Guard Your Heart

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… If we take the analogy of the heart being a pump, we know that whatever is inside the heart will be pumped out (in the physical sense this is the blood that travels through our veins, in the spiritual we are talking about whatever Godly or worldly things that reside within)…This is why we are reminded that if we want to live we must keep our hearts…  The heart is the source, it’s the critical point and it’s the very place you’re most likely attacked by the devil… Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” How often do you give your heart to others? How many times have you found yourself allowing someone or something to have authority over you by controlling your heart…Whether we have come to realize it or have not comprehended it yet, the heart is the center of our living and being… David wrote in Psalm 37 that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart… God knows how critical it is that we maintain our hearts; He knows the importance of the heart and has told us that if we make Him first in our lives He will give us the things that we seek… God knows that some of the things that we seek are love, appreciation, acceptance, and happiness… Today we are reminded that just because we seek those things doesn’t mean we try to obtain them at all costs… The proverb today reminds us that we must “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” 

The book of Proverbs was written by the wisest man that ever lived (Solomon), but even he was subdued and humbled when he did not protect his heart… I am a firm believer that doors open in your life, but I am an even firmer believer that not every door is meant for you to walk through… That being said, we must understand that being patient and thorough when it comes to matters of the heart are critical not only in Christianity but in simply living in this world… The Bible says that the devil is seeking to steal, kill and destroy and the truth of the matter is that he will only accomplish this by obtaining control of your heart… Today's verse says with all diligence, we must make every effort, put every last bit of energy in preserving our heart… The bible records many verses speaking to the importance of the heart and how it is the foundation of our direction… Paul wrote to the Romans about salvation and how it is received through the heart, Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is critical that we understand the value that the heart holds… When we say that we truly love someone, that love comes from the depths of our heart, when we look beyond someone’s faults what is displayed is the genuine heart that we possess… Solomon goes on to tell us that the reason we must protect our heart is because the issues of life come from the heart… When we have a heart for something we have the mindset and drive to do it, that in and of itself is important because a lot of us have the heart to do the wrong things… We have allowed the enemy to penetrate our minds so long, that our heart has become poisoned and we have begun to go down the wrong roads in this life… Every turn you make in life is decided by your heart, every decision you make is validated by your heart and if your heart is in the wrong place than that is where you will be also… “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Struggle Will Be Over Soon

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Malachi 4:2

When you feel dejected and ready to throw in the towel, just know that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…” Jesus was persecuted and appeared to lose; however, the death on the cross produced His greatest ministry… Today, know that you will be persecuted, but in your most troubling days, your ministry will be that much more intense and exalted…  God knows that walking under His guidelines subjects you to many obstacles and hardships that are thrust upon you or in your path by the ways of this world… The Lord realizes that every time you choose to follow Him you run the risk of losing friends and having sleepless nights; however He wants us to find encouragement in today’s study verse knowing that we will run free in victory and overcome the storms we face… This first verse starts by saying, “But for you who revere my name…” We must stay the course and revere (honor, respect, and admire) the name of the Lord… Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” No matter what you face or what opposition comes before you, stand upon the promises of God and trust Him knowing that when you revere His name He will protect and keep you… Malachi goes on to inform us that the sun of righteousness will rise again, there is a day marked on the eternal calendar, an hour when the clouds will part and Jesus will return unto this earth… 

When the sun goes down darkness covers the earth; this very principle is one that we must apply today knowing that darkness has covered the earth… If we understand that He will rise again we must understand that things must appear to have fallen first; situations must seem to be insurmountable, trials must seem unconquerable, sin must feel too tempting and Satan must appear to be winning… During the days of Noah, there were many who walked by him mocking him while he built the ark, and there were many laughing and being merry while he appeared loony and out of his right mind, but when the floods came upon the earth we know who survived and who perished. Likewise, in Christ we appear to be loony from time to time, we appear to people of this world to not know “how to have a good time,” but we eagerly await the sun’s rise knowing that we will be victorious and exalted… Understand that our hope may not be evident in the present sufferings that we may be encountering right now; see Malachi reminds us today that in revering God we patiently await His return and our rescue from this world of sin… We all have been enslaved at one point in time in our lives… We have been imprisoned by our bad choices, locked up behind our fleshly desires, and hindered by our own transgressions… There is good news today for those who revere the Lord, those who serve Him in spirit (within) and in truth (through circumstances)… The good news is that through Christ's death we no longer are captives to sin. We have the key to our destiny, the choice is up to us and we can choose to learn from our mistakes instead of allowing our mistakes to control us. 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Do Your Part So God Can Do His

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:17

Hold on just a little while longer; keep fighting and running the race that has been laid before you… The words of today’s focus verse provide encouragement for what lies ahead for the believer… Those who have exhausted high levels of energy; those who have pressed through sweat and tears should find comfort in knowing that your work is not in vain and that the Lord teaches us today that “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna…” All your aches and pains will be eased; all the tears that you have shed will water the seed of abundance that God has planted in you… The Bible declares that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning… This verse provides hope to the man or woman who is walking in the spirit of faith; understand today that joy may not come tomorrow morning, but as a child of God you are assured that it will come… Let us not become weary in well doing, for in due time we shall reap a harvest if we faint not… These are the words that Paul uttered to the church of Galatia as they endured the storms of life… Today, we must live by those same words, being reminded that we must overcome to receive the good and perfect gifts from the Lord… John reveals to us today some of the most precious promises God offers; however the first thing that we must do is overcome… To overcome something, you must recognize that it is an obstacle, trial, or hardship… This is the first and greatest step that we must see and take… 

A lot of things that we face in life we don’t recognize… A close friend can be a stumbling block, a desire for a particular person can be a hindrance and a false since of security can lead to your demise… This verse penned in John’s revelation calls for all to pay attention to the things that God will reveal unto us,we will eat of the hidden manna and receive a white stone which will have a new name written for us… The promises put forth unto us today are that we will no longer suffer from the things of this world; the offer put forth is that God will reveal himself unto us and we shall be revealed unto ourselves as to who we really are… When the Israelites were in the wilderness, God feed them with manna from heaven, today we are informed that God will take care of all our needs according to His riches and that we will be clothed in righteousness through His love and sacrifice… John records that we will be given a new name, the things of this world will not follow you into your eternal rest, the mistakes you have made will be wiped out when Jesus returns unto this earth and you will be made clean through His blood… Your new name won’t be scarred by your past; your new identity will not be prohibited by mistakes or wrong turns… The hidden manna is the substance that we have desired since our birth; the hidden manna will fill the voids of our lives and make us whole and complete… It is hidden because we can only obtain it through God and His perfect offering… The good news today is that we will be filled… No matter how much you have suffered, no matter how hard you have fallen or how many scars you have obtained… The hidden manna will fill your life and God’s love will be poured out upon you… This manna that we will partake of will not wear off; this will not be a quick fix… We are afforded a golden opportunity in Christ to have all our sins wiped away; we are given a golden chance to turn from our wickedness and develop an intimate relationship with God… 

John calls for all of us to hear what the Spirit says to the church! The spirit says there is hope for those who want to give up, the spirit says there is a way out for those in bondage, the spirit says there is forgiveness for the backslider, the spirit says there is grace for the humble, the spirit says there is mercy for the wicked and that we all can be transformed… “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Avoid Worldly Thoughts

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15

As a child of God we seek to please our Creator; not those who were created like us… Luke reminds us today that we can fool people as we seek to find justification in and through them; however, the heart from which your actions derive is what God takes note of… I know how hard it is to accept people not liking or accepting you; however, Luke brings our attention to the fact that the people we seek to please cannot get us to the Eternal Rest that we desire… As you journey through life, what is your objective each and every day? When you open your eyes and when you open the door to leave; what is your mind set on to accomplish… Are you striving to hear the words well done from your supervisor or your Father…? When you are faced with a choice and it will lead you to your divine destiny or away from it, which path do you choose…? Despite what people may want you to believe, pleasing God and obtaining His approval is all that matters…The question that aligns with this statement is do we really believe that… The answer to this question is not given verbally, but lies in our walk on this earth… It isn’t about what you say you’re about, it’s about what you display that you are about… Yes, you can be highly esteemed among men and yet find yourself being an abomination in the sight of God… There are a lot of us walking this earth that fit this description… We have completely strayed away from the path that God outlined for us; however, we believe that everything is under control because we are getting the proverbial pat on the back from our friends and colleagues…  

There are so many people who are fooling themselves because they actually believe that they can fool God since they are able to fool others… Luke writes today about the difference between being men-pleasers and a pleaser of God… The Bible tells us that you cannot serve two masters and Luke reminds us today that when we are justified by men, our heart is known by God and it is indeed a (n) abomination to Him… This verse is recorded after Jesus has told the parable of the shrewd manager and how he tried to obtain stability through the debtors of his master by lowering their debts… We may not be engaging in evil like this manager; however, we often find ourselves (much like this manager Jesus speaks about) seeking approval of men at the detriment of our heavenly Master… After telling this story the Bible says that the Pharisees began to sneer at Jesus… At this, Jesus then uttered the words recorded here in the 15^th verse… The Pharisees were a very vocal religious sector of Judaism that believed they were the most loyal to God… They were so caught up in themselves that they did not recognize who Jesus was or what He was here to do… Instead of seeking Jesus, they were the ones Jesus speaks about when He says, “they which justify yourselves before men…” We are challenged and tempted at just about every turn of life; however, we must stay the course in our faith and not deter… It’s so easy to get bogged down in being justified before men… We want to fit in, we want to be cool, we want to be seen in a certain light; however, we are reminded today that the light of God will never go out and that is the light that we must seek to shine upon us… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Is Required

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:34-35

The sooner that we learn to love; the sooner we will be able to walk in the commandments that God has given us… Love is an essential part of our everyday life and daily affairs… When we walk in love we are able to build relationships instead of tearing people down… Love is the key to opening the doors of people’s hearts around you; which therefore will allow them to receive the word that God has placed in you to provide to them… Love can be the difference between offending someone and providing constructive criticism that is received… This is why Christ provides a new commandment for us in the gospel of John… Did you know that there are actually 624 commandments in the bible? You have the original ten given by the Lord to Moses, then 613 that were adopted under Moses as the Mosaic Law and last but not least the commandment found in today’s scripture lesson… Jesus Christ teaches the disciples about the importance of love and abounding compassion… 

This commandment does not void the previous ones recorded in the Bible; it simply sums up how all these things can be accomplished… When you love you won’t steal or kill; when you walk in love you won’t covet your neighbor's things nor disrespect your mother and father… Ill-will, wickedness, malice, or resentment cannot live in a garden where a seed of love is planted… I find it interesting to note that Christ gave this commandment before His death and while trying to minister to His followers and disciples! Jesus says a new commandment I give you, that ye love one another! Understand that the previous statutes were to govern the body (you shouldn’t do this and you shouldn’t do that), Christ's commandment calls for action and involvement within each person as a child of God! He says that it is by this action that you will be His disciples! Christ not only says that we are to love, but He says that we are to love “…as I have loved you…” There are so many different forms of love and many people confuse love with other things…The love that Jesus refers to is a (n) Agape love, a love that transcends differences, a love that sacrifices and remains humble… The love that we are to display isn’t just brotherly, but spiritual… You are called to walk as Christ walked; extend a hand the same way in which Christ extended His hand to you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Love Has Covered Us

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Song of Songs 2:4 

As sinners, we are outsiders looking in… We don’t have the right, nor the ability to enter the presence of God nor can we sit at His table; however, we are reminded that through His great mercy and His extended hand of Grace we have been called from darkness into light… Solomon writes at the very beginning of this verse that, “He brought me”; understand that he couldn’t get there on his own; likewise, we (through the banner of love) have been brought to this point in life and have been given a chance of Eternal Life through the outpouring of Jesus Christ… A banquet is a formal meal, feast, or dinner… When someone is hosting a banquet it is a special event that specific people or individuals are invited to, a banquet is an invite that will be remembered and cherished… Again, Solomon says that God “brought me to the banqueting house…” Solomon recognized that this was not a place that he could go on his own, we must come to realize that we cannot enter in without God’s escort (love) right by our side… To bring someone in, you must first go and get them… God saw the place where Solomon had been, the things he had done and went to him, picked him up, and turned him around… Today, God has sent you an invitation to His glorious banquet… When someone throws a banquet people usually go and buy a nice dress or tuxedo, they make sure they display the very best they have to offer; God’s banquet is a little different, the attire is that you simply come as you are and he will dress you in royalty… 

The banquet that God has invited you to doesn’t respect persons or individual accomplishments; that being said, don’t worry about what you are going to wear to this banquet, don’t worry about how you will get there or if people will look down on you; Matthew 6:25-77 says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” God will clothe you when you have little, God will provide the path when you are confused and His unfailing love will lift your head up and keep you going… Solomon speaks to us of the love, compassion and desire God has for us to be with him…Let us take a moment today to simply reflect on the goodness of Christ… He woke you up this morning (a blessing); He started you on your way… You were able to arise and prepare for another work day (some would love to be in your shoes), you are able to maintain on this earth while dealing with all kinds of temptations and snares (many people have lost faith and belief in God)… Understand that Christ has blessed us just today along with a surplus of blessings and reasons to be thankful, and it is out of love… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Walk In The Will of God

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16

Jeremiah reminds us today that if we desire to advance in life, we must ask for the older paths… Since we enter this world as sinners; our first steps upon this earth are on a course that leads to death… The “old paths” that Jeremiah speaks of is the path that God paved when we were created… It’s the path that leads the Israelites out of Egypt and made the forgiveness of sin possible… This path is spoken of by Jesus in the New Testament, Matthew 7: 13, 14 say, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” We must seek the old path because the new path isn’t the right path… The new path is broader than the old, but it lead to destruction… This is why Jeremiah says we must stand, see, walk and ask… So many of us have wondered aimlessly through this life thus far, wherever the wind blows is the direction in which we travel… 

Today, we come to know and understand the direction that we not only should travel, but the way in which we can identify the purpose that we have on this earth… Jeremiah was called by God to speak to the house of Israel; however, he (being young) was reluctant to go… A lot of us have been called by God for a specific purpose or task, we have been ordained before the foundation of this earth, but many of us have been reluctant to accept God’s calling upon our lives… We are afraid of what people will say, we are scared of failing and we are hesitant to take the leap of faith that being a child of God calls for… As a result of this, we along with people around us have begun to perish and lose out on the blessing that God offers… Today we receive the three steps to a fulfilling life… Just like Jeremiah, we are timid when it comes to doing things out of the ordinary or changing our direction, but God tells us today how we can obtain success, find our purpose and sit down with Him in glory…

Step 1: “Stand ye in the ways…” God has already shined His light of mercy and grace upon your life, He has already opened up doors and made ways out of no way; when you face trials, change or misfortune, you must stand… You must be planted like a tree by the rivers; you must be unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord… Trials display your character and help to identify your purpose, stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…

Step 2: “…ask for the old paths…” We must seek the ways of the Lord instead of our own direction… The Bible teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun; the same God that delivered in the Old Testament is the same God that delivers today… Look at the “old paths” God made, look at the miracles that He has already performed and seek His guidance in everything that you do…

Step 3: “…and walk therein…” You must be committed to the will of God; you must not only stand and seek, but you must be willing to walk… When you walk you are taking steps, there is a direction in your life, there is a purpose to your movements and you are accepting your calling…

Jeremiah knew that the road placed before him would be difficult, but he also knew and trusted God… Today we come to know and understand this by standing when everyone around you sits down so that you obtain success, it is by seeking the ways of old and looking back on the past that you identify your purpose, and by walking in the will of God that you will fulfill the calling that He has on your life and “find rest for your souls…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's Deeper Than Flesh and Blood

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

In today’s focus verse, we learn two important things that we must not only understand but carry with us daily… The first lesson is that upon this earth we will wrestle… There is a battle that takes place daily, the problem is that it comes in many forms… Laziness (a desire not to get up or go to work), jealousy (a desire to have what others have obtained) and malice (hatred, spite or cruelty) which will cause us to be nasty to people or disrespectful just to name a few… Know that battles are at your door and sometimes have already invaded your house… You must follow the guidelines that are outlined in this letter to the church of Ephesus… Paul teaches us in the verse that precedes this one that we are to put on the full armor of God… After instructing us about the importance of being prepared he goes on in today’s focus verse to explain why we need to equip ourselves… Again, whether we recognize it or not, daily we are at war within ourselves and our societies…  We see many young men and women becoming chalk outlines, many kids having kids and more and more decisions being made that lead to catastrophic outcomes… To understand the war that we are fighting (this is the second lesson that we must learn and comprehend), we must understand who the enemy really is… 

When someone commits a heinous crime we are quick to pass judgment, but the truth of the matter is that we should be praying for that individual to be released from the bondage of evil that has taken His or Her life captive… This war that we are fighting isn’t about the flesh; it’s not about what you see but about the motives and where the decisions derive from… Jesus taught that we are to love the sinner and not the sin… There are so many people that have been written off and pushed to the side instead of lifted up and laid before Christ… Paul reminds us today that As Christians, we are taught to love the sinner, but hate the sin. We must remember that evil comes in many forms in fashions (a wolf and sheep’s clothing) and that it is seeking whomever it can devour… Paul wrote in his letter to Rome that we aren’t to retaliate toward evil deeds, but that we are to overcome evil with good… Romans 12:20 says, “On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Paul’s message was that we cannot allow the devil to manipulate situations and cause us to fall short… When we look beyond faults and wrongdoings we are allowing God’s love and compassion to enter in and manifest itself… It is so easy to give someone a piece of our mind when they have hurt us and this is the war that Paul is speaking of today…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Power In The Blood

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 12:11

Your ability to become all that God has designed you to be, your ability to defeat the enemy and your ability to persevere through the test, trials and tribulations are found in “the blood of the lamb…” Satan knows that he can defeat you when you try to take him on in your own power; however, he also knows that he doesn’t stand a snowball's chance in hell to defeat you when you call on the name of Jesus… The storms you are enduring are developing your testimony which will bear witness to the power you didn’t have and the power that God bestowed on your behalf… When you go through challenges and oppositions in life and know that God brought you out, your approach to life will change; the things that mattered most to you will become less significant in your life and you will display a form of humility that was never seen before in you… 

As you mature in Christ, the life that you sought in this world will be transformed into a life seeking to please Christ. This is what John is referring to when he starts off this verse by proclaiming how to overcome; he concludes this verse by saying, “they loved not their lives unto the death…” You won’t care about pleasing men when you realize that those same men can’t help you when you are in the midst of tragedy or trial… You will care less about what people say about you when you begin to understand that God’s words produce life and fruit… John reveals the secret to overcoming and being victorious… It's all through “...the blood of the lamb…”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Reconciliation Is Your Ministry

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

As you are blessed, your ministry is to bless others. That blessing is provided via the seed that has been planted in you… Christ came to this earth with a sole purpose in mind, to free us from the bondage and guilt of our sins… You are here to fulfill a God-given purpose; you are at your current location to reconcile yourself to the Lord through the reconciliation of relationships and people that may have been fractured or punctured through this course of life… This is why Paul goes on to say that Jesus “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…” You were formed with a distinct plan from the Lord; you were created to fulfill a desire that the Lord had before you were even known to be in existence… The message that we are called to receive and understand today is a very powerful and true message regarding the purpose behind each day that you witness on this earth…  So many people have overlooked the things that God has deposited in their lives and therefore continue to miss the mark of pleasing Him… 

The bible declares that without faith it is impossible to please the Lord; you must walk in faith throughout your days and weeks and in order to do this you must come to the realization that you don’t have to be a minister to have ministry… We miss opportunities to bring people to Christ because we are focused on bringing them to church… You have been called to the ministry; however, it doesn’t mean you stand in a pulpit on Sunday mornings… The message that Paul pens to us today is that you have some reconciliation to do in your life… This could be forgiving an adversary or it could be seeking forgiveness from above… Whatever the case or situation, you must know that people are perishing because you have not walked in your ministry… Remember that we were separated from the Lord through the original sin of Adam, but we have been reconciled through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ… Sin separated us from God and ultimately from the right to salvation in Him and Christ came to reconcile our differences and provide us an opportunity to regain our inheritance. We would not be able to obtain salvation if it weren’t for Christ's offering of Himself; but more importantly, the fact that God sought for us to be reconciled with Him! Today, choose to offer yourself for the ministry of reconciliation… Extend a hand of love, offer help to a foe and allow the spirit of God to live in you and through you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Overcome Spiritual Blindness

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesus was a city full of superstition, magic, and all the other works which resembled that of a cult… It was the missionary journey of Paul (led by the Holy Spirit) to enter the city of Ephesus and open their eyes… A lot of times we see people who have gone the wrong way, we speak words about them but we never speak words to them… This is the message that I find so important for us to grasp in today’s focus verse… The people you encounter may not know what they’re doing is wrong, some of them may have very well been brought up with the notion that all the things that are being done are right and it is up to you to allow the Holy Spirit to move so that “The eyes of there understanding may be enlightened…” Not everybody needs to hear a word of encouragement, not everybody needs a pat on the back, some people in your life need to hear the truth in love, some people in your life need a stern kick in their backside… The ministry that God has placed in your life, you are accountable for; every person you encounter every day of your life should be impacted by the display of Christ in and through you… 

This is what Paul was saying in his letter to the Church of Rome when he said that we should be “a living sacrifice…” The problem that occurs in most of the lives of people who live according to this world is that they place their hopes in and on material things… People of the world have the belief that a high-paying job gives them hope for a bright future and stability; however, this is where their understanding must be enlightened… The eyes of this world must be opened and this can only be accomplished when people are taught the truth about their existence. You and I are alive because of Christ, because of His sacrifice and His desire for no man to perish... So many people have yet to come to the realization that Christ is indeed the savior for all mankind. This is why your testimony (daily example) is important and must be on display at all times. So many are spiritually blind, it's time for you to open their eyes. As Christ said, "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few..." 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Every Knee Shall Bow

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

When you make Christ the head of your life and walk according to His will and plan, you are assured of two things, the first is trials and the second is victory… Jesus reminds the disciples in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." However, we see in the scripture penned by Paul that people will be humbled before the mighty name of the one that we serve and face trials for… Paul writes a letter to the church of Philippi focused on imitating the life of Christ… When Jesus was resurrected from the dead He was received with all power in heaven and on earth, He was given authority over every matter and situation and defeated the devil with His sacrifice… Paul reminds us of the authority that Jesus has in today’s focus verses… “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Today we see the reasons why we can smile in the midst of tragedy, today we are given evidence of how we can hold our head up in the midst of a storm. Through this passage, we learn how to continue in praise despite the circumstances that we face… We have victory through the blood of Jesus; we have the ability to triumph because of His nail-scarred hands and we have received a clean slate because of His humility… Paul says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord… You may see some people going the wrong way right now, you may see some people smiling while indulging in their life of sin and you may see others that appear to be better off than you; however, we must remember that Jesus experienced the same things when dealing with the Romans and Pharisees, Jesus was belittled on this earth, but now has a place next to the Father (sitting on a throne) that everyone would love to have… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Blessing of Giving

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:7-8

Matthew 7:2 says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” You have to give to receive, in order to have something put in your hand, you must first remove what already exists in it… The bible says that the merciful are blessed not only because of their kind acts but also because true mercy calls for one to be humble and solely focused upon the Lord… Mercy is withholding or forgiving someone who has wronged you and/or caused pain and strife within you… Mercy is something that we all naturally do not extend to our fellowman; when I was a little boy I was instructed that when someone hit me I should hit them back; however, Jesus tells us that we must turn the other cheek… A merciful person is indeed blessed because they are walking in the will of God and therefore protected under His mighty hand… Matthew records that those who are merciful shall obtain mercy; we have all fallen short, we have all made bad choices and decisions, but as a child of God we cannot allow those things to be a stumbling block that hinders our growth and future aspirations! We must learn from our mistakes and seek the forgiveness of God as well as our fellow man… More importantly, we must be able to extend forgiveness to one another through pure and unconditional love so that our sins and poor choices may be forgiven by our Lord and Savior! Jesus informs us in the 18^th chapter of Matthew that the forgiveness of our sins are made possible by the forgiveness (mercy) that we extend to others… "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” If you want to obtain mercy from above, you must first extend mercy on earth… That's one of the core blessings received through giving!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Always An Escape

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Everybody faces temptations; the only thing that varies from person to person is how we handle them… Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as if common to man…” This passage shines a light on the fact that the enemy knows your common weaknesses; however, it also provides encouragement to the believer as you are told that the adversary is using the same old tired tricks that our Lord has already conquered… This is why despite the temptations that are common snares in our lives that Paul goes on to say that “God is faithful…”This means that the things we face in life are things that have been here before; God knows your limitations… Everything that you endure is never going to overtake you if you remain focused and stay attentive to the will of God… The things you are dealing with God already knows and the reason you are subject to them is simply because He knows that you can handle them… 

Temptations display the true character and heart of an individual… It is when we are tempted that we showcase the faith we have in Christ or the lack thereof… It is necessary for us to endure such temptations as we profess our faith and allow God’s faithfulness to work in and through us… Remember that the first portion of this scripture speaks about the common temptations that man faces; with that being said we can look to Jesus and know how to handle tempting situations…  When Jesus was led into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, the word of God tells us that He was tempted by the enemy… Through all the temptations that were hurled His way, by standing upon the word He was able to resist the enemy and eventually make him retreat… Understand today, that through the word of God you have the ability to overcome the obstacles in front of you… You can resist the enemy just as Jesus did and he will flee… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Remember His Mercies

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Isaiah 63:7

Do you ever sit back and just recall all the lovingkindness that God has shown you…? When you truly examine your life, you will come to the conclusion that you are beyond blessed… You should always approach the Lord with thanksgiving because even to have breath in your body is a blessing… Despite the different things that you may be going through or the various storms that you have encountered; Isaiah reminds us today that we need to meditate on the things that God had done in our lives, the paths that He has made and the doors that He has opened… When you feel like you are at the edge of the cliff remind yourself of God’s “great goodness toward the house of Israel…” Substitute the house of Israel with your name and rehash all the wonderful blessings that have been bestowed in your life… The Israelites had been delivered from the hand of Pharaoh, feed manna from heaven and entered the Promise Land under the leadership of Joshua… Despite all their nagging and complaints, God still gave them water from a rock and defeated all their adversaries… It is in the days of Isaiah that the children of God have rekindled their rebellious nature and are finding themselves in the midst of coming bondage… It is very easy for us to focus on the problems in our lives instead of the solution… Nobody wants to endure discipline and correction; however, we can embrace these times in our life when we know that God is in the midst and His lovingkindness is still present… This focus chapter of Isaiah starts of speaking of God’s vengeance and redemption, but it ends with verses dealing with prayer and praise… You may be experiencing the first part of this chapter in your life today…You may be feeling God’s vengeance in the storms that are pouring down on you; however, you can rest assured that the storm is serving a purpose and you will be redeemed back to the Father… When redemption takes place, your prayers of heartache turn to prayers of praise…  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Hasn't Forgotten About You

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 

Hebrews 13:5

Are you truly content with the things that you have? This is not to mean that you are satisfied with your standing, but that you appreciate everything that is in your life and don’t take them for granted… Today’s focus verse reminds us of the importance to be content with the things that we have or else we will become susceptible to coveting the things that our neighbor has… To covet means to desire, want or long for; when you covet something, all your focus turns to obtaining that particular position or object. The very act of coveting leaves you vulnerable to losing what you already have… As a child of God, we stand in faith that “he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…”We don’t covet the possessions of our neighbors simply because we believe that God will supply all of our needs…  When one takes on the mindset of coveting, they really expose themselves to all the devices and snares of the enemy… The minute you turn to material things, you lose sight of God; this is one of the very reasons why Moses received one of the Ten Commandments which spoke to coveting… "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” God indeed is in the blessing business (as I often hear people say), but you must first take care of the little you have (be content) and allow God to provide the abundance…  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Grace Is Given To The Humble

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:6

James teaches us the truth about God’s grace and how we experience it through this journey we call life… Jesus taught His disciples that in order to find your life you must lose it for His sake… We each have a cross to bear and Christ will give us the power, grace, energy and endurance to bear it… James informs us today that if you want to live you must die, if you want to be rich you must become poor and if you want to be exalted you must be humbled… God is a God of faithfulness and He demonstrates it by lifting you up when you fall… Every trial that you encounter serves a purpose in your life, every obstacle that you face was ordained and appointed by God and every storm that approaches your door teaches you to lean and depend on our heavenly father… James says, “But he giveth more grace…” Grace is something that is given not something that is deserved. It is a gift that is out of thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion… Even though you don’t deserve it, God gives you more, even when you mess up, He gives you another chance. Even when you walk through the wrong door (temptation), He opens another to get you back on track… God cares about you, God’s compassion was demonstrated when He sent His only begotten son to die for our sins… Today we are reminded that God is able to make all grace abound to you, one of my sisters once told me, “You never tell God how big your storm is, you simply tell the storm how big your God is…” There is a lot of substance in that statement, James starts off his book by telling us that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials and temptations… We can be joyful in storms not because of the rain, but because we have shelter and will see the sunshine again… You can be joyful in times of sorrow, not because of the tears that flow, but because of the happiness soon to come… God has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us and the truth of the matter is that the greater the hurdle in front of you, the more grace God is about to deposit into your life… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Beware of Tradition

Beware lest any man spoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:8

We are tempted in many ways and forms to follow anything but the path that Jesus Christ paved for us through His bloodshed on the cross… Paul reminds us of this fact in today’s focus verse which sheds light on the many avenues in which we can be deceived… Today we focus on a letter that Paul writes to the church of Colosse about guarding yourself against the attacks of the devil and his evil intentions… Paul has laid the foundation of the Church of Colosse and as the people have begun to convert to Christianity, there are some men who have begun to try and infiltrate the church and deceive the congregation… Make no mistake about it, as soon as you make the choice to follow Christ; that’s the same time in which the devil turns his attack toward you… Often time we focus on the things of the world as being evil, but today Paul reminds us that our biggest adversary can be found within the church… I once heard a man say that the devil resides in the church, not because He wants to be religious, but because he has no care about whoever is living according to the worldly standard… Paul teaches us today about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people and also establishing a sturdy foundation upon the word of God on your own… We live in a world where we have more and more people receiving their doctorate in theology, more and more people attending seminary and more and more people building churches; however, we see more and more corruption in the church, more and more thieves in the pulpit and more and more souls being lost… People have begun to follow men instead of following God and Paul reminds us today through his letter to the church of Colosse that we must beware and be vigilant… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Receiving Christ Is The Key To Receiving Power

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1:12

The door to your victory is right in front of you; the question that lies as the doormat is whether you will open it or not… John starts off this verse by saying “as many as received him…” You have a choice to make, you decide the outcome and verdict of your life… Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” he wants you to open up and let Him in… You can withstand this test, you can overcome this obstacle and you can master this journey… You have the ability because Christ deposited it in you from Calvary… You have the power to become sons of God, what a truly powerful statement… This declaration simply means that you have the power to alter your life, you have the power to be what people said you couldn’t be and you have the power to decide to live instead of dying… The keys to victory are within reach, the mantle of success is within your sight and the first step to obtain all of this is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ… When you are a son of God, you are covered and are assured victory… We are told in John the 10^th chapter 28^th verse that as a child of God we are protected and safe… Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” When you walk in the will of God, though you may stumble you won’t fall, though you slip you will not be cast down for God cares for you and will sustain you… Know that Just like Jesus, we have a mission to complete, a set of tasks with our names on them… Jesus came to this earth with a purpose, He came to this earth to complete a mission and fulfill the prophecies of old… If you receive Him today, He will transform you, He will strengthen you and He will deliver you… You were created in God’s image; now receive Jesus so that you can walk in the prosperity and victory that God ordained for your life before you were even born…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Life Begins And Ends With The Heart

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

The most important thing you have is your heart… Your heart provides life within your physical body as well as your connection with the Lord… You are called to guard your heart today because your life (physically and spiritually) depends on it… If you have a heart of hatred and envy you cannot have a connection with the Lord; the bible tells us that God is love and love is something that starts in the heart… The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… If we take the analogy of the heart being a pump, we know that whatever is inside the heart will be pumped out; in the physical sense, this is the blood that travels through our veins. Spiritually, we are talking about whatever Godly or worldly things that reside within…This is why we are reminded that if we want to live we must keep our heart… The heart is the source, it’s the critical point and it’s the very place you’re most likely attacked by the devil… 

Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” How often do you give your heart to others? How many times have you found yourself allowing someone or something to have authority over you by controlling your heart…Whether we have come to realize it or have not comprehended it yet, the heart is the center of our living and being… God knows the things that we seek are love, appreciation, acceptance and happiness… Today we are reminded that just because we seek those things doesn’t mean we try to obtain them at all costs… The proverb today reminds us that we must “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” The proverb says in all diligence, we must make every effort, put every last bit of energy into preserving our heart… The bottom line is that you must protect yourself and your life… If you’re careless with your heart and give it to any and everybody, it will be shown by how torn and tattered your life is…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Never Said It Would Be Easy

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 Timothy 4:10

There are two kinds of men on this earth; those who work for the reward of today and those who work for the reward of tomorrow… Your drive as far as your work ethic displays the kind of man that you are… When things don’t go as you planned or you don’t’ see the immediate fruits of your labor, how do you handle those situations… Paul reminds us today that we must remember that the prize we labor for will not be manifested upon this earth… Timothy faced a lot of peer pressure when he took up the calling of ministry that was placed upon his life; however, it was through this passage that Paul reminds Him that we suffer not for material things, but “because we trust in the living God…” Not every person you meet will have a zeal for Christ… Not everyone you meet will want to share in your witness or see the name of Christ exalted; it is in these times that we must remember the services that we take part in… We are not about pleasing men nor are we doing this for form or fashion… I serve Christ because I believe that He died for my sins, I serve Him because I believe that I can do nothing without Him, but that with Him all things are possible… I will “suffer reproach” because I believe I have found an answer to the void that is in my life that cannot be filled by men… Don’t give in to the temptation of earthly success; don’t give in to the appearance of happiness that comes with material things… Know that you are working toward a far more precious prize and the more you go through the better it will be… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Endure Temptation; Your Crown Awaits

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

James 1:12

Every man faces temptations; however, the one that is blessed is the one that endures them and doesn’t give in…  I was once told that the saddest thing about someone quitting a project or process is that they never realize how close they were to completing it and the same can be said of our Christian journey… The temptations we face appear to be the easy way out, but the reality is that you are so close to the blessings of God if you just hold on a little while longer… The things that catch your eye in this life will never satisfy the vision that God has placed inside of you… The difference between being blessed and not being blessed lies in the sacrifice and obedience that one has within… Daily, we all face decisions; however, the question that we must have at the heart of our decisions is to whom are we trying to please… You can only endure temptations if you have a heart's desire to please the Lord… Make no mistake about it, the story of your life is unique to you, but the challenges that you faced in getting to where you are now are quite similar to everyone on this journey… 

We all have been and will be tested; this is why James says “for when he is tried…” he doesn’t say if, but when; you can rest assured that in seeking to live according to the will of God that Satan will try you… He will try to paint a picture of gloom and doom and lead you down a path of destruction that will end with you throwing in the towel… On this journey we will be tried, we will be tested, and we will experience adversity. People will talk about us, people will turn their backs on us, and people will try and discourage our walk. The devil will continue to press us, the devil will continue to try and push us over the edge, and the devil will try to destroy our faith. However, it is very sweet to know that Jesus sits high and looks low; Jesus hears our every cry, and Jesus is waiting for us to complete this journey so that he can crack the sky and say well done thy good and faithful servant. So just hold on, be strong and of good courage, we have to be tested, but there is a tremendous reward if we continue to pass the test!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Call On Him And Be Saved

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

This passage is written after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; the disciples have been hiding in the upper room and many have feared for their very lives… Through this trying time, Jesus shows himself unto the disciples to reignite their faith… This passage starts out with the words, “And it shall come to pass”… Though we suffer for a moment, the promises of God “shall come to pass”. Even though we face trials, hardships, and adversity we are reminded today that the fulfillment of God’s promises is not notated by an “if” but “when”…  Through Jesus' death we all were given a chance to inherit eternal life… Through His suffering, the path was paved for all mankind to change direction and not be condemned according to the sin that we are born in… The bible tells us that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; understand that we all have done things we wish we could change or have made decisions that weren’t the right ones… Luke writes today in the book of Acts that we all have a chance to right our wrongs, we have an opportunity to change our direction, and we have been given an opening to improve our future and outlook on life! Luke says the time shall come, it is upon us today… Stop what your doing and know that Christ is real and waiting for you to turn to Him… Tomorrow is not promised; today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present… So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and revitalize your life by giving Jesus a chance…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Is Worthy

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:11 

Can you still praise God when things don’t appear to be going your way? Do you still adore His name when the storms of life rage over your head…? These questions define the true worshipper and believer of Christ… Though he experienced many low points in his life, this scripture comes at a time in John’s life when he has been exiled to the island of Patmus… John has no friends to lean on and is literally all alone, even then he writes this revelation praising God for all His goodness despite the situations that he has and currently faces… John recognizes today that God has created all things; John recognizes that all things were created not only by God but for His pleasure… This is good news to us today, this teaches me to know and understand that even when I am on the island of misfortune, even when I am isolated and feel alone, every situation will bring God pleasure… Jesus said if I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me… When we lift Jesus up through the trials and tribulations that we face we are sure to be lifted up out of the miry clay and sinking sand that we find ourselves in… John is at peace because he knows that God is still with Him, we can have an attitude of praise despite the circumstance because we know that God has all power in the palm of His hand and will never leave us nor forsake us… All I can say is, “To God be the glory”, as I read this piece of scripture I am encouraged by the revelation of John… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!