Tag: truth

He is All We Need

Oh Lord, I am grateful for your clear and present Word.

When I was reflecting on this passage this morning my heart became full at the beauty and clarity of God’s word.

The passage starts with “keep and protect me, O God, for in you I have placed my trust and found refuge”.

We are living in a season and time when external events could cause us to live in a constant state of fear but we, as leaders, have an obligation to learn of, believe in and to act on the Word of God to combat these fears. Yes, this is the work.

We also have a responsibility to carefully select the words that we say to remain in line with the Word because what we decree shall be established! In Proverbs 18:21 AMP we are reminded that : “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”

Lastly, trouble can and often is at every hand but we can find comfort in Psalms 34:19 AMP that “Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, But the LORD rescues him from them all.”

At the end of the day or at the conclusion of the whole matter; He is all we need.

We choose to say and believe: “You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice, and you keep me safe.” CEV

Be Blessed,

Be a Blessing,

Fear not!

“Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge.

I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows [pain and suffering] of those who have chosen another god will be multiplied [because of their idolatry]; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.”

Psalms 16:1-5 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.16.1-5.AMP

Let these qualities define you

Mercy, kindness and truth.

I was reflecting on this passage this morning as I was reading. I just kept coming back to the phrase “let these qualities define you”.

What was interesting is that there is an assumption or mandate behind these words which is – EVERYDAY, ALL DAY!

As leaders in our homes, churches, business, communities and countries, we are held to a higher standard of excellence.

We are not perfect as there has only beeen one who was perfect-Christ, but we must choose to strive daily to be like Christ.

Mercy, kindness and truth.

Everyday- All Day!

Living these qualities all the time seems like a daunting task in our own strength as leaders.

Most of us fail this test on a daily basis yet we have the opportunity to make things right through forgiveness.

Living these virtues is a weighty responsibility but it truly challenges us to check our hearts, our motives, our actions and the impact on others as God has made each of us so different with different response mechanisms and different degrees of sensitivity.

Asking ourselves, “How close was I to the mark today?”, with every interaction, we will be well positioned to amplify and glorify Christ the King in us and to find favor.

Mercy, kindness and truth.

Every day, All day.

My prayer is that we as leaders have an awareness of and make a commitment to pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Jesus.

Be blessed.

Be a blessing!

“Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/pro.3.3-4.AMP

Who is like you, Lord?

Oh my God, this passage just made my heart full.

Who, or I would add what, is like the Lord?

There is nothing or no one who has the depth or the width of God as he is all present and all knowing. There is no end to him or his majesty.

This is just an awe inspiring thought.

He is faithful to take care of his chosen and he has a history of defeating our enemies and bringing them to their knees despite how powerful they may appear. Why?

Because we are a chosen generation – a royal priesthood. He is faithful to do his part to take care of us so that we can execute our devine purpose with maximum impact. Why?

So that the earth will know and see his glory manifested here. He deserves all the glory and all the praise for who he is and for what he has done.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof and they that dwell in it.

Let thy Kingdom come!

As leaders, there are times where our leadership is challenged and our pursuits may appear to be thwarted.

Sometimes the burden of the vision can seem impossible in the natural and the path from here to there may feel circular or ridden with obstacles.

But, be encouraged and let’s elevate our line of sight to above the trees towards heaven and not focus on what we see with our eyes.

We need to allow our hearts and minds to think on the history of our predecessors in Egypt that were protected as they crossed over the Red Sea and their enemies were consumed.

Let’s also consider the generations since then that have faced obstacles much greater than what we face today – yet they prevailed because they maintained God as their source and existence.

History can and will repeat itself if we maintain and hold onto the same foundations that provided strength and guidance – from above.

Holding onto the Great I AM is the greatest success strategy that HAS and WILL EVER exist in this earth.

Be blessed

Be a blessing!

“The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied against them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall dispossess them and drive them out.’

You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; [Clad in armor] they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, The sea swallowed them. You in Your lovingkindness and goodness have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them with care to Your holy habitation.”

Exodus 15:9-13 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/exo.15.9-13.AMP

Reversals are Not Fatal

When I was reflecting on this passage, I was reminded of the goodness of God. He has said that we have a responsibility to pursue and become pure and upright through the righteousness of Christ.

When we do this as leaders, we have assurances that this action on our part arouses a reaction from God to the point where our dwelling is prosperous again.

It further reinforces where in Deuteronomy that if we harken diligently unto the voice of the Lord and to do his commandments that there will be a blessing on us.

This is the leadership daily groundwork that we must do.

What was even more encouraging for me was that when we as leaders fall or maybe even stumble, there are consequences which may cause our divine vision to be aborted or delayed; however, the latter portion of the passage discusses how through God, that our latter end shall be greater.

What a promise.

What a responsibility

It is all up to us a leaders.

By sowing the seeds of faith in God and trusting in his word, we will see 100 fold harvests in health, healing, territory, relationships, customers, engaged employees, peaceful marriages, spiritual growth.

Our roots will be so planted by the rivers of living water that we will not be impacted by the adversaries of life.

We can and will be renewed and reestablished.

“Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again.

And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.”

Job 8:6-7 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/job.8.6-7.AMPC

Goodness and Mercy

For a couple of days, I have been reading on the goodness of God and his mercy.

The first passage just resonated with me because of the simplicity of the truth – “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord”.

There are images of strife, conflict and moral decay that seems to be on every hand. These are symptoms of what man, who chooses not to recognize God as their shepherd and when left to their own devices, creates.

The truth is that the earth is STILL full of the goodness of the Lord.

Next I reflected on Psalm 23 where it starts out stating that the “Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want”and ends with the passage below-“only goodness, mercy and unfailing love will follow me all the days of my life…”

Amen

As leaders, we are closing out the first quarter of this year. We may not have yet achieved what we had planned.

Fret not, press forward toward your high calling and know that Gods goodness and mercy is not in short supply. Stay the course.

Be encouraged.

Be blessed.

Be a blessing.

“For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”

Psalm 33:4-5 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.33.4-5.KJV

“Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.”

Psalm 23:6 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.23.6.AMPC

The Reward for Results

There are many that will see your successes and realize that there is something about you.

I was reminded in reading this passage that not everyone has honorable intentions especially when we the leaders begin to produce results.

There are many that will see your successes and realize that there is something about you that is different: real and expansive in impact.

Some will support your devine purpose and others will resist for a variety of reasons – one being that your success and authentic leadership will reveal their insecurities or the shallowness of their intentions.

Some may feel threatened that all they have built is at risk because the light of glory has arrived.

When these moments come, we as leaders need to be prepared to act and to be prepared to respond by:

Praying for our enemies.

Praying for those who spitefully used us.

Praying for wisdom on how to combat the situation (the principality).

As we pray, we may not like the instructions (revelation from God) because it may be contrary our old way in which we would have addressed similar issues.

But

We need to understand that even this situation (yes this present situation) is working together for our good and is going to perfect us and our relationship with Christ.

Be encouraged.

Stay the course.

Be blessed.

“So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the council (the Sanhedrin) and said, What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs (evidences, miracles). If we let Him alone to go on like this, everyone will believe in Him and adhere to Him, and the Romans will come and suppress and destroy and take away our [holy] place and our nation [our temple and city and our civil organization].”

John 11:47-48 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/jhn.11.47-48.AMPC

What will thou that I shall do unto thee?

Clarity in “the ask” yields immediate results/ outcomes.

Clarity in “the ask” yields immediate results/ outcomes.

I was awe struck by this passage and the actions taken by the blind man.

The Assessment:

1. He had a need.

2. He pursued the One who could solve his need.

3. He was not moved by others opinions.

4. Transformation was a priority- an urgent imperative.

5. So he RESISTED RESISTANCE. HE REFUSED TO BE DENIED!

What about us?

We, the leaders can have this same mindset.

We sometimes lose the power of the moment because our lack of clarity of “The Ask” combined with faith.

Our most intimate and personal desires are but “An Ask” away.

We just need “to ask” with clarity, conviction AND resolve!

So simple, so powerful and so awesome.

Lets take the step by faith and just watch the manifestations.

He reigns forever!

“Then Jesus stood still and ordered that he be led to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want Me to do for you? He said, Lord, let me receive my sight! And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight! Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your faith in God) has healed you.”

Luke 18:40-42 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/luk.18.40-42.AMPC

When did progress become a shortfall?

Renewing our minds with the TRUTH helps us recognize many of the unfruitful thoughts we have acquired which are lies.

When did progress become a shortfall?

As leaders, we often have big audacious goals that we are striving for and will achieve.

Sometimes as the calendar comes to a close, we realize that our timeframes for achievement may be the issue and not so much the goal.

There is a constant struggle with finding the right balance between aiming high and the required efforts of execution.

When we aim high with the strategy of personal growth as the pathway, progress is ultimately achieved however circular it may feel.

Working through the layers of limiting beliefs that we must combat may often be a surprising as these beliefs tend to surface throughout the process. Some may have been learned as early as childhood or unconsciously acquired recently.

They are like barnacles underneath a ship and often slow down our progress or worst yet, they become a part of our speech. Words are creative.

Renewing our minds with the TRUTH helps us recognize many of the unfruitful thoughts we have acquired which are lies. With focused effort of cleansing our minds, our goals become manifested in reality.

Be encouraged as we are growing from faith to faith. Reflect on these things and progress is assured:

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].”

Proverbs 23:7 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.23.7.AMPC

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”

Philippians 4:8 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/php.4.8.AMPC

“For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.”

Psalm 139:13-14 AMPC

https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.139.13-14.AMPC