C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VIII: Divine Visitation, Communion, and Intervention (Segment 4: Stay Before the Lord!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 18:16-33; Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 13 and 14; 2 Chronicles 7:14; 2 Peter 3; Philippians 3:4-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-6

Family, it has been several months since we first began this series beginning with Genesis chapter 12. However, as we progress and get closer to Isaac being born which represents the promise, I am encouraged to continue and see what the end is going to be! As we have been in chapter 18 the last few weeks, I noticed it has a theme. It is a theme of selflessness, humility, servanthood, and compassion toward others. Abraham exemplified these acts of love, care, and concern instead of focusing on himself. Surely he had his own desires and was still waiting for what God promised him. Nonetheless, the Bible does not indicate him mentioning anything to God about receiving his promised blessings. He had the Almighty God right before him and could have taken advantage of the opportunity to inquire about “him, his four and no more” but he didn’t! Instead, Abraham was all about serving the Lord, not expecting anything to be reciprocated though God did pronounce blessings upon him and his wife, Sarah, during this visit and indicated they will have a son within a year. If that were all that Abraham was concerned with, he would have been satisfied and allowed the Lord to leave his presence after he ate. However, that was not the case. Beginning with verse 16, God and the two “men/angels” finished the meal that was prepared for them, and they were getting ready to leave. Abraham went with them to see them off while on their way, but if you skip down to verse 22, the two men went ahead toward the city of Sodom, but Abraham yet stood before the Lord! Why was it so significant that Abraham stayed before the Lord? Because he was part of a divine intervention. He not only interrupted God to serve and refresh him when he first saw him back in verse 3, but he was about to intervene once more and this time on behalf of an entire city! He was ready to throw himself before the Lord and interrupt God’s plan of destruction. Abraham was indeed an intercessor as he stayed before the Lord, communing with him! As we continue studying the remaining verses of this chapter, we will see how it is applicable to our lives. Let’s go in!

A TIME OF INTERCESSION:
First, let us define what an intercessor is and describe their characteristics. In the most simplistic terms, an intercessor is one who intercedes on behalf of others; one who stands in the gap and as the Word shows, remains before the Lord until God answers the prayer, grants the request or petition, and a change is made! Though easy to define, it is serious consideration and should not be taken lightly. When God informed Abraham of his plans to destroy Sodom, Abraham could have stayed silent as he saw the Lord off, but he didn’t. Again, as he communed with God, he was not concerned with himself in that moment. So, what was going on and taking place that a time for intercession was warranted? As we learned a few months back, chapters 13 and 14 mentions the Canaanites and the wickedness that occurred in the land. Particularly, Sodom was one of the major cities in the land of Canaan. We also learned a few months back that when Abraham and his nephew Lot split, Abraham dwelled in the land of Canaan, but Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. The people of Sodom were known to be exceedingly wicked and committed dastardly, sadistic, heinous, unholy, blasphemous acts of sin before the Lord. We will see some of these actions in chapter 19. If you recall we also previously learned that Bera, the King of Sodom, means evil son, son of evil, or son of wickedness. Bera also symbolizes “worldly temptation, materialism, and the corruption of sin.” This too reflects all that sin encompasses: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Now in chapter 18 we see that God eventually came down to see just how bad off things were, and if so, he was going to destroy Sodom and the nearby cities. What is God saying as it pertains to us? Much like today and the world we live in, things haven’t changed but worsened. Sin and corruption are at an all-time high. There’s extreme violence, lawlessness, cheating, schemes, hatred, bigotry, homosexuality, fornication, lust, people experiencing severe oppression, while the rich are becoming richer and the poor are getting poorer. More than ever, a time of intercession is needed. The spiritual alarm has sounded! God is calling for holy intercessors who will stand in the gap for a wicked and perverse generation. The Bible says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God is not willing that any perish but that all come to repentance (read 2 Peter 3). God is merciful and is giving us time to get it right. While waiting for our promise God is requiring us to intercede and go to him on behalf of others. Intercessors typically feel a deep sense of urgency, are moved with sincere compassion, and the unction of the Holy Spirit through prayer, dreams, and visions to move. The Holy Spirit will direct and guide us and move our hearts to act upon the intense burden that you feel within.

THE HEART OF AN INTERCESSOR:
When God sees your heart, he’ll commune with you. To commune means “to share deep, intimate thoughts or feelings in a close spiritual or emotional connection.” Such was the case with Abraham. God trusted him. God knew his character. God knew that Abraham would do the right thing and did not withhold his plans because of the calling on his life. For his purpose was to be a Father of many nations. A father protects. A father defends. A father covers. A father intercedes and goes before the Lord on behalf of his family and others. Like Abraham, even while waiting for your promise, God will reveal some things to you because he knows you are upright, which means “living with moral integrity, honesty, and a straight, unswerving obedience to God’s standards.” Simply stated, you will do what is right in the sight of God and in this case interceding. God entrusts you with what he is about to give and do for you! Like Abraham, he knows you. He knows your character and he sees your heart. How many people truly want blessings to help others instead of pushing his/her own agenda? The blessings of the Lord shall extend beyond you to your family, friends, and community. This revelation from God also illustrates the nature of Abraham’s relationship with the Lord. God will share things with you that he won't always with everyone else. Not so you could be prideful about it but because he wants you to do something about it. As God reveals more to you, remain humble just like the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. With all that he acquired he counted it all as dung (Philippians 3:4-17)! Abraham’s heart was revealed as he stood before the Lord. Though he was already blessed beyond measure and did not yet receive his ultimate promise, he was not only concerned with his immediate household and family (Lot) but was concerned about others. He wasn't just satisfied with being blessed himself and his own well-being. We too should look on the needs of others. During the Lord’s visit, he received a word of hope and encouragement and still stood in the gap for others unrelated to his family. Since he was so close to God he could've asked for anything, but he didn't. Reminds me of Solomon when he became King and offered sacrifices to God. In return God asked him what he wanted and Solomon only desired wisdom and an understanding heart to lead his people. Not riches, not gold, not prestige. Additionally, yet again, Abraham did all of this with NO witnesses or onlookers. He received no recognition from man. It was just him and God. His heart was in the right place. He stayed before the Lord, and with great persistence and humility remained until God said he would not destroy the land if he found a miniscule amount of ten righteous individuals. Abraham humbly negotiated with the Lord going from fifty down to ten people! Of course we cannot talk about intercession without mentioning Jesus, the ultimate intercessor! He laid down his life for us and would have even for one lost soul!

In conclusion, as Children of God, even amid chaos, while it may surround you, while sin is in the camp, you still have God’s favor. He still has great things in store for you! Stay before the Lord. Be persistent. God is counting on us to help make a difference in this dying world. Pray for those who are wicked and that the Lord turn their hearts toward him. Pray for the unbelievers. Pray for the faithless. Pray for the weak that they receive strength! Pray for the lost. Pray for those without hope. Pray that all come to repentance while there’s still time! Remember the acronym PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens! “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Amen.

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VIII: Divine Visitation, Communion, and Intervention (Segment 3: Appointed to Give Birth!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 18:9-15; Supporting Scriptures: Exodus 25-40; 1 Kings 5-8; 1 Chronicles 22, 28-29; 2 Chronicles 2-4; Ezra 3-6, Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 4; Acts 2

Holy greetings, family! What a week this has been! With everything that occurred, seemingly it went by so fast! I don’t know about you, but I look forward to Fridays. Fridays to me indicate fun, family time, rest, and relaxation. It means you get to stay up late and sleep in a little later the next day after a grueling week. It means that you get an opportunity to complete everything you were unable to during the week. It also means that Sunday, which is the start of a new week, is soon to come! Reminds of the song, “When Sunday Comes” by Daryl Coley. The lyrics say, “When Sunday comes, my troubles gone. As soon as it gets here, I'll have a new song. When Sunday comes, I won't have to cry no more. Jesus will soothe, my troubled mind and all of my heartaches, every burden, all of my misery, all of my crying, every trial, every tribulation will be left behind! When Sunday comes!” Although this song relates to Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection, it is also applicable to us once we cross over to eternity. For if we live a life of holiness and well pleasing to God, Heaven belongs to us! Furthermore, I never thought of this until today, but we can also apply this to God’s promises for our lives coming to pass at the appointed time. We all have an appointment with destiny. Spiritually speaking, we have been appointed to give birth to something for God’s glory. Appointed means “Fixed or set by authority; decided upon, scheduled, or designated for a specific time or place.” Such was the case with Abraham and Sarah. Now, we’ve mentioned much about Abraham, but this week, we are going to focus a bit more on Sarah as God had plans for her too. Abraham planted the seed to conceive, but Sarah was appointed to carry the “blessing or purpose” and give birth to Isaac. As this story continues to unfold, let’s see how it is relevant to us!

THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF BLESSINGS:
Beginning with verse 9, God and the “two men” who accompanied him inquired about Sarah. They did not call Sarah to come outside the tent where she was at. Nor did they ask Abraham to bring her out. Instead, they spoke directly with Abraham (though Sarah overheard the conversation). She was not required to be included in the conversation for what God was about to declare or announce. As it pertains to us, you never know who is watching. Perhaps someone with authority is thinking of you; Perhaps your name came up in a meeting or conversation that did not require you to be there; Perhaps there is someone who wants to bless you; For business owners, perhaps there is someone who plans to use your services; Perhaps there is someone who needs your expertise and is in search of you. In the next few verses, Abraham represents the middleman; the bridge between you and God so to speak. He is the one responsible for planting the seed. Again, as previously mentioned, Abraham is unable to have a baby on his own. Although he is the progenitor of the Children of Israel and the Father of Faith, he needs Sarah to carry this gift of promise and to give birth to it. After all, remember, her name means Mother of many. I am certainly not trying to make comparisons between the two. Both Abraham and Sarah are necessary and needed to fulfill God’s promise and purpose. Abraham’s sperm, Sarah’s eggs, fallopian tubes, and womb are needed to produce this miracle. As a result, in this particular case, Abraham is not the final decision maker. God is. In the next verse (10), God was ready to pronounce blessings upon Sarah. A pronouncement is defined as “a formal, official, or authoritative statement, declaration, or judgment made by someone in a position of power.” Sarah was essentially appointed to give birth to Isaac within a year from the Lord’s visitation. What has God appointed for you to give birth to in this season? What has he declared that you produce? What are you carrying inside that must be birthed out? Perhaps it could be more than one thing! Whatever it or they may be, blessings and people are attached to it! Also, God has equipped and developed Godly connections, Kingdom helpers, and destiny partnerships be it for ministries, businesses, organizations, community initiatives, and other ventures. This reminds me of the building of the Tabernacle and Temple (the first and second one). In these cases, several volunteers, donations, contributors, individuals with specific skill, and workers were needed to help build, pray, and intercede.

BECOMING A “MOTHER” TO MANY:
Continuing with the subject of birth, Abraham and Sarah had to come together to conceive. Abraham represents you and your mindset; the strategic thinker; the one with the ideas; one who conceptualizes and plans; the Head; the CEO. Sarah in this case is representative of the birther; the one who gives birth; one who helps to execute the idea or plan. Between the two of them, it is a partnership where both are equally responsible for the care and success of the promise. Both must raise, nurture and teach Isaac TOGETHER! They must be in sync and on the same path, with one accord. The trait of a loving mother is one who nurtures and cares for that which is delicate. She is graceful in her approach to help raise her child. You, in essence, are becoming a mother to many. God chose you to bring forth multiple facets of his plan (e.g., ministries, Kingdom businesses, soul winning, etc.) effectively. You will be successful in more ways than one and will help others to do the same. God is forming godly, healthy partnerships to bring about his plan. He is establishing loving families. While an unborn child is in the womb, the parents plan, care for and nurture the baby, eat right while carrying, and attend doctor’s visits to monitor how well the baby is doing (e.g., growth, development, health, etc.). In the same sense, God is giving us the knowledge, skill, and the grace to steward well our businesses, finances, relationships and partnerships. Ultimately, this prepares us for the greater, from the conception phase all the way to the birth and after!

EXPECTANCY RENEWED:
Unfortunately, when Sarah overheard the conversation, according to verse 12 she laughed within her heart because she felt she and Abraham were far too old. Remember, Abraham also had a similar reaction back in chapter 17 (v.17). This indicates that a shift in the mindset was needed for both of them. There is nothing too difficult for God! You may feel too old to birth anything. You may feel that it is too late and somehow missed your appointed time. You may feel inadequate or don’t have enough (e.g., whit, skill, finances, resources, support, or clientele). The devil is a liar! You are right on track. You are right on schedule. Nothing has been delayed, denied, or rescinded! There is an appointed time, and you have an expected end with destiny! The last time God came, he changed Abraham and Sarah's name, and informed Sarah would have a son, but he didn't say exactly when. Now this time the Lord provided more specificity and told him that it would happen within a year. God is going to reveal to you the precise timeframe of when to expect your fulfilled promise! He’s going to reveal your next. It may not be the entire picture, but a portion or fraction of the next scene in the story of your life. Expect that phone call, email, DM, letter in the mail, meeting, or running into someone with authority to help birth or bring about what God promised you. Perhaps it has been a long time that you have been waiting on God to move, and it is past your expiration date. So, it is hard to fathom. But will you believe wholeheartedly again? As God reveals more to you, I pray that your heart is strengthened and your expectation renewed.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that Abraham and Sarah likely conceived within three months of the Lord’s visitation and pronounced blessing. However, they still had to wait an additional nine months for the gestational period and for the fetus to develop to full term. Your blessing, though promised by God still requires preparation. While you are waiting on the Lord and preparing for your promise, God is going to send helpers. He is going to send spiritual midwives to help prepare you and help birth your vision! I pray that God give you God-ordained partnerships, with the same heart, mindset, vision, in word and in deed. God will connect you with like-minded individuals. Just like on the day of Pentecost, they were all with one accord and in one place. Afterwhile, it won’t be long from now. It’s about to come! It’s about to happen! This is not a laughing matter. You are getting closer! Your promise is soon to be birthed! Amen.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VIII: Divine Visitation, Communion, and Intervention (Segment 2: Make Haste to Serve!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 18:5-8; Supporting Scriptures: Romans 12:1; Psalm 100:2; Galatians 6:9; John 13:1-17; Luke 22:7-30; Genesis 4; 1 Kings 18

Greetings, family! I pray each of you are doing well. Whew! The days surely appear to be getting shorter and there’s so much that needs to be completed in 24 hours. Within this time span, we begin our day with prayer, studying the Word, iron clothes if you didn’t the night prior, take care of the essentials (e.g., Shower/bathe, clean ears, floss, brush your teeth, gargle, do your hair, apply body butter/lotion your body, deodorant, spray some perfume/body spray or cologne if you’re a male), get dressed, cook breakfast, pack lunch, take care of your family, drop kids off at school, work, pick up kids from school, check homework, cook dinner, clean up, all to do it over again the next day. This is just the basis of what we experience daily as it does not include incidentals such as grocery shopping, putting the groceries away, laundry, reviewing school projects, cleaning the house, vacuuming, doctor/dental/visual appointments, car repair, sports or other extracurricular activities, attending church service, just to name a few. It’s as if you barely have enough time for yourself. I listed all of these things to show how intentional we must be with our time management and spending quality time with God. We have a short window of time and opportunity to accomplish what’s necessary. Resuming from last week, such was the case with Abraham. When God appeared to him, Abraham offered to get water for foot washing and some bread, and they permitted him to do so. As a result, Abraham made haste to serve! He had to get ready and prepare quickly! He also added butter, milk, and a calf (of which we’ll explain in further detail shortly) to the menu, which was in addition to the water for washing feet and the morsel of bread! Abraham went the extra mile with showing his hospitality toward God! He had a mind to serve; A deep desire to serve. He had a true servant’s heart! Family, I need you to understand the urgency of serving in your season of waiting. When it comes to serving the Lord and this can be done in several capacities, time is of the essence. Why? Because time is winding up and Jesus is soon to come and ultimately, only what you do for Christ will last! As the call and response song that we would sing at church goes, “Put your time in. Pay day is coming afterwhile.” Let’s continue exploring the important factors of serving while waiting on God.

SERVING IS A FORM OF WORSHIP:
Did you know that serving is a form of worship? It is essentially a sacrificial offering to God when you are giving of yourself in service to the Lord and to his people. We are presenting our bodies, our heart, our mind as living sacrifices unto God (Romans 12:1). You’re not doing it simply to receive a blessing in return. You’re not doing it to accelerate what God already promised. You’re doing it because of your love for God and your desire to please him. Servanthood, true servanthood, is defined as “living to benefit, assist, or sacrifice for others rather than seeking personal status or control.” I found that when you spend time with the Lord, and serve others, it helps take the focus off your own issues and concerns. Before you know it, what you’ve been waiting on God for doesn’t seem so long and find it becomes much easier or more bearable to wait. I used to hear this often growing up and I believe I mentioned this before a few months back. If you take care of God’s business, he will take care of yours! There is true joy in serving! The Bible says to “Serve the Lord with gladness!” (Psalm 100:2). Take Abraham for example. He was so honored that the Lord visited him! He was deeply humbled and obliged to serve. In what ways are you serving in your family, community, on your job, at your church, or through your business? What have you sacrificed? Is it your time, money, talent, expertise? Allow me to indulge you for a moment. While Abraham served during the Lord’s visit, there was no audience or witnesses! It was just him; God, the two “men”, and Sarah was in the tent. Serving even when no one sees you; even when unnoticed or acknowledged by others is still counted worthy! When you serve, you are sowing into good ground and God sees you. He sees the work. He sees the early uprisings and the late evenings. He sees what goes on in between. He sees the blood, sweat, and tears of effort that you put forth every single day! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS TO GOD:
By reading this title, one would think that it pertains to money but in this particular case, I am referring to giving God your absolute best. What are you offering to God while you wait on him for what he promised? Let’s continue using Abraham for an example and break down the spiritual significance of what he offered to the Lord during his visitation. Let’s start off with Abraham providing water so they could wash their feet. Foot washing is a ceremonial representation of, to a degree, one of the greatest forms of humility and servanthood. Although in this case Abraham did not wash their feet but provided the water for them to do so. Back in that era, it was a tradition to offer water for washing feet after traveling a long distance. Now, when mentioning humility, we surely cannot leave out Jesus! He showed the greatest form of humility when dying for our sins. Prior to that, he demonstrated how to serve one another in love. If you recall what occurred during the last supper, according to John the 13th chapter (Read John 13:1-17), Jesus took off his robe, took a towel and girded himself. He then took water, poured it into a basin and washed the disciples’ feet. He not only washed their feet but dried them with the towel he was wearing. Do you see the level of humility? He did not even use a separate towel! Like Abraham, Jesus served without expecting anything in return except for the disciples to do the same, fellowshipping and bearing one another in love. Jesus also served knowing he would be betrayed by Judas, denied three times by Peter, abandoned by the disciples because they feared and before his arrest, they slept and couldn’t even wait up with him for one measly hour! Whew! How many of us can still serve in love and forgiveness? This is what God is requiring us to do. No servant is greater than his master. So, if Jesus did it, we also are obligated to serve despite the betrayal, neglect, and mistreatment.

Abraham’s second offering to God was a morsel of bread. This too was part of their custom back then. Though small, it was just as significant as the water. This was the appetizer so to speak. It was as if Abraham was trying to gauge their acceptance prior to bringing out the additional food items. Also, this bread can be viewed as a representation of Jesus, the Bread of Life! Again, if we refer to what occurred during the last supper (Read Luke 22:7-30), Jesus broke the bread and said to his disciples, “This is my body which was broken for you. This do in remembrance of me.” Once God gave Abraham the green light he with a quickness began preparing the other items. This brings us to Abraham’s third offering, of which he ran and directed Sarah to make bread, but the significance of this is what and how he said it. He said, “Get three LARGE MEASURES of your BEST flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” He wanted God and the two accompanying “men” to have the very best, the choicest food! Remember, he started out with a morsel, a small piece of bread. Now that he was given permission he was planning to bring more and he didn’t stop at the bread. The Bible says that he also ran to get a tender calf and had his servant quickly prepare it! Do you see Sarah and the servant’s obedience as well? This is a perfect example of others being tied to you and your blessing, directly and indirectly. Remember a tender calf was one of the sacrificial items used in the covenantal ceremony back in chapter 15 and we learned that it represents “purity, sacrifice, and cleansing” of sin. Scholars also state it represented “complete dedication, vitality, and the offering of one's best to God.” Once the bread and meat were ready, Abraham also served yogurt and milk with it. The yogurt and milk were also considered a luxury and deemed a high honor to serve guests this cuisine, especially during this time of day. Remember, all of this took place at the hottest point of the day. So, it had to be prepared and served rather quickly.

In conclusion, even after Abraham served the food, he stood by and watched, anticipating their needs (not a blessing from them but their needs) and they ate. What Abraham presented to them was NOT rejected. He had high regard for God. How much more should we? What are you presenting to God for him to eat? What have you killed/sacrificed (spiritually speaking)? Ensure what you are presenting and offering to God is acceptable. Take Abraham, Jesus, Abel offering a more excellent sacrifice than his brother Cain (Genesis 4), and Elijah when he challenged Ahab and the false prophets on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18) for example. Ensure what you give is not tainted. Be sincere and have no ulterior motives. Just pure, unadulterated, undefiled worship and he will accept. Serve with a sense of urgency because time is of the essence. Hurry before the window of opportunity closes. Don't be so busy that you miss God. I’m expecting a visit from the Lord and when he comes, may I be found in his presence, serving and worshipping at his feet! Amen.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VIII: Divine Visitation, Communion, and Intervention (Segment 1: Do Not Pass Me By!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 18:1-5; Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 118:24; Romans 8:28; Psalm 23:2; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 121:1-2; Matthew 25:35-40; John 12:1-8; 2 Kings 4:8-17; Genesis 24

Greetings, family! “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we shall rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24)! This past week has been grueling to say the least. One would think that after retiring life would be much simpler but that’s not the case. It appears to be just as busy and sometimes even more so. To add insult to injury, our 11-year-old son informed us last minute about a STEM project that was to be completed in less than three days! Oh, the joys of parenthood! It seems the closer I get to reading, studying, and meditating on the promise (Isaac), the more spiritual warfare and sudden distractions I experience. Nonetheless, despite how tired I feel at times (mentally, physically, emotionally, etc.), I am not going to give up and am determined to keep going because I know in the end “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)! As the song by Vashawn Mitchell states, “It won’t always be like this. The Lord will perfect that concerning me. Sooner or later, it will turn in my favor. It’s turning around for me.” As we begin exploring a new chapter in Genesis (18), this is exactly what Abraham was doing. Between chapter 17 and 18, Abraham continued going about life, taking care of business. That is the key word, “continue”. Though at this point there was yet and still no Isaac; no fulfilled promise, he was still found doing what he was supposed to do, being in God’s perfect will. But how quickly the story changed! Abraham experienced an “all of a sudden” moment where God appeared again, and this time with two other “men”. Some scholars say they were angels and others state it was a representation of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). I am so elated about this chapter not only because of the Lord’s appearance, but he came with an encouraging message specifically for Abraham and his wife, Sarah while on his way to see about the city of Sodom! It was a divine visitation for Abraham! Have you ever experienced an unexpected visit from someone or ran into someone unexpectedly while running errands, but was pleasant and found yourself refreshed and strengthened from that encounter? This is what occurred with Abraham. As we read further, we’ll see how God’s divine visitation and Abraham’s divine interruption collided and turned out to be a holy communion which is defined as “An intimate fellowship, spiritual rapport, or shared connection with God.”

THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME:
Beginning with the first verse of Genesis, the 18th chapter, the Lord appeared to Abraham. This “appearance” occurred when he took time to rest a while during the hottest point of the day. Scholars show that this was a tradition to do so during that specific time of day because the heat was too intense for labor. As it pertains to us, rest, both naturally and spiritually, is necessary. It’s not always about the hustle! How else would we be able to spend time in God’s presence? How would we know the next steps to take? How would we be able to care for ourselves and our well-being if we do not take time to rest? The Bible says, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2) meaning he restores and nourishes us. You know, being on every committee at your church doesn’t make one godlier. Also, as a leader, doing everything yourself doesn’t mean others aren’t capable or incapable of learning. Did you know one of the leading causes of burnout is a heavy workload? Even Abraham had servants and did not take care of his entire establishment by himself. If you recall, as previously mentioned back in Genesis chapter 14, he had over 300 trained men born to his household. At the time God came, Abraham was found resting. Not busy. Not pre-occupied; but undistracted. He was in the right place mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Let me ask you a few questions. Is your heart and mind at rest? Are you at peace? If not, the Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). The Bible also says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). That “him” in this verse represents us! Although God was on his way to see about the evil being done in Sodom, he stood nearby in a place where Abraham could see him. Again, he was found resting at the right place at the right time! The next steps were up to Abraham. The ball was in his court so to speak. While Abraham was sitting down resting, the Bible says that he lifted up his eyes and saw God with two other men! Glory! “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2)! He knew immediately that it was God. This shows the type of relationship he had with the Lord, being able to recognize and discern the true presence of God. But what does one do when he/she sees or senses God’s presence? Abraham gave the perfect example. He was excited and ran to the Lord but remained humble, bowing himself low to the ground.

THE OPPORTUNITY; DO NOT PASS ME BY:
As I’m typing, I recall the words to the hymn, Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Saviour that says, “Saviour, Saviour, hear my humble cry; while on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by!" Abraham had a heart to serve the Lord. In verse 3, he expressed with all sincerity his eagerness to serve and please God without wanting anything in return. He simply desired to be hospitable. He asked God to come by; stop by here; stay a while; let me refresh you! He didn't even remind God of what he promised him back in Genesis 17. He was just so glad that the Lord showed up. As previously mentioned, Abraham was going about his life still working, still loving God, and still doing what he was supposed to do. It doesn't appear that he was anticipating the Lord's visit that particular day but was excited that he came. In other words, he was saying, please don’t move on without first allowing me the opportunity to serve you. Lord, I know you have things to do but sit here and rest a while. As children of God, we can relate. Lord, others are calling you for things. However, I am calling you for relationship, to give back to you as much as I possibly can though I can never repay you for all you've done. To serve God means loving him, obeying his commandments, studying and adhering to his Word, spending time with him, and sowing into, helping, and giving to others in need. "When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink, When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was sick you visited me. When I was in jail you visited me…" (Matthew 25:35-40). There are many other examples in the Bible of those who served not wanting anything in return – Mary who poured out expensive oil from her alabaster box and washed Jesus's feet (John 12:1-8). The Shunamite woman who prepared a room for Elisha the Prophet (2 Kings 4:8-17). Rebekah who drew water for Eliezar, Abraham's servant, and his camels (Genesis 24). We also are called to serve in several capacities be it through helping others, on your job, in your neighborhood, in your church, through your business, etc.

In conclusion, whenever the opportunity presents itself, run to God, not away from him. He is coming and his reward is with him! He is coming to rescue, deliver, bless you, to commune with you, and to come see about you. Don't think for once that he doesn't see you and does not care. He loves you with an everlasting love! He's about to show up! Lift up your head! Look and live! There is yet hope! In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant symbolized the presence of God. We now have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This represents the presence of God who resides within us and we never have to worry about him just visiting because he is always with us! Amen.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VII: His Covenant is Still with You! (Segment 4: Prepare for Harvest!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 17:18-27; Supporting Scriptures: Philippians 4:19; Luke 18:27; Romans 8:27; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Acts 20:35; Hebrews 12:1

Greetings, family! This is yet another cloudy and rainy Saturday as I sit here typing away. Yet, I am thankful and grateful to the Lord that he continues to “supply all of our need according to his riches and glory and that by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). As the song says, “It could’ve been me outdoors with no food and no clothes…thank you, Lord for all you’ve done for me!” As we move forward with the remainder of Genesis, chapter 17, the Lord spoke to me around 2:00AM and said, “Prepare for Harvest, Erica! Prepare for Harvest!” Family, get ready to receive an abundance of blessings! I cannot stress enough how important the blessings of the Lord are. The expectation is that these blessings extend and continue beyond you! We must instill and leave a legacy of faith for others and especially our children. And so, let the Legacy of the new You begin! It most cases, the legacy can be a continuation of what is already in your family line/lineage but there are some things that will begin with you first! However, we must yield to the Holy Spirit and make ourselves available to be used by God. As the song says, “Lord, I’m available to you. My will I give to you. I do what you say do. Use me Lord to show someone the way and enable me to say my storage is empty and I am available to you.” Last week we learned about the importance of circumcision, removing the foreskin of sin and rebellion from our hearts. This was also a sign of the covenant God was making with Abraham in addition to his name being changed. He went from being Abram, meaning exalted father to Abraham, meaning father of many nations/multitudes. As I continued studying chapter 17, I noticed something about Abraham. He was not perfect! Although he was a man of faith, he still had a bit of doubt in his heart. I say this because immediately after God spoke to him and told him about his wife, Sarah’s new name (from Sarai to Sarah) and how she will bear him a son, verse 17 shows he laughed in his heart with a bit of sarcasm. He also said verbally in verse 18 that Ishmael live before God, meaning he either still assumed that he was the chosen seed instead of believing the impossible or desired for him to be blessed as well. He was in slight disbelief of what God could do because he was 99 years old and Sarah was well beyond the age of childbearing. Humanly speaking, he was trying to figure it out. However, the Word of God says, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Is there anything too hard for God? Nothing, absolutely nothing is too hard for God! Do you truly believe that? Let’s go in further to see what more Holy Spirit has to say concerning us!

REMOVE THE RESIDUE:
After Abraham's name changed, he still had a little residue from before. Residue is what’s left over. In essence, his heart and way of thinking had to catch up with his new name! Prior to Ishmael back in chapter 15, Abraham assumed his inheritance/ legacy/lineage would continue through his servant, Eliezer. Now you see him doing it again with Ishmael! In concert, even after we are saved and made new, the residue of sin may still remain. As a result, we must continue working on cleansing our hearts from all unrighteousness. This same principle can be applied to circumcision. Scholars state, "Circumcision is complete dedication of one's thoughts, actions, and words to God, a spiritual transformation that goes beyond outward rituals.” What is the condition of your heart in this moment? We at times can function the same way Abraham did. After God spoke into our lives, made us a promise, established a covenant with us, reassured us, as we wait on him, we still have a bit of doubt in our heart and try to figure things out for ourselves. We haven’t fully relinquished full control and released plan A, B, C, and D in the back of our mind! I am guilty of this! We still have JIC (Just in Case) in our hearts. In case this doesn’t work, then I’ll do this or settle for that! Why are you still doubting God? Why are you still in disbelief after everything God already did for you; after everything he told you? Why do you not believe? Too much Word has come for you not to! As forestated, God wants your entire heart, a surrendered heart. What are you still holding on to? Where is your heart in this moment? You started out well in your faith and obedience, made a few diversions, got back on track, but there's still a bit of doubt and unbelief in your heart! God is looking for a different response from you, from your heart.

PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE:
Preparing your heart for harvest is similar to how farmers prepare for harvest. Again, I did not know much about farmers. So, I had to look it up. According to scholars, preparing for harvest “requires inspecting and cleaning storage bins, testing equipment, and planning for crop drying and placement.” In relation to the heart, Holy Spirit will inspect our heart. Though this relates to intercession, the Bible says that “He who searches the heart, knoweth the mind of the spirit…” (Romans 8:27). That “He” is the Holy Spirit. He helps us in our infirmities. He knows the mind of God, and he knows exactly what we’re thinking as well. Therefore, He is able to intercede on our behalf by leading us in what to say to God when we can’t conjure up the words. Additionally, because of the blood of Jesus, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). After we receive a heart inspection and thorough cleansing, our heart will be tested/proven prior to the full release of blessings. We must also seek the Lord and have a plan for the harvest of blessings. Essentially, what are you going to do with the blessings God is going to give you? Who are you intended to help with the blessings you receive? I know with a certainty that me and my husband will help build the Kingdom of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven and we have a written plan! The more we receive from God, the more we will give. For the word of God according to 2 Corinthians 9:10 states, “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” The Word also says that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). This is the true principle of receiving a harvest - to help others!

I WANT TO BE FREE:
There is true freedom in circumcision! Do you want to be free? Cut off the excess weight and baggage and what remains, the weight and sin that so easily besets you (Hebrews 12:1). Let’s pray right now. Father God, in the name of Jesus. I repent. Please forgive me. I ask that you break up the fallowed ground in my heart and replace it with deep, rich soil. Turn my heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Tear down my stubborn will. I ask you and Holy Spirit into my heart to do whatever He wishes to do. I surrender. I humble myself in your sight. Remove the residue of my past and the trauma that I’ve experienced. Remove the hurt and pain. I no longer want to do my own thing. I only want to do your will! Create in me a clean heart and renew in me a right spirit. My spirit is open to you, Lord. Have thine own way, Lord! Do what you want to do. You are the potter and I am the clay. My desire is to do thine will. My desire is to please thee! Make me into the woman/man of God that you'll have me to be. Pride must go! Stubbornness must go! Unforgiveness must go! Bitterness must go! Unbelief must go! In the name of Jesus! May I rededicate my life, love, and devotion to you each day. Help me and your people to endure this time of testing and trials as Jesus did. For he “endured the cross, despising the shame and is now seated at thy right hand.” My desire is to be in right standing with you. “My storage is empty and I make myself available to you!” In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

In conclusion, get those storage bins ready because your due season is near and it is a plentiful harvest! So, prepare your heart and cut off the excess dead weight or sin and be cleansed from the residue of sin and unbelief. Family, what you choose to do and how you conduct yourself matters! Your faith and obedience alone can break generational curses. Your faith and obedience can bless somebody else. Your faith and obedience can catapult you to the next level! Keep showing up even when you don't feel like it! Remain consistent in God!! Your legacy must continue. Don't let it stop/end with you but let it begin with you! Amen.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VII: His Covenant is Still with You! (Segment 3: Circumcision Before Multiplication!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 17:8-17; Supporting Scriptures: psalm 51:5; Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16; Matthew 22:37; Deuteronomy 10:16; Isaiah 40:28-31; Joel 2:21-27

Greetings, family! It’s another cloudy and rainy Saturday, yet the Son is shining deep in my heart! I know this sounds so cliché, but Jesus is everything to me! I may be married but Jesus is my eternal love, and he loves me much more than anyone ever could. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my husband of 13 years, and he loves me, but Jesus died for me foreknowing that I would sin. For we were all born into sin and shapen in iniquity (Psalm 51:5) but because of his sacrifice, I now have eternal life in him! The Bible also states that it is very rare that a person dies for someone who is righteous (Romans 5:6-8), and in most cases no one would ever die for his/her enemy, but that is exactly what Jesus did! Him who knew no sin became sin for us! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Just like the song, Jesus is truly the best thing that ever happened to me! Therefore, no matter what is going on in my life, no matter life’s circumstances, I choose to remain with him! People tend to give up on God when things don’t go his/her way, but I refuse to let go! I love the Lord because he first loved me and I am not with him just so that I can receive blessings. He’s already blessed me! Even if he never was to do another thing for me, he’s already done enough! I believe this is how Abraham may have been feeling. Yes, he did not have Isaac yet, but God blessed him abundantly while dwelling in the land of Canaan. As I mentioned months back, Abraham was rich. He was wise. He was strategic. He had servants and most importantly, he had a relationship with and faith in God. Abraham was a true worshipper, he was a true Believer and God would visit and communicate with him frequently. Aren’t you glad to have a God who comes to see about us and dwells with us? Thank God for the Holy Spirit who dwells on the inside of us, who comforts, warns, teaches, guides, perfects and empowers us! As we learned in the beginning of Genesis, chapter 17, God appeared before Abraham and reminded him of his promised blessings (e.g., descendants, blessings, a great name, and land). God would frequently visit Abraham since he first called him from the land of Haran as mentioned in Genesis the 12th chapter. Last week we saw the interaction between God and Abraham. God reassured and reaffirmed his promises, changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and in response Abraham fell face down before the Lord, the purest form of worship; deep, sincere reverence, and humility. As we move further down the verses of chapter 17, we will see what more was required to solidify God’s covenant with Abraham and apply this to our lives.

PREPARE YOUR HEART:
Abraham physically positioned himself prostrate before the Lord. We should also posture ourselves this way with our heart, showing gratitude, deep love and appreciation for him. Abram and Sarai’s name was changed to Abraham and Sarah meaning Father and Mother of Many Nations/Multitudes although they did not conceive and Isaac was not born yet. God was preparing Abraham and getting him ready in addition to his wife, those born in household, and Ishmael. Although this significant covenant was between God and Abraham, it still impacted those closest to him. God commanded Abraham to circumcise himself and all the men in his household, including Ishmael who was 13 years old at the time. In regard to the male anatomy and physically speaking, circumcision is removing the foreskin from around and away from the private part (not trying to be explicit). Considering Genesis being the first book of the Bible and Pentateuch (First five books of the law), this actually was the first time circumcision was mentioned. Though this was an outward, physical ritual, and no longer a requirement, from a spiritual standpoint, circumcision is the removal of sin from one’s life, big and small, known and unknown. God requires a full gutting out and thorough cleansing of your heart before he blesses you. He does not want half of your heart. He wants your whole heart. He wants to expose and cleanse every crack and crevice of your heart, getting underneath the rug, in the corners, in the back of your closet, and those messy junk drawers that you stash papers, mail, etc. in metaphorically speaking. Rid yourself of pride, envy, jealousy, slothfulness, self-reliance, doubt, fear, unbelief, unforgiveness, resentment, rebellion and disobedience. Give him your past and current hurt. Give him the pain that you stored far back in your mind. He doesn’t want you to operate on autopilot. He wants you to be completely free so that you can enjoy the blessings when they come. Also, check your true motives that no one can see but God. God is requiring full obligation, full devotion, and full obedience to him. The Bible says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). Regarding Abraham’s seed, Moses urged the Children of Israel to remove the foreskin from their hearts and to stop being rebellious against God (Deuteronomy 10:16). Family, like Abraham, several are connected to your obedience and resulting blessing from the Lord! Not only is this covenant everlasting, but the reciprocal acts of love, respect, and obedience must also be kept/observed from generation to generation.

INTIMACY WITH THE LORD:
In addition to circumcision, God was going to bless both Abraham and Sarah's body to conceive and procreate, and to enjoy one another (having great pleasure) while intimate. He was going to restore and give them strength! Somebody say, “Intimacy with God!” Intimacy with God prepares you for your blessing! God wants you to have joy in the waiting. He doesn’t want you to be miserable, angry, anxious, or fearful. For those feeling weak, God is going to give you the strength to wait on him. “For they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength…!” (Read Isaiah 40:28-31). God wants to cultivate and grow your expectation and faith in him. He doesn’t want to be your last resort. He wants to be your first priority over your job, business, spouse, friends, family, etc. Intimacy plants and prepares the seed for multiplication and being fruitful. God is preparing your heart to bear more fruit; more evidence of God in you! It’s seed time before harvest, family! Prepare the ground of your heart to receive! This is likened unto farmers who prepare the ground for planting crops. Now, I don’t know much about farming. So, I had to look up the details of farming. Scholars state that farmers “prepare the soil for planting crops by clearing debris, loosening and turning the earth, adding nutrients, and shaping smooth beds.” Can you see the spiritual connotations behind this? Ever heard the expression, “Out with the old and in with the new?” God wants to uproot the old, deep, dark sin in your heart. He wants to remove the leftover debris from the sins of your past before he plants new seeds. He wants to uproot any feelings of bitterness, shame, blame, low self-esteem, lies from the enemy that you believed long ago. He wants to remove past hurt and disappointments. He wants to remove the bitter experiences of your childhood. He wants to remove every form of hindrance from your life so that you can freely receive. As the late great Richard Smallwood would sing, “There’s healing for your sorrow. Healing for your pain. Healing for your spirit. There’s shelter from the rain. Lord send your healing. For this we know there is a Balm in Gilead to heal your soul.” God not only desires healing for you, but also full restoration. He wants to nourish and strengthen you. Again, this can only come through intimacy with him, spending time in his presence, and showering you with the water of His Word. I know this season has been tough, and it just about knocked the wind out of you. However, the times of refreshing are upon us! God is a God of restoration. If God can nourish and restore Abraham and Sarah’s body, he can do the same for you. For the Word of God says, “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed” (Joel 2:25-27).

In conclusion, circumcision of the heart for all, the entire family (father, mother, children, etc.) is required before the full manifestation of your blessing is released. This is a symbolization of the covenant between God and Man. God is making us ready. There's just a few more things needed out of our hearts, but we're almost there! Press in! Press through! Break through! Persevere! God is about to do it! He really is! You must believe! Listen, Noah didn't start believing once the rain came. By that time, it would've been too late to begin building the ark! This is why it is essential to believe and obey immediately. He's about to make you laugh. He will multiply and increase what he has already instilled in you! He will increase your anointing and enable you to accomplish his will. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Amen.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VII: His Covenant is Still with You! (Segment 2: His Covenant Changed My Name!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #devotional #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 17:2-7; Supporting Scriptures: Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 9:11-12; Ephesians 3:20; Isaiah 64:6; Revelation 4; Exodus 15:11; Joshua 5:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Greetings, family! How is everyone doing? I sincerely pray that all is well with each of you! This past week, sickness swept through our home. However, we thank our God, Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals, for his healing virtue! Thank you, Jesus! For “He was wounded for our transgressions. Bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5)! Last week we began a new chapter in Genesis (17th chapter to be exact) and literally only got through the first verse! It never ceases to amaze me of the slow progression for each chapter (lol), but as I always mention, when it comes to the Word of God, you cannot rush through. It takes time to read, study, and mediate on His Word. Abram can certainly identify with things appearing slow. Since the Lord first called him as described back in Genesis the 12th chapter (he was 75 years old) and up to this point (He is now 99 years old), it has been approximately 24 years and still no Isaac! At this point one would think that what God promised was never going to come to pass but allow me to fill you in on a little something and give a quick preview. Abram’s miracle from the Lord was on the horizon! He was just about there. As a matter of fact, Isaac was soon to be born within a year! Now, imagine if Abram gave up being so close to receiving his promise! One year is nothing compared to how long he had already been waiting. Family, you are so close to your miracle, you can literally reach out and touch it in the spirit! This season and this particular time in your life is critical! It is vital that you hold on and do not let go! Do not doubt. Do not fear. Your breakthrough, miracle, promise, and blessing are near! As the Queen of gospel, Pastor Shirley Caesar sings, “You’re next in line for a miracle. Your breakthrough has come! You have kept the faith and today is your day for a miracle!” Lord, have mercy! I receive it, in the name of Jesus! God, in his infinite grace and mercy, even after years have gone by, is still keeping his covenant with you! Isn’t that reassuring? As we continue exploring chapter 17, we will see what God said to Abram when he appeared before him. Now, let’s go in further and see what more Holy Spirit has to say concerning us.

THE MULTIPLICITY OF YOUR BLESSING:
In verse 2 God said to Abram, “And I will make my covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly.” God was going to bless Abram and his seed farther than he could ever imagine. From him would come an innumerable, immeasurable number from his blood line. Exceedingly means “very, extremely, or to a very high and unusual degree; to a great or extreme extent.” God was not messing around with Abram. Not only was Abram going to have many, but the Bible says that nations and Kings would come from his loins. Family, the manifold blessing of the Lord is near! For this is the year of Jubilee! He has set everything in place. As a child of God; as a kingdom entrepreneur, you are destined for greatness because greatness dwells on the inside of you! God says, bountiful; in abundance; overflow! This blessing is so multifaceted, it is not going to come just one way. He is going to multiply your resources, finances, abilities, increase your anointing, your business and customers. You will bear much more fruit. You will have overflow so much so you will not have enough room to receive. Not so you can boast about it, but two important factors will derive from this promised blessing – 1) The needs of God’s people will be met and 2) An overflow of thanks to God! (Read 2 Corinthians 9:11-12). Yes, Lord! To God be the glory! Let him be glorified in this hour! “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20)!

PROSTRATE BEFORE HIS MAJESTY:
Upon hearing such wonderful, reassuring words from the Lord, in verse 3 Abram fell on his face indicating reverential fear and awe of God. Falling before the Lord face down is a position of gratitude, thankfulness, humility, prayer, love, and a deep, sincere appreciation of him. God’s presence, as well as what he was conveying to Abram was so overpowering, he could not help but fall face down. This here is another example/form of worship, when you recognize your limitations and see God for who he is, in all of his glory and splendor! We are nothing compared to him. The Bible says that even our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). As the great hymn says, " All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall…” Even in Heaven, the four living creatures (beasts) cry out “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come!” and in response, the twenty-four Elders around his throne bow before him, casting down their golden crowns saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Read all of Revelation 4). If Abram were alive to hear his descendants, Moses said it best when he and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. They sang, “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders” (Exodus 15:11)? Also, according to Joshua 5:14 – “Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” This should be our same response and stance! In humble submission, honor, reverence, and respect for the Most High God. Naturally, when you are in the presence of a king, you bow and have the utmost respect and honor for him. How much more should we have for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I lay prostrate and put my face to the ground before the living God! What an honor and privilege it is to have someone like him desiring to make covenant with you! His Majesty loves and is concerned about you. As God speaks, I change my position and posture myself with my face down to the ground in humble adoration and total submission! Because of the greatness of God! His glory and splendor! His Majesty. Oh, how majestic he is. Glorious! Fearful! Almighty! Awe powerful!

I WAS! NOW I AM:
After being in contact and having such an overwhelming experience with God and him expressing his covenant, you can’t possibly be the same! When God approaches you, he doesn’t see nor call you in your current state. He calls/sees the future you! When God called Gideon, he addressed him as a Mighty Man of Valor. This is what happened with Abram. The covenant and blessings were already foretold. Nothing new was stated that God had not already told Abram. Verse 4 is where the transfer began when God mentioned him being, “A father of many nations.” This particular verse revealed the meaning of Abram’s new name; his new season. In verse 5 his name was changed from Abram to Abraham, meaning father of many nations or multitude! Abram and Sarai’s name was changed even though Isaac was not born yet. Additionally, in the Bible, whenever there was a significant event or experience with God, the person’s name was changed. For example, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel after wrestling with the Angel of the Lord all night long and he prevailed. In the New Testament, Saul’s name was changed to Paul after his experience with God while on the way to Damascus. What about us? For me, I experienced much in life. I was depressed. I was exhausted and depleted! However, when I gave my life to Jesus, I was and am no longer the same! “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things have passed away and behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). My name is now Victory! My name is Overcomer! My name is Conqueror! My name is Kingdom Builder! My name is Child of God! My name is Servant of the Most High God! I am blessed and highly favored of the Lord! I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and peculiar. I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. I am a leader and not a follower. Speak life over yourself, family! You are Royalty. You are virtuous. You are a mighty man a valor. You are courageous. You are confident in God. You are whole. You are the healed. You are the called. You are delivered. You are saved. You are anointed. As it pertains to business, you are an owner. You are a CEO. You are a Kingdom entrepreneur! You are an honorable ruler! You are a blessing. You are successful, prosperous, wealthy, stable, and integral. All praise be unto God, The Most High!

In conclusion, Rejoice! God is getting ready to bless his people. Get ready for God to show up in your situation and for his promised blessings to be manifested! Notice God kept saying to Abraham, “Have I made thee.” “I will make thee” “I will give unto thee.” This promise/blessing is not something you can do alone. God is not requiring self-sufficiency in this season. He demands or necessitates total and complete reliance on him! God must lead. Place and keep him in the forefront. God will do it in such a way that no man can ever take credit for it. His covenant and blessings will extend to your children and children’s children as well! He alone will get the glory! For he alone is worthy. God will make it happen. God will create the opportunity. God will open the door. I see you in the future, and you look mighty good to me! To God be the glory for the great things he has done! Amen.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VII: His Covenant is Still with You! (Segment 1: Stay the Course!) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #kingdom

Main Scripture(s): Genesis 17:1; Supporting Scriptures: Isaiah 54:17; Isaiah 59:19; Psalm 91:11; 2 Samuel 22; 1 Peter 5:6-7; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Ecclesiastes 9:11; 2 Corinthians 12:9

Blessings and peace, family! As I sit here typing on a Saturday evening, I am reminiscent of God’s grace and mercy toward us. God brought us through another week and kept us! Things could have gone wayward, but God! He covers and keeps us from danger seen and unseen and I mean that literally! He is always watching over us, even while we are asleep. There’s much I could say about what transpired this past week, how circumstances could have gone awry, but no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17) and when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). Even things that seem miniscule should not be taken lightly. Thank God for his keeping power and that he gives his angels charge over us (Psalm 91:11)!

As we bring Genesis, chapter 16, to a close, I want to remind you of what occurred while Hagar, Sarai’s handmaiden, was in the wilderness. Hagar fled into the wilderness after Sarai treated her harshly upon realizing Hagar’s hatred towards her. While in the wilderness, Hagar experienced distress, disappointment, anger, and resentment. She was alone and had no one to turn to. She was weary, fatigued and despondent. However, she just happened to stop right near a well, and while there, an angel of the Lord appeared and spoke with her. Some say this angel of the Lord was God. Some say it was Jesus, and others say it was an angel sent by God. Nonetheless, the angel of the Lord came to see about Hagar while in her distress and had a message of encouragement. She was foretold about her son and lineage, how God was going to create a nation from him; the Ishmaelites made from twelve Princes. As we learned last week, Ishmael means God hears me. Not only did God hear Hagar but he saw her affliction and met her right where she was at! Hagar named God El Roi, meaning "the God who sees me." In other words, she was saying, not only did he hear and see me, but he revealed himself to me and I saw Him!

Many of us may feel as Hagar did, wondering if God hears our prayers, cries, and sees what we’re going through. We may be saying the following: Does he know I exist? Did he forget about me? Is he mad at me? Am I being punished for doing x, y, z? Is this a test? Is this some type of joke? Am I being punked? Will I ever come out of this victoriously? Why me? Why are you doing this to me? Why is this happening? Did I do something wrong? Lord, are we good? When will it be my turn? When will it be my time? Why am I being overlooked? Why are you blessing them and not me? Wow! Really? I can’t take it anymore! Do you see me hurting? Do you see my pain? Do you even care? What am I supposed to do? Am I wasting my time believing? I can feel the unction of the Holy Ghost as I am typing this! Such questions and comments may have been said out loud and some internally, and for some, all you had was tears streaming down your face. How many can relate to some of these questions and comments? I know I can. Guess what? God hears and sees it all! Not only does he hear and see you, but he is coming to rescue you from your wilderness and address your situation! King David wrote a song in 2 Samuel 22 and specifically in verse 7 he said, "In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears." David was in great distress because of his enemies and Saul who wanted to destroy him. However, he knew who to look to. He knew who to call on. We too must call on the name of the Lord Jesus when we are at our lowest. For it is Jesus who can save and deliver us! Like Hagar, don't return to Egypt and don't remain in the wilderness, but humble yourself under the mighty hand of God!..Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) and scripture also says, “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven…” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Now, let’s go in a little further as we explore chapter 17 of Genesis.

STAY THE COURSE:
Let me be transparent with you. I have not arrived and my faith has not been perfected as some may think. Some days I feel like I no longer want to do this faith walk, but there is something in me that can’t and won’t stop believing. I must keep going to fulfill my God-given purpose. Even after more than a year has gone by, do I fully understand what God is doing? No. Am I still uncomfortable at times? Yes, but I’d rather put my trust and faith in Jesus than myself! As time has passed on, I wouldn’t have it any other way! I am learning each day to be totally dependent on God! - Not my husband, not friends, not family, not my bank account, not social media. Just God! The Lord has me and my husband in a predicament where we can only depend on God. I’m going to use one of my husband’s words (he is a human dictionary! Lol!). This is so apropos because in response to my prayer, God told me the other day to stay the course. I was wondering and asked him if I was on the right track. He said, “Stay the course! You are gaining momentum. You are picking up traction. You MUST finish!” So, those who know me by now, I surely looked it up to see what that meant. According to scholars, the phrase Stay the course is “An idiom that comes from horse racing or sailing, referring to a horse or vessel that has enough stamina to finish an entire race or route. It means to continue with a plan, effort, or task until it is finished, despite facing difficulties or hardships.” This also reminds me of the scripture that says, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). I Feel a little weary at times, but I STILL BELIEVE GOD and I can’t give up! As the song says, “I just can’t give up now. I’ve come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me the road would be easy, and I don’t believe he’s brought me this far to leave me.” Therefore, continue pursuing God. Continue believing. Continue trusting. Rely on God for strength. For his strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). We will see what the end is going to be not many days hence!!

FROM EL ROI TO EL SHADDAI:
Chapter 17 begins with Abram at 99 years old. This is exactly 13 years since the birth of Ishmael. Wow! The years seemed to have passed by for Abram, didn’t they? It was 10 years since the covenantal ceremony between he and God and now an additional 13 years since Ishmael was born! To us that may seem like a long time. However, despite the many years that have gone by, God appeared before Abram and talked with him as he did Hagar 13 years ago while she was in the wilderness. There she named him El Roi because God saw her and met her needs, and she in turn saw him. She’s out of the wilderness (in submission), living and dwelling together with Sarai (the planner, blamer, and abuser) and Abram (the decision maker). Despite all that transpired, being in God’s permissive will and facing the consequences of our decision, God came to remind Abram of his promises. It’s time to dispel the negativity of your wilderness experience hanging over your head. The Bible does not explicitly state how Abram was feeling prior to God’s appearance, but I am sure it was timely. Did he forget? Did he have questions? Did he still believe all God promised? Did he wonder if he missed out on his blessing because he didn’t wait on God? Was there silence during those 13 years? One could only surmise. God always shows up with a word when needed most! This time when God came to Abram, he introduced himself as the almighty God (or God Almighty), which is translated from the Hebrew name El Shaddai. God is all powerful, omnipotent, glorious, sovereign! Our God is in control of any and everything! No one can light a candle to him. No one can defeat him. There is none like him! According to scholars, when God introduced himself as El Shaddai, “He was reminding Abram that His all-powerful grace—not human effort—makes a covenant relationship possible. It was an invitation to rely completely on God’s strength while living a life of sincere, honest obedience.” Also, to be perfect means to be blameless. Not literally perfect because only Jesus is, but to strive to be. According to scholars, the Hebrew word for perfect used in this particular scripture is “tamim, which translates to "complete," "whole," or "sincere". It does not mean being without flaw or never making a mistake. Instead, it means having an undivided heart, total loyalty, and a genuine desire to obey God.”

In conclusion, if you don’t get anything else from this week’s writeup, remember that His covenant is STILL with you. Yes, years may have gone by, but his Word is true. He will still make good on his promises. His covenant remains! Listen, you may have messed up. You may have been in his permissive will, but he is still going to bless you! He’s not asking you to be perfect but have a willing heart and to just believe. HIS COVENANT IS WITH YOU, for it is everlasting! You have not missed his blessing for your life! It is time to get into position if you are not already, and stay in position, ready to receive what he has promised. Amen.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VI: Wait on The Lord! (Segment 4: The Wilderness Experience) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 16:7-11; Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 34:4; Psalm 34:6; Psalm 34:18; John 4:1-42; Psalm 42:1-2; Isaiah 43:19; Jeremiah 29:11

Holy greetings, family! I pray you all are having a safe and peaceful Labor Day weekend! To all the workers, thank you for your time and effort. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and God especially sees you. May He continue to bless your lives and make you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers! This is a great segway as we continue exploring the next several verses of Genesis 16. Last week we learned about the consequences of Sarai’s plan and how it backfired. Once Hagar, Sarai’s handmaiden conceived, she began to despise Sarai. As a result of Hagar’s insolence, Sarai began to treat her harshly, so much so Hagar ran away into the wilderness. What’s so ironic is that according to scholars, Hagar’s name in Hebrew means “flight, stranger, or sojourner.” From a spiritual perspective, we previously learned that Sarai represents us not waiting on God and becoming impatient; our inner, internal thoughts. Hagar represents our plan, the alternative; not God’s perfect will but permissive. Abram represents us, and our ultimate decision. After making the decision to act upon our plan, we experience negative consequences for our actions, becoming disturbed and disgruntled. We begin blaming ourselves and others, which is what condemnation does. It causes one to feel guilty and judge oneself harshly (Sarai) after making the decision to commit the act (Abram). Condemnation also causes one to flee and hide after beating yourself up with guilt, anger, and resentment (Hagar). In contrast, conviction leads to true, godly repentance. No matter what we’ve done, God is waiting for us with open arms. He wants us to come to him. However, instead we sometimes feel as though there is no way out of the chaos our decisions made. We don’t like what’s happening. We tend to become depressed, disheartened, and unable to handle how we’re feeling. So, we retreat, back up, run away and/or quit!! This is also a response to condemnation, fight or flight! Let us continue exploring how this is applicable to our lives and businesses.

Fleeing to the Wilderness:
Not only did Hagar run away, but when she did she fled right into the wilderness. Much like Hagar, we can surely relate. When we experience difficulty, we tend to not want to deal with the issues at hand. We become fed up, frustrated, and may say to ourselves, “This is not what I signed up for, planned, nor envisioned how things would turn out!” We’re unable to handle the pressure. Not only do we blame others, but we also flee and hide from the harsh situations and hard issues. We find ourselves in the wilderness with no covering. We'd rather stay in the wilderness than have to face the consequences and harsh reality of our decisions. According to scholars, the wilderness is defined as “an uncultivated, wild, or desolate area, such as open pastureland where shepherds take flocks or a harsh desert environment. Biblical tradition views the wilderness not just as a place of emptiness or danger, but as a quiet, stripped-down setting designed for hearing the voice and revelation of God.” Now Hagar was in the wilderness on her way to Shur. According to scholars, “Shur is an ancient desert region located east of Egypt and on the northwestern edge of the Sinai Peninsula.” Shur was not exactly in Egypt but was located outside the borders of Egypt. Remember, Hagar was Egyptian. So, essentially, she was in the wilderness on her way to Egypt. Sometimes the environment in the wilderness can be dry, hot, brutal, leaving you feeling weary, drained, depleted, pressured, heavy, tired, and stressed out, ultimately leading one back to the place of bondage. Hagar had nowhere to go. She could either go back to Egypt, stay in the wilderness, or return to Sarai. Like Hagar, we can return to sin and bondage, remain in Lo-debar, or get back into alignment with God.

Distressed in the Wilderness:
Like Hagar, it may seem unfair of what occurred in your life. Some may feel they had no choice and were brought into circumstances. You may find yourself feeling like, “Why am I the one being punished? If this and that didn’t happen, I never would have gotten upset and indignant! What about him? What about her? What about them? Why am I the only one suffering and without?” Hagar found herself under great distress in the wilderness and worse off than she was. We too can feel this way at times. Perhaps you feel you should be further than you are, have more than you actually do – that booming business, that spouse, that house, that clout, etc. You work so hard but don’t see the benefits of your labor. Additionally, when you're going through, you feel alone, abandoned, like no one cares nor sees you. You may feel distressed, disheartened, empty, irritable, tired, weary, and thirsty. You feel like quitting and giving up. You need a reset, a refresh, and a refill. Your cup is empty. How many know that you can call on Jesus while in your wilderness experience? The Bible says in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” and Psalm 34:6 says, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” No matter where you are in life, no matter what you're experiencing, God knows how to find you and can meet you right where you are. He knows exactly how you feel and even knows you by your name! Also, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

A Well in the Wilderness:
What's so ironic about the wilderness is that Hagar was found near a well. As we all know, a well is where you draw water from. This reminds me of the woman at the well in John 4:1-42 and as the song says, "Fill my cup Lord. I lift it up Lord. Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven feed me ‘til I want no more. Fill my cup. Fill it up and make me whole." Perhaps your soul is longing, and you tried everything to fill the void you’ve been feeling. However, nothing and no one could ever quench your thirst like Jesus can! The water from his well will never run dry! You will never thirst again. For he is the living water! The author(s) of Psalm 42 knew it all too well. He/they said “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2). As I always say, I am certainly not pointing my finger at anyone except myself. I acknowledge my need for God all the more. I say, “Lord, I need a refilling of your Holy Spirit! I need to be refreshed, revived and renewed.” Thank God for his grace and mercy and that he will not leave us to die alone in the wilderness. Our God makes pathways in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert (Isaiah 43:19)! Not only that but Jesus can wash and cleanse you from all unrighteousness! Surrender your will. Return to God. He already knows. He's ready to heal and mend your broken heart; your brokenness! He still has great things in store for you despite how you feel.

Return From the Wilderness:
You can't give up now! You cannot stay in the wilderness. It’s not meant for you to live in such a place forever. You may have been deeply hurt and disturbed, but you must return, get back on track and finish the course God set for you. According to Genesis 16 verse 9, Hagar had to surrender her will and submit herself back to Sarai, who had authority over her. We too must humble ourselves and be accountable to God; turn back to him in humble submission. When we return, we must exhibit patience and endure hardness as good soldiers. Also, before Hagar returned, the angel of the Lord prophesied and foretold about her son and lineage. She was directed to name her son Ishmael because God saw and heard her affliction. God also blessed Hagar and her seed though her son was not the promised one.

In conclusion, like the prodigal son, when you go back to God and submit, he will bless you. He will restore and give you even more than you had before. He sees every tear. He’s heard every moan and groan. He’s waiting to wipe away every tear you’ve sown. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy (Psalm 126:5)! God has not forgotten you. He has great things in store for you! So, get back up. Dust yourself off. Change your garments. Wash your face and get back into alignment with God. Do not allow the enemy to manipulate and control you into thinking there is no hope for you. You have an expected end, a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Amen.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

C2E Designs and Decor

Worship While Waiting (WWW) for the Promise Series Part VI: Wait on The Lord! (Segment 3: From Seed to Conception) #worship #God #faith #entrepreneurs #hope #business #eventdecor #believe #trust #encouragement #biblelessons #blog #kingdom

Main Scriptures: Genesis 16:4-6; Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 3; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 11:28-30

Family, God brought us through another week and I am so grateful! We experienced challenges, growth, and blessings, but my answer to Him is still YES! As the song says, “And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes!” Let me tell you, God knows exactly what you need when needed most! He is all knowing and nothing comes to him by surprise. As we continue exploring Genesis chapter 16, we see just that. God already knew what Abram and Sarai were going to do before they did it and believe me, they were not the only ones in the Bible who made decisions to go their own way. Similarly, we too may have experienced making decisions without God’s consent. Why? When God made a promise, as time goes on (especially if it’s been several years), the devil may try to speak lies, claiming God forgot or will not come through for you. So, he’ll try everything in his power to pressure you into doing things that will deter you from your promise or detour you from God’s perfect plan for your life. As we learned last week, Sarai represents you not waiting on God and becoming impatient; your inner, internal thoughts. Hagar represents your plan, the alternative; not God’s perfect will but permissive. Abram represents you, and your ultimate decision. Being head of household, the boss in charge, he was the final decision maker. Now as we look a little closer, what’s key is Hagar did not force or entice anyone. She was brought into the situation. Sarai was the one who conjured up a plan to “help God out” so to speak since she was barren, presented it to Abram (the one with the seed), and Abram conceded. Essentially, as it relates to us, we take it upon ourselves to devise a plan that came to mind, made the decision, and acted upon that decision. In the process, we gave away and compromised part of ourselves for a blessing that was not God’s perfect will, but permissive. Now we are faced with consequences for our actions and sometimes those consequences leave us feeling upset, angered, betrayed, confused, and unfruitful. This can be applied to our business, ministry, relationships, jobs, etc. Let’s look a little further and see what occurred in verses 4-6 and apply the lessons learned to our lives and businesses.

The Counterfeit Blessing:
Beginning with verse 4, Abram knew (had sexual relations with) Hagar, Sara’s servant, and she conceived. To conceive means “to become pregnant biologically or to form a new idea, plan, or thought in the mind.” First, let’s look at this process from a natural perspective. When a man and woman have intercourse and the woman becomes pregnant, this means the sperm travels and attaches itself to the egg (known as fertilization) and creates an embryo. The “covenant” between Abram and Hagar was made and what you’ll see later, their conception created a completely different family/nation! In concert, once implanted, your seeds can produce fruit (good and bad). Although Hagar was pregnant from Abram’s seed, her child was not God’s original intent or plan. Not to offend anyone, but I entitled this portion The Counterfeit Blessing. Why? It may seem like the “real thing” of what God promised because Ishmael did come from Abram’s loins, but he was not the true son of promise. Also, although blessed, Hagar and her child did not receive the same exact benefits as Sarah and Isaac. Perhaps that may have been how Hagar was feeling. Here she was the one who was pregnant but was still not the queen of the house so to speak. So, she began to despise Sarai. Now, I am not going to lie. I know it was a different day and time back then, but carnally I still get a little irritable with this particular story because there is no way that I would EVER willingly share my man with anyone! Not even his nose hair! However, I digress. Let’s quickly move and focus on this from a spiritual standpoint and see how this relates to our lives.

Life Upended:
Sarai was the mastermind behind this plan, and it affected both Abram and Hagar. This all began because she was barren, unfruitful, unable to have children. From a spiritual perspective, we can relate. Perhaps you have not seen the fruit of your labor; any evidence of blessings for your hard work. For example, all the effort you’ve been putting into your business and still not gaining enough clients. You work so hard on your job and still no promotion, bonus, or recognition of any sort. For those godly singles, you’ve been keeping yourself pure, not dating any and every person that approaches you, and still no kingdom marriage. As previously stated, as time goes on and your blessing has not come to pass, you may begin with a thought (the seed). However, the more you think and dwell on what comes to mind, a plan begins to develop, and the wheels start turning in motion. You may toy with the idea for little bit but then as opportunities present themselves (whether by you or another), there will come a time when you have to decide to follow through with those thoughts or take a stand and commit to God’s plan. When you make that decision to do things your own way – For example, you make the decision to put all this effort into your business, job, relationship, ministry, everything you planned, etc. and things turn awry, you may begin to despise what you created. Your plan backfired so to speak. You may be in despair and hate your situation. You may blame yourself and others. And of course, the enemy will rear his ugly head and try to condemn you saying, “You’re the one who came up with this so-called plan that you conjured up in your mind. You committed the act, made the commitment to follow through with it, but now look!” You may get so frustrated and deal with yourself so harshly that you desire or actually give up and quit altogether because everything has changed so drastically and you find yourself in a worse situation. You are unable to handle the decisions you’ve made. However, if you have a sincere heart and repent, God knows how to find you in your mess. He can put you back on track and make things right again. His plan and promise for your life have not gone anywhere and still stands. God is still yet merciful. That’s the kind of God we serve!

Condemnation vs. Conviction:
Now in verse 6, Abram’s response was somewhat cowardice. Yes, it was Sarai’s idea. However, he still agreed to the plan and committed the act. This reminds me of Adam’s response to God after he made the decision to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil after Eve presented it to him. He hid himself from God and blamed Eve (Read Gensis the third chapter). Like Abram, as the head of household, he could have suggested a better way to handle Hagar’s behavior. He did not want any parts of the situation at hand and left Sarai to take care of it herself. We already know Sarai was wrong with her behavior toward Hagar, but what about Abram? Shouldn’t he have taken some responsibility instead of burying his head in the sand? This is what condemnation does. It causes one to feel guilty and judge oneself harshly (Sarai) after making the decision to commit the act (Abram). Condemnation also causes one to flee and hide after beating yourself up with guilt, anger, and resentment (Hagar). However, God’s Word says that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). That’s what true conviction is; a godly sorrow that leads to repentance (turning away from the sin) to God and being reconciled back to Him. For the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (NIV).

In conclusion, where or how have you planted your seed? Have you acknowledged God and waited on his instructions, or did you make the decision to go your own way? Are you reaping the consequences of your decision? There is still yet hope. God wants you to come to Him. He still has a plan for you. I am reminded of the scripture where God was speaking to the Children of Israel and he said, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). It does not matter what you’ve done or the decisions you’ve made. God is waiting for you with open arms to come to Him. He is waiting to wipe away your tears, remove fear, anger, resentment, clean you up, and restore you. He is here to settle the matter at hand. He wants to make you whole. All he requires is that you acknowledge and confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and believe. We’ve all made mistakes in life. I know I have. So, I am definitely not pointing the finger at anyone except myself. Where have you found yourself not waiting on God? Where have you fallen short? Again, it doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with a relationship. Since we’re kingdom entrepreneurs, it can be a bad decision that was made that negatively affected your business. It could be an issue with your friends or loved ones. It could even be something as simple as making the wrong purchase for yourself or business. Whatever the decision, it has left you exhausted, angry, bitter, worried, and burdened down. Only God knows. Nevertheless, His Word says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest...” (Matthew 11:28-30). God’s purpose in your life shall prevail! So, let’s get back on track and in alignment with God’s plan for our lives. Amen.

2 months ago | [YT] | 0