 “But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with a message. “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” ~2 Kings 5:10 NLT
In the Old Testament there was a man named Naaman. Naaman was a warrior who had great admiration from the King he served. But in all his greatness, Naaman had leprosy. Following advice, he went to meet with a prophet named Elisha. From the prophet, Naaman learned what he had to do to be healed of his condition. The instructions in the text above are clear and the actions required are simple. But as simple as they are, Naaman became angry and refused to follow the instructions. His claims were that Elisha wouldn’t even come out to see him in person, and that the water in the Jordan River wasn’t suitable enough for him! Looking at this text I say, “What’s wrong with Naaman? This blessing is right in front of him!” But how often is the answer, the solution to our healing right in front of us and we choose to refuse. I remember when I weighed 285 pounds. My blood pressure was high and I had ‘sleep apnea’. The doctor’s even said I was border line diabetic. I was told, what not to eat, what not to drink as well as what would benefit me as far as nutrition. Just like Naaman’s situation, the answers were right in front of me. I knew! I had the knowledge but what was I willing to do? Did I listen? My flesh was strong and I couldn’t give up the foods that were bad for me. I mean when I had a choice between a nice salad versus pork chops in gravy with onions and mushrooms, I couldn’t do the right thing where my health was concerned. I was shortening my life span. I knew what to do, but my wiliness to do it was weak. In 2 Kings we find that Naaman began to walk away angry until one of his officers stopped him and said, “If you were given instructions to do a ‘great thing’, you would have done it. How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? ~2 Kings 5:13 Naaman does it and becomes healed. He understood, and became willing to do what needed to be done. You see, ‘Your blessing is in the middle of what you are willing to do!’ As you read, meditate and live in God’s Word. Be mindful of His instruction and feed your spirit so that you are willing to do what God has instructed you to do. When you know WHAT TO DO, what are you WILLING TO DO? May God continue to strengthen you through so that your endurance can become complete in its work for you. Amen Peace & Blessings, -Billy Need Inspiration? Sign Up Today to receive our weekly inspirational blog and get a FREE Marriage Enrichment Video Teaching! CLICK HERE
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 There is no doubt that for the wisdom we need during these times, we must refer to God’s word for that wisdom. “Billy, I hear that all the time, but what does that mean?” Search your heart. Reach back in your life and remember the times God took care in providing for you when you could not.
Let’s take a look at a scripture from the ‘book of instruction’. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” ~CSB First ask yourself, do you love the Lord? “Come on Brother Jackson, you know the answer to that”, you say. But I ask you ‘do YOU know that? You have to know, that you know, that you KNOW, that you love the Lord with all you heart! When you know without a doubt then this scripture’s power turns on inside you because the Word is saying, no matter what is going on around you:
It says this as we continue in verse 29, “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” We may feel a certain way about certain things in this world but in order for His blessing of miracles to work in us, we must change our perspectives to that of Christ. We don’t live for ourselves; we live for God. We do not strive for our own personal glory; we work to glorify the Lord. When this happens, He glorifies us! “I don’t know Billy, this is hard to do.” It may seem that way, but God created you with everything you need to do it. Seek Him first and all that He has given you will show itself. He has already made you in victory as verse 30 says, “And those He predestined, He justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” ~CSB This text is a foundation of instruction. Do not let it depart from you. As you go through this week recite it day and night. Let it get in your heart and soul so that what is written will reveal to you God’s will for your life. And after you allow this text in Romans to guide, lead, and heal you, do the same for other scriptures God reveals to you. Watch, as the Lord conforms you to the image of His One and Only Son. Then you will, “…prosper and succeed in whatever you do…” In Jesus name I pray for your transformation into the servant that God created you to be. May God continue to bless you in strength and wisdom on your journey in Jesus name! Peace & Blessings, -Billy  “For I know the plans I have for you” this is the Lord’s declaration “plans for your will-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”~Jeremiah 29:11
When a person plans on buying a dog, this individual will prepare a place in their home for their pet. Whether it be inside the home or a doghouse outside, a special place is prepared for the dog along with food and love. When a husband and wife are having a child, they prepare a home for that child. They buy the crib, they put the room together, buy pampers, food and milk. This home is prepared for the child by their parents. Where do we think we get this ‘preparation’ from? This sense of preparation comes from on High. God has seeded in us to do for others what He has planned all along to do for us. God says in the text, “…I have plans for you…” When He created us, the plan for our existence was already laid out according to His plan for the kingdom. He gave us guardians in this world to raise us, so that He may seed in us through them. We have the decision to listen and learn from those God placed over us. All direction for us that is good comes from above. But sometimes we overthink our situations and make those decisions that take us on other paths. It’s these ‘other’ paths that prolong our blessings. For example; if that dog purchased by their owner jumped the fence of their home, they would be leaving the ‘place that was prepared and planned for them’. That place was where they would be kept safe. When that pet left that sanctuary, it is forced to live by its knowledge alone. And with little knowledge of life beyond their prepared place, the chances of that pet’s survival are at its minimum. The same goes for the children as they grow. They have the choice whether to listen and learn from their parents, or, (when they are old enough), make the decision to leave their ‘prepared place’ and go into the world with only the knowledge they have. When they do this immaturely, they begin to walk paths that were not laid out for them by God. I did that when I was younger, and life got harder for me. I was one who questioned God about why things were happening to me. When I got older and wiser in God’s word, I realized that I strayed from the path God had prepared for me. I strayed away from God’s plans for my life and that path was the only victorious path. But in both stories, when the pet comes home, it is welcomed with love. When the child who once proclaimed, “I’m grown!”, now with the same lips says, “…I’m sorry, I did not know what I was doing…”, he or she is welcomed with the same open arms of the Lord through their parents. The seed of wisdom is still present in the ‘prepared place’ for them to receive guidance and awareness for their intended paths. It’s amazing that God said He has plans for us because when we walk in those plans, we are covered and blessed. What is also amazing is what His Son says that confirms our reward of salvation. Jesus says in John 14:2 “…I am going away to prepare a place for you…” There you have it, God prepared plans for you while you walk in blessings in this world and His Son, our Savior, has prepared a place for you in heaven! Don’t jump the fence. Stay where you are and be the blessing God created you to be. He will move you in His time. May God continue to bless you in strength and wisdom on your journey in Jesus name! Peace & Blessings, -Billy  “I wait for the Lord; I wait and put my hope in His word.” ~Psalm 130:5 (CSB)
This time and these tense situations that we are going through right now are truly trying. I told my children the other day, “I’ve been your age, but I did not go through a pandemic like this at your age. The two of you are going through something that I can’t give you advice on based on my experience at your age.” We have been enduring ‘staying at home’ and not being able to enjoy our normal routines. It is getting to the point now that some of us are reaching our limits and saying, “I don’t know how much longer I can do this!” Our finances are being tried; our relationships are being strained and our time as parents with our children are reaching peaks we didn’t know even existed! Why is all this happening? And how much more CAN we take? Well I am here to tell you that the belief in ‘God being in control’ is real. Do not ever lose the faith in that. This brought to my spirit that this is a time where God wants ‘His time’ with every single believer. In other words, God wants us all to individually seek Him during this season for direction. God is working in us, preparing us and strengthening us. Allow Him ‘His’ power in you by believing while you wait. The scripture in Psalm says that we wait for the lord and we do this because we are waiting on deliverance from all that is in us that is not of God. This waiting period is allowing you to recognize and get rid of idolatry, moral impurity, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, (Galatians 5:19-21); as it strengthens us in our good fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; (Galatians 5:22-23). This is important because the second part of our Psalm scripture says we, “…wait and put our hope in His word.” What is God’s word on this waiting period? Its scriptures like 2 Peter 3:9 where it speaks about the wait not being a ‘delay’ as we understand delay in His promises. But it is because of God’s grace, mercy, and patience that God does not, “…want any to perish but all to come to repentance. This time we are going through right now, is a period where God is delaying His judgment on us because He ‘wants’ us to get it right! He wants us to have that chance to be with Him in the kingdom! Understand and believe that this waiting period is not us waiting on God, rather it is Him waiting on us! Let’s take this time, regardless of the pandemic, regardless of our financial status, regardless of what our relationships look like, let us take this time to heal, transform and rebuild our hearts and mind to live in peace, embrace love for one another and know with all our hearts and minds that God loves us and will not leave us fallen. He created us to stand and live abundantly! May God continue to bless you in strength and wisdom on your journey in Jesus name! Peace & Blessings, -Billy  “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the to the Lord for help.” ~Exodus 14:10 (CSB)
Have you ever read stories in the bible and wondered why faith seemed to be lost even after witnessing great miracles? For example, in the text above the Israelites had witnessed the power of God through the ten plagues and their release from Pharaoh as his slaves. Through Moses God promised them their freedom and through Moses they were on their way to the promised land. When we read this, we say, “How could they doubt? With everything they just witnessed, how can they doubt God’s love and power in setting them free?” In their defense, the ‘Red Sea’ appeared to be very intimidating. But the situation of them being between the Red Sea and the pursuing of Pharaoh's Army is not different than what we are facing as God’s children today. If you notice, our faith is being defeated by our fleshly desire to be afraid and live in fear. The ‘Red Sea’ in Exodus is like the frustrations of facing life as we know it coming to a complete halt!
Just like the Old testament believers, Satan has us so worried because in front of us, we may run out of food and behind us that terrible virus is coming rapidly for us. This is our ‘Pharaoh/Red Sea’ situation. I’m here to tell you to rebuke that feeling of doubt and despair. My Father says in 2 Timothy 1:7 that He, “…has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound mind (judgment).”-CSB We must believe in Him and not lean more on our own understanding of what we take into our eye gates. Know and believe that God has already covered us in the blood of His Son Jesus. But that covering is only good if we accept the coverage. How do we do that? We take action in what God has given us. Through ‘sound judgment’ we need to change our perspective about what’s going on in the world today. With the ‘power’ God has given us in our hearts and minds we must change what the enemy is telling us is tragedy; and understand that God is allowing us opportunity to show Him how much we love and trust Him. That's not a tragedy...that's strategy! #praisebreak Yes, it is easy to give Him praise when our mortgage and/or rent is paid, and we are living our best life. But we need to give Him the same praise during times like these because when you ‘accept the coverage’, you will be covered the same in bad times as you are in the good times. That’s called good insurance...when you have God's assurance! This is a time of opportunity for the believers! A time to give God praise for what He has done; is doing and will do in our lives as we live according to our purpose for the kingdom. And when we do this, we will witness God perform the miracle of recovery and restoration just as He did for the Israelites. Don’t try and figure it out, because just like the Israelites didn’t know God was going to open up the Red Sea for them to walk through safely, you have no idea how He’s going to get you through today’s challenge. Just believe and give Him the praise and glory because nothing is impossible for our Father! May God continue to bless you on your journey in Jesus name, Amen. Peace & Blessings, -Billy & Yolanda “When a woman is in labor; she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world.” ~John 16:21 (CSB)
We all know that ‘ONE’ traffic light we run into on the way to work, home or any road we travel by car daily. As you approach it and it turns yellow you drive a little faster because you know if you don’t make it through before it turns red, you will be sitting at it for a long time. Too late! The light turns red and you are stuck. Every word, (that’s not in the bible), comes to mind because you don’t like being stuck at the light. Then something amazing happens; the light turns green. And most of us don’t realize this but after the light turns green, you pull off and continue your drive, you never think about that light again. All the stress you went through while waiting on the light has disappeared. You made it through your delay now the worry you had is gone. That’s the same way life is when you are going through your trials. When you are suffering and enduring, the time seems so long. But that endurance builds character and that character gives you the strength you need to receive your gifts in blessing from God. The example of the ‘traffic light’ brings light to another thought, (no pun intended). Just as you forget the struggle you had while waiting on the light after you leave it; in the same way we forget what God has done for us when we suffered during our past trials and tribulations. That’s right, there was a time in your past where you prayed and hoped relief would come. And what seemed like forever at that time, turned into a second when the Lord showed up and pulled you through. Just like the ‘traffic light’ the stress of the trial disappeared in the newfound joy after the storm. It is important that we remember those times we are stuck at our ‘red lights’ during our times of struggle. It will remind us, when we run into our next trial, that trouble doesn’t last always. In this we become stronger Christians. Just as the text says in John, the pain exists because it is your time, but as soon as the spiritual fruits of that labor are born, you will no longer remember the pain because of the joy birthed from your endurance. This joy will outshine all misery and give light to new direction leading you out of that valley you were in! Always remember what God has done for you. Give the Lord a shout of praise for his grace, mercy, power and forgiveness! Because He didn’t have to do it, but He did. Amen Peace and Blessings, Billy & Yolanda  "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (CSB)
When I was growing up, my grandmother had our ‘everyday’ dishes for our daily meals. But when we had company she would pull out the ‘good dishes’. This would be a great impression on our ‘honorable guests’. This was sort of a way to present to others, who would visit, a taste of our best. That is what God does with us. When we are ready, He will present us as His best. Some may look at the text and see, ‘wood and clay’ and automatically say, “That’s me…I’m just regular, nothing special. That is my place in the world.” This is not true. God made us all for a purpose. And in that purpose we all have a distinct separate value. This value is in place to ‘set us apart’ from what the world may consider valuable. Birthed from a quote by Italian sculptor Michelangelo, there is a story out about a sculptor who was asked about his famous statue carved out of stone; “…The statue was always there, I just chipped away the unnecessary pieces.” This is God’s intent for you as you are going through that period in your life where you ‘wait’ on Him. We often fall into grief, depression, sorrow and our patience is tested during our ‘waiting season’. Switch your perspective and use this time to ‘chip’ away all that is in you that is not of God. If you are claiming to be ‘wood and clay’ then chip away at what is not needed in you so that you will become more valuable than gold and silver. Chip away at your anger, addictions, sadness, doubt, worry, fear, selfishness, grief, unforgiveness and anything of you that is ‘dishonorable’ and not of the Kingdom. When the time comes, God will present you to the world as the beautiful sculpture you have always been! He will set you apart and reveal you as His “…special instrument…” No longer will you be hidden behind all the unnecessary personal and physical traits that were keeping you falling short. You will be prepared for “…every good work…” Prepare yourself for the special blessing God has just for you. It’s yours and no one else’s, but God will not give it to you until you are ready. So get ready, chip away, ‘purify’ yourself and become a valuable vessel of God for the kingdom. May God continue to allow His peace to surpass your thoughts and guard your heart and mind in Jesus name, Amen. Peace & Blessings, -Billy Like this Devotional? Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU, we will send you our FREE eBook 14 Days of Powerful Prayers for your Marriage. CLICK HERE to sign up!  “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew 5:11-12 NLT In this Christian lifestyle continue your journey in becoming like Christ. As you do this you will begin to feel better but you may begin to walk, sound and even look awkward to others around you. You’ll hear, “What do you mean you don’t eat that any more…you don’t drink that any more…you don’t wear that any more…you don’t go there anymore?” When you stay in the word of God and become God’s humble servant, the uniform you wear reflects The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. As people see you, they should see the Trinity in you. This means shedding places and things. Now people don’t necessarily have to be shed, BUT: if they remain in your life they must come where you are. They must take up the ‘Cross’ also. Otherwise your spiritual uniform will begin to wear and tear if you attempt to continue your old lifestyle traditions. When the conversation comes up with others remember Proverbs 26:4 “Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.” Other followers before you have gone through the same. Even Jesus rebuked the devil. The key is staying in God’s Word and as you learn what NOT TO DO, train yourself in making that obedience a lifestyle. May God bless you and continue to give you strength in your journey. -Billy P.S.- Did you catch our last Thursday night live video for 2019. Be sure to check it out now on Facebook by CLICKING HERE! Like this Devotional? Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU, we will send you our FREE eBook 14 Days of Powerful Prayers for your Marriage. CLICK HERE to sign up!  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 what I did in the military. I was a crew chief on a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. This involved me not only performing maintenance, but also flying 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 went to 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…” (Isaiah 54:9), 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 journey in Jesus name. 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. Like 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. Peace & Blessings, -Billy Like this Devotional? Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU, we will send you our FREE eBook 14 Days of Powerful Prayers for your Marriage. CLICK HERE to sign up!  “…Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” -Luke 7:7 (NLT)
Today, at this very moment, how strong is your faith? I mean right now in the midst of what is going on in your life, how strong is your faith? You may be facing financial issues; your children may be giving you some issues or maybe your spouse is acting in a certain way where you feel your marriage is doomed. In other words, you may be facing things today that you feel are impossible to overcome. I am here to tell you that God loves you and wants you to have your heart’s desire in Jesus name. We must live our lives knowing that God loves us. And that He wants to bless us with abundant living! That means financial stability; Godly marriages and strong families. He has prepared that for you and wants you to have this. The first step in receiving this blessing is believing in it; having the faith that God’s word is final and true. In the text above a centurion soldier sends some respected Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal His slave. The story continues in Luke chapter 7, that Jesus went with the men but just before they arrived at the house the soldier sent some men out to stop them. He sent the message to Jesus that he, the officer, was not worthy of Jesus coming into his home. He said that he was not even worthy of the honor of meeting Jesus and merely asked if Jesus would, “…say the word from where you are…” I love Jesus; I need Jesus in my life every day; but here is a man who could have met Jesus face to face but deemed himself unworthy. And in his humbleness, he asked Jesus to ‘…say the word…’ The soldier had faith that his prayer would be answered. That was his faith on that day. Again, I ask you how is your faith today? The text continues with Jesus’ response in verse 9 as He turned to the crowd and said, “…I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel!” The text says that when the officer’s men returned to the house, his slave was completely healed. I live my life feeding my faith with the Word of God every day because as a child of the Most High I want Jesus to be pleased with my belief in His sacrifice. I pray and ask in thanksgiving because I want God to know He has a prayer warrior, testimonial preaching and faith walking servant in Billy Jackson! The light that comes from that in me trickles down on my family and from them to the community they encounter. So from now on when you are asked the question, “How strong is your faith?” You can reply, “Centurion Strong!” We may not be worthy, but we are believers. And as believers, we were given gifts from the Most High; the gift of faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of His saving grace. Don’t let the enemy take the power God has given you to use those gifts. Believe and receive that God gave them to you so that you will have victory in this life. May God’s peace surpass your thoughts and guard your hearts and minds in Jesus name. Peace and Blessings, -Billy |
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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