The Lord Shows Up When You Do

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Psalm 41:1

This verse taken from the 41^st psalm sheds light on the heart we must have as a Christian… This is not to say that we must allow ourselves to be used and manipulated, but to say that we must not set our priorities on material things… In reading this passage I instantly think about the rich young ruler when he encounters Jesus in the gospel of Mark… He declared that he had conducted his life according to the book of the law; however, when Jesus declared for him to give away his prized possessions there was a sadness that came upon him… Mark 10:22 says, “²² But at these words, he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” Understand today that this rich young ruler was on the cusp of salvation; however, the way he cherished material things led him to leave the company of Jesus… In reading this, a question now arises; how hard is it for you to give (even if it’s your last)…? This is something that I think all of us may answer one way; however, when faced with the situation our actions may speak differently… 

As a child of God, we are called to walk by faith and we must understand that this faith is displayed through our actions and not mere words… Faith is total trust, confidence, and reliance in a person, spirit, or object… When we place our confidence in Jesus Christ, we can give to the needy even if it is our last. We can do this because we know and believe that the psalmist is right in today’s focus verse declaring that we will be “blessed…” Paul (a New Testament servant of the Lord) dealt with great trials and tribulations as he worked within the will of God… During his greatest need, the church of Philippi (founded by Paul) was supportive of him by sending gifts and offerings to him… After receiving these gifts, Paul says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Understand that when you give out of love you are giving out of the depths of your heart and this means that you are relying on God to sustain and take care of you… When you give in this manner, God will surely show up and supply all you could possibly need and more.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Discover Your Inner Beauty

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

The desires of God are to see you become what He designed you to be; anything less than that is simply unacceptable… Today’s focus verse emphasizes the importance of abstaining from the ways and views of this world… Many things are deemed acceptable according to our peer standards, but they do not align with God's will of God… There are many things that people may tell you aren’t so bad or are okay for you to engage in; when in reality these things will corrupt your mind and way of life… As children of God, it is of the utmost importance that we remember that we are called into holiness, this means that we are separated from the ways and paths of this life and called to adhere to the ways and standards of our Heavenly Father… To be holy means that you are consecrated, sanctified, and/or blessed… God wants to take you to higher heights; He wants to open up doors in your life; however, He needs you to stop allowing filthiness to corrupt your being… This filthiness could be defiling your physical body with drugs, sex, or alcohol; or it could be a more subtle unrecognized tool that corrupts like the music you listen to, the places you hang out, or even the people you associate with… You have to be careful and vigilant to see clearly that many aspects of your life can be filthy… You can be clean on the outside and filthy inside; you can be clean on the inside and filthy on the outside; no matter what the case may be, know that when dealing with the enemy you can’t become too comfortable with your surroundings… Christ gave His life for you, which in and of itself should tell you how beautiful you are… Stop devaluing yourself and walking in uncleanness…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Put God First

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

The sooner you put God first in your life, the sooner you will notice a transition taking place… God has made a promise to you that He will carry it out; however, the delay in seeing it fulfilled may be the seeking of His kingdom and righteousness which you have not done… The gospel of Matthew reminds us today of the importance that God not only has in our lives, but also the priority that He requires… This verse starts off by saying “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” You actually hold the very keys to your destiny and divine future; you can unlock the fullest potential that God has placed in your life by seeking Him… This simply means that God must come first in your life… In other words, today is the time for you to rearrange your agenda and make sure that the things of Christ are the first to be checked off of your to-do list… So many of us always put God on the back burner of life and wonder why He hasn’t moved on our behalf… 

We wonder why our lives are spiraling out of control, why there is so much division in our homes, why we keep missing the mark, and in this passage, we are told the very answer to those aforementioned questions… God has not moved in your life because you haven’t moved toward Him…” Life is filled with distractions and the answers you seek on this earth determine what takes priority in your life… I am not saying that the way to unlock the door is easy; however, I am saying that the key you are looking for cannot be found in your peers or your position… God is ready to open up doors for you; He’s ready to make your life brand new, He is ready to transform you and take you to another level, the question that is at your door, are you ready to seek Him…?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trust The Covenant God Has Made

Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:28

Have you ever taken a step back in your life to really understand the love of God and how He demonstrates it in your life…? Have you ever really analyzed your life to the point that you better grasp God’s impact on your life versus your own hands…? These are the questions that come to mind when I read this passage… The realization in this passage is that God will keep His covenant even though you don’t uphold your end of the bargain… This is not to say that God can be taken advantage of, but it lets me know that God looks beyond the appearance and accepts the heart and its allegiance to Him… Think about all the promises you may have broken in your life, all the times you didn’t do what you promised to do, and all the effects and results that came because of it… I know that I am human and can fail at any given time; however, I also know that God isn’t human which means that He will never fail… This is why we can proclaim like David that “Your covenant is trustworthy…” We can be confident in an inconvenient situation to know that God will do what He said He would… There are so many things that we do daily that cause heartache, pain, and suffering in our lives; there are so many people who have written us off or cast us to the side… David was a man who could’ve easily given up on the desires of his heart because of the errors of his ways; however, he is assured that the love of God transcends barriers and can reach the deepest and darkest pit… Don’t give life to the negativity around you; don’t feed the fire of dejecting comments hurled your way… When someone speaks about you in a demeaning manner, this verse today allows you to smile in their face knowing that they don’t control your destiny because the sovereign Lord is God… The next time you think that life isn’t fair and you have been given the short end of the stick, you can rest assured that your suffering now will present a better tomorrow because He has promised good things to His servant…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Skies The Limit

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-2

In reading today’s focus verse I am reminded of the old saying talk is cheap; many Christians do the talking, but in the heat of the moment they are the same Christians who fold under the pressures of this world… There are a lot of pretenders and procrastinators in the body of believers, which is also why verse 1 starts off by using the word if… In other words, you may say that you are of the body of Christ, but if your actions say differently then there is a disconnect somewhere… Paul uses the word “if” because the words that follow it serve as a filter to separate the real from the phony… When we read the word "if" we can then grasp the words that follow and apply them to our lives and ask the question as to whether we really are a child of God or not… The things which motivate you to act on this earth are the things which you desire to obtain and/or are pleased by… 

There are a lot of us which pledge our allegiance to Christ, but when our lives are examined under the proverbial microscope of life, we find that there are a lot of other things which come before our Savior… We say that we love Christ; however, He doesn’t hold priority in our lives… We say that we love the Lord; however, prayer is an afterthought in our daily routine… We remember when to get up for work, we remember that our physical bodies need nourishment, but someone we have to be reminded to pray… To be in Christ is to live; therefore, your thoughts should reflect life, they should reflect joy, they should reflect hope…To be in Christ means that we look beyond our current situations, we can focus on the faith we have instead of the storms we are facing. We look beyond the realm of our possibilities and focus on the mighty hand of our Lord and Savior… In Christ, you have been called to a higher standard, so don’t set your own ceiling in your ministry or in your home which will cause you to settle for less than what God has already ordained for your life…  The skies the limit! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Think Positive

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

 

Be mindful of what you contemplate; your thoughts are powerful shackles that impact your direction in life… In today’s focus verse, we are reminded about the importance of guarding your thoughts… Eve was deceived by the serpent because He was able to appeal to her thoughts concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil… Remember how Eve states that she and Adam were instructed not to eat of the tree nor even touch it; however, the serpent instills in her that she will not die and will be like God… The same ploy that led to the fall of man is a familiar vice which ensnares the craftiest of men today… You may be in a situation where you are waiting on God to move and in the moment when the temptation is the greatest or the storm is the most fierce, the enemy will whisper in your ear and tell you that God isn’t coming and that you must act… So many of us have fallen victim to this plot and scheme; the enemy has got you to worry, in the thick of the circumstance he has you becoming unsettled about the situation and as a directive from the voice you hear, you turn from the prayer which you sent up earlier in the day and take matters into your own hands… This is why Paul gives us very specific thoughts we must take captive in this epistle; this is also why we are reminded in his letter to the Church of Corinth to be mindful of what infiltrates our minds…  In that letter, Paul says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Your thoughts are very powerful, they are the ignition of every action and decision which is developed in the heart… No matter the experience or the outcome of a particular situation, think positively and know that God is still in control...

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have Value

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46

 

The value of finding your name written in the Book of Life and having a mansion in heaven is priceless… Nothing on this earth can compare; the most precious gem isn’t comparable to the divine words well done… This passage simply puts my everyday affairs into perspective… So many of us find ourselves daily struggling and fighting to reach heights defined by our peers; however, when we come to know the truest of treasures (the kingdom of heaven) we will be like this merchant man spoken of in the gospel of Matthew and sell all of our goods to obtain it… On earth, we always believe we have the best until we see something better… A new car we love today, but strive for the one which comes off the assembly line tomorrow; a new job we embrace today, but will soon find ourselves seeking other employment with a higher salary… You will never be satisfied on this earth... Nothing will fill the void within unless you cast all your value in Eternal Life…There is nothing of this earth which I can obtain that will bring the happiness and immeasurable joys of heaven… There are two ways for us to understand this story told here in Matthew, on the one hand, we see the Love of God and on the other, we know the love that we must display toward Him…If we can read these verses and contemplate the Love of God, we can see that just like this merchant man, God sold all He had to buy us and bring us back into a right relationship with Him… We need to look at these verses in that light because we are the pearls that are being talked about in this chapter… Stop allowing people to put price tags on your life or tell you that you are of no value… My Bible tells me that Christ died for me and thought it not robbery to leave His home in glory… If Christ was willing to do that then I must have a value that you simply cannot see… God says you’re priceless and because of that, He sold all He had (gave His son) to purchase you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Always Fulfills His Promise

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Don’t get confused today with the assumption that since God hasn’t answered as rapidly as you had wished He will not answer at all… Understand today that the enemy is busy; the best way for Him to deceive Christians is by consuming their minds with thoughts that God has forgotten about us… You might even be in a situation right now where things don’t appear to be going as you planned and it seems as though your prayers are going unanswered; if this is you today, be encouraged to know that God is working in and through you to touch others and exalt you through your storm… This is why Peter says that we endure long suffering; simply because God is not willing that any should perish… The storm you are going through will water the seed that has already been planted in you and cultivate the hearts of all who watch your perseverance… 

Long story short, God hasn’t forgotten about you; He’s simply using you for His glory… See, God knows His promises to you, He knows what He has said and will not withhold what He has promised to those who walk within His will! Oftentimes we confuse longsuffering with an unfulfilled promise… In the verse that precedes this one, we are told not to forget time as it appears to the Lord… The 8^th verse of this chapter says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” This is vital to remember when you feel like a promise hasn’t been met or that the Lord isn’t by your side… God desires that all mankind would come to know Him, because of this, He has prolonged the coming of His kingdom to allow every man, woman, boy, and girl to come to know Him and the love that He possesses and has dispensed upon mankind… The word of God must travel throughout the world so that men and women have the opportunity to experience His love, grace, and mercy… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Keep Trusting In The Lord

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Many of us confess to having a relationship with the Lord; however, one must do a personal inventory to figure out how deep that relationship is… It is so easy to claim to love the Lord, but when things go south we often ask the question why me… As we ask this question, God answers us with a question of His own, do you trust me…? Do you trust in the Lord or in the things that you accredit Him for putting in your life…? Do you truly trust the Lord not only when things are calm in your life, but also when the storms are raging and you feel all alone…? When the storms of life are upon your doorstep and adversity is present, then we display our true trust either in things or in God… I can recall growing up and how it was instilled in me at a young age that the most important component to a relationship is trust… 

After thinking about this statement, I soon realized how many things branch off from that very word… If I cannot trust someone, I cannot have confidence in them, I cannot believe in them and I cannot love them… Solomon writes today a couple of verses that we often hear people quote; however, notice that the first thing Solomon writes is that we must “trust the Lord…” The desire that I have is to allow the Lord to direct my path, I want Him to lead me because I know that He won’t lead me down the wrong road; however, if I don’t “trust” Him then I will not follow His lead… Likewise, we must have complete confidence in the Lord to develop a secure foundation within Him… Think of it this way, if you didn’t trust your spouse or your boyfriend/girlfriend… How can you grow with them? Trust in the Lord, it’s the key to unlocking your God-given ability and destination…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Humility Proceeds Exaltation

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:11

The standards of this world are not the standards of Jesus Christ… The sooner we grasp this concept, the sooner we can start reaching higher levels than we ever thought possible… This is the lesson that Luke teaches us today in his gospel… So many people have been confused and found themselves falling short because they have not aligned themselves with the will and desires of God… The people who fall into this category are the ones who have been in prayer; however, they have not totally turned the situation over to the Lord which means that they are lacking in humility… Something is missing in their lives and even though they call on the Lord they have not sought Him with their whole hearts for Him to be found… This is the same thing that plagued the rich young ruler in the gospel of Mark… Even though He knew who the Lord was, He measured his happiness by wealth and not faith… 

Today, decide to be humble so that God doesn’t have to humble you… This is a very scary truth and is also why Luke starts off by saying, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…” Make no mistake about it, even though it may appear that people with pride and egos are flourishing, this passage tells us that it won’t last and that they will reach a point where their high horse comes crashing down… We see this all too often with image-based celebrities who fall back to earth through the most precarious situations… Today, even though the majority may choose otherwise, you must make a decision… Are you climbing the ladder of success defined by the world or by God… The latter is the one which appears least acceptable but is the most profitable… The way to ascend is to go down and the way to fall is to stand up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Steadfast & Unmovable

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

As you grow in God's knowledge and will, you are assured to be subject to many temptations and snares placed in your life by the enemy… There will be many tests that you must endure and many hardships that you must face; however, in the midst of your circumstances, you can find courage in knowing that your sweat, blood, and tears are not in vain… I know that it is very easy to become discouraged when facing opposition and it appears that all of the seeds you have planted are not bearing fruit; however, you must “be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”Today’s focus verse challenges us to walk by faith and trust that the Lord knows and sees all… The enemy wants you to believe that you have lost, he wants you to believe that you cannot obtain victory; however, Paul wants you to know that every stumbling block will eventually become a stepping stone and you will have a testimony that will lead others to Christ… No seed, when planted sprouts immediately; this principle applies to our lives as Christians as well… 

You have a seed that God planted in you and the storms of life that you face provide the water and nutrients needed for that seed to grow…This is why we must be steadfast; don’t let Satan corrupt your seed… Don’t let him dig up what God has planted in you while it tries to take root… The things that you face in life will either provide water to your seed or a shovel to the dirt which protects and keeps it… Despite what people may say (being that shovel that the enemy will use), you must continue to abound in the work of the Lord… No matter what the appearance of your current predicament may seem, you must continue to fight the good fight and walk in faith… Don’t get caught up in the moment, continue to look ahead at the big picture which is God’s plan and His expectations for you… 

Be encouraged and always remember you are favored by the KING!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love God And Others

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Matthew 22:37-39

The foundation of our being starts with love… Love has to be the cornerstone and driving force, meaning you must have a relationship with the Lord… The Bible says that “God is love…” So you are not walking in love if you are not in Christ… Make no mistake about it, you are not here by your own doing, but through the love of God… It was the love God has for us that allowed Him to sacrifice His son and pave the road to forgiveness and salvation, it was the love Christ had for us to hang on the cross and go down into the belly of this earth and it is the love that we have for God that keeps us in His will and striving to become more and more like Him… This walk as a Christian calls for a total commitment to the will of God! Jesus is instructing us today through the gospel of Matthew about the foundation that will lead to eternal salvation. True love is formed or born through trials and tribulations… I can always say I love you to someone, but until my love is tested (and grounded in the Lord) you will never know the severity of how much or deep my love goes.

A lot of us mistake lust for love and the difference between the two is evident in our commitment to that particular person or thing… Jesus says that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind! We can’t say we love Him when we feel like it or when He has blessed us and curse Him when things aren’t going as we planned… We can’t throw our hands up in praise for His goodness, and drop our head in defeat when the storms of life begin to rage… James tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials! Understanding God’s goodness and faithfulness will bring about spiritual freedom and peace that will keep you smiling no matter what task or hurdle lay before you! Your life should be full of love, which means it should be full of sacrifice!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Fervently

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 Peter 1:22

How hard is it to lend to someone who you feel doesn’t deserve it? How hard is it to speak kindly to someone who despises you? How hard is it to turn the other cheek and walk away? On the contrary, how easy is it to speak your mind? How easy is it to wish bad on someone? How easy is it to retaliate and turn the other person’s cheek…? These are the questions that we must answer within ourselves today… These are the things that we face daily and these things show where we are currently in our spiritual walk and how much further we still have to go… Taking on the mind of Christ leads us to extend a helping hand and not dig a pit for another to fall in… In today’s study verse, Peter speaks about the love and desire we should have as a child of God walking under the influence of the Lord… Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls by obeying the Spirit's truth. Before we can walk we must first stand up, before we can speak we must first open our mouths; Peter reminds us today that we are called to love one another, we are called to exalt one another, and we are called to have unfeigned love one for another as a child of God… 

The love that Peter talks about is instilled in us by God and only can be placed within us when we first turn unto Him… We are purified through the Spirit which guides and directs our lives; to be purified means that you have been cleansed, sanitized, or filtered…  The love that Peter is speaking of isn’t gained overnight, but is learned through the experiences we go through and the mindset that we have… Again, before you can walk you must learn to stand; before you can love fervently you must learn how to simply be kind and overcome evil with good… Love is a word that is better described and defined by actions… When someone has zeal, they have a willingness, excitement, or passion for something; it is shown by how they approach a task or mission… When we talk about loving as Christ loved, I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing His fervent love for us! HOW ABOUT YOU!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!