faith – Page 3 – My Grace Untold

“Don’t Look Back!” – II

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Genesis 19:26

I remember I would run after him frantically trying to protect him.

How ironic is it that even as young adults until old age and even death, we too have a heavenly Guide running behind, beside, and in front of us, as a shield, in the aim of protecting is from harm as we run recklessly forward but refusing to keep our eyes forward!

The story of Lot’s wife in the scriptures is evident of how sudden the terror of looking back can be. As everyone ran forward to safety and away from the destructing that was their past, she dared to look back while running forward!

And she instantly became a pillar of salt!

I recently heard a word about how rarely we note that pillar of salt or not, Lot’s wife was made a pillar nonetheless.

She was a pillar. She was solid, strong, un-moving, impenetrable. She was a pillar.

This was God’s Hand. This was God’s Word.

Friend, did you know that you are a pillar? Are you aware that the power of God in you proclaims that you have the genes of a Mighty God coursing through you? Making you unshakeable by evil? Making you stand strong and undefeated in the name of Jesus?

But what good is a pillar that cannot move through the world and show the magnificence of a Wonderful God?!

I am here to tell you, to remind you, that you too, cannot look back!

Your heart may be racing as mighty walls of man’s hands are coming down in destruction behind you. Your mind might be reeling from the trauma of watching great works of man falling to pieces and causing chaos all around you, but you still cannot look back!

Keep looking forward. Keep moving forward. Keep praying forward. Keep ‘faithing it’ forward. Keep growing forward in purpose and in God’s truth.

The enemy knows that as long as you are able to keep one foot in front of another, with your eyes looking to the Hills of the Lord where your help comes from, you are winning.

Take a moment to imagine the danger of looking back to what was and missing the path, the victory, the amazement on the way to what is to be.

I’m afraid you can no longer look back to that place you used to be, the you that used to be. You can no longer look back to stretch a hand to that ‘friend’ that keeps making you backslide on your walk with God. You can no longer look back to the evils of your childhood or youths. You can no longer look back to the ruins that was necessary to become an amazing beauty in the eyes of your Father in heaven!

Overflow is in front of you. An immeasurable anointing and favor of God is ahead of you. A glory that has not been seen nor heard before is in front of you!

“Don’t look back!”

Friend, let your past go! Let your sorrows of yesterday go! Let your disappointments of before go! Let what is behind you, remain behind you!

I urge you to get out of your own way and watch God work!

Let God move you as a pillar from glory to glory. Refuse to be the pillar that is unable to move because you keep looking back!

I pray today that your past no longer claim residence in your present. May the Lord shift your spirit today to bring your eyes to Him who alone knows your tomorrow in Jesus name. Amen!

“Don’t Look Back!” – I

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Genesis 19:26

What or who is back there that you keep looking back to and stumbling on your way forward to Glory?!

Oh how we have a tendency to look back, to try to fix, mend, and redesign what the Lord in His infinite wisdom, broke to get us through and show Himself worthy of our praise.

Friend, The past is only as daunting as You allow the devil make it to be! But that devil is a liar in Jesus name!

See the beauty of a mercy and Love so in-explainable is that even if we don’t often understand it, God’s Love for His children, knows all that was done and will be done, and still chooses to forgive and bring us into the fulfillment of His divine plan. To God be the Glory!

When my now 3-year-old nephew first started walking two years ago, he would always walk as fast as his little legs would carry him. When he learned to run and discovered the liberation of running free, he would put as much energy into his body, running forward with a free spirit.

It was joyous to watch, but frightening at the same time!

See my little nephew ran forward with abandon but all the while he would be looking back at me! If it was not me holding his attention, he would be looking back at anything else to make sure something or someone was witnessing his ability to run!

He could have run into something or he could have stumbled and fallen violently at any given time but of course he had me running faster to keep up and make sure that I protected him against possible harm.

My little loved one did not know then that there was a great danger to looking back while running forward. FINISH READING HERE

Raise Your Head, Don’t Look Down!

“Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.”

Isaiah 57:2

There is a danger to looking down while on the move.

As one who is literally on the move in this walk of faith with God, I confess that there is indeed an ill to looking down while moving.

Take for example in the natural physical realm, we are all too aware of the great danger in texting or operating on your cell phone while driving. When you look down, there is a great likelihood that you miss what is in front of you.

You could run into something or someone and in the careless collision, kill that thing or even yourself.

Friend, it’s no different while on the move with God.

I can’t imagine what we would miss if we dare look down for too long. I cannot imagine the consequences of that moment of forgetfulness and recklessness when we forget to look forward and keep our eyes on God.

What would we miss? what would we run into carelessly?

Undoubtedly, we have crawled, cried, and sometimes cursed (and immediately repented) on our journey thus far. But still we keep on walking even with our limp. Even with the uncertainties of life ahead, even with the pain in our body of fasting and praying endlessly seeking God in all things, even with the heaviness in our hearts when the call feels too overwhelming, we must keep on moving.

Stop looking down at how worn or dirty your ‘shoes’ are in this walk of faith.

Although I do not mean that in the literal sense. But for some of us, it may very well apply. You may have been pushing that lemon of a car for a long time, waiting on God to grant you the favor for better. You may still be waiting on that great big miracle that is yet to come. But as long as God lives, it will come in its due time because you serve a faithful God.

I can personally attest to how ‘worn’ some areas of my life have felt from time to time. There are things I would love to do for my family and communities, but until God says its time, I keep on walking in faith.

And I urge you today to do the same.

As tempted as we often are, we cannot afford to drop our head in despair even momentarily, for the joy of the Lord is indeed our strength.

Rather, we will raise our heads up towards the heavens in gratitude for God’s abounding love and mercy having brought us out of sin and bondage to walk with Him in glory.

Know that our Father in heaven will not leave nor forsake us. You have all that you need right now to do what God has set out for you to do.

Stop looking down. Keep your eyes on the Way-maker. The Lord will ALWAYS MAKE A WAY.

May the Lord our God who knows all things and can do all things, continue to mold us into a better posture to keep walking from faith to faith and glory to glory in Jesus name. Amen.

Purpose Detects Pollution II

“To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.”

Proverbs 18:13

Friend, how often do you answer to a voice inside without first listening?

How many times in the past have you been quick to heed the direction of something you did not fully listen to?

Yes, you heard the voice say, “do it…” but you did not fully listen to the other end of this very voice that says, “it is against God’s commandment…It is against your purpose…I will lead you astray…”

Purpose detects pollution.

I was amazed by the prove of God’s command through the lips of a young girl. I wondered if I was as obedient to the voice of purpose inside me at such a tended age. I wondered how many times I quickly answered the voices of pollution without listening to the voice of purpose that first detected the pollution.

Friend, have you protected your purpose from the pollution it has detected?

Or are you still freely residing in it out of disobedience or shame?

When I spoke privately with this young lady, I confessed to her that I was inspired by her awareness to the pollution to her purpose. I then asked her to consider deeply that perhaps the environment of friendships she currently resided in was a place that God is taking her away from to protect the purpose inside of her. I asked her to pray fervently for God’s direction and to not be afraid.

Admittedly as I spoke to her, my own words resonated with me as I began to consider the environments I currently resided in – the people I closely related to, my job, the shows I watched, the songs I listened to, and even the media platforms I exposed myself to.

How about you friend? Do you sense the pollution inside you and around you? Are you praying for purpose sake?

Or are you the pollution that purpose detects?

By the grace of God, who is the beginner and finisher of our race, every high thing or thought that wants to exalt itself above God’s purpose in your life in the form of one pollution or another, has become powerless by the blood of Jesus. May you live freely in God’s truth as you walk away from pollution and continue living on purpose in Jesus name. Amen.

Purpose Detects Pollution I

“Now my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you.”

Genesis 27:8

Before this place, this precious, sacred, place of solitude with God, I sat, talked, walked, and slept in pollution. My eyes were shut to the pollution around me because I had not yet detected the pollution inside me.

Before I go any further, I have to clarify on what it means to first be pollution and then reside in pollution.

To walk with God, is to walk in purpose, a divine purpose. Trusting God in your journey through life says that you believe HIM when HE told you that HE knew you and formed you in your mother’s womb. Purpose is the reason you are still alive. Purpose is God’s own intentionality towards HIS own, YOU.

However, being born into a world of sin complicates things at first, seeing that we are ‘innocent’ until life happens and we learn that indeed we were never innocent. Some one paid the price for us even before we were born. Thank God for HIS Son.

All too often, we easily point fingers at the external – the people, things, events all around us that is to blame for who we are, what we do, and the pollution we know we have become. Unknowing to us, the pollution in us created many of what is polluted around us.

READ ABOUT A MALNOURISHED SPIRIT

I wonder if the Spirit of God at any time whispered something to you to alert you of the pollution that was growing way back then.

Friend, do you know that with purpose, comes pollution? Are you yet aware of the principalities of wickedness in high places whose sole purpose is to be a pollution to YOUR purpose?!!!

A lovely young lady recently voiced her personal struggle in one of our meetings at church. She needed advice on walking away or staying close to ‘friends’ she did not feel spiritually aligned with.

I was in awe at the voice of the Spirit that spoke clearly to this blossoming 14-year-old and the obedience that resided in her young heart.

Then it became much clearer to me. PURPOSE DETECTS POLLUTION!

It is no question that you and I are purposed by the One who created us, but I wonder if you can sense the pollution that your purpose has readily detected. FINISH READING HERE

Vision – PART II

“Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha…”

2 Kings 6:17

In 2 Kings chpt 6, we are introduced to a story where vision was needed to win the battle. And if we diligently ingest God’s Word, we would see all through the Bible that more often than not, vision is a necessary weapon to win.

In this particular instance, an enemy of the children of Isreal, sent armies to capture Elisha and his servant. When the servant got up in the morning, he was immediately filled with great fright and confusion, seeing that the horses and chariots of the enemy had surrounded the city.

The servant, even with eyes wide open, did not yet have the vision to see. His state of sight was affected by what he saw in the physical realm, which then disrupted his lack of awareness. In his state of sight, he stopped being aware of the All-knowing, All-powerful God.

Then a confident, faithful, prayerful Elisha said,

“Don’t be afraid…those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

The servant saw but yet had no vision…

Until the Lord opened his eyes as prayed by Elisha. It was not until the Lord granted the servant vision. It was not until the Lord unveiled his spiritual sight to see that there was a mighty God, with an army of angels that surrounded them.

The location was the same. The day was the same. The circumstance was the same. But now, vision was present.

Friend I wonder today if you are filled with worry, uncertainty, confusion, anger, pain, or fear about what you see, rather than what you are supposed to envision.

I wonder if we were all born blind but with our eyes open. I wonder if God’s own perfect wisdom has been long awaiting our knowledge of what we physically see in front of us, to catch up with what the Lord knows is ahead of us.

Is it possible that you see, but lack vision?

How amazing would it be to envision the true glory and might of God as we make our way into our everyday battles of life? How confident would we also be to proclaim to others that the One who is with us, is so much greater than the one who is against us? That victory is already ours!

May God almighty renew our state of sight today, and empower us with the vision to see what only HE can show us as we walk in the full armor of HIM who created heaven and earth. May we now begin to walk, talk, and be in confidence in the might of our heavenly Father. May we now press on to what is ahead of us in complete faith in a God who has never and will never fail. May our state of sight be renewed an restored each new day in Jesus name. Amen.

Vision – PART I

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.”

2 Kings 6:17

What a mighty God we serve.

In the last two weeks, there has been a shift in so many realms above me and all around me. Although temporary, I now have two jobs as well as new roles to fulfill in the House of God. I give God all the glory.

About two weeks ago, my brother, moved by the spirit suggested that all three of us, including my sister and I, should begin a virtual bible study session once a week. Since we are all in different states (time zone), we should find a time to talk about the word of God and how we are able to better apply it to our individual lives!

Thank God for a willing Spirit! My sister and I were more than happy to dive in. And so it began.

We began discussing the armor of God and how essential it is for us to take up that full armor each and every single day in order to remain prepared in position and alignment with the victory already granted to us.

The first session was so powerful that I felt compelled to share it here with everyone else.

Vision.

For many of us, the definition of vision stops at seeing. But because the wisdom of God is so much deeper than man’s most elevated understanding, the Spirit always tells you just a little bit more about a particular word.

Yes, vision often portrays sight. But within, vision also testifies to the state of what is being seen. Furthermore, vision extends to a state, that is commonly believed as imagination, but really is a state of sight into a realm above – the realm of the Most High God!

God please grant us vision!

When you look around you, what is your vision?

I am not asking you what you see, but rather, what your vision is.

Friend, do you yet understand the difference?

FINISH READING HERE

“O You Of Little Faith”

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart…”

Psalm 86:11

It’s been going on three months now since I heed God’s instructions to leave my job. In plain terms, I have been unemployed since January 15th. Yet, I have never hungered or thirst. There is life in my body and joy in my spirit. Glory be to God.

Indeed there are trying days. Truth be told, I strive each day to abide in God’s peace a little more than the day before. Thus, my best days are the days I feel most grounded in faith.

My most fruitful and productive days are those spent in the Word and the recollection that I serve a faithful God who will not leave me to be consumed by the worries of this world.

Friend, faith brings you to a realm like no other. We need faith like we need air to breathe for it is faith that breathes new life and new hope into your lungs each day that moves us forward to victory.

Recall the story of the only other man aside from Jesus that ever walked on water. Yes, Peter. (See Matthew 14 vs 22-33)

The storm not only blinded some of the disciples to think their Master was a ghost, it shook the faith out of them. And even when they saw Christ walk on water, Peter alone was the one whose faith gave him a chance to walk on water too…but doubt then caused Peter to stumble.

It was not until peter literally took his eyes off of Christ and looked back to the others, that he then fell into the raging sea and had to be rescued by the Lord.

And what was the first thing Christ said?

“O ye of little faith…”

Friend I wonder today if like me, you feel yourself stumbling and even drowning because you have momentarily allowed your heart to be divided by doubts and uncertainty. I wonder if, just if we too can walk on water and mount greater thresholds when we keep pour eyes on the Most High God.

I wonder if our minds would lead our hands to assemble great things that can only be made possible by God in His majesty and faithfulness to us.

I mean, if Peter, who walked with Christ and saw for himself the many miracles that Christ brought to life, still stumbled in his faith, how much more susceptible are we to stumbling?

How many times have you felt your confidence slip away suddenly? How often do you feel less motivated to carry on and achieve the ambitions that God has placed inside of you? Ask yourself, “when did the shift come about?” “What was, and what is the measure of your faith?”

Are you even aware of the difference?

Your faith is not a destination, but a journey with God. It is not a place you reach and stop, for the Word states that we are destined to go from faith to faith and glory to glory in Jesus name.

The Spirit says the faith that got you here may not be enough for what will be tomorrow, but your willingness and confidence in your Father, to see the full glory of HIM who can do all things, will surely bring you to the height that HE intended for you.

As we are being crafted by the Potter, may HE continue to keep our hearts and remold us to be unshaken in our faith. May God help us to keep our eyes on HIM alone as we sail through worldly storms in Jesus name. Amen.

Release

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth , but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Ephesians 4:29

There is nothing wrong with being outspoken. In fact, I believe we need outspoken people to speak truth and courage into our lives when we need to hear it the most. But being outspoken, and releasing corruption into the atmosphere are two separate things.

I would know, since I used to be ‘outspoken,’ then wisdom taught me to shut my mouth when my tongue feels loose in anger and foolishness.

I know now why wiser ones admonish the young by telling them not to say anything at all when they have nothing nice to say. I wonder if they too learned it from the Word above.

Often times, we are told to release and let go of pains, worries and stress. We tell each other to release the anger of the wrongs committed against us and to let it go.

Friend, I wonder if you and I can absorb a new message of release today.

What have you released today?

Have you released prayers, love, and faith, into the atmosphere? Have you released encouragement and compassion to those around you today? Have you released a need for another in more need than you? Have you released kindness? Have you released wisdom? Have you released peace? Have you released warmth? Have you released hope today?

In a new age where everyone is concerned about what is in it for them, it’s as though we are more inclined to hold on to all these things for ourselves because we feel like we could use all of it more than the next person.

But I urge you today to heed the voice of God and do what you are called to do as a follower of Christ. Release…

Release a helping hand, release a listening ear, release a message of hope to those around you and be a witness to how God turns things around through your release.

I wonder if an overflow of blessings from heaven on your behalf, is waiting to be activated by your own release. I wonder how much more the Spirit will pour into you as you pour into others.

May God grant us a willing heart to release good things for the sake of others in Jesus name. Amen.

If It Was…

“…Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials…”

2 Peter 2:9

Too often, we try to make sense of what was, the pain of our past, and even the present discomfort. We try to pinpoint where we went wrong in a decision that dug us into a deep hole. Grace pulls us out time and time again, but yet, we are left with scars and wounds we do not readily have the wisdom to interpret. So we carry them along the journey in Faith. I am here to tell you these truths,

If it was meant to kill you, you would have been dead,

If it was meant to break you, you would be broken,

If it was meant to crush you, you would be crushed,

If it was meant to take your hope, you would be hopeless,

If it was meant to harm you, you would have been harmed, (Being hurt and harmed are degrees away from being similar)

If it was meant to lock you up, you would be in that bondage,

If it was meant to keep you helpless, you would not have received help,

If the lies were meant to keep you bound, the truth would not have set you free,

If they were and are meant to be a part of your life, they would be and they will be,

If you were meant to fall and never get up, you would still be wallowing in your failures,

Friend, every single one of your painful moments, has held with it a greater purpose. Not one single tear has been left to hit the ground without reason. God has them all in His jar of mercy and grace.

We must learn to trust God in all trials.

Yes, when it rains, it pours because sometimes we need the healing rain of God to wash us clean again and heal our wounds, to purify our souls.

Through the turbulent times, let God be your seat belt. You will not hit the ground as long as you lean completely on God’s grace and fall on His Majesty.

I pray that God Almighty will grant us the wisdom and enlightenment to see in the higher spiritual realm of matters we do not understand so we are able to walk with Him in confidence. I declare in Jesus name that we will no longer give the enemy power over what is supposed to lift us up to another realm of capacity and purpose. We shall live and not die in Jesus name. Amen.