What does it mean to be seated in heavenly places

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
—Ephesians 2:6 KJV


What does it mean to be seated in heavenly places? It means that we are now able to enter into God's rest.

To be seated means to rest. When we sit in a chair, we rest our physical body. To be seated in heavenly places with Christ is to enter an "inner rest." Our spirit and soul can be at rest because of what Christ has done for us, and because of the good plan God has for us.

One definition of rest is "to be at peace or ease"; "free from anxiety or distress." Rest is freedom from worry and frustration which develop because of our works in trying to do what only God can do. It is freedom from excessive reasoning, struggle, fear, and inner turmoil.

We are to abide in the Lord. The word abide means to "dwell," "to remain in a place." When we abide in Him, we can rest, trust, lean, and rely on Him in this place of protection. The promise of God's peace is not made to those who work and struggle in their own strength but to those who sit, rest, and abide in Christ.

There are those who have learned the blessing of entering God's rest. They are seated with Him, and they have learned to abide in their place.

If you are struggling, take a seat and rest. Your place has been there waiting for you to occupy it all along.

Do This:

You are seated in heavenly places in Christ. Stay in your seat. Stop jumping up every few minutes and getting out of rest!



Have a Wonderful Wednesday
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Bitterness is an extremely destructive force

Today's Scripture
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31 NIV).

Today's Word Bitterness is an extremely destructive force. It seeps into the depths of your heart when you choose not to forgive someone. When you harbor unforgiveness, it closes the door to God’s working in your life. The Bible even tells us that if we choose not to forgive others, God cannot even hear our prayers. Thank God that He has empowered us to forgive and release bitterness! You have the choice to get rid of bitterness so you can live in freedom! You may have been through unfair situations, but it’s not over until God says it’s over. God always has the final say, and He is a God of justice. God sees every wrong that’s ever been done to you. He sees every unfair situation. If you will stay in faith and keep your hopes up, He will make your wrongs right. He’ll bring justice into your life. Your attitude should be, “It may have been unfair. They may have done me wrong. But I refuse to get bitter. I know my time is coming.” As you choose forgiveness and keep your thoughts focused on the Word of God, you will walk in complete freedom in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I refuse bitterness. I refuse to allow the past to keep me stuck. Right now I forgive those who have hurt me. I pray blessing on them, that they would come to know Your Truth. Father, thank You for setting my heart free today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God has a plan and a purpose

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
—Jeremiah 29:11


God has a plan and a purpose for each of us and a specific way and perfect time to bring it to pass.

Much of our frustration and misery comes from either not believing that fact, or believing it but being determined to do things our own way and in our own time, determined to exalt our own will and timing above God's.

According to Isaiah 55:8, God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. We want what feels good right now, but God has something far greater in mind.

We are constantly trying to figure out something we do not understand or trying to make something happen now that is not happening yet. It seems as if we are always trying, but believers are supposed to believe!

"Why, God, why?" and "When, God, when?" can be two statements that keep us frustrated and prevent us from enjoying peace. Many times we do not understand what God is doing. But that is what trust is all about. Let God be God in your life. Give Him the reins. He knows what He is doing.

Do This:

Trust yourself and everything to God Who judges fairly and deals righteously. Deposit yourself in His hands and watch what He can do!



Have a Faithful Friday

God's promotion

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.
—1 Peter 5:6

We are not to promote ourselves. True promotion comes from God. (Psalm 75:6,7)

I can promote myself but from experience I have discovered that if I put myself somewhere, I have to struggle to keep myself there. If I wait for God to put me in a position, He also keeps me.

It takes patience to wait on God's promotion, but waiting on Him honors Him—and the person who honors God will be honored by God. (1 Samuel 2:30.) It is yet to be seen what the Lord can do through a man or woman who will give Him all the glory.

We must learn to allow God to take the lead role in our daily life and future. How much we are depending upon Him is clearly seen by how willing we are to wait on Him for what we want.

Trusting God does not mean that we do nothing. It does, however, mean that we do only what God leads us to do.

God can use only the humble. The degree of humility in which we walk determines how much God is able to use us.

Wait on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14.) His way is better. His timing is perfect.

Do This:

Allow God to take the lead role in your life. Wait on Him, and everything will turn out better in the end.


Have a Magnificent Monday

Manage my Emotions

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise [sensible, intelligent people].
—Ephesians 5:15


Emotions, feelings, are a part of the soul, given to us by God. A life without feelings would be extremely dry and boring...and yet, if we allow feelings to control us, they can become dangerous and actually make us quite miserable.

Whatever God gives for our enjoyment, Satan will try to use against us. God gave us feelings to be a blessing to others and the Kingdom, but Satan tries to use them to cause us torment. He wants us to make all our decisions based on feelings, to allow our feelings to rule us.

Feelings become dangerous and tormenting when we do not understand that we have a choice of whether to allow them to rule us. How often do we feel that someone has hurt our feelings? We can make the choice whether to be hurt or not. To walk according to our emotions is to do whatever we want now, whatever feels good to us at the moment. Our future is being affected by the choices we make today. Make your emotions serve you don't spend your life serving them. Make a decision today to manage your emotions rather than allowing them to manage you.

Say This:

"I determine to manage my emotions. I will make my emotions serve me. I will not spend my life serving them."



Have a Faithful Friday

God never loses a battle

..Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
—2 Chronicles 20:15


Are you struggling with issues in your life, and frustrated because you never get a breakthrough no matter what you do? You will never win if you are fighting your own battles.

God never loses a battle. He has a definite battle plan—and when we follow it, we always win.

Perhaps you are in a circumstance right now and you need to hear God say, "The battle is not yours, but Mine!"

Worship is a battle position! As we worship God for Who He is and for His attributes, those attributes are released in our lives.

Worship God for His ability and might, and you will see them released on your behalf.

Try bowing down a few times a day and giving thanks. Just be sure your heart is in what you are doing. Working formulas or entering into "dead works" never produces anything of value.

I am sure your heart frequently fills up with love and worship for God. If you are not already doing so, take an extra step and add some outward action to your heart attitude.

Follow God's battle plan. It is enjoyable, unique, and effective. Praise and worship confuse the enemy. Take your position, and you will see the enemy's defeat.

Do This:

Bow before God and thank Him for His goodness and mercy. Worship Him for Who He is, not just for what you need from Him.


Have a Thoughtful Thursday

I will never give up! I will finish the race!

I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.
—2 Timothy 4:7


I believe that the Spirit of God fills us with holy determination. It is something that God has in Him and imparts to us through His Spirit. We are not to be quitters or the type of people who are easily defeated.

We must be determined to overcome the past; to go forward and not be stagnant.

We must not be afraid of difficulty. Things worth having never come easy. The definition of determination is: "The act of making or arriving at a decision.... The quality of being resolute or firm in purpose." We must be decisive and stick to our decisions.

If you find yourself being double-minded about something, I encourage you to ask yourself what you believe God placed in your heart in the beginning; then stick with that. Don't head in another direction now due to weariness.

I believe you have what it takes to live in victory. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, His determination lives in you because He lives in you.

Fight the good fight of faith. Run the race to win. Be determined to take the prize. Don't give up and don't give in.

You can make it!

Do This:

Depend on God's strength not your own. Say aloud several times every day, "I will never give up! I will finish the race!"


Have a Wantful Wednesday!

Judgement Day

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor."

He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.

He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes.

He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off of Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said,

"My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this woman belongs in hell."

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and In the past when I cheated others Satan told of other horrible Perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not Offering any form of defense at all.

I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This woman belongs in hell, she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise."

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench.

The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan , and beckoned Him to come forward.

As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.

I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hello, Father,"
and then He turned to address the court.

" Satan was correct in saying that this woman had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations.

And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and she has accepted Me as her Savior, so she is Mine."

My Lord continued with, "Her name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch her from Me.

Satan still does not understand yet.
This woman is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down,

He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done."

"I've done it all."

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.
The following words bellowed from His lips..

"This woman is free."

The penalty for her has already been paid in full.

"Case dismissed."

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"

Christ lovingly smiled and said,

"Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you,

~Paid In Full~

If you do not pass this along to 15 people immediately, absolutely nothing will happen.

Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend, (as I have done here), will bless you both.

"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"

What is mercy?

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
—Matthew 5:7

Mercy appears to be somewhat a matter of sowing and reaping, and I am sure we all want to reap mercy. Therefore, we should learn how to sow it toward a plentiful harvest available when we need it.

What is mercy? It is an attribute of God's character that is seen in how He deals with His people. Mercy is good to us when we deserve punishment. Mercy accepts and blesses us when we deserve to be totally rejected. Mercy understands our weaknesses and infirmities and does not judge and criticize us.

We may go through a period in our walk with God in which He was trying to teach us the importance of mercy and being merciful. He teaches us that we are unable to give mercy to others because we do not know how to receive mercy from Him.

The love of God works the same way. Many are unable to walk in love; one of the reasons is that they have never received the love of God for themselves, so they have none to give away.

Receive God's mercy and love; you cannot give away something you do not have.

Do This:

Begin receiving mercy on a regular basis. As you do, you will find that you have mercy to give to others.




Have a Magnificant Monday
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Imperfections of Others

Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but....I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
—Philippians 3:12,14

"If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others." This statement was made by François Fénelon in the seventeenth century. When I read that statement in a book recently, it gripped my heart, and I knew it was something I needed to meditate on.

The apostle Paul stated that he pressed on toward the mark of perfection. I believe all those who truly love the Lord are compelled to do that. He is perfect, and our journey into Him compels us to be like Him. We want to do things the right way—the way that would be pleasing to Him.

Perhaps a good measuring stick of our perfection is how patient we are with the imperfections of others. When I am impatient with others because of their imperfections, if I take a moment and consider my own imperfections, I usually get patient again very quickly.

If you have an imperfection, don't be down on yourself. God will help you. If you are impatient with the imperfections of others, remember that only imperfection is intolerant of imperfection.

Say This:

"I determine to be tolerant of the imperfection of others, because I realize that I also have imperfections which God is perfecting in me."

Have a Thankful Thursday

Come to the Father

Today's Scripture

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your soul.” (Matthew 11:28 AMP).

Does your soul need refreshing today? Then come to the Father. Are you overburdened by the cares of this world? Are you facing challenges in your relationships? Finances? Career? The Father wants to refresh you. He wants to cause you to rest. Think about that for a moment. What would cause you to rest? If you knew everything was going to work out for your good, you would stop worrying. You would rest! Even if things don’t work out the way you planned, or on your timetable, you can trust that God will turn things around in your favor. When you submit your life to Him, by the blood of Jesus, and truly make Him Lord and Ruler of every area of your life, you will find rest for your soul! Come to the Father today in prayer and with thanksgiving. Thank Him right now for taking your burdens and giving you peace. Thank Him for loving you today and giving you new life. Thank Him for His faithfulness. Go out today with an attitude of faith and expectancy because God is working behind the scenes on your behalf—and you can come to Him!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I come to You now. I give You my cares and burdens. I thank You for working behind the scenes on my behalf. Thank You for loving me and setting me free. Thank You for giving me rest for my soul and peace in my heart today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Blessing of Unity

Today's Scripture
“How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...for there the Lord has commanded the blessing…” (Psalm 133:1-3).

Today's Word
Did you know the Lord has commanded that blessing come upon you when you are at peace with your brothers and sisters in the Lord? As believers, we are called to work together in unity in order to fulfill God’s purposes. We are called to serve one another in love and serve together in the house of the Lord. Is there someone that you don’t quite get along with? Pray for that person. Go out of your way to be a blessing to them. Do your best to walk in peace and unity. As we serve one another in love, the Bible says the world will know that we are Christians. The world will recognize that we are true followers of Christ by our actions, not by our words. Make the decision today to live in peace and unity with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. If the only thing you can agree on is that Jesus is Lord, focus on that. Focus on the love you have for God and for seeing people come to know Him. As you focus on walking in peace and unity, you will walk into the place of blessing the Lord has commanded for you!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, search my heart today and see if there is anything that is keeping me from walking in unity with other believers. I choose love today. I choose peace today. I choose unity today. Help me to be an example of love to those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

My times are in Your hands....

My times are in Your hands....
—Psalm 31:15


If we could understand God's timing, we could better cooperate with His plan for our lives. However, we may never completely understand. When we don't know, we must be satisfied to know the One Who knows. If we are going to walk with Him and enjoy His blessings, we must learn to let God be God.

Most of us attempt to take the lead role in our relationship with the Lord. He has a position, and He will not change it. We must change. He has the lead role. He gives the instructions, and we follow—even though we don't always like the way He chooses to take us.

Timing is an important issue in our walk with God. Why does it take God so long to do what we ask Him to do? Trust always requires unanswered questions which keep us growing in faith.

God has a plan and a timing. While we are in God's waiting room, He is getting us ready for what He already has prepared for us. We must grow up and mature. It takes time. As we reach new levels of maturity, God releases new levels of blessings.

You may be in the habit of taking care of yourself. Retire from self-care. God wants to take care of you. He is faithful, and you can depend on Him.

Pray This:

"Father, thank You for strengthening me in my weaknesses. I believe Your grace is sufficient for every situation I face. In Jesus' name, amen."


Have a Terrific Tuesday

CLOSED DOORS

We need to learn to thank the Lord for closed doors just as much as we do for open doors. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared
anything over there for us.

If He didn't close the wrong door we would never find our way to the right
door. Even when we don't realize it, God directs our paths through the
closing and opening of doors. When one door closes, it forces us to change
our course. Another door closes; it forces us to change our course yet again.

Then finally, we find the open door and walk right into our blessing.

But instead of praising God for the closed door (which kept us out of
trouble), we get upset because we "judge by the appearances." And in our own
arrogance, or ignorance, we insist that we know what is right.
We have a very present help in the time of need who is always standing guard.
Because He walks ahead of us, He can see trouble down the road and HE sets up
road blocks and detours accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom we try to
tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour signs. Then the minute we
get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord how could this happen to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door was a blessing. Didn't He say
that "No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him?" If you get
terminated from your job - don't be down, instead thank God for the new
opportunities that will manifest themselves it might be a better job, or an
opportunity to go to school. If that man or woman won't return your call -
it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let
it go).

One time a person had a bank he had been doing business with for many years
tell him "NO" for a $10,000 loan. The Lord led him to call another bank.
That bank approved a $40,000 loan for him at a lower interest rate than his own
bank had advertised. I'm so grateful, for the many times God has closed doors
to me, just to open them in the most unexpected places. "The steps of a good
man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way."

(Psalms 37:23) The Mountain top is glorious, but it is in the Valley that I
will grow!

Always Remember God gives you...

Enough Happiness to keep you Sweet

Enough Trials to keep you Strong

Enough Sorrows to keep you Human

Enough Hope to keep you Happy

Enough Failure to keep you Humble

Enough Success to keep you Eager

Enough Friends to give you Comfort

Enough Wealth to meet your Needs

Enough Enthusiasm to make you look forward

Enough Faith to banish depression, and

Enough Determination to make each day a better day than the last.

Life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards.

Commit to the Lord in whatever you do and your plans will succeed.

(Proverbs 16:3)

If you love God share this blog with someone else and He will continue to open and close doors for you. May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect
you, and heaven accept you.

Have a Faithful Friday

Just Before Your Breakdown

How are you doing this morning? It's a wonderful day to be a child of God. Have you ever found yourself on the verge of giving up? Things have become more than you are willing to handle. Things have become more than you feel you can bear. You have tried everything and everyone but to no avail. Have you ever prayed for a better tomorrow but it seemed the same as yesterday? You hoped a good night sleep would cause the problems to disappear, but when you woke up the next morning, there was the same problem waiting on you. You found yourself reaching for the bottle of alcohol or the bag of drugs. Someone told you that was the answer. Do you realize alcohol and drugs only relieves you of the problem temporarily? God is not a temporary God. He desires to give you permanent relief.

My friend, Just Before Your Breakdown ... God will send a breakthrough. He knows when to step in and He knows how to step in. He knows how much you can handle and He knows when the load has become to much for you to bear. He knows everything about you. Have you ever found yourself saying, "if one more thing goes wrong I am going to scream?" The Lord knows how you feel. It is not a coincidence that God intervenes just when you needed Him the most. The Bible declares in Psalms 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. If you can ever hold on, you can and will see the manifestation of God's power. The Lord is not worried about the size of your circumstance. In the words of Bishop TD Jakes, "stop telling God about your problems, and start telling your problems about your God!"

My brother, my sister, what are you dealing with this morning? What matter kept you walking the floors last night? What dilemma causes you to toss and turn each day? Do you realize this is not the Lord's will for your life (Psalms 121:4)? God desires for His children to have peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Yes there will be challenges along the way, but God will not suffer your foot to be moved (Psalms 121:3). Beloved, Just Before Your Breakdown ... God will send a breakthrough. Just when the enemy tells you to curse God and die, the Lord will step in. Just when friends and family walk away in doubt, the Lord will step in. Just when the bank says no, the Lord will step in. Just when tuition is due but money is low, the Lord will step in. Just when everyone has forgotten about you, the Lord will step in. Do not breakdown ... breakthrough! Prayer For Today: Father, please give me the strength to hold on and hold out! In the name of Jesus ... Amen!



Scripture Reading for Today: Isaiah 40:31

Praise the Lord. Speak the Word of God

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against... the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
—Ephesians 6:12


The attacks of Satan against the Church are of a different nature than those in the past days different in that they are more intense than ever before. The enemy will not continuously use the same tactics over and over, because once his method of attack is discovered, it is no longer effective.

More people than ever are experiencing tremendous attacks against their minds. Many of God's people are being attacked with sickness. Some of them are experiencing great financial trauma. People are enduring great attacks of fear.

How can you fight the devil who is the source of these attacks?

1. Praise is one way. Praise is a garment that will protect you from defeat. Put on the garment of praise.

2. Abiding in Christ and fellow shipping with Him is one of the best ways of engaging in spiritual warfare. Hide yourself in God, and His presence will protect you.

3. The Word of God is a two-edged sword. Your mind is the battlefield. When Satan says something to you, speak the Word back.

4. Walking in love is another form of spiritual warfare. Love gives: it is impossible to defeat Satan while leading a selfish lifestyle.

Use your spiritual weapons!

Do This:

Praise the Lord. Speak the Word of God. Abide in Christ. Walk in love. Use these weapons and begin to fight in a new way.



Have a Marvelous Monday

Authority and Power

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.
—Luke 10:19


Far too many believers are fainthearted, weak in determination, and diseased with an "I can't" attitude they are lacking in power.

You and I don't have to beg God to give us power. We just need to realize and accept that we have been given power and then walk in what is already ours. We must develop and maintain a "power consciousness" an aggressive, power-packed attitude.

God has given us spiritual power for spiritual warfare. Spiritual power is released when our faith is firm. When we walk in faith we can approach every situation with an attitude of enemy-conquering faith.

An attitude of confidence will exude from us when we know who we are in Christ and believe in the power that the Bible says is ours through faith.

Do you desire to be a powerful believer? Try approaching every situation in your life (no matter how large or small) with a simple, childlike faith believing that God is good, that He has a good plan for your life, and that He is working in your situation.

You have power. Walk in it!

Say This:

"The Greater One lives in me. I am full of God's miracle-working power. I am going to walk in what is mine."




Have a Faithful Friday

Guilt and condemnation

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
—Romans 8:1


Guilt and condemnation are major problems for many believers.

It is Satan's greatest delight to make us feel bad about ourselves. He never tells us how far we have come, but rather, he constantly reminds us of how far we still have to go.

When the enemy attacks me, I say, "I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."

Like David, we must learn to keep ourselves encouraged in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6.) None of us has arrived at the state of perfection. We cannot perfect ourselves: sanctification (holiness) is the job of the Holy Spirit, and it is worked out in our lives as a process.

The Bible teaches that we can have complete forgiveness of our sins (total freedom from condemnation) through the blood of Jesus Christ. We must decide if Jesus did a complete job or if He didn't. We don't need to add our guilt to His sacrifice. He is more than enough.

Let Jesus do His job. He wants to forgive you. All you have to do is receive His forgiveness. Complete forgiveness is completely free!

Say This:

"I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."


Have a Thankful Thursday

Transplanted

God created us to be loved. He wants to love us; He wants us to love each other, and He wants us to love and accept ourselves. Without this foundation of love and acceptance, there will be no joy and peace.

Some of us need to be transplanted. If we started out in the wrong soil, Jesus will transplant us so that we can get rooted and grounded in His love, as the Bible teaches.

Know that you are valuable, unique, loved, and special. When this is your foundation and your root, you will produce good fruit.

Ask God to give you beauty for ashes.

Say This:

I was created for love. God loves me and wants me to love Him, love others, and love and accept myself."


Have a Marvelous Monday!

I have peace

...Let him search for peace...and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]
—1 Peter 3:11

When Jesus said, Peace I leave with you... (John 14:27), He was talking about a special kind of peace, not a worldly kind of peace. The special peace that Jesus was talking about is the kind of peace that operates all the time in every situation.

The believer who is experiencing God's peace through his relationship with Jesus can have peace even in the midst of the storms of life.

First Peter 3:11 says that we are to search for peace, to pursue it, and to seek it eagerly. The word seek means "...strive after, endeavor...desire." "Inquire." "To require or demand." It means requiring something as a vital necessity, craving, or pursuing something.

This verse mentions three areas in which we are to seek peace: (1) with God, (2) with our fellowmen, and (3) with ourselves.

Learn to love peace and to desire it earnestly. Seek peace, for without it you cannot enjoy life and the blessings of God. The Lord has said that if you seek Him with your whole heart, you will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13.) I believe if you seek and search for peace with your whole heart, you will find what you are looking for.

Say This:

"I have the peace that passes all understanding. I have the peace that operates in the midst of the storm."

Have a Faithful Friday!

Nothing’s Too Small for God

Today's Scripture

“And even the very hairs of your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:30)

Today's Word

We hear all the time that nothing is too big for God. But have you ever thought that a problem was too small for God? Are there things in your life that you haven’t prayed about simply because you thought it didn’t matter to God? Every detail of your life is important to God. He knows the very number of hairs you have on your head! That’s pretty amazing to think about. If He keeps track of every hair that falls from your head, surely He cares about the things that you care about in your life. God wants to be involved in every area of your life—not just the big things, but the small things too. Don’t wait to pray until you have a major crisis. Talk to Him every day about everything. God wants to be involved in your mornings. He wants to be involved throughout your workday. He wants to be involved when you go to the grocery store. He wants to be involved in every area of your life. Open your heart and talk to Him about everything because nothing is too small for Him!

A Prayer for Today

God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me as Your child and for caring about every detail in my life. I open my heart to You and ask You to be involved in every area of my life today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Triumph in Trials

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace..., Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
—1 Peter 5:10


In John 16:33 Jesus tells us that in the world we will have tribulation. Trials and tribulations seem to be a part of life. We should learn how to triumph in the midst of them.

Trials can make us bitter or better. The devil hopes to steal our faith and leave us bitter and angry at God. God intends to strengthen our faith, purify it so it comes forth like gold, develop patience in us, and give us experience that will help others. (1 Peter 1:5-7.)

We are taught to endure patiently. (1 Peter 2:20.) To endure is to outlast the problem. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22.) It is not just waiting, it is how we act while we are waiting.

To triumph in trials we must learn stability remain the same, continue in our commitments, and walk in love. Going through hard times and continuing to be good and kind to others is a sure way to triumph in trials.

If you are in a time of trials, they don't have to defeat you let them make you stronger.

Say This:

"I will triumph in the midst of my trials by remaining stable. I will continue to walk in love and the fruit of the Spirit."

Have a Magnificent Monday!

Delight yourself also in the Lord

Today's Scripture
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart”(Psalm 37:4 AMP).

Today's Word
God knows the secret petitions of your heart. He knows every hidden dream He’s placed within you. He knows those things that you haven’t told anybody about. Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams. Be encouraged today—God is still working behind the scenes! He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass. Do what the verse says, and delight yourself in Him today. That word delight, actually means to make yourself soft and pliable. It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today. Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy today, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and open your heart to His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!

A Prayer for Today
Father, You said the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly before You. You said because I delight myself in You, You will give me the secret petitions of my heart. So Father, I thank You today for being in control of my life. Thank You for the good things You have in store for my future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Front Row Seat

Life is like a theater, so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives. There are some people in your life who need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships, and even family!

Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to:

Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill or just staying still??? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?

The more you seek God and the things of God, the more you seek quality, the more you seek not just the hand of God but the face of God, the more you seek things honorable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the BALCONY of your life.

You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life. Remember that FRONT ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in Your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully.

Everyone Can't Be in Your FRONT ROW.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Pass Through the Waters

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched....
—Isaiah 43:2


God wants us to be diligent and go all the way through with Him, not just go until the way becomes difficult, and then stop there. One of our greatest challenges is to face our mountains rather than trying to go around them.

Sometimes we go around and around the same mountain, and we end up like the Israelites in the wilderness who wandered around for forty years. (Deuteronomy 2:1-3.) We must learn to face our mountains, determined to go all the way through with God. That is the only path to victory.

I encourage you to go all the way through with God no matter how difficult it may seem. Let God have His way in your life. Pray for God's will and not your own will. God's way is for you to set your face like flint, dig in both heels, and go all the way through.

By the way, the attitude that you have while you are going through is most important. The Word says that it is to be a joyful attitude, otherwise you may have to make the trip again. (James 1:2-4.)

Pray This:

"Father, thank You for infusing me with inner strength so that I am ready for and equal to anything. (Philippians 4:13.) In Jesus' name, amen."

This is a Magnificent Monday!

Seeing with the Heart

Those you love become beautiful to you… just as we are beautiful to God.

Love is blind, love sees with different eyes. Love sees beyond the surface. Love opens the door for beauty. When we see with the eye, we develop the ability to refine, to judge, to discriminate. When we see with the heart, we expand the view of what it is to be human, see the common dream, see the wisdom of friends and neighbors, see there is no separation between that which is most beautiful and the everyday world. The eye of the heart sees with a wholeness that allows imperfections and idiosyncrasies to coexist with beauty. The eye of the heart knows surface and depth are not opposites. Beauty is a process, a revelation, not a finished state.

Beauty reveals itself over time in relationship. The people I love are beautiful to me. I'm not sure if my eyes are blinded by love or it is love that lets me see their beauty. Knowing them over time, my appreciation of who they are and how they appear increases. Their beauty comes from their liveliness and authentic sweetness, their intention to live lives that make some sense (and some nonsense), the spirited coherence of being who they are.

When we are most alive, we are beautiful. When we are in love, we are reminded that we are beautiful. And sometimes when we know we are beautiful, we find ourselves in love. "In love" usually means the romantic sense of being with one other person who in that moment we feel reflects us perfectly. Our songs and movies have told us such great sentimental stories about being "in love," we forget that being in love can be a state of truth as well as an illusion.

One of the most beautiful and accessible ways to address God is as Love. What is done with love is done in beauty to celebrate the God that loves. Surround yourself with people who understand what real beauty is.

Forgiving one Another

...forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
—Ephesians 4:32


When we hold things against people, are we really hurting them? Isn't it really ourselves we are hurting?

Jesus frequently spoke of the need to forgive others. If we are to walk the narrow path, we will have to learn to be quick to forgive. The quicker we forgive, the easier it is. We must do it before the problem gets rooted in our emotions. It will be much more difficult to pull out if it has long, strong roots.

Holding grudges against other people does not change them, but it does change us. It makes us sour, bitter, miserable, and difficult to be around. When we think we are holding a grudge, it is actually the grudge that is holding us. It is Satan's deceptive way of keeping us in bondage. He wants us to think we are getting even, that we are protecting ourselves from being hurt again.

None of that is true!

I want to encourage you to ask God for grace to forgive anyone against whom you are holding a grudge. Determine from this point on to keep your heart and life free from this negative emotion.

God has a great plan for your life, but you will only enter into it by staying on the narrow path.

Say This:

"I choose to follow Jesus' example by forgiving others. Therefore, I enter into a new realm of peace and enjoyment of life."

Why Go To Church

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this!

If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. If you're
spiritually curious, there is still hope! Why Go To Church? A Church
goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it
made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years
now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000
sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.
So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by
giving sermons at all.

" This started a real controversy in the "Letters
to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on
for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30
years now . In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for
the life of me, I cannot r ecall the entire menu for a single one of
those meals. But I do know this.

They all nourished me and gave me the
strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these
meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to
church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the
invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!"
"When Satan is knocking at your door, simply
say, "Jesus, could you get that for me?"

Your words, moods, and attitudes

In Second Corinthians 10:5 the apostle Paul teaches us to cast down all wrong thoughts that disagree with God's Word. He is, in essence, saying, "Keep your minds reserved for God's thoughts (His Word) alone."

God desires truth in the inward parts. (Psalm 51:6.) I encourage you to begin paying more attention to your thought life. Your words, moods, and attitudes are rooted in it. Dedicate your entire self to God. Live as if you were private property—reserved for God alone!

Say This:

"With God's help, I determine and purpose in my heart to maintain a godly attitude and to speak only godly words."



Have a Make a Way Monday.

Forget your problems

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith...
—Hebrews 12:2


Do you fellowship with your problem or with the Lord?

The devil wants us to think about our problem, worry about our problem, talk about and try to reason out our problem. God desires for us to spend time with Him, talk to Him, and think about Him and His Word.

Jesus is the One we are to look to in order to have our needs met. If we dwell in Him, our problem has no power over us, but if we dwell on the problem, we magnify it above Him. The more attention we give our problem, the more we feed it, the more power it has over us.

I remember when my husband and I were having financial struggles. I would give Dave the bad report, and he would give me the Word, telling me to cast my care on the Lord. He would fellowship with God while I fellowshipped with the problem. The more I did so, the more upset I became.

The devil starts the problem rolling. The more you think, worry, reason, talk, plan, and scheme about it, the bigger it gets. If you look to Jesus, you will experience the miracle power of God as you trust in Him.

Do This:

Forget your problems. Don't think about them, worry about them, or talk about them. Fellowship with God instead, and you will enjoy life tremendously.



Have a Tasteful Tuesday