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Guaranteed Victory

Posted on by Karolyn Miller

“Through your glorious name and your awesome power, we can push through to any victory and defeat every enemy.”

– Psalm 44:5 (The Passion Translation)

After 3 years of controversial ministry, Jesus was officially recognized as the Son of God during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. People rejoiced because they believed guaranteed victory was imminent. The long-awaited king that Isaiah had prophesied was now on the scene. The multitudes created a pathway of palm leaves and clothing while shouting, “Hosanna!” The Passion Translation records it as:

“Bring the victory, Lord, Son of David! He comes with the blessings of being sent from the Lord Yahweh! We celebrate with praises to God in the highest!”

– Matthew 21:9b

They expected for Jesus to overthrow Roman rule and establish another kingdom where the Jewish people thrived without oppression. Imagine their anger & frustration when their deliverance did not appear the way they had imagined.

Sound familiar? How is your temperance when God doesn’t show up on your timetable? How do you feel when deliverance doesn’t look the way you had designed it in your head?

In just a few days, the people got mad at God… just like us. The crowd went from singing His praises to shouting, “Crucify Him!” all in the same week. The disgruntled crowd did not understand the process to guaranteed victory.

So, don’t get mad at the haters or the obstacles in your life, they are needed to press you forward to victory!

It Doesn’t Look Like Victory  

Although the people cried for Jesus to bring them the victory, the process was totally unexpected. The cross didn’t look like victory, it looked like finality. It didn’t look like triumph, it looked like travail. Even Christ, who came in human form so that He could identify, feel, and conquer the same trials and temptations as us, thought at some point during His agony that His suffering didn’t look like victory…

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

– Mark 15:34 (KJV)

During the process of the crucifixion, Jesus makes this fourth saying from the cross. Even though His power and deity were never in question, his flesh cried out because the process felt more like pain and punishment. The path to victory looked like defeat. Victory was starting to look like frustration, perhaps even loneliness. What do you do when victory looks like persecution…like a constant attack…like a fight you can’t win?

Jesus cried out because He could no longer feel the Father’s presence. Even though He knew God was still there, He still felt isolated from the Father’s reach.

“Yet I am never alone, for the Father is always with me. And everything I’ve taught you is so the peace which is in Me will be in you and will give you great confidences as you rest in Me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world.”

– John 16:32b-33 (The Passion Translation)

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinctively different and yet inherently one. The Son could in no way be separated from His Father because they were still one. On the pathway to victory, we may feel as though we are alone and absent from our Father. His voice may be still and His presence withdrawn. Like Jesus, who bore all our sins on the cross, our unconfessed blemishes may keep His glorious holiness from coming close.

When God feels far away and calling on the name of the Lord seems futile, we must remember that Holy Spirit lives on the inside of us. Whereas the three members of the Godhead are distinctively different, they are inherently one. He is still with us on the rugged path to victory.

“It Is Finished”

This sixth saying of Jesus from the cross brought despair to onlookers. It obviously looked like the enemy was the victor. Jesus was dead—the leader of the reformation was gone and certainly the movement was dead…finished…kaput…. fine’…done…. complete…

Right?

However, what appeared to be the end was just the beginning.

It’s time to shift our perspective and stop viewing the end of some assignments, relationships, and routines as defeat.

It is finished was a statement of victory!

Jesus had accomplished the mission. The sacrifice was complete. His assignment was complete. He had won the battle over sin, death, and ultimately satan. Three days later, He claimed victory over the grave as He walked out of the tomb leaving His grave clothes folded neatly behind.

The veil in the temple was torn, access was granted, and His kingdom was established with a regenerated access point for you and me.

Where is your victory? It’s in the Blood of Jesus!

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

– Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)”

Jesus’ blood ran down the outside of his body for our transgressions, or sins that we would commit in action or deed. He was bruised, meaning that blood was trapped under the skin’s surface, for iniquities that would be hidden in our hearts, feelings/emotions, or bloodlines. Because of the blood of Jesus, we are forgiven, healed, and set free!

Adoption, peace, love, joy, healing, prosperity, protection, divine intervention, access, authority, inheritance and may other benefits were purchased with the blood. Our Passover lamb was slain that we might have victory over every situation and circumstance that we might incur.

We do not contend for victory, we fight from a position of victory.

That’s Not All Folks!

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…” – John 14:16 (KJV)

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”- John 14:18 (KJV)

An arisen Jesus tells His followers to wait in the upper room for more. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, there was more!

Just to make sure that we had the victory, He would endow every believer with a part of Himself, the Holy Spirit. The presence of Holy Spirit is a constant reminder that we are victorious. The blood of Jesus grants us authority and Holy Spirit backs it up with power.

The lawmakers and critics thought they were stopping the movement of Christianity by killing Jesus. Apparently, they had never listened to any of His teachings about seed time and harvest.

“Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.”

– John 12:24 (The Passion Translation)

Jesus was the seed that had to die for a harvest of many who would carry on the movement.

On the Day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit fell and 3,000 souls were added to the church that day. The church grew from being one person, in one location, representing one nation to a movement that multiplied through each and every believer that was filled.

The process of the cross was ultimately the multiplication factor of victory!

Be encouraged friend. Yes, the process may be uncomfortable. Some things, traits, habits, mindsets, and attachments must die. The previous season must end. It may feel like a cold, lonely grave. Darkness may have limited your sight, quenched your fire, and made you doubt. But take heart my friend —- say it with me…

My Name is Victory!

Not only is Jesus victorious, but the same victory has been imputed on to you! YOUR name is victory! You walk in victory. Victory is your portion. You have guaranteed victory through Jesus Christ.

“Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you!”

– Romans 8:11 (The Passion Translation)

Reframe your perspective and speak to your situation. With holy boldness, remind the enemy that your name is victory through the blood of Jesus Christ.

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

– 1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)

The plan is not for us to live in victory alone, but to share our story of victory with someone who is still walking in the bondage of darkness. Let others know through the power of Holy Spirit that Jesus died for them to be victorious as well. Also, walking in victory helps other believers as well. If you have victory in a certain area, your testimony increases the faith of others to believe they can win in that same area.

Through the powerful, glorious name of Jesus, we can push through to any victory and defeat any enemy!

In what area of your life do you need to see victory? Let me know in the comments…I’d love to pray with you 😊

Walk It Like I Talk It

Walk It Like I Talk It

Posted on by Karolyn Miller

“Hope will fall like rain when you speak life with the words you say.” – TobyMac

Walk it Like I Talk It is a 2018 release by Migos, nominated by BET for Video of the Year. As I watched their performance on the BET awards, the hook of the song stood out to me. (Probably because I couldn’t understand anything else that they were saying 😉)

Walk it like I talk it…walk it like I talk it….

I heard God say, “So, how is that working out for you?”

I realized it was time to have a conversation with the Lord.

Made in His Image

When God made man, there was no creature in existence like him. He was a unique creation…the only one that had a prototype.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

Being made in the image of God means that we are like Him. We are carriers of His DNA…carriers of His Spirit…carriers of His power and authority (Luke 10:19). God created the world in 6 days, not with the labor of his hands, but with the power of His words. Whatever He spoke manifested into reality. “Let there be”…and it was…”and it was good.”

If we are made in His image and carriers of His power, we have the same ability to speak and watch it manifest before our very eyes!

I realized that my current life position was directly related to the atmosphere I had created with my words.

Walk it like I talk it…

What Are You Talking About?

After my revelation, I became intentional to listen to my words during daily conversations:

“I seem to catch every germ and virus that comes along.”

“We can’t afford that!”

“I am just so tired and overwhelmed.”

“Yes, but…”

I listened to the words of others as well.

“I think I’m losing my mind.”

“Girl, come on and join the broke club.”

“It is what it is.”

Ironically enough, the situations we were all complaining about had a lot to do with the manifestation of our confession. We were eating the fruit of our words.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)

We can either speak words of life or death, negativity or positivity. Creating a different atmosphere or trajectory for your life can start with the simple task of changing your words. Your words create thoughts, thoughts produce feelings, feelings inspire choices, choices generate actions, and actions determine habits.

Therefore…negative thoughts produce negative feelings. Negative feelings inspire poor choices. Continual negative actions arise and become habits, leaving us in a downward spiral of despair.

What is the solution?  A pity party, new hair style, or a pint of Ben & Jerry’s?

No- Watch your mouth and change what you are talking about!

(Side note: You may also need to watch who you are talking with because misery loves company 😉)

Return to Sender

Sound produces movement. Just as God spoke the world into existence and Jesus spoke healing for many, our words produce movement in the spiritual realm. For example, Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days. On the first day that he prayed, angels were dispatched on his behalf. Daniel’s words caused movement in the heavenlies!

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. – Daniel 10:12 (KJV)

We often speak idly not realizing that our words, just like Daniel’s, cause movement in the heavenlies. How many times has an angel been on its way to your location with a blessing in hand, but your negative, faithless words marked the package, “Return to Sender?”

You Will Have What You Say

It is interesting how many people will underestimate the power of a positive confession. If the natural world can utilize the concept and create changes in their outlook, how much more can a vessel of the Holy Spirit achieve with a consistent, faith-filled confession?

For truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. -Mark 11:23 (MEV)

The Word of God tells us that we can have whatever we say, we just need to make sure that we are saying and believing the correct confession. How do you know if what you are speaking is correct? Go back and look at the prototype.

…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. – John 6:63b (KJV)

You don’t have to come up with something new…name it & claim it, blab it & grab it, and any other gimmicky catch phrase. You just need to speak the Word! His Word is filled with promises for you – and they are life giving. It’s hard to go wrong with speaking what He has already said.

            The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

            I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me (Philippians 4:19).

            Let this mind be in me that is in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).

When we speak negative and faithless words, we make God’s Word of non-effect. You must be able to see past the natural and speak from the spiritual. Abraham gives us a great example:

He is our example and father, for in God’s presence he believed that God can raise the dead and call into being things that don’t even exist yet. Romans 4:17 (TPT)

God said that Abraham would be the father of many nations when his wife was barren and there was no apparent heir. He stood on that promise by faith and “called those things which be not as though they were.” By speaking what God said, he saw what God said.

Speak It By Faith!

Think about the situation that is causing you frustration right now.

What have you been saying about that situation? Have you been magnifying it with your words? Have you been using hopeless, defeated, self-sabotaging language when you talk about it?

Make a conscious effort to change your outcome by changing how you speak about your situation. Grab a promise from God’s Word pertaining to your situation to declare & decree over your life. Keep speaking the words by faith and thanking God in advance for the manifestation. Be patient, your package may need heavenly rerouting from Grumbling Boulevard to Praise Parkway.😊

I’d love to know how you plan to “Walk It Like I Talk It”. Post your decree in the comments below.

It's Time to Hope Again

It’s Time to Hope Again

Posted on by Karolyn Miller
“Hope never abandons you, you abandon it” – George Weinberg

According to a news report a few nights ago, this week ended the “honeymoon” period after New Year’s. During this week, most people lose hope, abandon their New Year’s resolution, and slip back into their old habits.

Fitness centers that were full the first week of January have already reduced in volume. Dietary restrictions have already been breached. People who set out to turn their lives around at the beginning of the year are already back on the couch, in line at KFC, or smoking on their lunch break.

Why? Because they didn’t see results fast enough. The one small change in their routine activity did not bring overwhelming transformation and gratification, so they gave up and returned to their past behaviors. 3 weeks into the new year and people have already given up hope on reaching their personal goals.  

Even though the date on the calendar changed, their hope level remained the same.

Is This Your Story?

The past season was filled with struggle, heavy warfare, disappointment, stagnation, things not working out, loss, and discouragement for many. Hope was deferred and many became heart sick on the journey. Dreams sat on the backburner as obstacle after obstacle arose.

Even though you might have been able to implement some plans or take some steps, they didn’t yield their maximum result. Frustration began to cancel faith and soon many of God’s people became weary from the fight and sat on the sidelines tending to their wounds.

Do not let previous failure cause you to become content with “normal” and familiar with mediocre!

Some have resigned themselves to think that things will never change. Others have been tempted to give up on the business and settle into the 9 to 5 scene. There are even a few who have even given up on prayer because change is not happening fast enough.

For many, picking up the shield of faith again sounds like getting your hopes up for another let down. Don’t let past failure hinder your hope!

It’s a new year and the season has changed! To believe that declaration, hope needs to spring eternal again.

It’s Time to Hope Again

Don’t beat yourself up if you have lost hope from a prolonged battle season. You are not alone! Jeremiah found himself in a similar position where he had to stir himself to hope again. 

Lamentations 3:18-26 (NKJV)

18 And I said, “My strength and my hope
Have perished from the Lord.”

19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

Jeremiah looked at all that he had been through and became despondent and discouraged. His battle scars and afflictions had created a gloomy outlook with the natural eye. Yet, he stirred himself in the area of hope by shifting his focus from his personal win/loss record to the track record of God. 

He had hope because in every situation, win or lose, God was still there. God was still in control of the outcome.

My friend, we should be able to do the same. As we look back over the past season, no- everything may not have gone our way, but God was still consistent. He was ever-present and faithful. In the valley, God was a keeper and protector in the storm. When the battle raged toward us, God was our shield and buckler. When we felt alone and forgotten, Holy Spirit was a reliable comforter.  In times of lack, Jehovah-Jireh provided in a miraculous way.

If you look at God’s track record for the past season, we can see not only did we survive, but we thrived through His amazing love. 

He was merciful to us even through the trials and the afflictions. God was faithful to navigate us through the trying times even when we were double minded, doubtful, and faithless.  His great mercy did not give us what we deserved – but he strengthened us to be able to go through!

Therefore, we can say like Jeremiah, “The Lord is my portion…therefore I hope in Him!”

He is the God of Hope!

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

Are you lacking hope in the new year? Are you afraid to start again? Is it hard to raise your expectation level to dream bigger or try harder? If so, it’s time to spend time praying to the God of hope!

God of hope, heal our hearts from wounds of the previous season! Fill us with Your unspeakable joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to keep our minds stayed on You so that we can have peace in every situation. Holy Spirit, stir in us a new well of hope, that we may abound in hope. We decree that we walk in an abundance of hope. Our hope is multiplied along with our joy and peace. Let us move in power through the Holy Ghost as the God of hope propels us into this new season with new results!

How I Lost and Truly Found My Voice

Posted on by Karolyn Miller

I have been without a voice since Christmas Day! Literally—playing charades to hold a conversation, writing notes on paper, and straining to whisper to anyone with “dog hearing” who could listen. I’ve been to work, raised my kids, and carried about my daily tasks in silence. After about 5 days, the novelty wore off and I was exhausted and frustrated. I went to the minor med clinic where I was misdiagnosed and treated with medicine that did not help.

You see, while the flu and other viral respiratory illnesses were running rampant, I had lost my voice for a different reason. Christmas Eve, I became extremely strangled while talking, not eating, just talking to my husband while driving home from church. My laryngitis was a completely freak event…so I thought.

Not only was I bummed out about my silence, I was saddened by my inability to use my voice in worship. I am a worshipper! I sing to the Lord all day, making melodies to Him. I sing in my private and corporate worship times. And now, I couldn’t even make a joyful noise.

Do you know what I learned through the frustration of silent worship?–New ways to worship! I realized that I had been talking too much and not listening enough. I was praying, but the time that I spent speaking overshadowed the time that I was spending listening. I would miss the still, small voice of the Lord because my voice was so loud! (I’m sure that has never happened to anyone else before…)

My worship time began to include more reading, meditating, and listening. Active listening–with paper and the pen of a ready writer. I began to reverence the silence and tune into another frequency. Sometimes, we just need to sit still and quiet in His presence…not just with our mouths, but our minds and hearts also. I was surprised to hear what He had to say…

Take me back, dear Lord…

After the birth of my first son in 2011, I found myself in a new role as a first-time, stay-at-home mom, and medical caregiver for my son. Social Security denied our application where I could get paid for caring for him. My severance package was running out and I started praying about ways to make a living from my home. The Lord said, “Writing…start a blog. Get the Word out. Help others get the Word out..”

I started my writing business, but I focused on helping others to get the Word out. I edited other people’s books, wrote devotionals for other’s publications, built websites for other people’s ministries, and helped others fulfill the call and dreams for their lives. The concentration of my business was propelling the Gospel message forward through others.

I placed the blogging portion of my business on the back burner in 2011. Why? I didn’t know what to write about. I couldn’t see myself becoming a mommy blogger because I was reading other mommy bloggers for tips. My son was born with a rare disease, so I was looking for help –surely I couldn’t provide any. There was nothing else that I was passionate about outside of my faith.

However, I was not a big name pastor with a mega-church and 4 books on the best seller list. The degrees behind my name were not from a seminary. Who was I to instruct, encourage, ignite, and empower anyone? The enemy’s barrage of disqualifications lead to fear and ultimately delay. Delay, until last year, when the Lord brought back the passion for reaching others through the power of technology and what… BLOGGING & WRITING!

Moving forward?

Last year, I built the blog and wrote a series of posts that were never posted. Why not? After doing my “blogging research”, one of the first instructions that I found was you have to find your voice.

You guessed it–I didn’t have a voice (according to the enemy’s new lie). I wrote and rewrote the posts trying to find my voice. I came to the conclusion that my voice is not as flowery and warm & fuzzy as some of the other bloggers that I was reading. My voice was a bit more challenging –but it still came from a place of love and passion for God and His people. My voice is different from other voices, and by losing my physical voice, I realized that my spiritual voice is needed in this space as well. God gave me a unique voice in this time, in this space… and it scared me.

On the inside, I was asking God for courage, strength, and holy boldness. I had become so discontent with my current state until I was stirred to jump from the familiar and take a big leap of faith. I needed some risk to grow–I knew that. But was my voice enough?

It’s as the old adage says, you never truly appreciate what you have until it’s gone. I literally, physically, lost my voice.

If you don’t use it, you will lose it. Well, I lost it.

Something as routine as my ability to speak, something  we take for granted that will be there every day, was gone. I repented for not using my voice and for letting the fear of man stop me from releasing the unique sound that God had given me. I saw another doctor yesterday who treated me more aggressively and for the first time today, I spoke with the correct tone and volume. I am still waiting on my singing voice to fully return, but I am grateful to be heard without discomfort.

Lightbulb moment!

For the past 3 years, I have prayed for The Lord to give me one word for the year. He develops the Word as the year goes along, but it becomes my focal point or theme for the year. My word for 2018 is “Shine”.

My mind went back to a prophetic word that I received last spring. I was told that people were waiting for me to open my mouth. When I spoke, a light came from my mouth that pierced through darkness. People were healed, delivered, and set free when I opened my mouth and allowed His light to shine through me.

So, I’m going to let my light shine and my voice be heard. My prayer is that you will see the glorious light of The Lord and hear his voice as I scribe. I also pray that you will access your God-given power to change your life and the lives of others – for His glory.

I encourage you to use what you have been given— your gifting, talents, and God-given dreams & visions to achieve your purpose and walk into your destiny. Discouragement, disqualification, and delay are prevalent tactics that the enemy is using right now–don’t fall victim to his tactics any longer!

What is God calling you to do this year? What area is He calling you to pierce the darkness with your light?: Is it your marriage? Your finances? Your workplace? Your family? Who do you need to lead to Christ with your voice? What endeavor have you been dragging your feet on because you didn’t feel qualified?

Remember, Romans 8:30-31 (NIV) says:

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Now get up, take your light from under the bushel, put it on a candlestick, and SHINE!