Great Expectations

We are looking for a mighty move of God in in 2017.

Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

As we move into a new year expect God to do a new thing. Expect Him to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think. Join us each month as we explore what God has in store for us as we remain steadfast in faith and prayer.

What are you expecting in 2017?  What are you believing God for? I’ll bet you have a list that goes on and on. You may be believing God for health for yourself and loved ones, maybe a better or different job, a financial breakthrough or perhaps to discover your purpose. And don’t forget salvation for your lost loved ones. These are just a few of the things that most of us want. We want and expect God to come through for us, to be committed to us and rightly so, He says in Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

But what about our commitment to Him? Let’s face it. Oftentimes we start off the New Year with a renewed zeal. We are gung ho, whether our commitment is to a new eating plan, to exercise, to change an unhealthy lifestyle or to renew our commitment to Christ. We may even start the year with a fast, but what happens after the first month or two? Our enthusiasm and our commitment begin to wane. Why is that? We make plenty of excuses ranging from not enough time, which I believe is our biggest offender to I’m going to do it tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes.

Procrastination – did you know procrastination is a form of fear? Fear that you may not be able to whatever it is that you want to do, fear that you may not be as successful as you would like to be, so you put things off and sometimes don’t even attempt to do whatever it is. Sometimes our procrastination comes from fear of success. What if I’m successful? What happens next? Will I be able to keep it up? Will people find out I’m really a fraud. These are just the fiery darts the enemy uses to keep us from our destiny, from the exceedingly abundant life God has created for us. Have you ever closed your eyes and saw yourself doing everything you God has gifted you to do, or placed in your spirit that you can be? If you haven’t, I recommend that you do just that today.

Write the vision and make it plain. See yourself the way God sees you. He doesn’t see you as a failure. He doesn’t even see your sin. He sees you as the masterpiece He created you to be. Don’t allow the enemy within, your own thoughts, or the enemy without, the naysayers to sidetrack you from what God has for you. God wants you to have great expectations!

To listen to the message in its entirety click on the link below and select Great Expectations

http://www.gretahillman.com/#!audiovideo/cd8l

Join Sisters Steadfast in Faith the first Thursday of each month at 7p.m.EST for E2E, Empowered to Excel

Dial 641-715-3610 access code 215480

Commitment

Who or what are you committed to? Who or what has your attention? What are your priorities? Well the standard answer in most Christian circles would be, personal relationship with God first, family second, personal ministry third if applicable and job fourth.

If that is the way you would answer does it always hold true? Do your commitments and priorities change, should they change?

How are you allocating your time? This time last year I would have said my personal relationship with God was first, but I wasn’t committing the time to Him that I should have. My job unfortunately held a pretty close second tied with my family. My personal ministry, or Gods call on my life was last.

You see I was neglecting the thing I love the most, which is serving God in the purpose and plan He has chosen for my life, because my priorities were wrong. I was too focused on my job, oh yeah, and I forgot. To unwind I’d fill my weekends with watching all the television programs I’d recorded throughout the week. Thank God for His mercy and His grace I’m also grateful as we read in Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

I believe our first commitment should be to God. He says in all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths. He also says but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

He is telling us when we do things His way we need not be concerned about the cares of life, what to eat what to drink what to wear. He will take care of not just the small things, but everything that matters to us. Who knows us and the things that we need better than the One that created us?

Sometimes we can get so caught up in the cares of our lives that we are unable to focus on the things, or purpose God has placed us here to serve.

The job of the enemy is distraction. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but because of the hedge of protection God has around you the enemy will distract you with the cares of this world. He wants you to worry about your finances, your health, your family; any and everything that you hold dear, or that that you think is needed to survive. Notice the emphasis here is on the word you.

God says take no thought for these things. He knows we have need of them. If He takes care of the lilies of the field surely He can take care of you.

To listen to the message in its entirety click on the link below and select Commitment

http://www.gretahillman.com/#!audiovideo/cd8l

Join Sisters Steadfast in Faith Thursdays at 9p.m.EST for E2E, Empowered to Excel

Dial 641-715-3610 access code 215480

Just How Committed Are You?

If I had a dollar for each time I have said I’m going to dedicate myself to following my destiny I probably wouldn’t have to follow it because I’d be a billionaire. That may be an exaggeration but I have made a commitment to follow my dreams more times than I care to remember. The truth of the matter is I have my peaks and valleys. There are days when I work until I can’t think. Whether I’m working on my latest book, a poem, a greeting card or marketing. There are days when the adrenaline is so strong I feel as though I can’t get the words on paper fast enough.

Then there are the days I sit in front of the television and don’t move. Afterwards I become angry with myself because of all the time I’ve wasted doing absolutely nothing. I can also spend an entire day just conversing with people. I must admit my biggest joy comes from helping others discover their passion and encouraging them to follow their dreams and pursue their destiny, but what else would you expect from a Motivational Speaker and Life Coach?

What’s important is consistency with balance. It’s great to follow your dreams but without balance even following your dreams can take a toll on you. When you are passionate about what you are doing it doesn’t feel like work, time gets away from you and before you know it you can become burnt out doing the thing you love the most.

Always make time for friends, family and something fun. This enables you to work without feeling guilty when you take a break.

Just how committed are you? Some people work full or part-time jobs while pursing their passion. If you fall into this category commit one of my favorite scriptures to memory. It can be found in Romans 4:17 call those things which be not as though they were. What is your passion, dream, desire or destiny? Perhaps you want to be a chef. Why not call yourself a chef? Maybe your desire is to be an artist. Call yourself an artist, and say it aloud. God spoke the world into existence. Why can’t you speak your destiny into existence? If you believe you can do it and put effort behind it your faith will bring it to fruition.