God MUST Come 1st!!!

I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:8‭-‬11 NKJV

*No matter where I go in life or what I accomplish, God is my foundation and will ALWAYS come first. He is who put me there, and we have to always keep His purpose in mind in order to keep Him first. I prosper because of Him alone. When my soul prospers, I prosper. I am only prepared because of His wisdom and training, and I will always be His humble servant..All praise goes to Him.

Permissible vs Perfect

Wait on the Lord ; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord ! Psalms 27:14 NKJV

*It is so much better to wait on God than settle, or step outside,of His will. Choosing His guidance and perfect will is going to lead to fulfillment. Choosing your own way, aka the permissible will, always leads to satisfaction for a moment. Temporary satisfaction is no comparison to fulfillment in God.

Multiplication From a Career & Purpose Perspective

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. Matthew 25:15‭-‬18‭, ‬20‭-‬25‭, ‬27‭-‬28 KJV

*May we not waste the talents and resources that God has given us, especially due to fear. We have a job to do, a purpose to fulfill, and the generation of more resources to gain. We are more than a daily routine, and stagnation. Why are you REALLY here, and what should you be doing FOR REAL? What equity/blessings does God have for you???

Coming Into Focus

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 KJV

*It's so easy to become disgusted by people, news, ignorance,  etc. However,  we must train our minds to focus on God's good works, and the positivity He placed in us in order to receive His promises.

Death to Our Expectations 4 Life in His

This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. II Timothy 2:11‭-‬13 NKJV

*To me, this is a new year's resolution all by itself: Dying to self in order to go deeper in God. God has so much for us, and it is often depicted and given in ways we do not expect. However, we must die to our own expectations, and ask God what are His? Are your plans and resolutions of God, or of your own doing? Don't waste ANYMORE TIME & EFFORT ...

Current Situation vs Faith

“Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” Luke 1:25 NKJV

*God will rectify the thoughts of others by turning you into what they never dreamed you would be, or giving you something or someone they didn't think you would obtain. Don't listen to what others say, or what you currently have and see...Believe what God promises...

Pleasing God

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 NKJV

*God works in us for His will, but also for His enjoyment. You are pleasing God when you are on the path that He placed you on vs doing your own thing. Stay covered by God, and in His good graces...He is worth it!

Hope

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:24‭-‬25 NKJV

*What we hope for and desire should go beyond what we see...Tap more into the supernatural capabilities of God, and believe in receiving what goes beyond your imagination. People simplify God based on what they know and have experienced...People also don't give Him enough credit. You believe for the impossible in one area, but limit Him in others. I say we must train ourselves to constantly believe for the impossible, and put our faith into action.

Believe & Receive

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 NKJV

*No matter what we think or how we feel,   we have to remember God's capabilities and His promises. His word does not come back voided. The key is patience, obedience, and faith...

God's Money

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

*Whoever said that you can't enjoy what God gives you is lying. Be guided with your property, and put Him first, but otherwise humbly enjoy. He entrusted you with it, so don't let anyone make you feel guilty for having it.

Who is Priority in Your Life?

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33 NIV

*When you remember to take care of God's house, even more so than your everyday job, He will take care of you. Volunteer at church by using the gifts you were given as you seek Him, and the rest will be added.. He should be first in our lives. After all, God is the one who gave you that job and those blessings.

Being Budget Conscientious

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

Proverbs 27:23 NIV

*Every pay check, I take the time to ask myself about my savings, review my payoff goals,  and budget for a treat if I can afford it.  All this comes after paying my tithes and my bills. I know sometimes we desire to do things, and your eye is set on specifics, but being aware and real about your situation is far more important  than any moment  of shopping pleasure. Plus,  if you do the right thing by God, He will always give you what you desire at the right time. Even when you have overflow, if you embrace the wisdom of a budget,  you still do not allow yourself to be ripped off by over-priced things. Take the time to really review your financial situation. Now,  ask yourself what do you consistently see... Does God come first?  Do you give as He leads you in order to enhance your harvest?  Are you too lax in your giving without keeping account into your responsibilities, and whether it's your own doing or God's?  Do you limit yourself based on your budget instead of faith?  Are you selfish? Does business come before pleasure? Keep track of where you are today with a budget and plan more in order to be more financially free tomorrow, and build upon you and your family's future.

Believing in Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2 NIV

Be watchful because you trust that God will bring it to pass, and be thankful through faith that it's already done.

Desires that Inspire

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

*Psalm 149:4 NIV

God loves us, and wants to see us prosper. He has no intentions of seeing anyone fail, but the prosperity through Him lies in His will for our lives.  Whenever He blesses us, there is a purpose behind it. This purpose coincides with being a blessing to others, being a testimony on His behalf,  and it is meant to aid you in the next step He has for your purpose on Earth. Consider your blessings the gate way to the next level in God no matter how big or small...Rather it be just Him showing you love to an assignment behind it,  He has many promises for us. The question is are we willing to take the time to spend with Him to see what He has for you? Go deeper in God, and the "stuff" will follow.

Direction

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:23‭-‬24 NIV

*We all have fallen short in comparison to God's way of telling us to live, but it's important that we don't stay there. We have to realize that God's grace gives us the option to move on and forward in the right direction. It's up to us to take the opportunity, and not keep doing the same things habitually that get us no where.

Logic Isn't Limitless

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:8-9, 12 ESV

*Obtaining God's promises and following Him is not going to be some logical road all the time where everything lines up and makes sense. Even more so, the answer may have nothing to do with your thoughts/feelings + the opinion of your friends + what makes sense...God is not someone you place in a box nor a predictable individual. Therefore, why confine the possibilities that He can bring you to one or a few options? See the possibilities, but be led by the unctions of the Holy Spirit. .

His Will, Not My Way

James 4:2 (NIV)

You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

*God spoke volumes in this verse today, highlighting all the efforts we put forth to obtain what we want while never doing the simplest method of all: Asking Him. Think about it: We overwork ourselves, over think, whine when others obtain what we desire, cry, formulate plans of action, try new methods, but we often don't adequately run things by the Father to first see if it is even His will or discuss how should we really go about obtaining our desires. Look at how much turmoil and unnecessary strains we put ourselves through, when all we have to do is just ask Him and wait to be guided. At times, we even cause unnecessary hardship to come upon ourselves because we don't wait long enough. God also wants us to be specific, but ask Him if our specifications are in line with His word, will, and way. Save yourself the drama and extras by learning to live with His guidance and talking to Him, rather than living and learning the hard way. Please, pray for each other in this area. I know I have fought unnecessarily hard enough, and I hope you have too.

Commitment

Psalms 37:5-6 (ESV)

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 

*If we commit ourselves to God, our lives are brightened and all that was taken from us will be redeemed before the day is up. By choosing God, everything we aren't sure about becomes clear and the answer illuminated....We are no longer in darkness about our situations when we surrender to Him. The answer stands before us as clear as noon, and as quickly as lunch time arrives when we dedicate ourselves to God. What is it that we need to remove in order to be more dedicated? What is keeping us from hearing the answers? What do we trust in more than God's word? Ask God...

The Truth will Set You Free

Proverbs 16:1-2 (NIV)
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.

*God has an answer for every plan we try to come with, and every idea of that we believe is right. We all have a way of justifying what we do, or finding a reason for making a choice even when we know in our heart it's wrong. However, God looks at your heart and the truth that reins in our spirit to depict our real intentions and motives. We must learn to align our hearts with God, and listen to the Holy Spirit for what should be done rather than what we believe should be or needs to be done. God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are higher...He also knows the beginning and how things will end. Wouldn't it be better to trust Him? Don't make the mistake of leaning to your own understanding because you think it's right... There are a million and one ways to be blessed...Don't you want God to give you the best option? Plus, how many times have we fallen more so than triumphed when we start trusting in ourselves only? Be truthful with yourself, and listen to the Father.

Reassurance to Persevere

Colossians 1:11-12 (ESV)

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

*For me, Hump Day feels more like a mountain to climb rather then reassurance of the fact that it's the middle of the week. No matter how we feel, even if you are on your last leg, the presence of the Lord is still near and His power can strengthen. In the midst of our weaknesses, we are suppose to have faith and give thanks in advance for the removal of our transgression. Today, let's not only pray to tap into his strength, but pray that others will find the ability to press in as well. Remember, the larger the trial the bigger the blessing...Please join your faith with mine that we see beyond the circumstance and tap into the opportunity that is at the threshold.