1 Corinthians 13: Love Series: Love Is Patient Part 1

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man (woman), I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - (1 Corinthians 13 NIV)

 

Happy Terrific Tuesday!!!

 

I'm excited to write this love series because God wants me to share with you what love is truly about. We have various kinds of love. We have family love, platonic love, humanitarian love, romantic love, and then we have the ultimate love: God's love.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the four types of love I recently named. They're fine, but they're conditional. Eventually, at some point-in-time, these kinds of love run dry. Truthfully speaking, people can flip-flop in their personalities. They love you today and hate you tomorrow. But it's important to remember that God's love doesn't change.

 

I want to focus on this for a while because I desire for you to know that God's love is always available and you never have to worry about God leaving you nor forsaking you.

 

The first attribute of love I want to discuss is patience.

 

Boy, patience is extremely under-rated in our modern world. We're so anxious about everything, we don't have the time to stop and appreciate life. We're constantly demanding for right now. We're brainwashed to believe that having patience is a dull quality, which no one uses anymore. (Believe me, I know there are still patient people out there, but just walk with me on this!)

 

We're overly critical if some folks don't do things the way we like it. And this kind of attitude is sad, really, because our actions are screaming out that lacking patience is the way to be. I don’t want to be misconstrued, but I completely understand that some of us struggle in this area of obtaining patience. Believe me, when I'm extremely tired, my patience is short-fused at times. I'm not saying this should be an excuse, nevertheless, I know how I am when I don't get enough rest. On a good note, I'm happy that God has blessed me to develop patience gracefully.

 

I will explain to you why having patience is a blessed quality, and I pray this will shed some insight in your life, if you are struggling in this area, and it will assist you in possessing high tolerance throughout your life.

 

When we develop this exquisite quality of being patient toward others, we're sending non-verbal signals to the other party of how we're dealing with them. We're letting them know that they're worth our time and they're not a waste of space.

 

When we use patience to our benefit, this newly found character that Jesus is calling us to have, it will show us how to be more gracious in our verbal and physical expression.

Patience also teaches us to pace ourselves in situations we encounter with on a daily basis. I'm not saying we should move like a turtle! Nonetheless, whenever we're moving in a steadily pace, we usually perform our tasks in a more efficient manner. The job is well done and others will be pleased with our performances in life, and when we perform to our best ability, this effect usually leaves a lasting impression.

 

I remember when I used to work in retail jobs, and retail is the worst, God would test me to see how I would react in certain situations. Granted, there were some days I would pass the test and other days I would fail. I'm not ashamed to admit it, because I'm chuckling about it while typing this. I believe God is silently asking me through these situations, "Why am I moving too fast?" or "Why am I acting so hasty, when there is no urgent reason to catch a heart attack?" Is it truly a detrimental situation when I know that home is waiting for me once I arrive to my apartment?

 

If you're laughing at what I'm saying, then you're most likely seeing where I'm going with this or this had happened to you as well.

 

But seriously, why do we rush to get home after leaving work? Why do we rush while running errands? Why do we respond abruptly toward others because they don't operate the same as us? Are we being unfair to others who view the world differently when we’re lacking patience? Absolutely.

 

Impatience often turns into rude behavior, which is highly unpleasant and it can hinder us from being our best, and it will constantly show us at our worst!

 

Being impatient screams out we don't have time for anyone or anything, if it has nothing to do with us. Whenever it's all about us, we’re convinced that patience should submit itself to our ways. It's either our way or the highway. And this flawed attitude reflects a poor outlook on life. Impatience results to inconsiderate behavior. We're not mindful of how we respond to others or how we treat them. We become irate and nasty.

 

Here are some tips where you can increase your patience (if you don't know some of them already):

 

If you're in a long line and it seems like it won't budge, listen to music. This is a great way to kill impatience. It helps get your mind off how long you're waiting and it takes your mind to think about pleasant things, and you become cheerful in the process. (I always listen to music when I'm in line, I find myself being more at ease!)

 

Read a book or an e-book, if you're not a music lover.

 

Strike up a conversation with a friend, if you have your buddies with you, or even with a stranger. It doesn't cost a dime to be kind. However, if a person looks at you like you're on a different planet, then attend to your own affairs.

 

Make a list of what makes you impatience and find positive solutions to help you to remember that patience truly is a virtue.

 

If you find yourself struggling with patience, I encourage you to pray and ask God to show you what is causing your tolerance level to decrease. And once God shows you what it is, He will give you wisdom on how to adjust your busy lifestyle. Busyness comes in many forms. Don't be deceived on what is qualified as being "busy."

 

But what I love about the Lord is, He doesn't lose his cool with us. He doesn't condemn us when we're falling short in this area, and He doesn't make us feel like it's over, if we have blown it.

 

He sees and knows about all our struggles. He takes the time to polish us while the rust soon fades away from our hearts. He blesses us with His dynamic aroma of love, which captivates us to being better individuals. He takes the veils off our eyes, so we can see where we're making error with other people and ourselves.

 

He doesn't give up on us because we lack in areas we need help in. He loves us unconditionally and He loves us to gently remind us when we're losing sight on what's truly important.

 

Prayer: Father, I admit I struggle in this area and it's making me behave in ways that I didn't think is possible. Forgive me when I fall short of not being gracious toward others. Forgive me when I'm rush through life and not taking the time to appreciate all this beauty You created on Earth. Bless me with Your Wisdom and Understanding to respond correctly, which will glorify You. Bless me to remember how much You love me, even when I act unpleasant at times. Thank You for giving me another chance to make the wrong right. And most of all, thank You for showing me what true patience is all about. After all, I commend You greatly for putting up with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

Working Out Our Own Salvation Part 2

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye (you) have obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." - (Philippians 2:12 KJV)

Happy Thriving Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Last time, in Working Out Our Own Salvation Part 1, I mentioned on how some people are focused on others and not themselves. I also talked about salvation and 10 steps to receive it. We're going to quickly review the first-half of these five steps, so we can continue with the second-half:

Step 1: Humility.

Step 2: Acknowledging we're sinners.

Step 3: Repenting for our sins.

Step 4: Surrendering our hearts over to Jesus.

Step 5: Believing Jesus has died for our sins.

And here is the second-half in receiving salvation:

Step 6: Forgetting what we "think" we know, or what we have already learned about God by others telling us about their experiences with Him. (It can be positive or negative.) Don't get me wrong. It's fine about hearing others' testimonies on knowing God for themselves. It's a beautiful thing and that's what draws people to know God even more. However, God desires for us to know Him for ourselves. There's nothing like developing a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. There’s nothing like it. (I'm saying this with a smile on my face, that's how truly awesome being close to God is.)

Step 7: Sincerely hungering and thirsting for God by admitting we want to learn about His Ways. How do we learn about God's ways? We simply read God's Word for ourselves, so we won't be deceived. Every person you meet, who says they are of God, isn't always of Him. The LORD, Himself, will reveal to you if this spirit is from Him or not. Apples don't come from an orange tree, and oranges don't come from an apple tree.

Step 8: Praying to God daily. I want you to know it's not the quantity of time, which makes your relationship with God essential, but it's the quality of your time, which delivers you into all truth about Him.

Step 9: Praising God for all He has done in your life. Counting your blessings is vital. Hey, you're alive. That's enough to praise Him right there, in spite of going through an imperfect situation.

Step 10: Worshipping God wholeheartedly. Worship is a personal and profound adoration toward God of how much He means to you. Once you enter worship mode, this is where God reveals Himself to you in the most dynamic way. It’s a beautiful thing when we relish in His sweet, loving Presence. That's how wonderful God is. He gives you peace, even when you have storms all around you. Yes, His Peace passes all human understanding, which comes from God and God alone.

And once you receive His Peace, everything around you won’t matter because you have assurance that God's in control, and He won't abandon you or lose patience with you because you're feeling lonely. He's not insensitive like we, as people, tend to be at times. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us.

These were the necessary steps I did for myself on knowing God personally. If I hadn't taken these steps, I wouldn't be right where I am, today, to tell you how much I love Him with all my heart, mind, and soul. And I still apply these steps in my life because it humbly reminds me that I can easily fall into temptation and sin.

But thank you, Jesus, we have an Advocate who pardons our sins by forgiving us and tossing them into the sea of forgetfulness. When we acknowledge our errors and don't make excuses for our ways, He actually sees sincerity and remorse in our hearts, and this is where He does a new work in us, so we'll become more like Him.

Before we condemn others about their weaknesses, it's good to remember we're not perfect. I'm learning that cold-hearted and arrogant people are the most uncompassionate and least understanding people I know. They make harsh and irrational judgments about you, like there is something with you and not them. If this resonates with you, and you're reflecting on people, in your life, behaving this way toward you, then you know exactly what I mean. People, who fall into this category, don't listen to what you're saying. They have ears, but they're not hearing you. They're spiritual radars are dull and this is because someone did that to them. You can believe some people are the way they are, because of what was done to them. It's sad, but true. And then, they pass this venomous behavior to innocent people, who genuinely care about them, and this is how the vicious cycle begins. This is the main reason why the world is the way it is. We're so cruel to each other and the way we're behaving toward each other is alarming and deadly.
 

It's the content in our hearts what makes us clean or unclean—not being poor, homeless, or a failure. Our actions define who we are. This is a very important lesson to remember. People will not remember us for fame or fortune, but for the life we lived on Earth. The seeds we sow, whether it’s pleasure (good) or pain (evil), people will remember us by our deeds.

These 10 steps, I listed above to you, are here to help us stay on the right-track of working out our own salvation. These steps will also allow God to show us revelations about the very questions we have about people and our situations.

The girl who e-mailed me admitted to me when God showed her essential truths about her situations, she sees what is of God and what isn't. My friends, she is on the right-track to knowing God for herself, the way God created her. We're all unique. None of us communicate to God in the same manner, when we’re praying to Him. That's what makes us extremely special in His Eyes. He sees beyond our faults and meets our needs. If I were temperamental and self-absorbed with the girl who e-mails me about her progress of growing in God, she probably would have given up on God altogether. And this self-absorbed behavior is what pushes people away from God instead of going to Him.

That's why it irks me when some people in the world call themselves Christians, giving real Christians, like me, a bad name. I don't believe in hypocrisy or false prophecy. If you're going to be a non-believer, be one. If you're going to be a believer, go all the way. There is no half-stepping with God—it's either one or the other. Yes, there are times where we will feel divided because it's a part of life, but division shouldn't be consistent throughout our lives. This leads to being unstable in our ways.

And how you'll truly know who belongs to God and who doesn't, it's through the fruit we bear. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye (you) shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." - (Matthew 7:15-18 KJV)

Basically, in plain English, we're either one or the other, and we can't display good actions, knowing deep down we perform evil ones instead, when we think no one is watching and vice versa. The truth of who we really are always comes out, no matter how hard we try to conceal it.

No, we can't judge anybody on things they do, when it’s evident that we make mistakes, too. Our judgment is not accurate by what we "think" we "see." Only God and that person know the whole story. So, before we say someone is desperate for attention, they need prayer, or they don't have certain "requirements" to be a Christian. We must, first, reflect what's in our hearts. What's rooting in our spirits when we're making wrongful statements about people? Is this coming from God's perspective or our perspective?

Here's God Perspective on a person who feels unloved and they are seeking attention in the wrong places: My child is hurting. Something or someone has made him or her react this way. He or she has experienced turmoil—he or she doesn't know who is really for or against him or her. I'm going to lift him or her up in prayer.

And this is how one would pray: Father, I ask You to help deliver ___________(person's name), and shower Your love on him or her right now. Bless him or her to overcome this struggle of needing acceptance. Bless him or her to see how valuable he or she is in Your Sight. Deliver him or her out of the hands of his or her enemies, who are wrongfully speaking evil against him or her. Show him or her how to effectively communicate where others are receptive, so You are glorified, and for others to understand him or her better. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

And here's our tainted perspective on the situation: Oh, this person is so desperate or hopeless. It doesn't make any sense what they're doing. They need prayer or help. Something is wrong with that person. What a loser! I would never act like that. I have my stuff together. I’m successful and this person is a failure. I have friends while this person is friendless. This person doesn't have a strong relationship with God. They have no spiritual insight. They need the Holy Spirit like I do.

If you're laughing at how I'm stating this, I'm just showing you, through example, how bad this really sounds and what judging someone sounds like! I don't know one person who hasn't come across a judging, cynical and critical hypocrite. I know it's somewhat blunt, but let's call it for what it is. How is God glorified in the second perspective? How does it encourage the hurting soul, who is in need of prayer? You see where I'm going with this? If so, I'm glad. This means you're growing gracefully in God along with me. We're in this together. My desire is to see you have a bountiful relationship with God, so no one will deter you from God's Truth. We must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship must worship him in spirit and in truth." - (John 4:24 KJV)

Prayer: Father, I feel so isolated and trapped. I believe no one understands me. Lord, only You know that I'm doing the best I can with knowing You for myself. But it's hard dealing with people who don't understand me, even when they think they do. Continue to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I need Your help through Your Holy Spirit, because it's hard to do on my own. I know now that it's my salvation is what keeps me redeemed through Jesus, who saved me. I know I don't have all the answers, but Lord, I'm grateful with the revelations You show me whenever I pray to You. Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do. Thank You for caring about me when no one else does. Thank You for setting me free from my oppressors and haters. Thank You for dealing with them, on how harshly they're acting toward me and misconstruing who I am. Thank You for saving them, in advance, and blessing them to get to know Jesus as their personal Savior. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

If you believe in this prayer, you are redeemed and set free. Yes, we need deliverance daily, but in order to get deliverance, we must confess what we have done or how we feel inside on what others have done to us. And when we keep our hearts right before the Lord, praying according to God's Spirit and Truth, and not with our fleshly thoughts, He will hear our prayers. He will forgive us when we hurt others or ourselves and those who hurt us. Jesus loves you very much and I do, too! Until next time, be blessed.

 

Working Out Our Own Salvation Part 1

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye (you) have obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." - (Philippians 2:12 KJV)

 

Happy Super Sunday!!!

 

I'm blessed to be alive and to be loved so much by my Heavenly Father because He genuinely cares for me. I honestly didn't know what to write, but after reading an e-mail from one of my readers, her experience prompted me to write this. It's extremely vital that we must focus on our flaws, instead of pointing out one’s struggles through mean-spirited and snide comments.

 

I find this scripture to be fitting because I’m astounded how people only want to do certain deeds when others are in their presence. Here’s a question to ask: But what if nobody is in our presence, will we still do what’s right? That's where our actions really count. It defines who we actually are. We tend to fabricate a show of what we "think" people want to see. When the truth is, we're not like our self-made alter egos.

 

Working out our own salvation becomes our lifestyles, once we totally surrender our lives to Christ.  Working on individual salvation is crucial because when we read God's Word, it keeps our spirits in-check. It assists us to see what we need work in and where we're maturing in our walk with God.

 

This reader's story touched my heart profoundly, when she mentioned about my post Two Areas in Deliverance really hit home with her about people understanding us and not making us feel bad because we're spiritually lacking. And I knew right there that God wants me to speak what reaches the hearts of many, who are striving to live better on a day-to-day basis.

 

It's mean-spirited or arrogant, self-righteous folks who give people, like you and me, the ax, because we're being honest of how we feel. And it's completely wrong for the other party to not consider what you and I are saying. I'm only speaking what His Holy Spirit is revealing to me.

 

Many people "think" they get the meaning of trying to owe God, but here's what they're missing wholeheartedly. Good deeds are fine, but they aren't the official seal, which gets us into Heaven. It's our salvation, which is our ticket to Heaven. He's seeking for those who truly believe in Him.

 

There are 10 steps in (and of course more, but I’m listing 10 steps for now) receiving salvation. This will be a two-part devotion, there’s so much information God poured in my heart; I have to divide them. I will gladly share these steps from my personal experience of why God is so effective in my life.

 

Here's the most important step:

 

Step 1: Humility. Just to be clear, humility is not associated with weakness whatsoever. Humility is submitting our ways to God, setting aside our pride, self-absorbed knowledge, and attitude toward life, and to everyone else. It's a process to break what needs to be broken, so we can become better and not bitter. When we walk in humility, we're coming out of darkness and walking into the light, and it’s in our darkness where God illuminates His light in our lives. Humility gently teaches us that we can't go far in life by being set in our hideous ways, especially when it doesn't glorify God or encourage others who need healing for their souls. It's our motives in our hearts, which makes us altogether lovely or altogether crass.

 

Step 2: Acknowledging we're sinners. This means we're coming to terms that we're at the end of ourselves. We quickly learn after doing things our way for a while, we keep failing to try God's way, which is the key to constant deliverance from being in bondage.

 

Step 3: Repenting for our sins. After we repent for our sins, this is where we're submitting our erroneous ways over to Jesus. For it's hard to keep a pure heart and deliver pure actions on our own. It's His Holy Spirit, which leads us into all truth.

 

Step 4: Surrendering our hearts over to Jesus through believing He's Our Savior and Redeemer. Salvation is the key to redemption. God's unlimited merciful grace is what helps make our salvation stronger in Him by having a relationship with Him and continually confessing what's in our hearts to Him. Once we confess our faults, God really is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins.

 

Step 5: Believing Jesus has died for our sins, so we aren't perished or condemned, but to be saved by His mercy, grace, and unadulterated love for us. It's our belief is what makes us save. Not religious doctrines, speaking in tongues (Satan can mock speaking in an unknown language to make us think it's from God, when it isn't. As you grow in your walk with God, He will give you His Spiritual Discernment to know what's of Him and what isn't! That's where humbling ourselves come in), and not having haughty "spiritual" knowledge of God. Heavenly spiritual gifts come after we're saved. This is a sure sign we're growing in God.

 

I know this message ended quickly, but I promise you there’s more in part two. Please come back for this insightful conclusion, for your soul will be blessed. And if not, I pray God will open your heart in understanding Him and knowing Him personally for yourself. I pray the first-half of these steps are gently guiding you into His love, truth, peace, mercy and grace. My earnest desire is to assist those who desperately need a touch from Jesus. Jesus heals, delivers, and sets the captives free. I’m carrying on the legacy He left here to bless those in need.

 

Prayer: Father, I thank You for showing me Your ways in receiving my salvation so far. I hunger and thirst for Your pure love for me. Save me from myself, so I won’t harshly judge others, when I need to work out things, which aren’t right in me. Continue to create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. I long to have a heart like Yours. Thank You for today's message and bless me to grow gracefully in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

If you believe in this prayer, you’re definitely on your way to learning more about this Wonderful, Loving God I serve. He truly is amazing, if you give Him a chance. He is Worthy to be Praised! Jesus is our Mediator between God and us because He knows what’s it is like to be human and what we're struggling with (smiling). I love you and Jesus loves you, too. Until next time, be blessed.

 

Two Categories in Deliverance

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him (her) out of them all." - (Psalms 34:19 KJV)

 

Happy Wonderful Wednesday!!!

 

In spite of Hurricane Sandy devastating the East Coast, I asked God what would He like for me to say to His People this week. And it's strange because I was speaking with my sister Tiffany about two categories of deliverance, which the Lord dropped in my spirit. Here are the two categories: 1. Struggles. 2. Trouble. The Lord reminded me as long as I'm living on Earth, I am constantly going to need deliverance. And until God perfects His work in me of whom He wants me to be, that's when I know He'll welcome me in to Heaven saying, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant." Boy, what a day that will be when I see Jesus welcoming me home.

 

But I want to discuss about deliverance because there are many of us who desperately needs it. I don't know one person who doesn't need deliverance, when he or she actually does.

 

Struggles: This category falls under our shortcomings when we slip every now-and-then. It's important to recognize our struggles because it will help us become free of falling into constant trouble. Struggles can be addictions of any sort, and they don’t necessarily have to be addressed with alcohol or drugs. That's one way of looking at struggles. But here's another way of perceiving struggles. They can be associated with addictions in pornography, profanity, doubt, worry, fear, low self-esteem, anger, self-righteousness, wrongful judging, eating disorders, overeating, hoarding, overspending, lust, comparisons, perfection, obsession, sex, cheating, masturbation, holding grudges, etc. Forgive me, if I have forgotten any more struggles. However, this is a clue to help us understand ourselves better on why we do the things we do, or what trigger us to fall into these struggles.

 

It also helps us in becoming less judgmental and more understanding about who others are and we are as well. If any of these struggles I listed up here or not, grasp at your heart. You're reading the right message today.

 

So many are deceived to believe this saying, "Once your saved, you're always saved." Don't buy into that lie for one second. With just giving our lives to Christ, alone, is the first step, but it's staying saved is what makes it a challenge. I'm speaking to those who get what I'm saying here. Living in denial of thinking we hit the mark every time is not realistic and it's a pitfall to quickly fall into temptation of any form.

 

Our own righteousnesses, they are filthy rags. But when we're washed under God's righteousness and He declares us as righteous, no one can condemn or judge us, even though they try hard to, but it won't work because no weapon formed against us shall prosper. And even if the weapon succeeded, you better believe that scheme is bound to explode and cause dire consequences.

 

When we have people who are listening to us and understanding us, they totally get us and never make us feel bad because we're lacking spiritually. Those are the type of people you want to be around. Most people, whom I come across with, can easily talk to me about their problems, and it's because I have three simple codes I live by: listening, understanding, and not judging. Hey, we all make mistakes because we're human. We're not invincible. And that is the truth.

 

Once we listen, I mean really listen, we begin to understand others and ourselves more clearly, and our hearts will soften and we are more compassionate to those around us. We need more compassion. We must see needs and not faults. I always do my best to see a person's needs and not his or her faults, because I know we all need someone who gets us completely and still loves us unconditionally.

 

Now, there are some people, who won't receive us at all, no matter how hard we try to make the relationship work, some people believe we're constantly in the wrong, and they're not wrong—at all! And it's a sad way to live, if I'm being honest. I actually feel sorry for these types of people, who believe they're always right, or in the right, and what they don't realize is they're cutting off their blessings and relationships, which God wants to accomplish in their lives.

 

We can't have this mindset to disassociate ourselves with others simply because we don't like the way they look, or view life differently from us, or when they're gently and lovingly pointing out our errors, which can destroy us wholeheartedly, if we're not careful! We can't be impatient with others when they make slip-ups. And if God didn't do it to us, why should we do it to others? And that's something we must consider.

 

Trouble: Trouble is a situation that happens beyond our control, which causes us distress. Hurricane Sandy is a great example. There were some people who actually believed that Hurricane Sandy was going to be like Hurricane Irene. This is the ultimate reason why we shouldn't assume! And this is when trouble occurs; it's due to assumption. There's nothing worse than assuming, because when we assume, we're not making an accurate assessment about situations, and we usually wind up looking crazy, and others are hurt through having their reputations ruined for something they didn't do, just because we assume.

 

Trouble is finances, family related issues, a friendship ending, health failing, losing homes and cars, spreading rumors, recession, losing businesses, an untimely death, etc. And this type of trouble gets the best of us when our stress levels are extremely high. It causes us to judge our predicaments poorly because we're going by how we feel and not claiming life over our dead situations. Life happens.

 

But what happens when our struggles and trouble become one?

 

I know what you're thinking: "How is that possible?"

 

You can believe our struggles can easily turn into our trouble. When we don't get a hold over our struggles behind closed doors, they become exposed when it affects others around us, and not just ourselves. Our struggles turn into diseases, which blow out of proportion because we get to a place where no one can tell us anything. We know everything and we don't consider how they're feeling anymore. Our hearts grow hard and we don't even recognize who we are anymore.

 

We don't want to get to that place, and once we enter that place, we wind up living lonely. I want to be clear this kind of loneliness is not the same form of loneliness when God is taking you to a new level in your life, and He wants to bless you because He wants to use you for His Glory.

 

The wrong form of loneliness, I’m referring to, isolates us from those who really cares about us. When our addictions/struggles overtake us, we're not the same people we used to be, because we tend to shut everyone out who is simply trying to us help or understand us.

 

And how do we set ourselves free from our struggles and trouble?

 

By confessing to God about what we're feeling inside.

 

By constantly seeking God to show us what we're struggling in.

 

By praying about everything. Nothing should be overlooked or be considered as a promise for tomorrow, for nothing is promised.

 

And by correcting our mistakes once God brings to our attention of where we made error.

 

It's important to remember we take responsibility for our actions. When we are held accountable for our actions, this is the time to reconsider of what's really important. Small things always lead to big things. Every detail counts. It makes our outcome for what it is.

 

We can't always go by what we see, for things are not what they appear to be. There's always more to a circumstance than what meets the eye. We will know the truth and the truth will set us free. And once we ask God for His Perspective along with His Wisdom and Guidance, we can overcome anything with His Help, for God specializes in the impossible and turning it into possible.

 

Prayer: Lord, I surrender my struggles over to you right now. I ask You to help me recognize my weaknesses and strengthen me in them. Deliver me out of every struggle I encounter, so I can be closer to You in every way. Burn out anything in me that's not of You and bless me to have more of Your Spirit in everything I do, so You are glorified. Lord, I'm also facing trouble. I'm asking You to help recognize whether it's of my own doing or it's just an enemy attack. And if it's of my own doing, bless me to correct my mistakes. Lord, mend destroyed relationships, which are beyond repair. And if I'm in the wrong, open my eyes so I see clearly what I have done to hurt others. Open their hearts with Your compassion to let me in and forgive me. And if they’re in the wrong, I ask You, in Jesus' Name, to open their eyes and convict their spirits to make the wrong right. Help them in their struggles as well, so it won't lead them into unwanted trouble. Give them Your strength to acknowledge their ways and apologize to others or me, they hurt along the way. Restore broken relationships in their lives as well, so You are glorified. I know I will never be perfect, but I thank You for delivering me and setting me free. I believe by faith it's done. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

If you believe in this prayer, may God restore you and bless you in every trouble and struggle you're facing. May He bless you to grow in His Grace and to walk in His Love, so you are able to love others freely with His Love. Jesus loves you very much and I do, too. Until next time, be blessed.

 

A Clean Heart and A Right Spirit

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." - (Psalm 51:10 KJV)

 

Happy Fantastic Friday!!!

 

A clean heart. A right spirit. A better me.

 

Yep, I strongly desire of being a woman after God's own heart; the way David was a man after God's own heart. And you want to know why? It's because when we continually humble ourselves before the Lord, we acknowledge our infirmities, realizing we can't "clean" ours hearts on our own. We need God’s help.

 

I know most people don't want to talk about this, but how can we live a successful life if we're not being honest with ourselves, and most of all: with God?

 

I’m speaking to those who long to draw nearer to God and learn everything about who He is and how He graciously deals with us.

 

I never really like the phrase: "Fake it until you make it." There's something very erroneous about that statement. It's applauding hypocrisy and discouraging honesty. But that's just me.

 

I want to explore with you what the Lord has put in my spirit to share with you because He desires for His People to constantly stay clean with Him. Before we jump to conclusions, I'm being clear that staying clean is not associated with staying perfect. Period. It's impossible to be so-called "perfect."

 

Staying clean with God is to confess continually about everything that is in our hearts. Our souls become jaded overtime because we're so used to being conditioned in thinking that if we hold back, we're somehow tougher and wiser. And this is far from the truth. When we think wrong thoughts about ourselves, others, and situations, we tend to play the blame game and we're never in the wrong.

 

It's important to reflect over our lives because it will help us get a better understanding about ourselves, of where we need to be, about entering the next level God desires to take us. It's also important to do a heart check-up. God isn't concerned about our apparel, education, which trophy husband or wife pushes our success to higher depths in society, nor is He concerned about what we don't have. He's concerned about our thoughts, our reactions, and our souls, because our souls are precious to Him. We're valuable in His sight. After all, we were created for His Pleasure because He saw it was good.

 

The enemy likes to setup traps, which we have no intention of falling in. I honestly don't believe people do what they do for no reason. I don't believe anyone intends to fall into temptation and sin. If we're being realistic, we must recognize that life happens.

 

Sometimes, when we get caught up in our lives, whether things are going well with us or not, enticingly sinful opportunities arrive to knock us off our feet. And this happens because there is something going on with us emotionally, whether we realize it or not. When we tend to bury our emotions, we get lost in a whirlwind of trials, and it's to the point where we're not thinking clearly. Hey, it happens.

 

When we think we're making the "right" decisions because it "feels right," we find out later that the decisions we made weren't designed for us. And this is where our souls become quiet. We become strangers. We still look the same on the outside, but internally we're drowning in our turmoil because we're deceived to believe we can't go back, and that God will never love us and give us another chance.

 

Most of us are conditioned to believe this because we have wolves in sheep's clothing telling people the wrong idea about God. They get involved with man-made religions, thinking that going to church is what makes them safe with God. They clean themselves up, dressing the part and grooming themselves to manipulate others who don't have a relationship with God, that there is a certain way to come to God and they must abide to religion's rules.

 

Hang in there with me. God wants to set us free from wrongful thinking and conditional religions. This is where most of us fall, because we're brainwashed to believe that God is all about condemnation. And this, my friends, isn't true at all. Don't buy into the hype that attending church on designated days and getting involved with the church activities is what makes us right in the eyes of God. Don't believe that applying some scriptures of the Bible, in our lives, is what makes us love God more, and then the other parts don't apply to us when we slip and we refuse to see the error of our ways.

 

Religion is not a free pass to Heaven and nor is it a free ticket to get closer to God. The only way to receive salvation is acknowledging our sins, and recognizing that Jesus died for our sins so we won't be punished eternally. His blood was shed, so we won't be abandoned in our infirmities. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. And no one can come to God our Father, unless they go through Jesus first. And if we try to come any other way, we're being thieves. I know it stings, but I don't want anyone walking in deception, for God will hold me accountable on not speaking the truth. Jesus is the Mediator between God and us because He is God's only Begotten Son and He understands what we're dealing with. As singer and Bishop Marvin L. Winans said in one of his sermons, "Salvation is free, but it isn't cheap." Amen.

 

You see, the hypocrites in church are designed to make you believe that once you confess your sins to God and you receive salvation—it stops right there. No, it doesn't. There's a cleansing process in our minds, hearts and souls. God strips us of anything that isn't like Him, so we can be the best we can be and live the life. I'm all about living this life because I realize that I may be the Only Jesus people see. Not everyone has the time to pick up a Bible. And since I am the salt of the Earth, I must let my light shine brightly, so I will draw all people unto God and they will glorify Him.

 

Living this life is not just at church, but everywhere we go. No one is perfect, but when we correct our mistakes and we do our best, this is where God has redeemed us. It's Jesus' blood, which washes away our sins. It's in His Name, Jesus, is when demons tremble and flee. It's Jesus who has compassion on us when others give up on us.

It's Jesus who grieves with us when we're going through. He collects our tears in a bottle, and then He pulls out His Book of Remembrance for what was done to us, and then He steps in and makes the wrong right. Having a personal relationship is what keeps our communication lines open with God. Praying to God is a daily thing and the amount of time you pray isn't what counts, but it's the quality of your prayer, which counts with Him.

 

I love how God deals with us so gracefully because He gives us enough time to learn and grow, and to become better before we leave here. He doesn't want to see us perish by letting the smallest things stand in our way, which will keep us from entering in Heaven.

 

This is why we must deal with our issues now. We mustn't allow others' opinions to stop us from communing with God. When we give our lives to Him, we must pick up our cross and bear it and deny self.  And we do this when we crucify our flesh and increase our spirits in Him (this comes through living a consecrated life: fasting and praying). This means we have to always ask God for His Perspective on the situation, and this is where His Holy Spirit steps in, because when situations are spiritually discerned correctly, we will know what next step to take. And when we hear directly from the Lord, there is no confusion in our direction for our lives because God is not the Author of confusion: Satan is.

 

Purifying our minds and hearts is a continual process. Even when we fall, God picks us up and He reassures us that He is still with us, and He will not let us perish in our mistakes. He'll never leave us nor forsake us. He inclines His ears to those who sincerely cry out to Him. He loves to fix what is broken in us, and beautify us to the people He knows we're destined to be: more like Him.

 

I yearn to love with a Godly love. God's love is unadulterated. His love is available 24/7 and He won't flip on you, the way people will.

 

I yearn to keep my heart pure before Him, so I can think with a sober mind and please Him.

 

I yearn to keep my relationship with the Lord open, because I know when I release my cares on Him, I can leave them there without being exposed to the world. Thank you, Jesus, that He doesn't expose our dirt, the way we do. Thank you, Jesus, when He forgives us, He doesn't condemn us and remind us of what we done over and over, the way Satan does.

 

It doesn't matter what we do. What matters is, as long as we can humble ourselves before the Lord and we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, this doesn't mean we should abuse God's grace. We shouldn't knowingly rebel and give room to the devil, and then we believe, without change in our hearts, that everything is okay. That's not true repentance or redemption. When we fall, something must be learned from our situations in order to be better people in Him.

 

A wicked heart refuses to see the errors, which have been made. A wicked heart believes to pair up with "convenient Christians", so it is still "spared" from consequences.

 

Whether we want to admit it or not, we can't avoid consequences. And even if we're getting "blessed" with opportunities and we didn't make the wrongs right, there is a day when our evil actions will slap us hard in our faces, for not considering our behavior toward others. And when that day arrives, and believe me, friends, it will arrive. It’ll either help us recognize our faults and bless us to become better, or our ways will grow colder and we depart from God.  Once we leave Earth, people will remember how we hurt them or help them. They won't care about how much success we made along the way. All they will remember is what we did to them. And we don’t want to be remembered this way. This is definitely food for thought.

 

Our presence does affect those around us: good or evil.

 

Beloved, it's not okay to continually hurt others and think we're not going to reap what we sowed for what we did to them.

 

Beloved, it's not okay to bury our sins and not confess them to God. We'll become cold-hearted and calloused in our ways.

 

Beloved, it's not okay for others to hurt us and they think that they are so-called "blessed" because they have "opportunities" landing in their laps. Those are perks, which comes with the territory when we pursue what we love to do. Blessings are realizing who we are in Jesus Christ, because He died for us and He loved us first. Blessings are growing rich in God by worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth. Blessings are humbling ourselves daily before Him to make sure our hearts are right with Him, so we can do what we're purposed to do. Blessings are treating each other right without prejudice in all forms. Blessings are when we acknowledge of our ways and then apologize for our errors.

 

We're living in a lost world where wrong is right and right is wrong. And beloved, it's not okay.

 

If you yearn to know Jesus as your Personal Savior or you desire to grow more graciously in Him, I will pray with you and for you.

 

Prayer: Father, I surrender all to You because I realize I’m lost without You. Help me in areas where I'm weak, and continue to strengthen me in Your Grace. Continue to convict my heart when I do things, which aren't pleasing in Your Sight. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Bless me to see Your Perspective on things, for my perspective is tainted and I don't always make the best decisions. Open my spiritual eyes, ears, and heart to recognize the errors of my ways, so I can become better and not bitter. Lord, bless me to forgive those who knowingly hurt me and deal with their hearts, and show them the error of their ways, so they can be better, too. Most of all, bless them to get to know You as their Personal Savior and save them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

I pray this message will strengthen you and encourage you to be all you can be in God. Love more. Hate less. Listen more. Talk less. Help more. Hurt less. No, we won't get it right all the time, but if we remain honest with God, God can turn our disasters into miracles and blessings. Draw closer to Him as He draws closer to you. He loves you very much and I do, too. Until next time, be blessed.

 

Renewing Our Minds: It's All About Perspective

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." - (Romans 12:2 NIV)

 

Happy Fantastic Friday!!!

 

You're probably wondering why I named this post about renewing our minds. And you can believe it's for a good reason. I asked God what would He like for me to say to His People again this week. And surely, He gave me a topic to write about, because there are many of us who long to get a new perspective in our lives, our minds, and most of all, our hearts. Gaining a new outlook on life can assist us to choose life (positive) or death (negative).

 

Many people are accustomed to how they were raised and they actually believe it is the "way-of-life." Oh, but we know this isn't true. When we grow up, everything we "learned" isn't pure truth. Sometimes, it takes life experiences to help us see that we don't know everything like we "think" we do.

 

I want to explore in this topic, because there are people out here who are severely hurting emotionally due to tragic situations. And sometimes discouragement takes its course, because of how we are wired to believe. Negative perspectives are formed through family members, friends, co-workers, bosses, and enemies. Why? Because someone passes it to them, and they think this is how the cycle continues on.

 

But thank God, it stops here with us. And I want to be clear. It doesn't matter how old we are, what color we are, what backgrounds we come from, and what we are told to believe. When God gave us life, He gave us free will. He wants us to make decisions in everything we do and these decisions can be good or bad. And you bet there are consequences behind the choices we make.

 

How our choices are formed? Through our perspective.

 

Just because we receive bad news, it doesn't mean we have to accept bad news as a permanent result for our lives. We have the power to speak life over that dead situation. We don't have to stay in the same rut forever. And how do we change our negative events?

 

We change it by saying, "We shall live and not die."

 

"This too shall pass."

 

We must remember that trouble won't be here always. It is only temporary, even though it seems like the fiery trial continually persists on and on. But it doesn't mean we need to die with our deadly problems.

 

Encouraging discouragement leads to a negative perspective and it damages who we are. And when we refuse to recognize condemning words, which are spoken over our lives, or we refuse to acknowledge the original source (Satan) where condemnation is originated, we begin to blame ourselves. We start resorting to low self-esteem and we tend to believe this is natural for us to think this way.

 

We believe when others are overly critical about us, that there is something "wrong" with us. We feel we can never measure up because someone is always complaining about every little thing we do. It sucks to be under a microscope and we can't be ourselves without someone pointing a finger at us, or make us feel like we don't belong.

 

But here's what I want you to consider: is it natural to constantly hurt each other with condemnation?

 

Is it natural to tear each other down, just so we can feel better about ourselves, because we're suffering from insecurities and we're allowing wrongful pride to hinder us from admitting it?

 

Is it natural to favor one person over the other, just because we love the way a person speaks, looks, moves, and captures our hearts because they have a worldly aura?

 

Is it natural to believe about the worst, because bad things happen to us, and then we constantly feed into negativity that our situations won't change?

 

Is it natural to always criticize someone when he or she is giving his or her all, just because we're not happy with the results?

 

If you pondered about this and you answered "no" to these questions, then you're on the road to recovery if you were conditioned to feel or think a certain way.

 

I want to flip-it-and-reverse-it and give us something else to think about: Should we enlarge a person's ego by encouraging him or her on what they want to do, so he or she can make it, but he or she doesn’t thinks we won't make it in life?

 

Should we accept the situation as it is, because it "appears" as no-way-out?

 

Should we tolerate negative influence just because the people in our lives don't want to see us succeed, all because they failed somewhere in their lives?

 

Should we entertain disgruntled thoughts, which doesn't glorify God or edify our spirits to keep pressing forward?

 

Should we stop praying just because others don't believe in the power of prayer?

 

Should we give up because we have too many opponents knocking us down, and wanting to keep us down just because they "feel" they should be the only ones succeeding?

 

Should we stop living because others have wronged us and they're "succeeding" before our very eyes?

 

Should we prolong deadly words, which can cripple us, in our hearts, minds, and souls because no one believes in us?

 

Beloved, the answer is "NO!"

 

God has taught me this in some experiences I faced. And when I gave my life to Him, I had to forget what I thought I knew about God and I started to know Him. And when I truly believed that Jesus died for my sins, and He did it because He loved me. Boy, did my perspective change in a great way. And I want you to know, nothing happens overnight. We must take it one-day-at-a-time. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creature. Old things have passed away (worldly rotten perception) and everything becomes new.

 

The Lord wants me to share this with you because we have too many "convenient Christians." They’re too comfortable in their mess. And there is no progression in that lifestyle—at all! Granted, we all make mistakes because we're flawed human beings, and this is a part of life. And it's understandable if we're going through; we're not sober-minded. And when we're not thinking clearly, let's admit it, we tend to do some CRAZY THINGS!!!

 

And I will break it down about “convenient Christians” or religious folks, for that matter. People who fall into this category only take bits-and-pieces of the Bible and benefit it for their vain glory, because they actually delude themselves to think they're not bad as such-and-such, or they believe wholeheartedly, there is no room for growth in having a relationship with God. They’re “fine” just the way they are. There are two types of Christians. There is one who stays sedentary in his or her relationship with God, and then there is one who grows gracefully in God and allows God to do necessary stripping in his or her qualities, which doesn't reflect Him. So, God blesses him or her to become more like Him in His Character. (I will speak more on this in my next post.)

 

It's not God's will for us to take captive in negative thoughts and constantly feed into them daily, for life and death is in the power of the tongue. Whatever we claim, it shall be. When God created the Earth in six days, He called everything into existence and it came to pass. That's how much power words possess, my friends.

 

I'm not saying this is an easy process to reprogram our way-of-thinking, but starting somewhere is better than nothing at all. And please know it’s not my intention to step on some toes. However, I’m speaking to you in God’s love to help set you free from any form of bondage. We can’t stay stuck emotionally and then expect for things to start happening without change.

 

When we start thinking, "I can't do anything right." Philippians 4:13 states that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

 

When we start believing the bad is outweighing the good, Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for the good and to them who love God and they’re called according to His Purpose.

 

When someone criticizes us about our appearance, no matter what it is, Psalms 139:14 tells us, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God didn't make a mistake on any of us. And don't let Satan deceive you with all this hype in the 21st Century that this is the way to be, in order to get ahead in life.

 

We don't have to cheat to get ahead. We don't have to hurt others, just to feel important so no one thinks we're not weak. We don't have to tear each other down with criticism, so we can feel better about ourselves because we don't want anyone to see our struggles. We don't have to bow down and accept our current situation saying this is our end, when God is just beginning something new in us.

 

Anytime we start feeling low about situations, or ourselves, we must assess our thinking with God's Word. We don't find it anywhere in the Bible where God encourages His People to discourage one another in all aspects of their lives. If anything, when God chosen whom He wants to get the job done for His Will in their lives, the enemy was attacking them and discouraging them.

 

When Jesus changed our fate by outsmarting Satan with death through resurrection, He did it so we can have eternal life when we leave here, and live life here on Earth and make a difference in each other's lives. Nothing can get done if we're at each other’s throats by competing with each other, gossiping about each other, or discouraging each other. And the next time we come across a situation like this, We should ask ourselves and think for a moment, "Does it glorify God? Is God the author of confusion? How does it make me feel when I hurt someone or someone hurts me?"

 

And that, my friends, is how we keep the enemy under our feet. Resist the devil and he will flee from us. Once we're aware of Satan's schemes, we're no longer ignorant to his devices. And once we recognize what they are, we know how to defeat it through the power of prayer. The effectual fervent prayers of the righteous avail each and every time.

 

Prayer: Father, I come to You because I'm struggling in this area about renewing my mind. And it's hard because I face these battles daily. But, Lord, I'm humbling myself before You, and I'm asking You to encourage me with Your Word and give me Your Insight how to defeat the enemy when he sends discouraging situations and people my way to throw me off-course. Lord, bless me and renew me. Restore the broken areas in my life. Turn what the devil mean for evil and work it out for my good. Forgive me when I think wrong thoughts, which doesn't encourage me or glorify You. I release my burdens to You right now. I believe by faith You will set things back in order for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

If you believe in this prayer, and you want to start anew with your life with God, He will show you everything you need to know concerning your life, so you can succeed and He gets the glory out of everything that happens to you. Jesus loves you very much and I do, too. Until next time, be blessed.

 

After You Done All You Can: Stand.

"Finally, my brethren (and sisters), be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." - (Ephesians 6:10-13 KJV)

 

Happy Marvelous Monday!!!

 

I can't express enough how blessed we are to have another chance to be alive and live each day to its fullest. As I was contemplating about what to write for this week (not to mention, I'm still revising my e-book), I asked the Lord what would He like for me to speak to His People this week. And it's funny, because I had no clue what to write until He gave me what to discuss on.

 

During these tough times in recession, we're trying to grasp on something substantial. And it's no surprise that the enemy is busy. The devil is always lurking around, seeking whom he may devour, because his agenda is to make sure that no one is living the potential God has given him or her.

 

But on to the matter at hand, the Lord wants me to speak to you about doing all you can, and what happens after we have done all we can. And when we're at the end of our rope, what must we do in order to survive the next minute, hour, day, week, or the month, for that matter!!

 

When life pulls the rug from underneath us, we tend to fall hard, because sometimes life deals us a hideous hand, and we're not sure if we can cope with all we're enduring. It seems like after we overcome one situation, here comes another and another.

 

But what if society paints a picture to us that we're not doing enough?

 

What if society says once you mess up, you can't make it up, no matter how hard you try?

 

What if friends turn their backs on you when you're at your lowest point?

 

What if your friends or family members misunderstand you, and they don't want to try to understand you?

 

What if you're on a different lane from everyone else and they think you're crazy for doing something that absolutely makes no sense?

 

What if you do your best to search for a job and it appears like no one wants to hire you?

 

What happens when politicians makes their speeches so appealing, to oppose the current President in office, which they "believe" this is what the nation wants to "hear?"

 

What if people are mad at you for no reason, and they swear with all their might, you're the one who is wrong, when it's actually them?

 

What happens when our perspective turns sour just because life isn't going as plan?

 

Well, beloved, I have some answers that will not only assist you to put things into perspective, but to help you recognize if what you're facing is holding you back or helping you move forward. And I want to be clear. I don't have all the answers and I don't know everything, but what I do know is that I love the Lord very much and He's been keeping me this far, and He is blessing me to hang on. The enemy is trying to destroy me, because he doesn't want me to encourage you for a greater hope which comes from God, and God alone.

 

Whenever things on Earth seems promising, let's remember, it's only temporary. We can enjoy them while they’re here, but possessions don't make us complete. It's what is going inside our hearts is what makes us complete. Having a peace from God, which passes all human understanding, is what carries us through.

 

In our darkest times, we can rest assure that God is really in control, even when it appears like it's beyond our control. When people act up on you for no reason, rest assured, beloved, this means God is taking you to a new place in your life. And some people you have to leave behind, so you won't miss out what God has for you, even if they don't like what God is doing with you and in you.

 

I'm learning that God is removing certain people out of my life for a reason, because they're just a hindrance in wanting to keep me discouraged and to make me look bad. I'm learning that God wants to do a new work in me, so He can get the glory out of my life, for I'm being about my Father's business. If I learn to do the small things that He's asking of me, I'm sure there is a greater reward for me by walking in obedience.

 

Sometimes, God has to send us to an isolated place, so He can do what needs to be done in us, and in our lives, and to let us know He's God. He wants us to be in place, so we can receive all that He has for us.

 

We can't receive when self is standing in the way. When self is in our way, self tends to cloud rightly judgment. Self tends to boast in limited human powers and makes us believe we're invincible, and we're excluded from trials and tribulations, and everybody around us isn't. Wrongful pride makes us believe that nothing can stop us just because we finally found our "success." Just to be clear. When we reach success, you better believe the higher the level, the bigger the devil. And he will send his accomplices to throw you off-course.

 

But it's up to us to recognize, with God's true discernment, when the adversary is near. When you face dire predicaments that have no explanation, this means that God's got some explosive blessings for you.

 

It's important to remember when situations happen; we must take notice of our predicaments. And here are three ways to know when problems arise in our lives: 1. We caused it to happen because we choose to rebel somewhere in our lives. 2. It isn't our fault and it's an enemy attack. 3. God is testing our faith by removing whatever qualities are in us, which doesn't reflect Him, and to bring us in a new level of trust in Him. I know this stings a bit, but even I have to come to terms with this.

 

Whenever we mess up, God will gently bring it to our attention of what we did wrong. Life happens. We don't intend to get caught up in crazy situations, but sometimes when we're vulnerable we fall in traps, which we think will give us a temporary fix to our problems. And when we realize what we have done, God gives us time to regroup ourselves by learning from our situations, and taking the good and leaving the bad behind. And how do we leave the bad behind? By growing from our mistakes and vowing to become a better person, even though we're not perfect. As long as we're living, we will continually make mistakes because we're human. And as long as we're learning from our mistakes and making the wrong right, we will become better and not bitter.

 

An enemy attack is when Satan gets upset while we're on our way to victory. He sends us detours, whether they are people or circumstances, which is beyond our control. The enemy's mission is to abort your purpose. When you're on Christ's side, you can believe, you will be tried on every side, but God will deliver you out of every affliction you encounter, my friend. And you want to know why? What you're facing is only temporary. Another way to discover an enemy attack is when you're in a different place in your life, and you don't view things the same anymore, and God is maturing you through faith, so you can receive His bountiful blessings. He wants to bless you above all you can ask or think, not just physically, but spiritually as well.

 

And finally, when God is testing our faith. Sometimes, we will have situations where it causes us to go into isolation, because these fiery trials are designed to refine us, renew us, revive us, and bless us. So, when we come out of our circumstances, we come out as pure gold. When gold is melted in the fire, the gold's beauty becomes pure, because all the rust disappears, and this is when gold appeals the eyes because it is birth into something new.

 

And this is what God is doing in us, to birth something new in us. He strips away whatever is hindering our walk and relationship with Him. If there are people who aren't sent by God to throw us off-track, God will remove them by hardening their hearts toward you because they don't have the same mind as you. God desires us to be with like-minded people, who doesn't only want to succeed, but for us to succeed as well. When a person is all about them, they don't care about your well-being—at all. Beloved, I'm speaking from personal experience: you don't need them!

 

All they will do is exalt self and kick you down while you're going through. That's definitely not a friend. God wants better for you and I do, too. This is why I'm sharing with you what God shared with me. God doesn't want you to have the same old pals in your corner, because their motives aren't always sincere. And you can believe God will expose them for who they really are, in ways you can't begin to fathom.

 

If evil whisperers are separating people whom you were once tight with, this tells you right there that the people, your friends are hanging with, is jealous because they see God in you, and they don’t want your friends to draw closer to God, but far away from Him. They try to damper your shine and they deceive themselves thinking they’re walking in the light. And that's how Satan operates, he comes as an angel of light, using God's Word out of context, to get you to think these people are for you, when they're actually against you. And if you're questioning on what I'm saying to you, I encourage you to pray about it. When God wants you to know about something that's hiding in the dark, He will bring mystery to the light in the biggest way. And it's up to us by asking God to prepare our hearts for the truth, when we ask Him about situations or people we're not certain of.

 

While we're in our pits, God will show us things about ourselves, which we are or aren't aware of. And this is where devoting our time to pray come in. With His Holy Spirit, and His Holy Spirit alone, we can become better human beings, the way God intends us to be. We will be walking in love and harmony, treating each other fairly, and helping one another, and most of all, not judging or looking down on each other, but encouraging our brothers and sisters (yes, the human race, not races).

 

And the other part of testing our faith, God wants us to believe in Him, and most importantly to believe Him. When walking in faith, we can't go by what we see. Of course, we can't deny what's in front of us. That's not what I'm saying at all, because in order to be set free, we must confess and confront what the issue really is. Deliverance is effective when we're being real, and being real means being honest—not giving people a piece of our minds. It's important we know the difference between the two.

 

He wants to come to Him with everything, which concerns us, and He wants to show Himself strong in our lives for the merciful, loving God He is. Make no mistake, God is forgiving, loving, and graceful, but He is also a fair and a righteous God. God loathes evil-doing: period. And you want to know why? He loathes evil acts because it hurts us and we receive agony, not peace when evil manifests itself in our lives. He also desires for us to gain a new outlook in life, so we can be ready for what God plans for us to do while we're here on Earth. He wants us to find purpose in everything we do. He wants us to learn and grow, and to constantly accept change for the better in our lives because life is all about change. Nothing stays the same.

 

When we're at our lowest point, the Lord will sing us a new song in our strange land.

 

When we give it our best shot to seek new opportunities and we failed, the Lord will make a way out of no way when we least expect it.

 

When friends aren't the same anymore and they always look at you like you're the enemy, God is a friend who will love you unconditionally and be there for you regardless of your circumstances.

 

When everything else fails, and you've done all you can, this is where you must stand and look to Heaven, and know that God has already worked out your situation for your good. His Word is filled with real promises and encouragement, which will sustain you and bless you. His Word is not a quick fix, but it's a healing balm to your wounded soul.

 

And His Word is never out of season. When you stumble upon a scripture that speaks exactly how you feel (book of Psalms, for instance), God will bring you a revelation that will not only deliver encouragement, but real hope that God is always on your side. And I can agree with King David, I haven't seen the righteous forsaken, nor will we beg for bread. God hasn't forgotten about you.

 

Prayer: Father, I come to You with a broken heart and an uncertain future. I honestly don't know what tomorrow brings or who will betray me. But, Lord, I'm leaning on You to come through for me, even though it seems like my situation is hopeless. Lord, I'm doing all I know how to make it, but I'm humbling myself and I'm admitting that I'm at the end of myself. Show Yourself strong in my life, and move by Your Spirit, Lord. I need a breakthrough, which comes from You and You alone. I give thanks to You, for bringing me this far and You're keeping me. Thank You for everything You've done in my life. I believe by faith you will bring me out of my situation. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

If you believe in this prayer, that God will come to your rescue. Just have faith and know He won't let you fall, for your life is in His hands. May He bless you with miracles and supply all your needs according to His Riches in Glory through Jesus Christ. Know that Jesus loves you and I do, too. Until next time, be blessed.