What Should Prayer Sound Like?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment


What prayer should sound like is based on what you are wanting to get accomplished. It’s so much more than, “Now I lay me down to sleep” and, “Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of my body.” Although there’s nothing technically wrong with these prayers, they are usually recited verbatim, and almost instinctively, spoken with no thought. They have become a ritual that we go through.

Prayer is meant to be powerful, earth shaking and life changing.

“Prayer is meant to be powerful, earth shaking and life changing.” Click To Tweet

Several years ago, I was in the prayer room at our Tennessee UPCI Camp Meeting. As I listened to the voices around me calling on God in Holy Ghost anointed prayer, I was moved to record what I heard. Sounds of travail. Sounds of intercession. Sounds of strongholds being broken. Sounds of worship. Sounds of victory. Sounds of deliverance. Sounds of rejoicing. Sounds of a holy symphony that brought Heaven close to Earth.

Prayer Room at Tennessee UPCI Camp Meeting

Familiar voices calling on God. Loud voices. Soft voices. Insistent voices. Desperate voices. Sanctified voices. Commanding voices. Holy voices. Reaching up. Pulling down. Pressing in. Walling out. Fortifying within. Hedging around. Moving Heaven. Suspending Earth.


Isn’t Any Prayer Better Than No Prayer?

 Again, technically, yes, but can you truly be satisfied with lay me down to sleep prayers? Now that you’ve heard Holy Ghost, anointed prayer with your own ears. Now that you’ve heard and felt the power of prayers prayed by sanctified saints in Jesus’ name. Now that you know there is a level of prayer that you’ve never been to, or have forgotten over the years.

The Call To Go Deeper

I encourage you to go deeper in prayer than you normally do. Deeper than you ever have. That is what God is calling you to. Pray until you get past the average and everyday humdrumness of the same old, same old rote prayers, and allow the Lord to take you into deep, life changing prayers that move Heaven and Earth. Holy Ghost infused, devil-chasing, stronghold-breaking, miracle-working, revelation-bringing, vision-casting, life-saving prayers. That’s what God is calling you to, and that’s what prayer should sound like.

“Pray until you get past the average and everyday humdrumness of the same old, same old rote prayers, and allow the Lord to take you into deep, life changing prayers that move Heaven and Earth.” -Pat Vick Click To Tweet

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Ten Often Overlooked Benefits of Fasting

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment


We all know that Christians are called to the spiritual discipline of fasting. The most obvious benefit of fasting is to keep our flesh under control and become more sensitive to the voice and will of God. There are other lesser known benefits of fasting, however. Here are ten.

1. Weight Loss
I’m listing this benefit first, not because it’s the most important, but simply to get it out of the way. Obviously, if you eat less, you will lose weight to some degree. Even though fasting shouldn’t be looked at as a diet or weight loss program, losing weight is usually a byproduct of the process.

Why is losing weight good? A large percentage of people carry more weight than their frame can adequately sustain to live a healthy and productive life. For most of us, losing a few pounds can only be a benefit to our quality of life. If you can move better and breathe better, you can serve God better.

2. Clear Thinking
Most of our diets are filled with all manner of chemicals, preservatives, environmental pollutants and pesticides. When we fast, the process clears out the toxins that bog down the physical and mental systems in our bodies. In just a short time, we find that we can actually think more clearly than before we fasted.

3. Clear Skin
How much money is spent on acne medication yearly? A crazy amount. The truth is one little change will take care of almost all acne problems for even hormonal teenagers. Cut the sugar. That’s it. Just remove all forms of sugar from your diet. Yeah…that’s probably not going to happen. Fortunately, fasting on a regular basis will go a long way to clear the skin of blemishes. Eating healthy after the fast is broken will keep things under control. 

Acne isn’t the only thing that bows to fasting, though. People who fast regularly, generally have glowing, and much younger looking skin than others their age. The cosmetics industry definitely doesn’t want you to know this little fact.

4. More Free Time
Consider how much time you spend thinking about food, planning meals, grocery shopping and in food preparation. Food is so very time consuming in our lives. When you’re fasting, that amount of time is decreased considerably. If you’re self-disciplined, you can use that time toward other interests. 

Granted, if you have a family to care for, then this perk isn’t as beneficial to you at this season of life. If you’re single, however, or if your children are grown and out of the house, you can take full advantage of this benefit.

5. Saving Money

Food is so expensive. Eating healthy is even more expensive. What if you chose to fast one meal every day? That would amount to seven meals a week. How much would seven meals cost on average? If you use the extremely moderate amount of $5 per meal, you could save $35 a week. Again, even though fasting isn’t about saving money, it does offer this added benefit.

6. Refined Taste

Do you ever get to the point where nothing tastes good? I have learned to recognize this as a red flag that it’s time to fast. Food is suppose to taste good. If your coffee that you love to drink begins to have a weird taste, it’s probably because your body is full of toxins that are changing the way you taste your food, and need to be expelled from your body by the process of fasting. Fasting purifies our taste so that we can enjoy our food again.

7. Appreciation For Simplicity

I know a man who fasted for seven full days with water only. This was a man who would have regularly enjoyed expensive and extravagant meals. As he approached the end of his week long fast, I remember him saying how he would love to have a saltine cracker spread with butter. The process of fasting caused him to appreciate simple foods without needing excess. After a prolonged fast, we can once again appreciate food in its simplest form, either raw or cooked without all the added sauces and seasonings which are often unhealthy.

The same can be said of other simple elements in our lives that we take for granted like fresh air, clean water, soft bedding and honest conversation. We are a generation that has everything at our fingertips, yet God wants us to appreciate the simple elements of a healthy life.

8. More Compassion

When you do without something, you begin to have empathy for others who do not have. In a day’s time, most of us are satiated with foods shipped in from all over the world. It’s all at our fingertips. Our bellies are full to the tipping point while we are planning our next meal. When we empty ourselves of all the excess, we are reminded that there are many many people who live hungry. Our gnawing stomachs cause us to remember to pray for those who still won’t have food or clothes or medical care when we decide to eat again. Hopefully, we will remember that gnawing once we’re full, and allow it to spur us into prayer and action to assist the needy.

9. Increased Gratitude 

Again, it is often only when you are without that you realize how much you have had. During a fast, God brings to our attention how many ways He has blessed us. Our minds focus on food first and foremost, but as the fast progresses, we begin to realize the abundance of blessings that He bestows on us. We begin to name them one by one, and as we name them, more come to our minds. Good food, fresh water, soft bed, comfortable and safe home, a job to feed our family, the use of our limbs and minds. Then we are able to focus on more important things we’re grateful for. Family, friends, church family, godly relationships. We begin to look at people for who they are and what they mean in our lives, and our hearts swell with gratitude when we remember what it’s all about. Relationship.

10. Better Health

There are endless eating plans that are marketed for health. Eat this way, and you’ll be healthy. Eat this way, and your body will be transformed. While there are many valid eating paths to aid in achieving health, the one, God-given plan is most often overlooked. Fasting is the main tool which God has given His people in order to stay healthy. The path to health is not about eating a certain way, but about eating less, and less often. 

“Fasting is the main tool which God has given His people in order to stay healthy. The path to health is not about eating a certain way, but about eating less, and less often.” -Pat Vick Click To Tweet

As long as you are consuming food, the systems of your body are focused on digestion. It is only when your body is emptied of food that it can focus on healing. There is a process called Autophagy. The word autophagy means “Self Eating” which sounds rather gruesome, but is so very beneficial to our health. It is the process whereby our bodies begin to break down and consume everything unnecessary, and even harmful to our health. It is our body’s way of housecleaning. During autophagy, toxins, defective cells, tumors and cancers are either destroyed, or used for energy in the place of food.

The key is that this powerful process of autophagy only starts after we have been in a fasted state for a minimum of sixteen hours. Some medical reports suggest that it doesn’t begin until the 24 hour mark. This is only the beginning of the process, however. Obviously, the longer you fast, the more benefits you receive. While fasting one or two meals will be beneficial to keeping your flesh under control, it will not do much toward healing.

God put this self-healing mechanism in our bodies that is triggered and sustained by regular and prolonged fasting. It should come as no surprise that He told us we would experience health benefits when we fast properly:

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” (Isaiah 58:8)

With all of these benefits of fasting, why wouldn’t we want to participate in this God-given tool? Don’t let the fear of a few hunger pangs deprive you of this holy, life changing process.

*NOTE: Please consult your doctor before embarking on a fasting journey. A good doctor knows the health benefits of fasting, and will work with you in planning a fasting course suitable to your particular health needs and restrictions.

No One Walks A Tightrope By Accident.

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment


I’m not much of a thrill seeker, but I did get coerced into zip lining once, at Niagara Falls, of all places! Two of my sweet friends were doing it, and I wanted to appear brave, so I did it too. It was actually super fun and energizing, but not really much of a risk. I definitely would not have done it if I had thought there was a smidgen of a chance that I could fall. I hadn’t intended to zip line that day. The opportunity just presented itself, and I took it with no preparation or forethought.

Click Here To See a Really Cool Video Of Me Zip Lining Niagara Falls!

Many, many thrill seekers had done it before me. Many, many were doing it along with me, and many, many have done it since I did. People were lined up to have the experience, and those lines of people have been refreshed thousands of times since my zip lining experience.

It takes no forethought to go along with the crowd.

“It takes no forethought to go along with the crowd.” -Pat Vick Click To Tweet

 

TIGHTROPE WALKING…now that’s a different thing all together. Tightrope walking takes focus, balance and self-discipline.


FOCUS

No one just decides to go walk a tightrope one day, unless it’s a pretend one in the back yard. It takes a deliberate intent. If you want to be a tightrope walker, you must learn the techniques involved. Not because they will make you look better, but because they will save your life…if you’re a tightrope walker.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

 

BALANCE

Walking a tightrope involves a great deal of continual balance. Many times you will see a tightrope walker or slackliner using a long pole for balance. This helps the walker center himself and balance from his core. Lest you think balance is an insignificant thing, just remember that one misstep to the right or left will likely end in you plummeting to an untimely end…if you’re a tightrope walker.

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5)

 

SELF-DISCIPLINE

Tightrope walking is serious business. It’s not for the faint of heart. Once you’re walking, from your first step to your last, you must remain disciplined, applying every single thing you have ever learned every moment of the journey. Although you may have had many coaches who have given you great advice, when you’re walking the rope, it’s you calling the shots. You making every decision. You feeling every nuance of the tension in the line, and the direction of the wind in your face. You, who must control every stray thought and temptation to give up. I mean…where would you go once you quit…if you’re a tightrope walker?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Why Must I Sneak Up On You To Tell You The Truth?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

There’s some crazy disrespect going on  in the world. You don’t need me to tell you that to know it’s true. While that has always been the case, it’s worse than ever before. Seriously. There was a time, not too long ago, when if a man or woman of God spoke, respect was given from saint and sinner alike. Sadly, that’s not the case today.

There are multiple levels of crazy disrespect. There’s the I’m going out today and mow down a bunch of innocent people with an automatic weapon disrespect. There’s the I’m going to shoot as much of this nasty substance into my veins to see how it makes me feel disrespect. There’s the I’m going to fill my life with as many distractions as possible so I don’t have to deal with the reality of eternity disrespect. Then there’s the I’m going to smile while you’re telling me about how to be saved from this crazy disrespectful world of sin, and then go on about my merry way because you just need a crutch for your simple life, and I’m far superior in my thinking to put any credit into what you’re saying kind of disrespect…Taking care of this last one is often the key to not escalating to the the first three levels of crazy disrespect.

WHY ARE YOU SO SUSPICIOUS?

Not everyone is out to get you. Some people are truly concerned about your spiritual wellbeing, not just what you can do for them. Some people are trying to build a relationship with you in order to let you know there’s a place for you in the Family of God. Does that mean they have an ulterior motive, and you shouldn’t trust them? On the contrary, it means you are valuable to them, and they truly care about you. It is in your best interest to run to that godly relationship, and not away from it.

WHY ALL THE GAMES?

What does all your allusiveness accomplish? Why is it important for you to avoid every serious conversation with that godly person who is trying to make a connection with you? Why make them feel like they have to come up with ten new ways to interact with you to bring your relationship to a point where you can have a real conversation about the things of God?

If a truly godly person is pursuing a relationship with you, it’s probably because they have a personal mandate from God to do so. Do you think they enjoy being put off, disregarded, insulted and ignored? Wouldn’t be it better to just sit down and have a real conversation about your spiritual wellbeing? That’s their only objective…your spiritual wellbeing.

WHO DO YOU MAKE TIME FOR?

In a week’s time, who do you talk to? Who is important in your life? Your spouse. Your children. These are understandable.

What about your co-workers? Your employees. The grocery store cashier. Your boss. Your coach. Your gym manager. Your flight attendant. Your Uber driver. Seriously. Don’t you understand it’s hurtful when you will have a more meaningful conversation with any of these people than me, someone who is truly concerned about where your life is heading, and has the answer to fix it?

WHO IS PURSUING YOU?

The person who is pursuing you may not actually be me, but there’s someone. See their face in your mind’s eye. Notice how sincere they are. Notice how they try to mask the hurt when you either won’t make time for a simple conversation about God and His Word, or when you put them off with a drummed up excuse.

That person is not saying they are better than you, holier than you, smarter than you or worth more than you. Just the opposite is true. They are saying they were once in a fat mess of lostness, but God sent someone to find them. They want to be that someone for you.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

 

Time Keeps On Slipping, Slipping, Slipping Into The Future.

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

I had been out of the office for two weeks due to various travels. When I sat down at my desk, I noticed my calendar still showed March even though it was now April 1st. As I tore the top sheet of paper off, I thought how fast time passes these days.

Time. It’s wrapping up quickly. Truly. Even as I continue working on this one article, another two months have come and gone. I’m tempted to take another photo of my office calendar, but the original one confirms the point I’m attempting to convey. Time doesn’t stop for any one person or generation. It just keeps rolling forward until, one day known to God, it will be no more.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Each of us is only allotted a certain number of days. Unfortunately, we don’t get to know that number. In an age where medical knowledge has increased exponentially, it isn’t uncommon for people to live to one hundred years or more. Still, every day we hear of people who die suddenly in accidents or a disease that lurked in their bodies, unseen. Sometimes people die for no apparent reason.

Scripture tells us that we are allotted 70 years, and if we live to 80, those extra years are likely to be full of sorrow. This allotment of years is a general lifespan, but truly, life and death are in God’s hands, not ours.

“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath:
we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten;
and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,
yet is their strength labour and sorrow;
for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger?
even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:9-12)

To a child, 70 to 80 years seems like an eternity. Those of us who have more decades behind us than before us realize how fast those years pass. Time is a tool that we have to serve God with. We can  let it pass without observation, letting decades pile up behind us, or we can be mindful of its passing, and harness it for a purpose.

“Time is a tool that we have to serve God with. We can let it pass without observation, letting decades pile up behind us, or we can be mindful of its passing, and harness it for a purpose.” -Pat Vick Click To Tweet

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR ALLOTMENT OF  DAYS?

Are you using your allotted days for God’s glory, or your own? For God’s purpose, or your own? Are you spending your days seeking only happiness, or to be beneficial to the Kingdom of God? Are you concerned about experiencing and accumulating, or pursuing your God-given Calling? Have you deadened your conscience with substances and thrills in order to quiet the small, still voice of God’s Spirit beckoning you to a life of purpose? When you come to the end of your days, which could be any day now, will you be embarrassed by how much more you could have done for God?

TICK TOCK SAYS THE CLOCK

It’s so easy to get caught up in living day to day that we forget the passing of time. Likewise, it’s very easy to get caught up in living in the flesh that we forget about eternity. However, just because we go about our days with no thought for what comes afterward, doesn’t mean it’s not coming. Every time you see a new calendar page, or hear the tick tock of a clock, let it remind you to use your days wisely, because the day is coming quickly when you’ll have to give account for what you did with each of them.

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation 20:11-12)

How Bambi The African Elephant Disproves The Theory of Evolution

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment
Bambi the African Elephant. Photo Credits: https://www.memphiszoo.org/

I went to the Memphis Zoo with my grand boys yesterday. They were smitten with all the animals, but the rhinos were definitely at the top of their list. The elephants are always my favorite. They are surprisingly agile for their size, super smart and live a very long time, especially in captivity.

One of the elephants we saw was Bambi, pronounced “Bom-bee.” This sweet girl had no tusks. She had never grown any. The elephant keeper explained that Bambi, and many tuskless elephants like her, are the result of mankind affecting  nature in a negative way.

Elephants need their tusks to break tree limbs, and strip them of their bark to eat. Because Bambi doesn’t have tusks, she has to resort to other less efficient means of working her food. The possibility of Bambi having a baby with tusks is slim because she carries this defective gene.

In the wild, poachers kill elephants for their ivory tusks. Hence, the healthiest and most genetically superior animals are killed, and the genetically weakest animals survive. The result is a lineage of animals with genetic abnormalities who have to learn to survive the best way they can, yet never with the maximum potential of earlier predecessors.

THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION

This got me to thinking about the theory of evolution. This theory claims that all animals came from a single cell creature. (which would have had to become “alive” at some point, but I digress.) Through millennia  of eons past, these living organisms split to become multi-cell organisms, then simple reactive creatures, and finally, intelligent animals, capable of making decisions and forming relationships…

LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS

  • In the wild, African Elephants are being poached for their tusks. The elephants that remain produce a lineage that is weaker genetically, and are less superior in health and physical ability.
  • A defective cell cannot produce a healthy cell. Hence the presence and power of cancer.
  • Any living thing that is genetically defective will produce offspring with less genetic integrity, not better.
  • An organism or creature that wasn’t strong enough to make it to the next level of maturity, would not then produce a stronger offspring the next time around. It would continue to produce weak offspring which would not survive. The so called “evolution” process of that lineage would cease at that weak point.
  • Have you ever heard the saying, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link?” This is so true, because it’s at that point of weakness that the chain will break under stress. The same is true for any living organism. It is only as strong as its weakest cell. It’s at that point of cellular weakness that the organism will “break” under stress. 
  • We even see this same digression in human family lineages. The likelihood of a biological family with a genetic disorder passing this defect on to their children is probable.

CONCLUSION 
Millions of years of cellular defects can in no way produce the vibrant, healthy, intelligent creatures that we see in our world today. On the contrary, the magnificent menagerie of creatures we see today are only a shadow of the perfection that God created only six thousand years ago. That’s right. In only six millennia, BECAUSE SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, every generation of living organisms has declined in intelligence and beauty.

God created the earth, every plant and animal, as well as the first man and woman in perfection. Had they not sinned, they would have lived and reproduced in this perfect state forever. When they did sin, however, DEATH began to work in their bodies. As a result, everything and everyone must suffer death at some point. 

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31)

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)


The entrance of poachers’ influence into Bambi’s genetic lineage can be compared to a disease or natural obstacle that would hinder the growth and maturity of any living creature. Until Jesus comes back for His people, and sets this sinful world aright, humanity and every other living thing will continue in a state of decline, not in a process of evolution to a higher form. Let’s put our trust in Him instead of a theory full of weak links.

Leave me a comment to let me know what you think. 

Warm Regards, -Pat

 

The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Bookstores For Christians

~ Pat Vick ~ 2 Comments

I love bookstores. Truly. I could hang out in a bookstore for a whole day and be perfectly happy. I was in a McKay’s recently, which is a used bookstore that I enjoy frequenting. As I browsed the divisions of book genres, I realized how much information this generation has at our fingertips. (We won’t even talk about the internet here, but save that topic for another post.) Unlimited information isn’t always a good thing, however.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

POSSIBILITIES

When I walk the aisles of a bookstore or library, I see endless possibilities. Limitless information, instruction and adventure.

Want to learn how to crochet, paint with oils, or the art of origami? There are books for that. Want to immerse yourself into another culture, see the Blow Holes in Tonga, or learn about the weightlessness of deep space? There are books for that. Want to learn a knew language, figure out how to fix the dishwasher, or acquire the how to of a new start up business? There are books for that. Want to read about the horrors of the Holocaust, the biography of Florence Nightingale, or the memoirs of Elie Wiesel? There are books for that.

Truly, the possibilities for learning and experiencing are limitless. Readers are Leaders, and leaders are readers. If you want get a step up on any topic, as well as life in general,  there’s a book for that.

PITFALLS

Unfortunately, there are also many pitfalls when sifting through the shelves of a bookstore or library. Not every option is godly or beneficial to your life’s journey, and many are terribly destructive.

Options vs Distractions

Call me weird, but when I walk down the aisles of bookstores, I’m acutely aware of the enormity of choices. Anything you want to learn about is right there within reach. (Much like the internet) In fifteen minutes of browsing bookstore shelves, I can find enough distractions to sidetrack my life’s purpose for years. I’m looking through the Christian Living section one minute, and then I’m four aisles over, and absorbed in a book about the plight of the Blue Bumble-footed Wildebeest.

The struggle is real. More options necessitate more personal convictions. Satan will use anything to get you sidetracked from your calling.

“More options necessitate more personal convictions. Satan will use anything to get you sidetracked from your calling.” -Pat Vick Click To Tweet

Truth vs Error

Another real issue with having so many reading options (Much like the internet) is the possibility of not being able to tell Truth from error. Again, you’re scanning the shelves in the Christian section of the bookstore. You’re in the “safe zone.” Unfortunately, not everything that is marketed as  Christian is.

True readers consume a lot of material. Yet, it’s never wise to do so without checks and balances, God’s Word being the standard. If you don’t consume as much, or more, of God’s Word than you do of other material, how will you know what is true and what is not? No matter what or how much you choose to read, the Word of God should be your foundation and  litmus test for everything else you read.

So many options of reading material, and not enough grounding in God’s Word, can lead to a shipwrecked life.

Holy Spirit vs Familiar Spirits

In most public bookstores and libraries, there are sections of books that every Christian should steer clear of. It is usually labeled as Religious, Spiritual or New Age. Trust me; Not everything that is spiritual is from the Holy Spirit, and not everything that is religious is Truth.

“Not everything that is spiritual is from the Holy Spirit, and not everything that is religious is Truth.” -Pat Vick Click To Tweet

The very first book that I can remember checking out from a school library was called The Witches of Worm. It was about a young girl who found a pitiful, orphaned kitten, and brought it home. The kitten ended up being a Familiar Spirit (even though this term wasn’t used in the book) It was possessed by a demon, which the girl interacted with. I was seven or eight years old, and this was my first introduction to witchcraft. I had checked this book out of my elementary school library…Just think how much more blatant and wicked spirits are that are attached to the books in a public bookstore or library forty-five years later.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)

Evil spirits attach themselves to books, and are carried along into people’s lives and homes as they are passed from one place and person to another. Many times, the authors and/or publishers of such books actually “pray” curses over their material before setting it loose into an unsuspecting world. At the very least, readers will pick up spirits from the households and lifestyles of previous book owner/readers.

We must take care of the material that we consume. It becomes a part of us just as surely as the natural food we eat. To live an overcoming life, we must also be aware and take responsibility for what we bring into our homes. Books, music, games, magazines, movies…all of it should be held suspect until it is vetted through the Word and Spirit of God.

HOUSE CLEANING

If you are a  Christian, and are experiencing unfounded fear, anxiety, nightmares or any type of ungodly supernatural manifestations in your home, you need to do some house cleaning.

Spend some time removing every item in your possession that does not promote true godliness. Once you’ve done what you can, ask the Lord to show you anything else that might be tucked away unseen, or that you have forgotten about. Ask Him to show you anything that has an evil spirit connected to it that you wouldn’t have ever considered.

Once you feel that your home is thoroughly purged of unholy items, pray a prayer of repentance. Ask the Lord to forgive you for bringing unholiness into your home and possession. Ask Him to forgive you for subjecting your heart, mind and soul to things contrary to His Word. Ask Him to break any and all connection between you and ungodly spirits of darkness. Pray in Jesus’ name.

Anoint yourself, or ask your Pastor, to anoint you and your home with oil, praying a fresh hedge of protection over your mind, your life, your home, and your vehicle.

CHOOSE WISELY 

Lastly, start fresh, and choose wisely. There are many, many books that promote Truth and Holiness. Don’t just walk up and down the aisles of a bookstore, and pick indiscriminately. Let prayer, the Holy Ghost and the Word of God be your guide.

 “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

Hey, Friends! I’d love some feedback on this topic. What are your experiences with ungodly bookstore choices?  Warm Regards, -Pat

Repentance Is Death To Self

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment


Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong, and been sorry while you were doing it, knowing you would do it again? Me too. That isn’t repentance. True repentance (the kind God will forgive your sins over) is not just being sorry, but turning away from sin. True repentance stops the offending action.

WHY ISN’T BEING SORRY GOOD ENOUGH?

We must empty ourselves of our SELF, and give ourselves over to God’s SELF.

“We must empty ourselves of SELF, and give ourselves over to God’s SELF. This is true repentance.” Click To Tweet

If I’m still living for I and ME, even if I’m sorry for it, then I haven’t repented. I must die to self. That means that no matter how much I enjoy or want something, I have to give that over to the will of God.

As Christians, we throw around the phrase, “Be Born Again” quite often. The Apostle Peter, who Jesus gave the Keys to the Kingdom, explained this process:

”Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)

We can only be Born Again if we have died. Not physically, but spiritually. We must die to our own will and desires, putting God’s Will above our own.

WHAT DOES DEATH TO SELF LOOK LIKE?

When it comes time for a caterpillar to transition to its next phase of life, it will weave a cocoon. There’s nothing appealing or attractive about this cozy little spot. It’s purely functional. While wrapped tightly inside it’s self-spun coffin, an amazing metamorphosis takes place at its cellular level. The caterpillar doesn’t just put on a butterfly costume, it BECOMES a butterfly. It is changed.

“The caterpillar doesn’t just put on a butterfly costume. It becomes a butterfly. It is CHANGED. This is true repentance.” Click To Tweet

Before its change, the caterpillar was probably quite happy and content doing caterpillar things. Crawling, chomping green leaves and basking on branches in the warm sunshine. What would make it want to end all that and die to self? Because God has put something deep inside of that little creature that longs for more. It doesn’t even know what that more looks like, but it instinctively seeks it out, and does whatever is necessary to achieve it.

NEW BIRTH IS NEW LIFE

When the butterfly comes out of its place of death, it is reborn with silken wings of splendor. She cautiously stretches them out to their fullest expanse. What are these lovely appendages for? It begins to press them ever so gently up, down, in, out…There…Did you feel that? Lift! That never happened while she was in her caterpillar body. Something…or Someone…is calling her out to the edge of the limb and even further. Should she? Dare she? She must see what’s beyond where she’s been before. She takes a breath and steps out past the solid branch, trusting her new wings to carry her…and they do.

She looks down from her new vantage point as she soars high above all the other caterpillars that haven’t spun their cocoons yet. They think they are living, but she knows differently. She can FLY, and it was only made possible by dying to SELF.

AN INVITATION

You may be thinking that your life is awesome, and you don’t want anything to change. Trust me…You do. Because what God has in store for you is so much more amazing than what you have ever experienced. Like the caterpillar living its best life can’t fathom what it means to have wings, you can’t fathom what a life given completely over to God will look and feel like.

HOW DO I GET FROM HERE TO THERE?

That’s the tricky part because no one can do it for you. Just as the caterpillar must weave its own place of dying, you must take whatever action is necessary to die to self. You alone know what is in your heart. You alone know what you need to turn away from. You alone know what you need to ask forgiveness for.

Start with one strand. Think of everything you can that you have done against Gods’ Word and Will. Ask Him to forgive you for it. Think of everything that you plan to do that is against His Word and Will. Ask Him to forgive you for it. Commit to Him and yourself that no matter what, you will live for Him. That means His Will takes precedence in your life.

When you have woven enough strands of repentance tightly around your bare soul, the process of transition will begin. God will take your sincere repentance and change you from a caterpillar to a butterfly. You will be able to begin your new life from a fresh vantage point because it comes with WINGS.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

 

 

Five Reasons That We Don’t Pray Like We Should

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment


How can something so beneficial as talking to your Creator be so challenging? Seriously…Why is it so hard??? We talk to our family members. We talk to our friends. We talk to our co-workers. We talk to the person who brings our groceries out to the car at grocery pickup. We talk to bill collectors. We even talk to ourselves. Why do we we make such a big deal about making time to talk to God?

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.“ (Genesis 3:8-10)

REASONS TALKING TO GOD IS SO CHALLENGING

1. Isn’t it obvious? The first reason talking to God is such a challenge (at least in our minds) is that He’s God, and we’re not. Really…How do you speak to the Creator of everything? Fortunately, our God created us to have relationship with Him. Just like all those other people we converse with, He desires us to spend quality time talking with Him and listening to Him.

In the Garden of Eden, before sin entered into the world, God came and communed with Adam and Eve on a regular basis. As long as they were in a right relationship with Him, talking to Him wasn’t a problem. It was the most natural thing in the world.

“Before sin entered into the world, God talked with Adam and Eve on a regular basis. As long as they were in a right relationship with Him, talking to Him wasn’t a problem. It was the most natural thing in the world.” Click To Tweet

2. The second reason that talking to God is such a challenge is that we are fearful. Sometimes fear comes from knowing that we deserve punishment for sin. Sometimes fear comes from satan, who is always trying to separate us from God. Sometimes fear comes from simply not knowing the nature or will of God which can only come from spending time in His Word. It becomes a never ending cycle of not knowing.

3. The third reason that talking to God is such a challenge is that we often have sin in our lives. Sin separates us from God. The moment Adam and Eve sinned, their spirits were separated from relationship with God. In order to come back into a right relationship with God, we must repent of any and all sin. Once we are free from the bondage of sin, we will feel the freedom to draw near to God again.

4. The fourth reason that talking to God is such a challenge is because of busyness. The lifestyle of our generals much different than those who lived in Bible times. In the last 100 years, electricity was discovered. This changed everything. For almost 6,000 years, when the sun set and darkness fell, people went to bed. Today, humanity never stops moving. People work at all hours, day and night. Our lives are so full, that we fail to make time for a real relationship with God.

A person has to have a true love for God to push back distractions and seek His Face. If it’s not done first thing in the morning, it rarely gets done.

5. The fifth reason that talking to God is such a challenge is because of disinterest. We have left our first love. Here is some honesty. Sometimes, we’re just not that into Him. We see a relationship with God and Kingdom living as old-fashioned, archaic, outdated, boring, and something to pursue when we’ve done everything else that we want to do with our lives. Oh, we wouldn’t admit to feeling that way, but our actions prove otherwise.

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

THE QUESTION

Why don’t you talk to God as you should? Which one or more of these reasons apply to you?  Do you feel like He’s unapproachable? Are you fearful? Do you have sin in your life? Are you to busy? Are you disinterested, and just not that into Him?

Be honest with yourself. every one of these issues can be corrected if you truly want to have sweet communion with God. He created you for relationship with Himself.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

What If Church Isn’t What You Think It Is?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

WHAT YOU THINK CHURCH SHOULD BE Most people think church is a building. A place to go. A weekly check in point. A social gathering to be seen, mix and mingle. A time to pull out the Good Book and talk to the Man Upstairs. Perhaps you equate church with Potluck Sunday or Dinner On The Ground.

WHAT YOU WANT CHURCH TO BE

Most people want church to fill in the gaps of their already hectic lives. They want to add church to whatever they’ve already got going on. It’s not Biker Church, Cowboy Church, Sports Club Church or any other aspect of your life that you want to add the word “church” to.

WHAT CHURCH IS

Church isn’t a what; It’s a who. It is the ECCLESIA: The Called Out. The church is a people who have responded to the call to come out of the world into the Kingdom of God.

“Church isn’t a what; It’s a who. It is the ECCLESIA: The Called Out. The church is a people who have responded to the call to come out of the world into the Kingdom of God.” Click To Tweet

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.“ (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

Church is coming OUT and AWAY from previous lifestyles, cultures and beliefs INTO the culture and Kingdom of the Living God. It is a MAJOR change. A new way of THINKING and LIVING.

“Church is coming OUT and AWAY from previous lifestyles, cultures and beliefs INTO the culture and Kingdom of the Living God. It is a MAJOR change. A new way of THINKING and LIVING.” Click To Tweet

  • Church Is Apostolic.

Jesus left His Church in the hands of his disciples, who came to be known as Apostles. He left them with instructions on how His Church should function. It is impossible to have true Church in a way other than the way the Apostles had Church. You can find a very detailed account of the first generation church in the Book of Acts. (of the Apostles) If the Apostles believed it, preached it and lived it, that is what Church should be.

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyles included the necessity of the New Birth (Repentance, Baptism in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues.)

-The Apostles’  teaching and lifestyle included signs, wonders and miracles done in Jesus’ name.

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyle included the belief in the Oneness of God. This meant very specifically that God, who is a Spirit, manifest Himself in the son to become the sacrifice for our sins. They believed this to their death and in the face of much persecution.

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyle included consistent fasting and prayer to subdue flesh and stay in communion with God,

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyle included extravagant worship.

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyle included the belief in Jesus’ second coming to the Earth to set up a natural Kingdom.

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyle included the belief in the Rapture or Catching Away of the Church to be with the Lord forever, at which time they would be changed from mortal to immortality.

-The Apostles’ teaching and lifestyle included the belief in Jesus’ Millennial Reign -When Jesus returns for His Church, He will rule and reign from Jerusalem for one thousand years, and we will rule and reign with Him.

  • Church Is Oneness.

The early Church was totally, 100%, unequivocally believers in the Oneness of God. When early converts were Born Again, they left their beliefs in multiple gods behind them. They came out from these idol worshiping beliefs of the surrounding heathen nations to believe in the one, true, living God whose name is Jesus. The erroneous doctrine of the trinity did not even exist and take root in the Church until the Nicene Council in 325 AD. Until this time, the early Church only baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, not in the titles, father, son and Holy Ghost.

  • Church Is Pentecostal.

No matter what sign is on your church building, the early Church was Pentecostal. Before denominations were a thing, when Believers were simply called “Christians,” they all experienced the fundamental infilling of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues. Pentecost means fifty. It was the Holy Day that occurred fifty days after Passover. It is God’s Holy Day that commemorates the giving of the Law to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai. On this day in Acts (of the Apostles) 2, God’s Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers. They all spoke in languages unknown to them as evidence that they had been filled with the Holy Ghost. To be the Church is to have this Pentecostal experience.

  • Church Is Holiness.

The early Church didn’t try to fit Jesus into their way of living. They forsook everything about their former lives that was contrary to godliness. They were serious and persistent about rooting all sin from their lives. They didn’t have a list of rules to check off. They simply shed everything that related to worldliness: Lifestyles, culture, language, wardrobe, habits, vices, excesses, passions, pursuits, hobbies and pastimes. They walked away from it all into a life of service to Jesus.

BE THE CHURCH

Hopefully, what you want church to be, what you think church is and what church truly is has come into clear focus. One thing is for certain. Church will never be more or less than the example left by Jesus and His Apostles. Church isn’t a what; It’s a who. Be the Church.