Being Awake Gives Opt

Today, you have a brand new day full of new opportunities. When you rise out of bed today, take advantage of this time to start with a brand new song and a fresh new heart with the Lord. Find a quiet place and sing God a song. Make melody in your heart. Thank God for a brand new day.

A new song comes first with a heart of repentance. A confession of our own failures, shortcomings and sin. Because there is a refreshing that comes when we lay everything in our heart before the Lord of Glory. There is a cleansing that takes place when we sincerely pray and confess. He then refreshes us by His Holy Spirit and gives us a new song to sing. Our outlook is renewed even when facing our bleakest situations.

It is imperative that you always have a song in your heart to sing. Can you at any moment break out in song? Scripture declares in Judges 5:12,  "Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song".  When all trouble breaks loose against you, when the enemy stirs up havoc and lays a net for your feet, when life throws lemons at you.... you must have a song to sing. So turn up the music and get ready!

Did you know that song changes the atmosphere? Because song actually changes our attitude. God created the birds of the air to sing and He instruct us to sing a new song. So if your tune is a little off-key, take time to find your melody, get out a new song and just SING! Scripture declares that you and I make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Our song restores the joy deep in our soul.  And God is certainly worthy of a new song from us!

Stuck

There are things that clog our spiritual lives and require action on our part. Sometimes, we just get stuck spiritually.

When we are stuck we must get rid of paralyzing thoughts. Paralyzing and poisonous thoughts drive us to continue in sin, depression, anxiety, anger and dozens of other critical patterns of thought. This outlook is carnal and only creates a hindrance to our personal relationship with Christ and others.

Our mindset actually controls our will, our attitude and our daily outlook on life itself.  Thus our actions are controlled by the way we think.  How we speak to others and the things we do are justified by our thought pattern.  If we do not want to be stuck, we must learn to change the way we think.

“Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.”  (Philippians 4:8)

We must get rid of the distractions in our lives. Meaningless distractions will always attempt to stand in your way and keep you stuck.  Learn to prioritize your ‘to do list’ and focus on what is the most important.  It may also be helpful to make a list of time-wasters and place it on your desk, your refrigerator, your car dashboard, your phone, or the bathroom mirror.  Remember not to allow these obstacles to distract you in your walk or prevent you from a path of success and victory.

Hebrews 12 declares, “….. Let us throw off every weight and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set before us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

We must endeavor to change our thinking.

Faithfulness

Paul taught, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that one be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Here, the Word of God speaks of stewards as someone who manages the property that belongs to another. With the believer, our property is not ours. We must realize everything we have - God is the owner and He has placed us in charge of it as the manager.

Often, we ask: What is required of me? What is expected of me? And we feel as if so very much responsibility rests on our shoulders. We care about what others say about us and we should to some extent.

When others think of you as loyal, committed and trustworthy - it is a high compliment. It is a wonderful thing for someone to speak about you in a kind manner and comment that you are faithful. 

All God asks of us concerning our management of what He owns is - faithfulness. Be faithful in tithing. Be faithful in giving. Be faithful in serving your Church. Be faithful in your spiritual walk with God. Be faithful in your commitments. Be faithful to your family. Be faithful to your friends. And be faithful to God. Sow seeds of faithfulness and grow an abundant harvest.

Palm of His Hand

God has you in the palm of His hand and has directed the path of your life. Look at the message of Jeremiah 29:10-11, "This is God's Word on the subject... I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (The Message Bible) God has big plans for you. Right now, the pathway may not seem very clear, but keep trusting in the plan God has laid out for you. His Hand rests on your life.

Scripture is clear, "The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord." Faith trusts and looks forward to the future blessing God has mapped out and does not fail to highlight the dreams of our heart. Our human minds seek to figure it all out in great detail before we are willing to move forward. But often, serving God requires tremendous faith. 

Faith to stand on His Promises. Faith to Believe that He knows exactly what He is doing in our lives. Faith to step forward, not knowing how, why or even when the total answer will come. Faith relies on God to work out the small details, instead of worrying about how you will handle the future. Because faith understands that you must depend solely on a Sovereign God.

Dreams

Do not squelch your dreams. It does not matter how old you are, God has placed dreams in your heart that are substantial. Everything God does in and through you is a dream within a dream.

There was someone before you that had a dream. It could be a parent, relative or friend. They laid the groundwork for your dream and they prayed for you. They dedicated you and your dream to God before you were ever born. Someone else came along and God used them to inspire you to dream big.  

Ephesians 3:20 declares some powerful writ, "To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."

Do not give up on those big dreams because they were birthed in you from the beginning.  And your dreams live on. When you and I are long gone, our dreams will inspire others all around us.

Your legacy is not just your big, God-sized dreams but it's also your small acts of love and kindness. The influence you have on the lives of others is incalculable. Never stop dreaming and inspiring others to do the same.

Philippians 1:6, "And i am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

In God We Trust

Many have come against our monetary system that stamps the words, "In God We Trust" and they've fought to remove it from our money. But America is so far from trusting in God, we might as well be living on the farthest planet from earth. Keeping those words on our money or removing it does not truly affect the decisions of our heart.

What we sincerely trust in today is ourselves. We trust in our employment. We trust in our family. We trust in our good circumstances of peace and prosperity. But very seldom do we put our trust in God. And we have become so independent, we have forgotten how to be dependent on God.

When troublesome situations come along, we blame God instead of understanding that "All things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Years ago, our grandparents genuinely trusted God. They were completely dependent on God. They prayed morning and night and trusted Him for their sustenance and well being. They spent time pondering the pages of God's Holy Word because they wanted to live lives pleasing to God. And before they made life choices, they asked God for help. They trusted God.

You and I have become so carnal that we have pushed God out of our lives and over to the sidelines. We make decisions without consulting with God. We plan and pursue our lives (on our own) without asking God for His guidance and wisdom. And the result is catastrophic.

Be reminded of the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Abortion

Psalm 139:13-16, "For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well."

First, I would like to say that many have made bad choices. Some have even had an abortion in their lifetime. There is forgiveness and healing for you through the blood of Jesus Christ.

However on the surface, it seems those protesting against our President and the fact he has stood against abortion is rallying for women's rights. Abortion has nothing to do with women's rights. 

Do you realize abortion is the sacrament of Satan? Ask yourself: what do you hear those who stand up for abortion constantly say? They say, "This is MY body." Does that sound familiar to the believer? 

When we stand in the House of God to honor to our Lord and partake in Holy Communion, we recount the story of the Last Supper. Jesus said in 2 Corinthians 11, "This is MY body which was broken for you, do this in remembrance of ME."

Psalm 139:15 declares, "My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret."

The enemy of our soul has deceived many into believing that abortion is only standing up for our human rights. They say it's a choice. However, abortion is a direct violation of your body and God's Holy Word.  A fetus is life and by participating in or standing up for abortion, we are violating God's Law.  It is murder of a defenseless person; an unborn baby who has a right to life.

This is not a matter of political party. This is a matter of the heart. So the serious question is: has your heart been transformed by the Living Christ and are you striving to honor Him in your body and by obedience to His Word?

Model Leaders

Serving in leadership is a very difficult role, but the greatest single tool is an exemplary life.  The puritan Thomas Brooks said, "Example is the most powerful rhetoric." The Apostle Paul was well aware of this philosophy.  He lived a life that others could follow and often reminded us to follow him as he followed Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 4:16 Paul shouts, "I urge you to imitate me." And in Philippians 3:17, he teaches: "Join with others in following my example." And in the next chapter he continues, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put into practice."

The greatest message you will ever preachis the one you preach with your life. The example you set today is absolutely critical. Strive today to be a model leader for others to imitate.

Saved to Serve

 Do you know we were actually put on this earth to make a contribution?  Our job is to make a difference and serve.  This is called ministry or service.  And it is not optional. According to Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good deeds, which God prepared in advance for us to do." When you do good deeds and serve others, you are serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes.

But you are not saved by serving, you are saved for serving. Romans 7:4 is clear, "Now you belong to Him in order that you might be useful in the service of God."  You were saved to serve. "It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan." (2 Timothy 1:9) It is through the ministry of serving that we find fulfillment and discover meaning in our lives.

What Praise Does

There will be times in your life that your strength fails and you must strive to push your way through the rubbish.  You will face chaos, have to trudge through problems, and deal with personal circumstances that seem completely out of control. And trouble brings heaviness. Scripture teaches us the antidote, "Put on the garment of Praise for the Spirit of heaviness." It is in difficult times that you must fill your mouth with praise.

Praise will raise a standard against the enemy. Praise will knock the cloak of heaviness right off your shoulders. Praise will place your mind in the right stance to face all odds pushing you to weariness. Praise will cause you to completely trust in an Everlasting Father. And when you feel as if you are sinking quickly in the ground beneath you, just 'Praise' and you will find strength.

Psalm 71:8-9 declares, "My mouth is filled with Praise and with your Glory all day long.  Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails." Something amazing happens within us when we Praise the Lord. Start today and practice a life of Praise.