The Power of Trust – Part 2

April 19, 2019Leave a comment

Unconditional Love

Do you trust in unconditional love? Can you handle being a transmitter and not just a receiver? In a world polluted with hate and deception, many of us feel hopeless to experience unwavering, unconditional love. An even greater challenge is to offer this love to another person. Life can make a heart cold and rigid if not renewed. You may ask yourself, “How can I trust in love and expand my capacity to reciprocate it?” Thankfully, the Word of God gives insight in this area. In this post, we will explore two attributes towards building trust to love unconditionally.

ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE RENEWED

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.
I will remove your stony heart from your body
and replace it with a living one,”
– Ezekiel 36:26 (Common English Bible)

This is vital. You must surrender the pain and brokenness of your past. Distinguish all fear and negativity ignited by your former mindset. Revenge and bitterness have no place in your new heart. Permit the chains of betrayal, disappointments, and lies from the people you once trusted to crumble. If you are like me, this renewal process is ongoing. Sometimes it seems like the more you let go, a new suppressed memory tries to sprout up and harden your heart. In times like these, you must look ahead and focus on your best future.

Positive thoughts are instrumental to overall wellness. Meditate on the life-giving, restorative power of scripture. Trust the promises of your ever-faithful Heavenly Father. Allow Him to renew your mental, spiritual and physical state. Remember, your heart deserves a clean slate for unconditional love to flourish.

LEVEL UP YOUR LOVE

Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another,
for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God
and knows God [through personal experience].
The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God
[does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
[He is the originator of love,
and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
– 1 John 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

Do you want the best for others and for yourself? Always. No exceptions. No matter how many times the mark is missed. Forever. And Ever. This is how God loves us. This level of love takes time to process, especially if you have been deeply wounded. Familiarize yourself with the attributes of unconditional love so that you do not accept impostors. No longer engage in superficial or conditional love. Guard your heart from wickedness and give it no place in your life. Unconditional love can only come from a person who is “acquainted” with God. Become that person and practice unconditionally loving yourself. Level up your personal relationship with Him and your capacity for loving others will increase. Now is the perfect time to trust God for a new heart!

The Power of Trust – Part 1

January 4, 2019Leave a comment

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

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018Leave a comment

roots-of-power Feeling 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!

Dependent Power

July 30, 2016Leave a comment

baby hand holding parent hand (2) Are you independent? Tired of relying on people who have let you down…a parent, spouse, business partner or politician? Whoever they are, you want to be liberated from their influence over your life. Being independent provides a sense of freedom from their control and a release from their authority. Self-reliance compels you to take charge of your own destiny.

This sounds good, but carrying the weight of every decision and provision in life is a heavy burden. Being independent can often breed loneliness, stress or depression due to the heavy mental load. It may cause you to lose your accountability to others. At some point, independence morphs into some form of interdependence. You and I are designed to be relational and connect with others.

So, who can you depend on?

Your Heavenly Father.

My deliverance and glory depend on God.
God is my strong rock. My refuge is in God.
– Psalm 62:7 (Common English Bible)

Yes, God is dependable in every sense of the word. You can trust Him with every area of your life. He is the Creator of everything. When you depend solely on Him, He reveals the people to connect with, as well as those you should run from. You can rely on His ultimate power for provision and protection.

Dependence on God provides a supernatural freedom. He is the unlimited supply of joy, grace and peace. You can count on His love for you to never wain. He is intimate and discreet. His commitment to you is eternal. He heals all your wounds – physically and emotionally. Best yet, He is a phenomenal leader. Nothing is impossible. He leads you to your purpose and empowers you along the journey. All you have to do is depend on Him.

Power to Live Free of Judgment

February 27, 2015August 25, 2016Leave a comment

Have you ever felt like someone was judging you? Like someone treated you differently because of your circumstances, lifestyle or beliefs? Or are you the one who has been judging others without knowing the person or the truth surrounding a situation?

Social media makes it easy to criticize and judge others without first requiring a self-check. Human beings resist being judged, but are usually quick to categorize and treat others based on perceptions and experiences. There are those who believe a person should judge the sin, but not the sinner. Some people judge a tree by the fruit that it bears while others believe you can’t judge a book by its cover. Whatever the philosophy, wrong judgment can damage vital relationships and harden hearts.

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:
for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. – John 12:47

Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete,
it shall be measured to you again. – Matthew 7:1-2

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: – Colossians 2:16

Scripture reminds us that Jesus did not judge or condemn anyone. He was sent to save you, me and the entire world! As Believers, we are advised not to judge others or allow others to judge us based on the way we live our lives. Personal comments are best kept to ourselves. Sharing the love of God and being a living testimony of His power and grace is a great alternative.

Living free of judgment makes it easier to nurture friendships, build trust and forgive others. When we read the Word of God, it evokes strength and guidance to look past the outward appearance of man. It also gives us encouragement to look past our own situations and press towards the future with joy in our hearts. The Word helps us to focus on God and be assured that He will take care of everything.

Friend, today is a great day to live boldly for Christ and free of judgment!

Power In The Fiery Furnance

November 29, 2014Leave a comment

Have you ever prayed and believed God for something that never showed up? Have you felt like you have been thrown into a fiery furnace of betrayal, financial disaster, grief, anger, frustration or hopelessness? Well, your feelings are not uncommon to Believers. Many of us feel that God should rescue us from evil before it comes. Rescue us from any sickness, heartache, loss, pain or devastation that life brings before we experience it. But when we keep our faith strong and consistent, God has a way of handling situations for His glory and our victory.

If it be so, our God whom we serve
is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,
and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods,
nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. – Daniel 3:17-18

The three Hebrew men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrated the power of assured faith in these scriptures. They completely trusted God no matter how He decided to handle their situation. The king ordered to throw them into a burning, fiery furnace if they did not fall down and worship the golden idol. Despite the harsh death sentence, they chose to have faith in God. Instead of simply bowing down to worship a worldly idol to save their own lives, they displayed their confidence in God’s power. As the soldiers bound them up for extermination, it is amazing that none of the three men cried out…

“Why is this happening to me?”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“This is not fair!”
“How am I going to get through this?”
“Where are you God?”
“Help me!”

Instead, they demonstrated the “But if not…” type of faith. (Daniel 3:18) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew God could save them before going into the furnace, but even if God decided not to, they still trusted and honored Him. Wow, that is powerful faith!

You can experience that type of faith when facing your fiery furnace. Choose to honor God even when your situation is not turning out like you want. Trust and worship Him even when your prayers are not being answered exactly the way you think they should. Remind yourself that His timing and methods are not like yours, but He will take every bad situation and turn it around for your good. Stand firm in your devotion to God and relinquish the situation over to Him.

You might even confess…

“God is well able to save me from _______________________
and deliver me from __________________________,
but if not, I still honor and love Him! ”

Friend, know that your situation is a priority to God and you are never alone. God sent Jesus to save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and He sent Jesus especially for you! Although, they went in the fiery furnace, the fire had no effect on them. They walked out alive, without a burn or smell of smoke – they even got promoted! The good news is that no matter what fiery pit you may be thrown in, you will come out – victorious and spotless! Don’t stress yourself out another day over the outcome. Ignite the “but if not…” kind of faith and experience the miraculous power of God over your life!

Unshakable Power – Part 2

June 30, 2014Leave a comment

Maybe you can relate – You no longer want to live precariously, reacting to the unexpected, stressing over conflicts and running amuck trying to create your own life. You understand that there are trials to overcome. God has brought you through many. But your challenge has been what to do with yourself and your emotions while He is at work.

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

What I am about to share has helped me to have peace and remain still while God is in control of the situation. I hope it helps you, too.

Get ROOTED.

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

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!

Tap Into Your Superpower!

January 16, 2014January 16, 2014Leave a comment

Words we say to ourselves are just as powerful as the words we speak out of our mouths. This year, let’s thrive on powerful words…the ones we verbalize and the ones we meditate on.

Did you know that we can think and say words that are specifically designed to release a blessing and stabilize any environment? These awesome words can be found in one place…the Word of God. These power-packed words cover a multitude of circumstances. There is nothing you can experience or ponder that God has not already addressed in the Scriptures. His words possess supernatural authority to transform any situation. God’s words have all the power you and I will ever need!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any two edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
– Hebrews 4:12

Let’s choose our Power Scripture for 2014 and tap into this ultimate power source! I am selecting a scripture that encourages me when I think about it and empowers me when I speak it aloud…

O taste and see that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him – Psalm 34:8

Something exciting happens when our spirit hears the Word of God coming out of our own mouths. What divine words will spark something inside of you to become your Power Scripture for 2014?

Friend, I am sensing big, bold and amazing new opportunities in our lives! Blessings will flow through us to bless others as we trust God, stay close and take refuge in Him. This will be a year of spiritual maturity and manifested power like we have never experienced before. All we have to do is give God a try and trust Him with every area of our lives – from our thoughts to our words.

Let’s start today and enjoy supernatural power for victorious living!

Pure Power

September 12, 2013September 11, 2013Leave a comment

What is PURE in your life?

Before you answer, let’s look at a definition…

PURE (adjective): Separate from all heterogeneous or extraneous matter; clear; free from mixture; free from moral defilement; without spot; incorrupt; genuine; real; true; unadulterated; free from guilt; innocent; unconnected with anything else*

What do you know to be real, true and clear? I have contemplated what is pure in my own life.

Not my thoughts or my decisions. Unfortunately, I sometimes allow them to be mixed with external influences from the world…news, data, opinions, etc.

Not my past. It has spots and blemishes.

Not my body or soul. Both have been polluted with all sorts of stuff…preservatives, bitterness, foreign contaminants, pride, artificial sweeteners – you name it.

Not my relationships. I am not certain all of them are genuine.

Not my mouth. Left unchecked, it has defiled others and uttered words connected to doubt, fear and foolishness.

Okay..then what is pure in my life?

Only one thing – God.

Thankfully, He cleanses me, dwells within my spirit and empowers me.

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

His love is pure. His Word is truth. His power is real!

God is the one pure thing in my life and in yours! If you want to learn more, go to Week 27: God’s Word in the Power Over All book.

*Reference: “pure.” Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2013. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/pure (12 September 2013).

AKILAH GRANT

Power, Love and Inspirations

Tag: trust