Beloved, we are called to do different things to advance God’s kingdom agenda, but we are all equally called to help those who can’t help themselves. Paul put it this way in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

When I think of all of the burdens people are facing in our world today there’s no question that we need to at a minimum encourage each other! We need community now more than ever before!

God never intended for us to plow through life solo. He made us for community, one body through one Spirit, serving one Lord with all of our own talents and gifts.

That being said, I want to encourage you to search for ways you can help bear someone’s burden. How can you show gentleness and love to someone in need? It doesn’t have to be complicated or extreme. Sometimes all we need is someone to say, “I see you, and I care.”

So my brothers and sisters, will you accept the challenge to seek out community and fellowship on a deeper level? It’s incumbent on us to carry each other’s burdens in love (Eph 4:1-3)!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#WeAreCalledToHelpOthers

You may not ever achieve social media viral status on earth, but I assure you that your name went viral in heaven before you were born!

Make no mistake, the Creator of all things who knows the name of every single star in a billion galaxies also knows your name too!

In Isaiah 43:1 the prophet said, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” He also said in chapter 49 verses 1 and 16, “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth He has made mention of my name. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

Today, I hope you recognize that you are known by God! I pray that you hear Jesus calling your name and that you will recognize His voice as much as He recognizes your voice in the midst of a noisy and distracting world!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

Father God, I earnestly pray you would calm my anxiousness. Father God, you say in Philippians 4:6-8, to be anxious for nothing, but when I tell my requests to you, you will give your peace. And yet, I still get anxious. God you are Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. And you are Jehovah Jireh, the God who meets needs. Help me to meditate on your truths, so I don’t get overly anxious.

Help me to rest in You, Lord. To remember you are sovereign and in control of everything. And even when things get difficult, Lord, you are bigger than any problem I could possibly have.

Father, sometimes I can’t rest because what I face looks seemingly impossible. And yet, you tell me in Luke 18:27 the things that are impossible with men are possible with you. In fact, You love it when You work out the impossible. Then there’s no question who did it. It had to be You!

God, You tell me in John 14:1 that I should not let my heart be troubled. Father God, help me to keep my mind focused on you and how big You are when my circumstances start to weigh me down. You are God Almighty. The One who strategically and intricately hung each star in place. The One who knows them each by name as it says in Isaiah 40:26. Lord, you are the One who never gets tired. You give strength when I am weary. When I feel weak, you will give me power. Help me remember that your power is not only limitless and unending, but it is also perfected in our weaknesses. In Jesus yoke is easy and burden is light name, amen and amen!!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#YouCanRest

I John 4:8 reminds us that “God is love” and to fully appreciate the context of this passage you have to also read verses 9-10.

Essentially, the love of God is God’s act in sending Jesus Christ. God, who is the very essence of love is concerned about our salvation and receiving us into fellowship with Himself. In loving us God gave us Himself, and in giving us Himself, He has given us the greatest blessing, because God has nothing higher or greater to give than Himself (Jesus), and in giving us Himself (Jesus), He has given us every blessing

Thankfully, God’s love is not contingent upon our love for Him, or any reciprocity of love to Him. God’s loving is also not conditioned by any worthiness on our part. “We love God [only] because He first loved us” (1 Jo. 4:19). God loves because He loves. I repeat love is the essence of His being—His very nature. God loves us out of His good pleasure.

Unfortunately, too many people believe that God either stopped loving them or never loved them because of past failures, sins, inconsistencies, mistakes, and lapses in passion. If that’s you today, I want you to know there’s absolutely nothing you can ever do to make God love you any more or less!

Lastly, while God’s love is unconditional, salvation isn’t! If God is calling you to receive His perfect gift (Jesus), the time is now! God has personally invited you to open your heart to His love (Jesus) and when you do, I guarantee that you will not regret it!

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#GodIsLove

I need Jesus like an ocean needs water, land needs soil and plants need the sun! Without Him I have nothing but with Him, I have everything. Jesus declared and confirmed in John 15:5, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

We should rejoice in the fact that we serve a God of multiple chances. One thing that is true for everyone is that we’ve all failed God. We have all fallen short (Romans 3:23) and God is not obligated to forgive us, but He does anyway!

Throughout the Bible we see example after example of God giving people second chances, but for the focus of this devotional we will highlight one of the minor prophets.

The book of Jonah is a well known story about a prophet that refused to what God told him to do. God gave him a specific mission to tell the people of Nineveh to repent or be destroyed. But Jonah didn’t like Nineveh and wanted the people to experience God’s wrath and judgment. So Jonah ran away from God and ended up spending an all
inclusive 3 day/night stay inside the belly of a fish or as some theologians say, “The Whale’s Belly” (Jonah 1:17).

Still, God gave him a second chance! In Jonah 2 we find the Prophet praying and then shortly thereafter in verse 10 God kindly check’s him out of his amazing bed and breakfast stay.

After his wonderful aquatic stay, Jonah posted a 5 star Yelp and Google review, but not before he obeyed God’s command and completed the work that God originally called him to do.

Contrary to Jonah’s desire, Nineveh responded positively to God’s admonition (repented) and in Jonah 3:10, “He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened.”

Hence my point of encouragement, the only thing that beats failure is another chance.

#BeStrong

#TGBTG

#GodOfSecondChances