1 Kings 19:4
4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Have you ever lost your confidence and/or will to fight even for a moment? The prophet Elijah was devastated when he was approached by the King Ahab's wife Jezebel. She threatened to have him killed all because he was determined to do the will of God. Elijah fled. He was not only at the point of exhaustion but also felt as though he were not making a dent in accomplishing the purpose God created him for. So his solution, pray that God would take him. But just as he was ready to give to up, an angel of the Lord was there for him to quicken him once more.
We've all been in that place at one point or another where we lost our will to fight or lost confidence in ourselves. That's the problem...we relied solely on us. What about relying on God? God knew what he was doing when he fashioned you in your mother's womb. God knew what he was doing when he put all types of gifts inside you. Losing your will to fight is like saying God made a mistake. God makes no mistakes, but we do!! That's why we must lean on Him in every way!!! The moment we rely solely on us, we fail. We often give up just before the light breaks through the clouds. We do not have the capacity to do it all on our own so know the following verse from the mouth of Jesus and carry it within you when you lose your will to fight:
Matthew 19:26
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
God just wants you to show up for the fight, he does the fighting if we let him!!!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Reaping the Reward of Faithfulness
Luke 22:18-20
28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Who has stood with you shoulder to shoulder, behind and in front of you as you pressed forward? Jesus was quite aware of the loyalty the disciples displayed through his three years of ministry. As he neared the end of his earthly journey, Jesus wanted the disciples to know that he was grateful for their enduring with him for it wasn't all about Him pouring into them but about the shared journey. And the reward for them would not only be stored in heaven, but they would carry on what he began. Jesus had trials too. Jesus walked the dirt roads with them, Jesus was talked about and lied on. But through it all, the disciples stood with him and behind him.
Who has done that for you? As you are blessed through life, those that have stood with you, holding you up shall reap the blessings. For it is they that God shall reward, not only in heaven but on earth.
28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Who has stood with you shoulder to shoulder, behind and in front of you as you pressed forward? Jesus was quite aware of the loyalty the disciples displayed through his three years of ministry. As he neared the end of his earthly journey, Jesus wanted the disciples to know that he was grateful for their enduring with him for it wasn't all about Him pouring into them but about the shared journey. And the reward for them would not only be stored in heaven, but they would carry on what he began. Jesus had trials too. Jesus walked the dirt roads with them, Jesus was talked about and lied on. But through it all, the disciples stood with him and behind him.
Who has done that for you? As you are blessed through life, those that have stood with you, holding you up shall reap the blessings. For it is they that God shall reward, not only in heaven but on earth.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Devotion
1 Chronicles 11:19
19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
Have you ever displayed a deep level of devotion? David had fully stepped into his role as king of Israel after Saul's death. David was in the throws of war to take over Jerusalem. During the battle he became so thirsty that it seemed unbearable. Without David asking directly, three men risked their lives just to bring David some water. The men could've been killed by the enemy but what mattered to them was that their leader had what he needed. David was stunned at their devotion that he not only couldn't believe it, he felt unworthy and decided to present the water as a drink offering to God. David was humbled but more importantly he had to get used to devotion that would be given to him by those he led. Because he loved God, they loved him. Because he led in love, they served in loved.
What level of devotion have you displayed to God? What level of devotion have you displayed to those near and dear to you? Or what level of devotion has been displayed to you? If you haven't experienced either, ask why? Have you led in love? Have you served in love? More importantly, where is God in the equation since he is the epitome of love?
19 “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
Have you ever displayed a deep level of devotion? David had fully stepped into his role as king of Israel after Saul's death. David was in the throws of war to take over Jerusalem. During the battle he became so thirsty that it seemed unbearable. Without David asking directly, three men risked their lives just to bring David some water. The men could've been killed by the enemy but what mattered to them was that their leader had what he needed. David was stunned at their devotion that he not only couldn't believe it, he felt unworthy and decided to present the water as a drink offering to God. David was humbled but more importantly he had to get used to devotion that would be given to him by those he led. Because he loved God, they loved him. Because he led in love, they served in loved.
What level of devotion have you displayed to God? What level of devotion have you displayed to those near and dear to you? Or what level of devotion has been displayed to you? If you haven't experienced either, ask why? Have you led in love? Have you served in love? More importantly, where is God in the equation since he is the epitome of love?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Blocked In
Lamentations 3:7
He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains.
Have you ever felt blocked or boxed in? For this was the case of the writer. Feeling as though he were trapped and God was ignoring his desperate cry for help. What the author was demonstrating was a clear case of what happens when God wants you to learn something. We may attempt to run from it but if God wants us to experience something, we will end up running directly into what we were running from. It is not that God desires to harm us, but he wants to bring us to a greater place of growth, strength and understanding. Sometimes the only way he can get to us is if he closes all our doors and escape routes so that we deal with whatever it is we wish to close our to. Job was blocked in as a test of faith. We are often blocked in for this reason or so we can let go of what we've been holding on to.
Is your faith in need of increase? Have you been holding on to something God wants you to release? The wall will come down and the chains will fall of when you open your eyes to face what you must learn.
P.S. Please view my official book trailer/commercial on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zSgK6_6hE.
He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains.
Have you ever felt blocked or boxed in? For this was the case of the writer. Feeling as though he were trapped and God was ignoring his desperate cry for help. What the author was demonstrating was a clear case of what happens when God wants you to learn something. We may attempt to run from it but if God wants us to experience something, we will end up running directly into what we were running from. It is not that God desires to harm us, but he wants to bring us to a greater place of growth, strength and understanding. Sometimes the only way he can get to us is if he closes all our doors and escape routes so that we deal with whatever it is we wish to close our to. Job was blocked in as a test of faith. We are often blocked in for this reason or so we can let go of what we've been holding on to.
Is your faith in need of increase? Have you been holding on to something God wants you to release? The wall will come down and the chains will fall of when you open your eyes to face what you must learn.
P.S. Please view my official book trailer/commercial on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zSgK6_6hE.
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