COLM NEWSLETTER - July 2021

For we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose. (Romans 8:28 TPT)

(We are His lovers) those who choose to love God…have become His lovers and for those who love Him, every thing that we face in life (the good, the bad, and the ugly) has been programmed to work in our favor. In other words, if we don’t love Him we don’t have access to the favor and “unfailing power” that comes from that love we have for Him… without the favor and unfailing power we fall prey to the bad and the ugly.

(God is revealed through us…for God is Love)

Therefore, by making a decision, to open our hearts to the love of God, and by hiding His Word within the chambers of our hearts, we have chosen the favor, reflection and revelation of God and the pure power that has an unfailing position in "all things”

This scripture tells me that the best way in which we can respond to all things that happen in our lives is to understand the ability and power of the Word of God when it is hidden in our hearts. To intellectually know about God and His Word is to store information about Him in your mind. But to KNOW Him intimately is to store His Word within our heart and it abides there. For instance, consider how a computer processes information. The hard drive of a computer stores all your documents, pictures, music, videos, and programs etc. The operating system directs a computer’s operations, controlling and scheduling the execution of other programs, and managing storage, input/output, and communication resources.

When The Word of God Is stored/hidden in our hearts, the unseen power source connects with the stored information and activates the promise of His Word. You may ask, “Why hide the Word In our heart?” The Word is our contact with God, we are convicted by the Word, we are created by the Word, our minds are renewed by the Word, we are built up with the Word, we are healed by the Word, Faith comes through the Word.

When the Word of God is stored/hidden in the heart (our hard drive) we must understand that not only is the Word stored but Jesus is also stored in the heart. Jesus is the Word made flesh. But it doesn’t just stop there. The Word says, “Me and my Father are one.” God is the source of all power and all ability, He is the power source and our internal operating system that activates the operation of His Word within our lives. …Jeremiah 1:12 says, “I (God) watches over My Word to PERFORM IT. So, where is God going to watch and communicate with His Word? He is going to look within the heart which is where He desires to live.

God’s original plan is spelled out through the words “all things work together for the good of them who accepted the invitation to love God.” I get a sense that by loving God…and hiding His Word in our heart, the power of God is always present.

When trouble or disappointments appear they are greeted at the door of our heart by the “unfailing power, promise and divine love we have in and for God … His promises are activated and His Word prevails.

When The Word of God is hidden in our hearts, those things that were meant to be evil in our lives, line up and work for the purpose of God’s design for our lives.

God knows the plans He has for us, and they don’t change because of the interruptions that show up in our lives. When those interruptionss show up they are confronted by God’s plans of peace and there, the rules are set. He simply makes all things work in our favor…. Those interruptionss can’t harm us, because His Word is hidden in our hearts and the peace of God, makes them bow down and become the stepping stones that help us proceed peacefully to our expected end.

God looks on the heart to determine one’s obedience to Him, receptivity to Him and love for Him. Hiding the Word in your heart helps you turn away from and prevent those things that are meant to disrupt the plan God has for your life from taking a stronghold in your life. He watches over His Word within the heart and activates its performance in your life. His Word always prevails in the heart where you have hidden His Word.

"The Word of love prevailing in the heart takes a man out of the realm of weakness and failure." ~E.W. Kenyon

References: Romans 8:28: Jeremiah 1:12; 1Samuel 16:7

“PERFORM”

The Greek word for “perform” is “katergazomai”(coter-ga-zo-my) and it means “to work out, bring about, execute, accomplish, or bring a task to victory and completion. “Kata” means “to bring down or push something through.” And, “gazomai” means “ a business or a work.” Together that compound word means “to thoroughly bring about or work out to completion.”

The scriptures say, “God watches over His Word to perform it.” God is faithful to His Word in that He will “watch over it, perform it, execute it, accomplish it, bring it through, work it out, and push it through to victorious completion!! God and His Word are one… and cannot be separated. God’s Word can never be devoid of His presence and power. Whatever words He speaks, will certainly be performed!!

God’s Word carries His DNA

Father, it is Your desire that love increases and pervades every crack and crevice of our hearts. Let the peace of God and the love of God rule and reign in every marriage, family, church, and governmental body.

Your word tells us that “Love never fails” in any situation or circumstance. It never fails to heal, to mend, and to unite. Jesus, You prayed to the Father that “we all would be one, even as You and the Father are one!

Help us to walk in love every day and in every way. Help us to esteem others higher than ourselves. Let us resist self centeredness and selfishness as we deal and relate to others. Let us resist the urge to “get back or get even” with those we feel have wronged us. Help us to move in the “opposite spirit” and never repay evil with evil.

Let love grow and increase in our heart and in our actions toward others. Help us to resist becoming boastful, jealous, intolerant, impatient, and unkind. Let love flow like the “voices of many waters.” Let love flood our heart and soul. Let those around us witness our cooperation, compassion, and cohesiveness.

You, oh God, are love… so let us become love. Let us “lead with love” in every encounter. Let our words be warm and sweet… filled with encouragement, edification, and empowerment.

When we are tempted to be rude or selfish, give us the gift of gentleness. When we are tempted to take offense, help us to let go. When we are tempted to become angry with someone, give us the gift of forgiveness. When we are tempted to become resentful, give us Your power to love.

Lord, grant that we may take no pleasure in criticizing others, but that we may see good in them, as You do. When we begin to concentrate on the faults and failures of others, give us courage to praise their accomplishments. Help us be loyal to those You give us to love. Help us to believe in them, even when they do not believe in themselves. Help us to expect the best from others, but accept the best they can give. May we always defend them, just as You always defend us.

Let love abide!! Amen (It is so)

There is a fascinating account in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings 5, about a man named Naaman who was the captain of the armies of Aram. Naaman contracted the incurable disease of leprosy and was seeking healing through Elisha, the prophet of God. Naaman showed up at Elisha’s house, but Elisha didn’t even come to the door to greet him, but sent his servant with a message, “Go dip seven times in the Jordan and you will be healed.” (2 Kings 5:10)

Naaman was insulted because he thought Elisha would, at least, come to stand before him, call on God and wave his hands over him. (Verse 11) Naaman also complained that Elisha could have sent him to two other rivers that were closer and cleaner instead of sending him to the dirty water of the Jordan River. (Verse 12) Naaman was in a rage and “all up in his feelings,” but after some persuasion from his servant-girl, he decided to obey the prophet’s process… and he was instantly healed!! (Verses 13-14)

Many Christians are “hard-headed” like Naaman. Many resist and reject the fact that God heals in various ways such as improved lifestyle choices like healthy diet changes, exercise regiments, proper rest, and stress reduction or elimination. Most Christians would rather have their favorite minister pray over them, dump blessed oil on their heads, and wave their hands for a miracle! I believe in miracles and I thank God that He grants miracles to many. But, many of the sicknesses we struggle with can easily be healed by eliminating the processed food, fried meats, sugar-filled beverages, and over-salted dishes that cause high blood pressure, sugar diabetes, and a host of other ailments.

In the Bible scriptures, Naaman was only healed when he released the process he had in mind… and subscribed to the simple process prescribed by the prophet. God will make miracles available if we need them. But, are we willing to cooperate and embrace the simple process that can bring healing to our bodies. Let me ask a few diagnostic questions. Do we want healing enough to let go of our habits and health-defeating ways? Are we willing to improve the quality and quantity of our lives by making gradual changes in our lifestyle choices? Are we so addicted to unhealthy food that we are willing to die for it? God heals in natural ways too… don’t try to control the healing process!!