The Lord Works ALL Things For Your Good and His Glory

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28)

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Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed week! I am really enjoying summer and am so grateful for warm weather, sunshine, green leaves, and flowers! Thank you, Lord!

This week, I want to remind you that the Lord wants to bless you in every circumstance! When Satan brings an attack, no matter what it is, the Lord is on your side and he cares about everything you are going through. In the bible, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

We can rest assured that we have won the war through Christ, but because of Adam’s sin, we are living in a fallen world. The bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Satan is still running rampant on the earth, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, so we are in a battle against the spiritual realm. Yet, when calamities, accidents, or unexpected events happen, you might hear some people say that it’s “God’s will”. Beloved, it is never God’s will that anyone should suffer and perish. He sent His precious son, Jesus, to the cross so that we could have the righteousness to receive His divine health, blessings, and protection. These calamities are all attacks of the enemy. 

But take heart! No matter what Satan tries to bring your way, the Lord has overcome the world, so He will turn it around for your good and His glory. Did you get demoted or lose your job? The Lord will turn it around for your good. He can open the door to a position with better hours and better pay! Are you dealing with an illness in your body or did you receive a serious diagnosis? The Lord will turn it around for your good. He will completely heal you and make you younger, stronger, and healthier than before! Did you experience a natural disaster or accident in your life? The Lord will turn it around for your good. He will restore lost time and all of your possessions, tenfold! 

Beloved, sometimes things happen that we don’t understand and it’s our first instinct to ask, “Why, God?” I’ve certainly done this. But, asking why, will lead us nowhere. We then start questioning ourselves, our faith, and our obedience. We don’t need to start assigning blame to ourselves or to others. Remember, we live in a fallen world and any bad event was/is not God’s will. He is with us, he is for us and not against us, and he turns around ALL things for the good of those who love him. 

When we go though tough times, it can sometimes feel like God is far away. It can feel like he’s abandoned us, but these are more lies of the enemy. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” When God makes a promise, it is truth. We can stand on the word of God, in faith, and know that he will never leave us or forsake us! Believe it and receive it, in Jesus name. Amen! 

If you are going through a trial, please reach out and let me know how I can pray for you. If you’ve just experienced a breakthrough in your life, please share as well! I would love to hear testimonies about what our Lord has done for you. 

Lord, I pray that all those reading this are covered with protection by the precious blood of Jesus. I pray that blessings chase them down and overtake them! May goodness and mercy follow them all the days of their lives. In Jesus name, Amen! 

Jesus loves you, 

Alexis 

Be Conscious of How Much You’re Loved

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:15)

Happy Saturday, Beloved! I hope you are having a blessed day! Last week was a very busy week (as most of them are) and I was feeling guilty because I didn’t read my bible enough, didn’t listen to many sermons, and didn’t spend enough time with the Lord in prayer. I kept saying, I will get to it, I will get to it, but then I didn’t get to it. I kept pushing Him to the back burner. Then, I was walking one morning and finally said, Lord, I am so sorry I’ve neglected you this week. You must be disappointed. I haven’t shown you much love.

But He said, I want to spend time with you, so that I can lavish my love on you. It’s all so you can be reminded of how much you mean to me, how special you are, and how much I care. I finally realized that the less time I spent with Him each day, the more stressed I became. All my tasks felt overwhelming and each day started and ended with difficulty.

Sometimes, we put spending time with Him on our calendar like it’s one more task that we must do, but it’s actually for our benefit. The more time we spend with Him, the more calm, collected, and at peace we feel. His word reminds us that he is always on our side and even as we go about our daily routines, He is there. Even when we neglect Him, He is there. He sees all of our efforts even when no one else does. He carries us through the valleys and sets us on the mountains. He will never forget us, leave us, or forsake us. It’s not about our love for Him, but about His love for us. Romans 8:37 says, “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing, nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Beloved, the Lord wants you to always be conscious of His love. That is the most important thing you can do each day. Meditate on how much Jesus loves you. Talk to Him, let Him know about your day. If you are struggling, worried, frustrated, tell Him. He cares about it all. Psalm 55:22 says, “Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.”

The Lord wants to be your strength and to carry all your burdens. That is how much He loves you. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28)

Beloved, if you have any prayer requests, please reach out! I would love to hear from you. Until next time, remember that you are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

The Lord’s Protection: Psalm 91

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. ” (Psalm 91: 1-2)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed day! Happy June! For this post, I want to focus on Psalm 91. It speaks about the Lord’s promises for protection and safety. I love to pray this over my children at night and meditate on these verses when I am worried about a difficult situation. Let’s take a look at this chapter, verse by verse.

91:1 – “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The Lord’s shadow is a cover and provides protection from danger. It hides you from your enemies and provides comfort. When you remain in His shadow, you know that the source is close by. He is walking alongside you. When the Israelites were traveling through the desert, it was extremely hot during the day. The Lord always appeared as a pillar of cloud to shade them from the uncomfortable heat. At night, the desert would become very cold. Then, the Lord would appear as a pillar of fire to keep them warm and comforted. God’s people are always cared for and protected.

91:2 – “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” In the ancient world, each city had a stronghold or a fortress. It was packed with food, supplies, and ammunition and was a place the residents could find safety during an attack. They were built to withstand armies and some were inaccurately considered impenetrable. Many fortresses fell and their kingdoms along with it. Only the Lord is our true stronghold and our fortress. One that can never be destroyed or fail to protect us, no matter what attack the devil has planned.

91:3 – “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” I want to highlight the first word, surely. Surely, something that is for sure, for certain. We can absolutely count on the Lord to deliver us from the grasp of anything that is trying to harm us, mentally or physically. He will undoubtedly be there for you, when you call upon him. He never wavers.

91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The Lord often uses a mother hen as an example of how he protects us. In Luke 13:34, he says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” This is the ultimate picture of protection. Chicks are safe from all danger when under their mother’s wings. I’ve even heard stories of barn fires, where healthy chicks were found unharmed, under their mother’s feathers. He wants us to draw near and look to him for help through our difficult times. Also, his truth shall be our shield and buckler. A buckler is a type of shield that is worn on the body, instead of held by hand. This part is saying that his truth can be used as a weapon against our enemies. When Satan comes to you with condemnation, either through self-doubt or the words of others, if you know the truth (that you are loved, forgiven, righteous, and an heir to the kingdom of Heaven) you can use that truth as a weapon against him.

91:5-6 – “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” In this fallen world, the devil works overtime to create dangers at every turn. He is always trying to bring destruction your way, but the Lord says, DO NOT BE AFRAID! You don’t have to worry. No matter what the circumstances are, the Lord is protecting you.

91:7 – “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” This is one of my favorite lines. Do not worry about the evils in the world around you. The devil is running rampant in these end times, but take heart! No matter what new disease, danger, or peril he has created, it will not come near you! Even if 10,000 fall right next to you, you are set apart. You are protected and will not be affected.

91:8-10 – “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” The Lord tells us we will see the wicked get their punishment. He is on our side and will be sure evil-doers will reap what they sow. He also reminds us that no evil will prevail against us and no plague or curse shall come near our houses. The last plague that God sent to Egypt was the Angel of Death and it killed the first born child in each home. But, he told the Israelites to mark their door posts with the blood of a lamb that had been sacrificed. When the Angel saw the blood, it passed over the house because the price had already been paid. Jesus is our sacrificial lamb. As a believer in Christ, our door posts are forever marked by the blood that continually saves us.

91:11-12 – “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” The Lord’s angels are watching over us and he sends them out before us to clear a path. In our daily life, we can’t see everything ahead of us. We can’t anticipate all the possible, future dangers or mistakes we will make, but the Lord can and he does. If we are walking towards a stone and don’t see it, he’s given his angels the task of lifting us up, so that they carry us over the stone before we get hurt. The Lord designed us, so of course he knows that we are “only human”. We are not perfect, but we don’t have to be. He is perfect and goes before us to prepare the way and also watches our back as our rear guard. He wants to protect us from dashing our foot against a stone, so how much more will he protect us in times of peril.

91:13 – “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet.” The Lord’s people are given the power to conquer their foes, even the most difficult ones. The lion is often referred to in the bible as the most powerful animal. In Proverbs 30:29, it says, “There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk: a lion, mighty among the beasts, and refusing to retreat before anything.” In Judges 14:18, it says, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” The bible also calls the serpent, the most cunning animal. In Genesis 3:1, it says, “Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made.” The bible uses these animals to specifically illustrate that no matter how much bigger, more powerful, more clever or cunning your enemy is, you will march upon them victoriously. They will be defeated.

91:14 -16 – “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” The Lord provides us with seven (which is the number of perfection in the bible) powerful promises in these verses. Beloved, the Lord is speaking to you.

  1. I will deliver you.
  2. I will set you on high.
  3. I will answer you.
  4. I will be with you in trouble.
  5. I will honor you.
  6. I will satisfy you with long life.
  7. I will shew you my salvation.

The Lord promises that he will come through in all the ways mentioned in this chapter and more! He is all that you need, even when it seems like the odds are stacked against you. Trust in the Lord. He will never forsake you. Amen!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

The Lord Wants You Healed!

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“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” ( 3 John 1:2)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed day! In my last post, I shared with you that the Lord said, 2019 is the year of manifestation. This is the manifestation of things you have been praying for and that includes healing! There are some Christians that believe the Lord brings sickness and disease as a punishment for their sin. There are others that believe the Lord only heals a select few and allows others to continue suffering. Beloved, I am here to tell you that these are all lies and the work of the enemy. God will never, ever punish you with disease, sickness, accidents, or any other tragedy. He will never cause you to suffer physically or mentally. This is all the work of the devil. Jesus calls him a thief and John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” He steals away peace, health, wealth, and wholeness.

But there is good news for those that believe upon our Lord, Jesus! Because of his finished work on the cross, you can walk in health! He bore all of our illnesses and diseases at the cross. You are OWED health! It is your RIGHT to be perfectly whole! Jeremiah 30:17 says, “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD.” Psalm 107:19 says, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destruction.” Jesus stripped the devil of his power on the cross. Though Satan may have once had a leg to stand on, it was cut out from under him at Calvary.

During Jesus’ lifetime, he loved to heal. The bible is full of his healing works. Matthew 8:16 says, “When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.” He healed ALL who were ill and he is still healing ALL today! Beloved, the Lord is always on your side. He will never be against you. He will never leave you or forsake you. “What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31) The Lord gave us his most prized possession and offered Him as a sacrifice, on our behalf. Surely then, he will give us all things! He wants us to reap the benefits of the cross!

You may be wondering, is there anything we have to do to on our end? All we have to do to is receive and believe. Our faith, brings the manifestation of healing. Without faith, it is impossible to please God and impossible to receive healing. Those who Jesus healed, all had one thing in common; they believed that the Lord could and would heal them.

“Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed. Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.” (Matthew 9:20) The woman believed that if she touched the hem of his garment, she would be healed. However, the healing power was not in his garment. It was in him, but the the Lord was pleased by her faith and even said, “your faith has healed you”. Because she believed she would be healed, it was so.

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.” (Matthew 8:5-10, 13) Again, the Lord is pleased by faith. Because the centurion believed that Jesus could just say the word and he would be healed, it was so.

Sadly, Jesus also encountered those that did not believe and he was unable to perform the healing he desired. In his hometown, people were offended by his claims and did not believe he was the Messiah. “And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:57)

Sometimes healing can take time. Keep declaring you are healed and thank God for your healing, even before it manifests. Even when you are feeling faithless, speak what you want to see. Call upon the Lord and ask for his faith to get you through.

Another way to declare your healing is by partaking of the Holy Communion. The Holy Communion is a declaration that you are healed by Jesus’ finished work. It’s a two-part process that declares health for your body and salvation for your soul. Pastor Joseph Prince has an explanation and prayer on his website. I encourage you to check it out. Here is the link: https://www.josephprince.org/blog/articles/the-power-of-the-holy-communion

Beloved, I want to close with a prayer. If you are believing for healing, will you please pray this with me? Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your precious son. I thank you that by his stripes, I am healed. Because of his finished work on the cross, I am the righteousness of God in Christ and deserve to walk free of sickness and disease. Lord, the bible says that as Jesus is, so are we in this world. This means that as Jesus is today in Heaven – completely healthy, young, strong, vibrant, and whole; this is how we are in this world. Thank you for the manifestation of your healing and perfect health forevermore. I believe it and receive it, today. In Jesus name, Amen!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

The Lord Has Declared 2019, the Year of Manifestation

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceedingly great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed May! For a long time, I have been praying diligently for many areas of my life and the Lord spoke to me earlier this year, that 2019 is the year of manifestation! If you have been believing God for something in your life, this is the year it will come to pass! Stay the course and do not lose faith. The Lord asked me to pray differently for the blessings I want in my life. I was saying, “Lord, please bless my business; Lord, please heal my hands; Lord, please provide this opportunity.” However, he showed me that the blessings are already there. They are gathered over us, like water in the clouds, just waiting to be released like rain. So, I started to say, “Lord, I thank you that my hands are healed and that I will see the manifestation of that healing. Lord, I thank you for providing me with a prosperous business and that I will see the manifestation, this year.”

Beloved, the Lord wants us blessed and to enjoy the manifestation of our requests. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” God is a gracious rewarder. He wants to give you everything you are praying for and more! Just keep focused on him and thank him for the blessings you see and the blessings you are hoping for. Many times, it feels like the Lord is moving so slowly. I’ve definitely said, “Lord, what is the hold up? Why are you not answering my prayer? How long must I wait?” Especially, when you have been believing for something for a very long time, it’s easy to be discouraged. But take heart! The Lord is delighted when you keep looking to him for the reward. Don’t rely on self-efforts, which is sometimes difficult. I know that I’ve said, “Okay, if the Lord won’t help me, I will do it myself.” Only to find that it causes me to spin my wheels and never get anywhere. This is not to say we don’t take any action. However, in all that we do, we must trust the Lord and not worry. Worrying, so often hinders our blessing. I know that once I let it go and give it back to God, the Grace begins to flow.

Beloved, keep believing, even when it seems like things are getting worse instead of better. So many times, when my blessing is right on the horizon, Satan has come to me with discouragement. When I start feeling more hopeless than ever, I know to rebuke Satan and get ready for my prayer to be answered. When God answers a prayer, he over-answers. Ephesians 3:20, says that the Lord, “..is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Exceedingly and abundantly above what we ask or think. Are you believing God for a new job? Get ready to be blessed with a career! Are you believing God to be healed from a sickness? Get ready to be healthier than you’ve ever been before! Are you believing God for a baby? Get ready to receive the child of your dreams!

Abram, who became Abraham, was believing God for a child for 25 years. Not only did he receive his blessing, but the Lord answered his request for a child with these words. “Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” (Genesis 15:5) Sometimes, God has to prepare the blessing for us and sometimes, God has to prepare us for the blessing, but his timing is always perfect and in our best interest.

Believe that this will be the best year yet! Once the Lord put in my heart that this year would be the year of manifestation, I started hearing this in other places as well. Other pastors and leaders have said this is going to be the year when God rains down blessings and in particular, the things we’ve been waiting so long to see. Beloved, I know in my heart, 2019 will be a miraculous year. Just remember, you are so loved and that God is your shield and your exceedingly, great reward.

If you need prayer, please reach out. I want to stand in agreement with you for whatever you’ve been believing for! If you’ve already received your blessing, please share! As I’ve mentioned before, I have had severe eczema on my hands and I am so happy to report that my hands haven’t looked this good in nearly two years! Without all the bleeding and swelling, I can even get on my wedding rings again. I am trusting God that they are finally healed, once and for all! I expect to hear and share many more stories like this as the year progresses. Thank you Lord, for your faithfulness! Amen.

Jesus loves you,

Alexis


Jesus’ Victory At Calvary

“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:47)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed week and that you enjoyed your Resurrection Sunday. He is risen! Amen! In my last post, I wrote about how Jesus suffered on the cross and how we benefit from his sacrifice. This week, I want to share the significance of where he was crucified. Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem on a hill called Calvary (Latin) or Golgotha (Hebrew). In both languages, the name means, the place of the skull.

About 1,000 years earlier, a young boy named David, fought against an enemy of Israel. He was a Philistine named Goliath and he taunted the army of Israel for 40 days. The bible says he was over nine feet tall and a Philistine champion. Young David was not even a soldier. He was just bringing food to his brothers that were fighting in the battle. He was a shepherd and with the help of the Lord, used his slingshot to rescue his sheep from lions and bears. When he heard the shouts of Goliath asking for someone to come out and challenge him, he knew that just like he did with the lion and bear, the Lord would keep him safe in this battle. David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you” (1 Samuel 17:37).

David knew the Lord was with him, so he was confident and proclaimed his victory even before the battle. “This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46). Using his slingshot, David killed Goliath using only one stone. Once he was slain, David cut off his head and took it back to Jerusalem. During that time, victors would often decapitate their victims and display their heads on hills for other enemies to see. Goliath’s head was displayed and then buried on Calvary/Golgotha.

In this story, David represents Jesus and Goliath represents Satan. Using a stone, David crushed his enemies’ head, does that sound familiar? In one of my earlier posts I explained how God foreshadowed the virgin birth and the victory over Satan. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: he shall crush your head, and you shall strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Jesus was crucified where the crushed head of Goliath was buried. On that mountain, the Lord’s prophesy came to pass. Satan did strike Jesus’ heel. He suffered and died. However, when Jesus rose from the dead, Satan’s head was forever crushed. Satan could no longer make us slaves to sin, he could no longer keep us away from God.

Beloved, Jesus has given you the victory. Sin has no control over you. Satan has no control over you. As David said, “the battle is the Lord’s” and it has already been won! We have the power to proclaim victory in our lives, over every circumstance! Believe, receive, and speak what you want to see. Thousands of years before Jesus’ birth, the Lord said he would crush Satan’s head. Before the battle even started, David said he would strike down Goliath. Are you fighting a battle in your life today? Are you bogged down by debt, dealing with an illness in your body, or struggling with an issue at work? Beloved, the battle is the Lord’s. All you need to do is proclaim your victory in the name of Jesus, then believe! You will see the manifestation. The Lord will deliver you!

Beloved, Jesus SO loves you and He wants you healthy and prosperous! If you have any prayer requests or questions, please feel free to reach out. I would love to hear from you!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

Jesus’ Death Was Our Gain

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”  (1 Peter 2:24)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed day! I am so glad you’re here. In my last post, I discussed how Jesus’ death ended the separation between Man and God. We can now draw near to God with no fear. We aren’t judged based on our actions, but by the actions of our High Priest.

Jesus’ death also provided us with gifts for soul and body; eternal salvation and perfect health and wholeness. Jesus’ death used to be so hard for me to think about. It was heart-breaking. Every Easter, I was in tears because I had to remember all of the awful pain he endured. So, I tried to block it out. Not to think about it. Then from listening to sermons, including Pastor Joseph Prince, reading the bible, and diligently praying, I started to understand that Jesus’ death on the cross was exactly what he wanted. He knew what he was doing and he did it for me and you. Beloved, do you know that Jesus’ suffering before and at the cross gives you a path to Heaven, but also divine health? “By his stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

When Jesus went to the cross, he suffered immensely. Not only was it very physically brutal, but he also had to take our sin and the results of that sin upon himself, to be our sacrifice. Can you imagine? He who knew no sin. He knew that he was born to die, but became extremely distressed when his hour had come. In Matthew 26:38-40, it says, “Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” To say he wasn’t looking forward to what was ahead, is the understatement of the millennium. He asked the Father to give him a way out; to please provide another way. Nevertheless, he agreed to do the will of God and it was the only way. It was the only way to win back what was lost by Adam’s sin and Jesus was willing to pay the price because he SO loves you.

When the self-righteous Jewish Pharisees called for his crucifixion, the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate asked the crowd, “What evil has he done?” (Matthew 27:23). He did no wrong, committed no crime, and yet agreed to die for us. Before Jesus went to the cross, he was beaten, humiliated, and scourged. Jesus was lashed 39 times with a whip called a cat o’ nine tails. This was a long, leather whip that had many sharp objects woven within. This would include broken pieces of glass and broken animal bones. It was exceptionally good at separating flesh from bone. Tendons, veins, and muscles were exposed. There was hardly a sliver of skin left on his back. This is why Jesus could not carry the cross all the way up to Calvary. “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

That was just the beginning. Death at the cross was a popular method of Roman execution at the time because it was painfully slow. The true cause of death during crucifixion is suffocation. The way the hands were nailed made it very difficult to breathe. Essentially, they were stuck in a way that only exhaling was possible. The legs were nailed in a way where the knees were slightly bent, so to inhale, the person would have to push themselves up and take a breath. Once the Romans became bored or had other business to attend to, they would use a club to break the knees of the person, so that they could no longer lift themselves up to inhale. This caused suffocation and death within half an hour. It was prophesied in the bible that no bones of Jesus would be broken and that came to pass. It was the day of the Passover and the executions had to come to a close, so the Romans got the club and approached Jesus and the two thieves. “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear and immediately, blood and water flowed out” (John 19:33-34). Medical professionals have studied this verse and they say that the only way blood gets mixed with water is if the heart breaks/tears.

His heart had to break, so that ours can be made whole. Every punishment he endured was to give us something better. Just as he received our punishment, we are worthy to receive his reward. The wages of sin is death. Sin is also the cause of disease and suffering. Since Jesus had no sin in him, he deserved perfect health. However, he traded places with us in that divine exchange, so we are now owed perfect health. Once I realized this, I started to meditate on his suffering and saying, Lord, I accept this gift you have given me. I don’t honor you by refusing to acknowledge it. In fact, I dishonor you and I don’t want all your suffering to be in vain. If acknowledging and accepting your suffering and death provides me with health, then I will reflect on it. With every lash he was given, he saw a cure for cancer, for heart disease, for migraine headaches. Since he physically suffered, we no longer have to. We can remember his suffering and declare that by His stripes, we are healed! Amen. Beloved, if you are suffering some illness or disease in your body, remember Jesus’ sacrifice. Declare out loud that you are healed by his scourging and that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. Jesus has provided us with a righteous foundation to stand on.

Even if you have been believing for healing, don’t give up! Even if the condition seems worse, keep believing! Speak what you want to see, not what you see now. That is how God works. In Genesis 1:3, it says, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” He first spoke what he wanted to see and then it became reality. Right now, I am believing for healing of my hands. I have a severe case of eczema that goes from bad to worse, then back to bad, then to worse. It causes many cuts to form between my fingers and on top of my hands. When it’s really bad, washing my hands feels like I am squeezing lemon juice in the wounds. It also looks terrible! Everyone mentions it and I hide them a lot. It’s been very difficult for the last two years, but I am going to keep declaring that by His stripes I am healed. Beloved, I encourage you to do the same! If you have any prayer requests or questions, please feel free to reach out. I would love to hear from you!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

You Are The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed day! As I discussed in my last post, the purpose of Jesus going to the cross was to end the separation between Man and God. Sin separates us from God because of his righteousness and holiness. God cannot be in the presence of sin. It is physically impossible. Sin will be overcome by his holiness and die. The bible says, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When sin occurs, blood must be shed as a payment. During Yom Kippur, the Jewish people would sacrifice unblemished animals and that blood would pay for their sins for one year. They always had a High Priest, who would perform the sacrifice and enter a sacred space in their temple, which was called the Holy of Holies. This is the place where God would physically dwell and only the High Priest was allowed to enter and only once per year.

This area was separated from the main part of the temple by an enormous veil. It was approximately 60 feet high, 20 feet wide, and four inches thick. The High Priest had to follow the sacrificial ritual exactly, in order to pay for the people’s sins and make it out alive. The High Priest’s clothing had bells that would jingle as he moved and the people on the outside would tie a rope around his waist to make sure they could pull him out, should he perish inside. Since they were sinners, they could not go in to get him. They would die in God’s presence. So, as long as the bells were ringing, they knew all was well. God would judge the High Priest based on the ritual he performed and if God accepted him, he also accepted everyone he represented. Everyone would rejoice once he emerged, as they knew they were accepted and forgiven by God for another year.

This was the process until our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, sacrificed himself as a payment for sins, once and for all. God judged and accepted Jesus as our High Priest, so he also accepted everyone he represented. Beloved, that includes me and you! The best part is that the precious blood of Jesus covers our sin forevermore, not just for one year. The exact moment Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:50-51). God himself tore the veil and declared there is no more separation between Man and God! Sin cannot separate us because we are seen as righteous in the eyes of God.

Because of his son’s sacrifice, we are forgiven, we are worthy of all his blessings, and we are joint heirs with Jesus to the Kingdom of Heaven. Beloved, the Lord wants you to draw near to him. He will not judge you based on your actions, as he has already judged your High Priest. No matter what you’ve done, no matter what you will do in the future, you will never lose your righteous standing with God. His son’s sacrifice will always be bigger than your sin or mistakes. Jesus SO loves you and he wants you to take advantage of all the amazing blessings he paid for on the cross, in this life and the next. Beloved, I pray that as you read this blog, you will have a revelation of who Jesus truly is. Please feel free to reach out with prayer requests or questions. I would love to hear from you!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

Jesus’ Finished Work

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

For my first post, I want to start at the beginning. The act of love that destroyed Satan’s plan to separate Man and God. The work that has completely erased all of our sins; past, present, and future. Jesus’ death on the cross. Beloved, the entire bible is about Jesus. He is represented in the stories and foreshadowed even before the virgin birth. In Genesis 3:15, God says to Satan, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: he shall crush your head, and you shall strike his heel.” “He” is Jesus Christ, our savior.

The moment Man fell because of Adam’s sin, God had a plan for restoration. In the verse, he referenced the woman’s seed, even though men have seed, not women. Even in the first chapter of the bible, God is prophesying the virgin birth. This detail is very important. Since Jesus was not born of an earthly father, he did not have sin in his DNA. He was born of his mother’s egg and the holy spirit. Peter said, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Paul said, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). John said, “And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him” (1 John 3:5).

He did no sin, he knew no sin, and no sin was in him. This made him the only sinless man in the entire world, there were none before him and none after. This also made him the perfect sacrifice and the only one with the ability to take away the sin of the world. The Jewish people used to sacrifice unblemished animals, which would cover their sins for one year. Jesus was the sacrifice that covered our sins once and for all. At the cross, God literally put all our sin and the results of that sin (sickness, disease, death) on Jesus, then rained down his fiery judgement on his mortal body. That used to be hard for me to understand. I thought, what does it mean that Jesus took all of our sin on him? Then a few years ago, Pastor Joseph Prince made a video that he titled, “What really happened at the Cross”. I strongly encourage you to check it out. It’s a great representation of what was happening in the spiritual realm, not visible to the human eye, while Jesus was hanging on the cross. Here is the link to the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ETNxBjS-gzE.

This truly represents the heart of God. He sent his one and only son to take your place because he SO loves you. This sacrifice ended the separation that sin caused between Man and God. Jesus took our place and all the sins were judged and punished. What an amazing love! What an amazing sacrifice! Beloved, I pray that every day you remember how much you are loved. Please feel free to contact me with any prayer requests or questions. I would love to hear from you!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis