Thunderstorms

Is. 43:2 ~ When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

As I sit here writing in my dimly lit bedroom, outside is a raging thunderstorm. The wind is blowing so harshly that it seems angry. My blinds are knocking loudly against my windows. The endless raindrops are steadily pouring from the sky into my apartment. My window panes are flooded with so much water that rain is literally gushing down the walls onto the carpet. To make matters worse, the thunder is extremely deafening and forceful. Although, I know it’s coming (because of the lightning), the thunder jolts me and stirs a little bit of fear within. Even in this God speaks. In the middle of the storm, God speaks to my heart, “Yes, the storm is loud, boisterous, out of control, and seems to be never-ending, but you know in your heart that it will subside. It will not rain forever. It will pass. Just as with every storm in your life, they will pass. It will not remain this way forever. Just wait it out.”

Many times, the storms in our lives, both public and private are in fact loud, boisterous, out of control, and seem never-ending. However, the Holy Spirit reminded me that this too shall pass, just like every other storm I’ve faced in life. I want to lovingly remind you that the storm you’re in right now, that seems like it will never let up, will indeed pass. Trials, tests, and tribulations are scary, tumultuous, and unpredictable, much like thunderstorms. During these storms, God commands us just as He did Joshua in Josh. 1:9, “To be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” God is with you in the storm, in the battle, in the difficulty, in the unfair treatment, in the disappointment, and in the pain. He’s there and will get you through it.

Both thunderstorms and rain serve a purpose. Their purpose is far greater than our inconveniences and discomfort. God doesn’t check with us to see if a thunderstorm works with our agenda for the day. It just rains until He’s done. Likewise, the storms in our lives serve a purpose. It’s up to us to seek God’s face and ask Him. Word of advice: Never go through a storm and come out empty. God has a purpose for you in your storm (wisdom, understanding, greater anointing, increased faith, maturity, patience, knowing Him, etc.). Cancel the pity party and ask God, What are You saying to me? What are you trying to teach me? What is the lesson here? There is good in your storm. Romans 8:28 declares, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

The Holy Spirit also reminded me that God is in control. He controls the weather including the thunderstorms. So, it is with the storms in our lives, God is in control. He knows how long it will last and He knows how to get you through it. He is aware of your circumstances. We don’t have to walk around frustrated. According to 1 Peter 5:7, we can cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Therefore, cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22). The storm is not permanent, its only temporary. You are in the palm of His hands.

Be Encouraged.

A.M.

Preparation Before Promise: Part 2

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Gen 41:14

In continuation of “Preparation Before Promise,” the Lord showed me something in Gen. 41:14. The Bible says, "Pharaoh sent for Joseph and he was quickly brought from the dungeon." Many times, we try to help God get us to the place of promise. We try to make things happen and only end up frustrating ourselves. Gen. 40:23 says, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” Joseph had to sit in that situation for another two years. However, when it was time for God’s word to come to pass, the bible says Pharaoh sent for him. Joseph didn’t have to con his way out. He didn’t have to manipulate or force his way into destiny. But the Lord, in His perfect timing, caused Joseph to be remembered.

Joseph learned many things in the time of preparation. I believe the following concepts are essential to waiting on God’s promises to manifest in our lives.

Faith in God’s Timing – If anyone knew what it meant to wait upon God, it was Joseph. He was

given a promise as a teen and didn’t walk in that promise until age thirty. He went through various delays and detours. I can only imagine what was going through his mind. Sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, thrown into prison unjustly, and seemingly forgotten. Surely this wasn’t the way God wanted to fulfill His promise. I’m reminded of how God led the children of Israel through the wilderness, not the shorter, easier route. He knew they were not ready (Ex. 13:17-18). So God did the same with Joseph and He’s doing the same with many of us. Does it seem like you’re taking the longer route in life? The more rigorous journey to purpose? If so, be encouraged because God is in control.

Forgiveness – Throughout Joseph’s time of preparation, he was betrayed, lied on, and forgotten about by people with whom he had relationships. He had to learn to forgive and forget. Joseph had to learn to bless those who cursed him, and pray for those who spitefully used him (Luke 6:28). How many of us are still trying to get this right? In the place of purpose, there’s no room for unforgiveness and malice. As we see in Joseph’s life story, God used him greatly to help many people, even those who had betrayed him. How can God use you to genuinely help people if you are holding grudges and malicing them in your heart?

Learn the lessons that God is trying to teach you in your preparation time. You will get to the place of purpose. When you get there is up to you. Stop complaining, ask God what He wants you to learn, and trust that He will bring you out at the right time. Don’t waste your time. The bible says we should walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-16). Be encouraged as God continues to prepare you for your purpose.

Blessings,

A.M.

Preparation Before Promise: Part 1

But Joseph dreamed yet another dream and told it to his brothers [also]. He said, See here, I have dreamed again, and behold, [this time not only] eleven stars [but also] the sun and the moon bowed down and did reverence to me! Gen. 37:9

What an exciting and fulfilling experience it is for God Himself to reveal His purpose for you. It’s a beautiful thing to receive a Word from the Lord. The God of the universe has zeroed in on you to speak to you about His plans for your life. What a blessing! I believe that many of God’s people are in a place where they have received a promise from God, but are in a season of preparation. Or as we like to sometimes call it, “the process.” I believe within that process, there is preparation taking place. In the time of preparation God is building your character and developing your trust in Him. He’s not a God who would set you up to fail. That’s why before He brings you to the place of promise, He has to straighten out the kinks in your character that would cause you to blow it.

There are a few things that Joseph had to learn as a young man before he came into what God had prepared for Him.

1. Humility – As we see in Genesis 37:3, Joseph was loved more than his brothers and he knew it. Their father Jacob treated him as the favorite. In verse 2, the bible says while he was shepherding the flock with his brothers, he brought his father a bad report of them. He was a tattle-tale. Sometimes, we need to learn to cover other people in love and not point out their flaws as if we have none. In verses 13 & 14 we see his father send him to check on his brothers as they were shepherding the flock in Shechem. Why wasn’t Joseph with them already? He was an able-bodied young man; surely he could work. He was spoiled. God gave him 2 dreams about what He had planned for Joseph. In verses 6 & 7, we see Joseph telling his dream to his brothers who hated him. In verse 8, we see their reaction was less than favorable. So why in verse 9 would he brag about having another dream about God’s awesome plan for his life? This young man was the crème of the crop in that family and he knew it. However, he needed to learn humility before God could raise him up. We see this as he went from the favored, spoiled son to a slave and prisoner. What are the areas of your life where you see God is humbling you? Teaching you how to serve rather than be served…learning to submit to authority rather than others submitting to you. A good leader must first be a good follower.
    
2. 
   Reliance on God – As a young man, Joseph was accustomed to being favored by his father, Jacob. But now we see in Genesis 39, Joseph learning to rely on the favor of his Heavenly Father. Joseph prospered in all that he did because the Lord was with him. Joseph had to understand that it was God who kept and provided for him. It was God who blessed him and had a purpose for his life. It was the hand of God on his life that caused him to be favored by Potiphar and the keeper of the prison. Despite of his struggles, he had to learn that God was with him. He had to trust God to bring him to the place of promise despite of what he saw and endured, just as you should. The bible says that “God watches over his word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12). He’s watching over your situation to make sure His word comes to pass.

I believe Joseph went through the process that many of us are going through right now. Be encouraged as you allow the Holy Spirit to work in and around you. Remember, it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Embrace this time and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you in your circumstances. Humble yourself under the Mighty Hand of God that He may exalt you in due season, casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Stay Encouraged,

A.M.

Don't Let Go

And Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. And when [the Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him. Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me. (Gen. 32:24-26).

I just want to encourage all who will read this to be encouraged and continue in prayer. Even as I sit and meditate on these scriptures today, I am encouraged to prevail in prayer. All of our battles are won on our knees in prayer. No matter the situation we are to pray because it is our lifeline to God. We see in this scripture Jacob wrestled with the Angel of God all night. He refused to let the Angel go until He blessed Him. He refused to stop wrestling despite of the agony and pain. The bible says, “…men ought to always pray and not faint” (Luke 18:1). There is a tendency to faint in prayer when we don’t see the results right away. We think our prayers are not being heard but the bible declares, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).

            I just want to share with you some notes from The Matthew Henry Commentary to inspire you. It says, “However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us. Nothing requires more vigor and unceasing exertion than wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bones put out of joint than go away without one. Those who would have the blessing of Christ, must resolve to take no denial. The fervent prayer is the effectual prayer.”

          The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). If you have to lose some sleep to seek God’s Face in prayer all night, then so be it! Maybe you have to pray on your lunch break or in the car. Do what you must to pray. He will hear and answer. Don’t let go until you get an answer. Be relentless in prayer and like Jacob declare, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

Blessings                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                           

Tested By Fire

1 PETER 1:6-7 “…even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

If you are reading this right now you may have at one time or another felt as if your faith was being tested. You may very well be in that season right now. In the above scripture, Peter is comparing the testing of our faith like that of gold. Gold as precious and valuable as it is, is tested and purified by fire. The word fire in this scripture refers to a purifying agent capable of testing the quality of one’s life and works. Our faith being of more value and even more precious than gold must be tested by fire as well to purify and perfect it. The bible says for without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We need faith in order to obtain the promises of God and to please God. So, our faith must be perfected and the only way to perfect it is to test us. There may be moments where you feel as though God has forgotten about you. No matter how much you pray and fast, still no answer. You may be doing all that you know to do to be faithful but still no answer or even a sign from God…just silence. Temptation and hardship seem to be everywhere you turn. If you are there, my friend you are being tested.

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). God Himself calls us blessed as we endure the various trials that He allows in our lives. In times of trial we are to trust in Him with all our hearts, lean on Him, and not our own understanding. We are to go through asking, “Lord what would you have me to learn from this? How would you have me to respond to this test? What does the Word of God say?”

Yes, it’s hard and no it’s not pleasant. However, the testing of our faith and the trials that God allows in our lives help us to grow up spiritually. Will you give up and throw in the towel? Will you turn away and stop being faithful? We are to be instant in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2). Whether our circumstances are to our liking or not, whether God is silent or not, whether we feel like it or not, we are to remain steadfast. Go wants us to endure patiently under tests and trials. No, this is never easy as it feels unfair and unwarranted. As we often think to ourselves, “Why should I, a faithful servant of the Lord be going through trials and tribulations? Why does my life have to be inconvenienced, aren’t I doing my part God? Why do I have to endure such trying times?” Yet, the bible declares that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). The tests and trials that we go through are working on our behalf to make us wiser, stronger and more confident in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2). So instead of being bitter, angry, and fainting in our hearts we are to respond to each trial with joy. I know that sounds like a paradox but I’m reminded of Paul when he boasted of his sufferings for Christ (Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-33).

As believers we choose to trust God in every situation.  We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:3-5). The amplified version says, “And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].  Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Be encouraged as you endure whatever situations the Lord allows in your life. Pass the test. Please don’t continue going around the same mountain for years, never fully understanding what the Lord is teaching you. Allow the fire to perfect your faith and purify you. After you have done all, you stand and keep standing. Then, when it’s all over you can say like Job, “But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]” (Job 23:10).

Stay Encouraged & God Bless!

Compromise Is Not an Option

And [Potiphar] left all that he had in Joseph’s charge and paid no attention to anything he had except the food he ate. Now Joseph was an attractive person and fine-looking. Then after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “See here, with me in the house my master has concern about nothing; he has put all that he has in my care. He is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept anything from me except you, for you are his wife. How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?” Gen. 39:6-9

Compromise:  

1. An endangering, especially of reputation; exposure to danger, suspicion, etc. “A compromise of one's integrity.”

2. Accept standards that are lower than is desirable. "We were not willing to compromise on God’s Word.”

As I have been thinking about what it means to compromise as a Christian, I thought about Joseph. Although a slave, he had obtained favor in the sight of his master, Potiphar. Certainly, that favor was a result of the favor of God on his life. I believe the favor of God and pleasing God was of the utmost importance to Joseph, more than anything. As I look at the situation in Genesis 39 with Potiphar’s wife, I don’t see anywhere in the bible where it says she was not attractive or Joseph was not attracted to her. She may have been an attractive woman and any slave may have fallen at her feet to have sex with her. Joseph may have thought she was attractive as well. However, none of this mattered to Joseph. His priority, his main focus, his heart only cared about doing right in the sight of God. He refused to compromise and do “this great evil and sin against God.” The next verse says, “And so it was that she spoke to Joseph [persistently] day after day, but he did not listen to her [plea] to lie beside her or be with her.” (Gen 39:10). Can you imagine this type of temptation? This was a grown man being tempted every day to sleep with a grown woman. But, Joseph’s heart was fixed on pleasing the Lord. He was a man of integrity not willing to compromise at all.

Most of the time it’s easier to do the wrong thing than to do the right thing. However, the bible says, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…” (Heb. 10:26). The word that sticks out to me here is deliberately. This means on purpose. It means you just do what you want and live how you want despite knowing the truth of God’s precepts. Make no mistake about it, we can’t fool God. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap” (Gal. 6:7).

I just want to encourage you today to be steadfast in your faith in Jesus Christ. Remain steadfast and stand on the promises of God. Despite of what tests and trials come your way, remain faithful to Him. Don’t move to the left or to the right, but be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). Set your heart on pleasing the Lord. Make that your main priority. “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also” (Matt 6:33). So, whatever it is that you need God will supply it and you won’t have to compromise to get it. Don’t allow your tests and trials to pressure you into compromising. But, let your tests and trials press you into His presence.

God wants us to live holy not only in public but in private. He wants us to have integrity not only in public but in private. Our private lives should be free of compromise as well. I’m convinced, that our Father who sees in secret will Himself reward us openly (Matt 6:4). Therefore, be encouraged to fight the good fight of faith so on that day you may hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Be Blessed!

A.M.