Tag: #Jesus

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP470 THRONE OF MY HEART

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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THRONE OF MY HEART

As I sat down this morning to share my thoughts with you, I found myself asking, what do they need to hear the most today. My mind wandered to thoughts of how great our God is to us. There is nothing that we have facing us in this new year that we cannot overcome with his help. His place is first in our lives, he belongs on the throne of our hearts.

As we study, we need to pay close attention to context. I know a man that believes to be a Christian means that you cannot own anything. Because of couple of verses in Matthew chapter nineteen. Let’s start with that story. Jesus was approached by a young man that wanted to follow him. He asked what he must do to gain eternal life. First Jesus told him to honor his father and mother, don’t steal and he went through the list of things that are in the ten commandments. The young man said he had done those things from his youth.

Matt 19:21-26 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

The man I know bases his idea on is verses 23 and 24.

Matt 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

The disciples understood Jesus’ reference to the eye of a needle. When we read that verse it brings forth images of a camel which are large animals and a sewing needle. That would be impossible. But in reality, the disciples knew about the narrow gate in Jerusalem. This gate was mostly used at night and required that the camel be unburdened by its load and it would have to kneel to get through the tiny opening.

Jesus wasn’t saying it was wrong to have money. But he knew the young man’s heart. He had an unhealthy attachment to money and possessions. It is not that Jesus needed his money, he could cause money to be found in fish. He was trying to get the young man to put God before things and money. We cannot allow the things of this life to become a burden. We must make sure we have a healthy approach to money and not make it the lord of our lives, like this young man.

As we go forward and God begins to change things in this world, we must realize that we are blessed to be a blessing, not to hoard wealth. He places things in our hands to share and to further the gospel. But salvation is not based on how much or how little money we have in our possession. It is not based on how much we donate to a TV preacher. Salvation is based on our faith believing in God’s word. Salvation is about being filled with God’s Spirit and allowing him to lead us.

Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Don’t fall into the trap that God cares about how much money you have or don’t have, it’s not about the quantity, but about where it ranks on your list of priorities. God must be first in our lives. We must be like the camel and unburden ourselves and be humble enough to get down and pray. In being humble and having a heart in search of God’s will, we will be allowed through the gate.

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life. Few will find it because they will allow other things to weigh them down. Other things will be a priority over God. He is a jealous God and must be first. As we start the new year, let us be humble before the Lord and put him in the proper place. He belongs on the throne of our hearts.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP469 TURN THE PAGE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: TURN THE PAGE

Our lives play out as time intertwines with us each day. There are seasons of time and seasons of life. At the end of each year, we turn the page with hope that the year ahead will be filled with good things. The seasons of life are filled with years of just living out our lives.

At year end it is a good time to look back at the past year. Reflect on the lessons learned and the things we would do differently. It is a time that some make resolutions to be a better person. Some want to lose weight, give up bad habits or start something new like a workout routine.

I like to sit quietly with my thoughts for an hour or so and think about the lessons that I have learned over the past year. The things that I would have liked to have accomplished. I write those down for the next year. The things that I would have like to have done differently.

Then I pray and ask God to guide my upcoming year. To lead my feet down the right path.

In Christian circles we often say, Keep your eyes on the prize. Keep your focus on God’s plan. There are many encouraging words. Lazer focused on God’s plan is where we need to find ourselves. Every day, we need to begin with the right attitude. Getting in that frame of mind often takes prayer.

In the morning when I rise, give me God’s plan. My plans do not compare with what he has in store for me. Spending time with God sets the tone for the whole day. Each morning, we have to determine that we are going to follow Jesus that day.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

His word is a light to our path. He will guide us if we trust him to follow the path he lays out before us.

Prov 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

God hates lies. When we say we are a Christian, and our lives doesn’t reflect our faith, we are living a lie. But when our lives reflect that we walk in our faith and reflect God in all we do, we are living out our faith. It is a delight for God when we walk out our faith. When we walk in truth and allow God’s word to be our path.

Our way is established by the will of God. The children of Israel would not have had to wander for forty years if they had believed. If they had trusted the plan. But because of unbelief, they wandered for forty years. I don’t want to wander in the desert because of lack of trust. I want him to delight in me and direct my path.

Being in a place of God’s delight comes from our ability to focus. The enemy will try to fill our lives with distractions. Anything he can do to get our mind and focus off of God. It is time to set aside the things that are dead weight and press on further.

Heb 12:1 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,

As we come close to the year end. It becomes a time of reflection. It is a time to refocus on the things that really matter, and that is our faith walk. The path that is ahead of us will bring to us things we have never seen. How we deal with those things will define our character. They will help mold and shape us into the children of God that he can show delight in.

As we close this year. I want to wish you a wonderful new year. I pray it is all that you want it to be, remember to keep your eyes on Jesus and he will direct your path.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP468 – NOT COMPLACENT, NOT TODAY

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: NOT COMPLACENT, NOT TODAY

The church can fall into a place of complacency easily. If we as the body of Christ slow down and are not diligent we can become lukewarm. Today is not the day to be going through the motions. God was dealing with me to remind his people as we approach the year end that it is time to take inventory of our faith walk. Have we allowed the enemy to get a stronghold? Have we lost our fire? Are we lukewarm? God doesn’t want us to be lukewarm.

I started to think about Sampson. He was a judge over Israel. He had incredible strength tied to his long hair, which was an outward sign of his vow to God. Sampson toyed with the enemy, not realizing each time he did, it was weakening him. Every time he got closer to being overtaken.

The enemy used Delilah to manipulate his emotions and he told her the truth. Before long he was weakened because she put him to sleep. The enemy cut his hair. The source of his strength, not because his hair was powerful, but because of the vow to God. By cutting his hair, they severed his vow to God.

Our enemy is looking for ways to cut off our strength. He wants to sever our connection to God. The joy of the Lord is where we get our strength. But what if Satan can get us to have joy or find delight in something other than God. He knows he can cut off our strength. As Sampson’s hair was cut off his head.

If the enemy can break our connection to our head, who is Jesus Christ. He knows he can bind us up. Just as the enemy did Sampson. The Philistines captured Sampson and they gouged out his eyes. Our enemy will blind us if we let him. Letting down our guard where our enemy is concerned is how we end up lukewarm.

We tell ourselves this little thing or that won’t matter. God warns us to not be complacent or lukewarm. In the lukewarm state we are not a good light. Sampson forgot his place, he started feeling like his strength was his own. He got prideful about his strength and forgot it came from God.

If we are not careful, we forget where the blessing came from, our God. The blessings become a part of our lives and we can get where we feel like it’s because of us. We lose our attitude of gratitude. This is why it is important to always check ourselves and stay in the word. By studying the word, we find that we have something to compare our faith walk to and keep our feet on the right path.

When Sampson came to himself and realized that he had made a mistake he asked God to restore to him his strength. In spite of his mistakes, God used him to take out even more of the enemy than he had before, because he humbled himself.

We can never fall too far that God cannot pick us back up, if we ask. There is no shame in falling or failing, as long as we get back up. But there is shame in staying in a place of complacency.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP467 WE MUST BELIEVE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: WE MUST BELIEVE

As the world starts to look scary, we must not let it shake us. Now more than ever it is time to dig in our heels and stand strong. There are situations at times that makes us want to give up. We cannot let the enemy win. The only way he wins is if we give up and let him. He cannot destroy us, but if we give in to him, he will help us to destroy ourselves.

When the children of Israel were at the Red Sea, fear was starting to overtake them, but God told Moses what to do. He said stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. There is not a doubt in my mind that we are on the edge of a stand still moment, with our enemy. But God will deliver us just the same as he did Israel.

I often think about that powerful moment he said, “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Sometimes we have no choice, we are frozen and cannot go in any direction. In times like that we need to remember God will not allow us to be destroyed by the enemy.

Far too long the church has been in bondage to man’s ideas and doctrines. We were given a perfect plan by Jesus, but the church of today is far from the original plan of Jesus. As we pray and believe God for miracles, he is going to start showing up and setting people free.

The harvest is ready and he is calling for those who are willing to come and allow him to give us what we need to accomplish great things in the body. Can you imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus placed anointing on them to go out and heal the sick and to preach Jesus to the lost. That kind of empowerment is coming again to the body of Christ. As we draw closer to him, he will begin to anoint us.

Some will say, “I don’t believe it.” Without faith believing, we will not get anywhere. Without faith it will not happen for you. A believer is a receiver and a doubter goes without. I don’t want to miss what God is doing out of fear and doubt.

The enemy loves fear and doubt. The word doubt means a feeling of uncertainty. Who do we doubt? Are we doubting God? Do we lack conviction to stand strong. We must have a made-up mind to follow Jesus. Now is not the time for doubt and uncertainty. Some say, “I know he is able, but I question if he will do it for me.”

Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

What he’s done for others, he will do for you and me. As long as we believe God and stand on his word, he will watch over us and give us what we need, each day.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP466 A FEW GOOD MEN

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: A FEW GOOD MEN

During WW1 and WW2 the US Military came up with a slogan, “Looking for a few good men.” This was on recruitment posters, to encourage enlistment in the military. This is not the first time that someone in charge of a military was looking for a few good men.

Gideon had a massive army at his command, but God said, there are too many and he started narrowing it down. First he let all of them who didn’t want to go to battle leave. Then they went through a series of tests. Until God narrowed it down to three hundred men. God was looking for a few good men.

God took those three hundred men and defeated a massive army. All Gideon’s people had to do was let their light shine at the right time. Then the enemy ran for fear of being killed. Then all Gideon and his army had to do was go down and collect the spoils.

God once again in narrowing his army down to those who are serious. Only those who are fully committed to a life of following Christ. It is going to take us walking in God’s anointing and letting our light shine at the right moment to win the war.

The enemy is coming on strong. He is not going to flee from everyone who says they are a Christian. The enemy knows who is armored up against him. He knows who can walk in the anointing and authority God has given to them.

The word says if we resist the devil he will flee. Some do not know how to resist. It is up to us to help them find that place in Christ that they can learn to walk in their God given authority and anointing.

There is a big harvest field, not all is ready for what is coming. We must pray for the harvest that it be gathered. God is looking for a few good men and women to truly, fully follow him.

Until next time,

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP365 DAILY DOSE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: DAILY DOSE

As I struggled this morning with what to say the enemy worked on my flesh. Your voice is not strong enough to do a video and started giving me excuses. But we don’t have to accept his daily does of discouragement. We want a dose of encouragement. s

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. But that is exactly what our enemy does, he keep trying the same tactics. On some human beings it works, but on those of us who are filled with the Spirit of God we are wise to his tactics. Yet if we are not careful, we will allow ourselves to fall prey to his tactics anyway.

First, he tries to convince us there is no God. If that doesn’t work then he tries to convince us that God doesn’t care about us. If we get past that lie then he starts with you can live anyway and still be a Christian because of grace. But grace is not a license to live any way our flesh desires. This is why he doesn’t want us to study the word. He wants us to stay ignorant to what God’s word says. If we don’t know, we can’t try to mirror that word in our own lives.

If he can’t stop us from trying to walk out some sort of faith walk, then he will try to slow down our progress. He will throw everything he can at us to wear us down. If we are tired and battle weary, we will not have the strength to fight.

I am here to remind you that God is our strength. The enemy will not win. His lies and false reports will not wear us out. Because God is there to lift us up and make sure, we are standing strong.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP464 WHAT A DIFFERENCE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: WHAT A DIFFERENCE

What a difference a day can make. People often use this phrase; I was thinking this morning about how quickly circumstances can change. Especially when we are relying on God.

Look at the different circumstances in the word of God. Jesus had been crucified and was buried. It seemed like things could not get any darker or sadder for his followers. Then Sunday morning came and they found out that he was alive. Things often look the darkest before the miracle.

Things looked dark and scary for Jehosphat. He had not one army, not two armies but three armies that wanted to destroy him. The eve of battle looked scary. But God had a plan and told Jehosophat to send the worshippers first. Because God knew by the time they got to the battlefield that the enemies would have destroyed one another.

It looked like there was no hope for Daniel. When he was tossed into the middle of a den of lions. But God intervened on his behalf and the lion’s did not harm him. But the next day his enemies were tossed into the den and the lions destroyed the ones that plotted against Daniel.

What the enemy plans to use to destroy us, God will turn it for our good and leave us a blessing. While we are relying on God the enemy is congratulating himself thinking he has won. But he finds out quickly he is a loser.

Look how God turned things around for Esther and her nemesis Haman hung on gallows he built for Mordecai. We cannot be discouraged when things look like they are not going our way. When we are at the point, we feel like giving up. We feel the enemy is going to win. That is when we need to hold on the tightest. Because we are positioned for breakthrough.

When things seem the darkest, hold on daybreak will bring light to the situation and we will have new hope. All our hope is in Jesus and he can take our brokenness and make us whole. Many times, he is the only one that can turn around our circumstances. When we find ourselves in the middle of a dark storm. We must keep in mind how God can turn around our situations quickly. But sometimes it takes walking through the darkness to find the light.

When storm clouds are looming on the horizon, we can look to Jesus and he will roll the storm clouds away, in some cases. In other times he will give us strength to get through the storm. Circumstances will look scary at times and that is when the enemy comes to plant doubt.

I am sure he told the disciples that Jesus would not arise from the dead. He probably told Jehosophat that he was riding into the middle of an ambush, that he would not survive. The enemy could have whispered in Esther’s ear that no matter what she did, Haman would destroy her people. More than likely the enemy tried to place fear on Daniel that the lions would rip him to pieces. It is his job to create worse case scenarios. He wants to destroy our faith in God.

Trusting God in the darkest times will propel us to the place that breakthrough happens. We will see the break of dawn if we will only put our trust in him. Then we too can say with conviction, what a difference a day makes when we spend that day believing God. It is in the dark days that we walk through that we find our strength and draw closer to our God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP463 CONNECTED

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: CONNECTED

In order to get power to the motor in your car, the battery cables have to be clean and free of corrosion. Once the battery terminals are cleaned the connection is good then the power can flow more easily.

Our lives are this way. We often want the power of God to flow freely in our lives, but we don’t take time to assure a good connection. The cares of this life is like corrosion on your battery. Without a good connection to our power source the anointing cannot flow in our lives.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

If we are to produce fruit, we must have a good connection to God. This verse says, “he must abide in me and I in him.” In order for a branch to grow and produce fruit it has to have a strong connection to the vine, so that the life-giving sap can flow. If the branch gets broken, even partially it will not produce fruit or at the best poor-quality fruit.

We want God’s life-giving anointing flowing from the vine to us. As we connect to God, His fruit will manifest in our lives. Others will benefit from that connection. The fruit will be strength to them, allowing them to keep going forward.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Notice it says through Christ. Without him we can do nothing. We are like a dried up broken off branch. With him we can do all things. Anything he leads us to do. The goal is to have a good connection and produce fruit.

God is calling his people to step up and walk in the light we have been given. He is wanting a closer relationship with us. He knows in order to bring in the great harvest that is in front of us, we are going to have to be connected closer than ever.

The lost are going to have to see the fruit in order to know we are genuine and true. Far too long there have been fakes with superficial fruit. It is time people see a genuine move of God. That will only happen if we get connected and not allow the enemy to corrode our connection.

With electricity all it takes for us is to plug into an outlet. But how do we make our connection to God stronger. A strong prayer life if key to keep the connection to God strong. Sitting quietly and listening for his voice is important for a good connection.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Prayer opens doors that we cannot even begin to understand how to open on our own. Prayer brings about a connection to our purpose and all that God has for us. As we pray and look to God, we draw closer to the answers we seek.

Prayer strengthens our connection as a branch into the vine of God. Prayer helps us to connect to the discernment of what God wants in our lives. Spend some quality time alone with God to make sure your connection is strong. That is the only way you will reach your purpose.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP462 THE WAIT

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE WAIT

There is a quote that says time flies when you are having fun. When you are sitting in a doctor’s office or stuck in traffic, that seems to be true. These things are not fun and time doesn’t fly. It is not fun being forced to wait. Wait is a word that no one likes to hear, especially from God. In order for him to get things to align as they need to it takes time.

God understands we learn things in the wait. The wait develops spiritual fruit in our lives. The fruit of patience and meekness. It doesn’t do anyone good to complain about the wait in the doctor’s office or in traffic. It only makes us feel worse and more frustrated.

When it comes to the situations in life that we have asked God for an answer, and he says, “wait”. The answer must be accepted, we cannot speak words of negativity. The proper thing to do is to trust, and worship in the wait.

We often have situations in our lives that we feel needs an urgent answer from God. But he says wait. In his wisdom he already has the outcome figured out. He sees circumstances we do not, instead of giving us the quick answer we want he has a better outcome on the other side of wait. We need to thank him for every time he said, “no” or “wait” because they were for our good. Even the “no’s” and “not yet” are for our good.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Some things do not feel like they are for our good. For example: some may ask how losing a loved one can be for our good. It is hard for our human understanding to grasp that it teaches us things about ourselves. We learn we are stronger than first believed. We often find purpose on the other side of the pain. We need to understand that maybe God was working out the good for our loved one.

Life is temporary and so is our times of adversity. The ultimate purpose for our lives is to get to know God and help those we meet to know and understand him in a more meaningful way. But that sometimes means we have to walk through a time that God says, not yet will I reveal the answer.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If we wait on him, our strength will be renewed. He will bring us to a place of joy. Since joy is our strength we find strength in the waiting.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

When God says wait, he is not denying our answer, he is telling us he is working out our situation. He has promised to give us strength in the wait.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP461 IN THE MIDDLE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: IN THE MIDDLE

We are often caught between good and evil. We are doing all we can to walk into our integrity and make godly choices. But there is a battle being raged. The enemy is plotting to tear us down to overthrow the king on the throne of our heart. We do not have to let the enemy win. We can overcome, as long as we stand strong on our faith. The more the enemy tries to destroy us the more God will intervene as long as we lean on him. But today’s episode is not about fighting temptation, it is about standing strong when the enemy is out to destroy you because you are doing the right thing.

In the book of Esther there is a story of Mordecai that illustrates my point. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, an evil man that had manipulated his way into being the second in command of the kingdom. In his arrogance he asked that the king issue a decree that people must bow to him.

Haman came upon Mordecai and he didn’t bow to Haman. They had a discussion about Mordecai’s reason. He told Haman he only bowed to his God. Haman was angry because he would not give him the attention that he felt like he deserved. The anger festered and soon Haman decided to build a gallows for Mordecai to be hung on. He thought he would get satisfaction out of seeing Mordecai destroyed.

One night while Haman was building a gallows, the king couldn’t sleep. He asked that the records of kingdom business be read. As they were being read there was a note of how Mordecai had stopped a plot by two doorkeepers to assassinate the king.

The next morning he questioned what was done for Mordecai as a thank you. He discovered nothing was done. The king asked Haman, what should be done for a man that he desired to honor.

Haman in his arrogance thought the king was talking about him. So he told to the king, the man should be paraded through the street on the king’s horse, wearing the king’s robe. The person leading the horse will yell this is the man the king desires to honor. Haman wanted to be king. He thirsted for power and to be thought highly of, this is why Mordecai bothered him, because Mordecai reminded him he was not that important.

The king told him to do what he had said for a man named Mordecai. I am sure that Haman wanted to scream. He must have realized, at that moment, that the king would not allow him to hang Mordecai.

Even though Mordecai was honored that day, he was still at risk from the decree to kill all the Jews. Later that evening the king and Haman went to the banquet given by the queen called Esther. She asked the king to give her power over her people. They were in danger of being slaughtered. The king ask who was plotting to kill her people and she said evil Haman. He was hung on the gallows he built for Mordecai.

Mordecai was saved from the gallows and the decree to kill the Jews. This was because he stood his ground and would not bow down to a man. The lesson’s to take away from the story of Mordecai is to honor the one true God no matter what happens. Walk in integrity and do the right thing and God will save you from the plots of the evil one.

The next time it feels like the enemy is plotting against you to destroy you think of Mordecai. Stand strong in your faith, look to God and bow only to him. Remember that God will stop the evil plots of the enemy against us if we rely on him and resist the enemy.

We do not have to feel caught in the middle. There is not a plot that the enemy can create that God cannot reverse. He will take care of his people.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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