Day 89

Psalm 55:22 ~“Turn your burdens over to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.” (GWT)

When I first read about the Israelites in Exodus years ago, I thought they were so stupid! They lived in a time where God’s presence, His works, and His miracles were physically seen. There were delivered from slavery, had their food delivered to them everyday, and were literally able to follow a ball of fire to their destinations at night. And yet, they still didn’t fully believe God! All that they had seen and experienced was forgotten as soon as adversity came. It was as if God had never done any of those things…even though they had just seen it! How dumb is that?! The funny thing is we are very much like them. When we’re with God and things are well, we trust Him and it’s all good. But the minute something happens we’re frantic, acting like He can’t bring us out…even though He just did it last week! I would like to remind you today that if you cast your cares upon the Lord, He WILL take care of you. We can’t be so quick to forget how good God is (and has been); He has NEVER let the righteous stumble. You won’t fail, you won’t lose, and you certainly won’t die. Take a look back over your life, after having gone through hell and high water you’re still here. The last storm you were in didn't kill you, neither will this one. No matter what it looks like, no matter what’s going on, He WON'T let you fall!

Day 88

Psalm 13:20 ~ “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” (The Message)

My grandmother used to always tell me, “Watch the company you keep”. I of course, thinking I knew way more about life than she did, chose not to listen to her. When I was in sixth grade I started hanging with the wrong crowd. Because I chose to hang around with the fast girls, I quickly learned about the fast boys. By the time I was in the eighth grade, I was pregnant. There I was, 13 years old, shipped off to the school for girls who got themselves in trouble, all because I chose to keep company with people with loose morals. I want to remind you today to watch the company you keep. The more you are around a person the more their ways rub can off on you and before you know it, you’re doing the same dumb stuff they do. You talk to a negative person long enough, you’ll start being negative. You need to surround yourself with like minded individuals, people who build you up rather than bring you down. If you spend time with a person and after you leave them you feel drained from all of their negativity, it’s time to cut that person off…..even if it’s someone in your family! You can't allow that to get into your spirit. Proverbs 19:8 states, “He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.” God has great plans for you; don’t allow your associations to be the thing that holds you back!

Day 87

Isaiah 26:4 ~ “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.” (NIV 1984)

The world is in a constant state of change, you can’t get away from it, it is inevitable. You see changes at work, changes in your relationships, changes in your body…everything changes. You can go and get gas today at one price; tomorrow (or five minutes later in some cases) it’s a different price. You may like a person today, next week, you may not. Last week you were ahead, this week you’re behind….things change! I want to remind you today that The One that will always remain the same is our Lord! He has never changed and He never will, you can trust in His consistency. He never slumbers nor sleeps; He’s always there for you. You can trust Him to get you out of that tight spot. You can count on Him to deliver you. People, places, and things will all fade away at some point, but the Lord, and ONLY the Lord, is everlasting! He is the One who was, who is, and who is to come. He is God alone, alone He is God. When we put our trust in Him, we can’t lose!

Day 86

James 1:6-8 ~ “But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.” (CEV)

With all that we know about God, and all that He’s done for us, why do we still doubt Him? As big a God as He is, why do we feel He can't come through? Our bills don't faze Him, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He doesn't even blink at our illness, He’s brought people back from the dead! All the stories of triumph in the bible, what do you think they are, fairy tales? Come on now! I want to remind you today that if you have asked God for something, and it is in line with His will, then you can rest assured that you will receive it, period! But, if you spend time trying to figure out if (or when) He’ll come through, you may as well not have asked in the first place. You can’t believe Him one day and doubt Him the next. You don’t want God to think you’re unstable do you? I mean, seriously, would YOU trust an unstable person? Of course not! God is able, His track record is impeccable. You can believe Him, He’s not a man that He would lie. Don’t doubt Him, even for a millisecond, lest you stand the chance of not receiving His goodness!

Day 85

Romans 8:28 ~ “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.” (GWT)

Yesterday I learned of a couple who lost their three month old baby to SIDS. Not only did they have to deal with the sudden loss of their child, they also had to endure questions from the authorities as to whether or not they had any involvement. What a horrible situation for a parent to be in. It really makes you wonder what God’s point in it all is. Taking this verse into consideration, how could THIS situation be for somebody’s good? I want to remind you today that it may not look like it right now, but God truly means for good to come out of whatever storm you’re in. Because you are His child, because of the plans He has for your life, good AND bad things will happen to you, but they’re all for your good. I know it’s hard to see the sun shine through the dark cloud of bereavement, the haziness of unemployment, the storminess of a broken relationship…but, it’s there. With every moment that passes by, God is working things out; He’s turning things around so that it will be good for you. It hurts now, but weeping only lasts for a night, your joy will come in the morning! (Psalm 30:5) You were called according to his purpose and He has every intention to take care of you. He will help you make it through the tough times as He guides you to onwards to your destiny. Don’t allow yourself another minute of sadness, as long as God is on your side…it’s ALL good!

Day 84

Isaiah 43:2 ~ “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you;
your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.” (GNT)

When the pressures of life get you down, when your things to do list is growing longer every second, when it seems like the storm will take you under, when you’re thinking, “if this phone rings one more time I’m going to scream”….I want you to stop….take a minute to breathe and let me remind you that God has your back, there’s no need for you to get yourself all worked up. He is right there beside you, He will see you through. He is your protection, your Strong Tower . (Psalm 61:3) He’s not going to allow trials to come your way and then just leave you; He’s not that kind of God, nor will He let anything (or anyone) hurt you. Your situation may by rough right now, but it will pass, and it certainly won’t overtake you. God is stronger than any circumstance that comes your way and because you are His child, He will give you the strength and the courage you need to fight (and win) the battle. Remember, you can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength! (Phil 4:13) He has kept you this far, He’s not going to stop now. As a matter of fact, He never will!

Day 83

1 Peter 4:12-13 ~ “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” (The Message)

I’m going to cut to the chase and remind you today not to be surprised that you are going through rough times, it happens…it’s a part of the plan. Instead of questioning God and asking Him, “why me Lord?” to which He answers, “why NOT you?” you should be glad to “suffer” as Christ did. Don’t allow the enemy to coax you into believing that God has forgotten you or that He’s punishing you. Your trials and tribulations come to make you stronger, and you can’t get to “the place called there” without them. I encourage you to be glad today, and everyday, to be able to experience things just as Jesus did. Just think of all He went through and He had NEVER sinned, unlike us. They lied on Him, the beat Him, they spit on Him, they crucified Him. In the end, He came out on top…and so will you!

Day 82

Philippians 4:6-7 ~ “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (The Message)

I’ve heard this scripture so many times in my life; I’ve committed it to memory, even encouraged others with it. I have to admit, although I know this word, there are still times when I worry. I want to remind you (and me) today that we should be anxious for NO THING. All we have to do is let God know what we need, thank Him for it and let it go. Yes, it really is that simple. WE are the ones who make it hard by trying to hold on to it. No matter how big or how small your issue may be, you can’t change it by worrying about it. So, don’t! When you feel like worry is starting to creep in, recite your favorite scripture, listen to praise and worship songs, or simply call His name. Do whatever it takes to get your focus off of your problem and onto God. Before you know it, you will feel the Holy Spirit comforting you and assuring you that God has your back. Thank Him for that! He is forever faithful and He is fully equipped and capable to handle whatever comes your way!

Day 81

Psalm 40:1 ~ “I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry for help.” (GWT)

When you have to wake up every morning to the same problem you laid down with, it’s tough. Being steadfast and unmovable can get old real quick, especially when the blows keep coming. It seems like you’ve said the same prayer 10,000 times and you wonder when is God going to answer you. I want to remind you today to be patient and wait on God, He hears you. As hard as it may be, I encourage you to keep waiting on Him. God is preparing your deliverance at this very moment; you just have to be patient. He’s making a way out for you, just be patient. He’s restoring your relationships, be patient. He’s opening up the windows of heaven to pour out a blessing that you won’t have room to receive, please, be patient. It may seem like it’s taking forever for God to come to your aid, you just keep waiting. Eyes have not seen, nor have ears heard or minds imagined, all of the wonderful things God has in store for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) The wait is almost over, I believe you are about to walk into your season of blessings….just be patient!

Day 80

2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” (GWT)

Have you ever heard (or used) the phrase, “God ain’t through with me yet?” It seems to me as though this is an excuse to continue with behavior that is unacceptable to God. We are all a work in progress; He is changing hearts and minds everyday. You being stuck in that same sin pattern (lying, gossiping, cursing, etc) indicates YOU are not working in Him! I want to remind you today that we are not the same people we were before Christ, so we can’t continue to live (and act) that way. If you told God you’re not going to commit that sin anymore, then don’t. Pray and ask Him for deliverance and try your best not to do it. And don’t allow yourself to be put in situations where you might commit that sin. When you sin and then try and justify it by saying He’s not through with you, it gives God a bad look. How can you expect to convert an unbeliever if you’re still doing the same things you did before you were one? God is not through with us yet, and I thank Him for that! We deserve for Him to turn His back on us, take away His love and forgiveness. But He doesn’t. Let’s not repay His kindness by refusing to become the person He has called us to be. He has so much in store for you; are you willing to make a change to receive it?!

Day 79

James 2:17 ~ “So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.” (GNT)

As Christians, I think we sometimes take God for granted. We expect Him to miraculously bless us with everything we ask for, without us having to do anything in return. I mean, He is God afterall, why not? We pray for a financial increase, and then we walk around looking for the box of money randomly placed with our name on it. We believe God for a new job, but we won’t apply for certain ones because we don’t feel qualified. We want God to bless and protect our children, but we don’t take the time to train them up in the way they should go. I want to remind you today that faith without works is dead. In order for you to receive something from God, you have to DO something! He WANTS to bless you, but you have to do more than just believe that He will. If you’re struggling in your finances, start giving above your normal tithes and offerings. I guarantee you He will send you an increase. If you’re not happy on your job, go to the place you want to work at, fill out an application and start praying in the parking lot everyday. Don’t be surprised when you get a call from them offering you a better job than what you applied for! There is a store room in heaven with your name on it, with blessings you could never imagine. Faith is the lock, and your works is the key. You can open that door at any time….so what are you waiting for?!

Day 78

2 Timothy 1:7 ~ “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” (Amplified Bible)

God is a good God. He is loving, He is kind, and He’s faithful. He is fair, He’s true, and He’s eternal. He is all powerful and all knowing. Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent He is. There is no God like our God. He parted the entire red sea long enough for thousands of people to walk across the floor of it. He fed thousands of people with a couple of sandwiches. He has brought the dead back to life and made blind men see. You would think with a track record like God’s, His children would be fearless. Oftentimes, that’s not the case. I want to remind you today that we need to stop being fearful when problems arise. Being timid and cowardly is not of God. Have you ever seen Him hiding in a corner somewhere trying to figure out what to do? Of course not, HE IS GOD! All of the power that is in Him is also in us. We are His children, heirs to His kingdom, we have nothing to fear. Unexpected trips the ER, more bills than your paycheck, trouble on your job…whatever your “scary” situation may be, God has given you the power to conquer it. No weapon formed against us will EVER prosper. (Isaiah 54:17) Even if you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, don’t be afraid…He is with you. He always is, and He always will be!

Day 77

1 Corinthians 10:13 ~ “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.” (GNT)

Being a small business owner and working full time is no easy feat. I love baking, it is the gift that God gave me and I enjoy working in it, but it’s not easy. Every Friday night I bake and decorate cakes, and every Saturday morning I deliver them. Most nights of the week I have something cake related to do….in addition to my already busy life. I pray often and ask God why it is that He hasn’t allowed me to transition to working my business full time. I wonder how much longer the 14 hour days will last because I don’t know if my back can take it. I am mentally and physically tired and there are times when I want to just say, “Forget it”. I was reminded yesterday, and so will remind you today, that God will never put more on you than you can bear. It may seem like it’s a lot, but you can handle it. God wouldn’t have given it to you if He didn’t intend to give you what you need to conquer it. When you’re at your breaking point and it seems like you can’t take another step forward, that when He steps in and strengthens you so you can keep moving. I realize that I am going through what I’m going through so that when the time does come for me to work in my gift full time, I will be strong enough to endure all that comes from being a business owner. The same thing applies to your situation. ALL things are working together for your good because you love God and are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) What you're going through right now is just a part of His perfect plan for your life. So, don’t grow weary in well doing, for you shall reap a harvest if you faint not! (Gal 6:9)

Day 76

Exodus 20:2-3 ~ “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves. Worship no god but me.” (GNT)

I love my husband. He’s a great father, leader and provider for our family. My children mean the world to me, I don’t know what I would do without them, I believe they help make my life complete. My brother is one of my most favorite people in this world, and all six of my sisters have their own special place in my heart. I am friends with some awesome women of God; our relationships are truly of Him. Of all of the people I have in my life, as much as I love them all, NOT ONE can hold a candle to God! I want to remind you today to keep God first in your life. You have to be careful not to allow other people (as well as places and things) to take His place. When you give more attention things other than God, that thing will become your God. He wants to be first, He wants no other God before Him. He comes before your spouse, your children, your friends, your job, your hobbies, your dreams…He comes first!  Don’t give yourself to everything else and expect God to be happy with the leftovers. Put Him first; show Him that He is your first priority. If you make Him first in your life, I guarantee you He’ll make you first in His!

Day 75

John 15:13 ~ “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.” (Amplified Bible)

As we celebrate this day of love, I just want to take a moment to remind you that God showed the ultimate act of love when He allowed His son to die so that we could be restored unto Him. He has loved us from the beginning of time and He will continue to love us until the end of time. His love is patient. It is kind. It isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t arrogant. It isn’t rude. It doesn’t think about itself. It isn’t irritable. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs. It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) There is no greater love than His and it is my prayer that you experience it today like never before!

Day 74

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ~ “Never stop praying.” (GWT)

Prayer is powerful, it’s one of the strongest weapons we have as believers, and often the most unused. I want to remind you today to NEVER stop praying! Stay in constant contact with God. The closer you are to Him, the farther you are away from the dangers of this world. Now I don’t mean to say that you won’t go through things, but prayer will allow the things you go through not overtake you. For those of you who have been dealing with the same issue for a while now, pray still! Yes, it may seem redundant to pray over and over for the same things, especially when God already knows the situation, pray anyway! Ephesians 6:18 tells us to “pray on every occasion as the spirit leads us”, so don’t give up. Just last week I heard a person say that he was tired of praying, that God was going to do what He wanted to do regardless, so he gave up because God hadn’t answered his prayers yet. It is my prayer that you won’t give up on God; He certainly hasn’t given up on you. Keep talking to Him, keep seeking His guidance, and keep thanking Him for His goodness. He hears you, He sees you, and He WILL save you…you just have to KEEP PRAYING! Don’t get discouraged because things haven’t changed yet, the prayers of the righteous avail much. (James 5:16) Your help is on the way!

Day 73

Ephesians 6:12 ~ “This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.” (MSG)

Today I am going to get straight to the point and remind you that the devil is dirty. He does not want you to receive all that God has for you and he will not stop trying to keep you from it. You have to be relentless in your prayers as he is relentless in his foolery. You have to stay rooted in the word because the minute you turn away from it, he is there to sweep you away. Satan wants to see you stressed out, depressed, and weary. He wants you weak so he can slide in and trick you into thinking that God can't save you.  You have to fight against the foolishness he’s trying to bring into your life. The closer you get to God, the more he's going to try to discourage you....DON’T LET HIM! When you wake up in the morning you should go to your closet and put on the FULL armor of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with readiness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. If you leave out of your house wearing anything else, you’re sure to be defeated. You may as well hang a bull’s-eye around your neck. We must continue to fight to good fight, don’t play with this thing because the enemy certainly isn’t playing with you…he is for real about devouring you! You have to keep praying, praising, worshiping, believing and trusting God. He WILL deliver you, He WILL provide for you, He WILL heal you, He WILL restore everything that the devil tried to steal from you! Keep fighting…until your victory is won!

Day 72

Genesis 1:1 ~ “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.” (GWT)

It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re going through. You see your bills piling up, money running low. Your friends and family start acting as if they’ve lost their minds, people on your job seem to purposely try and sabotage you. It feels like you’re continuously getting dumped on by life, as soon as you get one problem solved, here comes another one. In all of the chaos, it’s hard to hear (or see) God. You may even wonder if He sees and hears you!  I want to remind you today God has intended for you to live life more abundantly since the beginning of time. He created the universe and made two humans out of dirt in a matter of days. You just don’t do something like that and not take care of it. He has plans for you, great plans at that! How it is right now is not how it will always be, you are going THROUGH, this isn’t your permanent stop. He wants us to be happy, to be hemmed in with pleasure, living in no lack. That was His intent from the start and He is diligently working to get us “back to Eden”. Keep trusting in Him, keep praying, and keep seeking Him. Before you know it, you will be restored and become everything He purposed you to be in the beginning!

Day 71

Ephesians 5:4 ~ “Obscene language, silly talk, or vulgar jokes aren’t acceptable for believers. Instead, there should be thanksgiving.”

I was in line at the grocery store the other day and there were a group of teenagers in line behind me. They were looking at a magazine with Beyonce on the cover, going on and on about what they would do to her. It was quite offensive. I started to turn around and ask them to watch their language, but I changed my mind thinking, “Oh well, they’re not my kids. If they want to speak like that then it has nothing to do with me.” On the contrary, it has everything to do with me. I want to remind you today that as believers we have the right to say no to certain conversations, we can’t tolerate it. There is too much at stake to allow ourselves to be bogged down with words that don’t glorify God, it hurts us too much. Think of it this way, if you sit next to a person all day who speaks nothing but negativity, what kind of effect do you think it will have on you if you don’t say anything about it? You will begin to have that same negative speech. When words are spoken into the atmosphere, they come alive. (speak those things that are not as though they were) We can’t afford to contaminate the goodness God has placed in us with unwholesome talk. We should be speaking life, not death, even when you’re joking around. We should be thanking Him for not wiping us off the face of the earth like we deserve. I encourage you today to evaluate what you say and what you allow to be said to you. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable holding that conversation in front of God, maybe you shouldn’t be having it!

Day 70

Ephesians 5:1 ~ “THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” (Amplified Bible)

Have you ever been shopping and saw something cute on the mannequin and just had to have it? Sure, there are other clothes in the store, but it’s just something about the ones on the mannequin that call out to you. They put their best selections on display; your eyes tend to focus on them when you walk into the store. What if you walked into your favorite clothing store and every mannequin had on torn, dirty, or smelly clothes? That wouldn’t make you want to purchase anything from that store would it? I want to remind you today that we (Christians) are the mannequins on display in the world’s department store; therefore, we MUST be imitators of God. We should be kind, loving, compassionate and giving, just as Our Father is. People should be able to look at us and tell who (and whose) we are. Kirk Franklin has a song called “The Last Jesus” and the chorus says, “If I say I love Jesus, but they can’t see my Jesus, my words are empty, if they can’t see Jesus in me.” Ask yourself this question, if you were the only representation of Jesus that somebody came in contact with, would they leave you wanting to know more about Him, or would they leave satisfied with not knowing Him because of what you have on display?

Day 69

Ephesians 5:2 ~ “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (New Living Translation)

Have you ever read a passage of scripture and thought, “God, you have got to be kidding me…you can’t be serious.”? Well, I have! Especially the ones that refer to “love your neighbor as you love yourself”…seeing as I don’t always get the same thing in return. But when you think about it, neither does God! Of all the people He loves, they don’t all love Him back, but He loves them just the same. I want to remind you today to live your life filled with love, even if the love isn’t returned. Follow the example Our Father has set for us. He has people who deny Him, curse His name, put people places and things in front of Him, and His love remains. He loves EVERYBODY, not just the ones who love Him, so we should follow His lead. I challenge you to love the person on your job who despitefully uses you. Love the person who seemingly goes out of their way to hurt your feelings. Love the person who deliberately causes strife in your family. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 peter 4:8) and it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give. Make the choice today to become a sweet and pleasing aroma to God by loving His children as He loves you. You may not think they deserve it, but He does!  

Day 68

Ephesians 5:20 ~ “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.” (GNT)

Have you ever thought about all of the things that God keeps from you? We often thank Him for what He gives us, but we should also thank Him for what He doesn’t. There a hundreds of circumstances we could face, but we don't. Your situation could be a lot worse than what it is, but, it’s not. You may never know the extent of His protection, what He’s stopped from hurting you (or you from hurting yourself with!) I want to remind you today to thank Him…for EVERYTHING. You may not be completely out of your trial yet, but praise Him anyway because He’s working on it! Thank Him for your bad days; your good ones outweigh them anyway. Thank Him when you don’t have enough money, because He will step in and provide everything you need. Thank Him when your heart is heavy because He can comfort like no other. Thank Him for being an on time God when He shows up at the last minute (seemingly) to rescue you. Give thanks the Lord for He is good and His love lasts forever! (Psalm 107:1)

Day 67

Deuteronomy 28:12 ~ “The Lord will open the heavens, his rich storehouse, for you. He will send rain on your land at the right time and bless everything you do. You will be able to make loans to many nations but won’t need to borrow from any.” (GWT)

It’s hard sometimes to see other people blessed when your situation is in dire straits. I remember a few years back one of my close friends came into a large sum of money during the time when my husband and I were living paycheck to paycheck. I was happy for my friend of course, but there a part of me that was also a little jealous. I remember thinking, “Why couldn’t that have been us? We’re the ones who need it. When are we going to be blessed?” Has this ever happened to you? Not just from a financial standpoint, but in anything? You see other people having children, getting married, buying houses, getting jobs, things that you have prayed for.…you can’t help but wonder when your time will come. I would like to remind you today that God has not forgotten about you. Yes, it may be tough to see everyone else’s situation change but yours, but this verse assures you that He plans to bless you….when the time is right. And since only He knows when that is, don’t waste time wondering and wishing for someone else’s stuff. You just keep on holding on, He has something in mind that He created just for YOU and it is greater than anything you could ever imagine!

Day 65

Psalm 23:5 ~ “You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.” (The Message)

I have been in more situations than I care to admit where people have betrayed my trust. It hurts, especially when the person is close to you. After the “I can’t believe they did that to me, I would never do that to them” spiel, anger sets in and you begin to think of ways to get them back. You want to hurt them like they hurt you, but that is not how God intends for us to act. I want to remind you today that there is no need to waste time and energy on your enemies, you can’t stop them from doing what they do. You need to be focused even more on the purpose God has set for you because they are trying to distract you from it. Don’t let them! Instead of allowing them to make you upset, trust God to handle it. Allow Him to prepare a feast for you in front of them, let them watch as you are abundantly blessed. You just keep your eyes on Him; seek His face, His kingdom and His righteousness. He sees what they’ve done and He will reward them accordingly. But for you, He will welcome you as an honored guest at His table and bless you beyond anything you could ever imagine!

Day 64

Romans 8:38-39 ~ “I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, ³⁹and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (CEV)

Take a moment to think about the worst thing you’ve ever done. Do you realize that as horrible as that thing is, God still loves you? I want to remind you today that there is NO THING that can make God stop loving you! When He created the heavens and he earth thousands of years ago, He had you in mind, and He’s loved you ever since. I know it’s hard to imagine a love like that; especially when we don’t deserve it, but it is what it is. He loves you so much that He made a way for you to be with Him for all eternity. The devil may try to trip you up and make you feel guilty, but we all know he’s a liar and a loser. Sure, God may be disappointed in the choices you made, but His love for you in unconditional. No matter what you say or do, He’ll always be there, arms extended.  He will never leave you, He’ll never forsake you, and He will NEVER stop loving you!

Day 63

Proverbs 19:21 ~ “Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.” (Amplified Bible)

I’ve known myself for some time now, 37 years to be exact. I know what I like and don’t like; what I will and won’t do. I’ve had this body for a long time; I think I know what’s best for it. I am the boss of me….and this is where it goes wrong. I want to remind you today that you may think you know what’s best for you, but you don’t. God is the author of your story, not you. You may have all sorts of plans to do all sorts of things, none of that matters if God does not have the same plan. If you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to get something done but getting nowhere, you may want to step back and ask God if it’s really in His will. A lot of times we get these grand ideas and run off to get them accomplished without first consulting (and hearing His answer clearly) God, then we wind up worse off than we were at the start. You don’t know what He knows; you haven’t seen what He’s seen. It may look good to you, but who knows what it turns into farther down the road. Be patient with God, don’t waste time running behind what you think is right, wait on Him to lead you to the purpose He has for you!

Day 62

Psalm 118:18 ~ “The Lord disciplined me severely, but he did not allow me to be killed.” (GWT)

My mom is one of those old school mommas, she used to beat us with whatever she had handy. My most memorable whipping was when I was about 13. I allowed a boy to convince me to walk back to his house with him. Not only was it nighttime, he lived about 15 miles away! Halfway through the journey, we got really tired and hitch hiked the rest of the way. When we made it to his house it was 2am, his mom immediately called my mom and told her. That was the worst whipping of my life, to this day I still can’t look at an extension cord without flinching! I literally thought I was going to die each time that cord struck me, it hurt SO bad. Just as my mom had to “beat some sense into me”, God works in this same way at times. I want to remind you today that although God may chastise you, it won’t kill you. When we go outside of God’s will He has to correct us, but it’s only temporary. It may seem as if He has walked away from you, you may feel like the punishment will never end, but that’s not the case. He loves you and He sees you, keep trusting and believing in Him! His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! (Psalm 30:5)

Day 61

Exodus 3:14 ~ “And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!” (Amplified Bible)
 
I’ve often heard God referred to as the “man upstairs”, as if to imply He is merely an occupant on the second level in a two story home.  Giving credit to “the big guy” or a “higher power” is hardly suitable for the creator of the universe. I want to remind you today that God is who He is! He’s The One who delivered Daniel from the lion’s den; He’s The One who gives you the money to pay your bills. He’s The One who gave David the power to slay Goliath; He’s The One who heals and restores you. He’s The One who parted the red sea; He’s The One gives you air to breathe. He’s The One who fed 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread; He’s The One loves you unconditionally. He is who He is and He will be what He will be! He’s a healer, a deliverer, a provider, a comforter, a protector, He's EVERYTHING you need! He is God, and He deserves to be treated as such! Don’t downplay His power and authority, don’t cheapen His status. He is The One who was, who is, and who is to come.  He is The One TRUE God, there is NO ONE like Him…and there never will be!

Day 60

Romans 8:37 ~ “But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us.” (Common English Bible)

How would you play a game if you knew going in that you would win? You wouldn’t second guess your moves; you wouldn’t doubt your responses. You wouldn’t overexert yourself, I mean, you know you’re going to win so what’s the point in getting all worked up? You’re cool, calm and collected throughout the entire game because you have the assurance of victory. This is the same way you should react when troubles arise! I want to remind you today that you are MORE than a conqueror through Jesus Christ! He has already fought and won the battle; there is no need for you to wear yourself out worrying. You are victorious in everything you do, regardless of what it looks like. God’s plan from the beginning was for us to live life in abundance and He is always working to make sure that happens. It may be bad right now, but “trouble don’t last always”! No matter what play the enemy makes, God makes one better. With Him you ALWAYS win!

Day 59

Romans 16:17 ~ “I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them!” (GNT)

It’s sad to say, but not everyone is as pleased with your relationship with Christ as you would think. Misery loves company, and some people, even members of your family, want you to stay low with them. My cousin’s wife invited me to her daughter’s birthday party once; it was on a Sunday at 11am. I told her I wouldn’t be able to make it because I would be at church. She told me, “Aw girl, you can miss one Sunday, it ain’t gonna kill you. You don’t have to go EVERY week.” I want to remind you today to watch out for those who go against what God is telling you to do and keep away from them. Surround yourself with likeminded individuals who will support your choices. If all you get is negativity, strife and confusion from that person, it may be best to love them from a distance. Don’t allow anyone or anything to come between you and God, you need Him! You may lose friends; your family members may stop speaking to you, but so what?  If God is for you…who can be against you?! (Romans 8:31)  

Day 58

Exodus 14:14 ~ “The Lord will fight for you, and all you have to do is keep still.” (GNT)

Sometimes we like to take matters into our own hands. We say we’re going to “give it to God”, but in all honesty, we don’t. A few years back when we were going through a rough time financially, I found myself trying to figure out how to make some extra money. I started out by looking through the classifieds trying to find a part time job. Then, once I realized that wasn’t going to work (two minutes later) I go and look at my 401k and see how much money I have available for withdrawal. Of course, that didn’t make any sense either. I was literally spinning my wheels trying to “help God” by attempting to get what we needed on my own. In some way or another, we’ve all been guilty of this. I want to remind you today that God DOES NOT need your help. Whatever your battle is, He’s fighting it for you, you just need to sit down somewhere and let Him do it! Whether it’s financial, spiritual, relational, or health related, He’s got it taken care of. When you try to help, you actually delay the process, and it tells God that you don’t trust Him to take care of you. He knows what’s best for you. Be still and let Him be God!

Day 57

Psalm 51:10 ~ “Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me.” (GWT)

When you know you’re going to have company over, one of the first things you do is make sure your house is cleaned; nobody likes to visit a dirty house. You dust, vacuum, wipe down the walls and spray a little air freshener when you’re done. Just as we take the time to clean our homes in preparation for visitors, we have to take that same time to make sure our hearts are cleaned. I want to remind you today that we must keep our hearts free of clutter because that is the place God lives. We have to clean out jealousy, anger, resentment and doubt. We have to wipe away the sin residue so that Our Father feels comfortable living there. You can’t clean it once and expect it to stay that way, maintaining a clean heart takes work. We have to be in constant communication with God, asking for His forgiveness and trying not to commit those sins again. Sure, it’s hard, but when your heart is clean, it can become a dwelling place for the most important person in the world. (Thank you Patrice!) Ask yourself this question. If God were to look in my heart right now, would He be comfortable spending time there? If your answer is no, I suggest you get to cleaning!

Day 56

James 5:8 ~ “You, too, must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here.” (GWT)

Can you imagine what it must have been like to be in Job’s shoes? I often marvel at his predicament, he was tried and tested just because he was a good guy. He lost everything, his children, his animals, his health. His friends and his wife turned against him. The thing that amazes me is that throughout the entire ordeal, he never lost his hope in the Lord. He even went so far as to say, “And though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” I don’t know about you, but Job always makes me look at my situation in a different light. I want to remind you today to be patient with God, don’t give up the hope that He will rescue you. It may seem like you’ve been going through this situation for a long time, but just be patient. Sure, it’s just one thing after another, but I encourage you to not lose hope. If you can endure to the end, God will restore everything that was lost, and then some! Just look at what He did for Job. Continue to lift your eyes to the hills, your help is on the way!

Day 55

Malachi 3:6 ~ “For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Amplified Bible)

Gas prices, weight, hair color, clothing trends, friendships, careers; the world is in a constant state of change. One minute you’re up, the next minute you’re down. One day they love you, the next day they leave you. You buy a cell phone today, next month they put out an even better version. I want to remind you my friends that God is the only one who remains the same, He NEVER changes. He doesn’t go back on His promises, He does not lie, nor does He forget. You can trust Him to do what He said He would do, He always keeps His word. He is the God that created the heavens and the earth, The One who spoke to Moses from a burning bush. He’s the God of Abraham, who made a covenant with him long ago to make of him a great nation. He said Abraham’s name would be great; he would be blessed as well as his descendants. We are those descendants! God made a promise thousands of years ago to bless you, He hasn’t changed His mind, and He never will! Don’t put your hope in things that are temporary, instead, hope in The One who was, who is, and who is to come!

Day 54

Ephesians 6:12 ~ “This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.” (GWT)

I’m going to get straight to the point today and remind you that the closer you get to God, the more the enemy tries to distract you. Your spouse, your children, your best friend, anyone you hold close to your heart, those are the ones he chooses to use against you. He knows who to use and how best to use them to hurt you. Instead of allowing that person to upset you, rebuke the devil and keep it moving. It’s not them; it’s the spirit within them. You have to pray for those who despitefully use you, ESPECIALLY when it is your family. Don’t harbor ill feelings towards them; don’t try to cut them off, instead love on them even more. James 4:7 says, “If you resist the devil, he will flee”. You have to stand firmly on God’s word and declare that NO weapon formed against you will prosper! Satan knows all that God has in store for you, and he does not want to you have it. He desperately wants to take you out of the will of God, don’t let him!  

Day 53

1 Peter 4:8 ~ “Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.” (MSG)

It’s easy to love people you like; especially the ones who love you back. The love you share makes you want to spend time with them, care for them, maybe even provide for them. You have a special place for them in your heart; they often drift into your thoughts during the day. Whether it’s your spouse, your children, or a close friend, you find loving them effortless. Do you know why? Because you feel they “deserve” it. They are worthy of your love, they’ve earned it. But, what about the person who lied on you at work? What about the person who, no matter what you do, acts as if they hate you? Or the complete stranger that’s mean to you for no apparent reason? I want to remind you today that we need to love each other, under any circumstance. We can’t pick and choose who we give it to, EVERYONE deserves it! Love makes up for anything, there’s nothing it can’t fix. Before you start to say how hard it is, think about this. What if God only loved those who loved Him? What would the world become if He only had room in His heart for the ones who had room for Him? There is someone right now that needs love from you, don’t hold it hostage…their life may depend on it!

Day 52

Psalm 23:4 “Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.” (Amplified Bible)

It’s hard not to be afraid sometimes. Even as Christians, there are times when fear creeps up on us. My husband’s line of work causes him to work late hours and every now and then he has meetings that run long. He gets so wrapped up in what he’s doing that he loses track of time and before you know it, it’s the middle of the night. Being the light sleeper that I am, any little noise wakes me up and once I realize he’s not home yet, I check my phone. If there’s no text from him, I instantly assume that he’s on the side of the road somewhere dead. (SMH!) And don’t let him not answer the phone when I try to call, my imagination instantly kicks into overdrive, any minute I’m expecting the doorbell to ring and it is the police telling me, “There’s been an accident.” Death scares me, I have no idea why, but it does. I know full well that it is inevitable, EVERYBODY dies, but every now and then this fear rises up. I have to remember that God is bigger than death; He conquered it, and there is no reason for me to fear it. I want to remind you today that when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you don’t have to be afraid. When uncertain and unfavorable times come, don’t worry, God is near. He will protect you and comfort you through ANY situation. We may lose people, we may lose things, but we will never lose Him. He’ll always be there to protect you from harm, to comfort you, and guide you to safety!

Day 51

Psalm 23:2 ~ “He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.” (Amplified Bible)

Have you ever been with a group of people, you all want to go to a place but only one person knows how to get there? You all decide to follow that person, so you hop into your vehicles to get in line behind them so they can lead you to your destination. I’ve had a few situations like this that didn’t go as smoothly as we expected it to. One time, the lead driver got lost. He took the wrong exit on the highway and we ended up driving 10 miles out of the way before we realized it was wrong. Another time, the lead driver left us. She wasn’t used to having people follow her; she drove too fast and darted in and out of traffic. We ended up losing a car in the group because they weren’t able to keep up. We have to be careful who we choose to follow, not everyone is equipped to get us where we need to go, but The One you CAN trust is God. I want to remind you today that He won’t steer you wrong. As much as we THINK we know the way, without Him in front, we’re forever lost. God wants the best for you, He has green pastures waiting on you; won’t you allow Him to lead you beside the still and restful waters of life? He’s already been where you’re going; it only makes sense to follow His lead!

Day 50

Psalm 23:1 ~ “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (NKJV)

A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards a flock of sheep. He watches over them while they graze, guides them when it’s time to migrate, and makes sure they’re sheared when the time is right. He tells them when and where to go and they follow him because they trust him as their guide. They can eat freely and relax because the shepherd protects them from the wolves. All a sheep has to do is live; the shepherd provides everything they need. Just as God has made provision for this animal to have all it needs to survive, He has made the same provision for us. I want to remind you today that the Lord, not just some random dude, is our shepherd, we shouldn’t want for anything! He’s omnipotent, He’s omnipresent, He never slumbers nor does He sleep. He makes sure we have enough to eat; (physically and spiritually) we’ll never go hungry. When we lose our way, He’s right there to help us get back on track. We are precious to Him; as long as we follow Him, all of our needs will be met. Don’t spend another moment wondering how or if you’ll make it, The One who is in charge of us created the heavens and the earth, surely He can (and will!) take care of you!

Day 49

Acts 20:24 ~ “But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace.” (CEB)

I pride myself on the fact that I am always at church, I mean, I hate missing service. Out of the 104 opportunities (Sundays and Wednesdays) we get every year, I typically get in at least 100. Special events, church meetings, seminars and conferences, I’m there. If awards for church attendance were to be given out, I would surely be a recipient. I am focused on being the best ME that I can be. I want to be as close as possible to Him, to have Him say to ME, “servant well done”. How selfish is that?! I spend a lot of time reading, praying and studying, but none of those things matter if I can't account for having brought one soul to Him. I want to remind us today that there is nothing more important than the ministry God left for us to do. We HAVE to be about our Father’s business. (Luke 2:49) Just because you are safe and secure in your position does not give you the right to stop there. Everyone deserves a chance to hear how good God is, whether or not they choose to accept Him is on them. Don’t deny someone the opportunity to experience the grace and mercy that you so graciously receive….tell someone about Christ today!