Tag: bible

Isaiah 54:15-17

If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

One of the misnomers of life is when we become selective when it comes to God. People believe that a power greater than ourselves created everything in this universe, including people. However, that thought process comes into question when we encounter various people in various stages of their lives. 

At some point, we have to deal with critics, doubters, earth-disturbers, hateful individuals, and so many other negative people. We’re faced with their attitudes. We’re confronted by their hatred. We are challenged by their confrontational nature. Yet, God created them.

It can be very frustrating to realize that people full of confusion are actually created in the image and likeness of God. Yet, everything about their disposition does not reflect the love, grace, mercy, or positive nature of God. They embrace being vindictive. They embrace being contradictory. They embrace being confrontational.

Why do I feel calm when dealing with these type of individuals? It’s actually quite simple. Because I know their Creator, I am confident that said Creator already knows how to fix and alter the deficiencies that lie within. 

God promised those who live righteously that nothing formed with the intent to destroy will work against those whom God loves. I am guaranteed victory every time I am confronted by opposition in God created flesh. That means no matter what I face and opposition to my destiny and purpose. God already has a strategy to make certain that I prosper.

On this day, I don’t place energy into defending myself. I redirect my energy to fulfilling the will of God for my life. By doing this, I will be able to embrace, receive, and enjoy the fulfillment of God‘s will for my life. I don’t have time for foolishness. I only have time for heaven’s reward.

I Kings 19:4-8

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

When I played football, we will work on drills that required our attention to our footwork. Our coaches will tell us during the drill to keep chopping. Keep chopping meant keep your feet moving. It didn’t make a difference whether our legs were tired, our muscles were tightening up, or our energy was running low. We kept chopping.

It gets difficult to keep chopping when it feels like you’re not going anywhere. It feels even worse when you’ve won, and you still have to find a way to keep chopping. Sometimes, you may just want to sit under a tree, lament, and quit. However, the coach called you back to put in that work.

The difference between God and a coach is that God will see and examine the needs we have before we’re put back on the field. Sometimes, when we feel like we wanna quit, because we haven’t been fed or done the things that are necessary to keep basic maintenance. Sometimes, we stop because we don’t know any other thing that we can do.

Allow God to provide. Allow God to offer you rest and restoration under the tree. Do not allow your tree to become the headstone to your purpose and vision. Find maintenance for your journey because the next phase can’t be handled by a tired you.

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Pain is temporary. Glory is eternal. However, what pain or glory are we talking about? The truth is all pain is not the same. Some pain is self-inflicted. Other pain is environmentally imposed. Some pain is mental. Other pain is emotional.

Glory can be seen as something received by humanity. Other people might see glory as a vain practice. True glory comes from God. That glory is the full manifestation of God‘s promises and will for our lives.

I never want to become so consumed with pursuing human greatness that I miss the great things that God is trying to do. Focusing on ego driven things will make us believe that we are the only ones that can make great things happen. The truth is, we are only decent actors in a cosmic play; praying that our performance will hear well done by our Cosmic Director.

The struggle is temporary. The challenges teach us how to be better. But if we live as God intends, we will see everything that was promised to us. Pain is temporary, but God‘s glory is forever.