Friday, June 15, 2012

An Anxious Heart

Proverbs 12:25
25An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

King Solomon talked of those who are filled with worry or anticipation about something to come or what one thinks will come. No matter the person, worry is a sure way to take away days from your life, not add to them as Jesus said in Matthew 6:27. The apostle Paul talks of being anxious for nothing but that we must submit our requests to God and with thanksgiving that we may have peace of mind. Peace of mind is so valuable. You don't know how important it is until you don't have it or are in danger of losing it. King Solomon talked of a "kind word" cheering up a worrier. A constant worrier or one constantly having anxiety about a situation is actually a spirit of fear. God is not the author of the spirit of fear. Where you find the spirit of fear, surely you will not find God in the situation. He does not operate in such a place. And having a spirit of fear or worry actually blocks your ability to focus on God. A kind word usually cheers anyone up. But one filled with the spirit of fear set in worry and anxiety may throw away the kind or uplifting word just as quick as it's released to them. For some, they thrive off of it because they think it makes them work harder and more efficiently. But in actuality, working in fear and anxiety doesn't keep one at peace so even if they obtain their desired results, they're too worried to enjoy it. One who is willing to overcome this will gradually get better with prayer as it will lead to deliverance. Peace of mind goes a long way.

P..S. Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment this Saturday at 8am CT/9am ET!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Taking it to the Brink and Beyond

John 11:14-15
14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

Jesus was frank with the disciples that He had to let Lazarus die. It may sound harsh because it's a man's life that was at stake and a lot of people who cared about Lazarus suffered grief. It was for the sake of the disciples faith that it happened. Remember, Jesus told the disciples He wouldn't be there forever. Jesus had to get them to a place where their faith was strong because He knew what they would encounter during His crucifixion and beyond. Jesus wanted the disciples "to know that they know" without a shadow of a doubt who Jesus is and what He can do. So sometimes the only way to do it is to take it to the brink or even past it. Yes, Jesus had to do it with someone's life. What a way to increase faith by letting someone die! But Jesus knew they would believe more in Him and that's what He needed. Taking it to the extreme is sometimes the only way the Lord gets our attention. He will allow a situation to get so bad that it appears from all angles to be hopeless. Ah but Jesus said in John 10 that He had the authority to lay down His life and pick it back up. So Jesus also has the authority to allow someone to die and to bring them back. Jesus can do it with anything. But it's for your sake. Is your faith at stake? Is Jesus taking it to the brink with you? How much else does He need to do to prove who He is and what He can do?

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

You've Been Delivered!

Psalm 116:8
8For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,

Have recovered from a near death situation? Have you walked away from an accident that according to the laws of physics, you should be dead? Have you ever been declared dead by doctors and suddenly your heart began to beat? Have you ever been told you had an incurable or terminal illness with a short time frame to live, yet you live and are no longer sick? If you have said yes to any and/or all of these questions, then you've been delivered! Have you ever been so overwhelmed with grief that nothing consoled you but suddenly your tears stopped? Have you ever been so hurt by another's actions towards you that your lips could not part to speak and only tears could fall yet suddenly they stopped? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then you've been delivered! Were you ever at a fork in the road and you were about to make the wrong choice but the door suddenly closed? Have you ever actually made an incorrect decision but you came out of it nearly unscathed? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then you too, my friend, have been delivered! Many take for granted the power of the Lord. The king who wrote psalm 116 did not. We are not the orchestrator of any of these instances of deliverance. It's only by our Lord. Yet many do not take the time to truly consider what the Lord asks of you and what is said in His presence. Do  you take your deliverance seriously? Has the Lord's mercy upon you caused you to shift gears and live for Him or do you just think He did it because He had to? Remember, the Lord is "judge, jury and executioner". He does not have to hear anyone's plea yet He heard yours in the depths of your heart where no one else can hear and see. The Lord heard you just as He heard the king reciting Psalm 116. If you've been delivered, start acting like it.

P.S. Remember to check out my Stubbs on Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Stop Wailing

Luke 8:52
52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

A woman who had fallen at Jesus' feet in desperation just wanted her daughter to be healed of her sickness. Before Jesus could reach the woman's daughter someone came to report the woman's daughter had died. But Jesus had already declared the little girl healed. Hmmm. Jesus said, "just believe and she will be healed." So no matter what it looked like, Jesus declared victory. Everyone at the house was wailing. But Jesus said to stop because the little girl was not dead just asleep. Like Lazarus, Jesus raised the young girl. It took a lot of faith to believe that someone who appeared defeated actually had victory. But healing comes in different ways. Jesus sometimes allows things to get to the point of no return and then He shows up. Why? Because He wants everyone to know that it is through His power that victory takes place. When Jesus works a miracle, no one else can dare get the glory.  What does it mean to wail? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines wail as 1)weep, 2)making a sound as a mournful cry 3)complain. Everyone in the house thought hope was lost. They all wailed. Now in regards to the death of loved ones, this is normal. In regards to death of situations, this too is normal. But! Yes, there is a but. If Jesus has told you that you have victory over a sickness or situation, then no matter what it looks like, believe it and stop wailing or complaining. If Jesus said, something is yours, then it's only a matter of time before He manifests it. How strong is your faith? Is your faith strong enough for you to stop wailing? Will you be like everyone else in the house of Jairus who wailed for the girl though Jesus said twice that the young girl was healed? Stop wailing and walk in victory!

P.S. Please note that in Friday's personal testimony I meant to reference Isaiah 55:11. Reading for yourself will always help you.  PLEASE NOTE: I will be at Books-A-Million in Columbia, MD on Saturday, July 28th from 3-5pm for a book signing so put it on your calendar! If you've bought your book but don't have it signed come out! If you haven't bought your book, come out! If you bought your book and have it signed but know someone else who would enjoy one, come out! I look forward to seeing ALL of you!