"Clean House"

Reflections4Life™ Sunday, August 23, 2020

“Clean House”

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Scripture Contemplation: Isaiah 66; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 6; 2 Corinthians 5; 1 Peter 2…

Growing up, my brother and I could not go out or watch TV on Saturdays until all house chores were done. When the seasons were changing, we might as well forget Saturday fun day! Our mother was a drill sergeant when it came to cleaning.

Keeping a clean house was a top priority. Our mom could not stand filth. We learned early how to clean properly, how to wash clothes, and to cook. As well as other vital life lessons. We also learned in the process about our spiritual houses.

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 are situations in our lives that have caused our spiritual houses to become cluttered. It is time to invite the Heavenly Father in so that He may help us to clean house.

All of these lessons were to prepare us for life. To make certain that we were ready for the life ahead of us. My mother insisted on a clean house always. To tidy up as you went along. She said that you never knew who might stop by; who may want to come over. Who wants to sit in filth? Who would want to bless you with more if you cannot take care of the less you have now? She would ask.

She was right...of course. And the same can be applied to our spiritual lives. We must maintain a clean house. Our mind, our body, and spirit. We are exposed and take in so many different things, it is no wonder our spiritual houses are dirty, cluttered, and some torn down.

Many of us cannot hear or see God because there are too much clutter and debris blocking us from what God wants to tell us, show us, and give us. We need to clean house. To rid ourselves of those things that prevent us from living our lives to the fullest. Those things that keep us from hearing and seeing God. Those things that block our blessings.

We can begin with people, places, and things. There are some people that are too toxic for our lives. We need to let them go. Toxic people take your energy, steal your joy and peace, and manipulate and whisper lies to you in order to block you from your blessings. You'd be surprised how many wear the guise of a friend, family, girlfriend, boyfriend, and even spouse.

Then there are certain places that we need to stay away from. Places that make us feel heavy hearted or come away feeling ashamed. It doesn't have to be a physical place either. It can be a place we go to mentally. The enemy loves nothing more than to get into our heads and make us doubt the promises of God.

And there are certain things we participate in, knowingly or unknowingly, that cause our houses to be filled with debris. The things we take in through our ears and eyes, and even our mouths. We have become a generation of excess. We have so many things, except the one thing that will give us peace of mind: a relationship with God. But where would He fit in our lives? Where would he find room in our crowded and cluttered houses?

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.  It's time to clean house and make room for the Father. To make room for His blessings. God has so much He wants to bless us with. So much He wants to give to us. He's just looking to be invited, and He will come and help us clean house. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Special Gifts"

Reflections4Life^tm October 27, 2019

“Special Gifts”

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

Scripture Contemplation:Daniel 2; Luke 11; Luke 21; Romans 12; Hebrews 2...

 

©Ruthe McDonald.

Along our journey of life, we will find roads that take us to various destinations. We choose the path/road we take. Some of us seek God's wisdom and direction. Some of us don't. Yet, the most humbling and beautiful thing is, that no matter what road we choose, God is still right there. It is at these moments when we feel lost, alone, and perhaps even fearful, that God will send a special gift in our lives. A gift to remind us of our purpose, our importance in this earth, our humanity as well as spirit, and to remind us of His unconditional love and His promise to never leave us or forsake us.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing more reassuring than knowing how much our Heavenly Father loves us and is there for us. May you know this week just how deep and how profound the Father's love is for you. Let your heart and mind be open to receive and recognize the special gifts of God.

This journey that we are on called life can hit us with some serious roadblocks and bumps in the road. There are times when even the right path seems like the wrong path and will have us questioning ourselves if we made the right choice.

It is in these moments of strife, confusion, and exasperation that the enemy likes to goad us, and play with our minds; speaking all kinds of lies. The three biggest lies that he will whisper at this time?—That God has forgotten about us, we're no good, and that we will never make it. Lies! All of them!

God has not forgotten us! No matter how rough this journey gets; no matter how many times we fall; even if we chose the wrong road—God is right there with us always. He will never abandon us; even when it seems He is silent, He is there, watching and protecting us; sending us reminders of just how strong we really are.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.

Psalm 139:8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

The mere fact that God has created us in His image gives us an advantage. We were made to make it. We were created with greatness already in our DNA. If no one else in the world believes in you; know with all certainty that God believes in you!

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

Hebrews 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

When we take on the mind of Christ and believe what God has spoken of us, our journey becomes less encumbered. Though we get attacked, and we sometimes stumble and fall, we do not give up. We stand up, shake the dust off, and start again. We keep moving. Because the Father says we can. As long as we have God on our side, there is no way we will not make it. As long as we continue to believe, and follow the instructions of God—though the storms will rise, we may be betrayed by loved one, the enemy will rear his ugly head—it is still no match for the promise and word of God, that He will be with us through it all.

Isaiah 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

God assures us that we can and will win this race. That, we will make it through this journey of life if we continue to look to Him. If we would keep our eyes and heart on Him. And while on this journey, the Father has given us special gifts to aid us. And He will end additional gifts along the way to help us, and encourage us, and to walk along beside us.

Know for certain and in your heart, that God already sees us as victorious. He understands how rough this journey we are on can get. He knows how strong the storms can be. This is the reason He has given us access to the greatest Helper of all: Himself.

The foremost special gift that God has given us is Christ. Because of Him, all things are possible. He has given us the special gift of His Word to light our path, to direct us, and navigate us through the sometimes choppy waters. He has given us the special gift of His promise. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He has given us special gifts in way of mentors, teachers, students, family, friends, children. Along this journey, God will grant us with special people in our lives that will not only walk with us and beside us, but also remind us of who we are, and the love that God has for us. We just need to keep our heart and eyes opened, and not become distant, jaded, and closed because of the bumps and roadblocks we will face in this journey called life.

Psalm 121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

I have many special gifts in my life that remind me of God's love and promises along this road. Each time I have a difficult day and feel like the road I chose was wrong, I think of those gifts and what it means in my life.

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. Though your road may seem filled with regret and troubles, remember that God is indeed, with you. And He has sent some special gifts to aid you in your journey. Be open to the Spirit of God. He has not abandoned you. He is right beside you. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights. Reserved.

"New Things Are Happenning"

Reflections4Life™ October 6, 2019

“New Things are Happening”

 “You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time; even hidden things which you have not known.” Isaiah 48:6

Scripture Contemplation: Jeremiah 31; Isaiah 42; Isaiah 43; Isaiah 48; Isaiah 65; Matthew 26...

©Ruthe McDonald.

 “My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. There’s nothing my God cannot do! My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!” That one verse is ringing in my ears and in my spirit quite loudly. Along with that, is the knowledge that God is doing new things in many of our lives. I don’t know what that “new thing” might be in your life; but I know that God is doing something new; that whatever you have been praying and waiting for, God is doing it. However, we must listen carefully and pay attention, because it is a new thing, and may not come in the form or fashion we expect or are used to. God is about to blow our minds…in a very good way!

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. The Spirit of the Lord is moving in our lives in a way we may not fully comprehend now. I encourage you to yield your all to the Father. That, even in the moments where you do not understand, that you would trust God anyway, and allow Him to do a new thing in you and for you.

I wish I could adequately explain exactly what it is that is burning in my soul and spirit at this moment concerning the word of God and the promise that He has made. Just how close we are to a new thing occurring in our lives.

There is an excitement; a joy bubbling in my soul at what God is about to release in the lives of His children; especially those who have been waiting patiently, haven’t given up during the struggles and hard times; for, those who have kept the faith and stood still, even when many around them have given up. A truly magnificent blessing for those who have weathered the storms and believed God, held onto faith, even when the flesh has seen no reason to. Yes. That new day is upon us.

It is hard to hold on to our faith and belief when we have experienced many setbacks and hard times. It is hard to keep believing when you have come so close so many times, only to feel as though the rug has been snatched right from under you. Yet, God cannot lie. If we continue to believe in Him and trust Him, we will see that new day with that new thing taking place in our lives. And all the sorrow and ache from those waiting years will soon become memories, and part of the lessons of life that we learned to prepare us for the abundance of blessings of the new thing that God has given to us.

Isaiah 43:18, 19 “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? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness; rivers in the desert.” 

We have to let go of the past. In order to fully embrace the new thing that God is doing in our lives, learning to not dwell on the former things; to not continuously keep our mind stayed on the things that hurt us, destroyed us, bound us, disappointed us; the failures, the mistakes, the hurt, the anger. We must release all of that.

There is something right before us waiting for us to embrace. Our past can sometimes blind us to it. For many, the Father has provided a new thing in their lives—an answer to prayers—that has been bypassed because the focus has been on the things of the past. Whether it was previous good times; bad times; hardships; pain or regrets, sometimes we can be stuck looking back. We become so immobile, that we cannot move forward and miss the new thing that God has brought to our lives.

Let it all go, Beloveds! Let the past go. Take the lessons learned and move forward into the promises of God. Embrace the new thing He desires to do in your life by trusting God to guide you and knowing He only has the best for you.

Do not short change yourself by looking for something familiar, or by assuming how God is going to move or bless you. Be open to Holy Spirit and let Him lead you into the place that He has already prepared and ordained just for you.

Let the fear go. Sometimes we become afraid of change because we have become too comfortable with the pain and mess we are in. Prepare to be uncomfortable. Because what God has for you, and where He is taking you is unlike any other place or thing you have ever experienced. The only way to get there is to move forward and not look back.

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. God is doing a new thing. It may not happen in the manner you are expecting. It may not look like something you are used to seeing. But rest assured: It’s All Good. Because it’s coming from the Lord God Almighty! Trust Him. Believe Him. Embrace Him. Love Him. Because God certainly loves you, more than your human mind can comprehend. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.