Tag: Spiritual

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Beware The Other Attack

9 So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery. ~ Exodus 6:9 (NLT)

Notice what the verse says: they refused to listen anymore. It’s not that they couldn’t. Or that they struggled to. It’s that they wouldn’t. They flat-out refused—they would not listen anymore because of their dire situation.

Sometimes your situation and your circumstances can push you so far down. You feel like you can’t even get back up. It certainly did to the Israelites. They had become too discouraged. They didn’t feel like going to church. They didn’t feel like getting involved. I’ve got too much going on, brother. You don’t know what it’s like. You haven’t experienced this before.

That is what discouragement does—but God’s promises don’t stop speaking, even though we stop listening. Discouragement is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons—because he can’t. He cannot stop God. So, he tries to stop God’s people from listening and believing, and so he brings in discouragement. Things always seem to get worse just before they get better.

For Moses, slavery worsened. The people turned on him. Pharaoh’s heart hardened. See, discouragement makes us stop listening. It makes us doubt. It spreads like gangrene. Look at how it made the Israelites react. They stopped listening. I don’t care what you have to say, Moses. I don’t want to hear it. I’m done. They had lost hope.

See, if the enemy can get you to stop listening, he can get you to stop hearing, and when you stop hearing, your faith is stolen. So, keep your eyes on Christ. Keep your eyes on your promise. Don’t let the enemy steal your hope. Keep going. Fight for the promises the LORD has given to you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Stop The Enemy From Stealing Your Promises.

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Pay Attention To What You Do

Exodus 34:6-7

[6] The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, [7] keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

There’s currently a bit of an imbalance in the ecosystem of Florida. Burmese Pythons, Anacondas, Lion Fish, and even Green Iguanas have negatively impacted Florida’s ecosystem. Why? Because they have no natural predators, so they breed and eat freely without restraint. That means that they are multiplying faster than other species in the area and they are consuming more than other species in the area. A 2012 study found that populations of raccoons had declined 99.3 percent, opossums 98.9 percent, and bobcats 87.5 percent since 1997. Marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and foxes effectively disappeared over that time.

How’d this begin? A few exotic pet owners let their exotic pets go in the wild, fully believing it would have no impact on anyone else. When we introduce a foreign organism to an ecosystem that cannot sustain, that foreign organism begins to take over. The spiritual realm is no different.

When we open doors in ourselves through our actions, it affects more than just us. It affects those around us as well. And depending on the door we open, generations to come. So often we see generational curses plaguing families. Generation after generation. Alcoholism, abuse, addiction, greed, violence, anger, depression, anxiety, fear. We pass down spiritual doors that we don’t even realize. Things we turn a blind eye to because we don’t think it affects anyone but ourselves. But it does.

There is no such thing as an action that affects only you. Generational curses are real, so be careful the doors you open in your life and the lives of those around you. And those who will come from you in the future.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pay Attention To What You Do.

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Stay In God’s Plan

Matthew 7:21

21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

I recently heard a Catholic exorcist say, “God has a plan for you; so does the Devil.” This is an interesting concept. We often think about the LORD having a plan for us, but we don’t really think about the Devil having a plan for us as well.

See, the Devil’s plan doesn’t always seem evil. In fact, a lot of the time it seems good. It seems like a good idea. Like our own idea.

It could be as simple as staying home instead of going to war (King David) or numbering the kingdom (King David). These in themselves, weren’t evil, but because they weren’t a part of the LORD’s plan, they were evil and brought great consequences upon David and his household.

Sometimes the Devil’s plan looks a little more mischievous like saying you sold something for one and amount when you really sold it for another amount (Ananias and Sapphira), and as innocent as making a sacrifice instead of being obedient from the beginning (King Saul).

The Devil’s plan doesn’t always seem evil. It doesn’t even have to be an evil action. All he really wants is for us to be outside of the will of the LORD. Why? Because Jesus warned us that it’s only those who do the will of the Father that will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So, be careful not to be distracted by the enemy. Be careful not to miss God’s plan for your life.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Stay In God’s Plan.

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Stay Prepared

 

If you’ve read a few of our devotionals, you know that The Hobbit is one of my favorite trilogies. One thing I love in the series is how Dain, Thorin’s cousin, comes prepared to battle the elves, specifically. See, the elves are masters at hand to hand combat, but they are also masters at archery. Their archers send perfectly coordinated arrows into the air at their opponent, that it takes out much of the army before the even reach the elves. Dain’s army prepared for this.

They created large arrows that spun a large chain of sorts around the arrow like a propeller. When the elves shot their arrows, the dwarves shot these special arrows that destroyed the elve’s arrows, and the large arrows impact killed many elves when it landed.

The dwarves studied their enemies. They knew their gameplan, so they prepared for it. They planned for it and when the time came, they defeated their enemy. We have to do the same.

See, we are not unaware of the Devil’s schemes. We know how he attacks. What his go to jabs are, so we have to prepare for them. We have to get ourselves ready. We train our spirit man through prayer, fasting, memorizing Scripture, worship. We memorize Scriptures that help us when we are tempted. We know what the Devil likes to attack, so we prepare for it their Scripture. That way we are never caught unaware. Never caught by surprise. Always prepared to defend ourselves no matter what comes our way.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Stay Prepared.

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A Key To Success

Proverbs 6:6-11

[6]  Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. [7]  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, [8] she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. [9]  How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? [10]  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, [11]  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Success can be fleeting, or it can be seized through focus, action, and purposeful intent. Success is drawn to the diligent and the hardworking, but it avoids—and even evades—the sluggard and the faint of heart, slipping past those who hesitate like sand through the fingers, leaving only memories of what could have been.

It refuses to come to those who merely call from a distance, but runs swiftly toward those who chase and pursue it with relentless diligence, like a river rushing to fill a dry and weary land.

In short… success responds to intentional effort, not passive desire. So… get up and chase it. Don’t wait for it to knock or for everything to be perfect; it never will.

Success is a stubborn heifer that refuses to plow if left unprodded; therefore, chase success with all your strength and with the full intention of capturing it, no matter the cost.

Wake up every morning with success on your mind and in your heart, aligned with what God has for your life. But never sacrifice your relationship with God or your family, or your integrity.

Our Christian success is not independent of God, but is centered in God. Therefore, our vision and our goals must be rooted in Christ. They must find their existence in Him because we find our existence in Him, “For in Him we live and move and have our being…” (Acts 17:28a).

We don’t bring our plans to God and demand that He bless them, but instead, we come to God and ask Him to bless us with His plans and vision for our lives and our ministry.

So, today, let us apprehend that for which we have been apprehended, as Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippian Church (Philippians 3:12). Because, in reality, Christian success is not self-made, but is fulfilling the purpose that Christ has apprehended, or saved us for. Therefore, when you become as desperate for God and for Jesus, as for your next breath of fresh air, then success is halfway achieved.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Do Not Sacrifice Him. 

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Understand The Relationship

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ~ Psalms 23:1

Psalms 23 is the most well-known psalm written. It includes some of the most recited verses in all of Scripture. In it, David described the LORD as his shepherd. In describes a very personal, intimate, loving relationship between him and God. He doesn’t say the LORD is my master; I shall not want. He doesn’t say the LORD is my King; I shall not want. No. David says the LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In other words, because the LORD is my shepherd, I have everything that I need. I don’t have to worry about anything because He has me.

David chose this analogy because he understood the love of God. See, David was a shepherd himself. He understood how much the shepherd loved his flock. He knew that the shepherd would do anything to protect the flock, including putting himself in harm’s way in order to defend the flock. David knew this firsthand. He killed the lion. He killed the bear. Not just for the sake of hunting, but for the sake of defending his flock.

David, a shepherd, compared the relationship between the LORD and us to that of a shepherd and his flock because David didn’t just know the love of a shepherd, but the dependency of a sheep. See, the she-bear is ferocious. She will destroy anything that comes towards her cub, BUT the cub will one day grow up and no longer need the she-bear to protect it. One day, it will outgrow its mother. The sheep, however, never outgrow their shepherd.

They are dependent on that shepherd. They will forever need that shepherd because they only come when that shepherd calls. If they wander off, they need to depend on that shepherd coming to find them, or they’ll be destroyed by predators. They have to depend on the shepherd to defend them from lions, bears, wolves. The sheep always need the shepherd, which is why our shepherd will forever and ever dwell with us on the New Earth for all eternity.

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:1-8

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Understand The Relationship.

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Connect Your Gift

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Peter 4:10-11

Each of us is given a gift from God. Something that we are naturally good at. That gift, when used correctly as God intended it, will propel you to your call. And your call will always be built on your God-given gifts. Therefore, your goals and passions should never be random; they should always reflect your God-given gifts and talents.

Don Corder, in his book, “Minding His Business”, wrote something like this: “If you have a tree-climbing job to do, don’t hire a dog, which can be trained to climb a tree, but rather, hire a squirrel, which was born to climb a tree.”

In other words, when we operate within our own giftings, we position ourselves on The Road to Success. BUT as you are all very well aware of, even when operating within your giftings, talents, and experiences, problems will still arise, because there is an enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Therefore, problems don’t scream “Wrong path, wrong mission,” but, on the contrary, they are probably very good indicators that you are on the right track.

Someone once said that if you are not butting heads with the devil, it means you two are heading in the same direction. So, here’s the thing. Problems will arise. Situations will come up. Discouragement will try to weasel its way into your life. But you must shut it down and conquer it with your problem-solving skills.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Connect Your Gift.

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Love Souls

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ~ Ephesians 6:18

The story of Pinocchio was written as a warning tale. One to sound the alarm, “Hey! If you continue living your life in this way, there will be major consequences that you won’t be ready for. Stop! Change! Do better!” We all know Pinocchio learns his lesson, does good, and is rewarded with his dream being a reality. Pinocchio becomes a real boy. His friend, Lucignolo (Candlewick), was not so lucky.

What made Pinocchio so lucky? Well, it wasn’t really luck. It was that Pinocchio had someone looking out for him. Pinocchio meets and gains the friendship of a fairy with turquoise hair who tries to teach him right from wrong and show him the right way. Pinocchio continuously messes up. Each and every time you think he’s about to hit his breakthrough, he gets distracted by something else. He’s easily persuaded and led astray by others. The night before he is to be turned into a real boy, Lucignolo (Candlewick) convinces him to leave with him to Toyland.

Toyland is where both of them turn into donkeys and are sold to different people. Pinocchio is ultimately freed from this horrible fate and saved from the life of a slave circus donkey by his fairy. Lucignolo (Candlewick), however, dies as a donkey who was worked to death by his owner. There was no one looking out for him. No one intervening in his life the way the fairy with turquoise hair did in Pinocchio’s life.

This is the same fate that many face today. There are many Lucignolos (Candlewicks) in the world. Here’s what I mean. Lucignolo (Candlewick) represents those people who don’t have anyone praying for them. Both Pinocchio and Lucignolo (Candlewick) continuously got themselves into trouble. Were rude. Disobedient. And ultimately ran away from home so that they’d never have to work or study again, but could relax and play all day, every day. Lucignolo’s (Candlewick’s) decisions were no worse than Pinocchio’s decision. The only difference was that Pinocchio had someone watching over him. Someone who loved and cared about him, who could do something to help him, whereas Lucignolo (Candlewick) did not.

The prayers of a righteous person availeth much. Our prayers can make all the difference in someone’s life. Because prayer isn’t just empty words or good thoughts sent towards someone to make them feel better. Prayer is communicating with the God of the Universe. The Creator. It’s pleading, begging, and seeking the LORD God Almighty for His Divine intervention. So, why don’t we do it more? Think about it this way, for every prayer you pray for another person, might just save the soul of the person you pray for. There is nothing more important to the LORD than saving souls because He loves those souls.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Love Souls.

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Pay Close Attention

1 Peter 5:8-9

[8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

I recently watched the 2019 live action Italian film, Pinocchio. Throughout the film, Pinocchio constantly gets himself into trouble. He gets himself into trouble right before each breakthrough. Each and every time something stops Pinocchio and he is led astray right before he can do what he needs to in order to achieve what he wants. In order to get to the next level of his life.

The enemy is just like this. He will distract us so that he can steal our harvest. So that we never overcome. So that we never reach the next level of our lives. So that he can keep us bound where we’re at forever.

Paul tells us that we aren’t unaware of the devil’s schemes. That we are to be on guard and pay attention to all that surrounds us. To all that tries to come against us, so that we might finish the race  before us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pay Close Attention.

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Strive To Fully Dwell

Mark 16:17-18

[17] And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; [18] they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Jesus said that in His name we would do many miraculous things. But do we actually fully understand what Jesus meant by “in my name they will…”? Here’s what I’m getting at. When someone speaks in tongues, they don’t start by saying “in Jesus name.” But when it comes to casting out evil spirits or healing the sick, we believe you HAVE to say “in Jesus name” or “in the name of Jesus.” But what if that isn’t what Jesus was talking about?

See, anyone can invoke the name of Jesus and get results. We saw this with the Seven Sons of Sceva, at least until they faced something stronger than they were prepared for. I don’t think Jesus is just talking on the surface level of “Say my name and x, y, and z will happen for you.” Jesus is not a magical genie that will perform commands you give, or grant any wish you make simply because you use His name.

Jesus said “in my name you will…” You have to be dwelling in His name to see results. You have to be dwelling in His name for the spirits to recognize you and the authority you have through/in Christ Jesus. It’s not about whether or not you say His name, it’s about whether or not you are dwelling in that name.

Here’s an example. Towards the beginning of their ministries both Paul and Peter use the name of Jesus when performing a miracle. Peter when healing a lame man and Paul when casting out an unclean spirit. Fast forward in their ministries when they have grown in Christ and are truly dwelling in His name. Peter’s shadow is healing the sick. Handkerchiefs that touched Paul’s skin is casting out demons.

The very two things they once had to speak to and invoke the name of Jesus in order to see results was now coming to fruition without even a word being spoken. The LORD was working through them. Jesus was dwelling through them. It’s the greatest example of “it’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives through me.” That is what we are aiming for. That’s what we’re running towards. That’s what we are striving for. To be so in tune with God that our shadows are charged with His Spirit. Our skin is charged with His Power.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Strive To Fully Dwell.

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