Worth the Wait

I wait for the Lord , my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. Psalms 130:5 NKJV

*Sometimes we desire something that feels like it will never come...Notice that I said FEELS...That doesn't mean that feeling is true. While we wait on things that we do not have the ability to change without God's grace and intervention, we have to use His word as encouragement and strength. Even if you have to Google scriptures on the topic, do not grow weary or complacent...Wait on the Lord. His strength is made perfect in your weakness, and anything He has for you is worth the wait. Don't settle for a cheap copy or knock off...Wait on the real McCoy.

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.

Level Up vs Throwing Up

https://youtu.be/8LLYfzhK5Xw

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.

We Shall Not Want with God's Guidance

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Psalms 23:1‭-‬3 NKJV

*We will not want for instructions or directions because God is there as a Shepard that guides us. He tells us what to do next, where to go, and helps you avoid the unnecessary when we submit to His will. Notice how He sounds so helpful, and all we have to do is just obey. The reward of obedience is restoration, but the whole point is for His will to be done.

Building Yourself According to God's Direction

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: Matthew 7:24 NKJV

*Following and actually obeying God is like preserving yourself from harm and unnecessary hardship.

God's Got It

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. I Peter 5:8‭-‬9 NKJV

*Honestly, it doesn't give me comfort to know others suffer like me, but it is a reminder that there is no problem that is new to God...There is also nothing He can't handle, and deliver us from...

Going in the Right Direction

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalms 119:105 NKJV

*God always makes sure we do not stumble, or travel in the wrong direction if we just trust Him. Even when I wonder whether or not I am still going in the right direction, I have to remember to stop allowing confusion to be a distraction and follow His light. I'm so thankful for God's guidance, even when I am unsure of the destination or more arrival time.

Sobering Focus

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11‭-‬12 NKJV

Living a godly lifestyle keeps our minds focused on the right things, God's guidance, and our purpose. This is what it means to be sober minded...You see what is of God, what is really important, and do not become distracted by little things entities that can get you off course. I personally have to remind myself of this,  and when I feel weak I pray harder and God sends the right people to keep me sober. We can become "drunk" with things that are designed to make us upset, catch us off guard, the baby crap of the ignorance of other people. However, when your mind stays on God, you care less and less about those things that never mattered from the start. Revamp and refocus with me...Our life and purpose depend on it. What is distracting you?

We've Overcome Sin Through Christ

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:23‭-‬24 NKJV

*Notice that the word sin is in past tense, meaning that if we choose Jesus  Christ, we are no longer a prisoner to sin. We have the power to combat and overcome it through Christ. Thank God for His sacrifice through the death and resurrection of our Lord.

God's Removal of the Unnecessary

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV

*Definitely ready for the removal of the former things in order to move forward. I refuse to go in an endless circle and cycle with the same type of people and same scenarios. God promises us an expected end, and I expect the best and refuse to deal with things that I don't have to suffer with.

Keep Your Mind at Peace and Heart Clear

bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:13 NKJV

*Today, I am working on not just forgiving others, but not sweating the small stuff. So many people judge me who don't know me because I do not operate the way they want me to, or give them attention. Yet, they are the ones who are the individuals they assume I am...I am not stuck up, but cautious. I don't waste time with people who only want my attention for selfish reasons, or do not wish me well, and I am entitled by my Father in Heaven to exercise wisdom to date to be different and exude my purpose rather then attention whore on social media or be there for people who are cliquey or have a one track mind. You see, when you love for real and have an open mind towards all, people can't understand or cope with it and try to hurt you. Love, but guard your heart...Waste no time on people who assume who you are, rather than getting to know you; and love from a distance so you can keep growing and not be stagnant with people who want you to be a puppet or complacent.

Stop Repeating

The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” John 4:15 NKJV

*When she chose the water that Jesus gave her, it was a solution for a permanent fix rather than a quick solution for a temporary fix. Allow God to give you permanent solutions...No one has time to keep fixing or dealing with the same thing over and over again.

Darkness 2 Light

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. I Thessalonians 5:5 NKJV

*My heart aches to see how the enemy has tricked some people into believing they are stuck in darkness...How they believe there is no other way, but God is the way, the truth, and the light...You always have an option, and a way out. I don't care if you've hit rock bottom...There is no where to go, but up in God. Read His word, and ask Him how to apply it to your life and situation.  If I can go from homeless to being well, so can you even in other areas. We all have been sucked into lies, and tried it our way. Why not try it His way???

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!

Peace be Still

Food 4 Thought: Matt. 8:23-27

Jesus slept through the storm, and only rose to calm it after someone was in fear. He then went on to rebuke the winds, and reminded the disciples that they were capable of doing the same; therefore we have a few options: Rest in Him to believe all is well; Depend on Him for help during times of need; Remind ourselves that we are greater than anything that the unbalanced world can throw at us.....OR, you can forget what you believe and live in fear. What will you choose?

Trust, Peace, and Protection

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. I John 4:4 NKJV

*God is greater than amy element, person, or circumstance in this world. All His greatness to dwell inside of you to overcome anything that tries to come against you. God being on the inside of you is more powerful than any combat you can initiate on your own....

Protection from Small Foxes

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Protect yourself from hurts and people God did not send to you, but don't forget the small foxes as well...The music, movies, talk, discouragement, and any other entities that are taking a toll on our thought process. This is not to say you can't do things, but know what is hindering you... Especially if it's individuals or even our own emotions.
After, we know what's hindering us and what isn't. Even more so, protect yourself from dwelling on your life experiences...These are the things that can keep you complacent, take away your belief in God's power, cause us to utilize worldly rationalization instead of walking in truth, and prevent us from letting go and going deeper into God's guidance instead of our own plans. What are you to comfortable with? What do you keep doing that prevents you from moving forward? How do you let people effect you, instead of clinging to God?

Follow Peace and NOT What's Practical

The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

Deuteronomy 28:13 NIV

*It's a new year, but you may still feel the same or be faced with the same issues or aspirations. Perhaps the new year has inspired new motivation or new ideas for the situation, or perhaps the year being new doesn't matter because you're still looking at the same stuff. Either way, it's understandable and the common theme between both states of mind is "what's next," and/or "how do I get there?" First,  no matter where you mind is, you have to remind yourself of the promises of God and how He views you. Next, submit to listening to God by praying and focusing on receiving an answer with peace, and not incorporating your own thoughts or plan of action. If we look back on why things have not come to pass,  it could be because of our own doing and thinking versus being solely reliant upon His guidance and being obedient. If you plan anything this year, start with letting go and asking for guidance from God... Then, follow peace: Not anxiety, not things of your own experience, not what feels good, and most certainly not what is practical.  Clear your mind, take God out of a box, and praise for all He has done and is capable of doing and not what you want Him to do.. That's when clarity comes.

Oh, How He Loves Us

Matthew 1:23 ESV

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us). 

*God loves you so much that His son was born to not just save you, but connect with you. God understood us inside and out prior to coming to this world, but He loved us so much that He desired to be relatable to us.  Even after the resurrection and leaving the Holy Spirit, He promised to never leave us no matter what you do. I personally don't know your circumstance or heart this Christmas, but I do know that God can soften it, change things around for you, and alleviate you if you trust in Him more and follow Him. He has been my best friend since I let Him in and truly followed Him, and I wouldn't trade the connection for anything in the world. We all could stand to become closer to Him. Will you meditate on how much He is there for you this Christmas season?