Love Puts Others First

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

Romans 12:10

Love is not only essential to obtaining peace upon this earth; love is also vital in adhering to the will of God… The word of God tells us that we were given a New Commandment regarding love in the gospel of John through the very mouth of Jesus Christ; in this gospel we find these words recorded, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Notice that Jesus says you MUST love one another; loving is not optional or something that we can turn on and off in the body of Christ… When we love we are not just showing kindness to one another; the love spoken of in that portion of scripture speaks to the fact that we are actually put God on display in our very lives as we are told in the bible that God is love…  This kind of love goes beyond a relationship and can even be seen in how we deal with our adversaries… The love you have for someone must be universal to everyone and not just people who show that love back to you; Christ showed this love in coming to the earth for a people who didn’t accept and rejected Him; remember that the word reminds in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us… He didn’t die because of the love you showed Him, but because of the unconditional love that He had for you… This is the principle we must live by, this love is what governs our ability to adhere to God’s command and live out His will… This is the very reason why Paul pens this verse to the Church of Rome and says, be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. One of the biggest indications of our love for God is manifested in how we love our fellow man… The bible reminds us that God is love; so we showcase if God lives inside of us by the acts of love that we display… 

Make no mistake about it; one of the biggest areas that we are tested the most is in our dealings with others… God takes love to another dimension and asks that we do the same; you must have a love that will put others first no matter what the outcome may be in your life… Christ endured the pain, beatings and the cross because of a love for a man whom had never loved Him… You have to keep showing love to those who reject you, those who despitefully use you and those who don’t love you… This passage redefines love as we know it today…  I can speak for myself and tell you that there have been many times that people have irked my nerves or even had me contemplating words that should not be uttered from one’s mouth; however, in your Christian walk your relationship with others shows your maturity in Christ… This is not to be taken as though you are to let people walk over you, but that you must come to a point in your life where you can deal with them in a manner that still will edify the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… Think about all the nasty people that Christ encountered on His way to the cross… Insults were hurled in His direction, people spit upon Him; however He did not say a mumbling word… The very acts that were rendered to Christ were unjustified and horrible to say the least; however through His devotion to the will of God not only was His father exalted, but He not sits at the right hand with all power in His hand… This is a prime of example for us to live by and also why Paul pens this verse in His letter to the Church of Rome… We must be kind to one another not only because we are God’s children, but also because we never know what each person we encounter is going through or dealing with… Countless times people have come to me and said that I encouraged them by my words and then proceeded to tell me that they were having a bad day or going through some trying times… 

Each person that you encounter can be led to Christ if they don’t know Him or be encouraged in Christ when they felt like giving up…Likewise, if we are not kind to one another, you can detour someone from their walk with God or even give them fuel as to why they don’t need to turn their lives over to Him… Each situation we face is a test… Each trial we face is another opportunity for us to show our faith and for God to manifest His faithfulness… You will have people enter your life with negative thoughts, you will have people who will try and speak on your past and question your future and it is of the utmost importance that you don’t stoop to their level, but that you stay focused on God’s word and do what Paul tells us 11 verses later in this chapter and that is too, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The enemy wants to turn you from God’s plan, he wants to disconnect you from the will of God, but you must stay the course, don’t allow him to get you thinking in response to negative words or evil intentions… When we focus on the problems that someone has caused we give life to the enemy to break down our thoughts and then detour us from aligning ourselves with the very will of God… This is the very reason why Paul stated in the verses written early in this chapter that we must be “transformed by the renewing of our mind…” Your mind must be focused on the Lord and the way to keep it there is to speak kind words in the face of unkind people…. To say you love someone means you have embraced that whole person despite their blemishes or faults. To say the word love brings an element of commitment when things aren’t always on the straight and narrow. Many people use that word, but never live the meaning. The word love is defined by Christ in that he preferred us over himself; He went the extra mile on Calvary when He didn’t have too, and He gave His life for a love He had and we didn’t even deserve to receive. That is LOVE; and indeed it is kindly affection!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He'll Be Your Foundation

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33:6

Nothing in this world will last; the foundations you build upon when focused on the measures of success offered according to the worldly views will not last and the dreams you have will soon crash and burn… There are a lot of things which we seek in this world, (happiness, peace and stability) which can only be obtained through the grace and mercy of God… Today’s devotional reminds us that God is the only solidified foundation as Isaiah starts this verse by saying, He will be the sure foundation for your times… No matter the heights of depths that you reach or fall to, the foundation you have upon the Lord will not waver nor give way… Amidst instability you have a stable source who is Jesus Christ… The word of God tells in the 13^th chapter of Hebrews that in times of despair we can look to our elders and call to remembrance how God brought them through and find comfort in knowing that the same God that did it back then can do it today… It is in verses 6 through 8 that we find these words, So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The enemy wants you to seek after things which will not last; however, the word of God tells us (just as we studied previously) that you must lay up your treasures in heaven where a thief cannot steal and moth cannot destroy… This is the sure foundation we see in Isaiah and this is also where we can go to obtain wisdom and knowledge for our everyday affairs as Isaiah says that the Lord is a rich store… God has everything you need to sustain you through the day, week and years that you see upon this earth… 

He can open up doors and make ways out of no way; however, the key to this happening in your life resides in your heart having the fear of the Lord… God will move on your behalf, but you must take the first step and turn your life over to Him… This fear is not a debilitating fear but rather a delivering fear… God is waiting for you to have reverence of Him so that He can take you to places that no one ever thought possible… People seeking success in this world will ask you how you can smile in the midst of adversity when you don’t have what they think you need and you can let them know that you don’t fear appearance or circumstances… This all points to that sure foundation, when things change or take a turn for the worse you don’t have to worry about how this or that will come abut because of the relationship you have with the anchor that is Jesus Christ… The book of Hebrews not only speaks about Jesus being the same, but lets us know in the 6^th chapter that, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. God is going to keep you, He will provide all your needs according to His riches and you will not fail as you walking according to His divine plan… When we study the foundation of Christ I am reminded of the store told in the gospel of Matthew… It is in the 7^th chapter that we find these words, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

I recite this parable to say that we all can establish a foundation and build, but this message lets us know that in times of despair not every foundation is sturdy even though it may appear to be able to hold up when things are going okay… This applies to our jobs and relationships, things appear secure as long as there are no unforeseen situations; however, when a storm rises we are often left wondering how things fall apart so quickly… Isaiah tells us today that we have a foundation that we can depend on; we have a solid base that will not be wavered or destroyed in Jesus Christ! In times of trouble, in times of need, we have a (n) advocate that will and can change our situations and help us to come through victorious… Matthew 7:7 says, “ask, seek and knock!” Ask God about your situation, seek the answer in him and know that you will be able to knock on His door and ultimately knock down any problem that you face! Isaiah goes on to tell us that the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure! If we understand all that God has promised, let us put it into action by respecting him… To fear the Lord means to revere Him, admire Him, and obey Him! Show your fear of the Lord by doing the things that are pleasing in his sight! Don’t defile your body and the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells, don’t give up when times become difficult or hard to bare! Don’t accept the easy road and settle for less than what God desires for you! The world is testing you, trying to destroy you and your visions, your future and the generations that follow you! Stand up and have faith in God, knowing that when you stand up your feet will be planted like a tree by the rivers and you will not be MOVED! The key to God showing up in your life, the key to him securing your salvation and lifting you up is within you and how you display your respect and faith towards him! You have the power to release God’s power in your life!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Keep Planting The Seeds

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 4:2

There will come a time when all will come to say let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… This message encourages the believer in Christ to continue his/her pursuit of knowing Him in the most intimate of ways… So many are confounded with the laws of the land that they have begun to turn from the path of Christ and follow the thoughts of mankind… I declare to you today to stay the course, continue to fight the good fight of faith knowing this that your labour is not in vain… Micah says many nations shall come; sadly, this teaches us today that not everyone will turn to the Lord, there will be some who will simply miss the opportunity of salvation which has been placed before them… There are some people on this earth whom you will encounter today and will see there face no more, there are some who will reject Christ and will be begging and pleading for a second chance like Lazarus or even find themselves asking for a warning to be sent to their friends of a similar mindset… This is a sobering reality for us to make sure that our houses are in order; however, this message also brings another point to mind in that we must display Christ wherever we go and in whatever we do… We are assured that some will miss out, but knowing that many nations shall come, lets me know that there will be others that will recognize the errors of their ways and will come to know Christ by their encounter with you… 

They will see all that you endure and how you have remained faithful to Christ, they will see the blessing being bestowed upon your life as you are delivered and will come to you and say let us go up the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob… People will be taught by your experiences and the way you handle situations… They will see the mistakes they have made when they see the course which you are traveling and how the hand of God guides you… This passage lets us know that there is a day ordained before the foundation of this earth when Jesus would come back a second time; this passage also suggest that between now and then our task is to let our light shine so that others may see the glow and have light provided to see the darkness that is around them… There are people in your life which are waiting to watch your faith in action; they will want to obtain knowledge from the Father and will seek that He will teach them of His ways… You are a prized jewel in the will of God which is why the enemy is attacking you at every possible turn… There are lives to be touched, eyes to be opened and ears to receive a word and it all starts with you… This passage really drives home this point when Micah goes on to say …and we will walk in His paths; because it lets me know that there are some people out there who have not taken steps in knowing Christ because they don’t know the first step to take… You have to know something about God in order to seek and follow after Him… Your task today is simple, keep praising through all situations, keep praying amidst every trial and hardship and keep your eyes fastened on the Lord even though things will be clamoring for your attention… There are many on this earth walking to their own beat of their own drum, many that try to defy laws and do things according to their way of thinking… 

Micah teaches us today that there will indeed come a time when many nations will say “Come…” After trying things their own way and not receiving the results they expected, their are many will come to know that Christ is the ONLY way and that peace is only obtained through Him… The bible declares that, “at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess…” Micah reaffirms that message today! There are many countries right now today that don’t even allow bibles to be carried into their lands! Many people who have the own views of religion and especially Jesus Christ; we have seen many protest against His name and many that degrade His sacrifice by calling Him a profit and messenger of the Lord! These people are denying the truth of Christ and what He has done for all mankind… While on earth Jesus informed His disciples and followers several times of all the other gods and false worship that would take place… We see on the day of Pentecost that when the word of the Lord was spoken to those gathered on one accord that Peter stood up and God’s gospel began its journey throughout the world; every man will come to know and understand that Jesus died on the cross and that He is the only God that lives today and forevermore… Christ desire is that all should be saved and His word must go forth so that we can let others have the chance to inherit Eternal Life! A lot of people have denied Christ simply because they don’t know him; your testimony can go a long way to saving a soul, your life example can be the beacon light that that person needs to be shined into their lives! Christ will return, but right now the time for us has come to let the nations know who we serve and the power that He possesses… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Heaven Is Your Safe Haven

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:20-21

Today’s devotion focuses on the goals we have set for ourselves along the journey of life that we travel… As a child of God your main goal is pleasing the Lord; this is obtained by living today’s focus verses daily instead of speaking them verbally… The things that you cherish most are often times the things that your heart desires and the word of God reminds us throughout its pages about the importance of our heart… Remember in the Old Testament when Samuel was sent to anoint David as king, the Lord told him that “the Lord looks at the heart…” I recall this to our attention to reinforce the point that no matter what you do with the life that God has given you, every action will be judged by the motivation which came from your heart… This is why Jesus tells us to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… You have to have your heart focused on the Lord if you want to achieve and accomplish the divine will that He has designed and ordained for you… It wasn’t until Jesus was taken up from this earth that the disciples begin to realize that the true reward wasn’t here on earth but in heaven… As we study these verses, we must come to realize just as the disciples whom walked with Jesus; that we are not working for a reward we can receive in this lifetime… We may say promotions, we may say increase we may see abundance, but we are never to mistake these things for the true richest that God has stored up for us in heaven… In the blink of eye people can change, situations can flip-flop and jobs can be lost… 

This is why we are told to “…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal…” The term, “here today and gone the next” does apply to this life and all that we can obtain in it; however as a child of God we are promised not only victory, but we are assured that once we are in the Father’s hand, nothing in this world or outside of it can pluck us out of His grace and mercy… We are protected and our salvation is secured… I don’t know about you, but if you are secure in Christ and nothing can remove you from his protection; then why wouldn’t you store your entire treasure in Him…? I ask this question today, because so many of us confess the power of God, but try to store up our own treasures and become slaves to things of this world… We say we love God, but the inward being desires to build security on this earth which is never secure… This is why money can never buy happiness or why searching for answers in this life will only lead us on a wild goose chase… The answer is in Him, the security is in Him and all that you need can be found in Him… To make this simpler, Matthew is calling for us to stop living according to the standards of this world because we are told that this world will indeed pass away… Your treasures on this earth will not travel with you nor buy you a mansion in heaven… So many today have become focused on worldly gain and have put their faith on the back-burner of life… Notice what Matthew says, where you store your treasure is where your heart is; where is your heart today? Is it trying to please man and fit in with the standards of society? Is it that your heart is succumbing to peer pressure and corruption, or is it in the hands of God holding to His will and plan for your life? Let us examine ourselves today and take note of what motivates us in the morning, is it a paycheck, or the fact that God gave us another day on this earth? 

There are many who are rich financially but not spiritually and sadly their finances will leave when the body returns to the ground! This is what Matthew is saying; don’t put your eggs in the basket of the world because eventually you will lose all that you thought you gained… The devil wants you to think that you have all you need, but when your life is required what will you have to offer God! He isn’t worried about how much money you made, but how many souls you helped with it! He’s not worried about the house and car your have, but how many people you allowed a place to sleep or gave a ride too… Don’t become spiritually poor by becoming worldly rich! These things will pass, and in the end you will give an account for all that you have done! Let us understand that money is not evil, it’s the love of it… God wants you to prosper, He wants you to be comfortable; however, He does not want money to control your life and your decisions… When Matthew speaks of the Moth and thieves he isn't just referring to riches, but he is also talking about your soul… Your heart is exposed wherever your treasure lies… If you have placed your treasures in the world, then your heart is exposed to the world and the world will attack you, damage you and ruin you; just as a moth and thieves! Remember John 10:10 says, “the thief cometh not, but to steal, kill and destroy!” The thief is stealing you household, he’s stealing your blessings, and he is stealing your chance to have eternal life… Don’t allow him to steal anymore, place your treasures and heart in God’s hands knowing that you will be safe and covered for all eternity… Jesus said that when you are in the hand of the father no man can pluck you out… Place your treasures in God’s hand, it’s the safest place for you to invest!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Avoid The Headache; Teach Your Children

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Isaiah 54:13

Instilling the word of God from the womb is how you assure a right path and plain vision for your offspring… This is not to say that everything will be perfect, but what this does mean is that when you bring up your child in the word of God, he or she will always have that seed which will sprout at some point in their lives… This is why the great proverb says that as we train up our children in the way that they should go when they are old they will not depart from it… Training has to take place in your home, through your words as well as your actions… We don’t have to look any further than our own household to see the damage that this world has done in the lives of children and young adults… Technology has made the temptations of the flesh so easy to be cured along with the visible defiling of one’s body and spiritual makeup… The desire of peace and love has been uprooted by the desire to be accepted and to be loved… So many young people in today’s life are looking for love and have found a door open to them that lead to all kinds of destruction and despair… I know that that there have been many opportunities in my life that have presented themselves and truthfully speaking, had I accepted them I probably wouldn’t be here today… We see the problems that we face daily; we see the problems that are presented before our very eyes; however the question that I pose to you today is what are you going to do about it…? Kids are being taught how to dance provocatively at early ages, they are being taught curse words as soon as they can utter their first words and my the question that we are asked today through the prophet Isaiah is what are we teaching our children… 

There is a difference between instructing and teaching… Instructing is giving direction or steps, but teaching is the ability to break down instructions and show how to reach and obtain the end result… Isaiah says in today’s focus verse, “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord…” If you want your child on the right path devote time in your day to teach them the goodness of God… If you want them to respect their body and themselves, show them the love that Christ has poured out on the cross for them and the desire that He has for all to love and adore His name… When you teach your child the word of God and live a life that displays those teachings, Isaiah tells us that “…great shall be the peace of thy children…” This doesn’t mean that they won’t make mistakes; it doesn’t mean that they won’t give in sometimes, but what it does mean is that they will know the right path, they will be able to understand your motives and they will eventually turn and follow the way that you have taught them since their early childhood… Proverbs 22:6 teaches us that we are to “train up a child in the way he should go…” One of the biggest mistakes we can make in raising children is not teaching them discipline and obedience right out of the womb… Several times in the gospel Jesus refers to children leading and how we must be as a young child in order to receive the promises of God… Isaiah reminds us today of the importance of bringing up a child under the faith and roots of Jesus Christ! Isaiah reminds us today of how critical it is to instill this message of Christ while the very ears, minds and focus of the child can be molded and directed with the least resistance… 

So many children have made a choice to follow the path of darkness, they have decided to“see what the world has to offer” and soon will find themselves to be another statistic that has been pushed aside and left for dead… Sadly, most of this has happen on the watch of the parents; we have seen the confused child and have not extended the hand of love that they needed, we have seen the mistakes made and have failed to talk to the child before the decisions were made and the results were presented! God is telling us today that if we train up a child in the way he should go that when he is old he will not depart… Think about how young kids are smiled at when they dance to the latest rap song or shake their butts in fun; however, soon that parent will come to know that what the bible says is true “…a little yeast leavens the whole loaf…” First the child is making you life while listening to degrading songs and soon those laughs turn to tears when they end up selling themselves short seeking the approval of their peers… Your children are diamonds that can’t be recognized in the world; remember that they were created in His image and that Jesus Christ said the kingdom of God belongs to them… Make sure that you children know that they are loved, make sure they know that they have a bright future, and make sure that they know that they always have a friend to talk too… The peace of your child comes through love, support and encouragement… Teach them the will of God no matter how long or hard it may seem; if you want peace and prosperity for your child, then don’t let them go and simply watch how they turn out!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He's Able To Keep You From Falling

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.

Jude 1:24-25

Notice how Jude starts off by saying, Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling; we just talked on yesterday about how the Lord gave His angels command over you and today Jude reminds us that the Lord is the only one who can keep you from falling… You will not make it on your own, you will not overcome without the Lord and you will not reach higher heights without the wings of His angels… When I imagine the beauty of heaven I cannot wait to see it; however, the key to the pearly gates is only found in the blood of the lamb… Not only is Jesus the one source to keep from falling, He has the ability to make you a co-heir and justify your entry to Eternal Life… This is why Jude doesn’t stop at saying that He can keep you from falling, he goes on to say and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy… Christ finds joy in your commitment to His will and plan… Christ knows the bumpy road you travel, He knows the scars that you have picked up along the way and this devotion today reminds us that as long as we continue to look to Him, He will continue to prepare that special place for us… As a child I often wondered why I heard this particular passage so often in church, I don’t know about you, but often times I hear this scripture repeated at the close of worship service as part of the preacher’s Benediction… 

It took me some time to really grasp what was being said; when we live the church we are leaving likeminded believers (hopefully) and going into the spiritual battle taking place in the world; the benediction reminds us that we must keep looking up as my father would say… Faith is something that we must display in the world and not speak it just in church… This is the crux of what Jude is saying, the men that are trying to lure you from God path, the situations that are trying to deter Gods plan; whatever it is, keep looking up, trust that He won’t fail you and believe that He is stamping your life with His divine seal of approval which means there are better things ahead… There is only one wise God; however, there are so many of us who have small gods in our lives that we worship daily, some of us doing this without even really knowing it… Jude wants you to know that the glory, majesty, dominion and power of God will be established in your life… You are on the right path and charting the right course; all other avenues will fail and fall; only Christ will last both now and for ever… I cannot help but to repeat the fact that Jude is closing his message (just like a benediction) where he begins, with his eyes focused on the Lord! It is very important that as we leave the place of worship that our eyes remained focused on God, we must remember who has kept us from falling, who has interceded on our behalf and presented faultless through His sacrifice on the cross… Jude is saying today that we must keep these things in mind, when we leave the church we need to keep these things near our heart… 

Once we walk out the doors we have re-entered the world and surely there are many things that will try and distract us or cause us to lose focus; we surely have test awaiting us when we leave the church [sometimes before we even get out of our pews] and Jude is reminding us how important it is to remain focused on the Lord… It is through God that you are here; it is by His power that you have the breath of life in your lungs and it is by His might that you have the activity of your limbs and are clothed in your right mind… We look unto God thanking Him for His goodness; we look unto God thanking Him for allowing us to partake in every moment of life… There is only one wise God who has all dominion and power; his name is Jehovah, He is the prince of peace and the sustainer of Heaven and Earth… Don’t be fooled by the things of this world, don’t be caught up by what man may say or try to do to you… You may slip here and there, you may make a mistake here and there, but you will not fall because of the God you serve, you will not be found full of fault, because He has already paid sins’ penalty for you… Jude says we look to the Lord because He is able to keep us from falling, but he also says that He can present us faultless before the presence of His glory, Jesus is always making intercessions on our behalf… The blameless lamb always has you and I on His mind and He will not allow a day to go by without trying to bring us back in to the right relationship with God… There is only one wise God and Savior, He poured out His life on Calvary and sits at the right hand as we read this passage… He will keep you in perfect peace as long as your mind stays on Him! Take courage today in knowing that if you keep your eyes focused on the Lord you will not lose balance in the world!!!!!

So as we close today, let us NOW LOOK UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Angels Are Watching Over You

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." 

Psalm 91:11-12

David records in the 37^th psalm verses 23 and 24 that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and that the Lord will uphold Him… “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” This same message is recorded in today’s focus verses taken from the 91^st psalm… I refer to the verses from the 37^th Psalm while focusing on today’s devotional because of the fact that as a child of God we will stumble; however, we can take pride in knowing that we shall not fall or be utterly cast down… There are things in life that will trip you up, situations that will cause you to become uneasy and sometimes we may find ourselves wavering amidst the storms we face; wherever you are and whatever you are going through, the message of the day is that God has given His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in al thy ways… The writer of this Psalm is unknown; I say that to let you know that you can claim ownership of these powerful verses in your life… You can place your name as the writer to declare that God will protect you wherever you go and whatever type of situations that you face… I tell you to declare this today because we have to get out of the mindset that things will not happen to us… Notice what the verses say, God has given His angels charge over you to keep you, this does not meant to prevent or deter, but simply to keep you… There are things in your life that you have to endure and be exposed to and the angels of the Lord are here to keep you together when you faced with something that will tear you apart without the assistance of the aforementioned angels… 

Take note of the very next thing that I am about to say, not everyone who tries to step in and prevent something from happening in your life is actually helping you… There are some things that you need to go through, there are something’s that you need to face and some growing pains that you cannot avoid… The word of God makes it clear to us today, in our focus verses the next portion says, they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone… The angels have you in their hands; however, don’t let the enemy have you believing that you have slipped out of their hands because you experience a down season in your life… Take courage because what the word of God teaches me today is that even in the worse situation, the plan of the enemy will not prevail… When we choose to abide in the tent of the Lord and make His will our covering we will be kept… This 91^stpsalm records in the earlier verses that “…a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you if you make the Lord your dwelling place…” So many of us currently are dwelling in the wrong places, we are taking up residence in dark places and put our trust and confidence in all the wrong things… Make no mistake about it, as a child of God we will observe tragedy, we will face hardships; however, we will not be torn apart, we will not be broken down beyond measure and we will not be defeated… God has given angels charge over you in your everyday affairs… This is good news today because this tells me that I am not alone, this battle is not my own and I have help in the time of trouble… There is hope for you in the midst of your storms and obstacles… There is encouragement for all in their times of despair and misfortune… 

The psalmist today reminds us that God will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways…” Whether you believe it or not, even in the worse of circumstances God is right by your side, whether you maintain your faith or not God is still watching every second of your life… His angels are with you, they are walking by your side, they are encouraging you to keep fighting and they are lifting you up in your greatest time of need… One of the biggest misconceptions we have as Christians is to think that we are never to experience heartache or pain, Jesus (the blameless Lamb) endured things we could never imagine or even fathom (think about the night He sweat drops of blood knowing His life was coming to an end and then think about being whipped and stretched out on a cross while people hurl insults at you)… Christ endured all this but received all power on earth and in heaven… We are not asked to suffer as Christ did, but we are asked to recognize that suffering is a part of our spiritual makeup and that we will become better Christians through it… Gold is purified through fire; however, the interesting thing about gold is that there are two things that come out through purification… The first thing that is expelled by the fire is “dross” which is a meaningless additive; however, the second element that comes from gold is silver… Knowing this, teaches me that as I go through the fires of life, every obstacle that increases my pain is taking me closer to reaching the level God has called me too… Silver is considered second place, God desires for you to be gold which simply means that your trials will be harder and harder…Your first level is removing the dross, this could be friends, habits, or even relationships… The next step is transforming from silver to gold, this requires you to not become complacent with being a child of God, and it means going the extra mile instead of just giving your life to Christ on a Sunday morning… Today, smile because you know that God is watching over you and walk in faith believing that God has promised to keep you in all things…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Blessings Follow Obedience

In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22:17-18

There is blessing in obedience… The things that you do which God has commanded you to do have not gone unnoticed and you have to stand in faith knowing that a blessing is on the way… The Lord says that you will be blessed to Abraham because of the fact that thou hast obeyed my voice… God has been speaking to mankind since the very creation of man and it is up to us as to whether or not we hear and obey His voice… There are a lot of things in this life which clutter our ear gate to the point that we cannot hear the voice of God; however Jesus Christ tells us in the 10^th chapter of John, verse 27 that “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” You may be at a point in your life where you are constantly praying to God for a blessing; you are laying before Him all your cares and have come to the conclusion that He may simply not be answering your prayers… This devotion today reminds us that we must obey the voice of God if we want to receive the blessings of God… Make no mistake about it, God indeed is hearing even the faintest of cries; however, the problem is not God hearing you but you having the ability to hear Him… As you pray God may be calling your to walk in obedience and you have not adhered to that call which is why the blessing your anticipate has been delayed in coming… This passage taken from the book of Genesis is penned at the time in which Abram has received his call from the Lord… Abraham was promised manifold blessing from the Lord… The Lord tells him in our two focus verses today that He will bless him, multiply his seed and allow him to possess the gate of his enemies… One can read these promises and say that Abraham must have been favored by the Lord and truly was “…a friend of God…” which he is called in a couple of scriptures recorded in the bible… The favor of God which resulted in this manifold blessing in the life of Abraham did not come without a measure of obedience and faith displayed in Abraham’s life… 

The word of God tell us that “obedience is better than sacrifice” and I proclaim that statement from the bible to say that God has plans for you; however, He needs you to acknowledge Him and obey the commands that He has and will lay before you… See we read scriptures like these and then we assume that we can just pray to God about what we want and He will “supply all our needs (a portion of scripture that we all love to speak)…” Let us take time today to not only read the promises of God, but also learn to understand what it is that we must do in order to see these promises fulfilled in our lives… Abraham was told of these promises; however he had to take on several challenges in his life in order to see them come to pass… The first step in Abraham’s life was to accept the will of God… If we do not accept the will and plan that God has for us, we can never see His blessings bestowed in our lives… By accepting the will of God, we turn from our own desires and allow Him to direct us… This key point is how Abraham was able to leave the home he had known his whole life and travel into the territory of the enemy… There are many of us that profess our faith in God, but we don’t show it when he calls us to move… I know from my own personal experience that I have caused more chastisement upon my life than was needed because I choose to honor God with my lips but not my heart… You may be in a comfortable place, you may be in the midst of a storm or you may want to stay where you are because you don’t know where your next step will lead you… 

Whatever the case may be, wherever you are right now, if you want to see God’s promises fulfilled, if you want to be victorious, than you must adhere to His call and do what He desires for you to do… Abraham was called to leave all that he had known, there might be people in your life that you must leave behind, relationships that you must end or even a job that you must say farewell too… The only thing that Abraham knew when he traveled to the land of Canaan was that God told him to go there… Stop trying to put all the pieces to the puzzle together before you step out on faith, stop trying to add things up in your finite mind before you are willing to trust the Lord, the fact that He has called you and made his vision for your life known to you should be enough for you to move according to His will and way…  Notice in these two verses not only all the promises that God makes, but what the last part of the 18^th verse says… After the promises are recorded these verses conclude by saying, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice…” Nations would be blessed because Abraham has obeyed God’s voice… There are people in your life that will be blessed by your willful obedience to the word of God… If you want to see your child come home, stay in the word of God, if you want to see your family restored, stay in the will of God, if you want to overcome the trials and temptations that you face in your life, stay in the will of God knowing, trusting and believing that His word is true… Stand tall in the midst of your opposition, because you know that through this passage God is with you and he will never leave you nor forsake you! Accept the trials you face, because your reward will be that must sweeter…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Is Good And Ready To Forgive

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 86:5

The Lord is ready to bless you, He is ready to open up doors on your behalf and give you a clean slate… The word of God tells us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” I have heard so many people talk about how they have prayed to God and are awaiting an answer as to how to handle this or that situation; however, we are reminded today that we are not waiting on the Lord, but that He is waiting on us… We all have missed the mark, we all have made mistakes, but the reality is that you are the one which delays the goals set before you… Even though you have gone the wrong way, David recalls to our attention the fact that the Lord is ready to forgive and that He is plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee… The Lord desires nothing but the best for you and when things go south in your life He is simply waiting for you to turn to Him rather than trying to find your own way out… There are so many of us who have allowed our past to dictate our future and this simply is not of God… The enemy has so many of us deceived, we feel like we are beyond saving and like a pig we find ourselves wallowing in our mess… This passage tells us that you hold the very keys to your life; you can be all that you want to be and more in Christ, but you first must acknowledge your mistakes and look to Him in order to overcome them… Think about how much you have tried to conceal from your peers; think about how many choices which you have made that you have tried to hide or keep locked away… This is not the life which God designed you to live; everyday that you conceal is another day where you have fastened your eyes behind you and therefore continue to have accidents on the road which lies ahead of you… 

You cannot drive a car and make it safely to your destination if you are constantly looking in your review mirror… This same principle applies to life; you have to move past yesterday, you have to overcome your failures and even though some people in your life may want to hold them over your head, you must declare that the past is the past and Christ had died for my sins and the father has forgiven me… What David is conveying to us today is that God doesn’t hold on to flaws, we do… We place limitations on our own lives based on the errors that we have made and today’s focus verse reminds us that we don’t have to be governed by the errors of old… There are some people who will say that you are what you do; however, we are what we believe when we are walking in the mercies of God… In other words, if you believe that you are better than the choice you made previously, you will in fact show that through Christ; however, if you don’t believe than you will find yourself always settling for less and going in a continuous circle… This passage is not to be a green light to make mistakes, but to let you know that you can overcome them and don’t have to be regulated by them… The snares of the enemy can either hold you back or scar you on your road to recovery (either outcome is totally decided by you… At the end of the day, David knows through this prayer that God doesn’t allow the mistakes of yesterday to hinder the path of today; we do… Let’s not lose sight of who the author of this psalm is; David was a man who made several mistakes one of which cost him the very life of one of his sons… From sleeping with Bathsheba to having her husband put on the front line after finding out that she was pregnant; we can see the errors of David’s ways… If we examine the life of David we all can reach the same conclusion that his life would have spiraled out of control with the decisions that he made; however, we all know how his life concluded even despite the trials and tribulations he would experience through his offspring… 

The union of David and Bathsheba (they did marry each other) produced their very son Solomon who was the one who would build the temple of the Lord… After dealing with the consequences of his actions which we just recapped, David could’ve very easily thrown a pity party; however, after the prophecy of Nathan came to pass in his life and his son through the adulterous act committed with Bathsheba died, notice what David did… 2 Samuel 12:20 says,“Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.”David accepted the fate, got up and went into the house of the Lord to worship… The Lord had already forgiven David; however, the choice was entirely up to him as to how his life would play out from that very moment… This passage taken from the 86^th psalm reminds us that the key to life lies within our ability to come to the Lord and seek His face… Think about how often you found yourself doing what your parents told you no to do. Day after day they continued to instruct you on how to conduct yourself, but you never listened and were focused on doing your own thing! Every time you fell, every time you messed up, and every time you went against your parents you were punished, but more importantly your parents never left your side. Be reminded today of the love God has for you just like a parent. Yes, we fall short daily and must be reprimanded for our wrongs, but how many times has God forgiven you, how many times has He been there for you to comfort you, or how many times has He made a way for you to still come out on top? God loves you and wants what is best for you (to live with Him for all eternity), but don’t take His kindness for weakness! He is ready to forgive, but it will only come when you are ready to live and walk in his will!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Has Freed You

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

Take the time periodically throughout the day to remind yourself that you are free in Christ… This is not to say that you should abandon your job or that you should speak freely to your co-workers; this is just to remind you that your past restrictions will not limit your future progress… Paul was a man who was opposed because of the years of his life when he was known as Saul; there were many who wanted to focus on his past and use that to negate his future… This same thing happens to us daily, there are people who want to hold you back based on yesterday, they want you to be defined by your past instead of learning from it and the word of God says that that we need to “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert...” God took a man with a speech impediment and made him a leader (Moses), he took a shepherd and made him a king (David) and he took a young man fleeing from his twin brother and made him the father of the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob)… All these men had a past, all of them encountered obstacles and made mistakes along the way; however, the biggest point about these men is that they didn’t let their past determine their future, they believed in the liberty which is received by all how believe and were able to overcome their detractors… Moses lead the children of God to the cusp of the Promise Land, David was called a man after God’s own heart and Jacob was transformed into Israel after wrestling a man all night long… These men were liberated from their mistakes and errors; this same liberation we also can obtain as Paul speaks to the fact that we have been liberated by Christ which has made us free… 

The challenge for you today is found in the first two words of this verse, stand fast… You have to be comfortable in Christ; this means that you are not wavered by storms, what people say about you doesn’t affect your mindset and when people bring up your past you have the ability to continue in boldness and confidence… To stand fast, one must know where they were, accept the mistakes of yesterday and continue to fight and press all the more toward their future… When Saul encountered Christ and was blinded, the word says that the Lord spoke to Ananias and said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” God has chosen you and the path that you will travel in Him will be paved with bumps and bruises… From birth your destiny was bound to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden; sin has been implanted in you; however, the Lord wants you to remind yourself that the enemy had you but you have been set free… The things you face will tempt you, but you don’t have to succumb to them based on the shortcomings of yesterday… Your life will not be easy, you will experience snares where the enemy will try to confine you and this is why Paul goes on to tell the Church of Galatia, be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage… Don’t allow Satan a foothold; don’t give him that opportunity to take over your life… One of the most important truths that we must recognize is that without Christ we are nothing…The bible declares that by the sin of one man we all were made sinners and that by the obedience of one man we have been made righteous… Jesus is the bridge that connects us back to the father and all who do not recognize Him will surely fall short… Paul’s letter to the church of Galatia calls for the body of Christ to stand fast in the liberty that Christ has made them free… Our faith, our hope, our foundation must be set upon the offering that Christ made on the cross… Paul is speaking to a people that face temptations daily, he is speaking to a body that has been tested and is simply reminding them not to try and fight these battles on their own… 

We can learn a lot from this passage; often times we find ourselves in situations where things do work the way we planned; it is in these times that we must know waver in our faith nor try to fix things on our own… Knowing that Christ has set us free provides strength to us because we know that He has the power to sustain us… Due to the sin that was committed in the Garden of Eden we all enter this world “entangled with the yoke of bondage…” From the time that we come from our mother’s womb, we are in the grasp of Satan and his devices; it is only through the bloodshed of Christ that we are set free…Not only are we called to acknowledge the sovereign power that Christ has through this passage, but we are also called to recognize the captivity that we are in without Him…To call someone (especially a person of color) a slave is considered offensive and mean. Many people today simply frown upon that word and think that it should not be used in today’s frame of living. The fact of the matter is that we have many people in our society’s right at these moments who are slaves; slaves to their jobs, slaves to their greed and love of money, slaves to living in unfruitful life. Think about how many times we have shifted responsibility because we felt we were obligated to do something. Think about how many times you have said or heard a parent say that they can’t spend time with their children, or this job is killing them. Furthermore, think about how many people have fell into the trap set by the enemy thinking that this is all that they are living for and that their will never be a better today. This passage reminds us that through the bloodshed of Jesus Christ we are no longer slaves; we have been freed from the penalty of our very sin and have been granted an opportunity to inherit eternal life. Stand fast, stay focused because there is a brighter tomorrow and a hope for a wonderful future! I believe the psalmist said it best, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood and righteousness, on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is seeking sand…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!