"We Are Brand New"

 Reflections4Life™ April 17, 2022

"We Are Brand New"

"Therefore we were buried together with Him through immersion into death—in order that just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4

Scriptures for the Week: Romans 6; Matthew 28; Luke 23; John 2; John 19; James 2

https://youtu.be/gT9_ebl34cU

Happy Resurrection Sunday! Glory to our God in the highest! The resurrection assured us redemption, forgiveness, a new life, freedom from our past, and the peace that God is taking care of everything that concerns us today! He has come to set the captives free, delivering us out of all of our troubles! Praise God right now. Thank Him for saving you and bringing you from all problems. Hallelujah! He's made us brand new!

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. It is Resurrection Sunday! If you do not believe in miracles and the supernatural at any other time of the year, believe it now! Believe in this season, and the power of the resurrection will cause mighty things to occur in your life! When you accepted Christ as your Savior, you were redeemed and raised again with Jesus! You received a new life with new opportunities. Study this week's Scripture readings and yield to the moving of the Holy Spirit. There is something that the Lord wants to blossom in your heart. Receive your gifts. Let the Father fill your cup!

We have been made new through the Blood of the Lamb. When accepting Christ into our hearts, He lives in us. He renews us. We are now the recipients of His love, His grace, His mercies, and all of His gifts. God has opened up doors for us that we have yet to discover. The more we yield to Him and learn who we are in Him, the more we reveal who we are and our purpose on this earth. But make no mistakes; you are a new creation in Christ. You are brand new! 

The Crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ sealed our fates once and for all. Jesus became the final sacrifice for all man. Reconciling us to the Father, He did away with the sin-sacrifices that were law in the Old Testament. We are no longer under the law but are under grace because Jesus became our repudiation for sin. Not just past sins, but all sins--past, present, and future sins. The Blood of Jesus covers us. Our fates were sealed when Christ went to the Cross and rose again on the third day. He fulfilled His Father's requirements. A debt we could never have repaid. 

Here we are in the land of the living with opportunities to, live brand new lives and become everything God ordained us to be. To be that new creation, washed in the Blood and restored by the Lamb of God. 

Beloved, no matter what anyone else says, you are brand new! Though you may look the same and even feel the same, you are not the same! You are a new creature in Christ. A whole new person. When Christ rose, we rose with Him. As whole new beings, shedding our past. Ditching our grave clothes and the person we once were. Now, we're who God has called us to be. With this new person comes new gifts and rewards that can only come from the Father Himself. We are filled with Holy Spirit. We are clothed, now, in righteousness and holiness. We now have access to the armor of God. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ, as He intercedes on our behalf. The battles are not ours, but they are the Lord's. We now answer to a new name: saved, beloved, child of God, delivered, special, set apart, a Royal diadem! We are chosen by God, blessed, anointed, and favored! These are just a few! Study the word of God, Beloved. Learn who you are in Christ. Learning who Christ is and all the benefits He has provided for you. 

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. You don't have to answer to who you once were. You do not have to be that person to please someone else. God has freed you. Do not linger in the past or allow anyone to keep you boxed into who you used to be. They only saw the caterpillar or the grub. They did not see the butterfly that was coming forth and who you now are! You are brand new. Accept this about yourself, whether anyone else does or not. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"Here Today Gone Tomorrow"

 Reflections4Life™ April 10, 2022

"Here Today Gone Tomorrow"

"they took branches of the palm ntrees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of theh Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!" John 12:13

Scriptures for the Week: John 12; Matthew 21:10-11; Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:25-26; 2 Kings 9:13; Luke 19:38; John 3:16-17; Psalm 1

Happy Palm Sunday! May our hearts be filled and encouraged when we think about all that God has done for us. May we be encouraged to see the hand of God in all things and how He will deliver us and sanctify our hearts and minds. He will heal us from hurts that may abound from those who were with us today but gone tomorrow.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Anytime we get to spend time in the presence of the Lord should be a time of reverence and gleaning. As you spend intimate time with the Father this week, allow Him to fill you up, preparing you for what is ahead of you. There is nothing under the sun that Jesus is not already acquainted with. Allow Him to give you the benefits of His knowledge and wisdom.

How many times in your life already, have you been hurt or surprised by the actions of people that you thought were here for you? Betrayal is not an easy thing to get over. Nor is it something that we forget easily. Oftentimes, when we experience betrayals, we tend to linger in the feelings that it produces, carrying those same emotions into future relationships. Sometimes we are not aware we have done so until we find ourselves measuring people's character and judging them by the actions of those who previously hurt and betrayed us.

That is no way to live life. Neither is it healthy for any relationship. Whether it is a personal or business relationship. we have to learn to move on; to let go of what others have done and always begin with a clean slate moving forward. Is it easy? By no means is it easy. However, when you have God on your side, He makes difficult tasks seem easy because He takes our burdens and heavy yokes on Himself, leaving us to walk a smoother and lighter path. But we have to trust Him and follow His instructions exactly.

There are no escaping betrayals. Not in our lifetime. Someday, somewhere, someone we care about or have given our trust to will do something that will hurt us and change our opinion of who they are. Some will do it on purpose, others not intentionally. Not everyone in our lives but some. We have to learn to forgive and move on. To, let what one person did be left with them, and not judge others by the actions of others. Yes. Be cautious and more prayerful. But do not allow it to make you so judgemental and fearful that you close your heart and miss out on the splendors of the beauty and abundance of life and relationships.

As Jesus road upon the donkey, the people called out praises to Him, singing Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! All praises to the King of Israel! He already knew the same people would be chanting Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! a week later. Yet, Jesus continued on, blessing them, healing them, feeding them, and preparing them. There He sat, at the table breaking bread with those closest to Him, with the knowledge that one of them was on his way to sell Him out for thirty pieces of silver. While others still, would be running and hiding and denying having known Him. 

Can You imagine the heart of Jesus? Can you imagine spending all these years teaching, singing, worshiping, fellowshipping, pouring your all into others, only to have them betray you or deny having ever known you? If that doesn't hurt, I don't know what does! But yet, Jesus knew the bigger picture. He did not allow what others did at that moment to change what He was sent to do, to save and deliver us by way of the Cross.

We cannot allow the actions of others to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. we cannot allow the betrayal and broken trust of another to determine our relationship with others or keep us from giving others a fair opportunity to get to know who they are on their own merits. Can you imagine if Jesus said, Nah! I'm good. I'm not saving no one! If they're anything like the ones who betrayed me and denied me, then You can have them, Father! I'm saving myself! There would be no us!

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 will be some that will come into our lives. They will be for us one day and the next they will turn away from us. Some will break our trust. However, we will not and cannot allow it to break who we are and who God called us to be. 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. 

 

"God Faith and Favor"

Reflections4Life™ March 20, 2022

"God Faith and Favor"

"God is faithful, and you were called by Him to partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9

Scriptures for the Week: 1 Corinthians 1; Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 7:9; 32:4; Romans 16; 1 Peter 1; James 4

God, faith, and favor go together like peanut butter and jelly! Like, ice cream and cake! It's available separately but when combined, is an explosion of flavor and better. We can believe in God and accept Him into our hearts. Yet, many are not walking in faith or utilizing the favor available to us. The believer who consistently prays, communicating with the heavenly Father, discovers the power of the combination of life under this trifecta!

I decree, that this week's Reflections4life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Determine to take your relationship with God to a new level of intimacy. Let God into your heart where you have been so guarded. God is not going to hurt you. He is going to love on you, opening your heart and mind to different levels of faith and His anointing of favor. Your life will never be the same once you understand and experience the powerful combination of God, faith, and favor at work in your life.

There is something absolutely amazing that happens in your life when you understand the power of God, faith, and favor all working together, at the same time, in your life. It is a powerful, life-changing, thing. And the truth is, many of us will not know this or even experience this if we do not let go of who we think God is, and the weak perception of what we believe faith and favor are. 

God is more than a deity. He is more than a prayer answered. He is more than we have the vernacular to describe or the mental capacity to understand. Yet, we can know Him through an intimate relationship. It is through this intimacy that we learn what God says is faith and how His favor works. Also, how they work together. God is the key to the mysteries in this world. He has the answers we seek for every question we could ever have. He is our Creator, our Father, our Friend. He is our Teacher and Counselor, as well. God Almighty is so many things that those who maintain an intimate relationship with Him will soon come to understand. God never leaves us in the dark. In time, He reveals all the things that need and should be revealed in His timing.

Here is the important thing that I learned about God's favor and faith. When God blesses you and tells you that He has filled you with His gift of faith-- a supernatural amount of faith that goes beyond just believing --and has covered you in His favor, He does not take it back! This blew my mind! When God makes a declaration over your life; He is not just making it for that moment; He is decreeing, making a law that now governs your life for as long as you are on this earth. Even if afterward, down the line you turn away from God, you stumble in your faith, His favor and faith remain in you. They are buried under sin and bad choices and decisions. They are overshadowed by troubles and by things you have now put higher than God. BUT...they are still there because God placed them there and they cannot be removed unless God removes them! It is God, through your repentance, that will remove the debris and layers that now cover faith and favor once you come back to Him.

Before God blessed us, He knew what we were going to do. He already knew if we would rise to the occasion, fall back in old ways, reject Him because of life's circumstances, or forget who we are because of fear and the enemy. He knew all of this, and still, He blessed us with Himself, a gift of faith, and His covering of favor. We are the ones that must come to this powerful revelation. We are the ones that must come to this understanding. We are the ones that must decide if we are going to finally stand up and be who God says we are and live in the space He has ordained for us, using faith and favor to achieve what God has already ordained in 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. Know this: EverythingGod has promised you is already in you. Everything you need to succeed is already in you. God has placed in you all that you need to conquer every obstacle that comes your way. You just have to believe it! Should you lose hope and fall away, know that He has not left you. He is there; waiting on you to recognize that what He placed in you hasn't died but lays dormant waiting for you to repent and take your rightful place. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"Staying Connected to Holy Spirit"

    Reflections4Life™ March 13, 2022

"Staying Connected to Holy Spirit"

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you." John 14:26 (NASB)

Scriptures for the Series: Ezekiel 10; 12; Psalm 51:11; 1 Corinthians 15; John 14; Matthew 3; 12:32; Acts 1

There is much angst, worry, anger, and frustration on the earth. GOD is admonishing those that know Him, are in a relationship with Him, to represent Him well. People, including ourselves as believers, need hope. We need something to hold onto in the midst of the chaos that currently surrounds us. Pandemics, war, poverty, and the list go on. Yet, God wants to fill us and keep us filled with His presence. That, we, as believers do not lose hope or faith while going through these storms. But instead, we would stay connected to Holy Spirit, follow His instructions, and allow Him to lead us on the paths we should go. Staying connected to Holy Spirit is imperative to our relationship with our Father. We need to hear from God. We need to stay strong and fed and our cups filled, so that we may help others who stand in need.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Take your time this week in the presence of the Lord. Take your time in prayer and meditation. Slow down when reading the Word of God. Savor it. Savor the passages, not rushing through the scripture. Let the words of our Heavenly Father settle in your heart while ruminating in your mind. This connection is the difference between life and death. Not just for you but also for who God sends you to minister.

In this world are many things, happening all at once, that is frightening and traumatizing. It has caused many to not only doubt God but also lose faith. For others, it has pushed them further into believing there is no God. As believers, we have an Anchor in God, Holy Spirit. He is our Teacher, our Comforter, our Source of Strength. We can draw from Holy Spirit any time, all day, and receive the refilling that we need when emptied from life's circumstances and situations. There are many in this world who do not have this source, but they can. Yet, they will never know if no one tells them or shows them.

As believers, we must stay connected to Holy Spirit. He is our balance; keeping us aware of our self truths and warning us when we are moving away from Him and our Creator. When we get off track and out of line, He gently lassos us back into position. A position and posture to receive from our Heavenly Father. To have our spiritual gardens pruned and any debris from the world, cleared away. Holy Spirit tells us where we need to grow and where growth and development have occurred. He is the barometer for where we are in our relationship with the Lord, and our Teacher for navigating the traps set by the enemy.

Staying connected to Holy Spirit, in the mind and heart, should not be an option for any believer, but a mandate. It is something that we should strive for every day we are granted the blessings and miracles of life. Our bodies are the very temple of the Holy Spirit. (That's a whole other topic I will delve into at a later time!) There are people hurting in this world that need hope. They need some good news to hold onto. How can we honestly offer these souls the good news if we are not connected to Holy Spirit? How would we know what to say and when to say it? Everyone is not the same, so we cannot witness to everyone the same. We need Holy Spirit to teach us how to reach people where they are at. Only Holy Spirit can show us who needs what and when; who will be receptive or not. We will not know if we do not stay connected to the Source, Holy Spirit.

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. Be attentive to Holy Spirit and His instructions. Yield your heart, mind, and soul in His presence; allowing Him to fill you and speak to your heart. Each time with Holy Spirit is a new experience, unlike the last. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

THE DECLARATION SERIES: "I Declare, I Will Keep My Vow to God"

   Reflections4Life™ March 6, 2022

"I Will Keep My Vow to GOD!"

"You look to Egyot for security and help without consulting Me. You seem to think that Pharoah is the answer. That Egypt will protect you from harm. But because you cling to earthly power of great nations, you will be disappointed and ashamed..." Isaiah 30:2,3 (VOICE)

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 30:2,3

Welcome to part ten and our final declaration in the Declaration Series. I Will Keep My Vow to God. It is easy to say the words; to make a vow/promise to GOD when you feel on top of the world or even when you are going through and are desperate to get out of a situation. We vow to God to trust Him and follow Him always. Sometimes in the middle of following the will of God, we are faced with opposition. Some so strongly that they would rather turn back to their old ways in order to find comfort and safety in what was. 

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Keep your vow to GOD. Whatever you have promised God to do, or made a vow to do, do not go back on that vow. Take time this week to revisit all of the vows or agreements you made between you and God. Have you honored them? Have you continued in the path He created for you? Sometimes what lies between us and the manifestations of our blessings are keeping the vows we made to Him. 

We pray and we pray, asking the Lord to show up on our behalf. We even make promises to God. We promise to do such and such if He would deliver us and bring us into a new place. If He would deliver us from our current circumstances. We vow to serve Him always; to never look back and go back to the person we once were.

Perhaps you made a different kind of vow to the Lord. Maybe you vowed to sow seed every month for a year. But somewhere along the way, new bills popped up. Emergencies appeared and your money was funny. Who knows the reasons but you and God. In any case, you did not keep that monetary vow to the Lord. Though it was going to a ministry or cause, the vow is still between you and God. Time pasts, but you never revisited those vows. Guess what, Beloved? You still have to honor those vows, unless God tells you otherwise.

Maybe you are like the children of Israel. After years of bondage, you are free. Free from a bad relationship, an unhealthy way of living, using drugs, abusing your body, stealing, etcetera. You know what God brought you out of. Now, you are walking in your freedom. You are thriving and pushing forward. But then, just as you are getting comfortable with your freedom, and you are starting to thrive, here comes the enemy. God is allowing the opposition to come at you. It is threatening your peace and a new way of life. It's a little bit harder fighting for what you have and what you want. Now, doors seem to be closing. The progress you were making is at a standstill. In fact, some of you may have lost some things, while others may have lost everything. Now the enemy is whispering in your ears that it was easier when you were not saved. You had it better when you were doing your own thing. Or, you try convincing yourself that the abuse wasn't so bad. That at least you have a roof over your head and food to eat. At least you did not have to wrestle with this new kind of enemy; where nothing is familiar. You start thinking you would rather go back to what you know than to go any further ahead, uncertain. 

Like the children of Israel, you start to justify the sins and bondage of Egypt. at least you had food to eat, a place to sleep. At least you did not starve. The food was okay. You didn't have to worry about if your own crops would make it. Responsibility wasn't on your shoulders.

Beloveds, it always looks easier when you look backward. It is easy to forget the harshness of the past when what you presently face seems overwhelming and not to mention scary. The unknown before you seems impossible, while the past now seems okay for what it was. The Devil is a Lie! Beloved! That is a smoke and mirrors trick from the enemy. Nothing in the past that God delivered you from is worth breaking your vow to God. Your vow to serve Him, trust Him, believe Him, love Him, rely upon Him. 

This world cannot give you a tenth of what God has for you. It cannot comfort you in the manner that God can and does. The world's systems will always seem right and fair at first. But in time, you will see the truth and understand that God is the only entity that will always have your best interest at heart. That, in God, lies the answers to the fulfillment of your dreams and the vows made to God. To, love Him, serve Him, and follow Him with all of you. Ride out the storms of life and trust God in the midst of all things. 

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. God will finish the work He has started in you. He has, in fact, already finished His work. But you will never know this if you do not keep your vow to Him; to follow and serve with all of your heart, mind, and soul. 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 Pray to My God"

   Reflections4Life™ February27, 2022

"I Will Pray to God"

"Praise the One who gives us life and keeps us safe, who does not allow us to stumble in the darkness." Psalm 66:9 (VOICE)

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 nine in our Declaration Series. Pray to God. The answers we need and the solutions we seek are in God. He has the answers. When we pray, we enter spiritual warfare. So put your Spiritual armor on and let God lead. We do not have to wonder if we would kneel or lie prostrate before the Lord, giving Him all the praise and worship, and believing in your heart that the answers you need can all be found in Him. You just have to ask.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul.  This week,  concentrate on your prayer and meditation life. There is so much that God desires to reveal to you but waits for you to come to Him in prayer.  Ask Him first before seeking answers elsewhere. Make God your first stop when seeking answers to your questions and solutions to your problems.

I have been guilty of seeking advice from others and answers to my questions from others before I even thought of going to my Heavenly Father and seeking His wise Counsel. Why do we do this? Why do we seek everyone else's advice and answers before we go to God, who knows us and knows the plans He has ordained for our lives? Surely He would have the answers we seek? Instead, we spend the time we really do not have, seeking answers from people who do not know us the way God knows us. Neither do they know the plans that God has ordained for our lives. Therefore, they would not have the best answers to give and we run the risk of making circumstances and situations worse.

The Bible is filled with many instances of people praying to God for answers. They sought His direction, His leading, and His help. They understood that God, above everyone else, knew the path they should take. That, the One True God, would direct them and give them victory.

Ephesians 6:18 (VOICE) Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed.

 Here are a few more scriptures to meditate on Psalm 5, Psalm 22, Psalm 42, Psalm 51, Genesis 20:17, Genesis 24:12; 42, Genesis 32:9; 12.

There is power in our prayers, Beloved. Maybe you forgot that. Perhaps you did not know. But yes, there is power in our prayers. Not only are we lifting up the Name of Jesus, seeking His will for our lives, answers to our questions, but we are also engaged in spiritual warfare! Yes! Prayer is spiritual warfare! If you think the enemy doesn't try to stop you from praying, then take a moment and recall the various times you would begin to pray and something happened. Or, you fell asleep. Or, you felt like God did not hear you or was not listening to you. All distractions from the enemy. Seeking to keep us from 1. the answers we seek, and 2. the power that destroys his plots and plans. As well as break his stronghold and chains off of ourselves and those we love and have been called to minister to.

Put on your spiritual armor when you go to pray. Things happen when we pray. Not only do we get answers and solutions to our problems, but we are also breaking down the enemy's camp and destroying the hold he has on so many of our loved ones. This is why God tells us to always pray. To, constantly seek Him and His will for our lives and those we lift in prayer. We cannot stay where we are and expect to get what God ordained for us when He is in another place, telling us to come on! But you will not know this if you are not praying.

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. Pray with all your heart every day. Seek the Lord and His ways.  Let God be the first place you go when seeking answers and solutions. Prayers are powerful. Your prayers are powerful. God has the answers you seek.  Go to Him first. 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 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 Delight Myself In The Lord"

 Reflections4Life™ February13, 2022

"I Will Delight Myself in the Lord"

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give your heart's desires." Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

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 seven in our Declaration Series. Delight yourself in the Lord and He is going to give you the desires of your heart. That is pretty straightforward. Yet, many of us still do not do this. Or, we do it for a while and then stop but expect GOD to continue giving us what we want. This is not a one-time action. This is a lifestyle. A change in our thinking, our behavior, our relationship with our Creator. GOD is certainly waiting to give us the desires of our hearts. But we must first learn what it truly means to delight ourselves in the Lord.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Delight yourself in the Lord. Make it a habit and not just a one-time or sometimes thing. Think about it for what it is: a lifestyle change. You are making a conscious decision to change how you live your life and think about the relationship between you and GOD the Father.

Delighting yourself in the Lord is not about telling God what you think He wants to hear. God knows our thoughts before we think them. He definitely knows what is residing in our hearts. Better than we do! God desires for us to delight ourselves in Him. For many of us, we were not taught what it actually meant to delight ourselves in the Lord. Think about it; do you remember that being a Sunday School lesson? Or, if you came to Christ as an adult, did anyone say to you: Oh! Don't forget to delight yourself in the Lord every day? I am certain they didn't. If we are going to delight ourselves in the Lord and receive the desires of our hearts, we should at least know what delighting ourselves in the Lord looks like.

To delight yourself in the Lord, you are seeking Him daily with your whole heart, mind, and soul. You are seeking the mind of God to know what He knows. You are putting on the mind of Christ so that your thoughts are now lining up with His. You are meditating on the word of God, studying and applying it to your everyday life. Delighting yourself in the Lord is getting to know the heart of your Creator and what pleases Him. You decide not to be afraid to bare your heart and soul before Him, coming naked and vulnerable in your emotions. You expose yourself before God and receive His healing in return. You learn to trust Him where you cannot trace Him. But you also believe Him to keep His promises made to you.

Finally, when you have delighted yourself in the Lord, you will find that His ways are now your ways. His thoughts have become your thoughts. The things you now desire in your heart, are in alignment with the perfect will of the Lord for your life. You now understand that what God has for you is the best. You cannot beat God's giving. Whatever you can come up with, will still not hold a candle to what God has ordained for you. When God grants you the desires of your heart, they will be more than you thought possible.

Ephesians 3:20 "Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by His power at work within us;" (CEB)

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. Delight yourself in the Lord. Get to know the heart and mind of God, our Father. Believe that He is granting you all that you need and your desires. 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 Seek After The Kingdom of God"

  Reflections4Life™ February 6, 2022

"I Will Seek After the Kingdom of God"

"Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Proverbs 11:28 (NIV)

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 six in our Declaration Series. We will determine to first seek after the Kingdom of God. Not after riches or the lusts of the flesh. But after the heart of God and the things that matter most to His heart and not of our flesh. Seeking the Kingdom of God and the way God does things keeps us from pursuing the lusts of the flesh, which often results in nothing but trouble, and not to mention, the delay of God's promises manifesting in our lives.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Seek after the Kingdom of God with all of your heart and soul. Ask yourself if the things you seek after are only to gratify your flesh or to edify your spirit and the lives of others. The things we often seek to gratify our flesh are often not after the Spirit or the heart of God. Sometimes we forget that the Holy Spirit resides in us. We also forget that the Father has called us to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Seek His Kingdom and how God does things.

Our successes do not lie in how much money we can accumulate in. our lifetime. Success lies within the growth of our Souls and Spirits. True wealth is measured by the lives we touch and change for the better; for eternity. It lies in the actions of us sharing the Good News, the love of Christ, and the true secret of success, with others. That, prioritizing seeking after the Kingdom of God and its righteousness is the standard by which God will judge us on judgment day. 

There is nothing wrong with desiring the finer things in life. To own beautiful things, live in gorgeous places, and even find someone to share our lives and love with.  However, God must come first. Beloved, when we seek after the Kingdom of God, He, our Heavenly Father, will add all these other things to our lives. In fact, God will GIVE us the desires of our heart when we seek Him and delight in HIM. (Psalm 37:4)

Our time spent in God, seeking His will and after His Kingdom and the way He does things, is not in vain. Though we may not see things right away, what we are producing through our obedient actions, through our fasting and praying, is preparing us to receive the abundance of blessings that God has ordained for us. God is a promise keeper. Following after the Kingdom of God empowers us. It also gives us the knowledge and wisdom we need on this earth. It strengthens us as we wait for the manifest blessings of God. It gives us the courage, the words, the heart to share with the people God sends us to. Including those in our own family.

Matthew 6:31-34 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But [seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you..So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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. Seek after the Kingdom of God for ALL things. Invite God into every area of Your life.  Though some things might prove difficult, allow God to be your strength and your Supplier. Seek after Kingdom, fast and pray, and believe that God is granting you all that you need and even your desires. 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 Return Quickly to the Lord"

 Reflections4Life™ January 23, 2022

"I Will Return Quickly to the Lord"

"We must search and and examine our hearts; we must return to the LORD." Lamentations 3:40

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 the fourth week in our Declaration Series. We have declared to submit to the Lord, to listen to His instructions, and to store His instructions in our hearts. This week, we declare to return quickly to the Lord if and when we may find ourselves walking outside of His will. Beloveds, do not delay in quickly returning from God when you find yourself going down the wrong path and away from God's will for your life.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Examine and search your ways this week. Do a heart check and honestly ask yourself if you have been following the precepts of God, or have you deviated from His path and gone rogue? There are times when we think we are still on the righteous path, only to find out that we are far from God's path and have ventured on a path dictated by our flesh.

After much searching and examination, we often find that it is not the obvious things that have changed or led us astray from the paths and things of God. It is often the small things, subtle habits, and idiosyncrasies that have caused us to veer off the path of righteousness. Soon we find ourselves far from where God has called us to, often wondering how we got there.

In the Song of Solomon (2:14-16), it is the small foxes that spoil the vine.  A small unassuming animal that if ignored or often goes unnoticed, gets into the vines and spoils its crops or eats its fruits before anyone has a chance to harvest its best. It is often the small things that we do here and there that sabotage our righteous walk and relationship with God. The small things that we often ignore or say we will take care of later, knock us off the path of righteousness and living holy for God. These same habits that we will suddenly find a problem and interference with our walk, in God.

The Father has given us the charge to examine and search our hearts, our actions, our walk, in Him. To see if we truly are on the right path of His righteousness. Or if we have unknowingly taken a detour because of all those small choices we have made along the way. Oh! Trust that God has always sent His word, a reminder, His messengers to tug at our hearts. To engage us in conversation and get us back on track.

The longer we stay off the paths of righteousness, the harder it is for many to return to God. Many find themselves going further down the rabbit hole, away from God and His ways, and the peace that can only be found in God. If you find yourself in this position, Beloved, return quickly to God. Repent, seek God, and follow whatever He leads your heart to do.

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. Quickly return to the Lord. Search and examine your heart. Let God show you what resides there and where you lost your way. 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 Hide His Word in My Heart"

 Reflections4Life™ January 16, 2022

"I Will Hide His Word in My Heart"

"Deep winthin me I have hidden your word, so that I will never sin against you." Psalm 119:11

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

Our hearts are a sacred place. A place that is only truly known, 100% by GOD and ourselves--if we are honest with ourselves. In our hearts are hidden many things, from childhood to the present moments, and even thoughts and feelings concerning the future. GOD knows all of this, too. He especially knows if His word is hidden there, also.

I decree that this week's Reflections4Life will be a continued source of inspiration and encouragement for your heart, mind, and soul. Each time you read and hear the word of God, do not only hear it but also let it marinate and find a place deep in your heart to settle in. Hide the word of God in your heart so that you will be reminded of Him, His Word, and promises to you.

Thank you for coming back and fellowshipping with us this week. This is the third lesson in our DECLARATION SERIES. This series was inspired by a New Year Eve's message given by Bishop Dr. Roberta Moore of Victory Christian Tabernacle Ministries. What if we declared over our lives and into the atmosphere, our intentions for this year? Decreeing--making it law--to live by this year? Most, if not all resolutions, hardly make it past the first week of the year and are forgotten by the end of the month.

I will hide His Word in my heart. Another way to say this would be: I will hide His INSTRUCTIONS in my heart. When we hide the instructions of God in our hearts, we remember what He has called us to do. We remind ourselves how He desires us to live, and we are also reminded not to sin against Him. His instructions/Word clearly informs us what would be and would not be pleasing in God's sight. What is acceptable and not acceptable. 

When His instructions are hidden deep in our hearts, we cannot say we do not know what God expects or desires from us. Nor can we say we do not know or understand what is a sin or not sin against GOD. The Father has made His word clear. He does not deal in grey areas but in black and white. The only way to know and understand these things about GOD and His Word is to study. Study and meditate on them every day. Take time to not only pray but also read and meditate on the word and speak the word out loud.

When you make up in your heart to abide by His word, you are choosing to listen to GOD. You are making the choice to walk in wisdom and not sin against the Father and short-change yourself from a life that He has ordained for you, as well as a multitude of blessings He has for you and those He has called you to.

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. Hide the word of GOD in your heart. Meditate and study it day and night. Let be a light in your heart that guides you and keeps you from sinning against GOD. 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.