In the life of struggles, stress, and strain along with facing the positives and negatives of everyday life, Dr. Hayes, author of "If You Can Look Up, You Can Get Up" believes in a positive everyday daily walk using principles for keeping victory in the form of scriptorial knowledge and wisdom principles in overcoming the cares of life. So reading this book will not only change your very life, but it will also give you the courage to conquer what life throws at you.
If You Can Look Up, You Can Get Up
Daily Principles for Keeping Victory Each Day of Your LifeBy Byron C. HayesAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Byron C. Hayes, Ph. D.
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-6957-5Chapter One
Your best days are ahead
Your best days are ahead the moment you begin to read this book. This is your day for the victory that you have been waiting for. Your sun is peaking over the clouds of your life. Your rain is drying up from your latest storm. You are starting to wake up! Even now your tears of pain will start turning into tears of joy. For Psalms 118:24 reads, "This is the day that the Lord has made."
How many people have stolen your victory? How many people have stolen your testimony, your joy, your praise, your miracles, your faith, your dreams, your freedom, your esteem, your decision making, your character, your personality, and your identity? Well, now is the time to break free from the robbers of your past. We must learn to press pass pressure. Faith says:
Let that worry go and live
Worry is a dreadful disease
Worry is a slow eating cancer
Worry will make you sick and weakly
Worry is a waste of energy
Worry will wear you out
Worry will take your sleep
Worry will steal your joy
Don't worry about anything; pray about everything. Keep your eyes off the problem and fixed on GOD.
In the body of Christ, so many are losing the faith. Satan has become a deadly force bringing worry all over the nation. Worry is a lie from the enemy. Worry ties GOD's hands. Worry raises the blood pressure and stress level. Worry causes heart problems.
Jesus said in St. John 10:10, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." This is the time that we must wax stronger and stronger in our level of faith. The Bible reads in I John 4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." We are faced with all types of terrorism and fear. But, don't panic in the problem, don't faint in adversity, don't surrender in the flood, don't give up in the storm. Get past the pains of the past and stop crying over yesterday's disappointments. Be a warrior, not a whiner. GOD is on your side. You can choose to be pitiful or powerful. Stop mourning over things you cannot change. When the going gets tough, the tough should get going. Do what it takes to revive your faith. Stop allowing people to beat you down mentally. Develop some backbone. Avoid the catastrophe of negative conversation. Pick your self up from where you put yourself down. Stop allowing your mind to run away with negative thoughts. Learn how to overcome life's disappointments. Letting go of the past is a must in this last hour. Release it and let it go, whatever it is. Who wants self-pity? All that does is keep a chip on your shoulder.
Don't get stuck where you are. Always know that when one door closes, two doors open. Stop being hard and critical of yourself. Stop trying to fix something that you know cannot be fixed. This is the necessity of, "If You Can Look Up, You Can Get Up!" This book is designed to help change your life and set you back on target with a life of "victory."
One thing about GOD is that He always has a bigger plan. Jeremiah 29:11 reads, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." The more you dwell on the past, the more you block your future. Until you let go of the old, you will never receive the new. It is time to start trusting GOD in times of trouble. Jesus says in St. John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Don't allow your present trouble to turn you away from GOD or the church. The church is a haven of rest. Shepherds are designed to watch over your soul. Everybody, everywhere, every age and every color faces life's troubles. You are either on your way into trouble, in the middle of trouble, or coming out of trouble. No one is exempted from trouble, but "Trouble don't last always!"
In Philippians 4:7 the Bible reads, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." The Bible reads in Romans 8:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" The Bible reads in St. John 16:24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive that your joy may be full." The Bible reads in Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
So, as you can see, we all face hot spots in life. Noah faced mocking when he was told to build the Ark. Abraham faced mocking when he was told to offer his only son Isaac as an offering to GOD. Joseph faced prison. Moses faced the Red Sea. David faced Saul's attempts to kill him 21 times. Job faced great loss. Daniel faced the Lion's den. The Hebrew boys faced the fiery furnace. Stephen faced stoning. Paul faced shipwreck. Jesus faced the cross. So, what makes you and I any different?
When facing troubles of any kind, make sure you are not the cause. Many people are the cause of their own hardship through that foul spirit of disobedience to GOD, our Creator. When we disobey GOD, we set ourselves up for shipwreck. We must be aware of the "Jonah" spirit. We must follow GOD and quit questioning Him. Don't forget when we face trouble it does not mean we are out of GOD's will. Remember, GOD is always on our side in good times and bad.
Life gives lemons at times, but let GOD's power show through you in the midst of sour situations. Let GOD's power show through you in the midst of good or bad times, no matter what you face. Know that the storms are in our lives and they are there to meet the needs of other people. Many of the storms we face in our lives are only a test to be able to rescue them that face the same opposition. Turn what you face totally into the hands of GOD. Develop an unshakable confidence in GOD. Don't worry about anything. PRAY about everything. It's good to prepare for conflict but know that the victory comes from GOD. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:10-11, "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
This is your day for victory. Get your praise "on." Know that the praise burns the ears of the devil!!! Begin to turn your obstacles into opportunities, and know that your tomorrow is better than your today!!!
In your spare time I would like for you to read Romans 8:28, I John 4:4, St. Luke 10:19, Isaiah 54:17, Daniel 11:32, and St. John 10:10. These scriptures will begin to enlarge your vision in testing time. When we equip ourselves with the word of GOD, we put on the whole armor of GOD, and we develop the mentality of the warrior's mind set. See yourself breaking down barriers in your life. See yourself over the top. See yourself overcoming past failures. See yourself overcoming breakdowns. See yourself debt free. See yourself healed. See yourself prospering. See yourself renewing your youth. See yourself developing stronger and stronger. Begin to see yourself outside your box.
Take the limit off of GOD. See GOD as bigness in your life. See GOD as handling your impossibilities. GOD says believe Him for bigger things. Go beyond limited thinking. We know that limited thinking is "Stinking Thinking." GOD will go out of His way to get a miracle to you. He will cross a million people to spot you out. Ephesians 3:20 reads, "Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." Read these as inspiration: St. Luke 5:4, Ephesians 3:20, and St. Luke 1:34. As I said before in this book, "If You Can Look Up, You Can Get Up" Never, never, never lose hope in GOD. The Bible reads in I Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." Hope means to wish for something with expectation. It is to look forward with confidence. The Bible reads in Hebrews 10:35, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." I find hope is all a man and woman have. Life is a fight. We fight despair, despondency, weariness, hopelessness, defeats, etc. So we need hope because our hope turns into faith. Hope is the wings of faith. GOD is the GOD of hope and comfort. As long as GOD is alive, and He is alive and well, there is always hope for His people. So we should live GOD's best for our lives. I find the focus for faith is upward. We must "look up" no matter what we face or how bad it looks.
Look what David said in Psalm 121:1-2, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." In the midst of David's adversity, he set his eyes on the most high GOD, who is in the highest place. He overcame all of life's circumstances, casualties, disappointments and frustrations. We magnify what we dwell on. The bigger we make GOD, the smaller the problem becomes. We serve the great I AM; there is no time for losing hope. Stay in the ring; refuse to be knocked out. Grab your smelling salt and live!
Paul said in I Thessalonians 4:13, "That ye sorrow not, even as others, which have no hope." Romans 5:5 reads, "And hope maketh not ashamed." Hebrews 11:1 reads, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for." St. John 16:33 reads, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world." I Corinthians 15:57 reads, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Now do you see why I never, never, never lose hope? We have far more for us than against us because we have GOD. When we have GOD we are not the minority; we are the majority. Paul says in Romans 8:37, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Isaiah 54:17 reads, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn." Move from your place of "defeat," dry your tears, get your joy back, get back in the race, and put your boots back on. Do you know you have the blood of Jesus on your side?" We have all it takes to win the battles we face each day. Ephesians 6:13 reads, "Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Romans 8:31 reads, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:28 reads, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God."
In your inspirational time, read St. Luke 18:27 and Ephesians 3:20. As you can see, my forte is the word of GOD. The irony of the whole thing is that GOD is first no matter what. We should not be feeling sad, or lonely or melancholy all because of feeling deserted or abandoned. Let's not negate the fact that the WORD is real. We must stay agreeable and pleasant toward GOD. After all, you have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it. "Forced upon you, can't refuse it. Didn't seek it, didn't choose it. But, it's up to you to use it. You must suffer if you lose it. Give an account if you abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, but an eternity is in it."
Quoted from Dr. Benjamin Mays
Let's begin our journey of blissful living. After all, Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." I have always said to expect GOD's presence. Stay alert to His voice. The need for the Holy Spirit is so vital in these end times. That's why we must stay set for miracles. I tell people all of the time, "Don't lose focus on eternal life. It's time for the truth." The main ingredient is the word of GOD. We must always expect answers to our prayers. So keep the faith and begin to change your appetite towards the things of GOD; because there is power in the blood of Jesus. But, remember success is walking in love. Did you know that your answer is on the way? Remember that GOD is a restorer. No matter what you have lost in life, no matter what Satan has robbed from you or your past, you can get it all back!
In your sparetime read Joel 2:35. The Bible reads in James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." It is what GOD says to your heart that counts. Ask GOD to turn it around for you one more time. Job said in Chapter 14, verse 14, "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come!"
Are you the cause of disarray and blunders in your life? Are you the cause of distractions and wrong choices in your life? Are you the cause of past mistakes and misused wisdom? Are you the cause of disadvantages you face and present circumstances? Are you the cause of your lack of resource and despondency? Are you the cause of your difficulties and depression? Are you the cause of your decomposing attitude? Are you the cause of your hardships and frustrations? If not, then line up your words and back them up with faith and begin to win. Know the power and the value of words. Words are creators. Begin to speak life and faith over your circumstances. Begin to prophesy your future. Prophesy victory over your life. Prophesy to those dead dreams, those dry bones, Red Seas, lion's dens, and Lazarus situations. God says in Isaiah 57:19, "I create the fruit of the lips." Proverbs 18:21 reads, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Let's not lose the faith! Ladies and gentlemen, always remember, Eve lost the faith with disobedience. Moses lost the faith being a people pleaser. Aaron lost the faith making a false god. Miriam lost the faith making mockery of the prophet. Elijah lost the faith hiding from Jezebel. Samson lost the faith with Delilah. David lost the faith with Bathsheba. Abraham lost the faith with Hagar. Saul lost the faith with the witch of En-dor. Job lost the faith with hardship. Akan lost the faith as a thief. Peter lost the faith with cursing. Jeremiah lost the faith hiding in a dungeon. Ananias and Sapphira lost the faith lying to the Holy Spirit. Thomas lost the faith by doubting the resurrection. Don't you lose the faith. I know it's "tuff" at times, I know it gets hard in everyday life, but it's not over until you win! So, don't lose the faith!
Judas lost the faith by selling out his Savior. I always say, "Play with the bees and you'll get stung," "Play with fire and you'll get burned, "Tease a pit bull and you'll be bitten," "Strike a snake and he'll strike back," "Give a mouse a cookie and he'll want milk." "Give the devil an inch and he'll take a mile." Paul said in Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (6:13) and having done all, to stand (6:14) Stand therefore." Colossians 2:21 reads, "Touch not; taste not; handle not." James 4:7 reads, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 1 Peter 5:9 reads, "Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." I John 5:4 reads, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Did you know that the Word can keep you in any situation? Whatever we face in life, all of life's dilemmas, frustrations, circumstances, or roadblocks - the Word is there for us. David said in Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
The world we live in needs the word of GOD so badly. Eighty percent of our United States faces some type of mental problem. One million are addicted every night to some sort of sleeping pill. Fifty-five percent of our nation is under suicide watch. This is why I say it is time for a change, for the better. So, life brought you a setback. Get back up and win! Discover what drives you. It is not so much what you are driving, but what is driving you. Drop what holds you back. It is time to maximize your potential in life. Begin to live the life you have always desired or dreamed about. You were born rich in the eyes of GOD. GOD declares us royal because of His royal blood. Begin to create abundance in every area of your life. You and I are true winners. Regardless of what we feel or face, we have been declared true winners. We can break through any limitations and get on with life. It is time to turn all resentments and anger into love. We must begin to make peace. It is all about achieving victories in life. But, we must walk in love. According to Galatians 5:6, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love."
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Excerpted from If You Can Look Up, You Can Get Upby Byron C. Hayes Copyright © 2010 by Byron C. Hayes, Ph. D.. Excerpted by permission.
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