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I have grown up hearing the yearly "hurricane survival" warnings in South Louisiana. Although I don't know when the drill became second nature to me, but I can spout off the emergency checklist at the drop of a hat.

If the weather center issues a warning for the New Orleans area, I don't have to hunt through my kitchen junk drawer for the "what to do in case of a hurricane" brochure they gave me at Popeye's Fried Chicken. I know what to do in a "storm watch."

I'll need batteries for the radio and flashlights (if the electricity is out); bathtubs filled with water (to flush the toilets in case the water is cut off), a hurricane tracking map, candles, matches and plenty of non-perishable food and drinking water.

Everything that is not nailed down outside will have be brought inside and all of the windows will be taped or boarded up (the strong winds can turn garbage cans and lawn chairs into flying torpedoes).

Always watch and pray so that you can readily detect the warning signals and spring into action with the Word.
- Cathy Duplantis
I'll be sure to have gas in the cars and cash in my purse should evacuation become necessary. (I don't have a problem with leaving town. Joseph was warned in a dream to evacuate his family to Egypt after the birth of Jesus. If the Holy Spirit says leave, we leave.)

But long before any storm thinks about heading my way, I know the importance of establishing a survival plan in advance, watching for the warning signals and staying prepared to act.

This same practical wisdom can be applied to overcome any attack of the devil. You should be establishing your survival plan by searching God's Word for promises concerning healing, protection, favor, peace, prosperity, wisdom, guidance and anything you need.

Feed on the Word and keep it in your heart and mouth until it becomes second nature to you. Always watch and pray so that you can readily detect the warning signals and spring into action with the Word. No matter what storm the devil can brew, God has given you power to overcome it. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

There is something wonderfully peaceful about establishing a survival plan based on the Word of God. Jesus told us that we should be of good cheer (courageous) in times of tribulation, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Think of something that is in the world right now that is causing you tribulation. Jesus has already overcome it! I like to say it this way, "Don't give up, Cheer up!" By faith you can release the force of joy (the strength of God) and be of good cheer. Rejoice!

The Word of God is your map for success and victory. If you invest time in studying it, you will know what is available to you as a blood bought child of God. Second Timothy 2:15 tells us: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

You see Jesus had established His survival plan in advance and it was based solely on God's Word. Jesus was victorious over every temptation of the devil because He rightly divided the word of truth. The devil was so confused and frazzled by the Word, he had to take several months off to regroup.

When Jesse and I knew that God was calling us to full time ministry, we carefully considered the cost. We had heard about some ministers that loaded themselves down with debt and were swallowed up before they could fulfill the call of God on their lives. We recognized that they had made the wrong choices and we were determined to not make the same mistakes.

Every choice had to be led by the Spirit of God and not by the dictates of our flesh. This was not a baby step, it was gigantic. We couldn't afford to take advice from people in the boat, we were walking on water and only the voice of God would do. Only God knew the path that we had to take to complete the calling on our lives.

Some people thought we were crazy. "What will you live on?" "Where will you go?" They couldn't believe that Jesse would walk away from a great future at Shell Oil Company to travel around the country preaching the Gospel. Although we didn't really know where we were going, we knew who was leading. Like many that came before us, we chose to answer the call of God by faith.

Hebrews 11:8-10 says, "By faith Abraham, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

Although Abraham didn't know where he was going, he knew that God was leading him. His eyes were focused on the promise and he did not allow obstacles and difficulty to stop the plan of God for his life. There was no going back. He had made the right choice and was committed to walk in it.

Although we may not have a blueprint or a table of contents, we can know that God is directing our paths. When we didn't know what to do, we stood on Proverbs 16:9, "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps."

When you make the choice to live by the Word, the Holy Spirit will direct and guide you every step of the way. Even if you have missed a few steps, and gotten off the track, Jesus is always ready to forgive you and put you on the right path.

When I pull up to the gas pump, my mind is made up: I am going to fill up my car with as much gasoline as possible. I understand that the pump is designed to stop automatically when the tank is full, but you'll never see me stop at that point. I know there is always room for more and I am determined to keep pressing the pump a little at a time until the gas is totally filled to the brim.

It has become a challenge to see how much gas I can get in my tank. Jesse's the same way. I have known him to shake the car as though he is leveling off the gas tank and start pumping again until the fumes are all out and it is completely filled up.

This should be our attitude when it comes to getting filled up with the Word of God. Never be satisfied with just enough, move into overflow. The amount of your own spiritual growth is directly related to the time and effort that you put into prayer and reading God's Word.

You have probably heard the saying, "Seven days without God makes one weak." God always has more insight into His ways and purposes that He wants to put into us. He has deep things that He can only reveal through study of His Word. That is the key to bearing fruit and steadily growing in the knowledge of God.

Soon after I was born again the Word of God became a vital part of my life. I had never read the Bible before that time and was thrilled about the wonderful things God had written to me in His Word. It wasn't just words on a page; it was Holy Spirit inspired words that were alive and powerful.

I couldn't learn fast enough, I wanted to know all that God had for me. No matter what the situation, I would always think, "What does the Word say?" Then I would search the Word for my answer, write it down, meditate on my promise until it was rooted in my heart. I quickly learned that real bible faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible.

I want you to know today that God's Word is not a far away, unreachable thing for you to take hold of. No matter what you are going through, regardless of the lies of the devil, God can be relied upon to bring His Word to pass. In Luke 21:33 Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Words shall not pass away." There is nothing more secure, nothing more powerful and nothing more enduring than God's Word.

The Word of God lives and abides forever! It has power to transform failure, lack and confusion into victory, abundance and peace each and every day. Not only will the Word establish a survival plan that will overcome any storm in life, it will reveal warning signals and keep you prepared for action.

Make a quality decision to daily live by the Word and you will see the invisible, believe the incredible and receive the impossible. It is an awesome way to live!

Jesse Duplantis Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Cathy Duplantis
Web site: Jesse Duplantis Ministries
 
Reverend Cathy Duplantis is an anointed teacher of the Gospel dedicated to living by faith and inspiring others to do the same. Cathy is the wife of Evangelist Jesse Duplantis. She has worked continually with her husband in ministry since it began in 1978, serving as Administrator, Editor in Chief of Voice of the Covenant magazine, and television co-host.
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