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The Good of the Land
Those who know me well know that I’m into healthy living, including the food that I eat. For those who don’t know me as well, you have heard me speak of my book (God Can Heal Anything!) and booklet (You Don’t Have to be Sick), which are both about healing. In each of these, I did make mention of nutrition playing an important part of a person’s health, although in those writings, I only lightly touched on the subject.
When I first came to the Lord, I was 34 years old and had lived a very hard life, one which involved a lot of abuse of my body (alcohol, drugs, and other wild living). Inviting Jesus to come into my life to be my Lord and Savior was only the beginning of the journey I’m now on, as it is also only a beginning for others who have begun their own journey with Him.
I read and studied and believed God’s Word, implementing whatever I understood to do that pertained to me as I read. In realizing how much damage I’d done to my body through my previous lifestyle, I knew that I needed to better understand how to live my life more abundantly. I decided that I wanted to be healthy rather than remaining in sickness and pain. In going to a health food store and talking to the clerks, I began taking supplements and bought an herb book to study, and have since studied several others on nutrition and supplementation.
Prior to my salvation, much to my dismay and shame, I had only read two books in my lifetime, “A Return to Peyton Place” and “Valley of the Dolls.” These were not exactly edifying (in fact, far from it), but it was where I was at the time. Since being saved 28 years, I have read literally hundreds of books, learning many new things I have needed for living my life more abundantly, as well as books on the subject of revival and still others on faith, miracles, healing, and also biographies of those who were well-known revivalists.
Additionally, I read the Bible every day and have done so since making a commitment to God to do this in 1981, only missing maybe one or two days since that time. He has kept me close to Him all of these years since making that commitment.
Over the years, I’ve meditated on a certain verse in the Bible, considering its meanings (including its placement in the chapter and book in which it was written). The verse I’m referring to today is Isaiah 1:19, which says that if we are willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land. I’d heard teaching from this verse years ago, being told that it takes willingness and obedience on our part in order to obtain good things of God.
I began to think about the verse in a different way, however. It says that we will “eat” the good of the land. What is the good of the land? Could this verse be talking of the food that we eat? In my estimation, that can be at least one of its meanings. If we are willing (in our attitudes) and we are also obedient (in our actions), we will eat the good of the land. We will then have the resources available in order to eat the best food.
What does this mean? The best food is not luxurious desserts, things made with refined sugar, or fatty foods. What is best for our bodies is fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, poultry and wild caught fish (unless you’re on a certain diet for your health and you cannot eat these things). Our bodies were not made for “junk food.” Yet, the temptations are everywhere. Jesus was in all points tempted as we are, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
In studying nutrition for many years, off and on, I have learned many things about how to care for this temple of the Holy Spirit where the Spirit of God dwells (another area of our lives which requires obedience to God). Many Americans are severely dehydrated because of not drinking enough pure (filtered or bottled) water and in turn they are sick. Going to a doctor will not help them in such a case. It is only by changing their habits will they be helped. When water is needed in a person’s body, medicine won’t cure what ails them. The same is true in amending the types of food that they eat. Only a change in what is eaten will fix the problem.
When I had bipolar, I needed to get proactive in my own case in order to be healed. I needed to learn about the causes of the disease (which is not only mental, but also physical) in order to understand how to remove its roots. The same is true for other ailments. Whatever we have wrong in our lives, God can fix. However, we need to make some changes in our habits, one of which may be what we eat and drink. We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whatever we eat or drink and whatever we do, we’re to glorify the Lord.
Again, the verse in Isaiah says, “If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Could that also mean that for those who are willing and obedient, that of being obedient means that they need to amend their diets and eat healthy foods (the good of the land)? In my understanding, that’s what it could also mean.
Are you willing? Will you obey whatever He says? How healthy do you want to be? Each of us has a choice in the matter, of how we choose to eat. Temptations are everywhere. However, God who lives on the inside of every born-again believer (1 John 4:4) is greater than every temptation we will ever face, and He will help us, if we are willing and will obey what He says.
Ann Doupont
March 14, 2008
Competition in the Church? God Forbid.
It has come to my attention today what a BIG problem is in our churches (and in the Church worldwide, particularly in my country, America); that of competition, or of having a competitive spirit.
People aren’t happy with who they are or with what God has called them to do, so they want to be like someone else or to do something other than what He has called them to do. They may not know exactly what it is God wants for them to do. They’re still searching. (Searching is not a bad thing to do.)
This thing of competition can take many forms. The person can want favor (meaning that they want to be a favor-ite, thinking of themselves as being more important than others). They can be vying for attention, feeling so insignificant about their own lives.
There is a lot of competition amongst the denominations, thinking that they’re the best and that everyone should join themselves to them.
Along with competition, or at the very roots of it, is jealousy/envy, pride, selfish ambition, and even lust (or a driving force to get ahead), and coveting (a desire for something that rightfully belongs to someone else). Competition for attention started in the garden of Eden, when the serpent told Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit.
There was competition in the New Testament when a mother asked Jesus to allow her two sons to sit at His side in the Kingdom. There is a competitive spirit in the business world to get ahead in business. There is competition in America to have what is called “The American Dream” (whatever that is; it keeps on changing) and to keep up with the Joneses, buying all of the newest gadgets, spending your hard-earned money on them only to be later displeased with the item and put it away on a shelf, never to be used.
Such waste we are experiencing in a land of plenty! Each of us is responsible to God for what we do with every dollar. Some of us have more than enough, yet what are we doing to help those who have so little? Are we refraining from giving, thinking that what we have belongs to us? We are to be wise stewards of what has been entrusted to us, giving to the less fortunate (Luke 12:42). We are not to be greedy, but to give to the needy.
Competition is not a good thing. It is not from God. It opposes His law of love. Most, it seems, either do not understand what it means to love one another or they are unwilling to do it.
God is love. But, what is love? What is true love? It starts with patience. (See 1 Corinthians 13:4.)
Faith will only work by love (Galatians 5:6). Each of us has faith, but without love, our faith will not work. If we have been wanting something and are unable to attain what it is we desire, we need to examine ourselves. We need to evaluate first of all whether we are operating in love with our fellow neighbor. (See James 4:2-3.)
It is impossible to love someone we have not forgiven. If we are holding anything against another person, we have not forgiven them. If we do not love them with God’s love, our faith is being hindered.
In this season, each of us needs to properly and honestly evaluate ourselves to see if we’re in the faith, to determine whether we are truly loving others, to get rid of any selfish ambition, coveting, pride, and lusts. God is calling for an army of believers to go forth to take new territory. As long as we’re holding these things in our hearts, we won’t know our part of the plan of God.
Until we remove this competitive spirit from our lives, we are hindering God’s plan from going forth through us. Let’s dare to be different than the world, in order to make a difference in the world.
As we determine to do this, others will see the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ arise. They will then want what we have when they see the difference in our lives. As long as we remain like them, they don’t want what we have. Until we’re different than the world, the lost won’t be won through us.
Livin’ for Jesus,
Ann Doupont
The Gates to the Soul
What gets in through the eyegates, and in through the eargates, gets into the soul of man. The soul is the invisible realm of a person. Some say that the soul is the mind, the will, and the emotions, but it’s more than that. The soul encompasses the entire unseen being of a person. (See Strong’s, NT #5590.)
In reality, we could say that a person is a two-part being – the natural, visible part of a person is their body. The unseen, invisible part is their soul. This part is what will live eternally.
In the soul is also the spirit of man (Strong’s, NT #4151), which is the rational part of their being. In the innermost part of a person’s soul is their heart, which is where their intellect, will, and emotions reside. The heart is the core of their being.
Above all else, we’re to guard our hearts (Strong’s, OT #3820), for out of the heart flows the issues of life. This is found in Proverbs 4:23.
It is in our hearts where decisions are made, as that is where the will of the person is. What we decide to look at and listen to is what will get inside of us and affect our other decisions.
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).
Based on these two verses from the holy scriptures, you can know what’s inside of a person’s heart, including your own, by what is said. When you think about the words you are speaking, or have spoken, you will come to understand what is in your heart, and therefore what you need to change.
God will give us the grace and the power to change our ways and our words if we are willing.
Ann Doupont
Revival in the Land
What happened in Sodom and Gomorrah affected the nearby cities. Whatever happens in a city does affect all nearby cities.
What happens in Boise, for example, will also affect Meridian and Eagle, Idaho. When revival comes to Boise or Meridian, all connecting cities will also feel its effects.
Revival can start with just one person getting right with God and then praying for the others. It can start with one church pressing in and doing what’s right in God’s sight.
Revival always starts with the people of God – not with the lost. As we are revived and brought back to our original state of being in love with Jesus, and doing the first works, it will affect others.
As we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting Him for our needs being met, this pleases our Father in Heaven. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. He promised He would.
If we don’t do our part, God has not obligated Himself to do these things. Setting right priorities is imperative in these end times.
Putting God first and keeping Him first needs to be done throughout the day. People will judge us, but God looks at our hearts. He knows why we do what we do.
As we are revived and allow Jesus to be the Lord and King of our inner being, everything in our circumstances will change. Walking in the Spirit, we will not be fulfilling any of the lusts of the flesh. There are several forms of lust (money, food, other fleshly desires). According to James 1, lust is what drives a person to sin.
As we determine in our hearts to become “squeaky clean” in our walks with the Lord, He will show us how. He will revive us if we humble ourselves and pray, seeking to be in His presence where there is the fullness of joy, and then turning from our wicked ways.
A revival in your city can start with just one person who is willing. It can start with you.
As we are willing and obedient, we are told in Isaiah 1:19 that we would eat the good of the land. Willingness is the attitude that’s needed. Obedience is the action.
Will you be one of them who God will use to help usher in revival?
You can be. It’s your choice.
References: Jude 1:7, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Galatians 5:16, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 16:11.
Ann Doupont
Revive Me, O Lord
For years, I read everything I could get my hands on about the subject of revival, starting 25 years ago with Maria Woodworth-Etter’s book Signs and Wonders. One common thread I found in these books was that all revivals either started or ended with prayer. When prayer intensified, the revival came. When it slowed down or stopped, so did the revival.
It is said that, “Little prayer, little power. Much prayer, much power.” The power that we need in our lives and ministries comes only from one Source, God. He will give us the power we to overcome all difficulties if we will ask Him for it. He will provide all that we need, yet there is a price to pay.
Many people want a breakthrough in their lives, but have not prayed the price that it takes. One revivalist said that first he built himself up daily, and then went out to build up others. Based on that understanding, and knowing that God is no respecter of persons, I began to do likewise.
In Jude 20-21, we find that we are to build ourselves up on our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Ghost, and to keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for His mercy. I’ve been taught that this means to pray in tongues, and so I do this, and it works. I’ve also been taught that Romans 8:26 is also referring to speaking in tongues where it speaks of groanings which cannot be uttered. This was said to mean uttered in articulate speech. In other words, praying in tongues.
Paul said that he speaks in tongues more than all others; however, he wasn’t referring to speaking in the church. (See 1 Corinthians 14:18-19.) He is not referring to the 1 Corinthians 12 gift of tongues which requires interpretation. Otherwise, he would have spoken in tongues (rather than in the understanding) in the congregation. He must be speaking of his prayer language of speaking in tongues.
I have found that when I speak in tongues in my prayer closet (in private) each day, I am indeed built up and my thoughts then clear. There was a season (about 15-20 years ago) when I prayed in tongues daily for a breakthrough and kept praying in tongues until I sensed a release in my spirit. Each day, the time it took for breakthrough lessened. It became easier and easier to do as I kept on going.
God has given many people this ability of speaking in other tongues. Some have stopped using it, not having understood its value.
We are to pray in the spirit (tongues) and with understanding (English, or other learned language). I have found that after I’ve prayed in tongues for awhile, I then have more understanding of how to pray with my understanding.
At a prophetic conference several years back, the suggestion was for each person to pray in tongues for at least ½ hour a day. They also said that if you don’t do this, you tend to forget that you’re a spirit-being.
God didn’t give us gifts to put on a shelf, but to use for His glory and His Kingdom. Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift that was given him (2 Timothy 1:6). One of the ways to stir up the gifts we’ve been given is through praying in other tongues.
We find in Acts 1:8 that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we are empowered to be His witnesses. Then, in Acts 2:4, we find that when we are filled to overflowing, we will speak with other tongues.
When we’re saved, we have a measure of the Holy Spirit. But, when we’re baptized (fully immersed) in the Holy Spirit, we will overflow. I’ve heard it said that Christians leak and therefore need a refilling. As we give out what we have to others, we do need more. We do need to be refilled – again and again. (See Ephesians 5:18.)
If we feel dry, what is needed is a fresh refill of the Holy Spirit. This comes through prayer, and perhaps also repentance of sin and/or wrong thinking and living.
God has everything we need in order to live our lives more abundantly, yet we need to come to Him for it. Jesus said to all who labor and are heavy-laden – to come to Him and to take His yoke (which is easy) upon yourselves, that His burden is light.
He also said in that same passage in Matthew 11:28-30 that He is gentle and lowly of heart. That seems to imply that His yoke, which we are to take upon ourselves, means that we too need to become gentle and lowly of heart.
When we do this, our yoke will be easy and our burden light.
Ann Doupont
Being Like Jesus
Do you want to be like Jesus?
What did Jesus do?
He prayed.
He arose early.
He fasted.
He always pleased the Father.
He read and studied the Scriptures and did what they said to do.
He preached.
He taught.
He gave thanks.
He healed the sick.
He cast out demons.
He raised the dead.
He had a few close friends.
He walked a lot.
He was a man of sorrows.
He was full of compassion for those who hurt.
He was firm in what He believed.
He always told the truth.
He never lied.
He was stern with the religious leaders.
He withstood much criticism, judging, and condemnation.
He was crucified because of what He said.
He was full of power, wisdom, faith, and anointing.
His purpose was to glorify the Father.
He performed miracles.
Signs and wonders followed Him.
He was our example to follow.
He drew large crowds.
He knew who was on His side and who was not.
He was a just man, honest in His dealings.
He knew, and obeyed, the law.
If we really want to be like Jesus, we will do what He did. In John 14:12, we find that it says that “he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.”
Ann Doupont
Tips for Winning Souls through Tract Distribution
One of the most important things you need to know before giving a tract to someone is what is on it. Is there a clear, concise salvation message on it, and words that convey God’s love rather than judgment?
Not all tracts are good. I’ve seen some really bad ones which can do more harm than good.
If you can, put yourself in the shoes of the ones to whom you’ll be giving the tracts. Know that what you’re giving them is good news – something intended to save their life for all eternity.
Tracts can be handed to a person. They can be put into envelopes to be mailed out along with bill payments. They can be left in places like waiting rooms of doctor’s or dentist’s offices, or even on a grocery store shelf.
I’ve even put them into a library book, realizing that the next person who checks out the book and reads it will find it. At dentist’s offices, there are magazines there, and I’ve put them inside a magazine. There are many places where tracts can be placed. They can also be placed carefully on car windshields.
One of the most important things to have for soul winning is a good attitude. If you’re handing a tract to someone, smile, knowing that what you’re giving them is good news. Extend your arm toward them with the tract in hand, with the words of the tract facing toward them so they can read it. You’re not hiding what you’re handing them, or ashamed of it.
Be cautious to not stick the literature in their face and annoy them by doing that. Also, don’t get in their way if they’re wanting to walk by. Allow them plenty of room.
Have something to say when handing it to them. You could simply say, “Here’s something for you,” or “Something to read.” Often, people will then ask, “What is it?” Depending on what is on the tract, you could simply say, “It’s good news,” or “It’s about love” (if it is about love). If they ask, “Is this a gospel tract?” don’t be intimidated. Simply politely say, “Yes, it is.”
If they say that they don’t want it or that they already have one, don’t feel bad. Just go on to the next person.
When you’re putting tracts on car windshields, gently lift the windshield wiper blade or slide the tract under it, so you don’t damage it. Also, use caution so as to not bang your keys or other item against their car.
Most parking lots are off limits. Also, cars parked on a person’s property rather than on a public street. There are laws prohibiting literature placement in many of these cases. God does not want us breaking the law.
Another place you can put tracts are in public rest rooms and in buildings where you work or in an elevator. Use caution at work, however, as some companies have rules against literature distribution and doing this against company rules could cost you your job.
Pray for the people who will be receiving the tracts you will be giving, and pray as you go. The Holy Spirit will let you know which tract to give to which person if you’re sensitive to His leading.
Use common sense. If it’s going to rain soon, for instance, don’t put tracts in open public places or on car windshields, or they’ll end up as soggy (and annoying) pieces of paper, which cannot be read.
If someone expresses their upset with you, be ready to apologize to them. We’re not out there to argue with people, but to share the good news that Jesus wants them to be saved.
Remember that you’re going as Christ’s ambassador. He who wins souls is wise.
Ask God for His ideas and strategies and He will give them to you.
As you are giving tracts to people in person, sometimes the person will strike up a conversation. Be ready for that. Share your testimony with them of what Jesus has done for you. You might even share with them the prayer for salvation. Based on Romans 10:9, there are a couple of simple points to keep in mind. If a person confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord AND believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, they shall be saved.
A simple “sinner’s prayer” could be:
Jesus, Forgive me for my sins. Thank You that You died on the cross for my sins. I accept what You did for me and I invite You to come into my life and to be my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Ann Doupont
Dealing with Issues
When a person gets saved as an adult, although it is true that they are instantly changed and made a new creature in Christ, their thought patterns are not necessarily immediately changed. They may have come from a background of years of abuse and confusion, and are in need of both deliverance as well as a renewed mind (Romans 12:2).
There may be a lot of old, unresolved issues stemming from these things that happened then. Those things really happened. They don’t go away by either ignoring them or pretending they didn’t happen, or that they happened to someone else instead.
When the person is ready to deal with their issues, the Lord will help them through the process. He will take them step by step through it, removing the feelings of guilt, shame, condemnation, as well as the sense of inferiority and insecurity and the pain that may accompany the remembrance of the incidents.
Some people go through many years of psychological counseling in an effort to get free from these things. Ultimately, however, it is only the Lord who can make a person free. It’s in knowing the truth that they are made free. (See John 8:32.)
The enemy of their soul, satan himself, wants to hide things. He wants the individual to think that they are all alone – that no one else has ever experienced such horrors as they have. But, the devil is a liar (John 8:44).
The apostle Paul told us there is no temptation taken us but such as is common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13), but that God is faithful. He will make a way of escape from it so that we are able to bear it.
In this day and age of dysfunctional families and people, it is no wonder that we often find it difficult, if not impossible, to find any person who can help us or even understand what we’re going through. Most people are either still bound, or they have never experienced anything as serious as we have. They, therefore, cannot help us.
A very old song asked the question, “Who can I turn to if you turn away?” Divorce is rampant these days. When a divorce takes place, it is not just the man and the woman who divorce one another. The divorce also takes place between the families and the friends as well. Let me explain.
Married at 16, I married a man from an entirely different background as I came from. He was one of 10 children. Although we tried to make the marriage work, we were separated in 2 or 3 years, and later divorced. We had one child.
When I filed for divorce from John, I didn’t understand that I was also divorcing myself from his family. I no longer saw any of them.
Many years later, I saw a couple of young men who were the sons of one of my ex-husband’s sisters. When I was married to John, they were my nephews, by marriage. One of them called me “Aunt Ann” when he saw me. It was then that I realized that I had not only divorced John, but also his whole family. I no longer felt entitled to the role of being that young man’s “Aunt Ann.” I had not seen him since he was a young child. He was now grown. I didn’t know him at all.
In my teen years and throughout my 20s, I suffered all kinds of horrible abuse. There have been many issues to deal with. For a period of time, I wished I was dead. Until I found Jesus at the age of 34, I had no hope.
Now, 27 years later, I find that there are still some areas of unresolved issues that the Lord wants me to deal with. It’s not that I spend all of my time dealing with issues, as I don’t do that. I do not continue dealing with the same issue over & over, either. It’s just that there were so many things to deal with, in prayer, that it has taken a time – a lot of it – so that I would not continue in these areas of dysfunction.
Thank God for His mercy. He doesn’t show us everything at once. If He had shown me everything at once when I first came to Him those 27 years ago, I would not have been able to handle it. Thank God that He takes us step by step through the process of resolving our issues.
Ann Doupont
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