Psalm 124:1-3 (New King James Version)
“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
Let Israel now say—
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us."
This blog is dedicated to my fellow Crusader, Felicia who listens to the song "If It Had Not Been" by Kiki Sheard everyday ALL DAY. Also this is to every Crusader and believer who has been delivered from something/many things by the Mighty hand of God! (I put this song on today to celebrate victory in Jesus and my MP4 wouldn't stop playing the song when I got out the car. I kept pressing the pause button and the song kept playing. So I plugged my head phones into it and I'm listening to it repeatedly as I share this testimony with you all.)
Have you ever struggled through a long trial and as negative events keep unfolding, you begin to question if God really loves you? Does He really see all that is going on? I mean, one day I prayed 20 minutes worth of decreeing and declaring and tearing down this and cancelling and nullifying that! Then another hour of interceding and worshipping about this, that and the other! Then I dust myself off, clean away the snot and the tears, clear my throat, prepare myself to go out into the world by 11am and by 1pm, I'm stalked by a quota-hungry cop, pulled over, and my car is towed. In addition, all the money to survive for the rest of the week and then some, is put into the greasy hands of the tow truck operator, who is also baffled by my demise but wont give me one penny of my money back. I'm slapped with a summons to court and the prospect of having to make a 20 minute hike home on foot! But say with me now, "If it had not been for the Lord where would I be?"
What I did not understand at that time, in a dark hour of my life, is that My Heavenly Father knew this situation was the PERFECT opportunity for me to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord! He knew that the enemy's false accusations could not stick! Besides, Christ defeated death, hell, and the grave for a wretch like I was, therefore, like Peter, there's no charge or no prison that can hold me! So say it out LOUD with me now, "If it had not been for the Lord where would I be?!?!?!" I DID NOT walk home when my car was towed! I DID NOT miss church on ANY Sunday that I was transported by angelic escort from Connecticut to the Bronx, NY! And I WAS NEVER hindered from work or meeting anyone's needs of transportation, or ministerial support! AND I went to court today with all the legitimate documents I was accused of not having. I went into the lovely court building a King's kid, and the charges were nullified without me even standing before a judge! And I walked out an EVEN MORE victorious King's kid!
My faith is ALL the more increased and the devil's tools only sharpened my holy boldness. I KNOW all the MORE that I am His Beloved. I KNOW all the MORE that it is by His GRACE that I am called, elected, and chosen to do what He has called me to do! And there is no devil in Hell, Shoel, Hades, the Abyss, underneath the earth, upon the earth or in the heavens who can stop me because I come as an Ambassodor of Jesus Christ and have every right in the kingdom of God and of Heaven and then some! So I know, that I know, that I know, "If it had not been for the Lord where would I be?"
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hanging on His Every Word
So many people I know, including myself, sing this song when we are going through...
“Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why does my heart feel lonely
And long for my heavenly home?
For Jesus is my portion.
A constant friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me...”
The song writer is asking questions that many of us ask ourselves daily. But first let us ask, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Like the psalmist in Psalms 42, discouragement, despair, overwhelming trials, brokenness, self-pity and loneliness are all signs of a misplaced vision. You say, “Well, what do you mean? I know where I need to be going but these trials keep bothering me. The enemy keeps attacking me. I pay a bill and 3 more creditors call! So what am I supposed to do? The Bible tells me to look up unto the hills from whence cometh my help. I’ve been looking up so long that my neck is cramped and my back is aching! So tell me what do you mean?” The answer is simple, focus on Him. When we have disconnected the phone, shut out all background noise and turned our attention to Jesus, to the Bishop of our souls, the storms subside. When Peter stepped out of the boat, He was originally walking on the Word of the Lord, who said, “Come.” And Peter was the only disciple to walk on water because he depended on Jesus’ Word and not any external circumstances. He did not walk on water because the other disciples were in the boat cheering him on. And he did not walk on water because he had strong legs and was an expert fisherman. No! It had nothing to do with the flesh, what he was, or who was around him, but Whose Word he focused on.
Therefore, when we focus on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we find the antidote for all these depressive and oppressive spirits that enter our lives. If I trust the flesh, I’m discouraged. If I trust Jesus, I’m encouraged. If I trust the flesh, I’m in despair. If I trust Jesus, I have hope. If I trust the flesh, I am overwhelmed. If I trust Jesus, my cares are cast upon Him and His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If I trust the flesh, I am wounded and broken. If I trust Jesus, I am healed and whole. If I trust the flesh, I feel sorry for myself. If I trust Jesus, I know that I am more than a conqueror because He loves me. If I trust the flesh and look around, I am lonely. If I trust His Word, He says, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Like the song says, Jesus is our portion. Whatever that word is that the Lord spoke to you while you were reading His Word, whatever that dream or that vision is, whatever God has for you to do, focus on that. And Jesus will take care of the rest of your problems while He gives you beauty for ashes and the garment of praise instead of that old, outdated, raggedy garment of heaviness!!
“Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why does my heart feel lonely
And long for my heavenly home?
For Jesus is my portion.
A constant friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me...”
The song writer is asking questions that many of us ask ourselves daily. But first let us ask, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Like the psalmist in Psalms 42, discouragement, despair, overwhelming trials, brokenness, self-pity and loneliness are all signs of a misplaced vision. You say, “Well, what do you mean? I know where I need to be going but these trials keep bothering me. The enemy keeps attacking me. I pay a bill and 3 more creditors call! So what am I supposed to do? The Bible tells me to look up unto the hills from whence cometh my help. I’ve been looking up so long that my neck is cramped and my back is aching! So tell me what do you mean?” The answer is simple, focus on Him. When we have disconnected the phone, shut out all background noise and turned our attention to Jesus, to the Bishop of our souls, the storms subside. When Peter stepped out of the boat, He was originally walking on the Word of the Lord, who said, “Come.” And Peter was the only disciple to walk on water because he depended on Jesus’ Word and not any external circumstances. He did not walk on water because the other disciples were in the boat cheering him on. And he did not walk on water because he had strong legs and was an expert fisherman. No! It had nothing to do with the flesh, what he was, or who was around him, but Whose Word he focused on.
Therefore, when we focus on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we find the antidote for all these depressive and oppressive spirits that enter our lives. If I trust the flesh, I’m discouraged. If I trust Jesus, I’m encouraged. If I trust the flesh, I’m in despair. If I trust Jesus, I have hope. If I trust the flesh, I am overwhelmed. If I trust Jesus, my cares are cast upon Him and His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If I trust the flesh, I am wounded and broken. If I trust Jesus, I am healed and whole. If I trust the flesh, I feel sorry for myself. If I trust Jesus, I know that I am more than a conqueror because He loves me. If I trust the flesh and look around, I am lonely. If I trust His Word, He says, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Like the song says, Jesus is our portion. Whatever that word is that the Lord spoke to you while you were reading His Word, whatever that dream or that vision is, whatever God has for you to do, focus on that. And Jesus will take care of the rest of your problems while He gives you beauty for ashes and the garment of praise instead of that old, outdated, raggedy garment of heaviness!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Do you Love God
Sometimes we get a distorted idea about what love is. One night, a man decided to show his wife how much he loved her. After dinner he began to recite romantic poetry, telling her he would climb high mountains to be near her, swim wide oceans cross deserts in the burning heat of day, and even sit at her window and sing love songs to her in the moonlight.
After listening to him go on for sometime about this immense love he had, she ended the conversation when she asked, "but will you wash the dishes for me?"
This story reflects the lifestyle of many believers. We are passionate in worship, with all the drama of seasoned actors yet when it comes to genuine commitment to the divine purpose we fail miserably. We don't mind praying for hours and yet will not take a minute to forgive offenders. We hop from churches to revival meetings seeking divine encounters and prophetic word yet we are not disciplined to read a chapter of the bible. Our love for God must not be measured by only the eloquence of our speeches, the passion of our zeal, or the depth of our sacrifices but the quality of our obedience.
Jn 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Love is not just a emotional feeling but an action based on the understanding on what is needed. So if we love God we will take action on what He expects of us. Let us tone down the amplitude of our empty promises and excel in the quality of our obedience.
After listening to him go on for sometime about this immense love he had, she ended the conversation when she asked, "but will you wash the dishes for me?"
This story reflects the lifestyle of many believers. We are passionate in worship, with all the drama of seasoned actors yet when it comes to genuine commitment to the divine purpose we fail miserably. We don't mind praying for hours and yet will not take a minute to forgive offenders. We hop from churches to revival meetings seeking divine encounters and prophetic word yet we are not disciplined to read a chapter of the bible. Our love for God must not be measured by only the eloquence of our speeches, the passion of our zeal, or the depth of our sacrifices but the quality of our obedience.
Jn 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Love is not just a emotional feeling but an action based on the understanding on what is needed. So if we love God we will take action on what He expects of us. Let us tone down the amplitude of our empty promises and excel in the quality of our obedience.
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