Karin M. Thompson's Blog, page 3

PRICK UP YOUR EARS!

How much time do you take just to sit down and think?

Are you always rushing from A to B? In a hurry to get everything done? We need time to reflect and think about what we are doing, where we want to go and how to get there.

I suggest you spend fifteen minutes daily just sitting quietly and thinking. You may say you don't have that kind of time. Then you have to make the time. Time with God is so important. One word from God can save you so much time and stress. God knows everything you need in your life. Undoubtedly spending time with Him should be your priority?

Find a nice quiet spot, be it outside or your favourite chair. Have a journal with you and ask God to help you, to show you what you need to know. As the thoughts come, write them down. They may not make sense, but still, write them down. Quiet yourself down on the inside and breathe deeply, allowing God's peace and presence to flow over you.

Talk to God about your life, your goals and your dreams. Ask Him to show you and direct you. Then be still and listen. You may hear nothing, but that's okay because time with God is never wasted. You may just need to be still for a bit.

I have found that even hours later, a thought will come up to answer my question. Ideas will begin to flow. In our busy world today, we often think being busy, even busy for God, is the best way to use our time. But my friend quieting down your mind and focusing on God is the way to go! God wants to speak to you. He longs to help you. But if you are never still enough to hear, how can He?

The enemy doesn't mind if you are busy, even busy doing God's work, as long as you are not giving your spirit attention. The children of God are led by the Spirit of God - see Romans 8:14.

Just start thinking and listening! You will find this exercise so resourceful and calming. It will bring a wonderful balance into your life. Let your spirit hook up to the Holy Spirit and listen.

So make it a part of your routine to JUST THINK AND LISTEN.

It's time to prick up your ears!

Help my emotions are all over the place!

Some days your emotions seem to be all over the place. Tears are constantly in your eyes. Just one wrong word from someone could trigger you off. It feels like the whole world has gone wrong, and there is no hope. You are not alone. Everyone has days like this.

Now here’s where you will have to make a choice, a stand – do you go with your emotions and feelings, or do you stand on the promises of God’s Word and believe that He loves you and that you can trust him to carry you through. Now is not the time to make any significant decisions. It is best not to say much. Be still not, and let the moments pass. Tomorrow is another day.

His Word has to be your final authority no matter what you see, feel or hear. You have to have a standpoint, a boundary you stand by no matter what. A moral code that you will not break.

So instead of saying all types of negative things and letting your mouth run wild, find a scripture that will bring you great comfort.

Know that this will pass, and tomorrow the world will look better. Remember God is your strength, and as you call on Him for help, He promises never to leave you or forsake you.

Draw your strength from this and refuse to follow your emotions. Let the cross of Jesus be your final authority and the work He did to give you the victory in your life.

Scripture References:

Psalm 7:9

Psalm 30:5

Psalm 34:18

Psalm 42:5

Today and every day. I will make good choices

Pay Attention, I need to talk to you!

Suppose I was trying to call you when you turned off your phone’s volume. You would not answer.

What is the problem? You couldn’t hear your phone ringing!

It is the same with God. He is always talking to us, but we don’t hear Him. Why? Because we are not tuned in! God speaks to us continually by His Word, His Holy Spirit, prayer and anointed Bible teachers. But if we never read His Word, listen to anointed messages, go to anointed services, or pray, how will we ever hear Him?

Suppose you decided today that you wanted to exercise your calf muscles because you noticed that they looked flabby. So you do 100 calf raises. Suddenly, you became aware of them. Why? Because you exercised the muscle. Now you can feel them!

It is the same with your spirit. You exercise hearing the voice of your spirit – your conscience, by keeping close to God in prayer, reading and listening to the Word. Your spirit man will grow stronger and stronger, and then you will hear it more clearly.

The Holy Spirit lives in you, and He has all the answers you will ever need. Tap into your spirit by exercising it, and then you will have access to a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that will answer every question you will ever have!

Now that’s food for thought!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Rejoice, you have the victory!

How do you react to bad news? Do you allow it to unsettle you and cause great stress? Do you let it give you sleepless nights and a loss of appetite? My friend, there is no need for any of these reactions!

God never changes no matter what news comes your way, no matter what situation you will ever face. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

So don’t grumble, be mad or frustrated at God. Draw closer to the one with all the answers. Knowing that His Word is always true and that if you continue to stand on it, everything will change. God’s promises are written in BLOOD and can never change. They will always work. ALWAYS!

You may be having a setback, but God is in your comeback. He will take care of the situation, no matter how bad or impossible it looks. God is the God of the impossible. He can do anything for the person who stays in faith, keeps their confession strong, and keeps their trust focused on Him.

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So rejoice because the answer is on the way! Celebrate with God for the victory that is yours, despite what you see. Because tomorrow it can all turn around. Our God is a BIG God.

To God be all the Glory!

Scripture References

Colossians 3:2

2 Samuel 22:31-33

Psalm 20:7

Hebrews 4:12 -16

Hebrews 10:23

WHAT THE DEVIL KNOWS ABOUT YOU!

The enemy loves to lie to you, hoping that you will see yourself as inferior and a failure. The devil KNOWS that you are a child of God. He KNOWS that nothing is impossible for your God. He KNOWS that no weapon formed against you could ever prosper unless you let it. He KNOWS you were healed by the stripes of Jesus. He KNOWS that Jesus became poor so that you might be made rich. He knows all these things. But do you?

He KNOWS this better than anyone else. Jesus faced satan and took the keys of life and death from him, disarming his power over you and utterly defeating him – See Col.2:15. Yes, he knows all this, but he counts on that you don't know this.

Recognise his lies, and you will defeat him. He uses fear to stop you. He wants fear to paralyse you from making any moves.

The only truth about your situation is God's truth and what His word says about it. Don't buy into the lies of the enemy. Stand on the truth of the word of God and go ahead, step into your promised land. God has already given it to you. Go ahead. It's yours. Possess it!

You are well able; God has won the battle for you! Please remember this because the devil never forgets it, but he banks on the fact that you do. Never lose sight of this fact no matter what you see going on around you!! Don’t give your power to the enemy. You have the victory!

DON’T STOP STANDING!

Twelve people went to spy out the promised land God had for them. Ten returned with a negative report, and two returned with a positive report.

These ten influenced most of the Israelite’s opinions on why they could not enter the promised land. Most people will tell you how you can’t do what’s in your heart to do. They will tell you it can never happen; you won’t get your healing, your desired job, your baby, your loved one saved etc.

Most of these people say they believed God, but it didn’t happen for them; therefore, why should it happen for you. But in a nutshell, they’re saying that God lied in His Word when He made these promises to you. Most of the Israelites never went into the Promised Land because they refused to believe they could.

To see the promises of God’s Word come to pass in your life, you will have to look past what you are currently seeing, what you are listening to and only believe God’s Word. It may look impossible when you look at outside circumstances, but that’s why we don’t look at them. We focus on our heavenly Father, who masters every circumstance.

Christianity isn’t for weaklings. No, it’s for those who are determined to win, who are committed to standing firm and will stand till they see the victory promised to them in God’s word. God’s promises are for whosoever, but to be whosoever, you must stay strong in faith and keep believing. Be determined that quitting isn’t an option for you because your promised land is waiting!

DON'T QUIT NOW!

Was 2021 a year of disappointment for you? Things did not work out the way you had hoped.

Promises were made but not kept. You are not alone! Many have found the last few years to be some of the worst years ever!

But we are living in the last days. The devil is going around seeking who he may devour!

– 1 Peter 5:8.

My friend, that does not have to be you! Do not let the devil devour and deceive you. God does not work on our calendar. He is faithful and true. He will do what he has promised you. Do not give up, do not grow weary, and please do not quit.

Let me ask you, if you had to wait an extra month to get the results you needed, wouldn’t you stay positive and in faith? You are closer to the answer than you know!

Keep the faith. Keep your eyes on the Lord.

The circumstances may be shouting loud at you. But answer back with God’s Word. He loves you so much, and He is for you, not against you. Do not get in doubt. Keep your faith strong, so God can continue to work in your life.

Hold onto the confidence that God is able, God is good, and yes, He wants to show himself strong on your behalf. Are you letting Him? Are you trusting in Him? Remember all the previous times He came through for you!

The answer is coming. I can hear the Father say, stand firm. It is on the way!

Winter and Spring Seasons of Your Life

Psalm 68:19

Praise the Lord, praise God our saviour! For each day, He carries us in His arms.

No matter what your day is like, know that God is carrying you in His arms. It may be winter on the outside, but in your heart, it can be still and peaceful as you take comfort that He is with you and carrying you.

Don’t let your heart become cluttered with the cares of this world where His presence can’t be felt anymore. The more of the world’s pressure you let in, the less of God’s peace you will have.

Fighting the good fight of faith is making sure that you stay in God’s resting place. Keeping the world out and keeping His peace in.

Remember, difficult times don’t last forever. This storm will pass, but how you come out the other end is up to you.

God has all the answers and waiting to share them with you. In His presence, you will find the comfort and strength that you need to carry you through.

Be patient because, after a significant storm, there is always a great calm. This season will pass. It may seem like this challenge is going on forever, but there is always spring after winter. Spring always comes, always…

Psalm 30:5

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Romans 8:35-39

Have a winning attitude!

KEEP FILLED UP!

Matthew 6:33

Imagine a flat red rubber ball. It has no life in it. It cannot bounce or be of use because it has no air. It isn't of any use. But if you were to get a pump and start blowing air into the ball, the ball will begin to take shape and eventually, as it fills up, will be able to bounce and be thrown around. The more air you put into it, the fuller and firmer it will become.

Our lives are much the same as this ball.

We are born spiritually dead to God, but as we confess Him as Lord and Saviour of our lives, the breath of God breathes into our spirits, and we become alive on the inside. We become aware of spiritual things. The more time we spend with God via His Word, prayer and listening to good Bible-based teachings, the more the breath of God flows in us.

Doing this will enable us to function to our fullest potential of Christian living. We start seeing results in our lives; life starts making sense and has meaning. We begin to live life with a purpose and passion. But we have to keep filling up to maintain this level.

In the same way, the ball will need to keep being top up with air to be adequate to bounce, so will you have to keep being topped up with God's Word. Otherwise, like the ball, you will go FLAT.

Life will go flat and lose its flavour. Then we find we go through the motion of Christian living. Yes, you may go to church and read your bible, but the joy of God's presence is gone.

The intimacy of the relationship seems lost. The first love is gone.

But that doesn't mean it can't come back. No, start breathing in God presence again. Start diligently pursuing His presence again. Make it a daily habit to seek His face. And in no time, you will have your bounce back. Life will become a blessing again.

To have all of God in your life, you have to let Him in all of your life.

It's time for you to ARISE and to get out of the muck

Have you ever had a problem that just won't go away? Of course, you have! Are you spending all your time trying to deal with it?

Well, it's time to stop and give it entirely to God. It's time to allow Him to take complete care of it for you. You've tried your best and have come up empty-handed.

Now let it go. I mean, really let it go. Don't take it back. Give it to Him and leave it alone. Don't let it control your thoughts anymore. Stop letting it control your life!

It's time to move up higher. Time to choose to go higher in God and let things work out for your good. Let God work on it. Let God deal with it now! Get your mind off it and settle your mind on God's higher ways, His higher thoughts.

Stop allowing the things of this world to become your focus. You are made for more. It's time to arise! Keep your thoughts on God's plans for you and not on things that pull you down.

The question is – "Is there more?"

The answer is: "Yes." But only if you are willing to rise up higher and sit in heavenly places with God! Isn’t it time for you to ARISE!

Colossians 3:1-2 says, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things above, not on things on the earth.'

"Arise from spiritual depression to a new life, shine be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord; for your light has come, and the glory and brilliance of the Lord have risen upon you."

Isaiah 60:1 from the Amplified Bible.