Up, Down, Round and Round

As we live out our course of life, we will find that many times we are UP, DOWN, ROUND and ROUND, but through it all God is right there to comfort and strengthen as needed. All that we go through is for the building up of our spiritual man. Actually we're on a roller coaster, the Roller Coaster of Life! I did a post talking about the roller coaster of life on my other blog, Melissa's Quiet Time Cafe , you can go there to read more on that subject.

Many times as women of God our emotions tend to take over when we dont really understand why were up one day, down the next, and it seems as though we're going in circles, well this one thing I do know and that is that "All Things Work Together" for the good to them who love God and is called according to His purpose. We must press our way through the hard times until we reach a place of strength. We must praise and worship until we receive our breakthrough for our breakthrough is in your praise, your healing is in your praise, your answers is in your praise, all that you need is in your praise - so begin to praise Him even when you dont feel it, praise Him even when you dont see no other way - IT'S IN YOUR PRAISE, IT'S IN YOUR PRAISE, IT'S IN YOUR PRAISE!

Always remember your going through is just a part of your brokenness - you're being broken for greatness, yeah I know that it don't feel like it but you are, I know that you cant see it but you are - after reading this, do this little exercise: Look in the mirror and analyze what you see and who you see - look beyond yourself (remember it's not about you it's about God) and see the God in you, look at whom God has called you to be, look deep into the spirit realm and once God show you the real you do all that you can to become the real you. Yes, you are great in the Kingdom of God, you are a child of God so stop beating up on yourself! You are stronger than you think - The Roller Coaster of Life ain't so bad after all, yes we're up, down, round and round but we can handle it with God - We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

I'm Changing my Mind

In order to become all that God has said there must be a changing of the mind. The old mindset must be replaced with he a new mindset - The mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5 says; "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus". As children of God we must have the mind of Christ and bear a resemblance of His life if we're to have the benefit of His death. Without a changing in the mind we are none of His. A humble and lowly mind (Matt. 11:29) must take place. Jesus humbled Himself to sufferings and then to death for us, not only to satisfy God's justice and to pay a price for our redemption but as an example for us to follow.

Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee, but his heart is not with thee". What and how a man think in his heart so is he, we become what we think rather than what we speak for we can speak it all day but if it has not been thought/believed in the heart our speaking is in vain. We must have the mind of Christ knowing that "ALL THINGS WILL WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD". One must get rid of the doubtful mind, because just because we speak a thing doesn't really mean that we believe, with the mind of Christ one will come to believe that "ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM ABOVE" and that "IF GOD SAID IT, IT SHALL COME TO PASS".

It reads in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed (fashioned alike) to this world: but be ye transformed (changed, transfigured, metamorphose) by the renewing (renovation) of your mind, that ye may prove (discern, try) what is that good (benefit), and acceptable (well pleasing), and perfect (complete) will (desire) of God. There must be a saving change wrought in us, conversion and sanctification are renewing of the mind. The qualities of our soul must become new: (a) new dispositions, (b) new inclinations, (c) new sympathies, (d) new antipathies, (e) understanding enlightened, (f) Conscience softened, (g) thoughts rectified, (h) our will bowed to the Will of God, (i) our affections must be spiritual and heavenly, (j) new principles, (k) new rules, (l) new in all areas. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new - this scripture wraps up this whole devotion, it says it all.

With this being said I encourage you to get rid of any mind games that has been controlling you - mind games think more of self than it should, after all "IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD and His Kingdom. It's not about us, never has been and never will be. Are you willing to accomplish the Will and Purpose that God has for you? Are you willing to have your mind renewed day by day? If your answer is yes, then begin to deny yourself and think on the things of God.

Philip. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS

He Never Left

There are times while being broken when we fill as though we're all alone and all hope is gone. It's a bad feeling to be at the bottom of the barrel - you're so low until you even begin to see above your present state. It's during these times that we begin to question our Heavenly Father, "God, you said that you would never leave me nor forsake, so where are you?" "Where have you gone, I look from east to west, north to south and I can't find you, why have you left me here all alone?"



This is it, it's during your most vulnerable times in life that you will not find Him to the left or right; or in the front or back, why? Because He's present with you, it's during this time that He's carrying you. During our time of being broken we must look for our Savior in a quiet place, a place within our own being. If you seek God in your heart you'll find Him. It's amazing to say that a God so BIG, a God so MIGHTY, a God so AWESOME, a God THAT ALWAYS WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE, would actually come down from His throne to dwell in the hearts of man.

God chasten those whom He love and brokenness is needed in order for us to stay focused on the path in which we were called to travel but rest assure, we never travel alone for God is omni-present, He's forever present as we set out on a daily basis seeking Him and Him only. The sooner we accept that we're being "BROKEN FOR GREATNESS", the sooner we'll find ourselves in the healing process. God is not wasteful nor is He foolish, everything that He does has purpose. You may not like that you were chosen for a specific purpose but who are we to complain - I say, rejoice and be exceedingly glad because He could have chose someone other than yourself. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it's easy but what I am saying is just receive ALL that God has for you - if you can receive good from the hand of the Father, surely you can receive a little brokenness!

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

I encourage you to endure hardness as a good soldier knowing that Jesus is the leader of the pack. We serve a God that will not lead us into defeat but into EVERLASTING VICTORY and knowing this we'll accept being BROKEN FOR GREATNESS and not SHATTERED FOR RUIN.
When you feel the weariest, lonely, the saddest and the lowest, know that you're not alone but God is ever present to the point of carrying you for when you are weak, He is strong!

The Word of God & Growth

2 Tim. 2:15 says to, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".

When you fail to study the Word of God your growth is stunted. Once the growing process has slowed down or even stopped, deterioration begins to take place in the body Spiritually. On this Christian journey there are levels that we must reach, we must go from glory to glory but this is only accomplished by growth in the Spirit and the Word of God is the only thing that's capable of feeding our Spirit man. There is always a higher plateau that we can reach, for example:

Personal Evangelism, Matthew 4:19 says, "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". We are all born a soul winner but it's up to us to feed our spirit that we may grow into the full maturity of God's Word.Read the Word of God, pray the Word of God, study the Word of God, dissect the Word of God and watch what happens in your area of Spiritual growth. You will be amazed at how the spirit of God begin to grow within you.

Here are a few ways of how one will grow by studying the Word of God:

1. Studying God's Word will cause spiritual strength and power to war against Satan and the cares of this world.

2. The Word of God is our Biblical Foundation, without it we will not be able to withstand the trials and storms of this life.

3. Studying God's Word causes us to be successful in every area of our lives for the Glory of God.

4. Studying God's Word will reveal His perfect will for your life rather than your will or that of someone else.

5. Studying God's Word will cause one to be effective in Ministry and Evangelism

6. Studying God's Word cause one to be motivated and gives clear vision on the Will and Purpose for one's life.

7. Studying God's Word will cause one to grow in Knowledge and teach Wisdom.

As you feast on the Word of God you will start to become and develop into the man or woman of God that He created you to be. God is complete lacking nothing - as being created in His image, we should be complete and lacking nothing spiritually. If a man lacketh in any area due to not studying and educating himself on the Will and Purpose of God (Studying the Word of God), then you are none of His because God lacks nothing. HOW CAN YOU HAVE GOD and NOT HAVE HIS WORD? Something is wrong with that picture. John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. How can I be a math teacher and know not God ~ not so! How can I be an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher and know not God/The Word of God ~ not so! Therefore, you cant have one without the other.2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. All scripture is profitable to all believers in some way or another. There's scriptures for conviction of sin, some for acts of Joy, love and happiness, some to cause one to come to repentance and others reveal God's perfect will for, in and through the lives of His children.I encourage you all to obey and study to show yourselves approved unto God and after you've done all to stand ~ continue to stand on The Word of God. I thank God for my walk with Him ~ the good, the bad and the ugly (lol).

Through all that I've been through I can say that it's been a learning process all in all. No matter the situation there is always scripture to strengthen, guide, lead and comfort me through it. I say this to let you know that GOD'S WORD IS INDEED IMPERATIVE TO OUR GROWTH. I've grown from where I was a year ago, a month ago and even a week ago but my growing process has yet a ways to go. keep me in your prayers as I continue to pray for you as we all strive to die to our flesh daily and grow into ALL that God has created us to be.

Lots of love, Lady Sutton