Trials Are Vital To Growth

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:3-5

It is easy for a Christian to boast about the goodness of Jesus when things are well in their respective lives, it’s easy for them to share their joy with others who are down or sad when they feel the presences of God in their lives; however, through today’s devotional we are reminded of the greatest ministry that we have which is developed through our trials and tribulations… Understand today that the same joy we experience in the sunshine we must display and experience in the rain… So many of us claim to be about the work of the Lord, but in crunch time when the sweat begins to come forth we don’t keep our hands to the plow… This message today serves as a reminder that you can’t have one without the other… You can’t love Christ and not obey His commands; you can’t seek His face and not seek His will… This is why Paul writes this chapter in his letter to the Church of Rome; the message of Christ had gone forth, but the toiling and persecution was not accepted… This same principle is what plagues the church of today… We want the cake, but we don’t want to be in the kitchen to bring all the ingredients together… We want the end result, but not the beginning equation…Look at the first part of these verses, Paul says, “And not only so…” 

There’s so much joy experienced when one turns their life over to Christ, there is a newness felt within that cannot be put into words and the greatest artist of all cannot even begin to imagine and put to a canvass the speechless feeling that one gains when they now know they are now co-heirs with Christ… In the midst of this uncontrollable bliss, Paul wants us to remember that there is a marriage in the body of Christ that binds the grace of God with the trials and tribulations of the world… These two are inseparable and it’s simply all or nothing…So many of us spend our days trying to experience the grace of God without the persecutions that come with the grace and therefore we find ourselves trying to tip top through life and never walk by faith… The faith you need to please God is lacking in our life which will then lead you to enduring more through your storms and not getting more out of them… Paul says that we glory in tribulations also; you must have a mindset which will take on the hardest obstacle and steepest mountain because of your trust and faith in Christ… Look at the passage, Paul is speaking about having glory amidst hardships and tribulations; He is referring to the individual deal with the storm and how you display yourself in the rain… Glory is beauty, splendor, brilliance or fame; there are some people in your life that need see your beauty in splendor when you go through stuff and not just when you feel comfortable and there is no storm in your current forecast… When you walk in faith your splendor will be evident no matter what you face…You thank God when things are God and praise Him for learning when you go through a test… This is why Paul says we glory in tribulations also: knowing… Your glory can been seen through all the clouds of life when you have faith in God knowing that the storms you face will not over take you but are preparing you for your next level or phase of life… 

The key to your beauty, the key to your smile, the key to your joy is found in knowing… When you know that God loves you, you don’t fret about the situation or the circumstances of tomorrow, when you know God loves you, you can embrace the most disgusting and ugliest of situations, when you know that God loves you, you can see the ray of hope in the rain and the light at the end of what appears to be a dark scary tunnel… You can accept the course of life which prevents challenges and changes, not because you love a test, but because you love God and know that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us…You are not enduring this rough time or dark situation on your own… The GPS (God’s Plan of Salvation) will lead you and give you the turn by turn directions that you need to arrive to your divine destination safely… James tells us that we should consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and tribulations… We have to acknowledge that fact that we must go through growing pains and hardships in order to reach the plateau which Christ has called us too… Jesus told us to keep in mind that they hated him first, you will be hated on, you will be abused, scorned, mocked, and insulated; but, the greatest testimony you can have is to cling to God’s unchanging hand and know that you are on a road to victory! Jesus endured the most humiliating hardships known to man; the cross, but just as a sheep before his shearers he never said a mumbling word… Let us maintain our joy, stay encouraged and remember that each trial you face serves a purpose in your life… The love of God has been shed on your life, it will cover you, keep you, and sustain you until he returns… The word says He will never put more on us than we can bare, the focus should be on the fact that we each have to bare a load and not that we presume this road to be easily traveled!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Be Afraid; Trust God!

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 12:2-3

The enemy has launched a (n) all out assault on your divine destiny… He wants to fulfill the passage of scripture in John 10:10 where Jesus says that the enemy cometh not but to steal, kill and destroy… The ultimate goal and plan of Satan is no secret to the true believer of Jesus Christ; however, many of us fall short because we don’t recognize the ways and forms that the enemy will take on to accomplish his goals… We know that he is attacking us, but we don’t recognize the way in which he is coming… The Israelites found themselves dealing with this principle from the time they were lead out of Egypt to the prophetic years of Isaiah… The children of God had to be reminded that the same God that delivered them before will deliver them now… Instead of giving in to the outlook of things, they are reminded to draw water out of the wells of salvation… Several times the enemy bogged down their minds with so much that they begin to defy God and act in disobedience; the message of today’s devotional is to accept the unacceptable (God’s will), be submissive to the unimaginable (God’s plan) and not cower in fear because of the appearance of your current circumstances… 

The things that you face upon this earth each and every day are not to mislead you or destroy you but to give you a testimony and a song to sing… Isaiah calls to our remembrance today the fact that even though the battle may be intense, the love of God and the plan of salvation that He has for your life will win… Sing your song today and let the devil know that God is my salvation, serve notice to the land that the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song… All the enemy can do is try to get you to neglect the power and plan that God has and will bestow in your life if you follow Him… There are a lot of us that fall into the trap of forgoing our destiny because of the appearance of situations in our lives… The loss of a job, the death of a relative and/or in financial difficulties; all these things can have someone so bogged down that they forget who their salvation is derived from… The same grace that provided you a job, the same grace that allowed you to experience that warm embrace from a loved one and the same grace that provided stability in your finances will always be there… Take a moment to reflect back on your life to this point… Think about the decisions that you have made the consequences you faced and the hills and valley’s that you have been through and overcome… Isaiah reminds us today that we can’t make it on our own, we are not able to overcome within our own power and if we continue to live this life according to our abilities we will end up never reaching the potential that is there through the eyes and might of God… Isaiah says “God is my salvation…” The choice is yours, either you will walk according to the will of God or you will walk according to your own standards… Isaiah understood that captivity was on the horizon, bondage was approaching, sleepless nights were imminent and days of sorrow were assured… 

We too must come to the realization that not every day will be what we expect, not every situation will play out exactly as we desire, and that there will be times of confusion and isolation… The Israelites went through hundreds of years of bondage, but were brought forth praising and honoring God, you will go through adversity, but if you know that God is your salvation, if you know His wells run deep and nothing of this world can break His foundation than you are able to sing a new song in the midst of adversity, you able to sing a new song in the midst of trials because you know that when you draw from His deep wells you will be that tree planted by the rivers that shall not be moved… These are the words that should embody our walk with Christ! Isaiah reminds us today that we don’t need to be afraid; he reminds us that we have a song to sing, he reminds us that we can draw strength in the time of weakness! Paul said “when I am weak then I am strong for your grace is sufficient!” Paul later wrote that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Isaiah knows today who is in control, he remembers who touched him in his vision with the live coals and sent him on his way! Let us remember who has brought us this far, let us remember who has become our salvation, and let us continue to run this race, knowing that it isn’t given to the swift (we don’t need to be in the fast lane) but to those who endure (don’t give up) and hold to His unchanging hand! When you thirsty, you can draw from His well; not only will you be quenched, but the water of God will give you the strength to run and faint… When you know He’s your strength and your salvation, you can draw from Him with joy as Isaiah says; the enemy says that weakness is failure; however, God says your weakness is power… So don’t feel bad when you can’t handle things on your own, you were never meant to in the first place…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Learn To Keep Your Promises

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

We all have heard the saying that “talk is cheap”, today Solomon reminds us that to renege on your word is the biggest sin you can commit! Every day you make a promise, if you are going to work (your boss expects you to come in on time), if you are attending a class you are expected to be there promptly, and these are unwritten promises that one vows when you accept the task that is put before you… Solomon teaches us today that we must honor our word and commitments, too often people say things that they can’t live up to and eventually place themselves in harm’s way for failure and eventually leave someone else disappointed! Think about how you felt when someone wronged you by not keeping the promise or vow that they made! You feel betrayed, you feel deceived, and let down. When it is all said in done, the only thing that a man really has in this life is his word, when that is removed so is he…. Now that we understand the importance of vows, we can surely understand why Solomon tells us that God takes no pleasure in a fool… God desires your best; He doesn’t want to hear excuses and will not be bogged down by them. 

Your commitments to Him will be called into account and you will have to answer to them in your day of judgment! God spoke this world into existence; He breathed the breath of life into our lungs and formed us in His image… All power resides within His hands and all things are maintained because of His goodness… Understanding this lets me know the importance of keeping vows to the Lord if we decide to make them… God knows the future and can allow anything to happen as He ordains… Think about where we would be if Jesus got on the cross, but decided not to die, think about where we would be if God saw His son in anguish and decided to pull the life-line away from us! Broken promises can end lives and destroy dreams literally; they can scar people and cause a lot of negative thoughts to be formed about the character of individuals… So remember to keep your word (especially to God)!  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Jesus Taught Us How To Live

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 

The word of God declared in the Old Testament that a savior would come, that He would pay our debt of sin and redeem us unto a path of salvation through His death as the ultimate sacrifice! Since the beginning of time, the Jews have been waiting for a savior, they have been sitting and pondering the very day that Christ would come to this earth…The bible declares here in John that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, the savior has already come, He has already paid sin’s penalty and He currently sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf and patiently awaiting His triumphant return when we shall be caught up in the air to meet Him… The word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, it serves as a compass to reach our spiritual heights and comfort when we stumble along the way, the word is our encouragement to maintain our Faith and the source of strength to overcome every obstacle that we face, Jesus embodies all these things for us… He came to show us how to walk, how to live according to God’s commands and laws, He came to pave the way for us to come back into fellowship and truth within the knowledge of God… 

He took on the form of man so that we can have a (n) example in the flesh of how we should desire to walk! He came in the flesh to instruct us at our level of how we can reach the Promised Land, and He came in the flesh to resurrect our possibilities of having eternal life! John says that “we beheld His glory”; we saw His love when He was strung out on the cross, we knew He was the only begotten son when He cried out and sought the forgiveness of us all. He is full of grace and truth, grace was dispensed when He thought it not robbery to leave His home and glory, grace was dispensed when He never said a mumbling word, grace was dispensed when He took the lashes to His back… The truth was revealed when He rose with all power in His hands, the truth was revealed when He appeared to the disciples in the Upper Room, the truth was revealed when the gospels were recorded and Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you and I… The word was made flesh when He offered himself for us, it dwelt among us when He died for us even while we were still in sin; Christ has already come, and He has already fulfilled His purpose on this earth as far as conquering sin! Many people refer to the Bible as (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) and that is a very accurate assessment; however, let us live by these instructions understanding that the next time Christ comes; we will leave this place and be called home to be with Him in glory! The instructions were written by the prophets; Jesus acted them out on this earth, now the ball is in our court to be prepared for His return!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Sometimes It's Best To Shut Up

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid his instruction in mind, today I have come to know and understand what exactly he meant… Words are powerful, the things that we speak can produce seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3^rd chapter of his book of the importance in taming our tongue… In this chapter he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ...”Your tongue has the ability to transforms lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in it’s use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… When I read this passage there are two points that jump out to me; either you think before you speak or you need to just learn to shut up… Through today’s devotion we learn the importance of control our tempers and not allowing any crack or crevice to be created so that the enemy can manipulate his way into our lives and situations through a bit of anger within us… 

There are many verses in the bible that deal with anger; however, to become angry is not a sin… Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” You can and will become anger (even Jesus became anger), but the key is not allowing your anger to be vented and the easiest way to keep this from happening is controlling the things that come out of your mouth… Paul writes to the church of Ephesus today and instructs them about how to conduct themselves in their relationships with other people… All of us have a boiling point, a height of anger or rage in which we will lose our minds and be careless with the things that are spoken out of our mouths! Our patience’s has been pushed to the brink of the cliff and we just can’t bite our tongue any longer; we have tried to be kind but it just seems like different words must be used to address this person and resolve this conflict… Paul tells us today that we should not let any unwholesome talk come from our mouths; we should be about building each other up and not trying to tear each other down. When you speak to someone in love, this directly displays the love that lives inside of you; on the contrary, when you allow unwholesome talk to come from your mouth you really are putting forth a public display of how ugly you are inside… This is why Paul reminds the church that unwholesome talk is not acceptable… How can you lead someone to Christ if you are talking in a way that will allow their paths to be blurred…? How do you expect others to come to church and join in the fellowship when you run down all those people who you turn around and smile in the midst of…? The things that come out of you are the things that defile you, “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” 

There are people who you are assigned to encounter on a daily basis and they cannot see Christ in you if profanity and unwholesome talk is coming out of you… This is the problem that has plagued the church for quite some time, we speak one thing and display another… Understand that you are called to a higher standard and that means that you must display yourself in a higher realm of Christ daily… This is why Paul goes on to say that only things that should come out of you are things that are helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen… When we engage in unwholesome talk, we are in essences placing ourselves on the same level of a fool. We are allowing Satan to corrupt our thoughts and distract us from bringing a positive spin on a negative point… People will always talk about you, they will always say things that you may not agree with or may be hurt by, but the ultimate sign of a true Christian is not your response in words to the accusations, but how you flip this trial so that God receives glory and honor. Isaiah 53:7 says,” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” The bible says that when Jesus was on trial He remained silent, when people hurled insults He remained focus to the goal at hand and was able to not only complete His task but also bring glory to His father and become victorious… We don’t stoop to other peoples level because all it does it keeps us from reaching the level God wants us to get too… People are watching you, they are observing your walk and how you handle various situations, show them the God in you and the not the side of you that is still a work in progress… Bottom line, think before you speak and if that doesn’t work just shut up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay The Course

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Psalm 11:7

Everyday that you see displays God’s justice in your life, He hasn’t let the enemy just trample over you nor has He turned His back on you… The love that God has for you should ignite your faith and take your relationship with Him to another level… When you feel as though you can’t overcome, when you feel like life is unfair, remember that God is with you, He’s standing by and His love for fairness has touched you and awaken you this morning… This is the reason why you have seen another day, this is the reason why you can see the sunshine and feel the wind blowing; God has been fair to you… He knows that you were designed to succeed; He knows that you were designed to reach supernatural heights and He wants to give you every opportunity possible to walk in your divine calling… When Jeremiah was called to speak the word of God look at what takes place in this passage; the 1 chapter verses 4-10 read as follows, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ 

You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” God continues to call us no matter our age or location, Jeremiah was known of God before He was formed… God already knew you, He already devised a plan for you and this is why He loves justice; no matter how you may feel or even be led to think, the call that God has on your life will trump the chains that the enemy has placed over you… Jeremiah thought that he was too young, but God said I am with you and will rescue you; this same principle applies to us today, we have things that may appear to disqualify us in this life... We may feel as though we are inadequate and cannot overcome certain limitations, if you feel like that today just know that God has brought you to this point so that He can take you through it… Just keep the faith and hold to His unchanging hand; after all, when you walk upright you are guaranteed to see his face as the psalmist proclaims… In reading this passage of scripture I cannot help but begin to examine the life of the writer and how it foreshadows the foundational principle that we are called to obtain through this passage… 

We all know the story of David and how his life was filled with many errors and failures; we know wall about the ups and downs that he endured and even the consequences of his actions which literally tore his family apart… No matter how many failures that occurred in the life of David, the penning of this psalm allows us to understand the magnitude of the love that God has for us… David was called a man after God’s own heart… It wasn’t that David was perfect, but that God knew the desires that were within Him… Today, know that God looks beyond the surface, He knows your desires and you can find comfort in knowing that even though you make mistakes He continues to wipe the slate clean, teach you through discipline and plant your feet back on course… The heart of David is what God honored and therefore judged him accordingly, no matter how many times you mess up; make sure that your heart is in the right place… This is not to say that sin is acceptable, but rather that God will not judge you according to your sin but the intentions that led to your actions which were developed in your heart… The enemy wants you to become so ensnared with your failures that you don’t see God’s sifting taking place in you… Every mistake can be learned from and used as a stepping stone, when you have this approach to life then you will be able to see the very face of God… You will begin to see God move in your life, you will begin to see God open up doors before you and you will be able to recognize truth (which is his righteousness) verse false (which the snares and traps of the enemy)…. The Lord wants nothing more than to have you in the fold, make sure that your heart is aligned with His righteousness and you are assured to get there…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Wants You

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

Psalm 50:10-11

This psalm is penned by Asaph who was a young priest from the tribe of Levi, when David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem… Asaph served in Jerusalem for all of David's reign, and no doubt set to music, many of the Psalms that God gave David. He was in Jerusalem when God gave David the great promise that David would have a son who would be the Messiah, and reign forever. This background provides a seg-way into today’s devotion which speaks to the love of God in the midst of our filth and corruption… There is nothing on this earth that doesn’t belong to the Lord… This is a (n) encouraging word for us today which should remind us that the course we travel should be aligned with the will of God… Asaph, the psalmist who penned today’s devotion scripture was a man that observed many things throughout the life that God allowed Him to live… As I stated earlier, through David’s reign and growth, Asaph was their as his music director and was vital in several of the psalms penned by David himself… Having observed the very life of David, seeing the good days and the bad, Asaph pens these scriptures which we study today… 

Everything of this earth belongs to the Lord, you are a vessel formed from His hand, carved by His words and designed for His purpose; however, just like many creatures created by God, we have decided to walk according to our own desires and plans… I clarify your design in the eyesight of God to inform you today that God doesn’t desire your sacrifices but your obedience… The Lord wants you to know that every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills, because He wants you to tune you ear to the fact that He desires more for your life… Slaughtering a bull, lamb, sheep or goat is not what God desires from you since they belong to Him anyway… How would you feel if all the hard work you put into your job was paid with something that you created in the first place? You desire more from your job than just to receive what you have put into it and the same can be said of God… This is why Samuel the prophet asked the question “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” This passage reminds us today that it’s your obedience to the will of God which is what the Lord desires from you; it’s not about the sacrifice of an animal but the sacrifice of yourself to Him… I believe the words recorded hear from Asaph are confirmed some several hundred years later by the apostle Paul when he declared in the 12 chapter of his letter to the Church of Rome, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Our lives can truly be abundant if we only learn to serve… The Lord can make rock cry out to Him if He so desires, but yet He still has focused on loving you despite your lack of love for Him… 

This is why this passage is so powerful; the Lord is speaking through these words to His children informing them that He isn’t worried about what they can give to Him on the outside, but that they love Him on the inside… So many of us can learn a valuable lesson concerning love from this particular passage… We think that material things register as acts of love, when in reality love brings actions by itself… Just because you bring a bull doesn’t mean you love God (referring to our focus passage today), when you seek to deny your earthly flesh and consecrate yourself to His purpose and plan, then the Love you have for Him is on its greatest display… This same principle applies to our daily lives, don’t display your love when you make a mistake, display it when you try to turn from that wrong path in the first place… Show the love that you have for God by devoting time to Him daily and not just when you are in need of forgiveness or a breakthrough… God is in control of everything on this earth with the exception of your heart… He can change the seasons, provide rain for the earth or famine in the land, but you He cannot force to love Him… This is why He declares today the wild beasts of the field are mine… He created you in His image, but unlike the beast of the field and the fowl of the air He has given you a free will to make choices in this life… The Lord is disappointed when you have to offer a sacrifice that is not of your own will… Every time you offer something materialistic He wants you to know that He is waiting for you to offer your heart… He wants to mold you, He wants to protect you and He wants to exalt you; however, you must desire a better life, you must come to the realization that there is more to life than just what you see and call upon His name… This is why, through all His mess David was able to proclaim that “a broken and contrite heart thou will not despise…” In all his mess, David was a called a man after God’s own heart not because He was perfect, but because His desire was to please the father not with gifts but with His life… In a nutshell, it’s about your heart…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Walk In His Word

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

Jesus informs us in the gospel of Matthew chapter 15 verse 11 that, “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” I share this passage of scripture as we examine today’s focus verse because we must understand the importance of what resides within us… There are a lot of people walking this earth with bitterness and are unhappy simply because the enemy has taken up residence within them… These people are never satisfied even when they get the things they desire because their callous heart still yearns for more… Today, if you want to have peace in your life, if you want to have unspeakable joy or if you simply want to learn to be content with the things surrounding you, Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly… The word of Christ is the key to your happiness, contentment and peaceful existence… If the word of Christ is not in you than the darkness which you were born in still resides and therefore the seeds that sprout in your life will do nothing more than to feed the corruption that is already present… 

Notice that this is not just about thinking positive thoughts, but rather having the word of Christ; you must establish a personal relationship with the Lord, you must choose to totally submit your life to His divine will and plan and you must seek His face and no the approval of your peers… There are a lot of us still seeking the approval of our fellowman and yet we wonder why it is that we are unhappy… Paul goes on to explain to us today how we know when the word of Christ is dwelling in us; your attitude you’re your speech will be altered when Christ is dwelling within you… Instead of putting one another down, instead of gossiping and trying to step on one another to get ahead you will find yourself speaking life in the midst of death and providing light in the darkest situations…. When Christ is in you, His word will be displayed and spoken out of you… The same people who use to become defensive at your words will find themselves receiving your words in kindness knowing that your heart belongs to God… When we have a nasty attitude living within it can’t help but rear its ugly head on the outside, the same can be said about being in Christ… Your life is built upon chooses; you must make several decisions in your life and this fact is the foundation of this particular scripture… The word of Christ dwelling in you is a choice that must be made by a person and not something that is just planted on its own… The parable of the sower and the seed speaks to the different kinds of soil which the seed feel upon; based on the soil, the seed either grow and have a full life or was up rooted before it even had a sturdy foundation… The soil of your life is your decision; the steps you take and the moves you make display the type of soil you have… When the seed falls on your landscape, it’s entirely up to you as to whether or not it grows and brings forth fruit… 

The good soil will bring about healing in a relationship, order in a household and apologizes in the workplace; the good soil takes hold of the seed planted and allows it to grow in the midst of it… So, how is your seed doing? We all have a seed; however, how we act in this daily life displays whether it is taking root and growing or not… Understand today that in this passage Paul instructs us that there is a right and wrong way to address problems or conflicts… We all have seen a lot of situations in life that have been escalated far beyond the necessary realm of the actual weight that the conflict holds… We have seen situations get blown out of proportion and feelings and friendships be ended! Paul teaches us today that the word of God is not just what you hear in church, but it should be the very words that come from your lips, despite the fall that someone has taken or the choice that was made which damaged or offended you, we must be able to speak the words of Christ in wisdom…You must appreciate the situation that you encounter, understand the other side of the story and seek a resolution that will not tear down but will reinforce. When you are wronged you are being tested, to see if you are truly as godly as you say you are… Don’t let burdens be carried that should have been buried; likewise, don’t allow the devil to destroy God’s appointment in your life to bring someone out of darkness into his marvelous light… Stay focused! The bible records, “let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord, you are my strength and my redeemer…” AMEN

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He's Ready To Give It To You

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 

Psalm 84:11-12

Even though you may experience days of darkness and confusion; the passage we focus on today declares that the Lord is a sun and shield… You will experience many days where the enemy appears to have an upper hand; however, in the body of Christ you are reminded today that the Lord is always near and will deliver you… This passage ends by declaring, “blessed is the man that trusteth in the…” The writer records these words because when you trust in the Lord you are guaranteed to be blessed, the darkness that you face will indeed become light and you will receive a clear vision of the path and will that God has planned for your life when the rays of the sun shine bright all around you and through you… The psalmist starts this psalm by declaring how wonderful the dwelling place of the Lord is; the things that you experience in this life should declare the same words spoken of by the psalmist… This is a dark and dreary place which we dwell; however, when we are in the presences of the Lord even the scariest places become peaceful in our lives… We know that this is true because the word of God tells us today that “the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly…” Make no mistake about it, the Lord wants to shine bright in your life, He wants you to walk in His light and not in His darkness, but you must choose to allow Him and receive His will and divine plan for you… God wants to give you the very best, He isn’t withhold anything from you, so you must ask yourself the question today as to why you haven’t received it…? These words teach us that the things of God can only be denied by us and nothing else… To often we want to blame God or circumstance for our situations; however, in the body of Christ we rest assured in the love of God knowing that when we walk according to His will He will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think… 

The Lord desires for you to experiences His blessings and to keep you in perfect peace, He desires to transform you into a magnificent creature instead of seeing you be conformed to the ways of this world! He gives grace unto you, if we examine our past we will know that there are certainly a lot of situations that we found ourselves in and know that only God’s grace brought us out… There were a lot of choices we made that were wrong and misfortunate, a lot of decisions that were fueled by negative thoughts and plots, but through it all, God has never turned his back on us; yes indeed, He gives Grace and will not withhold anything from them that walk uprightly. As stated early, God wants to see you excel, not be confined, He wants to see you exalted and not belittled, He wants to see you full of joy and not sorrow… His desires are, it’s your pathways that are foggy… You must be about the work of God if you want God to be about the blessings and grace promised to you… These two things go hand and hand… The psalmist makes clear that these are the desires of the Lord’s heart… He wants to open windows of heaven for you, He wants to pour out blessings upon you, but you must desire Him in order to receive His blessings and honor. If we trust in the Lord, we are blessed, not blessed because of our trust in Him, but because we know that He will never leave us nor forsake us, we are blessed because we have never seen the righteous forsaken, we are blessed because He said that He will return and that He will not suffer us to be moved… This passage says blessed is the man that trusteth in thee… You are blessed because you are able to keep your head up not because you have given in, you are blessed because you are holding to God’s unchanging hand not because you are falling by the wayside… God will not withhold anything from those who walk uprightly… 

You must walk according to God’s will if you want to experience God’s blessings, you must humble yourself if you want to be exalted… These verses should provide the energy that we need to continue to press on and fight back against the enemy… Knowing that God will not withhold from you should be the motivation that you need to continue to dig deep down within yourself to make sure that all the darkest closets of your life have been opened… He wants to bless you, but you cannot walk upright before Him if you have not totally surrendered to Him… This passage also leads me to the struggles of faith that we all encounter in the body of Christ… We think that the Lord should simply be satisfied with our willingness to accept His offering on the Cross; however, we fail on this journey because we never take up the cross that has been laid before us to bear… Notice that the Lord will not bless until you trust, He will not give you anything if you are not walking upright before Him… Know that you will have to sweat, you will have to work hard, you will have to toil through the night and this passage should simply encourage you to know you’re your work will not be in vain nor will you be left on the outside looking in… The bible declares, “Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You're Safe In His Arms

The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:12 

Those who walk in the will of God are promised safety… This is not to be confused with peace all the days of your life, but to say that when the enemy comes you will be able to win… You will see storms rage, wars take place, but you are to take comfort in knowing that these things will not overtake you and though you see them, they will not stand too long… We must come to accept and realize that everyday of our lives a battle is being fought, some days we take a step forward and some days we take a step back… Whatever the case, we are taught that the beloved (those who are dear to the heart of God) shall dwell in safety… When you choose the will of God you are then covered under the blood of Jesus… This is the same blood that paid your penalty, the same blood that made the death angel pass over the houses of God’s children and the same blood that Jesus sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane… Isaiah 26:3 says that “thou will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee!” We have a comforting assurance today through God’s word! He has promised that if we are the sheep of His pasture and the children of His blood we shall be protected and kept through the struggles of life! Today’s focus verse was penned to hearten and support the children of God… 

This word was written to encourage the Israelites as they battled for territories and prepared to enter the promise land, it was to inform them of the promises of God as they measured the task that laid before them, Moses leadership is ending and Joshua is taking the reigns, God is preparing them for great struggles and pains, but wants them to know that victory is on the horizon. You may be in a place of struggle right now, you may be in the midst of a battle right now and the message that I encourage you by today is to know that “the Lord shall cover him (you) all the day long…” He will uphold you, He will sustain you, He will see you through… The Israelites were on the cusp of the Promised Land, you are on the cusp of your breakthrough, you are on the edge of your new beginnings, and you are about to walk into your new territory… So today find encouragement in know that trouble doesn’t last always, realize that God is with you and nothing will stop you… Let us enjoy these truths today; realizing that the Promised Land is before us, but the measure of obstacles that awaits us seems insurmountable… We are filled with worry, we are filled with uncertainty and we have become hopeless (The Israelites wondered in the wilderness for forty years)… Just as the Israelites in this passage, we have been wondering in the wilderness thinking that our former days of bondage are better than the Blessings that God has stored up for us… My bible tells me that we will reap a harvest if we faint not; it tells me that we must remember that this world hated Him first, and we must acknowledge that God said He will never put more on us than we can bear! We have a cross to bear; we have burdens to carry, there are trials that await us and situations that we MUST face… 

God is informing us that we shall prosper; He is telling us that you will win, and He is assuring us that the devil will NOT be victorious… How are we guaranteed to win; because we aren’t fighting under our own power, but we find our strength in the Lord knowing that we “…shall dwell between his shoulders…” We use our shoulders to support and or carry things, today be encouraged to know that God is caring you… He is working it out in your favor and He will left you up and keep you going when you feel like you have nothing left… Paul asked a question in his letter to the Church of Rome… If God be for us, who can be against us? Who can stop the will of God? Who has the ability to thwart the plan of the King of kings Lord of lords…? Everything that has come against Him has failed and been cast down; your enemies are being made your footstool… Take courage today, because you have one fighting for you who has never lost and as long as you allow Jesus to lead the way you are guaranteed victory… You will see trouble, you will hear storms, but you will be lifted up and come through whatever you face… Plead the blood of Jesus over every situation and allow Him to work knowing that when His will is set in motion it will be fulfilled… The 91^st psalm says it best verse 1 says, ¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Verses 7 and 8 say, “⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.”

You are covered by his blood; you are protected by his sacrifice, so live according to his will and fight the good fight!!!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Every Ear Shall Hear

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come...

Revelation 14:6-7

There will be no area of land on this earth which will not hear the word of the Lord… No matter the authority or dictatorship of the land, the word of God reveals to us today that the seeds of the gospel will be planted; however, the flower to bloom will be entirely up to the land which bears the seed...  This passage serves a good news to know that all will have a chance to come to know our Lord and Savior; however, this passage also reminds us that the hour of judgment is closer than we imagined… You may think you have until you want to get your life in order, but the word of God tells me that once the land has heard of the Salvation of Jesus Christ than the hour of judgment shall be upon us… John reveals to us today the glory and mercy that embodies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… In his vision he sees a (n) angel in the midst of heaven having the gospel and preaching to them on the earth, to every nation, kindred, and tongue… His instructions are to fear God, give Him glory, for the hour of judgment has come… We all need to hear the word of God in our lives and John informs us today that God not only desires for all to be saved, but that He will not come back until all have heard His word… 

There are still parts of this world where bibles are not allowed; however, a day will come when the word will be spread throughout all nations, souls in the darkest of places shall be saved and people of other religions will be converted… This angel of God brought the word to every nation, kindred, tongue and people… This is good news to those who don’t know Christ… This should bring joy to those who have loved ones traveling the wrong paths… This message tells me that it doesn’t matter where they are, what they are doing or who they is “lord” over their lives; they will hear the word of God and have a choice to make… This passage should be encouraging to all who partake of it, we need to understand that God doesn’t want to see any perish, He doesn’t want to see you or I left on the side of the road, but He shows us through John what the meaning of unconditional love is. The bible tells me that love keeps no record of wrongs and that God is love… If we believe that love keeps no records of wrongs, how many of us can say that we TRULY LOVE someone? Love is the ability to see what others can’t and look beyond what others may see as a (n) obstacle… God can see the bright future in you that others can’t and He can look beyond your faults and flaws to pave the way for you to receive His wonderful blessings… Love is sacrifice; it is accepting imperfection and learning to grow together despite the distance that seems to be between you and them… God’s love is on display here, He will blot out all your transgressions, He will hear your faintest cry, He is ready to open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing! The bible teaches us that Christ will return when His gospel has spread throughout the world, everyone will be given a chance to receive eternal life; everyone will be presented a (n) opportunity to turn from their wickedness and follow Jesus… God’s desire is that all would come to know Him and receive Him… 

The ball is in your court, it doesn’t matter whether you are of the circumcised or uncircumcised, black or white, smart or dumb, joyful or miserable… God loves all and wants to see us walking the streets that are paved with gold, He wants to see us celebrating in His kingdom where Sabbath will have no end, and worry will be an afterthought! In order to receive this blessing you must do two things which John reveals to us through his great Revelation; the first thing is that you must fear God… This means to revere Him, respect Him, and admire Him… A lot of people view fear as a negativity emotion; however, in fearing God we recognize His power and might and He is constantly on our mind and in our hearts… When we fear God we serve Him every day of our lives, which leaves no room for the enemy to ensnare us or lead us down the wrong path… This fear will keep us on the straight and narrow, this fear will help us in our decision making, and this fear will keep us from the traps and snares of the enemy… Second, you must give Him glory, this is not done by what you say, but by what you do (your actions)… Giving God glory isn’t done just during the good times, but each and every day of your life… Glory is beauty, wonder or credit… When we give God glory we are crediting Him with our change in life, we exalt Him by our living because we recognize that victory, success and prosperity all flow from His blood… God deserves to be glorified even in the midst of hardships, not only because things could be worse, but because you are still hear and able to feel (you’re alive and continue to come through)… Today let us focus on giving God glory with our life, present your body a living sacrifice, understand that this is not easy, but that if we accept the word of God (preached by the angel) and believe it in our hearts, we will be saved and will not suffer the wrath that once awaited us…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Always Give Thanks

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:19-20

Don’t allow your mind to be controlled by the circumstances around you and thus give the enemy a foothold on your life… In today’s devotional we are reminded of the importance of speaking over ourselves instead of allowing someone else too… There are a lot of things that we all face in this world, a lot of situations that we find ourselves in which are disheartening to the strongest and most stable individuals; however, the declaration that is made today is that we must maintain our praise, worship and devotion to the Lord… The enemy has set out to destroy you; however, it will not be a physical fight, it will be a battle within your mind… All Satan once you to do is focus on the problem and not stand in faith knowing that the Father is the solution… Your adversary has placed strategic things in your life with the focus of derailing your faith; this is why you encounter obstacles that seem impassable and burdens that appear to be unbearable… The word of God tells in Hebrews 9:28, “so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” This is not the only reference we have to know that Christ has delivered us from past, present and future sins as Peter declares in the 3^rd chapter of his  1^st book, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,” 

These scriptures are referenced in today’s devotional so that you can see clearly that Satan only has the power that you give Him… He wants you to think (battle in the mind) that you are in bondage because of mistakes and failures; however, the Lord wants you to praise Him in and through your challenges because you know that He has and will deliver you… Your thoughts are powerful and today make the decision to make melody in your heart to God… Things may not be going as you desire, but you can praise God for the simple fact that His ways are flawless and He has a plan for you, to give you hope and a future… I was once told this following quote by my father many years ago, it reads as follows: “Be careful what you think, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful what you say, for your words become your actions. Be careful what you do, for your actions become your habits. Be careful what becomes habitual, for your habits become your destiny.”Whether we acknowledge it or not, the truth of the matter is that the things we think about lead to the path that we choose to travel… Paul echoes this very thing in his letter to the church of Ephesus… If we want to walk according to the will of God and do the things that are pleasing in His sight than we must first change our mindset and focus on our spiritual identity which will lead us to spiritual thoughts… When we begin to think spiritual instead of seeking worldly possession we begin to speak life (God’s word) over every situation and circumstance and when we reach that level than we are able to “…give thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Instead of harping on the negative and seeing the glass half empty we must speak the positives and see the glass as half full… When you are in the midst of trying times in your life, be thankful knowing that we are to “Consider it pure joy when we face trials and tribulations…” When you are in the midst of suffering, when you feel like the weight of the world is upon your shoulders and you can’t bare to carry this heavy load, be reminded today what Paul said in his letter to the church of Rome, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…” 

We can overcome the adversity we face, we can turn obstacles into stepping stones and speak the words that Joseph said after being sold into slavery and imprisoned, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive…” This isn’t an easy thing to do, but you can start down this path by speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns… Hum your favorite hymn when things seem dim, recite your favorite verse when people get on your nerves and praise the Lord in advance when you are faced with hardships… Jeremiah 29:11 says,“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, thoughts to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future…” God has a plan, but it can only be fulfilled when you walk in His will… You will face tough days, but know that they aren’t intended to harm you… Smile when you should frown, cry tears of joy instead of tears of resentment and maintain your praise knowing that God inhabits the praises of His people… As we go throughout this walk of life, Ephesians is reminding us to be imitators of Christ. No matter what people may say or do, don’t allow them to steal your joy and the beautiful things that God has planned for you. Give thanks in everything and every situation, God is calling you to a more intimate relationship with him and part of that calling maybe through growing pains. So, be thankful of your current state and status whatever that may be. Know that God is STILL and charge and your breakthrough is on the way, your healing is right around the corner, and you will be exalted in due time… Sing songs of praise to Lord our God, for he is worthy to be praised, (the devil comes to (STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY). Don’t let him steal your joy, don’t let the devil kill everything that God wants to give you, and keep the faith, don’t let the enemy destroy your chances of reaping the harvest God has promised you. (No more weeping, no more pain, no more sorrow, we will walk the streets of GOLD, everyday will be Sunday, and we will be able to claim the VICTORY in Christ Jesus…) These are the words I speak to myself every time I am going through, these are the words I meditate on when life seems unfair and these are the words that keep me focused on obtaining the will of God and exalting His name by my living…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Believe The Unimaginable

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Luke 18:17

Receiving the kingdom of God is not a verbal expression, but an act that requires a total submission and openness of one’s heart… The words recorded in today’s focus verse shine light on the fact that we must have the mindset and attitude of a child when it comes to the kingdom of God… A child is very gullible (innocent, trusting) and accepting in their early years; having this mindset allows them in their youth to believe any and everything that they are told by their parents… Santa is real because of words spoken, the tooth fairy exist because they are taught of his being and fear is eased when a parent says everything is okay…  In Christ, when we have this mindset we trust and hang on every word of God… We can stand in the midst of adversity and smile because we remember what our father told us and we declare it to be true… When the enemy seem so to be on the attack, having the mind of a child says you will not win and joy comes in the morning… Even when faced with trials and tribulations and obstacles that appear to be too steep to overcome; having a child’s mindset allows you to rely on our heavenly father will not only provide the source of comfort and the ability to withstand the situation that you are faced with and speak into the atmosphere that this too shall pass… This is why we are reminded today that the kingdom of God can only be entered when you have this mindset… When you lose sight of thinking like a child in the aspects of your spiritual life you then allow that crevice of opportunity for the enemy to slip in and get you to start thinking according to your own desires… 

A child can be formed and molded for a specific task or purpose; however, we all have heard the saying, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks… You have to be able to be molded to reach the levels that God has designed you to reach, you have to have the mindset to think outside of the proverbial box and display your faith which means that you don’t have to know everything that is going on… Jesus is referring to a told reformation that must take place in ones life and it starts in the mind… If you can’t break yourself to believe what you Eternal Father is telling you, how do you expect to reach and enter the gates of heaven…? This is the question that we all must answer and it’s the same question that we all have trouble answering… Your faith and relationship with God is shown by how you accepting you are of His ways, will and plans… The problems that we face in this life are not because we are ill equipped, but because we are set in our ways even when it comes to serving a God who says that “His ways are not our ways…” This isn’t even about compromising with God, but about transforming your way of thinking like Paul said in his letter to the church of Rome… Luke makes a declaration to us today that is worthy of interpretation… He says that whosever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child shall not enter in… When one reads this verse, we need to begin to examine the mindset and characteristics that children carry… This examination will give us the tools that we are to possess as a child of God! Many people declare that “a leopard can’t change his spots;” however, in Christ all things are possible and this is how we must think… If we believe that Christ can do anything but fail, if we trust that His ways are perfect, then our lives to should full of fear (awe, reverence and respect) for Him which will also lead us down the path of obedience… Thinking that we must know everything, believing that we must take on all different kinds of projects and handle every situation is the exact which Luke is telling us that we must avoid. We cannot become set in our ways, nor become defiant with the word of God and expect blessings to flow; we cannot try and mold God into our lifestyles and expect to receive his glory and mercy into our lives… 

We need the mindset of a little child! Notice Luke says a little child, because we must understand that the older we become the more defiant we are… A little child is only focused and exposed to the Love of his or her parents. When children are little and a stranger picks them up, often times they immediately look for there parents and if they don’t find them, they will begin to cry. This study goes hand and hand with our Christian lifestyle… The devil (a stranger) will come and try to pick us up (bring us away from God’s will and love) and we must seek our parents and cry out instead of accepting whatever comes our way… When a child cries, there parents will always hear them, Jesus cried out several times on the cross because he never knew sin, it was a stranger to him and he looked his father… A little child is full of energy and can find excitement even in turmoil… A child can be popped or spanked and will cry, but in a matter of moments can be laughing and enjoying the moment. We must understand that often times we will under hardships, we will go through turmoil, but we must maintain our excitement, we must maintain our joy knowing that God’s love is still there, that no weapon formed shall prosper and understanding that he will never forsake us. The child cries from pain, but never loses the respect or love of their parents. God’s love is always being bestowed upon you, so keep your faith, and run this course in your life with vigor and joy knowing that you are a child of God. People may think that you are naive when you have total submission and fear of the Lord; however, as we are reminded today in the gospel of Luke, those same people will wish they had your mindset when they see you exalted and given the keys to your mansion on the other side of the Jordan River…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!