"Free"

 Reflecions4Life™ July 3, 2022

“Free”

“It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].” Galatians 5:1 

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 118:27; Isaiah 61:1; Zephaniah 3:20; Acts 7; 2 Corinthians 3:17

I declare that this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. The Father has freed us from many things by His giving of His only begotten Son, Jesus. There are benefits of the Kingdom of God that we have yet to tap into because we have not realized just how truly free we are. Make time this week for you and God. Get to know His heart, His voice, and His face. The Lord will show you just how free you truly are.

There is a certain kind of freedom that comes when you are in a relationship with God that cannot be compared to anything else on this earth. It certainly is something that is better experienced than explained. I will venture to say that when you are finally ready to walk in the will of God for your life, you will not be disappointed. Not in the heavenly Father. When you learn to trust God with everything, you will find that committing to Him becomes easier. And when you are committed to your relationship with the Father, you will understand true freedom and just how free you truly are.

Please do not get it wrong; there are tests, trials, attacks from the enemy, and all manner of things that come our way when we are walking with the Lord. We become walking targets because of our relationship and faith, and the enemy wants nothing more than to pluck us off; to steal, kill, and destroy us and our faith and belief in God. Yet, when we are in a relationship with God, the battle is not ours but His. When we learn to trust God, we come to understand that the enemy has waged a war against God and will try to use us as pawns and weapons in his fight. But he has forgotten—he has already lost the war the moment Jesus died on the Cross, reclaimed the keys of life and death, gave them and the Holy Spirit to us, then ascended into heaven, freeing us from a life of sin and death with the ability to repent and the freedom to choose our path in life.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].

Beloved, there is nothing better than having true freedom, and that freedom comes from being in a committed relationship with the Highest and having Holy Spirit reside in us. Because wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is freedom. When we yield to Holy Spirit within, we will find that choosing to do what is best and right for our walk is not hard. In each circumstance or situation that arises, we have an advocate with the Father and the Holy Spirit within, guiding us, and fighting for us. We just have to recognize our freedom and walk in it with confidence and assuredness.

The truth is many ascribe to God the same characteristics as a man. We expect God to fail us, or not do what we need and when. We think God has forgotten or abandoned us and that, He has not heard or listened to our prayers. While we walk in this frame of mind, the enemy wreaks havoc and we block ourselves from hearing, seeing, and recognizing God or knowing the Holy Spirit. God is not man; neither are His ways like men.

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

As a young girl, I remember going to a church that was extremely strict. As I look back, there was no true worship, either. It made God seem so unloving, harsh, and unforgiving. There were so many things that you could not do that it made it seem as though a life with Christ was anything but freedom but instead more bondage; like a prison sentence to life that was dull and gray with no vibrancy, no color or warmth.

I felt stifled in that environment. In my heart, I knew that it was not right. That was not the God I came to know and love as a little girl. That did not sound like the God that reached out to me as a child through the moon and stars and intrigued me to get to know Him. The "god" being presented in that church was not the same God I knew that had covered me and soothed me. I understood that as we got older we would learn and understand more, or at least we were supposed to. However, what I was being taught was binding not freeing. So many rules that it literally hurt my head and my heart. My spirit would not conform. Holy Spirit residing in me would not leave or be squelched. I knew in my heart there was more to God because I had already tasted of His goodness and was touched by His spirit of freedom, and there was no going back.

Beloved, far too many have been led to believe and see God for who He is not. In doing so, they have associated God with nothing but restrictions, rules, bondage, and no freedom. You cannot trust someone you are afraid of. And you cannot commit to someone you cannot trust. There is order and decency in the Lord. There are things that God does abhor that are sins. However, there are so many more yes' with God than there are no’s. So much more happiness and uplifting words of encouragement and teachings of love, light, and healing than there are of damnation and shame. Yet, most will not know this if they do not have a personal relationship with God.

True freedom comes with an intimate relationship with God, where you learn for yourself, through your own personal walk with God, who He is, and who you truly are in Him. Where you learn to trust Him with your entire being. God wants us free. Because a free heart and mind can receive all that He has ordained and can serve and be an instrument of change on this earth, helping to free others from their own bondages and false impressions of who God really is. You happily commit to a relationship with the Father.  Light cannot do its job if it is hidden or dimmed because it has been restricted to shine. That is like telling the Sun it shines too brightly so we are going to wrap a shade around it. No.

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. There is freedom in God, in a relationship with the King. A kind of freedom you have never tasted or dreamed of, but always hoped for, and the only way to truly receive and understand it is to be in an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father. Get a firsthand account. You will not be disappointed. Not with the God, I serve. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.           

"Winning in Unfamiliar Territory"

 Reflections4Life™ June 12, 2022

“Winning in Unfamiliar Territory”

“We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:12-13

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 13; Ephesians 6; Isaiah 40; 2 Corinthians 10; 1 Timothy 1; 1 Peter 5; Zechariah 4:6; Romans 12:2; 1 Samuel 17:47

©Ruthe McDonald

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a source of continued encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. There is an ongoing war; a spiritual war that we are in every day. Our best defense is an intimate and disciplined relationship with our Heavenly Father. This assures that we will not only be properly dressed in the armor of God but also know how to do battle with an enemy older than the sands of time.

Beloveds, there is indeed such a thing as spiritual warfare; a battle fought in the spiritual realm that affects every aspect of our lives, including our physical lives. Satan has long declared war against our heavenly Father. This war has never been about us directly. The enemy wants to hurt God and destroy His greatest creation—mankind. He wants to destroy our belief in God, in righteousness, in holiness, in faith, and our belief in love. The enemy believes that if he can destroy us and take as many as he can to the lake of fire, he will have destroyed God’s plan.

The enemy forgets that he has already lost. That, not only has God won, but we have won also because, Christ not only went to the Cross and died for our sins, He rose again. And before He rose, he won against death and hell, taking back the keys to life and has made them available to us; giving us the victory.

The greater problem is, that many of us forget these facts also, especially when we face trials and tribulations in our lives. We forget who we are, whose we are, and the weapons that we have at our disposal. We also forget that sometimes in battle, God will take us through unfamiliar territory and grant us the victory because we obeyed and believed Him. 

The enemy counts on us forgetting and being sidetracked so that he can get in and distort what we believe, making us forget the goodness and promises of God. This, my beloveds, is the reason that we need to make sure we have an intimate relationship with our Father each day. That, we are seeking God’s face, reading our word, following His directions, and having a stealthy prayer life.

The enemy is crafty in his moves and watches like a wild animal stalking its prey, waiting to pounce. Strategic in his machinations, he strikes to kill and destroy, to maim, and alienate, to drive insane and separate. The enemy wants in our minds, wreaking havoc until all we hear and believe are the lies he constantly whispers and his smoke and mirrors. If he can make us doubt at any time the promises and love of God, he has an opening. And you can rest assured, he will barrage his way through to take over your mind until he has left nothing of your life but shambles, confusion, hate, bitterness, and no belief in the word or promises of God. Or, even belief in yourself, destroying love in your life. Trust, he twists every word around. He will have you question the validity of the word and everything you have ever believed or have been taught, learned, and experienced firsthand.

The good news is we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus. He has already given His life and assured our victory. He has done the hard part—dying for our sins and retrieving the keys of life. He has made available to us not only the keys of life but also the keys of the Kingdom. What we have to do is be vigilant in our relationship with God. Seek His face and His will daily, following His instructions, walking in faith, and reminding ourselves when the very harsh and difficult times arise in our lives [and they will] that God has already declared us victorious.

We must know in our hearts that sometimes, in order to win, God will take us on a journey that will lead us through unfamiliar territories. On these unfamiliar roads, our victories will come. The Father will teach and prepare us for the battles that lie ahead. He will strengthen us and build our courage and conviction. But the most wonderful thing about these journies that many of us cannot see and will not understand until the battle is over, is the fact that all along, God will hide us in plain sight. He will protect us, while also preparing us for the right time. When we're ready, we will shoot forth like an arrow, hitting its intended mark; claiming the victory, winning in unfamiliar territory.

Beloved, get in your word every day. Fill your heart and mind—saturate it—with the will of God. See what God sees. Hear what He is saying. If we know the heart and mind of God, then we will know how to stand against the enemy and how to use our armor. We do not learn these things by skimming the word of God and occasionally praying or only praying when something goes wrong. No. We must saturate our hearts and minds in the things of God; renewing our minds daily, pulling down strongholds. We cannot fight the enemy on physical terms or by wit. We must armor ourselves in truth and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, following ALL of His instructions, lest we succumb to the lies and evil plots of the enemy. Remember who you are and what has been given to the body of Christ. We cannot fight a spiritual fight without spiritual armor. That would be like going to a gunfight with a knife. And, we cannot always stay in the same place and expect to win when God said to move and go another way.

Exodus 13:18 So God chose a different, longer path that led the community of His people through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites marched out of the land of Egypt like an army ready for battle. 

Zechariah 4:6 “…‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.”

1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

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. Spiritual warfare has been launched against the children of God. Designed to destroy and separate us from the love and promises of God. At some point in our walk with God, He will take us on a journey in unfamiliar territory. Be obedient and follow His lead. He is ensuring our victory on this earth so that we not only win against the enemy but will also receive God's best for our lives. He will cause us to win in unfamiliar territories where the enemy didn't even see us coming! Put on your armor of God; spend time in His presence, filled with Him and the knowledge and wisdom needed to navigate through a war that has already been won and a battle that is not ours, but the Lord’s. Trust; He got us. We have already won…a long time ago. You are blessed. Now…go and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"The Beauty of My Heart"

 Reflections4Life™ May 08, 2022

“The Beauty of My Heart”

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139:13-14 MSG

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 139; Proverbs 31; Ruth 1; Job 24; 1-12; Isaiah 49:15-18; John 19…

Happy Mother’s Day! 

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Honor those who gave you life and those who mothered you but may not have birthed you. Let them know each day how much you love them. Remember the lessons of those who have transitioned. For they are life and will guide you to the manifest blessings that God has ordained for your life.

No matter what kind of relationship you may have with your mother, honor her for the simple fact that you have a life. I understand that there are many who are estranged from their mothers. You have your reasons. Yet, even in that, God admonishes us to honor our parents. To honor our mothers for the simple fact that they gave us birth and that is the vessel that God chose to bring us into this world.

No mother is perfect. Some go far and above as mothers, sharing their love and concern with countless others who may not have had such a great relationship with their own or even know their mother. Then you have mothers who are at the other end of the spectrum. Such is life; it is good and bad in all things. Yet, I am convinced that for those who have found themselves in the latter experience, I believe that God has raised up women to come into their lives and mother those who need mothering. He has raised up a select group of women to carry out the love of God through mothering not only their children but other children and adults who need to know sincerely what a mother’s love is and what it feels like.

I take this opportunity to share with you about my mother. My heart. The beauty of my heart. I am because she was. She transitioned seven years ago, yet it feels like yesterday. I still hear her voice, feel her embrace, and at times smell her scent and feel her presence. She is never far from me. As close as we were before she transitioned, there was a time when we were not close at all. I gather many mothers and daughters go through this speed bump as daughters are growing up and thinking they know everything. Yet that was not the reason for our distance. 

My mother confided in me that she thought she had to be extra strict with me to ensure that I did not follow her example. She wanted me to do more than she did. To accomplish all of my dreams. To go to college and do the things that were in my heart. So, she became very strict and rigid in her discipline—in her fear—to keep me walking that “straight” line. The result, however, was that I did not want to be around my mother. I loved her but hated her behavior towards me, which only made us bump heads. There were things I wanted to share with her. Things I needed to share, that she should have known but was too fearful and angry at her to open up and develop a close relationship that we shared when I was a very little girl.

Fortunately, God stepped in, and when I graduated college, my mother and I became best friends. We were able to communicate as women who had grown and who had things in common that went beyond our love for God. The trials and tests we endured made us stronger, and that is why I can say, my mother will always be the beauty of my heart. She is that beauty that resides in my heart constantly. Through her, I learned how to be a mother, a friend, an aunt, and a humanitarian. I learned how to pray, how to intercede, and how to be that Proverbs 31 woman. I am blessed. Because even though she is now resting in the Lord, she has left me a treasure; an inheritance that makes my brothers and me wealthy beyond natural means. She left us with the truth of what it means to be a true child of God.

Strength

This is my Mom. She taught me just about everything I know about being a strong woman. About, coming back stronger after being down for so long. About overcoming obstacles and triumphantly destroying the plans of the enemy. She taught me about prayer and how to pray. She taught me how to forgive and to love unconditionally.

This is my Mama. My friend. My heart. My teacher. The woman who showed me that nothing is impossible for God. That you can indeed overcome when everyone else has counted you out. She taught me how to stand in my convictions and not back down. To hold onto what I believed and to go after God tenaciously, and that it is okay to remind God of His promises, and to definitely ask the question why. 

This is my Mother. Who loved me better than anyone, Who prayed for me when I couldn't pray for myself. Who listened to me and did not interrupt. Who knew what I was feeling just by the look on my face or the aurora of my spirit. I didn't have to say a word. She just knew. Who listened patiently and didn't ask a question; even though I called her at four in the morning but didn't speak until 4:25. She just listened, while I was silent or cried. Then afterward, she lifted me up in prayer, not commenting n anything I just shared. Because she understood, I just needed my mother's ear.

This is my Mommy. Who left this earth seven years ago. Leaving me to wonder what I was going to do without my partner in crime. Without my intercessor, my prayer warrior, my encourager, my teacher, my mother, my friend. What was I to do? It hurt so damn bad. And it still does.

This is my Teacher. Who taught me strength just by being who she was. Her life was a testament to her strength and irreproachable character. She was far from perfect, and she owned it. Never did she hide the truth about who she was and what she did, to the point it felt that I knew too much! But she was honest and wanted you to know, that whatever you faced, you could get through it also.

I hope there is someone in your life that you can always turn to and have a source of strength to glean from. I hope that you cherish every lesson, admonishment, and correction that they have to give. Because it is all a part of teaching you to stand and be strong; becoming the person God has already said you are.

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. Honor your mother whether or not she was good, bad, there, or not. She was the instrument that God used to get you here, on this earth, and receiving of all that He has for you. Do not let a day go past that you do not tell the ones you love that you love them. If you see someone who needs some mothering, then mother them. DNA has nothing on motherhood. It is about the heart and the power and beauty that reside within a woman’s heart and the power that lies in motherhood. Happy Mother’s Day! Rejoice in your assignment. It is a gift from God. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"It's Not Always What It Looks Like!"

 Reflections4Life™ May 1, 2022

“It’s Not Always What it Looks Like!"

“But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NET)

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64; 1 Corinthians 2; Matthew 25; Daniel 2; 1 Corinthians 13; 14

     I declare that this week’s Reflections4life will continue to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Seek God early every day, with a heart of expectancy for all He desires to pour into you. Allow God to lead in your life. The Lord wants to fill us with not only, what we need and have asked of Him but also things we have not even thought to ask.

     There is so much more to life than we could ever comprehend when living it in Christ. There are many more colors than what is seen in a rainbow. Life is a kaleidoscope of events, circumstances, and situations, culminating in a life’s journey. The Father loves us without pause and desires our journeys to be filled with His love, healing, understanding, life-long lessons, reconciliation, redemption, and self-love. God desires for us to walk in abundant life lacking nothing but to be overflowing with His promises that we share with others. Prayerfully, those who receive will also believe in the love and power of God Almighty.

     Each of our lives is different. We may share similarities and experiences; have been through the same kinds of trauma and heartaches. However, who we are as individuals, makes our experiences unique, and different from anyone else in this world. Yet, we can still empathize with one another. Showing sympathy for losses, hurts, and heartaches. As well as, understanding and kindness when the right words escape us, but we want to show our support and love. We can also show our happiness for their celebratory milestones and achievements. 

     We never really know what a person may be going through unless they share it with us. A person can walk around, interacting with a smile on their face, a lilt in their voice, and never reveal the agonizing pain they may currently be in. They may dress in fine clothing, look put together every time you see them, showing up at church, work, and family or friend functions, but we would never know they have lost their job, their home, and are fighting thoughts of suicide, depression, rejection; all while smiling in our face. They present a picture as though all is well. The truth is, it is God’s grace holding them together.

     It is not always what it looks like. What we are seeing with our natural eyes does not always give us the whole picture and sometimes, not even half of the picture. This is the reason we need to nurture our relationship with God so that we gain knowledge of what is going on around us. God will give us understanding so we may make wise and correct decisions that are right for all involved. We must learn to look through our spiritual lens; through the eyes of God when interacting with one another. To, have our spiritual ears and eyes open, receiving our instructions from God and how to care, love, and hear one another.

     Even when it comes to our personal lives and relationship with God. Many have been believing in the word and the promises of God. Circumstances and situations arise, and we are shaken. Oftentimes, we do not admit to the doubts and fears that arise after we have been waiting a while for the manifestations of God’s promises in our lives. There are times when the wait seems so long that we may feel God has forgotten about us or abandoned us and the promises we have been waiting on to manifest. However, that could not be further from the truth of what God has planned for our lives. Our story is just beginning.

     

    Often, it is never what it looks like with God. What we are seeing in the natural is far from the gifts that lie ahead of us, waiting for us to claim them. Yet, have we to imagine the blessings for our lives. The magnitude of their greatness. We can believe when seeking God, having learned something magnificent about our Lord, there are yet mysteries that God desires to reveal. Too, those with a heart after His goodness and righteousness will see and understand this.

     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. Take your time in the presence of God this week, listening to His voice and instructions. Allow Holy Spirit to lead you into all truths. Not everything is as it seems. Do not allow what appears to be to fool you. To fool you into giving up, or making decisions that God has not sanctioned. Trust God. Believe His word and promises, and He will soon reveal all that you need to know and understand, about others and yourself, in due season. Let God lead. You are Blessed. Now go...and be a Blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Heavy Load Sharer and Burden Bearer"

Reflections4Life™ April 3, 2022

"Heavy Load Sharer and Burden Bearer"

"Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you..." Isaiah 46:4 

Scriptures for the Week: Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 58:6; Matthew 11:28-30; Isaiah 41:13; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Isaiah 40:11; Psalm 34:17; Isaiah 41:10; Galatians 6:2

There is nothing that God cannot delivers from if we truly desire to be delivered. There are no burdens or loads too heavy that He cannot carry or bear. If only we would trust, that God is and will always be, our heavy load sharer and burden bearer, things would get a lot easier for us!

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. I encourage you this week to release what you have been holding so tightly, for fear it will either go wrong or break. Release into the capable hands of God, the heavy load you have been carrying, that has weighed you down over the years, robbing you of joy and peace and the happiness that God has promised you. You really do not have to do it all. God really does have you...if You let Him.

Why do we do it to ourselves? Why do we carry these heavy loads, burdening ourselves down in impossible situations until we break down?  If there is one thing we know how to do as human beings, is be a martyr! When did this start? More than likely we saw our mothers do it or our fathers do it. Yet, we conveniently forget how worn down and burdensome they became in the process. That was no way for them to live and it is definitely no way for us to live; especially when we have a Heavenly Father waiting to relieve us of those heavy burdens. Whether they are physical or spiritual burdens.

I witnessed my mother carry many burdens on her shoulders, in her soul. It wore on her so heavily that she suffered at one point in her life, from a dissociative disorder. This was where her mind splintered into a different character that would take over mentally when she could not bear or face what was presently occurring. This went on and off, for years. There would be long stretches where she would work, live her life, and take care of my brother and me with no incident. Then what seemed out of the blue, she would be gone! In hindsight, there were signs leading up to it. But for us, it appeared all of a sudden, out of nowhere. It was not until my mother accepted Christ as her Savior again (she was saved at thirteen but was in a backslidden condition) that He delivered her from that state of mind. She surrendered all of her burdens to God, trusting Him with every care and concern she had. From the moment she recommitted her life to the Lord to the day she transitioned, she never had another episode. One of the things I was most proud of my Mother for, was that she did not hide her past or run from it. In fact, she openly testified about it. Hers was a powerful testimony of the love and power of God. It was a prime example of God being our heavy load sharer and burden-bearer! Her willingness to be transparent and authentic helped win many souls for Christ and answer many questions for others who were suffering as she had.

Here we are, in a world riddled with confusion, anxiousness, and mistrust. We are burdened with heavy loads that seem to multiply day by day. Yet, God is still the same God. He can handle anything that we are going through. Whatever may be too heavy for us to carry, He can and will. All we have to do is give it to Him! Let God into our hearts. Release the tight hold we have on our shame, secrets, and burdens. The same burdens that are killing us. The same burdens that are causing some to commit suicide and others still contemplating it. The same heavy loads that have people losing their minds and their souls.

Beloveds, cry out to the Lord! He not only hears you, He knows you and has made a way of escape for you. There is nothing too hard or difficult for God. There is nothing new under the Sun that He has not already been acquainted with and has an answer for. He is the answer. He is who and what your hearts have been searching for! Crying out for! There is not one thing you cannot bring to the Heavenly Father that will surprise Him or turn Him away from you. He loves you and has already paid the cost for you to be free! All you have to do is believe and accept 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. There is absolutely nothing too difficult for God. There is nothing too heavy or too burdensome that He cannot handle. All you have to do is trust Him and give all of your heavy loads and burdens to Him! He loves you unconditionally, no strings attached! You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

 

THE DECLARATION SERIES: "I Will Look Up To The Lord"

  Reflections4Life™ February20, 2022

"I Will Look Up to the Lord"

"This is just as it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, A voice crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight'." Luke 3:4 (CEB)

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 eight in our Declaration Series. Look up to the Lord. He will give you the instructions you need to make the paths before you, straight. He will provide you with what you need to walk the path of righteousness, allowing Jesus to be Lord over your life and have a seat on the throne of your heart. Look up to the Lord and He will tell you how to prepare for His coming, once again.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Look up to the Lord. for all things. Make it a habit to seek out GOD and His ways of doing things. When fear tries to grip your heart, look up to GOD. When You want to know how to accomplish a task, look up to GOD. What worked yesterday will not work today. We are under a new anointing every day and we must move as GOD leads or miss where He desires us to be. 

In the Book of Luke, John the Baptist was the one crying out in the wilderness. Son of Jewish Priest, Zacharias, John did not follow in his father's footsteps. He moved as a prophet, announcing and preparing those for the coming of Jesus. He preached about the coming of the Lord and how He would be a different kind of Rabbai. John was preparing the people and the way, for the radically new way GOD was coming to the earth. It was a far cry from the way of their fathers and the way the current Priests had taught and governed themselves and others. 

John the Baptist shook things up, well in the same manner that Jesus was going to do. He was doing a new thing. Just as Christ came to do a new thing back then, He desires to do a new thing in us and in a new way. However, in order to catch this new thing; to be in a position to receive His instructions, we must look up to Him. We must seek Him in a new way that allows us to be in sync with the living GOD. We must be willing to do things we have never done before. Do things in a new way that may seem radical to the ways we were taught and the old traditional ways.

Jesus came in a totally different and radical way than many were expecting. Had the priests of that time been listening to John the Baptist, they would have known to look up to GOD for the new instructions and the new way that things were going to be done. They would have been prepared for the radical way in which Jesus moved and spoke of the Heavenly Father. Jesus did not come using violence, cheating, or dominance. Instead, He used love, healing, service, and compassion, as He lead with all power in His hands, given to Him by the Father.

John preached that GOD was not interested in their ritualistic religion. The Father wanted to change lives and that would only be done through His Son, Jesus. GOD wants to change our lives. But in order to happen, we have to follow His lead; His instructions. To know what they are, we have to look up to Him. We have to go before Him and receive His instructions and way of doing things. We cannot assume what worked yesterday will work today. Or, what He desired from us yesterday are the same instructions for today. His anointings are new every day. And every day we must seek His will. We must look to Him and find our way.

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. Stop relying on what things used to be and start looking to GOD for how they should be. There is no guessing when you look up to GOD. Because He will make your paths straight; empowering you to walk in your blessings as He ordained. He is doing great work in your life. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

The Declaration Series: "I Will Clean Up My Life"

 Reflections4Life™ January 30, 2022

"I Will Clean Up My Life"

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore within me a sense of being brand new." Psalm 51:10

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 five in our Declaration Series. Having a clean heart and mind is imperative to living the life that God ordained. Certainly, there is His permissive will. Yet we desire His perfect will for our lives. Living a clean life, with a clean heart and mind, allows us to hear God clearly and see the vision plainly. When we are polluted with the debris of life, it makes it difficult to receive what God has for us. Because, most often, an unclean life is accompanied by guilt and shame. God wants us free from all of that.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Spend time this week doing a self-inventory of your life. Ask yourself if things are holding you back, keeping you from moving forward in God. If there is, ask the Father to clean your heart and mind; to get rid of those things in your life that would hinder you from moving freely in His will for you. The Father has so much to give you and share with you. You do not want to miss this season.

I do not know about you, but I do not want to doubt God and His will for my life any longer. I recognize now, that when doubt is present in my life, it leads me to do things and to think a certain way that only hinders God from moving freely and the way He desires in my life. I have had enough of missing opportunities and the move of the Spirit because I allowed myself to get out of alignment with God and His path of righteousness. I want my faith to be so strong that there is no room for doubt to get in, let alone take a breath.

This can only happen if I daily clean my thoughts and watch what I allow to infiltrate my spirit. Also, what I allow to enter my eye-gate, ear-gate, mouth-gate, and thought-gate, just to name a few. Beloved, we are responsible for what we bring into our sphere of influence. Just as our parents had (or should have) protected us from things that were not beneficial to us as children, as well as, from any other dangers that would bring harm to us; we must protect our spirit. We must protect ourselves from getting polluted with the things of this world. Anything that would take our minds and hearts away from the heart and will of God, is pollution to our spirits. 

Do you know why the Bible talks about pouring new wine into new wineskins instead of old wineskins? Because the old wineskins have been stretched and still carry remnants of the old wine. If you put new wine into the old wineskins, they would contaminate the new wine, and also, the old wineskin would burst.

If you truly desire what God has for you and do not miss out on anything ordained for your life, then you have to clean up your life so you can receive what God has for you. Cleaning up your life is a task of laying aside the old things; those things that have kept you separated from God. It consists of asking God to clean your heart and purify your mind. You do not want old things and stinking thinking contaminating what God has for you or blocking you from receiving all of 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. Clean up your life. Get rid of those things that hinder you from receiving all that God has for you. Invite God in to show you what needs to go and how to get rid of it. Though some things might prove difficult, allow God to be your strength. Confess, repent, and move forward in the Lord, receiving what He has ordained just for you! You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

The Declaration Series: "I Will Submit to the LORD"

 Reflections4Life™ January 2, 2022

"I Will Submit to the Lord"

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he shall flee from you." James 4:7

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

PEACE & BLESSINGS! HAPPY NEW YEAR! We intentionally celebrate the goodness, love, and life God has granted us in seeing this New Year.  God's grace and mercies are evident. May this year be one of revelation,  answered prayers, and manifest Blessings. 

Welcome to another year of Reflections4life. I declare and decree that it will continue to be a viable source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Open your hearts to the wonderful possibilities and opportunities that await your life when you submit to the Father, all your heart, mind, and soul. Let this be the year you determine to be all in.

I had a wonderful time in Watch Night; bringing the New Year in with the Body of Christ, family of believers, and being inspired for the New Year. The Bishop spoke on making declarations instead of resolutions. Which is the inspiration for this ten-part series. I am taking each of the declarations she shared and turning them into points of conversation to further expound upon.

God is moving mightily. He has not forgotten about you. Neither has He rejected you. However, we must be willing to surrender our all unto Him, in order to hear and see Him. To understand His instructions and follow what He is instructing us to do. 

Many have not because they haven't asked, but because they haven't submitted completely to GOD, nor have they surrendered their hearts to His will and therefore have not aligned themselves with who God is and what He has ordained for them. So they're asking for things outside of His will and season for their lives.

Can you submit your all to the Father? Can you surrender your heart, mind, and soul, trusting GOD to give you all that you need? When we submit completely unto GOD; aligning ourselves to His will and ways, we give ourselves the advantage of preparing our hearts and minds to receive and hear the mysteries that GOD desires to share with only those that submit their all, to Him. 

GOD has so much He desires to give to us. So many things He wants to reveal to our hearts and to bring revelations to our minds. If only we would surrender all to Him. Submitting our will and our ways. There is nothing that the Father would not do for His children that love him and have submitted their hearts and minds and ways to Him. When we determine to know who GOD is, we, in return get to know who we really are.

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. Surrender! Do not hold back from GOD.  Submit your all to the LORD,  allowing Him to renew your mind and heart. Make this the year you not only get to know GOD but also get to know who you are in GOD. You are blessed.  Now go...and be a blessing. 

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"From the Projects to the Vineyard"

 REFLECTIONS4LIFE™ October 24, 2021

“From the Projects to the Vineyard”

“He had another dream and told this one also to his brothers: ‘I dreamed another dream—the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to me!’ When he told it to his father and brothers, his father reprimanded him: ‘What’s with all this dreaming? Am I and your mother and your brothers all supposed to bow down to you?’ Now his brothers were really jealous, but his father brooded over the whole business.” Genesis 37:9-11 (MSG)

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 37-50…

I have always enjoyed the lessons of Joseph from the Bible. It always encourages me and gives me understanding and reminders at different times in my life. Many have preached a sermon about Joseph’s life titling it, From the Pit to the Palace; encouraging many. Yet, what I want you to understand are the events that took place leading to the pit.

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 peace and revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. It is my sincerest prayer that you will see and receive something new today that will encourage and inspire you. That today will be the beginning of you recognizing your purpose, and the purpose for all the pain that you may have endured and suffered.

Beloveds, God has a plan and purpose for everything that has occurred in your life. Every unexplainable thing. Every hurtful thing. Every heartbreaking thing. Every confusing thing. And indeed, every good thing.

Here’s what I learned so far in my journey: Sometimes people see the light in you before you have a chance to recognize it and own it. They will do everything they can to dim or destroy that light because of jealousy. What they fail to realize is, God will use them as an instrument to place you in the right position to manifest His blessings in your life, for your light to shine the brightest, and where you will have the most impact.

God has placed a light in each of us. His light. There are many that God has called to change the world. To touch lives in a positive way. To bring the love of God to people who have given up on humanity and believe there is no God. There are those who God has chosen to triumph over every adversity and become that man or woman He has ordained us to be before we were in our mother's womb.

There are some of us that do not see ourselves as God does. We do not recognize our gifts and talents. We do not see the light in us that causes some people to dislike us on site. To even hate us, and try maligning our character every opportunity they get. Listen; just as God has sent His angels to watch over us, and has sent those in our life to protect us; the enemy has sent his cohorts to trip us up, to destroy us, to rob us, and even try to kill us.

But God, Beloveds! God sees all and knows all. Even when we are not aware, God is moving on our behalf and we must hold onto Him and seek His face. Sometimes we do not see ourselves the way God does or even get why the enemy is so scared. However, God knows, and He will use the enemy to place you in the right positions for the greatest impact of your life will have for many others.

Understand this: Before you even get to the pit, God has already made a way of escape for you. Before you even head down a road that seems so far from your dreams, God has already worked it all out. Just when the enemy thought he had you and destroyed you, God was all along setting you up for the greatest victory in your life. God has already written and finished the book, and if you did not know already—you win!

God will take you from obscurity and ridicule to sitting before Kings and Queens and Presidents; in front of people that can aid you in doing what He has placed in you to do. He will raise you up—using your enemy and their jealousy—to position you in your place of greatness, power, and influence. Even when you do not see it, your adversity will become your teacher, your afflictions your greatest strength and character builder.

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. You may not see it right now. It may not feel like anything good is happening in your life. I promise you—God has already moved on your behalf and is positioning you for every good and perfect gift He has ordained for your life and for the lives of those, He has assigned you to. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Mental Shift"

 

Reflections4Life™ September 12, 2021

“Mental Shift”

“A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears.” Titus 1:15 (TLB)

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 32:14; Ruth 1; 2 Samuel 7:3; Job 12:11; Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 3:19; Romans 8:5-8; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:20

If there is one thing that I am certain of, is the fact that our minds have an integral part in what transpires in our life each day. Our thoughts have a profound effect on what is manifested, whether we see breakthroughs, defeats, healing, and miracles. Whether or not we can move forward or stay locked in a moment in time.

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. Allow the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus to wash your mind, to cleanse your thoughts, as you reach forward to receive all that God has ordained for you on this earth. Let your heart be full of hope, and your mind healed from all fear and discomfort.

One of the most profound lessons I have learned over the years is to come to an understanding, that you will always remain a victim if you do not allow your mind to shift. There are circumstances and situations in our lives that have held us bound to a moment and time. For whatever reason, we remain a victim—no longer of the circumstance or person(s)—but a victim of our own minds and our inability to shift our thoughts and move forward.

It is time for a shift, Beloveds. It is time for a mental shift. Time to change the way we think, what we think about, how we think. It is well past time that we fully dressed in the armor of God, placing the helmet of salvation securely on our heads, which symbolizes a change of thought, a shift in our perceptions; taking on fully the mind of Christ.

In the book of Philippians, it tells us consciously to shift our thinking by thinking of things that are good and lovely…

Philippians 4:8“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

We must also learn to pull down strongholds. Do you not understand that your mind can become the devil’s playground if you are not diligent? Part of that diligence is renewing our mind daily in Christ (Romans 12:1-2). Pulling down strongholds and casting down evil imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

A mental shift desperately needs to take place for many of us before we find ourselves in the midst of a mental break. The enemy has wreaked havoc in our lives, playing his mind games and tormenting us through our thoughts that we have a hard time deciphering the truth from lies, and his not-so-hidden agenda to kill, steal and destroy. Before we know it, our lives are in shambles and the promised blessings of God have slipped through our fingers and out of grasp and not easily attained again.

We walk an intrinsic rope daily. Our minds play a pivotal role in whether or not we make it to the other end of that rope. Though we may trip and fall at times, it is vitally important that we get back up, shake the dust off, renew our minds, put on the armor of God. Be steadfast in prayer, and think on the goodness of God, and His promises for our life; allowing it to wash away all fear, doubts, and stinking thinking that befuddle us from time to time; causing us to blow the blessings that God has brought into our lives.

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. Allow your mind to shift with the knowledge of who God says you are and where He desires to take you. However, the unknown may seem scary at first; place your trust in the Lord. In the God who has brought you this far. Plead the blood of Jesus over your mind, allowing your mind to be renewed daily, and believing the greatness that God says you do deserve because He has made it so. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Discerning Truth"

 Reflections4Life™ August 1, 2021

“Discerning Truth”

“The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.” John 1:12-13 MSG

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 85:10-13; 112; Proverbs 3; John 3:34-36; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 12…

I pray today’s Reflections will bring comfort to you. May it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration.  I declare and decree that it brings peace and revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. Spend time with the Father, allowing Him to pour into you His truth. Allow His light to bring comfort and awareness to your heart and soul. A light that will help you discern the truth about yourself and the intentions and truth of others.

 If there is one thing I know, is that one person's truth may not be another person's truth. What may be true for one person, for someone else, may not be true. We spend a lot of time in relationships taking for granted that we are receiving the truth. Yet, whose truth is it? The truth that we already formed in our hearts and minds? Or, the truth as it stands for that person?

      It takes a spirit of discernment to decipher the truth. Even then, you must be careful with the truth. We are responsible for how we deliver the truth when we share the truth, and how we express the truth. There is a season and timing for all things. The gift of discernment helps us to recognize when to open our mouths and speak, and when to hold it for the right time.

     The word of God tells us that God seeks for us to know the truth; even in our hidden parts. He desires for us to understand and know the truth in our hearts. Not just about who He is and who we are to Him and in Him. He desires for us to know the truth about ourselves. To understand why we do the things we do. Why do we allow others to do the things they do to us? Why do we feel a certain way about certain things? And why, two people can witness the same thing yet have a different experience and interpretation of what is going on.

     The truth is liberating, Beloveds. It most certainly is. But it can also hurt and cut and it can also bring harm if we are not careful of how we speak and deliver the truth. In everything, we need to take care when it comes to speaking the truth and our truths. Not everyone sees or thinks or believes the same, and we must learn to respect those boundaries.

    God has so much for us in our lives on this earth. There are plans that He has created just for us to walk into. Yet. God knows when we are ready. He knows when the right season is to reveal something to us. God makes no mistakes, Beloveds. If God revealed a truth to you, it's because you were ready to handle the truth. And it is time for you to move forward into the next season of your life.

     I can't begin to tell you how many times a revelation has come to me, and I was blown away, often wondering why God didn't reveal that before. He simply replied I was not ready to hear it, understand it, or accept it. It would have just been one more piece of information that would overwhelm me mentally. Trust! God knows exactly when to tell us a thing. He knows when to reveal the truth and when we are ready to hear it and deal with it.  Our lives consist of seasons and there is a reason for every season that God grants us. 

When we are in a relationship with the Father, and the light of who is He is, becomes present in our own lives, we cannot help but reflect His love and light to others. With that light and love comes the truth—to make aware, not harm. To separate, to heal, and to reconcile. The truth will separate us from what has been false in our lives. The truth will bring healing; even if it hurts (like most wounds and surgery does). The truth will bring reconciliation. It will reconcile us with who God ordained us to be and putting us back on that favored path. It reconciles relationships. In that, it brings people closer together, back together, or give the ability to move on, reconciling that the intended purpose for the relationship has been met.

My Beloveds, I pray the spirit of peace and prosperity to find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Let the truth be made known in your heart, bringing with it a revelation, healing, and reconciliation. Allow God’s truth to set you free from the lies the enemy has planted. Allow the light of God to lead you to all truth, teaching you how to discern correctly the truth about a matter—be it a person or a situation. God will never steer you wrong, but will always lead you to where you need to be and when. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing. 

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.