CindyTrimm’spowerfulbookCommandingYourMorningdeliverskeyprinciplesforcontrolling and directing your thoughts, words, and actions in order to mostsuccessfullywalkout theauthentic,unique lifeGodhasdesigned foryou. It is afascinating, practical approach to conquering themindsets and behavior patternsthatcanpreventyoufromattainingGod’sdesiredblessingsandoutcomesforyourlife.You’llwanttorereaditagainandagain!

—PaulaWhite,SeniorPastorWithoutWallsInternationalChurchInherbookCommandingYourMorning,CindyTrimmhasmeticulouslydisclosedand

unleashed themost awesome revelationofhow to release theovercomingpowerthat is inkingdomvision,andshehasdelivered insight topowerfulandeffectiveprayerandintercession.Herfresh,innovative,andmasterfulapproachtoanygivensubjectmatter, but especially this one,will leaveyouwith anoverwhelming andexciting expectancy. Cindy teaches us how to specifically decree and declare athing and literally command our day. She has left no stone unturned, no holdsbarred, and no wondering how or why. This is the book that you will put rightbesideyourBible.Itwillenrichyourlife,dayafterblessedday.Sincereadingthisbook,IhaveexperiencedaparadigmshiftinmylifeinthewayIthink,talk,live,pray,andbelieve.Ihaveconfidencethatitwillgreatlyimpactyourlifeaswell.

—JudyJacobsFounder,HisSongMinistriesHost,JudyJacobsNow!Cindy Trimm in her book Commanding Your Morning clearly lays out biblical

principlesbywhich togovernyour life.CommandingYourMorninggivesyoukeys towalkinovercomingpowerinsuchatimeasthis.Thisbookhasbeenbirthedoutofthe life of its author,CindyTrimm. She is not a travel agentwho is telling youabout a beautiful place shehasneverbeen, but rather she is a tourguidewho istellingyouaboutwhereshehasbeen.CindyTrimmissomeonewhoispartofthatremnantwhohascompletelygiven

her life for the building and establishing of God’s kingdom. She has a deepcompassionforpeople,adeeppassionfortheLord,andadeepconvictionfortruth.CindyTrimm,withapropheticfreshnessandakeenbiblicalinsight,willtakeyouonajourneyinCommandingYourMorningthatwillchangeyourlife.Itisamust-readforeveryleaderandbelieverinthisday.

—LesBowling,PresidentandFounderEagleRockChurchandEagleRockCovenantNetworkAsanauthor,IreadmanybookstogainperspectiveandinstructionoverwhatI

amattempting to communicate.Onoccasion I find a book thatmakesme say tomyself,“Thiscapturesmyheart.IhaveneverreadnorcouldIhavecommunicatedthisprinciplesowell.Thisisajewelinmyhand!”Commanding Your Morning by Cindy Trimm is such a book! My life message is

restorationthroughmeditation.CommandingYourMorningbothdisciplines,transforms,andunlocksyourmindwhileyouread.Thisisabookofaction!YouwillfindtheLord’s thoughts forming and your thought processes realigning. Then you willexperience yourmouth being filled with decrees that will determine your futuresuccess in life! If I could choose one book to gowithHis Book, that one book

wouldbeCommandingYourMorning!—ChuckPierce,PresidentGloryofZionInternationalMinistriesThisbookisdedicatedtomyfamily:Mymother,EdnaTrimm,whoseunconditional love,guidance, andmentorship

havebeenthewindbeneathmywings.And to my siblings Charlene, Marilyn, Winston, Deborah, and Freda, whose

passionforlifeandunwaveringsupporthaveawardedyouallpremierplaceswithinmyrelationalconstellation.Didyouknowthatyouaremyheroesandshe-roes?Icould thinkofnogreater family thanmine tohavebeenhonoredbyGod tobeapartof.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSDivineinspirationtransformsgoodworksintomasterpieces.Iacknowledgethat

Godalonegetsthegloryforthisdivinelyinspiredwork.Tomystaffbothpastandpresent:you,whoovertheyearsbowedlowinservanthoodandsacrificesothatIcould think, develop, and create. I could never speak of success and notacknowledge that allgreatmenandwomenaregreatbecauseof thegreatnessofthosewhoservethem.Iamforevergratefultoyouandwillforeverholdyoucloseto my heart and uplift you in my prayers. I also thank those who make up aninvaluable and inspirational team at Strang Communications. May God foreverfavoryou.Also,toEmbassyCenterofEmpowerment,youmeantheworldtome.

CONTENTSForewordIntroductionChapterOne:TheSecretIsOutChapterTwo:MindYourOwnBusinessChapterThree:TheCreativePowerofSpokenWordsChapterFour:WhatHaveYouPutintheAtmosphere?ChapterFive:YouCanChangetheCourseofYourDestinyChapterSix:TheImportanceofOrderingYourDayChapterSeven:HowtoBecomeanOvernightSuccessChapterEight:CommandingYourMorningConclusion:TheEssenceofaNewDayNotes

FOREWORDTHERE IS NO ACTIVITY ON EARTHMORE COMMON THANprayer.Everyculturedoesit.Everyracedoesit.Every

religiondoes it.However, there isnomore frustrating, confusing, and suspiciousareaofhumanexperience thanprayer.Therearemorequestionssurrounding thisreligiousactivitythananyotherineverygeneration.Doesitreallywork?DoesGodanswerprayer?Doesprayermakeadifference?Canprayeraffectcircumstances?Whydoesitseemthatsomeprayersareansweredandothersarenot?Whyshouldwepray?Thequestionsgoonandon.

My own personal experience was plagued with such questions and providedadequate cause for doubt and suspicion regarding the subject of prayer.Over theyearsmystudiesandresearchtookmetoexploremanyofthegreatwritersonthesubject,andtodayIampleasedtotestifythatmyexperienceinprayerhasbeenoneofdailyimprovementandsuccess.

WhenIwasaskedtoreviewthisworkbyCindyTrimm,Iwasexcited,knowingthat her commitment to excellence in anything she approaches would yield anoutstanding contribution to this subject of prayer and intercession. I was notdisappointed.CommandingYourMorning isdestined tobeaclassicas it simplifiesbutdoes

notdilutethegravityofthisverycriticalhumanspiritualactivity.Cindy,withherskillful use of language, leaps over complicated theological jargon and deliversprinciples that make the daily exercise of prayer embracing and attractive. Ichallengethosewhoaredisappointedwiththeirprayerlives,thescholarwhodarestothinkbeyondtheknown,andthestudentofScripturewhodesirestoknowmoreabout prayers as a dominant force in the earthly enforcement of the heavenlykingdomtoreadthisbook.CommandingYourMorningreleasestheovercomingpowerintheheartsofthose

whoread,receive,andapplytheseinstructionsintheirdailylives.Ifirmlybelievethepreceptsinthisbookwillenhanceyourencounterwiththekingdomintheareaof strategic prayer and intercession. The revolutionary approach to prayer insidethisbookwillreinforceandwelcomedeeperrevelatorytruthsonthissubject.Itiswiththisconfidence that Ichallengeyou, the reader, topeel fromeverypage thetreasurehouseofwisdomburiedwithineachsentenceandexperienceyourabilitytocommandthemorning.

TheWord ofGod revealed through these pages has the ability to realign thatwhichismisaligned,includingmind-sets,beliefsystems,ideologies,traditions,anddoctrinesofdeception thatexalt themselvesabove thewillofGod in the livesofHispeople.CommandingYourMorninginstructsthebelieveronhowtopulldownthesestrongholdsandbringthemintocaptivityunderthelordshipofChrist.

IhighlycommendCindyTrimmforthisvitalcontributiontotheworldoffaith,andIhopemillionswillbenefitfromitstime-testedeternaltruths.

—Dr.MylesMunroePresident,BFM/ITWLAInternationalNassau,Bahamas

INTRODUCTIONOnlyashighasIreachcanIgrow,onlyasfarasIseekcanIgo,onlyasdeepas

IlookcanIsee,onlyasmuchasIdreamcanIbe.1—KarenRavnHaveyoueverhadthegnawingfeelingontheinsidethatyouwerenotgettingeverythingyou

were supposed to get out of life—a feeling that lifewas full of possibilities, butsomehowyoucouldneverfigureouthowtotapintothem?Haveyoueverlookedatanotherperson’slife,marriage,financialstatus,orcareerandwondered,“What’swrongwithme?”Well,youarenotalone.

Manypeoplehavecometobelievethatlifeisamysterythatcannotbesolved.Theythinkthatsuccessandprosperityaredestinedforeveryoneexceptthem,andtheyfeelpowerlessandvictimizedastheeventsoftheirlivesspiraloutofcontrol.Theywould do something about it if they knewwhat to do, but the truth of thematteristhattheyhavetriedeverythingtheyknowandcomeupemptyeverytime.WhattheyneedisanewsetofkeystounlockallthatGodisholdingforthemintheirlives.Thisbookisaboutthekeysthatwillhelpyouescapethese“prisonsofthemind.”

Still, there are others who may experience short seasons of success but thendespairingly long seasonsof trials, tribulation, setbacks, and lack.Their lives aregoverned by success-undermining maxims such as: “Stuff happens,” “Life isunpredictable,”“Allgoodthingsmustcometoanend,”“Ifitisnotonething,it’sanother,”and“Thisisasgoodasitgets.”Thesefolksareignorantofthefactthattheyarevictimsoftheirownself-fulfillingprophecies.

Whatneitherofthesegroupsunderstandsisthatwedefineourlivesbyoureverythoughtandword.Ifwewantourlivestochange,itallstartswithwhatwethinkandsay.

ThisispreciselywhyProverbs23:7tellsus,“Forashe[amanorwoman]thinksinhisheart,soishe.”

YoumustrealizethattheWordofGodhasthepowertorealignanythingthatismisaligned, especially faultymind-sets, belief systems, ideologies, traditions, anddoctrinesofdeceptionthatlieandexaltthemselvesabovethewillofGodforyourlife. Life does not have to be a mystery for you. You do not have to continuemindlesslygropinginthedarkfortherightpaththroughlife.Godalreadyhasyoursuccess, prosperity, and fulfillment all planned out; you just have to follow Hisdirectionstofindit.AstheScripturessay:

ForIknowthethoughtsthatIthinktowardyou,saystheLord,thoughtsofpeaceandnotofevil,togiveyouafutureandahope.

—Jeremiah29:11Youcantakecontrolofyourlifeandexperiencedivinesuccessandprosperityby

followingGod’sdirectionsoutlinedinHisWord.Hehasawonderfulplanforyou—andHisplanforyourpersonalworlddependsonyoufulfillingitbyfirsttakingcontrolofyourmindandyourmouth.Learntofillyourthoughtsandwordswithlightandtruth.

The Bible specifically tells us that we can reside in the best of two possibleworlds—aspiritual realmcharacterizedbyhappiness,empowered living, success,andprosperity.ThrougharelationshipwithGodwearemiraculouslyconveyedintothekingdomoflight—arealmthatopensunlimiteddoorsofopportunity,enablingus to discover our divine purpose, maximize our best potential, and experienceboundlessabundance.Light isnotonly theabsenceofdarkness,but it isalso theyoke-breaking presence of God, the liberating essence of truth, and the mind-transformingpotentialofeveryrevelationofGod—itisallthatisgoodwithinandamongus.AllgoodthingsfindtheirbeginninginHim,andwithoutHimnothinggoodexists.

EverynewdaywithGodbringsthedawnofnewandbetterpossibilities.Todaycouldturnouttobethebestdayofyourlife—buthowitendslargelydependsonhowyou begin it.You are in charge of taking control of your day from its verybeginning—somethingIcall“commandingyourmorning”—andasyoudo,knowthatwhateverbeginswithGodhas toendright.Myprayerforyouis thatasyouread the following pages, Godwill reveal the power within you—and that yourhopeofglorywouldbemademore real as you learn to command yourmorningthroughthewisdomofHistrutheverysingleday.

Nomatterhowgoodorbadyourlifeis,everycircumstancecanchangeforthebestifyoulearnhowtocommandyourmorningbeforeyourdaybegins.

ChapterOneTHESECRETISOUTTheworkingsof thehumanheart are theprofoundestmysteryof theuniverse.

Onemoment theymakeusdespair of ourkind, and thenextwe see in them thereflectionofthedivineimage.1

—CharlesW.ChesnuttONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING ART FORMS TODAY IS called the“spokenword.”Throngsofpeoplegather in

clubs, schools, cafes, church auditoriums, stadiums, and theaters just to hear thepoetic,pulsatingrhymespokenbyartistswhobyvirtueoftheircreativityandtalentmove their audiences to emotional highs and lowsmerely bywhat comes out oftheirmouths.Like painters creatingmovingmasterpieces in vibrant colors, theseartists“paint”onthecanvasofthehumansoul.

Eonsago,withneitherfanfarenoraudience,themightyCreatoroftheuniversespoke.Hisutterancewouldconstitutethefirstrecordedwords,“Lettherebe...”(SeeGenesis1.)Godthought,spoke,andtheuniversecameintobeing.

Thetruepowerofthespokenwordisbeyondourcommonunderstanding.Itisaspiritualmystery—ahiddensecretnowbeingrevealedtoequipGod’speopleforanunprecedentederaofempowermentandinfluence.Thetimehascomeforbelieversto rise up and walk in the knowledge and authority God has provided andcommandedthroughHisWord—theWordHespokeintousandcreatedustospeakforth.Whileforcesaroundusthreatenourpeaceandstability,nothingcanprevailagainstGod’sspokenWord.

THEGREATPOWEROFSMALLTHINGSEverything in theuniversebeginswith and revolves around two things:words

and thoughts. These two elements form the creative substance that molds andshapesthedestinyofhumanity.Eachofusbecomesthepersonweare,choosesthedirectionwetake,andaccomplisheseverythingwedobasedonthesetwoprimaryelements.

Our thoughts, intentions, moti-Everything in the vations, and aspirations—whetheruniversebeginswiththeybesecretlyponderedintheandrevolvesaroundheart,openlydeclaredasdesires,twothings:wordsorformallywrittenasgoals—moldand thoughts. andshapeourpersonaluniverseintosomethingthatiseithergrandandbeautifulorbaseandhideous.Whateveryouharborintheinnermostcorridorsofyourthoughtlifewill,sooner or later, reveal itself in the outer arena through your words or actions.Whateverishiddenwilleventuallybebroughttolight.FirstCorinthians4:5tellsusGod “will bring to light the things nowhidden in darkness andwill disclose thepurposesoftheheart”(esv).Justasaseedisforatimehiddenundertheground,itwilleventuallybreakthroughthesurfaceanditstrueessencewillberevealed.

Just as in every seed, there is life-giving power that resides in every spokenword. This principle illustrates how the spiritual law of incubation andmanifestationworks.Everythingyouseeinthenaturalbeganasaspiritualseed—thatis,asathought.

Thetemporalrealmhasitsrootsinthespiritual.Grabbingholdofthisprofound

spiritualtruthwillenableyoutomakecriticalconnectionsthatcantransformyourlife.Onceyouunderstand that the spiritual realm is the “causal realm,” youwillbegin to grasp themassive power of your thoughts, ideas,words, and prayers—spiritual things thatengineer,mold, andcraft the current and future stateofyourtemporalexistence.

Wearetoldin2Peter1:3-4thatGod,inHisinfinitewisdom,hasalreadygivenusallthingspertainingtolife(theWycliffeversionsays,“allthingsofhisgod-likevirtue”) that we might partake of His divine nature. Included in this celestialequippingaredivine thoughtsand inspiredwords.Asa spiritualbeingcreated intheimageofGod(Gen.1:26),yourspiritualgenesholdthecreativepowertoframeyour personal world by the thoughts andwords you think and speak, which aredivine tools given for your creative use. All you are, experience, and ultimatelyachieve can be traced back to how you havemade use of these two simple, yetvastlypowerful,tools—yourwordsandthoughts.

ONEOFLIFE’SGREATESTMYSTERIESThepowerof the spokenword isoneof life’sgreatestmysteries.All thatyou

willeverbeoraccomplishhingesonhowyouchoosetogovernwhatcomesoutofyourmouth.Bywhatyouallow tooccupyyourmindandmouth,youcaneitherblessyourlifetogreatheightsofsuccessorsenditorbitingintorealmsoffailure,sadness,anddiscontentment.ThisiswhyProverbstellsus,“Forashethinksinhisheart,soishe”(Prov.23:7,amp),andurges,“Guardyourheartaboveallelse,foritdeterminesthecourseofyourlife”(Prov.4:23,nlt).Jesusfollowedsuitbydeclaring,“Forwhatever is inyourheartdetermineswhatyousay.Agoodpersonproducesgood things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evilthingsfromthetreasuryofanevilheart”(Matt.12:34-35,nlt).

Allyouare,experience,andultimatelyachievecanbetracedbacktohowyouhavemadeuseof thesetwosimple,yetvastlypowerful,tools—yourwordsandthoughts.

What occupies your mind determines what eventually fills your mouth; yourouter world showcases all that has dominated—and at times subjugated—yourinnerworld.Because the lawof cause and effect is continually atwork, there isalwaysaninnercauseforeveryoutereffect.Yourouterworldisadirectresultofyour inner world. Every circumstance in life is a result of a choice—and everychoiceistheresultofathought.AllthosethingsthatfillyourmindholdthekeystoyourrealityYourthoughtsprovidethefuelforyourwords,andyourwordsprovidethefuelforyourworld.

Itisthereforeimperativethatyouunderstandthenatureofwhatyouaresaying.Areyouawareofthetruemeaningofthethingsyouarespeakingout?WewoulddowelltoheedtheadviceofoneancientStoicphilosophernamedEpictetuswhooncesaid:“Firstlearnthemeaningofwhatyousay,andthenspeak.”

Hosea, theprophetic sageof old, remarked, “For they sow thewind, and theyshallreapthewhirlwind”(Hosea8:7,esv).Inotherwords,eachoneofusmusttakeresponsibilityforwhatweexperienceinlife.Wearethesumtotalofeverychoicethatwehaveevermadeor lethappen. Ifyoudonot likewhereyouare,youareonlyonethoughtawayfromturningtowardthelifeyoudesire.

Ifthisistohappen,itisparamountthatyoubecomethemasterofyourthoughts.

Siftyourthoughtlife.Filteroutanythingthatyoudonotwanttoshowupinyourfuture,andfocusonwhatyoutrulydesire.Godwiredyourthoughtstohavepowersoyouwouldbeequippedtoovercomeeveryobstacle.Hefashionedyoutocreate,innovate,strategize,andsucceed—uisparamountandjusttobesure,HeputHisownthatyoubecomedivinethoughtsandnaturewithin themaster ofyou.AsGodsaysinJeremiahyourthoughts.31:33,“Iwillputmyinstructionsdeepwithinthem,andIwillwritethemontheirhearts”(nlt).

Hookupyourheartwiththeultimatepowersource.Itisparamountthatyoubecomethemasterofyourthoughts.WHAT’SYOURFREQUENCY?The lawofcauseandeffectalsoworkswith the lawofattraction.Simplyput,

thismeans “like attracts like.” If thoughts are things and things aremade up ofsubstance, then the material manifested in our lives is attracted to us by ourspiritual thoughts. In other words, inspired experiences are caused by inspiredthoughts.

I knowawomanwho is brilliantly gifted.Over the years I have observed thegreatpeoplewhohavecomeintoherlifeandthegreatthingsthathavehappenedtoher, time and time again. But for absolutely no apparent reason, every successwouldonly last a shortwhilebefore endingdismally. Itwasquite a challenge toconvinceherthattheproblemwasnotwithotherpeopleorexternalcircumstances.After months of persistent coaching, she informed me one day with greatexcitement that, finally, good people and circumstances had come to stay. Thesecretwassimple.Shechangedthespiritofherthoughtsandwords.Aslongasshealignedherthoughtsandspeechwithdoubtful,negativebeliefs,thatisexactlywhatsheexperienced,butonceshealignedherselfwithhopeful,optimisticbeliefs,herworldchangedaccordingly.

Your thoughts and words are transmitted like a shortwave radio signal. Theysend messages out on a specific frequency and are transmitted back to youmanifested as an experience or occurrence in your life. Your thoughts createsomething like amagnetic field aroundyou,whileyourwordsprovide a kind ofspiritualhomingdevicethatattracteitherpositivepeople, things,andexperiencesornegativepeople,things,andexperiences.

Therefore,youmustlearntofillyourmindwithgood,godly,andgreatthoughts.AswearetoldinPhilippians4:8,youmust“fixyourthoughtsonwhatistrue,andhonorable,andright,andpure,andlovely,andadmirable.Thinkaboutthingsthatareexcellentandworthyofpraise” (nlt).Whatyou thinkhas thepower toliterallytransformyourlife.

It isessential thatyoubecomeextremelyvigilantaboutwhatentersyourminddaily.What you hear affects how you think and what you believe. The prophetIsaiahhadinsightintohowimportantitistoheedwhatyousay,hear,andseewhenhedeclared:

He whowalks righteously and speaks uprightly . . . who stops his ears fromhearingofbloodshedandshutshiseyesfromlookingonevil,hewilldwellontheheights;hisplaceofdefensewillbethefortressesofrocks;hisbreadwillbegivenhim;hiswaterwillbesure.

—Isaiah33:15-16,EsvIfyouwanttohavelife-affirmingthoughts—thoughtsofsuccessandprosperity

—then fill your ears with words that will produce these things in your life.Eventually,ifyouhearsomethingenough,overtimeitwillformabelief,andthatbeliefwillproduceacorrespondingaction.Itisthishearing—andhearingagain—thatistheimpetusoffaith.AstheapostlePaulsaid,“Sofaithcomesfromhearing,andhearingthroughthewordofChrist”(Rom.10:17,esv).Inotherwords,itcomesfrom“hearingandhearing.”Makesureyouaregroundingyourbeliefsandbasingyour faith onGod’s “rich life”—not some counterfeit, but the abundance ofHiskingdom—byfillingyourheartandmindwithlife-giving,biblicaltruth.

JesusChrist,akingdom-practitioner,knewthepoweroftruthcombinedwiththeprincipleoffaith.Heknewthatfaithcamebyhearing.So,Hespenthoursteachingand dialoguing with His disciples. He taught His students success principlesderived from spiritual laws in order to build their faith in their ability tomake adifferenceintheworld.Hebeganthearduoustaskoftransformingthemind-setsoftwelveoutcastsandfishermen.Hespokemanyspiritualtruthstotheminordertostretch their spiritual paradigms of success and prosperity beyond the temporal,three-dimensionalrealm.HeknewitwouldtakeconstantexposuretotheLightforthelighttofinallyturnoninthem.

LETTHEREBELIGHTSometimes when concepts are difficult for you to grasp or comprehend, you

simply need to say, “Let there be light!” The first recorded thingGod saidwas,“Lettherebelight.”Lightilluminates.Whatyoureallywantisforyourspiritandyourmindtobeilluminated—youwanttoobtaininsightandwisdom.Whenitfeelsas if you are wandering in the dark and can’t figure out what to do, stop andcommand,“Lettherebelight!”

Aminister friendwashavingdifficulty paying the bills of herministry. It hadbecomeanalmostinsurmountabletask.Whenonebillwaspaid,therewereseveralleft unpaid.Thebills kept comingwithout sufficient income to cover them,untilonedayshebeganutteringfoursimplewords,“Lettherebelight.”

Shestoppedfocusingonherdifficultyandstartedfocusingontheanswer:God’slight.She let the lightofHisgoodness fillhermindand, followingherheavenlyFather’s example, commanded that light be made manifest by the words of hermouth. The answer had always been there, but it had been hidden from herconsciousmindbecauseher focuson theproblemprohibitedher fromseeing thesolution. In away,when she finally saw the light, therewas light.God revealedinnovativewaysforhertonotonlypaythebillsbutalsotoprosper.Shenowhasathrivingministryandamillion-dollarbusiness.

FoursimplewordsopenedherspirittoreceivedivinewisdomfromGod.Thesefoursimplewordscanhelpyou,too.Don’thesitatetospeakoutinfaith,“Lettherebe light!” Speak these words over perplexing situations and watch God work.Remember,“Everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftisfromabove,andcomesdownfrom theFatherof lights,withwhom there isnovariationor shadowof turning”(James1:17).Godwantsyoutohavewhatisgoodandperfect.Didyougetthat?Youdon’t just have tohavegoodhealth; you canhaveperfect health.Youdon’t

havetosettleforagoodjob;youcanhaveaperfectjob,orbetterstill,theperfectbusiness that not only pays the bills but also gives you enough left over to be atremendousblessing toothers.Youdon’thave to settle for agoodmarriage;youcanhavetheperfectmarriage.Youdon’thavetosettleforagoodlife;youcanhaveaperfectlife.Sogoahead;shoutitfromtherooftops,“Lettherebelight!”Youwillbe delightfully surprised that perhaps what you have been looking for is rightbeforeyoureyes.Itwassimplyawaitingillumination.

JesuswantedthelighttocomeonforHisdisciples.Toteachcomplexspiritualprinciples Hewould use simple stories based on common subjects. Jesus wouldweave revolutionary spiritual truths into the fabric of each parable. After onefamousallegoryreferringtohowseedissowninvarioussoils,HisdisciplesaskedHim,“Whydoyouspeaktothepeopleinparables?”Hereplied:

Theknowledgeofthesecretsofthekingdomofheavenhasbeengiventoyou,butnottothem.Whoeverhaswillbegivenmore,andhewillhaveanabundance.Whoeverdoesnothave,evenwhathehaswillbetaken fromhim.This iswhy Ispeaktotheminparables.

—Matthew13:10-13,nivDidyougetthat?Aslongasinformationremainsasecret,hiddeninobscurity,

noonecanprosperfromit,nomatterhowpowerfulthesecretorhowmightytheperson.Butthatpersontowhomitismadeknown,nomatterwho,willhaveaccesstoabundance;towhomitisnotrevealed,eventhatwhichthispersonhasshallbetakenaway.

This is a powerful passage of Scripture. Not only does Jesus tell a powerfulparablehere,butalso,sandwichedbetweentheinitialtellingofitinverses1-9andHis explanation of itsmeaning in verses 18-23, Jesus takes amoment to clarifywhyHeisusingparablestoteachinthefirstplace.TherationaleHeoffersforHismethodisasilluminatingastheparableitself:

Thoughseeing,theydonotsee;thoughhearing,theydonothearorunderstand.In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “Youwill be ever hearing but neverunderstanding;youwillbeeverseeingbutneverperceiving.Forthispeople’shearthasbecomecalloused;theyhardlyhearwiththeirears,andtheyhaveclosedtheireyes. Otherwise theymight see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understandwiththeirheartsandturn,andIwouldhealthem.”

Butblessedareyoureyesbecausetheysee,andyourearsbecausetheyhear.ForI tellyouthetruth,manyprophetsandrighteousmenlongedtoseewhatyouseebutdidnotseeit,andtohearwhatyouhearbutdidnothearit.

—Matthew13:13-17,nivThe importance and power of understanding are not only the reasons for His

methodofteaching,buttheyarealsotheverypointofthelessonitself.Atthecruxofitallisthedivinepowerofrevelation—trulyseeing,orgrasping,spiritualtruth.When men “see the light” they will come to the knowledge of the truth andexperienceabundant life.Johnphrasedit thisway:“Inhimwas life,and that lifewas the light ofmen. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has notunderstood it” (John1:4-5, niv).John referred to Jesusas“the true light thatgives

lighttoeveryman”(v.9,niv).ItisJesuswhonotonlygivesuslightbutalsogivestheabilityto“seethelight.”InhislettertotheCorinthians,Paulwrote,“ForGod,whosaid,‘Letlightshineoutofdarkness,’madehislightshineinourheartstogiveusthelightoftheknowledgeofthegloryofGodinthefaceofChrist”(2Cor.4:6,niv).

Intheparableabouttheseed(truthorlight)andthesoil(ourhearts),Jesusspokeinsuchawayastorevealthesecrettosuccessandprosperity.Heisspeakingaboutunderstanding—about “possessing light.” Let’s look at how He explains themeaningfurtherdowninthechapter:

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:When anyone hears themessage about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes andsnatchesawaywhatwassowninhisheart....Buttheonewhoreceivedtheseedthat fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. Heproducesacrop,yieldingahundred,sixtyorthirtytimeswhatwassown.

—Matthew13:18-19,23,nivJesusistalkingaboutourabilitytounderstand—Heisaddressingtheissueofthe

stateofaman’smind.Outofourmindweproduceacropbasedonwhatwehavesown in understanding—basedonwhatwehaveunderstood.David criedout “tohim who by understanding made the heavens” (Ps. 136:5, esv) and “[gave] meunderstandingthat

Imay live” (Ps. 119:144, esv). In Proverbswe read, “Understandingwill guardyou”(Prov.2:11, esv)and“Blessed is theone . . .whogetsunderstanding” (Prov.3:13,esv).

Above all else, seek understanding. “Gird up the loins of your mind” (1 Pet.1:13)bypursuingknowledge,wisdom,andtruth—andoutofthatabundanceyourmouthwill speakwords thatwill frame yourworld.Make it a habit to examinewhat your thoughts are chasing after andwhat yourwords are gathering to you.Remember, theworldwithin not only colors theworldwithout, but it is also itsblueprint.Beintentionalinwhatyouhear,howyouthink,andwhatyouspeak—foryouaresettingthestagefortherealityyouexperience.

Walkwhileyouhavethelight,lestdarknessovertakeyou.Theonewhowalksinthedarknessdoesnotknowwhereheisgoing.Whileyouhavethelight,believeinthelight,thatyoumaybecomesonsoflight.

—John12:35-36,esvUNLOCKTHEMYSTERYEveryone loves tobe inonasecret.Oneof theworst things is feeling leftout

when it comes to being “in the know”— as if everyone is aware of somethingvitally important except for you. But worse than that is the feeling there areimportantthingseveryoneshouldknowbutfewdo.TheBiblecallsthesetypesofsecretsmysteries.Formostpeople,lifeisexactlythat,amystery.ButJesuscametohelpussolveourmysteries.Hecametogiveusknowledgeofthetruth.

ThekeytovictoryinChrist—andinthislife—istheknowledgeandwisdomthatunlocks themysteriesof life.That iswhyGodwantsyou topursuewisdomandunderstandingaboveallelse.

Getwisdom!Getunderstanding!

Donotforget,norturnawayfromthewordsofmymouth....Wisdomistheprincipalthing;Thereforegetwisdom.Andinallyourgetting,getunderstanding.—Proverbs4:5,7Seek to knowandunderstand how andwhyGodhas created you.This is one

secretyoucanbeinon!ThereisovercomingpowerinknowingitisGod’sdesireforyou to succeedandprosper, aswellasknowinghowHehasdesignedyou tocreatesuccessandabundanceineverysphereyouinfluence.

When I say “abundance,” I amnot talking aboutmaterialismor consumerism.WhatIamtalkingaboutisthefactthatitisGod’swillforyoutolivewithoutlack—to provide youwith every possible thing you need to successfully fulfill yourpurposeandmaximizeyourpotential.Thiscertainly includesmaterial things,butmoreimportantlyitmeans

Spirit-inspired thoughts, declarations, and conversations; divinely appointedrelationships, business opportunities, and challenges—and above all else,supernaturalgiftsandabilitiesasyouacknowledgeeverygoodthingthatisinyouinChrist.(SeePhilemon6.)

ThereisovercomingpowerinknowingitisGod’sdesireforyoutosucceedandprosper,aswellasknowinghowHehasdesignedyoutocreatesuccessandabundanceineverysphereyouinfluence.

IappreciatethestoryofDaveThomas,founderofWendy’s,whowasraisedbyadoptiveparents.Asachild,Davealwaysimaginedonedayowningahamburgerrestaurant, and on November 15, 1969, the first Wendy’s Old FashionedHamburgersopened.2DaveThomaspersonifiesthatifyoucanseeitinyourmindfirst,youcanachieveit.

So,myfriend,thesecretisout.Itisyourtimetoconsciouslypaintthecanvasofyour life with whatever you aspire to achieve. Fill your mind with majesticthoughts.Generateexcitementandexpectationwitheverywordthatproceedsfromyourmouth.Iurgeyoutocreateamasterpieceoutofyourlife.Daretoimagine!

ChapterTwoMINDYOUROWNBUSINESSOurlifeiswhatourthoughtsmakeit.1—MarcusAurelius[Aman]willfindthatashealtershisthoughtstowardthings,andotherpeople,

thingsandotherpeoplewillaltertowardshim.2—JamesAllenYoumust learn toharness thepowerof yourthoughtsifyouaretoeffectivelyreignasaking

andpriestonthisearth.Youmustunderstandwhoyouwerecreatedtobe.Youarea child of God and His representative in the earth. As such, He has given youpower,authority,anddominiontoovercomeadversitiesandallofyouradversaries.YouaretoldinEphesians6:12thatyourfightisnotwithfleshandbloodbutwithpowersandprincipalities.This fightcan’tbewonwithyourhandsbutonlywithyourmindandmouth.

Forourstruggleisnotagainstfleshandblood,butagainsttherulers,againsttheauthorities,againstthepowersofthisdarkworldandagainstthespiritualforcesofevilintheheavenlyrealms.ThereforeputonthefullarmorofGod,sothatwhenthedayofevilcomes,youmaybeable tostandyourground,andafteryouhavedoneeverything,tostand.

—Ephesians6:12-13,nivYoumustbecomeasskilledinyourthoughtsandspeechasaswordsmaniswith

hissword.Takingcontrolofyourthoughtswillcauseyoutogaincontroloveryourlife.ThatiswhatputtingonthearmorofGodisallabout.

POSSESSINGTHELANDThefirstthingyoumustdointakingpossessionofallGodhaspreparedforyou

istotakepossessionofyourthoughts.You may not think this requires a great deal of effort, let alone training or

practice,butthereisonlyonethinghardertomasterthanyourthoughts,andthatisyour tongue! (See James 3:8.) Winning the battle in your thought life requiresmeditating daily on the truths found in Scripture, studying diligently to showyourself approved, and becoming an earnest and lifelong student of the art ofspiritualwarfare.

WemustunderstandwhowewerecreatedtobeaschildrenofGod,andwemustunderstandtheauthoritywehave inChrist.

ThroughouttheNewTestamentwearetoldthatourbattlesdonottakeplaceinthe temporal realm but in the spiritual realm. In nearly every book of the NewTestament,weare told to“notbeafraid;onlybelieve” (Mark5:36),“girdup theloinsofyourmind”(1Pet.1:3),“renewyourmind”(Rom.12:2),andputon“themindofChrist”(1Cor.2:16).WearetaughtinRomansthat“tosetthemindonthefleshisdeath,buttosetthemindontheSpiritislifeandpeace”(Rom.8:6,esv).Weareinstructedtotakeeverythoughtcaptive:

For theweapons of ourwarfare are not of the flesh but have divine power todestroystrongholds.Wedestroyargumentsandevery loftyopinionraisedagainst

theknowledgeofGod,andtakeeverythoughtcaptivetoobeyChrist.—2Corinthians10:4-5,esvEverybattleiswonorlostinthearenaofyourmind.Oneof themostheartbreakingstoriesof theOldTestament is toldinNumbers

when the Israelites disobeyedGodby refusing to takepossessionof the landHehad prepared for them. Because they saw themselves as small and weak—theybelieved in their ownminds that they were as grasshoppers before giants—theywereunabletofulfillGod’scall.Thegiants,whothemselveshadbeenafraidofthechildren of Israel, were instead empowered because of the Israelites’ fear. “Weseemed toourselves likegrasshoppers,andsoweseemed to them”(Num.13:33,esv).

Itwas fear alone that caused the Israelites tomissouton thepromiseofGod.Insteadofinheritingproperty,theywereforcedtowanderhomelessuntil thenextgeneration rose up bold enough to take possession and move in. Among thoseallowed to become property ownerswere Joshua andCaleb, the only two of theformergenerationgiventherighttoholdtitleanddeedinthelandofpromise.ItisrecordedinNumbers13:30thatwhentheIsraelitescriedoutinfearbeforeMoses,it was Caleb who spoke up, saying, “Let’s go at once to take the land.We cancertainlyconquerit!”GodhonoredCaleb’sfaith.

But what compelled Caleb to speak with such boldness? What was it aboutJoshuaandCalebthatsetthemapart?ThesecrettotheirsuccessissummedupinthefirstchapterofJoshua.GodgaveveryspecificinstructionstoJoshuaabouthowtosecuresuccess,prosperity,andvictoryovereveryadversary:

ThisBookoftheLawshallnotdepartfromyourmouth,butyoushallmeditateinitdayandnight,thatyoumayobservetodoaccordingtoallthatiswritteninit.Forthenyouwillmakeyourwayprosperous,andthenyouwillhavegoodsuccess.

HaveInotcommandedyou?Bestrongandofgoodcourage;donotbeafraid,norbedismayed,fortheLordyourGodiswithyouwhereveryougo.

—Joshua1:8-9GodinstructedJoshuatomeditateonHisWorddayandnightsothatitwouldfill

hisheart,mind,andmouth.ThenHecommandedhimtobestrongandcourageous.Do you see the connection? Until his mind and mouth only thought and spokeGod’sWord,Joshuacouldnothaveanyhopeofbeingstrongandofgoodcourage.RightfromtheoutsetGodmadeitaprioritytoaddresstheissueofJoshua’smind—nootherinstructionsorstrategiestookprecedenceoverwhatoccupiedJoshua’sthoughts.

ASAMANTHINKETHYou are the sum total of your thoughts. I have learned that as your deepest

drivingdesireis,soisyourwill;asyourwillis,soareyourdeeds;asyourdeedsare,soisyourdestiny.JustasitwasimportantforJoshuatogovernhisthoughtsbytheWordof theLord, it is important foryou tomeditatedailyonGod’sWord—allowing it to fill your mind before anything else. But you have it better todaybecause Jesushas come.Youhave theWordmade flesh— theSpirit ofChrist—residinginyou.Youhavebeengiventhenameaboveeverynameasyourspiritualauthority, and you have a two-edged sword, which is theWord of God, at your

disposal.DoyouseehowimportantGod’sWordis?Allthingsarepossibletothosewhobelieve(Mark9:23),butwithoutknowledge

oftheWord,youdon’thavethecorrecttruthstobelieve.As you follow God’s specific instructions and fill your thoughts with those

thingstheBibletellsyouto,youwilldiscoverthattheworldwillbegintounfoldbeforeyouwithanarrayofpossibilitiesandreflectbackwhatyouchoosetofocusupon.Itiscriticallyimportanttostayconsciousofwhat’sgoingoninyourmind.Random thoughts lead to random accomplishments that rarely build upon oneanother.LookathowPaulputsitinPhilippians:

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds andmeditatingon things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious— thebest,nottheworst;thebeautiful,nottheugly;thingstopraise,notthingstocurse....Dothat,andGod,whomakeseverythingworktogether,willworkyouintohismostexcellentharmonies.

—Philippians4:8-9,TheMessage

LookatwhatPaulagainsaysinRomans:Donotbeconformedtothisworld,butbetransformedbytherenewingofyour

mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good andacceptableandperfect.

—Romans12:2,nasuHowdoyourenewyourmind?Throughknowledgeofthetruthregardingwho

youareinChrist.Ifyouweretobuildyourlifelikeahouseoffaith,knowledgeofGodwouldbeitsfoundation,whileknowledgeofwhoyouareinChristwouldbeitsframe.FromtheBible,twothingsweknowaboutfaithare:(1)itisimpossibletopleaseGodwithoutit(Heb.11:6),and(2)inthewordsofJesus,“Itshallbedonetoyouaccordingtoyourfaith”(Matt.9:29,nasu).Ifyoudonottakecontrolofyourinnerthoughts,youwillbecomeaslavetoyouroutercircumstances.Youwon’tbedrivingyourlife;thestormsandchangingweatherwill.

Don’tbeleftoutinthedarkasanexileestrangedfromthegoodlifeGodhasforyou.Paulwrote,“Theyaredarkenedintheirunderstanding,alienatedfromthelifeofGodbecauseoftheignorancethatisinthem”(Eph.4:18,esv).Donotbeamongthosewhoperishforlackofknowledge.(SeeHosea4:6.)Be“intheknow,”unlockGod’ssecretsforyou,andgetinonthegoodlife.

THEORIGINOFINSPIRATIONEighteenth-century poet and theologian JohannGottfriedVonHerder has been

quotedassaying,“Withoutinspirationthebestpowersofthemindremaindormant;thereisafuelwithinuswhichneedstobeignitedwithsparks.”3

Thoughts are spiritual, and so is the inspirational process.Man begins with aconcept inhismind,somethinghebelieveshe isable toaccomplish;he joinshiswill and intellect to his imagination; and then expectation sees it through. InGenesis 11, the people thought to themselves that they could build a tower toheaven,andbecausetheysawthistowerintheirminds,theywereabletobuildit.God stopped them by causing confusion and making it impossible for them tocommunicate,becausethetowerbecameanidolforthem.However,thisstorystillillustratesthepowerofourthoughtsandwords.

AndtheLordsaid,Behold,theyareonepeopleandtheyhaveallonelanguage;and this is only the beginning ofwhat theywill do, and now nothing they haveimaginedtheycandowillbeimpossibleforthem.

—Genesis11:6,ampTHINK-FORACHANGEEverycircumstance inyour lifecanbechanged for thebest.Themomentyou

convertyourimaginationintointentionsandyourintentionsintoactions,achangemust occur. A profound example of someone who changed his humblecircumstances bymeans of the power of thinking is the composer extraordinaireandmusic impresarioQuincyJones. Inhiswords,hewas inspiredbyeverybandthatcamethroughtown.Hehadnotrainingatall,buthewasfueledbyinspirationtolearnfromeveryopportunityavailable.HewasknowntocallonRayCharlesinthe early hours of the morning whenever he came to town. He was practicallyadoptedbyCountBasie at the ageof thirteen.As soon asQuincypickedup thetrumpet,heheardarrangementsofensemblesinhishead,andhisreputationasanarranger grew.4 He is the all-timemost-nominatedGrammy artistwith a total ofseventy-nineGrammynominations.5QuincyJoneswasinspired.

GeorgeWashingtonCarverwasinspiredtogrowandproducepeanuts.Startingout as a farmhand,Carver later attendedTuskegeeUniversity and revolutionizedthesouthernagriculturaleconomybythinkingupmorethantwohundredproductsthatcouldbederivedfromthepeanutandmorethanonehundreddifferentproductsthat could be derived from the sweet potato. These products included soap, ink,plastics,axlegrease,flour,molasses,vinegar,andrubber,justtonameafew.6

Imagination is the natural product of meditation. Life’s opportunities andcreativitydiminishor explodebasedonyourability toharnessyour imagination.AlbertEinsteinsaid,“Iamenoughofanartisttodrawfreelyuponmyimagination.Imaginationismoreimportantthanknowledge.Knowledgeislimited.Imaginationencirclestheworld.”7Ifwecanthinkofimaginationasadoorthatopenstoaworldof possibilities, then intentions and the corresponding actions are the keys thatunlockthatdoor.

Einstein was considered a slow learner, possibly due to dyslexia. Yet heimagined, postulated, and propelled the theory of relativity to the forefront ofmodern science, winning the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.8What we know ofquantumphysicscan largelybeattributed to thecontributionsofAlbertEinstein.More than any other, this field of science has confirmed biblical truth about therelationship between faith and the “miraculous.” Both testify to the truth thatwhatevercanbeimaginedalreadyexists;itsimplyexistsinanotherdimension—inanotherformorsubstance—andthisisthesourceofallinspiration.

Accordingly,GodconceivedandbyHisSpiritspokeintoexistenceallthatis.HebroughtwhatalreadyexistedinthespiritualintothetemporalbythepowerofHisWord.He breathed that creative force—His very Spirit—into humanity. It isHisSpiritinyouthatgivesinspirationandunderstandingofwhatalreadyexistsinthespiritual realm.There is a “spirit inman, the breath of theAlmighty, thatmakeshimunderstand”(Job32:8,esv).Thatspirit inyouhasalwaysexisted—itiseternal—anditisthesourceofallrevelationandinspiration.

God’s Spirit creates a blueprint in the form of understanding, and from thatblueprintallthingscometobe.Beforewehadthecomputer,certainpeoplesawanecessity for it andwere inspired. This inspiration came out of the realm of thespirit.Fromthecomputertosymphoniestocuresforcancer,everythingstartedasaninspiration.AllgoodinspirationcomesfromGod.HeistheGreat

InspirerandtheAlmightyEnabler.AllthingsarepossibletothosewhoputtheirtrustinHim.(SeeMark10:27.)

InspirationisaGodthing.InspirationisGodHimselfspeakingintothehumanspirit. Inspirational thoughts areGod finding expression forHiswill through themindsofhumanbeings.AccordingtoJeremiah29:11,God’sthoughtsaregoodandnotevil.IwanttoremindyouthatGodisuptosomethinggood,andHehasyouinmind—aboveandbeyondwhatyoucouldaskorimagine!(SeeEphesians3:20.)

Thegreat“imagineer,”WaltDisney,exemplifiedthisprinciple.Notonlywasheabletotapintothepowerofimagination,butalsowhathebroughtforthwaspuregoodnessandjoytransformingtheworldoffamilyentertainment.Hewasknownasapioneerandinnovatorandthe“possessorofoneofthemostfertileanduniqueimaginations theworldhaseverknown.”9Whowouldever think thatamouse, aduck, and a storybook fairy could prove such a force in the world’s powerfulentertainmentindustry?Disneyhadtheabilitytoseebeyondthestatusquointotherealm of limitless possibilities, interweaving technology, engineering, art, andimaginationinunprecedentedways.Hisimaginationpropelledhimintothefutureandbroughtintoexistencenewformsofartandentertainmentneverbeforethoughtpossible.TodaywehaveDisneylandandDisneyWorld,theworld’sgreatestthemeparks,becauseoftheseedplantedbytheimaginationofjustthisoneman.

Our livesarebuilt by a series of thoughts,much as bricks are used to build ahouse. The bricks are what bring it forth from a piece of paper and make itthreedimensional.Asamanthinksinhisheart—inthepresentactivecontinuum,ashecontinuestothink—heisbuildinghislifeonebrickatatime.

Your every present thought is a significant building block in determining thequality of your future. Many of us build lives like shanties, while others buildmansions. If your thoughts are inferior, your life will be inferior; but if yourthoughtsareloftyandhonorable,youarelayingthefoundationtoliveaccordingly.

ENLARGEYOURTERRITORYThereisadirectcorrelationbetweenthequalityofyourthoughtsandthequality

ofyourlife.Whatyouthinkdetermineswhoyouare;itdetermineswhatyouare,whereyougo,whatyouacquire,whereyoulive,whomyoulove,whereyouwork,whatyouaccomplish,whatyouread—Icouldgoonandon.JamesAllenwroteinhis timeless classicAs aManThinketh, “All that aman achieves and all that hefails toachieve is thedirect resultofhisown thoughts.”10 Ifyour life isgoing tochange,youmustthinkforachange.Youarealwaysonlyonethoughtawayfromchangingyourlife.AsJoelOsteensays,youcanliveyourbestlifenow!

Here’s the principle: you will never have more or go further or accomplishgreater things than your thoughtswill allow you. Therefore, youmust create anopulent thinking environment in order to create an opulent life. Your life is areflectionof yourmost dominant thoughts andmeditations.Whenyoumake it a

practicetomeditateonsuccess,youwillbegintoliveasuccessfullife.Thetroubleformostpeopleisthattheydon’tknowexactlywhatsuccesswould

look like for them as individuals or, more importantly, what it would feel likepersonally. It isnotenough just tomeditateonsuccessgenerally;youneed tobespecific.

Youreverypresentthoughtisasignificantbuildingblockindeterminingthequalityofyourfuture.

Youarethearchitectandbuildingcontractorofyourfuture.Useyourthoughtsasanarchitectusesablueprint.Thinkabouteverydetail.Anarchitectnotonlythinksabouttheroomsinahousebutalsothetypesofwindows,thesizeofclosets, thelocation of outlets, and so on. Nothing is too insignificant. Think big and thinkdetailed!

Ask Michael Dell. Borrowing one thousand dollars from family members atnineteen, he launched his multibillion-dollar company that dominates computermanufacturingtoday.Onthepremisethathecouldbeatoutlargemanufacturersbybuilding custom computers and selling directly to consumers, he began sellingsystems and accessories out of his dorm room.11This radical idea shook thecomputerworld to its foundations.Howdidhedo it?He thoughtbig,he thoughtdetailed,andhethoughtoutsideofthebox.

Ifyouwantyourlifetobedifferent,youmustdaretothinkdifferently—daretothinkoutsideofthebox.Thinkpossibilitythoughts.Remember,accordingtoMark10:27,“withGodallthingsarepossible.”

It couldbe for thisvery reason that Jabez, in1Chronicles4:9-10,didnot askGodformorepropertyorgreaterwealthbuttoenlargehisintellectualterritory—orhismentalcapacityregardinghisownworth.HeaskedGodtogivehimagreatercapacity for conceiving what he might accomplish on God’s behalf because heknewhisownlimitedthinkingwasholdinghimcaptive.HeprayedthatGodwouldgive him a greater ability to think big.Youneed to cultivate possibility thinkingbecauseyourthoughtsdetermineyourdestiny.Youhavetobeabletothinkaboutyourfutureregardingwhatyoureallywanttoaccomplishandonbehalfofwhom.

Determinenowwhatstepsyouneedtotakeonadailybasistomakethemostofyourlife inthefuture.I likewhatHenryDavidThoreausays:“Goconfidentlyinthedirectionofyourdreams.Livethelifeyouhaveimagined.”12

Nothing limitsachievement likesmall thinking—nothingexpandspossibilitieslikethinkingoutsideofthebox.Unleashthepowerofyourmind.Learntocultivatepossibilitythinking.Thinkoriginalthoughts.Thinkaboutsomethingthathasneverbeendone,orputanewspinonsomethingthathasalwaysbeenaround.In1886,John Pemberton turned commonmedicinal syrup into a cultural phenomenon bycombiningitwithcarbonatedwaterandservingitasarefreshingdrink.Coca-Colaisnowthemostwidelyknownbeverageontheplanet.13

BillGates,thecomputermogul,wasdeterminedtofindawaytoapplyhisskillsinthecomputerindustry.AtHarvard,Gateswouldspendmanylongnightsinfrontoftheschool’scomputerdiscussingideasandthepossibilityofafuturecomputerbusinesswithfellowstudentPaulAllen.Whenbrowsingthroughamagazineoneday,AllenandGatessawthatthecomputermarketwasabouttoexplodeandthatsomeonewouldhavetomakesoftwareforallthosenewmachines.Theyactedon

this hunch andworkedon aprogram they thought hadpromise.Within theyear,Bill Gates took a leave of absence from Harvard, and Microsoft wasformed.14Sometimesyouneed toseewithneweyes.Thepossibilities inyour lifechangewhenyourperspectivechanges.Thisistruevision.

Bill Gates was a visionary. He brought a fresh perspective to the world ofcomputers.Visionconnectsyoutoyourdestinyandfuture.HelenKellersaid,“Thegreatest tragedy in life is peoplewho have sight but no vision.”15 Youmust seeyourselfdoingmore,gainingmore,andbeingmore.Vision is theability to thinkprogressively.Avision isamental imageoffuturepossibilities.Afriendofmineoncetoldmethatyourfeetwillnever takeyouwhereyourmindhasneverbeen.BecometheChristopherColumbusofyourfuture.Columbusdaredtolosesightofthe known in order to experience the unknown. To conquer new territories youmusthavecouragetolosesightoftheshore.Dreambig,thendaretowakeupandaccomplishit.MotivationalspeakerRobertJ.Kriegelhassaid,“Theshameinlifeisnottofailtoreachyourdream,buttofailtohaveadreamtoreach.”

THINKBEYONDWHEREYOUAREIfyouwanttoprogressinlife,youhavetothinkprogressivethoughts.Todoso,

something newmust replace the old. You have to think beyond where you are.AlexanderGrahamBell thought beyond “The shame in the limitation of the dots anddasheslife is not to foiloftheMorsecodeandreplacedthe to reachy°ur telegraphwiththeinnovationof thedream, but totelephone.Becomeavisionary—be fai| to have acreative.Takethelimitsoffyourdreamtoreach.”mind!Thinkbeyondwhereyouare.

“Theshameinlifeisnottofailtoreachyourdream,buttofailtohaveadreamtoreach."

Asthenarratorannouncedat thebeginningofeveryepisodeof thecult-classicStar Trek, “Boldly go where no man has gone before.” Dare to become thetrailblazerofyourownlife.

God is a creativeGod; therefore,we are creative beings.We aremade inHisimage. As His son or daughter you can tap into the creativemind of God—thegeniusofGod—andseewhatotherpeoplecannotseeandhearwhatotherpeoplecannothear.FollowtheexampleofJesus:

Itellyouthetruth,theSoncandonothingbyhimself;hecandoonlywhatheseeshisFatherdoing,becausewhatevertheFatherdoestheSonalsodoes.FortheFather loves theSonandshowshimallhedoes.Yes, toyouramazementhewillshowhimevengreaterthingsthanthese.

—John5:19-20,nivJesus said that when other people were unable to see what was going on in

heaven, He could. This is the challenge of creative thinking—as you open thespiritualchannelsofyourmind,Godcandownloaddivine,creative thoughts intoyourbrain.AskGodtoenlargeyourcapacityforthinking,totakethelimitsoff.

Godwillnotonlygrantyouyourprayerfulrequests,butHewillalsograntyouyourdailydeclarations.JustasJabezalteredhisdestinybyaskingGodtogivehimbigger thoughts, you can change yours, too. I challenge you to change your rolefrombeingacheerleadertobecomingadrummajor.Marchtothebeatofyourowndrum,totherhythmofyourindividuality,andtothesymphonicpulsatingsoundsofyouruniquedestinyandpurpose.

DON’TUNDERESTIMATETHEPOWEROFYOURTHOUGHTSWhateveryourpredominantfocusis,thatiswhatyoupermittoexistinyourlife.

Jabez chose to focus on his future desires rather than his present circumstances.Manytimespeoplefocusonthenegative,andtheyliveinacycleofnegativity.Youhave tochoose to focuson thepositive.Youhave to trainyourmind to thinkonwhateverishonest,virtuous,andpraiseworthy.(SeePhilippians4:8.)Whateverisgoingwronginyourlifeisaresultofyourfocus.Ifyoudon’tlikeit,changeyourfocus!

InGenesis13:14-18,GodtaughtAbrahamsomethingaboutfocus.Hetoldhimto look at the territoryHewasgivinghim,walk the land in everydirection, andvisualize the expanse of his legacy. Then He said to him, “I will make yourdescendantsasthedustoftheearth;sothatifamancouldnumberthedustoftheearth,thenyourdescendantsalsocouldbenumbered”(v.16).WhatdidGodtrainhimtodo?Hetrainedhimtofocusonbiggerthoughts.

If you plan to change your future, do not focus on things or people orcircumstancesthataresmallerthanwhatyouarehopingfor.Yourfocuswilleitherfeed your faith or confirm your fears. Learn to think like Abraham. Thinkintentionally, generationally, and even globally.You can never think too big, toogrand,ortoogreat!IchallengeyouwiththewordsofDanielH.Burnham:

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probablythemselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work,rememberingthatanoble,logicaldiagramoncerecordedwillnotdie,butlongafterwearegonebealivingthing,assertingitselfwithevergrowinginsistence.16

Learn to think strategically as Solomon did in establishing his kingdom afterDavid’sreign.PurposefullyseekGod’swisdomsothatHecandownloadspecifictimetables, goals, objectives, and resources into yourmind. Listen to Solomon’sprayerandhowGodrespondedasrecordedin2Chronicles:

SolomonsaidtoGod.. .“Givemenowwisdomandknowledgetogooutandcome inbefore thispeople, forwhocangovern thispeopleofyours,which issogreat?”

God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have notaskedpossessions,wealth,honor,or the lifeof thosewhohateyou,andhavenotevenaskedlonglife,buthaveaskedwisdomandknowledgeforyourselfthatyoumaygovernmypeopleoverwhomIhavemadeyouking,wisdomandknowledgearegrantedtoyou.

Iwillalsogiveyouriches,possessions,andhonor,suchasnoneofthekingshadwhowerebeforeyou,andnoneafteryoushallhavethelike.”

—2Chronicles1:8,10-12,Esv

CREATEACREATIVEENVIRONMENTOnethingIdothathelpsmetothinkmorestrategicallyandwisely,andtherefore

topraymoreeffectively,istobemindfulaboutmyenvironment.Yourenvironmentwill impact your attitude, focus, faith, and the intentionality of your thoughts. Ifyou are surroundedby clutter, noise, reminders of lack, andother problems, youwillfinditmoredifficulttothinkpastthoselimitingissues.Youhavethepowertocreateaninspirationalenvironmentaroundyourself.

I likebeauty—anything that’sbeautiful, clean, andorderly automaticallygivesmeinspiration.Somepeoplelikethequietofnatureorthestimulationofmusicora

bustling cafe. God gaveman amyriad of inspirational environments to spur hiscreativity. Look for those particular environments that inspire thoughts ofabundance on every level, and find away to spend blocks of time in yourmostcreativespace.

Yoursuccessandprosperityhingeonwhatlieswithinyourmind.

When you find that place, practice thinking “divergently,” outside of the box,andseeyourselftakingsome

risks.Thebiggestriskinlifeisnottakinganyriskatall!Prepareyourmindtoseekafterandacceptgreaterchallenges.Ifyouhavetroublethinkingoutsideofthebox, then imaginecreatinganewone.Practice thinking likeanentrepreneur,andbecomecomfortablewiththoughtsofachievementandsuccess—thinkandfeelasifyoualreadyhavewhatyoudesire.Create thefeelingsofsuccessbypretendingyou are living the kind of life you have imagined until this practice affects thehabitsofyourmind.Thinkinthepresent;thinkpositively—seethethingthatyouwant, thebusinessyouhope toaccomplish, thepersonyouplan tomarry,andsoon,asifyouarealreadyinpossessionofwhatyoudesire.Conditionyourmindtoaccept these thoughts, and youwill draw these opportunities and experiences toyourself.

Yoursuccessandprosperityhingeonwhatlieswithinyourmind.ThefirstthingthatyouneedtochangeisyourthoughtsaboutwhatGodwantsforyou.Hewantsyoutolivealifeofabundance.ItisHisdesiretogiveyoudivineuniversalsecretsto great success and prosperity.He holds the secret spiritual recipe for abundantliving.

Therearemanypeoplewhomaynotbeasspiritualasyouare,butneverthelesstheywereabletotapintosomethinggreat.Whetherbyaccidentorprovidence,theyare living lives beyond theirwildest dreams, and you can, too.Youmust say toyourself, until this one fact becomes your conviction, “Godwantsme to live inabundance!”

Aworldofpossibilitiesiswaitingtobereleasedinyourfuture.Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who

believes.”—Mark9:23

ChapterThreeTHECREATIVEPOWEROFSPOKENWORDSFor thosemenwho, sooneror later, are lucky enough to break away from the

pack,themostintoxicatingmomentcomeswhentheyceasebeingbodiesinothermen’s commandand find that they control their own time,when they learn theirownvoiceandauthority.1—TheodoreWhiteCONSCIOUSLYCHOOSINGYOURWORDSISLIKEputtingtogethertherightcombinationofbricksandmortar.

Just as the great architects have taken raw materials to build skyscrapers andtimelessmonuments,yourwordsare the rawmaterials thatcan form the lifeyouaremeanttolive.Wordscarrygreatpower,andScriptureisrepletewithprinciplesthatsupportthepowerofthetongue.Job22:28states:Youwillalsodeclareathing,Anditwillbeestablishedforyou;Solightwillshineonyourways.Thisscripturereferstoyourroyalanointing—thefavorGodhaspouredoveryou

becauseyoubelongtoHim.ItremindsmeofthestorywhenSamuelwenttoDavidand poured anointing oil over his head to signify he would be the next king ofIsrael.Samueldidn’tbringhimacrown,butheanointedhimwithoil—asymboloftheHolySpiritandGod’sblessingsandapproval. Itwasmanyyears laterbeforeDavid actually wore that crown, but from themoment he was anointed, he wasalready a king in God’s eyes. Good things began to happen to him almostimmediatelybecausehestartedlookingathisworldthrougheyesofblessingratherthaneyesoffailure.Evenasheovercamethelionandthebear,heknewhecouldovercome giants. And just as he took authority and overcame everything thatthreatened his ascent to the throne, you must take authority and overcomeeverythingthatthreatensyourascentintotherealmofsuccessandprosperity.A king does not beg and cry for anything. He does not have to. He declares

something, and that thing is established. A king has the legal power to decree,whichisanoldEnglishwordfor“legislate.”Heinstitutes,heconfirms,hesettles,hesummons,heauthorizes—that’swhatakingdoes.Peter tells us we belong to “a royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9). Theword royal

speaksofourkinglyattributesasbelievers.Remember,JesusisKingofkings—Heis the capital-“K”King, andwe are the lowercase-“k” kings.Youmustmanifestyour royal anointing to decree blessings over your marriage, family, business,ministry,andeveryotherrealmofyourlife.Thewhole universe iswaiting for us to give it instruction.As theBible says,

“For theearnestexpectationof thecreationeagerlywaits for the revealingof thesonsofGod” (Rom.8:19).Thewholeuniversewaits in anticipation for the sonsanddaughtersofGodtomanifestthemselvesandbringitbackintoalignmentwithGod’s original intent for them. Every word you speak is pregnant with regal,creativepower.

Youmustmanifestyourroyalanointingtodecreeblessingsoveryourmarriage,family,business,ministry,andeveryother

realmofyourlife.

The first to illustrate thiswasGodHimself.According toHebrews11:3, “TheuniversewascreatedbythewordofGod,sothatwhatisseenwasnotmadeoutofthingsthatarevisible”(esv,emphasisadded).Wordsarethe“things”thatthisverseisreferringto.Eventhoughwordsarenotvisible,theyaresubstantiveentitiesthatbroughttangibilitytotheuniversethroughthepowerofGod.InthefirstchapteroftheBookofGenesis,weseeatthebeginningofeachday

ofthecreationstory,“AndGodsaid,‘Lettherebe...’”GodspokeoutwhatHehadseeninHismindasHehaddreamedaboutcreatingtheuniverse,andwhenHespoke, theearth, all theplanets, the sun,moon, and stars, aswell as everyplant,animal,andhumanityitself,appearedjustasHehadseenusallinHismind’seye.Godspoke,and fromseemingly“nothingness”cameeverything thatexists in thephysicaluniverse.

ADEEPERUNDERSTANDINGJames,thebrotherofJesus,explainedhowthisistoworkinourlives:Forwe all stumble inmanyways, and if anyone does not stumble inwhat he

says,heisaperfectman,ablealsotobridlehiswholebody.Ifweputbitsintothemouthsofhorsessothattheyobeyus,weguidetheirwholebodiesaswell.Lookatthe ships also: though they are so large and aredrivenby strongwinds, theyareguidedby a very small rudderwherever thewill of the pilot directs. So also thetongueisasmallmember,yetitboastsofgreatthings.—James3:2-5,esvWhen a ship sets sail to cross the sea, the pilot plots out the course.Then he

determines the timeshewillneed toadjust thedirectionof theship tofollowthecourse he has set. He checks his calculations from time to time to ensure he isalwaysheaded in the right direction, and then he keeps the steering as steady aspossible,headingtowardhispredetermineddestination.Certainlyalongthewayhemay have to adjust the helm to go around storms, navigate currents, or avoidobstacles in thewater, but he always steerswith his focusmore onwhere he isgoingthanwhatheisgoingthrough.Ifheconstantlychangesthesteeringfromoneminutetothenext,fixatingonhispresentcircumstances,theshipismorelikelytogoincirclesthanitistoarriveatthedesiredportofcall.For thepilot, thecourse iscreatedfirst inhis thoughts,communicated through

therudder,andthenrealizedastherestoftheshiplinesupwithhisintent.Forus,ourlivesonlyarriveatourdesiredgoalsifwelineupourthoughts,words,habits,andactionsinasimilarway.Withthisframeworkinmind,youcanchoosetoliveconsciouslyandintentionally.Ratherthanlettingtheelementsofyourdaydictateyour destiny, you can take control of these elements and direct their course to agreaterend.Youmusttakethetimetoconsidercarefullythecourseofyourlife.Whereare

youheading?Whatwillitlooklikewhenyougetthere?Letyourimaginationtakeover.Spendtimedaydreamingaboutwhereyouwant tobe in life.Readabout it.Studythatplace.Writeaboutitinyourjournal.Drawit.Paintit.Letyourmindrunfreewith thepossibilitiesofwhatyoucanattain,whatyoucanbe,andwhatyoucan accomplish. Transform your imaginations into intentions. Act intentionally

ratherthanreactunconsciously.Whatwill it take to get there?Are there skills youwill need to acquire?Are

therepeoplewho live in thatplacewhomyoucan learn from?Howdid theygetthere?Whatpathsdid they take?Are therehabitsyoushouldformthatwillkeepyouoncourse?Nowtalkaboutit.Lineupyourmouth—therudderofyourlife—withwhereyou

aregoing.Thenkeepitsteadyandoncourse.Whathappenstoashipifyouheaditinonedirectionatonemoment,andthen

turn it in theopposite direction in thenext—andkeepdoing that over and over?Prettysimple—itgoesnowhere.Thisiswhathappenswhenpeople start speaking about the good things they are expecting to happen one

minute and then spend the next half hour talking about all the negative thingshappeningtothemthatarekeepingthemfromgettingthere.Theyareturningtheirlivesincircles.Theylineuptheirspokenwordswithwheretheywanttogoforalittlewhile;thenwhentheymeetastormalongtheway,alltheydoistalkaboutthebadweatherandlosetrackofwheretheywereheadedinthefirstplace.Theyforgetthattheyhavethepowertoturntheirlivesaroundinthestormorpressonthroughittothesunshineontheotherside.

Eveninthemidstofwhatlookslikecatastrophe,keepspeakingtheblessing;keeptheshipofyourlifeonasteadycourse,andbeforeyouknowit,thestormcloudswillclearandyouwillhavebrokenthroughyourdifficultyandleftitfarbehindyou.

They forget that the “Son”hasnever stopped shiningon their lives, nomatterhowdarkthecloudsintheskyare.Even in themidst ofwhat looks like catastrophe, keep speaking the blessing;

keep the shipof your life on a steady course, andbeforeyouknow it, the stormcloudswill clear andyouwill havebroken throughyourdifficulty and left it farbehindyou.

TELLYOURTROUBLESWHERETOGOYoureverydecreeispregnantwiththepowerandpotentialtorevolutionizeyour

life.Psalm2:7-8indicatesthatGodutilizesthisprerogativeandgrantsthesametoHisearthlyambassadors:Iwilldeclarethedecree:TheLordhassaidtoMe,“YouareMySon,TodayIhavebegottenYou.AskofMe,andIwillgiveYouThenationsforyourinheritanceAndtheendsoftheearthforYourpossession.”DavidusedhisrighttodecreeanddeclaretoturnthetidesofIsrael’sunfavorable

fateandtodefeattheirenemyGoliath.In1Samuel17:46-51,Davidaddresseshisenemywithconvictionandauthority:“ThisdaytheLordwilldeliveryouintomyhand,andIwillstrikeyouandtake

yourheadfromyou.AndthisdayIwillgivethecarcassesofthecampofthePhilistinestothebirds

oftheairandthewildbeastsoftheearth,thatalltheearthmayknowthatthereisaGod in Israel.Then all this assembly shall know that the Lorddoes not savewith

swordandspear;forthebattleistheLord’s,andHewillgiveyouintoourhands.”Soitwas,whenthePhilistinearoseandcameanddrewneartomeetDavid,that

DavidhurriedandrantowardthearmytomeetthePhilistine.ThenDavidput his hand in his bag and tookout a stone; andhe slung it and

struckthePhilistineinhisforehead,sothatthestonesankintohisforehead,andhefellonhisfacetotheearth.SoDavidprevailedoverthePhilistinewithaslingandastone,andstruckthePhilistineandkilledhim....DavidranandstoodoverthePhilistine,tookhissword...outofitssheath...andcutoffhisheadwithit.AndwhenthePhilistinessawthattheirchampionwasdead,theyfled.Sincethespiritrealmisthecausalrealm,Goliathwasdeadlongbeforehewas

struckbythestoneandbeheadedbythesword.Remember,accordingtoProverbs18:21,“Deathandlifeareinthepowerofthe

tongue,andthosewholoveitwilleatitsfruit.”Choosetouseyourtonguetobringlife and not death, to bless and not to curse—even when it comes to your“enemies.”Learntheartofblessing,forinblessingathingoraperson,thatthingorpersonmustblessyou:“Blessthosewhopersecuteyou;blessanddonotcurse”(Rom.12:14).Whenyoubless,blessingswillbedrawntoyou,orasDeuteronomy28:2 says, “Blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.” Conversely, incursingathingoraperson,youdrawcursesuponyourself.Again, as James said, “A double-minded man [is] unstable in all his ways”

(James 1:8). What did he mean? A double-minded person is a person withconflictingthoughts—someonewhoholdstwodifferentopinionsatthesametime.That person is the pilot who steers his ship toward one port for a while, thenreversestosteerittowardanotherintheoppositedirection.“He...islikeawaveof theseadrivenandtossedbythewind”(v.6).Atonepointyour life is headedtowardblessingsbecause that iswhatyouhavespoken,and thenext it isheadedtowardcursingbecausethatisnowwhatyourmouthisproclaiming.Jamesagaindescribesthispilot’splightlaterinhisletter:Withit[thetongue]weblessourGodandFather,andwithitwecursemen,who

havebeenmadeinthesimilitudeofGod.Outofthesamemouthproceedblessingandcursing.Mybrethren,thesethingsoughtnottobeso.—James3:9-10I am convinced that, because of ignorance, believers tend to live beneath the

standard God has ordained for His children. We do not know that our dailydeclarationsanddecreeshavethepowertoalterourdestinyandchangethequalityofourlives.Proverbs13:3statesthat,“Hewhoguardshismouth[watcheswhathesays]preserveshis life.”Oragain as James said, “If anyonedoesnot stumble inword,heisaperfect[mature]man,ablealsotobridlethewholebody”(James3:2).Ifguardingyourwordscausesyoutokeepyourlifeandgrowinmaturity,imaginewhathappenswhenyoudonotguardyourwords.Here is an example of someonewhosemouth prevented him from tasting the

blessing.ThenElishasaid,“HearthewordoftheLord.ThussaystheLord:‘Tomorrowabout

thistimeaseahoffineflourshallbesoldforashekel,andtwoseahsofbarleyfora

shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’” So an officer on whose hand the king leanedanswered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lordwould make windows inheaven[spiritualportals],couldthisthingbe?”Andhesaid,“Infact,youshallseeitwithyoureyes,butyoushallnoteatofit.”Nowtherewerefourleprousmenattheentranceofthegate;andtheysaidtoone

another,“Whyarewesittinghereuntilwedie?Ifwesay,‘Wewillenterthecity,’thefamineisinthecity,andweshalldiethere.Andifwesithere,wediealso.Nowtherefore,come,letussurrendertothearmyoftheSyrians.Iftheykeepus

alive,weshalllive;andiftheykillus,weshallbutdie.”Andtheyroseattwilighttogo to thecampof theSyrians;andwhentheyhadcometo theoutskirtsof theSyriancamp,totheirsurprisenoonewasthere....Theywentintoonetentandateanddrank,andcarriedfromitsilverandgoldandclothing,andwentandhidthem;then they cameback and entered another tent, and carried some from there also,andwentandhidit.Thentheysaidtooneanother,“Wearenotdoingwhatisright.Thisdayisaday

of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, somepunishmentwillcomeuponus.Nowtherefore,come,letusgoandtelltheking’shousehold.”Sotheywentandcalledtothegatekeepersofthecity,andtoldthem,saying, “Wewent to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not ahuman sound—only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact.” And thegatekeeperscalledout,andtheytoldittotheking’shouseholdinside....Nowthekinghadappointedtheofficeronwhosehandheleanedtohavecharge

ofthegate.Butthepeopletrampledhiminthegate,andhedied,justasthemanofGodhadsaid,whospokewhenthekingcamedowntohim.SoithappenedjustasthemanofGodhadspokentotheking,saying,“Twoseahsofbarleyforashekel,andaseahoffineflourforashekel,shallbesoldtomorrowaboutthistimeinthegateofSamaria.”—2Kings7:1-5,8-11,17-18The prophet Elisha spoke the blessing of God intomanifestation. It took one

prophetic declaration to change the economic landscape of an entire nation. Theofficer who influenced the king met divine declaration with skepticism andunbelief.Hiswords literallyaborted theblessingofGod forhimandcausedhiminsteadtolosehislife.ThismandiedbecauseherefusedtoagreewiththeplanofGod and scoffed at the methodology of a blessing. However, four lepers, whoweren’t even in close proximity to the declaration, prospered by it. Theyexperiencedasupernaturalsupplybecauseofapropheticexplosionthatopenedthewindowsofheaven.

SPEAKOUTYOURBLESSINGSHosea 8:7 states, “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind” (niv). This

demonstratesthepowerfulnatureofwords.Whateveryousowwillcomebacktoyoumultiplied.Placeyourhanddirectlyinfrontofyourmouthanddeclarealoud,“Iamblessed,

allofmyneedsaremet,andIhavemorethanenoughformyself,myhousehold,andextraleftovertogivetoothers.”Didyou feel thepowerof thosewords coming forthout of yourmouth like a

breeze?Thosesamewordswillcomebacktoyou,manifestedwithhurricaneforce,blowingintoyourlifeabundanceandblessingsorlackandcalamitydependingonwhatyouspokeout.Choose to steer your life into blessings by filling the atmosphere around you

withwordsoffaithandvictory.Donotbedeceived,Godisnotmocked;forwhateveramansows,thathewill

alsoreap.Forhewhosowstohisfleshwillofthefleshreapcorruption,buthewhosowstotheSpiritwilloftheSpiritreapeverlastinglife.—Galatians6:7-8

ChapterFourWHATHAVEYOUPUTINTHEATMOSPHERE?IamthesumtotalofwhatIhavebeenconfessingthroughtheyears.1

—JoelOsteen

WORDS RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE DO not disappear and dissipate.They have no geographicallimitations.Wordshavepower,presence,andpropheticimplications.Theycreateamagnetic force that pulls the manifestation of what you speak—good or bad,blessing or cursing—from other realms, regions, and dimensions. They aresuspended and incubated in the realm of the spirit awaiting the correct time andoptimumconditionformanifestation.

JoshuareleasedjustsuchadeclarationaftertheconquestofJericho.Hesaid:CursedbethemanbeforetheLordwhorisesupandbuildsthiscityJericho;heshalllayitsfoundationwithhisfirstborn,andwithhisyoungestheshallsetupitsgates.

—Joshua6:26

These words hung in the atmosphere for approximately six hundred yearswithout anything happening in Jericho. Then 1 Kings 16:34 tells the rest of thestory:

InhisdaysHielofBethelbuiltJericho.HelaiditsfoundationwithAbiramhisfirstborn,andwithhisyoungestsonSegubhesetupitsgates,accordingtothewordoftheLord,whichHehadspokenthroughJoshuathesonofNun.

Didyougetthat?ThedeathofHiel’sfirstbornandyoungestoccurredasaresultofwords releasedoutof themouthof Joshuaandof thecorrespondingactionofHiel.

Again,intheBookofNumbers(astorywehavealreadytouchedonbriefly)thechildrenofIsraelwanderedinthewildernessforfortyyearsanddied,notbecausethey were lost, but because they legislated their wandering exile with their ownmouths. Because of their capricious, negative, and ungrateful chatter, theyignorantly altered their destiny from a journey that should have lastedapproximately a fortnight to one of forty years. Was this fate of the devil, theoriginalplanofGod,or theirowndoing?Scriptureclearly reveals that the forty-yearwildernessjourneyoccurredasaresultoftheirownensnaringwords:

AllthechildrenofIsraelcomplainedagainstMosesandAaron,andthewholecongregationsaidtothem,“IfonlywehaddiedinthelandofEgypt!Orifonlywehaddiedinthiswilderness!

WhyhastheLordbroughtustothislandtofallbythesword,thatourwivesandchildrenshouldbecomevictims?WoulditnotbebetterforustoreturntoEgypt?”...

But Joshua the sonofNunandCaleb the sonof Jephunneh,whowere amongthose who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all thecongregationofthechildrenofIsrael,saying:“Thelandwepassedthroughtospyoutisanexceedinglygoodland.IftheLorddelightsinus,thenHewillbringusintothislandandgiveittous,‘alandwhichflowswithmilkandhoney.’

OnlydonotrebelagainsttheLord,norfearthepeopleoftheland,fortheyareourbread;theirprotectionhasdepartedfromthem,andtheLordiswithus.Donotfearthem.”Andallthecongregationsaidtostonethemwithstones.NowthegloryoftheLordappearedinthetabernacleofmeetingbeforeallthechildrenofIsrael.

ThentheLordsaid toMoses:“Howlongwill thesepeople rejectMe?Andhowlongwill theynotbelieveMe,with all the signswhich I haveperformed among

them?”—Numbers14:2-3,6-11GodhadspokengoodthingsoverthepeopleofIsraelandpromisedtogivethem

thelandofCanaanfor their inheritance.However, theytrustedmoreintheirownfearsthaninGod.Theytrustedmoreinthecomfortofslaverythaninthehopeoflivingaskingsandpriests.ThoughGodhadpromised them theirown land, theyundidHispromisesnotonlywith their lackof faithbutalsowith thewords theyspoke.

Infact,whiletheywerecampingonthebanksoftheJordan,lookingintoCanaanwiththeirkneesknockingtogetherincowardice,thoseinCanaanwerelookingatthem with trepidations of their own. Forty years later, when Joshua and CalebreturnedwiththenewgenerationofIsraelitestocollectonGod’spromisetothem,theyheardwhattheCanaaniteshadbeensayingofthemwhentheyhadfirstspiedoutthatland.AsRahabofJerichotoldthespies:

Wordshavepower,presence,andpropheticimplications.IknowthattheLordhasgivenyoutheland,thattheterrorofyouhasfallenonus,andthatalltheinhabitantsofthelandarefaintheartedbecauseofyou.ForwehaveheardhowtheLorddriedup

thewateroftheRedSeaforyouwhenyoucameoutofEgypt,andwhatyoudidtothetwokingsoftheAmoriteswhowereontheothersideoftheJordan,SihonandOg,whomyouutterlydestroyed.Andassoonas

weheardthesethings,ourheartsmelted;neitherdidthereremainanymorecourageinanyonebecauseofyou,fortheLordyourGod,HeisGodinheavenaboveandonearthbeneath.

—Joshua2:9-11While the Israeliteswere calling those inCanaan “giants,” the hearts of those

“giants”weremelting in fear of the Israelites! Insteadof listening to Joshua andCaleb,whosewordsfilledtheatmospherewithfaith,theychoseinsteadtosuckallhopefromtheirsurroundingsbylisteninginsteadtotheothertenspieswhospokeonlyoftheirinabilityandthegreatnessoftheirenemies.TheyeventriedtorepentwhentheyrealizedwhattheyhaddoneanddecidedtotrytoobeyGodintakingtheland,butitwastoolate—theirownwordshadalreadyundonethem.

“AsIlive,”saystheLord,“justasyouhavespokeninMyhearing,soIwilldotoyou: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in thiswilderness,allofyouwhowerenumbered,accordingtoyourentirenumber,fromtwentyyearsoldandabove.ExceptforCalebthesonofJephunnehandJoshuathesonofNun,youshallbynomeansenterthelandwhichIsworeIwouldmakeyoudwellin.Butyourlittleones,whomyousaidwouldbevictims,Iwillbringin,andtheyshallknowthelandwhichyouhavedespised....”

Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the peoplemournedgreatly.Andtheyroseearlyinthemorningandwentuptothetopofthemountain,saying,“Hereweare,andwewillgouptotheplacewhichtheLordhaspromised,forwehavesinned!”AndMosessaid,“NowwhydoyoutransgressthecommandoftheLord?

For thiswillnotsucceed.Donotgoup, lestyoubedefeatedbyyourenemies,for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaan-ites are therebeforeyou,andyoushallfallbythesword;becauseyouhaveturnedawayfromtheLord,theLordwillnotbewithyou.”Buttheypresumedtogouptothemountaintop.Nevertheless,neither thearkof thecovenantof theLordnorMoses departed fromthe camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain

camedownandattackedthem,anddrovethembackasfarasHormah.—Numbers14:28-31,39-45EventhoughtheywereactingonGod’swordtothem,theyfilledtheatmosphere

withtheirownfearanddefeatratherthanfaithandvictory.WhattheyreceivedwasnotaccordingtoGod’spromisesbutaccordingtowhattheyfilledtheatmospherewith.Theysteeredtheirlivesintoaportoffearandfailure,droppedanchorthere—andthentheyweresurprisedthatthewaterwasfilledwithnothingbutsharks.Theysnatcheddefeatrightoutofthemouthofvictory.

Just like these Israelites, are you getting exactly what you have always beenaskingfor?

WORDSWORTHAGREEINGWITHWhen you read one of God’s promises to you in the Bible, what is your first

thought?Doyouthink,“Oh,itwillbewonderfultohavethatsomedayinheaven,”or“Whatawonderfulpromise!Ofcourse,thatisnotforsomeoneasmiserableasme.”Ordoyouthink,“PraiseGod!IfHesaysthatIshouldhavethat,thennothingcanstopHisblessingfrommanifestinginmylife!”

ComeintoagreementwithwhatGodhasalreadysaidinHisWordaboutyouandyoursituation.YouhavetogetGod’sWordonit.ThenfillyouratmospherewithHispromisesonthematter.

Unfortunately,toomanypickthefirsttwo.JustliketheIsraelitesstandingonthebankoftheJordanlookingatwhatwaspromisedthem,wetoooftenchoosetogiveupbeforethebattleevenbegins.

Did you know that some of the greatestChristians of all timeswere lawyers?Now, we tend to make fun of lawyers and politicians in our culture today, butthroughouthistory,lawyershaverevealedsomeofthegreatestthingsaboutGodwehaveeverknown.Moseswas“thelawgiver,”andtheapostlePaulwasaPharisee.(The Pharisees were a group who studied the Word of God as the law book onwhich to govern society.) Martin Luther of the Reformation began his career byenteringlawschool,asdidthegreatrevivalistCharlesFinney.Whatmadethemsopowerful? They read their Bibles as lawyers would when studying to prepare acase,andtheyputmorefaithinGodkeepingHisWordthantheydidinanyearthlylawsorpoliticalpromises.Thentheytookthosewordsandchargedtheatmospherearound them with biblical truth. They changed their worlds through what theyspoke.

Lookwhat happenedwhenEzekiel tookGod atHisWord and spoke it into adeadatmosphere:

ThehandoftheLordcameuponmeandbroughtmeout intheSpiritof theLord,

andsetmedowninthemidstofthevalley;anditwasfullofbones.Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very

manyintheopenvalley;andindeedtheywereverydry.AndHesaidtome,“Sonofman,cantheseboneslive?”SoIanswered,“OLordGod,Youknow.”AgainHesaidtome,“Prophesytothesebones,andsaytothem,‘Odrybones,hearthewordoftheLord!ThussaystheLordGodtothesebones:“SurelyIwillcausebreathtoenterinto you, and you shall live. Iwill put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you,coveryouwithskinandputbreathinyou;andyoushalllive.ThenyoushallknowthatIamtheLord.”’”

SoIprophesiedasIwascommanded;andasIprophesied,therewasanoise,andsuddenlyarattling;andthebonescametogether,bonetobone.Indeed,asIlooked,thesinewsandthefleshcameuponthem,andtheskincoveredthemover;buttherewasnobreathinthem.ThenHesaidtome,“Prophesytothebreath,prophesy,sonofman,andsaytothebreath,‘ThussaystheLordGod:“Comefromthefourwinds,Obreath,andbreatheontheseslain,thattheymaylive.”’”SoIprophesiedasHecommandedme,andbreathcameinto them,and they lived,andstoodupon theirfeet,anexceedinglygreatarmy.

ThenHe said tome, “Son ofman, these bones are thewhole house of Israel.Theyindeedsay,‘Ourbonesaredry,ourhopeislost,andweourselvesarecutoff!’Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O Mypeople, Iwillopenyourgravesandcauseyou tocomeupfromyourgraves,andbringyou into the landof Israel.Thenyou shall know that I am the Lord, when Ihaveopenedyourgraves,OMypeople, andbroughtyouup fromyourgraves. IwillputMySpiritinyou,andyoushalllive,andIwillplaceyouinyourownland.ThenyoushallknowthatI,theLord,havespokenitandperformedit,”saystheLord.’”

—Ezekiel37:1-14WhenyoureadtheBible,youneedtotakeGod’sWordpersonally.Hispromises

areforHispeople,andifyouhavegivenyourlifetoHimasyourLordandSavior,thenthatmeansYOU.Speaklifeintoyourdeadareas—you’llbeamazedatwhatGod’swordsinyourmouthwilldoforyou.

IfGodhassaidit,thenthatshouldsettleitforus.THEBATTLEBELONGSTOTHELORDSecondChronicles,chapter20,tellsthestoryofKingJehoshaphatasIsraelfaced

invasionfromacoalitionofnationsleadbytheMoabitesandtheAmmonites:SomecameandtoldJehoshaphat,saying,“Agreatmultitudeiscomingagainst

youfrombeyondthesea,fromSyria;andtheyareinHazazonTamar”(whichisEnGedi).AndJehoshaphat feared,andsethimself toseek theLord,and proclaimed afastthroughoutallJudah....

ThenJehoshaphatstoodintheassemblyofJudahandJerusalem,inthehouseoftheLord,beforethenewcourt,andsaid:“OLordGodofourfathers,areYounotGodinheaven,anddoYounotruleoverall thekingdomsof thenations,andinYourhandistherenotpowerandmight,sothatnooneisabletowithstandYou?...Oour God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this greatmultitudethatiscomingagainstus;nordoweknowwhattodo,butoureyesareuponYou.”...

ThentheSpiritoftheLordcameuponJahaziel....Andhesaid,“Listen,allyouofJudahandyouinhabitantsofJerusalem,andyou,KingJehoshaphat!ThussaystheLordtoyou:‘Donotbeafraidnordismayedbecauseofthisgreatmultitude,forthebattleisnotyours,butGod’s...Youwillnotneedtofightinthisbattle.Positionyourselves,standstillandseethesalvationoftheLord,whoiswithyou,OJudahandJerusalem!’Donotfearorbedismayed;tomorrowgooutagainstthem,fortheLord

iswithyou.”...SotheyroseearlyinthemorningandwentoutintotheWildernessofTekoa;and

as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you

inhabitantsof Jerusalem:Believe in theLordyourGod [come intoagreementwithwhatGodissaying],andyoushallbeestablished[tobeupheld,nourished,settledandable tostandfirm];believe[comeintoagreementwithwhat theprophetsaresaying—because with God, nothing is impossible] His prophets, and you shallprosper [prevail, succeed, advance, progress, and overcome].” And when he hadconsultedwiththepeople,heappointedthosewhoshouldsingtotheLord,andwhoshould praise the beauty of holiness, as theywent out before the army andweresaying:“PraisetheLord,forHismercyenduresforever.”

Nowwhentheybegantosingandtopraise,theLordsetambushesagainstthepeopleofAmmon,Moab,andMountSeir,whohadcomeagainstJudah;andtheyweredefeated.

—2Chronicles20:2-3,5-6,12,14-15,20-22Ratherthanfear,JehoshaphatgotGod’splanandputitintoaction.HetookGod

atHisword that thebattlewasHis.Then they celebratedGod’s salvationbeforetheyevensawit.Theyfilledtheiratmospherewithpraiseandworship,chargingtheairwithGod’spowerandprovision,andbythetimetheysawtheirenemies,theywerealreadydefeated.

ComeintoagreementwithwhatGodhasalreadysaidinHisWordaboutyouandyoursituation.YouhavetogetGod’sWordonit.ThenfillyouratmospherewithHispromisesonthematter.

Letusholdfasttheconfessionofourhopewithoutwavering,forHewhopromisedisfaithful.—Hebrews10:23

ChapterFiveYOUCANCHANGETHECOURSEOFYOURDESTINYAmansooneror laterdiscovers that he is themaster-gardenerofhis soul, the

directorofhislife.1—JamesAllenASWELEARNEDFROMHEBREWS11:3,ANYTHINGyouareabletoseewasmadefromthatwhichisnotseen.

Thisisanamazingconcept,anditiswhatmakesthebiblicaltruthsaboutspiritualreality so fascinating. There is nothing that currently exists that has not alwaysbeen.Thatmeanswhateveryouareable toexperiencewithyour fivesenseswas“brought forth” from the spiritual realm; it wasmademanifest by the power ofGod, and it’s that same power that works in and through you. I say “mademanifest”becausethatishowcreationworks.Knowingthereisacauseforeveryeffect, we know something “is” because it has been “brought forth.”Without athing being conceived in themind and spoken out—without calling those thingsthatarenotasthoughtheywere(Rom.4:17)—nothingthatexistswouldexist.ThismightsoundmysticalandNewAge,buttheprincipleofthoughtandword

framingrealityisfoundfromthefirstbookoftheBibletothelast.ItisinthestoryofCreation.Itisinthenewheavenandthenewearththataretocome.God created the tangible, temporalworld by calling it forth.He gave form to

whatphysicistshavecometo call “substance”—the “essential nature,” asWebster’s Dictionary says, that

makesuptheunseenworld—bychangingthecompositionofrawenergywiththepowerofHisdecreesanddeclarations.Goddidn’tbringtheworldintobeingfromnothingness;ratherHebroughteverythingintoexistencefrommatter thatalreadyexistedwithinHimself.

BychangingHisintention,focusingHisthoughts,andharnessingHiswords,Godsettheuniverseinmotion.Thoughitistoalesserextent,wecreateourpersonaluniverseinthesameway.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,visibleandinvisible____AllthingswerecreatedthroughHimandforHim.AndHeisbeforeallthings,andinHimallthingsconsist.—Colossians1:16-17,emphasisaddedTheLatinrootofcreationisliterally“tobringforth.”ThroughthepowerofHis

thoughts andwords,God “brought forth”whatwas inHimout into the physicalworld.Soratherthanthinkingabouttheprocessofcreationasmakingsomethingoutof

nothing,forourbenefitweshouldthinkofitastappingintoanunlimitedsourceofenergy in thespiritual realmtobringforthwhatwehave imaginedpossible.Godset theuniverse inmotionbychangingHis intention, focusingHis thoughts, andharnessing His words. Though it is to a lesser extent, we create our personaluniverseinthesameway.

THESCIENCEOFFAITHInvisibletoournakedeyearethemoleculeshydrogenandoxygen,yetthrougha

chemicalreactiontheybecomeavisiblesubstancecalledwater.Thesamehappenswith sodiumand chloride coming together to form table salt. In this physical, or

chemical,realm,GodsettheseinvisibleprocessesinmotionatCreationtorespondcontinuously toHisword to formvisible substances that add to our life.He hasdonethesameinthespiritualrealm.Everymomentofeverydaywearesurroundedbyspiritual“molecules”thataredesignedtorespondtoourthoughtsandintentions—ormore scripturally put, our faith—to producemiracles. As Scripture puts it,“And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).Everythingyouneedforvictoryalreadyexists,butitexistsinanotherform.Sincethespiritrealmisthecausalrealm,thenyourmiracleisalwaysinmotion—youjustneed toget it tomanifestonyourbehalf!However, justasyoucanbring it forthwithyourfaith-filledthoughtsandwords,youcanalsostallitoutbyspeakingoutyourdoubtanddwellingonunbelief.Let’s look at the example Jesus gave us when He performed His miracle of

multiplicationinMatthew14:19-20:Hetookthefiveloavesandthetwofish,andlookinguptoheaven,Heblessed

and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to themultitudes.Sotheyallateandwerefilled,andtheytookuptwelvebasketsfullofthefragmentsthatremained.Jesus multiplied the bread and the fish by speaking to it and blessing it. He

turnedHiseyes towardheavenandspokeoutablessing.Theverb forblessheremeans“toinvokeGod’spresence”aswellas“toinfuseHisprovisionintoathing.”HeinvokedGod’spresence,andthebreadandfishwere“broughtforth”or“mademanifest”—Jesusaffectedthespiritual“molecules”enoughtocausethebreadandfishtomiraculouslyappear—buttheyhadbeentherethewholetimeinthespiritualrealm.

GOD’SPROMISESCOMETHROUGHFAITHANDPERSISTENCEInDaniel10:12wereadabouttheangelwhocameasaresultofDaniel’swords:Donotfear,Daniel,forfromthefirstdaythatyousetyourhearttounderstand,

andtohumbleyourselfbeforeyourGod,yourwordswereheard;andIhavecomebecauseofyourwords.WhenDaniel prayed,God sent the answer immediately, but therewere forces

thatprohibiteditfrombeingmanifestedrightaway.Wereadinthenextversetheangel’sexplanationforthedelay:“TheprinceofthekingdomofPersiawithstoodme twenty-one days” (v. 13). As Daniel had persisted in prayer, the angel hadpersisted in hiswarring. Even thoughDaniel did not see any sign of the answermanifestingduringallthattime,itwasinmotion.EventuallyitdidcomeintobeingbecauseDaniel never stopped praying and decreeing. The answer broke throughbecause Daniel stood firm in his faith and his confession. Remember, there arealways forces at work prohibiting your answer from manifesting. If you don’tsabotageyourprayerswithnegativethoughtsandwords,thenyouwilleventuallyseewithyoureyesthesubstanceofwhatyouhavehopedforjustasDanieldid.Youneedtounderstandthattherearelawsofincubationandmanifestationthat

govern your miracle. Just because a baby is hidden within its mother for ninemonthsdoesnotmeanitisn’tthere—theembryoonceitisconceivedmustundergoa season of incubation before manifestation occurs. In the same way a seed isburied in the ground and can go weeks without an apparent change before it

sprouts,andthenmonthsmorebeforeitbearsfruit.So many times we declare a thing and then lose patience because it doesn’t

manifest like popcorn in amicrowave!We need to realize that, when it doesn’tcometopassimmediately,wecanundowhatwehavesetinmotionifwechoosetospeakwordsofdiscouragementinsteadofwordsfilledwithfaith.Justbecausewedon’tseeathingcometopassinacertainperiodoftimedoesnotmeanthatitisn’tevergoing tobeor that it isn’tGod’swill.RememberhowJoshuaspokeawordand it took six hundred years before that particular word was manifested?Sometimes it takes a duration of time.We need to believe and speak as if it iscomingtodaybutstaystrongandpersistinourfaithevenifittakesdecades.Words don’t just disappear once they are released into the atmosphere. They

remaindormantthere,incubatinguntilthetimeforthemtobearfruitisathand.Itcouldbetheywillbeactivatedbysomeoneelsewhowill triggeracatalyst intherealm of the spirit in order forwhat you are hoping for to bemademanifest. Itcouldbethereareopposingforcesthatrequireyourperseverance,aswasthecasewithDaniel. Itcouldbeanynumberof thingsdelayingwhatGodwants foryou,butGod kept it simple—regardless of thewhy, you need to keep your thoughts,yourwords,andyourfaithinlinewithwhatyouareexpecting,andthentrustGodtotakecareoftherest.Toomanypeoplereleasecarelesswordsintotheatmosphereandcan’tfigureout

whythelifeGodhaspromisedthemisn’thappeningthewaytheyhopeditwould.Scripturehas revealed tous that everything in theuniversehas toadjust itself toaccommodateourwords—goodorbad,purposefulor errant. (SeeProverbs13:3;18:21;21:23.)ThisiswhywereadinMatthew12:36thateveryidleword—wordswith no kingdom assignment—will be brought into judgment. You will be heldaccountableforeveryidleword,butyouwillalsoberewardedforeveryfaith-filledword.

THEPOWEROFPROACTIVEPERMISSIONWhenGodmadethedeclaration,“Let therebe light,”Hewasreallysaying,“I

allowlighttobe.”Hewasgivingthelight,strainingatitsharnessestoexistinthespirit,permissiontomanifestitselfinthephysicalworld.Wemustunderstandthereareprohibiting, spiritual forcesatworkable tokeep these things fromoccurring.There are fallen angels that cause deviations to what God originally purposedworkinginoppositiontowhatGodwantsforyourlife—theyoperatemuchliketheheavenlyangelsassignedtobringaboutthemanifestationtoyourprayers,onlyintheexactoppositeway.According toScripture,demonicforceswereonceangelswhohadbeengiventhesameoriginalassignmentofrespondingtovoice-activatedcommands, butwhen they fell from heaven, theirmission became perverted. Soinsteadofbringingtheanswers,theyprohibitanswersfrommanifesting.Yourfaithattracts the attention of heaven’s angels towork on your behalf,while your feardrawsthedemonsofhelltoworkagainstyou.Yourwordsbecomethemagnetthatdrawseitherheavenorhellintoyoursituation.Alwaysremember,noforceismorepowerfulthanthespokenwordofGod.The

Biblesaysthepoweroflifeanddeathisinyourtongue(Prov.18:21).ItisthewordofGodthatcomesforthfromyourmouththatpullsalltheresourcesofheaveninto

your situation. (See Matthew 18:18.) In her book Live a Praying Life, JenniferKennedyDeanwrites,“Inresponsetoourprayers,spiritualforcesaresetinmotionthatbringGod’swilltoearth.Prayerhasitsfirsteffectinthespiritualrealm.Whenthework is finished in the spiritual realm, the answer is revealed in thematerialrealm.”2JohnWesleyoncesaid,“ItseemsGodislimitedbyourprayerlife—thatHecan

donothingforhumanityunlesssomeoneaskHim.”3ThroughouttheBiblewelearnthatGod cannot intervene on the earth unless someone gives permission for theanswer to exist in thematerialworld.Answers areheldup in theheavenlies andlockedup in the realmof the spirituntil there is apersonable topickupon thecorrectfrequencyandactasaconduittoreleaseGod’swillintotheearth.ThisisillustratedbyJacob’sexperienceintheBookofGenesis.GodgaveJacob

avisionwherehesawaladdergoinguptoheaven—thetopoftheladdertouchedheaven and the bottom touched the earth. There were angels ascending anddescending—muchlikeradiowavesmovingalonganantenna.Thisisexactlyhowdivineinspirationworks.HereGodwasspeakingtoJacob’smindandenablinghimtopick up a spiritual frequency.Whenhe got tuned in to this frequency, he sawhowtheinvisiblerealmwasmanifestingitselfinthevisiblerealm.Sometimesourthoughtsarelikethesefrequencies.Jacobsawaladder,andthat

was themodern technology of his day. But in the twenty-first century hemighthaveseenawirelesscomputerorcellphone.Jacobwasabletogetaglimpseofaspiritual superhighway. I believe these superhighways are our thoughts—this iswherewepickup inspiration—these inspirational thoughtsseemtoappearoutofthinair,butreallytheyarecirculatingintherealmofthespirit.GodgaveMosesavisionoftheheavenlytabernacle.HegaveMosesavisionofsomethingthatalreadyexistedinheaven—theactual

spiritualtabernacle.GodopeneduptheeyesofMoses,andhewasabletoseeitandreplicateithereontheearth.SecretthingsbelonguntoGod,butthosethingsthatarerevealedbelonguntoman.(SeeDeuteronomy29:29.)Itisapointofrevelation—apointofinspiration—whereGodwantstospeaktousall.Hesaid,“IknowthethoughtsthatIthinktowardyou...thoughtsofpeace,andnotofevil,togiveyouanexpectedend”(Jer.29:11,Kjv).Heknowstheendfromthebeginning,andHeknowseverythinginbetween—andthosearethethingsthatHewantstorevealtoyou.

TAKINGHOLDOFTHEWHEELIn Job 38, God is asking Job a series of questions. At one point God asks,

“Wherewereyou . . .when themorningstars sang together?” (vv.4,7). FurtherdownHeinquires,“Haveyoucommandedthemorningsinceyourdaysbegan?”(v.12). In a sense,God is asking Job, “Have you thought about speaking into yourmorningandbringingorderintoyourday?”TheBiblesays:Eyehasnotseen,norearheard,norhaveenteredintotheheartofmanthethings

whichGodhaspreparedforthosewholoveHim.—1Corinthians2:9If these things are prepared butwe have not received them, it couldmeanwe

havenotdoneourpart inbringing themforth.ThinkofAbrahamsteppingout infaithinobediencetoGod.God saidHewantedAbraham to sacrificehismostprecious treasure—his son

Isaac.Astheymovedtowardtheplaceofsacrifice,asAbrahamliftedhishandtocarry out God’s instructions, there appeared a ram caught in the thicket. Godprovided the alternative, but not until Abraham moved out in obedience. Theprovisionwould not have appeared hadAbraham not taken the first step.ManytimesGod is expecting the corresponding action from us in order to bring thesethingstopass.

“Haveyoucommandedthemorningsinceyourdaysbegan?”(Job38:12).Inasense,GodisaskingJob,“Haveyouthoughtaboutspeakingintoyourmorningandbringingorderintoyourday?”

What are you doing to prepare for the thing you have been declaring andbelievingfor?Howdoyouractionscorrespondtoyourbelief thatacertaineventwillcometopassasaresultoftheintegrityofGod’sWord?InDeuteronomy28:1-14,Goddeclaresalonglistofblessingsthatwillresultif

you heed His voice. Just as God declares a thing, He expects you, as king andpriest, to do the same. Another way to say it is that His blessings are voiceactivated.ListentowhatiswritteninJob22:27-28:

YouwillmakeyourprayertoHim,

Hewillhearyou,

Andyouwillpayyourvows.

Youwillalsodeclareathing,

Anditwillbeestablishedforyou;

Solightwillshineonyourways.

To“makeyourprayer”means “to construct.”You are going to construct yourprayers—youaregoingtodecreewhatGodhasputonyourhearttodesire.Youarea royal priesthood adorned with a kingly anointing. A king does not ask foranything;akingdeclareshisdecrees,becausehehasthatauthority,andthoseinhisworldrushtoseethattheyareaccomplished.Don’teverthinkthatyouareaweak,defeatedvictim.Theweakareinstructedto

declare their strength: “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong’” (Joel 3:10). Neverunderestimate the strength that resides in you through Christ. You command apower to change the course of your destiny that the great heroes of the OldTestamentcouldonlydreamof.Think for a moment how the patriarchs of Israel attempted to change the

trajectoryoftheirlivesortheirnation:•Jacobwrestled.•Lotinquired.•Mosesintervened.•Davidrepented.•Solomonasked.•Danielfasted.They strove and pled and fought for the right to influence their destiny—a

destiny you have been given the privilege to shape simply by giving the word.Makesurethatasyoutakecommandthatyouareheadingtruenorthbydiligentlyguardingyourheartandstayingonheaven’scourse.Guardyourheartaboveallelse,foritdeterminesthecourseofyourlife.

—Proverbs4:23,nlt

ChapterSixTHEIMPORTANCEOFORDERINGYOURDAYDostthouloveLife,thendonotsquanderTime,forthat’stheStuffLifeismade

of.1—BenjaminFranklinYourfuturecomesonedayatatime—itisGod’spresenttoyou.Everymomentofeveryday,with

everythoughtyouthinkandwordyouspeak,youaremakingadecisiontomoveeither towardgreatnessor towardobscurity.Ifyouaretomakethemostofeveryopportunityyouaregiven—ifyouaretobecomeGod’svesselofgloryandhonorpreparedforeverygoodwork—youmustlearntoharness,andthenmaximize,thepotentialofyourthoughtsandwords.Youmustcreatearoyalpriestlymind-setbypracticingnoblethoughthabitsanddiscipliningyourtonguetospeaksuccess-filledwordsifyouaretobecomethechampionGodhascreatedyoutobe.Youhavebeengiventheopportunitytocreateamasterpieceofyourlife.While

your thoughtsare thecolorsyouuse topaint thebackground,yourwordsare thebrushes you use to fill in each detail. To make that painting the beautifulmasterpieceGodhasplanned it tobe,however,youmustbeclearonwhat thosecolorsanddetailsshouldlooklike.Asyoulearnedinthelastchapter,itisGodwhohaspre-createdinintimatedetailthespectaculartapestryofyourlife.Itisyourjobto discover what that looks like and weave it into existence. Like a wirelessreceiver, you can interface with heaven and download that template from thespiritualrealmintoyourrealtimelifeexperience.

Youhavebeengiventheopportunitytocreateamasterpieceofyourlife.Whileyourthoughtsarethecolorsyouusetopaintthebackgrouncyourwordsarethebrushesyouusetofillineachdetail.

Butthereisstillmoretothestory.Icannotteachonthemechanicsofcreativitywithout teachingon thedynamicsoforder.Beauty andcreativity areproductsofclarityandorganization.Wemustbe intentionalandpurposefulwithhowweusealloftheresourcesatourdisposal.Ephesians5:15-17(amp)givesusafoundationalkeyregardingthisveryprinciple:

Lookcarefullythenhowyouwalk!Livepurposefullyandworthilyandaccurately,notastheunwiseandwitless,butaswise(sensible, intelligentpeople),makingtheverymostofthetime[buyingupeach

opportunity],becausethedaysareevil.Thereforedonotbevagueandthoughtlessandfoolish,butunderstandingandfirmlygraspingwhatthewilloftheLordis.Thekey tomakingthemostofeveryopportunity is tograspfirmly thewillof

theLord.ThisiswhyitisvitallyimportanttorenewyourmindcontinuallywiththeWord of God. Youmust daily align your thoughts andwordswith God’s. Jesusgaveusa fundamentalkey tosuccessfullycommandingoureverysituationwhenHetoldusinJohn15:7,“IfyouabideinMe,andMywordsabideinyou,youwillaskwhatyoudesire,anditshallbedoneforyou.”ThisiswhyGodinstructsustomeditate on “theWord ofGod,which is effectually atwork in youwho believe[exercisingitssuperhumanpowerinthosewhoadheretoandtrust inandrelyonit]”(1Thess. 2:13, amp).God’sWord is life and health to thosewho find it. (SeeProverbs4:20-22.)

APPLYINGWISDOMOne of thewisest thingswe can do is to live life on purpose.We are told in

Scriptureto“redeemthetime”(Eph.5:16).Wearetobeintentionalwithhowweorder our days and spendour time.Everyone in the universe hasbeengiven thesamequantityoftime:weallgettwenty-fourhoursperdaywhetherweliveintheWhiteHouseor theghetto.Whatwedowith those twenty-fourhoursdetermineswhatweaccomplishinourlifetime.IoncehearditsaidthattimeisGod’swayofkeepingeverythingfromhappeningatonce.Wemustall learntheartoforderingourday.InPsalm90:12,Mosesmadethisrequest:“Teachustonumberourdays,thatwe

may gain a heart of wisdom.” We are to take into account each day and notsquanderthetimethatwehave.Wisdomredeemsthetimeandmakesthemostofeveryopportunity.WehaveallheardBenjaminFranklin’sfamousquip,“Early toBed,earlytorise,makesaManhealthy,wealthy,andwise.”2Itseemssimple,butseemingly innocuous time-wasters areoneof the enemy’smost effective tools inkeeping the body of Christ “off task.” In an age of time-saving, modernconveniencessuchasautomaticdishwashersandmicrowaveovens,wealsohavemajor “time-depleters” such as television and the Internet. What would BenFranklinhave thoughtabout themasseswhostayupwatchingcableTVuntil allhoursof thenight, channel surfing fromone infomercial to anotherbecause theyaretootiredtogotobed?

Everyoneintheuniversehasbeengiventhesamequantityoftime:weallgettwenty-fourhoursperdaywhetherweliveintheWhiteHouseortheghetto.

Ordering your day requires the ability to prioritize. It requires the ability todiscernwhatisdistractingbusyworkandwhatiskingdombusiness.Effectivetimemanagement requires getting God’s heart on what is worth “investing” time inversuswhatweshouldnotbe“spending”oreven“wasting”timeon.Aswithanyfinancial investment,youmustaskwhatkindof returnyour time investmentsareyielding.Time“spent”isacost—andyoumustbemindfulofthebenefityouareexchangingforthecostyouareincurring.

GODISAGODOFORDERWeexperiencethatGodisaGodoforderbytheconsistencyofseasons, tides,

andsolarorbits.Wecanorderourlivesbecauseweknowwithwhataccuracythesunwillsetandriseagain;howtheseasonswillchange,thetideswillturn,andtheplanetswillrotateontheiraxes.ThereisacadenceandrhythmtoourlivesbecauseoftheorderGodhasputintoplacethroughtheuniverseinwhichwearesuspendedandthenaturewithinwhichwedwell.Fromecosystemstosolarsystems,Godhasset into motion patterns that we can study and document through what we callscience.Godprovided theultimateexampleofeffective timemanagementandorder in

theBookofGenesis.InsixdaysHecreatedtheearthandeverythinginit,andonthe seventh dayHe rested. It all went according to plan. Therewas an order towhenandhowHecreatedwhatandwhen—asuccessionandprogression tohowHe developed each organism and species. God did not waste His resources,especially His time. He was purposeful and concise as He unfolded life on ourplanet.Look at Noah, Joseph,Moses, and David. All were men of honor and order.

They were disciplined and dedicated, and they submitted themselves to God’scommands.Theywereboldandcourageousbecausetheyunderstoodthepowerofa divine hierarchy and authority. They followed orders, knowing the poweravailableinsubmittingtoGod.EvenSolomonunderstoodtheimportanceoforderwhen he meticulously followed God’s instructions and chain of command inbuildingthetemple.Wereadin2Chronicles8:16,“NowalltheworkofSolomonwaswell-orderedfromthedayofthefoundationofthehouseoftheLorduntilitwasfinished.”IntheNewTestament,weareurgedbyPaulregardingGod’schurchto“besurethateverythingisdoneproperlyandinorder”(1Cor.14:40,nlt).Orderisaconditioninwhichfreedomfromdisorderordisruptionismaintained

throughstructures,systems,andprotocol.Wheneverthereisalackoforder,rank,or command chain; whenever protocol is not present; or whenever a code ofconductisnotperceivedorunderstood,itbringsaboutemptiness,lackofpurpose,andmeaning.Ifyourlifeischaracterizedbyconfusion,conflict,frustration,orlackofdirection,meaning,orinsight,itisanindicationthatyouaredeficientintheareaoforder.Wherethereisnoorder,thereisnolight:Alandasdarkasdarknessitself,Astheshadowofdeath,withoutanyorder,—Job10:22Untilyoudecidetoreversetheperpetualcycleofdisorder,youwillcontinueto

experiencecyclesofdefeatand failure.Thisprinciple is illustratedby the lawofentropy—thetendencyofenergytodissipateandgofromastateofordertooneofdisorder.Entropycanbedefinedasadispersalofenergy.Unlessyouintentionallyharnesstimeandenergy,unlessyoucommanditwiththeauthorityyouhavebeengiven,yourlifewilldissolveintoastateofchaos—andyouwillneverexperiencethe life of significance and fruitfulnessGod has purposed for you.Don’t just letthingshappen;makethingshappen.

TAKECONTROLOFYOURDAYDonotmissoutontherewardsofwell-managedtime.Orderiswhatgivesyou

thefreedomtobecreative.OrdergivesyouthepeaceofmindyouneedtotuneintoGod’ssupernatural frequenciesand tap intodivine inspiration.Withoutorder youwillbedistractedwith thecares andconcernsof this life so thatyoucannot stillyourmindtohearGod’svoice.Itisimpossibletoimagineandenvisionwhenyouareoverextendedandstressed.Youneedtoscheduletimetopurposefullypaintthecanvasofyourlifebyinvestingincreativedreaming.Stoptothink.Orderyourdayso thatyouhave the timeandpeaceyouneed to create themasterpieceGodhaspreordainedforyou.Like any professional composer, artist, architect, writer, or programmer, you

mustscheduletimetothinkthingsthrough.Formfollowsthought,andtheshapeofyourlifeisaproductofthatthought.Structureyourtimesothatyoucanstructureyourthoughts,fortheyprovidethestructureforyourlife.Knowwhentotakeholdofanideaandrunwithitandwhentowaitandletitmatureuntilithasripened.GetGod’stiming.DiscernGod’sorder.Afarmerdiligentlyprepareshis field, tills thesoil inneat rows,andplantshis

seedinstraightlinesaccordingtoitskind.Heknowswhathehasplanted,andhe

continuestotillandcultivate,pruneandfertilize,untiltheharvestisready.Eveninharvesting a bountiful crop, hemust bemindful, or hewill destroywhat he hasworkedsohardtogrow.Tomaximizetheyieldofhis labor,hecarefullygathers,bundles, and stores his produce. Although God gives the increase, we mustcontinuallywatchoverwhatwehaveplantedtoprotectitandharvestitatjusttheright time.Do not underestimate the importance and rewards of doing all thingsmindfully and in order. It is how we achieve excellence and become people ofvirtue.Honorandorderarecloselyrelated.Ifyouorderyourconductaright,Godwilldelight inyouandshowyouHis salvation.Conversely, ifyoudelight in theLord,Hewillorderyoursteps.TohimwhoordershisconductarightIwillshowthesalvationofGod.—Psalm50:23ThestepsofagoodmanareorderedbytheLord,andHedelightsinhisway.—Psalm37:23The rewardsoforder aremany. Itmay seem like adaunting if not exhausting

tasktoestablishagreaterdegreeoforderinyourlife.Thatmayfeelimpossibleifyou feelyouarealreadyoverstretched.But taking time toorderyourday shouldnot be an additional burden or one more “to do” on your list of duties andresponsibilities.Orderwilleaseyourloadandfreeyourmindforgreaterpeace,joy,and creativity. Take a look at this short list of benefits you will reap by moreeffectivelyorderingyourday:•Senseofcontrol•Senseofpurpose•Increaseinproductivity•Anenvironmentofcreativity•Greaterfocusandflowofaccomplishments•Strengthtoovercomethoselittlefoxesthatspoilthevine(SongofSol.2:15)CULTIVATINGCLARITYYoumaybe lookingatyour life andwondering if it ispossible to remove the

cloudofchaosthatseemstoholddominionoveryou.Therearetwosimplethingsyoucandoinordertomovetowardclearerskies.First,unclutteryourenvironment.Whetherathomeorattheoffice,tidyupyourimmediatesurroundings.Whenyouhave cleared off your desk or straightened your bedroom, wherever you findyourself,stopforamomentandunclutteryourmind.Pauseandstillyourthoughtssoyoucangainclarityonwhatisthemostimportantthingforyoutofocusuponinyourpresentmoment.Don’t wait until every area of your external environment is completely

organized, but create pockets of orderwhere you can clear yourmind and orderyour thoughts.Your immediate environment and the atmospheres you createwillgo far toenhance theorderyouareable toestablish inyour sphereof influence.PracticeclearingyourheadbyjournalingormeditatingonScripture.FindaspacewhereyoucanusherinthepeaceofGodbyquietingyourmindthroughworship.Dump the distractions that try and push their way into your inner sanctuary bymakinglistsandputtingplansonpapertodolater.Corralallthoseroguethoughts

ontoapieceofpaperwheretheycanremainuntilyouarereadytoaddressthem.Learntolovethedawn,forthereispowerintherisingoftheSon!

Whenyouareready,casteachcareontheLordonebyone,knowingthatGodishearingyourprayersandwatchingoverHisWordtoperformit.Jesussaid,“AndwhateveryouaskinMyname,thatIwilldo,thattheFathermaybeglorifiedintheSon. If you ask anything inMy name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). And Johnencouragedusbywriting,“NowthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinHim,thatifweaskanythingaccordingtoHiswill,Hehearsus.AndifweknowthatHehearsus,whateverwe ask,we know thatwe have the petitions thatwe have asked ofHim”(1John5:14-15).BestillandknowthatHeisGod.(SeePsalm46:10.)Focusondoingwhatyou

knowyoushouldbedoing,andletGoddoHispartwithoutdoubtingifHewillornot.

ORDERCOMESEARLYGodisanearlyriser.TheBible isfullofreferencesofHisprophetsandsaints

risingearlytoprayorhearGod’svoice.GodisnotoriousforwakingHisfollowersearly in themorning to give them instructions, insights, orwarnings.ThosewhoseektobeusedofGodmustbewillingtoriseupearly.Soldiersareeveralertandreadytorespondtoorders.Thebugleblowsearlybecausebattlesarewonthroughthe preparations done in the early hours of the day—especially spiritual battles.Learntolovethedawn,forthereispowerintherisingoftheSon!However,prayingearlydoesnotonlyrefertothehourofaday,butitalsorefers

to praying far in advance of something happening—before a situation escalatesbeyondyourcontrol.Partofprayingproactively rather than reactively isprayingearly.Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we are given lessons on the

importanceofprayingearly.Prayingearly is akingdomprinciple.Listen tohowtheLordrebukedJeremiah:“Ispoketoyou,risingupearlyandspeaking,butyoudidnothear,andIcalledyou,butyoudidnotanswer”(Jer.7:13).WearetoldinMatthew20:1,“Forthekingdomofheavenislikealandownerwhowentoutearlyinthemorningtohirelaborersforhisvineyard.”InIsaiahweread:Hewakesmeupinthemorning,wakesmeup,opensmyearstolistenasonereadytotakeorders.—Isaiah50:4-5,TheMessageGod,theMasterStrategist,empoweredMosesearlyinthemorning.Aneffective

offenseasserts itselfearly, soGod instructedMoses to“riseearly in themorningandstandbeforePharaoh,andsaytohim,‘ThussaystheLordGodoftheHebrews:“LetMypeoplego,thattheymayserveMe”’”(Exod.9:13).AndtheninExodus24:4weread:

AndMoseswroteallthewordsoftheLord.Andheroseearlyinthemorning,andbuiltanaltaratthefootofthemountain,andtwelvepillarsaccordingtothetwelvetribesofIsrael.GodspeaksthroughandtoHisservantsearly.In 2Chronicles,God promises the Israelites victory against their enemies.He

tells themnot tobeafraidof thegreatmultitudes, forHewill fight thebattle forthem.HeinstructstheIsraelitestopositionthemselvesandtostandfirm.TheLordsaystothem,“Donotfearorbedismayed;tomorrowgooutagainstthem,forthe

Lordiswithyou”(2Chron.20:17).SotheyroseearlyinthemorningandwentoutintotheWildernessofTekoa;and

as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and youinhabitantsofJerusalem:BelieveintheLordyourGod,andyoushallbeestablished;believeHisprophets,andyoushallprosper.”—2Chronicles20:20TheyroseearlyandbegantosingandpraisetheLord.Astheysangpraisesto

God,theLordcausedconfusionamongtheenemycamp,andtheirfoesturnedoneach other until all of themwere utterly destroyed. The Israelites spent the nextthreedayscarryingawaythespoilthatwasleftbehind.GoodthingscometothosewhoriseearlyandpraiseGod.ListentothewordsofGod’schampion,David:Awake,myglory!Awake,luteandharp!—Psalm57:8OGod,YouaremyGod;EarlywillIseekYou.—Psalm63:1TheLordsaidthatDavidwasamanafterHisownheart.TheBiblerecordsthat

David was Israel’s greatest warrior, king, poet, and prophet. He was one ofScripture’s most passionate and purposeful characters, and he left an enduringlegacyof victory,wisdom, and significance.What setDavid apart?What causedDavidtobecomeanenduringheroofthefaith?HeroseearlytoseektheLord.ButDavidwasn’ttheonlybelovedofGodtoriseearly.Jesus,inwhomGodsaid

Hewaswellpleased,habitually roseearly topray:“Now in themorning,havingrisenalongwhilebeforedaylight,Hewentoutanddepartedtoasolitaryplace;andthereHeprayed” (Mark1:35). If theLord JesusChrist had to rise early to pray,howmuchmoreshouldwebeginourdayinprayer?TheveryfirstChristians,whoweretaughtbyChristHimself,roseearlytohear

theWordofGod.InLuke21:38weread,“EarlyinthemorningallthepeoplecametoHiminthetempletohearHim.”AndinJohn8:2weread,“Atdawnheappearedagain in the temple courts,where all thepeoplegatheredaroundhim, andhe satdowntoteachthem”(niv).Thispracticecontinuedthroughtotheearlychurch.Aftertheywereimprisoned,

anangeloftheLordinstructedtheapostles,“‘Go,standinthetempleandspeaktothepeopleall thewordsof this life.’Andwhen theyheard that, theyentered thetempleearlyinthemorningandtaught”(Acts5:20-21).Godwantstogiveyouapropheticjump-starttoyourday.Listentotheyearning

ofGod’sheartinJeremiah35:14-15:AlthoughIhavespokentoyou,risingearlyandspeaking,youdidnotobeyMe.I

have also sent to you allMy servants the prophets, rising up early and sendingthem,saying,“Turnnoweveryonefromhisevilway,amendyourdoings,anddonotgoafterothergodstoservethem;thenyouwilldwellinthelandwhichIhavegivenyouandyourfathers.”Butyouhavenotinclinedyourear,norobeyedMe.

Andlistentothiswarningfoundin1Chronicles:TheLordourGodbrokeoutagainstus,becausewedidnotconsultHimaboutthe

properorder.—1Chronicles15:13GettingGod’sorder foreveryareaofour lives isseriousbusiness.Weservea

Godoforder.The enemyusesdisorder and confusion towreakdestruction.Godcallsyou to followafter peace and righteousness to establish order and freedom.Takedominionoveryourday,yourenvironment,andyourdestinybysettingthingsintheirproperorder.SeektheLordearlyandconsultHimaboutorderingyourdayaright!RISEEARLYANDCOMMANDYOURMORNINGAn important part of ordering your day is rising early to seek the Lord. God

wantstospeakintoyourlifesothatHecanhelpyouorderyourdaywithgreaterauthorityandsuccess.TapintoGod’sbestwillforyoubyrisingearlytospendtimeinHispresence.LettheLordfillyourheartwithHispeaceandjoy,standfirmonHispromises,andgetHisspecialwordforyousothatyoucanstandanddeclareitthroughout the day. Seek wisdom; seek understanding; study to show yourselfapproved.Riseearly,asdidtheprophetIsaiah,sothatyouwillhavethetongueofthewise,readytogiveananswerforthehopethatisinyou.Yes,bymyspiritwithinmeIwillseekYouearly;ForwhenYourjudgmentsareintheearth,Theinhabitantsoftheworldwilllearnrighteousness.—Isaiah26:9

ChapterSevenHOWTOBECOMEANOVERNIGHTSUCCESSToperceivetheworlddifferently,wemustbewillingtochangeourbeliefsystem,letthepastslipaway,expandoursenseofnow,anddissolvethefearinourminds.1

—WilliamJames

SUCCESS REQUIRES COURAGE AND BOLDNESS.It requires that youwalk in genuine spiritual authority inordertotakedominionoveryourinnerandouterworld.Godhasempoweredyou,throughChrist,tospeaklightintoeverysituation.Hehasgivenyouthetoolsandability todispel thedarkandcreatebeautyandorderwhereveryouare.Begin toconsiderthechaosandformlessnessyouencounterasablankcanvasuponwhichyoucansketch,orrawclaywithwhichyoucanmoldyourdream.Michelangelo’sDavid,oneofthegreatestpiecesofartofalltime,wasjustablockofmarblelikeanyotherbeforeMichelangelosethishandandchisel to it.Whatever liesbeforeyoucanbethesubstancefromwhichyoucallforthyourownmasterpiece.

When God dreamed of creation, He spoke into a situation that was dark and“withoutform.”Wheretherewasdarkness,Goddeclaredlight.WereadinGenesis1:2-4that“theearthwaswithoutform,andvoid;anddarknesswasuponthefaceofthedeep....ThenGodsaid,‘Lettherebelight’;andtherewaslight...andGoddivided the light from the darkness.” God created paradise and then gave Hisultimatecreation,man, theauthority toruleover it.HetoldAdamtonameeverycreature,callingeachoneoutbeforehimoneatatime—thusAdamproclaimedthenameofandorderedeveryspecies.Manwasgivendominionoverallcreationandthepowertosilenceallofhisenemies.(SeePsalm8.)Goddidn’tcreatemankindtobeidlebuttobeanactiveparticipantinmakingtheearthoverintotheformGodintended.God locked up all themysteries ofwhat humanitywould ever need inwhatHecreated,sothatwecouldco-laborwithHimtounravelthosemysteriesandcontinuemovingcreationtowarditsexpectedend.

LEARNINGTOREIGNINGLORYJesusspokemanyparablessothatHisdisciplescouldconceptualizethepowerat

theirdisposalandlearntooperatesuccessfullyinHiskingdom.Hewantedthemtocomprehendthedegreeofsuccessandprosperitythatwasavailabletothemiftheypursuedthesekingdomprinciples.

WhenIspeakofsuccessandprosperity, Iamspeakingof theseconcepts fromthe context of the kingdom. Success is the fulfillment of divine purpose, whileprosperity is having enough divine provision to overcome obstacles. Once youpressoutofonesituation,realm,ordomain,youwillrisetoanewlevelofstrengthwithagreatercapacitytoinfluenceyournewsituationordomain.Inotherwords,youwillgofromoneglorytoanotherandfromonelevelofstrengthtoagreaterone.Whenyou learn tobuildonyourexperiences,adding toyour faith,youwillliveasuccessfulkingdomlifeasambassadorsofGod’sgloriouskingdom.Youwillprogressfromonelevelofsuccessandprovisiontoanotherasyoudevelopgodlyabilityandcharacter.ListentohowPeteradmonishedearlybelievers:

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, tovirtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, toperseverancegodliness,togodlinessbrotherlykindness,andtobrotherlykindness

love.For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor

unfruitfulintheknowledgeofourLordJesusChrist.—2Peter1:5-8WhenPetersays“forthisveryreason,”heisreferringtohavingbeencalledto

partakeofGod’sdivinenature(v.4).Asanambassador,youarecalledtorepresentyourheavenlyFatherintheearthlyrealm.Youareto“re-present”Him,or“presentHimagain,” ineveryavenueof secular interaction.Theworldhas formulatedanerroneous and limited concept of God, and you are called to demonstrate Hisgreatness through your lifestyle. God has called you to be His showcase on theearth—everything about you should reflect the glories of the kingdom, from theclothesyouwear to thewayyoutalk—everything thatspeaks toyourstationandqualityoflife—allshoulddemonstratethelimitlessgloriesofthekingdomofGod!

Successisthefulfillmentofdivinepurpose,whileprosperityishavingenoughdivineprovisiontoovercomeobstacles

Youarealsocalledtobringthesystemsofthisworldintodivinealignment.FirstPeter2:9tellsusthatwearekinglypriests:“aroyalpriesthood,aholynation,Hisownspecialpeople,thatyoumayproclaimthepraisesofHimwhocalledyououtof darkness into Hismarvelous light.” Your priestly anointing empowers you toworshipandoffersacrificesofpraisetoGod.Yourkinglyanointinggivesyouthepower and authority to legislate, regulate, enforce, and establish—to reign, rule,anddominate.Asabeliever,youmustunderstandthatyouhavebecomeprivytothemysteryofthesekingdomprinciplesorkeyssothatinthislifeyoucanwalkindivine dominion. “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, andwhateveryoubindonearthwillbebound inheaven,andwhateveryou looseonearthwillbeloosedinheaven”(Matt.16:19).Inotherwords,whateveryouallowin theearthlyrealm,heavenallows,andwhateveryousayno to inJesus’s name,heavenwillbackyouupbybindingit.Remember,nothingleavesheavenuntiltherequest for it leaves Earth. This is how powerful the spokenword is. It has theabilitytoopenorclosespiritualandheavenlyportals.

GodsetthisprincipleinplacewhenHedeclaredthroughIsaiah:SoshallMywordbe thatgoes forth fromMymouth; it shallnot return toMe

void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing forwhichIsentit.

—Isaiah55:11Asalivingepistle,acarrieroftheSpiritofChrist,theWordhasbeenmadeflesh

inyou,andtheGod-breathedwordsthatyouspeak,asatempleofthelivingGod,carryasupernaturalauthorityandcreativepower.“DoyounotknowthatyouarethetempleofGodandthattheSpiritofGoddwellsinyou?”(1Cor.3:16).

Words are powerful. Words affect your destiny. One day of murmuring andcomplaininghasthepowertosetyoubackforayear.That’sa1-to-365-dayratio.Therefore,youcan’taffordtoreleasecapriciouswordsoutofyourmouthbecausethespiritrealmtakeseverywordutteredfrommanasacommandandmandate.Itdoesnotdiscriminatebetweenajest,ajoke,adesire,anorder,oradecree.Thisishowpowerful the spokenword is.Rememberwhathappened in thedesert to thechildrenofIsrael.Becarefulnottobecomeensnaredbyyourownwords.

Aman’sbellyshallbesatisfiedwiththefruitofhismouth;andwiththeincreaseofhislipsshallhebefilled.

—Proverbs18:20,Kjv

PRAYSTRATEGICALLYSometimes your success, your progress, or your blessings can be held up and

hinderednotbecauseyouarespeakingnegatively,butbecauseothershavereleasednegativewords over your life and you have accepted them as true.Refuse to sitback and passively let life happen to you. Get actively involved in your owndestiny. Aggressively reverse ill-spoken words, hexes, spells, and bad wishes.Proactivelydesign,construct,andengineeryourlife.Whatdoyouwantyourlifetolook likenextweek,nextyear,orevenatyourfuneral?Willyouberememberedforyouraccomplishments—oronlyforwhatyoumighthavedone?

According to Jeremiah 29:11,God does not start a thingwithout knowing theoutcome—Hebeginseveryworkwiththeendinmind.SinceHealreadyknowstheend from the beginning,Hemust know everything in between. SeekHis face inprayer.“Ifanyofyoulackswisdom,lethimaskofGod,whogivestoallliberallyandwithoutreproach”(James1:5).MakeinquiriesconcerningtheplansHehasforyou.DiscoverHiswillasHespeakstoyourheartandmind,andthenlegislateHiswill in theearthly realm throughdailydeclarations.Byyourwordsyouestablishlifeordeath,blessingsorcurses,successorfailure.

Youcan’taffordtoreleasecapriciouswordsoutofyourmouthbecausethespiritrealmtakeseverywordutteredfrommanasacommandandmandate...Thisishowpowerfulthespokenwordis.

InMatthew13:52,Jesusstatesthatapersonwhoiscoachedtoparticipateinthekingdom of heaven is one who is able to tap into both ancient truth and freshwisdom.Let’slookathowtheAmplifiedBibleinterpretsthisverseofScripture:

Hesaidtothem,ThereforeeveryteacherandinterpreteroftheSacredWritingswhohasbeeninstructedaboutandtrainedforthekingdomofheavenandhasbecomeadiscipleislikeahouseholderwho

bringsforthoutofhisstorehousetreasurethatisnewand[treasurethatis]old[thefreshaswellasthefamiliar].

Inotherwords,weseekinsightandguidanceforprayerfromboththeOldandtheNewTestament.Prayerisatime-honoredkingdomdiscipline.ItisthemeansbywhichwecommunicatewithGod,anditishowGodcommunicateswithus.YourprayersshouldbeconstructedinsuchamannerthattheyissueforthfromthelivingWordofGod,incorporatingbothestablishedprinciplesaswellasfreshrevelation.Tokeepyourprayerlifevibrantandexciting,youshoulduseavarietyofstrategiesaswellasadiversityofgoals.

TAKECOMMANDINADVANCE:THEIMPORTANCEOFKEEPINGWATCHBecomingan“overnightsuccess”willonlyhappenafteryouhavesuccessfully

orderedyourthoughts,words,andtime.Allofthesecomponentsworkingtogetherwill empower youwith the prayer strategy I call “CommandingYourMorning.”WhatIwanttoconveyhere,particularly,isthatinthiscontext,morningdoesnotsolelyrefertothehoursregisteredonthefaceofaclockbuttotheperiodoftimethat exists before circumstances happen. You do not have to wait to get sick orexperiencefinancial lossorplummetingmarriagerelationsbeforepositioningandposturing yourself to pray. There aremany occurrences in your life that are theworkoftheenemyandcanbeprohibitedthroughpreemptiveprayer.

In the New Testament, we read of a specific prayer strategy Jesus employed.Let’slookatMatthew14:23-32:

AndwhenHehadsentthemultitudesaway,HewentuponthemountainbyHimselftopray.

Nowwheneveningcame,Hewasalonethere.Buttheboatwasnowinthemiddleofthesea,tossedbythewaves,forthewindwascontrary.NowinthefourthwatchofthenightJesuswenttothem,walkingon

thesea.AndwhenthedisciplessawHimwalkingonthesea,theyweretroubled,saying,“Itisaghost!”Andtheycriedoutforfear.ButimmediatelyJesusspoketothem,saying,“Beofgoodcheer!ItisI;donotbe

afraid.”AndPeteransweredHimandsaid,“Lord,ifitisYou,commandmetocometoYouonthewater.”SoHesaid,“Come.”

AndwhenPeterhadcomedownoutoftheboat,hewalkedonthewatertogotoJesus.Butwhenhesawthatthewindwasboisterous,hewasafraid;andbeginningtosinkhecriedout,saying,“Lord,saveme!”

AndimmediatelyJesusstretchedoutHishandandcaughthim,andsaidtohim,“Oyouoflittlefaith,whydidyoudoubt?”Andwhentheygotintotheboat,thewindceased.

Intheabovetext,Jesusteachesushowtogaincontroloverourdaysothatwedethroneevilfromitsplaceofpower.Thestrategyyouareabouttoembarkonisparticularlyusefulduring timesof transition.Transitionrequiresachange inhowwepraybecausethenaturalmancannotunderstandthethingsofGod.Intransitionyou must seek the counsel of God, not the counsel of man. Also, you must becareful not to embrace the counsel of debilitating spirits such as fear, doubt, andunbelief.Forhewhosoonerorlateradvancesinlifethroughprayerwillinevitablybegreetedinhisfuturebytheintoxicatingaromasofdivinesuccess,supernaturalaccomplishments, and continuous moments of heavenly bliss, peace, andcontentment.

JesushadalreadyprayedfromtentotwelvehoursbeforeHegotHisrelease.HewasusingaspecificprayerstrategythatIhavecalled“CommandingtheMorning.”Long before the enemy manifested himself by devising a storm, Jesus hadprogrammed life, prosperity, and success into His day and into the lives of Hisdisciples.Thedevil couldnotkill themorcause them to fail.Although theymetwithfrustratingcircumstances,theyprevailedbecauseJesushadalreadypavedthewaytotheirsuccesswithHisprayers.

ThisprinciplecanbefoundintheOldTestamentaswell.Job38:12-13revealsaconversationGodhadwith

Job.Heaskedaseriesofquestionsthatexposestheprincipleofcommandingthemorning:

Haveyoucommandedthemorningsinceyourdaysbegan,Andcausedthedawntoknowitsplace,Thatitmighttakeholdoftheendsoftheearth,Andthewickedbeshakenoutofit?GodaskedJob,“Haveyoucommandedthemorning?”Longbeforetheaverage

believerhasawakenedtoevenconsidertheirday,witchesandwarlockshavebeendiligentlyperchedupontheirpostsreleasingspellsandhexes.Thewitchinghouristhe timewhen supernatural creatures such aswitches, demons, and ghosts are attheirmostpowerfulandblackmagicismosteffective.Theyconsiderthemidnighthour to be the greatest time to effect change and transformation in the spiritualrealm.

BythetimeweChristiansariseforwhatwecall“earlymorningprayer,”whichisusuallysomewherebetween4:00a.m.and6:00a.m., thosewhoworkwith thedarkartofdivinationhavecompletedtheirdiabolicalassignments,andthesatanicsabotageofyourdayhasalreadybeensetinmotion.ManyChristianshavebecomediscouraged simply because they have prayed amiss— they missed the time ofdeclarationandneglectedtocommandtheirmorning.

ThisdivineprincipleistakenfromGenesis,chapter1,whereitiswritten:“Andtheeveningandthemorningwasthefirst...second...third...fourth...fifth... sixth day.”God actuallyworked from the evening to themorning, rather frommorningtoevening.

During Jesus’s generation, a watch constituted a three-hour period. The firstwatchwouldbeginat6:00p.m.,thesecondat9:00p.m.,thethirdatmidnight,thefourth at 3:00 a.m., and the fifth at 6:00 a.m. There would be a total of eightwatches,fourinthenightandfourintheday.Ifyouareamathematician,youhaveprobablyconcludedthateightwatchesconstituteatwenty-four-hourday.

Therefore,thoseearlyhoursofprayershouldbeplacedwithinthecontextoftheeveningtomorningwatches,whichactuallybeginat6:00p.m.andendat6:00a.m.Itisimportanttounderstandthattheendingofawatchshiftisjustasimportantasthebeginning,becauseitisduringthistimeframethattheenemywillattempttosetupanambushandattack.Accordingto1Peter5:8,youmust“besober,bevigilant;becauseyouradversarythedevilwalksaboutlikearoaringlion,seekingwhomhemaydevour.”

Ifyouareassignedtothelasttwowatchesofthenight—midnightto3:00a.m.and3:00a.m.to6:00a.m.—yourroleisanimportantonebecauseyouarestandingin thegap to reinforce theprayerhedges thathavebeenestablished inprecedingwatches. Remember, the last watch is more effective if those assigned to itunderstandthecontextoftheentirenightwatchvigil.

Everyeffortshouldbemadetoreinforceaprayeragendathatisembracedbyallwatches.

AstheChiefIntercessor,Jesusknewthemosteffectivetimetopray.HewasGodin action, and He deemed it as a divine imperative to begin His prayer watchsometimeduring thefirstwatch,whichwasapproximately6:00p.m.Asaprayergeneral,Jesuswasanadeptprayertechnicianabletopraywithfluency,proficiency,clarity,andaccuracyforaslongasitwasnecessarytoprayforsomething.IpraythatGodwillgrantyouthesamedivineability.

APPLYINGTHEDISCIPLINEOFKINGDOMLIVINGAfteraperiodofsuccessfulministry,Jesusorchestratedanewobjectlessonfor

Hisdisciples.Hewantedtoexposethemtothedisciplineofkingdomliving—forkingdomlivingdemandsdisciplinedeffort,strategicprayer,anddivineawareness.PriortoeverygreatkingdomeventdemonstratedbyJesus,theBibleindicatesthatHespentaminimumoftentotwelvehoursinprayer.JesuswasestablishingGod’sdivineagendaintheearthrealmanddownloadingvictory,success,andprosperityintoHis daywhile dislodging evil.Hewas commanding themorning and takingauthorityoverHisday.Tocommandmeansto:

•Instruct

•Dictate

•Exerciseauthority

•Masterandconquer

•Control

•Giveordersto

•Demandsoastoreceivewhatisdue

•Rule

•Decree

•Supervise

•Keepwatch

•Manage

•Administrate

•Regulate

Don’tmissthisprinciple.Thepowerforchangeisinyourmouth.Thepowerfor

prosperityisinyourmouth.Thepowerforhealthandhealingisinyourmouth.Thepowerforasuccessfulministry,marriage,business, relationship,orwhateveryouneedisinyourmouth!

When you command yourmorning, you pull success from the spiritual realminto your day. When you command your morning, you give your reality divineassignments.Youmustbewillingtodeclareandestablishinthespiritrealmtodaywhatyouwanttoseemanifestedtomorrow.Whenyouunderstandandimplementthisprayer strategy,youwill literallybegin toexperiencewhat Icall“overnight”success.When I say “overnight” I am referring once again to the power of thespokenwordinrelationtoGod’seternalplanforyourlifeandyourprayerposturerelativetosettingtheseplansintomotion.Whatyoudecreeforthbeforeyougotobed at night and continue to declare as you rise in the morning will keep thespiritual world active all night long—while you sleep the peaceful sleep of therighteous!

God’splansaretoblessandnottocurse;tomakealiveandnotkill;toprosperyouandnotcauseyoutofail.Prayingduringthenightcausesyourmorningtobebrightandtoaboundwithgoodness.Youwillstartyourdaywithpowerandenditwithblessing.Remember,whenwerefer todays,nights,andseasons,wearenotreferring to the time on a clock or a day on a calendar; we are referring to thetimingof theLord,which requiresneither a clocknor a calendar.His timing forblessing isnow, in thepresentmoment,and isregulatedby simple and continualactsofobedience.(SeeDeuteronomy28:1-2.)

AccordingtoIsaiah1:19,“Ifyouarewillingandobedient,youshalleatthegoodoftheland.”Areyouwilling?

Whenyouemploythisstrategy,youactivatethetwenty-four-houranointing—ananointing thatbringsall theelements surroundingyour life intodivinealignmentwith God’s purpose for you. This anointing brings you to a kind of propheticcriticalmass.AnexampleofthiswouldbethelifeofJoseph.Onenightafteralongperiodofcaptivity,

God’splansaretoblessandnottocurse;tomakealiveandnotkill;toprosperyouandnotcauseyoutofail.

Josephwenttobedafelon,andhewokeuppositionedtobeprimeminister.Alltheelementsofhislifecollidedwithpurposeandexplodedintoapropheticcriticalmass. Therewas nothing and no one that could stop his impending success andprosperity. When you command your morning, nothing and no one can hinder,alter,orabortyourdestiny.

ThenlethimdeclareitandsetitinorderforMe...

Andthethingsthatarecomingandshallcome,

Letthemshowthesetothem.

—Isaiah44:7

ChapterEightCOMMANDINGYOURMORNINGOwhileIlivetobetheruleroflife,notaslave,Tomeetlifeasapowerfulconqueror...

Andnothingexteriortomewillevertakecommandofme.1

—WaltWhitman

ManwascreatedintheimageofGodandafterHislikeness.Hewasthengivenamandatetorule and to dominate hisworld.Hewas given the delegated authority to presideover the earth and to protect it from negative forces that could createdisequilibrium,distress,destitution,anddisease.

God said in the Book of Job that you shall decree a thing and it shall beestablished(Job22:28).Yourmiraclealreadyexists in theunseen“secret” realm.AllsecretthingsbelongtoGod,butthosethingsthatarerevealedbelongtoman.InProverbs25:2 (nlt)we read, “It isGod’sprivilege toconceal thingsand theking’sprivilegetodiscoverthem.”Solomonalsoputitthisway:

Isetmyhearttoseekandsearchoutbywisdomconcerningallthatisdoneunderheaven;thisburdensometaskGodhasgiventothesonsofman,bywhichtheymaybeexercised.

—Ecclesiastes1:13

INSEARCHOFWISDOMItisatthepointofrevelation—ordivineinspiration—thatGodspeakstousall.

Hesaid,“‘ForIknowtheplansIhaveforyou,’declarestheLord,‘planstoprosperyouandnottoharmyou,planstogiveyouhopeandafuture’”(Jer.29:11,Niv).Heknows the end from thebeginning and everything in between.And these are thethingsthatHewantstorevealtoyou.TheBookofJobsaysthatthisiswhatGodactuallydoes;Heopensup themindofmanandspeaks inspirational thoughtssothatHecankeepman frompursuinghisown limitedway.God’s thoughtsareofabundanceandnotlack—Hewantsyoutolivelargeandtobringyouintoagoodlife.Hegivesyoudivineinspirational thoughtsandtheability tospeakthemintoexistencesothatyouwillgrowtofulfillHisbestplanforyourlife.Hewantsyoutomatureinwisdom,authority,andsupernaturalabilitysothatyoucanbearwitnesstothesplendorofHiskingdom.Yourmiracleisalreadyinexistence,butitisuptoyoutolearntoseeitandtocallitout.

TAKECOMMANDBYMAKINGTHECALLInMatthew21:2,whenJesuswaspreparingforHis finalentry intoJerusalem,

Hecalledforadonkeytobebrought toHim,but thedonkeystayed tiedupuntilJesuscalledforit.Likewise,thethingyouneedmightalreadybywaitingforyou,but you don’t see it yet because you have not yet called for it. A situation orcircumstancegenerallycomesbecauseyouhavecalledittoyou—youhavegivenitpermissiontoexistinyourlife.Casualwordsthatonthesurfacemayfeelasthoughthey are spoken out of humility—as though they are politely self-deprecating,politicallycorrect,or“notoverlyoptimistic”—candomoreharm thanyou think.Remember, whatever you bind or loose on the earthwill be bound or loosed inheaven—andthattheLordsaid,“JustasyouhavespokeninMyhearing,soIwilldotoyou”(Num.14:28).

Throughout the Bible God is calling His people to take command of theirdestiniesbylearningtocommandtheirmornings.Commandmeans“toorderwithauthority;totakechargeof;toexercisedirectauthorityover;tolead;todominate

byposition; toguard; tooverlook.”Don’t letyourdayget thebestofyoubynotcommandingthebestfromyourday.Takecommandofyourthoughts,words,andtime so that you will be in a position to take command of your destiny. “Keepawake! Do not sleep like others.Watch and keep your minds awake to what ishappening”(1Thess.5:6,nlv).

Donot be a victim.Call the shots and change your destiny. Be proactive anddecisiveasyoudeclareGod’sWordoveryourlife.Godhasgivenyouthepromisethatwhatsoever youdeclare in Jesus’s name, itwill be done (John14:13-14), soyou can be allHe intended you to be on the earth—a shining example ofGod’sgoodnessandlove.

Setyourwordsinorderbeforeme;takeyourstand.

—Job33:5

Standyourground....Stayalertandbepersistentinyourprayers.

—Ephesians6:14,18,nltDECREEANDDECLAREPROSPECTIVELYThereshouldbenodoubtinyourmindthatGodwantstoblessandprosperyou.

Hewantsyoutosucceedandnotfail.Hewantstheverybestforyou.Remember,those that come toGodmust believe thatHe rewards thosewho diligently seekHim (Heb. 11:6). This is because the one thing that pleases God is your faith.Furthermore, let your declarations be informed by the following revolutionary—and“revelationary”—truth:

Nowsalvation,andstrength,andthekingdomofourGod,andthepowerofHisChrist have come, for the accuser of our brethren,who accused thembefore ourGoddayandnight,hasbeencastdown.AndtheyovercamehimbythebloodoftheLambandbythewordoftheirtestimony.

—Revelation12:10-11Your enemy is overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your

testimony.Youmustdeclare,“Hewhois in[me] isgreater thanhewhois in theworld”(1John4:4),and“InallthesethingswearemorethanconquerorsthroughHim who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). Believe and confess: “For with the heart onebelievesuntorighteousness,andwiththemouthconfessionismadeuntosalvation”(Rom.10:10).

AsktheHolySpirittoguideyourwords,thoughts,andfaithasyoutakecommandofyourday.

Speakwithconvictionandconfesswithexpectation.Expectthatwhateveryouaredecreeingwillcometopass.JesustaughtinMark

11:24,“Whateverthingsyouaskwhenyoupray,believethatyoureceivethem,andyouwillhave them.”Yet in the sameverse, Jesusemphasized theneed forus to“speak”and“say”threetimesmorethanHedid“believe.”Sincethespiritrealmisthecausalrealm,expectthatwhateveryouareprayingwillmanifestonthissideofglory because it has already been sealed in the spirit realm. God has alreadyreleased every possibility before the foundation of the world. Do not becounterproductive inyourdeclarationsbydecreeingone thingandconfessing theother. Be consistent in knowing thatwhen you commit to the releasing of thosethingsthatpertaintoyourlife,Godissayingthatwhatsoever(positiveornegative,faith or unbelief) you loose is loosed, and whatsoever you bind is bound.Remember,assoonasadeclarationleavesyourmouth,ithasalreadyhappened.

Youwillalsodeclareathing,

Anditwillbeestablishedforyou;

Solightwillshineonyourways.

—Job22:28

DECLAREANDDECREEAUTHORITATIVELYMake your declaration in Jesus’s name. God delegated authority to you, as a

believer,thatyoumayaccomplishHiswillontheearth.Inherentwithinthisdivineauthorityisthemantleofresponsibilityandaccountability.Youareresponsibletospeak in accordance with the divine will that has been spoken concerning you.Kingdom authority demands that you become proactive in the establishment ofpurpose inyour lifeexperience.Youarenot tobedominatedbycircumstances—youaretotakeauthorityoverthemanddecreethewillofGodintomanifestationinthenameofJesus.“Itellyouthetruth,myFatherwillgiveyouwhateveryouaskinmyname”(John16:23,Niv).

Now toHimWho,by (in consequenceof) the [actionofHis]power that is atworkwithinus,isableto[carryoutHispurposeand]dosuperabundantly,faroverand above all thatwe [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers,desires,thoughts,hopes,ordreams]—toHimbegloryinthechurchandinChristJesusthroughoutallgenerationsforeverandever.Amen(sobeit).

—Ephesians3:20-21,ampTHEPOWEROFPRAYER-WALKINGIhavepersonallyintegratedthedeclarationscontainedinthisbookintomydaily

exerciseroutine.IneedtoexercisetomaintainmyhealthandIlovetowalk,soIaccomplish two life-sustainingessentialswithoneactivity.Thispracticenotonlypromotes physical strength, stamina, and overall health, but it also builds strongprayermuscles,increasingspiritualstaminaandfortitude.Thinkabout“walkinginthe Spirit” as youwalk out your destinywith yourwords. Practice keeping stepwith theSpirit as you declareHis promises over your life.Galatians 5:25 states,“SincewelivebytheSpirit,letuskeepinstepwiththeSpirit”(niv).

Developthehabitofprayer-walking.Asyouwalk,thinkaboutGod’spromisetoenlarge your territory and give you every place you set your foot.As youwalk,release these powerful declarations into the atmosphere for three consecutivemonths,andwatchwhatGodwilldo.Heisgettingreadytoblowyourmindwithblessings. He will reverse negative circumstances. He will position you forsupernaturalabundanceandunprecedentedfavor.Withoutashadowofdoubt,Hewill showupmighty on your behalf.Your breakthrough andmiracles are on theway!

PUTTINGITINTOPRACTICEIhaveincludedalistofactivationdeclarationsthatyoucanuseduringyourtime

ofprayer.Thisisnotmeanttobecomeabindingreligiouspracticeorritualbutasaguideline and framework to launch you into the practice of commanding yourmorning.As you speak out these declarations, do so boldly but also prayerfully.AsktheHolySpirittoguideyourwords,thoughts,andfaithasyoutakecommandof your day. Every reader’s situation is unique, and only you know what yourspecificneedsare.Thisisaguidetoexpandyourunderstandingofwhatispossibleand togetyoustarted;asyoustepout infaith, theHolySpiritwill leadyou intootherareasHewouldhaveyouexerciseyourauthorityover.

Asyoureadthroughthedeclarations,don’tmerelyreadthem;speakthemaloudwithfaith,authority,andpower.Remember,youarepartneringwithGodtoactivateHisperfectwill foryouin this life.Youareco-laboringwithChristonyourownbehalf as well as on the behalf of those you are praying for. Let today be theunveilingofafreshanointinginyourlife!Lettodaybethedaythatyouapprehendthepower thatGodhasallottedforyou!Make theactivationdeclarationsavividpart of your prayer routine, andwatchGod turn things around!You are on yourwaytokingdomsuccessandprosperity!

ACTIVATIONDECLARATIONSIstandtocommandmymorninganddeclareitisanewday.ItakeauthorityovermydayinthenameofJesus.Everyelementofmydayshall

cooperatewithpurposeanddestiny.Todayisthedawningofanewday.Myseasonoffrustrationandfailuresisover,

andIwalkinaseasonofsuccessandprosperity.Oldthingshavepassedaway;allthingshavebecomenew.

TodayIpresstowardthemarkofthehighcallingofGodinChristJesus.Anything or anyone assigned to undermine, frustrate, hinder, or hurt me, I

commandtobemovedoutofmysphereofinfluenceinJesus’sname.IcommandmydaytofullycooperatewithYourplanandpurposeforit.I greet todaywithgreat anticipationof thegood thingsYouhaveprepared for

me.I decree and declare that a new day is dawning for my ministry and job or

business,formyfinances,formyrelationships,andformyhealth.I download success, prosperity, health, wealth, vision, direction, ingenuity,

creativity, spirituality, holiness, righteousness, peace, and resourcefulness fromYourSpiritintomyday.

Ihaveafreshexcitement.Ihaveafreshmind.Ihaveafreshzeal.Ihaveafreshanointingthatisuncontaminatedanduncompromised.By this anointing, every yoke is broken off my life and is destroyed; every

burdenislifted.HisyokeiseasyandHisburdenislight.All-powerfulGod,placeYouranointinguponme.The anointing that is on my life repels every individual with a diabolical

assignment.Lettheanointingflowuncontaminatedandunhindereduponmylife.Theanointingthatisonmylifeforthisseason,mission,mandate,andpurpose

attractsonlythosewithdivinelyordainedassignments.Placethefollowinganointingsuponme:•Solomon’sanointingforresourcemanagement,wisdom,wealth,success,and

prosperity•Isaac’sanointingforinvestmentstrategies•Cyrus’sanointingforfinancialacumen•Samuel’sanointingforsensitivityandobediencetothevoiceofGod•Esther’sanointingfordivinefavorandkingdomstrategies

•Daniel’sanointingforgovernment,excellence,andintegrity•Joseph’sanointingforpolitical,business,andeconomicleadershipstrategies•Joshua’sanointingforwarfareprosperityandsuccessstrategies• Abraham’sanointingforpioneeringnewterritories,realestateacquisitions,

andinter-generationalcovenantblessings•Moses’sanointingasatrailblazerandleader•Nehemiah’sanointingasarenovatorandrestorer•Ezra’sanointingasanauthenticworshiperofthetrueandlivingGod•Deborah’sanointingforbalance•David’sanointingforworshipandpraise•Paul’sanointingforcutting-edgeapostolicrevelation•Elijah’sanointingforpropheticaccuracyandinsights• Elisha’s anointing for servanthood,ministerial succession, and the double

portionofjurisdictionalpowerandauthority•Issachar’sanointingforthediscernmentofcorrecttimesandseasons•Abigail’sanointingforhospitalityandprudence•Anna’sanointingofintercession• Christ’s anointing for prophetic prayer, spiritual warfare, signs, wonders,

miracles,andapurpose-drivenlife•Uzziah’sanointingfortechnologicaladvancement•Thedisciples’anointingforlearning•Jabez’sanointingfortheterritorialandintellectualgrowth•Eve’sanointingforfruitfulnessanddominionCause the apostolic and prophetic anointing to converge, explode, and be

manifestedinmylifewithaccuracy,authenticity,clarity,andelegance.Father,Ipray:“Causeme tohearYour lovingkindness in themorning, for inYou do I trust;

causemetoknowthewayinwhichIshouldwalk,forIliftupmysoultoYou....TeachmetodoYourwill,forYouaremyGod;yourSpiritisgood.Leadmeinthelandofuprightness”(Ps.143:8,10).

SynchronizemylifewithYourperfectwill,agenda,andcalendar.SuperimposeYourwilloverthewillofevilspiritsandevilmen.EmpowermetoserveYouinholinessandrighteousness.Grantmedivinekingdomasylumanddiplomaticimmunityfromevilthatseeks

toimprisonandentrapme.Sincemy timesare inYourhands,Youwill deliverme from thehandsofmy

enemiesandfromthosewhopersecuteme.Dismantleevilpowersworkingtofrustratemyday,assignments,andactivities.Thwartthearrowsshottowardmebydayandcausetheterrorbynighttocease.Rescuemefrommyenemies,forIhidemyselfinYou.Cause the east winds of judgment to blow into the enemy’s camp. Stop the

diabolical cyclones and demonicwinds designed to bring shipwreck and disasterintomylife.

CausedivineandfreshwindsoftheHolySpirittoblow.Letthewestwindsof

replenishment, the northwinds of abundance, and the southwinds of restorationandsupernaturalsupplyblowprofusely.

Assignangelsasmydivineescortsandsupernaturalsecurity.Letthemmarshalthe boundaries and borders ofmy spheres of influence. Let them dismantle anddestroysatanicstrongholdsanddispossesssatanicsquatters.

Closethegatesofdeathandsealupthedoorsofafflictionandtorment.Open divine gates of access to new doors of opportunity; windows of divine

inspiration,insight,andrevelation;pathsofrighteousness;avenuesofsuccessandprosperity;multiplestreamsofincomeandpositivecashflow;highwaystoplacesofdivineassignmentsandprosperity;andchannelsfortransitionanddeliverance.

TeachmeYourway,sothatImayknowhowtoconductmyaffairsinthemostdiscerning,expeditious,andfiscallywisemanner.

Open my eyes to cutting-edge technologies, methodologies, tactics, andstrategiesthatcanaidmeindoingYourwill.

Father,allowonlythosewithdivineassignmentstobedrawntome.Let Your Holy Spirit and His wisdom, understanding, counsel, might,

knowledge,thefearoftheLord,andpropheticinsightbeuponmetoday.Grant me the ability to hear clearly as You give me insight, witty ideas, and

creativeinventions.OpenmyearsandletYourWordinspiremetorighteousness.Open my ears to the symphonic movements of the Spirit with clear, crisp

transmission.Cause my spiritual eyes to function with 20/20 vision for the correct insight,

understanding,andinterpretationsofthechoreographicmovementsofGod.Let notmy eyes be seduced by the spirit of covetousness ormymind by the

prideoflife.Makemyfeetashinds’feetoverallmytroubles.LeadmealongthepathsofrighteousnessforYourname’ssake.HolySpirit,givemenewwaysoflivingandbetterstrategies;upgrademewith

kingdom technology and kingdom methodology; I receive the supernaturaldisciplinetoimplementthemtoday.

Father,placetheanointingofawarrioruponme.EverydomainandsystemthatYou have assigned me I confiscate from the enemy. I release the law ofdispossession; every satanic or demonic squatter that is onmy land, property, orterritory,IcommandtogointhenameofJesus.Iammorethanaconqueror!

Strengthen thehedgeofprotectionaroundmylife,mypossessions,myfamily,myfriendsandassociates,andmyministry.

Father,Iprayallofthisonmybehalfandonbehalfof[includespecificnamesofindividuals,organizations,ministries,orfamilies].

YouusedallYourdivineskilltoputmetogether;Iamfearfullyandwonderfullymade.

I remind principalities, powers, and familiar spirits that they have no right totouchmylifeinanyway,forIamincovenantwithGodandhiddeninthesecretplaceoftheMostHigh.

HolySpirit,leadandguidemeintoalltruth.OrdermystepsaccordingtoYourWordandYouroriginalplanandpurposeformylife.

Ireleasemynameintotheatmosphereanddeclare:Ihaveagoodreputation.Therearenonegativestigmasattachedtome.Iamacampaignerofempowerment.Mynameisassociatedwith:•Greatness•Integrity

•Nobility•Righteousness

•Holiness•Morality

•Ethicaldealings•Honesty

•Humility•Grace

•Love•Joy

•Peace•Long-suffering

•Gentleness•Meekness

•Faith•Goodness

•Self-control•Generosity

•Fairness•Vision

•Wisdom•Wealth

•Luxury•Extravagance

•Health•Intelligence

•Prosperity•Knowledge

•Prayerandspiritual•Theanointingwarfare•Kingdomwisdom

•Kingdomundertakings•Success

Ireleasemynameandallthatisassignedtomeandassociatedwithmeintotheatmosphere.Allowprayerwarriorstopickmeupintherealmofthespiritandpray,reinforcing my hedge of protection. Let them stand in the prophetic andintercessorygapformeandallthatisassignedtomeandassociatedwithme.

InJesus’sname,Ireinforcethat:IamasonofGod.Iamsavedbygrace.Iambornofincorruptibleseed.Iamredeemedbytheblood.Iamforgivenofallmysins.IamanewcreatureinChrist.Iamredeemedfromthecurseofthelaw.IambelovedofGod.IamseatedinheavenlyplacesinChristJesus.Iamapartoftheroyalpriesthood.Iamamemberofachosengeneration.I am an ambassador for Christ, the light of the world. I am a citizen of the

kingdomofheaven.IamajointheirwithJesus.IamacceptedintheBeloved.IamcompleteinHim.IamcrucifiedwithChrist.IamalivewithChrist.Iamfreefromcondemnation.IamreconciledtoGod.Iamjustifiedbyfaith.IamqualifiedtoshareinJesus’sinheritance.IamafellowcitizenwiththesaintsandthehouseholdofGod.

Iamasignificant,contributingmemberofthebodyofChrist.IamthetempleoftheHolySpirit.Iamthesaltoftheearth.IamthebrideofChrist.IamsealedwiththeHolySpiritofpromise.Iamasaint.IamtheelectofGod.Iamestablishedbygrace.IamdrawnneartoGodbythebloodofChrist.IamvictoriousthroughChrist.Iampurposelybuiltanduniquelydesignedforsuccess.Iamsetfree.IamadiscipleofChrist.Iamastewardofgreatwealth.Iamavisionary.Iamtheheadandnotthetail.Iamaboveandnotbeneath.Iamfirstandnotlast.IamstrongintheLord.Iammorethanaconqueror.I am firmly rooted, built up, and established in the faith. I amabounding in a

spiritofthanksgiving.Iamspirituallycircumcised.IamtherighteousnessofGod.IamapartakerofHisdivinenature.Iamanheiraccordingtothepromise.IamcalledofGod.Iamfearfullyandwonderfullymade.IamtheappleofmyFather’seye.IamhealedbythestripesofJesusChrist.IambeingchangedintoHisimage.Iamfatheredfromabove.IamfilledwiththeHolySpirit.IamGod’sworkmanshipcreatedinChristJesus.Iamdeliveredfromthepowerofdarkness.IamtranslatedintothekingdomofGod.IamhiddeninthesecretplaceoftheMostHigh.IamdefensivelycladwiththearmorofGod.I am offensively equippedwith the sword of the Spirit,which is theWord of

God.Iamprotectedbyangels.Iamanovercomer.Iamtransformedbytherenewingofmymind.IamGod’srepresentativeintheearthrealm.

Iamunabletobetouchedbyevil.Iamempoweredtosuccessfullyengageinspiritualwarfareandachievevictory.Iamforgivenofallmysinsandredeemedthroughtheblood.Iamblessedwithallspiritualblessingsinheavenlyplaces.IamchosenofGod,holyandblamelessbeforeHiminlove.IamcompleteinChrist.Iamovertakenwithblessings:•Blessedtoachievenationalprominence

•Blessedinthecity

•Blessedinthefield

•Blessedtoachievefruitfulnessinallareas

•Blessedindailyprovision

•Blessedindailyactivities

•Blessedwithvictory

•Blessedasanentrepreneur

•Blessedsocially

•Blessedfinancially

•Blessedeconomically

•Blessedcorporally

•Blessedcommercially

•Blessedrelationally

•Blessedinterpersonally

•Blessedbehaviorally

•Blessedphysiologically

•Blessedemotionally

•Blessedspiritually

•Blessedpsychologically

•Blessedbiochemically

•Blessedneurologically

•Blessedsystemically

•Blessedmolecularly

•Blessedcellularly

•Blessedskeletally

•Blessedanatomically

•Blessedmuscularly

•Blessedhormonally

•Blessedgenetically

•Blessedepidermally

•Blessednutritionally

•Blessedculturally

•Blessedglobally

•Blessededucationally

•Blessedtechnologically

AlmightyGod,blesstheworksofmyhandandprovide:WorkopportunitiesAdvancementsRaisesandbonusesWisdomandknowledge

UnderstandingAssetsInvestmentstrategiesBenefitsandpromotionsOvertimeCustomersandclientsVisionanddreamsMultimillion-dollarideas,inventions,andstrategiesWritingabilitiesBestsellersandclassicsTheologicalinsightsInnovativegoodsandworld-classservicesSalesandcommissionsFavorablesettlements

EstatesandinheritancesInterestanddividendsMultiplestreamsofincomeProfitsandbonusesRebatesandreturnsChecksinthemailUnexpectedfinancialblessingsWealthtransfersRoyaltiesRealestateSecretrichesandhiddentreasuresFavorwithcreditorsIncreasedincomeBillspaidDebtscanceledSupernaturalincreaseandsupplySynergisticrelationshipsDivinehealthDivinenetworksQuantumprogressAcceleratedgrowthanddevelopmentNewwaysoflivingNewwaystoworkStrategicpositioningUnexpectedgiftsWonderfulsurprisesCondominiumsandcontractsAutomobilesDebt-freelivingSelf-sustainingcashflowMoney-managementskillsTime-management skills Mind-management skills Leadership skills Effective

communication skills Negotiation skills Crisis-management skills Change-managementskillsResource-managementskillsTrailblazingskills

Mutually beneficial and synergistic relationshipsA kingdommillionairemind-set:

• I am an underwriter of kingdom initiatives, enterprising activities, andprograms.

• I am a kingdommillionaire. I do not onlymakemillions, but I also givemillionstoworthykingdomcausesandcommunityenrichment.

Lord,accordingtoYourWord,Ideclare:“Letintegrityanduprightnesspreserveme;forIwaitonYou”(Ps.25:21).“Makeme to knowmy end, andwhat is themeasure ofmy days, that Imay

knowhowfrailIam”(Ps.39:4).My thoughts are governed only by “things true, noble, reputable, authentic,

compelling,gracious—thebest,nottheworst;thebeautiful,nottheugly;thingstopraise,notthingstocurse”(Phil.4:8-9,TheMessage).

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule” (Prov. 12:24, Kjv). I am diligent;therefore,Irule.

By Your stripes I am healed from every physical and emotional wound andillness(accordingtoIsaiah53:5).

AccordingtoPhilippians4:6-7,Ispeakpeacetoallanxiety,depression,neurosis,psychosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain syndromes; all bipolar, schizophrenic,andschizo-affective disorders; all obsessive-compulsive andpost-traumatic stressdisorders,andIcommandtheirpowertobebrokenfromtouchingmylife.

According to Hebrews 10:22, I draw near to You with a true heart in fullassuranceoffaith,havingmyheartsprinkledfromanevilconscienceandmybodywashedwithpurewater.Ispeakdivinehealingandregressionofallcoronaryarterydiseaseandallcerebralvasculardisease.Thearteriesofmyheart,brain,andmajororgansarenowwashedfreeofplaqueandcholesterol; Iamfree fromtheriskofstroke,hardeningofthearteries,blindness,hypertension,renalfailure,heartattack,angina,andchronicchestpain.Ispeaksupernaturalvictoryoverchronicinfectionsand declare healing over meningitis, osteomyelitis, pelvic inflammatory disease,myositis,andallformsofendocarditis.

AccordingtoIsaiah45:17,noweaponformedagainstmewillprosper.Idecreeanddeclarevictoryoverallautoimmunedisordersandspeakhealingtoallformsoflupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, Crohn’sdisease and ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, gout, Lyme disease and chroniccellulitis,myocarditis,uveitis,andopticneuritis.

IsuperimposethelawoftheSpiritoflifeinChristJesusoverthelawofsinanddeathanddecreeanddeclarethatIamhealedofterminalcancerandtumors,AIDS,seizures, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, emphysema, andsicklecelldisease.According toPsalm118:17, I shallnotdiebut live todeclareYourworks.

AsIrelysolelyuponYou,Lord,accordingto3John2,IdeclarethataboveallthingsIamprosperousandhealthy,andthereforeIspeakdivinehealingovermycardiovascular system, neurological system, pulmonary system, gastrointestinalsystem, endocrine system, musculoskeletal system, dermatological system,psychological system, immune system, reproductive system, renal system, andhematologicalsystem.

AccordingtoLuke13:11andPsalm138:8,IdecreeanddeclarethatIamloosedfrom every infirmity, including deforming rheumatoid arthritis, degenerativeosteoarthritis, osteoporosis, spine compression, fractures, slipped or herniateddisks,andchronicneckandbackpain—andthatIamfreetomovefreelyinordertofulfillGod’soriginalpurposeformylife.

Youhavegivenmedominionandpowerover theenemy,andnothingshallbyanymeanshurtme;therefore,accordingtoGenesis1:28andLuke10:19,Ispeakdivine deliverance from every addiction to nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, heroin,hallucinogens,andanyotherformofdrugaddictions.Ispeakhealingfromchronicfatigue, chronic depression, chronic pain, overeating, excessive drinking, andinappropriatesexualactivity.

Father,inthenameofJesus,Idecreeanddeclare:ThatmyspiritmaniscladwiththearmoroftheLordandthearmoroflight.ThatYourkingdomismypriorityandYourassignmentismypleasure.LetYour

kingdomcomeandYourwillbedoneontheearthasitisinheaven.I function and conduct my life’s affairs according to Your original plan and

purposeforme.IwalkinYourtiming.You are the one and trueGod,whomakes everythingwork together andwho

worksallthingsforgoodthroughYourmostexcellentharmonies.CausemywilltoworkinperfectharmonywithYours.

Evil shall not comenearmydwelling, since I dwell in the secret place of theMostHighGodanddwellundertheshadowoftheAlmighty.

Icausedemonic,destiny-alteringactivitiestocease.Itakeholdoftheendsoftheearthandshakeeviloutofitsplace.

Ibreakevilandinappropriatethoughtpatternsinmymind.Ispeakpeaceintomylife,relationships,ministry,workplace,andbusiness.EverythingthatismisalignedIcommandtocomeintodivinealignment.IhavethemindofChristandthereforeseekthingsaboveandnotbeneath.Iascendintonewrealmsofpowerandauthorityandaccessnewdimensionsof

divinerevelation.I will not backslide or look back into old ways, old methodologies, or old

strategiesunlessdirectedbyYoutodoso.Iwear thehelmetof salvation toprotectmymind fromnegative thoughts that

wouldderailYourpurposesandplansforme.Truthprotectsmyintegrity, righteousnessprotectsmyreputation, thegospelof

peaceguidesmyeverystep,theshieldoffaithsecuresmyfutureanddestiny,andtheswordoftheSpiritgrantsmedominionandauthority.

Idecreeanddeclareapropheticupgradingofmythoughtlife.Icanceltheaffectofnegative,self-defeating thoughtprocessesandpatternsandput themundermyfeet.

I possess a kingdom paradigm, which grants me new ways of thinking, newwaysofworking,andnewwaysofliving.

Newcyclesofvictory,success,andprosperitywillreplaceoldcyclesoffailure,poverty,anddeathinmylife.

Inowhaveanew,refreshed,cutting-edgekingdommentality.AtYourWord,asakingdomtrailblazer,Ipioneernewterritory.Everythingthatpertainstomylifeandgodlinessandeverythingpreparedforme

beforethefoundationoftheworldmustbereleasedinitscorrecttimeandseason.IcommandeverythingtobereleasedinJesus’sname.

Ideclarethattherewillbenosubstitutes,noholdups,nosetbacks,andnodelays.SinceYourWordisalampuntomyfeetandalightuntomypath,Ishallneither

stumblenorfall.Iamexcited;myspiritisignited;IwalkinfavorwithGodandman.I am a success-oriented individual, and everything I touch turns to “prophetic

gold.”Iama successfulbusinessowner—anentrepreneurwhoprovidesgood jobs to

others.TodayIamblessed,thereisnolack,allmyneedsaremet,Iamoutofdebt,andI

havemorethanenoughtogiveoverandaboveallmyneeds.All financial doors are opened, and all financial channels are free. Endless

bountycomestome.SufficientisYourprovisionfortoday.IamhealedandSpiritfilled;sicknessanddiseasearefarfromme.Ihavebuyingpoweronmydollar,andIliveinprosperity.IconfessthatIonlyprogress;Iexperiencenosetbacksandlivealifefilledwith

success.IwillpersistuntilIsucceed.Iwalkindominionandauthority.Mylifeischaracterizedbyliberty.Thereisnoslacknessinmyhand.WhereIstand,Godgivesmetheland.TheblessingsoftheLordmakemerich,andIamdailyloadedwithbenefits.Iamlivingmymostblessedandbestdaysnow.IamcrownedwithGod’sloveandmercy.WithallgoodthingsHesatisfiesme.Myhomeisahavenofpeace.IdomyworkasuntotheLordwithdiligenceandinthespiritofexcellence.My home, business, departments, and ministries function smoothly and

efficiently.TheLordgivesmewisdom,knowledge,andunderstandingastohowtodomy

workmoreeffectively,professionally,andaccurately.TheLordgivesmeall the rightpeople toworkwith and forme.Togetherwe

workasuntotheLord.Relationshipswillcometomethatareassignedtoenhancemylifeandministry

forthisseason.Icallfortheveryindividualandresourceassignedtoassistmeinthefulfillment

ofmykingdomassignmentduringthisseason.Iattractonlythethings,thoughts,people,andresourcessuitabletoundergirdand

facilitateGod’soriginalplanandpurposeformylife.Iamfavoredbyallwhoknowme,meetme,workwithme,andhaveanykindof

formalorinformalrelationshipwithme.IwillworkwithYouasmypartner.IworkaccordingtoYourdailyagendaand

performforanaudienceofone—theLordJesusChrist.Myworkismyworship.You are teachingme how to improvemy productivity— towork smarter and

moreefficiently.Ialwaysfunctionwithanoutstandingattitudeandproducesuperiorwork.You empower me to make positive and significant deposits in other people’s

lives.Iseekdivineopportunitiesandoccasionstohelpotherssucceed.Imaximizemypotentialandmoveboldlytowardmydestiny.

I am a purpose-driven, kingdom-principled, success-oriented individual, and Irefusetobedistractedbyinsignificantthingsandpeople.

Let favor, well wishes, ambassadorial courtesies, kindness, and support beextendedtomebyallwhoareassignedtome,meetme,knowme,andinteractwithme.

Idonotprocrastinate.Iactnow,withouthesitation,anxiety,orfear.Iexcelinallthings,atalltimes,withallpeople,undereverycircumstance.Iwill judgenothing andnooneprematurely. I celebrateYour creativity in the

diversityofethnicities,nationalities,andhumanity.Iamfruitful.Ihavepowertogainwealth.Wherever Igo, systems, institutions,cultures,environments, legislation,codes,

ordinances,regulations,andpoliciesadjusttoaccommodatemydivinepurpose.Iamadaptableandflexibleandmakeneededadjustments.IamintheperfectplaceforYoutoblessme.Myrelationshipsarefruitfulandmutuallybeneficial.Iamcelebratedandlovedbyallwhocomeincontactwithme.Everythingaboutmeischangingforthebest.Iamhealthyandphysicallyfit.Sicknessanddiseasearefarfromme.Mymindisfortifiedandresolute.Myemotionsaresoundandstable.Myfaithissteadfastandunfaltering.ThezealoftheLordfillsmysoulandspirit.Lettherebenodemonicencroachment.Lettherebenosatanicsquatters—inthe

nameof Jesus,getoffmyproperty,getoffmy territory,getoutofmy sphereofinfluence,getoutofmyfamily,getoutofmyrelationships,getoutofmyfinances,getoutofmybody,andgetoutofmymind.

Icommandmountainstoberemovedandtobecastintothesea.Iamgainingnewterritories:newemotional territory,newintellectual territory,

new business territory, new spiritual territory, newministerial territory, and newfinancialterritory.

Father,IwaittoseeYourfinishedproduct.IlookforwardtothedaythatIwillbetransformedintotheimageofYourdearSon.Myheart’sdeepestdesireistobelikeHim.

IsealthesedeclarationsinthenameofJesus,myLordandSavior.NowuntoHimthatisabletodoexceedingabundantlyaboveallthatIcouldaskorimagine,accordingtothepowerthatworksinme;toHimthatisabletokeepmefromfalling,andtopresentmefaultlessbeforethepresenceofHisglorywithexceedingjoy,andtosustainmybody,soul,andspirit;tothealmightyGodmyheavenlyFather,theKingeternal,immortal,invisible—theonlywiseGod—behonorandgloryforeverandever. [Spenda fewmomentsinpraiseandthanksgivingknowingthatGodhasheardandwillrespond.]Hallelujah!IpraiseYou,God.Amen!

“Andsowehavethepropheticwordconfirmed,whichyoudowelltoheedasalightthatshinesinadarkplace,untilthedaydawnsandthemorningstarrisesinyourhearts"

(2Pet.1:19).

ConclusionTHEESSENCEOFANEWDAYThisisthebeginningofanewday

Youhavebeengiventhisdaytouseasyouwill.

Youcanwasteitoruseitforgood.

WhatyoudotodayisimportantBecauseyouareexchangingadayofyourlifeforit.Whentomorrowcomes,thisdaywillbegoneforever.

Initsplaceissomethingthatyouhaveleftbehind...

Letitbesomethinggood.

—AuthorUnknown

NOTESIntroduction1. Quoteopia.com, “Karen Ravn Quotes,” http://www

.quoteopia.com/famous.php?quotesby=karenravn(accessedJune6,2007).ChapterOneTheSecretIsOut1.UniversityofMassachusetts-Amherst,“UnitedStatesStoryCycles:Charles

W.Chesnutt,”http://people.umass.edu/engl480h/resources/chesnutt.html(accessedJune6,2007).2. Wikipedia.org, s.v. “Dave Thomas (American businessman),”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave _Thomas_(American_businessman) (accessedJune6,2007).ChapterTwoMindYourOwnBusiness1. Wikiquote.org, “Marcus Aurelius: The Meditations, 4.3,”

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius(accessedJune6,2007).2.JamesAllen,AsaManThinketh(NewYork:Cosimo,Inc.,2005),26.3. Cybernation.com, “Johann Gottfried Von Herder: Inspiration,”

http://www.cybernation.com/ quotationcenter/quoteshow.php?type=author&id=4126(accessedJune6,2007).4. “Quincy Jones Interview: Music Impresario: the Quintessential Artist,”

interviewedbytheAcademyofAchievement,June3,1995,inWilliamsburg,VA,and October 28, 2000 in London, England, http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/jon0int-1(accessedJune21,2007).5. Lana K. Wilson-Combs, “Quincy Jones: His Honors Abound,” The

Examiner, posted on Examiner.com on January 25, 2007,http://www.examiner.com/a-527824~Quincy_Jones__His_honors_abound.html(accessedJune6,2007).6. Encarta.MSN.com, s.v. “George Washington Carver,”

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574196/George_Washington_Carver.html(accessedJune6,2007).7.“WhatLifeMeanstoEinstein:AnInterviewbyGeorgeSylvesterViereck,”

The Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929, as quoted in Encarta.MSN.com,“Quotations From Encarta: Imagination,”http://encarta.msn.com/quote_561559592/Imagination_I_am_enough_of_an_artist_to_draw_ freely_upon_my.html (accessedJune6,2007).8. NobelPrize.org, “The Nobel Prize in Physics 1921,”

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/(accessedJune6,2007).9. JustDisney.com, “Walt Disney, Biography,” http://www

.justdisney.com/WaltDisney100/biography01.html(accessedJune6,2007).10.Allen,AsaManThinketh,49.11. Dell.com,“MichaelS.Dell:Chairmanof theBoardandChiefExecutive

Officer,” http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/biographies/en/msd_ index?c=us&l=en&s=corp(accessed June 6, 2007); also, Wikipedia.org, s.v. “Michael Dell,”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dell(accessedJune6,2007).12. QuotesandPoems.com, “Hope and Dreams,” http://

www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/showquotes/subject/ Hope_&_Dreams/2373(accessedJune6,2007).13. Wikipedia.org, s.v.“Coca-Cola,”http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Coca-Cola

(accessedJune7,2007).14. Wikipedia.org, s.v. “BillGates,”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates

(accessedJune7,2007).15. Chicken Soup for the Mind, Heart and Soul, http://

www.munic.state.ct.us/burlington/chicken_soup/chicken_soup_quotes_for_mind_heart_and_soul.htm(accessedJune21,2007).16.Bartleby.com,RespectfullyQuoted:ADictionaryofQuotations(1989),s.v.

“Daniel Hudson Burnham,” no. 1360, http://www.bartleby.com/73/1360.html(accessedJune25,2007).ChapterThreeTheCreativePowerofSpokenWords1. QuotesandPoems.com, “Quotes by Author: Theodore White,”

http://www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/ listquotes/author/theodore_white(accessedJune7,2007).2. Quoteland.com, “Motivational,” http://www.quoteland .com/author.asp?

AUTHOR_ID=1347(accessedJune25,2007).ChapterFourWhatHaveYouPutintheAtmosphere?1. Brainyquote.com, “Joel Osteen Quotes,” http://www

.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/joelosteen282005.html(accessedJune25,2007).ChapterFiveYouCanChangetheCourseofYourDestiny1.Allen,AsaManThinketh,12.2.JenniferKennedyDean,LiveaPrayingLife(Birmingham,AL:NewHope

Publishers,2006),59.3. As quoted in Germaine Copeland, “Too Busy to Pray,” March 2003,

Prayers.org, http://www.prayers.org/ articles/article_mar03.asp (accessed June 7,2007).ChapterSixTheImportanceofOrderingYourDay1. BenjaminFranklin,PoorRichard’sAlmanack,ModernLibraryPaperback

edition(NewYork:RandomHouse,2000),83.2.Ibid.ChapterSevenHowtoBecomeanOvernightSuccess1. QuotesandPoems.com, “Quotes by Author: William James,”

http://www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/ showquotes/author/william_james/12749(accessedJune8,2007).ChapterEightCommandingYourMorning1. Walt Whitman, “Leaves of Grass,” Book XI, as quoted at

KnowledgeRush.com, http://www.knowledgerush.com/paginated/lvgrs10/lvgrs10_s12_p6_pages.html(accessedJune8,2007).