Devotion

It's All In Your Mind

 

Morning. (Sorry for just sending this...I began this early morning :D)  I have been thinking about writing this devotion for a few days now, well longer than a few days.  I decided that I find as much as I could and let it marinate, per say on healing.  You see we all need healing from something at some time or another.  At the first sign of disaster, whether it be physical or mental, we react sometimes with anger, fear, hurt and disbelief.  Disbelief that something could happen to us without our doing; sometimes it is our doing and we still act in confusion.  We think things like "my life is over" or "I can't live with this problem" or anything negative.  I just thought about one of my favorite scriptures, 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."  Notice that it is not in singular form; so our problems, pains, life lessons are not just for us. Your bad situation—loss of a family member, unexpected diagnosis—will work together for the good of those that love God—including you, because God has a plan or purpose for it all.  Meaning, if you have experienced something traumatic, that gives you compassion and understanding for the next person; I go forward and say it will bless you also.

 

Right words produce right thinking; right thinking produces right emotions; right emotions produce right decisions; right decisions produce right actions; right actions produce right habits; right habits produce right character; right character leads you to the right destination.

 

I searched for this today because I have it pasted on the wall in my room. It's true though.  You can think the wrong word about your situation which proceeds in the direction of negative outcomes.  Every negative thing about your situation will come true if you meditate on it, if you continue to condition your mind to believe so.  See all it takes is a word or phrase.  If you think about eating, then something else pops in your mind, you probably won't go get something to eat immediately.  Most people would like to believe nothing in life is their fault, involved their personal contributions. But that's a flat out lie. The Israelites took 40 years to get to the Promised Land and the trip was only supposed to take a little over a month! They had to wander 40 years because of their disobedience and doubt of God. I started writing this at about 8:30 and now its 5 minutes to 12, so obviously I had a lot of "interruptions" to distract me.  Thoughts are the foundation of our actions.  So if we think things will get better, that we can be delivered, that we can be healed, it can happen.  That's called faith.

 

You cannot think as if you are of the world, because let's be honest here, the way the world views things is horribly skewed.  Pain and problems are only temporary. The key to change and success here is putting the right words in our mind.  Try refusing to accept that things will not get better, that your health will be restored, that your finances will improve, because there is nothing too small for God. It will last as long as we allow it to. I refuse to accept defeat because Jesus' sacrifice already deemed me a victor.  Look for the good, speak life (right words and thoughts) to your situation.

 

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  1 Corinthians 1:9

Daily Devotion

Stop Settling for Less than God's Best

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

 

Morning folks lol!  I learned this lesson tonight, in the most beautiful way.  God has a way of teaching us that He alone knows what is best--and that we cannot rush anything that He is preparing for us!  He knows how to show us that we deserve the best even when we don't believe we do, that He truly does have great things in store for us.  God never intended that we settle for less.  We should not settle at work--although I strongly believe in staying in one place until that door of opportunity presents itself, not just in work/career, but in everything.  Do whatever it is with all of your heart as if you were working for God, because you are!  "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord." Colossians 3:22 (NLT) Although this scripture refers to slaves, I believe it is relevant for any situation, especially work.  Consider your moves with patience but do not become complacent that you prevent yourself from growing.  We should not settle in relationships with anybody--significant others, friendships, whatever!  Yes, God may have you in that person's life for a reason, but don't extend the season once God said its over! Don't become unhealthily dependent on someone. We should always be striving and reaching for the plans of prosperity and hope in every area of our lives.  As the Good Book says, God's words shall not return void.(Isaiah 55:11)  So if you believe in Him, on Him, and in the promises of His word, why are you being content with mediocrity in any area of your life?  Keep striving and hold God to His word! Things will change, that job will come, that person will come along, whatever it is that God has in store for you will present itself. He promises us health (Jeremiah 30:17), joy (Romans 15:13), love (John 3:16), peace (John 14:27), prosperity, wisdom (Ephesians 1:8)...need I go on?  So sow that word seed into your hearts and reap God's bounty in your life.

 

Blessings and love,

 

Marquita

 

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."  3 John 3:2

Daily Devotion #2

Do you Believe?

 

"And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased."  John 6:2

 

I really want to know if you believe in miracles, because I do.  Miracles can be as small as you getting a $20 for your empty gas tank or as great as you being delivered from a bad situation or being healed.

 

Back in the summer of 2004, I was out in Sacramento, in a research program at UC Davis.  We took weekend trips nearly every weekend.  I volunteered to drive that day; I had learned to drive a stick and I thought I'd take my cousin along with me so she could get out of the house.  We were going down to Berkeley to tour the lab.  So I was ecstatic, one to really put my driving skills to the test, and two to go to BERKELEY!!!  So on the ride down there, I noticed some little quirks with how the car was driving.  I just felt, "Something's wrong, maybe the car is running hot.  Lets just get there and park it for a few hours."  MInd you, the car had been serviced the day before.  So we got there, after I had a panic attack driving up one of those Bay Area hills...lol.  We toured the lab and had a great time.  On the ride back, I notice the same quirks and funny issues with the car.  I keep hearing something tell me, "Get off the highway.  Something is wrong with the car."  I got really scared--mind you I was in the inside lane with four-five people in the car, and lots of other cars on the highway.  So I get off, call my advisor and my cousin.  My advisor comes back, and offers to wait with us for a while.  But I send her along, my cousin is on the way.  So he finally arrives.  We get in the other car, and he test drives the car.  No problems.  I'm like, something was wrong, I know I'm not crazy.  So we get back on I-80 and head back up north.  I get maybe two exits ahead before he calls me back to him.  We get to the car and the front driver's side tire had flown off.  The service center did not tighten all the lug nuts and I think they left some off.  My life flashed before my eyes and I was really shaken up; it would have been very tragic.  Little did I know that it was good ole God, saving my life!  Had I kept driving...I don't even want to imagine. 

 

That's just one miracle I've experienced...not to mention several near death experiences like my plane skidding across the runway, terrible turbulence, almost receiving a biopsy that could have killed me, nearly being run off the road by an 18-wheeler, and just my being here is a miracle.  Hey hey hey, I'm not accident prone or anything, but the devil does not like people that put God first so why not try to kill them?  I've had little miracles too, trust.  I don't know about you, but I believe in Jesus, and I follow Him because of the many works He has done in my own life.  I may be as fortunate as the multitudes to witness the miraculous healings of the people, but I know what He can do, simply because of what He has done in the lives of those close to me.  I ask "Do you Believe?" because that is important.  For many, they have to witness a thing, see a thing to believe.  I just had to see what He is capable of myself--I only had one recommendation submitted for school on Jan 14--mind you the deadline was the next day, the day I had surgery and couldn't really concentrate to call people.  But obviously that is what God wants because He made it happen.  God will bring to pass whatever you ask in His Son's name and He is still performing miracles.  I take God everywhere with me, so even when I'm riding solo, He's guiding the little red car all the time lol.

 

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.  Matthew 4:23

Daily Devotion

You Didn't Know Any Better

 

"So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then."  1 Peter 1:14

 

Hey everybody!  Sorry I have not posted a devotion...quite honestly I don't really have a good enough excuse.  I have been super busy with work, traveling and all.  But on to the good stuff!  I have been reading the book of John, slowly at turtle speed.  But today I finished the 15th chapter, actually more than that.  But John 15 is a really good chapter.  It has one of my all-time favorites--I know I say a lot of scriptures are my favorites, but don't you have some like that?  I would hope so!  That scripture is John 15:7--"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  Jesus is talking to the Disciples in this chapter, right before He is betrayed by Judas Iscariot.  But I noticed some really important scriptures here. 

 

John 15:22, 24 say the following:  "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin." ESV 24"If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father." NLT

No excuse.  That's powerful.  Basically there are two kinds of people:  the people that know Jesus and the people that do not know Jesus.  Then among the people that know Jesus, there are two more kinds of people:  the people that know Jesus and acknowledge what He did and try to live right, then the others are those that know Jesus and just sin anyway.  When we sin as if there is no consequence, we are fooling ourselves.  Everything has a consequence whether it be good or bad.  Consequences are not bad!!  They are just results!  If I go to bed late, 9 times out of 10, I'm gonna wake up late and then cause everything else to be late.  That's the consequence--the result of my being a night owl.  If I spend more money than I'm supposed to, 9 times out 10 I'm gonna be crying about it later.  Jesus said the people that heard Him teach and saw Him perform miracles had no excuses for their sin.

 

When you were little, you tried something until you learned that maybe you didn't like it.  You tried to touch something that you shouldn't have, and maybe you got spanked, got shocked, burned yourself...anything.  But until you knew better, you did it. Until you were taught different, you thought one way.  Then you had no excuse if you got hurt or got in trouble.

 

We all sin, we all "fall short of the glory"--but God grants us forgiveness and the promise that He will forget.  But for those who just completely disregard directions, those that know better and keep doing the same things without learning or repenting what happens?

Daily Devotion

The Gift

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

One of the main reasons I have decided to go to seminary is to get my own understanding. I love reading the Bible, the more I learn about God, the more I want to share with others. Yesterday before my surgery as I was reading it, I was reading John 9, about the man blind from birth and Jesus made the paste of mud and gave him sight. In John 9:30 the man said this to the corrupt Pharisees: "The man answered, "This is a very strange thing. You don't know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We all know that God does not listen to sinners, but he listens to anyone who worships and obeys him. 32 Nobody has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (NCV) If you don't know who Christ is, where comes from, how can you accept the gift of eternal life from God, when it comes through Christ!

I explained in brief the meaning of the first part of this scripture. In plain english, for the wages--for the earnings, the pay--of sin is death. Wages are something you earn for working. The pay you earn for sin is death, the earnings of sin is death. Here, sin is an act; it is a behavior; it is also a state of mind. When you are born, as offspring of Adam and Eve, we are born into sin--into the mind state of sinfulness, following after our flesh. When you are born again, you are born of God, into the mind state of sinlessness, following after the leading of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 3:9 says "No one who has been born from God practices sin, because God's seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God." 1 Peter 1:23 says "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever."

Immediately after that the scripture continues to say "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Obviously but comes as a direct contradiction of the words that preceded it. So through God's sacrifice of Himself the payment we would have received for our sins has been voided. Like a canceled check it means nothing. Through our belief, our faith like the blind man believing that Christ was from God, the punishment for our sins have been canceled. Because we are all children of God, we can willingly accept the gift.

Daily Devotion for Friday

Wages of Sin

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

I don’t know why this scripture has been on my mind for the last few days. I have not written anything; in fact, I thought of this scripture on Monday. I had not received revelation about it because the only thing I could remember was the first part. If you live a life in sin—we all know what sin is, disobedience to God’s instructions on how to live one’s life, and do not repent, you can rest assured of where your eternal rest will be. You will die. For 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 tells us that those who lived in Christ are only asleep at the moment and “even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” (NASB) Romans 1:18-32 details the descent man has made through sin: from knowing of God and knowing Him to not praising Him (verse 21), to being submerged into darkness (Rom 1:21), becoming fools (Rom 1:22), then to idolizing and worshipping manmade statues (Rom 1:23). They descended downward even more by allowing themselves to be controlled by unnatural passions and lust and serving created things. These are the things that sin pays us with—being cut off from God! Living away from God warps our thinking and the things we see as right. Its not right to be disobedient, to victimize and hurt others, to lie, to steal, kill, and cheat. But because we, the spirit we, lose control over our minds, we allow our flesh to control it, thus controlling us and we give it the authority to deem what is right. That’s a terrible price to pay—eternal death, being dead to God. But from the moment that Adam took that bite, and broke the commandment God gave to him in Genesis 2:17, death became a part of life on earth. Fortunately we are redeemed through the blood of Christ.

“For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.” Romans 8:13
“So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.” 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Daily Devotion #2

Limitless

 

"For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD? What mightiest angel is anything like the LORD?"  Psalm 89:6

 

Sometimes when we get into the depth of a bad situation, in our small minds, we limit what we think God can do.  Because the things that God can do are boundless; He alone created the universe, not spontaneous combustion--as the laws of Physics say that energy is neither created nor destroyed!  Guys, don't limit God.  He can turn around the slightest situation in an instant and give you more than mind can imagine.  Please be encouraged!

 

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?"

Exodus 15:11