Losing Hope is a gateway to relaxing your hold or grip on faith. If we have no hope we can reason that Faith has no anchor or we have no Anchor. What are you hoping for? This is the place we must demand and place our Faith!! Yes, we must water the Hope and uproot the weeds that come to destroy our garden/vision of success. What substance are you hoping for? Is it in line with the will of GOD? Remember God, not You, will perfect that which concerns you! So, keep Hoping!! Fight, wrestle if you must to keep your Hope alive so your Faith can become evident and produce a great harvest!!
Dare to Believe/Hope
This has been a very hard week. From seeing a Mother bury her 14 year old son to senseless gang violence, to dealing with rejection, finding love only to lose it … Oh so Overwhelming!! It’s causes your heart to break and just when you feel like crawling under the covers or hiding until the pain has gone somehow you remember who the Lord is and you dare to Hope again! You dare to believe again. You dare!!! Today, I dare you to fight!! Fight the good fight of Faith!! Don’t let go of your Hope! At the appointed time you WILL receive a harvest if you don’t faint/ give up!
A Tree of Life
Proverbs 13:12 AMP says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 CEV says, “Not getting what you want can break your heart, but a wish that comes true is a life-giving tree.” As long as Adam and Eve were obedient and did not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they had access to the tree of life. What is being deferred or delayed in your life today? Healing, finances, a spouse, marital satisfaction, justice, etc.. Don’t allow your limited knowledge of God’s plan mixed with your emotions of pain, suffering and despair cause you to quit, get off focus, or disobey God. Instead keep your Hope in God that all things will work together for good. Aim to please God and you will have a Tree of Life of your very own!! Now that’s Paradise!
Intensify the Pain
I believe the Body of Christ is on the verge of breakthrough and end time revival. Greater is here but so is depression, delay, defeat, ultimately the work of the devil. So what must we do? I believe God wants us to intensify the pain. Yes, you heard me, intensify the pain. Stop looking for ways to go around your situation and face it head on. Please don’t get stuck in this test; You are so close. Hold fast to your Faith!! 2 Timothy 2:3-4 NLT says, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.” We are going through together and together we will be victorious!! So let’s do it… Intensify the Pain!!!
Purpose In Your Pain
So many people today are going through the motions yet secretly are suffering with anxiety, depression and even despair. Let me be the first to say I know and truly understand how you feel!! I truly can relate. You see I have been struggling with these same emotions. I have been ready to just quit and throw in the towel! I found a little strength to press on when learning several people close to me have been experiencing these same tests and we were able to encourage one another. Revelation says we overcome Satan through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. I pray today you too will be encouraged!! My purpose came in encouraging others and knowing that I am not alone!! Remember, neither are YOU!! Keep fighting and remember there is purpose in your pain.
What Seeds Are You Planting
My husband and I were discussing seeds that we have been planting. As we carefully observed our fruit it occurred to us that we are a reflection of the seeds we have planted in each other and our children. The saying the apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree is accurate. Consider this, if your children have tantrums or are whiny it could be a strong indicator that they observe it from someone in the home. On the contrary if they are polite, courteous, kind, full of peace, etc… It is understood that someone has taken time to not only teach this behavior but model it as well. What type of behavior are you displaying to your spouse, your children, your coworkers, etc… What type of fruit are you producing? Do you build people up or tear them down? No matter how you answer these questions there is always room for a turnaround.
Warning: Check Your Self
How is your attitude? Are you arrogant and high minded? Maybe even prideful? Who are you measuring yourself against? How do you treat your spouse, your children and family? What about your colleagues? Would God be pleased? God encourages us to take a self evaluation. Romans 12:3 NLT says “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves…” Remember it’s better to check yourself than to be embarrassed and brought low. Simply put, today check your own self and stop trying to fix everyone else. We would all do well to do the mirror ministry.
Promotion Pt. 1
I pray you find encouragement in the word!
PSALM 75:6 (AMP) For not from the east nor from the west nor from the south come promotion and lifting up.
PSALM 75:6 (CEB) Because what exalts someone doesn’t come from the east or west; it’s not from the south either.
PSALM 75:6 (CJB) Don’t flaunt your strength so proudly; don’t speak arrogantly, with your nose in the air!
PSALM 75:6 (DRA) All the foolish of heart were troubled. They have slept their sleep; and all the men of riches have found nothing in their hands.
PSALM 75:6 (ERV) There is no power on earth that can make a person important.
PSALM 75:6 (GW) The authority to reward someone does not come
from the east,
from the west,
or even from the wilderness
PSALM 75:6-7 (TLB) For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another.
PSALM 75:6 (VOICE) There is no one on earth who can raise up another to grant honor, not from the east or the west, not from the desert. There is no one. God is the only One.
Check Those Emotions
Jesus knew something about emotions and gave voice to the subject. For instance, be angry but sin not. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath. But Jesus was overcome with emotion as well. We notice this at the Garden of Gethsemane. His spirit was sorrowful and troubled. However, he didn’t allow his emotions to dictate his actions. He had a job description to be the Savior of the world and it required him to make the ultimate sacrifice. In this moment of reasoning he put his feelings aside and fulfilled his assignment even knowing all the hazardous and safety regulations of the job! How about you? As a spouse, a parent, a coach, a teacher, a student, sibling, friends, etc… Are you being led astray by your emotions or truly staying true to the job description! Today, seriously put your emotions in check before they rule you and destroy you.
Check Those Emotions
Jesus knew something about emotions and gave voice to the subject. For instance, be angry but sin not. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath. But Jesus was overcome with emotion as well. We notice this at the Garden of Gethsemane. His spirit was sorrowful and troubled. However, he didn’t allow his emotions to dictate his actions. He had a job description to be the Savior of the world and it required him to make the ultimate sacrifice. In this moment of reasoning he put his feelings aside and fulfilled his assignment even knowing all the hazardous and safety regulations of the job! How about you? As a spouse, a parent, a coach, a teacher, a student, sibling, friends, etc… Are you being led astray by your emotions or truly staying true to the job description! Today, seriously put your emotions in check before they rule you and destroy you.
justernestine 