– Scripture:

             Take Care of Yourself

You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

                        Zechariah 4:6 MSG

 – Reflection:

Trying to understand some of the passages and their meanings is tough. I know this piece caught my eye, and I read it several times this morning. It talked about how Jesus healed others. He healed every one of them he came in contact with. He also took care of himself, resting and praying; he took time off from the healing to prepare himself for the next steps of the journey that his father had him on. We too, must rest and pray and prepare; without it, we will begin to break down and not be able to do the work we were put here to do.

Where do we go from here?

I’ve learned that the sun will still come up if I don’t get everything done. The sun will still rise if everyone around me is not happy. We are not doing ourselves any favors if we live in a tired state. Sometimes, we’ve been doing it for so long that we don’t realize how far below our potential we’re living. You won’t be as good a parent, spouse, leader, or friend if you’re not taking time to get away. There will always be needs, always something to do, or someone who wants your attention. You have to make it a priority to stay balanced. It’s okay to be depleted, to work hard, to give it your best, and to be there for people, but it’s not okay to stay depleted. You have to get filled back up.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, we thank you for the work that you have tasked us with and the opportunities that you have made available to us. It is important for us to take rest when needed even from the work you have placed in our hearts to do. Allow us the space for this rest and comfort while we are away recharging. Father, it is a blessing to have so much to do for the kingdom, and still be able to rest and pray. To see the next steps of the journey if that is your will. Thank you Father in Jesus name. Amen.

 – Scripture:

              Be Comfortable Not Knowing

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!

                          Proverbs 3:5–7 MSG

Key Verse – Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

 – Reflection:

To have faith means that even when the following things are said in our heads like, I don’t know how I’m going to raise these children, but I’m not going to live worried and stressed out. I don’t know how my business is going to make it, but I trust You when I don’t have the answer. I don’t see how my family can be restored, but I trust You when I don’t see a way. I realize I don’t have to know because You know, and You control the universe.” That attitude of faith allows God to do great things to make ways where you don’t see a way. The fact is that He had the solution before you had the problem.

Where do we go from here?

Don’t get discouraged, and don’t start complaining. God is working behind the scenes. He’s about to make things happen that you didn’t see coming. It’s going to be out of the ordinary, unusual. You’re going to know it’s the goodness of God.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, Even though there are things we can’t understand or figure out, we trust in You. We might not see the answer yet, but we won’t lose faith. We won’t let discouragement or complaint enter our hearts. We know You’re working behind the scenes. You’re preparing blessings that we can’t see coming, things out of the ordinary. We trust these blessings will be so unusual, so beautiful that we will know they are from You. We are looking forward to experiencing Your goodness, feeling it in our lives, and knowing it’s on the way. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 – Scripture:

                Don’t Rely on People

I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

                        Philippians 4:10–14 MSG

Key Verse – I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.

 – Reflection:

It’s good when people encourage us and cheer us on, but what I’m saying is not to become dependent on that. If someone’s not giving you what you expect, if they’re not praising you, that’s okay. You can validate yourself. You can approve yourself. You are self-sufficient in Christ’s eyes. You can feel good about who you are, knowing that God handpicked you, created you in His image, and planted greatness inside.

Where do we go from here?

What am I saying? You don’t need somebody else’s praise. You don’t have to have people applaud. You have the applause from the One who matters most, from God who spoke worlds into existence. I’d rather have His applause than any person’s applause. But you may say, “Well, if I could convince this person to like me, he knows a lot of people, and maybe he could open some new doors for me.” Promotion doesn’t come from people. It comes from the Lord. God knows where all the opportunities are. He can make things happen for you without you having to convince someone to like you. You don’t have to play up to people to try to win their favor. If they don’t want to be your friend, it’s their loss, not yours. Do yourself a favor and keep moving forward. They’re not a part of your destiny. God has divine connections for you people. He’s already lined up. They’re already in your future.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, Thank You for creating all of us and placing seeds of greatness in us. I know that You live in us all, and we can hold our heads up and be confident, understanding that Your approval is all that matters. Help us not to depend on the praise and validation of others. We need to remind ourselves that we are enough in Your site. We can feel good about who we are because You handpicked us and created us in Your image. That is what truly matters. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

– Scripture:

              Remove the Negative

So get started. Purify the people. Tell them: Get ready for tomorrow by purifying yourselves. For this is what GOD, the God of Israel, says: There are cursed things in the camp. You won’t be able to face your enemies until you have gotten rid of these cursed things.

                           Joshua 7:13 MSG

 – Reflection:

In the scripture above, GOD told Joshua that there was trouble in his camp; some had performed an act that could not be forgiven. What followed was a horrible act that would be so destructive today but warranted at that time. This is what Johsua was told by GOD himself. Joshua called each tribe up through all of Israel, family by family and man by man until the man who did this feat stood before him. Once, he spoke of what GOD already knew he did and had told Joshua. Joshua and Israel led the man and his family; yes, his entire family to the valley and stoned and burned them to death. That is how GOD deals with those who don’t honor his commands.

Where do we go from here?

Joshua had a tall task to complete; ours are not so big. To remove negativity from our spaces and families, all we need to do is have conversations with people as adults. Tell them what you know and why they will not be a part of your circle anymore. There isn’t any stoning or burning to death. Being an adult is tough at this time, but we must handle it properly and honor our mental capacity by not allowing any negativity to cause us harm.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for giving us the strength to follow the path that you have given us. To honor what is on our hearts and to remove those who are causing us harm and ruining our business relationships. Keep us in your circle as we do what you have asked of us. Thank you for all of the power you have placed in us to complete your tasks. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 – Scripture:

               Unclutter Your Mind