A NEW DIRECTION – February 2018

God loves us. And because God loves us, He will never do anything that wasn’t for our good. When I signed on the bottom line of my contract “Where he leads me, I will follow”,  I didn’t know all that involved. But I knew enough to know that I can trust God no matter what with my life, my family, my resources and my eternity. I can hand Him a blank check and know that I am in good hands.

All of us sometimes NEED A NEW DIRECTION, WE NEED A NEW AND FRESH ANOINTING TO BE ABLE TO SEE, TO PLAN AND EXECUTE GODS DIVINE PLAN FOR us. GOD WILL NOT REVEAL EVERYTHING but TRUST HE HAS OUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART. A NEW DIRECTION.

Some people have to have everything figured out before they will step into a situation where they feel like they might get burned. They have to know every detail, have every base covered, and have the whole thing mapped out. But God doesn’t operate that way. First, you trust Him. Then, He will show Himself to you. If the Israelites had known God’s strategy for getting them into the land – parting the Jordan River just as He had parted the Red Sea - and defeating their first enemy – marching around the city in silence and watching the walls fall down from the inside out, they might have said, “NOT INTERESTED.” But they followed God, and God did it.

God doesn’t give us all the details. But that’s part of us allowing Him to be God in our lives – allowing Him to take care of the details. God hasn’t got a bunch of scorpions up His sleeve waiting to drop them on you as soon as the ink is dry on the contract. No, just the reverse. (1 Cor. 2:9-10 NIV) However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. Will you give God a blank check? Will you follow Him wherever He leads you? Will you walk by the light that you have right now, and leave the future up to God? A NEW DIRECTION.

PREPARATION BEFORE FLOURISHING

Jeremiah 29.11-13 (KJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

God definitely wants us to have a glorious future. But the truth of the matter is to achieve maximum growth we have to persevere through trials and tribulations, not eliminating them. What are you currently going through, right now? In the midst of your challenges, hang on to these verses but for the right reason; God will not take away all of your suffering, but the confidence that God gives in the midst of it.

God’s plans for us may not necessarily line up with our own. However know this, they will be better plans than you or I can imagine. For 2018, write down the following:

• What is the next step in my ministry?
• What is the next step in my family?
• What is the next step for my career?
• What is the next step in my relationship/ marriage?
• What is the next step in my education?
• What is the next step in increasing my finances?
•  

If you do not have a designated time for prayer, start today and begin to reflect on the questions above and write down what you hear God speaking to your heart. GET READY – PREPARATION BEFORE FLOURISHING

GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE

In the book of Deuteronomy chapter twenty it tells us about the principles governing warfare for the people of God. It provided instructions about their conduct during a battle. You see, God not only said how they were to dress and look and separate themselves from the world; but he also said this is how you are to act, and this is how you are to think when you are going to war. I don’t want my people being scared or showing fear when in battle, but this is how you conduct yourself in battle. 

The Israelites are conquering the promise land at this time and Almighty God promises to be with them with his presence and with victory if they will obey his instructions.

He said when you go to battle and you see that the enemy has more horses, more chariots and more people, don’t be afraid because I am with you.

God says don’t let your heart faint, don’t fear, don’t tremble and don’t be terrified because of your enemy. But remember the Lord your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you

God wants someone to know today that he will be with you. 

MOVE – YOU ARE BLOCKING MY FLOW Luke 8:43-48

Oh I know that sounds so disrespectful, It might sounds a little hard, unsophicated, unchristian (with all of our holiness) but the truth of the matter is our Jesus is getting ready to go to the cross. Not for what he did but for what we did and he was provided for us. And I am so sorry if I hurt your feeling BUT I AM TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE, so that my living will not be in vain.

Move YOU ARE BLOCKING MY FLOW. I had to learn that sometimes you have to tell folks who come at you : WITH NEGATIVITY – GET OUT OF MY AIR; ALL THIS IS MY SPACE AND I HAVE GIVEN MYSELF TO JESUS, SO THIS IS ME AND THE LORDS SPACE AND YOU JUST CANT COME AT ME ANY OLD WAY, anymore

TELL SOMEBODY: DON’T MESS WITH ME – I’VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

So move….You are blocking my flow

A Prayer of Renewal

START ASKING GOD TODAY, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO –TO RENEW MYSELF; WHAT, GOD, WILL YOU HAVE ME TO FOCUS ON? WHAT DIRECTION, GOD, SHOULD I GO? WHAT SHOULD I NOT DO Today? I want to be renewed, I want to live right, I want to serve well, but I cannot do my best if I am not feeling my best. Help me right now.

And I promise you, that as you live a better life, spiritually and physically, financially, emotionally God says in ISAIAH 41: 17-20...

 

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them; I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valley; I will make the wilderness a pool of water. That they may see, and know and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this."

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

We commonly think of neighbors as the people who live near us, but Jesus meant it to include all humankind – even our enemies. Jesus told his famous parable of the Good Samaritan to make it clear that “love your neighbor” means to love all persons, everywhere – not just our friends and allies.

Jesus calls us to remember that we all are Gods children, just as He loves all his people and is willing to forgive their sins; we must be willing to forgive others who have done wrong to us.

Anger can consume us with hatred and block out the love of God. The need to forgive is not some ideal that we cannot hope to attain. Forgiveness is necessary to free us from the dark cloud of anger and resentment that can literally destroy our own lives. We cannot afford to wait for the other person to repent and apologize. Unless we let go of our anger and the desire to punish or get even, love cannot enter our lives. If you desire to be loved, you need to give love, if you desire to be respected, you must give respect. If you want to be fulfilled in your life, we must share with others.

If we do not desire to be judged harshly, then we must not judge others so harshly.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

We commonly think of neighbors as the people who live near us, but Jesus meant it to include all humankind – even our enemies. Jesus told his famous parable of the Good Samaritan to make it clear that “love your neighbor” means to love all persons, everywhere – not just our friends and allies.

Jesus calls us to remember that we all are Gods children, just as He loves all his people and is willing to forgive their sins; we must be willing to forgive others who have done wrong to us.

Anger can consume us with hatred and block out the love of God. The need to forgive is not some ideal that we cannot hope to attain. Forgiveness is necessary to free us from the dark cloud of anger and resentment that can literally destroy our own lives. We cannot afford to wait for the other person to repent and apologize. Unless we let go of our anger and the desire to punish or get even, love cannot enter our lives. If you desire to be loved, you need to give love, if you desire to be respected, you must give respect. If you want to be fulfilled in your life, we must share with others.

If we do not desire to be judged harshly, then we must not judge others so harshly.