Do you notice sometimes when you’re being impatient and you pray and ask God for patience, he will send you trouble to train you? Or sometimes when you’re desperate and you pray and ask God for deliverance, he will send you trouble to develop you? He is preparing you for what’s to come. Your faith will be tested before he promotes you to your next level of destiny.
]]>Do you notice sometimes when you’re being impatient and you pray and ask God for patience, he will send you trouble to train you? Or sometimes when you’re desperate and you pray and ask God for deliverance, he will send you trouble to develop you? He is preparing you for what’s to come. Your faith will be tested before he promotes you to your next level of destiny.
What if behind closed doors that held utmost secrets of what has not gone right in your life compelled you to think about these things? All the, “If I would have, should have, could have” or “had not, could not, or should not” have done, and it seems like you’re going in circles hoping something changes for the better but nothing’s happening? What or where would your life be if you were given another chance to do things differently? Would you do it? Would it matter? What do you think? Is it mind over matter? Or could it be your perception of what could have been better? Or what if it seems like it won’t get better? Now what?
What I’ve discovered in this thing called life, for every season there is a trial to test your faith in God or trouble will come to test your endurance. How we handle the evidence of change will determine our success. Or even our failure. It’s all in our perception. There is nothing God does not allow or ordain without his permission. Acceptance is key to understanding how we respond to some or all situations. I call it “Mindset Matters.”
The next time you’re feeling defeated and it seems like nothing and I mean nothing is going right or it looks like there is no way out of your situation. Remember we serve a mighty God that can and will do the impossible. Don’t think about “what you would have, could have, should have, or had not done.” Change your mindset. Accept trials as preparation for God’s purpose to be fulfilled in your life. The process will be painful but it is required. It may take longer than you expect, but it will be necessary to go through to get to where God needs to take you in your next level of destiny.
Get your mind right. Ponder on the goodness of God. Don’t get impatient with God. Don’t give up. Persevere. Wait on Him. Don’t question why you’re going through the inevitable, why bad things keep happening, nothing’s changing for the better, or trials seem to be getting more difficult without any results. Because sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for it. God is looking for your faithfulness. Trust Him in the process. Don’t regret past decisions you’ve made or live in the past only to miss out on your future. Rejoice in the Lord. Look at God! You made it. Walk in your calling.
There’s a time and a season for everything under the sun. God’s timing is perfect. Trust Him. #Selah
Be blessed! – JD
]]>Hebrews 10:36 “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (ESV)
Sometimes no matter how much we may depend on valuable resources for answers to common everyday problems or circumstances, we can become perplexed knowing the right thing to do. Yet when God answers what we’ve prayed for and instructs us to follow his will, according to his word, his way, we follow his instructions without hesitation; by faith.
]]>Sometimes no matter how much we may depend on valuable resources for answers to common everyday problems or circumstances, we can become perplexed knowing the right thing to do. Yet when God answers what we’ve prayed for and instructs us to follow his will, according to his word, his way, we follow his instructions without hesitation; by faith.
Then moments or a day later we still have problems listening to him and will look for a different answer to the already answered prayer and can’t find it. What do we call that? Doubt? Fear? O ye of little faith? What say you? Funny thing, God not only answered our prayers but orchestrated the very things he knew we needed to complete the task. Everything fell into place suddenly, not by coincidence or with rhyme or reason. It was all God.
In the meantime, a stranger shows up, sent by God, with a request of the very thing we were planning to quit on, not knowing our pending decision. God sent another answer to our prayers. An ordinary stranger to tell us what we needed to hear right at that moment. To remind us of God’s word and his promises. We step out on faith and do what he says.
Then… there we go again. At a moment’s notice our mind begins to play tricks on us, making us believe the right answer didn’t come from God. We start listening to the lies of the enemy to change our mind. Looking for a different answer from God’s. But we can’t find a thing to replace his decision. Nothing works out as we plan. His answer still stands.
We get discouraged because we followed his instructions but nothing happened right away. Do you believe it can be because we expected a different result when looking at what’s in front of us instead of believing what we can’t see that’s unknown to us? “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). Or could it be in that moment of assuredness, God is testing us in areas we unknowingly are dealing with before he elevates us to our next level of destiny?
Know this. What we can be assured of, when God sends a clear message we may be resistant to, he will use a stranger, a profound moving encounter, or an immediate change of heart to speak to us. He’s never failing. He wants the best for us. He never leaves anything half done. His plan will work and end as he ordained. It cannot be thwarted. It is certain. God will accomplish his purpose just as he established. He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6).
So when God answers your prayers and it seems like nothing is happening. Trust that God is working behind the scenes setting some things up to move you into your next level of destiny. Your season is almost over. It’s almost done. He’s preparing you for your NEXT. Don’t let the opinions of others or things distract you from God’s intended purpose. Stand. Keep it moving.
And if nothing else remember this. Oftentimes God can bring the greatest joy through some of our most painful experiences. It’s all in our perception. Expect the unexpected. It may not be the answer we are looking for but expect any answer will be for our greater good. God said it. I believe it. That settles it. #Selah
Be blessed! – JD
]]>Psalm 25:4-5 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (ESV)
The day after Thanksgiving I had been up since 3 am that morning. For two days, Friday and Saturday, I wrestled with not going to church and not wanting to be bothered by anyone. God disturbed me and interrupted my plans, as usual. Guess what? You already know.
I pressed my way and am so glad I made it because Bishop La’Tresa Jester preached me out of my seat. She brought a mighty, mighty word, “It’s Worth The Wait.” She spoke my truth.
I am and have always been real and to the point, but feared being transparent. Not anymore. I started shouting and while thanking God it got me thinking when she said this, “Tell your haters, ‘In between your blinks I’m changing. While you blinking, I’m changing. While you blinking, I’m coming up. While you blinking, he’s restoring me!”
I started declaring, “I am positioned for better.” I’m on my way. I will no longer be bothered by my emotions or distracted by my feelings. I’m staying ready! God is about to restore me in front of folks that counted me out. The stuff I thought I’d never have is going to start leaping up. I’m in position to receive all God has in store for me.
I will no longer be ashamed of telling my story; that it may help others. I wrote it. I said it. I ain’t taking nothing back. It’s my story, my testimony. I’m proud of it. I’ve been delivered.
Thank you God for every delay, every setback. I’ve been setup for the greatest comeback. When I get what you give me, I’m going to do better with it. I promise God. I trust you even when I can’t see it. When I can’t trace you I trust you.
I meant every word I said in my book. I wrote it. I ain’t taking nothing back. I said it. I’m Sorry But I’m Not Sorry. And….for those of you who would like to know what it is I said, you are welcome to purchase a copy of my book titled Unspoken Testimony Memoir: Secrets of a Southern Girl on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Autographed copies are available by request. Send me an email and we can talk! Thanks in advance for your support!
Be blessed! – JD
]]>Luke 8:39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” ‘And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” (ESV)
During December, the final month of last year, many of us began to make declarations for a better year ahead desiring different outcomes, better results, success, joy, happiness, favorable health or whatever it is our hearts desire in search of a better year than before.
Yet throughout the year, many of us may have gone through a hard season of losses, fiery trials, difficult challenges, unexplained financial struggles, and anything that could have gone wrong did, where hope was lost but…you’re still standing. By the grace of God you made it.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Seasons change and are consistent, constant, and continuous. Always keep in mind, just as there are four seasons which occur every year in order with varying characteristics that will cause changes in the environment around us, so will seasons in our life. Maybe not in order but they are consistent.
Your spiritual temperance will be inconsistent; hot, warm, lukewarm or cold. Life happens. With every new level through each season God takes us, there will be new devils to deal with. We mustn’t be surprised by it. But be prepared for it.
The enemy doesn’t fight fair when he knows there’s a shift in the atmosphere of extraordinary expectancy of miracles. He knows God has greater coming. He will do everything and I mean everything in his power to convince you to quit, to give up, don’t you dare do it. You will be tried, tested, and proven to build character. To build your faith. God’s faithfulness will indeed be proven.
Rain falls on the just and the unjust. Storms will come. Stay the course. God is faithful. Shifting seasons are par for the course. Stay focused. Dry, waiting, spiritual warfare, trial, or test seasons will come. Don’t get weary in well-doing. When the enemy wages war tell him, “Get outta here with that mess. I’m suited up with the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of God. I’m ready for battle. Bring it!” Pick your battles today. And remember, shifting seasons are necessary. Stay ready!
Be blessed! – JD
]]>Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (NKJV)
No matter the circumstance, give thanks to God. You made it. He is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man he should change his mind. He is faithful. Won’t he do it! The devil is the master of confusion and wants you to believe your former days were your best days. He’s a liar and the truth ain’t in him! Your latter will be greater. Now walk in your purpose!
You can’t quit or give up, knowing the God you serve. You can’t quit or give up, knowing no weapon formed against you shall prosper. You can’t quit or give up, knowing you’re more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who loves you. You can’t quit or give up, knowing God is able. You can’t quit or give up, knowing our God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. You can’t quit or give up. Don’t you dare do it! God promise he will take care of it.
God has delivered you from the impossible. With God, all things are possible. No matter the circumstance, keep giving God the praise. No matter the obstacles, keep putting God first. He specializes in the impossible. Our God is able. God granted brand new mercies today, even when we didn’t deserve it.
No matter what it looks like, get your praise on. Thank God you didn’t stay in “it” too long. You overcame whatever “it” was. You’re stronger, wiser, better. But God. I feel a shout coming! Glory, Hallelujah!
Be blessed! – JD
]]>2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” (NIV)
Going back to what’s familiar from your past can be so easy to do when you feel defeated and your back is against the wall. In spite of the fact your past kept you bound, miserable, and stagnated your growth because you didn’t have to change anything about yourself to make life happen. You loved being comfortable with who you were. Until God closed that door and made you uncomfortable.
When God closes the door to your past, it’s a done deal. It’s gone. When he heals and delivers you from the very things that should have destroyed you, stop trying to bring back the past of no return. Throw away the keys and move on. And thank God later for your future.
No matter how many times you fight against walking in your purpose, delaying your destiny out of fear or frustration and you keep telling God “NO,” his YES will always be “YES and Amen.” He promise.
If you were truly honest with yourself, can you admit much like me, too often you constantly tell God “I don’t want to do the work I’m called to do anymore out of frustration and fear because it seems too hard, but find yourself unable to stop doing what you know you’ve been purposed to do at any given moment because it doesn’t feel right when you don’t.
You’re satisfied with and want to stay where you are and stay hidden in the background because you’re comfortable being complacent. But as God move you to each level, eventually you cannot stay hidden or remain comfortable. Where you’re going will be uncomfortable. You’ll travel alone and lose some people along the way because everybody can’t go with you or do what God assigned specifically for you to complete. You’ll be tried and tested in your faith walk because you’ve been chosen to fulfill God’s, not your, purpose.
God put this in my spirit and revealed this very thing to me today. No matter how many times I want to quit and give up, God just will not let me. Nor will he allow me to stay comfortable. That right there tells me who is in charge, not me, but God. One day, I’ll get this calling and faith walk right and run to my destiny. Pray for me
Ready to quit? Ready to give up? Your situation is more than you can handle? Stop it! Rebuke that spirit! God did not give you a spirit of fear. Don’t give up. Keep it moving!
Be blessed! – JD
]]>2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (AMP)
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