Daily Devotion

Be Free From Your Complaints

 

"Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?"  Proverbs 23:29

 

When people face troubles, they react with either crying, anger, or complaining.  Life is full of them, and many times throughout the Bible, we are informed of the possibility of suffering.  Some things are brought on by our own doing as the consequence (good or bad) of a decision we made.  Some things happen just as tools of discouragement sent from the devil.  Some things are allowed to happen to test and strengthen our faith.  In the Bible, people were free from their complaints by exercising their faith.  In Mark 5:29, the woman with the 12 year hemorrhage was healed and the flow stopped by her faith.  Throughout the book of Job relied on his faith and in the end God restored everything he had lost.

 

"I'm not saying this because I'm in any need. I've learned to be content in whatever situation I'm in."  Philippians 4:11

 

This is a great verse, but, this IS hard to do.  It is hard to practice contentment when you are trying to do it alone.  We must die to ourselves daily in order to not allow our shortcomings, issues, and disappointments to dominate our thoughts.  We must purposefully use the strength that God gives us daily to remove negativity from our thoughts.  Because the only way we can survive and overcome our complaints--which, by the way in turn means to surrender them to God for His hands to move them--is to rely on God's power.  We all have things that we go through, or areas that we allow ourselves to fixate negative energy.  But by the word of God, we have grace!(2 Corinthians 9:8)  We can overcome with His power to lead us.(2 Corinthians 12:9, 10)  So be free from your complaints--give them over to God to work them out.  Be content and wherever you fall short, allow God to empower you.(1 Timothy 6:6)

 

"so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:5

 

Have a wonderful rest of your day, be blessed and empowered today!  I'm working on giving my complaints and issues fully to God.  Because quite frankly, He is the only one that can change them or get me to a place where I can change them or they don't matter anymore.

Daily Devotion

Hindsight is Always 20/20

Wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 24:14

I say this probably 8-10 times a day. Hindsight is always 20/20. But to be more correct, in looking back, sometimes people don't get clarity. They don't understand. They don't change or they do not allow themselves to be humbled by the experience. Idn life with every experience you are supposed to get wiser. But if you don't open yourself up to go through the situation and grow--in difficulty, stress, and strife--you can almost certainly expect to miss what you are supposed to learn. Look at the verse above: if you find wisdom, there is a future hope for you. You can help someone else, you can avoid the situation if it comes around again, you can progress into whatever comes next adequately prepared. And you can have hope. Looking back at all that I have survived and overcame just in the last 6 years, I am truly blessed. And you are too; whatever troubles and strifes that have come in your life, you are here. God saw fit to keep you here to minister to others through your success. Be encouraged and don't give up.

Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18

Daily Devotion

Not a Cake Walk

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials," 1 Peter 1:6

The Christian walk is not easy. We have good days, good weeks, good months sometimes and then we get bombarded with the devil's attacks. He hates losing to God! However, because we are saved and believe in the redemption given to us through Christ. Suffering is a part of the journey because Christ suffered. Suffering is not only a tool of the devil, but a way that God can mold us, prune us, and prepare us for His work. All throughout the new testament we are told of how out suffering in Jesus' name entitles us to the reward later. In 1 Peter 5:10 it says "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." That's one great promise. So stick it out and tough it out, life is NOT a cake walk! We are counted blessed for enduring!!

James 5:11 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

A few more: James 1:2, Romans 5:2, Matthew 5:12, 1 Peter 3:17, James 1:12.

http://enterthemindofmarquita.blogspot.com

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
Marquita B. Priester

Daily Devotion--10/12/2009

A Forecast of Unexpected Delays

Hahaha only I would send a BLANK email. But I'm gonna keep it short and sweet.

Are you waiting for something or a change? Well I have been experiencing unexpected weather delays in my flights. Spending all this time in the airport gave me time to reflect. Sometimes there are delayed blessings, delays that may be self-imposed, like being late, delays of supernatural origin, like the weather, and delays of external causes, like structural or mechanical failures. Whatever the reason may be, that's no reason to give up or quit. God may choose to delay your blessing because you simply may not be ready to handle it. You may need more grooming and preparation to experience it. God may delay your blessing because you doubt Him and do not deserve it yet. God may delay your blessing because there is some external circumstance, i.e. the devil adding confusion. Whatever your situation is, be sure to consider everything, and give thanks and praise until it does come, because if it's for you it's going to come!

http://enterthemindofmarquita.blogspot.com/

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
Marquita B. Priester

Daily Devotion

God Favors Me

 

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11 NIV

 

After two "pep" talks and really these were more like, hmmmm uhmmm, thought realignment talks you know kinda stern, some crying, and a powerful sermon at church I'm almost back to normal.  Nothing like a little heat to make you go crazy huh?  Well, I'm thankful because I could be in a much worse position.  I have a job, I have food, clothes, and shelter.  I have family and friends that truly love me and in spite of how I feel--gotta get these thoughts and emotions in line, haha--I am truly blessed and favored by God.  As my cousin said, believers are equipped with the tools to get through tough times.  And we are blessed with the Holy Spirit to intercede for us.  Here it is in Romans 8:26 GWT:  "At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don't know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words."  Although I have not received the leading I need to leave yet,  rather than run without counsel and direction I will wait.  God knows I detest and loathe SC--so just from looking at those two words of extreme hatred lets you know how I feel riiiighttt?  But I digress because I seek God's will not my own.  I will kick around a few rocks though, trust, lol.

 

Anyway, I attended a wonderful service at church today, entitled "A Testimony You can see."  I won't go into detail too much because I only want the reference of God's power.  When Jesus did not hurry upon Mary and Martha's call about Lazarus' illness, Lazarus eventually died in John 11.  Jesus got there after Lazarus had been dead for 4 days and already had begun to decay.  After He wept, Jesus told Lazarus to come forth and the funeral clothes to let him loose.  Lazarus was raised from the dead.  In the next chapter, John 12, several people gathered to their home to see Jesus and the "testimony" of a once dead Lazarus alive again.  Hearing this sermon was great!  I had been in a depressed state off and on since my cousin's passing and with receiving different types of bad news, and just confusion all around, I forgot just how blessed and favored I am.  First and foremost, I am alive.  God saw fit to keep me here for some reason and in doing so delivered me from the devil's attempts to destroy my body, my faith, and my spirit.  In the midst of the battle, we need to realize that it is for a reason; its not God doing it, but its for your good because God will make it so.(Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:11)  I really had to cry then because sometimes we get so wrapped up in the attack that we can't see the path through it.  God can do anything!  Nothing limits His power.  Again today, 2 days in a row, trusting God was said again.  I don't know about you, but I have always had a problem trusting people, so this is currently something I am battling with.  But I'm getting it, painfully.  TRUST.  It's very, very easy to spell, but one of the hardest things to do especially when you've been hurt in the past.  We have got to put God's word in action fully--Proverbs 3:5,6 GWT says "Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth."  I'm listening to Darwin Hobb's song, He's Able and part of the hook says "Don't give up on God cause He won't give up on you."  God's promises are real, we just have to listen to Him, and do His will and they are PROMISED to us.  Listen to Hezekiah Walker's "God Favored Me" Pt. 1 and 2...  Let Him lead you and carry your burdens so your difficult roads will be easy.  Be blessed and know that you are the favored of the Lord!  He will give you the peace to get through it.

Daily Devotion

The Boiling Point

 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.  1 Peter 4:12-13

 

Hey!  Hope you are having a great weekend.  As I stood in the bathroom doing my hair this morning/afternoon, this came to my mind.  I hope it blesses you!

 

In science, there are three states of matter: a solid, liquid, and gas.  The process of changing from one state to another can only occur if the element is heated or cooled.  For example, take plain ole water.  The solid state of water as we commonly know it is called ice.  Ice is made when water freezes and solidifies at 32°F/0°C.  Ice melts to become water(liquid) when the surrounding temperature is higher than that (and a few other physics ideals not needed here).  Water becomes the oh not so friendly steam (gas) when it is heated to 212°F/100°C.  It can begin to separate into its elemental parts, hydrogen and oxygen, when heated beyond that.  Because you cannot really tell how hot steam is, that is why its always a warning to be careful; ever had a steam burn...VERY painful.  Steam condenses into water when said surrounding temperature falls below that as well.  Okay, well when a solid element reaches its boiling point, it changes phase.  After pressure and high temperatures are applied, it liquefies and often becomes easier to work with; i.e. liquid gold is used to make jewelry. 

 

God has a way of making and organizing situations in life get us to our various boiling points---no person's boiling point is the same---so that we can become easier for Him to work with.  One situation after another comes at us, slowly raising our temperature so that we eventually change phase; we liquefy so that He can do a great work in us.  Now if I were gold, whose boiling point is at 5084.6 °F/2807.0 °C---mind you it is already a liquid at this point, it melts from what we wear at 1947.9741 °F---I'm sure I could take a lot more than 100°F outside to get irritable.  In fact some of us have very high boiling points.  You may have experienced death of a loved one, love loss, job loss, someone in your family driving you crazy, and then, simply someone cutting you off is the ignition to your fire. 

 

Sadly, I cannot tell you exactly what God is trying to teach you, because our lessons are often not the same and have different applications.  In my case it can be to trust Him, that I cannot help everyone and quite simply some people do not want to be helped or to change, and to be patient.  Sometimes we reach our boiling point several times only to cool down too much and have to be reheated again.  I will tell you that God gives us hope!  So rest in knowing that it is for your good; do not resist the boiling point, because after all the impurities evaporate during boiling, you will be perfectly prepared for His work.  Changing for God is good!

 

 

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. Hebrews 10: 23

Daily Devotion

It Ain't Over

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

OMG! Hey people! Happy Friday!!! So you know I'm getting bombarded with stuff: my mentee is out of control, STRESS in every other aspect of my life, and just confusion. But I know that it's not over until God gives me victory. If you ONLY knew…but I digress. I prayed to God on what to do about all this stuff and I gave it all to Him last night. This morning the first song I heard as I got in the car said…"It ain't over, till God says its over; It ain't over until God says its done. It ain't over, till God says its over; Keep fighting, till your victory is won!" So because of this I know that God will give me the strength to see all of this through.

The reference scripture I chose says "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Man that is powerful. I use a few websites and books I have to write these. So I looked up Romans 12:12 and look at the related scriptures. Hebrews 10:32 and Hebrews 10:36 were two of the verses that were listed. Hebrews 10:32 says "But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,"--looking at this makes me wanna holler because if there was ever a truer statement than that just hit me lol. Just Kidding! But me, I know what that scripture means! Here I am, trying to do what God has told me to do, but not without trouble! The devil is a dirty liar and evil and he has gone full force against me and I'm certain all of you at some point. Yeah, I'm tired, but I learned a valuable lesson: you cannot fix everything for everybody. I can't help wanting to help people. If I could I would fix everyone's problems. But God did not want us to do that, that's His job.

Hebrews 10:36 says "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." This is confirmation for me. Be joyful in hope, because God wants us to have joy. Be patient in affliction--and endure through tribulation because He is grooming you and preparing you for what's to come. But even better yet, once we do what He wants us to do, we will receive the fruits of His promises.(Ephesians 1:11, Acts 20:32) All of this happens through being steadfast and faithful in prayer. We cannot expect these if we do not pray and believe what we have received. This is like giving an empty promise. It is in difficult times that you must exercise your faith, you must continually and persistently come before God in prayer and leave your problems at His feet. It is the only way that you will receive the breakthrough and victory you desire.

"By your endurance you will gain your lives." Luke 21:19
"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." Matthew 24:13
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; Romans 5:3
...knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:3