PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 31

Father, I am so tired of being afraid! I will no longer be held hostage to the pain and tragedy of what I was forced to endure. Your perfect love casts out fear. No longer will I be tormented by the fear and I will no longer be held captive to it. I have been set free by the blood of the Lamb. As I meditate on Your world every day I am no longer haunted by these debilitating thoughts, but I am transformed by the renewing of my mind. Thank You God for NO MORE FEAR! Amen.

Past and Present Collides | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

When studying the Word of God a best practice to go to the place when something was first mentioned. Known as the “law of first mentioned,” it provides clarity to what you are studying and enhances it meaning. You are able to better understand the current passage of scripture by referring back to when it was initially introduced. In doing so, you can better understand the message that God is relaying and it helps to apply it to your life.

Almost two decades ago I started down a path of first mentions, or when things first occurred that caused certain behaviors. These behaviors prevented me from experiencing all life had for me. More and more, I found myself succumbing to these behaviors and habits and I didn’t know how to stop. Yet, in my heart of hearts I wanted desperately to get off the treadmill that was going nowhere fast.

It wasn’t until I went back that I was able to go forward. In essence, my past collided with my present in order to be propel into my future. I could only do this when I honestly looked at things that had plagued me and was willing to allow God to take me back to the point when they first occurred. This journey of retracing my past brought such revelation to me that I was able to overcome the very things that had held me in bondage. Some of these things I was able to overcome immediately and others it took some time. Yes, there are some I’m still tackling.

But what if I had never started this journey? What if I had just continued in the manner in which I was headed and remained afraid to look at those things that hung over me like a storm cloud ready to burst open with a torrential downpour?

Well, I had reached a critical crossroads and I knew that something had to be done. More and more apathy was increasing and I found myself feeling as though it didn’t matter anyway. Yet, I knew that it did. Deep inside I knew something had to be done. For so long I didn’t know what I needed, but I knew it was bigger than me. In the pits of my gut I knew it was more than what this world had to offer and it was more than it could ever give me.

Sometimes when everything appears as though it is falling apart is when God is tapping you on the shoulder saying, “Hey, I’m here with all the answers.” It is then that you have to make the critical decision to go back to the first mention of you. It is then that you have to become reconnected to the one that created you. That is God!

It is more than saying that you are saved. There are many believers who profess to be saved, yet they have not truly gone back to the One that created them. Why? Because most people don’t want to do the hard work. It is hard work! But it is necessary work!

I knew when I teemed with God there was no stopping me. One thing after another He began to reveal to me who He created me to be—the first mention of me. Yet, He also would take me back to the place when I started moving away from the person He envisioned and created. It was fascinating to see the many critical points in my life become the very things that drove me to move confidently towards success. In essence, my past collided with my present and was propelling me down a path that I never thought I could go, yet I was doing so with confidence. Had my past not done so, where would I be?

I would still be meandering through life hoping that someone would recognize that this person who appeared to be so confident was screaming for help. You see, I was not one of those people where it was easily visible to see that I was in trouble. I had all the accoutrements of looking successful and confident but in some areas I wasn’t.

Life had dealt some hard blows. It had nothing to do with rather I done something right or wrong, it was life. Sometimes it just didn’t seem fair. Maybe it wasn’t.

Yet, you come to a place where it is not about being fair, but it is about you becoming the person God envisioned. At the first mention of you, in eternity, he envisioned you being whole, vibrant and living an abundant life here on earth. So go back to the first mention of you and allow your past to collide with your present as you are propelled into uncommon success.

What’s holding you back? Are you willing to do what it takes to over them? Are you willing to go back and find out where it all started?

 

 

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Scriptures

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. Eccl 3:15 (KJV)

You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this. My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop. Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus. Every day {of my life} was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place. Psalms 139:13-16 (GW)

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jer 1:4-5 (KJV)

For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (ASV)

The end of something is better than its beginning… Eccl 7:8

This is what the Lord says, who made you, who formed you in your mother’s body, who will help you: Isaiah 44:2a (TCV)

Prayer

Father, There are so many things preventing me from moving forward. Please reveal to me the first time these things occurred for me to be successful in conquering the fears of my past. I know in order for me to go gallantly into my future, I must revisit the things holding me back so I can conqueror them. Also reveal to me who You created me to be so I can embrace and become all You envisioned. Amen.

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 30

Father, Your blessing is overwhelming! It bolsters my confidence and gives me courage to do what I never thought possible. It places me in the presence of those of influence and causes them to favor me. It devours the devouring obstacles sent to destroy and thwart my progress. Your blessing is beyond wealth or anything I can do. It increases favor in my life and keeps giving and giving and giving. Thank You Lord! Amen

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 29

Father, Thank You for confidence and courage to do all You instructed. I won’t allow anything to stop me. If You said I can do it, I can do it! I am not concerned about my age, gender, race, socioeconomic status or anything because these are just man-imposed limitations. You are the illimitable God who never places limitations on me, but have blessed me with unlimited abilities, confidence and courage to achieve the impossible. Amen.

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 28

Father, Bless me to never give up hope. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. My endurance in the process of hope is what increases my faith. As I endure the vicissitudes of life, I will never be ashamed or give up because of the hope You have poured inside of me through Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 27

Father, Sometimes it’s hard to let go. Bless me with the strength to release when the time comes. It is hard to let go. Bless me with the strength to know that in letting go I am really setting free and in letting go it is the greatest illustration of love and courage. Amen.

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 26

Father, As I reach towards You I’m stretched beyond my measure. The more I reach, the more I am able to tap into a well-spring of creativity. With such an abundance of creativity, I know I will make an indelible mark that will never be erased. Amen.

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 25

Father, Thank you for divine inspiration. Every day You expand my creativity by opening me to innovative and witty ideas that propels me to not only explore but to create. The same creative force You used in creating this vast world, I am empowered with to create the unimaginable and the unforgettable. Amen.

PRAYER FOR SUCCESS Jul 24

Father Thank you for exposing the glibness that causes me to think I am doing what is right, but I am not. It may be dressed up to look like the real thing, but underneath it is nothing but a cheap copy. I will no longer be deceived causing me to get caught up in the inertia of doing. I will not confuse the liberation of performing with a spirit of excellence with the limitations of operating in a spirit of perfectionism. Amen.  #showersblessing

Perfectionism Impedes Excellence | Showers’ Blessing Inspires | Jacqui Showers

My sister Portia would state that I wanted everything perfect and I would not stop until I felt that it was perfect. I would retort back to her that I was not trying to make it perfect, but I wanted it to be done the right way.

Sounds like semantics to me. Both of us were saying the same thing, but I didn’t want to admit that I was suffering from a spirit of perfectionism. Years later, I would say I was striving for excellence and would belabor over a task or project way too long. In essence, I wanted things perfect.

Many of us suffer from the debilitating limitations of perfectionism that causes us to work on something way too long. We want everything to be perfect. Perfection is when we operate in our own might and power, but excellence is when the spirit of God is the guiding force in our lives. There is a difference between the two of them. Don’t get deceived there is a close alignment—one uplifts (excellence) and the other condemns (perfection).

According to Dr. John Castelein, a professor at Lincoln Christian Seminary, perfectionism has standards that continually crush people. Excellence lifts our spirits and makes our souls feel noble. Perfectionism keeps prodding us from behind, making us feel guilty. Excellence inspires and motivates. It says “come”. It draws us in. Perfectionism is always commanding, “you must.” Excellence invites us and says, “you may.” Perfectionism orders, “here is the pattern, copy this pattern.” Excellence challenges saying, “all I ask is that you give your best, your personal best.” Perfectionism is artificial. It neglects the heart and it motivates by guilt. Excellence is authentic and heart-driven and it is motivated by God’s greatness. Perfectionism is done out of a sense of duty. Excellence is contagious and inspires people. (http://www.resurrectioncenter.com/blog/tag/inspiring-people/)

Striving for excellence you may sometimes fall short of your goal, but you don’t stay down. You get up, access your mistakes and keep moving forward. A perfectionist lives in constant condemnation, but when you strive for excellence you realize God created erasers because He knew in the process of getting where He intended for you to go you would make some mistakes.

You must also recognize that there is a difference between striving to be perfect versus endeavoring to perform with excellence. Achieving perfection is an impossible task because it never makes allowances for errors or missteps. Consequently, condemnation and discouragement often follow one’s pursuit of perfection because these unrealistic expectations lead to feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy.

The challenge is knowing when you have crossed over from performing with a spirit of excellence to operating in perfectionism. You always need to be prayerful about whatever you are doing. If not, you find yourself easily in the grips of perfection that is rooted in fear. You have moved away from serving others and moved into self-service.

Perfectionism impedes your progress. Excellence propels and sets you a part for greatness. Recognizing the dichotomy of these two forces operating enables you to move beyond the limitations of perfectionism and propel forward with the liberating spirit of excellence.

Do you find yourself always wanting everything to be perfect? What fears cause you to feel imperfect? I just have to be perfect in _____________?

Scriptures

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Proverbs 17:27 (KJV)

Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Daniel 6:3 (KJV)

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. -Colin Powell

Prayer

Father, Thank you for exposing the glibness that causes me to think I am doing what is right, but I am not. It may be dressed up to look like the real thing, but underneath it is nothing but a cheap copy. I will no longer be deceived causing me to get caught up in the inertia of doing. I will not confuse the liberation of performing with a spirit of excellence with the limitations of operating in a spirit of perfectionism. Amen.