”Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

I would like to add to this quote; “Despair cannot drive out despair: only HOPE can do that.”

Pastor Kris Belfils

How many times do we try to drive out our own despair with more despair? This will never bring encouragement.

The word despair means: “A state in which all hope is lost or absent, The feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well, abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart” (WolframAlpha). Other terms:  Discouragement, disheartenment, dismay, hopelessness, pessimism, resignation, surrender.

This happens to many people everyday. When a tragedy occurs or our expectations have not been met, we can fall into despair easily. We can fall into despair just by thinking wrong thoughts about our self and others.

There are really only two things you can have in life:

1. Despair
2. Hope

Hope means: “A general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled, grounds for feeling hopeful about the future, Someone, or something on which expectations are centered, One of three Christian virtues (‘Faith, Hope, and Love’), expect and wish, intend with some possibility of fulfillment (WolframAlpha).”

Having hope is so essential to surviving in life. If we lose hope, we have lost the race.

Where’s your HOPE?

Many people put their hope and trust in leaders or other people. But, when they let them down, and leave, or do not fulfill their expectations, they get discouraged and filled with despair.

Often people put their trust in other people, like their Father or Mother, friend, Teacher, but end up disappointed. Some put their hope in their job, or their boss. Some put their hope in the economy, or the Government. Some people put their trust in themselves, but the only place we can put our hope and never be disappointed is God!

Let’s take a look at a few scriptures to help us get a better grasp on who we should put our hope in:

Psalms 42:5 (GNB)

“ Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God.”

This verse is telling us to put our hope in God and to praise Him for saving us from our trouble.

What are you thinking? Are you thinking despairing thoughts? Then you will be filled with despair! Despair and discouragement are dead end roads. They lead to no where!They don’t get anything done. Discouragement leads to despair, despair leads to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, hopelessness leads to depression and suicidal thoughts, and suicidal thoughts leads down a path of total darkness. These thoughts only bring darkness. Thoughts we listen to will affect our outlook on life. Feelings of suicide is a terribly dark, lonely place to be. If you have never experienced thoughts of suicide, you will never understand why someone would want to try to commit it. Don’t be too quick to judge someone who is depressed or suicidal.

If you are feeling despair, don’t jump to Satan’s illusions. Remind yourself that you are valuable and God has a plan for your life. Tell yourself that your current condition is not permanent. It will pass. Tell yourself you can stand in the midst of all the bad. Also distinguish the difference of something that is truth about you or your situation, or just a lie or illusion the enemy is trying to sabotage you with.

In the natural, darkness always makes us scared, but sunshine and light make us feel safe and happy. The doom and gloom go away instantly when light is put on the subject.

Light is the only thing that can drive out darkness.  We sometimes wallow in self-pity or focus on the negative, thinking you will feel better, and the dark cloud will lift. This will never happen. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, and despair cannot drive out despair.

We have to guard against darkness in our hearts and minds. The best way is to focus on, and bring in the light.

Psalm 36:9 (NKJV)

“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”

John 12:46 (NKJV)

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

1 Thess 5:5 (NKJV)

“You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.”

John 1:5 (NKJV)

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Isaiah 60:1

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

We have to set our minds on new things, and what God is capable of doing. We have to turn our thoughts from the bad and purposely set our thoughts on the good.

Jesus said this about our light:

Matthew 5:14 – 16 (NKJV)

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Psalm 146

Now let us take a look at Psalm 146 and see what the LORD is doing in our lives, which brings us much hope:

Psalm 146 (NKJV)

“PRAISE the LORD! (Hallelujah) Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust (hope) in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirt departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The LORD shall reign forever – Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

To overcome Hopelessness we need to remind ourself who the LORD is in our life:

1. Praise the LORD! (Ps. 146:1 – 2)
2. Do not put your hope in princes or in man as they will perish (146:3 – 4)
3. Put your hope in the LORD – it will make you happy (Ps. 146:5)
4. The LORD made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them (Ps. 146:6)
5. The LORD is the keeper of truth forever (Ps. 146:6)
6. The LORD executes justice for the oppressed (146:7)
7. The LORD gives food to the hungry (146:7)
8. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners (146:7)
9. The LORD watches over the strangers (146:8)
10. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind (146:8)
11. The LORD raises those who are bowed down (146:8)
12. The LORD loves the righteous (146:8)
13. The LORD watches over the strangers (146:9)
14. The LORD relieves the fatherless and widow (146:9)
15. The LORD turns the way of the wicked upside down (146:9)
16. The LORD shall reign forever, to all generations (146:10)

Psalm 27:14  (God’s Word)

“Wait with hope for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Yes, wait with hope for the LORD.”

We have to wait with hope for God. We have to be courageous and strong in our waiting. The word; “wait” use to be a bad four letter word to me. I hated waiting. Waiting made me feel I did something wrong. It made me feel I wasn’t ready. But, this is not why we have to wait at times. Waiting helps us to mature in Christ. Waiting burns out the impatience in us. Waiting is better then rushing into something without God’s wisdom and direction.

Human nature gives up easily when we pray and don’t see our prayers answered. We pray once, and no answer, so we give up, or think it is not God’s will. We have to be persistent in our prayers and in faith. God is looking for people who have their hope in Him.

I am sure Elijah waited with hope as he prayed to God for rain to come.

Read 1 Kings 18:41 – 46

Elijah could have given up after the first time praying for rain and then sending his servant to go up mount Carmel to see if any clouds were forming. Elijah’s hope was in God and he believed God would come through. Again and again Elijah prayed without any answer to his prayer. He pressed in and continued to pray.

Elijah persevered and kept praying and believing God would come through. He was relentless! He didn’t stop praying until God gave him a sign. It was in a form of a cloud the size of a man’s hand. It was all he needed to move on in his life. God gives little clouds to spark hope in our hearts that He is working and bringing the answer.

We can learn from this great man of God. We too need to keep praying without giving up. We too need to believe God will answer in spite of our circumstances or what we see or don’t see happening.

The hope is knowing God is faithful! What He did before He will do again. He used men and women in the Bible to bring about His agenda and His Kingdom. He wants to use us too.

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Faith in action requires a time of waiting. The word “Hope” is interchanged with the word wait in the Bible. It is the place between praying and the answered prayer.

It can seem like God didn’t hear us, or that he holds his answer from us.

It is Hope deferred:

Proverbs 13:12

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Delayed hope, or hope put off makes our hearts sick. It grieves our spirit. It zaps our energy and fills our hearts with darkness. God knows this. Don’t give up hope, God hears our cry for help! He will send us our cloud of hope, even if it is very small, it is something we can see and know He is working on our behalf.

Will we worship and walk in obedience waiting for God to bring hope and answers? Do you trust God? This is what the Christian faith is all about… faith believing God is there and this brings hope.

Far too often believers give up when their prayer is not answered or things don’t go according to your plans. We think God is mad or didn’t hear our cry. There is an element of faith believing every Christian has to walk through. Do we just love God when times are good, and then when times are hard we give up on God?

We have to be mature believers and decide I will trust God and hope in God no matter the circumstance.

Helpless but not hopeless! In our weakness God is strong. We can stand knowing when we are walking through a hard situation, in our helplessness, God sees our condition. Just like a loving parent sees and helps a helpless child, this is what God does with us. We have to realize this is humility and it is also strength. Humility in that we are not relying on our own abilities, and strength because we totally rely on God’s. This is what David did when facing Goliath. David’s brother, Eliab, thought David was arrogant when he came to the front lines of battle to find out what was going on with his big brothers and the nation of Israel.

Read 1 Samuel 17:1 – 11

1 Samuel 17:11 (NKJV)

“When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

Remember one of the words for “despair” is “dismayed.” King Saul and all of Israel had lost hope. They didn’t believe they would prevail. Unbelief is trusting in your own strength. Unbelief is pride, the opposite of humility.

This world will tell you that being humble is to be meek and timid, but that is not humility at all. True humility is not relying on your own strength but on God’s. It is a knowing that God will prevail in spite of circumstances and fears. It is believing God is Who He says He is and walking in His power and insight.

Read 1 Samuel 17:12 – 18

David knew who he was. He was a Mighty Man Of God, yet even his father treated him as a child sending him to look after his brothers and report back what was going on. I am sure David burned in his chest the desire of being on the front lines in battle. Knowing David’s character, and Who He relied on in every circumstance, he wanted to show God’s power by annihilating the enemy. David wasn’t afraid of the Giants or what people thought of him.

David lived in his hopes. Saul, David’s brothers, and the Israelites lived in their fears. It paralyzed them from doing anything great. It put them in bondage and they couldn’t advance. If it weren’t for David, all of Israel would have been killed or turned into Philistine slaves.

Read 1 Samuel 17:19 – 30

Eliab’s view of David was skewed. Eliab believed he was speaking out of insight and wisdom, but Eliab’s pride got the best of him. He asked David, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle” (1 Samuel 17:28). Yet, right before all this happened, King Saul was tormented by a distressing spirit and was troubled. The servants of King Saul suggested getting a man who is a skillful payer on the harp to play and ease the king’s spirit. One of Saul’s servants already knew about David. He told the king, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing , a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him” (1 Samuel 16:18).

No matter what our family or others think of us, there will be people who truly see us for who we are; “Mighty Men and Women of God!” David’s older brother, Eliab, never saw David as anything but his younger little brother, who he thought was a prideful, arrogant sheep herder.

Don’t listen to the “nay-sayers” in your life. They don’t see you as God sees you. David was facing Giants. Not only in the physical, but also mentally with his older brother and what he thought of him. If David listened to his older brother the battle would have never been won. The Philistines would have prevailed. David overcame the Giant of Nay-sayers when he turned from his brother and asked someone else what was going on and what was the reward for defeating Goliath.

Philippians 4:13 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This should be our motto! This should drive us daily to do all that God has called us to do. This is what we have to walk in every situation, trial, hardship, and fear.

Read 1 Samuel 17:31 – 42

The word “Disdain” means:  “lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike, a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient, look down on with disdain, reject with contempt.” Synonyms:  contempt, scorn, condescension, despise, reject, turn down.

How many times have you faced this very experience in your life? People who looked down on you and rejected you for some reason or another. They had disdain in their hearts. Remember that God is a god Who sees! God knows what you are up against. He knows the hearts of everyone involved. Trust that God will bring justice out of false accusations or mistreatment. In the meantime, keep on walking and doing what you believe God has called you to do!

Read 1 Samuel 17:42 – 43

The Philistine taunted David with his words. If David believed them, the battle would have been lost. But immediately David responded to the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:45 – 47

“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword, and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

David didn’t cower after Goliath taunted him with condemning words. No, David came back with words of intimidation and faith. He looked at his Giant and spoke to his Giant the very words his Giant was speaking to him, but with God’s anointing and boldness, and authority. Don’t let the giant intimidate you, you intimidate the giant. Pursue and conquer!

Read 1 Samuel 17:48 – 58

Verse 51

“Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.”

David took Goliath’s own sword, which was still in its sheath, and killed him. The very sword Goliath should have used to kill David. The very words Goliath used to taunt David, was the very thing that happened to him. David used his enemies’ own weapon against him. Goliath didn’t even have his weapon out for battle. What was up with that? If one thinks they are heading into battle, weapons are drawn and ready. Goliath was so arrogant he didn’t even think he needed to defend himself. That is the mind-frame of the enemy. He thinks he has already won, but in reality, he has defeated himself. How? By disregarding the power and authority of God’s servants. We, as God’s servants, God’s warriors, can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! We are more then conquerors through Him who loves us! God has already won, we just get in battle position and watch the hand of God annihilate our enemy.

David learned how to walk in hope in spite of any fear he may have had.

Hope prevails

This is how hope prevails in spite of circumstances we face. We have to learn how to find hope. Sometimes we are too weak to walk in hope, but we can stand in it. Stand, knowing God is fighting your battle. Stand, in the face of fear. Remember who is for you and not against you! After standing, God will give you His grace to start walking in His hope. Believe God for a small cloud of hope. Press in to God and expect Him to answer your cry.

Your Sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

God has been speaking to me lately about my old mindsets. How I view things in life from religion, to practical living, can and will affect my destiny. The choices I make today will affect my tomorrow.

God is doing new things in all areas of life. I see it! He is bringing in change into church services, and even His relationship with us, as individual believers. I have made up my mind to embrace the “New” that God is doing.

Recently I went to Africa for a three week ministry trip. This was my third time going to Nigeria. During this trip God changed me from the inside out. He started to show the real me He created me to be. I awakened and walked in this newness as I ministered from church to church and event to event in Africa. The favor of God went before me everywhere I went. Nothing that I did, but all God’s doing. My view and how I was used in ministry SHIFTED and the authority of Christ saturated my entire core. I saw myself through God’s eyes, and better then that, I walked and functioned in what I saw.

Coming home from Africa this time around was a whole new experience. I felt I couldn’t put on the old coat or “Hat” I use to wear. I was different and had to function differently.

Another example of having a new mindset was dealing with computer issues on my old laptop and buying a new laptop, which brought on even more new issues. I wanted to make some DVDs of some of my products I have available on my web site. Someone had bought a copy of each DVD I sell before I left for Africa. I contacted them asking them to kindly allow me to send them after I came back from Africa. When I arrived back from Africa my old laptop’s hard drive was totally full. It has been for a while and I have been deleting files off of it for several months to allow me to still use it properly. Also, I have been using an external hard drive but found it cumbersome and slow when I pulled files off of it to work on. I was blessed in so many ways while I was in Africa, including financially, and had enough money to buy a new laptop with a bigger hard drive and faster processor. After formatting my new laptop I was ready to work on the videos from my web site and also work on videos recorded in Africa. But, I found out the software had changed from my previous laptop version to the new, and the format my videos were in would not work with the iDVD software to create the DVDs I needed to send. Through a process of a week and pulling my hair out, I started to see things differently. I had a new mindset to create the DVDs a different way. God used the whole process to make me see there is a different way of looking at it and a different way of doing it.

I was having lunch with a few of my friends yesterday. We were all talking about our frustrations with how people view things. I spoke up and said, “The Old Mindset will say, ‘Just blab it and grab it.’” (There was a Christian movement in the 70’s and early 80’s called, “Positive Confession.”) This statement comes from much abuse and people making fun of the movement. The bottom line of that movement was if you didn’t have enough faith, it was your fault for not confessing and believing something would happen. I believe the whole movement was based on the wrong foundation. It should have been based on what God can do and not on what we confessed. So, the Old Mindset would say, “Blab it and grab it!” But the new mindset will set it’s focus on God and what He can do by saying, “I believe and decree that God will move this mountain!” or “In Jesus Name, I call forth this body to line up with a healthy body and be healed!” The difference is our mindset.

Old Mindsets will say, “This is how we did it in the past and we have to do it this way now.” New Mindsets will “Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago…” (Isaiah 43:18 GWT) It goes on to say, “I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it?” This verse tells us to forget what happened in the past. Forget how things were done. Forget any stigma connected with it. Embrace, and let it become a part of you, the new!

 How do we demolish the old mindsets?

 1.  Close your mind off from what you think should happen.

If we are too focused on what has happened before and expecting the same thing to happen, we will miss the new God has for us. We might have a pre-conceived idea of how God works, but really, God works in mysterious ways. His ways are not our ways. We have to be open to new things.

Isaiah 43:18 – 19 (CEV)

“Forget what happened long ago! Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in the deserts, streams in thirsty lands.”

Roads in the deserts and streams in thirsty lands. In the natural, the desert is a wasteland. There are usually no streams, and hardly any roads. But this verse wants us to open our minds and thoughts to something that is not natural. Streams in the desert are opposites. They are two extreme things. Yet, This is what God is doing in our lives, ministry, finances, family, and much more.

We can limit God just by having an old mindset. I was given a plaque/picture for Christmas from a close friend. It is beautiful. It has a Zebra background (I collect Zebra items) and looked very African. There was a verse written on it that says:  “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) It was a reminder of what God has placed in my heart and the vision He has given me. Christ is Whom I do things through, and He gives me strength to accomplish what He has placed in my heart. My old mindset would have said, “Well, this is what I know, and I guess I will keep doing what I have been doing.” God wanted me to close my mind and thoughts on the old way of thinking, so I could put on the new mindset to pursue the new. We have to abolish the old way of thinking. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, yet He never does the same miracle the same way He did it before. There is always a new way.

When the new way is coming forth, and you think it might not be of God, take a second look and ask God if it is from Him or not. He will show you if you are truly open to His answer. Check and see if you have closed off the new way of looking at things. Don’t be caught up in how things were, or how you think things should be. Get caught up in God and sensitive to His leading. Then, you won’t miss out on the new God is bringing.

2.  Relax if things don’t go according to plan.

Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Often times this is God trying to show you there is a better or different way of doing things. We can get all stressed and frustrated over trying to accomplish something and find out the way to accomplish it, or even if you should accomplish it, didn’t work. God sees the whole picture, we don’t. Our finite minds will think something should go a certain way, but God’s infinite wisdom knows all and has a plan. God has used the most foolish things to confound the wise. Be willing to let go of your way of thinking in order to receive new revelation and insight in a situation.

I have seen people get all upset just because things don’t go according to what they thought should happen. Then, out of their frustration, they criticize what IS happening and not only miss out on what God is doing, they also cause strife and division in the body of Christ. Usually these people are very verbal with their criticisms. They are thinking they are “right,” when in reality they are totally wrong, and missing it.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Our own understanding can often deceive us. What we “think” should happen. What we “reason” to happen. Yes, facts are facts, and if you are basing your understanding on that alone, you are limiting God. You see, God is a God of miracles. A place where facts alone can not explain. If we take the God-factor out of an equation, we will end up with less then what could really happen.

3.  Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, and everywhere you go.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 (The Message)

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’S voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

“Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…” If we are constantly listening to Gods voice and direction, the new mindset will automatically be put on you. You won’t be surprised at the direction God is taking you. In fact, you will be so consumed in what God is doing you won’t be distracted by the old mindset. Listening to God’s constant voice demolishes old mindsets.

4.  Don’t fight change.

I am one who enjoys change. Actually, anything new I totally love. A new home, a new car, new clothes, new job, all of that is enjoyable to me. I rearrange my living room and my office at church often. When things seem to get stale, I have to change it. It fuels me. Staleness can cause you to become complacent. We get comfortable in our pursuit of God and what we do for Him. Contentment and complacency are two different things.

Contentment:  “a state of happiness and satisfaction” (Oxford American Dictionary)

Complacency:  “self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of     actual dangers or deficiencies; a feeling of being satisfied with how     things are and not wanting to try to make them better (Webster).”

We should all be content, yet, most people get confused and actually get complacent instead. Complacency is “Self-satisfaction” it is inward-satisfaction. We get satisfied with our efforts and stop pursuing God. I have seen older people with the mindset, “I already did my time, now I can just relax!” This is an old mindset. As long as their is breath in you, pursue God and what He wants you to do in this life! Don’t allow inward-satisfaction to take the place of contentment. Complacency shuts your eyes to the new God is doing. Complacency turns a blind eye to injustice. Complacency is extremely selfish. This is opposite of God’s character. God always gives his time and love to others. He never sleeps. He is older then time itself. If we want to be more like Him, then we have to up-root complacency from our lives. Don’t entertain thoughts of giving up, or retiring from God’s call.

I know of a wonderful lady who was the piano player of a church I was the Worship Pastor at. She was 65 years old but loved the contemporary Christian praise and worship. It fueled her. She couldn’t wait for me to place a new song in front of her so she could learn it. I have seen other piano players her same age fight me when I would pic a new song for them to learn. In fact, they couldn’t even play it as they had the old way of playing in their minds and it prevented them from even trying to play the piano in a new way. The lady who was open to change had a huge impact on the members of the worship team and they loved her dearly. She spoke into their lives often and they were eager to hear what she had to say. The lady who was not open to change, was often critical in most areas of life, and the worship team members literally hated it when she would be scheduled to play the piano. She didn’t speak into the lives of anyone, and often would be the first one to leave a practice.  Tell me, which one would you rather be?

I was reading a book, “Charged To Change,” by Pastor Abba Godwin (Abuja, Nigeria, Word Alive Revival Ministries). He states, “Tradition is a pothole in the highway of acceleration.” I believe it. Doing things the same way, and not looking for the new God is doing, will prevent you from arriving at your destiny. In Nigeria, the streets and roads are so bad. They have huge potholes, and sometimes the paved street is broken and gone all together. This is such an eye opener as to how tradition and religious mindsets can detour us from our prophetic destinations.

5.  Don’t stop believing.

The enemy wants you to give up on the dream God has placed in side of you. You  might have been waiting for this dream to come to pass twenty or more years ago. I am sure the dream is bigger then you. If it is, that is a true sign that it is from God. If it was the size of something you could fulfill on your own, then God wouldn’t get the glory, you would. Don’t allow setback or hardship to prevent you from believing the God-given dream will be fulfilled. God has His time-frame. He knows everything. Again, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5 – 6). This is a promise. Bring the dream before God in prayer. Remind Him (although He always remembers) and remind yourself of the dream. Pour your heart out to God and express your desire and His dream He has placed in your heart. Ask Him for the grace to finish the race to see the fulfillment of that dream. Remind yourself, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Stir up faith in your spirit. Let faith arise in your heart again. Look back and remind yourself of all the things God has done in your life. He is faithful! Don’t allow the tool the devil uses; “Discouragement” to become a part of you. Shake it off and press onward! God has big plans for you.

How do we put on the new mindset

1.  Open your mind and heart to new things.

God is doing new things!

Isaiah 43:19 (GNT)

“Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already – you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.”

God is a God of the new. Yes, we need to remember history and what has made us who we are today, but to progress, we have to be open to the new God is doing. Change is the new. In other words, if you change something, it is different then what was there before. It is new. A new concept, or a new way of thinking has to come by changing what we thought before.

Don’t hate change

If you hate change, you will become stagnate or complacent. We should always be growing in Christ. We shouldn’t be in the place with God now as we were last year. We should be climbing new heights! We should be ascending to deeper places with God. We should be more like Him daily. If your spiritual life hasn’t changed in years, it is a sign you have lost your first love and become complacent. Then you have to ask yourself, “Am I hungry for God, and the things of God?” If your answer is no, then you desperately need change in your life. Chances are you have closed off your heart and mind to new things.

Matthew 9:16 – 17 (GNT)

“No one patches up an old coat with a piece of new cloth, for the new patch will shrink and make an even bigger hole in the coat. Nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, for the skins will burst, the wine will pour out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and both will keep in good condition.”

Allow the Holy Spirit to change you. Crave the things of God. Ask God for the “new” He has for you. Open your heart to more of His presence and more of His love. His love changes you. You can never be the same after you have experienced God’s love. Get rid of the old or fleshly wineskins and replace them with a pliable soft heart. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes and see all the new He is doing. Seriously, if you don’t, you will spiritually die. You will have no new life in you. You will be rotting and spiritually stagnate and become a stench to everyone. Do you want this?

2.  Yield to the promptings of correction from the Holy Spirit.

Correction is not fun. Correction says that your actions or way of thinking is wrong and you need to change. Correction shows God’s love as He prompts you to see the sin or the old mindsets in you and gently brings change if you are willing. We can fight God’s correction. I don’t advise you to do that though. Remember God has infinite wisdom, and we don’t. What seems to not make sense to us, like asking someone for forgiveness even when you thought you didn’t do anything wrong, is truly God’s kingdom on earth being manifested. Trust the Holy Spirit and His promptings. Don’t fight correction. We have to be broken so we will think differently and live differently.

Proverbs 13:18 (NKJV)

“Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.”

Proverbs 13:24 (GNT)

“He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”

God always corrects those He loves. Don’t think you have arrived and will never be corrected again. From the oldest to the youngest, we all need to be corrected from time to time. In God’s correction comes a new way of looking at things, and a new way of thinking. Our job is to yield under God correction. You will soon see how circumstances or trails you go through turn out to be God’s discipline or correction. Not all are, but God will use them to help you look at the new. There are tons of scriptures which talk about God’s correction. Look some up and see what God tells you through them.

3.  Look for the New!

The new can be right in front of you and you don’t even know it. It can be so obvious and yet eluding all at the same time. Be alert! Be fierce! Look around you and see what God is doing. Pray and ask God what new things He wants you to see and do. Be open to the unexpected. Don’t put God in a box. He is constantly talking to His people and doing new things. Be eager to dig and find new things.

Isaiah 43:18 – 19 (CEV)

“Forget what happened long ago! Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in the deserts, streams in thirsty lands.”

Do you see it? Anticipate that God is bringing new ways, new days, new life into every circumstance. Sometimes circumstances scream “There has to be a new way!” A new circumstance, that you have never walked through before, calls for finding out how to deal with and overcome it. You are forced to look for the new.

2 Samuel 6 describes bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to the City of David from Obed-Edom’s home. This was a new circumstance. Previously David tried to move the Ark of the Covenant from Abinadab’s house but Uzzah died for trying to stabilize the Ark when the oxen stumbled. David was afraid and placed the Ark of the Covenant in Obed-Edom’s home. News spread that Obed-Edom’s home was being blessed and David longed to bring the Ark back to Israel. So he set out to try again, only this time he changed things up.

As they were bringing the Ark into the City of David, David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. He was bringing in the Ark in a new way, and with much joy. Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. As David worshipped and rejoiced that the presence of God was coming back to the City of David, Michal, who was not participating in the worship, but observed it all from a distance, despised it all in her heart. She rejected the new way of worship. She was critical of how David was dressed, and how he acted. This is so true for today and looking for the new. People can be critical of a new way of worshipping God or how people are responding as the presence of God is being manifested. Worshipping from a far and not participating and experiencing the new along with others, will make you critical. You can’t see it from their point of view as you are totally in a different place and see it from a different perspective. We have to change our perspective in order to experience the presence of God in a new way. This leads us to my next point.

4.  Don’t worry about getting your hair messed up!

2 Samuel 6:20 – 23

“Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! So David said to Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maid servants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.’ Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death.”

“…And I will be even more undignified than this…” We need to learn to lose our dignity for His deity! If we get caught up in what people think we will be in bondage to man. If we care about what God thinks, we will be free to experience new things.

Sometimes putting on a new mindset will mess our hair. What I mean is; it might make you lose your dignity. It might force you to re-evaluate why have you done what you have done and for what reason. Tradition can set our mind in such a mode that makes it hard or difficult to even see the new. Once you have seen the new, your traditional mindset will fight you and express, “It hasn’t been done this way before!” I am sure you have heard the definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We will never overcome or have a breakthrough if we keep doing the same thing over and over. We have to change direction. If we don’t, we will become stagnate and complacent.

5.  Wear the New Mindset well; be Strong and Courageous!

Walk in the authority of God as you wear your new mindset. What I mean is don’t be afraid or timid as God reveals new things to you. Share them. Take action. Be bold in your faith as He reveals more of who He is and what He is doing.

2 Chronicles 32 talks about how king Sennacherib of Assyria came and entered Judah and camped against the fortified cities thinking to win them over to himself. Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem. He consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. He strengthened himself and built up the walls that were broken, and built up another wall. He repaired the landfill in the Ciry of David and made weapons and shields in abundance. He set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement:

2 Chronicles 32:7 – 8 (NKJV)

“‘Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

This was a new situation for Hezekiah and the people of Judah. The enemy put up every hindrance. They even sent messages to try and scare the people and their faith.

2 Chronicles 32:21 (NKJV)

“Then the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.”

God will send his breakthrough in your life this year! This is a year of walking in our authority in God and believing for great things.

I am believing that every hindrance the enemy is trying to make will be lifted from you and I break the power of delays in your life. This is a year of victory over the enemy! Walk in the new mindset God has available for you. Break the mental bondage and walk in God’s freedom to be who you were created to be in Jesus mighty name!

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

“I love u too much to NOT speak the truth!” This is what I said to a friend in a text. I was getting frustrated with them because everything they said, or texted me was complaining about something or someone. I tried to encourage this person and show the good or positive side to what we were talking about. Finally, out of my own frustration, I texted how negative and complaining they have been. I encouraged them to try and speak positive words out of their mouth the rest of the day. This person agreed they had a problem at the time, but continued to do the same behavior every time I was with them.

Have you ever been around someone who always seems negative? Maybe you are one who looks at the glass half empty instead of half full. Why is that? Human nature? What can we do to change our perspective on life and our day to day interaction with others?

It is hard to stop being critical when we might have done it a good portion of our life. Take a look at your life and see where you started to be negative. Why are you that way? Maybe you have become selfish and cynical because of things that have happened to you? Maybe you were a victim of a terrible incident. Maybe you were exposed to a horrible upbringing and you only see through negative glasses.

It doesn’t really matter what happened to you, or why you speak negative words. That is a whole different sermon on its own. What matters is the reality of what your negativity does to you, your future, and others.

We have to be accountable and responsible for what we say to others and even what we think. In the Old Testament sin wasn’t a sin until you did the “act.” In the New Testament sin is something you can think:

Matthew 5:28 (NLT)
“But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Jesus said those words. It is something we all need to be aware of and control our thought life.

Taking this concept further we can commit sin just by thinking about it. But, our words that come out of us defile us and prevent God from moving in our lives.

What comes out of a man…..
Matthew 15:11 (NKJV)
“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Choose your words wisely! You could be the “downer” at a service and block the Holy Spirit from moving just by your mindset and how you respond to others. This is sobering!

I have come to a church service and was preparing my heart and spirit for ministry when, as I was walking on the platform to lead worship, someone came up to me and stated a few negative comments. First I was so frustrated they did so right before I was to minister, and second, it left a bad taste in my mouth, not only towards the person, but what they said. It took a few minutes for me to regroup my thoughts before I started leading worship.

                                 Truth About Negativity
 1.  What negative words do to you

Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

You are killing yourself, and others with the negative words you speak. It’s like throwing daggers at yourself and people when you speak down or condescending words to yourself or others.

Have you ever heard the expression, “You are going to eat your words someday?” This is what happens when we speak death from our mouth. We eat its fruit by the reaction we receive from others, and by judging others, those judgments come back on us.

Why would we put something in our mouth that would cause such a terrible response? Why would we allow deadly poisonous words to even touch our tongue?

I think it is because we really don’t comprehend the severity of how our words can affect us! We think we can say anything and their is no harsh consequence compared to acting badly. Trust me, words have power!

Matthew 12:37 (NJKV)
“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

It is really up to you if you are going to be justified or condemned. I would rather be justified any day then condemned.

Imagine a big court room scene and the jury is seated in their place. The judge is in their place, and a big audience in their place. Then the Judge looks over the case and all that you said, the very reason you are on trial, and is ready for their verdict…….. What will the judge decide on your behalf concerning your words?  Justified! or Condemned!

Watch what you are saying and the content of your words.

Out of the mouth the heart speaks….
Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

The resource, what you have been saving and putting in your heart, will come out…

Matthew 12:34 (NJKV)
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

If you have a lot of bitterness it will spew forth. If you have a lot of love, that also will come out.

I can spend just a few minutes with someone and know instantly where their heart is by the words they say. Let’s be someone who watches our words and the content of our hearts.

If you constantly speak negative about yourself, life, or others, you will NEVER attain the destiny God has for you. Speak forth life giving words about yourself and others. Build the Kingdom of God up instead of tearing it down!!!

You are what you eat. If you are consuming worldly advise, music, Television, movies, or anything that doesn’t help you grow in Christ, you will not grow. You will be malnourished spiritually. You will be walking around with a negative outlook on life and others.

Don’t seek worldly wisdom, but seek Godly wisdom.

2.  What negative words do to others

When we complain it makes others miserable. If there is a party and everyone is having a great time, but one person is complaining and being negative about everything, they are considered being a “Party Pooper.” Everyone around them sees and hears their words and it brings others down with them.

The more you are a “complainer” and speak negativity, the more you will be a loner. People will AVOID you. They will not call. They will stop encouraging you because when they try to encourage you, you just shoot their positive words down with complaints and negative talk. Then you wonder why people are not wanting to be with you.

Think about your life.  Are you a complainer or an encourager to others? How about to yourself?

Proverbs 6:2
“You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.”

James 3:1 – 12 (CEV)
“My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body. By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things. It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. 8But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison. My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right. 11Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? 12Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?”
Let’s read verses 9 and 10 again…
James 3:9 – 10 CEV
“My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right.”

We think it’s okay to complain and then encourage someone. This cannot be as clean water and dirty water cannot flow from the same spout!

Try to give people the benefit of the doubt. When talking to people, try to find one positive true thing about them and tell them. This is building up people and God’s Kingdom. It doesn’t take much effort to say negative things, (human nature) it takes more effort to speak encouragement.

I would rather build people up then bring them down! We tie up God’s hands to work in our life when we complain or speak bad about something or someone. Anyone can complain. Anyone can look and find the bad. Don’t be that way, rise to a higher level for God’s glory and for a better life.

Put downs:  When we put down someone, it only makes us look bad. Usually a putdown is a sign of that person being insecure. The reason is because they feel bad about themselves and have to elevate themselves by putting down others. This is immaturity and shows a lack of respect for others.

Our negative talk will repel people away from us!

3. What negative words do to our future

Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Choose life!

We can prevent our destinies from happening all because we speak death into it with our negative words.

“I will never learn how to do this!”
“I might as well give up because I can’t do it!”
“Who do I think I am for even attempting to try this?”
“I will always be sick!”
I will always be like this!”

We have to remember what is inside of us will come out with our words.

Luke 6:45 (NKJV)
“A good man out of the good treasure of his hart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

What is feeding you lately? Books? TV? People who don’t know Christ? I believe if we take a look at what we have been feeding on emotionally and spiritually we will understand why what comes out of our mouth might not be helping our present or future.

I want to bring forth good not evil. I want to bless my future with my thoughts, words, and actions.

Feed yourself with good things. The Bible, Christian music, fellow shipping with other Christians, prayer, family, etc.

Remember; Garbage in = Garbage out.

Your words will only reflect what you have been thinking and dwelling on.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Meditate, or think about the good! It is easy to look and find the bad. Be determined to seek out the good.

Our future is determined by what we say and do today. Have you been blessing your future or cursing it? It’s YOUR FUTURE and no one else’s. No one else will live your life, only you!

Seriously, if you find yourself down and depressed, what have you been feeding your mind and thoughts? What have you been dwelling on? The Negative?

Take the time to listen to your words. Be determined to correct this bad behavior in your life before it overtakes you and sabotages your future.

So what are you going to do about it?

Don’t say, “Well it’s how I have always been and I can never change!” That is the easy, lazy, cowards way out of NOT dealing with the truth you just heard.

No, instead, say, “I will overcome myself and how I talk to myself and others!” Ask God to show you immediately when you speak poorly about yourself and others.

Pastor Kris Belfils
http://www.krisbelfils.com