not make it out). The bible records Genesis 29, “When God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain, he (earnestly) remembered Abraham (imprinted and fixed him indelibly on His mind), and He sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities where Lot lived“. Although He did not see fit to spare these cities, God remembered Abraham’s prayer and took care of his family.

The Law of First Mention means that it is the first time an important word is used in scripture therefore it is the most complete and accurate meaning serving as a key to its understanding and a foundation for its biblical concept in subsequent chapters. The fundamental concept in the first occurrence remains dominant, and colors all later additions to that doctrine.

The word Prayer is not used in Genesis 18 but the action of prayer is described. The first time the word prayer is mentioned is in Genesis when God Himself instructs Abimelech to ask Abraham to pray for him following his near miss in taking Sarah, Abraham’s wife, as his own concubine. God spoke to Abimelech in a dream and instructed him to restore Abraham’s wife so that Abraham would pray for Abimelech so that he might live. With God’s own acknowledgement of prayer and request to pray – no one can deny the weight that it carries on the earth and in the Heavenlies. Even though Abraham lied to Abimelech about his wife (twice) – God rescued and brought Abraham favor because of His established covenant. (see Genesis 15 ). This was a clear act of grace which was extended because of God’s covenant with Abraham.

The cities and nations of the world now more than ever before are in need of resources and protection. God has clearly provided a method to hear from Him on his strategies and to call in the forces necessary to equip us in this great time of need. Jesus Himself has paid the ultimate penalty to preserve and protect His own. It is time for the unified righteous to pray boldly and confidently as this would be the will of God in these heavy, tumultuous times. #pray #prayer #Abraham #Genesis #God  #localchurch #church
Tracy Gatewood
Copyright 2018  – Doorways of Grace  All Rights Reserved
Twitter @TracyLGatewood
Author: Doorways of Grace
Facebook: Tracy Gatewood Christian Writer and Teacher

 

 

Jesus – The Bishop of Our Souls

10 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Grace, Jesus

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Jesus teaching

Every person on Earth is comprised of three things:Spirit, Soul and Body.   A person’s Soul is comprised of the mind, and their will and the emotions. The soul is the epicenter for activity impacting the mind and mental health activity. If your soul is wrecked, then it impairs you mentally, emotionally and from there almost always transmits to the physical body. A Soul Under Control is the Key to maintaining a strong mind and top functioning mental health. 

There are 4 primary situations that can wreak havoc on the mind, will, and in the emotions (soul)  of any individual: Any experience involving Trauma, Shame, Rejection / Abandonment, and Abuse if not dealt with quickly can minimally take years from which to recover and in severe cases has the ability to change the entire trajectory and destiny of a person’s life. These occurrences will attack a person’s soul with such force it leaves them reeling, feeling shredded.  The Cross and the finished work of Jesus is the only pathway to Freedom.

Your Soul is a powerful force and should and can be in a place of peace and rest.There are important reasons the Lord exhorts us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and take captive every thought. As the inevitable storms cross the bow of your boat, picture your boat as the Ark of Jesus. Storm clouds roll all ’round but because of the grace of God, you are safely, and securely lashed onto the Ark of Jesus Christ. When FEAR grips your mind, stand against it,  reminding yourself that you are in Christ Jesus and pray from a stand of VICTORY already won despite the circumstances. The devil is brilliant at distracting us from our priorities by throwing counterfeit issues into our paths. Don’t bite the bait, but swim straight,  remaining on course and past the dangling Hook of Distraction. Don’t take the bait of Satan.

1Peter 2:21 AMP: “When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; (when) He was abused and suffered, He made no threats of (vengeance) but He trusted (Himself and everything) to Him Who judges fairly. He personally bore our sins in His (own) body on the tree (as on the alter and offered Himself on it), that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.For you were going astray like (so many) sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls. {Isaiah 53:5,6 } ”

Upon His resurrection He ratified a New Covenant for us,  releasing His Holy Spirit into all that believe Him entrusting themselves to His authority and oversight. The Chief Shepherd, and Bishop of our Souls, can be trusted. When you focus your mind with full force on His Deity, His Loveliness, His Mercy and Kindness, the response in the Soul becomes one of rest and peace.

John 14:27 AMP: “Peace I leave with you; My (own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to You. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)”

Friends, if you know Jesus, He has actually already given you peace – you now own it, it is now yours for the taking but you must take.  Ask His Holy Spirit to protect your heart and mind and renounce any spirit of fear, or condemnation that you may have mistakenly accepted as yours. The Bishop is just one prayer away and is waiting to help you now.  Give your Soul a “Self-Check” . Are you dwelling in the Secret Place where you can remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty ?   (Psalm 91:1)  The Bishop is waiting for you there.

Tracy xoxo

Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
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New Book: Doorways of Grace  is my personal testimony available on Amazon.
#stableandfixed

Jesus The Constant

22 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Blood of Jesus, Christianity, Emotions, Fear, Gospel of Grace, Grace, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Blood of Jesus, New Covenant, redemption, New Covenant, redemption, Sin, Tracy Gatewood

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Whitedove

Proverbs 15:4 AMP  “The Lord has made everything (to accommodate itself and contribute) to its own end and His own purpose – even the wicked (are fitted for their role) for the day of calamity and evil.”

In these apparent end of time days, it does provide comfort to understand that God has His hand on all things. When Judas betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, this set the stage for the final days culminating by setting into motion the redemptive agreement that was struck before the beginning of the Earth. God does have a Plan and He uses the good and the evil to bring about His own purposes. As undeniably wrong as it was for Judas to betray the Son of God over a few pieces of silver (or over anything), had Judas walked away from the high priests remaining with Jesus, the Plan of God and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus to redeem all of mankind from the sin that separates would have at the very least been postponed. These acts of betrayal and sacrifice had to occur and did so in their correct time and season.

Proverbs 16:33 AMP ” The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord (even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him)”.

In these days of common unrest, rebellion and lawlessness where the entire world is boiling over and at breaking point, I must conclude that this is the way of the season and part of the Plan. And if that is so in this great unrest, I am even more glad that I know Jesus who is The Constant in this story, being with us from the beginning – even before people inhabited the Earth. He draws us to Himself as the Great Shepherd, knowing that His sheep hear His voice finding profound comfort, peace, safety and stability in and through Him. Those who know Him, The Constant, also understand Him as the great High Priest. He rose from the dead as High Priest. Interestingly, His grave clothes were linen – as were also the garments of the Levitical high priests of His day – as if those who buried Him in the tomb foreknew His Destiny.

Hebrews 6:5-6 AMP “So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son: today I have begotten You. As He says also in another place, You are a Priest (appointed) forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 4:16 – 15 AMP “Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest who has (already) ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (of faith in Him). For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but Who has been tempted in every respect as we are yet without sinning.”

But now in these days when God is using both good and evil to accomplish His purposes, we must be strong and not despair through the journey, understanding that He will bring all things together for good that know and love Him. As stated by the Apostle Paul: Romans 8:28 AMP We are assured and know that ( God being a Partner in their labor) all things work together and are (fitting into a Plan) for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His design) and purpose.

The players in the Plan, both good and evil, have been set.  We must remember that we are the Citizens of Heaven, representatives of the Kingdom of God and worldwide Ambassadors in His Embassy, the Church.  This is not our home – our home is with Him.

#HOPE   #GRACE   #LOVE

Tracy Gatewood
Twitter: @TracyLGatewood
Website: http://www.tracygatewood.com
Author: Doorways of Grace
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