4GIVEN

For every emergency we encounter God has a name that represents His ability to deliver us out of any emerging circumstance. To name a few for example; if you need healing, call out to Jehovah Rapha, if you lack strength, call out to El Shaddai/Elohim, if you need a friend, call out to Jehovah Shammah, if you lack provision, call out to Jehovah Jireh, if you need peace, call out to Jehovah Shalom, if you need spiritual cleansing, call out to Jehovah M’Kaddesh, and if you need God to see you through an impasse, call out to El Roi. When we call out the names of God in our prayers we will experience a deeper connection with God. There are, of course, many more names of God that can be profitably used in prayer. But the ones listed above represents a good start, especially if they help you remember as you pray that God is so great, so powerful, and so good that our feeble words can only begin to describe Him. 

In Christ, we went from being broken to being chosen. Colossians 3:12 confirms, “We are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved….” In Christ we went from being downgraded to being treasured. I Peter 2:9 reminds us, “But we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Lastly, in Christ we went from being rejected to be being protected. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 also reminds us, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” I don’t know what your specific, ”I went from being(_______),to being,(________)” is, but you do.!!Think about what that is today and remember that we all went from being condemned to being redeemed because of the blood of Jesus Christ!

Toxic people are unhealthy and they can infect families, teams, and organizations. These individuals are like toxins that adversely attack the human body. Eventually, these toxins will diminish a leader’s effectiveness to lead and it will take everyone’s focus off the vision and mission. Toxic individuals are experts in creating confusion/contention (Job 15:35), they can manipulate people with flattering words (Titus 1:10), they crave control (Rom 2:8), they have no conscience, and no remorse (Rom 1:30). Lord knows this is not what he desires for the body of Christ. God wants to rid the body of these negative toxins. Therefore, like David, we too should long for transformation. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart” (Psalm 51:10). In Ezekiel 36:26, the Lord promised His people, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” It is this new, changed heart and the work of God’s Spirit that enables The body of Christ to walk in newness of life. Only God can heal a toxic heart, but it’s certainly a believer’s responsibility to yield to the Holy Spirit, keep a close watch, and make wise choices to guard the new heart the Lord created.

Drink a cup of contentment and watch your entire perspective about your life change! The secret to life has been found so feel free to live it and share it with others! Don’t waste a season of your live in the now because you’re too focus on the next. When Paul wrote “godliness with contentment is great gain” he wasn’t just speaking philosophically (1 Tim. 6:6). He had learned the secret to contentment in every circumstance of life (Phil 4:11-2). Like Paul, for those who are willing to learn, here are 5 steps to a contented life from the life and teaching of Paul. 1)Give thanks in all circumstances (I Thess 5:8). 2)Learn to be satisfied with less (see above). 3)Live above your circumstances ( 2 Cor 12:9-10). 4)Rest in God’s promise, plan, and providence (Rom 8:28). 5) Think less of your self and more of others (Phil 2:3-4). Look at it this way, a self-centered man is a discontented man. But the soul of the generous man, the man who lives for the interests and benefit of others, will find blessing upon blessing in his life (see Prov. 11:24-5; 19:17; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6).

God is your refuge and strength! He loves you and wants nothing but best for you today! So, trust him and let him order your steps!

There’s no doubt that you are loved by God! He loves you so much that he died selflessly and rose powerfully so that you and I can spend eternity with him! Who can measure the depths of God’s love? Well, the only thing we have to compare for the sake of juvenile human articulation and comprehension is eternity! At the end of the day, we can’t earn his love because he pours out his love for each of us without reproach, equally, and impartially. There’s absolutely nothing you or I could ever do to make him love us any more or any less. His love for us is not contingent on who we are nor what we do because love is just who He is (I John 4:8, Romans 8:32-39)!!

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😎!