How to Stay Strong.

First thing in the morning... last thing at night.

I have been at this Christian walk a long time.... over 30 years and people used to tell me to slow down or I was going to burn out.  I am here to tell you that you don't have to.

Some things I have learned along the way are to keep going to my daily devotionals.  I have two from KCM, Faith to Faith and Pursuit of his Presence.  There have been others along the way but those two have gone the distance.

I also have had books along the way to help me speak the right things over my life and to help me turn my belief system around.  My book shelf is full of encouraging,  faith-filled books.

I keep a daily journal where I write down the things God tells me during the day and the songs I have been singing.  At the back I write down all the scripture decrees he has showed me for quick reference so I can go over them every day and make them part of my life.  Many of the 'confessions' in this blog are from the back of my journals!

I talk to the Lord like he's right beside me and I listen for his answers.  I try to make time to check in with him many times a day.  He doesn't mind me being a question box as long as I listen for his response. The Psalmist sang, "Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice." (Ps. 55:17) I am not saying you always have to complain but it shows how interested God is in hearing us!

I try to live by the verse which says, "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Col. 3:16 NLT)  I try to sing in tongues or English most of the day.

Daily bible reading is a big help.  If the Bible is 'dry' I will look up the reference scriptures that the daily devotionals suggest, or look up the scriptures that I heard from the last meeting.  Sometimes I ask Holy Spirit if there's somewhere he wants me to go to answer a question I have had.  Many times I just ask Holy Spirit to give me a greater love for his word.  He's faithful to answer if we ask.

I keep a very short account with God.  I literally will not go to bed if I know that I have offended or hurt someone. I go humble myself and ask forgiveness.... especially to my children and husband.  There have been times when they were in the wrong and still Holy Spirit would ask me to go humble myself and just offer forgiveness.  Blessed are the peacemakers!


These are just a few of the ways that I have kept the fire burning hot over the last thirty years.  If I can do it, you can do it because God is no respecter of persons! (ref. Acts. 10:34)

Have a great day with him! I bless you with the courage to do what Holy Spirit is asking you to do.  The joy he gives makes any sacrifice worth while. There is nothing like it this side of Heaven!

Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson
'beloved4evr' on youtube

My Friends

Friends are so important, don't you think?  I have a few good friends that I can call anytime and they will help me with emotional and spiritual support.  It's so nice to know that you have people who believe in you.

My girlfriend wants me to write a book about how to make time to seek God.  What a nice compliment!  I am no pro, that's for sure, but I could probably fill a book with all my bloopers. I can't repeat a joke properly to save anything so I won't even try, but my friends laugh when I mention my daily antics with the job, kids and farm. I am so glad I don't have to try to be somebody I am not.

So, my thought for the day is pray for your friends and be yourself.  God loves us so much for who we are and not for what we can do. Hallelujah! His love sets us free to be ourselves and all that He's dreamed for us.

I bless you with an open Heaven today. May you have His abiding presence with you today.  May you comprehend all the good things He has laid up for you in Heavenly places and may you learn how to pull them down by faith. In Jesus' name I ask.  Amen!

Spiritual Discernment Needed

Spiritual Discernment is so very important if you want to live a victorious life in Christ.

Many Christians have this gift, even if they have not received the fullness of the Holy Spirit yet.

If, all of a sudden, you get a wave of negative, condemning, critical or angry thoughts that are out of character for you, ask the Lord , "Is this me or is someone under attack?"

The key is "all of a sudden". If you were fine five minutes ago, and the world has not fallen apart, then where did this flow of horrible thoughts come from? That is a very good question to ask.

Here are a few keys to recognize the enemy's attack:

-A spirit of lust usually manifests in lustful thoughts.

-A spirit of jealousy usually manifests in jealous, angry thoughts.

-A spirit of unbelief can manifest in sleepiness when trying to read, blurry text, and trouble remembering what you have learned.

-A spirit of hatred is usually manifest in sudden hatred of a person(s).

The key is to ask the Lord specific questions. I encourage people to practice asking the Lord twenty questions a day, minimum.


Did you know that discernment and words of knowledge can work together? Sometimes, I will get a body impression, like a flash headache, or an ache somewhere and immediately I will ask the Lord, "Who's under attack, me or someone else?"

A sore throat can mean someone I know is under attack with a cold, or... it could mean that someone has overextended their speaking or singing voice.

You want to look for a symptom or a stream of thoughts that are not normally yours.

For example, I just got a phone call today. My girlfriend has just lost her temper with her family twice, in the last three days. She says this is so 'out of character' for her, that she's going to the doctor to make sure her blood pressure is okay.

I suggested to her that this is probably a spiritual attack and asked her if she had been praying for anyone who had an anger management problem. You see... many times when you pray for someone, the devil will try to give you the same 'problem', so you will quit praying for the person.

"No", she replied, "Not that I'm aware of."

I told her, "This is not like you."

We prayed and asked the Lord what was going on, and 'all of a sudden" she remembered something.

"We had Mike and his family over, and he's into the occult.", she blurted out.

"I am pretty sure an evil spirit hitched a ride into your home with those people.", I speculated. "When did they come over for a visit?", I asked.

"Sunday." she answered.

"And your unexplained fits of anger started on Monday.", I elaborated.

She was catching on and I was very happy for her. You have to remember that many, many Christians have not been taught on the reality of the spirit realm and how it operates.

"Now all you have to do is kick them out, in the name of Jesus.", I encouraged her.

So we commanded the evil spirits to go back to the pit of hell where they came from and I plead the blood of Jesus over my friend and her family. I loosed, in Jesus' name angels to go guard her home and family. I claimed double restoration on anything the enemy had messed up.

For the family that visited my girlfriend, I commanded that their eyes, ears and spirits would be open to hear the gospel. I asked the Lord to move in christian witnesses around them. I blessed my friend, her own family and this other family that visited her home. I broke any and all curses off of them in Jesus' name.

My girlfriend and I gave thanks for their salvation and deliverance in advance.

Does that help you to understand how evil spirits operate to harass people? We are more than conquerors through Jesus... we just have to learn how to recognize the devil's sneaky ways. (2Cor 2:14, Rom 5:17,19) Now, go practice asking the Lord questions.

(names were changed to protect people)