Looking Forward – Moving Forward

Posted on June 5, 2015 by espirational1

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” I Peter 1:13

I am down two dress sizes since January of this year! To say the least, I am very proud of myself for this accomplishment. I have worked hard to get to this point but still have a ways to go before I reach my ultimate goal. But every day is another day to press forward towards my goal.

I love to shop! Window shopping, on-line shopping or actually buying while I shop, makes no difference what type of shopping I’m going just as long as I can look at, touch or try on things that make me feel pretty, I’m happy.

The other day I was on my of my favorite discount site. They have everything!!! They have clothes, shoes, baby and toddler clothing, workout apparel, furniture and kitchen gadgets. The site is well done and easy to follow. Did I say I LOVE this site!!!

Well, while I was looking at some dresses in my current size I realized I’d waste my money if I purchased them because my goal is to lose weight and inches not stay at the size I am now.

Then, I got a revelation: I am losing weight and inches, why am I still looking at clothes that I’m working to leave behind rather than looking at clothes that I’m working to get into?! Well now, that got me thinking.

Many of us are pressing to become more like Christ. We are working diligently to live up to and into our purpose, and yet, we are still looking at our old stuff that will not work when we get to the new places we’re working to get to. Our old way to thinking, our old way of viewing adversity, our old way of spending money; none of them will bring us to the place we want to be in the future. We have to stop looking at what worked in the past and start looking at what we need as we move forward into our destiny.

Let’s be forward looking and forward thinking. If God is leading us into a new place, a new way of living, let’s do some research. You may be a choir member now, but if your goal is to be the COO or administrator of your church, do some research on what that looks like: what are the duties and responsibilities of that position? Does your pastor see a need for such a position? What type of salary can you expect?

You may be the employee of a company or in government service right now but, if your goal is to launch a new business venture you need to do some research. What legal pieces do you need to have in place to guard your idea? Do you need a trademark? How about a logo or a slogan? Do you need an internet media presence? How much money is it going to cost? Yes, it’s going to cost you money but, if you stop spending money on the old stuff, you’ll have money for the new things you need.

If we really want to move forward into what we’ve been purposed by God to become, we need to stop looking at where we are and start looking at where we’re going.

Press forward and you’ll move forward!

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Fighting to Become the Me I was Meant to Be

Posted on June 2, 2015 by espirational1

II Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

Jesus’ disciple Peter was a trained to be a fisherman. Historically speaking, he had been in fisherman training with his father since he was very young. He would have learned all the tricks of the trade.

From Matthew to John and even in the letter to the churches, we also find that in addition to being trained in the art of fishing, Peter was capable of leading others to Christ; he was bold, loud, zealous, but, he was also fearful. If the way got tough, Peter would turn his back on his friends, go into hiding or become a man-pleaser. Peter didn’t always exemplify Christ-like qualities.

Peter sometimes had a hard time fulfilling his Christ-life work of fishing for men, rather than fishing for fish (John 21). He could be quick tempered and sometimey. In the Garden of Gethsemane Peter cut off a soldier’s ear when he came for Jesus, yet within a few hours, Peter was denying he knew Jesus. I’d call that sometimey!

In the Garden of Gethsemane, when things didn’t go the way Peter thought they should, he went back to what he had been before Christ; a frightened man-pleaser. Rather than standing up for what he knew was right, he reverted to his old self in order to fit in and get along. Sound familiar?

If we haven’t resolved to be what Christ has called us to be regardless of the cost, at one point or another in our lives, when it’s convenient and comfortable, we all go back to what we were before Christ. Some of us go back to gossiping about others because it makes us feel better about our own situations. Some of us go back to being afraid of what others will think if we do what the Holy Spirit urges us to do. Some of us become men-pleasers because we want people to “like us”. Some of us we go back to the sin from which Christ delivered us.

Whatever we go back to, just know that God does not allow for folly, foolishness or sin in the name of our “previous training”. Once we come to Christ, we are new creatures. We’ve joined a new army and our based training begins; Jesus is our Commander and Chief and the Holy Spirit is our Drill Sergeant. We get a new training manual, which is the Word of God. We must allow old things to pass away, so that the new training we are now undertaking can renew our minds.

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Living Above Mediocrity,

Anita Wamble

E-spirational – Divine Inspirations

Sharing God’s Word: Motivating God’s People

http://www.espirational1.com

Coming Out of Someone Else’s Normal, Into My Destiny – II

Posted on June 1, 2015 by espirational1

Romans 8:29 – 30

“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified he also glorified.”

No one wants to get to the end of their live and consider themselves a failure. In fact, most people don’t want to fail at anything they endeavor to do. But, do we feel the same way about fulfilling our God-given purpose? Are we willing to fail at what God has predestined us to do in order to fit into someone else’s box? Are we willing to forego our calling so we can be liked? Are we willing to neglect our predestination in order to get along with others? Are we willing to fail God so others can feel good about us?

In every family everyone has a role. Some of us are the “go to” person. You know, the one everyone calls when things are falling apart. The one everyone expects to have all the answers and take care of everything even when it’s not their responsibility. Then you have the “baby” of the family. Not that they are a baby or the youngest in the family, they just act like a helpless, hapless baby. They expect to be taken care of by everyone else because that’s their role. And of course, you have the irresponsible one. We all have them in our families, they are the ones that no one can count on for anything, and usually, they are the lazy one that does nothing but expects a share of, or a free ride to, everything that goes on in the family.

But what if your family role was not the role God has appointed for you? Are you willing to give up the role your family expects you to play in order to fulfill your God given appointment?

Sometimes, we are called out of our current situation and into our destiny like David, but other times, we’ve got to walk into our destiny in spite of what others may think or say. We’ve got to know that if God called us to our destiny, He’s made the way for us to fulfill our call and, our gifts will make room for us.

Are you struggling with knowing you’re more than others give you credit for? Or, are you fighting within yourself to move past your fears and reach for the unknown because you know that God has ordained greater for you?

If you answered to either of these questions is “yes” then you have a bigger question to answer; Are you willing to be a failure in God’s plan for you, rather than being the success He’s already ordained you to be?

The biblical meaning of success is summed up in Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Not succeeding at our God-given task means hundreds, possibility thousands or event millions of lives will not affected by the eternity plan that is in you.

To fail or to succeed, the decision is yours.

Prayer for Today

Posted on May 26, 2015 by espirational1

May 26, 2015

Lord, I thank You for my history with You. You have been with me from the beginning. You appointed everything in my life; my birth, all the circumstances surrounding my birth and every day of my life have been appointed and approved by You.

Father as I face hardships, difficulties and heartaches, help me to remember my life was set apart by Your appointment, Your will, and everything that You ordained for me shall come to pass.

Lord, help me not to view my hardships, trials or tribulations as permanent; thereby causing me to deal with problems as a permanent fixtures in my life. Help me to view the difficulty with a Christ-like understanding and Godly wisdom, knowing that the problem is temporary and it is working for my good because I love You and have been called according Your purpose.

Lord for help me to see I do not have to worry about life or body because You have already prepared a plan to take care of my every need. A plan to prosper me not to hurt me – You are my hope and my future. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Psalms 139:13 – 16 II Corinthians 4:17

Zephaniah 3:17 Proverbs 2:6

I Peter 2:9 Romans 8:28

Matthew 6:25 – 34 Jeremiah 29:11

You Are the Salt of the World!

Posted on May 21, 2015 by espirational1

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

If we have accepted Christ as Savior, You and I are the salt of the world. We have the power to heal, cleanse, preserve, create thirst, keep things afloat – like the Dead Sea, enhance an experience, take away stains, repel unwanted pests and add flavor to every life, situation or circumstance we encounter.

Salt is small and seemingly insignificant but, it is very necessary if we want to change the outcome of the flavor of what we cook or the look of what we clean. The same is true with us.

We may not be a big named preacher or someone others deem significant but we can give a smile to a cashier at the store, a kind word to a homeless person on the street or a shoulder to cry on for someone who is grieving. We can make a small donation to a local charity that’s working to make our community better or volunteer a few hours a week to that same charity. These things may seem small but they can make a big difference.

Christians are the salt of the earth. Everywhere we go and everyone we come in contact with should be changed by their encounter with us. This can be a very dangerous thing if the Christian the world comes in contact with is bitter, resentful, envious, and hateful or has a bad attitude. Christians with personalities like this in like putting too much salt in your food; it ruins the food.

Every time we’re going to encounter someone we need to ask ourselves these questions:

Is my attitude going to enhance or ruin this encounter?
How can I help clean away their stains?
How can I help them stay afloat?
Am I going to do anything that will cause me to be an embarrassment to God?
Has my reputation been rightfully trampled by men?

Keeping these questions in mind will help us enhance our encounter with others verses ruining their view of Christ. We are the salt of the world. We are here to enhance other people’s lives one small act at a time.

We’ve Got to Do Better!

Posted on April 29, 2015 by espirational1

This morning during my devotions the Lord spoke to me and said, “The Body of Christ is weak and scrawny. My Word is full and free for those who choose to eat of it. No, the Body of Christ is weak and scrawny because there is a fast in the land.”

“The people of God are fasting from the Word of God. The people of God are fasting from the promises of God and the people of God are fasting from the holiness of God.”

“My Body has become “of” the world not just “in” the world. My Body is working to hate the sinner or love the sin but they are not loving the sinner to wholeness in Me while hating the sin. You all are going along to get along with a dying and fading world system.”

“Because of My Body’s refusal to keep My commandments and follow My ways, the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is only a flicker. They are no longer the candle that sits on the hill, they are just a smoldering wick.”

He who has an ear, let him hear.

Prayer for Today

Posted on April 24, 2015 by espirational1

April 24, 2015

Father God, as Your children climb out of the pit of the world system into the marvelous light of Your Son Jesus Christ, we need You to help us redefine success and failure.

Your children know what the world calls success; big homes, expensive cars and lots of money. Unfortunately, too often these “successes” come with relaxed morals and lacking ethics. We see it all the time on the news and even in some churches.

We have looked at others who have all the things the world calls success and tried to mimic them. That’s why so many of us find ourselves broken and ashamed of what we’ve done and what we have become. Father, forgive us!

Lord, help us to seek after Your definition of success. Help us to look more and more like Jesus every day. Help us to obey Your Word even when we can’t figure out what You’re doing and, help us to seek after and fulfill the destiny You have planned for each of us.

Father help us replace our fear of earthly failure with the peace of being successful in You. Step by step and day by day help us to climb out of our spiritual pits so we can come into the full light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in the precious name of Jesus we pray and say Amen.

Scripture references:

II Kings 18:5 – 7 Hebrews 13:5

II Chronicles 26:5 I John 1:3, 6 – 7

Proverbs 24:19

Ephesians 1:3

II Timothy 2:3

Prayer for Today

Posted on April 23, 2015 by espirational1

April 23, 2015

Father, as Your children purpose to climb out of the muck and mire of the world system that we’ve put ourselves in, we’re going to need Your divine help in the area of our finances. Too many of us are over extended and underwater with our credit, mortgages and other payments.

We confess we have not been good stewards of what You have given us. We have sought after things we really didn’t need and as a consequence of our greed, we have placed ourselves in financial binds. Forgive us!

Father, we need Your wisdom regarding climbing out of these financial holes. Do we file bankruptcy? Do we go to credit counseling? Do we allow our homes to go into foreclosure? Do we allow other bills to go by the wayside while we pay off one debt at a time? We need an individual plan that fits each of our needs. Father, we are looking to You and You alone for our help.

Father God we know Your Word says You will supply all our of needs, not our greeds, according to Your riches in glory in Jesus Christ, so, even as we are climbing out of our financial holes, we are assured of Your blessings on our lives. Our needs will be met in Jesus name.

Lord God, we know Your Word says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…” As we climb out of this hole please help us help each other. Help us love one another and help us to encourage one another. Father, we need You now, more than ever. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Scripture References:

Job 12:13 Romans 13:8

Proverbs 15:27 Philippians 4:19

Proverbs 28:25

Luke 12:15

Luke 16:1 – 13

Prayer for Today

Posted on April 22, 2015 by espirational1

April 22, 2015

Father God, You have given Your children everything we need to live a full and productive life. You have given us Godly wisdom. You have given us courage and boldness. You have given us the ability to produce wealth; not only material wealth but spiritual wealth. You have given us the power, the authority and the dominion to rule and rein in the earth.

Father, it is true that You have given us all of these things but, most of us don’t live up to the greatness You have bestowed on us. Most of us live from pay check to pay check because we’re too afraid to walk by faith and fulfill the destiny You have placed in our hearts and minds. Many of us live sad, depressed and less than productive lives because we’re trying to live like the world system says we’re supposed to live.

Father, too many of Your children are trying to live down to the level of the world rather than living up to the Kingdom of God. You’ve called and positioned us to live life to the abundant, yet we wallow in the muck and mire of the world. Forgive us!

Father we need Your help to climb out of the pitfalls of this world. Father, help Your children we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture References:

Genesis 1:26 Proverbs 3:13 Colossians 1:12 – 14

Deuteronomy 8:18 Proverbs 22:5 II Peter 1:2 – 4

Psalm 9:15 Ecclesiastes 2:26

Psalm 40:2 Ecclesiastes 3:11

Psalm 138:3 Isaiah 11:1 – 3

Prayer for Today

Posted on April 20, 2015 by espirational1

April 20, 2015

Father You are my peace! More than just my peace, You are my Shalom. You are the reason I am complete; nothing missing in of my life, nothing out of place. You are the fulfillment of everything I need, when the need arises. You are the “I Am Who I Am” God.

Father, when everything seems to be going to hell in a handbasket, You lift up a standard again my enemy; a human enemy, a supernatural enemy or my own flesh that doesn’t want to submit to my spirit person. You lift up a standard against the enemy that rages in me! You are my Shalom!

Yes Father, I recognize that sometimes I’m my own worst enemy. My old habits, my old thought patterns and my old attitudes want to rise up and have me live the way I use to live before Jesus became my Savior and Lord. Jesus paid too high a price to redeem me back to You Father, for me to allow my old ways to drag me backwards! You are my Shalom!

I am a new creature, old things have died and I am new in Christ Jesus. I have His Shalom living in me! I have Jesus’ Shalom quieting my flesh! I will submit to the Shalom of Christ and I will not allow the raging storms in my life to cause me to operate like my old self. I am a new creature and I am full of the Shalom of Christ. I believe and walk in it, in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture references:

Exodus 3:14 II Corinthians 5:17

Isaiah 43:18 – 19 Galatians 4:4 – 9

Isaiah 59:19 (Amplified)

John 14:27

I Corinthians 9:27

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Tag Archives: spirituality

Looking Forward – Moving Forward

Fighting to Become the Me I was Meant to Be

Coming Out of Someone Else’s Normal, Into My Destiny – II

Prayer for Today

You Are the Salt of the World!

We’ve Got to Do Better!

Prayer for Today

Prayer for Today

Prayer for Today

Prayer for Today