Words of Truth and Love

PROVERBS 10: 11-14, 18-21, 31-32

These verses address the subject of talking.  Speech is one of the most distinguishing gifts of man. The faculty of speech offers immense influence either for good or evil.  It is the principle channel by which we will affect people and the world.   It is by speech that we communicate our thoughts to each other, carry on business, and improve our knowledge and learning.

We have the glorious privilege to choose our words. This privilege is one of the main reasons we are to gain wisdom. The righteous speak wise words. Thus they are fitting or appropriate (Prov. 10:14) and give life to people and situations. [It's not the duration of your life that counts.  It's the devotion of your life—how intense you are in serving the Lord and giving yourself to Him that matters.] The change of speech comes from the change of heart.   Jesus alone can change your heart. "How can you being evil speak good things?" Ask God to give you a new heart.  Only then can you love and speak words that have eternal value.

Verse 11 helps us understand interpersonal relations and distinguish between people better. "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."

The righteous speak wise words. The words of a righteous (and wise) person are like a fountain of life (13:14; 14:27; 16:22; also note 18:4). His good, pure, vigorous words of wisdom are as refreshing as a cool spring to a weary desert traveler. The words of the righteous are a source of life-giving spiritual vitality. Words of truth and love are the means by which God refreshes and pour life into the souls of people.

There is no true peace in the words of those full of strife. Violence overwhelms their mouth. Since the word for "overwhelms" can be translated "covers" (as it is in v. 12), the idea is either that his mouth conceals or deceptively hides violence (niv), or that violence characterizes what a person says. Jesus stated, "The evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart" (Luke 6:45).

What motivates you, anger or truth, hatred or love, folly or wisdom?

The strong contrast is made again in verse12. "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions."

Hatred results in dissension (6:14) because people who despise each other can hardly work or live together in peace. The stirring or raising up of dissensions suggests the gossip (6:19b) who is hated by Yahweh (6:16-19). If you hate someone you look for excuses to bad mouth him or start in on him. This fiend is at work everywhere, in homes, offices, politics and churches. It is like a subterraneous fire that smolders out disgusts, dislikes, envyings, coldness and selfishness.

Love contributes toward peace because it covers or forgives the faults of others (17:9). It does not dwell on those faults (1 Cor. 13:5; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8). The Hebrew word translated "covereth" is kacah, which means "to overwhelm" (Proverbs 10:6, 11).

If you love someone, you give them the benefit of the doubt. If you hate someone, you don't. Love covers a multitude of sins [Prov 17:9; 1 Cor 13:4–7; James 5:20; 1 Pet 4:8].  The message of Jesus is simple yet astounding: Love your enemies. Do good to those who mistreat you. Repay evil with kindness. When Christians live by these principles, he will keep his heart free of hatred no matter, how others feel toward him.

Then  let only thoughts that bless dwell in your heart and mind.  Silence your lips and tongue to all that wounds or is unkind.  Every day, choose to present your body, including your unruly tongue, as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:2) to be used by Him as an instrument of blessing.

Dear Father, forgive me for the harm I've done with my words.  Set a watch upon my lips and control my tongue.  Help me evaluate each thought and guard each word I say.  May I use my words to encourage my family, friends, coworkers, and church members. Amen.

~Bits and Pieces of sermon by Dennis Davidson

"These Are Healing Hands"

God will interact with us about healing and prophetic words through use of visions - (Acts 9:10)  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

About a month ago I woke up to a voice saying, "These are healing hands!".  I have been told by others praying for me who were given discernment from the Holy Spirit that I have healing hands.  They continued saying that I should lay hands on people and pray for them.  I even printed out a picture of the hands to the left because it pertained to healing hands, to remind myself what they had said.

Since my move, I had forgotten about the discernment they had given me, but when the Holy Spirit spoke them and I heard "These are healing hands!" very clearly, it put a whole new perspective on them.  I would say, a very "Important" perspective on them for me.

Today,  I made time to "Google" some information on healing.  I typed in what the Holy Spirit said and the site below was one which helped me understand the importance of "Healing Hands".  I would like to share it with you.  I believe that each child of God has been given all Spiritual gifts and that the Holy Spirit will direct you in which gift He wants you to use at that moment.  We as children of God are in the business of changing lives for the better and helping them have a closer relationship with their creator.

Laying On of Hands-Healing by Spiritual Means and Prayer

You’re not going to get a higher authority for healing by spiritual means than by the commandment from Jesus Christ. In Mark 16:17, 18 we read, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Laying on of hands then is healing by spiritual means which can be and is often accompanied by prayer.

First Jesus said that signs would take place. What signs? The signs of the sick recovering from being sick are the signs Jesus is referring to. Now the word recover means to “begin to amend” according to the definition of the Greek word used in this scripture. As a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit you can lay your hands on a sick person in the name of Jesus Christ, and that person will recover from being sick. Now the signs follow them that “believe.” That means you are not hoping that the sick person will recover. You are not wishing the sick person well. That means that you are acting on the authority of Jesus Christ and that you will see the sick recover when you lay hands on them in his name. You are not pretending or hoping that it will work. You know it will work. And because you know it will work, you act on it and obey what Jesus said to do.

The bible gives us an example to follow in Luke 4:38-41 and in Mark 1:29-34. Jesus went to Peter’s house and they besought him on behalf of Peter’s mother-in-law because she had a great fever. Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever and took her by the hand and lifted her up. The bible says that she immediately arose and ministered to them. Most likely, and this is my guess, she made them something to eat. But then something else happened when the sun was setting. Everyone in the area that had any sick brought them by and those that had various kinds of diseases showed up at Peter’s house so that Jesus could lay his hands on them too. And in addition, the bible says that devils came out of many while this was all going on. That makes sense because in Mark 16:17 Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name they shall cast out devils.” And he said this before he said “they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

This also means from the scripture we have used that some sicknesses and diseases are caused and are a result from demonic activity in the person’s mind, emotions, or body. Once these are cast out then the sick can recover. This is in addition to laying on of hands in the name of Jesus Christ and having the sick recover. In these last days before Jesus Christ returns we need to carry out this portion of the Great Commission. We need to preach the gospel, but this is what makes us different from any other religion. We have the Holy Spirit working with us and it is he that heals the sick. We lay hands on them and even pray for them, but it is the Holy Spirit who heals them.

So how do you pray for the sick? Follow these steps when laying hands on people and you will have success.

1. Say this to the person for whom you are praying:

“The bible says that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. What that means in this day and age is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sicknesses and sins and that God raised him from the dead for your salvation, deliverance, and healing.  It means that God has anointed me as a believer with the Holy Ghost and with power so that when I pray for the sick in the name of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will heal you and work a miracle in your life as well as deliver you from any oppression of the devil. May I pray for you right now?”

2. Take their hands and pray for them if they say yes for you to pray for them.

3. Bless and praise the Lord and thank him for his presence.

4. Ask God to remove any pain from the sick person’s body.

5. Ask God to heal their body.

6. Bind Satan and loose the person from his grip.

7. Cast out any spirit of infirmity.

8. Cast out any pain.

9. Command the sickness to die and leave their body.

10. Command them to be healed.

Remember to do every step in the name of Jesus Christ.

And here is where people can mess up. Sometimes when you pray for someone you might find that you are intimidated and fearful wondering if God will do what he said. You don’t want to look foolish so you might skip this next part. Do not skip this part!

Act on your faith and have them act on their faith by commanding them to do what they could not do before. Even help them do it initially. You must command them in the name of Jesus and they must act on their faith in the name of Jesus. Remember the story about Peter taking the lame man by the hand and lifting him up. As soon as he did the strength returned to the legs of the man and he went into the temple with Peter and John, walking and leaping and praising God.

If we as Christians consistently do this part of the great commission along with the preaching of the gospel then the gates of Hell will surely not prevail against the Lord’s church.

Lack of Beliefs = Works of the Flesh

When I began my study on Moses and the Israelites journey in the wilderness this month, the Holy Spirit showed me that I should go deeper into the study.  We have been born into sin as they were and we can learn from their mistakes.

At Church one Sunday, the Holy Spirit spoke to a prayer partner while praying with me.  She mentioned the water that was bitter and became sweet when wood was thrown into it.  She continued to say, "The Lord has given you (me) an assignment to study what she saw in the Spirit".  At the moment I was told I had an assignment I was elated and ready to go home and dig into the Word.

I have shared with you in the last two posts about the bitter water, but now let's go even deeper into the bitter water study and see what the Word of God reveals. 

Exodus 15:22-27

Three days later in the wilderness "the people grumbled at Moses" (v. 24). How sad. They went from the bondage of slavery in a foreign land to the thrill and excitement of freedom and praise to the LORD God. Then they were overcome by their old way as slaves looking at life. They allowed their circumstances to dictate their attitude toward their leader.

Who led them to Marah? They were led there by the Pillar of Cloud (13:22). Their murmuring against Moses was, in reality, murmuring against Yahweh! What was the cause of their murmuring? Their eyes were no longer upon God.

Three days into the wilderness they found no water. And when they came to Marah, the water was so bitter that they couldn't drink it (v. 22-23).

The people in the wilderness of Sin grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?".  They failed to reason that if Yahweh can hold back the walls of water in the Red Sea can He not provide water.

God revealed Himself at Marah as Yahweh Rapha, "I the LORD, am your healer." The word for "healer" means "to restore, to heal, to cure, or a physician." He not only heals physically, but morally and spiritually. "The LORD your God heals." The word means "to mend," like the mending of a torn garment. It has the idea of repairing as being reconstructed and to cure as a diseased person is restored to health. "The LORD is the physician."

We all come to life with a need of healing. Our waters become bitter as gall. "Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts and raw wounds, not pressed out or bandaged, nor softened with oil" (Isaiah 1:5, 6). The LORD says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). The Apostle Paul says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Jesus is both the tree and the waters. "He (Christ) bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus alone brings spiritual healing to our broken lives. The tree of the cross is the only balm that can sooth our broken hearts and cleanse us from our sins. The cross of Christ sweetens the Marah's of life. He turns the cross into the tree that gives life.

The Lack of Beliefs and Values Bring Out the Works of the Flesh

It is human nature that if our beliefs and values are weak or non-existent, we will manifest the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 identify the works of the flesh. They are “... Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition's, heresies, envies murders, drunkenness, revealings, and such like:...”.

Works of the flesh are manifested when we have no belief or hope in the future or something greater than ourselves. Someone that has little or no beliefs values nothing but their own immediate gratification. It is self-evident to Christians and non-Christians alike that the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are works of self-destruction. Things like adultery, wrath, and drunkenness may have some short-term pleasures, but in the end these sins can only result in calamity and eventually death .

Galatians 5:21 ends with saying that those that do the works of the flesh “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. If we do not believe in God's promises, we see no value in God's inheritance of eternal life. Because of our unbelief we value nothing and will not inherit God's mercy, goodness, and eternal life. Our unbelief condemns us to only inherit the fruits of our fleshly works, namely death and destruction.

Proverbs 5:3-5 tells us of the strange woman that is sweet and smooth, but her end is bitter and will lead us to hell (Proverbs 5:4, “But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword”).

Proverbs 5:4, the Bible tells us that adultery starts off sweet, but ends in bitter consequences. The act of adultery is the biggest scam that we and our flesh will play on ourselves. The short-term pleasures of adultery will tempt us into thinking that it will be the greatest thing to do. Both partners will enter into an adulterous relationship purposely thinking of only the initial pleasure and none of the consequences. In our heart of hearts we know that adultery will not end well for either party.

~Bits and Pieces of notes part 2

David's Prayer for Mercy:  O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed-it haunts me day and night. It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:1-12 TLB)

Bitter Water made into Sweet Wood

 

(Exodus 15:22-27)  This story is about the journey from Marah to Elim, from bitter water to twelve springs and seventy palm trees. The journey takes place externally and internally. The external journey is the obvious one. Moses and company find themselves in a very bitter situation. They have been three days in the desert without coming upon a source of water. The water they have come to is undrinkable. Death is threatening. Moses cried out to Yahweh and Yahweh made the bitter water sweet. Refreshing themselves, they are revived and journey on to Elim.

It is another revelation of the power and trustworthiness of Yahweh. The message for us is clear: Whatever the bitter obstacles that we encounter in life's journey we can count on God to transform them, to use/redeem them for good, as God leads us to Elim. When we cry our Marahs out to God, God is able to "sweeten" them, that is, to make them drinkable, to turn them into a resource for the next leg of the journey. God is big enough to deal with, redeem, and even transform whatever external problems we might face.

The internal journey is less obvious, but it is the one on which the text focuses. Our English translations obscure this focus because of the difficulty in translating the verb for Yahweh "showing" or "directing" Moses to a tree/piece of wood. The verb used actually means to instruct or teach. Yahweh instructed/taught Moses a tree. That does not make much sense, but it is important to note because this verb is the root verb of the word "Torah". Torah means instruction, and it specifically refers to the instruction/law that God gave Moses on Mount Sinai for how the Israelites were to live in covenant with this God who brought them up out of Egypt. We might say that Yahweh "torah-ed" Moses a tree.

When Moses cast this torah tree into the bitter water, the water became sweet. Torah is not for water, however, but for people. The bitter waters of Marah revealed the bitterness that lodged in the hearts of the Israelites. Notice that they grumbled against Moses while Moses cried out to Yahweh. The external obstacle revealed the internal realities of their hearts. Moses trusted Yahweh and cried the problem out to Yahweh. The Israelites, on the other hand, betray a lack of trust as they grumble amongst themselves against Moses. What becomes evident in the face of Marah is that the Israelites needed deliverance from more than just Pharaoh. They need deliverance from their grumbling, mumbling, bitter selves. And Yahweh is set to bring about that deliverance. Yahweh torahs Moses a tree of transformation.

Right then and there, after Moses/Yahweh sweetened the water with the tree, Yahweh "made a decree and a law for them, and there He tested them. He said, 'If you listen carefully to the voice of Yahweh your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am Yahweh your Healer.'" This text makes it plain that the emphasis is on the transformation of the Israelites rather than the water of Marah. In a word, Israel is to be "Yahweh-centered" in all their living. Remember, down in Egypt life had been Pharaoh centered.

So Yahweh "tested" the Israelites there at Marah. This testing was for the purpose of training them, to reveal their hearts in order that their hearts might be changed where needed. The test revealed that Moses was Yahweh-centered and that Israel was not. The test was a training exercise for Israel, designed to bend their bitter, grumbling hearts toward Yahweh.

How did the bitter water become sweet? The tree. How does one become Yahweh-centered? The answer is Torah, God's instruction. It's kind of a circle. By listening to Yahweh one becomes Yahweh-centered which in turn enables one to be a better listener which in turn increases one's Yahweh-centeredness.

How did the bitter water become sweet? Yahweh, the giver of the tree. How does one become Yahweh-centered? The answer is Yahweh, the giver of Torah. "I am Yahweh, the One who heals you." Yahweh is the One who heals the heart, who is able to transform the bitter waters of the heart to waters of renewal. Again, notice that this internal transformation is the main point of the text, for Yahweh does not say "I am Yahweh, the One who heals the water" but "I am Yahweh, the One who heals you."

Yahweh transforms the heart by means of Torah, Yahweh's instruction/word for sweet living. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . .." Jesus is our Torah, our transforming Word from Yahweh on and for life. As we receive and follow Jesus, as we become Jesus-centered, we discover a healing transformation being worked within our hearts. It is the internal journey from the bitter waters of Marah to the twelve springs of Elim, from barren desert to seventy palm trees.

May the tests of life bend us towards Jesus, that we might open ourselves to Jesus at ever new depths, heeding His word and experiencing His healing. By the grace of God in Christ, may we make the journey and know His healing, that we might live the Jesus life. If life is bitter, stir in some Torah.

~Bits and Pieces of sermon by Steve Rodeheaver

In Search of Divine Healing 

In the Midst of the Storm

God will interact with us about healing and prophetic words through use of visions (Acts 9:10) And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

In a dream/vision early in the morning I woke to being inside a storm and it was very hard to see, but I knew it included certain people in my family.  I have had dreams about tornadoes and running from them, with my children, to keep safe.  After those dreams my relationships changed with my marriages. This dream/vision is different from the past ones, because it was one which included a member of my family and a member of my sisters family. 

The first dream/vision included a very huge cloud turning like a tornado, which hovered above following us. We would run from place to place looking for shelter.  At one time I was viewing, and saw from above the magnitude of it. Then it would skip to me being involved, running from it as it was right upon us and then watching it destroying the area we had just ran from. When I finally woke from the dream/vision, we all ended up in a basement area, just in time, with a lot of people I didn't know.  As I wrote the dream down, I knew this one would have a larger impact on our family and that I needed to be in prayer and seek guidance from the Lord.

As I am now typing this down, I realize that there are three dreams/visions which go together.  This dream would have been the second one which includes the same people.  My sister is driving a vehicle, the same people are crammed in it and I'm not sure if I am participating or observing. The view out the front window is a road which has a lot of obstacles on it and a war at the end of the road where there is bombing and the colors of red and yellow.  As I look down the road I say, "The road will be rough," when I see what it blocking it.  Halfway down blocking the road is a tank, not moving, and then I look further down the road and view the bombing in the distance.

I posted the article below on my other blog, Live GOD! Climb GOD's Mountain, and am including it with this dream/vision because we are now going through the storm and need to keep our eyes on our Savior to find peace.    

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28). Hallelu-jah (praise the Lord)!! That means, as God’s children, nothing negative from our past has any negative influence over our lives. God is able to change all past negative circumstances and experiences to have a positive effect on our lives.

As we submit to God and allow him to fulfill his unchanging plans for our lives He is able to use all matters in our lives to our advantage. Instead of  mourning over the past the Lord works things out to the point where we can say like Joseph, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good,” Genesis 50:20.

The past experiences, our disadvantages, circumstances, Satan and his fallen angels, people with ill motives, or whatever cause may have intended to harm us.  God is sovereign power and might, who is above circumstances, limitations, impossibilities, closed doors, malicious people, and above Satan, is able to transform the negative matters to end up working to our good. Instead of becoming prisons for our lives, caging us in from moving forward, God uses them as stepping stones to our palace for bearing much fruit for God’s glory.

We seem to have a lot of easy answers on how Joseph coped with the severe storms that befell him. But the whole truth is that God kept him in the midst of it all.

 Joseph did not have some high determination and guts to continue trusting in God. He was as frail as any of us. And he had no bible to read on the faithfulness of God. Put in his shoes many of us would rather be dead. Yet God in his power is able to sustain us if we go through the worst of experiences.

When we get out we even wonder how we came out alive, sane and still Christians. It's unfortunate when some depart from the faith or end up in sin or compromise that brings more bondage. This is another side of the story, but glory be to God for those of us who came out alive and Christian. 

May he use us to save others that can be vulnerable to Satan's schemes during storms. No one deserves to face destruction, especially after becoming a Christian. May God use us to stand in the gap and allow him to frustrate Satan's attempts while fulfilling his plan..

Through God all things are possible, bearable, and can be overcome. Unlike Joseph we have the bible to encourage us. With God's Word richly living in us the Holy Spirit is able to effectively use it when storms come. He enables us to effectively respond to storms in a way that blocks Satan from using them to work against us. 

Storms of life do not spell doom for us for as long as our response is in a way that blocks Satan from using them against us. Whether from past or current experiences God can still use them to work to our good. He did it for Joseph, for Jesus, the early disciples and many saints of God throughout history. Why not for us? Yes he still does today. He's the same God who changeth not (James 1:17).

Past or present storms of life are unpleasant experiences that befall us out of no fault of our own. They include experiences of living under constant negative and critical words; experiences of betrayal (by a loved one; trusted person, or leader); death of a loved one; severe physical or emotional abuse experiences; living under a heavy control and disciplinary environment that brings fear; living under rejection; false accusations; terrible divorce experience (as the victim); traumatic experience(s), severe accident (e.g. surviving the September 11 terror experience, traumatic accident, casualty of war); having a physical or social disability; having a certain physical appearance society “persecutes;” severe racial, gender and ethnic discrimination or abuse; falling victim to false teachings; genuine trials of faith; and so on. 

A victim of whatever storm of life ought to focus on God's power, sovereignty and love in fulfilling "plan B."  By saying positive words, such as,  "Satan may have created this mess but God who is more powerful knows how to use it to bring out the best for his glory."  Not saying it out of arrogance but out of humility of being God's child.  He is the God who fights our battles.  

For any of us our resolve ought to be that whatever our limitations they cannot hinder God from fulfilling his ultimate plans for our lives. He's the one in charge, not our circumstances. Needless to say that we’re in this life not to fulfill our fantasy island desires but to fulfill his preordained will for our lives. It is this preordained plan for our lives that’s unstoppable for as long as we keep walking with God.

Our circumstances whether from past or present experiences can roar like Goliath if they want to. But the final choice is on each one of us. Whose report will you believe -the report of circumstances or the report of the Lord in his written word? One is proclaiming doom while the other proclaiming hope. One is proclaiming a curse while the other is proclaiming a blessing.

~Bits and Pieces from the book Breaking Spiritual Strongholds & Embracing God's "Plan B"/ Healing the Wounded Spirit by the Spiritual Warfare Deliverance Ministry

Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus, acknowledging You as my Refuge and High Tower. You are a refuge and a stronghold in these times of trouble (high cost, destitution and desperation). 

In the day of trouble You will hide me in Your shelter, in the secret place of Your tent will You hide me; You will set me high upon a rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in Your tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to You, O Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me! 

On the authority of Your Word, I declare that I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. When I cry for help, You, Lord, hear me and deliver me out of all my distress and troubles. You are close to me, for I am of a broken heart, and You save such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent. Lord, many are the evils that confront me, but You deliver me out of them all. 

Thank You for being merciful and gracious to me, O God, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings I take refuge and am confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. You perform on my behalf and reward me. You bring to pass Your purposes for me, and surely You complete them! 

Father, You are my Refuge and Strength (mighty and impenetrable to temptation), a very present and well-proved help in trouble. 

Lord, You have given and bequeathed to me Your peace. By Your grace I will not let my heart be troubled, neither will I let it be afraid. With the help of the Holy Spirit I will (stop allowing myself to be agitated and disturbed; and I refuse to permit myself to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled). 

By faith, I respond to these troubles and calamities: (I am full of joy now!) I exult and triumph in my troubles and rejoice in my sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character (of this sort) produces (the habit of) joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames me, for Your love has been poured out in my heart through the Holy Spirit who has given to me. 

In Jesus name, amen.

Prayer by Germaine Copeland, Handling the Day of Trouble or Calamity