What does it mean to guard your heart and how do you do it?
It means to forgive others who may have hurt you, to let go of any anger, offense, bitterness and resentment toward another that you may have and to release their hurtful behavior or words they may have spoken to you.
It means being mindful of what you think about. Our minds and heart are intricately connected because what we think about affects our inner spirit and heart. We are to think about things that are pure and right and heavenly.
It also means watching what we take into our minds. What we read and see over and over again will eventually make it’s way into our spiritual and emotional heart.
Reading the Bible on a regular basis will help to get God’s truths into our inner being.
Guard your hearts..
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13).
Who else can say that but God? No one, only God can say such a thing.
God knows everything: the past, current and future and our knowledge and understanding doesn’t even compare to the knowledge and understanding of God – even when it applies to our own life.
Furthermore, when you don’t understand what God is doing in your life, consider the source – Who is it that you’re trusting; God or yourself?
In spite of you, your feelings of inadequacy, and past failures; you will have to finally submit to the call and will of God over your life. And with God’s help, you are already a success story!
What events or people in your past have crippled your ambitions and potential to do something great for God? What will it take for you to become daring enough to be a success for God?
Think on these....
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride comes before disaster and arrogance before a fall.”
Have you ever been too proud to ask for what you need?
Many times we are far too fearful of trials and trouble. At the first sign of trouble, we begin to shrink back in fear. The believers who have lived before us seemed to display a different strength than most do today. We are rather accustomed to convenience and usually don’t do well with suffering of any type; it frightens us.
Let’s remember how David faced the giant Goliath and be joyful and thankful that we can defeat our enemies too. We can attack fear rather than letting it rule us.
You are much more than your feelings. You are a powerful, wise, beloved child of God, and you can do whatever you need to do in life through Christ, who is your strength (see Philippians 4:13).
For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:29 NLT)
Following the ways of God frees you from the bondage of work; as your intentions are now guarded by the peace of the Holy Spirit.
Lay your burdens, the burdens of loved ones at His altar and find that it's much easier to pray since you've shifted the responsibility to Him.
God is good and He cares for you. He will cause EVERYTHING you’ve been through to work together for your good because you love Him and are called according to His purpose.
He will elevate you, promote you, and exalt you.
Keep your hands to the plow and keep serving from the right place.
Keep your eyes fixed on Him. He is taking you higher and higher and HIGHER! From glory to glory to GLORY! From faith to faith to FAITH! It will be like a dream, woman of God. So don’t worry and certainly don't worry about how He’s going to do it.
Trust in His goodness and in His great love for you!
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:1 (NIV)
Divine energy is not dependent on how much sleep you’ve had or how much food you’ve eaten. It’s divine and it comes from God. His grace can take form and become anything you need.
When you need a refreshing, God will give you divine energy. You can’t get away to a beach resort or to the cabins. But you can get away with God and let Him fill you with His Spirit and power!
In His presence, He refuels you, refills you, refreshes you, revives you, renews your strength and recharges you.
There’s no time to remain discouraged, weary and downcast. Rest in God’s grace as He does the real work in and through you.
Let your faith be activated in God’s glory and receive by faith from His glory the divine energy you need to overcome evil with good and to keep your hands to the plow.
“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Revelation 3:8
Discouragement over regrets, missed opportunities, and closed doors is at an all time high. Many people are feeling discouraged and negative thoughts are pouring into their minds like a rainstorm. We must rebuke discouragement as soon as it raises its ugly head because of the God we serve.
Encourage yourself in the Lord. God is still on the throne! He is Who He said He is and you are who He said you are. You have what He said you have and you will do everything He has purposed for you to do by His grace and power.
Don’t let the spirit of discouragement rule in your heart any longer. Only listen to the comforting and reassuring voice of His Holy Spirit. He will remind you that you serve the mighty King of kings and the Lord of lords and nothing is too hard for Him. What your King has approved, no one can disapprove. What He has ordained for you, no one can deny you of it. No one can turn God’s “yes” into a “no”! When He decrees a blessing for your life, all of heaven knows it and all of heaven expects you to agree with it, go after it and possess it by faith.
No man can close a door that God has laid open before you. What God has spoken to your heart, whispered in your ear and shown you in His Word, that’s what will be!
Be encouraged. Be determined. Be persistent. Everything God has for you is yours!
A life of frustration and struggle, a life without peace, is the result of focusing on things you can’t do anything about. When you worry about things beyond your control, stress and anxiety begin to creep into your life.
The apostle Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2
When you feel like you need a companion, God will show you that you really need peace.
When you think you need provision God will show you that you need peace.
Every prayer request we can possibly think of points to the greater need for the supernatural peace of God. We are living in a time when God wants us to experience His peace like never before. Peace comes from resting in a true knowledge of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ.
When peace comes in, worry and doubt runs out. It doesn’t come to share a space, it comes to take over. God’s peace comes in like a mighty flood and completely overwhelms us.
Receive God’s peace today about your life, receive His peace about your marriage, receive His peace about your children, receive His peace about your business and your ministry.
Ask God to open up the windows of heaven and pour out His peace upon you like you’ve never seen before. Let grace and peace be multiplied to you through your knowledge that God is who He say He is and He will do what He say He will do.
Not one ploy of the enemy can stop God’s great plan for your life. You are who God said you are and you will fulfill His divine purpose for your life.
Receive it! Receive it!
“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ” 1 Peter 3:3,4 (NKJV)
God wants to beautify our souls. He is trying to make us rich on the inside.
Let's then ask Him for wisdom, an understanding heart, a meek and a quiet spirit.
He said, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
To God, the prosperity of our souls is more important than the size of our wallets. When we let Him enrich our souls, financial wealth and health is not too far behind.
A blessed soul is a magnet for the supernatural favor of God.
“Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
If you want to see God moving in your life, you’re going to have to get out of the way!
You’re strong, yes.
You’re an independent woman, yes.
You’re self-sufficient and running things, yes.
But still, you realize that somehow your power and knowledge only will get you so far. Something is still missing from your life. So, invite Jesus in.
Let Him be in control of ALL of you!
"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)
There are people who feel depressed like there is no escape from the prison in their mind. We live in a real world with real problems and how we deal with the problems in our life is totally up to us.
The spirit of depression will have you trying to escape reality rather than deal with things head on. It will try to convince you that you can’t handle life’s problems and that you’re not strong enough.
Remember, Jesus delivers and sets free! “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression” the Bible says, “but a good word makes it glad.”
Receive the supernatural power of God, His everlasting love and His good word.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
Determine not to spend all of your time looking at your troubles, dwelling on your pain, and thinking of how you’ve been cast down.
Say it out loud: "I’m an overcomer through Jesus! I may be facing some challenges, but God’s going to see me through it. I’m not going to be distressed, depressed, perplexed or in despair! My God is with me and is greater than anything I’m facing right now!”
Focus on your God, not on your problems. He is bigger!
You may be troubled on every side, but God will provide a way out for you.
You may be suffering persecution, but God is with you.
You may be cast down, but you are not destroyed.
If you are still breathing, God has a plan to turn what the enemy has meant for your bad around for your good.
Through every challenge you face, His hand will guide you. He is your shelter, your rock and your confidence.
We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
— 1 John 4:16
How do you know God is at home in your heart? You know when you are doing loving things to bless the lives of others! Just as we trust and rely on God's constant love for us, our brothers and sisters in Christ need love demonstrated to them too.
Lord, fill us with your Spirit so we can be more loving to our family, our friends, and those whom you place in our path so they can learn about Jesus and his love.
Every woman is on her own journey BUT we rejoice, sorrow and celebrate with each and every one ...
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
http://bible.com/12/rom.12.3.asv
Fear is that bully on the school playground that grabs me by the shirt collar and says, "give me your lunch money, or else!" The Chatterbox does the same thing to my thoughts, using "What if" scenarios that create fear and hold me back.
The more I listen to the Chatterbox, the more power I give to fear.
God has given me everything I need to fight back and win. When the bully yells, "What if?", we can learn to answer back with, "God says He will. Even at the bottom of your worst fear you'll find a greater God.
As we begin to hear God's voice, we'll see that His perfect love can kick fear out our lives and lead us safely into his will.
“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:3
One of the hardest things to do is to step aside and let God handle a situation for us.
You may have been wronged, falsely accused, and mistreated, but as angry as you may feel you have to use wisdom in how you handle it.
Place your trust in God and receive His wisdom. He will guide you and instruct you. And if He says, “do nothing”, do nothing. Your nothing gives Him room to do something about it. He is King and He is in full control.
Trust that God will vindicate you.
Trust that He will prepare a table before you right in the presence of your enemies.
The consequences of taking matters into your own hands are endless, but the rewards of letting God fight your battles are great!
Move out of the way and let God do it!
He's got this!!!!
4 steps to living a forgiving life:
1) forgive those who have hurt you
2) pray for them who have hurt you
3) bless your enemies
4) then, wait
Always be on the forgiving side. It keeps you free from offense and hurt.
Many times we think of needs in terms of the basic necessities of life, our physical needs. We don’t simply need money, nourishment, a roof over our heads, and clothes to wear. We also need wisdom, strength, health, friends, and loved ones; and we need the gifts and talents and abilities to help us do what we are supposed to do in life. We need many things, and God is willing to meet all of our needs when we trust and obey Him.
And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
http://bible.com/12/php.4.19.asv
God give me the strength I need to remain stable in all circumstances.
Be secure
God can strengthen us to the point that we can make progress even during our troubled times.
The psalmist said of God, "He makes my feet like hinds' feet. You have girded me with strength for the battle" (Psalm 18:33).
Trials and testing do not come to cause us to lose stability. They are opportunities to prove the strength of God. We don't have to waver in our confidence. Nothing will keep us from making progress today because God is our strength.
So many of us go throughout our life trying to please people, trying to make people happy, trying hard never to disappoint those we love. The reward may be their smile, but the consequence can be exhaustion, depression or constant self-criticism.
You don’t have to work hard to please God and win His favor. You are favored because you are His daughter. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, He’s pleased with you today. There’s nothing you can do for Him that will make Him love you anymore than He already does.
Prayer: Forgive me for looking to man for something You have already provided for me: acceptance, approval, a sense of belonging. I belong to You Lord and truly there is nowhere else on the planet I’d rather be. Keep me in Your love. Hide me under Your wings. I live for You and for You alone. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Lord, help us to always have the courage to not allow others to take what is rightfully ours.
Help us to be bold in the things that concern you. Amen.
If we want to be encouraged in our own individuality and independence, we must sow the same type of freedom and respect into other women's lives.
Don't hold back on encouraging, celebrating, or acknowledging someone else. It's the God thing to do ...
Speak to God now, thanking Him for His work in your life, for the seen and the unseen.
God is able AND willing to do super abundantly above what we can think, plan or ask.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
http://bible.com/1/eph.3.20.kjv
Sometimes we are in these health situations that seem completely impossible to come out of. I personally have experienced this before and I know some others who have too.
In my case, I would basically rehearse these words: "what may be impossible for my doctors is possible with God".
Why?? Because my bible tells me so.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
http://bible.com/1/luk.1.37.kjv
