Month: September 2023

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examines the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

Today’s definition of love is so vague, that a person can look at another person and just like that they are in love. They’re soul mates! If one smells good, looks good, or feels good that can all quickly adds up to LOVE. Lust has become the hidden motivating factor for love now more than ever. The devil is using narcissism, lesbianism, homosexuality, fornication, adulatory, masturbation, deception, lying, gas lighting, manipulation and love bombing as new age weapons of warfare to deceive both the young and the old alike. The world has glamorized marriage, dating and sex. It no longer resembles the plan that God had originally designed for mankind in the Bible.

In today’s world how can you tell if you really know a person? The heart is so wicked no man can know it, but God. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” 2 Corinthians 10:4. Today you can be married to a person and not really know them, even after more than twenty years of marriage. For some even longer than that. Each new year reveals something different. In some relationships it might reveal something new and wonderful and in others something dark and sinister.

We must put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the devils schemes, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the breast plate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11-17.

Without the spirit of discernment, our eyes can’t be open to the hidden traps of Satan. One of his primary traps come through deceptive relationships. Remember your enemy is subtle, he knows how to wait for the right moment to strike and he knows when and who to use against us to do it. Galatians 5:7 says “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth.” We must be vigilant! Our adversary, the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking who he can devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. We must test the spirits!

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and is now in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world, therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:1-6.

We must enter all relationships with extreme caution! What looks like one thing can easily be something else. The enemy knows God’s plan for His children (Jeremiah 29:11) and he will move mountains to sabotage your destiny if given the chance. We must not entangle ourselves with unbeliever’s then think we will get them to change. According to 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Baelish? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement does the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God has said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their god, and they shall be my people. Therefore, go away from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Remember “whoever walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20.

The Gate Keeper by definition is one who is alert and trustworthy. They are to guard the entrances and exits of important establishments at the the first sign of any trouble. We, the children of God, have an obligation also to be gate keepers over our own lives, by keeping a watch over our souls. When we place barriers that help us according to Galatians 5:16 “walk after the spirit, so we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh” we protect our personal spiritual territory from being invaded by the enemy.

Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free from perversity, keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your feet from evil.” Proverbs 4:23. We are to be morally aware of what we allow in our hearts and minds (through our eyes and ears)that drive us away from the desires of the Lord.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you have been bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided”. Proverbs 16:6.

“We have an adversary the devil, we must be alert and sober minded. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. If you are experiencing spiritual turbulence or attacks in your home, marriage, finances, job, health, or your children have gone astray. Look for the root cause. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. Root out sin from your camp and fortify your mind, body, soul and sprit with the word of God through fasting and prayer.

Today our homes require us to be gate keepers. We are to protect the doors/ window and entrances of our homes. Like these entrances spoken of in the Bible, we have an enemy we need to be on guard daily to make sure there are no breaches that expose us to spiritual attack. When we become lazy and not diligent, the enemy uses this as an opportunity to raise havoc in our lives and family. Today homes are being broken, marriages destroyed, children’s lives wasted and spiritual territory lost because there are NO GATE KEEPERS!

“How can anyone enter a strongman’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first tie up the strong man?” Matthew 12:29. We must “Put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth as we wage an effective warfare against the enemy. We will overcome the wiles of the devil, when we seek God for His divine strategy. If you are currently under attack, please know who is responsible for that battle. It is not your spouse, boss, neighbor, etc. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.

Rise up! Do not leave your home wide open for the devil to come in and destroy it. It’s time to take your rightful place, reclaim your territory (take back what’s rightfully yours) and reign victorious for the Kingdom of God!

In His Service,

Carolyn

“Let the weak say I am strong; let the poor say I am reach. Joel 3:10

When you need to be strengthened, as we all do, look to the word of God to find the encouragement you need. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask, but He has instructed us to ask for His help in our time of need. Psalm 46:1. Through God’s covenant with man, He is committed to helping us find strength and peace as we navigate life’s journey. For Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Chrsit who strengthens us.”

When we pass through the waters, God has promised to be with us; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow us. When we walk through the fire, we shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch us.” Isaiah 43:2. I pray that you will find encouragement through the scriptures when life trials become overwhelming. With uncertainty on every hand, we must look to the word of God for strength and guidance. No matter what challenges you face or where life leads you, God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12-13. We are to be anxious for nothing as we trust God to unfold His perfect plan for our lives, even if it requires him to reroute our path. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 4031

Daily God provides us with the strength we need to get through each passing day. We must continue to “Wait on the Lord and be of good courage, And He shall strengthen our hearts; Wait I say on th Lord!” Psalm 27:14.

Father, may you strengthen our hearts for the journey ahead. May we find the strength and courage to wait patiently upon you, as you direct our paths. We place our trust in you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

Are you hungry? In todays passage the Lord Jesus reminds us that we are to have a spiritual appetite for the living word of God. I, am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it. “For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; He will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk up rightly” Psalm 84:11.

Our souls are to thirst for God, for the Living God. (Psalms 42:2). He promises in Revelation 21:6, that He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He will give to the one who thirst from the the spring of the water of life without cost. So won’t you quench your thirsty soul, with the living water that’s comes from God’s word today? For Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I give will never thirst, but the water that I give him, will become in him a well of water, springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14.

“Jesus is the Bread of Life, those who come to him will not hunger, and he who believes in Him will not thirst.” John 6:35. In Revelation we are reminded that “The Spirit of the Bride says, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wished take the water of life without cost.” Revelation 22:17. In order for transformation to come we must allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out. It will change our desires and appetite for the things of Christ the more we hear and study the word of God.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8. The goodness of God can be seen everywhere we look today, with so many uncertainties our God proves faithful time and time again. He allows the sun to shine on the just and the unjust, as well as, the rain. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works.” Psalm 145:17. Jesus is the same today as He was back then, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37. The question still remains today…Are you thirsty? My answer is yes! My soul thirst for God, the Living God…” Psalm 42:2.

In closing, “May The Lord grant us the grace to hunger and thirst after His righteousness daily, that we may be filled.” Matthew 5:6. May He create in us all clean hearts and renew the right spirit within us.” Psalm 51:10. In Jesus Name. Amen!