How Quickly We Forget

When things are going well we may not think about how we are faring. It’s almost as though we take our state of being for granted. Sure, we have our occasional aches and pains. We may overcook a meal, arrive late for an appointment, or get angry when we get stuck in traffic. We have those aw man moments, but we quickly get over them. Life is good. We are walking by faith. But when things in our lives are not going the way we have planned, the way we expect them to go or the way we would like for them to go we can become discouraged. When our brief aw man moments linger we may sink into despair. We may have doubt, or even question whether we are in Gods will. We may even say to ourselves this is too much. Don’t allow your emotions to keep you from your destiny. The enemy will try to convince you that you are not qualified for what God has told you that you are qualified. He will use whomever, or whatever he can, including your own thoughts to persuade you into thinking that you are not going to make it, that you are incapable of reaching your goal or achieving your destiny. The enemy wants you to forget that your life is predestined. He wants you to forget that God created your destiny before you were born. He wants you to forget that what God has purposed no man can stop. Today may be bright and sunny, we are out and about, enjoying life. But when the storm comes we run for cover. We pull our heads into our shell like a tortoise. We may even shut down. Instead of praising God like we were when it was sunny, depending on the severity of our storm, we may barely open our mouth to pray. Where’s our faith? We read in James 1:23-24 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Are you forgetting who you are? If we are walking by faith only when things are going well, are we really walking by faith? I believe we are as the man James has described. When things are going well we are standing on Gods promises, proclaiming them to the world. But when things go awry rather than Gods promises being in the forefront of our mind we allow our situation, the cares of the world or whatever the enemy is using to distract us to take precedence. We forget whose we are, children of the most high God, and we forget who we are, a royal priesthood, a chosen generation, the righteousness of God. God is saying to you this day “I have given you my promise, and unlike man I cannot lie.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Whatever God has promised you will come to pass. Don’t give up on the you God created you to be. Stand firm on His promises. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You are more than a conqueror. Overcoming is your destiny.

Grasshopper or Giant?

We know the thief cometh not but for to steal to kill and to destroy but how does he do it? Oftentimes he uses us. That’s right. We can be our own worst enemies. We don’t have to wait for someone to tell us what we can’t do, how we will never succeed or that we will never change. Sometimes we beat them to it. We are already convinced that our dreams, visions, hopes or desires will never manifest. How does that happen?

One of the things that we do is compare ourselves with others. We don’t know anyone’s story but our own, yet we look at someone that is successful and think they must have a magic potion, great connections, are smarter than we are, have more resources than we have or are just plain lucky.

Well I can assure you there are no magic potions. Some people do have great connections but great connections without anything to back them will not result in success. All great and perfect gifs come from God. If He has given you an idea you are not any less smart than anyone else. Some people may have resources, financial or otherwise, but if you are a child of God your resources come from God and you have access to everything that He has. There is no need to mention luck because there is no such thing. Solomon said time and chance happen to us all. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directed his steps.

In the Bible we read in the book of numbers the account of Moses sending men into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. They were to determine whether the people that dwelled in the land were strong, weak, few or many. They were also to determine whether the land was good or bad, whether the people lived in tents or strong holds as well as whether the land was fat or lean.

When they returned from their visit Caleb said let’s go and possess the land. Those that were with him said as we read in Numbers13:33 and there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Not only had they made a decision that they could not stand against the sons of Anak they even went on to say they saw themselves as grasshoppers, or unable to conquer because of their size in comparison to the sons of Anak. They even took it a step further and said they were also seen as grasshoppers in the sight of the sons on Anak.  They didn’t give themselves a chance, but they were right. Others will see you just as you see yourself based on the image you portray. Because they saw themselves as grasshoppers they would behave as grasshoppers therefore causing the sons of Anak to see them as grasshoppers.

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as defeated before you even start? Are you willing to follow what God has placed in your heart or are you afraid you will fail? If God has given you a dream, vision or goal it is also God that will bring it to fruition as Joshua and Caleb told the children of Israel in Numbers 14:8-9 if the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

What God has started He is more than able to complete. He has placed what He has placed in you for a reason. You are the only that can do what He has called you to do. I’ve said this before. You may not be the only chef. But you are the only one that can create recipes and prepare them the way that you do. You may not be the only artist, baker, writer, or parent. But God has gifted you to reach a specific group that only you can reach that will receive what He has for them through you.

When you do not move forward in your gifting you are not saying you can’t do it you are saying God can’t do it because it is God that has given you the gift and God that will make it manifest. You are the vessel He has chosen to use. Count is as an honor and move forward. See yourself as more than a conqueror, a giant rather than a grasshopper, a success rather than a failure able to do all that God has created you to do.