Matthew 13:57 - 59 – And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Have you ever experienced times when you wondered if God was really there and whether He heard as you called to Him?
While teaching a recent Bible study, I asked the attendees what was keeping them from a consistent prayer life. The response from most of them was that they were unsure as to whether God was hearing them or not. Because of their unbelief, they could not commit to consistency in prayer. This lack of consistency was keeping them from getting to the best plan of God for their lives.
Unbelief can be damaging to your relationship with God because you think that many of the things He desires to give you are too far-fetched and unbelievable. As you battle unbelief, you can be skeptical in your outlook on life and doubt what you may be able to accomplish. Your unbelief will keep you from obtaining anything of great value. God designed you with the ability to believe and trust Him.
From an early age, most of you learned to trust your parents, have confidence in what they said, and in their ability to provide and take care of you. God is your Father and He desires that you have the same level of belief and trust in His ability to hear and provide for you. When you lack belief, you are literally saying to God, “You are not big enough or great enough to handle the things that are a problem for me.” Imagine telling that to our big, awesome and amazing God.
Please ponder on mediate this:
What is your level of belief in God?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Doubt
Mark 11:22-24 (NIV) - “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”
One of the greatest tools of the enemy to keep you from the destiny, which God has reserved for you, is doubt. Doubt keeps you from hearing clearly and from moving in any direction.
Doubt can be crippling to the degree that you are afraid to move toward your goals. When you doubt, you are unable to hear instructions from God clearly and can develop a lack of confidence in His ability to help you.
In your doubt, you do not expect anything good to happen to you. You often expect the worst in the situations of your life. Doubt is a heart condition. It keeps you from believing that anything is possible. If you cannot see or understand that all things are possible to those who believe God, then you are unable to dream and to accomplish those dreams.
Doubt causes your view to be cloudy and you cannot get a clear picture of what you need. When you are in doubt, you are unsure of yourself and not able to make right decisions or any decision at all. In your doubting, you often wonder if God cares about you and whether He will answer when you call to Him.
Doubting God is not a proper position for any of His children because He has proven time and again how faithful He is.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
What causes you to doubt God?
One of the greatest tools of the enemy to keep you from the destiny, which God has reserved for you, is doubt. Doubt keeps you from hearing clearly and from moving in any direction.
Doubt can be crippling to the degree that you are afraid to move toward your goals. When you doubt, you are unable to hear instructions from God clearly and can develop a lack of confidence in His ability to help you.
In your doubt, you do not expect anything good to happen to you. You often expect the worst in the situations of your life. Doubt is a heart condition. It keeps you from believing that anything is possible. If you cannot see or understand that all things are possible to those who believe God, then you are unable to dream and to accomplish those dreams.
Doubt causes your view to be cloudy and you cannot get a clear picture of what you need. When you are in doubt, you are unsure of yourself and not able to make right decisions or any decision at all. In your doubting, you often wonder if God cares about you and whether He will answer when you call to Him.
Doubting God is not a proper position for any of His children because He has proven time and again how faithful He is.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
What causes you to doubt God?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Hindrances to Your Destiny
I Thessalonians 2:18 (NIV) - For we wanted to come to you certainly I, Paul, did, again and again but Satan stopped us.
You have all encountered times when you have been hindered from getting something you truly wanted. On the journey to your destiny, many of you will encounter hindrances that are designed to discourage you from the pursuit.
You have to recognize these hindrances and allow God to show you how to overcome them. It is the enemy’s job to discourage and to keep you from moving forward, but it is your job to resist him and overcome all of the tactics he places in your path on the way to your destiny.
He is on an outright attack to keep the blessings of God from flowing into your life. When he tries his best to hinder you, remember that the greater One lives in you and He gives you the power to overcome in every situation.
You must tap into the power source, which is the Holy Spirit, so that you can withstand any attempt of the enemy to keep you in mediocrity and away from your destination. God’s plans for your life are marvelous and He desires that you experience all He has for you. Do not let the enemy keep you from attaining these great plans for your life.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
What has been hindering me from fulfilling my destiny?
You have all encountered times when you have been hindered from getting something you truly wanted. On the journey to your destiny, many of you will encounter hindrances that are designed to discourage you from the pursuit.
You have to recognize these hindrances and allow God to show you how to overcome them. It is the enemy’s job to discourage and to keep you from moving forward, but it is your job to resist him and overcome all of the tactics he places in your path on the way to your destiny.
He is on an outright attack to keep the blessings of God from flowing into your life. When he tries his best to hinder you, remember that the greater One lives in you and He gives you the power to overcome in every situation.
You must tap into the power source, which is the Holy Spirit, so that you can withstand any attempt of the enemy to keep you in mediocrity and away from your destination. God’s plans for your life are marvelous and He desires that you experience all He has for you. Do not let the enemy keep you from attaining these great plans for your life.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
What has been hindering me from fulfilling my destiny?
Friday, June 5, 2009
Journey to your Destiny
Exodus 23:20 (CSB) - I am going to send an Angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.
It is exciting and encouraging to know that God does not expect you to discover your destiny on your own. He has put a plan in place to get you to your place of destiny.
In His Kingdom, angels are assigned to do what God bids them to. In the above passage of scripture, God makes it clear that He will send angels before you to protect and bring you safely to the place He has prepared for you.
As believers, angels have been assigned to us, the heirs of salvation. They are assigned to guard, protect, help, and watch over us to ensure that we do not come to harm. As you begin the journey to your destination, keep in mind that God has already prepared the place that He has for you. He has gone before you to annihilate any enemies that would hinder you from taking rightful occupancy of your promised land.
Just recall the story of the children of Israel’s journey out of captivity. As God delivered them from Egyptian bondage and sent them on a journey to their promised land, a place flowing with milk and honey, He sent terror and confusion ahead of them to route the inhabitants of the land that they were to occupy. Angels were sent before them to prepare the way and to fight for you. Angels have gone before you as well and they are at work preparing your place of destiny.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
Are you aware that angels have been assigned to you?
It is exciting and encouraging to know that God does not expect you to discover your destiny on your own. He has put a plan in place to get you to your place of destiny.
In His Kingdom, angels are assigned to do what God bids them to. In the above passage of scripture, God makes it clear that He will send angels before you to protect and bring you safely to the place He has prepared for you.
As believers, angels have been assigned to us, the heirs of salvation. They are assigned to guard, protect, help, and watch over us to ensure that we do not come to harm. As you begin the journey to your destination, keep in mind that God has already prepared the place that He has for you. He has gone before you to annihilate any enemies that would hinder you from taking rightful occupancy of your promised land.
Just recall the story of the children of Israel’s journey out of captivity. As God delivered them from Egyptian bondage and sent them on a journey to their promised land, a place flowing with milk and honey, He sent terror and confusion ahead of them to route the inhabitants of the land that they were to occupy. Angels were sent before them to prepare the way and to fight for you. Angels have gone before you as well and they are at work preparing your place of destiny.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
Are you aware that angels have been assigned to you?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Joseph’s Journey to His Destiny
Genesis – 37:5 – Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and he ended up in Egypt in Potiphar’s house. Joseph found himself alone and in a strange country with no one to depend on but God for support, encouragement, and direction because of his isolation. Joseph was at a place in his life where he had to depend and rely totally on God.
This season in his life would develop a deeper and more abiding relationship with God. God would become his refuge, his confidant, and the only one who would hear his cry and grant him deliverance. In his journey, Joseph encountered times of testing that would equip him for the destiny God had selected him to fulfill.
His first test came in the form of Potiphar’s wife who tried to seduce him while he was a servant in his master’s house. This first test was a flesh test. In this test, God allowed Joseph to be tempted so that Joseph could see what was in his heart. When he faced this test, he told Potiphar’s wife that he would not sin against his God. I want you to notice that Joseph’s focus was on God, and he was determined to do nothing that would be a stain on God’s name.
His next test was a position test. In this test, Joseph found himself in prison serving thirteen years for a crime he did not commit. Prison was a place of hardship and lack for a young man who was beloved and favored at home. Joseph, in this lowly position, continued to trust God and to serve Him with all of his heart. He did not have an attitude because he was demoted but served where he was planted.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
What is your attitude when you are demoted or not appreciated?
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and he ended up in Egypt in Potiphar’s house. Joseph found himself alone and in a strange country with no one to depend on but God for support, encouragement, and direction because of his isolation. Joseph was at a place in his life where he had to depend and rely totally on God.
This season in his life would develop a deeper and more abiding relationship with God. God would become his refuge, his confidant, and the only one who would hear his cry and grant him deliverance. In his journey, Joseph encountered times of testing that would equip him for the destiny God had selected him to fulfill.
His first test came in the form of Potiphar’s wife who tried to seduce him while he was a servant in his master’s house. This first test was a flesh test. In this test, God allowed Joseph to be tempted so that Joseph could see what was in his heart. When he faced this test, he told Potiphar’s wife that he would not sin against his God. I want you to notice that Joseph’s focus was on God, and he was determined to do nothing that would be a stain on God’s name.
His next test was a position test. In this test, Joseph found himself in prison serving thirteen years for a crime he did not commit. Prison was a place of hardship and lack for a young man who was beloved and favored at home. Joseph, in this lowly position, continued to trust God and to serve Him with all of his heart. He did not have an attitude because he was demoted but served where he was planted.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
What is your attitude when you are demoted or not appreciated?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Abraham’s Journey to His Destiny
Genesis 12:1-4 (NIV) - The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
In Chapter I, we discovered that Abraham was willing to obey and follow God in the fulfillment of his destiny. When he left his homeland and began his walk in fulfilling His destiny, he chose separation from all that was familiar to him. He believed a voice, which he could not see, to be the voice of the true and living God; and he put action to his belief and began pursuing God for further instructions and directions.
As an acknowledgement that he heard and that he would obey the instructions, Abraham built an altar where God spoke to him. He memorialized the place by setting up a monument. This monument was a reminder to him about when and where God spoke and that God would be faithful to do what He said.
Abraham traveled throughout the land looking for the right place to begin his purpose. He ended up in Egypt because there was a famine in the land of Canaan. He did not yet fully understand that God was His source and that God could provide for him even in the midst of famine.
God allowed Abraham to journey to Egypt because it would become the place of testing and preparation for his destiny. Abraham was tested and failed in a number of his tests, but God did not abandon him. God continued to walk with him until he arrived at the right destination.
God will also be with you even when you have not passed all your tests on the way to your destination. He will never leave you but will guide you each step of the way.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
Where have you failed the tests on the way to your destination?
In Chapter I, we discovered that Abraham was willing to obey and follow God in the fulfillment of his destiny. When he left his homeland and began his walk in fulfilling His destiny, he chose separation from all that was familiar to him. He believed a voice, which he could not see, to be the voice of the true and living God; and he put action to his belief and began pursuing God for further instructions and directions.
As an acknowledgement that he heard and that he would obey the instructions, Abraham built an altar where God spoke to him. He memorialized the place by setting up a monument. This monument was a reminder to him about when and where God spoke and that God would be faithful to do what He said.
Abraham traveled throughout the land looking for the right place to begin his purpose. He ended up in Egypt because there was a famine in the land of Canaan. He did not yet fully understand that God was His source and that God could provide for him even in the midst of famine.
God allowed Abraham to journey to Egypt because it would become the place of testing and preparation for his destiny. Abraham was tested and failed in a number of his tests, but God did not abandon him. God continued to walk with him until he arrived at the right destination.
God will also be with you even when you have not passed all your tests on the way to your destination. He will never leave you but will guide you each step of the way.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
Where have you failed the tests on the way to your destination?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Fulfilling Your Destiny
Joshua 1:2-3 (CSB) - Moses my servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.
All of you, at one time or another have felt an urgency to accomplish something with your life. Coupled with these feelings is a desire to know why you were born and why you are here. These devotionals are designed to give you some signs to look for in the process of discovering your destiny.
Now, let us embark on the journey to discover how you can fulfill your destiny. Fulfillment comes in many different forms. Some of you are fulfilled with a good-paying job, a good family life, money in the bank, and a nice home; but then there are others who have a desire for more. It is important to know that God has designed each of you differently, and each one must discover what will bring ultimate fulfillment.
In your search to discover what fulfills you, do not compare your satisfaction level with someone else. To be fulfilled is to be satisfied with what you have and where you are in your life. It is a feeling of contentment when you have realized or fulfilled a dream or a goal. This feeling of gratification comes when you learn to rest in the promises of God, take what He says about you to heart, and then apply it to your own life. The fulfillment you experience in your life and in your walk with Him ensures that you are prepared and equipped not only to discover but also to fulfill your destiny.
God will be fully involved in the fulfillment of your destiny.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
How will I fulfill my destiny?
All of you, at one time or another have felt an urgency to accomplish something with your life. Coupled with these feelings is a desire to know why you were born and why you are here. These devotionals are designed to give you some signs to look for in the process of discovering your destiny.
Now, let us embark on the journey to discover how you can fulfill your destiny. Fulfillment comes in many different forms. Some of you are fulfilled with a good-paying job, a good family life, money in the bank, and a nice home; but then there are others who have a desire for more. It is important to know that God has designed each of you differently, and each one must discover what will bring ultimate fulfillment.
In your search to discover what fulfills you, do not compare your satisfaction level with someone else. To be fulfilled is to be satisfied with what you have and where you are in your life. It is a feeling of contentment when you have realized or fulfilled a dream or a goal. This feeling of gratification comes when you learn to rest in the promises of God, take what He says about you to heart, and then apply it to your own life. The fulfillment you experience in your life and in your walk with Him ensures that you are prepared and equipped not only to discover but also to fulfill your destiny.
God will be fully involved in the fulfillment of your destiny.
Please ponder and meditate on this:
How will I fulfill my destiny?
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