His Yoke Is Easy

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired of being alive but not living? Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the things of this world and wonder how you are going to make it…? The truth of the matter is the enemy wants you to be so bogged down by the cares of this world that you have no time to really start living (which is to give your life to Christ)… Matthew records the call that Jesus makes to all mankind, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” Jesus bids you to come out from the places you currently reside… This beckoning isn't a physical call, but a voice that desires to lead you in and on the path of truth and to give you life and give it to you more abundantly (Jesus declares this as the sole purpose of His arrival to this earth)… We labour daily trying to live up to other people's expectations, we are heavy-laden when we allow the thoughts of others and the temptations we face to weigh us down and strip our attention from the things that truly matter… This isn't to suggest or say that the life of a Christian is easy; however, it is to suggest that there are things that are worth laboring for and being burdened by because they will lead to eternal rewards and joy… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Through Christ All Things Are Possible

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17-18

As a child of God, we are blessed with might and power that we probably don’t even realize that we have… These verses teach us of the supernatural power that we can tap into which only comes from the Lord… When we do things in the name of the Lord, positive results will follow. Mark tells us that we can cast out devils, we can speak with new tongues and pick up serpents… All things are possible when we are in the care of our Lord and Savior; however, the key to unlocking these powers is the faith that we must have which cannot waver… In times of despair, in times of turmoil, in times of chaos, Mark teaches us today that with an unwavering faith and an unquenchable fire or zeal for the Lord, we will be able to do miraculous things… The words In my name speak to the connection and authority that we must receive through Christ to perform the impossible in our lives… Remember all the great things that Jesus did upon this earth, but also remember that He said, “Greater things than I will you do…”The mantle is ready to be passed, and the limitless heights you can reach are in view, but you must walk according to the will of God and submit yourself totally to Him… We all have heard the saying, “You can tell a Leopard by its spots”, also true; is the fact that you can tell a Christian by their abilities. One who has a vague outlook on life has question marks in their walk with God. 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Submit To God; Resist The Devil

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

In life, we are assured of tests and temptations, and we will experience frustration and misfortune; however, the challenge for every believer in Christ is to stand in faith, trusting and believing that God will take care of the very things that are out of our control… This passage taken from the book of James gives us instructions as to how we can overcome the storms and obstacles that plague our lives. To be victorious and be taken to another level in Christ, the first thing we must do is to submit ourselves to God, the word submit means to present or offer and this declares to us that if we want to be successful in life and be happy in this world, we must present our bodies to the Lord, we must offer our time, gifts and resources to the Most High God. To submit you must humble yourself, you must surrender all; you must completely turn your life over into the hands of God… Understand today that submission requires admission… You must admit that you're not perfect, that you can’t make it on your own, and that you need the Lord to intervene in your life and guide you… You must acknowledge that without Him you are nothing, you will be nothing and hell awaits your arrival… Today let us understand that to inherit eternal life, to receive the precious promises of God, to find peace and happiness we MUST submit TOTALLY to Him… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Wants You Just As You Are

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

The psalmist makes a bold request unto the Lord, one that requires total devotion and acceptance of whatever happens next… In the darkest of hours, when all hope seems lost; when we have tried everything we can think of and can’t overcome the obstacle in front of us what do we do? The psalmist turns to the Lord and asks Him to search him… This is a concluding and submissive statement that says I give up, I am tired of living this life, I am tired of experiencing these same results and I desire more… The psalmist realizes that there are things in his life that must be holding him back, there are people in his life that may be causing him trouble, and since he cannot figure it out nor can he overcome them, he asks God to search him… This is a powerful declaration today, one that speaks to the heart of man and poses a serious question as well… Have you asked God to search you? These verses cover a multitude of areas that we must allow God to inspect and clean… Have you asked God to try you and know your thoughts? The psalmist here wants us to understand what it is to have an intimate relationship with God. He has taken his life and placed it on the throne of the Most High. He has inquired of the Lord to cleanse him and mold him into the disciple that he has been called to be. In asking to be searched and tried there is a request being made, but also a pledge of acceptance of whatever painful experiences are to come... You have to let God have His way in your life even if and when His way does not align with yours… Allow the Lord to search you, He will find the voids in your life and fill them with His love and compassion which will in turn lead you to greatness within His will!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Those Who Wait Find Strength

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31  

Trying to make this trek on this journey called life within your own power guarantees you one thing and one thing only; FAILURE… It doesn’t matter how prosperous things may appear to be, it doesn’t matter how glowing your life may seem at the moment, Isaiah reminds us today that “Even the youths shall faint and be weary…” The strongest of all men will fail; the smartest of all mankind won’t be smart enough and all “…shall utterly fall…” No matter how much success you have or how good your health is; we must all rely and be solely dependent upon the Lord… This requires us to totally submit ourselves to the will and power of God… So many of us are wondering why it is that we aren’t able to stand, why it is that we aren’t able to maintain and the answer lies in the fact that there are still parts of your life which you are still trying to control; these parts are also the same places where the enemy utilizes his most crafty devices to ruin the being which God created you to be… Isaiah goes on to say that you will mount up on wings like Eagles. When a storm comes, Eagles see it but fly above it. When your trials come you will see them, when tribulations come, you will surely encounter them, but you will be lifted above and beyond those storms, you will be taken higher and placed on a security blanket that is Jesus Christ. Isaiah says that you will feel times of despair and see many trials; however, it will be by the strength of God (when you call on His name) that you will be delivered… People often say, “There is strength in numbers,” our motto as Christians is that there is strength in Christ…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He's The Way, The Truth and The Life

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

This is a verse that clearly defines our religion and the foundation on which we stand… 4 non-negotiable points are highlighted below that separate light from darkness, life from death, and sickness from health… There are many religions in our societies today, many different temples, churches, and synagogues; however, today we must examine why we have differing religions. There is one common denominator which is Jesus and the declaration made here in the 14^th chapter of John… This passage can be the focus of separation between religious beliefs, why because of the 4 things Jesus states about His divinity while being the very form of man!

The first thing that Jesus says is, “I am the way…” In traveling you can find many routes to reach your destination, you can sometimes stumble upon a shortcut or even find that your route is much longer than another path… Whatever the case may be, today we are called to remember that there are no shortcuts to reaching heaven… There are no paths that will lead to an easy road to obtaining Salvation… 

“I am the truth…” There are a lot of false doctrines, a lot of people trying to appease the itching ear, and a lot of people who want to pick and choose which parts of the bible they want to hold as sacred and true… I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being lied to, tired of being suppressed, and tired of being disrespected! Jesus tells us today that all truth is in Him; 

“…and the life!” Jesus told us that He came to give life and give it more abundantly… This simply tells me that I am not living until I come to know Him… Ezekiel was faced with a valley of dry bones, it wasn't until he prophesied to the winds and the breath of life was deposited that they came to be... This rule applies to us today; we are dead without Christ... Jesus is life and ONLY through Him can we live…

“…no man cometh to the father, but by me!” This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for many who want to reach the destiny in which God has called them to… Remember that before Jesus' death on the cross, we could not go to the Father in prayer; however, as Jesus gave up His spirit, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom symbolizing the fact that we can now go to God in prayer directly… It is through Jesus and only through Him that we obtain the righteousness to be fit for the Kingdom of God…

In Jesus you have your being; it is only through Him that you can find your way, live in truth, have life, and be with the Father for all Eternity…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are One in Christ

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:13-14

There is only one avenue paved by the blood of Jesus which leads to Eternal Life… Paul starts off these verses by declaring, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” There are many religions in this world and many gods that people worship; however, we need to know and remember just as Paul states to the church of Corinth, that we serve the True God… We cannot in any way, shape, or form negotiate our faith in Jesus Christ… More importantly, we cannot try and place ourselves above others who come into the Faith… There is a big problem in churches today where people are turned away because of others who look down on them… We are to be mindful that all people from all walks of life have been given a chance to inherit Eternal Life and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior… You weren't always saved, there were and are still dark areas in your life, and just like Jesus has saved you by His bloodshed; you also must allow for His saving power to draw whomever to Him and embrace them with open arms… This very reason is why Paul says it doesn't matter what culture you are from, it doesn't matter “…whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free…” Jesus proclaimed that He came for the sick (this taught the people of yesterday and today that there is no barrier to God’s love or what depths He can go to reach or save a soul)… It is of the utmost importance that we stop judging one another based on age, race, or gender and realize that God looks at the heart of man and not the body that houses it… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Earth Shall Be Filled With His Glory

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Numbers 14:21

The Bible records that at the creation of the world (darkness had covered the face of the deep)… There are so many dark areas in our lives, so many things that we are not proud of, so many choices that we have made that we don’t want people to know about nor do we want to acknowledge… Today, in the book of Numbers, we see that all darkness will be expunged from the earth… Truly the Lord does live and because He lives we can take pride today in knowing that “…all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord…” The glory of the Lord is His splendor, beauty, and wonder; knowing that His beauty will fill the earth gives enough confidence to the believer today to smile amid trials… His splendor will fill the earth, He will be exalted through the darkness of this land, His light will shine and your path will grow brighter and brighter as you walk according to His will and plan for you… We must understand today that in reading this verse we confidently make the claim that the light of God shines in us and through us… Today’s focus verse starts off with the words, But as truly as I live; this is a statement of faith and confidence in God which should be the same claim that we make daily… As surely as I live, I know that God loves me and will continue to mold me, I can allow all the mistakes of yesterday, and all the dark areas of my life to be exposed after reading this passage because I don’t want to carry this weight anymore, I don’t want to give the enemy a foothold anymore (Ephesians 4:27) and I am tired of walking on eggshells… I know there is beauty in me and in the path which God has for me… He shall be revealed and the life I have in Him shall be fulfilled... 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Death Gave You Life

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1 Peter 2:24

If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be…? This is the question that I desire to ask myself daily… I believe that in asking this question, we can break down strongholds and overcome temptations… Knowing that Jesus paid the price, knowing that my sins (past, present, and future) have been forgiven, and understanding that I have a chance to inherit Eternal Life, I can rebuke the attacks and devices that the enemy uses… Our focus verse taken from 1 Peter starts off by saying, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” Jesus took it upon Himself to bare our sins, He took upon Himself to receive them upon His own body and He took it upon Himself to carry them to the tree… There was nothing that we could offer Him, nothing that we could give or pay Him to do it; He did it “…his own self…” This is good news today because it speaks to the love and care that Jesus has for us; this is good news today because it demonstrates the desires of God to reconcile with His creation and this is a sweet verse to carry in the forefront of our minds because it reminds us that God wants to see us at our best… Jesus laid down His life before we were formed in our mother’s womb, and He paid our debt before we even were engulfed by it; recognize where you would be without the love of God, recognize today where you would be if His grace and mercy was not deposited in the form of His son, recognize today that things can and would be worse if it were not for the life shed on Calvary…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Just Hearing The Word Isn't Good Enough

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22

There are two vital elements to the life of a Christian; one is hearing the word of God and the other is applying and/or doing the word of God… We cannot hear and be satisfied, the word of God must not only be heard but be rooted within so that it can sprout and bring forth fruit from the lives we live and the examples we display to others…  You deceive nobody but yourself when you think that you have done enough by being able to say that you faithfully attend church; you deceive yourself when you put on your Sunday’s best and display the worst example of a Christian each and every other day of the week… Applying the word of God is what leads to positive fruits and results in one's life… The word of God being heard without being applied is the same as instruction being received and not carried out… You wonder why you fall short over and over again, you wonder why your life continues to spiral out of control as you attend church faithfully and the answer may be in your application of what God is providing to you versus what you have heard and have chosen to demonstrate… 

The proof is in the pudding, the question is “How does your life taste?”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Let Your Light Shine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

It is up to you to display Christ in your life and not to allow the things of this world to dim the light that God has placed inside of you… Notice that this passage says for you to let your light shine so that men may see your good works. Many Christians patrol around in our societies uttering the words I am God’s child, I am a Christian, but this passage shines light on the fact that we are to live a life that will let people know we are of the household of faith without the need for words to supply the answer... This passage tells us that we should not have to tell somebody about our religious beliefs, but rather that the individuals who come into contact with us should be able to see that Christ dwells within us. Our mission on this Earth is to walk in God's will and in all things give Him glory and honor! It is not for you to proclaim your religion through words, so refrain from speaking and live what you use to verbally preach!! Understand today that your actions are imperative to your witness; for your light to shine for others to see, it must first be positioned in the right place! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Delight Thyself In The Lord

Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

Often times we prioritize things in the wrong order which leads us to receiving the wrong results… In the natural realm of thinking, we chase after our desires at all cost, stopping at nothing to obtain them… The psalmist reminds us today of the true direction in which everyone must travel to receive “…the desires of thine heart…” There are steps which we must take in obtaining the things which we desire to have and the first step which must be taken is that we must “Delight thyself also in the Lord…” You can have desires in life, but your focus and top priority must be delighting yourself in the way and will of the Lord… You must turn away from your own desires and walk by faith knowing that God not only knows your heart but that He will answer your prayers… It is so easy when things don’t go the way we expected for us to try and make our own path… We find ourselves praying for something and when God doesn’t answer in our way, we immediately try to step in and get the results that we are looking for… From studying this verse today, it’s imperative that we not only learn to be obedient to God’s desires and patient within our walk, but we also must remember that God answers in “ways that are not our ways”… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Power Comes Through The Holy Ghost

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

The instruction uttered by Christ in this verse reminds us to stop trying to find answers within our own finite abilities… Stop trying to pave your own path and go in your own direction… You must come to know and trust the Lord (remember the people had all things in common with their focus on God when the Holy Spirit descended upon them as tongues of fire)… In life, we must learn to praise God at all times. Praise Him through your difficulties, praise Him through your trials, praise Him through your hours of loneliness, and allow Him to take care of all your cares… Jesus instructed His disciples very clearly to wait until the Holy Spirit came and sure enough, when it came, the same ones who were scared were used to transform the makeup of the entire world. Remember that Jesus said, “Greater things than I will you do…” Don’t ignore the power of your witness today; you have made mistakes, and you have chosen the wrong direction, but you know God's light of love has still shined down on you. He has still shown compassion toward you and brought you through trial after trial… You’re a powerful creation and God sent His son because of the power He wants you to display… Somebody needs to hear your testimony, somebody needs to hear what God has done for you and you must realize that you have the power (by the Holy Spirit) to show people the direction of God and how awesome He is… This scripture tells us today that there is a time for your anticipated arrival as a witness to God’s faithfulness; endure your season of preparation and do not move before the Spirit descends upon you and leads you down the path that God has paved specifically for you…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Rest Is Found In Christ

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired of being alive but not living? Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the things of this world and wonder how you are going to make it…? The truth of the matter is the enemy wants you to be so bogged down by the cares of this world that you have no time to really start living (which is to give your life to Christ)… Matthew records the call that Jesus makes to all mankind, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” Jesus bids you come out from the places you currently reside that have oppressed or constrained you… This beaconing isn’t a physical call, but a voice that desires to lead you on the path of truth and to give you life and give it to you more abundantly… We labour by trying to live up to other people's expectations, we are heavy-laden when we allow the thoughts of others and the temptations we face to weigh us down and strip our attention from the things that matter… This isn’t to suggest or say that the life of a Christian is easy; however, it is to suggest that there are things that are worth laboring for and being burdened by when we walk in the will of God. Don’t worry about the trials you face, don’t worry about the obstacles, and don’t get caught up in the way things appear to be. In the Lord, you will find rest, you will find help and you will find love… My yoke is easy and my burden is light; although you face hard times, you are sure to claim victory in Christ Jesus and make it through…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Victory Comes Through His Death

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:14

One of the reasons for Jesus' arrival to this earth was to seek and save that which was lost… Knowing the very error of mankind from the original sin in Eden, Jesus became flesh and blood just like us to completely pay the ransom for our lives which we could never afford… It is through His offering that we have our being and the ability or resources to overcome the circumstances and obstacles which were designed to prohibit and destroy us… Understand today that you were born into this world as a sinner which simply means that you are subject to the governing authority of Satan…The bible declares in the book of Job that Satan enters the courts of the Lord after roaming the earth to and fro… Whether we recognize it or not, we have two choices that we can make when it comes to living on this earth… Either we serve the Lord or we serve Satan... Understanding the choices that we have now, allows us to realize the golden opportunity that has been placed before us… It is a golden opportunity in that we can do nothing to obtain it using what we do on this earth… The author of Hebrews reminds us today that it is “through death He (Jesus) might destroy him…” Often times we take credit for things, we look at our outward achievements and begin to ponder how successful we have become, but the author reminds us that we would not know success or victory had it not been for Jesus laying down His life on the cross… In the Old Testament, sacrifices were made to atone for sin and to display thanksgiving; however, it was only through the bloodshed of Jesus that sin was completely destroyed… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Fools Despise Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

Our journey in Christ is not completed with the receiving of Salvation and Jesus as head of our lives… Solomon reminds us today that the fear of the Lord is the beginning… All believers in Christ have taken the initial steps in Christ; however, there are so many Christians that have never moved past that first stage which the Apostle Paul refers to as being babes in Christ… The mission of Jesus was fulfilled every day of His natural life on this earth… 30 years of preparation and 3 ½ years of ministry led to the cross and resurrection… Jesus did not come down one day and leave the next; to the contrary, He grew as Luke recorded in the 2nd chapter of His gospel in which you will find these words…And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. I point this out today to reinforce the importance of growth in our Christian walk… Understand today that there is so much that you will learn through this journey, so many seasons of adversity and turmoil which will turn out to be seasons of preparation and exaltation… There are things in this life that you must learn beyond the realm of being saved which will mold you and form you into the man or woman God designed you to be so that He can then begin to use you in the manner which will bring you prosperity and fill His heart with joy and approval… This is why the fear (reverence, admiration) of God is just the beginning… Once you revere the Lord, then you can begin to walk according to His will knowing that His will and way are perfect… You can begin to exercise your faith knowing that there is an expected end in store for you and that your labor is not in vain… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Compassion's Fail Not

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23

You have a chance to right your wrongs today, a chance to write a new chapter of your life, and a chance to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; because of the Lord’s great love… This is a new day which means new opportunities and new encounters… It is all because of the love which God has for us and displayed through His very own son that we are not consumed… Understand today that the enemy desired to end your life before it began, he wanted to destroy the vision and plan that God had for you by confusing and confounding your very being as it relates to being in this world and not of it… The word of the Lord reminds us today that Satan will not win; even though we make mistakes, pick up bad habits, and travel down the wrong path from time to time. Today we are reminded and can find comfort in knowing that God will always watch over us as Jeremiah goes on to say that His compassions never fail…  

The word compassion (sympathy, concern, or care) sheds light on the fact that God is filled with the deepest and purest form of Love for His creation. This pure love allows Him to be able to look beyond and through our flaws and fulfill every need… It is the compassion of God that sustains us because each and every day He deposits a measure of grace and mercy out of the caring valves of His heart into our lives which is why the writer goes on to say that they are new every morning… Knowing that God’s compassions and mercies are new every morning, lets me know that they are deposited before I even begin my day… This is good news to the believer today as we are informed by Jeremiah that God shows up in our lives and our situations before we even open our eyes to face them… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Pray For One Another

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

Colossians 1:9

The journey in Christ which we all travel as believers is filled with trials and tribulations… I am of the mindset that as soon as you declare your allegiance to Christ, the enemy begins the process of ramping up his attack against you… As you walk in Christ, you will be tempted, your faith will be challenged and the best thing that people can do for you during this time is to pray for your strength and unwavering faith… You may not be able to physically give your shoulder to one who is crying or in pain; however, you can reach them wherever they are by casting all your cares for them upon the Lord knowing that He cares for you and will move on your behalf… It was the faith of the Church of Colossae that compelled Paul to write this letter and today’s focus verse…This verse sheds light on the importance not only of prayer but the fact that we must pray for those who are in Christ as well as for those who do not know Christ… Notice that this verse starts off with the words for this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you… The message for today is that we must keep our church families and believers in Christ in prayer; however, the biggest message that we must receive today is that we must not stop praying… Keep lifting up your brother and sisters in Christ, continue to lay before the throne of the Lord, and make your petitions known… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!