"God Is Not Complicated"

 Reflections4Life™ November 20, 2022

“God Is Not Complicated”

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ, they are [all answered] ‘Yes’. So through Him, we say our ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 18:14; Psalm 100; 131; 2 Timothy 3

I 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 not complicate what God has made easy. Do not overthink or analyze the goodness and grace of God. Learn to go with the flow; the flow of the Holy Spirit. How do you know that God is not as complicated as people made Him out to be?—by learning for yourself,  spending intimate time with the Father, and developing your personal relationship.

It must be human nature for us to over-complicate things. I do not know about you, but as I have gotten older, I have learned that little children and old people got it right: simple is better. What I truly believe is, as we grow and mature in life, we are exposed to so many different beliefs, ideologies, so many people, ideas, and thoughts on life and walks of life, what is right, and what is wrong, that our brain becomes a hodge-podge of information collected over the years. We try to decipher everything as best we can; most becoming a combination of all the things they have learned over the years. With that many influences, there are bound to be complications; too many thoughts and ideas fighting for the first position.

Humanity loves to make God seem complicated. We place God in a box and believe that this is who He is and what He wants. We learn as children that there either is a God, no God, many gods, demi-gods, one true religion, manufactured religion, no religion, etcetera. I can literally go on. It is not difficult to see how one may come to the conclusion that God is complicated when so many have painted Him in so many different lights with so many attributes, that our minds become discombobulated and not really sure what to believe.

Beloved, God is not complicated. God has no gray areas. He is definite in what He says and who He is. It is black or white; hot or cold; yes or no. God is not a God of confusion. He knows how to say exactly what He means without speculation or subcontexts. He knows how to send a word, give a word, and proclaim a word. God speaks to us every day if we are listening. When we believe in God; when we accept Christ as our Savior and begin to spend intimate time with Him and get to know His heart and mind; we learn His voice. The spirit of discernment sharpens and complications begin to fall away.

1 Corinthians 14:33 …for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people)…

John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.

In the presence of God, there is peace and understanding. There is a revelation that takes place. Knowledge is gained and wisdom is given. As children, we are sponges soaking up all the information we receive and storing it. The easier it is to understand, the more we get it and move on. As senior adults, we have lived through so much that we know what works and what does not work. We have the wisdom of our years and the discernment of age and experience. We are not searching for who we are, what we should be, or what to believe. We already know. And because we realize how precious time is, whatever does not work or fit, we let it go and move on. Complications are time-consuming and we do not have the luxury of wasting any time we are blessed with. So, simpler becomes better, once again.

Here’s what I know and understand, Beloveds: What God desires for us is not complicated. The only way for any of us to truly know and understand this is to get to know God for ourselves. We need an intimate and personal relationship with our Lord. As a teacher, I would always tell my students (as a consultant and Mentor, I tell my clients and mentees this also) that the best-learned lessons come from what you gain for yourself. First-hand experience and knowledge beats second-hand knowledge and experiences any day. Because what you learn and receive for yourself is priceless. No one can take that away from you or alter it. It is yours.

Grant it, we have some wonderful teachers (and some not-so-wonderful ones too) that teach us what they know. However, it is not until we learn for ourselves, put into practice what we have been taught, and go through various trials and errors that we learn what works for us. It is the same when it comes to our relationship with God. We can sit under a Pastor, Minister, Bishop, Priest, etcetera, and hear and learn what they know, and follow their advice, but it is not until we start walking the walk for ourselves, living our lives accordingly, and getting to Christ for ourselves that we truly know and understand who God is and who we are.

A personal relationship with God is necessary in order to know and understand His heart. God is not complicated. Once we allow Him to strip away all preconceived notions and experience God for ourselves, a wonderful thing occurs. Our hearts are opened, our minds illuminated, our eyes and ears become receptive to Him and what we thought we knew is replaced with the truth that can only be verified by a personal, intimate relationship with God.

Here is what God desires for us: To serve Him with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and our very being. To believe in the Lord Jesus, confess our sins, repent, and receive redemption. Allow Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us; meditate on His word day and night, spending intimate quality time in His presence. Get to know His heart as He reveals His truth and our truths so that He can bless us, as He desired to do since the moment He created us before we ever entered this realm of time. If we fall, get back up. Share His truth and our testimony with those around us. Now, does that sound complicated to you?

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 allow the world to complicate the love of God in your life. God loves you and desires an intimate one-on-one relationship with you. Let Him surprise you with just how easy it is to love you and bless you. You deserve a little less complication in your life. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Sometimes It Doesn't Make Sense"

 Reflections4Life™ November 13, 2022

“Sometimes It Doesn't Make Sense”

“She went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.  The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, in accordance with the word of the Lord, which He spoke through Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:15-16

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 17; 18; Exodus 16; 1 Kings 17; Esther 8; Luke 1...

©Ruthe McDonald.

Has there been a time in your life when God has told you something but it did not make any sense to you? Your human senses just couldn't comprehend it? You immediately began thinking: how, what, why, where, when? I have been there. God has spoken some things to me; has shown me some wonderful and miraculous things. In the past, it would not register with my human mind. It did not make any sense; did not even seem possible. I asked a lot of how's that going to happen? How's that possible? I just could not wrap my brain around the awesomeness of it all. Yet, my spirit believed with no question. I have since learned it does not have to make any sense to my human senses, as long as my heart knows and believes God never lies. This, Beloved, is where faith takes over and facts cease to exist.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Allow the very word of God to penetrate your heart. Walk in the sense of Christ, believing that whatever God has spoken and shown to you, it will indeed happen. God cannot lie. Though things may seem impossible to your physical senses, allow the sincerity and wondrous works of the Holy Spirit to take you higher, filling your heart and mind until your spirit believes all that God has spoken concerning you and your faith is complete.

Can you put yourself in the widow woman’s shoes for a moment, in 1 Kings 17? You have only a little bit of meal and oil, enough for the last meal for you and your son. You have already made up your mind that you both will die soon from starvation. One day a man of God comes to you, telling you, one: to use your last little bit to make him a cake, and two: the barrel of meal and cruse of oil you now have will last until the drought is over. That is a lot of information to take in, comprehend, and believe. However, as the prophet of God continued to speak to her, her heart held faith in God. Though she still had a doubt, what did she have to lose by listening to the prophet of God? So, she trusted in the word of God and not in the facts before her eyes.

We have no answer for many things. There are things we objectively cannot seem to find a plausible reason for; things that make no sense to our human mind; things that seem impossible. Yet, God desires for us to go beyond our human mind, intellect, and reasoning, and simply believe. Believe in that which He has spoken to our hearts, what He has shown us. Simply: Have Faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Hebrews 11:1 (MSG) The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. 

It took faith for this widow woman to believe in what the prophet had spoken to her; faith to believe that God had chosen her and her son to receive this miracle and blessing; trusting that everything was going to work out. That, indeed, if she fed the prophet of God as he instructed, God would provide. That, He would take her little and multiply it.

How many of us are willing to give God our last? To take what we know is not much but is very much needed and share it or use it in the manner God instructs, letting go of what we had planned. It is not an easy thing when we look at our hands and count what we do not have, as opposed to looking at what God does have and has promised. It is a definite leap of faith; especially when you have been living paycheck to paycheck, or have your last and God is asking you to do what He says with money you allocated to buy that week’s worth of groceries.

I am sure it did not make any sense to Abram when God told him that he was going to become a father in his old age. It definitely did not make any sense to Sarai. She laughed at the promise because it did not make sense to her human understanding. Her doubt led her to give her husband her maid to sleep with, resulting in Ishmael. To this very day, because of one woman's doubt in the spoken word of God, we have two nations forever fighting; Ishmael vs Isaac. 

We must learn to see through our spiritual eyes. Many things that God has to share with us will not make any sense to our human mind or way of thinking. We must come up higher and see through our spiritual eyes. We must walk in faith and trust in that which God speaks concerning our lives. God specializes in the impossible, not always the facts, or the obvious.

There are things that are impossible for mankind—impossible for man to understand. Yet, for those who would dare to have faith, walk in faith, and trust in what God has spoken, their life will see the impossible take place. Their lives are filled with the unexpected; with the constant blessings of God working on their behalf.

Charged to walk by faith and not by sight, not all that God has ordained for us will make any sense to our senses, but it will bear witness with our soul and spirit if we have developed and nurtured our intimate relationship with our heavenly Father.

The Father desires to bless beyond what can be seen with natural eyes. He wants to take you to another level of faith. That, though you waited a long while for answers, for what God has spoken to you to come to pass, you will believe no matter what. That, it no longer has to make any sense to your senses or to those around you, as long as God has spoken it that settles it and that is what it shall be. Faith—immovable, unshaken, solid, and unbreakable.

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. Get out of your senses and into your spirit. Let your faith lead you where God has promised you. Believe with your heart, and not with your eyes or intellect. God cannot lie. His promises are certain and happening in your life. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"NOW...Do It Now!"

Reflections4Life™ October 30, 2022

“Now…Do It Now!”

“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.” Hebrews 11:1-2

Scripture Contemplation: Hebrews 11; Romans 4; Genesis 12; 2 Corinthians 1…

I decree that this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for heart, mind, and soul. Rejoice in all that God has ordained for your life. Even if you cannot see the full picture yet, have faith and be confident in the word of the Lord concerning your life. Walk with Him. Commune with Him. Trust Him. Meditate and believe with all of your heart and soul. What God has ordained for your life will happen. You just have to move…when He tells you to.

There is a burning in my heart and soul, a blazing inferno and so strong at this very moment that, now, is the time to move forward in the plans of God! Now!—is the time to execute all of the plans and ideas that are written in books, journals, and to-do lists. This is the season to begin to see the manifestations of God’s promises for our lives but we have to move when God says to move. Total obedience.

Now is the time, Beloved. Now is the time to go forward with your passions, to make amends, to forgive, to let go, to move forward, to do recompense, to ask for forgiveness, to be humbled, to go after everything that God has placed in your heart that you have been procrastinating to do. Time is an elusive thing to humans. Many believe they have all the time in the world, while others believe there is not enough time. Both schools of thought have those same people frozen, standing in the same position instead of moving forward, walking in the promises of God, and following His instructions.

I understand. Believe me when I tell you, that I sincerely understand how you can become immobilized by fear, doubts, and uncertainty. Yet, God is here, knocking on the doors of our hearts, whispering in our ears; nudging our spirits to go forth in all of those plans that He has placed in us; all of the dreams and visions. He desires us to go boldly forward, walk in truth, and live our lives with no regrets.

There is such a burning in my soul today that is telling me that if we do not move on to what God has spoken to our hearts, we will miss this season of manifestations, and it is not a guarantee that we will make it to the season when it comes around again. Now is our appointed time. We must move in faith, be diligent, and believe in our hearts what God has spoken.

No matter what it appears to be. No matter what obstacles arise. No matter who is or who is not on our side; as long as God has given the green light, it is time to go forward and get the work done and bring in the harvest. Seeds were planted long ago. Pruning season has and is taking place, God is ushering in a spirit of removal and blessing His children that meditate, spend time in His presence, in prayer and fasting, with a greater anointing of discernment and an ear to hear His voice, that may sound like a whisper in the midst of chaos.

Do not wait for circumstances to be just right. They never will be. This is a faith walk. Do not wait for someone’s approval or validation when God had already approved and validated you and given you the word—the green light—to move ahead in the plans and promises He has placed in you. An impending recession, skyrocketing mortgage rates, climbing gas rates, food shortages, continued evil in the land--none of it is an issue to God when He tells us to move now! God sees it all. But He is bigger than the economic climate and far greater than the enemy that is in the land.

Let me also warn you, Beloved, in case you are not aware: Not everyone who says they are for you actually is. Not everyone who says they believe in you actually does. Not everyone you start the journey with will make it to the end to see the manifestations of the fruit of your labor and visions. And that’s okay. You may even encounter some naysayers and you will definitely encounter a Judas—maybe more than once—but be encouraged, that is just a sign that your manifest season and long-awaited promises are here. You are on the right track. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep meditating. Keep doing. Whatever you do, do not give up.

Now, Beloved now is the time to move when you feel that burning, that nudging, that thing that won’t let you sleep. You are going to have to take chances, let some things and people go, be focused, determined, and above all else: forgive. Forgive yourself for any mistakes. Forgive others for whatever they have done, and move on. You do not have time to hold resentments, regrets, anger, or unforgiveness. It will only hinder your progress and your hearing and ability to see God’s instructions for what comes next.

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. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. Do not allow your dreams and visions to die because of fear, or procrastination. Move when God says move. He will give you the provision for the visions He has placed in you. Just as He has given us the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"Walk Away"

 Reflections4Life™ June 5, 2022

“Walk Away”

“If any place won’t welcome you or listen to your message, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them.” Mark 6:11

Scripture Contemplation: Matthew 10; Acts 17; 2 Timothy 2…

©Ruthe McDonald.

I declare that this week’s Reflections is a continued source of encouragement for your hearts, minds, and souls. Set aside some quality God time this week so that He may fill up the reserves of your heart and spirit with His love, patience, kindness, joy, and peace. Allow Holy Spirit to lead you to where you need to be. Do not allow anyone’s rejection of who you are to keep you from remembering who God has already declared you to be.

I know. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is walk away when all you want to do is prove your point or want your message or what you are saying to be heard and understood. However, Beloveds, as you will come to know if you do not already, not everyone is going to be receptive to your ideas, your opinions, your knowledge, your message, or wisdom. You will be in some places and in others, where what you have to say will not be received. Not everyone will want to hear what God or you have to say or welcome you.

There is so much in all of us—a word, a message, a truth—that God wants us to share. God will indeed send us to places already knowing that what we have to say and to offer will not be received. Yet, our going is not about whether what we have to say is accepted or listened to, but about our obedience to God in going forth anyway.

We are encouraged, however, to not become discouraged by the lack of reception that we may receive. God admonishes us to leave and shake the dust from our feet. Meaning, do not linger in that place—physically, or mentally. There are so many people waiting for what you have to say. There are people waiting on the message that is burning in your heart and your soul. We cannot be caught up in our feelings every time someone does not want to listen to us or receive the message we are sharing. Even though one place was not receptive, or even the last five places!—does not mean the next place will be the same.

Know this, as well: Your message may have appeared to not have been received or listened to; you just never know if there was indeed one person, one soul that heard and received, or that the seeds you planted actually landed on good soil. So do not hang on being accepted or not. Just do whatever God has called you to do and move on. When it is time to go forth again, be certain to have also walked away mentally from the last place that did not receive you. You never want to bring doubt and uncertainty with you, but instead, confidence and boldness, knowing that God has ordained you for this hour and time.

Learning to walk away is pivotal in our lives, Beloveds. It is not always about staying, fighting, and not giving up. Sometimes it is about saving your sanity, your own faith, and being able to hear God before emotions and hurt feelings block and stop you from being and doing all that God has ordained. There are times when walking away is the best thing you could have done.

Many of us feel as though if we walk away, that we have given up, we are not exercising faith. No. We are actually using wisdom and following the instructions of God. The flesh will always want to save face and not be embarrassed or considered a failure. Yet, the real winners are those that see the situation for what it is and walk away in maturity, understanding that they have done all they could and should do and do not have to prove anything to anyone.

When God tells you to walk away; to no longer try to convince or to share your message, He already knows you have done all that you could and should have done. Do not stay in a place where you are not received, welcomed, celebrated, or listened to. If what you have to offer is not received, move on. Because it will be a shame for you to stay and try to convince someone and you end up being the person that is changed.

Oh yes! I have seen it countless times. Even with myself. You want the person(s) to receive what God has for them. You hate to see them walking in circles, or into brick walls, or generally just messing up their lives, and you desperately want them to see the truth and accept the truth. You desire for them to truly believe because you know how much their lives will be changed. However, in the process of trying to convince them, you become the one who has changed.

God does not want that. He wants us to retain our integrity and our belief. That is why it is so important to maintain a prayer-filled life; always seeking God’s direction; following his instructions, and checking our own hearts and motives. Why would you stay in a place that made it clear that your message was not being seen or heard? Let that pride go! When God says walk away, shake the dust from your feet, then do it! We are no one’s savior. Jesus is the only one who gets that spot! You know what? He can have it! LOL. We cannot save a single soul but we can be the instrument that God uses to get them to see and into position to receive what God has for them. But we must not linger in a place so long that we forsake all the rest that are waiting on us. And trust me, Beloveds; there are many others that are anxiously awaiting what we have to say and share with them today.

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. Walking away is not an indication of failure or giving up. It is learning not to linger in a place, space, or time that may hinder or eventually rob you of your own message and blessings. Let God lead you. When it’s time to shake the dust off your feet, do just that! Allow God to lead you where you need to be next because there are countless others who are waiting to hear and receive what you have to release. Trust God and keep it moving. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

The Declaration Series: "I Will Delight Myself In The Lord"

 Reflections4Life™ February13, 2022

"I Will Delight Myself in the Lord"

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give your heart's desires." Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

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 seven in our Declaration Series. Delight yourself in the Lord and He is going to give you the desires of your heart. That is pretty straightforward. Yet, many of us still do not do this. Or, we do it for a while and then stop but expect GOD to continue giving us what we want. This is not a one-time action. This is a lifestyle. A change in our thinking, our behavior, our relationship with our Creator. GOD is certainly waiting to give us the desires of our hearts. But we must first learn what it truly means to delight ourselves in the Lord.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Delight yourself in the Lord. Make it a habit and not just a one-time or sometimes thing. Think about it for what it is: a lifestyle change. You are making a conscious decision to change how you live your life and think about the relationship between you and GOD the Father.

Delighting yourself in the Lord is not about telling God what you think He wants to hear. God knows our thoughts before we think them. He definitely knows what is residing in our hearts. Better than we do! God desires for us to delight ourselves in Him. For many of us, we were not taught what it actually meant to delight ourselves in the Lord. Think about it; do you remember that being a Sunday School lesson? Or, if you came to Christ as an adult, did anyone say to you: Oh! Don't forget to delight yourself in the Lord every day? I am certain they didn't. If we are going to delight ourselves in the Lord and receive the desires of our hearts, we should at least know what delighting ourselves in the Lord looks like.

To delight yourself in the Lord, you are seeking Him daily with your whole heart, mind, and soul. You are seeking the mind of God to know what He knows. You are putting on the mind of Christ so that your thoughts are now lining up with His. You are meditating on the word of God, studying and applying it to your everyday life. Delighting yourself in the Lord is getting to know the heart of your Creator and what pleases Him. You decide not to be afraid to bare your heart and soul before Him, coming naked and vulnerable in your emotions. You expose yourself before God and receive His healing in return. You learn to trust Him where you cannot trace Him. But you also believe Him to keep His promises made to you.

Finally, when you have delighted yourself in the Lord, you will find that His ways are now your ways. His thoughts have become your thoughts. The things you now desire in your heart, are in alignment with the perfect will of the Lord for your life. You now understand that what God has for you is the best. You cannot beat God's giving. Whatever you can come up with, will still not hold a candle to what God has ordained for you. When God grants you the desires of your heart, they will be more than you thought possible.

Ephesians 3:20 "Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by His power at work within us;" (CEB)

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. Delight yourself in the Lord. Get to know the heart and mind of God, our Father. Believe that He is granting you all that you need and your desires. He is doing great work in your life. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.