The Power in Obedience

Who or what do you obey – give yourself to? What is that something that consumes your heart and feeds your soul?  Fear, anxiety and hate are running rampant.  It is time for love, peace and joy to invade your life.

In the midst of crisis, you can find comfort in complying with righteousness.  Your heart can begin to swell with an inner joy when your mind is consumed with unconditional love. Stop giving yourself to the confused, the divided, the selfish and the undisciplined. Follow a true leader.  Connect to the power source of supernatural blessings, protection and abundance!

Surely you know that you become the slaves
of whatever you give yourselves to.  
Anything or anyone you follow will be your master.
You can follow sin, or you can obey God.
Following sin brings spiritual death,
but obeying God makes you right with him.
– Romans 6:16 (ERV, Easy-To-Read Version)

The good news is you that can begin living a life of obedience today! Your Heavenly Father is always ready to be the authority over your life. There is no waiting list or special requirements.  Come as you are and obey the One who forever loves you!   

The Power of Peace

Can we count on you to introduce peace to a situation or personal interaction?  Are others at ease after having an encounter with you?  This decade has initiated complex challenges, especially to our spiritual and emotional state, and those of our family and friends.  Most of us would appreciate a moment of peace during these chaotic and uncertain times.  As we look to the future, an ongoing test will be our ability to promote and maintain a peaceful life. 

If possible, to the best of your ability,
live at peace with all people.
– Romans 12:18 (Common English Bible)

Making peace with others requires a discipline of emotions, a regulation of the tongue, and a heart to forgive.  Making peace with unexpected circumstances requires a shift in focus, innovations for change, and strong faith.  You can be free from anything that attempts to steal your peace:  fear, anxiety, anger, frustration or past regrets.  Peace provides a freedom from negativity, oppression, stress and conflict.  It is so vital for your victorious living and personal well-being.  

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
– Matthew 5:9 (New International Version)

Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] 
are the makers and maintainers of peace,
for they will [express His character and] 

be called the sons of God.
– Matthew 5:9 (Amplified Bible)

You may ask…”Do I have the power to make and maintain peace?”  Yes! You can have peace not only with others, but peace within yourself.  There is One who can show you how.  Now is a perfect time to make acquaintance with Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  There is no need for social distancing with Him.  He wants to be close with you to provide shelter against life disturbances.  He desires to restore and promote you to a new level of joy. The more time you spend with Him, the more love and power will increase in your life.  Friend, access the power of peace today!

Special Note: You may like Psalms 91 for meditation

The Power of Trust – Part 1

PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERIN YAMAGATA; MODELED BY VICTORIA GOMEZ

What words will you trust in 2019? Almost daily, your ears are exposed to opinions on how you should behave and voices spewing a plethora of deluded advice.   On virtually every social media platform, there are discussions regarding politics, spirituality, finances, sexuality and many other issues of life. Most commentaries attempt to appeal to your senses and influence your lifestyle choices. Although you can swipe to find 12 signs for This or 7 steps to That, they rarely fit your exact situation or provide a positive resolution. 

And yet you trust in lies that will only hurt you. 
Jeremiah 7:8 (Common English Bible)

You can get lost in the chatter.  Misinformation fuels insecurities and amplifies anxieties.  In the midst of discord and confusion, you may experience intense personal emotions.  A distressed mental state can cause your discernment to become clouded and sound decisions to wane.  Despite your desire for tranquility and joy, you find yourself disgruntled on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Lord of heavenly forces, those who trust in you are truly happy!
Psalms 84:12 (Common English Bible)

You do have a trustworthy source for enlightenment.  Your Heavenly Father is the ultimate success coach and life strategist. He delights in helping you in every area – relationships, difficult times, business, dreams, health, purpose – you name it.  God loves you. He gently guides with personalized advice exclusive to you.  There are no hidden agendas, no deception, only knowledge that leads to your good success. You become stronger, carefree and full of energy! His enduring patience and wisdom will teach you about the power within you.   Even better, you can access His protection, resources and anything you need at any time and in any place. Tune in to His feed…no wi-fi needed. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
don’t rely on your own intelligence.
Know him in all your paths, 
and he will keep your ways straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (Common English Bible)

This year is different.  Trust God.

Unshakable Power – Part 3

roots-of-powerFeeling overwhelmed and anxious are emotions many of us battle to subdue.  Sometimes, they can be fueled by something extremely new or different to our normal routine.  The good news is that you can grow and flow with opportunities while remaining unshakeable at your core.  Four years ago, I posted about the challenge of what to do with yourself and emotions while God is at work.  Please allow me to share again how you can enjoy peace and remain calm while He is in control of the situation…

How can you become unshakable in the midst of all this?

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD,
and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,
and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,
and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green;
and shall not be careful in the year of drought,
neither shall cease from yielding fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Get ROOTED.

Go DEEP in your relationship with GOD – deeper than you have ever been.  Ask Him to show you new dimensions of His love and the essence of His power. Only with God will you become steady during turbulent times.  The winds of change continue to blow and the heat of the unexpected burns, but nothing shall harm you.  He loves, protects and empowers you to be a blessing in any situation.  This requires a complete trust and focus on God instead of your circumstance.

SPREAD your roots among the “living water” of God’s Word.  Find at least one or two scriptures in the bible that you believe to be true.  If you’d like an example, here are two scriptures that you can begin to plant and grow roots in your spirit.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them
that put their trust in him. – Proverbs 30:5

And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee;
for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. – Jeremiah 1:19

Every day, speak the scriptures aloud and think on the words and their meaning until it abounds in you. You will know it is rooted when it comes into your mind or out of your mouth freely, without prompting. Once you have deeply rooted those scriptures in your spirit, search for others and repeat the process.  Firmly establish yourself in the truth of God – not mankind. Understand, it is the storms of life that reveal how deep and wide your roots have grown.

When we are spiritually rooted and grounded, we become impervious to the chaos in the world. Our emotions are steady.  We can love, forgive, prosper and go forward in the midst of any storm!

Get rooted in God’s Word and become UNSHAKABLE!

Stress-Free Power

 

Power_Up_Logo_v7

Photo Credit – Awana.org

What gets you pumped up and ready for each day? Are you invigorated by your favorite cup of joe, the early morning show or a good cardio workout?  Maybe your daily routine begins with quiet time or meditation.  If you are looking to relieve stress and take your morning routine up a notch, invite God to power up with you!

Here are a few benefits of powering up with God for a stress-free day:

Maintain patience and peace – Any first-thing-in-the-morning crisis, nagging pain, grueling commute or a cantankerous start with kiddos can deplete patience reserves by 9am! There is still an entire day left.  Starting the day with God through prayer or reading His Word provides a supernatural peace to protect our sanity.

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord,
– 2 Peter 1:2

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 4:7

Withstand Haters – All of us encounter those who do not like or support us. This negative opposition can drain our emotions.  In some cases, “haters” relentlessly attack our character, work and personal well-being.  They often outnumber us and attack without a cause.  Thankfully, God does not want us to be distracted from our joy or from going forward.  He gives us strength through His Word to remain peaceful and focused until “haters” no longer have an effect on our daily lives.

And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee;
for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.
– Jeremiah 1:19

Eliminate anxiety and stress – Nothing in the world is for certain…relationships, economy, weather, national security. This uncertainty can fuel stress and lead to numerous health complications.  Without God, the weight of protecting our assets and constructing a future solely on self-effort is exhausting.  Some engage fortune tellers, idols, rituals or even drugs just to ease the burden.  Worrying about life destroys hope, debilitates faith and hinders the power of God in our lives. 

Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Gentiles long for all these things.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.

– Matthew 6:31-33 (Common English Bible)

Praise God! With your Heavenly Father, there is certainty of success!  All things that have happened and will happen in the future work together for your good.  You may not always understand how God works, but you can be sure that His power does work!  Communicate with Him through prayer, praise or worship.  Invite Him to lead your path each day and power up in His amazing presence!

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah.
– Psalm 68:19