Follow Christ, Not Intuition

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:25‭-‬26 NKJV

*This is what it's all about...So many people desire to figure things out for themselves, or even worse, give up and become complacent. However, TRULY following Christ regardless of your circumstance provides clarity of life, and helps you see beyond the day to day. Will you choose Him and His guidance? No, it may not always be easy, but hear me when I say it is much easier than being out there in the world. Choose to follow Christ, and embrace clarity. You wont regret it!

Working Out In More Ways Than One

https://youtu.be/o6CdqarLJOk

Real Knows Who Was Sent By The REAL One

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1 NKJV

*This is a very deep scripture because it reminds us not to be naive, and don't be accepting to connecting and being inspired by everyone who talks like they know God. Even the devil can quote scriptures..This is why I say you can love everyone, but some people require love from a distance. Everyone is not meant to speak into your life, be in your inner circle, and know your weaknesses.  You need the right people, sent by God, to pour into you. Don't even allow everyone to influence you because they may have been sent as a distraction. Plus, some experiences were not sent from God, but created by man. Build a relationship with God to recognize His sheep.

Pacing Ourselves in God

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12 NKJV

*May our hearts and minds be synchronized with the time frame of wisdom,  rather than rushing. It is so easy to push pass the process in order to fulfill our to-do list, or pause because the to-do list is too long. Trust God to order your steps...We need Him every step of the way.

Putting Away Bitterness

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31 KJV

*To be transparent,  I have thought about a few negative things, especially regarding those who have done things to you and they try to come back and talk to you. In the back of my mind, I am thinking "How dare you have the nerve to come and carry on a friendly chat, and even think we are going to be friends, after all the lying and rudeness you've done." Truth be told, you don't have to be friends with them. However, you do have to get rid of your disgust, aka bitterness, in order to love them even from a distance. Otherwise, you may be ready to slap them every time. People are a trip, but you don't have to be. Let's allow the love of God to help is find forgiveness, and put away negative thoughts, without allowing it to effect how we please God.

Getting Rid of Bitter Distractions

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15 KJV

*Bitterness is designed to block you from your blessing, and also distract you from focusing on His promise instead of the issue. Remove bitterness in order to remove a blockage that can cause issues later. Ask God for healing and guidance in that area.

Good Character

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. Proverbs 10:9 KJV

*Perversion is always exposed, and meant to embarrass the individual at the least. Practicing good character will keep your name from being tarnished, keep you from misrepresenting God, and avoid exposure. No one is perfect, but remembering whose you are and who you serve will keep you in line.

Character in Christ

A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; Ecclesiastes 7:1 NKJV

*Having integrity is greater than riches because your representation of God, in how you carry yourself, will be what draws souls to Christ or repels them. Who cares if you have money to give away if your credibility is shot? Think on the leadership you've experienced be it in today's time or the past...Now, think about how their behavior influenced people. Even in the news, we have seen very poor behavior that mattered more than the person's financial stability...You can't buy character or a proper connection to our Savior.

Staying in Character

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV

*We all have been there when we want to just let people have it...I mean just give them a good read, reality check, or wake up call. However, at the end of the day, it isn't worth it...The energy you put in to go off while displeasing God only hurts you in the end. You have now allowed that person to take you completely out of your character, when they weren't worth the energy in the first place. Being honest with someone is different from being evil to them, or trying to hurt their feelings. Even more so, being led on what to say is different from speaking out of emotions. The best thing to do is be led in what you say, be aware of the motive behind why you are saying it, and do not let people take you out of your element and change who you are as a person. It is a growth process, but during that growth remember to hold on to peace...No one is worth that aspect.

Pleasing God

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NKJV

*Thank God I am not here to please men because their minds are ever changing. I am here to please God who is the same yesterday, today, and evermore.

Continue to Do Good Regardless of Your Audience

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 NKJV

*Sometimes you grow tired of doing certain things, especially when the behavior is not reciprocated. However, if no one else acknowledges it, please know that God sees you. Allow the attention of the Most High to be the strength that keeps you going...Pleasing Him should be your focus, and He is ultimately the rewarder of those who serve Him with gladness.

Grow in Humility

Humility is the fear of the Lord ; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4 NIV

*Being humble helps you appreciate life more because you remember where you came from, and how only God was and still is the one that continues to guide and help you excel. Your appreciation for His guidance helps you see and value the development process. Be anxious for nothing because being able to see the value through humility will help us appreciate the end result more.

Living Any Ole Way

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:13‭-‬16 NIV

*Many times people believe that they can live any way they choose, and still declare that they are saved and love God. However, we both know that's not true...If you love Him, you won't continue to hurt the Father with practicing sin. Yes, I get that people make mistakes. However, don't confuse a mistake with habitual sinning. Also, we have a calling on our lives, and it's not just to pay bills and die. How you live your life effects your ability to be guided and carry out your calling​ and will of God. It also effects whether you experience all that God has for you in life. Life is but a vapor... Don't waste by hiding behind excused sin because it isn't excused by God.

Serving Through Christ

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:3‭-‬8 NIV

*I love these verses because it reminds us to be humble, understand that we have to work together, and reminds us to serve and do it to our best ability through faith. We all are unique, and were put on this Earth for a purpose. That purpose correlates with someone else's in order to push the agenda of Christ. Are you walking in your purpose, or just living? Do you know your function in the body of Christ? Have you asked God to help you figure this out, and do it to the best of His ability to work through you?

Focus on Today

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34 NKJV

*It is so easy to get caught up in the cares and concerns that you have all week, which distracts us from being focused on the current day. We forget that we must be in tuned to what God is trying to tell us or help us avoid during the current day, and also what is it that He is telling you to do outside of your regular schedule? There is nothing wrong with planning, but when planning overshadows daily guidance and edification then that's when we've missed the boat.

Revenge

“Don’t seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. “Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God .

Leviticus 19:18 MSG

*It's easy to treat others how they treat us... Especially when it's negative. We may even have those moments when we want to get back at someone, or let them feel how we felt or "get a taste of their own medicine." However, that's not the Godly way...I'm not saying you shouldn't guard your heart, love from a distance, or as our Min.Trish says, "Be stuck on stupid." However, "Vengeance is mine," as God says. No one can teach anyone a lesson like God. Therefore, let it go so it doesn't block your blessings, and give it to God.

Live for God

So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

2 Peter 1:5‭-‬9 MSG

*Continuously work on edifying yourself in God. Life was not simply meant for you to get up, go to work, and rack up birthdays until you die. It was meant for you to discover who God called you to be, and figure out what's missing in the earth that you alone were sent here to fix. So many people are looking for blessings each day that they forget about purpose. If you truly put God first, and work for His namesake then the blessings will automatically follow...

Change for God

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:35‭-‬36 NIV

*Don't throw away who God created you to be to fit in with society. Who you are, the part that doesn't go against the word, is necessary for your calling and will aid in helping you recognize and handle your blessings. Don't change because human say you should, and don't try to change others..Allow God to do the guidance and changing. You know what He told you to work on vs what needs to be altered.

Watch Your Connections

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:14‭-‬15 NIV

*No matter how nice they treat you, or no  matter how much of a light you think you will be, we have no business connecting with unbelievers and those unequally yoked. It may not seem like it at first, but it will come back to bite you be it causing more of a struggle that you didn't have to go through..Or, you end up subjecting your heart to things that hinder and/or hurt you. It is our job to guard our hearts. Let God send the right people...Just ask him. Don't take it upon yourself to subject your spirit to everyone. Your growth and next phase in God depends on it...You can't take everyone with you.

Soul Ties

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 15:33‭-‬34 NIV

*"The people in your life can be one of the most important spiritual assets or be one of your worst curses. Those relationships that are a curse to you are toxic." #SoulDetox...Many people feel that they can keep the same people in their lives, but continue to grow in God. This is often not true. If these people are stagnant or causing you to repeat some of the same sins and cycles in your life, then this would be a primary example of bad company. Sure you can love them, but that doesn't mean that you need to include them in your circle. Even Jesus chose disciples to help fulfil His purpose and meet a need. Everyone did not have that privilege. Don't let loving people cause you to love without guidance and love haphazardly. Your growth is influenced by the company you keep, and your mindset is based off of who you are around. You even pick up habits from people who you allow in your life. If you find yourself assuming things about others before getting to know them or not desiring to understand other individuals, that too can be based off who you are around. Open up your heart to be guided by God to the right people, and open your mind to accept individuals outside your normal circle. Your growth and blessings depend on it...