Thursday, February 28, 2013

Life Doesn't Have To Be Stressful

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God 's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

Do you ever have problems turning off your mind? It amazes me sometimes at all the things that can be going through my mind within just a few moments. I often think, "How is it possible to have this many things on my mind at the same time?" With work, home, family, things going on in our personal lives, and the ever increasing to-do lists, our minds can become tired. Our brains can become overloaded. If we're not careful, we will spend countless hours of the day and night trying to sort through all these thoughts, trying to figure out how to manage everything, and to come up with a plan to fit everything in.

Being a planner/organizer is great but sometimes we can allow that part of our character to get out of balance. If we don't take control of our thoughts and stop letting our minds spin out of control, we are in danger of creating a stress-filled environment that puts more confidence in our own ability than God's ability. When we let our thoughts run rampant and we become determined to come up with a plan for everything in our lives, we are no longer trusting in God. We have taken this huge load on ourselves and after a while the weight of it will become unbearable. We always remind God that He promised never to put more on us than we could bear. Well, He hasn't. We are trying to handle it on our own and that's often why it becomes unbearable.

We have to give it to God! We will destroy ourselves if we don't stop trying to have it all figured out. We have to trust Him and seek Him for guidance. Let your mind be at ease and rest in His peace that passes all understanding. Trust in His sovereignty and know that He already has it all figured out. Why should you spend your days stressing over things and trying to have every detail of your life figured out when God has already done that for you? We bring unnecessary stress into our lives when we're not fully trusting Him. You will never fully understand God so don't allow that to be your goal. As soon as you think you have it all figured out, He will throw something else in there to remind you that you DON'T. He doesn't want you to figure it out. He wants you to TRUST HIM!

I used to have a misconception of God. I thought that as I grew and started to mature, I had to start proving how strong I was, act like I had it all together, and be able to figure out God's plan. I thought that would "impress" Him and make Him proud of me. I found out that is completely backwards. The more we grow, the more we understand how incapable we are of doing anything on our own. We see that without Him we are nothing and can do nothing. We realize that our strength is found in Him and when we rely totally and completely on Him, that makes Him happy.

Let go of whatever it is that's causing stress in your life. Give it to Him and trust that He will lead you on the right path. Don't take life so seriously that you fail to enjoy the life that He has blessed you with. The goal is not just to survive until we get to Heaven and then the fun will begin. We are to enjoy our lives to the fullest while we are here! We are to show the world that living for God is the greatest decision anyone could ever make! Be happy and keep a smile on your face that becomes contagious! Spread joy everywhere you go! Light up the room when you walk in! Leave all of life's situations in His hands so that you can go out and represent Him to a lost and hurting world!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wait on the Lord

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. ~ Isaiah 40:31

When I first became a Christian, this was one of my favorite Scriptures. I memorized it. I found myself speaking it a lot. There was a lot going on in my life at that time and as I embraced this Scripture, I was confident that God would give me the strength to endure. As I learned to wait on Him and not try to get ahead of Him, my strength would be renewed. He would keep me from growing weary or giving up in the midst of the battle.

There have been lots of things that God has brought me through. I may not have understood what was going on while I was in the midst of it, but once I made it to the other side I could see His mighty hand at work through it all! He ALWAYS showed up just in time. He empowered me to keep going even though it didn't make sense and I always came through it a better person.

We have to stop trying to figure things out. We would keep ourselves from a lot of stress of we would simply trust God and know that He has it all under control. We don't have to be able to explain to others what He is doing. It's ok if we don't have the answers. Walking by faith means that we don't have the answers. If we knew exactly what was going on and everything that would happen, we wouldn't need faith.

It is so important that we stay close to God and learn to trust Him for everything. Don't allow your circumstances to cause you to lose your expectation. God WILL do what He said He would do! You have to wait on His timing. Keep expecting. Keep hoping. Keep believing. Seek Him and let Him show you the direction you need to take. He may only show you the first step you need to take. Don't remain still thinking that He will unfold the entire plan before your eyes. Take that first step. He will be right there to show you which step to take next. Trust Him to meet the need for each day. Know that He will continue to show you the way as you seek Him for guidance.

As we release control and let Him have His way in our lives, we will be able to remain at peace. We will have supernatural strength to endure whatever comes our way. We will be able to make it all the way to the end without growing tired or weary. We will soar high above the clouds and still be able to see the sunshine even when the dark clouds are all around!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

His Unfailing Love

Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place. ~ Psalm 23:6 AMP

Do you understand how much God loves you? Do you realize that His unfailing love shall follow you all the days of your life? Goodness and mercy shall follow you. You're not going to make it happen...it shall FOLLOW you! The notes of my Nelson Study Bible says this, " The Hebrew verb 'follow' describes an animal in pursuit. When the Lord is our Shepherd, instead of being stalked by wild beasts we are pursued by the loving care of the Lord."

Sometimes we go through things and we wonder where God is. We may think that He has forgotten us or that He's not listening to our prayers. I can assure you that He IS there! He is pursuing you with His love. He is watching over you and protecting you. Yes, things may be going on all around you, but He is there with you. He will not let you go under. He is in control and He will not let this storm overtake you. You are safe and protected in His care.

Stay close to Him. Make Him your dwelling place. We often make the mistake of seeking a person who will understand where we are. We long for that gentle touch of someone who will wrap their arms around us and let us know it will be ok. The truth is, people don't really know what we're going through. People may offer comforting words or they may not even realize how bad we're hurting. It's ok. God doesn't want us depending on people. He wants us depending on HIM. If we put too much confidence in others, we will fail to place our total trust and confidence in Him. He knows exactly where we are. Nothing is hidden from His sight. He knows our pain. He knows every thought and desire of our heart. We must keep holding on to Him and know that He will safely lead us through.

The victory is already ours. It's up to us to follow His instructions and go the way that He leads us. Don't get discouraged and don't feel like it's over. The best is yet to come. He has promised to meet every need. Don't get overwhelmed by the circumstances. Stay focused on Him. Keep your eyes on Him and take it one day at a time. His grace is sufficient for each and every day and if you will simply trust Him for each day, you will see that it's not that hard after all. He's got you covered! He is a shield around you and His love will never fail!

Friday, February 22, 2013

The Lord is My Shepherd

THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. ~ Psalm 23:1 AMP

We all go through different seasons in our lives. We have those times when we are standing on the mountain and think life just couldn't get any better. But we also have those times when we're down in the valley and things get really hard.

No matter which season you are currently in, God is there! He is your Shepherd and He WILL take care of you! I love the Amplified translation of Psalm 23:1. It says that He will feed us, guide us, and shield us. We shall not lack! So whatever need you have, He has already made a way. If you are struggling financially and don't know where the bill money is going to come from or how you're going to feed your family, He is your Provider. If you're facing some difficult decisions and don't know which path to take, He will guide you. If you're in danger and being attacked from every side, He is your Protector! The Bible tells us that NO weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)! Things will come against us but they won't prosper! They won't destroy us! We won't be defeated by them!

God is bigger than any trial we face! He is our Shepherd. He loves us so much and He is right there to take care of EVERY need that we will ever have. We will not lack anything. Everything we need is found in Him and we can put our complete and total trust in Him. We can't try to figure it all out and come up with a solution. He's already made a way. When we start trying to come up with all the answers, we lose our peace and start putting more confidence in ourselves than we do Him. He doesn't need our help. He has already taken care of it. Simply trust Him and follow the path that He leads you on.

In the times that a sheep becomes weak and unable to keep going, the shepherd carries it. He keeps it close by his side and takes special care of it until it regains its strength. The same goes for our Good Shepherd. When you are weak and just don't have the strength to keep going, He will carry you. He keeps you close to His side. Stop struggling and fighting against Him. Rest in Him. Let Him carry you. Let Him nurture you and renew your strength. Sometimes life has a way of beating us down. When that happens, be still and know that He is God. Take time to simply sit at His feet and listen to Him. There's a time when we need to be out on the battlefield fighting but sometimes we need to just sit in His presence. Here is where we are refreshed and revived. We are filled with supernatural strength. We get to know our Shepherd as never before and we discover just how much He loves us!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

He Loves YOU!

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ( unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. ~ John 3:16 AMP

As you begin this day, say out loud, "God loves me!" If you have to, look in the mirror and say, "God loves you!" Don't just say it without believing it. God REALLY LOVES YOU!

Some of our lives would be so much different if we really understood how much God loves us. When He sent Jesus to this earth to die on a cross for sins, it wasn't just for everyone else. It was for YOU too! He loves you just as much as He loves everyone else on the face of this earth. There has never been anyone on this earth that He has loved more. There will never be anyone else that He will love more. HE LOVES YOU!!

Stop looking at everything that you have done wrong in your life. When you confess your sin and repent, He remembers your sin no more (Psalm 103:12). Stop focusing on your weaknesses. His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Stop saying you're not good enough...not perfect enough....not worthy enough to be loved. He has already proven His love to you. He has made the ultimate sacrifice. He had redeemed you and made you His own. Stop struggling to believe that He loves you and simply ACCEPT His love!

Other people may have walked out on you. That's ok because there is Someone who loves you who will NEVER leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)! He has promised to always be with you. You don't have to earn His love. You don't have to gain His approval. You don't have to compete to make Him love you. He already loves you...PERIOD. You can't make Him love you more. You can't make Him love you less. Love is who God is (1 John 4:8). It is His very nature. It is the very character of God. EVERYTHING He does is motivated by love. He always has your best interest in mind. He is always working to help you reach your highest potential and to help you fulfill your purpose.

Relax, take a deep breath, and say, "God loves me!" It's that simple! You don't have to work for it. Simply receive it. Embrace it. Find comfort in it. Don't keep serving God out of fear that He is going to strike you over the head every time you mess up. Serve Him out of love. Nurture your relationship with Him. Get to know Him as never before. It's the greatest relationship you can ever have!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Be a God Chaser

God-- you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you. ~ Psalm 63:1-4 MSG

What are you hungry for? What God can do for you or God Himself?

Life has a way of throwing so many things at us and if we're not careful, we will get lost in the midst of the turmoil. We will become so consumed by the things going on around us and forget where our strength comes from. We will become so eager to get an answer from God that we no longer seek His face, just His hand.

God's Word is our life. It has the answers for everything we need. It will instruct us and guide us. However, a lot of times we are struggling to try to make God do something that has already been done. We beg and plead for things that are already ours. God has already given them to us but for whatever reason, we haven't fully embraced them yet. So we spend days, months, years trying to talk God into doing something and He's standing there saying, "It's already yours. Just receive it by faith."

As we get caught up in this cycle and fail to fully understand what is rightfully ours as sons and daughters of God, we stop seeking His face. Our relationship with Him becomes one sided. It's all about what we want Him to DO for us. He's patiently waiting on us just to seek HIM. He wants us to desperately long for His presence. He wants us to wake up each morning knowing how blessed we are and for Him to be the first thing on our minds. He wants us to talk with Him and take time to listen to Him as He speaks to us.

When He becomes the object of our affections, everything else will fall into place. As we nurture this relationship, we will begin to understand what is already ours. We won't have to struggle to try to make things happen. We will realize that it's already done. We will begin to pursue Him with a heart filled with love. We will no longer be motivated by "things". Intimacy with Him will be what motivates us. We start seeing that He is the only One who can truly satisfy. We will find strength and peace in His presence. Our lives will be filled with joy. The things that come against us will no longer be able to move us because our foundation is built upon Him.

Stop struggling and learn to rest in Him. Take some time to stop asking for things and learn to enjoy His presence. Surrender everything to Him and know that He is well able to take care of it. Let Him become your greatest desire. Seek Him with all of your heart. Become a God chaser! Don't take no for an answer. Keep pursuing Him. Once you get in that place, you will never want to leave! That's exactly where He wants you to be!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

He Won't Let You Down

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. ~ Psalm 34:8-10

Do you really know that the Lord is good? Do you know without a shadow of doubt that you can put your entire trust in Him?

Think back over your life. Look at all that He has brought you through. Remember those times that you thought He wasn't going to show up. You may have had a financial need and had no idea where the money was going to come from. At the very last moment, the money arrived!

God is an on time God! He doesn't show up early. He doesn't show up late. He shows up exactly when He's supposed to! We get overanxious in our minds and we like to have it all planned out. God doesn't work that way. He wants us to be in a place where our entire dependence is on Him. If we can plan it all out and say 2 + 2 = 4, then we may can take credit for it. He makes sure that things in our life happen in such a way that no one but Him can get the glory for it!

Stop worrying how or when the answer is going to come. Stop trying to figure out what He's going to do. Just know that He WILL show up! Rest in Him. Let your requests be made known to Him. Have a thankful and grateful heart. Praise Him for the answer that's on the way. Let Him know that you trust Him completely and have full assurance that He will not let you down.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

Saturday, February 16, 2013

He Will Show You the Path of Life

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~ Psalm 16:11

Have you ever been in a place where you just didn't know which direction to go? We are faced with so many decisions as we walk through this life...some may only be minor decisions but others will affect the rest of our lives.

When facing major decisions, we have to be careful about talking to too many people about it. People love us and they want what's best for us. However, they may not be exactly clear about what God is doing in our lives. They are not able to see the whole big picture, just like we can't see it. If we seek everyone's opinion, we are likely to become confused because we have all these ideas and then we have to sort through them and try to figure out which way is best.

God has our answer. He will show us the path of life. He will lead us in the right direction but we have to seek Him in order to know what He wants us to do. Sometimes it's necessary to get away from all the distractions, all the other voices, and just get alone with God. He may not immediately show us the path to take, but if we will diligently seek Him, He will guide us.

As we rely on Him we will experience joy at its best! We will be overwhelmed by His peace that passes all understanding. There's no greater feeling than knowing you're right where God wants you to be! We don't have to understand everything but we can put our total trust and faith in Him because He DOES understand! He knows the end just as well as the beginning. There are no time constraints with God. He is just as much in our future as He is this very moment. That's why we need to follow Him and seek His guidance.

Don't try to make decisions all on your own and don't expect everyone else to tell you what you need to do. GOD wants to show you the way! He will never let you down. He will lead you all the way to victory! He will help you reach your destiny and fulfill your purpose! Run to Him today and see what He wants you to do!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Think Right Thoughts

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

Our mind is the biggest battlefield. Have you ever convinced yourself that someone was mad at you or talking about you when in reality it wasn't true? Have you created scenarios in your mind of all kinds of stuff and brought so much unnecessary stress into your life only to find out that it wasn't anything like you thought it was?

So many people live in defeat, not because of the situation itself but because they became defeated in their mind. They replayed thoughts over and over until they were convinced that the battle had already been lost. Then they don't even show up for the battle because they've already accepted defeat. They stop just short of their miracle because they chose to believe something that wasn't true.

Our thoughts are so very important! All kinds of thoughts will come our way but we have to make a conscious effort to think right thoughts. We can't just entertain anything that pops into our mind. We can't control what comes into our mind but we can choose what we do with it. If we allow ourselves to think on wrong things, we will end up heading in that direction. We must replace those wrong thoughts with the Word of God. We must replace the lies with the truth. We have to keep our thoughts on good things. We have to follow the Word instead of following some thought that comes into our mind.

If we don't work at developing our relationship with God, it is easier to just accept whatever comes into our mind. But the more we get to know Him and His Word, we will quickly recognize when a wrong thought comes and we can replace it with what the Word says.

Stop accepting defeat. Stop believing that you're a failure. Don't allow the enemy to convince you that it's over and that you've already lost the battle. Jesus has already gone before and He won the battle! He has already prepared the way. He has taken care of it for you. Now you just have to walk with Him and be obedient. As you allow Him to lead you every step of the way, you will experience the victory. It will become a reality in your life. You will see that those thoughts were sent to try to stop you from receiving your promise.

The choice is yours. You can refuse to embrace your destiny because you allow defeat to enter your mind or you can believe what God says and enjoy the abundant life He has for you! Make the right choice because you have so much to lose if you don't keep walking toward your destiny. You have so much to gain by trusting in Him!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Come to ME

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill- fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." ~ Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

As I look around the world today, people are so exhausted. We go to bed tired. We wake up tired. Countless people depend on caffeine and all kinds of energy drinks just to make it through the day. Days go by like seconds. We arrive at the end of the week and have no idea where the week went. We are involved in so many things. We have so many responsibilities. The enemy is attacking from every side. Sometimes we think we would feel better if we could just scream to the top of our lungs and let all of our frustrations out!

So what is the remedy? Jesus says, "Come to ME!" He is our example. He wants to guide us each and every day. He will help us prioritize our lives and do the things we've been called to do. He will show us things that we need to let go of that are creating extra stress in our lives.

Sometimes we get confused and think that doing a bunch of "religious stuff" means everything's ok. If God has not called us to do it and it's just creating more stress in our lives, maybe we need to reconsider and see if that's really where He wants us right now. A lot of times we become people pleasers and whenever someone asks us to do something, we are afraid to say no. So we keep piling more and more stuff on ourselves until we begin to crumble under the weight of all the pressure.

This is not the life God intends for us to have. He did not place us here to live a life that is filled with chaos. He does not want us to just go through the motions and dread every day. Jesus came that we would have life and life more abundantly. We are here for a purpose. We need to discover our purpose and then begin walking in that purpose. When we are in our place, we will have a passion that drives us. We will be motivated to step out boldly each day and accomplish God's will for that day. We will enjoy every moment because we know we are in our place. There will be an excitement and an expectancy. His joy will be our strength and the passion we have will be contagious. We will "infect" those around us and as we do, we will change our world! People will want what we have!

Don't wait until you feel like you're life is completely falling apart before you decide to run to Jesus. If you're at that place now, you definitely need to run to Him. But if we will learn to diligently seek Him EVERY DAY, we will be less likely to find ourselves in the place of being completely overwhelmed. As we learn His ways and begin to walk like Him, we will be able to maintain peace no matter what comes. We will know that His joy is inside of us and it can't be extinguished by outward circumstances. Life may get hard, but we will know that we can rely on His grace to get us through it without crumbling under the pressure.

Jesus wants you to enjoy your life to the fullest! He wants you to show others that Christianity is not some boring lifestyle that forces you to give up everything you enjoy and walk around like you lost your best friend every day. Being a Christian is the best possible life we could ever choose! When others see you enjoying your life and walking in the victory that is already yours, they will want what you have. Make it your mission to point others to Him today and every day!


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

What Are You Hungry For?

Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born- again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! ~ Matthew 5:6 AMP

Everyone has a favorite food or restaurant. Do you ever start craving something from your favorite restaurant? Early in the day you start desiring a certain food. You make plans to go there that evening but all day long you have an appetite for that particular food. You can't wait to get there. When you finally arrive, the smell of all the food seems unusually wonderful. They finally bring your food out and you begin to enjoy it. It seems to taste better than ever because that's what you've been desiring all day. As you finish your meal, you are completely satisfied because your desire has now been fulfilled. I love when I crave a specific food. Otherwise it's hard to make a decision about what I want to eat.

We can apply the same example spiritually. If we are just going through life with no real appetite for spiritual things, life can become kind of boring. But when we desire righteousness and have a deep longing in our heart to walk uprightly with God, we WILL be satisfied! We will be passionate about everything we do! We will love spending time in the Word because we know it will help us be a better person. We won't just look at the Word as a way to point out everyone else's faults. It will cause us to look within and see changes that we need to make. We will find ourselves thinking about God all throughout the day. We will desire to be more like Him.

As we walk through our day, we will no longer just want the day to hurry up and be over. We begin to understand that we are on an assignment and that every moment counts with God. We will look for opportunities to share His love with others. We will be moved with compassion when we see needs around us. Everything begins to revolve around Him and not us. We become outward focused instead of inward focused. As we pour out into the lives of others, we will begin to enjoy the abundant life that has been promised to us. There is no greater fulfillment than to know that God has used you to make a difference in someone else's life! The reward is so great and satisfying that you forget about your own problems and have an even stronger desire to reach more people for Him!

May it be the desire of your heart to hunger and thirst for righteousness. The things of this world will fade away and have nothing to offer you but temporary satisfaction. He is the only One who truly satisfies! If you don't really have that hunger, pray and ask Him to give you a greater hunger. He will help you. Let His Word begin to do surgery on you. Apply the Word to your life and watch a mighty transformation take place! Make it a point every day to notice the people around you. What can you do to bless them? Can you speak a kind, encouraging word to brighten their day? Can you pay for their lunch or buy them a cup of coffee? Maybe you can just be a good listener. Or maybe you have something that God wants you to give them that would truly bless their lives. Whatever He is asking you to do, do it. Stop holding back in fear of what others will think of you. Your obedience has great reward. Let His blessings flow to you and through you!


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

HIS Strength is Made Perfect in Our Weakness

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving- kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [ in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 AMP

What an awesome Scripture! Read back over it and just let it sink in. Does it make you look at trials a little differently?

I was riding down the road yesterday and had this thought, "Trials that come into our lives give us a platform for God's glory to be revealed through us." When we go through stuff, people are watching us. They want to see how we handle difficult situations. Sadly to say, some people are looking for anything they can to try to discredit us. If they see us reacting in a negative way to something, then they start saying, "See, I knew she wasn't a Christian. She acts just like everyone else."

The great thing about it is that those same people can be completely transformed as they witness us handling "life" in a positive way. Yes, bad things will come into our lives. We will never completely escape that while we're still here on this earth. But our reaction says so much about our character. Some people are so filled with drama and everything that happens in their lives creates total chaos. They go around like a tornado destroying everything in their path. They blow up anytime something goes wrong and then they end up hurting people all around them because they don't think before they speak.

We don't have to be that way. We have God who is on our side! His Spirit dwells within us and will give us the courage and strength to face anything that comes our way. When we get to the place where we just can't handle it anymore, God steps in. He is waiting on us to move over and let Him into the driver's seat. He's not going to force Himself on us. But if we will yield to Him and totally surrender to His will, He will accomplish amazing things in and through us.

As people watch Him at work in our lives, they will know there's something different about us. As they see the peace that we have in the midst of the trials, they will want what we have. They will know that there's no way we can handle it all on our own. The greater the trial, the more God's glory will be revealed through us! It will be His strength that everyone sees, not ours.

So the next time you think, "I'm not strong enough to handle this," you're right where He wants you to be. Let Him have control. Rely on His strength that is made perfect in your weakness. Then watch what He does. You will have peace like you never imagined and lives all around you will be transformed as they witness the power of God in your life. The power of God is not just an emotional rush that we get while we're in a good church service. The power of God is strength to live day by day regardless of what comes our way. Learn to depend on His power and His strength. Start relying on His Spirit. Your life will never be the same again!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Diligently Seek HIM!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Too often people read this Scripture and the enemy will bring condemnation. Why? Because we think everything must be perfect in our lives if we're walking by faith. If we have enough faith, we won't have any problems. Now think about that for a minute. If we don't have any problems, why will we need faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN." Faith gives you the ability to see beyond your circumstances and to continue to put your hope and confidence in the Word of God, no matter what your circumstances tell you.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that we must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. While we should seek God diligently at all times, most of us begin to seek Him more when we have something going on in our lives. We know that He is the only One that has the answer. We know we have to get in touch with Him or we won't make it. That's how He wants us to seek Him. And we must believe that He will reward us as we diligently seek after Him!

Hebrews 11:32-40 really shows us what faith looks like. Faith does not always guarantee immediate results. Sometimes faith helps us to endure.

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." ~ Hebrews 11:32-40

If you're facing something right now that has been going on a while, don't be discouraged! God has given you the faith to face whatever trial you are in! You may feel overwhelmed by it. That's ok. It is in this place that you realize your desperate need for God. He sees your faith. He understands the cries of your heart. He is with you. Seek Him as never before. Instead of desperately begging to escape this storm, seek HIM! Get to know your Creator in ways that you have never known Him before. Discover His goodness. Learn how faithful He is in the MIDST of the storm. Stop looking at this storm as something that is going to destroy you. It is making you stronger. It is building your character. It is making you more like Him and it is helping you to truly know God. The intimacy you will have with Him during this time will develop such a beautiful relationship that can never be taken away from you. When the next trial comes, you will be prepared because you will have established this relationship with Him and you will be able to keep your eyes on Him instead of what's going on around you. The storm won't be able to move you because your foundation has been established. Be secure in His love. He's holding you tightly in His hand and will never let you go!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

You Are On An Assignment

But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started:the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. ~ Acts 20:24 MSG

Do you know that you are here on assignment? You have been placed on this earth not just to be a parent...not just to be a spouse...not just to be single and searching for the perfect mate...not just to work every day. You are here for a reason!

There is only one you! You are the only one who has lived your life and experienced things that were necessary to help you fulfill your ministry. God desires to use your background, your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses, your experience, your victories, your failures, and every single part of you to help you reach the world for Him!

He didn't allow you to go through those things just because He was bored one day and didn't have anything better to do. He didn't get mad at you and decide to see how much pain He could cause you. There is always a purpose for our pain. He doesn't bring the pain into our lives, but sometimes He will allow it to accomplish something greater in our lives or the lives of others.

Sometimes we think our problems, our failures, etc disqualify us but in reality they equip us for the work He has called us to do. Think about some things you have lived through. Now look around at all the people who are going through something similar. Do you see how you can reach out to them and help them? Do you know that you are a living testimony of God's faithfulness and when they discover that you have lived through it, they will be strengthened and encouraged to keep walking. They will know that they can make it too.

We can't watch people suffering all around us and remain silent. We have been placed here for ministry. Ministry doesn't have to be preaching in front of thousands of people or being a gifted teacher. Ministry is when we live life and then help others live life. As God gives us wisdom and helps us in situations, we share that with others. We show the love of God to those who are hurting and need an encouraging word. We look for needs around us and then do whatever we can to meet that need.

Make it a point to notice who's around you. Listen to them. Find out what's going on in their life. You might be surprised to find that they are right where you have been. Let God work through you to make a difference in their lives. If nothing else, be a good listener. Sometimes people just need someone to talk to. Follow your heart and know you are there for a purpose!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

What is Faith to You?

As I walk through this life God has blessed me with, He is teaching me so much! My life hasn't been easy. He's never given me the "easy way out." For whatever reason, when trials come my way, I have to walk through them. I have to complete the process and through every process, I become a better person. I am thankful that God has chosen to not give me the "easy" life. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! My trials have made me who I am today and with each new trial that comes, I am being conformed more and more into His image!

If we're not careful, we can paint a false image of what victory looks like. We read the Bible and take God at His Word so we expect that instantly we should receive everything the Bible says we can have. We expect immediate delivery, immediate healing, immediate results. Great men and women of God tell us that if we have enough faith, all we have to do is speak the Word and we should have whatever we say.

While that works for some people, we can't limit God or put Him in a box. It's not up to us to determine how God works. We don't see the whole big picture but He does. He works with each person as an individual. We can't say that God will do the same thing in each person's life. When we tell people that they need to have more faith or speak the Word more and they don't see immediate results, the enemy will use that to cause them to doubt their relationship with God. They will question if they really have faith at all. They wonder why God is mad at them and punishing them. All of this is so far from the truth!

We like to put a certain label on faith and say it always looks a certain way. For some, faith is believing for a supernatural miracle which comes instantly and God will use this to impact their lives as well as others. But for others, faith is continuing to believe day by day, even when you don't see a change. Faith is continuing to love God and live a life dedicated to Him in spite of the pain, the weakness, the frustration. Faith is knowing that God is in complete control no matter what the circumstances look like and knowing that if you have to walk through it, you will come out the other side victorious! Faith is a peace and willingness to walk through the darkest hour knowing that it will not destroy you! Faith is having such confidence and trust in God that you are perfectly surrendered to His will and rely totally on His strength to get through whatever life throws your way!

As I have walked the past 3.5 years with some health issues, it would have been so easy for God to just speak a word and instantly deliver me from all of this. However, the greatest miracle is how He continues to sustain me in the midst of it all! Naturally speaking, I have no immune system. If I go by what doctor's say, I should not be in large crowds of people. I should go around with a mask on to protect myself from all the germs. I have never worn a mask. I go to the grocery store. I go shopping. I go to church every time we have a service. I am surrounded by people who are sick. I love to hug people. Not only am I in the midst of sick people, I am always hugging them because I love people and that's just what I do. But guess what? God has protected me and kept me from catching anything! They tell me a cold or sinus infection could put me in the hospital. I have had several sinus infections but my body somehow fights it off even with "no immune system." Things in my body seem to progressively get worse, but God gives me the strength to keep going each day and most people have no clue what is going on. I just went to a neurologist yesterday and am scheduled for an MRI next week. I don't know what the results of this will be, but I am confident that God is with me and He will continue to strengthen me through the process.

We have to stop accepting defeat when God doesn't move the way we think He should! Look at all the disciples and people in the Bible. Look at all the trials they faced! They went through everything imaginable but still chose to serve God and live a life dedicated to fulfilling His will! Through the trials and difficulties, they were able to continue preaching the Word of God and being living examples of His faithfulness and goodness. Countless lives were introduced to the Kingdom of God because of their determination and steadfastness.

You may be one who instantly receives answers! Praise the Lord if you are! But if you are one who seems to always have to walk through stuff, be encouraged! He knows you can handle it and it's not to destroy you or punish you. He is doing a great work in and through you and as people watch your life, they will see Him. People will be drawn to Him as they witness you really living life. It's easy to be happy and joyful when everything is going good. But sometimes people need to see someone going through the storm. They need to see how you respond so they will have the courage to go through their own storm.

Friday, February 8, 2013

You Are On God's Mind

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

This has always been one of my favorite scriptures. Just think about this for a minute. Out of all the people that are on the earth, God is thinking about each of us individually! He knows us personally! We're not just a number. We don't get lost in the crowd. He doesn't just occasionally think about us. He is intimately acquainted with all of our ways! He knows our thoughts before we ever think them! He sees the desires of our heart! He knows us better than we know ourselves!

Doesn't that make you feel special? The God of all creation loves you so much and He always has you on His mind! There is never one trial that you will have to face alone because He is right there with you. For every victory, He is right there celebrating with you. When you're happy and having a good day, He looks down on you with a big smile on His face because it is His desire for you to experience the best life possible. He longs for you to enjoy your life!

On those days when you're having a hard time and the pressure just seems to be too much, He's still watching over you. He's gently coaching you saying, "Come on! You can make it! I know you! I know what you're capable of. I created you and I know what's inside of you. Trust Me. I'm right here with you. I won't let you fall. I'm holding your hand every step of the way and if you will simply yield yourself to My will, I will accomplish things in your life that you have never even dreamed of! I know what I'm doing. I know it's painful but you have to trust Me. I cause ALL things to work together for your good. I'm not trying to destroy you. I'm molding you and shaping you. I'm conforming you to My image. I'm making you more like Me so that My glory will be revealed in and through you. Let Me have My way in your life. The pain is only temporary but the eternal work that is taking place will affect generations to come. I've got this!"

Whatever you are facing today, God has it under control. There's no need to fear. There's no need to worry. Cast all your cares upon Him knowing that He cares for you. Don't focus on what you're going through. Instead look at where you're going. Keep your eyes on the goal. Remember the vision. He is on your side and you CANNOT fail! The best is yet to come! You have no idea how close you are to stepping into something so awesome and so amazing! Keep going because if you quit now you will never see your dreams come to pass.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

A Great Treasure

I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. ~ Psalm 119:162

Have you ever read a good book that you just couldn't put down? The more you got into it, the more it captured all of your attention and you couldn't wait to read the entire book. There are some books I've read that took many months for me to read but I've come across some that I could sit and read in one day!

This is how we should be about the Word of God. I read Psalm 119:162 in the Message Bible and this is what it says, "I'm ecstatic over what you say, like one who strikes it rich." Do we feel that way when we open up the Word? If we could only understand that the Word is our very life! It is vital to living a successful life. It is our instruction manual. It gives us wisdom and answers for every day life. It unlocks mysteries. It reveals what is ours as sons and daughters of God. It is full of precious promises that belong to you and me. It gives us examples of other great men and women who have already gone before us and prepared the way. We can learn from them, their mistakes and their victories.

We should have an excitement as we dig into the Word! It is a great treasure and the more we spend time studying it, the more we get to know God. We learn His character. We discover more about His goodness. We start being secure in His love and we begin to realize that everything He does is motivated by love.

Just skimming through the Bible is not enough. We need to understand what we are reading. We need to take time and let God speak to us through His Word. Look at the scriptures in different translations. Look up words that you may not understand. Go to a Strong's Concordance and see what words mean in the Hebrew and Greek. Use the cross references and look up the other scriptures that are referenced. Read the study notes if you have a study bible. Sit and reflect on what you have read. Pray and ask God to give you understanding and revelation.

It is not God's desire to keep His Word hidden from us. He wants us to understand His Word. He will give us the understanding we desire if we will ask Him. As our eyes are opened and we begin to get revelation, we must apply what we learn to our lives. We have to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22). As we study the Word and apply what we learn to our lives, we will be transformed in ways we never imagined! We will begin to enjoy life and experience the abundance that has been promised to us.

Remember, the Word is your life! You can't experience complete victory if you try to live apart from the Word. Getting saved is not enough. Going to church is not enough. You have to develop a relationship with God and make it personal. The Word will give you the answers you are searching for. It will shed light on those things that have been hidden. As you give yourself to sincerely studying the Word, you will begin to flourish and see life as you've never seen it before!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Love in Action

When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick. ~ Matthew 14:14 AMP

What an awesome man Jesus was! Imagine living back in the day when He was on the earth. Imagine what it would be like to be one of His disciples. They were busy men. Their lives were all about ministry. People followed them wherever they went. They had very little time to just get away and do what they wanted to do. They were on a mission and life apart from their purpose just didn't matter.

Jesus came and gave us the perfect example of walking in love. No matter how tired He would get or what kind of busy day He had endured, He always made time for people. If they needed Him, He would be there for them.

A lot of us have great love for people. However one of the differences between us and Jesus is compassion. Jesus had compassion. The meaning of compassion in my dictionary app is "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."

When Jesus saw a need, He was moved with compassion. He refused to allow their situation to remain the same. He reached out to them and met the need. Compassion is love in action. Instead of just looking at someone and feeling sorry for what they are facing, compassion causes us to find a way to meet the need. What can we do to help them in this difficult time?

While prayer is so very important, sometimes we use it as the easy way out. We see a need and say, "I'll be praying for you." Sometimes we actually remember to pray but how many times have we forgotten? How many times has God placed an idea on our heart for something we could do to help this person but we just ignore His promptings and go on about our business? Or how many times have we intended to do something but get busy doing other things and then totally forget?

In Acts, people came together and helped one another. Acts 2:44-47 says, "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

As the church came together as one and ministered to one another, needs were met. Everyone shared the burdens and stepped in to meet whatever needs arose. Daily they encouraged one another and enjoyed life together. Also, as they walked in love and put action to their love, people were being saved DAILY!

This is how the church should look. We should be sharing one another's burdens. We should be encouraging our brothers and sisters, loving each other, loving the lost and reaching out to them. Those who are outside and watching the church could care less about our fancy houses, nice cars, how much money we have in the bank, our title or position. They want to see us walking in love. They are looking for someone who is actually LIVING the Word. We can't afford to keep living our lives in pursuit of personal gain. It's not about us. We have been given an assignment. We have a job to do. It's time for us to get serious and let compassion move us to action. We can't keep turning our heads and pretending we don't see those who are suffering. We can make a difference!


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Bless the Lord at ALL Times!

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ~ Psalm 34:1

What a mighty God we serve! As you start your day, look outside at the beautiful sky! Look around at all of His creation! Go look in the mirror and look at the beautiful person God created!

There is truly no one like our God! I think of my daughter as she is going through her pregnancy. How awesome that God created women to conceive a child and actually carry another human being inside of them! I watch as her body changes to make room for my granddaughter to grow. It is so amazing to witness all the changes and to know that in just a few short months we will be holding this precious little girl!

It is so wonderful when we have these times to celebrate all that God does. But we all know that life is not just full of good things. Bad things come too. I can't even imagine all that some people are experiencing right now. Maybe you are going through some very difficult things right now. I know so many people are dealing with health issues. There are abusive situations, financial difficulties, homes that are torn apart, loved ones have passed away...

While we experience good times and bad times and circumstances are constantly changing, we have to remember that God NEVER changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! His Word will stand forever! No matter what is going on in our lives, He is still worthy of our praise! The praise we offer to Him should never be contingent on how we feel or what kind of day we are having. Our praise cannot be affected by emotions or circumstances. HE IS WORTHY...PERIOD!

If we take an inventory of all the good and bad, we will see that the good far outweighs the bad! The problem is that when the bad comes, we focus so much on it that we become blinded to all the good. We forget just how blessed we are! We fail to see just how awesome He is and we lose sight of how faithful He has always been. We put all of our energy and attention into this one thing and we think God is nowhere to be found. God is right there where He has always been and where He'll always be! God doesn't change; we do. God doesn't lose focus; we do. He doesn't get sidetracked from the plan. He is always looking at the whole big picture and He never loses sight of what He is doing. There's a plan. There's a purpose. We have to be determined to stick to the plan no matter what comes our way. We have to remember that what's waiting on the other side of this storm is far greater than the storm itself.

Keep praising Him no matter what it looks like or what it feels like! Let His praise continually be in your mouth! When you make up your mind to keep praising Him in spite of what you are facing, the problem seems to grow smaller and smaller while He become even bigger in your life! You need to remind yourself just how big He is! Tell yourself He is awesome and mighty and that nothing is too hard for Him! Remind yourself who you are in Christ! The fact that you belong to Him guarantees that every provision has already been made! The fight is fixed! The battle has already been won! You are victorious through Jesus Christ! Your problem can't defeat you! Your God has already declared you the winner!

Monday, February 4, 2013

It's All for Him

Let every detail in your lives-- words, actions, whatever-- be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. ~ Colossians 3:17 MSG

The attitude and motivation of our heart is more important than our actions, words, etc. There are lots of people in the world doing all kinds of stuff, but why are they doing it? Is it for self promotion? Are they trying to impress people? Are they using their words to manipulate people so they can get what they want? Is it always an attempt to get something in return?

God's ways are so much different. When we have committed our lives to Him, life is no longer about us. It's about Him and fulfilling His purpose. It's about others. What can we do to bless someone? How can we make their life better? How can we go above and beyond to do something extra special for someone without expecting anything in return? What can we do behind the scenes that no one but God knows about?

It's not about getting credit for something. It's not about being recognized. We are to serve out of a heart filled with LOVE. When we love others with the love of God, we're not worried about ourselves. Our blessing comes from knowing that we have made a difference in someone's life. We find fulfillment when we know that we have done what God has asked us to do. We are not trying to promote ourselves because true promotion comes from above! God will bring everything in our lives into proper alignment when we get our minds off of ourselves and start fulfilling our purpose. We don't have to try to make a name for ourselves...we are to represent HIM and make His name known!

We must also have a thankful attitude. And that doesn't just mean that we are thankful for what God is doing for us. We must be thankful for who He is. Thank Him for using us to make a difference in the lives of others. Express our gratitude for causing us to be at the right place at the right time so we are able to share His love with someone who has lost all hope. Be thankful because He chose us to represent Him on this earth.

What an honor to represent Him! Wow, He has enough confidence in us to send us out to show the world who He is! He believes in us! He knows what we are capable of! We have to get our minds off of ourselves and make sure that we are representing Him accurately. People need to see the God that we serve. They need to know His character. They need to know they are loved. When we choose to let everything we do point to Him, our lives will never be the same! The lives of others will never be the same! What a joy to serve such an awesome God! We are blessed to be a blessing! Go out today and bless everyone you see!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Don't Let Anything Silence Your Praise!

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. ~ Acts 16:25-26

Paul and Silas were not having a good day. They had been falsely accused, stripped of their clothing, beaten with rods and endured "many stripes", and then were placed in prison. Not only were they just locked in prison, but they also had their feet fastened in stocks.

Imagine the scene. Imagine the pain they must have been in after being beaten so severely. I'm sure they were bleeding terribly, bruised, and aching from head to toe. They didn't have pain medicine to take to try to relieve the pain. It was impossible to find a comfortable position. After all, their feet were fastened so they had very limited movement.

But look at what the Bible says about them. At midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God! It also says that the other prisoners were listening to them. The notes in my Bible say this, "The word translated listening here means 'to listen with pleasure,' as if listening to beautiful music. It is in times of darkness that the light of a Christian witness shines brightest." (The Nelson Study Bible)

Paul and Silas had every reason to sit and complain. Most people probably would have been in tears from the agonizing pain. But Paul and Silas had a relationship with their Father. They didn't just love Him in the good times when everything was going in their favor. They practiced what they preached. They talked the talk but also walked the walk. They were devoted to Him no matter what they had to go through and nothing was able to silence their praise!

The awesome thing about this is that as they praised God in the midnight hour, not only were they set free but also ALL the prisoners were set free! Even the keeper of the prison as well as his family were saved and baptized!

There is power in our praise! But this power is not only for us...it is for those watching our lives. How often do we get upset if we have a bad day at work or the kids are getting on our nerves. We let things like this steal our victory. We will go around complaining and speaking harshly to everyone around us. But what kind of example are we setting for those watching our lives? Do we act like everyone else or do they see us operating on supernatural strength that comes from God? Do they witness us being confident in who we are and possessing His peace that passes all understanding?

People are searching for truth. They desire to see something that is real. Anyone can talk the talk while they're sitting in church, clapping their hands, and singing the songs. But it's what takes place after we leave those four walls that really matters. That's when people see who we really are. Is the light of God shining through you when you're having a bad day? Do you still point others to Him even when you don't really feel like it? Remember, people need to see you living this "Christian life." They need to know what true Christianity really looks like. How you respond to situations and the praise that is "continually on your lips" will be what leads them to the One who can change their life forever and sets them free from the things that have held them captive!


Saturday, February 2, 2013

He is Worthy of Our Praise

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. ~ Psalm 33:1

Do you ever just sit and think about God? I mean REALLY THINK ABOUT GOD! When I take time to reflect on who He is, I feel myself smiling on the inside! A smile appears on my face! I am overwhelmed with joy! There is NO ONE like our God!!

As much as we love our parents, our spouse, our children, etc, they don't compare to God. And the love we have for them doesn't even come close to the love that He has for us! For those who have had children, remember the feeling you had the first time you held your baby in your arms. This baby is a part of you. You carried it for all those months. You supplied it with all the nourishment it needed to grow strong and healthy.

You know what, you are part of God! He gave you life. He created you in His image. He has fed you and sustained you. He has been with you since the very beginning. He has helped you to grow and mature. He has nourished your body. He gave you His Spirit to comfort you and guide you. He sent His one and only Son to die for You so that you would never have to be separated from Him. He loves you with an everlasting love and He wants you to be secure in His love!

God is everything you need! He is more than enough! He holds your world in His hands and He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you! Take time every day to think about just how awesome He is! Look where He has brought you from! Think back to all the situations He has brought you through! Remember how He has always been faithful and met every need according to His will!

As you reflect on the very character and nature of God, you won't be able to keep yourself from praising Him! You can't be silent! We were made to praise Him! He longs to hear us give honor and glory to Him just for who He is! Our praise is beautiful to Him! He alone is worthy of our praise!

I encourage you to spend today just praising Him! Don't ask Him for anything. Just praise Him!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Be Still and Know He is God

"Be still and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10

We live in such a fast paced society. It seems that in a blink of an eye months go by! It was just Christmas and today is already the first day of February! Most of us are so busy that we go through our days not really taking in all that's happening around us. We don't enjoy the simple moments. We're too busy finishing one task so we can get started on the next one and we totally miss out on life. Our minds race at a record speed trying to keep up with everything and if we're not careful, we will allow our lives to start spinning out of control.

When we live this way, things get even more complicated when trials come. That's just what we need, one more thing to have to think about! How are we supposed to fit one more thing in our busy schedule? We don't have time to deal with problems! Doesn't God see that our plate is already full and we just don't need this right now?!

The next thing you know, we are totally overwhelmed. Our mind becomes consumed with this problem. We find ourselves always thinking about it, trying to find a solution. We look for a way of escape. We try to understand why God is allowing it to happen. We wonder what we've done wrong to deserve this. Is God punishing us? Is there a way of escape? Is this the end for us?

The enemy loves to play mind games with us! If he can get us overwhelmed in our thinking, our whole life suffers. We can't be effective for God because our focus is completely on what is taking place right now. We feel trapped and before long we are at our breaking point. We just can't handle it anymore!

As bad as this may sound, God loves when we get to this place. Some of us have strong personalities and don't like to give up control. It takes us getting to a breaking point before we fully surrender to God. When we throw our hands in the air and say, "God, I can't do this anymore!" then He steps in and says, "I've been waiting on you to say that!"

At this place, God steps in and we find ourselves simply resting in His presence. We are filled with His peace. All the chaos seems to disappear and it's just us and Him. We feel safe and secure. Nothing else in the world seems to matter because we are in an intimate place with Him.

Sometimes trials help us get to a place where we have no choice but to slow down and embrace His presence. Here we can just be still and know that He is God! He can speak to our hearts, energize and refresh our spirit. We find strength in this place. He is not going to compete with all the distractions in our lives. He wants our undivided attention.

May we desire to be in this place and choose to make time for this intimacy with Him without having to forced here by some tragic storm. May we daily run into His arms and surrender our entire being to Him! May we refuel every day and draw from His strength so that we are prepared to handle whatever life throws our way. Don't wait until you get in trouble to turn to Him. Run to Him daily and then everything in your life will go so much smoother!