Alert but not afraid

While it is wise to be aware of people's motives, we must be careful that we don't allow our suspicious nature to negatively affect our feelings about everyone. 

An overly suspicious nature can poison your mind and affect your ability to love and accept other people. 

Be alert but don't be afraid 

Believe

When struggles, trials, and hardships come your way--and they always do--you have a choice. You can give God your cares, worries, and concerns OR you could worry about them on your own strength. 

No matter how dark the night or how evil the situation, you must remind yourself that God is not only present with you in those situations, but He also loves you and will continually provide for you. 

Even though the enemy often tries to fill you with unbelief and make you deny God's powerful love for you; be like Abraham and stand firm on His promises. 

Thank God for the comfort found in His assurance that He is always with you. Amen. 

Patience

How many times have we heard something from The Lord BUT it took a little while for it to come into fruition?

How many of us would believe God and live in expectation for up to twenty-five years?

Most of us (out of disbelief or impatience) probably would say "I didn't really hear from God." "Oh, I guess maybe God didn't really mean that." Or "I need to go somewhere else to get a fresh word from the Lord." 

In our impatience, we often take matters into our own hands; we get "bright ideas"--plans of our own, which we hope God will bless. These plans open the door for confusion and chaos. And unfortunately, the results that it produces must be dealt with, which often delays our miracle. 

Be patient and get God's best! 

Trust

Why do we think we should always be first? Why do we think we are entitled to the perfect life? 

Perhaps sometimes we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. A humble mind enables us to take a back seat and wait for God to move us to the front. God's Word says that we inherit the promises through faith and patience. Believing God is good, but can we continue to believe God and trust Him when we don't feel that life is fair? 

The secret of the Christian life is that we commit ourselves fully to God. If we surrender our wills to God, what happens doesn't make us angry. If God doesn't give us what we want and ask for, our faith is strong enough to say, "Not my will, but Yours." 

(Battlefield of the mind) 

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.

http://bible.com/1/pro.3.5.kjv

Perfect world

Sometimes, to think that God has a perfect plan for us, can be mind-blowing.

Perhaps it's the word "perfect" that troubles us. We're fallible and make so many mistakes. How could anything be perfect in our lives? We know ourselves too well and we Immediately think of our shortcomings and shake our heads. 

That's a trick of Satan! The plan isn't perfect because we're perfect; the plan is perfect because God is perfect. God has a special plan for each of our lives. 

Testimony

From the time of our birth until we go home to be with Jesus, we will experience some suffering. Some of us have harder tasks than others, but it is still suffering all the same.

The great side to this is that when people watch us as we turn to God for help in our hardships and they see our victories, it provides a witness to them. That witness may not always make them turn to Christ, but it does show God's presence in our lives and makes them aware of what they're missing. 

#testimony 

Godly thoughts

When God begins to deal with us about wrong behavior, it's usually easy enough to say, "I can't help it," but it takes real courage and faith to say, "I'm ready to take responsibility and get my life straightened out." 

Much of our thinking is habitual. If we regularly think about God and good things, godly thoughts become natural. 

Thousands of thoughts flow through our minds every day. We may feel we have no control, but we do. Although we don't have to use any effort to think wrong thoughts, we have to use much effort to think good thoughts. As we begin to make changes, we will have to fight a battle.

Our mind is the battlefield, and Satan's primary way of initiating his evil plan for us is through our thoughts. If we feel we have no power over our thoughts, Satan will entrap and defeat us. Instead, we can determine to think in godly ways. 

Amen??? Amen!!! 

Trust

"Don't quit. Don't give up." That's the message we need to hear. 

I think of Isaiah 43:1b-2: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you...; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you." 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

http://bible.com/1/gal.6.9.kjv

Run to God

Though you may be experiencing loneliness, weariness and rejection...know that each season will surely pass and the shame that comes attached to the season of infertility can also be turned around. 

God hears. God cares and nothing is too hard for Him.

Put your hope in the truth of God's Word. He has a plan for you and all of it is good! 

Be strong

Life can catch any of us off guard at times. When war starts to wage in your mind, the enemy will use every tool in his arsenal to attempt to weaken your relationship with God. But you don't have to be his victim. 

Equip your heart with hope and conquer anger, confusion, condemnation, fear, doubt. Do what's necessary (word, praise and worship) to help you uncover the enemy's plot to confuse and lie to you, confront destructive thought patterns, find victory in transforming your thinking, gain strength, encouragement and, most importantly, victory over every battle in your mind. 

You have all the power it takes to fight back and it's essential that you do...even if it's one day at a time!

You can do it! 

Mindset

We have to be careful and not allow wrong thoughts to take residence in our heads. For the weapons of our warfare are . . . mighty before God. . . . [We] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ . . . (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). 

Lord, we pray for victory. Enable us to bring every thought into obedience. Help us not to allow Satan's words to stay in our minds and steal our victory. Amen. 

From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Life

God's Word is THE source of life for everything in my life. His words are health and life to all my flesh.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

http://bible.com/1/pro.4.20.kjv

Dead to Sin and Alive to Righteousness

By adminon Mon, 26 May 2014

“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 (KJV)

To be dead to something is to be unresponsive to it. When it calls, you don’t pick up. When it solicits your attention, you refuse to buy what it sells. You are dead to it and it is dead to you. 

On the contrary, to be alive to something is to be responsive to it, alert and engaged, ready to do whatever it needs you to do. You are alive to it and it is alive to you.  

As born again believers, we are to be dead to sin and alive to righteousness. We are to be responsive to the Holy Spirit and ready to do whatever the Lord instructs us to do. If we are trying to be alive both to the things of God and the things of our flesh, we will quickly discover that it is impossible. Sin is like a powerful vacuum. If we get close enough to it, it will suck us all the way in. It doesn’t take sides, it comes to take over.

We must make a conscience decision to believe what the word of God says. Even when we have those sinful areas that seem to be alive and kicking in our lives, we must still declare by faith, “Lord You said in Your word that Jesus bore my sins in His own body on the tree. I do not have to live another day responding to whatever my flesh wants to do. I am Your daughter and You said that I am dead to sin and alive to righteousness! I thank You that no matter how I feel, no matter how it looks, no matter what I have done in the past, I choose to believe Your word. I am alive to You.”  

It will take your declaration of faith and your commitment to walk each day as though God’s word is your reality, and you will gradually see that those sins that you were alive to before, you are alive to no more. 

Be alive to things of God. Respond to His Holy Spirit. Do what He is beckoning you to do. Obey His Word. Take the plunge into a life of faith. 

A place of worship

Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 

Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.

http://bible.com/1/1ch.16.10.kjv

Spiritual arrogance

Arrogance is really an unattractive and trait. Not only is it sinful, it also shuts us off from truth. 

Education, experience, and training should not mean that we refuse to learn something from someone who does not have these advantages....right? 

Christian living is about faithfulness, and not about the letters that come after a comma at the end of our name. Imagine, Jesus, Holy and Mighty, came from God. He spoke the truth of God. He called others to share God's message. He calls us to listen to others whose lives reflect the truth of that message and learn from them without prejudice. 

Education, experience, and training can be great tools when coupled with humility. 

Let's commit to be true disciples. Let's commit to be life-long learners!

Brave

Jesus is always with me and because I am with Him, all things are possible.

Put your brave on and rehearse this, believe this, accept this, embrace this and be this!!!

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

http://bible.com/1/mat.19.26.kjv

Be accountable

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

Accountability in relationships is needed more now than ever. Be careful of friends that spend the entire time responding with, “Yeah, girl I feel you!” There are things we just don’t “feel” because we know it’s not right, and it’s our responsibility to be truthful. 

A life that is deficient in iron will cause us to be weak. A relationship that is iron deficient, where no one is being sharpened, corrected, or provoked to good works is not beneficial to growth. 

People may fear making you upset or hurting your feelings, but a real friend would much rather make you upset and please God versus the other way around. 

Accountability isn’t telling people what to do. It is provoking them toward doing what God has already told them to do. 

We are not just helping each other stay out of sin, but helping one another move forward into being all that God created us to be and fulfilling His purpose for their lives. We will never grow on an island isolated away from people. Nor will we grow if we surround ourselves only with those that think like us and talk like us. We need people that sharpen us, get up under our skin and irritate us, encouraging us to grow and mature. Not “yes” people, but those who feel personally responsible to help us become all that God called us to be.

Covenant

God's covenant with me through Jesus, has made provision for me to be fruitful and enjoy life abundantly.

I receive it daily! 

Values

In everything situation that we approach,  we have to do it in wisdom (experience) and knowledge (understanding). 

It is important that we understand the difference. 

Wisdom is defined as the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, and good judgment; while knowledge is defined as the awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.

These two values are crucial when approaching someone/something; whether in a difficult situation, or at a crossroad, or a confrontation at work etc.... 

Use them often and wisely...

Peace

Keep your mind focused on Jesus always, and He will give you His perfect peace.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

http://bible.com/1/isa.26.3.kjv

I am

God's Word is truth for me. I am, do, and have what Gods says I can be, do, and have.

This is what you have to believe for yourself always... Never doubt it

Put Him first and all will be yours as a blessing 

Plant

Be careful where you plant your seed; as it'll grow with the same passions and produce the results that you feed into it.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

http://bible.com/1/gal.6.8.kjv

Brave

“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity. Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you.... Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all” (1 Timothy 4:12, 14-15 TEV). 

Promise

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

http://bible.com/1/jer.32.40.kjv

Faith

If you could only see with the eyes of faith, what would you see?

People like you and I, heroes and heroines of the faith, piled up around us on every side. And all of these men and women who have gone before you are cheering for you right now! 

They are shouting words of encouragement and believing that you are going to make it ... just like they did. 

Strength

For every thing you do, and every place you go, and every situation you find yourself in, or everytime you fall or fail...God is there to lift you up, strengthen you, comfort you, pray for you, guide you and see you through 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

http://bible.com/1/isa.40.29.kjv

Encourage

Any encouragement you need is from the throne room of God’s heart; when you are experiencing something traumatic 

One of the most powerful truths of the abundant life Jesus came to give us is that we serve a God who is concerned ... He simply cares about you. 

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

http://bible.com/1/2co.1.3.kjv

Gentle

Great read....

We can all change the way we walk through life with focus. You choose whether to pound your way through life making sure everyone hears the rhythm of your being or you can walk with grace, control, and power. 

You can loudly make your presence known by the choices you make and by rehearsing your pain or you can choose to be gentle and peaceful. 

In the same respect, you can choose to be gentle or rough in your daily dealings with people. 

Regardless of your personality type, your ethnic background, or your family heritage, make a choice to be a gentle person. 

Gentleness always cultivates strength and beauty in the heart of a believer. If gentleness is a challenging virtue to uphold, then spend time with some compassionate and considerate people and then observe how they respond to others. 

Worship

Even when you don't feel up to it, worship anyhow. 

Not only will it settle your anxiety, but it'll give you a certain kind of peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Peace

God longs for you to embrace God’s peace, which declares, “There is nothing to fear. I have been to your future and it is well. I am there.”

That is very comforting ..  

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

http://bible.com/1/num.6.26.kjv

Strength

Stand firm and strong in your faith. God honors it and will always be your source to pull from. Don't allow these temporary things in our world shake you. 

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

http://bible.com/1/psa.91.10.kjv

Bless

Great times, sad times, sorrowful times, victorious times.....always bless and worship Him

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

http://bible.com/1/psa.34.1.kjv

Delay

If we are discouraged because of God’s delay in answering our prayer needs, we need to understand that delay is not a denial. 

Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come yet doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer or that he’s forgotten us or that he doesn’t care about us. It just simply means “not yet”! 

Part of our spiritual maturity is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV). 

God’s delay may be a test of our patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, most people can be patient twice. And, a lot of us can be patient three times. So it is for our growth in the faith that God tests our patience over and over and over. 

All to strengthen our trust in Him

Diligence

Diligence is a requirement for any avenue of greatness. 

This word diligently in the Greek means “one who seeks something so passionately and determinedly that he literally exhausts all his power in the search.” 

This is how we are to go after God. 

God rewards people who diligently seek Him regardless of the pleasure or pain of the events they are experiencing. If you desperately desire the reward of God, then you will diligently seek Him and Him alone. You simply must believe He exists and He exists to reward those who seek Him above all else. 

Faith

Nice article:

I know faith is a real place because I live there. Just as I can sleep inside my house any given night and enjoy the comfort and protection of brick walls, a solid foundation, and roof with a twenty year warrantee, or choose to pitch a tent and camp outside in the wilderness where wild animals roam and the elements invade, I can also either live inside of or outside of faith in God. God wants you to be located at the address of faith in Him. If you have chosen to live outside the parameters of glorious faith, it will be impossible to please Him. 

Question: what's your faith address? 

Faith

Just because you don’t see something in reality today does not mean God won’t do it. God specializes in the unseen, yet promised. 

This is where our faith kicks in. Without it, it is impossible to please God. When we surrender our will and literally trust God to be head over our lives, then, the all of a sudden and right before your eyes, the impossible is made possible. 

We have to make that shift of control. Let go and let God be who He says He is.

Life

Guard your heart

Protect it's emotions

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

http://bible.com/1/pro.4.23.kjv

Do not be silent

Why shouldn’t you stand up for what you believe? 

Everyone else isn't hesitant to express their...

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

http://bible.com/1/mat.10.32.kjv

Love

We love the people in our lives not because we feel like it or because a person has done something to deserve our love, but because God loves us in that unconditional way and we are to imitate God in all that we do, say, and choose. 

And not because they always act in a kind and loving manner, but we love because Christ expects it and instructs it. 

Prayer

This week, during your prayer time, ask God to give you divine appointments. 

Ask God to “set you up” with people who need a friend or need practical help. 

Ask God to give you creative ideas on exactly how to love those around you, especially those situations that are most difficult to show love in. 

And then watch what happens! 

Control

The challenge of living a life of self-control. 

Self-control will become God-control when we are courageous enough to spend time on our knees asking God to make us strong where we are currently weak. 

Submitting our weaknesses to Him is the first step to our victorious ending. 

Faith

Faith, once applied comes with a holy fervor and strong conviction. 

When a person believes in something strongly enough, or has decided faith in something, action will always follow belief. 

Faith is more than a heart attitude or a moral compass; faith eternally propels and compels the believer to action and response. 

Diligence

Our commitment to embrace joy at the very worst moments of life takes extreme diligence. 

Do it with the best attitude :)

Replica

The Bible teaches us that God’s promises promise that we can share in God’s very own nature. 

We can savor all He is and then marinate in it to the extent that we become it! 

We have the potential and are positioned to ingest His very personality and exhibit His very character. Our lives become a place of demonstration of His fruit and His power. We are no longer like what we know.... because of the promises ... We are now like Him. 

He became what we are to make us what He is.

- unlisted 

Dwell

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

http://bible.com/1/psa.91.1.kjv

Possession

Don't allow your earthly possessions be a wall between you and your salvation 

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

http://bible.com/1/luk.18.22.kjv

Cultivate

The Lord spoke to Moses simply because they were friends. 

This ought to resonate within all of us as abundant life at its finest. Having God consider you as His very own friend, as someone He loves, and as an intimate companion is truly the most magnificent aspect of life this side of Heaven. 

All other friendships pale in comparison, all other experiences fade on the horizon, and all other pursuits seem trivial in comparison. 

You, as the object of His undying love, have been selected to cultivate a friendship with God. 

Blessing

God has blessed you and then He has named you “blessing”! 

You have been chosen to be a source of God to your world; you are a gift to history at this moment. Your life is a present, wrapped in God’s love, delivered with God’s blessing as a rare and valuable treasure that reveals His heart. 

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

http://bible.com/1/gen.12.1.kjv

Resurrection

Jesus is all you ever need. He is your hope, your direction, your strong tower and loves you forever. 

Happy Easter!!!

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

http://bible.com/1/jhn.11.25.kjv

Wait

When it’s hard to see God's hand in our lives -- know that the great, sovereign God is still very much at work! 

Our part is to be faithful in the waiting, though it be hard and unclear. Praise Him now for the victory....

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

http://bible.com/1/exo.1.22.kjv

The story of Jesus

Think on these things: 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

http://bible.com/1/isa.53.5.kjv

Beauty

What physically greets us in the mirror each day may not be what others define as “beautiful".

But I promise you this, ladies—in God’s eyes, we’re all stunning beauties. He wants us to forget what the world thinks is beautiful and remember the beauty He created in each of us. 

He wants us to desire His admiring glances above anyone else's'. 

Rich vs Poor

Ladies, do not believe that riches are a consistent source of life. It is so very important to separate who you are from what you own. 

As believers, we do not fix our hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God, the Giver of all good gifts. 

Whether one is extremely rich or devastatingly poor, we are all to fix our hope on God who is the rich One and who gives richly, extravagantly, and abundantly to those who are His own.

Wait in God

As women, sometimes we like to take matters into our own hands. 

We all can picture times in your own life when this has been an absolute fact! We get anxious, our toes start tapping and the clock gets ticking as we wait for someone, anyone, to do something about something. We want action, on our own terms, and we want it now. 

Such striving can sometimes cause unintended consequences. It can also wear us out and keep us from all the richness of God’s blessings ..... because we’re not resting fully in His power and His timing.

Ladies, we have to learn to wait AND truly wait ;)

Identity

Ladies, it can be very tempting to let what others say about us define who we believe we are. But that’s not where our identity comes from. We are not what others say and think we are; we are what God says and thinks we are.

We are not on our own; we belong to God. We are His, and always will be. People will always look at us on the outside. They’ll think who we are depends on how we look and whether we’re cool or not. But God looks at our hearts, and we’ll only have peace when we believe who God says we are: His precious creations that He loves.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

http://bible.com/1/1sa.16.7.kjv

Trust

One thing we as women are often guilty of, is that we sometimes fail to truly lean on God's promises. 

We take things into our own hands, we think we know what's best, and inevitably, we often bring much heartache upon ourselves in the process. 

Today, as a body of women, let’s meditate on and memorize Proverbs 3:5,6. Not for our own glory or honor, but for the joy of our Father and the growth of His Truth in our hearts.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6 (ESV)

Standards

Ladies, hold your standards high. Don't compromise for anything or even anyone. 

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

http://bible.com/1/2ti.2.22.kjv

Faithful

Even as transformed women, we will have our moments of hesitation. We will have our own times when we have the glory of God right in front of us, and we will do nothing about it. We will hear His promise and, in spite of ourselves, laugh, partly out of joy and partly out of disbelief. (Genesis 18:9-12)

But YET, God will respond. He will be faithful. He will fulfill His promise, blessing us with the desire that He alone put on our hearts. 

And, as it often does with the stories of our own lives, everything makes sense in the end.

Restless

You want to be obedient to God’s plan; and say “yes” to the things He calls you to do....you get excited about them. You get so fired up that it starts becoming a restless feeling which can lead to impatience.  And then suddenly—though well-intentioned and innocently enough—God’s plans become our plans.

And you start entertaining the thoughts of "Why should we wait?" Maybe God’s plan is flawed or He’s just busy. "Why can’t we just solve the problem ourselves?"

Sarai, tired of waiting for God to carry out His plan and blaming Him for the delay, decided, as we all so often do, to take matters into her own hands. - “The Lord has kept me from having children… perhaps I can build a family….”  (Genesis 16:2, NIV). 

Hence, Ishmael ....

This—this distrust for God’s plan and His timing, this need to take control, this manipulation of circumstances to fit our “needs” instead of His will—this is when disaster happens.

Ladies, He will wait with you if you ask and He will sustain your faith. He will assure you that He is in control. His plan is not ours to figure out.

Allow God to turn your restlessness into rest. Rest in Him.

Yes, lord

Sarai. 

Unspeakable beauty. 

Wife of Abraham. 

Obedient servant. 

Restless waiter and muddler of His plans. Living proof of God’s redemption, His sovereignty and His working of miracles. 

Genesis 11&12 - When Abraham told her they were going to move, and she was going to have a child in her old age (both, by God's prophetic word); Sarai didn’t have questions. She didn’t furrow her brow. She didn’t come unglued.

She simply obeyed.

She simply said, “Yes.”

Lord, help us put our doubts aside, to answer your call no matter the questions we may have.  May we make obedience our first priority and submit to Your plan and rest in Your faithfulness.  Out of the greatest and deepest of loves, let us say “yes” today.

Enough said....

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

http://bible.com/1/2co.6.14.kjv

Exit

No matter what you are going through, your exit route is already on its way (orchestrated by God).

You just hang in, stay faithful and keep your hope and trust in Him.

The three and one

Many people have received Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They will go to heaven, but will never draw on the full capacity of the Holy Spirit that is available to them or experience the true success God wants them to enjoy while here on Earth. 

Simply put, many will be on their way to heaven, but they won't enjoy the trip. 

Learn to depend completely on God the Father, Jesus the son, and the comforting power of the Holy Spirit. 

Bitterness

If you get hurt, don't ever blame God. He is the best friend you have. 

Bitterness Hinders Hearing 

Bitterness toward God is a sure hindrance to hearing His voice. Any-time bitterness tries to take hold of you, rebuke and refuse it. 

Many times, the devil tries to make us think we are the only ones having a hard time but remember, no matter how bad our problems are, someone else always has a worse problem.  If someone makes a choice that hurts us, we shouldn't blame it on God and become bitter toward Him. 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

http://bible.com/1/eph.4.31.kjv

Expectation

God's power is released when we pray in faith, trusting and believing Him, because faith pleases Him. 

Expectancy is an attribute of faith that carries its own kind of power - the power of hope. Faith reaches out into the spiritual realm and expects God's supernatural power to show up and do what no person on Earth could do. Doubt, on the other hand, is afraid nothing good will happen; it does not please God and is not something He is able to bless. We are powerless when we live with doubt, disappointment, and a lack of confidence in God. 

Just think about a time when you were not really sure God would come through for you. You were not able to pray very powerful prayers, were you? 

Now recall a time when your heart trusted completely in God and you really believed that He would come through for you. You were able to pray then with a certain sense of power, weren't you? 

That's the power of expectation in prayer. Even if things don't work out exactly the way you hoped they would, trust God to know what is best and keep expecting Him to do great things. 

A friend

Most likely, no one is more often referred to as "God's friend" than Abraham. While the Bible refers to David as "a man after God's own heart" and to John as "the disciple Jesus loved," Abraham has the distinct honor of being called the friend of God in more than one place in Scripture. 

When God decided to execute judgment on the wickedness of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, He told Abraham what He planned to do - just as a friend would share with another what plans they have. 

On the other hand, when Abraham heard about the devastation God intended to release against Sodom and Gomorrah, he "came near and said, 'Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?' " (Genesis 18:23 NKJV). 

As God had shared His plans with Abraham because they were friends, Abraham "came near" to God and spoke openly and boldly about His plans - because they were friends. They had a relationship in which they could communicate freely; they could talk openly. The type of intimacy Abraham enjoyed with God comes from being secure in His love. 

God wants to be your friend, too - to speak to you and to listen to what you have to say to Him. Begin today to accept in a whole new way the fact that you are God's friend and that you can approach Him as such, with anything. 

Moral: Develop a relationship with God in which you can speak freely to Him and you can easily hear what He speaks to you. 

Always available

The fact that the Holy Spirit lives inside of us proves His willingness to always be available to speak to us and help us when we need Him. As we continue to grow spiritually, we will experience temptation, but God has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to resist it and make right choices instead of wrong ones. 

Nevertheless, no human being is perfect and we will make mistakes. But God's forgiveness is always available to us through Jesus Christ. Receiving this forgiveness strengthens us and enables us to keep moving forward with God. It also puts our hearts at peace, sets us free, and helps us hear God's voice clearly. 

Feeling defeated and condemned by every mistake we make weakens us. Instead of using our energy to feel bad about ourselves, we should use it to make sure our hearts are tuned to God's voice as He leads us into greater strength and deeper relationship with Himself. His forgiveness and His presence are always available to us through the Holy Spirit. As you seek God today, I encourage you to receive His love and mercy. His arms are open and He is waiting to spend time with you. 

God's word for you today: Remember that the Holy Spirit is always available to you. 

From the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

You

Don't spend your life trying to do what you are not gifted to do. When people work in jobs where they are not gifted, they are miserable - and so is everyone around them. But when people are in their proper places, they will excel in their jobs and be a blessing to their employers and coworkers. 

If we do what we are good at doing, we will sense God's anointing (presence and power) on our efforts. We will know we are operating in our gifts and that doing so honors God and ministers life to others. God speaks to us through this anointing, giving us peace and joy to know we are fulfilling His plan for our lives. 

God's word for you today: Do what you're good at - it's God's gift to you. 

- From the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer. 

Pray

Praying God's prayer and not our prayer is the only way to do it. 

I believe one of the reasons we sometimes feel unfulfilled in prayer or sense that we are not "finished" praying about a matter is that we spend so much time just praying our prayers. 

There is a better, higher, more effective way: praying God's prayers. 

When we pray our prayer, we can pray about something for fifteen minutes and still feel unfinished; but if we are being led by the Holy Spirit and praying God's prayer, we can pray two sentences and feel completely satisfied. 

- Joyce Meyer 

Pray and give thanks

Giving thanks is so important to being able to hear God's voice because, like praise and worship, it is something God responds to. It's something God loves, something that warms His heart. Anytime we give God pleasure like that, our intimacy with Him increases - and that makes for a better relationship with Him. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

http://bible.com/1/dan.6.10.kjv

Restore

Our personality is our soul (mind, will, and emotions), but often it has been wounded by our experiences in the world. God promises to restore our souls if we will cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Open your soul to God and ask Him to heal every wound and bruise. 

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

http://bible.com/1/psa.23.3.kjv

Peace

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful - Col 3:15

Meditate on a time when your faith has grown. What was it that helped you grow in your faith at that particular time? Remember how great God's peace felt also?? 

  
God is the author of peace and every good thing. 

Family

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God - http://bible.com/1/mat.5.9.kjv

Families are made up of people with different personalities and emotions. Sometimes family members feel happy, and other times they feel angry. How a person is feeling should not change a family's peaceful home. Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." This includes the members of your family. 

Faithfulness

God's faithfulness always shows up! It's there right when you need Him - gracious and sufficient 

Trust in Jesus

Redemption

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today, reflect on the redemptive power of God's forgiveness. 

There is nothing more powerful, faithful, sacrificial, and life changing than the forgiveness God has given you through His son Jesus Christ.

Completely forget your old life and meditate on the life change you experienced through God's forgiveness. 

Praise God and thank Him for new life in Christ.

Remember

When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.” - Luke 22:14

The act of communion is an act of remembrance. Jesus says, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." When we partake in communion we are remembering the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made by dying on the cross for our sins. 

Take time today to remember Christ's sacrifice. It is because His death and resurrection you have new life, so never forget the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. Your future has been forever changed. 

Refuge

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust - Psalm.91:1

This is a Psalm about God's faithfulness and God as our refuge, He is our fortress, He saves us, and He protects us. 

God is always faithful no matter the circumstances. He is there when times are good and when times are not so good. He is even there when you don't feel like He is. 

Everybody's journey in life is different as they grow in Christ, but God's faithfulness is always the same. 

Thank God for His faithfulness and take comfort in knowing He will always be there for you.

Mentors

Thank God for our mentors .... 

One of the many ways that God develops us is through the wisdom of others as His wisdom and teaching is shown to us through those people we look up to. 1 Peter 5:1-11 is one of many passages that stresses the importance of mentoring others and being available to God to shape others into His image. 

Who are the key people in your life that have helped you get to the place you are today in your relationship with Christ? It could be a mentor, a teacher, a pastor, a family member, or a close friend that has invested their wisdom, knowledge and experience into your life. 

Take time to remember and appreciate them because God placed in your life for a reason, season or as in my case - a lifetime! 

Never de-value or take for granted the investment they have made in you

Remember

God is a mighty God. Nothing is impossible with Him. He can move mountains, make the sun stand still, and heal the sick. 

In Joshua chapter 4, we read how God completed the mighty task of bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. God led the Israelites out of slavery and into freedom just as He had promised. Because of the magnitude of what He did, God did not want the Israelites to ever forget what He had done for them. God wanted the Israelites to forever remember the miracle He performed for them and what a mighty and powerful God He is. 

Think back for a moment. God has done some amazing things in your life. He may have performed a miracle of healing or delivered you from the bondage of an addiction and into your own Promised Land. Take time today to remember the mighty things God has done for you. Praise Him and commit to Him that you will never forget the amazing things He has done for you.

Occupy

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field - deu.28.3

As you begin your week, know that you are fully equipped to do the work that is set before you. 

On the natural side, you have the skills, you have the knowledge and you are intelligent enough. 

On the spiritual side, you have the insight, you know the nature of the battle, you are good and ready in prayer to occupy your sphere of influence with the word of God. 

Let the week be victorious, amen! 

Fight in praise

When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots and soldiers far outnumbering you, do not recoil in fear of them; God, your God, who brought you up out of Egypt is with you. When the battle is about to begin, let the priest come forward and speak to the troops. He’ll say, “Attention, Israel. In a few minutes you’re going to do battle with your enemies. Don’t waver in resolve. Don’t fear. Don’t hesitate. Don’t panic. God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.”

http://bible.com/97/deu.20.1.msg

Mindset

In everything you set your mind into, always have a foundation and know where your source is. There will come a time in that season where you will need strength, favor, grace, endurance etc...and if your hope and faith is fixed in the right direction, you will come through victoriously. 

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - Philippians 1: 6

Communion

The communion table: a constant reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and I. A great place to be thankful :) 

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many - mark.14.22

Prayer list

If you are like me and you have a list of things that you are waiting on God for: salvation for friends and family, deliverance over strongholds, financial freedom, jobs, peace of mind in decisions, emotional rest etc....; then you know that waiting is not just waiting to see what happens with your list.

It's a combination of fasting and praying, letting it go (emotionally) and totally leaning on God in faith, trusting Him - and not worrying about it! 

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope - Psalm.130.5.

Forgive

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

http://bible.com/1/eph.1.7.kjv

It really doesn't matter what you've done, it matters that you know that Christ is always there to forgive and redeem you from your sinful nature.....as long as you come to Him in repentance and aubmission. 

Temptation

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

http://bible.com/1/jas.1.13.kjv

Worship

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

http://bible.com/1/mrk.10.51.kjv

This is awesome because how many times do we ask God for something..... Then after we have it, we forget all about Him, serve Him no longer and go on our merry way??

Lesson to learn: our relationship with God shouldn't be based on what we can get out of Him, it is entirely on worship and intimacy. This way, we will always remember to give glory and praise to the Giver, whom it is due. 

True worship

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

http://bible.com/1/mrk.10.23.kjv

Lord help us that our "stuff" doesn't get in our way of serving you, the giver. 

Pray and fast

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

http://bible.com/1/mrk.9.29.kjv

There are some challenges that we face that are not going to change just by talking and dieting.....it needs prayer AND fasting!!!!!

Lesson

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied - http://bible.com/1/num.23.8.kjv

We, as humans are placed in peoples lives for reasons and seasons. While we are in their "space", we need to be better at exercising grace and mercy; showing the compassion of God....and not being judgemental, all in the name of having the power to say "I told you so".

Every single one of us have our own challenges that we face and each comes with it's own length of days. Hopefully, at the end of it, we gain lessons learned. 

Affirmation

If your friend plays a sport or has a hobby where he or she must perform live, always attempt to attend his or her events. Afterwards, be deliberate about complimenting his or her skill. This will encourage him or her greatly, especially if his or her primary love language is Words of Affirmation.

Love

Jesus said unto him, 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 neighbour as thyself.

http://bible.com/1/mat.22.37.kjv