Be Confident in God’s Strength in You

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’” (Numbers 13:30 NIV)

I believe God has destined for every Christ follower to live a life marked by his presence, power and provision. But do we desire to live in alignment with what he has for us? I find myself liking my ideas but deep down desiring what HE wants and therein lies the battle. Do we believe God desires for us to walk in His plan? He wants you to be confident in the truth that, through him, all things are possible. Fact: our focus will determine our behavior and it will influence our faith. 

When the Israelites first approached the borders of Canaan, Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land to assess the situation. Ten of the scouts came back with reports that focused on the giants in the land, men so big and powerful the scouts feared they could not be defeated.

However, two of the scouts remained focused on the promise from God that he would hand the land over to the Israelites. One of those scouts, Caleb, silenced the others when he said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30 NIV). Do we have a Caleb in our lives that speaks life not defeat in the face of defeat? We must speak the word of faith. There are times we must hear positive to avoid being swept into the eye of a tornado of fear and doubt that will launch us into chaos.

Caleb was focused on the magnitude of God, not the magnitude of any giant challenges ahead. Today we may see many giants that challenge our faith — giants of time, energy, finance, resources, sickness, health issues, fear and faithlessness, but be confident—God is already there!

God wants you to be confident that he’s pouring his strength into you so you can do whatever it takes to defeat these giants. God says you can take possession of the life he has declared for you because he is with you.

By seeing his hand sweep away the personal giants in your life, you’ll be even more confident that you can do all things through him who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).

God can create something from nothing. God loves his creation and desires to bless. God spoke the world into existence, and he spoke you into your mother’s womb. Even now, he can speak into the chaos of your life to bring it shape and form. He can take a heart that is broken, impure, or failed and turn it into a heart that is whole, pure, and purposeful. God wants to see you pure, so he takes an active role in creating your new heart and bringing order to the chaos of your life.

Your job is to submit to his sovereignty, humble yourself before him, and ask for his help.

Lord, speak a Genesis moment into our hearts and into the circumstances of our lives. We acknowledge “everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).

Renew in us a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10), no longer chaotic or controlled by events, circumstances, or feelings. Give us lives shaped by you and by your Spirit flowing through us.

Blessings,

 

Jesus Cares about our Journey!

“Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon. A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, ‘Would you give me a drink of water?’” (John 4:6-7 MSG)

During this past week I have been giving some thought to this question: Is there such a thing as coincidence or is it what we coin divine appointments? You know exactly what I mean just out of the blue you happen to be at the right place, right time and someone comes along maybe known or unknown and your world has been marked by this appointment! Recently, I can say I have had many of these moments and boy have I been encouraged! 

Ask yourself this question does God care about my journey? In Kingdom thinking, yes. There simply cannot be random events but divine appointments. Random doesn’t happen in God’s Kingdom. I choose to believe God is the great orchestrator, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments. I choose to believe God knows exactly what I am experiencing and when I choose to follow Him I have a sense of his leading and direction and things happen. For me personally over the last 2 weeks some people have walked back into my life unexpectedly and encouraged me. This left me saying, BUT God!! Then as well, some people I had never met crossed my path it has changed my faith and hope level! 

With this in mind let me ask you was it a coincidence that Jesus came upon the woman at the well? Was she just a random woman who walked into a discussion of a man filled with grace and life changing power and then went told a whole village about this forgiveness? Would God have left that all to chance?

Question do you believe He would he do any less in your life?

The Bible says God actively works within our circumstances. And so we cannot judge our situation apart from God’s wisdom. In other words, we must leave it up to God to interpret our circumstances and the outcome. Only he is capable of understanding all the facts, and only he sees the significance of every detail and provides those moments where you step back and you just know it was God!!!

I want you to know God is active in your current circumstances! I can’t wait for what happens next. I am believing so BIG because it is up to Him and he has the right people at the right time coming my way! And yes thank you for putting the right people in my life right now! Blessed is what we are!!!

Blessings,

 

Building Joy in Our Lives

We just finished the study of Philippians and I can’t get away from it!!

Hold onto your joy!!

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

You and I have a need for joy in our lives. Life without joy is overwhelming, overburdened, and oppressive. Studies have actually shown that the more joy we have in our lives, the more productive we are. Joy is not a feeling--it’s a sense of peace, contentment and hope that activates more energy, creativity and productivity. I have personally experienced this.

In the short book of Philippians — only four chapters long — Paul uses the word “joy” 16 times. The amazing thing is, Paul didn’t write this book when he was on vacation or a cruise. He was in prison in Rome, waiting to be executed. In the darkest days of his life, he wrote the most positive book in the Bible.

In Philippians, Paul gives us six joy-builders that will help diffuse our discouragement and lift our depression. To make them easy to remember, I’ve made them into an acrostic — JOYFUL. Today, we’ll look at the first three.

1. Choose to get past the regrets about our past.

We must recognize the past as a springboard to the future! If we don’t do this we will find ourselves battling to be positive. Gods word says we are set free! Freedom means we can discard, to eliminate, to get rid of the bondage of the past. Paul says if you want to enjoy life, there are some things you’ve got to get rid of because they are wearing you down and overburdening your life. The Bible says to forget your regrets, because that's what God does — he chooses to forgive your mistakes once they're confessed. The starting point of joy is letting go of the past. Philippians 3:13 says, “One thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead” (GN).

2.Worry must be put under control.

If you’re going to enjoy the present, you must work to get all worries about your future under control. The things we worry about we cannot control but it consumes our mind energies and even paralyzes our hope. Worry, hands-down, is the greatest threat of them all. You cannot be joyful and worried at the same time. Paul’s prescriptions are these verses: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT). You can either worry or you can pray. This is easier said than done but we either trust God’s capabilities and creativity or we don’t. God has proven HE knows more than me. What I have had to practice is be still and let His power settle my spirit and move forward in confidence.

3.Trust God's purpose.

If you’re just drifting, if you don’t know where you are or where you’re going, of course you’re not going to have any joy in your life. We all need a cause greater than ourselves for which we live. That is what brings us joy. Living for yourself does not bring joy.

Even when Paul had literally lost everything, there was one thing that could not be taken away from him — his purpose in life. Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (NIV).

If you want to have a joy-filled life, we need to get in line with God’s purpose for your lives. What does this look like? For me it’s a journey of hope I believe HE has a plan for me, I believe HE has the resources for my needs, I believe HE has the authority over my weakness, I believe He is God above all things and HE is my God!! Recognize when we begin to live with the purpose for which we were made, life makes sense and joy easily found.

My prayer is that the journey you are on can be understood to be joy filled!

Blessings,

God is for You!

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT)

No matter what you’re going to face this next week, you’re not going to face it alone. God is with you, He is in you, and He is for you. This is coming from the writings of Paul and as you know he did not have any easy journey. To name a few things: he was in prison falsely accused, shipwrecked and survived, bit by a poisonous snake and survived, put in jail and led the jailor and family to Christ. He says he is confident that God is capable of finishing all that He started in him. We are also partakers of that promise of God. Wow! Not from easy street but a tough Paul proclaims God’s capacity is greater to handle anything that comes our way, and in the midst of that journey you can still praise and follow our Lord in obedience. You see life is a progression of events that create our story and we are constantly growing with Gods help!
“God is working in you.” The word “working” in Greek is the word energos, from which we get the word “energy.” God is the energy driver in your life. You’re not just going on willpower. You’re not just going on your own power. God says he will give you the power you need, no matter what you’re facing.

Not only is He in you, He is with you. The Bible says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:18, 20 NIV). That’s quite a promise! The Bible says Christ is in you; the Bible says you’re hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3); and the Bible says you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3). That means you are covered, more than a conqueror, an overcomer!

Not only is God with you and in you; God is also for you. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, no one can defeat us” (NCV).

When a shepherd leads the sheep, there are always guard dogs at the back, nipping at the sheep to keep them moving in the right direction.

The Bible says that the guard dogs in your life are goodness and mercy. God gives you the things you don’t deserve — that is his goodness. And, He doesn’t give you the things you do deserve — that’s his mercy.

Do you ever feel the smile of God in your life? If you don’t, you don’t really know God. Some people think God is like the angry parent who’s mad at them all the time. No. God is for you!

If you want to be happy, you need to get up every morning and say, “God, thank you that You’re going to be with me today, You’re going to be in me today, and You’re going to be for me today.”

Isn’t that great news? If God is with you, and God is in you, and God is for you, then we have to ask why we give up?

CHOOSE TO LIVE LIKE YOU WON!!

Blessings,

Hold Your Heart!

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

What do you remember about people?  The good experiences or the bad experiences?  Paul said, "I like to remember the good things about people, focus on the good times we've had, remember the positive experiences."

When Paul said this he had not had an easy time in Philippi. Acts 16 tells us that when he went to Philippi he was illegally arrested, whipped, humiliated, and thrown into prison -- before finally being asked to leave town. Yet he says, "I thank God every time I remember you."

Paul could have dwelt on the negative.  He could have remembered the painful memories.  He chose not to remember the painful; instead, he focused on the things he could be grateful for.

Maybe you have been hurt in the past by a parent, a spouse, or a friend and you're still holding on to that hurt.  As a result you can't enjoy being around them today. In fact, you find yourself not enjoying much at all! You're still focusing on the bad and negative.  Be grateful for the good in people.  Pleasant memories are a choice.  I can choose what I'm going to remember about the past. See for the most part what we are holding onto is not even being held onto by the one you’re frustrated with and we are the ones losing sleep, dealing with anxiety and missing out on what God has for us!

I'm not saying that you deny the hurts you've had or that you excuse the weaknesses in other people.  That is psychologically unhealthy.  Focus on the good and choose to emphasize the strengths.  Please move on past this dream-staller.

If you want to enjoy others, you've got to focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses.  With some people it takes a lot of creativity.  But you can find something good in everybody.

I pray this week you can celebrate someone else and your new way of thinking will become contagious in your circle of friends!

Blessings,