Thought For The Day...

"What you think and how you feel is irrelevant to how I live my life..."

- SoSerene

Blessing or Bondage?

What are you calling a blessing that is causing you grief?  Don't get it in your mind that you will never experience a day of pain or displeasure. 

"Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."

I Peter 4:12-13 NLT

However, when reflected upon in totality, there should be joy in living.  It has never been God's intent for us to live a life of consistent misery and grief.  The joy that you experience should be as a result of knowing who you serve and knowing that as a child of God, you have direct access to the blessings that He is willing to freely give. 

“The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭KJV‬

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have."

Philippians 4:11 NLT

Doing things on our own or outside of God's will is when we fall into bondage.  When we are ungrateful about our path of life and we try to expedite processes and make decisions without talking to God, we fall into bondage. As a result of our own efforts, what we call a blessing becomes bondage.  

"Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

Psalms 27:14 NLT

Self Sabotage...

When we ask God to move in an area of our lives, we don't get to dictate to Him how to move.  We might ask Him to open or close a door, to bring or remove someone from our lives, or better yet to help us be more like Him.  However, once His process begins, per our request, we at times act out.  Don't sabotage what you've prayed for because you can't appreciate the process.  

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace....”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ 14:33 NIV

When the Lord does a thing, we may not understand why He does it the way He does, but I believe that He's always days, months, and even years ahead of us.  

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.... so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:9,11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When Abraham questioned God in Genesis 15 about who would be heir to all the blessings that God would bestow on him, there was no need for him nor Sarah his wife to intervene nor act out.  Once the words were spoken from Abraham's mouth, God already set a plan in motion.  But like them, we can sometimes get in the way.  God does not need our help to be God!

Don't sabotage what you've prayed for.  Trust God!  Trust His process. 

To Each His Own...

As my husband and I sat, conversing with another couple this past weekend, this rang out so loud in me - "to each his own."  Not that these good people spoke ill or anything in that regard, but we all are allowed to live our lives as we see fit.  So many times we make comments about what people do, what they drive, where they live and how they decide to make a living.  The truth of the matter is this - no one asked for our opinion nor our commentary.  Your perspective on a situation does not make it gospel, so just allow people to live as they please. If you see someone in a destructive lifestyle and they reject wise counsel, pray for them and keep it moving.

About a year or more ago, I would say, "it is what it is and if they like it, I love it."  I don't want someone scripting my screenplay, so it's not right for me to do it to them.  My mind also went back to a message that my Pastor preached about a week ago called "Stay in Your Lane." God didn't call you to live for or think for someone else. To each his own. Just because they don't do it the way you would does not make their way wrong.  

I Thessalonians 4:11 "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands..."

I Am Filled....

I Am Filled....

I am filled with Joy

I am filled with Peace

I am filled with Courage

I am filled with Hope

I am filled with Truth

I am filled with Patience 

I am filled with Forgiveness 

I am filled with Understanding 

I am filled with Grace 

I am filled with Love

"There but for the grace of God, go I..."

- John Bradford