'God Cannot Lie"

Reflections4Life™ March 29, 2020

“God Cannot Lie”

“God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 1; Numbers 23; Job 5; Jeremiah 29; Ephesians 3; Philippians 1...

©Ruthe McDonald.

Do you trust God? Do you believe what God has spoken concerning your life? Do you believe He is able to do just what He said? Are you confident in God? Do you walk in confidence and faith? Or, are you bound by fear and unbelief? Have the current circumstances in this world shaken your faith? Know this truth, beloved. Hold it in your heart and remind yourself daily: God. Cannot. Lie.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. I pray you will believe with all your heart, that no matter what you are faced with; what this world is hit with—this is your season—your season to believe and walk in the promises of God. That, you will know in your heart, and believe with all your soul, that whatever God has promised you; He is making good on them.

I understand clearly those times when you feel that none of what you have been waiting for is going to happen. I understand and clearly identify with the thought, that maybe God has forgotten you. Perhaps what He has promised is not going to happen. I know what it is like to wait and wait, and as you wait, to feel your faith get a little shaky; to the point that you almost stop believing. I have been there, beloved. I understand, that in light of everything going on—the coronavirus, the quarantine, the loss of employment and finances for many; how it affects your state of mind and faith. I understand. However, I am holding on. Just as I held on before, by speaking the word of God. By meditating on His word. By praying, fasting, and surrounding myself with like-minded people.

In this world, we are surrounded daily with people and things that are contrary to our walk, in God. We are faced with wickedness and fear, and doubt and unbelief. We often walk a fine line while navigating this narrow path every day. Yet, we must continue to believe in our God. We must continue to walk in confidence and in faith, knowing that God has us covered. That, what we are waiting upon is coming to pass. But, in the meantime, we have many obstacles to contend with. Many battles we will fight. Yet, through it all, we can overcome and see the promises of God fulfilled in our life, if we follow God's instructions.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Ephesians 3:12-13 ...in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

Yes. Times are difficult right now. Our paths are bumpy. Things will happen in our life that will look nothing like the blessings of God. In fact, it may even look like we don't serve God or that there is a God. Yet, God tells us that this is a faith walk. That, we cannot walk this walk, or run this race by what we see. We must believe and walk by faith. We must endure the hard times and have courage, believing that God will see us through each and every time.

These are those times beloved, when God is conditioning our heart. These are the times when our faith is being developed. When God is preparing us for what lies ahead. These are the times when you are so close to the manifestations of God's promises in your life coming to pass, that the enemy is hell-bent on causing you to lose focus and give up. To walk away from your miracle, from your blessings and promises.

Don't you let that happen! Don't you dare come this far and give up on God, when God has not given up on you! God has equipped us with everything we need to make it through this race. He has already assured us the victory. Jesus made us that assurance when He went to the Cross and defeated hell and death.

Everything the enemy is doing is designed to get you to forfeit your promises. He is strategic in his war against you. You must be strategic in your prayers and faith. Do not grow weary while doing the will of God. Though those times of weariness will come, shake it off by remembering the promises of God. Don't just read the word, pray the word. Stand firm in what God has told you. Now is not the time to get quiet. You must declare and decree what God has spoken concerning you. Declare His word to the atmosphere.

Surround yourself with those who can encourage you and not commiserate with you. Remember all that God has already done for you. We often forget past victories because of the severity of the current circumstances. People change, circumstances change, but God does not change. He will keep His promises to you. He will complete in your life that which He has started.

Do not allow the spirit of fear to block you. Fear is a tormenting spirit that will blind you and keep you from receiving all that God has ordained. It is subtle in nature, and can blossom into doubt, than unbelief. God has blessed us with power, love, and a sound mind. His power that works in us. His love lives in us. The mind of Christ rests in us.

I don't care what it appears to be; what it looks like at the moment; what the news reports are saying, you can believe with every fiber of your being, that God is not a liar. He cannot lie. He will do just what He said. We must believe. We must have courage. We must have faith. We must learn to pull down the strongholds and evil imaginations that the enemy uses against us. Greater is God in us than he that is in this world. If God was not so great, and your life was not so precious and valuable, and destined for greatness, as well, the enemy wouldn't take another look at you. But I have a feeling that just as Job, God has been bragging on His children again. And if God believes we can pass these tests, and be all He called us to be; then it's about time we start believing it, too and believing in Him with all our heart and soul.

My Beloved, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. Whatever you take from today, remember this: God cannot lie. He has already worked things out for you. His promises will come to pass. Stay in with a heart of faith. Believe in Him with all your heart. Trust Him where you cannot trace Him. Continue in prayer and meditation. Leave the enemy to God. He knows just what to do. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Shake It Off"

Reflections4Life™ December 8, 2019

“Shake It Off!”

“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.” Matthew 10:14

Scripture Contemplation: Judges 16:20; Nehemiah 5:13; Psalm 109:23; Isaiah 43; 2 Thessalonians 2; Hebrews 12…

Life is a journey with many vicissitudes, twists, and turns. Things can happen unexpectedly, affecting our lives in ways we never thought. We have often been told to "Let go and Let God". We do. However, what happens when the memory of the thing we let go of pops up and takes us for a heart-wrenching ride? Those are the times when we must learn to shake it off.

I decree that this week's Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. As you let go and let God, let the Father fill you and renew your mind. Think of the great and wonderful things of God and His promises. So, when the shadows of the past come, you can shake it off.

We can be living our lives, all is going well when something will happen, or someone will say something and we are suddenly encumbered by the thoughts and shadows of our past. It can throw us for a loop, disrupting our lives and may even stagnate us for a time.

Letting go was great. However, we need to learn how to shake it off; shake off the remnants of our past before it pulls us down and keeps us from moving forward and living God's best. Our past can be a chokehold on our future if we don't learn how to shake off the reminders that the enemy strategically hits us with; trying to stop our future. Which he can't. He's just hoping we're gullible enough to fall for his continued lies and game of smoke and mirrors.

Isaiah 43:18-19a “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?”

Beloveds, we can let go of the past but still be haunted by its memories. The enemy is wonderful at using our past against us, whispering our unworthiness of the goodness of God’s blessings. The Father desires to do a new thing. As we let go, it does not mean that we are not affected by the memories, however, we can move forward with the knowledge that our past holds no power when God has already forgiven us. It’s just that memories can be powerful tools of the enemy to come and cripple us; always seeming to surface as we are fully prepared to move ahead.

It’s. Just. A. Test. Trust me when I tell you. God is allowing the enemy to try, but once God has already declared you the winner; that’s what it is. The enemy just wants US to think that he has some kind of power, so he tries to intimidate us into submission by dredging up old memories.

The Father tells us not to call to mind the former things or to think about them. He already warns us that it has the ability to steal our attention and make us miss the new thing He is doing. Before you know it, we are repeating the past, and have picked up what we long ago let go. Don’t do it, Beloveds. Shake it off. Shake off the memories, the regrets, and the past, and receive what God has ordained for you today.

Here’s what I know for certain: There are many things that give us pause in our lives. Things we should and have let go of. Sometimes I find that letting go is the easy part. It’s the memories that seem to have a hold on your soul. At unexpected times, memories can bombard you, causing you to feel overwhelmed. These are the times, we must learn to shake it off. Shake off those memories. Shake off the dust of past mistakes, failures, rejection, and disappointment. Shake it all off. We let go, but there seems to be some residue in our mind we're not aware of; like a sheet or layer of dust that can't be seen until the sun or light hits it. When you let go, don't pick it up again. When the light exposes the residue, shake it off. Do not entertain thoughts and memories that steal your joy and claim your peace. When they come...shake it off and keep it moving! There is too much good that God has ahead of you.

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. Before you, God has designed a road just for you. It is not an easy road, but a rewarding road, filled with the love and promises of God. In order to move forward on this road, you will have to let go of your past. Just know, however, that on this road there are those on the sideline that will look and sound familiar and try to get you off your path. Do not stop. Whatever you do, keep moving. Keep your focus on God, shake off the remnants of the past, and keep walking into the promises of God for your life. Just as there are reminders of your past, there will be reminders of your future. Do not forfeit the gift of today and the blessings of tomorrow, for the memories of a past that God has already forgiven. You are stronger than you believe. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2014. ©2019. Revised. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Our Refuge in the Storm"

Reflections4Life August 10^th, 2014

“Our Refuge in the Storm”

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NASB

Scripture Contemplation: Ezra 8; Psalm 5; Psalm 61; Isaiah 26; 2 Thessalonians 3; 1 Peter 1…

I cannot begin to thank God enough for His strength, love, and protection. While away this past week, I found myself in a very precarious situation—totally unexpected. Things could have went horribly wrong, but I trusted in my God. Especially when He was the One who opened this particular door for me to go through.

Both a figurative and literal storm took place, and I was caught in the eye of both. Yet, I did not fear, knowing in my heart and soul that I had a refuge in the storm…Jesus. I called upon the Lord and He not only heard me, He answered and sheltered me. And here I am; another beautiful Sunday, sharing Reflections, because I trusted my Refuge in the storm; which is what God desires of you to do, also.

I declare and decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Take refuge in the arms of God while going through the storms. Many storms will come in your lifetime. And God will keep you through each and every one when you trust Him, and allow Him to be your refuge.

Refuge: shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.: to take refuge from a storm. 2. A place of shelter, protection, or safety. 3. Anything to which one has recourse for.

There are a host of things we will have to face in our lifetime. Situations that will have us seeking shelter and understanding. This is a part of life’s journey and the world that we live in. Storms and situations will come. Trials and troubles will happen. Yet, through it all, we have a permanent refuge in God.

The Heavenly Father desires to be our covering in the storm. He wants to be our shelter from all danger; our protection. Sheltering us under His arms. Giving us that peace of mind to walk through any and all situations that we may face in our lifetime. We just have to learn to trust Him to keep us safe; especially when so many others have failed to do so.

Psalm 121:7 “The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.”

Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

It is very easy to lose sight of the promises of God, or fail to recall all the many times the Lord has delivered us from certain situations, when you are faced with a brand new storm. Yet, God remains true. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. God will never abandon us. He will never leave us to be consumed or destroyed by the storms. Though the storms may continue to rage, we can find safety in the midst of the storm, in the arms of God.

At one time, I believed that the “eye” of the storm was the worst possible place one could be when it came to storms. I shared once before that, the eye of the storm is actually the safest place to be. As it turns out, in the eye of the storm there is peace and stillness, while everything around it is raging. It is in the eye of the storm that one is safest. God is the eye of your storm. His refuge is the safest place to be. He is your safety, your assurance, your shelter, your covering.

God will never allow a storm to destroy you, when you yield to Him and trust Him to lead you. Yes. I understand completely how difficult it may feel to trust God when everything seems to be going the opposite of what you expected. I know about the uncertainty and the fear that can grip you. I identify with the struggle to let go completely, when you can barely look pass what is right in front of you. But that’s what faith is: trusting in something that your eyes cannot physically see.

No matter what it is you are facing today; no matter what it appears to be, or how devastating a storm you are in; know in your heart, and believe that God is your best refuge in the storm. He desires to be your protector, your shelter, your deliverer. He will not allow the storms of this life to destroy you. He may not stop certain storms, because there is something to be gained and learned from each one—but He will be with you through every last one, protecting you and providing for you through it all.

I thank God for the wisdom I gained this past week—for the lessons learned. As I stood there, drenched from the downpour, and my heart navigating the inner storm; I learned just how strong my personal resolve is. The enemy couldn’t win. Not when God had already declared me victorious. I anchored myself to the Father—finding my place in the eye of the storm.

I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity will have permanent rest in your lives. Though the storms of life can seem to rage out of control, we have a place of refuge in the Lord. He is our Anchor, who we can remain tethered to. With the certainty we will have weathered the storm, gaining a heart of strength and wisdom as never before. You are blessed. Now go…and Be a Blessing!

©2014. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.