TODAY’S INSPIRATION: CAN’T KEEP IT TO MYSELF!

We cannot limit the Holy Spirit by deciding who or who may not need a word from God. We may not feel comfortable talking to certain people, or we may feel it is putting our “business in the street” if we tell our story. We may even feel ashamed. We may be scared that we will be laughed at or talked about. But guess what, so was Jesus. [ 560 more words ]https://emanne.org/…/todays-inspiration-cant-keep-it-to-mys…/

TODAY’S INSPIRATION: CAN’T KEEP IT TO MYSELF!

We cannot limit the Holy Spirit by deciding who or who may not need a word from God. We may not feel comfortable talking to certain people, or we may feel it is putting our “business in the street” if we tell our story. We may even feel ashamed. We may be scared that we will be laughed at or talked about. But guess what, so was Jesus. This right here is for somebody! If God was with you in the storm, and He brought you out, you better tell somebody! He blocked the enemy from destroying you so you could be a living testimony. Not to show what you did to survive, but what He did to save you. You get to tell your story, and God gets the glory. Sharing your personal testimony is a way to share the gospel with others. It shows how God changes lives. It shows how God can change situations and circumstances if we wait on Him. Because we know God loves us all the same, your story gives hope that if He did it for you, He will do it for me. Hope then gives strength to hold on. Somebody needs to hear from you to know that they just need to hold on, to not give up, to keep the faith, and that God is working it out! We must not let fear keep us from allowing God to use us. God will tell you when to tell your story and who to tell it too. You may or may not be an author, and your story might not be for everybody. But God knows who needs to hear it, and He will make sure the people who need to hear it is in the right place at the right time. We must be obedient when the Holy Spirit says the time is now. We must let the Holy Spirit speak through us. We are to send God’s Word into lives by faith and trusting the Holy Spirit to do the teaching and imparting. The Lord promised to put His laws in our minds and write them on our hearts. We as believers know His requirements and feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit when we do not meet them. God said all shall know him, from the least to the greatest. I am so thankful that I know Him, and I am committed to allowing the Holy Spirit to use and direct me to bring souls into the family of Christ. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ! I cannot keep the goodness of the Lord to myself!!! Love and Blessings…

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

“And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

“For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:12)

“For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:20)

“I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:17-18)

TODAY’S INSPIRATION: THE BEST PLAN

THE BEST PLAN

Right now, during this pandemic, a lot of my plans and things I thought I was going to do has ceased. However, I am happy and at peace. My plans may have stopped but God’s plans for me did not skip a beat. I have never been a spontaneous person. I have planned things all my life. I had my life all planned out. And when things did not go as planned, I just moved to plan B. Yes, I always had a plan B, sometimes a plan C. I thought I knew what was best for my life. That was before I surrendered my life to God and found out who really is in charge. There is nothing wrong with planning if you are getting direction, advice, and guidance from God. God’s plan comes with total submission to His will and authority in our lives. There was a time in my life that giving total control to anyone was not happening, not even to God. How crazy was I? Our plans are self-satisfying, temporary, and usually separate us from God. God’s plans are always best for us. God’s plan for our lives are peace, prosperity, hope, and a future with Him. Even when we follow God’s plan, there will be detours on the road we travel. We will find obstacles, persecution, hurt, pain, rejection, and suffering. The difference is the Holy Spirit will be there with us, guiding and comforting us through it all. I believe when troubles come our way, and it is not in our plan, we do not know what to do so we panic. However, once we give our life to God and submit to His plans for us, we can be content and have peace in the mist of our troubles. People will wonder why you are still smiling, praising, and worshiping when the world seems to have gone crazy. It is because you know that all things are going to work out for your good. You will no longer stress or get depressed when your plans fall apart, because you know God has something better lined up! I no longer need a plan B. I know God’s plan for me is not only eternal, but full of hope, joy, and peace, even in the mist of life’s storms. No pandemic or devil in hell can stop the plans God has for me! What do you do when God’s plan does not align with your plan? I suggest you go with God’s plan; it is always better! I just finished a devotion that tells a simple, yet powerful truth. Life. Is. Not. About. Us. It is about God and His kingdom. It’s not about our happiness, because happiness comes from the outside in (not like joy, which comes from the inside out).When we joyfully surrender our mind, will, and emotions to Christ and grow in the knowledge of God, life takes on a new meaning. If you want your life to count, then give your life completely over to God. Make sure your plans are in alignment with God’s plans. Be in total surrender to Him! It is not about carrying out our will on earth but fulfilling God’s will for our life on earth. Love and Blessings… 

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91 9-11) 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) 

TODAY’S INSPIRATION: SPIRITUAL STAMINA

When I reflect on my time in the wilderness, I see a woman who was holding on by a thin thread. I see a woman who was hurting, physically and mentally. Her world as she knew it had suddenly come crashing down, and she felt like she was drowning. This woman was so overwhelmed that it was hard to breathe some days. Some days she thought she could not take any more. Some days she just wanted to give up. But. She. Did. Not. That woman is me and I am so thankful God did not allow me to give up. Sometimes the boldest thing we can do is take the next breath. I have learned that taking the next breath is easier when you build up your spiritual stamina.  

I think about Elijah the prophet. God appointed this man to go before Kings, bringing the message of warning and repentance. By speaking the prophecies of God, he made enemies, but his enemies could not overpower him. He was a man of deep faith. His spiritual stamina had to be strong. However, this one time it seems his spiritual stamina had weakened. I have read it many times trying to figure out why. Scripture says his enemies could not touch him. So, I guess it is because he was human. We all can relate to that. Scripture says that God had just done an amazing thing, showed up and out for Elijah. And right after, the queen of Israel, Jezebel, threatened Elijah’s life. He was frightened and he fled for his life. He went out into the wilderness to pout. He claimed he was alone, and he sat under tree and said, “I have had enough Lord.” You would think he would have no fear after what he just saw God do on Mount Carmel. But before we judge Elijah, if we are honest, we all have been guilty of forgetting how God showed up in past situations. I thank God He has been helping me work on my spiritual stamina. I work on it every day. Because like Elijah I am human, and I want to make sure it is strong. Spiritual stamina strengthens you and when you are faced with difficult situations; you are calm, and you act so. You can rest, breathe, and wait on God to show up.  

Your health, your finances, your children, your spouse, your job, whatever the situation, may have you feeling tired, frightened, and overwhelmed. You feel like you are alone and that no one understands. You jump over one hurdle and just when your feet are adjusting to walking again, a new hurdle appears. You cry out that I have had my share of troubles; it is someone else’s turn. You may sometimes want to say as Elijah did, I have had enough Lord. You just want to give up. Do. Not. Give. Up! Do not be like Elijah and forget how faithful God has been through past trials and troubles. Stop, rest, and breathe. God’s response to Elijah’s moping was, “get some rest, eat some food, go back the way you came, and find the others who serve me to support you.” Then the Lord sent an angel to Elijah. The Lord will place the right people in our life who will pray, support, and help us through challenging times. Do not be like the woman I was and refuse the help. It is also important to work on building spiritual stamina before the trials and troubles come. We must strive to develop spiritual stamina so when a problem occurs, you do not react out of emotion but out of wisdom. Stay connected to God. Study His Word. When we experience moments or seasons of complete and total despair, it is important that we know God, so we can hear His voice. We must be still and breathe. And that is when God refills, replaces, and empowers. He renews our faith. He replaces fear with hope. He empowers us with strength to go on, strength we did not even realize we had. Giving up will no longer be a choice!  

Love and Blessings… 

“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 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.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So, he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.” (1 Kings 19:1-9, NIV)  

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) 

“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) 

LET US PRAY 🙏

Father God, today we put on the full armor to guard our lives against attack. We put on the belt of truth to protect against lies and deception. We put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from the temptations we battle. We put the gospel of peace on our feet, so we’re ready to take your light wherever you send us this day. We choose to walk in the peace and freedom of your Spirit and not be overcome with fear and anxious thoughts. We take up your shield of faith that will extinguish all the darts and threats hurled our way by the enemy. We believe in your power to protect us and choose to trust in you. We put on the helmet of salvation, which covers our minds and thoughts, reminding us we are children of the day, forgiven, set free, saved by the grace of Christ Jesus. We take up the sword of the Spirit, your very Word, the one offensive weapon given to us for battle, which has the power to demolish strongholds, alive, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword. We ask for your help in remembering to put on your full armor every day, for you give us all that we need to stand firm in this world. Forgive us God for the times we’ve been unprepared, too busy to care, or trying to fight and wrestle in our own strength. Thank you that we never fight alone, for you are constantly at work on our behalf, shielding, protecting, strengthening, exposing deeds of darkness, bringing to light what needs to be known, covering us from the cruel attacks we face even when we’re unaware. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

TODAY’S INSPIRATION: TO FIGHT OR NOT TO FIGHT?

All my life I had to fight (in my Color Purple Sophia voice). I am a woman. I am African American. I am a mother. I am much, much more, but those three has had me raging war more times than I can count. I am speaking in terms of physical battles in this world. How many times have I said, what do you mean a woman’s place? or Yes, I am black, beautiful, and proud of it! And if you really want to make me salty, mess with my child! Even today I will fight these battles should the need arise. (so, what if my child is a grandpop, I am still his mother!) Do not judge me. 🙂 Unfortunately, we are born into this world with battles we sometimes cannot see. And often it is the enemy behind what we do see. The hardest battles are those we cannot see, the spiritual warfare and the battles within our mind. Sure, we understand the circumstances and situations that the enemy uses to destroy us. We can accept the truth of how the enemy uses the world to lure us in and to tempt us. We can understand to some degree that the battle in the spiritual realm is ongoing and real, even though we cannot see it. But, to get a grasp on what is going on within our own hearts and minds can be the hardest, most exhausting, battle of them all. Some prefer not to deal with spiritual warfare; it is too scary and frightening, so they prefer to ignore it. As a result, the enemy is winning; just look around. Pandemics, murders by those who were sworn to protect, racism, hate, division, all fueled by fear and panic. And there is still sex trafficking, missing kids, domestic abuse, homelessness, hunger, and so much more! It makes me want to cry. But crying is not going to change the fact that this is much more than it appears to our natural eyes. We are in a spiritual war. We know God is in control, but we are his soldiers. We must put on the whole armor of God and we must be “vigilant and sober” as scripture says. We must look beyond the surface and ask God to open our spiritual eyes. One thing the enemy does is distract you while he is doing his dirty work. We have to stay focus! The enemy will come where there is an opening, he will fit in where he can get in. If God, the Father, allowed His Son, Jesus Christ to be tempted by Satan then chances are you will have to deal personally with the enemy at some point in your lifetime. When the enemy attacks you, he will try to hinder you from being able to progress from point A to point B in your walk with God. He will use your family, friends, or anyone else he feels can get to you. He also will start playing mind-games with you to try and throw you into mental torment and separate you from your spiritual connection with the Lord. The enemy will try to tell you that you have committed the unforgivable sin, God does not love you, that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, that you are just not good enough. And he will keep at you until you start to believe him. Then he will persuade you not to study and read your Bible because he knows you will see how much God does love you and that you are more than enough. He knows that is where your strength to fight comes from. Scripture tells us he would come to seek, kill, and destroy! The battle, the struggle, the war, the fight goes on in our thinking, emotions, and our feelings.There is a struggle, a wrestling match being fought inside of us. It is between satan’s deceptions and God’s truth. The good news is that it is a battle of victory for those of us who study, apply, and strive to obey the Word of God. I am telling you, satan is an expert at deceiving people. Beware when feelings and thoughts are not in harmony with the scriptures. It is God’s Word that will tell you if your thoughts and feelings are from Him or satan. You may ask yourselves, why do I even want to fight? We must fight to receive the victory God has already given us. You think the devil is going to give up without a fight? God gave the land to the Israelites, but they had to fight for it. And as long as they obeyed God, they were conquerors. The most important gift Jesus has given us is salvation. Once we have it, it cannot be taken away by satan or man. However, if we want the life God intended for us here on earth, to live life abundantly, we must fight the enemy for it and live victorious in Christ. Every day victory is achieved by knowing, believing, and understanding the battles that we are enduring daily. We can be passive or active in the battles. I choose to take my sword up and put on my armor of God. I want everything God has for me! I choose to fight! Our defense is to know, understand, and obey God’s Word. Examine everything by God’s Word! We have the power of God operating on the inside of us through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The enemy is no match for those who know who they really are in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are God’s soldiers. Do not be afraid because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world! (John 4:4) I am not scared to fight; I have read the ending of ‘The Book” and I know who the victory belongs to! Love and Blessings… 

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) 

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1Peter 5:8-9) 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) 

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 Thessalonians 10:4-5) 

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3: 3) 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) 

“For the LORD, your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4) 

“I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33) 

TODAY’S INSPIRATION: WHAT HAVE THEY DONE FOR ME LATELY?

If we ever ask ourselves these questions; What have they done for me lately or what’s in it for me?, then we need to meditate on the scriptures below.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:32–36).”

 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Have a great weekend and spread some love! Love and blessings to all.

TODAY’S INSPIRATION: THERE ARE ALWAYS INSTRUCTIONS!

When we pray and ask God for something, we must listen for instructions. For example, are you praying for health or financial miracles? Are you are waiting for a health or financial miracle to drop in your lap? If so, you are missing it. Not saying it cannot happen because we know God is still in the miracle working business. I cannot begin to tell you about the miracles God has graced me with. But what we must know is that God performs health and wealth transfers every day. Ask me how I know? Glad you asked. Because every day I walk into a God’s health transfer. It was never like one day I was in pain and could not walk and boom, the next day I was miraculously healed. It took listening to God and following His instructions. It took believing it even though I could not see or feel it. And it took waiting for it to manifest. Listen, Jesus said we are already healed, and we know we are wealthy because our Father owns everything. So, what we are really praying for is the manifestation. I read somewhere and I think it was Jerry Savelle who said, “I would rather walk continuously in supernatural health than ever need a miraculous healing” The same is true of financial blessings, if we walk continuously in supernatural financial blessing, we will never need a financial miracle.” That just makes sense to me. Walking into continuously supernatural blessings requires following God’s instructions. All through the Bible, Old and New Testaments, there. has. always. been. instructions. 2 Kings 4:1-7 tells us how God used Elisha, one of His prophets to help a poor widow. The woman’s husband died leaving her poor and with a debt she could not pay, and the creditors was threatening to take her two sons as slaves. God could have miraculously changed the heart of the creditors or gave her an instant financial blessing. But instead Elisha instructed her to use the only thing she had, which was a little olive oil. He told her to borrow empty jars from her friends and neighbors. Then go into the house and shut the door. He told her to pour the olive oil into her jars and set the jars aside. She did exactly as she was told until every jar she had borrowed was filled. And then and only then did the little olive oil stop flowing. Then Elisha instructed her to sell the olive oil to pay her debts and there was enough money left over to support her and her sons. This is what I call walking in continuously supernatural financial blessing. No more lack because she followed instructions! And in 2 King 5 we hear about Naaman, who was a mighty warrior although he suffered from leprosy. Elisha, this same man of God tried to give Naaman instructions to follow so that he would be healed. Naaman became angry and left. He did not want to follow instructions; he wanted an instant miracle. After being convinced by his officers, he followed Elisha’s instructions and his flesh became as healthy as a young child. This is what I call walking in continuously supernatural physical blessings! He could have been healed sooner if he had followed instructions! But I am not judging. A lot of us could have been healed sooner or received that financial breakthrough sooner if we had followed instructions. God uses people today to give us godly advice, knowledge, and wisdom, but even the best advice is worthless if we do not take it to heart. Jesus’s parting words to his disciples was to instruct the disciples on what they should do in His absence. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mark 28:19-20). These words are also intended for us. After Jesus had risen, He had a conversation with Peter. Jesus tells Peter to “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) These instructions are also intended for the ministers and ministries (shepherds) in today’s world. Some are following these instructions, and some are not.

God often speaks to us through the Holy Spirit to our spirit. The Holy Spirit will give us wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, courage, knowledge, comfort, and instruction. If we want to walk continuously in supernatural financial and physical blessings, we must follow God’s instructions. No matter what it looks like through our natural eyes, if God says do it, do it, If God says do not do it, do not do it. And do it exactly how and when He tells you, not how and when you feel it should happen! If we move ahead of God, it will not last, God will not bless us with things that we are not ready to experience. (that is how the devil works, and it does not last). If we move behind God, we may miss the opportunity or blessing. If we do not move at all, because of fear or lack of faith, we are stuck, then the enemy does a happy dance because he knows we will not see the manifestation. And If you ever feel you are not hearing from God, and you are not sure what to do, go to the instruction book God left us, the Bible. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16) I love to read and meditate on Psalm 1:3. I know if I follow God’s instructions, my fruit will come forth, in my season and whatever I do will prosper. It all comes down to listening to God because there are always instructions!

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” (Psalm 66:19)

“12:1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 12:2 “This month is to be your beginning of months; it will be your first month of the year. 12:3 Tell the whole community of Israel, ‘In the tenth day of this month they each must take a lamb for themselves according to their families – a lamb for each household. 12:4 If any household is too small for a lamb, the man and his next-door neighbor are to take a lamb according to the number of people – you will make your count for the lamb according to how much each one can eat. 12:5 Your lamb must be perfect, a male, one year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 12:6 You must care for it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then the whole community of Israel will kill it around sundown. 12:7 They will take some of the blood and put it on the two side posts and top of the doorframe of the houses where they will eat it. 12:8 They will eat the meat the same night; they will eat it roasted over the fire with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs. 12:9 Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roast it over the fire with its head, its legs, and its entrails. 12:10 You must leave nothing until morning, but you must burn with fire whatever remains of it until morning. 12:11 This is how you are to eat it – dressed to travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:1-11)

“These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah—opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2 (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.)3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them.” (Deuteronomy 1-2)

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 32:9)

“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7)

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:8-10)

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:25-26) 

There was a time doing my God journey that I would pray for something and then I would wait for God to deliver my request. I would wait and wait and wait. And then I would pray again, thinking God did not hear me the first time or I did not pray long or hard enough. God heard me the first time. In fact, before I opened my mouth, He knew what I was going to ask. The problem was I did not hear God. What I have realized is that when we make our request known to God or He just wants to bless us, (because He is good like that), we must listen for instructions. There. has. always. been. instructions. Adam and Eve were told what they could do and what they could not do. Did they listen to God? No. And now we suffer the consequences for their disobedience and sin. The night of the Passover, specific instructions were given to the Israelites so they would be protected. The Bible does not say it but in my mind, I can imagine that there were some who did not follow instructions and perished along with the Egyptians. I say this because while traveling in the wilderness, they were given instructions by God and scripture tells us they were a hardheaded people. And for this reason, eleven days of travel turned into forty years. All but two of the folks that started out on the eleven-day journey were dead and gone 40 years later. They never made it. You get my point? You can really mess things up not only for yourself but for your family and generations to come when you do not follow God’s instructions. There. are. always. instructions. Love and Blessings…

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)