“Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending [perennial] blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.” Psalm 21:5-6

Psalm 21 is a praise psalm. And like every praise psalm in the book of Psalms, this psalm features three ingredients. You have 1) an introductory call to praise, 2) then a list of reasons to praise God, and 3) a final resolve to praise the Lord.

Through these three ingredients, the author of Psalm 21 – whom I inherently believe to be King David is expressing this thought; he is Rejoicing in God’s Powerful Salvation.

David’s appreciation of God’s powerful salvation may have stemmed from being delivered from either King Saul or from his own son Absalom. In both cases, God saved him from his enemies. Because of course, both of these men would have taken that royal honour and majesty away from David.

But do you really want to know what caused David to be exceedingly glad? The promise of God’s presence – God’s countenance.

David would be glad for ever in God’s presence – not because he was sinless or because he earned that blessing – but because he trusted in the Lord. David trusted that God’s promises were greater than any storm or obstacles he could ever faced and it was God’s presence that gave him the confidence to stand in this truth.

If you are still reading this message today, I want you to walk boldly and confidently in this biblical truth as well! No matter the size of your storm and/or dilemma through Christ we not only have the presence of God with us, but through the gift of the Holy Spirit, He now lives in us!

We all have been called to praise God, He has given us plenty of reasons to praise Him, and as such, we should be resolved to praise Him because He promises never to leave us not forsake us (Hebrews 13:8).

#BeStrong

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#Empower

#Inspire

#PerennialBlessings

As I write this short devotional, I am reflecting on my own life. I wonder how many times I have spent wasted months or years trying to force open doors God had closed. Also, I ponder how many doors God has opened for me to walk through that I failed to recognize. How many doors did I fail to walk through because of fear of the unknown? Brothers and sisters, have you ever tried to pry open any doors? Have you missed any open ones?

Undoubtedly, I thank God for being a God of second and third chances. We can always trust in this truth because of the finish work of the cross. Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” If we will heed the advice of this passage of scripture, God will prevent us from wasting time trying to pry open doors He has shut or belly ache over doors that we failed to enter. Make note, there are doors that GOD is going to open for you just to show you He is still GOD in your life!

So, be in strong and encouraged; God has something magnificent in stored for His prized possession. James 1:18 confirms, “He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession.”

Thankfully, God has a door prepared just for you and me that will bring blessings and change to our lives. Henceforth, when you approach that open door, walk through it boldly by faith and remember you won’t be alone. God will be right there with you. Trust Him, boldly move forward, and receive your blessings today!!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#OpenDoors

I am going to keep this real simple today. If you arevharboring resentment, bitterness, and anger towards anyone and I do me anyone, it’s time to let it go, exonerate or pardoned that person(s). In my sprirtual opinion, unforgiveness is one of those below the radar sins that go undetected for many years. Jesus was clear as crystal with His command in Matthew 6:14; “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.”

God’s recipe for forgiveness also includes you forgiving others and let me add that you must not forget to forgive yourself! I love what former atheist C.S. Lewis said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

You might be thinking that you can’t excuse the offense, infraction, or indiscretion and this is your reason why you refuse to forgive. Well let’s be clear, a.) forgiving others is a black and white command and b.) forgiveness does mean that you excuse the pain. However, C.S. Lewis offers an additional thought for you to consider or deliberate; “Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing. It does mean that you must make every effort to kill every taste of resentment [anger and bitterness] in your own heart.”

You never know, God might just be waiting on you to release someone’s debt before He releases a blessing you have been praying for Him to grant.

If any of this message applies to you and your situation I invite you to call, text, inbox, or meet that person that you have incarcerated and let that person(s) know that you forgive them no matter the size of the offense. If you can’t or you don’t feel comfortable reaching out then simple forgive them in your heart and in lift up that situation in prayer and guarantee you that God will always honor a contrite spirit!

“Harboring unforgiveness [resentment, bitterness or anger] is a heart condition that only true forgiveness can heal!!” Lowell Pinnock

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#4Given

Let’s be honest, it’s both tempting and attractively alluring to get sucked into getting all the ‘good [temporal] things’ this world has to offer. Who doesn’t want to live their best life? Romans 12:2 of the NLT rightly divides the word of truth. Paul said, “Don’t copy the behavior [conform] and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

The word “conform” comes from the Greek suschématizó, which means to fashion, pattern, or style after. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “to be similar or identical, to be in agreement or harmony with,” and to “act in accordance with.”

Most of us recognize the world is temporal, and those who chase after its finite pleasures and treasures can easily fall prey to its illusion and turn from what really matters: God and His holy kingdom.

In part two of this passage of text Paul said, “let God transform you into a new person.” The word transformed comes from the Greek metamorphóō, from the root words meta and morpho. Just like the scientific process of metamorphosis, metamorphóō means to change form, to become something new. Thankfully, our transformation isn’t dependent on science, rather it’s dependent on our choice to daily pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

Paul confirms this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17, ““Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Beloved of God, don’t get sucked in by the temporal bling this perishing world offers. The world desire for us to play the game of life, where we accumulate as many riches as we can and enjoy as many pleasures of the body and mind as we can. However, God’s Kingdom is calling us to put God first, to put others before ourselves, and to walk in honor, respect, and obedience to Him and His ways.

Do not conform; let God transform you!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#BeTransformed

Isaiah 43:19 says, “The Lord will make a way where there seems to be no way” and Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

When you combine these two power scriptures together you’ll find, the same God that made a way last time will make a way this time. God knows that our seasons of difficulties are not forever. With that said, there is no need to tread water in the middle of the waters thinking that it is your lot in life for all time. Do you remember Israel’s water obstacle in Exodus14:13-14, 21-22? Israel reached what appeared like a dead end and to add insult to injury, their enemy was pursuing them and closing in at the rear. But God made a way! They literally walked through the waters on dry land and continue progressing forward and let’s just say their enemies should have taken swim lessons….

Beloved of God, whenever you reach a dead end in life always remember that you too will get through because God is the One who gets you through and when you get through you will be changed for the better having gone through it! Charles Spurgeon put it this way, “The Lord will make a way for you where no foot has gone before. That which, like a sea, threatens to drown you will be a highway for your escape.”

If you made it this far in reading this devotional message, I invite you to read Isaiah 43:19 and Hebrews 13:8 again. It’s critically important for you to remember and abide in these two biblical truths everyday! God is not in the failing business! Everything He does is done for His glory and our good!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#NeverForget

I had someone recently ask me in response to one of my Be Strong FB campaigns, “What can an invisible and imaginary god do?? If god could help us we surely would not be controlled, divided and deluded… wake up and face reality.”

My non-apologetic response to this individual was that my reality is my God and my God is my reality. Furthermore, the goal of a Christian isn’t to strive for a trouble-free existence, but to better handle the ongoing nature of unexpected trials and unwanted circumstances. The basing of our goal on the solutions to our problems keeps us continually tied to their outcome. Christ came to teach us that our solution rest only to our salvation in Him. (Read I Peter 4:12-19)

Brothers and sisters, too often we go to God in efforts for Him to fix our problem(s) when all He wants to do is fix us first! When we learn from Him how to have peace regardless of our circumstances, then we can break free from our sufferings in spite of what is going on around us! Our relief and/or victory is not contingent on resolutions or rescues but on Christ alone!

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, He’s being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

When we experience sufferings James reminds us to count it all joy (James 1:2-4) Paul reminds us that Christ’s power rest on us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and Peter reminds us the Spirit of God rests on us during trials (I Peter 4:14).

At the end of the day, we all want peace and tranquillity, but while evil is still prevalent in our world we will have to take heart (courage) and continue to be strong (Joshua 1:9)! Which is why God inspired me to create the BE STRONG yard sign. GOD unequivocally knows that with Him on our side and as long as we stay connected to each other we will get through this TOGETHER.

The late and beloved Apologist R.C. Sproul said, “Jesus suffered for us. Yet we are called to participate in His suffering. Though He was uniquely the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, there is still an application of this vocation for us. We are given both the duty and the privilege to participate in the suffering of Christ.”

If you are broken, hurt, and need healing; whether it be physical, spiritual, mental, financial, or emotional, I want to encourage you to re-read Ephesians 3:20-21.

After Paul explained the mystery of the Gospel to this gentile congregation, he closed in prayer with these powerful reaffirming words; “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Boom 💥 look at our God!!! Who can do more than Him?!

Your assignment is to take every square inch of your brokenness, hurt, and healing needs to Jesus and when your done laying them at the alter of our all powerful-never failing God close your prayer with the same benediction and then place your trust in the only One that is able to do what you can’t do and not only that, He is also able to do more than you could ever possibly think!

I hope you are encouraged today and that God fills every empty void through the exceeding abundance of His amazing grace in your life!

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#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#ExceedinglyAbundantly

Here are a few quotes I hope inspire you to create a new spiritual rhythm in your prayer life.

“Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God.”

“Prayer is asking God to align you with His will rather than asking Him to be aligned with yours.”

The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us but that we will finally hear Him. — William McGill.

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” Oswald Chambers

“Pray hardest when it’s hardest to pray.”

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.”

“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” – Max Lucado

“The greatest battles are won when you pray.”

“God speaks to those who take time to listen, and He listens to those who take time to pray.”

“God hears our silent prayers.”

“When prayer becomes your habit, miracles become your lifestyle. Never give up on prayer no matter what comes your way.”

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther

I don’t know which quote hit you the most, but I am here to testify that I am a product of prayer and I am convinced that prayer is a game changer. Prayer changes everything! F.B. Meyer once said, “The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.”

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#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#GodListens

I know that many of you reading this devotional will agree that as we journey through life, it seems like doors open for us that shouldn’t have and some close that we wish would have stayed open. However, it’s comforting to know, when God opens a door, no one can close it. In fact, no one opens or closes doors outside the will of God!

With that said, today I am reflecting on the door that God has opened. I feel in my spirit that someone needs to hear that God has opened ‘that’ door (you know the one you prayed for). Revelation 3:8 confirms, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”

You might ask yourself, “How do I know for sure if that is ‘the’ door that God opened?” Well, the door that God opens will never contradict His word (Isaiah 55:11) and it will always be accompanied by confirmation (Matt 18:15-16). I invite you to take your open door to God and ask for His confirmation – through His word and godly counsel from others – and His peace in the decision, and you’ll find the reassurance that you aren’t just walking through a door at random.

I can humbly submit to you that I don’t know what’s on the other side of that opened door, but one thing I do know is that God’s timing is perfect and when He opens a door, He’ll always provide a path to accomplish His purpose in your life.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#Encourage

#Empower

#Inspire

#OpenDoors