In Order To Partake You Must Overcome

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 tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7

We all have ears; however, we all are not listening or hearing the same things…God will open doors, He will make ways out of no way and He will bestow blessings upon you; however, you must adhere to the steps you must take which derive from the motivation to overcome the obstacles and challenges of this life… God is speaking to the church, He is speaking to you and me, reminding us today that He will provide if we make our mind up not to give in when adversity comes to our home… The average church attendee will speak words of praise and reverence regarding the Lord when things are going well; however, those same words soon change from praise to complaints when trials and hardships have to be faced… The message today is that your times of despair will either separate you from God or sanctify you unto Him… If the hardships and trials bring you closer to the Lord, then you have a good pair of ears as you’ve heard what the Spirit saith unto the churches… God never promised a life without struggle, He never said you would have paths paved on smooth roads and He never said that your life would be exactly how you imagined; the Lord did, however, make several promises of the blessings and prosperity that we would receive and come to know if we abide in Him and this is what is echoed here when we are called to be overcomers… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Still And Know That I Am God

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

Not everything that you see on this earth requires you to act… There are too many instances where people jump into a situation or react to a situation when the word of God calls for us to walk by faith and not by sight… You must get to a point in your faith where even the most drastic unforeseen circumstance do not alter your ability to stand still and wait upon the Lord… I am a true believer that times of adversity show the true character and faith of an individual and today we are given evidence through this passage of how it is that we must handle various situations… Not everything will turn out the way you planned and every day of your life will not be happy go luck; on the contrary, you will endure challenges and trying times, and it is of the utmost importance that when these challenges arise, you have the staying power in the Lord and are not swayed into action and therefore cause more damage… The Lord knows everything, He sees what you are going through and He has a plan that will fulfill the second part of this scripture which states, I will be exalted among the heathen…  The Lord will be victorious; His name will be exalted and as the scriptures state, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess… Don’t get caught up in this battle; after all, you are not the one fighting it when you walk in faith… Don’t allow the enemy to try and thwart God's divine will and plan by having you press the panic button when a storm approaches your doorstep… 

Be Still And Know That HE is God!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We All, Like Sheep Have Gone Astray

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

Christ didn’t lay down His life for one person on this earth, but for every man who has taken a breath upon this earth knowing that we all fallen short of the glory of God… The message from today’s devotion is that none of us are perfect; as a matter of fact, we all have flaws and if it were not for the grace and mercy of God, we would all dwell together in the pits of hell… The Bible refers to us as sheep for the simple fact that we must be guided or else we will surely be lost and eventually devoured by the enemy…You have to come to grips that you cannot get through this life on your own ability… There are so many of us that think we have the answers or that we can obtain them within our own finite minds, when you think like this you have already given your very soul over to the predator and don’t stand a chance in this battle let alone the war…

Understand that temptation upon this earth is real and if even a small crack or hole is found in our desire to abide within the will of God, we will go astray (like sheep) not knowing the consequences of our actions or the fate which lies ahead when we take the detour… I can recall countless light bulb moments in my life where I wish I could have gone back in time and changed my decisions the day prior… This passage not only speaks to our imperfection but also speaks to the humility that a child of God must have and display on this earth… One of the things that plagues Christians on this earth is the ability to admit that they don’t have the answers and may not even know what the end result will be… We must know our place on this earth and accept the fact that we are sheep in need of The Good Shepherd...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Is The Bread of Life

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:51

In this life we all are hungry for something; money is something that some of us will stop at nothing to obtain along with power and respect… The message today is one that calls for us to acknowledge our hunger and turn to the Lord to be filled… You are not called to pursue after money at all cost, you are not called to strive for a position of power on this earth; all you are asked to do is seek ye first the kingdom of God… The Lord knows the things you stand in need of, He knows your desires and has the ability to satisfy your hunger and fill it completely… The things of this world will never satisfy the soul which yearns for more… This is why Jesus said I am the living bread which came down from heaven… He came to this earth to fill you in the depths of your being and not just on the surface which is all that you can obtain on this earth… It took the very son of God, sent from heaven to become a man upon this earth so that the void in our lives could be filled… 

In this world, we too often try the quick fix and patching up circumstances and situations instead of relying on the Lord knowing that He not only will show up but that He is the only one capable of fixing and totally restoring situations… The declaration is presented by Jesus that if any man eats of this bread, he shall live for ever… Your life, your happiness, your joy, and your being are assured in the arms of Christ… The question that comes to mind is, do you really want to live…? Are you really tired of settling for less, is the quick fix no longer an option and are you ready to have your life made whole even if it means that you will lose some people along the way… This is the question that you have to answer today, you can be filled, but you will have to leave the nonsense of this world behind… You have to alter your mindset and start thinking with a mind of Christ which will have you changing the people you associate with and even the things which you consume through your ears… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Mistake His Patience for Weakness

For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples.

Nehemiah 9:30

The things which you deserved to face as a result of your actions are not the things that you have faced simply because of the mercies of God… Despite the situations that you may be facing or even may have just gone through, you must stand in faith, smiling amidst the trials and tribulations knowing that things can always be worse… The children of God found themselves in bondage and dealt with the consequences of their disobedience; however, the word of God reminds us today that God continued to be patient with them… Know that God has been patient with you; you may think He has not been there at all, but the way to tell is simply by looking at the things which you have done which have not killed you or turned out as bad as they could have… There are decisions that you have made that should have caused you your death; however, the grace, mercy, and patience of God have spared you and kept you despite the pitiful darkness that was over your life… Nehemiah reminds us today that for many years God was patient with them; His patience has not run out and He continues to give us second, third, and even fourth chances… This is good news for the one who feels like they have fallen beyond the saving grace that is the mighty hand of God; this should be encouraging to the believer who has backslid or the child who has wandered off… There is a time when the world will end; however, you can find comfort in knowing that the moment you have today can be a moment in which your life is transformed because of God’s patience… 

What I love about this passage from Nehemiah is the fact that God sent messages to His children through the prophets even though they paid no attention… God continues to show forth His desires to bring you back into the fold; the Lord continues to display His love even while we don’t show our love toward Him… He admonishes us through the prophets as Nehemiah tells us; however, we must also remember that this is done in love as outlined in Proverbs 3:12 "because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." The signs of God’s path are all around you, the things that have to change in your life are your focus and motivations. Those must be changed in order to see and comprehend the plans of God… It is your actions and the decisions that you make that lead to results that you do not want… You have the ability to change and transform circumstances; you have the ability to alter the atmosphere of the situation that you are currently facing and you have the ability to turn a negative situation into a positive one if you live the faith you speak of in Christ… Nehemiah goes on to say, yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples… God has planted the seed of ability inside you; however, you have chosen to pay it no attention and live your life trying to appease people instead of the Lord… You have more ability within you than you know and you should be thankful unto the Lord that He has been patient with you as you have misused the gifts and abilities which He has placed inside of you… It is because of this that God has allowed things in your life to take place so that you can actually be refined after being placed over or going through the fire… This is why you can accept the growing pains in Christ… He has been patient and has continued to work with you knowing your ability before you even realized that the potential is there… This is why He can anoint David to be king after only being seen as a shepherd for His father… This is how he can call David a man after His own heart even though he messed up and ended up taking another man’s life…  Understand that God will get your attention; however, it’s entirely up to you as to how it is that He has to accomplish it… God has been patient because of the seed and ability He placed in you; you in turn need to be patient now as you go through knowing that the storms of today are watering the seed that will sprout tomorrow…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trials Remind Us That God Is In Control

Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's.

Exodus 9:29

Some of the obstacles that you face in life not only humble you, but also allow you to see the very power of God in action… The children of God were in slavery at the hands of Pharaoh; Moses was called by the Lord to lead His people out from slavery to the Promise Land… We all know how Pharaoh continued to harden his heart and suffered great loss even to the point of losing his very own son before submitting to the will of God… This verse today speaks to us from two different perspectives… The first perspective is that we oftentimes suffer in our lives because of an unwillingness to allow the move of God to take place… Not everything that the Lord commands will be something you agree with; not every decision or course of action that comes from the mouth of the almighty will be pleasant to your ears; however, the command of God must be the priority in your life instead of the voice of your peers… There are so many of us enduring trials and tribulations because we are listening to people instead of the voice of the Lord… We all know that Pharaoh ended up dying in the Red Sea; however, it took the very death of his son to submit to the will of God… Ask yourself today; how much do you have to suffer or lose before aligning your thoughts and desires with the will of God…? You cannot be a man or woman of faith by mere words, you cannot walk in the will of God without taking a step. Moses was a man who was second-guessing the place of God in his life, he wanted to provide God with an excuse instead of recognizing His ability and power… This same thing plagues us today; we make excuses about our abilities because we are looking at our own strengths versus the very strength of God… 

The Lord will make ways, He will open doors and He will make your paths clear and straight… You must trust Him and not waver… Moses saw signs of God’s ability which led him to go back to the very land that he fled after killing an Egyptian… You don’t have to let your past mistakes and failures keep you from going to higher heights and reaching new levels… Moses went from a man of fear to a man of faith when walking under the leadership of the Lord… You can be transformed, you can be taken to another level and you can be even more than you thought possible… At one time Moses was fleeing Pharaoh, now he says, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD.” Your trials are serving a purpose, the things you are suffering now could’ve possibly been avoided; however, learn from them and grow in them… The second teaching we find in this passage is that your trials are a sign of God’s presence and not His absence… Oftentimes we categorize suffering or trials as a negative thing in our lives; however, the word of God says that there are and was several times when God allowed things to happen… God wants your undivided attention, He has so much in store for you, but He needs you to grow and learn to stay focused on Him… Moses says, “The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's.” There are things you face so that you can see God move… There are situations you experience that you could not have come out of if it wasn’t for the very presence and mercy of God… These trials you face are a testimony to the faithfulness of God… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Strive For Humility

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 3:7-8

Your life should be solely dependent upon the word of God and not what you observe or learn through this journey… There are so many people who believe that they have arrived and are invincible because they have landed a sturdy job and have a house that most people dream of; this cannot be any further from the truth as we are reminded today that we must not be wise in our own eyes… No matter the measure of worldly success or even stability; you must maintain your focus and continue to fight the good fight of faith which God has called you to…The enemy has so many people confused about the success and security of money to the point that they have neglected God and have started to crave more money, power, and popularity… This is the message that we find in today’s focus verses; being wise in your own eyes means that you have come to a point where you believe that you know it all and have such an inflated ego that you are overconfident in your abilities… The more you become self-confident, the more the enemy has you set up for a massive failure… Satan wants you to be confident in your own abilities because then you lack confidence in God’s plan and timing for your life…You may think that you are doing nothing wrong by trying to find answers on your own or even handle situations on your own, but the reality is that you are traveling a dangerous path that will not lead to any positive results… 

Although your intentions may be good; when you are not walking in the will and favor of God, you will soon realize that your intentions are not the things that are showcased on this earth… When we are wise in our own eyes, we come to believe that everything we do is right, everything we say is right and everything that we perceive is right… This way of thinking brings us to be the exact opposite of what God desires from us… Proverbs 3:7-8 says, “Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord…” Fearing God makes us question our every step trying to ensure that we are aligned with His will… Fearing God calls for us to remain humble, putting others before ourselves… This fear is respect, honor, and admiration for the Lord; however, when we think that we are wise in our own eyes we lose this sense of fear and place God and His will on the back burner for our own agendas and desires… Egos are one of the most detrimental parts of the human psyche… A wrong motive or direction can produce catastrophic damage that in some cases can never be overcome… When we do things to promote our own agenda we end up isolating ourselves from the Lord… The Proverb today reminds us that we are not to be wise in our own eyes; in other words, don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Power In Unity

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 18:19

The most beautiful sight to behold is two people who are on the same page and work together through love and harmony… The word of God teaches us today that we must unite with other believers in Christ not only to grow but also to unlock the blessings and favor of God upon our lives… There are steps that must be taken in order to see the promises made in this scripture come to pass; the first step is that your desires must be on display and your actions must derive from that desire… You cannot touch and agree with someone if they don’t even know what path of life you have chosen to travel… To get on the same page you must let the person know the book and chapter that you are in… There are so many of us that go to others and ask for prayer; however, we don’t disclose the things which we are dealing with and therefore find ourselves having someone touching and not agreeing… In order to be filled by Christ you must be opened up to him… This is the same thing that applies to the physical church and why it is of the utmost importance that we fellowship with others… Some of the experiences that you have endured through life will not only be a testimony but can also be a teaching moment for others… You can share your experiences (no matter how embarrassing they may be) and possibly save a soul who either is where you were or is about to travel the same path… This is how we touch and agree, we get on one accord, we share our experiences and we look to God for the answers and directives that we need in journeying through this life… 

The more people pushing and pressing toward the same goal, the less amount of pressure you feel or energy you have to exert when you are doing it on your own… Growing up I was always told that there is power in numbers… I was also told when searching for something that two sets of eyes are better than one…In today’s focus verse, we are reminded of this same principle… As a child of God, studying the word of God carries high importance; however, just as important is that we surround ourselves with believers in Christ as well… The Bible says that God is love, when we come together as a united body, love pours out from within… In coming together we overlook faults, in coming together we shut off all the gossip, in coming together we put our own agenda to the side and seek the path to better another… Love is the ability to look beyond faults, love is the ability to stop negative talk and love definitely is the ability to focus on the greater good instead of our own current circumstance or situation… All must be on ONE accord. God will not stand to have bickering in the church with everybody trying to fulfill their own agenda. We must first touch and agree, AND THEN it shall be done by our Father in Heaven. The key to this passage is that we must come to a point in our lives where we understand that we all have a different gift or gift(s) and together we comprise the body of Christ… As the bible tells us, we cannot see without the eye, we can’t hear without the ear, we can’t walk without the feet… Let us understand today, that we all are unique in our own way, we aren’t all feet, we aren’t all legs, we aren’t all arms, but together we form one body in Christ… The key is that we must be “together…” and walk together to be the powerful unit we were created to be. 

Touch and Agree… That’s the key!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Believing Is The Key To Your Breakthrough

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24

The enemy has you hearing the meaningless things of life while the voice of God which you need to hear is but a small whisper which is never understood… This is why you have people who have been praying about the same situation and have not heard from God; the problem isn’t that God hasn’t spoken; it’s that they do not have the clear state of mind needed to hear Him… As written in the gospel of John, there are two vital steps to obtaining Everlasting Life. The first step is being able to hear God... For so many of us, the clutter of the world and daily tasks has consumed us to the point that we are unable to hear from the Lord. Today's message reminds us that just like we declutter our houses, we must do the same within ourselves if we want to hear the Lord. To be blunt, there are people in your life that you need to tune out, there are relationships that you need to cut loose and situations that you have to learn to let go of… This first step is vital because without it you will not have room for God to move or let alone take up residence within you… Once you start tuning out the things which are not of God and start tuning into what His desires and plans are for you; you must then trust the path laid before you even if it doesn’t make sense or is filled with uncertainty… So many of us complete one of the aforementioned steps; however, we never do both… We believe, but we don’t cut things loose, or we cut things loose but become disheartened when we see the path which God has laid before us… Understand today that each step you take in Christ is a step in the right direction, the seasons of uncertainty and isolation are very real and frightening to endure; however, you can rest on the notion that you will have everlasting life and that you will pass from death unto life… 

As a child of God, you have to go through a transition; you must pass from one phase of life to the next and the truth of the matter is that the enemy wants you to think you can’t do it so that you end up exactly where you don’t want to be… There is a way to overcome your failures… There’s a path that we can travel which leads to Eternal Life and security from the penalty of sin… In order to find this path, or begin to take this route you must hear the word of God… Jesus gives us instructions today as to how we can receive everlasting life… In the first part of this verse, Jesus says, “…he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life…”In order to hear the word of God you must surround yourself with the word of God… This doesn’t just mean that you need to go to church, but that in your everyday affairs, you must make the word of God a part of your life… Set aside time in your day to read God’s word, study a specific verse or even read a devotional message… What good is it if you go to church every Sunday, but don’t believe what you hear…? What God is it if you can recite the Lord’s Prayer but don’t believe that He is “Our Father…?” When we believe something there is no outward evidence of this, but it lies within our core and our heart… God knows your heart, so He knows when you believe in Him and His word… When you have heard the word of God and believe it to be true, you will then accept Jesus as the savior trusting that He was sent by God… Your believeth must be in Him who sent Jesus, you must believe that God created the heavens in the earth, that he created mankind from the dust of the ground, and that He sent His only begotten son to die for our sins… When you profess your believeth in this message Jesus says that you “hath everlasting life…” Everlasting Life is the assurance and security that while our outward man will perish our inward shall live and be caught up in the air… This security also tells us that no condemnation shall come upon you… 

“Don’t worry about yesterday, that’s why it’s called the past! Don’t worry about tomorrow that’s why it’s called the future. Instead, think about today because today truly is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present!”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Rejoicing Isn't Based On Circumstance

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Despite the things that you don’t have or the situations that may not have gone the way you had planned, today’s devotional reminds us to take inventory of the things we do have and the plans that God has for us… There are so many things in this life that will not go according to our desires; however, the heart of a Christian can rejoice in these times knowing that the hand of God will never lead them down a path of destruction and calamity… As we grow in Christ, we must grow in the knowledge of His protection and love for us; the God that I serve will create a detour in my life not to keep me from getting to a particular point, but to guide me through a better path even if it has more bumps along the way… As I think about the love of God, I recall the Israelites in their exodus from Egypt… The word of God clearly tells us that they were taken through a more scenic route to the promised land; however, the word of God also tells us that this was done because the more direct route would have had them engaging in war with the Philistines…And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” 

God always has your best interest at heart; in your life, even if you go through a long drought or a roundabout way of getting to your destiny, know today that you can rejoice in the fact hat you are traveling this way for a reason and that the promises of God which were planted before your first step will indeed be fulfilled… This is the message that Habakkuk instills in us today… It doesn’t matter what type of season you go through, it is of no significance if the promise is not visible; you continue to keep your joy in the Lord and trust His plan… You can trust in the Lord because you know the plan that He has for you, which is nothing short of salvation…  When we go through trials and tribulations; when we endure pain and persecution, the word of God calls us to remember where He wants to take us and not focus on what we are going through right now… Stop getting caught up in the way things are and focus on the way things will be when you come out of your situation or circumstance… There is a reason why the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines… There is a reason why you are disciplined and even though you may not want to believe it, there is a method to the madness of things which you may not comprehend at the present time… I believe that Paul (in his letter to the Church of Rome) understood that we must go through seasons in life and this is why he said “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” There is joy and glory that will be revealed in and through you… The seasons of famine in your life simply allow you to appreciate the beauty of abundance that is to come… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Strong And Of Good Courage

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9

The faith which you confess through your mouth is best displayed in your actions and ability to trust the Lord despite the situation or what others may think… Joshua was faced with a daunting task, one that literally called for him to display His faith instead of simply professing it as he did in the 14^th chapter of Numbers regarding the land that the Lord was going to give to His children… In this life, you are guaranteed to endure various situations and the message for today is that you must be strong and of a good courage… There are so many circumstances that plant seeds of fear, doubt, and despair in our lives; so many situations that cause us to second guess our decision and oftentimes end up delaying our advancement in the knowledge and kingdom of God… Joshua was tasked to lead the rebellious children of God and the only message that was given was a message that God would be with him… He was charged to stand firm in the will of God, to not become frustrated with the task at hand or to become distracted by all the other variables that would lead to leaving the goals set by the Lord unaccomplished… The same message Joshua received is the same message that you have today which is that God will be with you. Don’t get it twisted, this doesn’t mean that you won’t endure or go through tough times, it doesn’t mean that you will not be subjected to trials and tribulations, what it means is that God will always be with you as you go through your trying time and season… 

The enemy has you defeated when you are not prepared for the curve ball that life will throw at you; Satan has you right where he wants you when you are not vigilant as to the changeup that is about to come in your life… Joshua was being groomed for this moment without even knowing that in the blink of an eye, he would have over a million people looking to him for direction… Everything in your life that you endure is preparing you for something; learn the lesson, take notes, and be vigilant for the test that is coming… Your faith will be tested, your trust in God will be tested, your relationship with the Lord will be tested… This test is inevitable, there is nothing you can do to avoid it, nothing you can do to get around it, the charge for you today is to embrace your test and be not afraid… Don't be discouraged when you go through, the word of God tells us countless times that we will endure; there is no secret to the suffering that a child of God will face; however, there is a way to handle it and defeat the snares of the enemy and that is by reminding ourselves daily that God is with us whithersoever thou goest… Remind yourself that God has not left you, remind your household that God is still near, and remind them that growing pains are in fact painful, but the end results will be well worth the struggle… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It's Your Heart That Matters To God

Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

 Joel 2:13

 

The key to growing in this life is the ability to humble yourself in the midst of people and situations… There are a lot of things that we face in life which we do not want others to know; however, we are told today in the book of Joel that we must break ourselves down in order to build ourselves up… We enter this life with a mindset that is not of the will of God; when we realize this, the enemy tries to keep us thinking that our way of life is okay, when in fact the truth of the matter is that nothing of this world can produce the life-altering results we seek… In the Old Testament, men would rend (tear) their garments as a sign of disagreement, humbleness, or repentance toward God… To rend your garments also would show a sign of pain or ache within that cannot be contained… Job tore his garments when he received the bad reports about his children. In Job’s instance, this was to be considered as a sign of humility and total remorse from whatever actions or choices that had been made… Job didn’t understand why this had happened and he broke himself down before the Lord seeking an answer as to why all these things have happened to his household… As we understand what it means to rend your clothes, let us also understand that God isn’t concerned about our clothes. God is focused on our hearts which is why we are instructed today to, “Rend your heart and not your garments…” 

This passage reminds us today that it is not about what we do on the outside to show our remorse, but if we really have a broken and contrite heart! It wasn’t about David going to the temple or pleading with God over his son which was bore by Bathsheba, but it was indeed about how he handled the situation within and how he sought God’s face in his most trying time… So many people claim to be upset at their past failures and mistakes, but their heart has not turned from them, so they continue down that dark and steep path… To rend your heart is to be completely uneased by your failures and to seek a transformation daily! Again, David is a perfect example of a broken heart when he fasted for numerous days hoping his son would not perish; but the bible says that when he received word of his son’s death, he cleaned himself up and went into the temple of the Lord… He was broken, he was suffering and he knew that God was his only answer, he wasn’t worried about his stature as King, he wasn’t worried about what men had to say, he was seeking a transformation of character through our Lord and Savior… We too need to stop worrying about what people think, we need to cease caring about what this person may say if we do this or do that, we must come to the understanding that God is standing and waiting for your broken heart to be brought to him so that he can mend it… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You're Proof God Exists

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where there voice is not heard.

Psalm 19:1

 

Even though you may have times in your life when you think God is not near you; today’s focus verse reminds us that the things we see on a daily basis show the very presence of God… Take time throughout your day when the enemy has you down and see the beauty of this earth which is the very hand of God at work… Make it a point today to take notice of the trees and flowers; take a moment to hear the birds chirping and the winds blowing… Sometimes in life, you don’t have to necessarily feel the presence of God directly in your life to know that He is still there… This statement is what summarizes the very meaning and thought of this verse… The heavens and the earth display the omnipresence of God… He is with you, He is standing by you and He is all around you… The splendor and magnificence of God is seen every day of our lives… The beauty of His holiness can be found in the very flowers that bloom in May or the showers that come in April… Often times we want to see signs or evidence that God exists (as if being alive and seeing another day isn’t enough); however we are reminded through the psalm that if you want to observe the glory of the Lord, look around you… 

The psalmist informs us today that even though this world seems to be drenched in sin and is being held captive by the desires of the flesh God is still in the midst… When we feel like things are caving in around us, know that “The heavens declare the glory of the Lord…” (He receives the highest praise) and the firmament shows his handiwork… Even in the toughest of times, we must remember that God is at work… 

Take a moment and think about planting a seed in a garden. For days, weeks, and possibly months we see nothing... The interesting thing is that we don’t know what takes place throughout the time that the seed has been planted because we can’t see it… God works just like the seeds we plant every year… We must learn to expect the harvest, but more importantly, believe that God is working behind the scenes when we can’t see anything happening… The vines that sprout from the ground are signs of things to come; however, we must wait several weeks before we see this event take place… Be patient in knowing that the vine of your deliverance will sprout, it might take a day, a week, or even a year, but we must know that the signs of the seasons are signs of things to come for us… The firmament is His creation; God is there when the flowers bloom in May, He is there when the sun sets and the rainbows shine brightly after the rain! He has never left your side; He is standing in the middle and showing you His goodness by using the things that He created on this earth…In everything that you see, God will make sure that He is present; when you fall He won’t let you fall too far, and when you are bruised He makes sure that you heal completely and aren’t left with open wounds… No matter where you are, God is there… Day by day He is there; night after night He is there… This is a powerful verse to remember and encourages us to know that in all things (good and bad) God is in the midst and will see you through… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Sits On The Throne

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10

No matter what you do (good or bad), no matter how much you lock away in your heart or secret closet; the word of God reminds us today that we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ… This should provide cause for concern for the unbeliever; however, this statement should also provide encouragement to the man or woman of faith who knows that they will stand before the Lord knowing that they have walked in His will and not the views or opinions of this world… There are things done in the dark that will come to light, there are situations that have been suppressed which will rise again and the notion to think that you can or have gotten over is simply foolish and a device used by the enemy which many fall victim to… This message today is not to say that you have to be perfect; this message is to remind you that your focus and the motivation of your heart which leads to actions must be founded upon the directive and promises of God… This is why David can be called a man after God’s own heart; this is the reason why Moses can be seen on the mount of transfiguration and the same reason why Peter could preach and point 3,000 souls to Christ after denying Him… We can try to cover up things for our entire lives, we can try to pull the wool over many people's eyes and may even be successful in deceiving some; however, we are reminded today through Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth that God not only knows and sees all but that we will be judged by the things we do on this earth as well… 

This passage is not one to fear; however, it is one that should cause us to examine our lives and focus our attention on being the person that we were created to be in Christ… We all make mistakes, we all sin and continue to fall short, but I am thankful that God not only looks beyond our faults, but that He can see the heart that we have… Don’t confuse this statement and think that it's okay for us to walk in sin, this passage informs us that we must have a heart and desire to turn from sin and be the beacon light that we are to be… God will judge us and He will weigh the decisions that we have made along with the desires that lie within… David took another man's wife and slept with her, in the end, he was called a man after God’s own heart… This wasn’t because of the sin he committed, but because of the heart for God that he had… Just like David, we fall short, but what desires lie within you? These are the things that will motivate you to correct your wrong, overcome your mistakes and seek to live according to the will of God… Accountability is the driving force behind Paul’s second letter to the Church of Corinth… We all have heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink…” Paul reminds us today that we have been afforded an opportunity to live a life according to God’s will; however, the choice is up to us whether we will or we will not… 

Erma Bombeck said it best; “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me…"

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Indulge In Nonsense

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 1:32-33

 

Temptation is at every turn of our head… There are so many people that we encounter on a daily basis that simply do not have our best interest at heart and today we are reminded of the importance of having a sober mind and steady focus on the Lord… As I read the opening portion of this scripture which says, “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them…” I immediately begin to think about Lot (in the book of Genesis) leaving his home at the command of God and how his wife looked back and became a pillar of salt… The entrapment of Lot’s wife was founded on the hills of her focusing on the past while God was leading them to a new home and future… The simple things in life are often the hardest things to overcome and let go of… Success (making money), an addiction or even a relationship all pose major problems in our lives; however, we are reminded today that when we fall victim to seeing someone’s success, pick up a beer based on the suggestion of someone or become envious of a relationship we have allowed these simple devices to ruin us and ultimately slay us… In understanding the word simple that is used in today's passage, I come to the conclusion that the matters that will affect you the most and deter your growth in the Lord are the simple matters that are allowed to fester in your life… Arguing with your spouse about matters which can be rectified can be a simple thing that grows to something larger and ends in divorce if not handled correctly… As the word of God says, you have to be faithful over a few things… Don’t allow small matters to occupy huge chunks of your time; don’t allow the worldly prosperity of fools to destroy you… 

You have to know that the places you dwell in today may not be the green pastures you think exist on the other side; however, you must stand in faith knowing that God is and that God can do anything but fail… You are where you are for a reason and a season; don’t get caught up in what appears pleasing to the eye (it could be damaging to the soul)… We all have heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” today; let us apply this in our Christian walk… Solomon gives important advice today as to how we are to handle situations or opportunities that arise in our lives… If you are motivated by earthly gains and prosperity then you are not motivated by the love of Christ and His offering on the cross; likewise, when you are motivated by God you live a Godly life that is acceptable in His sight… The way to find out what kind of life you are living is to simply look at how you conduct yourself in your everyday affairs… Hosea 4:6 records “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Not knowing the God you serve in the most adverse situation will allow the enemy to control you at your weakest and lowest point… We are dying because we do not know God, we are not motivated by His love, and we aren’t walking according to His calling… Solomon goes on to say “the prosperity of fools shall destroy them…”It’s so easy for us to get caught up in what someone else has or a level of success that we think someone else has achieved… However, as a child of God we must know that we seek a crown that is incorruptible, a mansion that will never fade a way and a life that will never end… We must remember that we will be tempted and their will be many things that will come in to our lives which may lead us to question the path we are currently on; however, we must stay the course, deny the desire to try an easier path and hold to God’s unchanging hand… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are Justified and Blessed Through Him

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:8

No matter the situation or how drastic the circumstance may appear to be; today’s focus verse reminds us that it’s not too late for the wayward soul, there is still time for the one who is lost to be found and a ray of hope for the one who so many have wrote off… The word of God can redirect the paths of whoever comes in contact with it and the grace of God can justify any man no matter their prior history… In reading this verse, it is vital that we understand and know that we can only be justified by faith… There is no deed or process which you can complete to have your name recorded in the Book of Life… The things you deserve to receive are not the things that you desire to receive; however, through your acceptance of the blood which Jesus shed on Calvary, you have a door opened unto you where the things you desire can actually be manifested in your life… This is how you can gain the things you desire (not because you deserve them), but because you are justified by Christ to receive them… Abraham was promised by God to be the father of many nations; however, up until he turned 100 years of age his wife Sarah was barren… In believing that the promise would not be fulfilled, Abraham took the advice of his wife and had a child with her maidservant… 

This was not the child promised to Abraham and led to a seed of bitterness to take root within the heart of his wife Sarah… The point of summarizing this passage today is to say that we must stand on the promises of God and know that He is the only one who can bring them to fruition…  We must come to a point in our lives where we firmly believe and trust in the Lord… God made a promise to Abraham that “in thee shall all nations be blessed…” Abraham was a man that followed the will of God by faith… At the age of 75, he set out from Haran to the land of Canaan and was placed in the territory of the enemy which forced him to totally rely upon the Lord… We look at the story of Abraham to understand today that God has indeed made a promise; we can be justified by our faith in Him… Just like Abraham, we must allow God to lead us according to His will and not try to assist along the way… When we try to take matters into our own hands we no longer are walking by faith, but rather giving in to the pressures and temptations that we are currently facing… The seed of Abraham was provided by God’s allowance for His wife Sarah to have a son… This is the same grace and mercy which was bestowed upon us, the same grace and mercy that has kept us, and the same grace and mercy that calls for us to have faith in the only one who is faithful… To be the seed of Abraham, we must believe that Jesus is Lord. We will be justified through faith; God is telling us that if we believe and hold onto His promise, then we shall be blessed. 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Seek His Face Continually

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.

1 Chronicles 16:11-12

Seeking the Lord is not something that we can ever afford to grow tired of nor can we complete this journey of seeking Him while living upon this earth… There are so many things that we desire to do while we are living; however, there are quite a few things that we may never accomplish… In reading today’s scripture, I am reminded about the urgency and importance that seeking the Lord plays in our development and growth as Christians… The Bible declares that we can find the Lord when we seek Him with our whole heart; Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” This verse penned in the prophetic book of Jeremiah takes place at a point and time when the children of God were full of disobedience and rebellion… This 13th verse is preceded by the 11^th verse which declares to the children of God that even though things may seem bleak; there is a plan that has been devised and will be carried about by the Lord… It is in the 11^th verse that we find these words, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

I recite these two verses because they speak in parallel with today’s focus verses; the Lord had a plan for the Israelites, and even though they endured a lot of trials and tribulations, the plan of God was a plan that would provide hope for them; however, this very plan could only be brought into existence once their desire and focus of seeking the Lord began to unfold… The times of despair in your life are the times when you need to seek Him most; these are also the times when your hurt is more vulnerable and can be given into completely… There are so many of us that have turned away from God because of the trials and obstacles that we have faced; I feel led to tell you today that your adversity is not to be seen as a hindrance but a sign which foreshadows the coming of the Lord…When you go through things in life, the enemy wants you to become fearful of the way in which things appear to be; however, in today’s verse, we are reminded that these times can serve as stepping stones that will lead to your divine destiny… Don’t allow the enemy to deter you from seeking and getting to know the plans which God has for you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!