Fight for Hope by Joyce Meyer

When you think about the future, are you hopeful? Or do you struggle with a sense of dread?

People who have seen God’s faithfulness in the past tend to be very hopeful about the future. They know a bad situation can turn into a wonderful testimony in a matter of minutes. They know how to hold on to hope and they refuse to give up.

On the other hand, people who have lost all hope view life from the perspective of dread. A close cousin to fear, dread steals the ability to enjoy ordinary life and makes people anxious about the future.

It keeps them from looking forward to the next day, month or decade. Their thoughts about the present are negative and their outlook on the future is filled with fear, pessimism, doubt and worry.

Hope is the opposite of dread—and a close relative of faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us faith is “the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for” (The Amplified Bible). When we have hope, our outlook on life and the future is positive. We can have hope because we trust in God’s love, His power to provide for us, and His ability to lead us in every situation.

Hope allows us to leave our unanswered questions in God’s hands; it empowers us to remain at peace; and it enables us to believe the best about the days to come. Generally, people who have hope are happy, optimistic, and full of inner strength and courage.

Because hope is such a powerful force, the devil goes after it with a vengeance. If he can steal your hope, he can set you on the path to total despair and depression—and that’s his intention. He will work hard to plant thoughts like these in your mind:

“You have always been this way. You will never change.” “No one will ever want to marry you.” “You might as well buy some larger clothes—you’ll never lose weight.”

“Your children will never amount to anything.” “You will not have enough money for retirement.” “No one in your family has lived more than 70 years, so you cannot expect a long life.” “You will never get out of debt.”

If you read these statements carefully, you will notice they have a common thread running through them: self-pity. The devil puts thoughts in our minds to make us feel sorry for ourselves and resent the people who have what we are convinced we can never have.

Self-pity is a destructive and negative emotion. It blinds us to our blessings and the possibilities before us—which means it steals our hope for both today and tomorrow. People who pity themselves think: Why should I try to do anything? I’ll just fail.

I used to love to sit and drink my coffee, feeling sorry for myself and thinking about how mistreated I was. But I finally realized that my self-pity is actually idolatry because it is self-focus carried to the extreme. When I allow myself to fall into self-pity, I am essentially rejecting God’s love and His ability to change things for me.

I encourage you to be determined not to waste one more day of your life in self-pity. When you lose hope and begin to feel sorry for yourself, stop right that minute and say:

“I refuse to feel sorry for myself. I may be in a difficult season of life right now, but I will not stop hoping for better things!”

The enemy wants you to be consumed with hopelessness and will tell you all sorts of lies about yourself, your life, other people, and even about God. But you must remember that the devil is a liar. You must not believe anything he says.

God has thoughts and plans for your good, to give you hope for your future (see Jer. 29:11). If you will hold on to your hope and fight for it when the enemy tries to take it away, you will see amazing things take place in your life.

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best-selling author and one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. She has written more than 70 books, including the popular Beauty for Ashes and Battlefield of the Mind, and her most recent, Never Give Up! (all FaithWords). She is also the founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries Inc. and the host of Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. To read past columns in Charisma by Joyce Meyer, log on at charismamag.com/meyer.

Position Yourself for the Future Prophecy by Chuck D. Pierce

'Position Yourself for the Future';

On Sunday, August 16, I heard the Spirit of God say, "Some of you have had the fight knocked out of you. The Spirit of God is bringing a new wind of strength to cause a new fight to rise up in you. The fight has been knocked out of you because you stayed in an atmosphere too long."

Anne Tate began to prophesy: "At this time I am breaking old associations and configurations. ..."
I then heard the Lord say: "Rise up! Let My atmosphere rise up around you and cut the ties necessary so that I can cause you to fight again and be set into a changing wind. I am breaking down the old structure you've been protecting. It is you [who] has been protecting an old structure saying, ‘Remake what I'm comfortable in.' I'm breaking that down.

"Catch the changing wind of My Spirit, for you will land in a new place, in a new dimension of My Spirit. You will say, ‘I see a new land, and I'm leaving the winds from the wilderness.'

"You had expectations in some relationships that you're still trying to work out. I've been contending to cut you loose from those relationships. I am contending over you so that you rise up above the inordinate structure of the enemy that has been placed around you.

"Get ready to rise up, for I am contending, and My sword is the strongest. Raise your sails and catch the wind. You have been in a dry and desolate land. But even though water has not been there for you to move forward, I will send the water if you will raise the sail.

"This is a week to know My presence. This is a time to know My ark and to know what ark you are to enter to journey into your future. I am causing My presence to flood in the land. Raise your sail and watch the glory begin to take you to a new place.

"Don't hesitate. Hesitation is set as a snare to My movement for your life. Let your faith push you and catapult you. When you hear the wind of truth being spoken into a situation, move immediately. You don't want to miss the boat. You don't want to miss your proper alignment.

"Don't hesitate. Delay is set as a trap. The word is critical in this hour. The intensity that is behind the word is pushing you forward at speeds and levels that we know not of, so don't hesitate and don't fall for the trap.
"Within the sands of your desert, there is a highway. But in the sands of your desert you have grown accustomed to the atmosphere and the sherakah wind that has been around you. In the sands of your desert, create a new atmosphere and I will cause that highway that is down deep to rise up.

"For there are ways of escape for My people in this next season. There are ways of escape that are forming, but you must create the wind that causes the highway to rise in front of you.

"I am laying the road. I am laying a road. Watch it form now. Go with Me on this new road, for you are headed into a place that you have not been. You must bring forth the wind and create the road so that you can end up where I have called you to be—new businesses, new alignments, new assignments.

"I'm having you return to some business associates [whom] you separated from and chose to walk a different direction from in this past season. Even now you will go back and reform a new way to venture forward. New ventures are on the horizon for My people.

"You must now grab hold and get on a highway that sets you ahead of the curve. You will go back and re-form a plan with them, [just as] Paul went back and got John Mark. These relationships will no longer be the same but will be brought under a new covenant plan. They were once in an old structure but now will be brought into a new structure. If those relationships are unwilling to come into a new structure, move on down the road for there are new relationships that will create this new venture.

"I will give some opportunities that did not manifest in the past season, [but] now they will have an opportunity for a manifestation in this season. The ventures of My people now will take a shift in their formation. Realign and then align again so that those ventures might manifest properly!"

About the author: Chuck D. Pierce is the president of Glory of Zion Ministries International in Denton, Texas (gloryofzion.org). He is known for his accurate prophetic gifting and has been used by God to mobilize prayer throughout the world. Pierce is also the author of many books, including his two most recent, Interpreting the Times and Redeeming the Time (both Charisma House).

THE LIBERATION MANDATE VALIDATED

THE LIBERATION MANDATE VALIDATED

The nation of Liberia witnessed a spiritual tornado, as Bishop David Oyedepo, the apostle of faith invaded the city of Monrovia, Liberia from the 20th-22nd, July, 2009, with over 14,000 people giving their lives to Christ in a 2-day outreach and over 31,000 people jammed into a 20,000 capacity stadium. Among others a blind woman regained her sight while the praise and worship was going on. To God be all the glory.

However, the following outstanding testimony was captured in the National Chronicle of Friday July 24, 2009, a national Newspaper in Monrovia, Liberia.

“QUEEN OF SHEBA” FLEES LIBERIA - GOD ONCE MORE TRIUMPHS OVER SATAN The National Chronicle of Friday July 24, 2009 reports of the unceremonious departure of the “Queen of Sheba” from Liberia following the Empowerment Summit and crusade held by a known Nigerian Preacher, President and Founder of Winners’ Chapel International at the ATS and HQ of the church in Liberia.

“Queen of Sheba” is known as the infamous follower of Lucifer and has for the past 46years practiced deep and superior Satanism. The paper reported that the queen has been coroneted with blood on three different occasions in 1995, 2003 and 2007 when she was enthroned as matriarch of the sovereign imperial empress of a special cult called the African Nubian nation.

Her arrival at the invitation of certain groups and traditional leaders in Liberia had raised concern in some Christian quarters but it took the arrival of Bishop David Oyedepo and the thrilling crusade to send the queen of witches hurriedly scuttling out of Liberia. The Queen of Sheba’s visit was planned to last for an extended period of time but her sudden departure has raised eyebrows and left people wondering as to what must have hit her.

The Bishop made a declaration in one of the evening crusade “cast the devil out of Liberia for prosperity”, and the next day the so-called “Queen of Sheba” left the country without the fanfare that attended her arrival. She was lodging in the hotel where the Bishop was lodging in and immediately the Bishop step on the hotel ground, the “Queen of Sheba” immediately packed out of the hotel without the hotel authorities knowing, on her way to the airport.

Most leaders of the Pentecostal Movement in Liberia are full of praises to God for this triumph over Satan. Bishop Dortus Doe of the Deliverance Life Ministry Arena was one of the leaders of the Church in Liberia who could not hide his delight about the news of the departure of this blood-thirsty sorceress.

It is interesting that a late surge of crowd arrived at the ATS on the evening of Wednesday 22nd July 2009 to attend the empowerment summit not knowing that the programme ended Wednesday morning and there was no Evening Session that day. Thank God for victory over Satan once again. To God be all the glory!

The Cost Question By Dr. John C. Maxwell

Want to Live the Dream? Pay the Price.

Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when - POW! - THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it's the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it's the adorable dress that's exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features.

Whatever the case, there's an initial moment when you're enamored with THE product. For a split second reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.

The Dream Is Free, but the Journey Isn't

When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As my friend Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?

If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don't fall into our laps by accident or good fortunate. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.

The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think

Dreams can't be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn't an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment.

I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don't realize how quickly the costs come. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.

The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect

All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, "Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated." The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.

Having done a good deal of travel, I've learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately access the costs upfront. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full costs won't be apparent until we're already on the journey.

The Price Must Be Paid More Than Once

As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.

Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so to a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up to go up.

Let's face it: dreams don't work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won't get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.

It Is Possible To Pay Too Much for Your Dream

Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don't mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I've seen it happen all too often. I've watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience - all in the name of a "dream."

As Jesus of Nazareth once said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?" Some prices aren't worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.

ABOUT

John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 16 million books. EQUIP, the organization he founded has trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and audiences as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and ambassadors at the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell was named the World's Top Leadership Guru by Leadershipgurus.net. He was also one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame. Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leaderhave each sold over a million copies

America's Best Colleges

College rankings are based on five criteria:

a. graduation rate (how good a college is at helping its students finish on time);

b. the number of national and global awards won by students and faculty;

c. students' satisfaction with their instructors;

d. average debt upon graduation; and

e. postgraduate vocational success as measured by a recent graduate's average salary and alumni achievement.

Rank	Name	State	Cost	Freshman Class Size
1	United States Military Academy	NY	0	1,263
2	Princeton University	NJ	49,830	1,243
3	California Institute of Technology	CA	48,990	236
4	Williams College	MA	49,530	540
5	Harvard University	MA	50,250	1,666
6	Wellesley College	MA	50,026	596
7	United States Air Force Academy	CO	0	1,286
8	Amherst College	MA	50,230	439
9	Yale University	CT	51,400	1,318
10	Stanford University	CA	51,760	1,703
11	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	MA	50,100	1,048
12	Swarthmore College	PA	50,381	372
13	Columbia University	NY	51,406	1,356
14	Centre College	KY	39,200	336
15	Haverford College	PA	51,637	327
16	Boston College	MA	52,060	2,167
17	Northwestern University	IL	52,120	2,078
18	Bowdoin College	ME	50,570	488
19	Vassar College	NY	51,370	638
20	Whitman College	WA	46,212	401
21	University of Chicago	IL	53,310	1,306
22	Kenyon College	OH	49,260	456
23	Carleton College	MN	50,000	489
24	Colby College	ME	50,120	482
25	Middlebury College	VT	52,460	576

Rank	Name	State	Cost	Freshman Class Size
26	Union College	NY	50,060	580
27	Claremont McKenna College	CA	50,990	320
28	Pomona College	CA	49,745	382
29	Colgate University	NY	51,090	738
30	United States Naval Academy	MD	1,000	1,232
31	Smith College	MA	50,588	643
32	Wabash College	IN	37,750	253
33	Harvey Mudd College	CA	50,073	202
34	Washington and Lee University	VA	49,268	454
35	Bryn Mawr College	PA	50,060	366
36	Franklin and Marshall College	PA	50,100	588
37	Wesleyan University	CT	51,935	715
38	Brandeis University	MA	50,148	754
39	Tufts University	MA	51,400	1,297
40	Barnard College	NY	51,976	567
41	Lawrence University	WI	42,301	382
42	DePauw University	IN	42,175	600
43	Rice University	TX	43,586	789
44	Reed College	OR	49,960	330
45	Washington University, St. Louis	MO	52,464	1,426
46	Bucknell University	PA	50,250	957
47	Mount Holyoke College	MA	51,516	518
48	College of William and Mary	VA	20,806	1,387
49	Hamilton College	NY	50,210	462
50	University of Notre Dame	IN	49,030	2,000