You’ve matured to the point that you can sincerely pray for your enemies…that’s good.

You’ve prayed for their submission to God’s will…

You’ve prayed for their faith to be established and increase…

You’ve prayed for them to have a repentant heart…

You’ve prayed for their salvation…

You’ve prayed for them to be a fruitful and productive part of God’s Kingdom.

Now, don’t mess it up.

Don’t let the enemy pervert it. Don’t let the enemy snatch it just as he tries to snatch the Word of God after it’s sown…

Mark 4:15

15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 

How?

By cursing them after you pray for them. By gossiping about them, and keeping yourself in anger by going on and on about what they’ve done or are doing to you.

Even if they continue to ‘mess with you’…keep your mouth off of them.

You can’t bless them one moment and talk bad about them the next…

James 3:10  (NKJV)

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Learn to pray for your enemies and then let it go.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Many times after we have hurt someone, and they have ‘forgiven’ us, it angers us and hurts us when they bring it back up. We quickly remind them that ‘you are supposed to forgive and forget’. We remind them of how God says He will never remember our sins anymore…

Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

God is letting us know the power of His forgiveness, but do you think our omniscient, all-knowing God can’t recall what we did? Do you think He actually can’t remember it anymore?

This must be understood in proper context. God forgives us and doesn’t hold our sins against us WHEN WE REPENT. But, what is repentance? Repentance is godly sorrow over what we’ve done (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is a change of heart, and doing our best to never do that again. Repentance is making every effort to not put ourselves in the path of temptation for those sins. Repentance is an all out, sincere effort to turn around. But, Israel sometimes continued to rebel against God. Israel sometimes continued in the same sins…that’s not repentance. Israel sometimes put themselves in the path of temptation making it easier to fall.

You will notice that when Israel returned to their previous sins, that God STERNLY AND LOVINGLY BROUGHT UP THE PAST.

God was always first hurt, and then angry when Israel backslid. It’s not that they surprised Him. He already knew what they would do, when He forgave and restored them. How many times have you forgiven someone, but you fully suspected they weren’t yet strong enough to resist going back or hurting you the same way. When they did it again, you thought to yourself, “I knew it”, and it made your flesh even more angry because you expected it. You expected it because you could see them slipping back into old habits.

When ISRAEL backslid after being forgiven by God… BROUGHT UP THE PAST, HE CALLED THEM OUT, HE REMINDED THEM in a stern and loving manner. In your free time read these scriptures, and these are not the only ones, where God BROUGHT UP THE PAST. I suggest you read the entire chapters for context…

·       Judges 2:1-4

·       Judges 6:7-10

·       Judges 10:10-15

·       1 Samuel 10:17-19

·       Ezekiel 16

·       Ezekiel 20

·       Psalm 81

Following God’s example, when someone repeatedly hurts you with the same sin expecting you to ‘get over it’, expecting you to not allow it to bother you, expecting not to have to have anything to say…remember that, in love, God called out ISRAEL when they fell back into rebellion against Him. He reminded them of everything that He had done for them. How He delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians, gave them a land inhabited by others, made their enemies subject to them. He reminded them of all He had done for them and pointed out what they did.

When someone blatantly hurts you, just like God, you have a right to remind them of your love for them, and bring up the past responsibly….in the spirit of love, STILL WILLING TO FORGIVE. This works both ways. You are willing to forgive no matter how many times they do it (Matthew 18:21,22), as Jesus commanded. And if they care about you, reminding them pricks their hearts, hopefully leading them to repent and have a sincere desire to not do it again. God said if we delight in Him He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). If it’s our desire to not do these hurtful things again…then we won’t. It works both ways towards forgiveness and repentance.

Read the scriptures I’ve listed above. Study this topic. See how God sounds like a hurt lover when His people chose evil over Him (Judges 2:2). Notice how He sternly, but lovingly reminds them His love, their sin and their promises. Then look at how He is willing to forgive again, and how they are led to repent. BRINGING UP THE PAST IN LOVE….it all works for both parties involved.

So, if you find yourself to hurt someone in the same way you did before, and they forgave you, have enough humility and respect to allow them to remind you of their love and your promise. And, if someone blatantly hurts you again after you’ve forgiven them, ONLY BRING IT BACK UP IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, fully ready to forgive again…and again…and again.

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

After Jesus died on the cross, everyone who witnessed it went home thinking that He had lost…

Luke 23:48  (NKJV)

⁴⁸ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

 He allowed His enemies to abuse and mock Him…

Matthew 27:27-31  (NKJV)

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the ^[a]Praetorium and gathered the whole ^[b]garrison around Him. ²⁸ And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ When they had ^[c]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. ³¹ And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

He suffered embarrassment and shame in front of His supporters and allowed them to think He failed, because He knew that wasn’t the end of the story…

Hebrews 12:2  (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is our perfect example of the fact that sometimes you have to let your enemies think they have won.

So, if it seems your adversaries, enemies or antagonists have the upper hand, keep trusting God.

Don’t take matters into your own hands seeking revenge, that belongs to God. But, God rise up to vindicate those who put their trust in Him…

Psalm 35:23-27 (NKJV)

²³ Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,

Remember, revenge is taking matters into our own hands to satisfy our pride and bring glory to ourselves. But, waiting for God to vindicate us is putting our trust in Him to get His glory out of our situation…and our enemies will witness it, while our supporters praise God.

So, let them scheme, plot, conspire, mock, even strike you.

Let them fire you.

Let them abandon you.

Let them accuse you.

God is watching.

Let them think they have won just like Jesus did.

When they think they’ve won, they let their guard down. They shift their focus away from you, while God maintains His focus on you…and them.

Be patient and trust God, in His timing He will get glory from the anointing on your life and your situation while planting seeds of faith…seeds of repentance…seeds of salvation and seeds of much good fruit.

Just as Jesus claimed His victory three days and three nights later, you will enjoy your victory too in the presence of you enemies…

Psalm 23:5  (NKJV)

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

So, don’t avoid your enemies. Stay strong and work your purpose. How can God prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies if you don’t invite them to the table?

BE BLESSTIFIED.

The power of true love is almost incomprehensible…

How does it make you feel when you hear someone whining?

Whining is a total waste of energy…

It’s a verbal expression of worry…

Whining is a verbal pity party.

Whining is a form of complaining, and God hates complaining …

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

It establishes the whiner’s perceived weakness and powerlessness.

Not one time in scripture do we find Jesus whining…

He rejoices…

Luke 10:21a (NKJV)

²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…

He weeps…

 John 11:35 (NKJV)

³⁵ Jesus wept.

He rebukes…

Matthew 17:8 (KJV)

 ⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

He even pleads….

Matthew 27:46

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”^[a]

But, He never whines.

Very few people want to hear you whine…

Very few times does whining change the situation….

Have you ever noticed how a group of people whining together feed into each others’ misery?

It becomes a pity party…they validate one anothers’ complaints but accomplishes nothing.

Yes, there are times that we are displeased, dismayed, overlooked, overworked, unappreciated, unhappy…

Sometimes we may even need to rebut, rebuke, protest or protect our interest…

But, do it in strength not weakness.

Don’t whine…

Turn your WHINING INTO WORSHIP

Turn your PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I just want to give you a quick word of encouragement. If you are trusting God for something in your life, and it seems that your resistance has become much more intense…

THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO BREAK YOU DOWN…DON’T GIVE UP!

If you like sports, think about this. The defense always intensifies when the opponent is about to score.

Your ‘opponent’, the devil does the same thing. He doesn’t want you to score. He doesn’t want you to reach your goal, and his resistance is relentless…

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

The enemy is trying to break you down! Don’t let him win! Just as God gave the children of Israel the land, he still commanded that they go and get it. He told them to be strong and very courageous…

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 So please…

Don’t let the devil break you down before your breakthrough.

2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV)

⁷ But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

These posts may also bless you:

DON’T GIVE UP IN THE ‘TURN AROUND’!

QUICK WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT: GOD HAS ALREADY COMMANDED YOUR RESCUE (VIDEO)…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever gone through a season in your life that, yes, you were praying. You were even praying regularly, but if you’re honest with yourself it was more…

ritual than relationship.

You would quickly get out of your bed, (or on your bed) and rush through a quick prayer, maybe even the same prayer, every morning or evening just to say, “I prayed”.

If you’re like me, when I was little, I was taught that you could also quote a ‘verse’ rather than bless your food…so I would quickly blurt out “Jesus wept” so I could begin eating.

Now, I’m not saying prayers have to be long, but they must always be meaningful. If we truly take our privilege of having direct access to God through our risen Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus, then we would make the most of it every time…

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

After all, we want all of our conversations with those who are important to us to be meaningful. We want that time to be quality time…and God is no different.

You may also enjoy these posts:

THE MISTAKE OF TEACHING TO GIVE SELFISHLY (GIVING TO GET)…

FALSE PROPHETS: TAKE YOUR PRAYER CLOTHS & MIRACLE WATER TO ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Isn’t amazing how people give coaches a pass? They don’t want the teacher or police to ‘curse’ at their children, even if they are disruptive. They don’t even want the preacher to speak too ‘harshly’ to or of their children – but the let the coach say what he or she wants and how he or she wants. Some will even let a coach hit their children…hit not spank.

Have you ever heard anyone say they had to talk to someone ‘on their level’ to reach them, especially when they are disruptive or have harsh speech themselves.

God says very clearly that we are not to allow corrupt communication to come out of our mouths…

This applies to coaches too!

Ephesians 4:29  (NKJV)

²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

He clearly tells us that we aren’t to swear (an oath) or to curse ( cursing is pronouncing condemnation)…

Matthew 5:37 (NKJV)

³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

That means it’s sin to say “Hell yes!” or “Hell no!”. Jesus says that “anything more is from the evil one”.

To reason that it takes profanity or cursing to get the best out of someone is to imply that it takes ‘the evil one’ rather than God to do that. Why do people trust their children to language straight from the devil. In other words, we are saying God can’t handle it, but the devil can. God forbid!

Some say it prepares them for the real world or competition. I say that teaching them how to get the best out of you according to God’s will prepares them to be light in the real world. Remember, God is sending us out like sheep among wolves…that’s how He prepares us.

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)

 ¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

There is no game, competition or battle on earth than the one Jesus endured on the cross. There was no profanity and cursing in preparation for that…only submission and humility.

If I don’t curse or use profanity to get the best out of my children, I’m not going to allow a man or woman to do so when it’s within my power.

Giving a coach the thumbs up to curse out or belittle your child is another way that a parent can provoke their children to wrath.

Allowing a coach to curse your children is cursing your children…

Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

⁴ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

There are plenty of coaches out there are very effective and do it the right way. But to those who don’t…God will hold them accountable and hold the parents accountable for allowing it.

Just because our culture has normalized this behavior as acceptable doesn’t make it right. Trust God’s word and not the ‘devil’s words’ with your children.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how many problems you have. No matter how many issues you’re struggling with. No matter how little money, influence or resources you may have. God has still given you the solution to someone else’s problem.

Even if your meal is free, God has equipped you to bring something of value to the table.

It may not have a dollar $ign…

Encouragement…

Inspiration

Entertainment

Education

Strength

Support

A shoulder…

An ear…

A voice…

To the friendship…

To the marriage.

To the team.

To the organization.

To your church.

To a stranger.

Even if you’re broke, you can be the key to someone’s breakthrough.

Not only no matter your situation, but BECAUSE of your situation, God is strategically positioning you with the people and places where you can be a blessing.

Remember this…

James 2:5(NKJV)

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Now…Get out there and bless somebody today!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

YOU AREN’T SORRY FOR WHAT YOU DID…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

YOU AREN’T ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU DID…

Jeremiah 31:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Surely, after my turning, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh;
I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated,
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.

WHEN YOU SAY, “IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN”…

Hebrews 10:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

WHEN YOU HAVEN’T FORGIVEN SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT YOU…

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

¹² And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.

WHEN YOU HAVEN’T REPENTED…

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Everyone won’t get this pic, but for those of your who have experienced the ‘afternoon or evening church service’ or revival… you’ll get it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Some issues you can’t ignore. Doing so can cause irreparable harm or worse.

Why?

Because when you ignore the symptoms or lack thereof…

You let it grow…

Give it room, space and freedom to work…

To thrive!

The next thing you know it will be bigger and stronger than expected…

Wait a minute!

Now you see why it’s not always bad when PEOPLE are ignoring YOU.

On your job…

In your relationships…

You know where they aren’t taking you seriously.

Maybe that’s God’s way of giving you a path of least resistance.

Use it.

Matthew 10:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

BE BLESSTIFIED

How many times have you said this, “I’m bored!”? How many times have you heard your kids say, “There’s nothing to do!”?

We live in a society with so many opportunities for entertainment and engagement that we can find ourselves in ‘paralysis by analysis’.

We expect our jobs to be entertaining. Our education to be entertaining, and even our worship to be entertaining.

Now, don’t get me a wrong. I’m by no means condemning being entertained. But, we do need to manage our expectations.

People also love ‘being busy’. We value hard work to the point that some people consider you a slacker if you ONLY want to work ‘9 to 5’…no over time. Since when did doing a hard days work and going home at a decent time become lazy?

Well, I’m saying all that to say this…

The older I get, the more I appreciate moments of having ‘nothing to do’.

What some people call boredom, I call peace.

I’m encouraging you to enjoy those times and places where there’s nothing going on.

While some people search for active tourist destinations there are others looking for that small, quiet country town with absolutely nothing to do.

The next time you find yourself thinking or saying, I’m bored…stop, sit back and thank God for a moment free from chaos and a break in responsibility.

It’s actually an ideal time to spend some quality time with God in His word.

The next time you hear your kid’s complain about being bored, take their smart phone and pull up a bible app for them.

The next time you’re bored, thank God for a moment of peace.

In a world that’s always demanding our attention for something, learn to enjoy the mental and physical vacation of a moment of boredom.

Learn to appreciate and enjoy the blessing of being bored.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Are you praying for deliverance? Are you going through a trial? A struggle? A situation? A storm in which you’re praying for God to rescue you?

Whether you’re living out the consequences of a bad decision, or you’re going through something beyond your control…God is a deliverer.

Psalm 34:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ The righteouscry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

I just want to give you a quick word of encouragement with a cautionary admonition.

Brace yourself for your deliverance!

Sometimes God’s deliverance is not comfortable, easy or convenient.

God delivered Noah through an assignment that made him look like a fool to those who were around him. (Genesis 6)

God delivered Joseph of Genesis to save his entire family through being sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:18-36), through being accused of sexual harassment (Genesis 39), through being thrown into prison. (Genesis 39)

God delivered Lot through having he and his family quickly flee a condemned city in which he had made his home. (Genesis 19)

God delivered Saul/Paul from a life of persecuting the church to planting churches by temporarily striking him blind. (Acts 9)

God delivered us from the penalty of sin through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)

And, God is able to deliver you too…

2 Peter 2:7-9 (NKJV)

⁷ and delivered righteous Lot, who wasoppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented hisrighteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing theirlawless deeds)— ⁹ thenthe Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

So, I’m saying all that to say this, as you pray for deliverance, brace yourself!

God may deliver you through…

Getting fired…

Losing a car…

Getting evicted…

A serious surgery…

Getting your heartbroken…

Damage to your reputation…

Forcing you to relocate…

Through shame…

God is more concerned with our salvation and our relationship with Him rather than our short-term discomfort.

And, as you go through the process of your deliverance, remember this…

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

⁵ For His anger is but fora moment,
His favor is forlife;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But ^[a]joy comes in the morning.

You may also enjoy this article…HOW GOD’S DELIVERANCE HAS BEEN TAUGHT WRONG…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Don’t worry, I’m not going rated ‘R’ on you but, I really think this is going to bless someone.

This is a much too common insult in our culture, and yes, the bad grammar is always intentional…

“You ain’t worth s**t! Of course, implying that someone doesn’t have the value of feces, crap, refuse, doo-doo, dung, ‘ish’.

It can be very hurtful if you allow it, especially if you are insecure or struggle with self-esteem. Or, if it’s told to a child by a parent, authority figure or peer. It’s damage can last well into adulthood.

So, let me give you a little ammunition with biblical support in case someone ever tells you, “You ain’t worth shiggity!”

God created everything with value. Everything! Even doo-doo! We all know that there’s an industry built around the use of animal dung to make mulch and fertilizer.

Why?

Because God put purpose and power, even in poop. Not only does it have value, but great value.

People pay good money for a sack of s**t at Home Depot and Lowe’s.

God, in His wisdom gave waste the power to make things grow…so even waste doesn’t have to be wasted.

But, let’s look at the bible. There, we find the ‘S’-word was used for two ‘F’-words…both FERTILIZER and FUEL. Not only did they use it to grow their food, but they used it as fuel/coal to heat their food too.

Luke 13:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

Ezekiel 4:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.”

So, don’t get it twisted. God has value for dung. He has a purpose for poo, and He has a purpose for you.

So, if anybody ever tells you that “You aren’t worth s**t,” tell them thank you! Tell them of it’s value. And then, remind them that if they ‘ain’t’ working God’s purpose for their life, tell them “S**t is worth more than you!”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When it sometimes seems God is ‘TION’ing  (shunning) you…

Isaiah 54:7-8  (NKJV)

⁷ “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
⁸ With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.

On those days you may think God has turned His back on you.

Those days you think He is avoiding, ignoring or even rejecting you…

For the days you think God is ‘TION’ing (shunning) you…

Maybe He is trying to take you to a higher level of…

ConsecraTION and SactificaTION

Joshua 3:5  (NKJV)

⁵ And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

So you can refocus your…

ConcentraTION…

Colossians 3:2  (NKJV)

² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

On His gifts of…

JustificaTION…

Romans 5:1  (NKJV)

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

ReconciliaTION…

2 Corinthians 5:18-19  (NKJV)

¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

RestorationTION…

Psalm 23:3  (NKJV)

³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

And, not take for granted His gift of…

SalvaTION.

Romans 10:9  (NKJV)

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

And, maybe, just maybe,

You’ve been…

‘TION’ing Him.

Jeremiah 3:22  (NKJV)

²² “Return, you backsliding children,
And I will heal your backslidings.”

“Indeed we do come to You,
For You are the Lord our God

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the most beautiful gifts from God is His gift of forgiveness. When we repent and confess our sins to Him, He will forgive of all our sins, even those we call great.

1 John 1:9  (NKJV)

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That’s good news for someone struggling with guilt. But, we must be very careful to not get it twisted. Many people have unintentionally taken Hebrews 8:12 and Micah 7:19 out of context and taught people the wrong thing.

Hebrews 8:12  (NKJV)

¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins ^[a]and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Micah 7:18-19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.You will cast all ^[b]our sins
Into the depths of the sea.

Many people have taught and teach that God FORGETS our sins, and that He can no longer remember what we did wrong.

According to Strong’s Concordance, ‘REMEMBER’ here means: (through the idea of fixture in the mind or of mental grasp); to bear in mind, i.e. recollect; by implication, to reward or punish:–be mindful, remember, come (have) in remembrance.

Notice that part of that definition states, “to reward or punish”.

Bearing that in mind, and also knowing that our all-powerful, all-knowing cannot ‘forget’ anything, we can conclude that when God ‘doesn’t remember’ our sins means that He doesn’t bring them back up against to condemn us or hold against us as long as we have truly repented.

God is too powerful to simply, ‘forget’

Think about how many times in the Old Testament God reminded Israel of sins He had forgiven after they had backslidden. For more on this subject, read…YES, EVEN GOD SOMETIMES BROUGHT UP THE PAST AFTER HE FORGAVE…

He reminded them of what they had done. You can’t remind someone of something that you don’t remember.

Also think about the fact that even when we truly forgive one another it doesn’t mean we don’t remember what they did…we just don’t hold it against them anymore. Now, if we don’t forget, are we more powerful than God?

Yes, God casts our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19), but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t remember where He cast them. The beautiful thing is that if we truly repent, He will NEVER let those particular sins ‘rise’ to hold them against us ever again.

When we’re struggling with forgiveness, there’s nothing more powerful than a word of encouragement that reminds of God’s expectation to forgive, without diminishing how difficult it can be. We need to know that forgiveness and being forgiven is possible and given tools to work through the difficult process.

If you’re struggling with forgiveness or being forgiven, for your convenience, here are links to my most powerful BEBLESSTIFED articles on the many aspects of forgiveness.

I pray that one or all of my topics meet you at your point of need. To God be the glory!

LINKS TO MY BEBLESSTIFED ARTICLES ON FORGIVENESS…

ADMITTING TO YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE STILL BITTER, BUT BETTER…

WHEN GOD EXPECTS US TO FORGIVE ADULTERY (CHEATING ON GOD)…

YES, EVEN GOD SOMETIMES BROUGHT UP THE PAST AFTER HE FORGAVE…

NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID, GOD DOESN’T ALLOW YOU TO HATE THEM…

ASKING GOD FOR FORGIVENESS ISN’T REPENTANCE (QUICK DEFINITION)…

IF YOU’RE STILL GLAD YOU DID IT, THEN GOD HASN’T FORGIVEN YOU…YET.

BE EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO…

DON’T BE SELFISH WHEN YOU FORGIVE…

YOU CAN FORGIVE ANYTHING…TODAY! #FORGIVENESS

We all have people in our lives that no matter what we do, they just don’t like us. They may even hate us. These people have become to be widely recognized by the urban colloquialism, ‘HATERS’.

Sometimes it may seem that your ‘haters’ have the upper hand on you. Their lies, their conspiring, their backbiting, their ignoring you, their tactics are rewarded at the cost of your reputation, your relationships, your success, or your peace. Always remember that we were saved only because Jesus’ haters were allowed to temporarily have the upper hand. In fact, He let them think he had won because His eye was on the big picture…

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Joseph of Genesis was strategically placed in position to save his family through haters…

His brothers…

Genesis 37:4 (NKJV)

⁴ But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Potiphar’s wife…

Genesis 39:11-15 (NKJV)

¹¹ But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, ¹² that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. ¹³ And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, ¹⁴ that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to ^[a]mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. ¹⁵ And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”

The truth is that God uses our ‘haters’ to help fulfill our purpose. They are designed to enhance and strengthen our relationship with God, to mature us, and to position us to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

So, I want to give you some quick encouragement for whenever you’re dealing with the haters in your life. I want to remind you that they treat you like they do because they actually see value in you…even though they may act as though they don’t

HERE ARE 3 REASONS YOUR HATERS ACTUALLY SEE VALUE IN YOU

YOU DON’T WORK AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DON’T THREATEN YOU

Exodus Chapter 1 quickly reminds us of why Egypt subjugated the children of Israel after being granted refuge there…

Exodus 1:8-12 (NKJV)

⁸ Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ⁹ And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; ¹⁰ come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” ¹¹ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. ¹² But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel.

Many times your haters treat you as they do because they are threatened by the anointing on your life. They are threatened by your influence over people. They are threatened by your gifts and talents. They are threatened and annoyed at your level of peace. The demons inside of them are aggravated by God’s spirit living inside you…

Luke 9:42 (NKJV)

⁴² And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

Jesus was crucified by people who witnessed and were threatened by His miraculous power and anointing. The sad thing is that they could have been healed, delivered and saved by that power if they had the right attitude.

YOU DON’T IGNORE PEOPLE YOU IGNORE

Have you ever deliberately ignored someone as a child (or as an adult)? You put your hands over your ears and close your eyes saying, “Naaa Naaa Naaa Naaaa Naaaa, I can’t hear you!” Many times we can become frustrated because our ‘haters’, people of influence or those from whom we seek attention purposefully ignore us.

Remember this, you can’t ignore someone you don’t notice. Ignoring someone is a deliberate action. Ignoring someone is not the same as not noticing them. Not noticing is innocent, while ignoring is deliberate.

They next time you can clearly see someone is ignoring you, your gifts, your anointing rather than feeling annoyed…be flattered.

YOU DON’T USE PEOPLE YOU DON’T TRULY VALUE

Have you ever felt as though you were being used? Many times your haters feel they can benefit from what you have to offer, so they try to manipulate, conspire, coerce, or take advantage of you to their advantage. This is a subtle, but obvious affirmation that they do see value in you. If they though you had no value, they wouldn’t even give you a second thought after noticing or encountering you. But, once you notice what they’re doing, you can use it to your advantage. When people think you’re naïve and your aren’t, they’re actually the one’s being naïve. Remember, God can use your enemies to put you into position for your purpose. Check out this link for more on this…THE BLESSING IN WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO ‘USE YOU’…

So, be careful not to let the enemy to allow your ‘haters’ to provoke you outside of God’s character. They are actually a confirmation of the fact that you are His purpose driven child.

And, remember what our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Christ Jesus said…
Matthew 5:44-48 (NKJV)
^{44 [a]}But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your ^[b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the ^[c]tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Yes we have faith in God, but what are we believing God for?

Many approach, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) carnally. We fully believe that if we have the faith AS a grain of mustard seed we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20), but we can get caught up trying to move the wrong mountains.

There is so much power available to change our lives and the lives of others, but sometimes we SQUANDER OUR FAITH on material things, trying to ‘come up’, and bring glory to ourselves…on the wrong things.

Many of us struggle all of our lives the personal issues that hold us back…

Lack of confidence,

Low self-esteem,

Impatience,

Narcissism,

Timidity,

Lack of motivation, etc….

You can look at some people and still see them as a child. You can tell who was the cry baby, who was the bully,…who took their toys or ball and went home when they didn’t get their way.

You can tell who was mistreated as a so-called ‘nerd’, and now they are over-the-top in proving I’m somebody or getting even.

We need God’s power to shape our character and attitudes so we can be used by Him. We need His power to be conformed into His image (Romans 8:29). There are so many people in the world who genuinely need help…

Poverty,

Homelessness,

Addiction,

Oppression,

Hunger,

Christians being persecuted because of their faith,

Unbelievers in the one true and living God through faith in Christ.

But, unfortunately too many Christians focus ALL of their faith on THEIR own prosperity and glory. There’s nothing wrong with wanting good things in life, but our abundant culture and God’s grace and mercy has created a class of selfish, entitled Christians.

We can even approach giving selfishly. It’s taught selfishly. Christians are taught to GIVE SO YOU CAN BE BLESSED rather than GIVE SO YOU CAN BE A BLESSING. Too many Christians’ motivation to give is to get…it’s their BLESSING BILL. Some aren’t the least bit concerned with Kingdom work, they just don’t want God to ‘cut off their blessings’ just like an electric bill.

I’m not questioning your faith. Yes we have faith, we believe in God. We know what He can do, but what are we believing God for? God has given us the power to move mountains. He’s given us the power to change our world and the world around us. He’s given us the power to overcome who we were. Let us not squander our faith or use it selfishly, but use it to move the mountains in the lives of others rather than just ourselves.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I feel one of the most revealing and powerful facts in  scripture is that God has given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Eventhough everone doesn’t believe in God, everyone not only has faith, but lives by faith,  and puts their faith in something, whether they believe it, or not. They just haven’t found the right fit for their faith.
 Hebrews 12:1 defines faith as the evidence of what we can’t see. 

Even those who don’t believe in God exercise and live by their measure of faith every day.

Everyone CAN’T SEE, MORE THAN THEY CAN SEE. 

Everyone DOESN’T KNOW MORE THAN THEY DO KNOW.

Every one begins the day not knowing what will happen, everyone sometimes trusts food they didn’t prepare , drives in a vehicle fully confident that it will stop when they’re ready. 

Unbelievers drive over bridges confident it will stand, work jobs in faith that they will get paid. 

Many people will take an umbrella when the weather forecaster calls for rain, even though the sun may be shining. 

Eventhough many don’t believe in the bible, unbelivers still put faith in knowledge and teaching of other people, believing their theories, facts and beliefs …everyone lives by faith. 

Our challenge as Christians is to help everyone put the faith that God gave them in Him. 

It’s God’s will that all come to the knowledge of Him, that all be saved, and that none should perish (2: Peter 3:9 and (1Timothy 2:4). 

God has equipped everyone with the capacity to believe in Him. Everyone puts their faith in something… 

It is our responsibility to help them find the right fit for their faith.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It comes so easily off our lips, but as spiritually noble as that sounds, there are some instances when you should not say, “I’ll pray for you”…

When?

When you won’t do it…

How many times have you told someone you prayed for them, and whether you meant to or not, you didn’t do it. I find the best practice is to go ahead and pray right then and there.

When you don’t mean it…

How many times have you said I’ll pray for you because it was (SP) spiritually correct, but you never meant to do it. You weren’t being malicious, you just used it as a kind spiritual platitude…a nice cliché…it was right for the moment.

When you say it to belittle or insult someone…

Yep it happens, I have to admit that I have done it. Have you? When someone does something you don’t like, and it’s your way of saying, “I think you’re pitiful’.

Remember this…

God holds us accountable for every idle word we say…

Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)

³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Especially if we are speaking or acting on His behalf or as intercessors…

Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV)

²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Never turn, “I’ll pray for you” into a lie an insult or empty words.

Update: Here’s a similar post from another blogger…

https://lightenough.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/ill-pray-for-you-oh-really-3/

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Do you sometimes feel that God is unfair to you? 

Do you feel that He sometimes allows others to ‘get away’ with more than you? 

Do you feel He requires more of you than others? 

More disappointments?

More sacrifice? 

More suffering, more patience, more strength? 

Are there some people in your life of whom you expect more? You expect them to treat you better. You expect them to ‘have your back’, you expect them to have more patience with you and for you. 

You expect them to be more loyal, dependable, caring, loving? How does it make you feel when they aren’t? It’s okay when people who don’t know us let us down, but it’s different when those closer to us do…because of our RELATIONSHIP with them. 

Because of our relationship WE EXPECT MORE. 

That’s how God feels about you. Jesus says in…

 Luke 12:48, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.”  

He loves you. He sent HIS only Son to die for you. He’s invested much into His relationship with you and He expects more. He’s invested His Son, grace, mercy, the anointing of His Holy Spirit into you. 

When we think life’s not fair, we must ask ourselves is it fair that Jesus had to die for our sins. You expect some people to be ‘ride or die’. You expect some people to put you first, you expect that some people don’t give up on you…because of your relationship with them.

I just want to remind US today, that’s what God expects of us. God didn’t expect Job to give up. Job’s affictions were not fair, but God knew Job could be trusted with them. They were severe, but they were temporary.

Be encouraged today. What ever you may be going through, even though it seems severe to you, remember that God trusts you with it, and it’s only temporary. He has invested His love into you. He has invested His purpose into you…so don’t give up on Him.

BE BLESSTIFIED!