Author: Travail and Transform Ministry

Dr. Jean Stepter-Gray, in March 2003, she heard a Word from God, saying it’s time to elevate! She prayed with exuberance to God to be a woman of faith, who would inspire others to be great, she says, “If she had known that this journey would have taken her through so many seasons, she would have packed lighter! But thanks be unto God, for He is answering her prayers, one season at a time. (Smiling) Jean serves as Minister, Mentor, Speaker, Teacher, Chaplain Licensed and Board-Certified /Therapist Christian Counselor and has experienced so much of God’s love, mercy, grace, and favor; and she wants to share it with anyone who truly desires it. Her goal is to ignite in women and men a passion for the Word of God so that they can see the beauty of Jesus Christ, so that they may have a personal relationship with Him. She believes that it is through personal interactions with God and His Word that we will grow. Jean believes that God gave her gifts to share with others for His Glory. She uses her natural gift as a communicator and practical teaching style to serve others. She says that her grandmother use to tell her, “The people around you reap the benefits of you serving God”, which means that you won’t go to God in any old way, you go to Him correctly! Jean’s ultimate desire is to help one somebody know that it does not matter the path that it took you to get here, but it is the journey that God is using to get you to your next destination! Let’s embrace our new journey of being Transformed at the Well and drinking from wells that we did not dig! To God be the Glory!

Good Morning Sunshine! Pay Attention To The Details!

Matthew 10:27-31 NKJV ~ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. [28] And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. [30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Have you ever said or heard these words, “It’s In The Details!” Guess what, God is interested in the Details! This is how important it is to pay attention to the tiniest things. That principle holds, but there is a greater sense to these words, namely, that your Creator reigns fully over every detail of your life. From the timely arrival of the smallest rock to the greatest flight of the eagle that show the impact of Jesus Christ, there is nothing that can ever occur outside of God’s decree and providential rule in your life.

I was in one of my counseling classes and the pastor said this and last night it came back to my mind just for you, he said this, “We want the Experience and Expansion, but we don’t want to go through the Pain and the Process, it’s not until you “Get Out of Your Head and pay attention to the details. You see your destination has been set, you are Heaven bond, so it’s not like it’s the Details versus Destination! Just focus on the details and leave the destination to God and He will show you the way through the details that will come forward!”

So, what am I saying, when you focus on God, you will see the details that He put in place for you. Stop focusing on everything else, you just have to make sure that your motives and your heart is in the right place. You have to slow down so that you can see what God is showing you. You are looking for things in the top of the tree and God is showing it to you in the flower, get out of your head, so that you can see and hear God’s heart for you. That night in class I heard, “you need to slow down, you are moving too fast.” So now I’m saying the same thing to you, slow down, you will get everything done, you just need to do it in moderation. Stop and smell the flowers, see the grass and look at the sky, see the splendor and handiwork of your Father. This will help you with your discernment, it will force you to pay attention to what you are doing and saying in that moment.

You see when you are moving fast you can sometimes fall prey to things instead of actually praying for that thing. There are wolves out there that are dressed like sheep, and they know what to say to make it sound good, and when you are moving fast you can miss some of those details that God was trying to show you, (Matthew 7:15), Slow Down! God has intercessors covering you day and night! His Angels have taken charge over you, and they are on guard over everything that you hear and see and everything that concerns you! God is going to show you where the enemy is so that you are not caught off guard. Pay close attention to who is trying to connect with you. Filter it through the Blood of Jesus Christ!

Your Father is in the details of everything that happening in your life. For it’s in a detail that makes a situation turn one way or the other in your life, just know that God allowed it. And it’s in the detail that turns another way in your favor, just know God allowed that as well. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Your Father will not allow anything that doesn’t bring glory to His Name, to happen in the life of His chosen ones, (you) for His glory, and for your good, for His Glory and your good are synonymous in the details, God allowed if for His Name’s Sake.

Just know that there will be no agreement in the enemy’s camp where you are concerned, God is in every detail! I plead the Blood of Jesus Christ over every eye that would look upon you today, they will only be able to see what God allows! Pay attention and be mindful of calling every one friend in this hour, right now they are associates and they have to be vetted through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ first before they can be called your friend, it’s in the details! Pay attention and be mindful of every one that has access to you, seek Jesus first and then watch in the details for what He does next for you! Your testimony is the details that you share with others of what God did for you! And just like He is concerned about the sparrow think about how much more He is concerned about you; every single detail is of the greatest importance!

Here’s a reminder for you, God is in control of every single thing that happens to you. So, in turn, you should give thought to your actions and how you spend your time. The Lord is gracious, so you should not be doing or saying things haphazardly, but by making sure every moment is filled with what you know about God and His Kingdom Work, for that is proof of the details and the evidence that His Word works! Today, be careful not to waste the time God has given to you, but to use it wisely!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father, thank You for my rising this morning and my lying down last night, thank You for being with me, my God. Thank You for my going out and my returning home, lead me, Father wherever You want me to go, and I’ll follow You. Father thank You for nourishing me in the details of my life, may I always be mindful and grateful for Your Presence and Provision that You provide for those who choose You. Father, help me to slow down and linger over Your Word today and to see the details as You lay them out in my life. Father, help me to accept the truth as You lay it out and give me clarity of Your revelation and not the information from my own thoughts. Father, help me get out of my own head and way.  Father, help me to always see Your Hand at work in me. Father Thank You for always loving me more than I have loved myself, Father I choose You today and every day, and I am going to worship and praise You all the day long and I want to be present in Your Presence and see all the details as they unfold right before me, because of Your Grace and Mercy. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
Have a Blessed weekend…

Good Morning Sunshine! Please Watch Your Words!

Psalm 141:3 AMP ~ “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].”

Be careful with your words! Think first and then speak! God gave you one mouth and two ears! There is a movie that Eddie Murphy plays in called 1,000 Word, he was a fast talker and would use his words to manipulate people to get what he wanted, it was all about him. Then a tree appeared in his backyard with 1,000 leaves on it. And when the last leaf falls off the tree, he would be no more. It made him more mindful of the words that he was spoke. God wants you to be more mindful of the words that you speak. Remember that you have to give an account for them, so don’t let idle words fall to the ground!

You must be mindful of the words that you speak, because once they hit the atmosphere you cannot put them back into your mouth! You must protect the doors of your lips. I know that sometimes it’s hard to keep the words in, but just because you think it, doesn’t mean you should say it. And this is when and where you let God step in and have His way, He will tell you exactly what to say and how to say it!

God’s Word says that you will have to give an account of every idle word that you say. The Word also says, “that by your words you can be acquitted and by those same words you can be condemned, Matthew 12:36-37, “be careful of the words that you say, you can’t pick them up and put them back in your mouth!

When you own something valuable and it is important to you, you will go to great lengths to protect it from harm. Well today I want to remind you that your words are important, guard them with every fiber of your being (heart)! Your words are powerful, and they determine how you see yourself.

God’s Word says that you will have to give an account of every idle word that you say. Your words can cause you to be free or put you in bondage, so be careful of what you say, again I’m reminding you, once you say it, you can’t pick them up and put them back in your mouth, so choose wisely!

Today, choose your words carefully, put a guard on your words and ask God to remind you of every word that you have spoken. Be the person that speaks life over yourself and others. Be determined to think good words so that good words will flow out of your heart and your mouth shall speak them clearly and with clarity, bringing Your Father in Heaven Glory!

Let’s Pray:
Our Father who art in Heaven…please forgive me for every idle word that I’ve ever said, I repent right now. Father, I want my words to Glorify You and to bless Your son’s and daughter’s, to tell of Your goodness. Father, let the Word that You have put on the inside of me, draw others to desire to learn more about You Lord, I don’t want my language to ever betray You or hurt someone else. Thank You for setting a guard of my lips today. Father, please forgive me for every idle word that I’ve ever said, I repent right now. Lord, I don’t want my language to ever betray or offend you or anyone else. Father, please help me refine and reform any parts of my speech that does not align with Your Perfect Will. Father please help me redeem, refine and reform my speech and use it to glorify You, to bless Your son’s and daughter’s, to tell of Your goodness, to tell someone else about You and how You can save them, to tell somebody about “The One” that can save anybody because You saved me and if You did it for me, You can do it for them. Let every word I speak bring You Glory. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!!!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean Stepter

Good Morning Sunshine! Is Your Skin Thick And Do You Have Tender Heart?

Ecclesiastes 7:19-23 ERV – “Surely there is no one on earth who always does good and never sins. But wisdom can make one person stronger than ten leaders in a city. [21] Don’t listen to everything people say. You might hear your own servant saying bad things about you. [22] And you know that many times you too have said bad things about other people. [23a] I used my wisdom and thought about all these things.”

In the mid 1500’s, this term was coined, “thick-skinned” originated in English in the mid-1500s. It’s an idiom that describes someone who is able to withstand criticism or insult without becoming upset or offended. The term is a compound of the adjectives “thick” and “skinned”.

We live in a world where some people don’t know how to say a thing to you! Has anyone ever said harsh things to you and made you want to cry or fight? Did you use wisdom before you said it? Now have you ever said the wrong thing at the wrong time? And you ignore all the filters and cues to not say that thing that would hurt, offend, and or tear a person down. You just commence to say and do whatever you wanted. And then you will say, it wasn’t intentional, it just comes out. And then you proceed to say this, “they just need some thick skin, toughen up.” Well just like you don’t like being on the other side of this, no one else does either. So, stop saying that others should have thick skin, when you don’t want to be spoken of badly or spoken to rough.

As I pondered on today’s scripture, it made me think about how often I have heard someone saying a thing about me, and that I need to be tougher; and this is the part, what did I say or think about them after hearing what they had said? Can I be transparent for a moment and tell you something, I didn’t always think something nice, when I knew someone was speaking badly about me, or if they said something harsh and they just wanted me to take it and get over it; well, it’s not always that easy or black and white. Somethings people say are just plain cruel! But God! God says, “Don’t listen to them.” Stop listening to what everyone is saying and start listening to God!

If you would be honest with yourself for a moment, you would remember that you have been guilty before of chosen poor words or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time! We all have been there, but now that you have surrendered and submitted to God, He can submerge you in and under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and your speech will be seasoned. You see in the book of James, it says “that no man came tame the tongue” but that doesn’t give you the right of way to speak and say anything that you want, filter free!

The Bible says a lot about your the tongue and your words. You do know that you are going to have to give an account for every idle word that you have spoken, Matthew 12:36! I believe that while you will never tame your tongue, you can learn to control it and use it for good and not evil. You have a choice in the words that you choose to use each and every day! Stop speaking out in the heat of the moment and feeling like you can say anything that you want, and you don’t care who is on the other end of that conversation. And you do it and say that you prayed about that. Now, I want you to weigh every word you spoke to what and how the Bible says you should speak and see if what you said line up with it; if it does good, but if it doesn’t, you need to repent and apologize! Plain and Simple!

It takes only a second to say those words, but it takes a lifetime to forget them. (If you have done that repent to God and ask Him to forgive you and then, if possible, ask that person that you hurt to forgive you and please forgive yourself.) Because once those words leave your mouth, they can never put them back in. “Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.” Proverbs 21:23. This is why it is important, that you choose your words wisely. Proverbs 3:5-6! Ask God for wisdom on how to answer and what to ask.

I want you to develop a resilience spirit in the face of criticism or challenges, and I want you to have a heart pure and full of compassion. Don’t get on their level, rise above it knowing that vengeance is The Lord’s, every time you sow a kind word to someone who sowed a harsh word to you, it is heaping coals of fire upon their heads and God is going to reward you because you thought, said and did the right thing, the way God would do it. Proverbs 25:21-22! You can always ask yourself WWJD, (What would Jesus Do) and He will give you the answer!

Ask God to give you a heart of compassion for those who don’t speak well to you and of you. Draw your strength from Jesus Christ who set the greatest example before you. He showed you how to endure hardship while remaining focused on love and forgiveness; and, learning how to let things roll off your back, without letting the negativity harden your heart. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

Let’s Pray:
Father Thank You! Father, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties, and see if there is any wicked way in me [NLT: ‘point out anything in me that offends You’].  Lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24). Father, help me to examine myself, to be aware and to be humble with ourselves.  Father, help me to stay close to You and Your Will in prayer and by meditating on the Word of God as I read my Bible. Father, help me to guard my heart daily, that I may be active and in a constant state love in my daily life.” Father, help me, ask You for thick skin and a big heart. Have mercy on me when I am too sensitive, too easily offended, or too quick to hold grudges. Father, give me thick skin and a soft heart, especially when my natural impulses are to flare up under pressure. Free me to do the right thing in the moment and show me how to make peace with everyone that I come into contact with today. For Your Glory!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Sunshine! There Are No Shortcuts Or Easy Ways Out!

Deuteronomy 1:46; 2:1,3 NIV ~ “And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there. Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir. [3] “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.”

Have you ever been on a road trip or driving somewhere and after riding for a while you realize that you were on the wrong road? And then you thought to yourself, it’s nothing to worry about, “I’ll just take a shortcut, it will save me a lot of time.” It will either save you a few minutes or cost you dearly! Shortcuts can actually be quite expensive! And so can easy ways out! Before you purpose anyone of these thoughts in your head, stop and pray!

The problem is that the shortcut that you used 10 years ago is no longer a shortcut and now because of this decision, it has delayed your move, it will take you even longer to get where you were going, your shortcut ended up being a longer journey than what you expected because you got impatient and couldn’t wait any longer. I mean look at the children of Israel, an eleven-day trip turned into a 40-year journey. (For forty years one year for each of the forty days you explored the land, you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.) Did you hear that, they spent 40 years on a journey that should have only taken 11 days.

If only you had stayed on the main highway. You would have missed those potholes and pitfalls; you could have actually gotten there on time! That shortcut could have cost you your life, a life-threatening experience for you to understand the importance of traveling and staying on the right road. I know it cost you some money and that can be quite painful when it’s not done properly! Shortcuts can cause you a heap of trouble; and leave you with scars for the rest of your life from that one act of disobedience!

If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that you must always travel right and never get off the path God has set in place for you! And just to be clear, shortcuts come in all sizes and descriptions. They are designed to get you somewhere the easy way, to get something that you do not deserve, or they will try to get you to avoid something which you ought to face.  Life is a lot like a journey which involves a starting point and an ultimate destination one that can be reached only one way! You should be traveling Heaven bound!

You know as I’m writing this devotional, I’m wondering about the children of Israel in the desert, they had to go through it, God needed to show you something that you could only learn by facing the wilderness. “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” Romans 12:17. Just be honest and avoid taking shortcuts to the places that you are trying to go.  Let’s think about this, would you be comfortable flying in an airplane that is 99% working and the inspector simply signed off on it saying it’s okay, without making repairs which were vital to the safety of an aircraft to be at a 100%? Would that make you uneasy? Think about how God feels every time you take a shortcut and try to circumvent the process, you can’t take shortcuts to your destination, you have to go all the way through it.

William Shakespeare wrote, “To thine own self be true, and it shall follow as does day the night, thou canst not then be false to any man.” When you don’t have a conscience, you will make any choice and take whatever shortcuts that you see regardless, you are just in a hurry to get somewhere! You see when you get in a hurry and try to go before and without God, it will cause you to fall prey to sin, grumbling, bad attitude, rebellion, ingratitude, and worrying (which is a lack of trust in God) and it will lead you down a road that you don’t want to travel. This has caused your shortcut to become public knowledge and has put you and your business on front street! Stop right now and repent and ask God to lead you back to the right path immediately!

When you take shortcuts, it can strip you of your hope and leave you with regret.  It is a path that will rob you of years of your life that you can never get back. I don’t want you to wander for another 40 days, months or years and waste any more precious time.  I’m sure that was not Moses intention to be on a 40-year journey. When you can learn how to live without taking shortcuts, you are living like you know that you have to stand before God someday and you don’t want any regrets, no secrets, and no shame! In living this way, it may take you a little longer to get where you want to go, but it is the surest way and you can be certain of this, God is with you! For, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

As you think about your journey and when and where you started, can you see the end? Most of the people that started out with Moses on the journey were dead and gone by the time the 40 years had ended, they never made it. But to God be the Glory, some did, Joshua made it to the Promise Land! It’s time to take heed to what God is saying, stop looking for a shortcut and an easy way out! Take heed to the Word of God and choose this day, who you will listen to, follow and serve! As for me and my family we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (NLT)!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Thank You for leading and loving me. Father, as I navigate through this day, help me to follow all of Your instructions and to not want to take any shortcuts or easy ways out. Father, guide me to always choose the path of integrity and hard work. When tempted to take shortcuts, strengthen my resolve to follow the right way, even when it’s harder. Grant me the wisdom to see the value in doing things the right way, and the understanding of how true success comes from the journey and me the courage to resist the allure of quick fixes. Father, help me to embrace the process and trust that your way, even if it is longer, is still the best way. Father help me to trust in You and to know that You are with me and leading me the right way. Help me to find fulfillment in the journey, not just the destination. Father walk with me alone the route and may right now in this present moment, may Your Presence be my peace in the process.  In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Time To Unpack What You Don’t Need!

Colossians 3:5-8 NIV ~ “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. [7] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. [8] But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Journeys, vacations and trips! You have just come back and instead of you unpacking your suitcase, you rolled it in to a corner and walked away. You didn’t unpack a thing! You never even looked at it! When will you be ready to unpack it? Isn’t there something in that bag that you packed that you need for your everyday use? So, why haven’t you unpacked that bag yet? It’s time to unpack, clean the old and get rid of what you don’t need! Just like it is time for you to do this after a natural trip, it is time for you to do this spiritually also!

Just like you have not unpacked your natural suitcase, you have some bags packed from past, that you need to unpack now, do it before 2024 ends, you have 29 more days!  And this is not a time to play like you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m referring to secrets that you have never parted with, memories that replay like a broken record that skips, past jobs, past hurts, past relationships, and past anger. It’s time to unpack it! That hurt is not bothering the one that hurt you, it’s only hurting you. So, stop dwelling on the past and let it go! “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28! You have been weighed down long enough by this stuff and you don’t have any room or capacity for anything else!

As a matter of fact, you can’t even take a new trip or move on because of all the stuff that you still have, that you are hanging on to from the last trip! And let’s not forget all of that stuff that’s in your heart! You keep asking God for the new and for more, but where would you put it? It’s time to remove it and release all of that outdated stuff it’s to heavy! Unpack those bags, clean out your heart and mind and get rid of all of that clutter so that when it’s time to travel and move again you will be ready to go!

When you get ready to travel, you will pack your bag, now how I do mine is different from yours and vice versa, but we all have our bags, some of you are light travelers and some of you bring everything that you own! But only you know what you really need in your bags and how to pack and unpack it, and how to face it when you arrive at your destination and when you get back home.  Part of you maturing is learning how to sit down and be still with your stuff and figure out what you need and what need to leave behind. It’s time to downsize!

Don’t you know that the more baggage you carry, the harder it is to move! If you go to the airport to travel right now your bags have a weight limit and if you are over, you are charged an additional fee per each bag (this can be costly, so you need to weigh this out carefully.) What if God charged you a fee for the extra bags that you carried daily, after He told you to cast all of your cares on Him? Let me tell you something, you will never be able to repay Him! So, let your past be your past and walk into your present weight free!

You need to learn how to keep the memories that make you smile, and you ditch the ones that make you frown! Your life is designed for you to encounter God in every choice that you make, so your life doesn’t have to be consumed by the mistakes and troubles of your past. Because if you are always looking back, you will never be able to see, how see to move forward! Stop comparing your old to your new, because if you do, you will never enjoy where you are right now. Let the past of your childhood go so that you can live in your adulthood, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17!

Let me tell you how to make your baggage light, trust God, love and forgive, forgive, love and trust God, either way you do it, it’s going to make you lighter in your moving and traveling as you journey in life! God wants to help you unpack your heart and mind by getting rid of everything that is not like Him, that is weighing you down! Yes, this is what God does just for you, He lightens your load! Today, work on unpacking those bags with the Word of God and get rid of all the weight that weighs you down, so that you can flow freely in the things of God!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Father, I praise and thank You that have covered me and that my life has been secured with You Christ Jesus. Thank You that I am a new creation in You and have I have died to sin and have been raised to life, together with You, in heavenly places. Father help me to live as unto the Lord, to lay aside all that is displeasing to You, and to set my mind on things that are above and not beneath. Forgive me for the times that I have lied and was careless in my speech or partook in any form of double-talk, gossip or massaged the truth for my own personal gain. I pray that from this day forward, that the thoughts that I think will be developed under Your leadership and guidance and that my mind would immediately be taken captive to You so that the words that proceed from my mouth would honor Your Name and bring Glory to You and ridding myself of all things as that are not from You, and that I will speak only what comes from You and the Holy Spirit. Father, thank You that I am no longer under sin, but I now live by faith, and I have become Your child, and a member of Your body. Thank You Jesus for breaking the power of sin and death in my life, and clothing me in Your own righteousness. I pray that I may not be enticed by the things of this world that try ensnare me to be disobedient and I pray that Your Holy Spirit would convict me every time that I may repent in the Name of Jesus. Father cleanse my lips and help me to get rid of every weight that has weighed me down. Father today I want to unpack and get rid of everything that I don’t need in my life, for I want to be pleasing to You in every area of my life. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Press In and Press Onward, It’s Revival Time!

Hosea 6:2-3 ~ “After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him. (3) So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth. “

What will happen to you now that you have been revived by God! True Revival can only take place at your house because you pressed your way through!

To press means to leave your comfort zone, it means that when things are not easy or comfortable, it’s going to take everything in you to keep pushing, to keep moving, when the pressure is, even if you have to press when you are uncomfortable, you are going to keep it moving, to press. That’s the Pressing!

It’s something about pressing your way to God! Something happens when you press, when you press to acknowledge who He is! Something changes, something breaks loose, and somethings fall off! Keep pushing, praying and pressing, your healing and deliverance is in your Pressing!

All this is saying is that you need to pick up on the spirit of this verse, which says, “Let Us know … Let Us press on …” there is a power in your relationship with God and you need to be sure that you do not neglect it. Be faithful in services unto God! Be encouraged by God’s Word! Be an encourager for others to press on in the things of God! “Let Us In and Let Us Press On, for there is a Blessing in the Pressing!”

There is one goal that you should be aware of, and that is that you were created for God, created to worship Him and Him alone! Do hear it, the verse is telling you to press in “To Know The Lord.” That’s it, if you focus and follow this goal, you will be filled to overflowing, for this goal of life should be the goal of every person in the world, God created you is to know Him and then everything else will follow!

Now, let’s read today’s scripture again from the Message Bible, make it personal, (paraphrased) “Come on, let’s go back to God. (You must return back to your first love, Revelation 2:4-5, Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. [5] Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.)

For God is the only one that can heal you! (God chastise those He loves, and He holds you in the palm of His Hand). He breaks off of you everything that is not like Him in your life, so that you can be right again with Him. (He will allow you to go through it, to draw you closer to Him). (But) In a couple of days (you) will feel better. And by the third day he’ll have made (you) us brand-new, Alive and on your feet, fit to face him. Then you will be ready to study God, eager for the God-knowledge; and as sure as the dawn breaks, so sure is His daily arrival (He’s coming back for you), He comes as rain comes, as spring rain refreshing the ground, it’s time for your revival!

Here is some fresh manna for you to eat today. After you have repented to God for trying to do it your way, He will revive you, and you will get your second wind! Now keep pressing towards the mark, you serve a Powerful and Perfect God who is sure of everything that He does every day! You have to press to lay your will down, to crush and deny your flesh, you have to press to see His Will be done, remember there is a blessing in the pressing! Press In and Press Onward!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You for the gift of Pressing! You have taught me how to push, pray until something happens! I know that there is a blessing in my pressing! Thank You for Your healing, Your love, Your peace, Your joy, Your deliverance and Your strengthening in me mentally, emotionally and physically! Thank You for feeding me in your Word daily. It’s Revival Time! Time to Press On! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
Have a Blessed Weekend…

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Praying Time On This Thanksgiving Day! 

Matthew 6:9 ~ “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”

It’s Praying Time! This is how you should pray: this manner, therefore, pray: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On Earth as it is in heaven. Gives us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

We may not always agree on everything, but what we do agree with is that Prayer strengthens our bond with God! Today, stop, drop and pray! Pray to your Father, for He knows everything that you stand in need of, He’s just waiting on you to talk with Him about it! Sometimes when we go to God in prayer, it’s because we want Him to do or give us something and when it doesn’t come when you want it, you can feel some type of way! So, what do you do when God doesn’t answer you immediately? You keep praying, you pray without stopping! Remember His Word, Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18! 

The greatest lesson that you can ever have is learning how to pray. Jesus Christ is Your Master instructor, and He wants to teach how to pray so that when life happens you will have a firm foundation to stand on and to build up your faith! When you are faced with difficulties be like Peter and shift your focus to a positive attitude towards God and keep your faith in the God of Abraham who always keeps His promises to you simply because He loves you! 

Praying to your Father, is a deliberate act of honoring your Him! It shows that you believe what you stand on, His Word and it shows you Trust your Father with every fiber of your being and that He is in total control! Just know that all things are working together for your good, because you learned how to pray to your Father who is in Heaven! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, My Father, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen!” Father, thank You for being my Shepherd, for caring and covering me throughout this day, thank You for protecting and providing for me along my way, thank You for teaching me how to forgive others and love on them as I come to You in prayer! Father, Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit and teaching me how to pray. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen! 

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! The Master Created A Masterpiece. It’s Time You Know Your Worth!

Ephesians 2:10 AMP ~ “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”

Does this scripture just make you feel awesome and just plan old glad about who you are?

As you begin this day, you need to know your worth! If you were given an expensive piece of art or jewelry, you would not beat it up, or treat it badly or demolish it, you would take good care of it because it’s valuable; that’s what you are to Jesus, you are valuable. Know your worth! You are known as God’s handiwork, His creation! God, the Creator of all refers to you as His own work, the work of His hands, a Masterpiece! This has got to make you feel good! Out of all the other things that God created, He created you and shaped you into the wonderfully, blessed person that you see today! God is the perfect Creator and He does not make mistakes and nothing He does is the incomplete.

Have you ever seen the beauty in the sunrise, the beauty and splendor of God all wrapped into one. God is the Master of all creation! And no matter how beautiful the sunrise and sunset are, there is nothing compared to His greatest masterpiece, and God’s greatest masterpiece of all creation is Y.O.U! I’ve got something great to tell you, you are God’s Masterpiece! It’s the truth, there’s no mistake in this, you are a masterpiece! God designs are perfect! You are beautiful, handsome, exquisite, unique, talented and gifted all wrapped together. But it’s up to you in how you respond to how God made you and how He works in your life!

Have you ever wanted to go your own way, against the grain of how you were made? How did that rebellion work out for you?  I know that it didn’t, because you were made to stand out! You must not refuse Him, just cooperate with your Creator, He knows what’s best for you, and don’t worry He understands you better than you understand yourself! Today, it’s time for you to recognize that serving God is the only way to your total fulfillment in life! The Masterpiece that you are is a one of a kind, there’s no duplicate hiding anywhere, you’re it! God has uniquely designed you, He has molded, shaped and planned out every detail of you for His purpose, you are His Masterpiece!

As God’s masterpiece, you are on display for the world to see His Glory!  You may have been born spiritually dead and in sin, but now because of God’s grace and mercy you have been given a new life through Jesus Christ. This is exciting news! I want you to see yourself the way God sees you. Close your eyes and mind from all the negativity, guilt and shame and see yourself as the masterpiece that God created you to be! Go ahead and free your mind and heart from all the pressure that you put on yourself, God made you and everything He made is good, therefore you should not look down on yourself, but see yourself through the eyes of Jesus Christ who died for you, God does not see failure but success and victory!

So, the next time you look at yourself, remember that God created you, and the sooner you see yourself as God sees you, the sooner you can see yourself for who you really are, and believe that you are God’s priceless creation made for a purpose. You were created in His image, and you are indeed a piece of the Masters’ special design collection. Now, how could you not submit to the One who thought so much about you and all of your details! You are a One-of-a-Kind Masterpiece made just for His Glory! You were created for an awesome purpose! A Marvelous Masterpiece for His Glorious Display!

Let’s Pray:
Father Thank You! Thank You for making me Your masterpiece, for creating me with Your Hands! Father may wherever I go be a reflection of Your love and an expression of Your handiwork wherever You send me today. Thank You for creating me in Your image as Your Masterpiece! Father because I am Your handiwork, please help me to take on Your characteristics daily and to produce the work that You prepared me to do from the beginning of time. Father, continue teaching and training me in Your Ways! Thank You Father for putting me in the right place at the right time, being exactly where You want me to be! Father, please help me to see the beauty and anointing on the inside of me and how it radiates from the inside to the outside for Your Glory, in the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Just Do The Work That God Assigned You To Do And Don’t Worry About What Someone Else Is Doing!

Zechariah 9-4:10 (AMP)~ “The hand of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know (recognize, understand full) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [as His messenger] to you Who [with reason] despises the day of small (beginnings)? For these seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. Thy are the eyes of the Lord which roam throughout the earth.”

Last year in February 2023, I wrote this devotional using this scripture and I normally don’t repeat them unless God leads me to do it! So, here you go again, “Don’t Despise Your Small Beginnings” or try to compare where you are with where someone else at, this is not a competition, embrace where you are right now!

God is rejoicing in the work that you have begun using the plumb line! Do you remember what a plumb line?  It is a cord with a non-magnetic weight attached to one end, when the cord is held in a certain way, the weight can dangle freely. Painters and carpenters use a plumb line to keep their work straight.  A plumb line doesn’t alter or shift with the impulses of the worker, it remains true horizontally and vertically!

Again, I say don’t despise your small beginnings where you are right now! Don’t try to compare where you are at with someone else, you are not in competition with anyone, just do the work that God called you to do. As we study Nehemiah yesterday on being in your building season, it’s only befitting to tell you this today.

For as you are building, there is a real enemy out there that is trying to distract you and stop you from doing the work that God has called you to do! An enemy who will at every turn try to thwart the plans of God! He wants to pull you away from God with distractions and cause you to think that you are not making any progress in this process! I want you to know that you are right where God wants you!

I know it may seem like you are not moving or accomplishing anything, but I want to encourage you, it is more than you can see, for God is going to reward you as you show faithfulness in the small things! It does not matter what man says to you, it’s what God says that matters! Learn to ignore the mockers, and yourself and give what you deem small to God and watch what He does with it! God is the greatest mathematician and multiplier ever, He took five loaves of bread and two fishes and fed five thousand men, and this number does not include the women and children, everybody ate, plus there was twelve baskets left over, and we know that He is no respecter of person, He did it then and He can do it Now! (Matthew 14:16-21)!

You must be vigilant, in the work that you are doing, no matter what it is. You must seek God with all your heart; a heart that wants to honor God, that wants to glorify God in your thoughts, actions, desires and with every fiber of your being, you need to do what is pleasing to God.  to fight spiritual battle as you do daily life, you must remain faithful, both horizontally and vertically! Jesus Christ is the Builder, and He laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, The Cornerstone, and you need this to make sure that your foundation and work is secure and sure! As the Kingdom of God is built, He is making sure that it is perfect, there will be no crookedness in the Kingdom of Heaven (Isaiah 28:16-17)!

Right now, there is a sense of urgency for prayer! It is time for you to put in the work and work the Word in your life to build what God has given you to do! It’s time out for pretending and procrastinating! It’s time to get serious about what you are supposed to be doing in this hour for God’s House! It is time to gird up your loins and make haste to Pray for wisdom, discernment, and discipline in this hour, you will need all of this to complete your work and to remain close to God!

You must be deliberate, intentional and disciplined so that you are not drawn away from God because of the environment that does everything to keep you distracted and distant from Him. It’s time for your spiritual discernment to rise, and you need to be sensitive to Holy Spirit and walk in the coming Revival that is about to take place! In order to do this, you must be about the Word of God and be men and women of prayer! You must be able to discern the times and season when God will come back to visit His children, for He is coming back!

As you lay all of your materials out and get your Word before you, The Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, will make sure that you are building your ministry, your career, and your business, the right way. Don’t worry about who’s with you, God has already ordained and commissioned your help and sometimes there may only be one or two with you, but give everything that God gave you, don’t short them of what God is saying, because when you lay it down at His Feet, He will make sure it’s straight! Again, I say don’t despise your days of small beginnings, they will be your best days!

This vision that Zechariah had was to encourage him, that better days were coming, and that God was pleased with the work that was being done to rebuild temple. I know that you have some things that need to be rebuilt, repaired or replaced, whatever it is don’t despise it today, get to it! I know that you may think that your efforts are small, but God is excited to see you beginning to do His work, even in your baby steps, you are moving and that’s what’s important. Just remember to keep Him included in the process, and His Presence, Provision and Protection is going to be there along with His Wisdom and Power, and Love multiplying and growing your small thing into a Mighty Thing for His Glory, He will see it to completion, that’s a promise you can count on and trust (Philippians 1:6)!

God loves your baby steps! Today, be patient with yourself and don’t lose hope! Wait on God! Just do the work that He assigned you to do and don’t worry about where the next person is or what they are doing! Let the Word of God help you do the work that He assigned to you! Everything will be done in His perfect timing; it’s not your job to force it, but to walk in it and to rejoice!

Let’s Pray:
Father Thank You! Father, Thank You for being my Chief Cornerstone, and for perfecting Your work in me, that Your Perfect Will, will be done! Father, I am ready to do what You have called me to do, for nothing is too small, I will be obedient and do what You say. Father, help me to not be scared or fearful, but to be fearless, bold and faithful! Father, help me not to get restless or anxious while I am working unto You! Father, fill me with Your that Holy Spirit and empower me to have discernment and recognize Your Hand at work in my life in Al things! Father, I desire more of You and Your Word, fill me with Your Presence and Your Spirit! Father, please remove the scales from my eyes, touch my heart so that I may understand, and quicken my ears to hear You, so that I won’t miss what You are saying. Father, I want to be ready and willing, no matter the size of the task, even when it’s small let me have faith and trust in knowing that You are Sovereign in all Your Ways and that Your plan for my life is greater than I can comprehend, for Your Will, will be done on earth and in my life as it is in Heaven! In Christ Jesus Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! This Is Not The Time To Come Down!

Nehemiah 6:3 NIV ~ “So I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

First things First! It’s Repentance and Prayer Time! Repentance and Prayer is the mortar that is going to connect your bricks one by one as you rebuild your wall! Brick by brick, you will turn turning away from what has grieved your Father’s heart and it will be done by your fervency for intercessory prayer, to restore the hedge of protection that has been breached!

What Season is this? It is building season, and it’s Time To Rebuild!” God is calling on intercessors to rise in the spirit of the Nehemiah Anointing and to pray and to not cease praying so that the hedge of protection can be rebuilt around your heart, home, ministry, community, state and nation! God is calling on you, who have taken a stand for true stand for God and who refuses to come down from the wall, the one who can discern the enemy’s plan and reject them, and who will complete the assignment that you have been called to complete! God want you to connect with other prayer warriors who are rebuilding and restoring to what the enemy has destroyed. It’s time to Rise Up and Pray! Rise Up and stand in the gap! Rise Up and make up the hedge! God is looking for those who of you who are willing to see His Plan accomplished in the land!

Do you have a heart for the people that are dying in the streets and in their sins? Nehemiah, he had a genuine heart for the people. His interest was born out of love. Is your interest born of concern or curiosity? When really care about someone you want to know all the facts, no matter how hard it may be to face it. There is one sure thing about a “Fact” it doesn’t cease because you ignored it. Do you really want to know the facts? Or do you think it’s going to be a problem for you? Do you really care enough to ask? In this season you cannot close your eyes and ears to the truth of what is happening. When you ignore it, you are making the first step toward tragedy for yourselves as well as for those around you. You need to be like Nehemiah and be ready to face the facts about a situation even when it’s not what you want to see! Think about it this way, you should not just look at your own interest, but also the interests of others!

Has anything that’s been going on in the land caused you to stop and to sit down and weep? Caused you to fast and pray and to stand in the gap for someone else? Nehemiah and his intercessors welted over the condition of the walls, and they mourned for days and then they fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (Neh. 1:4). They went to God in repentance, not for themselves but for the nation. Ask God what He wants you to do. Go to God in prayer, He will give you a plan, process and timeline to complete the task. He will give you directions and what you need to work with. When you seek God on behalf of someone else, His favor shows up for you!

As an intercessor for this project, you will have to face some opposition, but don’t worry God has prepared you for this! There will be unbelievers and believers who will try to distract and or change your course because they don’t understand, they will try to ridicule you because of your stand. Don’t stop, remember they tried Jesus, (Matthew 27:27-31) so you should know that they are going to try you! Keep it moving, keep it pushing! You will have confidence and be confident in the work that you are doing, can’t you hear your Father saying, “Rise Up and Build, for your hands have been strengthened for the good work that you are performing!” Nehemiah was determined to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. When the Son’s and Daughter’s, (you and me) operate in this spirit, we can rebuild what the enemy has torn down. When Nehemiah rebuilt the wall, there was no gap in it (Neh. 6:1). When you as an intercessor truly stand in the gap for the people and be determined to pray, you will be a part of closing prayer will the gaps in the wall!

As an intercessor you have to be willing to pray day and night, you need a “Nevertheless Mindset”, Nehemiah 4:9, “Nevertheless we prayed to our God, and, because of them, we set up a watch for them day and night.” You have to be consistent and persistent in your prayer life to see the breakthrough and you cannot be afraid to fight in this season! God will grace you to hold your weapon (The Sword of the Spirit, The Word, Ephesians 6:17-20) and your tools at the same time, you can work with one hand and hold your weapon in the other! You will be successful in doing the Lord’s Work! (Nehemiah 4:17-18; 23)! Pray, pray and pray some more, pray until Revival comes and don’t stop praying when it comes. This Revival will turn into a transformed life (Galatians 5:1)! God is calling you into intercession in this season, the warfare is real, but the rewards are even greater from your Father. Stand Up, for the next generation! Who will Rise Up and Rebuild the Walls in Prayer?

Read and study all of Nehemiah, may the Nehemiah Anointing become your daily portion!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Today, I’m offering up prayer on your behalf, and I want you to do the same thing for someone else. God has equipped you to be a prayer intercessor and we need to pray for one another as our Father has taught us! And let’s not offer a selfish prayer but, pray that all would come to know Jesus Christ, repent, turn from their wicked ways, surrender to Him, and seek His face daily! Today, I come to You right now on behalf of every one that will see, hear and pray this prayer. First, I repent of all my sins, and I ask You to forgive me, so that the prayer that I’m praying right now will not be hindered but will smell like a sweet incense unto You. Father, I lift up my brothers and sisters to You, fill them with Your Holy Spirit, that they may be refresh in there, spirit, soul and body. Father, guide them along the right paths for Your Name’s sake as they stand in the gap and rebuild their walls. I pray that when they walk through the darkest valley, they will fear no evil, for You are with them; Your rod and Your staff will uplift, comfort and bless them, In Jesus Christ Name! Father, I declare peace and joy in the hearts of Your people! I proclaim that You will bless Your children and will keep them; You will make Your face to shine upon them and be gracious to them! I pray against all the plans of the enemy that would try to steal their joy and peace from You! Father, I’m praying everyone that will read this devotional today and all other days, in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean