Tag Archive for: goal

Changing your Focus Can Change Your Life

I'm reminded lately of the Power of Gratitude and spending Quiet Reflection Time and the impact it can have in our lives! In our fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Between work, family obligations, and endless to-do lists, finding moments of peace and reflection can feel like a daunting task. However, incorporating practices such as gratitude journaling and quiet time spent listening to God (not just praying to ask for requests) can significantly transform our mindsets and spiritual journeys.

Gratitude journaling has gained popularity for a good reason. Not only does it remind us of what is meaningful in our lives, but it also helps shift our focus from what we lack to what we abundantly have. As Cheryl Shepherd from Balanced WorkLife recently discussed, keeping a gratitude journal serves as a constant reminder of our values and what truly matters in life.

[1]

Reflecting on gratitude helps anchor our minds in positivity and faith. When we write down what we're thankful for, we begin to see the world through a different lens. Suddenly, mundane moments are filled with grace, and we start to appreciate the little blessings that often go unnoticed.

Start by setting aside a few minutes each day (preferably before bed each night) to jot down three things you're grateful for. It could be as simple as a kind word from a friend, a beautiful sunset, or a moment of laughter with a loved one. Over time, this practice will create a tapestry of God's goodness woven into your everyday experiences. Then write down what you three goal or “big wins” will be for tomorrow. This will set a road map for what you want to achieve and what we think about is what we automatically move towards. 

In addition to gratitude journaling, spending quiet time with God is crucial for spiritual growth and inner peace. Cheryl Shepherd highlights the significance of resting in God's presence and surrendering control over our lives.

[2] In these moments of stillness, we can hear His voice more clearly and receive His guidance for our paths.

Set aside a specific time each day for this sacred practice. It could be in the morning before the rush begins, or in the evening when everything settles down. Find a quiet corner, free from distractions, and simply be still. Use this time to pray, meditate on scripture, or simply listen. God often speaks in a gentle whisper, and it is in these quiet moments that we can truly tune into His heart.

Combining gratitude and quiet time can create a powerful spiritual practice. As you reflect on what you're grateful for, take a moment to thank God for each blessing. This will not only deepen your sense of gratitude but also enhance your connection with Him.

Cheryl emphasizes replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations, grounded in scripture and prayer, to combat anxiety and fear.

[3] Use your quiet time to reflect on God's promises and let them wash over you, renewing your mind and spirit.

Incorporating gratitude and quiet time into your daily routine can lead to profound changes in your outlook and spiritual life. As you consistently practice these disciplines, you'll find that your heart becomes more attuned to God's goodness and guidance.

Start today and watch as your life transforms with each moment of thankfulness and stillness before the Lord.

Cheryl Shepherd

[1]: Source: Balanced WorkLife Cheryl Shepherd , February6, 2024.
[2]: Source: Cheryl Shepherd's reflections, February 7, 2024.
[3]: Source: Full Circle Moments Discussion on positive self-talk and spiritual growth, February 5, 2024.

You Are a Power House of Prayer

Prayer, prayer, prayer … you've read the book, watched the sermons, taken the course, and done it all. No matter how much you invest in prayer, it remains not much compared to the huge unfathomable revelations on the power of prayer and God's continuous invite to immerse yourself. Why prayer? I believe simply because in the dynamic of praying you release faith in God which is THE requirement and surrender your will to his, where miracles happen!

I am not writing to spill an exhaustive teaching on prayer but because it is the will of the Holy Spirit in this devotion to breathe on this topic again. One of the greatest things you need to know about prayer is that it is your identity way before it is a performance or an expression. You are a royal priesthood. Jesus, Yeshua, said, “My Father's house is a house of prayer and not a den of thieves.” You are the temple of the Holy Spirit; you are a house filled with dormant incense that awakens and burns under the hot coals of your faith. “The prayer of the righteous avails much in power.” James 5:16

If a history of prayer birthed to our world the MESSIAH, our salvation, and then a 10-day prayer meeting in the upper room birthed the CHURCH, I think this should tell you and me greatly about the power of partnering with the Lord in prayer. Whether it is a one-day prayer or standing on the promises to build momentum for accumulative prayers for your bowl to tip (See Revelation 5), prayer remains the entrance of the divine to our world. Even Satanists know this, imitating God's priestly model for a black church.

It is a fresh start for all of us now; don't be distracted by many things. If you need to eliminate everything and KEEP just ONE thing, lock in prayer. I always say and live this saying, “Pray more, work less.” Why? Because when you travail in prayer, God will do the rest through you and for you. You will feel and see the hand of the Lord moving, as Kathryn Kuhlman used to say, “Drawing on the invisible supernatural power of God.” Prayer doesn't only express faith and surrender to the Lord but also humility because you are declaring before God that you need Him for everything, and then grace which is God's power is released with humility.

The Holy Spirit in you is a praying Spirit, and He has one goal and focus: connecting your spirit man with your great high priest in Heaven, Yeshua, and releasing perfect prayers through you to bring down God's perfect will, life, and blessings. I believe you are a prayer giant for His glory and the world depends on it! Amen.

Tony Francis

How does Presenting Our Bodies as a Living Sacrifice relate to Self-Control, Food Addictions, and the Fruits of the Spirit?

In the book of Romans, chapter 12, verse 1, Paul urges Christians to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This means that we should offer our entire being, including our physical bodies, to God as an act of worship. It is a call to surrender our desires, ambitions, and goals to God and to live according to His will.

I recently had a “light bulb moment” when I read 1 Corinthians 9:27, where Paul talks about disciplining our bodies. He says, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of self-control and discipline in the Christian life. He recognizes that our bodies have natural desires and tendencies that can lead us astray, so we must intentionally control our thoughts, actions, and behaviors.

Disciplining our bodies involves making intentional choices that honor God and promote our spiritual growth. This may include fasting, prayer, exercise, and avoiding sinful behaviors. It requires us to be mindful of our thoughts and actions and make choices that align with God's will.

Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice and disciplining our bodies are both crucial aspects of the Christian life. They require us to surrender our desires to God and intentionally live in a way that honors Him. By doing so, we can grow in our faith and become more like Christ.

When it comes to food addictions and self-control, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice and disciplining our bodies take on particular significance. Food addictions can be incredibly challenging to overcome and can have a significant impact on our physical and emotional health. However, by surrendering our desires to God and making intentional choices to honor Him, we can develop the self-control necessary to overcome these addictions.

In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul talks about the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. By cultivating these fruits in our lives, we can develop the self-control necessary to overcome food addictions and other challenges. This requires us to be intentional about our choices and seek God's guidance and strength.

We can receive help in this area through the support of our friends, support groups like Warrior Girlfriends, and talented health and spiritual coaches like Cynthia Ray and Jill Janiec. They share their knowledge, wisdom, and God-given expertise, as well as spiritual guidance, with us, along with their own inspiring communities!

Ultimately, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice and disciplining our bodies is about living a life that honors God in all areas, including our physical health. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of the abundant life that Christ offers us and become more like Him in every way.

I am praying for your success in this area as we all support each other in this journey!

Prophetic Word to End Strong Year 2022

For some of you to read a prophetic word about ending a year may be a little surprising because many of us are used to reading prophecies about the beginnings. But in our relationships with our Lord Yeshua, Jesus Christ, we should submit all of our timelines to him, to his Lordship, whether it is a beginning of a thing, the center of it, or the closure!

Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith! As believers, we live by faith and not by time and for me, the author and the finisher mean the beginning and the end. God wants to perfect your faith, bring it to fullness, and crown your year with strong endings because we go from glory to GLORY and the latter glory should be greater than the former.

We should be way excited about a prophetic word for an ending, and ask joyfully how our faith is going to be perfected by him who started it. After all, Jesus is the ALPHA and the OMEGA and we prophesy with him his glorious beginnings and his more glorious endings. Can you imagine spending all of your efforts building toward a goal and it fades away at the end because you didn't know how to wrap up strong? All of your costly investments will be lost and the regret will be major.

From this perspective, I am prophesying to YOU your glorious ending and closure of this season. Consider it as weighty as reading a word for beginnings. This is what I believe the Holy Spirit is saying:

Many of you have GONE through great spiritual warfare and I sense so much pertains to your relationship with your families. You've really suffered a bad mouth, false accusations, robbery of your inheritance, hatred, unforgiveness, and the feelings of loneliness and coldness you felt when you went through all that injustice. Many of you stood your ground strong, kept on the track of righteousness, suffered righteously and some had it all and there is no judgment, only grace and grace abundantly. You all learned hard lessons, how frail mankind is and how naive we can be in the things of love!

The best thing to do at the end of this season is to forgive and forget in the presence of the Lord because time doesn't heal, Jesus does! The Spirit says that if you don't throw those 2 pieces of baggage of unforgiveness and unforgetfulness, your ship in 2023 will be not of a forceful beginning and sailing but of slow motion and dragging. You may be saying what's happening, I prayed about my new year, did this and that! Hear me please, if you don't throw those 2 weighty experiences not much will happen.

We know well the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. No promotion happens without forgiveness and forgetfulness! Joseph was promoted by Pharoah for his wisdom and gift but he was promoted by God for forgetting and forgiving the deep hurt of his family! A new year or a season is about a promotion, a new level should be and you need both YOUR GIFTS/ANOINTINGS and your CHARACTER!

Not many will send you a prophetic word like that but this is the bitter truth medicine that will set us for good for his GLORY! Beloved, don't be deceived … This is how you end your year STRONG in the Lord, and in those couple of days, I hear the Spirit saying many of you will have major breakthroughs and will look like your SUPRISE INTERVENTION. I see you really ADVANCING in Jesus' name. Amen

God bless you

Happy End of the Year

Tony Francis

Reminder:

“The WhatsApp Year Prophetic Word” Limited Offer is about to end in 3 days, December 31. If you've received this ministry that's great as it is one-time sowing because it covers your whole year 2023/5783. But if you want to gift that to a loved one, kindly pass them the link or purchase it for them and mention their name. The offer is a minimum of 50$ sowing, then it goes back to the original price in January.

Click here to request “The WhatsApp Year Prophetic Word” for yourself if you haven't received it yet or sow to someone else: 

If you feel led to sow into this ministry at the end of this year, you can do this on the donation page and you will receive a private link to join my private Facebook group for prophetic mentoring, activations, and more. God bless you!

Prophetic Word for Hanukkah 2022

This is what I hear the Holy Spirit is wanting to say to you in this window of time for the feast of Hanukkah 2022.

It is a time of great blessings that I want you to be aware of. In each feast, I, the LORD, prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies. I know many of you feel tired, exhausted, stripped away and some feel on the brim of quitting which I am not allowing it. As in the days of the feast of Hanukkah, I granted my people the victory of restoring the temple, my presence, and glory, back from the hands of the enemies, I will do the same for you. I will restore your SOUL and refresh it in the ways of righteousness again (Psalm 23).

I want my presence and glory to be restored in your life again, and in your prayer time. The devil is always after stealing my presence from you, he did that in the garden of Eden. It wasn't really about eating and not eating, that was not the ultimate goal. The devil is about breaking our holy relationship. For those of you, who will stretch out by faith and believe for the restoration of my presence, I will do it for you supernaturally.

Not only my people in Hanukkah were restored into my presence but they experienced 8 days of supernatural LIGHT, confirming that I am with them and it was my hand who performed that. You will enjoy my presence like never before. I will encourage you, excite you and revive you in prayers again, I know how to do it.

Benefit from the blessings available to you on the feast of Hanukkah. Don't end your year with an Ichabod while Chabod, my glory, and its fullness can be available for you!

I love you and I want you BACK! I am restoring my people to greater levels of intimacy with me again! I break the religious spirit off of you now in Jesus' name. Amen

Blessed Hanukkah to you all

Tony Francis

For those who feel led to sow on this special time, I am believing for you that you will SHINE in your ministries like never before and the supernatural presence of the Lord is being clear and displayed through you in the eyes of everyone watching you. People will say, surely the Lord is with them.

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The Latter Day Lukewarm Church

The church God established 2,000 years ago has once again managed to turn themselves into a corporate business structure in these last days, modeled after the world. With a degree in “Church Growth and Marketing” in hand, men have manipulated the church into some type of foreign entity, with goals of exorbitant salaries, lavish furnishings, and services geared towards herding a populous in through their doors so they may continue to fund their man-made plans. This isn't to say that nothing good has ever come from it, or that God can't or doesn't use them, but when man takes the reins of God's church and starts to devise his own plans, it loses the power and direction of the Holy Spirit and settles into nauseating carnality.

This my friends, is an abomination to God and He is about to put an abrupt end to those self serving plans. In fact, He has plans of His own, to replace many of the current leaders in the church with those He has been preparing behind the scenes for literally decades. Many of you who have felt out of touch with mainstream Christianity all of your lives, are now about to enter a time that God has ordained for you. Just when you thought you would never fit in, God is calling you to step out. The radical is about to become the normal. Those to whom God has prepared and filled with His Spirit are about to take center stage and disrupt “business as usual” of what we commonly refer to as mainstream Christianity. Gone will be the programs and ideas that man has invented to draw people into their plans. Sports teams will be funneled back into the secular world where they belong. Denominations will be dissolved. Multi-million dollar facilities that were built without God's approval, will soon be up for sale. Carnal men and women of God who have lavished themselves in a comfortable lifestyle of wealth and luxury, are soon going to find themselves looking for work while God restructures His church.

It is going to be a painful process, though a necessary one. Many will blame God for the reorganization, and some will fall away from the faith as a result, consequences of a Christian life not built upon the proper foundation. The process that is about to occur is no doubt going to be a difficult one, but God knows what He is doing and when He is finished, a different church is going to emerge. A church where unity shall be restored and where true discipleship is evidenced by those walking in power and a boldness unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime. Though despised by many, they shall go forth throughout the earth as radical, relentless, uncompromising, and unshakable disciples of Christ whom God has raised up to prepare the way for the coming of the Son of Man…

Jeff Allen

Between Fake and Authentic: a Lost Identity

By Roula El Azzi

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

As a woman living in the Middle East in a country called Lebanon, I can say it is very challenging to stay simple and natural. Plastic surgeries have invaded our society and the media has had a big role in promoting it. Today, our society is suffering from fake beauty, fake identity, and loss of confidence in God who wonderfully and fearfully created each one of us.

The beauty of the woman has always been considered an important measure of her worth in society. As a woman, this made me always wonder “what if I am not physically beautiful according to the fake criteria of beauty?” I wanted to stay natural and simple without relying on heavy make-up, plastic surgery, or clothes that do not reflect my personality.

For several years, my label was “the girl with the big teeth”. It hurt, but I persisted in fixing my dental issues without changing my authentic identity. Even when in desperate moments I tried to copy others in following the latest trends and fashions and failed, the question of what authentic beauty that amazes the soul and create a lasting print of uniqueness in life is has always been on my mind. I asked myself this up until the day my soul met the one who loved me unconditionally; “Jesus”.

Experiencing Jesus was a turning point in my life, and yet I kept struggling with my physical appearance for several years until one day, I was on my knees praying and crying to the Lord: Please Lord let me see myself through your eyes only, not mine, not the eyes of the people around me, not the society’s, ONLY through your eyes! Suddenly, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, peace and calmness filled my heart… I stopped weeping, stood on my feet and looked at the mirror… In that very moment I felt like I was out of time and space, as if I was looking at another person, a beautiful charming woman full of life. I touched my face in wonder, asking in a loud voice: “Roula is that really you?! Wow!” I saw myself as the most beautiful woman I have ever met! Since then, I understood that my identity is in Jesus Christ, and that nothing in this world can make me more beautiful than how He sees me.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter 3:4

How does a woman living according to God’s call live in the modern world and remain an influence to others, a role model to follow who is not affected by the world? By wearing the righteousness of God and not the latest trends of the world, by reading the word of God and not the words of labels, by hearing the voice of God and not the voice of bullying, by knowing who she is in Christ and not in the opinions of the world. Jesus saved us and gave us eternal life, He gave us power over all of the plans Satan has prepared to destroy our peace and joy in the Lord. His precious blood shed on the cross is our worth, Let’s rejoice in Him!

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

Satan’s goal is to destroy the holy image of the woman. He works on making her out as a commodity for sexual lust, a tool for seduction and a shopping robot. We all, as women of God, have at times fallen into this trap, but our Lord did not leave us without guidance. He gave us His words as a lamp to our feet and His Holy Spirit to guide us in every step.

We all have an invitation today to remember our identity in Christ, to embrace His love, and accept ourselves as He created us.

His light is shining upon our lives, revealing the truth and unmasking Satan’s lies. His voice is calling; let us wake up to our true mission, a mission to make life, to speak life, and to give life to whoever needs it. To be the bride of the groom, loved unconditionally, cherished and honored, while remembering His words: You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Songs 4:7

The Great Focus

I am busy these days purchasing some basic needs for my life. Looking for a better house, a good vehicle, a godly woman and other stuff as well. God loves your desires that are aligned with him and he is for you not against you. After all, he is a good Father and wants the best for you. He is with you in your purchases and wants to bless you with the best if you involve him and pay attention to his guidance.

This morning while I was spending time with God, he gently taught me something that changed my life. I want to share this precious nugget with you here. God taught me to have faith in the little things. Yep, this is it! Like believing for your next step, your next move, your next relationship, your next business deal, whatever this “next” is for you. It made sense to me! Like yeah, what if I believed for my next house? What if I opened an ongoing dialogue with God about each small step I am going to make regarding this? Believing for the little things is important to reach your big goals. Because sometimes seeing your final destination can be overwhelming if you don’t plan your way to it with small steps that lead you there.

Maybe you are familiar with the google map or any kind of map you use in your apps. You launch it, set the destination and you focus on following successfully the live tracking of each small direction. Man, it feels good when you see yourself passing all the suggested roads successfully because it gives you a sense of approaching your final destination! You can use this technology with God while you purchase your desires. Have faith in the little things like your next step. Make sure you are on the right track in each small step because sometimes one wrong direction can alter your whole course!

Joseph, the good man who fathered Jesus, believed in this technology. There is not much covered about him in the gospels but what he did was FOUNDATIONAL or we may have missed our redeeming Christ. Joseph in parenting Jesus was so focused on the sake of Jesus and what is best for him rather on what’s good for him and his wife Mary. Each step he made was faith-filled. It takes a great faith to believe that your future wife is a Holy Spirit pregnant. But here lies the power of KNOWING that you heard God! Thank God for his faith. He accepted to marry her, he ran with her to Egypt to protect the life of 2 years old Jesus, he stayed there and came back when he got the green light of grace to come back to Israel after the enemy wanting Jesus to die was dead. He was careful where to live and what to do to protect the life of Jesus entrusted to him, the savior of his people and the nations.

Jesus was the great focus of Joseph! He believed for a place for Jesus’s birth. In everything you read about Joseph, you find that he believed for the little things, for his next move. Because he knew that in doing so successfully, he is investing in the greater.

This perspective changed my faith focus! I was believing for my next house because I wanted a better one for ME. Now I am more focused on purchasing my desires with Jesus in my focus! God lives in me and each step I am going to make I want it to protect the Jesus within and allow him to grow perfectly. My questions now on will be such as: will my next move bless the Lord or will it expose him to dangers and threaten him? Will my next association and relationship preserve the life of Jesus within me or will it destroy it?

Now I know how to purchase my dream goals by having in me THE GREAT FOCUS, Jesus! Because when he is blessed, I am blessed!

Toni Francis

If Jesus was a CEO

Jesus runs the universe in his perfect wisdom and authority and preserves everything by the power of his word. It is wide and abstract for us to grasp and understand God’s position as the ruler of the world because we don’t understand its mechanics. But it is easier for us to catch this concept if the ruler of the universe becomes a CEO of a company. His first position is an unlimited authority and reign over the universe, his second position is about a limited authority and reign over a certain domain. But sometimes if we can understand the small picture we can have a glimpse of the bigger one! Earth is a shadow of Heaven!

The first day came! Jesus woke up in the morning, spent his time with his heavenly Father in prayer as usual then put his clothes on and got ready not to go to Jerusalem, Nazareth, any small village or a synagogue to preach, heal and cast out demons, but this time he went to his own registered company somewhere in the city! The Son of God has his own company now and he can’t wait to reach his office to salute his dear employees and get the business done to bring more glory to his heavenly Father in the business field.

What could his goals be? Will he run his company the same way other CEOs do? Who is going to hire to be on his team? Who will be his right hand assistant? He surely can’t fail, success is guaranteed! After all he never failed healing someone and never failed resurrecting the dead, he will surely never fail running his new business! How is he going to run his company? The world is waiting and watching closely to see Jesus in his new position as chief executive officer CEO.

His employees are the luckiest ones because they were given the chance to watch the Son of God running a business for the first time, not a spiritual ministry! Many launched their social media apps to tweet, post and broadcast the first activities of Jesus on his first day at work! And for the first time these employees will hashtag proudly things like #ILoveMyCEO #HisWordsAreMyCommandments #Obedience #WantToMakeHimHappy #MyCEOIsAlwaysRight …

You may think I went too far in my imagination about the Lord. After all he can’t occupy this position, he is a spiritual leader! But my dear friend, this Jesus living in you wants to take over and live through you whatever your position is! You could be the first one to give Jesus the opportunity to run your business on his terms! It is going to be so exciting and of course … supernatural!

Glory to God
Tony Francis

You can also watch this blog as a Vlog (Video Blog). Click here to watch it: If Jesus was a CEO