Relax, Relate, Release!

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "

Well, I have reached the last letter of POWER and now all I can think about is rest. I broke down all the letters to show how much POWER you have inside. Today I want to talk about rest but not in a way that suggests to sleep or stop doing what you are doing for Jesus. I want to talk about resting for a new you.

As women of God who do so much in our lives with children, husbands, careers, etc., there has to be a time for us. Every day can seem like someone is depending on you to do something for them but at the end of the day you realize that you haven't done anything for yourself. Even God rested after creation on the seventh day so why not you?

We have to learn the principle of rest in our lives to release more important aspects of our journey.

During our resting periods, we must renew our strength to receive honor and glory from God. He recognizes all that we do for Him, but we don't want to become weary during the process. He wants us to remember what He has done for us and how He will repay you for your dilegence. There is no time like the present for restoration. Take this time to revive the vision for your life. Revisit your written dreams and goals and make sure you are on the right track. Take God's direction and restore your joy for the things that God is planning to do. Don't remain where you are and recognize the God is about to revitalize, refocus, and rebuild you. We all will rest well in heaven knowing that we are the righteous ones who God rewards with his riches.

Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

Effective Expectations

Today is a day of empowerment! I am going to tell you what God will do through encouraging words that will excel you into God's vision for your life. I am eager for you to embrace the ever-lasting word of God. No excuses, only high expectations!

Things that God wants from us and will do for us:

Enable
Luke 1:74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear.

Encamp
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Encourage
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Endure
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Enjoyment
Ephesians 6:3 that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

Enlighten
Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

Entrust
2 Timothy 1:14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Equip
Hebrews 13:21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Establish
1 Chronicles 28:7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.

Esteem
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Eternal
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ever-increasing
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Everlasting
John 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

Ever-present
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Evident
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Exalt
Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Examine
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Example
1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Excellent
Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Exist
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Extol
Psalm 34:1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Psalm 109:30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng I will praise him.
Psalm 111:1 Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Psalm 117:1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
Psalm 145:10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.

HALLELUJAH!!!!

Why look back?

Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Why, why, why are you letting your past hold you back from the glorious future that God has in store for you? I know that it has been hard pressing forward through to what God has for you but the reward is well worth it if you just stop looking back.

I read the story of Lot's wife in Genesis 19:15-25. Lot's wife disobeyed God by looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and she turned into a pillar of salt. Lot's wife started in the right direction by following Lot outside the city but she was destroyed because she looked back and didn't give up her old ways in obedience to God.

Have you looked back on past situations today that have kept you from moving forward in your future endeavors?

Romans 15:4 "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Thinking about the past hurts and failures have hindered you too long from moving forward in your walk with the Lord. Those past regrets are not helping you enjoy what God has in store for you. No weapon that has formed against you has prospered, so why look back on those things that didn't take you out then as though they are a current obstacle? If you will wait patiently on the Lord for His will to be done in your life, then His perfect way will reflect in your life at this current moment. You are a wonderful woman of God conformend by the word and nothing in your past predicts your future. God has washed you whiter than snow and He keeps watch over you, so why bring wasteful thoughts and actions into your current new life? You are a winner in this journey of life but you must press on towards the goal and win that worthy prize in heaven. Serve Him wholeheartedly and be a witness of His grace and mercy today and everyday.

As you start to focus on the vision of today and write down what God says today and make it plain, the windows of opportunities will be opened on your behalf. You are striving for the kingdom of God and if you will ask for wisdom, do the Lord's work accordingly, and worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness, nothing, and I do mean nothing, about your past sins matter. After asking for forgiveness for your sins of the past, God forgives you, removes it all, and doesn't remember, so why look back?

Isaiah 43:18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old."

fOcus On yOur crOwn!

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."

Picture the woman in Revelation 12. She was pregnant and seemingly alone. She was in pain and ready to deliver her child when her worst enemy appeared. He waited to destroy the baby as soon as possible. Before the enemy could attack, God swept the baby right up and the woman rose to her feet and ran. Can you imagine running just after giving birth? She ran to the place that God had prepared while the angels fought the enemy. She never asked for help nor questioned God as to the whereabouts of her baby. God saved the woman again by giving her the wings of an eagle to escape her enemy as he was persistent in his despise of the woman.

So why is this nameless woman in Revelation 12 so important?

She showed her strong, courageous side with God providing help along the way. You see, the Revelation 12 woman was a woman of focus. She made a sacrifice and gave all her offerings to God in order for the enemy to be defeated. She knew if she would obey God's commandments that He would protect and keep her. She gave all she had knowing that the enemy couldn't stop her.

That is what we are facing in this journey of life. Life is like a marathon, just don't be quick to finish. It requires obedience to God for us to overcome our hurdles. We must stay focused on the finish line where our opportunities are knocking. God is the overseer of our faith. Don't let any outside distractions hold you back from obtaining God's overflow. The opinions of others are not what makes you, but God's opinion is what takes you through. Make it your obligation to focus on the God given vision and purposes He has destined for you. Don't deter from your crown with a case of the lacks; lack of self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. God is the one who is omnipotent and omniscience. So trust Him that He will see you through the race. He understands that you may get weary of all the past failures and hurts but that is not where your focus should be. We all have felt like giving up at some point or another but God wants you to focus on the great opportunities that lay in waiting. Instead of focusing on how long the destination is ahead of you, focus on the outstanding miracles along your journey that God has shown you.

Make this oath with me today:

I will obey God at all times. I object to any and all offences against me. I will get organized with my plans. I will overcome my fear of the race and expect an overflow of blessings. The good outweighs the bad and I will obligate myself to His word. I have the POWER in me to become all that God wants me to be. I will focus, focus, focus!!!

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The Power starts with

Job 42:2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."

The book of Job opens with dialogue between God and Satan concerning Job. Job was a man that lived as a devoted follower of God. Satan insisted that Job only served God because God had blessed Job with family and wealth. So God allowed Satan to do anything to prove Job's faithfulness. Job's faithfulness was tested when he suffered the loss of all his livestock, servants, ten children, was covered in sores from head to toe, and friends asserting that he had sinned against God. Even though all of this was happening, Job did not defy God but still trusted in Him. Not only did Job get tested in his faithfulness but Job's wife was tested too. When the tests came Job's way, Job's wife cried out "Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9).

These words provide such disgust in the way Job was suffering and the way Job's wife felt at the time to see a loved one suffer at the hands of the one whom you serve. Remember this also, she was suffering from the lost of the ten children. Her faith was staggering and she didn't understand what was happening at that moment.

Haven't we all gone through suffering periods where we felt like God was punishing us and we asked "Why God?"

As we read through Job we come to see that God is still in control. He blessed Job in his latter days more than what was in his past because Job stayed true to his devotion. As we walk down the path that God has laid before us, it is important that we trust Him and never let Satan deter us from our dreams. God knows the plans he has for us and if we will just live on purpose, God will protect us and see us through. As women of God, we have to know that we are going through a process. This process is necessary to help strengthen us for the passion and the drive that is about to explode within. No matter what is going on around us or the people who we encounter, we have to pray, persevere, and praise our way into the victorious life that God has planned. Prepare yourself by keeping positive people around you who are on a divine journey to the promised land. Every obstacle we overcome and every trial that we endure is only for our perfection in Christ. The fact is that you are a chosen woman of God and to walk with a promise in your hearts and proclaim the word of God is paradise. Let patience have her perfect work and allow the peace of God to overtake you as you press your way with the POWER inside of you!

Job 42:12 "Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning..."

Isaiah 40:29 "He gives POWER to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength."

Today I want to talk about this 5 letter word that is mighty in substance. This word is held in its highest esteem. This word has many uses and can be used many ways depending on which way you want to imply it. It can be used as a noun and mean the right to govern or rule as being authoritative or controlling. It can be used as a verb and mean to supply, to give, or to move about. It can also be used as an adjective and mean of, relating to, or utilizing. POWER is a synonym for strength, authority, might, energy, etc. Whichever way you choose to use it, please know that POWER is one awesome ability!

Many of us women have backed off from using the POWER we possess in order to please someone or something else. We may have put ourselves on the back burner and said "I will do that later" or " I don't have the resources to do what I want to do now." Well ladies, NO MORE! We have to realize that the POWER we have comes in the many forms in which the word means. Women, we have the strength to take care of our household. We have authority over unruly children. We have the might to climb the corporate ladder. We use our energy to stretch ourselves in more than one direction. So what is it about POWER that scares some women?

Why can't we use this POWER and be go getter's of God's dreams and visions for our lives?

A dream is not something that we have at night to pass away the time. Your visions for your life are not something imagined in fantasy land. These are God given talents and abilities that God has placed in you for you to obtain. Don't sit back on the POWER God has implanted in you. He gave you your dreams and visions for you to run to and become more of what He has desired. Don't assassinate your dreams and visions with idle POWER of unbelief and self destructive actions.

Remember Delilah? She had an agenda to assist the Philistines in Samson's demise. Delilah had strength that would either build or destroy those around her. Delilah could have chosen to build up Samson instead of destroying him and her own people. Women, please use the POWER inside of all of you to grow yourself and others into what God has destined you and them to be. Satan desires to use this POWER for evil but you can choose to build up your queendom and unleash the POWER that God has given you.

How will you use your POWER this week in order to build up what God has called you to do?