"Love Does Not Hurt"

Reflections4Life™ May 31, 2020

“Love Does Not Hurt”

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:5-8

Scripture Contemplation: 1 Corinthians 13; Ephesians 5; 1 John 5…

           

©Vladmir Kush

The honest sincere truth is: Love does not hurt. Love endures and brings hope, as well healing. People "hurt" people. Hurt people hurt people. We hurt ourselves, others, and still say we love you. Whereby, whenever we love it is immediately associated with hurt and disappointment. Which leaves us guarded and unable to be vulnerable or to love completely and unconditionally in any of our relationships until we learn differently.

I decree today’s Reflections is a continued source of encouragement and inspiration, bringing comfort and peace to your heart and mind. Whatever you believe you know about love let God teach you. Allow the Father to show you, Himself. For He, is love. And, through Him we learn how to truly love.

When someone who says they love us harms us, we sometimes unknowingly shut a part of hearts down. That part that allows loves to move freely and grow. That part that loves unconditionally. Sometimes we consciously make a decision never to let someone close enough to hurt us again.

We do a lot of damage in the name of love. However, love had nothing to do with it. Love does not hurt. It heals. Love is not disrespectful or disregarding. Love cares and shows concern. It brings hope into dark places. Love is not reckless or careless or in a rush. Love takes it time. It is thoughtful and kind. Love does not tear down and destroy. Love builds and restores. Love does not blame or keep score. Love is unconditional, forgives, and moves on. Love is action. It is compassionate as well as passionate. Love is God.

In our lives, we will be disappointed. And, yes, we will be hurt at times. However, when you have love, understand unconditional love; it teaches you how to navigate life's journey; How to go through a storm. How to continue to love in spite of it all. It also teaches you how to be strong, how to endure, and to move on.

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.  Love is many things; powerful above all. Remember: Love does not hurt; people hurt people. Love endures; it is patient and kind. Love—real, sincere, true love—brings healing and is unconditional, as well as wise. You are blessed. Now go and be a blessing!

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

"Stand on Your Truth"

Reflections4Life™  September 29, 2019

“Stand on Your Truth”

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Scripture Contemplation:1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 15; 25; 51; James 1; 3 John 1...

Freedom In Your Truth

 Many of us live our lives in between what we believe and the opinion of others. We give a lot of our power and self-worth to those who truly do not know us or understand us; trying to please people who are not even living their own truth or have the conviction to stand on their truth.

     Stand on your truth. Be confident in who you are and what you believe. Be boldly right or boldly wrong. But never be wishy-washy concerning what's in your heart.

     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. Stand on your truth daily. Seek the Lord; be intimate with Him, so that you can learn the truth of what's in your own heart. To know God, you know yourself. The self that He has ordained before realms of time.

     Trying to please others is a full-time job that doesn't leave you much time to be yourself. God is our only judge. He knows the secrets of our hearts. There is so much He desires for our lives, if we would have the courage to say what it is we really want, and not what we think He or anyone else wants us to say. We live in fear. Fear of what others say or think. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of being rejected. Fear of being alone.

     Fear immobilizes us. It keeps us trapped in a perpetual cycle of lies; living life for others, but not for ourselves. Then one morning we awake to the truth, that we do not recognize ourselves any longer. Our hopes and dreams long forgotten, and our lives a pale comparison of what it once was. That is not living. That is just existing. But existing for what?

     Beloved, what is your truth today? What truth have you buried or forgotten? What truth have you pushed to the side so that someone else may live their lives? What about you? What about your hopes and dreams? What about your life and

where God desires to take you? We cannot live the whole truth of the manifest blessings that God has ordained for our lives, if we cannot find the strength and courage to stand on our own truth, and express what it is that we desire in the sincerest parts of our hearts.

Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

     What's in you, Beloved? What truth(s) have been overlooked, buried, forgotten, and laid aside? We can only lie to ourselves for so long. And We can never lie to the Father. The truth is always seeking to come forth in all that we do and say. The truth will never be denied its payment. It shows up whether we are ready for it or not; sometimes in unexpected ways. Until we confront the truth, tell the truth, and live our truth—we will always live a stagnated life, that is far less than what God has ordained for us.

    My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. I decree that the spirit of truth inhabits your heart and soul, and the life God has ordained for you has become a reality. Be truthful with yourself. Stand boldly on your truth. Live authentically. Because at the end of the day, you have no one else to blame for the choices you've made. Yours is the only reflection in your mirror of truth. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"The Truth Will Set You Free"

Reflections4Life™ July 21^st, 2019

“The Truth Will Set You Free”

“Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart...” Psalm 15:1,2

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 15; Psalm 51; John 1; 8; Ephesians 4; 2 Timothy 3...

©Ruthe McDonald.

Stop lying! Stop lying to yourself, to others, and stop trying to lie to God! A bit harsh? I don't believe so. It needs to be heard. Some of us need reminding. We have been living a lie for so long that we are actually beginning to believe those lies. Know this: the truth will set you free!

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Allow yourself to walk in truth, to walk in the truth of who you are in Christ, and what God has spoken of you. Forget what others have said about you. Forget the lies they try to put upon you. Stand in YOUR truth, and dare to live it every day.

There is no need for us to lie when we know who God is and we know and believe who we are in Him. Many have been living lies for a long time, and it is starting to take its toll and catch up with them. God wants you to be free. He wants your life to be full of joy, happiness, peace, and love. How can you possibly have any of those things, if you have been perpetrating a fraud? If, your life has been one lie after another? Aren't you tired? Isn't a load of trying to keep up with the lies tiring? Then stop lying and start living your truth.

Some of us do not realize that we have been living a lie. We have not been living our authentic lives. Everything we do or say is to bring pleasure for someone else. Everything we do is to get accolades or acceptance and love from someone else. Whether it is parents, spouse, children, employer, friends—we are not living our own personal truth because we are living to please someone else.

I've been there, Beloved! I have the T-Shirt to prove it! Along with the scars from the wounds of not living my authentic truth. I gave power over my life to others who thought and believed they knew what was best for me. I got very tired of that! I grew exhausted and angry. Angry with them, but especially angry with myself. 

God has a plan for every one of us. He has ordained each one of us to live out our own lives and destiny and to walk in the greatness that He has created for us as individuals. It's just like our relationship with God: it is personal. No one else can walk your walk with God, but you. No other person can stand before God on the judgment day, but you. No other person can live your life, but you.

Sometimes our need to be accepted, loved, and to fit in, causes us to lay aside our own desires and needs so that we can please another. Soon we find that we have forgotten about who we really are. We are far removed from the truth of what we desire, and long to be and have in our own lives. We cannot survive like that. Eventually, death will come. It will come to our dreams, our passion, our hopes, and even our lives.

Life is too precious and too short not to live our truths. Perhaps you do not even recognize your truth anymore. If this is true, then it's time to get to the throne of God and pour out your heart to the Father. Repent, confess, and ask God to turn it around, and show you the truth about you and His will for your life. 

That is one of the greatest things about the Father: His unconditional love. Even when we have walked away, and have turned from Him, it doesn't stop Him from loving us. It also does not prevent Him from reaching out towards us; especially when we cry out to Him. He waits patiently for us to get the message from all the hints and whispers He's been sending our way throughout the years. When we are finally tired of being tired, and truly and sincerely want to be who He designed us to be—He is right there to lead us in the path that we must go.

Are you living your truth today? Are you walking in the greatness that God says is your birthright? Do you believe what God says about you, or are you trapped in the lies of what someone else says of you, and the lies of being someone that needs acceptance and fears rejection?

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Know this: Rejection is going to happen. Not everyone is going to like you, love you, or want you. Life is a journey filled with hills and valleys. In your life, you will meet those who cheer for you and jeer at you. There are those who will comfort you, and those that will try to take from you. Ultimately, when it's all said and done: YOU are in charge of what you accept or do not accept. This is YOUR life. You get to choose. God gave that gift to you. The choice is yours. Live your truth or continue to live a lie. When you live and walk in your truth, lies have no power over you. What other people say or think about you will have no effect. Truth sets you free and takes away the power of the enemy to hold anything over you or against you. Stand up and live. Be bold. God has indeed anointed you! You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Truth"

Reflections4Life™ January 27, 2019

“Truth”

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” Psalm 51:6

Scripture Contemplation: 1 Kings 17; Psalm 5; 145:18; Proverbs 12; Isaiah 59; Amos 5:10

S

ometimes the hardest thing to do is to speak your truth; not because you are ashamed or afraid, but because of the way that some only seem to hear, see, and believe what they want to. It often leaves one feeling vulnerable and with a desire to remain quiet. Yet, if we do not speak our truth, then what someone else says in falsehood may become the only “truth” that people believe.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Whatever you do, Beloved, continue to live and stand in your truth. Let the God of truth reign in your heart and reveal to you what is inside of you and what resides in the heart of others that are around you.

Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Truth … what a small and powerful word; far too many take for granted, and what many others refuse to see or believe. All around us seems to be some kind of deceit going on. The deceit that is affecting the lives of those we love and ourselves. Lies are being told to destroy lives, families, marriages, friendships, communities, governments, etcetera. There is a blatant disregard for the truth, and all that is Holy, sacred, godly. When those who dare to speak the truth, they are met with disdain and ridicule. We cannot hide the fact these are signs of the time in which the word of God warns us about. Though the deceit and wickedness abound, God’s truth prevails. Lying tongues will not last and the truth will endure for always … if we have faith.

How important is truth to you? Is the truth more important than you being right or having your own way? Can you recognize the truth in the face of facts or circumstances? Can you hear the heart of God speaking the truth to your heart? Will you believe it in spite of what you see with your natural eyes? I heard a profound statement last evening that I wholeheartedly agree with: The truth is the truth even when you don’t know it. How profound is that?

Even when we do not know something, the truth is still the truth, and the truth will prevail. Truth endures forever. It is unbreakable, sustainable through every lie, storm, and every falsehood and lying tongue. We may be ignorant to many things, but when God shines His light, the truth is made known. Ignorance is no longer an option when the truth is revealed.

John 8:44-46 (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

In being candid, one of my greatest pet peeves and probably also my thorn-in-the-side, is having my integrity and word questioned; especially when I, myself, have done nothing to warrant having my character assassinated. Regardless of the situation or circumstances presented, it is a blow to my heart and soul when someone I love and who says they love and know me, questions my word and integrity. It hurts deeply. However, what cuts to the core more than anything, is when they believe what is presented, and lose trust and faith in my word. They are supposed to know me, know my heart and what I stand for. Yet, even in that, and how much it hurts I still must stand in my truth and give it to God so that my heart does not grow bitter with anger and mistrust. Because at the end of the day, God always gets the last say and He brings not only vindication but also healing for the wounds of a broken heart.

I think of the heart of God and the sacrifice that Christ made to save us. How many times is the heart of God stricken when someone rejects Him? Jesus is the truth. He came into this world—the truth and the light—and was rejected. Yes, Jesus was accepted by many, but also crucified by many of the same people that had sung His praises. Hosanna! Hosanna! Went to, Crucify! Crucify! Their hearts were easily turned. Lies were told about Jesus. He was betrayed by a disciple—someone He spent intimate time with, teaching; who was around to witness the many miracles and deliverance. He sold Christ out for thirty pieces of silver. How many of us have sold ourselves for less? Who have we spoken lies against? Or, what lies and crafted plans have we believed against loved ones and people we once trusted so easily? What part have we played in the hurt of others because we believed well-planned lies and the whispers of Satan? How many more times will hurt the heart of God, and sting Him with the arrow of rejection?

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. The truth was given to us. His Name is Jesus. He yearns to live in our hearts and fix all that is broken. He desires to mend our broken hearts, heal our wounds, and bless us with the strength and courage to always walk in and live our truths. To stand in the face of conviction, and rejection, and move forward, receiving all the greatness and love He has ordained for our lives. You are blessed. Now go … and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"True to Self"

Reflections4Life™ November 25, 2018

“True to Self”

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” Psalm 51:6

Scripture Contemplations: Psalm 51; John 8

©Ruthe Mcdonald.

There is something very powerful, life-affirming, and in all honesty, invigorating about knowing and believing the truth about yourself. To understand yourself with such conviction, that you walk each day you are blessed to see with conviction, certainty, and all complete faith in what God has ordained for your life. You are not afraid to take chances but at the same time are willing to move forward and push through even if fear is present. When you know and understand the truth about yourself, not only can you be true to self, but also that means you have gained a knowledge and wisdom of who God is. It is then that we can be about God’s business without any trepidation but with complete faith, boldness, and assurance about the word of God and who we are.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Spend this week, Beloveds, yielding to God. Expose your heart; confess your hurts, sins, anger, disappointments, and fears to Almighty God. He is not only listening but is waiting to reveal to you, the warrior that resides within you.

There are many circumstances that I have faced in my life—I am facing some right now—where I have questioned who I am and whether or not I was being true to myself. I will be candid totally authentic and transparent with you. Sometimes I wonder. I wonder if I am getting this whole life thing right.

Am I doing what I should be doing? Am I getting this Christian-living thing correct? Or am I totally screwing all of this up? Am I making a mess of my life? Or am I really where I need to be and right where God has ordained for me at this time in my life? And if I am—right where I should be?—then why do I feel like such a failure at times or like I am truly missing the mark?

All of these questions and more run through my mind at one time or another, and sometimes they swirl around in my mind for a while; crippling me from doing anything else. Here is another thing about me: I am an introvert—an extreme introvert. When I am alone I do not get lonely. Reading a book is stimulating if at times, more exhilarating than being around a crowd of friends and family. I do not necessarily know what new movies are out or what the latest song on the charts is. If I am not reading, I am writing, doing research, editing, or working on other projects, pursuing my passions, even though I am currently in a place and space that is limiting what I can do and where I can go, and the truth of the matter is, it hurts so much that my flesh wants to cuss. However, at the same time, I know God loves me and that all of this is temporary and that my body will align with Christ in me and my healing will manifest, and I will be free to be to go and do everything without restrictions. Yes. I said that all in one breathe because I am being true to self. I am facing my truth and baring my soul because I want you to know, that no matter what you face in life that it is imperative that you stay true to self.  

Beloveds, when you are true to self, you can hear God speak to your soul. You will find the strength to go through the tests and trials; the afflictions, and adversities that arise without buckling under the weight of it all. Because you know in the core of your soul, that Jesus has you covered, and that joy does indeed come in the morning. All things are working out for your good according to God’s will for your life. At the end of the day, we walk by faith and not by sight, not by how we feel or of our own strength. It is all about God and the words that He has and continually speaks over us.

Here is what I have come to know for certain, and has become my very foundation; in order for me to know who I am, I must get to know who God is. I have to understand the heart of my Creator and how He does things. It all starts with listening. Listening to Holy Spirit and allowing Him to not only fill you but to teach you and guide you, and help you navigate through the very storms of this life, and come through it all as pure gold.

We must be honest with ourselves. Look ourselves in the mirror, no matter hard it is, and tell ourselves the truth. Be courageous enough to hear the Father tell us what we need and follow the instructions He gives. We must become malleable to the touch of God’s hands and so sensitive to His touch that we yield with ease and move with a quickness when He says move, and prayer becomes like breathing for us—a natural state of being. This can only happen if we yield our true self to God, without fear of exposing ourselves or being hidden from 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. We have thirty-six more days to the New Year. Do not wait to make a change in the New Year—no one is promised tomorrow. Instead, yield to God today and His ways and start being true to yourself. It takes twenty-days to break a habit and start to create new ones. You have plenty enough time to begin now and show God how serious you are. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Can I Get a Testimony?"

Reflections4Life™ November 5, 2017

“Can I Get a Testimony?”

“And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:11

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 23; Deuteronomy 5:20; Psalm 132:12; Acts 8; 2 Corinthians 13; Hebrews 10:14-16…

©Ruthe McDonald.

When is the last time that you recall hearing a church have testimony time? Do churches still have that? I know that some churches, due to a “time constraint” no longer have in their “program” a time for testimonies. I have been hearing a lot of complaining, talking about a whole lot of other things, but I have not heard too many testifying of what God has done in their lives. Can I get a testimony?

I declare that this week’s Reflection is a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for the heart, mind, and soul. I challenge you this week that whatever God has worked out for you; whatever He presses upon your heart to share—share it. Share the goodness of God this week. I dare you to testify and let someone else know how good God has been to you. Let them know of the goodness of God. Do not be ashamed of what you may have gone through, also do not be stingy with telling others of God’s grace and mercy. We overcome by the word of our testimony.

Beloved, this is what I know today: there are power and healing in our testimonies. There are far too many people waiting on a word from God and guess what? We are that word! God uses us—believers, overcomers, beneficiaries—of His love and kindness to go out and share the good news of not only the saving grace and love of Christ but also the goodness of God and His favor and what He has brought us through.

Did you not know that we do not need a title, a position, a degree, or anything to minister the word of God? No. We do not need that to reach others. We also do not need to be perfect, have it all together, or pretend to have all the answers. All we have to do is share what God has done in our lives. Let someone else know that what they are going through, God can and will see them through. You know, because of what God has done for you.

Do you know how many men, women, and children are walking around—some in your own home—feeling alone, depressed, some even at the point of despair and wanting to take their own lives because they feel alone, forgotten, weird, or ashamed of things that nine times out of ten were not even their fault. Here some of us are; acting all perfect, sanctified as if we always had it all together and cannot relate.

We need to tell the truth, destroy the enemy’s plot to rob one more life and share our testimonies. I am not telling you to bare your secrets; those things that are only between you and God. However, I know there is something that you can share with someone to lift him or her up. To encourage them; even if you think it is insignificant. What may seem insignificant to you can be the very thing that someone else needs to hear.

God did not bless us, Beloved, for us to keep our mouths closed. He did not deliver us so we can stand smug and self-righteous with an air of piety and act like our lives are perfect and have always been perfect. God did not bless us, meet our needs, take us from poverty, give us food on the table, clothes on our back, and restore our health, renew our minds, for us to act like we did it all on our own, or pretend like we have never been through hardships.

It is reminiscent of growing up in a rough neighborhood, having dreams to make it out. When you do, you never look back, even though you know you may still have family there, and others—children, teenagers—who are like you were, and could benefit from seeing that someone can and did make it out; that, their beginning did not have to define their future. That God will open up doors if that is what they truly desire.

Yet, too many do not want to remember where they came from. They want to act as if they always had it together. They want to act as if they do not know what welfare, government cheese, second-hand stores, the neighborhood bodega or corner store are. Neither do they want to acknowledge that instead of learning about depositing a check and saving money, they were only used to a check-cashing place, and having to choose which bill to pay and what had to wait.

Come on now! Tell the truth about your life experiences and put all shame behind you! God wants to deliver people through our testimony today. He wants to use us to bring hope, healing, deliverance, and strength to a hurting people, to someone who is barely holding on and wondering if there truly is a God. Our testimony just may save a life!

Listen, I have a testimony that I have burning inside of me that God has not released me to share just yet. However, I have other testimonies that I share on occasion. Such as experiencing molestation as a little girl, physical and mental abuse, being told I that my dreams for my life were too lofty. My father being murdered. I’ve been on welfare after receiving a degree, fired for standing up for my truth, on the brink of losing my home within days before God opened a door, feeling depressed because I felt like my life was not as I hoped and planned. Feeling rejected, abandoned. Feeling like a total failure, feelings of self-loathing, self-hate, severe depression, as if God was not listening to me; feelings of hopelessness, and pain so deep it took my breath. This is in not only my distant past but also some recently. Yet GOD! His grace is sufficient and it is incumbent on me to tell someone else the good news of God’s grace and favor! I cannot keep this truth to myself, especially knowing that it has the ability to bring comfort and hope to someone else.

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. God is a restorer, Beloved. God will do for you what you and no one else can ever do if you would give Him the chance to do it. Do not sit on your testimony. Someone is waiting on you, to hear what you have to say because your words and your testimony matter too. In case, you forgot: You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2017. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Betrayal of the Mind"

Reflections4Life™ April 9, 2017

“Betrayal of the Mind”

“Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” John 12:13

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 118; Matthew 13; Mark 11; Luke 4; 20; John 12…

Happy Palm Sunday!

There is freedom when you walk in your truth, and no longer live to please and placate others but live your life, as you will, with a desire to please God alone.

It would be wonderful if those who love you would always understand and accept you, for who you truly are, and not for whom they think, you are or who you should be. However, people are people, and sometimes they just do not get it, nor do they see it, and sometimes, they will see what they want to see.

I declare that today’s Reflections bring 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. As we celebrate Palm Sunday, let us remember the road to our redemption and the cost. Hold in your hearts, that the price has been paid already, and there is no one left to charge us when Jesus has handled the bill.

There are people—some in our lives, and some not—that have the tendency to put us in a box; seeing us through one lens when there are so many different components to who we are. As we celebrate Palm Sunday, may we be able to identify with the life of Christ. Many saw Him as Rabbi, teacher, friend, and miracle worker. Some saw Him as a threat. However, few saw Him as the Son of God or the Savior. For many, He was defined only as the carpenter’s son, no one special; nothing more or less. Having placed him in a box in their mind and hearts, they could not receive from Him the blessing of His truth. For Christ, it hurt that they could not believe; not for His sake, but for theirs. Jesus knows who He is even when others do not and cannot accept it.

I am grateful for all that, Jesus has done; for giving His life; for sticking to the plan and not being deterred by the opinions of those who only knew and could only see and accept Him as the son of a Carpenter, and not for the promised Savior that was prophesied.

Yet, I would be lying if I said it did not hurt when those you love seem to have a betrayal of the mind and cannot see you for who you truly are and when the truth is right in front of them. It hurts my heart at times, to live and walk in my truth and those who say they love me and know me, treat me like a stranger and readily accept the lies of the enemy and cause rifts to come between us; sometimes irrevocable.

It is seen as a betrayal of the mind to begin to believe in your heart the deceiving whispers of the enemy when the character of the person you say you know and love; who has been there to support you and stand by you when everyone else has abandoned you, is maligned by false actions perpetrated by the enemy. However, as children of God, we know or should understand that times like this will occur in our lives. Though it will hurt and break our hearts, we will not only heal and get stronger but also identify the more with our Savior.

Can you imagine being Christ, having poured out your heart and unconditional love; having healed, delivered, saved, and fed the people you love, only to have them betray, accuse, deny, and crucify you over false accusations? To have the same people you fed with the miracle of five loaves and two fish, turn on you because the enemy has warped their minds.

Yet, we know and understand that was part of redemptions plan. Christ already knew what was to come, but it did not mean he stopped loving them, or doing the things He did, or ministering to them even though He understood that their minds would be twisted concerning Him.

That is where many of us have to get to today in our hearts and minds. We must determine in our hearts to love anyway and in spite of. We must learn to kneel in prayer and truly place these situations in God’s hands. Yes, beloved, it hurts. It hurts to have everything you have done in love forgotten or looked at as shady because the enemy has decided to play mind games. However, we must look to God and learn how to push forward and continue to pray for those we have loved and have given ourselves and time to freely.

People will place us into boxes. They will be blinded and deafened by the lies of the enemy. Those we love will be fooled sometimes by the whispers and manipulation of the enemy. For whatever reason, God is allowing it. If God is allowing it, then we know there is a greater purpose going on that we just have not seen yet, or has yet to be revealed. In the meantime, do not allow these circumstances and situations to cause you to suffer from a betrayal of the mind. Stand firm in your truth and the promises of God. You may have to pray longer, fast a few more times, close your mouths in retaliation or in defense of yourselves and just allow God to be your fence, your deliverer, your healer.

I thank God for the mother I had. She encouraged me to stand in my truth and discover all of me, and be comfortable in my skin. She knew I was more than what people saw or believed. She understood a box could never contain me. God created so much greatness in me, that it won't allow me to be defined by a few titles that some give me. No. I am a child of God with many different attributes. Walking in my greatness, enjoying and discovering the many facets of me. Though I may endure heartache because some that I have loved, have helped, and have stood by over the years, believe lies about who I am, or accept the machinations of the enemy as truth; I must continue to love and pray for them. Even if now, it is from a distance, because at the end of the day, God is still in charge and His will shall be done.

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. Do not allow the opinions and the shortsightedness of others to confine you to a box. Do not stop praying and loving those who have been blinded by the enemy, and their minds betrayed and warped by his attacks. Pray for them diligently and believe God for their deliverance. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2017. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.