 Isaiah 54:16 “Look, I have created the craftsman who blows on the charcoal fire and produces a weapon suitable for its task...” ~CSB
I don’t like using the word ‘fear’ so let’s substitute that word with ‘issue’. I used to have an ‘issue’ with heights. Being up high and looking down brought out feelings and emotions in me that would sometimes cause me to freeze in my tracks. But even though I had this issue, I was always able to move forward in any task that was laid out in front of me. One great example was my job in the military. I was a crew chief on a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter for the Army. Not only did I perform maintenance, but I also flew aboard the aircraft during missions. When I did this, I would secure myself with a harness and hang out of the aircraft while in flight. I also attended Air Assault School where I learned to repel out of the helicopter over ninety feet in the air; jumping out feet and sometimes ‘head’ first. Now does that sound like someone who has issues with heights? Believe it or not, I did. To this day I feel a little queasy going up in high places but I have control of my issue. How? God has given me the tools I need within myself to see my tasks through, no matter what my situations may be. In Isaiah 54 God is allowing Israel to know He loves them and, “…will not become angry or rebuke…” them again. He is allowing them to know in the above text that He has angels at work in creating the weapons needed for His will to be done. Some of those tools were created within all of us who believe for that very purpose. It doesn’t matter what your issue may be in any given situation, God has given you the tools to overcome it. The enemy will gladly use ‘fear’ to stop you on your Christian journey. Remember, this issue comes from the enemy’s influence, (as he does not have any power), and we have the strength, through the power of God in the Holy Spirit, to overcome this influence of fear. As I take control of my issue with heights, stand in defiance of your issue! Show the enemy that what God has given you is stronger than what the enemy has given you from the world! (1 John 4:4) Use that weapon God has created in you. You will find that it is “…suitable for its task…” May God continue to bless and keep you on your journey in Jesus name. Amen
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 Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to get people to think well of me? Or do I want God to think well of me? Am I trying to please people? If I were, I would not be serving Christ.” ~NIRV
When I sang my first solo at church, I was very nervous. I look back on that and my thoughts were, “Will they think I can’t sing?” “If I hit the wrong note, will they ever let me hear the end of it?” In my fear, I had forgotten the reason why I sang in the first place. You see, before I started singing, I prayed. My prayer was for God to allow me a chance to use the voice He gave me to bring hope and spread the good news in song. To sing praises to Him. In other words my intent for my actions was for the kingdom. The purpose is always for the kingdom. Making disciples is ‘Word’ that we follow in Matthew 28:19-20. In order to stay strong, and fight the tactics of the enemy we must remember who we work for and whom we serve. That, my brothers and sisters, is God. When I was nervous about singing I forgot who I was really serving; as I was serving the people around me. I took my focus off the mission and focused on the people. When I did that, I failed to leave any room for God to perform His miracle, (through me), on those who prayed to Him for deliverance. Remember, as you live for Christ, allow Him to live in you by focusing on the fact that it is not you by yourself witnessing in hope; but God’s power perfected in your actions that perform the actual miracle. Don’t stand in the way of that. Stick with the statement from the scripture, “…I want God to think well of me…” You do that and you will stay focused on your mission in serving Christ. May God continue to give you strength, courage and wisdom on your journey in Jesus name. Amen  Nehemiah 2:4-6 “Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of the heavens and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” The King, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me." ~CSB
Quick story. A man, with a great business idea, was sitting in the stands of a baseball game. Next to him was a stranger who, unknowing to him, was a wealthy businessman looking for something new to invest in. As they talked about the game, the opportunity came up where the man told the wealthy businessman about his great idea. The businessman never told the man who he was, but simply asked him, “How long do you think this will take to build and how much do you think it will cost?” The man with the plan responded, “Well, I haven’t gotten that far in my plans, but I’ll write it all down one day.” The wealthy businessman heard this and thought to himself, this may not be a good investment. If this man was sincere about his plan as he should be, he would have the knowledge of what he needed for his plan. So since he did not, the businessman changed the subject back to the game and chose not to bless the man by investing. The man just missed a blessing because he was not prepared. In the text above, Nehemiah was sad. The King saw this and asked what was wrong. Nehemiah was sad because his home, the home of his ancestors, was in ruins and he wanted to do something about it. He was afraid to address the king, so he prayed to God and then answered the king. The text says that he answered the king by giving him “...a definite time…” and the king was ‘pleased to send him”. You see, his heart was so wrapped around his home that he had thought the whole ‘request’ through. When Nehemiah had the right answers, God, through the king, made Nehemiah’s request come true. When we pray in Jesus' name, we must be spiritually invested in that prayer enough to have the basic answers for God when asked. This way, in our hearts we are prepared not only to receive from God, but prepared to move where He tells us to go. Prepared to answer God’s call to move, speak, stand and even be still for a while. Prepare ourselves for what will come after our prayers and requests. Do not miss the blessing because of ‘spiritual unpreparedness’. When our hearts are in sync with God’s will for our lives, our prayers will be answered. Let us not be afraid to have the answers needed for the questions to come from Him. Let us not be afraid to move in the directions the Holy Spirit guides us as God will have us covered in answering our prayers. May God keep you in His peace as you continue to walk the journey in Jesus’ name. Amen  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So Glorify God with your body.” ~CSB
In our homes, we have set up an environment that we feel great living in. We have our couches in the right spot to watch our flat screen TV. We have our kitchen set up to prepare our favorite meals. We have our main bedrooms set up so that we can enjoy the ultimate satisfaction of rest and relaxation. All this for our peace of mind, and it doesn't hurt to show off our taste in fashion and lifestyle to the company that comes over. Now, there is another home that we are in charge of, that many of us, (me included), do not take the same considerations in maintaining. It is our bodies. The Word says in 1st Corinthians, that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In other words, it is a home for the gift that God blessed us with, the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are a dwelling place for all those blessed spiritual gifts from above. So why do we not maintain, take care of, or clean this temple like we do our homes? For our own selfish reasons, we make sure the environment around us is what we like. Now we need to consider maintaining our bodies so that the Lord will be pleased with the dwelling we have created for His gifts of love. The Word continues that our bodies are, “...not your own…” Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to have the chance we have at salvation. The more we take care of, and clean these temples, the longer chance we have at enjoying the blessings God blesses us with here on earth. And also, we will be able to perform the duties we need to perform that will allow God’s will in our lives to run its completion! We will be able to perform these duties without giving up because we are not tired, or weak from lack of care in our temples. The gifts will strengthen our spirits to walk a strong and powerful journey. Just think about it. “...Glorify God with your body…” Let us clean up our dwelling place. Because the Lord has many more blessings to send our way. Let’s show Him we have a place worthy of receiving His gifts. It is never too late to start. God’s blessings upon you. |
Authors Billy & YolandaThis is the place where we share our heart through God's Word in faith that will inspire and empower you to live in peace. Archives
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