God's Rest ... Got It?

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Matthew 11:28

God is already working IN You, THROUGH You, and FOR You, to bring you to a place where everything is provided for. You responsibility is to rest and receive it. God’s rest isn’t sitting in a chair or lying down on your couch - it’s a matter of the heart and a way of life, given to us because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

TRUE REST is believing that God is always working on your behalf. TRUE REST is believing that God will never leave, forsake or fail you. TRUE REST is believing that God delights in promoting, blessing and favoring you.

When you believe that God is doing all these things for you and so much more, then you can stop ‘doing’ things in your own strength and you can live with ongoing peace, knowing He will freely give you all things.

That doesn’t mean you need to stop going to work or stop taking care of your family (though yes, we ALL need breaks and time away). What it means is there can be rest IN work, not necessarily rest FROM work. When we walk in the rest of God, it means that we are continually committing our burdens, responsibilities, workflows, schedules, relationships, family needs, problems … everything in our lives to the Lord.

When you do this, it allows you to experience genuine peace in whatever you are involved in. You are continually trusting and believing that God will always give you a better outcome in your circumstances than you can do on your own.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11

Those who rest … are trusting and believing.

Father, I pray that you help us to walk in Your rest and to continually commit our burdens, responsibilities, schedules, relationships, problems, family needs … everything in our lives to You. Thank You that we will find peace and rest in doing so. In Jesus’ name, amen.




Related AFTA Blogs:

Got Rest? 
The Enemy of Busyness
You Deserve a Break Today

What's Up with That?

I’ve told you these things (so that you should not be offended; taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away; I told you to keep you from being scandalized and repelled) to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I’ve told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you’ll be well-warned and ready for them. I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration (you will continue to experience difficulties); but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted). For I have (already) overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you. John 16:1-4, 31-33

 

Feel like no one understands you? Feel like you have been mistreated? Feel like you have been rejected? Yeah, me too. So ... what's up with that?

 

There's a reason why you are going/went through what you are going/went through ...

 

HOLD ON.

 

There's a plan in the works that you can't see yet ...

 

TRUST THE PROCESS.

 

We may not always understand, but we gotta and we're gonna ...

 

KEEP TRUSTING.

 

The calling that's been placed on your life attracts attacks. Don't look at it as trouble, look at it as confirmation that you're going the right way and doing the right things ...

 

KEEP GOING.

 

Others may reject, offend, hurt, abuse and/or leave you. But Your heavenly Father will never leave you or forsake you like you're used to being left and mistreated, no matter what. You are ...

 

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED, JUST AS YOU ARE AND DESPITE WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU.

 

Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. John 14:27

 

PEACE BE STILL.

 

See, I'm doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

 

HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT, YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET.

 

You CAN do this, KEEP GOING. One day at a time. One step at a time, if you have to.

 

So, what's up with that? What's going on? Clueless. But God knows. And He has our best interests at heart. He cares about every little detail of our lives. That's ...

 

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT.

 

Dear God, dear heavenly Father, You have SO MUCH MORE to offer us than this world. This is just a temporary place, it's not our home. Help us to have hope in You and trust in You and lean not on our understanding, while You work Your will and work all things for good, according to YOUR plan. Your ways are different, we don't always understand what You're doing, but please give us grace and faith to trust You and follow You. May we ALWAYS lean on Your faithful, loving strong shoulder of support. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

see also: Hands Off    He Don't Wanna Harm Us

 

God ALWAYS Keeps His Promises

You know with all your heart and soul that NOT ONE of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. EVERY promise has been fulfilled; NOT ONE has failed. Joshua 23:14

 

When the bottom falls out, when it looks like you have hit an all-time low, hold on to hope. You do not know what God has around the corner. He WILL make a way, where there seems to be no way. If you are believing to see the promises of God come to fruition in your life  DO NOT give up. God IS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

You can never please God without faith, without depending on Him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that He rewards [cares enough to respond to] those who sincerely [earnestly and diligently] look for Him. Hebrews 11:6

 

There's only one Man you can trust a 100% all of the time, someone who will never fail you - our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Whatever breakthrough you are waiting for, pin your hope on the Lord, His love and His wonderful promises for you found in His Word. Believe that God is for you and wants you to experience breakthroughs and divine success.

Days of joy, peace and victory ARE headed your way.

Father, I pray that you touch, minister to and bless us, Your children, with whatever our needs are. Fill us with Your mighty power. Reveal the promises made to us from Your Word and help us to hang in there awaiting their fruition. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

 

 

see also: Down, But Never Out and Waiting is Hard

 

He Don't Wanna Harm Us

 

'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

I KNOW You know what's best for me, even though I may not like everything You allow into my life, Lord.

Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8.

I KNOW that You will work everything out for my good Lord, even though I don’t see how right now.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I KNOW that You take care of the things that I commit to You ... and leave with You ... instead of picking things back up when I get overwhelmed, scared, or just flat don't get it.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalm 37:5

I KNOW that it’s not MY plan that works, it's YOURS, Father God.

'My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.' Isaiah 55:8,9

I KNOW I just gotta bring it all to You in prayer, Lord and trust You enough to leave it with You. You know, all the junk that I worry about. That I stress about. That I mull over in my head. I don't have to have it all figured out. What I’m going through now is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in me and for me.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us and for us. Romans 8:18

I KNOW You don't wanna harm me Lord, You love me and want what's best for me.

Be still … and KNOW.

Father, help me ... help us all ... to trust You and not lean on our own understanding. I pray for wisdom and guidance as well as grace to follow Your leading, Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.




see also: The Man with the Plan

The Thing about God's Love

Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

The thing about God's love is that it's unconditional and everlasting, it's not based on our works, THANK GOD.

If you're thinking to come to Christ you have to be perfect, you're WRONG ... come as you are. Maybe you feel unworthy of His love. The truth is that no one is worthy. God's love isn't based on whether we're deserving or not. It's simply a demonstration of His commitment to our good. There's nothing that you could ever do that would stop the Father from loving you.

God is love and His love is very different from human love. It's not based on feeling or emotions. He doesn't love us because we're lovable or because we make Him feel good, He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, through His Son Jesus.

Father God ALWAYS hears the cries of His children.

Father, I pray that You help us to come to You always, in time of need and just to love on You and thank You for all that You do and for who You are. Thank You for being faithful and that You are always there for us. Help us to come to You in childlike faith believing and I'm so grateful that when we do we'll find grace and mercy in time of need. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

 

 see also: Someone Cares and The Unconditional Love of God
 



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Nothing's Wasted

God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. Isaiah 12:2
 
Hang ups and heartaches will only hinder where you are going. If you want to move to a higher level, LET ‘EM GO. You cannot change what happened yesterday, but you can do something about what will happen in your future, LET IT GO. Where there are tears, there is an anointing. God can use anything for good if you trust Him with your pain, SURRENDER IT.

If you let people talk you out of being you, it will subdue the anointing on your life of who God called you to be, BE YOURSELF. You ARE enough. Just the way you are. No striving. No trying to match up to others talents you wish you had. BE YOU because it is enough.
 
I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans FOR GOOD (to take care of you) and NOT FOR EVIL (to abandon you), to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE. Jeremiah 29:11
 
God has an incredible and amazing plan for your life - regardless of what has happened and regardless of what has been done to you - He has not changed His mind. Nothing that you have been through - the pain, the abuse, the tears you have stayed up all night to cry - will be wasted. People can not change you unless you let them. People ARE NOT the answer to your problems, Jesus IS. God will use what has happened to you for good.
 
All that happens to us is WORKING FOR OUR GOOD if we love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

What you have been through WAS NOT in vain. 

NOTHING that you have been through … WILL EVER BE WASTED.
 
Father, if You told us that it's gonna be ok, IT'S GONNA BE OK. Help us to relax and let You take care of it, whatever it is. Help us to hold on to Your promises to us Lord, for YOU ARE FAITHFUL. Not one of Your promises has ever nor ever will be unfulfilled. Thank You for who You are and all You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
 
 
 


 

Rock Solid

The rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and slammed against that house and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 7:25

Though storms are unpleasant and unwanted, it reveals in whom or what we lean on. Just as a tree that has deep roots can survive a violent storm, so the truth is that nothing can see us through but Jesus, He is the Rock to cling to.

This world changes like the tides and the sand but the Rock stands firm amongst it all.

Father, thank You that through the storms You never leave us. You are the rock on which we stand. In Jesus' name, amen.

Waiting is HARD

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40:28-31

 

If there’s a hold up … God’s allowed it for a reason. Continue to be open to His leading and He will open doors (literally as well as figuratively) in His timing.

 

In the above scriptures, the Lord promises that He'll give us strength FROM THE WAITING. So, if you're in need of strength ... waiting is exactly what you need to be doing. And to wait right, IN FAITH.

 It takes a lot of faith and courage to step out and I PROMISE that God’s going to meet your faith.

You hold on there honey, God REALLY IS faithful and He is SO in love with you.

Father, we pray for grace to wait and favor that Your work gets finished OR that something even better is in the works, for You are FAITHFUL to complete what You begin. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 

 

 

Prayer for our Pastors/Ministers

Let us lift up our pastors and ministers, they need our support and prayers.

Father God, I pray for every Pastor who is feeling down and depressed today ... lift them up, encourage them, give peace and give hope.

God, bless our Pastors. Touch their hearts and bring healing, help them to hear and follow Your voice, protect and bless them. Help them not to grow weary in well-doing. Give them renewed strength like the eagles. Help them to have good health.

Help them not to be deceived, but instead keep their eye on the prize. Keep their hearts turned toward You and not be discouraged by those who hate. Cause people to listen, accept, and treat them and their families with love and respect. Favor them for forsaking all for the call.

In Jesus' name, amen.

God Promises Peace

 
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9

What’s weighing on you today? Is there a loved one in need? Bills piling up? Struggling with health issues? Frightened by wars and rumors of wars? Do you have a relationship in trouble? Are you facing a problem with no apparent solution? Do you feel alone? Like a soothing salve to the anxious heart, the above promise from Philippians 4 is for you ... today. 

Anxiety doesn’t come with an off-switch. Anxiety warns us that something is wrong and needs attention. It drives us to our knees in prayer. Yet prayer is often the last thing we think to do. 

The hurt, pain and fear we so often feel run deep, but Christ's love is stronger and more powerful. Through Jesus we have access to the very throne room of heaven. The Spirit intercedes for us there with groaning too deep for words (Romans 8). Even when we don't know how to pray, we aren't hindered. God wouldn't invite us to bring our cares and requests before Him if He didn't plan to act.

God’s promise is not that all our requests will be granted the way that we want them to, but that the peace of Jesus Christ will guard our hearts, despite what we're going through.

Your Friend Jesus is right there with you. Talk to Him. He's listening ... attentively.

Jesus IS our peace.

Father, so much weighs on our minds. Troubles seem to abound, everywhere around us. We need Your peace to cover our minds and our situations, and we pray for that now. In Jesus’ name, amen. 





 

Stop Tryin' to Change the Ppl You Love

 

 

 

God is at work within you, helping you want to obey Him, and then helping you do what He wants. Philippians 2:13

Stop trying to change the people you love and change yourself. Stop trying to change people who would take your money but won't take your advice. You will only drain your own mental, spiritual, emotional and financial reserves.

 

The truth is ... people change when they are sick and tired of being sick and tired or hit rock bottom. If you're dealing with addiction or irresponsible behavior from grown adults ... protect your wallet and your mind. It doesn't mean you don't love them. Your attempts to help may only delay what is inevitable.

 

Allow them to take the journey they have chosen for themselves. Pray for them, fervently. Choose to let go of the guilt and be at peace. You may require counseling or emotional support to stop being an enabler. If necessary, give yourself some distance so that you can stop being used or manipulated because they know that you care and you love them.

 

You have the right to enjoy a guilt-free, happy and productive life. Commit yourself to changing the only person you really can - YOU.

 

Father, bring our loved ones to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver them from anything (or anyone) that has them bound. You're the One that does the work, in cooperation with the person. Not us. Show us our part and help us to not get in Your way as You do Your part. Mend our relationships with them. Love on them. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

 

 

 see also:  Believing for a Loved One  and  Hands Off



 

Be at Peace, My Child

God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of sound mind and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

 

There is no question that there is pain and intense suffering in this world. Some of it is explained by selfish, hateful actions on the part of others. Some of it defies an explanation in this life. But God offers us Himself. God gives us the knowledge that He has endured also, and is aware of our pain and needs. Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid’ (John 14:27). There is ample reason to be afraid, troubled, but God can give us His peace, which is greater than the problem before us. He is after all, God, the Creator. The One who has always existed. The One who created a universe with a spoken word.

 

Yet even in His power, He's also the One who knows us intimately, even the smallest, insignificant details. And if we will trust Him with our lives, relying on Him, though we encounter difficulties, He will hold us securely. Jesus said, ‘These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, trials and distresses, but take courage; I have overcome the world and deprived it of its power to harm you. So stopping letting yourself get agitated and disturbed’ (John 16:33). He went through our ultimate threat -- death -- and overcame it. He can take us through the difficult circumstances of this life, and then bring us into eternal life, if we will trust Him.

 

We can either go through this life with God or without Him. IN HIM, we can be at peace.

 

Father, thank You for Your promise of peace as we turn to You. We ask You to help us keep our minds stayed on You and as we do, trusting in You, I pray that You bless us with Your presence and Your perfect peace. We wait upon You now to receive it by faith. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
 

 see also: Christ is My Victory (Psalm 91 to pray)


 

God's Will is Your Healing

He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Healing was provided through Jesus' redemptive work at the Cross. It is by His stripes that we were healed. Your healing has already been bought and paid for in Christ.

Jesus is our Healer. You are healed in Christ. When sickness tries to attack, begin to praise God and thank Him that healing belongs to you. Keep your praise on, regardless of setbacks or the length of time you've been waiting for your healing to be made manifest in the natural. God's STILL got you. Watch God's power begin to work in your body to drive out every trace of sickness. 

Write down some healing confessions based on your circumstances. Write down any words the Lord speaks to you concerning your circumstances. Write down any scriptures the Lord gives you concerning your circumstances. Keep them ever before you. Read them aloud every chance you get. Believe what you read. Believe God today and receive His healing provision for your life.

Father, we need Your healing touch. Desperately. May Your Blood run through our veins, warding off all sickness, disease, infirmity, pain and all symptoms thereof. Fill our bodies with Your mighty healing power. Help us to have peace and hope while we wait for You to show up on our behalf. Help us to not feel that we've failed You or done something wrong when we don't see immediate results. Help us to know how to take care of our bodies, including what to eat and drink and what not to. We will not die, but live, and declare the wondrous works of the Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

Childrearing 101 from My Uncle

This blog entry is in honor of my Uncle Ronnie, who was taken from us WAY too soon. His birthday is Saturday and Father’s Day is Sunday, and it’s really had me thinking about the impact his life had on everyone around him and the legacy that he left behind.

Below is some tidbits of his daughter VJ's (my cousin) wisdom she gained from him on childrearing and her thoughts on life and him now.

‘My father gave me this nugget of wisdom when I was the first time Mommie of a two year old toddler. I can hear him plainly as he said, "Baby, it is not your job to be your child's friend right now. It is your job, from here on out to prepare them for life as a respectful and productive member of society. That is what a good parent does. The little things you let slip because they are cute can turn into a bad habit that can last generations. You don't have to be a hard 'person' like me all the time. Have fun with her, teach her to work, get down in the floor and play with her, but always let her know what you expect from her and never let that pretty face or pouty mouth back you up from what you said. Be consistent. Love her. Tell her you will always be there for her. No matter how little they are, you teach by example and communicate just a little above their level. Set bars for her and when she's about able to touch it, move it higher. No one is ever going to love her like you. The world is cold and cruel. Teach her that. Stand your ground with her, no matter how small it may seem. You are teaching her from the minute she's born how to treat you, and others. You are not equals, and she will respect you. You can be friends after she's grown. Now she just needs guidance".

He told me another time that your goal in life is to prepare your children not to depend on you, but to train them to be able to live without you. Although he was never able to teach me to live without him, I’m okay. I miss his influence and friendship every single day I’ve had to live without him, and I still react the way I think would make him proud. Each time I want to pick up the phone and ask him what should I do, I know what he’d tell me if he were at the other end of that phone, and most of the time I do it.’

To my Uncle Ronnie, kudos to you ... Happy Birthday and Happy Father's Day!

To my precious father, Mike, whom I have been so richly blessed with ... thank you for all your love, support and prayers. The wisdom that you have imparted to me helps carry me through the 'what do I do now' times that I have, as well. Thank you for who you are, all you do, and for loving and accepting me ... Happy Father's Day!

To all the fathers out there (and those acting in a father capacity) … you have NO idea of the impact that you can have on your children. Teach them well. Love them. Support them. Make every moment count, for every moment is precious. Your influence is wanted and needed. Not meaning to put a lot of pressure on you, but then again I do … step up to that plate and hit the ball out of the park. Your family’s lives in part depend on it.

Father, our ultimate Father, thank You for being a good, loving Daddy to us. Thank You for the time that You have blessed us with our earthly fathers, and though not all have acted in as much an honorable fashion as the man listed in this blog, You always have been and always will be. Bring comfort to and heal those who are without fathers, and to fathers who have lost their children. Take them up and adopt them as Your own. Be a light through all those in fatherly capacities. Be near them on this special weekend. And Father … Happy Father’s Day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Now More than Ever

Go away, all you who do evil, for the Lord HAS heard my weeping. The Lord HAS heard my plea; the Lord WILL answer my prayer. Psalm 6:8,9

LORD, help us to hear from You today, and may we be obedient. Give us wisdom to make right decisions.

LORD, have mercy and compassion on us.

LORD, we need Your strength and grace. Help our bodies to be physically able and our minds to be mentally able to do what we need to do.

LORD JESUS, heal our bodies. Take away sickness and pain. Release us from the tormenting spirits.

LORD, keep us close to You through the things that we are going through, help us not to push You away in difficult times, but instead allow You to draw us closer.

LORD, give us Your peace, Your perfect peace, that surpasses all understanding.

LORD, be with us, our families, our friends, all Your people ... special touch and anointing for us. Bless us with uncommon favor. Strengthen us. Heal us. Love on us. Help us to grab on, hold on and don’t let go of the hem of Your garment, Jesus. For all our needs are met in You. You are the Answer. To every question. To every problem. To every heartache. To every sickness. To every cry. Blood of Jesus over us.

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him --- though He is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27

We need You now LORD GOD … more than ever. Be not far from us.

God is at Work

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13

God is at work in us, causing us to be willing and obedient ... giving us the grace and changing us ... so that we will be able to do what He wants us to do.  He gives us the desire and power to accomplish His will, not our pleasures.

God WILL carry out His plan. Either He will work IN us or He will work ON us. Either way, He WILL accomplish His purpose.

We have all seen the sign on the highway 'MEN AT WORK'. We can put a sign over the Christian: 'GOD AT WORK'. In the quest for God to make us like Jesus, He may have to chisel, sand, steel wool and polish us. God will continue to polish us until Jesus comes back to get us.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
 
We need to relax, stop being so hard on ourselves, and allow God to work through us.

Father, I pray that You help us to trust You to complete the work that You have begun in us. Help us to allow You to work through us. Change us. Make us more like You. In Jesus' name, amen.

What's Your Goal?

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Just try to do and be the best you that you know how. It is such a waste of time and effort to try to please everybody. That is a job no one could ever accomplish.

It's easy to allow yourself, especially during rough periods, to be influenced by others. God is the only person that will always stand by you and have your back. So the only person you should strive to please is God.

Do not change yourself for others. Do not lose yourself trying to be something that you are not. The only reason you should make a change within your life is for God. He would want you to be the best version of yourself. Do not be influenced by the people surrounding you. Imitate Christ.

No matter how hard a situation may be, you must put your faith in God. He is the One person you can always count on.

You are not really free, until you are free from trying to please everybody. If your goal is to make everyone happy, you are always going to be disappointed. Carry on ... whether you get people's approval or not.

You know God's voice.

Just follow it.

Father, help us to be God pleasers and not people pleasers. We want to give You the honor and respect that You are due. Help us to hear and follow Your voice, Your instruction, Your leading. In Jesus’ name, amen.


 
see also: Got Rest?

Having to Wait?

Let us not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we do not give up or quit. Galatians 6:9

If God has promised you something, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED if you are having to wait ... He shows up at JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

Do not go by what you see - go by what you know - that God IS faithful. You do not have to see in the natural yet what God has promised, waiting for it does not negate the fact that it WILL happen.

All history testifies to the fact that God always keeps His Word. You are wise if you trust Him.

Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45.

You have come TOO FAR to give up now, so DON'T.

I pray that God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace. In Jesus' name, amen.


see also: While I'm Waiting
              How's that Waiting Thing Working out for You?

Don't You Dare Give Up, Honey

 

Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of weeks ago, and the following week she had surgery to remove the tumor. The diagnosis came out of nowhere. We were both in shock. Now we are awaiting results of the biopsy they took of some of her lymph nodes they removed and doctors say they want her to begin radiation treatments next month.

When the bottom falls out, when it looks like you have hit an all-time low, hold on to hope. You don't know what God has around the corner.

You may be tired, things may seem dark, but remember it’s always darkest just before the dawn appears. When you are weak, that is when God’s strength will rise up in you.

What does not kill you, makes you stronger. NEVER give up ... no matter what the amount of 'wait time' is.

When you seek Him, you WILL find Him.

This is what the Lord says: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My good promise to bring you back to this place. 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. You will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. Jeremiah 29:10-14

There is no pit so deep that God cannot reach down and lift you out. You DO NOT have a problem that God cannot solve.

If you are believing to see the promises of God come to fruition in your life – DO NOT give up. You ARE NOT alone. You ARE NOT being ignored. God IS listening and God IS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Father, our hope in You grows thin at times. We grow weary. Life is SO HARD sometimes. Help us to seek You and PLEASE don't hide from us. Help us to have strength. Refresh us. Renew our hope in You. Encourage us to continue on. Help us to make it, to endure to the end. We can't wait for all this pain to be over and to see You face to face. In Jesus' name, amen.



Related AFTA blog: Keep Going
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