Gary L. Ellis

Worry.  That’s an activity or action of mind that we are all familiar with.  In fact, for most people, worrying is easier than falling off a log.

There is a kind of worry that will work, and work very well…

The worrying that works is what the Bible calls, meditation.  The activity is the same with both.  The content is just different. 

Worry is thinking deeply about the logical outcome of one’s life as if there’s no God.  Meditation is thinking about how one’s life will look if the Word of God is the truth.

Worry frets over the bad natural report.   Meditation ponders over God’s good supernatural report.

Worry fills the mind with struggle.  Meditation fills the mind with salvation.

If you know how to worry, you are already well trained in the art of meditation.  Simply change the content.  The result will be a partnership with God that discovers an unfolding abundance of life.

One word at a time is all it takes to meditate:  My God SHALL…yes, He SHALL…SUPPLY…HE SHALL SUPPLY…MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL…EVERY…EVERY…MY GOD SHALL…YES, HE SHALL….MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY…YES HE SHALL SUPPLY…ALL…YES ALL….I SAID ALL…ALL…ALL need is supplied…it’s already done…

You fill in the blanks.  You make up the chant.  You make your thoughts roll around in the abundance of His Word.  How long?  Continually until it becomes subconscious chatter.

Read it.  Write it. Say it.  Sing it.  Pray it.  Let God’s supernatural Word dominate your mind and discover a new joy and power in life.

Gary

Abundance in life is a normal desire everyone has.  In my opinion, abundance or prospering is at the heart of our God given DNA.  Books are written and read by many.  Seminars are taught and attended by multitudes.  Yet, so many still find themselves lacking. 

I began growing in the area of personal abundance when I discovered a key that I want to share with you…

To me the “master key” to abundance is in discovering what abundance, prosperity, and satisfaction in the spirit realm really is.  By the way…you and I are – at the core of our being – spirit.  Our bodies allow us to have physical experiences.

The flesh (that earth focused and trained part of you and me) has laid layer upon layer of definitions of what it means to have abundance/prosperity/satisfaction.  The truth is, some of the ways you and I spell or describe abundance has some validity.  However, so many don’t realize this very important fact; and it’s this:

To know true abundance/pleasure/joy/peace/prosperity, it must be understood and embraced from heaven’s perspective.  What is the atmosphere of abundance in the Kingdom of God?  I, of course, am not referring to the afterlife, but the here and now.

As soon as…and the more that…our hearts have that revelation or unveiling, the more we are able to experience powerful, deep, profound, everlasting abundance in the here and now.

Although I speak of a spiritual revealing, I’m not inferring that this knowledge is for a select few “super saints” that sit around cross-legged going “ommm” all day.  The principles are in the Scriptures.  They are unwrapped by the Holy Spirit as we study, ponder, and ask Him to reveal the abundant atmosphere of God’s Kingdom.  That’s an open potential for every follower of Jesus regardless of age or state in life.

When each of us walk that pathway, we begin a journey of discovery where we declare from experience, “At His right and are pleasures forevermore.”  I invite you to begin seeking Kingdom style abundance now with a simple request, “Lord show me what your abundance looks and feels like.”

Too many times we totally misunderstand how the Holy Spirit will answer.  We think He will reveal things that we have to learn how to put up with.  Instead, He changes our hearts and minds and we begin experiencing things that are truly fulfilling and deeply awe inspiring.

Come on now.  Let’s jump in the deep end of life!

Gary

Have you felt like you are going through the motions with your prayers, but – if you are being totally honest - nothing much seems to be happening?  I know how you feel.  I’ve felt the same way myself; But I found…

My prayers were popular.  In other words, they were prayers with commonly used wordings…but…ineffective.

This was exampled in a prayer request I recently heard, “Pray that God will supply all their needs.”

As sincere as those words are….(I’ve prayed that way for myself and others)….they aren’t based on New Covenant Truth.  And, it’s a habit I’ve been aggressively working to change for myself and share with others.

Ineffective religious habit has come from teaching us to focus on our weaknesses, lacks, and sins.  The New Covenant in Christ Jesus focuses on His strength in and through us.  It also magnifies what we already have in Christ rather than what we lack.  And finally, our New Covenant with God lasers in on our righteousness through Christ instead of sin consciousness.

What then is an effective way to pray?

“Lord, I pray for eyes to see the provision that You say is already mine.” “I also ask for your wisdom on how to access and live on what you’ve already given me.” 

That would be the same way to pray for someone else in need.  Especially when a loved one, friend, or acquaintance is in a time of special need, the provision they need most is God’s light shining on the truth of what’s He’s already done for them, and His wisdom to apply it to their lives.

My earnest desire for you (and myself) is to continually grow in grace praying and living based on truth rather than old religious tradition.  That’s how we become increasingly effective in prayer and life.

Gary

The Scriptures clearly indicate that there will be a doling out of rewards in the Age to Come. 

How do you think God determines your value as it relates to rewards?  After all, we know that our personal value to God is determined by what Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection.  However…

What about the kind of value we’ve established by our service to the Lord that earns us rewards?  After all, I truly don’t believe every child of God is going to be rewarded in the ‘Next Life’  in exactly the same manner or amount.

I know that some have said that it’ll be enough just to “make it to heaven.”  That that’s reward enough.  You have to decide for yourself, but I don’t subscribe to that belief that it’s reward enough just to make it to heaven.  I don’t believe that is what the Lord has taught us in the Scriptures, either.  (You have to decide for yourself).   However…

I also believe that many of God’s children have used the incorrect standard of measure when determining what they feel will likely be their heavenly rewards – or lack of same.

We, with human reasoning, too often focus on the following two areas for how we believe God will judge our deserved rewards:

1. The weakness in our service for the Lord.
2. The weakness of our obedience to the Lord.

We believe He’s judging by considering our weaknesses.  But, I believe the Lord has shown me something else.  He knows the vulnerability of this “clay” we live with.  With that, He considers the true desire of our hearts for service and obedience.  He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between.

I truly believe most, if not all of my readers, have far more rewards waiting for them than they believe.  Why?  Because they’ve been judging their “rewards value” to the Lord based on their own awareness of their weaknesses rather than His wisdom.

Gary

I don’t want to over-generalize here.  Depression is a common ailment of our emotions that has a variety of causes.  But, so many times it is easier to kill depression than we realize when we have been struggling with the gray side of life. 

Bill Johnson, a man I greatly respect for his insight, once said, “I am only about 10 minutes away from depression at any point in every day.”  He went on to explain that every one of us have that vulnerability.  What it ultimately boils down to is where we allow our thoughts to dwell.

I tested those words and have found them to be true time and time again.  What I personally discovered from Bill’s counsel is this:

Only allow your thoughts to dwell on what God has done, and what He is doing.

Never permit your mind to entertain what it appears He has not yet done!

I’ve discovered there are a variety of ways to say that same thing.  You may wish to put it this way…

“I will only allow my mind to rehearse and re-joy-ce over what has been accomplished.”  “I will not spend time worrying over what it seems I’ve not yet been able to do.”

It works!  It really works!!

What can you recall to mind that God (and you) have accomplished up to this moment?  What good (and great) things have you witnessed that you’ve been a part of?  What positive, powerful works are part of your history with God?   What things are not completed but certainly are in progress?

Meditate, ponder, muse, rehash, rejoice over those things.  Leave the rest in trust to God.  He’s the One who sees your heart, and desires.  He’s the One who sees what you can’t see.  He knows what you can’t know.  Leave all that “stuff” to Him.

It works!  It really works!!

If your current thoughts aren’t taking you to a place of peace, joy, love, patience (the fruit of the Spirit)…

Start thinking other thoughts that will!

Gary

Most of us have probably heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.”  We’ve agreed with it, as an obvious bit of wisdom or as the result of a personal experience.  Yet, we often do it anyway…even though we know better. 

Interestingly, that bit of wisdom cuts both directions.  Sometimes the “book” looks plain, weak, or inferior and yet the reality is that the content is something of great excellence.  Especially if nurtured.  On the flip side, we’ve all experienced those who appear much better than they actually are.  What’s inside is shallow and self consumed even though the “image” gives the perception of greatness.

A few years back, this was exampled on the T.V. show, “Britain’s Got Talent.”  One of the contestant’s that auditioned looked anything but accomplished as a musician and yet Susan Boyle was fabulous and won that year’s contest.  Simon Cowell had, as is typical, offered a bit of sarcasm before Susan sang, and had to swallow his words.

It happened in an ensuing year with a simple cell phone salesman named Paul Potts.  Paul’s outer appearance was anything but complimentary.  Neither were Simon Cowell’s initial assessment.  Paul Potts was more that fabulous, and won that season.  Simon, yet again, ate crow.

This year, Simon made a premature judgment with a muttered comment to a fellow judge.  17 year old Jonathan Antoine and 16 year old Charlotte Jaconelli had just entered the stage.  Simon said, “When you think it couldn’t get any worse.”  

Before we get too critical with Simon, he is just illustrating something that is all too common with all of us…even though we know better at a gut level.

Here’s the video that was posted on You Tube.  Another visible lesson on the danger of prematurely judging a book by it’s cover:

I don’t know who originated this statement, but it’s true…

“We are spirit beings having a physical experience, not physical beings having spiritual experiences”

That makes all the difference in how one faces life here on planet earth.

I also believe this spirit being (the more real you) must be trained. 

No worthwhile training regime is a once-in-awhile, here and there, or hit and miss thing.  Instead, it’s a consistent practicing of good principles which are ultimately followed by enjoying the fruit that results.  It also involves personal experimenting along the way to discover what works best for each individual.  Good  basic principles are necessary.  But, an exacting “one size fits all” approach isn’t necessary.

Since coming to the solid belief that I’m a spirit being having a physical experience, I spend more time developing the spirit side of my being.  An important part of my “spirit training” is development in understanding my dreams (which includes helping others understand theirs) as well as the spiritual gifting that appears in I Corinthians 12.  Especially (for me) Prophecy, and Word of Knowledge.

To be honest, I initially acknowledged the importance of dream interpretation and spiritual gifts.  I even dabbled at understanding and developing them on a personal level…that is until I would hit walls of frustration.  Then I’d set practicing them on the side.

However, interest would begin to, yet again, peek and I’d embrace the learning and practicing cycle. 

A teacher named Mark Virkler says that improvement in anything depends on focusing on the desired subject for a lengthy period of time.  I believe “focus” includes a few things:

1. Purposeful exposure to the desired subject.  Giving attention to various approaches to the subject matter from a variety of trusted teachers.
2. Pondering the key aspects of what you are learning.
3. Trying lots of approaches to discover what works for you.
4. Consistently practicing what you are learning regardless of the lack of perfection in your attempts to master the subject.
5. Give your subject learning and practice time every day regardless of the amount of time you can give it.  Some days it’ll be 30 minutes or more.  Some days only 5 minutes.  Accept the fact that both short and long amounts of time are acceptable.  The most important issue is consistency.

On my personal journey, I’m convinced I’m a spirit being having a physical experience as I live in this earth.  My spirit being must be trained as I grow in my personal relationship with Abba Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

Gary

God has not called us to do what seems possible, reasonable or normally attainable; He has called us to do the impossible. He wants us to stretch beyond our ability, our faith and our capacity to reason. He wants us to do more than we could ever imagine or dream.

Those are words, to which, many reading this would say, “Amen, Brother.  Preach it!”  We would agree at least on the level of hope.  And hope is good.  Hope is absolutely necessary or faith has nothing to reach for.

However, in the last several days, I’ve been stirred by those words being an attainable reality;  Not simply “wish it were actually true for me” thinking.  I guess the best way to describe what I am sensing are the words, “it’s attainable…likely…probable.”  Not just a spiritual theory…

If most are being honest, their “borders of expectation” are probably not as deep and wide (for real) as their “wishers.”

(As a side note, let me quickly add that I have been devoting myself recently to greater volumes of praying with my spirit (tongues).  I believe that has been activating an inner revelation that is making spiritual things more real to me.)

Most of my readers have experienced “forgiveness of sin” grace.  That’s the level of grace where one knows they are in deep debt and have no way of paying for it unless payment is made for them.  However, “debt recognition” grace is not where God intends for us to live out our days. 

John 1:16 says, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Grace upon grace that comes from His FULLNESS.  We are not only privileged to be given the gift of being forgiven by grace, but our Heavenly Father designed New Life so that we could live it by grace.  In fact I don’t believe we will actually experience the Abundant Life of Jesus any other way than by graces through faith. (Graces is pluralized on purpose)

What are those various and multiplied graces?

(To be continued…)

Gary

You’ll never be strong enough for God to use!  Having said that, you (and I) are subtly wasting our time to dedicate our talents to the Lord!

Whoa!  Those are pretty radical statements to make.  Radical, but true.

Anything that focuses our relationship with the Lord or our service for Him on the arena of our own natural abilities, strengths, and talents sets us up for a fall.  Even when it sounds honorable.

The Apostle Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10…

⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

It sounds noble and authentic to want to be “strong enough” to serve the Lord.  After all, doesn’t He deserve us to be in the fittest shape possible?   It also seems appropriate to dedicate our good gifts and talents to the Lord, doesn’t it?  Here’s the subtle devastating shift…

The focus is not on the strength of Christ.  It’s on the development and confidence in my strength.   Dedication of “my talents” does virtually the same thing.  It draws our attention to our abilities.  But, didn’t God give us those gifts and talents?  Yep.  To submit to His strength.  They have no intrinsic energy of their own to accomplish a God sized eternal task.

As I’ve studied the stories of the men and women through whom God has most clearly demonstrated the power of His Spirit, I’ve discovered that all of them have come to the end of all confidence in themselves.  In parallel with that discovery, they’ve realized the reality of consciously giving themselves as empty vessels to be filled by His Spirit.  Not as an occasional submission, but as a daily choice.  Sometimes multiple times daily.

The most blessed place to be is at the end of your rope and the beginning of His strength being made perfect (complete) in and through your weakness.
It’s also the most frustrating to the flesh.  We just don’t want to believe that we can’t be at least partial contributors to His victories.

You and I have a great deal to offer the Lord.  Ourselves.  Not our talents.  But, ourselves as His children.  Not our strengths.  (We have none to match the the reality of the task in front of us.)  But, we have ourselves to offer Him as vessels to use any way He deems fit at the moment. 

There is a treasure.  But, it’s in an EARTHEN vessel.  He delights to flow through us to accomplish what we could never attain on our own.

Be emptied and be filled, daily.  That’s the prescription for the ABUNDANT LIFE.

Gary