Hope 4 2day

Your Daily Dose of Encouragement

It’s time to Sing! — July 22, 2022

It’s time to Sing!

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“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54:1

“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 59:16

“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.” Psalm 63:3-4

Have you noticed the power of a song? It can lift us up or bring us low. It can remind us of a tucked away memory, and give us hope for the future. I believe there’s power in a song for many reasons, but two of those are because

1. We are praising God with that song, and

2. We are declaring the word of God.

Someone helped me to recognize that when I’m happy, I sing, and when I’m not happy, I don’t. Wow! How true that is for me. Despite what we experience, our song should never change. The reality of it is, sometimes life can take away the melody in our song. If you’ve had experiences like this or have found yourself in a dry place, a dark place, a place of uncertainty, a place of loneliness, a SILENT place… this is for you!

The enemy has done so much to silence you: he’s cluttered your mind, your heart; he’s taken loved-ones and dear friends, he’s taken your job, resources, and may have even tried to take your life. He’s tried to take your song and your faith, BUT I am here to remind you do what was reminded to me: THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!! He has no power to do those things, UNLESS you allow him to. See, the way we fight is not naturally; we don’t fight against flesh and blood, but we fight through our PRAISE!! We fight when we worship! We fight when we give God the glory IN SPITE OF!

No matter where you may have found yourself, I believe that THIS moment right here is where you regain your song! You can begin to lift your voice and declare by faith that you ARE more than a conqueror through Christ, you ARE created for such a time as this, that you CAN do everything God purposed for you to do because GOD has equipped you! You are still standing, still fighting, still here— by the grace of God! God’s grace preserves and it saves. Your song will bring life! God won’t let you fall if you let Him be your song! Refocus your attention to Him. Align your life with what brings Him joy and you will experience the joy of the Lord like never before!

You may have been silenced, but you are breaking forth into singing!! I pray that whatever you face today, that you can face it with a song! No matter what the enemy may try to convince you of, through Christ, YOU WIN! Sing your song of victory! ❤️

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1

https://youtu.be/7SKuGiAwlLA

Trust in My Timing — July 6, 2019

Trust in My Timing

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“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11

You may be feeling that God has forgotten about you, that everyone is moving ahead and you’re continuously moving backward or not even moving at all. It may feel like God has tucked you away and has just forgot.. I want to inform you that it’s all in God’s timing. The Lord has NOT forgotten about you. He has a distinct plan for you and for your life that exceeds what you’re anticipating at this present moment. When you see people’s snapshots of life on social media, don’t forget that it did not happen overnight; their spouse, their job, their child(ren) came over time through God’s plan for them. Just as things came together for them, so shall they come together for you. God says that He has thoughts to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future( Jeremiah 29:11), and that He makes all things beautiful in His time( Ecclesiastes 3:11), which means that He knows the time that’s right for you. Whatever it is that you’re desiring, in need of, seeking after, God has a plan to provide that and to even exceed that for you because He loves you FAR more than you can imagine.

While you wait for God to answer, be prayerful, preparing, and purposeful. Trust God’s plan, and know that when the time is right, God will bring it to pass. Know that you are ALWAYS on the heart and mind of God, and that His feelings and thoughts for you will never change. He is faithful to His promise, and He is faithful to you.

Be encouraged in the wait, beloved, and be expectant of prayers being exceeded ❤️

Restoration — June 17, 2019

Restoration

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“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”

Joel 2:25

 

Sometimes in this life, we reach a point where we just feel burnt out: tired from caring for the family, tired of going above and beyond for others when it’s not reciprocated, exhausted from every part of life. I can assure you that I’ve been there. Just as we get tired in the natural, we can also grow exhausted and weary in our walk with Christ. We can get so comfortable with how things have been that we fall into a routine and can’t see a way out of that…and that can be draining. The weights of life can weigh heavily on us as we are pressing forward in Christ, and if we’re honest, sometimes it can make us feel like not going on. When that happens, know that a restoration is needed. Our focus needs to be restored, our joy, our peace, our souls purpose needs to be renewed.

 

The bible tells us that Christ is the source of living water that will refresh us (John  4:14). When we reach a place of depletion in our walk with Christ, we can find hope in the verse above, as it reminds us that sometimes God will send things to stir us, shake us or move us, but HE won’t leave us in that state. He will restore.

 

Today, I encourage you to turn to the Lord and bring every one of your weights to Him, knowing that He truly cares for you (1 peter 5:7). It’s become cliche, I know, but when we really ponder on the fact that He cares for us, we’ll understand that He takes on the provision to supply what’s necessary for our health, maintenance, protection, and well-being. Know that you are on the mind of Christ, and that He has you- and your life- in the palm of His hand. He has already purposed you to prosper (3 John 2); He has already prepared you, and He shall position you. Though you may feel that life has taken the best of you and Satan took the rest of you, I believe that God is going to re-invest in you! He’s going to re position you to excel and will put you in a position of power and authority over the things that once had power over you (Luke 10:19)!

Despise not where you are, for God is in the midst of you, and you shall not fail- just as Psalm 46:5 says! Remember, God did not bring you this far to leave you in this state. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us  unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you”.

 

Beloved, restoration is coming, and it is for you!♥

 

 

 

By Any Means Necessary — July 30, 2018

By Any Means Necessary

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When it comes to reaching destiny, you have to have a certain mindset to see God’s plans and purpose for you manifested on this side of Heaven: by. any. means. necessary. We’ve all heard this before, which we understand to mean “to do what is needed”. Merriam-Webster coins it to mean “by doing whatever is needed”, means being defined as : “to have in the mind as a purpose; to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future; to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate”. When you have this mindset, you don’t care what you have to do, where you have to go, or who you have to go through; you just keep your eyes on the prize, conquering whatever comes before you.

When we are in pursuit of our God-given purpose and assignment, we have to understand that it will not come without a fight. The bible says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” ( Ephesians 6:12), which simply means that we have a enemy that’s unseen with the natural eye who is working overtime daily to keep us from discovering and living out our God-given purpose and assignment. With this understanding, we find ourselves in a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit. Whichever one you feed will grow and dominate the other, so be wise about the decisions you make- as they determine your outcome. We can’t be weak, timid, and feeble trying to fulfill our purpose; we need to have the confidence of a warrior instead!

Because we are in a spiritual battle, we have to understand that we can’t fight in the flesh, but in the Spirit, and the only way to fight in the spirit is with the Spirit itself. The Holy Spirit( or Holy Ghost) graces those in whom He dwells with many benefits, which includes empowering that vessel with strength, knowledge and strategy to overcome the enemy. When we reach that  by any means necessary mental space, we are willing to do whatever it takes to defend our destiny, not worrying about the cost. 

I’ve recently heard a message that said that we keep looking for God where we last saw Him, but we haven’t realized that He’s moved on. I know that to be true in my life! It can be easy to get caught up in the “has been” or “used to”‘s with God, but we must realize that God is doing something new and wants to do new things through us! In order for that to happen,  we have to keep moving with God, or we’ll miss it. God goes from faith to faith, and from glory to glory, so we, too, will have to go from faith to faith and from glory to glory in order for Him to work through us. Now, we can’t go from faith to faith by doing the same ‘ole thing; we have to do more than before. We have to do something different.  If I’ve been getting up at 6 am to pray every morning but am no longer having an encounter with God during that time or that time isn’t as effective to me, it means that I have to do a little bit more because He’s elevated. God desires to take us to new places in Him, but we have to be willing to do whatever is necessary to reach those places. If you have to cut back on the time you spend on social media, cut back. If you have to turn down a few social invites because you feel the need to talk to God about that thing that’s been bothering you, then do it. If you have to deny yourself and fast longer or from one thing you’re strongly attached to, do it. Only you know what the Holy Spirit is directing you to do, and it’s up to you to do it. You’re destiny comes with a price of discipline, and you have to be willing to pay the cost.

 

I challenge you this week to do something you haven’t done before to make yourself more available to hear God’s voice. That could be one of the following:

  • Designate a time to pray this week ( life gets busy, but there’ll be more peace when you carve out time for God in each day).
  • Pray in the Holy Ghost for 5 more minutes than usual.
  • Read two chapters from the Bible each day this week.
  • Begin reading a book that’ll help build your understanding of spiritual things( I recommend Crash the Chatterbox” by Steven Furtick, especially if you have a difficult time with hearing God’s voice clearly. Paired with prayer and reading the Bible, it helps distinguish God’s voice from that of the enemy and the inner-me in your head).

Whatever you can think of to do that’ll stretch you spiritually this week, do it! I believe that when we become intentional about the things of God and being positioned to see God’s purpose and plan for our life, God will match that and exceed your expectations in every way. It can be intimidating, but know that “Greater is He that is within you than He that is in the world” ( 1 John 4:4). I believe in you, and so does our Father God!

 

Don’t forget: by any means necessary.

 

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

Matthew 11:12

 

 

God bless you, beloved ♥

He gives Seed to the Sower — June 25, 2018

He gives Seed to the Sower

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“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”

2 Corinthians 9:10

When you have a heart to be a blessing, God will provide opportunities for you to be a blessing. When you want to keep everything for yourself, you won’t have enough. The Bible is true in saying “it is more blessed to give than receive”. I feel that God has given me a heart to give, which is a blessing, but sometimes I don’t see it as such because I just want to give, give, give- even when I know I don’t have it to give. That sometimes causes me to be sad that I give so freely, but I feel that this morning, God has helped me to see the blessing in that: He gave me a desire to give because He’s made me a sower!!

When you sow seeds into others( hope, encouragement, money, time, etc.), God will ALWAYS provide for you to be a sower! That encouraged my heart this morning, and I pray that it does the same for you! Don’t be saddened by the fact that you like to give; REJOICE! And then pray for wisdom on when and how to give to others. God wants to bless His people, and when He gives someone a heart to sow, He’ll use them to do so! I pray that if you are a sower, that you find encouragement in the fact that you’ve been given provision to sow! And if you aren’t a sower or would like to give more, I pray that you will allow God to touch your heart to desire to give more.

I pray that you look for an opportunity today to be able to sow something positive into someone’s life.

Pray with me: “Lord, thank You for Your principle of giving. Thank You for what You’ve placed in my heart to give. I pray that You help me to never give grudgingly of my time, money, etc., but to give with JOY because You’ve given seed to the sower, meaning You’ve given me seed because You know that I’ll sow! Thank You for that confidence in me. Help me to find an opportunity to sow into someone’s life today in some way. In Jesus name,amen. ”

God bless you, dear ♥️

Known by God — June 8, 2018

Known by God

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“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

(Jeremiah 1:5)

Isn’t it a wild thought that before you were ever who you are, God knew you? Before any mistake,any sin, any lie, anything you’ve ever done, God knew you? Let’s take a look at what that means: that means that before you ever did anything wrong, He knew who you were to Him: His sweet little girl. Before anything was in place in your life, He already had his mind made up about you. He knew every character trait you have, every strength, every talent, and every challenge. What’s even crazier to think of is how He still chose you, even with all of those things known. It may be hard to believe, but know that it’s true! Before the world was formed, when sin first entered the world, when Jesus came and gave His life to redeem us from sin, He had you in mind because He already knew you. To know someone or something means to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information. It also means to have developed a relationship with(someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with. He already knew that you were more than that poor decision you just made, or what you’re struggling with. He already knew that you are bigger than the times you’ve fallen. God had relationship with us in eternity, and He has spent enough time with us to already have established thoughts about us. Those are the thoughts that matter to us, not the ones that linger from failure.

Our decisions are important to God, and though they matter, they don’t change His mind about us because. He knew that we would mess up and fall short more than we probably should, but He also knew what He saw and instilled within us before those moments. He wants us to know that we are not defined by the world, our own thoughts, or even our experiences. We are defined by the eyes of the Creator, and He says that we are His workmanship! We are complete in Him because His strength is made perfect in weakness. We are more than conquerors through Him. Everything His word lays out about us as His chosen people is truth. However, it’s up to us to believe and receive that. His word matters because He sees beyond our sin, weak areas, and struggles– He sees His truth that He placed within us.

No matter where you are today, know this: You are already chosen. You are chosen, even when the guy doesn’t choose you. You are already chosen even when someone gets the job instead of you. You are already chosen even when it seems you’ve been forgotten. God has your name carved into His hands, His heart, and His mind, and nothing can remove you from those places, except you. Make the choice today to choose God’s heart for you instead of the lies of the enemy that arose from the consequences of your sin. Just as God chose you despite Him knowing all you’d do, I pray that God helps you to choose Him day after day, moment after moment…even when He doesn’t answer when you feel that He should.

Know that your past mistakes haven’t hindered you from God’s love; it actually made you an even greater candidate for it. Despite what your present circumstances display, know that you have already been chosen by God, and He has treasures stored up for His chosen people. That includes you!

 

My prayer for you today is that God helps you to see that you were on His mind from the beginning of time, and even beyond where you are now. Nothing you do can make God love you any less. His love for you was established and etched into eternity, and cannot be removed by any means. Let the confident peace of God reign over you today, and let it clothe you in His love, knowing that you are already chosen ❤

In a free moment today, listen to this song, and let God’s love overshadow you wherever you are. There’s no justification for you to not receive His love♥

God is Fighting for You! — February 5, 2018

God is Fighting for You!

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“I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.”

Exodus 23:29-30

A few weeks ago, my pastor’s son-in-law preached a message about how it’s much more of a blessing than we realize when things don’t happen as swiftly as we’d like them to. From that subject, he explained that even though we get frustrated with situations, habits, and circumstances that haven’t changed even after we’ve prayed about them, we can rejoice, for there’s a blessing there. The blessing in that is that God is giving us time to grow and become strong. I’m not sure about you,but certain things that I have prayed about for quite some time have not changed, and they now feel like my enemy!! Well, in Exodus 23:29-30, God clearly says that He isn’t going to drive the enemy out all at once because something else may rise up against us. When we are going through and struggling with some things, we oftentimes wish, hope and pray that they would just go away all at once because we feel tired! Am I right? Do you just get to a place where you are just sick and tired of being sick and tired of the same thing? Lord knows I have!!! One thing that was pointed out and that I also noticed during that sermon was that God was saying that He would do this and He would that through that passage( exodus 23:29-33), but then He says in verse 31 that “thou shalt drive them out”. God gave me enlightenment through that passage of how He is giving us time to grow by Him fighting for us!

I share this with you today to encourage you that GOD IS FIGHTING FOR YOU AND HE IS MAKING YOU STRONG RIGHT NOW! Right where you are- in the midst of that heartache, disappointment, despair, hurt, confusion, and the feeling of isolation, God is fighting for you and is allowing you to gain strength in Him. He tells us that when we are weak, He is our strength. When we feel hopeless, He is the Hope that lies within us and keeps us going. When we feel broken, He is the One who makes us whole and complete.  He knows what you can handle and He knows your limitations. However, He wants to remind you that although you may have limits, He has none! There is no weakness in Him and no shadow of turning! You may be tired, but know that you can find rest in Him. You may feel like quitting, but know that He will carry you to the end! I’m reminded of a scripture that says ” Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit”( Ecclesiastes 7:8).  Things may be challenging right now, and if so, REJOICE! Know that if it is challenging, it’s because a new beginning is coming forth!

 

If He said that He will be with you, that He won’t leave you, that He will fight for you, you can count on that! Unlike men, God holds to His promise, and He will see us through until the very end! When you’re weak in your mind, God is your strength. When you feel like you can’t continue on, God is your strength, and He carries you through! The weakness of God, if He had any, is stronger than the strength of men because He is Almighty, All powerful, and able to do all that we can ask or think! Don’t let the devil make you believe that God isn’t with you because He is!!! Anytime the devil says that you are something, you can confidently say that you are NOT what he said because you know that the devil is a liar and the father of lies. He doesn’t have the ability to tell the truth, but we know that what Jesus says is truth because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! His words bring life into your soul! My prayer for you today, beloved, is that you remember that you are not alone, that God is fighting for you even when you don’t feel or see it, and that He is with you every step of the way!

“Little by little” This is what stood out to me during that message. As the preacher said, when things don’t seem to be changing, give God praise and thank God for it because He’s allowing it to happen little by little so that you can gain strength to fight on your own and overtake the enemy!

Move forward this week knowing that God is fighting for you!

 

 

“Little. by. little”

God bless you ♥

 

Keep GOING! — October 18, 2017

Keep GOING!

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“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.””Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” 

Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 41:10

Who loves to move? I don’t know too many people who do, but I can’t say that I’m one. Moving can be so frustrating and overwhelming: you have you pick up and move all of your things that you had placed and settled, take them to a very unfamiliar place, and work to make this new place home again. Most of the time, we move to a better place than we were previously, but that still doesn’t erase the fact that the packing and moving part isn’t fun. Even though we don’t like it, we pack up our things each time, knowing that things will ultimately settle down and be at ease again. The reality is that moving is so uncomfortable, but it’s always necessary for growth, right?

I think we can say the same thing about our spiritual lives.When it’s time for us to move to a higher place in God, we get so frustrated and uncomfortable, so tired and are ready to just stay where we were because there’s so much that comes with packing and moving. One big portion of moving is the unfamiliarity. Even though we know that what God is doing will always work out for our good, we strongly dislike it because it doesn’t feel good to us in that moment. We feel out of our element because what we were once good at is now so trivial. God is calling us higher, raising us to a new standard and place in Him, and we don’t like it. Trust me, I get it! We all reach this point when God wants to expose us to a new place in Him, but we struggle with letting go of the familiar.

No matter how good it may seem to stay where you are with the things that you know, don’t be deceived. We have to remember that the enemy only comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and nothing more. Satan  is the father of lies, and no truth ever comes from him. When we’re being positioned( prepared)  to be moved from one place to another in God, the devil tries to come in and  give every reason we should unpack and not  go where God is calling us to. See, the devil can be so convincing in some of the things he tells us because it seems so close to the truth, but that’s when we have to know what the Word identifies us as, and see how it compares to what Satan is saying. Though it seems like he’s telling us the truth about why we shouldn’t, couldn’t, and won’t,  we have to remember that the devil, the world or anyone in it( including yourself) cannot change God’s mind about how He sees you and where He wants you. 

If God is calling you higher, it’s for a reason. If He’s urging you to do more(pray, read, fast, etc.), it’s for a reason that’s beyond you. God is trying to prepare you for your next move. What the Lord is doing in those times is answering your prayer of making you to be all that He purposed you to be… and the truth is that it’s uncomfortable sometimes, but I encourage you to KEEP GOING! Though it’s uncomfortable, keep pressing! Though it’s frustrating, keep PUSHING! If you’re frustrated with yourself( it happens!), PUSH BEYOND YOURSELF! Pray a little longer than usual! Worship louder than normal! Praise God harder than ever! Growth is never easy going. That’s why it’s called growing pains!   If you don’t know how to move forward in reaching the place that God is calling you to, ask Him. He’ll guide you, help you, and strengthen you. He’s already equipped you with what you need to move to the next level; you just have to put it to action with your faith. God has given to each one of us a measure of faith, which means that God has already given us the ability to trust and believe in Him to carry us to that destined point. God has confidence in you, and now it’s time to let your confidence in Him arise and go forth! He won’t lead you astray, only to destiny!

My prayer is that God helps us to recognize when He is calling and moving us to a new place in Him,that we don’t get frightened by the next level, but that we trust Him with every step, knowing that He is alongside us as we’re going deeper in Him. I pray that God also helps us to be confident that when we are weak, God is strong in us, and that He will be there to strengthen us as we seek Him. Above all, my prayer is that God helps us to KEEP GOING even when everything around us — and that lie within us– tells us not to. I pray that we trust God’s will for us and that He is faithful to finish the work that He has begun in each one of us.

 

You’re going to make it, my sister! KEEP GOING! ♥

 

Let what He has Done Encourage You — September 27, 2017

Let what He has Done Encourage You

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“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:6

In life, we face so many challenges, some bigger than others and some easier than others. Like a rubber band, we can usually snap back in place seemingly unaffected and move on with life. Then  we face a trial or circumstance that is beyond what we’re used to and it weighs heavily on us, to the point where it almost destroys us. It is in that moment that we are at our weakest, most vulnerable state, and we often wonder if we’ll make it through. We see all that things aren’t going as we’d hope and begin to get discouraged. In the thick of your discouragement, do you ever think of what God has done?  My question to you is: has God ever failed you? Has God ever given up on you? You are here by the grace and mercy of the living God, the One who is Unchanging and always faithful. If He made a way for you to get through it before, He’ll make a way for you again!

We too often hear that ‘God is able’ and ‘God will’, but do we really believe it? Do we really believe that God will bring us out? Do we really believe that God can make a way out of this mess? Before the fire we do; our faith is higher than the highest mountain top, but in the fire, our faith quickly dwindles and sometimes burns out. Sometimes we feel that we can’t go on, that God has forgotten about us and/ or that we aren’t reachable anymore. When we are in the midst of situations that are too great for us and are overwhelming, we have to look to the word of God for our solution. The devil attacks us in those times by telling us that we aren’t, we can’t and that we won’t. However, the bible says that we can and we will by the Spirit of the Lord ( Zechariah 4:6)! The bible says that “the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear”( Isaiah 59:1) and that “the Lord remembers us and will bless us:”( Psalm 115:12).

The truth is that sometimes when we need encouragement, it’s not around. Our closest friends aren’t near and our pastor isn’t able to talk with us at 2 a.m. Sometimes, it’s just us, God and the lies of the enemy filling our head. What do we do when we don’t have the words to say because we’re feeling so low? Where do we go? What do we do?  The answer is in the  Word! The Word of God has an answer for everything that we feel, face and struggle with. Just like David, we find ourselves surrounded by people who want to harm us physically, emotionally or mentally, but it seems that we don’t have a place of refuge near. Instead of harping on the reality that some things are against him, David began to encourage himself in the Lord, meaning David began to remind himself of God’s sovereignty, of the faithfulness that he has seen of God in time’s past and of God’s kept promises. My sweet-hearted sister, we must remember that our refuge is found in God( Psalm 46:1; Psalm 91:2; Psalm 27:5). We have to know that our strength comes from God and not from ourselves or others. God said that when we are weak, He is strong in us( 2 Corinthians 12:9) and that He is there to help us in our time of need. When we begin to wonder where the Lord is, we have to remember that His timing is different from ours, but He never fails to come right on time. The most powerful thing we can do when we are in the storm is remember, so my prayer is that we are remembering truth and are leaving the lies of the enemy under the blood of Jesus!

I want to encourage you today that God knows where you are and He sees you, even though you may feel that He doesn’t. He knows your name and He remembers His promise for your life. In your time of despair and hopelessness, find out what the word says about who God is, who you are to Him and who He is to you. Once you find that, remember those words. Declare those words over yourself as often as you need to so that you will be built up in His truth of who you are and who He is in your situation so that you can stand against the enemy when he comes.

God bless you, my sister! You WILL make it through this, in Jesus’ name! ♥

 

You Need to Put Me First — August 22, 2017

You Need to Put Me First

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You need to put Me first. You are too busy for Me, and your busyness will be your destruction if you do not make Me your first priority again. It saddens me how you try to count your 2-second rushed prayer as sufficient time spent with Me, when you willingly work 8, sometimes 12 hours a day. All I want is to spend time with you, My child. Turn to Me. When you come to Me, you find renewed strength to deal with everything that is on your plate. You can’t do this by yourself. You aren’t strong enough, Daughter. Let Me help you. Let Me be your strength. Let Me be your guide.  I know that you are used to doing life alone or without much help, but those days are over. I am introducing you to a better, easier way: Me. I am your guide. I am your peace. I am your wisdom. I am everything that you need. Just let me help you. As badly as I want to help you, I can’t..I won’t force myself on you, but the sooner you allow Me to help you, the sooner you’ll experience and live in my peace. Give Me My rightful place on the throne of your heart again, Daughter. I desire so much for you, but you are withholding My strong hand because you have shifted your focus from Me to what’s around you and even to your own strength. If you would rather Me to not help you,that’s fine because I gave you the power to choose, but I would love for you to make the right choice. Choose Me today, beloved. Choose me and deny the things that you put before Me. Once you do that, I’ll begin to strengthen you and elevate you to the place that I desire you to be in. Don’t be nervous about what is expected of you in that place. Just know that I am here with you every step of the way. My child, putting Me first may seem difficult at first, but only because you are still desiring the world and the very thing that you need to let go. Holding on isn’t always the best thing to do. It may be hard to let go, but holding on to something I tell you to let go of makes it harder for you to receive of Me and for you to trust Me. Let it go. Trust Me.  Have I ever fallen short of My delivery? No, and I will not begin with you. You are My most prized creation, Daughter, and I plan to give you the absolute best I have, but you have to submit to My way, My teaching, My voice. Listen as I speak to you, as I guide you. I promise, I’m guiding down the path of life and righteousness. I am leading you to the fulfillment of My purpose for your life. All you have to do is put Me first. Remember,there is a reward in obedience. I love you now and forever. You are Mine always. ♥

 

Be Honest with Yourself — August 18, 2017

Be Honest with Yourself

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 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Luke 18:13

You have to be honest with yourself. If you broke something, but hide it from the person it belonged to, that’s no good. If you hurt someone’s feelings but try to act as if you didn’t know that your words or actions hurt them, that isn’t good. And if you did wrong by God but cover it up for other’s sake, you’re causing more harm than good. The first step in  growth is to admit or be honest. If you aren’t honest about the issue at hand, you won’t ever change. Covering it up doesn’t make it better. Only when you own up to your mistake will you be in a position to receive the help and grace that you need.

I think about how honest I am with God. I recognized that  I’m more honest at times than others. In the times that I’m not honest with God, I realize that it’s because of shame that I feel from my actions or some part of myself that has yet been made like Christ. I feel disappointed that I behave/thought/felt that way at this point in my spiritual life, but the fact is that I am still being molded by God, and won’t have it all together all at once. I now realize that it’s a transformation process. I say that to say this: it’s okay to admit when you’re wrong. You don’t have to try to save face with anyone, especially not with God. As I’ve said before, God knows you. Inside and out. He knows every thought you think and your way of processing. He knows every good thing about you and ever bitter thing. God takes all of you- just as you are- and He transforms you into what you need to be for Him. He can turn your bitter waters into sweet waters, IF you allow Him to.

 

God isn’t looking for us to get it right all of the time, but He is expecting us to be honest with Him so that He can effectively use us and make us more like Him. If we are acting like the Pharisees, we feel that we don’t need God because we aren’t as bad as those around us, when in reality, we’re worse! We should be like the publican who recognized his faults before God His Helper. Don’t cast the blame on someone else when you are the one responsible. Don’t be deceived by the devil. We ALL fall short of God’s glory( Romans 3:23), but we all can be redeemed by the hand of the Lord if we would simply be honest with God and ourselves.

 

The truth hurts sometimes, but the bible said that “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but know that once’s the truth has been spoken from your heart, you’ve made space available for God to come in and work things out in you. God is here to help you and heal you, not hinder you.

 

My prayer is that God helps us all be honest with ourselves so that we can be honest with Him. I pray that God helps us to see the truth of our hearts, and to allow God the space and time to work on us. Though the truth may be hard, I pray that God helps us get through it with His help. I believe that God wants to help us. The question is who will let Him?

I encourage you to take a moment today and pray with me really quickly:

God, I haven’t been completely honest with You, but I want to start today.  Forgive me for not being truthful with You. Help me to be transparent with You always, and not try to hide anything from You because You see all and You know all. Forgive me for hiding my heart from You. You know all about what’s in my heart, but You still choose to love me. Thank You for loving me still. Lord, I give You the space to change my heart, to take away all of the things I’m used to that have kept me from You. I surrender my whole heart to You. I ask that You give me a heart for what You care about, a heart for the things that touch Yours. Make my heart tender for You, Jesus. I desire to please only You. Help me to commit my heart to You, Lord. Thank You for helping me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

It’s not over for you, beloved. Your Helper is coming to you!
God bless you! ♥

Do You Mind Waiting On God? — August 11, 2017

Do You Mind Waiting On God?

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“ And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.“

Luke 8:40

 

Waiting can be tough, right? I mean, you just want one thing. And God is able to do anything….right? We don’t like it when God tells us to wait because we want whatever it is that we want in that very instant, and not a moment later. What if you knew what God has for you was one hundred times better than what you were asking for? Would you wait for it? What if it met every expectation, in fact, exceeded everything you imagined it to be? Would you still want to wait for it? What if you KNEW that it was the absolute BEST that God could do, and He gave His very best to you? It’d make you feel extra special? Loved in the best way possible, right? Would you still be willing to wait for it?

All too often, we rush God’s process because we have our time frame in mind, an invisible deadline for that answered prayer, which limits God in so many ways. We try to force God to give us what we want and for Him to give us His best, all within the matter of minutes( figuratively). Dearest heart, it doesn’t work like that. When we pray, we have to believe that God hears us, but we also have to allow and trust God to answer that prayer in His timing, not ours. God’s timing is not ours, and it will never be.

It can be hard to wait when we know that God has the capacity to do anything and everything by simply thinking of it. I believe that God makes us to wait for something or an answer to our prayer to do a work in us. We don’t know our hearts as God does, nor what lies ahead, so we have to trust that God has a great reason to make us wait.

The process of waiting isn’t a time of idleness, but a time of preparation on God’s end  and ours. That time is allowing God to strengthen you to stand firm against whatever you’re facing today and preparing you for what is to come. God also uses that time to show us our true selves: lack of patience, selfishness, jealousy, frustration and many other things that may dwell within us that we didn’t know was there. In showing us those things about ourselves, God uses that time to highlight the reality that our need of Him is greater than we thought. God refines us in that time, and while He’s refining us, He’s preparing the answer to that prayer we brought before Him. When it’s all said and done, when God returns, He knocks our socks off! Even though it may have seemed like God has walked away and forgot about our request, I promise He hasn’t. He’s heard all we asked, and has worked so diligently to deliver. When God comes back to your request, stand with joy, expectation and excitement, knowing that He has been at work for you! Be open to receive whatever it is that He presents to you, for you’ll see that it was well worth the wait! ♥

 

Pray this simple prayer today: Lord, as You are having me to wait, help me to trust that You haven’t forgotten about me. Help me to hold on to my faith in You, and to be fully open to receive whatever it is that You present to me. I surrender to You today, Lord. Your will, Your time. Not mine.  Thank you for this time of preparation. Thank you for every lesson You allow me to learn as I wait.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. ♥

 

 

 

 

God bless you!

 

 

 

Declare Your Justification! — August 9, 2017

Declare Your Justification!

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“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.”

Romans 8:33

Has God ever sent you a word of encouragement, but you didn’t believe because you saw the reality in front of you instead of what God said? Have you ever rejected what God said about you because what you see didn’t align with what was said? I know I have. And you know what? When we do that, we show our lack of faith in God and in His confidence that He has in us. Sometimes I wonder why I do that: put my own view over God’s when it comes to me. I believe that we do that because we don’t see what God sees when He sees us. While we see through a lens of condemnation, God sees us through a lens of justification. I think we can sometimes combine the two because we try to justify that we are unworthy, unrighteous and nonredeemable because of condemnation. As we read the word, we find that God does not give us fear, nor does He condemn us( 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18[NIV]; Romans 8:1). Condemnation comes from the enemy as a ploy to keep us from walking in faith and being who God says we are.

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth”. This means that NO ONE has the right to condemn you– not even you! Yes ,you know you’ve messed up and have fallen, but Jesus knows that as well… and He STILL CHOSE YOU! So, if God chooses you, what gives you the power to overrule God’s verdict? Remember, God declares what’s right (Isaiah 45:19)!

When we mess up, make a bad decision or fall short, the enemy will constantly bring those things before us to keep us from walking in the truth of God’s declaration for our lives. Revelation 12:10,11 says that the accuser of the brethren (the devil) is before God day and night highlighting our faults. However, it tells us that we OVERCOME by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! There’s power in the words we speak, right( Proverbs 18:21) ? So we have to DECLARE the word of God to reinstate God’s truth over our lives. We can’t allow the enemy to dictate our life, our being, or our purpose because he can’t speak any truth! We have to search the word and learn what God says about us and let that become our new reality and our new standard.!

Today, I want to challenge you to challenge the condemnation of the enemy by declaring a few things:

  • that you are an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony ( Revelation 12:11- share God’s victory in your life over the enemy with someone today)
  • Declare that you are the righteousness of God( you are approved of God- 2 Corinthians 5:21)
  • Declare that you have power over the enemy( Luke 10:19)
  • Declare that you are beautiful in God’s sight( Song of Solomon 4, especially v. 8)
  • Declare that your past is gone and you are new in Christ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

The only way to overcome  the lies, is to learn the truth!

 

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”- John 8:32

 

God bless you! ♥

Preparation — July 31, 2017

Preparation

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“And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her,….  (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)”

Esther 2:9,12

We all have hopes, dreams and different aspirations. Though we understand that those things won’t come to pass overnight, we still somehow manage to get frustrated during the process of living out that dream or aspiration. We want what we desire, and we want it NOW! Trust me, I know, because I still do that myself for some things. It gets difficult to keep “waiting” until that change comes, but know that it truly isn’t a waste of time. See, you’re not just waiting; you are PREPARING and are being prepared for what you ask for.

Granted, some things in life that happen are NOT what we ask for, but God knows it is needed for us and those around us. Esther, for example, didn’t sit around hoping, dreaming or praying to save her people one day, but the entire duration of her life was preparing her to be used mightily by God. During the time of preparation, it isn’t always rose bushes and sunshine. There are many days/nights that are filled with endless questions, concerns and even doubt. I would imagine that during Esther’s time of preparation to meet with the king she was nervous, concerned and unsure about how things would turnout. Though those things arise, we must remember that where we are in route to that desire, dream or aspiration is being used by God to prepare us for what we asked for according to His purposeful plan for our lives so that we will be ready to receive when God releases it.

Whether you have or are asking God to prepare you to be a wife, mother, of certain professional status or even for a new job, know that you won’t be given something prematurely. If so, you may mismanage it once it’s received. It takes time to build an appreciation and care for things. I know that it is difficult, but trust God to be with you during this time of preparation. Think of the countless blessings that God has given you along the way and even those to come. Most importantly, be reminded daily of the greatest blessing about where you are: it allows you to become closer to Jesus than you once was.

No matter how long your time of preparation is, know that every second of it is indeed necessary for where God is taking you and what He has awaiting you. My prayer is that God helps us to appreciate the process because it isn’t just something to go through, but it is something that we are allowed to GROW through. I pray that God makes our heart tender toward Him in that time, and that He allows us to be strengthened by His Spirit.I pray that we learn to trust God’s judgement for our lives in all things. I pray that while we are in preparation, God opens our eyes to see His hand working all things together for our good regarding His promise. I also pray that God helps us to always ALWAYS remember that He has not forgotten about us, and that He hears every prayer that we lift to Him.

 

Take time to prepare!
God bless you! ♥

In His Timing — July 12, 2017

In His Timing

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“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

I just want to encourage you today to not get discouraged in your season of waiting. Know that God sees you, hears your every word( spoken and unspoken) and He is faithful to meet your need and grant your desires in His timing. I know that it is not always easy trusting God in our time of waiting, but don’t mistake where you are waiting to be your final destination. Know that God will answer that prayer, open/close that door, and move on your behalf.. but in His timing! We may feel that we are ready for something we are asking God for, but He knows us far better than we know ourselves, and He knows when the right time is to move you into that next blessing in your life.

We sometimes get antsy when we see God moving in the lives of those around us, and wonder why God has yet to move for us. Would you like to know something? He is! He is moving and working for you, even though you may not see it or feel it. God is preparing that blessing for you and He is also preparing you for it! So trust where God has you now, and know that the end result of God’s work is always beautiful!

I pray that we understand that God’s timing is best for us, even when we are asking for things sooner than He intends to release them to us. I pray that we trust God’s timing and not persist to have things prematurely. I pray that we don’t grow weary in our time of waiting and know that God is working, even in the silence. I also pray that God strengthens our hearts during this season, so that we may be able to stand tall when God releases His glory in our lives in Jesus name! Don’t be drawn away by lust of the flesh, lust of the eye or the pride of life as we are waiting on the Lord.
God is beautifying you with where you are! ♥

 

God bless you! ♥

Your Hidden Heart — July 9, 2017

Your Hidden Heart

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“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:26

As we experience life, we all have hurts, pains and heartaches that leave scars. Overtime, the scars become larger and leave us with deeper, untreated wounds due to more life pain. The untreated scars eventually cause our hearts to become hidden behind the many layers of pain that has not been dealt with, just covered up. In an effort to protect ourselves, we build up this resistance to those around us and block people out– including God.

One way we block out those around us is by detaching yourself from certain emotions and feelings due to unsuccessful past experiences. If “protected” for too long, our hearts are encased in this lifeless, emotionless state that causes us to miss out on the healing that we so desperately need. We soon forget what our true heart looks like. When we reach that point, we need God to intervene and tell us who, what, when and why have we guarded our hearts like this, and what were we expecting that was not fulfilled.

I’ve recently began praying for God to show me why I felt a certain way about someone I once was close to, and He revealed to me that it was because I held un forgiveness in my heart toward them. I was so surprised because I thought that my heart was free of things like un forgiveness since I make every effort to live a life representative of Christ in every way. I began writing, and in that I began to understand why I held that emotion for so long. It was during that process that I began to see my heart for what God created it to be, and not what was seen through the lens of hurt and pain.
I want to encourage you that although you may have had many unpleasant life experiences that have caused your heart to become stacked with scar tissue, know that’s not who you truly are. You are not the problem. The problem is receiving the healing that God has for your heart and soul. Know that the heart God has given you is waiting to be unveiled from under the pain.

 

I pray that we seek God about what life experiences have scarred our hearts and that we ask God to help us heal from those scars. I pray that we not only ask God to heal us, but that we give God the space and authority to search, reveal and heal those pains in our heart, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. I pray that once God heals us that we guard our hearts from the enemy and his schemes to steal our healing in Jesus name!

 

Let God in to your heart today, and let Him reveal the true heart that He has given you! ❤

 

God bless you! ❤

 

There’s Power in Planning — July 5, 2017

There’s Power in Planning

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“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”

Habakkuk 2:2

“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true”. I’m sure many of us have heard this quote before. If not, may I introduce you to this wonderful tool that is helpful,  both for the natural and spiritual life.

Almost every one of us have a desire to be at a certain place in life, and maybe by a certain time. The real question is: how? How will we make these things happen? Your first answer may be to pray and seek God. While that is essentially the first step, the next “first” step is for us to have a plan. We can’t look to God to do all of the work, especially when He has equipped us to do some things ourselves. Our prayers and pursuit of God for those desires is what guides and fortifies us, but we must give God something to work with.

You may have a mental plan on how to achieve this goal, but the various tasks of life will quickly push that plan aside and eventually out of your mind. The best way to avoid losing the vision is to write it down! By writing it down, you hold yourself accountable to what you have said you’d like and what you plan to do to acquire that. After we have a plan written down, we should then come to God to ask for His wisdom and guidance on how to begin this pursuit. We must not make the mistake of only consulting God after we have made our plans; we must consult God even in our planning because I believe that He gives us certain desires according to the purpose that He has given us. By coming to God with our plan, we show reverence to Him and His authority by ensuring that our plan aligns with His. If we faithfully bring our plans to God, He will reveal every motive, expose every danger and shed light on all weaknesses of that plan, all done out of love.

Know that the enemy will come to distract you from sticking to your plan, and know that your commitment will be tested, but also know that if God gave you the desire, then He will provide the means for it to come to pass according to His will. It’s up to you to decide how you maneuver those provisions from the Lord.

My prayer for today is that God causes us to seek Him for our future, what pleases His heart and how our personal desires align with that. I pray that God causes us to write as much as possible regarding those desires, and that we filter our thoughts through prayer and faith. I also pray that after the vision is written, that God helps us to be committed to the fulfillment of that plan for the advancement of His kingdom so that He may be glorified in the earth. I pray that in all things, we are lead by faith, no longer fear!
Challenge: Take some time and ask God about your purpose today( What is purpose and what that looks like for your life). After doing so, ask God to help you to write everything you can think of regarding that purpose, and to give you strategies on how to fulfill that. If you don’t hear anything today, that’s okay. Keep asking! We serve the God who has all answers, so if you’ll ask, He’ll answer ♥

God bless you! ♥

— July 4, 2017
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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

As we grow through life, we make mistakes and sometimes wish we could have a do-over.  Every now and again, we are given an opportunity to re-try a life lesson– which is almost like being given a clean slate. Although we may not always get the chance to start over in our experiences, we can rest assured on the fact that with God, we can start afresh! When we come to God, He is already aware of where we’ve messed up, and He is there to help us get it right this time, but with His help.

 

God is not turned off by us when we come to Him with our frustration from our mess ups. In that moment of despair, we think that we’ve reach the end of the rope because we keep messing things up no matter how hard we try. My dear sister, don’t let the enemy deceive you; that moment is when things finally begin. When we come to God and are washed under the blood of Jesus, we come to the realization that God is our hope and our refreshing wind. The new start begins from the inside out. Coming to God, we come to our place of refuge and strength. We realize that He is the one who carries us when we grow weary, when we are weak and worn and He is the one who sustains us through the winds of life. He is the solid foundation that we are built on after life has torn us down. We also realize that God is the one who gives us the strength to let go and try again.

It may seem frightening to move forward after you’ve fallen, but know that God is with you every step of the way. If you are facing a new life experience or even re-experiencing a life lesson, know that you are not alone nor are you the same person you were before. In Christ, your true identity is revealed; strong, confident, bold, and faithful. You are not what the enemy tried to tell you (fearful, anxious, concerned with what others have to say or think). In Christ, everything about you is new, so be confident in the fact that God has gone before you and that He currently walks beside you. Also stand in the fact that God is constantly working in you.

 

My prayer for today is that we are not afraid to come to God from wherever we are, and that we realize that He is able to give us a fresh start, a new beginning. I pray that we release the past experiences we’ve had in order to make room for the new things that God has before us. I pray that God helps us to remember daily that He walks with us and guides us through this life, and that He is able to still perform His promise in us because of the finished work on Calvary. I pray that God helps us to walk in the confident boldness of the Holy Ghost in everything we do. I also pray that God gives us a constant desire for the new life in Him instead of the things we’re used to in Jesus’ name!

 

There is nothing that is unseen before the Lord, so know that God sees you, my beloved, and that He is here to make you new again!

God bless you! ♥

God Chose YOU! — July 1, 2017

God Chose YOU!

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 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

John 15:16

 

Wanna know something? God chose you! Yes, YOU! With all of your self-proclaimed flaws and imperfections, mishaps and mess-ups. God still chose you! When everyone else rejected you because you didn’t “fit in” with them, God hand picked you because you are just what He’s looking for. What was distasteful to others is what God delights in. God specializes in you because He is your creator. He knew that you’d do what you’ve done, go where you’ve gone and be who you are, but He STILL CHOSE YOU. He chooses you everyday! He has a plan to use you in ways that your mind cannot begin to comprehend and that your heart can’t even desire.

God has a habit of giving beauty for ashes and uses the misfit for His great manifestation! My dearest sister, God thinks you are to DIE for…literally! He gave His life so that you can be able to have fellowship with Him. Today is the day to rejoice in who you are because who you are is what caught God’s attention. Yes, He responded to your need for His help and change, but I believe that God also was drawn to you because He’ll be able to do a work in your life that will declare His glory to the world!

My prayer for today is that God helps us to embrace who we are at this present time, but that we also are open to God molding us into who He has destined to be. I pray that God silences the voice of the enemy in your ear telling you of what you aren’t, and that the love of God resonates within you to replace every ungodly belief of yourself. I pray that God gives us the confidence and boldness to walk into what God has called us to by the power of the Holy Ghost!

 

Remember that you are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY MADE by the almighty hand of God!

 

I love you, but God loves you best! ♥

God bless you, beloved! ♥

Seeking Wisdom — June 18, 2017

Seeking Wisdom

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“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked…but Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.”

1 Kings 12:6,8

What good is it for us to ask for wisdom then not use it? That’s what we sometimes do: we ask God for His wisdom, how He would direct us and what He says is the best thing to do, but don’t use that wisdom. We think that God’s way is wrong when it doesn’t align with what we want Him to tell us. We even consult with our friends and family more than we consult God. However, we must remember that God is Almighty and He knows ALL things, and we must trust Him in all things. We must believe that God knows what’s best for us, and will give us the guidance that we need to move forward in the direction that will lead to His will.

Although we may feel more comfort in asking guidance from those who are on the same level as we are, they can’t help us beyond a certain point because they, too, have limited understanding and perspective. We must understand that God will use people to get us what we need when we need it, so we must have an open and receptive heart to the insight that God gives us about our current circumstance or a future one. Whatever the wisdom, trust God will have the best answer for you. I pray that God helps us to trust His wisdom and walk in faith instead of fear.

God will always take care of you ♥

 

God bless you, and know that I am praying with you! ♥

Expectations exceeded! — June 13, 2017

Expectations exceeded!

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“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:20

Many times in life we expect things to happen by a certain time — usually our own. When those things do not happen when we want them to or when we feel they should, we get discouraged and our faith waivers. We sit and wonder if God really heard us, and sometimes we even dare to wonder if God really cares about us. The answer to that is YES, He DOES hear us and He DOES care, which is why He doesn’t always do things in our timing. God sees the bigger picture and He works to cause all things to work together for the good of all involved. So even though it may seem like it isn’t going to get better, it will! With God, all things get better. God has better for you, sis!

Don’t be discouraged by what didn’t happen in the time you thought it would. Yes, you were praying, fasting and believing God to move in your favor.. but guess what? He did! He heard your prayers, counted your tears and saw your faith! Trust that it is NOT going unnoticed, despite how it may seem. Though He saw you, He also saw that you would have been settling if He allowed you to have that, and He doesn’t want that for you. He does not want you to settle. He wants so much for you, which will always be His best.

God does nothing short of spectacular, so when He blesses you, it’ll be beyond what you expect! Not only will it be what you asked for, it will also be what you need. When God does that thing in your life, it’ll push you toward your destiny instead of pulling you away.Trust God  with your heart and your wildest faith. It is NOT going unnoticed, despite how it may feel. I pray that God secures your faith in Him by reassuring you of His faithfulness and commitment to you. I also pray that we give God the room to fully operate His will in our lives according to His timing, and not our own.

I believe God is not only preparing the blessing for you, but He is also preparing you for the blessing. When you get to it, you’ll see why there was a wait♥

What’s Coming is Better than What’s Been!

God bless you, my sister!

THROUGH CHRIST  — July 22, 2022

THROUGH CHRIST 

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“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ!” How many times have we said this to ourselves or reminded others of this scripture? Such a popular verse, but let me take this moment to ask you this: do you really believe that you can do ALL things THROUGH Christ, or do you believe that YOU can do ALL things, through Christ?

I recently heard a message by a phenomenal preacher (Bishop Larry Booker) where he was teaching on the aspects of grace. In that message he simply mentioned that we can do all things THROUGH Christ, and that was when it registered: everything that I said I couldn’t do was actual. However, I was limiting God and reducing Him down to MY strength. When the Bible tells us that we can do ALL things through Christ, it is reminding us of the great access and privilege we have in being able to abide IN Christ. We don’t move forward in our strength, but through His. We aren’t redeemed by our blood, but through HIS. Whatever is a limit for us is not a factor for Christ. 

So in regards to our kingdom purpose, whatever it is that God is calling us to do, we can do it. We can stand on the fact that we CAN accomplish what Christ set out to do in us because it will be done in HIS strength. We can sing the song, write the book, leave the relationship, start the business, continue on…THROUGH CHRIST. The Bible reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us, that His strength is made perfect in weakness; so when we feel incapable, less than, insignificant, weak, that the task is too great, or unqualified in any way, it’s because we are looking at our own strength instead of His. 

Be empowered to know that He is FOR you and He will work THROUGH you. You’re not alone in this. 

I pray that God would grace you with this understanding anytime you face a challenge that you feel you’re not measuring up for: “you can do ALL things THROUGH Christ, who strengthens you— continually” ❤️

https://youtu.be/BRdyLK3UNBM

The other side of this — July 14, 2020

The other side of this

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As I was driving to work this morning, this is what I felt the Lord was speaking to my heart about some things that have caused a great deal of hurt and pain to me in the last decade. I pray that what God shared with me will be able to encourage and strengthen you as well. I pray that He will stir up your faith to trust Him with your hurt today. God bless you, beloved.

“Your life is in My hands, and I have a better life on the other side of your pain-if you would only be willing to release it to Me. Yes, it hurt you I know, but it will continue to hurt you if you don’t give it to Me. Give it to me. Put it in My hands. It’s heavy and consuming but My hand is strong enough to hold it, to bear the weight. You can cry it out, scream, talk, or just whisper. Whatever it is you need to do— whatever you feel when you think of or remember those things— do it before Me. I won’t be ashamed of you. I’m not ashamed of you. I’m here. I’m sitting with you through it and no matter how ugly you may feel in that moment, know that your brokenness is beautiful to Me. I’ve made so many beautiful things out of broken things, and I want to do the same with you. You’ll know when it’s fully given to me: because You won’t feel the same things you’ve felt when you think of it. On this side of it, you won’t feel the pain anymore, but you’ll see the strength I gave you to get through it. You’ll see the gift of life I blessed you with instead of doubt. You’ll see my hand lifting you up from that place of brokenness and sorrow. You won’t just have a taste this time; you’ll have the feast of my Full pleasure. This is My will concerning you today, Beloved. Don’t miss your moment. ❤️”

https://youtu.be/Zp6aygmvzM4

Being Tried in the Fire — June 28, 2019

Being Tried in the Fire

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“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

Job 23:10

Do you know how gold is refined? It’s an extraneous process, with the last step being to the gold to have all of the impurities removed and the other less precious metals to be separated. The word refine is defined as two things:

1.removing impurities or unwanted elements,

-and-

2.to improve something by making small changes in particular make more subtle and accurate

The only way these impurities can be removed from gold is through an extreme, intense heat. This is not something that’s generated by small fire,but an immense fire. So when you think of what Job said when he said that he shall come forth as gold tried in the fire, he was saying that through the fiery trials of life, he’s being purified and the impurities from life will be removed from him so that only what’s pure is left.

Do you feel like you’re in a fiery time in your life? Does everything seem to be going down, caving in, falling in all around you? Do you feel like you’re all alone with no one to turn to, or that no one understands? Do you feel confused, because what you once were strong in, you now feel like it’s consuming you at an all-time high? If so, God may be taking you through the purification process to make you better than before.

God is aware of what you’re experiencing and how difficult this process is for you, but He as your Heavenly Father also knows that you need this it to be able to withstand what He’s bringing you to. You can take heart in knowing that He won’t leave you desolate in this fire. He said that He will never leave you nor forsake you(Hebrews 13:5), so that means that He is right there WITH you in the fire!! You are not alone in this process! When you see what God is bringing you to, you’ll understand that process a little better and will be more grateful for it.

Though the process is hard, it’s necessary, and I pray that God gives you grace and strength to endure with Him. I pray that God reminds you daily that you are His beloved daughter and that He will always do what’s best for you. Know that He’s in the fire with you and you two will come out with victory in your hands! He loves you and sees you as the most PRECIOUS of all things!

Beloved, you are going to withstand the test of the refining process ❤️

Hang in There —

Hang in There

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“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

-Galatians 6:9

Life is hard sometimes, and sometimes it seems that it’s even harder walking with God. Sometimes things don’t go as plan, we don’t always finish what we start, or don’t start at all, and that can be dampening to our spirit. I want to remind you of something: God knew before the foundation of the world all that you would be at every point in your life, and He already knew all of your successes, failures, and shortcomings. That didn’t stop Him from creating you, calling you, and setting you apart, and it surely didn’t stop Him from loving you. So when the going gets tough in life and you feel disappointed by your shortcomings, hang in there and know that you are loved by the Almighty God.

When He thinks of you, He has nothing but good thoughts and Has a made up mind about you( Jeremiah 29:11)! Any thoughts you have that are contrary to the love that God has for you are NOT from our Heavenly Father! When you’re feeling down, turn to the word of God and remind yourself of who you are in Christ, even WITH your shortcomings.

If God gave you an idea, He gave you an anointing to do it. If He gave you a purpose, He gave you grace to get to it. All that God gives you will be fulfilled as long as you stay connected to Him. He is your strength, so hang in there with God when you feel like you’re not measuring up. Everything you’re not, He is, so know that you’re whole in Christ.

God loves you so much, dearly beloved, and He has great things for you-STILL! ❤️