It’s been awhile

 Just needed this space to pen down my thoughts right now when every events under the sky has come to an end for the day. I’m thankful for God’s leading and guidance today. True, everyday is a challenge, and weekends are harder to deal with but You have been gracious to me, good and loving. I cannot thank You enough Lord. 

No, I don’t feel like I’m on mountain top everyday. I don’t feel thankful everyday, nor do I feel loved. Again and again you whisper your love in my heart, plant thoughts in my mind and speak your language through your Holy Spirit in me. I think I’m a step closer to my freedom which I know I will be totally set free one day. In the meantime, I need to stop putting myself in a box, see myself in a box. Start believing and look out of the box there are just more things out there rather than me in the box. 

Jesus, help me. Teach me how to not keep myself in a box and be free. ❤️

8 things to do when Spiritual warfare gets real 

https://krisvallotton.com/8-things-spiritual-warfare-gets-real/

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Then he went on to explain, “Fear is a spirit! Some of you are thinking you are going insane, but you are just listening to the spirit of insanity! Not all your thoughts are your own. Evil spirits talk to you by giving you their thoughts.”

The truth is that evil spirits have no power over you (even though it feels like they do)! Rather, you have power over them. Secondly, these battles come in waves and they will not last forever. Remember: if it’s not good, it’s not the end! And lastly, you probably did nothing wrong to cause this battle. As a matter of fact, you are most likely experiencing this battle because you are doing something right. Here are a few more things to hold onto while you WALK through the valley:

1. Don’t be afraid, but instead remember the Lord. Nehemiah 4:14 “When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”
2. Remember the testimonies in your life. They are weapons of warfare. Fill yourself with faith by holding onto testimonies from other people’s lives too. Revelation 19:10 says the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Meaning if God’s done it before, He can and will do it again!
3. Remember the work you are doing is noble. Nehemiah 6:3 (emphasis added) says, “so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
4. Remember who you are! The enemy will try and convince you that you are defeated but the truth is that you are a victor! He’ll try and convince you that you’re the worst person in the world but the truth is that you’re the apple of God’s eye, destined to change the world! Speak the truth about who you are over yourself with every assault that comes your way.
5. Trust Jesus to keep you! Jude 24 says, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—”
6. Release the peace within you through singing and proclaiming Jesus. Remember the freedom within you will become the freedom around you. Acts 16:25 says, “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”
7. No matter what, nothing can separate you from God’s love… not even the valley! “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
8. Remember that God never leaves you and He’s walking through the valley with you! “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made 

Crafted by the same One who made the most beautiful springtime flowers, majestic evening sunsets and power of the ocean waves. 

You are not a mistake but have been planned since the beginning of time.

You are beautiful in God’s eyes. He loves you just the way you are. 

“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”

PSALM 139:14 AMP

“Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].”

PSALM 139:16 AMP

SLOW DOWN! - such a timely reminder

Who Do You Choose: Jesus or Late Night TV?

Read today's verse.

The reason why most people never hear God speak to them is that they never slow down enough to let God talk to them. Hurry is the death of prayer! You’ve got to slow down. You’ve got to be quiet. And, you’ve got to wait expectantly. 

Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act” (NLT).
The only way you’re going to be able to do this is if you get up earlier, which means you’re going to have to go to bed 30 minutes earlier. So the decision comes down to this: Who do you want to spend time with, Jesus — or Jimmy, Conan, or the other Jimmy? That’s your choice! Because you’re going to have to get up earlier so you’re not rushed and able to spend some time and start your day with God. 

There is nothing on nighttime TV that will change your life. Nothing! Spending those 30 minutes in the morning with God, however, will change your life. 

If I told you that tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. the queen of England, the president of the U.S., and the pope all wanted to meet with you privately, you probably wouldn’t even go to bed tonight. You’d take a bath — you’d probably take two baths! You’d go find an all-night barber or beauty salon, get a new suit, and get spiffed up. You’d be at the meeting 30 minutes early.

The Creator of the universe wants to meet with you tomorrow morning! You don’t even have to get dressed. You can be in your PJs. You don’t even have to leave your home. But you do have to plan an appointment. That means you have to stop doing something so you can start doing what God wants. If you’re burning the candle at both ends, you’re not as bright as you think you are. You’ve got to decide what’s more important to you: another 30 minutes of late-night TV or time with God every morning.

One day God’s going to ask you, “Which one did you choose?”

Psalm 119:9-11

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

10 

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].

11 

Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Psalm 119:9-11 

So many distractions in this world and in this culture threaten to pull us away from God. We are constantly bombarded by viewpoints, images, and ideals that contradict those in the Bible. It is easy to find our hearts straying from God and towards those things that satisfy our flesh, our appetite, and our desires. Believers must remain diligent and steadfast in seeking God and keeping His desires for us forefront in our minds. 

In what areas of your life are you prone to wander and stray from God’s Word? What value have you placed on the memorization of God’s Word? Will you begin to memorize Scripture to assist, guide, and redirect yourself if you happen to stray?

Father, cleanse my heart of the things that do not reflect You. Create in me a willingness to learn and memorize Your Word so that I may do your will and not sin against You. I want to seek You with all my heart and but when my heart strays, take hold of me quickly and guide me back to You. Remind me daily that Your Word is my lifeline and my connection to You. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Psalm 119:1-8

'Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, 

And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.'

PSALM 119:2 AMP

The Word of God reveals to us His character and His nature. When we wholeheartedly seek to read, 

meditate, and follow God’s Word simply to grow in the knowledge of our Father…not out of obligation, 

out of guilt, or out of habit…we seek Him with our whole hearts. Knowing God intimately is worth the

investment of time, energy, and sacrifice it takes to study His Word.

Father, I thank You for the gift of Your Word which reflects for me Your holiness and righteousness. 

I thank You that even when I fail to keep Your Word faithfully, Your love never fails and never gives

up on me. I pray that may I seek Your word and presence with all of my heart, Holy Spirit convict me

when I am following/reading Your word out of obligation, guilt and habit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but as they go on their way they are suffocated with the anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.
Are Your Circuits Too Busy?

Read today's verses.

You can’t hear God if your mind is crowded with other thoughts or concerns — particularly worries, plans, and activities. If you’re always listening to the radio or the TV, when God calls you, the circuits are going to be busy. You’ve got to eliminate the distractions.

Jesus says in Luke 8:7, “Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants” (CEV).

The kind of soil with weeds in it was actually planted with crops and begins to grow. But as it grows, weeds grow up around it, and the weeds begin to choke out the life of the vegetable or the plant, so it never bears fruit.

Here’s what Jesus says is the meaning of Luke 8:7: “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (Luke 8:14 NIV).

There are three things that choke out hearing God:

Worry. Worries are weeds. When you’re so busy with the problems and pressures of daily living, it makes it harder to hear God.

Riches. You can be so busy trying to pay your bills, so busy trying to get out of debt, so busy trying to make more, and so busy making a living that you don’t make a life. 

Pleasure. There’s nothing wrong with pleasure. But God said that when you’re so busy pursuing fun, you miss him and his plans for your life. 

You don’t have to cultivate weeds. They grow automatically, don’t they? In fact, weeds are a sign of neglect. If you see weeds in your yard or garden, it means you’re not tending your yard or garden. The weeds in your spiritual life are a sign that you’re neglecting time with God. 

When all the circuits are busy, you need to get quiet.