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Open Heart Test – Part Two


Two Kings, two hearts, two tests with two very different outcomes;

What does it take to pass an “Open Heart Test?”

This month we will learn the answer to this life-changing question.  

Last month we learned about King Asa, a powerful Ruler who once served God with his “Whole Heart.” However, the poisonous seeds of his mother’s demonic influence, the former Queen Maacah, were never removed from the soil of his heart. Therefore the moment pressure from the adversity of an impending attack from a neighboring King presented itself; he turned his back away from God!

Why?…… Because “The High Places” of rebellion, idolatry, and pride in his heart brought forth a harvest of destruction to his life! King Asa failed to understand that there was no amount of earthly money, favor, influence, or aid from another “earthly King” that could ever save him! Indeed, Like King Asa, we will all one day stand before “The King of Kings, and The Lord of Lords” and give an account for “the actions of our Heart.”  

Be encouraged, my friend! This month we will learn from the life of another powerful King. One that God describes as “a man after My Own Heart, who will do all My Will and carry out My program fully.” Ref. Acts 13:22 (AMP) It is from the life of this Beloved King that we will learn how to pass an “Open Heart Test!”

The agonizing sound of his son’s painful cries forces him to turn away in guilt. The sight of his distraught wife, Bathsheba, desperately clutching their baby to her chest, causes King David to fall to his knees in absolute sorrow of heart. Sobbing uncontrollably, he begs God to forgive him and to let the child live!  

Lying prostrate on the floor, unwilling to eat or drink, King David struggles through a painful self-evaluation:

Why didn’t I, as the King of Israel, lead my troops in battle? I should have gone before them!

Why didn’t I quickly turn away from Bathsheba when I saw her bathing from the rooftop?

How could I sleep with Bathsheba, another man’s wife, and have her husband killed to cover up an adulterous pregnancy?

How could I override my conscience and enlist the help of Joab, my trusted commander in the death of an innocent man?

How could I take Bathsheba and think that God would ignore this great evil and bless the fruit of our sin?

Why do I fear telling Bathsheba the truth behind Uriah’s death?

Perhaps the most important question of King David’s heart surfaces as he quiets his soul before The Lord,

WHEN DID I STOP FEARING YOU GOD AND BREAK FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU?

Suddenly, the excruciating pain of King David’s guilt pierces his soul once again as he remembers the reason for the recent visit of Nathan, the Prophet of God.

II Samuel 12:1-12 (AMP);

“And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came and said to him there were two men in a city, one rich and the other poor.” “The rich man had very many flocks and herds.” “But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought and brought up, and it grew up with him and his children. It ate of his own morsel, and drank from his own cup, lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.” “Now a traveler came to the rich man, and to avoid taking one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.” “Then, David’s anger; was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan. As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is a son [worthy] of death.” “He shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and had no pity.” “Then Nathan said to David. You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel; I anointed you King of Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.” “And I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added that much again.” “Why have you despised the commandment of The Lord, doing evil in His Sight? You have slain Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife. You have murdered him with the sword of the Ammonites.” “Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because [you have not only despised My command but] you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” “Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun,” “For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.”

Gasping for breath, King David is completely caught off guard by The Word of The Lord. Now with his sin exposed, the eyes and ears of King David’s heart are open wide with understanding. It is from this place of “complete soul surrender” that King David quickly repents to the man of God. 

II Samuel 12:13 (AMP);

“And David said to Nathan I have sinned against The Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

There is power and protection in “genuine repentance!” 

What kind of power and protection? 

The power and protection to “Eternally” keeps our soul in a place of safety and Redemption through The Most High God!

Think about it, my friend, because King David was genuinely repentant before The Lord for his sin, Nathan the prophet of God was released to speak words of safety and protection;

“The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

King David’s repenting led to forgiveness (the putting away of his sin) from the Most High God! This action of the Heart is why The Lord allowed him to live!

Glory To God! In this scripture, King David passes, “The Open Heart Test!”

What “Open Heart Test” did King David pass?

One that you and I must pass, my friend, if we are to live upright before God all the days of our life…

The “Open Heart Test” of a “Transparent Heart.”

What is a Transparent Heart?

A Transparent Heart is one of God’s most valued treasures and secret weapons in The Kingdom of Heaven!

Let’s read the definition of the word transparent from The Oxford Languages and The Merriam Webster Dictionary so that we can “See” together why God has placed such a “High Value” on a “Transparent Heart.”

Oxford Languages Dictionary:

TRANSPARENT = (Of a material or article) allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.

Easy to perceive or detect.

Having thoughts, feelings, or motives, that are easily perceived.

Merriam Webster Dictionary:

TRANSPARENT= Fine or sheer enough to be seen through.

Free from pretense or deceit.

Easily-detected or seen through.

In essence, what God is saying to us is that He wants us to have a heart free from darkness. A transparent Heart that others can easily see through to “His Presence” within us. A transparent Heart “free from pretense or deceit.” When God See’s a heart like this, He knows that He can trust that individual with the Secret Plans and Purposes of His Heart! An individual that walks the earth with the Secret Plans and Purposes of God’s Heart leading their thoughts; will defeat the enemy no matter the attack! He or she becomes God’s Trusted and Beloved, “Secret Weapon!” 

Can God trust you with the Plans and Purposes of His Heart?

You see, my friend, transparency of heart, develops an intimate walk with The Lord.

 It is from this intimate walk with The Lord that childlike faith is born.

What does childlike faith have to do with living with a transparent heart?

EVERYTHING!!!

Do you remember what it was like when you were a child, and you would be out playing with your friends? Sooner or later, someone would do something that they weren’t supposed to do, and someone in the group or perhaps it was you would say something like;

“You weren’t supposed to do that; I’m telling mom, dad, the teacher…..etc. on you!” The point that I’m making here is that our heart must remain in a place of “Total Transparency,” which is “Total Dependency” on God.

Why?

So that when we sin and miss the mark, we QUICKLY REPENT and “tell on ourselves before it’s too late!”

1st Corinthians 11:31 (AMP) shares this principle with us;

“For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgement].”

The transparency of King David’s heart to acknowledge his sin caused him to pass the “Open Heart Test.” However, he could not escape the repercussion of his sin. Nathan the prophet continues with The Word of The Lord;

II Samuel 12:14 (AMP);

“Nevertheless, because by this deed, you have utterly scorned The Lord and given great occasion to the enemies of The Lord to blaspheme, the child that is born to you shall surely die.”

The things that you and I birth out of sin and refuse to repent for will die!

We must be willing to live so transparently, so dependently on The Lord that He Can:

SPEAK TO US

DIRECT US

TRAIN US

ENCOURAGE US

CORRECT US

EQUIP US…..AND ULTIMATELY PROMOTE US!

When we allow God access to our hearts in this manner, we will always receive “His Redemption,” no matter how hard we fall!

In II Samuel 12:24-25 (AMP). We celebrate The Power of God’s Love, Grace, Mercy, and Redemption in the lives of David and Bathsheba.

“David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and went to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and she called his name Solomon. And The Lord loved [the child];” “He sent [a message] by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and [Nathan] called the boy’s [special] name Jedidiah [beloved of The Lord], because The Lord [Loved the child].”

With the birth of their second son Solomon, God blessed David and Bathsheba with the Plans, Purposes, and Desires of His Heart for the future of the nation of Israel. He gave them a “Dawn of a New Hope” for their lives!  

The Good News, my friend, is that The Lord now calls you and me His Beloved! He is waiting for our childlike faith to receive all that He has kept for our lives.  

Never forget that there is Redemption on the other side of your Repentance! 

1st John 3:1 (TPT);

“Look with wonder at the depth; of the Father’s Marvelous Love that He has lavished on us! He has called us and made us His very own BELOVED children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize Him.” 

Living with a “Transparent Heart” before The Living God gives us His Grace, the grace and ability to… 

“Be Strong and Live Free…….Boldly For Him!”

© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Photo: Christian Buehner

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“Alive and Well”

In this time of upheaval and uncertainty, God is sending a message of HOPE that is LOUD and CLEAR…..that IN HIM WE ARE, “ALIVE AND WELL!”

Friend, as I was praying about and thinking about writing August 2020’s blog, The Lord reminded me of the blog that He instructed me to write and publish in December of 2019. As I went back and re-read that blog, I felt impressed to re-publish it this month.

Why? I realized that, this blog, “Alive and Well” was and is a, “Forerunner of Encouragement” to us as we continue to walk out the days, months and years before us, “Strong and Free…..Boldly For Him!”

Much Love,

-Clare-

“Christ’s Resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the Place of All Power, Honor, and Authority!” “Yes, feast on all the treasures of the Heavenly Realm and fill your thoughts with Heavenly Realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT)

At the beginning of 2019, The Lord instructed me to write two specific blogs to start the New Year. January’s title is, “The Expected End” and February’s title is, “Inner-Action”.  Now as we have come to the last month of the decade, and are about to embark on what I believe will be a “Whole New Era” for the Body of Christ in the coming years; The Lord redirected my attention back to these two blogs.

As I re-read what He had to share with us through these writings, I became keenly aware that these blogs encapsulate what He is now saying to us through this last, “Boldly For Him” blog of the year. With 2019 quickly coming to a close, The Lord wants us to know that as we approach 2020, that no matter where we are or what we may be currently facing, that as Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ, the reality of our, “Expected End” is that we are, ”Alive And Well”, In Him as we recognize, renew, develop and mature our, “Inner-Action” to the truths that are shared with us in Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT).

To fully grasp what The Lord is now saying through this blog, I think it’s important for me to refresh us on the definition of “Inner-Action.”

Inner-Action = The relationship between the mind, the will and the emotions and how they are displayed in an individual’s life through their interaction with God and others.

You see my friend we are entering a time where everything that can be challenged will be challenged regarding what we believe about our identity In Jesus Christ. It is an Era, a decade, a time that will see much fruit as well as much loss within The Body of Christ. Why?….. because of the very pressure that is coming in the days ahead that will cause many to continue to be deceived, stumble and fall in their individual and corporate walk with The Lord. That is why it is so important my friend that you and I, “fill our thoughts with Heavenly Realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.”  Ref. Col 3:2 (TPT) 

What we learn and who we learn from can greatly affect what we believe about our God Given identity In Christ Jesus. So much so that the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions to his spiritual son Timothy who was an Evangelist and Pastor in the ancient town of Ephesus:

2nd Timothy 2:15 (AMP);

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”

The Word of God and the Truths that have been “Rightly Divided” and “Accurately Taught” to us must become so “Deeply Rooted Within Us”, that no matter what distraction, adversity or challenge may come our way; we are confident that we can live our lives as one who is “Alive and Well” because of the TRUTH that “Christ’s Resurrection IS OUR Resurrection too!” Ref. Col 3:1 (TPT)  

Understanding and accurately applying this passage of scripture in Col 3:1-2, in our daily walk, as Believers is paramount to a healthy, “Inner-Action” with God and others. An overcoming “Inner-Action” that will lead to Total Victory in every area of our lives, Spirit, soul, and body, in the coming days ahead. To God Be The Glory!

How does this Biblical Principle work in our lives?  

Colossians 3:3-4 (TPT) gives us the answer;

“Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away with God in Christ.” “And as Christ, Himself is seen for Who He Is, who you are will also be revealed, for YOU ARE NOW ONE WITH HIM IN HIS GLORY.”

This is not just a figure of speech my friend these are the Words of God Himself and the REALITY of Who We Are In Christ Jesus! According to the Word of God, we as Believers, have “severed the tie to this life.”  Meaning we no longer are bound or have any obligation whatsoever to live a defeated life of sin, sickness, poverty, shame, etc.!

Can this be proven by the Word of God? 

Yes, let’s see what He has to say to us in Colossians 3:5-9 (TPT);

“Live as one who has died to every form of sexual sin and impurity. Live as one who died to diseases, and desires for forbidden things, including the desire for wealth, which is the essence of idol worship.” “When you live in these vices you ignite the anger of God against these acts of disobedience.” “That’s how you once behaved, characterized by your evil deeds. But now it’s time to eliminate them from your lives once and for all-anger, fits of rage, all forms of hatred, cursing, filthy speech, and lying.” “Lay aside your old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise.”

God went to great lengths for you and me my friend to be, “Alive and Well” through the Crucifixion of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior! You see, Calvary not only Confronted, but CALVARY also DEFEATED EVERY FORM of sin, sickness, poverty, and disease for all men, for all time…PERIOD! Calvary did not console the enemy, by fearing him and accepting his slander against the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ. Calvary Confronted and Cast the evil works of the enemy out forever!

This is The Resurrection Power of 1st Peter 1:24 (TPT);

“He carried our sins in His body on the Cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness, Our INSTANT healing flowed from His Wounding.”

Therefore my friend, you and I as believers in Christ Jesus are not to console the enemy by fearing him and caving in when he attacks us with sin, sickness, poverty, and disease, we are to confront him with The Living Word of God and cast him out of our lives, spirit, soul, and body! It is not through our strength that we do this, it is through “The Blood of Jesus Christ”, that was Shed At Calvary. My friend, it is “The Good News” of His Resurrection Power that RESIDES WITHIN US that gives us, as Believers in Christ Jesus, the AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY to Confront and Cast out the devil and all of his evil works from EVERY area of our lives!

Did God give me this responsibility?

YES! Jesus Himself tells us about this “Priceless Privilege” in the following passages of scripture:

 John 14:12-14 (TPT); 

“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in Me, will do the Same Mighty Miracles that I do—Even Greater Miracles than these because I go to be with My Father!” “For I will do whatever you ask Me to do when you ask Me in My Name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring Glory To Him.” “Ask Me anything in My Name, and I will do it for you!”

Mark 16:16-18 (TPT);

“Whoever believes the Good News and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the Good News will be condemned.” “And these miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of My Name. They will speak in tongues.” “They will be supernaturally protected from snakes, and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

Never doubt my friend the Power of The Name of Jesus spoken out of your mouth as a Believer in Jesus Christ! It is the same power and authority that was given to the first Disciples! As modern-day Believers it is our turn to do what these Forefathers of Faith did, to take the healing power of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, to “lay hands on the sick and heal them”, this includes laying hands on yourself!  This Mandate is how we perpetuate the Eternal Message of Calvary! A Precious “Blood Bought” Message that Forever Speaks that, WE ARE, “Alive and Well” and Empowered to,

“Be Strong and Live Free…..Boldly For Him!”

© 2019 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

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Bricks or Blood?

Have you ever had God ask you a question then immediately follow with an answer that completely caught you off guard?  I have!  Several weeks ago, there was an undeniable pull to go into intercessory prayer with my husband Mark.  As we began to pray, I sensed the Tangible Presence of The Holy Spirit, so I asked Mark to start praying and declaring prophetically what he was seeing.  Suddenly, after praying for about ten to fifteen minutes, there was a shift in the atmosphere, and out of my mouth came the question of The Lord, “Bricks or Blood?….. You choose!….Bricks or Blood?

Stunned by the question that The Holy Spirit had just posed to both of us, we stood quietly and reverently yielding to The Lord.  As we pressed into His Presence, The Lord began revealing to me by the Spirit, the desperation and conversations going on in the Body of Christ.  I saw and heard many leaders concerned about “what they perceived” as, “momentum lost” during the pandemic shutdown.

The Lord continued to reveal to me that, “The current temptation for our lives was to pick up the Bricks of “human effort” and “self-accomplishment” devoid of the Power and Presence of The Living God.”  A Power and Presence that had so graciously, sacrificially, and freely been given to each one of us through The Shed Blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary.  I could see that leaders were being pushed and pushing to “hurry up” and “make up” for lost time and re-build what they thought the enemy had breached in their lives, businesses, and ministries.  All of this “Brick Work” activity was being dangerously ramped up without stopping to consider the True Clear Leadership Voice, Guidance, and Timing of The Holy Spirit.  He then led me to the following passage of scripture to illustrate what He was sharing with me;

Exodus 5:1-23 (AMPC);

“Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus says The Lord, The God of Israel, Let My People go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.”  “But Pharaoh said, Who is The Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?  I know not The Lord, neither will I let Israel go.”  “And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we pray you, three days journey into the desert and sacrifice to The Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”  “The king of Egypt said to Moses and Aaron, Why do you take the people from their jobs?  Get to your burdens!” “Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens!”  “The very same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, “You shall no more give the people straw to make brick; let them go and gather straw for themselves.”  “But the number of the bricks which they made before you shall require of them; you shall not diminish it in the least.  For they are idle; that is why they cry, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.”  “Let heavier work be laid upon the men that they may labor at it and pay no attention to lying words.”  “The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers and they said to the people, Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.”  “Go get straw where you can find it, but your work shall not be diminished in the least.”  “So the people were scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather the short stubble instead of straw.” “And the taskmasters were urgent, saying, Finish your work, your daily quotas, as when there was straw.”  “And the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, Why have you not fulfilled all your quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before?” “Then the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, Why do you deal like this with your servants?”  “No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, Make bricks!  And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your people.”  “But [Pharaoh] said, You are idle, lazy, and idle!  That is why you say, Let us go and sacrifice to The Lord.”  “Get out now and get to work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the full quota of bricks.”  “And the Hebrew foremen saw that they were in an evil situation when it was said, you shall not diminish in the least your full daily quota of bricks.”  “And the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who was standing in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh.”  “And the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us.”  “Then Moses turned again to The Lord and said, O Lord, why have You dealt evil to this people?  Why did you ever send me?”  “For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done evil to this people, neither have You delivered Your people at all.”

Beware, fellow believers, the objective of the “Pharaoh spirit” is to push us into becoming a “taskmaster” an oppressor of ourselves AND others.  If we allow this to happen we will become a “beast of burden”, reproducing other “beast’s of burdens” as we begin to demand of those in our spheres of influence that they:

“Hurry Up and Finish their work, after all, enough time has been lost during the pandemic and we have a lot MORE WORK to catch up on!  This is no time to rest!  “Go Get Your Bricks,” before all is lost!”

The result of all this Brickwork?

An exhausted depleted family, business, or ministry on the verge of collapse!

Friends, when we get caught up in this demonically driven frenzy, we will no longer recognize God as The True, “Author and Finisher of our faith.” Ref. Hebrews 12:2. This makes it virtually impossible for us to lead, train, and mentor others through The Guidance of The Holy Spirit.  Instead, “The Bricks” of our leadership decisions, produces “Mausoleums of death” rather than “Temples of Life”

How does this happen?

By sacrificing our own, “Times of refreshing” in The Lord and ignoring The Voice and Leadership of The Holy Spirit as He Rejuvenates and Speaks to our hearts.

Romans 8:14 (AMP) says;

“For all who are ALLOWING themselves to be led by The Spirit of God are sons of God.”

The Holy Spirit is a True Gentleman!  He will not force the plan of God on our lives, or our ability to “see” that plan, we must CHOOSE to be LED and FOLLOW the Plan of God for our life.  As we REST in The Presence of God while listening and yielding to The Voice of The Holy Spirit and choosing to follow the instructions that He Gives us, we mature and develop into effective, men and women of God, “sons of God,” as the above scripture states.

Why is it so important to follow The Holy Spirit’s Guidance and learn to live a “Life in The Spirit as a son of God?”

Romans 8:15-16 (TPT) holds the key that unlocks the door to this very important answer;

“And you did not receive the spirit of religious duty, leading you back into the fear of never being good enough.  But you have received the Spirit of Full Acceptance, enfolding you into The Family of God.  And you will never feel orphaned, for as He Rises Up Within us, our spirits join Him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!”  “For The Holy Spirit makes God’s Fatherhood real to us as He Whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”

My friend, it is only through the Power and Discernment of The Holy Spirit that we learn how to recognize and reject the “Brick Mentality” which is rooted in the “fear of never being good enough.”

As we continually confront and defeat the thoughts of rejection that challenge the truth of “God’s Fatherhood” in our lives, we overcome this stronghold of fear.  This Vital Victory opens up our hearts to recognize and receive the “Spirit of Full Acceptance,” which, “enfolds us into The Family of God.”  This is where True Freedom, Joy, and Peace begins in our, “Born Again” walk with God and the relationship we have with ourselves and others.

As we learn to trust God and lay down the bricks of oppression, we understand, “The Language of The Blood” which continually speaks, “forgiveness.” Ref. Hebrews 12:24. As we freely accept and choose to “speak forgiveness,” over our lives and others, the reality of The redemption of The Blood of Jesus takes root in our lives releasing the “The Joy of The Lord” to become “Our Strength and our Stronghold.” Ref. Nehemiah 8:10. Now with eager tender affection, we can shout, “Beloved Father,” as we receive the “sweet something” that, “The Holy Spirit Whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”

So now Mighty Warriors of The Most High God The Choice is yours.

Bricks or Blood?……. You Choose!

The Bricks of human effort outside of God or The Redemptive Life in The Spirit through The Blood of Jesus Christ?

Choose The Blood of Jesus Christ which Speaks of Redemption and you will…..

“Be Strong and Live Free…..Boldly For Him!”

Galatians 5:16-18 (TPT);

“As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic Life and Power of The Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.”  “For your self-life craves the things that offend The Holy Spirit and hinder Him from Living Free within you!  And The Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self-life from dominating you!  So then the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of The Spirit.”  “But when you are brought into The Full Freedom of The Spirit of Grace, you will no longer be living under the dominion of the law, but SOARING ABOVE IT!

 

© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Picture by: Majid Gheidarlou

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What Color Is God?

*This month I have the honor of having my husband Mark Matthews guest blog for me.  I believe that you will find the word that he has written relevant, insightful and transforming as he addresses a topic that has recently been widely discussed and debated.

-Clare- 

 

The little boy looked into his mother’s eyes and asked the obvious question of the current times.  Mom, what is racism?  The mother of the bright-eyed 5-year-old paused to make sure that her response would answer her son’s inquiring mind.  Well, son, it is hatred and the belief that some people are better because of where they were born or the color of their skin.  “Mom, did God make all people”?  Yes, son! What color is God, mom?  The million-dollar question that every person who has ever heard about God has wondered.

There is something about God that might surprise you.  He loves to reveal Himself to mankind.  With God there is no containment when it comes to the Love that he has shed abroad for His creation through His Son Jesus Christ.  Did you know that God is as infinitely small as He is Large?  There is no place that you can go without running into God. If you run one direction and never turned back when you stop, God will be there.

To know God, you have to acknowledge that He is.  God is a Spirit, and He has an Image. John 4:24 (KJV) says, “God is Spirit, and all those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”  God made mankind a three-part person.  We have a body, we have a soul, and we have a human spirit. Our body is an earth suit. Our soul is made up of our mind, our will, and our emotions.  When we surrender our hearts to God, Our human spirit is born again by the Spirit of God. From this point forward, we are recognized by God as His son or daughter and a citizen of Heaven.  We are a Spirit-filled being temporarily living on earth.  

 Gen 1: 26-27 (ESV), “Then God said, let us make man in our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and the cattle and all of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  God created man in His image, in the image of God, He created him; male and female. He created them.” 

It is hard for us to reconcile in our minds that God has never made a mistake.  The world looks at you through the eyes of inspection.  God looks at you through The Eyes of Reflection.  He does not see imperfection He sees a one of a kind creation made in His Image.  He says I did not have one of you, so I made one of you.

Like this five year old you might be wondering what color is God? God is flawless.  He is the color of perfection.  When you look into a flaw-less diamond or precious jewel, you experience multiple dimensions at one time.  The color, light, and facets that make up the prisms of the diamond all interact in concert to perform a radiant expression of beauty. No matter how many times you look at that diamond, you will discover something new every time, yet it is still the same diamond.  The diamond never changed, the prisms never changed, but one thing changes every time, and that is the light. Remove the light, and the diamond looks lifeless and dull, cover it in mud, and you can’t even tell if it is glass or the real deal. 

1 John 1:5 (ESV) states, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

The conflict that we are witnessing in the world today is about control, it is not about restoration from racism.  The enemy has made a power play of manipulation that has taken vindication hostage, right when justice was preparing to shine”.

Real love understands that tension must have restraint.  Apart from God, you can’t do anything of lasting value.  He knows the difference between the real and the counterfeit because He does not make cheap glass. 

If you could look into God’s Eyes, you would discover that whichever direction He moves or looks, you see your color and reflection in His Presence.  The moment you recognize God, you feel right at home, because He is your Heavenly Father.  Instantly Everything about Him reflects Himself in you, that is why whatever color you are on earth looks like God! 

How could God make so many people with so many different colors and they all look like Him?

The comforting answer, 

“God’s foundation color is love, not ethnicity.”

Revelation 4: 3,5 (TPT) “His appearance was sparkling like crystal and glowing like a carnelian gemstone.  Surrounding the throne was a circle of green light like an emerald rainbow! V – 5a, And pulsing from the throne were blinding flashes of lighting, crashes of thunder, and voices.”  

The color of your skin is God’s expression, His Robe of Love that frames the destiny that He has given you.  Like a fine Diamond the flawless facets of His presence reflects a Son like brilliance through your life, as you choose to walk in the “ministry of reconciliation”. 

Friends, God is forever near, and “He is our present help in times of trouble.” Ref. (Ps 46:1.) We all have a choice to make.  Which side of history will you be counted on?  Will you be remembered as the group who makes history and ushers in the love of God, or will you be numbered in the group who tried to erase history?  

Jesus is the Only Way that true peace and reconciliation will ever be found. Col 1:17 (ESV); “And He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together!”

Search your heart, don’t be hesitant to ask God if there is any animosity or prejudice residing within your heart, that will get in the way of His Love for you and others. 

Act 17:26 (MEV) “He has made from one blood every nation of men to live on the entire face of the earth, having appointed fixed times and the boundaries of their habitation”.

I want to thank my beautiful wife, Clare, a student of the Word of God for inviting me to be the first guest blogger on Boldly for Him.  Thank you, my love! “Be Strong and Live Free…. Boldly For Him!”

 

Mark Matthews

 

© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

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The Faceplate of Faith

Don’t ever let anyone grab your, “Faceplate of Faith” and pull you out of the game, no matter who they are!  Now is not the time to be moved by our five physical senses, or by anyone else’s.  It is imperative in this late hour that we keep our, “Faceplate of Faith” securely on to “see” with our, “eyes of faith,” as we navigate the Will of God for our lives.

What is our “Faceplate of Faith”?

To fully understand what our “Faceplate of Faith” is, I am going to define for us from The Merriam Webster Dictionary the meaning of a Faceplate;

Faceplate = Protective cover for the human face, (as of a Diver). 

Our Faceplate of Faith is a God-Given Spiritual Covering that protects our ability to “see” the way “He Sees,” as we choose to “walk by faith, not by sight.”  Ref. 2nd Corinthians 5:7.  This Protective Spiritual Cover guards and keeps our five Spiritual Senses, the way we “see, hear, smell, touch, and taste” strong and sensitive to The Movement of The Holy Spirit at all times.

In 2nd Corinthians 4:18 (AMP) the Apostle Paul describes for us what it is like to “see through” this “Faceplate of faith”;

“So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.”

In order to look at things “which are unseen”, we must keep our, “Faceplate of Faith” securely on at all times so that we can develop, “Eyes of Faith” that can discern and “see” The Divine Will and Timing of God for our lives.

How do we develop “Eyes of Faith”?

Hebrews 11:1 (TPT) gives us the all important answer to this question;

“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for.  It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.”

When God gives us a “snapshot”, a prophetic picture of our future, there is a “Supernatural Seed of Hope” that attaches itself to that “picture.”  This hope filled picture when conceived by our “NOW FAITH” produces a “Spiritual Embryo” that lives and develops within our heart, which is our “Spiritual Womb”.

To remain healthy and strong this “Spiritual Embryo” should be fed a steady diet of “Fertile Faith” by, “The Mighty Razor Sharp Spirit Sword of The Spoken Word of God,” continually coming out of our mouth.  Ref. Eph. 6:17 (b).  This Spiritual Discipline is what nurtures the foundation of our “Now Faith,” causing the Umbilical Cord of our God-Given Promise to remain intact while giving the vital nutrients needed to our growing Spiritual Embryo.

This is the Supernatural Spiritual Pregnancy Process that allows us to “develop” our “Eyes of Faith.”  As our understanding of faith continually matures and develops throughout the gestation process of our God-Given Promise, a resiliency to the distractions and “evil reports” of the world occurs; making way for a Healthy Fully Developed Promise of God to be “Supernaturally Delivered” right on time!

Let me summarize this important truth for us, my friend.  It is “Fertile Faith” that enables us to keep our “Faceplate of Faith” securely on throughout the Entire Pregnancy Process of a God-Given Dream so that we can successfully birth and enter “The Canaan Land” of our Promise.

It’s, “Game On” my friend, we must keep our “Faceplate of Faith” securely on because the stakes are high!  Who we have in the Delivery Room of our God-Given Hopes and Dreams matters!

We must be committed to, Proverbs 4:23 (AMP); 

“Keep and guard our heart with all vigilance and above all that we guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

Why?  

So that a Spiritual Abortion or Miscarriage does not occur, causing us to miss entering our Canaan Land of God’s Promises for our lives.  Our future and the future of those that we are called to reach depends on it!

Moses, an Old Testament “God Appointed Deliverer” for the nation of Israel learned this lesson the hard way.  We read the backdrop for this story in Numbers 13:1-3 (AMP);

“And The Lord said to Moses,” “Send men to explore and scout out [for yourselves] the land of Canaan, which I give to the Israelites.  From each tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a leader or head among them.”  “So Moses by the command of The Lord sent scouts from the Wilderness of Paran, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites.”

The fact that God was asking these “leaders” through His servant Moses to scout, to “see” for themselves the land of Canaan that, “He was GIVING them”, should have brought fearless faith and bold courage to them while they were on their mission. However, only two of the twelve scouts, Joshua and Caleb kept their “Faceplate of Faith” securely on so that they could see with the “eyes of faith,” and give a “Good Report.”  The remaining ten scouts were moved with fear by what they “saw”, causing them to fling away their own, “Faceplate of Faith” and give an “evil report.” A report that not only aborted their God-given Promise, it ultimately cost them their lives!  Tragically, a whole generation of those who believed this, “evil report” along with them, would also die in the wilderness, failing to enter Canaan the land of their God-Given Promise.

Numbers 13:25-33 (AMP) is the sad narrative of this account:

“And they returned from scouting the land after forty days.”  “They came to Moses and Aaron and to all the Israelite congregation in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, and brought them word, and showed them the land’s fruit.” “They told Moses, We came to the land to which you sent us; surely it flows with milk and honey.  This is its fruit.”  “But the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; more-over, there we saw the sons of Anak [of great stature and courage].”  “Amalek dwells in the land of the South (the Negeb); the Hitite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea and along by the side of the Jordan [River].”  “Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it.”  “But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are.”  “So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the land which they had scouted out, saying, The land through which we went to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants, And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.”  “There we saw the Nephilim [or giants]; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

You have been supernaturally birthed into this world to be a God Appointed Deliverer to this world!  Your life is meant to be a walking expression of God’s Delivering Power.  Just like Moses was called by God to be a “Deliverer” to The Nation Of Israel, you and I as Born Again Believers of The Most High God have been called, equipped and deployed by The Holy Spirit to be Modern Day Deliverers, “Messengers” of Truth and Healing to this World, which is “eagerly waiting for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.”  Ref. Rom 8:19.  That is why we must ask ourselves the following questions;

Who have I sent to “scout” out the land of my God-Given Promise?

What kind of report have they brought back to me?  A “good” one or an “evil” one?

Based on their report what have I decided to do?….Am I entering into the land of my God-Given Promise with my “Faceplate of Faith” securely on, and my “Spiritual Eyes” wide open in order to “see” “The Goodness of God in The Land of my living”? Ref. Psalm 27:13….Or am I like the children of Israel retreating in fear because I have believed an evil report?

You see my friend fear will certainly disconnect our Umbilical cord of NOW FAITH from the Promises of God stripping us of our, “Faceplate of Faith.”

The result?

Spiritually sightless saints wandering around in the wilderness unable to “see”, let alone enter the land of their God-Given Hopes, Dreams, and Desires!

Be encouraged, my friend!  Through The Shed Blood of Jesus Christ, we have already won the battle, now we must reinforce what has ALREADY been appropriated for us at Calvary.

How do we reinforce the Victory of Calvary?

Hebrews 10:35-36 (AMP) is the “SuperGlue” set of scriptural instructions for keeping our, “Faceplate of Faith” securely on and in place at all times.

“Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a Glorious and Great Reward.”  “For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may Receive And Enjoy To The Full What Is Promised”!

Here’s a Promised Land Checklist taken from the above scriptures that will help us enter The Land of our God-Given Promise.

Don’t fling away your fearless confidence.

Walk with patient endurance under difficult circumstances without compromising.

Stay focused and fear-free in order to carry out The Will of God for your life.

Receive and Enjoy to the Full Your Promised Land!

Remember it is our God Given Mandate to keep our “Faceplate of Faith” securely on at all times, so that we can successfully enter our promise land. 

Be Strong and Live Free…..Boldly For Him! 

 

© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Picture by: Kevin Wolf

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Soul Distancing

You can’t go anywhere these days without being reminded of the importance of, “Social Distancing”, however, there is a much more sinister attack being raged on humanity right now, one that you and I may not even be aware of.  This attack is covert, aggressive, and deadly with “Eternal Consequences.”  If it is allowed to go undetected and unaddressed, it could cost us our family, our friends, our calling, and most importantly our soul!

What is this attack…..and where did it come from?  The attack is called, “SOUL DISTANCING.”  This is where we unknowingly through fear and distractions begin to distance our MIND, WILL, and EMOTIONS from God and those that He has called us into a relationship with.  We can trace this deadly spiritual virus to, “the enemy of our soul.”

On April 15th, I was going about my day thinking about the times that we are currently living in and the varied responses that I had witnessed, along with my own to this viral attack.  All of a sudden I heard the still small voice of The Holy Spirit Whisper these words to my heart, “Soul Distancing.”  He then quickly began to reveal to me what the enemy is trying to do on a large scale basis to the “Soul” of humanity through the current global COVID-19 pandemic.

My friend, I’m not talking about the need to, “flatten the curve” by using wisdom as we go about our day.  I am talking about the lethargy of spirit, the apathy of heart, and the lust of the flesh, that the enemy is endeavoring to lull us into. This “soul stupor” is a by-product of the fear and uncertainty that we are constantly being bombarded with as we are being encouraged to “distance” and, “isolate” ourselves from those around us.  The goal of this demonic attack is to weaken our spiritual immune system to the point where we can no longer breathe in the Refreshing, Healing Wind of The Holy Spirit.  Therefore we suffocate through fear and infect others with fear as we unwittingly engage in the deadly practice of, “Soul Distancing” from God and others!

What are some of the symptoms and results of, “Soul Distancing”?

Psalm 143:1-4 (AMP) is a desperate cry from the heart of King David to God, a passionate prayer that reveals some of the symptoms and results of, “soul distancing;

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications!  In Your Faithfulness answer me, and in Your Righteousness.”  “And enter not into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is [in himself] righteous or justified.”  “For the enemy has pursued and persecuted MY SOUL, he has crushed my life down to the ground; he has made me dwell in dark places as those who have been long dead.”  “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed and faints within me [wrapped in gloom]; my heart within my bosom grows numb.”

Spiritually speaking, a numb heart that goes undetected and unaddressed will eventually flatline through fear.  For the weary child of God, this is one of the most alarming symptoms and a result of, “soul distancing.”

Like King David in his weakened state, when, “our heart within our bosom grows numb”, we can be sure that there is an “enemy, (fear) that has pursued and persecuted our soul.” The “Soul Intent” of this attack is to as the scripture states above, “crush our life down to the ground.”  If we allow this spiritual condition to go undiagnosed and unaddressed, the enemy will convince us to, “dwell in dark places as those who have been long dead,” which I believe is King David’s description of deep depression.  Our spirit, “wrapped in the gloom” of this deep, dark depression will then be “overwhelmed and faint within us.” Ultimately this will cause “our heart to grow numb” and flatline through fear as the lust of the flesh has now been given full reign over “our soul”, which consists of our Mind, Will and Emotions.  This creates a soul distancing from God and others which is a highly dangerous and contagious state of being!

Why is this such a dangerous and contagious state to be in?

Revelation 3:15-17 (TPT) provides the answer to this question;
“I know all that you do, and I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion.  How I wish you were either one or the other!”  “But because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from my mouth.”  “For you claim, I’m rich and getting richer—I don’t need a thing.”  “Yet you are clueless that you’re miserable, poor, blind, barren, and naked!”

You see my friend, this dangerous state of being is a “lukewarm” state of being, one that is dominated by ungodly desires and the lust of the flesh.  In this climate of deception, we grow so indifferent and numb to the Heart of God that, “Soul Distancing” becomes a way of life for us!  “Clueless” to the truth, we infect and contaminate others with “sins of the flesh.” ref. (Galatians 5:19-21), as “we claim, that we are rich and getting richer—and don’t need a thing.”  This Pride of Life breeds fear and insecurity that will drive us into the arms of the enemy.  The result?  A soul that goes into Eternity; distanced and separated from God!  This does not have to be the Epitaph of our life!  We can leave a legacy of life and, “Life more Abundantly” ref. ( John 10:10b), in Jesus’ Name!  In order to achieve this, we must be willing to ask ourselves the following question;

How do I avoid, “Soul Distancing” from God?

The answer is, “a matter of the heart” my friend, and we find that answer in;

1st John 2:15-17 (TPT); “Don’t set the affections of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world.  The love of The Father and the love of the world are incompatible.”  “For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance—none of these things come from The Father but the world.”  “This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the Will of God live forever.”

First and foremost the affections of our heart must continually remain “set on God and the things above.” Ref. (Col. 3:1).  This is the only way that we can actively nurture and protect our intimacy with God, as we refuse to sell our soul to the world and give into, “the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance.”

You see my friend, “Holiness of Heart is Giving God Through His Son Jesus Christ First Place in Our Heart.”  The personal decision to, “Be holy because I am holy.” Ref. (1st Peter 1:16) is what gives us as individual Believers within, The Body of Christ the confidence to be counted amongst, “those who love to do the Will of God….and live forever!”

How do I do, “The Will of God” with this current global crisis going on?

Mighty Warrior Friend, God gives us Clear Instruction, Encouragement and Great Hopeful Expectation that we can follow, implement and receive in 1st Peter 5:6-11 (TPT);

“If you bow low in God’s Awesome Presence, He will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in His Hands.”  “Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you.”  “Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion for its prey to devour.”  “Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith.  For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.”  “And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all Loving Grace, Who has called you to share in His Eternal Glory in Christ, will Personally and Powerfully Restore You and make You Stronger than Ever.  Yes, He will set you Firmly In Place and Build You Up.”  “And He Has All The Power Needed to Do This—Forever! Amen.”

Thank You, Jesus!  We never have to be distant from you!                                                            We can….“Be Strong and Live Free….Boldly For Him!”

 

© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Picture By: Pat Whelen

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“A Banner Life”

Banners have long been used since ancient Biblical times for a variety of reasons.  To declare the identity of a people, to signify a hard-fought won a victory or for the surrender of an enemy during a military campaign, to name a few.  As modern-day Believers and Soldiers in the Army of The Lord, we are to recognize Jesus Christ as, “Jehovah Nissi,” “THE LORD IS MY BANNER,” denoting our trust and allegiance in The One True Living God.  He is The ONLY TRUE SOURCE for our deliverance when confronting life’s battles.  He Is The God “Who will never leave us nor forsake us”, no matter what may come our way!  Ref. Deuteronomy 31:6

King David The Psalmist declares this powerful truth for us in Psalm 20:1-5 (NKJV);

“May The Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of The God of Jacob defend you;”  “May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion;” “May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice.” “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.” “We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our Banners”!  May The Lord fulfill all your petitions.”

If there was anyone who knew first hand the Power of “Jehovah Nissi,” “The Lord Is My Banner,” it was King David.  In all of the tests and trials that he went through, he continually called upon The Name of The Lord and was delivered!  King David lived a “Banner Life” by putting his trust in God, even in the face of costly failures and seemingly impossible situations.

We read about one of those seemingly impossible situations in 1st Samuel 30:1-7 (AMP);

“Now when David and his men came home to Ziklag on the third day, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South (the Negeb) and Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag and had burned it with fire.”  “And had taken the women and all who were there, both great and small, captive.  They killed no one, but carried them off and went on their way.”  “So David and his men came to the town, and behold, it was burned, and their wives and sons and daughters were taken captive.”  “Then David and the men with him lifted their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.”  “David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.”  “David was greatly distressed for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters.  But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

In these verses of scripture my friend, we learn a life-changing lesson, one that David walks out for us so beautifully, and that is this;

“A Banner Life begins with making a banner decision that ultimately leads to a fruitful, “Banner Life” filled with, ”Banner Years”!

As demonstrated in the life of King David, a life well lived for The Kingdom of Heaven is not a “perfect life’ free of faults and failures, it is a “faithful life” that continually gets up in obedience, in the midst of trials, temptations and mis-steps through the Overcoming Strength of The Lord Most High, The One True God to, “Pursue overtake and recover all.”  Notice that is exactly what David did at Ziklag, though his men spoke of stoning him, he chose to encourage himself in The Lord second by second, minute by minute and hour by hour.  This, my friend, is an example of a “Banner Decision” being made under tremendous pressure!

The remarkable payoff?  We read about it in 1st Samuel 30:17-20 (AMP);

“And David smote them from twilight even to the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except 400 youths who rode camels and fled.”  “David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken and rescued his two wives.”  “Nothing was missing, small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David recovered all.”  “Also David captured all the flocks and herds [which the enemy had], and the people drove those animals before him and said, This is David’s spoil.”

What a day of Divine Dramatic Reversal for David, he went from being a grieving, distressed leader fearing for his life by the hands of his men who “spoke of stoning him;” (which is rather ironic when you think of the fact that earlier in his youth he slew the Giant Goliath with one smooth stone); to an overcoming hero who led the way in “recovering all” that the enemy had taken from them.  The people even chose to set aside the flocks and herds of the enemy and declare it as, “David’s spoil.”  In other words, those who were once against David were now for David, ensuring that he was highly honored and well taken care of.

How did David accomplish this mighty feat….and why wasn’t “the spoiler” (the enemy) able to disrupt David’s Divine Breakthrough?

The answer to this important question can be found in 1st Samuel 30:7-8 (AMP) which reveals The Source of David’s Epic Victory;

“David said to Abiathar the Priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray you, bring me the ephod, And Abiathar brought him the ephod.”  “And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop?  Shall I overtake them?  The Lord answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail to recover all.”

After all of the years of miraculous feats done by David in The Name of The Lord, he did not rely on his strength or his understanding, he continued to draw near to God and wait upon Him with a “Banner Heart.”  A heart that is positioned in a place of humility and obedience to receive from The Lord.

David did not allow the memories of past victories and the former strategies that The Lord had given him to cloud his expectation and hearing of a “Fresh Word” from The Lord.  Whats more David did not put the responsibility for his authority on a word from Abiathar the Priest to guide him in this dire situation.  David’s intimacy and friendship with the Lord gave him the confidence to don “His Ephod,” and wait until he received the “Banner Word” of The Lord for his situation.  This, my friend, is how David won all of his, “Banner Victory’s” time and time again throughout each season of his life!

The donning of “The Ephod” which was a holy sacred garment used by King’s and Priest’s in ancient Biblical times to set themselves apart to hear the instructions and guidance of The Lord, was significant for David.  Why?….because the heart that beat under that ephod was a “Banner Heart,” that was set on hearing and obeying the Lord His God, no matter what the consequences were!

How did God view a heart like David’s?
We find the answer to that question in Acts 13: 21-22 (AMP);

“Then they asked for a King; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin for forty years.” “And when He had deposed him, He raised David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My Own Heart, who will do all My Will and carry out My program fully.”

Whose program are we carrying out in our lives? Ours?….Or The Lord’s?

For us, today, “The Banner of The Lord” written upon the tablet of King David’s heart in The Holy Scriptures, is a continual reminder of an overcoming, “Banner Life.”  You see my friend a “Banner Life” will always be lived from a “Banner Heart.”  A heart that is inclined to hear The Heartbeat of Heaven through The Voice of The Holy Spirit as He shares the secret truths and mysteries that God is longing to share with each one of us that call Him Abba Father!  Therefore my friend, “WE MUST NEVER ALLOW OUR, “HEART” TO BEAT AFTER ANOTHER god!

God, Himself states this truth so clearly for us in Exodus 20:3;

“You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.”

Let’s take a few minutes here and ask ourselves the following life-changing questions, I encourage you to write your answers down in a private place where you and The Lord can work it out.

What is written upon the tablet of my heart?

1. Am I living a “Banner Life” life from a “Banner Heart”?…..Or does my heartbeat after another god?

2. Do I recognize Jesus Christ as, “Jehovah Nissi” “The Lord Is My Banner”….. If not, why?

3. What course corrections do I need to make, if any, to keep my heart beating in line with God’s Will for my life?

My friend, when God sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to Calvary as our “Everlasting Banner of Life,” that was and IS His Eternal Heartbeat of Love for a lost and dying world.  A Heartbeat that you and I as believers in Christ Jesus cannot ignore! We must remember that every act of obedience in sharing The Goodness of God with those around us is an act of love that keeps this Heavenly Heartbeat alive and well and beating strong for The Glory of God!

This, my friend, is how we live a “Banner Life”, that will leave a “Banner Legacy”……
“Strong and Free….Boldly For Him”!

Psalm 60:4 (NKJV);

“You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the Truth.”

 

© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Picture by: Ben White

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“Alive And Well”

“Christ’s Resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the Place of All Power, Honor, and Authority!” “Yes, feast on all the treasures of the Heavenly Realm and fill your thoughts with Heavenly Realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT)

At the beginning of 2019, The Lord instructed me to write two specific blogs to start the New Year. January’s title is, “The Expected End” and February’s title is, “Inner-Action”.  Now as we have come to the last month of the decade, and are about to embark on what I believe will be a “Whole New Era” for the Body of Christ in the coming years; The Lord redirected my attention back to these two blogs.

As I re-read what He had to share with us through these writings, I became keenly aware that these blogs encapsulate what He is now saying to us through this last, “Boldly For Him” blog of the year. With 2019 quickly coming to a close, The Lord wants us to know that as we approach 2020, that no matter where we are or what we may be currently facing, that as Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ, the reality of our, “Expected End” is that we are, ”Alive And Well”, In Him as we recognize, renew, develop and mature our, “Inner-Action” to the truths that are shared with us in Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT).

To fully grasp what The Lord is now saying through this blog, I think it’s important for me to refresh us on the definition of “Inner-Action.”

Inner-Action = The relationship between the mind, the will and the emotions and how they are displayed in an individual’s life through their interaction with God and others.

You see my friend we are entering a time where everything that can be challenged will be challenged regarding what we believe about our identity In Jesus Christ. It is an Era, a decade, a time that will see much fruit as well as much loss within The Body of Christ. Why?….. because of the very pressure that is coming in the days ahead that will cause many to continue to be deceived, stumble and fall in their individual and corporate walk with The Lord. That is why it is so important my friend that you and I, “fill our thoughts with Heavenly Realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.”  Ref. Col 3:2 (TPT) 

What we learn and who we learn from can greatly affect what we believe about our God Given identity In Christ Jesus. So much so that the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions to his spiritual son Timothy who was an Evangelist and Pastor in the ancient town of Ephesus:

2nd Timothy 2:15 (AMP);

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”

The Word of God and the Truths that have been “Rightly Divided” and “Accurately Taught” to us must become so “Deeply Rooted Within Us”, that no matter what distraction, adversity or challenge may come our way; we are confident that we can live our lives as one who is “Alive and Well” because of the TRUTH that “Christ’s Resurrection IS OUR Resurrection too!” Ref. Col 3:1 (TPT)  

Understanding and accurately applying this passage of scripture in Col 3:1-2, in our daily walk, as Believers is paramount to a healthy, “Inner-Action” with God and others. An overcoming “Inner-Action” that will lead to Total Victory in every area of our lives, Spirit, soul, and body, in the coming days ahead. To God Be The Glory!

How does this Biblical Principle work in our lives?  

Colossians 3:3-4 (TPT) gives us the answer;

“Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away with God in Christ.” “And as Christ, Himself is seen for Who He Is, who you are will also be revealed, for YOU ARE NOW ONE WITH HIM IN HIS GLORY.”

This is not just a figure of speech my friend these are the Words of God Himself and the REALITY of Who We Are In Christ Jesus! According to the Word of God, we as Believers, have “severed the tie to this life.”  Meaning we no longer are bound or have any obligation whatsoever to live a defeated life of sin, sickness, poverty, shame, etc.!

Can this be proven by the Word of God? 

Yes, let’s see what He has to say to us in Colossians 3:5-9 (TPT);

“Live as one who has died to every form of sexual sin and impurity. Live as one who died to diseases, and desires for forbidden things, including the desire for wealth, which is the essence of idol worship.” “When you live in these vices you ignite the anger of God against these acts of disobedience.” “That’s how you once behaved, characterized by your evil deeds. But now it’s time to eliminate them from your lives once and for all-anger, fits of rage, all forms of hatred, cursing, filthy speech, and lying.” “Lay aside your old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise.”

God went to great lengths for you and me my friend to be, “Alive and Well” through the Crucifixion of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior! You see, Calvary not only Confronted, but CALVARY also DEFEATED EVERY FORM of sin, sickness, poverty, and disease for all men, for all time…PERIOD! Calvary did not console the enemy, by fearing him and accepting his slander against the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ. Calvary Confronted and Cast the evil works of the enemy out forever!

This is The Resurrection Power of 1st Peter 1:24 (TPT);

“He carried our sins in His body on the Cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness, Our INSTANT healing flowed from His Wounding.”

Therefore my friend, you and I as believers in Christ Jesus are not to console the enemy by fearing him and caving in when he attacks us with sin, sickness, poverty, and disease, we are to confront him with The Living Word of God and cast him out of our lives, spirit, soul, and body! It is not through our strength that we do this, it is through “The Blood of Jesus Christ”, that was Shed At Calvary. My friend, it is “The Good News” of His Resurrection Power that RESIDES WITHIN US that gives us, as Believers in Christ Jesus, the AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY to Confront and Cast out the devil and all of his evil works from EVERY area of our lives!

Did God give me this responsibility?

YES! Jesus Himself tells us about this “Priceless Privilege” in the following passages of scripture:

 John 14:12-14 (TPT); 

“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in Me, will do the Same Mighty Miracles that I do—Even Greater Miracles than these because I go to be with My Father!” “For I will do whatever you ask Me to do when you ask Me in My Name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring Glory To Him.” “Ask Me anything in My Name, and I will do it for you!”

Mark 16:16-18 (TPT);

“Whoever believes the Good News and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the Good News will be condemned.” “And these miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of My Name. They will speak in tongues.” “They will be supernaturally protected from snakes, and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

Never doubt my friend the Power of The Name of Jesus spoken out of your mouth as a Believer in Jesus Christ! It is the same power and authority that was given to the first Disciples! As modern-day Believers it is our turn to do what these Forefathers of Faith did, to take the healing power of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, to “lay hands on the sick and heal them”, this includes laying hands on yourself!  This Mandate is how we perpetuate the Eternal Message of Calvary! A Precious “Blood Bought” Message that Forever Speaks that, WE ARE, “Alive and Well” and Empowered to,

“Be Strong and Live Free…..Boldly For Him!”

 

© 2019 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

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“But I Wasn’t Racing!”

“I wasn’t racing!”  “It doesn’t matter, I won!”  “But I wasn’t racing!”  “It doesn’t matter, I won!”  This loud and insistent exchange between two young siblings took place years ago in a crowded crosswalk in Honolulu, Hawaii.  As Mark and I passed them by, we couldn’t help but smile at the older brother’s insistence that he had “won” some obviously “imaginary race” against his younger sister.  After all, she wasn’t “racing” pronounced “wacing” because she was missing a few front teeth!  Oh, the woes of sibling rivalry!

As I have reflected numerous times throughout the years, over this amusing and seemingly innocent inter-change between brother and sister, The Lord started to reveal to me the underlying current that the enemy was cunningly at work with to try to capture this young boy’s heart.  The purpose?  To keep him frantically competing in some “imaginary race” for the rest of his life.

In Hebrews 12:14-15 (TPT); we receive some practical life-saving advice from The Lord.

“In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward Holiness, for those who are not Holy will not see the Lord.”  “Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s Grace.  And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”

My friend, there is a “Code of Conduct” that The Lord is introducing to us in these scriptures, “Swift Peace over Competition,” with ourselves and others.  Notice that the first three words of the above scripture are, “In every relationship.”  This includes the relationship that we have with ourselves.  God knows that we can’t be, “swift to choose peace over competition” if we are not first, at peace within ourselves.

Like this young boy, if you and I choose to look at everyone around us as a competitor to be conquered, rather than a relationship to be nurtured, we will run a race of, “unholy competitiveness” against them, which will produce negative results.  Running our life’s race with others in this manner will cause us to miss the Heavenly revelation of God’s Grace in our lives and the lives of those around us; fast-tracking us on a road to self-destruction.  This will eventually make a way for a “root of bitterness” to begin to sprout within us that will cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”

Why is it so important for us to adhere to this God Given, “Code of Conduct” with ourselves and others?

You see my friend when we choose God’s instructions of, “swift peace over competition” we create an atmosphere of “Grace” that nurtures those around us.  This allows these precious relationships that The Lord has entrusted to us too, “Safely Flourish” in their God-given gifts and talents with confidence and ease.  This Divine harmony produces a cohesive unity, a “Oneness” that Jesus Himself prayed for us to have in John 17:21-23 (TPT);

“I pray for all of them to be joined together as one even as You and I, Father, are joined together as One.  I pray for them to become One with Us so that the world will recognize that You sent Me.”  “For the very Glory that You have given to Me, I have given to them so that they will be joined together as One and experience the same Unity that we enjoy.”  “You live fully in Me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that You have sent Me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that You have for Me.”

Friend’s as we choose to cooperate with a “Holy Oneness”, we bring the “Revelation” and “Protection” of God’s Grace into the center of our relationships.  This “Guardrail of Grace,” keeps us running our life’s race with a Divine Pace of Peace, void of fleshly striving.  This Divine Pace of Peace produces within us an intimate place of Holiness with The Lord!  This Sacred Holiness gives us the strength to choose, “swift peace over competition,” every time!  Glory To God!

On the contrary, when we feel insecure and threatened by the calling, gifts, and talents of others we will view them through the fear based, imaginary lens of “unholy competitiveness.”  This “unholy competitiveness” creates within us a striving and “bitter heart” that leads to an “unholy desire” to diminish their value and worth as a called individual of God.  An individual who like us my friend has been made in His Very Image!  Though we may not recognize it, at the core of this heart action is an attempt to, “Silence God.”

How do we Silence God?

By suppressing and discrediting the gifts and callings that He has placed on another individual’s life.  This is how God loses The Strength of His Voice to the world as we attempt to Silence Him, His Movement and His Purpose through the voice and ministry of another Brother and Sister in Christ.  A voice and ministry that God Himself planned, established and set in place in order to Advance His Kingdom.  My friend, attempting to “Silence God” disrupts the Peace and Perfect Unity that, “Oneness” that Jesus prayed for you and me to have.

How does this happen?

The same way it happened to lucifer, in Isaiah 14:13-14 (AMP);

“And you said in your heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost North.”  “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like The Most High.”

Like lucifer, if we are driven by a striving “unholy competitiveness,” “We will say in our heart, I will exalt my life above the plans and purposes of God; I will sit in God’s place and judge the callings of my brothers and sisters in Christ because, “It doesn’t matter, I won!”  ALL they have is MINE!  I will ascend above everyone that I know, there is no one greater than me, I will make myself like The Most High.”

The pride of lucifer’s heart gave birth to a destructive “unholy competitiveness” against God.  This rebellion poisoned the hearts of a third of the angels, dooming them forever to the eternal lake of fire, as they were cast from The Presence of God!  Let us not make the same mistake my friend running our life’s journey with a carnal, destructive “unholy competitiveness” that attempts to silence God while leading others astray, thus breaking fellowship with The Lord.

Before we run one more step, let’s ask ourselves the following questions:

1. Like the young boy in the crosswalk, Am I racing in an “imaginary race.”

2. Who am I racing against?  Why?

3. Have I participated in advancing the Kingdom of God by cultivating, promoting and releasing the gifts, talents, and callings of others without guile?

4. How can I better walk in, “the ministry of reconciliation” with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

Our God-given influence is greater than we think my friend!  The Lord is adamant that we protect the “Oneness” that “Holy Unity” that will show all men that we are Passionately loved by Him.  This is how we strengthen the Body of Christ and Advance His Kingdom.

My friend, if you are ready to join me in protecting the “Oneness.” that “Perfect Unity,” that Jesus prayed for us to have as we relinquish any “unholy competitiveness” from our life, then I invite you to make this declaration in the following prayer of repentance and reconciliation.

Please pray out loud with me: 

“Father God search my heart.  Any seed of “unholy competitiveness” that would cause a “bitter root” to grow within me and poison the hearts of others I repent of now to You.  Through the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ, I call it uprooted in Jesus Name!

I say and decree that every word and action of “unholy authority” that I have spoken or acted upon that has undermined, hurt and hindered the calling and progress of my brother or sister in Christ, I repent and ask you, Lord, to reverse that damage over every area of their life in Jesus Name!

Father God remove any curse that I have spoken over my life, and the lives of others.  Lord, any person that I have poisoned by spreading gossip, hurt or bitterness, would you please bring them to my heart, and show me how to address those words and actions for the sake of their restoration.  I repent of this sin!  Lord, I now decree Blessing over their life.

Thank You Father God for Your Divine Cleansing and Healing of my spirit, soul and body in The Name Of Jesus!  Lord, with Great Joy and Expectation, I receive The Complete and Manifest Victory for all of these areas that I have repented for and requested of You.  Father God, as a Cleansed Vessel I am now ready to report for active duty for my Kingdom Assignment.  To God Be The Glory!  Amen and Amen!

With The Holy Spirit Wind Beneath Our Wings we can now run as God taught us to run in 1st Corinthians 13:13 (TPT);

“Until then, there are three things that remain; faith, hope, and love yet love surpasses them all.  So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”

This, my friend, is how you and I Run Strong and Free in Perfect Unity……..Boldly For Him!

 

© 2019 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Photo: Ben White

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Into The Light

Consumed with an insatiable desire for murder, Saul could hardly breathe.  O how he hated those who were of, “The Way”.  How dare they claim that this, “Jesus Christ” was the Savior of the world!  Squinting he looks up to the sky, with sweat running down his face, stinging his eyes, Saul sneers to himself as he recalls that fool “Stephen.”  The nerve of Stephen to call Saul and his fellow Sandhedrin, “A stubborn and stiff-necked people!”  Didn’t he realize who he was talking too!?  Then, for Stephen to fall on his knees with his last breath and ask this, “Lord” to not fix this, “sin” upon them,” was more than Saul could take!  With hate and rage coursing through his veins, Saul was driven by a demonic mission to personally see that not one of these so called, “Christians” as they referred to themselves; would be left alive on the face of the Earth, to propagate such blasphemy!  However, the darkness of Saul’s soul was no match for, “The Light” that he was about to encounter!

We read about Saul’s dramatic conversion as he steps, “Into The Light” in Acts 9:3-6 (AMP);

“Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from Heaven flashed around him,”  “And he fell to the ground.  Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me [harassing, troubling, and molesting Me]?”  “And Saul said, Who are You, Lord?  And He said, I Am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.  It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].”  “Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do?  The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Shocked, Awed and Radically Transformed Saul gets up and steps into Acts 9:8-9 (TPT) a, “New Creation in Christ” as he begins his journey, “Into The Light.”

“Saul stood to his feet, and even though his eyes were open he could see nothing-he was blind.  So the men had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus.”  “For three days he didn’t eat or drink and couldn’t see a thing.”

From a blood thirsty, religious zealot, to an appointed man of God, Saul’s, “Road to Damascus” conversion is undoubtedly one of the greatest accounts of personal salvation that has ever been documented.  My friend, this “Highway of Grace” paved with, “The Blood of Jesus Christ” is still a Promised Place of Transformation for each of us today!  

Have you had a, “Road to Damascus” conversion and stepped “IntoThe Light”?

If you are a Believer, take a few minutes to reflect back on the moment that you chose to step, “Into The Light”, what was it like to, “see through your spiritual eyes” for the first time?

If you are not a Believer in Jesus Christ, who or what is keeping you from, “Seeing The Light”?

There is a very important nugget of truth hidden in, “plain sight” for us in the previous scripture and that is this, though Saul got up with, “eyes wide open”, he was unable to see, “naturally.”  However his, “spiritual sight” was opened and he could clearly “see” into the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit then led Saul to fast for a period of three days and nights.  During those three days, The Lord started orchestrating and preparing for the Divine Healing of Saul’s eyes, along with the equipping of Saul with the Precious, Priceless Gift of being, “Filled with The Holy Spirit.”  

In order to get the job done, God needed one of his trusted disciples to take an obedient and bold step of faith.  We meet this mighty man of God in Acts 9:10-18 (AMP) as we read about the seemingly dangerous deployment that The Lord sent him on,

“Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias.  The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias, And he answered, Here am I, Lord.”  “And The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there].”  “And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”  “But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on your saints at Jerusalem;”  “Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your Name.”  “But The Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and Kings and the descendants of Israel.”  “For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.”  “So Ananias left and went into the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, The Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with The Holy Spirit.”  “And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s} eyes, and he recovered his sight.  Then he arose and was baptized.”

This passage of scripture is as much about Ananias as it is about Saul.  Here we have a mature disciple of Jesus Christ faced with the hard decision of whether or not to stay, “in the Light” by obeying the instructions of The Lord.  You see my friend, Ananias was a conduit for the Power of The Holy Spirit to flow through.  The same supernatural wattage of spiritual power that blinded Saul’s eyes on “The Road to Damascus”, resided within Ananias.  As a Believer in Jesus Christ, Ananias’ obedience to The Lord was needed to remove the scales (or scabs) from Saul’s eyes as a result of them being, “Cauterized” as he came into contact with The Light of God.  This profound act of obedience would simultaneously keep Ananias, “In The Light” as it would fully bring Saul, “Out Of The Dark” and “Into The Light” of his healing and deliverance.

Some of you reading this Word of The Lord right now are an “Ananias” whom God has called and commissioned to reach a, “Saul” on their “Road To Damascus.”  My Fellow Believer of The Most High God, don’t let fear, doubt and unbelief keep you “Out of The Light” of your obedience!  A literal soul is at stake!  Some of you may be in the condition of Saul, waiting patiently “In The Dark” for the “Ananias” that God has revealed to you, to show up with the Healing and Deliverance that you so desperately need in order to fully step, “Into The Light” of your calling.  To you The Lord would say, 

Isaiah 40:31 (AMP);

“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

Whether we are in the place of “Ananias” or “Saul”, this my friend is how we can, “Be Strong and Live Free….Boldly For Him”, as we See and Soar, “Into The Light”!

 

© 2019 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”

Photo by Simon Wijers