Tag Archive | faith

Be A Comeback Kid

Mar30

DefeatEver see the movie Rocky? Rocky Balboa was a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who didn’t have much. All he knew was that he was to be a fighter. Throughout the movie, Rocky would get knocked down, bruised and busted…only to keep getting up to win the fight. He found the love of his life, Adrian. They went through so many disappointments, heartaches, pain and suffering; you wondered how in the world they kept going. Their determination, strength, and love always shined through their difficulties.

Does that sound like your life? Can you relate to that movie? I sure can. My life has been so full of disappointments, heartache, pain and suffering that I look back and wonder…how in the world did I ever keep going.

Today is the day for a declaration! Today is the day that it’s time to stop looking back and to begin looking forward!

It doesn’t matter what has happened to us in the past nor does it matter what we are going through today. What truly matters is that we FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH! (2 Timothy 4:7) Every single time you get knocked down, use it to your advantage. While you’re knocked down, get on your knees and pray. Every single time you feel lost and the pain is so intense, get on your knees and pray.

We have an incredible God who loves us. He never wanted us to go through the difficulties we’ve endured. He never wanted to see us in pain. He never wanted to see us experience heartaches. No…we have an enemy who rules this world right now and wants to kick us down so much that we simply don’t get up. Satan wants to sway you away from God. He wants you to make mistakes that have terrible consequences. He wants you to fail. He wants to keep you knocked out.

Well today we are taking a stand! NO MORE! Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. (John 10:10) He is our source. He is all powerful. He is all love. He is our provider. He is our healer. He is more than enough to handle any battle that rages against us.

Blessed

So let’s shout out together…

GET BEHIND ME SATAN BECAUSE I WON’T TAKE ANYMORE! I CHOOSE JESUS AND ALL THAT HE STANDS FOR! He is my answer! He is my strength! And my best days are ahead of me. For God so loved the world, He gave us His only son! Jesus is my brother and I need no other!

So stand up and be counted as a COMEBACK KID!

For there is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that God won’t do for His children!

 

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Patience

Mar24

Have you ever found yourself wanting something to happen right now, but it seems to take longer than expected?

Well, I sure have.  We live in a world of instant gratification.  Just take a quick look around and you’ll see fast food restaurants, drive-thru pharmacies, quick remedies for weight loss and the “quick draw McGraw” of news…the internet.  Isn’t it amazing how addicted we are to instant things?

It really becomes prevalent when you have to wait in a checkout line at the grocery store and you realize just how impatient you are to get out of there; even if you don’t have anywhere else to go.

When time is of the essence and you have absolutely no understanding of what is happening; the most important thing you can do is have PATIENCE!  It is certainly one of the hardest lessons to learn.  Yet, it is one of the most crucial in your daily walk with God.

Here’s why…In James 1:2-4, God is very specific why we must learn patience.

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing.”

In other words, God is telling us that we should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that God tests our faith to bring out patience.  During trials, all kinds of junk are brought to the surface.  Things like anger, rebellion, self-pity, complaining and pride.  It is so important to deal with this stuff so that God can take us to the next level.

So, let’s put it in a step-by-step process:

  1. Trials come and we face all the “icky” stuff
  2. This in turns helps us develop Patience
  3. Patience helps us develop Endurance
  4. Endurance creates a mature character
  5. A mature character brings us to absolutely nothing lacking within our lives.

Let’s face it; most of us have absolutely no clue what God is up to when He calls us.  But one thing for certain is that He knows the end from the beginning.  Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patience in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” And Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So, I don’t know about you but the ending sure sounds better than the beginning.  It doesn’t matter how long we have to wait, it is far more rewarding to wait on the Lord’s timing because His timing is perfect and the outcome will exceed all your expectations.

Anger and The Art of Forgiveness

Mar22

AngerHave you ever found yourself so angry that you began to shake violently or you want to hit or throw something? Anger can be violent and very disruptive to your life, as well as, those around you.

For when we hold built up anger against others or ourselves, it lingers and tends to grow into a full-blown pity party and you seem to fly off the handle at the little things in life.

Let’s see what scripture has to say:

  • Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice”.
  • Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger”.
  • Proverbs 16:32 “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty…”.

Let those scriptures sink in. Repeat them. They sure say a lot, don’t they? But why would it be so important for God to tell us these things within the Bible?

Sing Out Loud

Because, He knows that this is not a simple task for us. Our human nature tends to hold onto grudges. We like to think that if we treat the individual differently, they will feel our pain or if they can sense our anger towards them, they’ll get the point. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

When we have a quick temper or say something that we shouldn’t, then it tends to fester as guilt and becomes a vicious cycle. When we hold onto pain, anger and unforgiveness; all it does is cause sickness and unhappiness within our own lives. We are clearly told in Colossians 3:13, that we should “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you so you must forgive others.”

Now, we all know that we are not perfect and we certainly make mistakes. There was only one perfect person that ever existed and that was Jesus. So, the best thing we can do is learn how to control anger and learn the art of forgiveness, His way. It is imperative that we make HIM a big part of the equation. It is completely for our benefit, not for anyone else.

The absolute best thing you can do when you find yourself angry or unwilling to forgive is to STOP YOUR THOUGHTS AND HOLD YOUR TONGUE. Immediately, ask God to help you overcome the situation, release it to Him for transformation and ask for Him to fill you with peace that surpasses all understanding. It is also best to hold your tongue rather than to regret your words later. For it is written that the power of the tongue brings life or death.(Proverbs 18:21)

Word of Caution…the more you attempt to release things to God, the more negative thoughts you will encounter.  Do not allow yourself to relive the situation over and over again. Just keep stopping the thoughts, ask God to take them off your shoulders and to be filled with His indescribable peace.

Forgiveness

Stand against your opposition by giving it to God and filling your mouth with praises for Him! You will notice that the burdens begin to lift and your anger, pain and frustration will subside. Things will begin to roll off your back and you won’t sweat the small stuff either.

God is bigger than any problem you face, that I can guarantee you!

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Be A Doubt Buster Today

Mar15

Breaking ChainesEver find yourself saying “I doubt that could happen” or “my circumstances will never change” or “it’s just the way it is”?

We all go through long periods in our lives when nothing seems to be going right. Whether you got a bad report from the doctor or you can’t pay your bills. Maybe your family is in strife or you can’t find a job. Maybe your body is being attacked.

Whatever you find yourself going through, it’s easy to think on the problem and complain about it constantly. Worse yet, if it’s been a long time with the same problem or many problems all at once, you can find yourself saying I guess I just need to get used to it and you accept defeat.

No! There are two ways to live our lives. One in the “doubting Thomas” mindset or one in the “all things are possible to those who believe” mindset. When we doubt, we are being double minded. God said he gave us the power to choose life or death; therefore choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) He also has made it quite clear that when we doubt, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

James 1:6-7: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”

God makes it quite clear that if we doubt than we should not expect anything from Him. Basically when we doubt, we are telling God that our problems are larger than He is. How do you think that must make God feel when He created everything thing in the world, including us?

So you must be wondering, now what can I do? We must become more childlike where we stop analyzing everything to death. Every time a doubting thought comes into your mind, immediately replace it with God’s word!

  • When you have a thought that the pain will never go away…say “by His stripes I am healed!
  • When you think my circumstances will never change…say “I am more than a conqueror through Christ!”
  • When your finances dry up and you have no way to pay the bills…say “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory!”

Feed Your Faith

No matter what you see or feel, God knows every single piece of hair on your head. He counts your tears. There is absolutely nothing too hard for Him.

It may be taking longer than you would like and you are finding yourself frustrated; it’s okay…God completely understands. Ask Him for His forgiveness. AND FROM THIS DAY FORWARD…choose life and life more abundantly over every doubt, over every fear, over every pain. For God can not lie and all His promises will come to pass in your life if you will hold on tight and push the doubt away.

Let’s all become Doubt Busters today! You are not staying where you are right now…you have a tremendous life ahead of you and nothing, and I do mean nothing, can hold God’s promises back from being completed in your life! Stay in faith and know that everything will be alright!

VICTORY IS YOURS ~ JUST BELIEVE!

NOTE: Please disregard any advertisements found under this posting as the author does not endorse them. Thank you.