difficult at times and sometimes when we think that things are getting easier, they may get worse before they get better but, one thing we as people need to keep in mind is that we are not alone in our struggles “for God promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV).” He also told us to count it all joy when we fall into diver’s temptations (James 1:2, NKJV).”
As we extract the word “temptations” from the previous biblical quote, I ask you what is it you are being tempted by at this moment that would make you not want to get back up after a fall? Surely all of us have fallen in some area of our lives and it would appear that it would be so much easier to stay down but we must get back up! Yes, get back up despite the feeling of apathy, get back up despite the depression, get back up despite the “naysayers,” get back up despite the lies the devil is telling you, get back up despite your own negative talk and the things you say to yourself that have hindered you in the past. Whatever you do, just don’t stay motionless. Move!
Yes, move! Be like the four men with leprosy indicated in the Bible. They were in a dilemma, they were hungry and they had a skin condition that was contagious but despite all of their problems, they knew that they couldn’t remain in the state that they were in i.e. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Arameans army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway (II Kings 7:3, 4, NLT).” You have heard the expression “nothing from nothing leaves nothing!” You can’t expect anything if you don’t do something! I would much rather be found doing something than nothing at all and that was the mentality of the leprous men. So, we can’t allow our circumstances to paralyze us and make us fearful. Irrespective of it all, we must move in faith believing as the word of God indicated that “Faith without good deeds is useless (James 2:20, NLT).” We need both in operation in order to produce the desired results.
So tell yourself, I will arise. I will arise because “Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world (I John 4:4, NKJV).” I will arise because “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he it tried, he shall receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those that love him (James 1:12, NKJV),” I will arise because “Weeping may endureth for a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5, NKJV),” I will arise because ”Those that sow in tears shall reap in joy (Psalms 126:5, NKJV)” and I will arise because Jesus expressively states “I come that they might have life and that more abundantly (John 10:10, NKJV).”
Nehemiah, although he worked and had people working around him, he needed help from the Lord. We as people need also to recognize our need for God. Yes, we may have money, connections and otherwise but, nothing will happen unless God moves in the mist of things for us. Nehemiah in the mist of all that he encountered asked the Lord to help him. When I think of this I believe what he was asking God to do was empower him to do what he couldn’t do within his own strength. When we have God as our guide and spearheading every direction of our lives, I don’t care what adversities that we may encounter, what limitations, and what hindrances or otherwise, God will help us to overcome and be victorious in the process.
I don’t know about you but I need God to strengthen my hands. I need God to lead me in all things, show me the way, and give me wisdom, understanding and direction in life. I know with his help I am assured victory in the end. I implore you again in all things talk to the Lord in prayer. For in conversation with the Lord, you will receive clear guidance and instruction for life. It is very risky thinking that we as human beings with our “finiteness,” knows what is best for ourselves other than the omniscient and infinite God. As you ask him to “strengthen your hands,” trust that he knows what is best and is leading you to where he would have for you to go which is far better than what you can fathom as a human being. And, always remember no matter what that “all things work together for good, to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28, NKJV).”
For You to Ponder: When have you felt like throwing up the surrender flag because of the overwhelming trials and struggles that you have had to encounter? I would challenge you today not to allow your feelings to dictate your responses and press forward in faith believing that if you don’t give in, the next step might be your moment of breakthrough.
Lord, Don’t Let Time Pass Me By
“For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks (Psalm 6:5, KJV)?”
I wake up daily with a renewed sense of purpose and every opportunity that I have, I try to utilize it wisely recognizing life has been given as a gift from the Lord. I am conscience of the fact that God didn’t give me this opportunity “unto myself” but to use it as a means to empower and bless others around me. I have heard the expression “life is what you make of it” and although I agree, I also believe that it could be so much more with God spearheading every direction of our lives. The Bible tells us straightforwardly that to “everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NKJV)”. When we go through life with this etched in our minds, it causes us to view and handle life differently.
I have heard Bishop T.D. Jakes make the statement that death doesn’t make him afraid but what does cause him great discomfort is living life in regret because he didn’t manifest the purpose and plan God orchestrated for his life and therefore, didn’t have the opportunity to change things for the better for people and the world around him. I agree wholeheartedly with him and that is why I try to live my life with the mentality of how I can make someone’s day and utilize gifts, talents, skills and abilities to the glory of God, so that, when I die, I can rest “at ease” knowing I’ve fulfilled God’s purpose for my life and “didn’t let time past me by!”
As I reflect and I am deeply contemplative, I am very thankful to the Lord and praise him for all things and, my continual prayer to the Lord as I start each day is, “Lord, please don’t let time past me by.” Meaning, don’t let time find me in a place whereas I am so focused and enmeshed with the “cares of life,” that focusing on those insignificant things keeps me from being effective for the kingdom of God. Don’t let time past me by that I don’t take time with my family and create memories that are priceless and can’t be given back. Please don’t let time find me whereas I am so focused on past hurts, failures and disappointments that I allow the “old mentality” to keep me from enjoying every day that have been given as a blessing from God.
Satan has many tactics that he uses to rob us as people from living the best life we can while we are on earth and we shouldn’t allow him the space to do so. Again, if we are distracted with “minor issues” that we make “major issues” it keeps us from loving as we should and improving our world as a whole. When people look at us specifically as Christians, they hope to see a difference in our character, behavior and lifestyle. They know what they see daily as “the norm” and if we are no different than the world, then what have the world to look forward to as encouragement or as an example in times of suffering and pain. That isn’t to say that we as Christians are “super human” and don’t have feelings and are exempt from pain because that is far from the truth but what would be a great sense of encouragement to others in general is to articulate the fact that we all go through and feel pain but to use that “pain” as a tool to bless others.
So, I implore you again, “don’t let time pass you by. You have a lot to give and a lot of people to bless in this life. Humbly submit yourselves to God and ask him to help you in the process to be all that he has predestined you to be from the foundations of the earth and “take wings and soar!”
For You to Ponder: Don’t give the devil a “foot hole” in your life anymore to rob you of the time that you have been given as a gift from God meditating on things and people that don’t add any significance to your life. Instead, invest you time wisely in helping create a better world by helping others and being an asset and not a liabilityandtake time to bless someone today!
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