From Gary Brecka
Morning routine
- First sun – the first 45 minutes of sunlight
- Breath work – 3 rounds of 30 deep breaths with breath hold in between
- Put your bare feet on the ground for 3-5 minutes
- Cold shower
- Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and discusses some vital topics around breaking the cycle of addiction by understanding how dopamine plays into our addictions
- 30 days to break that addiction
Watch this thought provoking, short reel, then consider the following:
- First, make sure that building your relationship with Jesus is the first “big rock”
- Then, evaluate how you spend your time against the message from the reel
- Lastly, consider developing a relationship with someone you respect, and has your best interests at heart – ask for their thoughts and consultation on a regular basis
Here are some pretty good life lessons from Simon Sinek.
- Take accountability of your actions – sometimes you’re the problem
- Learn to be the last to speak
- Start with WHY you do what you do, not HOW
- Develop an infinite mindset
- Leave the world a better place because you were here
Watch THIS INCREDIBLE commencement speech from US Navy Admiral William H. McRaven, one of the most decorated US commanders.
- Start the day with a task completed
- Find someone to help you through life
- Respect everyone
- Life is not always fair, move forward
- Don’t be afraid to fail often
- Take risks
- Face down bullies
- Step up when times are toughest
- Lift up the downtrodden
- Never give up
What is Prayer?
Believe it or not, prayer is one of the most important, if not THE most important, weapon we have in our arsenal to over come this world.
Life will throw you curve ball after curve ball, and if you are not prepared (in my mind I would say “prayed up“) it will be a lot harder for you to make contact with the ball (to continue the baseball analogy).
I hope my perspective on the subject can help.
Prayer
Definition:
Simply put, prayer is conversing with God. Not just talking to the Lord but listening. The latter is easy (being quiet before God). The former is easy as well (saying what’s on your heart). Merriam-Webster defines prayer as “an address (such as a petition) to God in word or thought.
The shortest prayer is: “God” or “Lord.”
Is it Magic?
Simply put…NO
There is a God side to prayer AND a man side.
Prayer is supernatural, so you won’t get the super if you do not do the natural.
When your prayers line up with what God says, incredible things happen. A good analogy is how magnets affect metal. Check out this video:
Magnet Experiment
When the magnet (your prayers that line up with God’s Word) get near the metal shavings (things and people around you) tend to get in line with your prayers. You still have to take action, and you will know God’s presence is with you. You can be led in your actions.
It doesn’t mean you won’t miss the mark sometimes and make mistakes. It also does not guarantee your prayers are answered in the way you think they should.
I can tell you from experience, in the end, when your heart is right, your results will match up with what God has planned. And what God plans is ALWAYS better than what we can think or imagine.
So, what is the man side?
- Give your heart to Jesus – born again
- Be filled with the Spirit
- Consistently put God’s Word in your heart (consistently, not perfectly!)
- Have an open heart to receive what God provides
So, what is God’s side?
- He makes you righteous in Jesus
- Holy Spirit will come upon you to give you “utterance” or prayers
- You will be transformed
- God can bless you beyond what you can imagine
So what can you expect?
- Effective prayers.
Check out the scriptures below:
Romans 3:22 [Amp]
This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son].
Romans 8:26-27 [Amp]
In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. 27And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of [c]God’s people in accordance with God’s will.
Romans 12:2 [Amp]
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
Ephesians 3:20-21 [Amp]
Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
James 5:16 [Amp]
Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God–it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
Practical Application
God leads through prayer
I was in business with someone who professed to be Christian – but things did not work out. Very bad break up. During the legal work to split up the business, there was some debt that was in dispute. My wife and I fervently prayed for God’s mercy/grace/favor. Long story short, in prayer God prompted my heart to call a lawyer to step in and negotiate. Had I waited just one more day, the financial results would have been horrible. Instead, God did show mercy/grace/favor and I was able to eliminate the debt for MUCH less costs.
This is a great example of how God works. Prayer is not magic, but prayer is your communication link with the One who knows all – the One who is for you – the One who can prompt you to take the right actions at the right time. You have to add the natural to get the supernatural!
The life of my daughter saved by faith
So, my wife, Diane, and I were married for 3-4 years before we started having kids. Our first daughter was born and we were so excited and filled with joy.
We were planners you know and thought, wow, we wanted Laura to have a sibling pretty close to her age.
So we didn’t wait too long to try again, and our timing seemed to be good. We got pregnant and the two would be about 18 months apart…perfect plan.
Long story short, due to complications just a few months into our pregnancy we lost our second child.
We were devastated to say the least.
Now…the big BUT…BUT GOD! He never left us, just as he promised. And through that incredibly difficult time, He loved us through it and we healed. We studied scripture even more and became more committed to His Word. It took time, BUT GOD! He healed our broken hearts.
We decided to put our faith into action, prayed and decided to try again. God is faithful, we had another one on the way!
Not too far into this pregnancy, Diane started experiencing similar symptoms as when we lost our second child.
BUT GOD! Through that last experience we had grown stronger in our faith (especially Diane). This time we were more prepared – WE WERE NOT LOSING ANOTHER ONE.
As soon as we realized what was happening we pulled out the big guns! Strong Christian friends and Scriptures on healing – promises from God to us. We had studied them and hid them in our heart for such a time as this, and so did our very good friends Marty and Karen.
Mark 16:17-18 (Jesus speaking)
“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: …. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 (Peter speaking about Jesus)
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
These and other scriptures are easily found by just looking up the topic of healing in your Bible.
We got down to business and started praying, speaking these verses over Diane and laying hands on her. We prayed until the Holy Spirit gave us peace that we had accomplished the mission – saving my baby.
Miraculously, 6-7 months later Lisa was born and she has been a blessing ever since. Thank you Jesus! Another miracle.
Angels we are unaware of
My daughter was just a baby, under 1 year old and still in a car seat. My wife and I were driving through the middle of nowhere…middle of Ohio.
It was the middle of the night and we hadn’t even seen another car on the road for what seemed like forever. My daughter was in her car seat in the back and eating some candy – jelly beans I think.
Something prompted me to glance in the back seat and I noticed her lips were turning blue – and we freaked out! My baby – OMG!
Within 2 seconds the car went from 75mph to 0 and I pulled to the side of the road. Remember, middle of nowhere…we hadn’t seen a car for a while.
Imagine how fast I was, leaping out of the driver’s seat and pulling her out of her car seat – adrenaline pumping and I was FOCUSED!
Literally, by the time I had her out of the car seat, I look up and an SUV was parked in front of us and two young men were already jogging towards us.
“We saw you pull over so quickly and wanted to see if we could help. We are EMTs!”
Hmmm…where did they come from? This is my thought as I am cradling my child about to do a Heimlich on her.
Adrenaline.
As I start tapping on her back, I look behind and a Cadillac is parked behind us. A woman is jogging towards us.
“I saw you pull over so quickly and wanted to see if I could help. I am the head nurse at the hospital down the road!”
Hmmm…where did she come from?
By this time the candy was dislodged and Laura was breathing fine. The nurse took a quick look and all was well.
My wife and I thanked everyone vigorously for stopping. It was kind of surreal.
Everyone got back in their vehicles and went on their way.
Funny thing is, we did not see any cars on the road for the next hour or so…not even the Cadillac or the SUV.
Hmmm…where did they go?
That incident built my and my wife’s faith that God really has sent his angels to keep charge over us.
Ps 91:11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
This has become a staple in our Scripture “arsenal” ever since.
Terrible back pain healed
Years ago when I was in my mid twenties, I was extremely active in sports as I am now.
I had an incident while playing volleyball inside of a racket ball court (sport called wallyball). I twisted my back very badly. I was injured for about a week, laid up unable to work or walk even. After it healed it would flare up every once in a while. Terrible, terrible pain.
I lived with this for several years.
Then one day in a church service with a guest pastor, who has a gift for explaining the healing power of God was speaking. I started learning about healing, and then she asked if anybody needed healing. I raised my hand along with many other people.
I did not know what to expect when I walked up to have her pray for me.
She didn’t know me from Adam so she would have no idea what I was going through.
As soon as I got to her she simply reached down, touched the small of my back where the injury had occurred, and prayed. And at that moment my back was healed and I have never had a problem since.
There is no doubt in my mind God showed up and I was healed that day.
Total Transformation
The 1st miracle in my life was when I found out about who Jesus really is. Bypassing what others SAID about him, and making my mind up for myself.
I will never forget that moment. I heard the truth, the gospel, spoken in a clear and articulate way.
Once I received salvation, I was changed that instant. Huge, huge moment in my life.
It doesn’t happen like this for everyone, but it did for me. I could really feel the presence of God change me.
A lot of my former bad habits just dropped off, some I had to work on over the years (and many I am still working on). There is no doubt though, I was changed from the inside.
This was in the late 1980’s, so a lot of water has gone under the bridge, but one thing is for certain – my life with God in it has been a wonderful journey. Ups and downs, yes, but all in all worth it!
The more I learn about who He is, the more confident I am in my salvation.
I just wish that I could allow folks who are searching for God could see through my eyes for just a moment – God is, and He is good, and He loves us all!
The whole story of this can be found in a 5 minute read, and if you are interested, click HERE.