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 | Jan 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
Don’t quit.
Don’t give up.
Don’t even consider casting away your confidence.
Why? Because if you will stay steady and remain in faith and patience, you will receive what you’ve been believing the Lord for!
Hebrews 10:35-36 (AMP) Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
This scripture tells us that we need patience.
Having patience does not mean that you just sit around twiddling your thumbs while you wait for God to do what He said. No, patience is not passive – it’s aggressive! It is a firm decision to keep your heart and mind fixed on the Word of God and to believe Him in the face of every test, trial and circumstance that would come your way.
You must be relentless in your faith and patience. Believe God’s Word over what your senses tell you. Believe God’s Word over what your emotions tell you. Refuse to be moved by what you see, hear or feel!
Patience does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trials. It is the opposite of despondency. It doesn’t give up or give in. It stays with the Word. It strengthens and fortifies your faith.
Hebrews 6:12 (NIV) says, We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The answer is on its way. You will see your dream fulfilled at just the right time and at the appointed season as long as you remain in faith and patience.
God is faithful. His Word is true. We must have complete confidence in Him that He will do just what He has promised.
So refuse to give up. Refuse to quit. It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God!
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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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by Alisha | Nov 18, 2012 | Uncategorized
Today, you may be dealing with a circumstance or situation that seems overwhelming. You may be wondering when, if ever, you will receive the breakthrough you’ve been believing God for. You may feel discouraged, depressed, and ready to give up – but don’t do that. Instead, give thanks to the Lord!
First Thessalonians 5:18 (Amplified) says, “Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].”
Sometimes, giving thanks “no matter what our circumstances may be” is one of the hardest things to do. But it is the very thing that will bring you out of those situations — and it’s the will of God!
No matter what it looks like or how you feel, God loves you with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:1), He is mindful of you (Ps. 115:12), He cares for you affectionately (1 Pet. 5:7 AMP), and He has already given you the victory in every situation (1 Cor. 15:57)! If you will stop focusing on your problem and begin to thank the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness in your life, then you will rise out of that circumstance and you will experience the breakthrough you’ve been believing for.
But you can’t just give thanks once or twice and expect to see a change. And you shouldn’t limit your “thanksgiving” to a certain time of the year. You must cultivate a lifestyle of thankfulness. Continually put yourself in remembrance of all the wonderful things the Lord has done for you. Refuse to consider your circumstances and choose to be thankful for His many blessings.
The enemy wants to discourage you. He wants you to take your eyes off of the Lord and focus on the negative. He wants to use your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and circumstances to get you out of faith. If he can get you out of faith, if he can get you to fling away your confidence in the Lord, then he’s won.
But if you’ll give thanks to God in the midst of your situation, if you will keep your eyes on Him and remain in faith, you will rise up out of it. Remember, God always causes you to triumph in Christ Jesus!
Smith Wigglesworth (a British minister of the late 19th and early 20th centuries) said, “God can work mightily when you persist in believing Him in spite of discouragements from the human standpoint…I am not moved by what I see. I am moved only by what I believe. No man considers how he feels if he believes. The man who believes God has it!”
Cultivate a daily lifestyle of thanksgiving and praise. Choose to look beyond the problem and worship the One who has your solution. Refuse discouragement and remain in faith! Thank God in everything and your life will be changed for the better!
