Have you ever noticed that the people that you are afraid of will be the very ones that you will make a mistake in front of? This is what you call “Fear of man.” It will stop you from doing anything for God! I was like that not that many years ago, even though I was doing ministry. I would look at the people who were doing great things for God and think, “I don’t have what it takes to do this or that,” and one day the Lord said to me “WHY NOT YOU?” Those words so impacted my thinking that I have been going full speed every since!

Then the Lord gave me this scripture, Philippians 4:13 (CJB) “I can do all things through him who gives me power.” He spoke and said, “It kind of leaves you without excuse!” Anything that He gives us to do, He will equip us and empower us for… Period!

It is not by our might or power anyway, but but by His Spirit!

AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART

An old gym teacher who has now passed, was an avid runner and made the kids in his class run all of the time. I knew they hated it, but many of them became great track stars later on.

I would walk in that gym everyday and see all of this take place. I could never run and would always be the last one to come in, in a race. I would get winded easily and have to stop so I never thought that I could. One day while walking, I said to this gym teacher, “I could never run…” To which he said, “Yes you can, “YOU JUST NEED TO THINK YOU CAN AND DO IT!” and learn how to breathe….” I ran that day and not only that, it improved my singing!

I ran and ran, and learned how to pace myself.. I never stopped….!

NEVER SAY NEVER!

Never say never to the Lord, because He wants you to know today, that He called you, filled you with the Holy Spirit and power, gave you talents and gifts to do all that He called you to do, so that you could impact the world for the Kingdom of God!

Whatever it is stopping you from going forward today, whether it is a person, your past, a sickness, or a situation, the Lord wants to ask you today “WHY NOT YOU?” and then say to you, “GO FOR IT!”…. “Breathe in my Spirit and run the race! I will give you all you need for it!! I will empower you and give you the very words that you need when you need them! I WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO CARRY OUT GREAT FEATS! No excuses! I t is time to Arise and Shine!!”

“Well, how much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah and David and Samuel and all the other prophets. These people all trusted God and as a result won battles, overthrew kingdoms, ruled their people well, and received what God had promised them; they were kept from harm in a den of lions and in a fiery furnace. Some, through their faith, escaped death by the sword. Some were made strong again after they had been weak or sick. Others were given great power in battle; they made whole armies turn and run away. And some women, through faith, received their loved ones back again from death,” Hebrews 11:32-35 (TLB).

~ by Jo Ellen Stevens
Arise Shine!

Jo Ellen Stevens of TCIC Ministries is a Prophetic speaker, author, worshiper and intercessor. She has ministered with her husband for 23 years and was a worship leader at the Assembly of God for many years. She is an ordained minister (Restoration Ministries) and works with Restoration Ministries in their Ministry Rooms doing prophetic worship with her husband. She has taught many bible studies and have led many intercessory prayer groups.