"Behind the Glory"

 Reflections4Life™ January 29, 2023

“Behind The Glory”

“Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 15:13; 27:19; Jeremiah 17; Hosea 7; Colossians 2; 3…

You may hear me giving God the glory. You may witness me lifting up my hands in praise, bowing my head in prayer, turning down my plate for fasting, and hear me often say, “Glory to my God Most High”. Yet, my current circumstances bewilder you. You cannot wrap your physical mind around how and why I am praising God. What could I possibly have to be thankful for? From your point of view, I am losing; have already lost the battle; abandoned by God in my time of need. You cannot understand the reason why I still give praises to God. That is because you do not know my entire story. Moreover, some know nothing at all.

I decree this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. It is a guarantee that not everyone will understand or know anything about us but will assume almost everything. Your mission this week is to stay the course. Regardless of who may know you or not, it is not their opinion that matters the most, it is the word of God. Whatever the Father speaks of your life matters. Continue to give God the glory as He transitions you through the different changes and levels in your life. There is power in your story and when God has fully prepared you, you will speak and share your testimony. Until then, do not mind those who do not understand. Instead, pray for them and keep things moving.

You may not understand the reason behind the glory some give to God, as they may not understand yours. Whether your life portrays good or bad times; hard or easy times, it does not always reveal what is going on behind closed doors or in the depths of your heart. The heart holds many things, and God our Father knows them all.

Some will see the pain we are in but never understand the reason for our pain or our sorrow. They don’t know our story, nor can they understand the reason why we would still give God the glory if we are in so much pain and sorrow. They do not understand the power of our praise. They do not understand the healing that comes from worship. Many were not taught the power of praise and worship in a person’s life that is going through. They are not aware of the transition that takes place in the heavens and in the spirit, which lays the seed for a greater harvest. Far too many want a quick fix to their situations and when they do not receive it, they give up; give up on God and stop having faith.

You may have watched and witnessed some things in a person’s life, and it boggles your mind how that person—knowing some of what they have gone through and continue to go through—could have such faith and still worship a God that seems to have forgotten them. It makes one wonder what many have or have not learned about the heart of God, spiritual armor, and facing spiritual warfare.

There are those, also, who do not understand why we hold onto faith, pray, and praise God when so much trouble continues to come our way. They are convinced that we have done something wrong. We are not as faithful as we profess but have secret sins, and this is why we suffer. According to their theory, we need to confess and tell the truth and then God will make everything right. After all, why would such atrocities or such attacks from the enemy continue for so long if we are blameless, and have been living accordingly? Sounds like Job's friends in the book of Job, huh?

Beloved, if you will, consider Job. His “friends” and even his wife did not understand why Job chose to continue to praise God; to bless His Holy Name after all he had suffered and lost. Job was harassed and told to admit what he had done and return to God. To accept God into his heart again so God would restore him. His wife told him to curse his God and die. They had no idea that God was in control. Job, himself, almost forgot as well. Pain will do that to you. As well as, constant words and bickering from those around you who just do not understand.

Wallowing in self-pity, Job recalls God’s love and kindness; even to those who are unrighteous, he recalls the goodness and mercy of God. (Job 26:5-14; 27:1-6) Yet, Job still suffered and his friends still had no answers only questions and speculations. A young man (Elihu) who looks up to Job reproves Job and his friends. (Job 35-37). God then speaks to humbling Job and showing him where he needed growth, chastising his friends, and then bringing restoration to the life of Job. (Job 41; 42)

Here is what I know: No one but God may ever know the whole story and the why behind your praise and glory. However, when you serve a mighty God and He has brought you through countless things, you gain an understanding of who God is, especially in your own life, and who you are in Him. However, people slay you, with their words, thoughts, and summations about your life. Their accusations and actions hurt you to the core; when you know inside your heart that you are indeed walking with God, you continue to give Him the glory in spite, because you know and understand that sorrow and mourning may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. God will indeed vindicate you.

You may not know how long your night will be. How long your Job experience will last. However, you do know that God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. That, His word is certain and His promises to you will indeed happen if you faint not, and do not rely on your emotions or your flesh, or give up or give in to the words and character assassination of others concerning you. Faith is the substance of all things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. Though the promises may tarry; the visions seem a little long in coming, and the attacks of the enemy intensify, as long as you know in your heart that God has your back, you will lift your voice and heart in praise and worship, giving God the glory, knowing that you win at the end of your story.

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. Behind your glory, to the Lord God Almighty, is a story filled with hope, faith, and determination. You overcome through your worship, praise, and testimonies. Through you, God is going to bless many others; encouraging them to give God the glory. Regardless of what others may think their story is, they will know they win because God is on their side, honoring their faith and belief in Him. Remember, beloveds, we win! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"It Starts in the Mind"

 Reflections4Life™ January 8, 2023

“It Starts in the Mind”

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 28; Psalm 51; John 14; Romans 12; Colossians 3; James 1...

©Ruthe McDonald.

It is a pleasure to be able to fellowship with God. Having access to His grace and mercies. His anointing is new in our lives every day. As you walk in faith, remember that God has heard you before you even called. Do not give up on God but hold fast to His word and promises. Stay in the word this year. Fast, pray, and meditate. Know in your hearts, that no matter what you face, you are not alone. Feed your mind and heart a consistent diet of the word of God. Surround yourself in worship and watch what God manifests in your life this New Year!

I decree that this week’s Reflections will remain a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing, which God will not do for His children. His love is unconditional and knows no bounds. Make it your business this year to get in the presence of God as never before. If you want to see a change in your life; if you want direction; if you want to know your purpose and how to handle the things that come your way, and remain steadfast? Then, spend more time with the Father and get set to have your mind renewed daily.

To be alive, in the presence of God, and receive all that He has ordained for your life is an awesomely powerful thing. I can assure you that there are many people that are grateful, never thinking or believing they would see another year. There are also those filled with gratitude for the opportunity to enter into a new season. Yet, still, others remain stuck in the past and are finding it difficult to move forward. No matter how many brand new days and years they receive, they are not living because they are stuck in a moment or situation, becoming prey for the enemy.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering.

It starts in the mind. Beloved, everything we are experiencing and will continue to experience begins in the mind—what we are telling ourselves, what we are listening to, whom we are listening to, and what we ultimately believe. What we have consistently thought about or have allowed planted in our minds will eventually become a belief in our hearts and manifest itself. The only way to keep those thoughts from taking root is to renew our minds daily, take on the thoughts of Christ, and learn to pull down strongholds. If we do not, we become a tool for the enemy to use in his fight against God. Trust me when I tell you, if the enemy finds any entrance he can slip through, he will, and will not stop until he destroys your life, your faith, and your love. Or until you stand in the authority that God has given you, and kick the devil out.

We are no match for Satan. Not on our own. He is the master manipulator and father of lies. The mind is the devil’s playground. If he gets in, he will try to take over. It begins with a whisper, a thought, an image, a dream. If we do not immediately dismiss it, plead the blood of Jesus, and learn to fight the way God instructs us, we will fall victim to the enemy, as he wreaks havoc in our lives, and destroy our hearts and lives in the process.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We must—we must understand and believe that we are not waging war against a physical entity. We cannot underestimate the cunningness of the enemy. Or, how far he will go. Trust me when I tell you this: the enemy has studied us. He has roamed this earth, often aware of the greatness and power that rests in many of us that we do not even yet recognize in ourselves. He will use every arsenal he has to destroy us so that we do not come to that realization. Or, if we do realize it, destroy us before it manifests. That is why we must not be ignorant about the enemy and who we are in a battle with, and why it all starts in our minds, with what we tell ourselves, what we believe, what we think about, and what we know.

Renew your minds on a daily basis, Beloved. Allow God to saturate your heart and mind with His word, His truth, and revelation about the enemy. Do not underestimate your adversary, the devil. The mind is his choice of a battleground. If allowed as much as an inch, he will come in and wreak such havoc and devastation; you will not recognize who you are and what has transpired. But know this: we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ. We have, as well, Holy Spirit. Yet, we must yield to Him. Yield to what God is saying and release what we think we know and have faith, even in the things that make no sense. We must be willing to release who we are for who God says we are. We must be willing to release our intellects and ways of thinking, in exchange for the mind of Christ. We must totally yield to the Father, and lay aside what we thought we knew, in order to receive what we need, and the revelation of who we are in God, how to strategically fight AND win against the enemy. This is not a battle of the flesh, but a battle of the mind and spirit. This battle is won through the power and strength of our God.

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. It starts in the mind, Beloved. All victories begin in our mind and what we tell ourselves, what we think about consistently, and what eventually is believed in our hearts concerning all matters. Renew your mind daily. Think about the things of God. Meditate on His word, put on your armor of God, and fight how God teaches us strategically to fight against the enemy of our soul and future. You got this because God has you. Trust Him. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Life Changers!"

Reflections4Life™ January 1, 2023

“Life-Changers!”

“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, ‘Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Scripture Contemplation: Isaiah 61:1; Psalms 95:8-9; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 13:5; Jeremiah 31:1-12

©Ruthe McDonald.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BELOVEDS! GOD is calling us to be the catalyst that sparks the change in people's lives. Life Changers! We are on the front line for Jesus! Boldly professing the Word of the Lord, living out loud in Christ! Covered by the Blood of the Lamb!

I decree this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Beloveds, let this New Year find you with a determined heart to follow all that God has ordained for your life. Everything that did not work last year? Those are your life lessons for this year. Learn from them. Grow from them. Allow God to show you how to see the lessons and opportunities in them all. Follow God's lead and start living the life that He has ordained for you before the beginning of time.

Can you believe it? It's 2023! You made it! You are here! Through all the trials, troubles, setbacks, and heartaches, you are still here in the land of the living, having made it through! A year that you often wondered how'd you make it to another day. Here you are, Beloveds! God kept you. He delivered you. Though it may not feel like it, He has blessed you!

We all have a testimony, whether we see it or not, where GOD has brought us through and is bringing us through. Some situations would have destroyed us if it were not for God's grace and mercies. The goodness of GOD knows no bounds. There are no limits to His love for His children. 

There are things that occur in our lives that we sometimes just can’t explain or, are too exhausted to give an explanation for, other than to say, THANK YOU JESUS! You deliver me out of all of my troubles! The life of believers is changing moment by moment, day by day. Sometimes it feels like everything is the same and nothing is happening–nothing that we want to happen. However, things are happening. Some things we cannot see. Things that change our lives and cause us to be the catalyst of change in the lives of others. God did not save us to be quiet and keep the secret of His salvation, healing, and greatness to ourselves. No. He called us to be, Life Changers; spreading the good news: the Gospel, the truth of His word, and His soon-coming return.

When we yield to GOD, His word and Spirit fill us. Pouring into us messages of His grace and mercies. Testimonies of His love, righteousness, and hope for those lost in a world of sin and fear. Bound by their present and past actions; crying to be free. Who doubts anything can change their current circumstances or the trajectory of their lives. But here we are–His witnesses. His Ambassadors. The recipients of His grace and good news. The Called. The Anointed. The Appointed. The Life-Changers that He has chosen in this hour to bring the good news.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. (TLB)

In the process of our own lives being changed and God using us to change lives, do not harden your hearts or allow yourself to be filled with doubts concerning the promises of GOD for your life. When trials and tests come, as they always do, do not doubt GOD, His word, or His ability to come through. You cannot hold GOD to a clock, to a specific time on a watch, when GOD is outside of time. Be careful of the words you allow to escape your mouth. Complaining does not bring manifestations sooner, nor do they move GOD in your favor.

There is not one person, any one of GOD’S creation that He has not a plan for. There are people in this world, right now, waiting for the word that you have hidden in your heart. The word that the testimony that GOD has provided, living in you, waiting for the time to come forth and change someone’s life. Though the world looks crazy and it seems as if there is no hope for some people; GOD says not so. He is indeed restoring, renewing, rebuilding, and He is still healing, saving, and delivering. But we must be in our position. We, who GOD has chosen as the frontrunners, are the first-line responders. We have to have an ear to hear GOD and to do just as He leads.  Though we can look and cast judgment and say they won’t receive, who are we to tell GOD He is wrong?

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. Sometimes we lose our way when going after the desires of our hearts. Some of us forget that God will meet all of our needs. That, He will never fail us or forsake us. To know that, yes, GOD is indeed real. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"Believe in Your Heart and Receive"

 Reflections4Life™ December 25, 2022

“Believe in Your Heart and Receive!”

“He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” John 1:7

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 137; Isaiah 7:14; 28:16; 43:10; Luke 2; John 1…

©Ruthe McDonald.

To you all, I extend my gratitude and wishes for a very blessed Christmas. May the celebration of Christ remain the reason for this season to you and yours. Never forget the promises of God, no matter how long the wait is. Believe in your heart and receive today, all that God has ordained and has promised you. His promises are manifesting. Have faith.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Never stop believing in your heart what God has placed there. God is faithful and just to do exactly what He said. Do not give up because the wait may seem long. Do not grow weary in your well-doing. Instead, encourage yourself and encourage others. Be diligent in your prayer life and open your mouth and worship the Lord. God cannot lie. Whatever He has decreed over your life will happen if you do not give up and walk away.

Beloveds, I believe in miracles and the power of prayer and faith. I believe that when we believe wholeheartedly, it creates an atmosphere conducive for miracles to take place, and for the supernatural to happen. There are still miracles. True miracles of God are taking place in many lives every day. However, they are not necessarily the great phenomenon that many people are looking for to blow their minds and convince them that God is God. No. These miracles are the kind of miracles that make a change in your heart, give you revelation, and open your eyes to whom God really is, and who you are to God. These miracles take place when we determine in our hearts to believe what Father God has spoken to our hearts—regardless of how long we have been waiting, and what has transpired around us. These are the miracles that God makes happen using other people in our lives. The ones that need no spotlight but happen quietly every day.

God is not a liar, and you can be assured that the enemy will try his very best to make you walk away from God, from His promises, hardening your hearts in the process.

The enemy is infiltrating dreams, messing with minds, wreaking havoc, and destroying lives. Yet the truth is; he is only able to do this because many leave doors open by entertaining and thinking about the lies of the enemy, instead of pulling down strongholds and denouncing the enemy and his lies and opening their mouths and literally saying what God says.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…

The only thing, Beloveds, that I believe can help combat the enemy, is when we totally believe in our hearts what God has spoken to us. How do we maintain our belief when so much has taken place? When every time we turn around it seems like something else is taking place. It is in our quiet times with the Father; our intimate times that we learn to stand and gain the strength to hold on. It is through the power of prayer and worship that we gain the strength to make it through all adversity and affliction. It is by connecting with Holy Spirit and letting Him do it for us. We are no match for Satan, but Holy Spirit got his number!

Our faith will always be tested. What we believe will continually be challenged because the enemy is always seeking ways to get at God. If he spies any weak, vulnerable, open spaces in our lives, he is coming full force to try to take us out. There is great news, however! The reason for this season is the reason we can declare ourselves victorious, walk in that victory, and win against the enemy and his tactics, because of Jesus Christ! God gave us a gift that continues to give and give and give every day of our lives. If we would believe, and continue to believe through the harsh and difficult times; through the times when He seems so far away; when it feels and looks so dark in our lives, we will make it through to the other side. If we believe, and stand by His word, we will receive all that God has spoken and promised to our hearts. We cannot stop believing. All it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed!

The Shepherds believed! The wise men believed! The saints of old believed! Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Isaiah, Elijah—they all believed BEFORE the birth, before the time of grace. We HAVE Christ—fully manifested. Here with us! The promise is here; living and breathing in us! We have what they did not have: HOLY SPIRIT residing in us and the Blood of the Lamb covering us!

Beloveds, we win and can make it through if we determine in our hearts not to give up while praying. Open up your mouths and worship God through it all, and keep believing in your hearts what the Father has placed there. NO MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS OR FEELS LIKE! SPEAK. THE. WORD!!!

The enemy knows he has no power over a person that believes with their whole heart regardless of the circumstances. That is why he works so hard to manipulate and play mind games, chipping away at faith and belief, hoping to get us to shut our mouths and hardened our hearts against God. Because he knows, there is power in our communication with God. He knows that there is power released when we worship God through the storms. He knows that there is power in our prayers, especially when we pray in the name of Jesus.

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. Let this season be the season and reason you begin to believe again. Stir up your faith. Open your mouth and pray! Bring forth praises, thanking God for already doing for you what you haven’t even asked for yet. For just being who He is: Our God! Our Savior and Deliverer! Let this be the season your heart is softened towards the Lord once again forevermore! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Give Me an Ear to Hear"

 Reflections4Life™ December 18, 2022

“Give Me an Ear to Hear”

“Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, "When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work.” Psalm 95:8-9

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 10:20; Psalm 95; Isaiah 6:10; Zechariah 7:12; Romans 2:5; Hebrews 3; 4; Ephesians 4:18; Proverbs 28:14…

©Ruthe McDonald.

As we are in the throes of the Holiday Season, some of us are occupied with the hustle and bustle, while others may just be reflecting, may we remember the reason for the season and teach our children and anyone who has an ear to hear what this Holiday season truly represents. May we, ourselves, have an ear to hear what God is speaking to His children, receiving all that He has ordained for each of our lives.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Beloved, let your hearts and ears be open to God as never before. God is speaking and in order to hear Him, we must be still and surround ourselves with an atmosphere that is conducive to hearing our heavenly Father. If you must, pull away from things, people, and places. Get in the presence of God and be open to what He is speaking to your heart in this season of your life.

Beloveds, hear God today. Hear the voice of Your Father, speaking to you. Hear the Lord today, reminding you not to take your eyes off Him. Do not be deterred by the seemingly long wait. Do not allow Satan to twist in your heart and mind what God has spoken to you. Stand strong in the Lord and on the power of His word. Hear God, today, speaking to your heart, showing you the way to go, and the steps to take. Delay is not a denial, nor a change in the heart of God concerning His promises to you.

Many have given up hope, are walking in despair, and have even turned away from God because their hearts have hardened against the Father, His truth, and His promises. At first, we believed with all of our heart and soul what God spoke to us. We believed His word and promises and faithfully went about our day, walking in obedience and working towards our goals. Then something(s) happened. Our faith took a hit, as the promises we received seemed further away. Our lives do not seem to be mirroring the joy we pictured when we first received the promises. There have been attacks, trials, and tribulations. This has caused many to lose faith, and hope, giving up and walking away from the Father, hardening their hearts when He speaks or sends a messenger.

These are the times, Beloved, when we must truly guard our hearts and dig in our heels, and be careful of what and who we allow into our space—our head, ears, and heart. We must surround ourselves, as we immerse ourselves in the word, prayer, and worship, with people who will encourage us. We may even have to become accustomed to walking part of the journey alone, although, we have Christ with us always.

Hebrews 3:12-15 (ESV) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Do not allow thoughts to override the agreement made in your heart when you heard God speak and call your name. The enemy whispers in our ears, bringing thoughts to our minds, trying to get us to reason with and doubt what God has spoken to the ears of our hearts.

Unlike Eve, do not enter into a debate of words or conversation with Satan. He will only try to twist and reason away, to bring confusion and doubt to what God has already declared and decreed to you. All that God has spoken to you, as your heart was softened to His voice—the enemy seeks to disturb and destroy. The enemy will try as he did with Eve, to get you to reason with the word of God spoken to you. He will debate you on what you received until you begin to question, doubt, and become uncertain about what you heard. The objective is to cause you to not move on to what God has told you but instead pull back and eventually for walk away, while your heart hardens against the voice of God. Doubt has transitioned into unbelief, and faith has become fear. Now, there is rebellion in the heart and soul against all things of God.

I understand how it feels when you receive a promise from God, a vision—a vision so bright you need sunglasses! Your heart is pumping with excitement as you work towards that vision and have faith in what God has spoken and shown you; faith that He is going to bring to pass that very thing. Then after waiting for it to manifest, a few bumps in the road appear. A couple setbacks take place. In fact, your life does not look like anything you imagined it would when you believed what God said. This is definitely not the vision you had for your life. Far from it.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Stand strong on the word of God today. Do not be deterred by what things look like or feel like but by the promises and word of God. Feed your spirit and soul with the word of the Father, governing your conversations. Things are rarely what they appear to be, however, with God, you can trust exactly what He says. Remember what He has already done for you. He is the same God, who changes not.

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. Hear and believe what God is saying to you today, Beloved. Do not be discouraged by the tests and trials, or the opposition you may be facing. Believe in what God has spoken. Keep your ears open to the voice of the Father by spending time in prayer and worship. Surround yourself with like-minded worshippers, encouraging one another in this walk. You got this! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Between Darkness and Light"

Reflections4Life™ December 11, 2022

“Between Darkness and Light”

“He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God.  It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.” Luke 1:16, 17

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 1:1-18; Numbers 8; Isaiah 9; Luke 1; John 1; 8…

©Ruthe McDonald.

Lord God, Thank You for the blessings of this new day. Thank You for ushering Your children into a place of restoration and harvest. Open up the eyes and ears, Father. Remove hardness from hearts. Heal the wounds and give a spirit of joy. As we are in this glorious season, remind those of the many great gifts You have given to us. Bringing to the heart and mind that You have assured us a place out of the darkness and into Your marvelous light. Reign in our hearts and minds today. Grant us a heart to receive all that You have ordained and to know and believe with all of heart, mind, and soul that You love us just as we are. With love and honor. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. As you go through your week, continue to yield to God. Allow Holy Spirit to lead you to a place of revelation and joy. Think about the things that God has already done in your life. Remind yourself daily of His goodness and love. Spend a little more time in worship, connecting to the heart of the Father; welcoming His light. His light will put out all darkness and lead you into a marvelous new day, filled with manifest blessings, and answered prayers.

God resides in the praises of His people. If you are alive, reading this, hearing this; then you are blessed. Blessed with a new day of life that is filled with opportunities waiting for you to seize. Yesterday is gone. We can do nothing about what did or did not happen. We leave those things to God. What we have today is the opportunity to walk in the light of God; to accept one of His many great gifts, coming from out of the darkness and into His marvelous light, where our hearts and minds become open to His will and His ways.

Every day is a day for a miracle, for the supernatural to take place, a chance for us to see between darkness and light. This season is even more of an opportunity to experience and see the miraculous and supernatural take place. It is the opportunity to witness the veil between darkness and light revealed, ushering in a wave of momentous blessings, miracles, and life-changing events. I truly believe it is because, for a brief time, we are in one accord and lose ourselves in the joy of the season. There are more people giving and more people experiencing the joy that they seldom get to experience the rest of the year. It all makes this time of year full of belief and faith—in not only God but also humanity. It is the perfect condition and atmosphere for miracles to thrive.

For a moment, there is not as much darkness. Even though it is there, we are able to see the light of God more readily. The light shines a little brighter, bringing with it hope, joy, and miracles. Sometimes the miracle is seeing the light; seeing that it is real and there for all to partake in. No matter who we are, where we come from, or what we may be experiencing or have experienced; that light is there for us, too. We can be a part of something great and wonderful, changing our lives forever.

To God be the glory! To God be all the praise! More than any other time of the year, the light shines brightly because, for many, we are reminded of the greatest gift that God gave this world—His only begotten Son. When we are all in one accord, in a season of faith and belief, creating an atmosphere that is conducive to the move of God, for miracles and the supernatural to be seen and experienced. At this time, when we are in a spirit of love, belief, and joy we begin to shine like the star in heaven that guided the wise men to the babe in the manger. That light pulls back the veil that enables man to see the light on the other side of the darkness that has them currently entrenched.

Just as Christ was the light in this world of darkness, come to lead us back to the Father and reconcile us to our Lord, He has made us—believers—the light of this world to lead us back to the Father, to become the miracle in other people’s lives. You see, we are often looking for something external, coming from the sky, coming with great pomp and circumstance, which screams, Miracle! Miracle! Miracle! We miss, like the children of Israel, the real miracle before us. The miracle that is each one of us.

God often uses us to be the miracle in the lives of others. To be the person that shows them the light on the other side of their current darkness. To become the lamp that helps shine a light in the very dark places of their heart, mind, and soul. To bring illumination and hope to their lives that can be filled with darkness, hopelessness, despair, fear, and negativity.

Beloveds, God has created in each of us a light so bright when He is seated on the throne of our hearts. When we yield to Him and His ways, we not only see His light in our own lives, we create a space for change and miracles to take place, shaping us to become the miracle and light that God uses in the life of others.

I encourage you to take this season's love, light, and miracles and hold them in your heart. Let them become food for your spirit and soul, and a source of encouragement in the days to come when the light in the world seems a little bit duller. When people begin to go back to old patterns and the spirit of the season slips from their hearts and minds. Allow God to grow the seed in your heart that will bring forth fruit all year long; creating in you a spirit of joy, hope, and faith that you, in turn, will be able to share with others. Become that light that exposes the veil between the darkness and light. Remind others each day that God is not just with us for one season, but every day we choose to invite Him.

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. Yes, this is a season of exceptional miracles. However, God desires for us to become the miracles in one another’s lives, bringing light, love, and the word of God to the heart of those crying out. Let God use you. Don’t be afraid to let your light shine, exposing the veil between darkness and light. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"The Lies We Tell Ourselves"

 Reflections4Life™ December 4, 2022

“The Lies We Tell Ourselves”

“...and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 26:27

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 31; 120; Proverbs 6; 12; Isaiah 59; 1 Timothy 2...

©Ruthe McDonald.

God desires us to live a life of truth. To live our lives in such a manner, that it is above reproach. However, how many of us live our lives in truth when it came to others but lie to ourselves? Many may not practice lying to others but hold the crown for lying to themselves.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Allow the light of God to shine on those places in your heart that you have tucked away. Let the truth come forth so that you may be free, and live the life that God has ordained for you.

Psalm 51:6 “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”

It is sometimes hard to accept the truth when it comes to our own faults, flaws, or something that may have happened to us. The truth can be painful, and we will do almost anything to avoid that pain. We will even lie to and convince ourselves that all is well, when in fact, we are nothing but broken pieces of clay, patched and held together by the lies we tell ourselves, and the false portrait we paint for others, suggesting that all is well in our lives. Inside we are crumbling, too afraid to allow the truth to come forth and bring healing, for fear that exposing our truth or dealing with our truth is far too much for us to bare.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

For far too long, we have been holding on to issues that have stagnated our lives. Our walk in Christ is limited by our refusal to face the truth and be honest with ourselves and what we have gone through or are currently facing. Too many are hiding from the truth, evading certain issues. We close our hearts to those who get too close to finding out the truth. We hide from who we really are and ourselves. Many carry the fear that not only will others reject them but they will not like what they see or find when truly searching their hearts and facing personal truths.

We lie to ourselves on a daily basis. We tell others and ourselves that everything is fine. That, our lives are great, and we have everything together. When the truth of the matter is: we have been lying to ourselves. Lying so long, that we don't even recognize the truth about ourselves. We have bought into our own fallacies concerning our lives, how we feel about ourselves, and see ourselves.

It is time to stop lying to ourselves and tell the truth! It is time to free ourselves from our past, our mistakes, and our abusers, and confront, that which has been holding us emotionally hostage. We cannot possibly enjoy or receive all that God has ordained for us when in our hearts we do not feel worthy or have not allowed God to heal us from that, which has badly hurt us.

I do not know what your situation or circumstance might be today, yet I implore you to lay everything at the altar, allowing God to mend your broken pieces. There is nothing hidden from God, nothing that will surprise God, nothing that our God cannot handle. You only have to have the courage to tell your truth. Have the courage no to longer lie to yourself, giving it all to God, allowing healing and deliverance to come forth.

Healing and deliverance cannot manifest if we refuse to acknowledge or confront the issues. Freedom from that, which keeps us bound and broken, depends on our willingness to confront that, which has hurt and harmed us. We must have the willingness to bare ourselves before the Lord, releasing all that we have tucked away from our own minds.

At the point of decision, when we are sincerely ready—heart, mind, and soul—we will ask ourselves, what are the benefits of the lies we tell ourselves? What do we get from lying to ourselves? What purpose does it serve to live a lie and not confront that which has hurt us so deeply and profoundly affects our entire lives and relationships?

For many, it is a spirit of fear. Fear of finally confronting and facing what has happened to them. Fear of remembering. Fear of rejection. Fear of someone else finding out. Fear of never being able to move on or have the life that you so desperately yearn for. It is that, the spirit of fear, which keeps far too many crippled. They are bound to a past and all lies that have manipulated who they truly are. It has held so many bound and hostage from receiving all that God has for their lives.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

The Father wants us free from our pasts and those things that have hurt us and disturbed the course of our lives. In order for us to be free, we first must be willing, to be honest with ourselves; to stop lying to ourselves, face the truth, and do the work that is required to receive the healing and deliverance that is necessary to live the lives that God has ordained for us.

Stop lying to yourself, Beloved. Allow Holy Spirit into those secret places; to touch and heal those wounds that you have been unsuccessfully covering up. Let the anointing power of the Lord cleanse your soul, and bind up every hurt, and wound that you have encountered in your life. Place your life in the Father's hands, allowing Him to turn your broken pieces into a beautiful masterpiece. Tell the truth and free yourself. Walk fully in the blessings God ordained for your life. You ARE worth it. His blood has made you worthy.

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. Allow the cleansing and healing power of God to release and deliver you. Do not be afraid to confront your past, and face your truths. With God, you can do all things because He is your strength. Believe and know with certainty in your heart, that the Father is with you always, and desires nothing but His best for you. Be free. Be healed. Be made whole. You are blessed. Now go...and be a blessing!

©2017. Revised ©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Legacy"

 Reflections4Life™ November 27, 2022

“Legacy”

“This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery, in a nutshell, is just this: Christ is in you, so, therefore, you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message.” Colossians 1:26-27 (MSG)

Scripture Contemplation: 2 Samuel 20; Proverbs 1; Romans 9; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 12; Colossians 1

©Ruthe McDonald.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for heart, mind, and soul. Seek God with all of your heart and soul, allowing Him to reveal to you the legacy that resides inside of you. The legacy of those loved ones that you may still mourn and grieve. Allow God to show you how to turn that mourning into gladness and all suffering into a teaching moment for you and others. There are healing and greatness after the pain of loss, and a beautiful message to be shared and received.

For those who celebrated Thanksgiving this past week, I hope it was filled with much love and joy, with happy memories. Mine was very quiet and left a lot of time for me to think and contemplate quite a few things. One of those things, as I spoke with a loved one, was the ache you feel in your heart when you think of the ones you love that have passed on to glory. How their presence is missed and how things were when they were here with us.

There are times when missing our loved ones is so heavy that we can barely breathe. Our hearts ache and the longing for them only intensifies. For some, mourning and grieving can become debilitating, leaving them almost paralyzed and unable to move forward in life. In addition to this mourning are our life struggles, heartbreaks, and life and heart lessons.

Can I be honest with you, Beloveds? Completely transparent and authentic? For the past three years—at the minimum—I have been going through some harrowing things. I have not—my person—been okay for a long time. My work, my ministry, and what I do for others have been OK. In fact, much of it has been thriving. However, me—my person—that part of me that is just about me, the relationship with myself and how I feel, and what hurts me has not been okay for a long time.

She has been in a lot of pain; suffering a lot of heartache and loss. There has been a lot of brokenness and incompleteness. However, God is making up for me what needs completing. He is filling that part of me; that part of me that is separate from what I do—the personal me—God is taking care of and completing the work that needs to be fulfilled; to complete on my part the assignment on my family’s lineage and legacy. Giving me yet another purpose to pursue.

Part of my personal heartache is grieving my loved ones, my mentors who poured into me every single day of my life encouragement and inspiration, especially my mother. The transitions of my loved ones have only intensified the other heartaches. The personal hurts, and wounds sustained—not by my own device or hands—have taken their toll. Have you ever felt like your life is nothing but suffering and loss? This is a critical place, Beloved.  

The suffering and the loss overwhelm us, not knowing what to do, how to cope, and move forward. We feel stuck and uncertain. This is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. We are either going to pray and seek God more earnestly. Or, we move away from God and allow the hurt, pain, and loss to swallow us whole, along with our dreams, hopes, visions, and legacies.

I refuse to allow what I am going through to stop me from running the race that God says I have already won. I refuse to allow this hurt and sorrow to drown me and keep me from finishing the work God and my loved ones began. I refuse to allow ANYONE to steal from my hope, joy, and belief in love and happiness. Not going to happen, especially when God tells me that sorrow only lasts for a night but joy comes in the morning. I may not know how long that night is or when that morning will finally get here, but I can trust God to keep His word that it is coming!

In the meantime, as I transition through these feelings, God is bringing healing and completeness to my person. I have learned and am remembering that I must be proactive in my healing and deliverance. This is a FAITH walk and not a FEELING or EMOTIONS walk. The truth is our souls (will/emotions/feelings) will delude us and have us give up when we are that close to our morning and breakthroughs. Beloved, our souls cannot be trusted. They move and change like the wind. They are unstable and unreliable. However, faith in our Father will always be stable. God is not moved by our will, emotions, or feelings. He is moved by our faith, our obedience, and our sacrifice.

My grieving and mourning time is over. It is time to celebrate the life and legacy of my loved ones. Grieving over what someone did to me, broken promises, hurt, and harm is OVER. I take a stand NOW, in the promises of God, move forward in faith and boldness, and take the lessons I have learned and share them with others. I pick up the baton that my loved ones have left to be completed. It’s my turn to do my part. To add to my family’s legacy on this earth. To make sure the names, work, and hearts of those who transitioned are not forgotten but continue to grow and be established for generations to come.

What I have suffered personally; the heartaches and heartbreaks that I have endured did not and could not break me. Not with God in my life and on my side. I have learned that all of it has been for my growth and development and walk in the Lord. Once I surrendered it all to God and allowed Him to have complete access to my heart, soul, and mind—the Father began taking those hurts and using them for my good and the good of others, establishing a purpose for me to complete. Life does not always go the way we desire. Yet, the lessons we are learning, the pain we endure, the forgiveness we receive—is all a part of God creating a legacy; a legacy of greatness, of love, of promise.

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 takes our suffering, our mourning, and grieving, and gives us strength and purpose in its place. We all have legacies to carry on and to create. Take off your mourning clothes and put on the garments of praise and worship. God has something great in store for you. All you have to do is believe it and accept it. God will do the rest. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"God Is Not Complicated"

 Reflections4Life™ November 20, 2022

“God Is Not Complicated”

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ, they are [all answered] ‘Yes’. So through Him, we say our ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 18:14; Psalm 100; 131; 2 Timothy 3

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. I implore you to not complicate what God has made easy. Do not overthink or analyze the goodness and grace of God. Learn to go with the flow; the flow of the Holy Spirit. How do you know that God is not as complicated as people made Him out to be?—by learning for yourself,  spending intimate time with the Father, and developing your personal relationship.

It must be human nature for us to over-complicate things. I do not know about you, but as I have gotten older, I have learned that little children and old people got it right: simple is better. What I truly believe is, as we grow and mature in life, we are exposed to so many different beliefs, ideologies, so many people, ideas, and thoughts on life and walks of life, what is right, and what is wrong, that our brain becomes a hodge-podge of information collected over the years. We try to decipher everything as best we can; most becoming a combination of all the things they have learned over the years. With that many influences, there are bound to be complications; too many thoughts and ideas fighting for the first position.

Humanity loves to make God seem complicated. We place God in a box and believe that this is who He is and what He wants. We learn as children that there either is a God, no God, many gods, demi-gods, one true religion, manufactured religion, no religion, etcetera. I can literally go on. It is not difficult to see how one may come to the conclusion that God is complicated when so many have painted Him in so many different lights with so many attributes, that our minds become discombobulated and not really sure what to believe.

Beloved, God is not complicated. God has no gray areas. He is definite in what He says and who He is. It is black or white; hot or cold; yes or no. God is not a God of confusion. He knows how to say exactly what He means without speculation or subcontexts. He knows how to send a word, give a word, and proclaim a word. God speaks to us every day if we are listening. When we believe in God; when we accept Christ as our Savior and begin to spend intimate time with Him and get to know His heart and mind; we learn His voice. The spirit of discernment sharpens and complications begin to fall away.

1 Corinthians 14:33 …for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people)…

John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.

In the presence of God, there is peace and understanding. There is a revelation that takes place. Knowledge is gained and wisdom is given. As children, we are sponges soaking up all the information we receive and storing it. The easier it is to understand, the more we get it and move on. As senior adults, we have lived through so much that we know what works and what does not work. We have the wisdom of our years and the discernment of age and experience. We are not searching for who we are, what we should be, or what to believe. We already know. And because we realize how precious time is, whatever does not work or fit, we let it go and move on. Complications are time-consuming and we do not have the luxury of wasting any time we are blessed with. So, simpler becomes better, once again.

Here’s what I know and understand, Beloveds: What God desires for us is not complicated. The only way for any of us to truly know and understand this is to get to know God for ourselves. We need an intimate and personal relationship with our Lord. As a teacher, I would always tell my students (as a consultant and Mentor, I tell my clients and mentees this also) that the best-learned lessons come from what you gain for yourself. First-hand experience and knowledge beats second-hand knowledge and experiences any day. Because what you learn and receive for yourself is priceless. No one can take that away from you or alter it. It is yours.

Grant it, we have some wonderful teachers (and some not-so-wonderful ones too) that teach us what they know. However, it is not until we learn for ourselves, put into practice what we have been taught, and go through various trials and errors that we learn what works for us. It is the same when it comes to our relationship with God. We can sit under a Pastor, Minister, Bishop, Priest, etcetera, and hear and learn what they know, and follow their advice, but it is not until we start walking the walk for ourselves, living our lives accordingly, and getting to Christ for ourselves that we truly know and understand who God is and who we are.

A personal relationship with God is necessary in order to know and understand His heart. God is not complicated. Once we allow Him to strip away all preconceived notions and experience God for ourselves, a wonderful thing occurs. Our hearts are opened, our minds illuminated, our eyes and ears become receptive to Him and what we thought we knew is replaced with the truth that can only be verified by a personal, intimate relationship with God.

Here is what God desires for us: To serve Him with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and our very being. To believe in the Lord Jesus, confess our sins, repent, and receive redemption. Allow Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us; meditate on His word day and night, spending intimate quality time in His presence. Get to know His heart as He reveals His truth and our truths so that He can bless us, as He desired to do since the moment He created us before we ever entered this realm of time. If we fall, get back up. Share His truth and our testimony with those around us. Now, does that sound complicated to you?

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 world to complicate the love of God in your life. God loves you and desires an intimate one-on-one relationship with you. Let Him surprise you with just how easy it is to love you and bless you. You deserve a little less complication in your life. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.