Self-Examination: Part 1

 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor. Galatians 6:4

As my 40th birthday is quickly approaching (Lord slow it down), I've decided to take a step back, reflect, and perform a self-examination. Many times, we are extremely skilled at evaluating others. On the contrary, we seem rather incompetent when it comes to examining our own ways. In Galatians 6, the Apostle Paul admonished the Galatians to correct one another in love, not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, and to examine their ways. If we're honest, we're all guilty of finger-pointing. We're all guilty of trying to remove the speck out of our neighbor's eye rather than first removing the plank out of our own eye (Matt. 7:5). 

What planks are in your eye? Can you see them? If not, you can ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Sometimes, these "planks" are a hindrance to our progress in various areas of our lives. There is undeveloped fruit (patience, love, kindness, self-control, long-suffering, etc.) in our lives. God wants to develop the fruit of the Spirit in us. He desires for us to bear good fruit. Furthermore, we don't realize how our actions, attitudes, and behavior affect others. We don't see it because it's easier to judge and see the shortcomings of others. Other times, we do know and choose not to deal with ourselves. We have to want to be better. We have to want to grow. 

The word grace has been a running theme for me over the past few months. I kept seeing and hearing this word everywhere. In nearly every movie or tv show I watched, there was a character named Grace. In the signs I saw on the street and buildings, there was the word grace. It came to a point where it was happening so much, that all I could do was laugh. I began to ask, "God, what are you saying to me? Because at this point, it's obvious that You are communicating something to me about grace."

One of the things that I believe the Lord was/is saying to me is that there's not only grace for me, but for others. The same grace that I need and receive, I have to be intentional about extending it to others (and myself). We must understand and accept that we all have issues, hang-ups, flaws, and character defects. All of us. We have to be loving and forgiving, just as the Lord is towards us. Galatians 6:2 tells us to, "Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]." Easier said than done, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).

Before we enter the 2nd half of 2022, I encourage you to take some time to step back, reflect, and self-evaluate. Spend some time with the Lord and allow Him to show you yourself. David said in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Allow the Holy Spirit to have His way and respond accordingly. If there are some areas where you need to do better, agree with the Holy Spirit, and ask Him to help you to do so. God is not a condemning God. He corrects and those whom He corrects, He loves (Heb. 12:6). 

The goal is growth. Let's grow together. 

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

Lamentations 3:40

Be Blessed & Stay Encouraged!💖

A.M.

Difficult Deliverance

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt (Ex. 13:17-18).

In the book of Exodus, we see a mighty move of God on behalf of His people. The children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years! For centuries they cried out to their God for change, deliverance, and freedom. In the 430th year, their salvation finally came (Ex. 12:41). The Lord sent them help by way of a man named Moses. Their prayers were answered. They were no longer enslaved. They were no longer in bondage. They were no longer someone else’s property. They were a free people, God’s people. However, their deliverance didn’t appear the way they thought it should. Because of this, we see God’s people complaining, grumbling, and ultimately wanting to go back to a place of bondage - the very place they prayed that the Lord would deliver them from. 

By the hand of God, the children of Israel were delivered, and so are we. When God comes through for us, it may not come in the way we think it should or even the way we’d envisioned. He may take us the long and difficult path to teach us how to be steadfast and trust Him completely - as He did with the children of Israel (Ex. 13:17). God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says 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.” God doesn’t do things or solve problems the way we do, and His thoughts go far beyond our understanding. There is a purpose behind everything that He does or does not do. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” There is even purpose in His timing (Eccl. 13:1). 

Has God delivered you, and it doesn’t look like you think it should? Are you complaining and grumbling about it? Would you rather go back to a place of bondage? Do you prefer the place of comfortable slavery rather than the place of difficult freedom? God never said that the “promise land” wouldn’t have giants and hardships. Don’t go back to that toxic relationship because you’re lonely. Don’t go back to that 9-5 because entrepreneurship is more challenging than you thought. Don’t go back to living opposite of God’s will because doing the right thing seems to be unprofitable right now. Stay in your deliverance. Keep your freedom. Trust God with the outcome. Just as He led the children of Israel to the Red Sea, He led you right where you are right now. He has already made a way for you! Trust Him to bring you to the other side as you act in obedience and keep a thankful heart towards the Lord.  

Be Blessed & Stay Encouraged!💓

A.M.

Jericho Walls

Now Jericho [a fortified city with high walls] was tightly closed because [of the people’s fear] of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in. The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty warriors. 

Joshua 6:1-2

The Lord has had me thinking about the Walls of Jericho lately. So naturally, I began to look at Joshua 6 to see what God was saying to me. As I read Joshua 6, I began to see a picture of God's people being shut out of the very thing that God had promised to them. Then I asked God, "How does this relate to me...to us in this day and time?" The walls represent barriers that the enemy has built up to keep God's people out of their place of promise...their place of breakthrough...their place of rest. A wall by definition is a barrier, a barricade, a separator, and a hindrance. What are some of the walls that the enemy uses to hold us back? Pride, jealousy, envy, self-righteousness, fear, unbelief, unforgiveness, disobedience, and the list goes on. Hebrews 12:1 pleads with us to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets us. These walls keep us from moving forward to the place that God has for us. The place of peace, joy, abundance, purpose, etc. There was a better place that God had for His people in Joshua 6, but they couldn't attain it because of the walls that surrounded the city. What walls are keeping you out of the place that God has for you?

If you look at the text, it says "Jericho was tightly closed because of the people's fear of the sons of Israel." The enemy knows how powerful and effective you are for the Body of Christ. Thus, he will use whatever barricade he can to keep you from entering into the place of promise that God has for you. Whether that promise is peace, joy, purpose - he will do what he can to keep you out. The bible says that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus I came that we may have life more abundantly (John 10:10).

So, just as God gave Joshua and the children of Israel instructions that would ultimately lead to their victory, God wants to do the same for you. I want to encourage you today to sit in the presence of God so that He can give you divine instructions on how to defeat the enemy of your soul. I pray that every wall that the enemy has erected to keep you out of the place of promise comes tumbling down as you do what God has placed on your heart to do. Remember, you have the victory.

Be Blessed & Encouraged, 

A.M. 💗  

Faith & Feelings

Ok, I’m going to be honest - I don’t always feel like praying and I don’t always feel like studying my bible. To take it a step further, I don’t always feel saved and I don’t always feel like I’m righteous. But the truth of the matter is, I am saved – through faith in Jesus Christ and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So, it doesn’t matter how I feel, those are the facts.

In this faith walk, it’s critical that we don’t rely on how we feel to guide our decisions. The bible says, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17). It doesn’t say by feelings, sight, or sound – but by faith. If we live our lives totally based on our emotions, we’ll be all over the place, completely unstable. Our emotions change from day to day, and from circumstance to circumstance. Even in these uncertain times, emotions and tensions are high. If we let our feelings guide us, we’ll often end up in trouble by making poor decisions. Our faith in God has to be our compass. Our faith, not our feelings should be the guiding force to help us obey God and to do what we know to be right. We are called to live by our faith in the One who can be trusted.

Throughout this journey with God, at times it may feel as if He’s not there, not listening or is outright indifferent to our cries. But the those are all lies. The truth is, we know He’s with us because He said He’ll never leave nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6). We know His ears are open to the cries of the righteous because the Word of God says so in Psalm 34:15. What we know to be true about God’s character and His promises must override how we feel.

In Psalm 42, the Psalmist is clearly depressed and feeling forgotten by God. Nevertheless, these verses are so refreshing to me as I notice how he checked his own spirit.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you…

9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

This is a prime example of how not to allow your circumstances and your feelings to dictate your mood, your praise, and your faith in God. He reminded Himself of who God is and what He did for Him in the past. Essentially, He asked himself, “Why are you worried and why are you depressed? Hope in God! You know Him!” I’m paraphrasing but I just want to encourage you to believe God, what He says about you, and His promises to you. It doesn’t matter how you feel, but according to your faith, it will be done for you (Matt. 8:13, 9:29). Only you know what that “it” is. Be determined to live by faith and not your feelings. Be courageous and steadfast in your faith in God. He’s faithful.

Be Blessed & Encouraged,💓

A.M.

Peace Within

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way.
The Lord be with you all. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 

This morning I woke up thinking about peace. Not just any peace though – the peace of God. I’ve found that many people obtain peace from their status, their money, their career, their title, their spouse, their ministry, house, and/or cars, etc. However, those are just things and people; they don’t provide long lasting peace. They provide a false sense of peace; a false sense of security if you will. They can all be taken away should God see fit to do so. I’m talking about peace that surpasses all human understanding (Phil. 4:7). Peace that only God can provide no matter the circumstance, no matter who comes and who goes. The peace of God, that no matter what circumstances we face, we can be at ease. This kind of peace, only God Himself can provide. Let me be clear, God provides all of those earthly things for us to enjoy. But they shouldn’t be our sole source for peace. He alone is our Source for peace. After all, Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Definition of Peace 

Some people love math, some love art, some love history and so forth. I love words. I love to research the definition of words and their origins. So naturally, I looked up the biblical definition of peace.

PEACE -- Shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם shalom; also spelled as sholom, sholem, sholoim, shulem)
1. In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

2. Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety, or the like; quietness of mind; tranquility; calmness; quiet of conscience.

3. Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven.

How Do We Obtain This Peace?

The bible tells us in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” With all that has taken place in this world over the past few months, God is saying, “Don’t worry, don’t be anxious, but pray." He then promises in Philippians 4:7, “that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 26:3 which promises, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Essentially, we have to keep our minds on Christ and His Word. We have to keep God’s promises at the forefront of our minds. So many times, we lose our peace because our minds are everywhere else except for where it needs to be – on Jesus. Philippians 4:8 gives us direct instructions on how to maintain our peace, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” We have to make a conscious decision to keep our minds on these things. If we don’t, we’ll allow our minds to wonder and wander into dangerous territory which can threaten our peace. We have to be careful about what we think about. As Joyce Meyer would say, “We have to think about what we’re thinking about.” All the negative thoughts and what ifs, we have to cast those thoughts down, take them captive, and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corin. 10:5). 

I pray that God gives you peace today and throughout the remainder of this year, no matter what you face. He’s able to give you peace in the midst of chaos and tranquility in the midst of turmoil. Peace is your portion.

Be Blessed & Encouraged,💓

A.M.

Faith to Believe

[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family… (Hebrews 11:7)

Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word. (Hebrews 11:11)

Faith in God and in His word is what the world needs right now more than ever. His Word reveals His promises - His promises for you and your life. God has given us His precious promises so we may know what to expect from Him & what belongs to us. He gave us these promises so that we may know what He says about particular circumstances in our lives. What is a promise? By definition, the word promise means:

1. A declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen.

2. A legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.

I’ve been working from home for the past few weeks due to social distancing. Last week as I was working on my computer, I stared at my computer screen, then I began to stare outside of the window in front of me. I thought to myself, “It’s really muggy and gloomy outside. It’s going to be an ugly day.” After all, it’d been raining consistently for the past few days. For sure it would rain again today. As I was staring outside of the window, I heard the voice of the local weather woman getting ready to report the weather for the day. So naturally, I turned my attention to the screen to see what she was going to say. To my surprise she said, “Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 58 degrees, mild and sunny…” My immediate reaction was to scoff at her pronouncement. I scoffed at her because for sure she wasn’t seeing what I was seeing. She either didn’t know what she was talking about or had some keen insight that I didn’t possess. As I looked outside at the wet ground, cloudy sky, and gloomy appearance - I brushed off what I’d just heard.

About 2 hours later I decided to make a quick coffee run. As I got ready to leave, the mild weather and sunny sky met me at the door! I walked to my car and thought, “Wow, it’s a beautiful day.” It looked like two completely different days! It was very sunny and mild, just as the lady predicted - despite of my unbelief due to what had previously been and what I saw with my natural eyes. Sure enough, what she said…came to pass. As I drove off to get my coffee, I laughed and the Holy Spirit said to me, “Just as surely as what she said came to pass, so will my promises for you. It may not look like it, there may be no sign of it, but it will happen just as I have said.” All I could do was bless God in that moment.

Hebrews 11 gives us an account of people with great faith. Their circumstances were the complete opposite of what God had spoken. There was no sign that anything God had promised was coming to pass. Nonetheless, they acted, operated, and obeyed God by faith. Their faith moved God and amazing things happened. “How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death…” (Heb. 11:32-35)

What you see right before your very eyes may not look like what God has promised you. However, God’s word says in Hebrews 10:38-39, “But My righteous one [the one justified by faith] shall live by faith [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; And if he draws back [shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him. But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.”

My friend, now is NOT the time to give up or give in. It’s certainly not the time to worry or fear. It’s not the time to fold. Now is the time to exercise your faith. Now is the time to put your faith into action. Believe God beyond what you see. Have faith to believe God's promises for your life.

I pray you all stay safe and encouraged.

Blessings,💓

A.M.