Month: August 2017

“Will Alignment”

When is the last time you had a Will Alignment? One thing I am learning is there are many born again Believers who say we love God, but we won’t totally submit our will unto His Perfect Will. How do I know? Because I’ve been there. I am thankful for growth in this area now, but nevertheless, I have not forgotten. Don’t believe me???

Answer the following questions truthfully:

~ Has God ever told you “No,” but you did it anyway?

~ When is the last time God said “Wait,” but you didn’t?

~ Has God told you that the person you are dating is not the one He has chosen for you, yet you’re still dating?

~ When is the last time God said sow, but you didn’t obey?

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17).

I find it hilarious that we believe/trust God as long as His Will lines up with what we want to do; but the moment He challenges us to submit our will unto His, we question God’s judgment. I know it sounds ridiculous, but if you are honest with yourself, you too have probably been there before.

We have such a sense of entitlement these days. We demand our way in relationships, in friendships, in churches, in families, on our jobs, even in the ways that we want God to bless us.

We need a Will Alignment. Just like with a car, a wheel alignment keeps the vehicle from pulling in one direction. This same application is necessary for our lives. We cannot afford to allow our wicked, deceitful hearts to pull us in one direction, while God is trying to guide us in a completely different direction. This is what makes many Believers look unstable.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).

Let’s Pray:
Our Father Who Art in Heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. I delight to do Your will, O God Your Law is within my heart. Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Make me perfect in every good work to do Your Will, working in me that which is well pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. In Jesus name, Amen (Matthew 6:9-10, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 119:133, Hebrews 13:21).

So, That Settles It. I challenge everyone reading this blog post to get a Will Alignment. Humbly submit your will unto God and watch how much you grow, flourish, and prosper. Allow Him to lead you in the right direction. God says it like this, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT).

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“You Don’t Have A Clue”

God has afforded me numerous opportunities to offer Godly counsel to those who have a sincere desire to do life God’s way. I take this seriously and always pray for God’s wisdom when I speak. Sometimes, in this position, one can be perceived as having it all together. (Inserts laughter here) Meanwhile, I’m thinking to myself, “You Don’t Have A Clue.” So, I try to remain humble and stay mindful that while I may have a handle on certain areas, it is only because of the Grace of God.

One thing we as Believers have to be careful of is making sure that we don’t judge, criticize, or ridicule those who are vulnerable and willing to open up to us. It is so easy to say what we wouldn’t do, or tell others what they should do; but unless we have walked through it, or been tested as such, we really don’t know. We may have read the books, attended the conferences, or heard other people’s testimonies; but it is NOT the same as actually dealing with the issue first hand. In all actuality, You Don’t Have A Clue!

Example: Let’s say you are a woman who once struggled with fornication and you have not dated anyone in the past ten years. You feel like you’ve grown stronger. You don’t hesitate to condemn other women who didn’t intend to succumb to temptation, but did. You start dating again and find yourself really attracted to this man, and now you find yourself tempted beyond your control and fall into sin and fornication. You believed that if tempted, you would take the way of escape to flee the temptation; but unfortunately it didn’t work out like that (you hadn’t been tempted since the last time you were tempted). You were not as strong (in your own strength) as you thought. Now, you are finding it difficult to forgive yourself and you feel unworthy of God’s forgiveness and compassion.

Where did you go wrong?

1. It is so easy to believe you have victory in a certain area when you are not being tempted/tested.

2. You make the mistake of judging others based upon hoping you will do the right thing.

3. You esteem yourself higher than you ought.

What should you take away from this experience?

1. True Victory comes when you remain humble, endure trials and temptations, and pass the test (1 Peter 1:7).

2. Judge not lest we should be judged (Matthew 7:1).

3. Do not esteem yourself higher than others (Philippians 2:3).

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).

As Believers, we are to pray for, encourage, and hold each other accountable. We should be open and honest with ourselves and our brethren. It’s okay if we don’t always have the answer (and we won’t). If we did, we would make the horrible mistake of depending on our limited knowledge instead of trusting in God’s Infinite Wisdom. Whatever you do, please DO NOT mislead people! You cannot lead people down a path that you have never traveled!

“… They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch (Matthew 15:14 NLT).”

If people come to you for advice in an area in which you have little or no experience, be transparent and tell them that You Don’t Have A Clue. Tell them that while you have no personal experience in that area, you are happy to pray with them for God’s Perfect Will, and always refer them to the Word of God (the book of sound advice for every situation). This is how we dwell together in unity, strengthening the brethren, iron sharpening iron.

Let’s Pray:

Father God, we thank You for giving us everything according to life and Godliness. Lord, please forgive me for any time that I have judged or condemned others. Father, forgive me for esteeming myself higher than I ought. I ask that You teach me Your ways. My desire is to dwell in peace with ALL men. Father, help me to strengthen those who are weak, and to restore and not judge my brothers and sisters who have been overtaken in a fault. I am truly grateful that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Help me to admit when I don’t know and take solace in knowing that in my weakness Your strength is made Perfect. Help me to maintain a heart of humility so that You won’t have to humble me. Lord I pray that I will live a life that is pleasing unto you each and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So, That Settles It, don’t become proud and boastful because you have victory in an area that others may not (even if you really are a little stronger). Don’t focus on being seen as having it all together. Instead, rest in knowing that it’s okay to admit if You Don’t Have A Clue. When you don’t know, you can always consult with the All Knowing, All Wise God.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5).

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“Deflated Faith”

During my quiet time last week I heard “Deflated Faith.” After further meditation, I received the revelation that there are many Believers who are suffering from Deflated Faith. They are losing hope, losing confidence, and their faith is slowly fading away.

Think about a flat tire. How do you know when you have a flat tire?

1. You may have a flat tire if – Your steering feels funny. You have to hold the wheel with force to one side in order to keep your car going straight.
Likewise, when your faith is deflated, you have to force yourself to stay positive and optimistic (in spite of not seeing the desired results).

2. You may have a flat tire if – Your car continues slowing down for no reason. When this happens you should pull the car over and check it out.
Similarly, if you are losing faith, you may find yourself not as enthusiastic about life and what lies ahead. Sometimes you just have to pull over (take a step back from the busyness of the highway of life), do a self-assessment, and determine what’s needed to get back on track.

3. You may have a flat tire if – You hear a weird noise, like the car is groaning.
Do you find yourself groaning and complaining more? If so, you may be suffering from Deflated Faith.

4. You may have a flat tire if – People are honking, flashing their lights, pointing, yelling at you and screaming “YOUR TIRE IS FLAT PULL OVER!”
The same is true when you are battling Deflated Faith, your brothers and sisters in Christ may pull you aside and ask if you are okay. They can see/discern that your countenance has fallen.

Something that sticks out to me when I think of Deflated Faith is: If your faith can be deflated, then that means at one point it was full (inflated); but something must’ve happened causing your faith to seep out and somewhere along the way, you began to doubt.

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest (Luke 8:11-15 NLT).

Which one represents you? If you’re not in the “good soil” group yet don’t feel bad because once you know where you are, you can work towards progressing your faith. You may have to do like the Apostles, they asked Jesus
“Show us how to increase our faith (Luke 17:5 NLT).

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you (Luke 17:6 NLT)!

Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it” (Matthew 21:21-22 NLT).

So, That Settles It, consider this blog post as your Roadside Assistance. Don’t settle for Deflated Faith any longer, instead PUMP IT UP! Pray, cling to God’s Word, and believe.

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“Walk it Out”

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way (Psalm 37:23).

We hear this scripture, we read it, we memorize it, and we recite it almost verbatim, but do YOU really believe it? In an attempt to show God that we are serious about trusting Him, it is so easy to cry out “Order my steps Lord…” (Psalm 119:133) Many Believers find it easy to believe as long as the path is clear and we can see our way through. However, the problem arises when we encounter obstacles along the journey; if we aren’t careful, we will stop prematurely, and that’s the wrong thing to do. Even if you stumble from time to time, don’t stop. Walk it Out.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

It’s in those difficult times when you can’t see where you’re going that your faith is truly proven. You say you trust God, so prove it. Trust Him even when you can’t see Him. Trust Him when you don’t know what’s going to happen. Trust Him when your path looks uncertain.

For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Many times along your journey, as you obey God and follow His instructions, you will find yourself in uncomfortable places, and if you knew that’s where you were headed, you would have detoured. That’s precisely why God only gives you glimpses at a time. He doesn’t want you to try to skip steps, no He wants you to Walk it Out. He doesn’t want you fearful of what lies ahead. Some of the perils along your path can seem frightening, but keep your eyes on Him, keep moving forward, and Walk it Out. God is wise enough to know that if He shows you everything at once, then there’s a chance you will try to figure it out on your own and risk not completely obeying His instructions; or even worse, you will become frightened of what’s ahead and try to run in the opposite direction.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

So, That Settles It, if you believe that your steps have been ordered by God, then know that He will not lead you astray. Believe that God is guiding you and He won’t allow your foot to slip. Whether you can see or not, allow your faith and your trust in God to lead you. No matter what you encounter along the path, don’t stop. Remember, God delights in your every step. Walk it Out.

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“Do You Understand the Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth?”

It’s no secret that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy, but that doesn’t mean you have to let him (John 10:10). You have the power to stop the enemy in his tracks; all you have to do is open your mouth. The enemy’s weapons are the lies he uses to try and discourage you, but you have some weapons of your own. When Satan attempts to deceive you with his lies, the worst thing any Believer can do is retreat or remain silent or fearful. Instead, boldly rebuttal with the Word of God and ask him, “Do You Understand the Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth?”

Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection (Proverbs 30:5 NLT).

Now in order for this to work, you have to build up your arsenal with the Word of God. This requires more than just memorizing a few scriptures. To defeat the enemy you have to live, eat, and breathe God’s Word. Studying the scriptures and meditating on God’s Word is likened to a boxer training for a title fight; in your case, the title is your future and destiny. When the bell rings Satan is coming out swinging with deception and lies. You have to come out blocking with the Word of God, and as you block his attempts with that which God says, he won’t even know what hit him. Ask him, “Do You Understand the Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth.”

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:8-9 NLT).

Many Believers ignorantly (lacking the knowledge required) try to combat the wicked one, but they usually don’t have enough weaponry to endure. See, the enemy is patient, so he will allow you to fight until you get tired (in your own strength), or run out of ammunition, and then when you are weak, he will try to strike with a mighty blow in hopes of completely taking you out. To defeat the enemy, you have to learn his strategies, and you can learn everything about him and his wicked devices in your Holy Bible.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Here are a few techniques you can try:

Enemy: “You can’t do it. You are going to fail.” 

Response: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Enemy: “The doctors have given up, they said there’s nothing else they can do for you”

Response: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17).

Enemy: “Look at you; you’re always broke. You don’t even have enough money to pay your bills.” 

Response: “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).

So, That Settles It, build up your arsenal, so that no matter what Satan says, you can use your weapons of mass destruction (God’s Word) to silence him, and be sure to ask him, “Do You Understand the Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth;” so he will know he chose the wrong child of God to pick on.

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