Practice Awareness

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed." Psalms 37:3

“Dwell in the land” is a high level of awareness. It is easy to be somewhere and miss things because of a lack of awareness. Trusting the Lord releases an awareness level that He is always with us as our helper. As we build trust in the Lord, we develop an attitude of thankfulness enabling us to an understanding of how to live and walk in the Spirit. If our awareness becomes dull, we become self-centered and ungrateful which leads to seeking comfort rather than seeking creative challenges. There is a faith power that works transformation by having a high level of awareness and focus.

Jesus said, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34.

• “Overcharged with surfeiting”. This means overindulgence or excess in anything; food, drink, drugs, negative emotions, complaining, need for control, attempting to be the center of attention.
• “Drunkenness”. This is a way of using something to cover up the pain of rejection, the pain of being unloved or the pain of being misunderstood; it is opposite of how God designed us to be. Lack of revelation about Jesus Christ creates unhealthy habits such as smoking, excessive use of alcohol or drugs, preoccupation with worry or self-pity. Such behaviors rob us of time, energy, quality of life, health and relationships.
•  “And the cares of this life”. The orders from our Creator are found in I Peter 5:7. Practice releasing all emotional cares to the Lord. This concept is found in Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me…” We must do our part and keep our cares released to Him.

Practice committing your ways to the Lord, trusting in Him and He shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5). The key to obeying this commandment is to be aware of committing your way to the Lord. Learn to live from His commitment to you. He is dedicated to meeting your needs and fulfilling your desires. We need to remind ourselves that we do not earn or deserve God’s promises, but we are to believe and receive His promises for provision. Jesus died so we can receive His promises.

High Level of Awareness

1. Give thanks for all things (I Thessalonians 5:18). Count it all joy when emotional challenges arise to attempt a wave of doubt or fear (James 1:2).

How do you give thanks for negative experiences of lack or pain? Say it to be so! Thank you Lord for this ‘thing’ that gives me an opportunity to experience Your power. I say, “This thing might be here now, but it can’t stay. You are illegal and already defeated by Jesus Christ. Go away now!

2. Maintain the awareness that the Holy Spirit is always in you as a fact. Stop basing the Holy Spirit on our feelings; He moves by faith! He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

3. Be aware of the power of ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Fill your belief system with God’s Word. Say ‘no’ to the idea that illness is normal. Say ‘yes’ to God’s Word that tells us Jesus Christ defeated all sickness when He was crucified on the cross. No disease or illness can manifest on you unless you believe it can. Old Testament promise: ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statues, I will put none of the diseases on you that I have brought on the Egyptians…” Exodus 15:26. If you don’t think this is for you today, you have already predetermined doubt. I say, “Because of Jesus Christ, I am Israel and Egypt is the world. Illness is illegal for me because of Jesus Christ and because I believe and say it to be so!” 

4. Be aware of what you believe (Matthew 8:13). I believe lack is not real and because of Jesus Christ, there is always plenty. I believe weakness and sickness are paid for by Jesus Christ’s stripes, therefore, I have perfect health and increased strength. I believe addictions are a network of excuses to keep me on a victim-poor-me lifestyle. I believe old age can be an excuse for laziness. I believe my strength and youth is renewed because I say so! I believe life more abundantly is my potential (John 10:10).

A religious attitude will not give us victory. The oil of joy and the garment of praise is our birthright. Destroy the old, the heaviness, the burdens, the fears by laughter. Jesus came to us and empowers us with the power of Himself… this is good news! It is big news that calls for daily celebration. The more we are aware of Him in us, the more we sing and dance in our heart. By this awareness, illness will dissolve, weakness becomes strength and the challenge of creativity is embraced. We are God’s will for us on earth. Amen.

Pastor Jimm