Follow the Spirit

“… wherever the Spirit would go they went, and they turned not when they went.” Ezekiel 1:12

Follow God’s spirit no matter which way He goes; He knows where He’s going, He Knows where to take you, and He knows how to get you there safely.

As humans, we easily get side-tracked, so attention to Him at all times is of vital necessity. Don’t get lost in the world, stay on God’s tail at all times!  How? By staying focused on His Word, reading and praying over His Word, listening to and following His promptings in your heart, and by taking big, bold, steps of faith!  Consequently, if you let yourself lose Him, the harshness, destruction, and darkness of the word will drag you down, the blessings that were once yours become lost in the crowd, and you become fleshly prey for Satan as he waits for the perfect timing to swallow you up.  So, make sure your focus is on the right One at all times, in all situations, for every need, want, prayer, and desire ~ your life depends on it!!

Pour your heart out to Him.

“Arise [from your bed] cry out in the night… pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.  Lift your hand toward Him for the lives of your young children… “ Lamentations 2:19

Instead of letting depression, sin, darkness, hurt, pain, regret, fear, resentment, anger, discontent, and hate, overtake your life, fight back! Lift your heart, mind, hands, body, soul, life, precious children, and loved ones, to God – cry out - pour it all out to Him!  He will take it all, transform them into blessings, and pour life back into like you’ve never experienced before.  Yes, those once called, ‘afflictions’, will become new blessings and new beginnings; a new passion will fill you until all darkness is drowned away, and pain and suffering are no longer things you associate with – now and forevermore!!

 

Take off them prison clothes.

“Jehoiachin put off his prison garments, and he dined regularly at the kings table all the days of his life.” Jeremiah 52:33 NIV

When God steps in, chains are broken, prisoners of darkness are set free, blessings begin to pour down, and all the days of one’s life are filled with favor.  So, if you haven’t already, then it is time for you to let God step into your life and take it over.  Your life will begin to change in indescribable, miraculous ways; a new inner life will dawn and you will become an unconquerable enemy to the devil and all of his allies.

Oh, Praise God - Hallelujah

Full circle

"As Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all [her] land." Jeremiah 51:49

In essence: What goes around comes around.  

If you in the midst of sin, (which is, and causes, suffering, hurt, pain, darkness, regret, resentment, and hate), then do something about it by surrendering complete control over to God. If you don't, then He will eventually do something for you, and it won't be quite what you were hoping for! As a matter of fact, it will probably end up being exactly what you didn't want to happen in the first place; hence, what goes around comes around.

My goodness, as I get older, and my relationship with the Lord grows stronger, I realize more and more - sin just ain't worth my time.  Honey, it isn't worth your time either!  So, let go of it, let God take over, and let the nonsense end with you.  You are too precious to waste your life, you are too important to God, and you are too important to those that love and need you; be an example, not a deterrent, and let your life be a shining example of what the favor of God can do!

Fortunes will be restored

"Yet will I reverse the captivity and restore the fortunes... "  Jeremiah 48:47

God hates sin! Not only because it defies His Word, but also because it causes us to go through consequences that could have otherwise been avoided (had the sin not been committed in the first place). However, once the consequences have  been faced, repentance has been made, and salvation has been received, then God will restore what was lost, and then some; He will renew, He will  pour blessing down, and He will wipe the slate clean.  

You may be in the midst of consequences caused by former sin, but know this: God loves you so much and He's healing the devastation of sin from around you, and inside of you; and, although where your at now seems like a dark, dreary, place, your best days are yet to come.  So, hold on to Him and eventually your once former sin, will become your never-ending future of blessing and unconditional love!  Yes, praise and thank God - your best days are yet to come!!

Restoration is here

“But I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come.  I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 49:39

The consequences of sin can be absolutely devastating to one’s life, and if you’ve been one to live through, or are facing, those consequences, then I’m sure you can attest to it.  I, myself, have to suffered consequences of my sins, and I will be the first to corroborate the devastation and hurt they have caused, not only to myself, but to my close friends and loved ones as well.   Yet, the moment I gave my life over to God, restoration began, and still progresses today. My life is amazing, and is more meaningful to me every moment that I’m alive.  So, with that being said, this is for those that are still on the fence-line of giving God complete control.  If you haven’t yet, please do! Life will not change for the better until you do.  Give God all of your sins, hurts, pains, secrets, dreams, prayers, love … YOU!  I promise, once you do, then restoration is at hand, a new beginning is dawning, and those consequences caused by your sins will somehow become blessings that will knock you to your knees.

God loves you so much, however, he hates sin; so, come clean to Him now, and let His life changing power and restoration take effect in your life.  I guarantee, you will never be the same again – and that is a good thing!!

 

Why commit this great evil?

“Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves… Why do you provoke Me to anger with the works (idols) of your own hands…?” Jeremiah 44:7,8 AMP

Let’s think about this?  Why do we sin, which is, in essence, committing evil?  Really, though, why?  All it does to ourselves, and, sometimes, other innocent victims involved, is cause trouble, produce hurt, and generate resentment, anger, and the like.  It is amazing to me how we can fall so easily when the consequences can be so severe.

For me, I can honestly answer that a lot of my sin is from wanting to be in control, and to avoid confrontation and/or hurt.  However, the more I think about it, the more I realize that when I’m in control, things end up in a mess; and when I try to avoid confrontation, it always comes back to smack me in the face, making the confrontation double of what it could have been.  What about you?  What makes you fall into sin easily?  Well, whatever it is, I think it is of the utmost importance that we seriously think before we speak and/or act.  

 

So, is sinning really worth the pain, hurt, resentment, anger, malice… evil?  I have to answer, “No!”.  Therefore, join me in taking more time to think about our actions, and our words; I honestly think that it will transition the world around us into a much more gentle, peaceful, loving; hence, God-like, place.

Be NOT afraid.

“Be not afraid of the king of Babylon… says the Lord, for [he is a mere man…] I [the Lord] am with you to save you and to deliver you from his hand.” Jeremiah 42:11AMP

Are you intimidated by certain people, or situations, in your life? Unfortunately, I find myself going through periods of feeling intimidated, feeling less than, and cowering down to certain people and/or situations – it is no fun. So, if you happen to be like me, finding yourself going through similar periods, then it is the verses like today’s that we really need to read, re-read, memorize, and study.  So, pay attention to this and other related verses, and the next time you feel yourself cowering to anyone or anything, other than God, you will have a mind, and mouth, full of verses, (arsenal), to counter-attack those defeating thoughts, helping you to stand stouter and stronger then you’ve ever been able to stand before.

Yes, remember, use God’s words to withstand all that life brings you - they are our weapons toward the fleshly warfare that stands before us.

Where is your trust?

“For I will surely deliver you; and you will not fall by the sword… because you have put your trust in Me, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 39:18 AMP

When you put your trust in God, you will live, you will be saved, and you will walk away from darkness unscathed.  However, if you put your trust into your own hands, (and/or another’s hands), then the opposite will hold true.  So, let me ask, where is your trust; whose hands have you placed it in?  Hopefully, Gods!  But, if not, it’s never too late to turn your life over to Him.  If you are not sure how, well, all you have to do is ask Him to come into your heart, and forgive you your sins; He will, and He wants to! Yes, it is that simple.

So, Trust God to run your life, and if you do, you’ll find your life turning into an amazing roller coaster of miraculous wonders that go beyond all expectations. 

Obey the voice of the Lord

“… Obey, I beg of you, the voice of the Lord, who speaks to you through me, Then it will be well with you, and you will live.” Jeremiah 38:20 AMP

Building a relationship with the Lord takes time and effort, much like all relationships do, and as time goes by, and your relationship with Him gets stronger, then you will develop a personal bond with Him that will outshine all others.  You will begin to hear His voice in your own ways, and you will begin to know, that you know, that you know, His calling, no matter what the situation may be.  Hearing His voice takes faith and boldness, and sometimes you just have to step out and try; He knows your heart, don’t worry, if you take the wrong step, He’ll pull you back in.  No matter the case, do what you feel God is telling you to do.

Yes friends, make sure to take time to build your most important relationship– your relationship with God – because without Him, your life will not succeed, however, with Him, your life will continually evolve into blessing upon blessing ~ a never-ending journey of miracles. 

Praise God - Hallelujah

 

Do not let yourself be deceived.

"...Do not deceive yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans will surely stay away from us - for they will not stay away." Jeremiah 37:9

Replace the word, Chaldeans, with the words, devil and his army; now, re-read the the verse.  Friends, never let yourself think that you've become righteous enough to be free of Satan - the moment you do, you immediately begin to weaken, making you vulnerable to, and appealing, to him.  For instance, being selfish; not spending quality, one-on-one, time with God; not helping those in need; or having an egotistical attitude, are just a few of the ways we begin to weaken in faith, which leads us right into the chains of the devil. 

So, make a point, on a daily basis, to ask yourself if you fall into these categories, and if you do, get down on your knees, repent, and begin to make right your wrongs!  Remember, you are never, in yourself, above the devil, but, with God, you are equipped with His power, which can destroy the devil, and his army, without missing beat of the good plan that God has for your life.

Your day is coming!

"... I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security... I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me... and they will be in awe and tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide..."

[YES...]

"The days are coming,' declares the Lord..."

Jeremiah 33:6, 8,9,14 AMP

Your day is coming, my friend!! Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe in five months, maybe in five years, but, it IS coming! The worst thing you can do is give up to doubt and unbelief - so, don't do it!  

Friend, God's Word is 100% true and bullet-proof, so, no matter how bad it seems right now, as long as you stand in faith of Him, your blessed day of breakthrough and glory is coming!

To do you good.

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will not turn away from following them to do them good… Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good…” Jeremiah 32:40-41 AMP

Oh how God loves His children!!!!

When you give your  heart to God and have a reverential fear for Him, then He promises good for you; it is written in His Word, and His Word never lies!!  So, if there seem to be unfortunate circumstances in your life right now, do NOT fear, God is in control, and He won’t let the final outcome be anything less than good.  Yes, it hurts; yes, it is hard; no, it isn’t fair, but, it isn’t finished yet.  Therefore, hang on, because when He puts His final touch on your situation , boy-oh-boy, the struggle you endure while going through it will be well worth the hurt, and then some.

Don’t give up – God is in control!

Lying words

“Do not listen to and believe the words of the [false] prophets… for it is a lie that they prophesy to you.” Jeremiah 27:14

Do not believe what everyone tells you, especially when lies and condemnation are being spoken over you.  When someone prophesies, (forewarns, advises, directs you, etc.), and it doesn’t feel right in your soul, then do not hesitate on digging into the Word of God and finding out if His Truth matches the prophesy spoken over you; if their words don’t match up to God’s, then disregard whatever they declared and begin to speak the Word out loud until their voice is silenced within you.

Friends, do not waste your time on rubbish, no-good, talk that does nothing for you but put you in a mental tailspin.  God’s Word is the one and only truth that you can rely on. So, read it, learn it, speak it, declare it, and make it a must on a daily basis; because then, and only then, can you stand confident in who you are and Whose you are, knowing that you have the power to trample any serpent that tries to get in your way.

 

Obey the voice of the Lord your God

"Therefore now amend your words and doings and obey the voice of the Lord your God..." Jeremiah 26:13

Most God loving Christian adults know in our hearts the difference between right and wrong in regards to decisions we are making, actions we are taking, words we are speaking, etc.  Therefore, if there is parts of our lives that we know aren't right, especially in the eyes of God, then it is of utmost - sometimes the difference between life and death - that we make some changes - fast!

For instance, I can get on the band wagon of gossip very easily, and it only takes a second to know it is not right.  Thankfully, I've become more mature in Christ, so I've begun to quickly jump off and repent.  What about you? What is something that you find yourself doing that you know isn't right in the sight of God?  Whatever it is, God is quick to forgive, so jump off the bandwagon of sin, repent for your wrongs, and let Him cover you with His saving grace..."In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." (Acts 17:11).

So, make sure to get right with the Lord, make amends where necessary, and then let His covering of forgiveness take you over.  Not only will you become more mature in Him, you will feel renewed and revived, enabling you to proceed into the next blessed dimension of your life, growing closer and closer to Him everyday - halleluiah.

Burden or blessing

"But the burden of the Lord you must mention no more, for every man's burden is his own response and word..." Jeremiah 23:36 AMP

Although I may be a bit off at recognizing the true meaning of the verse, I do believe that a great way to interpret is, "Most of our burdens are self-induced and self-inflicted because of the way we speak about our circumstances, and our irresponsible actions.". Well, I think that it's time to make some changes.  You?

Maybe we should face our burdens, stop putting all of our focus on them, and begin to put the focus on God; with Him we will gain a strong footing, and a new perspective, and better choice of words, which will help make decisions as to what steps to take next.  As well, He'll help us look at our burdens with new eyes, and we will see that there is, somehow, a blessing in disguise beginning to take place.

So, when faced with a burden that seems overwhelming, stop and ask God if it is truly a burden or a blessing in disguise; I guarantee He'll provide a glimpse, and a way, to a blessed ending, guaranteed to make the agony of the what was once thought of as a burden, a blessing that is worth every ounce of pain to obtain it.

There is a right way!

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his [upper] chambers by injustice.” Jeremiah 22:13 AMP

Another way to read this verse:

Lie, cheat, and steal to get what you want – destruction, pain, darkness, and  desolation will be what you get!

OR…

Follow God in all your endeavors, and all your endeavors will be blessed and full of His glory.

 

Choosing life vs. Choosing death

“… Thus says the Lord, Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” Jeremiah 21:8

The way to a slow, agonizing death is by continuing in knowing sin, such as: immorality, lying, stealing, cheating – hence, evil in all forms.

But…

The way to a fulfilling and blessed life is by repentance and salvation, giving up all forms of sin, and handing your life, in its entirety, over to God.

Personally, I highly recommend the road to life, because, for me, it’s the only reason I am alive today, and my life gets blessed and more amazing every step of the way.  I pray you’ve chosen the same thing – if not, please consider the destination of sin… is that truly the way you want your life to end???

Hand crafted

“… Behold, as the clay is in the potters hand, so are you in my hand…” Jeremiah 18:6

Do you know how special you are?  God loves you so much! He’s shaping you, forming you, molding you into the person that He’s put you here to be - hand crafting the very purpose He’s put you here to fulfill.  Therefore, embrace your life, embrace who you are, and, although you may not know your purpose yet, you will!  And, boy oh boy, once you do, you will experience His miraculous glory in amazing brilliance every step of the way!

Yes, my friend, you are important, you have meaning, you are God’s child, and you are loved beyond imagination.

Trust in, rely on - have hope and confidence in

“[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots… it shall not see and fear when heat comes…. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of the drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

To trust in, believe in, rely on, and have hope and confidence in God equals stability, contentment, fruit bearing, and fearlessness (just to name a few). However, on the flip side, to trust in, believe in, rely on, and have hope and confidence in the world (and/or yourself) equals failure, darkness, worry, thirst, fruitlessness – hence, a slow, torture-filled death. YIKES

I’m personally going to opt for placing myself in God’s hands … what about you?

Worthy or worthless words?

“… if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be My spokesman….” Jeremiah 15:19 NIV

When you speak, should people stop and listen?  Really?  Words matter! Words spoken can be a matter of life or death to someone, so if yours aren’t worth the breath to speak – change them, it’ll do you, and the individuals you speak to, a huge favor.

Be a spokesperson for God, make sure your words lift up and not push down; use your words for good, not evil; and, make a point, every day, to use your words to encourage someone - you may just be the blessing that someone needs to make it through another day.

 

In our midst

"... yet You, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name..." 

Jeremiah 14:9

You and I are not alone, we are never, nor will be ever be alone - God is always with us!

I know there are times when the feeling of loneliness can get get overwhelming; overwhelming to the point of tears, depression, and fear - but, those are the times when God can do His best work if we let Him, if we call on Him, if we trust Him!  Remember, the pain you've felt, or are feeling now, is only a season, so take hold of God with your life, and in due time you will, once again, see His light shine; there will be a new spring in your step, and the mountain that once stopped you in your tracks will be barely visible in your past.