This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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                         By My Spirit

"'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Of Hosts"
(Zechariah 4:6b).

Some of you are trying to accomplish My kingdom tasks in your own might,
and that will not work.  I want you to lay that down--lay down your plans,
lay down your strategies, and lay down abilities.  Lay them down at the
foot of the cross and turn them over to Me.  Then receive My power, My
anointing and My strategies in their stead.  Take up My anointing and My
strength, for I always equip My own for what I call them to do.

Do not presume how I want to work in any given situation.  Instead come to
Me and get the strategy from Me--then obey what I tell you to do.  Child,
I will give you the strategy that is exactly right for your situation if
you ask Me for it.  You need My strategy to obtain My victory, you can't
figure it out apart from Me.  And you can't implement it unless My Spirit,
who lives inside of you, empowers you. So you need to depend on Me, both
for direction and for the empowerment to carry out that direction.  Child
you must do it My way or it will not work.

Some of you are waiting on Me for a miracle when I have already told you
what to do.  You don't see to understand that I am waiting on you to step
out in obedience before I work that miracle on your behalf.  So we will both
continue to wait on the other and nothing will be accomplished.  Others of
you are running ahead of Me in your own strength when I have not yet given
you clear direction. You don't realize that you are creating your own
Ishmaels, and that later on you will need Me to rescue you from them.

Child, you can't grab a strategy and run with it, you have to get your
strategy from Me, through My indwelling Spirit.  Then you have to obey Me
when I give it to you.

Some of you are trying to accomplish kingdom works by power when the thing
that is needed is patience and love and a gentle spirit.  There is no
greater power than the power of My love flowing through My own.  Child, as
you look to Me and allow My love to flow out of you, I will break down the
biggest gates that hinder you.  I will open a way for you where there has
been no way.

Others of you are allowing the devil to trample on you when I have already
given to authority trample on him. I have given you authority to trample on 
snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy**, but you 
must use that authority under My Spirit's direction, or the enemy will keep 
on harassing you.

So how do you know what to do? How do you know when to war and when to
love?  How do you know when to wait and when to act? You know by asking Me
for direction, purposing in your heart to obey whatever I tell you to do.

I am able to figure out what needs to be done, and I am able to gain the
victory.  My Spirit will lead you and guide you, if only you will follow Me.
It is not possible for you to do what I have given you to do in your own
might; you cannot accomplish it by your own power or by your own strength.
But know that I can sure accomplish it by My Spirit working through you.
My Spirit resides in you, He shows you what I am doing and then He empowers
you to do it with Me.  You need Him to succeed; He will work in you to
glorify My name through you, if only you will yield to Him and obey His
directions.

Child of Mine, I want you to start thinking big, for I want to demonstrate
My might and My power through you.  I want to use you to do the impossible,
that My name might be glorified.

Be filled with My Spirit, and purpose in your heart to obey Me. Then look
expectantly to Me, and I will do amazing things through you.

** Luke 10:19 NIV