Have you lost your appetite for the things of God? Do you no longer desire to read His Word or be in His presence? Is there no great desire to be around His people or do the spiritual things you used to?
It could be the cares of life have distracted you or that your heart is hurting. Has anything damaged your heart and mind? Has anything polluted your faith? Have you just come through a terrible experience?
There’s no judgement or condemnation here—only sincere love. The goal is to help you examine where you are spiritually. If you are hurting, forgive those who have offended you and receive God’s immense love. Receive His healing hand over your heart and let Him reach into every hurting place. If you are distracted, ask God to refocus and reignite you.
A deep longing for the things of God can’t be manufactured. God gives us a thirst and hunger for Him, and we can come to Him saying, God I’m ready to eat now! I want more of You now! I’m ready to win souls now, and fulfill Your divine purpose for my life now!
“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”-Romans 13:11, NIV
Time is running out and there is a lost world that demands you to seek God for direction. Once direction is given, they need you to not hesitate, but act immediately. You are needed in the Kingdom of God, your services are required and your position is vacant waiting for occupation.
There is one last revival coming before the return of the Lord. My question to you is, are you positioned? Are you ready to be used?
You are anointed and you have gifts and talents that need to be exhausted on this earth before returning home. I encourage you to wake up from that “wandering slumber” and place your hands on the plow once and for all.
Don’t let your emotions get involved. Don’t let your opinions get in the way, and much less let anyone dictate this for you…..seek God and follow ONLY His direction.
You have a specific job to fulfill on this earth that no one else, besides you, can fulfill. So stir up your Spirit and attend to the things of your Father, BECAUSE HE IS SEEKING A RISING REMNANT THAT HE CAN USE IN THIS GENERATION.
“I’ve done too much, will anyone want me?”
“I’ve chased everyone away, who will love me?”
“I’ve been through a lot, am I too damaged for God to use me?”
Hear the love of God right now saying to you, “No, I love you with an everlasting love.” If nothing can separate you from God’s love, nothing can separate you from His plans for your life.
The enemy is the accuser of the brethren and his job is to accuse us for every wrong we’ve done. He speaks through people and through negative situations to try to discourage our faith and weaken our confidence.
But know this, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus! (see Romans 8:1.)
Say that out loud, “There is no condemnation to me. I am in Christ Jesus!”
You don’t have to listen to another lie from the devil. Rebuke every word he speaks in your ear, and put him under your feet where he belongs. Hold your head up and speak what God has said about you. Tell yourself “I am not damaged goods, I am a daughter of the King, I am victorious through Christ, I’m going to make it and my God loves me!”
Challenge: Don’t just read the Bible silently, speak it out loud to where your ears can hear you. This will help build your confidence, and will silence the enemy in your ears.
“…weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
You may have cried many tears over the course of your life, but hear and receive the Word of the Lord today. Your tears are being wiped away, and the Son is rising in your life.
See His love for you and see His light shining on you. You have cried many days, but joy does come in the morning.
No matter how you feel and no matter what you are going through, God has heard you and He is turning it around. He is turning your mourning into dancing and your sorrow into joy. He is giving you beauty for ashes. Yes, He is. What the enemy has meant for your bad, God is turning it around for your good. He is letting you know that He is with you and He is for you.
“You will dance again,” God says. “You will laugh and smile again! You will leap for joy at how I bring you through! You’ve cried enough tears. Now, lift up your head and see My glory rising upon your life! See how I make all things new! See My victory in your life! Speak and declare from your mouth words of faith instead of words of defeat. For this is a special and great time in your heart and in your life.”
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46
When someone abuses you, they don’t see what God sees in you. When someone disrespects you, they don’t see what God sees in you. And to be truthful, if you allow the abuse and the disrespect, you don’t see what God sees in you.
The Bible says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (see Proverbs 31:10). This Scripture is not merely focusing on the woman, but on the kind of man it takes to find this kind of woman. It takes a certain kind of guy to find you, see you and love you.
You’re asking, “Why won’t he love me?” Well, he’s not looking for a pearl, he’s looking for a good time. When you’re desperate to be loved or afraid to be alone, this will only attract heartbreak.
Receive God’s love. Lose yourself in Him. Let God show you who you are in Christ. Let the treasure within you enrich you. When you do this, you won’t settle for a guy that knows nothing about pearls, but you’ll wait on the one that recognizes a jewel when they see it and who knows how to treat you.
“Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV
When trials come our way, it can be hard to press forward. A way you can encourage yourself is to meditate on this scripture. If Jesus turned your sorrow into joy yesterday, He will do it again today. If He came through for you last week, He will do it again this week. There is no failure in Him. He’s consistent.
Thinking of all the good things He has done for you already will cause you to walk in a faith realm that will overshadow any situation. My sister, whatever it is you’re going though, it will not last. Your trial has an expiration date. God said no more will you have to go through that again. He’s faithful, and you can always depend on Him to show up and show out in your life.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12, NIV
It can be difficult to remain focused, patient and joyful while in the midst of affliction. Your prayer time suddenly becomes limited because you are seeking ways, in your own strength, to find solutions. Your hope is suddenly floored because you begin to think there’s no way out.
In difficult moments like these, when it’s hardest to pray, that is when we must pray the hardest. When it’s the hardest to trust, that is when you should trust the hardest. When it’s hardest to love, we love harder. Jesus told His followers, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (see John 16:33).
Next time you are up against a Red Sea and see no way of parting it, run to your source of hope, to your source of strength and your source of peace…run to Jesus! Without a yielding heart, you won’t make it on this journey called life, because when you begin to remove your focus from your Savior, you begin to remove your focus from your salvation. Stay focused Sister!
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps moving, you lose that courage to be and that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love”-Ephesians 4:16, New Living Translation.
Let this scripture minister deeply to your heart today. No matter how you may feel, you are valuable in God’s Kingdom. You are an instrument in His symphony and a beautiful expression of Him in the earth. No more valuable than any other part, but valuable nonetheless.
To the Lord, you are very special, and when you obey Him, you cause a tremendous amount of strength to flow throughout the Body of Christ. Your obedience blesses and inspires others more than words. Your obedience causes the whole Body to be healthy, to grow and to be full of love. You are vitally important to your brothers and sisters in Christ whether they realize it or even acknowledge it.
God is affirming you today. He is saying, “You matter to Me. Don’t you see? I called you for such a time as this. Walk not with your head hung low as if you have nothing to give. I have filled you with My Spirit and grace. I have given you My all. Give your all to Me. Give your all and let Me use you to the fullest extent. Let me be glorified in you. For you matter and you are valuable to Me.”
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
As Christian women, we have a tremendous opportunity to impact the lives of those women around us; with love, support, encouragement, words of wisdom and compassion. To have a true love for sisterhood is a beautiful thing.
Unfortunately nowadays, there is so much envy, competition and jealousy that we don’t find the freedom to be who we are with those around us.
There is something to be said about women helping women. It speaks volumes when we are like-minded, when we deeply understand each other’s joys and challenges within our unique lifestyles, when we are truly full of joy with our sister’s achievements in Christ, and when we celebrate eachother and take pride in being a part of that growth.
It glorifies God when we are women who are there as accountability partners, understanding that you may have flaws but loving you anyway; understanding that you will fall many times but holding you up anyway; understanding that you’re not perfect but seeing you through the perfect eyes of Christ anyway!
It pleases Him when we are women who pray fervently for each other just as we would desire for someone to pray for us, when we don’t judge or criticize, but correct in love when needed, and women who push you towards your destiny with words of hope and courage.
As Christian women, we must return to this quality kind of sisterhood, and we must do it for the Lord’s name.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”-Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
It happens to be that 99.9% of the time, whenever we assume something, our assumptions are usually wrong. We can think, “He walked by me because…”, “She didn’t respond because…”, or “They didn’t invite me over because…”
When we assume we are making judgements without knowing the real facts. Assumptions can keep our minds preoccupied all throughout the day, and if we aren’t careful we will create emotions about something that hasn’t been proven to be true. Assumptions are usually negative and can send a harmful message to our physical body. Our body doesn’t know the difference between an assumption and a fact and will respond as if everything it feels is real.
Maybe they didn’t invite you over because they forgot. Maybe she didn’t respond because her life has been extremely busy lately. Maybe he walked by you because he was focused on getting somewhere on time and didn’t see you. Everything people do to you is not because they don’t like you or because they feel something negative about you.
Love believes the best. Don’t let assumptions ruin you. If you feel it’s important to know something, it is wise to ask. We can’t think on “whatever is true” if we don’t know what is true. We must get the facts so we can have peace of mind.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3, NKJV.
He is faithful. He is just. He loves you.
For years beyond your intelligence, He has ruled everything that has ever been created. He has given you the very breath you breathe. He has restored you time and time again. He wants you to know how much He loves you.
There is no coincidence as to why you are reading this today. His words are few, but His power behind His word is what moves mountains in your life. Where you have been broken, today He will heal you. Where you are sick, today He will bring healing to you. Where you have suffered, today a new door has been opened up for you.
Do not fear. Do not be afraid. Everything that has passed through your life has already been spoken by Him. You are special, and you mean more to Him than you will ever know.
Allow Him to hold you, to heal you, to be your everything today and for always. He will never let you down. He only desires to bring you up. He is your Creator, your Father. With Him, all things will be possible. His supplies and power are limitless. You are the apple of His eye.
Today is the day of “Divine Intervention.” In His presence will be your fullness of joy.
He is faithful. He is just. He loves you.
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” -2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV.
If you are victorious, that means someone is defeated. If you win, someone has lost. Every time you acknowledge the victory you have in Christ, God rises in your life, and the enemy flees in every direction.
The Bible tells us, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Who are the redeemed? Those who have been bought and purchased with the precious blood of Jesus. His sacrifice for them brings them into a perfect union with God Himself, and they are His. They are victorious because Jesus is victorious.
You may not feel like a winner, and your situation may not look at all victorious right now, but neither did Jesus when He was on that Cross. Your victory rests not in how much money is in your account or in how much food is in your fridge. Even when you’re sitting in a dark room because the power has been turned off, you are still victorious in Christ. Things may look bad now, but just as Jesus rose in victory, so will you!
You can go ahead, rejoice now and shout the victory because you are victorious through Christ and the devil is defeated in your life!
Are you feeling unloved? Are you feeling unworthy? Are you feeling like you just don’t have the strength or will to go through one more day? Do you feel drained and that if one more situation comes up you are just going to explode? Do you feel your journey is at a stand still and things are never going to be better or change? Do feel like the light at the end of your tunnel has grown dim, even as a Christian?
Well, I have some good news for you today. I want you to stop whatever you’re doing for five minutes and find a quiet place, even if it is in the bathroom. Close your eyes and imagine yourself at the precious feet of Jesus. Say, “Lord, I come to You just as I am. You know what I am feeling and what I have been going through. I am sorry I have not come to You sooner but I am here now and realize Your timing is perfect. I desperately need You to restore me with Your supernatural power. I come in faith and believe You will help me right now in Jesus name. I love You and thank you for doing in me what I could never do on my own.”
I want you to know how priceless you are to our Lord and Savior. He cares for you at all times. Through all the good and bad He remains faithful. In His presence, we truly are restored.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”-Romans 12:21 (KJV)
Some people are like kids on an elevator; they will push every emotional button on you, never realizing they are being used by the enemy.
When everything in you wants to react in a negative way, don’t go there. Remember, whoever overcomes you controls you. (2 Peter 2:19) Your determination to consistently show kindness and love are too much for anyone to handle. Good will always win over evil.
Many times I have cried in my time alone with God because I didn’t want to be the bigger person. I didn’t want to walk in love or do the right thing. Oh, but thank God for His supernatural help! It is only by His divine grace and power that we can do anything good.
When we learn to submit to God, we find that He makes it easier to love, even those who are not so kind. He reminds us of the influence we have. Somebody, even if it’s one person, is watching you, your responses and your example. Walk in love while you continue to live the life God has blessed you to live, moving forward in doing what God has purposed you to do. My sister, don’t go there!
“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole…” -Matthew 9:20-21
There are times in life where feelings of hopelessness and despair can be overwhelming. Where do you turn? What do you do next? Everyone is looking at you for direction and you don’t know which way to go.
When I feel this way, I recall the woman with the issue of blood. She was remarkable because even in her state of hopelessness, she had her eyes fixed on the answer – Jesus. She did not let the fact that she was broke and sick, stop her. She knew the power of “self talk” and told herself that if she could just touch the hem of his garment she shall be whole. Those words kept her going forward past the pain and brokenness to get to Jesus.
What you say to yourself about your life or present situation, my sister, is vital to your life. Those words will either move you forward to Jesus or further away from Him. He wants you to come to him.
No matter what you are facing today or have been dealing with for awhile, Jesus is your answer. Do all that is within your power to put yourself in a position to “touch Jesus”. There are times when you may not feel like going to church. Go anyway. There are times when you may not feel like praying. Pray anyway. There are times when you may not feel like reading the Bible. Read it anyway. There are times you may not feel like just being quiet before the LORD and sitting in HIS presence. Be quiet and sit in HIS presence anyway. For in the pressing, you will touch and receive what you need from the LORD. Just ONE touch of the Master and you shall be whole!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, NKJV
Through one man, Adam, came death, and through one man, Jesus, all are made alive (see 1 Corinthians 15:21,22). Jesus was that perfect, spotless Lamb of God prophesied throughout the entire Old Testament, chosen to take away the sins of the world in one sacrifice. It is by His wounds that you were healed and through His death you are forgiven and made right with God.
Imagine the moment He uttered those words, ‘It is finished?’ As darkness covered the land, He took upon Himself all of our sin, our abusive behavior, our addictions, our doubt and unbelief, strife and malice, pride and unforgiveness, murder and robbery, our sexual immorality and idolatry. All of it was laid upon Him and the veil in the temple was ripped (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 27:51). Now there was nothing, absolutely nothing, separating us from the Father. What a beautiful display of His love!
Because of Jesus, you have a real relationship with a holy God! Because of Jesus, you are made a daughter of the King! Because of Jesus, you don’t have to go from relationship to relationship longing to feel complete, you are complete in God! Because of Jesus, you no longer have to merely survive; you can thrive and receive every promise made to you! Do you believe this? Jesus has been made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). The price He paid wasn’t easy, but you were indeed worth it. Now, that is worth stopping whatever you are doing right now, lifting up your hands and giving God a heartfelt shout of praise!
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'” -2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV
As rain comes down from the sky, so does the grace of our Father in Heaven. Rain, at first, when falling from the sky, seems cold and hard to see in. It is hard to focus when there is a downpour. After it has watered the earth, it nourishes and helps to yield abundant crops and so much more. Rain is necessary for growth.
In relation, Jesus came down from His throne, shed His blood, and was crucified. He gave His life willingly and obediently so that we could have an abundant life in Him. Today, I have come to realize, through different seasons, downpours of trials, and tribulations with Him in this amazing relationship, His grace is always sufficient. It is through these times He is able to nourish and help us to grow into all He has called us to be for His kingdom.
All those times I felt weak, hopeless, and unworthy, that was when I was able to look up and humbly ask for my Father’s help to do what I could not do. Each day I am learning more to ask, and receive the grace that is freely available to me at all times. God desires our heart. He has never intended for us to take or make this journey alone. He will never leave nor ever forsake us. Even when we turn our backs on Him time and time again, as I have, He is still there with His arms open wide beckoning us to receive the life we were always meant to have and live through His Son Jesus Christ. Today, my weaknesses are my Father’s strengths. Today, I am strong in Him. Apart from Him I can do nothing. He is the “Divine Vine” that pours down His grace like rain on me. Look to Him and receive the true riches and blessings of The King of Kings.
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (KJV)
There are no boundaries, no borders, and no limits to what God can do in your life. Just when you think there is absolutely no way out, God comes through for you and makes a way out of no way.
Just when the people of Israel thought it was over and were stuck between a Red Sea and an Egyptian army, God split the Red Sea and caused them to walk through it (Exodus 14). Just when the widow thought her and her son wasn’t going to make it another day and had accepted the fact that they were going to starve and die, God sent the Prophet Elijah to bring increase into her home (1 Kings 17:7-16). Just when Peter thought it was over for him because He had denied Jesus, Jesus came and restored him, encouraged him, gave him a charge, and later we find that when he preached his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost that 3,000 men were saved and his very shadow caused men to be healed (John 21:15-17, Acts 2:41, Acts 5:15).
Just when you think there is no hope for you, God comes in and turns your life and your situation completely around. Just when you thought that it was over for your relationships because too many hurtful things had been said and done, God comes in and makes it better than before.
God can make a river in your desert, a stream to flow through your dry places, repair what’s missing in your life, bring dead situations to life again, and do the impossible for you! Don’t you put Him in a box, thinking there is only one way, and only one solution. He is God, remember?!
Take the limitations off of Him and let Him be God in your life!
*NEXT WEEK!!*
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10–11, NIV).
Take a moment, get your Bible, and read aloud Ephesians 6:10–18. I’ll wait. . . .
These words should light a fire of passion under every daughter of the King! Paul was well aware of the battles believers face, and he wanted us to understand that the battle is being fought in the heavenly realms against evil itself.
So what do we do? We “put on the full armor of God.” Why? So we can “stand against the devil’s schemes” (v. 10), “stand [our] ground, and after [we] have done everything, to stand” (v. 13), and to “stand firm” (v. 14). There’s not a lot of laying around going on here. We are standing our ground, we’re fighting with all we’ve got, we’re beating back the devil.
But we don’t do this in our own strength, and we don’t do it without some preparation. No soldier goes into battle without armor—and neither should we. We have the belt of truth wrapped around us. A Roman soldier’s belt was the foundation of his armor. When we have the belt of truth wrapped around us, we know that we can stand tall with the truth of God on our side. No apologies. No flinching.
The breastplate of righteousness covers us from the neck to the thighs, front and back, and it protects all our vital organs. This righteousness is given us by Christ alone, and we stand in that righteousness because of what He did for us. Satan attacks saying we’re not good enough, not worthy. Our breastplate of righteousness clangs against his weapons and sends him running.
Our shoes—be they slippers or stilettos—are ready to carry us forward into each new day and each day’s battle. They give us “the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” We’re ready for anything and have peace about everything because we’ve got on the right shoes.
Then we have our faith held out before us like a shield that “can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (v. 16). Make no mistake, you’re a target simply because you’re aligned with Christ, Satan’s enemy. But your faith forms a shield to extinguish the flaming arrows he shoots your way.
Now we need our helmet of salvation. We wear it to protect our mind from doubts that arise in times of adversity, questions, or trials. We’re saved, and that needs to always be foremost in our mind.
Finally, we have the sword of the Spirit—our only offensive weapon—and it is the word of God. When Satan attacks, we do as Jesus did (see Matthew 4) and speak back to Satan the words and truths of Scripture. We need to know God’s Word and have His words ready at a moment’s notice, for we never know when we’ll need them.
As you get dressed each day, ladies, don’t forget your armor. Prayerfully put on every piece. There’s a war happening, and we need to be able to stand.
Hey Spotlight ladies! Here's your devotion to start off your week!
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Sometimes our only available transformation in life is a leap of faith!
You may be perfectly content in your box, the safety of your comfort zone all snuggled up with fear. What we fail to realize is that everything we want is on the other side of fear. If we keep making excuses, one day we will wake up and there won’t be anymore time to do all the things we’ve dreamed of doing.
Sometimes in order for you to find your true potential you need to attack fear. Trust where God is leading you and move out of your comfort zone. Don’t make excuses. Be about the Father’s Business!
Do what you know is right even though it may not be easy. The choice is yours. Will you remain in the confinement of your box or the endless possibilities with God?
