"A Word of Encouragement"

 Reflections4Life™ February 12, 2023

“A Word of Encouragement”

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 1; Romans 1; 12; 15:5; 2 Corinthians 7; Ephesians 6:22; 1Thessalonians 4; 5; Hebrews 13...

©Ruthe McDonald.

Be encouraged Beloved! Know that the Father in Heaven has not forgotten or abandoned you. Stand firm and know within your heart that the fulfillment of His word in your life is soon coming to pass.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Be encouraged today through the word of God and by His promises. Encourage yourself and do not let go of what God has spoken concerning your life; abstain from negative people, places, and things.

How much weight does the word of God hold in your life? How much power does it hold for you? Many have forgotten the word of God. We have long forgotten the promises He has made because the trials of this life have overwhelmed us. We have become discouraged with the passing of time; believing that if what God said was going to happen, it should have happened by now. Because of these thoughts, we prolong the manifestations of His word happening in our lives.

The spirit of discouragement has seized many hearts causing them to lose sight of the promises of God. We have become lax in our intimate time with God. We no longer read or study the word, or go before Him in prayer. Our internal conversations have become one of doubt and negativity, and blame. Blaming God for not keeping His word or delivering us out of our afflictions or from the adversities we face. Some have gone so far as to believe that God has lied to them.

It is easy to lose sight and faith when we take our eyes off God. We live in a world ruled by negativity. It thrives on destruction and bad news. Seldom do we see things of encouragement outweighing negative feedback. This creates a bleak picture. Should we dwell on these things, we, too, will soon have a negative outlook and give up on what God has promised us.

I want to encourage you today to stand strong on the promises of God. Do not give in to your feelings. Emotions are subject to change. They are like a pendulum swinging either way depending upon the current winds. Stand firm in your faith. Do not go by what it looks or feels like. Instead, walk and go by the word of God, what He has spoken concerning you.

Speak to your heart and to the atmosphere the promises of God. Say it aloud every day. Write it out. Put it in places that you can see so that you are constantly reminded of what God has said concerning you.

Beloved, the enemy, our adversary, is continually seeking to destroy us. He lies in wait waiting to pounce on us at any given sign of an opening. He presses in on all sides, whispering lies into our ears, stirring up controversy and negativity, and often coming as an angel of light to deceive us. His goal is to move us out of a position of receiving what God has ordained for us. He wants us destroyed, busted, broken, and out of focus. He wants us dead.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour...”

1 John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

Beloved, the enemy has already lost! He knows this! Yet, he will use every weapon in his arsenal to come at us and try to get us to forfeit the blessings and promises of God. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. To steal your dreams and visions; to kill you before you had the chance to live; to destroy your happiness and your peace of mind and your will to go forward! Don't you let him do that when God came to give life abundantly!

This life, through its challenges and adversities, is meant to be lived with joy, love, and hope! God sent Jesus for this purpose: that we would have eternal life. That, we would be redeemed by His blood. That, on this earth, while we tarry, we would live an abundant life filled with love, joy, peace, and grace; even in the midst of the trials that come our way.

Be encouraged today. Be encouraged that troubles don't last always, and that joy comes in the morning! Be confident in the promises of God. Stay firmly planted in the word of God. Do not slack in your intimate time with the Father! It is your key to holding on and forging ahead through all the crap the enemy tries to send your way. For, those that keep their mind stayed on Christ will be kept in perfect peace. Those that stay at the feet of Jesus, know and understand that the battle is not theirs, it is the Lord's!

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. Be encouraged today! Stand firm on the word of God. Do not give in to the taunts and lies of the enemy. The Father is not slacking concerning His promises to you! He is answering. The manifestations are taking place. Know that God has already declared you the winner. Believe the report of the Lord! You win! You are blessed! Now go...and be a blessing!

Original ©2018. Revised ©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

The Declaration Series: "I Will Pray to My God"

   Reflections4Life™ February27, 2022

"I Will Pray to God"

"Praise the One who gives us life and keeps us safe, who does not allow us to stumble in the darkness." Psalm 66:9 (VOICE)

Scriptures for the Series: James 4; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 119:11; Lamentations 3:40; Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 11:28; Psalm 37:4; 42; Luke 3:4; Psalm 66:9; Isaiah 30:2

Welcome to part nine in our Declaration Series. Pray to God. The answers we need and the solutions we seek are in God. He has the answers. When we pray, we enter spiritual warfare. So put your Spiritual armor on and let God lead. We do not have to wonder if we would kneel or lie prostrate before the Lord, giving Him all the praise and worship, and believing in your heart that the answers you need can all be found in Him. You just have to ask.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul.  This week,  concentrate on your prayer and meditation life. There is so much that God desires to reveal to you but waits for you to come to Him in prayer.  Ask Him first before seeking answers elsewhere. Make God your first stop when seeking answers to your questions and solutions to your problems.

I have been guilty of seeking advice from others and answers to my questions from others before I even thought of going to my Heavenly Father and seeking His wise Counsel. Why do we do this? Why do we seek everyone else's advice and answers before we go to God, who knows us and knows the plans He has ordained for our lives? Surely He would have the answers we seek? Instead, we spend the time we really do not have, seeking answers from people who do not know us the way God knows us. Neither do they know the plans that God has ordained for our lives. Therefore, they would not have the best answers to give and we run the risk of making circumstances and situations worse.

The Bible is filled with many instances of people praying to God for answers. They sought His direction, His leading, and His help. They understood that God, above everyone else, knew the path they should take. That, the One True God, would direct them and give them victory.

Ephesians 6:18 (VOICE) Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed.

 Here are a few more scriptures to meditate on Psalm 5, Psalm 22, Psalm 42, Psalm 51, Genesis 20:17, Genesis 24:12; 42, Genesis 32:9; 12.

There is power in our prayers, Beloved. Maybe you forgot that. Perhaps you did not know. But yes, there is power in our prayers. Not only are we lifting up the Name of Jesus, seeking His will for our lives, answers to our questions, but we are also engaged in spiritual warfare! Yes! Prayer is spiritual warfare! If you think the enemy doesn't try to stop you from praying, then take a moment and recall the various times you would begin to pray and something happened. Or, you fell asleep. Or, you felt like God did not hear you or was not listening to you. All distractions from the enemy. Seeking to keep us from 1. the answers we seek, and 2. the power that destroys his plots and plans. As well as break his stronghold and chains off of ourselves and those we love and have been called to minister to.

Put on your spiritual armor when you go to pray. Things happen when we pray. Not only do we get answers and solutions to our problems, but we are also breaking down the enemy's camp and destroying the hold he has on so many of our loved ones. This is why God tells us to always pray. To, constantly seek Him and His will for our lives and those we lift in prayer. We cannot stay where we are and expect to get what God ordained for us when He is in another place, telling us to come on! But you will not know this if you are not praying.

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. Pray with all your heart every day. Seek the Lord and His ways.  Let God be the first place you go when seeking answers and solutions. Prayers are powerful. Your prayers are powerful. God has the answers you seek.  Go to Him first. He is doing great work in your life. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"When Love Hinders"

 Reflections4Life™ August 29, 2021

“When Love Hinders”

“I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from complete and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:1-3

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 25; 34; Deuteronomy 5; 32; Joshua 24; Ezekiel 34; Joel 2; 2 Corinthians 11…

I am pretty certain that some are raising an eyebrow and questioning the title of today’s Reflections. I understand. Because I felt the same way when God gave me the title, well before He explained what He meant. Of course, I trusted Him to do just that. And I also knew that this would be something that would open my eyes and heart, and prayerfully it will for you, too.

I declare and decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. I implore you to take time this week and explore your relationship with the Heavenly Father. Really look at it, and see if you have truly and totally surrendered your absolute all to Him. Ask yourself: Does God have all of my Heart? Am I doing all that I can? Do I trust Him sincerely? Do I really believe what God says about me? Does the Father truly have the number one place in my heart and soul? My only God?

Do you know that feeling you get when you fall in love for the first time? That feeling of free-falling? Always wanting to be in that person’s presence? Wanting to know everything about them? Wanting to share everything and get to know their heart and soul, as well as everything else? Yes. That feeling. That is an awesome thing. It is a wonderful feeling that we can cherish and celebrate. And it is a feeling that we should have towards our God each and every day. It’s definitely what God has for us; even though He knows us so well, and knows that we will, at some point, become distracted, preoccupied, disenchanted, and even for some—out of love. Yet, the Father’s love for us will never, ever change. This, we can be certain of.

Yet, for some of us that love deeply; who have huge hearts that we find ourselves pouring our love out on so many, and loving some so deeply to distraction, that we miss out on our relationship with God. We neglect what should be our number one priority and relationship. And when this occurs, slowly but surely, other areas in our life start to take a hit; even if we do not recognize it.

Sadly, many of us do not even realize that we have allowed our earthly relationships to not only hinder our heavenly relationship, but we have given God’s place in our heart to someone else. And even still, there are others who have allowed their earthly love and devotion to become their god, forsaking their relationship with the Heavenly Father.

God is a jealous God. He desires to be number one in our lives. He desires to be our only God. Our covering. Our Savior. Our Healer. Our everything. He yearns for our devotion so that He may bless us in the manner that He desires. He wants to blanket us in His love while protecting us from the machinations of the enemy. God desires our attention, Beloveds. However, far too many of us are preoccupied. And far too many have allowed our horizontal relationships to dictate our vertical relationship and receiving all that God has ordained for our lives.

It is not that God does not want us in relationships or to love anyone else. Not at all. He, however, doesn’t want it to hinder us from all that He has ordained for us while in this world. God wants us to be balanced. To be well-rounded. To not be so broken over a man or woman, boy or girl, that we begin to worship the creation instead of the Creator. That we allow the love in our earthly relationships to become so consuming, that we are doing any and everything to please, keep and sustain them that there is no room for God. We have abandoned our core and key relationship, chasing after fallible love.

Come on; be honest. How many times have you, or are still so gone in a relationship that it has affected your time with God? How many times has a relationship hindered you from doing all that God has asked of you? When was the last time, your time spent with God, was longer than any of your earthly relationships? Think about it. Really think.

There is nothing wrong with being in love. There is nothing wrong with loving people for who they are and where they are at in life. There is nothing wrong with wanting them to have the very best, and supporting who they are and their dreams. But, what is not all right is neglecting, forgetting, forsaking, and disrespecting God in your life. And please, don't get it wrong; we can also be in this position with our family. Our children, parents, etcetera. Anyone that is placed above God in our actions, reverence, and worship; even if we don't believe so in hearts and minds.

How many times has God reached out to you, but you didn’t hear him? Or, you ignored Him? Or you chose that earthly relationship over being obedient to God and what He has asked of you? Far too many, I might say.

Some of us do not even realize that the love we prayed for, asked God for, has become the very hindrance to God moving in our lives. Don’t get it twisted: Once again, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with loving someone deeply, but it is something wrong when that love causes us to do things out of the will of God and become someone that is not pleasing to God. God will not take a backseat or second place to anyone. He loves us way too much for that.

There are also the times when we love so much and so deeply that we make excuses for certain behaviors that we know are not of God. We accept things that we shouldn’t. Turn a blind eye instead of speaking up. We allow ourselves to be treated in a manner that is not becoming or acceptable unto God. I’m going to say this: DO NOT ALLOW A LOVE FOR THE CREATION TO OBSCURE YOUR LOVE FOR THE CREATOR AND MAKE YOU FORFEIT WHAT GOD HAS ORDAINED FOR YOUR ABUNDANT LIFE. Do not allow yourself to be treated in any kind of manner; like sheep being led to the slaughter by the enemy in disguise. Don’t allow the enemy to darken or taint a gift from God by you choosing to worship the creation and no longer the Creator.

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. Take a step back and evaluate your heart and motives. Give God what belongs to Him, and He will continue to do what He has always done for you: Love you anyway and unconditionally. Maintain a healthy balance by first seeking God for all things, and allowing God the honor to be not only your covering but to be your all in all. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.