What's Happening Inside You!

Everything takes place within. Think about it, a person cannot change unless it starts inside. Diseases, emotions, and thoughts are produced where…..inside of us. Everything takes place on the inside and is produced on the outside. The same applies with the Holy Spirit, He lives inside us believers. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we gave the Holy Spirit access to enter inside us. Since we have the Holy Spirit He is by far the most powerful resource we have within us. Additionally, understand this: where the Holy Spirit dwells the enemy must flee.

It is our responsibility to ignite the Holy Spirit in us which in return will produce the fruits of the spirit on the outside of us. There is nothing that is going on inside you that the Holy Spirit cannot gain control over. Because He lives inside you, you have the power the command that the Holy Spirit takes over anything happening inside your mind, body, and soul- all of which dwells inside you. Sickness or disease cannot overpower the Holy Spirit; He has control over that too.

If you are having difficulty believing this concept, let’s explore your initial reaction when you become angry…… what happens? Typically those negative emotions that live inside you are produced on the outside, hence your initial reaction. Why is that, why do we act “out of charter” when we become angry? Why does anger bring out the worse in us?  Probably because  that reaction is the most commonly used and/or practiced response when you become angry. What typically happens in these type circumstances is that anger is played up so much inside us when we are faced with a negative situation that internal anger is typically reproduced on the outside of us. Now let’s interject the Holy Spirit in the place of anger. If  the Holy Spirit is played up on the inside of us ,(through mediation, nursing, & dwelling on Him ) - don’t pretend as if you don’t do all of the above with those negative feelings and emotions- when you are angry, sick, frustrated, broke, treated unfairly etc, your response will be that of the Holy Spirit which is able to both defeat anything going on inside or outside you!

Allow the Holy Spirit to have the ultimate authority in your life!

It's backed in the Word
Acts 2:38-40
John 14:15-17; 23-29
Romans 8:1-16;23-28
John 16:5-15

Season of the New!

Today marks the day of newness. With anything new there is a plethora of emotions that goes forth: excitement, fear, eagerness, joy, anxiety to name a few. With newness there are also times of trial and error, moments of curiosity when genuinely trying to understand that which is unknown, great strides taken, many setbacks, a testing of faith, and an opportunity to build trust, allowing others to see God’s influence in your life. Currently what emotions are you experiencing? Excitement, nervousness, a little fear?? Regardless of your feelings, because they are fluid, remain ever thankful for ALL that God is doing for you right now!!! If you reflect over the lives of anyone who is deemed great, think back to the start of their journey....their newness.

When Noah built the ark, there was a  start date, the very first time He received the vision and began working was the day his newness began. A day when he had an abundance of stacked wood, a pile of nails mountain high, several hammers, and I would add a first aid kit (or something relevant in that era). When I take a more modernized look at great people of today; Pastor Jentenzen Franklin, TV host and entrepreneur: Oprah, Movie producer and Actor: Tyler Perry , Fashion Designer: Tom Ford, and Soul Chef: Paula Deen I am excited about their now, but I am more awestruck with their season of new. The time when God first birthed a vision in them, the time when they first began their journey, when things looked bleak and confusing, when they had very few supporters, and the time when they were scared but determined to see vision come to pass. Today we believers stand in the light of God’s vision.

Declare:
Father, we undoubtedly submit our will to Yours, carefully listening to Your prompting, closing our eyes, stepping on the path of faith, & watching You unveil this new season right before our very eyes. We trust You Lord and are excited to be apart of Your blood line. Oh the places we will go.

Amen 

In backed in the Word

Genesis 6 Daniel 2:20-23 Galatians 6:9-10 Luke 23:28-29

Do You Consider Yourself a Disciplined Person? Find Out Today!

The Lord calls us to discipline ourselves so He doesn’t have to. Our part is the hardest part to perform, but in reality the easiest to interpret. It’s simple:  God establishes rules for us to follow, He equips us with everything we need to follow the rules, each and every rule is for OUR benefit……Now it’s our turn---trust God, and act according to His will. Basic stuff right, but as an individual that is one of the hardest concepts to live out.

Let’s make is plain, God ask us not to become drunkards because it produces out of control behavior, ruins relationships, and sets us up to be taken advantage of. If we disciple ourselves we will make the decision not to overindulge with alcohol, or avoid it all together. If we lack discipline, because of our distrust, the consequences of becoming a drunkard will impact us and can best be described as God’s way of disciplining us. Next scenario: God ask us to refrain from sex before marriage because it promotes STDs, increases the risk of HIV/AIDS, destroys homes, increases the likelihood of single parenting, causes emotional distress, and taints the image of His perfect love. Now if we discipline ourselves, we would ensure a STD free life, higher self esteem, children inside of wedlock, better marriages and better people. On the flip side if we show a lack of trust in this area God will have to disciple us, by allowing bad breakups, broken heart, STDs etc.

When we lack discipline we are displaying a compliance with the enemy. We are subject to the enemy’s ruling and because of our disobedience and lack of discipline we are no longer under God’s covering  and anything is liable to happen to us. The wonderful part about God is that He affords us grace, but His grace is not to be taken advantage of. He gives us time to get it right, but the time won’t last always. He cares about us and He encourages us to live disciplined lives, but at the same time gives us free will so it’s up to us to decide how we wish to have discipline incorporated into our lives. Today do a self check……how disciplined are you? Do you depend of Christ to help you practice discipline or do you depend on Him to discipline you first before you get it right? It's one or the other, lets discipline ourselves unto the Lord! 

It's backed in the Word

~1Peter 5:8 ~Hebrews 10:26-27 ~Jude 1:7 ~1 Corinthians 6:12-20  ~Proverbs 23:29-25 ~2 Peter3:8-10 ~Luke 6:46-49 ~Hebrews 12:1-6  

Impatience Gone Right! Keep Pushing

Today are you bold enough to acknowledge the fact that at times you can be pretty impatient? If so I encourage you to understand that God has the perfect plan for you while I also point out how extremely  difficult that concept can be to fully grasp. With that it is imperative that you begin to speak loudly the plans God has revealed to you. Even in times of trouble or danger speak to those mountains, those negative situations, those demons and declare that Christ is already holding everything together for you.Embrace the plan of God and agree that every detail of your life is already planned out and those details are just right. Depend on Christ to help you refrain form becoming deterred based upon your own thinking, what is going on around you, and that negative voice that randomly creeps up in your head. Stand firm on the promises, not wavering in your choices, beliefs, and determination. Declare that this is only a part of the process and the places your are going in Christ is endless. Thank God for caring enough about you to ensure the best possible future for you.

Continue to trust in His Plan & Be Blessed!

Word on the Go: Habakkuk 2:3-4 Hebrews 11:6 2 John 15:7 Ephesians 3

Are You Intimated by the Giants??

Giants are created to defeat the small things. Small minds, small thinking, small vision, small self esteem, confidence and anything else they can intimidate and destroy. It is important as men and women of Christ that we are able to hear God’s voice and carry what He has given us boldly. If God has given you a gift or talent use it boldly, employ what He has given you to coerce the giants. The enemy is well aware of the great things God has placed inside of you, and at your most vulnerable moments sends giants to intimate and scare you into submission to his desire to limit, destroy, or hinder your growth and impact. 

This is when the ball comes into your court! What do you do when the giants come to destroy your confidence, destroy your destiny, and destroy your future? Do you surrender to the guise of the giants, due to size or seemingly impact, or do you hold tightly to the sure thing, Jesus Christ, and claim His defeating powers against any tactic of the enemy, or intimidation from the giants? Know who you are in Christ and know who Christ is, embrace His dwelling within you and stand boldly against the giants in your life. You have more power and influence inside you with Jesus Christ that any scheme of the enemy, performed or planned!

It’s backed in the Word

Numbers 13:25-33 Isaiah 59:19 Romans 16:20 Luke 10:18-20 Hebrews 4:12 John 16:13

Join us at www.lifeappministries.com as we discuss our series on Self Control!

Loving Today

Often we delay until we___________. You fill in the blank. There is nothing sadder than to have lost an opportunity to travel, explore, meet and yes even love because in our mind the time was not right. There are opportunities we miss because we are waiting. More often than not we are waiting until we feel something; feelings are fickle and will fail you most of the time. Let’s try to go with knowing, knowing you have in your Spirit an urging from God to move forward. I am a witness that even if you think you heard Him and you were wrong He will honor your trying to please Him in ways you cannot imagine.  He has your back, your front and your sides. He is your rear reward. He blesses you even when you fall back. So I encourage you to move with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night into His will for your life today. Let not another minute pass sitting on the sidelines of your own life watching it go by.

 

It’s backed in the Word

Exodus 13:20-24; 2 Kings 7:7-9; Isaiah 58:8; Matthew 14:28-30; John 5:7-8

Whatsoever Shall I Do??

Life is about choice. You decide what you are going to do, when you will do it, and the attitude  you will have as you go about your day, completing various tasks. One thing I love about Christ is that He gives us the ability to make the decision for ourselves. He is not forceful in His approach; He simply sets the facts before us, as well as the consequences and trusts us to make the best decision possible. Today’s challenge is to make the right decision. If you have reached a crossroads and have no idea what to do, lean on God. That decision is the best thing you can do, as you watch Him transform your circumstances and thinking to help you journey down the path of right decisions. Choose today to live freely, live life abundantly, have a positive attitude, refrain from profanity, lift each other up, be supportive of your spouse, encourage your friends, laugh, pray, spend time with Christ, love, embrace peace, and promote unity!  Make the decision!

Its backed in the Word

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Joshua 24:14-15 Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 11:14 John 5:30