by Alisha | Aug 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
I want to encourage you today that no matter what you’re going through, you are not alone. You don’t have to worry and fret trying to figure out what you’re going to do, how you’re going to take care of yourself, provide for yourself, or protect yourself.
Why? Because you are not an orphan. You are not hopeless and you are not helpless. You have not been abandoned.
In John 14:18 (KJV), Jesus said He would not leave us “comfortless.” That word in the Greek is orphanos, which is where we get the word “orphan.” In fact, all modern Bibles translate it this way.
The Amplified Bible says, “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]…”
Orphans are children who have lost or been abandoned by their parents. They have to worry about everything. They have no one to comfort them, to provide for them or to take care of their most basic needs. Orphans have to constantly think about where their next meal is going to come from, where they can shelter for the night, and how they can stay protected from those who would harm them.
Very little (if any) comfort is found in the life of an orphan. Orphans have no one to love them. No one to hold and embrace them, to tell them that everything is going to be all right. They are utterly alone.
If we are not careful, we can develop an “orphan mentality,” thinking that we are all on our own and that if we don’t find a way to take care of ourselves, then no one else will. We can get so consumed with cares and worries that we are constantly wondering what we are going to do about a certain situation.
But we must remember that we are children of the Most High God. Your Father holds the universe in His hands and He knows everything you have or don’t have. He is faithful and devoted to you. He loves you immensely (Eph. 2:4 AMP). He cares about you affectionately (1 Pet. 5:7 AMP). He delights in every detail of your life (Ps. 37:23 NLT). And He’s promised to meet every one of your needs (Phil. 4:19 NLT).
He wants to bless you in every area of your life!
If you are worrying and fretting, trying to figure out how you are going to meet your needs or fix your situation, then you’ve forgotten who you are. In fact, you’ve taken on an “orphan mentality.” And if you are thinking like an orphan, then it’s time to remind yourself Who you belong to.
There’s no reason to worry if your needs are going to be met or if your difficult situation will ever turn around when the God of the universe is your Father. He will never abandon you, nor leave you comfortless. He will always take care of you and always provide for you. Ask Him to help you, then trust in His faithfulness. Remember Who you belong to and that He will never leave you alone!
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by Alisha | Mar 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:15 to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”
Have you ever wondered how to do that? It’s not always so easy, is it? Especially when the cares of life, the weight of worries, and an overwhelming flood of emotions are bearing down on you.
But the Lord would never tell us to do something that we couldn’t do, right?
One thing I find very interesting about this verse is that the word “rule” here comes from the Greek word, brabeuo, which refers to an umpire or referee.
In fact, the Amplified Bible adds that facet to this verse, which I believe helps give it a bit more clarity. It says,
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds…
Now, here’s a useless bit of trivia about me: I love Atlanta Braves Baseball! So, when March comes around and the leaves are budding, the flowers are blooming, birds are singing, bees are buzzing, and the whole earth is coming alive, my mind immediately turns to “Spring Training” and “opening day” for Major League Baseball!
(Stay with me here, I’m going somewhere with this…)
Now, being a Braves fan, I am well aware that their former manager, Bobby Cox, holds the all-time record for ejections (158 regular season, and 3 post-season). And I have personally watched a lot of those.
Let me set the stage: An umpire would call a strike or a ball or any play that Bobby didn’t agree with, and out of the dugout he would come. You could see him spewing off words. He would get right up in the umpire’s face and argue…and then it would come, the “magic word” that always got him thrown out.
The umpire would throw his arm and yell, “You’re outta here!” And Bobby Cox would add another ejection to his resumé.
This is a fabulous illustration of what we must do when thoughts or emotions come to our mind that produce worry, fear or any other negative emotion.
Peace is to be the umpire of our heart and mind.
When those thoughts or emotions come, arguing against the Word of God, screaming at you, getting right in your face, trying to upset you, trying to get you out of faith and over into doubt, then eject them! Throw them out of the game! Say, “You’re outta here!” And refuse to allow them to stay in your mind.
Let the peace of God decide and settle with finality all questions (all thoughts, all emotions) that arise in your mind. If it doesn’t produce peace, it has to go!
Never allow those thoughts to “stay in the game” and wreak havoc in your mind! You are in control.
If you didn’t read last week’s post, What Are You Thinking?, then I suggest you read it and the “thought checklist” which will help you know which thoughts you can think.
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by Alisha | Feb 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
2 Cor 4:16-18 (NLT) We never give up…our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
No matter what you’re going through, no matter what you’re facing, you can and will make it through. Never give up! Never give in!
I know it seems hard. I know you may feel like you’re never going to make it through to the other side, but if you’ll keep standing in faith, you will!
Did you know the Bible calls all of our struggles and trials small? In fact, the King James Version calls them “light” afflictions. Yes, I know, they don’t seem very small or “light.” In fact, most of the time they seem big, heavy, and burdensome. They may even seem insurmountable, overwhelming and potentially devastating.
But we must put these struggles in perspective. We must view them in light of eternity. We must look at the grand scheme of things, and take God’s view of the situation. Remember, with Him nothing is impossible (Lk. 1:37). He always gives you the victory (1 Cor. 15:57). He always causes you to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14).
Your troubles are very real, there’s no denying the fact. But remember, they are light, momentary, brief and fleeting. Don’t lose heart. Never give up! You will make it through because the Greater One lives in you, and He is greater than any problem, sickness, or deficiency you may have (1 John 4:4).
Learn to see through eyes of faith. Fix your gaze on the eternal. Focus your attention on the promises of God’s Word and forever settle in your heart that He is the final authority.
If you are discouraged, despondent or hopeless, then you must change your perspective, change your focus. How do you do that? By building yourself up in the Word of God. Find scriptures in the Bible that promise victory in whatever situation you are facing.
God’s Word is very practical and applicable to our daily lives. I guarantee you that there is a scriptural promise for whatever need you have. Find it and write it down. Memorize it, meditate on it and cling to it. (If you can’t find a scripture that pertains to your need, contact me and I will help you.) The more Word you get in your heart, the more your faith will grow.
I love this passage in The Message Bible:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
These hard times are “small potatoes” compared to the coming good times…There’s far more here than meets the eye. And not a day goes by without God’s unfolding grace to help us!
How’s that for perspective?
Don’t let what you’re going through weigh you down or rob you of your joy. Don’t allow momentary, light afflictions to cause you to give up on God’s faithfulness. What you’re going through right now won’t last forever. It’s temporary. So, focus on the eternal. Focus on the Lord and what He has promised in His Word. Fix your gaze on Him and never give up!
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by Alisha | Feb 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
Hebrews 4:9 (NKJ)
Are you truly in faith for what you’re needing or desiring from the Lord?
One way to answer this question is to determine if you are resting in Him or if you’re worrying and fretting.
Hebrews 4:3 (KJV) says, For we which have believed do enter into rest.
If you are truly in faith, believing the Word of God, then you have entered into rest.
Rest is a place, and you have to enter into it. In that place of rest there is peace, quietness, confidence and trust. You are not struggling, you are not working, you are not trying to obtain – you are resting in the promises of God.
Hebrews 4:10 (AMP) says, For he who has once entered [God’s] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors…
Have you ceased from all your labors? Are you totally surrendered to Him? Are you completely secure in the fact that God is going to come through for you? Or are you anxious and constantly struggling with thoughts that He might not come through this time?
If you’re in faith, you’re not working, worrying or wondering. You are resting. You are trusting. You are confidently expecting God to do just what He said.
Faith is like being in deep waters. If you’re struggling, panicking and thrashing about, you will begin to sink. But if you’ll lie back and relax, trusting the waters to bear you up, you can rest and float.
As Christians, we must enter that place of rest. We must relax and confidently trust in the Lord to fulfill His Word in our lives. We don’t have to struggle. We don’t have to panic. We don’t have fret. But we do have to believe.
Hebrews 4:11 (AMP) tells us, Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves]…
Yes, you will have to work and strive diligently to enter into that place of rest. But once you’re there, you won’t struggle or strive again. You will relax in His arms, you will receive His strength and you will watch as He works in your behalf.
Isaiah 30:15 (AMP) says, For thus said the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel: In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength.
And in Matthew 10:28 (MSG) Jesus said, Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Ask the Lord to show you how to enter into His rest. Remember, He will never tell you to do something that you can’t do. He is always there to help you. He wants you to succeed. He wants you to be blessed. He wants you to receive whatever it is that you need of Him.
So enter into the rest of God. Wait patiently and confidently in Him. God is not a man that He should lie — what He has said, He will do (Num. 23:19).
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by Alisha | Dec 31, 2012 | Uncategorized
Philippians 3:13(NLT) I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
This year may not have been your best year. Maybe you experienced tests, trials and tribulations galore. Perhaps you had to deal with numerous disappointments and frustrations. It’s possible that you have endured hurts or heartaches you never imagined you would have.
We have all experienced hard times throughout life. We are all familiar with pain and discouragement on many levels. But we all have a Hope to cling to!
I want to encourage you to shake off the discouragement. Let go of the disappointments. Forgive those who’ve hurt you. Forget about the tests and trials.
Do what the Apostle Paul did: Forget the past & look forward to what lies ahead.
Refuse to feel sorry for yourself. Refuse to live defeated. Instead, forget the past and begin looking forward to a bright and glorious future. Sometimes you just have to pick yourself up, wipe off the dirt and refuse to quit.
The enemy will do all he can to steal, kill and destroy you (John 10:10), but he can’t as long as you remain in faith and refuse to quit.
I love these words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed
We are perplexed, but not in despair
Persecuted, but not forsaken
Cast down, but not destroyed!
That is the spirit of faith! Those are the words of someone who is a victor, not a victim. You can choose to have a spirit of faith and live in victory no matter what the circumstances look like.
The choice is yours.
Are you going to allow the disappointments of this year to spill over into the next, or are you going to forget the past and look forward to a brand new year filled with the goodness of God?
Expect God’s favor to be on your life like never before. Expect Him to pour out His blessings on you throughout the new year. This can be your greatest year yet!
Your future is bright! Your best is yet to come!
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