Sunday, May 27, 2018

"God Did Not Lie"

Reflections4Life May 27, 2018
“God Did Not Lie”
“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19
Scripture Contemplation: Job 34; Psalm 25; Romans 1; John 8:32; 2 Corinthians 6; 2 Timothy 2…

There may be a delay in the promises; there may be a wait for answers to a prayer. Yet, if God has spoken a promise, a word to your heart; it is going to happen. If you are doing your part—following His instructions, continuing to walk in faith—then whatever God has spoken concerning you, will come to pass. God did not lie—no matter how impossible a situation looks. God’s word will prevail. God waits to perform His word in our lives; to bring to pass all of His promises, manifest His blessings, and all that He asks of us is to believe Him; to have faith the size of a mustard seed. We are responsible for the atmosphere surrounding our hearts and minds, our lives—preparing it to receive the fullness of God’s promises.
I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Let the word of God marinate in your heart and mind this week. Remember that a delay in a prayer does not mean a denial. The more you study the Word of God and meditate on it; the more you exercise your faith, the more manifestations that take place. Give God all of you this week, allowing His truth to saturate your heart and mind.
Setting the Atmosphere
Jeremiah 1:11-12   And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
When the Lord gives us a word, He expects us to ponder that word, believe that word, receive that word, and follow His instructions concerning what we do while we wait for that word to come to pass. Sometimes it comes immediately, and at other times, it takes some time. Yet, if we have been doing all that God has told us to do, and have been walking in faith, we set the atmosphere that is conducive for God to perform His word in our lives.
Of course, while we wait (patiently and prayerfully) the enemy is seeking to destroy our faith; to interrupt the flow of God in our lives, and to play a mental chess game with our minds until we either shut the enemy down or fall prey to his lies and trickery.
Maintaining a prayerful life, meditating and studying the word, sharpens our armor and resolve in waiting on God. While waiting for His word to manifest, are you doing all you can to charge the atmosphere with faith? Are you making room for the blessings?
We are responsible for doing our part in setting an atmosphere that is conducive to the promises of God to manifest and flourish. God will always do what He says. We must be the ones to keep a vigilant prayer life, to exercise our faith, and to charge the atmosphere with positivity. And though it may seem like the promises, our visions, the word of God is tarrying; continue to thank God, writing down the vision, and doing all that God asks and instructs of you for preparation in the fulfillment of His promises.
God Cannot Lie
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Beloved, God Himself is the truth. It is He who sets us free. There is so much that God desires to manifest in our lives, and He—above anyone else—knows what is best for us and when it is time for his manifestation to come to fruition in our lives.
God cannot lie. Circumstances may change, situations may change, the hearts and minds of man may change, but God himself and His word will never change, and what He has spoken will happen if we believe and walk in the truth of His word spoken in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Put Your Armor On and Gird up in Truth
1 Peter 5:6-8 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
We must be fully prepared to move forward in the promises of God. Being certain to guard our hearts against things that are contrary to that of what God says of us and has spoken to our hearts. Whatever God has spoken to you, Beloved; whatever God has promised; all of it will come to pass but we must be willing to do our part. To do as God has instructed.
Far too many are quick to blame God, denounce Him, and be angry with Him for things that have not gone our way. Yet, I ask, when was the last time you did something just to show you sincerely love the Lord? The Lord knows our hearts. He knows what is in there and in our minds, also.
He even knows how the enemy seeks to destroy us before we recognize who we are in Him and while we are so close to the manifestations of the blessings and promises of God. He warns us to not be deceived by the enemy; to know that he (the enemy) seeks to destroy us but that he cannot when we not only walk uprightly but when we believe with all of our heart and soul, and put on the armor and strategically fight against the enemy, while resisting his taunts, temptations, and lies. We must be girded; fully immersed—mind, body, and spirit—in the truth of God. The truth of His word and the power of His might.
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. God cannot and will not lie to you, Beloved. Whatever He has spoken over your life and it seems to be tarrying, check yourself, do a heart check, a faith check. If you have done all that God has asked, and there is still a delay; then patiently continue to wait in faith, knowing that God will always do just what He said. His word will not return to Him void but accomplish all that He sent it to do. Trust Him where you cannot trace Him. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!
©2018. Ruthe Mcdonald. All Rights Reserved.



Sunday, May 06, 2018

"Do Not be Deterred By Pretty Words"

Reflections4Life May 6, 2018
“Do not Be Deterred by Pretty Words”
“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.” Ezekiel 13:9
Scripture Contemplations: 1 Kings 13; 22; Jeremiah 14; 23; Psalm 62; Ephesians 4; Hebrews 4
©Ruthe McDonald.
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here are a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. God knows who we are and has declared and decreed a plan for us before we were birthed or in our mother’s womb. As we grow and mature, experiencing life and come to a knowledge of who God is and who we are in Him, we should develop an intimate relationship with our Creator for ourselves. Getting to know who God is on our own and learning His voice and His ways. It is that personal relationship with God, the development of intimacy between our Creator and ourselves, that allows us to know and recognize His plan and will for our lives. No matter what things appear to be—we will be less likely to be deterred by pretty words or lying lips that would try to keep us from the promises of God designed for our lives.
I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. God desires to reveal and to make known to His children many things. Take the time to spend in His presence and get to know who He is for yourself this week. Determine to let this week be the week that you begin or start again, to set aside intimate and quality time with the heavenly Father. Get to know His voice, His character, His unconditional love, and plans for you. When you know God—truly know Him—you will not be easily deterred by the lies, whispers, or sweet sounding words of those who would prey upon you and desire your destruction.
Not All Things Are What They Appear to Be
2 Timothy 3:4-6 “treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
One year for my birthday, my Mom decided to surprise me and bake me a birthday cake. I never made a cake I wanted but whatever my Mom wanted. I always wanted to do something for someone else on my birthday. This particular year, she decided to surprise me and bake a coconut layer cake.
The cake was a beautiful three-layer confection with buttercream icing and mounds of coconut. It looked good. Smelled good, too. But it was a deceiving cake! That cake lied! We laughed long and hard about this cake. It looked and smelled like her other coconut cakes. But when we went to taste the cake? It was one of the worse cakes my Mom had ever made! I never took the first piece of cake. I always gave it to my Mom. She took a bite, and I saw her face. I asked her what was wrong. She shook her head and told me to try it myself. I took a forkful off her plate, and I knew why she made the face. That was a deceiving cake! It was so dry and had absolutely no flavor at all. I could not believe it. We stared at the cake for a minute then burst out laughing. It was truly a beautiful and good smelling cake, but it was like eating a piece of cardboard. Not even the icing saved it.
We never figured out what went wrong. We referred to that cake at the deception cake. We laughed so hard, and I said the cake’s appearance definitely did not match the truth of its contents. And just like that cake; all pretty and looking the way you would expect a coconut cake to look—are a lot of people walking around today. Some in our lives, pretending to be someone they are not and seeking to deter us by their deceptive words and false appearances. Yet, on the inside, they are empty, flavorless, deceptive, and sometimes jealous, hoarding plans to come and deter us from what God has ordained for our lives.
Beloved, if God has given you a word in your heart, and has instructed you to take a certain path, do not be deterred by the sometimes “well-meaning” words of those who may seem like they know God and walk with God. Not everyone who says they believe and are for God is. Not every person who has a title walks in the integrity of that title. Know God for yourself. Know the Father’s voice and be who God has called you to be; walking in the path He has ordained for Your life.
God’s Word is True
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
If there is one thing you can depend on, it is the word of God. Whatever God has spoken to you; whatever He has impressed upon your heart to do; believe it, and believe that He has equipped you to do it, and will be the provision for vision(s) He has placed in you. You must trust God. In order to trust Him, you must spend time in His presence, and in the word, getting to know Him, allowing Him to bring understanding and wisdom.
God is not a man that He should lie or that has to repent. Whatever God has spoken to you, no matter how long it may appear to be in happening, it will come to pass. (Numbers 23:19) Exercise patience and meditate on the word of God. Ponder in your heart the things that God has spoken to you, and do not rush or easily share with others what God have placed in you. There are a time and place for all things. Let God show you who people are. Allow the spirit and gift of discernment grow in you so you may make the correct choices in the right seasons.
Be Anxious For Nothing
Proverbs 27:6-7 Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]. He who is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
Sometimes the truth hurts. Yet, it is that same truth that will bring healing, direction, purpose, and the fulfillment of plans, visions, and dreams. We do not always like the delay in the things that we are waiting for. We often want the promises of God quick, fast, and in a hurry. For most with this attitude, they will sometimes miss the blessings and deceived by the enemy many a time.
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. Do not shy away from God when He brings correction. Fill your soul and heart with the promises and word of God. Do not be anxious for anything, but do all things in God’s timing, trusting Him to bring you to that point of fulfillment in His plans of prosperity for you—spiritually, physically, and yes, financially. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.
©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.