Tag: christianity

Good Morning Sunshine! You Have 1,440 Minutes To Do What God Called You To Do Today!

Mark 13:32-33 KJV ~ “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.  33-Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

You have been given a brand-new day, 24 hours, 1,440 minutes and 86,400 seconds. What are you going to do with your time?

Time is the most valuable and priceless thing that you have, and nobody knows when their time is going to be up! You don’t have any time to waste on things that don’t edify or build up God’s Kingdom! God has given you everything that you need for today to accomplish what He put inside of you! All you have to do is be obedient and grab a hold of Him! You have new mercy today, Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV, “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness!”

Don’t let what you desire, or others get in the way of what God wants to do through you today. Seek Him first and He will add everything that you need to be successful in this hour. Take heed today and watch and pray. Remind yourself of who you are in Christ Jesus, a new creator, old things have passed away, (Isaiah 43:18-19 ~ “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.  19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”) yesterday is gone, don’t go back, you can’t fix or change anything that happened yesterday, all you can do, is do better today!

God has paved the way for you through everything, the wilderness, rivers and streams, He has you covered. The only thing you need to remember is Jesus loves you, this we know because the Bible tells us so! There is nothing you will not or cannot accomplish today because God lives on the inside of you.  Make every minute count, because no one knows the hour but, The Father; so you have no choice but to be intentional and on purpose today because this time has been ordained by God for you and for His Glory!

Let’s Pray:
Father Thank You, thank You for this day, Your day that You have invited me in to be a part of! Father I don’t take it lightly, I’m grateful for everything second of this day. Father help me to be intentional in everything that I do for You today. May I encourage someone to keep pressing and moving as You give me and them strength. Father, thank You for paving the way for me! Father, thank You for the ability to move and have my being to do what You have purposed me to do! I will do it with a good heart unto You!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! God Will Fight Your Battles, If You Would Only Be Still! 

Philippians 1:27-28 NLT ~ “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. [28] Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Choose your battles wisely?” A good leader knows it’s a mistake to try and fight to many battles at once; because you will spread yourself out too thin and this makes you vulnerable to the enemy! You do know that the same thing is true in your natural life! You need to avoid undue stress, stop letting every little thing upset you, choose your battles wisely! Stop making mountains out of molehills! Before you devote your time, energy, and emotion to a problem, ask yourself how important it is and is it really worth your energy!

Now there are some battles you have to fight and then there are some that you need to bow out of because they aren’t worth your time or energy, Proverbs 19:11, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” Your wisdom can yield patience; sometimes, the best way to win is not to fight at all! Embrace the gift of letting certain battles pass you by without you saying a mumbling word! Then there are battles that you cannot afford to surrender too, because your life depends on it, you just have to figure out what battlefield you’re willing to die on, then take your stand! 

Remember the Word, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:11! Look at how many battles Joshua had to fight in Jericho, he fought at least thirteen different battles, and he defeated thirty-one kings in the process, and here’s the thing, those kings did not surrender without a fight. A fight requires two opposing opponents to do battle! But God! But when God is with you, and the battle has been ordered and ordained by Him, you will win! God plus you are the majority, and you will be undefeated! 

We always like to talk about the battle between David and Goliath, it was God ordained, He went in God’s strength, (people will count you out when they look at you in the natural, but when it’s God, you will have supernatural abilities) it wasn’t about the size of the giant it was about the faith that David had and that gave him the strategy on how to defeat the enemy, one smooth pebble caused the giant to tumble, fall and die! Pick your battles like a well-seasoned commander, recognizing the movement and flow of life’s seasons! The question becomes which fight is for you and which ones are not, every fight is not worth your energy or like Paul, it’s not even worth the ink on the paper! The battles that God has ordained for you to fight, He already has a strategy for you to win! Trust and Believe! 

Don’t be drawn into every fight that comes your way! Don’t be drawn into every confrontation that the enemy wants to drag you into! Don’t allow yourself to become a part of needless battles that God Himself does not want you to fight, this is how and why you have had to deal with some unwanted warfare, you fought in a fight that wasn’t for you! Don’t get into battles just because you have what it takes to fight; just because God allowed you to fight a battle before and win, does not mean He has authorized you to fight again right now! Sit Still! This may be the time when God says the enemy you see now, you won’t ever see again! Exodus 14:14, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Starting today, learn the difference between the major matters and the minor matters. Moses was a great leader, but he exhausted himself because he tried to do everything by himself. Perhaps he thought he had to do so, since he was the leader in charge. And maybe you may feel you have to do it, but you need to know that you don’t have to do everything by yourself! You need to discern between the battles that God wants you to fight and the ones He wants you to avoid. Discern between the times you need to speak up and the times you need to be silent! Discern between the times you need to fight and defeat those that are against you and the times you simply need to walk away from those that are against you (God got this)! Don’t be counted amongst them that were consumed by battles that should have been avoided. Choose your battles wisely. Discern between the battles you should fight and the ones you need to flee from! 

The Word of God will lead you to strategic scriptures that will help you navigate the battlefield! Choose your battles wisely, embrace the wisdom of the Word, and a spirit that knows when to wield the Sword and when to sheath it! May your battles be short and your victories sweet, as you move forward as a Kingdom Warrior to a life well-lived with God! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Father, keep me from being consumed by things that are not the main thing, which is You! Father guide me with Your wisdom so that I may discern well, Father, give me the humility to reach out for help when I need it most. Father go ahead of me and make every crooked place straight, strengthen me for the battles that You have ordained for me to be a part of, for every battle is not a physical battle. Father help me discern between the physical and spiritual battles and teach me how to use my weapons correctly to defeat the enemy. Father for those battles that I am not to fight, give me wisdom to be still and quiet and to know that You are God and that You are taking care of everything that concerns me. Father I desire to be obedient to Your Will, Way and Word. Father, Thank You for I know that You are fighting all of my battles just for me. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Have Been Rescued By God!

Psalm 91:7,10-11 AMP ~ “A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But danger will not come near you. [8] You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes And witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High]. [9] Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, [10] No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. [11] For He will command His angels in regard to you, To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service].”

Today, God is saying, if you trust Me and obey what I tell you to do He will restore order to your situation! When you trust in the Lord and continue to move like He commands, He will speak in His Power and Authority and bring those who are trying to contend with you to a place of total humility and seeing who God is, in you and for you, and then they will see who they truly are!

Ten thousand may try to fall at your side but, God’s supernatural power and strength will prevail in your life! God’s Right Hand will cover and fight for you! And when the battle is over you will see how God’s Mighty Hand took action and defended and defeated you against your enemies! Psalm 91 is the greatest “If Then” passages in the Bible! God says, “If you will do this, then I will do that.” This is the blueprint for a life of victory and power. Not by your power, but God’s Power flowing through you into the world.

Psalm 91 is full of God’s promises His Presence, Power, and Protection is for the one who dwells with Him in His Secret Place; trusting and loving Him; finding value in Him and His Word and staying connected to Him day in and day out! You can do this when you follow His command to deny yourself and taking up the cross and following Him, (Mark 8: 38). Everything will begin when you learn how to dwell in His Secret Place!

When you truly trust God, you will be able to see through His eyes and you will see His Hand at work in your life. Then you will be able to pray for those who mistreat you and try to spitefully use you. As you continue in prayer, God will uncover all the lies and plots of the enemy, you will have “The Victory “over your enemies and you will receive compensation! All you have to do is remain faithful at the coming of Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior!

Let’s Pray:
Father Thank You! Thank You for covering me. Father, give me Your wisdom and the understanding of Your Word that I may apply it to my life daily. Father, You have set things in place in my life for my good. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit, as I seek You and Your ways. Father, Thank You for being my Comforter and heart fixer. Father continue to cover me in Your love, truth and peace in the good and bad times and lead me away from myself and worry. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! God Has Invited You To A New Day, Called Monday!

Numbers 6:23-26 ~ AMP “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: [24] The LORD bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; [25] The LORD make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; [26] The LORD lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].”

It’s a brand-new day, a Monday that you have never seen before, sure you have seen a many of Monday’s before, but not this one! Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not arrived yet, all you have is this present moment! Now what are you going to do with this brand-new day? You see the thing that bothered you yesterday, is gone, you get brand new mercy today and here is the proof of your new day, He is going to shine His countenance upon you!

Now that His Countenance is shining upon you, what are you going to do? What is your prayer today, since He has allowed you one more day? Here is how you should begin your day in prayer, “Father, thank You for inviting me into your day! It’s beautiful and I’m going to rejoice and be glad all the day long because of You. Father, thank You for keeping me and my family safe all through the night. I’m going to serve You now with all my might, from sunup to sundown. Amen! “

Your pray life should be the most important thing to you every morning. Start your day off with Jesus Christ before you do anything else and watch and see what kind of day you will have! When you start your day with Jesus, it propels you forward, it rids you of doubt and worry and now you can meet every deadline, make good decisions, and complete agendas, all because you started your day off right with God!  When you choose God, He aligns everything and He makes every crooked place straight, just for you!

Today, focus on today, don’t plan out tomorrow or worry about it. God knows everything! Focusing on your new grace and new mercy will help you accomplish what you need to accomplish, and today will be your best day ever! For God says don’t worry about tomorrow for it will take care of itself, (Matthew 6:34), just concentrate on today and believe and have faith in Him! He got you!

Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You! Father, this morning I will put all my trust and confidence in You. I pray that You will accomplish Your purpose in me today. Father, thank You for Your Grace and Mercy today. Thank You for never giving up on me and being consistent and constant. Father, please continue the good work that You have begun in me for Your Glory, for I know that Your Word and love will last long after this day because it’s never ending or changing, Your love is forever! In the Name of Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Time To Rise And Shine!

Acts 26:16 AMP ~ “Get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you [to serve] as a minister and as a witness [to testify, with authority,] not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you.”

Are you ready? It’s a new day, and you have been given new mercy, Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23! It’s time to draw closer to God in a new way today. Now it’s time to arise and stand up! God set the purpose of your life for this day before you began doing the work He called you to do! God knew exactly what He made you for before you were formed! God did not come to see what you would you do for Him; He already knows what you are going to do!

Are you ready for His mission and your purpose? It’s to tell people about, “the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how He has the Power to transform them from darkness into light; and to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to place their faith in Him to receive forgiveness of their sins.”

God set this path in motion for you, and it requires you, you need to adjust you to the plans that God is revealing to you! Remember, God never speaks just because, it’s always for purpose! God has a purpose, and He wants to reveal more to you through His Word, He wants to show you what He is doing, He’s inviting you to join Him in the work He has prepared for you from the beginning! It’s time to seize the moment!

You do know that you are commissioned to share the Good News and to make disciples in The Name of Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:19-20! Are you prepared to meet with God today? Don’t seek to hear from God unless you are ready for Him to tell you exactly what He wants you to do, and you are ready to do exactly what He says to do!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to bring light into this world and defeating darkness! Let Your Spirit guide me to be a witness and share my hope in the gospel and to be prepared to give an account for my hope in Your eternal life and forgiveness of sins through the redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ! In the Mighty and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!!!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Just For A Little While! 

1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV ~ “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Sometimes things come to interrupt you at the most inopportune time, and it can be downright exhausting, but I have come to realize that no matter what life brings, Jesus is all you need! Say this out loud to yourself, For this “I have Jesus.” You can find refuge from life’s care in Jesus, He fully understands your soul’s deep longing. And just know, I totally understand how you feel right now, but when you feel like this, you need to quiet yourself down (count to ten backwards and take your deep breaths in between) and say, For this I have Jesus! And immediately your focus will would return, and you will be centered. You can do this as many times as you need it! 

God uses everything in your life the good, the bad, and the ugly and the not so to produce you! to Once you understand this, your life will begin to make sense. It’s like this, when you come to the end of yourself, you will understand your new self! Stop asking God why, He knows why, just say thank You Lord, You are preparing me for the long run! He is preparing you for eternity! As a believer in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, He is the One who is with you through the fire and the through water, the One who is going to bring you out to a fullness of joy! As you travel through these journeys and you are going through, remind yourself of who you are, you are a child of the Most High God and He got you! 

This that you are going through, remind yourself that it’s only for a little while. So no matter what you are enduring a great trial of affliction, remember, for this you have Jesus! You have found a refuge from life’s care in Jesus, you are hiding in His love divine; He fully understands your soul’s deep longing, And He whispers softly, “Thou art Mine.” For this you have Jesus! Remember God knew you would feel this way even before He formed you in your mother’s womb, Jeremiah 1:5! For this you have Jesus! For this you have Jesus! For this you have Jesus! Repeat this over and over again to yourself and when you look up again you will be  on the other side of the fire. I love you and I’m praying for you and your strength today! 

Today, do something now, and stop looking for perfect conditions, it’s not going to happen in perfect conditions! It’s when I began to do, that God began to show what He had been doing in the background! It’s when you come to the end of yourself that you come to the beginning of yourself! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Father, thank You for Your Word and Wisdom. Father teach me to come to You and believe You and expect You to move in my life and tell me what You desire of me. Father, I want exactly what You want, today and every day. Father, fill me with Your Wisdom and with all the Wisdom I get give me understanding that I will know what to do and when to do it! Father, I want to be in Your Will, for I know that there is no safety outside of Your Will. Father, show me what You want me to do, and I will serve You faithfully for the rest of my life. In the Majestic Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Sowing One!

Matthew 6:1-4 NJK ~ “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. [2] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

Who are you when no one is watching you? Do you have a story to tell others of what you have done for God and others? It’s been said that the best test of who you are is what you do when no one is watching you, it’s during these moments that your true character comes through.

I’m learning that much of what God calls us to do in our day-to-day lives isn’t always flashy and post-worthy, sometimes it’s simply an ordinary act of compassion, no attention or spotlight. Just you and Jesus! Keep your mouth closed, you don’t need to broadcast what you did. The right One saw what you did and why! You will get your just reward!

You can show quiet acts of kindness by simply smiling and helping someone out, these deeds are seen right in God’s eyesight, make sure that you are not doing this for others to see to you. Don’t be an attention seeker, because seeking self-glorification is always a sign of present danger. God tells you if you belong to God, you shouldn’t make a show out of what you do. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven!

As you blossom in your walk with God, keep God in your heart and mind, pleasing Him and being rewarded by Him is the best thing you could ever receive! You may never gather a large audience to see what you are doing, but your service to Jesus is priceless, just keep serving Jesus by serving others, even when He is your only audience, He is the only One that matters, and He will reward you openly for others to see!

Prayer:
Father, help me to love and serve others with a pure heart. The only motive and agenda for my life is to glorify You.  I am your earthly representative here on earth, use me! You are the Most-High God and my desire is to please You in everything that I do. It’s for You and You only, that’s the only thing that will last! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Yep, Jesus Said It! 

Matthew 16:24 ~ “Jesus said… “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Yesterday’s devotion was inspired by my friend Rev. Yolanda, “Do It Because God Said So!” And as I was sharing that with her, she gave me this and its today’s devotional. Thanks Rev. Yolanda! 

When you were younger, did you ever play this game, “Simon Says?” You could only move when the person in charge gave you their approval, and said so, if you just move without them saying Simon Says, you were kicked out of the game! I know I used to be upset when I got put out of the game, I would be trying to reason with them that I didn’t move, when all along I did, I just didn’t want to be out! How many times have you did something wrong, and you didn’t won’t to admit it, you wanted to just keep going. It’s time to stop doing what you say to do and do what Jesus said to do! You don’t have to listen and do what Simon Says, you have Jesus, now do what He says to do! You won’t be kicked out; you serve a God who redeems! And if you have forgotten, you have been redeemed and purchased with the Blood of Jesus Christ! (I know this extra manna is for someone.) Now let me get back to the devotional!)

But to God be the Glory, He is not like man! One wrong move and man is done with you and sometimes it’s forever! But not our God! Because of love, He has given you another chance to obey today! To do it because He said so! Thank You God for Your Grace! Thank You God for not putting us out or giving up on us when we moved too soon or too slow! It’s right here that you should be jumping up and down thanking God, because He didn’t put you out! He didn’t give up on you, even when you gave up on you, He stayed right there with you! He gave you another chance and another chance and another chance when is still giving you a chance to stay in the race! He is more than the God of a second chance, He’s the God of many chances! 

Let’s just look at the three things that Jesus tells us to do in today’s scripture. And no this isn’t what Simon Says,” but rather, “Then what Jesus said” to do: 

1) Turn Around (“let him deny himself.”) You have to deny yourself, it’s not optional! Examine yourself! Repent! And Turn! You have to see things the way God sees them! You have to turn and walk away from the darkness into the marvelous light! You cannot use your own human knowledge and wisdom to accomplish this step, but instead you must be willing to die to yourself and go willingly in faith like a child! 

2) Bend Over and Stand Up (“take up his cross.”) Every day you are to pick up your cross, you have to set down your burdens, and the other things that you tend to think about, that you think define you, lay it down! Taking up your cross does not equal the burden of being you, your identity. You are indeed unique, but each day you should take on something new from Jesus Christ that makes you look like Him and act more like Him! 

3) Now Go Forward (“and follow Me”). Following Jesus Christ is called your sacrificial living! The goal is for you to be moving towards the Kingdom! Towards Eternity, your ever after! When you are moving forward towards the Kingdom, it can only happen when you learn how to put others in front of you! I know this might sound foreign to you, but God said it in the beginning, and it’s written in the Bible, the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 20:2-17) and you do know that they still matter today! You make sacrifices all the time to climb ladders in your careers, for relationships and for any other personal goal that you want to achieve. So why not sacrifice without the ladder and simply do so because Jesus said so! 

God is the only One who will not put you out when you move too soon or too slow. He will never ever give up on you (Deuteronomy 31:8) and while you have breath in your lungs, the time is now to do just that, choose Him! This way when you think you can’t do anything else, you won’t be sitting somewhere talking about what you wish you woulda, shoulda, or coulda done twenty or thirty years ago! Are you breathing this morning? If so, you have time to say yes to Jesus and do what He says to do today! Today is the only day that matters, don’t dwell on yesterday, and don’t worry about tomorrow it’s not here yet, (Matthew 6:34) because and you might miss what He has for you today, right now! 

Are those three things hard to do? No, they are not! The thing is that you can’t do all of them at the same time. You have to take one step at a time. You just have to start right where you are. Surrender your will to the Will of your Father and ask the Holy Spirit to lead the way. And then you just follow Him and when you get over day one, you start over on day two and if you move too quick or too slow it’s okay, God is not going to kick you out, this is where His Grace and Mercy kicks in to help guide you back into your proper alignment! 

Make it your goal to today, to Turn Around, Bend Over, Stand Up, and Go Forward and see where listening to what “Jesus Said” takes you! 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, Thank You! Father I repent for holding onto things in my life that you need me to let go of. Father, I confess right now that I have been holding onto my own thoughts and ideas on the way I think You should work. Father, I want to see the changed in me, today I am purposing in my heart deny my will and follow Your Will. Father, thank You for Your correction, for You chastise those that You love, and I know that You love me! Father, create in me a clean heart and renew Your right Spirit in me. Father, I commit to make the changes that You say in my heart and mind so that it will pave the way to victory in every area of my life. Father, I have faith in You and as I walk through every door that You open, I will be grateful and obedient! Father, I will sow in my time and resources as You instruct me to do. Father, please remove wrong thinking from me when You reveal my thoughts to me, for I am listening to You through Your Word and Revelation. Father, I know that Your plans for me are exceedingly, abundantly above what I can even imagine or plan for, I know that You want good for me and that You have a bright future full of hope, joy, peace and love. Father, today I am praising You and Thanking You that Your will for me is to prosper and be blessed in every way possible! Father I have put all of my trust in You and relinquish my will for Your Will! It’s what You say! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Do It Because Jesus Said So!

Luke 5:4-5 NIV ~ “When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5:5 NKJV ~ “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

Have you ever been on the other side of these words as a child? Because I said so.” You asked your mom or dad a question and they said those four words, because I said so! And then you responded, “But why?” and they replied, “Because I said so.” End of discussion! I would be so mad when I heard this. I wanted to know why, why did I have to do it or why did they say no! Either way, I wanted an answer other than because I said so! This meant that I was supposed to simply obey you without an explanation of why! It’s your flesh warring against your spirit! Deny your flesh and let the Spirit of God lead you!

Now, I want to take you back to our scripture and I want you to focus on the words in verse 5, in the NIV and NKJ. The NIV says: But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Because Jesus said so, Simon did it! The NKJ, it says: nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net. Simon simply did it because Jesus said so! You see no matter how you look at it, he did it because Jesus said so! Can you say that you do the same thing?

If you are a follower of Jesus, He expects you to obey whatever He tells you to do, even if it appears foolish to you or to other people! You simply do it because Jesus said so, even if it doesn’t make sense, even if you don’t understand it, you get a nevertheless in your spirit and you do it because Jesus said so! You will be glad that you obeyed!

Did you notice his reaction as you read the scripture? He didn’t argue with Jesus. He didn’t say, excuse me, I’m a fisherman and I know when, where and how to fish. He didn’t question Jesus about Him telling him how to do his job? He didn’t think twice about what Jesus told him to do. When Jesus told him to launch out, he didn’t go seeking for advice, he didn’t get a team together, he didn’t even complain about being tired, he didn’t even try to procrastinate and put it off until tomorrow! He just responded to Jesus with a yes and he simply obeyed!

I don’t know what God has told you to do, but I will tell you this, you need to obey. Isaiah 55:11 NKJV, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Jesus knows better than you and His Word will come to past! Because when you are disobedient, you are only hurting and delaying your own blessings of what God said would happen!

I want you to become a “because God Said So” person so that you can experience all of the blessings that He has stored up for you. They are out in the deep, you are too close to the shore! When God gives you an instruction to do something, stop trying to be analytical and figure it out, His instructions do not have to make sense to you. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)! You just need to follow and obey all of the instructions that He gives you, this is not a pick and choose moment! It’s all of none, 99-1/2 won’t do, it’s 100 or none at all. It’s your choice, obey or disobey!

The Bible has told you that you are in His capable Hand’s. He made you and planned out and purposed your life. So, who are you to talk back to God? “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20-21, NIV)! He who made you knows more about you than you know about yourself!

You need to accept the purpose He designed you for! Today, your goal is not to question God but simply to trust and obey Him even if you don’t understand why and even if it’s hard to do. Say this out loud to yourself, “I will accept the way that I am made and the plans that He has set before me, because He said so!” When God says so, you just need to do it, trusting Him in faith. You can trust God because He always knows what’s best for you, He had your interest in mind, when He created that blessing for you, even if you can’t see it right away, it’s there!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Father help me to show my love for You by being obedient to what you tell me to do. Help me to do it without question, just simply obeying You, because You said so! “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.  Father, I long to work out my salvation with fear and trembling in You because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Father, I want to make wise decisions that honor and please You above all else. Father, I need Your Grace and Spirit to empower me to obey, so I rest in You and trust You are working in my regenerated heart. Please give me a hunger for Your Word so that my mind can be renewed to be able to say no to the world and the flesh and yes to You. Thank You for finishing the work You have begun in me. Father You said that I am to obey Your Word and follow Your Ways. Father help me to say yes to You simply because You said so at all times. In the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Will Understand It Better, By And By!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMP ~ “Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. [17] For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! [18] So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.”

I can count the times over the past four years that I have duplicated a devotional before; but this one right here, is one that I believe we all need, might not be today, but tomorrow is coming! And you will understand it better by and by!

Yesterday morning in Prayer my friend Prophetess Kenita, said you will understand it better by and by! I immediately thought about my grandmother and what she used to tell me when I felt like I was going through a thing, she’d say, “You will understand it better by and by!” Now, I had no idea what she meant then, but my God, oh how I understand it now! So today, I want you to be encouraged, do not let what troubles or trials that are present in your life now drain you of the eternal hope that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! “Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬! It’s in the By and By time that you need to be and done got acquainted with Jesus! (Yes, I know I used incorrect grammar, it was on purpose!)

The troubles that you are walking through should not cause you to lose your faith or hope in your eternal God, but you should recognize that there is purpose in your pain! It was necessary!  Those trials of life are designed to remind you of Jesus Christ suffering, (and you are to take up your cross daily, Luke 9:23); it keeps you humble and away from pride, (because pride comes before fall, Proverbs 16:18) and it shows you how short this life can be, here today, gone today (James 4:12) and it keeps you silent, (James 1:19) it teaches you when to speak and when to listen and it gives God the freedom to show off His Power through your life and weakness (Isaiah 40:29)!

We all know that there is something going on, on every hand, and you might not quite understand it yet, and that’s okay, because everything is designed by God to lead you to the Promise Land, His Eternal Glory, and He is with you, He promised to never leave or forsake you, Deuteronomy 31:8! See your troubles as opportunities for God to be seen in you! Your faith must go beyond the pain that you visibly see, to remind you of the invisible that you don’t see, and to know that God is working on everything for your good, Romans 8:28! Draw your strength from the Word of God, knowing that He knows all things and He’s in control of everything! Get acquainted with your Father and His Word, it’s your oxygen that you need to keep breathing and living!

There is a song written by Charles Albert Tindley, in 1851, “We’ll Understand It Better By and By!”

“By and by, when the morning comes, All the saints of God are gathered home, We will tell the story how we’ve overcome, And we’ll understand it better by and by; Trials dark on every hand, And we may not understand, All the ways that God would lead us, To that blessed promised land, But he’ll guide us with his eyes; And we’ll follow ’til we die,  And we’ll understand it better by and by; Temptation, hidden snares, Often take us unawares, And our hearts are made to bleed, For a thoughtless word or deed, And we wonder why the test, When we try to do our best, But we will understand it better by and by; Chorus: By and by, when the morning comes), Oh, yeah, when the morning comes, All the saints of God are gathered home , (All the saints of God are gathered home), We gonna tell the story how we’ll overcome, And we’ll understand it better by and by…”

I know that you want God to answer you right now, but He will not move on your timeline, you have to wait, and no one knows how long, but God does, and sometimes you just have to wait until the break of dawn comes in the morning! Oh, but there is a better way! Approach the issue with a light touch by viewing it through God’s Revealing Light! And put some space between you and your concerns so that you can see God’s view, His perspective! Because sometimes your sight can be off, and when this happens you can misinterpret the whole thing, so don’t lose sight of God! Everything that is above you is beneath God! So, in the words of my friend, blink twice and look again! And you will understand it better by and by, just hold on to God’s unchanging hands!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Abba Father, Thank You for the morning! Father, keep my eyes on You and not what surrounds me, which so easily besets me because of what I see. Help me to see everything through Your eyes and to know that You are with me through every trial, tragedy, and temptation and to know that everything that I walk through on this side is for purpose. Father, help me to always remember that I live by faith and not by sight.  Father, help me to rise above life’s visible issues to the invisible that is made known to me through Your Word, 2 Corinthians 4:18! Father, help me to persevere through my personal hardships that I may gain an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean