"Do Not Allow Yesterday Destroy Today"

 Reflections4Life™ May 2, 2021

“Do Not Allow Yesterday Destroy Today”

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

Scripture Contemplation: Job 11; Psalm 90; Isaiah 43; 48; 2 Corinthians 5; Revelation 21…

It is a brand new day with brand new opportunities. And if you are reading this, it means you are alive and well enough to know and understand just how blessed and fortunate you are.

I pray today’s Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. Allow God the opportunity to mend your heart and wash away the remnants of the past that try to hold you hostage. Instead, look at the goodness of God and how He brought you through.

Certainly, we all may not be experiencing the same thing. Some may have more trouble than others; more heartaches and trials. But you are here, in the land of the living with an opportunity to change things for the better. Even if it's just changing your mind. That is a huge step.

So many of us have been through hell and back. Our "yesterdays" probably read like either, a horror or tragic life story. But here you are in "today" with the opportunity to begin again; to start over.

Do not, Beloved, allow the heartache, disappointments, and hurts of yesterday to destroy your today. Do not dwell so much on the past that you are blinded to today. Do not let the lies and heartbreak of previous relationships destroy the growth and love and new possibilities of new relationships. Don't judge those in today solely upon what someone did yesterday. And most importantly: Don't allow yourself to linger on what you could have or should have done. No. Shake it off. Learn the lessons needed. Grow from it and move forward in your present. God has far too much greatness waiting for you to walk in and experience for you to allow a yesterday you cannot change to destroy a today that holds nothing but promise. You are blessed. Walk-in it.

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. Know this: You cannot fully embrace what God has for you today when you have a firm grip on what hurt and nearly destroyed you yesterday. Release it all. Let it all go and allow God to replenish your heart, mind, and soul. You deserve all that God has ordained for you, and not one thing less. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Blocking Joy Thieves"

Reflections4Life™ December 1, 2019

"Blocking Joy Thieves"

          "Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Scripture Contemplation: John 1; Nehemiah 8; Joshua 1; Psalm 12...

Do you know how exhausting it is being a people pleaser? Do you have any idea how debilitating it is trying to make everyone else happy while you are miserable? Have you any idea the damage you do to your soul and spirit when you allow others to have the power over your life that God gave to you? 

I decree that this week's Reflections will be an encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Whatever God speaks to your heart this week, and whatever He has already spoken to you; hold on to it. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength when naysayers and negative situations arise. Do not allow it or them to rob you from all God has ordained for you.

Listen; It is a crippling thing to not know your self-worth and to always rely on the acceptance or permission of others to be content in your life. To be happy with who you are and the path you are on. Yet sometimes, as I have come to learn, is that we need those life lessons. We need those experiences to really appreciate who we areas individuals, as human beings, as the wonderful, marvelous, and sensational creation that we are.

It took me a minute to understand that my voice had power. That, my opinion was valuable and worthy. That, my place in this earth mattered and that I could make a difference, one step, one act, one smile, one life at a time. AND I could do it my way. I could do it in a manner that brought me joy and happiness. That, I could take what God placed in me—every dream, vision, an abundance of joy, happiness, and laughter—and make a difference at any stage and place in my life. 

The world did not give me this joy, nor this happiness or laughter. That came from God. So no one has the power to take it away unless I allow them to do so by relinquishing my power for them to do so. There is a lot of evil, hate, and sadness in this world. At times, it feels as though it is winning; sucking the joy right out of the world. But I know that God is greater and we cannot stop all the evil at once, but we can make a difference every single day, one person, one decision, one made up mind at a time.

My Beloved, may the spirit of peace and prosperity rest in every area of your lives. May you see and believe all that God has spoken of you, Don't let this world or allow anyone to steal your joy. Go forth and make a difference. Dare to be you and dare to keep laughing, smiling, and living in the midst of the chaos. Perhaps if enough of us did this, we would see more smiles and acts of kindness. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

 

"Brand New"

Reflections4Life August 18, 2019

“Brand New”

“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'” Revelation 21:5

Scripture Contemplation: Isaiah 43:18-20; Jeremiah 31:30-32; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 1:6-8...

©Ruthe McDonald.

     It's a new day! A new beginning; a fresh start. Each day is a fresh start when we are blessed to wake up. When you yield to God, He makes you brand new; brand new heart, brand new mind, brand new sight, a brand new life.

     I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Allow Jesus to cleanse your heart and soul from old baggage that has been weighing you down. Allow the Lord to make you brand new all over—your heart and mind. This is a new day with new opportunities. God has given you a reset. What are you going to do with it?

     Do you recall how it feels to get something brand new? The feeling of something fresh and new is exciting! I think about those of us who, growing up, had to wear hand-me-downs, and the first time you were able to buy something new just for you. How did that feel? Wonderful, didn't it?

     What about that feeling you have after a storm in your life has passed, or you let go of things that should have been let go of a long time ago? Or, when you clean out your house of all those old things, or you walk into a brand new home? Exhilarating!

     That is what a relationship with the Father is like. He makes all things new. He comes into our lives (the home of our hearts) and makes all things new. He cleanses us and gives us the opportunity to see things through fresh eyes, a clean heart, through His eyes. God has given us a reset button for our lives when he grants us a brand new day. What a precious gift to be given by our Heavenly Father. To be alive with the chance to do things over!

     Yes. There are consequences for all of our actions. Our sinful behavior has repercussions. The sinful and wrong acts of others can have devastating effects on innocent people's lives. Yet, when we come to God, He gives a new perspective, a new determination, and new grace to help us walk and get through the consequences of those actions. We will have a brand new mindset, and a brand new start at a new life, where we can walk in His love and guidance, and in obedience to His will. Yesterday cannot be changed but how we do things today can be.

      It's a brand new day, and God desires to do brand new things in your life for today. Aren't you tired? Aren't you tired of promising yourself something different, only to find yourself in old habits, doing the same thing over and over, never feeling complete or whole? Then yield to the Father. Allow the cleansing blood of Jesus to restore you, and reset your life clock. Allow Him to elevate you. To erase your past, and bring you into the future He has ordained for you.

     There are lessons we can take from our past, but we do not have to linger feeling sorry for ourselves, reliving what we did, wishing we would have done something different. No matter how you try, you do not have the ability to change your past. Only God can do that. But what you do have is the ability to move forward, and live a life that is filled with hope and expectations for greatness. You have the opportunity to walk in a brand new mindset, with brand new insight, and brand new determination. All you have to do is believe and walk the path that God has ordained for you.

      We are not limited by our past experiences. Our past and any mistakes do not determine the entirety of our life. What WE do right now and believe in our heart, determines our life. The choice is ours. We can either reach towards God and receive what He has. Or, we can linger in the past, and allow the whispers of the enemy to taunt us, and cripple us from moving forth. The choice is ours.

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

John 5:5-9 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

     There is brand new life waiting for you every day God grants you to wake up. A brand new mindset. Brand new experiences. Brand new joy and anointing each and every day. So what are you going to do? Are you going to stay stuck in the past? Or, are you going to reach forth and touch the hem of His garment? Are you going to have faith and believe what God says about you? The choice is yours. There is a brand new life with your name on it. The life that God has ordained for you before the existence of time. And all you have to do is believe, have faith, and receive. God has already declared and decreed it!

Isaiah 65:24 “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

      My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in every area of your life. Let God create in you a clean heart, and a right spirit, and a renewed mind. Let the Blood of Christ reset your life clock, so that you may live a life that is full of love, grace, purpose, peace, and the joy of the Lord. You are so very blessed. Now go... and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.