Don't Let your Pain Overrule your Purpose

By divine order I stumbled on a video by Cora Jakes Coleman on You Tube responding to a question from one of her followers concerning overwhelming pain that made her want to give up on her purpose. In summary Cora responded in such a way that immediately arrested my spirit because of the painful experience I was going through. She said, (and I'm paraphrasing) your purpose has to be bigger than your pain, if you focus on the pain it will make you give up on your purpose. And that is exactly what I was doing. I was focusing on the unexplainable pain caused from other people and trying to figure out why. My focus was in the wrong place, and my thoughts and prayers were directed incorrectly.

I've come to realize we may not always understand or like how a situation makes us feel but there's purpose in it. Our job is to keep our eyes, hope, and faith on God. Depending on the degree of pain and irrationality of the situation this is very challenging. But how difficult it was for Jesus to endure all the pain and suffering that he did so we could have life. Even Jesus asked God before his final hours of being beaten, whipped and nailed to a cross "Father if it is your will remove this cup." None of us like to experience pain but it's unavoidable if we want to grow in order to walk in our destiny. Surrendering all things to God blesses us with his comforting spirit and wisdom that is poured into our hearts and minds. He does it in a way that only he can do… Praise His Holy Name!!! So if you are experiencing a tough situation right now press in by saturating your spirit with his word, prayer and worship. It's the only way to get through it without allowing it to paralyze you. Don't give up! God has given you an assignment to complete... It has to happen!!!!

(download this song)

My Eyes Are Still On You

by Darwin Hobbs

Lord I know that you....I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you. I've never been this way each step I take is strange and new but my eyes are on you. Teach me your ways and I will follow. Show me your will I will obey you. You've always brought me through. My eyes are still on you. So Teach me your ways and I will follow. I just want to do your will. I will obey even though it's hard sometimes. Father you've always brought us through so tonight my eyes are still on you. 

A Prayer in the Face of Tragedy

Lord, we come to you this morning asking that you will heal the hearts and minds of this country that grieves the death of your nine beautiful children. Lord we know they are in your hands right now and we thank you that even in tragedy on this earth you have a made a way of escape into your loving arms, what better place could anyone be. Lord comfort the families, the community and the world that grieves over this senseless hate crimes it pulls at our hearts and minds. Lord we place our brokenness in your hands, we trust you to make what is wrong right, we look to you to continue to heal and strengthen us in a world that is divided. Lord we follow your example when you prayed for your enemies as you hung on a cross and pray for the young man who committed this horrific crime that he will come to know the love of Christ, I pray that he will repent and welcome you as his Lord and Savior and the enemy will release him from the grips of death and bondage. Lord we acknowledge you are still on the throne ruling and reigning, nothing catches you by surprise and you always find a way to turn things around for the good of them that love the Lord. We thank you that one day the families of the victims will reunite with their love ones, death does not have a hold over those that love and serve God. The pain and suffering that we experience in this world will not compare to the joy, love, and peace we will have in paradise with you. We know the angels are rejoicing and you have welcomed your faithful servants to their permanent home with you. Thank you for always making a way of escape for us, thank you for ruling over the enemy in the most horrific situations. Lord we thank you for being a faithful, just, and loving God and once again we pray that you will send comfort and peace to this nation through your mighty power that only you can do. Your love always rules over hate.

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Amen

Psalm 3:8 NIV

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Tim 1:7 NIV

We all have a level of fear, but when fear cripples and prevents us from growing or moving forward in life it’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Fear produces low self-esteem, anger, stagnation, timidity, unhealthy relationships, excuses, and depression. Many fears that we carry were developed at an early age and as we grow older and begin to see patterns of situations and circumstances in our life it should alert us to seek God so he can reveal the areas that need healing. It has been my experience that God will sometimes place us in situations so we can recognize our fears in order to overcome them. It doesn’t feel good at the time but as we begin to heal it ignites freedom and power that was already placed inside of us. The only way to overcome fear is to address it over and over again until it no longer has power over us. This can be a very frightening because we are basically experiencing the same emotions of the situation that created the fear.  I find it interesting that God took the time in his word to specifically tell us he did not give us a spirit of fear and then elaborates on the spirits he did provide for us that serves as spiritual tools to alleviate the fear which are power, love, and self-control.  God never leaves us without support his desire is for us to be whole in every area of our life. Ask Him and you will receive….  

There is a degree of dysfunction in every family and many times not receiving the proper level of love and support causes us to feel a void of feeling unloved. In the quest of trying to fill that void we make mistakes that induce greater pain and a feeling of low self-worth. Only the love of God through our openness to accept it will heal the wounds and scars. When we allow God’s love to infiltrate our heart and mind we are able to live the life God created specifically for each of us.  You can trust God’s love it’s pure and perfect. Get to know and love who you are through Jesus Christ, there is an unexplainable freedom and confidence in it that no one else can give you.

He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 GWT

Do you ever just take the time to celebrate who you are, the person God has created you to be. Think about how far God has brought you and where he's taking you. It's exciting to know that each day the plan God has made specifically for you is being played out in your life.  Knowing and loving yourself from God’s perspective gives you power and confidence to do things you never imagined. It causes you to value the person that you are because you know God has you in HIS precious hand. Yes the same hand that healed the sick, hugged little children, served his friends and was nailed to the cross. The word of God says nothing can pluck his children out of his hand, so know that you are valuable in the eyes of God and he cares for you with a perfect, genuine love, it doesn't get any better than that. 

Celebrate you!!!

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace. I Peter 1: NLT

I have given you authority (power) to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19 NIV

Many times as individuals we feel that if we don’t address an issue it will go away, in actuality the things in your life that you don’t address and conquer have control and power over you. Fear, unhealthy relationships, lies, and the things we know we should do and don’t are examples of issues that we allow to have power over us. It takes courage and integrity to face life challenges some have been embedded in us from childhood. But with faith and confidence in God we have the power and authority to overcome everything that does not fit the description of Jesus Christ. As we go through this journey with Christ more is revealed of who we are not and who we should become, I believe God designed it this way so that each day by the power he has instilled in us we become transformed into HIS character, and love. His word promises “he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Never give up on you, I don’t care how many times you have to try in a particular area that you are struggling just stay the course trust God drench yourself in his word and prayer and he will do a work. You are never defenseless or hopeless, Christ is for you, yes the one with all authority and power in his hand, the one who thought enough of you to die for you so you would have an abundant life he is with you. Stand firm and never allow anything but God to have power over you.