YOUR PERFECT PLACE
If there is one place I would rather be with the Lord, it is that place that no one else but me and the Lord can go, and it is in that place the Lord wants to meet with everyone. It is a place where the Lord meets with me quite often, and it is that one place where the devil doesn't want you to go. It is that place that most people don't know exists in the way God wants us all to see, and experience it in our daily lives. YOUR PERFECT PLACE! That place where God knew you before you were born. That perfect place where Jesus was, and still is - that God gave the FIRST prophecy ever written in the Bible. A PLACE WHERE SATAN CAN NOT GO! - Because it's PERFECT! - And everything that is there is perfect. You were there once. IN GOD’S HEART, AND MIND! - And God wants you to come back. You may not remember that place, but it's there, and always has been there. That place that God spoke into existence - where you were conceived in his thoughts - not conceived in this realm, but God brought it into existence when He spoke it. He gave you the breath of life when you were conceived. God gave it to you, to come back to Him through Jesus.
REVEALED TO ME
God showed me this place one day when I was leaving church one day. I was almost out the door of the main sanctuary when God said "Tricia turn around!" So I did! When I turned around I saw a woman. She looked like me, but I didn't recognize her as me. I said to God "Who is she Lord?" He said "She is you!" I said "Lord! That's me? She is so confident - She is so strong, and victorious - like a warrior! She looks PERFECT Lord!" God told me "That is you - PERFECT! That is how I see you, and that is how I created you before you were born in this realm. She is who you are today. But, you have to accept her! You have to grow in me."
I didn't want to take my eyes off of her - or me. I didn't want to forget her - or me, and God didn't want me to forget me either. I haven't - I will never forget her, or me, because that is who I am in God's eyes - that is who I will be in my eyes. No matter what I am feeling - no matter what I am going through, I will always KNOW, BELIEVE, AND BE WHO I AM IN GOD'S EYES! That is what God wants for you too! Don't you want to see in yourself everything you ever believed you can be? (PROVERBS 23:7 - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:...) Well - you can, because that IS who God created you to be. That is who God wants you to see in you. See you through God’s eyes.
DWELLETH AND ABIDETH
My favorite book in the Bible is the book of Psalms. My favorite chapter, and verses are:
(Psalms 91: 1-2 and 4.) 1) He that dwelleth in the SECRET place of the most High shall abideth under the shadow of the Almighty.
2) I WILL SAY of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
4) He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield, and buckler.
THIS IS THAT PLACE WHERE I STAY! That perfect place, where God knew me, and knows me. No matter how bad I feel - no matter how defeated I feel - no matter how SICK I FEEL in my stomach - I STAY IN THIS PLACE! - Even if I don't feel like I'm in this place - I KNOW I AM IN THIS PLACE! I know even when I feel defeated - I AM VICTORIOUS! - Because this is where God, and I are together, 24 hours a day - seven days a week.
If I stumble, and fall - I am still in that place. God will never leave me nor forsake me. (JOHN 10:28 - And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) God reaches out His hand to me - I get back up, and I hold on tight. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. I am not alone - I AM HOME. In God's eyes I am victorious - In God's eyes there is nothing but victory. GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME! ALWAYS! WOW!
TOTAL SURRENDER
If you are an addict, or you have an addictive personality that doesn't mean you can't totally surrender to the Lord. What it does mean is that you have to get to that point where you are so sick, and tired of living the life where you are a slave to your addictions. Then get to the point where you want to totally surrender to the Lord. YOU HAVE TO DO BOTH! Get to that point, and totally surrender. It's inevitable that you do get to that point. It's not God's will for you to suffer with addiction. He created you to be victorious, and free from your addictions. It was NEVER His will! You have to get to the point that you recognize who God created you to be. You need to see you. See who God sees you as. And - know, that if God sees you victorious, then it’s God’s will for you to be victorious.
YOU HAVE TO SEE IT - BELIEVE IT - AND KNOW IT!
You've held on to your addictions very strongly by your body's chemical need, or inherited genes. Now you have to let the Holy Ghost take your spirit back home to Him to have victory. You have to let the Holy Ghost take you back to that place where you were before you were born in this realm, -- so you can have total, and permanent victory. Then the Holy Ghost will bring that place back to this realm. So you, and God are in the same place in His realm, and in this realm. That place where you will have total peace, and strength. HIS STRENGTH - HIS WILL IS HISTORY AND YOUR STRENGTH, AND YOUR FUTURE! That place is in your heart! You have to bring them together. Jesus - and your spirit in the same place, and time together. WOW! Talk about time travel!
MAKE THAT CONNECTION
If you are a Christian struggling with addiction, then you have already started on your journey. But, there might be some doors you need to close, and some steps you need to take to help with your victory. I've listed below all the doors I closed, and steps I took that helped me. Hopefully this message will bless you the same way God blessed me with it. I was born in 1956. I found my way home (got saved, asked Jesus into my heart) in 1976. I was 20 years old. I never looked back. It's been 40 years sober from alcohol, and clean from drugs. Escaping that life got me away from the people that were abusing me too! I never looked back until now, because God wants me to share my victories with you.
If you are not a Cristian - have not asked Jesus into your heart - accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. THAT TIME IS NOW! That special place in time before you were conceived - that special time in history - that special place in your future is all in the same place. This is your life we are talking about. This is your soul we are talking about. Nothing you have tried has worked. You are at a crossroad! Jesus is the way for you to have a do-over! To ask for forgiveness - to change the mistakes you are making, to get rid of the physical pain, and emotional pain you are experiencing, to begin your healing. To make your life new.
DOORS TO CLOSE - AND STEPS TO FOLLOW
It's not going to be easy! But, with Jesus in your heart, and you letting Him direct your path it will be 100% clearer, and easier. However, there are some doors you have to close, and some steps that are very important, and practical so you can have victory, and stay victorious. These are the very doors I closed, and steps I used right after I found my way home. I will also give you some scriptures I used to stand on too!
(I Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.)
Before I was able to make any decisive changes in my life (other than the changes that Jesus miraculously did in my life) that would be permanent, I had to close some doors, and keep them shut to avoid temptation. I locked those doors, and threw away the key.
I closed every door that had a temptation of anything I was trying to overcome behind it.
I didn't go looking for temptation either.
That means, I had to stay away from people, and locations that I used to hang-out with, or hang-out at. If there was anything that reminded me of what I used to be, then I stayed away from that place, or thought.
THE ONLY DOOR TO OPEN
(Revelation 3:20 - Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.)
How do I open this door? I stay in God’s word. I pray, and have fellowship with true believers of Christ. Not Christians that will lead you into temptation. They are committed to Christ with their whole life.
STEPS TO TAKE
(James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.)
This may sound repetitive - but, If you want to be victorious, and stay victorious then you have to unfortunately say goodbye to anyone - everyone, that is doing the things that you are trying to resist, or overcome. I stopped going to the bars, I stopped hanging out with friends that wanted to do drugs, or other drug addicts, or other drug dealers - I stopped selling drugs. You can't expect not to be tempted, or to be able to resist temptation if you are still surrounding yourself with all the things that you are trying to resist!
Surround yourself with a strong support system. Whether it is a church, AA support group, NA support group, AL Anon support group, or Al lateen support group.
Read your Bible daily
Pray daily.
A FINAL NOTE
PUT ON
THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD
EPHESIANS 6:10-8:
10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Do every bit of what is in those scriptures - THEN HAVING TO DONE ALL,
TO STAND. There is no other way to say it. Having to do everything to stand!
Are you at that point in your life? Are you ready to surrender to the Lord? Now is that time to be victorious - to be a warrior for your own life. YOU CAN DO IT. Trust me. If I can do it - you can do it. Jesus will be with you every step of the way. I know you don't want to do this battle alone. I know this, because I've been there. Don't do it alone. Do it with Jesus.
