His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ Matthew 25:23 NKJV
*God will test us with the little things in order to prepare us to handle bigger things. If we can't be trusted with what we have, what makes you think God will give more? Your faithfulness is dependent upon how you treat the little things that add up to be big ones.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
I John 2:5-6 NKJV
*If you keep the word of God in your heart, you can't help but to implement the word of God. Implementing His word enables us to be more Christ-like. Don't just speak about it, be about it. What good is knowing the word if you never use it, or pick and choose when you utilize it? That's not Godly...
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
*Let the light that God placed in your heart shine for His namesake.. He is the focus, and you are the vessel. However, the honor that He receives will allow you to feel His love, & you will be rewarded for honoring Him among all people in all environments. Honoring God and carrying out His will should never cease, no matter what environment or connection you encounter...
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord , and he pondereth all his goings. Proverbs 5:21 KJV
*God is watching how we choose to react to things and people. He is reviewing us to see if we can handle either what we are asking Him for, or if we are ready to go to the next level. How we treat situations now is sowing into our next steps. Remember, in everything we do God is watching and analyzing.
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.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
1 Peter 2:15-16 NIV
*Whatever you do, so it with God being the focus. This will ensure that the motive is right, and it will cause those around you to be silent because there will be nothing to say about positivity. Love freely in God, but don't take your access to grace for granted. Also, don't hide behind pretending to do good in order to hide evil...What is done in secret will be revealed.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Psalm 51:6 NIV
*I love how the word emphasizes the difference between being called in the womb to faithfulness, and you have a choice to choose the wisdom of how to become and stay faithful. Our faith determines whether we fulfil our callings, if we adhere to the assignments that guide us in our callings, and whether we receive all God has for us through obedience and guidance. You have been called for a purpose, but it is up to you to seek the secret place in God and take the time to obtain wisdom.....
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?
Proverbs 3:1-2 (ESV)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
*Many times, we know the word of God. We have even heard some of the passages over and over again with different scenarios, but do you ever wonder why? It should be because God is using this as reminder to actually apply it to your life. What good is the word if you know it, but don't use or act on it? It loses it's power in your life. God is even trying to give you different scenarios on HOW to apply it based upon examples used, and what we see and hear daily. The words are meant to provide guidance, and keep us from living a life filled with more hardship than necessary. Let's be clear: Life will not be perfect, but it sure does not have to be harder than what it is from disobedience. Think about it: People want to stay on a course they know or can even get away with, but what good is that lifestyle if you never reach your full potential or honor God??? It's not Him... It's YOU.
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 12:6-8 NIV.
*We were all given talents,which aid in being a vessel for God. These gifts were not meant to be hidden, but freely given in order to have a live depiction of God's grace and love. Pray about your talent, and ask God about what you can do to show love, and how can you help advance His kingdom.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1 NIV
Lord, help me to be humble when I am wrong and corrected. May the correction be done in love without malicious intent, and may my response be the same. Also, help me to correct others in your in your will.
Ever notice how people become attitude prone when they are corrected, as if what they say should go regardless of if it's wrong or right? There is pride behind that reaction, especially if others have been accepting to their demeanor or thoughts. Even with this reaction, we must still be led on how we handle these people. We must also look to God on what to say or even how to say it. Also, for those who are accepting to poor behaviors, ask God to help you be strong enough to correct in love instead of ignoring the problem.
Lastly, be led on if you should correct it. Just because things are different from what you experience, doesn't mean that it's wrong. Let's be open to receiving wisdom, and understand how to give it as well.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:24 NIV
*It's better to put God first and receive His approval, rather than moving forward with our own plans and receiving disappointment. If God is truly head of our lives, He needs to be put first in all we do. Remember, if God comes first then all things will be added. His thoughts are not ours, and His ways are higher...Why settle for less?
Isaiah 26:9
My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
ESV
*When ppl in the world are busy trying to find fault in others, it is our job as believers to depict God's love while guiding people to redemption. No one needs a constant slap in the face for their mistakes, but they do need guidance and love to prompt the heart to change. How are we depicting that sort of guidance? Helping to elevate others in turn helps to elevate yourself bc what you sow is what you reap. As a believer, ppl will reach out to your light because they long for truth no matter how long they have been in darkness. Will you give it to them, or dim your light due to selfishness or to fit in?
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 KJV
*When we learn to become more rooted and grounded in Him, we do not circum as quickly to temptation and we remember our worth vs what we could settle for...Although we may grow weary, our faith still holds on to the promise even when logic isn't sure of the outcome. Even when you have those weak moments, being rooted in Him will keep us from throwing in the towel. We gain strength in our weakness to continue the good fight of faith, especially when you have had enough and failure is no longer an option. The root in Him today generates hope for tomorrow...#Motivation2NotGiveUp #ThereIsNothing2GoBack2
As we go into the weekend, let's remember not to just focus on our own lives and those we know or take interest in, but those who need are interest to trickle down at the very least as a prayer in hopes of peace and guidance for Paris...
Philippians 2:4-English Standard Version
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
*Understanding the responsibility of being trustworthy as a steward for God is one of the keys to winning souls and taking you to the next level. First, what you current have or who you currently have in your life is who God entrusted you with...Are you aware of the value of that trust? Now, think on these things...How do you treat them? Is it all about you; do you judge or criticize more then help;do you keep things well maintained or groomed; how do you feel or treat who and what you have? What we do with what we currently have determines when we are ready to excel and if we are responsible enough to go to that next level. Remember, God sees all we do including those things that we do to ourselves. Are we representing Him in our stewardship? God is telling us that it is REQUIRED that we be good stewards that are trustworthy; therefore, this is not an option. If you feel as though you are lacking in an area or aren't achieving what you desire, then a good starting point would be to evaluate how you treat who or what you have... Most importantly, is it up to part with God's standards?
Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)
22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
*As you may have heard and know, your name carries a lot of weight... It depicts who you were, where you are today, and can provide signs of where you trying to get to...We call this our reputation. What kind of weight does your name carry? Better yet, is your reputation and weight up to part with God's standards? If we conduct ourselves according to the will of God, no matter what we've done in the past, our name can be wiped clean and depict a new creature in Christ. If we choose not to go this route, our name will reflect who we truly are because that hidden nature behind our name will come out and reflect our true beliefs and intentions...God knew how much your reputation weighs on your ability to minister and reach His people, which is why it holds more value than riches and can provide you with more favor than money can buy. Do you know what reputation your name depicts, and is it a reflection of Christ? It's never too late to make changes, but you have to choose to do so...
We must learn to treat everything with a kingdom mindset...Learn to handle things the way God would, give things back they way you prefer them, and maintain what God gives you as though you are guarding and up keeping it vs wearing it out until it needs to be replaced. You see, you can't be trusted with greater if you aren't a good steward over what you currently have...What are you trying to get to, keep up with, and how are you maintaining and edifying to get to the next level? #SundayWord #ProgressIsAProcess #HowAreYouREALLYHandlingYours? #ThisIsNotJustYourBody,But #YourBelongings #AndThoseYouEncounter
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body
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