Living by faith

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38, KJV)

God didn’t design living by faith to give you high blood pressure or to cause you panic attacks. Living by faith is not like a roller coaster that you just can’t wait to get off of.

Living by faith is like resting in a boat where it’s just you and God. He is doing the rowing and you are resting in His promises, resting in His Word, resting in His love as you let Him take you wherever He wants you to go.

The more you rest, the more He navigates you to victory. The more you entrust your entire well-being to God, the greater He can bless you and use you to be a great blessing.

Guard your heart

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT).

When we read this, we may take the scripture to mean something that God had never intended. Because we have been hurt, we guard our hearts by building walls and not letting people get too close. We keep people at a distance as we put one hand over our heart and stick one hand out to avoid being hurt again.

To guard our hearts the way God intended is to protect something from entering and prevent something from escaping. God wants us to protect our hearts from anything that can come in and contaminate our soul and ruin our life: offense, bitterness, unbelief, pride, etc. All the bad and unhealthy stuff. 

He also gives us the responsibility to guard our hearts by keeping His Word hidden in our hearts. Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21)

He sees you!

Hear this, my sister. No matter what got you where you are, no matter how long you’ve been there, no matter what you see around you or how you feel—God has not forgotten you. 

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. http://bible.com/1/isa.49.15-16.kjv

Slow to anger

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

Ladies, if we are going to fulfill every detail of God's divine purpose for our lives, we will have to learn to manage our emotions. And in order to manage those emotions, we would first have to confront them.

You may think real believers never get angry, feel afraid, lonely or depressed. Not true! And when you start to feel those emotions, you may begin to think it strange....Because after all Christians are supposed to always be loving and compassionate. 

The Holy Spirit helps us see the emotional side of God. God is slow to anger, which reveals He does get angry, but He doesn’t stay mad. Jesus felt lonely, but He knew God the Father was with Him. Holy Spirit is grieved when we’re disobedient, but it doesn’t change His love for us. Nor does our feelings change who we are in Christ! 

With God’s help we can learn to manage our emotions and operate in a degree of levelheadedness and temperance.

Father God, we thank You for speaking directly into our hearts. We know you have a plan. So, when we feel angry and frustrated, we know you are with us to help us confront those feelings and do the right thing no matter what. 

Faith

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Sometimes our only available transformation in life is a leap of faith!

If we keep making excuses, one day we will wake up and there won’t be anymore time to do all the things we’ve dreamed of doing.

Sometimes in order for you to find your true potential you need to attack fear. Trust where God is leading you and move out of your comfort zone. Don’t make excuses. 

Do what you know is right even though it may not be easy. The choice is yours. 

Challenge: Will you remain in the confinement of your box or the endless possibilities with God?

Our refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. http://bible.com/1/psa.46.1-5,7.kjv

Blessed and highly favored

Despite everything that she was about to endure, the Lord called Mary, the mother of Jesus “FAVORED”. Mary was an ordinary girl, but she was chosen, she was humble but very brave. Her tenacity, trust and perseverance was tested to the very core. All eternity was dependent on her response to God’s call. 

Every woman has a distinctive call upon their lives that only they can perform. 

I wonder how many of us would say YES to the call of God on our lives and say NO to the fear that tries to hinder us from becoming everything that God destined us to be.  

I wonder how many people would be positively affected if you would say YES to the assignment designed just for you to execute.

Food for thought... 

The power of release

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

When you are set on fulfilling God’s purpose for your life, you must remember to release people and situations to God. Why? Because it will destroy you and will hinder your spiritual progress if you don’t. 

Obey God and release them. You can’t free them by your power. You can’t deliver anyone in your own strength. You can’t change anything about that situation by yourself. You can’t, but God can.

Yes, it’s tough, but you must know that God cares for that person AND for you. 

Give it to Him and stand back and watch Him work.

Delightful living

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. http://bible.com/1/psa.37.4-5.kjv

Trust

“Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:11–14, KJV).

Life is filled with ups and downs, hills and valleys, but God has been and always will be faithful to you. He has a specific path especially for you, and He will lead you on it.

Trust that!! 

Precious

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”  Psalm 103:1 (ESV)

When we look at our flaws, imperfections, it is hard to be positive, isn’t it? Other people may see our good points, but we magnify those outward things we don't like about ourselves. 

Then there is the inside stuff: Our anger; our pride, which rears up when confronted; our stubbornness; and, our bad habits.

When will we realize that we are wonderfully and fearfully made by our Creator who desires relationship with us so much He even went to the cross so He could be with us. God sees us not as we are, but through the eyes of a loving parent. 

He sees the potential of who we can be when we use all the talents He has given us and when we choose to follow His ways. We are precious in His sight—no matter what! 

Trust Him

The hurt you feel today is temporary

It too shall pass

The sorrow deep within isn't going to last

It too shall pass

The pain you experience will soon expire

It too shall pass

You just have to trust and believe God and His word... 

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (1 Peter 5:7, AMP).

Time

Great read:

Time may or may not be the most precious asset we possess. (If you’re scrambling to pay your mortgage or trying to figure out how to afford college, you can probably build a pretty solid case in favor of money.) But time is unique among our commodities.

Every day, every person who draws breath on this earth receives the same amount of time: 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds, depending on which denomination you prefer.

At the end of every day, every person’s allotment is depleted. Time cannot be rolled over or stockpiled. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Time cannot be stolen or transferred into another account. It cannot be exchanged or refunded.

Time is extremely limited—yet insanely in demand. Think of the things that are competing for hours—or even a few minutes—of your time.

Your job, your commute, your workout, your responsibilities as a friend, neighbor, church member, and concerned citizen, your kids’ practices, games, recitals, and programs, your hobbies and pastimes, your body’s requirements for sleep and relaxation.

So many options, so little time to explore them all.

BUT in all of this, if you put God first, you immediately are maximized! 

Special

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6 NIV

It takes time to create a work of art. If you are a perfectionist, then you want it to be just right before you unveil it to anyone.

 God is no different. Every time He knits a new life together in a mother’s womb, a creation that has never been seen before or since is in progress.

Now you know the intention behind the masters' masterpiece.... Makes you special, right??? 

Face

God is both our King and Father. He is capable of meeting your needs and answering your prayers. But He also loves you more deeply than you can ever know. 

When you seek His face, you end up in a much closer posture to Him. 

Pray today that you will seek God's face and get closer to Him than you ever have before.