Jan 2, 2022 | Faith
It can be hard to forgive the unforgivable, but we must make an effort. We must attempt to forgive those offenses and things that keep us up at night or the things that cause us to become angry and bitter in life. Forgiving the unforgivable is not easy, but we must attempt to forgive for our own sake.
 Imagine Jesus hanging on the cross. He just suffered the most horrific beating. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. Pierced in his side and all bloody and bruised, He asked God to forgive his offenders for what they did to him. Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
As Jesus was hanging on the cross, He thought enough of his offenders to ask God for forgiveness on their behalf. He did not hold anger or bitterness for what they did to him, but He wanted forgiveness for them. Jesus sought forgiveness for things we would consider unforgivable.
His offenders never said sorry to him, nor did they request forgiveness for what they did. They beat him, mocked him, humiliated him, spit on him, and yet Jesus sought forgiveness for them.
Jesus gives us a perfect example of love and forgiveness on the cross. He knew that his abuser had no clue what they were doing, but he sought forgiveness for them. So as Christ forgave, so must we forgive.
So how can we show the love and forgiveness that Christ established on the cross?
We must first recognize that people don’t always know what they are doing when they hurt us but forgive anyway. Some offenses aren’t intentional, and some are but forgive either way. The example Jesus shows us is that we must forgive others- even if we never get an apology; even if they aren’t remorseful for what they have done, we must let it go.Â
Forgiveness is not for them but us. Holding on to un-forgiveness stifles our growth, and we become stagnant. Unforgiveness clouds our vision, and we lose focus. We become so focused on what offended us that we lose sight of the purpose behind the offense. The purpose propels us to the future.
When we walk in unforgiveness, we focus on the pain and not the purpose. Jesus’s example wants us to focus on the greater purpose of the pain. So we forgive others because forgiveness allows us to move forward toward our purpose and destiny.Â
Jesus was crucified for a purpose, even though his abusers didn’t know it at the time, but they helped fulfill God’s plan to give us everlasting life. Take hold of your future today and forgive so you can be released to move forward to your destiny.
May 16, 2021 | Faith
The work we do is unto God, not man. Deborah was a faithful nurse to Rebekah, and she remained in the family after Rebekah’s death. She served the family well, and the family had a great love for her. The entire family lamented her death. God honored her life for being faithful to His people. Be faithful in whatever your hands decide to do, and God will cause people to love and respect you.
Jun 1, 2020 | Faith
Even when things happen that we don’t understand. God is still working them out for our good. Trust His plan and not our plan.
Apr 6, 2020 | Faith
Apr 5, 2020 | Faith
People say that they put God first, but that is not always the case. They find themselves in difficult situations where they lose sight of God. They also lose sight of God because they aren’t experiencing any hardships and everything is going well in their life. Don’t allow your current situation to make you lose focus on God’s sovereignty. Everything we may want or need, He can provide. Keep your mind stayed on Him so you can live a happier life.
Never get distracted by the problem you are facing. Don’t shift your eyes from knowing what God can do to stress about what you can’t do.
Focus on God, concentrate on His word, and believe there is a way out.
Here are some suggestions to help stay focused on God. First, designate a TIME to read God’s word. Choose a time that works better for you. Secondly, PRAY before reading His word. Ask God for clarity and understanding of the scriptures read. Ask God how you can apply what you read to your life. Lastly, begin to APPLY what you’ve read to your life.
This is how I focus on God. I designate the TIME to read my Bible in the morning. I’ll say a PRAYer asking God to give me clarity on the reading, point out verses that will help me, identify areas in my life that I need to correct, and allow me to see myself in this Bible. I want God to show me where I need help so I can make changes or adjustments to my daily life.
While I read 1 Corinthians 13, I will highlight or mark scriptures that touch me or need further explanation. 1 Corinthians 13 explains what love is. Here’s what stood out to me: you can have everything, but you are nothing without love; love is patient, kind, and keeps no record of wrongs.
For example, I’ll begin to examine how I’ve displayed love to myself and others. Was I patient and kind to this person that made me mad? Did I show patience when the car or person was moving slow? Do I keep count of how many times someone has done me wrong? How many times have I kept count of my wrongdoings? Have I shown the same love to myself that I have to others? I then begin to APPLY love in areas that I have not.
After reading, make sure you apply what you have learned. Spending time with God and reading His word will help you through any circumstance. We have to connect with God when we are at our lowest and highest. God may not get us completely out of the situation, but He will be in the midst of it. Focus on God, and you will make it through.
Aug 18, 2019 | Faith
Do you sometimes struggle with how to pray? Don’t be embarrassed. Many people struggle with how to pray. The ACTS Model of Prayer is a tool that you can use to help stay focused when you pray. ACTS is an acronym that stands for Adoration Confession Thanksgiving and Supplication and is an excellent guideline for prayer.  Â
Adoration
Adoration- Spend the first part of your prayer adoring God by repeating all the beautiful names of God and His attributes only. Do not ask for anything during this time. Just spend this time in worship, adoring who God is and his incredible characteristics. We start by saying words like Lord, you are the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the ending). You are the Bright and Morning Star. God, you are Jehovah Jireh (my provider). Lord God, you are Jehovah Rapha (my healer). These are just some examples of ways you can acknowledge God at the beginning of your prayer.
Confession
Confession- Confession is us bringing our sins before the Lord. If you are in an open setting, then your admissions during prayer time are general. You would say something like Lord forgive me for the sins that I have committed by thought word or deed against your divine majesty. But in your own prayer time, you would pray about and confess your sins to the Lord.
Acknowledge anything that you know that you may have said or done that you should not have. Bring them all before the Lord. It’s not that he doesn’t know what you have already done but confess it out of your mouth to let the Lord know that you are acknowledging that it is a sin. Ask for forgiveness. He needs us to confess and repent of those sins. Identify all sins so that nothing hinders your prayers.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving- Speak to the Lord concerning everything that you are thankful for. Do not ask for anything at this time. Just thank God for the things that he has already done for you. I know a lot of times; people say that they struggle because they forget to thank God for the things he has done. Thanksgiving has been incorporated already into the prayer, so this way, every day, when you’re saying your prayers, you have the opportunity to thank God daily for what He has done.Â
If you are praying in the morning, you may thank Him for waking you up in the morning and thank Him that you’re going to get a peaceful day. If you’re praying late at night, you can think back to everything that he’s done for you throughout the day and acknowledge those things. Remember, focus only on what God has already done for you.
Supplication
Supplication- Speak to the Lord about your concerns and request you may have. Supplication is the begging part of prayer. Make requests and concerns for others first and then ask for your specific request last. We put others before ourselves. The Lord already knows what you need but come to him humbly asking for others first. It is selfish to think of ourselves first. We may be the only person that is praying for the people in our lives.
Prayer is our way of submitting to the authority of God. We recognize who He is and how much we need Him. The ACTS Model of prayer helps us do that. Worship and prayer go hand in hand. Make sure you spend time in prayer so you can become closer to God
Aug 14, 2019 | Faith
There are many ways to seek God in our life, but we will talk about three ways to seek God. People wonder how they can be more like Him. They want a better understanding of who God is and how His word relates to their life. Â
1. Study Your BibleÂ
The first way we can seek God is to spend time studying His word. We need to know who God is and what the bible says about how we should live our lives. We often spend hours reading secular books, listening to music, and watching television, but none of this brings us closer to God.
More of our time should focus on learning the word of God because the bible has an answer to life’s situations. There is no better book written which provides information on every possible subject.
2. Spend Time in Prayer
The second is by spending time in prayer. Prayer is our way of communicating with God by having a one on one conversation with him. While in prayer, wait and listen for a response from God. God speaks to us through our prayer time and gives us guidance and answers to our questions.
3. Seek God First
The third way we seek God is by consulting with Him for every decision we make. Asking God first for His approval is better than just going out doing things our way. We should never make decisions based on how we think or feel without consulting with God first. We can’t expect God to follow our plan, but we should follow His plan and direction.
Seek His counsel first, so heartache and mistakes are minimal. Every action we take affects our life. Make sure you are making the right ones. Seek God in all you do, and your plans will be established.
Aug 4, 2019 | Faith
We must seek God first in all situations. Sometimes in life, we search and run after material things, but Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” That means we should seek after the things of God first, and He will add everything else we need.
Don’t waste time chasing after material things because they don’t matter. Focus on what is meaningful to God and do that first. While we are taking care of God’s business, He will take care of your business.
We should never put anyone or anything before Him because He is a jealous God. He knows our hearts and wants our hearts to focus on righteous living. It is okay to indulge in pleasure and have a good time, but that should not replace spending time in His presence.
As we spend time in His presence and begin to do His will, He will take care of everything else our heart desires. We still need to work and prepare for things that we want, but we won’t spend years chasing after them if we walk in righteousness. Righteous living causes us to stand out among all others and causes us to be in a position where God will bless us.
