God Knows Us Well

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Since the summer, I have taken a different route to work due to some changes in my morning routine. I’ve become accustomed to my new route and it has become old hat. Initially, I thought it was a little more convoluted that my old route, and definitely a little more risky due to the speed limit changes along the way with double fines at some stretches of road. Yet, as I said, I am used to it now.

Just the other day, I looked over at the old exit, I used to take and the cars were backed up for what seemed like miles. I thanked God that I was no longer on that path, the one that seemed to be a straight shot. The next day, I witnessed the same back up, and again today. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of today’s passage, “When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

God knows me well. He knows that I have A LOT of responsibilities to complete in the morning and sitting in traffic adds to the anxiety of my day. He knew that I would be tempted to be angry because I would be late to work, and that anger could be a door for the Evil One to start me down a road of complaining and futile fussing. The holdup would be a distraction to the many blessings that God had bestowed upon me and my family so far that morning. Our gracious and loving God gently changed my route this summer in preparation for the construction that He knew was going to take place and cause a several mile back up every morning.

He loves us so much that He will give us a way out, if we follow His gentle promptings. I could take my old route to work, even with my new routine, but I listened to His promptings and settled into a way that He knew would be best for His child!

Remember to take heed to those gentle nudges from the Holy Spirit. I guarantee they will have a purpose and will be your way out so you can endure this life!

Know Your Worth

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

-Prov. 31:10 (NIV)

There are 4 natural stones that have been designated as precious stones: diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. In the verse above, a wife of noble character is as rare and precious as a ruby. Why are we so hard to find? In my opinion, I believe because we’re too busy looking ourselves. I didn’t read anywhere, “A man of noble character who can find?” However, it is quite often spoken that a good man is hard to find. Society and past experiences have ingrained in our minds the negative thought that no good men exist. It is truly a trick of the enemy! Do you want to know why a good man is hard to find? The answer is clearly because men were not the ones intended to be found.

Women are the ones who should be pursued and sought after. I know, it sounds old fashioned but I’d rather call it BIBLE-FASHIONED. Eve was presented to Adam. Adam was content doing what he was doing, as many men are today. God knew it wasn’t good for him to be alone. Don’t you think He’ll make the same call for men today? Of course He does. He knows when a man (and a woman) is ready to cultivate a healthy, godly marriage it will bring Him glory. There is a wrench that is strategically thrown in when pressures to marry are placed on a man by anyone, but God. Only He knows the right time to whisper His divine command in a man’s ear and touch a man’s heart. Then it is up to a man to obey God’s charge.

So what are we, as women of faith to do while men are getting themselves together? We are to understand our worth. We are precious gems who should be the prize for a man who submits to Jesus Christ. If a man submits to Jesus then he will be led right to his “wife of noble character!” Will you be ready? Do you know your worth?

Precious is defined as being of great value, highly cherished, and excessively refined. Well, we have our work cut out for us. Dedicate yourself to being the best Christian you can be. Give God your all and live the life that He has designed for you. That is a life of GREAT VALUE. Get busy with Kingdom work. Your time and talents will be CHERISHED by those you affect. Let the Fruit of the Spirit be the framework of how you live and you will have a HIGHLY REFINED lifestyle. Stop seeking a good man and strive to be a wife of noble character that is ready to be found.

Devotional Reading: Galatians 5:22-23

Genesis 2:18

His Joy Gives Me Strength

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” -Nehemiah 8:10

The interpretation of this passage is often that God gives us joy, which makes us strong. I totally agree with that interpretation, but I heard a sermon recently that gave me another perspective and invigorated me to keep pressing through to the purpose God has called me to. The perspective is one of God’s joy, or more expressly His experiencing joy should be our motivation and strength. The Israelites out of guilt were weeping and mourning at their sinful state. As they listened to the Law of Moses being read, they were convicted. But repentance brings joy to God, and His people were in the right place to turn from their wicked ways and back to Him. This is a great illustration of Hosea 4:6, “My people perish because of a lack of knowledge.” The Israelites now were informed and could bring God joy. Knowing that they were bringing God joy would give them the strength to do what the word detailed.

Realizing that we are bringing God joy by the lives we live should encourage us to continue when times get rough and temptations bombard us. We want God to be a proud Parent. We are His children and we must endeavor to think outside of ourselves and think about our Father who is ever mindful and watchful of us. His “smile” should make tough times worthwhile! His joy gives me strength!

Why Kick A Man (or Woman) When He’s Down?

Why Kick A Man (or Woman) When He’s Down?

Have you ever silently endured an injustice and needed support from family and friends without necessarily telling them everything that’s going on? And, unfortunately, they lend no support because they are caught up in their own situations? And, further, out of their frustration, they mishandle you and are course with you? We’ve all been there or are there now! Job was in that very dry place and his way of enduring and overcoming his uncomfortable season is Divine instruction on how we are to win the battle with difficulties.

Job lost EVERYTHING: wealth, health, and his legacy. It would have been better if he had lost his friends, because they kicked him while he was down. His wife gets a bad wrap because she suggested to him to “curse God and die.” Lest we forget that she had also lost her children, wealth, and witnessed her husband’s physical and mental health deteriorate. Yet, Job kept his mind on God’s faithfulness and disregarded the foolish counsel of this wife and friends. He worshipped God, questioned God, and petitioned God. He kept God on his mind because he knew that God was the only one who could deliver him from the torment of his situation and those who were supposed to be close to him.

Let us allow God’s loving arms to embrace us when others turn their backs on us. Let God’s love warm us when others are cold toward us. Let God’s faithfulness embolden us when other’s scoffs stomp on us. Let God’s peace comfort us, when an comforting touch is not extended. Let God’s vision resonate in your life, when others want to pigeonhole you in your “right now.”

And, when you are delivered from your dry place into lush green garden, from lack into a double portion for your trouble, DO NOT FORGET to reach out to another hurting soul with what you needed when you were in your dry place. Remind them, as I am reminding you now, that God is faithful and will not “kick a man or woman then he/she is down!”

Devotional Reading: Job 42

A Touch From Jesus

Sometimes our situations can look as good as dead. It seems as if we made just one too many mistakes, we’ve said the wrong thing just one too many times, or we won’t ever get it right. The passage that spoke to me at a very low point in my walk with God has nothing to do with forgiveness. It has nothing to do with mistakes. It has solely to do with the exorcism of an evil spirit.

The conversation that Jesus has with the possessed boy’s father is a faith discussion, but further along in this account of this miracle, it is all about how Jesus’ touch brought life to something that looked dead.

I come to speak into your life today. If your situation looks like a corpse, ask for a touch from Jesus. If people have begun to count you out and say, “It’s over for you,” reach up your hand to Jesus. Jesus does not listen to your critics. He does not listen to your emotions. He acts in response to your faith in the plan that God has set out for you.

Ask: Dear Lord, I need you to touch my situation. It looks dead and people are saying that it is dead, but I believe that you will bring life to what appears to be a corpse. Put me back on my feet and help me to stand! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Devotional Reading: Mark 9:26-27

A Touch From Jesus

A Touch From Jesus

Sometimes our situations can look as good as dead. It seems as if we made just one too many mistakes, we’ve said the wrong thing just one too many times, or we won’t ever get it right. The passage that spoke to me at a very low point in my walk with God has nothing to do with forgiveness. It has nothing to do with mistakes. It has solely to do with the exorcism of an evil spirit.

The conversation that Jesus has with the possessed boy’s father is a faith discussion, but further along in this account of this miracle, it is all about how Jesus’ touch brought life to something that looked dead.

I come to speak into your life today. If your situation looks like a corpse, ask for a touch from Jesus. If people have begun to count you out and say, “It’s over for you,” reach up your hand to Jesus. Jesus does not listen to your critics. He does not listen to your emotions. He acts in response to your faith in the plan that God has set out for you.

Ask: Dear Lord, I need you to touch my situation. It looks dead and people are saying that it is dead, but I believe that you will bring life to what appears to be a corpse. Put me back on my feet and help me to stand! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Devotional Reading: Mark 9:26-27

No Holds Barred Faith

As we experience disappointments in life, our reckless abandon as it relates to our faith is reeled in by reality. We sometimes limit what we think God can do because of what we assume He hasn’t done in the past. We pray very broad prayers to better protect our hearts, just in case God doesn’t do it exactly how we wish it would be fulfilled.

I had begun to feel this way and the phrase “No Holds Barred” was dropped into my spirit. I had heard it and said it before, but I hadn’t thought about what it truly meant. So, the Holy Spirit clarified what exactly it was. It was a term used in wrestling that meant there was nothing off limits. I had a wow moment. If you have the right type of faith, nothing is off limits to God for you.

Then, it all came back to me. When I was a child, I that type of faith. I thought that if I spat in the dirt and made mud, I could put it on Stevie Wonder’s eyes and he would be healed. I was convinced! As I got older that faith began to wane, but it is back! I believe the unbelievable because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! I challenge you to have a No Holds Barred Faith. Don’t limit God to what He can do. Channel your inner child who believed the unthinkable. Remember Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Devotional Reading: John 9:1-12
Mark 10:13-16