Yes I experience challenges and and even life-threatening situations – but I’m not scared. Because You’re right by my side, reassuring me and encouraging me with Your guidance and protection.

What’s more, You’re setting me up for a fantastically rich future. And everyone can see it! You acknowledge me and affirm me – it’s almost too much.

I’m so excited about Your blessings and grace following me all the days of my life … and I can’t wait to live with You for ever. You’re my Boss man!

Julia Rosamund Brown March 27 2010

Technorati Tags: God’s Word,Bible,Bible principles,power,victory, Psalm 23

I’m a Christian. I believe and love my Lord. He gave Himself for me when He died on the cross of Calvary. I know He wants all of me. He’s a jealous God. I’ve given myself to Him and really love this experience with my Special Friend. Really love being lead and encouraged by Him to develop – to grow and change for His glory. He leads me through the valley to pastures green. The other day He said to me “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”

These things that I now recognise as my old idols – I now realise they were horrible masters. Cruel and fickle. Destructive and disruptive. I’m so glad to throw them out the window with God’s help, to cast them away from me. Yes we need money. Yes we need time. But my Heavenly Father knows I have need of these. He said to me the other day “Seek Ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” He said “All these things shall be added unto you.”

Thank you Lord for being so patient with me, for waiting for me – finally I get it! Put You and Your righteousness first, and You will provide the money and time I need to face my challenges! Money and time are resources that belong to you! So simple yet so deep. So rewarding yet so obscure. I found a hidden pearl of great price. I rejoice in God my Saviour.

Julia Rosamund Brown Oct 03 2009

Bible verses quoted:- Ex.20.3 KJV, Ex.20.4 NIV and Matt.6.33 KJV

God sent Jesus to preach good news to me, to heal my broken heart, to announce my freedom from the prison house of sin and death, and to pardon me. He sent Him to announce to me the year of His grace – a celebration of the destruction of my enemies – and to comfort me as I mourn, to care for my needs, to give me bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, to give me a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. He renamed me an Oak of Righteousness planted by Him to display His glory! (Based on Isaiah 61:1-3 MSG)

This affirmation tells me that God wants me to grow and flourish in all areas of my life; He wants me to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

You have probably heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s not new. This is the hierarchy:-

Level 5 – Self-actualisation / fulfillment
Level 4 – Self-esteem & recognition
Level 3 – Belonging & love
Level 2 – Safety & security- self-preservation
Level 1 – Physiological – food & shelter, survival

Maslow puts self-centred needs at the bottom – the basic needs, but finishes off with self-actualisation at the top – orientation to service and connection with others. These needs are genuine. They are part of our humanity – the way God has made us. The higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus when the lower needs are met. Once an individual has moved upwards to the next level, needs in the lower level will no longer be prioritised. If a lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritise those needs by focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs, but will not permanently regress to the lower level. E.g. a man having an asthma attack focuses at that moment purely on the need for air, rather than the need for a sense of fulfillment in his life …

What does Jesus say about needs?

At level 1, He says we shouldn’t focus on survival – rather give priority to higher levels – “take NO thought, saying, What shall we eat? … But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness … ” Matthew 6.31-33. He promised to care for our needs – for the needs of those who mourn in Zion – Isaiah 61.3.
Moving up to level 2, Paul said he doesn’t care about his own physical safety and security – he’s moved on from that … his security is in the Lord. Yes we may suffer but only as Christ permits and as we are able to bear it… 2 Cor.11.23-27, 2 Cor.12.9-10.
Regarding level 3, as Christians we have a sense of belonging to God’s family. We are filled with the love of God Rom.5.5.
Our identity is in Christ who acknowledges us as of value through Him – Ps 8.4-5, Ps 18.18-19 (level 4) …
Lastly the self-actualized person is very much abiding in the promise of Christ. We find our need for self-fulfillment satisfied as we orientate ourselves towards service and connection to others. “I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40.8 NKJV

What’s the advantage of adopting these concepts?

Physiological Needs – these are for survival – for life – we need air to breathe, food, shelter, clothing. But Jesus fed the crowds and He can and does feed you. Indeed He meets the physical needs of the world whether we acknowledge Him or not. But as Christians we can move our focus from this level of need because we trust Him to meet these needs. DO WE DO THIS? Or are we trapped at this level? – concerned about making a living to the exclusion of meeting our other higher needs? Are we like the birds of the air who spend all day every day looking for food and eating it. WE NEED TO TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH TO MOVE ON UP.

Safety & Security Needs – self preservation – we naturally value our life and want to protect and preserve it. But God promises us eternal security – Eternal Life in Heaven John 3:16. We are not condemned Rom 8:1. But the fool is without hope … Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 11.6 NKJV.

We need to belong and to express and receive love – a sense of belonging to and sharing with our earthly families and friends, and our Heavenly family. The Bible says it is not good for man to be alone. Genesis 2:18; and let us love one another for God is Love 1 John 4:7-8. Any expression of love is a result of God’s working in our lives. Satan is without God. His fruits are the harvest we reap in the absence of love – adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries (from Gal.5.19-21).

We achieve self esteem and recognition from others – we are all members of God’s family and as such have a purpose “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,” Rom 12.4). We also have self-confidence – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength Philippians 4:13. And most importantly we recognise the value God places on us – You, Lord, have made all the delicate, inner parts of my body. You fabricated them in my mother’s womb Psalm 139:13. We gain confidence from accepting and understanding our identity that is from Christ, and the gifts God has endowed us with. Without this acknowledgement of God as our creator, we have no true identity, we don’t know who we are …

Self Actualisation, for me, is all about leading a fulfilled life wholly in God’s will for my life – and that includes His good works that He has prepared for me to do Ephesians 2.10. I am content in all situations “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” Philippians 4:11. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1,2. Contrast this with the life of someone who has led a selfish life that is successful purely in worldly terms – perhaps a lot of wealth but not much else. Even the world recognises that this person is a sad person.

So what shall we do?

Acts 2.37-28 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We can:-

1. Connect with people – tap into and build on Maslow’s concept of the 5 levels of human needs – food & shelter, safety, belonging & love, self-esteem & recognition, self-actualisation / fulfillment.  E.g a health ministry does this effectively – at level 1. A friendly church does this effectively – at level 3…. But the One who excelled at connecting was Jesus – see Him in action with the woman at the well (John 4).

2. Need – explain why a need is important to them – E.g. You need to feel healthy in order to work effectively and be happy…. You need to feel part of something – it’s natural…

3. Give satisfaction – present the solution, getting an agreement – E.g. We can help you reduce your blood pressure using natural non-invasive techniques. Or, join us – we’re welcoming and you’ll enjoy yourself with us…

4. Visualize – a picture of future conditions will intensify commitment to position. Compare how things will be if the solution is adopted vs if it is rejected – this gets commitment. – With your blood pressure down you’ll feel much better &…; if it doesn’t reduce, you’re in danger of… You’ll learn more about the Bible as your relationships with others grow… We don’t want you to miss out…  Jesus promised living water, with no more thirst v. the life of shame and discontent that the woman had been living. Bible study, especially prophecy, helps us visualise the future. It tells us what God’s universal plan is and our prominent role in it. It gives us an order of events. – Jesus prophesied in Matthew and Luke – once he’d built relationships with people, satisfied their various needs and taught about life.

5. Suggest an action – turn the agreement and commitment into positive action – suggest something proactive. – Why not have a consultation today and… Why not come and visit our Church next week…

Action is the result of knowing God’s will for our lives, which leads to self-fulfillment, or self-actualisation (Maslow’s highest level of need). How can we know God’s will? “By pursuing one line of thought exclusively, the mind often becomes unbalanced. But every faculty may be safely exercised if the mental and physical powers are equally taxed and the subjects of thought are varied. The nerves of the brain are the medium through which heaven communicates with man and affects the inmost life. Whatever hinders the circulation of the electric current in the nervous system, thus weakening the vital powers and lessening mental susceptibility, makes it more difficult to arouse the moral nature.” (Ellen White – Education p. 209) So we need to be balanced – between mental and physical activity, between one line of thought an another. Jesus had to manage His time too. He was balanced and heaven communicated with Him.

Conclusion

I want to conclude by saying that:-

1. Through Christ’s grace, We CAN climb this ladder and lead fulfilled lives – lives that achieve the goals the Lord has for us.

2. First we receive and accept faith in His promises for us, faith that He will supply all our earthly needs. Then we can look up, expecting the greater nobler needs to be met.

3. With faith, our safety and security is in the Lord. There is nothing that can really harm us.

4. We belong to God’s family on earth. We are loved and can express love to others. Indeed we are filled with His love.

5. Each of us has an identity – who we are in God’s eyes, when He conceived us before He placed us in our mother’s womb. We ARE broken vessels. But we can accept God’s gifts for us and do all things through Christ.

6. The brain nerves that connect with the whole system are the medium through which heaven communicates with man and affects the inmost life. By leading a balanced life, the circulation of the electric current in our nervous system will not be hindered; the vital powers will not be weakened; mental susceptibility will not be lessened, and the moral nature will be aroused. We WILL know God’s will for us. Completely surrendered to that will, we WILL lead lives of significance and fulfillment.

Posted by Julia Rosamund Brown 15 July 2009

Recently I’ve realised more fully that the best I can do for my Saviour is to accept everything He has done, and wants to do, for me! If I invite Him to do so, He will give me faith, cleansing from sin, and love. These three gifts empower me to live the Christian life – a life of success and fulfillment.

Therefore I speak these words of affirmation and power:-

“I have faith in Jesus Christ - I accept it”

“I am covered by the merits of Jesus’ blood - I accept the atonement”

“I am filled with His love – I accept His love for me and His pouring it into my heart”

The Bible verses that I claim are:-

1 Corinthians 12.7-9 NIV Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

Romans 12.3 NIV …in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Jude 1.3 CEV …I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people.

1 John 1:7 NIV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Lev 17.13 NLT It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.

Rev 7.15 NIV And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Romans 5:5 NKJV Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Posted by Julia Rosamund Brown 24 May 2009

When we pray that kind of prayer we will live that kind of life. Every prayer of every Christian should be, “ Lord, thank you for the victories you have given me today. Thank you for the unlimited power of God. Thank you that I have victory in Christ now. Thank you that you are my Redeemer. Thank you that I stand faultless before the throne of glory”.

Our prayers should be prayers of power. That is what a life in Christ is all about.

I Am Significant

Matthew 5:13,14 – I am the salt and light of the earth.

John 15:1,5 – I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of his life.

John 15:26 – I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

Acts 1:8 – I am a personal witness of Christ.

1Corinthians 3:16 – I am God’s temple.

2Corinthians 5:17-21 – I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

2Corinthians 6:1 – I am God’s co-worker.

Ephesians 2:6 – I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:10 – I am God’s workmanship.

Ephesians 3:12 – I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Try getting up every morning and reading these affirmations. I let them fill and saturate my mind. I bathe in them. I look in the mirror and say, “I am God’s child. I am forgiven. I stand uncondemned. ” I put these statements into my life. Every day. I am experiencing the power of God in a way I have never ever done before. Life has just begun. I am into my devotional time. I have a covenant with God. I am thankful of so many things in my life.

With grateful acknowledgement – Leo Schriven’s amazing All Power Seminars

Get daily inspiration from Prophetic Verses.

Joseph Walter Brown

Next time the devil brings up your past you just remind him about his future. Tell him where to get off. Find who you are in Jesus Christ – everything that Christ says about you is positive and it is empowering.

I Am Accepted

John10:29 I cannot be taken out of God’s hand.

John 1:12 – I am God’s child.

John 15:15 – I am Christ’s friend.

Romans 5:1 – I have been justified.

1Corinthians 6:17 – I am united with the Lord.

1Corinthians 6:19,20 – I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.

1Corinthians 12:27 – I am a member of Christ’s body.

Ephesians 1:1 – I am a saint

Ephesians 1:5 – I have been adopted as God’s child.

Ephesians 2:18 – I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:14 – I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:10 – I am complete in Christ.

I Am Secure

Jude 1:24 – I am faultless before God.

Romans 8:1,2 – I am free forever from condemnation.

Romans 8:28 – I am assured that all things work together for good.

Romans 8:31-34 – I am free from any condemning charges against me.

Romans 8:35-39 – I cannot be separated from the love of God.

2Corinthians 1:21,22 – I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

Colossians 3:3 – I am hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 1:6 – I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected.

Philippians 3:20 – I am a citizen of heaven.

2timothy 1:7 – I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

Hebrew 4:16 – I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

John5:18 – I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

1Corinthians 15:57 – I have victory in Christ now.

I will read this every day. I will believe this every day . Everything God says about me is positive. Everything God says about you is positive.

With grateful acknowledgement – Leo Schriven’s amazing All Power Seminars

Get daily inspiration from Prophetic Verses.

Joseph Walter Brown

When I am offered a cigarette “I am sorry I can’t smoke. I am dead”. I stand on the Word. I believe the Word. I affirm the Word. I rejoice in the Word. If I do this I am promised I will not fall. I will not even struggle. It will be gone from my life.

If you say to yourself. “Well I am going to try. I will give it my best shot. God will give me the strength. God help me.” you are going to fail. There is a difference in these two approaches. Accept the victory. Accept.

This may require that you go over it five or six times to grasp this spiritual concept. God has given you the victory. Yes. It’s over. Yes. I don’t have to fight anymore. No, God gave you the victory. I am dead? Yes. You are dead. You can’t do it anymore.

Cool. I am dead. When you get it and quit trying to stop yourself, you accept the victory God has given you. It is incredible. You believe the Word and stand on it. It is done. This is the tool to change any limiting habit or behaviour in our life. It is powerful. Really powerful. I live with this concept every day and it is changing me forever.

With grateful acknowledgement – Leo Schriven’s amazing All Power Seminars

Get daily inspiration from Prophetic Verses.

Joseph Walter Brown

Can anybody walk on water? Yes or no. No, nobody can walk on water. It is humanly impossible. The Lord looked at Peter. He spoke two words. He said, “Peter come”. That is all He said, “Peter come”. Peter heard those two words. He knew that God could not lie. So he stepped out of the boat. He stepped on the water. What did Peter do? He walked on the water. He walked on the water all the way to Jesus Christ. Peter did what was humanly impossible.

Peter did it. How did Peter walk on water? He walked by faith in Jesus. He had faith in God’s Word. It was only two words. “Peter come”. When Peter believed, he walked on water. When he believed the Word of God, God did the miracle. That is the power of God. We need to realise it.

When people have problems they go home and pray about it, “Lord give me strength”. This never works because we are denying what God has already done for us. We need only to acknowledge and thank God. I believe that when I have a problem, God has already given me the victory. I just have to take it. God says, “Believe you are dead to it. Get rid of anything that feeds the habit. The victory is instant. It is here. It is now.

Peter was able to walk on water not because he could, but because he simply believed the Word of God. Two words. “Peter come”. When Peter believed it, God did the miracle. When I believe every Word that is in the Bible my life is going to know a power that is literally limitless and my life will never ever end. We all have this promise from God. Just take it.

With grateful acknowledgement – Leo Schriven’s amazing All Power Seminars

Get daily inspiration from Prophetic Verses.

Joseph Walter Brown

STEP 1

1Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which GIVETH us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

STEP 2

Romans 6:11

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be DEAD indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

STEP 3

Romans 13:14

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, to fulfil the lust thereof.

In this third step, I have a part to play. I am to make no contribution to my habit. I get rid of anything that feeds or contributes to the habit. Again let’s say it is cigarettes. I have accepted the victory that God has given me over smoking. I believe with all my heart that I am dead to smoking. I must make no provision.

My flesh wants tobacco. My flesh want nicotine. My flesh wants stimulants. God says I must make no provision. So I have to get rid of all cigarettes in my life. No cigarettes in my house, in my pockets, in the car. I had in the early day to avoid any friends who encouraged me to smoke. I avoided the situations that urged me to smoke, a party, whatever it was.

When you get rid of everything, here is what happens. God at that point can do a miracle in your life. We have just done three things.

1. God gave you the victory. You took it. It is done. No more struggling. It is finished.

2. God says, “Reckon that you are dead to it.” You believe you are dead. Whenever temptation comes, “I am dead.”

3. You make no provision for the flesh. Get rid of it. Get rid of the alcohol. Get rid of pornography. Get rid of the cigarettes. Get rid of whatever is contributing to your bad habit.

When you take those three steps the most amazing thing happens. The power of God literally does a miracle in your life.

With grateful acknowledgement – Leo Schriven’s amazing All Power Seminars

Get daily inspiration from Prophetic Verses.

Joseph Walter Brown

It is contrary to our nature to just take it. We have a hard time accepting it. We need to understand this concept, that victory is a gift from God, then there is no stress, there is no pressure to try to quit the bad habit. I do not have to battle with my bad habits anymore, I do not have to fight anymore.

I can just sit back and relax and say, “Thank you God. I accept your gift of victory. I believe your Word. I believe you have given me victory, therefore it is out of my life. Thank you Lord God.” This is powerful. I believe that God can give me victory on any limiting habit I am willing to quit. This is the first step.

STEP 1

1Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which GIVETH us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the key thing. No longer will we pray, “Dear Jesus, give me the strength, dear Jesus help me not to do this today.” No we need to forget this kind of prayer because Jesus has given us the victory and we need to thank Him. Jesus wants us to have the victory therefore He gives it to us. He has already given it to us. We just need to take it. It is simple . I no longer complicate it.

STEP 2

Romans 6:11

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be DEAD indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God says that once I have given you the victory, then whenever that sin or habit comes into your life again reckon that you are dead. If you are dead, can you smoke? No. If you are dead can you lose your temper? No. If you are dead can you yell? No. If you are dead can you snuff cocaine? No. If you are dead you cannot do it anymore. It is impossible. God says that we are to think of ourselves as dead.

Let’s say you have a problem smoking. You are on the job. The craving comes to smoke. “Boy I would like to have a smoke.” What are you going to do? You can say I am going to try to quit. God give me strength. You will fail.

When the temptation comes to smoke, go back to the promise “God give me the victory. I am dead I can’t smoke anyway. I am dead. Praise God. Thank you for giving me the victory.”

With grateful acknowledgement – Leo Schriven’s amazing All Power Seminars

Get daily inspiration from Prophetic Verses.

Joseph Walter Brown