Mornings With Jesus

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ever tried to carry a cup filled to the top with water or soda without spilling any of it? How about a hot bowl of soup? My first several jobs were in the food industry and they teach you, when you are carrying liquid of any kind, not to look at the bowl or cup but rather to look straight ahead so you don’t think too much about it...

While this may serve you well in the food business, I sure am thankful when it comes to our spiritual lives, we don’t have to take such precautions. In fact the Lord would rather us be so full of Him and His Word that we spill all over everything and everybody! 

Moreover, the more full we are on the Word, the less room we have for other things that want to steal, kill, and destroy us like worry, fear, anxiety, doubt, sickness, anger, sin, you name it - the Word has the power to sustain us through it all and bring us out on the other side as more than conquerors! 

The psalmist wrote “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalms‬ ‭119:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 

Be encouraged today! The Word of God is alive! It is powerful! It has the ability to stifle any temptation, thwart any attack, quench any thirst, fill any void, loose any chain, break any addiction! 

 Listen, I heard a preacher say one time, “If the devil kicks your bucket, whatever’s on the inside is gonna come out! If there’s a cuss on the inside, a cuss is gonna come out, but if there’s a praise,” well., you get the picture I’m sure :) 

The truth is, whatever’s on the inside in abundance is going to come out when the day of adversity arrives. 

The storms of life come to us all in one way or another but we don’t have to be caught off guard! When that devil of doubt and discouragement shows up, you can open your mouth wide and let the Word that you have been faithful to put in, spill out and declare with confidence, No Vacancy! 

Anger rising? “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to wrath...” James 1:19, No Vacancy!

Sickness knocking? “By His stripes, I’m healed!” 1 Peter 2:24, No Vacancy!

Worry pulling? “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God!” Phil. 4:6, No Vacancy!

Fear gripping? “God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7, No Vacancy! 

It’s going to take some time to build up your proficiency at this, but the good news is that you can start today, start right now, right where you are at! 

If you fall, get back up, and go again! You got this! 

Fill up on the Word and watch it work wonders in your life! 
 
In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ever heard someone say, “God works in mysterious ways?”

While this may be true in a sense, it isn’t entirely true in the context it is usually presented. Sadly, oftentimes expressions like this are used to mean that God does as He pleases and we are left out of the loop. 

I have some awesome news however, God desires for us to be in the know as to what He is doing in the earth! In fact, Jesus said to His disciples, and to us by extension, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John‬ ‭15:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Listen, the devil hides things from us, but God hides things for us! (Pastor Jim Frease)

Sure we may have to dig a little, but its in the digging process that we develop an intimacy with the Father! After all, that’s the ultimate reason Jesus came to Earth. He didn’t come to simply die for our sins only, although I am sure glad He did! He came to reconcile us to the Father, to bring us back into a relationship with Him!

In essence, once we get born-again, we reserve our table with the Father, one-on-one, a table for two! Now that’s awesome news! 

In fact, God says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me and I will answer you and show you things you know not!”

I heard a pastor say one time, “God didn’t sit behind a plate glass window and hand us a prescription for our malady, He got in our mess!”

What an awesome God we serve and He so desires to know you personally and intimately and vice versa! He wants to sit at the table with you! 

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (NKJV)

If it’s been a while since you sat awhile with Him, take some time today! Remember, He isn’t mad at you, He is madly in love with you! 

Your seat is already reserved! Come and sit awhile with Him today :) 

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭AMP‬‬

How many times have we gone to God with half prayers, never truly believing He will answer us to the fullest? We go to Him with outstretched hands begging for something, anything that He can spare.

“God if you could just help me pay this one bill, pay half the rent, buy this old vehicle, please Lord, anything you can spare. I know I don’t deserve it...”

Hearing it like that may sound a bit over the top, but its so true. Many times we find ourselves pleading and begging God for help instead of boldly believing that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or even imagine! :) 

I love how the amplified Bible words it, 
“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Be encouraged today! He doesn’t want to help you only with one bill, He wants to provide for all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus! He wants you to have the best! 

He is your Heavenly Father and He loves you - more than you could ever dream or imagine! You are ever before Him, on His mind! The Bible says if you were to try and count God’s precious thoughts toward you, they are innumerable like the sand on the seashore! (Psalm 139)

The Bible says, if your son asks you for bread, will you give him a stone? It goes on later to say, so then you, who posess an evil nature, know how to give good gifts to your children, therefore HOW MUCH MORE will He give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

Today, as you go before your Heavenly Father, come boldly before His throne and believe that he is able and willing to do far above all you could ever imagine in your life! He wants to! 

His Word is His will! :) 

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Runnin”
a poem by Joshua Scott Zeitz

I’ve been runnin from your goodness,
runnin from your grace.
An insult to your mercy,
been runnin from your face.

Runnin from Your presence,
runnin from your ways.
battered, bruised, and broken,
I’ve been runnin many days.

Worn out from the fighting,
Torn and losing pace.
Worn out from this world,
but You were giving chase!

Runnin, runnin,
I’ve been runnin from You!
Runnin, runnin,
I’ve been runnin from You!

I stepped out in the darkness,
and made my bed in Hell.
This world says, “Now lay there,”
but Your kindness never fails!!!

Your promises, unending!
Your Word, it doesn’t change!
One spark to start a fire,
just a whisper of Your name!

I cried out to You Lord,
bound up in my chains.
A prisoner of my making,
bound up in my shame.

This world says, “Now stay there,”
but You remain the same!
You said, “Come out on the water,”
So I stepped out on the waves!

I’m runnin, runnin,
runnin to You!
Runnin, runnin,
I’m runnin to You!

Now there’s Joy in lieu of sorrow,
In You I’ve found my healing.
Strength to face tomorrow,
to You, my King, I’m kneeling.

Oh I’ve tasted and I’ve seen,
Your Goodness is forever.
Beauty for these ashes,
Your presence my endeavor.

Are you runnin, hurtin, lonely,
done things you never meant to?
Come back to the Father,
He longs to forgive you!

No more hidin in the bushes,
for He already knows.
Turns sorrow into gladness,
He’ll make you white as snow!

So the moral of this story,
this is not the end...
If you’re on this side of glory,
you can always start Again!!!!!

I’m runnin, runnin,
runnin to You!
Runnin, runnin,
I’m runnin to You!

Keep on runnin, runnin,
runnin to Him! :) 

“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];”
‭‭(Acts‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭AMP)

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I’m sure by now you’ve heard the phrase, “Misery loves company,” and oh how true that is! We live in a world that just seems bent on the negative. Everywhere we look, there is so much negativity, and if we aren’t careful, even as Christians, we can build a habit of being negative about many things in our lives.

I’m sure you’ve heard another old adage that goes something like this, (perhaps your parents used to say it) “If so and so jumps off a cliff, are you gonna follow them?”

Listen, just because we live in this world of negativity, evil, and vast godlessness doesn’t mean we have to join it! :) 

The great news is this, we are in this world, but we are not of this world! This world is not our home!!! 

We have our citizenship elsewhere, in Heaven! What does this mean for us in everyday life? This means that no matter what we face on this earth, we have hope and a future! We are on our way to Heaven, to spend eternity with the King of kings and Lord of lords! 

However, our hope doesn’t remain only in the sweet by and by, God wants to bless us now, He wants to provide us with a little bit of Heaven on earth as well! Why? Well, firstly because He loves His children and wants to bless them and take care of them! Secondly, when we are walking in the blessing of the Lord, others see it and want what we have! 

Oh sure, at first they might ridicule you or even badmouth you for not joining in their negative hell-bent ways, but eventually, if you will stand strong and refuse to confirm if you will break the mold, they will see Jesus in you and be drawn to what you have!

This is when we, as Christians, are to always be ready to give an account for the hope that we have! This is when we have the opportunity to share Jesus with others! 

Be encouraged today fellow saints, you don’t have to be conformed to this world, in fact, the Lord highly discourages that, instead He encourages us to break the mold and live for Him daily! 

Have you allowed negativity to trickle into your life in one way or another? The news, politics, sports, health, church gossip, it really doesn’t matter, the enemy will use anything he can to gain a foothold in our lives...

Here’s how to check yourself easily, what’s coming out of your mouth on a regular basis is what’s in your heart. :) 

Don’t be discouraged! Be encouraged, take the next right step, and begin today to slam any door of negativity tight! :) 

By so doing, you not only break from the mold of this world, but you allow the Lord to shine brighter in your life! 

Come on saints, let’s get there out there and spread the Good News! 

Let’s on purpose choose to buck this world’s way of saying, doing, and thinking!

We serve an awesome God who is good all the time!

Think good things, speak good things & expect good things! :) 

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I don’t know about you but something our family doesn’t leave home without is sanitizer!

We take it to the store, to church, to work, out to eat, you name it - we take it!

Today is episode 7 of “Sin Week,” and it’s the grand finale!

What better way to end this special
series than with what I am coining SIN-itizer, learning to overcome Sin with the Son! S O N - That of course being Jesus Christ Himself!

Something my Pastor says is this: When we learn to put God first in our lives, giving Him access to every room in our hearts, we will live more holy on accident than we ever could on purpose!

What does that equate to in everyday life?
 
It means spending our mornings with Jesus!

and not just our mornings, but inviting Him into every area - our homes, schools, businesses, churches, finances, vacations - everywhere we go!

Listen, I am a Christian first and foremost!

I am a Christ-follower before I am a husband, a dad, a church-goer, a business owner, or a podcast host!

We all wear so many different hats and play so many different roles throughout any given day, but if we are to remain SIN-itized in these last days, it is imperative that no matter where we go, what we find ourselves doing, or who we are hanging with, that we keep Jesus at the forefront of our every moment!!!

Why? 

Is it because God wants to control us? Is it out of some misplaced overly religious condemnation? Is it because God doesn’t want us to have fun?

An emphatic NO to all those things!

In truth, for me personally, it’s because I have come to realize that without Him, I can do nothing, but through Him, I can do all things!

I desire to be SIN-itized!

Sensitive to Him and His word and immune to the fiery darts of the enemy!

Listen, I have been kicked around enough during my life without Jesus and even well after because of the things I have allowed into my life.

The more I get to know the Lord, the closer I get to Him, the more I have come to realize my need for Him! every moment, every hour I need Him!

there are many who will say, “That Jesus stuff is just a crutch - I don’t need all that, I’m a self-made this or that,” 

but can I tell you something today, That’s a very dangerous place to be!

Now I’m not against being disciplined, exhibiting strong willpower, or showing initiative, but when our lives - our so-called successes are void of Jesus, they are nothing more than castles in the sand!

There is coming a time when we all will stand before the King of glory and He isn’t going to care about how much money we have in the bank, or how many good deeds we did!

He will wonder what we did with His free gift of salvation! What we did to serve others and reach them with the gospel!

Being SIN-itized isn’t about robbing us of fun, it’s about positioning us to give to others what we are freely given by the ONE who is worthy of the Highest Praise!!

Today, as we close out “Sin Week,” my challenge to you and me is this: 

Learn to be intimate with Jesus! Love Him with all your heart, mind, and strength!

Listen, sin is fun for a season, but afterward there is Hell to pay!

Don’t allow sin to mold you and shape you, it makes for a very poor and abusive master! 

The Good News is this: 

We can start right now sowing good seeds, making the right choices, and it starts by getting SIN-itized, overcoming Sin with the

It’s day 6 of “Sin week,” and at this point, we have covered where sin came from, why it’s so dangerous, why it’s so addictive, and have even shared a few tips on how to avoid it!

Today, I wanted to take a moment to tell you why this topic is so close to my heart.

I have shared glimpses of my testimony on Mornings with Jesus already, and what a powerful story it is, of how God found me in a jail cell and radically changed me!

However, what many people don’t realize (what I never realized) is that sin and the choices we make have a lasting impact!

Sure God can and will deliver us in a moment if we allow Him to.

He will pull us out of the miry pit and set our feet on the Rock!

Yet, the Bible is very clear, whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap!

Unfortunately, it took me years to finally begin wrapping my mind and heart around this truth.

I was always of the assumption that I could sin, ask God’s forgiveness, and then just act as if nothing ever happened…

This just simply isn’t the case, and let me explain why…

Life is connected, and the choices we make today will not only directly affect our tomorrow, but also those around us.

For me personally, I had to learn this the hard way.

Before I met Jesus, I was a total mess. I made so many horrible and wicked decisions that followed me well up into my adult years. Decisions that not only affected me on a personal level but also had an impact on those around me, like my wife and children.

Now listen, Before we go any further, let me just say this: The Bible teaches forgiveness for the Christian 100%

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins AND to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness!”
 
That’s awesome news!

Many of us are also familiar with the prodigal son returning and how the father in the story was a type of God, running to the son and throwing a party for him upon his return!

The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness!

So what I don’t want you to hear is that God is in the business of leaving us in our muck and mire and making us find our own way out, He is a redeemer, and He is a God of second chances and a million chances when we return to Him with humility!

With all that said, however, we must not be deceived into thinking that the Bible teaches any sort of slippery grace, the type of grace that says: be you, be happy, do whatever makes you feel good and then simply ask forgiveness later!

This is erroneous thinking and it’s a huge snare of the enemy!

I have had people tell me so many times, “I wish I had your testimony!” or “Wow, that is an amazing testimony!”

My response is this: Yes it is, BUT I would much rather of had a testimony that involved giving my life to Jesus at an early age, learning to listen to God’s voice from day one, and walking in obedience to Him!

The Great News is this:

We can make a choice today to begin sowing good seeds, and position ourselves to receive a great harvest!

How do we do that? 

By finally coming to our SIN-ses and kicking sin to the curb!

By purposing in our hearts and minds once and for all that we are done riding the fence!

We are finished with trying to see how close to the edge of temptation we can go without falling in!

Sin is fun for a season, but afterward, there is Hell to pay!

Life is connected!

I’ve made so many dumb decisions apart from God’s wisdom, His Word, listening to my own reasonings and justifications rather than His still small voice, 

BUT, Praise the Lord for His longsuffering!! Else I would have been wiped away a long time ago!

Be encouraged today

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Perhaps you have heard the song before?

Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little ears what you ear, and be careful little lips what you say…

Why? Because the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see!

Listen, the enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and as I heard a pastor say one time, he will take you to Hell with a hangnail if you let him!

What does that mean exactly? Well as my Pastor says, “When emotions are high, decision-making is low!”

Have you ever noticed how oftentimes we make the dumbest decisions when we are tired, hungry, stressed, or over-worked?

Why is that?

Because it’s in these moments that we aren’t thinking clearly, it’s in these moments when our minds are foggy and our capacity to make good, solid, wise decisions is hampered, our judgment is skewed.

You ever notice the signs on the road that warn against driving while drowsy?

Being sober and staying vigilant doesn’t just refer to abstaining from getting drunk or high, although this is certainly advisable, especially if we are to be a witness for Jesus!

It also means keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times,

Taking practical steps to avoid and abstain from all appearance of evil.

For example: if we are struggling with fear, but watching horror movies and listening to the news report every night before bed and when we wake up, this is not the way to keep sober and vigilant!

Listen, we have learned already that it’s the enemy who is the twister of all things good and holy, not God!

God has created things holy and wholesome for us to enjoy like food, work, sex, and all sorts of amazing things, but when we seek to use these things to satisfy our cravings only or use them as a means of attempting to make us happy or fill a void on the inside, these things that were once meant for good will now begin to backfire and slowly erode away our souls!

In other words, each one of us has an invisible throne in our hearts, and it can only be occupied by one person at a time!

Either we keep sober and vigilant and allow Jesus His rightful place on that throne, or else we continue to usurp His authority by steadily neglecting intimacy with Him and placing ourselves on that throne…

I know it sounds harsh when said like that, but the Good News is this:

No matter what decisions we made in the past, we have the opportunity to make the next right one!

We have the chance, right now, to bend our knees and surrender our hearts to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Not because He is some uncaring, unempathetic entity in the sky, but because He, as our creator and as our Father seeks to know us and for us to know Him, and He desires what is best for us!

Therefore, we ought to as good Christian soldiers, stand as SIN-tinels, keeping watch with all diligence, with sobriety for anything that seeks to steal, kill, or destroy!

And remember, life is connected!

So when we guard our hearts by keeping a careful watch over what comes past our eye, ear, and mouth gates, we are also protecting our witness for Jesus to others!

My challenge for you and me today?!

Let’s be SIN-tinels in the Kingdom of God!

remaining sober, staying vigilant, and being a witness for the One who is oh so worthy!

I want to end with an amazing passage of scripture found in Proverbs to further drive home episode 5 of “Sin Week,”

“My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever felt like you are the only one struggling with a particular thing like you are the only one going through what you are going through?

If so, be encouraged! The truth is, you are not alone!

Today’s episode is meant to uplift and encourage you!

Listen, no matter what you are going through, no matter what you may be struggling with, you are not alone!

If you are born-again, if you are a child of God, He has promised to never leave you or forsake you!

That means that even in the midst of the most trying times, in the midst of the most challenging temptation, in the heat of the battle, He is there, with you, always;

walking with you through the valley, through the fire, and through the flood!

it doesn’t always seem so, however.

Sometimes it feels like no one cares like no one sees, and the weight of the world is pressing in, but be encouraged those are just feelings and they simply aren’t true!

The Bible says God neither sleeps nor slumbers and that He is an ever-present help in times of trouble!

The Bible says, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all!

That's awesome news!

The question remains then, how do we, in the midst of the most trying times see Jesus? 

How do we run to Him when everything inside of us is screaming to give up and give up to that temptation?

I have to be honest with you, 

Waiting until the moment when lust is knocking at your door is too late. 

We must, as my Pastor says all the time, put the Word of God in when we don’t need it, so it comes out when we do!

If we will build a habit of soaking ourselves in the Word every day, we will be well equipped to stand against the wiles of the enemy!

No temptation that has come your way is special or unique, it’s just common SIN-se and therefore it must bow to the power of the Word every time!

So what do you say, fellow saints?

Why not start today basking in the Word?!

The Bible says, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

When that ol’ devil comes a-knockin with this or that temptation, don’t answer the door!

Yes, giving in to that sin may be fun for a season, it may even bring immense pleasure for a moment, but it’s just that - temporary!

What do you say, you and I purpose in our hearts today not to seek the temporal things of this world and instead give ourselves wholly to the eternal things of Heaven!

Until next time, remember: what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!!

In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”

Psalms 139:23-24 AMP

Ever have a hard time letting go of anything? 

Something my Pastor says is this: “Whatever we hold back from God, will be a mess, but whatever we give to Him will be a mess!”

By us willingly allowing Him access into the hidden parts of our lives, it will not only keep the enemy at bay, protecting us from his fiery darts, it will also bolster a more vibrant, intimate walk with the Lord!

We need only look at the life of David to see this at work.

David, when he was a young man spent much time basking in the presence of God.

When we read Psalm 23, it gives us a clear picture of his intimate walk with the Lord:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He leads me beside clear waters, He restores my soul!

Later in life, yes David was a man of war and he even committed adultery with Bethsheba and had her husband murdered!

But he repented, he returned to God with all his heart and God called David a man after His own heart!

Today, I want to encourage you!

Perhaps there is an area that you have been keeping back from God?

Maybe it is something you are SIN-timental about…you keep it back from God, from others, and reserve it for yourself only.

When bad feelings come, when bad circumstances arise, you pull it out and use it to console and comfort yourself…

Listen, be encouraged!

You are not alone!

We all struggle with this or that.

The enemy will come along and he will whisper his lies to you, telling you that your thing is special and that it can’t be thwarted, but don’t listen!

We have learned already that he is the father of lies!

Instead, turn that thing over to God, whatever it is!! 

For me, for years it was pornography, even after being radically transformed in a jail cell, even after preaching the Word of God, even after marrying the most beautiful and amazing woman on the planet!

I still had SIN-timental feelings toward this one sin, I used it as a crutch, as a scapegoat for the problems of life and yet it was eating me up on the inside! 

I didn’t want to do it, but no matter how hard I tried, I kept running back to it and I used every excuse in the book to justify my behavior, to tell myself that it was okay, that I was the exception, but it just wasn’t true!

In reality, it was stealing my joy. It was sapping my strength, and it was destroying my witness for Jesus!

It wasn’t until I finally gave it over to God, exposing it for what it was, SIN, that I truly got victory over it!

I had to delve into the Word of God like never before, find out who I was in Christ - find out that I wasn’t that old sinful person anymore, that I had the power to overcome anything that comes against me in the name of Jesus and with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

So what is it that is keeping you back from being a force to be reckoned with in the Kingdom of God?

What is it that keeps you bound to fear, worry, or anxious thoughts?

I encourage you today to be like David and cry out to God: Search me and know me!

And then get ready!

But remember, whatever God reveals, He wants to heal, so let Him! 

Until next time, remember: what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz