At times life is like a wildfire that is constantly spreading. A financial crisis, a relationship heartbreak, job problems, family issues, the death of a loved one, a troubling diagnosis, not to mention the fact that this world seems to get darker by the day. While the pain and suffering may seem like a wildfire that never ends, the good news is we can get through the fires. We can come out not burned or even smelling like smoke! How do we accomplish that? Certainly not by using physical weapons such as material wealth, body strength, education, or depending on any worldly things or people. We get through by asking God to strengthen our minds. Our mind is our weapon against anything the world throws our way because we are fighting spiritual battles that begin in our mind. The weapon within us is always stronger than any weapon we may carry on us. Jesus said that we would have troubles in this world. And the Word of God tells us that not only will we have troubles in this world, but we will have a battle going on within. A battle that starts in our minds. Even after we believe and accept Jesus as Lord, our sinful nature remains, and that nature is an enemy of the Spirit of God. Which means we have to contend with a spiritual battle, flesh against spirit.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7) 

“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.” (Romans 8:7) 

“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Galatian 5:17)

Is there hope? There is if you are in Christ, because then He is in you. And because He lives inside of us, we can receive calm, peace, and strength from God even in the fires. God and His Word is what keeps the fires of this world from consuming us. The Bible tells us that we are to renew our minds in Christ. The reason being because real change can never happen if we don’t change our way of thinking and keep our focus on the Word and not the world. Our thoughts lead to actions. Change first takes place in the mind. Renewing our minds is important because it allows us to set our thoughts and affections on things above, instead of on earthly things. When our mind is renewed in Christ, we are able to focus on what is truly important, our relationship with God, others, and our eternal home. Also, when we renew our minds and fill them with the truth of the Bible, we are better equipped to make wise decisions and live in a way that pleases God. Renewing our minds enables us to stand firm against the lies of satan, who will try to deceive and distract us with the fires of this world. With the help of God, we can transform our minds. We must spend time with Him and fill our minds with the Word of God, meditating on scripture daily. This is how we protect and strengthen our minds. This is how we get through the fires of this world! 

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20) 

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) 

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8) 

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) 

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 

“The renewing of our minds is not an instantaneous transformation but a lifelong process, and we must give ourselves to it if we ever hope to see the fruit of Christ’s redemption in our lives.” ___Dierich Bonhoeffe 

I am reminded of the three Hebrew boys; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:1-30) King Nebuchadnezzar decided to make sure his authority continued to rule by unifying the races and nations under him with a common religion and image to worship. This was not a problem for other nations, who believed in more than one god, they just added this idol to their list of idols to worship. The Jews, however worshipped God and only God! The King had a dedication service to introduce the golden image, and everyone knew that they must bow before it or be thrown into the furnace. The political powers who led in worship were to be the first to bow before the image. Daniel’s three friends were numbered among the political leaders, thanks to Daniel’s recommendation and the promotion given them by King Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 2:48-49) However, during the celebration, the King was informed that the three Hebrew boys were disobeying his order to serve his gods and worship the golden image. They were summoned by the King, and he ordered them to either worship the golden image or be immediately cast into the blazing furnace. This is what the three boys said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But if not, be it known to you, O King that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” The King was furious at their refusal and ordered that they be cast into the furnace. By this time the furnace was so overheated that the flames of the fire killed the men who tossed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and was astonished. He said “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then the King came near to the door of the furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” And all the people gathered around and saw that the fire had not burned their bodies, their hair was not scorched, their trousers not damaged, they did not even have the smell of fire on them! Don’t you love how God showed up and saved them and how He got the glory, even from King Nebuchadnezzar! These young men obeyed God by not bowing down even with the threat of being thrown into the fire. They trusted God to save them, and He did! We know as King Nebuchadnezzar discovered; God is faithful to His people. He will deliver us from the fires of life. God is bigger than any problem or situation we may be facing and there is no fire He can’t put out or walk us through!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:4-5) 

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

When we focus on God and His Kingdom, the fires don’t necessarily go away, although they sometimes do, but as the Hebrew boys said, even if they don’t, we know God got us. And when we know that God has us, worry, anxiety, and stress take a backseat to our faith in God. I encourage you to continue to have faith and perseverance through the fires of life. Do not faint or grow weary. God is there with you, and He won’t leave your side! Love and Blessings…

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3) 

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalms 68:19)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4) 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never com to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  (Lamentations 3:22-24) 

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) 

Have you ever tried to move forward but the troubles of life hit you so fast and hard that you just want to give up and turn back to where it was safe and easy? Did you ever think to yourself why is this happening, am I not moving in the will of God? Am I not being obedient and allowing God to order my steps? Did you think why am I dealing with this illness, financial problem, family issues, relationship troubles, and whatever else this world keeps throwing? You want to keep going, you want to do what the Lord wants you to do, you want to obey Him, you want to complete this journey He has you on, but the struggles just keep coming, life keeps lifeing! Everyone may feel this way at times. We Believers still press on though, trying to keep moving forward in faith. However, sometimes it get so hard that we can even become exhausted and overwhelmed.

“Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)

I have learned that it may not be that we are doing anything wrong; it may be that we are thinking wrong. I was taught that if I accept the Lord as my Savior and stay in His will, allowing Him to lead my steps, that I would not have any problems in life. But this is not what the Bible tells us. It’s actually the contrary. In the Bible, Jesus said in this world we would have trials and tribulations. (John 16:33). When we surrender our life to the Lord and commit to following His will,  it makes the enemy mad and he gets even busier with his attempts to deceive, distract, and discourage us. Scripture tells us that there will be struggles in this life. But it also tells us that because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice there is no struggle or problem that we can’t overcome through Him who strengthens us. We have two choices when we run into struggles, we can trust God and keep moving forward or we can react in panic and doubt, allowing fear and discouragement to force us to turn back.  

“Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14)

“All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:2)

“I 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.” (Johns 16:33)

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

When we are facing difficulties we may think that the easiest thing to do is give up and turn back. The Israelites thought so. Even after witnessing God’s power in the Exodus and entering a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai, when the children of Israel sent spies into the land of promise and the spies reported their findings, the Bible tells us they were afraid and wanted to return back to Egypt. You would think after all that they had seen God do, turning back would not have been an option. But let us not judge them. We are guilty of the same. No matter how many times the Lord delivers us from one struggle after another, when things get rough we have the urge to turn back. Perhaps because like the Israelites we take our eyes off Jesus and fixate them on the struggle. We get caught up in the situation or problem instead of the One who is greater than the problem. Then the enemy steps in and tells us that we are alone and God has forsaken us. He wants us to turn back out of fear and desperation. This wilderness journey that we call life is the same as Israel’s journey. It’s all about coming to the place where we sincerely trust God and look to Him, not what our natural eyes see or what we are going through. Our gaze must stay on the One who is in control and not on what seems to be out of control. The good news is that the one who is in control, the righteous and Holy Creator of the universe, patiently puts up with us and contrary to what the enemy wants us to believe, He never leaves us. He is with us on the mountain and He is with us in the valley. How could anyone want to turn back from such an awesome God!

“All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in the wilderness!.” So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord, thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Jousha 1:9)

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:7)

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)

In chapter six of Mark, scripture tells us that Jesus had just performed one of His great miracles with fish and barley loaves. Immediately after, He told the disciples to get in the boat, cross the sea of Galilee,  and to meet Him on the other side. The disciples did as Jesus instructed. They were in the will of God, however when the boat reached the middle of the sea a storm surfaced. They were struggling because the Bible says that the high winds were against them. The winds were preventing the boat from going in the direction Jesus had told them to go. If you think about it they could have ended the struggle by turning around and going back, but then they would be going against the will of Jesus. Yes, they panicked as we would have. Then here comes Jesus walking on water telling them to take courage, do not be afraid. Even with the storm still raging He tells them to be of good cheer. Wait! What! Be of good cheer at a time like this! We know that Jesus could have stopped the storm immediately. Instead He wanted the disciples to look at His presence instead of the storm. He wanted them to focus on Him instead of the storm. He doesn’t want us to deny that we are in a storm, He wants to increase our faith in Him in spite of the storm. And He will show up for us as He did for the disciples. We don’t turn back because of struggles, we look to Jesus and when He shows up, it changes the narrative even while the storm is still raging. We may think turning back is easier than moving forward, especially when it seems like all odds are against us. But turning our back on God’s Word and His will is not  in our best interest. No matter the struggle, living each day in Christ is worth it. The greater the struggle, the greater the reward!

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

“If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” (2 Timothy 2:12)

Identifying the flesh in our lives is a life-long task because our flesh will do anything it takes to avoid being put to death. This is why the Christian life is a long, hard spiritual battle. In fact, if you’re not struggling, you are probably not making a lot of good choices. The more good choices you make, the more your life will become spiritually embattled because it’s an agonizing thing to bring the flesh under the domination of the Spirit of God. The good news is although it may get rough, the power of the Holy spirit living within us will see us through. His grace is sufficient.  

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'”. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

I wish I could tell you that it is easy following the will of the Lord. But that would not be the truth, not in this evil world. The journey can be encouraging, uplifting, rewarding, joyful, peaceful, and so much more. But it is not easy. What I can tell you is that if we endure until the end the reward is worth it. How do I know? Because we can never ever begin to suffer the way Jesus did. He did not turn away from His assignment or the cross, and He is now seated on the right hand of God and we praise God are blessed with eternal life!

When troubles seem overwhelming, do not go by what your natural eyes see and what the world tells you. Do not go by your feelings or emotions. I encourage you to focus on Jesus. I pray before we turn back, we concentrate on the truth of God’s Word, which will encourage us to be strong and courageous. The Lord tells us to not be afraid and do not panic and He promises us that He is with us and will never leave us. He never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile. Turning back is not an option! Love and Blessings…

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I always loved walking, running not so much. I used to jog and on a good day I still can a little but mostly I walk. It doesn’t matter if I am walking or jogging, my objective is to complete the goal I set in the beginning of my walk and finish strong. These days I consider that a win!

In the Bible, the phrase “running the race and finishing well” is a metaphor for a Believer’s life journey. The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and decide to follow Jesus Christ, the race begins. The difference is this race has less to do with who finishes first, and more to do with running well to the end. We are not running to compete with another person, because God makes us all winners once we cross the finish line. We get to be with Him for eternity! No, our opponents are the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is a spiritual race.  

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places“ (Ephesians 6:12)

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelations 2:10)

“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

This race we run is not easy to say the least. Trained runners realize that they have to work hard to build endurance, we as Believers also must work hard to strengthen our faith so that we can endure and resist the distractions that the enemy will throw at us. Just as an athlete competes according to rules, a Believer must follow God’s guidelines to be rewarded or recognized for their faith. Discipline and perseverance is a necessity if we are to stay in the race. The race of life is not a quick sprint but a long-distance run. As I read the Bible, I see men of God who started off strong and ended their race with a strong finish like Caleb, whose story is in Joshua 14. Caleb was known for his faith and obedience to God. And there was Daniel in the “Book of Daniel”, who faced persecution for his faith but would not compromise, even in his eighties. The Bible also has those who started off strong and ended with a weak finish. I think about King Saul who God chose to be Israel’s first King. He started strong during his early years as King and was obedient to God. However his life turned into tragedy when he disobeyed God repeatedly and allowed pride and jealousy to consume him. King Saul’s story is told in 1 Samuel. We must not allow worldly things to slow us down or stop us. We must not allow our own selfishness and flesh to hinder us in this race, such as chasing self-centered joy and personal accolades. This takes our eyes off Jesus and we cannot make it to the finish line without keeping our focus on Him, who is the author and finisher of our faith. When we focus on Him, we will not grow weary in this race. He will strengthen us to endure and finish well.

“Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:5)

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

And not only do we want to finish strong, but like Apostle Paul, the goal is to finish with joy. He believed his discipline would result in a lasting reward, the salvation of others (1 Corinthians 9:22–27). We are to consider what we are going through as a matter of joy, not because the thing itself is something that is pleasurable, but because tribulation works patience within us. This is easier said than done. And we definitely cannot do it ourselves. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus and following His example. He is not only our Shepherd, but also He is Patient, our Friend, our Peace, our Love, our Empowerment (by His Spirit), our Joy, and our Strength, He is our destination when we finish this race the Lord has set before us. We will fall sometimes and we will get tired and weary at times, but this is no time to give up, this is the time that we lean on Jesus who will give us strength to get back up and keep going. Every Believer’s race will look different, but the destination is the same. God knows our journey and has equipped us with everything we need to run a good race.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (Acts 9:24-27)

“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

The good news is Jesus finished and won the race for us. He took the burden of our sins and placed them on himself at the cross. Then He rose from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of God advocating for us to resist sin and continue the race in faith. I encourage you to keep looking at Jesus who will strengthen you to endure and finish well. Every trial, every pain, and every heartbreak is worth enduring the race to the finish line. Jesus is waiting! Love and Blessings…

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

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Our attitudes determines how we smell to God. Does your attitude give off the sweet  aroma of Christ? Are you self-centered, proud, or arrogant? Do your conversations constantly honor God, representing the Fruits of the Spirit, ejecting the fragrance of life. Or are your conversations laced with bitterness, resentment, anger, complaining, and gossip? Are those around you drawn to Christ as a result of the love and peace you display? Imagine what message it sends to our families, children, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, when they see us misrepresenting Christ. One moment praising Him and the next moment allowing things that are not of His character to come out of that same mouth. Our attitudes can deform the face of Christianity. Anytime negative thoughts creep into our minds, we must hold them captive before they come out of our mouth because life and death is in the power of the tounge. Through Jesus Christ we have the power to make our thoughts obedient to Christ, and to refuse to let stinking thinking like selfishness, envy, and anger control our minds.

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:2)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

” With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10)

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  (Proverbs 17:21)

“Take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Everyone needs an attitude adjustment now and then. We are all a work in progress. I urge you to make a list of attitude adjustments you need to work on. When we do this we will be intentional to speak the best, not the worst, to speak of beauty and not the ugly and to praise and not curse. We want to smell good to God all the time, not just sometimes. However we cannot do it alone. We must spend time in the presence of Jesus, praying and asking Him to reveal the areas in our life that does not smell as they should. There is no improvement without change. We can begin by making a conscious choice to start each day with a positive attitude. 

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Phillipians 4:8-9)

Love and Blessings…

When it comes to holding ourselves accountable, we sometimes like to use “I’m not perfect” as an excuse or as a get out of a sin free card. The dictionary’s definition of perfect is complete and without defect or blemish, or being entirely without fault or flawless. According  to the definition, none of us can honestly say that we are perfect. Now here comes the interesting part, perfect can also be used as a verb meaning, to make something perfect. And it is pronounced differently with the emphasis on perFECT. I’m not a baker so my cakes are never perfect, however the more I bake I perFECT my cake each time. This is not an English lesson or a cooking lesson, it is a revelation that I want to share. Righteousness and perfection are not the same!  

Because of His great sacrifice, Jesus Christ is the one who made it possible for us to be declared righteous by God because we’re in Christ and He is righteous. (1 Corinthians 1:30) In the New Testament, the Greek word for perfect means complete, whole, and fully developed. Jesus tells us in Mathew 5:4-8, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” He is inviting us to strive for that kind of perfection. Daily we must rise above the tendencies of the flesh and choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who is the only human that walked this earth in perfection. The original Greek word for perfect means complete. None of us will be “complete” in this mortal life, completeness will come in the eternities. God is working to complete what He started within us and living righteous and being obedient is the steps in our journey to completion. We cannot do it ourselves, no one can do it for us except Christ who can help us to reach it. The perfect reflection of who we are and what we can do is Jesus. As the scripture said, as He is, so are we. Whatever He is, whatever He will do, or whatever He has done, we can see ourselves from that perspective.  

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

We dwell in God’s shelter, not because of our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. However, it would be a mistake to take the grace of Jesus for granted, using  “I’m not perfect” as an excuse or to justify our sins. There is a difference between making an occasional mistake and practicing willful sin. We should not use the “I’m not perfect” to get out of being accountable for our actions.  

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:4-8)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God knows all about our weaknesses. This is why He gave His Son. God’s intention is for us is to have victory over sin. When we mess up and fall short, Jesus is there to help us up, showing us grace, love, and understanding. On our journey to perfection, we must show this same grace, love, and understanding to each other. Our human flesh loves sin, sin can feel, sound, look, smell, and taste good! That’s the deception of the enemy. Anything that does not please God or goes against His Word, is not good! The enemy  will try and convince us that it is good so we will be tempted. Do not be deceived! If this particular sin is front and center in your mind and heart, you are in trouble. Remember we may fool man but we cannot fool God. He knows our heart.  If we allow sin to consume us, we are moving ourselves further away from God, and closer to spiritual death. 

“Be self-controlled and alert. 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 your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” (1John 3:6-7)

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)  

In Biblical times, whenever God withdrew His protection and covering from people, it was the consequences they suffered for their sin and rebellion against Him. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus says that God had sent numerous prophets to Jerusalem to call them back to obedience, but rather than listen, they continued to stone the prophets that were sent. In other words they didn’t want to hear it. They chose to be disobedient and stay in sin. Jesus says that God wanted to gather them under His wing for protection, but they were not willing! As a result, there was death and destruction in Jerusalem. Understand this, God did not send the destruction, He removed His protection! It is clear in the text that God is trying to deliver and protect His people from the destruction, but they would not listen to His warnings and were not willing to come to Him. And so death and destruction came, not from God, but from the armies He was trying to deliver them from in the first place. I believe the same is happening today. God is trying to warn us about so many things that are not pleasing in His sight, but we continue to allow the enemy to use sin and disobedience as a tool to remove us from under God’s shield of protection. Thank God it does not have to be this way, because even if we are not strong enough to stop on our own and most times that is the case, there is Jesus, reaching out to give us the strength we need to get the victory we already have. Yes, we already have the victory over any sin because God said He would always give us a way out. We just have to tap into it by drawing near to Jesus. All we have to do is sincerely ask. We can do all things through Him that strengthens us. Sin and disobedience will keep us from under God’s umbrella of protection, sin is a wall we build between God and us.

 “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” (Matthew 11:15)

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”  (Matthew 23:37)

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrew 2:17-18)

When we slip and fall, we must not just say “I’m not perfect”, and keep being a slave to sin. Jesus died to break us free from the hold that sin has on us. He died so that we would become righteous in the eyes of God. Thank Jesus Christ that we can sincerely repent and get back under God’s shield of protection! God is always our source of protection and strength, especially during uncertain times such as these. Love and Blessings…

We know that our heart is the organ that pumps the blood around in our bodies. Society uses the heart shape as a symbol for love. In the Bible, the word “heart” refers to the intellect, will, and emotions, and the word “pure” means unmixed or clean. We need a pure heart in order to live righteously. Being pure in heart means having an inner moral righteousness, it means intentionally seeking the will of God. It means sincerely focusing on pleasing God and not the world. It means walking in the spirit and not in the flesh. Pleasing God is a matter of living according to scripture and doing so in love. God is love. The heart can be loving, compassionate, understanding, but it is also complicated. It can be hurtful, abusive, manipulative, unfeeling, and the Bible teaches us it can be deceitful as well. This is because the heart is subject to the flesh and a sinful world. If we are not careful the heart can lead us into a path of destruction!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:” (Romans 1:24)

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,” (1 Peter 1:22)

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

We must remember every day to fill our hearts with gratefulness. When we are grateful, we are not so consumed with the things of this world and what we may be going through. Sometimes we start to take for granted what we do have and we grumble and complain about what we don’t have, and before we realize it, our heart is filled with envy, jealousy, comparison, and ungratefulness. There is nothing pure about these things and they are not pleasing to God. Our hearts can be hardened to the point that we no longer see God as the source of everything that we are and everything that we have. An ungrateful heart reveals a lack of trust in God. A heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining. For it is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time.

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

It can be difficult at times to maintain an attitude of gratitude or to be thankful when life gets hard and things seem to be falling apart. But a thankful heart is the key that turns your situation around because it changes your perspective and your attitude. There is power in a thankful heart. We must seek to have an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving each day. We can trust that no matter what is going on, God is always working on our behalf even if we can’t see it. Which is why we can choose to rejoice even in the midst of stressful circumstances. It does not mean we are rejoicing over the situation or circumstances, but we rejoice because we know the One who is in control. When we tap into the wisdom of the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we do not have to allow our circumstance to hold us captive and weigh heavy on our hearts. We can rejoice even when we don’t understand why, because we can trust that God has a purpose and a plan.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.” (Psalm 30:12)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Scripture tells us to guard our hearts. Surrendering our heart to Jesus is the first step. We must ask God to examine our hearts and then make a genuine effort to strive for a pure heart in all our interactions, even with our enemies.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

There is a song that asks the question, where do broken hearts go? The answer is to Jesus. The Lord will hear our prayers when our hearts break from the troubles of this world. When we give our hearts to God, we stop worrying about all that we can’t control. We start to trust in Him because we know that our heart is in a safe place. David was a man after God’s own heart. We all know that David was not perfect but what set him apart was that his heart was pointed toward God. God looks at the heart of man and not the flesh, because if the heart is right, God can help us change the flesh. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

“And we have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.”(1 John 4:16)

The way to guard our hearts and keep it pure is to only allow what is pleasing to God to penetrate, and to always maintain an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving. A pure heart brings peace and contentment. Love and Blessing…

As a child I was taught that if you give your life to Christ, you would not have any more problems and life would be great. I learned a long time ago that is not true, Believers are not guaranteed immunity from temptations, tribulations, or tragedies, but we are promised victory over them. Jesus never said that suffering will never afflict us, on the contrary, He said suffering is part of life for those who follow Him. However we can rejoice because Jesus also encourages us to “take heart” because he has already “overcome the world”. We can rejoice that He will be with us through it all. And we can rejoice that He is greater than anything we may go through. Life is filled with unexpected sufferings, trials, and difficulties. The enemy loves to use these things in our lives to turn our faith into doubt and our belief into unbelief. 

“I 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)

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2)

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

When we are going through, the key is to remember that we are promised victory. Remembering and believing this does not change what we are going through, but it will definitely get us through! Just think if you are taking an extremely hard test but the instructor says that no matter your grade you will still pass the class. Your anxiety leaves because you know the end result will be in your favor. That same way we can experience a sense of comfort in the storms of life when we remember that God said everything will work out for our good. Even if we don’t see how or when, if we believe the word of God, our faith will give us confidence to persevere. 

“greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4)

 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Faith and belief are interconnected. The two go hand in hand. One does not make sense without the other because how can you have faith in something in which you don’t believe? The more I read Matthew 17:20, I believe the disciples “little faith” was not their problem. Most versions read, “because you have little faith” and initially we think that is a bad thing but then Jesus goes on to say, “if you have faith of a mustard seed, but you believe, you can move a mountain.” A mustard seed is really small. Which leads me to believe their faith was not the problem. It was there unbelief. Scripture is telling us that even with a little faith, if we only believe, we can have victory. The Bible tells us that Believers are not just victorious but are “more than conquerors” because of their connection with Christ!

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

“Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23)

John 11 tells the story of two sisters. They experienced the worst kind of heartache. They had to bury their brother. Jesus, who was their friend, hadn’t been there. It seemed to them as though He did not really care. When He did show up, “Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) To honestly believe means to be convinced that God is alive, active, and is very much interested in our lives today. When we believe this truth with enough trust to stand on His promises during the storms of life, we exercise faith which is how we make it through. And even with little faith, we can see amazing things happen. God may stop the storm, or He may calm us as he carries us through the storm. I know that sometimes it can get difficult to believe in the mist of the storm, but do not be discouraged. I am reminded of the man in Mark 9, verse 24 who said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus did not get upset with the man. He is pleased with this response and heals his son. Most of us can identify with this man from time to time. It is the acknowledgement of our inadequacy that allows God to work in our lives. We recognize that even our faith comes from God and it is His work in our lives that enables us to believe. As always, we can ask for what we need. When we doubt, we can ask for more faith. When we are wavering in our commitment to follow, we can ask for more strength of mind. When we are unwilling to obey, we can ask to be made willing. We know that our faith and obedience are always deficient, and we must frequently ask God to enable us to live the life that pleases Him. If left to our own strength and our own faith, we would never make it. “I believe; help my unbelief” is a statement of faith and an admission that our faith is far from perfect. To God be the glory that He is at work within us, giving us the will and the power to achieve His purpose. We must remember that our hope, faith, and joy are not found in what is going on around us, but in believing the truth of God’s Word and His promises. Love and Blessings…

“For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

I was raised up to know the difference between right and wrong, and that there were consequences when I chose to do wrong. I believe that most parents teach their children right from wrong. It is important to do so because choosing wrong could get them in trouble, hurt, or even be deadly. As a follower of Christ, choosing right or wrong is even more important because it can impact our spiritual walk with Christ. Unfortunately, these days we have another choice, “almost”  right. There is so much deceitfulness in the world today, it is now not just a matter of knowing right from wrong, we need to be able to recognize right from “almost”  right. The enemy knows how to mix just enough truth in with false teachings in an attempt to mislead and confuse the people of God. Think about this; cyanide is a white crystalline material that looks like table salt or coarse sugar. If you mix one-part cyanide to nine-part regular sugar, the experts say one or two spoons full will contain enough to poison and kill the user. (https://www.chemsee.com/foodpoison)

This is exactly how “almost”  right works. It is just enough to poison and deter or kill your spiritual walk. At the least it will dim your light that Jesus said to let shine!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (revelations 3:15-16)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. (Matthew 5;16)

For those who may say I have Salvation and I am God’s Chosen, so I cannot be deceived. You are absolutely correct about Salvation and being God’s Chosen, but if you think that Christians cannot be deceived, the deception has already begun. History shows us that Christians have been, and are, capable of being deceived. From the beginning, satan has been deceiving God’s people. (Genesis 3:13). John’s vision of the millennium ends with a worldwide rampage of deception on satan’s part. (Revelations 20:8). Even today we see how “ministries” that have proved to be different in reality from what they professed to be are accepted and followed. Sadly, entertainment, signs and wonders, and feel-good messages are more easily accepted than the Word of God. Because of worldly temptations one can easily be enticed to live by the “if this is wrong, I don’t want to be right” or the “your truth, my truth” mentality, instead of God’s Truth which is the only truth. The enemy’s hope is to deceive even those chosen by God who believe that Jesus is the Christ. Remember he tried to tempt Jesus. The good news is that in Matthew 24:24, Jesus also says, “if possible,” and scripture also tells us that no weapon formed against us will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17) This leads me to believe that the true elect cannot possibly be lost by God, however it is possible for the true elect to lose sight of God. That is the plan of the enemy. Which is why Jesus warns us to be alert and sober minded. He is talking to Believers, not unbelievers who the enemy already has.We do not want to be distracted for even a moment less we be deceived! The enemy is subtle. He doesn’t just push you in, he draws you in little by little with his “almost” right trickery.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”. (Matthew 24:24)

“So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin”. (James 4:17)

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

When we choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our Salvation is set in stone. What we must understand is that once we are saved, works follow salvation, as we are witnesses to what has happened to us and begin to walk in Christ. As someone put it, “we are not saved (by) good works, but we are saved (for) good works.” And if we choose wrong or “almost”  right there will be consequences. The way we choose to live will affect our Heavenly rewards and our lives here on earth. The Bible teaches that God rewards Believers for their obedience and faith and that these rewards are given after death. Also the way we choose to live can affect our rewards here such as peacefulness, love, wisdom, and healing. Making the wrong choices in life may cause us to miss the opportunities to witness how amazing our God is!

“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”
(2 Corinthians 8:21)

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!” (Psalm 119:1)

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, In the same way, people who hurt the prophets who lived long ago.” (Matthew 5:12)NIRV

How do we make the right choices? We rely on the Holy Spirit to be our voice of conscience, the voice of reason, wisdom, good sense, and good judgment. We pray for discernment and we make it a habit of listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit, who protects us against the schemes of the evil one.

Jesus says, “But the Holy Spirit is the one who will help you. My Father will send him in my name. He will teach you everything that I have said to you. His Helper will remind you of all that I said.” (John 14:26)

As Christians, we should seek to do what is right and acceptable before God and our brothers and sisters. We have to decide whether we will lie or tell the truth, do the job right or fake it through, take the easy road or the right road, etc. Life is filled with temptations, obstacles, frustrations, inner struggles and dilemmas that we all have to cope with, things that the enemy will use to trick us. Our values, our thoughts, our words, and our actions is what others see and think about us. But it is much more than what others think of us, it is about our character, which should reflect the character of Jesus. Our character is who we really are, even when no one is watching. God cares more about our character than religious performances. To be a witness for Christ, we have to walk a separate road rather than the popular road. The popular road belongs to the world. We can’t have both, Our character is influenced and developed by our choices. The apostle John writes in 1 John 2:6: “he who says he abides in Christ ought to walk in the same way as he walked.” In other words, if we claim to be Christian, we must strive to be Christlike. God’s purpose is to make us like Christ. God’s way to make us like Christ is to fill us with His Spirit. When we surrender our life to God, we gradually conform to what God has revealed to us about His nature and will.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10)

“I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:4-7)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10)

To be a Christian means to follow Christ and to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is a process. It takes prayer. It takes connecting with the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and it takes the study and knowledge of God’s Word. And if you are ever confused about what you should or should not do, I quote Brian Troxel who wrote, “Love is the only motive that will cause us to walk worthy by His call.” Brothers and Sisters, we need the Holy Spirit, especially in these trying times to not be deceived and to make the right choices. Love and Blessings…

Contrary to popular belief, God doesn’t ask us to trust Him blindly. He gives us many examples of His faithfulness towards people who have come before us. Faithfulness is an integral part of His character. Let’s take a look at the story of a woman named Hannah, and how God was faithful towards her.  Hannah’s […]

Trusting God | 1 Samuel 1 – Hannah 

In order for me to remember important things I write them down, it is a “must’ in this season of my life. However long before it was a “must’, I wrote things down and planned everything. The experts say that this is good because when we write it down it becomes real, something we can see and therefore turn into reality. However, I used to do it because I thought it helped me to stay in control, I would write out my plan and when my plan did not work out, I always had a plan B, which did not work most times. It took me some time to realize I’m only in control when I surrender control to God, and if my plans are not aligned with God’s plans for my life, it’s not going to work. I also have learned that God does not need a plan B!

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

“The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, “(Isaiah 14:24)

“Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you. Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.” (Job 22:21-22)

When we follow God’s plan we do not need a plan B. There is nothing wrong with planning, but unless our plans align with God’s plan, it’s possible we will need a plan B and sometimes a plan C and D. In fact, unless we totally submit to God and His will for our life, we could go through the whole alphabet and still not get it right! Our human wisdom and abilities are limited, and we cannot always be in control of things. But if we know God, we know He is unlimited and is always in control. There was a time when giving total control of my life to anyone, even God was scary. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has or still feel this way. But I assure you that when we surrender fully to the will of God and allow Him to give us direction and guidance, there is no fear and we will not need a plan B!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8) NIV

“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)

God’s plan for our lives are joy, peace, prosperity, hope, and a future with Him for eternity. Our plans are usually self-satisfying, temporary, and often separates us from God. We tend to get upset when things do not go as we planned. And even when we are following God’s plan, there will be some obstacles on our journey. We may find suffering, hurt, pain, and rejection. This is the enemy working to get us distracted. He wants us to give up because even he knows what God has for us is good. This is no time to get upset and start thinking of a plan B. This is the time for prayer, trust, and faith! God will guide us and bring us through. As a matter of fact, we will come out better and stronger if we endure. God’s plan for us is not only eternal, but full of hope even in the mist of life’s storms. God is always in control no matter what it looks like and He promised us that it will all work out for our good. God’s purpose will prevail, He doesn’t need a plan B!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:30)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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

If you are contemplating whether to go with your plan or God’s plan, I urge you to go with God’s plan, it is always much better than anything we can think or imagine! It is not about carrying out our will on earth but fulfilling God’s will for our life on earth. Love and Blessings…

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20) AMP