Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

Relatively recently, I shared with a sister-in- Christ, that on the first morning of this New Year, the first thing that came to mind as I opened my eyes was: “yep, we still at war”. Such necessarily means that those made sons and daughters of the Sovereign LORD God Almighty by the blood of Jesus the Anointed One, have to keep on the whole armor of God, and the Sword (the WORD of God) at the ready! Whereas the Omniscient LORD God knows every thought, the devil attempts to give a thought as opposed to knowing your thoughts. That is, from observation over the years, the devil may know what you like (such that he might try to tempt), and he may know what you don’t like (such that he may try to rile). Hence, the WORD tells us to: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7b (NIV).  And again, “8  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9  Resist him,standing firm in the faith . . . ”  1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV). Rocket science isn’t required to deduce that the devil wouldn’t suggest using the Sword of GOD against himself; hence it was easy to ascertain that the clear reference or nod toward Ephesians 6:11-18 on the first morning of the New Year was of the Holy Spirit. It served as a type of reminder to me in regard to my own part (as every son & daughter of God has an assignment) in advancing God’s Kingdom of Light.

Approximately one year ago, at the very end of that year, the tempter tried to “invite” me to a party featuring discouragement; he thought I might attend because I had sown seed as well as everything else I knew to “do” toward a specific manifestation that hadn’t occurred in the natural realm. (Every time I ask the LORD, He answers affirmatively; not because I’m all that but because JESUS is and I’m in Him.) Instead of accepting the pity-party invitation, somewhat bewildered (as opposed to exasperated), I audibly asked the LORD: “now what or what now?” The response: “you just stay in the WORD” was so matter-of-fact and the “tone” was so succinctly blunt that had it come from any other than the ever faithful and compassionate GOD Who’s sent His only begotten Son that I might choose abundant life in Him (John 10:10b), the tempter might’ve invited me to entertain hurt feelings. In retrospect, however, the reminder was due to a bit of some coasting. Yes, I was in the WORD every day and yes, I was ordained a Minister of the Gospel of Christ Jesus; yet an “adjustment” should’ve been made which the comfort of coasting won’t necessarily render obvious. That is, as made clear by the Holy Spirit, a higher level of manifestation requires a higher level of faith (which is powered by divine love); and “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God“ Romans 10:17 (NKJV). In other words, a manifestation by the power of God within must move beyond “cruise control” toward immersion in the WORD as well as doing as it says. For example, not only speaking the WORD in rote fashion but allowing it in the eye-gate (read it) and through the mouth-gate (speak it) for the benefit of the ear-gate (Joshua 1:7-8; Proverbs 3:1-2 & 4:20-21); for “. . . men and women don’t live by bread alone; we live by every word that comes from God’s mouth” Deuteronomy 8:3 (MSG).

Speak the promise . . . Harriet