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““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”” Jeremiah‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭ Stop trying to take the pen away and let God write your story. So many times we think that our plans are better than God's but that's far from true, God is the perfect person to write your story. The Bible tells us that He knew us before He formed us in our mother's womb. He knew the plans He had for you and what all your life would come to, but He also knew the valleys of life you can overcome to make you stronger. Your plans may seem right, but God's plans' end goal is always better than your own. If you think your plans are better and choose to take your own path you will only end up hurting yourself in the end. Your plans will never amount to God's plans for you! Today, take what you know and ask God to guide you to His plans for you and your life. You will never go wrong when your life is in His han...

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭ It's okay to come to God with all your sins, problems, and burdens. God has never asked you to come to Him with no burdens, problems, or sins, He says to come to as you are. You can come to God with everything you're carrying and give Him the things that are weighing you down. If He wanted you to be perfect He would have never sent Jesus. I was thinking about Adam and Eve and their sin with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. I began to question why God put the tree in the garden in the first place if He didn't want them to eat from it. In my spirit, I felt God speak to me and say, "I had a plan from the start, I had a plan named Jesus." It hit me so hard that He knew all along. The Bible says the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The plan had always been Jesus, He was there from the start. Today, know that God had a plan for you and a plan to save yo...

“A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.” Proverbs‬ ‭20:19‬ ‭ So many people get so caught up in listening to gossip and rumors that they forget the Bible tells us to stay away from it and those who do it. We all have the ability to push ourselves out of the situations of being told gossip and things but we choose not to. If only the Gospel spread as fast as gossip wouldn't the world be a better place. If there is one thing in this world I've learned the person who is always gossiping ends up gossiping about you when you aren't around. You cannot choose to surround yourself with people who gossip when you're meant to spread the Gospel. When you start focusing more on talking about things of God and your thoughts being focused on Him then the Gospel will be the new gossip for you. The way you used to want to talk about all the new gossip you will switch that to wanting to talk about God in every conversation you possibly can. Let the G...

“Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”” Matthew‬ ‭19:26‬ ‭ Sometimes you have to stop yourself from saying, "I can't" and change it to, "I can't, but God can!" The Bible teaches us that with God all things are possible. I love to say that. When you fully take it in it is truly amazing what all you realize. The same God that formed the earth, stars, grass, trees, animals, planets, and all the things of it made you too. When you start to realize all that God has done when creating the world and all the things it and around it, you soon realize that His fixing your problems is small compared to that. God spoke the world and all things into existence who are you to say Him speaking to your problem won't fix it? God can and He will! All that you have to do is ask. If He created the world in 7 days who is to say He can't fix your problems on time? He can! Today, whatever you need ...

“But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.”Colossians‬ ‭3:25‬  ‭So many times we compare our lives to others and become discouraged when we aren't on the same pace that they are. I used to always feel behind everyone and like my life was moving in slow motion until I realized that maybe the timing I was on was made to be different than everyone else's. God has no favorites the Bible says. If you feel discouraged because many are in their harvest season and you're only in the season of planting then know that your harvest will come, at the right time. We couldn't always be in the same season as everyone or life wouldn't be full of ups and downs. We are meant to uplift others and for them to do the same for us. Today, focus on now. Don't watch what pace everyone else is going at make sure that you're more focused on what God is doing for you and not so much on others' harvest. You will never b...

 ““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭ I've always been the person who is afraid to ask someone for things, I know that they won't mind but I fear bothering them. The thing about God is He doesn't care how many times we ask Him, He will still continue to listen to us. The Bible tells us to keep on asking. If you have something you want to ask God about go for it! God is the easiest person to talk to, He isn't like humans and gets annoyed by someone talking too much, rambling, or anything near that. He wants to hear us talk to Him. A friend is someone we can go and talk to without fear of judgment, Jesus can be that friend for you! You don't have to worry about judgment for things because He forgives you the second that you ask. God listens and answers our prayers but that is only if they align with His will. Today, make sure that you continu...

“For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke‬ ‭11:10‬ ‭ Have you ever thought that the door closed because it wasn't from God, and was never meant for you? If there is one thing in life I have learned it's that if something is not meant for you then there is nothing you can do to keep it from closing. God doesn't continue to allow things and people to stay in our lives that aren't meant to be there, and sometimes we create our own pain by making decisions and not checking with God first. You cannot continue to hold the door open that wasn't meant to be opened in the first place. One of the most inspiring quotes I've heard is, "If God closes a door be prepared for a window to be opened." If you're at a standstill because a door has closed in your life know that God has something better for you. You have to learn to let go of the doors that are closed. Get excited for the wind...

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ Be so full of Jesus that those who don't know Him and are around you come to know Him. Imagine if you're so full of Jesus that when others are around you they feel Him. I have met people throughout my life even being a Christian myself that when I am around them they are so close to God that I can feel Him through them. We are each given gifts from God, but we all are given one gift if we choose to have it, that is a light within us that shines so bright for Him. In Sunday school we would sing, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel no, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." We have to have the light within us and let nothing hide it from anyone. You have to be so open about your faith that when someone knows you...

“Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.” Matthew‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭ You cannot expect God to be the source of your peace when you're using the world as your source of satisfaction. Think of the story of Jesus calming the storm, He was asleep when the storm rolled in and the disciples woke Him. Jesus then spoke and there was a great calm the Bible says. We want peace and that great calm in the storm, but often times we are the ones creating the storms by trying to fill every void we have with earthly pleasures. You cannot expect God to give you peace when you're filling yourself with earthly things. You get what you are filling yourself with. If you're filling yourself with the world there isn't going to be room for God. It's like filling a glass completely up with water and expecting there to be room for ice afterward. It doesn't work like that. You cannot expect...

“You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:” Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:2‬ ‭ When God gives us something He doesn't give us a list of do's and don't's with that. He expects us to use it for good and if we don't then we reap what we sow. You cannot get a blessing from God and use it the wrong way and expect God to continue to bless you. It's like God giving you the gift of music and you using it for all the wrong things, why would God hand you better when you aren't using what He gave you for good. Think of the story of the devil, he thought He was better than God with the gift God had given him and he was kicked from Heaven. Don't take any blessing or gifts from God and not use them for what He intended you to. Today, whatever gift or blessing God has given you take it and use it for good, use it for the glory of God. God doesn't expect you to be perfect but He does expect your best effort. Here are some verses to reflect on today. ...

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭ It's hard to be the person God has called you to be when you're too busy becoming what the world wants to see you be. You have to come to a place in your life where you decide that you would rather please God than anyone in this world. I used to be the person who constantly looked for validation and approval from others, but the closer I grew to God the more I realized that is all I ever needed. Whatever you feed yourself is what you become, if you feed yourself gossip, drama, lies from the enemy, and sinfulness then you will become a worldly person. If you feed yourself faith, the word, prayer, worship music, and surround yourself with good people who encourage you then you will become the person you are designed to be. God doesn't call us to be a part of the world only to be a vessel to the world. Today, if you're stuck b...

““I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”” Luke‬ ‭7:47‬ ‭ This verse shows that even when God knows our many sins, He can still forgive them. Most of the time, we feel like we have to come to God with the small things, but the big stuff will scare Him, that is far from true. God already knows every sin we have ever done, and yet He loves us anyway. We don't have to pack lightly to come to God, we can bring all the baggage to Him and He will still say we are forgiven, loved, and chosen by Him. There is nothing you have done that you should feel ashamed to tell God about because God knows and sees all He has already seen and knows what you have done, He just wants your honesty. Today, whatever the things you have done that you're ashamed of and the baggage of sin you have been carrying know that you can bring it all to God and He will treat you the way He did this woman ...

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭ When you're looking for a person that you could be in a relationship with, what are the traits you're looking for the most? Never look only at the way someone dresses, looks, carries themselves, or even the way that they act. The most important trait that you can look for in someone is to question their walk with God. If they aren't walking with God then they aren't on the same path as you are. I know people try to sugarcoat things and say you can make a relationship work with an unbeliever, but you will never become what you're meant to be with the wrong person. The person that God has designed for you will help you in your walk with God, help you build an even better relationship with God, and most of all they will be on the same page as you. You cannot be with someone who doesn't have the same values and...

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ Most people think that when you become a Christian you have rules of do's and don'ts, but that isn't even it. It's more that your desires and thoughts change entirely. You no longer want to be around those who don't align with your lifestyle and purpose, you no longer want to do the things you used to do, act the way that you used to, and maybe even talk the way that you used to talk. There is a song they sing at my church that goes like this, "I may wear the same clothes, and have the same ole' name, but you're looking on the outside if you could see inside instead. You would see a brand new man because the old man is dead." The man being dead is metaphorically but it's that we die to our old selves. We may have the same name and the same clothes but inside we are completely different. When you truly find ...

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭ Don't wait to pray until you need something.  God is not a genie, He is not someone you can just go to when you're in need. God is someone that we have to have a daily commitment to, not someone we are to call when we need something. God is someone that we need to talk to every day to be encouraged. We can always go to God for our needs, but we shouldn't always go to Him for just that. He is our friend. The Bible says we have to pick up our cross and follow Him daily. If you're only going to God when you need something that is not a relationship with Him, that is using Him for what you want. Today, take time with God to not ask Him for something but to thank Him for all that He has done for you.  Start your prayers by being thankful. When you begin to spend time in prayer you will realize it is more about being vulnerable with God than it is about ask...

“Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”” John‬ ‭13:7‬ ‭ So many times in life we go through seasons that we cannot understand. I have been reading in Matthew, I finished it last night. I realized that although the disciples walked with Jesus and were with Him all the time they still never fully understood Him or His plan. Jesus told them the things to come but they still did not understand. It's like looking at a situation from the inside to the out, you cannot understand it the way someone from the outside can. God understands every season we go through and knows the reasoning for it. God never sends us into a season without a purpose. The Bible says, "You may not understand what I am doing now, but someday you will." Today, if there are things you don't understand ask God for knowledge. Not every season is easy to understand but every season has a purpose. Just like the seasons we have physically, they all have a purpose. Do...

“For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:13‬ ‭ So many times we stay up stressing over the outcome of things. When we choose worry over faith we realize that we are not being fully dependent on God. I have always heard to never depend on anyone and that is so true, but depending on God is never a bad thing, He is the one person that will never go back on His word, never stop loving and caring for you and most of all never let you down. Never spend more time worrying than more time of you having faith in God to handle things! The Bible says "Do not fear" 365 times, some may think it's a coincidence but I think He wanted us to have a daily reminder for each day of the year that He is in complete control and we shouldn't worry. Today, let go of the stress and hand your situation over to God. Begin to speak faith into your situation, that is when God will step in for you! God will nev...

““I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!” Revelation‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭ We all talk about how we can become a lukewarm Christian but have you ever talked about or been told how to stop being one? The first thing I think to do is to acknowledge that you're one. Signs of that to me, personally, are when I begin to forget to do my nightly prayer journal for a few days, not read my Bible at least once a day, and not spend at least one day of the week alone in prayer. Those are things I personally pick up on when I begin to drift from God. We all do our walk with God differently. To get back where I felt the most fired up for God for me is to remind myself of the things He has done for me, the things He brought me out of, and the things He has promised me. Then I begin to start to read the Bible and take time to be alone with God, in a quiet place. When you begin to make an effort to change God notices. He will be so thankful you r...

“The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”” Isaiah‬ ‭60:22‬ ‭ I was talking to someone tonight about how so many times we want to give up and we want to give in because we cannot see anything happening. We think that all the good things that were going to happen have already happened and that there aren't any more blessings left for us. That is not reality. So many times in my life I have wanted to throw in the towel and give up because I felt like nothing good was going to come, but God always shows up and shows out. The thing about God is He doesn't open doors and open things up for us when we want Him to. I've learned that the hard way. God doesn't open things up even when we think that we need it the most, He opens things up when He knows it is right. Maybe there is no perfect time in our lives but God knows more than we do. God doesn't give us thing...

“And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.” 2 Peter‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭ Sometimes faith will make you look foolish to others. Think of the story of Noah, God gave absolutely no warning of the flood to everyone except Noah. Everyone thought Noah was silly for believing in the rain and that it was coming, no one could see it. If you have faith in something but no one else can see it then it doesn't change what you can see through your faith. Keep believing in what you're praying and having faith over. Everyone eventually believed Noah when it began to rain. Your faith is what is speaking those things into existence. If Noah never had the faith and listened to what everyone else was saying He would have never built the ark, saved all the creatures and humanity as a whole. We would all have disappeared becau...

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis‬ ‭50:20‬ From the beginning of time our first instinct has been to hide when we sin, and to hide the sins within us. God never intended for us to do that, If He wanted us to hide our sins and be afraid of coming forward to Him about the mistakes we have made then there would be no reason for Him to forgive us. His forgiveness is not based on things of this world, His forgiveness is based on His compassion, love and Jesus’ sacrifice for us! When we were kids and would do something wrong we would hide from our parents, we would fear they would be mad at us. We often times bring that with us as we grow up. We begin to hide from God out of fear of disappointment, and un-forgiveness from Him. God never intends for us to be perfect, but He does intend for us to be the best people and Christians that we can be. We should wake up everyday praising Him fo...

“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” James‬ ‭1:26‬ ‭ Sometimes we are so quick to say what we are thinking that we don't think of how it will make someone else feel. Sometimes you need to take time and process what you are thinking of saying before you talk. Words hurt, and the thing about words is that they cannot be taken back. Once you say something you cannot take your words back. Jesus was a person who was firm with His words when it came to faith, but He was never mean to others. He was a compassionate person for us although He was much more intelligent than we are. Some things are better left unsaid. Before you speak, think about how it will affect others, make them feel and see you as a person. If it is negative then don't say it, but if it is positive then say it for them to hear. Today, make sure that you are being kind with your words and building others up instead of tearing them down...

“But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭ Sometimes we are willing to walk into sin thinking that it will fulfill our hearts, but if it breaks God's heart then how will it ever fulfill yours? You can choose your own path in life, and often times that seems like the easy way, but in reality, it will never lead you to where you are truly meant to be. If God's heart is broken seeing us walk into sin then how will it ever be the outcome that we think it will be. There are people who will never have good intentions towards us, but God is not one of those people. God is always looking out for you and what is best for you. If you think walking in sin is what will fulfill you in life you're mistaken. I asked God one time why people who are deeply in the world seem happy and content, and He answered me and said, "Because they have happiness earthly, but an eternity of misery to deal with." Think about...

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭14‬ ‭ Something most of us struggle with is waiting. Waiting can be the hardest thing for us to do at times. I have learned that when I take things into my own hands and don't ask God if something is right for me, it either fails or breaks my heart. Waiting is something you will never regret. I spent almost 3 years waiting on something one time, in the end, God gave me something I didn't even think of, it wasn't the exact thing I was waiting on but it was better. Sometimes we have to come to a place where we ask God, Am I doing all that I can possibly do in this season of waiting, or Is there something I need to change. I love the saying, "Sometimes God doesn't change what you're asking Him to change because He was trying to change your heart." That is what God has done for me, He changed my heart to want something different than what I was praying for. ...

“Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.” Matthew‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭ One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Jesus calmed the storm. I was very scared of storms for most of my life, we have tornados where I am from. A simple thunderstorm can develop a tornado easily. After I experienced an F5 tornado close to where I'm from when I was 10-11 I became scared. It was a fear I couldn't overcome. I would want to go to a storm house when there was even a watch for one. I dealt with that for more than 10 years. I began to pray about it and ask God to help me overcome it. I was sitting outside and God spoke to me and said if I have given you peace with other things why can't I from this. I remembered the story that Jesus had calmed the storm, after instead of fearing storms every time they came around me I remembered that I was in the safes place I could ever be, I still woul...

 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”” Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭I feel like most of us have been through a season where we feel alone, we feel as though we have no one and that no one could possibly be there for us. Sometimes when you come to that place it isn't so much that God allowed you to be alone, but maybe He needed you to be alone. In the quiet and alone places that is often times where we come to the realization that all we really need is Him. I know I have been there and I have learned that there is truly no greater friend than Jesus. We don't like to be alone, animals don't even like to be alone, well most of them. That is why God made male and female so that we wouldn't have to go through life alone. He doesn't expect us to spend our entire lives lonely, but sometimes it is good to have time alone to think and pray. Most of the things I have learned in my relationship wit...

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬  You may not see it now but God will never send you into a difficult season if there isn't a harvest in the next one. I'm from the south, Mississippi to be exact, it gets humid, hot, dry at times, and almost miserable in the summer. I always look forward to autumn for the excellent and comfortable weather. Fall is a breath of fresh air, it's beautiful. I have learned that you never go through a desert with a promised land on the other side. If you're in a season of drought, silence, failure, brokenness, stress, or any other thing then know that there is a harvest for you on the other side. You can sit and stress about things all day, but the Bible says that He even takes care of the birds who don't have a barn to keep things in. You don't need to stress about the harvest in your life, God will work all that out, and noth...

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭ As we walked into a new month a couple of days ago, we need to remember that the things we pray for aren't actually far off sometimes. Think of where you were a month ago from today to now. Maybe in the last month, you started school, started a hobby, accomplished something, had an answer to prayers, or other things. A month seems like a short period of time until you think of something you're praying for and then you begin to doubt that God can change it in that amount of time. A month is plenty of time for God to work out what you're not only praying but hoping for. God created the entire world, the things in it, and all the planets in seven short days. What you are praying for can be easily fixed by God in a month, just because you cannot see a way doesn't mean ...

“In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭ Be the reason someone finds God again. Bringing one soul back to Christ is a big deal, it is something that might not be easy but something that is worthwhile. Think of the story of the one lost sheep where the ninety-nine stayed in their place, the Bible says that Heaven will rejoice over one lost soul. When we see others who are drifting or have drifted away from Christ our first instinct should be to remind them of His forgiveness and compassion for them. There is another story in the Bible that relates to this, it's the story of the prodigal son, and the father welcomes him home with open arms. It's an example of what Jesus does when we stray away from Him and come back. He doesn't push us away and say that we shouldn't have left in the first place instead He welcomes us with open a...

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬  ‭Your answer to your prayer is coming a lot sooner than you think. Recently I can just feel a good change in the air, that something good is about to happen for me and my family. In my physical vision, I cannot see it yet, but in my spiritual vision, I know that it is coming. See that's what faith really is, faith is believing what you know and feel even though you cannot see it yet. The Bible says faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. I believe that good things are coming, I see it in my spiritual eyes but I don't see evidence of that just yet. If you notice when Jesus healed people He often times told them, "Your faith has healed you." Our faith means a lot. When you believe anything with faith you will then see it come to pass. Today, whatever it is you have faith of, feel in your spirit, or can see in your spirit kno...