by mondayslife | Sep 26, 2016 | Decisions, God Great, Mondays Life, Praying, Wait on God
Making choices form our destiny one way or another. We have to be very mindful of the choices we make in life. From picking out what we want to wear to what kind of food we eat. From deciding what career choice to where do I want to live. Little to big choices effect our lives in some way or fashion. We cannot blame others for the choices we make or what we do not make. We have to wake up, walk in maturity, and take ownership of what we are doing. But God wants us to make the right decisions.
I remember growing up as a child and reading the create your own adventure books. Each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character’s actions in response to the plot and its outcome. We have a choice on how our lives will turn out. God is a God of choices. Choices are presented in front of us by God and choices are presented to us from the evil one. Which choice will you choose?
I had a dream that I was at my desk about to leave to catch up with a friend. He asked me to go somewhere with him. Before I left the desk, I had a phone call. The number did not look familiar but I answered it anyways. The voice was very familiar and he began to persuade me to meet up with him at places we used to go to. Places that I had no business being at. That moment I had a choice to either skip my first obligation or go new the newly planned obligation. I went with the newly planned. When I went with the new plans, I was in a dark place and I saw a spirit fly from the end of the room to the other and shut the door. I heard a voice say that it was too late. I made the choice and I had to own up to it.
God is saying in this season, your decisions that you make may cost you your life or can catapult you into great destiny. We are surrounded with people and media that persuade our choices. In the book of Job, God asked him, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? (Job 38:2)” Who would dare to challenge what God has said? What mere mortal, the creature that God has created with His own hands would challenge what God has said over your life? Proverbs 19: 2 says that, “Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who makes haste with his feet errs”. There are those who are sent by God to give a message or word to the people, but the word will align with the Will of God. But there are those who are sent to snatch the word that the Lord has given you (Matthew 13:19). You have to discern the counsel you seek. “He who separates himself seeks his own desire. He quarrels against all sound wisdom (Proverbs 18:1).
Decisions are so critical and we must always consult the Lord before doing anything in our lives. We quote this scripture all the time, but fail to apply it to our lives. ““Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Trusting in the Lord means that you make Godly decisions and follow the path He has for us. Not what we have or others have for us, but what God has for us.
If we have made the wrong decision in life, it is never too late to turn around and start to make right decisions. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear (Is. 59:1).” Thank God for His grace and mercy. We are never too far gone for God to pull us back on track. You have to be willing to allow God to pick you up and turn you around. Declare today that I will make the right decisions.
by mondayslife | Sep 19, 2016 | Blame, Decisions, heavenly minded, Mondays Life, Praying
Many situations come in our lives and sometimes we feel that we were blinded by them. Many situations we face we bring on ourselves but do not want to admit it. It is so much easier to blame others rather than looking within and seeing what we have done to prevent the situation to happen. Sometimes we blame others for getting fired from a job. We blame others for blocking us from reaching our dreams and aspirations. We blame others for all of our actions instead of looking at what part we played to cause it. Proverbs 28:13 says that, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”
This level of maturity is hard to face and to walk through because it is hard to turn the mirror on ourselves. When the Lord begins to show us ourselves, we have a choice to: Rebel, make excuses and rationalize, or given in and listen to God.
I remember one day I prayed to God to be closer to Him because I knew that I was moving to another assignment in life. When I prayed these prayers, the Lord began to show me myself. He showed me my attitude and my character and it was way out of line. I did not know that I had a bad attitude. I could not believe it. God said that before I am able to help others and help start a church, I must check my attitude.
I am a person who do not like meetings. The Lord is helping me to understand the way people think. So I would easily snap when things do not make sense. I would leave a meeting and get on the phone and begin to blame others about the flow of the meeting. The next morning after meetings, I would wake up still fired up. Then I heard the Lord say, “you caused it. What did you do to cause the meeting to go awry? How was your attitude? What could you have done to ease the situation?” I could not believe the questions that were coming my way! I instantly went on the defense. It was not me; it was them because them… The Lord stopped me and had me to look at myself.
I decided to straighten up and allow the Holy Spirit to fix me. I allowed Him to. When I began to allow the Holy Spirit to work and began to admit my wrongs and faults to others, I felt so much better because it was helping me to become a better person. It was an emotional process because I could not believe I had so much evil and hatred in my heart. When I decided to allow the Lord to work on me, I felt like I was given a new heart.
One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to give us power to witness to one another. You cannot witness to one another with hatred in your heart. Thank God that He loves us so much that He corrects us so we can be influential to those who do it know Him. Revelations 3: 19 says that, “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. [Prov. 3:12.]” You cannot properly receive God’s correction until you understand and know the love God has for you. The way God corrects may not be understood by us but I thank God that He does it.
No more should be blame others of our situations but we need to allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and allow us to see what we have done wrong to cause the situation arise. We have choices and we choose to do what we want to do rather than what it is right. God can show you the door of correction but we have a choice to walk through it. His love is kind and we should rejoice when God corrects us. We have should a desire to grow fruit (character) that is plentiful and tasteful for those who need it the most.
