Monday, May 30, 2011

Focus on the Blessings...



"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great" Matthew 5:12

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Have you ever suffered through a situation that should have been a time of rejoicing? I have. For years I complained about having to work in an environment I detested but after I left, I started worrying about finding a new job and never actually enjoyed my newfound freedom. Sadly I overlooked my blessing. During that time when the problems seemed so great please take a deep look. And you will see that the blessings are even greater. The devil has a way of shifting your attention toward the negative to keep you from enjoying the positive and that is why God urges us to be vigilant. You already know, based on the Word of God, that there is no lack in the Body of Christ. Everything you could ever need is there, and the blood of Jesus has covered every problem you could ever face. It doesn't matter what the doctor says. It doesn't matter how much you are hurting right now. The situation will stop; it has to stop when the blood of Christ covers you. So there is no need to shed a tear and definitely no reason to spend a God given day worrying about a problem He solved more than 2000 years ago.


We want victory but we don't want to fight for it. We live in this "instant gratification" culture (fast food, fast relationship, fast breakups) where everything is fast and we carry that mentality in our relationship with the Lord. We measure God ability to deliver us based on how quickly our problems are solved. We refuse to invest the time necessary to develop a relationship with Him. We just want to get what we need and be on our way. God loves us too much to let us get away with it. He always comes up with ways to keep us at His feet. Children who trust their parents have no worries in their presence and "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1. So when trouble comes overlook your circumstances and focus on God's ability and willingness to help you through. Focus on the reward waiting in heaven. Meditate on the promises of God daily. You really do need to spend time reading the Word of God for it is the Will of God. One of my favorite preachers put it like this: "the Word of God isn't enough. You must continually feed on what it says. Get it out and read it. Feast on it Go to church and hear it preached". You don't live on the memory of yesterday's meal do you? The same goes for the word of God. You must feed it to yourself daily. Don't just sit around and let the devil beat you down. Remember that Christ already won the battle. It is done, finished. Praise the Lord!

Again, you are blessed and highly favored, so if you have been suffering through some tough times lately, I urge you to look around and wake up to the blessings that surround you. Pure joy can only come when you focus on you blessing and overlook the circumstances. Keep your eyes on the Lord and remember earth is the journey but the destination is heaven.

Praise the Lord!

You Have a Friend



Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16).

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Friend, God consider you to be His friend. One of the privileges of being His friend is the ability to reach out to Him anytime.

Some people don't understand the concept of friendship because they never experience it.

A natural friendship involves loving and being loved. It is involved the assurance (undoubtedly) that someone's always there for you, and want you to succeed in everything you do. A friend is someone you long to spend time with, and run to with bad and good news. More importantly a friend does not turn his back on you when you mess up or when things get tough. The only way you can be such friend is by investing the time necessary to develop it. You must work on it. You wouldn't just go to a friend when you need something, would you? You go to a friend with every subject affecting your life and you make time for your friend as well. It shouldn’t always be about you.

Developing a friendship with God is similar to develop one with someone here on earth, except for the fact that a relationship with God is much more important. It is the most rewarding friendship you can ever have. Lots of people want to be God's friend they just don't know how to achieve it. In reality, it is very simple. One needs go to Him in prayers. Unlike people here on earth, God will not turn anyone down. He's been waiting. He will NEVER forsake you and He is DEPENDABLE and FAITHFUL.


Are you alone right now? Are you searching for that friend that would never turn his back on you? Turn to God right now. Don't wait until you have a pressing need. The word of God says that He wants to be involved in every area of your life. You don't need a major situation to approach God. Above all, He wants to be your friend.

Thank you father God for being "my friend".

Praise the Lord!