The Purpose for the Present Pain

The seasons of brokenheartedness we experience, as worshippers, come to break our will power of the stubbornness that has led us astray from the heart of Yahweh. By disregarding Father's wishes to instead do that which we have deemed to be right in our own eyes, we ultimately set ourselves up to experience the sort of painful spiritual reckoning that is meant to crush the soul as well as the ego. 

As spirit beings having a human experience, we must undergo a maturing process that makes it unmistakably clear to us when even our best intentions conflict with Heaven's agenda. Consequently, the only way Father can most effectively get our attention is by ALLOWING us to presently experience the pain of our humanity contending with the plans He both ordained and set in motion before the foundation of the world. 

Pain creates brokenness. And yes, there are times in our life journeys when it takes us experiencing brokenness to produce our willingness to embrace the culture of righteousness. In other words, sometimes our way has got to hurt more than we ever thought it would in order for us to see why Yahweh never wanted us to go that route. But it is often through brokenness that we are steered back into the right direction.

It Costs What It Costs | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

Many times, we make declarations of faith without understanding the cost associated with them.  In my own life, I vividly remember the intense amount of prayer, fasting and consecration I underwent between my twenty-ninth and thirtieth birthdays in preparation for what GOD was going to do in the next phase of my life.  Turning thirty held great meaning for me because it was at this age that Jewish men who had committed their lives to the study of the holy books would be eligible to become master teachers.  It was also the age during which Jesus stepped out into public ministry.  I knew things would be different for me from this point onward, and I did not want to take this pivotal time of my life so lightly that its significance would get overlooked.  So all throughout that year, it was my prayer that GOD prepare me as I began to transition from the no more to the not yet.  However, I had no idea then what I was asking for.

As crazy as it sounds, sometimes it's just better that we don't know the cost of our faith declarations.  GOD does all things well, and I really believe His way of keeping us informed on a need to know basis works to our benefit.  In all honesty, if we really knew the costs associated with what we've declared by faith for our lives, then our hearts would be so gripped with fear that we would probably never pursue the path towards fulfilling that which we've spoken.  Had I known on my twenty-ninth birthday what would happen to me between then and the thirty-first birthday I celebrated this past Monday, the human side of me most certainly would not have made such bold faith declarations.  All I can say is that I know what a miracle looks like because I see one everytime I look into a mirror.

Of all that my eyes have seen these past two years, I would say moving to Dallas was probably the gutsiest.  Drawn to this metroplex without any concrete reason why, this leap of faith represents a major cost associated with my own declaration of faith in 2009.  It's not been easy leaving behind all that is familiar to move to a place larger than any other community I've ever before lived.  But GOD continues to show Himself strong on my behalf.  He sends prophetic Words through strangers to reassure me that, despite my feelings of uncertainty, all is going as planned.  When I've wanted to pack up and go back to where I came from, the Holy Spirit reminds me of the calling that's been on my life from eternity.  It's been during these times over the past year that I have come into a greater awareness of GOD's care for me...and it humbles me in the most heartwrenching way.

While recently visiting a friend of mine's church, it became clear that I've been well-planted, well-nourished and well-tended to, but the pot I've been in has become too small.  As great as the place in which I was planted has been for me, this move was timed by GOD because it would take leaving that place of comfort to follow GOD's leading.  This experience has taught me that it takes leaving everything you know to REALLY find out what it means to rely on GOD.  In order to ensure I'm prepared for the next phase, I've had to make a conscience decision to submit to this uncomfortable season.  GOD has to make sure that my trust is in Him and that He has my total allegiance.  No more "my way" but "His way" because I cannot expect to fulfill the purpose for which GOD gave me life by making decisions based upon my own understanding.  For this is where, in the walk of faith, where the rubber meets the road and it's time to get moving.

Your Time of Refreshing Is Now | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

I recently came across the Amplified version of Acts 3:19, which reads as follows:

"So, repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to GOD], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, or reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord."  

My soul couldn't help but get happy reading this because there is so much hope found in this one verse of scripture.

Truly my heart goes out to all those who love GOD but have found themselves so far from Him that they feel like just giving up and letting the chips fall where they may.  Yes, they have made mistakes and enjoyed lifestyles not pleasing to GOD; but beneath all that is wrong in their lives there lies a desire for that which only GOD can provide.  (This is why it's so important for me to not judge people based on their behavior.  My focus can't be on judging WHAT people are doing because it takes understanding WHY they're doing it to really help them.)

I want to encourage someone who feels like GOD, who was once so near, is now afar off.  Know that He's NEVER stopped loving you.  Even when you tried everything and everyone else to deal with all that's wrong in your life, GOD NEVER GAVE UP ON YOU.  His steadfast love for you outlasts ALL of the temporary fixes that, after they have given you a few moments of relief, only abandoned you to feeling worse than before.  With arms outstretched, your Heavenly Father patiently awaits to embrace you, His child.

It's not too late to change, no matter what anyone says.  Don't focus on how it will happen, just make up in your mind that you want to change and that you're willing to do what it takes by His power to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Not only will GOD erase all the sins you have committed, but He will refresh you.  (Thank You, Father!!!)  YOU WILL RECOVER from the effects of the heat experienced in that dry place from which you came.  No longer will you feel numb, for GOD will restore the feeling you thought would be forever lost as a result of the dry spell.  As it says in Isaiah 12:3 (KJV), "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

Don't wait another day.  Don't deny how you feel for another hour.  Your time of refreshing is now.  I know you feel the Holy Spirit tugging on your heart strings.  I know you want to be relieved of the mounting pressure within.  Your time of refreshing is RIGHT NOW.  The voice of GOD is calling you.  The way you once knew is closer than you think.  Be refreshed, my brother, my sister, in Jesus' name today.

I'm Resting | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine that was so enlightening.  You know, it always amazes me how GOD manifests Himself, even during something as simple as a phone conversation.  At any rate, the thought came up that in facing situations, particularly when people bring up our pasts, it's important to rest on the Word of GOD and what has been promised to us therein.

As we conversed, the Holy Spirit began to minister to me and focused my attention on the word "rest."  What came to mind was a picture of me fatigued and leaning against a large rock or boulder.  I noticed in this picture that all my weight was being supported by the rock because my body was too weak to support the weight it had been carrying.  The picture's message was quite clear: I don't have the strength to hold up (or uphold) the weight of my life, but the promises of GOD--like a huge boulder--can most certainly do so.

In GOD's Presence - Part Three

"It's not about you needing more of GOD, but about Him getting more of you."

Often times I think about how different my life could have been had I spent more time in God's presence earlier in life. I can't help but wonder how much farther along I'd be in my journey to fulfilling God's purpose for my life. Of course, the past is what it is - THE PAST. However, it's during those times of quiet meditation that I determine within myself that I won't allow the enemy to rob me of any more time in my ideal environment of God's presence.

Once you gain an understanding of this, you'll never again settle for less. We, as humans, are endowed with free will to choose our environments. Our experiences in these environments are the brushstrokes across the canvases of our lives; therefore, we must be vigilant in not allowing any and every thing to happen to us because we are products of our environments.

We can't go wrong living each day in God's presence. A life in God's presence is the ideal environment for our personal growth and development as Kingdom Citizens. There we can expect to be subjected to the conditions most conducive to us fulfilling our God-ordained purposes. Just as the image of a healthy plant indicates that it's received the proper amount of water and sunlight as well as the appropriate nutrients and soil, successful citizens of the Kingdom similarly indicate quality time has been spent in God's presence allowing those personal encounters with the Almighty to impact their daily lives.

God wants for us to be successful, healthy, fulfilled and at peace. All these things can be gained through a lifestyle of worship, a daily life walk with God. It's not about you needing more of God, but about Him getting more of you. If you may be struggling in wholly surrendering your life to God, look at it this way: you have very little (if anything at all) to lose, but you have so much more to gain. God gives us the power to achieve results. Instead of talking about how you wish and hope to accomplish great things, get on the path and start doing great things.

God's presence is where greatness is the norm. In God's presence there's no such thing as miracles because the miraculous is commonplace. When you dwell in God's presence, the cares of this world grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. The ideal environment of God's presence shifts your perspective and causes you to see your physical environment quite differently than before. It's there that you begin to grow and truly experience the metamorphosis God promises to all who draw near to Him.

Until next time, be overwhelmingly blessed!