#JustFiveMinutes

Woooooo.... this one is a doozy. It boils down to one question: Do I trust GOD? If I am to grow my GOD CONFIDENCE, how can I do that if I do not TRUST HIM? No matter what I SEE, no matter what I FEEL, no matter what happened or didn't happen-- will I say: AND I TRUST YOU!

“Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.” Psalm 55:22-23 MSG

That, my friend, is an awesome offer! But that's all it is until we USE it. God is saying, "GO AHEAD, pile your troubles, problems, issues, pains, headaches-- on my shoulders." But that does us no good  until we actually DO IT!

Have had several unplanned HIATUSES... so this is just a quick word addressing that and reiterating my goal as I share my personal devotions through #justfiveminutes. Thank you for your time!

Today is a different kind of devotional. Instead of focusing on one verse, I will read Psalms 103:6-8 in the Message Version. It's what I needed. And maybe it's what you need today. Main point: He loves you and HE WILL MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT. 

Today I will be as transparent as ever because after I read 1 Samuel 17:48, I knew that I was not David-like. “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.” And the seven words that shook me were DAVID QUICKLY RAN OUT TO MEET HIM! David quickly ran towards danger, towards evil, towards opposition, towards the problem, the issue-- He didn't hesitate. Why? Because HE KNEW GOD and KNEW GOD'S WORD. 

I wasted seven years of my life not talking to my brother. Thankfully, in the middle of the pandemic during the summer of 2020, my brother and I reconciled. This devotion is taken from a journal entry about three months after that and it's after I ran across Philippians 4:2 NLT that reads.... "Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.” I encourage you, if it is in your power, your control-- SETTLE YOUR DISAGREEMENTS QUICKLY!

Although the previous two devotionals may have seem hopeless or bleak, here's the SOLUTION: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT. Once we acknowledge that we can't figure it out on our own and we can't on own accord be good, we can open our hearts to GOD who GIVES US THE DESIRE AND THE POWER TO DO WHAT PLEASES HIM! God is sooooo good!

Love it when GOD just lines everything up. This verse pairs perfectly with yesterdays devotional. Romans 7:18 NLT: “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” Not only am I not built to figure it out on my own, I also can't do GOOD or be GOOD on my own. Let me tell you this: If any verse of scripture describes my struggle to a T it's this one... "I WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT I CAN'T!

This devotional was originally written as a journal entry on August 22, 2021, during a time where I was just struggling. And I came to acknowledge that I was struggling because yet again, I was trying to DO IT ALONE knowing that GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR ME TO RELY ON MYSELF. Proverbs 3:5 MSG puts it plain and simple: "Do not try to figure out everything on your own."

Philippians 4:5 NLT “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” In varying translations, the word considerate also translates to reasonableness, graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, patience and gentle spirit. I mean it all boils down to BE KIND!

Back to 1 Corinthians 10:13 one last time in the Message Version: "All you need to remember is that (Promise #1) God will never let you down; (Promise #2) He’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; (Promise #3) He’ll always be there to help you come through it.” Point. Blank. Period. 

Reason (PROMISE) #2 that we should CULTIVATE GOD CONFIDENCE is because HE WILL NEVER LET YOU BE PUSHED PAST YOUR LIMIT. To some of us that feel we have been through it-- wether mentally, physically, financially, emotionally-- this is an awesome promise to encourage us to not give up. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG “All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”

Yesterday I set my goal for 2022 to CULTIVATE GOD CONFIDENCE... today lets talk about why we should. 1 Corinthians 10:13 in The Message Version says: "All you need to remember is that GOD will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." That's three beautiful, powerful reasons aka PROMISES. Let's focus on #1: GOD WILL NEVER NEVER NEVER LET YOU DOWN!

Happy New Year! My goal for 2022: Cultivate God-Confidence! Let's dig into 1 Corinthians 10:12 in The Message version that says: "Forget about self-confidence; it's USELESS. Cultivate God-Confidence." Those are some powerful words that go against not only "worldly thinking" but also logical thinking. BUUUUT HE never intended for us to rely on ourselves and trust our selves and have confidence in ourselves. Let's face it, we've failed so many times why would we try to rely on ourselves?

When you read the word of God and you encounter words like "therefore" and "however," you should read the previous verses to see why those words are being used. Same with the word "THEN." When I read Philippians 4:7 and it started off with "Then you will experience God's peace" immediatly I asked, what is it that I have to do to experience God's peace? So I back tracked to the previous verse and here are the four disciplines that I need to work on to be able to experience the peace of GOD: #1) Don't worry about anything. #2) Pray about everything. #3) Tell HIM your needs. #4) Thank HIM for what HE has done. 

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, SLOW TO SPEAK and slow to become angry.” James 1:19 NIV... So part two of James 1:19 says that we are to be SLOW TO SPEAK. Today, I encourage you to choose your words carefully. Don't be so quick to share whatever comes to your mind. Not everyone wants to or needs to hear our opinion.

Just one thought today... JUST ONE THOUGHT: Be QUICK TO LISTEN... That's it. Simple, right? And and I say listen I don't mean sit there quietly for your turn to speak and give your opinion. No, I mean: Listen with your ears, your eyes, your heart. Today, LISTEN to your coworker, your friend, your family member, your classmate... JUST LISTEN.

The Message version in 1 Peter 4:8 says that "The world is wrapping up" AND BOY IS IT EVER! A few weeks into a new year and things keep getting scarier and crazier. So here's the advice that 1 Peter 4:8 gives: Do not take things for granted. And today, let's take a moment and be thankful for blessing big and small. TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED! Call that loved one. Apologize. Help. Change. Start. Whatever it is that you have been postponing, DO IT TODAY!

Simple notion. Difficult execution. HE tells us in Luke 9:23 MSG that "Anyone who intends to come with me must let me lead." And then without skipping a beat, HE hammers the thought: "You are not in the driver's seat-- I AM." For some of us, giving up control brings on anxiety. BUT, who better to give control to then GOD? I encourage you today to get out of the driver's seat and buckle up on the passenger's side. LET HIM LEAD YOU!

Ever heard people say (or maybe you've said)-- "I need a vacation from my vacation!" Yea, we know what they mean. They didn't get any rest. They were going, going, going. Well in Mark 6:31, after the disciples have returned from preaching, healing, freeing throughout the surrounding areas, Jesus tells them "Come away by yourself to a desolate place and rest a while." He recognized that even though they were doing THE LORD'S WORK, they still needed time to separate themselves, to focus without distractions and just rest. Take some time today-- even if for just a few seconds-- and REST.

Psalms 147:2 in The Message version says, "HE heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds." We can trust HIM with those precious hurts, those secret hurts, those deep cuts, those words that stung, those actions and deeds that ripped us, that scared us, that left us alone dazed confused... Because HE IS GREATER THAN OUR BROKENNESS. 

There is so much going on in the world... IT IS CRAZY! But guess who is GREATER THAN ALL THE CRAZINESS? God. 1 John 4:4 tells us, "Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world." So today I just encourage you, GOD IS GREATER. I hope that brings you some comfort today.

If there were ever at time when we need a reminder to stop being selfish and self centered and to think about others it is now. Amidst this unprecedented global pandemic, TODAY stop.... breathe.... listen... and think about others. Find ways to show love and to do good works.

Ever been hit by a song or scripture right in the heart? Yea, double whammy for me: Listened to the song "Run To The Father" sung by Cody Carnes and read Matthew 11:28 that says, "If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest." Today I encourage you to put those burdens at HIS feet.

Humor me here and read James 1:2 in three different translations:

NKJV: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials."

NLT: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

ERV: “My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy.”

Now, let's talk about COUNTING IT ALL JOY!

Such a great promise found in Jeremiah 29:13... "You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, YOU WILL FIND ME." It's not like HE is playing Hide and Go Seek with us... He has made several ways for us to FIND HIM. We've just got to do it.

There is a difference between REACTING to something or someone and RESPONDING. And I've got to learn and re-learn that difference every single day. Proverbs 15:1 says: "A GENTLE ANSWER makes anger disappear, but a rough answer make it grow." 

Moving on to the second chapter of 1 Peter... Starts off with an EXCLAMATION POINT! It tells us... SO CLEAN HOUSE! And then gives a short four item list of things to clean out: MALICE (the DESIRE to do evil), PRETENSE (giving false INTEnTIONS), ENVY (desiring others people's possessions or position, and HURTFUL TALK. 

Continuing on in 1 Peter to the next paragraph in The Message Version... We must live my life with a deep consciousness of GOD... of who HE is, of what HE has done for us,  of HIS many blessings, of HIS love, of HIS mercy and of HIS grace.

Today I want to encourage you: if you are living a sloppy life, an "I don't care" kind of life... let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness! 

Lets hit the ground running... I've been reading and listening to 1 Peter on repeat for a week going on two weeks. (Did you know that on the @Youversion Bible App you can hit the PLAY button and listen to Bible. Great for when you're working out, driving, cleaning, whatever.) So let's break these verses down starting with the first five words: SO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES!

1 Peter 1.13-16 MSG: So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Also shout out to #ElevationWorship and #TaurenWells for an awesome, uplifting, fist pumping worship song: Never Lost... That chorus: "You've never lost a battle... You never will" On repeat currently.

Fifth and Final Part of #HopeWeek. You ready to be encouraged? Did you know that when we place our HOPE in GOD we reap the benefits? Unfailing LOVE, full REDEMPTION and renewed STRENGTH. Those three alone are worth it!

Today I want to talk about ANCHORS... Our HOPE is an ANCHOR and first off we have to make sure we have then RIGHT ANCHOR and then that we are anchored to the RIGHT PLACE.

In Part 2 on #HopeWeek... Let's talk about how GOD IS OUR HOPE. We can make our hope people, places and things but people are imperfect, places and situations change and things just fade and disappear. So why not make GOD YOUR HOPE? Psalms 71:5 syas, "Lord GOD, you are my HOPE. I have trusted you since I was a young boy."

In the fifth and final part of the Colossians' Prayer found in Colossians 1:9-11, we learn to pray "that GOD will strength [us]  with HIS own great power so that [we] will be patient and not give up when troubles come." Be encouraged today! HIS fullness, HIS power, HIS strength lives in you in our so that you can endure, persevere, to not give up. And in the end, we will be happy and give thanks to our heavenly FATHER.

In PART 4 of the Colossians Prayer found in Colossians 1:9-11, we learn to pray that we will grow in the knowledge of HIM. We are to everyday, every hour, every minute grow in HIM... learning that God is loving, faithful, just powerful, mighty, righteous, compassionate, gracious, forgiving, good, holy, merciful, mighty, fair, HE is our refuge, our help and HE is also with us.

In PART 3 of the Colossians' Prayer (Colossians 1:9-11), we learn to pray "that [our] life will PRODUCE GOOD WORKS of every kind." That means emotional, physical, financial, mental and spiritual good works. And they only way to produce good works is if we abide in HIM and HE abides in us.

Each part of the Colossians' Prayer builds on itself... Part one we talked about getting WISDOM so we can be CONFIDENT IN HIM and now we learn we have this CONFIDENCE will "help you live in a way that brings HONOR to the LORD and PLEASES HIM in every way."  

Breaking down the prayer found in Colossians 1:9-11. This first part prays "that God will make you completely sure of what HE wants by giving you all the WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING you need."  Be encouraged that HE gives us WISDOM without measure, freely, liberally, without a second thought... why? So then we can be CONFIDENT IN HIM.

God is soooo meticulous. From every hair on our heads being numbered, cataloged, reported, recorded and accounted for to every tear kept in a ledger to every toss and turn we have during our sleepless night. Why? Because HE SEES YOU and HE CARES FOR YOU and HE LOVES YOU! 

Been a way for a whole month! But back at it. Amid all the craziness, uncertainty, sickness, lack, confusion and doubt... HE IS STILL GOD! And HIS Word still stands. And Philippians 1:6 says, "that the GOOD WORK God began in you will CONTINUE until HE completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again." Be encouraged! 

This devotional inspired by a tweet I read... yes, a tweet. A pastor tweeted about the PRODIGAL SON and it gut punched me. I went back to the story in Luke 15:11-20 and re-read it. And I've realized that HE doesn't care what brings you back to him, whatever brought you BACK TO YOUR SENSES, HE stands with arms open wide ready for you to come on back home!