Temptation is not sin. Temptation can lead to sin, when we give in to it, but it can also lead to triumph, when we overcome it. Remember how Jesus overcame those strategic temptations from Satan? He used the Word to bind and break the power of the temptation. I've heard Bill Johnson say before that he uses the Word to wash his mind after it's been exposed to junk. He opens the Bible and reads until he feels his soul becomes cleansed. I love this! What if you're not near your Bible and you are experiencing a temptation or have just been exposed to disgusting images or conversation? I have "go to" passages that I've memorized that I speak aloud to myself in times like that. One of my "go to" passages is Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd...). I also love praying some of those powerful apostolic prayers from Ephesians over myself: "I pray that you, being rooted and established in love..." Or, I speak 1 Corinthians 13 - the "love" chapter....or Psalm 27 or Psalm 91, etc. Use the Word as your weapon against the devil and his schemes. His word WINS every time and in every situation. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

I’ve heard it said that when we pray God changes us and that is how He “answers” our prayers. And this is true!  Spending time with God, talking with Him, worshipping Him, studying His Word, DOES change us. However, scripture clearly reveals that our feeble prayers do move the hand of God (Matt. 6; James 5:16...). In fact, there are even passages that suggest that there are times He desired to move but could not based on the fact that He could not find an intercessor (Ez. 22:30 - 31). Wow! I encourage you today to pray. Feeling a need to complain? Make it a prayer and direct it to God. Feeling excited about something? Make it a praise and direct it to God. Are you mourning a terrible loss? Tell the Lord exactly how you feel. Need a financial breakthrough? Make it a prayer and direct it to God. Are you not feeling well? Don’t just reach for the Tylenol and call it good - first pray and ask for His healing to be made manifest. If He directs you to then reach for the Tylenol or go to the doctor, then do whatever He leads you to do. Who is this God? He is a faithful Father who listens and answers. He is the One who sent His Son into the world to die on the cross in order to pay the penalty of MY sin, so that I could be reconciled to Him through Jesus. And this Faithful Father LOVES us and LOVES to hear us pray. What are you waiting for? Right now - begin the conversation. Take this moment and PRAY.

How beautiful are the feet of him that brings good news. Yesterday (Nov. 9, 2017) I had the privilege of listening to a young man lead prayer at KHOP. Just six weeks ago he had tried to take his own life, but God dramatically intervened and His life was spared. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the words “thank you” at the prayer mic in one prayer set as often as I have heard them during this man’s two hour block. He reminds me of the woman who poured her anointing oil over Jesus’ feet. Truly, those that have been forgiven much, love much. Sometimes I need to be reminded just how amazing it feels like to be freshly saved, freshly healed, and freshly delivered of addictions. Wow. Jesus is real. And He still heals, still delivers, and still saves. And these feet testify!