Spot On With The Word

Have you ever felt like you were totally alone? Our feelings cannot always be trusted. You may FEEL as though you have been abandoned, but that doesn't mean that God HAS abandoned you. God has promised us that He will never leave us nor will He forsake us. He is always with us. At times, the winds may howl, and the waves may roar, but God is present. We know this because He says so in His word. He is not a man that can lie. It is not in His character. If He says He will never forsake us, than no matter how we may perceive our current situation, or how many times people have proven themselves to be unfaithful, or situations appear to be hopeless. GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US!

Human beings are creatures of habit. The good news is that human beings also have the power to change their habits. You have the option to evaluate what is working in your best interest, and what is not. It will take a level of personal introspection, commitment, and discipline to change your routines. You can choose differently. If you are not satisfied with your life, you can always decide to do something differently. Have you ever honestly looked at your life and taken a personal inventory? If you are not reaching the goals you have set personally, or living the life of fulfillment you desire, it may be that you are stuck in routines that are not consistent with your purpose. It takes courage and real honesty to look at your life. You may have to let go of some things and replace them with others. Transitioning is not always comfortable. You can be transparent with God. He will help you through the process. If you feel you are stuck in a rut, you do not have to remain there. It may feel scary to venture out from what has been comfortable or predictable, but life is meant to be lived to the fullest. Jesus came to give you life and that more abundantly. Are you standing in the way of yourself? Perhaps, it is time to consider this.

The "Good News" of the Gospel is that God loves you! That is the literal definition of the word. Unfortunately, the Gospel has at times, been expressed through people who were angry. The definition of God is love. He loved the world so much that He gave His ONLY Son for a lost and dying world. God can be disappointed, saddened and angry at the behavior and still long to be in relationship with the individual. He is constantly reaching for us. He knows that the consequences of our behavior when we walk away from Him will only result in pain. Today He is longing for you to understand that His arms are outstretched, and His face is turned toward you.

Scripture teaches us that life is like a vapor. It is a vapor in more ways than one. Just as the heat from the sun causes vapor to rise, which in turns becomes rain that is vital for growth on the earth; our praise and worship to God results in the rain of His blessing on our lives. It is true, that what we send up will eventually be what is poured out on us. God responds to praise and worship. He is worthy to be praised. Much like a parent who basks in the love of a child, who sits in the lap, requiring nothing but love, warmth and affection, God desires intimacy with us. He delights in just being with us. What does your life send up to God? We often are quick to notice what He does or doesn't do for us. The question is how often do we just sit in His lap and let Him know how grateful we are for all He is, and for how much He has already done? It is something to consider.

Where do you seek pleasure? What is it that vies for your attention? Are you paying too much for too little? Are you seeking things, relationships or experiences in attempt to fill a void in your life, only to find that there is no real satisfaction? These are serious questions. We live in a world where our senses are bombarded constantly. We are erroneously programmed to believe that our happiness in life will be the result of the pursuit of that which we believe will give us pleasure. True pleasure is found in the presence of God. Everything else is temporary. He alone can fulfill the deepest need to be satisfied. There is a place in each human being that is designed only for Him to occupy. God is not against us having pleasurable experiences. All good gifts come from Him. However, if we seek pleasure to run from pain, or to prop up our self-worth, we are only going to find a temporary "high" or a temporary "fix". The fullness of joy will always be found in relationship with Him.

As individuals, we will all have opinions. We also have convictions. There is a difference. Our opinions may change over time, with new information, or maybe as we mature and learn to see situations and people from a different vantage point. Convictions are generally formed by a variety of influences. Perhaps we have been profoundly affected by the way in which we were raised, or by our community. Our environment and home life will carry weight in our perceptions of people and the world around us. There is, however, something that runs deeper to the core. When we have been totally persuaded that something is true, we will most likely, never be shaken from it. Having truly experienced the presence and reality of a living and personal God in our lives, nothing will be able to alter the awareness. It will not be an opinion that can be affected by new, incoming data. It will not be a conviction that may be programmed by external forces or voices. Rather, it will be born of a supernatural experience, with a loving God, who is the Creator of the universe. He envelops our entire being. Without a doubt, in that moment, we will become FULLY PERSUADED.

Life can through some curve balls. That's for sure!!! When we are taken off guard, by people or circumstances, we can temporarily feel lost. This can sometimes result in what has been called, "The paralysis of analysis." We get stuck in our heads and we freeze. Opposition will come. Resistance will be a part of life. It is important that we learn the lesson, make the necessary adjustments and KEEP MOVING!! There will be moments in our lives when we come to a place of transition and the journey appears to be too hard. We begin but have no idea what the road ahead will require of us. The temptation may be to just give up and quit. Don't do it! We will never undertake a challenge that comes as a surprise to God. He doesn't find out about the struggle at the same time that we do. He is and always will be the author and the FINISHER of our faith! He will never quit on us. That's a promise!

When we think of God, we often consider that He is omniscient, which is defined as ALL KNOWING. We understand that He is omnipresent. He is ALWAYS with us. However, we may fail to truly appreciate His GOODNESS. He is a GOOD GOD! Just because circumstances in life do not always feel good, doesn't mean that God is not good. The sun doesn't shine all the time. We desperately need to have rain. Nothing grows without rain! God is the Best Father. He knows what He is doing. He can be trusted even when it appears life makes no sense. There will be times of joy and celebration. There will be times of trial and tribulation. There will be times when He disciplines us to correct our course. Through it all, He has always been and will always be, a GOOD, GOOD, FATHER!

It is important for us to know what God thinks. It is also important for us to understand HOW He thinks and HOW He operates. Miracles happen today! We serve a supernatural God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. A harvest, however, is not a miracle for which you pray. It is the result of the seed you plant. The harvest is the expected end, predetermined by the specific seed that has been planted. Every oak tree was first an acorn. Sometimes we pray for the tree and God will give us the seed. He gives us something to plant. Every person has seeds of greatness within them. Each one has something unique and special to offer. It may be friendship, time, conversation, or service. God has placed seeds inside of you. Have you discovered what kind they are? Man can count the seeds in an apple, but Only God can count the apples in a seed. Start working with what you have and with His blessings you will find that He is the God of multiplication.

The ability to interpret situations may be one of the greatest skills we will ever master. If we believe that something is going to be the end of us, it probably will be. On the other hand, if we believe that a Sovereign God will equip us for every challenge and stands with us, we are certain of victory. There are quite possibly, some opportunities we may never have pursued, once we were in too deep to get out. When the opposition becomes almost unbearable, everything comes into question. The resistance was far more intense than previously considered. The greatest lessons, however, are in the hard places. In order to overcome obstacles, we must become resolved. This will place us in the position to become resolute. I will face the struggle. I will not give up, give out or give in, because I am being resisted. ""For I know in Whom I have believed, and am persuaded, that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him."" Don't let your situation define you or define God. Your ""YES!"" MUST BE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! The greatest resistance you face will probably be right before your greatest breakthrough.