4GIVEN

I am eternally thankful for the brave men and women who fight for our freedom, and those who put their lives on the line when evil does occur on American soil. May we never forget the the lives lost and the many sacrifices so many made on this day 18 years ago.

#WeWillNeverForget911

Trusting in God’s promises without understanding the details can be very frightening, difficult, and frustrating. In Isaiah 30 we find a terrified Judah yoked with Egypt and not God because Assyria threaten to destroy their kingdom. Judah, sought alliance from a ‘lesser’ enemy because they failed to see that God was in the process of orchestrating his promise of protection. Despite Judah’s lack of trust God said in V15, “In RETURNING and REST you shall be saved; in QUIETNESS and CONFIDENCE shall be your strength.” Unfortunately, Judah rejected God’s promise and instead of seeing the Lord’s salvation and strength, they were forced to flee! Trusting in God’s promises means RETURNING. If there is known disobedience in your live, you must return to the Lord’s ways. Secondly, you can find REST in God and when you do, it shows you’re really trusting in His promises. Thirdly, trusting in God’s promises means QUIETNESS. You don’t need to argue for your side when God is already on your side. Be quiet before Him and before others. Lastly, trusting in God’s promises means CONFIDENCE. You know God can and will come through for you! So, no matter what the circumstance(s) choose to trust in God’s promises even without the details.

MONEY says, “Chase after me but, you’ll never have enough of me.” TIME says, “Chase after me but, you’ll always complain about me.” FUTURE says, “Chase after me but, you’ll struggle to reach me.” BUT GOD says, He is the distributor of all MONEY (Matthew 25:14-28), He transcends TIME (Col 1:16-17), and He holds the FUTURE in the palms of his holy hands (Phil 1:6). Therefore, I say, stop chasing the things you have no control over and start pursuing the One who controls everything. Those who pursue God embrace His Word and ways while shrinking from those of man’s. They see the reality of the godly pursuit, which is permanent, versus the earthly pursuit which is temporary. Bottom line, pursuing God is like playing a game of chess ♟ that He allows you win😎!

God’s plan will always be more beautiful, exciting, and more rewarding than your disappointments. Deut 31:6 of the MSG paraphrase reminds us to, “Be strong [and to] take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because GOD, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Therefore, while you’re waiting for God’s promises to manifest in your situation choose to be patient, faithful, and expecting! Lastly, don’t grow weary in doing what you know you needs to be done because at the appointed time you will harvest a multiplicity of God’s unfolding blessings if you don’t give up (Galatians 6:9)!

You can’t open a door shut by God. Revelation 3:8 reminds us,”…..the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open.” Now, lets tell the truth and shame the devil…we don’t like it when God shuts a door that we believe we have the keys (power) to access. Perhaps the harshest word we ever hear growing up is also one of the shortest: “No.” “No” is a small word that packs an enormous amount of power. It has the ability to both prevent and protect. Growing up, we almost singularly see the prevention side of this command, seeing “no” as merely a barrier hemming us in, but in fact, “no” is more like a gateway to better living. “No, do not touch that electrical outlet.” “No, do not touch that hot stove.” “No, do not play in the middle of the street,” etc. Youthful ignorance and curiosity sometimes see only the prevention and not the protection! Do you remember when David wanted to build God’s temple? God said, “No” (1 Chron.17:4)!! It’s tough hearing God’s “no,” especially when it doesn’t sound like protection, only prevention. Fact is God closes doors because He knows we need a few more seasons of meekness and humility under our belts. I say this for my tenacious saints: When God closes a door, he doesn’t always open a window.!! Sometimes he just wants you to be content in the room you’re in. So if you’re standing in front of a shut door, pray to be content with God’s denial, knowing that His deliverance of you is secure forever by the merits of His Son. He might have said “no” to you in this occurrence, but for everything else, is “yes” in Christ and so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:20)!!

Do you believe that HOPE is just as real as your last HEARTBEAT? Without HOPE – FAITH would be incomplete. One definition for hope is: to look forward with confidence or expectation. We must believe in the Word of God with all its hope even when we are hopeless. When we believe in hope we breathe life into our ‘right now’ situations. Hope is more than just asking God for something we so badly need; we must expect our miracle to manifest and in the midst of asking, believing, and expecting God to answer, we will find what we are looking for is already in front of us. David said, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”(Psalm 27:13). Throughout scripture you’ll read words like “be strong, take courage, wait reverently and worshipfully fear God, tarry for the hope, wait patiently for it, and be joyful in hope. These are all action words that come alive in your heart as you speak the word of over yourself and situation. Paul said, “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24). So today, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Remember that if it’s not right God will make it right because God is righteous in all that he does and what he allows!

Abba Father, creator of heaven, earth, and galaxies. I humbly stand before you only to ask that you lead me because I can’t do life on my own. Big or small, I need you in every aspect of my life. When I feel weak in my flesh and my Spirit is low, flood my heart and spirit with your strength, ambition, perseverance, and fortitude. Holy Spirit, I need you, in every area of my life. Soften me, inspire me, teach me, comfort me, protect me, rest in me, and direct me today. Psalm 46:1 reminds me that You are my refuge and strength and Psalm 91:1 says that, “ He who abides in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty!” Thank you and Hallelujah O’God!! I choose to dwell in you and rest in your shadow. Now unto my King eternal, immortal, and invisible be honor, and glory forever and ever. In Jesus’ life restoring, preserving, and victorious name! Amen!

I love the Msg Bible paraphrase of Psalm 139:13-16, “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” Contrary to public opinion, our value comes from God, the Creator, and not from our own appearance and it’s certainly not based on what people think. Trust me when I say, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” God creates masterpieces not garbage and Ephesians 2:10 backs me up! Paul said, “ For we are God’s masterpiece….” Though we ARE different, we serve the one True God not made with human hands. We worship the Creator of all things and especially US. We strive to obey and live for Him who saved us and called us with His holy calling. We march to a different drum. We tread on the road less traveled. We are God’s masterpiece and we were not created for man’s glory, but to glorify God.

Our God will never waste anything that has happened in our lives! Romans 8:28 reminds us that, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” God is the greatest surgeon of all times! He is able to take our cuts, scrapes, bruises, wounds, and our shattered-brokenness to create something beautiful. So, if you ever felt like you’re not worthy to be used by God, let alone loved by him, just remember that Jesus used a bunch of flawed people (Moses, Noah, Peter, and Paul…) to share hope to a flawed, shattered, and broken world. In God, we find renewal, mending, healing, and purpose. Jesus didn’t call the equipped, He equipped the called. Therefore, no matter what you’ve been through in life, remember that the same power that conquered the grave lives and reigns within you. Despite what the devil says, you are worthy of life. You are worthy of God’s love. You are worthy of joy. You are worthy of a fulfilling purpose that will take you places beyond your wildest dreams. Never forget that when you view your life from an outside perspective, you will see that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, nor what you’ve done, or who you use to be; Jesus desires to use you for the glory of his will, plan, and purpose!