Reflections:
God's Grace is Sufficient Volume II
Ruthe McDonald
Copyright Ruthe McDonald 2012
Published by JOHNRUE™ Publishing at Smashwords
Reflections: God's Grace is Sufficient
Volume II
All Rights Reserved
Copyright ©2012 by Ruthe McDonald
Cover illustration by Ruthe McDonald
ISBN 978-1-4524-4294-5
All Scripture taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
Dearest Reader,
It is always a pleasure for me to share the word of God. To bring encouragement to each heart and soul that I may encounter. There is nothing that comes close to the level of joy that I receive from studying the word of God; from spending quality and intimate time with the Lord.
It is my sincerest prayer, that this second volume of Reflections, will be a source of encouragement and food for your heart, mind, and soul. May Holy Spirit illuminate the word in your hearts and give you understanding. I pray that as you take your time, and study and read the contents of each Reflection, that your hearts will be filled with joy, understanding, and encouragement.
As you go through each week's devotional, you may find that some scriptures are repeated. I believe in the power of repetition when it comes to the Word of God. When we continually repeat the word of God, it is embedded in our hearts and our soul and becomes a part of your daily life. It becomes, just as breathing.
Lastly, I pray that you would know that God's grace is truly sufficient—no matter you are facing, or how hard the trial. God's grace will keep you, even when you think it's over.
May the spirit of peace and of prosperity find rest in your spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social and financial lives. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!
Warmest Regards,
Ruthe
“As It Is In Heaven In”
“So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Luke 11:2
Scripture Reading For This Week: Exodus 16:1-3; 1 Samuel 2:1-3; 2 Chronicles 6:18-20; Psalm 23; Psalm 35:13; Matthew 5; Luke 11...
In December, in the middle of the night, I awoken saying: “No More Crap!” When I was fully awoke, I realized that my spirit was crying out for a profound change; not just in me, but all around me. So, in this new year, I determine for there to be no more crap! It will be in my life on earth as it is in Heaven. Because this is what the Father Himself decrees.
The past is that: the past. There is no going back and changing anything. Only God has the power to do that. But I do know that what we do today will determine our tomorrow. I will not accept any crap from any person or thing. I will not even accept any crap from myself. And I definitely will not accept any crap from the enemy!
Happy New Year! Oh, what a year this is going to be! I believe it in my soul. In the deepest of my spirit. It is not a feeling, but a sure enough knowing. I know for certain that whatever you have been diligently waiting for the Lord to do; this is the year! Whatever good seed you have sown; this is the year to begin reaping its harvest!
Hallelujah! I am excited! I am excited to see what God has ordained for me and for you this year! I am anticipating and expecting numerous praise reports and testimonies of answered prayers, miracles and the supernatural. I am looking forward to hearing about loved ones being saved. Backsliders coming home. Deliverance and healing taking place. Immediate answers to prayers. Emotional and spiritual and financial breakthroughs!
We have sown in tears. We've planted in faith. We've believed in the impossible. And now it's time to bring in the harvest! Yes! No matter what it looks like, feels like, or what negative people may say: this is the beginning of the harvest for God's children who have been faithful and diligent, and walking upright in the presence of the Lord.
This is why I have declared and decreed, no more crap! It will be in my life, and your life, as it is in Heaven! God is saying that we must come up higher. We must not accept the lies of the enemy. And we must not live mediocre lives. We must continue in faithfulness and diligence.
Whatever we do, do it well, and do it to the glory of God. Now is not the time to sit back and get lazy, or accept things half way. We cannot be lukewarm in any area of our lives. We are either all for God, or not at all. There is no half-stepping! There is no gray area with the Father. It is either black or it is white. It is either cold, or it is hot, but never lukewarm!
My husband, John, asked me to clarify what I meant by no more crap. It simply means that I am not accepting any mess in my life. Not even from myself. My health will continue to improve. My thoughts. My finances. I will not tolerate laziness, excuses, negativity, naysayers, or “I can't”. I am not accepting this from anyone and I am not accepting it from myself. You know how sometimes we have a tendency to get down on ourselves? Well, I won't be accepting that in myself this year. I will not allow myself to open that door, and I have determined not to complain. I asked the Lord to help me. I never realized how much we really complain. I ask the Father, that if a complaint is about to come from my lips, allow praise to come forth. Let me turn any murmur or complaint into a praise and thank you, for His goodness.
And I am definitely not accepting any crap from Satan. Whether it comes in the form of things or people or the devil himself; he got in the right church to get happy, for he sure enough will be destroyed this year! This is war. And I know that it is a war that I have already won, and that each battle that comes, belongs to the Lord. So I must do my part, and be diligent and persistent in my walk, my faith and relationship with God.
This means more time in the presence of God. Less television, less computer, less telephone, less idle time, and more quality time with the Lord. Success is not based upon what I can do. It is based upon how much time I give the Father, and the ability to receive a glorious download from Him for each and every day.
As it is in Heaven, is how I am determined to live this year! I am anticipating and expecting my life on earth to be as it is in Heaven. All things that have been established in Heaven concerning me, will be established upon the earth. We do not have to wait to we are in Heaven to receive what is in Heaven. We can experience it right here on the earth. I am not only believing this for me, but I am believing this for you, as well.
The Father's will for our lives can and will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. So that, as faithful and diligent believers, we do not have to allow the worries of the world be our worries. We can fully cast all our cares upon the Lord and leave them there, and walk with the knowing that God is leading us to an expected end.
Sometimes we forget that we are not of this world, as believers. That we are citizens of Heaven, and that we walk and should govern ourselves by a different set of standards. We really need to walk and live by the word of God. Allowing the Father to govern our footsteps, and not allowing the worldly system and systematic problems dictate how we live and what we believe.
This is a brand New Year, filled with brand new opportunities. It is up to you to decide what you are going to do with those opportunities. As for me and my house: we are going to serve the Lord with all that we are, and accept what the Father has ordained. We are taking no more crap. The will of the Father will be done in our lives on earth as it is in Heaven. We are going to: live hard, love hard, laugh hard, and leave all the tough stuff to God!
I pray that you are filled with a determination to live this New Year to the fullest. May the spirit of peace and prosperity find rest in your spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial lives. May it be in your life as it is in Heaven. You are blessed. Now go... and Be a Blessing.
“Is Your All On The Altar?”
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Scripture Reading For this Week: Ezra 6; Psalm 51; Psalm 43:3-5; Ezekiel 43; Romans 12; Ephesians 5; Hebrews 5; 10; Revelation 6:8-10...
We are entering the second week of the New Year, and it's a given that many have already failed at the resolutions that they'd made. Perhaps many try to go it alone, or to do it of their own will and in their own strength.
In any advent, when are are we going to learn that it is not about how much will power we have, or about how strong or determined we are. It is about our heart, and whether we have given everything over to the Father's hands. If we have finally laid our everything on the altar of sacrifices.
I have to ask myself this question. I have asked myself this question and found that I was lacking. I had placed my all on the altar, but then I took it back. Why? Why would I take it back? And you know what I learned? I was not completely trusting God to take care of me. I was not in a place of total surrender to God.
You know what I've learned about myself? That my faith had reservation. That my belief in what God said had reservation. Oh, how I cried unto the Lord to forgive me. Forgive me for having reservations in my heart concerning what He has spoken and has promised. I repent.
Here's the awesome and most loving thing about the Lord; He told me. He did not judge me, condemn me, or get angry with me. But He loves me so much, He told me through another person's testimony. My God! What an awesome God we serve.
How many of us (be honest) struggle to believe what God has told us? How many of us are having a hard time believing that God is doing what He said He is going to do, because the wait has been so long? Sometimes we grow weary while we wait on the promises of God to manifest. And it is that weariness that opens a door for the enemy to come in and plant seeds of doubt and uncertainty.
The enemy is smooth with it, though. You may not even recognize he's been on the scene until the Lord Himself reveals it. The enemy will come in with a soft, suggestive voice, as though it were your thought. He will insinuate himself into your thinking, until you believe that the thoughts you are now constantly contemplating on, are your own.
It is time to kick the devil out! Pull down those negative strongholds; denounce those thoughts in the name of Jesus, and declare that the will of God shall be done concerning you, and cast your all on the altar of sacrifices. Give your all to the Lord. Every care, every concern, every issue, every hurt, every pain, every disappointment, every worry; give it all to Him. Give Him you.
1 Peter 5:6-8 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
We hold on to so much pain, hurt, and regrets. We suffer needlessly because we do not give the Lord all that we are. God is not a wimp! He is not weak! He is strong—a strong tower that we can run to. He is the One place we can go and be certain that whatever we leave at His feet will be taken care of.
Part of leaving our all on the altar is walking in obedience; especially when we are faced with tough situations. It seems that when we are faced with difficult situations, emotionally charged times, or things just seem to heavy for us to bare; we have a tendency to turn inward and seek other vices to console and soothe us until the moment passes.
This is not the time to turn inward, or to other vices; be it drugs, alcohol, food, sex, or people. This is the exact time we must turn to God and leave our all on the altar. By yielding to God our body and soul, is the only way we will have peace and rest and be blessed. It is the only way that we can win over the flesh, and gain the strength to walk another day.
My heart has been opened. My mind has been set free. I have gain understanding that although we may have faith, and we may believe, and hearts are totally for God and for the ways of God, there can still be a part of us that has reservations/doubts about who God is, and what He promised to do.
When we find ourselves seeking solace in other things to get us through rough patches or slumps; when we willing sin to escape what is in front of us; then we must ask ourselves if we have doubts about what God has promised us.
Yes. God knows. He understands us. And because we have doubts, or have an occasion to walk in sin, does not mean we forfeit the blessings or the love of God. It does not mean that God stops hearing our prayers or answering. No. That is not who God is.
Let me say this first, before I continue. God's grace and mercy is not based upon how good we are, or how bad we've been. It is not based upon how long or how well we pray or how often we fast. God's grace is free. Just like His love. It doesn't matter how many times we fall; we just have to get back up. God knows us. He loves us. And His grace and mercy is always stretched towards us. So do not think because you may have messed up or went so far to the left that God's mercy and love is any less, or that His grace is no longer sufficient.
However, there are consequences for the actions that we take. And that is what God is trying to keep us from: the consequences of disobedience. Because when we decide to walk in disobedience, we are no longer under the cover of God's protection. We give room to the enemy.
When we are reluctant to place our all on the altar, and we try to figure things out and rectify things our own way, we give way to the enemy. We give him an opening to get in to our lives and wreak havoc. We don't have the luxury of saying I'll do this today, and tomorrow I'll start living and doing all that God requires. Why? It is not because God will not accept us; because He will. It is a matter of if we make it tomorrow after giving the enemy an opening into our lives.
There must be no open doors for the enemy. When we lay our all on the altar, the enemy has nothing to chase or come after or to use against us. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Don't you get it? The enemy is waiting for that moment; especially when you are so close to your breakthrough. When you are so close to the promises of God coming to pass, that is when the enemy really turns up the heat to get you off focus, and make an opening for himself. And then the next thing we know, we miss the move of God.
I realized that my reservations/doubts in my faith and belief concerning God and His promises have gave way to the enemy. It opened a gate for the enemy to come in and bring worry, stress, frustration, and mis-communication.
There is no rest or peace when there is hesitation in our faith in God. We know that God answers prayers. We know that God can do what He says He can do. We love the Lord with all our heart. We want to serve Him and please Him with all that we are. But some where we took our all off the altar, and began to worry.
Perhaps we have been waiting a long time for an answered prayer. Maybe we have been giving and we haven't seen what we've wanted to see in return as soon as we'd liked. Maybe it feels as though God is taking a long time to answer our prayers, and we are getting older without it looking like His answers are any closer.
If this is so, then perhaps you have not placed your all on the altar of sacrifice. Maybe you have grown weary and your heart is aching and you feel like you want to escape the excruciating pain that your heart is in. I say to you: don't give up or give in to sin. Not even for a day. For you don't know where the enemy might be waiting to strike and try to take you out.
Cast your all on the altar. Give it all to Jesus. Confess what is in your heart. Tell Him how you feel disappointed. Tell Him how your heart aches and you feel as though His promises are long in coming. Tell Him. And after you tell Him, let God love on you. Let Him speak to you through His word, through His spirit. God knows what you are dealing with. He knows your disappointments. But He also knows what He has promised you and has waiting just for you. He is waiting on you to trust Him completely again. He is waiting for all those doubts and reservations to be swept away. He is waiting for the keys to your heart, and for you to yield to Him your body and soul. Because in return, He has peace and sweet rest, and the certainty that all that He has promised is about to come to pass if you faint not. It is...just around the corner. Closer than you think.
Give it to Jesus today. He cares for you. Give your all to the Lord. Not just the good stuff; but all the bad stuff, too. Give Him the hurts, pains, disappointments. Lay it at His feet, and allow Him to wrap you in His arms, and take away your pain, as He brings to pass His promises for your life.
I hope that this week is filled with much joy and expected favor and manifestations of the promises of God. May the spirit of sweet peace and of prosperity find rest in your spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social and financial lives. You are blessed. Now go...Be a Blessing.
“Stop Playing!”
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12,13
Scripture Reading For This Week: Exodus 20; Exodus 23: 24-26; Deuteronomy 10:11-13; 2 Chronicles 7:12-22; Matthew 6; Hebrews 12...
Stand up if you are on the Lord's side! If you love the Lord, then open your mouths and shout it out! If you believe with your whole heart that Jesus is Lord, then why are you continuing to do what you do, by playing church, instead of living the word, and being the church?
I don't know. I just do not understand how anyone can taste of the goodness of God and experience His saving grace and front like they love the Lord with all their heart, and play church so that others may think they are true and sincere. What is the purpose behind this behavior? Why would we want to continually nail Jesus to the cross, again and again with our duplicitous lifestyles? It boggles my mind and disturbs my soul.
You know the saying: You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time? Well, we cannot fool God at anytime! He knows us. He knows our heart. He knows our thoughts before we even think them. So why, then, do we insist on living a lie? Why do we insist on playing church, but our hearts are far from God?
I told you before; this is a year of no more crap! I said I wasn't taking no more crap from myself, anyone else, and certainly not Satan! And on top of my “no more crap” list, are those who are “playing” church; living duplicitous lifestyles. They want the blessings of God's hands, but do not want to serve Him with all of their hearts. They want but do not want to give.
Proverbs 30:11-15 11 There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13 There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. 15 The leech has two daughters—Give and Give!
There are some of us that are straddling the fence, living one way in front of certain people, and another way in front of others. We act as though we are walking in holiness and righteousness, seeking the will of God and doing all we can to serve Him. Yet, that seems to only occur on the days we are in church, or in the company of true worshipers. The other times, we are walking contrary to the will of God for our lives. Yet, we have our hands out, expecting God to bless us abundantly; to answer our prayers, and deliver us when we get into things He told us to stay away from.
Why? Why do we think we can continue to play church, and feign an intimate relationship with the Father, before our lies are uncovered and exposed? Do we really believe that God does not know our heart? With our lips we feign belief and dedication; but in our hearts and with our actions we are saying that God is far from our thoughts, and our walk in Him is is fading fast, as we head down the road of treachery and deceit; into the clutches of Satan and his demons. And then we wonder why our lives, our families, our children are in such turmoil.
Wake up, church! Wake up believers! It's time to choose whose side you are on. God knows your heart through and through. But do you? Have you been living such a lie for so long that you cannot even see the truth about yourself?
Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
Know this for certain: God knows everything about you. He knows what is in your heart and what is in your mind; and He give us according to our ways and what our actions produce. Whatever you sow, you will reap. Should you expect to reap apples if you planted oranges? Should you expect to receive goodness and kindness, if all you sow is selfishness and complacency?
There's been some groaning going on in the Church of late. Leaders are being exposed, accused, and sat down. People who claim to know the truth and love the Lord, have been found to be living a double life. As a writer, I couldn't have written a better plot than what has come across the news wires these past few years. The scandals, the lies, the hypocrisies.
Whether they were all true or not; it should have shined a light on our personal relationship with the Father. It was not for us to point a finger in judgment, but to search ourselves, and see where we need to come clean. I always find the person shouting and judging the loudest, has the most hidden in their closet! And, if it were not for the grace of God, their stuff would be tumbling out, as well. And if they did not take this opportunity to check themselves, then they would most certainly be next in line.
We cannot continue to play with God. We cannot beat God! Our arms are way too short to box with God. Yet, here many of us are, living lies, and playing church like God is not soon to come. We walk around in sin as though God is winking at us, and is giving us a pass to continue to live lives of such lies. That is so not the case.
Our lascivious actions are hurting the heart of God. Our actions not only hinder us, but it hinders those around us. God has called us to serve one another. He has called us to be the solutions to others problems. He has given us a mandate to love one another as we love ourselves.
Apparently, we do not have much love for ourselves, much less for our Heavenly Father. Our actions tell on us daily. And the excuses we give are just that: excuses. God has heard them all, and none of them are, and will never be good enough to get you a pass into Heaven or His favor. There is no gray area with the Lord. Lukewarm is unacceptable. You are either for God, or against God. You cannot continue to choose to live a double life, and expect the mercy and grace of God to be available to you. At some point, Holy Spirit will step back, and your covering will be gone. And all lies will be exposed.
If there is one thing I cannot tolerate, it is being lied to; especially when you have said you would never lie. I'd rather the truth and be hurt, than to have someone lie to me, and I find out the truth on my own. I cannot be in a relationship with someone who continues to lie and be deceitful. And I definitely cannot be in a relationship with anyone who is living a duplicitous life. Why? Because sooner are later, their lies will effect my life, and I do not desire to walk into something or be caught off guard by something that will harm me or those I love.
This is why I strive to live a life that is not only truthful but transparent. I openly confess and repent. I don't want there to be anything that the enemy can use against me. I do a heart check each and every day, and pray that all my ways are pleasing to the Lord. Good intentions mean nothing. It is what you do that counts.
You can say that God knows that in your heart you want to serve Him; but He also knows that in your heart lies the ties to your past, and a yearning for a life that is self gratifying and pleasurable. As long you continue to get pleasure out of what you used to do, or are doing, you will continue to walk a life of lies. You are either all for God, or not at all. There is no such thing as a little sin. Sin is sin. And it will separate you form the love and will of God.
I implore you today to start over. That is one of the most wonderful things about our Father. He is a God of second chances, third chances, fourth chances, etcetera. He knows what is truly in your heart, and when you truly are sincere. Don't play church. Don't play with your relationship with the Father. Nurture it; cherish it; work on it. Daily. Stop living a duplicitous life. Stop playing the part, and start living the life that God has ordained for you. Because the truth of the matter is; only God can save you from yourself, and the onslaught of the enemy. We need to be wholly in His presence and walking in His will.
May the grace of God cover you and yours. I pray that the spirit of peace and of prosperity will find rest in your spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. Give God your all, as He has given His all to you. You are blessed. Now...Go and Be a Blessing.
“Perseverance”
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11
Scripture Reading For this Week: Exodus 18:22-24; 1 Chronicles 16:33-35; Psalm 107; 2 Timothy 2:3; Revelation 3...
I have a word for you today. A word to inspire and encourage and to stir up your faith. God says to you this day: Persevere! Although things may look as though nothing has change; it is not true—much has changed. Your faith has caused a change in the atmosphere, and the enemy is trying to bump you off track, so that you will miss the manifestation of the fruit of your faith and the promises of God. Whatever you do—don't give up!
Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
Persevere: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
Persevere my friend. Stick to it. Ride the waves and declare the peace of God to your heart and mind in the midst of these heavy storms. I know it is far more easier said than done. But I encourage you to hold on to the unchanging hands of God, and allow the Faith of God to move you from level to level; through obstacles and all.
It is so easy for us to give up. It is easy to say enough is enough. But it takes much more strength to stand in the midst of difficulties and remain steadfast. And this is exactly what the Father is asking from us: to stand in the midst of difficulties and not give up. To be persistent in our faith.
Of course, the Lord does not expect us to do this alone. What kind of God would He be? For certain, He is the key to us holding on and making it through. But, He has also given us charge to be there for one another.
We are the Father's hands and feet upon this earth, and we must encourage one another to persevere. We must encourage each other in this walk of faith to hold on, and to remind ourselves and one another of the promises of God.
There is so much going on right now in our lives. So many obstacles, trials and tests. And there are many of us that are not comfortable or simply do not share the difficulties that we are facing. We feel alone and isolated, and that is when the enemy really likes to beat up on us, and try his hardest to get us to give up on our faith, on the promises, on our relationship with God.
Part of perseverance in learning to open our mouths and share what we are going through. It is seeking out prayer and fellowship with those of the same faith and determination in the Lord. The worst thing that we can do when going through very difficult times is to isolate ourselves.
We do not just isolate ourselves from people; we have a tendency to isolate ourselves from the Lord. We may find ourselves reading the word of God less and less. We may find our fellowship with other believers have become almost next to nothing. We may also see that our prayer life has dwindle to nothing.
This is the plan of the enemy. He turns up the heat of his attack, and because the pain is heavy, instead of running to God, we have a habit of retreating, and pulling back into ourselves.
The Father wants us to persevere, and in persevering, we must run to His open arms, and surround ourselves with positive reinforcements. Submerse ourselves in the word of God. Increase our prayer time. Align ourselves with those who believe as we do, and can stand in agreement with us and for us concerning the will of God for our lives.
1 Thessalonians3:1-3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
Philippians 2:19-20 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
I want you to know. Better yet—God wants you to know and to understand that He is with you. He is for you. When you are walking uprightly, and doing all that He has called you to do; when you are walking in obedience, and doing all that you know to do; do not fret when difficulties come. Do not back down when obstacles come. Do not stop going forward when negativity and naysayers begin to open their mouths. Because God is with you, and will bring you through.
You can persevere because of Christ in you. Sometimes we forget that we are not alone. And I know from experience that we forget because it feels that way. But I have learned a long time ago, that when you are taking a test, the teacher is always silent.
Did you ever notice that? When you were in school and it was test time, the teacher sat at the front, quiet, while you took your exam. The Father is silent while we are in a test. He is there. He is always present. But when test time comes; He is silent. Why? Because He has already prepared us to not only take this test, but to pass it with flying colors!
Our breakthroughs; our miracles are on the other side of those tests. And it will take our perseverance and obedience to the will of God to see it come to fruition. Now, the enemy would have us to believe that we are too weak to endure. He will lie and suggest that God is not there for us. That God has forgotten us in our troubles and trials. But if you know your word, and you remind yourself of the word; you will open your mouth and declare the devil a liar, and decree what the word of God says about you, and about our Father.
Psalm 34:18-19 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Persistence. Steadfastness. Maintaining hope. This is what God has not only called us to do, but has enabled us to do. Yes. There are some heavy times that we will experience in our walk with the Lord. But it is nothing that we cannot make it through if we determine in our hearts to persevere.
God has our back!
Hebrews 13:5-6 “...For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:“ The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
I encourage you this day: don't give up on the promises of God. Don't let go of your faith. No matter what it looks like; how it feels; what smoke and mirrors the enemy has come against you with; hold on to the promises of God.
No matter what things appear to be. No matter what nightmares the enemy tries to infiltrate your sleep with. Don't believe the lies. Believe on what God has spoken to you. Hold on to the visions and dreams. Meditate on it. Meditate on the things and thoughts and ways of God. You are a new creature in God. And God always finishes what He has begun. You are stronger than you think. And closer to your manifestations of blessings and promises than you know. Persevere!
Read your word everyday! Pray. It is the key to you persevering, and passing each and every test.
May the spirit of peace and of prosperity find rest in your spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. I pray that the goodness of God will surround you, and that your heart is filled with a determination to persevere and follow the Lord with all your heart, mind, and body. You are blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!
“The Prodigal Believer”
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Scripture Reading For This Week: Genesis 27; 28; Daniel 9:8-10; Mark 3:28-10; Mark 11:24-26; Luke 15; Acts 26:17-19; Ephesians 1:6-8...
Are you familiar with the parable of the lost son, or the prodigal son? In Luke 15, Jesus shares with His disciples the parable concerning a rich young man who wanted to go his way, and asked his father to give him his inheritance early. It wasn't long after that the son spent all he had, and found himself in a precarious position, with all his money spent and friends gone and eating what the pigs ate.
As the parable goes, the son comes to his senses, realizing what he had in his father's home, and decides to humble himself and go home; and offer himself as a servant to his father. However, when the father saw his son, he instead had compassion and prepared a feast. Yet, there was the son that didn't go anywhere. He stayed and did what his father said, but could not understand how his father could rejoice after what his brother had done.
How many of us today, are like the brother? There are many like the prodigal son...but what about the prodigal believer? The believer who allows anger, bitterness, and jealousies to grow in their heart, because they may have felt overlooked or slighted? Oh yes. There are many prodigal believers, and we need deliverance, too.
Be honest. Can you see yourself in the other son? Can you identify with what he was feeling? Okay, maybe you are not ready to admit that yet; so I will. I can identify. I have had those thoughts and feelings.
Luke 15:29-32 “...‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.”
It is time for an honesty check. Many times, we can go through life doing what is right. We follow the rules, we are diligent, and obedient, and we make it our business to be loyal and committed. Yet, there are people around us—they could even be family members—who you know have not been living right at all. There is not a diligent or committed bone in their body. They live reckless lives and have no regard for authority. But yet, as soon as they get into trouble, they call out to the Lord, and it's as though their prayers are immediately answered. They are on top of the world. But yet, there is a part of you that cannot rejoice, because you find yourself stuck at the place of their sin and disobedience.
You see, the problem is: this isn't the first time they called upon the Lord. This isn't the first time they claimed to be in relationship with the Lord, and a few weeks, or months after their answered prayers, they revert to their old ways, while you look, shaking your head, because you have been waiting patiently on the Lord for an answer to a prayer prayed long ago.
Now come on. Be honest. That may very well get under your skin! How is it possible that they could do all that they do. And when they get in trouble, call on the Lord, and their prayers are answered, and just turn around it do it all over again. What about you? What about your commitment and obedience? What about your prayer requests?
And this is where the Father tells us we need deliverance. For we have become prodigal believers. We continue to serve the Lord. We continue to do all that we should do, according to what we were taught. We are committed and dedicated, but somewhere in our hearts, we have lost sight of the reasons we do what we do.
We are no longer being obedient or committed because we love the Lord. Somewhere down the line, we have lost our way, and our passion for Christ. Somewhere down the line, we have become legalistic. We have become as the Pharisees and Sadducees. We care about the things we do and who is seeing us do it. The importance lies within the things we do, and not in the spirit of why we do it.
Perhaps the wait for an answered prayer has caused some of us to be jaded or weak in our faith. Maybe some of us have grown weary in our well doing, and have took our eyes off the Lord, and placed them on what we do, and what others do.
There comes a time when we must examine our hearts and search our thoughts to know and understand what lies within us. Why do we do what we do? Why are you serving the Lord? Why do you read your Bible? Why do you pray? Is it only for what you can get? Or, do you do it because you sincerely love the Lord, and you want Him, and not just what is in His hands?
God is calling us to repentance as believers. There are some of us that have allowed anger and bitterness, and jealousy to creep into our hearts. It started as a seed that was not immediately destroyed. So over time, the seed began to grow, and has now given way to fruit. Poisonous fruit that needs to be destroyed, before it destroys who we are, and contaminates our walk and relationship with the Lord.
Many of us have been working in the vineyard of the Lord for sometime now. And we have experienced somethings that we just do not understand. Many have been overlooked by the people around us. Many of us have been waiting a long time for answers to prayers, while we see others around us, that we may have prayed for ourselves, receive what seems like an immediate answer to their prayers. Perhaps this has caused our hearts to falter. Because during our waiting, we took our eyes off of God, and placed them on the situation.
The son grew angry when he saw what his father had done for his brother. He knew that his brother was selfish, and had squandered his inheritance. He could not understand how his father could throw a party for such behavior, when he had been there all along. He felt slighted and looked over. But look what the father says to the son...for it is what God is saying to us; to each prodigal believer:
Luke 15:31-32 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
Don't allow the spirit of jealousy to creep in. Do not grow weary in the work that you are doing. Do not place your focus on the actions of others. Focus on your relationship with the Father.
The father told him that he was always with him and that all that he had was his. And this, my dear friends, is what we forget, and what the enemy wants to rob us of. We are with the Lord, and all that the Father has is ours. All we have to do is ask, and it shall be given. Yes. There may be some waiting for some answers. But, we can ask with boldness and confidence when we know that we are with the Lord.
Being with the Lord always, is being in His presence daily. Seeking His face, and His will for us each and everyday. Standing on His word. We have the opportunity to have what so many others have no idea about, and that is an intimate walk with the Father, and the ability to have His ear at anytime, and ask Him for anything!
Sometimes our tests come in the form of waiting. But if we have been serving the Lord with all our hearts, and because we love Him and desire to please Him, and not serving Him for just what we can get; then we will come to understand that a delay in answers to a request is not always a no. It can be a not yet. For God knows what we need and when. We need to trust Him, and know that no matter what, God does answer prayers, and He definitely keeps His promises.
When we have realized this, then we can truly rejoice for every prodigal son or daughter that comes home. It doesn't matter how many times it takes them; for even the word of God says that a righteous man falls seven times, but gets back up. We can choose to rejoice that one day, they will stay and not continue to repeat the same pattern of behaviors.
Perhaps it will be your prayer and actions that will help them see that God truly does love them, and that they don't have to be a part time believer, but that if they give their heart fully to the Lord, they will and can be delivered from their habitual habits, and the troubles that seem to follow them.
There are going to be times when a prayer seems to go unnoticed or is long in being answered. There are going to be times when feelings of rejection, or complacency, or even jealousy will try to creep in. But that's when we must quickly pull down those strongholds and remind ourselves why we are serving the Lord. Some of us will get off track. We are believers, but can become lost in the reasons why we do what we do. God desires truth in the inward parts. He seeks a pure heart. And each day, we should repent and seek to be in His presence. For He is the only One that can keep us, and protect us, and show us when we are getting off track. So rejoice when the lost ones come home. Rejoice and thank God for His continued goodness, and pray that they will know in their hearts the true intimacy that comes from always being with the Lord, and having access to all that He has.
May the grace of God abound in your life. I pray that the spirit of peace and of prosperity find rest in your spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. Allow God to shine a light on your heart. Return to your first love, knowing that He has never left you, but waits upon you with open arms. There's no greater place than the presence of the Lord. You are blessed. Now...Be a Blessing!
“Extravagant Love”
“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Scripture Reading For This Week: Job 33:25-27; Job 42:9-11; Psalm 23; Psalm 51; Psalm 69; Psalm 80:19; Joel 2:24-26; Galatians 6...
I remember the first time I read the Song of Solomon. I believe I was in college. It awakened in me a truth that I had yearned for, and something I never knew I needed. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes you don't know you need something until you actually get it. For example: You lay down to rest, and you sleep for what seems like hours and when you get up, you are so rested and you say to yourself you didn't even realize you were that tired.
I believe that is how it is when we enter an intimate relationship with the Lord. We yearn for truth. We yearn for peace in our life. Some of us seek to know God. We are looking for something but don't know just what. But, it is not until you enter into an intimate relationship with the Father that you realize just how much you really needed Him. You come to know just how much was not present in your life. You become aware of the “something” that you were searching for.
Extravagant love. I heard that term this week, and my spirit and soul leaped. Extravagant love. There was something so soothing and yet powerful about those two words together. My mind and heart immediately begin to think on the extraordinary love of God that I have experienced and witnessed in my life.
Did you ever fall in love with Jesus? Oh my! It is the best thing that could ever happen to you. When I read the Song of Solomon, I understood the intensity of the Father's love for me. And I understood what a relationship between a man and a woman should be like. There is a passion, a fire and a determination. But there are also times of grief and hardship, and low times. But the love, my dear friends; the love never dies. In fact, it is the love that keeps you pushing forward, and able to get through the harshest of times.
We can experience so much heartache in our lives. There can be much disappointments and discouragement that come our way. Yet, the extravagant love of God will help you to endure those times of heartache and pain.
Have you ever gone through something so gut wrenching that you knew for certain you were not going to make it another day? Maybe you wanted to lay down and sleep and never wake again. Perhaps the pain your heart has suffered just feels so unbearable. This is when the extravagant love of God, washes over us like water and covers us like a warm blanket; if we would allow Holy Spirit to come in and do one of the things He does best: comfort.
Oh, the extravagant love of God is comfort. It comforts our heart and soul when nothing else will do. His extravagant love makes sense in an insane world. His extravagant love makes the crooked places straight, and shines light into the darkest hours of our lives. His extravagant love is an anchor for our lives. A security that we can always depend upon. No matter what we face in this life. No matter what trials and tests and tribulations we encounter; the love of God is so extravagant, that it will, if you allow it to, consume all the pain for you, and leave you with a spirit of peace and rest.
Maybe you need to know what extravagant means, so you can really know what God is saying to you this day.
Extravagant: exceeding the bounds of reason, as actions, demands, opinions, or passions; going beyond what is deserved or justifiable: (extravagant praise)
There is no earthly reason why God should love us. There is no earthly reason why he should have sent His only begotten Son to die a brutal death on the Cross for us. There is no earthly or human reason why God should give us chance after chance after chance. Yet. Hallelujah! God is not earthly. He is not man. His is Love. Extravagant love. I can easily say: Love loves you. Instead of God loves you, and it will mean the exact same thing.
That is why it is so extravagant! It exceeds the bounds of reason. It goes beyond demand, opinions or passions. His love goes beyond what is deserved or justifiable! My goodness! The extravagant love of God is incomparable to anything else.
I didn't know I needed that kind of love in my life. I didn't know what that kind of love was until I entered into a relationship with the Father. And please, my dear friends, let me let you in on something: until you are in an intimate relationship with God, you will never know what true extravagant love is between a man and a woman. You will not understand what it could be and should be. How can I say this? Because, God must be present to experience and to know how to recognize that kind of love!
I'm going to say this, and I know that some may not agree, but that is your prerogative. It is my belief that many of us who say we have a relationship with the Lord, have not gone deep enough with the Lord to really have benefited from His extravagant love. Why? Because many of us have not had a transformation in our spirit, in our soul. There has been no transformation of our minds and our heart. We continue with the same vices and struggles, and wonder why we keep falling and failing at our relationships. Every relationship. Not just romantic relationships.
Ah yes! God is saying we have witnessed and experienced His extravagant love. We have partaken in the fruits of His extravagant love; but we have not gone through the “benefits” of His extravagant love. You know when you have benefited when a transformation has occurred. When you have gone to the Mount of Transfiguration, and Holy Spirit has transformed you inside out.
You have benefited from His extravagant love when you no longer harbor bitterness and hate towards those that have hurt you. You have benefited from it when you can pray for your enemies with a sincere heart. You have benefited from it when you no longer have a thirst for revenge. You have benefited from it when you have the love of God for those that have hurt you and used you, and can love your neighbor as yourself. You have benefited from it when your past no longer has a hold on you.
Should I go on? You have benefited from the extravagant love when you can forgive and move on. When bitterness holds no place in your heart. When there is no room for resentment and payback in your heart. When you seek to love the way God loves in spite of your life situation. It's when you can walk away from everything that you have and that makes you comfortable, for the will of God at anytime that He asks you too. It is when you may have lost everything and everyone that is dear to you, and still you press on, and serve God with all that you are, and love with every fiber of your being.