Tag: #trustgod

EPISODE 354 CLOUD OF WITNESSES OR CHAOS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: CLOUD OF WITNESSES OR CHAOS

It is nice to have people in your corner. One’s that you can rely on to see you through the tough times. To laugh with you in the good times. The bible refers to a cloud of witnesses. That phrase means like-minded people who support the same ideals and causes that you do. As Christians, we should be a cloud of witnesses for other Christians. People of like-mindedness are those who hold to the truth of scripture.

Heb 12:1-2 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.

Those in the body of Christ can be our cloud of witnesses. Those who encourage us, to walk in the truth of his word. Hebrews says to lay aside every weight. Man is notorious for complicating the things of God. Look how many laws the Pharisees made out of a few commandments that God gave them. We, too, have complicated things with the religious rules of mankind. We need to get back to the basics.

These rules of man only add chaos to our faith walk. Some people would die on the mountain of their religious belief about the word of God, before they would yield to the truth of his word. These people are clouds of chaos in the body of Christ.

It is better to be in a cloud of witnesses instead of a cloud of chaos. I am not advocating that we give up on the truth so that there could be peace. Giving in to man-made religion is the problem with the body of Christ already. We have to stand strong on the foundation of God’s word.

We are supposed to run our race with patience. How do we develop the fruit of patience? By walking through tribulations and trials. We can get through it all with Jesus by our side.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

This verse says that tribulation works patience. With patience comes experience and then hope, once we have walked through a few hard things. We know that if God saw us through that moment when we were at our most broken, he will come through again. It gives us the hope we need to walk in faith.

If we do not handle the tribulations well. We will not develop the fruit of patience like we need to develop. Without the fruit, it is harder to have hope. It is harder to walk by faith and not by sight.

Without the experience of the trials, we have nowhere to draw inspiration from except others. This is why we need the word of God. In it are stories of people who walked through difficult things. When they trusted God, he blessed them and helped them. When they didn’t trust God, they got an Ishmael.

Abraham and Sarah lost patience, waiting for the promise. We cannot lose sight of the promises of God and try to do things our way. We will end up in chaos. We have to wait upon the Lord. In his perfect timing, we will receive the things God has promised. We will not end up with our own version of Ishmael.

Today is the day you want to ask yourself: Do I want a cloud of witnesses? Those who encourage me in the Lord and give me encouragement to endure the trials. Or do I want a cloud of Chaos that walking in the flesh and trying to fix things my way will bring?

We have been promised that as long as we walk in the ways of the Lord, he will be with us and strengthen us. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. He wants nothing more than to destroy our peace and steal our joy.

Surround yourself with a strong cloud of witnesses. Those who have walked through the fiery trials of life. They can encourage you and help you to go through your own fiery trials. Because no one wants to live with a cloud of chaos.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 314 MAINTAINING TRUST

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: MAINTAINING TRUST

It is true that nothing happens to us that God does not allow. But when it comes to others in our lives, God will do what is best for them also. Grief is an interesting thing; everyone handles it differently. Job was overcome with grief at the reports of his lost family. He was sick in body and had lost all he had for a season. The enemy was allowed to tempt him and lie to him. Yet he never cursed God.

JOB 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Even though everything appeared to be going wrong, Job trusted God. He didn’t allow his circumstances to change his relationship. This is a lesson we must take away from the story of Job. We too cannot let the things happening to us to change our relationship with God.

If we trust him, we will walk through the tough things, knowing He will deliver us. We often wonder when he will move. Many do not doubt God’s ability, but we often grow battle weary. We often wonder when he will move. We may feel like he has forgotten about our situation.

There is nothing wrong with his memory. Just keep telling Him that you trust that he will see you through. Take things one day at a time. If necessary, one hour at a time or one minute at a time.

I am sure when Job was in pain from all the open boils on his body, he didn’t think God would ever move. I am sure the enemy fed his mind with lies about God’s love and compassion. If he really loved you, he would take away your pain. The enemy whispered.

But God knows what we have need of, and sometimes what he is growing in us spiritually is far greater than our situation. God is greater than our pain. It is not that he is trying to be mean. He takes no pleasure in our suffering. He will unlock the door as soon as possible. But we have to trust Him until that time.

Grab hold of the promises of God and do not let go. He is the giver of our peace. He is our healer, deliverer and the savior of our soul. Many want to acknowledge him as savior, but few want to surrender their lives fully to make him Lord.

Many down through the ages have asked when Lord, how long will you tarry? How long will my enemy appear to have the upper hand? How long will I be sick until I am healed?

Psalm 13:1-5 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

David also asked how long. I want you to notice verse five, but I have trusted in thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. It doesn’t matter what we are going through right now; we know that God is in control. There is an expiration date; these circumstances will not last forever. Think back over your life. I am sure that there have been things that at the time were the hardest things you’ve ever walked through. Now they are a distant memory.

Stay strong, God has not forgotten you. He knows you are facing tough things. He is the one with the key to set you free. Just hold on, keep breathing, keep trusting, your miracle is on the way.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 294 FULLY TRUSTING GOD

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The title of today’s episode: FULLY TRUSTING GOD

Not everyone assigned to a task will find God’s will. Sometimes, our flesh can get in the way. Moses sent twelve spies into the promised land to check it out. God had already told them the land belonged to them. But ten men got into the flesh and allowed what they saw to cause them to fear. Walking in fear will always take us the wrong direction.

How often do we fall into fear? God says he will take care of us. He promises us that he is with us and will never leave us. He has given his angels charge over us to protect us. He promises that he will restore what the enemy has stolen. Yet we find ourselves bound up with worry and fear. Who’s report do we believe? God’s or our flesh that is being lied to by satan.

We need to have the strength of Joshua and Caleb. They saw everything the other ten saw. The difference was in their reaction. They decided not to allow fear to overtake them, they decided to get some grapes and bring them back to show the people. They had proof they actually went into the land. The other ten only brought words of fear and negativity.

When God promises us something, there is not time for negativity. If he brings us to it, he will make a way to get rid of the giant obstacles that are in the way of us getting to where he wants us to go. There is not a mountain too high or a giant too big that can intimidate our God. He is endless, boundless, everlasting the Almighty God that made everything.

Joshua and Caleb embraced God’s steadfast, unwavering promises. The rest were not trusting enough in God’s word. It is often when we are met with what seems to us to be insurmountable odds, that God’s hand really shines through with a mighty miracle.

America is teetering on the edge; we are needing God’s mighty hand to restore and give us back what the enemy has stolen. Satan has tried to steal the next generations from God, by offering shiny, distractions. We know that not everything that glitters is not gold. Especially today, many glittering things are made from cheap plastic. We cannot fall for the temporary substitute of cheap peace. It is a trap of the enemy.

When only true peace is found in Jesus. He is the one with real joy and satisfaction. The enemy cannot match in any way. But people fall into legalism, feeling like they cannot serve God, because it is too hard. They listen to the enemy when he tells them that the things he offers are to make them happy. But once inside the trap, people realize it is a cheap substitute for God’s love and peace.

I know I want to be like Caleb and Joshua, I want the boldness of God to arise in me when faced with decisions like they were facing. I want to say, yes there are giants, but our God is still bigger than them. Have you seen the size of the grapes. There is much fruit to be had in the promises of God if we are willing to reach out in spite of our fears and gather it.

If the Spirit of God dwells within us, we will have the fruit. When faced with seemingly insurmountable odds we can be strong and allow what God has grown within us to give us the strength to face adversity.

Pause and think about God. Think about this sentence. “OUR GOD NEVER FAILS”. Why do we worry, why do we fear, if he has promised so much to us?

Allow the boldness of God and the fruit that is within you to give you strength to face down the giants. You will not go alone, God is with you. You can make it, it you believe.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I don’t see fear, doubt, negativity, being argumentative, being double-minded on the list of the fruit of the spirit. This is why we must walk in the boldness of God, keeping in mind his peace, joy, goodness and the rest of the fruit. It is our fruit that separates us from the nonbeliever.

We grow our faith by speaking God’s promises, not by speaking negativity. Allow God’s boldness to arise within you. Stand up and look the enemy in the eye and tell him he is under your feet. You are not listening to him anymore.

May the peace of God surround you today. May the Joy of the Lord give you strength. Hold on and stand strong, God has got us in the palm of his hand. He will keep his promises we can depend on his word.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 176 LEARNING TO TRUST

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: LEARNING TO TRUST

During the Friday night prayer meeting, I heard my friend Bonnie pray, “Oh, God, are we praying away the very storms we need?” Over the past few days, I have been thinking about the storms we need and the ones we don’t.

When God allows a storm in our life it will strengthen us and help us to grow. Some are God sent to shake us and wake us out of our slumber. He wants us to learn to trust him in a deeper way. Others are more sinister in nature, they are sent from our enemy to cause us to fall into sin, or at least into a spiritual slumber. He hopes the pounding waves will cause us to fall into fear and not trust our God.

Discernment will show us the difference. Once we know who is sending the storm, we can determine what to do about it. If it is God sent, then we pray for understanding. Learning the lesson is harder, it will tell us how to is listening to the voice of God?

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

In order to survive the storms, we need a solid foundation. The Lord is our rock, our foundation. The core of our belief system that gives us solid footing.

A fortress is a place with walls, often towns or cities. It is strongly reinforced or fortified to make it strong against enemy attacks. It is not easily influenced by outside forces. The Lord will build a hedge around us to protect us from the attacks of our enemy.

My deliverer, God is there to remove the danger from our enemy. Things may appear to us to be dangerous and cause us to fall into fear if we are not careful. Fully trusting in God will help us to realize that he has already removed the danger from our situations. We just have to trust in him to see it play out or manifest in our lives.

My God, My strength, in whom I will Trust. God is the strength of our life. He will help us to keep going even when we do not think we can go another step.

My Buckler- A buckler is a small shield worn on the forearm. God is our shield. He will protect us from the darts of deception and the rest of the things in the enemy’s arsenal.

Horn of salvation is another reference for God. David said God was his horn of salvation, which meant he delivered him and empowered him. The ram’s horn was used for many things like calling the assembly together to hear the word of God. To sound the alarm to go to battle. They stored anointing oil in horns and would pour them out. One example would be when a prophet would anoint someone to be king. It gave that person authority to lead the people.

After breaking down just one verse we can see how God is everything we need. Storms bring darkness; Jesus is the light. Storms bring floods sometimes, but Jesus is that wall that will not allow us to be swept away by swift water.

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

When our enemy comes in like a flood. It seems like there is no direction to turn without being overtaken with his attack. God will raise up a standard, against him. A standard is a gauge in which everything is measured. It is what is considered the norm. I have heard that in the context of this verse that a standard is a flood wall that will be strong enough to hold back the flood and protect us. It is a measure set so that everyone knows the level that is normal and when that level is exceeded.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will set a gauge that says this is the limit, you can come no further. Which compares to God being our fortress. He puts up walls of protection against our enemy.

When faced with a storm, we need to remember Jesus is the one who can calm any storm. To us, in a small boat with huge crashing waves, it may appear scary. But we need to learn how to TRUST, even in the storm. We see the big scary waves; we see how things appear to us. The enemy will come along and whisper his lies. You are going to drown; your boat is going to sink. You are going to die today. But Jesus says, have faith in me, I am your standard, your protection, you will live and not die today, you will not drown or capsize. I am with you.

Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

What will you say to and about your storm? The words out of your mouth will determine the outcome. Whose report are you going to believe? Will your boat be capsized in the storm, leaving you to struggle to stay afloat? Will you speak the words of Jesus and lean on him?

The power is in our mouth. Follow me for just another moment.

Matt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Jesus was speaking to the overly religious people of his day. Our mouth will speak what is within our hearts. We have to learn to trust God in our hearts in order to speak trust, love, peace, joy or speak in defiance of the enemy. Getting God’s word within our hearts will give us the strength to withstand the storms of life.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Just reach out today and thank him for his peace. Hold on to his hand, and he will pull you out of the darkest storms. Worship, can roll away a lot of storm clouds and help us to see S-O-N shine. Once our storm clouds roll away, we can take our light and be a light in someone else’s storms.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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