Walking in God’s prepared purpose

What God gives to you is a destiny you have prepared for. You may be predestined for it, but what you do not diligently work toward will not come to pass. You must also be willing to go through God's process through prayer, fasting,the study of His Word and going for any schooling or training needed. 

Obedience is one of the keys to walking on the path toward the fulfillment of your purpose. When you look at the life of Abraham, you see a man who was obedient to every instruction God gave him.

You must believe that whatever God does is good and that His desire is to bring you into His goodness. There is no form of darkness from which God cannot bring forth light, for it was out of darkness that He called light to appear. In the same way, that road to the fulfillment of your destiny that seems slippery and dark is one that God is working together for your good.

We must believe this and hold firmly to it so that we may witness the beauty and faithfulness of God unfold in our lives.

As we continue to walk the road of destiny, I pray that the Lord will continually guide our feet to trust His ways. Amen.

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How Far Would You Go for Jesus?

Recently, I was studying the book of Acts and came to the account of Paul's missionary journeys. It challenged me deeply.

How often do we desire to go all out for God only as long as we are comfortable? We are quick to quote Scriptures about God's protection and His faithfulness to keep His own. But what if our journey with Christ requires us to be bound not by satanic chains, but by the chains that bring us before the very people to whom we must declare that Jesus is Lord?

When Paul was warned that he would be bound if he went to Jerusalem, all he could see was an opportunity for the Gospel to be preached. His response was not centered on his comfort or safety. It was as though he was saying, "If only I can get to Jerusalem, lives will be transformed. I no longer see myself; I only see that Jesus must be revealed through me."

Later, while sailing to Rome, there were 276 people on board the ship, yet not one life was lost. Why? Because there was a divine assignment locked up in one man. Paul had to stand before Caesar not to speak his own words, but to declare the word of the Lord.

Many times, we expect God to go the extra mile for us—to make every path smooth, every situation comfortable, and everything work in our favor. Yet God is also looking for men and women who are willing to go the extra mile for Him.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

May our lives be poured out as an offering to Him—not lives we hold tightly to for ourselves, but lives that Christ fully owns.

So, the question remains:

How far would you go for Jesus?

Would Jesus only be loud in your life when everything is going well?

Would you only follow Him as long as the path isn't narrow?

How far would you go for Jesus?

When we make these choices, God not only works in and through us, but He also extends His saving grace to those connected to our lives.

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Be careful of Shapeshifters.

A word came to my mind after a dream I had: "shape shifter." I began to wonder if it described the person I saw and the transformation that took place.

As I searched for its meaning, I discovered that a shape shifter is someone or something that has the ability to change form, often to deceive others. As I continued studying this, I came across this Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:14

"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."

Beloved, a deceptive spirit has been released into the atmosphere. Its assignment is to derail God's children and lead them onto paths that God never designed for them.

These "shape shifters" can appear in the form of people, places, systems, opportunities, or even policies. Their goal is the same to deceive.

To live above this deception, you must guard your perception and sharpen your discernment. Be careful of those who present themselves as friends but reveal a different nature in your absence. Be watchful of those who appear to be light, yet are darkness in disguise.

Today, make it your prayer to ask the Lord to quicken your spirit and heighten your discernment, so that you may recognize deception and walk in His truth.

May God bless you and keep you in His wisdom.

Amen.

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What Is Resounding in Your Heart?

Recently, I have found myself praying this simple prayer:

"Lord, let my heart not stray. Let my heart not go ahead of You; instead, let it follow as You walk before me."

This has been my sincere prayer—not because I feel I have done something terribly wrong, but because I recognize the tendency of the human heart to desire things that are not aligned with the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The tendency to say we've forgiven, yet our hearts continue to dwell on the hurt until it becomes evident that we haven't truly let go.

The tendency to hold tightly to every negative experience while allowing the countless positives to slip away unnoticed.

The tendency to forget the good and constantly replay the wrong.

Today, my dear God is questioning your heart as well as mine.

He is asking:

What is resounding in your heart?

"I don't just want you to come to Me; I want you to come with your heart."

Let your heart become the meeting place, because if God has your heart, He can shape your thoughts, influence your actions, and align your life with His will.

Jesus wants it all—your heart.

So, what is resounding in it?

Perhaps we don't truly know the depth of our own hearts. If we did, Scripture wouldn't say that "the heart is desperately wicked." 

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

— Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

Yet that same heart that has the capacity to hold such wickedness also has the capacity to carry extraordinary goodness—if only we allow the One who is the very definition of goodness to dwell within it.

I know you may want to say, "But I'm a good person." Yet instead of counting and recounting our goodness, can we simply pray:

"Lord, have my heart. Search through it until it is able to carry Your goodness, and until You alone are deeply rooted in me."

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."

 Jeremiah 17:10

Stay Revived!