Where is your treasure stored up?

1 Timothy 6:10-11 KJV
[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Here we go! The number one thing sought out more than Jesus Christ is money. Sadly we need it to function in society. In order to have food, clothing and shelter it is a must. Oh to have lived in the Garden of Eden where clothes weren’t even mandatory. All of the food needed for nourishment was provided and readily available. The Garden was a testament to God as our Provider. Which was just the beginning. There are plenty of testimonies of God providing for people. He sent manna from heaven for the children of Israel. He fed the five thousand with two loaves and five fish.

Those are just the well known stories. God had no desire for his children to suffer and be hungry or homeless. However, with the introduction of sin and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden, mans circumstances have gone downhill. Instead of having everything we need provided for us, we had to begin producing food on our own. Figure out how to provide shelter to protect ourselves from the elements and predatory animals (and people). It was all prepared and well thought out before the fall. Now, not only are we out here trying to survive, provide protection and shelter, we have given up our ability to provide food for ourselves. We have become reliant upon governmental and societal institutions to take care of us. Everything became monetized and the more we grew as a society, the more things cost. The more things cost, the more we need to make. The more we make, the more we want. It’s a never ending cycle.

What people don’t understand is that, this passage of scripture is not just talking about people that gamble or steal. Not just talking about scam artists and big corporations that pretty much take advantage of average, hardworking people. This is not just talking about in the natural. We have allowed money to become our idol. We would rather work than go to church. We have allowed money to take precedence over our relationship with Christ, over our role and our purpose in the kingdom. It is a sin to make anything an idol above God, he is a jealous God and He even said in the ten commandments that “thou shall have no other Gods before me”. Israel was punished many, many times for her idolatry. She was called a harlot for chasing after other gods.

Money causes us to be discontented with what we have. Society is always showing us what we are missing. Society is always showing us that there is something out there that’s better than what we have and because of this, we are never satisfied. Now, we can say out of our mouths that we are happy we don’t need anything else, but let the next version of your favorite thing get released. Let you have a bad week and you decide you need some “retail therapy” to make you feel better. Be up late one night on amazon, because you can’t sleep. Scrolling on IG or TikTok and see someone promoting something. We buy all kinds of things that we don’t necessarily need, we just want it. Know that there is a distinct difference. It all boils down to motives and heart posture. And then in order to pay for it all, we have to work more hours.

Yes we need money to get by in this world, but if Jesus could send Peter to go fish and pull a coin from the fishes mouth to pay his taxes, he can do the same thing for us. We think to small when it comes to God. We serve an awesome, all powerful God. Yet, we would rather struggle in our own strength to buy the things that we want and need instead on depending on the Creator. When you depend on him, you begin to see what’s truly important and what’s not. You begin to realize just how much of an adulterer you are when it comes to your relationship with the Father. You will begin to see just who your faith is in and who you truly trust.

What can satan give that God doesn’t already possess?

Psalm 37:4 KJV
[4] Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Come on Daddy!! So, yesterday we talked about not giving in to temptation because if Jesus could be tempted without sinning, so can we. Today! Today, he’s saying, if you delight yourself in me. If you seek my joy. If you take on my yoke. If you can find joy in purpose. If you can be happy without all the things, but happy in me…..I’ll give you what you want. Granted, that’s only if it will not bring you harm, it won’t kill you, it won’t kill or hurt anyone else, and it’s in my will…I got you. Now that seems like a long list of buts, but hear me out. When you surrender your life to Christ, the things you use to want, you no longer want anymore. You only want the things make God happy. You are no longer materialistic, you are no longer desperate for marriage or companionship, you are no longer hurt and broken seeking revenge. You are no longer the person you use to be. That old man is dead. That empty vessel that the enemy thought he could keep using is no longer at his disposal. It’s no longer vacant. It’s no longer available. It’s filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s filled with hope, joy, love, praise. Come on somebody!

When you surrender your life to Christ and seek him out. When you chase after him through his word. When you trust and love him unconditionally. When you walk out your faith through that thing he purposed in you, you come to know the heart of God. Your heart is in sync with his. What brings him joy, brings you joy. What he loves, you love. Therefore, what he wants for you, you want also. That powerful ministry of marriage, that anointed child, that job that will greatly impact the Kingdom bringing in many lost souls, that blessed business and business savvy partner. Whatever it is you’ve been praying for and waiting for, it will be yours.

We don’t have to turn to the enemy and sell our souls for the lies he offers. We don’t have to compromise our beliefs. We don’t have to settle for less than we are worth. We are the sons and daughters of the Most High. Everything the enemy offers us belongs to God, so how much more can the creator give us than that which was created? Have mercy! The same thing with man. We give too much credit and power to man. We hand over our rights, we silence our voice, we hide our beliefs to fit in and not stand out. The word says, in Matt 10:33, But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. It also says, Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD, in Jeremiah 1:8. He even says, Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them, in Jeremiah 1:17. Can’t get no plainer than that.

He wants to be our provider. The things that the enemy offers are only temporary. The things of the Lord are eternal and you get to keep your soul. You get to be a blessing to others. You get to be an example of God’s love, and grace and mercy. You get to be an example of what obedience to Christ looks like. You get to reveal what a surrendered life really looks like and debunk all the excuses. Wen you delight in the Lord, the enemy has no power over you or your life. He has nothing to hold over you to make you feel guilty. He has nothing to use against you. Yes, he can still attempt to tempt you, but when you delight in the Lord you get to a point where you just laugh at the enemy and tell him “you’re gonna have to do better than that.” That is the best feeling, when the things he use to throw at you no longer work and you don’t have to be upset with yourself and ashamed that you fell again. You don’t have to beat yourself up, crying and praying for forgiveness. Hallelujah!!

How much do we depend on other people to make us happy? How often do we half do what God asked us to do expecting a full miracle? Come on Jesus! He’s waiting on an authentic, trusting, loving relationship with you. He’s waiting for you to surrender it all. He’s waiting for you to recognize that through your temptations, the enemy can only satisfy what you desire temporarily. God can fulfill your every hearts desire according to his riches in glory. The choice is yours.

He did it, so you can too

Hebrews 2:18 KJV
[18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

I don’t know if anyone ever sees the patterns when Daddy takes me down a particular theme. So, yesterday we talked about the hows of our temptation. How the enemy collects data by stalking us and watching everything we do. So the weapons and traps and temptations that he sends our way are tailor made from our characteristics. He has studied us so thoroughly, that he can send something our way and have us utterly believe that it was our own idea/ choice. I use to pride myself on being a “cougar” (don’t judge me) and I believed myself to be an equal opportunity lover. I had no “preferences” when it can to race or ethnicity. I just knew what I liked, but so did the enemy. It occurred to me as Daddy has been revealing more stuff to me, that even the men that I encountered were sent as distractions. Both as a test and a distraction, it was my responsibility to flee from sin, to rebuke the enemy, and deny my flesh, but I wanted what would make me feel good. I wanted that thing that made me feel like I was in control.

I don’t know if anyone knows, but people that have been sexually abused do not become promiscuous just because they want to. It is done (from my experience) to regain a form of control in our lives, but even that is an illusion. When someone forcefully takes something from you, you constantly feel like your life is out of control. So, being able to pick and choose the people you will give yourself to is empowering. Sadly, even that was strategically orchestrated for your demise, for your downfall, for your destruction. It was beautifully wrapped like a gift and presented to you with a bow. Unbeknownst to you, it was a poison apple in disguise. Concealed in the thing that catches your eye, that thing that you are immediately drawn to no matter what. That thing that you can smell, feel, sense, follow and find almost on autopilot. That thing that calls to you like a beacon in the dark. That thing that you can not resist, like a moth to a flame, even to your own detriment. These things are lain in your path to trip you up, make you stumble, and possibly fall. The enemy makes it so tasty, so to your liking so he can keep you distracted for longer periods of time. That toxic relationship that you stayed in way too long. That job that you worked at too long. That one sided friendship that you tolerated way too long.

The point is we are not special. Jesus was also tempted. The enemy offered him the world if he bowed down to him. People don’t believe that there is a group of influential, rich and famous people that have all sold their souls and that’s fine, but you best believe that the enemy is offering people the same thing he offered Jesus if they would just bow down to him. Those that seek fame and fortune have surely done just that. If the enemy tempted Jesus, he would definitely do the same to us. The enemy has us so brainwashed, we refuse to believe anything that could slander him. Those things that are demonic and not of God have been twisted to look like they are good. So, when people come out and tell the truth, people refuse to believe it. There have been plenty of celebrities that have confessed that they sold their souls and/ or have been possessed and there are still many people that don’t believe it. Anyway, we are all tempted by something. He uses the information that he curated to send the perfect temptation our way.

If Jesus could refrain, why can’t we? He was been tempted at his weakest moment. After having fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, the Holy Spirit lead him into the wilderness to be tempted and tempted he was. Not once, not twice, but three times he was tempted in the same night. He was tempted with food, because the enemy knew he was hungry after a fast of that magnitude. He was tempted to test God. He was tempted to do something stupid to test God’s patience and his protection. He was tempted with the power and wealth of the world if he would just bow down to the enemy. Even after being tempted three times during his weakest moments, he still managed to refrain from giving in. He knows what temptation is, so he is able to assist us and support us in our time of distress. Not only can he assist us and support us, he will make a way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1). He’s just waiting for us to surrender. He’s waiting for us to stop trying to do things in our own own strength and our own way. He knows what we’ve been through and he’s just waiting for us to ask him for help. The choice is yours.

He still wants it all

Proverbs 3:7 KJV
[7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

It’s so funny how Daddy chooses to talk to me. People complain that he doesn’t talk to them, that they can’t hear him and there are some of us who he never or hardly ever stops talking to. The funniest part is, sometimes what he’s talking about has nothing to do with what you wanted to talk about or have asked about. I said all of that to say, I did not ask for this series for my blog. I didn’t ask for these revelations, but I get it. Sometimes, he puts us on assignment to distract us from that thing that we’ve been worried about or constantly asking about. So, if you find yourself being lead to do something completely opposite of what you want to do or what you’ve been waiting to do, he’s keeping you occupied until it’s ready. Hey! I felt that!

So, he’s continuing on this theme of healing and deliverance. Women carry an exuberant amount of pain and hurt and trauma that we may never speak about. There are some things that we’ve experienced and things that we’ve done that we will carry to our graves. However, the problem with carrying all of that is it hinders us from completely healing. It keeps us from being our true, authentic self in Jesus. It makes us accept certain behaviors as part of our character when it’s only a response to our experiences. It blocks any and all of God’s attempt to heal us or send us who and what we’ve been praying for. It keeps us from having deep, meaningful relationships.

The reason Daddy took me this route today because in enduring, suffering and surviving, we tend to think that we are smarter than we really are. That we are stronger than we really are. The scripture says be not wise in thine own eyes and fear the Lord. What is that saying to us? He telling us that we can’t do everything. We can’t carry everything. We can’t be all things. We can’t hide anything, especially from him. We may be able to fool those around us, but he sees and knows our hearts. He knows the scars we carry; the gaping wounds that won’t heal. He knows our true desires, our intentions, our motives. We can’t hide anything from him. He wants us to turn to him. He wants to heal us so we don’t fall into the traps of the enemy and if we’ve already fallen, he wants us to heal so we can come out out it and flee.

Some people go their whole lives with open wounds with slow leaks. Over time all of their energy, their drive and motivation, their dreams, their hopes and their faith have all seeped out or they’ve freely given it away taking care of others or they voluntarily handed them over to the enemy. Leaving nothing for themselves and even less for God. He sits waiting patiently for us to get tired of being every thing for everybody. He sits and listens to our petitions. He hears as we bare our hearts and our souls, as we cry out to him when no one is around. He listens to all the things that no one else will ever get to hear. He wants to stop the pain, he wants to heal the wounds, we just have to let him.

It’s time to heal, grieve and move on

Matthew 8:16-17 KJV
[16] When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: [17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

I have no idea why Daddy has taken me this route at this time, but here we go. So I asked the Lord why he was revealing this stuff to me now. I thought I was done. Just knowing that all of my suffering was not for naught was enough for me. To know that he called me out of darkness into his marvelous light was enough for me. So, that I could be a light, a beacon if you will for other lost souls that are going through or have been through what I’ve been through.

So, after the revelation yesterday and being stuck all day about it, I was kinda angry. I could have gone the whole rest of my life not knowing the whys of my trauma. Maybe why is the wrong word, the hows maybe. I didn’t need to know how I was singled out and targeted, because I was just a baby. How I carried that mark like an aphrodisiac calling to other depraved spirits to seek me out and hunt me down. How I was made prey. How I was tagged like an endangered species. How by affixing tags, demons can virtually dive, hunt, and migrate with the people they could never otherwise follow, and collect invaluable data. Have mercy! How they watch your behaviors and mannerisms, how you react to certain situations, your triggers, your weaknesses, your favorites. They tailor make the traps and weapons they will use against you according to the data they’ve collected.

I didn’t want to know that my entire life I thought I was in control but I was merely a pawn in my own self destruction and bringing people down with me. Tagging other people with my own twisted, tortured spirit. I looked like I had it all together and honestly I thought I did. I was not delusional about my issues. I was in no way confused about what I wanted, how I wanted and why I wanted it. It’s funny how I always called the men that I encountered my victims. Not even realizing how I was the biggest victim of them all. I thought that I was the predator, when I was being stalked by an elite task force sent by the enemy. He was trying to take my out by any means necessary. However, if the Lord offered me up like he did Job, the enemy knew he couldn’t kill me. So, he was banking on me killing myself.

Admittedly, I thought about it several times. But God! He wouldn’t let it be so. The enemy was waiting for me to catch some incurable disease. He was waiting for me to die in an accident driving while drunk. He was waiting for me to die from my heart condition. He was waiting on me to be killed by being in the wrong place at the wrong time for all the wrong reasons ( which I often was ). He was waiting on one of the men that I dated to take me out because he was possessive and didn’t want anyone else to have me ( almost happened ). But God!

Over and over, I was drawn back to the feet of Jesus. Each time getting better and better. Each time regaining my strength. Each time becoming better able to fight myself and the enemy. That was a battle like no other. Having to fight the enemy and my sinful nature. Fighting agains the desires of my heart. Fighting temptations that I normally would have just given into because I knew it would it would feel good. It would make me feel good. It would satiate the foul spirit in me for a little while. But God would not let me continue down the road to destruction. I was possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed my sickness. He took my infirmities, and bore my sicknesses and he delivered me.

That’s all he wants for al of us. He wants to deliver us from the bondage of sin rooted in the lies and deceit of the enemy so we can help deliver someone else. He wants the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened, that we may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (Ephesians 1: 18-19). Everything we endure is not always pretty. Sometimes it feels like we’ll never heal and the pain will never go away, but we serve a God that specializes in broken hearts and wounded spirits. He’s just waiting for us to come to him with everything that needs to be fixed and healed and mended and put back together. As always it’s a choice and he waits patiently.

Ye though I walk…

Psalm 112:6-7 KJV
[6] Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. [7] He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

Because of what I’ve been through in this season. Because of what I’ve learned about my past, I will no longer be afraid. I won’t be afraid of bad news. I won’t be afraid of uncertainty. I won’t be afraid of being uncomfortable. I decided a while ago that I will no longer run from my calling or my assignments. That I will no longer be Jonah. If I believe God to be who he says he is, I have to trust him. I have to have unshakable faith that can move mountains. I have to be that tree planted by the living waters. I can’t be swept away by the tide or blown over by the wind, because storms are inevitable. You’re either prepared for them, you run from them, or you perish in them.

Perishing does not always mean death. What is worst than death? Separation from God. When you turn your back on him in the midst of the storm, you have separated yourself from the Anchor. He can no longer protect you or keep you grounded. Well, technically he can if he wants to, but you severed ties out of fear and wanting to be in control, because he wasn’t moving fast enough or he didn’t answer the way you wanted him to or you just wanted to do it your way. He will not force himself on anyone. We always have a choice. People get mad when I say that there really is no choice once you accept Jesus Christ. Yea, I know we have free will, but when you accept Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior, you don’t want to do those things that will displease him. You no longer want to do those things that have disastrous consequences. You no longer want to keep going backwards every time you fall.

Once you choose whom your house will serve, you have to stand firm in your choice on the firm foundation that is Christ. Trusting that he will do what he said he will do, that he is who he says he is, that you are who he says you are and that your faith, your love, your obedience has secured your place in heaven. That one of the mansions he prepared is just for you. QUICK DOWNLOAD…have mercy! In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Whhhoooooo Jesus! We are the many mansions. Jesus died for our sins so we didn’t have to. He ascended back to heaven so he could continue to do the work in us, to prepare us for his second coming. So that when he comes, we have been refined and recreated back into his perfect image of us, so that we can be wherever he is. So that we can be with him in heaven.

So, we must first firmly root ourselves in the Lord. we must stay in his presence.We must be obedient out of love for Jesus and our brothers and sisters. We must not fall victim to the lies of the enemy. We must have full faith that God is with us and that he will never leave or forsake us. Which is not hard to do when we look back over our lives and we see everything he brought us through, when we see everything that he kept us and saved us from. He has entrusted you with an assignment, even multiple assignments whether its marriage, children, a career, a ministry, finances. How hard is it to entrust him with your life? I mean after all, he did die for it. The choice is yours.

Don’t be ashamed of what saved you

Romans 1:16-17 KJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Let me tell you! Even as a Seventh Day Adventist I was never ashamed of believing in God. Even though I was teased, it never really bothered me. However, I was angry at God for letting stuff happen to me, but I can’t explain why I never stopped believing. I never stopped hoping that he would rescue me from the hell that I was living. Even though I went and did my own thing, I know that he was always with me. There were plenty of times I should have been dead, but God!

So even now, as I wait for him to keep his promises, I will continue to say what he wants me to say. I will continue to give him praise. I will continue to uplift and encourage my brothers and sisters. I will continue to speak of his grace and mercy, because he has been good to me since the beginning. He has been faithful from the beginning. What happened in my childhood was not my fault, but everything after that was. I made bad choices. I chose to do stuff I knew was wrong and I had to suffer the consequences.

Quick download. I don’t know if anyone knows this, but children that are sexually abused have a higher rate of it reoccurring. The Holy Spirit gave me this quick download. He said, when the enemy failed to take you out the first time; if he was unable to break you and your spirit, he will continue to attack again and again until he does. The evil in those people recognize ….how did he put it? Evil spirits recognize someone that has been touched by another evil spirit. Have mercy. Whatever evil spirit you encountered will be recognized by the same type of spirit in someone else. The same type of spirit that defiled you will recognize that you’ve been touched by one of them and will seek you out to do it again. The same type of spirit will constantly be drawn to you. Not only will they be drawn to you but you will begin to operate in a manner that attracts similar spirits. I was sexually abused as a child, I began to operate in promiscuity. Have mercy! This why you keep repeating the same test or keep meeting the same person with a different face or keep being tempted by the same thing.

This is important so stay with me. There is a reason we should not indulge in premarital sex. The Bible doesn’t say much about it but, when you seek the Lord he will reveal it. So, when I sought out the answer (I wrote about it more in depth in my book), he said keeping yourself to yourself allows your spouse to touch you intimately, soul to soul, without any hinderances, because you touch every spirit that the person you are with has touched and you have no idea how many or what kinds of spirits they’ve touched in their lifetime. Having sex, is the deepest form of bond and connection between human beings spiritually and naturally. Abstaining, your spirit remains pure until someone else touches it. They say that we leave a piece of ourselves with everyone we are intimate with and it’s so true, good or bad. That is how Soul Ties are created and unless you do the work prior to getting married, you are taking all those people and their spirits into your marriage with you.

I know this is deep and maybe even a little unbelievableI don’t even know how I got here, but here we are. So, I had to do the work. Not only did I have to sever the soul ties that I willingly created, I had to break the ones that were created against my will. It was hard work. It was draining, it was emotional, and it was liberating. Those soul ties along with my own demons kept me in bondage. I am not ashamed of the life I lived. I’m not ashamed of the lessons learned. If I had to do it again, I would, because I know the purpose and relevance of my life and my experience to the advancement of the kingdom and the saving of souls. Besides, God has called me righteous because of my faith, despite my past. He has forgiven me and justified me. I was preordained and sanctified for this life and my calling. This walk is not for the weak of heart. It is not for those that are governed by their feelings or their flesh. It is definitely a choice…..

He gave us (plenty of) time

Isaiah 33:6 KJV
[6] And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.

Come on Daddy! Speak to your children! I don’t even know where to start with this one because the book of Isaiah is so representative of current times. Isaiah was called to warn the children of Israel of their wrong doing. How because of their sin a great calamity would befall them, but God would redeem the faithful. It’s so funny how it was the same message for centuries. The Lord kept giving the children of Israel chance after chance, generation after generation. It’s also funny how one ruler would be so into God and his descendants would come and mess up everything they built up through adulterous idolatry and disobedience. How, those that had experienced the love and power of God feared him and obeyed him. Those that only received a second hand account couldn’t relate and had to find out the hard way. Like how our kids don’t take heed to our teachings, though we’ve been through some stuff, they just want to find out for themselves.

Isaiah was tasked with warning them like several other prophets before him. He prophesied of hope through repentance and suffering. He warned of the things to come if Israel did not repent. He also foreshadows the coming of a messiah that would wash away their sins. I got so excited as I read this. It’s amazing how you can read something several times and get something totally different than you did the first time. Of course the first time I read it, long time ago, I read it purely for context. If you haven’t guessed or noticed, I have a thing about the children of Israel, a fascination if you will, because we are like the children of Israel. People can’t figure out how a book written centuries ago is relevant today, it tells our story over and over again. It tells how no matter how many times we fall or fail, if we repent and turn from our sinful ways, God will hear from us, forgive us and receive us back to him. The children of Israel was a hot mess! Over and over they turned their backs on God. They fornicated, they worshiped graven images, they were whores, thieves, liars, homosexuals, rapists, and murderers. They would be warned, they would fall (be conquered and scattered) and once they had fulfilled their sentence, the Lord would bring them back bigger and better. Who does that sound like?

Right now, we are in a spiritual battle like none other. Daddy warned us that our wicked ways would cost us and we ignored him. We continued to do what pleased our flesh. We had a form of Godliness. We went to church on Saturday and Sunday, but the rest of the week we reserved for our own pursuits. We have watched other nations worship idols and prosper, we have coveted the wealth of other kingdoms, we have been jealous of titles and stations, occupations, and statuses. We have completely ignored and forgotten to whom we belong; the King of King and Lord of Lords. He has everything that we could ever need. We are princes and princesses, we are co-heirs to the thrown with Christ. However, like Lucifer, we seek the applauds and accolades of man. We seek validation and unconditional love from fallible creatures instead of an infallible God.

Right now, he had to sit us down, make us take a step back and be still to reevaluate our hearts and our motives; to decide who it is we truly want to serve…..self or Christ. In whom we will put our trust, God or man. He wants to remind us that what we treasure should not be material things, but the fear of the Lord. That having a real relationship with him will afford you all the things you want, in him, if it’s in his plan for you. I know, we want what we want and when Jesus gets in the way of that we turn our backs on him and we do it our own way. Like when we are looking for love and feel we are ready for marriage we start looking without conferring with God who has the best mate for us already set apart. Instead of waiting on God for the house or the car we want, we bust our tails at work to make extra money working in our own strength instead of trusting God and doing his will. We make these impulsive decisions based on feelings and emotions and take God completely out of the picture. Listening to that voice that whispers how much you need it and want it and how much better your life would be if you had it and how God doesn’t want to see you happy, how he keeps all the good stuff away from you. Sound familiar? Perfect example…television ads. They tell you how great something is and how much better you’ll feel once you have it giving you FOMO, making you feel like you’re missing out on something and they use the most beautiful people to make you feel inadequate for not having it. They hire actors to act like it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread and that you have to have it and we fall for it every time.

The enemy does the exact same thing. Hell, he came up with the idea. Thats how he got so many angels to rebel and subsequently fall with him. Not to mention, he is the prince of the airwaves. His greatest attribute is his power to persuade and he too is a beautiful one. Not needing or wanting any of the things he convinces us that we do. How crazy is that. We buy makeup from people that are already beautiful. We buy products from people that are already rich and add absolutely nothing to ours lives, but relieves our insecurities and desire to fit in. We idolize people that couldn’t care less about what we have going on at home. IJS!

The NIV read, He will be a sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. This is what he wanted us to get from this time of isolation and testing. In this time, he should have been our firm foundation. He is the rock in which our faith should be built. He waited patiently for us to come to him, to call on him, to sit at his feet. He waited for us to cry out to him and repent in our suffering. He waited for us to seek out his will and his plan for our lives while it seemed our lives were on hold. All of this would have come from a real relationship with Christ. It would have sprung forth like flowers out of habit when its season has come. This was our season. Some God placed in the shade and others he shown his light on, each according to his own season. Too many people misread his intentions and cursed him and walked away to do their own thing, to do it their own way. Too many people were afraid and trusted man to save them, when all we had to do was trust in him. He was waiting to answer you. He was waiting to give you the plans. He was waiting to lay out the blueprints. He was waiting to reveal your spouse. He was waiting to bless your womb. He is still waiting, the choice is yours.

You can’t afford to be your own god

Colossians 3:3 KJV
[3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

So, look! Let me tell you. Paul was no stranger to telling it like it was. He didn’t believe in biting his tongue. He said what needed to be said. Apparently when we meet him in chapter two of his letter to the church of Colossae, some people were trying to pressure them into observing the Jewish diet, holy days and even the Sabbath, but he told them not to let anyone judge them about what they eat or drink and all that other stuff. He wanted to remind them that Jesus dies on the cross so we were no longer bound by religion and rituals. Somebody better catch this. He goes on to tell them that if they died with Christ and were raised from the dead with him, they are no longer bound by the old obligations.

So, in chapter three were or scripture came from today, he is reminding them what the death and resurrection of Christ means to us. He died for us for our sins, he took our place and when we receive him as our Lord and Savior we also died to the sins that Jesus died for. Does that make sense? We are no longer of the world because he has called us out. Thus we are dead to the world and the only way to have life is through Christ. I hope I’m explaining this properly.

Once again, the Lord says I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father except by me (John 14:6). The only way to live is to surrender your life to Christ and believe in him, because he also said…The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). There was a promise in his death. There are blessing in his death…when you choose him. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

There is nothing you can do or say that would give you the same results as professing that Jesus Christ is Lord and accepting his gift of salvation. None of your busy work, no of your repetitious words and prayers, none of your wrongly motivated titles will give you what God desired for us to have when he sent his son to the cross. He wants us to be worth him. He couldn’t stand the separation that sin caused. He wants us to live eternally with him forever, but we can not live for ever in sin. That’s why he kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden before they could eat of the tree of life. We were made in his image, he is perfect. How could he let us live forever in our sinful nature? How could he just let us be without a plan to return us to him after we were snatched away by lies and deceit and seduced by the pleasures of the flesh?

Even now, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). We are not in competition with, we are not at war with, we are not better than anyone else…these are all tactics used by the enemy to keep us divided and to keep us from being redeemed. He makes things happen to people so they will turn away from God. He will attack those weak in faith over and over until they crumble under the weight and stop fighting. We all know those people; well if there was a god, why did he let so and so die? If there was really a god, why are people homeless and starving? If there really was a god, why does bad stuff happen to good people? Instead of looking at the choices people make. Instead of looking at the corrupt government officials, they would rather blame God. To know Jesus is to come into the understanding of these things. To blame God and not seek him out for the answers is only harming them.

I know I was all over the place with this post today, but so much stuff wanted to pour out of me when I read chapters 2 and 3 of Colossians. I didn’t want it to be a long post so I had to abridge some of it. I pray however, that the point got across. Everything we do is a choice. That includes sin, that includes believing or not believing in Jesus Christ. Believing that he died for us to give us a better life…to live and not die, because the wages of sin is death. Jesus took one for the team and died in our stead. Without him, there is no life and if people believe that everything they have they got on their own, they are sadly mistaken because he maketh the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). He loves us even if we don’t love him and there is nothing ww can do about it. So the choice is yours fam.

It’s already in you

Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV
[18] But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

The first thing that came to me when I read my devotional for today was how God is forever faithful to those that believe in him and love him. This scripture reminds us that he will keep his promises no matter how long it takes. The promises that he made our grandparents and great great grandparents will be fulfilled just as he promised.

It also reminds us that everything we’ve been through, every passion, and hobby has purpose. Whatever it is you were meant to do, he has given you the knowledge and the ability to do. Exodus 31 tells of several men that the Lord gave supernatural wisdom and abilities to so they could do what he entrusted them to do, they way he wanted it done. And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (Exodus 31:3). He has done the same in us. Whatever it is he has called you to do, he has given you the skills so that you are capable to achieve what he put in you to do and it will sustain you and your family.

When he blesses your hands, your voice, your mind, your body…there is nothing you can’t do. It’s all for the advancement of the kingdom, but it’s also to remind us that he cares for us as well and that he has made provision for us. Sometimes it takes a while to understand and figure out what those gifts are. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that God is willing to use us, but know that he doesn’t make mistakes. He knew you before you were formed. He spoke over you a multitude of things that only he can bless and bring out of you. You just have to believe in him and let him do the work in you. There is a saying that says, “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.” Whatever Daddy has given your hands to do, it will not only advance the kingdom but it will make you self sufficient in that you won’t need to work for anyone else. Instead of praying and waiting for God to drop these huge financial blessings, do the work he gave you to do. Whatever is for you will come, in the mean time prove yourself faithful and obedient.

The widow didn’t hesitate when Elisha told her how what to do to sustain her and her son. She immediately went out and borrowed the vessels to pour her oil into and it never stopped flowing. What’s your excuse?

It’s time to put your faith in God and what he says about you. It’s time to stop listening to the enemy and do what you were always meant to do. It’s time to come out of the cities and take the road to the promised land, whatever that looks like for you. It’s time to believe in yourself and the gifts God have you. It’s time to stop letting those around you tell you what you can and cannot do. The only word, the only opinion that matters is that of the one that created you. Trust the Lord with your whole heart, mind, body and soul. He’s got you. He won’t let you fail. The choice is yours.