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Moments with Marilyn
Faith is the one element that God gives us to bring substance into our lives. We must “substantiate” our hope with faith. Your faith will reach up into heaven and say, “There is substance in heaven for me.” ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: Is God with me When I’m Lonely?
In this episode of #AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: Is God with me When I’m Lonely?
Proverbs 11:24
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. (Proverbs 11:24 ESV)
God Remembers Your Faith
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:28
Are you familiar with the story of Samson and Delilah? Samson had an anointing of physical strength to overcome the Philistines, but Samson had a weakness for Philistine women. He got involved with a woman name Delilah, who seduced him to find out the secret of his strength—it was in his consecration to the Lord, which came with a vow to never cut his hair. While Samson was sleeping one night, Delilah had his head shaved, and when she did “his strength left him” (see Judges 16:19). She sold him to the Philistines who gouged out his eyes and put him in prison to work.
After some time, the Philistines brought Samson out to the temple on the day they were to worship their god, Dagon. They were praising their god for delivering Samson into their hands, but they didn’t know that Samson had repented. He prayed and God’s anointing of physical strength came upon him. Samson pushed on the support pillars until the whole temple came down on top of him, and the Bible says he killed many more Philistines in his death than in his whole life.
When we look at this it is easy to think, “Oh Samson, how sad that you had to learn the hard way!” But in Hebrew 11, we see that Samson is in the hall of fame of faith. And not only that, but only Samson’s acts of faith were recorded, not his moments of failure. When I first saw this, I said to the Lord, “Why don’t You list anyone’s failures in Hebrews 11? None of these people were perfect!” And God said, “Because I remember your faith and I forget what you repented.” Isn’t that good news?
Dear Heavenly Father, I declare that through my repentance and the blood of Jesus, You remember my failures no more. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for remembering my faith!
Weekend Action Plan
Keep track of the Holy Spirit’s involvement in your daily living.
Moments with Marilyn
Hearing the Word, continuing in it, and doing it brings blessings. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Deuteronomy 31:6!
On today’s Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn Hickey shares encouragement from Deuteronomy 31:6!
1 Thessalonians 5:24
God will make this happen, For He who calls you is faithful. (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLT)
Sun, Stand Still
On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” Joshua 10:12
The Scripture above is probably the greatest faith statement ever made in the Bible.
A group of people who lived in the Promised Land were called the Gibeonites. They were afraid of Joshua and the Israelites, so they deceived them into believing they were foreigners, having traveled a great distance. Without praying for guidance, Joshua made a covenant with these people. But the Gibeonites turned out to be one of the tribes that God had told them not to make covenant with.
What do you do when you blow it? Joshua began to pray.
The other tribes were furious! They heard what the Gibeonites had done and put together their armies against them. But because Joshua and the Israelites had made a covenant with the Gibeonites, they were forced to protect them against all the other armies. So, they began to fight.
First came a hailstorm, but it was very discriminating hail. It only fell on the armies coming against them. Then it looked as if the sun was going to go down, and if the sun went down, they may not be able to win the battle. This is where Joshua made his faith statement, speaking to the sun: “Sun, stand still. Moon, stay in the valley.” And the sun stood still until the Israelites had won the battle.
How did Joshua keep getting victory even when he blew it? He kept praying, he kept meditating, he kept speaking God’s Word.
God wants us to triumph. Jesus wants to lead us from victory to victory. And He will, if we keep praying and speaking His Word.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for leading us from victory to victory. When we fall short, remind us to pray.
Weekend Action Plan
Look and see where you can improve your communication skills.
Moments with Marilyn
God is always seeking to develop the potential He placed within us, to make us into all He initially designed us to be. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: How do I Stay Committed to God’s Will?
In this episode of #AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: How Do I Stay Committed to Gods Will?
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace to abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)
The Rope of Hope
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father…I Thessalonians 1:2-3 NKJV
There are three things in this verse that stand out to me: (1) faith can work, (2) love can labor, and (3) hope can give you patience.
If we feel we have faith, yet do nothing, we don’t really have faith. If we say we have love, yet do nothing, we don’t really have love. If we say we have hope, then we will be patient until we see the manifestation of what God has for us.
HOPE in the Hebrew means “rope.” I believe God lets His rope down from Heaven so we can tie a knot in it and hold onto it until we see the manifestation of our faith and our love.
Rahab had hope in God’s Word. She even put a red rope in her window (see Joshua 2). Her wall stood when other walls fell. When other people’s walls fall down, their lives fall down too. If you hold onto the rope of God’s hope, however, your wall will stand.
Dear Heavenly Father, we know that it is through faith and patience that we inherit Your promises. We make a decision to hold to faith and to have patience until we see the fulfillment of Your promises. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Weekend Act Plan
Identify where selfishness is keeping you from being compassionate. Repent and draw near to Jesus.
Moments with Marilyn
When we have put God’s Word in our spirit, the Holy Spirit will bring it forth at the time of our need. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Proverbs 16:7!
Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Proverbs 16:7!
James 1:3
For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:3 ESV)
Bless This House
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 NKJV
When you hear about someone who is as devoted to their work as Joshua was, you might start to wonder whether they are able to have a successful family life. Joshua was always busy—leading the people into the Promised Land, trying to hear from God, and constantly meditating on God’s Word. But the Bible says if you meditate on the Word day and night, you will be prosperous (see Joshua 1:8), so we know he must have been successful in his family life!
Kids do what they see you do, and your children need to see you in the Bible and the Bible in you. Don’t stop reading the Word. By your very behavior, you are showing them what is important. Your children need to see your obedience to God—that you put Him first—so that they too can live a prosperous life. Trust God, because He will show you if you are out of balance.
The first thing Rahab did when she made a covenant with the Israelites was to ask protection for her family (see Joshua 2). When you get saved, you want your whole family to get saved. So, when we become faithful followers of Christ, meditating on His Word day and night, God will bless us and make our homes prosperous.
Jesus, I declare that as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord!
Weekend Action Plan
Identify a relationship in which you are struggling. Ask the Lord how you can begin to serve that person.
Moments with Marilyn
Sow supernatural seed, and reap a generational blessing! ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: What is Communion?
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: What is Communion?
Philippians 4:13
I can do all thing through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NASB)
The Secret to Success
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
If you meditate on the Word, if you speak the Word, if you to the Word, you will be prosperous and successful in all that you do!
Meditate means “to think about, to consider, to mull over something in your mind.” And it can also mean to memorize, to say it over and over and over again until it gets a hold of you.
You might think, “I would love to meditate on the Word, speak the Word, and do the Word all the time, but I just can’t do that. I just don’t have that kind of time!” But let me ask you this: Are you busier than Joshua? Joshua had over two million people to lead. He had to be sure they got enough to eat and drink. He had to instruct them in how to fight their enemies. And he still found time to meditate on the Bible, day and night.
Was he meditating on the Psalms? No! All Joshua had was the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible. Can you imagine meditating on Leviticus? But Joshua meditated on Leviticus. We can be sure of it, because Joshua was successful. Even when he made mistakes, he was still prosperous and successful. And I have a gut feeling that Joshua was much busier than you or I will ever be!
So, go ahead, tell me you’re too busy. But remember this: if you are too busy for the Word, then you are too busy to be prosperous and successful!
Dear Heavenly Father, give me the strength to make time for Your Word, to stop making excuses and start making You a priority. The Word in me is what will make me prosperous and successful.
Weekend Action Plan
The greater the impossible, the closer you must be to Jesus.
Moments with Marilyn
When we decide to be led by a joyful heart, strive to joyfully express our love for God, and commit to maintain our joy by seeking God daily, great and mighty things will happen. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Isaiah 54:5!
On today’s Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Isaiah 54:5!
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I do not change. (Malachi 3:6 NKJV)
The Message
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus quoted more from Deuteronomy and Psalms than any other books of the Old Testament. He quoted from Deuteronomy in the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7) and to fend off the devil who was trying to tempt Him in the wilderness (see Matthew 4). Why did Jesus quote from Deuteronomy so much? Because of the message.
Deuteronomy means “the message,” and we know that Jesus is both the Messenger and the Message. Therefore, Deuteronomy shows the picture of the coming prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
Basically, “the message” in Deuteronomy comes through three big sermons: (1) a review of how God has taken care of His people, (2) a recounting of the Ten Commandments and other laws, and (3) a call for commitment to the law through obedience. We could also say it like this: the first sermon looks backward, the second looks inward, and the third looks forward.
Why does Moses preach these sermons? Because that generation didn’t see the miracles that their parents saw. Their parents saw the opening of the Red Sea, the 10 plagues removed and the presence of God as a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night. Moses wanted that generation to know it’s the same miracle-working Father and the same Divine commandments that would make them successful.
Lord, thank you for being the God who doesn’t change. I choose today to remember
Weekend Action Plan
When the Lord is prompting you to take the next step of faith, walk in obedience.
Moments with Marilyn
I have found that God responds to faith, not need. Faith is the currency of the kingdom of heaven. Keep praying. Keep believing. Miracles provide a witness to unbelievers. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: What is the mark of the beast?
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: What is the mark of the beast?
1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV)
Praise! Praise! Praise!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6
God commands us to praise Him. He says that if we are living, if there is breath inside of us, we need to praise Him.
One of the words for praise in Hebrew is “Judah.” As we follow the tribe of Judah throughout the Bible, we see that where it goes, so goes praise.
Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy that the voice of Judah would be heard throughout the earth.
David was of the tribe of Judah and wrote most of the Psalms, which certainly have become worldwide praises for the Lord.
We find that Jesus often praised the Father and gave Him thanks. Jesus also came from the tribe of Judah.
We who are born-again also come from a “tribe of praise.” We are in the lineage of Jesus Christ; thus, we too are of the tribe of Judah and bring praise.
Do you have breath? Do you have life? Then praise Him today! Praise Him everywhere, not just at a worship service—for praise is a way of life! We need to let the earth hear our voices as we praise the Lord.
Lord, I declare that as long as I have breath in my body, I will praise You and give thanks to You because I come from the line of Judah, the line of Jesus, a tribe of praise.
Weekend Action Plan
Think about the words God uses to describe you. Ask Him to stir up the characteristics you struggle to “put on.”
Wednesday in the Word – Marilyn shares Ephesians 4:3, Carry and Share the Light
Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn Hickey shares from Ephesians 4:3, Carry and Share the Light.
Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 ESV)
God Provides Solutions to Our Challenges
Even for believers, there are moments when fear, doubt, and disappointment crowds in. When this happens, you may struggle to find room for more of God’s presence in your life.
That’s what occurred one day for Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. An internal medicine physician, Dalton-Smith realized she felt divine dehydration—totally empty, spiritually. Smith listened as a patient recounted physical discomfort. As Dalton-Smith cared for the patient, attaching an IV and prescribing fluid, she realized that spiritually, she was in the same condition. She needed a spiritual IV, a continual infusion of the presence of God in her life.
That experience was the impetus for her to help her patients have a deeper understanding of the spiritual side of healing. By just focusing on physical, she wasn’t giving patients everything they needed to get to a place of healing and wholeness.
Aside from the physical, there is also the spiritual and mental (emotional) part of our bodies. Dalton-Smith recognized that people suffering physical ailments also need life-giving water that quenches thirst and refreshes souls. Simply treating issues of depression, stress, or anxiety with conventional cures can create more confusion because people can’t get whole without the added component of spiritual healing. Most of the time, there’s a deeper work that has to be done.
Often painful experiences such as abuse, divorce, infidelity, insecurity, dementia, and cancer cause deep spiritual and emotional pain. Dr. Dalton-Smith advises that you don’t allow pain to be a destination, but see it as part of your journey. Pain is part of our wilderness experience, but God never allows pain to be a place we visit without Him getting glory from it.
You can dream with God again and let Him redirect your steps. Rest assured, you can come empty and be filled to overflow by pouring out life’s hurts and receive God’s healing love. God sees us, knows our pain, and has a solution for it.
Click here to watch a special program with Saundra Dalton Smith.
Weekend Action Plan
Let Jesus be your center relationship; the essential foundation.
Moments with Marilyn
The miracles that we pray for in Jesus’s name come because everything in Heaven and Earth has to bow to His name. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: Why do I exist?
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: Why do I exist?
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5 NIV)
Walk in Obedience
Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:33
A pastor once told me how God called him to Louisville, Kentucky, a number of years ago. After receiving the call, he contacted one of the most spiritually gifted men in our nation at that time, who told him not to go because, “That place is simply overpowered with darkness —the worst place in the United States to go. It is a graveyard for preachers.”
The pastor returned to the Lord and prayed, “Lord, here is a man of God saying not to go.” And the Lord said, “But I’m telling you to go.” So, the man went. He was a pastor in that city for 10 years, but didn’t seem to accomplish anything; the church was not doing well. So, he went to Chicago to apply for another church. While he was in Chicago, the Lord spoke to him and said, “What are you doing here? I called you to Louisville.”
The pastor answered, “God, I’m failing in Louisville! I’m tired of Louisville. I’ve tried everything for 10 years, and nothing works.” God said, “You’ll be out of My will.” And the pastor said, “I must not be in Your will as it is!” Then God said, “You’re in My will, but you need to call your church to fasting and prayer.” So, this man began a tremendous prayer program and within two years, his church grew from 200 people to 2,000.
What made the difference? Obedience to God in prayer and fasting had broken the power of darkness over that city. The powers of darkness were there from the beginning, but in 10 years, the pastor had done nothing necessary to break the force of those powers.
Sometimes we must fast and pray to break the powers of darkness and see unbelief turned into the revival of belief.
Jesus, I declare that You are mightier than the powers of darkness!
Weekend Action Plan
Stop fitting God into your life and start forming your life around God.
Moments with Marilyn
“Don’t give up” is an extremely important principles in receiving your miracle. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word – Marilyn shares encouragement from Philippians 3:8!
Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Philippians 3:8!
Proverbs 3:8
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:8 ESV)
Signs and Wonders
You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. Deuteronomy 7:19a
I would love for your do something very special today: write down the good things you have seen Jesus do in your life. “Well, there’s so many.” I know! Isn’t God wonderful? Since seven is the number of completions, let’s write down seven of the good things that He has done.
What has He done in your life? And does He have a future and a destiny for you? Will He fail you? No. Will you fail Him? Yes. Will He leave you when you fail? No! He will stay with you, because He wants you to be successful.
After you write down seven good things He has already done in your life, I want you to write down three things that you’re going to believe Him for, that you want to see Him do in the next year. Maybe it has to do with the salvation of a loved one, healing in your body, or prosperity. Whatever it is, write it down.
You can write them in the margins of this book or on a separate sheet of paper. But put them down on paper so you can go back and see them, praise God for them, and watch Him work in your life!
As you reflect on the good, He has already done and the good you are believing Him to do in your life, look at the signs and wonders in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. The Jesus in the Pentateuch is the same Jesus Who lives in you and Who will perform the miraculous signs and wonders in your life!
Lord, I declare that You are the God of signs and wonders! Thank You for all that You have done and will do in my life!
Weekend Action Plan
God’s love proves He’s your best friend.
Moments with Marilyn
Daily remember that God will take every situation you give to Him and turn it to your good. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: How was the Bible put together?
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: How was the Bible put together?
John 1:4
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4 ESV)
Jesus Our Sacrifice
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. Leviticus 26:12
A sacrifice is the basis of all true worship. It is what cleanses us, and frees us from the guilt and punishment we deserve. In Leviticus, we see five sacrifices: the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. The first three offerings were voluntary; they were expressions of thanksgiving and celebration. But the last two—the sin and trespass offerings—were required.
What is sin? It means to miss the mark. What about trespass? Trespass means to intrude on someone else’s property or to cause someone else harm. So, Leviticus is telling us that when someone made a mistake or hut another person, it was mandatory that they make amends through an offering.
Do we still make the same mistakes today? Yes! Do we still make offerings? Have you ever sacrificed a ram after trespassing? No! Why not? Because Jesus is our offering.
Jesus, the burnt offering, consecrated Himself. He said to the Father, “Thy will be done.” Jesus, the meal offering, took our poverty so He could meet all of our needs. Jesus, the peace offering, gave His peace (see John 14:27).
Jesus, the sin offering, took our sin, our missing the mark: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
And the same Jesus is our trespass offering. He took the trespass that we make on others and trespass others make against us so that we can forgive in His blood, He forgave us.
Jesus, I declare that I am the righteousness of God in Christ, set free from the bonds of sin because You made the ultimate sacrifice for me!
Weekend Action Plan
Ask the Lord to give you a fresh burden for those that don’t know Him.
Moments with Marilyn
Faith is the one element that God gives us to bring substance into our lives. We must “substantiate” our hope with faith. Your faith will reach up into Heaven and say, “There is substance in Heaven for me.” ~Marilyn Hickey
Moments with Marilyn
The miracle of expectancy says that God can do all things. ~Marilyn Hickey
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2 ESV)
To Feel as Jesus Feels
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Philippians 3:10 NKJV)
For years I did not understand the part of this verse that speaks of “the fellowship of His sufferings.” What does it mean to “fellowship” in His sufferings? I could better understand the “power of His resurrection” than the “fellowship of His sufferings.”
Then I began to ask, “Why DID Jesus suffer?” I realized that He suffered for the lost. Jesus suffered to the point that He was willing to die. When we enter into the fellowship of His suffering, we feel the way Jesus felt toward lost souls, and we become willing to die too.
Moses was willing to die so that his people might enter the Promised Land. He said to God, ‘If You’re going to erase their names from the book, then You might as well erase mine, too’ (see Exodus 32:32). Paul felt it, too, when he said, ‘I wish I could carry this curse and be cut off from Christ for the sake of my people’ (see Romans 9:3).
What were these men feeling? The fellowship of the Lord’s suffering! I believe that the Holy Spirit will let us enter into that fellowship of suffering for the lost
Dear heavenly Father, help us to remember that Jesus suffered to save the lost. Never let us think that we are too “spiritual” to have a burden for the lost. Thank You for helping us, by Your Spirit, to enter the fellowship of the Lord’s suffering. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Weekend Action Plan
Choose to abide in the authentic Word of God.
Moments with Marilyn
Jehovah Rapha means “The Lord my Healer.”
Jesus took our sicknesses and our diseases, in His redemptive work, He is the Lord our Healer. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn – Marilyn answers the question: Does God test us?
#AskMarilyn – Marilyn answers the question: Does God test us?
1 John 4:4
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (1 John 4:4 NLT)
Devine Design
And the tabernacle of meeting shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps; as they camp, so they shall move out, everyone in his place, by their standards. Numbers 2:17 NKJV)
When I read through the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, I see there was divine order in everything. It wasn’t, “Wherever you want to sleep, sleep. Wherever you want to camp, camp.” It wasn’t that way at all! It was very much in order.
For example, there were detailed instructions on setting up the Tabernacle—the dwelling place of the Divine—which included it having only one door (see Exodus 26:36). Why is this important? What does it tell us about divine order? Well, Jesus Himself said, “I am the door…” (John 10:9a KJV). There is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus Christ!
God also had very specific instructions about the arrangement of the camps and how they moved together (see Numbers 1-2). As God prepared the Israelites for their journey to the Promised Land, He told Moses He wanted three tribes to the north, three tribes to the south, three tribes to the east, and three tribes to the west. And He named the tribes. So, these tribes came in by layers and camped. And they camped around the tabernacle. They formed a cross and made the tabernacle the center of their lives. What does this tell us? Jesus needs to be the center of our lives!
Reading about the design of the tabernacle, the regulations for sacrifices, and the order of the tribes may initially come across as boring and tedious, but not when you see that through the divine details, God is pointing us to the Cross!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for caring about the details of our lives! Help us to maintain proper order – always keeping Jesus first!
Weekend Action Plan
Share your struggle with a trusted friend and ask for wisdom.
Moments with Marilyn
The first thing to do in your spiritual life in order to become productive is to put the Word into your heart. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word – Marilyn shares encouragement from Psalm 32:7!
Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn Hickey shares encouragement from Psalm 32:7!
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Grace to you and peace.- (1 Thessalonians 1:1 ESV)
A Covenant of Salt
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6 NKJV
God wants our conversation to be salty. Why? Because our talk makes people thirsty! It can make others thirsty for what we have.
One time I was interviewed on a secular news program. I was just starting to go on daily television and this interviewer asked me, “Why would you want to go on daily television? You’re already on television on Sundays. And there are all kinds of religious programs. Why would you want to be another one?” I heard in my spirit what to say. I said, “Why do you think religious programs are on the air?” He said, “Well, to help people.” And I said, “Do you think everyone is helped?” I got him! And that was the end of it. That, my friends, was salt!
Friend, we need to let our speech have salt in it. Numbers 18:19 says that God made an “everlasting covenant of salt” with us, so His holiness enables us to be the salt of the earth to everyone we meet. Don’t just agree with everything. Don’t just gossip. Don’t just say how bad the weather is. Get salty! Say, “God can change this! God can do anything!” We are the ones charged with bringing the salt of God’s Word to the thirsty.
Jesus, You said we are to be the salt of the earth. Help me to never lose my saltiness!
Weekend Action Plan
Identify where blame and accusation have paralyzed you in your spiritual growth. Let the truth set you free.
Moments with Marilyn
Your words have power. You can bless or curse yourself and your family by what you say. By speaking the blessings from God’s Word, you release God’s best into your situation. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn – Marilyn answers the question, What is the gift of tongues?
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question – What is the gift of tongues?
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. (Psalm 28:7 ESV)
We Will Gain the Victory
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 108:13
After a crusade, a middle-aged woman shared her dynamic testimony with me.
The woman’s son was involved in deep sin and crime in Chicago. He had been using and selling drugs. One night his mother felt strongly impressed by the Lord to pray in the Spirit for an hour for her son. At 10:00 pm her son called and said, “Mother, what have you been doing for the last hour?” She told him that the Spirit of God had directed her to pray for him.
The son explained that he had recently sold some bad drugs to a man, who had returned that very evening with a gun and the intent to kill! But the man couldn’t pull the trigger. He kept trying to pull the trigger, and finally he threw the gun on the floor and said, “I can’t fire this gun! There’s something your mother is doing that is keeping me from killing you.” The man ran from the room.
Needless to say, the son came home and gave his heart to Jesus. And guess what? He is now preaching the Gospel!
Folks, God is for your family. He wants your family safe. I have members of my family that are not saved yet, but I’m believing for it. I’m standing in faith with them. With God, we will gain the victory!
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You today that no man or situation is impossible. With Your Word and Your loving support, we shall do valiantly in any situation. We shall tread down our enemies. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Weekend Action Plan
Identify a difficult circumstance. What is the Lord building in you through that situation?
Moments with Marilyn
You can stand in the gap and use your faith for a sick person who doesn’t have the necessary faith. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word – Marilyn shares from Philippians 3:8!
On today’s Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from Philippians 3:8!
Weekend Action Plan
Identify where you’ve been insisting on your way, your will and your time. Release it to Jesus.
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26 ESV)
A Melody in Your Heart
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. – (I Samuel 2:10 KJV)
Who is the Lord’s anointed that Hannah sings about in the Scripture above? That is the Messiah! In Hannah’s song of gratitude to God for blessing her with a son, she is the first to sing about Jesus.
In Luke 1, we hear a similar song from Mary, called the “Magnificat.” In fact, some of Hannah’s song is even quoted when Mary sings about her own son.
Hannah prays: “My heart rejoices in the Lord.” And Mary sings: “And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
Mary prays: “Holy is His Name.” And Hannah sings: “No one is holy like the Lord.”
Hannah and Mary certainly had much to sing about and be grateful for, and so do we! Because we, too, know the revelation of Jesus.
The Bible tells us to speak to ourselves in psalms and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts unto the Lord (see Ephesians 5:18-20). This is how Jesus is revealed to us, how we show gratitude, and how we keep our hearts and minds focused on Jesus.
Sing unto the Lord the words of Hannah: my heart rejoices in You; I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like You; There is none besides You; there is no rock like our God!
Weekend Action Plan
Identify what is your greatest need from God. Allow it to become your greatest blessing as you spend more time with the Lord.
Moments with Marilyn
With Me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. (Proverbs 8:18)
God’s wisdom enables you to proser. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn – Marilyn answers the question: Why do I have anxiety?
#AskMarilyn – Marilyn answers the question: Why do I have anxiety?
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.-(1 Peter 3:9 ESV)
Bitter or Better
I know a family who owns a business. I know them quite well and I have never seen a family who are so called to give as this family. They are worth over four and a half billion dollars! But they lie very simple—the cars they drive, the way they dress—because they live to give. And I know personally that they gave over 210 million dollars to Oral Roberts University. Honey, that’s giving!
But then along comes Obamacare and certain restrictions were put on them. And they said, “We can’t do it and be true to God.” They refused to conform to the standards being imposed upon them, which would mean that they would lose everything.
Now, they could have said, “God, all we want to do is give to You. Look at how much we’ve given! And this is how You repay us? We’ve been betrayed!” They could have been bitter. But they didn’t do that. They stood firm in their faith. They stood on the promises of God to Abraham: “I will surely bless you…” They called us and we fasted and prayed. They took their case to court. And they won! Now God is blessing them even more.
We all have the choice to be bitter and miss the blessing, or be better and get the blessing. What’s your choice?
Dear heavenly Father, I am choosing to leave the betrayals of people in Your hands under the blood of Jesus. I want to go into a higher level of faith this day. I see that You want to bless me and multiply Your blessings. Amen! Hallelujah!
Weekend Action Plan
Memorize Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Moments with Marilyn
Faith is almost like a sixth sense—a special spiritual sense, totally outside the realm of our known five senses. We must believe God’s Word, regardless of our circumstances and what is discernible with our five physical senses. ~Marilyn Hickey
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24 ESV)
Wednesday in the Word, Marilyn shares from 1 Corinthians 16:13!
On today’s Wednesdays in the Word, Marilyn shares encouragement from 1 Corinthians 16:13!
Psalm 62:5
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. (Psalm 62:5 NLT)
Authority in Jesus Name
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 20:7 KJV)
Sanctify means “to be set apart.” We are set apart for God, not for the devil or the world, nor even for ourselves.
A young Christian man once told me that he couldn’t read his Bible. I asked him why. He said, “Because the devil won’t let me. When I open my Bible, it is as though an evil spirit comes into the room and harasses me, and I can’t read my Bible.”
“Don’t you know,” I said, “that you are set apart under God and have authority over the devil?”
I gave him the Scripture of authority in Luke 10:19: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
Then I said, “Go back to your room and begin to read your Bible. If the devil tries to harass you, tell him to get out, in Jesus’ Name; that you have been sanctified and set apart, that you have the authority in the Name of Jesus.”
At dinner that evening, the young man told me that when he began to read his Bible, sure enough, the devil tried to harass him. But the man stood his ground and used his authority in Jesus.
The devil fled! The devil is dumb, but he is smart enough to fear the Name of Jesus. And when the devil looks at us, what does he see? He sees Jesus in us!
Dear Heavenly Father, we pray today that we will see that we are set apart to bring glory to You. We are set apart to achieve and do great and mighty exploits in Your Name. Amen!
Weekend Action Plan
Ask yourself what things you try to hide from God?
Moments with Marilyn
Miracles are available to us today because God’s Word promises them. ~Marilyn Hickey
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: Can I lose my salvation?
#AskMarilyn, Marilyn answers the question: Can I lose my salvation?
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)
Simply Believe
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Sometimes I ask God, “God, who am I that you would use me in the capacity that you do?” I’ve gotten to be with kings and presidents from all around the world. I’ve gone to countries no one else can go to. I’ve ministered healing and salvation to more people that you can count. You say, “Well, who are you that God would use you that way?” I agree! Who am I? The truth—I’m a believer! It really is as simple as that.
You say, “But I’m different.” That’s right, you are different. I’m different from you and you are different from me. He makes us all so individual. None of our fingerprints are the same. None of our personalities are exactly the same, or our gifts or other traits. But God know our individuality—He is the One who made us so unique! I like that. Sometimes I can think, “Oh, I wish I was as good as this person I know” or “I wish I had the looks of that person.” But God made me to be unique. If you ever doubt that, you ought to read Psalm 139. I memorized that Psalm because it says He “fearfully and wonderfully” made us. In fact, each day of our lives are written in one of His books. How wonderful is that?! He’s so personally involved and He carries you on His heart and that’s beautiful to us. And what do we have to do in return? Simply believe!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that I would have eternal life with You. Thank You for loving me because You created me, not because of the things I do. I receive Your love today.
Moments with Marilyn
If the Word is living in our spirits, God is able to turn that word into Wisdom. ~Marilyn Hickey
Wednesday in the Word – Marilyn shares from the book of Philippians
Wednesdays in the Word – Marilyn shares from the book of Philippians!
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)
Recharge Your Battery
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” Jude 20 (NKJV)
I love this scripture. It has become so powerful in my life because I have found that praying in the Holy Spirit—praying in tongues—literally recharges my spirit.
Has your car battery ever “gone dead”? It usually happens when you least expect it-perhaps when you’re late for an appointment. Cars will usually recharge themselves. But when we don’t take care of the car, sometimes the car doesn’t take care of the battery. The same thing can happen in our faith. When we don’t recharge it with prayer, it can “go dead” too!
When I feel as though my faith doesn’t have the strength to carry me through a situation, I “recharge” it with a time of praying in tongues. I find that it recharges not only my faith, but also my mind, emotions, and physical body. It causes my circumstances to change, and better yet, my attitude changes.
There are many times when we can pray in tongues; when we take a shower, while we’re driving, and even on airplanes. Recharge your “battery” daily.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Today we pray that we will be men and women full of the Spirit—overflowing with the Spirit!
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen.