Good Morning Sunshine! You Can Find God In Your Silence And Stillness If You Only Be Still!

Psalm 46:10 NIV ~ “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

I want to tell you a story about a young woman who visited the lake and heard whispers! “One crisp autumn morning, the young lady went and sat alone by the edge of a still lake. Life had overwhelmed her, deadlines at work, family issues, friends versus foes, and mounting of other worries about the future encamped around her. She did not go to the lake for answers but to simply escape the chaos she was facing. The world around her became still and quiet, except for the rustle of leaves and the faint ripple of water as a breeze passed through. She closed her eyes, and for the first time in months, she stopped striving, no planning, no problem-solving, just stillness.

In that silence, her heart began to stir. A verse she hadn’t read in years came to mind: “Be still, and know that I am God.” As she reflected on those words, she felt a peace she couldn’t explain. It was as if God’s presence met her in that sacred stillness, filling her with the assurance that she wasn’t alone. The burdens that seemed insurmountable moments earlier now felt lighter. She left the lake that day knowing this: God often speaks in stillness and silence. Sometimes you can be consumed by the noise of life that you miss His voice, but when you pause and sit with Him in silence, He reminds you of His sovereignty and unchanging love for you! All you had to do was be silent and still! Take a Pause Break!”

In this fast pace of life, it’s so easy to miss God’s Voice, or drown it out by the constant noise around you. Yet, this Scripture tells you that God often speaks in stillness and silence! Psalm 46:10 is a call not only to physical stillness but also to an inner posture of trust and surrender. It’s an invitation for you to cease striving and to rest in the knowledge of God’s sovereignty. Stillness and silence create the space that you need to encounter God and to hear His voice clearly. Elijah had to learn that God’s Presence and Voice isn’t always found in loud and dramatic displays, but in a small gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11–12, and the same thing is true for you today, God speaks not through chaos but in the quietness of your heart!

Jesus Himself modeled the importance of retreating into stillness. Luke 5:16 tells us, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Though surrounded by crowds and demands, Jesus intentionally sought solitude to commune with the Father. In the same way, you need to create space for stillness in your own life, for when you silence the noise, your hearts become receptive to the Voice of God’s Spirit! Hearing God in stillness requires you to intentionally practice this. It means that you need to find a quiet place, eliminating distractions, and focusing on His Presence, (put your phone on silent and focus!) It is about surrendering your agenda and allowing God to take the lead in the conversation. In Isaiah 30:15 Stillness is not passive; it is a place of spiritual renewal. It is a perfect reminder, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Resting in God doesn’t diminish you but rather restores you, enabling you to face life’s challenges with renewed faith and courage. It is in those moments, that you invite God to reveal Himself in ways you might miss amid the noise.

To hear God in stillness and silence, begin by preparing your heart through prayer. Invite God to quiet your thoughts, surrender your worries, and guide you into His Presence. Seek out a space free of distractions, whether it’s a quiet room, a peaceful corner outdoors, or even your car. Silence external noise to create an atmosphere of stillness, where your focus remains solely on Him. Meditate on the Word of God to guide your thoughts and allow passages like Psalm 23 or Philippians 4:6–7 to stir up your spirit! Listening for God’s Voice takes patience, so as you pray and reflect, pause to simply sit in silence, and wait for Him to move! God will respond with the peace that surpasses all understanding, (Isaiah 26:3) a reminder through His Word, or a prompting in your spirit. Be intentional in your walk and experience, noting impressions or Scripture that God brings to your heart. Finally, surrender your expectations. Trust that God speaks in His timing and His way, and that even moments of perceived silence is working to deepen your faith in God!

So, I have a question for you, how often do you pause to listen for God in the midst of life’s demands? Your silence is not a wasted moment but a sacred invitation to hear God’s heart and experience His peace. Take a moment to reflect on your daily routines. Are you carving out time to intentionally connect with God, or do distractions dominate your attention? God desires to meet you in the quiet spaces of your life, where the noise is stripped away, and His Presence becomes undeniable. Let stillness transform your perspective and remind you of the strength, guidance, and assurance God provides in His Whispers, His Silence! Take a Pause Break to remind yourself to take those moments to pause and breathe when your emotions overwhelm you. Allow yourself to rest, to regaining your peace and strength with each and every breath, it’s time for you to exhale!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You for quieting me down that I may hear You in my silence and stillness in the midst of life’s noise, teach me to seek stillness. Help me to quiet my heart and sit at Your feet, trusting that You will meet me in silence. Open my ears to hear Your gentle whisper and my heart to receive Your wisdom. Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve been too busy to listen and too distracted to rest. Teach me to surrender my worries to You, knowing that You fight my battles as I remain still. Fill my spirit with Your peace and renew my strength in Your Presence. Let my moments of stillness transform me, draw me closer to Your heart, and guide me in the steps You want me to take. May I rest in the assurance that Your love surrounds me, and Your purpose is being fulfilled in my life. Thank You for always speaking, even when I am slow to listen. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Want To Be Tended To? Stop Wandering Around, God Wants To Tend To You! 

John 4:10 NKJV ~ “Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

It was 11:11 am yesterday and I shared this with you at this specific time on Facebook! Now it’s 11:11 pm and this thought is still with me! And I woke up at 2:47 am to share this with you! 

Yesterday morning when I woke up, I woke up with a, “I need Jesus to Tend to me moment!” So, I started listening to “At The Well”, and I heard it with new ears today; it was like I had transitioned from what was into what is. And as I was sitting at my desk, I heard this, “Somebody needs to hear what God did just for you from you! If today is a day that you need God to Tend to you! Then this is your moment, He is waiting for you, to fill you up John 4:14!

Has God Been Faithful to you? Have you been Transformed at the WELL by Jesus Christ? For it is where your life will be Transformed! It’s where the Change will take place! It is the place between where you were and where you are going! Think about today, 11:59 pm, was still January 7th and 12:01 am, it’s what is to come, and midnight 60 seconds before midnight and 60 seconds after midnight, It’s your seconds of transition! 

So, if you knew that all the time you had was between 11:59pm ~ 12:01am. What would you do differently if you knew you only had 120 seconds to make a difference? (The thing is you don’t know, it’s time to make haste!)

What would you want someone to know if you only had seconds left?

If I had 120 seconds, this is what I would say to you! I would tell you about Jesus Christ, He came, He died for you! He went to the Cross and He Rose Again, (Matthew 12:40)! I would tell them that Jesus Christ loves you and the only way to the Father is Through Him, (John 14:6)! I would tell them that they need to Repent and do it with a sense of Urgency for you don’t know the day nor the hour when He’s coming or when you will leave the natural earth, (Matthew 3:2 & 24:36)!

I would tell them it’s time to Choose who they are going to serve, (Joshua 24:15)! I would tell them it’s time to for you to Believe in your heart and Open your mouth and Confess that Jesus is who He says He is, (Romans 10:9-10)! And the final thing that I would say is God so loved you, that He gave His Only begotten Son that you might Have Life, (John 3:16)! 

Please share your journey and experience with someone else today! Somebody needs to be introduced to Jesus Christ today! They need to know that Jesus Christ saves you! And that He is faithful even when you have not! They need to know what the Lord has done for you! This is what makes you, you!  Listen to the words of this song with your heart and not your mind and let God minister unto your soul! Today be intentional about Jesus, because only what you do for Christ will last, (2 Corinthians 4:18 & Colossians 3:23-24)! Stop wasting time, thinking that you can do something later, don’t put off today for tomorrow, for you do not know if tomorrow is promised to you yet, this is God’s business!

Let’s Pray: 

Father, Thank You for blessing me and allowing me to see another day! Father help me to be wise in my dealings today and to take every opportunity that you give me as a blessing. Father, thank You for the gift of eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ, the living water that quenches the deepest thirst of our souls, as promised in John 4:14. Lord, I praise You for transforming my life, taking me from emptiness and searching to a place of peace, purpose, and eternal hope. Your Word declares, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst,” and I am living proof of this truth. Fill me with boldness and urgency to share Jesus with those around me who are lost and in need of Your saving grace. May my story reflect Your glory, showing how Jesus has become my way, truth, and life, just as You’ve promised in John 14:6. Open my eyes to see the people You have placed in my path, and give me courage to speak Your truth without hesitation. Your Word reminds me in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Help me to share my testimony and the gospel message with clarity and love, trusting that You will work in their hearts. Let Your Spirit flow in me like a spring of living water, so others may come to know the joy love, grace, and hope found in You. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Please listen to both of these songs with your heart and not your head! 

I don’t own the rights to this music

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean…

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video AT THE WELL | LIVE | JOY JOHNSON

AT THE WELL | LIVE | JOY JOHNSONPreview YouTube video CeCe Winans – Goodness of God (Official Video)CeCe Winans – Goodness of God (Official Video)

Good Morning Sunshine! Walking In God’s Way, Will Move You Out Of Your Way! 

Proverbs 14:12 NIV ~ “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

Have you ever set out on a journey and realized too late that you were heading in the wrong direction? Life’s choices can often feel like that, paths that appear good, sensible, or even promising at the start, only to end in disappointment or pain. Today’s scripture is a warning from God: what seems right to us in your human wisdom is not always the right path. Your emotions, experiences, and the culture you live in can deceive you into thinking you’re making the best choice! I want you to know that you are your own worst enemy. You will cause yourself more pain and trouble than any foe ever could! 

Life often presents you with endless choices. Some seem logical, some appealing, or some just so convenient that you confidently move forward, assuming that you are on the right path. However, making a decision does not automatically mean it aligns with God’s destiny for your life. Just because you decided to do it, doesn’t mean that God destined it for you! When you choose a path that seems right in your own eyes without seeking God’s wisdom, you risk veering off course. 

Like Jonah, who fled in the opposite direction of Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-3), your plans can lead to turmoil, confusion, or unnecessary detours. Jonah’s choice wasn’t God’s plan, it was his own plan and attempt to escape what he didn’t want to do. Yet, God intervened, rerouted and redirected Jonah through a storm and a great fish. God will always remind you of this important truth, just because you choose a path doesn’t mean God destined us to walk it. His plan is perfect, purposeful, and tailored to the calling He has placed on your life. It requires you to totally trust Him, even when the journey ahead feels unclear or uncomfortable.

God is the architect of your destiny. He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb and He has already planned out each day of your life (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:16). Yet, as free-willed individuals, you will try to build your own plans instead of surrendering to His blueprint. When you make decisions out of fear, ambition, or impatience, you run the risk of designing a life that may look good outwardly but lacks divine purpose inwardly! 

Abraham and Sarah learned this lesson the hard way when they decided to try and help God fulfill His promise of a son. Their decision to have a child through Hagar created more complications than it was worth (Genesis 16). Yet God, in His mercy, still fulfilled His original plan in His perfect time, and like Abraham and Sarah, you must recognize that shortcuts and self-made plans cannot and will not replace God’s timing or His perfect will for your life! 

Learning to follow God’s destiny path for your life requires a posture of humility and listening. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Hearing my His voice requires intentionality, spending time in prayer, studying His Word, and remaining sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What’s more, listening requires stillness. Often, in our haste to move forward, we drown out the gentle promptings of God’s Spirit. Make space in your life to pause, listen, and surrender.

Because without God’s guidance, you will be like a traveler following a broken compass, aiming for life but heading toward destruction. Consider King Saul, who seemed right in his own eyes when he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock instead of obeying God’s direct command (1 Samuel 15). His disobedience ultimately led to his downfall. Saul relied on his logic rather than God’s direction, forgetting that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). God is very clear in His message to you, He doesn’t just ask you to walk the path that merely looksright but to follow His Word, which is right! The world may tempt you to prioritize what feels right, success, power, relationships, or independence, but apart from God, those paths will lead you further from His plan and closer to the wrong way, which will cause you harm! 

So, how do you avoid choosing the wrong path, you must first submit yourself to God’s Word, allowing it to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). Prayer is essential in seeking God’s wisdom before making decisions and trusting that He will generously provide guidance when you ask (James 1:5). You must also trust Him and His timing, knowing that impatience will lead you astray, while God’s plans unfold perfectly in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Finally, listening to the Holy Spirit is crucial for your wellbeing; the Spirit of God within you brings peace and clarity, directing you toward the path of righteousness, even when it doesn’t align with what seems logical or easy (John 16:13). By submitting, praying, waiting, and listening, you can avoid the ways that seem right but lead to harm! 

Choosing God’s path may require sacrifice, patience, or a step of faith. It might mean laying down your plans, saying no to tempting opportunities, or surrendering control of an area of your life that you think that you can control! But God! But know this, it’s His Ways that will lead you to have an abundant life (John 10:10). Trust that He knows the best and better way to get you there! 

Here are some ways to help you discern if what you have decided to do aligns with God’s destiny for your life:

  1. Seek His Word. God’s will is never contradictory to His Word. Psalm 119:105 reminds you that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
  2. Pray for Clarity. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” When in doubt, ask. Seek Wise Counsel. God often uses trusted mentors or spiritual leaders to confirm His direction. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
  3. Wait for Confirmation. God’s timing often brings clarity and peace. Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” Examine Your Motives while you wait: Ask yourself, “Is this choice driven by faith or fear, by trust in God or dependence on yourself?”
  4. Pay Attention to Fruit. Decisions aligned with God’s will yield spiritual fruit and peace (Galatians 5:22-23). Embrace Open and Closed Doors: Not every opportunity is from God. Pray for discernment to recognize His hand in the doors He opens or closes.

Today, reflect on the decisions that you will have to make. Are they guided by personal desires or God’s direction? Surrender your plans to Him, trusting that His purpose for your life is far greater than anything you could ever ask for or imagine! God is just that Good! For He is God! For He is a Good God! And He loves seeing you going the way He destined and not the way that you designed! Follow God! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, I come before You today, surrendering my plans, desires, and decisions to Your perfect Will. Forgive me for the times I’ve rushed ahead of You, choosing what I thought was right in my own eyes instead of trusting Your guidance. Father, thank You for Your wisdom and knowledge. I confess that I sometimes choose what seems right to me, relying on my own understanding instead of trusting You. Forgive me for the times I have followed my way instead of Yours. Lead me back to Your path, Father. Help me to surrender everything to you and to submit to Your Will and Ways. Father, teach me to trust Your Word and wait for Your direction, knowing that Your way is always best and better way. Help me to quiet my heart and listen for Your voice. Align my steps with Your plans and give me peace in waiting for Your timing. Give me wisdom to discern Your Will and courage to follow it, even when it’s not what I expected. Align my heart with Yours and remind me that Your plans for me are good, perfect, and filled with purpose. Father, if I am on a path not destined for me, redirect my heart and my feet. Strengthen my faith to trust that Your ways are higher, Your wisdom is perfect, and Your love for me is unfailing! I commit my life into Your hands, trusting You to lead me into the destiny You designed. Thank You for loving me enough to redirect me when I was wandering. Father today, I commit my heart and steps to You take.  In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean…

Good Morning Sunshine! There Is Nowhere That You Can Go To Get Away From God! So, Stop Trying!

Psalm 139:7-12 NLT ~ “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! [8] If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. [9] If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, [10] even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. [11] I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night- [12] but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.”

Good Morning Holy Spirit, I Welcome Your Presence on this 1st Monday of 2025!

Where can you go from the Lord’s spirit? Let me tell you, so that you don’t waste any more of your precious time, there is Nowhere that you can go! Period! Your Father is everywhere at the same time, He is Omnipresent! Today, there is nowhere else you should desire to be except in Your Father’s, Presence, that’s where His Glory resides! Did you receive this? His Glory is where His Presence is! You are never alone when you have God, God is always with you, everywhere you go, He goes!

In your busiest moments and in your quietest ones, God’s Presence surrounds you. Yet, I know that there are times in life when you may feel overwhelmed by guilt, shame, or fear, and it can cause you to believe you need to hide from God. You know what you do, you try to bury your worries in busyness, drown out your pain in distractions, or run from accountability, all the while forgetting one simple truth, there is no place you can go where God is not there! As a matter of fact, He beats you to that place that you are trying to run and hide in!

So today, instead of running, stop! Instead of hiding, turn to Him! He is waiting, not to judge or condemn, you but to hold and guide you. When you embrace this truth, you’ll find that the very Presence you feared is the source of your greatest peace. Psalm 139 reminds you of the inescapable and comforting Presence of God. Whether you find yourself on a mountaintop of joy or in valley of despair, He is there. When you feel lost, confused, or even consumed by darkness, God’s light breaks through. There’s no place too far, too dark, or too broken for His love and guidance to reach you.

In your struggles, you may often feel the urge to run from God, believing that your mistakes or weaknesses disqualify you from His presence. But Psalm 139 assures you of a comforting and transformative truth, God is everywhere. He is with you in the highs and lows, the darkness and the light. No matter how far you try to go, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, His love remains steadfast towards you.

His Presence is the source of renewal and restoration that you need. This theme in Psalms is echoed also in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s love for you knows no bounds; it breaks through all of your walls and reaches you in places that you never thought He would go!

And in Jeremiah 23:23-24, God declares, “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” He is never far; even when you feel lost, you are never out of His sight. It is in God’s Presence, that your call becomes clearer! It’s in His Presence where He talks with you! It’s in His Presence that He walks with you! It’s in His Presence that you find joy! It’s in His Presence that you find peace! It’s in His Presence that you find love! It’s in Presence where His Glory shows up and changes your life! It’s in this place, His Presence, that His Glory appears, and there is no other place you should ever want to be! How amazing it is to be in God’s Presence and to see His Glory show up!

God’s Presence is not only a comfort but also an anchor in times of fear and uncertainty. Consider Isaiah 41:10, which says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” So, no matter what you are facing, challenges, difficulties, or inner battles, God’s Presence equips you with courage and endurance to keep pushing. When you stop running and allow Him to meet you where you are, you will find out that His strength has been enabling you to move forward all along!

Furthermore, God’s Presence is a constant reminder of how deeply known and valued you are. He is not a distant deity watching from afar, but an intimate Father who understands your every emotion, thought, and need. Matthew 10:29-31 tells you that not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside of God’s care, and that you are worth far more than sparrows. How reassuring it is to know that the Creator of the universe is mindful of you! You don’t need to hide, because God already knows you fully and still desires to walk with you. Reflecting on these truths can change how you navigate life. Instead of resisting or running, stop and invite Him into the deepest places of your heart!

Remember and know this, God knows every hidden corner of your heart and yet pursues you still. His Presence is not something to flee but something to embrace every single moment of every single day that He has given you your life!

Let’s Pray:
Father, today I will open my mouth and declare Your goodness before everyone that I meet. Father, thank You for never leaving me, even when I tried to run and hide. Help me to rest in Your Presence and bring my whole heart to You, alongside with my fears, my failures, and my hope. Open my eyes to see that I don’t need to run, for Your love pursues me relentlessly. Thank You for being my ever-present help, in every season of my life. Father, teach me to trust that You can meet me with grace and not judgment. Wherever I go, remind me that Your hand guides me, and Your love never fails. Fill the dark corners of my life with Your light and give me the courage to surrender my life to You and to fully submit to Your Ways. Let me rest in the assurance that I am never alone and that Your plans for me are always good. I will declare I’m victorious because of what You are doing in my life, and I belong to You! Father, Thank You for Your promises and everlasting Presence that covers me and everyone that I am concerned about. Father, mold my heart to seek You in all things and to walk confidently in the knowledge that Your presence surrounds me in every moment of my life. Father, there is nowhere that I want to be, except in Your Presence, for Your Glory and my good. In Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Can Enjoy God On The Peaks, But You Will Encounter Him Personally In The Valley!

Psalm 23:4 ~ “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

What are Peaks and Valleys?
Peaks ~ represent moments of joy, they are times of profound experiences, answered prayers, and a deep sense of God’s Presence.

Valleys ~ represent times of struggle, doubt, or discouragement. They are times of questioning your faith as you face trials, and you feel distant from God.

In this life, you will experience both peaks and valleys. (And sometimes you may feel both at the same time.) The peaks are moments of joy, success, and clarity, when everything seems to fall into place, and you feel God’s blessings overflowing. But valleys? Valleys are difficult, and full of uncertainty. They test your faith and your resilience. Yes, I know that It’s easy to celebrate God on the days of peaks, where the light seems brighter, and His Presence feels obvious. Yet, scripture reminds us that God is just as present in the valleys as He is in the peaks. Trust in God!

In this Psalm, David speaks about walking through the darkest valley without fear because of God’s constant guidance and comfort in your life. Valleys are not meant to be permanent places of residence but a pathway to something greater. They are designed to teach you how to depend on God, to refine your character, and prepare you for your next peak. Just as valleys provide the nutrients that make the mountaintops lush and beautiful, the struggles you endure can fuel your growth in ways you don’t always immediately recognize on the peak!

Both peaks and valleys are essential for your spiritual growth. Peaks are your time of learning and valleys lead you to seek God even deeper, it’s the place where your faith is developed. Peaks help you appreciate the valleys, and valleys can help you appreciate the peaks! Valleys test your faith and resilience, and builds your ability to persevere through challenges. And these same valleys are given opportunities to demonstrate your faith and trust in God, even when it doesn’t look right, you still trust God!

David wrote Psalm 23, to offer comfort and assurance, to let you know that God is walking with you even in the darkest valleys. The rod represents His protection, and the staff symbolizes His guidance. When you are in the valley, it can feel like God is distant, yet these seasons often become the sacred spaces where He reveals Himself the most to you. Just as the fertile valleys nourish the peaks, the challenges of life shape you into people prepared for higher ground. Valleys are not destinations, they are journeys that are designed to lead you toward growing in God, in a deeper dependence on Him, and a greater appreciation for His faithfulness!

Think about a time in your life when you felt like you were in a valley, a place of uncertainty or difficulty. Did you see God at work in that season, even if only in hindsight? What lessons did the experience teach you about God’s character and His promises? Sometimes, it’s only by reflecting on those moments that you can recognize His steady hand guiding and sustaining you. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9! Whether you are currently on the mountaintop or walking through a valley, take time to rest in the truth that God’s Presence is constant day in and day out in your life, and His purpose for your journey is always for your good and for His Glory!

In this place of sanctification, you will journey through a series of peaks and valleys, times when you feel invincible and seasons when you feel overwhelmed. While it is easy to cherish the peaks, it’s in the valleys that your faith deepens, your prayers become more earnest, as you experience God’s Presence in a greater way! It’s in the valleys that God will break you open in a new way that invites God to step in and fill the gaps with His grace, love, and strength. When David walked through his valleys, like facing Goliath, hiding from Saul, or grieving the loss of loved ones, he turned to God for his refuge and strength. Your valleys are opportunities to depend fully on God, and trust in His promises and in His perfect plan for you!

As you can see there is so much beauty in the valley that you often miss from the peak and that is it has the power to force you to look up and to bring you closer to God in ways the peaks rarely do! For you see on the peak you are rejoicing and celebrating His blessings, and it can cause you to become comfortable and self-reliant. But in the valleys, your inadequacies are laid bare, and you are reminded of your constant need for God’s Grace and Mercy! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6!

For it is in those moments of a hardship push that you learn to lean into His promises, seek His face, surrender your will and be fully submerged in Him and on His guidance. The valleys strip away distractions and teach you how to listen more intently to His voice. Psalm 34:18 is the perfect reminder of God’s love for the brokenhearted, He is not distant in your struggles but draws especially close when you are hurting. The valleys teach you dependence, trust, and surrender. They refine your character and build a testimony that not only strengthens your own faith but inspires others as well!

Remember this, each valley that you had or have walked through is not for punishment or a place of abandonment. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29! It’s a chapter in your story where God reveals His faithfulness and draws you closer to His heart. Trust that His purpose is being fulfilled in the valley and that He is preparing you for greater heights on the peaks, keep walking on the path that He set before you, and trust in the One who walks with you every step of the way! God!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Thank You for being with me in every season of my life, on the peaks and in the valleys. Father, help me to trust Your plan and find comfort in Your constant Presence. Let every step through difficulty lead me closer to You and prepare me for the next peak. For Your Word says, to consider it pure Joy when you face trials, knowing they refine your faith and produce perseverance. James 1:2-4. Father, thank You for changing my perspective on how I see hardship in my life, thank You for using it to be a steppingstone for my foundation, maturity and place of intimacy with You. Father, Thank You for reminding me that valleys don’t come into my life to harm me but to mold and prepare me for Your greater purpose! Father, Thank You for every valley, for it brought me closer to You. Even when I struggle to understand Your plan, I trust that You are working all things out for my good. Draw near to me in my brokenness and let me feel the comfort of Your Presence. Father, help me to persevere, knowing You are shaping me through each peak and valley. Thank You for never leaving me in the valley alone but guiding me every step of the way as I strive to reach my peak. Teach me to trust You on the peaks and in the valleys, and in the valleys and on the peaks, knowing that Your love will never leave me or fail me, for it is the One constant thing that I can depend on no matter where I am and no matter what season I am in! In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
Have A Blessed Weekend…

Good Morning Sunshine! First Things First, Seek God In Prayer! 

Matthew 6:33 ~ “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

First things First! Imagine you’re on a flight, and the safety briefing begins. The flight attendant explains that in the event of an emergency, oxygen masks will drop from above. They emphasize a crucial rule: “Put your own mask on first before assisting anyone else.” At first, this might seem selfish, especially if you’re traveling with children or loved ones. But the logic is simple, if you don’t secure your oxygen, you’ll quickly become unable to help anyone at all. This principle is a powerful metaphor for life, before you can effectively serve or support others, you must first take care of your own well-being. For Christians, this means prioritizing time with God through prayer, ensuring you’re spiritually strong and ready to pour into others.

Matthew 6:33, is the perfect alignment for this, you must first be aligned with God in prayer first, before you can engage someone else! In this scripture, Jesus teaches that your primary focus should always be on God, seeking His kingdom (His Will, Ways and Purpose) and His righteousness (a right relationship with Him). When you make God your first priority through prayer and obedience, He promises to provide everything that you need.

Just as a passenger must secure their oxygen mask before helping others, this verse serves as a reminder that you cannot effectively face life’s challenges or serve others until you have sought God first. Prayer allows you to realign your heart with His Will, and filling you with the peace, wisdom, and provision He promises. By prioritizing time with Him daily, you trust that God will equip you to handle life’s demands and care for those around you. Seeking His kingdom through prayer is the foundation for living a life of overflow, blessing, and purpose.

“In case of emergency, put on your oxygen mask first. Then help those around you.” This is a vital reminder that you can’t help those around you if you are not receiving what you need to breathe and function. Similarly, in your spiritual walk, prayer is your “Oxygen Mask”, it connects you to God’s life-giving power and equips you to serve others. Jesus modeled the importance of prayer throughout His ministry as the Son of God, He frequently withdrew to pray and refresh His spirit. In Luke 5:16, we read, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus needed this time with the Father, how much more do you need it?

When life becomes overwhelming, you may feel tempted to pour all your energy into helping others or solving their problems. Yet, it’s easy to let busyness, fear, or guilt prevent you from prioritizing prayer. But if you neglect your time in prayer, you will be left empty and depleted. Philippians 4:6-7 tells you of the power of prayer, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When you take the proper time to “put on your oxygen mask” through prayer, God will fill you with what you need to help others. Today, prioritize your prayer time. Don’t rush past it or treat it as an afterthought. Let it become the foundation of your day, ensuring that you’re spiritually “breathing” in the life that God gave you. When you’re connected to Him, you’ll be better able to help and encourage others. Think of your prayer life as refilling your spiritual tank and you can’t run on fumes, you need gas to keep going! 

Through prayer, God will pour His wisdom, into your life. And Prayer isn’t about perfect words or a fixed schedule, but it’s about coming to God as you are, no matter the time or place. When you cultivate a consistent prayer life, you’ll find yourself strengthened, renewed, and ready to bless those around you. When your spiritual Oxygen Mask is on, something miraculous happens, God uses your life to overflow into others. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13! 

I know that the world is full of people gasping for hope, direction, and love. But you can’t offer them what you haven’t first received. Just as passengers can only assist their neighbor after their oxygen mask is secured, you must first let God fill you before you can pour into others. Don’t feel guilty for taking time to prioritize your spiritual health it’s essential for bearing fruit in every area of your life. You need to practice and know what to do first before you can lead someone else to do it! Practice being in His Presence through Prayer. Here are steps to putting your Oxygen Mask on through Prayer:

  1. Set a Daily Time – Whether in the morning, during lunch, or at night, choose a specific time to connect with God through prayer. Consistency builds strength.
  2. Pray with Honesty – God doesn’t need fancy words. Speak openly about your worries, joys, and struggles, and trust Him to meet you where you are.
  3. Listen in Stillness – Prayer isn’t just about talking—it’s also about listening. Pause to allow the Holy Spirit to whisper direction, comfort, and wisdom into your heart.
  4. Pray Through Scripture – Use verses like Philippians 4:6-7 or Psalm 46:10 (“Be still, and know that I am God”) as a guide for your prayers, letting God’s Word shape your time with Him.
  5. Pray for Others – As you refill your spiritual tank, lift others up to God. Ask Him to meet their needs and use you as a vessel for encouragement and support.

Reflect on how your life might change if you prioritized prayer and make it a priority and a part of your daily life. Consider whether you’ve been trying to help others while feeling spiritually depleted, because you neglected your own time with God. Are you rushing through tasks and responsibilities, or are you pausing to seek His guidance and renewal first? Prayer isn’t just about meeting your needs, it’s the foundation that allows you to be a blessing to those around you. Think about how consistent time in prayer could provide you with everything that you need to navigate through your daily life challenges and how what you do in prayer or what you didn’t do overflow into the lives of others. Let what flows out of you come from the overflow of your time with God in prayer! Seek Him first and watch what happens to you next! 

Let’s Pray:

Thank You Father, Thank You for being my source of strength, wisdom, and peace. Your Word says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). You also remind me in Psalm 46:10 to, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Father, in the busyness and demands of life, teach me to pause and come to You first, trusting that You will provide for every need and guide my steps according to Your perfect Will. Father, remind me to come to You first in prayer, just as I would put on an oxygen mask before helping others. Father, help me to make prayer my top priority and my foundation. Like Jesus, who often withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16), may I seek those moments of stillness with You so that I can be refreshed and renewed. Remind me, Father, that apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5), but when I remain connected to You, I can bear much fruit. Father, help me to not be anxious for anything, but to wait and trust You, and to bring every prayer and petition to You with thanksgiving in my heart, Philippians 4:6-7. Father You said, in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” So, I’m calling You for no one else can do me like You. Father, may Your peace that transcends all understanding  guard my heart and your mind in You. Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen my faith so I can trust in Your timing and provision as I prioritize You, help me to live out Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Father May I become a light to those around me. May my time with You overflow into acts of love, encouragement, and service to others. Give me eyes to see the needs of those around me and a heart ready to respond. Thank You, Father, for being my constant source of life, guidance, and strength. Teach me each day to put first things first, seeking You in prayer before anything else. May my life bring You glory in all I do. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean

Happy New Years Sunshine!It’s A New Year, A New Day And It’s Time For You To Do It Now!

 Esther 4:14 KJV ~ “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The order had been given. The Jews were going to die! Sometimes it seems like an order has been given to destroy you, But God has a bigger and better plan for your life! You are going to live! God has uniquely prepared you for the crisis that you are facing. Though you may have doubts, but God has brought you to this place, this moment in time for such a time as this! God has a plan for you and your life, you are destined to accomplish something special for His Kingdom!

Today, God has called you “for such a time as this.” It is no accident that you are where you are, and that you are doing what you’re doing, it has all been part of your training and preparation for the next chapter that you are about to enter. You had to be purged, pruned, processed, preserved and prepared for what God has purposed for your life. God has given you everything that you need, the Word, the Holy Spirit, your education, resources, skills and abilities, He has equipped you for the task at hand.

Remember God has an appointed time for every event in your life. Stop second guessing yourself, don’t be afraid or discouraged by the process, Trust God, and focus on His call for your life; for He called you for such a time as this, for this date, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, it is a part of your destiny! Be faithful to Him, the One who has allowed you to cross the threshold of a brand-new day, somebody didn’t get this opportunity to cross over, they got all the way to this day and that’s it. But if you are reading this devotional, it’s because God allowed it, it was on purpose, and He was intentional in His desire to bless you. Now how much more should you be intentional when you do things for Him?

God has opened up an opportunity for you to be optimized for His purposes. He didn’t put those ideas in your head just for you or placed you on that job or in that ministry just so you could just haphazardly walk through it on any given say, He placed you where you are for His kingdom purpose and for His Glory to be seen! You are to be a light, and you are to draw others to God, not to you! And as a matter of fact, you are to be following Jesus and nobody else!

Be mindful of the assignment that God has given you, so that you don’t miss out. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own personal issues that we miss what He wants us to do, you get lazy and comfortable in places that were only meant to be temporary. Stop trying to build in places, where you were only supposed put a movable tent, so that when God says go, you won’t have to feel like you are uprooting your entire life! For when it’s time to move, you should already be ready to go!

This is your moving season, and you must move swiftly and intentionally, as somebody’s life is on the line and you can’t afford to miss these divine moments, even if when it involves sacrifices and denying yourself of what you want? “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)! God wants you to desire to love Him and to love others!

Let Esther’s life remind you of the power of a divine purpose by God for your life. Don’t move before God, God will sometimes put you in a place of position so that when trouble arises you are already in place to be of assistance. So, despite being placed in a foreign palace under challenging circumstances, Esther found herself uniquely positioned to be a vessel of salvation for her people. Though the weight of responsibility felt daunting, she stepped into her divine calling boldly.

And just like Esther was uniquely placed to fulfill a divine purpose, God has positioned you exactly where you are to accomplish something that only you can do. Embrace this calling by seeking clarity and courage through prayer, trusting that God’s timing is perfect and intentional. Rely solely and totally on Him to guide you through the uncertainty, and take bold steps forward, knowing that you are here for such a time as this, and this is why He allowed you a new day in a new year, it’s personal to God and it should be very personal to you!

I want you to get and keep these three questions before you this year. 1) How many souls will be saved when you choose to step up to your assignment that God gave for such a time as this? 2) How many people will be in Heaven because you did what God told you to do? 3) How many people will be in Hell because you did not do what God told you to do? Remember, only what you do for Christ will last, nothing else can compare to that!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You for allowing me to see the beginning of a brand-new year, You didn’t have to do it, but I’m grateful that You did! If I had ten thousand tongues, it would not be enough to thank You for what You have done for me! Father, forgive me of all of sins, create in me a clean heart and please renew Your right Spirit on the inside of me. Fill me to overflow of Your truth and turn my heart and my mind toward You and toward the role You have chosen for me to live out. Help me to put Your will and Your purpose ahead of my own. I humbly bow before You and ask for Your direction and guidance, as well as Your courage to live out the calling I’ve been given for such a time as this. Father, I come to You with a willing heart, seeking to follow the purpose You have placed on my life. Your Word reminds me in Philippians 2:13 that it is You who works in me to will and to act according to Your good purpose. Lord, help me to step out in faith and obedience, trusting that You have equipped me for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). When fear and doubt arise, remind me of Your promise in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Strengthen me to do what You have called me to do, not tomorrow, but now. Let my actions glorify You, and may I be a light to those around me. Use me as Your instrument to accomplish Your will. I surrender my plans to You, knowing that Your plans for me are good and perfect (Jeremiah 29:11). Guide me and lead me by Your Spirit, for I desire to fulfill my calling in this season. In Jesus Christ Name, Amen.

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
Welcome to 2025…

Good Morning Sunshine! A New Day Is About To Dawn, Are You Ready To Embrace It?

Lamentations 3:22-23 ~ “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

As the curtain prepare to close on 2024, another year that God has allowed you, it’s natural for you to reflect and think about closing another chapter, and how and what you are going to do to prepare for the next one! This is one thing that I want you to be reminded of God’s faithfulness through every moment of every minute of this year! It is right here that you should be thanking God, He saw you through an entire year, you made it to day 366, some that started out with you didn’t make it, but to God be the Glory you did! Day 366 represents the completion of your journey in 2024, and you cannot go back and correct or visit any part of it. It’s over, it’s gone, a New Day is Dawning whether you are ready or not. And know this, the same God that guided you this year will be the same God who will guide you next year, His love and mercies are steadfast and everlasting.

Now as you reflect on all that has happened, maybe it was a year filled with victories, or perhaps it was a year weighed down by struggles and disappointments, triumphs and trials, changes and challenges, and lessons and blessings, whatever it was, God saw you through it, because you are here to tell your story. And just as the calendar pages flips, so does your life, for as long as God gives you breath you will have a change of days and seasons will continue in its endless cycles of peaks and valleys, and regardless of what the past year has held, God is inviting you to release everything into His Hands and step forward into the new year with hope and great expectation!

Embrace the new, In Isaiah 43:18-19, God is reminding you not to dwell on the past, for He is doing something new. Each new year is a chance to experience God’s mercies afresh. Holding onto the past, whether its hurts, failures, or blessings and joys can prevent you from seeing what God is unfolding before your very eyes today, for the miracle that God perform in your life on yesterday belongs to yesterday and what He has for you today belongs to today!

Think about all of the things that you have experienced this year and see how God has provided for you day in and day out, just like He did for the lilies in the fields, He clothed them with His Glory and Splendor each and every day, He let His rain and sunshine on them as He paved the way for their growth, and He did the same thing for you too. God has equipped you with the grace to preserve. Now on this day, day 366, I want you to embrace the truth that as this day ends, you will begin a new fresh chapter full of opportunities to grow, love and trust God even more deeply. As you grow deeper in your Word it should remind you of the faithfulness of God the One who walked with you in every high and low, and He remained faithful, so this day is not just about looking back, it is about looking forward to the future with Hope!

God is Alpha and Omega, the author of your past and the creator of your tomorrows. Through Him, endings are transformed into new beginnings. And the trials of this year, though challenging, were not wasted. They were your stepping-stones to your next, they refined you and prepared your heart for the next chapter. (“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13!) As you step over into 2025, ask God to give you some new eyes to see the new day and to embrace the promises of this new year!  Today, embrace His invitation to release the past, for you cannot cling to both yesterday’s burdens and tomorrow’s blessings. So, open your hands and heart and surrendered all to God, trusting that He will make a way for you in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, Isaiah 43:18-19!

Embracing the new year means pressing forward, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14. You are called to focus not on what lies behind but on the goal that lies ahead, trusting that God’s plans are good and His love never fails. Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting; it means surrendering. It is one of the hardest acts of faith. So many times, you have gripped so tightly to your plans, your worries, your pain, or even your need for control and then you try to work things out on your own, carrying the weight of it all, when God lovingly calls you to release it to Him. So, take a deep breath today. Release your grip and lay it at His feet, for He cares for you, and He is big enough to carry what you cannot. (Matthew 11:28), and He’s loving enough to work it all together for your good. (Romans 8:28!)

So, take a moment and release the old, release regrets, unforgiveness, unmet expectations, bitterness and complacency and trust God with the things that you cannot change, and allow Him to make a way and open up new possibilities where you least expect them. In Proverbs 3:5-6, you are reminded to trust in the Lord with all your heart and to lean not on your own understanding. Trust requires release. Trust invites God to make a way where there seems to be none and to take the tangled threads of your life and to weave it into something beautiful. Invite God to fill your heart with hope and courage to step into the 2025 boldly and graceful, knowing that He is with you every step of the way. Embrace each day as an opportunity to walk in the promise of God’s renewal, where endings give way to beginnings, and His Grace carries you forward with a greater momentum than you had last year!

Let’s Pray:

Father Thank You, Thank You for loving me through everything. Thank you for being faithful through this entire year, you brought me from January 1st to December 31st and I am so grateful! Father, help me to carry every lesson that I learned forward and to let go and leave what has tried to hold me back. Father, as the new day is on the horizon to begin, fill my heart with hope and trust that Your compassion is sufficient for every tomorrow that I will face. Father thank You for Your steadfast love that has carried me throughout my life. Father, I surrender every disappointment, failure, and loss into Your hands, trusting that You will redeem time on my behalf. Father, open my eyes to see the new things that You are doing and give me faith to step boldly into the future that You have designed and destined just for me. Father, teach me to let go of the things I cannot control and trust You completely. I surrender my plans, my worries, and my struggles into Your capable hands. Help me walk by faith, not sight, knowing that You are always at work in my life. Thank You for being my strength, my peace, and my guide. Father may this new day that is dawning be filled with Your Presence, Prayers, Praise, Peace, and Purpose in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…

Love Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Is Your Conversion For Convenience or For True Transformation?

Matthew 7:21 ~ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

In this fast-paced, performance-driven world, it’s tempting to approach faith as a “transaction” rather than “transformation”, a convenient way to gain favor with others and with God. Yet Jesus is reminding you that a verbal profession of faith or outward religious acts are not enough to save and sustain you!

This is the last Monday in 2024, God has seen you through 52 of them and as you prepare to transition from 2024 – 2025, I want you to think about this, is your relationship with God built on a true conversion or was it just for convenience? A “conversion of convenience” refers to adopting a religion for personal gain temporarily rather than genuine belief and surrender. True convenience involves changing one’s faith to gain social acceptance, political advantage, or other benefits and true Conversion, involves you submitting and surrendering everything about you to get and be closer to God!

Have you ever considered why you follow Christ? Is it out of genuine faith and love for Him, or are there moments when your faith seems to serve a purpose of convenience? Perhaps it is to blend in with a group, seek favor, or avoid hardships. This kind conversion lacks the depth and authenticity that God desires. Jesus warned you about having a superficial profession of faith. He explained that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” is truly a follower of His. Instead, genuine faith is revealed by having and a transformed life, one that seeks and aligns with God’s Will, even when it’s difficult.

And 2 Corinthians 5:17 is to remind you that true conversion is not merely a label but a transformation. When you come to Jesus Christ, it’s not about convenience; it’s about being remade in His image and living a life that reflects His love, holiness, and purpose. True conversion is true transformation, and it involves true repentance and faith! The Bible emphasizes that genuine conversion leads to becoming a “new creation” in Christ, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” You think and act differently when you have been transformed by the Master!

True transformation is not just about outward changes but involves an inner change that overflows to the outside! It’s about God’s Grace, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast.” This highlights that salvation is a gift from God and not a result of personal effort. You cannot buy this or earn this by doing or being someone outside of who God called you to be.

Apostle Paul’s conversion illustrates what a profound change really looks like. For he use to be a fervent persecutor of Christians, but then he had a Damascus Road encounter and met Jesus Christ and lead to his total and complete transformation that changed his way of thinking and his way of living. His experience underscores what a true conversion looks like, it’s a reflection of a genuine encounter with God, leading to a life dedicated in His service.

Authentic conversion produces a deep and visible change in your heart, one that mirrors the life of Jesus Christ. True transformation is not just about adopting Christian practices for appearance; it’s a life marked by genuine repentance, surrender, and love for God. Keep this scripture ever before you, Galatians 2:20 that our old self must “die,” making room for Christ to live in and through you. This means giving up selfish motives and personal ambitions that seek only convenience and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life.

As a Christian you are called to pursue holiness and live out your faith daily. This transformation is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of sanctification, where the Spirit molds you to reflect Jesus Christ’s character and Paul reinforces this in Romans 12:2, urging believers not to conform to the world’s patterns but to let their minds and hearts be renewed by God’s truth. Remember that when you want to have a true conversion with God it will be divinely inspired by a change of heart, resulting in a renewed relationship with God and a transformed life and nothing is fake about that! Conversion brings the truth out and it will be seen by God, you and others!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Father help me to examine my heart and motives, for I want my faith to be real, not based on convenience, but rooted in my genuine relationship with You. Transform me and lead me in Your Word and Ways, even when they require sacrifice. Father, help me to not only be a hearer of Your Word, but a doer of Your Word, James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Father, make me a new creation, wholly and committed to You. Father, thank You for calling me, please forgive me when I have approached You with selfish motives or treated my relationship with You as a convenience and not a priority! Father, fill me with Your Spirit, renew my heart and mind, and help me to live as new creations in Christ Jesus. May my life Glorify You in every thought, word, and deed that I do. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Time For You To Contend For The Word That God Gave You! 

Jude 1:1-3 NKJV ~ “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: [2] Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. [3] Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” 

Last week on our weekly prayer line Apostle Comery told us that we had to contend for the word that God has given us and that He is going to give us a song as a reminder of what He put in our spirit. And since he said that, this word has been on my mind. So, today’s devotional is inspired by the fresh Manna from Apostle Comery! 

Today, I want you to do a scripture and word search on the word, contend! Merriam Webster Dictionary says it means, to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties, to struggle.

This is from Bible Study Tools! ~ Contend means, the meeting of effort by effort, striving against opposition; physically, in battle (Deuteronomy 2:9), or orally (Nehemiah 13:11), and sometimes spiritually (Isaiah 57:16). It says when you get in a birthing position, spiritually speaking, and you travail in the Spirit for the thing You Know is in God’s heart to come forth. Contending is when you become aggressive and offensive in your prayer and in your fasting and you don’t let anything, or anyone cause you to stop! 

Now with that being said think about this, there are moments and then there are moments when God speaks a word to your heart, a promise, an instruction, or a word of revelation. It might come during your time in the Word, through prayer, in silence and stillness or through a spiritual prompting. But when God speaks and opposition arises and try to make doubt come to your mind, so what do you do? You contend, fight for the word that God gave you! Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ was eager to write a letter to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, He wanted mercy, peace, and love to be multiplied to them because of their common salvation, he found it necessary to write appealing to them to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 

Listen at his tone as he writes to them, he is speaking through the pen, to those who are called, loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, there are three passive verbs here, that point to God, (called, loved and kept)! Do you hear God, God calls, God loves, and God keeps! You are called, you are loved, and you are kept by God! (Are you happy in Jesus yet?) Jude is making sure that you, the believer knows that you have been elected by God, and you are being preserved by His love! This is why Jude begin and ended his letter in the manner that he did! (Jude 1:24-25, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, [25] To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”) He knew that you would have to fight for your faith sometimes, and that is always in the middle. 

Think about it this way, it’s what you do with the dash between your born day and the day you die! The dash is the different maker! This letter was not to make you feel content, but to help you feel strong, to contend with confidence the word that is on the inside of you. Jude believed if he showed them what electing the love of God and His unsurpassed Power looked like while God kept them safe and taught them how to fight for the faith and to never lose hope! The apostle Jude urges you to “contend earnestly” for the faith. This doesn’t just mean defending your beliefs outwardly; but it means inwardly holding fast to the Word of God. To contend means to wrestle, to fight, and to stand firm. It implies that you know how to resist forces that seek to undermine what God has spoken to you! Because when God gives you a word, it will be tested by Fire! 

Look at those who paved the way for you; Abraham received the promise of a son, yet he waited for years both spiritually and physically for it to come to pass (Genesis 15:5-6, Romans 4:20-21)! Joseph was given dreams of greatness, but he endured betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment before seeing God’s Word fulfilled (Genesis 37:5-11, Genesis 50:20)! And Jesus Himself contended in the wilderness, for standing firm on God’s Word when Satan sought to twist it (Matthew 4:1-11)! So, as you can see, you will have to contend with God’s Word and it requires you to trust in Him over what you see or feel, remember this is not based on your feelings, it’s your faith in God that you have to be sure of! 

So, if it means rehearsing His promises in your mind over and over again until you can hear it in your spirit, and it is declaring His truth over your circumstances and resisting every lie that contradicts what God has spoken! Then so be it! You will do whatever is necessary to protect the Word that God has given you! Be aware of the tricks of the enemy, for his goal is to make you abandon the Word of God before it has had a chance to take root in you and bear the fruit that God wants to be harvested! James 1:12 is a great reminder for you, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

In other words, you have an assured victory, but this does not mean that you don’t have to be prepared for the fight to win. Just like an Army’s Commander in Chief, he may promise you victory in the battle, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to show up ready and prepared! The promise of victory assumes valor in battle. When God promised that His church would be kept from defeat, His purpose is not that you lay down your sword and go to sleep, but that you pick up the sword of the Spirit and look confidently to God for the strength to fight and win. Jude helped the people see it God’s way, who have you helped today? For it’s in God’s way, that you can have confidence that because of your faith you will be victorious in the end, now get out there and contend (fight) for the Word and Promises that God gave you!

God’s Word carries Power, but it must be partnered with your faith. Hebrews 4:2 tells us that the Word profits nothing when not mixed with faith. So, to contend means to believe that God is faithful and that His Word will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent out to do, and it will not return empty, (Isaiah 55:11)! If you are wrestling with doubt about what God has promised, then that is the scripture for you to get in your heart, head, mind, and mouth, so that you can bring it all to God in prayer, where you can be strengthened in His Word and invite the Holy Spirit to fortify your faith! Stand firm and refuse to let go of what He has spoken. His Word will not fail you, it will accomplish its goal, that is sealed with a promise from God Himself! 

Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You for Your Word that brings life, hope, and direction. I ask for strength to contend with the promises You’ve given me. Thank You for the precious gift of Salvation that You have given to me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to treasure this faith You have entrusted to Your me and delivered once for all through Your Word and Your Spirit. Fill me with courage to contend earnestly for this truth and guarding it with humility and boldness in a world of challenges and distractions. Father, please help me to stand firm in my faith, resisting doubt and fear. Father, remind me of Your faithfulness and Your power to bring Your Word to fulfillment in my life. Strengthen my heart and mind to remain steadfast, keeping my eyes fixed on Your Presence as I wait on my promises. Father please help me to stand united as a believer and supporting my brothers and sisters in love as I strive to live out Your Gospel. Guide me with Your wisdom and grace, so that I may Glorify You in all that I do. I trust in You, and I choose to hold on to Your promises and contend for my faith m in You, no matter what! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean

Have A Blessed Weekend…