What in the World is Going On?

But my eyes are fixed on You, Sovereign Lord; in You I take refuge - do not give me over to death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety. Psalm 141:8-10

We’re not always rejected and attacked because of wrong we’ve done. Sometimes, it’s because we’re doing right.

The enemy is throwing road blocks at us, trying to trip us up … so we’ll think that trying to do the right thing is too much trouble and not worth it. You may even hear doubting voices in your head like, 'What's the use in changing if no one notices and they still treat me as if I were still the old me?'

The enemy wants us to get discouraged and give up and ease back into our old ways and lifestyle. He will even throw people, especially those we want love and acceptance from the most, at us with hurtful things like still judging us for our past and bringing those things up over and over because they haven't forgiven us or don't really want us to succeed. Sad to say, some people in our lives are just waiting for us to mess up so that they can say, 'See, you really haven't changed after all.' We have to remember that it's not really them saying those things, it's the enemy working through them.

God wants us to move forward, continue to grow, continue to do what’s right … and trust that He will defeat our enemies and stop the attacks and that it will make us stronger and encourage us to continue to keep moving forward in the right direction.

We need to change for the better whether others believe that we are or not. Whether they see that we are or not. We are to seek God's approval. Do it for you ... and Him. If someone really wants to be a part of our lives they'll come around eventually. Sometimes we just need to regain the trust of those in whom we've lost it. And that can take time. In the meanwhile, they're missing out on the new, improved us.

Yep, you might actually be doing something right, how cool is that?

Let the attacks cause you to be more determined, not cower back and withdraw.

Don’t you dare let the enemy win.

Father, mold us into Your image. Help us not to fear, for You WILL walk us through the process. I pray that our enemies will fall in the very traps that they have laid for us. Help us to continue on, unscathed and unharmed. Help us to be determined to win the race. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Hindrance to Your Destiny?

 
So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?' Hebrews 13:6

Worrying and angered at those who try to steal your thunder, use you, try to force themselves on you, pick on you and/or speak lies behind your back? Wondering if your reputation is going to be tainted and stop you from God's best? Wondering if people will reject you because of it?

I don't know about you, but I've been lied to, lied about, made fun of, harassed, stalked, beaten, and pushed around. Words are sharp and they hurt. People can be SO cruel. The enemy really works overtime trying to make sure God's will doesn't come to pass in our lives. BUT GOD is our defender and will only allow people to hurt us and take advantage of us for so long, before He comes on the scene and says, 'that's enough, that's My child' and stops it.  What God has destined ... NO demon or devil in hell or on earth, NO person, NO circumstance ... can stop.

No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17

We're not built to handle it all, it's ok to break down and cry before the Lord and allow Him to bring refreshment. Tell Him what's weighing heavy on your heart. Tell Him who's hurt you. Give it all to Him. Sow those seeds of offense and allow Him to bring better into your life. There's NOTHING like the presence of Jesus to wash away the hurts and pains that people and life have inflicted on us. You may not have the approval of who you think you need it from, but God approves of you and will give you what you really need, not what you think you need.

Quit stressin' over things that the Lord has already told you He would take care of. EXPECT God's blessings. Trust God to protect your reputation. God promised He's our vindicator, EXPECT Him to defend you. God is always there for you --- He is your hope --- He is all you need. And hope maketh not ashamed, i.e. if we put our hope in God, He WON'T disappoint us.

God loves you too much to put you in a position you aren't ready for. He wants to build your character before He brings you to the next level. There will be tests and trials and most won't be fun at all, in fact they'll hurt, a lot. Rejection, betrayal, gossip, abuse, being left out, feeling all alone - they're all part of the plan the enemy's made to cause you to withdraw and stop moving forward. God's using those same things to mold you to be more like Him. Be willing to go through the process. Advance. It's SO worth it.
 
You are RELEASED from having to please everybody ... because you CAN'T. You are RELEASED from having to be Ms. or Mr. perfect ... because you CAN'T. Relax. Be yourself. Don't back down, stand your ground. Keep doing what you believe to be right. Whether others approve or understand or not. God knows how to 'fix' peoples little red wagon when they get in the way of our destiny. 

Those who BELIEVE and EXPECT the good plans God has for them are the ones that SEE them. Wait for it.

Hindrance to your destiny? Nope, I don't think so. More like a springboard to propel you forward.

Father, I pray for all who feel weary. Help us not to give up. Give us courage and faith to continue on. You, Lord God are faithful. Help us to press thru to victory. Remove any hindrances that are in the way of our destiny. Defend us. Protect our reputations. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

You're Surrounded

 
 

The Lord your God is going with you.

He will fight for you against your enemies,

and He will give you victory.

Deuteronomy 20:4

 
 
 
 
 
 
Are you overwhelmed by the attacks of the enemy? Feel like you’re all alone? Feeling afraid?
 
We live in a fallen world. There's evil on every side. There's sickness, temptation and sorrow. Tragedy and loss sometimes strikes. Problems with personal relationships, economic difficulties, personal failures.  

 

What shall we do? The answer is found in faith.

God is greater than ANY circumstance or emergency we might find ourselves in. He won't be caught off guard by it. He is well able to help you overcome. Because if He's for you, NO ONE can be against you (Romans 8:31). NEVER run from your enemy. It only delays promotion. Know that when an enemy shows up - promotion is being offered.

Fear not that which tries to torment, for those that are with us, to protect us, are more than those that are against us, to destroy us - angels are unspeakably more numerous - God infinitely more powerful. When we are magnifying the causes of our fear we ought to possess ourselves with clear, and great, and high thoughts of God and the invisible world.


 

 

'Don't be afraid,' the

prophet answered.

'Those who are with us are

more than

those who are with them.'

2 Kings 6:16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Don't panic. Don't be afraid. Don’t look at the enemies that may be surrounding you, instead focus on Jesus and the help that is yours as a child of God. There's more going on than just what you see. Unseen by the physical senses, God is there to support, protect and encourage. Be unmoved.

God gives peace AND rest.

The Lord gave them peace and rest ALL AROUND, just as He had promised. Not one of their enemies opposed them - He placed all of them under their control. Joshua 21:44
 
 


Even seemingly surrounded and overwhelmed, there’s STILL more with us than be with them. Jesus is standing beside you -- you ARE NOT alone today. He’s ALWAYS with you.
 
 
 
 

God is greater than any enemy. Period.

Father, I pray that You help us to feel Your presence with us instead of fear when seemingly surrounded by the enemy. Give us protection on every side, build and be a protective fortress around us with Your presence. Open our spiritual eyes to see You and the angels of protection You have around us. I bind the attacks of the enemy trying to come against us and our loved ones and cast them to the pits of hell. Lord, give us peace and rest on EVERY side. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
 
 
 
see also: 2 Kings 6:8-23
             Romans 8:31-38
    
 

 

The Man with the Plan

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, '(good) plans to prosper you and not (bad) to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' Jeremiah 29:11

God definitely has a plan, a good plan for our lives. We aren't here just to wander through life going from one crisis to another. We may think God's apathetic and cruel. We may have mixed Him up with the world. But He couldn't possibly will us evil when His very character is goodness -- and good will toward all of us.

God's planted a seed of purpose within us, but we must diligently seek Him in order for the seed to grow, and most of the time that seed doesn't grow into a full-fledged plant without dying, getting imbedded and being nourished ... and that takes time. We'll reap a harvest at just the RIGHT time. Seed --- TIME --- harvest.

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

Has God planted a seed and a desire within you to do something? Don't allow your circumstances to dictate whether or not that seed becomes a plant. Keep your eyes off your circumstances and on God.

'No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from Me. I, the Lord, have spoken!' Isaiah 54:17

God wants us to hope and trust Him for a brighter tomorrow. Don't give up. Press in to God and press on with Him. God promises that He'll give us the desires of our heart when our will is aligned with His.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Trust God with your life ... the path you take, the friends you have, the place you live, the family He's placed you in, the ministry He's blessed you with ... trust Him with it all, for He's a good, faithful father and He will NEVER let you down.


If God tells us to do something we don't have to know why, just know that He WILL accomplish what He wants to through it. God DOES NOT want us to fail and He's going to make sure that we don't, for God's our greatest encourager.

Following Jesus is the ultimate plan for us all and to use our specific talents in His service. Seek God. Read and meditate on His Word. Love Him with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-40). Take advantage of every opportunity that the Lord gives you. These things are being in His will and following His plan.

Father, I pray that You give us hope and help us not to give up. Silence and defeat our enemies. Help the plans that You have for us to come to fruition and help nothing to get in our way. Work YOUR will through us Lord as we submit our all to You. Give us strength and wisdom to be able to do all that You ask us to do. Help us to love You and love others. In Jesus' name, amen.

He Anoints Us

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. Psalm 23:5








There was a note about this scripture in my Amplified Bible. It says:

It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race.

As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His "sheep" with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs--in heavenly fellowship with Him.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord for covering us with Your blessed Holy Spirit. We need all the preparation and protection that we can get. I love You, Lord. You're my life. In Jesus' name, amen.