Casting Cares

Sadly, people would rather believe a lie over the truth. Personally, I hate being lied on and falsely accused, but then again who doesn't? It hurts and it can be frustrating, especially when it comes from people close to you. However, as I continue to spend time with Christ, I am reminded that matters such as these fall into the category of the cares we are supposed to cast toward God.

Grateful & Blessed

Yesterday was my 31^st birthday! Hallelujah!

As I reflect on everything I’ve been through in the past year, I can truly say I have been kept by Jesus. Lately, in my journey, I feel that I’ve been shifted into a new season with new (clever) enemies. I couldn’t begin to tell you the number of interesting ways the enemy has gotten a good lick in on me in the past year but neither would I want to because for each time the enemy came at me Jesus showed up and showed out. I don’t want to talk about what the enemy tried to do. I want to talk about how Jesus got me through it.

In Jesus I have the best spiritual representation. In this new season I’ve learned that it is during the hardest times that you will discover your strength. When I’m at my weakest, God is at His strongest. He is the source of my strength and I wouldn’t be where I am without Him. He interferes on my behalf, making sure that my way is paved with favor and blessings.

I Called out to Him

 

I'm just getting home. As I sit down to reflect on today from a professional and personal perspective, I must admit that I feel so grateful and thankful. This season has been difficult for me on so many levels and the newness of it is requiring that I renew my mind and stretch my faith in order to keep up with where God is trying to take me. You know what people say, 'new levels new devils'. What I used to defeat the enemy in a prior season may not necessarily work in this season or a future one. I must remain faithful and committed to all of my assignments and in my relationship with Christ if I am to be a step ahead of the enemy.

Burning Bridges Based on Assumptions

Assumptions are the lowest form of knowledge. Sometimes we fester on possibilities, especially when it comes to people. Sometimes we will assume someone is harboring negative intentions towards us without even bothering to get the facts. Our pride and our bad habit of nurturing past offenses can cause us to misidentify who are our enemies and friends. As a result, we build ourselves up through festering which in turn all we're really doing is getting pre-agitated (yes I made a word up lol) and tense. In actuality though all this does is make things worse. Many of us take things further and plan a method of revenge against something that hasn't even happened because we've allowed ourselves to get hyped up over an assumption. We try to get them before they can get us.

 

 

 

Instead of confronting our family member, friend, or coworker in the beginning when offense first takes root, we will harbor resentment until it becomes a bad habit. Then we explode and out comes the words and actions we later wish we could take back. Petty situations then turn into broken hearts and ruined opportunities for greatness.

Faith Requires Action

Are you making the best use of your time? 

 

Do you know what you want? What do you desire? Now with the answer to this question in mind, let me ask you again. Are you making the best use of your time? Have you set goals and deadlines that are in line with what you desire? These are some of the questions I am asking myself as I reevaluate what I want out of 2016 and beyond. My time management skills need more structure and I am not ashamed to admit that I have an issue.

Think Before You Speak

I always stress to people in the body to not let their emotions override the voice of the Spirit in them. The problem with responding to a situation with your emotions is that it's leads to an "act first, think later" mentality. It comes with an "I just have to tell it like it is" mentality. Sure you may have "got it off your chest" but at what cost?

 

 

When you respond in the spirit, you give yourself the opportunity to handle the situation like Christ would. I think though that therein lies the problem. People like to feed their emotions because they become caught up in getting the last word in and being right. People like to fester on situations and justify the shots they throw because if they were to respond in the spirit that means they would respond in love.

 

Don't Take the Bait

What a weekend! God is good. I like to think that a true reflection of growth is knowing when the enemy is trying to bait you and resisting that said temptation. This weekend I got a good lesson on this topic. People are quick to flip the tables to cover their own insecurities and mistakes.

However, my response was to stand on the Word. We don't have to entertain or counsel demons when it comes to argumentative people. Speak the Word, pray for them, then let it go. If God puts it on your heart to bless them in a certain way, then do it, but don't get dragged into a pity party with them. Iron sharpens iron. We are to lift up and encourage one another. God called us unto Himself so that we may be highly favored and blessed without measure. You have the right to say no to toxic situations. You can shut it down at the beginning.

Feed Your Faith

I used to be concerned with the enemy stealing my blessings. I would try to hold on to them tight. However, I've been delivered from this fear. It's amazing. People will do you wrong right in front of you. Forget what the enemy is trying to do behind your back. People are bold and the enemy presents many faces. Some (not all) of the people who you thought were in your corner are nothing more than enemies in your camp seeking out ways to bring you down. Watch people say to you in good times and during bad times. Pay attention to their treatment of you. Often times we overlook the small signs that reveal their true nature and character. We miss the signs to let us know what their true intentions are towards us. Focus is important. This has been one of the problems I've been overcoming during this season.

Smile!

Smile!

We're only 18 days into the new year and already the enemy is busy. Without going into too much personal detail I will just reference the following two scriptures:

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." John 10:10 (AMP)

"But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house." Proverbs 6:31 (KJV)

The Weight of Opinions

I can recall a conversation I had a few years ago that took place during lunch with a coworker. The topic of dreams came up and I expressed one of my long-term desires. To my surprise her response was, "you can't do that."

Her response didn't hurt me but it definitely came as a surprise. This wasn't the only time one of my dreams was rejected by man.

There will be plenty of times when people will tell you that you are incapable of doing things. Whether it's concerning your professional or personal life, you can have anything and everything God has set for you to receive. People around you may lack faith but it doesn't mean that you should follow their pattern. Even when it comes to a close circle of friends, you can't live your life based on their faith.