"Behind the Glory"

 Reflections4Life™ January 29, 2023

“Behind The Glory”

“Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 15:13; 27:19; Jeremiah 17; Hosea 7; Colossians 2; 3…

You may hear me giving God the glory. You may witness me lifting up my hands in praise, bowing my head in prayer, turning down my plate for fasting, and hear me often say, “Glory to my God Most High”. Yet, my current circumstances bewilder you. You cannot wrap your physical mind around how and why I am praising God. What could I possibly have to be thankful for? From your point of view, I am losing; have already lost the battle; abandoned by God in my time of need. You cannot understand the reason why I still give praises to God. That is because you do not know my entire story. Moreover, some know nothing at all.

I decree this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. It is a guarantee that not everyone will understand or know anything about us but will assume almost everything. Your mission this week is to stay the course. Regardless of who may know you or not, it is not their opinion that matters the most, it is the word of God. Whatever the Father speaks of your life matters. Continue to give God the glory as He transitions you through the different changes and levels in your life. There is power in your story and when God has fully prepared you, you will speak and share your testimony. Until then, do not mind those who do not understand. Instead, pray for them and keep things moving.

You may not understand the reason behind the glory some give to God, as they may not understand yours. Whether your life portrays good or bad times; hard or easy times, it does not always reveal what is going on behind closed doors or in the depths of your heart. The heart holds many things, and God our Father knows them all.

Some will see the pain we are in but never understand the reason for our pain or our sorrow. They don’t know our story, nor can they understand the reason why we would still give God the glory if we are in so much pain and sorrow. They do not understand the power of our praise. They do not understand the healing that comes from worship. Many were not taught the power of praise and worship in a person’s life that is going through. They are not aware of the transition that takes place in the heavens and in the spirit, which lays the seed for a greater harvest. Far too many want a quick fix to their situations and when they do not receive it, they give up; give up on God and stop having faith.

You may have watched and witnessed some things in a person’s life, and it boggles your mind how that person—knowing some of what they have gone through and continue to go through—could have such faith and still worship a God that seems to have forgotten them. It makes one wonder what many have or have not learned about the heart of God, spiritual armor, and facing spiritual warfare.

There are those, also, who do not understand why we hold onto faith, pray, and praise God when so much trouble continues to come our way. They are convinced that we have done something wrong. We are not as faithful as we profess but have secret sins, and this is why we suffer. According to their theory, we need to confess and tell the truth and then God will make everything right. After all, why would such atrocities or such attacks from the enemy continue for so long if we are blameless, and have been living accordingly? Sounds like Job's friends in the book of Job, huh?

Beloved, if you will, consider Job. His “friends” and even his wife did not understand why Job chose to continue to praise God; to bless His Holy Name after all he had suffered and lost. Job was harassed and told to admit what he had done and return to God. To accept God into his heart again so God would restore him. His wife told him to curse his God and die. They had no idea that God was in control. Job, himself, almost forgot as well. Pain will do that to you. As well as, constant words and bickering from those around you who just do not understand.

Wallowing in self-pity, Job recalls God’s love and kindness; even to those who are unrighteous, he recalls the goodness and mercy of God. (Job 26:5-14; 27:1-6) Yet, Job still suffered and his friends still had no answers only questions and speculations. A young man (Elihu) who looks up to Job reproves Job and his friends. (Job 35-37). God then speaks to humbling Job and showing him where he needed growth, chastising his friends, and then bringing restoration to the life of Job. (Job 41; 42)

Here is what I know: No one but God may ever know the whole story and the why behind your praise and glory. However, when you serve a mighty God and He has brought you through countless things, you gain an understanding of who God is, especially in your own life, and who you are in Him. However, people slay you, with their words, thoughts, and summations about your life. Their accusations and actions hurt you to the core; when you know inside your heart that you are indeed walking with God, you continue to give Him the glory in spite, because you know and understand that sorrow and mourning may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. God will indeed vindicate you.

You may not know how long your night will be. How long your Job experience will last. However, you do know that God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. That, His word is certain and His promises to you will indeed happen if you faint not, and do not rely on your emotions or your flesh, or give up or give in to the words and character assassination of others concerning you. Faith is the substance of all things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. Though the promises may tarry; the visions seem a little long in coming, and the attacks of the enemy intensify, as long as you know in your heart that God has your back, you will lift your voice and heart in praise and worship, giving God the glory, knowing that you win at the end of your story.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Behind your glory, to the Lord God Almighty, is a story filled with hope, faith, and determination. You overcome through your worship, praise, and testimonies. Through you, God is going to bless many others; encouraging them to give God the glory. Regardless of what others may think their story is, they will know they win because God is on their side, honoring their faith and belief in Him. Remember, beloveds, we win! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"It Starts in the Mind"

 Reflections4Life™ January 8, 2023

“It Starts in the Mind”

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 28; Psalm 51; John 14; Romans 12; Colossians 3; James 1...

©Ruthe McDonald.

It is a pleasure to be able to fellowship with God. Having access to His grace and mercies. His anointing is new in our lives every day. As you walk in faith, remember that God has heard you before you even called. Do not give up on God but hold fast to His word and promises. Stay in the word this year. Fast, pray, and meditate. Know in your hearts, that no matter what you face, you are not alone. Feed your mind and heart a consistent diet of the word of God. Surround yourself in worship and watch what God manifests in your life this New Year!

I decree that this week’s Reflections will remain a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing, which God will not do for His children. His love is unconditional and knows no bounds. Make it your business this year to get in the presence of God as never before. If you want to see a change in your life; if you want direction; if you want to know your purpose and how to handle the things that come your way, and remain steadfast? Then, spend more time with the Father and get set to have your mind renewed daily.

To be alive, in the presence of God, and receive all that He has ordained for your life is an awesomely powerful thing. I can assure you that there are many people that are grateful, never thinking or believing they would see another year. There are also those filled with gratitude for the opportunity to enter into a new season. Yet, still, others remain stuck in the past and are finding it difficult to move forward. No matter how many brand new days and years they receive, they are not living because they are stuck in a moment or situation, becoming prey for the enemy.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering.

It starts in the mind. Beloved, everything we are experiencing and will continue to experience begins in the mind—what we are telling ourselves, what we are listening to, whom we are listening to, and what we ultimately believe. What we have consistently thought about or have allowed planted in our minds will eventually become a belief in our hearts and manifest itself. The only way to keep those thoughts from taking root is to renew our minds daily, take on the thoughts of Christ, and learn to pull down strongholds. If we do not, we become a tool for the enemy to use in his fight against God. Trust me when I tell you, if the enemy finds any entrance he can slip through, he will, and will not stop until he destroys your life, your faith, and your love. Or until you stand in the authority that God has given you, and kick the devil out.

We are no match for Satan. Not on our own. He is the master manipulator and father of lies. The mind is the devil’s playground. If he gets in, he will try to take over. It begins with a whisper, a thought, an image, a dream. If we do not immediately dismiss it, plead the blood of Jesus, and learn to fight the way God instructs us, we will fall victim to the enemy, as he wreaks havoc in our lives, and destroy our hearts and lives in the process.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We must—we must understand and believe that we are not waging war against a physical entity. We cannot underestimate the cunningness of the enemy. Or, how far he will go. Trust me when I tell you this: the enemy has studied us. He has roamed this earth, often aware of the greatness and power that rests in many of us that we do not even yet recognize in ourselves. He will use every arsenal he has to destroy us so that we do not come to that realization. Or, if we do realize it, destroy us before it manifests. That is why we must not be ignorant about the enemy and who we are in a battle with, and why it all starts in our minds, with what we tell ourselves, what we believe, what we think about, and what we know.

Renew your minds on a daily basis, Beloved. Allow God to saturate your heart and mind with His word, His truth, and revelation about the enemy. Do not underestimate your adversary, the devil. The mind is his choice of a battleground. If allowed as much as an inch, he will come in and wreak such havoc and devastation; you will not recognize who you are and what has transpired. But know this: we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ. We have, as well, Holy Spirit. Yet, we must yield to Him. Yield to what God is saying and release what we think we know and have faith, even in the things that make no sense. We must be willing to release who we are for who God says we are. We must be willing to release our intellects and ways of thinking, in exchange for the mind of Christ. We must totally yield to the Father, and lay aside what we thought we knew, in order to receive what we need, and the revelation of who we are in God, how to strategically fight AND win against the enemy. This is not a battle of the flesh, but a battle of the mind and spirit. This battle is won through the power and strength of our God.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. It starts in the mind, Beloved. All victories begin in our mind and what we tell ourselves, what we think about consistently, and what eventually is believed in our hearts concerning all matters. Renew your mind daily. Think about the things of God. Meditate on His word, put on your armor of God, and fight how God teaches us strategically to fight against the enemy of our soul and future. You got this because God has you. Trust Him. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Life Changers!"

Reflections4Life™ January 1, 2023

“Life-Changers!”

“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, ‘Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Scripture Contemplation: Isaiah 61:1; Psalms 95:8-9; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 13:5; Jeremiah 31:1-12

©Ruthe McDonald.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BELOVEDS! GOD is calling us to be the catalyst that sparks the change in people's lives. Life Changers! We are on the front line for Jesus! Boldly professing the Word of the Lord, living out loud in Christ! Covered by the Blood of the Lamb!

I decree this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Beloveds, let this New Year find you with a determined heart to follow all that God has ordained for your life. Everything that did not work last year? Those are your life lessons for this year. Learn from them. Grow from them. Allow God to show you how to see the lessons and opportunities in them all. Follow God's lead and start living the life that He has ordained for you before the beginning of time.

Can you believe it? It's 2023! You made it! You are here! Through all the trials, troubles, setbacks, and heartaches, you are still here in the land of the living, having made it through! A year that you often wondered how'd you make it to another day. Here you are, Beloveds! God kept you. He delivered you. Though it may not feel like it, He has blessed you!

We all have a testimony, whether we see it or not, where GOD has brought us through and is bringing us through. Some situations would have destroyed us if it were not for God's grace and mercies. The goodness of GOD knows no bounds. There are no limits to His love for His children. 

There are things that occur in our lives that we sometimes just can’t explain or, are too exhausted to give an explanation for, other than to say, THANK YOU JESUS! You deliver me out of all of my troubles! The life of believers is changing moment by moment, day by day. Sometimes it feels like everything is the same and nothing is happening–nothing that we want to happen. However, things are happening. Some things we cannot see. Things that change our lives and cause us to be the catalyst of change in the lives of others. God did not save us to be quiet and keep the secret of His salvation, healing, and greatness to ourselves. No. He called us to be, Life Changers; spreading the good news: the Gospel, the truth of His word, and His soon-coming return.

When we yield to GOD, His word and Spirit fill us. Pouring into us messages of His grace and mercies. Testimonies of His love, righteousness, and hope for those lost in a world of sin and fear. Bound by their present and past actions; crying to be free. Who doubts anything can change their current circumstances or the trajectory of their lives. But here we are–His witnesses. His Ambassadors. The recipients of His grace and good news. The Called. The Anointed. The Appointed. The Life-Changers that He has chosen in this hour to bring the good news.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. (TLB)

In the process of our own lives being changed and God using us to change lives, do not harden your hearts or allow yourself to be filled with doubts concerning the promises of GOD for your life. When trials and tests come, as they always do, do not doubt GOD, His word, or His ability to come through. You cannot hold GOD to a clock, to a specific time on a watch, when GOD is outside of time. Be careful of the words you allow to escape your mouth. Complaining does not bring manifestations sooner, nor do they move GOD in your favor.

There is not one person, any one of GOD’S creation that He has not a plan for. There are people in this world, right now, waiting for the word that you have hidden in your heart. The word that the testimony that GOD has provided, living in you, waiting for the time to come forth and change someone’s life. Though the world looks crazy and it seems as if there is no hope for some people; GOD says not so. He is indeed restoring, renewing, rebuilding, and He is still healing, saving, and delivering. But we must be in our position. We, who GOD has chosen as the frontrunners, are the first-line responders. We have to have an ear to hear GOD and to do just as He leads.  Though we can look and cast judgment and say they won’t receive, who are we to tell GOD He is wrong?

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Sometimes we lose our way when going after the desires of our hearts. Some of us forget that God will meet all of our needs. That, He will never fail us or forsake us. To know that, yes, GOD is indeed real. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.