Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 AMP

The Path. God has created us for fruitfulness—for specific achievements. To accomplish all that God has planned, it’s essential that we embrace His sustaining power and dedicate ourselves to a lifetime of daily renewal.

“Jesus knew where he had come from, why he was here, and what he was supposed to accomplish. He came down from heaven not to do his own will, but the will of the Father. That determination controlled every decision he made. As a result, he was not distracted with trivia. He was never in a hurry, for he knew his Father would not give a task without the time to do it.” —Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor, teacher, and author

Singular Focus. Jesus’ main interest was doing God’s will. He was driven with the purpose of fulfilling the call. Every day, make it your aim to connect with God and learn His will. Love Him. Draw close to Him. Start your day with prayer. Read a devotional. Spend time confessing God’s Word.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Devote Yourself. Modern culture may be addicted to the rush of the start, but the middle and the end are very important too (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Cultivate biblical expectation. God has breakthrough for you on the other side of those ordeals and blockages. The Scriptures tell us that the righteous have afflictions, but God will deliver us out of them all (Psalm 34:19). Make it your goal to continue long enough to see God bring the deliverance!

Press on,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2013 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:22-23

Get wise. God wants to use you as an ambassador who is so filled with love, so aware, and so confident of eternal life that you feel desperate to get this information to the people around you so that they too can experience forgiveness and not go to hell.

He who is wise wins souls. Proverbs 11:30b

Be filled with love. Imagine how grateful you’d be if you fell in the middle of traffic and a giant bus was bearing down on you and suddenly somebody threw you out of the way – and then that person was hit and perished. At first, you would probably feel guilty and undeserving, but then you would be so grateful. Jesus did that for us. The Rescuer came on the scene and took death and sin so we could be free. Now we are called to win souls.

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 15:13.

Be aware. We’ve been given a mission, but the devil uses worries and cares to get us so bogged down that we can’t see the amazing opportunities around us (Mark 4:18-20). We’ve all had days that were sabotaged by worry, but let’s refuse to let the devil have any more. Keep your eyes forward. Focus on what God has already done in you. Speak the Scriptures out of your mouth—God’s Word is imperishable and enduring.

Get confident. God wants to help you prioritize, and He wants to deliver you from temptation so you can fulfill your purpose. He wants to help you be bold and talk to people about Jesus. You hold the key to other people’s breakthrough. As you develop a sensitivity and receptivity to the Holy Spirit, you’ll be used to change the entire course of someone’s life.

God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

Remember your past breakthroughs. Learn to count your blessings. Remembering former breakthroughs will help to carry you through current challenges. Before he faced Goliath, David told Saul, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).

Here’s a good way to recall praiseworthy things in your life. Write down three instances of deliverance, breakthrough, or victory that you can thank God for. It could be something from your distant past, something that happened just this morning, or even something that wouldn’t seem like a big deal to others but is significant to you.

Daily reinstate your relationship with Jesus. These principles of praise and worship are rooted in who Jesus is. Receiving Jesus is not a religious ritual—you get a new life! And if that were not enough, there are a lot of other things that we can thank God for: how He pulled us out of despair or depression, how He was with us in trouble, how He never left us even when we failed, how He has saved us and given us the security of eternal life. Rejoice in the God of your salvation, and take time to acknowledge Jesus in your daily life.

Dare to be wild. You were not born to be a plastic house plant. You were created to make a difference in this world, to achieve great things, and to be more than a conqueror. When circumstances get rough, when kids get weird, or when finances are squeezed—call upon the Lord and get radical. If you see a need, give. Serve, love, believe God to go through that door. Daily thank God for what He has done! Life is an adventure, and you are called to live it.

                  “Get your motor running. Head out on the highway.
                 Looking for adventure and whatever comes our way.”
                             Steppenwolf—Born to Be Wild

Thank God for all He has done!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1, 4

Your thought life doesn’t have to be worn down by a bunch of fear. God said that He would keep us in perfect peace when our minds are set on Him (Isaiah 26:3). God has designed praise and worship as powerful tools to help us obtain breakthrough and freedom.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Apathy is a hindrance. We have to offset the voice that says there is no help for you in God with the voice that proclaims how faithful He is. Be deliberate and choose to enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise, which are the opposite of ingratitude and backing off.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

Fear is an enemy. Fear will try to seize you, disrupt your creativity, and make you so worried that you don’t walk through the door of what God has designed for you. But God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). As you draw close to God through praise and worship and meditate on His faithfulness, you will begin to understand God’s perfect love—and fear will have no room to stay.

They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5

God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

There is a spiritual battle going on all around us all the time, but we have weapons that are divinely powerful. Some of you are in battles where it feels like things are out of control. What are you going to do? Get your eyes on Jesus. Hold on to Him, cry out to Him, and trust Him. Whatever your situation, God is reaching into your struggle with answers, and His hand is filled with abundance.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Praise and worship are the opposite of worrying and complaining, the opposite of introspection and too much self-analysis. Worshiping God shifts our attention away from ourselves—away from guilt, shame, condemnation, temptation, distraction, and the allurement of other things—and gets us smack dab onto what matters most: knowing the Creator. When we honor God with praise, it sets up an atmosphere that invites the miraculous.

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Ephesians 6:13 AMP

Praise and worship will help you stay receptive and ready to be led by the Holy Spirit—not just once in a while, but every day. God wants to use you until your last breath. Consider the opportunities around you. There is no greater tribute we can give to God than when, at the end of our lives, we are found praising Him, giving to others, telling the lost about Jesus, praying for people who don’t pray, and being kind in a mean world.

Bless the Lord at all times. Praise Him in the middle of a battle and in the middle of a breakthrough. Praise Him in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Praise Him when you’re happy, praise Him when you’re sad. Sing praises. Shout Praises. Keep His praise continually in your mouth (Psalm 34:1).

God is faithful,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation and The Amplified New Testament copyright 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth. 1 Chronicles 16:8-12

When Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was afraid he sought the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:3). When we see an alarming situation or a terrible circumstance, our minds want to fixate on it instead of turning our attention to seek the Lord. But as we worship God, breakthrough happens. Like He did for the people of Judah, God will set up ambushes against your enemy (2 Chronicles 20:22).

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4, 6-7

What do you do when you feel discouraged? You can choose to wear the spirit of heaviness, or you can throw that off and put on a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3). You may have been bombarded again and again in the same area. Your battle may have intensified exponentially in recent days. But instead of being overcome by your circumstances, you can actually sing, pray, and worship your way to victory.

But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Daniel 11:32b NKJV

Praise and worship remind us how faithful our God is. As you draw near to God, strength comes into your spirit. When you praise and worship God, darkness is pushed back, anxiety dissipates, and things change. Remember: you can face whatever it is you’re dealing with—because the battle is not yours but the Lord’s (2 Chronicles 20:17) and He will bring the breakthrough!

“Praise is the best auxiliary to prayer. He who most bears in mind what has been done for him by God will be most emboldened to ask for fresh gifts from above.” —Henry Melvill

God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2012 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.