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Hard to Forgive
Kathy — A person who has been abused will find it hard to forgive when emotion 
demands they keep a vigil over injustice. Thinking differently would mean trusting God’s Word that He is faithful to bring justice. It is a challenge to forgive by choice; it is a directive from the God we trust. God supplies enabling grace to follow His directive and forgive when it is not deserved. Though difficult, it is not impossible. Matt.6:14, Amp — “For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Displace Dependencies
As the people of God assemble today may the Lord Jesus Christ walk into the gatherings of His people and displace dependencies among His people with the 
powerful overcoming presence of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will hover over His people until the chaos of dependencies (personality, emotional, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol) is brought to order and liberty. Gen.1:2, Amp — “The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.” Lk.24:49, Amp “And behold, I will send forth upon you what My Father has promised; but remain in the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from on high.” 2Cor.3:17, Amp — “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).”
Contradict Darkness
It is not enough to simply confront the “giants” of this season of history. They must 
be contradicted. Jesus contradicted the powers of darkness. In Matt.17 a man has an epileptic son who falls into fire and water. He takes the son to Jesus’ disciples but they only confront the demon. The man appeals to Jesus. He not only confronted the demon but He contradicted it. The boy was completely whole from that moment. Jn.14:12, Amp — “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.”
Repentance, Release and Change
Kathy — Repentance ushers in release and change for everyone. One reason we 
avoid it is shame locks us down. The fact that we need to think differently and change feels like an indictment against our self-image or even worse, against our Christianity. That’s the deception of shame in action. The truth is that repentance brings healthy changes and change is part of the process of maturing and overcoming. 2Co.7:10, TPT — “God designed us to feel remorse over sin in order to produce repentance that leads to victory. This leaves us with no regrets. But the sorrow of the world works death.”
Keeping Darkness in Check
There are mountains for the people of God to rule in. There are seven mountains or mind-molders of culture: 1) religion 2) family 3) education 4) government 5) media 
6) arts 7) finance. Every believer is to have some degree of influence at some level in one (or more) of those mountains. According to the mandate of God upon his people as far back as the Book of Genesis, we are to rule in those mountains. (Gen.1:26) There are “giants” in those valleys between the 7 mountains. They oppose the advancement of the Kingdom of God. As long as there is a Kingdom of Light and a kingdom of darkness, there will be opposition. The kingdom of darkness must be confronted and contradicted in each of its expressions. Jesus called us “light” (Mt.5:14). The Holy Spirit-energized church is the only entity on this earth to keep darkness in check.
A Foe at the Door
Kathy — God said to Cain: “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” In other words, “Cain, you realize you can change, right?” Then He said, “Cain, sin is crouching at 
your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Gen.4:6-7) Let me put that another way: “Cain, a life habit of missing the mark and being offended is crouching outside your door. It’s waiting to control you, but you can and you must master it.” God told Cain there was a foe at his door (Gen.4:7). That indicates a personal issue that is too close to leave unconfronted. Cain was being called to think differently but he did not overcome the life habit of offence and anger. His rage resulted in his brother’s murder. If we do not overcome our destructive hang-ups (e.g., habits, emotions, attitudes, judgments, fears, etc.), what we do not master will master us.
Coming Prepared for a Fight
Giants won’t stay in the valley. They intend to go far beyond their threats and use their intimidation and bulk to conquer. Goliath had not come all the way from 
Philistia to intimidate a few Hebrews. He was of a mind to march right through the middle of Saul’s army, right through Jesse’s farm and straight into Jerusalem. He came prepared for a fight. Israel had only confronted the giant and didn’t seem to even have a plan for contradicting him. The best time to deal with giants is while they are still in the valley. There must be plans, commitment and action. 1Sam.14:6, Amp — “Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on now, let’s go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.”
Offense Distorts
Kathy — Offense distorts the way we see everybody and every event in life. Cain 
obviously did not see God as a loving, wise, just, heavenly Father and he would not accept correction. He was too angry and perhaps too ashamed, too disappointed or too self-absorbed to do the right thing. (One of the major signs of immature character is self-absorption.) We don’t see what is true or right if we cannot see past how we feel. Js.3:16, TPT — “So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness.”
Be Every Whit Whole
As the people of God assemble today may they worship Yahweh in the liberty of the Spirit and may He inhabit their praises and may His powerful Presence fill each of them making them every whit [all; whole; complete] whole in spirit, soul and body. Jn.7:23b, KJV – “…I have made a man every whit whole…”
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