A Sneak Peak at Steve's Upcoming Book...
Hello Fellow Igniters of Hope,
I have just finished a new book called Let's Just Laugh at That. I wrote it with my current interns at Bethel Church's Supernatural School of Ministry (Phil Drysdale, Kim McGan, Chuck Maher and Jared Neusch). The book should be available in early May.
Here is what is on the back cover:
Let’s Just Laugh at That
◆ Exposing and breaking off the power of lies
◆ Receiving life-changing hope by believing truth
◆ Increasing joy through higher perspectives in life
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)
Our hope level is an indicator of whether we are believing truth or lies. Truth creates hope and freedom, but believing lies brings hopelessness and restriction. We can have great theology but still be powerless because of deception about the key issues of life. Many of these self-defeating mindsets exist in our subconscious and have never been identified. Let’s Just Laugh at That will expose 45 of these falsehoods and reveal the truth that will make us free. Get ready for a joy-infused adventure into hope-filled and impactful living.
Like my other books, it is written in devotional format (one teaching per page). Here are two samples from the book that will give you an idea of its content.
Let’s Just Laugh at This Lie
There Are No Solutions for This Situation
Laughable Assumptions Behind This Lie:
◆ This situation is so bad that even prayer is pointless.
◆ The devil has won a complete victory; therefore, we should give up.
◆ God cannot work this situation for good in the lives impacted by it.
◆ God does not have any wisdom for what should be done.
◆ Breakthrough is always difficult and must take a long time.
◆ God is angry and does not want to help those involved.
The Truth: God makes a way where there seems to be no way. 1) The Red Sea parted when it looked hopeless (Exodus 14). 2) God had a plan to defeat Goliath that no one was aware of (1 Samuel 17). 3) Bitter waters were surprisingly made sweet with the unlikely solution of throwing a tree into them (Exodus 15:22-27). 4) God defied logic by shutting a lion’s mouth to protect Daniel (Daniel 6:22). 5) The three Hebrew children were supernaturally protected in the fire when it looked hopeless (Daniel 3:19-25). 6) Jesus multiplied food when provision was limited (Luke 9:10-17). 7) A famine ended in a day (2 Kings 7). 8) Money needed to pay taxes was found in the unusual location of a fish’s mouth (Matthew 17:24-27).
Strategies for Overcoming This Lie:
1. Believe there is always a way – “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). There is a way out of a mess and a way into victory. Believing that will draw to you the answers needed (James 1:5-8).
2. Implement the power of Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God has a supernatural ability to work everything for good for the believer.
3. Feed your hope on testimonies of those who have overcome your situation and from those who have overcome great odds in life – Encourage yourself by discovering that there are people who have come out of what you are facing (and even more difficult situations).
Declarations to Renew Your Mind and Change Your Mindsets: 1) God is working things for good in this situation. 2) God is revealing to me a powerful step to take concerning this. 3) A miracle will happen concerning this situation.
Let’s Just Laugh at This Lie
I Cannot Fulfill My Call Because of the People in My Life
Laughable Assumptions Behind This Lie:
◆ God is surprised and completely hindered by what the people in my life are
doing. Their choices make it impossible for my calling to be fulfilled.
◆ The fulfillment of my calling is more determined by others than by me.
◆ What is happening in my life cannot possibly be used of God to give me even
greater influence and ministry.
◆ I married the wrong person, and because of that, things are hopeless.
◆ If a relationship isn’t instantly beneficial, it can’t take me to my calling.
The Truth: Many godly ones have overcome difficult people. 1) David had a dad who did not believe in him, brothers who belittled him and a king who tried to kill him; but he still fulfilled his call (1 Samuel 16:10-13; 17:28; 24:1-2). 2) Joseph fulfilled his dream and destiny even though his brothers sold him into slavery, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape and the baker forgot him (Genesis 37:23-24; 39:7-23; 40:23). 3) Jesus overcame dysfunctional disciples and a religious community that opposed Him. 4) Noah and his family were the only righteous people of his day, but he still fulfilled his calling (Genesis 6:13-22).
Strategies for Overcoming This Lie:
1. Renew your beliefs about the people in your life – Begin to believe that problematic people or relationships are actually opportunities to go higher in God.
2. Believe in the power of His calling on your life – God has an uncanny ability to cause us to fulfill our calling despite difficult people in our lives (see examples above). Even if we have made wrong relational choices, He will help us (as He did for Samson) to still make a tremendous spiritual difference (Judges 16:4-30).
3. Understand that your response to the people in your life is more important than the people themselves – The response to Jesus by the people in His hometown was more deciding to their breakthrough than the fact that He was there. Rather than looking for new people in our lives, let’s look for new mindsets about the people already in our lives. This does not mean we stay in abusive relationships, but it does mean we realize that we must get a plan to increasingly see people as God sees them.
Declarations to Renew Your Mind: 1) I see people in my life as strategic opportunities, not obstacles. 2) I have renewed mindsets about my calling and the people in my life. 3) Daily, I am making progress and stepping into my calling.
Bless you much!
Steve
