Tag: truth

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What Are You Thinking About? (Devotional)

What you {think} goes to your {heart}. What is in your {heart} you will {speak}. What you {speak} determines your path.


What is your thought life?


Make it obedient to Christ by meditating on and therefore speaking on what is true, The Word of God! Join me starting today to be super intentional about your thought life, making them obedient to Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you take thoughts captive and replace them with the truth of God’s Word. Instead of binge watching netflix, watch a sermon or the bible project. Instead of reading a book that has imaginary characters, read a book that feeds your spirit. Pray for our nation and whoever Holy Spirit leads you to while you take a walk. Instead of spending hours scrolling through social media, feed on what will soothe your soul, God’s Word. Will you join together with me by intentionally taking your thoughts captive and feeding yourself what is honorable, lovely, and praiseworthy?

•Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:23 CSB

•Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
James 3:3‭-‬5 NKJV

•Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

•My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall  give understanding.
Psalms 49:3 NKJV

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Why Are You Attacking Me? -A Different Perspective On Spiritual Warfare

When I was reading The Hannah Anointing, there was something that the author said that stood out to me so profound that I sat my book down, adjusted myself in my chair, and began to pray. (You can see the review here: https://letlovebemymotive.com/2020/01/02/the-hannah-anointing-michelle-mcclain-walters-book-review/ ) She mentioned that sometimes she steps back and observes the areas that the devil is attacking her in. Now I have heard of taking every thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. However, I have never thought about observing the devils behaviors the way that he does ours.

As you may have noticed, there was a long period of time (it felt like forever) where I was not writing as much. I did a devotional here and there and posted some scripture, but there were not many posts or book reviews. I am sorry for this. During those times the Lord is refining me or teaching me something new. I do not want to fail to mention how much I appreciate you being here with me on this adventure called life!

On the Lord’s commands I have quit my job and am doing the only things he has commanded me to do, pray and to write. Now, even before I left my job the devil was on the prowl and trying to plant seeds of worry and doubt. He began with “Was I really hearing from God to quit my job?”. I began to pray and ask God to show me again what his will was. Thank you Abba for your patience! God showed me, yet again, it was his will for me to quit.

Then as I became confident and filled with faith, the devil started to prowl once again. “Are you sure you are going to be able to pay your bills? You know you made so much money. How can you even be sure God is going to provide? You can’t see it”. Well Lucifer, you see God’s word says that he would open the flood gates of heaven and pour out a blessing there is not room enough to receive. You see he gave me this word and the only thing he said was wildflower and when I looked up where that was in God’s word he reminded me yet again that he is my provider and I have nothing to worry about.

Then the Lord had me shift my focus from worry back unto him where I found peace. God then reminded me that our words have power! He told me to declare what I was believing him for. Possiblities are endless with him! So as I was going to the mail box that morning, I was reminded of a time where my friend was solely relying on God’s provision and she asked him for a check in the mail and he sent her just that. As I was walking out I started to declare the Lord’s provision for my family. Mind you, the devil has been trying to plant seeds of doubt about God’s provision THE ENTIRE TIME. I walk out to the mail box and see the Lord’s provision waiting in our mail box. GLORY BE TO GOD!

As I said above, the Lord had me quit my job and only gave me two directions, to pray and to write. So, as he has asked me to do, I have done just that. As I began to write yesterday, I went over my article at least 5 times to make sure everything was correct. This already is abnormal behavior for me. Then as I was reading it for the last time, I was tempted to not even send it in to the magazine. Then the Holy Spirit gently reminded me of what the author of Hannah’s Anointing said.

Why is the devil attacking me right now?

Despite the doubt and fear I was feeling I sent it into the editor. Usually the emails are brief, but what I found in my inbox was quite the surprise. The editor wrote back thanking me, saying that she loved what I wrote and she needed what was written.

So was THIS why he was attacking me?

Over the past couple days I have been taught to step back and look at the pattern of the enemy. His tricks and deceptive ways are not new. He uses the same evil tactics over and over. He is trying to discourage us and trap us in fear to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. He is the BEST liar. He can have you thinking the worst! But, what we need to do is to step back and ask Holy Spirit for help in these moments. Every single time that I have asked for help, he has met me there in my weakness with his strength. In the moments I have been attacked the most, there was a blessing on the other side or the enemy was trying to stop me from doing EXACTLY what God had intended me to do.

God is faithful, gentle, and patient. He is willing to help us when we ask. I want to encourage you to interrogate why the enemy is trying to attack you. What does God have for you in this area of your life?

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The Lie So Many Believe About Emotions

There is a lie from the enemy that emotions are bad and Jesus does not approve of them or used them for his glory. We have emotions because he created them. While he created them, he did not command us to be controlled by them if the earthly realm is not matching up with his promises. He actually uses our emotions for his glory and for the heavenly kingdom quite a bit. I grew up VERY emotional. So much that my emotions controlled me, rather than Holy Spirit leading me. This is not a good place to be. This is where I believe the lie derives from.

Our emotions should never be our automatic response of why we make decisions that we do. While there is a reason WHY we are feeling the things we do, we are always to take our emotions and see what God is trying to speak to us through them. There are times where we are deeply saddened and he is calling us to cast up our cares to him, intercess on behalf of others, or Holy Spirit could reveal to you that the sadness you are feeling is not of him at all. It is so important that we are diligent to line up every thought, every emotion, to the Word of God and make anything that is not of him obedient to his word. We should never be led by our emotions, we are to ALWAYS be led by the Holy Spirit. Always taking careful consideration what he is speaking in comparison to what we are feeling.

Let us stick with the emotion of sadness, because this is clearly displayed in the testimony of Lazarus. What was displayed in the earthly realm, his sister knew him as “dead”. While Jesus KNEW that Lazarus was only sleeping, he still wept with them. He actually commanded us to weep with those who weep so we can intercess on their behalf. I am sure Jesus felt a lot of emotion. He was God in flesh and his word says he was tempted and knows what we go through because he went through it too. He is not a God that cannot relate to us, he walked among us. But JESUS was not controlled by emotions, he was controlled by Holy Spirit and always walked in Faith and by what his Father had to say.

 Which leads me here… We all go through trials and tribulations because the earth is not our home. Our home is in heaven! Some of us may be facing infertility, sickness, or another kind of aliment. There may be some of us who are dealing with grief, anger, or temptation. Whatever your circumstance is speaking to you through your emotions, make sure you are speaking to your circumstance about what has been promised to you through FAITH. Make sure that you always have the Word of God set higher and louder than what you are being faced with. We always need to go back to the foundation of God’s word. When we look at our circumstance and are engulfed only in our emotions, we are taking away our focus of who is seated on the heavenly throne. Instead of being engulfed in our emotions, we are to admit yes, I am having them but cast them up to the one who understand and cares. We are to focus on Jesus and his promises, not wavering in the things that are coming to pass. We do not serve a God that cannot sympathize with us, that does not care about what we are feeling. There is actually a scripture in the Psalms that says that “he keeps our tears in a bottle and recorded them in his book”. He cares about you so much that he knows every tear that has been shed. Remember, he is also JUST. God does not create anything that will not glorify him or fit into his perfect plan for humanity, this includes emotions.

  Our emotions can be used to draw us closer to God and draw his people and those who are lost closer to him. There have been times where Holy Spirit moves in my heart and has compassion on those, he wants to speak to through me. I am so thankful that he uses us. It is a beautiful moment to have Holy Spirit enable you to have compassion for those who are struggling and uses this compassion to show them that the Father cares, he see’s them, and he is working. There are also times that my own emotions are used to draw myself closer to the Father. With facing “impossible” circumstances, I am able to stand in faith his promises are going to come to pass. The promise then comes to pass and I am drawn closer to him because he is faithful. Or times where I have dealt with the wounds and scars of the past, and he mends them with his words, his children speaking his words, and I truly feel his presence. I feel his love and then I use those emotions felt from that to glorify him. This is why I am so passionate. I want God to use even my emotions for his glory. Use me Abba, every part of me for your glory and purposes. While we are not to base our worship of the Father solely on emotion, he has used my emotions to draw me closer to him.

  We are to not be controlled by anything other than Holy Spirit. I believe that there are emotions that the devil loves to use to try and draw us away from God. But God has not created anything, including emotions, that will not glorify and have a part in his perfect plan. We are to weep with those who weep. We are to pour out our cares unto him, being vulnerable with the only one who truly has taken a walk in our shoes and responded perfectly without sin. We are to be vulnerable with the Father so he can do what only he can do, heal, mend, and make us whole. While the devil often uses emotions to cause division and strife. God wants to use our emotions to to draw us closer to him and draw others closer to him. We are to have compassion, just as he does. Always being led by the Holy Spirit and making everything we feel obedient to God’s Holy word. Not afraid of our emotions or ignoring they are there, but admitting them and giving them to Abba and he can exchange this for his peace only found in him.

Scripture For Meditation

  • Romans 12:9-21
  • John 11
  • Psalm 56
  • Romans 8
  • Colossians 3:12
  • James 5:11
  • Psalm 103:13
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
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Waiting On The Promise

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This morning the Lord brought me to the Book of Luke. He began speaking to me about the position of the heart of Mary. He touched on how she was prophesied by an angel, even though she was a virgin and how she was going to birth the Son of God.

Holy smokes.
Can we just stop right here for a moment and reflect?

Joseph and Mary were only engaged and to be married. She would’ve been casted out by society and looked at as a disgrace in these days. Yet, the angel was telling her she had found favor from the Lord.

This perfectly displays just how different and much higher God’s thoughts are in comparison to ours.

The question I have for you this morning is…

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When was the last time God has spoken to you something that seemed impossible, yet he still promised it to be done? Does the meditation of your heart and your confession match the things that he has spoken?

Mary had to live and confess by faith. As do we when we are promised something that seems impossible. Remember what was spoken. Nothing is impossible with God.
Do not be discouraged, do not fear. God is not a man that he could lie. If he has spoken it, he will fulfill it.

Even if the world is trying discourage you because it does not make sense…

Know that God is on your side and working on your behalf. There is nothing he will not do for you.

Let your heart meditate on the promises he has spoken and let your confession be one of faith.

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” -Luke 1:37 NKJV

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” -Luke 1:45 NKJV

“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” -Numbers 23:19 NKJV

(If this spoke to you, may the Lord give you encouragement through the first two Chapters in Luke as he did to me this morning. I am praying on your behalf and  standing in faith with you. Remember, God will always come through. He is faithful and true.)

 

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God, Our Provider. (How We Got To Glenmora, LA)

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I have been anticipating writing this to you. There has been so much change over the past 6 months.
So.Much.Change!!
Let’s start from the beginning shall we?
I came back from the Pink Women’s Conference and saw my husband for 2nd time in a month. We began sharing what God had done over the past couple weeks and my husband laid it on me that he felt that Holy Spirit was leading us to go to a different church that next morning. Brad and I had been praying that God’s will be done. He was in the midst of making the decision to stay active duty military or get out, move home or stay here? There were many big questions that we had that we went to God through in prayer. We really did not know the answer but we knew that we wanted his perfect will to be done in our life. We went to church that following day at a church an hour away and I instantly knew that this was where we were called to be. Through Holy Spirit’s peace and prompting of others to show us the love of Christ as soon as we walked in to the words spoken in the sermon. This was the place God had called us to be. Many things weighed heavy on our heart because we were about to take over Junior High Youth and I was able to serve at the church we were at teaching a women’s bible study. I loved where we were. I loved I was able to teach women and young adults about the goodness of God. We knew that we were in the midst of what God had told us to do, so why the change? I was NOT good with change. We were comfortable and happy. But, we said God YOUR WILL be done, NOT ours. We talked to our lead pastors and began our journey to our new home church in Alexandria. Over these past months after we left our old church for what God had planned, it became evidently clear I was not very good at change and that I had many things in my heart that God wanted out. He began breaking strongholds from the enemy and bringing new people in our life to increase our faith and remember our first love, Jesus. After months and month of praying, God revealed to Brad that he was called to get out of the military when his time was up. My husband also started going to Bible College. There were many big steps of faith we were taking all because of God’s strength for his purpose and will for our life.  We began house searching in Michigan. We wanted to go home to be with family and back to The River where I first started my relationship with God. We missed our family and friends and oh man did I miss my church family. We were so sure I put a Facebook status announcing we were coming home! Little did I know, God had other plans.
We sought out advice from our Pastor’s and friends and family of faith. Something did not sit right. (Might have been because it was what we wanted rather than what God wanted, OOPS). So, we continued to pray and started house searching in Michigan and Louisiana. God made it pretty clear, that there was work for us to do here. We prayed to God continually if it was his will for him to give us the perfect home. A home that would honor and glorify him. We searched and searched and searched some more. Anyone know what I am talking about? It felt like were never going to find a house. But, we spoke and stood in faith. HE had the PERFECT house for US. He has called us to be here. We began driving towards Glenmora and I heard Holy Spirit speak, “this is it”. We weren’t even there yet! I stayed quiet and we prayed before we got to the house that his will be done, that he provide a way if it was his will for us to get a house, and that we know which home is for us. We wanted the home he chose. We walked in and I looked at my husband and the sparkle in his eyes said it all. We felt peace at this house. We began to pray about putting in an offer. Our finances had been hit really bad. We had essentially NO money to put towards anything. He told us to put in an offer, so we did. The seller came back and said she would pay for closing costs. Praise GOD! There were many costs we did not have. But, we knew that God was going to do what he said he was going to do. HE is our PROVIDER. We declared and stood in faith. Can I tell you that over $1000 came in? Through a friend mailing a check in the mail saying it was God’s provision for our “Good Faith” money. From getting free play at a casino while visiting my family who was staying there, and winning almost $300! (I am not saying to gamble your money by any means. It was $10 on a FREE card that would’ve went to waste if we did not use it). From my family blessing us in ways we did not expect. The enemy would come in and swing in and try to fight us, be we knew the battle was already won. We stood in faith because of what God had said we knew would come true. There were times we wavered, it was hard. But, the people who surrounded us stood in faith with us, they pushed us back to his promises. There was a point where we were short $500 and our lender offered to pay it for us. A stranger, was willing to pay $500 because God had put it on her heart. GLORY TO GOD!!! I thought he was done. But, he wasn’t. We were on our way to closing and there were many unexpected bills that came up. I began to cry and shout that we needed God to come through. We needed him and his provision that he promised. We got to closing and the closing lawyer said that we were getting back money!! UM WHAT!!?!?! PRAISE GOD!!!!! We closed on our apartment at Fort Polk yesterday, GOT BACK MONEY!!! God is sooooo good ya’ll. The reason why we have this house is only by him and his provision. He never goes back on his promises! We did not have any money for this house and he provided every single penny and abundantly over. We gave our firstfruits and gave when we thought we couldn’t to others Holy Spirit laid on our heart. We did what God had called us to do. Even though we left alot behind we believe the best is still to come. We believe that God is our provider and he has a plan for us at our new church. We believe that his promises are yes and amen.
I have personally learned:
•God has his hand in everything. The small the big and the inbetween. His love is everywhere. There is nothing his love prints aren’t on!
•He is our provider and will provide through strangers and ways we would never expect
•He is faithful. He is who he says he is.
•There is nothing to fear with an omnipresent God
•He has a plan for us in Louisiana and nothing is going to stop that
•It is much more blessed to give than to receive
•Our obedience blesses us but also blesses the others around us
•God is up to something new
&
•Trust in the process

 

Change is not always fun or easy. Faith is trusting in God and he is who he says he is. That his promises are going to come to fruition. I reflect back on the fact that 5 years ago I didn’t even want to live and I was addicted to drugs. To where I am now, and I amazed at his goodness. ONLY GOD can do the things that have happened in my life. He IS who he says HE IS. He DOES what he SAYS he is GOING TO DO.