Today I Declare...

Today I declare over my life, the Word of Truth which will not return to the Lord empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it…

I will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst forth into song before me, and all the tress of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign which will not be destroyed. For I am highly favoured because the Lord is with me.

I am not afraid for I have found favour with God – the Son of the Most High, the One Whose Kingdom will never end, Jesus the Christ, is with me; the Holy Spirit of God, the Father, and God the Son, the Giver of Life, lives inside me. I am the Lord’s and He is mine, and every promise that the Lord, my God has spoken over my life will be to me as He has said.

I am blessed for I believed that what the Lord has said to me will be accomplished! For nothing is impossible with God. Everything God has said concerning me will come true at their proper time – it is the Lord Who has done this for me, for my good and for His glory; in these days He has shown His favour and has taken away my disgrace. My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has been mindful of me.

I am blessed for the Mighty One Himself has done great things for me – Holy is His Name! He has extended His mercy to me; He has performed mighty deeds with His arm, He has lifted me up and has filled me with good things, for the Lord’s hand is with me!

Praise be to the Lord, my God, He has redeemed me, delivered me, and restored to me ten times the double portion that He had already promised.

Praise be to the Lord for He has done great things, His wonders to perform. Jesus is the Lord of my life!

Praise be to the Lord! It is done! Amen†


(from Isaiah 55 and Luke 1)

Today I Declare... Shelley Johnson 23-Dec-2014

Be the Peacemaker

Recently, I allowed myself to become very angry. I must admit that I have not experienced such anger in many, many years. Fortunately, I quickly recognized where I was headed and through prayer was able to calm down in a reasonably short time. As I was doing so, this came into my mind,

“Blessed are the peacemakers…”

I knew there was another part but I just could not recall the rest of it, so I reached for my bible. The Gospel of Matthew, I flipped through to the Beatitudes…

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” 

(Matthew 5:9)

Immediately, I understood what God was telling me. I, as a son of God must be the peacemaker. “Shucks!” I sighed. 

To be called a son of God means that you have died to self with Christ and raised with Him in newness of life – you are in intimate relationship with God through Jesus.

To be called a son of God means living in a way that reflects this relationship.

To be called a son of God means that you are a spiritually mature child of the living God and display the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit of which peace is an element, for peace is the presence of God and not the absence of conflict.

As a genuine son of God, you are to function as the peacemaker in conflict, following the example the Son of God set for you as the Prince of Peace.

The peacemaker does not deliberately cause ruptures in relationships, they seek to mend what’s broken where possible. 

The peacemaker does not allow anger to get the upper hand but is the one to make peace, be at peace, and overcomes enmity.

The peacemaker is in harmony with God, the Source of peace, and is charged to tell others of the glorious gospel of peace, not just by word but by behaviour, so that they may experience it too through Christ’s redemptive work, Himself our Peace. 

Jesus Christ has afforded each of us the blessing of the peacemaker and the privilege of being called a son of God.

Be the Peacemaker    Shelley Johnson 10-Jun-2016

A wise man will pacify anger (Proverbs 16:14)

I did not know my husband’s grandmother but from him I know of her, and one of the things he has told me is that she’d often say,

“It’s the answer that brings the row”.

It takes much determination to live by such wisdom since our natural inclination is to respond to anger with anger. King Solomon, in his wisdom said it this way,

“A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.” (Proverbs 15:1 GNT)

We should always seek to bring calm to a heated situation, to diffuse anger rather than intensify it. We have the power in our mouths to change the atmosphere by using soft, gentle words that bring peace. We must always choose to be the peacemaker – that is wisdom.

A wise man will pacify anger (Proverbs 16:14) Shelley Johnson 09-Jun-2016

Two Fishing Trips: Something to think about

Scripture tells us of two fishing trips, one can be found in Luke 5:4-7 and the other in John 21:3-11. 

On the first fishing trip, Peter and the other disciples, after having been on the water all night had caught nothing. Now tired and despondent, Jesus tells them to try again but this time launch out into deep water and let down the nets everywhere to catch “a great multitude of fishes”. The narrative goes on to tell us that the haul was so great that “nets were breaking” and boats “began to sink”. As you know, Peter and the others were career fishermen, they knew how to fish, so what was Jesus doing? Jesus was showing them, in a very meaningful way, what they were to become, “fishers of men”, in other words, instead of catching fish they would be catching people.

Jesus told Simon. "From now on you will be catching people!" – Luke 5:10 (HCSB)

What happened on this first fishing trip caused such an impact that immediately thereafter, the disciples left what they were doing and followed Jesus (see verse 11), and like them, we too are being told to venture into the deep to fish for people everywhere. No specific location has been given, rather we are to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15-16) so long as time exists.

Notice that Luke, in his account of this first trip, has given us something to think about…he was very careful to let us know that this gathering of an untold endless number of “fish” from everywhere will cause nets to break and boats to sink. He was letting us know that adverse consequences come with catching so many fish but right after that, in verse 10, Jesus tells us, “Don’t be afraid”.

The second fishing trip occurs between Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension. Yet again, after an all-night-no-fish session, Jesus, standing on the beach at daybreak unrecognizable, tells Peter and the disciples to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, and yet again a multitude of fish were caught. In this account we are told that the number of fish was 153, and there was neither breaking of nets nor sinking of boats.

Jesus was very specific with His directions to the disciples this time round, instead of casting their nets everywhere, they were told to cast their nets on the right. This is reminiscent of the sheep on the right (Matthew 25:33). Here, we’re being told about when Jesus returns for the redeemed, those on the right side, who would inherit the Kingdom (see Matthew 25:32-34).

Notice that John, in his account of this second trip, has given us something to think about…he was very careful to let us know that there is a specific number of fish on a specific side of the boat, the right side.

Jesus wants us to be specifically identified as being on the right side, in fellowship with Him and other believers. He wants us to not be afraid to launch out into deeper waters. Today, you’ve been given something to think about.

(see also the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds Matthew 13:24-30 & the Parable of the Net Matthew 13:47-50)

Two Fishing Trips: Something to think about   Shelley Johnson 08-Jun-2016

Sift Away Satan, Sift Away

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat." – Luke 22:31 (NIV)

"Satan has asked"…many of us are of the belief that Satan has free reign to do whatever he wants to do on this earth, and for the most part, that may be true, however, it is clear from Luke 22:31, that when it comes to those in relationship with Jesus – born-again children of God – he must ask. But from who does Satan seek permission "to sift all of you"?

"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them." – Job 1:6, also 2:1 (JUB)

There are days and then there’s that one particular day when Satan, mixing in with the angels, presents himself before God to ask permission to sift you. Permission is required from God. And now that you know this, another question arises: Why, as a child of God, should God grant Satan permission to sift you?

You must keep in mind that Satan is prowling around the earth like a roaring lion looking for prey, ready to pounce at the mere sign of weakness (1 Peter 5:8). He is an astute strategist who studies his prey carefully. He is looking out for even the tiniest chink in your armor – any kind of emotional instability, angry outbursts, spiritual immaturity, pride, self-righteousness, greed, rage, bitterness, if you’re easily offended, hasty, emotionally wounded, and fearful.

Satan’s greatest ally is fear. Fear gives Satan cause to move against you; he will use your fear as his compelling reason for proving his case against you before God, just as he did with Job. When you operate in fear, you give Satan a legal right to put his hands on you (see Job 1:12; 2;6) and God is legally bound to remove His hedge of protection from around you. Satan couldn’t care less about your good attributes or your great works, he is keeping a keen eye out for those skeletons hidden in the back of your closet – your craven fears.

Cheer up, it’s not all bad news because even though Satan has been given permission to sift, there are boundaries that he’s not allowed to cross. God always sets the boundaries. As crafty, powerful and clever as Satan is, he is still a created being, just like the rest of us. Created by God, and therefore subordinate to God and, like the ocean, only able to venture as far as God permits (Job 2:6). As God’s own, Satan can only lift a finger against you under divine imposed limitations, and God will use these times of physical misery for a spiritual purpose. Look at what Jesus told Peter right after he let him know about the sifting.

"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." – Luke 22:32 (NIV)

God will use this time of sifting as a set up for His glory to be manifested in you and through you, to give you a testimony to share with others so that by it their faith might be strengthened. He will work all things together for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

God is the only one who determines the outcome of your life. He does not gamble with the lives of His children. He has already established a great plan for you. Beloved, even if you have to suffer a little while, know that at the end of it all the genuineness of your faith will be proven and you’ll be as refined as fire refines gold, so, sift away Satan, sift away.

Sift Away Satan, Sift Away    Shelley Johnson 07-Jun-2016

Let your heart and mouth work together

Understand that God has already done everything – blessings, healing, deliverance…everything. He has already provided everything that you need – it’s already there, in the spirit. So how do you get it? Faith!

Faith is the bridge that allows what God has already provided to cross over from the spirit realm into the natural or physical realm. But, having faith is one thing, employing it is another.

“So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says…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)

“A man will be satisfied with good by the words of his mouth…”
(Proverbs 12:14 HCSB)

Believe, Confess, and Receive! Let your heart and your mouth work together.

“…the word is very near you—it's within your mouth and heart for you to attain."
(Deuteronomy 30:14 ISV)

When you truly believe and you confess, faith is released and you will receive.

Let your heart and mouth work together    Shelley Johnson 06-Jun-2016

A Declaration for Today

Today Lord, I step into the cleansing and the new life You have given me. I receive with gladness Your wonderful gift of restoration.

Today Lord, I choose to reject thoughts that do not line up with the Word of God – thoughts of chaos, confusion, condemnation, accusation, guilt, fear, failure, lack, defeat, discouragement, doubt, and any other negative, destructive and unproductive thoughts and ideas. 

Today, I decree and declare, that I am accepted in the Belovéd as God’s own child, having God-pleasing faith because I believe that God exists and I believe His Word regardless of my feelings.

So, today, I choose to believe that there is hope for my life, that God’s best is what’s in store for me, that God’s road of humility is better than my highway of pride, that God’s restoration is more important than my reputation, that God has truly forgiven me, and that by the blood of Jesus, Satan’s head was crushed – he is utterly defeated and sin has no control over me.

That is why today, I confidently declare, that I choose faith over fear; faith in God and His goodness, for God is constantly working with me, for me, and in me and I know that He is able to finish the good work that He started in me, to make what seems impossible possible in my life because absolutely nothing is impossible with my wonderful, awesome, loving, gracious God.

Today, I boldly declare that I am His and He is mine, in Jesus name, Amen†

A Declaration for Today ©2014 Shelley Johnson 28-Oct-2014

A Gentle Reminder

Yesterday I received a gentle reminder that faith is active. It’s a doing word. Indeed the Bible tells us that we must exercise our faith, that is, we must act upon the faith we profess to possess.

“…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17 (NIV)

Here are just a few points to remember:

• When we choose to believe God, our faith is activated
  
  "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." – Romans 4:3 (NLT)
  
  
• Faith is not something we build, obtain, or increase, faith is a gift from God which grows strong when acted upon through believing
  
  “Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger…” – Romans 4:20 (NLT)
  
  
• The Bible does not tell us to build our faith but rather to build upon our faith – our “most holy faith”, most holy because we’ve received this faith from our Most Holy God
  
  “…beloved, building up yourselves upon your most holy faith…” – Jude 1:20 (JUB)
  
  
• We have all been given “the measure of faith” but it needs to be activated
  
  “…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” – Romans 12:3 (KJV)
  
  
• When we listen to the Word of God over and over again, our faith will be activated because the more we hear the Word the more we believe the Word – genuine faith cannot be activated without the Word
  
  “…"LORD, who has believed our message? So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” – Romans 10:16-17 (NLT)
  
  
• Our faith must be tested to prove genuine
  
  “…even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold…” – 1 Peter 1:6, 7 (NLT)
  
  
• Step into faith and live
  
  “For we live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

A Gentle Reminder    Shelley Johnson 04-Jun-2016

Affirmations in Faith

Your spoken confession of God’s Word releases His power into your life. Speaking God’s Word aloud will increase your faith as you listen to your own voice. Know that when you speak God’s Word over your life, He is watching to perform it. So, speak in faith and do not doubt.


As it is written,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:1, 6)

I am a God pleaser, full of faith, because I believe that He exists and He rewards me when I earnestly seek Him.

I am sure of what I hope for and certain the things I do not yet see will happen.

Trust is the foundation of my hope and faith. I trust God completely and my hope rests in Him.

I choose faith over fear and my faith does not fail.


As it is written,
“For with God nothing is impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.”
(Luke 1:37)

I affirm that with God absolutely nothing is impossible, for He is the God of the impossible and, because His word is powerful whatever He has said about me will be fulfilled in my life…God’s plan for my life is far greater than what I am currently living!

God knows the plan He has for my life, to bring about the future I hope for, an expected outcome, so the measure of my expectations increases daily because my expectations come from God!

Amen†

Affirmations in Faith Shelley Johnson 2-Jun-2016

Create A Treasure Map

Yesterday’s blog post spoke of using your imagination – your ability to see with your inner eyes, to picture things on the inside. We don’t understand just how important it is to visualize things and have a perfectly clear picture of where we want to be and what we’d like to have in life. 

For some of us depending on our imagination alone is not enough, we need to physically see what we’ve imagined. There is a way to do just that by creating a Treasure Map. A Treasure Map is a detailed pictorial of what you’re already imagining. I was introduced to this concept by my mother many years ago as a teenager. Then, I’d created a simple map on a small sheet of cardboard but as small and as simple as it was, it still proved effective.

Ever since then I realized that it helps to put your vision on paper. You get the best of both by utilizing your inner eyes and your physical eyes. Even an architect creates a blueprint of what he had first visualized internally – his imagination on paper. Your Treasure Map is like an architect’s blueprint and its focal point is the Lord. After all “the earth and everything in it…belong to the Lord” (Psalm 24:1). 

Here are the things you’ll need to create your own Treasure Map:

• A photo of Jesus, the word Jesus or Lord or God to be used as the focal point of your map
• Cut out colour photos from magazines or even your own photos, of whatever you’ve imagined 
• A sheet of Bristol board 
• Glue
• Pen or maker
• Relevant Scripture verses, inspirational quotes, and your own declarations from Scripture

Here’s how to create your Treasure Map:

1. Glue the photo of Jesus, the word Jesus or Lord or God at the centre of the sheet of Bristol board.
   
2. Arrange the other photos around the focal point, when you’re satisfied, glue them onto the board as well
   
3. Finally, write the relevant Scripture verses, inspirational quotes, and personalised declarations from Scripture under and or around the photos
   
   (Please know that you can create your map in a notebook, on copy paper or even on your computer.)

That’s it, you’ve just created a Treasure Map…it’s that simple. Now see your imagination become your reality. 

Create A Treasure Map Shelley Johnson 01-Jun-2016