Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Lesson of the Day-Speak Life

There is so much power in something as simple as a word!  We often don’t recognize the power that words have and the impact that they can have on those around us.  We have all had moments when someone spoke a word which had an impact on us.  Regardless of whether the word was a good word or a bad word, that simple word they spoke resonated with us and stayed with us.  Even many years later, many of us still remember the positive or negative words that individuals spoke to us. 

On old saying once said, “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you!”  But the reality of the matter is that names often do hurt.  When people say negative things about us whether true or untrue, it hurts.  When people put us down and say things to us that cause us to become discouraged it is painful.  Just as easy as it is for us to speak a word of negativity to someone or about someone, it is just as easy to speak words of life.

Each of us knows someone who could use a little encouragement!  We must understand that the words you speak may make the difference between that young man turning to a life of crime or believing that he can be the next mayor.  Your words may make the difference between that young lady believing that she is only cut out to be a baby mama or believing she can be a doctor or lawyer.  Your words may be the key to brightening up someone’s day, keeping them from a suicidal thought, having hope for tomorrow, or seeing those things inside of them that no one else has ever helped them to see!

Speak words of life over someone today.  You never know, the negative words you speak over someone else may be the same words you find yourself having spoken over you one day!  Speak life!

Dear God, today we simply pray that you would help us to use our words to speak life; Lord we ask that you would guide our tongues before we speak and to always be mindful of what we say; Lord someone needs a word of encouragement today and we pray that you would bless us to be a blessing in their lives today to speak a word of life; Lord we pray that each and every word from our mouth and the meditation of our hearts would be acceptable in your sight; in the name of Jesus we pray, Amen and Amen!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Lesson of the Day-A “But If Not” faith

Many of us claim that we have faith.  It is easy to have faith when all things in our lives seem to be going well.  When the bills are all paid, when the kids are acting right, when ministry is going well, when health is not a problem, when the family is peaceful, when the job is going smoothly, and when folks seem to be getting along it is easy to have faith.  But what about those times when it seems as if all hell has broken loose in your life?  Do you still have faith?  While in the midst of your storm, when the situation and circumstances seem unfavorable and everything around you is telling you to doubt, do you still have a ”But If Not” kind of faith?

In the 3^rd chapter of Daniel, we find the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  King Nebuchadnezzar had built a huge golden image and commanded all the people to fall down and worship it whenever they heard the sound of his musical herald.  The king proclaimed that anyone who failed to bow and worship the image would be thrown into an immense, blazing furnace.  However, the three young men were determined to worship the Only True God in which they served.  When told to bow down they young men simply replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Under no condition were they willing to bow down and compromise their faith in God.  While the situation look unfavorable to others, when they had no means of escape from the threat, and regardless of what their human instincts may have wanted them to feel, they knew that God was “able” to deliver them.  Not only this, but their faith was so strong that they understood that if God’s will allowed for them to suffer death, the Lord was still worthy of glory, honor, praise,  and that God would still be with them!

Remember this, that the same God was brought you to it is the same God who is able to bring you through it. The same God who allowed you to get in it is the same God who is able to get you out of it.  Think back over the things that you have been through in your life and you will begin to see that regardless of how hard it was God brought you out of it to where you are today.  Even when things didn’t’ turn out the way we may have wanted them to, He still sustained and kept you through it all.  We have no reason to doubt what He is able to do!

Yes, you may be standing in need of some sort of miracle, blessing or breakthrough and God is more than able to deliver it. But if by chance it doesn’t come the way you want it, when you want it or the maybe it doesn’t happen at all, your faith should still be in God!  

Today allow your confidence and faith in the God we serve to be so rooted and grounded that you can speak with assurance “But if…” because you know He will come through! 

Dear God, today we simply pray that you would help us to keep our faith so rooted and grounded in you that we will never, ever have one doubt in our minds that you will come through; help us to keep our eyes on you when everything around us wants to cause us to look elsewhere; remind us of the battles you've already won and the victories that you have given us in times past so that our confidence will be in you; even when things don't work the way we want them to work, remind us that you are still in control and that you know what is best; we give you glory, honor and praise for what you are doing and pray this prayer according to your will, trusting and believing that it is already done; we go forth in praise and declare your glory on this day and we thank you for your grace and your mercy toward us; bless us again and keep us Father as only you can, in your name we do pray and ask it all, Amen and Amen!

April 22, 2013

Lesson of the day-Breaking Through

We often want to reap the blessings of what God has in store for us, but we don’t want to go through the process that it often takes to get there.  Breaking through is not an easy process.  In fact it was not meant to be.  Think about a little baby bird and the process that it must go through to break out of its protective shell covering.  When the appointed time comes, the baby bird begins slowing moving around, pecking and pushing through the shell until it finally breaks free.  During this time of struggle to free itself, it is still growing and developing its strength which is necessary and crucial for its survival.  God designed the struggle for the baby bird’s good!  Just as you own struggles, God has allowed them to be a little bit tougher and harder to grow you, develop you and give you the strength that you will need to make it in this life and when the appointed time comes, you too will experience your breakthrough!

Life is not always easy and many of us can testify that we have had some tough days, weeks, months and even for some of us it might be years.  In fact the Bible reminds us in John 16:33 that in this life we will face tribulation.  In each of our lives we will all have to face some dark days and some sleepless nights.  We will have some days filled with gray clouds and lots of rain.  However, in the midst of the tribulation Christ reminds us to “be of good cheer” because He has overcome it all!  What this simply means it that a breakthrough will eventually come!

Remember on this day that, no matter what it is that you may be facing, how great the situation or circumstances are that may be surrounding you are, your breakthrough is on the way.  Keep on pressing, keep on moving, keep on trusting, keep on believing, keep on praying, keep on fasting, keep on running, keep on working, keep on praising, keep on doing what it is that you need to do until you break through that thing! 

Dear God, today we simply pray that you would allow us to keep on until the breakthrough comes forth; Lord we know that you are willing and that you are able; we thank you that you have us where you have us and pray that whatever it is that you have designed and preordained for us to get out of this that we will get it and then run with it; Lord some of us have come out and found ourselves right back in, but we thank you for the last time you brought us out and know that just like you did then, you will bring us out again; I pray strength and encouragement for those who feel like giving up; I pray your peace for those who feel consumed by the wind and the waves; I pray for courage for the ones who are stuck and afraid to keep moving; I pray for obedience for the ones who are trying to do it themselves instead of allowing you to do it; Lord whatever it is that each of your children stand in need of today, do it if it be according to your will; Help us to minister to others about what you have done for us and remind us that we overcome through the words of our testimony; help us to not be ashamed of where we have been and what you have done; deliver today, bless and keep us as only you can Master, for it is in your name we do pray and give thanks, Amen and Amen!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Lesson of the Day-God Can STILL Use You!

How many times have you been made to feel as if you just aren’t good enough?  How many times have folks said that you are not qualified to be in the place that you are in?  How often did others count you out and rule you out before they knew what you were even made of?  Like so many of us, you may be in a position of discouragement because of where life has taken you and the place where you currently are.  But it does not matter where you have been, where you are or what you have done because the reality of the matter is that God can still use you!

Before the foundation of the earth was formed God knew you!  While you were formed in the womb, God knew you!  There was a plan and a blueprint for your life before you even came into existence.  Everything that you have done, are doing and will do in the future God knows.  And because He knows, even when we mess up and go against the will that He has for our lives He still works on our behalf.  He will allow our mess ups and mistakes, our flaws and imperfections and all of the other things that should disqualify us to work for our good!  And in spite of all of these things, God can still use you!

You may have done some things in your past that you are not proud of, but God can still use you!  You may have been some places that you shouldn’t have been which got you caught up in some situations that you should not have been in, but God can still use you!  You may have done some things that gained you a reputation that you have had a hard time bouncing back from, but God can still use you!  Your name may be ill spoken of and folk may call you by everything other than what your name actually is, but God can still use you!    

Even if you are caught up in the middle of circumstances right now, or what your current condition may be, God can still use you!  Even if you have a bad habit that you are having a hard time breaking, God can still use you!  When you do things that might not be the best choice or decision and feel bad after you have done it, God can still use you! 

Ask God, in spite of yourself, to use you for His glory today!  Remember, somebody needs what it is that you have to give and you may be the only person who can give it to them.  The words you speak may be the words that help to give someone hope for one more day.  The smile you give may help to brighten up someone who has been having a bad week.  The hug you give may be the embrace that let’s someone know they are not alone. 

Know that no matter where life has or will take you, you still have purpose!  God is not finished with you yet!  God can still use you!

Dear God, thank you for this day; thank you that you have a purpose and a plan for each of our lives and that no matter where life has taken us and what things have come our way to hinder us, you can still us; use us today to be a blessing to someone who needs what it is that you have given us; help us to help somebody who stands in need today; equip us with what we need and show us how you desire for us to live according to your will and your way; when we struggle Lord, please be patient with us and work with us so that we may be delivered from those things which hold us back from being all that we can be for you; let us be examples of your love, your grace and your mercy Father; bless us, watch over us and keep us as only you can Master, for it is in your name we do pray and ask it all, Amen and Amen!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Lesson of the Day-If It’s Dead and Meant to be Dead, Stop Trying to Revive It!

There are times in our lives when we find ourselves smack dead in the middle of a dead situation!  We are getting nothing from it, nothing out of it, and unable to put anything into it.  It is dead!  There is no possible way that it will be able to produce anything more, give out anything else or be of use to us anymore.  Yet, we are still guilty of investing our precious time into making it come to life again!  But if it is dead, it is dead for a reason and your best option may be to just bury it.

When we choose to stay stuck in a dead situation, we are choosing death over life!  When we choose to stay in a dead situation, we are choosing to be unhappiness over joy!  We are basically saying that we would rather to keep doing what it is that we have been doing even if it kills me when all the signs indicate that it may be time to let it rest.

Are there times when situations may appear to be dead and still have some life in them! Absolutely, but if this is the case there will always be some sort of vital signs that will tell us to keep trying! 

Don’t be so stuck on trying to make that dead situation live again that you fail to see a new opportunity God may be providing for you to yet live again!  Remember, God’s Word states that “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) An abundant life is one that is plentiful, existing, available and full of large quantities. Don’t deprive yourself of the abundance of what God has in store for you by staying in a situation that will never have life again!

Dear God, as we close out this day, we simply thank you for your grace and your mercy and your love toward us; we thank you that you desire for us to have life and that we might have life more abundantly with you; Lord so many are living in situations and circumstances that are void of life; they are losing their lives in situations that desire to rob, steal and kill the purpose you have for them; we pray that you breathe the breath of life into us and renew our sense of purpose that we might become unstuck and begin living again; Lord I pray for the ones who are afraid to leave that dead situation; show them the blessings you have in store for them and that you are with them every step of the way; surround us with your love and encouragement; watch over us and bless and keep us as only you can Master, in your name we do pray, Amen and Amen!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Lesson Of The Day-Moving On

There are times when the best option is simply to move on! We often try our best to stay in stay in a place where all of the signs are indicating that it is time for us to make a mental, spiritual or even physical location.

Why do we stay? Sometimes it is because we are thinking more about the extra chore it creates when we have to go through the trouble of relocating. Other times we hesitate because of the thoughts of all of those we feel like we are leaving behind. Other times it is just because we have reached a place of comfort.

Why do we start feeling like its time to move on?  For many reasons such as the mess and drama we encounter by being in the place where we are.  The countless moments of unhappiness that seem to be outweighing our happiness.  The level of discomfort we feel when its obvious that we've outgrown where we are.  Or maybe the reasons are something else.  One thing is for sure that when all the signs are saying its time to leave, we must determine if its time to move on!

Moving on is not always easy, as it forces us to take inventory, throw things that we no longer need away, assess whether or not other things are worth taking along with us and determine where we go from here. But as difficult as the process may be it just might be time to move on!

Consider this, one of the reasons the gospel was able to be spread was due to the persecution the disciples faced while trying to do the work of the Lord. They were not able to get comfortable or settled and stuck. Once the work had been done, they had to move. Their journy took them places that were unknown territories, and to come in contact with those who may have needed what they have in other places they would have never encountered had they been to stubborn or set in their ways to move.

If God is showing you its time to move on start getting yourself prepared to relocate! There is a reason God is telling you to move. Ask the Lord to show you where He desires for you to go.  He will order your steps and lead you in the right path.  If you know its time or padt time just start getting ready.  Moving day is coming!

Dear God, thank you for this day.  Thank you blessing us with your precious gift of life once again. As we go into this day we come thanking you for this place we are currently in; and we thank you for the place where you desire for us to go; Lord we come praying for those who know that it is time to move on; Lord we desire to he where you want us and to do what you want us to do; some O God know that it is time but have worries and concerns on their mind and heart; help them to trust you and show them that you are able to bless them;  help us to realize that what we may be leaving does not compare to what you have in store for us where you desire to take us; thank you for every lesson learned, for every pain endured, every test passed, and the many other things you've done where we are and we pray you show us your glory and your power as we begin anew; watch over us, protect us and bless and keep us as only you can; for it is in the name of Jesus we do pray and give thanks, Amen and Amen.