by Alisha | Nov 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to experience blessing after blessing while others struggle with difficulties and defeat on a continual basis?
(Please understand that I am not referring to the tests and trials of life that we all go through, nor am I trying to oversimplify the reasons certain people go through suffering and pain. However, I want to focus on one specific attribute that we can all improve upon.)
So, what separates the blessed from the disappointed? One word: faithfulness.
There are many people who are not experiencing the blessings of God to the extent that they could be because they are not faithful to do the little things that the Lord requires of them.
In Luke 16:10, 12 (NLT), Jesus said, If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities…And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Are you being faithful in the little things?
Little things matter to the Lord – little things like obedience, integrity, honesty, excellence, character, and discipline. In our society of shortcuts, it may seem easy to overlook those little things in order to get to the end result, but with God those little things are really big things.
There are things that we as Christians know we should do on a daily basis, such as reading and studying the Bible, as well as spending time in prayer and fellowship with the Lord. We must never become legalistic about it, but we need to discipline ourselves in these areas because we will never grow spiritually unless we do.
We should walk in love to others (Eph. 5:2). We should guard our tongues and speak only words that minister grace (Eph. 4:29). We should be disciplined in our thought life (2 Cor. 10:5). We should be honest in all things (2 Cor. 13:7). We should lead a life of honor and integrity (Ps. 101:2).
These areas are innate to our born-again spirits, but when we don’t renew our minds with the Word of God, these are some of the first areas that we allow to slip.
If you want to experience the blessings of God to the fullest, then make sure you are being faithful in all the little things that are required of you.
As one minister said, “The secret to a blessed life isn’t one thing – it’s a million little things. It’s the accumulation of a life in God, one step at a time, little by little…”
God doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t choose to bless one person and curse another. He loves all of us the same. And yet, there are things you can do to make sure you continue to live in the blessings of God. On the other hand, if you don’t do these little things, the blessing of God can be hindered from operating in your life.
Are you being obedient in what the Lord has told you to do? Examine your heart and life. Ask the Holy Spirit about the areas you need to improve in. Then be quick to obey.
Song 2:15 (NLT) says, Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard….
1 Corinthians 5:6 (NIV) says, Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?
Little things are big to God. Your character and integrity – the things no one but God sees – matter. Little things neglected or ignored can ruin the results you want. But little things done daily will produce tremendous blessing in your life. Not only will you be blessed, but you will be a blessing to others!
Do the little things!
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by Alisha | Aug 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) – But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord.
You are the beloved of God – greatly loved, adored, cherished, and dear to His heart. No one could ever love you as deeply and as passionately as God does. No one and nothing will ever satisfy your spiritual and emotional needs like He can. You were created for Him and you exist to be the focus of His love. He desires you. He yearns for you.
James 4:5 (AMP) says, …The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us…
In his book, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Bible teacher and Greek scholar, Rick Renner tells us that in this verse, the Greek word for “yearn” is epipotheo. He says, this word “portrays an intense desire, a craving, a hunger, an ache, a yearning for something, a longing or pining for something,” (p. 91).
He goes on to say that James 4:5 conveys this compelling idea:
“…The Spirit has an all-consuming and passionate desire to have more and more of us. In fact, this desire to possess us is so strong that He literally yearns, craves, and pines after us,” (Ibid., p. 92).
Deuteronomy 4:24 (CEB) says, …the LORD your God is an all-consuming fire. He is a passionate God.
How often have you thought about God’s love for you? And even then, did you realize that His love for you is so intense, so strong, so passionate?
One of my favorite verses that I quote over and over in my posts is Ephesians 2:4 (AMP) which says, But God – so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us.
Stop and think about that. The Lord has a GREAT and WONDERFUL and INTENSE love for you! He has an all-consuming and passionate desire to have more and more of you! You are His beloved!
In the Song of Solomon we read a story of marital love, but it is also an allegory of God’s love for Israel, and Christ’s love for the Church (His Bride). This book shows the overwhelming love that God has for us.
In Song 1:15 (NLT) He says to you, How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful!
And in Song 5:9-10 (NLT) He tells you, You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes…Your love delights me!
You are beautiful to the Lord. You have captured His heart. You delight Him!
We cannot begin to fathom the vast and boundless love the Lord has for us, but we must begin to meditate on it. Understanding His love for us will cause us to love Him more and more. The more we spend time in His Word and in communion with Him through prayer, the more we can begin to understand His vast love for us.
Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV) says, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. The Good News Translation of this verse says, I have always loved you, so I have continued to show you My constant love.
The Lord loves you with an everlasting love! There’s nothing you can do to earn it and there’s nothing you can ever do to cause Him to stop loving you. His love is unconditional. His love is boundless. His love is constant – and it belongs to you because you are His beloved!
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by Alisha | Oct 23, 2011 | Uncategorized
John 10:10 (Amp.) says, I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). And Ephesians 2:10 (Amp.) says, …living the good life which He pre- arranged and made ready for us to live.
These two scriptures clearly point out the fact that God not only wants us to have an abundant life, but He also wants us to enjoy it. He prearranged for us to live “the good life” before the foundations of the world!
The French have an expression, joie de vivre, which translated into English means: “joy of living.” Believers, more than anyone else on the face of the earth, should be experiencing this “joy of living” because of the abundant life God has provided for us.
So why aren’t more believers actually enjoying their lives? Why don’t they have a “joy of living?”
Psalm 16:11 tells us that in His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. So, if we, as believers, aren’t experiencing joy in our daily lives, it can only mean that we aren’t really living in His presence.
It is only in the presence of the Lord that we receive joy, encouragement, peace, and strength for our daily lives. It is only in His presence that we can hear Him speak words of life and love to our hearts. It is only by abiding in His presence that we are reminded of who we are: children of the Most High God, deeply loved, highly favored, and exceedingly blessed.
Living in the presence of the Lord produces complete and total joy – not only joy, but “pleasures forevermore.”
Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is [our] strength. So we see that if we are going to be strong spiritually, then it is imperative that we spend enough time in the presence of the Lord to receive this joy!
How can anyone spend quality time with the Lord, reading His Word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer, and praising and worshiping Him without coming out “full of joy?”
No matter what situation or circumstance you may go through, you can still experience joy! That’s because joy is not based on circumstances. It is a fruit of the recreated human spirit (Gal. 5:22).
Happiness is an emotion, and emotions change quite often. Most people can fake happiness for a while. They can pretend that all is well. They can pretend to be enjoying their lives. But deep, abiding, true joy cannot be faked.
If your “joy tank” is running low, then you need to get in the presence of the Lord and get it filled back up!
You may have to stir up the joy on the inside of you. The scriptures tell us to “break forth into joy” (Isa. 52:9), to “shout for joy” (Psalm 32:11), and to “sing for joy” (Psalm 67:4). If you are born again, then you already have joy, but you will have to abide in His presence to maintain a full level of it.
It is only by living full of the Word and the Spirit that believers will experience a “joy of living.” It is only by maintaining a vital connection with the Lord that we will truly have and enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. And it is only by living in His presence that we learn to live “the good life that He prearranged and made ready for us to live.”
So, make sure that you daily draw near to the Lord by getting into His Word and spending time fellowshipping with Him, because in His presence is fullness of joy!
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by Alisha | Aug 26, 2011 | Uncategorized
The first time I ever came “up close and personal” (I mean less than twelve inches away) with a Rembrandt, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It may sound silly, but I was totally thrilled to be so close to a piece of art that had been painted 400 years ago by a master artist. It was beyond cool!
The interesting thing is, you and I daily come in contact with masterpieces when we come in contact with one another. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
In his book, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Rick Renner states, “The Greek word here for masterpiece is ‘poiema,’ [which] carries the idea of something that is artfully created. The Greek word for a poet, ‘poietes’ comes from the same word. In reference to a poet, this Greek word would denote ‘one who has the extraordinary ability to write or create a literary masterpiece.’ … Once God was finished making you new, you became a masterpiece, skillfully & artfully created in Christ Jesus…God’s creative artist, intelligent genius went into your making,” (p. 599).
You are a masterpiece created by the ultimate Artist. You are beautiful. You have value. You are a fine work of art, greater than any masterpiece ever created by human hands. When God created you, He used all His creative genius in doing so. You are not an accident. You are not a mistake. You are a priceless, exquisite & precious work from the hand of God.
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. ~ Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)
by Alisha | Aug 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
God is a good God and He wants to do good things for you! He wants to satisfy your heart completely. He wants to lavish you with His love. He wants you to have the abundant life that you dream of !
Have you ever stopped to meditate on how good He is in your life? There are so many scriptures in the Bible that speak of His goodness and His desire to do us good.
Psalm 145:8-9 (AMP) says, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].”
This word “gracious” here in the Hebrew means “disposed to show favor,” and the phrase “full of compassion” in the Hebrew means “an eager yearning to do you good.” So, we see that the Lord yearns, longs and desires to show us His favor and to do good things for us.
Psalm 23:6 (NLT) says, “Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…” The Message version of this scriptures reads, “Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.”
Not only does the Lord desire to do us good, His very goodness is pursuing us – chasing after us each day of our lives.
Many times in the hustle and bustle of life, we don’t take time to acknowledge Him, and we often forget that His love and goodness are pursuing us. But if we’d become more conscious and aware of the Lord’s goodness, we would expect it and see it more and more!
Most people think that God doesn’t care one bit about their lives, but that couldn’t be further from the truth!
Psalm 37:23 (NLT) says that “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
We have a heavenly Father Who desires to show us His goodness, pursues us with His goodness, and delights in every tiny detail of our lives! Can you fathom that? The All-Powerful, Supreme God, and Creator of the Universe cares about the tiniest details of your life!
If it’s important to you, then it’s important to God!
Why does God want to be good to us? Why does He concern Himself with the little details of our lives? Why does he want to show us His mercy and lovingkindness?
Because He loves us!
Ephesians 2:4 (AMP) says, “But God – so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us.”
His love for us is great and wonderful and intense! He can’t help but bestow His goodness and mercy on us. Micah 7:18 says that God “delights in showing mercy.”
Isaiah 63:7 (MSG) says, “I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings, all the things that need praising, all the generous bounties of God, His great goodness to the family of Israel – compassion lavished, love extravagant.
God lavishes His compassion on you. He loves you extravagantly. He is good to you!
Put yourself in remembrance of God’s goodness and love toward you. Meditate upon these scriptures on a regular basis. Expect Him to show His goodness in your life each day and He surely will!
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