Praise is our weapon to defeat anything that the enemy throws at us. I love the word picture of Psalm 68:1-3. It says, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.”

The Lord Presents Himself in our praise. Psalm 22:3 says, “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Now watch this connection. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When we are in trouble we PRAISE Him who inhabits our praises. Praise gives us enduring-strength.

Remember, the enemy seeks entrance in our troubles. He wants to use our trials to defeat our faith. The Lord, however, is there with us IN our trials to strengthen us.

Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against Him.”

Remember that the enemy was defeated at the cross. His only weapon is through deception. John 8:44 says that he is a liar and the father of it. James 1:16 says, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

When the invasion of thoughts come, our defense is praise. We have so much to praise the Lord for! He is worthy of all our praise. Let us STOP each thought that does not line up with God’s truth. How will we know the lie? It violates God’s character which is untainted. He cannot lie. His word is our template of truth.

Yesterday morning, when I turned on my kitchen lights, I saw a trail of ants swarming around my countertops. The first thing that I did was look for the trail head. They were coming out of my electrical receptacle.

My first attack was to wipe out the trail scent with clove oil. The vapors disturbed the ants and they scattered. I sprayed them with clove oil and water to stop them in their tracks.

What a spiritual application! When we get an invasion of insidious thoughts we must take immediate action. We stop them in their tracks by praise. Praise defeats the enemy encroachment.

2 Chronicles 20 is a great example. I would encourage you to read the whole chapter. My summary: Judea was in eminent trouble. The enemy had come to do battle. King Jehosphaphat prayed. In verse 12 he said, “…For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

Verse 17 says, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you…”

Verse 21 says that the king appointed singers to go out before the army saying: Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever. Watch what happened. Verse 22 says, “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people…and they were defeated.”

Praise is our mighty weapon. The enemy hates praise. Why? It is because our heart is lifted up to the One who redeemed us. The enemy of our soul hates to be reminded of his defeat at the cross.

Colossians 2:15 says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Romans 10:9-10 are two great salvation verses. They also help us understand that what we believe we confess. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “…I believed and therefore I spoke…”

It is imperative that we know what we believe in our heart. Matthew 15:16-19 was Jesus’ explanation to inner defilement. Verse 18 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”

In my first book, “Freedom! From Past Hurts” I have a chapter called ‘Inner Defilement’ and another chapter that brings application for tearing down those strongholds.

Yesterday I was reading Matthew 18. Two verses stood out to me about forgiveness. In verse 30 the forgiven servant refused to listen to another servant who begged him to be patient with him regarding paying him back. It says, “And he would not…”

Verse 33 was the forgiving master speaking to his forgiven servant. It says, “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, JUST AS I had pity on You?”

Fast forward to Ephesians 4:32, “…forgiving one another, EVEN AS God in Christ forgave you.” Have you obeyed God’s command to forgive AS you have been forgiven? If not, your heart is defiled. You are also walking in self-deception, thinking that you are THE exception to God’s command.

I never saw that more clearly than when I read again the parable of the unforgiving servant. In Matthew 18 Jesus gave the parable because Peter asked that if his brother sinned against him seven times did he still have to forgive him.

Verse 22 says, “…I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Jesus wasn’t giving a mathematical equation, but an illustration of continuous forgiveness.

The scalpel of God’s word pierces through in verse 34-35. The forgiving master turned the unforgiving servant over to the torturers. Verse 35 says, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Our thoughts are key in every aspect of our lives. Friday I was reading Matthew 13 when the Lord dropped another book into my heart. It is about cultivating our heart.

Matthew 13:14-15 says, “…Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull…”

Do you have ‘selective hearing’ or are you attentive? Do you discern what you are hearing or is it going in one ear and out the other?

Jesus addressed Abraham’s descendants who had selective hearing. John 8:43 says, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” Verse 45 says, “But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.”

In Matthew 13:18-23 Jesus explained the parable of the sower. There were folks who heard the word, but the wicked one snatched it away because they didn’t understand. Other seed fell on stony ground. They received it with joy, but when trouble came into their lives, they stumbled and fell away.

Some fell on thorny ground. They received the word but things entered into their hearts and choked out the word. The seed that fell on prepared hearts bore fruit.

Our negative thoughts create weed seeds that fall into the fallow ground in our hearts and propagate. Hosea 10:12 says, “…Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

We are what we behold and what we think. Our thoughts dictate the words we speak. Our life thrives or plummets according to the beliefs in our heart.

I finished Darlene’s biography. Four years of a prison camp’s rigors left a tremendous toll on her health. She lost 23 pounds from food deprivation and hard labor. Yet, she had an inner strength that caused her to spiritually thrive.

Yesterday the Lord took what I had read and applied it to our thoughts. Our negative thoughts torture our spirit. We imprison our spirit through our dominant flesh, and deprive it of spiritual food when we don’t read God’s word. We torture our spirit unmercifully when we dwell on the negative.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 15:13 says, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.”

Depression is often the fruit of a broken spirit. It is startling to understand the power of our thoughts. They can bring us down or cause us to rise up.

We are called to endure. The Lord strengthens us with His mighty power so we can endure. He is our example. Luke 22:39-46 is the narrative. Verse 42 says, “…Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Verse 43 says that the angel came and strengthened Him.

When satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, after he departed Luke 4:14 says, “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…”

Our Strengthener is the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. He is present in all our trials and temptations. He brings up His word that is hidden in our heart in the moment of our need. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us.

Ephesians 1:19 Amplified says, “And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”

Is your endurance-strength ebbing? Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have NEED of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”

The Strong’s definition for endurance is: constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, patient endurance.

Note in my Bible: It describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.

Here is one of my favorite verses in the Amplified. Ephesians 3:16 says, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit (Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality).”

I use a part of this verse as a faith declaration: I am right now being strengthened and reinforced in and by and through Your mighty power. I love the word ‘reinforced’ because it reminds me of rebar.

I am reading an autobiography written by Darlene Deibler Rose. She and her husband had been married one year when they went as missionaries to New Guinea. They and the other missionaries with them we captured and imprisoned during World War II. When she was flat emotionally, spiritually, and physically the Lord would tenderly strengthen her so she could endure.

“Tortured For Christ” is the story of pastor Richard Wurmbrand in Romania who was imprisoned for his faith. One time when he was drugged and beaten senseless, then thrown onto the floor of his cement lined cell, he could not form words to pray. He said: Jesus I love You. The Lord wrapped him in warmth and strengthened him so he could endure.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We are designed to walk in purity. Think about it. The more that His word is hidden in our hearts, the more it trains our thoughts. Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

Psalm 119:140 says, “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.” Pure in this verse and the above verse means that it is refined.

Are you refined by His word? David said in Psalm 26:2, “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.” He also wrote Psalm 139. Verses 23-24 say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

We are designed to influence through who we are IN Christ. Yesterday I had my teeth cleaned. From the moment I walked into the building I heard ‘COVID’ conversations. When my hygienist, a believer, asked me how I was doing with COVID, I said: you know, I think the greatest challenge for believers is to not complain. I set the tone for my entire time with her.

We are forerunners who carry the baton of truth. Let our thoughts be formed through the truth of His word hidden in our hearts. Let us emulate the Lord. John 1:14 is our mandate. That we will represent the Living Lord so others will behold His glory as we walk in grace and truth. Let our words be pure truth, coming from a pure heart that continually sees God.

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Psalm 18:26 Amplified says, “With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the perverse You will show Yourself contrary.”

What brings defilement into our hearts? Matthew 15:18 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”

Verse 19 described one of ‘those things’ as evil thoughts. For years I skimmed over verse 19 because I didn’t think the list fit me. Then the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to understand what evil thoughts were: a negative dialogue, gossip, complaining, disgust, critical judgment, bitterness, and unloving. I repented because I was guilty of all the above.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

A defiled heart defiles those around them. Conversely, a pure heart will influence through its purity. Which would glorify the Lord? Righteous thoughts align with God’s thoughts and ways.

The Lord stands as an adversary to the defiler. Balaam is a good example of this. Numbers 24:22-34 is the account. I want to sum it up: walled in on both sides, no way to turn either to the right or the left, Angel of the Lord standing with a drawn sword. Verse 32 says, “…I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.”

I like to illustrate the function of our heart with a braid. It is totally integrated. Picture this: our mind (our thought) leads off and our emotions (feelings) and will (choices) follow. You cannot separate them.

How you think, feel, and the choices you make affect every aspect of your life. We are created to glorify the Lord. We are designed to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

His word is our blueprint. Paul used great words to describe our lives. 1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

Verse 10 says, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”

Verse 12 says, “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.” Our sure foundation is salvation by faith. We are to add to our faith the inward grace and character that will endure through our fiery trials.

The lies of the enemy which we have believed are wood, hay, straw. Peter encourages us in 1 Peter 1:7 about our faith that will not perish. It says, “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Character is who we are inwardly. It doesn’t change like a chameleon according to who we are with. Our message and messenger is the same. That is how to celebrate you.

We are called to emulate the Lord. Paul did. 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” May your life be a fragrant bouquet of an overcomer.

I want to start this post with a new song. Receive it as a gift to encourage and expand your heart in your view of yourself.

Celebrate Your Uniqueness

My hands have made you and fashioned you in My image. There is no one else like you. Don’t try to copy others. Influence them through who you are. Be you in the design of My making.

Creativity is freedom from sameness. It all begins in your thoughts. Be free to explore and develop the passions I’ve given you. Thoughts can box you in or free your spirit. Accepting who you are will cause you to thrive in every aspect of your life.

All things work together for good to those who are called according to My purpose. Nothing is in vain. I will redeem it all. The things you have been through have given you eyes to see and ears to hear and compassion to minister to others. I want you to celebrate you as I celebrate you. You are created for My glory.

We are created to think, feel, and choose. Do you love yourself enough to eat healthy, gather with folks who will inspire and challenge you, and be discerning in what you watch and listen to?

Our heart is created to respond to truth. It craves it. However, we can misunderstand our cravings and seek after empty things. Our choices affect every aspect of our lives. When God’s word is hidden in our hearts, it feeds into our thought processes to nourish and satisfy as nothing else on this earth can do.

Listen to the words of these verses. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart…” Psalm 104:34 says, “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.” Psalm 103:5 says, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your strength is renewed like the eagles.”