What happens when you pray? Do you walk away just hopeful? Is there doubt? Or, are you sure that you’ve just stormed the gates of heaven with the living words you spoke in the name of Jesus? If we’re really on a journey of becoming fully committed disciples of Jesus, we have a responsibility to use the authority in Him that’s available to us. God created and equipped us to pray prayers with authority, not with hope or doubt.

When you speak the truth of God’s Word in prayer, there’s power behind those words, and God expects us to know it and operate in it. I spoke this weekend about rhetoric prayer, which is asking God something in prayer without really expecting anything to actually happen at the moment of prayer. Unfortunately, too many of us who profess Jesus pray this way. That kind of fear and doubt gives the devil authority over us.

When you consecrate yourself in prayer — fully surrender your will to God’s will — and then begin to pray prayers of authority with a righteous mindset and in the name of Jesus, expect breakthrough!

Hear more on the Prayer of Authority.

Taking the Bridge Route

On the Freedom Outreach (FOT) mission trips to Southwest Atlanta, there are two communities we serve – we can either take the Bluff route or go to the bridges of the city and take the Bridge route. I’ve followed my team several times in the past on the Bluff route, and it was eye opening. I listened, I gawked, I questioned, I shared Jesus with those in need, and I prayed. But it was hard to swallow. I wished the world was better than this.

When they asked for volunteers to serve on the Bridge route to distribute jackets and blankets collected from a recent winter clothing drive hosted by FOT, I fought my flesh, which wanted to do the comfortable thing and take the Bluff route again. But I listened to the Lord and the devil lost that day when I had my first “Bridge experience.” Here is what happened – I cried. I could not pray. I could not understand. And I cried some more. And I asked the Lord, “How could this be?”

No one can really prepare you or your heart for the Bridge experience. I expected to see homeless people kind of hanging out; and I figured they would need the usual: food and clothes. I was wrong. I was shocked! I saw people in a condition that I did not expect. I saw young, middle-aged and old people. I saw ‘homes’ made of stuff like containers, bricks, boxes, blankets and pillows with no one home. In one place a friend watched over the ‘home.’ This friend explained that the ‘home owner’ had not been feeling well and wanted us to pray for healing as medical help was not very likely. So we prayed.

The first person I saw really jarred me; he was lying up against a bridge support, wrapped tightly from the winter winds. It was a young man in his early to mid-twenties. He seemed tired but not sad. He was not feeling well; he was cold, he said, but otherwise doing well. He didn’t complain or gripe, but smiled and accepted prayers, socks and two blankets. I could not talk, and I had to hold back my tears because we had just started out…so we traveled on, gave donations, prayed, offered Jesus, and gave counsel.

We came to another male, older and vibrant. He accepted donations but he gave much more. He exhorted the children and youth in our Outreach group, telling them how it is possible to become homeless and live under a bridge in America; that wealth and prosperity was tied into how you treat others, respecting your parents and elders, and being responsible. He spoke for what seemed like 30 minutes…old and young alike were captured by his eloquence and sincerity. As parents and guardians pushed their children and teenagers closer, he explained how being obedient was important, and that the most important thing was to love others. I was mute. I could not believe my ears and felt like my mind was playing tricks on me. I was out in the cold, under a bridge, listening to a homeless, happy, middle-aged man counsel young people. I was encouraged by his spirit and openness, as I am sure most present were. As we left there, a member of Victory gave this man his fine leather jacket, a perfect gift for the occasion.

I was glad that the Holy Spirit spoke to me on that date, at that time, on that mission trip and told me to “take the bridge route.”

But so many miss the breakthrough promise of John 15:7. It says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” As you draw near to God, His desires become your desires, and He says all we need to do is ask or speak those things and they will be done. When we stop praying, we stop asking; when we don’t ask, we won’t have.

Once we commit to pray, we soon learn that effective prayers always begin with a consecrated heart. When your heart is consecrated before God, you move into a position with Him where He can hear you. A consecrated prayer is one in which you humble yourself in total surrender to His will.  When we humble ourselves, we’re able to identify the things in our lives that hinder our prayers.

Click here to get more on the Prayer of Consecration and begin taking some bold steps of faith in prayer!

Taking Advantage of a Second Chance

Several years ago on December 20, after a night of heavy drinking, I found myself in the hospital fighting for my life after being thrown 75 feet from my SUV after it flipped five times and crashed.

I spent the next 3 weeks in a coma due to a severe head injury that damaged the right side of my brain, which affected my ability to control motor functions in the left side of my body. I had to re-learn how to walk again and re-learn how to do basically everything; simple things that we take for granted everyday!

Although I sustained major injuries as a result of the car accident, my doctors said that if I hadn’t come to the hospital when I did, my blood work indicated that the amount and combination of drugs in my system would have caused my heart to stop. I was heavily into drinking and taking any prescription drug I could get my hands on.

After almost two months in the hospital, I was determined to get better, but I had a few obstacles. First I was forced to leave the hospital because my insurance ran out and I was no longer able to afford the cost of rehab. Then my brother wanted to put me in an assisted living facility, so me and my father moved to Atlanta. I eventually got my own apartment and found a good roommate.

I still had the same lifestyle as before the accident, minus the pills, but I had a desire to find a church where I could truly worship God. In January of 2010, I was invited to a Saturday night service by a member of Victory that I met at the gym.  A couple of weeks later I attended a Fusion service and on January 23rd I gave my life to the Lord, was later baptized and became a member of the church. I’m taking full advantage of my second chance at life!

I was able to give up the drugs and heavy drinking cold turkey. I also started doing physical therapy on my own after my insurance ran out, and it has paid off in more than one way! I work out six times a week, and sometimes two times a day. I’ve lost over 100 pounds, going from 295 to 190, and I’ve gone from a size 42 to a 34 in pants. I’ve completely changed my eating habits, stopped snaking, and limited the amount of carbs I eat.

It’s been several years since the car accident, and the only places you’ll find me is at the gym, fellowshipping with my friends, or serving and worshiping at Victory World Church! Thanks to the prayers of the saints, hard work and determination, I’m doing much better. I’m just waiting on the healing process to be complete and working on a closer walk and fellowship with God. I speak healing scriptures over myself daily. I’ve  humbled myself because I know there is nothing I can do; it’s all God.

It’s purpose that helps you make better decisions in life, right down to defining  where to go, how to spend money, what to eat and more. Pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church brought to Victory a message about finding your purpose that I believe will move many of you right into the next season of your life. I also believe it will free those who have been stuck in painful pasts and experiences. This message offers 5 ways to know whether you’re walking in your purpose or not.

Some of us need to find purpose, while others of us are very clear about it and simply need to re-commit to it. Wherever you are, you’ll want to use this as reference material to keep you on track!

I never knew a love like this existed!

Being a fatherless little girl, I always listened to love songs and imagined an awesome man that would come to my rescue and give me everything that I was missing so deeply inside of me. So clearly, on September 11, 2004 while I walked down the aisle at my wedding, you can imagine the glee on my face. At the time I was a single mother of my 5-year-old son, who was also dealing with an absentee father, and I desperately did not want him to grow up without a father like I did.

Though I had a church background before my marriage, I was not applying the scripture to my life. I prayed, but I did not know how to pray. The foundation of my relationship into the marriage was not built on Christian principles at all, but on feelings. However, I was still devastated and shocked when my husband came to me in January 2006 and told me he wanted out of the marriage. We were on a mini-weekend vacation and I had just given birth to our first daughter two months prior.

For the next 12 months I fought for my marriage like I was fighting for my own life. I continued to go to church while he stayed home most Sundays. I began taking a marriage class that my Pastors at the time were holding. We went to counseling twice. I prayed and cried out to God to save my marriage. I realized that I was fighting alone. My husband left our home in February 2007 and we were divorced later that year in July.

I was back to being a single mother, now of two, and I was hurt. I felt like I was at a crossroads. My healing began after I realized another relationship will not ease the pain. God was calling me to run after Him with the little strength that I had left. I drenched myself in church, church functions, and a women’s prayer group where I learned how to pray unto God earnestly! I listened to inspiring music and took classes that helped get to the root of why I was looking for something in a man that only God could provide.

I joined Victory in January 2009. Pastor Dennis’ practical sermons made me realize that I could walk the Christian walk and be a resilient single mother. Since at Victory, I have taken Courtship dating classes, an Ancient Paths Seminar, Crown Financial and some leadership classes. I’ve also taken advantage of a 12-month Divorce Care module at another local church that has played a major part in my healing. I was also baptized in May 2011 in Victory’s outside baptism.

I have truly learned during this journey that “Can’t no man do you like Jesus!” The love I was searching for all these years, I’ve found in Christ. I have found purity, the faith to become a tither, and the courage to encourage other women who are going through the pains of divorce and broken relationships. I thank God for His healing and churches like Victory World Church that save lives every day in their obedience to God. I don’t know how my story will end, but I thank God for the good that has come out of this divorce, which is a true life-changing relationship with Christ!

You must know that God will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to stand firm. He’s looking for those who are radical enough to operate in what they say they believe.  God loves us relentlessly, and He empowers us to be relentless in rising above our adversities.  Are you denying the power He has for you? The change you’re busy waiting for is waiting on you.

We had such an amazing time with John and Lisa Bevere this weekend. So many people walked away with a plan to trust God’s sovereignty and be relentless! If you missed John’s message, or for a daily charge to get passionately settled on never giving up, watch him here.

Discovering Purpose in Christ

October 8th, 2004 is the date when I purchased my first Bible. I was 18 years old and pregnant with my first child. God blessed me with this child so that He could save my life! Prior to coming to Christ, I was a very troubled/broken child. I was raised in a Buddhist home by my grandmother. I saw little of my mother because she worked multiple jobs to financially provide for me, since my father left when I was 2. I knew very little of Christianity but recall praying to God as a little girl in my moments of pain.

From about the ages of 13-19, my life consisted of drugs, alcohol and sex. I stole, I hustled, I lied and I cheated. I did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it!  I had no boundaries or limits. I failed all of my classes and was kicked out of school. In an attempt to graduate, I was transferred to an alternative school. Shortly after, I became pregnant and eventually dropped out. My life was going absolutely nowhere.

I faced the pressures from my family of abortion up until I was about 6 months pregnant.  But I knew that my child’s life was more important than anyone’s opinion of me. While this life was growing inside me, I began to see life differently. For the first time ever, I realized that I had a purpose. Life was no longer about Lana. I knew I needed to change because I wanted to give my child a better life than mine.

March 2008, I began consistently going to Victory World Church. The day that I decided to go was due to the full acceptance of being a single mother. I needed to surround my child with as many positive people as I could because I knew that my child would have voids that I couldn’t fill. My son’s father was my high school sweet heart and best friend. We were inseparable, but the birth of our child separated us.

Having my child and going to VWC was the best decision I could have made. These events helped introduce me to Christ. I was a sinner who came from nothing and I have accomplished so much through Him. I was told by many people that my life would be ruined because of my child. But the exact opposite happened. God placed my son in my life so I could find Him! He saved me from my self-destructive ways. Never in my life did I imagine going to college, but I am. Never in my dreams did I think I would have a leadership position in a church, but I do. I can do all things through Him! I give Him all praise and honor because without Him I am nothing!

Our lives could be transformed if we became more selective about the information and messages we take in, especially through our music. When we constantly feed on any message that is contrary to what God wants for us, it not only distracts us, but it also ends up molding us into people we really don’t want to be. Take a step back and examine what you’re listening to these days. Is the music taking you deeper in relationship with Jesus or the world?

God’s Word says we should have no other gods before Him – no person or thing (Exodus 20:3). Whatever music we listen to determines who we serve. And anything, including God’s gift of music, that gets our love and attention more than God Himself, is an idol.

Hear more from Pastor Montell on The Power of Music and its influence in our lives, and ask yourself, “Is there room to raise my standards?” If your answer is yes, what’s keeping you from doing so?

Some of us have settled for being casual about Jesus in those areas of our lives that we manage well. Even if we enjoy good health, a solid marriage, a great career and more, all of it can get so much better. Where does God really rank in your priorities? In all that you do, how much of it has Jesus at the center?

Without even realizing it, many of us are drifting further away from a life of significance as we get sucked in by the world’s mark of “success.” But the more we get sucked in, the more we’re blinded to the wonders of a resurrection life that Jesus has just for us.

Putting Jesus at the center of everything in our lives is the ultimate expression of worship. It calls for more of Him and less of everything else. And no matter how good, or bad, we are at what we do, we need to surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit that brings changes to our lives that we can’t make on our own.

Click here to learn more about what a life with Jesus at the center looks like.