"Special Gifts"

Reflections4Life^tm October 27, 2019

“Special Gifts”

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

Scripture Contemplation:Daniel 2; Luke 11; Luke 21; Romans 12; Hebrews 2...

 

©Ruthe McDonald.

Along our journey of life, we will find roads that take us to various destinations. We choose the path/road we take. Some of us seek God's wisdom and direction. Some of us don't. Yet, the most humbling and beautiful thing is, that no matter what road we choose, God is still right there. It is at these moments when we feel lost, alone, and perhaps even fearful, that God will send a special gift in our lives. A gift to remind us of our purpose, our importance in this earth, our humanity as well as spirit, and to remind us of His unconditional love and His promise to never leave us or forsake us.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing more reassuring than knowing how much our Heavenly Father loves us and is there for us. May you know this week just how deep and how profound the Father's love is for you. Let your heart and mind be open to receive and recognize the special gifts of God.

This journey that we are on called life can hit us with some serious roadblocks and bumps in the road. There are times when even the right path seems like the wrong path and will have us questioning ourselves if we made the right choice.

It is in these moments of strife, confusion, and exasperation that the enemy likes to goad us, and play with our minds; speaking all kinds of lies. The three biggest lies that he will whisper at this time?—That God has forgotten about us, we're no good, and that we will never make it. Lies! All of them!

God has not forgotten us! No matter how rough this journey gets; no matter how many times we fall; even if we chose the wrong road—God is right there with us always. He will never abandon us; even when it seems He is silent, He is there, watching and protecting us; sending us reminders of just how strong we really are.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.

Psalm 139:8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

The mere fact that God has created us in His image gives us an advantage. We were made to make it. We were created with greatness already in our DNA. If no one else in the world believes in you; know with all certainty that God believes in you!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Hebrews 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

When we take on the mind of Christ and believe what God has spoken of us, our journey becomes less encumbered. Though we get attacked, and we sometimes stumble and fall, we do not give up. We stand up, shake the dust off, and start again. We keep moving. Because the Father says we can. As long as we have God on our side, there is no way we will not make it. As long as we continue to believe, and follow the instructions of God—though the storms will rise, we may be betrayed by loved one, the enemy will rear his ugly head—it is still no match for the promise and word of God, that He will be with us through it all.

Isaiah 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

God assures us that we can and will win this race. That, we will make it through this journey of life if we continue to look to Him. If we would keep our eyes and heart on Him. And while on this journey, the Father has given us special gifts to aid us. And He will end additional gifts along the way to help us, and encourage us, and to walk along beside us.

Know for certain and in your heart, that God already sees us as victorious. He understands how rough this journey we are on can get. He knows how strong the storms can be. This is the reason He has given us access to the greatest Helper of all: Himself.

The foremost special gift that God has given us is Christ. Because of Him, all things are possible. He has given us the special gift of His Word to light our path, to direct us, and navigate us through the sometimes choppy waters. He has given us the special gift of His promise. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He has given us special gifts in way of mentors, teachers, students, family, friends, children. Along this journey, God will grant us with special people in our lives that will not only walk with us and beside us, but also remind us of who we are, and the love that God has for us. We just need to keep our heart and eyes opened, and not become distant, jaded, and closed because of the bumps and roadblocks we will face in this journey called life.

Psalm 121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

I have many special gifts in my life that remind me of God's love and promises along this road. Each time I have a difficult day and feel like the road I chose was wrong, I think of those gifts and what it means in my life.

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. Though your road may seem filled with regret and troubles, remember that God is indeed, with you. And He has sent some special gifts to aid you in your journey. Be open to the Spirit of God. He has not abandoned you. He is right beside you. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights. Reserved.

"Happy New Year To The Authentic You"

Reflections4Life™ January 6, 2019

“Happy New Year to the Authentic You”

^“from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love …” Ephesians 3:15-17

Scripture Contemplations: Isaiah 63; Psalm 77; 139:1; Matthew 13; John 5:39

©Ruthe McDonald. "Self Portrait"

Happy New Year, Beloveds! I do not know about you, but I am excited about what God is doing in 2019! I am excited about the breakthroughs, the miracles, the supernatural, the manifest blessings and answers to long ago prayers. I am also excited to see people start to shake off the sins of their past and who they used to be, and the echoes of what people have called and thought of them. I am excited to see their authentic selves come shining through! All masks fallen, all chains and bondages broken! Praise God!

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. This is it, Beloved! This is your year to see the revelations of God unfold before you, and your authentic self, come forth from under all the debris that has been heaved on you over the years, stagnating you, and robbing you of the fullness of God’s blessings.

Who are you, Beloved? Who are you on the inside? Who is the person you see past the mirror, past your natural eyes, past the words of others? Can you see them? Can you see yourself when you close your eyes and picture your future? Do you have the ability to visualize your life as God has spoken to you? Have you seen in your heart and soul; in your mind’s eye, the promises of God fulfilled; the blessings manifested? One of the things I learned for certain is that when you truly believe what God has spoken concerning your life, and you write that vision down, memorizing it, visualizing it, it will come to pass. I’ve also learned that what you struggle to see, to visualize, is often not believed in the heart and rarely comes to pass because doubts and unbelief have settled, instead, in the heart.

In this New Year, God is calling us higher; higher in our faith, in our walk, in our communication and relationship with him. With everything going on in the world around us, it is a fight for many to know who they are and where they fit in, let alone see in their hearts who God says they are. Our opinion of ourselves holds a lot of weight in how we move forward in life, and if we fully grab a hold of what God has ordained for our lives.

God sees us. He knows who we are. Even the person we try to hide from others and even ourselves, at times. We can paint ourselves in the best possible light. Show things of ourselves that only we want to be shown, or seen by others. Yet, none of it changes the fact that God knows us. He sees the authentic us. He knows everything about us. The longer we run from the truth, the harder the fall to our knees. I’d rather humble myself before God humbles me. I’d rather believe what God says of me than spend a lifetime believing what others speak over my life. They did not create me. They do not know my heart. And they surely do not know all that God has ordained for my life.

I encourage you in this New Year to allow the authentic you shine through. It does not matter who accepts you or does not. Who supports you or not. What matters is that you are finally living your truth and following the steps laid before you by our Heavenly Father who loves you and seeks to bless you abundantly every single day.

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. Beloveds, the real you—the authentic you that you have been protecting all of this time—is a lot stronger and capable than you give them credit for. Forget about the rejection of man and concentrate on the blessings and acceptance of God. Let this New Year see the best version of you—the authentic blessed and highly favored you. You blessed. Now go … and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"The Wonder of it All"

Reflections4Life™ December 23, 2018

“The Wonder of it All”

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:11-14

Scripture Contemplation: Matthew 1; Luke 2

"Life in Dead Winter" ©Ruthe McDonald.

Take a moment and bring to mind the one thing you want more than anything else right now. What is that one thing, that if you could snap your fingers, you would have it already? Something tangible but you know would take a long time to achieve or almost impossible for you. Got it? Okay, now picture God not only granting that one thing but also blessing you with even greater. No matter what you came up with, God guarantees to do even more than what you could ever think or imagine possible.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. As we celebrate this wonderful birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, let us take a moment to reflect upon the goodness of God in our lives. Forget about the things that are not what you like or want right now. Instead, meditate on the things that are, and that you know God has done in your life; especially those things and moments that you know that if it had not been for God you would not be here.

Sometimes when I think on the goodness of God, I get overwhelmed. When I think of all that God has done to reconcile His creation to Himself; to save us from an eternity without Him, my heart gets overwhelm from the share love and wonder of it all. Think about it; God sent Himself into this world, putting on the flesh, subjecting himself to the weaknesses, whims, and often hollowness that often accompany the flesh, just to save us. He became flesh to save flesh, to save the very ones that reject, accuse, abuse, use, and lie on Him. He came, not as a fully-grown man with no idea of the angst of growing up, but as an infant, taught and raised in a home with many different dynamics, but also knowing He was set apart. Wow! The wonder of it all.

It is a shame that many of us do not talk about the birth of Christ until the holidays. That, we do not acknowledge the miraculous, wonderful, awesomeness of our Creator, and His One gift that continues to give and give for all time. It is sad how we have commercialized such an advent and meaning of the birth of Christ, when it should be an everyday conversation, which leads to the acknowledgement, acceptance, and receipt of Christ in one’s life. Christ, for those who would believe, should be at the center of our lives, guiding and teaching us His ways, and how to not only navigate this world we live in, but also how to overcome it.

The wonder of it all, is how this one miraculous birth change the world, and how we, as believers can continue to change the world. Not by as much what we say but in what we do, and how we treat one another. Not judging but lifting one another up; encouraging those who need encouragement and supporting one another in our walk instead of tearing down.

Can you imagine the power surrounding the birth of Christ; the power that was circulating in the air that even the enemy knew something was up and it was not going away but coming to take his power and dethrone him for good? Imagine that power circulating around us today, cracking in the atmosphere so hard that the enemy is shaking because he understands the sign of the times, and this his days are numbered.

Right now, there is a mixture of feelings and far too many that are doubting the love of God in the midst of a year that has been fraught with so much hatred and frivolities that it has some hard-pressed to figure out who is actually for them or just using them. We are in a wondrous season where miracles are more prone to take place. It is like, for a moment, a curtain is opened and the goodness and kindness of men are being seen and felt around the world, and making an impact that is needed more now than ever before.

The wonder of it all is that we can and should be experiencing this same joy all year long and we can if we would put into practice the same things that people are doing right now. We must first have it in our hearts and not allow life’s circumstances to change what we believe. Neither changes our faith in God. We must stand steadfast and believe in what God says, even throughout our adversities and afflictions.

Trials in this life will come. There is no escaping that. We need only to look to Jesus to understand, but also look at the fact He overcame. Throughout it all, God is here for us and with us. He is waiting for us to align ourselves with Him, remember whose we are, and that He has blessed us to be blessings.

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. The birth of Christ assured us a place at the table with the Father, a gift that continues to give. and multiplies as we yield ourselves to the Father and hold onto faith, never letting go. Have a very    Merry Christmas my dear friends. May your heart and days be filled with wonder and miracles every day! You are blessed. Now go … and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.       

"Leaving Lodebar"

Reflections4Life™ October 14, 2018

“Leaving Lodebar”

“Then King David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.” 2 Samuel 9:5

Scripture Contemplation: 2 Samuel 9; 2 Samuel 16; Jeremiah 31:31; Psalm 90; Isaiah 61…

©Ruthe McDonald.

There are times in our lives when we want a do over. Let's face it; we can royally screw up sometimes. Make the most outrageous mistakes, and cause a lot of pain in the process. Thank God for the chance to begin again. There are things we will never be able to fix or repair. Some relationships will never be mended. However, God is granting us to leave behind the old, dry, barren places in our lives. God is asking us to look straight ahead. Look in the direction that He has placed before us. Look at the ordained path that will lead to the manifestation of our blessings, leaving Lodebar behind.

I decree that this week’s Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Know and believe with all of your heart that your God has a special place for you at His table. At His table is an abundance of all that you need. This is your season to come out of Lodebar, a spiritual and physical space of drought, bareness, emptiness, and lack. It time sit at the Father’s table and receive all that God says is yours.

Beloved, Lodebar is a place of not enough. That place where dreams and visions often die or cannot be seen. It is a place where we slowly lose hope because so many things have not gone in our favor. It is a dry and crippling place. That place of living paycheck to paycheck, if you are fortunate to have employment. It is a place of broken promises and relationships, and a constant reminder of what you no longer have. It’s is time—way past time to leave Lodebar behind.

In the first book of Samuel, chapters 9-21, King David is looking for a member of King Saul’s house to bless. Despite what occurred between David and Saul, David respected Saul and loved Jonathon—King Saul’s son and David’s best friend. He wanted to show that love to anyone left in household of Saul. Mephibosheth was the one. He found living in Lodebar, crippled from an accident with his nanny, living beneath what his lineage called for. It was a desperate and barren place, especially for someone who was crippled and lived under the stigma of being King Saul’s grandson, and in fear of King David, wondering if his life would be taken because of who he was.

There are times in our life when we will find ourselves in a situation, not because of what we may have done but because of the actions of others in our lives. Perhaps parents, spouses, different relationships, that have left us in vulnerable positions and in a place where we feel stuck and unable to move away from; especially without assistance.

I realized a while ago, that though we may royally blow things, we and others, may have caused much hurt and pain in relationships, and have failed in our lives too many times to count; God can and will give us a reprieve. A chance to get things right, a chance to make the right choices, and the opportunity to leave Lodebar and walk in the promises and abundance He has ordained for our lives. David sought to restore Mephibosheth to his former lifestyle. He wanted to treat him with the respect and dignity that came with being the grandson of a King—no matter how much Saul had failed and gone mad.

One of the wonderful things about God is His power of restoration. As we start our lives over, God has the power to restore that, which was lost. To grant us a do over at the things we failed at miserably. He is bringing us from Lodebar to a place of abundance. Thank God for His second, third, fourth and fifth chances! It is by His mercies and goodness that we have not been destroyed by our foolishness or the foolishness of those around us but granted the opportunity to stand on our own and make responsible and respectable choices.

There are many of us spending too much time ruminating over the past, mistakes, and failures. We tend to be sidetracked by the things around us and can miss what is right before us. Beloved, it is time to look straight ahead. Look in the direction that God has placed before us. Look at the ordained path that will lead to the manifestation of our blessings and out of Lodebar.

Of course, this path is not simple! However, nothing worth having or accomplishing ever is. You can be certain that the enemy of our souls is waiting alongside that path to try and trip us up. It is a guarantee that he will do all that he can to make us fall, give up, get distracted and turn back. He can do none of these things successfully if we are fellowshipping with the Father and following His instructions, looking straight ahead. And should we fall? Then we get up, repent, and keep moving. We have to learn to forgive ourselves, learn, and grow from our experiences.

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. Leave Lodebar behind! Do not look back or allow the sins of your bloodline keep you bound and hostage to a life of lowliness and despair; not when God says He has made a place for you at His table. Let the promises and word of God become your blinders, keeping you focus on the road ahead. Spend quality time in the presence of God, as He directs your path. Keep looking straight ahead with confidence, knowing that God has already answered your prayers. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"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.

T

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.

"Through The Eyes of God"

Reflections4Life™ April 15, 2018

“Through The Eyes of God”

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Scripture Contemplation: Deuteronomy 28; 1 Samuel 16; Job 4:6; Isaiah 55:8-9

©Ruthe McDonald.

Everything looks different through the eyes of God. In His presence, we will find the courage to do, to be, to see, to believe all that God says about us. What so many fail to realize is that, through the eyes of God, you are perfect. He sees a completed work. His Masterpiece. It is time for us to get into the presence of God and truly see ourselves through the eyes of God.

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Determine in your heart and mind to get in the presence of God this week, and allow Him to feed you; to fill you with His love and goodness, and to stir up inside of you the truth of who you are in Him. Shut out the world. Limit all distractions and receive all that God has ordained for you—one day at a time, one moment at a time.

Letting Go of the Past

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to let go of the past. It can be difficult to shake the lies of what others have spoken over us. Whether it was family, strangers, teachers, people in authority, someone we may have looked up to and held in high regard. They may have spoken words to us that not only hurt but also placed a block in our hearts and minds about what we were actually capable of doing.

We are not our past or what people have said about us. Though our past affects our today, it does not have to define who we are right now, especially when God has forgiven us, and will create in us a new heart and mind when we dare to believe Him, and follow Him.

It can be difficult to let go of the past when constantly reminded of past mistakes and failures. When people refuse to see us for who we are right now; acknowledge the changes in us, or even see the potential that we have. Sometimes, in those instances we have to make the difficult choice of letting go and moving forward, pushing through all the darkness. That may look like letting go of people places and things. We may have separate ourselves, start over in a different place, move away from familiar things. Simply, cut people off and sometimes out of our lives. It is by no means easy but it is necessary. It is time to free ourselves and be open to all that God has ordained for our lives.

In The Presence of God

There is nothing more invigorating or life-changing than being in the presence of God. In the presence of God, there is peace, there is power, there is healing, there is the truth. So many of us run from God when we are facing difficulties or when we feel a certain way about ourselves. The flesh wants to hide. The enemy wants us to hide from God, also. Because if we run from God in the times of trouble and uncertainty, it gives the enemy the opportunity to pounce; to bombard us with his lying whispers that far too many of us fall for. He will remind us of every mistake we ever made. Every misstep; every negative situation, every lie ever uttered to us; Satan will be bringing it up.

We must run to God in the face of adversity and hardships. In His presence is where we need to be so that we may gain a sense of self and bask in the love and power that is our God. This—in His presence—is where we receive healing, strength, power, and the wisdom to move forward and push past the incessant attacks of the enemy. This is where we recharge and renew our minds and learn how to use the armor of God, as well as learning how to pray and how to strategically win each time against the enemy and be free from the lies that have plagued our lies and have stopped us from pursuing our dreams and visions.

Through the Eyes of God

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Everything looks different through the eyes of God. After spending time in His presence you cannot help but to see things differently and to realize that we, indeed, have the power to change our circumstances by changing our focus, our thoughts and the words we speak to ourselves, and what we accept or do not accept from others.

When we see through the eyes of God, we understand that His ways and thoughts are so far above ours. We come to understand that God is more loving, forgiving, and less judgmental than we are with others and with ourselves. The truth of the matter is, when God sees us, we are whole, complete, and perfect because of His Son. He does not see our past, shortcomings, and mistakes. He sees potential, what will be if we yield to Him. He sees a beautiful, wonderful, masterpiece of His design, waiting to experience all the love and promises that He ordained for our lives.

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 is now time for us to see through the eyes of God. To see what God sees, how He sees. To see the light in the midst of the darkness; to feel joy in the midst of sorrow; to experience love in the face of indifference. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.