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.

Praise

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

http://bible.com/1/psa.100.1-5.kjv

Complain??? No...

When we complain about our current situation, we remain in it; when we praise God in the midst of difficulty, He raises us out of it. 

The best way to start every day is with gratitude and thanksgiving. 

Fill your thoughts and conversation with good things. 

Praise and thanksgiving are good; complaining and grumbling are not good. 

Worship

Matthew 15:1–9 

Worship requires an alignment of our thoughts, attitudes and values with those of God. 

When we go through the outward motions of worship without a genuine inward response to him, we aren’t really worshiping. 

A true friend

Great read! 

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15, NIV).

A true friend defends you and is not ashamed of you. They have a strong emotional bond with you, believes in you and sacrifices for you. In this moment, it is important to ask ourselves, “Jesus calls me friend, but how good of a friend am I being to Him?”

Do you defend Him? While others are making a mockery of the Christian faith, it is important to God that you stand up for Him in this time in which we live. He expects His children to defend the faith. Jude writes, “defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people” (Jude 1:3, NLT).

Are you ashamed of Him? Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38, NLT).

Do you have a strong emotional love for Him? When you are in the presence of close friends, you can see their love for each other. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength (see Mark 12:30, NLT).

Do you believe in Him? Proof of belief is in our obedience. We must go beyond simply hearing to obeying God and doing what He tells us to do if we are His friends. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14, NLT).

Do you sacrifice for Him? The sacrifice God desires is the presenting of our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him which is our reasonable service (see Romans 12:1). Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NLT).

Our Prayer: Thank You Father, for making me Your friend. You are faithful to me, help me stay faithful to You. You are my defender, help me defend You. You are not ashamed to be called my God, help me never be ashamed of the gospel. I want to be the kind of friend to You that You are to me and I ask that You show me how. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wisdom

Nothing of value is obtained easily or cheaply. 

That applies not only to substances like precious metals and jewels but also to spiritual attributes like wisdom. If we want wisdom, we must turn our ears, apply our hearts, call out for insight, cry aloud for understanding and look and search for God's way and will.

God gives gifts to those who demonstrate their hunger for them. When we search for wisdom diligently, God rewards us.

Let it go

Back in the day, B.C, you remember getting angry and outraged over petty things and even looking to taking matters into your hands and getting the justice you deserve.... Remember that? 

Now that you've come over those things and now have a better understanding of what the fight is about, who the thief is, and that his intentions are to steal, kill and destroy you.....our responses ought to be different.

When things get tough, when someone wrongs you, when others are mistreated around you... There is no need to go back to that person, especially since the old methods leave you broken still.

Now that you know better, do better.

Pray, let go and let God

Really, it works! 

Yes and amen

God’s promises don’t depend on our being perfect. Though we try and some of us think we are... It doesn't change a thing about God's promise to and over is. 

But when we get tempted to run ahead of God's way and timing, we need to remember to rest in him instead. 

Our good God always keeps his promises.

Brag

Don't ever hold back from sharing what God has done for you. Don't water it down either. 

To believers, it's a moment of imparting faith and encouragement to one another. 

To the unbelievers, it's a gateway into the kingdom of heaven. 

Express your gratitude. Brag on God. Don't bother how weird it may sound....because if you are truly and wholeheartedly living your life for Him, it'll make perfect sense to the people around you.

Brag on God and see what it does with your spheres of influence. 

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

http://bible.com/1/psa.77.11-12.kjv

Provision

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

http://bible.com/1/psa.3.3.kjv

If we let this resonate within us, then, we have the understanding that we will never lack! 

My help

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

http://bible.com/1/psa.3.1-3.kjv

Great expectations

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18, ESV).

It’s the start of a new year and gyms all across America will see a spike in new memberships. Why? New year’s resolutions, of course!

Some New Year resolution lists include the following: getting in shape, losing weight, putting yourself first, getting rid of bad habits, finally leaving those bad relationships behind or quitting smoking. 

Unfortunately, most of these resolutions don’t last. 

Too often, we do the same thing as we follow Christ. We make big promises about the great things we plan to do for Him and we try to impress Him with our performances. In the process, we tend to forget two important truths:

1. God’s love for us is dependent on His grace and not our performance. 
2. This life is not about what we can do for God but what He can do in and through us.

In this new year, you do not need to ask what you can do for God. The better question is this: What does God desire to accomplish in and through me this year?

That's a much greater expectation! 

Purpose

God never wastes a hurt! 

If you’ve gone through a hurt, He wants you to help other people going through that same hurt. He wants you to share it. 

God can use the problems in your life to give you a ministry to others. In fact, the very thing you’re most ashamed of in your life and resent the most could become your greatest ministry in helping other people. 

Your pain often reveals God’s purpose for you. 

God's grace

Your circumstances cannot change the character of God. 

God’s grace is still in full effect; and He is still for you, even when you don’t feel it. 

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

http://bible.com/1/2co.1.12.kjv

Don't give in

God is watching over you, so don’t listen or give in to your fears. This is a choice. Trust God!!!! 

God’s promise to believers is that, no matter what happens to us, He is working for our good — if we love Him and follow Him.

In that case, we can stop listening to our fears. There is no difficulty, dilemma, defeat, or disaster in the life of a believer that God can’t ultimately get some good out of. There is no need to fear the future. 
Your fears reveal where you do not trust God.

Trust Him, then sit back, watch to see how He comes through for you.

Persecuted but not broken

Do you sometimes feel lonely? Tempted to be discouraged, misunderstood and criticized unjustly? 

Of course! None of us are exempt from suffering, loneliness, discouragement, or unjust criticism, because God is developing within us the character of Christ, and, in order to do this, he must take us through all of the circumstances in life through which he took Christ. 

Does this mean God causes tragedies? No. God is good, and he will not cause evil or do evil. But God can use dark and stressful times for good. He'll use them to teach us to trust him, to show us how to help others, and to draw us closer to other believers. 

So, what should you do when you’re going through difficult times? 

First, you refuse to be discouraged. Then, you remember God is with you. Finally, you rely on God’s protection and guidance. 

We all go through difficult times. The difference for those who believe in Jesus is not the absence of the shadow but the presence of the Light.

Preparation

The Spirit of God prepares His people for the work with much care and love. He deposits His attributes of love, goodness, and mercy into us and conditions us to produce fruit to carry on in His power and might, preaching the Good News, setting the captives free, healing the sick and the brokenhearted. 

Romans 8:29 says; “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (NLT).

Our Prayer: Lord, Your Word is true and does not return to You void. We will wait for You and trust in You as You prepare us for greater works. For You who began a good work in us will complete it until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Waymaker

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1–2, KJV)

When life is not going well, there is a tendency to look downward. 

In those moments, remember that God is good all of the time and HE has a plan and a way out! We must look to HIS Word to see what He has to say about the situation.

Does it happen overnight? Nope. But every time the enemy reminds you of the trouble, remind him of your Helper and how our God is faithful!

Amen!!!!

Author and Finisher

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]…” Hebrews 12:2 (Amplified)

Don’t get bent out of shape wondering how God is going to finish something you had nothing to do with its beginnings in the first place. Rest in the confidence that if He authored it, He will finish it. 

Healing wasn’t on your mind until God promised He will heal you. Wealth wasn’t on your mind until God promised He will bless you.

Trust God and wait on Him. Wait in great anticipation, not anxiety. Wait in great expectation, not worry or fear. If God authored it, He will finish it!

May your faith be strengthened, in Jesus name, Amen.

Un-Deserving

Who is on your gift list this Christmas? Usually, we give gifts to family and friends. We want to buy gifts for people we love and people we care about. We tend to give gifts to those who treat us well, people who are kind and considerate to us. Some of us will even buy gifts for our pets. 

However, we generally don’t buy gifts for our enemies, do we? 

We don’t give a gift to the person who has slandered us in the past year, or to the irate neighbor who never has a kind word to say, or to someone who has tried to run us out of business, nor do we give a gift to that mean boss..

But think about this: when God sent Jesus Christ, His Son, and gave us this ultimate gift, He gave it to us while we were still His enemies. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve this gift. In fact, what we really deserve is judgment, because we all have sinned against God. BUT God gave us his gift anyway! 

Challenge: Will you give an “undeserving"  person a gift this season??? 

Abundance

Recognize the schemes of confusion, doubt, fear, disloyalty, pain, disappointment, rejection, loss of self, despair, low self-esteem, lack of, identity crisis, loneliness, competition, depression etc...

Jesus came to give us a good life and that we might have an abundance of it...that is a fact and a promise. Do not let the enemy rob you of that. 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

http://bible.com/1/jhn.10.10.kjv

Christmas

Christmas can be a very hard and disappointing time for a lot of people, for many reasons. 

Unfortunately, a lot of people turn to alcohol and drugs, and suicide attempts go up at this time of year. 

Sometimes there is a deep sadness at Christmas because of issues and family problems. For some, their parents have divorced; or their wives or husbands are no longer at home; and some have lost loved ones. There is a real deep pain and their struggle is just as real. 

Remember, that while some are having fun at Christmas, others are going through it. 

Let's not turn away from them, let's show them the love of Christ and how He also has given them the same freedom you have. 

Promise

God will meet you in your everyday, nothing special certain places. While you're simply going through your common routines God wants to meet you. God wants to remind you of your purpose and to the specific promises He made to you.

God will turn your certain places into places of His inheritance, promise; places of His presence.  God will cause your certain places to be marked and named when He's done with you.

Surely the Lord is in this place....

Christmas

On one occasion, when Jesus was twelve years old, He went missing. Mary and Joseph (his parents) lost sight of Him, and it took three days of searching to find Him again. They had been in Jerusalem for the Passover, and as they were returning home, He was nowhere to be found. But here is the interesting thing: they traveled an entire day before they missed Him. It isn’t that they lost their love for Him or their faith. They just lost Him. 

Can this happen to us? The answer is yes. It is possible to go through an hour, a day, or even a week without a passing thought of Jesus. (That is, until a crisis hits.) 

This is the easiest thing to do at Christmas, .....think about it. We are so busy celebrating the birth of Christ that we can forget about Christ.

One way we lose Jesus is when nonessentials displace essentials. When we are busy, often our spiritual lives are the first things to go. We don’t have time to read God’s Word. We don’t have time to pray, even for a moment. We can’t afford to give anything to God because we have so many things to buy. We allow nonessentials to take the place of essentials. 

Whenever I lose something, I retrace my steps. Where did I have it last? I go back to that place, and often I will find it there. 

If you’ve found that you’ve lost Jesus in the busyness of life, then you need to go back to where you were before. And the good news is that even if we lose sight of Jesus, He never loses sight of us. 

#Christmas

Strength

“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!” Habakkuk 3:19 (AMP)

When you lack courage and confidence, God is your bravery. 

When you feel weak and pitiful, God is your strength. 

When you feel like you are standing by yourself against the attacks of the enemy, God is your invincible army. 

Before the enemy can disqualify you, God has already qualified you. You are who God says you are, you have what God says you have, and you can do everything God said you can do.

Receive it!!!!

Be alert

The Fall is a great example of how the enemy’s lies lead to destruction. 

First, it starts with deception .... And that leads to rebellion ...and before we know it, our eyes are not fixed on Christ. 

We see in Genesis 3, that the serpent was able to shift Eve’s focus off God and his provision. In turn, the lust of the eyes took over and discontentment arose. 

The enemy maneuvered his way into her mind and deceived her. 

It is in the same way (if we give room to it), the enemy deceives us into following our passions or the lust of the flesh. He manipulates us into thinking that we are missing something that is pleasurable. 

However, outside the covenant of God, those things lead to destruction with grave consequences. It is a lie that sex outside of marriage will satisfy you mentally, physically, emotionally and it most certainly will not satisfy you spiritually. If the yearning for love is the basis for your sexual sin; recognize that no love will fill that void except for the love of God.

Prayer

“…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”

James 5:16 (AMP)

God hears us when we pray from our hearts. One way to strengthen our prayer life is to pray His Word. 

The Word in your heart

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name”. (John 1:12 NKJV)

There have been many times in your life that, you might have wondered why certain things happen to you; the things you’ve had to face or battle in life.

It is during those times, you will come to realize, that the only thing that will hold you up in such times is your “heart knowledge”. 

This is the word that you have hidden in your heart and meditated upon.  

Unique

Sometimes we find ourselves comparing ourselves to and striving to be like others for many different reasons. 

However, the truth is that God created each one of us differently and uniquely and we should accept ourselves as such. 

God’s glory and purpose is found in each one of our testimonies no matter what we look like or where we come from. And it’s all beautiful! 

Receive this reminder today that you are just fine the way He created you. 

He is within you, and you will not fall.

 

Forgiveness, not payback

It’s hard to forgive, yes....but know this, refusing to forgive those who have hurt you will only make you emotionally (and maybe physically) sick. 

Refusal to forgive keeps you trapped in an anger prison; it leads to a false sense of moral superiority; it poisons and embitters your spirit; AND it motivates Christ to withhold the forgiveness you need (Matthew 6:15). 

Instead, fill your temple with joyful praise and extend the same forgiving spirit He shows you. And know this--no matter how hard that may seem, the Lord will always give you the strength to do what is right.

To forgive is always much more rewarding than payback 

Living with purpose

Live out your life with purpose

Be intentional as to how you will live daily

Abstain from things that will potentially defile you

Learn from Daniel :) 

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

http://bible.com/1/dan.1.8.kjv

Confess

When we pray, most of us are able to take our problems to Christ, but what about our sins? 

If you are in Christ, believe that your sin is gone. (Matt. 27:46 NIV), he entered the wilderness on your behalf. He carried your sin away. Jesus did his part. Now do yours. 

Give God your guilt. Tell Him what you did. Place that guilt on the back of your Sin Bearer. Give it to Jesus with this request: “Will you take this away?” Do this as often as needed. One time, two times, ten times a day? Hold nothing back. No sin is too ancient or recent, too evil or insignificant. Be abundant and concrete in your confession. Go into as much detail as you can, as healing happens when the wound is exposed to the atmosphere of grace. 

Confession, you see, is not a punishment for sin; it is an isolation of sin so it can be exposed and extracted.

Invitation

An open invitation....

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

http://bible.com/1/rev.3.20.kjv

Prayer

As we begin our morning and week, we need to bring our focus to one place....prayer. 

As we commute to church, work or walk the hallways at our schools, we need help. As we wait in the grocery line, His people need help. 

Prayer is really a conversation with God throughout our day. It is our internal voice that directs the external action. 

As we cultivate our inside voice, may it move and shake mountains on the outside! 

Rest

A great thing about Jesus is that he is not just our teacher; He is our guide and our light on the way. Meaning, we will never get lost, because He will always be with us to show us the way forward. 

We may not know what lies a year, a month, a day or even an hour in the future. But it does not matter, for He will always be there, and so we can rest in that sure knowledge.

Amen to that!! 

Priorities

You have a priority system, whether you realize it or not. Your mind and heart decide what to do and which things to do first. 

Some people do whatever makes them feel good or whatever builds up their ego or whatever is easiest or whatever leads to money. 

What about you? 

How do you set your priorities?

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

http://bible.com/1/mat.6.33.kjv

Purpose

Great quote: 

Your body is not just a shabby taxi to schlep your immortal soul around. 

It is a redeemed and valuable organism that needs to be prized and maintained so that you can fulfill your God-given purpose in life.

Recognize! 

Guard your heart

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

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..

An attitude of gratitude

“I’ll be happy when I get _____” is a triple trap. 

For one, it keeps you miserable as you wait impatiently to be fulfilled. 

Second, wanting more never satisfies, even if and after you get your first wish, you still want more. 

Third, it deprives to you out of the happiness with the wealth that you already possess. 

Be thankful for what you do have and not for what you wish you did. 

Treasure

These words are of encouragement, showing the great worth God finds in you and the great roles to which he is calling you: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Know that you have been bought at the price of the blood of Jesus. 

Don’t fear belonging to him. 

Prize it. 

Cherish it. 

It is your dearest treasure.

You or God

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?

Success

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....

Ask and Receive

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride comes before disaster and arrogance before a fall.”

Have you ever been too proud to ask for what you need?

Ask and You Shall Receive. Yes, God is already aware of all of our wants and needs, but He does intend for us to ask.  Help us Lord, to lose our prideful attitudes and become humble enough to do what your word instructs us to do.  

Faith, not fear

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).

Truth in love

Love is to be the mark that identifies us as Christians. And in order to love, we must speak and accept the truth. We cannot have love, the love that God wants us to experience, without truth. It is impossible.

Challenge yourself today to heed God’s correction if you sense it. And if you feel compelled to address something that is contradictory to God’s word, ask Him for help to speak the truth in love. 

Without truth and correction, we make ourselves and others vulnerable to the enemy’s schemes. 

Remember that the Bible is more than a book of rules, it is the guide to life that gives us insight into God’s heart and living with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. The truth lies in it and it is our responsibility to learn what it says and apply it to our lives.

Yoke is easy

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. 

Keep on keeping on

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! 

Strength

“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. 

Love

Good read.... 

God creates the conditions in which love flourishes, and those conditions are summed up by the words ‘Holy Spirit’. It is the incredibly fertile Presence of God in us that produces a harvest of love.

The honour of being a human being is that God has granted us to be His own children, with the image of God in our hearts. This is indeed an honour, but it also requires us to submit our wills joyfully to Him, and be indwelt and constantly filled with His love and holiness. The result is that love buds in our hearts, and we find that there is a further blessing than just to be loved - which is to love both God and other people. 

Truly this is blessedness - to be loved and to love.

Encouragement

“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!

Self-control

Ever had a situation where you want to get rid of a bad habit, but you just can't??? 

There is a way out....

Thank God for being the Lord of your life. Ask Him to show you any areas where you have not yet made Him Lord. 

Trust Him for help to exercise self-control in these areas. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:12, the apostle Paul says: “ ‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything'

It’s important to only have one Master — God — and to make sure He comes first in everything we do.

Walls

It’s important to have defenses in place to protect things that are precious to you. 

Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” The Bible teaches that developing self-control is a way to protect yourself from things that could harm you. 

When you practice self-control, you’re building strong walls that will keep important things safe — things like your love for God and for others. 

Peace

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).

Love in action

Love is the most refreshing and invigorating work of the Spirit in our lives. If we want to be refreshed, then seek to love. 

Let the love of God soften your heart and your thoughts, and you will find that your physical body is refreshed and released from burdens that wear you down.

The selfish heart is cursed with the burden of a self-centred life. The only answer is to be released from that inward-looking self-obsession. 

Abandon yourself to love; look with compassion on those around you. 

Ask yourself how you can touch people with the love of Jesus today, and the fountains of love will flow from within and you will find to your surprise that you are free from the burden of your own needs.

Peace of God

“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!

Prosperity

“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.

Follow

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

http://bible.com/1/jhn.8.12.kjv

The Lord promises to lead us in a straight path that leads us to His hand, His righteousness, His will and His way. 

All we have to do is follow Him 

Reminder!

Let Him in

“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

"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.

God says ...

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

http://bible.com/1/isa.45.2-3.kjv

Watch

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

http://bible.com/1/isa.41.10.kjv

There is something powerful, peaceful and settling that comes with the knowing that God is exactly who He says He is...no matter what !!

Since He is all sufficient, God doesn't need to depend on man, heaven, angels or earth to do what He does. He just does it! 

So denounce all fear....and let God rule and reign over your life as He should. Watch what happens....

Shelter and Rock

“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. 

Just do it....