Look and See

"A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but nothing shall befall you. Look and see how the wicked are repaid." - Psalm 91:7-8

Sometimes in our lives we have to face people and obstacles that come at us really hard. There seems to be no help nor a way out. Imagine the obstacles faced by the psalmist to say that in life, you may see a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand…you may see all kinds of problems from financial to health issues pile up on top of you, and out of no where, get slammed with even more. But even when this is the case, if you have made God your strong hold, the One in whom your trust lies, nothing will happen to you, no matter what you see happening around you. That's what true faith in God does. The bigger the problem(s) is, the bigger the protection and hand of God, the Almighty.

I'm super stressed right now with a new client at work and I have what seems like an impossible mission to complete by Monday. However, I will keep trusting in God to take care of it for me and I know that come Monday, I will tell you about what God did to resolve this. As I was praying right now about the problem, I remembered this verse and how it says "look and see how the wicked are repaid." It feels as though as big as the problems we face are, if we trust in Him, He tells us to just sit and watch as He does all the work for us. After all, what is impossible for man is possible to God. We have to remember that we, ourselves, can't do anything, but everything is in His hands and all the glory belongs to Him. The wicked could be someone who is actually causing you a problem now, or it can be a thing that's being a major problem for you, either way *know* that no matter how overwhelming and hopeless it may feel right now, or if you wake up to even more issues tomorrow, you are in the palm of God's hand if you trust Him, and for your faith, He will reward you by letting you witness how He comes in for your rescue. Just look and see.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are the King of all that exists. You brought everything into being and everything obeys Your command. Help me keep my hope in You and see my faith through until the day You show me how You are to answer my prayers. Thank You, Lord, for Your kindness and goodness to me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Job's Faith

"His wife said to him, 'Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God and die!' Job replied, 'You talk foolishly. If we receive good things from God, why can't we accept evil from him?' In spite of this calamity, Job did not utter a sinful word." - Job 2:9-10

In one day Job lost his servants, his livestock, his sons, his daughters and his health. He was a man so dedicated to God that his wife was repulsed by the fact that Job held on to his faith in God even when he was left with nothing. Does this mean God abandoned Job? No. The reasons God allows things are only know to Him, but no matter what we go through, there is always a good that comes out of it if we follow through on our faith. Many of us feel like Job at times - just when we think things can't get any worse, they do. We lose hope, we lose our joy. But as hard as it is, God gives us the strength to make it through one day at a time, building us up a little more each day. Ultimately, it is up to us if we choose to lose our hope and joy; God never took that away from us, it is always ours to keep. Negative things will happen to us, but do you choose to be like Job's wife, bitter and sinful? Or would you rather stand firm like Job? He didn't let his disasters take all of him because he knew his God knows what to give and what to take away. If you're going through a trial, remember this - it's up to you how you choose to carry through. You could allow yourself to be miserable, or you could live your faith in God who will take care of you!

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are with us through the good and the bad. You know our limits and when things feel like too much. Please give us strength to not only make it through, but keep the joy and faith alive in our hearts. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Nothing Will Be Against Us

"What shall we say after this? If God is with us, who shall be against us?" - Romans 8:31

This is a verse of victory through adversity. As you know, I was sad yesterday but thanks to your prayers, I have been uplifted. It's so easy to forget the power of God when we're going through trials and even easier to overlook it when our faith is lacking, but that does not change the truth - if God is on our side, who can defeat us/ what can hurt us? I can see myself up to the neck in trouble, but that's as far as it will go because God is on my side. He protects me for I know His Name. If He watches out for me in the small things, the power of His hand is astonishing in the big things. Nothing can ever hurt us if we cling on to Him, even though in this life, trials occur at every corner. This should be a reason for hope. He is with you to protect you against any evil, any fear, any worry. Rely on Him for health problems, rely on Him for financial problems, emotional problems. Anything, He can and will overcome if you truly trust in Him.

One of my readers wrote me today and told me how she was going through some financial difficulties, and without even asking for it, she was offered a job and she starts on Monday. She told me, "God is good!" She expressed how she just decided to trust in Him and now she has seen His care for her. There is nothing too big or even too small that the Lord Almighty can't deliver you from! Praise Him for He really is good and deserves our deepest adoration.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord, forgive me for not being more grateful for the way You take care of me. Thank You for reminding me that with my eyes fixed on You, nothing can EVER harm me for I am protected by Your love and faithfulness. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Stop Complaining and Make a Decision

"Therefore we are not discouraged. On the contrary, while our outer being wastes away, the inner self is renewed from day to day." - 2nd Corinthians 4:16

When you choose to walk with Jesus, you begin to notice how perfect God's timing is for everything. At the right time, God will answer your prayers and bring you relief from a certain problem in your life, but there will always be another around the corner. So what are we to do? Live in mourning always? The answer is to stop complaining. Stop feeling bad for yourself because there is always someone worse off and because in this life we will never ever be 100% happy anyway. When you trust in God, stop focusing on the negative and instead let this new hope work in you, your whole demeanor will change. What goes on around you doesn't matter because the Almighty will be working inside of you, to give you hope, patience, and understanding…and all this will make your outlook on the obstacles in front of you so much brighter. The second you give in to feeling discouraged, that's when you give up on your hope and you're only hurting yourself.

I've had something bothering me for so long and each day I tell God that I'm putting myself in His hands and that I will be joyful because I know He's taking care of me and consoling my soul. That's a decision I make each day to let my heart be filled with God instead of my doubts and sadness. Is it hard to do? Yes. Do I struggle to follow through? Of course! But I'll tell you this, I'm telling you to do this because I've perservered and each day God is making me stronger! If you choose today to tell God "I will not be discouraged because I know You are working in me to get me through this, and instead I will smile and give You thanks," you will begin to feel this joy you yearn for. Make this decision today!

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I know You didn't create me to go around depressed and conquered by each problem or unpleasant situation that comes my way, but You have created me as Your child so that I may come out victorious in all things, showing Your power in all I do. Help me to follow through on my decision to chose to be happy and let You work in me instead of letting life get the best of me. In Your Name we pray, Amen.