Tag: #beboldbebrave

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP507 THE MANTLE

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v768j82-god-focus-this-morning-ep-507-the-mantle.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE MANTLE

In the story of Elijah and Elisha a mantle was a piece of clothing. It was a cloak or cape, a wrap or shawl. It was symbolic of how our calling in God wraps around us. A mantle in the calling sense means we have a role, duty, responsibility or position given to us of God. It is often passed from one person to another as God calls them home. A person’s mantle will fall to the next generation.

We may carry a mantle for different things. Learning to operate in our calling under that mantle is where many stay. They never step fully into their position. They never use their faith in combination with their mantle. To find the boldness to actually use the gifts that God has given. Too often we allow fear to get in our way. We need the boldness of Elisha to receive and walk into our calling.

Let’s look at the story of how Elisha received his mantle to be a prophet. He had traveled with Elijah for a while and had watched him operate in his faith. Elijah was about to leave he told Elisha he had to go to Bethel and that Elisha could stay behind. He pressed him to go along with him. Then again Elijah said he had to go to Jericho and told Elisha to stay. But he pressed again to go along. Then Elijah had to go on to Jordan. Again, the same thing happened. Each time Elisha pressed him to go along. Each stop along the way, prophets would tell Elisha that the Lord was removing Elijah that day. He kept telling them he knew.

I am sure he had many questions like we all do. But he decided that he wanted to walk in Elijah’s footsteps and be a prophet of God. He had witnessed the boldness of Elijah and knew God honored boldness. The scripture I will share picks up right before God takes Elijah. To get the full effect I suggest you read the whole second chapter of 2 Kings.

2 KGS 2:8-15

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

In order to operate in the mantle of a prophet, Elisha had to have faith. He had seen a lot while he was with Elijah. He didn’t pick the mantle up and wonder, will this work for me. No, he believed because he knew what Elijah had said to him.

2 Kgs 2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

Elisha saw him be taken up and the mantle fell to the earth. He trusted that God would give him the anointing in abundant measure. He exercised his boldness to even ask for a double portion of anointing. He was bold to refuse to stay behind, but to follow Elijah.

Why would he not boldly pick up the mantle and use it. He asked where God was, when the waters parted, he knew God was with him. If he had been like some of us, that may have not happened because of doubt. He didn’t pick it up and say, “I wonder if it will work for me?” “Will God really give me a double portion of his anointing?” But he didn’t doubt he proceeded boldly to cross.

This was the beginning of him walking in the authority and anointing without a mentor. He had to rely on God for himself. We have all had that special person that was our compass. Someone who kept us pointed the right direction and in God’s will. Mine was my very wise grandfather. He served God will all of his heart and strength. When we lost him, the whole family not only lost a father and grandfather but we lost our mentor.

Suddenly we were all left to find our own way to hear from God. It has been a long journey, but I know that God is getting ready to do amazing things in the earth. We as his children are privileged to be alive in this day and age. We will see God move in miraculous ways, but we have to be bold enough to pick up whatever mantle he has given us and strike the water.

If you don’t know what your calling is, it is ok. God will show you if you ask him. He is waiting for your surrender, he will shine down on you and lead you to where you need to be, because he has plenty for us all to do. The harvest is ready and the time is short. This is why God is going to empower our generation, like no generation before us. If we are bold enough and obedient enough to pick up the mantle.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP504 WORK IT OUT

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v760p56-god-focus-this-morning-ep504-work-it-out.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: WORK IT OUT

We are each responsible for our own faith walk. The choices we make will shape how we walk out our faith. Paul wrote to the Philippians that they should continue to live out their faith reminding them of the seriousness of their faith walk. No one can do it for you. No one can trust God for your salvation but you. It is possible for us to pray for someone and God draw them to him, but ultimately they are responsible to yield their lives to him.

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

He didn’t tell them to work out their salvation meaning it’s ok to take bits and pieces of religions and make them what you want to do. It didn’t mean that we have to work for our salvation. He was saying that we walk out our faith doing our best to be consistent in our faith.

Salvation is not a one time prayer and you can live your life as you choose. It is an ongoing daily walking out of our faith. We are responsible for our prayer life, we are responsible to search the word for ourselves. We cannot rely on a large portion of preachers, this is why we need to know for ourselves what the word says. That is part of working out our salvation, we need to work things out in our minds according to the word. Taking what is preached and compare it to the word.

I will once again remind you how important it is to pray and study, especially now as the world spins out of control. Daily asking God for guidance and to keep our feet on the right path is critical in the times in which we are living.

So get in the word, pray and work it out so you can walk it out. God loves each of us so very much, he will not let us down.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING–EP501 TESTIMONY

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v75vjx2-god-focus-this-morning-ep501-testimony.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: TESTIMONY

It is our responsibility to share with future generations the experiences we have had walking with the Lord. Now is not the time to tell them that everything will we wonderful and they will never have a battle. But we need to remind them that God will go before us and fight for us. We never fight the enemy alone. Jesus’ blood is our cloak of protection from the enemy.

I have been encouraged and strengthened by my elders. This is why testimonies are so important. They give the hearer something to hold onto when things get tough. The Jewish people were faithful to pass down their stories from generation to generation. We too need to share our faith and testimony with future generation.

Psalm 44:1-3 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. 2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. 3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

In a court of law, testimonies are firsthand accounts of certain events. People share the information that they have about an event that has taken place. They determine how the court will rule in the case.

From a Christian point of view, testimonies are first hand accounts of what God has done. Testimonies prove God’s faithfulness, his character and abilities to turn around impossible situations. It is about declaring what God has done. Those who hear and accept our words as truth will be encouraged and strengthened by our experiences.

We gain the ability to overcome when we share our testimony. Speaking out loud and sharing what the Lord has done for us. Renews our strength and encourages us to keep going. If God brought us through one difficult season, he will bring us through the next one. Our faith determines how the courts of heaven will rule. What will the answer be to what we have prayed?

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

If you think about it a large portion of the Bible is a first-hand account of events and times that God moved for his people. Testimonies are about giving glory to God for the wonderful things he has done. Sharing how he moved at just the right time.

I feel it is important to write things down in a journal. I have been encouraged by things written in my journals, when I go back and look at them years later. I write about how God has answered my prayers. When I get discouraged, I look at my journals and I am always encouraged. I think back about how discouraged I was before each breakthrough. It gives me courage to keep having faith.

By sharing our testimonies, we can share the good news of the gospel. Letting our light shine into the darkness is what life is all about.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP498 INSIDE / OUTSIDE

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v75omdu-god-focus-this-morning-499-inside-outside.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: INSIDE / OUTSIDE

Have you ever heard the phrase, it is what is on the inside that counts? This is true in the life of every believer. Inner holiness and having a pure heart are more important than appearing holy on the outside.

People sometimes get caught up in an idea of looking a certain way. Wearing certain things makes you more holy. They go to extremes with discussing dressing modestly. Then judge others who do not adapt and look exactly like they do. God doesn’t expect us to look like cookie cutter people. He made us individuals, and the Holy Ghost inside of you will lead you and guide you how to act, walk and dress.

I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Out of all of Jesse’s sons, David would have been the last one that Samuel would have chosen to anoint king. Samuel looked at his brothers judging them to look more like a king. But God knew the heart of each of them. He knew that David had a servant’s heart that loved the Lord. His heart was pure.

We cannot judge people by how they look or dress. God sees us as we will be in the future and knows our hearts. Our faith walk is all about having a pure heart inside of us.

Luke 6:43-45 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

What is in our heart is going to overflow out of us through our actions and words. Judgmental attitudes do not come from a place of purity. It often comes from a place of jealousy and self-righteousness.

We want to be found with a pure heart before God. Doing all we can to allow God’s love to flow out of us.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP497 HOW TO INCREASE FAITH

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v75l9t4-god-focus-this-morning-ep497-learning-to-increase-faith.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: HOW TO INCREASE FAITH

As Christians we talk about faith, hope, love, salvation. Many feel like they need more faith. Most of us have felt like this from time to time. We find ourselves facing something difficult and feel like our faith is failing.

Even the apostles that were following Jesus asked for more faith.

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. But we do not get an infusion of more faith just because we ask for faith.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hearing in this verse means understanding. So faith comes by understanding and understanding comes by the word of God. The more we study the word the more our faith in God grows. Because when faced with tough situations, we can use the word to strengthen us to keep going. We will automatically recall the stories of how saints of old overcame their seemingly impossible situations.

Luke 17:6-7 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Two things we must know about mustard seed. When planted it turns into a large tree. Our faith can grow just like the mustard seed, big and strong. The second, mustard is pure, it is not so much the size of the seed as the authenticity and purity. Mustard stays mustard, it will not mix with other herbs. Our faith has to be pure and not mixed with doubt, negativity or other distractions.

The more we exercise our faith, the stronger it gets. Just like body building. Those people do not get those huge muscles by lifting five-pound weights. They keep adding to the amount that they can lift. Soon they are lifting large amounts of weight.

Faith means- Facing All I Trust Him.

Believing is having faith. Believing is accepting something as true even if you didn’t see it with your own eyes. I didn’t see Jesus die for my sins. I didn’t see him raised from the dead. I didn’t watch as some of his believers did when he ascended to heaven. But I believe it to be true, that is faith.

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Remember what I said about the mustard seed being pure. Our faith has to be pure. We are to ask in faith not wavering from our belief that God will grant our request. We cannot sway between two opinions like we are a boat being tossed in the waves of life. We cannot be double minded; we have to have our mind set with faith that God will answer our prayers. To be double minded is unstable and shows lack of faith.

I couldn’t try to help you increase your faith without going to my go to verse. It is one I use daily to keep me going the right way.

2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith and not by sight.

Many times, things look the opposite of how our faith needs to see them. We cannot depend on our natural senses to see situations in our lives. We have to look at them through the eyes of faith. Walking by faith means we believe God, even when our natural senses cannot find evidence.

Get in that word and increase your faith. We are about to walk through a season that we are going to have to rely on our faith to see us through. Because our natural eyes are going to want us to fall into fear and anxiety. But God is in control and we have to look to him to deliver his people from the evil of the enemy.

Keep the faith, stand strong, God is with is.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP494 THE WORD

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v75d096-god-focus-this-morning-ep494-the-word.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE WORD

The weather is supposed to be cold and snowy this weekend across a large portion of the country. It seems like a good time to grab your bible, a note book and something warm to drink and study God’s word.

There are all sorts of ways to study the bible, by book, diving into the history of the time. By topic, meaning find out everything the word says about one thing. For example: look up ever verse about faith and make notes. That would be a topical study. You could also take a chapter and look up everything in that chapter, places and all the words that you do not 100% know what they mean. You would be amazed at what you can learn by looking up words.

Some feel like they would have to attend a bible school before they could understand the word. But if we have God’s Spirit inside of us, he will teach us.

Sit quietly and ask him for guidance to what you need to learn. Pray for him to open the word up to you in a new way. Then sit quietly and allow him to speak to you. He will guide you where to go in the word.

Whatever you end up studying I want to remind you of a few truths.

The fullness of God (or the godhead) is in our Lord Jesus Christ. He died so that we could live life and have eternal life.

Hell was made for satan and his demons. Man was never meant to go there, but because of disobedience to God’s laws some people will end up in the fiery punishment for all of eternity.

God loves us and will deliver his people. He will provide what we need. He will heal us when we are sick.

When we are weak God is strong and will give us strength to keep going.

When mankind is blinded by the enemy, God’s light will shine into the darkness, giving people a way out.

Fear, anxiety, depression are all tools of the enemy. Just like all of his lies. We need to pray for God’s discernment to know when the enemy is lying to us.

We can never fall too far for God to reach us, if we want to be reached. Just look up and ask him to pick you up.

Letting go of the weights of life will help us with our faith walk. We can overcome with Jesus by our side.

There is not a problem too big or a battle too hard for our God. He will help us navigate our problems. He has given us the whole armor of God to protect us in battle.

We cannot give up, we have to keep pressing on and walk by faith. Aligning with God’s purpose for our lives will allow us to win many to the kingdom of God. Winning souls is our purpose. We just have to keep the faith.

I pray that you find encouragement in something I have said today. I also pray that the next time you open your bible that it will come to life for you. There is joy in serving Jesus.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP493 ALIGNING WITH OUR PURPOSE

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v75baby-god-focus-this-morning-ep293-aligning-with-our-purpose.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: ALIGNING WITH OUR PURPOSE

God has plans for all of us. Those plans however big or small will never workout until we come into alignment with God’s purpose. He has been preparing us our whole lives for this moment. He is getting ready to do great things in the earth, there is a huge harvest that needs gathered, it is all hands on deck. Now is the time to find your purpose.

The word align means to place or arrange thing in a straight line. To bring order to your actions through prayer and God’s timing. Making sure that you line up with God’s plan.

God prepared Moses to be the one he would use to set the Israelites free. Think about it, Moses was raised as a future Pharaoh. He knew their laws, customs, religious beliefs. He knew the Pharaoh, was raised with him as cousins. Moses knew how stubborn the Pharaoh would be and felt like he was helpless to change his mind.

He started making excuses why he wasn’t the one to go. Moses was looking at his ability to take on this monumental task. He forgot that God would go before him and would do the work for him, he just had to be obedient and show up.

Most of us at some point has been like Moses with the excuses. But we have to see the bigger picture. It is not about our abilities; it is about the souls we will reach if we just align ourselves with God’s plan and purpose for our lives. It is about people finding God and being free from their form of bondage.

If we can get aligned with God’s purpose for our lives no one, and nothing not even satan himself will be able to stop us. But first we have to make sure our mindset is right. The purpose has to be God given and not man given.

We achieve alignment with God’s purpose for our lives by prayer, submission to him, repentance and focus on the word of God. In other words, we have to keep our GOD FOCUS.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Aligning with our purpose comes through having our mind set on what is the perfect will of God. We renew that mindset through prayer and study of God’s word. Asking him for direction to our purpose. It comes by living in the Spirit.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

This verse calls for us to allow the Spirit of God to lead us and walk where he leads. When we align with God, we bring our life, thoughts, actions and desires into harmony with God’s will, purpose and plans.

Our prayer everyday should be:

“Dear God, help me to align with your plan for my life. Help me forget my plans and ideas of how things need to be done. Help me to not give in to all the directions I am pulled in every day. Things like social media, entertainment, the long list of responsibilities that beg for attention. Help me to put you first.

Help me to align with your plans for my day and my life. I understand that people are needing someone to stand in the gap for them, to help them find you. Help me to fill the gaps you need me to fill, so that we can reap the billion-soul harvest. Amen.”

There is one verse that comes to mind when I think about us walking in the spirit and finding our purpose. I will leave you with this verse.

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Are you ready to align with your purpose?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING 491 LETTING GO

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v757tuy-god-focus-this-morning-ep491-letting-go.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: LETTING GO

Our lives are transformed and filled with things we hold onto and things we let go. Letting go of the mistakes of the past is vital to our future. However, the lessons we learned from those mistakes we need to hold onto with all of our strength. The lessons are what shapes and molds who we become.

Our enemy hates to lose to Jesus. It has been an on-going theme since his fall to earth. Jesus didn’t give into him when he tempted him in the wilderness. Satan knows he will not give in to him now. He took Jesus up and and promised him all the kingdoms of the earth. Jesus knew he was offering something that didn’t really belong to him.

Since he couldn’t get Jesus to fall, he tries to get us to fall. We must not feel like we need to listen to him. We no longer belong to him. He loves to find one little place we are weak and exploit it. He will pick at one tiny thread until it all unravels, if we let him. Once we have messed up, he loves to use the word of God to make us feel bad. He will cause us to beat ourselves up over things we have done. We asked God to forgive us, so the mistakes and sin no longer exist in the realm of God. He puts it under the blood, as far as the east is from the west. He remembers no more, it’s not that he has a bad memory. That phrase means he no longer counts it against us. But still, we allow the enemy to put condemnation on us.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We have no reason to look at the past and beat ourselves up like it’s a mistake. When we walk after the Spirit (by faith) and not after the flesh (by how things seem) we can become free from the enemy’s condemnation.

People often confuse conviction with condemnation. Conviction is a warning in your spirit when you are about to step out of God’s will and walk in the flesh. Condemnation happens after you step out of God’s will and walk in the flesh. Even after you have asked for God’s forgiveness the enemy will try to get you to beat yourself.

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

We need to let go of the past, forgetting the mistakes and forgiving ourselves. Keep moving forward is the only direction we have. An old hymn comes to mind, called One Day At A Time. That is all we are meant to live in, “Yesterday is gone sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine, so for my sake teach me to take one day at a time.”

We have no promise of tomorrow, the only day we have is the one we are living in. Today is the day we live free from the enemy’s condemnation. Every morning, we have a choice to make, how are we going to live the hours in front of us. Are we going allow the enemy to speak negativity and condemnation? Are we going to thank God for another day, another chance to walk out our faith?

What if this was your last day on earth, would you want to spend it worrying about the past. Or would you want to spend it praising God for all that he has done. We have to live each day as if it were our last. Living with intention, purpose, praise and prayer. Doing the will of God by encouraging someone else.

If you’ve allowed the enemy to put condemnation on you about something you’ve repented for, it is time to let it go. God never meant for you to hold onto the weight of sin. He died to set us free. Today is the day to walk in that freedom and kiss the past good-bye.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP290 PRESS ON

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7569yo-god-focus-this-morning-ep490-press-on.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: PRESSING ON

Anything worthwhile takes time. Mastering skills and learning new things, always requires time and study. Athletes train for years for that one day they are in the big leagues. The Olympics, the super bowl or world series. For them they have decided that the prize is worth striving for, the sense of accomplishment of finishing their race strong. They have a built-in determination to push themselves beyond their limits. Training means constantly pushing the boundaries of what you can do. Setting new boundaries and then breaking them.

Runners that run distance races learn how to pace themselves early in the race. While they are the strongest. When the time comes that their strength is starting to fade, they can dig deep and push themselves. Imagine running out of strength from sprinting, you go to push yourself and realize you still have miles to go with an empty tank of energy and strength. Many often lose the race because they burn out.

But imagine you started that race along side of the sprinter. For a while it looked like they were going to win. They were so far ahead, that they ran ahead of God. Soon they grew cold and lack strength because they didn’t run their race with patience and with God.

Heb12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

How do we run the race that is set before us? Verse 2 Looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. He has his pen and is writing our story. He is the finisher of our faith, it was all finished on the cross. He tells us to lay aside our weights and sins. We only have the capacity to carry a certain amount of weight.

Example: Let’s say all the weight you can carry is twenty pounds. It doesn’t matter if those twenty pounds is in rocks or feathers, it is all you can carry. God has responsibilities he wants us to carry. But if we are so bogged down by the cares or weights of this life, we will not have the capacity to carry anymore. That is why we must set aside the things we are not meant to carry. This frees us up to have room to carry what God has for us.

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We cannot get caught up in the past. We need to forget the issues of yesterday. Today is the day to reach forward and try to grasp what God has in store for us. We can dig deep and press toward the goal. As the world grows dark, we are called to be a light. It takes us pressing forward to be that light.

When I think about pressing forward or digging down and pushing ourselves to keep going. I think about the oil press. How it takes the fruit to be pressed to release the precious oil. We sometimes have to be squeezed for the anointing to come out of us. That anointing can break the yoke of the enemy. That anointing can pour over on others giving them what they need to press on.

I COR. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The enemy will try to get us to fall into temptation. He wants us to get burnt out, stressed out and pressed in from all sides. His job is to get us to give up. But we have to press on, push him aside, fight for the right things, stand strong on the word of God.

The enemy will press in until we take the authority, God has given us. God will use the anointing of the Holy Ghost to break the yoke of the enemy. Allowing us to press on toward the prize. Which is hearing him say, “well done my child, enter in.”

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING –EP488 RELATIONSHIP

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v74zxg4-god-focus-this-morning-ep488-relationship.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: RELATIONSHIP

People say they want a relationship with God, but often they want a one sided friendship. One where God gives and gives and gives; they just take. They never offer him praise, worship or spend any time talking with him or reading his word.

Then when something happens they question why God doesn’t move. They act like it’s a flaw of God. They act like he doesn’t want to help us. But again, I remind those people it is about relationship.

Psalm 143:7-10 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Almost everyone has experienced that place of feeling down. Our spirit feels like there is no use to try. It seems everything we try ends up in failure. We need to see God, but it feels like he is a million miles away. This is the beginning of falling into the pit of despair. This is a place that depression thrives and it seems that thing will never get better.

When we feel like we have failed God or failed in general and there seems to be no way out. Surrender to God instead of the darkness and despair.

Verse 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Starting our day in prayer is not something we do to check off a box. It is vital to our spiritual survival. It sets the tone for our day. It gets our minds in the proper place to be able to walk through whatever is in front of us.

It is about our relationship with our Heavenly Father. How can we have a relationship with someone you never talk to or listen to?

Verse 9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

By strengthening our relationship, we can be in a position to ask God to deliver us from our enemies. We can get into that secret place where we pray and God will meet us there. The secret place is where we petition the throne room of heaven.

Verse10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

By asking God to teach us to do His will, we are telling him we want to grow in grace and knowledge. We desire a closer walk with Him. We will never be an effective soul winner unless we first build that relationship with God for ourselves. We cannot speak about things we have not experienced for ourselves.

How can we tell someone Jesus is the answer, if we first do not dig down deep and realize for ourselves that he is the answer. We can learn a lot from David and the Psalms. David was not perfect, just like we are not perfect, no matter how hard we try to be. Admitting that we are flawed and at times weak, and need a perfect God is the beginning of us building a strong relationship.

Everything we do comes down to our relationship with God. With all that is going on in the world, now is the time to draw even closer to the one true God. He will be our provider and protector a voice of comfort when we are weak. He died on the cross to set us free. His name is Jesus.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT