Are You Allowing Your Trials To Bring You Down or You Turning Them Into Testimonies So That You Can Help Build Others Up?

Will your trial be what brings you down or what you use to build others up? Will you let what you have been through be the testimony that helps others get through? Understand, sometimes people think they are the only ones going through. Sometimes they feel as though they can't overcome what has been holding them down. Are you willing to let your testimony be the tool that God uses to help strengthen and encourage someone else. 

You didn't go through all that you have been through for nothing. So often in life we ask God why.  Why are things happening in our lives?  Why us?  You have to understand that your testimony is not just for you. It is so that you can help someone else get through what they are going through in life. 

We have to stop being ashamed of where we have been.   We have to know that God saves one so that they can help bring deliverance to His people.    God saved Joseph for his family and God saved Moses for a nation.   You have to understand that He has a purpose behind saving you as well and that purpose will bring deliverance to more than just you and your household if you allow Him to use your life and your testimony for His glory.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

Mark 5:19

 King James Version (KJV)

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

How Are You Handling The Situations In Your Life? Are You Giving Up In The Midst Of The Process?

So what happens if things don't work out the way you expected?   What happens if people don't treat you the way you think you ought to be treated?   What happens if the door that you thought was open is actually closed?   What happens if you don't see the immediate manifestation of your healing taking place?   What happens if you don't get the finances when you felt like you needed them to come through?   What do you do at these points in your life?  

Do you continue to trust God?   Do you continue to go to Him and to ask of Him to do whatever is needed?   Do you be still and know that He is God and that His plan is perfect for your life?   Do you wait on  Him and remain hopeful in Him?  

We have to make sure we are not giving up.   We have to make sure that we are continuing to trust in the fact that God knows all, sees all, and can do all things.   We have to believe Him when he says that He knows the things we have need of in our lives and that He is faithful and just to bring it to pass.   We have to trust in the sovereignty of God.   We have to trust God to fulfill "His Plan" in our lives.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Isaiah 58:11 

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Do You Trust and Believe That You Are Valuable To God?

Do you know your value?   Do you realize how valuable you are to God?    You are priceless.   You are not less than.   As a matter of fact, you are worth more than you could ever imagine.

So often in life we live by other peoples evaluation of our lives.   We allow what they think to determine what we think and how we see ourselves.   We have to begin to see ourselves the way God sees us.   We have to know that we have been set in place for the glory of God and not the accolades of man.  

God has deemed you to be valuable.   He paid the ultimate price for your life and you have to understand who you are in Him.    Understanding who we are in God is not always easy.    Receiving His love and His forgiveness is not always easy.    Yet he told us who we are and His love and forgiveness is readily available for us to receive.  

Remember, you are who God says you are and you can do what He has said you can do.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

2 Corinthians 5:17

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

Are You Staying On Track With God? Understand God Has A Plan But We Have A Choice ...

Are you staying on track with God?   When we talk about staying on track, we are talking about staying focused and working towards our goals.   We are talking about not being distracted when it comes to the things of God.

It's easy to get off track.   Our day to day activities put a demand on our time but we have to make up in our mind that nothing and no one will ever come before God and what He has told us to do.   We have to remember that what God is telling us to do for Him is for the betterment of our lives and the lives of others.    The word betterment means to make something better.   It means to improve and to advance.   God wants us to advance in every area of our lives.   When we advance in life, we move forward with purpose.  

Think about what it means to have purpose in life.   When you understand your purpose in life, you know why you are doing what you are doing.   Your life has meaning because you understand God's design and intent for your life.    We have to understand that we were created to worship, praise, and to bring glory to God.    Is that what you are doing with your life?   When others look at you, can they see God working in you and through you? 

Understand God has a plan but He has given you a choice.   The question is, will you trust Him to fulfill His plan in your life or will you get off track following your own directives.   In most cases, our own directives are based on what our flesh wants and not what God wants.   Make up your mind that you are going to stay on track with God.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

Galatians 5:16 

[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Are You Just Saying You Want Your Life To Be Different or Are You Doing What It Takes To Be Different?

Are you still going back?  Are you going back to what used to be instead of what God said would be?   Are you doing things your way instead of seeking out God's way?  

We say we want our lives to be different.   We say we want God to move in us and for us and yet  we continue to operate the same way.   We continue to make the same mistakes.  We have to get to the point of understanding that God changes NOT.   Knowing that God does not change, we have to understand what He said was wrong before, is still wrong.   We have to learn how to do the right things so that we can produce the right fruit in our lives.  

It's time to stop going back.   It's time to let God be God in our lives.   It's time to release the old and to expect the new.   It's time to walk in the hope and expectation of your future and not the pain and defeat of your past.    It's time to realize that God chose you and because He did, you have the assurance that He will take care of you.  
 

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

Philippians 3:13

 ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Are You Being Discouraged By Someone Else's Outcome or Are You Trusting God For The Outcome You Need?

How often do you start off believing God and allow the pain or disappointment of others to hinder your faith?   How often do you look at how something turned out for someone else and start thinking that "may" be your outcome and fail to trust God for His best?   How often do you ride the coattails of someone else's failure instead of looking at the examples that God gave us in the Bible of men who "lived" by faith?  

It's time to stop allowing the pain, hurt, and disappointments of others to cause you to fail to walk in faith.   God told us in His Word that the just are to live by faith.    Faith is complete trust and confidence in someone or something.    Where is your faith?   Who or what have you put your complete trust and confidence into?   Is it in God?   Is it in what He has said that He will do or is it in what you think you can do on your own?  

We have to know which examples to follow.   We have to follow examples of faith.   We have to follow those who are examples that show us how to place our trust and our hope in God no matter what is going on in our lives.   As we begin to walk in faith, we have to understand that we then become the examples for others to follow.

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

Hebrews 6:12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Are You Taking God At His Word and Understanding That With Him, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE?

Are you taking God at His Word?   Are you trusting that what He has said is true?    If the Bible says that He is your healer, do you believe that He will heal YOU?  We have to stop just believing for others and begin to take the Word of God personal.  

If the Bible says that God knows the things you have need of and that He is faithful and just to provide you with those things, do you believe that He will pay the bill and take care of the needs of your household?  Again, we have to stop just praying and believing for others and believe that He will do it for us as well.

If the Word of God says that He will never leave you nor forsake you, why are you thinking that you are alone?   Have you entered a room by yourself just to turn around to see other people had come into the room and you never knew they were there?   What we have to understand is, God is already in the room before we get there.   In others words, God is omnipresent.   He is everywhere present and we are NEVER alone.   

We have to take God at His Word and we have to know that with Him, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Luke 1:37

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Have You Flipped The Script and Started Living Your Life On Purpose With God's Purpose In Mind?

What do you do when "people" try to tell you what to do?   Do you just immediately trust that what they are telling you is the right thing to do or do you weigh what they are saying by the Word of God?    It's funny how easy it is for us to believe and act on what a friend or family member is telling us to do and yet we continuously question what God has told us to do.  God's Word should always outweigh peoples words.

How often do we take people at their word and end up saying "maybe I shouldn't have done that"?   What we have to understand is what is good for one person is not the best option for you.    The Bible is very clear.   The Bible tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.    So we need to understand that we have to take ownership for the things we do and the things we say.   We need to be constantly aware of the fact that we belong to God and we are accountable for the things we do and the words we say.   

It's time to flip the script.   The script of the world is that you be a follower and not the leader that God created you to be.   When you flip the script, you do the unexpected and you deviate from the norm.   You don't just do things "just because".   You begin to do things "on purpose with God's purpose" in mind.    It's time to live our lives in a way that says who we are in God, to God, and for God.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

Philippians 2:12

 King James Version (KJV)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.

Have You Moved From The Place Of Questions To The Place Of Trust and Confidene In What God Has Said He Would Do?

What do you do when you don't understand?  When you don't understand the sickness that is going on in your body.   When you don't understand the lack that seems to be in your household.    When you don't understand the pain and the disappointment that you seem to be experiencing in life.   What do you do?   Do you run to God or do you run from God?   Do you hold on to God or do you let go and try to figure things out on your own?

One of the first things people tend to do is ask God why.   Have you ever said or heard someone say "why God am I go through this"?    We also ask Him when is the change going to come.     We have to understand that that is the right thing to do.   We should be going to God and asking of God but there comes a time when we have to simply TRUST GOD.   

We have to trust God to do whatever it is we need to have done.   We have to trust Him to heal us.   We have to trust Him to give us strength and to help us endure.   We have to trust Him for the provision we need.   We have to trust Him to give us peace in the midst of every storm in life.    We have to move from the place of questions to the place of confidence and trust in what God has already said He would do.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Psalms 118:8

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

Understanding We Are Not Weak and Powerless. God Has Called Us To Walk In His Power and To Understand He Is Well Able To Do Whatever Needs To Be Done In Our Lives.

Did you get up today with an attitude of expectation?   When you expect something, you anticipate it happening.   You hope for it, look for it, and wait for it to happen.   So often we get up with an attitude of fear.  Fearful about the outcome of our situation.   Remember, God did not give you a spirit of fear.   He doesn't want us to be timid and scared.   He filled us with His Spirit and we have to recognize that we are full of power, love, and we have a sound mind.

When your mind is sound, you have the capacity to think, to reason, and to understand.   God told us what to think on.   He said for us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report.    We have to think according to God's plan and stop concentrating on the things that are meant to induce fear in our hearts and minds.

We have to understand that God wants us to walk in love.   The Bible says that He is love.   So when we walk in love, we walk in Him.   We exhibit his attributes and we have His attitude concerning the people and the things in this life.   

God also said that He has filled us with His power.   We are not weak and powerless vessels.   Even when we feel weak in the natural, God said that He is our strength during those times.     God never called us to walk in our own power and ability.   He called us to walk in His power and to know that He is well able to do whatever needs to be done in our lives.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION

Philippians 4:8 

King James Version (KJV)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Are You Letting Weariness Take Over and Cause Your Faith To Fail?

What are you willing to do for God?   How far are you willing to go?   Are you getting tired in the process?   Will you give up even though you know you have promise from God?  

How often do we give up midstream?   How often do we let weariness take over  and cause your faith to fail?    We have to learn how to press in-spite of frustration.   Frustration comes when we feel we are unable to accomplish something.   What we have to understand is the fact that we can't do it alone.   We have to recognize that we need God.   God has already promised that through Christ, we can do ALL things.   

It's time to stop giving up.   It's time to press through the pain.   When a woman delivers a child, she presses through the pain to push out the life that is within her.    Just as a woman births a child, God has placed within us vision and that vision includes our hope, our future, and our expected end.   We have to press through the process and pain of life in order to birth the vision that God has placed on the inside of us.   

AGAIN ... it's time to stop giving up.   It's time to trust God completely.   He said in our weakness, He is strong.   It's time to walk in His strength.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

2 Corinthians 12:9 

King James Version (KJV)

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

How Are You Responding To The People In Your Life? Are You Allowing The Actions Of Others To Cause You To React In A Way That Does Not Reflect The Love Of God?

How are you responding to the people in your life?   How are you responding to your family?   How are you responding to your co-workers?   How are you responding to the cashier at the store?   How are you responding to the customer service representative on the phone?    What we have to understand is, our response does matter.

Even when people are wrong or do things wrong, we are still required to give a God response.     God is love.    The question is, are you responding in love or reacting based another person wrong doing.   

God looks at each of us individually.   That means He looks at the person that is encountering someone doing them wrong, as well as, the person that is doing the wrong.   His Word says that we all have to give an account.   That means, the person who is doing wrong has to give an account for what they have done and the person who is being wronged has to give an account for how they responded.

Don't allow the actions of others to cause you to react in a way that does not reflect the love of God.   Give people over to God in prayer and trust Him to deal with them.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

James 4:17 

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

Are You Seeking God and Have You Made The Decision To Stick With Him and To Stay With Him?

What are you seeking?   Are you seeking God and His righteousness or are you seeking people and their applause?   We should be seeking God.   We should be seeking His advise and direction to every situation we encounter in life.

The Bible says in the book of Matthew that we are to seek Him first.   Are you seeking Him first when you have a bill to pay?   Are you seeking Him first when sickness comes upon your body?   Are you seeking Him first when you feel lost and confused?   Are you seeking God or are you looking for people to help you pay your bills, heal your body, and to give you peace?

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Do you think God is hiding from you?   The Bible says in Deuteronomy that if we seek God, we will find Him.   Understand, God is not hiding but we do have to make an effort to dwell with Him.   God said in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us.   He said that He is always with us.   However, we have to acknowledge His presence and make the decision to stick with Him and stay with Him. 

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

What Is At The Forefront Of Your Heart and Mind When You Make Decisions In Your Life?

There may be times in your life when you just don't know what to do?   Where you don't know which way to go or what to choose?   You have to learn how to choose what is "right".    The word right is defined as morally correct, just, and honorable.   Synonyms for the word right are goodness, righteousness, virtue, and integrity.    

We've all made mistakes.   We have all at one time or another chose to do the wrong things in life but today is a new day that God has given us.   Today is a divine opportunity to make the right choices in life.    It is a good day to walk in a way that exhibits God's goodness, righteousness, virtue, and integrity.   What are you going to do with this day that God has given you?

Your question may be "how do I make the right choices in life".   You can only make the right choices when you put God first.  What is at the forefront of your mind when you make decisions.   Are you filled with worry and doubt or are you trusting God completely?  God should always be at the forefront.    Your faith in Him should always override the fear that comes with your situation.     

When you put God first, you remember what He has said and what He will do.   When you put God first, your desire is to please Him and not yourself or the people around you.    When you put God first, His Word is always in the forefront of your heart and your mind and your desire is to honor Him, obey Him, and to live your life in a way that is pleasing to Him.   

Making the right choices is easier said than done.   Every decision we make in life is actually are result of choice.    We choose every day what to do and what not to do.    Remember, God and the Word of God should always be the motivating factor behind every choice you make in life.    

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Joshua 24:14-15 

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Have You Forgiven Yourself? It's Time To Receive God's Love, Grace, and Mercy So That You Can Move Forward In Life

Are you still living in the remembrance of your past mistakes?   Are you allowing your bad choice in the past to hold you in captivity?    Are you still trying to dig out from under the captivity that you put yourself in by making the wrong choice?    It's time to let go of the past and to trust God with your future.

We all have made wrong choices and unfortunately those choices have impacted not only our lives but sometimes the lives of those around us.    We have to know how to not only ask for forgiveness but we also have to know that we are forgiven.   

You can't change your past.   You can't have a "redo" on the things that have already happened.   However, you can learn from your past and have hope and expectation for your future.    Every new day is a day that God has given us to make the "right" choices.   Every day is filled with God's love, grace, and mercy.     He knew what our choices would be in the past and He knew that we would need to have His mercy renewed every day of our lives.

It's time to repent and let go of your past mistakes.   It's time to receive God's love, grace, and mercy for you to move forward in life.   It's time you know and act like you are forgiven.   It's time to let go of people's opinion of your past and to rest in what God says about you.    It's time for you to forgive yourself.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Isaiah 43:25 

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, And will not remember thy sins.

Are You Monitoring The Things That You Are Allowing To Enter Into Your Life Through Your Eye and Ear Gates?

What are you taking in?   What are  you allowing into the gates of your life?    What are you looking at and allowing into your eye gates?   What are you listening to and allowing into your ear gates?    You have to be aware of the fact that what you look at and listen to will soon enter also into the gate of your heart.   

We have to understand that a gate is an opening.   It is a means of access that can either be swung, drawn, or lowered to either block an entrance or to allow access.    The question is, what are you allowing to have entrance and access to your life.  

We have to get to a point where we monitor what we let in.   The purpose of monitoring something is so that mistakes can be avoided.    When you have observed the outcome of situations in your life and what helped bring on the negative things in your life, it gives you a guide as to what to do and what not to do.    It helps you to know what things bring about wrongful desires in your life.   It helps you to know and understand what you should listen to and what you should look at in order to keep your heart and mind stayed on God.   

We can't totally stop looking at and hearing the things that promote sin in this world but we can limit the access it has into our hearts and minds by monitoring what we see and what we listen to.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Philippians 4:8 

King James Version (KJV)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Will You Be The One That God Finds Faithful Despite The Things You Are Going Through In Life?

Will you be the "one"?   Will you be the one that God finds faithful?  Will you be the one that is still seeking God in spite of the storms in your life?   Will you be the one who is encouraging others even in the midst of your pain?   Will you be the one?   

Will you be the one who God can trust to carry His Word to hurting and dying generation?   Will you be the one who intercedes for others in order to intercept the plan of the enemy in their lives?    Will YOU be the one?  

Understand, God chose you and He knew exactly what you would be going through at this point in your life.   He new every experience that you would ever go through and YET He chose YOU!   

You didn't choose yourself so don't lay down your call.    Don't walk around "feeling" defeated.   Know that You are more than a conqueror and you are victorious.   Know that what you are going through is temporary.   Christ died on the cross so that you could live.   Have a victorious mindset and walk in the victory that Christ died for you to have.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Proverbs 20:6

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”

Understanding God's Answer Is Not Always What We Want To Hear

What if God's answer is NO.   What if He says that you can't go and do what it is you desire to do?   What if God's timing is different from when you want things done?   What if the house that He prepared for you is not the house that you particularly want?   What if your designated place of worship is the house of worship you don't want to particularly be in and yet He has called you to put your talents to work there?   What if?  

Will you obey Him?  Will you follow Him?   Will you trust Him?   

God's answer is not always what we want to hear.   The question is, what will be our response?   Will we respond in obedience or will be continue to do things our way.   We always have to check the fruit that is coming from our lives.   Being planted in the right soil will bring forth a good harvest.   Make sure you are not doing things your way.   God's plan is not always comfortable.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Matthew 4:19

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Are You Allowing Situations From Your Past To Cause You To Be Stuck In A Place Where You Lose Your Hope and Confidence In God?

Are you living your life based on "what if" or "if I would have"?    If so, it's time to stop doing that.   You have to trust and believe that God is working everything together in your life for your good.   You have to know that every new day that you wake up is another divine opportunity to do things right.    You have to realize that God did not leave you in yesterday.   He brought you through and to this new day in Him.   On top of that, He filled this day with brand new mercy.

So often we get stuck on what happened and we try to figure out what we could have done and should have done.   Yes, we make mistakes.   Yes, we have made some bad choices in life but thank God for new days and new opportunities to get it right.      Don't allow the pain and the situations in your past to hold you captive.    If you are going to be captive or captivated by something, be captivated by God.   

The word captivated means to be influenced and dominated by someone or something.   Let God be the One who influences your life.    Let your choices be based on His Word.   Don't allow the things that happened in your past cause you to remain stuck in a position of despair.    When you are in despair, you lose your hope and confidence.    Remain strong in God.   Let your hope, peace, and faith be in Him at all times.  

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Psalm 39:7-8

⁷ And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

Understanding That God's Power Is Not Limited Based On What We Can or Cannot See

What happens when you don't see God move right when you think He should?   Do you give up and quit?   Do you step away from Him?   Do you lose hope and trust in Him and His Word?  Or do you, STAND STRONG, NOT GIVE UP, BELIEVE THAT HIS WORD IS TRUE, and TRUST THAT HE IS MAKING A WAY FOR YOU?  

Have you ever had things you "set aside" for your children.   Whether it be gifts for their birthday or money for their future.   Things that you hold onto until the right moment in time because you know they are not ready to handle the responsibility of what you want to give them yet?   Sometimes that is what God has to do.   Some things He has to hold onto so that timing and destiny can meet.   In other words, God's timing is perfect and there are some things that He has prepared for your destiny.  

We have to learn how to trust God's timing.   We have to understand that He knows all and He can do all things.    We have to trust that He will take care of us even when we don't see what we need when we think we need it.   God's power is not lessened by our vision.   He is still able to make a way and  to deliver us.   We have to learn how to stay in faith despite our pain.   We can't allow temptation and frustration to overtake us to the point that we step out of the Word and the will of God.   

SCRIPTURE MEDITATION 

Isaiah 41:10 

King James Version (KJV)

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.