When someone irritates me.

Ephesians 4: 31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

I am a very straight forward person. A spade is a spade. That kind of straight and please do not lie to me. I get super angry. Now when it comes to someone that truly irritates me I have no filters. The words "pop out" and I say what I feel and think. 

Yes, I know forgive this person and be kind, understanding and compassionate. My heart tells me to act in this way but my brain doesn't work like that. Reaching out is difficult and I struggle with to be a friendly person. Especially when I feel this person is defiant.  

Of course, I am working at being kinder and reaching out but it's very difficult for me. I forgive this person on a regular basis because I feel they manipulate the system to get their way. In Ephesians 4 verse 32 I am reminded to forgive as God has forgiven me. It takes me a while to get that forgiving in place.

It's beyond my understanding to grasp this person who goes out of their way to irritate me. When instructed to do a simple task, they will complicate the task and leave it. 

Unfortunately, I am a purpose driven, time-conscious and goal oriented person. The person in question does not care if it's Monday or Sunday each day is the same to them. Time is of no concern and by the way "who cares."  

Okay, you argue that this person is trying to live their own lives. The problem with this is that they have no direction and will not accept any guidance.

Which reminds me of God's Word. "Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God forgave you." I know, I am working on this matter. I am struggling with self-control and understanding this person. They don't make it any easier for me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Lord my God, You understand me and know where I am coming from. You also know the person I am referring to. Lord, You know how vicious this person is and how definite they are. 

Lord, You know what they do and say things behind my back. Humbly, I ask please LORD, forgive me, I do feel irritated by them, I forgive them and set them free, placing them into Your hands. In the Holy, Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Word for Today:
Isaiah 42: 3, “A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench; He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.”

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The LORD my God goes with me!

Deuteronomy 31: 6 NIV

“Be strong and courageous, Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Lord, my mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. Lord, I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. As for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I will tell of all your works.

As I focus my thoughts on the LORD, I know that God is walking with me today. Psalm 27 verse 13 says "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Thank YOU, LORD, for this verse. I believe that You are taking me forward. I just don't always know the process but I am walking this road with YOU, step by step, little by little. Psalms 27 verse 14 reminds me "Wait for the LORD, be strong, and let your heart take courage wait for the Lord!" You are awesome my King and my God.

Today I want to remind you of Psalm 37 verses 18 and 19 "The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance." 

I realize that the LORD is watching over me and that whatever I do He sees. I will not be concerned because I realize God is with me and is watching over me. He is walking with me each and every step of the way.

Prayer

Abba Father, please LORD, restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Please Father God, be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Lord in the name of Jesus Christ I believe You are my God in his steadfast love will meet me, God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. Thank You, LORD, Amen

THE Word for Today:
Psalm 50: 15, “and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

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Rekindle your desire – seeking God!

Psalm 119: 2 ESV

“Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.”

We are reminded to love the LORD our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might [Deuteronomy 6: 5]. Sometimes we need to rekindle our desires for God, in seeking Him. I know I am facing a situation and I cannot trust people, they go out of their way to hurt me. I can only trust in the Lord “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” [Proverbs 3: 5].

Facing difficult situations and circumstance causes me to look for the LORD, I am constantly calling out to Him and I know that He is true to His word. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” [Jeremiah 29: 13].

My question is do I truly love the LORD with all my heart? How will I gauge my love for the LORD? I think the LORD knows that I love Him with all my heart. I seek Him constantly, I fear that I am a disappointment to Him. I think there are times when I let Him down and He must feel sad to have me as His child. I believe that I need to constantly be reading my Bible and learning as much as I can about the person I truly love. The Lord is found in the pages of the Bible. I am lost without Him. I say goodnight and when I wake up I say good morning. During the day I seek God when I feel pressure and need help.

We all have pressure and pain sometimes and it can be stressful, I just believe those are the times I actually grow.

Prayer

Lord, humbly I come into Your presence. You are Holy and I want to praise Your Holy Name. Lord Let Your kingdom come and Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord I want to dedicate these naysayers into Your hands and I want to pray for their salvation. I pray Lord that they will birth what is on their minds and in their hearts. Lord, I pray that You will touch these peoples lives and they will rekindle their desire for You. Lord drawing near to You. I pray for their salvation and renewing of their minds as well as mine in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

The Word for Today:
Jeremiah 29: 11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

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LORD, I am asking for a Bigger Dream

Genesis 37: 9 ESV

“Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.””

Today, I want to ask the LORD, my God to show me the way forward. I also want to ask HIM for a vision for my own life. I also feel I want to ask God for a bigger dream. When reading about Joseph I came to realise that he dreamed a dream and then another dream only bigger.

What are my dreams currently? Well, I wrote Daily Devotional Ebenezer

and I am pushing for sales. Something that weighed heavy on my heart. I also started baking and I have become quite good but I am not an expert yet.

I would like to start up my own company but I feel I need wisdom, understanding and insight. I also want guidance and help. God placed Joseph in difficult positions and his character was tested on numerous occasions. Joseph stood the tests and came out on the other side a better person.

Prayer

Abba Father, behold, God is mighty and despises not any, He is mighty in strength and wisdom. Great is our Lord, and of great power, His understanding is infinite. O LORD, my God, You know me, I want to humbly pray to ask You please give me a vision for my own life and a bigger dream. Something I am able to reach. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Word for Today:
James 1: 5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.”

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When you face impossible odds

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Genesis 18: 14 ESV

“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

I feel like I am facing impossible odds right now. I am a contract worker and I would like to work but the odds are stacked against me. Today, I heard that there might be a possibility to extend my contract. It has been my prayer for as long as I have been freelancing here that the Lord is in control and I will work here as long as He has decided.

I feel that because I believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, I can ask Him to stand in the gap for me. I believe that I am going to continue with my contract and when the time is right I will be where the Lord, Jesus Christ wants me.

Are you facing impossible odds right now? Do you feel your finances are not making it? Are you worried about your health?  What about your relationships? Do you feel things aren't going to work out?

This challenge of not working I am facing right now, I am giving this challenge into the hands of the LORD, Jesus Christ. I believe nothing is too hard for the Lord, Jesus Christ.

When reading Genesis 17 it is clear that Abraham and Sarah are aged and it seemed they are facing impossible odds. When Abraham is 100 years old and Sarah was 99 years old, it sounds impossible for them to conceive a child. Continuing with Genesis 18 we read the LORD telling Abraham nothing is too difficult for the LORD. When the LORD returned the next year Sarah would have birthed a son (Isaac).

Prayer

Heavenly Father, LORD, God I want to bring You praises, saying thank You, I adore You. LORD, You are worthy and I want to praise Your, HOLY Name. LORD, I repent of my sins and I ask You please LORD forgive me. I pray that YOU, who holds the world in YOUR hands will help me and everyone else going forward. Lord, I dedicate this work into YOUR Hands and I pray that You will let me go when YOU think the time is right. I accept that You are able to influence my finance and that I will see a revival in my financial situation. I am praying for an appointing of Your hands over my wealth, please bless my hands that whatever I touch will be blessed and prosperous. Please action this even when I am not around. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers. I want to bring You glory, honour and praise. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ Amen

The Word for Today:
Psalm 16: 5, “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.”

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#onelittlething

Jeremiah 29: 11 ESV

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

I hear people saying I just need to win the “jackpot” I will be set for life, it’s just one little thing. Be honest the only one little thing we truly need is the Word (Bible) and a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I think about this scripture I want to focus on the fact that the LORD declares, He has plans for my welfare and not for evil, that He has a future and hope in place for me. I know I need to stand on His Word and I do. I will not fear because fear comes from the devil.

I accept and agree with this declaration today God LORD, You declared that YOU have plans for my welfare and not for evil. I have a future and a hope. Now please show me the way forward in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

THE Word for Today:
Jeremiah 29 : 12 – 13 , “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
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Lord, Jesus my Hope and Confidence is in YOU.

Lamentations 3: 24 ESV

“The LORD is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in HIM.”

Good morning, let’s raise up a Hallelujah this morning and sing praise to the LORD for He is our portion. We hope in Him. Let’s praise the LORD our God. LORD, You gives us wisdom and insight and understanding. LORD, You are our portion and You show us the way. LORD, I want to raise up a Hallelujah this morning to praise YOU. You are my wisdom and my righteousness; I want to glory in YOU LORD.

LORD this morning I want to raise up Hallelujah to YOU. Hallelujah, You are my God, You are my Alpha and Omega. LORD my soul cries out to YOU today, I praise You. I want to worship You, Holy Spirit gives me the necessary words to praise God. I love You, Lord Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for giving me the mind of Christ.

As John says “If God is all I have, I have all I need.” LORD, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah I raise my praise to YOU this morning. You are my Savior and I want to confirm and confess that my Hope and my confidences are in YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Prayer

LORD, my God YOU are my portion, my soul cries out to YOU this morning. I hope in YOU LORD. I lay my life before YOU today. I am nothing without YOU. I am worshipping YOU and I raise up a Hallelujah before YOU, YOU LORD are my God. I want to praise YOUR Holy Name. YOU have been and will be my everything. Today I want to confess that I am putting YOU first in my life this morning. In the Holy Name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

The Word for Today:
Lamentations 3: 55 - 57, “I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’”

RELATED RESOURCES:
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2019 – My dreams will come true

Philippians 4: 11 – 13 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

This year is all about embracing God and His Word. Today I want to also tell you about all my dreams and hopes. I love baking and I started about 7 years ago, I have become quite good at it, but I do want to improve. My dream is to be the best baker possible. I want to go overseas and visit my brother who stays in Australia. I need mega bucks to get there – my challenge is finances. I am baking as much as I can and the profit isn’t that much. Then, of course, I wrote Daily Devotions Ebenezer. I am hoping and praying that my book will sell this year. Last year was a slow year. I know that I am an unknown and people aren’t so into “invisible” people. Hey but God gave me these dreams, I have done what I can to make them possible the rest is in God’s hands.

I am looking forward to this year for two reasons I believe that God is going to do something supernatural regarding my trip to Australia. I also believe that God is going to put me forward. I really have been working hard. I try and do my best job now. I am disciplined and focused most of the time, of course, I can improve. I believe God is working something out for me. My life is in God’s hands and I know that He is there for me.

God is in the business of blessing His children, why would He give me a dream that I cannot attain?

Prayer

Lord, You are Mighty, Wonderful, Counselor, You Lord are the Lord of lords, the King of kings and You are my number one person. When I feel terrified and all alone You are the one I turn to. You know my heart and You see who I am. I am placing my dreams into Your hands. I am asking You to make them come true. I am here for a purpose and You have the key to my success. You know what life is all about the challenges I face, the worries that plague me daily. I bring this to You in the Holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Word for Today:
Colossians 3: 23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the LORD and not for men.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
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