God's Doing a New Thing!

Today begins a week of prayerful expectation for me. God is doing new things, and I am excited about what He is doing!

In God's Word we have numerous examples of God doing new things with His people. What I love about the Lord is that He always finds new ways to prove His power, might, and sovereignty.

He chose to bless Abraham with his promised heir long after Sarah was past childbearing age. He led Israel out of bondage by splitting apart an entire sea! The Lord brought them into the Promised Land by having their shouts of praise crumble walls that were wide enough for houses to be built within!

God did something new when He caused  fire to come down to consume Elijah's sacrifice in the face of the evil priests of the idol Baal. God showed His strength and power through His judge Samson who was able to carry city gates on his back.

The Lord did something new when He performed the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of the virgin Mary. The entire life of Jesus accentuated that God was doing a new thing: the sick were healed, demons were driven out, people were restored, and the Kingdom of God was preached to those who had never heard about it.

Our God loves to do new things.

What new thing is the Lord doing in your life? Don't allow the unfamiliarity of something new to cause you to miss out on how God's trying to bless you! Let the Lord have His way any way He sees fit. Whatever He tells you to do, wherever He tells you to go, make sure you follow! Your something new is at the end of your journey.

One thing is guaranteed: God's new thing is always better than the old thing.

Verse of the Day: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

What Are You Expecting To Happen?

Yesterday I was inspired by a message by Joel Osteen. He was ministering on doing an act of faith to show God that you believe that He is going to answer you prayers. In the message, Joel mentioned the story of the lame man who was lowered through the roof and placed at Jesus' feet in a crowded house. As a result of their act of faith, their friend was healed.

This morning I am meditating on expectation. Those friends expected their lame friend to be healed. They brought him to Jesus on purpose expecting Jesus to heal him. And, even when they encountered a large crowd and couldn't get right to Jesus, they figured out a way to get their friend in that house because they knew that he would be made whole.

What are you expecting? Do you have anything up before the Lord? Are you expecting Him to answer your prayers? Or, are you just praying out of fear or formality or desperation?

When you expect something to happen, you act as if it's already done. You make plans based on that thing coming to pass. You look for signs of it showing up. You speak in terms that it has already happened. Your mind is set on what you are expecting and your mood matches that expectation.

Are you expecting the right thing? Are you choosing to stand on God's Word believing that it will come to pass just as He said? Or are you just hoping and wishing? Don't just hope with the Lord, stand strong in faith! Believe that His Word is true! Have faith that He is coming through for you!

It is faith that moves God to action. It is that positive expectation that the Lord will come through that prompts Him to do exactly that.

Verse of the Day: And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:4, 5

Know No Fear!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to encourage one of my friends who was going through a tough spot. I normally try to encourage those around me who need it, but this time I was especially motivated to say something because I saw my friend slipping too far into worry and fear. My friend was starting to stress out and I could see that the enemy was trying to lead them down into depression.

When trouble comes sometimes it's easy to just grab hold to fear, worry, and despair. We concentrate on what could go wrong, we start to fear that the worst could happen, and we stress out over the negative outcomes.

As believers in Christ, we should never give place to the enemy's suggestions! We should never entertain his lies or the fears he presents to our minds. Yes, we have to be practical in life and think ahead. Yet, with our relationship to the Lord, we should be thinking ahead with victory in mind! There is no reason for us to fear, worry, or get depressed. Even if the worst possible scenario does happen, God has us in the palm of His hand. He is still in control. We will still gain victory in the end.

Don't allow the 'what-ifs' of life to pull you down into a negative place. With God all things are possible! With Him, nothing can overtake you! Stop focusing on the negatives and start thinking on the positives! Everywhere you look there is evidence of God's love for you! Just being able to breathe in and out is evidence that He is keeping you.

Yes, things may be looking dark. I understand that the prognosis may actually be grim. It may seem like everything is going against you. But even if the only thing you have to hold onto is the fact that you are redeemed by Christ's love, that is more than the whole world against you!

Don't despair. God's got you. Rest in the strength of His embrace.

Verse of the Day: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. Psalm 27:1-3

Afternoon Ti: Your Reward

I apologize for the late and missing posts. It's graduation season, and I am in the midst of a flurry of activity!  This morning was our Senior Awards ceremony, and I had a lot of things to pin down and get in order to make the ceremony run smoothly.

Watching the faces of the kids light up when their name was called reminded me of how everyone loves to be pointed out and recognized for something. It could be a job well done, a prestigious achievement, or a simple acknowledgement, but we all want to be noticed, we all want to be thanked, we all want to feel approved.

Sometimes our desire for approval makes us do things and behave in certain ways merely for the reward we believe is coming at the end of it all. We do things looking to get. We give out betting on receiving back.

That's not the way Kingdom minded people should live. We should not live in a manner that looks to get something. We shouldn't be looking for rewards or accolades. We shouldn't be looking for the approval of the people around us.

The only driving force in our lives should be pleasing God.

Don't always look for a person to point you out. Yes, it is nice when someone notices the great things that we do, but that should be icing on the cake, not the cake itself. If we never receive a thank you, a gift, a smile, an acknowledgment, a medal or certificate... the only thing that should matter is that God saw what we did. His approval is what sticks. His accolades are what lasts. His acknowledgment is what really gets you into greatness.

What's wonderful is that God sees and knows it all. He's got treasures, crowns, and gifts waiting on you that far exceed anything anyone down here can give you. And, His gifts last forever!

Verse of the Day: ...I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10

Positioned for the Promise

Yesterday, our pastor preached about preparing for the promise of God.

When Jesus left the disciples, he told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Comforter. (Acts 1:4) The disciples obeyed Jesus, and waited.

But the disciples didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs and hemming and hawing. They waited in prayer. They were talking to God continually keeping the line of communication open for God to speak and move. (Acts 1:14) And the instant God was ready to move, He had an open pathway and was able to impart the promise at once. (Acts 2:2)

So, how are you waiting on God's promise for you? Are you just sitting around waiting for your promise to just show up? Are you just letting the days slip by until God chooses to move?

Or, are you actively talking with your Heavenly Father? Are you staying before Him in continual prayer. If He chose to drop in and deliver your promise, are you even ready to receive it? Have you positioned yourself to receive from the Lord?

Don't just put the promises of God to the side as "something nice" that will happen "one day." Make sure that you are actively praying and keeping the lines of communication open with the Lord. He may want to move but is trying to talk to you first.

God has your promise, but you have to make sure you're positioned to receive it!

Verse of the Day: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

Working Expectation

You can't expect a harvest
if you don't plant some seeds!

After the message on Sunday, I've been meditating on expectation. I'm really expecting God to do some things, and I want to make sure that I line up my life correctly to receive from Him.

Expectation is more than just sitting and hoping for something to come along.

When you're expecting a guest, you clean your house and set out the good china. When a woman's expecting a child, she buys items for when the baby arrives. When I'm expecting some extra money, I start plotting on how I'll spend it when it arrives.

Expectation brings action. Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17) You can't tell me you're expecting something from the Lord if you're not putting any action in your life to make room for the blessing.

Currently, I am expecting God to grow my ministry. So, I have to prep myself to be worthy of having a larger place in Him. I have to read more of His Word. I have to spend more time in prayer. I have to make sure I am living my life in a way that is pleasing to Him. How can God place me in a larger place if I'm not capable to handle it?

I'm also expecting God to send me a husband. (Send him, Lord! lol) So, I have to prep myself to be a wife. I have to make sure I'm not wasting my time with foolishness. I have to make sure my life is reflecting the type of character the kind of husband I want is looking for.

What are you expecting God to do for you? Are you acting in expectation? Even if all you can do is confess the word in faith. Confess the Word! Do something to put some action behind your expectation.

Verse of the Day: ...shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:18

What Are You Expecting?

My blessing's coming!

Yesterday, my Pastor preached a powerful message on expecting miracles. It got me thinking about what I expect every day. It's funny the little things we look forward to (pay days, the weekend, time with friends...) and the things we dread (Mondays, dentist visits, paying bills...).

Our expectation or dread usually has an effect on our mood. Right now I'm excited because I'll be flying to a fabulous vacation in two days!

So, what are you expecting God to do for you? What are you looking forward to seeing Him do in your life? Are you anxiously looking toward the future with hope? Do you have anything on the horizon where your spirit is concerned?

God has so many promises that He wants to fulfill for you. However, we have to grab hold to these promises in faith and believe on Him for the manifestation. We have to sit and talk with Him and remind Him (really ourselves) of our covenant promises as His children.

The fewer the things that you're believing God for, the fewer the blessings that show up. If you're not praying for or expecting God to do anything, you're not really getting the full benefit of being His child. The Word of God is full of benefits and promises that you can have. Grab hold to some today, and start expecting God to show up!

Verse of the Day: Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Don't Miss Your Answer!

Could that really be it, Lord?

Yesterday I talked about keeping the faith and continuing to expect God's promises to be fulfilled no matter how much time passes. I used the example of the father who kept watch for his prodigal son from a parable Jesus taught.

When the prodigal son returned, he was drastically changed from how he was when he origanally left home. The son left home rich, full of life, and filled with a spirit of revelry. After his luxurious partying, a famine came and the boy had no more money. The best job he could find was feeding pigs, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were munching on!

One can only imagine the downtrodden, emaciated, dirty, and bedraggled boy that made his way back home. In spite of his altered appearance, his father saw him, and - even from afar - knew that it was his son!

Sometimes we can see our promise coming toward us, but we overlook it because it doesn't look like what we believe our promise should. We have in our minds exactly how our promise should be, so we fail to acknowledge our answered prayer when it comes.

That is why it's so important to have a relationship with the Father. It's key to spend quality time talking to Him and hearing His voice. That way, when He sends things across our paths, we know exactly what they are and what to do with them.

The young man who you just give a passing acknowledgement to just might be your husband. That hobby you just think as fun may be your direct line to prosperity. Those ideas you have might lead to your purpose if you walk them out.

So, as you stay in expectancy for the fulfillment of God's promise, keep your eyes peeled for the answer. It might be staring you in the face!

Verse of the Day: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

Open the Door Already!

Right now I am attending school online to obtain my Masters Degree in Christian Leadership. I am enjoying the classes, but I have been praying and believing God for the finances to pay for it all. I don’t want to drain my savings, and I would appreciate not adding on to my student loans.

This morning in my regular internet reading, I came across an opportunity to win a scholarship. All I have to do is upload a picture of myself and write a short essay. Easy as pie, right?

I sat and looked through some of the entries already posted and started downgrading myself right on the spot. I went from “Oh, this is an easy $20 grand to win!” to “Well, the runners up get $2,500…” There are some really beautiful women in the running.

I looked at the situation with my natural eyes and automatically told myself I couldn’t win. I almost talked myself out of even entering. Ain’t that something?

Yet, as I looked at the contest rules I remembered my prayers for funding. Who’s to say that God can’t move on my behalf even when it’s partly based on a beauty contest? I may not consider myself a model, but God did create me!

Often we pass up opportunities for God to bless us or our prayers to be answered simply because we don’t see how it could work. Some of us even sit down with, talk to, and get to know our answer, yet we still let it slip by out of our own disbelief that it’s for us!

God is holding the answer to many of our prayers and knocking on our doors... Let’s let Him in already!

There’s a reason why you got that bright idea. God allowed you to meet that particular person. It’s no coincidence you ran across that information. That dream keeps coming in the night on purpose.

God’s knocking. Open up the door, and position yourself for the blessing of answered prayer!

Now, I’m not saying that this contest is the answer to my prayers, but I’m certainly not going to let it pass by without putting my name in the running. That action of faith could be all God needs to bring about my answer.

Verse of the Day: Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

It's a Done Deal

This week my Apostle has our congregation meditating on the Amplified Version of Luke 1:37. It’s a part of Gabriel’s conversation with Mary after telling her that she had been chosen to bear the Savior. I’ve been getting so blessed by this that I wanted to share. The verse reads: For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

Isn’t that mind blowing? No word from God is going to fail! Everything He’s spoken has to come to pass!

I have been using parts of my prayer time to meditate on this fact in conjunction with all of the promises that God has given me personally. Plus, I’ve added in the scriptures I am standing on from His Word concerning my present circumstances. It’s so encouraging to know that not one of them will be denied to me as I continue in faith and live according to His will.

Maybe right now you are looking for God to fulfill His Word to you and your situation. It may seem like things aren’t coming together or that God has forgotten you. You may have fasted and prayed, cried, gave, confessed and things still appear grim. I’m here to let you know that God has not forgotten you!

If He said it, it’s His duty to perform it! Stand strong knowing that all things are working together for your good. Keep trusting in His Word, for He has never forsaken the righteous yet. Watch and see what God does for you!

Verse of the Day: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19

Expecting Great Things!

Currently, I am enjoying Jonathan Nelson’s song Expect the Great. Every time I hear it, I am encouraged and remember that God has plans and is doing great things for my life! It’s so exciting to know that God has you in mind.

Now, those of you who know me understand that I am a pessimist by nature. I enjoy stoic sarcasm over sugary cheeriness, and I usually view the glass as half empty versus half full. This may be an odd view for a Christian, but it’s where I am right now. (Pray for me if you feel I need deliverance.) However, that song challenges my thinking to come to a different level.

As a child of God, great things are in my future! Though I may be facing a crisis, despite my present situation, regardless of what I may think about things, God is going to do exceedingly, abundantly, above what I can ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20) So, that provokes me to take my thinking higher. Hey, if God can do exceedingly over what I think, I should definitely motivate myself to bring my thoughts up as high as I can in God!

Expecting great things also brings on a more positive attitude. You can’t help but smile and feel invigorated when meditating on what you know that God is about to do for you. It causes you to react differently to the things around you while you wait for the manifestation of the promise. I must say, I have been smiling more the past few days as I muse on what God is bringing into my life.

So, today: Expect the Great! Expect God to turn things around. Expect God to fulfill His Word. Expect God to move in your situation. You’re already depending on Him to be the Lord of your life. Now, expect Him to act as that Lord!

Verse of the Day: ...I have never seen the godly abandoned… Psalm 37:25 (NLT)