IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD!

I am moving forward.
The righteous keep moving forward and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. Job. 17:9 NLT

It’s a new dawn, a new year and the beginning of another decade. Various themes and visions have been declared for Year 2021. I’ve realized that the constant factor in all of the themes and visions is to move forward. So, get set for it is time to move forward. You will not miss any of the blessings that God has ordained for you this year – Amen

And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward – Exodus 14:15AMPC

In the above verse, God told Moses that it is time to take action. There is a place for prayer and God’s promises, but there’s also a place for actions. Sometimes we know what to do, but we keep praying for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it. If God has laid a thought in your heart, pursue it, take action. Time waits for no one. These are some of the ways to move forward:

Move forward to further understanding

You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. Hebrews 6:2-3NLT

The text above is calling us to a deeper knowledge of God. The only way to move forward is to focus more on God’s word for direction. We do not know what 2021 holds because it’s a new journey and we need directions. The directions can be found in God’s word. “Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground – . Exo. 14:16 “. From this verse we see that after God told the people to go forward, He gave Moses clear instructions on how to part and cross the Red Sea. The Israelites had a part to play, so did Moses.

It is time to move forward.

The YouVersion bible app is a great resource for studying God’s word; it consists of powerful devotionals (videos inclusive) and plans on wide range of topics. This app has helped me and is still helping me to grow spiritually. It is my go-to resource when I need answers, encouragement, and in moments of trials.

Move forward by setting realistic goals

I’m sure most of us have made our resolutions for the year, but we often find ourselves out of touch with the resolutions by the end of January or the first quarter of the year, how funny! The ability to set realistic goals is one of the keys for advancement.

To move forward, set realistic goals.

Also, learn to stay in your lane. I’m learning not to compare myself with others; I allow their success or trials to motivate me. You are unique in God’s hand and He’s leading you to a perfect and specific destination. When we focus on other people’s progress, it either makes us prideful or pitiful. You become proud when you think you are doing better than others and it’s easy to become despondent when others are doing better than you, so stay contented and focused.

 It is important to prayerfully work towards your goals; write them down and run with it. Write the vision and make it plain on tablets that he may run who reads it. – Habakkuk 2:2

Try a different approach

 Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result – Albert Einsten

In your quest for change and advancement, it can be helpful to try a different approach. The woman with the issue of blood has probably tried different physicians, all to no avail. Then she decided it was time to try Jesus. For she thought, “if I can just touch his robe, I will be healed” – Matt. 9:21. Her determination to live stirred up a great faith in her; she didn’t give up hope. It is time to stir up that hope, that passion, that dream and most especially the desire to move forward. Speak it over and over again:  I am moving forward and I will breakthrough.

Remember that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or think according to His power that works in us. Go in that might and keep moving forward!

WELCOME TO YOUR BEST YEAR!

Shalom!

THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift, which is precious beyond words. 2 Corinthians 9:15 AMP

I have a surprise for your family and you need help to carry them, she said. When I saw the beautiful Christmas gifts for each member of my family, I gasped and tears rolled down my face. I thanked God silently in my heart for meeting our needs in an amazing way and I prayed for the blessings to pay it forward. Christmas is a season of giving, but no gift compares to the GIFT of God that we celebrate at this time – Jesus.

This season is filled with various loving traditions: from sharing joy and gifts with families and friends, to helping out at a shelter ,reaching out to the needy, baking  Christmas cookies, enjoying some hot chocolate in front of the fireplace while binge watching Christmas movies, beautiful decorations and the list is endless. Nevertheless, the act of giving is the most beautiful tradition during the season.

The Indescribable Gift

The Gift of Good News and Joy

But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior, yes the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:10-11NLT

In the passage above, the greatest event in history has just happened – the birth of a Messiah and Savior, and this was good news to the shepherds. That good news is still relevant today because it marks the beginning of the redemption process. No wonder, Christmas time is filled with joy and good news; this indescribable gift fills us with joy. Likewise, all that comes in contact with this gift experiences joy. When they saw the star (which stood over where the Jesus was), they were thrilled with ecstatic joy. Matthew 2:10AMPC.

The Indescribable Gift of God

The Indescribable Gift of Hope and Miracles

In addition, this indescribable gift is the source of hope and miracles. The miraculous birth of Jesus through Virgin Mary is a beautiful reminder to us this season that with God, nothing is impossible. That’s probably why Christmas is known as a season of miracles, so receive your miracles and heart desires in Jesus name! – Amen.  Furthermore, you can experience those miracles all year round because this gift also known as Emmanuel is with you always.

And His name will be the hope of all the world- Mathew 12:21NLT.  The birth of Jesus also signifies hope for deliverance and a greater future for all. Friends, this is not a time to give up on your dreams, visions, career, marriage or parenting. Stop focusing on what didn’t work or turn out well; your failure does not define you. Put your confident hope in God to order your steps as we approach a new year.

Finally, whatever your traditions are, do not forget that this season is solely about celebrating this indescribable gift of love. We celebrate this season with lights because Jesus is the light of the world. So, let this be a time for your light to shine, not only on your Christmas tree or decorations, but to the people around you. Make this season count by re-evaluating your walk with God. What are you giving back to the one who gave Himself for you? Consider using the gifts and abilities that He has placed inside you.

Personalized Christmas greeting

HOW TO EVALUATE YOUR THOUGHTS

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he – Prov. 23:7 AMP. With this verse in mind, it is therefore imperative to evaluate our thoughts.

My Doctor has ordered me to do a COVID test due to my symptoms, she stated, my heart skipped a beat. Few days before then, we had spent most of the day together. There were so many thoughts running through my head as I tried to calm her down. Let’s stay hopeful I said; I know you don’t have the virus. The call ended and my throat started to feel funny; it was a huge battle to think of something else. Enough! I said to myself and I started declaring God’s word. To God’s glory, the test was negative.

How to take charge of your thoughts

The previous publication elaborates on the power of our mind and tips on how to fix our thoughts. Here, I will discuss the importance of our thoughts and how to evaluate them.

Why are thoughts important?

May be you are wondering, what is the big deal about thoughts? Our thoughts are reflections of the state of our hearts and our hearts matter to God. Furthermore, the output of our hearts matters to God. Also, our thoughts often metamorphose into words and actions which can become our reality.

  1. The healing of the woman with the issue of blood started with a single thought.  Mark 5:28NLT: For she thought, “If I just touch His clothing, I will get well.” Her thought coupled with her faith was the gateway to her healing.
  2. Eliab (David’s brother) was not chosen as the King because of the state of his heart – 1 Samuel 16:7.
  3. Our anxious thoughts can take our focus off God and make us concentrate on the vastness of our challenges. An example is Sara. Gen.18:12NIV- So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought,” After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

How to evaluate thoughts?

We evaluate our thoughts using God’s word; His word exposes our innermost thoughts: For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Heb 4:12NLT

Here’s a tool to evaluate our thoughts:

How to evaluate your thoughts

Finally friends, the guaranteed way to experience perfect peace is to fix your thoughts on God. It takes practice, you have a part to play; allow God to play His part as well.

You will keep in perfect peace all that trusts in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. – Isaiah 26:3 NLT.

Shalom

FIX YOUR THOUGHTS

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8NLT

“Are you even listening to me at all, what are you thinking about Mum?” she queried. Her voice jolted me back to reality. I am sorry honey, I replied. I got lost in my thoughts for a minute.

It is fascinating how the brain can process thoughts in less than 150 milliseconds and how quickly our thoughts can shift back and forth, that is why it is important to fix our thoughts on the right things.

The mind is a power tool; nevertheless the mind of a believer is a mighty weapon that must be used the right way so that we can live an overflowing life. Thoughts originate from the minds/hearts and often metamorphose into words, actions, and finally form our character. Likewise,the Preacher said: Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Prov. 4:23 GNT.

Similarly,God speaks to our hearts through our thoughts; a right heart allows an uninterrupted flow of communication.

Tips on how to fix your thoughts

There is a spiritual and physical aspect to thoughts process. As a believer, God can change the way we think, but we also have a part to play in controlling our thoughts.

“Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and do pleasing to him.” Roman 12:2 CEV.

God’s part: The Holy Spirit has the ability to renew our thoughts and attitude to make them pleasing to God. Are you struggling with thoughts of despair, anxiety, anger, bitterness, pride, difficulty with submission, mediocrity, low self esteem, competition, envy or any other thought you cannot discuss with others? Take it to God; He has the power to fix your thoughts. Let your prayer be a change in the way you think.

Our part: As God’s children, we have the mind of God. It is imperative to put a strong filter on the input our mind receives. Learn to take charge of your own spirit, it is your responsibility. Feed your minds daily with godly, positive, and encouraging words.

We pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.”2Corinth.2:5GNB.

This passage clearly defines our responsibility. The pronoun, we in this passage refers to you and I. We are to take every thought captive. We evaluate the thoughts using God’s word and decide whether to allow it to stay, nourish and grow it or to resist and rebuke it.

THE PRESENT HELP

God is our refuge and strength; A very present help in trouble – Psalm 46:1

After walking up and down a few aisles at a grocery store in search of my favorite snack, I finally turned to one of the Store Associates and said ‘I’m sorry to bother you, please where can I find raisins” and he pointed me to the right aisle. We all need help sometimes and we should never be ashamed to ask for it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; rather, not asking for help is a sign and symptom of pride.

Most applications, software, and devices are now developed with a help button; the same with medical equipment.  The help buttons are there whether you use it or not. The same applies to the help button from God; it is ever present and ready, tap into it.

Acknowledge God as the source of your help

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my Lord the King!”. The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? 2Kings6:26-27.

Due to the serious famine in Samaria, the woman in the above passage cried out to the King for help, but the King was helpless as well and he did not hesitate to acknowledge the fact that only God can deliver the city from such a hopeless situation.

Likewise, we often run to the other sources for help forgetting the main source. Do you consider God as the last resort, when other options have failed? God should be your first option. He is the present help who will cause all things to work for your good and order your steps accordingly.

What do you need help with? Is it your job, marriage, finances, ministry, destructive habits, raising children, finding purpose, health, difficult conversations, relationships, confidence? Whatever it is, look up to God! “Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Ps. 34:5”. Are you in any kind of trouble? Call unto the ever present help.

Seek the present help

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help. 2Chronicles 20:3-4

In the above passage, three other nations declared war against Judah and their king; this terrified Jehoshaphat and he sought for God’s help.  It is not enough to know God as your helper; cry and seek for that help. Seek and you will find; there is no finding without seeking and there is no receiving without asking.

Friends, let us not be tired of asking God for help, even in trivial matters. Our dependence on God increases when develop the habit of asking for help, also our faith will grow. I ask for God’s help for anything I feel challenged with, from having difficult conversations, challenge at work, trying new recipes, traffics, singing, blogging, etc

Commit everything (not some things) you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you – Ps. 37.5 NLT.

In this last quarter, enjoy the ever present help of the Creator of the universe.

Finally, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10”.

Shalom@TheJoyofHisPresence

COME OUT!

Literarily, to come out means to emerge, to step forward, and to become known. To come out is an action word. It also indicates movement from one position or state to another. In this context, it represents stepping out of an undesirable state to a favorable state.

An object will remain in a state of rest or in uniform motion, unless it is acted upon by an external force. – Newton’s first law of motion.

The above scientific law is a reminder that as humans, we have the tendency to remain at our seemingly comfort level without trying to venture out. According to this law, an external force is needed to make a desired change. So, today, a form of external force – the spiritual force is calling you to come out.

Let us journey through the story of Lazarus of Bethany in John11 verses 1- 43 as we see what coming out entails.

The first sixteen verses give an overview of Lazarus illness and how his sisters turned to Jesus for help. However, Jesus purposely waited at Jerusalem for Lazarus to die before going to Bethany so that He can display His power over death. Mary and Martha waited for Jesus to show up in a particular way but He had a better plan and showed up at the perfect time.

Come out irrespective of the time frame.

17Now when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb for four days.18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother.

You may be accustomed to a particular way of life, but that is due to your limited vision. Please do not be carried away by the sincere presence of your pity party, I know they mean well but it is time to move forward and step into your new season.

I am the resurrection and life

20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.21 Martha said to Jesus. “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.    22 but even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You”.

23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again”.

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?

 27She said to Him, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.

During the dialogue between Martha and Jesus, Martha was not afraid to express her feelings to Jesus, her friend We should not be afraid to express our feelings either. Martha recognized Jesus as the Son of God and as the Savior, but she was yet to experience Jesus as the one who can also raise the dead, although Jesus explicitly stated His ability to resurrect her brother.

Where have you laid him? It’s time to come out!

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the Spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said “Where have you laid Him”? They said to Him. “Lord come and see”.

Jesus looked for Lazarus to set him free. He had to find where Lazarus’s body was placed in order to bring Him out. The same way, God is looking for you today to bring you out of those situations that do not glorify His name. He is constantly looking for opportunities to reach out to us.

Take away the stone!

38 Then, Jesus again groaning in Himself came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone”.

A stone was used to cover the tomb. It was a done deal; a finished assignment. The case of Lazarus seems closed, but Jesus came to the scene and asked that the stone be taken away. The stone was rolled across the entrance of the tomb. Whatever was hindering access had to be taken away for Lazarus to come out. I ask you today, what is hindering you from coming out? Is it your unbelief, low self esteem, your limited financial resources, or the lingering voices of defeat and hopelessness? Regardless of those situations, I declare that the stone hindering you is rolled away in Jesus name- Amen.

When God finds us, are we hindering His access to our lives with our busyness?

Jesus shouted, Lazarus come out!

43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus come out!”

After Jesus had given thanks, He called out Lazarus with a shout. He did not speak softly. You shout when you want to be heard. When you need to make an emphasis, you shout. You shout to subjugate. Just like the Israelites shouted with a loud voice and the walls of Jericho fell down.

44 And He who died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go”.

Halleluyah!! Lazarus came out and you are coming out as well. Jesus does not do half job. He called Lazarus out and asked that whatever is still holding him back be taken off, anything that is still a sign of his past condition (death) needs to be taken . You are loosed today from whatever is still holding you back in Jesus name. Christ has set you free; don’t walk in the mentality of bondage anymore.

So I declare to you today in the name of Jesus, in the name of the one who is able to bring the dead back to life:

FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

One of the most important relationships on earth is friendship. There are different types and levels of friendship and all of us are experiencing that in one way or another. Our experiences often constitute our definitions of friendship or who we consider friends. Above all, the most important relationship we need to focus on is our friendship with God.

Who is a friend?

A friend is someone who accepts and understands you; a confidant, a great listener, an encourager. Furthermore, a friend can be a prayer partner, gist buddie, facebook friend, or an instagram or twitter follower.

A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for days of adversity – Proverbs 17:17NIV

Have you accepted His friend request?

Now, will you consider yourself a friend of God or are you just going through the motions? Are you a perfunctory Christian without a relationship or a personal encounter with God? Maybe you were raised in church and you just equated that with having a relationship with God – being his friend.  Or have you lost that friendship at a point?

On the last day, some will say we have served in various capacities in our church or in a ministry; we have prophesied in Your name and Jesus will reply, I never knew you, depart from me. Matt7:22-23. Friends, it will be a huge disappointment to fall into such category.

Jesus has extended His friendship to you by laying down His life for you, have you accepted that friend request?

My friendship with God

I was born and raised in a Christian home so actively serving God was never a thing to debate on. I went to college, continued serving and became an active member of the choir, hospital and hotel evangelism. My friends and I prayed for patients at the hospital and introduced Christ to sex workers. I noticed that despite all these activities, I felt empty somehow. It was unexplainable. You see, good works could not fill the void. I finally opened up to one of my friends and she led me to Christ.

Please I beg you, don’t just be part of a crowd; salvation is a personal thing.

“The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain with God and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.” – Oswald Chambers

Are you interested in friendship with God?

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Rev. 3:20 NLT.

The first step is to accept His invitation – His friend request. God is waiting with open arms to commence that friendship and like a father waiting for his child’s return, He is eagerly anticipating your return.

The next step involves maintaining that friendship. Every friendship requires work and commitment from both parties. Just like we make out time out of our busy schedules to hang out with our friends or chat over the phone. We also need to make a conscious effort to maintain our friendship with God: take time to know Him better by studying His word, communicate with Him through prayers, and find a bible believing church that can help you grow spiritually.

Grow your friendship with God

The Lord is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them his covenant. Ps. 25:14 NLT

As friendship grows, credibility and reliability gets enhanced such that vital information can be shared. Abraham believed in, adhered to, trusted in and relied on God and he was called a friend of God. James 2:23 AMP Also, God confided in Him before He destroyed the land of Sodom and Gomorrah for their numerous sins although Abraham negotiated with God on behalf of the inhabitants of those lands. That kind of communication, reliance and complete trust comes from a place of intimacy and a secret place of true friendship. God is looking for a deeper level of friendship with you and I. Let us make time to grow that friendship.

I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you My friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My father. John 15:15

If you have not accepted God’s friend request, I invite you to pray with me:

Finally, if you are already in friendship with God, work on the relationship. Make a decision to know Him more and share that joy with others as well.

Shalom@TheJoyofHisPresence.

KEEP OVERFLOWING!!!

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it OVERFLOWS. –John 10:16 AMP

An overflowing life is our inheritance as Christians and a promise is as good as the character of the person who made the promise. If we believe God for who He is, then we have access to that life.
The previous post gives an introduction to some areas of the overflowing life that God has called us into; overflowing with abundance, overflowing with love.

Here we will look at other areas:

Overflow with thankfulness :

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

Thankfulness overflows when the peace of God rules in our heart, when we know that we have a great Father who cares for us. It is easy to be thankful when things are going well, but the real test of thankfulness is the ability to be thankful even in dark moments. The more you profess gratitude, the more you will find something to be thankful for.

Thankfulness should not occur as a result of abundance because as humans we are always going to want more. We can learn to be thankful even for the little things we possess, and for where we are at the moment, knowing that God is not done with us yet.

 Sometimes we get so used to God’s blessings or we see them as ordinary that we forget to be thankful for them. Last week, my heart was so focused on how to obtain the things I didn’t have and it robbed me of the ability to appreciate God for the things I currently possess. I had to talk and pray myself out of that pity state, so thankfulness as easy as it sounds can sometimes be difficult to practice.

As parents, we get disappointed when our children do not show gratitude; the same applies with God, that’s why He called us to give thanks in all things for this is His will. 1Thess.5:18.

Overflow with confident hope

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

It is often said that a man can live without food but a man can’t live without hope. When you start using the word “never”, it means hope is missing in your life: I’m never going to get married. I’m never going to get that dream job. Things will never get better. . . . . It means you are only living in the present with no thoughts of a better tomorrow.

As Christians we are to overflow with a CONFIDENT hope. A hope that is sure that God will do what He says He will do. A hope that is rest assured that God will come through even when you don’t know how.

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping – believing that he would become the father of many nations for God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have”. Romans 4:18.

I’m always amazed and challenged at Abraham’s kind of faith. He never doubted even when everything around him said otherwise. He believed that God was able to fulfill His promises.

Right now, what are you expecting God to do? Maybe you are not expecting anything because you are tired of hoping. But God works according to your expectation- your confident hope – your faith. I invite you today to overflow with confident hope in God’s promises.

God has not called us to keep dreaming, procrastinating, without taking steps. NO! He has called us to take steps of faith, to confidently believe in His promises, to expect Him to show up, to continue speaking and praying, and to keep overflowing.

So friends , determine to overflow with wisdom, overflow with joy, overflow with praise, overflow with abundance, overflow with love, overflow with confident hope, overflow with thankfulness.

THE OVERFLOWING LIFE

Giving me life, Exceedingly life, Abundantly overflowing, Overwhelming, More than I can dream; You’re giving me life.“Life” by William McDowell

As we entered into the second half of this year, a particular question was so strong in my spirit. The more I pushed it aside, the stronger it became and here is the question: What kind of life does God promise us as His children? Am I living that kind of life? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that God intends for us to live an OVERFLOWING LIFE!.

The moment we surrender our lives to Christ, we automatically have access to this overflowing life because “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2Corinthians 5:17 NLT.

Overflow means the excess or surplus not able to be accommodated by an available space. For our lives to overflow to others, we must first be and remain full ourselves. The kind of life that God wants for us is the kind that is full and then overflows to others.

Overflow with abundance

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies; You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings .Psalms. 23:5 NLT

God has not called us to a life of mediocrity, struggle, or poverty. He has not called us to living from paycheck to paycheck, barely making ends meet, full of anxiety and stress. Friends, He has called us to a life that overflows with abundance and blessings; a life that does not know lack even in drought season and during the pandemic; a life that completely trust God to supply every need.

I have the habit of calculating what I can afford and cannot afford. Then a friend told me “How can you trust God for provision when you are always calculating every penny, it takes your focus off God and how He can meet your needs in various ways and places all your focus on your PAYCHECK”. It was a hard truth. The more I’m learning to trust God with my finances, the more I’m realizing that He’s indeed Jehovah Jireh.

God’s purpose is for our lives to be filled with abundance and also overflow to others. When you overflow, please help others in need as well.

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathway overflow with abundance – Ps.65:11 NLT

Overflow with love

The competition, envy, jealously, intolerance, superiority, and inferiority are choking out the remaining fragments of real love in this world. We live in a world with a different definition of love: the kind of love that repays kindness with kindness and evil with evil, loving only with special benefits/favors, and even confusing lust with love. As believers, we sometimes get caught up in that web of bogus love.

 It is often true that we do not feel like loving some people because of our perceptions of them or their wrongdoings. To love one another is a commandment; it is not a choice or the state of our feelings. That was why Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that God will cause their love for one another to GROW. Jesus also have us a commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34.

Love grows when we learn to start accepting people for who they are, overlooking their faults through the lens of grace, and forgiving others just as we have also received forgiveness. When our love for others grows, it will become full and overflow, and then our lives will overflow with love.

Friends, we can be the difference this world need when we overflow with love.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. Philippians 1:9NLT.

Don’t live a life of regret!Let there be a monumental shift in your identity, mindset, and perspective. Launch into the overflowing life that God intends for you.

To be continued…….

Shalom@TheJoyofhisPresence