Thursday, March 31, 2016

If We Don't Stand, We Will Fall



If We Don't Stand, We Will Fall
 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
It has been said if we don’t stand for something we will fall for anything.  I have learned that if we don’t stand for what is right eventually we will bow to what is wrong.  Bowing begins with a process of orchestrated movements.  In order for bowing to take place the entire body cooperates.  What usually happens is that we succumb to the pressures of life and instead of standing with heads held high we begin to lower our heads. 

We cringe due to pressure’s of life, it may be social, political, or cultural. What happens with our head movement is that our neck and our shoulders follow its direction. In time, instead of sitting straight, we cower by simply leaning in and bending when we should stand tall. Do not contort or give in but stand. Stand. Stand still and see the deliverance of God!

When a person is determined to stand they will send commands to the legs to straighten and the feet to stand firmly on the floor. One who is determined to stand sends a command to the hands to grab hold to something and to the arm muscles to strengthen them as well as to lean on something or someone stronger.  Our God is mighty and He is strong.  Trade your weakness for His strength. Cling to Him like a young child does to his father.

When life gets you down and you feel you can’t get up-plop up, prop up, and pull up.  Just stand.  In due season, He will come and not delay.  All we have to do is stand. And after you have done everything, stand!  Standing is hard work!  Standing builds muscle. Standing builds character. Standing is worship.  Don’t bow to any circumstance, pivot yourself and bow before God. Honor Him with your life.  Take a stand.

Believers do not take public stands for Christ before they have made private ones. Our ability to stand is not a fly by night decision.  A man or woman who stands in unfavorable times has already counted the cost and found Jesus Christ to be Worthy of all that he or she has.  Bowing the knee in the secret place leads to standing tall in the public place. 

We move every ounce of our strength and will to agree with the decision that has already been made. How tall would we stand if we could agree with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they were entering the fiery furnace? They did not contemplate bowing to king Nebuchadnezzar because they worshiped the one true God.  They bowed to God and Him alone. They were appalled at the thought of bowing before an earthly king.  They faced life threatening circumstances with rock solid faith. The decision had already been made. The trial proved it.  They took a stand and God miraculously delivered them from the furnace.  

What might God do in this generation if you and I decided to follow Jesus?  No matter what the devil sends our way, if we would stand for Jesus. He may send one fiery dart after another and we could stand firm in our faith. And when our faith grows weak, what if our sisters would prop us up and point to hills from which cometh our help. Come what may…I want to be found standing. Help us Lord, help us to stand.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Forgotten One



  

Prayer 


  Lord God, Thank you for the privilege to serve you on today. Please infuse my life with your Holy Spirit that I may boldly witness to others about you. Allow your spirit to flow through my life as I yield myself to you completely. Bless your people throughout the nations to walk in the boldness and unity of your Spirit so that we may bring glory to your name. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.



The Forgotten One by Veronica Garrett 

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-8).
At times a very helpful person can be overlooked. I consider how thankful I am for security personnel, cafeteria workers, bank tellers, and grocery checkers. Their function is critical to the daily lives of so many. Quite often we don't know much about them, for example, their names, family status, or background, but their jobs are very important.  
We spend great lengths learning about God the Father and the Son but for many of us the Holy Spirit is the forgotten one. Although we consider Him a person, we don't know much about Him. After many years of him being referred to as the Holy Ghost many of us are spooked by the idea of getting to know Him. 
The early church looked for leaders who were full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.  Living a spirit life is a cooperative work of the believer. The believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.The Apostle Paul uses a comparative of not being filled with wine but being filled with the Spirit. The spirit empowers us for worship, prayer, testimony and service. Every Christian has the capacity to be filled with the spirit but must willingly partake and cooperate with the filling of the spirit.
The Holy Spirit has many attributes that personifies Him. Our life journey proves more successful and spirit filled as we learn to walk in agreement with His guidance.  Through what appears like ordinary life events He divinely guides us from day to day.  He testifies to us that we are God's children (Romans 8:16). He speaks to and through us.  He leads us to truth. When we don't know what we should pray he intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). Anianias and Sapphira lied to him (Acts 5:3). He grieves due to the sin in our lives (Ephesians 4:30). 
In as much as we acknowledge all of the people who assist us in our day to day living let us be all the more thankful for the sometimes forgotten one, the Holy Spirit. Christ told His disciples that it was better for them that that He went away so they would receive the Counselor. He is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until redemption of those who are God's possession (Ephesians 1:14). He is known by us a Comforter and Counselor. He encourages and persuades us to walk by faith and not by sight.  He is faithful to our divine journey so may He never be forgotten.  We should consider all that He does on our behalf and be forever grateful. 

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Lock Down

  
  
Prayer 

Everlasting Father, thank you for a new day.  Show me your ways that I may walk in them. Lead and guide me according to your Spirit. Help me to acknowledge you in all my ways and I know you will direct my path. Please give me grace to live a faithful life, not leaning on my own understanding but soleling trusting you. Give the body of Christ wisdom. Help us to live as bold witnesses for you and to walk in unity. Please protect the women and children in Haiti. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 
  

Lock Down by Veronica Garrett 
 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:5

The apostle Paul spoke of casting down thoughts that came against the excellency and the knowledge of Christ.  More than that he says brings them captive.  What comes to mind when you think of being taken as a captive? Have you ever seen a captive?  Captives are confined, they are treated like fugitives that will likely do us harm given the opportunity.  How about those thoughts that are coming again God working in your life?  Do you greet them with a warm welcome?  Offer them a seat?  Allow them to make themselves comfortable in the dormant of your mind. 


The way we get off track is listening to worldly wisdom.   Worldly wisdom "explains" that doing things God's way doesn't work. In fact, it is based on lies told by the evil one. Sadly, Christians often imply that if I do what God says He won't come through.  They tell singles they will never marry if they live holy. They tell couples they will never get ahead if they depend on God's plan for marriage.  Although these words seem fair they oppose the knowledge of God's word.  This ideology sets itself up against the knowledge of God. He is not a man and He does not lie.

At times I am guilty of allowing my sinful nature which is warring against my spirit to entertain me!  How so you may wonder.  Simple.  I think on those things that are flaming arrows fired to quench my faith.  One by one they sow seeds of doubt and mistrust of God. My immediately response should be no thanks, I’m not interested.  My immediate response should be a faith-filled, I'm not even trying to hear it. 

Picture this, the telephone rings and it’s a salesperson.  You’re not buying, not interested, and not trying to prolong the conversation.  You cast down any hopes of the salesperson on the other end making a sale on this call.  Capture your thought life to bring it into conformity with Christ.  Thoughts that sows seeds of unbelief and distrust must be placed on lockdown. 

Thursday, March 10, 2016

The Secret Place

Prayer 

My God, Thank you for satisfying me with good things. Thank you for health and strength, food and shelter, your presence and protection. Merciful Father, I am grateful for all that you have done. Bless my family, friends, and colleagues. Prick the hearts of the lost so they may have ears to hear the gospel. Give me the boldness to be a faithful witness. Draw me nearer to you. In Jesus name, Amen. 


The Secret Place by Veronica Garrett 
 HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (Amplified)

In moments of great trial and uncertainty in our lives we must find great comfort in the secret place. There are times in life when we don't know what to do. Many herald their faith and say, "my faith brought me through". The truth is that during tremendous difficulty I realize that there's more to be desired in terms of my faith.  Trials and test expose the frail places in our faith. For example, we believe that God is our provision and we testify to it but when no one in our home has a job we doubt His willingness to provide for us! 


I do not boast in my willingness to trust God in times of great difficulty. I know that what takes me through the tough times is His presence. I'm fully convinced that during the most challenging times in life I abide in His shadow. When I am so close to Him that I'm abiding in His shadow I don't see the light as clearly as I would like.  This can be confusing to one who does not understand that the dark place implies a closeness to the Lord and not an absence of Him. My next move may not be clear but I know that He is a hiding place for me.  The secret place is a shelter to the one who chooses to dwell there. 

A game played by little children is trying to walk on the shadow of another person. The child who stays on the shadow must stay close to the person they are shadowing. Trying times are not times to shrink back from our faith.  It is the times that we are the weakest and most battered by life that we are to come close to the Lord.  At times I focus too much on receiving direction and miss basking in the comfort of His presence.  It is in moments of 
great distress and suffering that we experience the secret place. When I see men and 

women of God experiencing great trial or tragedy I am persuaded that the Amighty will not 

only keep them from falling apart, He will keep them fixed and stable as they abide 

under His shadow. 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

I Love You, Too



  

Prayer 
Merciful Father, thank you for love that endures forever. Thank you for guarding your love- 
 inspite of me, your love never diminishes . Great and wonderful
 creator, my lips praise you! Please enlighten the eyes of my hearts so I will know the 
hope to which you have called me and the riches of your glorious inheritance to all the saints.
Oh the depths and the heights of your love so lavished upon us!  Please pour your love into
our hearts that we may love others, In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

  

I Love You, Too by Veronica Garrett 
 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-9


At times I find myself saying, "I love you, Lord" over and over again. Quite often during prayer, praise, or worship, my heart bubbles with oh, how I love you Lord. And yet close to my heart and mind is that God loved me first. In fact, before my mother knew she was pregnant, He knew me.  "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart...(Jeremiah 1:5). He knitted me me together in her womb and even then He had set me apart.   
We live in a merit based society and there is a tendency to focus on my love for God instead of His love for me. The humbling fact remains that Christ gave His life to save me while I was doing my own thing.  God loved me when I had no thoughts toward Him nor His purpose.  Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Can we say "I love you too" without obeying God's word?  We can't. Some may say I love God or "I'm a fan" of Jesus but without obedience to what He commands we whisper sweet nothings. In John 14:22,  Judas (not Judas Iscariot) wanted to know why did Christ show himself to the disciples and not to the world? I find Judas question interesting, it's as if he wants to know why did you choose us and not them
In John 14:23-24, Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching." Christ died for the sins of the whole world but many refuse His love.  Being the gentleman that He is, He doesn't overpower our will. 
He allows us to respond to His love.  A maturing saint must always keep this critical point close to mind. There is no room for piety or superiority towards others. The only thing that makes a believer different from those who are sinners is God's presence. The Father and the Son are involved in sending the Holy Spirit. 
At some point God was demonstrating His love to me and finally, I declared, I love you, too. I never esteem my love for God by any act of faith, suffering or sacrifice. What I cherish dear to my heart is what it means to be loved with an unfailing love. I highly regard what it means to be redeemed with the precious blood of God's only son, Jesus Christ. I greatly celebrate the reversal of destiny, from my due penalty of eternal damnation to the grace of eternal life. I love Him because He first loved me. In essence, I am always saying I love you, too.