Who Are You Going To Agree With?

Many people feel inadequate to do anything meaningful for God. But God doesn’t see you as inadequate, He sees you as completely able and fully equipped to do whatever He’s called you to do.

One of my favorite Old Testament stories is of Gideon. He was hiding from his enemies. He was afraid and didn’t feel prepared to do what God called him to do. He was focused on his circumstances and his limitations, but God was focused on what He could do through Gideon if he would just surrender and be willing.

Gideon felt weak, but God saw him as strong. Gideon felt unqualified, but God saw him as ready to do the job. Gideon felt insecure, but God saw him as full of boldness. Even when Gideon was telling God all that he was not, and how wrong God’s decision to use him was, God addressed him as, “Mighty man of fearless courage.”

God saw what Gideon COULD BE if he would accept the opportunity God was calling him to. Then sure enough, when Gideon got in agreement with God’s plan for him, against all odds, his situation ended in victory.

Today, what has God called you to do? Remember, it isn’t about how qualified you feel. It isn’t about how talented you are. When you believe God instead of what the enemy is using your circumstances to tell you, that’s when His power becomes available to you. That’s when He can work through you and bring about greatness in every area of your life!

Choose Your Friends Wisely

Sometimes, in order to embrace the destiny God has in store you have to be willing to make some changes in your life. You have to be willing to examine where you are and what you need in order to move forward. This may mean that you need to change some friends that you’re spending time with. The bible says, “Do not let anyone fool you. Bad people can make those who want to live good become bad.”

Maybe they were fine for a season in your life, but now you’ve outgrown them. This is a new season, and in order for you to rise higher you have to break away from relationships that are limiting you. You have to develop some new relationships with people who are going to pull you up and inspire you to rise higher.

This doesn’t just mean separating yourself from people who are holding you back spiritually. I’ve found that if you’re the smartest one in your group, your group is too small. Find people who will challenge you to stretch and grow to the next level; to help you become everything God’s created you to be.

The bible also says, “The person who walks with the wise becomes wise.” Choose your friends wisely and don’t be deceived. Surround yourself with people who will inspire you to rise higher so you can live in the fullness of blessing God has planned for you!

Devine Confidence Instead of Condemnation

In the natural, when we’ve wronged someone, it feels easier to avoid them than to face the discomfort or embarrassment of having to make amends. It isn’t surprising that people sometimes have this same approach to God.

Some people think they should keep their distance from God simply because of the mistakes they’ve made. But nothing could be further from the truth! God’s not mad at you; He’s madly in love with you!

Your loving, heavenly Father is waiting for you with open arms. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or how people have misrepresented Him to you; know that His goodness is what’s drawing you to Him.

Don’t let condemnation (whether in your mind or that which has been spoken over you by ill-advised people) keep you from turning to God. Trust His kindness. Trust that He wants you to experience His goodness.

Today, let this truth sink deep down into your spirit: Your Creator has promised He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. Turn to Him and let Him pour His loving kindness on you and empower you to walk in that boldness and divine confidence all the days of your life!

How To Develop Wisdom

After Jesus was born, the bible tells us that wise men came from the East to bow before Him and worship Him. They went to great lengths just to get a glimpse of the child and traveled a long distance for many months, following the star. When they saw Him, they were so overwhelmed it says they fell on their faces to honor and worship Him.

The bible also says, “Reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” That means that we should have a reverential honor and respect for Him – just like the wise men did. I don’t mean we must never feel relaxed and comfortable with Him. I myself affectionately refer to God as “Dad” all the time.

I didn’t grow up with a Dad so it’s comforting and heart-warming for me to embrace God as a loving, ever-present Father like my Mother depicted Him to be.

We achieve wisdom in the way I mean when we set everything else in life aside in order to seek our Creator. We are wise when we worship Him and give Him everything that we are. We are wise when we take time to honor Him.

Today, choose wisdom by choosing to put Him first in your heart, your mind, your emotions and your actions. Remember, God is a “Rewarder of the people who diligently seek after Him.” As you continue to put Him first in all you do, you’ll increase in wisdom and discernment, and you’ll move forward into the life of blessing He designed for you.

Peace, Be Still

Have you ever thought about the fact that a boat can be surrounded by water, sailing through a vast ocean with water for miles in every direction, but it’s not any problem unless the boat starts taking on the water? If the boat starts allowing the ocean to come inside, it will sink.

The same principle is true in life. You can have trouble all around you – stress, frustration and worry. But the good news is, just like that boat, you don’t have to allow what’s on the outside to get on the inside.

When difficult times come, you don’t have to be overwhelmed by the waves of worry or fear. What should you do? Follow the example of Jesus. The bible says, “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” When He was in the midst of the storm, He stood up and spoke to the storm.

Always remember, no matter what storms may come against you, the Creator of the universe lives on the inside of you. Turn to Him and walk in His power. Don’t let the storm in. Speak peace to every area of your life!

Blessings Are Chasing You Down!

If God were to show you right now all the good that He has in store for your life, I believe it would boggle your mind. He is shifting things in your direction. Expect new and unprecedented favor to come your way!

Regardless of your circumstances, you don’t have to spend one more day of your life worried, uncertain or stressed out. You’re too blessed to be stressed! That’s more than a catchphrase. It’s the truth of God’s promises.

The bible says, “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.” One translation says that blessings are “chasing you down.” When you seek after God you’re like a magnet. It draws in the favor of God. Creativity, promotion, influence, resources and divine connections are all drawn to you because you’ve become a magnet for God’s goodness!

Because of Jesus, you have been made righteous before God and the bible says, “blessings reward the righteous.” Your righteousness is not based on your own good works – it’s based on the work Jesus did on your behalf.

Wholeheartedly put your faith in God. If you’ll put aside worry and stress and just trust God, you’ll discover those blessings you’re looking for. Here’s a very important key to remember: You don’t have to seek the blessings. Seek God and the blessings will seek after you!

The right people will find you! Promotion will come your way! That life-changing opportunity will track you down! You don’t even have to track down the blessings – keep Him first place, and God promised that He will bless your life in ways you can’t even imagine!

Your Season of Grace

God will never ask you to do something without giving you the ability to do it. But when we’re passive or complacent and think, “Yes, I know I need to do that. Maybe next week,” well, next week turns into next month. Next month turns into next year.

When we put off what God has told us to do, we miss that season of grace. But if you’ll deal with things as soon as God brings them to light, you’ll have a special grace, a special empowerment. You’ll feel God’s enabling power helping you to do it.

Think about it, is there something you’ve been putting off? Something you know in your heart that you’re supposed to do? Don’t let your season of grace pass. Don’t keep going around that same mountain by yet again letting your opportunity to overcome slip through your fingers.

God has something amazing in your future! Be bold enough to address what He’s called you to do. Be strong enough to stop putting it of; go ahead and do what it takes to get to your next higher level. Step out in faith, be obedient and watch as God promotes you into abundant blessing!