Achieving God's Blessing

 

A popular article suggests to receive God's Blessing, one must serve with their time and money. This has people believing they are doing God a service through long prayers, saying grace in public, going to church, emotionally charged singing, charity, or even witnessing. They saturate themselves attempting to earn the unearnable. (Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:). This is not how to achieve God's Blessing.

We see a wonderful example how King Saul was in pursuit of David (1 Samuel 19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.) but David, (1 Samuel 24) had a deep respect to the point to where he called King Saul “God's Anointed”. 

Divine Blessing or Favor is not something you seek; but something that 'just happens'. It begins with having a good attitude toward God, all His people. This means treating difficult people like they are Your Personal Favorite – after all, this is what Jesus has already done for you – and expects from you. 

God's favor is real. It is set up to establish His Plan through you; not necessarily for you. (Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.)

Though we’re all subject to the blessings of God, some are more blessed than others. I believe this has more to do with your willingness to perform God's Divine Calling over your life. So here it goes:

1. Love God – Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2. Trust God – Isaiah 58:11 and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
3. Understand God – 1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 
4. Please God – Esther 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
5. Serve God – Genesis 17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
6. Love people – Jonah 4:2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
7. Understand People – Jonah 4:4-8 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
8. Serve People – 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
9. Serve Your Family – 1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
10. Censure Yourself – 2 Timothy 3:2-3 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
11. Be Submitted – 1 Timothy 6:9-11 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12. Be Blameless – Philippians 2:15 that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
13. Be Humble – James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
14. Be Honest – Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
15. Be Wise – Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
16. Be Faithful – Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
17. Count Your Blessings – Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

This last point is pretty important; God doesn't necessarily bless You for YOU, He blesses you for you to perform His work. (Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.)

We humans have been conditioned by society to “one-up” our neighbor. We tend to look at their possessions and base our perception of God's Blessing on them by what they have. By doing so, we fail to understand what it means to have God's Blessing upon our own lives.

When God does Bless us, we need to remember to count our blessing with humility as opposed to pride; this is the difference between demonstrating gratitude or arrogance.

We need to take our role seriously so we do not fall short of entering into His Rest – which we only enter into after we fulfilled our calling. (Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.) 

God's Divine Blessing is about having peace over the pressures of life – not wealth.

Blessings,

 

The Power of Belief

Mark 11:24

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Whether it's Money, Health, Love, or Vocation, your belief system is an effective, no nonsense tool that will assist you in achieving what you desire for yourself. It's true - because it already stems from your heart - which is connected to the Maker of All Things!

Believe that you are, or have everything you desire in the present moment. Why? because your power of belief is the key that consciously creates your reality. You have been provided with a free will and ability to choose which path you will follow. This means that deep-down inside, you already know what you can manifest - and you've already been given the power to do it.

Do you want to know the secret as to what actually causes manifestation? It's the attitude of gratitude for what you have in this present moment. You have to appreciate what you have in the here-in-now. You need to do this, until the appreciation for the things you currently have now, feels natural to you. 

This attitude of gratitude is what brings you to the next level of receiving. Think about this: I have heard people say "I'm cursed with being poor - it is what it is".

By their words and a lack of appreciation for what they have, they curse themselves; they are not actually cursed, but they are blocking themselves. In reality, I have seen the same people given a great deal - yet they squander it - not appreciating - or taking care of what they've been given.

Are you beginning to see how this works?

There are 13 key-steps to removing the blockers, and manifesting your desires - so here it goes:

Accept The Challenge. The moment something important challenges you, it should change you. This is the first important step in the manifestation process - and your renewed life.

Accept Change. Your life (mindset) must change in order to move forward. If you are unwilling to change, then what you are attempting to manifest may never happen for you. 

Feel The Change. Norepinephrine is the hormone responsible for giving you the butterflies in your stomach. This hormone is present when you are going through major challenges & changes. It promotes vigilance, enhances formation and focus. It is there to reassure you that good things are in store for you. If you're feeling it, go with it!

Never Give Up! There will be setbacks - so be prepared to manage the downside. When you give up on your dream, you shut the door on your desires. 

Reject Restrictions! When people 'pray' for what they desire, they oft pray with a "Lord willing" perspective. Jesus never said that. He said when ye pray - believe! Quit imagining restrictions that are not there!

Pace Yourself. Give yourself time to manifest; nothing happens overnight.

Perceive It To Be True. Day-dream about it. If you can't see it, there is something in your mind/spirit that's blocking you from being able to see it. When you can't see the next step, don't worry; your inspiration will come to you when  you least expect it.

Strengthen Your Belief. I have heard many people say "it will never happen for me". It's as though they have set the universe against them all by themselves. You have to know that the universe put the desire in you to begin with. Accept the possibility!

Reject Failure. So, you didn't get what you want by the time you wanted it to happen. This is what you call "failure". Well Failure is an illusion; what really took place is your belief worked against you because deep down inside of you, you didn't believe it was possible. Your experience brought you to this stage - so, this is where you begin again!

The Back-Up Plan! The best thing is to always have a back-up plan, right? Wrong! Your back-up plan tells the universe that you have already accepted a different outcome. Remember that!

Fear Not! The moment you doubt is the moment you stop all manifestation.

Be Sure Of It! Whatever you believe for, the bottom line is you must be absolutely sure that you will get it - to the point where you know how to obtain it. 

Convert Believing Into Knowing! Faith is going from "I hope so - to I know so". The moment you know that it will happen for you is the completion of the manifestation. Once this stage begins, your desires become your realities. 

In conclusion, it is your mindset that determines your direction. 

20 Ways to Start Believing in Yourself

Believing in yourself is the starting point where all things manifest from. When you don't believe in yourself, you literally block everything from happening for you. It's the difference between wishing you had luck - and creating your own luck.

Learning how to believe in yourself is necessary for achieving goals and handling challenges, but how do we do it?

The first step to opening yourself up to believing in yourself is to learn how to stop being your own critic, and start being your own proponent. In all honesty, you will never live a positive life when you are trash-talking yourself.

If you are someone who finds yourself engaging in trash-talk, you need to pay more attention to what you are saying to yourself throughout the day.

You need to ensure your self-talk is working for you, rather than against you. 

You will want to note that it is not wise to trash-talk others. This is important to your success. Why you may ask? Because you will experience setbacks - and those you trash-talked will mock you when you slip up. It's a kind-of karma where you talk bad about others, then bad happens only to you. Your success is not based on how poorly you see others; it is based solely on you focusing on your good nature and your abilities.

Here are 20 ways to believe in - and affirm yourself:

1. I am confident in my abilities and open to new challenges.
2. I have everything it takes to be successful.
3. I can achieve anything I put my heart into.
4. I deserve kindness and respect from others.
5. I get better every day.
6. I have so much to offer others.
7. I will stand up for myself.
8. I am a good hearted person.
9. I draw from those who are successful and inspire me.
10. I know the good I am capable of.
11. I am exactly who I am supposed to be.
12. I am happy with the person I am. 
13. I am content with my life.
14. I deserve kind and supportive people in my life.
15. I have many strengths and apply them for the greater good.
16. I am aware of my weakness and am working on them.
17. I am open to healthy and positive relationships.
18. I am proactive.
19. I am in control.
20. I make right choices, and choose right responses.

People who doubt themselves are guaranteed to fail. 

It is important that you combine the positive self-talk with actions congruent with them. You will want to make a habit of building this into your regular work/home life first before applying them when pursuing your dreams. Believing you can is 80% of your success ☺️

The Power To Forgive

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

This is my dog Judah. We got him Christmas Day 2020. He’s a Shephard/Hound cross. We got him when he was three and a half months old. We suspect that his puppy beginnings were not so great by how he was, and how long it took him to warm up to us. We’ve had dogs in the past, but they’ve been small dogs; this time, I wanted a real dog. The only experience I had with a large breed dog was when I was 5. I had a St Bernard. She was special to me and I never got over losing her. 

In the spring of 2020, we bought a new home. Since the home was of significant size, we thought about getting a dog, but we put it off because we were renovating and setting things up. There were a lot of things to upgrade. When I first saw the home on the market in November of 2019, I was put off by it. When February of 2020 rolled around, I decided to take a closer look especially when the owners dropped the price - and it was beside a creek. We felt good about it - so we went ahead with the purchase - and ended up getting a great deal!

I enjoyed setting up our new home. Obtaining it was nothing short of a miracle. When the pandemic began, there was the "Mad March" market drop. We used our RRSP's to finance our down payment. The Monday after the RRSP withdrawal (which was the previous Friday), the market experienced one of the greatest drops in history. Had we not withdrawn the RRSP when we did, we would have lost 35% of the down-payment and would have had to make up the difference in the down-payment (which we didn't have) or run the risk of forfeiting the down-payment and losing the home altogether. 

I believe God had his hand in this... Psalm 44:3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

In the summer, we had another interesting experience in which we were able to repay the full RRSP withdrawal back! We figured this was now the time to get a dog - but I put it off. I decided to pray about it because I wanted to make sure that I was the right person for the dog. I prayed about it for three months, then I started to pursue one in November - believing that I was in the right position to welcome one into my new home.

I found a couple of beautiful dogs, but they fell through for reasons that crushed my heart.

By this time, the lockdowns were in full force and that was disheartening enough; I began to feel a little desperate. I saw Judah advertised as a dog named Timer, but I hesitated because there was something sketchy about the photo.

After a long - daunting search for a suitable dog with unfavorable results, I decided to consider Timer. 

I spoke with the dog-breeder (puppy-mill) and I learned that this dog had a great deal of my own character traits and I was assured he was trained to go to the bathroom outdoors. So I arranged a meeting which happened to be on Christmas Day.

The woman - Kayla pulled up and about 8 dogs (including puppies) all pooled out of a little old hatch-back. I said I wanted to get a feel for the dog without a commitment. She said that for a "hold" she would go into town and then come back. I agreed. When she pulled away, I realize that I now had a dog that I wasn't totally sure of and she had my deposit. She called, and demanded the remainder via e-transfer. So we sent it, and from that moment on, we were dog owners.

The first thing this dog did was he started to chew everything! Don't laugh, it was wicker!

Since it was the early afternoon on Christmas Day, we had no way to get to the pet store to get supplies (we were unprepared because of the sudden thrust upon us). So we allowed the wicker to get chewed up until we were able to get Timer - now Judah, some provisions.

We got him a comfy bed - which he chewed up. We got him stuffed toys - which he chewed up; my husbands high-top Nike's - all chewed up, and then we were all cut-up because he chewed on us as well! Wow - his teeth were sharp!

By this time, I was uncertain that getting Judah was a good decision. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I decided to pray about this - so I asked God what the right decision was. I didn't want to give up on Judah, so after I prayed about it. I believed that God would condition my heart so I was the right person for the dog (it's never the other way around).

I took him for all his shots - and after them, he was still exhibiting aggressive behavior. The vet suggested to get him neutered (by this time he was past 4 months). I went ahead with it and he was less aggressive with us.

At the beginning of summer, when the new carpet smell dissipated and the temperatures increased, I noticed an odor. I then realized he covered all of the main area upstairs, on my new carpet, with his pee! I broke down. It took several hours over several days, loads of disinfecting solution and a great deal of time on my knees to blot it all out. 

While I was on my knees, I recalled Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

As God spoke to my heart with this verse, I realized that is how forgiveness works; we can't remove what we've done or change how our actions have affected God or others. I understood this because Judah has paws and not hands. He also did not have what it takes to physically clean the carpets; the ownership was on me to clean - the ownership was also on me to also forgive - but it could only come through the conditioning of my heart. I wanted to give up on Judah and considered rehoming him, but I knew that was not an option.

Then I understood what God did for us through Christ Jesus his Son. You see, He blots out our sin - not us - we can't - we don't have the right tools; it came by the heart of God through the Blood of Jesus. This is the only "solution" that removes the stain of sin on our soul. 

I looked at Judah and cried and cried; As I did, he was aware that his actions caused me grief. That grieved him and Judah has never peed in the house since! 

This is how forgiveness works; I was the one who suffered - but I was also the one who had to forgive. 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Only the injured person can blot out the transgression, and when it is blotted out, the relationship heals and is restored. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Jesus was wounded on the Cross; from His example, we learn that it is only the wounded person who must forgive because they are the only one in the position to offer it. 1 John 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? The person who offers forgiveness seeks love and restoration...Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

You see, when someone does you wrong, your heart will respond in love (restoration) or hate (division or separation); it is solely based on the condition of your heart: 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. When we respond in love, we show God that we truly are His children!

A year later, I feel so blessed to have the joy, comfort and companionship Judah brings; he is so much a part of our family that he even has his own room!

God Bless,

Maria

Simplifying Forgiveness

An Eye For An Eye

Leviticus 24:20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.

King Hammurabi reigned in ancient Babylonia from 1792-1750 BC.

He was well favored by the people because he considered the pleasures and comforts of them rather than just himself and his noblemen.

King Hammurabi brought in a set of laws known as the Code Of Hammurabi.

Death was often a punishment for criminals for even the most minor offence.

Under this Code, people were considered innocent until proven guilty. When guilty, they were punished under the "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" method.

We see that the Bible shows this as well in the above verse.

Nowadays, people offend one-another continually. A great deal of these situations are not worthy of going to court over; so, what do we do with minor offenses?

Jesus outlines it clearly:

Matthew 5:38-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

We need to learn how to turn away from those who are bent on evil.

When we oppose them, their (heart) condition worsens, and the stubbornness of their hearts harden towards us.

Although their hatred is not necessarily our problem, we still need to address the difference between what is holy, and what is profane.

When disagreements arise, It's usually "I'm right", "no, I'm right". God's Word is the only authority because truth is right and it doesn't pick a side.

Ezekiel 44:23-24 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

This passage shows us that when disputes arise, everyone involved stands in judgment, and it is only those whose hearts are humble before God's authority that will show forth to be clean, and walk out from under God's judgement. So remember, an eye for an eye only sees the outside - not the person's heart, which is what matters to God the most.

God Bless,

Maria

Destroyed By Comfort - Preserved Through Hardship

 

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.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Matthew 11:28-30 

The number of people stressed these days is almost equal to the number of people on earth. With corporate greed, political corruption and the covid lie, hardship can strip those who are weak of everything – even down to their own will… 

For those who are unfamiliar or inexperienced with suffering, you will need to manage yourself manfully; this is only done through wisdom.

For those who think that God will take care of all their troubles, you're in for a rough–ride! Jesus says in John 16:33 “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; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

Hardship is an essential element to preserve through; not only in the Christian life but in every area of life. In business, hardship is described as a stepping-stone or the downside. In fitness, it’s described as strength-training; in relocating, it’s described as networking (Need I go on?).

In Christianity, the Bible describes it as a filter through which Christ-followers will enter the Kingdom of God.

The Bible calls us to endure hardship.

Why? Because it's faith building.  

Those who have filled their lives and set their beliefs on temporary comforts have never really allowed themselves to become familiar with hardship. These folks fall apart at the slightest sign of hardship. 

Hebrews 12:7 says "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?" 

Discipline is training and training is designed to make you stronger; every bodybuilder would agree.

When people face pressure, they have two choices: buckle under it or lift the weight off of them.  

If you want to change your life for the better, you need to do just that. 

Many of us become indignant when we face hardships because we feel the treatment is unfair or unjust. In our self-righteous-anger, we 'right' the wrong that was done to us.

Unfortunately, this is failing to endure. 

2 Timothy 4:5 says "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship."

I've seen people destroyed because of comforts. They end up stressed, sick, inflicted with terrible diseases, full of anxiety, depressed, unable to make decisions, struggling with addiction, drug-overdosed and in some cases, dead - all because they refused to meet challenges along the way, and manage the downside.

Philippians 4:13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. 

There is always a reason for our sufferings; none of them are in vein. God uses them to remove worms of self-concern and to plant seeds of faith. 

As your faith builds, you know how to handle hardship without letting it knock you off course…on a side note, when we live for comforts [pleasures] we are already off course.

What are some of the way we can get back on course?

We can:

Fear not – When we fall to fear, we lose our faith, when we lose our faith, we seek [false] comfort. Turn to the Word of God for His guidance and direction.

Welcome change – but only if the change brings you closer to God. Most of our comforts alienate us from God so this makes complete sense.

See things from another perspective – when we focus solely on ourselves, we entertain the wrong emotions – every time! When we focus on Christ, it takes our eyes off of ourselves, and we see the situation more clearly.

Endure hardship – when you look at the life of Job, you will note that he endured through it all. He was in right standing with God – meaning – his heart never convicted him of any sin. In the end, he was rewarded for maintaining his position.

Understand the purpose of your hardship – Be willing to accept the challenge. God doesn’t bring you to a duel in which He doesn’t give you the tools to overcome. Overcoming the hardship is the only way through it. Each time you run from hardship, they get more difficult to deal with. It’s always best to deal with them and put them behind you; this is how you get stronger.

If you ever watched the movie The Passion Of The Christ, one can easily observe that Jesus was more concerned for the sins of others rather than His own well-being. He endured a great deal of pain and preserved under it until his assignment was complete. Jesus was the strongest man to ever walk this world and in Him, we learn how to endure hardship victoriously!

Comfort is your greatest sign of weakness.

Enduring hardship is the greatest sign of strength. 

When we preserve under pressure  - we are the ones who 'get the crown'. 

Revelation 2:3 says "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."

Lies We Tell Ourselves

One of the best things you can do for yourself when problem solving is to align yourself with truth. Without truth, your life (motives) will always come into question. It's bad enough when we tell ourselves lies; when we make a lifestyle out of them, the result can be disastrous!

Here are some common lies we tell ourselves, and Biblical principles to correct them:

My Past Is Unforgivable

Correction - your past is only a part of your present because you refuse to forgive yourself. You do not have to spend the rest of your life feeling guilty for the things you have done. The very thing you’re doing at this moment – recalling, rehearsing and wondering how you can make peace with your past – is a great step in the direction of change. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”; This means you are clean! and if someone recalls what you've done, quote this verse from Acts 10:15 “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

I’m An Underachiever

Your battles are usually won long before your victory. When you find yourself continuously fighting the same battle, you need to look at your mindset. Overcoming is a process that consists of small continual steps of observing and adjusting. Philippians 3:13-15 says,“ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Your mind is where all battles are won. God will graciously reveal to you all the areas where you need to overcome!

I’m Waiting For _____

Maybe one of the most convenient lies we tell ourselves is that we need to wait until the conditions are perfect before we can proceed. Such convenience doesn't exist. If a farmer waited for the perfect conditions, no seed would ever get sown. The Bible says in Colossians 1:29 “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Your ‘waiting’ does nothing more than weaken your ability - until you lose it altogether. As you strive, your abilities will develop.

It’s always the right time to do the right thing, but the trouble is, you think that time is on your side! One day you will wake up and realize your heart is waxed cold – then it will no longer be pliable… so don’t wait!  

What If?

“What if” has got to be the most vague question ever! It is filled with endless (im)possibilities that weighs you down. “What if” invites too much speculation and undue anticipation for situations that may never occur. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 1:3-9 says “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” It is best to limit the “what if's” by handling them IF they emerge. You really have no control over the things that happen; you're only able to control how you respond to them.

I’m In Danger/I Need To Protect Myself

Psalm 23:3-4 “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”.

They don't call it an idle-threat for nothing... Most of what we fear is nothing more than an idle (empty) threat (menace). Did you know that fear is nothing but a thought with a feeling attached to it? How useless to be paranoid of a thought! When you perceive the ridiculousness of that; you are in a better position to control your thoughts and conquer their attached emotions. 

I Can't!

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”.  Enough said!

I Won’t Be Happy Until _____

you allow God to correct you. Seriously! The Bible mentions the word “happy” only 25 times in the KJV. Job 5:17 says, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty”: Only fools despise correction (Proverbs 1:7), and I have yet to meet a happy fool... 2 Chronicles 9:7 “Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.” That literally means that correction and wisdom work together to build you up effectively – no matter what you do for a living - even if you are a servant. 

I Need _____

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

God provides you with everything you need – so if/when your needs surpasses what He has supplied you with, your needs may be in vain. Anything done in vain is in opposition to the things of Christ. A good example of a vain need is thinking you need revenge when you should be offering mercy, or, believing you are deserving of something you’ve never worked for; Another great example of vain belief is when God provides you with something and it wasn't good enough for you! Be careful especially if your needs are complaints in disguise!

Bad Things Always Happen To Me!

So many people believe this; but it’s simply not true. Perhaps you were assigned this challenge because God wants or needs you strengthened in this area. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. Your Bible is your instruction manual – to guide you through this life; challenges are actually opportunities for growth!

When I was going through my deepest-darkest struggles, I would write it out and seek the Scriptures and write them over my life. That is how I gained my victory. I encourage you to do the same!

I'm Nothing Special

This is a lie we tell ourselves when we get picked over when a promotion was up or didn’t get that recognition we thought we deserved. We can’t shine a light unless it's on God’s terms. Jesus says in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

When we labour selfishly (for recognition) we do it in vain. Matthew 6:1-6 says, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”.

We are not to parade our abilities; God knows what they are; after all, he blessed us with those specific qualities. We ought to be faithful with them and serve Him with them. Believe it our not, but when we do good in secret, we show God who we really live for and He rewards us for it. 

I’m Too Old/ It’s Too Late

No one knows what the future holds – and what good does it do to live in the “one of these days or the good old days” mindset? Age is only an earthly account of your time spent here. The good news is, your soul is ageless. John 10:10 says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

If you really want to proof, look back on your life – consider all this time you’ve spent waiting; where has it gotten you but to this point of still not being ready? What a waste! 

The time to live is today, as long as it is today. Deuteronomy 1:10 the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. God made this promise to Abraham and it is still being fulfilled today; isn't is awesome that you are included in His miraculous plan? If so, then take on the role that God issued to you.

I'm Not Good Enough

This phrase has the power to kill your confidence especially when you put your confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3 says, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” We need to be careful where we place our confidence. The most confident people are going about their work in whatever it is that God has called them to do. If you are dealing with defeat in any area of your life, you need to examine in where or what you place your emphasis on. If it's not led by God, you will always experience some sort of tension or defeat.

I Can't Change 

This lying phrase kills ambition, nullifies your ability and guarantees failure. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This means that you have the ability to change, but you have to apply your mind to take on new thought patterns; these new thought patterns only come from the Word of Truth. Think about this; it's the way of the world that got you “into this mess”; so it's only the Word of God that will get you “out of the mess.” 

The Bible says in “Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Use it to your advantage to set you free from the lies of the enemy!

© MARIA MORTON 2022 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED