"No More Procrastinating"

 Reflections4Life™ March 12, 2023

“No More Procrastinating!”

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” Proverbs 13:4

Scripture Contemplation for This Week: Haggai 1; 2; Luke 9…

©Ruthe McDonald.

We all have hopes, dreams, and visions. For many, they have pursued them and successfully accomplished them; seeing them come to fruition, the fruit of their labor and faith manifesting. Others have lost their hope, dreams, and visions. Life has not been kind and has disappointed them. Yet, the truth is, life happened to both groups of people. Many of those who have accomplished their dreams and visions, too were met with disappointments and unkindness. However, they did not stay down when they fell. They did not stop trying or pushing forward. When one road was blocked, they found another. They did not give up. And when God told them to keep going, they did not procrastinate. When it was time to rebuild, that is just what they did. They walked in obedience to God.

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Stand in faith and walk in obedience, Beloveds. Allow the word of God to cleanse you. Walk with confidence and faith, pursuing your dreams and passions. Do not allow setbacks, disappointments, and trials of life to derail you from seeing the manifestations of God’s blessings for your life. Be diligent in your prayer and meditation this week, allowing God to be your strength, as He instructs you how to rebuild. Be swift to move and follow His word, kicking the spirit of procrastination in the butt. Everything you need already resides in you.

Stop Procrastinating

Haggai 1:2-7  “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

God has given each of us instructions concerning His will for our lives. He gave instructions in His word, through His overseers and teachers. Even in our dreams and through circumstances and situations, God has admonished us and has sent His word on what we should do and the path we should walk. Yet, many have gone astray. They have not listened to God, but instead have followed their own desires and whims; have followed others on a path of disobedience and destruction, and have not yielded to God.

Our spiritual houses are breaking down. Our lives are not what we hoped for or expected. The truth of the matter is that many have been selfish in their pursuits, forsaking the word and will of God. We have moved away from the will of God and His instructions and have procrastinated in our repentance and have not humbled ourselves before the Lord. We wonder why we never have enough or can never move ahead or catch a break. We have been indulging in our flesh; gratifying the lusts of our eyes and ears, and have forsaken our relationship with God.

This has left many empty, in a place of uncertainty, and spiritually bankrupt. It is time to stop procrastinating, especially when it comes to following the will of God, walking in obedience to His will for our lives. We cannot continue to straddle the fence and only serve God part of the time but expect full-time blessings.

Romans 7:17-19 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

There is a war within between the flesh and the spirit, and if we desire to rebuild, to start over, and see our dreams and visions resurrected, we must walk in obedience to the Spirit, put the flesh under subjection, and stop procrastinating when it comes to following God’s instructions. We must yield to God, and do exactly what He instructs without hesitation.

Start Rebuilding

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Haggai 2:18-19 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

The Father has spoken and given instructions, now it is time to start rebuilding. To begin to rebuild what has been torn down, and left in shambles. God has equipped us, enabling us to move forward. If you have repented, sought out the Lord, and have a heart that is willing to move forward in obedience, then it is time to remember those dreams and visions. God has restored hope, as He has forgiven you of your past. The only one that wants us to wallow in the past is the enemy so that he can use it to cause us to procrastinate long enough to talk us out of believing what God has already declared and decreed over our lives.

God has already forgiven you, now you must forgive yourself and start rebuilding, following the instructions that God has given. Repent, humble yourself, seek His will, the Kingdom of heaven first; allowing God to equip you with all that you need. Do not be afraid to start over, to begin again. God is with you. He will not allow you to fail when you are walking in obedience. Get your plans; the plans that the Master Architect has designed for your life. Follow His blueprints and you will not have to worry about it failing inspection. It already has the Holy Spirit’s seal of approval.

Finally Beloved

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I declare that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Rebuild and start living your best life now! Yes, you messed up! Who hasn’t? So what, you are getting older! We all are! Take what you know—all the life lessons; including the mistakes, and grow from them. Do that thing you always wanted to do but were afraid to do. Life is too short to live with so many regrets. Always remember your hopes, dreams, and visions. Remember who you are before that tumultuous relationship, before that job loss, the broken promises, and the heartaches that may come. Life is not easy but it is worth it. So remember all of those great things. Stop procrastinating and do them! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Break Free"

REFLECTIONS4LIFE™  October 10, 2021

“Break Free”

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” Isaiah 43:18, 19a (MSG)

Scripture Contemplation: Numbers 16; Nehemiah 10; Isaiah 43; 2 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6…

I want you to remember this, Today is the beginning of the best days of your life. Today is the day that you finally break free from the past that has held you hostage. The past that has haunted you. The mistakes and failures that have been a burden on your shoulders and weighed your heart down. All of that!—it is over! God is releasing you today and all you have to do is believe and receive it!

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 revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. Be certain to spend some quality and intimate time with the Heavenly Father this week. There is something wonderful He desires to impart to you; to settle in your heart; something that will change your life forever. All for your good.

Sure, I hear your pessimism, your doubt, even some with unbelief. However, I also hear hope, and faith the size of a mustard seed, and desire. That's all it takes.

In no way am I telling you that this path of living in your blessings and walking in your purpose is easier. What I am saying, though, is that you will be stronger. You will walk in the strength and knowledge of knowing that God has you and your future securely in His hands, and has forgiven you, and freed you from a past that has haunted you.

Though there may be people, the enemy will use to try and bound you back up; try to make you doubt your freedom, and try to discourage you from pursuing the promises of God in your life; that is par, for the course you are on. Yet, they are no match for the promises and power of God that are now working in your life. The key is to give no ear or time to them. But, to learn to let God answer the door when the enemy is knocking.

Keep saying to yourself what God says about you. Let the words of God's truth be a constant sound in your ear. Another crucial thing—all of those mistakes and failures? Change your view about them. They no longer should be seen as mistakes and failures, but as life lessons and tutorials that have prepared you for this moment in time; life lessons that have taught you about your character and that of others. They have taught you how to spot a lie, a liar, a thief, and insincere people from miles away. It has taught you just how strong you truly are. How do I know? Because you are here, alive, thriving, and receiving the blessings of God.

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. Break free from those things that try to prevent you from receiving all that God has ordained for your life. You are worthy of all of God’s blessings and His unconditional love. Remember: You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"First Things First"

 Reflections4Life^TMMarch 14 , 2021

“First Things First!”

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 1; Psalm 1; Proverbs 3; Jude…

It's a brand new day. One filled with hope and opportunities just waiting for us to seize. As we are in Lent, and the Easter season, and for those of us who are believers, the reason for this season; let us not forget first things first: To spend some time in the presence of our Creator before we do anything else.

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. There is much more to our lives than any of us believe or have possibly seen. The only way to understand and see this truth is to spend quality time in the presence of God.

How often do we forget to stop and give God thanks for His blessings of just waking us up to a new day? When you arise in the morning, what is the first thing on your mind? What is the first thing that you do? For many of us, it is everything else but God. We can admit it: God is not the first thought, nor do we make the effort to make Him first. To spend time in His presence before we think or do anything else.

God is often last on our list if we even remember. For many, the first thing on the mind is what we have to do that day. We think of our responsibilities, what has to be done, what has to be paid.  Many times we start off saying we are going to prioritize and make certain that we spend time with God. But soon enough, we slack off and we find the time we spend with God less and less and wonder why our lives are in such chaos.

God should not be an afterthought. He should always be first. I challenge you to make God a priority in your life. Make Him first in your day, and watch how the things in your life begin to change. God wants us to know Him and to know who we are in Him, to understand the precious gift of His Son. To know Him for ourselves—intimately—and not just what we hear or have been taught to believe from what others believe or experience. Testimonies of others are great. However, first-hand knowledge is greater. To know God for ourselves is essential to our own peace of mind and walk with Him. Spend your first moments with the Creator. Allow Him to fill your soul and reveal His plan for your day, for your life. I promise you will not regret 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. Make God a priority in your day; in your life. Begin the day in His presence, and end it there as well. Allow God to fill your cup with Him. With the blessings that you not only desire but need in your life each and every day. Put Him first, and see how your life begins to turn around. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Don't Believe The Lies"

Reflections4Life August 2, 2020

“Don’t Believe the Lies”

“But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.” Psalm 63:11

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 6; 14; 19; 30; John 8…

Today’s Reflections is very much personal than any other at this present time! God knows how I feel about lying. But especially about being called a liar! I abhor it! And beloveds, when the enemy knows what you abhor, he will try and use it against you every chance he gets.

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. Whatever you do, keep trusting God, and spend intimate time in His presence. Only God can reveal to you what you need to know and give you peace about what is the truth and what is the lie. The Father is trustworthy.

There are going to be many things said about many people, places, things, and about you. Sometimes the things being said will be a lie! One lie can destroy an entire lifetime. An entire legacy. And before the lie is discovered or exposed, the damage is already done.

Do you know what the worst kind of lie is? The lies that the enemy speaks to us and we believe. That is the absolute worse! Because it can rob you of love, your birthright, your blessings, your peace, your self-esteem, your confidence, your hope, and even your faith and belief in God.

The enemy is strategic in his plots against us. He waits. Studying us. Getting to know our weaknesses; our idiosyncrasies. He waits for vulnerable times to strike. While all along he has been whispering lies to us and using our insecurities to weaken us. He uses that girlfriend, that boyfriend, that husband, wife, or family member; or that shady friend to take jabs at our armor, in order to weaken it enough for his onslaught. When we are most vulnerable, he strikes hard, and we often end up believing his lies.

Don't do it, Beloved! Don't believe the lies the enemy has spoken. Don't believe the hateful and jealous rants and whispers of people who wish your downfall. Don't fall for the backhanded compliments and empty gestures of those who say they love you and are for you, yet are secretly wishing and plotting your demise. Look to God for the truth. Look to God to reveal the heart of someone; their true intentions. And you…be strong. Do not let an enemy that has already been defeated rob you any longer. Plant yourself at the throne of God. Spend intimate and quiet time in His presence. Listen to what the Father says, allowing Him to strengthen and enlighten 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.  Trust me when I tell you: God has the best for you. You are His best. And in you is already greatness waiting for you to accept and walk into. Don't believe the lies, Love. Don't let go of God's truth about you. That you are wonderfully and fearfully made in His image. That, you are more than a conqueror. That, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Do Not Be Robbed"

Reflections4Life July 26, 2020

“Do Not Be Robbed”

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (NASB)

Scripture Contemplation: Jeremiah 22; John 10; 1 Peter 5…

Beloveds, we are in such a time that it may often feel as though no matter how hard you fight; how much you believe; how strong your faith; it feels like you are losing.

That's a lie! A trick from the enemy of our souls to blind us and steal from us. To rob us of our birthright; our joy, peace, and happiness. All of these things—these unexplained occurrences, the hate, and vitriol we see and experience on a daily basis...all of it—schemes plotted by the enemy to rob us. Yes. He wants to destroy us, to kill us. And what better way than to distract us, diverting our attention, so that we may lose our focus. His number one goal, to permanently rob us of our blessings and the promises of God. To take our very life.

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. Run to the Father. Before you react. Before you make any decision to do anything, run to the throne of grace, and seek the will of God. Allow Him to lead you so that you may remain standing strong and in the victory, He has assured you.

It is so easy for us to get distracted these days. And even more of a distraction is our emotions. Many of us do not respond but rather react to anger. Although we are justified in our anger, we are not justified when we act out and do something that does irreparable damage to ourselves and our families. That's what the enemy of our souls wants. He wants us to be distracted by the pain and the hurt and do something that will allow him to rob us of our future, our families, our freedom, and our lives.

We can also be robbed of our relationships. The enemy does not care about families and relationships. One of his tactics is to isolate and separate. Even he understands and knows how powerful we are when we come together in agreement. Do not allow the enemy to turn you away from the ones you love and those that can help you. Do not be robbed of family, friends, and fellowship. We must learn to reach out, and deal with things together. To trust one another and work with each other.

Beloved, do not allow the enemy to rob you. Yes. Get angry but do not sin in your anger. Respond to the hurt and pain but do not react. Do not isolate yourself or play the lone ranger. Seek God, and come together in prayer and fellowship.

Another strategy the enemy loves, it when we give up because we become scared or fearful. Some give up before they have even begun to fight back; putting an end to his distractions, and his constant attempt to steal, kill, and destroy. Don't give up. Don't lose hope or faith. But also, do not fall for the traps of the enemy. Do not allow him to goad you and make you so angry that you do not pray or think, and just walk away defeated. 

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.  Don't allow the distractions, the hurtful things, and the hateful and evil things of this world to steal your focus and your victory. God has already declared us the winner. The enemy may be conniving, but he is not more powerful than God or those who maintain their focus and choose to stand and fight in the manner in which God instructs. For greater is He in us than he that is in this world. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"In This Moment"

Reflections4Life April 26, 2020

“In This Moment”

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-27

Scripture Contemplation: Ecclesiastes 3; Matthew 6; 1 Peter 5…

We are often worried about what happened yesterday, and what is going to take place tomorrow that, we miss this moment. We do not enjoy the gift of today and right now.

At this moment, there are people crushed, literally, and figuratively speaking, by the devastation, this pandemic has caused many lives and livelihoods. There are families saying goodbye tho their loved ones; not even certain why. All they have is this moment.

I decree today’s Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. may it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Be present at this moment. Do not dwell in the past you cannot change, or a tomorrow that hasn’t arrived. Live in this moment with gratitude. Allow God to fill you this moment, so that He can be the one who prepares you for a tomorrow, and washes away the cares of yesterday.

We find so many things to complain about. There are so many things we can come up with that we want to change. But how often do we stop, and be grateful, truly grateful for this moment? The moment we are in right now, breathing, feeling, seeing, hearing, and receiving.

God is a faithful God. He knows our thoughts. He knows our hearts. He knows what we have gone through, and what lies before us. He encourages us to take no thought for tomorrow; about what we will eat or what we will wear. He has made it abundantly clear that He will take care of us.

In this moment, where are your thoughts? What is your focus on? Are you enjoying this new day? Are you taking the time to relish in this awesome gift of today? Or, are you hindered by the mistakes of yesterday and what-ifs of tomorrow? Do not be. Take this time to enjoy the time with your loved ones. Take this time to gain the knowledge you never would have had time to do. Do not be in a rush for things to back to "normal"; instead, determine to do things in a new way. Even the earth recognizes the clock being reset. The animals even sense the shift in the air.

If we could sincerely be grateful for this moment; seeking to do things the way God would have us to do, I suspect we would have minimal regrets in our lives going forward. Enjoy this moment; this time. Be grateful for it. Love with all you have, in this moment.

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. Live in this moment with the certainty that God has taken care of your every tomorrow. Whatever took place in the past, He has taken care of that also. Do not miss the miracles of today by being wrapped up in things you cannot change. You are blessed. Now go and be a blessing.

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Peace in Chaos"

Reflections4Life™ March 15, 2020

“Peace in Chaos”

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-27

Scripture Contemplation: Ecclesiastes 3; Matthew 6; 1 Peter 5…

Who is your trust in? Do you believe in the report of the Lord, or the report of the enemy, the news media, and social media? At this moment, there are people losing their minds because of the current pandemic, COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus. What’s worse? Those who call themselves believers have been the worst offenders, behaving in unseemly manners; totally forgetting that our peace, our healing, our help comes from the Lord.

There is chaos in these streets. People are forgetting about kindness, selflessness, humility, and helping the elderly, the sick, and those who cannot fend for themselves. God called us to a higher standard; to be the light on the hill in the midst of darkness. To be the salt of the earth that has lost its flavor.

I decree today’s Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Be present at this moment. Do not dwell in the reports of man. Turn off the news for a while and open your word. Live in this moment with gratitude. Allow God to fill you with His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Before this new pandemic struck, how many of us were worrying about next week or next month? Most likely, only those who know what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. Those who can only afford one meal a day. Those who rely upon schools as a form of daycare. How often do we stop, and be grateful, truly grateful for what we have been blessed with, and the ability to help someone else? This sudden crisis is not foreign or even sudden if we have been reading and meditating in the word of God. We would have heard the Lord speak to our hearts and prepare us for what was coming. We would be walking in peace and not chaos. Our hearts at rest, because we would have long ago been preparing for what was taking place now.

God is a faithful God. He does not leave His children unaware or unprepared. He knows our thoughts. He knows our hearts. He knows what we have gone through, and what lies before us. He encourages us to take no thought on tomorrow, about what we will eat or what we will wear. He has made it abundantly clear that He will take care of us. Yet, because of the chaos, we do not hear Him because of the fear and panic that have paralyzed us and arrested our faith and belief in God. We are behaving like the world, desensitized to the needs of others. How can we be a witness or a place of comfort and example of peace if we are allowing ourselves to be disturbed and unhinged by the current state we are living? We cannot. Instead, we are adding to the chaos and uncertainty.

At this moment, where are your thoughts? What is your focus on? Are you worried about the pandemic and relying on the reports of the Media? Or, are you fretting about what you have, or how you will make it for the weeks and possibly months to come? Or, do you trust God to see you and yours through these travailing times; trusting Him to continue to be your source and resource? Your anchor in the storm? Your shelter in the rain? Your Peace in chaos?

Be grateful for this moment. You are alive and have the opportunity to not only receive what God has for you but also the opportunity to be a vessel used by God to aid others in their times of need and uncertainty. Who’s going to look after the sick, shut-in, and elderly? Are you willing to share from your stockpile of abundance, believing that God will restore everything to you? Seek to do things the way God would have you to do. Be grateful for this moment.

 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. Live in this moment with the certainty that God has taken care of your every tomorrow. Let Him be your peace in the midst of chaos; the peace that surpasses all understanding. Do not miss the miracles of today wrapped up in things you cannot change. You are blessed. Now go and be a blessing.

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Whom Do You Love?"

Reflections4Life™ February 9, 2020    

 

“Who Do You Love?”

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 22; Genesis 29; Proverbs 3; Matthew 5; John 3; 1 Corinthians 13...

Whom do you love? You really don't have to answer that. Your actions will speak for you. Your actions will tell the story of what and who resides in your heart. Some people can hide the truth for a while, but eventually, all light stands out from darkness, and the truth about how you really feel is revealed.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Let the love of God fill you and penetrate every part of your soul, so that you may know how to love the way the Father loves, and know-how to receive love. 

Many use the word love frivolously. I love this. I love that. I love movies. I love dessert. I love. I love. I love. Yet, our actions are speaking volumes concerning who we really love. Love is more than just an emotion. It is a force. It is power. It is the embodiment of God here on this earth. When we really understand how precious and powerful love is, we would be less likely to be frivolous in its use. We would honor love by showing and giving love as God has commanded.

People are making choices every single day based upon how they feel at any given moment. They are saying with their mouths how much they love. How much they love their families, their spouse, their children, their career. Yet, the actions they are putting forth do not speak of love. Their actions are not reflecting the love they say they have in their hearts. Instead, what is reflected is a spirit of selfishness, low self-esteem, resentfulness, animosity, sorrow, shame, and sometimes hate.

Matthew 6:20-22 “20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

We are making life choices based upon what is residing in our hearts. What we treasure the most will be found in the core of our hearts. That is what will occupy our time, energy, and efforts. What do you treasure today? What is it that has a hold of your heart that you will be willing to lay down your life if it came to that? 

Many walk around speaking words that sound lovely and correct. They are able to fool some people for some time. However, they can never fool God. The Father knows our hearts. He knows where our treasure lies. He knows what is on our priority list. He knows how weak or how strong our love is. He reaches towards us every day. Every day when we arise, it is a gift from God, and Him reaching toward us, so that He may fill us with Himself.

Yet, many have rejected the Father. Our actions have dismissed the hand of God. Many have assumed that they can walk on this earth and do what they like, and no one would be the wiser of who they really are and what they really believe. Not true. Because the actions we take today, have consequences for others tomorrow. Whether we see it or not, or acknowledge it.

Do you love God? Do you love your family? Do you love your friends? Do you love yourself? The truth is, many of us cannot give love or receive love or reciprocate love, because we do not love ourselves. How can you love anyone else when you have no love for yourself? Receiving, accepting love, and believing in love, is difficult when you are having trouble loving yourself. That, my Beloveds, is at the core of many who profess to love, but whose actions speak otherwise. 

This is the reason why so many people hurt their loved ones and make poor decisions because they lack self-love. Without self-love, you lack the ability to recognize or correctly assess what is best or good for yourself in the end. You may make poor decisions that can have devastating consequences for those you say you do love.

Whom do you love? Love is powerful. Love is healing. Love is delivering. Love is consuming. Love can change things in a moment’s time. Love is long-suffering. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is selfless. Love is forgiving. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-2 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Let the love of God fill you today. Let God fill you. Let Him pour Himself into every part of you; restoring your heart and soul, healing the wounds of your past. Bringing deliverance to those areas, you have never spoken about or shared with anyone. Let the Father into your secret place of pain and shame, so that He may bless you with beauty for your ashes, and double anointing for your shame. Let love in today so that you may be free to love the way God has ordained you to love. That, you may love yourself and God that is in you.

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in every area of your life. Let God in. Let Him pour Himself into your heart and soul, filling you with love that consumes restores and redeems, so that you may love yourself, and others unhindered and completely, just as God loves. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.