That’s important because in this dangerous day, we need God’s blessings more than ever. We need His power. We need to be walking in our full inheritance as believers because this age is about to be brought to a close. As the Apostle Paul says:

The night is far gone [and] the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day; not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery…not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh (Romans 13:12-14, AMP).

The hour is late! It’s time for us to wake up. It’s time we quit allowing the devil to darken our homes, our businesses, our churches and our individual lives with strife and envy. It’s time we quit letting him pull the plug on our faith power. It’s time we started living in the light.

You may be thinking, That’s easier said than done!

I know. But you can do it.

How? Learn to watch over yourself. Pay attention to your state of mind. When you find yourself depressed or downcast, don’t just ignore those feelings. Think back. Ask yourself, “What started this downturn?”

You may realize that a particular situation sparked feelings of aggravation, jealousy or strife within you. If so, look at that situation through the eyes of God and then talk to it (see Mark 11:23).

Say, “That situation has no power over me. I refuse to allow it to bring envy and strife into my life. I yield to the forces of love and joy within me. And, Lord, I praise You for Brother Smith’s new car. I thank You that Sister Jones has those nice clothes!”

Then just start praising the Lord. Sing a song. Put on a tape that will lift you up, and force yourself to sing along. Before long, the love of God will be bubbling up out of your heart again and you’ll be singing in genuine joy.

I know you will, because I’ve done it!

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16

KJV—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…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 show him my salvation.

Amp—Because you have made the Lord
your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling
place, There shall no evil befall you, nor
any plague or calamity come near your
tent…Because he has set his love upon Me,
therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on
high, because he knows and understands
My name [has a personal knowledge of My
mercy, love and kindness; trusts and relies
on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no,
never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer
him; I will be with him in trouble, I will
deliver him and honor him. With long life will
I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Psalm 103:1-5

KJV—Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that
is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who
healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth
thy life from destruction; who crowneth
thee with loving kindness and tender
mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good
things; so that thy youth is renewed
like the eagle’s.

Amp—Bless—affectionately, gratefully
praise—the Lord, O my soul, and all that is
[deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
Bless—affectionately, gratefully praise—the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all
His benefits, Who forgives [every one of] all
your iniquities, Who heals [each of] all your
diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit
and corruption; Who beautifies, dignifies and
crowns you with loving-kindness and tender
mercies; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity
and desire at your personal age] with
good; so that your youth, renewed,
is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!

Psalm 107:19-21

KJV—Then they cry unto the Lord in their
trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
He sent his word, and healed them,
and delivered them from their destructions.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his
goodness, and for his wonderful works to
the children of men!

Amp—Then they cry to the Lord in their
trouble, and He delivers them out of their
distresses. He sends forth His word and
heals them and rescues them from the pit
and destruction. Oh, that men would praise
[and confess to] the Lord His goodness and
loving-kindness, and His wonderful works to
the children of men!

Psalm 118:17

KJV—I shall not die, but live, and declare
the works of the Lord.

Amp—I shall not die, but live, and declare
the works and recount the illustrious acts of
the Lord.

Moffatt—I shall not die, but live to proclaim
the Eternal’s deeds.

NEB—I shall not die but live to proclaim
the works of the Lord.

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Take the time to get before God. Separate yourself from the
things of the world, and fast. I am talking about fasting with
rewards. Jesus said the Father would reward you.
Sometimes the only reward I seek in a fast is the deliverance
of a friend, a situation that needs correcting, or God’s
anointing to minister more effectively. I fast and expect the
anointing of God to operate.

A man living a fasted life lays things aside just to be with
God. Once I fasted my newspaper. I had been spending anywhere
from 15 minutes to an hour reading it each day. For one
week I laid it aside to read the Word of God instead. Years have
come and gone and I have not gone back to it. God honored
that fast.

If you really want to enjoy life and break completely out of
the ordinary, begin to live the high life of which Jesus spoke.
He said if you will lose your life for His sake, you’ll find it
(Matthew 10:39). The Greek text says, “If you’ll give up that
low life, you will find the high life.” This is one of the ways you
shed the low life. The high life in the realm of the spirit is more
than exciting! It is not just a religion full of “dos” and “don’ts.”

As you begin to live the fasted life, the power in the spirit
will begin to work for you. You will be building your foundation
on God. A fasted life is one that feeds on the Word of God
all the time and separates itself to God. It is a life consecrated
and dedicated to Him.

Here is a five-step checklist for fasting. Put yourself in a
position to receive from God spiritually. You can take these
steps and order your thinking by them:

1. Decide the purpose of the fast.

2. Proclaim the fast before the Lord.

3. Believe you receive the reward (Matthew 6:18)—before
the fast. The reward will probably be related to the
first step. The purpose of the fast will have a great deal
to do with the rewards involved. If you are fasting for
revelation knowledge, the reward would be receiving
the knowledge you desire.

4. Minister to the Lord. “Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians
3:16). One of the best things you can do to learn how to
minister to the Lord is to read the Psalms. You minister
to the Lord by speaking of His mighty works. When you
begin to praise and minister to Him, He will get involved
with you! You need to fellowship with Him and He needs
to hear praise and thanksgiving. I heard myself saying
to the Lord one day, “Jesus, You are my High Priest.
Take my praise and minister it unto my Father. Make it
a sweet incense to His nostrils. Blot out all the sin that
has come up before Him from this miserable planet.

Minister my praise and love and adoration to Him.
Cause it to be just what He needs today. I want to bless
His heart. I do not want Him to be grieved by the sinfulness
of man.” I began to realize that my heavenly Father
needs this. Earthly fathers long to hear their children tell
them how much they love them instead of just begging
for things. “I love you, Dad,” is a statement that captures
a father’s heart. Just think how much that means to our
heavenly Father!

5. Minister to others. Always minister to others after the
fast. You need to use the spiritual power within you to
meet the needs of people. If you fast according to the
Word of God, you will be spiritually built up. Minister to
others during the fast only as you are led of the Father.

Living the fasted life will cause you to produce the fruit
of the spirit. This fruit comes forth from the reborn human
spirit. The Holy Spirit is certainly all these things, but He is
not in you to bear fruit. He is in you to teach you how to bear
fruit. He is your teacher, your intercessor, your standby and
helper. He gives you the power—you bear the fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering [patience], gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” These
are spiritual forces. Proverbs 4:20-23 says, “My son, attend to
my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not
depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all
their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life.” One translation says, “Out of it [the heart] flow
the forces of life.” Not one force in this list will produce death.
Love produces life. Joy is a life-giving force, etc.

Fasting shuts down the influence of the body, so the spirit
man can dominate. As you stay in the Word and in fellowship
with God, you will not be flesh-ruled, you will glorify God in
your body.

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland