If you were a teenager in the mid 80’s then you couldn’t help but to dance to the hit single performed by the Bangles, “Walk Like An Egyptian.” I am dancing in my head right now, aren’t you?!

Well, let’s time hop back to the present day. In our world today the challenge is not to walk like an Egyptian, but to live out our faith like the Centurion found in Matthew 8:5-13.

Y’all know the story! As Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, a Roman officer plead to Him about one of his young servants who was paralyzed and in terrible pain. In Matthew 8:7Jesus quickly responded, “I will come and heal him.” To which the Centurion famously rebutted in the following verse, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” In verse 10 Jesus was amazed by this public demonstration of Faith and because the Centurion’s faith that servant was healed that very same day (v13).

No one really know the centurion’s backstory, but he seemed to have a softer heart than most Roman soldiers. Despite his rugged and tough exterior, he recognized Jesus authority because he referred to Jesus as Lord and notably humbled.

Undoubtedly, we are all like the centurion. None of us is worthy to approach the Lord with any requests. Our sin prevents it. But, Jesus in His great compassion overlooks our sin so He can make a connection with us. It doesn’t matter if we’re Jewish or Gentile, free or slave, man, woman, or child of any color, background, politics, or culture. It doesn’t matter.

Imagine for a moment if one person from every Christian household in our nation possessed this Centurion like faith? Our nation would be healed, delivered and set-free from all the non-sense and senseless hatred and violence we see streaming in the news and on social media platforms!

Bottom line, as Christians we are eagerly awaiting the return of our risen Savior, but it’s up to us to live by faith NOW! We must make to make the first move. If we can allow Jesus to touch our hearts, then we can build a legacy of hope, not just for ourselves but for others as well. Like the Centurion who built houses of prayer for the Jews, we create our own house of faith for Jesus to enter if we humble ourselves and invite Him in. It’s then the hope and healing begins to grow and multiply. Psalm 147:3 reminds us that, “He came to the earth to “heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.”

#BeStrong

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#Inspire

#WalkLikeACenturion

Many will and until the day of Christ return many will continue to bend, twist, misuse, and abuse God’s inherent and incorruptible word.

However, let me be the first to remind you that no spoken word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. If God speaks something it WILL come to pass. Luke 1:37 says (AMP), “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.”

God, Himself, stands over and watches over His own Word, making sure it is fulfilled. The word of our God will stand and endure forever. Isaiah 40:8 (AMP) says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

God will never change His truths for people’s lies. God keeps His Word even if men don’t keep theirs. God’s Word is empirically, imperially, and impeccably true and will always come to pass no matter what people do, say or believe. 2 Timothy 2:13 (AMP) structurally cements this truth; “If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.”

At the end of the day and top of the morning, God’s Word will never fall to the ground or return empty! It will always accomplish that which He pleases and purposes and it will always prospers in the thing for which He sent it! (Isaiah 55:6-11)

Hallelujah and thank you Jesus, we can rejoice because we know (through personal experience) the Word of God has been tested, tried and proven. All we have to is trust that His word will always work for us if we believe it! Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) reminds us, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

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#TGBTG

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#Empower

#Inspire

#TheWordOfGod

To all my peeps that find it hard to look forward with hope, I invite you to remember Lot’s wife ( Luke 17:32). I know contextual in these passage of text, Jesus is referring to His second coming, but had Lot’s wife focused on the hope set before her and not on the destruction taking place behind her (Gen 19:26), perhaps her life would have been saved!

In the most basic sense, “looking forward” or “anticipation” implies a future reward – and in general, rewards can be a very powerful motivator in life.

So, what’s the reward in developing the discipline in consistently maintaining this anticipatory mindset? Well, most people find it difficulty to look forward because they have allowed their past sufferings (regrets) to incarcerate their future. The answer is found in Romans 5:1-5; “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we a have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Perseverance + Character =Hope!

My brothers and sisters, hear me when I say; “Your future is no longer incarcerated!!” It’s time for you to look forward and focus your attention on the hope only found in Jesus!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#LookForwardWithHope

I think sometimes we have the tendency to gloss right over the words spoken in the model prayer. Specifically, the words written in the first two verses of Matthew 6:9-10, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Say it with me: “THY WILL BE DONE!”

In Matthew 6 Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and then not too long after we find Jesus demonstrating this teaching in Matthew 26:39. Prior to His crucifixion, He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will”

Jesus plea for God’s will to be done in the Garden of Gethsemane is one of the greatest examples of true submission. When we pray, “Thy will be done,” we are essentially acknowledging God’s right to rule. Notice Jesus didn’t pray, “My will be done”; He prayed, “Thy will be done.”

Asking that God’s will be done is a demonstration of our trust that He knows what is best. It is a statement of humble submission to God’s ways and His plans. Literally, when we pray from this state of humility we are asking for our will to be conformed to His!

Quiet as it’s kept, the victory of man’s reconciliation back to God was won in the Garden of Gethsemane. Some may argue this point, however man’s dissension from God’s grace occurred in Garden of Eden and I believe the beginning of man’s ascension back into God’s grace was powerful manifested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

By faith, we know that praying, “Thy will be done,” is the best thing we can ask for. “Now unto Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21).

#BeStrong

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#Empower

#Inspire

#ThyWillBeDone

Turning, placing and surrendering are all words that synonymously describes the condition of a contrite heart. Turning to God for healing, direction, and guidance is something that all of us can do. Even if we haven’t prayed in a long time, God is still God and God is always good even when we’re not! Faithfully, God is our refuge, strength, and a very present help in times trouble (Psalm 46:1). When we surrender to God in prayer, we’re able to sense the reality of His love and patience. We discover that in spite of appearances we have not been cut off from Him. We glimpse something of our eternal, spiritual identity as His loved sons and daughters. This state of enlightenment awakens us to God’s reality which effectuates healing, peace, comfort, strength, and progress.

#BeStrong

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#Inspire

#TurnItOver

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.” Matthew 6:5

Jesus is not criticizing people that pray publicly whether it be on the street corners or in the pulpit. However, He is criticizing and warning those who pray publicly to impress people rather than praying from the heart to reach God!

The power in prayer comes from speaking to God with a contrite heart and He doesn’t care about fancy words; He just wants you to speak to Him!

I hope this encourages someone who is conscientious about praying privately; not to mention publicly!

#BeStrong

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#PowerOfPrayer

Let’s all admit that we can not change ourselves. Some have tried using self help concepts and attending seminars only to find themselves falling short of successfully accomplishing the goal.

True transformation takes place on the inside of the human heart and psyche. The place I am referencing is deeply embedded in the third layer of the brain called the limbic system. Access to this area is limited to language or speech, but what’s limited to us is not limited to God.

With that said, it is the Holy Spirit that transform our hearts, minds and our lives. I unequivocally believe this with all my heart, and that’s what gives me hope. Hence, the reason why we’re not ‘done’ at the point of salvation. God continues an ongoing work in us to transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus!

Withou a doubt, “God is adamant that He can radically changes lives–and desires to do so! Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect!”

I know some of you might be thinking, “Where’s the accountability, if all we have to do is let God do the work?” Well, the accountability in this spiritual transformation transaction consist of possessing active faith. Yes, we have to apply active obedience to our faith because faith without active obedience faith is dead (James 2:17).

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, I love the way Paul references the end of our transformation journey at the beginning of our new journey in Christ. He said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

My beloved brothers and sisters, this Easter I want you to remember that Jesus died to save you and He also rose from the grave conquering sin and death to transform you!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#TransformedByTheBlood