A Prayer for Wisdom

So give Your  servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your  people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Your s?" 1 Kings 3:9Amplified Bible (AMP)

Father Lord God You said in Your  word that if anyone lacks wisdom let them ask for it.  You said in Your  word that wisdom comes from You and begins with a reverential fear of You.  Lord in and of myself I lack wisdom.  I cannot do that which You would have me to do in my own strength.  I need you.  I am asking for wisdom and I know that You are well able and willing to grant it to me. 

You said seek and I shall find.  I am seeking out wisdom in the place of prayer, in Your  holy word, by Your  spirit and through divine connections and destiny helpers.  You said ask and it shall be given.  I am asking You to reveal truth, illuminate understanding and inspire godly action. I'm asking you to empower me to walk in holiness and righteousness  in reverential fear so that I may uncompromisingly obey You. You said knock and it shall be opened unto me.  I am standing at the door that leads to wisdom, knowledge and understanding and I am asking You to open it up unto me so that I may receive the treasures of wisdom. Thank You for opening doors no man can close and closing doors no man can open.

There is a great cloud of witnesses that have gone before me.  You have used men and women of god mightily by granting them wisdom.  You are no respecter of man.  You gave my ancestors wisdom.  You gave my Elder Brother Who is my Lord and Savior wisdom.  I stand on His shoulders.  I believe that when You look at me You see Your  only begotten Son.   Grant me wisdom through the anointing of His Holy Ghost.

I am but a child.  You said suffer the little children to come unto me.  I humbly come before You as a child.  I don't know what to say, what to do, where to go and with whom without Your guidance.  I am Your  daughter crying out and seeking Your  face for wisdom.  Lord often times the children of the world are more savvy  than Your children in many ways.  Often times they know more so than we do how to navigate the world systems proficiently to achieve their goals. We have a head knowledge of Your word, but lack understanding hearts and wisdom to apply it. Father cause me to  remain humble as a dove and yet be wise as a serpent.  Teach me to work the word. Teach me to walk it out in my daily life.

I thank You for saving me, anointing me, placing Your  spirit within me and teaching me how to navigate through the spirit realm.  Let Your  will be done in earth as it is in heaven.  I know that I am not of this world but since I am in it dear Lord grant me the grace to navigate through world systems with good success.  Give me wisdom to prosper in every area of my life.  Father God grant me the grace to lead, manage, and administer effectively at home, work, in the community, in the kingdom and all of my spheres of influence.

Dear Lord help me by Your  Spirit to choose between good and evil, light and darkness, that which is of You and that which is not, that which causes me to bear Your fruit and that which causes death and barrenness.  Lord I thank You for granting me the divine ability to lead, make right decisions and navigate skillfully through life.  In Jesus' name I pray, have great expectations, shall receive, rejoice and give thanks.  Amen.

(c) 2016 Lynderia "Lyn" S. Cheevers.  All rights reserved.

Receiving Feedback and Constructive Criticism

Prov 15:32 says "He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself, But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom]."  Feedback and constructive criticism can be forms of instruction or rebuke. Corporate America and individual high-performers in secular organizations and systems welcome feedback- good or bad, because it makes them better at what they do. Is feedback welcome in the Kingdom? Do we really want to know what visitors think about our ministry and the services we provide in the Kingdom? Do individual Believers welcome feeback?

Can we receive feedback , pray about it, eat the meat (examine it for merit and prayerfully make necessary adjustments) and spit out the bones? Of course we're not man pleasers. We're helpers one to another. We provoke each other unto righteousness. Iron sharpens iron just as one man sharpens another. God uses foolish things to confound the wise.

There may be some merit in complaints, criticism, and feedback. We shouldn't kill the messenger with our words and thoughts. We shouldn't  attempt to murder their character because they lovingly shared criticisms with us directly without gossiping about it behind our backs and sharing it with others. They honored the word which says "touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm." Now we must do the same.  Corporate America and high- performing individuals in secular matters  see the value of feedback. Why don't church folk see its value?  It's time out on  the children of this world being  wiser than the children of light.

Welcome feedback. Prayerfully consider its merit. Make necessary adjustments. Live together with your sisters and brothers in Christ in love, harmony and peace even after they share negative feedback. These are essential elements of operating and flowing  in an excellent spirit. Shalom!

The Banner of Malice

The Confederate flag definitely should not fly over government buildings  (federal, state, or local) because it is a symbol of treason. The only public/state owned  spaces we should find this flag are  museums, Confederate Memorials, and other historic sites. Even though I'm offended when I see it, what businesses and private citizens choose to do is their prerogative. It let's me know where they stand. I have a right to choose whether or not to patronize those businesses or associate with those individuals who fly this flag.

Personally I think those who choose to fly the Confederate flag are selfish, insensitive, and lack regard for the suffering and pain of others. I'd never display a Swastika (sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism which means good fortune). Why? Because  I'm a Believer  and I empathize with Jews. The meaning of the Swastika was marred by Hitler. A symbol of good luck became a symbol of evil. 

Regardless of what the Confederate flag means or meant  to some it was used as a calling card at burnings and lynching. It was used as a calling card of those who terrorized my ancestors.  Your precious symbol of "southern pride" was marred by bloody, murderous, hateful, evil human beings who quartered people (took a living man/ woman, tied each limb to a horse and sent the horses in four directions), raped women and children, castrated men, desecrated dead bodies of those they murdered, etc. They left this flag to take ownership of their actions. Just as most terrorists leave their  paraphernalia and symbols today. I get sick to my stomach thinking about this- not because I'm black but because I'm a Believer and lover of humanity.

And finally, removing the flag doesn't change hearts and minds. Those who love this flag so much even after it was marred and became a symbol of evil and who claim to be Christian should sincerely pray a simple prayer- "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my thoughts. See if there is any pride, hatred, and  bigotry in me, and lead me in the way everlasting that I may seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you God and all my sisters and brothers in Christ regardless of their  race, ethnicity or national origin. In Jesus ' name. Amen." Shalom.

Keys to Success

I remember working with a grassroots environmental justice organization in my early twenties to organize a national environmental health summit.  I interacted with tribal governments and seasoned, national and international leaders in the EJ movement.  The summit was successful.  We were instrumental in laying the foundation for guidance on how the government engages with economically disadvantaged populations, people of color, and disenfranchised communities on matters of environmental health.

Fast forward a decade later- I remember failing BIG TIME in a local organization serving a much smaller population.  What made the difference?  One would think we get better with time- right?  Not necessarily.  Age and experience is only an advantage if we gain WISDOM along the way.  We must be knowledgeable and technically proficient.  However, knowing is not enough.  We must know how to apply knowledge.  We must know how to skillfully navigate through life knowing what to say, when, to whom, and how.  We must know what to do, when and how.  This is called WISDOM.  WISDOM doesn't come with years.  WISDOM comes from God.  WISDOM begins with a reverential fear of God.  WISDOM is the principal thing required for success.  Therefore, passionately pursue God for WISDOM.

Being at the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right thing, with the right attitude is critical to success.  Ask to be properly positioned in your spiritual Goshen.  Even Jesus Christ of Nazareth didn't perform as many miracles in certain places because of the naysayers and haters.  I don't care how gifted and talented you are, if you are not at the right place with the right people as ordained by God you will be stifled.  Being properly positioned allows you to soar.    You will be blessed in your spiritual Goshen even when all hell is breaking out around you.  You will only see the reward of the wicked but no death, disease, destruction, calamity, chaos, or confusion will come near you.

Humility is critical to success.  In my early twenties, I was enamored with the leaders who had been on the front lines of the EJ movement.  I respected them.  I was humbled by them.  I wanted to glean knowledge from them about community activism and organizing.  I was never presumptuous and took nothing for granted.  I was a sponge soaking up everything.  I was teachable.  A decade later I focused on the character flaws of leadership instead of focusing on the competencies they'd mastered  which had facilitated their success.

David knew that Saul was a flawed leader but  David  humbled himself and still respected Saul in his role as king. Because I focused on the flaws of the leaders I was not open to receive that which they could impart into me to facilitate my professional growth and development. I wasn't open. I was rigid,  prideful, and inflexible. Pride comes before destruction.  Pray.  Ask God for a meek and humble spirit and the ability to see every experience as a teachable moment.  God exhalts the humble.

And then there is the anointing!  Anointing is the divine enablement from God to use the gifts and talents He has given you in a manner which brings glory to Him.  Olive oil is often used during anointing services.  Olive oil is produced by pressing olives.  You are gifted and talented.  You will bear much fruit.  You will be pruned so that you bear even more fruit AND you will be pressed!  This is what releases the anointing.  Remember you will go through the waters and not be swept away or overtaken.  You will go through the fire and not be burned.  You will come out as pure gold.  You are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  Somebody ought to stop and shout right there!!!  Remember it is the pressing baby which releases the anointing. 

I am often approached by men and women of God who "see" in the spirit realm and they comment on God's anointing upon my life.  Because they are men and women of God they understand what this means.  They understand how this was released.  Others around smile and nod in a very religious manner.  But true men and women of God and those with understanding of things of the Spirit "know" about the sleepless nights, soggy pillows drenched with tears, wayward child, delayed promise, rejection, loss, seasons of prolonged fasts and mourning, thorn in the flesh, and well just the PRESSing.  But still I rise!!   Hallelujah!!  So press on toward the mark even during the pressing and trying times.  Don't grow weary in your well-doing. Surround yourself with coaches and cheerleaders.  Iron sharpens iron.  Pray for divine connections and perseverance to press on my beloved.

These are SOME of the keys to success! A large door has been set before you AND there are many adversaries present.  But if you use these keys to success- wisdom, positioning, humility, and the anointing  you will overcome, enter through the door of success and be promoted in this season.

Shalom!

Dr. Lyn

Prophetic Declarations for September 2014

I decree and declare the love, joy and peace of God will overtake and consume each and every Believer reading this like never before. You are perfected in the love of God.  All fear is cast out. The joy of the Lord is your strength. I speak the Shalom of God into your life.  Your shield of faith is being made stronger to quench every fiery dart of the enemy.  No weapon formed against you shall prosper.  I declare a cease fire in your life.  I call you into a state of peace.

I call forth prosperity into your life and declare that God will shower you with such an abundance of His favor that even the enemy will have to acknowledge it in Jesus’ name. Every area of your life is coming into alignment and harmony with the purpose and plans of God for your life.
I speak completeness and wholeness in your life.  Nothing is missing.  The Lord will not withhold any good thing from you.
For those seeking church homes, spouses, ministry partners, and business partners I decree and declare God will divinely connect you with destiny helpers.  God sets the solitary in families.

I speak health, welfare and well-being into every  area of your life.  I speak health into your prayer life, word life, your walk with God, your relationships, ministries, businesses, your bodies and your finances.I call you into a spiritual Goshen- a place of rest and blessedness.  The favor of the Lord is upon you.  God will raise up people to pour into your life and bless you.  I speak soundness into your life.  I speak soundness into your walk with God.  No more will you be up today and down tomorrow; here one minute and there the next. The spirit of double-mindedness and unbelief is cast out of your life. I speak soundness into your mind and emotions.  

I speak soundness into your marriages, into your businesses, your careers, your health and every area of your life.Tranquility, fullness, rest, and a state of calm without anxiety or stress is your portion. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

A Year of Jubilee

 I pay tithes and give offerings at my home church. I sow seeds there and other places as led by God.  During crossover worship service New Year's Eve I was led to sow a multiple of 50. I did so out of obedience not remembering at the time that 50 is the number of Jubilee. It wasn't until mid January that I made the connection and received revelation. This is MY year of Jubilee AND this is the year of Jubilee for the remnant of God's people. It has been an awesome year. I'm expecting even greater! You too should expect greater. I trust that we will not be cut off from our expectations. Here are seven (number of completion) promises of Jubilee: Liberty (Lev 25:10), Possessions, (Leviticus 25:13), Family Restoration, (Leviticus 25:10), Increase (Leviticus 25:12), Freedom from Oppression (Leviticus 25:14), Safety (Leviticus 25:18), and Triple Blessings (Leviticus 25:21). Expect to receive an unprecedented outpouring of these blessings in the final five (number of grace- unmerited favor) months of 2014 (7 x 2).

The Devil Didn't Make You Do It!

I am completing this week's Sunday school lesson during my lunch break. Q:How would you define temptation? My response: Opportunities to do sinful things the unregenerated part of one's being wants to do. Scriptural reference: James 1:13-15 "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." My Prayer: Father I praise You for You are Great and greatly to be praised.  I thank You for Your tender mercies and loving kindness.  See me through the blood of the Lamb. Forgive me for the many sins I commit daily. Hear my prayer. Father give me the mind of Christ. Draw me nearer to You. Give me a heart of flesh. Cause the desires of my heart to align with Your word, will and way. Lead me not into temptation,  but deliver me from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. In Jesus' mighty, matchless and majestic name. Amen.