ONEMINUTEWITHGOD

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“Hehasmadeeverythingbeautifulinitstime.”—ECCLESIASTES3:11

“SurelytheLordGoddoesnothing,UnlessHerevealsHissecrettoHisservantstheprophets.”

—AMOS3:7

DEDICATION

Iwouldliketodedicatethisbooktomywonderfulwife,PastorCherylEllis,andmy children, Justin,Heather, Eli, and hiswife,Kim, andmy grandchildren—Kerri,Kristen,andKiley.

I would also like to thank my good friend Sid Roth for his prayers andencouragementwhilewritingthisbook.Andspecialthankstoallwhobelievedthat this book would be in print to help many lives grow in the grace andknowledgeofGod’spresence.Thankyouforyourloveandprayers.

CONTENTS

ForewordbySidRoth

Preface

PropheticIntroduction

CHAPTER1 AllYouNeedIsOneMinutewithGod

CHAPTER2 “Why,OGod,WouldYouAllowThistoHappen?”

CHAPTER3 ExperiencingYourOneMinutewithGod

CHAPTER4 RemovingtheGiantsinYourLife

CHAPTER5 TheLightoftheWorld

CHAPTER6 LifeafterLodebar

CHAPTER7 TheOvershadowingGlory

CHAPTER8 FromPaintoGain

CHAPTER9 KeystoExperiencingYourOneMinutewithGod

CHAPTER10 TheMiracleMinistry

PrayerofImpartation

Epilogue

APPENDIX1 HealingScriptures

APPENDIX2 PrayerfortheBaptismintheHolySpirit

FOREWORD

BySidRoth

Formanyyears Ihavebeendisappointedwith theprophets Ihave interviewedonmy television show, It’s Supernatural! Forme, “normal” is defined by theBible, not bywhat other people consider to be normal. In the Old Covenant,Samuelwasa“normal”prophet,ofwhichitwassaidabouthim,“TheLordwaswithhimand let noneofhiswords fall to theground” (1Sam.3:19). In fact,MosessetthestandardofaprophetbysayinginDeuteronomy18:21-22:

And if you say inyourheart,“Howshallweknow thewordwhich theLordhasnotspoken?”—whenaprophetspeaksinthenameoftheLord,ifthethingdoesnothappenorcometopass,thatisthethingwhichtheLord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; youshallnotbeafraidofhim.

Yes,Iknowsomepropheciesareconditional.Ialsoknowmanyareprophetswhoarecurrentlyintraining.However,theBiblestillsaystheNewCovenantisbasedonbetterpromisesthantheOldCovenant,andIwillnotsettleuntilIseepropheciesthatdonotfalltotheground.

MyfriendKeithEllisisaprophetlikeSamuel.Whenhedreams,heoperatesin100percentaccuracy.Heisaforerunnerofanewbreedofprophetswhowillonce again turn theworld upside down.We allwould agree it needs it. Evennon-believers will notmakemajor decisionswithout first consulting this newbreedofprophets. Iknowthiswillhappenbecauseweare living in the lastofthelastdays.

Keithhasgone through the school of crushing andhas come tohis sensesthatGodiseverythingandheisnothing.Whenhissonwasinacomawithnobrain wave activity and no hope, he had one minute with God. His sonmiraculouslycamebackandtheresidueofGod’sSpiritstayedonKeith24/7.Ithas never left him. And that same heavenly residue is on every page of thisbook.

WhenSamuel anointed Saulwith oil, theBible says he turned into a new

man:“Then theSpiritof theLordwillcomeuponyou,andyouwillprophesywiththemandbeturnedintoanotherman”(1Sam.10:6).Formanywhoreadthisbook, I believe that the anointing containedon its pageswill saturateyouandbeacatalystthatwilllaunchyouintoyourdestiny.

GetreadytoexperienceoneminutewithGod.

PREFACE

InGenesisChapter1,GodshowsusthatHeistheoriginalprophetic“seer.”Helooked into thedarknessand spoke light, and lightwas suddenlycreated.AndHe saw that itwas good: “ThenGod said, ‘Let there be light’; and therewaslight.AndGodsawthelight, that itwasgood;andGoddividedthelightfromthedarkness”(Gen.1:3-4).

IwanttobeapersonwhoalwaysfocusesonthelightofGod.TheBiblesayswearethelightoftheworld(seeMatt.5:14).InGodthereislight,andthereisnodarknessinHimatall.It ismybeliefthatweshouldfocusonthelightandlovemore than anything else that is taking place around us. It is easy to seedarknesswhereverwelook.

Thisisnotacallforustoignorethedarkness.Scriptureplainlytellsusthat“thedarknessshallcover theearth,andgrossdarkness thepeople”(Isa.60:2a,KJV).Ontheotherhand,thisstatementisfollowedbysomeincrediblewordsofpromiseandencouragement:“…buttheLordshallariseuponthee,andhisgloryshallbeseenuponthee”(Isa.60:2b,KJV).Darknessisnotsupposedtoconsumeus.Even thoughweareawareofwhat isgoingon in theworldaroundus,wealsorecognizethatGodhaschosenHispeople—us—tobeapeoplewhocarryHislight,presence,andglory.ThisiswhattheprophetIsaiahsaidwouldariseandshineuponus(seeIsa.60:1).Intheselastdays,GodisraisingupapeoplewhowillboldlycarryHislightandloveinthemidstofgreatchaosandturmoil,overcomingthedarknessthroughthetransformingpowerofHisKingdom.

IttakesapersonoffaithwhocanseeintheSpirittopinpointthelight.Weshould focus on the light ofGod and the lightHe has given us. Furthermore,Jesussaidthatwearesupposedtoletourlightshinesothatpeopleseeourgoodworksandgiveglory to theFather.Thismeans it is time foryou to arise andshineforththelightofGodthatisalreadyinsideofyou.Youactuallycarrythesolutiontothedarkness!

Whatwetendtofocusonthemostinourlivesiswhathappens.Ifwefocusonthelightandnotthedarkness,thenourliveswillbefulloflight.Iknowthere

isdarkness in the land today.Weare living in theendtimes,andIunderstandBibleprophecies,butIthinkwe’rehereonthisearthtobringlighttopeoplewhodwellindarkness.That’swhatIdoasaseer.That’swhatmyministrydoes.

Ihaveseen thousandssavedandhealed through thenameofJesus,byHispreciousblood,andby thepowerof theHolySpirit. Ihave seen thousandsofpropheticwordscometopassinthelivesofthepeopleofGod.Icouldn’thavegiven those words onmy own, but God gaveme the words to bring light topeople’sdarkenedcircumstances.InoneminuteGodwouldgivemeapropheticwordandIcould tellpeople itwouldbe thebestyearof their livesorhealingwould come to their body—and it would! I repeat, I could not haveaccomplishedanyofthisthroughmyownnaturalabilityorhumanknowledge;itwasthepowerofGodworkinginandthroughme.ItisGodalonewhocandoinoneminutewhatentirelifetimesofstrivingandeffortcannotaccomplish.ThisiswhatIhavelearnedovertheyears,andthisiswhatIwanttosharewithyouinthepagesahead—youroneminutewithGodcanchangeeverything!

God promises through the prophet Amos, “Surely the Lord God doesnothing,unlessHerevealsHissecrettoHisservantstheprophets”(Amos3:7).IthankGodforthegiftHehasgivenmeandwhatHedoesinandthroughmylife.I thankGod for themanymiracles, visions, and dreamsHe givesme for thebenefitofotherpeople. Idreamgodlydreamseverynight,andIknowhowtohelp people and give them a little bit of hope in themidst of their seeminglyhopeless circumstances. Perhaps one of the greatest outcomes that someone’soneminutewithGodleadstoisrenewedhope.ThewriterofProverbsremindsus,“Hopedeferredmakeththeheartsick:butwhenthedesirecometh,itisatreeoflife”(Prov.13:12,KJV).Wearecalledtobepeoplewhogivehope,love,andthelightofGodtothosewemeet.Weneedtoshowothersthatthereislightatthe end of the tunnel, and thatGodwill come through on their behalf if theydon’tlosehope.

Oneof thewayswecancommunicate the lightofGod to those inneedofhopeisspeakingforthwhatGodissaying.Jesussaid,“ThewordsthatIspeaktoyouarespirit,andtheyarelife”(John6:63).WhenwesaywhatGodissaying,those words actually carry an impartation of His presence and power. Theyannounce a reality and carry the anointing to bring that reality to pass in ourlives.

This iswhy sometimes, just byme saying thewords, people get their oneminutewithGodandareforeverchanged.Sometimestheymayponderthewordanditwilltakemonthsorayeartocometopassintheirlife,butsuddenlyonedaytheygetaminutewithGod—andeverythingchanges.

God may touch them or speak to them, they might read a passage ofScripture that awakens their heart, or theymay hear a word of prophecy andsuddenlytheyknowtheyhavehadoneminutewithGod.

Myprayer is that theHolySpiritwillbless thisbookso thatnoneof thesewordswillfalltotheground.Thepagesaheadarenotdesignedtosimplygiveyoumore spiritual information; everyword ispurposed tohelpbringyou intotransformation.Whatever you need, remember that oneminute with God andone encounter in His presence is all it takes to release themiracle, bring thebreakthrough, declare the prophetic word, confirm the promise you received,healthedisease,breakthetorment,andrestorethelostjoy.

I pray that youwouldn’t just learn about an encounterwithGod, but youwouldactuallyexperienceoneforyourself.

MayGodgiveyoujustoneminutewithHim…

PROPHETICINTRODUCTION

The sovereignLordhasgivenme the capacity tobehis spokesman, sothatIknowhowtohelp theweary.Hewakesmeupeverymorning;hemakesme alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do (Isaiah 50:4,NET).

Many years have come and gone since the days of my son’s miracle. In thedarkest hour of our lives the precious Lord and Savior gave us a one-minuteencounterthatwouldchangeourlivesforever.Inthebookyounowholdinyourhands,youwillreadthestoryofthatfirstoneminutewithGod.

Thisencounterwouldbethefirstofthousands.Thisbookwasintendedandwrittentoliftpeopleupandtogivethemabreathoffreshairwhenthereisnolightattheendofthetunnel.Abookforthosewhoareatadeadendanddon’tknowwhichwaytoturn,whohavecometoofartogoback.Thisbookwasbornoutofawildernessexperienceandoneofthegreatesttestsofmywholelife.Asyou read this book, you will discover that I found myself in a barren desertwasteland; a place where sickness, suffering, pain, and disappointment hadliterallytakenatollonourfamily.

Withresourcesallgone,hopedeferred,andourlivesatastandstill,wefoundourselves in a waterless wilderness looking for answers. The story that keptcoming to me was the story of Moses leading the Israelites through thewilderness.Mosesfoundhimselfinatimeofunfathomablepressure.Hefoundhimself in a spot that he had never been before.He found himself in a placecalledMarah.TheIsraelitesneededwater,andthewaterthatwasavailablewasbitter. Moses realized how desperate the situation had become, and in thatmoment of realization, he cried out to God as a last resort and in diredesperation.

OurfaithfulGodheardhiscryandgavehimoneminutewithHim.Hetoldhimtotakeatreeandcast it intothewater,andthebitterwaterbecamesweetanddrinkable.Suddenlythroughaone-minuteencounter,awordandinstructionthatMosesobeyedallowedmillionsofpeopletogetadrinkoffreshwater.Thewhole atmospherehad changed.Theybegan to feel revived and relieved fromthe pressure of their circumstances, and everyone realized that Godwas theirsource.Throughaone-minuteencounter, thebitterwater in their livesbecamesweetandtheycontinued.

Thisbookisabouthowaone-minuteencounterwithGodcanletusrealizethatthebitterwatersonourjourneythroughthislifecanbecomesweetwaters,givingusthestrengthtocontinue.Ultimately,Godisouranswer.ThisbookisaboutmagnifyingJesus,whoistheonlyOnewhocangiveusreliefandresults.

But as for me, I would seekGod, and I would place my cause beforeGod;whodoesgreatandunsearchablethings,wonderswithoutnumber.Hegivesrainontheearthandsendswateronthefields,sothatHesetson high thosewho are lowly and thosewhomourn are lifted to safety(Job5:8-11,NASB).

Moses,God’sprophet,receivedandobeyedoneminuteof instructionfromthe Lord, which brought the Israelites from bitterness and hopelessness torenewedstrengthandhopeforthefuture.WhatIsawpropheticallywasthatthisbook,OneMinutewithGod,wouldbringrelieftomultitudesaroundtheworld.

Chapter1

ALLYOUNEEDISONEMINUTEWITHGOD

MYFIRSTMIRACLE

AllyouneedisoneminutewithGodfor thingstobedifferent.Toget thatminute, however, it may take you days, weeks, or even months. Don’t bediscouraged,though.Youmayread“days,weeks,orevenmonths”andthinktoyourself,“Howcanoneminuteseemtotakesolong?”IencourageyoutotrustGod’s timing. Trust His ability to divinely orchestrate your one-minuteencountersothatitcomesattheexacttimeandprecisemomentwhenyouneedit. He’s never early and He’s never late. Remember, He will bring that oneminuteatjusttherighttime.

Andwhen thatminutecomes—thatmomentwhenGodshowsupwithHispresenceandglory—thingschange forever.OnceyouencounterGodalone, inthatmoment theHolySpiritcomesandbringshealing,visions,deliverance,orwhateveryoumayneedthatcanonlybefoundinHispresence.LiketheapostlePaulbeforeus,thecourseofourlivescanchangeinjustoneminutewithGod.Letmeexplainhowtheseone-minuteencounterswithGodwereignitedinmyownlife.

I never expected to get saved that Sunday. I had tried church before, buttruthfullymylifeatthatpointwassomessedupthatchurchwasnotevenonmyagenda.TheonlyreasonIendeduptherewasbecauseofmyloveforCheryl,thegirlwhowouldlaterbecomemywife.Theysayloveisblind;shecouldhaveledmeanywhereatthispointinourrelationshipandIwouldhavegladlyfollowed.She personally knew God and His saving power. She had experienced it forherself.Fromherpointofview,shealsoknewthatunderneathallmymesstherewasamiraclewaitingtobebirthed.Herjobassignmentwastogetmetochurch.

Wecannotmakeor forceaone-minute-with-Godencounter.However,wecanpositionourselves (andsometimesevenhelppositionothers) tobe in the rightplaceattherighttimeforadestiny-definingmoment.Thisiswhathappenedtome.

BeforeIknewitonthatAprilSundaymorning,thereIsatinchurchgazingatCheryl.Truthbetold,Iwasnot thinkingaboutmuchofanythingexceptforher—andwhenwecouldleave.Iwantedtoknowhowmuchlongerwehadtowaitbeforewecouldgetoutofthechurchbuilding.Butthensuddenly,withoutanywarningwhatsoever,God’s powergot a holdofme.To this day I cannotexplainhowithappened—IonlyknowIwassuddenlyoverwhelmedbyGod’swonderful love in just one moment of time. One minute I was in the pewwonderingwhenwe could leave andGodwas not even onmymind, and thenextminute Iwas onmy knees at the altar—crying,weeping, and givingmyhearttoJesus.

Many people say that you don’t have to feel anythingwhen you are bornagain.Thisiscertainlytrue,asthereisaninwardtransformationthattakesplacewhetherwefeelanyemotionsornot.SalvationcomesbygracethroughfaithinthefinishedworkofChrist,regardlessofwhatwefeel.ButIsurefeltsomethingthat day. It became crystal clear that what was happening in my life was amiracle moment that would change everything—I would never be the sameagain.Godhad invadedmyspaceand Ihad respondedand receivedHim intomyheart.Ihadreceivedmyfirstmiracle!

It is true that accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior is by far the greatestmiracleIhaveeverexperiencedinallmylife.ThisisnotonlytrueformebutforeverypersononthefaceoftheearthwhoreceivesJesusChristastheirLordandSavior.ButIalsorealizedthatinmymessed-upstateandweakestmoment,theLordwas able (evenwith all the strongholds inmy life and thewalls thatwereup)topenetratethroughallofthis,reachdown,andsavemefrommysins.Eventhoughtheenemyhadmebound,hecouldnotstopmefrombeingsavedbytheLord’smightypower.

JesusisLord,andHehasallpowerandauthorityinheavenandonearth.Heis themiracleworker.Soat theendof thatday, Iconcluded thatGodwas theGodofmiracles,andthatnocircumstance,enemy,orstrongholdcouldstopmefromexperiencingmymiracle.Fromthatfirstmiracleofbeingsaved,Godhasshownme that the Father’s heart is a heart of love, compassion, and one thatlongstogiveusthegreatestmiracleofall,whichisbeingbornagain.ThisistheultimateoneminutewithGod.

Even though we are going to discussmany other ways we can have life-changing“oneminutewithGod”experiences,Imustremindyouthatthereisnogreaterormoremiraculousencounterthanbeingbornagain.Thinkaboutwhathappens to you the instant you receive Jesus Christ. Your sins are forgiven,washedawaybythebloodofJesus.Yourpast isnotcountedagainstyou; it isnailed to the cross. You are indwelt by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Youbecome an entirely new creation. You are given a new nature. All of thishappensinaminute,whichisabsolutelysupernatural!

If you are not born again and if you have not committed your life to thelordship ofChrist, then that is the firstmiracleGodwants to perform in yourlife.ThisisthegreatestoneminutewithGodyouwilleverexperience…anditwillleadtoanentirelifetimeofexperienceswithHim.Thinkaboutit.Nothingcan stop this miracle from taking place within your heart if you will simplyreceiveitandaskJesustocomeintoyourheartandtransformyourlife.Ifyouareanythinglikeme,andI’msureyouare,thoughthecircumstancesleadinguptothismomentwerelongandvaried,itonlytakesoneminutewithGodforyourhearttoberadicallytransformedandyoureternityforeverchanged.

IfyouhaveneverreceivedJesusasyourLordandSavior,Iencourageyoutogototheendofthischapterforinstructionsandprayer.

HOWDOYOUKNOWIFYOU’VE

HADONEMINUTEWITHGOD?

How do you know if you have had a one-minute-with-God experience?There aremanydifferentways toknow that youhave experienced those sixtysupernaturalsecondsoffavorfromtheFather.Youcouldhaveadream,avision,a visitation, or an encounterwithGod that is powerful and tangible.Or therecould be a knowing in your spirit where all the heaviness you had beenexperiencing is immediately lifted off of you. In one moment you could bereadingtheWordofGodandgetarevelationthatyoudidn’thavebefore;youcould suddenly go from labor to favor in your life.Maybe you receive goodnews after prayer. Or maybe you go back to the doctor and suddenly get adifferentreport—agoodreport.

GodisaGodofvariety,andHeshowsupinmanydifferentways.OuroneminutewithGodmaylookquitedifferentfromsomeoneelse’s,butitisstillanencounterwithGodnonetheless.YoumayhearHisvoicetellingyousomethinggoodinthemidstofhorriblecircumstances—allittakesisonewordfromHim.Maybe you have been extremely anxious andworried, and in oneminute you

experienceaheavenlypeace.Atonemomentyouarehopeless,thenwhenGodshowsup,Hefillsyouwithhope.

Matthew’sGospeltellsthestoryofthedaywhenthedisciplesfacedastorminthemiddleofthelake,andtheybegantopanicbecauseJesuswassleepingintheboat.Thecircumstanceswereagainstthemandwhattheydesperatelyneededwas one minute with God—Jesus arising from sleep, speaking a word andcalming thestorm.OnemomentwithGodcancauseananxiousheart tobeatpeace.Matthewwrites:

NowwhenHegotintoaboat,HisdisciplesfollowedHim.Andsuddenlyagreattempestaroseonthesea,sothattheboatwascoveredwiththewaves.ButHewasasleep.ThenHisdisciplescame toHimandawokeHim,saying,“Lord,saveus!Weareperishing!”

ButHesaidtothem,“Whyareyoufearful,Oyouoflittlefaith?”ThenHearoseandrebukedthewindsandthesea,andtherewasagreatcalm.Sothemenmarveled,saying,“Whocanthisbe,thateventhewindsandtheseaobeyHim?”(Matthew8:23-27)

Jesus responded to the disciples in this scenario and not to the storm.Weoften think the Lord automatically knows our needs and the circumstancessurrounding our life, and that He will automatically respond to our problemswithoutuspursuingHim.Thisisnotnecessarilythecase.Infact,GodwaitsforustoawakenHim.AsOnewhoisomniscientandallknowing,Godisawareofwhatwearegoingthrough;atthesametime,HeiswaitingforustoinviteHimintoourstormsandsituations.YourinvitationthroughprayerisoftenasetupforamiraculousoneminutewithGod.IntheMatthew8account,weseethatJesusslept through this storm.Thediscipleshad togo andwakeHimupbeforeHecoulddealwiththecircumstancesthatwerepresent.It’snotenoughjusttoknowthatGoddwellswithus;wemustliveourlivescontinuallyexpectantforHimtoworkonourbehalf.ThekeytoseeingHimworkisusbeingwillingtocallouttoHimforhelp.

Again, God waits for our invitation—not because He is powerless tointervenewithoutourhumanconsent,butbecauseHeislookingforthoseofuswhorecognizeourdireneedofHim.Asstrangeasitsounds,manyofustrytocalmstormsbyourselves.Eitherthat,orwerespondtothestormswithabsolutehopelessness. God is not even considered in the midst of our circumstances.Even though we claim to believe in Him, our belief is not practicallydemonstrated. Instead, we focus on how big, how loud, and how intense the

stormsare.Godwantstoturnyoursituationaround.ThefirstthingyouneedtodoisinviteHimin.ThisisoneofthefirststepstoyouroneminutewithGod.

We were in a church meeting years ago, with hundreds of people therewanting tobeprayedfor.Asuddenstormcameup,and itcameupsoquicklytherewasnoplacetorun,noplacetohide,andnoplacetogetoutofthewayasthe storm approached. The winds were high and reports said the storm washeaded straight for theplacewherewewere located.Thepowerwentout andtherewasnothinglefttodobutpray.TheLordremindedmethatHealwayshasHiswayinthestorm:“TheLordhasHiswayinthewhirlwindandinthestorm,andthecloudsarethedustofHisfeet”(Nah.1:3).

WeallbegantoquotethatScriptureandpray.Miraculously,inoneminutethestormturnedandwentinatotallydifferentdirection.Wecontinuedonwiththe service, with no electricity and using flashlights to see, andmany peopleweresavedandhealedasaresultofGod’sglorybeingmanifested.ItonlytookoneminutewithGodtochangeourcircumstances—oneprayer,oneminuteforGod to show up and change the course of the storm.WhenGod shows up inpower, things bend to His will. People are changed. The atmosphere is filledwithfaith.AndpeopleencounterHispresenceinprofound,life-changingways.

HOWTOGETYOURONE

MINUTEWITHGOD

While there is no formula to be followed ensuring that God shows up,spendingconsistenttimewithHimisthebestwaytogetyouroneminuteinHispresence.AswearefaithfultowholeheartedlypursueGodonaconsistentbasis,thenHewillbegin to showupwhenweneedHim themost.WecultivateouroneminutewithGodbylivingalifeofintimacywithHim,byspendingtimeinprayerandreadingGod’swordscontainedintheBible.

Even though God in His mercy grants at times sovereign one-minuteencounterstothosewhoprayfrantic,“helpme,Lord”prayers,Heissearchingfor thosewho cultivate lifestyles of closenesswithHim.These are the peoplewhocarryHispresenceandtransferGodencounterstootherpeople.Yes,Heisa lovingFatherwho constantly answers our prayers, evenwhen they are onlyofferedintimesofdistress.Atthesametime,Godshouldnotbeourlastresort.HeisnotadivineBand-Aidthatweapplyonlywhenwehaveproblems.Ireallywant you to be one who pursues closeness with God and intimacy in Hispresenceaboveallelse,sothat theseoneminutewithGodexperiencesarenotreservedonlyfortimesoftrouble.

ONEMINUTEWITHTHE

DECLAREDWORDOFGOD

YouroneminutewithGodcancomewhileprayingaloneorwhileprayingina group.Or it can comewhen reading theBible by yourself or listening to itbeingpreachedatchurch.Whenyou read theBibleoryouare listening to thepreachingof theWord,youareinhalingtheverybreathofGodthatgiveslife.Whenitisbeingspoken,itisbreathingliferightintoyourspirit,creatingfaithandexpectationforGod’spresence.

Therehavebeenmanypeoplewhohavecometomeafterservicesandsaidthey were healed as theWord of God was being preached. They were neverprayedfor,handsweren’t laidonthem—justhearingtheWordofGodcreatedexpectancy within them and they received healing. This is confirmed inScripture many times. In Psalm 107:20, we see that “He sent His word andhealedthem,anddeliveredthemfromtheirdestructions.”Also,therearenotablemiracles in theministry of Jesuswhere allHedidwas speak aword and thatwordreleasedhealingpower.Specifically,wesee thisas theRomancenturionasksJesustohealhissickservant:“Lord,IamnotworthythatYoushouldcomeundermy roof.Butonly speakaword, andmy servantwill behealed” (Matt.8:8).

Irememberatimewhentherewerethreepastorssittingontheplatform,andthepastorof thechurchsaidtome,“PastorKeith, justreleasetheWordinthebuildingandintheoverflowbuilding.”IgotupandreleasedtheWordofGod,and then I said, “If you receivedhealing in thebuildingor overflowbuilding,comedowntothealtar.”IwasshockedathowtheWordofGodwillnotreturnvoid,but itwillaccomplishwhat it issent todo(seeIsa.55:11).Manypeopleresponded.

AfterrejoicinginwhatGodhaddone,Ithenencouragedthemtogobacktotheir medical doctors and see if their medical conditions were better. I wasamazedtosee thepeople’sreportsfromdoctorsconfirmingthat theyhadbeencompletely healed. Their testimonies and doctors’ confirmations continue tobuildfaithandblesseveryonewhohearsaboutthemtothisday.

Wordsarepowerfulandcontainlife.HearingonewordfromGodcanbetheone minute we need with Him (see Prov. 4:20–22). The Word of God canchangeyourlifeifyouwillletit.Infact,IambelievingthatyouwillexperienceyouroneminutewithGodasyougiveyourselftoreadingtheBiblesofaithandexpectancyarecreatedinyourheart.

AllittakesisoneminutewithGodtoreleasethebreakthrough,deliverance,and healing you need. I am continually amazed at how effortlessly the Lordreleasestheseone-minuteencounters,whetheritisthroughHisspokenwordorthemanifestationofHispresenceortheprayersofHispeople.Wecanstriveandstrain for a lifetime, never seeing results, when all it takes is aword spoken,anointedbytheHolySpirit,toproducesupernaturaltransformation.

Be encouraged! If you have been dealing with long-lasting problems,continuousdifficulties,chronicpainandsickness,torment,orexperiencinganyother form of attack from the enemy, your minute with God is coming. GodAlmightycanshowupinoneminuteandchangeyourcircumstances,deliveringyoufromtheenemy.Thepsalmistsaid,“Youmademyenemiesturntheirbackstome”(Ps.18:40,ESV).ThosethingsthathavebeenattackingyouandcomingagainstyouareturningtheirbacksandrunningtheotherwayfromyoubecauseGod’s presence shows up and changes things. Darkness cannot stand in thepresence of trueLight. Isn’t thatwonderful news? I’m glad thatwe have thatkindofhelponourside.IhaveseenGoddoitincountlesslives,timeaftertime.Because the Bible says God is no respecter of persons, I believe that if Hebroughtvictorytooneperson,Hewilldoitforanother.IfHecoulddoitforme,Hecandoitforyou!

Expectthatvictoryiscomingyourway!

ONEMINUTEWITHGOD

RESTORESOURSOULS

Repentyetherefore,andbeconverted,thatyoursinsmaybeblottedout,when the timesof refreshing shall come from thepresenceof theLord(Acts3:19,KJV).

ThispassageofScriptureteachesusthatproperrestorationbringsrevelationtoourlives.WhenwereceivearevelationfromGod,thingsinourlivesbegintoberestoredandrenewed.WhenyouhaveahiddenlifealonewithGod,spendingtimewithHimona regularbasis,yourFatherwhosees in secret rewardsyouopenly:“Butyou,whenyoupray,gointoyourroom,andwhenyouhaveshutyourdoor,praytoyourFatherwhoisinthesecretplace;andyourFatherwhoseesinsecretwillrewardyouopenly”(Matt.6:6).

ThereareChristianswhostandingreatconfidencetodaybecausetheyhavespent hours alonewithGod. They knowGod has heard their prayers and hasseentheircriesformercy.Isthisyou?Iamnotwritingaboutareligiousformula

here,wherewebelievethatGodlovesusmoreifwespendmoretimewithHim.His love is constant andunconditional.Why is timewithGod so important—especiallywhenitcomestoreceivingansweredprayer?

You can have absolute confidence in the place of prayer when weconfidentlyprayinalignmentwiththepersonalityofGod.Didyougetthat?Thereason some people pray frantically and without expectation is because theirprayers are not linked to a revelation of who He really is. This comes byspendingintimatetimeinHispresence.

I remind you, God loves it when we pray and He loves to answer ourprayers.ThekeyisprayingprayersthatGodHimselfwouldpray.Thisisyourinvitation to a one-minute-with-God encounter. If you want to experiencesupernatural results, pray supernatural prayers. The best person to model inprayerwouldbeJesusHimself.WediscoverwhoJesus isbyspendingtimeintheWordofGod,enjoyingfellowshipwiththeSpiritofGod.AstheHolySpiritrevealsJesus toyou,startprayingfromthatplace.Pray likeJesuswouldpray.This is being a good steward of the revelation you receive in that place ofintimacy, andGod rewards this kind of stewardshipwith increase. Jesus said,“Welldone, thougoodand faithful servant: thouhastbeen faithfulovera fewthings, Iwillmake thee rulerovermany things: enter thou into the joyof thylord” (Matt. 25:21,KJV).God is not looking for superstars;He is looking forpeoplewhoarefaithfultoHisplansandpurposesfortheirlives.

Injustoneminute,Godcandothingsinourlivesthatarebeyondourwildestdreams.Paul the apostle recognized this, as hewrote: “Nowglory be toGod,whobyhismightypoweratworkwithinusisabletodofarmorethanwewouldever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers,desires, thoughts,orhopes”(Eph.3:20,TLB).Hehassomethinggoodinstoreforeachandeveryoneofus.WejustneedtoseekHim,doingallweknowtodointhemidstofourcircumstances.

Restassured,asHeseesyourfaithfulness,HeshowsupandbringsyouintoanencounterwithHim.InLuke13:11-16,therewasawomanwhowasbowedover by a spirit for eighteen years. In other words, she lived in a crampedexistence. And yet, all it took was one minute with God to change her lifeforever.Shehadbeenboundforeighteenlongyears,butallsheneededwasforJesus’spresencetoshowupandchangehercircumstances,completelyhealingherbody.

The reason any great thing happens in our lives is becausewe have spenttimealonewithGod.Thoughwearefocusingonmanyone-minuteencounters

that are spectacular in nature—healings, deliverance, miracles—some of thegreatermomentsyouwilleverenjoy inHispresenceare thoseyouhavealonewithHim.JustyouandGod.

Maybeyouhavebeenprayingandfastingandseeking theLord.YouhavebeenpursuingGodinthehidden,personalplaces.KnowthatHehearsyou.Heopenly rewards thosewho seekHim in the secret place.Even if youhavenotexperiencedvictoryyet,orhavenotreceivedyouranswertoprayer,don’tstopseekingHim.Know that your one-minute encounter is coming. Press past thetemptationtogrowweary,andcontinuallyseekHimnomatterhowlongittakes.EverythingcanchangeinthatoneminutewithHim.

APRAYERFORSALVATION

Isaidearlier that thegreatestmiracle thatanyonecanreceive in this life isthemiracleofsalvation.“Godsolovedtheworld,thathegavehisonlybegottenSon, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlastinglife”(John3:16,KJV).Inordertohaveeternallife,whichiseverlastinglifeinheaventhatbeginsinaperson’sheartnow,anindividualmustbesavedandbornagain.

TheWordofGodsaysthat“whoevercallsonthenameoftheLordshallbesaved”(Rom.10:13).ThatmeansanypersonwhocallsouttoJesustobesavedfromtheirsinswillbesaved, regardlessof thesinful things theyhavedoneorthegoodthingstheyhavefailedtodowiththeirlives.

BelievingishowyoureceivesalvationfromwhatJesushasdoneforyouonthecross.Hewasbeatenandbruisedonyourbehalf.HebecamesinsothatyoucouldhaveHisrighteousness,andHediedthedeathyoudeservedsoyoucouldhave eternal life. JesusChristmade it possible for you—a sinner—to be rightwithGod and become a new creation.Howdo you receive this life?You areonlytobelieveinyourheartthatJesuslivedaperfectlifeanddiedonthecrosssoyoucanhaveeverlasting life.Once thatbelief ispresent inyourheart, thenyouhavetoconfessitwithyourmouth,andyouwillbesaved.PaulwrotetotheRomans:

ThatifyouconfesswithyourmouththeLordJesusandbelieveinyourheartthatGodhasraisedHimfromthedead,youwillbesaved.Forwiththeheartonebelievesuntorighteousness,andwiththemouthconfessionismadeuntosalvation(Romans10:9-10).

IfyouwantthiseternallifethatJesusspokeabout,thenIwouldencourage

youtopraywithmerightnow.Everycircumstanceinyourlifehasbeenleadingyou to this point, to this oneminutewithGod,where everythingbegins anewandwhereyou receiveeternal life. Ifyouwant topossess this typeofeternal,abundantlife,thenpraythisprayeroutloud:

Father, I believe inmyheart thatYou sentYourSonJesus,whomYouraised from the dead, to be the sacrifice for my sins. I trust that it isthroughHimthatYougivemeeternallife.IconfessrightnowthatIamsaved by Jesus’s shed blood! I thank You, Lord, and praise You inJesus’sholyname.Amen.

Alwaysrememberthatsalvationisawayoflife,notaone-timeprayer.Byprayingaprayer,youarebeginningthisnewlife.However,onceyouaresaved,theBible says that youhavebecomeanewcreationwith anewnature (see2Cor.5:17).Onceyouaresaved,younolongerwishtodoanythingthatwouldbedispleasing to God—you have brand-new desires and genuinely long to obeyGod.

Youmightbethinking,“Iprayedthatprayer…butIdon’tfeelanything.”IfyoutrulyprayedtoreceiveJesusasyourLordandSavior,meaningitwithyourheart, it doesn’tmatterwhat you feel or don’t feel.What happens is strictly amatter of faith, which is deeper than feeling. Sometimes, youwill experiencefeelings—intenseemotionsorevenphysicalsensationsastheHolySpiritcomesto live inside of you. Sometimes, you will feel nothing. What happens atsalvationisinfinitelybeyondanyfeelingyouwilleverhave.Justcelebratethatyou have had the greatest one-minute-with-God encounter that you will everhave!

Chapter2

“WHY,OGOD,WOULDYOUALLOWTHISTOHAPPEN?”

MYHEARTGROWSCOLD

Aftermysalvationexperience,whenGodbroughtlifetomydeadsoul, thenextmiraclemomentcameafewyearslaterinmylife.Mywife,Cheryl,andIhad twosons, JustinandEli, andonedaughterwhomwenamedHeather. Justlikeeverybodyelseintheworld,weweretryingtomakealivingdoingthebestwe could with what we had. But over a period of time, I found myself notattendingchurchanylonger.Ineverintendedforthistohappen,butbecauseofthepressuresoflifeandthedemandsoffamily—aswellasthethoughtsoftheenemy and the pull of theworld—I foundmyself struggling inmywalkwithGod.

Itwasn’t long after this that I lost interest in reading theBible.There justwasn’tenoughtimeintheweekforthethingsIhadtogetdone,letalonetakingmyfamilytochurchandspendingconsistenttimewithGod.Therewasalwayssomething else to do, somethingmore important and urgent that needed to bedone.Wewerebarelygettingby,andeverydaythedemandsweregettingharderandharder.Ifanyoneaskedmewhatwasmostimportantinmylife,myanswerwasalwaysJesus.ButatthispointIhadbecomecoldandindifferent.

LongpastwerethedayswhenIfeltthesweetpresenceoftheLord.IhadleftHim,butHehadneverleftme.Itseemedlikewewerespinningoutofcontrolandwedidn’tknowwhichwaytoturn.

God has a protective hedge that surrounds us and keeps the enemy awayfromourlives.Itisourjobandourresponsibilitytostayinthathedge,keeping

our family and us protected in God’s presence. If we go outside of God’sprotectivehedge,thentheBiblewarnsusthataserpentmaybethere,waitingtobite us (seeEccles. 10:8). Some accuseGod of being the onewho causes theproblems in their lives. The truth is, many Christians struggle with issuesbecausetheyhavesteppedbeyondtheprotectiveboundariesofGod’spresence.Heknowsthereisaserpentout there, lookingtodestroyus.ThisiswhyPeterremindsus that thedevil isalwayswalkingaround likea roaring lion,seekingwhom hemay devour (see 1 Pet. 5:8). But we have a right to stay in God’sprotectivehedgethroughthebloodofJesus.

Unfortunately,atthispointinmylifetherewassomuchIdidnotknoworunderstandaboutGod’sprotection.OneofthethingsIdidn’trealizewasthatIhad moved outside of the hedge of God’s protection by choosing not tofellowship with Him on a daily basis. I simply didn’t realize the enemy waswalkingaroundtheoutsideofthishedge,waitingtodevourmyfamilyandme.Whatthedevilwouldmeanforbad,Godwouldturnaroundforgoodthroughaone-minuteencounterthatshapedtherestofmylife.

THEEMERGENCYROOM

WhenmysonJustinwassixyearsoldandinthefirstgrade,Cherylreceiveda call from the school saying that he was sick and needed to be picked up.Becausehehadahighfeverandaheadache,Cherylpickedhimupfromschooland then took him to the pediatrician to get checked out. After a carefulexamination and somemedication,Cherylwas toldhewouldbe fine in a fewdays.

ItwasHalloween,sowegotinbedlaterthatnightthanusual.Wewereallsoundasleepwhen Ihearda loudnoisecoming from theboys’ room.When Irushedintoseewhatcausedthenoise,IsawthatJustinhadfallenoutofbed.Ipicked him up off of the floor and started to put him back in the bed, butsomethingwaswrong.He didn’t seem to be responding tomewhen I pickedhimup.WithJustininmyarms,Iranoutside,jumpedinthecar,andheadedupthestreettothehospital,whichwascloseby.

Ipulleduptotheemergencyroom,andtheyimmediatelytookJustinoutofmyarmsandrushedhimbackforadiagnosis.ThatnightJustinwastransferredbyambulancetotwootherhospitals,andbydaylightwefoundourselvesontheinterstate inanambulanceheaded fora thirdhospital thatwasbetterequippedforthiskindofemergency.

The diagnosis was that Justin had a severe case of bacterial spinalmeningitis.Hewasinacoma.Thereportswerenotgood.Asyoucanimagine,timemoved slowly for thenext fewdays as the reports continued to come in,noneofthemhopeful,statinghowbadtheproblemwas.Hisbrainwasswollenfromthemeningitisandhewasstillinacoma.Themeningitiswassoseverethateveryonewhohadbeenincontactwithhimhadtobemedicated.Wedesperatelyneededamiracle.Thelittleboywhowassosmart,alert,andactivewasnowinafetalpositiononaventilatorwithnochangeinhisbody.

“WHYWOULDYOUALLOW

THISTOHAPPEN?”

Wehadateamofthegreatestdoctorsandnursesavailableintheworldatareally good hospital with updated equipment. We had a lot of support fromfamily, friends, and evenpastors.But as timemarchedon, itwas evident thatJustinwasnot improving.Infact,hehadonlygottenworsesincethenightwebroughthimin.SinceIhadpickedhimupofftheflooronHalloweennight,hehadnot spoken, responded, or even looked around—not evenonce.Hewouldonlylaythereinthecoma.

Weaskedourteamofdoctorsifwecouldbringinaspecialistwehadheardaboutwhodealtwith thesekindsof comapatients.After theygaveus thego-ahead,wesentforhimandheagreedtocomewithinafewdays.Weweredoingeverything in thenatural thatwecould think todo;weweredoingeverythingwithinourpowertohelpourboyrecover.

Finallythedaycameforustohaveameetingwithourteamofphysicians.Afterallthetests,thediagnosisremainedverybleak—therewasnohope.Aswestood there, surrounded by some of the greatest physicians in the city, theirreports concluded that Justin was not getting any better. They didn’t see anyhope.Hewas inaglass roomandwasnot responding to anyof the treatmenttheyweregivingtohim.

ThatnightasCherylheldhishand,Ifeltastrongurgedowninmyspirit.ItwasapullthatIcannotfullyexplaintothisday.IonlyknewthatIneededtogohomeforawhileandgetsomerest,towhichCherylagreed.Ileftthehospital,got in my car, and I cried all the way home. It was such a dark night, bothphysicallyandspiritually.

ItwasNovember, itwas freezingoutside,and thewindwasblowinghard.WhenIpulleduptothehouse,itwasdark—nolightswereoninsidethehome

oroutside. Iwent in, turnedon theheat and the lights, andprepared to takeashower.AsIsatonthefootofourbed,whichlookeddirectlyacrossthehalltoJustin’s room, I began to cry once again. Inside, I wondered why God hadallowedthishappen.WhyhadHeallowedthistohappentous?

Whilesittingthere,tearscloudingmyeyes,lookingatthelightthroughthehall into Justin’s room, I criedout toGod, “Why,God?Whyus?WhywouldYouallowthistohappentoourfamily?Myson?”Suddenly,withoutwarning,theroomwasfulloflight.Iwasinstantlyafraidandcouldnotmove.Icouldnotevenutteraword.TherewasaheavinessofGod’spresenceintheroom.

ItwasthenthatIsawHis image,right infrontofme.Jesushadcomeintothe room.The lightwas sobright andblinding.His eyeswere like a flameoffire.WithoutHimevensayingaword,IcouldtellthatHekneweverythingthatwasgoingoninourlives.Hiseyestoldthestory.PerfectLovehadarrived.ThenHe spoke, and itwas like the soundofmanywaters.Hedidn’t giveme somepromisethateverythingwouldbeokay,thatHewouldinstantlyhealJustin,andlifewouldbegreat.Heonlyspokethreewordstome:“Gotochurch.”AndthenHewasgoneasquicklyasHeappeared.

Needless to say, I was completely stunned and shocked by what had justhappened.ThequestioninmymindwaswhyHewouldcomeandappeartome,andgivemethoseinstructionswhenIwasnotevenrightwithHim—whenIwasnotevenpursuingHim.Lateron, Iwoulddiscover thatGod’s loveandmercyareforever.GodhadneverleftmeeventhoughIhadleftHim.Thesameistrueforyou.Nomatterwhereyouare,Godisstillwithyou.YoumightfeelamillionmilesawayfromGodandcompletelyunabletofillinthespacebetweenyouandHim.Thetruthis,Hehasnotleftyou.Timeaftertime,throughouttheBible,wesee theconstant recordofa faithfulGodwhodrawsnear tous,evenwhenweare distant fromHim. Jesus is the ultimate expression of this.WhenmankindhadfallensofarawayfromGod,Godstillcametoearth,inthepersonofJesus,anddiedonacross forapeoplewhoreallywantednothing todowithHim. IbelievethissameJesusismakingamovetowardyoutoday!

Iremember,whilesittingaloneinmyroomthatnight,thepresence,power,andgloryofGodwasstillveryevidentandsostrong.Itwasalloverme.EventhoughIwasstillscared,Ihadapeaceabouteverythingthatwastakingplace.Deepinside,IknewGodhadheardmyprayerforJustin.Thoughthepainandsadnesshadbeenpresent inmyheart fordays,God’spresencesuddenlycameandlituptheroom,changingthepainandsadnesstohopeandfaith.

FOLLOWINGGOD’SINSTRUCTIONS

During that encounter, God gave me some instructions that needed to befollowed:“Gotochurch.”Whatdidgoingtochurchatthistimeofnighthavetodo with Justin’s condition? Besides, they seemed like illogical instructions.When I was able to regain my composure, I ran back out into the freezingweatherandblowingwind,jumpedintothecar,andbegantodrivetothechurchthatweusedtoattend.

Eventhoughtheairwaschilly,IwasburningupwiththepoweroftheHolySpirit.Inowhadseenthelightattheendofthetunnel.MymindwasracingasIwastryingtofigureoutwhichwaytogo.Ourhomechurch,whichwehadnotbeentoinawhile,wasoveranhourawayanditwaslateatnight.Becausewehadbeenatthehospitalforsolong,Ihadlosttrackofthedays.Mynaturalmindthought that no onewould possibly be there that late at night.Nevertheless, Idecidedtoobeyanddrivetochurchanyway.

As I headed out of the driveway, I took the shortest route to the mainhighway,turnedrightatthestopsign,andnoticedachurchthatwasclosingupfor the night. There was only one car in the parking lot, and amanwith hisovercoatflappinginthewindwasstandingatthedoor,tryingtolockup.Idroveupthestreet,quicklyturnedaround,andcamebacktothechurch.Ipulledintotheparking lot, jumpedoutof thecar,and ranup thestepsof thechurch, stillshakingfromtheencounterIjusthadwithGod.

IcouldbarelygetthewordsoutofmymouthIwassoshakenbywhatIhadjustexperienced.Withoutexplaininganything,Ijustasked,“Sir,couldIusethechurchaltar?”HeturnedaroundandaskedwhoIwas.IwentaheadandtoldhimthestoryaboutmysonandthatIlivedrightaroundthecorner.Hetoldmethathewasthepastorthere,andthatheandhissonhadbeentryingtogetthedoorlocked on the church, but for some reason itwould not lock.Theywere bothcoldandhadbeenworkingonitforquitesometimebutwithnoresults.

Thepastorwentonto tellmethatheknewaboutmysonfromaladywhowent tohischurch—a ladywhoalsohappened tobeour landlord. It turnsoutthis church had been praying for my son at their Wednesday night prayermeeting earlier that night.Not knowing Justin, or us for thatmatter, they hadspecial prayer for him. Little did they know that right down the road I washavinganencounterwithJesusatourhousewhiletheywerepraying.

The pastor continued to tellme that hewould have already been gone bynow,butforsomereasonthedoorwouldnotlock.Truly,Godwasbringingme

—andothers like thispastor,his son, and this church—intoa seriesofuniqueone-minute encounterswithHim.He allowedme to go inside and pray at thechurchaltarwhilehecontinuedtoworkonthedoorlock.Heturnedthelightsonforme,and Iwent into thechurch,obeying the instructions theLordgavemeduringmyencounterwithJesus.

LikePaulontheDamascusroad,Ifelldownatthealtar,tremblingbeforetheLord,andbegantocryoutforHismercy.Tremendouspressureleftmybodyinthatmoment.As I surrenderedmy life to thework of the Lord, I toldHim Iwould do whatever He wanted me to do for His glory. In sixty supernaturalsecondsat thataltaron thatcoldNovembernight,all theguilt, shame,andsinwerecompletelywashedawayfrommylife.

Ithenheardavoice—thesamevoicethatspoketomeatthehouse—saying,“Getup.Justinishealed.Gotellthem.”Withoutanyhesitationandwithoutanyphysicalconfirmation,IknewIhadreceivedamiracle.

Thenext thing Iknewwas that Iwasonmy feet runningdown thecenteraisleofthechurchasfastasIcould.Atthismoment,allIhadwasa“knowing”downinmyspiritthatJustinwouldbeokay.Istoppedbythefrontdoortothankthe pastor, telling him that God had heardmy prayer and toldme Justinwashealed, and that Iwas instructed to go and tell everyone that hewould be allright.Thepastorwasexcitedandsaid,“Ifthisdoorwouldlock,Iwouldgowithyoutothehospital.”

Ithankedhimforhiskindness,andheassuredmetheywouldrememberusinprayer.IwassohappywalkingdownthestepsofthechurchthatNovemberevening. Just moments before, I was weighed down by shame, guilt, andsadness.Aftermyone-minuteencounter,Ihadhope,faith,andawordfromGodthateverythingwouldbeokay.ThatoneminuteinGod’spresencehadchangedeverything,causinghopeandfaithtobeignitedinmyheart.

I got inmy car and started to pull outwhen I heard the pastor yell, “I’mgoingwithyou!Thedoorjustlocked!”Whatanamazingnightithadbeen.TothisdayIstillthinkabouthowGodorchestratesthingsandcausesdoorstoopenand close byHiswonderful plans.God intimately sees us in themidst of ourpainfulcircumstances.HeknowswhatwearegoingthroughandHeistheGodwhoworksmiracleswhereitlookslikeallhopeislost.

ARENEWEDEXCITEMENT

Excitement filledmyheart for the first time ina longwhile as Imademy

wayback to thehospital. Itwas latewhen Iarrived,with thepastor followingclosebehindinhisowncar.WewentintotheICUroomandItoldmystorytoCheryl of what had transpired that evening. There had been no change withJustin in thenatural realmwhen Iarrived—hisconditioncontinued tostay thesamewhileIwasgone.

Cheryl thankedboththepastorandhissonforcoming.Itwaslate,so theyprayedwith us and then left. During the prayer I could feelmy faith arising,eventhoughJustin’sconditionhadnotgottenanybetter.ThewordofGodwasstillburninginmyspirit,andIknewthatGodmakeseverythingbeautifulinHistime(seeEccles.3:11).Ialsolearnedthatdelayisnotdenial.IfouroneminutewithGodfailstocome,ortheanswertoourcriesformercyhavenotcome,wearetonevergiveupinourpursuitofourmiracle.Godhascalledustoneverstopbelievingforourmiracletomanifest.

GodwasmovingsopowerfullyinmyheartthatIcouldn’tsleepthatnight.Cheryland I could feelHispresence resting in the room,and I could feelHisgraceinmyspirit.EventhoughIhadanencounterwithJesusandawordfromGod, there had still been no change in the natural circumstances. Justin’scondition appeared to be unchanging.What mattered was our response. Howwerewegoingtorespondtowhatweseeinthenaturalrealm?Wekeptcallingthose things that were not as though they were. In spite of how hopeless thesituationseemed,westoodinagreementwiththeWordofGodthatoursonwashealed.Also,wecontinuedtothinkongoodthings,whichtheBibleinstructsustothinkabout(seePhil.4:8).

Wetried tokeepapositiveoutlookonthesituation,knowingthatourGodwouldcomethroughforus.HehadnotshownupinpowerjusttoleaveJustinashe had been—God showed up in order to perform amiracle.Our oneminutewithGodisneverjustaboutincreasinghopeandfaith;it’saboutGodshowingupinpowertosupernaturallychangeourcircumstancesandimpactourlivesbyHispower.

ThenextmorningtheteamofdoctorscameintocheckonJustinandhowhewasdoing.Theyhadstudiedthetestandallthereportsthatwentalongwithit.In the natural, thingswere the same, but in the supernaturalwe had aminutewithGod.IcalmlytoldthedoctorsthatIhadanencounterwiththeLordandHesaid that Justinwouldbeamiracleanda testimony to theworld.Theyagreedthatitwouldtakeamiracleforhimtocomeoutofthis,andtheyassuredustheywoulddoeverythingtheycouldtokeepJustincomfortableinthedaysahead.

HOWTOWAITFORYOUR

ONEMINUTEWITHGOD

ItisimportanttorememberthatwhileyouarewaitingforyourminutewithGod,youshoulddoeverythingyoucaninthenaturalrealm,justlikewedid.Wecontinuedtoprayinspiteofwhatwesaw,justlikeElijahdidduringatimeoffamine.HeheardGodinstructhimtogo tell theking that itwasgoing toraineventhoughithadn’trainedforoverthreeyears.Soheandhisservantwentuponthemountainandbegantopray,askingtheLordtosendrainupontheland.EventhoughhehadadirectwordfromGod,hestillcontinuedtoprayforraintocome.Asheprayedtheseventhtime,hesawasignfromheaven,albeitalittleone:Elijah’sservantsawacloudonlythesizeofaman’shand.Butrainwasnotfarbehind.EvenifyouhaveawordfromGod,keepprayinganddoallyoucanuntil thatwordcomes topass.Paul remindsus that“weare labourers togetherwithGod” (1Cor.3:9,KJV).WeworkwithHim.Yes,Hewill drawnear andencounter us.There is nothing thatwe cando in our natural strength tomakeGodmoveorcreateamiracle.ThisisentirelyuptoGod.Atthesametime,wecontinue topartnerwithHim.WedowhatHesaid.Westandon,confess,anddeclareHisWord.Wepray in faith, believing forHisdivine intervention.Wepresson,allthewhiletrustingtheoutcometoourgoodandfaithfulFather.Theresult?Suddenly…

Suddenly,aswecontinuedtopray,wegotanotherminutewithGod—allthenegativereportschangedforthebetter.WecouldfeelthegloryofGodpresentinthehospitalroomwithus.TheminutethatGodcameintotheroom,everyonewhowaspresentknewit.Allthepeopleintheroombegantoweepandrepent;allofusexperiencedaGodmomenttogether.ItwasthenthatJustinwokeupoutof the coma.Hewas awake, smiling, andwanting something to eat.He evenwantedtogetoutofbed.Hismindwasperfectandstrong.GodhaddoneonlywhatGodcando,anditseemedtoalltakeplaceinjustaminute!

Chapter3

EXPERIENCINGYOURONEMINUTEWITHGOD

AKEYTOEXPERIENCINGGOD

Justinwas only six years oldwhen hewas admitted into the hospital in acoma with no brain waves. After he woke up from the coma, however, theycheckedhisIQanditwasatageniuslevel.JustintrulybecametheprophesiedmiracleGodhadspokentomethatnightinmybedroom.

Justin stayed at the hospital for a couplemore dayswhile the doctors ranmanytestsandconfirmedthathetrulywashealed.Throughawonderfulteamofmedicalpersonnelwhoworkednonstop,andthroughawonderfulGodwhogaveusaone-minuteencounterandawordthatbroughtlightintodarkness,wewouldforeverbegrateful.Eventoday,afterthirty-fiveyears,Justinisstillgettinggoodreportsfromhisphysicals.Thedoctorssayheisthepictureofhealth.

PeopleoftenaskmetodaywhenIshareJustin’sstory,“What isoneof thefirst keys to getting my one minute with God?” The first key for me wasrepentance.ThisiswhatIwantustofocusonforthefirstpartofthischapter,asrepentance is absolutely essential for you to experience your oneminutewithGod.

When I repented ofmy cold heart, this connectedme back to FatherGodeventhoughIhadwanderedoff.Theriverthathadbeencloggedupinmyspiritforsolongbegantoflowonceagain.TheprayerofrepentancethatIprayedatthe altar gotGod’s attention.God is looking for thosewho truly repent—whodecidetostopmovingtheirownway,turnaround,andmovetowardGod.

REPENTANCE:YOURPROTOCOL

TOENCOUNTERINGGOD

It later dawnedonme that there is a protocol of doing thingswithGod, awayoforderthatmusttakeplacebeforeHemovesinpowerfulways.HeisGodand wemust follow His pattern if we want to see Himmove like He did atcreation.Thebeginningofthisprotocolisrepentance.

Letme illustrate.One story I had learned as a boywas the parable of theprodigal son. It’s a story of a Jewish boywho finds himself in a place in lifewhereheshouldn’thavebeen.

Jesustoldthepeopleaparable:ThenHe said:“Acertainmanhad two sons.And the youngerof themsaidtohisfather,‘Father,givemetheportionofgoodsthatfallstome.’So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, theyoungersongatheredalltogether,journeyedtoafarcountry,andtherewastedhispossessionswithprodigal living.Butwhenhehadspentall,there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be inwant.Thenhewentandjoinedhimselftoacitizenofthatcountry,andhesenthim into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled hisstomachwiththepodsthattheswineate,andnoonegavehimanything.Butwhenhecame tohimself,hesaid, ‘Howmanyofmy father’shiredservants have bread enough and to spare, and I perishwith hunger! Iwill arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I havesinnedagainstheavenandbeforeyou,andIamnolongerworthytobecalledyourson.Makemelikeoneofyourhiredservants.’”Andhearoseandcametohisfather.Butwhenhewasstillagreatwayoff,hisfathersawhimandhad compassion, and ranand fell onhis neckand kissedhim”(Luke15:11-20).

Lonely,hungry,dirty,andinamess, theyoungersondesperatelyneededamiracle.Considerthatashethoughtabouthisfatherwhilelivinginthisfarawaycounty,theyoungmancametohimself.Hethought,“Whatisaniceguylikemedoinginaplacelikethis?”Hebegantorealizethatprideandsinandtryingtohaveithisownwayhadtakenhimalongwayfromhome.Sohereheis,attheabsolutebottomof thebarrel, saying, “Iwill arise andgo tomy father!”Thatstatementcamefromhisheart.HewashearingfromGod.

No one said anything audibly to the prodigal son; he heard and expressedthis desire in his heart. That desire was there because he once had a strongrelationship with his father. “I will arise and go to my father’s house” is a

prophetic,out-louddeclarationthatcamefromthedepthsofhisheart.Nothinghappens in our lives untilwe speakout loudwhat has been in our heart for along time.By speaking thesewordsout loud, theyoung sonwasbreaking thebondagethatwasoverhislife.

In thehospitalwaitingroomthatnight, Iwas inaplace inmylife like theprodigalson.IknewbetterthanwhatIhadbeendoing—IknewIshouldn’thavebeeninthatspiritualplace.Yet,itwasinthatplaceofutterdesperationwhereIhadaminutewithGod. IheardGod inmyspirit, repented,andstarted to turntowardmyheavenlyFather’shouse.Liketheprodigalsonbeforeme,Iwasstillalongwayofffrommyfather’shousewheretherewasprotection,peace,love,andjoy.Thisdidn’tmatter.BecauseGodisagoodFather,andinHimwehaveaccess to abundant life, He was speaking to me in the very middle of mycircumstances,causingmetoturnbacktoHim.

REPENTANCERELEASESANEWFOUND

FLOWOFTHESPIRIT

AfterIhadrepented,Ifeltaflowagainfrommyspirit.Iwasbeginningtobewateredfromtheinsideout,feelingfreshlifefrommyspirit.Jesussaid,“Hethatbelievethonme,as thescripturehathsaid,outofhisbellyshallflowriversoflivingwater” (John7:38,KJV). I hadgotten aminutewithGod and it felt sogood.Sorefreshing.Sorenewing.Liketheprodigalson,IhadmadeastartthatwouldresultinmakingacomebacktotheFather.Iwasontheroadtorecovery,and just like the prodigal son before me, my story would also have a happyending.Thewonderfulthingaboutthestoryoftheprodigalsonisthatthefatherwaslookingeverydayforhimtomakeacomeback.

IremindyouthatoneofthemajorkeystohavingyouroneminutewithGodis sincere, from-the-heart repentance—confessing your sin to the Lord. Toomany Christians have the wrong idea about repentance. They assume that itinvolves condemnation, where we constantly review our sins and mistakes,punishingourselves fordispleasingGod. Ifwebelievesomething like this,wewillresistrepentance,andaslongasweresisttruerepentance,wewillmissourminutewithGod.Repentancebeginswithagodlysorrowoversin,thatistrue,but we do not receive condemnation. Instead, the Holy Spirit comes withconviction.Herevealsoursinnottojudgeus,buttoempowerusforvictory.Welive in a dangerous place when we deny repentance, for we are essentiallydenyingtheHolySpirit therighttoflowinandthroughourlives,empoweringustohavevictoryoverthesinsthattrytoensnareus.

Inshort,ifweharborsininourhearts,Godwillnothearus.SinblockstheflowoftheSpiritofGodmovingthroughourspirit,releasingthehealthandlifeofheaven.TheapostleJohnassuresus,however,that“Ifweconfessoursins,heis faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from allunrighteousness”(1John1:9,KJV).Godwillpursueusinthemidstofoursin,but ifwemake it ahabit to intentionally andwillfullyharbor sin inour lives,God’svoicewillbemuchhardertohear.

Living a lifestyle of repentancewill set us in the path ofGod’s presence.Livinga lifewherewe repent frequently setsusup forone-minute encounterswithHim.Again,constantrepentancedoesn’tmeanyouarealwaysfeelingbadformistakes or sins. Instead,when you live a lifestyle of repentance, you areproactively looking for ways that you can move toward God, not away fromHim.

Maybe you are reading this and find yourself in a faraway land, feeling alonging for the Father yet a separation from His house. I’ve been there. Theprodigalsonwasthere.Perhapsyou’rethererightnow.Maybeyouhaven’tsetyourselfupforone-minuteencounterswithGodbecauseofthesininyourlife.Be encouraged today, because in one minute you can repent and ask God toforgiveyou.

REPENTANCERESTORES

FELLOWSHIPWITHTHEFATHER

Onceyourepentofyoursins,yourfellowshipwiththeFatherisonceagainrestored.IfyouwillaskGodrightnowtoforgiveyouandcleanseyoufromallyour sinsand turnyour faceback toward theFather, thingswillbegin to flowfreshinyourlife.You’llbeontheroadtorefreshingandrestoration.Iencourageyou to speakout loud: “ThankYou, Jesus, I’mmaking a comeback. Iwill berestored.Iwillfindfavor.Iamforgiven.”

Your Father in heaven unconditionally loves you, no matter what. SomeresistrepentancebecausetheythinkthatGodisgoingtorejectthemorcastthemout because of their sin. Remember the story of the prodigal son? This trulyillustrates the heart of Father God. The young man who ran away from thefather’s house, squanderedhis inheritanceon immoral living, and endedup inutter ruin was warmly received by a father whowas actually running towardhim.KnowthatyourFatherisrunningtowardyou!

God has no throwaways. He wants us all to be in fellowship with Him.

Anyonewho iswilling to repentHewill restore to renewedfellowship.That’swhat the cross ofChristwas all about—restoring our fellowshipwithGod. Infact,wecannowapproachthethroneofGodboldlybecauseofwhatJesushasdoneforusonthecross.Notonlythat,butJesustooktimeoutduringHisfinalhours, dying on the cross, to hear the repentant cry of oneman,who “said toJesus,‘Lord,remembermewhenYoucomeintoYourkingdom.’AndJesussaidtohim,‘Assuredly,Isaytoyou,todayyouwillbewithMeinParadise’”(Luke23:42-43).God is faithful to respond toourprayersand toour repentanceandrestorelife-givingfellowship.

WhatInoticedthatdayatthehospitalwiththedoctorswasthatonceIhadrepented,therewasaflowofrefreshmentinsidemethatbroughtconfidencetospeak out what God was saying to me. Specifically, in this case, that Justinwouldbecomeamiracle.

REPENTANCELEADSTOCLEARVISION

AmantowhomIhadgivenawordthatcametopassapproachedmenottoolongagoandtoldmethatIremindedhimofSamuelfromtheBible.Heaskedme,“WhatdoesGoddowithapropheticseer?”

IansweredhisquestionbytellinghimwhattheLordtoldmeduringatimeoffastingandprayersometimebefore.Godsaid,“You’reaservantofMine.Theeyes are the windows to the soul, and a prophetic seer like you sees what’ssmudgingupthewindowstothesoul.Thenyoucleanoffthesmudge.”

SoIaskedtheLordwhenHetoldmethis:“HowdoIcleanitoff,Lord?”AndHesaid,“YouwashitoffwiththeWord!”GodhadtoldmethatIwas

likeaspiritualwindshieldwasher.Therearetimeswhenpeoplehaveahardtimeseeingwitharightperspective

—they can’t see clearly in the spirit and can’t see the light at the end of thetunnel.Theirvisioniscloudedsotheycan’tseetheirbreakthroughsbecauseofabad report they received. They pray, but the prayer is not being answeredbecausesomethingseemstobeblockingit.There’sasmudgeonthewindowoftheirsouls.Godtoldme,“Yourjobistobeawindowwasherofthewindowstothesoul.Byyourseeinggiftyousee thesmudges, thedebris fromtheroadoflife,andyou’reabletocleanitup.”

Repentance is not just about dealing with sin; repentance is also aboutchanging the way we think. Just like sin can cloud people’s vision, so canthinkingabout thewrong things.Whenwe thinkmoreabout thebad reportor

thesizeofourproblemthantheabilityofGod,weneedtorepent.Weneedtoturn away from these wrong ways of thinking, do an about-face, and movetoward God. We move toward His Word, because the Bible contains God’sthoughts.Itshowsushowtothinktherightway.

Also,whenweenterintothepresenceoftheLord,webegintoseesituationsandpeoplemoreclearly.Webegintoseethelightattheendofthetunnel.Eachperson can receive an activation, an impartation from theHolySpirit, causingthem to seeclearly in the realmof theSpirit. It isnot just agift thatGodhasgiven to me. When we are in God’s presence, seeing situations from Hisperspective,thenhopereturnsandfaitharises.ThisisbecausewestarttoseeourcircumstanceslikeGoddoes.Thewindowsofoursoul,whichhavebeenfoggedup,aresuddenlywashedoff.Ourvisionisrestoredinthespiritualrealm.

God wants to do a miracle for every person on this planet. He wantseveryonetohaveaone-minuteencounterthatdramaticallyturnstheirsituationsaround,bringinghealing,wholeness,andmiracles.It is important torememberthat miracles don’t come to those who just sit around, not aware of God’spresence in their lives.Miracles come to those who receive them, those whofightforthem,thosewhocontendforthem.Thereasonmiracleshappenatmychurch often is because I teach about them all the time. I regularly teach thatpeopleshouldexpectmiraclesandbelieveforthem.BecauseI talkaboutthemallthetime,thatisexactlywhatweget.Yougetexactlywhatyousay.

After you repent, it’s time for you to believe God. The second key toexperiencingaone-minute-with-Godencounterisexercisingfaith.Manypeoplenever get to the point of believing God and exercising faith for their miraclebecausetheyareinsecure.Theydon’t thinkGodwill listentothembecauseofthesinintheirlivesorthepoorchoicestheyhavemade.Whattheyneedtodoisturnfromtheirsin,repent,andmovetowardGod.

Faithisavitalpartofyourjourneytowardaone-minuteencounterwithGod.

RESTOREDFAITH

JesustaughtHisdisciples,saying,“Thatiftwoofyoushallagreeonearthastouching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for themofmyFatherwhichisinheaven”(Matt.18:19,KJV).Ifyou’resick,thengotothedoctorandfindoutwhat’swrongwithyourbody.Thengotoyourpastororsomeonewhowill believewithyouand tell themabout thedoctor’s report so they canprayandcomeintoagreementwithyouforyourhealingormiraclefromGod.

IftheLordaskedyoutoday,“WhatwouldyoulikeforMetodoforyou?”how would you answer that question? Would you tell Him about thecircumstancessurroundingyourlife?TheLordaskedmethatquestiononetimeand I answered, “Lord, I just want one minute with You, sixty supernaturalseconds.I’mlikeathirstymanwho’sbeeninthedesertformonthsandIwantanencounterwithYou,Lord.”

The Lord said, “You’ve got it, son!”When you get that oneminute withGod,you’llknowitwhenithappens.Itwillchangeyourentirelife.

Therearealotofpeoplewhofeelinsecureoverwhathashappenedintheirlivesbecauseofthejourneystheyhavebeenonthusfar.TheymayhaveaskedGod for something, but they didn’t receive it. When it didn’t happenimmediately, they began towonder ifGod heard them to beginwith or ifHeevencaresaboutwhattheyaregoingthrough.Theenemywillusethoughtslikethis to bring insecurity, sowe have to get confidence inGod.Whenwe haveconfidenceinGod,wehavefaithinGod.Goddoesn’tdoanythinguntilthefaithisthere.Thesecuritywillcomebackwhenthefaithcomesback.

When faith returns to our hearts, we won’t spend all our time worryingabout, “HowareYougoing todo it,God?HowareYougoing tochange thissituation around?How areYou going to healmy body?” Faith doesn’t try tofigure out thehow because it is not anchored in a result; it’s anchored in thecharacter and nature of God. Yes, we are praying and believing for specificresults. However, our faith is in the unchanging nature of who God is, asrevealedthroughHisWord.Sodon’tworryaboutfiguringouthowyourmiracleisgoingtocomeorwhatyouroneminutewithGodwilllooklike.Justtrustthatin just one minute you can go from being financially broke to financiallyblessed!Oneminuteyoumightnothavejoy,andthenextminuteGodwillgiveyoujoy.Oneminuteyoumightbesick,andthenextminuteyoucanbehealedbythepowerofGod.God’snot inabox;Hecandoanythingforuswhenthefaithisthere.SimplytrustGodtodoitHisway!

Isaiahreminded thepeopleof Israelabout thegoodnessofGod inhisday,thusgivingusencouragementinourowndayaswell.Godknowseverythingwearegoingthrough;Hehasnotturnedadeafearorablindeyetowardus:

Youhaveheard; seeall this.Andwill younotdeclare it? Ihavemadeyouhearnewthingsfromthistime,evenhiddenthings,andyoudidnotknow them. They are created now and not from the beginning; andbeforethisdayyouhavenotheardthem,lestyoushouldsay,“OfcourseIknewthem”(Isaiah48:6-7).

Youmaybe ina situation todaywhereyouare trying to figureeverythingoutonyourown—howthedoctorsmighthelpyou,howyoumightworkhardertomakemoremoney,howyoursonoryourdaughter isgoing to return to theLord.Youmaybetryingtofigureitalloutonyourown,butGodalwaysknowswhattodo.

Thereisalightattheendofthetunnel.Micahremindedhimselfofthisfactwhengoingthroughterriblecircumstances:“ThereforeIwilllookuntotheLord;I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice notagainstme,Omineenemy:whenIfall,Ishallarise;whenIsitindarkness,theLord shall be a lightuntome” (Mic.7:7-8,KJV).Whenwe look to theLord,lightshinesat theendofthetunnel.Wewillnolongerhavetunnelvision;ourspiritualwindowwasherisgoingtoshowupandthemudisgoingtobeclearedfromoffthewindshieldsowecanseeonceagain.

ANEWBEGINNING

LuketellsthestoryaboutJesusgoingonHiswaytoJerichoandmeetingablind beggar there: “Then it happened, asHewas coming near Jericho, that acertainblindmansatbytheroadbegging”(Luke18:35).

Jericho means “the fragrant place,” but the picture we see in the OldTestament is abitdifferent.Therehadbeena curseputon Jerichoby Joshua,that if anyone rebuilt it therewould be consequences for him and his family:“ThenJoshuachargedthematthattime,saying,‘CursedbethemanbeforetheLordwhorisesupandbuildsthiscityJericho’”(Josh.6:26).

ThefactthatJesushealsthisblindmaninJerichoissignificant.Jesustakeswhat’sbeencursedandmakesitablessedandfragrantplace.JesusChristdiedon the cross and tookour curse, leaving us insteadwith a blessing.EveryonewhoisaChristianisblessedbeyondmeasure.ThisisyourinheritanceinGod!Onceyou repent and start exercising faith,youare actually living the life thatJesushasdestinedyoutowalkin.

Wemaynothaveeverythingwewant,butwehaveGodandHe’sreallyallweneed.Heisourgreatphysician.Heisourhopeandourlife.Heisthelifterofourhead,andHeisourstandby.GodistheOnewhounderstandsusbetterthananyoneelse.AllwetrulyneedisoneminutewithHim.

Theblindman’slifewasstuckinaroutine—everydaywasthesame.Everydayhewould sit by thewaysidebegging.A lot of peoplebegGod insteadofbelievingHim.Don’tletthisbeyou.YouarefilledwiththeSpiritofGod,and

when theHolySpirit is present thepower that raised Jesus from thedead canresurrect the light in our lives.We canmake a comeback!Someonemay say,“Whyhasn’t ithappenedyet forme?”Don’t letquestionsanddiscouragementstopyoufrommovingforwardandcontinuingtobelieveGod.WeonlyneedtothankHimforwhereweareuntilwegettowherewearegoing.ThankHimforeverystep.ThankHimforeverysignofbreakthrough.Andevenwhenyouseenosignsofamiracle—justlikeIdidn’tseeanyphysicalssignsofamiracleforJustin—trustthatHeispowerfullyworkingintheunseenrealm.

Aminute of thankfulness can flood our soulwith light, which affects ourwhole body and spirit. God loves us andwants to help us. The onlyway theenemycangetthroughthehedgeisifweallowhiminbythethoughtswethinkand the words that we speak. Therefore, it is important that we pay specialattention towhatwesay,becausewhatwespeakflowsfromtheabundanceofourhearts.What’sinourheartsandinourmindswillcomeoutofourmouthsthroughthewordswespeak.Thisiswhyweneedtowatchwhatwesay,becauselifeanddeathareinthepowerofourtongue(seeProv.18:21).

Chapter4

REMOVINGTHEGIANTSINYOURLIFE

WHENGODENTERSTHEPICTURE

TheBiblesayswearepeoplewhoaremadeupofbody,soul,andspirit(see1Thess.5:23).Mostpeoplemainlyliveoutoftheirsoulsinsteadofoutoftheirspirits.Theyarenotengagedintherealmofthespirit,butrathertheyarelivinginthesoulishrealm,whichismadeupofthemind,will,andemotions.Wemustcometotheplacewherewehear theSpiritofGodinthedepthsofourspirits,notrelyingonwhatouremotionstellus,butonwhattheSpiritofGodspeakstoourhearts.GodspeaksSpirit tospirit.OnceHespeaksSpirit tospirit, thenweknow what He is going to do in a specific situation, regardless of what thenaturalcircumstancessay.

WhenGodentersthepicture,everythingchanges—evenifweseenothingatfirst.ThisiswhyPaulcouldwriteaboutAbrahambelievingGodinthefaceofcontrary circumstances: “(as it is written, ‘I havemade you a father ofmanynations’)inthepresenceofHimwhomhebelieved—God,whogiveslifetothedeadandcallsthosethingswhichdonotexistasthoughtheydid”(Rom.4:17).EventhoughAbrahamandhiswifewerewellbeyondchildbearingage,theystillpressedonandbelievedGod thatHewouldgive themapromisedchild.TheybelievedGod in spiteof the contrarycircumstances, and they spokeas ifGodhadalreadydonewhatHehadpromised.

Regarding the promises ofGod in your own life, youmight say, “I’mnotseeingityet.”Ifyoukeeptalkingthatwayyoumayneverseethem.Wehavethepowertochangeourworldwithourwordsbyspeakinglifeanddeclaringthosethings that are not, as though they are. For our words to create supernaturalrealities,wehavetosaytherightthings.Wecannotgobackandforthbetween

faith and doubt, between speaking positive words one moment and negativewordsthenext.Jamesremindsus,“Butlethimaskinfaith,nothingwavering.Forhethatwaverethislikeawaveoftheseadrivenwiththewindandtossed.ForletnotthatmanthinkthatheshallreceiveanythingoftheLord.Adoublemindedmanisunstableinallhisways”(James1:6-8,KJV).Godremovesgiantsinourlivesandmovesmountains,butHeusesustodoit.

GodusesthewordsofyourmouthtogetHisjobdone!Onceagain,thisisaclear reminder of why speaking words of faith is so important. Your wordsactually partner with God to accomplish His purposes in your life and in theworld.

AFAMILIARSTORYWITHANEWTWIST

OnenightIwasprayingandIaskedtheLordtospeaktome.IhadstudiedtheBible,butIwastiredandIreallycouldnotthinkanymore.YettheLordsaidthatHewasgoing togivemesomegood things forSunday’smessage. I said,“Okay,Lord,I’mready!”HetoldmetogotothestoryofDavidandGoliath.Isaid,“Lord,Ihavepreachedthatsomanytimes.”Nevertheless,GodtoldmethatHewouldgivemesomethingIhadneverseenbefore.

The army of Israel and the army of the Philistines were gathered on twohilltops, with a valley in the middle. Israel, being a volunteer army and Godbeingwiththem,wouldusuallygohomeinadayortwoafterwinningabattle.Inthiscase,therehadnotbeenavictoryyet.Whattheythoughtwouldbeeasyhad become difficult because of what they were seeing in the natural realm.They didn’t just see a Philistine army coming against them; they saw a giantnamedGoliathwhowasbiggerthananymantheyhadeverseenbefore.Hehadanarmorbearerwhowentbeforehim,carryingashieldtoprotecthim.TofightGoliath,apersonfirsthadtogetthroughthearmorbearer.Nowonderhewasachampionwhoneverlostabattle.

TheIsraelitessawthisgiantmanwhocameouteveryday,tauntingthemanddefyingtheirGod.Whentheysawhim,theirheartssank,fortheyknewtheyhadnomanwhowasphysicallycapableofdefeatinghim.Goliathwasnotonlyabigman,buthecameouteverydaytoprovokethemwithhiswords.Everymorningand evening, Goliath would come out, causing the people of Israel to freezewhilelisteningtohiswordsofmockeryandblasphemy.

NomaninIsraeleversaidawordtoGoliath;hewastheonewhodidallthetalkingforfortydaysandfortynights.Thismeansthatroughlyeightytimes,the

giant came out at Israel’s appointed worship times—for they prayed andworshiped everymorning and evening—and shouted profanities and threats atthem.Israelwasatastandstill.

Davidwasfreshoutofthefieldfromkeepinghisfather’ssheep.Thebattlewasnot yet over andhis brothers hadnot yet returned, soDavid’s father senthimover tohisbrotherson thebattlefield tobring thema lunchofcheeseandbread.TheyneededmorefoodtosustainthemintheirfightagainstGoliathandthePhilistines.David’sfatherwasalsogettingworried,sohewantedDavid tobringbackareportofhowthebattlewasgoing.

When David got to the battle, he heard Goliath shouting threats andprofanitiesatthearmyofGod.HearingthiscausedDavidtobecomeangry,andhesaid,“Istherenotacause?”(1Sam.17:29).Fromthatpoint,DavidmadeapromisetogooutandfightthisPhilistine:

MoreoverDavidsaid,“TheLord,whodeliveredmefromthepawofthelionandfromthepawof thebear,Hewilldelivermefromthehandofthis Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be withyou!”SoSaulclothedDavidwithhisarmor,andheputabronzehelmetonhishead;healsoclothedhimwithacoatofmail (1Samuel17:37-38).

Saul attempted to clothe David with natural armor, but it did not fit himright.Sohetookitoffandwentdownbythebrookwherehechosefivesmoothstonesforhisslingshot.Hepickedthemup,puttheminhisshepherd’sbag,andthenhetookhisslinganddrewnear toGoliath.DavidwasabletoconfidentlycomeagainstGoliathbecauseofhispersonalhistorywithGod.Rememberhowhesaid,“TheLord,whodeliveredmefromthepawofthelionandfromthepawofthebear,HewilldelivermefromthehandofthisPhilistine”(1Sam.17:37)?Thisconfessionshowsus thatDavidkept the testimoniesofGodveryclose tohisheart,inhismind,anduponhislips.Weneedtofollowhisexample.OneofthebestplacestogetencouragementandstrengthforourcurrentcircumstancesisfromourpasttestimoniesofseeingGoddothemiraculousinourlives.

WhenGoliath looked atDavid in the natural, he surely thought, “Who doyouthinkyouare,kid,comingagainstachampionlikeme?”Thisdidn’tcauseDavidtobackdown,forhehadthepresenceofGodonhim.Hehaddevelopedadeep relationshipwithGod throughout years ofwatchinghis father’s sheep inthe field. He had time to develop a history with God that sustained him andstrengthenedhim,preparinghimforhisverymoment.AllheneedednowwasoneminutewithGod.

Youwillseepeoplewhomightnotlooklikemuchinthenaturalrealm,buttheywillcarry thegloryofGodon them.Theyhavebeenservantsbehind thescenesforyears—worshipingandprayingwhennooneelsewaswatchingthem—and now God is going to let them carry the glory of His presence in aprofoundway.Theyhaveaservant’sheartandhavebeenfoundfaithful.Theyhavebeeninthewildernessforyears,developingahistorywithGod,butGodisgoingtotakethemtothetopofthemountainandcausethemtobeasuccessinpeople’seyes.ThiswasDavid.

ThisPhilistinewassoangeredbyDavidthathesaid,“‘AmIadog,thatyoucometomewithsticks?’AndthePhilistinecursedDavidbyhisgods”(1Sam.17:43).ThenDavidsaidtothePhilistine:

You come tomewith a sword,with a spear, andwith a javelin. But Icometoyou in thenameof theLordofhosts, theGodof thearmiesofIsrael,whomyouhavedefied.ThisdaytheLordwilldeliveryouintomyhand,andIwillstrikeyouandtakeyourheadfromyou.AndthisdayIwillgive thecarcassesof thecampof thePhilistines to thebirdsof theair and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know thatthereisaGodinIsrael.ThenallthisassemblyshallknowthattheLorddoesnotsavewithswordandspear;forthebattleistheLord’s,andHewillgiveyouintoourhands(1Samuel17:45-47).

David slung a stone from his slingshot and it hit Goliath in the forehead,problem solved.All of Israel sawwhat happened and began to rejoice.DavidprevailedoverGoliathwithasimpleslingandastone,andwhenthePhilistinessawthattheirchampionwasdead,theyfled.Oneofthekeystothiswholestoryis thatDavid got the lastword.As you read First Samuel 17:45-50, youwillnotice that Goliath never got to speak again after David spoke, declaring thetruthofGodandthetestimoniesofGodoverhislife.

AWARFAREOFWORDS

TogetyouroneminutewithGod,youaregoingtohavetocometotheplacein your lifewhere you silence the chatter of the enemy and declare powerful,faith-filledwords.ThiswasthepowerfulrevelationIsawinreadingthestoryofDavidandGoliathafresh.Davidhadthelastwordovertheenemy,andinturn,Davidwasvictorious.Rememberthatyourenemyisconstantlyspeakingtoyou,just like Goliath was speaking to David and taunting the army of Israel. Hewantsyou toagreewithwhathe issaying, for in thatagreement isourdefeat.

Could you imaginewhatwould have happened ifDavid agreedwithGoliath?We would certainly not have this timeless story of overcoming giants andextraordinaryvictorytodrawstrengthfromtoday.

To have a one-minute encounter withGod, youmust have the final wordwhenitcomestowarfarewiththeenemy.Itisawarfareofwordsthatistakingplace,andyouhavethefinalsayinwhatcomestopass.Deathandlifeareinthepowerofyourtongue—youmustdoallyoucantospeaklife.

Letme explainhow thiswarfareofwords shouldgobetweenyou and thedevil.Theenemywillsaysomethingtoyouandyouwillhavetospeakbacktohim.Heislookingforaresponse.Unfortunately,toomanypeoplegivehimtheexactresponsethathewants,whichisagreement.

Hemighttellyouthatyoudonotfeelgood,orthatyouwillnevergetbetter,or thatGodwillneveruseyou,or thatyourmarriage ishopeless,or thatyourchildrenwillnevercomebacktoGod,oryouhaveruntoofarawayfromGodtobeacceptedbackintoHisfamily.Youmightbeginthinkingthatyoudonothavemany friends, no one likes you, and life just isn’t that good. It is in that veryplace where you have to stand up and say, “I have the greatest friend of all,Jesus!”

Negativewordswillbespokentoyouatsomepointinlife,butyouhavetoriseupanddeclarethetruthofGod,claimingHispromisesforyourlife.Speakto the mountain and use the Word of God to fight your battles. We are notfighting against flesh and blood, but against the enemy, the principalities andpowersofthisworld.

In thefirstbookof theBible theenemytricksAdamandEvebyusinghiswords:“DidGodreallysay…”Thenhetriedtouse thesametrickonJesus inthewildernessby temptingJesuswithwords.Thatoutcomeproved tobeverydifferent.Insteadofyieldingtoenemy’stemptationandagreeingwithhim,JesususedtheWordofGodagainstthedevilandheleftHim(seeLuke4:1-13).

OURPOWERANDAUTHORITY

TheenemyunderstandsthatthisworldisstillunderacursesinceAdamandEve fell in theGardenofEden.When the lease runsout,however, everythingwillchange(atthetimewhenJesuscomesback).Untilthenwestillliveinasin-cursedworld.Alotofpeopleblameeverything—circumstancesbothgoodandbad—onGod, as if somehowHe is causing bad things to happen in people’slives.ThisisnotcorrectbecauseitdoesnotaccountfortheFall.Therearealot

ofthingsthathappenonearththatareadirectactoftheenemy;theydon’tcomefrom thehandofGod.There are also things that happenbecausewe live in afallenworldthatisunderthejurisdictionofthe“godofthisworld”(see2Cor.4:4).Itistheenemywhobroughtandcontinuestobringcorruptiontotheearth,notGod.

Insteadofsavingpeopleandimmediatelytakingthemoutoftheworld,Goddecided tohavechildren in theearthrealmwhoknewthepowerandauthoritythatHe had left them.AsChristians, we havemore power thanwewill everrealizebecauseofthecrossofChrist.JesusdefeatedtheenemyonceandforallatCalvary.Hetookawayfromtheenemythekeystodeath,hell,andthegrave:“Iamhethatliveth,andwasdead;and,behold,Iamaliveforevermore,Amen;andhavethekeysofhellandofdeath”(Rev.1:18,KJV).

Even thoughwe only know ameasure of the power and authority thatwehavewhilewalkingupontheearth—andwearegrowinginthisawarenesseachand every day—whenwe get to heavenwewill finally understand all of thepowerweactuallyhad.Eachoneofushasreceivedauthorityandpowerthatwehaven’t fully comprehended. This means we can speak things and they willcome to pass because we are made in the image of God. Like God, we arespeaking spirits, but we are limited becausewe have a soul andwe live in abody.Therealyouisaspirit,however,likeGodisaSpirit.

When I was in college, I will never forget studying death. One thing weunderstoodwasthatdeathmeantseparation—ourspiritseparatesfromourbody.WhenaChristiandies,thespiritofthatpersongoestobewithGodbecausethespiritneverdies—itlivesforever.TheredeemedspiritwillonedaybereunitedwiththebodywhenJesuscomesbackagain,andwewillbeabletoknoweachother. Paul writes to the Corinthians, reminding them of the fact of a futurebodilyresurrection:“Itissownanaturalbody,itisraisedaspiritualbody.Thereisanaturalbody,andthereisaspiritualbody”(1Cor.15:44).

Wehaveaspirit,andbecausewehavetheHolySpiritwholivesinsideofus,wehavepowerandauthoritytochangetheworldinwhichwelive.Wehavethepower tomovefromheadknowledge toourspiritman.When thepromisesofGodclickinourspirit,weknowthatitisdone.

This iswhat I am talking aboutwhen I say thatweneedoneminutewithGod—whentruthgoesfromyourhead(somethingyouthoughtup),tobeingtherhema(utteranceorthingsaid)wordofGodthatgetsdowninyourspirit.Whenthishappens,youknowbeyondashadowofadoubtthatwhatGodsaidisgoingto happen. You can have unshakeable confidence for a miracle, even when

everythingseemsabsolutelyhopeless.I’vebeenthere.IwastherewhenmysonJustin was considered to be a hopelessmedical case. Yet all it tookwas oneminute with God to deposit a deep knowing in my heart, assuring me thateverythingwouldworkoutandhewouldbehealed.

Even in the faceof contrarycircumstances, likeDavidagainstGoliath,weknowthatGodsaidit,soitisgoingtohappen.Victoryiscoming.Themiracleisathand.YouroneminutewithGodissoclose.Rememberthatasyouspeakthatrhema word out loud, there is a change that takes place in the atmosphere.Whether you can see it or not, that rhemaword releases the power to changeeverything.

SETTINGOURSIGHTSSOLELYONGOD

WhenwereadthestoryofDavidandGoliath,weunderstandthatthereisamind game going on with the Israelites. The army of Israel could have gonedown and taken Goliath out, but because he came out every morning andevening, breaking up theirworship ofGodwith his threats and taunting, theywere not able to set their sights solely on God. Worship was where theirconfidencecamefrom.WorshipsettheirsightsonGod’sgreatness,power,love,and faithfulness. Likewise, our confidence comes when we worship the Lordwho isenthroned inheavenandonearth;whetherweworship inourcarorathome singing a song, lifting our hands in our house or at church, we areworshipingtheLordofallthings.AswemagnifytheLord,weseeHimforwhoHereallyisandbegintoseeourcircumstancesintheirproperplace.

Many people think they do not need church, but God told us not to stopassembling ourselves together (see Heb. 10:25). We all need the churchcommunity,andweneedeachother ifwearegoingtodefeat thegiants inourlives.Theenemygets topeoplebyseparating themfromoneanother,singlingthemoutsotheyarealoneandvulnerablewhenheattacks.JesusistheOnewhorestoresourlives,whiletheenemytriestopullusapart.Whenwewatchnatureshowsontelevision,itiscleartoseethatthesmallanimalsalwaysstickwiththeherd.Itiswhentheygetseparatedfromtherestoftheherdthatlionsorhyenaswillget them,dragging themoff. In the sameway,whenweare apartof thechurchcommunity,weareunder a corporatecoveringof thebelieversofGod(seePs.133).

Youcanstepoutfromunderthatcovering,liketheprodigalsonsteppedoutfrom the covering of his father, and step into the worst times of your life—wishing to eat food as good as the pigs were eating! It might not happen

immediately,butwhentheenemycomesin,hecomesinlikeafloodandhewilltry to tear your life apart. Just remember, one minute with God can changeeverything:“Whentheenemyshallcomeinlikeaflood,theSpiritoftheLordshallliftupastandardagainsthim”(Isa.59:19,KJV).Maybeyouhavebeeninaseasonwhere theenemyhasbroughtallsortsofpain, torment,anddestructionintoyourlife.YoureadthispassageinIsaiahandrelatetofeelinglikeyouarebeingoverwhelmedbyafloodofattackfromthedevil.Iencourageyoutopressonward towardGod, trusting that oneminute inHis presence can reverse theenemy’splanandraiseupastandardagainsthim.

The enemywill try to devour everything he can in our lives by speakingnegativewords, playingmindgames, and trying to taunt us in the faceof ourpromises.ThereisprotectivepowerinstayingunderthecorporateanointingofGod,dwellingtogetherinunitywithotherbelievers.Thereispowerinunityandsupportingalocalchurch.Youneedacoveringandprotectionfromtheenemy—youneedother believerswho surroundyour life, encourageyourwalkwithGod,andspeakfaithoveryou,especiallyinseasonsofdifficultyandwarfare.

IDENTIFYINGYOURENEMY’SPLANS

GoliathwasintimidatinganddiscouragingthearmyofIsrael.Oneofthefirsttactics the devilwill use in an attempt to disempower you is discouragement.Remember,discouragementdoesnotcomefromheaven,forourGodisagoodGodwhobringsencouragementandblessingtoourhearts.ItisthatoneminutewithGod thatwe need to change our discouragement to encouragement.LikeDavidbeforeus,ourfaithfulnessinseekingGodpreparesusforthatoneminutewhenGod shows up powerfully, defeating the opposing army. Ever since theGarden ofEden,we have an enemywho has always sought to steal, kill, anddestroyus.Though theenemyhasbeendefeatedbyJesus,wemust rememberthatheisextremelycraftyandintunewithhowthespiritrealmoperates,ashewas formerlyanangel inheavenwhowas in chargeof leadingworship there.Becauseofhisrebellion,hewascastoutwithathirdoftheangelswhofollowedhim(seeRev.12).JesussaidHesawSatanfallingfromheavenlikelightening(seeLuke10:18).Furthermore,whentheenemywantedtoattackJob,theLordaskedSatanfromwherehecame,and“SatanansweredtheLordandsaid,‘Fromgoingtoandfroontheearth,andfromwalkingbackandforthonit’”(Job2:2).

Satanalways tries toget toGod’speople,butweareovercomers inChristJesus: “You are ofGod, little children, and have overcome them, becauseHewho is in you is greater than hewho is in theworld” (1 John 4:4).What the

enemywantstodoisholdyouatastandstill.Hiscommontechniquefordoingthis is using lying thoughts and feelings of discouragement. Everyoneexperiences the circumstances of life.This is a given. It’s howwe respond tothese circumstances that determines whether or not we press towardbreakthroughoragreewiththeenemy.

Yourenemyislookingforyouragreement.Hewantsyoutobuyintohisliessoyoupartnerwithhim fordefeat insteadofpartneringwithGod forvictory.Satanwantstointimidateyouwithwords,butyoudonothavetoreceivethosewords.Rather,youaretoencourageyourselfintheLord,justlikeDaviddid(see1Sam.30:6).Youaretonourishyourselfthroughprayer,worship,andreadingtheScriptures.Though thegiants standaroundyour life, tauntingyou, all youneed is one minute with God to bring the encouragement, strategy, andempowerment you need to secure your victory. Just remember, in those sixtysupernaturalseconds,yourentirelifecanchange.Hopecanberestored,healingcan takeplace, addictions canbebroken,dreamscanbe resurrected, andyourlifecanberadicallytransformedbythepowerofGod.

ThisiswhathappenedwithDavidashestoodagainstthegiant,Goliath.Tothe natural eye, the young shepherd boyholding his slingshotwas a setup fordisaster.Itwouldhavebeeneasytowriteofftheconfrontationasa“fixedfight,”asGoliathwasassumedtowinbecauseofhissheerstrengthandpower.Therewas no naturalway that David would stood a chance against Goliath. This iscertainlytrue.Maybethereisnonaturalwaythatyoucanstandachanceagainstwhat’s coming against you—the bad doctor’s report, the worsening financialsituation,thedepressionthatjustwon’tlift,thetormentcausingsleeplessnights,orthecrumblingrelationship.

Even though we don’t stand against literal giants like Goliath today, thecircumstancesoflifestandagainstus—toweringandintimidating—tauntingusby asking, “Where is yourGod?” Just remember, David did not come againstGoliathinhisnaturalstrengthandability.Thesameistrueforyou.Youarenotexpectedtostandagainstyourcircumstanceusingsheernaturalability,wisdom,strength, and power.We don’t have it. This iswhywe needoneminutewithGod.OneminutewithGodemboldenedDavidtoactuallyruntowardbattleandanointedhisslingshottobecomeagiantslayer.

JustthinkofwhatoneminutewithGodwilldoforyouagainstyourgiants!

Chapter5

THELIGHTOFTHEWORLD

ThenJesusspoketothemagain,saying,“Iamthelightoftheworld.Hewho followsMe shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”(John8:12).

SEEINGTHELIGHTOFGOD

It’sbeennearly thirty-fiveyearssinceJesuscame tomeandappeared inacloud of light. It was in that one minute with God, those sixty supernaturalseconds, that I received instructions from Him that changed my life,reawakeningmypassionforGodandconnectingmeonceagainwiththeFather.Out of those simple instructions, those three words—“Go to church”—Godproducedamiracleinmyfamily,ultimatelyhealingmysonJustin.

NeverinmylifetimewillIbeabletogetoverthelightandtheloveofGodIexperiencedthatnightinmybedroom.Eventhoughithasbeenthirty-fiveyearssincethatencounterwithGod,IstillfeelandseethesamepresenceofGodonaregular basis. I don’t see Jesus every time, but I see the light that flows fromHim.JesussaysthatHeisthelightoftheworld,andwhenHeshowsupinjustoneminute,thedarknessofourcircumstancesfadesinthelightofHistruth.

For the first fewyearsafter that initialencounterwithGod, Ididnotquiteunderstand what took place. Yet as the years have marched on, I began tounderstandmoreandmoreaboutthelightandtheloveofGodthatinvadedmyspirit that night. Sometimes, youwill have a oneminutewithGod experiencethatissopowerfulandlife-changingthatitwilltakeyouyearstofullydiscover

whattookplaceduringthatoneencounter.Ihavelearnedthat,throughmyoneminutewithGod,therewasanimpartationofthegloryofGodthatcameuponmy life, and there has been a residue of that glory remaining onmy life eversince.

GOD’SLIGHTTOCHANGELIVES

ThelightofGodIexperiencedthatnightinmybedroomwasmyfirsttimeencounteringGod in thatway,but itwouldnotbemy last.Seeing the lightofGodinasimilarwayhasbeenacommonoccurrencesincethattime.SometimesIwouldbeathome,whileatothertimesIwouldbeatprayer,atthestore,atagas station, or at a service at church when suddenly, in an instant—with mynaturalvisionandmynaturaleyes—Iwouldseephysicallight.NomatterwhereIwas,Iwouldfeelanoverwhelminglove,anticipation,andexpectationthatGodwantedtodosomethingsignificantinthatmoment.

As the years have passed, Iwould findmyself standing in hospital roomswhere an individual had been given up on, and after the doctors had done alltheycoulddo,Iwouldseethelight,andIknewthatGodwantedtoperformamiracle.Therewouldbenohopeinthenatural,andusuallythepeoplehadbeenthatwayforalongtimeandwereatthepointofdeath.Thensuddenly,Iwouldsee that supernatural light and feel God’s presence enter the room. Afterexperiencing these signs, I would recognize that God wanted to perform amiracle.

When the light firstbegan toappear, Iwouldn’tknowwhat todo. Iwouldsimply tell people that I just saw a bright white light, as if that was all Godwantedtodointhesituation.Overtime,IlearnedthattherewassomuchmoretoitthanIoriginallythought.Somehow,inmyspirit,Ibegantorealizethatthelight was a manifestation of His presence and His glory, and it was there toaccomplishsomething.Iwouldsayquietly,“Lord,tellmesomethinggood.”

Hewould say, “This person is going to get better over the next year,” or,“This personwill get better over the next sixmonths.” Sometimes the personwouldevengetbetterinthenextminute.Hewouldoftentellmethepersonwasnot finishedyet, their timehadnotyetcome,and theystillhada lot todo forGod’sKingdom.Myjob,then,wastobelievetheLordandspeakoutloudwhatHesaidoverthem.God’slightseemedtoshineaspotlightonpeopleHewantedto heal.When I spoke words of faith, I was simply agreeing with what GodshowedmethatHewantedtodo.

Itisveryimportantforyoutodothesame.WhenGodrevealsorhighlightssomethingtoyou,Hedoesitforareason.Heislookingforapeopletopartnerwithtoaccomplishheavenlyexploitsinthenaturalrealm.YouareHisconduit!YouarefilledwiththeHolySpiritandyouhavetheabilitytouseyourmouthtorelease Kingdom realities. This is why it’s so important for us to intimatelyknowthewaysofGod—howHespeaksandhowHeismoving.WhenweknowwhatHeisdoing,wecanboldlyparticipate.ThisisexactlywhathappenswhenIsee thismanifestationof light. IknowGodishighlighting the individualandIbringmywordsandprayersintoboldagreementwithwhatGodwantstodoforthatperson.

GOD’SVOICEGIVESYOUCONFIDENCE

Ifitweren’tforthelightandthevoiceofGod,Iwouldn’tknowwhattosaytothosepeopleintheirdesperatesituations.ManytimesIhaveleftpeoplejustlikeIfoundthem—accordingtowhattheirsituationslookedlikeinthenatural.Ithadnothingtodowithme;IprayedthebestIknewhow.However,IdidnotseeorhearwhatGodwasgoing todo. Iwas completelyhelpless.Even Jesussaid,“Truly,truly,Isaytoyou,theSoncandonothingofhisownaccord,butonlywhatheseestheFatherdoing.ForwhatevertheFatherdoes,thattheSondoeslikewise”(John5:19,ESV).

Just as Jesus waited for the Father’s instruction, we need to do the samethingwhen itcomes topraying for the impossible. Itmay look likeaphysicallight.Itmaycomeasaninwardknowinginyourheart.Itmaycomethroughapropheticword.ItmaycomeasyoureadtheBibleandaScripturejumpsoffthepagespecificallyinregardtothesituationorpersonyouareprayingfor.Iwantto agree with you, right now, that because of going on this journey, you areactuallysharpeningyourspiritualsenses.Asyoureadthesewords,IaskthattheanointingoftheHolySpiritwouldincreaseuponyourlife—thatyouwouldhearand recognize God’s voice more clearly so you can approach circumstancesmoreconfidently!

OnlyGod can do the impossible. There is not aman or awoman on thisearthwhocandowhatGodhasdone insomeof thesituations I’veseen.Andyet,throughoneminutewithGod,nothingisimpossible!

NotonlywouldIseethelightofGodatdifferenttimes,butalsoIbegantorealize themanifestationof the lightofGodwouldusuallybeaccompaniedbyGod’s voice. It would either be a message from the Lord for me personally,someinstructionsIwastoobey,orarhemawordthatGodwouldquickentomy

spirit.Sometimes,itwouldcomeasawordofknowledge,awordofwisdomforsomeoneelse,oradirection,apicture,andevenamini-visionofdifferentpeopleor situations I was thinking about. In those sixty seconds, I would know thatsomethinggoodwascomingfromGod,becauseGodisagoodGodwholongsto change the lives of His people. He delights in releasing hope, faith, andexpectationintotheirhearts!ThemoreIsawthislight,themoreIfeltcompelledtoobeywhatGodwasaskingmetodo.ThemoreclearlyyouseewhatGodisdoingorhearwhatHeisspeaking,themoreconfidentyouwillbetoobeyHisdirections.

The truth is that I look for the light for everyone, even though I do notalwayssee it. In thesameway,alwaysbe listeningforwhat theHolySpirit issaying about someone.Never stop looking forwhatGodwants to do for thisperson’slife.Forme,regardlessofwhetherornotIseethelightofGodmanifestinasupernaturalway,IknowthatGodhasaplanforeveryperson’slife.Thisisabsolutelyfoundational.

Sometimesweunderstandthatit’sGod’swillforapersontogohometothebestdaysoftheirlifeinheaven;butsometimesweneedtorecognizethattheyaregoing throughanattackof theenemyand thatGodwants to intervene.SoGodsendsHisdivinefavor,Hislove,andHislightintotheirseeminglyhopelesssituation, causing their situation to be turned around in just oneminute.He islookingforsomeonetoseethelight,tohearwhatHeissaying,andtoobeywhatHetellsthemtodo.AndinJesus’sname,onlyHeknowstheendresults.Evenso,wecantrusttheendresultstoHimbecauseGodisacompletelyfaithfulandentirelytrustworthyFather.

LOOKINGFOOLISHTOBEOBEDIENT

Whenever I have been faithful to speak the word of God over acircumstance,thepersonIspoketowouldbehealedinstantlyorgetbetterovertime,heorshewouldstepintoanewcareer,orarelationshipthatwasbrokenwouldbebroughtback togetheragain.WhateverGodsaid, that iswhatwouldhappen.Godspokefirst,IwouldspeakoutwhatHewassaying,andasaresult,miraclestookplace.

ManytimesIwaswillingtolookfoolishandevenbelaughedat,butIknewIhadseenthelight.IknewwhathadhappenedthefirsttimeIsawthelight—animpossible situation with my son was totally turned around. This was atestimonythathasencouragedmyheartovertheyears,evenwhenIhavehadtoovercomelookingfoolish.WithJustin,Ireceivedthevisionandtheinstruction

injustoneminutewithGod.Toseethemiraclecometopass,though,Ihadtoobey, believe, and carry outwhatGod had said tome over time. I had to bewillingtolookfoolishtothosearoundmeinordertobeobedienttoGod.IhadtoagreewithGod’sword,eventhoughthenaturalreportwasagainstit.Ihadtoagree that God wanted Justin to live and not die, even though there was nochangeinhisconditionatfirst.Iwasnotspeakingthesethingspresumptuously.IhadaminutewithGod,andinthatencounterGodrevealedwhatHewasdoing.Thatwas the reality I had to agreewith. I had to pray from that place.Speakfromthatplace.Confessfromthatplace.GodshowedmewhatHewasdoing,and I had to act obediently. The light I see started thirty-five years ago withJustin’s miracle. The light simply means “Divine Favor” from Jesus—Hispresenceintheroomgivinguswordstospeak,faithtostandon,andinstructionstofollow.

NAAMAN’SEXAMPLE

JustimaginewhatNaamanmusthavefelt,beingsuchapowerfulmanashewas,havingtolistentotheadviceofacaptivegirlwhomhehadbroughtbackfromwar. The girl, who worked for Naaman’s wife, gave him an instructionbecausesherecognizedthelightthatresidedinIsrael.TheservantgirlspoketoNaaman’s wife, saying, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet inSamaria.Hewouldhealhimofhisleprosy”(2Kings5:3,NLT).

Inotherwords,ifNaamanwasbackinhercountry—aplaceuponwhichthelight ofGod rested—he could be supernaturally healed of leprosy,whichwasunheardofduringthattime.Thislittlegirlfearlesslystoodup,runningtheriskofsoundingfoolish,andtoldhermaster’swifethatifNaamanwouldgotoIsraeland get some instructions from a prophet there, then he would be healed ofleprosy.

Naamanmay not have understoodwhat the servant girl suggested, but hecertainly showed faithwhile experiencing the condition of full-blown leprosy.He demonstrated his faith by traveling back to Israel and crossing themuddyJordanRiverinordertogototheking’shouse.Hethoughttheking’shousewaswhere the answer would come from. The king didn’t knowwhat to dowhenNaamanshowedup,however,sohetorehisclothesandsaid,“AmIGod,tokilland to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of hisleprosy?”(2Kings5:7,KJV).ThekingthoughtNaamanwantedtostartanotherwarbecauseitwasanimpossiblesituationforhimtodo.

ItwasthenthattheprophetElishaheardthatNaamantheleperwasinIsrael

attheking’spalacelookingforhelp.ButwhenElisha,themanofGod,heardthatthekingofIsraelhadtornhis clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you soupset?SendNaamantome,andhewilllearnthatthereisatrueprophethereinIsrael”(2Kings5:8,NLT).

ElishasenthisservanttotellNaamantocometohishouse.SoNaamantookthegroupofpeoplewhotraveledwithhim,withallthegiftstheyhadbrought,and headed to the house of the prophet.With themuddywater of the JordanRiver still dripping from the chariots and horses, they rode up in front of thehouse ofElisha and requested to see him.Naaman thought thatmaybeElishahimselfwouldcomeout,greethimand then layhishandsonhim, speakingablessing,andthuscurehimofhisleprosy.Thiswasnotthecase.

Elishaknewhedidnotpossessthepowertohealanyone;onlyGodcoulddothat.HedependedonGodforthelight,thelove,thedirection,andthewordtocomeinordertomeetNaaman’sneed.HeonlyneededoneminutewithGod—a“suddenly”momentwhen hewould hearGod’s instructions and then give theword toNaaman in order for him to receive hismiracle.AfterElisha saw thelightandheardtheinstructionfromGodhewastogivetoNaaman,hesenthisservantouttotellNaamantogobacktotheborderanddipseventimesintothemuddywateroftheJordan.Ontheseventhtimehewouldbemadecleanofhisleprosy.

ButElishasentamessengerouttohimwiththismessage:“GoandwashyourselfseventimesintheJordanRiver.Thenyourskinwillberestored,andyouwillbehealedofyourleprosy”(2Kings5:10,NLT).

AllweknowwhenGodspeakstousiswhatGodchoosesforustoknow.Itmayseemunusual,liketheinstructionforNaamantowashhimselfseventimesin the JordanRiver.This iswhereweneed to simply trustGod, regardless ofwhether or not the information makes sense to our natural minds. Once Godgives us aword, even ifwedon’t fully understand it,we are then required toobey it. We may not have the full picture of what God wants to do in thatspecific situation, butwe are called to obey the part of the picture thatwedohave.InstructionscomefromGodandwemustobeyHimwithouthesitationinwhatHesayswearetodo.

Elisha didn’t even come out of the house to greetNaaman.And now thatElishawassuggestinghegoanddipintheriverseventimes,Naamanwasangryand turnedaway.Hewas insulted, after coming this far, that thismanofGod

wouldgivehimsuchasillyword.Heprobablythought,“Wejustgotthemuddywateronus,andIhavenotchangedonebit.I’mstilljustassick,stillinjustasmuchpain,stilljustasdiscouraged,andstillonthewaytomygravebecauseofthis leprosy.Surely, if thatwater hadhealing in it and it is holywater, then Iwouldhavebeencleansedwhenitsplasheduponmeandmademewhole.”

THEBATTLEOVERYOURONE

MINUTEISINYOURMIND

ThinkaboutthebattlegoingoninNaaman’smindatthispoint.I’msureitmade him feel foolish and degraded that a person of his power and positioncould be so mistreated and told to go dip in muddy water for a miracle tohappen.Heturnedawayinarage,buthisservantssaidtohim:

Sir, if theprophethad toldyou todosomethingverydifficult,wouldn’tyouhavedoneit?Soyoushouldcertainlyobeyhimwhenhesayssimply,“Goandwashandbecured!”(2Kings5:13,NLT)

ThepeoplewhowerewithNaamanpersuadedhim togoand justgive it atry.WheneverGod gives us aword to obey, the battlefield is in ourmind.AbattlemusthavegoneoninNaaman’smindashereceivedElisha’sinstructionstowashinthemuddywater.Hehadneverheardofanypersoneverbeinghealedfrom swimming in the JordanRiver before; he had never seen anything but amuddy,nastyriverthatwasprobablynottoofuntocrosseither.ThissurelygothimwonderingwhyGodwouldusesomethingasfoolishasthistodoamiraclethatwassogreatlyneededinhislife.LetusneverforgetthatGod’swaysarenotman’sways: “The secret things belong to the Lord ourGod, but those thingswhichare revealedbelong tousand toourchildren forever” (Deut.29:29). InIsaiahweseeGodsayingthat“ForMythoughtsarenotyourthoughts,norareyour waysMyways” (Isa. 55:8). This does notmeanGod’s ways are out ofreach to us and completely unknowable. Instead, God is reminding us howdifferentHiswaysarefromours.HeiscallingustoliftourperspectiveandseefromHispointofview,ratherthantryingtobringHimdowntoourlevel.WithNaaman, God was inviting this powerful leader to personally experience Hisunusualways.

The resultwas thatNaamanwent down into the JordanRiver, and for sixunpleasantdunksunderthewaterhesawabsolutelynothing.Iamsurethisdidnothelpquietthebattlethatwasalreadyraginginhismind.Aftereachfoolishdunkintothemurkyriver,Naamansawandfeltnoimprovement.Scriptureonly

tellsusthatafterhedippedseventimesintotheriver,hewashealed.Whatabouttheothersixtimes?CoulditbethateverytimehefollowedElisha’sinstructionsandwashedintheriver,thevoiceinhismindgotlouderandlouder:“Justgiveup,Naaman.Yourhealingisnotgoingtocomethisway.Thisisridiculous!”

Maybethesearesomeofthethoughtsyouarecurrentlythinkingaboutyourhealingormiracle.Maybeyouhaveprayedseveral times,hadmultiplepeoplelayhandsonyou,confessedtheWordfaithfully,andperseveredinfaith.Maybeyoufeellikethisisyoursixthtimedoingallyou’veknownhowtodoandyoufeellikegivingup.Iwanttoencourageyou—keeponpressingonandaskGodforthatoneminutethatturnsitallaround.Evenifyouseenoimprovementinanyofyourcircumstances,useeveryounceofstrengthyouhavetocryoutforyour minute with God. Naaman obediently dipped in the river six times, butthen,attheseventhwashing,hehadhisminutewithGod.

So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seventimes, as theman ofGod had instructed him. And his skin became ashealthyastheskinofayoungchild,andhewashealed!(2Kings5:14,NLT)

Ashecameupoutofthewater,hewastotallyhealed!Hemusthavesmiledand laughedandcriedwhenherealized thathe justhadoneminutewithGod,sixtysupernaturalsecondswhereGodchangedeverything.Sevenquickdunksina muddy river would heal his body and transform his life forever. He wouldbecome a believer in Jehovah, being so thankful and grateful he had seen thelight.

GODISYOURLIGHT

IknowhowNaamanmusthavefelt. I’vebeen to theplace inmyown lifewheremymindcouldnotmakesenseofwhatGodwastellingmetodo,butmyspiritwasaliveandtellingmetogoforit.Naamanwentforit.SometimeswhenwehumblyobeyasimpleinstructionfromGod,weseeourgreatestvictoriesandgreatestbreakthroughs.

Godisyourlight,Godisyourlife,andGodlovesyou.Idon’twritethissoyouthinkIhavesomespecialgift thatnooneelsehas. Iwrite it toencourageyou tohopeand trust that allyouneedwithGod tochangeeverythingelse inyourlifeisoneminute.Youmayhavebeenstrugglingforyearsandyearswithacertainaffliction,butobeyingthewordthatGodgivesyouinthelightwillreaprichrewardsinyourlife.WhatGodspeakstousmaysoundabsolutelyfoolishto

thosearoundus,butGoddoesthemiraculousaswestepoutandobeywhatHetoldustodo.

It is my hope that you will ask God over and over again, “God, got aminute?”Receive your instructions fromHim, look for your light, and expectsupernaturalresults.ThegreatestplaceyoucanreceivethisrevelationisthroughtheWordofGod,quotinganddeclaringitoutloudeverydayofyourlife.AsIfinishupthischapter,Iwanttoanswerthequestionyouaremostlikelyasking:“Dr.Ellis,what if Idon’t seeanactual light likeyoudo?”Again, Idon’t talkaboutthisbecauseIhavesomespecial,exclusivegift.Godcouldverywellgiveyoutheexactsameabilitytoseeaphysicallightoversomeone.Idon’twantustogetcaughtupinthat.Instead,IencourageyoutoexpectthattheilluminatinglightofGodwillclearlyshineupontheinstructionsHeisgivingtoyou.Simplyput,whenItalkaboutinstructionsthatGodgivesyou“inthelight,”IamtalkingaboutthethingsthatGodisclearlytellingyou,orshowingyou,todo.It’slikeHe is shininga spotlight fromheavenonacertainaction.ForNaaman, itwasdunking in the riverseven times; forme, itwasgoing tochurch.What isGodshowingyoutodo?

Iencourageyou,continuetodowhatyourdoctorstellyoutodo,followtheirinstructions,andexpectgoodthingstocomeyourway.Atthesametime,expectgoodnewsasyoucultivatean intimate relationshipwithGod.Every timeyouopentheBible,theWordofGod,youarelookingintothelight,lookingforthelight, lookingforyourword,andpositioningyourself for thatoneminutewithGodthatcanchangeyourcircumstancesforever!

WHATIFIDON’TSEEHIMTHATWAY?

People often askme “Howdo I know I’ve gotmy oneminutewithGod?What if I don’t seeHim likeyoudidwithyour encounterwithGod?”Luke’sGospeltellsastoryabouttenleperswhocametoJesus,allseekingtobehealed.AllofthemreceivedanencounterwithGod,beingcompletelyhealed.Itwasastheyobeyed the instructions that Jesusgave them that theywerehealed.Lukewrites:

Now it happened asHewent to Jerusalem thatHe passed through themidstofSamariaandGalilee.ThenasHeenteredacertainvillage,theremetHimtenmenwhowerelepers,whostoodafaroff.Andtheylifteduptheirvoicesandsaid,“Jesus,Master,havemercyonus!”SowhenHesawthem,Hesaidtothem,“Go,showyourselvestothepriests.”Andsoitwasthatastheywent, theywerecleansed.Andoneofthem,whenhe

saw thathewashealed, returned,andwitha loudvoiceglorifiedGod,andfelldownonhis faceatHis feet,givingHimthanks.AndhewasaSamaritan.SoJesusansweredandsaid,“Were therenot tencleansed?Butwherearethenine?WeretherenotanyfoundwhoreturnedtogiveglorytoGodexceptthisforeigner?”AndHesaidtohim,“Arise,goyourway.Yourfaithhasmadeyouwell”(Luke17:11-19).

In this story ten lepers came to Jesus and stood afar off, lifting up theirvoicestogether,cryingoutforGod’smercy.Thereasontheyliftedtheirvoicestogether was because their voices were weak. Individually, a leper wouldn’thavebeenabletomakemuchofasoundaboveawhisperbecauseoftheeffectsofthedisease.TheywerehopingthatJesuswouldhearthemandhavemercyonthem,becausebylawtheyhadtostandafaroffandcouldn’tapproachanyone.

When Jesus saw and heard them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to thepriests.”Hewasn’tclosetothemandHedidn’tlayhandsonthem;Hejustgavethem a command in one minute. On that instruction alone, and without anyphysical signormanifestation, theyobeyedwhatHe told them todoand theywerehealed.

Oneofthemwassoexcitedthathewashealed,heheadedbacktoJesusinorder toglorifyHim.This timehedidn’tstandafaroffandhedidn’tneed theother voices to make his voice heard. He fell down at the feet of Jesus andworshipedHimwithaloudvoice.BecausethisformerleperhadhisoneminutewithGod,henowhadhisvoiceback.

WhenIgotmyoneminutewithGod,Igotmyvoicebacktoo.Iwasbold,confident that I had authority, and knew that I had the voice and strength toproclaimmyson’smiracle.Evenifyoudon’tseeaparticularmanifestationfromGodineachinstance,youcanstillhearGod’svoiceandobeyHisinstructions.ThegoodnewsisthatasyoustepoutandobeywhatHehastoldyoutodo,Godwillchangeyourcircumstancesandthoseofthepeoplearoundyou.

ThewaytoseethelightofGodmanifestedistoobeywhatHetellsyoutodo. God shines His light on His instructions so that, after you put them intopractice, you will actually witness His transforming light turn around yourcircumstances. It’s almost as thoughyou areworkingwith two expressions ofGod’slight.Thereisthelightthatshineslightinaspotlight,givingyouclarityon what God wants you to do in a specific situation. After obeying Hisinstruction,youpartnerwithGodtoreleasethesupernaturallightthatdisplacesthedarknessthathasbeenengulfingyourlife.

Again,howGodshinesHislightintoyourlifeandcircumstancesmaylookverydifferentthanwhatHedidforme,Naaman,orthetenlepers.Eachofourtestimonies should bring you encouragement, though, because they arereminders that God encounters each of us uniquely and differently. His lightmight illuminate a truth in Scripture that is perfectly applicable to thecircumstanceyouaregoingthrough.Hislightmightrestupontheencouragingwordsofafriend,pastor,orfamilymember—orevenacompletestranger—whosharesapropheticmessagethatbringshopetoyourheart.Hislightmightcomethrough a dream, vision, or supernatural experience. His light might comethroughanunusualcircumstance thatalmostseems likeacoincidence—exceptthat it is a way that God gives you supernatural directions from heaven!Whatever your experience is, just know that when it comes you have thebreakthrough! When God’s light breaks into your darkness, you can haveconfidence thatHewillperformamiracle that turnseverythingaroundforHisglory!Evenifthesituationdoesn’tchangeimmediately—likeme,Naaman,andthetenlepers—youcanstillknowthat,justasGodtoldmetogettothechurch,told Naaman to dip in the river seven times, and told the lepers to showthemselvestothepriest,youtoocanexperienceyoursixtysupernaturalseconds!

Heiswillingandreadytodoamiracleinyourlifetoday,regardlessofwhatthenaturalcircumstancessurroundingyouaresaying.Godisabouttogiveyouyourvoiceback,enablingyoutodeclareHispromisesforyou.Heissettingyouupforyourone-minuteencounter!

Chapter6

LIFEAFTERLODEBAR

YOUARENOTFORGOTTEN!

Godhasnotforgottenaboutyou!Doyoubelievethis?Rightnow,youmayfeellikeyouhavebeenforgottenbecauseofthestateof

your circumstances. Maybe you have read up to this point and you are nowthinking, “I’m desperate for a one-minute-with-God encounter…but I haven’tgottenmineyet.What’swrong?What’sgoingon?”It’sveryeasyforustoallowlife’scircumstancestodictateourresponsesand,unfortunately,determinewhatwebelieveaboutGod.Thiscannotbethecase.Resistthattemptation,andinthemidst of your circumstances—even right at this moment—trust that God isworkingbehindthescenes,movingonyourbehalf.

Forexample,IcouldhaveletJustin’shopelessconditionnegativelychangemy thinking.Basedonhowdifficult the situationwas, I could have started tothink, “God,You’ve forgotten aboutme.You leftme.You’ve abandonedmeandYouarenotcomingthrough.”Evenaftermyone-minuteencounter, thingsdidnotinstantlychangeinthenatural.Thekeythatkeepsusunwaveringinfaithis a confident trust and expectation that God is supernaturally working, evenwheneverythingseemslikeit’sstayingthesame…orlookingworse!

In this chapter, I am going to share an encouraging story from SecondSamuel 9 that will release a fresh impartation of courage, strength, andexpectation to you. Feel like you’ve been forgotten? Have you been in yourcircumstances for days, weeks, months, or even years without any signs ofimprovement or change?Are you still sick, oppressed, or tormented?Do youhavechildrenwhoarerunningawayfromGod,aspousewhowantsnothingtodowithJesus,orrelationshiptroublesingeneral?Areyoucryingoutforafreshencounter with the Holy Spirit because you are tired of stale, stagnantChristianity? Whatever your need, and wherever you find yourself today,

rememberthattheeyesoftheLordareuponyou.Hehasnothingbutsteadfastlove for you. Even if you are far fromGod, take thismoment to repent, turnfrom your sins, and fall into the arms of your loving heavenly Father.Remember,Hehasalreadyruntowardyou—just like thefatherdid towardhisprodigalson.

I want to take the rest of this chapter to jump into the story of David,Mephibosheth, life after Lodebar, and how this revelation will set you up toexpectyoursixtysupernaturalsecondswithGod!

GOD’SFAVORANDKINDNESS

In Second Samuel 4we read that, upon hearing about Jonathan’s death, anurse ranwith youngMephibosheth, whowas Jonathan’s son, to take him tosafetysohewouldnotbekilled.Butwhenshepickedhimuptorunwithhim,sheaccidentlydroppedhim.Thisfallaffectedhimfortherestofhislife,causinghimtobelameinbothofhisfeet(see2Sam.4:4).

DavidbecameIsrael’skingafterthedeathofJonathanandSaul.Aftermanyyearspassedby,Davidasked,“IstherestillanyoneleftofthehouseofSaul,thatImayshowhimkindnessforJonathan’ssake?”(2Sam.9:1,ESV).Itturnsouttherewasaservantof thehouseofSaulwhosenamewasZiba,who informedthe king about Jonathan’s son.Ziba toldDavid thatMephibosheth, Jonathan’sson, was residing in Lodebar. Learning of this news, David sent forMephiboshethtocometotheking’spalace(see2Sam.9:4-5).

OnedaywhileIwasspendingtimewiththeLord,Heaskedme,“IstherelifeafterLodebar?”Lodebaridentifiesaplacewhereyouhavebeenleft.Itisaplacewhereeverything lookshopeless.Forusasbelievers, this is aplacewherewefeel forgotten, where we feel as though we have been overlooked—whereeveryoneelsereceivedwhattheybelievedGodfor,butweseemtobestuckanditseemslikeGodhaspassedoverus.

DoyoueverfeellikeMephibosheth?HaveyoueverfeltlikeGodisblessingeveryoneelsearoundyou,butsomehowHehasforgottenyou?Maybeyoufeellike you have been dropped, like God has let go of you and the plans andpurposes He has for you. It may not be a physical problem or sickness, butmaybe there isanarea inyour life thatyouaredisappointedwith.This is thatareawhereyoufeellikeyouhavebeen“dropped.”

Ifthisdescribesyou,Iwantyoutotakehopetoday,foryouareabouttobelifted out ofLodebar!This story inSecondSamuel 9 is a powerful picture of

whattheHolySpiritisgettingreadytodoonyourbehalf.GodHimselfisabouttoget involvedwithyour life,givingyouoneminute inHispresence.Asyouwill soon see, all it takes is one minute in the King’s presence to changeeverything, lifting you out of that place of feeling dropped, forgotten, andneglectedandbringingyouintobreakthrough.

Beconfidentthatthebestdaysofyourlifeareaheadofyou,notbehindyou!This is a turning point in your life.Your oneminutewithGod could be in arelationship,with a spouse youhavebelieved for, a healing in your body thatyouhavebeentrustingGodfor,orevenareversalforthegoodinyourfinances.Itcouldevenbeachangeinyourattitude.Wherebeforeyouweredepressedandblue, your one minute with God will cause you to rise up, singing everymorning!

STANDINGONTHEPROMISES

God isgoodall the time, andHe longs to showHis favor andkindness toyou.Knowthis!Believethistruthwithoutwavering.BeexpectantthatthegloryofGodandHispresenceisgoingtodescendonyousuddenly,inamomentoftime.EverythingyouneedisinthegloryofGod.Everythingyouneedinorderto get to the next level is in the King’s glory—the blessing, the honor, thebreakthrough,andthehealinginyourbody.AllGodwantsisforyoutopraiseHim,forHewillinhabitthepraisesthatyouofferuptoHim(seePs.22:3).

This is exactly what happened to Paul and Silas in Acts 16. After beingthrown into prison, these two men had the opportunity to embrace “Lodebarthinking.”However, theysangadifferent tune. Insteadofmoaningabout theirtroubles and circumstances—whichwere very unpleasant, being locked in theinner prison—the Bible tells us that in the midnight hour, “Paul and Silasprayed,andsangpraisesuntoGod”(Acts16:25,KJV).Astheystartedsinging,GodprovedtruetoHiswordandinhabitedtheirpraise.Theychoosetopraise,notcomplain,andasaresultweseethat“suddenlytherewasagreatearthquake,sothatthefoundationsoftheprisonwereshaken:andimmediatelyallthedoorswereopened,andeveryone’sbandswereloosed”(Acts16:26,KJV).PraisesetPaulandSilasuptohaveoneminutewithGodthatshooktheprison,brokeopenthecelldoors, loosedall theprisoners, andultimatelybrought salvation to thejailer and his entire household (see Acts 16:26–32). In spite of theircircumstances, Paul and Silas stood on the promises of God, singing anddeclaringtruthinthemiddleoftheirtroubles.

ExperiencingoneminutewithGodcouldbetheveryencounterthatchanges

thecourseofyourlife.TheKingofkingsandtheLordoflordsisreachingouttoyoutoday,andHeisabouttoliftyouupoutofbeingforgotten.JustlikeKingDavidshowedkindnesstoMephiboshethandjustasPaulandSilasgotdeliveredfrom jail in themidnight hour,God longs to touchyou, heal you, and changeyour life as He suddenly shows up with His presence, giving you your oneminutewithHim.

There is life after Lodebar. You might be looking at your circumstances,thinkingabouthowhardyouhavebeendropped,butIamtellingyouthatyouareabouttocometothefront.Youarecomingupandcomingoutofyourmess,andyouaremovingintoyourmiracle.TheblessingandthefavoroftheFatherareoveryourlife.YoujustneedtotrustthatGodhasatimeforeverythingandthatyourminuteisathand!

This is where the enemy comes in like a flood. He knows that the mostvulnerable point formany believers is during thewaiting process. He tries tomakeyoudoubt,butIencourageyou, inthemidstofyourstruggle, thatwhiletheenemyisworkingtogetyouofftrack,youwillstandonGod’spromisesandgetaPhD(PastHavingDoubt)!Howdoyouavoidthetrapofdoubt?Keepyoureyes set on theOnewho is faithful. Fill yourmind and yourmouthwithHisWord.Choose tobelieveHispromises, evenwheneverything seemscontrary.Youmight be thinking, “How can you tellme to believeGod’s promises andstand on HisWord when everything I see and experience with my senses istelling me a hopeless message?” If anyone had a powerful word ofencouragement about this topic, it would be Paul the apostle, a man whoexperienced his fair share of resistance, obstacles, persecution, and oppositionfromtheenemy.HeremindedtheCorinthians:

Whilewelooknotat thethingswhichareseen,butat thethingswhicharenotseen:forthethingswhichareseenaretemporal;butthethingswhicharenotseenareeternal(2Corinthians4:18,KJV).

Keepyourfocussetonthethingswhichareunseen.God’sKingdomexistsin theunseenworld.Yes, it comesandbreaks into the seen,bringinghealing,deliverance,freedom,andsalvation.WeseethemanifestationoftheKingdominthevisiblerealm,butbefore itbecomesvisible, italreadyexists in theunseen.Letmeclarifythisalittlemore.IfGodgivesyouapromise—whetherit isforhealing, the salvationof a lovedone, restorationof a relationship, or financialfreedom—ifthatpromiseisbasedonHisWord,itisanavailablereality.It’snotsomethingthatisnon-existentandsomehowweneedtoconvinceGodtocreateit. This is not the case at all.What you need fromGod already exists in the

invisible, unseen realm. The key is trusting that the invisible promise willultimatelybecomeavisiblepossession!

GETTINGREADYFORYOUR

MINUTEWITHTHEKING!

Remember,thejoyoftheLordisyourstrength!AsyouremindyourselfthatGodalreadyhasyourpromisereadyandwaiting,youcanrest inHis joy.Youareno longer striving tomakeGoddo something;youenter aplaceofpeace,becauseyougofromfightingtomakesomethinghappentoagreeingwithwhatGodsaidisalreadyhappening.

First, I encourage you to agree with what God has said. It just takes oneminutewithGod to receive a blessing.WhenGod says something, it is done.WhenGodsayssomething,ithappens.HesaysthroughtheprophetIsaiah:“SoshallMywordbethatgoesforthfromMymouth;itshallnotreturntoMevoid,butitshallaccomplishwhatIplease,anditshallprosperinthethingforwhichIsent it” (Isa.55:11).This iswhy it is so important foryou toagreewithwhatGod said.Somanypeople ask, “Howdo I pray?What do I pray?”PraywhatGodhasalreadysaid.WhenyouprayGod’sprayers,youwillalwaysseeGod’sresults.Afterall,GodwouldnotsaysomethingthatHewouldnotbringtopass!

As we continue to follow the story ofMephibosheth, we watch as Davidwondered if therewassomeonewhowas leftbehind inSaul’shouse—if therewassomeonewhowasnotbroughttothefront.Wastheresomeonewhodidnotgetablessingorachange for thebetter?Thiskingwas interested in someonewhowasconnectedtothecovenanthehadmadewithJonathan.

Second, to prepare for yourminutewith theKing, it is very important foryoutounderstandhowcovenantworks.TheLordspoketomeandsaidthatweareconnectedtoHiscovenantwhenweareconnectedinChrist.God,theKingof theUniverse, is interested in showing you favor, not because of somethinggood you have done, but because you are in Christ. David wanted to showkindness to anyone connected to the covenant just asGodwants to showyoukindness inyour life (seeTitus3:4).Thiswillbeavisibledisplayofkindnessthatnoonewillbeabletodeny.

When you receive your prophetic word and you begin to praise God, theblessings will come. You might be thinking, “I haven’t received a propheticword, though!” God might choose to speak to you this way, giving you anaccurate and encouraging word from a prophetic voice. He also wants to

prophetically speak to you, right now, throughHisWord. In fact, receive thewordthatDavidgivestolameandbrokenMephiboshethasyourpersonalwordfromheaven:

Davidsaidtohim,“Donotfear,forIwillshowyoukindnessforthesakeof your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saulyourfather,andyoushalleatatmytablealways”(2Samuel9:7,ESV).

GodAlmightywants to showyoukindness for the sakeofHisSon, Jesus.Youdon’tdeserveitandyoudidnotearnit;it’sallaboutwhoyouareconnectedto through covenant. By grace, you are connected to the blessings of God inChrist Jesus. Because of this, the King wants to show youHis kindness, Hisfavor,Hisblessing,andHisrestoration!

OneminuteyouwerelikeMephibosheth,letdownhardandlivinginatownlike Lodebar. The promises of God don’t seem to work for you because youhavebeenletdown.Thisiswhyyouneedtostoplookingatthevisible—thebadthatishappeningorthegoodthatisnotyethappening—andrememberthatyourGod is theOnewho sits on the circle of the earth andHe knows your everythoughtbeforeyoueventhinkthem.Thinkaboutthat.InspiteofallHeknowsabout us, He still loves us unconditionally. No matter what you have done,whereyouhavebeen,orhowfaryoumighthaverunfromGod,openyourears.CanyouheartheKingcallingyou?JustasDavidcalledforMephibosheth,theCreatorofheavenandearthisinvitingyouintoyourmomentofpromotionandblessing!

Third,toprepareyourselfforyourminutewithGod,Iencourageyoutostoptalkingabouttheproblemand,instead,startprayingthepromisesofGod.Youneed to be repeatedly quoting them out loudwhen you lie down at night andwhenyougetup in themorning.This ismore than simplyconfessingaBibleversehereorthere.Ifyouwanttosetyourselfupforbreakthrough,youneedtobe filling your mouth, your mind, your house, your car, your life withdeclarationsofbreakthrough.LookatwhatthechildrenofIsraelwereinstructedtodowiththeWord:

AndthesewordswhichIamcommandingyouthisdayshallbe[first]inyour[own]mindsandhearts;[then]youshallwhetandsharpenthemsoastomakethempenetrate,andteachandimpress themdiligentlyuponthe[mindsand]heartsofyourchildren,andshalltalkofthemwhenyousitinyourhouseandwhenyouwalkbytheway,andwhenyouliedownandwhenyouriseup(Deuteronomy6:6-7,AMP).

Ifyouneedhealing,startquotingoutloudthehealingScripturesinthebackofthisbookeveryday.Saythemuntilyoubelievethem.Ifyouneedafinancialmiracle, start speaking financial Scriptures out loud every day, contending forbreakthrough in that area of your life. If you need a spouse, find ScriptureswhereGodputpeopletogetherintheBibleanddeclarethemoutloud.ContinuetodothisuntilGodgivesyouaminutewithHim.Remember,Hiswordwillnotreturnvoid—itwillaccomplishwhatitissentforthtodo!

THEFISHINGROD

Godwill letyoudoanythingyouwant todo.Hehasgivenyouafreewillandyouarefreetodowhateveryouwant.Thisiswhytherearesomanylivesthatareinabsoluteruintoday.Ityouwanttorunyourownlife,thenHewillletyourunitandHewillnotstopyou.YoumaywishthatyouwouldhavelistenedtoHim,butHewillnotcontrolyou.Godmadepeople,notrobots.Heallowedyoutobeafreemoralagenttomakeyourownchoices.

Remember,theBiblesaysthatHehassetbeforeyoulifeanddeath,andhasinvitedyoutochooselife(seeDeut.30:19).HewillnotmakeyoupraiseHim;itisuptoyoutoopenyourmouthandchoosetopraiseHim!Inthesameway,youhave the ability to choose a Lodebarmentality, or choose to prepare for yourminutewith theKing.Letme illustrate thepowerofyourchoices throughmyfishingstory.

Idecidedtogofishingoneday,andsoImentionedtoseveralpeoplethatIwas going, even though I had not been in several years. The next morningseveralfriendsandIdroveupintothesamemountainswhereIfishedasaboywith my family. I used to know where all the creeks and the trout were.Unfortunately,onthisoccasionwewerenotcatchinganytrout.Everywherewefished,wedidn’thaveanyluck.Ifinallysaid toGod,“Lord,Iboughtacheaprodandreelformeandmywife;I’vegotallthesegoodfriendswithme;ItoldthemIknewwherethefishwere.ButIcan’tfindanytrout!”

ThentheLordtoldmethatHewouldshowmewherethefishwere.Wewenttoastoreandtherewasamantherewhoknewtheareawell.SoI

toldhim,“There’snofishhereanymore.”Hesaid,“I’lltellyouonething;ifyougobacktothatbridgedownbehind

thestore,Ithinkyou’dcatchafish.”Wealljumpedinourcarsandtookofftothebridge.

AssoonasIgotinthewater,Icastthelineout.Whilewaiting,IthoughtI

feltafishbite,soIbegantoreelitin,butmyfishingrodbrokeinhalfasIwasreelingitin.Everyoneelsewascatchingfish,butIwasinthemiddleoftheriverwading,withjustapieceofbrokenrodleft.Itwasonlyaboutanhourandahalfbefore thesunwentdown,soIhadachoice tomake:IcouldshoutorIcouldpout.IcouldactlikeIbelievedGodcouldtakecareoftheproblem,orIcouldsitdownontherocksandjustgiveupandfeelsorryformyself.

Iwadedbackacross the riverandsatdownwith just the reeland the littlestubofarodthatwasleft.Iprayed,“Lord,I’magiver;I’mconstantlygiving.Igivebeyondwhatyou’resupposedtogive.I’vealwaysbeenagiver,soIthankYou, Lord, You’re going to bless me. You’re going to open the windows ofheaven.IpraiseYou,God,thatYou’regoingtoletmecatchafish.”

ItoldthepeoplewhowerewithmethatIwasgoingtocatchafish.AsbestasIcouldwithmybrokenrod,IcastthelineoutasfarasIcouldagain,thistimeloadedwithweights,and just let itdrift. I sat thereandbegan to thankGod. Isaid,“IthankYou,LordGod,thatYouknewthiswasgoingtohappentome.”

TheLord spoke tome and said, “Just keep fishing, son, just keep fishing.Don’t worry about looking foolish.” The Lordmight be speaking those samewordstoyoutoday—justkeeppraying.Justkeeppraising.JustkeepdeclaringMyWordandMypromises.JustkeeptrustingMe!

Allofasudden,IfeltsomethinghitthatlittlestubofarodIhadinmyhand.Istoodupandshouted,“Hey,I’vegotone!”Everybodystoppedfishingandtheybegan lookingatmelikemylinewas justhunguponsomething.Butmylinewasn’thungup—Ireallyhadsomething.Ithaddriftedprobablytwohundredtothreehundredyardsout,becauseittookalongtimetoreelin.AsIpulleditup,ontheendofthehookwasabrand-newShimanorodandreelwiththestickersstillonit.WhenIlookeddown,Iletoutashout.

There was no one else on the river that day, and it had been a long, hotsummerday.WhenIpulledtherodandreelup,Ihadanumbersixtrouthookontheendoftheline,whichisthetiniesthookyoucanhaveforrainbowtrout.Thewaterwassoswiftthatdaythatitwashardforpeopletostandupinthecurrent.Atanysecondmylittlehookcouldhavegottenfreefromthatnewrodandreel,butitdidn’t.

Ipulled thatbrand-newrodand reelup, thinking tomyself,“This is reallygorgeous.”ThentheLordspoketomyheartandsaid,“Thiswasmadeespeciallyforyou.”AllIneedednowwasahookontheline.Ipulledthelinethroughthisbeautiful outfit, tied one hook on it, and on the first cast I caught a big trout.ThenIcontinuedtofish,catchingmorefishuntilIcaughtmylimitfortheday.

Thenwhenwegothome,wehadadeliciousfishfry!Thatwasoneofthegreatmomentsofmylife.Itmightsoundsimple,butit

wasstillamiraculousmoment!Youknowwhathavinganexperiencelikethatwilldotoyou?Itwillhelpyougetpasthavingdoubt.HeistheCreatorwhocansupernaturallycreatesomethingoutofnothing.Don’tlimitGod,tryingtofigureouthowHe’sgoingtomoveonyourbehalf.JustpraiseHim!TrustHim.IjustkeptpraisingHim,evenwhenIsawnothingatall.Whenmyrodbrokeinhalf,Idecided to praise God.When it would look foolish to keep fishing, I obeyedwhatGodtoldmetodoandHesupernaturallygavemeanewrodandreel.Notonly that,but Icaughtmy limitof trout thatdaywith thatnewrodand reel. IdecreedanddeclaredthatIwouldcatchfishwhenIdidnothaveanythinglefttocatchfishwith.ItookwhatIhad,anddidwhatIcouldwithit.

In order to haveyour oneminutewithGod, I encourageyou to takewhatlittleisinyourhandanddowhatyoucanwithit.JustsmileaboutitandthankGodthatHeevenallowedyoutobehereandbealiveandbeaswellasyouare.Find something to be thankful for. Often, thankfulness leads to morethankfulness.Truly,thereisanunendinglistofthingswecanbegratefulforifwejustchoosetothinkaboutwhatGodhasdoneandisdoinginourlives.

I had not been fishing in several years, yet I was so thankful to be there.WhenIbrokemyrod,itwasliketheenemywhisperedtomeandsaid,“IfIwereyou,Iwouldjustpoutandbemadallday.Lookathowyou’vebeentreated.”

I determined to say, “Well, I’m going to sit here and enjoy the day, andpraiseGodanyhow.IjustheardinmyspiritthatI’mgoingtocatchafish.”

It’s like this little voice came back and said, “But you don’t even have afishingrodnow.”

Isaid,“Idon’tneedarod.Ifithasto,afishwilljumprightupinmywaders.I’mnotgoingtoquituntilIcatchafish!”Icaughtthelimitofmyfishthatday—niceones—becauseIdecreeditanddeclaredit.ChoosetodeclareGod’sWordandHis promises, evenwhen things are breaking all around you. Remember,youmakethechoice!

TELLYOURPROBLEMSABOUT

THEPROMISESOFGOD

Nothing happens in our lives until we speak to the situation.We see thisexample inGenesis 1,with creation—nothinghappeneduntilGod spoke intothedarkness.Ifwehavemountainsinourlife,whydon’twestarttellingthese

problems about the promises of God instead of telling everybody about theproblemswearecurrentlygoingthrough?

TheLordsaid,“It’sokaytohaveaprayerpartneryoucantrust,butyouneedtostandonthepromisesofGodandsaythemoutloud.”Findpeoplewhowillagree with you, helping you stand on God’s promises—not those who willdiscourageyououtofbelievingfortheimpossible.AllJesusrequiredisthatwebelieveandthereforereceive.JesustoldHisdisciples,“ThereforeIsaytoyou,whateverthingsyouaskwhenyoupray,believethatyoureceivethem,andyouwillhavethem”(Mark11:24).

TheBible says thatwhenKingDavid knewwhereMephiboshethwas, hesentZibatoLodebartofetchhim:“ThenkingDavidsent,andfetchedhimoutofthehouseofMachir,thesonofAmmiel,fromLodebar”(2Sam.9:5,KJV).

You won’t always hear a word directly from God, because God oftenchoosestoworkthroughhumaninstruments.Forsomereason,GodchoosesnottodoanythingunlessHedoes it throughahuman instrumenton theearth.Hegavethatauthoritytous.ThismeansthateachoneofushasauthoritywithGodtospeaktoourcircumstancesandwatchthemchange.Godistrainingustogooutandspeakintopeople’slives.

FEARNOT

KingDavidsentZiba(whoisatypeoftheHolySpirit)withtheword.ZibatoldMephibosheth that the kingwanted to see him. Imagine lying in the dirt,never having enough to eat, being lame,with no future, knowing that you’vebeen dropped and let go, and that everything you were supposed to get willnevercometoyou.That’swhereMephiboshethwas.Butthisdayjusthappenedtobetherightday,therightmoment,forhimtoberemembered.Hisminutewascoming!

Can you imagine the thoughts going through Mephibosheth’s head? Theking’smenareintownandthey’rearmedandlookingforhim.Hewasprobablythinking,“God,withallIhavegoingon,andI’vebeenlefthere,what’sgoingtohappentomenow?”Perhapshethoughtthattheywerethereto,atbest,takehimaway toprisonor, atworst, kill him.Nevertheless,when theyknockedon thedoor,Mephibosheth invited them in.Zibawalked in and said thatKingDavidwantedtoseehim.SotheybroughthimbacktoKingDavid.

NowwhenMephibosheththesonofJonathan,thesonofSaul,hadcometoDavid, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. ThenDavid said,

“Mephibosheth?”(2Samuel9:6)

WhenMephibosheth got before the king, he bowed, fell on his face, andshowed respect toDavid.HeansweredDavidand said, “Behold, thy servant.”AndDavidsaidtohim,“Fearnot.”LikeMephiboshethbeforeus,Godistellingus to not fear the very thing that we’ve beenworrying about becauseGod isgoingtofixit.

Lookatwhatthekingsaidtohim,“ForIwillsurelyshowyoukindnessforJonathanyourfather’ssake”(2Sam.9:7).Atthismoment,DavidcouldnothavefullyknowntheimpacthewashavingonMephibosheth’slife.Thesameistrueforus.Often,wedon’t reallyunderstand theeffectwehaveonotherpeople’slives. Fathers and mothers, you are affecting your children and yourgrandchildren for years to come.By your love forGod and by your covenantrelationshipwithHim, you’re affecting people in your familywhom youwillnevermeet.

SAVINGFUTUREGENERATIONS

FROMLODEBAR

Therearea lotofnegative things thathavemissedyour familybecauseofyou.Youinterruptedtheenemy’sagendaforyourfamily.HewantsthemtobetrappedinLodebar,justlikeMephibosheth.Yourlifecanbethedecidingfactorforwhatdirectionyourfamilygoesin!Insteadofmurmuringandcomplaining,you didwhatGod asked you to dowith a cheerful heart—youwent the extramile.Insteadoffussingandcomplaining,youwentaheadandobeyedtheLord.Maybeitwasinconvenientforyouanditmighthaveputaburdenonyou,butGodwatchedbecauseHedoesn’tmissanything.

WhateveryoudoforGodwillaffectyourwholefamily,yourentirelineagefromhereonout.Today,I’mreapingbenefitsbecauseofwhatmyfamilydidforme.Myfamilywerechurch-goingpeoplewholovedGod.Youmightsay,“ButIdon’t have a family.” If that is you, then you can be the family for the nextgeneration.Youdriveinastakeandsay,“I’mgoingtodothebestIcanforGod.If God needs somebody to do something, I’m going to be the one to do it.Something good is about to happen in my life—something that will impactgenerationstocome!”

Whenyougettoheavenonedayandyou’recalledupfrontbyyourself,youwillbeshownwhatyouhavedoneforGodafteryouweresaved.You’regoingtorealizethegoodthingsyou’vedoneandtheimpacttheymade.Godisgoing

toshowyouhowthewayyou’vegivenandsacrificedmadeadifferenceinyourfamily’slife.Thereisachancethatyouaregoingtobecompletelyshocked!Infact,itmighttakeyoumillionsofyearsineternitytofigureoutandcomprehendthe little things you’ve done on this earth for God and how it’s affectedgenerations to come.Youhad amajor impact forheavenandyoudidn’t evenknow it.You thought thatblessingwas reserved for someevangelistout therepreachingtothethousands,oryouthoughtitwasexclusivelyforsomeprophetprophesying to the multitudes. No. Eternal blessing and reward is God’sresponse to the little things you did. God recognizes these decisions, and Heshowskindnesstothegenerationspastyou.

You started a chain reaction of favor just like Jonathan started forMephibosheth, and your children, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildrenwillbeaffectedbywhatyouhavedoneforGod.Yes,Godwantsto give you sixty seconds with Him that lift you out of your Lodebar place.However,Iwantyoutogetthebiggerpicturehere.YourminutewithGodcaninfluence generations to come. In the samewayGod is using Justin’s healingtestimonytopowerfullyencourageotherpeople,Hewants to takeyourminutewith Him and use it to impact people who have not even been born yet!Scripture tells us: “Write this down for the next generation so people not yetbornwillpraiseGod”(Ps.102:18,MSG).

THEKINGISREACHINGOUTFORYOU

IfyoufindyourselflivinginLodebarrightnow,Ihavegoodnewsforyou:The King is reaching out to you today! There’s life after Lodebar.When hereceivedtheking’sinvitation,Mephiboshethwasgrownup.Iamsurethatwhentheybroughthimtothekinginthepalace,helookedatallthatwasaroundhim,andhethoughttohimself,“Thiscouldhaveallbeenmine.”

KingDavidmadeadecisionthatdramaticallyimpactedthisforgottensonofJonathan.Hecouldhavesaid,“I’mgoingtogiveyousomefoodandsendyoubacktoLodebar.”Butinsteadhesaid,“Donotfear,forIwillsurelyshowyoukindnessforJonathanyourfather’ssake,andwillrestoretoyouallthelandofSaulyourgrandfather;andyoushalleatbreadatmytablecontinually”(2Sam.9:7).ThiswasMephibosheth’sinheritance.Outoftheclearblue,MephiboshethwastakenoutofLodebar, theplaceofnoword, theplaceofnopasture,andaplacethat’smiserable.Thenextmoment,hewaseatingattheking’stable.

OnceMephibosheth was before the presence of the king, things began tochange.ThesameistruewhenyouhaveyourmomentbeforetheKingofkings.

Truly,HeismovingrightnowlikeI’veneverseen.Heismovingthroughouttheworld,andIbelieveHeisalsomovinginthelivesofHispeople.Ibelieveyourcircumstances are going to start changing. God is going to reward thosewhohavediligently soughtHim.One thing Iknowwithouta shadowofadoubt isthat peoplewhohavebeen faithful toGodare about to see the faithfulnessofGodbecomepowerfullyevidentintheirlives.

The Bible says that the king restoredMephibosheth for the kindness thatJonathanhadshowntoDavid.Inreturn,Davidpromisedtorestoreallthelandofhis grandfather, and Mephibosheth would eat bread at the king’s tablecontinually.

Thenhebowedhimself,andsaid,“Whatisyourservant,thatyoushouldlook upon such a dead dog as I?”And the king called to Ziba, Saul’sservant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all thatbelongedtoSaulandtoallhishouse.Youtherefore,andyoursonsandyour servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in theharvest,thatyourmaster’ssonmayhavefoodtoeat.ButMephiboshethyourmaster’s son shall eat bread atmy table always.”NowZiba hadfifteensonsandtwentyservants(2Samuel9:8-10).

That’s the way it was for the rest of Mephibosheth’s life. Someone paidattention to him, and today Someone in heaven iswatching you.His name isKingJesus,andHe’swatchingoveryoubecauseHelovesyou.YouonlyneedtomakeupyourmindtodaytobefaithfultoHim,toserveHimthebestyouknowhow,andtopraiseGodforHisgoodnessandmercythatHehasshowntoyou.

When theHolySpiritbringsyoubefore theKing’spresence,youought tobow beforeHim in your heart and humbly say, “Lord, I’m beforeYou and Iknowbeyondtheshadowofadoubtthatthisismytimeandmyblessing!Youare going to transform this chapter inmy life andmake it the best yet!Greatbreakthroughiscomingnow,inJesus’sname!I’minanewplaceinmylife,andGodisrestoringeverythingthatIlostandprovidingeverythingIneed.”

IwanttoassureyoutodaythatthereistrulylifeafterLodebar!

Chapter7

THEOVERSHADOWINGGLORY

ByPastorCherylEllis

ONEMINUTEINGOD’SGLORY

I have found out that themoreKeith and I talk aboutGod, themoreGodshows up with His manifest presence.When we’re talking to someone abouthowtheHolySpiritmovedinourservicesandaboutallthegreatmiraclesandhealingsthathappenedbecauseofoneminuteinHispresence,webegintofeelthepresenceofGodalloveragain.Themorewe talkaboutHimandwhatHehasdoneinourlivesandthelivesofpeopleweknow,themorethegloryofGodovershadowsus.ItseemsthatGod’spresenceisattractedtousrecountingGod’smiraculousdeeds.

InPsalm78,thepeopleofIsraelarerecountingthewonderfuldeedsofGod,andthatisprovokingpraiseandawetoriseupintheirhearts,thuscultivatinganexpectationforoneminutewithGod:

Giveear,Omypeople,tomylaw;inclineyourearstothewordsofmymouth. Iwill openmymouth in a parable; Iwill utter dark sayings ofold,whichwehaveheardandknown,andourfathershavetoldus.Wewillnothidethemfromtheirchildren,tellingtothegenerationtocomethepraisesof theLord,andHisstrengthandHiswonderfulworks thatHehasdone.…ThattheymaysettheirhopeinGod,andnotforgettheworksofGod(Psalm78:1-4,7).

Jesus tookPeter, James,andJohnuponamountain topray.As theywerepraying, Jesus’s clothes began to radiate and glisten, then Moses and Elijah

appeared and talked toHim there: “But Peter and thosewith himwere heavywithsleep;andwhentheywerefullyawake,theysawHisgloryandthetwomenwhostoodwithHim”(Luke9:32)

WhenPetersuggestedtheymakethreetabernaclesforeachofthemtodwellin,Luke records, “While hewas saying this, a cloud came andovershadowedthem;andtheywerefearfulastheyenteredthecloud”(Luke9:34).

IwanttodescribeafewthingsthathappenwhenyouexperienceoneminuteinGod’sglory.

God’sglorycausesustohearHisvoicewithgreaterclarity.WelongtohearGod’svoiceandlistentowhatHemaysaytous,expectingHimtospeakatanytime. We know that if we can just hear His voice regarding our situation,everythingcanchange.Itdoesn’thavetobealongprocessinorderforHimtoshowup—weonlyneedoneminute.This is exactly thathappenedwithPeter,James, and John as they personally experiencedGod’s glory on theMount ofTransfiguration.Injustsixtysupernaturalseconds,Godcanspeaktousfromtheglory:“Andacloudcameandovershadowedthem;andavoicecameoutofthecloud,saying,‘ThisisMybelovedSon.HearHim!’”(Mark9:7).

ThisistheplaceIwantyoutopursue—beingovershadowedbythegloryofGod’smanifestpresence.

God’s glory releases His supernatural creative power. SomethingsupernaturalhappenswhenpeopleareovershadowedbythepoweroftheHolyGhost.Infact,thingsarecreatedwhenthegloryofGodshowsup.Hispresencecarries and releasesHis creative power, just as it did inGenesis 1.TheWordwent forth, but it went into a place where the glory was hovering: “And theSpiritofGodwashoveringoverthefaceofthewaters”(Gen.1:2).

ItwasthegloryofGodthatappearedandcausedMarytobecomepregnantwiththeMessiah:“Andtheangelansweredandsaiduntoher,TheHolyGhostshall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:thereforealsothatholythingwhichshallbebornoftheeshallbecalledtheSonofGod”(Luke1:35,KJV).InonemomentshewaspregnantwiththeMessiahbecauseofherencounterwithGod.ShewasovershadowedbyHisglory!

GOD’SGLORYBRINGSSUPERNATURALPEACEANDCHANGE

God’s glory releases the peace of Heaven. Not only are things created inGod’sglory,butwithHisglorycomesgreatpeace.Whentheangelshowedup

to the shepherds in themiddleof thenight toannounce theSavior’sbirth, thegloryofGodcameandbroughtpeacetotheirhearts:“And,lo,theangeloftheLordcameuponthem,andthegloryof theLordshoneroundabout them:andtheywere sore afraid” (Luke 2:9, KJV). Just a few verses later, Lukewrites,“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hostpraising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,goodwill towardmen!’” (Luke2:13-14). Jesus’s reignwouldbeoneof peace,butitwouldbeconnectedtoHisglory.

Paulwrites to thePhilippians, telling themthat there isapeace thatcomesfromGod’spresence,“whichpassethallunderstanding,”anditisableto“keepyourhearts andminds throughChrist Jesus” (Phil. 4:7,KJV).BecauseGod isnotaGodofconfusionandanxiety(see1Cor.14:33),hetellsusthatthepeaceofGodshouldruleinourhearts:“AndletthepeaceofGodruleinyourhearts,towhichalsoyouwerecalledinonebody;andbethankful”(Col.3:15).

HowdoweallowGod’speace to rule inourhearts?Wecultivatea lifeofintimacywithHim.WegettoknowthePrinceofPeace.AsweseekHimonaconsistentbasis,thenourhopeandexpectancyistoexperienceGod’spresence.Nomatterwhatweareexperiencinginourlives,onceGodshowsupwithHisglory there is a peacepresentwithin it that causesourhearts andminds tobestill:“Youwillkeephiminperfectpeace,whosemindisstayedonYou,becausehetrustsinYou”(Isa.26:3).

Ifyoutrulydesire tohave thatoneminutewithGod, thenquietyourspiritandstartthinkingaboutGodandHisgoodness.Goddoesn’tmovewhenthereisconfusion,butwhenyouareovershadowedbyHisgloryandthepeaceofGodisrulingandreigninginyourheart.TheKingdomofGodisareignofpeace.

BeforeJesusascendedbacktotheFather,HespentaboutfortydayswithHisfollowers,teachingthemabouttheKingdomofGod.ThenHetoldthemtogotoJerusalemandwaitforthepromiseoftheFather(seeLuke24:49).Littledidthedisciplesknow that throughaone-minuteencounterwithGod their lives—andtheentireworld—wouldbeforeverchanged.

Even though thisencounterwould just takeoneminute, theywaited in theupperroomfortendaysbeforetheHolySpiritcameupontheminpower.Manytimes,inordertogetouroneminutewithGod,itmaytakedays.Evenstill,wemustneverloseexpectancyforit:

Andsuddenly therecamea sound fromheaven,asofa rushingmightywind,and it filled thewholehousewhere theywere sitting.Then thereappeared to themdivided tongues,asof fire,andonesatuponeachof

them.And theywereall filledwith theHoly Spirit andbegan to speakwithothertongues,astheSpiritgavethemutterance(Acts2:2-4).

When God’s presence shows up, people are changed. On the Day ofPentecost, supernatural change took place as the disciples—who were afraid,questioning,andmaybeevenfeelingdefeated—hadaone-minuteencounterwiththeHolySpirit.Itiswiseforustorememberthatwecannotchangeourselvesorwill ourselves out of our circumstances.We cannot heal ourselves, strengthenourselves,orcureourselves.WeneedtoexperienceGod’spresenceforchangetooccur.ThisiswhyitissoimportantforustopursueGod’sglory.TheapostleswaitedforthepromiseoftheHolySpirit.TheKingJamesVersionusesthewordtarry.Toomanybelieversmisstheirbreakthroughbecausetheyrefusetotarry.Yes,changecomesinoneminute—butneverforget,thatoneminuteisonGod’stimetable. We must trust Him and His divine timing, all the while, praying,declaring,standing,believing,andpraising.

HOWMUCHTIMEDOWE

SPENDWITHGOD?

Moseswouldgoup to themountain tomeetwithGodandhewouldcomeback down glowing and overshadowed by the glory of God, a changedman:“Nowitwasso,whenMosescamedownfromMountSinai(andthetwotabletsoftheTestimonywereinMoses’handwhenhecamedownfromthemountain),thatMoses did not know that the skin of his face shonewhile he talkedwithHim”(Exod.34:29).WhenwespendtimeinthetransformingpresenceofGod,itchangesus.Wecannothelpbutbechanged!AsweallowthepresenceofGodtotouchourlives—eventhosedifficult,sensitiveareas—andyieldtoHisworkinus,wewillradiatewithHistransformingwork.Thisisalifestyle,notaone-timeevent.

Ontheotherhand,wetalkaboutthegloryofGodshowingupsuddenlyandthen we are changed when we encounter His manifest presence. We live topursueGod’s presence, simply becauseHe is our greatest desire.At the sametime, we keep ourselves in a state of expectation, always looking for thosemiraculous moments when God’s glorious presence breaks in with power.Remember,youonlyneedoneminutewithGodforeverythinginyourlifetobechanged.

Thequestionyoumightbeaskingis:“HowmuchtimedowespendinGod’spresence?”Yes,Goddoescomesuddenly,butsometimesitoftenhappensafter

waitingonHimfordaysanddays.Mosesdidn’tspendtimewithGodbecauseofthe glory hewas currently experiencing, but he spent timewithGoduntil thegloryofGod’spresenceshowedup.

Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered themountain. Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and thecloudcovereditsixdays.AndontheseventhdayHecalledtoMosesoutof themidstof the cloud.The sightof thegloryof theLordwas likeaconsumingfireonthetopofthemountainintheeyesofthechildrenofIsrael. SoMoseswent into themidstof the cloudandwentup into themountain.AndMoseswas on themountain forty days and forty nights(Exodus24:15-18).

Themore timewe spendwithGod, the fasterwewill get an answer fromHim.YoucanstartwithoneminutewithGodhereandtherethroughouttheday,butthegoalisforyoutobuildacontinualrelationshipwithHim.Themoretimeyou find to spend with God throughout the day, the more you will begin toexperience Him at different moments. Then God will answer you in just oneminute.

Did the children of Israel have the glory cloud leading them through thewilderness because they were God’s chosen people or because they werefollowingamanwhohadGod’sgloryfollowinghim?WhenGodcalledMosesattheburningbush,HepromisedMosesthatHewouldgowithhimthroughouthisjourneys.ThechildrenofIsraeldidn’tevenwanttoleaveEgypt,butMosesconvincedthemthatGodhadspokentohim.MoseswasamanwhomthegloryofGodfollowedbecausehefollowedtheglory.

SEEKINGTHEGODOFGLORY

ThepresenceofGoddoesn’tjustshowupbecauseitisGod’swilltomakeithappen; itmustbesought.Thepsalmistsaid,“Glory inHisholyname; let thehearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!” (Ps. 105:3). Jesus said, “Hewhospeaksfromhimselfseekshisownglory;butHewhoseeksthegloryoftheOnewhosentHimistrue,andnounrighteousnessisinHim”(John7:18).ThegloryofGod’spresencemustbesoughtwithawholeheart.

ThereisnothingthatwillgetusoutofthegloryofGod’spresencequickerthan distractions. Have you ever started worshiping the Lord and the phonerings,oryourdogstartsbarking,oryou’reatchurchandsomeonestartstalkingbehind you about what they did the day before? As a pastor I’ve seen

distractionsgetpeopleoutofthegloryofGodquickly.Wemustguardourselvesfrom distractions if we are going to seek God’s glory wholeheartedly. Paulremindsus,“And this I say foryourownprofit,not that Imayputa leashonyou,butforwhatisproper,andthatyoumayservetheLordwithoutdistraction”(1Cor.7:35).

I would encourage you to desire to spend that one minute with Godthroughout your day, every day, and you’ll soon find yourself overshadowedwith the glory ofGod. That’swhen you’ll see visions and dreams fromGod,prayersanswered,andmiraclesbegintohappen.MyhusbandisconsumedwithGod.AnyonewhoknowshimwillagreewithmethathehasahungerforGodIdon’t see inmanypeople.Keith lives in theatmosphereof theovershadowinggloryofGodbecausehespendssomuchtimewithGod.That’s thereasonwesee such great miracles, healings, and deliverances in every service we have.This lifestyle isnot reservedforKeith; it isopen towhoeverwouldaccept theinvitationtoseekandpursueGod’sglorywitheverythingtheyhave.

Jesustaughtthat“Foreveryonetowhommuchisgiven,fromhimmuchwillbe required;and towhommuchhasbeencommitted,ofhim theywill ask themore” (Luke12:48). Ifyouwant tohave thegloryofGodrestonyour life, itcomeswithaprice.GodwillgiveusmuchwhenHeknowswecanhandle it.Therefore, we need to cry out with the psalmist, pleading, “One thing I havedesiredoftheLord,thatwillIseek:thatImaydwellinthehouseoftheLordallthe days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in Histemple”(Ps.27:4).

In order to believe God for the miraculous, we need active faith. EventhoughwereceivefaithwhenweacceptJesusasourLordandSavior,ourfaithneedstobeworkedoutinordertoproduceresults.Inotherwords,wehavethefaithwithinustomovemountains.It’sGod’sveryownfaithbecauseHeputitthere.TheproblemisthatsomanyChristiansneverputitintopracticebecausetheylivedisconnectedfromthepowersource—thepresenceofGod.

Remember,withoutfaithitisimpossibletopleaseGod:“Butwithoutfaithitis impossible topleasehim:forhe thatcomethtoGodmustbelieve thathe is,andthatheisarewarderofthemthatdiligentlyseekhim”(Heb.11:6,KJV).WeactuallypleaseGodbyexpressingfaithinHimandwhatHecando.However,thisfaithonlystrengthensaswespendtimeinHispresence,lettingHimfilluswithHisWord,His love,andHispromises.Then,whenweput this faith intopracticeandexperiencejustoneminutewithGod,everythingcanchange!

Chapter8

FROMPAINTOGAIN

THEBESTCHAPTEROFYOURLIFE

NottoolongagoIwasministeringatanotherpastor’schurchwhenawomanapproachedmeandsaid,“IthinkI’mgoingtoendmymarriage.”

Itkindoftookmeoffguard,soIasked,“Whatdoyoumeanyou’regoingtoendyourmarriage?”

She said, “I’m just tired of being married, Pastor.” I asked her to wait amoment,thenherpastorandIsatdowntofurthertalkwithher.

Shebegan,“We’rejustnotgettingalonganymore,ourfinancesaretight,andonlyoneofushasajob.We’rearguingallthetime.”Thenshesaidsomethingthatstuckwithme,troublingme:“Iwanttoendthischapterofmylife.”Aftertalkingsomemore,wefinallyprayedforherandencouragedhertohanginthereaslongasshecould,notgivinguptooquickly.Theyhadabigfamilyandalotofpeopleweregoingtobenegativelyaffectedbythedecisionshewasgettingreadytomake.

When Iwenthome thatnight, I continued to thinkaboutwhat thiswomansaidaboutwantingtoendthischapterofherlifeandherdesiretobeginanewchapter.ThatnightIhadadream,andGodsaidtome,“Peopledon’tneedanewchapter;theyneedtogetblessedinthechapteroftheirlifethey’reinrightnow.IwanttogiveyouamessageonthisandtellMypeoplethatthechapterthey’reinrightnowcouldendupbeingthebestchaptertheyhaveeverhad.”

Iwasministering at another pastor’s church and itwas awoman fromhiscongregationIhadreceivedthiswordfor,soIaskedthepastortotellthisladythatifshewouldhangon,thingswouldbegintoturnaroundinherlife.Andyouknowwhat? That word began to come to pass. The woman and her husbanddecided to stay together and things worked out for them. Even though this

couplewasgoing throughadifficult time, thisdidnotmean thatGodwasnotgoing to turn their situation around and, in the end, use them for His glory.Difficulttimesshouldnotcauseustowanttogiveupbut,instead,keeppressingontoexperienceourminutewithGod.

EverypersonGodusedintheBible—anypersonwhodidanythinggoodforGodorwhowaspowerfullyusedbyGod—hadplacesintheirliveswheretheyexperiencedhardtimes.Theyhadtimeswherethecircumstancesoflifewerenotgoing well for them. Yet as they stayed with God, eventually things turnedaround in their life. Though they could have thought theywanted the currentchapteroftheirlifetobeover,Godturnedtheirsituationaroundanditbecamethebesttimeoftheirlife.

Doyou feel likeyou are in themidst of circumstances right nowwhere itwouldbeeasiertoendonechapterofyourlifeandjustmoveontothenext?Doyoufeellikethewomanwhothoughtitwouldbeeasiertoendhermarriagethanfightforit?Nomatterwhatyouaregoingthroughtoday,thiscouldbethebestchapterofyourlife.JustoneminuteinGod’spresence,justonewordfromHim,andthischapterofyourlifecouldberewrittenandturnoutamazing!JusthangonandkeeppressingintoGod,forallyouneedisoneminutewithHim.

ATALEOFDESTRUCTION

FirstSamuel30 tells apowerful story aboutDavid encouraginghimself inthe Lord after facing horrific circumstances. David could have given up andwaited for that chapter of his life to end, but God wanted to do somethingdifferent in his life, causing the current chapter he was in to be exceedinglyblessed.

Nowithappened,whenDavidandhismencametoZiklag,onthethirdday, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attackedZiklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women andthosewhowerethere,fromsmalltogreat;theydidnotkillanyone,butcarriedthemawayandwenttheirway(1Samuel30:1-2).

Even though theAmalekites had invadedZiklag and taken all of the stuffthatDavidandhismenowned—includingallofthewomenandchildren—theBiblesaysthattheydidn’tkillanyofthem.Theyonlytookthemontheirway,but“theydidnotkillanyone,butcarriedthemaway.”EveninthemidstoftheAmalekites invading the city, God’s hand was protecting the women andchildrensothatnoneofthemwerekilled.

David and his men came back to the city after a battle, and as theyapproached theysawthat ithadbeenburned to theground.Everythingheandhismenownedhadbeenlosttotheenemy.Theirhomes,everypieceoffarmingequipment, theirmoney, theirwives, theirchildren—absolutelyeverythingwasgone,stolenbyaninvadingenemyarmy.Oneminutetheywerecominghometotakeabreak from thewar,have somedinner, andenjoy theweekend, and thenextminutetheyturnedtoseetheircityonfire.

TheBiblesaysthatDavidandthepeoplewhowerewithhimlifteduptheirvoicesandweptuntiltheyhadnomorepowertoweep(see1Sam.30:4).Theyweptuntiltherewerenomoretearsleft.Haveyoueverbeentherebefore?Haveyou even been in circumstances that seemed so hard and unbearable that youweptuntil youcouldn’tweepanymore? Ipray that inyour lifetimeyouneverhavetolivethroughoneoftheseperiodsofintenselossandgrief.Ihavehadtolivethereseveraltimesinmylife,untilIjustcouldnotweepanymore.Truly,noonecould comfortme like Jesusdid.Kindwords that are said cannothelpyoulikeJesuscan.Allofyourfriendssurroundingyouaregreat,buttheycannothelplikeoneminutewithGod.

As a result of losing everything, “David was greatly distressed” (1 Sam.30:6).Heandthemenwhowerewithhimweredistressedbeyondanythingtheyhadeverexperiencedbeforebecausetheyhadlost theirhome, their livelihood,their finances, and their crops.All of their cattle, horses,mules, and donkeysweregone.Ontopoflosingallofthosethings,theirfamilieshadbeentakenaswell. So they were understandably upset and distressed. Heaviness was uponDavid.Hecouldn’teventhinkortalkanymorebecausethediscouragementhadsuchaholdonhim.Itwaschokinghimdown.

Not onlywas he greatly distressed, but the people turned against him andspokeofstoninghim:“forthepeoplespokeofstoninghim,becausethesoulofall thepeoplewasgrieved,everymanforhissonsandhisdaughters” (1Sam.30:6). Davidwas getting the breath knocked out of him on all fronts, gettingknockeddown.EventhepeoplewhohadfearlesslyfollowedhimweregrievedsomuchtheywantedtokillDavid.

Theseweren’t just thoughts theywere having about stoningDavid; rather,theywere saying out loud, “We should stoneDavid.”When they came homefrom thebattle,Davidwas themessenger of the people—their fearless leader.Now, things were different. Because of the circumstances the people faced—theircityburningwithfireandtheirfamiliesbeingtaken—theywantedtostonetheverypersonwhohelpedleadthemintovictory.

Davidwasprobably thinking,“MyGod,oneminuteIwason topandnowI’monthebottom!”That’sprobablywhathurthimthemostaboutthesituation.Notonlywashisfamilyandeverythingheownedgone,asbadasthatwas,butnowthemenwhorodewithhim—whofoughtwithhim,whofaithfullystuckbyhisside, thosewhoweredepressedanddistressedandindebt, theoneshehadtakeninandwasmentoring—werenowturningagainsthim.

The people spoke of stoning him because their soulswere on the bottom.Theirmindswere runningwild, thinking, “Whathappened?We’re ridingwithDavid,we’redoing everything right, andwe’re trying to live right.And thisiswhathappenstousasaresultoffollowinghim?”Haveyoueverhadyoursoulaffectedinthisway,whereyourmindandemotionsranwildbecauseofthegriefyou experienced?Even though life canbepainful, all youneed is oneminutewithGod.

ENCOURAGEYOURSELFINTHELORD

WhatdidDaviddointhisplaceofdiscouragement?Hedidn’tstaydownforvery long, but he ran toGod in themidst of his pain.Whenmany of us facepainful circumstances, our natural tendency is to run from theLord insteadofrunningtowardHim.WhenwerunfromHim,wearerunningfromtheonlyOnewhocanbringpeacetoourhearts,healingtoourspirits,andencouragementtooursouls.TheBiblesays,“ButDavidencouragedhimselfintheLordhisGod”(1Sam.30:6,KJV).Davidworkedsomethingup from the insideout thatwasdowndeepinsidehim,somethingthatwasembeddedinhisspirit.

I asked the Lord inmy dream, “Why didDavid encourage himself in theLord?”

Godsaidtome,“Becausehedidn’thaveanyoneelsetoencouragehim.”We need to remember when we have no encouragement coming into our

lives,whennooneistheretopatusonthebackandassureusthateverythingisgoingtobeokay,thatwehaveaplacewecango.WecangetalonewithGod,andinoneminutewecanencourageourselvesintheLord.AswedrawneartoGod inourpain,Hispresence showsup in themidstofourheartacheandHeturnsourpainaroundforHisglory.

Godwantstohelpyoutoday.Hewantstochangeyourlifearoundforgood.This chapterofyour life isn’t supposed to end,but it isgoing tobeyourbestchapter yet. The spirit of discouragement that has been hanging over you isbeing broken off as you encourage yourself in the Lord. The feelings of

disappointment, being let down, and not knowingwhat to dowill completelydisappear as you experience your oneminutewithGod. Favor is loosed overyourlifewhenGodshowsupinHispresence.

Even thoughDavidcouldn’t seeanythinggood from the situationwhile inthemiddleofit,hewasassuredofonething—hestillhadGod.Ifyou’rereallysaved,bornagain,washedinthebloodofJesus,andfilledwiththeHolySpirit,onethingthatoughttocomfortyounomatterwhatyou’regoingthroughisthatyoustillhaveGod.Youmaynothavemoney,butyoustillhaveGod.Youmightnot have the manifestation of your healing yet, but you still have God. Youmightnothaveajobtoday,butyoustillhaveGod.Everyonemayhavewalkedoutonyou,butyoustillhaveGod.Youmayhaveabadreportfromthedoctor,butyoustillhaveGod.Therefore,youcanstillencourageyourself in theLordyourGodrightnow!

IcanholdupmyBibleandsay,“Lord,thisismine,andwhattheWordofGod says in the New Testament ismy better covenant and they aremybetterpromises—they belong tome.”All the promises ofGod are yes and amen inChrist Jesus (see 2 Cor. 1:20). Read the Bible during times of pain anddiscouragement,foritwillhelpyouandencourageyouintheLord.ThePsalmshaveencouragedmorepeoplethananybookintheBible,recordingthelanguageand anguish and cries of people hoping in God in the midst of desperatecircumstances. In fact, I recommend that you read the Psalms out loud andencourageyourselfintheLord.EncourageyourselfintheLordwhenyoudon’thaveanyoneelsetoencourageyou.

The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of us, so He’s always with us everymomentofeveryday.IntheOldTestament,therewasaplacecalledtheHolyofHolies,anditwaswherethepresenceofGodcametodwellinthemidstofthepeople. In the New Testament, however, things shifted. Therewas a Holy ofHoliesbeforetheveilwasrentfromthetopdown.Everythingchangedafter itwascut in twoas thepowerofGodhit it themomentJesusdiedon thecross.This prophetic demonstration signified that God would no longer dwell intemplesthatwerebuilt.PaulsaidthatwearenowtemplesoftheHolySpirit,andtheSpiritofGoddwellsinsideofus,notintemplesmadewithhumanhands.

WhatIhavelearnedtodowhenIhavenoencouragement—whennooneislifting me up, when everything’s negative, and I’m not seeing any light orbreakthrough—isIjustputmyarmsaroundmyselfandhugmyself.YouknowwhatI’mactuallydoingwhenIdothat?I’mhuggingtheHolySpiritwholivesinme.He’sthere,andHepromisedthatHewouldneverleavemeorforsakeme(seeHeb.13:5).HeistheOnecalledalongside,ouradvocate,andourhelper.

YOUALREADYHAVE

EVERYTHINGYOUNEED

ThestoryofDavidandhismen isnota storyofdefeatbuta testimonyofgreatvictory.AfterDavidencouragedhimselfintheLord,heroseupandwentafterwhattheenemyhadtakenfromhim.AfteryoulearntoencourageyourselfintheLord,youwillgetasecondwindfromtheHolySpirit,helpingyoufightforwhatisyours.Infact,whattheLordsaidtomeinthedreamwas,“You’reabouttogetyoursecondwind.”Ideclarethesameoveryou.IfyoufindyourselffeelinglikeDaviddid,getreadybecauseyoursecondwindiscoming.

The story goes on to tell uswhatDavid ended up doing as a result of hisencouragementintheLord:

SoDavidrecoveredallthattheAmalekiteshadcarriedaway,andDavidrescuedhistwowives.Andnothingoftheirswaslacking,eithersmallorgreat, sons or daughters, spoil or anythingwhich they had taken fromthem;Davidrecoveredall(1Samuel30:18-19).

It says two times in the aboveverses thatDavid recovered everything thathadbeentakenawayfromhim.Evenifwe’regettingknockeddown,wedon’tneedtostaydown.Weneedtogetup,encourageourselvesintheLord,andtakebackwhattheenemyhastakenfromus.

BeforeDavidpersonallyexperiencedthisvictory,hehadaminutewithGod.After he encouraged himself in the Lord, we see that David receivedsupernaturaldirectionfromGod:

ThenDavidsaidtoAbiatharthepriest,Ahimelech’sson,“Pleasebringthe ephod here tome.” And Abiathar brought the ephod toDavid. SoDavid inquiredof theLord, saying,“Shall I pursue this troop?Shall Iovertake them?” AndHe answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surelyovertakethemandwithoutfailrecoverall”(1Samuel30:7-8).

David had a minute with God where he heard the Lord’s voice speak soclearly and powerfully. He received aword that fueled him for great victory:“Pursue,foryoushallsurelyovertakethemandwithoutfailrecoverall”(1Sam.30:8).Whenyouhaveaone-minute-with-Godencounter,get ready tohear theHolySpiritspeaktoyou.ThisisyourinheritanceasonewhoisfilledwithHispresence!Youdon’tneedtostrainandstresstohearfromGod,forGodisnotsimplywithyou,Heisinsideofyou!

OneofthekeystoyouroneminutewithGodistorealizethatyoualreadyhave everything you need in order to encourage yourself in the Lord. UnlikeDavid,youdonotneedtoconsultapersontogetawordfromGod;thespeakingHoly Spirit liveswithin you.You already have everything you need; you justhave to start using what God has given you! There are keys to unlockingtreasuresfromheaventhathavealreadybeenmadeavailabletoyou.Thekeyisalreadyinyourhand,butyoumustexercisetheuseofthatkeybeforeanythinghappens.Mostofus arewaiting forGod todo somethingaboutour situationswhenGod is actually waiting for us to do something. It’s amazingwhat willhappenwhenyoutakethatonesimplestepandencourageyourselfinGod!

PaulwritestotheCorinthians,remindingthemofwhattheyalreadyhaveinChrist.WearenotpeoplewhoarelackingthetoolstohaveouroneminutewithGod, but we have all we need to hope and expect God to change ourcircumstances:

IthankmyGodatalltimesforyoubecauseofthegrace(thefavorandspiritual blessing) ofGodwhichwas bestowed on you inChrist Jesus,[so] that inHim inevery respect youwereenriched, in fullpowerandreadinessofspeech[tospeakofyourfaith]andcompleteknowledgeandillumination[togiveyoufullinsightintoitsmeaning].Inthisway[our]witnessing concerning Christ (the Messiah) was so confirmed andestablishedandmadesureinyouthatyouarenot[consciously]fallingbehindorlackinginanyspecialspiritualendowmentorChristiangrace[thereceptionofwhichisduetothepowerofdivinegraceoperatinginyour souls by the Holy Spirit], while you wait and watch [constantlylivinginhope]forthecomingofourLordJesusChristand[His]beingmadevisibletoall(1Corinthians1:4-7,AMP).

Doyouever feel likeyouneeda secondwind inyour life?Maybeyou’vebeen going through something, and you’re tired of going through it and youdesperately want it to get better. You want this chapter of your life to endsomehow,andyouwant to turn thepageandstart anewone.Know thatGodisn’tdonewiththischapterofyourlifeyet;Hewantstoturnitaroundandmakeit the best chapter you’ve ever had.Hewants you to have oneminute inHispresence, where everything is changed. Your second wind is coming; yourminutewithGodisrightaroundthecorner.Don’tgiveup!

THEIMPORTANCEOFDREAMS

One last note. There are times when God will bring you supernaturalencouragementthroughapropheticdream.ThisisoneofthewaysthattheBiblesaysGodcommunicateswithHispeople,sobeready!

WhenGodgivesmeapropheticdream,IoftenseeaScriptureverseorquotein the dream.A dreamwhereGod speaks tome fromScripture is one of theways I receive my messages. It goes without saying, then, that I believe indreamsandthinktheyarevaluableforhearingGod’svoiceinourownday.NotonlydoIpersonallyhavedreamsasanormalwayofGodspeakingtome,butthey are recorded throughout theBible as one of thewaysGod speaks toHispeople.

WhenJacobwasrunningawayfromhome,helaidhisheaddownonarocktosleeponenight.Afterhefellasleep,hehadadreamofaladderthatwentuptoheaven,andtheangelsofGodwereascendinganddescendingonit.Whenhewokeup,hesaid,“‘SurelytheLordisinthisplace,andIdidnotknowit.’Andhewasafraidandsaid,‘Howawesomeisthisplace!ThisisnoneotherthanthehouseofGod,andthisisthegateofheaven!’…AndhecalledthenameofthatplaceBethel”(Gen.28:16-17,19).

When we read through the Old Testament, we read about all the dreamencounters thatdifferentpeoplehad.Allof these revealhowGodwouldoftenshow things to come before they actually came to pass. Joseph had a dreamabout how all of his brotherswould bow down to him; that dream eventuallycametrue.WhenwereadthestoryofJoseph,wecanseethathetoldthedreamtohisbrotherstoosoon,causingjealousytoriseupwithintheirhearts.Butwhatthedevilmeant forbad,Godeventually turned it around forgood.Thedreamcame true. Joseph went from the pit to the palace, to becoming second-in-commandnexttoPharaoh.

Godmightbewantingtospeaktoyouthiswayaswell,revealingthegoodplansandpurposesHewantstobringtopassinyourlife.OftenwhenitcomestohearingthevoiceofGod,wetendtolimithowitwillhappen.Eitherwefocuson the inward witness of the Holy Spirit—that still small voice, which somedescribeasan interior “knowing”—or themomentswhenpeopleactuallyhearthe audible voice of God. These are twoways God communicates but nottheonlyways.DreamsandvisionsareotherwaysthatGodhasusedtospeaktoHispeoplethroughouttheages;todayisnodifferent!

Chapter9

KEYSTOEXPERIENCINGYOURONEMINUTE

WITHGOD

In this chapter, I simplywant toprovideyouwith someof thebiblical keys Ihavelearnedovertheyearsthatcanhelpunlockthisone-minuteencounterwithGodinyour life today!IwillgiveyouthekeyalongwithsomereinforcementScriptureversesandsomedirectiononhowtoputthekeytoworkinyourlife.

MyprayeristhatthischapterwouldbecomeanoutlineyoucanrefertooverandoveragainthatwillhelpusheryouintoanencounterwithGod.

KEY#1:REPENT

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard ofhearing,andtheireyestheyhaveclosed, lest theyshouldseewiththeireyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with theirheartsandturn,sothatIshouldhealthem(Acts28:27).

Ifweconfessoursins,Heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursinsandtocleanseusfromallunrighteousness(1John1:9).

RepentanceconnectsyoubacktotheFather.Theriverthathasbeencloggedinyourspiritwillbegintoflowagainwhenyouconfessyoursinandturnbackto theLord.Remember, sinclogsup the flowof theSpirit,butyourprayerofrepentancewillgetGod’sattentionandtheSpiritofGodwillstarttoflowonceagain,withouthindranceorrestriction.

Hethatbelievethonme,asthescripturehathsaid,outofhisbellyshall

flowriversoflivingwater(John7:38,KJV).

KEY#2:YOUALREADYHAVE

EVERYTHINGYOUNEED!

IthankmyGodatalltimesforyoubecauseofthegrace(thefavorandspiritual blessing) ofGodwhichwas bestowed on you inChrist Jesus,[so] that inHim inevery respect youwereenriched, in fullpowerandreadinessofspeech[tospeakofyourfaith]andcompleteknowledgeandillumination[togiveyoufullinsightintoitsmeaning(1Corinthians1:4-5,AMP).

Youalreadyhaveeverythingyouneed toexperienceyouroneminutewithGod;youjusthavetostartusingthetoolsGodhasgivenyou!Therearekeystounlockingtreasuresfromheaventhatareavailabletoyou.Thesearewhatwearereviewingrightnow.Thekeysarealreadyinyourhand,butyoumustputthesekeys into practice before you can expect anything to happen.Most of us arewaitingforGodtodosomethingaboutoursituations,whenGodiswaitingforustomakethefirstmove.

KEY#3:WORSHIP

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers willworshiptheFatherinspiritandtruth;fortheFatherisseekingsuchtoworshipHim.GodisSpirit,andthosewhoworshipHimmustworshipinspiritandtruth(John4:23-24).

Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is aworshiperofGodanddoesHiswill,Hehearshim(John9:31).

IfyouwantGodtogiveyouaminuteofHistime,thenyouhavetogiveGodaminute ofyour time!This begins in the place ofworship.Acknowledge theLord.ComebeforeHispresencewithpraise,worship, andhonor. Its seedtimeand harvest; if you plant a seed, you’ll get some kind of return. As you sowworship,youcanexpecttheharvestofGod’spresence.That’sthewayGodsetthingsupfromthebeginningtomakesureeverythingwouldcontinue.Ifnoseedgets to the ground, nothing grows and nothing continues. This principle willwork,whatever the need.Need something fixed? Then help someone else fixsomething.Needhealinginyourbody?Declarehealingscripturesoutloudand

get a return of health. Why should you say them out loud? Because you’recastingyourbreaduponthewater.

Cast your bread[seed] upon thewaters, for youwill find it aftermanydays(Ecclesiastes11:1).

In Bible times, they would sow seed from a boat into overflowing water.Whenthewaterreceded,theseedswouldproduceaharvest.IfyouwanttohaveoneminutewithGod, sowseedsofyour timeandGodwillproduce foryouaharvestofHistime.WorshiptheLord.ThemoretimeyougiveHim,themoretimeHegivesyou!

KEY#4:PRAISE

EnterintoHisgateswiththanksgiving,andintoHiscourtswithpraise.BethankfultoHim,andblessHisname(Psalm100:4).

FortheLordisgreatandgreatlytobepraised;Heisalsotobefearedaboveallgods(1Chronicles16:25).

PraisingandworshipingGodactuallyreleasesthegloryofGod.Psalm22:3remindsusthatGodinhabitsthepraisesofpeople.ThismeansthataswepraiseHim,Hisglorycomes.Atthesametime,thegloryofGodshouldcauseyoutopraiseGod.WhenHispresencecomes, justas itdid in theOldTestament,werespondwithpraise.Itworksbothways.

PraiseHimforhearingyourprayers,forhealingyourbody,forprotectionforyour family, and for saving your soul and giving you eternal life in heaven.PraiseGodforthefoodyoueatandshelterthatyouandyourfamilyenjoy.Doyouliketobepraisedwhenyoudosomethinggoodforsomeone?Ofcourse!SodoesourheavenlyFather,forHeisalwaysgoodandisalwaysworkingonourbehalf.Be likeDavidwho said, “Iwill bless theLord at all times;His praiseshallcontinuallybeinmymouth”(Ps.34:1).

KEY#5:SPOKENWORD

In the beginning was theWord, and theWord was withGod, and theWordwasGod(John1:1).

Jesusansweredhim,saying,“Itiswritten,‘Manshallnotlivebybread

alone,butbyeverywordofGod’”(Luke4:4).

TheseedisthewordofGod(Luke8:11).

Speaking theWord of God out loud is a seed sown to reap a harvest ofbenefits foryou,your family,your lovedones,your church, and for answeredprayers.AswespeakGod’sWordoutofourmouths,wearebringingourwordsintoagreementwithHis.Yourwordscanactuallybringyou intoaone-minuteencounter with God. Also, your words can change as the result of yourexperiencewithGod.

For example, when I hadmy oneminute withGod, I gotmy voice back.Before that experience, I was timid because I was living distant fromGod. Ibelieved the lie of the enemy that I was far off and had no voice before thethroneofheaven.AftermyoneminuteinHispresence,Igotbold,authoritativeinprayer,andIknewIhadthevoiceandstrengthtoproclaimmyson’smiracle.I’mbelieving thatyou tooaregoing togetyouroneminutewithGod,and thefirstthingyou’llnoticeisthattheenemywillnotbeabletosilenceyourvoice.Suddenlyyourreportwillchange,youwillstartspeakingthisoutofyourmouth,andthingswillbegintoimprove.

KEY#6:PROPHETICWORD

Anditshallcometopassinthelastdays,saithGod,IwillpouroutofmySpirituponall flesh:andyoursonsandyourdaughtersshallprophesy,and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dreamdreams(Acts2:17,KJV).

Buthewhoprophesiesspeaksedificationandexhortationandcomforttomen(1Corinthians14:3).

NewTestament prophecy strengthens, encourages, and builds you up. Theoppositeis“hopedeferred,”whichmakesyourheartsick(seeProv.13:12)!Thepropheticministryactuallygivesyouhope.Whenyoureceiveapropheticword,be encouraged.Youbasicallygot a snapshot of your future released intoyourpresentbytheHolySpirit.NohumanbeingcandothisapartfromGod,forGodisable toseebeyondwhereyouare,speakawordofpromise,andbringgreatencouragement toyourheart.Hemayspeak theworddirectly toyourspiritorusesomeoneelsetospeakitoveryou.

Godwasactuallytheoriginal“seer”intheBibleinthebookofGenesis.We

havetherighttobeprophetic“seers”becauseourFatherinheavenwasthefirstonetoseeandthefirstonetospeakwhatHesaw!InthebookofGenesis1theSpiritofGodwasmovingandGodspokeintothedarknessandsaid,“Lettherebelight.”That’sthepowerofthespokenpropheticword!

And the earthwaswithout form,and void; anddarknesswasupon theface of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of thewaters.AndGodsaid,Lettherebelight:andtherewaslight.AndGodsawthelight,thatitwasgood(Genesis1:2-4,KJV).

(As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in thepresenceofHimwhomhebelieved—God,whogiveslifetothedeadandcallsthosethingswhichdonotexistasthoughtheydid(Romans4:17).

KEY#7:FAITH

SoJesusansweredandsaidtothem,“HavefaithinGod”(Mark11:22).

ButwithoutfaithitisimpossibletopleaseHim,forhewhocomestoGodmustbelievethatHeis,andthatHeisarewarderofthosewhodiligentlyseekHim(Hebrews11:6).

YoumustbelievethatGodisandHeisarewarderof thosewhodiligentlyseekHim.Youcan’tgiveup,nomatterwhatthecircumstanceslooklikeorhowdarkyoursituationis.WhenJesustoldthedisciplesto“havefaithinGod,”youcouldtranslatethattoliterallymean,havetheGod-kindoffaithorhavethefaithofGod.Sometimes,wefeellikeweneedtoworkandstrivetoputourfaithintopractice.

Twowords of encouragement about this. First, it’s not your faith to beginwith—it’sGod’sfaith.ThefaithyouhavecamefromGod;thus,itisHisfaith.Second,ifyouaretrying inyourownabilitytomakeyourfaithwork,chancesareyouarenot flowingwithHisgrace.Surrender toGod.Remember thatyouhave world-creating, mountain-moving faith inside of you, and that you canspeak towhatevermountain is coming against you, boldly telling it: “Be thouremoved,andbethoucastintothesea”(Mark11:23,KJV).

KEY#8:PEACE

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard

yourheartsandmindsthroughChristJesus(Philippians4:7).

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:becausehetrustethinthee(Isaiah26:3,KJV).

If you truly desire to experience your one minute with God, you need toquiet your spirit and start thinking aboutGod andHis goodness.God doesn’tmovewhen there is confusion. If you are dealingwith confusion, just ask theHolySpirit tocomeandremove it.AskHimtoexchangepeaceforconfusion,trustforanxiety,confidenceforworry,andloveforfear.

KEY#9:KEEPANATTITUDE

OFGRATITUDE

EnterintoHisgateswiththanksgiving,andintoHiscourtswithpraise.BethankfultoHim,andblessHisname(Psalm100:4).

ThenDavidspoketotheLordthewordsofthissong,onthedaywhentheLordhaddeliveredhim from thehandofallhisenemies,and from thehandofSaul.Andhesaid:“TheLordismyrockandmyfortressandmydeliverer;theGodofmystrength,inwhomIwilltrust;myshieldandthehornofmysalvation,mystrongholdandmyrefuge;mySavior,Yousavemefromviolence.IwillcallupontheLord,whoisworthytobepraised;soshallIbesavedfrommyenemies”(2Samuel22:1-4).

Sometimeswhat looks likeasetback isasetupfromGod!Howdoweseethese divine setups in themidst of difficult situations?We need to choose tohaveanattitudeofgratitude!

Look at SecondSamuel 22.Davidwas singing toGodwith an attitude ofgratitudeeventhoughhehadalreadywonthebattle.I’vehearditsaidthatKingDavidneverlostawarbecausehekeptanattitudeofgratitude.Throughoutthepsalms,eveninsomeofhisdarkest,mostvulnerablemoments,weseeDavidlifthiseyes.Hemightstartoutapsalmtalkingabouthiscircumstance,butbytheend he is offering praise and thanksgiving toGod.Davidwas able to do thisbecause,evenwhenadversitycameagainsthim,hewasamanwhodeclared:“Iwill give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of yourwonderful deeds” (Ps. 9:1, ESV). God has given you the will and decision-makingabilitytochoosegratitude!

KEY#10:BROKENFOCUS

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you(James4:7).

BestrongintheLordandinthepowerofHismight(Ephesians6:10).

Never let the devil get your focus off what you are trying to do for theKingdomofGod.Realizewhatheisdoinganddowhateveryoucantoresisthisdistractions. A great model for you to follow is how David withstood andresistedthedistractionsofGoliathinFirstSamuel17.

AsIsraelpreparedtofightagainstthePhilistines,Goliathstoodandtauntedthe armies of Israel night and day until they were greatly afraid (see 1 Sam.17:11).Theenemydoeswhateverhecantointimidateyou,bindingyouupwithfear. He wants to break your focus on God’s Word and God’s promises,distracting you with doubt, condemnation, fear, dread, worry, and everythingelsehehastothrowyourway.

Goliathusedfeartobreakthefocusofawholearmy.Howmanytimeshastheenemyusedfear,people,surroundings,orcircumstancestobreakyourfocusfromwhatyouaredoingforGod’sKingdom?Standstrong.KeepyourfocusonGod no matter what.When you see God as bigger than your enemy, just asDavidsawhisGodasgreaterthanGoliath,youhavetherightfocus!

AFINALWORDABOUTTHESETENKEYS

Thesekeysaredesigned tohelpyouenter intoyouroneminutewithGod.Also, as I am sure you noticed, I have shared some of them to help you livevictoriouslyafteryourminutewithGodexperience.SomeofthesepracticeswillhelpusheryouintoanencounterwithGod,whilesomeotherswillempoweryoutowalkconsistentlyinGod’spower,grace,faith,andpresence.

Chapter10

THEMIRACLEMINISTRY

CALLEDINTOTHEMINISTRY

Getready!Ipraybynowyouhaveeitherhadaone-minuteencounterwithGod, or your expectation and hunger are preparing you for these sixtysupernaturalseconds.Now,Iwantus to talkabout thegreaterpurposeofyourone-minuteencounter.WhileyoumaybedesperateforaminutewithGod—justlikeIwas—toseeyourimmediatecircumstancechange,thereissomethingevengreaterbehindwhatGodisgoingtodoinyourlife.

After Justin’s miracle from God, the Lord began to deal with me aboutentering into full-time ministry, which I began praying about without tellinganyonewhatwasinmyheart.IbegantostudytheBibleaswewereattendingthelittlechurchdownthestreetfromourhouse.

MywifeCherylwasactuallyinthehospitalduringthistime.OnaparticularSundayafternoonIhadbeenpraying,tryingtogetpeaceinmyheartaboutwhattheLordwantedmetodowithmylife.Iwasin thehousealoneandtheLordbegan speaking tome about the Scripture that says, “ThenHe [Jesus] said tothem, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray theLordoftheharvesttosendoutlaborersintoHisharvest’”(Luke10:2).

I was lying on the floor crying and praying, fighting the call into theministry.Laterthatafternoon,afterhourshadpassed,IfinallysurrenderedtothecallofGoduponmylife.ThegloryofGod’spresencecameintotheroomandIfeltthepressurethathadbeenweighingdownonmesuddenlyrelease.Acloudsurroundedmywholebeing.Tobehonestwithyou,I’veneverfeltsuchpeace,suchhappiness,andsuchjoyandvictory inmylife. Ihadsaid“yes” toGod’scall,Hisinvitation,andHecametosay,“Thankyou,Myson!”

Istartedtogetupoffthefloor,butIcouldn’tmove.SoIjustlayintheglory

andfellasleep.WhenIwokeupsometimelater,itwastimetogotochurch,soIdecided that Iwouldn’t tell anyone aboutwhat hadhappened tomeorwhat Iwas feeling when I got there. The Lord then reminded me of a three-pointsermonoutline thatwasoutofa littlebrown inexpensiveBible Ihad,which Ihad previouslywritten down. Following theHoly Spirit’s direction, I insertedtheoutlineintomyBibleandthenleftforchurch.

ThatnightIwenttochurchandsatonthebackrow.AsIwassittingthere,thepastorgotuptopreach.HeopeneduphisBibleandbegantoreadthetexthewasgoingtospeakon.Hefelloverinthepulpit,suddenlyweeping.Heturnedaround,walkedovertohislargechairbehindthepulpit,andjustsatdownforamoment.Hegotupagaina fewmoments later and said thathehadnever feltthatwaybefore.ThepowerofGodwassostrongthathebegantoweepagain,and some of the men of the church went up to see if he was all right. Hecomposedhimselfand tried topreachagain,only toendupweepingyetagainand going back to sit in his chair. TheLord spoke to himwhile sitting in hischair this time, telling him there was someone else in the church who wassupposed to preach that night. He walked back to the pulpit and told thecongregationwhattheLordhadsaidtohim.

Whilesittingonthatbackrow,IfeltthepowerofGodcomeuponmeinoneminute,andthenextthingIknewIwaswalkingfromthebackofthechurchuptothepulpit.IopenedmyBible,readtheScripturetheLordhadgivenme,andbegantopreachmyveryfirstsermon.PeoplebegantopraisetheLord,andthenextthingIknewIwasgivinganaltarcall.Thecrowdrespondedandfilledthealtar.

Thiswasmysupernaturalcallintotheministry,andittookplaceinjustoneminute when God’s presence showed up. Though God had been forming methroughout my entire life for this purpose, all it took was one minute whenGod’spresence showedup forme to say“yes” toHimandanswer thecallofGoduponmylife.EveryoneatthechurchthatnightfeltarefreshingthatcamefromthepresenceofGod,asifarevivalhadbeguninourhearts.Iwenthomeafter theservicewithsuchareliefandpeaceafterIhadannouncedmycallingintotheministry.

Thenextmorning Iwent to thehospital to seemywife,Cheryl. I toldherthat Ihadgone to thechurchandpreached thenightbefore,and thatGodhadbeenwithmeandansweredmyprayer.IwasnotapublicspeakerandIdidnotlike tostand infrontofpeople,so thiswas trulysupernatural.Cherylsaid thatshealreadyknewinherheartthatIwasgoingtopreach.Shewasreleasedfromthehospitalthenextday,completelyhealed.

WebeganourjourneyintothissupernaturalministryofGod,andwesawthemiraculous power of Jesus start to change people’s lives for the better. WeexpecttoseeGoddomuchmoreformanyyearstocome.

MIRACLEMINISTRY

AspartoftheministryGodhasgivenme,Hehasalwaysconnectedmewithpeople,andwhenHedoes there isanimpartationthat takesplace.Myheart isfor souls— that is what I am all about. Nomatter what God has specificallycalledyouto,IknowthatHewantstotransferwhat’sonmylifeandreleaseitintoyours.HewantsyoutobesomeonewhohassixtysupernaturalsecondsinHis presence that brings breakthrough, performs themiraculous, and launchesyouintoyourdestiny.Forme,itwasfull-timeministry.Foryou,itiswhateveruniqueassignmenttheLordhasplannedforyourlife.

Herearesome things I learnedfrommyown transition intoministry that IbelievewillhelpyouwalkinthesupernaturalpowerofGod.Iamconfidentthatyourmiraclewillbecomeyourministry.WhateverGoddoesinandforyou,Hewantstoreleasethroughyou!

Repentance

TheWord of God says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall seeGod”(Matt.5:8,KJV).Thewordpuremeanstocleanout.WhenJesusappearedtomewhenmy sonwas sick, I cleanedmy heart out and repented of all theuncleannessthatwaspresentthere.

Repentanceisapowerfulkeytogetintothesupernaturalrealm.ApureheartbuildsourconfidencebeforetheLord.Ihavetoministertopeopleallthetimewhoaresickandinpain.WhenIstandbeforethosepeople,IhavetoknowthatIhave prayed, fasted, been alonewithGod in the secret place, and that I havewaitedonHisWord.IcannotministerwhenIhavenotheardfromGod—Ihavenoconfidenceinthatplace.Whatgoodwouldthatdo?Itwouldn’twork.

SittingBeforetheLord

AsyougetreadytomovedeeperwithGod,getupearlyandjustsitbeforethe Lord. Start off with just thirty minutes and listen to what He has to say.Don’taskforanythingordoanything,butsitstillandlisten:“ThenwentkingDavidin,andsatbeforetheLord”(2Sam.7:18,KJV).

ThisisatimethatyouaregivingtoGod.Someofthegreatest timeswhen

GodhasspokentomewerewhenIwassittingbeforeHimearlyinthemorning,just listening towhatHewouldspeak tome. Ifyouhavemore time than that,thenpray in theHolySpirit,prayforyourneeds,andprayforothersandGodwilldirectyou.However,itisveryimportantthatwealllearntoquietourselvesbeforetheLord,likeDavid.WesimplysitbeforeHim,learningtorecognizeHisvoiceandinstructions.

ThePowerofWorship

OnenightIwasinmyofficeprayingandIfeltledbytheHolySpirittogetdownonmyknees and startworshiping theLord. Iworshiped theLord for acoupleofhourswhensuddenlyIfeltlikeIhadworshipedenough.Idecidedtogooutofmystudy,getadrinkofwaterandpickupapencil.IdidnotknowthatmydaughterHeatherhadburnedherhandwithahotgluegundoingsomecraftsfor Christmas. My wife had tried putting medicine on the burn but it hadn’thelped thepain.As Iwalkedpasther andwentback intomystudy, shecamethroughthedoorandsaid,“Dad,Ijustgothealedwhenyouwalkedbyme!”ThegloryofGodcanchangethingswhenyou’vebeenworshipinginyourquiettimewithHim.

Ourmiddle sonEliwasworkingon topof a tandemdump truckwhenheslippedintherainandfell.Hisfoothitthegroundsidewaysandpopped.Itwashis birthday andwe had planned for him and his family to come over to ourhouseafterworkfordinner.By the timemydaughter-in-lawdrovehimtoourhouse,hisfootwasswollentotwiceitssize,anditwasblackandblue.Hewasinsomuchpainthathesaidthathewasgoingtohavetogotothehospital;hecouldn’tputanyweightonhisfootatall.

Ihadbeenworshiping theLord,so I said,“Let’spraybeforeyougo.”WeprayedandElisaidheactuallyfeltthebonesinhisankleandfootpopbackintoplace.ItoldhimtogoontothehospitalandgetitcheckedoutandX-rayed.Theword of the Lord came over me and I said, “Tomorrow you will be totallyhealed!”

He called the next morning and said, “Dad, do you hear that? That’s mechanginggearsandusingmyhealedfootontheclutch!”

PRAYEROFACTIVATION

This book is not just about giving you information;my prayer is that, byreading it, youwould receive an impartation to experience the very thing you

justfinishedreadingabout—aone-minute-with-Godencounter!PaulsaidinRomans1:11:“ForIlongtoseeyou,thatImayimparttoyou

somespiritualgift,sothatyoumaybeestablished.”Iwanttoprayaprayeroveryou, that the Lord would impart to you the very blessing and favor of God,helpingyouencounterGodinjustoneminute.

Father, in Jesus’s name, I speak a word of impartation, blessing, andfavoroverthepersonreadingthisbook.IpraythatbythepoweroftheHolySpirit,andthroughYourHolyWord,theywillbegrantedaccesstoan encounterwith You, Lord, that theywill have a testimony that theyexperiencedoneminutewithGodthatchangeseverything!Amen.

PRAYEROFIMPARTATION

Now you are ready to receive a special prayer of impartation to receive yoursixtysupernaturalseconds.Readthefollowingprayeroutloud:

Lord, I’ma receiver, in the nameof Jesus.Right now I’maskingYou,Lord, for oneminute, a supernatural sixty-second encounter with You.Lord,rightnowIbelievethatYou’reinthisplace,andIliftmyhandsinsurrenderandIreleaseanywound,anyhurt,anyfrustrationinmylife.Right now, Lord, I want to be activated. Right now I believe that theWordteachesusthatthereisimpartationandactivation.Jesusjustspokethewordandthingshappened,andsorightnowIspeaktheword:Lord,I’m activated! I am imparted with the glory of God that sixtysupernaturalsecondsiscomingtomylife.Forsomeitwillcometoday,forothers itmaycome tomorrow,and forsome itmaycomenextyear,but I’mgettingminenow! I receive theoneminutewithGod, the sixtysupernatural seconds that has changed my life forever. I will not bedenied.ThankYou,Jesus!

EPILOGUE

Asbelieverswalkingthroughthisjourneywecall life,weknowthatbothGodandushaveaparttoplayinourChristianwalk.Ourpartistoeatwell,exercise,rest, live healthy lifestyles, be good stewards over our bodies, have yearlyphysicalexams,andfollowourmedicaldoctor’sadvice.Wemustdoallthatwecan to ensure that our lives are lived for God’s glory, maximizing oureffectivenesswiththetimewehavebeengiven.

Thenwe allowGod to doHis part of sustaining us, strengthening us, andempoweringus.Aswepray andgrow inHis grace,wepositionourselves forthat oneminute that onlyGod can give.When all thatwe can do in our ownpower to walk in health fails, God shows up and changes everything in amomentoftime.EverygoodgiftthatwereceivecomesfromHim:“Everygoodgift and everyperfect gift is fromabove, and comesdown from theFather oflights,withwhomthereisnovariationorshadowofturning”(James1:17).

The Holy Spirit spoke to me years ago and said many people would beblessedbythisbook.ItismydesirethatyouwouldlookforandexpectthatoneminutewithGodasyoudrawnearHim.KeepseekingHisface,forsuddenlyHewillshowupandenvelopyouwithHispresenceandglory.Jamespromisesus,“DrawneartoGodandHewilldrawneartoyou”(James4:8).ExpectyouroneminutewithGodtoday.Suddenly,Hewillshowupandyour lifewillneverbethesame.

PROPHETDR.KEITHELLISwww.cccmiracles.com

Appendix1

SCRIPTURESFORHEALING

God’sconditionsforyourhealing:IfyoudiligentlyheedthevoiceoftheLordyourGodanddowhatisrightinHissight,giveeartoHiscommandmentsandkeepallHisstatutes,Iwill put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on theEgyptians.ForIamtheLordwhohealsyou(Exodus15:26).

SoyoushallservetheLordyourGod,andHewillblessyourbreadandyourwater.AndIwilltakesicknessawayfromthemidstofyou.Nooneshall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill thenumberofyourdays(Exodus23:25-26).

And theLordwill takeaway fromyouall sickness,andwillafflict youwith none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known...(Deuteronomy7:15)

BecauseyouhavemadetheLord,whoismyrefuge,eventheMostHigh,yourdwellingplace,noevilshallbefallyou,norshallanyplaguecomenearyourdwelling(Psalm91:9-10).

BenefitsofservingtheLord:BlesstheLord,Omysoul;andallthatiswithinme,blessHisholyname!BlesstheLord,Omysoul,andforgetnotallHisbenefits:whoforgivesall your iniquities,who heals all your diseases,who redeems your lifefrom destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tendermercies,whosatisfiesyourmouthwithgoodthings,sothatyouryouthisrenewedliketheeagle’s(Psalm103:1-5).

God’sWordwillhealyou:ThentheycriedouttotheLordintheirtrouble,andHesavedthemoutoftheirdistresses.HesentHiswordandhealedthem,anddeliveredthemfromtheirdestructions(Psalm107:19-20).

God’sWordislifeandhealthtoyourbody:Myson,giveattentiontomywords;inclineyoureartomysayings.Donotletthemdepartfromyoureyes;keeptheminthemidstofyourheart;fortheyarelifetothosewhofindthem,andhealthtoalltheirflesh.Keepyour heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life(Proverbs4:20-23).

StrengthandhelpcomefromHisrighteousness:Fearnot,forIamwithyou;benotdismayed,forIamyourGod.Iwillstrengthenyou,yes,Iwillhelpyou,IwillupholdyouwithMyrighteousrighthand(Isaiah41:10).

Jesushasdoneandprovidedeverythingneeded—it’suptoyoutoreceiveit:SurelyHehasborneourgriefsandcarriedoursorrows;yetweesteemedHimstricken,smittenbyGod,andafflicted.ButHewaswoundedforourtransgressions,Hewas bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement forourpeacewasuponHim,andbyHisstripeswearehealed(Isaiah53:4-5).

Natural man cannot think like God thinks; His Word actually creates whenspoken:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so areMyways higherthan your ways, andMy thoughts than your thoughts. For as the raincomes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, butwatertheearth,andmakeitbringforthandbud,thatitmaygiveseedtothe sower andbread to the eater, so shallMyword be that goes forthfromMymouth; it shall not return toMe void, but it shall accomplishwhatIplease,anditshallprosperinthethingforwhichIsentit(Isaiah55:9-11).

Icreate the fruitof the lips;Peace,peace tohim that is faroff,and tohimthatisnear,saiththeLord;andIwillhealhim(Isaiah57:19,KJV).

Whydothegodlyoftendiebeforetheirtime?Goodpeoplepassaway;thegodlyoftendiebeforetheirtime.Andnooneseems tocareorwonderwhy.Nooneseems tounderstand thatGod isprotectingthemfromtheeviltocome.Forthosewhofollowgodlypathswillrestinpeacewhentheydie(Isaiah57:1-2,NLT).

LivetopleaseGodineverythingyoudoandsay:IsthisnotthefastthatIhavechosen:toloosethebondsofwickedness,to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that youbreakeveryyoke?Isitnottoshareyourbreadwiththehungry,andthatyou bring to your house the poorwho are cast out; when you see thenaked,thatyoucoverhim,andnothideyourselffromyourownflesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shallspring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; thegloryoftheLordshallbeyourrearguard.Thenyoushallcall,andtheLordwill answer; you shall cry, andHewill say,“Here I am.” If youtake away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, andspeakingwickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfytheafflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in thedarkness, and yourdarknessshallbeas thenoonday.TheLordwillguideyoucontinually,andsatisfyyoursoulindrought,andstrengthenyourbones;youshallbelikeawateredgarden,and likeaspringofwater,whosewatersdonotfail(Isaiah58:6-11).

CansomethinghinderyourrequeststoGod?Behold,theLord’shandisnotshortened,thatitcannotsave;norHisearheavy, that itcannothear.Butyour iniquitieshaveseparatedyou fromyourGod;andyoursinshavehiddenHisfacefromyou,sothatHewillnothear(Isaiah59:1-2).

Whatcanyoudo?Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is aworshiperofGodanddoesHiswill,Hehearshim(John9:31).

Godwillrestoreourhealth:“ForIwillrestorehealthtoyouandhealyouofyourwounds,”saystheLord,“becausetheycalledyouanoutcastsaying:‘ThisisZion;noone

seeksher’”(Jeremiah30:17).

Healme,OLord,andIshallbehealed;saveme,andIshallbesaved,forYouaremypraise(Jeremiah17:14).

ThereisnothingthatisimpossibleforGodtoheal:Ah,LordGod!Behold,YouhavemadetheheavensandtheearthbyYourgreat power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You(Jeremiah32:17).

Behold,IamtheLord,theGodofallflesh.IsthereanythingtoohardforMe?(Jeremiah32:27)

AndwhenIpassedbyyouandsawyoustrugglinginyourownblood,Isaid to you in your blood, “Live!” Yes, I said to you in your blood,“Live!”(Ezekiel16:6)

Beat yourplowshares into swords,andyourpruninghooks into spears:lettheweaksay,Iamstrong(Joel3:10,KJV).

ForIamtheLord,Ichangenot(Malachi3:6,KJV).

ButtoyouwhofearMynametheSunofRighteousnessshallarisewithhealing inHiswings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fedcalves.You shall trample thewicked, for they shallbeashesunder thesoles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the Lord of hosts(Malachi4:2-3).

Goddoesn’tturnyoudown;HelovesgivinggoodgiftstoHischildren:Ask,anditwillbegiventoyou;seek,andyouwillfind;knock,anditwillbe opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeksfinds, and to himwho knocks it will be opened.Orwhatman is thereamongyouwho,ifhissonasksforbread,willgivehimastone?Orifheasksforafish,willhegivehimaserpent?Ifyouthen,beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftstoyourchildren,howmuchmorewillyourFatherwhoisinheavengivegoodthingstothosewhoaskHim!(Matthew7:7-11)

DemonscannotstayaroundwhenGod’sWordisspoken:

When eveninghad come, they brought toHimmanywhowere demon-possessed.AndHecastout thespiritswithaword,andhealedallwhowere sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah theprophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore oursicknesses”(Matthew8:16-17).

Jesuscanhealallsicknessanddisease,notjustsome:Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in theirsynagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing everysicknessandeverydiseaseamongthepeople(Matthew9:35).

Then greatmultitudes came toHim, havingwith them the lame, blind,mute,maimed,andmanyothers;andtheylaidthemdownatJesus’feet,andHehealedthem.Sothemultitudemarveledwhentheysawthemutespeaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blindseeing;andtheyglorifiedtheGodofIsrael(Matthew15:30-31).

BelieveGod’sWordasyouspeakitoveryoursituation:SoJesusansweredandsaidtothem,“HavefaithinGod.Forassuredly,Isaytoyou,whoeversaystothismountain,‘Beremovedandbecastintothesea,’anddoesnotdoubtinhisheart,butbelievesthatthosethingshesayswillbedone,hewillhavewhateverhesays.ThereforeIsaytoyou,whatever things youaskwhenyoupray, believe that you receive them,andyouwillhavethem”(Mark11:22-24).

Andthesesignswillfollowthosewhobelieve:InMynametheywillcastoutdemons;theywillspeakwithnewtongues;theywilltakeupserpents;andiftheydrinkanythingdeadly,itwillbynomeanshurtthem;theywilllayhandsonthesick,andtheywillrecover(Mark16:17-18).

Yourjob—shouldyouwishtoacceptit:AndHewashanded thebookof theprophet Isaiah.AndwhenHehadopenedthebook,Hefoundtheplacewhereitwaswritten:“TheSpiritoftheLordisuponMe,becauseHehasanointedMetopreachthegospelto the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaimlibertytothecaptivesandrecoveryofsighttotheblind,Tosetatlibertythosewhoareoppressed; toproclaimtheacceptableyearof theLord”(Luke4:17-19).

ThenHecalledHis twelvedisciples togetherandgave thempowerandauthorityoveralldemons,andtocurediseases.HesentthemtopreachthekingdomofGodandtohealthesick(Luke9:1-2).

Whatevercityyouenter,andtheyreceiveyou,eatsuchthingsasaresetbeforeyou.Andheal the sick there,and say to them,“ThekingdomofGodhascomeneartoyou”(Luke10:8-9).

Anydayisagooddaytobehealed:Sooughtnotthiswoman,beingadaughterofAbraham,whomSatanhasbound—thinkof it—foreighteenyears,be loosed fromthisbondon theSabbath?(Luke13:16)

Now,Lord,lookontheirthreats,andgranttoYourservantsthatwithallboldnesstheymayspeakYourword,bystretchingoutYourhandtoheal,andthatsignsandwondersmaybedonethroughthenameofYourholyServantJesus(Acts4:29-30).

Insomuchthattheybroughtforththesickintothestreets,andlaidthemon beds and couches, that at the least the shadow ofPeter passing bymightovershadowsomeofthem.Therecamealsoamultitudeoutofthecities roundaboutuntoJerusalem,bringingsick folks,and themwhichwerevexedwithunclean spirits:and theywerehealedeveryone (Acts5:15-16,KJV).

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and withpower:whowentaboutdoinggood,andhealingallthatwereoppressedofthedevil;forGodwaswithHim(Acts10:38,KJV).

Christhathredeemedusfromthecurseof thelaw,beingmadeacursefor us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree(Galatians3:13,KJV).

Is anyoneamong you suffering?Let himpray. Is anyone cheerful?Lethimsingpsalms.Isanyoneamongyousick?Lethimcallfortheeldersofthe church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in thenameoftheLord.Andtheprayeroffaithwillsavethesick,andtheLordwill raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.Confessyour trespasses tooneanother,andpray foroneanother, that

you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous manavailsmuch(James5:13-16).

NowthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinHim,thatifweaskanythingaccording toHiswill,He hears us. And if we know thatHe hears us,whateverweask,weknowthatwehavethepetitionsthatwehaveaskedofHim(1John5:14-15).

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be inhealth,evenasthysoulprospereth(3John2,KJV).

And they overcame himby the blood of the Lamb, and by theword oftheirtestimony;andtheylovednottheirlivesuntothedeath(Revelation12:11,KJV).

Whatyoubelieveabouthealingmakesadifference:WhileHespokethesethingstothem,behold,arulercameandworshipedHim,saying,“Mydaughterhasjustdied,butcomeandlayYourhandonherandshewilllive.”…Butwhenthecrowdwasputoutside,Hewentinandtookherbythehand,andthegirlarose(Matthew9:18,25).

Andsuddenly,awomanwhohadaflowofbloodfortwelveyearscamefrombehindandtouchedthehemofHisgarment.Forshesaidtoherself,“If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesusturned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer,daughter;yourfaithhasmadeyouwell.”Andthewomanwasmadewellfromthathour(Matthew9:20-22).

AndwhenHehadcomeintothehouse,theblindmencametoHim.AndJesussaidtothem,“DoyoubelievethatIamabletodothis?”TheysaidtoHim,“Yes,Lord.”ThenHetouchedtheireyes,saying,“Accordingtoyourfaithletitbetoyou”(Matthew9:28-30).

Appendix2

PRAYERFORTHEBAPTISMINTHEHOLYSPIRIT

OurheavenlyFatherwantstogiveuseverygoodandperfectgift.Jesussaidthatifwe,asfathers,“beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftstoyourchildren,howmuch more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who askHim!”(Luke11:13).Wedon’thavetodoanythinginordertoearnthesegifts,butweonlyhavetoaskandbelieveinordertoreceivethem.

WhenJohntheBaptistcamepreachinginthewilderness,hesaid,“Iindeedbaptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me ismightier than I,whose sandals I am notworthy to carry.Hewill baptize youwiththeHolySpiritandfire”(Matt.3:11).TheWordofGodalsosaysthataftertheHolySpirithascomeuponus,wewillthenreceivemiracle-workingpower(seeActs1:8).

The baptism in the Holy Spirit causes us to have a heavenly strength toadvance God’s Kingdom and accomplish our divine assignment, not for ourglorybut forGod’sglory. It is through thebaptism in theHolySpirit thatwealso receive a spiritual prayer language from heaven as the Spirit gives usutterance:“AndtheywereallfilledwiththeHolySpiritandbegantospeakwithother tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). The truth is,sometimes we just don’t know how to pray for something or have the rightwordstopray.However,ScripturetellsusthattheHolySpiritknowsourheartswhenweprayintheSpiritandHeismakingintercessionforus(seeRom.8:26-27).

If youwould like to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, then I wouldencourageyoutopraythisprayerwithme:

Father,justasIaskedandbelievedforsalvation,InowaskYouforthebaptism in the Holy Spirit. I pray for the miracle-working power andstrength to serve the Kingdom of God. I believe and receive both thebaptismintheHolySpiritandtheabilitytospeakwithothertonguesasthe Spirit gives me utterance. I thank You and praise You, Lord, inJesus’sholyname.Amen.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose underheaven.”(Ecclesiastes3:1)

Iwouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankallthosewhohaveprayedandencouragedmeduring thewriting of this book.Manyhave testified of a one-minute-with-Godencounter.IwouldespeciallyliketothankthoseoftheSamuelSchoolandourchurch.—Dr.KeithEllis

ABOUTDR.KEITHELLIS

Dr.KeithEllis is aProphet,Seer,Evangelist, andAuthor.He is also aSeniorPastorandFounderof“SamuelSchool,”aschoolofPropheticTraining,alongwithhiswifeCheryl.Theyhavethreechildren,Justin,Heather,EliandhiswifeKim,andthreegrandchildren.

He has several college and seminary degrees including a Doctorate ofTheology. In the year 2000, TheMessianic School of Theology honored himwith a Doctorate of Evangelism for his constant endeavor to evangelize theworld.

Forprayerrequestsorpraisereports,contactusatcccmonroe@bellsouth.net