Breakfast Bites

Focus Scripture: And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. Luke 9:23 (AMP)

I recently heard a testimony of how Anthony Brown, songwriter, gospel artist and musician, wrote his latest album Everyday Jesus. Daily, as he sat down to write, he would pray, inviting God to speak through him, everything he needed to say to His people, and then he would wait… Wait until God gave him the words to say. “It felt weird at first because I would just be sitting there… it’s difficult because, I’m a song writer, that’s what God gifted me to do, so I could have just started writing, but I was determined to write what He gave me.” He then spoke about how God gave him songs at church during worship, in dreams, at night while sleeping. “It got to the point where I moved my keyboard next to my bed, so when I was awakened by God with songs, I would get up, half sleep, play what I heard, record it and then the next day set out to write the song.”

How many times do we as Christians intentionally set out to seek God’s direction and guidance for what He has gifted us to do? Just because God called us to a certain area to minister and serve doesn’t mean, He’s not interested in continually leading and guiding us through that ministry. When God blesses us with a gift, the sole purpose of Him gifting us is so that He is glorified. Today, far too many Christians are using the gifting of God without the anointing of God; God intended for them to be used together.

You may not be a songwriter or a famous Christian artist with a global platform, ministering to millions; however, God does have an assignment for you. The only way to successfully walk in both the gifting and anointing of God is to 1) set aside your selfish interests, 2) express a willingness to endure whatever may come and 3) conform to God’s example of living.

Make a vow today, that you won’t move until you know God is leading you and you won’t speak until you hear God speaking through you. Then, because of your obedience, watch how God is able to use you for His glory!

Scriptural References: Psalm 119:89; Romans 11:29; 2 John 2:27

Prayer: Father and King, my Leader and Guide, thank You for Your unfailing love for me that You show daily. I thank You for all the gifts You have placed in me, and Your anointing that abides in me. Forgive me for not always seeking You for direction in how You would intend for me to use the gifts you have placed in me. Allow me to always be mindful that in order for You to consistently be glorified in my life, I have to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You, daily. I love You, and thank You for being patient with me, it is in Your Son, Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Bible Reading Matthew 6:25-33

Focus Verse: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

I am a highly analytical person, sometimes to the point where it used to make me physically sick, nauseous, headaches, etc. I remember a few years ago, I had been praying about a particular issue, I mean really praying about it. I woke up and prayed about it, all through the day, I was praying about it and before I went to bed, I would pray about it. “Show me what it is you want me to do God, I need to hear your voice regarding this situation.” Bless my heart, I thought I was doing it right, I had a problem and I was submitting it to God, laying it at His feet, seeking Him for direction and guidance, right?

WRONG!

One morning as I was preparing to pray yet again for this issue, I heard the Spirit of God say, “seek Me, not My answers.” I was instantly quieted. The Lord began to reveal to me that I had been so caught up in getting the answers that I had totally neglected to seek God, just for Him and His presence. I had started to idolize His answers and place them above Him.

How would you feel if one of your friends only comes to you when they have a need? They never take the time to call you or contact you just to talk and spend time together, or to get to know one another and build a relationship, but instead, because they want something. Maybe you have someone in your life right now, like that. Or could that person be you?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we are not supposed to bring all of our concerns to Christ. The Bible teaches us, in multiple places, that we are to bring every burden to God, He is concerned with the things that concern us. See 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 138:8 However, we have to be very careful that our burdens and cares are not the only things we are bringing to Him. Scripture instructs us that we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. See Psalm 100:4 It is when we are seeking Him, that the answers to our prayers are revealed.

Have you fallen into the trap of seeking His answers more than His Face? Do you have a situation that you have allowed to overcome you so much that, it consumes all of your alone time with Christ?

Prayer: Lord, I love You. Thank You for opening my eyes to see the truth. I confess that I have idolized Your answers and I ask You to forgive me. Give me the desire to seek You and only You, just for who You are, knowing that when I seek You, everything that I need, You will provide, as Your Word promises, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Focus Scripture:  Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

As I was writing out my goals and desires one morning, I had a long list of things; new job position, new vehicle, expand my jewelry business, start a lifestyle blog, etc. I heard God say, “What about the devotional?”

A few years ago, I had an idea to start a devotional with a friend of mine. We talked about it and tossed some ideas around, but nothing ever came of it.  Nonetheless, this was still something that was on the list of things I wanted to accomplish, but honestly, I didn’t think I had what it took to be a devotional writer.

That soon changed. The following year, God really developed me and began to elevate me to a deeper understanding and relationship with Him. It was difficult, but I knew that during this time, He was indeed growing what He had already placed in me.

With all the excitement of the new year and the things that I wanted to accomplish, I sort of lost sight of the real picture and what really mattered, the thing that God had instructed me to do.  I had orchestrated all these plans, to meet all these goals and totally overlooked, the most important plan to meet the most important goal. Now don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having plans and dreams and things that you want to accomplish, the bible actually encourages it, Proverbs 16:9. The problem comes when we place them before the things God directs us to do. The Bible instructs us, before anything else, to put God’s work and what He wants us to do first and everything else will be taken care of, Matthew 6:33.

Have you, like myself, lost sight of that thing God instructed you to do a while back? Has God reminded you of an idea you had sometime ago? What had God directed you to do that you have not completed?  Make a list of everything you KNOW God instructed you to do. If there is anything that you think God might be calling you to, include that as well and note it as something that you still need confirmation on. God doesn’t mind repeating Himself, so don’t be ashamed to ask for clarity and confirmation.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for reminding me of what really matters. Forgive me for not placing Your things first. I know that our ways and thoughts are different, so help me to see what it is that You desire for me to do, and as Your word says, direct me to those things. Now Father, the things that I am still unsure of, give me clarity and confirm in those things also, and I will give You all the glory, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

A new devotional will be posted daily, Monday- Friday, starting Monday, April 18, 2016. Stop back for a daily bite of God’s word!

Lots of Love,

Tiffani