Sickness and disease are works of the devil and you don’t have to put up with the works of the devil another day of your life!   Jesus contrasted the works of the devil with His works. He said: 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)   Disease does not fit the description of the abundant life Jesus gives. Disease steals, kills, and destroys. The following short journey to the garden of Eden gives us a description of abundant life.   In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a beautiful garden, a paradise. They enjoyed daily fellowship with God, and a life that was sorrow free. There was no sickness or disease, no pain, no mental anguish, and no lack of any kind. This was the perfect will of God for mankind.   One day Adam and Eve rebelled against the command of God and ate from the forbidden tree. Once they did, sin entered our world. Sin brought spiritual death, and then sickness and disease came on the wings of spiritual death.   When Jesus came to earth, He came to take care of the sin problem.   Once the sin problem was resolved, the sickness problem was resolved. We could say that He came to restore us to the abundant life that Adam and Eve once enjoyed.   1 John 3:8 tells us: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.   The following three accounts in the Bible clearly contrast the works of the devil and the works of Jesus.   1.     THE WOMAN WHO WAS BENT OVER. Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are   six days on which men ought to work; therefore, come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound  — think of it — for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" (Luke 13:10-16 NKJV)   Notice that Satan had bound this woman, but the Lord set her free! Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in her life.   2.    THE BOY WITH EPILEPSY. Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  (Mark 9:17-20 NKJV)    When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" (Mark 9:25 NKJV)   A demon spirit had bound this boy, but the Lord set him free! Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in his life!   3.    JOB'S BOILS. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7 NKJV)   Satan put these painful boils on Job. But the Lord restored him completely, thereby destroying the works of the devil.   And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning (Job 42:10, 12 NKJV)   Job has been the subject of much controversy in different sects of the church. Many have used Job to validate false teaching that God makes people sick simply because the Lord allowed Satan to put the boils on Job. But we have the answer to why Satan was allowed to do this.   For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.  (Job 3:25 NKJV)   Fear is always an open door to the devil. Fear is a spirit from Satan, not from God, and it is the opposite of faith. Fear receives the works of the devil, but faith receives the works of God.   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (2 Tim 1:7 NKJV)   When we understand that Jesus destroyed all the works of the devil, we really have nothing left to fear.   Now I’m aware that many believers have lives that do not reflect this abundant life. That’s because although Jesus legally destroyed the works of the devil, we still have to enforce his defeat on a daily basis. Satan roams about as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So we are instructed to resist him.   Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NKJV)   Satan is a renegade that tries to illegally put bad things on believers. However, when we know the truth that Jesus destroyed his works, we can boldly stand up and resist him. We must tell the devil, “No you don’t! You can’t put sickness and disease on me, in Jesus’ name!”   One of the reasons we’ve been given the armor of God is to stand firm against the devil’s works.   Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 NKJV)   Many have said, “I’ve done all I know to do and I’m still no better.”   Ephesians 6:13 from the Amplified Classic instructs us: Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].   Once we have taken our stand of faith, we must stay in resistance mode until the disease leaves our bodies. Continually confess that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil in your life, and never give up!   You don’t have to put up with sickness and disease anymore! 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!

Most of you are aware that the medical system in America is represented by a symbol of a serpent on a pole. Why would an entire medical empire use a serpent on a pole as a logo?   The answer is the original founders of the United States of America were God-fearing, Jesus-believing Christians. They understood that although there was a place for medical science, without the help of God, there would be no healing. The story of the serpent on the pole is actually taken from the Bible. We are going to look into this story today and learn some important truths that will help us receive our healing.   Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Numbers 21:4-6 NKJV   Every one of us has to guard against discouragement on our journey of serving the Lord. If we allow ourselves to stay discontented, it will ultimately lead to complaining. The Lord is never pleased with complaining. Complaining is doubt and unbelief. Faith is what pleases God. If we really believed what the Bible said, we would be full of joy, knowing that our condition was changing. Sometimes symptoms of disease and pain linger, and when they do, we must guard our attitude even more. The result of the Israelites complaining was that fiery serpents began to bite the people, and many died.   Something worth noting is that Isaac Leeser’s translation says, “The Lord let loose fiery serpents.” There’s a big difference between “sending” and “letting loose.”   The Israelites were in a wilderness full of snakes. The miracle was not that the snakes started biting them, but that three million people were living there not having been bitten until then. God had supernaturally protected them until their doubt and unbelief opened this door to the devil to attack them.   Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Numbers 21:7-9 NKJV   You may be wondering how on earth could a person be healed and live by looking at a serpent on a pole? The answer is that the serpent is a type of Jesus, and the brass is a type of sin. Hanging on a pole is a type of Jesus hanging on the cross as our substitute for sin. When the children of Israel looked ahead to what Jesus would do, they were forgiven and healed. God did not turn anyone away. Everyone was given the same opportunity, but it was conditional: 1.     Stop looking at the serpents. 2.     Start looking at the serpent on the pole.   We could say that God offered them life and health for a look! God didn’t tell them to take a quick glance and head for home.   According to the Amplified Classic translation, Numbers 21:9 says: And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze],  he lived.    In the same way, we have been given the answer for sin, sickness, and disease. Our answer is we must keep our eyes on Jesus, and we do that by keeping our attention on His Word.   Proverbs 4:20-22 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; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.   God’s Word is medicine to all our flesh, but it must be taken according to directions.   Here are those directions: 1.     Stop looking at the symptoms (the serpents). 2.     Start looking at the Word of God (the serpent on the pole) attentively, expectantly, and with a steady and absorbing gaze.   We can see that because this method works, our enemy, Satan, will try to distract our gaze any way he can. He wants to get our attention away from the Word of God so that we fail. He may cause the symptoms to get worse before they get better to distract your attention. He may try to get you angry at someone or into unforgiveness to distract you from receiving.     Where our attention goes is where our faith goes. If our attention is on our symptoms, we will have more faith in our symptoms than in the Word of God. We must keep our gaze upon Jesus—upon His Word—so that His Word penetrates our spirits and produces life and health for us.   Hebrews 12:2 from the Amplified Classic translation says, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].   As we keep our eyes on Jesus, every symptom of sickness 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!

The health of your body is strongly connected to the health of your mind! People who need healing often want to dismiss teaching on the mind as unnecessary. However, studies have revealed that approximately 80% of all illnesses can be traced to the health of the mind. So we can see why it’s important to understand what the Bible teaches about the mind of man.   Every person on this planet has experienced feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression. They can also be described as dread, worry, or sadness. For some, these emotions are very temporary. For others, it has become a way of life. Sometimes these emotions go unrecognized. This is not the will of God for His children. God’s plan for each of us is to have a SOUND MIND.   2 Timothy 1:7 says,  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   God has given us the gift of a sound mind to effectively fight against fear in all its forms.   The Amplified Classic of 2 Tim 1:7 says this: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.   This translation reveals there are four components of a sound mind, which is the topic of today’s blog.   1.     A sound mind is calm. Synonyms for the word “calm” are tranquil, peaceful, quiet, and unruffled. One of the primary definitions of calm is “without hurried movement.”   Jesus is our great example of a person who lived in a state of calmness. There is not one place in the gospels where He is portrayed as being worried, hurried, or in a rush. Even at the news of Lazarus’ death, He didn’t respond with panic or despair. He actually waited two more days to go to Bethany.   If you find yourself always feeling rushed in life, it’s a spirit of fear driving you! Keep in mind that fear is a spirit that can be felt. God does not promise that we will never FEEL anxious or fearful. What He promises is a calm mind in the midst of fearful feelings. Don’t ever let the pressure of fear drive you to rush in life and make faulty decisions.     Isaiah 28:16 says,  He that believeth shall not make haste. He who believes or trusts in the Lord will not rush or become panicky about situations.   2.     A sound mind is well balanced. No one can be well balanced apart from the Word of God. As we take in God’s thoughts by reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture, our minds become more well balanced.   A quality life begins when we acknowledge that God is smarter than we are!   The reason that the angel Lucifer became Satan is he began to think his thoughts were higher than God’s thoughts. And did you know that every time we choose our thoughts over God’s thoughts, we are doing the same thing Lucifer did? If we choose to embrace thoughts that contradict the Word of God, things will not end well for us either.   1 Peter 5:8 AMPC says, Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.   The more we allow the Word of God to permeate our minds and hearts, the more well balanced we will be, and the more we will enjoy God’s peace.   3.     A sound mind is disciplined. True freedom comes from discipline. Without disciplining the mind, bondage to wrong thinking, speaking, and behavior is inevitable. Discipline seems to have become a dirty word in our day. Many people have cast off restraint and want to be applauded for it.   Discipline can be defined as “the practice of training to obey a code of behavior.” It is developed by instructing, educating, and informing the mind in correct principles and habits. We can actually develop our minds to respond to negative situations with what the Word of God says instead of yielding to fear.   In the first few years after I was set free from panic attacks, feelings of anxiety would frequently try to come back. But by disciplining my mind not to react to fear, I ended up having authority over fear instead.   Without discipline, there is no success in life!   There’s no doubt that discipline requires effort. But the reward of disciplining our thoughts and words is PEACE.   4.     A sound mind is self-controlled. Self-control is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter five. If you are a child of God, you have the power to exercise self-control. You can stop giving in to feelings of fear, worry, anxiety, and depression.   Galatians 5:24 says,  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.   Crucify means to put to death, and utterly destroy. Crucifying the flesh does not just include extinguishing desires, which are forbidden longings in the Greek. It includes crucifying passions, which are afflictions or pain of the mind or emotions. According to this verse, we are supposed to crucify wrong thoughts or emotions that try to take control of us.   Anxiety and depression are spiritual influences that seek to gain access. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can crucify or take charge of wrong thoughts and emotions. The Holy Spirit will never lead us into anxiety or depression. He will always remind us of what God’s Word says. He will prompt us to use our spiritual authority over them.   At the first sign of fear or sadness, do these two things: - Speak to it! Say, “Fear and sadness, I resist you in the name of Jesus! God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. I command you to leave now!” - Worship Jesus. He is the wonderful Healer and Deliverer! As you worship Him, the influence of fear and sadness will leave.   The more we practice standing against wrong thoughts and emotions, the more skillful we will become, and the more peaceful we will be. And the more we walk in God’s peace, the healthier our bodies will be! (This teaching is an excerpt out of Christine Miller's book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . We 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!

After four decades of working both as a nurse and in the ministry, I’ve discovered that most issues people face have the potential to cause either fear or depression.  Even if you are never clinically diagnosed with anxiety or depression, you will face those emotions at some time in your life. For instance, you may receive a bad diagnosis or suffer the loss of a loved one.   During the hard situations of life, we need to know that we can get on the other side without being fearful or depressed. God’s plan for each of us is to have a sound mind. In fact, a sound mind is our inheritance as a believer!   A sound mind is a peaceful mind. The devil doesn’t want any Christian to live in peace because a sound, peaceful mind is a receiving mind. When you are anxious, worried, or fearful, an invisible barrier blocks you from receiving from God.   Have you ever noticed that when your thoughts are racing, you can’t pay attention to a sermon or to the page you’re reading in a book? If you can’t pay attention, you will not hear with your spiritual ears, faith will not come, and you will not receive your answer.   So how do we combat a state of mind like that? We must remind ourselves that anxiety, fear, and depression are never from God.   2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   The Amplified Classic translation says it this way: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.   According to this passage, fear is a spirit from Satan. This spirit will cause a person to be timid and cowardly. For example, fear will keep people from pursuing their dreams or from going places or doing things.   During COVID, we saw the spirit of fear in full force. Reasonable people began to fear even leaving their homes because they thought they might get COVID and die. If you just logically think about it, the quality of life became so poor that it wasn’t even worth the isolation.   I personally witnessed many people suffer from the isolation. I even lost two distant family members, not from COVID, but from complications that hospitals refused to treat because of fear of COVID. Fear caused people to behave IRRATIONALLY. Fear always does this! Since fear is from Satan, and we never want anything from Satan, we must resist it immediately.   Let’s continue looking at the rest of that verse and see what God has actually given us.   God has given us a spirit of power. The Greek word for power here is dunamis , which is explosive, supernatural ability, power, and strength. This is where we get our word “dynamite” from. The fact that this word dunamis  is used means we have supernatural ability and strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome any fear or depression that comes against us.   Jesus also told us in Luke 10:19, Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.   Fear is a power of the enemy. We must always remind ourselves that Jesus gave us authority over ALL the power of the enemy, and that includes fear and depression.   God has given us a spirit of love. The word “love” is translated from the Greek word agape , which is an unconditional, sacrificial God kind of love. This kind of love is so powerful that it can NEVER fail, according to 1 Corinthians 13. It’s also important to note that this kind of love casts out fear.   There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]. 1 John 4:18 AMPC   The deeper we understand the love of God, the less we will fear in life. Fear is an enemy of faith. It comes from not being fully assured that God will deliver us.   God has given us a sound mind. A sound mind is calm, well-balanced, disciplined, and self-controlled. A sound mind is a peaceful mind. There’s only one way to obtain a truly sound mind—from the Word of God.   Until we take on God’s thoughts, our thinking will be squirrely. This means that like a squirrel, our minds will run all over the place in various directions and be confused. We may take pride in how educated we are and how much we think we know about life. But the more we meditate in God’s Word and begin to think like God, the more it will reveal how unsound we actually were.   This is what happened in my life. I lived with anxiety for 30 years and thought I was normal. I didn’t even recognize I was an anxious person until I had an unexpected panic attack one night. But I have spent decades renewing my mind to think right and control my thoughts, and I rarely even feel the presence of anxiety anymore. This is what God wants for all of us!   If Satan tries to bring feelings of fear or sadness to you, always resist him by speaking what the Word says. Say, “Fear or depression, I refuse to have you in my life. I resist you, in Jesus’ Name! God has given me the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.” Then begin to worship the Lord because He has given you His peace, and He is your Deliverer. Before very long, those feelings of fear or sadness will completely leave! (This teaching is an excerpt out of Christine Miller's book, UNTROUBLED: Conquering Anxiety, Fear and Depression . We 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!

Divine healing is always the will of God for every person, everywhere. However, in order to receive it, we must understand something of importance. Healing doesn’t just randomly drop out of the sky.   There is a system of divine order with which we receive from God. If we’re going to receive healing, it is essential to know how this system works. As I was praying one day, these four words came to me repeatedly. I believe these four words are critical for anyone who desires to receive divine healing.   The words I heard were, FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND.   You might be wondering, “What exactly does that mean?” FAITH FIRST is the starting point for everything that happens in God’s kingdom. Faith toward God is actually a foundational doctrine of the Church.   Hebrews 6:1 says, Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.   It’s amazing how few churches teach on the subject of faith, especially considering how important it is to have faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”   When we look at some of the healings in Jesus’ ministry, we see that Jesus made it clear that it was the faith of the individual that caused them to receive healing.   Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith , not even in Israel!”  Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have   believed , so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. Matthew 8:5-11, 13 NKJV   We see from this account that the centurion had faith. We also see God’s order: FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND! We also see that Jesus marveled at the centurion’s great faith. There are only two things the Bible says Jesus marveled at: faith and unbelief. We want to be sure He is marveling at our faith as well!   Let’s look at another account in Mark chapter two. Four men showed up to one of Jesus’ meetings carrying a paralytic. Because of the crowd, they couldn’t get near Jesus. So, they went up on the roof, made a hole, and lowered the paralytic down before Him.   When Jesus saw their faith , He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  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 2:5-12 NKJV   Verse five tells us that Jesus saw their faith. How can faith be seen? Faith is always accompanied by action. James 2:20 tells us that faith without corresponding actions is dead.   Again we see God’s order in this story: FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND!   Mark chapter five tells the account of the woman with an issue of blood. In verse 34, Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”   Many have heard the story of blind Bartimaeus. He heard that Jesus was walking nearby and began to cry out to Him, asking Him to have mercy on him.   So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Luke 18:40-43 NKJV   Jesus told both of these individuals that their faith made them well. And again we see God’s order: FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND!   Since faith is absolutely vital for us to receive our healing, we must know what biblical faith is. The following is my favorite version:   NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMPC   Faith perceives as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. That means faith believes before it sees. In every account we looked at, the individual believed first, before he received healing. God’s system of order has not changed. We, too, must believe we receive our healing first, and then we will have it. This is exactly what Jesus taught us in Mark chapter eleven.   Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24 NKJV   FAITH FIRST, HEALING SECOND is God’s order and there are no shortcuts. The next time you find yourself waiting to believe until after you feel better, remember this scriptural truth. We receive from God after we show Him we believe His Word! 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!

When people pray for healing, they tend to look up and expect answers and power to come from the third Heaven, the place where God dwells. However, healing power does not actually come down from Heaven. God’s healing power is found in every believer right now!   In preparing His disciples for His departure from earth, Jesus shared some important truths with them.   “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18 NKJV   The Holy Spirit was not able to live inside of people until after Jesus rose from the dead. But now, if anyone accepts Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of their re-created spirit.   Under the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God only dwelt in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. Once a year, one man—the High Priest—was able to enter that place and experience His presence. The instructions for entering in were so explicit, that if that High Priest didn’t follow them exactly, he was in danger of dropping dead. This is because he did not have a born-again spirit. He still had a sin nature, and sin does not mix with God’s holiness.   When a person’s spirit is born again, the sin nature completely passes away. The Bible says, “all things have become new.” Therefore, under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit is able to live inside the spirits of believers.   Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV   We who believe have become the Holy of Holies for the Spirit of God.   Colossians 1:27 says it like this: To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you , the hope of glory.   Not only can the Holy Spirit live in you if you are born again, but you can also be completely immersed in Him. There is a separate experience subsequent to salvation called the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Jesus thought it was so imperative to have this experience that He commanded His disciples not to preach until they received it.   “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 NKJV   The word “power” is translated from the Greek word “dunamis,” which means miraculous power! THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS THE HEALING POWER OF GOD! If we have the Holy Spirit, we have the healing power of God.   And here is what the Holy Spirit in you is capable of:   And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 AMPC   This is saying that your mortal body—not your spirit—can be restored with the life and vitality of God by the Holy Spirit who lives in you. There is no greater power in all the world than the power of the Holy Spirit. And He lives in you if you are a child of God!   Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 KJV   His power in us is greater than any sickness or pain. His power in us is greater than any problem we face. Now, the big question is, “How do we activate that power?” And the answer is THROUGH FAITH!   Faith believes and speaks. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. But faith is released by speaking the Word of God.   I routinely confess that the Holy Spirit in me is annihilating every trace of disease and pain in my body! I would suggest you do the same thing. We must stop focusing on our insufficiencies and start meditating on the truth that the Greater One lives in us. He is there to put us over in life!   Not only does the Holy Spirit heal our bodies. He also renews our strength and our youth.   Psalm 103:5 says, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.   I’ve noticed that people who follow Jesus closely rarely ever look their age! We are preserved by the power of God in us.   Here is another great scripture for meditation: But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV   The next time you need healing, don’t look in the distance for it. Healing power is in you and upon you right now. Simply believe it, speak it, and receive it! 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 most important things to understand about divine healing is that you will never receive it without getting in agreement with God. Receiving divine healing requires your cooperation in two main areas. You must believe God’s Word, and you must speak God’s Word on a continual basis.   You will never change your physical condition without believing right and speaking right. Believing accurately is only possible if you will guard your thought life and think accurately first. We would all like to pride ourselves in believing that our thoughts are always right. However, the first step to cooperating with God is acknowledging that your thoughts may not agree with God’s and then obtaining His thoughts.   Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “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.”   If you want to know exactly what you’ve been thinking and believing, start paying attention to what you regularly SAY. Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt 12:34)   Many do not realize that their words determine the course of their life. James 3:2 tells us, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” If you can control what you say, you can control the outcome of your health. If you continually talk about sickness and pain, you will continue to have sickness and pain. However, if you continually say what God says about your body, healing will begin to manifest in your body.   Here are a few more scriptures that reveal the power of the tongue:   The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21 NLT   A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life. Proverbs 15:4 AMPC   Remember that the tree of life was in the garden of Eden, and if Adam and Eve would have eaten of it first, they would have lived on earth forever in health and peace.   Here’s something else worth noting about words. When God wants something to come to pass, He speaks it first. We see the first example of this in the book of Genesis.   Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:3 NKJV   Because we have been created in God’s likeness, we also have the ability to speak things into existence. Jesus taught us this truth in Mark 11:23.   “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.”   Since we will have what we believe and say, we should be watchful over our hearts and our words. We should be agreeing with God by saying what He says about any area of our lives. But what exactly does God say about our health?   “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17-18 NKJV   Christ, . . . by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NKJV   Through the process of meditation, you will get to the place where you believe this in your heart and confess it with your mouth, and that is exactly what you will have.   There is a spiritual law that few realize: our confessions rule us. Sooner or later, everyone will have what they confess in life. All of us have two choices on a daily basis. We can talk about what the devil is doing, or we can talk about what God has done and what we have in Christ.   The more we talk about the symptoms in our bodies, the more we glorify what the devil is doing, and the more we have the sickness. The more we talk about the Word of God, the more we glorify God, and the more we will have health and healing in our bodies. Our faith will actually keep pace with our confession. Another way to say this is that faith never rises above its confession. 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!

There are many reasons why believers fail to receive divine healing. One of those reasons is two inches below their nose.   1 Peter 3:10 says, For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.”   If you want to love your life and see good days, you must learn to master your tongue. In other words, control what you say! This includes refraining from speaking evil of other people. But another important aspect that I want to highlight today is mastering your tongue to speak God’s word concerning your health. You cannot expect to receive anything from God if you continually disagree with God.   Proverbs 18:21 tells us,  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” The Message translation says it this way: “ Words kill, words give life;   they're either poison or fruit—you choose.” God has given man the power of words. Many people have no idea how powerful their words are. But words can kill or give life.   When it comes to our health and well-being, it is never beneficial to speak negatively about it. The more we talk about the problem, the worse it will become. This seems to be the opposite of what we see and hear in our world today. Professionals everywhere encourage people to talk about the problems. We have many talk shows where people openly discuss their personal problems.  What we need are more shows that talk about the answers, like the ones from Miller Ministries!   Jesus had something to say about our words. “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 11:23 NKJV   Now, I don’t believe Jesus ever told a lie. He said that the things we say with our mouths and believe in our hearts are exactly what we will have. A mountain represents a problem we are facing in life, for example, a sickness or disease. Jesus said to say something to the mountain: “BE REMOVED!”   So many people are talking ABOUT the mountains in their lives instead of talking TO the mountains. And that is why the sickness and disease are still in their bodies. We could say, THEY ARE HUNG BY THEIR TONGUE!   It’s the easiest thing in the world to just talk about the sickness or disease you are dealing with. Most everyone talks about their health issues, as if that will console them somehow. But according to Jesus, what you say and believe is what you get. That is the same as saying death and life are in the power of the tongue.   Romans 10:17 says, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   Since faith comes by hearing, the more you hear something, the more you’ll believe it. Therefore, the more you say it, the more you hear it, and the more you believe it. We have actually been created by God to live our lives by our words.   Genesis says we are made in the likeness of God. This is the same way that God operates. He spoke, and then things came into existence. Whether we like it or not, everything we have today in life is the sum total of what we’ve believed in our hearts and spoken with our mouths.   We see from the Bible that everything we receive from God comes by what we believe in our heart and say with our mouth. Romans 10:9-11 says, “ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  The original Greek word “salvation” actually means to heal, preserve, save, and make whole.   Words always have something to do with our receiving. Proverbs 12:18 from the Amplified Classic translation says,   “There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”   The whole world is programmed to be negative. If we spend too much time around negative people, we will be negative. You do not want to think like the world thinks when it comes to disease. You want to think and speak healing words so you can live healed. As you spend time daily meditating upon healing scriptures, you will find it easier to “speak the word only.” Then you will find that instead of being hung by your tongue, you will be blessed and enriched by your tongue! 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 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!