CONFESSION..I believe Strongly in the Power of Confession.It works, declare in Faith

A Financial Confession

 

In the name of Jesus, I (we) thank you in advance for free favors.  I (we) thank you in advance for 100% liberation from everything that has ever bound me (us).  I (we) receive restoration now, all slavery in my (our) life is abolished now. 

I (we) fully expect unexpected income now. I (we) receive increase of prosperity now. I (we) am a recipient of the transference of the wealth of the wicked. I (we) will have no more oppression, no more harassment. I (we) have supernatural protection from heaven and all of my (our) debts are removed. I (we) am free from debt. Right now and forever more. 

I (we) command the angels of God, go now, and bring to pass what I (we) have confessed. Bring to pass this soundness, this wholeness , this soteria, and this salvation. Bring it to me (us) now, quickly and speedily in the name of Jesus. 

I (we) have jubilee harvest right now, right now, right now. I (we) am (are) baptized in jubilee. In Jesus name, Amen.

Creflo Dollar Ministries

 

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Confessions about Prosperity

 

I return to the LORD and obey His voice and the LORD my God will make me abundantly prosperous in all the work of my hand, in EVERYTHING. For the LORD takes delight in prospering me. Deut 30.9

My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Php 4.19

The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. Ps 23.1

I am God's servant - so, the Lord takes pleasure in my prosperity. Ps 35.27

God wants me to prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers. 3John 1.2

The Lord my God teaches me to profit, and leads me by the way I should go. Is 48.17

God gives me power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant. Deut 8.18

I keep the words of God's covenant, and do them, that I may prosper in all that I do.
Deut 29.9

Both riches and honor come from God, and He reigns over all. In His hand is power and might; in His hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all. 1Chr 29.12

God is able to make all grace abound towards me, that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2Cor 9.8

I know the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, so that we through His poverty might be rich. 2Cor 8.9

I am meek and I shall inherit the earth, and shall delight myself in the abundance of peace. Ps 37.11

I delight myself also in the Lord, and He shall give me the desires of my heart. Ps 37.4

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Seed Faith Confessions

I have given to God my tithes and offerings of every dollar I've earned to date and they are in God's hands as seeds of my faith. My seeds of time, service, money and ministry are sown and God is growing them invisibly but absolutely.

God is changing my seedtime into harvesttime.

God is rebuking the devourer for my sake. Mal 3.10-12

My giving is causing the windows of heaven to unlock ... to open ... and God is pouring out ideas and insights into my mind greater than I can contain about what to do and how to make miracles happen in my life.

I give and it is given unto me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together men are pouring into my lap. The measure that I use will be measured back to me. Lk 6.38

I am loved by God and He desires above all things that I prosper and be in health even as my soul prospers. 3John 1.2

Jesus came that I might have life and have it more abundantly. Jn 10.10

DECLARATIONS

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless thee and keep thee;
The Lord make His face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.

Walking in Dominion

By Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
“Ought ye not to know that the Lord  God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?” (II Chro. 13:5).
I told you that it is impossible to rise to the next level in life without encountering battles. There are no two ways about it! I also made it clear that God cannot make a promise to you without giving you a corresponding gift that will enhance the manifestation of His promise in your life.

In other words, whatever God says you will be, He will give you the necessary raw materials that you need to become and accomplish it. And Samuel said unto the people, it is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, (1 Sam. 12:6). Let me put it in the language of my message: It was the Lord that moved Moses and Aaron to their next level. This is an indisputable fact because when Moses fled from Egypt in Exo. 2:15, he left in disgrace. He had no money, no family, no name, he was just a nobody. Forty years later when he returned to Egypt, he had only one rod in his hand (Exo. 4:20). That was the gift God gave to him. Similarly, there is something in your hand that the enemy cannot take from you. The pertinent question then is: How did  a man with just a rod in his hand become the President of a nation?
A  hero with a rod
Moses from a zero became a hero. He was a deliverer with just a rod in his hand. Does this say something to you? Yes, of course! Never you look down on yourself! I am sure you may want to know how God did it. According to Exo. 7:10, Moses gave the rod to Aaron. When Aaron dropped the rod on the floor, it became a serpent. In the same vein, the gift or rod that God gave you will put food on your table and bring the promotion you have been expecting. It will open the doors that have refused to open before now and  make a way for  you. The gift that God gave you will make men to bow before you and make you sit before kings. Your God-given gift will enable you take your place in this life and lift you above your enemies. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:33) If God is on your side what more do you need? The Holy Ghost is also on your side! Always remember that there is a gift in your life that God designed to move you forward. No power of darkness or even the devil will stop you. God will move you forward! When you finish reading the message, you are going to square your shoulders and walk about knowing that you know that God is on your side. And that is because He is God. He will advance you from 2006 into 2007 unscathed. You may not be everything you want to be but you are no longer who you used to be! As a prophet of God, I promise you will not remain where you used to be. God will advance your life, marriage, business, family, children, job, education, career, etc. You serve a mighty God! Now let me take your focus back to the story of Moses and Aaron. In Exo. 7:11, when Pharaoh saw that Moses’ rod had become a serpent, he took two significant steps: He sent for his wise men, wizards, sorcerers, and magicians. These two groups symbolize the two types of people fighting you as you try to rise to your next level in life.
Two groups of fighters on your way  to your next level
There are the natural human beings who are doing their best to stop you from rising to your next level in life. They lie against you, cook up stories fashioned to demean your personality and engage in all sorts of manipulations. There are also human beings that are possessed with demonic spirits . These are fighters who do not cook up their deadly strategies naturally. They cook them up in the covens by witchcraft. They cook them in witch doctors’ houses and other devilish places. Their aim is to stop you. But God’s aim is to advance you. God can never be defeated so you can never be defeated. I silence their voices and their tongues. You serve a living God! In  spite of all Pharaoh’s agents did to confront and demoralize Moses and Aaron, he was undaunted. The Bible says: “For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods” (Exo. 7:12). Thank God. Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of Pharaoh’s magicians, witches and sorcerers. Do you know that it was from that moment that Moses was recognized? God is not wicked. How can He create you, bring you into this world and not give you something to help you survive and indeed flourish? Moses, a man with a rod ignorantly said: “… I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exo. 4:10). In other words, Moses was saying: “I am a stammerer”. There is something strange about the way God responded to Moses’ excuse.
Could God not have healed him of stammering? Of course, He could! Instead, He said to Moses: “Is not Aaron the Levite, thy brother?”  And thou shall speak to him and put words in his mouth. And he shall be thy spokesman to the people (Exo: 4:14-16). Now what do you think God was doing? Aaron was created to also come to prominence by being a voice for Moses. That is why God did not heal Moses and make him eloquent. There would have been no place for Aaron. Besides, the world would not have had any need for Aaron at all. Unfortunately, Aaron played the fool even though he was older than Moses. You know why? He could not comprehend why God created him and gave him to Moses. Instead, he betrayed Moses (Exo. 32:2-35; Num. 12:1-2). He did not realize that God did not give him to the people but to Moses.
Peoples’ clap or God’s will?
The fact that people are clapping for you does not make you anything to reckon with. You have to find out God’s purpose for your life. Aaron did not realize this fact. That is why I consider him a foolish old man. Marian took advantage of this flaw in his life and talked him into challenging Moses. She must have said something like this to him: “Aaron, you are older than Moses. What nonsense! After all, without your voice, he cannot talk. Join me to challenge him and let us curtail all his excesses!” (Num.12:1,2). I can imagine that Aaron asked Miriam some questions to make double sure: “Do we have the support of the people?” And Miriam would have assured him: “Yes! the people are solidly with us!” Aaron would have felt good and said: “Okay no problem!” That was his undoing. He forgot that he was not a gift to the people but to Moses. Consequently the rebellion failed. Imaging Moses going to mount Sinai as God commanded him and the following
conservation ensues between him and Aaron;
Moses: Aaron
Aaron: Sir!
Moses: While I am away take care of the people.
Aaron: Yes Sir!
One day, one week, two weeks, and even after one month, Moses did not appear. The people became tired of waiting. The people then came to Aaron and said to him: “Moses is not forth coming. You are a great man. You are the voice of Moses. If you do not talk, Moses cannot talk. After all, if Moses is not around you are here and we are with you. Create another god. Perhaps Moses and his God are lost somewhere! So Aaron foolishly made another god: “And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives”. And he received them at their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, “These be thy gods, O Israel” And they rose up early and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play’ (Exo. 32:2-6). Meanwhile, God interrupted His discussion with Moses. I can imagine that their dialogue was something like this:
GOD: My son Moses, are you hearing the noise?
Moses: My LORD! they must be rejoicing.
GOD: No, it is not rejoicing. The man that I gave you has left you!
Read the details in Exo. 32:7-35. Not surprisingly, in Hebrews chapter 11 (the hall of fame) where all the great people in the Old and New Testaments are recorded, Aaron (the first High-priest of Israel) was conspicuously omitted. Even Rahab a harlot was mentioned. Why? It is because he was a foolish old man who did not realize that God created him to enhance Moses’ ministry. God intended that wherever Moses was mentioned, Aaron’s name would automatically be mentioned also. The destiny of Aaron was tied to that of Moses. That is why God did not heal Moses of his deficiency in speech but made Aaron his spokesman and servant. My prayer for you as you read this message is: “May you not misuse the gift that God has given you in Jesus name!” Let me speak a prophetic word into your life.  As a prophet of God, I address your hands. If you remain faithful to the God who gave you gifts, talents and abilities, those your hands that have never created anything. Icommand them receive the ability to create wealth. I challenge every satanic opposition to your advancement to your next level.
I challenge the opposition by the authority of the resurrected Christ. I trample the enemy under my feet. I say to your hands: You will never be empty again! Your struggles are over. You will walk in dominion. I overthrow the demons of darkness. I put them under your feet. I defeat everyone that has ever defeated you in the past. You are more than a conqueror by the authority of the resurrected Christ. I break the backbone of the enemy, so that they will not make progress! I take away whatever they depend on and disarm them completely. Your gifts will swallow them. Your hands will cover and defeat them. You will enjoy the fruit of your labour. You will not die before your time. You will not be taken before the fulfillment of your destiny. You will stand above your equals. You will not crawl but you will stand firm. You will not run but you will fly like an eagle. I lift your position up. You are high in the heavens. I command powers to bow before you. Go and excel in your school, job, business and career, etc. You will not end up like Aaron, you will fulfill your destiny. The LORD will complete you. Receive it in Jesus name! Amen!!

I DONT MIND WAITING LORD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNs0lKekgCA
You, know, sometimes in life, situations are going to occur where you may look to the left or the right and you can't find any answers and you can't find anybody to help you but I'm reminded of the Word that says they that wait upon the Lord, He shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Come on. You've got to learn how to wait.

I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord.
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord.

I don't mind waiting. (I don't mind)
I don't mind waiting. (I'm gonna wait on)
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord.
(on You Lord) (I don't mind)
I don't mind waiting. (Because I know He'll come after awhile)
I don't mind waiting. (So, I don't mind no)
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord. (I'll wait on You Lord)

I don't mind waiting. (I don't mind)
I don't mind waiting. (I will wait on you)
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord.
(I'm waiting right here because I know You'll come)
I don't mind waiting. (Yes, I will, Yes, I will I'll wait on you)
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord.
(Yes, I'll learn to wait.)

I don't mind waiting. (I don't mind waiting)
I don't mind waiting. (I'll wait on You Jesus, waiting)
I don't mind waiting, on the Lord. (Yes!)
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting. (waiting)
I don't mind waiting, on the Lord. (with choir)

I don't mind waiting. (It's a long way)
I don't mind waiting. (I'm gonna wait on you, Jesus)
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord. (ooohh)
I don't mind waiting. (ooohh)
I don't mind waiting. (I don't mind waiting)
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord. (I don't mind waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting.)

I don't mind waiting. (I don't mind, You are God, it don't matter, I'll wait on You Lord.)
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord.
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting. (I don't mind waiting, it's a privilege, it is an honor to wait on You)
I don't mind waitinig, on You Lord.

I don't mind waiting. (No, I don't mind)
I don't mind waiting. (Waiting)
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord. (I don't mind waiting, on You Lord)
I don't mind waiting. (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I don't mind waiting. (Hold on, wait)
I don't mind waitinig, on You Lord. (on You Lord, yeah!)

I don't mind waiting. (So good, I don't mind waiting, no I don't mind)
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting, on You Lord. (On You Lord)
I don't mind waiting.
I don't mind waiting. (Don't mind, yeah)
I don't mind waiting, on the Lord. (Hold on!)
I don't mind waiting, on the Lord. (I don't mind, I don't mind, waiting)
I don't mind waiting, on the Lord. (end in unison)

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/i_dont_mind_waiting_lyrics_juanita_bynum.html
All about Juanita Bynum: http://www.musictory.com/music/Juanita+Bynum

Wait in expectation, God’s answer is “Yes!

God always says, “Yes,” but his “Yes” is more than we can comprehend. We see the moment, but God bids us wait in exptectation of his “Yes” that covers the whole of us.

“in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3).

God’s Answer is “Yes”

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
–2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Jesus is “Yes.” He is not “No.” The confusion comes when we ask with wrong motives. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
There can be wrong motive even in something so noble as wanting to put a marriage back together. Motives of personal fulfillment, companionship, or security can overshadow the motive of living for Christ in whatever circumstance we are in. Living by God’s principles is not a foolproof insurance policy for marriage. The ultimate goal is not even a wholesome marriage, but rather to be obedient to Christ. When we are obedient to Christ we can find peace no matter what happens.
Your home may be hurting. You may feel God has let you down. Set your heart to being the wife God has called you to be and leave the results with him. Jesus says, “Yes,” but his “Yes” encompasses a lot more than our minds can take in. We see only the moment, but his is an all encompassing, everlasting “Yes.”
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). God has promised to give us what we ask of him in prayer. But God’s “Yes” is always in accordance with what is best for us. You may say, how can this be? In that case it may seem “No” to you.
An illustration I heard as a child has always stuck with me. A little boy had to climb a mountain to get to church each Sunday. It was a very difficult and somewhat dangerous trip. Yet he longed for the fellowship and teaching he found with God’s people and he faithfully made the trip each Sunday.
He learned that God says if you have enough faith you can ask him to remove a mountain and he will do it. In childlike faith he began to pray that the mountain be removed so he could easily attend the church.
A couple weeks later he came across some folks working on a building project at the foot of the mountain just before he would have to climb it to get to his church. He asked what they were building, and they said they were building a mission of the church across the mountain, so folks on this side could easily attend.
God did not remove the mountain. So I ask you, did he say “Yes” to the little boy’s prayer? Of course he did!
God’s “Yes” is not always in accordance with the exact thing we are asking. If we are not careful, we may not see his “Yes” when it comes. Begin to look for God’s “Yes!”

Wait in Expectation

Does God ever say, “Wait.”? How do we know when God says, “Wait.”? God always says “Wait.”
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3).
Wait in expectation! Wait a few minutes or wait a few years. Wait on God to work it out in the best way possible. “Wait in expectation.” Two seemingly contradictory words. Yet God says it is the answer for us. Wait.
Wait is a peaceful word. It is not worrisome. It is not fretful. It is simply resting in God’s “Yes.” Expectation is not jumping at every flicker of light. It is calm assurance in God’s “Yes.” Yes, he will come through. His “Yes” will be what is good for you in every way. No where in the Bible will you find where his “Yes” promises to restore broken marriages. But you will find where he says, “My peace I leave with you.”
Are you at peace? His “Yes” is peace and hope and the two wonderful words, “wait” and “expectation,” two words that seem to contradict yet meet together in the calm assurance of resting in God’s promise of “Yes.”
Yes, God cares about your marriage! But he cares more about you. His “Yes” takes in all of you, not just your marriage. Jesus says to you: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (John 14:1).
Wait in expectation for his “Yes.” God has given you rest.

THE AMAZING LOVE OF CHRIST

THE LOVE OF CHRIST by Dr IFEANYI  OKWUOSA

So tell me please; why is it that our love is so subjective? Yes, you heard me; why is our love so subjective? Why is it so dependent on so many things? Why does it not happen because of so many things; how old he is? How old she is not? What job does he do and how much does he make? Is she beautiful? Is she really beautiful? Does he smoke and drink? Is he fat? Does he work out? And on and on. I cannot even begin to tell you about all the reasons we all have for not loving and being committed to each other. The world we live in today has deceived us all into believing that the people we should end up with should be of a certain social class and a “respectable” background and blah! Blah! Blah! No one loves honestly anymore and I am not talking about the butterflies in the stomach and the head spinning pseudo love that Hollywood plays out for us that is so perfect in its making that it just has to have a soundtrack. No! I am so not talking about that. I am talking about the love of Christ in our hearts and minds knowing that the Lord Christ came down and died for me and paid no mind to how pretty I am because I am not. Or how tall, dark and handsome I am because I just saw a tall, dark and handsome guy just now and I could not compare myself to him and I am a guy for your information.
Christ died for me and paid no mind to how much I make or what my educational status is or any of those fleeting and-frankly speaking-unnecessary things that we all seem to pay so much time and attention to. The Lord came and laid His life for me and all my life He has been chasing me and wanting me to give Him just a little attention. He watches me go out with people that He and I know are bad for me and will do nothing but corrupt me and even after I have resisted all His coaxing and nudging to not go with them, when I do, He does not abandon me and stay at home pouting and kicking himself in disappointment. No He does not. Rather, he goes with me and makes sure that even though I went to this dangerous part of town where all these murderers and thieves and all manner of evil people that he cannot stand are, he makes sure that I get home safely and when I get back from all my backsliding and mixing in with the wrong crowd that he talks to me and convicts me of His love that is genuine and honest and true and unbiased and he reminds me that he knew that was how I was but still died for me and he embraces me in his arms and talks about how much he loves me and wants me to be a big part of his kingdom and wants me to be his best and tells me that I am the best and he believes in me like no one else and makes me believe that I am the best and so I become the best and I feel so bad about all that I have done wrong and the Lord encourages me and strengthens never ever leaves me. That is my God, my Jesus; the lover of my soul.
We are so critical and analytical and held back and encumbered by ourselves that we do not even pay any mind to our brothers beside us who are dying and going to hell every single day. We do not feel the need to snatch their souls from the jaws of the enemy. We are so wicked that under the guise of minding our own business, we keep quiet and watch all our friends and brothers die and go to hell and we do absolutely nothing about it and it is so normal and... and... It’s amazing. Some of us have been Christians-or rather should I say: call ourselves and have called ourselves Christians- for so long and have sat and thrived under and enjoyed the love of our lord for years but have never felt the need to rise up and be an example and a help for another- that is just the way we were before He found us-that needs the love of the Lord so badly that we can all see it.
We cannot stop and consider just how many of us are never going to enter in to the rest of our Lord all because we are so selfish that we will not talk to the next person about the Love of the Lord. We cannot show the love of the Lord to a brother who is not tall and handsome or a lady who is not beautiful and sexy and could one day become the girl of our dreams. We will not sow the word into a life where we do not feel that there will be any reward or harvest in return. I mean... I mean what is this?! What is this? We are all backslidden in our love. Even after the Lord has polished us up and has cleaned us up and has made us into blessings to people, we withhold our sword when there is an opportunity to strike and we preserve ourselves. We will never contribute moneys or time or our energy to the lord. Let alone our very lives even though we know for a fact that we owe our very lives to the Lord. We are so full of it. So full of selfishness that we cannot put another before us and they dare not attempt to ask of us or we will rise up and inflate our chests and give 1001 reasons and get infuriated and do anything and everything just to skip out of being a blessing to someone else.
Remember my brother that the lord died for me just the same way and at the same time He died for u and everyone else who has ever walked this planet and remember that the only truth that binds all of us together is love. And if we do not have this, we are liars and thieves and no better than the company that the Lord delivered us from-who, by the way, also need Him.
Dearly beloved, let us not cleave so tight to our lives but let us give freely of our love and our lives knowing that the Lord gave us everything he had. Let us follow the example of our Lord and be a blessing to a lost soul today. God bless you.
The salvation of the world is our responsibility and we must rise up and make it happen.

BECOME GODS FRIEND

I got this thrilling message and i though i should share it with You because you are so special to me,

 "I have called you friends" - John 15:15 NKJV

Jesus told His disciples, '"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."' Notice, Jesus initiated this friendship. With full knowledge of their problems and their possibilities, Jesus said, '... "I have called you friends"... ' Amazing! In royal courts the servants must keep their distance, but the inner circle enjoys close contact, direct access and confidential information. How can you become a friend of God? Through constant conversation. God wants to be included in every activity. You can carry on a conversation with Him throughout your day, talking about whatever you're doing at that moment. Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery, writes, 'The key to friendship with God is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude towards what you do. What you normally do for yourself you now begin doing for God, whether it is eating, bathing, relaxing or taking out the rubbish.' Some of us think we must 'get away' in order to experience intimacy with God. That's because we haven't learned to recognise and cultivate His presence in all things. No place is closer to God than where you are right now! In Eden there were no rituals - just a simple relationship between God and those He created. Unhindered by guilt or fear, they delighted in Him and He delighted in them. 'Is such a relationship possible?' you ask. Absolutely. '... Our friendship with God was restored by the death of His son... ' (Romans 5:10 NLT).

In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, a French monk called Brother Lawrence suggests we pray short conversational prayers throughout the day rather than long, complex ones. To maintain our focus and counteract our wandering thoughts, he writes, 'I do not advise you to use a great multitude of words in prayer, since long discourses are often occasions for wandering.' What great insight! In the age of attention deficit disorder (ADD) this centuries-old suggestion to 'keep it simple' still works. Paul writes, '... Pray all the time... ' (1 Thessalonians 5:17 TM). 'But how can I do that?' you ask. One way is to use 'breath prayers', as many of the great saints and writers have done through the ages. You choose a simple phrase that can be repeated in one breath: 'Lord, You are with me'; 'I am depending on You'; 'I want to know You better'; 'Help me to trust You more'. You can also use short phrases of Scripture: 'For me to live is Christ'; 'You will never leave me'; 'You will supply all my needs'. Repeat it until it's rooted deeply in your heart and begins to reflect in your attitude and actions. This is a skill, a habit you can develop. Just as musicians practise their scales every day in order to play well, you can discipline yourself to think about God at different times in your day. 'But sometimes I don't feel God's presence,' you say. If you're seeking an emotion, you've missed the point. Your goal is not a feeling, but a continual awareness that God is always with you

Friendship with God is maintained and strengthened through continual meditation. It's impossible to be God's friend apart from knowing what He says. You can't love God unless you know Him, and that's only possible through the Bible. '... He revealed himself to Samuel through his word' (1 Samuel 3:21 NIV). Now you can't spend all day studying the Bible, but you can think about it throughout the day, recalling verses you've read, mulling over them in your mind. Meditation isn't some mysterious ritual, it's simply focused thinking - a skill anybody can learn. When you think about a problem over and over, that's called worry. When you think about God's Word over and over, that's called meditation. If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate. Just switch your attention from the problem to the solution! The more you meditate on God's Word the less you'll have to worry about. The more time you spend meditating on the Scriptures the more you'll understand their secrets. The Psalmist said, 'The Friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant' (Psalm 25:14 ESV). After Jesus told His disciples, '... "I have called you friends"... ', He went on to say, '... "I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you"' (John 15:16 NKJV). The benefits of friendship with God include abundant living and answered prayer. So if you want to become God's friend, read, digest and meditate in His Word.

Another step in developing your friendship with God is choosing to be honest with Him! God doesn't expect you to be perfect, but He does expect you to be honest. If perfection was a requirement not one of us would qualify. In the Bible, God's friends were honest about their feelings - sometimes even complaining and arguing with Him - yet He didn't seem to mind. In fact, He encouraged it. God listened patiently to David's accusations of unfairness, betrayal and abandonment. He didn't zap Jeremiah for claiming God had tricked him. Job was allowed to vent his bitterness and God actually defended him for being honest. On the other hand, He rebuked Job's friends for faking it: '... "You haven't been honest either with me or about me - not the way my friend Job has... My friend Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer"' (Job 42:7 TM). To be God's friend you must share your true feelings with Him, not what you think you ought to feel or say. Until you understand that God uses everything for good in our lives, you'll harbour resentment towards Him over your looks, your nationality, your economic background, your unanswered prayers, your past hurts, and the things you'd change if you were God. Actually, revealing your feelings and releasing your resentments to Him are the first steps to becoming spiritually whole. Isn't it encouraging to know that God's closest friends felt just like we do, but instead of masking their feelings in pious clichés they voiced them openly? Why? Because expressing them leads to healing and a deeper level of intimacy with Him.

If you're serious about becoming God's friend you must choose to obey Him! Jesus said, '"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love"... ' (v. 10 NKJV). You say, 'But if I fail, does that mean God won't love me?' No, it means you won't feel His love, or have confidence when you approach Him in prayer. We normally think of obedience as a characteristic of our relationship to a parent, a boss or a superior officer, not a friend. But Jesus said, '"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you"' (v. 14 NKJV). True friendship isn't passive, it acts. When Jesus asks us to love people, help the needy, give our finances, live clean lives, extend forgiveness and bring others to Him - our love should motivate us to obey immediately! Great opportunities usually come once or twice in a lifetime, but small ones come every day. Through simple acts of obedience we bring a smile to God's face. '... "What pleases the Lord more... sacrifices or obedience... It is better to obey"... ' (1 Samuel 15:22 NCV). At the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, God announced, '... "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."' (Matthew 3:17 NKJV). So, what had Jesus been doing for 30 years that pleased God? The Bible says nothing except that He lived at home with His parents and '... was obedient to them' (Luke 2:51 NLT). Thirty years of pleasing God were summed up in two words: 'lived obediently'! And the relationship Jesus had with His Father is an example of the one He wants you to have with Him.

David desired to know God above all else. He used words like longing, yearning, thirsting and hungering. 'I ask only one thing of the Lord. This is what I want: Let me live in the Lord's house all my life.' (Psalm 27:4 NCV). Again he said, 'Your love means more than life to me... ' (Psalm 63:3 CEV). Jacob's desire was so intense that he wrestled with God all night, saying, '... "I will not let you go unless you bless me"' (Genesis 32:26 NIV). And the amazing thing is, God, who is all powerful, let Jacob win. Why? Because wrestling requires personal contact; it brings us close to Him. Paul was another man who was passionate about his friendship with God. '... [My determined purpose is]... [that I may... become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him]... ' (Philippians 3:10 AMP). You say, 'I'd like to have a closer relationship with God, but I'm so busy.' The truth is, you are as close to God as you desire and discipline yourself to be! Friendship with God must become your passion. You must intentionally seek it. That means answering questions like, 'Do I value it more than anything else? Is it worth giving up other things for? Is it worth developing the habits and skills required? Am I willing to say, 'Lord, more than anything else, I want to know You'?' God's answer to that prayer has always been: '... "When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed"' (Jeremiah 29:13-14 TM).

God bless you for reading...