"State of Grace"

 Reflections4Life™ November 21, 2021

“State of Grace”

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Scripture Contemplation: Esther 2; Psalm 45; 86; John 1; Acts 11:23; Romans 1; 5; Ephesians 2…

©Ruthe McDonald.

I take this time to wish this wonderful community that God has blessed me to fellowship with, a wonderful and blessed week. I pray this is a week of answered prayers! For those in the States, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! May it be a day of joy and grace, and just an extension of what each day already looks like.

I pray today’s Reflections will bring comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration; bringing peace and revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. There is a state of mind that we should all be working towards…keeping our minds stayed on Christ. It is in God we will find our peace and our comfort and our state of grace. It is in the presence of God that we come to understand just what the Grace of God truly encompasses.

I realize that it is because of the grace of God that I am not consumed by the heavy burdens faced in this life. When I want to give up and walk away, He reminds me that His grace is sufficient. That, it by His power and not of my own strength. But for the grace of God—His unmerited favor—I remain in the land of the living with another day and opportunity to live my best authentic life. Not perfect, but humble, honest, and mindful of God's grace.

Every day for years, I was guaranteed and fortunate to hear two things from my mother: "Grace and Peace!" and "I Love You". Those were constant phrases upon my mother's lips. You received that greeting when she answered the phone. Before anything else was spoken, you were greeted with, "Grace and Peace!" in a singsong manner.

The sincerity, coupled with the melodious timbre of her voice would make you smile and feel a warmth deep in your soul. Without a doubt, you knew you were speaking to someone who truly loved the Lord. And what I now understand, she was prophesying over lives. She was speaking God's grace over my life and the lives of those she encountered.

Grace, in the word of God, can be defined as God having unmerited favor or undeserving favor to those who are actually guilty or under condemnation. For me, grace is simply God's forgiveness even when I don't deserve it and have been in the wrong. It is His strength in my life when mountains of obstacles arise in my life, preventing me from moving forward.

The world's definition of grace is a way of moving that is smooth and attractive, not stiff or awkward; it is the elegance of beauty or form, manner, motion or action; a pleasant way of acting.

I can combine these definitions and describe a state of grace as being in receipt of God's forgiveness and favor, by which it allows me to move throughout life smoothly, pleasantly, with an attitude of gratitude, of thankfulness, knowing that I received a gift I didn't deserve but was given nonetheless to live my very best life possible. It is God's restoration for my life, in a season of rebuilding.

For this, and so much more, I am grateful. I am filled with gratitude to be alive. Though not everything in my life is, as I desire, I am alive, gifted with opportunities each time God wakes me. Moreover, a chance to inspire and tell someone else, that God loves them, too. In addition, to the rebuilding of my life; the restoration of strength, dreams, visions, and wherever God desires me to be. He is doing the same for you. The troubles, the rough places, the rough challenges? God's grace is going to take you where you need to be. You cannot do it by yourself; no matter how strong or wise you are. It is the grace of God that is going to get you through. God is divinely rebuilding our lives.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Let us remember to keep it in our hearts that each day is a day of Thanksgiving, of gratitude. Each time God grants us a new day of life, it is His grace and His love that affords us a brand new day filled with opportunities we just may not deserve but have received nonetheless. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Be Still and Know"

 Reflections4Life™ November 14, 2021

“Be Still and Know”

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

Scripture Contemplation: 1 Chronicles 22:9; 2 Chronicles 20; Provers 15:18; 29:9…

More than anything at this time, we need to quiet our souls and hear what God is saying. Many are dealing with much hurt, pain, disappointment, and fear. Though you may feel this way now, do not allow it to linger. Quiet your soul; your mind, so that you may hear what God has to say to you in this very important time in our lives.

I pray today’s Reflections will bring comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration; bringing peace and revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. Take a step back this week. Allow God to give you rest in your heart mind and soul. Let the blood of Jesus cover your thoughts and penetrate your soul, giving you an everlasting peace that will rest in all parts of your life.

Oh! Beloveds, there is so much angst and noise cluttering our souls. Our minds can barely keep up with the fast-changing emotions that many are dealing with. I want to encourage you today, to lean on God. Let Him give you rest in your heart and mind. Allow His peace to rule your heart as you navigate from day to day, especially encountering things that are a bother and vexation to your soul.

There are many times when God wants to bless our lives. He desires to impart knowledge, wisdom, and gifts of the spirit. However, we often miss it because our minds and hearts are cluttered and bogged down with the cares of the world. Often, it overshadows the voice and move of God.

Many times we have seen situations where it seemed hopeless, and in the eleventh hour, God worked it out. We may ask, why does God do that? Why does He come at the last hour instead of when we first asked? The truth of the matter is, He has answered us straightaway. Yet, there are those of us who need to be stretched in our faith and reminded that promises of God are yes and amen. Meaning, that whatever God tells us, and whatever we asked of Him, and believed that we already received, we can believe that no matter what things appear to be, God is answering and He will see us through.

We forget the power of God sometimes and question His love and concern for us when we witness things happen that are unfathomable to our hearts and minds and who God is. Our mind gets jumbled with all the doubts, fears, and noise of the enemy. Trust me; the enemy is diligently whispering in our ears and speaking doubts and fear into the fabric of our minds.

The noise in our mind often overshadows the voice of God, and the peace that He says belongs to those who keep their mind stayed on Him. Yes. It is very easy to get sidetracked with all the hate, evil, fear, and uncertainty that is in the world. But this is when we must remember who God is, who we are in Him, and that regardless of how things may appear, God is still God on His throne and He shall not be moved. And all that God has spoken concerning our lives—even in the midst of chaos and confusion—He will make come to pass if we will continue to believe, to stand firm in His word and on His promises.

Beloved, if you do not believe anything else today, believe this: God loves you and He has you covered. Though it may appear as the enemy is winning, God remains God and in control, and He has us covered. Regardless of what the enemy whispers to us, how crazy the world gets, remember that God has the last word and the last, best laugh. We can and will be victorious in the face of adversity and all manner of evil. When God is for us, who can be against us? No One. A couple of lost battles does not determine the outcome of a war. For God says, that the war has already been won and that all things are working out for our good.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Though it may appear at times that the enemy has won, do not be deceived—God is still on His throne and has declared us the winner. Yield to the Father. Allow Him to bring peace and quietness to your mind and soul. Do not be swayed or discouraged by what things appear to be. God always gets the final word. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Meditate On It"

 Reflections4Life™ November 7, 2021

“Meditate On It”

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 1; Psalms 1; 4; 27; Philippians 4:8…

©Ruthe McDonald.

           I pray today’s Reflections will bring comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration; bringing peace and revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. This week, I implore you to try again. To make things happen for yourself that you may have been waiting for a long time. And the way to do this is to first meditate. Meditate on the word and promises of God. Meditate on the promises and plan of God. See yourself walking in the promises and the fulfillment of the plans and visions in your heart.

I truly hope this week is everything you hope it will be. Everything you work towards it to be. Everything that God has ordained it to be. This past weekend, God has been speaking to my heart about trying again, and the power to make it happen already residing within us. Beloveds, many of us have given up and are hurt, jaded, and too scared to move forward to try again. It's time to regroup. It is time to stand still and spend some time meditating on the word of God, what is in our heart, and the plans we desire to see come forth.

There are times when things will appear as if nothing is happening. It will seem as though prayers are not being answered, life is at a standstill, and in fact, things are getting worse. That is the time, Beloveds, we must determine to praise God anyhow! To praise our way through the difficult times. To see, not through our natural eyes, but through the eyes of our God, and take strength and comfort from His word, His promises.

Habakkuk 3:17-19(MSG) “Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen. Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted. Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer.  I feel like I’m king of the mountain!”

I promise you today, that there are much greatness and power waiting to be birthed; to be unleashed. THERE IS ALSO SOMEONE ON THIS EARTH WAITING FOR YOU TO SHOW UP. INSIDE OF YOU IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO TAKE THEIR NEXT STEP IN LIFE.

What we sometimes fail to realize is that we become the hands and feet of God on this earth. God uses us to serve and help one another. He uses the gifts and talents He has placed in us to be the answer and solution to the questions and problems of our brothers and sisters on this earth. But, if we never recognize who we are, or walk in the greatness that already resides in us, then not only do we cheat ourselves and prolong our happiness, we also prolong the suffering and heartache of others who have been waiting for us to show up to our assignments.

Yes. You have been hurt, disappointed, and wounded. You have been discouraged and nearly destroyed. However, you have the opportunity to try again and make things happen. God has given you that power. It is time to meditate on the word of God, on His promises, in your life. Meditate on the visions that are in you. Let God show you His way, His plan. Meditate until it is embedded in your heart and soul. Then go forth and make it happen. Try again. Walk-in your greatness with confidence and change the lives of those waiting for you.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find 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 be discouraged by what things may appear to be at the moment. Instead, have faith and believe in the promises of God and that things will happen. You can try again; make it happen, while continually meditating on the word and promises of God, following His lead. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.