Are you prepared?

The people under Jehoshaphat had yet to prepare their hearts and so left an opening for the devil by not removing the high places (2 ch 22:33)

So many times in our lives it is the scenarios that show up that challenge us the most. The car accident, change of jobs, falling in love, discovering the truth, letting go of traditions, sudden death, things that we had never prepared for and suddenly find ourselves in the midst of that we become challenged.  That is when we ask ourselves how do I cope when I feel so unprepared. 

2 Chronicles 27:6 So Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.




How do you prepare?
What are you doing to prepare yourself? 
Are you changing your every day in ways that will make you better? 
Are you building your self into the person The Most High sent you to this planet to be?  Are you setting goals and standards for yourself that you never dreamed would once be possible?  
Are you getting stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually?


Set a goal today. Do something you've never done. Take small steps that will get you closer to who you need to be. Study something, Ask questions, begin somewhere. It's the small changes that we make that have the biggest impact on our lives. Small positive building blocks that will become the foundational pillars you will need to rest on when the day you never prepared for suddenly arrives.

Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalms 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:


1 Chronicles 29: 17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:


Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of the earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man, therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

2 Chronicles 12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.14And he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

1 Samuel 7:3,2 Chronicles 30:17-20, Ezra 7:10

The TRUTH will MAKE you free

John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

What is the truth? How do you know? By what standard do you measure it? In order to find truth we must trace it back to the original source. This often takes work, and diligence along with the realization that what we think we know may not be the 100% truth.






1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

When you promote something as the truth but live contrary to it then is what you said was truth right or are you being a hypocrite?

John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Christ prayed that the Father would sanctify (set apart as or declare holy; consecrate.free from sin, or purify) us through His truth. 

Are you set apart by the things you believe? Does your observance of the Holy scriptures make you look and act different then those who claim to have the same beliefs but don't practice them?

2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Overcoming Adversity

Proverbs 24:10

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” 

Life will bring Adversity. There is no way to avoid it and quite often in trying to avoid it you will create or encounter more. It isn't about avoiding adversity it is about how you respond to it and where you draw your strength from to overcome it. Ask yourself today, "When I encounter adversity will I trust The Father to help me overcome it?"

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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.
1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle [you].

 2 Corinthians 1:3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; - 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 Chronicles 15:7 - Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

Fear not

Lamentations 3:57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

Stop living in Fear!

Fear= Bondage   It is time to break the chains of fear. Today begin to reprogram your mind to think Faith over fear.

It is a conscious choice. Turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. 

Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Fear is a powerful motivator used by the enemy in many ways. Fear will cause you to make rash emotion-based decisions.
Fear of failure
Fear of loneliness
Fear of hurt or pain
Fear of death

Isaiah 43:1But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.5Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; 7Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.99Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

We should fear no one or nothing only our Creator.

Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Zechariah 8:13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

Fervent Faith

In reading Daniel 3, and its continuation in The Song of the Three Holy Children (in the Apocrypha), our Creator and Father’s character is fully displayed – righteous judgment and mercy!  Included in this story are profound truths of deliverance and redemption for us even today IN THE VERY MIDST of our own fires of tribulation and trial.  May we remember and display this same fervent faith!

1)       Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego praised and blessed the Most High IN THE MIDST of the fire. (Song of Three Holy Children 1:1)

2)      They acknowledged His righteous judgment for the people’s disobedience to His commandments IN THE MIDST of the fire. (SOTHC 1:8)

NOTE:  They did not just confess their own sins but the sins of the people as a whole.  This also includes the sins of the forefathers before them.

3)      They asked the Most High to remember His covenant with them and not wholly deliver them up, for His name’s sake, IN THE MIDST of the fire. (SOTHC 1:11)

4)      They offered up humble and contrite hearts of repentance instead of a sacrifice (they had no way to access an acceptable Levitical sacrifice) IN THE MIDST of the fire.  (SOTHC 1:15-16)

5)      They claimed that those who put their trust in the Most High will not be confounded IN THE MIDST of the fire. (SOTHC 1:17)

6)      They committed themselves to follow the Most High with their hearts, fear Him, and seek His face IN THE MIDST of the fire. (SOTHC 1:18)

7)      They requested the merciful deliverance of the Most High according to His wonderful lovingkindness and marvelous works – and to give glory to His name – IN THE MIDST of the fire. (SOTHC 19-20)

8)      They requested that He confound their enemies and show them that HE is the Most High and glorious over all the earth IN THE MIDST of the fire. (SOTHC 1:21-22)

9)      Then the Angel of the Most High came down and joined them IN THE MIDST of the fire and smote the flames and made it as if THE MIDST of the furnace was a moist whistling wind, and the fire did not touch them or hurt them or trouble them. (SOTHC 1:26-27)

10)   Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego continued to praise and bless and glorify the Most High IN THE MIDST of the quenched furnace. (SOTHC 1:28-68)

Glory, honor, and praise be to our mighty God, King, and Savior!!

Attachments area

How are you using the gift of life?

You are given a gift to live on this Earth to experience life and to affect people around you. Are you going to influence people for the Father or chase them from him? 

How are you using the gift of life that he gave you? Are you investing your time in Scripture, research, health, love, or are you squandering it on futility and things that do not pay you a return?

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Romans 13:13 - Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;   (Read More...)

1 Peter 2:21 - For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Philippians 2:1-30 - If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,   (Read More...)

Matthew 12:36-37 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

We were put here for a purpose. A Plan. You were given a talent and the Father desires you to use it diligently.

Peace

When Christ said, "Peace I leave you not peace as the world gives but my peace." When you consider what Christ meant when he said his peace.

ETERNAL PEACE

Coming from an eternal perspective.

PEACE WITH AUTHORITY

Coming from a place where you understand that you have authority over every situation and over every devil in hell! 

UNSHAKABLE PEACE

UNCOMPREHENDABLE PEACE

PEACE RESTING IN CHRIST

 The peace that is unshakable, the peace that cannot be understood by those who are unspiritual, the peace that comes from a solid foundation in Christ.


When the world says peace they mean lack of business or maybe quiet time or maybe you just have your needs met and so you feel calm but they can't comprehend the level of peace that Christ has promised to us. The scriptures encourage us to be peaceful and encourage and Inspire one another.
How are you sharing your peace today?
 How are you holding on to your peace and not allowing the Devil to steal it?

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   (Read More...)

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

Romans 16:20 - And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.

Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 23:1-6 - (A Psalm of David.) The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.   (Read More...)

Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   (Read More...)

Hebrews 12:14 - Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Luke 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

Psalms 34:17 - [The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.