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My2Cents: I've been in a blue funk with all the ugh that has been happening in my life and around my life. But hears the good news: I got a swift kick in the rear with the reading this day. Revelations 3:8 says: ""…See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut…". Meaning [ as I have espoused on other occasions BUT need to get into my SPIRIT concretely] what GOD has for you/I HE has it for you/I and no matter what the situation looks/feels like. ------- The problem I was having is that I was remembering not the PROMISE but the problems. In other words, I looked back to when I was in a dire situation and how I did not come out smelling like roses or seemingly to my benefit. And the very words that Jeremiah espouses in Jeremiah 15:18 is what I felt and was saying: "...why is my [whatever your issues is] so incurable? [and GOD] your help seems so uncertain as seasonal brook..." These feelings/thoughts are no surprise to the LORD. He understand that in our humanness we don't have the full picture! We don't, and that sometimes bad things happen despite our wishing them not to be. Amen. Yet, I love how the LORD responded to me/you and Jeremiah in v. 19 which says: ".... if you speak good words rather than worthless one you will be my spokesman...". In other words, if we can get out of HIS way and stop speaking death and pity and negativity over our lives- we can be all that HE wants us to be. Worthless words are: "I can't.. I'm always being hurt... I'm destined to be alone... I'm always struggling..." Dear family and friends those are not GOD's promise and/or words. His Good words are: " you are the head not the tail..." Deut. 28:13. "... greater is HE that is in me than he that is of the world..."1 John 4:4. ".. we are more than conquerors..." Romans 8:37. "...I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me..."Philippians 4:13. Amen. Or select any scripture that speaks to your heart. Then those are the Good words that you speak. Praise be to GOD. My questions are simply these: Do you believe that your future is NOT what your past was? If so, do you think it is bright? Do you believe that before YOU is an open door? If your response has been yes, then change YOUR SPEECH so that you are on the SAME PAGE as GOD. Amen. Amen. Amen. DECLARE TODAY: I AM_______________[insert whatever truth you are depending and trusting GOD to do]. Praise be to GOD. Because for any communicator and/or advocate{smile) we know that to speak against our interest/desire is to sell the enemies/adversary's point of view. Let us build up GOD's case/position not our enemy. Glory be to GOD. Amen. Trust in Psalm 59:10 which says " ... unfailing [in GOD's]love for [me], HE will let me look down in triumph on all [my] enemies." I promise if we have this perspective we will see the glimpses and manifestation of GOD working it out. Praise be to GOD. Hallelujah.
LET THE DOORS CLOSE
Read Revelations 3:8
One time, I was walking through a government building. There were two sets of double doors about fifteen feet apart. They were both automatic doors. When you walked through the first set of doors, you had to let them totally close before the next set of doors would open. As long as I stayed at that first set of doors, the second set would not open. It's the same principle in life. If you're sitting around nursing your wounds, feeling sorry for yourself, you're not going to see anything new. You've got to let those doors totally close. Let go of the disappointments. Let go of the failures. You cannot change the past, but you can change the future. If you'll move forward, you'll see the new things God has for you. The Scripture says that "God will give you beauty for ashes." Here's the key; you have to let go of the ashes before you can receive the beauty. Ashes represent our broken dreams, failures, disappointments and hurts. We all have our share of ashes. As long as you're holding onto the ashes, thinking about the disappointment, mad at somebody, bitter at the past, then you won't receive the beauty. An exchange has to take place. It's an act of faith to say, "God, I'm forgiving this person who hurt me." Or, "I lost my biggest client, but I'm not going to have a chip on my shoulder." "My friend betrayed me, but I'm going to keep a good attitude." That's when God can give you the beauty. You might say, "Well, Joel. They hurt me too badly. I can't forgive them." That's a heavy price to pay. If you won't let go of the old, you can't receive the new. "Well, we prayed for our mother and she didn't get healed like your mother. We don't understand it." I don't claim to understand it all. I'm simply asking you to let go of the ashes. Let go of the disappointment. Let go of the blame. Take those ashes, your broken dreams, your hurts, your failures, even your questions, put them into God's hands and say, "God, it wasn't fair. They hurt me. My dream didn't work out, but I refuse to live life looking in the rearview mirror. You promised me beauty for ashes. So right now I'm releasing the bitterness. I'm forgiving the person that hurt me. I'm letting go of the disappointments. I'm letting the old doors close so I can walk through the new doors You have in front of me!"
May GOD bless you and keep you. Peace.