The AMP translation of Proverbs 11:2 is spot on and it reads, “When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame, But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.”

This verse contrasts pride and humility. The word for “pride” used here is zā’don, which also means “arrogance.” This is a person who sees no need for God in his life. His overconfidence boils over into self-indulgent living and egotism. He believes he is master of his own fate, but he fails to understand that pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 18:12). Eventually, he will experience the humiliation of reality.

To put it in context, Proverbs 11:1–8 describes the righteous life of a wise man in contrast to the corrupt life of a wicked man. The righteous person is concerned with doing right and is delivered from trouble, whereas the wicked person is more concerned with being right which regrettably leads to disaster.

My brothers and sisters, wherever humility goes, wisdom goes. Humility and wisdom are inseparable. Wherever humility goes, wisdom follows. Whatever relationship humility leads into, wisdom follows.

Make no mistake, most people who welcome humility into their heart don’t even realize that wisdom follows because it’s hard to see the engine when you’re driving the vehicle. It is for this reason that humble people rarely acknowledge their wisdom – it is precisely because they are lowly. Whereas, proud people that fight tooth and nail to be right rarely acknowledge their shame because they are too proud to do so. As I mentioned before, humble people rarely acknowledge their wisdom because they are humble. But at the end of the day, pride always brings shame on some level and lowliness always births wisdom to some degree. Wise people are more concerned with doing right and as a result there is no shame or disgrace – but honor and grace poured out so that he or she is truly blessed.

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#HumilityOverPride

We have been given the responsibility to guard our hearts and to keep track of the things we hide inside it. So, what’s in there? An­ger? Lust? Ugly images from TV, the movies, or the web? How about bitterness? Greed? Hatred?Jealousy?

Let’s be honest, we’ve all struggled with one or more of these gripping vices and in most case it’s because we deposited more of the world’s wisdom in our heart than the true wisdom of God.

The unknown writer of Psalm 119 declared, “I have tried my best to find you don’t let me wander from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:10-11). “Hiding” God’s Word in our heart essentially means memorizing and meditating on the Bible. God uses his Word the Bible—to speak to you and show you how you ought to live.

Additionally, the word “hidden” in the original Hebrew means “to treasure, to regard as highly valued, to hide, keep, save up, store.” Futhermore, translations range from “I have treasured your word in my heart” (CSB), to “I have stored up your word in my heart” (ESV), to “I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart” (The Message).

My brothers and sisters, it’s to our benefit to read (2 Tim 3:16), listen (Romans 10:17), write (Proverbs 7:1-3), share (Deut 6:7), study (2 Tim 3:15), and meditate (Romans 12:2) on God’s word. The word of God is the agent of His Spirit used to cleanse the hearts of all who believe in Christ and are saved (Ephesians 5:25–27). And it is through keeping God’s Word securely planted in our hearts and living according to what it says that we believers are enabled to walk in holiness (Psalm 37:31; 119:9).

Paul hit the nail on the head in Philippians 4:8 when he said , “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.”

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#HisWordIsHiddenInMyHeart

Psalm 139:16 says,”You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” This Scripture affirms that God knows everything about our lives, in advance, with His perfect omniscience. The Lord saw David’s unborn state and planned the days David would live.

The fact is neither David nor any human being can definitively predict what tomorrow holds. Proverbs 27:1 warns us not to be presumptuous, “Do not boast about tomorrow,” it warns, “for you do not know what a day may bring.” James counseled: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:13–14).

So, how should we deal with the reality that we do not know the future? Well, James said we should live each day doing the Lord’s will and trusting that the results are ultimately up to Him (James 4:15).

My brothers and sisters, the good news is God omnisciently knows what the future holds for every living thing! It is He that omnipresently goes before us, and is behind us. He is within us and He omnipotently dwells in the inner recesses of our heart. He is our guard, and He is our guide, and wherever we go and no matter whatever happens to us, He is there to lead and to guide, to comfort and to sustain us through life’s smooth and rocky pathways!

When we know what we believe and believe what we know, we should have no fear for what lies ahead in 2024, for He is with us – His rod and His staff are our comfort (Psalm 23), for He knows and cares for You and for me with a blessed assurance and intimacy.

Welcome day 1 of 365 in 2024 and Happy New Year to everyone!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#GuideUsLordIn2024

We all know how long resolutions last—don’t we? Well, I recently browsed an article in the Forbes Health/One Poll survey and it stated that the average resolution lasts 3.74 months. The poll also revealed that just 8% of respondents tend to stick with their goals for one month, while 22% last two months, 22% last three months and 13% last four months. Compelling stats, don’t you think?!

With that being said, after you finish planning out what you will and will not do in 2024, I advise that you commit them and I am not referring to yourself. Proverbs 16:3 NLT says,“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” I love the Good News Translation of this same verse, “Ask the LORD to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out.”

Here’s the deal, God knows that our minds have the tendency to go all over the map and that’s why I believe He inspired Solomon to penned these words in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” When truth is applied in conjunction with this passage we find that God challenges us to plan according to His will and not our own.

Let me be clear, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with putting an action plan together to become a better version of yourself and to make advances in life. However, I am recommending that you let God do the heavy lifting. In other words, obey God and leave the consequences to Him (Charles Stanley).

Indisputably, God is in control and the good news is we don’t have to figure our future out on our own. God’s plan for our lives is so much better than any plan we could try and fabricate on our own.

In Isaiah 41:10, God says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

My brothers and sisters, we do not need to fear our future, because God is already there and He is going to be there with you and I every step of the way.

Moreover, in Philippians 1:6, Paul says, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” So, if it be God’s will, whatever you didn’t finish or complete in 2023, it will come to pass.

God’s got an amazing plan for our future. God is constant and can be so well trusted to hold our future in His perfect, all-powerful, and capable hands.

#BeStrong

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#NAP

#GodsPlan

#Welcome2024

If Colossians 3:13 (MSG) says, “Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you”, Why is it so difficult for us to forgive others horizontally just as fast as God forgives us vertically?

Well, the short answer to the question above is forgiveness doesn’t come easy. If someone has hurt, wounded, or abused you in some way, the last thing you’re thinking about is forgiving them. It’s more likely you’re thinking about punishing them and inflicting pain on them since they inflicted pain on you. Revenge, retribution, and payback is what most people think about when someone has injured them physically, emotionally, mentally, vocationally. and spiritually.

I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a good thing Jesus doesn’t share that vengeful mindset. None of us would have a chance. We’d all be in a big world
of trouble.

Let’s face it, we are all imperfect people. Therefore, on an ongoing basis imperfect people need a lot of forgiveness. More often than we’d like to admit, we need forgiveness from God and from others. The implications of that are mind-boggling, and vital for us to come to grips with. We all need to be forgiven, which means we are all surrounded by people that we will need to forgive.

I’ve heard it said, “Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.”

If you are harboring any amount of unforgiveness and you want to break free before the commencement of a new year , I encourage you to LET IT GO and let me emphasize; LET IT GO JUST LIKE JESUS LET IT GO! It’s just a simple as that!

I get it, that’s easier said than done, but Romans 4:7-8 reminds us that, “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never county against him.”

Here’s the deal, when you release that person’s debt(s), you will experience greater freedom versus harboring their debt(s) and the bottom line, you’ll better off! The quicker we do it, the easier it is. Let’s begin to behave as if we believe the Bible. In it, God tells us repeatedly what to do about those who offend us: love them, pray for them, bless them.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#NAP

#LetItGoJustLikeJesusItGo

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust God and not to lean on our own understanding. However, we all possess the innate tendency to mentally and emotionally define or shape our understanding from our own experiences. Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that I am still learning that the sum total of all my previous and present circumstances in this broken world cannot define my all-powerful God.

That said, God is unequivocally bigger than any hard, hurtful, and/or struggling thing I may face in the past, today, tomorrow, or the next day! And, as I continue to grow through my challenges, I am reminded that we all have a choice in the matter. We can continue to stare the hard stuff in the face, taking in all of the moments that crush our spirits and dwell on all the what if’s and why not’s. OR, we can dare to stare into the eyes of our powerful Savior; Jesus Christ! Do you remember what happened in Matthew 14:28–31 when Peter chose the latter? Need I say more…..?

The good news is that despite our ambiguous nature God is faithful and He’s the One that sticks closer than any brother (Proverbs 18:24) as we walk through the darkest of valleys, He is the One that gently lifts us up when life has knocked us down (Ps 145:14), He is the One who has promised to always stay, even if no one else does (Heb 13:5), and He is the One who is love embodied, unchanged by our questions and wandering amidst the hard moments of life (Heb 13:8).

Additionally, He is the One who is a steady hand when we grow weary, a hiding place when the world threatens to overwhelm us, and our strength when we have grown far too weak on our own (Ps 91). We may not always know the what God is doing, but we do know what He has done (the Bible).

My brothers and Sisters, Nahum 1:7 confidently says, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Therefore, as we face difficult moments in life, remembering His proven track record should sustain us through the storm(s)! May we faithfully recognize our Savior who ultimately made a way for us, and the One who is good, ALWAYS, even when what we currently face doesn’t feel so good. Though we may never understand why He does not change our circumstance, that does NOT change HIM. He is still the faithful One, loving, compassionate, and trustworthy. The bottom line it’s always in our best interest to remember that God is good even when life isn’t fair, kind, or gentle!

#BeStrong

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#NAP

#Godisgood

Merry Christmas Be Strong!

We can’t fully appreciate this season without fully recognizing the reason for Jesus coming down to earth to save, deliver, and reconcile us back to the Father. Jesus came down to earth and paid a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. From ancient prophecy, through the joy of His birth, the pangs of His death, and His victorious resurrection the salvation offered to us, the defeat of Satan, the assurance of eternal life, and the promise of His return—fully and completely encapsulates the true impact of Jesus’ birth and the gift God freely gave to our world.

Pray with me:
Father God, thank You for the birth of Your Son-our Savior! We are immensely grateful that through Him, we are able to find forgiveness, eternal salvation, reconciliation, fellowship, strength, comfort, wisdom, and peace. Though we may live in a world that is full of unrest, turmoil, hate, war, greed, lust, and anger we know You don’t give us what the world gives. Father God, thank You for the priceless and timeless gift of Jesus. We are forever indebted but overwhelmingly grateful for all He’s done for us. He is undeniably and irrefutably the Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighy God, and the Prince of Peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

#MerryChristmas2023

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#TisTheSeasonAndReason

An encouraging message to those (like me) who are grieving a loved one in this season:

“Even with the shimmer and shine, Christmas can be a time of loneliness and grief for many people. Holiday celebrations can bring painful reminders of loss and times gone by. Jesus knows about grief. He understands. He lived in the flesh as we do, with all of its pain and challenges. He experienced loss, opposition, and betrayal. As we are told in Isaiah 53:3: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” But Jesus Christ came to earth so that we could experience the peace, comfort, and joy of a personal relationship with Him. He came to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. He took the weight of sin on Himself, so that we could be forgiven and free of its guilt and shame—now and for eternity. What a gift! He tells us to cast our cares on Him for He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). If you are lonely or hurting this season, I urge you to call out to the One who promises to never leave us or forsake us. The Prince of Peace. He loves you and came to save you—that’s what Christmas is all about.”

Well said and thank you for sharing this blessed word of encouragement Franklin Graham!

“At the end of the day, grief is a journey but it’s not a destination. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. Grief is the peace of love we have for those who are no longer physically here with us.” Lowell Pinnock

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#griefislove

Real talk, the enemy really wants to kill, steal and destroy us (John 10:10). This is why we need to be more intentional and consistent in our prayers for God to give us keen spiritual awareness regarding his deceptive plots, destructive plans, and damaging schemes.

God’s Holy word tells us that He opposes and brings to a halt the plans of our enemy, satan. Undoubtedly, without God’s protection our lives would be overrun by evil. Fortunately, Psalm 33:10-11 reminds us, “The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.”

One of the primary reasons we often get blindsided by the enemy’s fiery arrows is because we fail to identify the real adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9) and if this were not true, why would God send Jesus to destroy his works? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, “The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil” (NLT).

The second primary reason we get blindsided by the enemy’s attacks is because we often go into battle under equipped or not unequipped. I don’t think a football player would ever step onto the stadium field on game day without the proper equipment so, why do we step onto the spiritual battlefield without the proper spiritual gear? In Ephesians 6:11-17, Paul wrote about the spiritual of battles we fight and about putting on the whole armor of God when he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly equipped to do battle, we also need to be properly equipped for battle.

My brothers and sisters, many of you know, the battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, but we must demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.(2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

I could keep on going but that’s enough to chew on for this word of encouragement. The good news is that, “Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed” (Psalm 21:11). Therefore my prayer and declaration is that every plot, plan or scheme the enemy has deceptively plotted against you and/or your family is hereby demolished, destroyed, disintegrated, and cancelled in the name of Jesus!! We can be truly thankful that what, “the enemy meant for bad, God meant it for our good” (Gen 50:20).

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#NAP

#Blindsided

#SpiritualWarfareIsReal

When life leaves you speechless and you just can’t find the right words to pray, God will always listen to your heart.

No one is exempt from pain and unfortunately there are times in life when we come to the Lord speechless. We stand before God wordlessly muted due to the painful sorrows of life. We can barely breathe, much less give voice to how our heart is broken by loss or paralyzed by great fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Prayer just seems impossible when it feels like we are drowning in despair, fear, pain, sorrow, or shame.

However, when I am made silent or gagged by the circumstances of life, I remember the psalmist’s words: “I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (Ps. 77:4) and realize I am not alone. I read the groans of David and hear them echoed in my own heart, “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping” (Ps. 6:6). And I realize that what God wants most isn’t necessarily a stream of eloquent words, but “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17).

Just the simple act of coming before the throne of grace reveals the contents of our heart. The Lord sees our humble offering and if all we can muster up is “Help me!” that is enough. For as the Apostle Paul encourages, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26-27).

So today my brothers and sisters, when the difficulties of life mute you, remember it is not how well you pray, but that you pray; even with your tears. I hope this message encourages your hearts to know God knows and hears the groans of our heart. When you cry out to him and can hardly string a sentence together, He knows what you long to say. He knows the thoughts and intentions of your heart. He hears beyond the sighs of pain and the tears of brokenness. The Spirit takes our lisps and stutters and makes them holy. Even more, He hears the Spirit interceding for you and me, praying perfect and righteous words on our behalf.

#BeStrong

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#NAP

#SpeechlessPrayers