You're Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14

You were created in a beauty that uniquely defines who you are… I state this because so many of us spend our lifetime trying to be something that we aren’t or never were created to be… This passage speaks to those who are wasting time trying to please mankind or gather a measure of success according to the world’s viewpoint… There are a lot of things in our lives that we may not be proud of; however, this message today reminds us that praise should always pour from our lips as we are fearfully and wonderfully made… God set aside a portion of time to fully lay out the exact person that you are today and the one that you will become tomorrow… Understand that there will never be another you; the path you travel is unique to the abilities that you possess which in turn is outlined by your thoughts and actions… This needs to be grasped today because a lot of us walk around unhappy and because of this are not able to live a full abundant life of praise and joy… David had gone through stages of second-guessing himself; even probably had bouts of depression given the mistakes he made and all the things that transpired in His life affecting him and his family… Despite losing a newborn son; David turns to the Lord earlier in this psalm and says you know my coming in and going out… David could’ve played the why me card, he could’ve thrown in the towel; however, he found an answer in recognizing who God is and what He already knows… 

The things you face in life you were designed to be able to handle and overcome… You were designed in a fearful manner not to be afraid of things but to be in awe of your creator… You weren’t designed to run from things but to run to Him so that you can overcome things… Fear breeds unease and panic which leads to poor choices and bad results…You were fearfully made so that you could actually overcome fear…  Not only are you fearfully made, but David declares that you are also wonderfully made. By definition, wonderfully means; in a way to inspire or admire... You were designed to make an impact in this world and allow the light which God placed inside of you to shine.  When you are faced with tough and/or trying situations, remind yourself that marvellous are thy works… When people try to say you won’t amount to or become anything, you can hold your head high and declare that you were wonderfully made... The wonder that is you relates to the reason why God designed you… He didn’t design you to be useless, He didn’t design you to be ridiculed and disrespected, there is more to you than people can see and so when the enemy tries to run you down you can let him know that my soul knoweth right well… I know that I have a purpose; I know that God devised a plan for me and I know that there is more to my life than what you see or think… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Give God Your Best

 ...Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.

2 Samuel 24:24

So many of us would love the idea of getting over when it comes to our walk with the Lord… We have experienced highs and lows, we have seen ups and downs and sometimes in our life, we would love to get an easy pass or a shortcut through all the muck and mire of the day… In reading this passage, we are challenged to reflect on the goodness of the Lord despite all the mistakes and bad choices that we have made… David says neither will I offer burnt offering unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing; David spoke these words from the sincerity of his heart knowing and realizing what God had done for him… When you begin to think about the goodness of Jesus, when you begin to think back to all the wrong you have done and come to the realization that it was God’s grace and mercy which kept you and brought you out, your mindset changes and you want to give your all to the Lord… In this passage, David is declaring that he is not worthy of the blessings being bestowed upon him (despite the plague that God was about to place on the Israelites); he wants the Lord to know the love that he has for Him… So he wants to sacrifice (in the form of payment) to the Lord… When you come to the point where you realize how awesome God is, you then will not give anything to Him which doesn’t cost you something… This gesture displays the attitude that a Christian must have; you cannot try to get over on the Lord in your giving and expect His unlimited favor… Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” 

You are called to test the Lord in your giving; this requires that you give something of value and not things that you deem replaceable… This same principle applied resided in the heart of David and led to this verse being recorded in the 24^th chapter of 2^nd Samuel… In studying this passage I am led to pose this question, how valuable is your relationship with God…? How much do you treasure being in good standing with the Lord…? Are you someone who attends church out of obligation or to pay true respect and honor to the Lord…? These questions are questions that are posed all across the world; however, they are answered through actions not words, through devotion, and not presentation… This passage is written at a time when David knew that he had sinned against God; he knew that he had fallen short of His glory and understood that he had to restore his relationship with God… We too have made many mistakes; we have damaged our relationship with the Lord and the question now because “How badly do you want to repair it…?” What does God’s love mean to you, how much do you want to show God your appreciation and love…? What are you offering Him…? These are important factors in our life that we too must come to understand; God deserves all of our time and commitment because we have fallen short, and He deserves the very best we have because we turned our backs on Him and lost sight of His Grace and Mercy! This is why David said I will not offer anything unto the Lord that cost me nothing, he realized all that God gave and invested in him to see him reign as King and he came to the realization that he was throwing it all away… We must never forget that God gave His only begotten son, we must never lose sight that Jesus died the most humiliating death known to man and all this was done to save us from our eternal death… When I sit and really ponder what God has done and how He bestows new mercies on us every morning I realize that there is nothing of this earth that I shouldn’t give unto Him… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Glory > Suffering

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.

 Romans 8:18

 

The Bible is filled with passages that speak to the amount of suffering that a Christian will endure within his/her lifetime… There is not a single scripture that speaks to the life of a Christian being easy; but on the contrary, there are many which depict suffering, hardships, and tribulations… The writer of this passage (Paul) was a man who once found pleasure in persecuting others; however, in his conversion, God speaks to the suffering that Paul will endure in a conversation that takes place in the 9^th chapter of Acts with a man by the name of Ananias… But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Suffering is a vital part of the Christian journey; faith is developed through suffering, rewards are accumulated through suffering and growth is displayed through suffering… So many people proclaim a relationship on the surface with Jesus Christ; however, in the suffering stages their actions say others… Even in the most uncomfortable situations, we are reminded today that they are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… 

The results that come from your suffering will negate the suffering that you experience… Nobody really likes to suffer, but as a child of God, we must speak the truth and know that there are no shortcuts on this journey… One thing that is certain in this life is that you will experience hardships and obstacles… I don’t think a day goes by in our lives where there isn’t at least one thing that takes place which causes us heartache, stress, or disappointment… I have heard so many people speak of problems that they are facing and I believe we all would agree with the saying, “You’re either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or going into a storm…”  Although difficulties are never something you want to face, the bible tells us several times (today’s focus verse is an example) about the affliction that we will experience… In today's verse, Paul is charging the Church of Rome just as he is charging us today; don’t become weary, don’t give up, don’t be discouraged because you have to go through some sad days or sleepless nights; don’t become fearful because it seems like the enemy has the upper hand. Your trails are tools for growth and purging, the glory to be revealed is made possible through your suffering. So endure the storm(s), let the events water the seed of glory inside you! Once the glory comes forth, you will be happy you endured!

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He'll Return Before You Know It

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8

 

The 7^th verse of the 4^th chapter of 1^st Peter (a lot of numbers I know) declares but the end of all things is at hand… Truthfully, the word of God reminds us today that tomorrow is not promised; each and every day that you see on this earth is another opportunity for you to grow in the knowledge of God and not leave something for tomorrow which could be taken care of today… In knowing that tomorrow is not promised and that the end of all things is at hand; Peter reminds us today that we must be ye therefore sober… To be sober means to be clear-headed, somber, or serious; in a nutshell, you cannot take the day that you are privileged to see lightly…  You cannot allow things to clutter your view or understanding of the will and plan of God for your life… So many of us have missed opportunities to grow in Christ because we are occupied with so much other stuff that we don’t have time for the things that should take priority in our lives… Being sober is the foundation for preparation in fulfilling the will of God… When you clear your mind, God now has room to work and instill the plan that He has designed uniquely for you… A sober mind is important; however, you must add a strong cornerstone to that foundation which is prayer… This is why Peter goes on to say that you must watch unto prayer… So many have a clear mind, but they have not taken the next step to allow the thoughts and desires of God to take root in that unoccupied space… 

Situations always come about, but in order to clear your mind and see results, you must turn it over to God (prayer) and invite Him in… Things you're dealing with today shouldn’t be left till tomorrow, turn it over to the Lord now and let Him lead you… When you turn it over to the Lord and invite Him in; you can now be filled with the love (charity) spoken of which will in the end cover the multitude of sins… There is one unknown on this Christian journey and that is the time in which Christ will return; there is also one thing that we are assured of on this Christian Journey and that is that Christ will return… Peter tells us that the end of all days is at hand and to be sober, this is focusing not on drinking, but on the fact that we need to be vigilant and coherent to the word of God and live our lives as if He was coming within the next minute… The end of all things being at hand lets me know that there is nothing on this earth that will survive, there is no one on this earth that can save you, and nothing that you can do on this earth to inherit Eternal Life… Being sober means that we must stop making stupid choices, stop procrastinating and stop allowing temptations to ensnare our God-given vision and mission… We aren’t talking about drinking literally, but rather being in a position where you allow outside forces to dictate and direct your life… When you are sober you are sturdy, focused, and grounded… Your purpose in life is clearly defined and you are determined… Today, you must block out the distractions and snares of the enemy. Focus on your relationship with God and align with His purpose and plan for your life. Do this before it's too late as His return is imminent. 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Led By God

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:13

 

A choice is presented before you from the time of your birth to the time of your death. You have a decision to make as to how your life will be and in which direction it will be led… Notice that I did not say that you decide the direction of your life but that you decide who will lead it; there are so many of us who think we are in control when in reality the enemy has us on a string like a puppet, toying with our emotions, mental state and the desires we have in this world… This passage declares to us that we either can yield our members as instruments of righteousness or unrighteousness… The Lord wants to see you succeed; however, through the fall of man, He knows that you are not able to handle making your own decisions without a guide which for us is the Holy Spirit… The enemy knows that you are a weak vessel without the guidance of God and so he has you thinking that you can handle situations that in reality you cannot. While you think you have everything under control. you are digging a hole that you can never climb out of on your own… In reading this passage, I am led to ask a question; where do you allow yourself to go that does not please God? What things do you take part in that bring disgrace upon the name of the Lord…? 

It is true that we all have fallen short of the glory of God; however, a saint is nothing more than a sinner who got up and came out of their world of sin… God has called us to be better, achieve more and reach higher, but you will not be able to do that if you allow your body to be used by this world and allow your choices to be influenced by others… Paul charges us today in his letter to the Church of Rome to simply understand that these battles we face are real. Life is built on the choices that we make, and life itself is a choice… Every day we are flooded with temptation, there is always an easier way to obtain your goals, and always an opportunity to change your approach in this life! The Bible declares that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour; he waits patiently for you to give him the golden opportunity to turn your life upside down. Paul says that we must not be instruments of unrighteousness, but instruments of righteousness. Notice that in both passages we are instruments, an instrument is something that is used to obtain something or an objective... We are always being used, the question is whether our use is positive or negative. Think about your life today... Are you being used to impact someone’s life through exaltation or are you bringing that person down (this could be happening to you as well)? Are you being used to show love or cause pain? All of us will be used, the question is what type of impact or footprint do you want to leave on this earth?  

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Is Waiting For You To Turn

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

2 Chronicles 16:9

The words recorded in today’s devotional serve as a sense of comfort in the hearts of all believers. Today, we are reminded that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth… God has His eye on you and will continue to watch over and protect you… Having His eye on you means that He not only is observing but that He also knows all your shortcomings and mistakes… As a child of God, we must be open and honest with Him as we grow in the knowledge of Him… This can only be accomplished through an open heart and mind in the dealings and communications with our Savior… There are so many of us living in self-inflected bondage because we have not turned all of our afflictions over to Him… God is ready to show himself strong on your behalf; however, you must first acknowledge your weakness and need for His presence… The children of God had experienced much success at the time of this writing; however, their confidence and trust would soon derive from within themselves and not God… It was through trial and hardship that God regains their attention to teach them of His power and perfection… 

Today, know that God must take priority in your life; you must continue to trust and confide in Him if you want to experience His power and perfection… This is why the word of God concludes by saying that God does all of these things on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him… You are not required to be perfect in order to be blessed; on the contrary, you must have a perfect desire to please and adhere to the will of God… This message informs us that the eyes of the Lord are present; however, He cannot move on your behalf until you have a heart for Him… The word of God reminds us today that we are covered and protected by God! Oftentimes in this life, we feel exposed, we feel puzzled at the site of the mountains that are planted in our lives… There are days when we feel oppressed and times of despair where we want to give up and just quit; today we should be encouraged, today we should lift our heads in praise to God for we are reminded that even in the darkest of days, God is by our side! We are reminded today that even when trouble seems to have mounted up on every side of us, God is still in the midst of the storm and will see us through… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Be Anxious; Just Pray

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

A lot of us may be walking around wondering why God hasn’t answered our prayers; we may even be at a point where we find ourselves wondering if He even heard our prayer which we laid before Him… The answer to this question resides in the verses we focus on in today’s devotional… Despite all the confusion and chaos we find ourselves dealing with directly or indirectly within this world; Paul reminds us that the first step which must be taken in walking according to the will of God is that you do not be anxious about anything... Anxiety is nervousness, unease and/or apprehension about something which will eventually be a bridle within our minds taking captive our thoughts and the direct steps which we take upon this earth…   When we worry we reach a state of unrest and therefore find ourselves tossing and turning until we either get an answer or resolve the situation on our own… This is not of God and this captivating mental state must be denied within us so that we can clearly see God working through us… There are situations that we all face which do concern us; however, when we walk in faith we pray about them and completely turn them over to the Lord… Doing this keeps us from becoming anxious… Knowing that God has heard us and will step in on His timing gives us peace of mind over every situation and stronghold that we encounter… 

How you handle things outside of your control is the best indicator to the depth of your relationship with the Lord… Jesus through all His life and even through all His persecutions never rushed or tried to speed up the actions of His Father… You can say that peace was on Him and dwelt within Him no matter the storm or test that was presented… Remember, in the gospel of John, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” This passage comes as Jesus tells the disciples that He will be going away… Knowing that His death is coming, knowing that sin will be thrust upon His shoulders and knowing that He would be betrayed; Jesus lets the disciples know that He is at peace… His peace is derived from a complete trust and faith in His father’s divine plan… This is the mindset that we all should be trying to achieve in this life; knowing that there are things which are simply out of our control, realizing that not everything will work as we planned, we can still be at peace within ourselves knowing that God has a plan and just like it’s written in Jeremiah, His plan is to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you hope and a future… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!