praise – My Grace Untold

Count It Again

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

Deuteronomy 8 vs 2

Recently, I stood in front of my mirror and tried to recall all the changes that have taken place in my life in the last 3 years. Relocating to yet another city by faith, entering grad school, studying at a seminary, receiving my first Master’s degree, writing a book, answering the call to ministry, and growing to become a servant-leader. I was amazed to see how much God had done, how far God had brought me, and how much time has passed. I counted it again.

It felt like more time had passed. I considered the months and how much transitions I have been forced to embrace in these 3 years. Still I counted it again.

It felt like 4 years at first because I was counting time by my age. But really it is almost 3 years since my yes to God for His purpose in my life! Less than 3 years! My whole being has been transformed in less than 3 years! I have been given visions that I alone could never dream of in less than 3 years. I have surmounted unexpected heartbreak and disappointment that may have broken me if it was 3 years ago.

Oh how faithful God has been to me!

It dawned on me that we can often and so easily forget the many great things that God has brought to pass in a short time, so much so taht we begin to doubt if we have moved far at all from where we used to be. But I dare you to count it again friend. Count the days again. Count the victories again. Count the breakthroughs again. Count the healing again. Count the miracles again!

Count it again and see if God has not been true to His word over your life that He will never leave nor forsake you.

Count it again and see if the love of God has not remained consistent and sufficient through the times.

Count it again.

Be encouraged today, that you have come farther than you think, and in less time than you think. You have overcome more than you think in less time than you think. You have grown more than you think in less time than you think. And God is still at work on your behalf.

I pray that your spirit is lifted as you count again the many wonderful things God has done, is doing, and will still do in its appointed time.

When Stars Become Idols

“You shall have no other gods before Me… For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God”

Exodus 20:3-5

At 12 and 13, the wisdom of discernment is often not cemented by the teachings of your youth in the House of God.

I remember the young craze for my favorite idol on American Idol. Then it was just a show about singing hopefuls who longed to be stars, and eventually with the help of voters became stars.

What never occurred to me was how these aspiring musicians did receive worship and honor by the millions of audiences all over the world. They indeed were American idols.

I wonder if like me, with what you know now of the Lord, if that idea in itself, as entertaining, and supposedly harmless as it seemed, introduced an awe and reverence for something or someone else aside from God Almighty. Or is that ‘too extreme’ to consider?

Fast forward to over a decade later, the historical show may have seen its last season, but the legacy of stars being worshipped did not begin with American Idol, thus it didn’t end when the show ended either.

Before, a person was highlighted for achieving something significant, reaching a milestone in their career, or doing something heroic. Now, a star or rising star is often worshipped by the magazines and social media for irrelevant public stunts or who they are copulating with and romancing.

Everywhere you look, there is a celebrity being worshipped, hailed, and celebrated for simply breathing. The Kardashians may be the most popular reality TV stars our generation has ever seen just for being.

Friend, when did stars become idols in our eyes?

Or does it not relate to you?

I for one remember a season not too long ago when the Lord called me to be in solitude and showed me the errors of my mind.

“All hail Queen Bee!” “Long lives the King of Pop!” Yes, I loved MJ and Beyonce. I was in company with friends who greatly favored popular musicians like them. Every album had to be downloaded, whether I enjoyed the songs or not, it wasn’t about the music, it was about the star! I blogged about them, I researched about them, and even aspired to be like them.

At one point, it was my job in a social media internship to know everything new that was happening with today’s ‘celebrities’!

Do you know how much time, effort, and dedication goes into the gossip columns and celebrity news that you long to hear about each day?!!!

When friend, did that star, that thing, that job, become your idol?

I have witnessed many close to me follow the journey of one successful person after another, misplacing the inspiration they feel with a form of idolatry they don’t even realize. Somehow along the line of appreciating talent and skill in man, we forget to guard that place where we love GOD with all of our heart, all of our mind, and all of our soul.

I believe it’s time for us to take inventory and consider our ways. I mean, a true introspection that leads to discovery.

What or whom have you been worshiping rather than God?

What or whom has been occupying your mind and heart in place of your Most High Father who calls you His beloved?

Yes, ideas and goals can be the idols too. Yes, that relationship or friendship can be the idol too.

Forgive us O Lord for not loving you as we should. Forgive us O Lord for not honoring you as we should. Forgive us O Lord for putting anything and anyone before You over and over again. Father please forgive us. Show us the error of our ways Lord. May the Lord open our eyes today, and our hearts be renewed with the right Spirit. May we begin to walk in truth and give all the honor and adoration to WHOM it belongs in Jesus name. AMEN.

WHEN IT ALL BEGAN – READ THE VERY FIRST MESSAGE HERE!

Give Thanks With Joy. And Gladness

“This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

So there it was.

That lagging feeling, that depressing aura, that gray cloud that floated above my head was my lack of joy and gladness in my thanksgiving.

I wanted joy from God, but did not first bring my thanks to Him with joy. Since I did not bring that joy with my thanksgiving to His courts, I did not have openness to receive more joy!

Often times we diligently bring our thanks and praises to God for His goodness and mercy, but we forget to bring them with gladness in our hearts.

If you observe the image above, the child is beaming with gladness.

Friend, I believe this is what we ought to present to our heavenly Father when we come before Him no matter what!

And I know that deceitful enemy is already whispering in your ear that it is not possible to ALWAYS be glad before God. But please be reminded that our Sovereign God is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. Remember God’s goodness and mercy. Remember when He pulled you out of that hole you dug yourself into. Remember how much He favors you because of His love for you. How can these alone not make you beam with gladness to be serving a faithful God?!!!

It is all too easy for us to come before God with a grumbling voice about what blessing we are yet to receive. But what about the ones you are basking in right now?!

Have you forgotten the goodness of God?!

Like the Israelites while in the wilderness, have you forgotten how far God has brought you from where you used to be?!!!

Friend, how sincere is your thanksgiving if there is no gladness or joy in it? How is God to accept a sacrifice of praise if your heart has with-held the joy that should also be placed alongside your offering of praise?!

Give thanks with joy AND gladness. Rejoice in the joy of today even if the worries of yesterday don’t feel far enough. God sees all that you harbor in your heart. HE IS A GOOD GOD and faithfully provides all that you need when you need it.

So if you don’t have it, YOU DO NOT NEED IT to do what God has for you to do.

I urge you today friend to bring your thanks to God with joy so you can receive more joy.

I pray that our minds are renewed today with the wisdom of heaven to give what is due to a sovereign and merciful Father who is working all things together for our good in Jesus name. Amen.

Give Thanks With Joy

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”

Psalm 100:2

The joy of the Lord is indeed my strength. I reached a new understanding of that today.

When I woke up this morning, I met the Lord with thanksgiving, as I have tried to discipline this practice into my everyday life. But I did something a little different today. Rather than turning on my worship music to lift up my spirits, I longed for silence.

Surely, I was thankful to God for yet another day, but in truth, I was also still overwhelmed from last night’s heavy thoughts.

The first two hours went by and I still felt a sluggishness I could not quite explain. Sure I had a slight cramp in my neck from my sleeping position, but it should not have been enough to have me this slow in my movements and steps.

I felt tired, weary even. My spirit felt repressed and it reflected on my physical.

It was when I laid down once again after eating, that I heard the Voice of my inner man say, “don’t sleep.”

I laid there still and perverse thoughts made their way into my mind. So I sat up.

WHAT IN THE WORD WAS GOING ON?!

This is the last leg before yet another chapter since I began my walk of radical faith with the Lord. I wanted to be full of excitement and expectation but I truly was not because of the pressing conflicts in front of me.

In a sum, I have more bills than money, as it has been since I left my job in January on God’s orders.

It is now June and as the final numbers appear declaring what I owe, I am overwhelmed with the ‘How?”…”How will this be taken care of again?”…then I remembered…

Jehovah Jireh is God my provider.”

He has been providing and He will not with-hold His mercy this time around. So that alone brings praise to my mouth.

I am thankful. I have been thankful since I heard God call me out of my filth for His own purpose early last year. But today,

I heard the spirit asking, “Have you kept the joy in your praise and thanksgiving?… Have you come before the Lord with joyful songs today and not just words of gratitude?” FINISH READING HERE

Less Worry, More Worship

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Matthew 6:27

If I were to ask you to make a list of all the things you are currently worried about, how long and unending would that list be?

But if I asked you how many times you have worshiped and devoted some quality time to God today, would the list of times match the list above?

Naturally, the many demands in our lives cause us to respond with worry and concern as we face uncertainties daily. But does the Spirit of God have a say at all in your life in how you respond to the demands before you?

If it did, you would hear it say in its unshaken and comforting voice, “less worry, more worship.”

Friend, you cannot worry and worship at the same time!

One has to trump the other. Undoubtedly, one mindset will inevitably trample the other.

If you choose worry, how is there room for true worship and intimacy with the One who can do all things?

If you choose, WHEN you choose worship, your growing faith and hope in the One who controls heaven and earth, will wipe away the worries.

How so?

Don’t you know that your worship is an act of faith in itself alone? When you come to God, commune with Him, and lay your burdens before Him in complete trust of His All-knowing Majesty, your Spirit makes room for more hope and and the overflow of Joy for what God has promised you.

Friend, worship is what fills you up when you need it the most.

Your worship is your demonstration to God that your heart is receptive of all that He is about to bless you with regardless of what the situation currently looks or feels like. There is nothing else like it.

Worship reminds you that you can access God for yourself and on your own. You can call on to a God who never slumbers and He will answer you!

When worry becomes worship, the enemy trembles at the strength of your armor.

When worry becomes worship, your brokenness becomes a breakthrough.

When worry becomes worship, the worrier in you becomes a warrior because God pours out a refreshing anointment of His strength and power on you.

Yes, it’s easier said than done, but I urge you today to worry less and worship more. God is still in control. HE never once gave the control to your circumstance, you did. And now it’s time to take it back through worship.

May God Almighty send down a refreshing reminder of His promises to you as you walk or even crawl in faith today. I pray that you are filled with a renewed strength to worship more and worry less in Jesus name. Amen.

Tomorrow Is Unseen. Give Today Its Glory

“That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.”

Psalm 106:5

It is almost impossible to wake up on a Monday morning without making plans for the whole week! And for many, even the whole month! And others, a whole year is already mapped out!

An obsessed planner like me knows exactly what I mean when I say tomorrow begins today…But does it really?

Surely, planning is effective in attaining the goals we set before ourselves. But have we become so wrapped up in the plans of tomorrow that we rob today of its glory?

I often pray to God to allow me the glorious sight of His presence each day. I yearn to see God somehow someway as my day begins. And if I can’t see God, I long to hear Him, to feel Him as I take every step in the day. I mean how often do we go about the day hoping that God shows up by letting our own ambitions turn out successful?

This state of mind indeed transits into our worrisome habits.

Admittedly, certain circumstances will compel you to worry about tomorrow when today has only begun. We worry about the due dates of our upcoming bills. We worry about installment payment plans when the check is barely enough to pay our offering, feed our families, and dare to save a spare change for the unexpected.

We worry if we’ll ever have enough to truly live in comfort.

Friend, don’t you know that comfort is found when you give God praise? Don’t you know that peace of mind is granted when you keep your eyes on the most high God?

No one knows what tomorrow holds. We only have our ideas of what we hope it will bring.

So I urge you today to give today the praise it is due.

Praise God for the favor on your life to see a new day with new mercy. Praise God for the favor of health and well being. Praise God for the honor to bow at His feet at any given moment to lay your heaviest burdens down. Praise God that He is a friend like no other who is always near. Praise God that the tears of yesterday are now today’s testimony and today’s tests and trials are all testimonies in the making! These are all of today’s glory!

We ought not to wait till tomorrow, till that big break comes, till that miracle happens, till that bonus comes. Praise God today!

Praise God today because He lives and still sits on the throne. Praise God today for his enduring mercy. Praise God because HE is GOD!

May God fill our mouths, hearts, and mind with nothing but praise, today, tomorrow, and forever more in Jesus name. Amen.