Tag Archive for: rain

Transforming Your Mind Into A Tree of Life

Our minds are beautiful servants but not masters, you are!  Sometimes, negative or upsetting thoughts get stuck on repeat, painful memory, worries about the future, harsh self-criticism, or fear for your health. This can feel draining and frustrating. But there's a way to take back control based on these scientific revelations.

The Power of Repetition

Our brains are like well-worn paths. The more we think about something, the more automatic that thought becomes. That's why those upsetting thoughts just won't quit!

How to Shift Your Focus

Here's the good news: you can change those thinking patterns. Try these simple strategies:

  • Notice, Don't Fight: When an unwanted thought pops up, just notice it without getting hooked. Imagine it floating away like a balloon.
  • Switch Your Thoughts: If you think, “I'll never get this done,” replace it with “I'll take it step-by-step.”
  • Get Busy: Find something to distract you – take a walk, listen to music, or try a puzzle. Distraction breaks the cycle.

You Have the Power

It takes practice, but you can weaken those unwanted thoughts and get rid of them! Think of it as creating new, healthier trails in your mind. With time and effort, you'll find more peace and control over your thoughts.

The Bible encourages us to be intentional about our thoughts. It tells us we can renew our minds and focus on what is positive and good (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8).

God bless you
Tony Francis

Lessons from Dr. Phil on the Perils of People Pleasing: From a Recovering People Pleaser

Friendship is a beautiful aspect of life that brings joy, support, and companionship. However, when the desire to please others takes precedence over our own needs and values, it can lead to an imbalance in our relationships. People-pleasing, while often well-intentioned, can hinder the development of authentic friendships, further damaging our fragile self-worth.

I was recently reminded of my journey of learning how to avoid the pitfalls of people-pleasing and foster genuine connections by starting with learning to love myself. A dear friend recalled one of our first phone conversations when we discussed people-pleasing. She mentioned an episode of Dr. Phil from years ago, stating that what she learned on that show was “life-changing.” I chuckled to myself, contemplating whether I should tell her that I was actually on that episode. When I finally revealed the truth, her reaction was more exuberant than I had expected. What struck me was that the words she spoke were the same words I used to convince my husband to go on the show with me, despite his initial reluctance. I had said, “What if doing this show could change just one person's life?” The statement seemed dramatic even to me, but my friend echoed those very words. It made me wonder if I had heard her correctly.

Reflecting on that time, my friend helped me understand why someone might find the advice from Dr. Phil on that show “life-changing.” For me, his advice was indeed profound, and I carried the lessons I learned with me, building upon them over the years.

These are the life-altering lessons, simple yet not easy. The first lesson is about the dangers of people-pleasing. Rooted in the fear of rejection or conflict, people-pleasing involves constantly seeking approval and prioritizing others' needs over our own. While it may seem like a selfless act, it can have detrimental effects on our well-being, friendships, and self-worth.

Dr. Phil also emphasized the loss of authenticity that comes with people-pleasing. When we constantly strive to please others, we suppress our true selves, leading to a lack of authenticity in our friendships. Genuine connections are built on mutual understanding, acceptance, and respect for each other's individuality. By sacrificing our own needs and desires, we risk losing our unique identity and becoming mere reflections of others' expectations. I had to be honest and admit that this was true of me.

Another lesson I gleaned from Dr. Phil was the imbalance in relationships that people-pleasing often creates. In friendships, one person may consistently give while the other takes. This dynamic can lead to resentment, as the people-pleaser may feel unappreciated or taken advantage of. Genuine friendships thrive on reciprocity, where both parties contribute equally and support each other's growth.

Emotional exhaustion was a realization that came to me when contemplating everything I had learned after the show aired. Constantly striving to meet others' expectations can be emotionally draining. People-pleasers often find themselves overwhelmed, struggling to maintain a facade of perfection and meet everyone's demands. This exhaustion hinders the ability to form deep, meaningful connections, leaving little energy for self-care and genuine emotional investment. Moments that should be shared as memorable experiences become blurred, vague memories of overexertion and regret.

Fostering authentic friendships became my mission. I realized that self-awareness and the ability to recognize my own needs, values, and boundaries were essential for my survival. It wasn't an easy task, and it didn't happen overnight. Understanding that it is okay to prioritize our well-being and say no when necessary was uncomfortable at first. However, over time, I discovered that by being true to ourselves, we attract friends who appreciate and respect our authenticity.

Communication emerged as another major lesson from this unique experience. Open and honest communication is vital in any friendship, and it became even more crucial with my best friend, my husband, who often took a back seat to those who demanded much of my attention previously. To be authentic, we must express our thoughts, feelings, and concerns openly, while also actively listening to our friends, spouses, and family. Healthy friendships and relationships are built on mutual understanding and acceptance of each other's perspectives.

Establishing healthy boundaries was and still is one of the most challenging lessons I had to learn. Learning to say no when overwhelmed or when a request compromises our values doesn't come easy for a recovering people-pleaser. However, boundaries are essential because they create a balanced dynamic and foster respect for each other's individuality.

Finally, there is the dynamic of mutual support. Authentic friendships are characterized by mutual support and encouragement. We should celebrate each other's successes, provide a listening ear during challenging times, and offer constructive feedback when needed. By nurturing a supportive environment, we create a space where both parties can grow and thrive.

The most meaningful moment of this experience wasn't even on camera but during a commercial break when Dr. Phil, known for his sometimes harsh approach, leaned over to me and quietly said, “God made you beautiful, articulate, and intelligent, and you need to believe you are worthy of true friendship.” That moment will be etched in my memory forever because it was life-changing for me. He saw a person who didn't see her own value and spoke words of encouragement and affirmation, much more than psychological advice. It was as if a father was speaking to his daughter. From that point on, I wanted to give that gift to others who may not believe they are worthy of love.

From a Christian perspective, people-pleasing can be seen as a stumbling block in our faith journey. A powerful passage in the Bible, Galatians 1:10, asks, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” As followers of Christ, our ultimate aim should be to please God rather than seeking validation from others. This is where we find our true self-worth. Jesus teaches us to love one another as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else (Matthew 6:33). By aligning our actions and intentions with God's will, we can cultivate friendships rooted in love, authenticity, and mutual respect. As we seek to please God, we can trust that He will guide us in forming genuine connections that honor Him and bring joy and fulfillment to our lives.

While the desire to please others is natural, it is essential to strike a balance between meeting others' needs and prioritizing our own well-being, keeping God as our main priority. Authentic friendships are built on mutual respect, understanding, and acceptance of each other's individuality. By embracing our identity in Christ and who we were created to be, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering open communication, we can cultivate genuine connections that enrich our lives. Remember, as this wise doctor reminded me, true friends appreciate you for who you are, not for what you can do for them.

Dedicated to Gavi. 💞 Thank you for the reminder that started a lasting friendship for which I am eternally grateful!

Prophetic Word for the month of Elul 5783 September 2023

Hey everyone, we just entered the biblical month of Elul 5783 / September 2023. Not only each day God's mercies are renewed to us but every single month and every single year and after a set of years too, like 7 years, 50 years, etc. The Lord in his great compassion waits to show you his great mercy, are you receiving it? Are you aligning with him, and his timing by faith to be under the canopy of his authority and be overtaken by his goodness and glory?

This is not just another prophetic word about what the Holy Spirit is saying to us for this month, it is not a fortune cookie at all. We honor God and fear his word and timing because he loves us greatly and wants us in the blessing zone. LIFE to you in Jesus' name.

I was praying for you about the new month of Elul 5783 / September 2023 and this is what I believe I received from the Holy Spirit and I pray it will bless your socks off in Jesus' mighty name. I believe it is going to be a TURNAROUND month, yeah yeah I know you've been seeing this word a lot and believing for it for a while but it is important to know that you've been breaking through, you've been progressing, EVERY TIME YOU PRAY something happens and you are closer. But in this month because it is also preparing us for a new BIBLICAL hebraic godly year 5784 in the midst of September, God is about to wrap things up for you BIG time because he doesn't want you to drag to a new whole season in him. I've learned that there is something called “THE FINISHING ANOINTING” and you can believe for it this very month and expect it. I sense I will hear a lot from you good testimonies about that.

The word of God tells us that in the time of rain ask for rain and since we are ending a year, you can ask the Lord to bring this big final turnaround as you start a new dawn with him. You are under this blessing in this month, you can press in and believe for it or just let it go. But now that you knew about it, that's why we discern times and seasons, benefit from what is available in the heavenlies and pull the divine TURNAROUND down over your life and those long challenges, relationships, finances, sicknesses, ministries, etc.

The month of Elul is your month of TURNAROUND! Do you believe it? Amen.

If you feel sowing into this, you can do it here:

Make a donation this month

God bless you

Tony Francis

When Your Breakthrough Is Not Coming

One of the greatest and most powerful prayers you can pray to God is: “Lord, Help I'm Stuck!”. How many times when we were children our parents came to rescue us immediately because we cried out to them in our stuck positions and some of those stuck positions were really funny and some parents seized the moment to catch it on camera before saving your day! (Forgive them haha). I know it is not an easy thing at all because I went through stuck moments when it felt like remaining forever. Especially when you are dealing with an everyday pain that is unbearable, that's another story!

When you are in a stuck season, when your breakthrough doesn't feel like coming to pass, when you don't even seem to see that “little hand-sized cloud” this is when you are most vulnerable to the lies of the enemy and to a cycle of questions that some times is tormenting and many are challenged in their faith. Today, would you check with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, what lies you may be believing in this season? God wants to readjust you into powerful positions of faith again! Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

Before the woman of the issue of blood received her breakthrough from the Lord, she had to press in through the bombarding big lies of the enemy. The fiery darts of the enemy were falling on her like rain, she was overwhelmed by those wicked arrows and if she believed just one lie of the bundle of lies offered to her, she would be harmed, injured, discouraged, and disabled from continuing her pressing in toward her long awaiting divine breakthrough.

The only thing that kept her going harder than the lies of the enemy is her faith in the goodness of Jesus. I don't know in what situation you are in today, only God knows but I am sure many want to give up on reaching their peace and wholeness in God but don't you do it! It gets darker before dawn!

No one is promised the timing for their breakthrough, it devalues the attempts of faith and God wants to give you the FULL reward of your faith. Jesus didn't receive a tidbit of comfort at the cross because he was after the fullness of our redemption. When I was battling hell in my health years ago for 5 years, I was believing the Lord for my miracle and breakthrough. The only thing I had back then after so many prayers is the peace of God to press in and NOT to go for surgery and I assumed God wanted me to press in for a miracle. The only miracle I got is my perseverance and endurance and my ability to serve God and remain fruitful as much as possible. In the end, God blessed me with a smooth surgery, with no pain but 2 years almost of recovery. Talking about someone learning patience here!

I was so disappointed that God didn't perform a miracle and that I had to go under a knife but after I saw that my years of suffering came to an end, I rejoiced anyway and thanked God he came for me, whether through a miracle or another natural mean blessed by the hand of the Lord, who cares. It looks like I was assuming that if God gave me peace to press in without surgery then he meant a miracle and that's the danger of assumption in the prophetic.

I learned so many lessons, I carved realms of authority in different areas, and I got victories beyond comprehension over my attitude and devils, it was a big battle for me but the plunder is for a lifetime. Thank you, good Lord!

Today, focus on two things only, press in by believing God is good for you, and let him be God. Walk it out with him step by step according to your measure of faith, just like when Abraham followed the Lord to a Land not knowing what he was doing and what is his next step. You may not be given what is to come and how it is going to end but you can have those confident “one step of faith at a time” and at the end it is going to be glorious for you!

Oh by the way I forgot to tell you, my battle was big because I was also fighting for a generation.

Tony Francis

(Share this prophetic devotion with someone)

The Importance of Faith In the Life of the Christian Believer

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

What Is Faith?
Faith is a strong feeling of trust in someone or something
For the Christian believer, faith is belief and trust in one God
According to Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”

Faith is so critical and important in our lives, as Christians, that it occurs or mentioned 100 times in the Bible – 28 times in the Old Testament and 72 times in the New Testament.

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).
The world or creation itself was founded in faith when God made the following decrees;
• “Let there be light” – (Genesis 1:3)
• “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let divide the waters from the waters” – (Genesis 1:6)
• “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered unto one place, and let the dry land appear” – (Genesis 1:9)
• “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yield fruit according to its kind” – (Genesis 1:11)
• The decree continues until the creation of man when God said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” –(Genesis 1:26)

Faith is very crucial in the life of the Christian believer for the following reasons:

1) As Christian Believers, We Live By Faith
Romans 1:17 says “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written: the just shall live by faith”.

Also in Galatians 2:20 Apostle Paul tells us that “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”.

Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, His Son, has been made right. God declared us to be righteous because of our faith in Christ “from faith to faith”
By faithfully trusting in God by our belief in Christ, we are saved and find life not only in this world but eternally.

2) As Christian Believers, We Are Firm In The Faith
Romans 11:20 says “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded but fear”.
2 Corinthians 1:24 puts it thus, “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy, for by faith ye stand”.

Due to faithlessness, the Jews who are the natural branches of the tree were broken off. The Gentile believers have been grafted into the tree like a wild olive shoot. Both the Jews and Gentiles now share the tree’s nourishment based on faith in God. No one can rest on heritage or culture for salvation. The Gentiles should not feel superior to the Jews because if God had not rejected the Jews, as it were, the Gentiles probably would not have had a chance.

3) As Christian Believers, We Combat The Good Fight
1 Timothy 6:12 says “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called and has professed good profession before many witnesses”.

As Christian believers, we must have an active faith, obeying God with courage and doing what we know is right.
It is time for action on your part. What are you waiting for? – Get going, don’t wait!

4) As Christian Believers, We Walk By Faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 says “For we walk by Faith, not by sight”.

5) As Christian Believers, We Win By Faith
In 1 John 5:4 where we took our text, we are told that we can overcome whatever challenge life throws on our way, as long as we have faith and trust in God.
It says “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”.

6) As Christian Believers, We Are Justified By Faith
Romans 5:1 puts it thus, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Peace with God means that we have been reconciled with Him. There is no more hostility between us and God, no sin blocking our relationship with Him. Peace with God is made possible by Jesus paying the price for our sins through His death on the cross.

7) As Christian Believers, We Please God By Faith
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.

God wants us to have a personal dynamic relationship with Him, and not just a mere knowledge of His existence. After all the demons and witches know that God exists, that does not stop them from doing evil. Those who seek Him diligently will find that they have intimate relationship with Him. When you tell others about the gospel, please encourage them to be honest and diligent in their search for truth and faith in God.

8) As Christians Believers, We Grow In Faith
1 Thessalonian 1:3 says “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, and our Father”.

Like the Thessalonians who stood firm in the face of persecution, Apostle Paul is admonishing us to also do the work of God produced by faith, labour prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope. These characteristics are the hall marks of an effective Christian believer.

9) As Christian Believers. We Die In Faith
“These all died in faith, not having received the promise, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers, and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

This world is not our home and cannot live here forever. Many people, especially of the Old Testament, died without receiving all that God promised. However, a good number of them never lost their vision of heaven.
Many of us become frustrated, and defeated when our needs, wants or expectations, are not immediately met on giving our lives to Christ, and therefore want to quit. If you are one of such people, please be patient, take courage from heroes of faith who lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet, continued to believe (Hebrews 11:36-39).

Some Heroes of Faith Who Did Not See The Fruit Of Their Faith On Earth
Abel and Enoch (Hebrews 11:4-5)
Noah and Abraham (Hebrews 11:7-8)
Sarah and Isaac (Hebrews 11:11, 20)
Jacob and Joseph (Hebrews 11:21-22)
Moses and Rahab (Hebrews 11:23,31)
Boaz (Ruth 2:15-16)

Some Heroes of Faith Who Persevered And Saw The Fruit Of Faith

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the Prophets (Hebrews 11:32-33)

How To Grow In Faith Through Jesus Christ
“That we henceforth be no children, tossed to and fro , and caused about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).
1) Growing In Faith Begins With The New Birth Through The Word Of God
1 Peter 2:2 says “As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”.

One thing common to all children is that they want to grow up – like their big brothers and sisters or their parents. Similarly, when we are born again, we become spiritual new babies, if healthy, we will yearn to grow. The need for milk is a natural instinct for a baby, and it signals the desire for nourishment that will lead to growth. In the same way, since we see the need for God’s word and begin to find nourishment with Christ, our spiritual appetite will increase and we will start to mature. How strong is your desire for God’s word?

2) As Children, We are Fed With Milk
“For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe” (Hebrews 5:13)

Commitment to Christ moves people out of their comfort zones or positions. You cannot grow as a Christian if you remain in the same position instead of applying what you have learned to your situation and teaching others. As a new born Christian, stop your old ways of doing things, fellowship with the brethren and imbibe the new culture in Christ. In this way, you will be able to understand the high-priestly role of Christ.

3) As Adults, We Are Fed With Solid Food
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

Your spiritual growth determines your capacity to feast on deeper knowledge of God (solid food). More often than not, we want God;s banquet before we are spiritually capable of digesting it. As we grow in the Lord and put into practice what we have learned, our capacity to understand will also grow.

4) Many Remain Eternal Christians
Hebrews 5:12-14 tells us “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”.

In order for us to grow from baby Christians to adult or mature Christians, we must learn discernment. We must train our consciences, minds, senses and our bodies to distinguish between good and evil. Can you recognise temptation before you? Can you tell the difference between correct text of Scripture and a mistaken one?

5) We Should All Grow And Become Adults
Ephesians 4:13-14 admonishes us to walk in unity.
Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ – Ephesians 3:19
Christ is the Truth – John 14:6
The Holy Spirit who guides the church is the Spirit of Truth – John 16:13
Satan, by contrast, is the father of lies – John 8:44

As followers of Christ, we must be committed to the truth. This means that our words should be honest and our actions should reflect Christ’s integrity as well. We should realise that speaking the truth in love is not always easy, convenient or pleasant. However, this is very necessary if the church is going to do Christ’s work on earth. Remember that YOU are the church.

6) The Lord Looks After Our Growth
Ephesians 4:11-13 says “And He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors, and some Teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.

The Holy Spirit has given every Christian a special gift for building up the church. Now that we have these gifts, it is imperative we use them. If you know what your gifts are, please look fo opportunity to serve the Lord and use them. If you do not know, ask God to show you, perhaps with the help of your Pastor or other Christian friends. The enormous responsibility the church has includes preaching, teaching, evangelising, healing, giving, nurturing, administering, building, etc. God has called us as members of His body to perform this responsibility. Together we can obey God more fully than anyone alone. Working together, in unity, the church can express the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 3:19).

7) The Word Is The Best Way Of Generating Our Growth In Faith
Acts 20:32 puts it this way “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

Like he prayed for the Ephesians in this passage, Apostle Paul is also praying for and commending you and I to God and His Word that the more we know Christ (our model), through the word, the more we will be like Christ. Study Jesus in the Gospel to see what He was like on earth. Personal knowledge of Christ through the Word will greatly change our lives. How much of His Word do you know? How much of Him are you willing to learn?

Until you invite Jesus Christ into your life (being born again) God’s continued presence can never abide with you. Today, accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. Ask Him to have mercy on you and forgive your sins and become the Master and Ruler of your soul, henceforth.
If you have backslid, retrace your steps back to Him right now and rededicate your life to God. However, if you have a living relationship with God, then tell others about Him – how much He loves us, He is our Savior, Redeemer and He died for our sins in order that we might not have to face the punishment that we rightly deserve. He is coming back the second time to take with Him all those who believe and accept Him, by faith, into their lives to live with Him eternally.
Congratulations if you have just accepted Jesus Christ into your life. Now look for a Bible believing church in your neighborhood to attend and you will be taught and grow in the Word of God.

God Bless You.       

#PathofLife

Process Before Manifestation

I have observed that a large proportion of people in this generation attempt to manifest results in diverse aspects of life without following due process. This made me realize how much we have neglected the fact that Jehovah is a God of processes. We often assume that as Christians, having God permits us to ignore or neglect key life principles.

Jesus, despite being the Son of God, came into the world and subjected himself to training and preparation before he became the Saviour of the world (Luke 2:46-52). If Jesus had to subject himself to training to become the Messiah, why shouldn’t we follow His example? As Christians, we should not aspire to jump straight into glory, power, and success ill-prepared. Can a baby born today begin to run immediately? Definitely not!

Skipping processes is akin to skipping classes required to equip and prepare you for your life’s purpose. A seed planted in the ground today will not begin to produce fruits immediately; it takes time to grow and mature. It is the will of God for all to manifest; however, it must be done in due season.

By Toniacendra Mmasinachi Uchegbu.

You Are Blessed to Bless Others

No man can receive nothing except it is given by heaven ( God ) . …john3:27. Whenever God blesses a man, he does it out of mercy and love. A blessed man is a channel for others to be blessed.

Proverbs 11:25-26 – The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

When you reach out to the less privilege with God's blessings upon your life, you are transacting business with God that would in due time bring a good reward in one form or the other.

Gods blessings upon ones live could be in several forms not necessarily in monetary form alone. Gods blessing upon some could be in the profession they are into. God may bless them with extra ordinary knowledge and success in the field of profession they practice.

Take for example, a doctor that would always be committed to his or her work to safe lives is blessing people with what he or she is doing. A judge that ensures that Justice is not manipulated or altered in favour of the wicked is also blessing others with his job. A police officer that is genuinely discharging his duty within the ampit of law with out being biased is a blessing to the people.
You could even be a farmer or trader that is not greedy always inflating the price of his food products just to make a sky rocketing profit at the expense of the consumers. Remember,

Luke 12:16-21
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

YOU ARE NOT BLESSED FOR YOURSELF ALONE BUT BLESSED TO BLESS OTHERS.

Prophetic Word For Year 2023: Breaking the Neck of the Enemy

“As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” Daniel 7:21-22

… and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. It is time to release the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is different from the Church. The Church executes the kingdom of God, but the Church is not the whole kingdom of God.

God is not THE KING if he is not king over everything. It is time to release the kingdom of God everywhere through the Church, his holy people, and because the Church of Jesus Christ is not very well trained and open to the concept of the kingdom, many denominations will find it hard to step into this prophetic word because they ONLY knew the CHURCH and many of us are narrow-minded about authority and the spreading of the kingdom. We don’t think like kings and definitely not like the KING of kings and the Lord of lords. Yet his holy people, you and me are made kings in him!

This is the year when the authority of King Jesus given to the Church will start to break the neck of the enemy on so many levels, your individual life, and corporately! Halleluiah.

In the book of Revelation, we read that when the cup of incense of the prayers of the saints, his holy ones, was full, God released fire as a downpouring at once. We also know the story of the widow who knocked persistently at the door of an unjust judge and after a WHILE, justice was served to her when she felt “defeated” (Daniel 7:21-22), weakened, and at her lowest. Glory to God!

That’s exactly what is being played now.

“As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” Daniel 7:21-22

 

The Most High, the Ancient of Days & the Holy Ones are 3 important keys to understanding and stepping into this prophecy:

I love the name of God here “the Most High”. That’s KINGDOM! The Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High.

The kingdom is always in high places or it is not a kingdom. In this season, the holy people of God shall know the Lord as the Most High. You will think in terms of high places from now on. The Most High will disciple you and shift your paradigms from small thinking, from just a church meeting to kingdom, to high places where the Most High is enthroned. The devil thinks this way and if you look around, he has his grip on the high places and positions and has exposure everywhere. Will you dare to step into higher places and plug the banner of the Most High on the top of your career, business, education, entertainment, politics, and on?

The second important word is “the Ancient of Days”. The Ancient of Days pronounced the judgment. Why the Ancient of Days? Because God is the highest wisdom, he is WISDOM and the devil established his kingdom with his demonic wisdom and sneaked in everywhere with his deceptive wisdom that seemed to be irresistible for a while AND WEAKENED AND DEFEATED THE HOLY PEOPLE OF THE MOST HIGH for a while. The church was overwhelmed and felt lacking the wisdom to override this demonic deceptive wisdom in the high places UNTIL the Ancient of Days stepped in and pronounced judgment!

God who is the highest WISDOM will release strategies to his holy people that will JUDGE the lowest levels of that demonic deceptive wisdom. God will give you a mouth and wisdom to shut the mouths of lions, the mouths of all the enemies. It is a war between doctrines!

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33-34

Finally, the third important word in this verse is “his holy people”. Only the consecrated unto the Lord will possess the kingdom and break the neck of the enemy!

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5

Blessed New Year to you in Jesus' name

Tony Francis

UPDATE: Hours after I wrote this prophetic word that Holy Spirit gave me for the year 2023, it was greatly confirmed by Apostle Patricia King and Prophet Bobby Conner when they released their own prophetic words for the year 2023. I am greatly humbled and encouraged! I am not considering myself in the stature of those two great spiritual leaders, but I rejoice greatly to be entrusted with such a weighty word. I will leave to you the reference links to their prophetic words if you want to check them and allow your faith to skyrocket. When the Lord confirms his word many times, it means he is establishing it. Halleluiah! Glory to God.

Watch Patricia King's prophetic word for 2023

Watch Prophet Bobby Conner's prophetic word for 2023

  • As you start a new beginning in the Lord, I would like to invite you to join my private WhatsApp group “Ask Holy Spirit” for prophetic activations, if you are interested in growing in the prophetic this year. Click here to learn more.
  • Consider joining my private Facebook for prophetic mentoring, activations, and more. Click here to learn more.
  • Thank you for your love, prayers, and support. We are reaching many around the world and touching many lives for his glory. We couldn’t make it without God and your partnership. If you feel led by the Lord to sow generously beginning of this year, click here to make your donation.

Survival Tips When Pushed To The Edge

They harass, taunt, belittle and berate.  It is not just a small group but a whole gang of people.  You were just surfacing for air.  You rose above your circumstances and boldly spoke the truth about your purpose and identity in Christ.  “Who do you think you are,” they respond.  They glare in anger.  It wasn’t enough to use words.  They got up and rushed at you.  They put obstacles in your way, tried to discredit you and push you back into the suffocating existence you escaped.  Jesus was there.  He went to his hometown and without an ounce of uncertainty declared his purpose.  His purpose proclaimed his identity as the Son of God.

The account reads this way:

23 Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.

28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

Luke 4: 23, 28 New Living Translation (NLT)

The people rejected and berated Jesus.  He responded with a simple truth.  He told them their unwillingness to accept him hindered them from receiving what he had to offer.  That meant they lost the opportunity to be healed, delivered, restored, and strengthened.  They lost everlasting life.  Jesus never denied them his service and never denied his identity.  He stayed true to himself despite their awful actions.  We too have to remain true to who we are.  There is no need to mirror the behavior of our attackers.  The choice to keep your character is what makes the difference between being pushed to the edge and being pushed over it.  Jesus was pushed to the edge by the mob.  They had him right at the cliff.  But he walked through the crowd and headed back to fulfilling his purpose.    So we can train ourselves to be unwavering in our commitment to our purpose.  When pushed to the edge we won’t be shoved over, we will have the strength to walk away.

The Accident, the Jump and Living Through It

I know that we have all been through something or another. However, none of us has withstood what Jesus Christ did on the cross. He definitely has endured the most. Things may have happened to us at a very young age where we don’t have specific memory. Specific parts of our brain do remember, though. These events definitely form our lives. God knows everything that is happening to us and everything that is going to happen to us. I once heard that we can not question God, so I try not to. Like many, I had a very challenging childhood. We live in a dysfunctional world. My dad suffered from mental illness, poverty as a child and alcoholism. Although our dad was a financial provider, he was not much else. He was seeking something he never found because of the fact that he grew up with a very sparse knowledge of God. He was never taught to develop a relationship with God. He was subjected to nothing but traditions and rituals. I sincerely believe that if my parents were raised in Christian homes that our lives would have been much healthier. My mother, siblings and I now attend Bible believing churches. Praise God for that. Until the time I left for college in 1993, I definitely resided in a broken home. 

On July 8, 1991, I sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury. I was at my brother’s baseball All-Star game and I had left for work. I still don’t know why I went the way I did, but I assume I was taking my passenger home. My paternal aunt suggests that I may have been blinded by the sun. Four pieces of glass went in my head at 65 mph and I was in a coma for around two to three weeks. My Grandpa Flores passed in 1980 and I did see him during my recovery time. He was surrounded by birds and deer and it seemed animated. He asked me if I was ready to go back and I woke up saying my paternal Great Grandpa’s names. The accident happened about a month after I graduated from high school. I was also in summer school at the local college. My plans were to attend the University of Texas in the fall, but that was no longer going to happen at the time. When I was released from the hospital, I went back and took my summer school finals and got B’s. I remember I was like a baby in innocence when I started to recover. I didn’t know a lot about my surroundings, but I adjusted quickly. I had no physical injuries, so I seemed fine. I wasn’t prescribed any medication. I just had a few follow up visits with my neurosurgeons. 

I did start the local college in the fall of 1991 and I started getting D’s and F’s for the first time in my life. I had been in excellent schools since first grade and I had always done well. My parents were fighting still and genetic and organically induced mental illness set in. I jumped off of a significantly high bridge in my hometown and again I survived. I did have some back fractures because I landed on my back. I remember being near the seawall because I tried to climb out. When I jumped, I just drove up to the bridge, parked my car and jumped. Brain injured people are definitely left with impulsive tendencies. I remember just screaming for my Grandpa Flores. I remember hearing the medics say that they couldn’t believe it and that I was so young. Next thing I know, I was in a local mental health hospital under suicide watch. The first of many mental health hospitalizations. My family was in shock and my parents tried to find appropriate care for me. The then Neurobehavioral Institute of Houston accepted my dad’s insurance and I went over there for some time. I did improve significantly through my time there.

In 1993, I felt I was ready to try school in Austin, Texas. I had to start at Austin Community College because my GPA had dropped significantly due to the previous grades I mentioned. I went through some junior college and reapplied to The University of Texas at Austin. Thankfully, I was accepted into UT Austin in the Spring of 1995. Eventually, I moved in with my college boyfriend and that was a waste of four years. God tells us not to fornicate, etc. I still graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in May of 1997. I decided to move back home, which was unthinkable. However, I wanted to continue my studies and my boyfriend and I were going nowhere. I started a Master of Arts in Psychology program the next fall in my hometown. I soon came to see through a related job that that particular degree was not for me. I quickly switched to a Master of Science in Counseling program and finished in December of 1999. My 22 year old is currently pursuing the same degree. Thankfully for me, it was much easier when I got that degree. She and I are very similar and very different. God works in His way.

I gave birth to the daughter I just mentioned in 2000 and I thank God that my mother was there to basically raise my Hannah from age 5 on up. After Hannah’s sister Rachel was born in 2004, the brain injury related medication no longer worked the same. I wasn’t on any brain injury medication initially. However, when depression set in and around the time of the jump, I was prescribed psychotropic medication. I took it from 1992 to 2004 and after Rachel was born, it no longer worked the same. I tried to take my life again after she was born. Rachel was raised by her dad. I visited with her, was there when I could be and I definitely wrote to her from jail and prison. She is now 17 and I have joint custody and visitation with no help from a lawyer. I did it all on my own…through court of course.  In 2009, I gave birth to Sabrina. I was very mentally not there. I met her dad in Austin at a homeless shelter, we drove to Corpus and were married shortly thereafter. We married in 2008 and he is no longer with us. 

From 2005 to 2014 my life was horrible. I was in and out of the local jail. I was in and out of psych hospitals in South, Central Texas and Sabrina was removed from me through no fault of my own two months after she was born. I used to work for Child Protective Services and the supervisor on call did everything she could to keep Sabrina from me. That supervisor did not like me as a co-worker. In 2011, a local political figure terminated my parental rights. Sabrina was adopted by her previous foster mother’s. Hannah found out that they changed her last name to Sass and that she lives in Round Rock, Texas. 

I was finally prescribed medication that worked for me in 2014 and I have been re-establishing my life ever since then. Today is October 31, 2022 and I still take medication. I couldn’t function without it. I also take Milk Thistle to help my liver. It is hard to drive near the accident site. I don’t like driving by the hospital I was taken to after I jumped off of the bridge. However, that is nothing compared to other people I have been hospitalized with. Only God knows the events of our lives. I have actually been in a place during my coma that has shown me that all I need to do is accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I pray blessings on everyone and I just have to say that life is a choice. If I am making it, so can you. God bless you.