Archives for May 2018

True Success

29 May

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

On my vision board, a few years ago, I wrote “success” and then recorded my personal definition of success. “Productively working in the purpose God has predestined for my life.”

The world defines success as, the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect or fame, according to Merriam-Webster.

Being a young adult in my early 30s, single, never been married, with no children, there have been times that I strived to meet the world’s definition of success. Make your money, obtain a lot of nice things, and be well known and respected amongst those of influence in your community. These are all things I focused on one time or another. But, after working towards and achieving a bit of worldly “success”, I still wasn’t content; it was like something was missing, see Mark 4:19.

I found myself getting involved in a lot of different things, but not really doing anything. I compared myself to others and often times complained about what I didn’t have.

It wasn’t until I started seeking God and doing what He desired for me to do, that I started to experience true success and contentment. Matthew 6:33. How did I know it was true success? Because things began to change.

Now that I had experienced true joy from doing what God wanted me to do, there was a level of focus that I had never achieved before. I wasn’t distracted by the things that were going on around me or by what others were doing. No longer did it bother me that I was still single or that I had yet to become a homeowner.

David shares with us in Psalm 16:11, that when we walk with God and do His will, we will experience joy and pleasure now, until eternity.

Does that mean we no longer think about the things that we desire, but still have yet to achieve? No, we will. But they won’t consume us. There is true contentment in walking in our God given purpose.

Are you productively working in the purpose God had predestined for your life? Have you consistently looked for fulfillment in careers, degrees, possessions, etc., only to end up unfulfilled? Have you, like me, struggled with contentment and comparison?

Prayer: God, thank You for Your purpose for my life. Your word says that Your plans will give me a future and a hope. Many times I have sought after what the world suggests is success but I still found myself empty. Forgive me for not setting my eyes on heavenly things as Your word instructs. Allow me to know Your plans and thoughts for me, so that I can experience true success. It is in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Go Back To What I First Said

24 May

Focus Verse: Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. Philippians 4:7 (CEV)

It had been a few years since God had revealed to me a promise He had for me, however, nothing had yet to be manifested. As a matter of fact, my life looked as if it was going in the opposite direction of what was spoken. Ironically enough, I was fine with that. After going through so much spiritually and emotionally, I had made up in my mind if God had changed His mind about His promise for my life, then so be it. He knows best anyway, right? Imagine that, God changing His mind about something He promised, how foolish of me!

As I began to prepare myself for the life I had manifested in my mind, absent from His promise, I constantly heard, “Go back to what I first said.”

“God, do You see where my life is right now? Do You see that it looks nothing like You said and it doesn’t look like it’s even starting to go in that direction?” At this point, I was totally fine with walking away from this. Although I know God’s voice and have heard it multiple times in my life, I was fine with expressing that I had gotten it wrong. Yes, that would discredit everything else I had confessed God had spoken to me, but honestly, I didn’t care. I was ready to move on.

“Go back to what I first said.”

The peace that followed this guidance is unexplainable. As much as I wanted to walk away from this, and I still struggle with that feeling regarding some of His promises for my life, there is peace in knowing He hears your concern and is also concerned.

All throughout the bible are promises that God’s word will come to pass, Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:24. If you are currently struggling or have struggled in the past with accepting the promise of God, meditate on the above scriptures, hide them in your heart, memorize them if you have to. Then consider the promise, hold on to those promises, accept it and receive the peace that comes along with it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are awesome. Thank You so much for being concerned about the things that concern me. So many times I have let what I see dictate how I feel and react, please forgive me. Thank You for the reminder that Your promises are true and they will come to pass. As I continue to walk with You, help me to remember the promises in Your word that confirm that. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

In The Fire

22 May

Bible Reading: Malachi 3: 2-4

Have you ever been to a bonfire and paid attention to how the wood burns? The wood pieces burn from the inside out. This is really amazing because the flames from the actual fire are closest to the outside of the wood, but initially the inside of the wood is most affected . In order for the wood to serve it’s purpose of providing a source of heat, it has to go through a process.

A process, much like one a Christian goes through in order to fulfill their purpose. God created you for a purpose. And, in order for you to fulfill the purpose God has for you, He had to change you; but from the inside out. Like the wood, He has to burn some areas in your life so that you are effective in the area He has predestined for you.

Initially, when wood burns, its a red, orangish/yellow color on the inside. But the outside bark stays in its original state as if it’s not affected. I’m sure there is some chemical change law that is associated to explain the process. But, as it pertains to us as Christians, in order for us to make long lasting effects for the Kingdom, God has to take us through a process, where others may not even see what’s going on with us on the inside.

As stated before, the purpose of a fire is to produce heat. And when you are sitting really close to a fire, it can get hot. Uncomfortably hot. Similarly, in order for us to serve the purpose God created us for, we too will encounter some uncomfortable times.

After a fire has burned out, there is evident physical change in the bark. It is no longer brown, but a grayish white color.

When God takes us through a process in changing us internally, those around us will be able to see the result.

Prayer: Almighty God, although it may get uncomfortable sometimes, I thank You for the process. I recognize there are things in me that You need to burn out in order to make lasting effects for Your Kingdom. I bless You for the change now. And when it’s all said and done, You will get the glory because of the evidence of what You did in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Value You Hold

17 May

Bible Reading:Psalm 139: 13-15

Focus Verse: My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:15 (AMP)

There are two things you will never see when you visit the authentic Louis Vuitton website, a sales or clearance page. And the same holds true when you go into the store, there is no clearance section in the back of the store offering 35% off of their past season merchandise. Why? Because the creator of Louis Vuitton knows the value of his product. And that his product isn’t going to lose its value as time goes on.

The same holds true for you. When your Creator made you, He knew the value of His product and that you would never lose your value. In Psalm 139:14 David praises his Creator, God, because he knows that he is fearfully and wonderfully made and that God only makes wonderful things, period.

You too are one of the wonderful things David referred to that God intricately and skillfully formed in secret in verse 15 of Psalm 139. When you take the time to intricately and skillfully make something, you want to keep it a secret and wait until it’s perfect before you reveal it. And when God make you, it was with that same consideration. You were created exactly the way God wanted and needed you to be. And when He felt like the world was ready for you, He unveiled His wonderful creation to the world!

We have all, at times, struggled with feelings of being undervalued, worthless, unappreciated and the list goes on. But always remember that God secretly, intricately and skillfully prepared you for this time. Hear me when I say, He did not make one mistake when He created you the way He did for this time.

Louis Vuitton never discounts his products because a stick isn’t in line or a monogram printed sideways; there are never defects with their product. And the same holds true for you too!

Prayer: My Heavenly Creator, thank you so much for that reminder. I have struggled in the past, and sometimes still do struggle with who I am. Thank You for reminding me that You created me the way You wanted and needed me to be to accomplish the plan that You have for my life right now. In times when I am feeling less valuable, help me to remember You only make wonderful things. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

The Silent Faith of Issac

15 May

Bible Reading: Genesis 22

Why does no one ever talk about the faith of Issac? All throughout the Bible are references to Abraham and the faith that it took to believe that God was going to provide a lamb for the burnt offering when He instructed Abraham to sacrifice Issac. However, have you ever thought about the amount of faith it took for Issac to stay on the altar after his father bound him and laid him there?

Think about it for a moment. What would your response be if you were in Isaac’s position? Would you have honestly believed that your earthly father was hearing from the Heavenly Father when he first started tying you up? I have to be honest, I would have questions, lots and lots of questions! The silence that Issac exemplified in Genesis 22 definitely would NOT have been my countenance.

For many believers, the ability to trust God independent of another human being is fairly simple, for the most part. It’s not difficult to believe that God will come through when there’s really no one else involved. But what do you do when you have to trust God when others are involved? When you have to believe God and someone else’s mind, will and emotions are a part of the equation. When you have to have faith that they will heed the voice of the Lord. What do you do?

We can look at Issac as an example. After he questioned Abraham in vs 7, we don’t see him say another thing. He was completely silent. How many times have you exemplified silent faith? How does one even successfully do that? By trusting God! He had to trust and believe that even if Abraham had it wrong, God was going to get it completely right. We don’t know what was going on with Issac internally, the Bible doesn’t share that. However, I could imagine for him to be silent at a time like this he HAD to be talking to God!

Obviously, none of us are being bound and laid on an altar as a sacrifice, naturally. However, you may feel that you are, or have in the past, experienced this spiritually. If this is the case, I encourage you to examine the life of Issac as an example of how to respond in the future.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for using me! There have been times in my life where I have not been physically bound but it sure feels like I was spiritually. I may not have had the same response as Issac did, but I thank You for trusting me enough to allow me to go through it. Father forgive me for not always respond the way I should. In the future please help me to remember that I have to put my faith in You and even though others are involved I can believe that you have everything under control. It is in the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

Not What You Expected

10 May

Bible Reading: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

I was done, over it, ready to move on! I had been at that job for a few years and had enjoyed it, but now it was getting less and less enjoyable. It seemed like every day there was something new that annoyed me and solidified my desire to leave. And today was the last straw. “It’s time for me to move on,” I remember saying to myself.

During my break, I went to my car to pray. As I was reading over Psalm 5 and asking God for guidance for my next move, I could not get Psalm 139:23-24 out of my mind.

I turned to the passage and immediately began to feel peace.

This definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. Things had started to get crazy there, and I was ready to move on, and I THOUGHT God was ready for me to move on too. This wasn’t the first time I had shared with Him things that were wrong with that job. Along with some of the people working there. Much to my surprise, God led me to check myself and the condition of my heart.

As I was preparing to go back inside to the same craziness, I was just ready to walk out on a few minutes earlier; I had a newfound peace.

When we pray, and God gives us an answer, although it may not be the answer we were hoping for, there is comfort in knowing that He still hears and answers our prayers.

Prayer: Most Gracious Father, thank You for Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Although I may not understand all of Your ways, I thank You that there is peace in Your answer, no matter what it is. It may not always be what I want, but it will always be what I need, and for that, I am grateful. Additionally, allow me to always be aware of the condition of my heart, so I remain in right standings with You. I pray this prayer in Your Son, Jesus’ name, Amen!

Broken Vision

8 May

Focus Verse: Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-3

I recently had a dream that all of the sunglasses that I owned were broken. The dream went like this:

I was visiting with a friend at his house. I was playing with his little girl while he was doing some work on the computer. I don’t know why, but I let her play with my sunglasses. After a while, I noticed that my sunglasses were broken. Every last one of them that I owned were destroyed beyond repair. I noticed that one of them even had some noticeable corrosion from water damage.

When I woke up from this dream, I know it was a warning from God. Immediately the Holy Spirit began to share with me the meaning of the dream, this is what He shared:

“Your vision is broken because you allowed children to handle it.”

When I heard that I knew exactly what He was trying to warn me of. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that was sent to be our Helper and guide us to all truth. See John 14:15-17.

The sunglasses represented vision. The little girl represented people who aren’t equipped to handle the vision. No fault of their own, they can’t receive it because it is YOUR vision. Also, the rust on the glasses meant that some people will try to water down your vision if you allow them to. Water can represent cleaning, but it can also represent destruction.

This was a warning directly to me, however, I am confident that I am not the only person that God wants to get this message to. As you read this, there is a situation that is coming to mind that you know must be handled with care. Take heed to the Holy Spirit and proceed with caution.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for caring enough about me to send the Help to guide me. I hear you, Father. Now I ask that you will give me the boldness and courage to handle my vision with care. It is in the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

Your vision is broken because you allowed children to handle it. -God Click To Tweet

When Your Feelings Get Involved

1 May

Focus Verse: In fact, I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do what I know is right. I do the things I hate. Romans 7:15 (CEV)

“What is wong with me? I’m just not feeling it!”

My clothes were starting to fit a bit snug and I knew what that meant. It’s time for me to get serious about working out again.

Some people can eat whatever they want, have no knowledge of what a kettle bell is, let alone how to use it, and remain the same size their entire life.

Unfortunately that’s not me, I have always had to work on maintaining a healthy weight. And latey, I hadn’t been doing much of that work. Life happened, schedules changed and before I knew it, what was once a daily routine became a mere afterthought based on how I felt that day.

I knew I needed to get back into my routine, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Nothing about “workout” has me NASCAR racing to be the first person in the parking lot when they open. Once I get there though, I’m good. I’m reminded that I do actually enjoy the time and it gives me encouragement to go again.

My relationship with the gym, reminds me a lot of my relationship with spending alone time with God. I don’t always feel like it, but I know it’s good for me. Once I get there, in the company of Christ, I’m reminded how much I enjoy it and I am encouraged to meet with Him again.

We can’t base our decisions to do things on how we feel. Our feelings are ever-changing. We may not feel the way we felt yesterday and vice versa. Our decisions in life, as well as on our Christian journey, can’t be based solely on our feelings. If our decision to go to work was solely based on how we felt, from day to day, some of us would never get there. And if we base building our relationship with Christ on how we feel some of us would never pray, read our word, or participate in corporate worship!

Let’s make a declaration today that we aren’t going to let our feelings govern our decision-making. But instead we will walk in maturity and do what we know is best for us.

Prayer: Father thank You for that great reminder. So many times I can get caught up in how I feel. And although you created me to have feelings for a reason, in the past I have abused it and just used it as an excuse to be lazy, please forgive me. I declare on today, I will make my decisions based on what I know pleases You. And help me to remember this declaration, in times when I just don’t feel like it. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!