Divine healing belongs to every child of God! And receiving healing is actually not difficult. However, many people don’t realize that when it comes to divine healing, we have an enemy that will put obstacles in the way of our faith.   Satan doesn’t want anyone to receive healing or live in divine health. Therefore, we must become aware of his strategies, and we must learn how to step over any obstacles. There is almost always a fight to hold on to your faith for healing. For instance, look at the woman with the issue of blood. She had many obstacles to overcome before she received her healing.   Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His   garment.  For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:25-34 NKJV   There are four particular obstacles that this woman had to overcome: 1.     She had to overcome religious or “church” teaching.   According to the book of Leviticus, a woman with continuous bleeding was in the same category as a leper. She was not supposed to be in public, mixing and mingling with other people. If anyone came close to her, she was to cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” But this woman in Mark’s account went against what she had always believed and pressed through the crowd, and overcame this obstacle.   2.     It was against the culture of the day for a woman to mix in public without a chaperone.   The people who surrounded Jesus that day would not have approved of this woman mingling through the crowd alone. But she went against the culture of her day and overcame this obstacle.   3.     There was a huge crowd surrounding Jesus, which made it difficult to access Him.   This woman literally got on her hands and knees and pressed   through this crowd in order to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. She reached Jesus against all odds and overcame this obstacle.   4.     After 12 years of bleeding, extreme weakness and frailty would have made it almost impossible to press through a crowd. This woman had enough faith to leave her house in her condition and make the grueling journey to reach Jesus. Today, many people will not leave their homes to get to church where their answers are, and then they wonder why they are not healed.   Just like this woman, you, too, will have to do something about the obstacles which confront you and stand in the way of receiving healing.   We are admonished in 1 Timothy 6:12 to,  Fight the good fight of faith,   If there were no hindrances or obstacles, there would be no fight to faith. When everything is shouting at us that we are not going to be healed or that we are failing, we must hold fast to the Word of God. God’s Word is a never failing remedy for every disease or pain! But it will only work if you refuse to let go of it in the face of opposition.   James 4:7 teaches us, Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.   We are to submit to God’s Word and act like it’s true. We are to place God’s Word above our symptoms and what the devil is saying. We resist the devil by speaking God’s Word only. When we know who we are in Christ, and what we have in Christ, just as well as we know 2 x 2 is 4, we will speak God’s Word and praise Him in the face of sickness and pain until it flees!   The woman with the issue of blood did this. She held fast to her faith. She said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made whole.”   The Greek implies that she KEPT SAYING. In the face of all her obstacles, SHE KEPT SAYING the outcome. That was her faith speaking! Notice that it was not Jesus’ faith, or someone else’s faith, but it was her own faith that made her whole. And just like the woman with the issue of blood, you, too, can overcome every obstacle and receive the healing that belongs to you! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

One of the greatest possessions we have ever received from the Lord Jesus Christ is His peace! Although Jesus freely gives us His peace, it must be received and we must yield to it daily.   The world system is a system of worry and fear.  Therefore, most people have become highly developed to react to negative situations with worry and fear. The whole world lies under the sway of Satan, and he will give us plenty to worry about. We have to be taught to go against the flow of the world’s system. It doesn’t just happen automatically.   Because of wrong thinking, most people think they know what their needs are. They may think they need more money, or healing, or prayer. But in reality, the number one need of every believer is to renew their mind to think right.   Romans 12:2 says, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   Until we think like God thinks, it will be very difficult to live in peace. However, as you renew your mind to think God’s thoughts, you will gain more and more control of your thoughts, which ultimately leads to peace.   Here is the way Satan operates. He is aware that peace is our strong place. So his mode of attack is against the mind. He will suggest one wrong thought after another to get you to accept his doubts and deceptions. This way he can build strongholds of wrong thinking in your mind.   In the Greek, a stronghold is a fortress or castle with thick, impenetrable walls. Strongholds of the mind are places where a particular thought has repeatedly been pondered and accepted, and now forms a fortress of belief that is strongly defended. Every Christian has a stronghold in some area of their thinking but may be unaware of it. And although these areas are hazardous to our lives, people will often defend them in order to hold on to them.   People can have strongholds in virtually any area. Here is one example: Repeatedly thinking a negative thought that puts you in a state of anxiety. If anxiety continues, it will lead to a panic attack. Once you’ve experienced a panic attack, a stronghold develops that you will likely have another one. Now the original fear may disappear and be replaced with the new fear that you will have another panic attack.   Some people are so bound by fear and panic disorder that they won’t even leave their homes. I heard the story of a wealthy businessman who became convinced that if he ever left his house, he would die. This is called a stronghold. It’s a lie that is meant to keep a person locked in the fortress of deception.   Unfortunately, in time, some of these strongholds also become a false sense of security for the individual. These types of strongholds must be violated to escape them. It can be uncomfortable to let go of wrong thinking and embrace a new way of thinking and doing things. However, if we are willing to face the challenge, with the help of God these strongholds can be destroyed.   2 Corinthians 10:4-5 from the Amplified Classic says, For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).   The greatest weapon of our warfare is a mind that is renewed with the Word of God. Once we know the truth, we are in a position to refute arguments and reasonings that contradict the truth and cast them down.   These instructions from Philippians 4:6-8 help us to keeps our minds free of future strongholds: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.   1.     Refuse to be anxious or worried about anything. We must make the decision to tell every worried thought to leave, in Jesus’ Name. Declare that you refuse to be anxious about anything.   2.     Pray and make specific requests to God. Whatever it is you’re tempted to worry about is what you need to take to the Lord and pray about. The Lord longs to give us answers to navigate our way out of difficult situations.   3.     Thank and praise God that you have the answer before you feel or see it. All requests should be stated once, but followed up with continual thanksgiving for the answer. One benefit of praising God out loud is that your focus will shift from your problem to the goodness of God. This is how we magnify Him.   4.     Meditate or fix your mind on the right things. Always ask yourself if what you’re thinking about is lining up with the Word of God. “Is what I’m thinking true, noble, just, pure, of good report?” If the answer is “no”, it must be cast down! Then begin to meditate on what God says about the situation.   Always remember, your heavenly Father loves you and cares for you. He promised to provide everything you need and make a way when there seems to be no way. The more you renew your mind to these truths, the more you will live in God’s peace.   (I’ve been teaching out of my new book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . This book will truly help you to live a life that is untroubled. Click here to purchase on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3DDse08 ) If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Jesus not only paid the price for our physical bodies to be healed. He also paid the price for our minds to be whole and to be at peace. Peace is one of the most precious commodities on the planet. Peace is everything! However, true, lasting peace can only be attained one way—through Jesus Christ.   After the birth of Jesus, angels announced to the shepherds in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest,   and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Apart from Jesus, the world is without this supernatural peace.   There are two types of peace that we can have in life: 1.     The peace the world offers, which is dependent on favorable circumstances. 2.     The peace that comes from Jesus, which keeps us calm and content regardless of circumstances.   In the New Testament, one of the meanings for the word “peace” is quietness, oneness, or to set at one again. Oneness means having one thought, not many. In other words, it’s not being double-minded. Being single-minded, and trusting God’s Word, keeps us in peace regardless of contrary circumstances.   The opposite—a troubled mind—will race in multiple directions with many different thoughts and emotions. This is usually induced by negative circumstances. People who experience anxiety have numerous thoughts bombarding their minds, sometimes like the rapid fire of a machine gun. This barrage of thoughts causes confusion, panic, and uncertainty.   If you’re ever troubled with racing thoughts, begin to worship God until you begin to calm down. Then find a relevant scripture and start meditating on what God says about that situation. When you’re trusting and resting in what God says about you and your situation, you are not simultaneously considering what you see or feel. As a result, the peace of God will set your mind in quietness again, because His peace accompanies His Word.   The peace of God is a powerful force.   That is why the devil is always trying to steal our peace.   Your power to overcome anything in life is rooted in maintaining a calm, peaceful, and trusting attitude in the midst of the storms of life.   How to Live in Perfect PEACE Like Jesus Did Whenever we give place to anxious, fearful thoughts, we are allowing the devil to take the driver’s seat. But when we choose to trust God’s Word and yield to peace, we give the Holy Spirit charge of our situation.   How can we trust God? Numbers 23:19 in the New Living Translation says, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”   We must believe that God would never lie to us. He is always there to deliver us and take good care of us. When we believe He cannot lie, it is easy to trust His Word. Meditating upon scriptures like this one helps us to trust God. People who stay in peace also stay in control and handle situations successfully. Jesus gives us a vivid picture of what this looks like in Mark’s gospel.   And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4:35-38 KJV   These seasoned fishermen were terrified by this storm. And yet right in the middle of the storm, Jesus was asleep. Jesus had already given the faith command to go to the other side. He was following His Father’s instructions, so He knew He would arrive safely on the other side. This trust in God’s Word gave Jesus singleness of mind that resulted in peace. However, the disciples weren’t so confident of this and they began to panic.   And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Mark 4:39-41 KJV   Here’s an important point: When the disciples asked, “What manner of man is this?”, many would respond, “Well, naturally, He’s the Son of God!” But I believe the real point is that this type of man, the man who operates in the peace and assurance of God’s Word, is powerful and is in control of his circumstances. Staying in peace put Jesus in the driver’s seat! And if you will stay in peace, you will be in the driver’s seat of your life as well!   Anxiety, worry, and panic all have a driving nature. The types of thoughts and feelings they bring put extreme pressure on the mind. In contrast, the nature of the Holy Spirit is gentle and peaceful.   Another thing I love about Jesus is that you never read anywhere in the gospels where He was in a hurry. Even when His close friend, Lazarus, had died, He waited two more days before He went to raise him up. Not even the tragic circumstance of losing a loved one could drive Jesus into giving up His peace.   This peace is not seen most places. That’s why others will often get irritated with you when you flow in it. But don’t let that deter you. Nothing that can happen in life should drive us to give up our peace!   The peace of God is our precious inheritance. Let’s guard it diligently! Let’s allow God’s Word to keep us in quiet assurance.   (I’ve been teaching out of my new book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . This book will truly help you to live a life that is untroubled. Click here to purchase on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3DDse08 ) If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through them, we may be partakers of His divine nature! That’s what 2 Peter 1:4 says. All of God’s promises are available to us NOW. However, we will only partake of His divine nature by receiving those promises. To receive them, we must be in peace and be single-minded.   One of God’s precious promises is His peace.  I think of all the things Jesus has given, peace is my most precious possession. There was a time when I was plagued with anxiety. I know what it’s like to be bound by anxiety. However, I also know what it’s like to be completely free from it. Glory to God, my days of anxiety are over!   One of the most important skills you must learn in order to effectively live free from anxiety, depression, or anything else of the devil, is how to take control of your thoughts. This practice starts with reading and meditating on God’s Word daily. We must know the truth in order to silence the lies of the enemy!   One of the meanings of the Greek word for “peace” is oneness or single-mindedness. Our goal should always be to have one line of thinking that agrees with God. The book of James tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.   Satan knows that if we are double-minded, we will lack God’s peace and fail to see His promises come to pass for us. That’s why he’s always working to gain access to our mind and take charge of our thinking. He actually loves to do your thinking for you.   This is exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden. Satan’s first recorded activity in the Bible was to deceive Eve into being double-minded about the Word of God.   Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3:1-5 NKJV   Notice that Eve started out single-minded, believing and quoting the Word of God. But the serpent interjected an opposite thought, causing Eve to question the integrity of what God said. She was enticed to believe another thought about her circumstance. At face value, it seemed harmless. However, that thought moved her and Adam to rebel against God, and their disobedience caused all of mankind to fall into sin.   If you think about it, every sinful act begins with a subtle, seemingly harmless thought. “Is this fruit really bad? Are we really going to die if we eat it? Is God trying to keep something from us?” These thoughts from Satan are lies. Anything that contradicts the Word of God is a lie!   Thoughts that you will never make it, or that your life is not worth living, are lies from the devil. Thoughts that you will never be healed or well again are lies from the devil! Lies always come to cause us to doubt God’s Word. Lies steal from us. When we doubt what God says instead of believing it, we will not be able to receive His promises.   If you give yourself the liberty of indulging your mind with a negative thought once, the thought will come back stronger the second time. Every time you accept rather than reject the devil’s doubts and lies, each successive thought will become stronger and stronger. Before you know it, you find yourself in bondage to wrong thinking, which will ultimately lead to wrong speaking and then wrong actions.   If you find yourself battling with anxiety or depression, doubt and unbelief are at the root of it. Doubt opens the door to the devil’s trap of double-mindedness. The way to avoid this trap is by learning to control your thought life.   So how do you start taking control of your thoughts? By giving attention to God’s Word! Proverbs 4:20-23 says,  “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart.”   This scripture teaches that you must read the Word, meditate upon it, and hear it preached every opportunity you have throughout the day.   Meditating upon God’s Word includes saying it out loud. As you spend time daily in God’s Word, you will begin to trust Him. If you don’t know what God’s Word says, though, you won’t recognize when the thoughts are lies.   When it comes to things that trouble your mind, trust is an antidote.   When you begin to know and believe God’s Word, you can recognize wrong thoughts immediately. As soon as a wrong thought emerges, take it captive by declaring that it is a lie and you refuse to believe it. Then speak scriptures out loud that specifically address that lie. It may take a short period of time to silence the enemy, but he will eventually bow his knee to the Word of God.   Many decades ago, I was troubled by a financial attack my husband and I were under. I was really worrying about where the money was going to come from to pay our bills. I had been in full-time ministry, but since we had a financial need and I am a nurse, I decided to look for a job.   One day while praying and reading the Bible, I had an unusual spiritual encounter with the Lord. He led me to John chapter 21 and asked me, just like He asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” I said, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” He said, “Feed My sheep.” I had become double-minded and anxious concerning that situation, but He let me know that I should stay in the full-time ministry and He would take care of everything. By giving attention to His Word, and by taking time to seek the Lord, I became single-minded again and my trust in Him was re-established. Once I realized I had been entertaining wrong thoughts, I spoke God’s Word about my situation out loud in praise. Within a short period of time, the money began to increase again.   God does not favor one person over another. What worked for me will work for you. When you have faith in God’s Word about the positive outcome of a negative situation, you will be single-minded and at peace again.   (I’ve been teaching out of my new book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . This book will truly help you to live a life that is untroubled. Click here to purchase on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3DDse08 ) If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Many have struggled with anxiety and depression for a long time and wonder if there is any hope for them. I want you to know that there absolutely is hope to overcome mental oppression. Jesus not only paid the price for the complete and total healing of our bodies. He also paid the price for the peace of our minds.   Isaiah 53:5 from the Amplified Classic says, 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.   Notice that Jesus was chastised—it was necessary to obtain peace and well-being for us. In the same way that Jesus paid the price for our sins and our diseases, He paid the price for anxiety and depression! And the same way that we receive forgiveness and healing, we also receive our peace and well-being. BY FAITH!   In last week’s blog, we discussed the fact that our mental health effects our physical health. Medical science tells us that about 80% of all illness stems from poor mental health. And one of the primary hindrances to receiving divine healing is WORRY—a form of anxiety and fear.   Peace in life is everything! Jesus knows this to be true. He said in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.   Thank God Jesus gave us HIS peace! If we have made Jesus our Lord and Savior, we legally have His peace just as much as we have healing and health.   When a person close to us dies, we often find out if they left us any inheritance. In the same way, Jesus left us an inheritance. And part of that inheritance is His peace.   It’s important to note that Jesus talked about two types of peace in the passage we read.   1.     There is the peace that Jesus gives. 2.     There is the peace the world gives.   The peace the world offers is a “feeling” of security based on favorable circumstances. As long as everything is going our way—we have enough money, we are healthy, or there are no conflicts in our lives—we “feel” at peace.   The problem with this peace is that it is fragile and fleeting. As soon as a circumstance changes for the worse, the peace goes away and anxiety and worry rush in to fill the void. The world doesn’t have any lasting peace to offer us. Satan only offers an illusion of peace, that will always leave us with disappointment.   If you want true, lasting peace, you won’t find it in this world. Apart from Jesus, Satan will steal, kill, and destroy anything good in your life. But thank God there is another kind of peace available to us when we are born again—the peace Jesus offers. His peace will keep us calm and content regardless of the circumstances.   You may be wondering, “If I have the peace of God, why do I feel so troubled?” The reason so many believers are not experiencing God’s peace is because the enemy has stolen their peace by manipulating their emotions. The fact is you will feel many different emotions throughout your lifetime, and your feelings are attached to your thoughts.   Satan’s primary target is your mind. His strategy is to suggest a troubling thought to you and accompany that thought with a feeling, which makes it seem real.   For example, here’s one he has tried with all of us. He will interject a thought into your mind that says, “I’m worthless.” Along with that thought, he will attach a sinking feeling of condemnation and guilt. He will almost always bring up a past failure.   If you don’t know who you are in Christ, you will surrender your peace. Here is a very important point. It’s vital for us to know God’s Word so that we quickly recognize the lies of the devil and cast them down.   The way we really get to know the Word of God is by renewing our minds to think God’s thoughts. Romans 12:2 says, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   Here is how it’s done: 1.     Find scriptures that pertain to whatever you are tempted to be fearful about. 2.     Meditate upon those scriptures day and night. 3.     When thoughts come to your mind that contradict God’s Word, speak the Word only, not the negative thoughts.   Your renewed mind will recognize and reject ungodly and fearful thoughts, like the thought of worthlessness we talked about earlier. It will also reject thoughts of living with disease the rest of your life, or thoughts of premature death. Rejecting unscriptural thoughts is FAITH in action. And faith in God’s Word keeps us in the perfect peace that we inherited from Jesus our Lord. (I’ve been teaching out of my new book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . This book will truly help you to live a life that is untroubled. Click here to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DDse08 ) If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

God is so good that He made provision for us to be healthy and strong in every area of our lives. Every area includes our spirits, our souls, and our bodies.   And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Thess 5:23 AMPC   Let’s look at a description of the three different aspects of mankind: 1.     Your spirit  is your innermost being. It is made brand new when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. 2.     Your soul  is composed of your mind, will, and emotions. They are in the process of being made sound and complete through the renewing of your mind. You are to renew your mind to think like God thinks. This is a life-long process. 3.     Your body  is the house that your spirit and soul live in.   God wants every part of us—spirit, soul, and body to be sound and complete!   Knowing the will of God is the first step to living life in wholeness. We see the will of God re-iterated in the following scripture:   Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 NKJV   Not only do we see the will of God in this passage, but we also see a condition. The condition is that we will prosper to the degree that our soul prospers!! If your mind, will, or emotions are not prospering, you will not prosper in your health as you should. This leads us to a few facts of interest. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 60 million adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. Forty million of those adults have an anxiety disorder. And about 32% of adolescents are affected by anxiety.   The apostle Paul gave us a reason for such prevalence when he foretold about the day in which we now live.   But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 Timothy 3:1 AMPC This completely describes our day, a time of great stress and great trouble—hard to deal with and hard to bear. The predominant reaction to this stress appears to be anxiety and depression.  It is also a fact that if people’s minds and emotions are troubled, it will have a direct effect on their health.   Medically speaking, 80% of diseases are triggered by poor mental health. It’s no wonder that sickness and disease are rampant in our day, even despite all of our medical advancements! And, unfortunately, many of those affected are followers of Jesus Christ.   Now we expect people without Jesus to suffer from anxiety and depression. They have no spiritual remedies for their disorders. However, children of a healing God have been redeemed from anxiety and depression. We can see that it’s imperative that we address our mental health if we are going to live in physical health.   I believe the greatest contributor to anxiety and depression is fear! Fear is an emotion that comes from an expectation of evil. Anxiety, worry, dread, and panic are all forms of fear. And according to God’s Word, fear is a spirit!   Second Tim 1:7 tells us,  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”   The fact that fear is a spirit from Satan is very important. It lets us know that it cannot be defeated with natural remedies. While psychological methods, medications, and willpower can be helpful, spiritual issues must ultimately be dealt with spiritually to experience true freedom.   Romans 10:17 says,  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”   It’s important to know that fear also comes by hearing negative information. If we spend more time watching TV or on social media than we do hearing God’s Word, we will not be able to live free from fear. But if we will spend time daily meditating upon scriptures that promise peace and healing, we will no longer be slaves of anxiety, depression, or disease.   When the Holy Spirit came to live in us, we became masters of Satan and everything he represents.   First John 4:4 says,  “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”   No child of God should ever again be subject to Satan. We have authority over all the power of Satan, and that includes anxiety and disease.   One of the first things we will have to master if we’re going to receive healing is fear. Fear will keep us from receiving from God. But God has provided us with faith through His Word so that we don’t ever have to fear again. The next time you are tempted to fear, speak to it. Say, “Fear, you must go from me now, in Jesus’ name. I refuse to fear.” Then lift your hands and begin to worship God because He has delivered you from fear, and from all disease and pain!   (This teaching is an excerpt out of my new book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . I encourage you to get the book, not only if you struggle with anxiety and depression, but also if you’re desiring healing in your body.) Click here to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DDse08 If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Many people have said, “I’ve prayed and taken a stand for my healing, but things got worse instead of better!” I want to share with you how to handle a situation like this.   The Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun. If your experience is that things got worse after believing, I want you to know you’re not alone.   Going all the way back to the children of Israel in Egypt, we see they faced the same dilemma. They had been slaves in Egypt for about 400 years. Slavery was not the will of God for them. So God raised up a deliverer named Moses and sent him back to Egypt.   Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed . Exodus 4:29-31 NKJV   Notice that the people BELIEVED. Four hundred years is a long time for a negative condition. But they heard good news and saw the signs, and they believed.   If you’ve been suffering from a disease for an extended period, you can still believe and receive your healing!   Now, I want you to see that anytime God gives us a good word and we receive it with joy, the devil will be sure to try to hinder that word from coming to pass! He knows that God’s word alone will not get the job done. It will always require our FAITH in order to come to pass. So Satan seeks to get us into fear, doubt, and unbelief before we see the answer!   After Moses and Aaron visited Pharaoh and gave him the Word of God, Pharaoh was simply delighted to let them go free !? NOT HARDLY.   No, here is what happened: So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.” Exodus 5:6-9 NKJV   So the people complained to Moses. And Moses complained to God.   So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23 NKJV   These people did not have any written word of God to build and develop their faith. They had no strong revelation with which to stand their ground. So the Lord continued to give them words of faith and reassurance to see them through.   As many of you know the story, it took some time before Israel was finally released from bondage. Although things got much worse at first, it ultimately came to pass as the Lord had spoken.   Another example in the Bible of things getting worse as a result of standing on the Word of God is in Daniel chapter three. King Nebuchadnezzer built a gold image and commanded the people to bow down and worship it every time a certain song was played.   Three Jews who were in charge of different provinces refused to bow down to the image. Of course, they had accusers. These individuals reported their refusal to bow to the king. The devil is always trying to either weaken or remove the saints from a place of victory.   We see the king’s response to the accusations against the Jews in Daniel 3:13 & 15: Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. . . . “But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”   Here was the response of the three Jews: “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17 NKJV   They refused to budge! They refused to give in. They refused to doubt, even in the face of terrible threats. The end of the story is that they were not touched by the fire and came out victorious, not even smelling like smoke!   Satan still works through people to falsely accuse the saints. He will also speak accusations to your mind.   Revelation 12:10 says: Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”   Don’t be surprised when threats come against your mind as you take a stand against symptoms of disease and pain. The devil will try to turn the heat up to get you to quit believing and throw in the towel. He will say things like, “You know you won’t be healed this time.” Or “Your faith must not be working because things are getting worse!”   Always remember that Satan is the father of lies. He authored the first lie and has been lying ever since.   So, what do we do if things get worse: 1.     Refuse to fear or doubt. (2 Tim. 1:7) 2.     Double up on God’s medicine. (Download our free booklet, “What the Bible Says About Healing” .) 3.     Rejoice and praise God continually for the answer. 4.     Refuse to quit! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Divine healing is EASY!   Jeremiah 32:17 says, Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.   Most people have no difficulty believing that God will forgive them of their sins. But they struggle to believe that a loving God could or would heal them of their diseases.   With the help of Satan, mankind has made divine healing difficult to receive. But God has always made it easy. One sacrifice, the blood of Jesus and the stripes He bore, redeemed us from every sin and every disease.   We have many types and shadows of this under the Old Covenant.   Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:2-3 NKJV   Notice the word “all” in verse three. That means no sin or disease remains. They have all been forgiven and healed, every last one, including diseases unknown in Jesus’ time!   Verses four and five are so good, I just have to mention them here, too.   Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:4-5 NKJV   This is the all-inclusive package! These verses show us everything that’s included in God’s benefits package.   We’ve been redeemed from destruction—that eliminates cancer and all other destructive diseases. We’ve been given good and powerful words to speak out of our mouths—the Word of God brings health like a medicine.   Even as we age, we can expect our youth to be renewed. I declare daily that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s, and you should too! That’s how you stay strong and active in old age.   Let’s look at an account of Jesus ministering to a paralytic that validates Psalm 103.   “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Mark 2:8-12 NKJV   Notice the phrase, “Which is EASIER?” Jesus didn’t say, “Which is more difficult?” He said, “Which is EASIER?” God thinks that forgiveness and healing are EASY. People often think that it’s hard to receive healing. But that is clearly not God’s thought.   “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV   When it comes to healing, I’m so glad God has higher thoughts than men do! His thought is that He has made forgiveness and healing EASY! Jesus said it was easy to heal a paralytic. There are few things that seem more impossible than a paralytic getting up and walking away completely healed. But remember that Jeremiah said there is nothing too difficult for God!   When we think of something easy, we think of a state of rest.   Hebrews 4:3 says, For we who have believed do enter that rest   Faith is a place of rest. When we believe the Word of God concerning our healing, we enter a state of rest. And rest is EASY.   We’re going to look at one more witness from the epistles that healing and forgiveness are an easy package deal.   Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save  the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:14-15 NKJV   The word “save” is translated from the Greek word “sozo” which means to heal, preserve, save, do well, and be made whole. The prayer of faith—the place of rest—WILL heal the sick. The Lord will raise him up. And if he has sinned, he WILL be forgiven!   This doesn’t sound hard to me. This actually sounds EASY.   The next time you’re tempted to make healing difficult in your life, remember these words from the Bible. God wants you to live in health so much that He made receiving your healing EASY!   Today is a good day to receive healing! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

“He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 NKJV   Thank God, Jesus bore our sicknesses! From God’s perspective, we are legally healed. It is a finished work.   Now, if we’re healed, what do we do when symptoms of disease are raging in our bodies, shouting at us that we are not healed?   WE KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS!   The Bible tells us that Jesus and the Word of God are one.   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14 NKJV   The way we keep our eyes on Jesus is to keep our eyes on the Word of God. One of the best stories in the Bible to illustrate this is in Matthew.   Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:25-32 NKJV   Although this is a story about walking on water and not about receiving healing, the same principles apply.   1.     In the natural, it is impossible for a person to walk on water. It is also impossible for some diseases to be healed medically.   2.     It was only possible to walk on water after Peter knew the will of the Lord. It is also only possible to receive divine healing when we know the will of the Lord.   How did Peter know the will of God for walking on water? He had the Word of the Lord – “ Come”. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Faith came to Peter through that one word and he stepped out of the boat because of it. How do we know the will of God concerning our healing? It comes from the Word of God, the Bible.   We began by quoting Matthew 8:17. That is just one verse. A pastor friend of ours did an exhaustive study over several years, searching out every healing scripture in the Bible from 430 translations. He ended up with 454  verses from the Bible on the subject of healing, conclusively proving that healing is the will of God for today. We definitely do not lack for words from God on the subject of healing.   When we hear those words of healing, faith comes. As long as we stay focused on what God says about our healing, we will receive our healing. However, even when we have the Word of the Lord, if we don’t stay focused on that Word, the raging storm will pull our attention away from it.   This is what happened to Peter. When he saw that the wind was boisterous, he became fearful and lost sight of the word “come” that he heard from the Lord. Fear is the opposite of faith and pulls our attention away from faith. That fear is what caused Peter to sink.   We can see that where our attention goes, our faith goes.   Fighting the good fight of faith is really fighting to keep our attention on the right thing.   My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-23 NKJV   These verses tell us we need to hear God’s Word, read God’s Word, say God’s Word, and act on God’s Word. When we keep our attention on God’s Word, we are keeping our attention on Jesus and it becomes medicine to all our flesh.   Although it may be challenging at times, we must keep our eyes off the raging symptoms and the negative reports.  Diligently fixing our eyes on the Word and Jesus helps us take our eyes off of the symptoms.   One of the best things you can do to keep your attention on the Lord is lift your hands and worship Him. Thank Him for being such a wonderful Healer. Worship Him because you ARE healed, not going to be.   Since it’s impossible to think two thoughts at the same time, when you worship the Lord out loud, you cannot be focused on your symptoms. If you continue to look to Jesus, your faith will hold you up, and you will find that your symptoms will disappear. If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Many have said, “I’ve prayed and prayed, and I’m no better. Are you sure God wants me well?” Prayer is scriptural, and it is a good thing. But did you know that you could pray and still be in unbelief regarding the Word of God? Unbelief is often rooted in questioning whether God wants you well. And unbelief will hinder your prayers.   If you feel like you’re struggling to receive from God, then you are likely not praying from a place of faith. Prayer is only effective when we pray from a place of faith, not fear. In order to pray in faith, we must understand that the battle for our healing has already been won. Our healing is an accomplished fact, not something we hope God will win for us in the future.    And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15 KJV   For the battle is the Lord's. 1 Samuel 17:47 NKJV   We must learn to let the Lord fight our battles. The battle is the Lord’s, and what’s more, He already won it.  This means the victory is ours now. The devil is already a defeated foe! We don’t need to defeat him because he is already defeated.   Many don’t understand that the battle’s already been won by God. So they mistakenly think they must win it by praying long and hard enough. Prayer is important, but it’s never our struggling in prayer that earns health and healing from God. The main work of the believer is the work of believing—the work of faith.   Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe  in Him whom He sent.” John 6:28-29 NKJV   When we put God’s Word to work for us, the Word fights our battles for us. Yes, Jesus already won the battle, but now we must enforce the enemy’s defeat whenever he tries to attack.  We must realize that the place of faith is a place of rest, not struggle.   Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest. Hebrews 4:1-3 NKJV   Faith for healing can only come through the Word of God. Many hear the Word, but not all receive healing. It does not profit them. Why? Because faith must be mixed with the Word we hear in order to put the Word to work for us.   How do we mix our faith with the Word? Our tongue is the mixer.   It’s not enough to just hear God’s Word. We must agree with it. If we are not speaking His Word, then we are not agreeing with His Word. I never have yet been able to receive healing for myself without agreeing with God by speaking His Word aloud. Again, agreement with God is not simply a matter of how we think. We must speak our faith out loud by saying what God says about our health.   Some receive a bad diagnosis and become gripped with fear. Fear will often drive a person to pray hard and fast. But fear can also drive a person to speak against the Word of God and instead talk about the diagnosis. They may say things like, “I’m afraid I’m going to die.”   You can be praying, but as long as you focus on the diagnosis, God cannot perform His Word for you. This is where the work of faith comes in. We work to keep our hearts full of the Word of God, mix it with faith, and speak the Word only. We resist fear by speaking to it and telling it to go. Now, we don’t deny the diagnosis. But we have a more powerful Word from God that will change the diagnosis.   “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 NKJV   Nobody can become fully convinced that they are healed when they are speaking against this Word. But if we will mix our faith with this scripture by saying it aloud continually, it will surely come to pass.   Being assured of these things causes us to enter a place of rest. Having peace and rest in the midst of a storm is the best way to enjoy the victory that is already yours. The devil will tremble when you enter into faith’s rest because he is assured that he’s whipped.   Always remember, the battle is the Lord’s and the victory is yours! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

The Bible teaches us that the perfect will of God is health and healing for every person on this planet. However, as we all know, many people are not living in health or receiving divine healing when they need it. The primary reason is that we live in a fallen world that is governed by Satan, who is called “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan hates what God loves most, and therefore he hates humanity with a passion. He seeks to disrupt the will of God in every arena.   The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV   Even though Satan has legally been defeated by Jesus, he will try to operate on this earth illegally. How is this possible? It is illegal to murder, and yet renegades are murdering people daily worldwide. In order to stop human illegal activity, somebody has to enforce the laws. This is the same way the Kingdom of God operates on the earth. God needs someone with authority to enforce Satan’s defeat in the earth. If believers don’t enforce Satan’s defeat, he will continue to illegally steal, kill, and destroy.   The only people who are authorized in the earth to withstand Satan are those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is because it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to resist the devil, and only those who are born again have the Holy Spirit living in them.   When it comes to YOUR health, YOU are the one authorized to enforce Satan’s defeat. You could believe the Word of God on the subject of healing, and even believe you receive YOUR healing. But until you learn to stand your ground and expel sickness, the devil will illegally try to put things on you that don’t belong to you.   So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. James 4:7 AMPC   We have to understand that resisting the devil requires faith. And the Bible makes it clear that faith is not passive. It has a FIGHT to it!   Fight the good fight of faith. 1 Tim 6:12 NKJV   The only fight the Christian is called to fight in this life is the faith fight! If we are in any other kind of fight, we are in the wrong fight. Some have said, “I’m going to fight the devil,” or “I’m fighting this sickness or disease.” Nobody has to fight the devil or sickness! Why? Because Jesus already defeated them. We need to get out of the wrong fight and get into the right one.   You may ask, “If we are not fighting the devil, then what are we fighting?” We are fighting DOUBT and UNBELIEF. We are fighting to stay in faith about our healing, or about anything else the Word of God promises us.   God’s Word always tells the truth! God’s Word says, “[ By] whose stripes you were healed.” However, our bodies and the devil will try to sway us into doubt and unbelief about the truth that we were healed. This is where the faith fight begins. We must learn to stand our ground in the face of Satan’s lies, no matter how believable they may seem in the middle of a situation   How do we stand our ground when facing Satan’s lies? Here are 4 simple steps:   1.     Meditate upon the Word of God daily.   This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 NKJV   Find one or two healing scriptures that stir your spirit and meditate upon them daily. Meditate   means to ponder and mutter. Say those scriptures out loud throughout the day and put yourself into those verses.   2.     Act like the Word of God is true .   According to Joshua 1:8 the purpose of meditation is to get us to the place where we do what the Word says. If you can’t move a limb, attempt to move it. If you have the flu and are lying in bed, get out of bed. Act as far as you can with your faith.   One of the greatest acts of faith is simply agreeing with God by saying only what He says about your situation. This is what Abraham did.    And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:19-21 NKJV   3.     Refuse to allow contradictory circumstances to distract your stance of faith.   Don’t consider your body more than you consider what God says about your health. It will certainly be difficult to completely ignore what your body is feeling at times. However, we must stay focused on the Word of God more than we allow ourselves to think about the symptoms.   4.     Praise the Lord and give Him glory because you ARE healed!   In conclusion, we see now why many are not walking in divine health. Many have not fought the good fight of faith. But I want to encourage you to be one who does engage in the faith fight! The fight of faith is called the “GOOD” fight because faith in God’s Word always wins. If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!

Have you ever heard someone say about situations, “I just call things like I see them”? Or have you seen the slogan, “Seeing is Believing”? I’m sure these people take pride in what they think is honesty.   However, these phrases actually contradict the Word of God. If you keep saying what you see, you will keep on having what you see. If what you see is not what you want, this will keep you in a bad place. I’ll prove this to you from the scriptures.   Let’s first look at what Jesus said about this: So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says  will be done, he will have whatever he says .” Mark 11:22-23 NKJV   Jesus is showing us that our words matter. He is also showing us how the faith of God operates, and then tells us to do the same thing. A more literal translation of “Have faith in God” is “Have the faith OF God”! We see how the faith of God operates in creation in Genesis.   And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3 KJV   And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. Genesis 1:9 KJV   And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Genesis 1:11 KJV   Everything that God created was done by His faith. Notice He SAID it and it was so.   We saw in Mark 11:23 that when we say something and do not doubt in our heart, but believe, we will have whatever WE say! Faith believes with the heart and speaks with the mouth! Faith says the desired outcome before ever seeing it.   We see this very principle in the life of Abraham. As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. [Gen 17:5.] Romans 4:17 AMPC   The King James version says, “even God, Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things that be not as though they were.”   Many have argued, “That’s God. He can do that.” But we know that Abraham did the same thing that God did. He had a struggle for a while. For around 24 years, he and Sarah still did not have the promised child. So God came along and helped his faith. God changed his name. He was called Abram, but then God changed his name to Abraham.   Abraham means the father of a multitude. Going forward, every time someone addressed him, they called him father of a multitude. Every time he introduced himself, he said out of his own mouth, “I’m the father of a multitude.”   No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. Romans 4:20 AMPC   Notice that Abraham grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. One way that we give glory to God is to agree with Him. The way we agree is to say the same thing that God says about us.   Hebrews 4:14 says, Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.   The Greek translation for the last part of that verse is, “Let us hold fast to saying the same things.” We are to hold fast to saying the same things that God is saying about us and our situations.   1 Peter 2:24 says, “By whose stripes you WERE healed.” We are to hold fast to saying we WERE healed, regardless of our symptoms.   This is what Abraham did.  He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb. [Gen 17:17; 18:11.] Romans 4:19 AMPC   Abraham and Sarah had symptoms of barrenness. If Sarah was 16 when she married Abraham, they would have tried for nearly 75 years to get pregnant. Think about that the next time you think your situation is hopeless!   But because Abraham finally began to say what God said, he began to call those things that did not exist in the natural as though they already did—he got to the place where he no longer considered the natural condition of their bodies.   And then he became fully convinced in his heart: [And] being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:21 NKJV   Just as Abraham did, we too will become fully convinced that we are healed if we will agree with God and say what God says continually.   Don’t say it like you see it in the natural. Say what God says, and you will have your healing! If you're in the Aurora/Naperville area and are looking for a church that teaches the uncompromising Word of God, we invite you to visit Abundant Life Family Church . As a Word and Spirit church, we are committed to helping believers grow in faith, experience the power of God, and walk in His promises. Our services are filled with dynamic worship, Bible-based teaching, and an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit moves. Whether you’re searching for a church home or seeking a deeper relationship with God, we welcome you to join us and be part of a thriving community of faith!