Month: October 2017

Let God Carry the Load!

We have all experienced situations that seemed impossible to handle at the time. It may have been a financial challenge or a bad report from the doctor. When things seem hopeless, and you feel you are at your worst, that is the time to turn to God and seek Him with everything you have. You may feel that you are alone in your circumstances, but God is a very present help in times of trouble. 

Although it would be great if the Lord would perform some sort of magical transformation of the tough circumstances you and I face, that just isn’t reality. However, the Word of God is your way out of any situation. Because God’s Word is infallible and contains burden-removing, yoke-destroying power, when you can meditate on it, and speak it, you will see changes in your life. While the facts about your situation may look bleak, the truth found in God’s Word brings light, hope, and deliverance. 

What I want you to grasp is the fact that Satan wants to influence how you feel. When you allow the pressures of life to influence your emotions in a negative way, you will most likely make decisions and take actions that will keep you stuck in your present situation. Because of this, it is important that you give more attention to the Word than you do to what is going on around you. Get in the Bible and meditate on the Scriptures that speak to your situation. Allow your feelings to be governed and controlled by the Word so your decisions and actions can lead you in the right direction. In life, you will experience good and bad moments. 

That reality is never going to change. Christians, and non-Christians alike, will experience both. But God will be there for you through it all. Joshua 1:9 declares, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Perhaps you are facing a situation in life and are wondering if God is going to show up. You may not understand every detail of God’s plan for you, but when you believe in your heart that God loves you, feeling like you are fighting your battles alone will soon fade. When you have confidence in God, you will trust in what His Word says about your situation. He is not some impersonal “being” in the sky who is disconnected from the day-to-day realities in your life. He knows just when to step in and assist you when you need it most. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and don’t try to carry the load yourself. He wants to help.

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Running towards the plan!

For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

God’s plan has always been to give us hope and a future, to prosper us and keep us from harm, but His plan can never be separated from a life devoted to Him. There is no hope – no future or security – apart from resting in His arms. And the only lasting prosperity and peace comes as we walk in step with His Spirit. Why do so many not trust Him to fully guide their path? And why do they seek His plan for their life without bothering to first seek Him?!

His plan is for us to be restored to Him and glorify His name as we love Him with all our heart. All other plans regarding the specific circumstances of our existence flow out of His plan for a loving relationship filled with worship; “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Seek Him first! Let me encourage you like I do myself daily to allow God to be the all-consuming top priority of your life. Diligently seek Him in times of quiet as well as in the midst of the endless multitude of daily activities, and be filled with hope and encouraged by His promise that as we faithfully seek Him with all our heart, He will be found! Take His Hand!

God is in Business of Restoration!

He is faithful to recompense you for everything you have lost when you trust Him. God can make up for wasted time. He specializes in redeeming rough seasons in our lives. What has become a torturous transition, He can use to love you into a closer relationship with Him. Where else can you go for eternal life than to the one who is eternal (John 6:68)? Allow God to backfill this blot on your past. He can rebuild what has been broken, and even destroyed. Have a wonderful day as you allow God to repay you for the years that have been stolen. Love you all. 

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.” Joel 2:25

 

Maybe you’re at a point where you wonder where the Lord was in all this reversal of fortune. You were on the fast track to bitterness because of your feelings of betrayal. You may have hit rock bottom, and now there is nowhere to look but up.

 

We serve a God of restoration! You may have had some disappointments or unfair things happen in your life; but instead of dwelling on the past and living in defeat, choose to focus on His promises because God wants to restore everything that’s been stolen from your life. He wants to restore your joy, your peace, your health, and your finances. But here’s the key: you have to have a vision for it. You have to get your hopes up and decide to get your thoughts and words going in the right direction. 


Today, choose to focus on the future and release past hurts through forgiveness. Draw a line in the sand and say, I’m not going to live my life negative and defeated. This is a new day, and I’m taking back what belongs to me!” That’s having a restoration mentality!

How long?

 “How long?” is a fair question to ask of the Lord. He does not expect us to suffer in silence. In fact, it’s okay and desirable to pour out our petitions to Him. We need heaven’s healing. When we verbalize our confusion to our loving heavenly Father, we feel relief. Just to know that the Lord listens to our heartfelt cries, no matter how petty or profound, is reassuring. Sometimes we can’t sleep well at night. We wake up in anguish, our mind racing. Our heart needs a touch of grace and peace from Jesus. A troubled heart has a hard time with sweet dreams because there is a dread or disappointment that destroys its quality of rest. However, deep sleep accompanies those who are able rest in Him. Rest is a result of resting in the Lord’s presence (Exodus 33:14). Have a wonderful day as you remain in His presence. 


How Long God? 

 

“My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?” Psalm 6:3

 


The pain will linger until you see Jesus face to face, because it is a touch from the Lord that will get you through this difficulty. Therefore, do not let this momentary affliction keep you from experiencing God. Adversity is meant to engage us with eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17). If everything were easy, we would be prone to forget our Heavenly Father. So while on earth, it is okay to ask, “How long?” Questions keep us from being clueless with Christ by driving us to our knees in dependency on Him. How long before you can be married? How long before your parents will be more understanding? How long before your teenager will mature? How long before the doctors can diagnose your ailment? How long before you can change careers or get a promotion? How long before finances are not such big issues?

 

All of these are fair questions and need to be asked. It is wise, healing, and hopeful to lift our concerns to Christ. But once we go to God with our questions, it is imperative that we listen to His answers. It is not enough just to question. We must be willing to listen to the Lord. His answer is simple yet profound. “As long as it takes,” is His compassionate reply. As long as it takes to accomplish His will; as long as it takes to mold us into the image of His son Jesus; as long as it takes for us to learn the lessons of faith, patience, love, and forgiveness; as long as it takes to break our stubborn pride and replace it with gracious humility; as long as it takes to die to ourselves; as long as it takes for God to glorify Himself through our lives.


So above all else, in your state of questioning and confusion, receive God’s unfailing love. How long before the Lord can love you? Right now. His love will see you through, so invite Him to love you as only the Lord can.

“I am highly favored and the Lord is with me!” 

We all will go through difficult times while we here living in this fallen world and if this is the place where you are right now where it seems as though a lot of hardships and trials are hitting you all at once and your are struggling with doubt and despair. And you’re looking to the Lord for comfort and reassurance, and for Him to give you a promise from His Word that you could cling to then this scripture below is for you to meditate on it, and make it your declaration of faith while you are walking through your trials. Have a wonderful day as you remain in His loving presence. Love you all. 

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28

From this day forward, say this over and over, day and night–“I am highly favored and the Lord is with me!” The truth is you may not feel the least bit favored by God. And you don’t particularly feel like He is with you, either. You are feeling lost, alone, forgotten, and abandoned. But in obedience to the Lord–and by faith, not FEELINGS- you declare His promise to you every time you are tempted to give in to fear or doubt. Not only will God see you through to the victory, but His winning strategy will enabled you to have more peace and joy, right in the midst of your troubles.

 

In our walk with the Lord, I believe what He is trying to teach each and everyone of us is how to declare victory in the face of defeat, success in the face of failure, abundance in the face of lack. When we’re in the midst of negative circumstances, the Lord always prompts us to get into agreement with His Word and His promises, rather than dwelling on our problems. For instance, when illness threatens, we will feel so much better when we continually say, “My health is springing forth speedily!” (Isaiah 58:8 KJV) It’s not that we’re denying that we’re feeling poorly. It’s just that we know the Bible says that we can’t please God without faith, and that He is certain to reward our faith somehow, whenever we choose to exercise it. (Hebrews 11:6)


I believe that there are some victories that can only be won when we claim them by faith BEFORE they are realized. Nowadays, as soon as trouble hits, begin declaring, “The blessings of God are chasing me down and overtaking me!” (Deuteronomy 28:2) As we say these words over and over, a fresh sense of hope will begins to rise in your heart. You will begin to see yourself blessed instead of oppressed, victorious instead of a victim. And I believe that it makes all the difference in our outcome each and every time. If you are facing disheartening difficulties today, let me encourage you to begin declaring that you are abundantly blessed, right in the middle of your trials. Not only will supernatural peace and joy overtake you, but so will the victory that the Lord has in store for you!