It is Finished

With Easter quickly approaching, we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The celebration of Easter is both a somber event and a joyous time for every believer. We can find hope and strength from that powerful, historic, life-changing event. 

When he hung on that cross, Jesus’ last words were, “It is finished!” Yet many people are still trying to pay for their mistakes. When Jesus said those words, he did not just mean that he had completed his mission. He was making a declaration. Jesus put an end to everything that would keep us from reaching our full potential. In that moment, the chains of guilt, condemnation, and low self-esteem was broken. He was saying, the sickness, depression, addiction is finished. Poverty, mediocrity, and nothing-good-ever-happens-to-me thinking were broken. Jesus not only died for our sins but so that we might live an abundant life. 

I recently watched “The Passion of the Christ” again. It reminded me of the gory details of Jesus’ crucifixion. Our Lord was mocked, shamed, and brutally tortured. Jesus went through great pain in order to spare us from it. He was publicly humiliated so that we can receive God’s grace and mercy. People spat on him. They pulled on his beard; yet he remained silent and showed us how we should bestow mercy on others. A crown of thorns was thrust upon his head so that our minds can be renewed from wrong thinking. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross in order to forgive us our sins and give us eternal life. Jesus could have said, “I do not deserve this. It is too hard. Do they not know who I am and what I can do?” Instead, he endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. Jesus finished what he was born to do. 

Are there things in your life to which you need to say, “It is finished”? Are you living with guilt and condemnation? Do you feel sorry for yourself? Are you trying to pay God back for your mistakes? You need to declare, “It is finished! I am free. My sins are gone. God’s mercy is greater than my mistakes. I am redeemed and restored. My future is bright.” Say to the addiction, “It is finished! You do not control me anymore. You have no power over me. Jesus paid the price for my freedom. I am free.” Friend, the price has been paid so that you can boldly say, “I am blessed, prosperous, and victorious.” 

Some of you are facing a chronic illness. You have done everything you can. You have gone to the doctors, changed your lifestyle, and been prayed over. Today God is saying, “It is finished!” Isaiah 53:5 says, “By His stripes, we were healed.” The Lord wants to heal your body. You do not have to put up with cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, blood pressure, insomnia, depression, arthritis, or any other disease. As long as you justify your condition, you are giving it permission to stay. So do not get comfortable in dysfunction, disease, or disorder. Declare it out loud, “It is finished!” 

I heard about a young man who decided to swim across the English Channel. It took between 12 and 14 hours to swim across the 23-mile-long channel. The water is freezing, the current is strong, and there are plenty of sharks and other dangers. Many people had attempted to swim across it but failed. This strong and determined swimmer swam an hour, then two, three, four, and five. He started to feel exhausted. Still, he kept swimming. Later that day, a thick fog had rolled in, and the young man could barely see anything. He continued even though he lost sight of the other side of the channel. Slowly, discouragement and fear took over his mind. He was so cold and did not even know where he was, so he decided to quit. He pushed himself out of the water and crawled into the little boat that was traveling beside him. As they rode to the other side, much to his disappointment, he realized that he was less than 50 yards from the shore. He could have made history if only he had kept going and not given up. 

Perhaps you feel like giving up. You are swimming upstream, fighting the odds, and pressing forward in order to accomplish your dreams. Your world may seem dark and foggy. Things may not be happening on your timetable or the way you expected. Let me challenge you. Do not give up 50 yards from your destiny! Our Lord could have quit but He finished what He was born to do. It is easy to abort a dream, but God did not bring you this far only to leave you. What He has promised will come to pass. When we accept His free gift of salvation, healing, and deliverance, we honor His death, burial, and resurrection. Let us consecrate our lives to the One who gave it all for us! Let me declare a blessing over you today! Past hurts, regrets, guilt, loneliness, and shame is finished. Poverty, debt, a limited mindset, it is finished. The addiction, depression, dysfunction, and self-pity, it is finished. Today is a new day! The things that have held you back are being broken. You are heading for a new level of freedom. You are going to break generational curses and start generational blessings. It is finished! Let us celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and the grave! 

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30 NIV). 

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Standing Strong During Adversity

We all face challenges and difficulties at times. God does not send them, but He allows them to grow us and build our character. When you are dealing with an adversity, do not simply go through it but grow through it. 

Horatio Gates Spafford was born in New York on October 20, 1828. He became a prominent lawyer and a church leader. In 1861, he married Anna Larsen from Stavanger, Norway. The Spaffords were friends and supporters of Dwight L. Moody, a famous evangelist. Horatio was a real estate investor when the Great Fire of Chicago reduced the city to ashes, destroying most his investments. Two years later, the family decided to travel to Europe. Last minute business prevented Horatio from joining his wife and four daughters on their vacation to England where D. L. Moody would be preaching. Horatio decided to take care of business first and follow behind shortly. 

On November 22, 1873, the steamship Ville Du Havre was struck by an iron sailing vessel while crossing the Atlantic. A total of 226 people died including the couple’s four daughters. Anna Spafford survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent her husband a message containing just two words, “Saved alone!” Horatio immediately boarded the next ship to Wales. When they approached the area of the shipwreck, he gazed across the billowing waves that had taken the lives of his daughters. That night, Horatio wrote a poem that would later become the famous hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” 

We all face difficulties, delays, and disappointments, but not many of us face trials like Horatio did. He could have become bitter and angry towards God, blamed the shipwreck, or even himself for not having been with his family, but he kept the right perspective and stood strong during adversity. They went on to have three more children and fulfilled their destiny. 

You have had your share of heartache, misfortune, or loss but where you are now is not your final destiny. God has a big plan for your life. He has called you to do great things. Stand strong even when things are not going as planned, when the answer is taking longer than you thought, or when you feel like giving up. Make up your mind to never stop trusting God, believing, and expecting things to turn around. 

God uses challenges to stretch us and enlarge our vision. It may be uncomfortable, and you could have a good reason to walk away, but do not take the easy way out. Stay committed to your vision, your relationship. Stay committed to raising your children. Stay committed to your friends. If you stay loyal to God and the people in your life, God will take you places you never imagined. 

Everyone feels like giving up halfway to their goal. Some people turn around and go back. Others stay committed and keep moving forward. Notice that each person ends up traveling the same distance. One goes the halfway back to where they started. The other continues the last half ahead and reaches their destiny. 

In 2 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul recalls how he suffered for the gospel. He was flogged, beaten with rods, bitten by a snake, pelted with stones, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and constantly stressed about the developing churches. Paul could have made excuses to give up and throw in the towel. Instead, he stood strong during adversity. It was his faithfulness and perseverance that made him one of the most influential leaders of the early church and an inspiration to us today.  

Are you facing some setbacks? Are you plagued by opposition, difficulties, delays, and injustice? Let me assure you that God will repay you. When you honor Him and walk in obedience, He will make it up to you. God is in control of every situation in your life. Remain faithful during your time of adversity. Make up your mind to serve Him no matter what comes against you. Fight the good fight of faith. Remember, nothing happens to you, everything happens for you. You are growing, maturing, and being prepared for increase and influence. Do not give up on your dreams. Stand strong during adversity. You are closer than you think. God will restore everything the enemy has stolen from you. He will give you double for your troubles. He will make you an example of His goodness. He will make you a blessing to others. If you stay in faith and persevere, I believe and declare that your best days are right in front of you. 

“Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:13). 

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Be a Now Person

Have you ever set out to finish an important task and found yourself browsing the Internet, dusting a ceiling fan, or running errands instead? The next thing you know, it is the end of the day and your task remains undone. Life would be far more enjoyable if we did not put things off. 

Frank Lloyd Wright was a great American architect who designed his most famous building at the age of 67. In the span of seventy years, he designed over 1,000 structures. Edgar Kaufmann Sr., a wealthy businessman, hired Wright to construct Fallingwater, a weekend home for the family. Wright visited the site in November 1934 and told his boss that he was working on the blueprint. One morning, nearly a year later, Kaufmann was in the area and asked Wright if he could stop by to see the progress. Wright did not panic and, instead, finished the design within two hours! Fallingwater was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and can be found on the Smithsonian’s Life List of 28 places “to visit before you die.” 

Even the best and most talented people have to deal with procrastination. Are you the kind of person who wants to become more productive and disciplined, exercise regularly, eat healthy, wake up early, and finish projects on time? Procrastination makes us feel bad because we know that something needs to get done, yet we neglect it. Many life crises happen as a result of failure to act in a timely manner. There are, however, solutions to overcoming procrastination. 

Victor Hugo was a great French novelist who had a unique way of dealing with procrastination. He would get completely naked in his study room and ask his servants not to return his clothes until the appointed time. This forced him to complete his work without any distractions. With such focus and determination, it is no surprise that he penned such great historical masterpieces like Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Now you do not need to take such drastic measures in order to overcome procrastination. You can, however, make small adjustments to better deal with it. Rather than putting things off, be a now person. If you can complete something in the next two minutes, do it now. Awareness is the beginning of the cure. Create a list that tackles areas of procrastination—paperwork, waking up earlier, exercising, tithing, cleaning the garage, reconciling a relationship, etc. Identify the problem and then act upon it promptly. Set your bills on auto pay. Learn to bite your tongue when you are tempted to say something hurtful and watch your relationship soar. The best way to finish something is to start it. Focus on the prize, not the pain. Consider the consequences. The pain of regret is greater than the pain of discipline. 

Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” 

Is God telling you to do something that you are putting off? When He brings something to light that you need to deal with–a bad attitude, addiction, anger, jealousy–then do it. Be a now person and do not put it off.  

In the Bible (Jonah 3), God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people that they had 40 days to repent or God was going to destroy the city. Notice that God put a time limit on it. He said, “You have forty days to get your act together!” When Jonah delivered the message, the people of Nineveh fell on their knees. The king took off his royal garment, put ashes on his head, and declared a citywide fast. They did not say, “Give us a week, ten days, or a month!” No, they responded immediately by saying, “God, we are sorry for the way we have been living!” They repented and God spared the city. 

I wonder if you can do something that will unleash God’s unlimited favor over your life in the next forty days. Maybe the Holy Spirit is telling you that you have 40 days to get right with God, 40 forty days to forgive someone, or 40 days to break free from a bad habit. God gave 40 days to the Ninevites. I do not know what it is for you. Whatever it may be, I know that God is speaking to you right now. Deal with the issue He is bringing to light. If you choose to deal with it now, God will give you incredible grace to stop procrastinating. The moment you act, God will free you from depression and addiction. He will heal your body and restore your relationships. Be a now person, and watch Him launch you into the fullness of your destiny.  

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15 NIV). 

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Walk in Love

Love is a universal human need. We achieve great feats when we feel loved. Sadly, so many people feel unloved. The truth is that you are extremely valuable and the Creator of the universe loves you! 

Some people think that love is just a feeling, but it is so much more. Love is patient. Love never gives up. Love is not self-seeking. It does not dishonor others. Love forgives. It does not keep record of wrongs. Love is putting others first. Love is loyal. Love remains faithful till the end. Love is eternal. 

A dear friend of mine once sent me this version of 1 Corinthians 13. Love stops the cooking to hug a child. Love sets aside a project to kiss the spouse. Love is kind. Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never gives up. 

PK Mahanandia was born into the Indian caste system which placed him “even lower than cows and dogs”. His teachers told the other students that he was “untouchable.” Despite the challenges, he exceled in school and even attended college. By his early twenties, he had become an excellent portrait artist. Charlotte Von Schedvin, a descendent of Swedish royalty, traveled to India in 1975. She sought out PK to get her portrait done. When she met the artist, it was love at first sight. The couple fell in love and got married. When Charlotte asked him to return to Sweden with her, he said that he would follow her to Europe just as soon as he could support them financially. Two years later, and still barely earning enough, PK decided it was time to give up his pride and journey to Sweden even without the funds to pay for it. He sold everything in order to buy a pre-owned bicycle and decided to cycle from Asia to Europe. PK cycled across deserts in Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq. He hitched rides whenever he could and biked up to 45 miles a day. He crossed Turkey and parts of Eastern Europe before pushing north towards Sweden. He traveled 4,000 miles and hit ten countries along the way. It took him four months and three weeks before he was finally reunited with his wife. The two of them have been married for 40 years and have two grown children. PK is an art advisor to the Swedish government while Charlotte has had a long career as a music teacher. PK once said, “I never liked biking, but I bicycled for love.” 

What is it about PK and Charlotte that has kept them together for forty years? It is more than just a feeling; it is a mutual commitment to love, honor, and respect one another.   

When you walk in love, you prefer the other person. Your goal is to outdo each other in thoughtfulness, acts of service, and words of encouragement. Love enjoys time with each other. Love is eager to listen and slow to speak. Love waits patiently until the other person is ready. Love overlooks faults and makes allowances for mistakes. Love forgives and keeps no records of wrongs. Love always seeks to advance the other. 

Love does. It is taking the trash out without being asked to. It is doing the laundry without complaining. It is closing the cabinet when one forgets. Love does the honey-dos promptly and with a good attitude. Love cleans the kitty litter even when it is someone else’s turn. Love overlooks petty offenses. Love walks into the room when the world walks out of it. 

In order to walk in love, you must first embrace the Source of love. Many people are trying to earn God’s love. The problem is that we can never measure up. There will always be something that makes us feel inadequate. So I encourage you to take the pressure off and receive God’s unconditional love for you. 

That is exactly what a woman who was caught in adultery had to do (John 8). When her accusers disqualified to condemn her, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more”. He did not say, “Go and change your ways and then I will be for you and love you!” No, he first said, “I do not condemn you.” Jesus made sure she knew that she was loved. What about you? Are you still trying to earn God’s love? If you feel unloved, let me remind you that God is crazy about you. He loves you so much that He died for you. Why not try to embrace that unconditional love and connect with Him today? God is love and He is waiting for your response. 

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another” (John 13:34 MSG).  

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Building People. Spreading Hope. 

Cultivate Optimism

God created you to be filled with love, joy, confidence, and success. But you have probably noticed how easy it is to hold on to the negative—anger, jealousy, guilt, and doubt. Do you tend to focus on the positive or the negative? Do you see the glass half full or half empty? One of the best ways to live a positive life is to cultivate optimism. 

Negativity takes space away from all the positive things God designed for you to enjoy. Positive living does not mean we are in denial of problems. Optimism simply means to approach hardship in a more productive way. Research shows that optimists perform better in school, at work, and on the playing field. They earn a higher income, have more successful relationships, and have better health. Possessing an optimistic outlook also increases one’s life expectancy. 

The 2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile captivated the attention of millions around the world. Thirty-three miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground in a copper-gold mine. Their emergency shelter had an area of 540 square feet. Food supplies were extremely limited. Each day was filled with perils and bad turns, but the men worked as a team to keep their morale and spirits up. 

José Henríquez, a preacher and a miner for the past 33 years, served as the pastor and organized daily prayers. During their first audio contact with surface officials, another miner called Urzúa disregarded their hunger and despair and instead said, “We're fine and waiting for you to rescue us!” An estimated 5.3 million people worldwide watched as the 33 miners were miraculously extracted from below. What kept these extraordinary men alive during their 69-day ordeal? It was their unrelenting optimism and faith in God. 

If you are prone to look at the dark side of life, you can reprogram your mind with the Word of God. Recognize what you can and cannot control. For example, getting laid off is out of your control. However, taking steps to be proactive, updating your resume, and searching for a new job is within your control. Throughout the day, be mindful of God’s blessings in your life— whether that is hitting three green lights in a row or coming home to hug your beautiful family. Create a daily or weekly “To-Do List” in order to better set goals and budget your time. Turn off the news and negative press. Envision yourself as a victor and not a victim. Dwell on what is true, pure, and of good report. Be a blessing to someone else. 

The definition of optimism is to be hopeful and confident about the future. Yet, there is a difference between optimism and faith. To be optimistic is to have a positive attitude towards one’s own ability or circumstances. To have faith is to believe God and trust in His ability. Faith says, “I will beat cancer, overcome addiction, pay off debt, and see my whole family saved.” Optimism takes us further, but faith delivers the impossible! 

In John chapter 11, Jesus is told that his friend Lazarus is dying. Despite the grave situation, Jesus does not panic. In fact, he lingers two more days and reassures everyone that Lazarus is just “sleeping.” By the time Jesus visits Mary and Martha, their brother has died and been buried for four days. Jesus does not just consider the facts but lets his faith arise. He walks to the tomb and says, “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God.” Then he commands Lazarus to come out of the grave and he does. What caused Jesus such discharge of power to turn a negative situation around? It was not just optimism or positivity—it was faith. 

Real faith clings to God! Faith takes the pressure off of you and shifts your focus on God. I encourage you not just to be optimistic but also to have faith in God. When you do that, you can move mountains. Your situation may look impossible, but God can do the impossible. When you have faith, God’s promises will come true. You can be confident that God will turn every negative situation around. Cultivate optimism but let us grow in faith. When we do that, it pleases God and releases His power to produce what He has promised. 

“I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty” (Philippians 4:13 TPT). 

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Sow a Seed and Reap a Harvest

God created us to be fruitful, multiply, increase, and impact the world. When God created you, He put everything you need to fulfill your destiny. He wants you to reign as king through Jesus Christ. However, if you want more in life then you must sow a seed to reap a harvest. 

It is our Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. You are not going to break heaven’s bank by expecting more from God. If you desire more influence, increase, joy, and abundance, then you must first plant a seed for that harvest. Jesus said, “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:2 NKJV). 

Like you, I make it a point to give tithes and offerings. Earlier this year, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to tithe not from my present revenue but from my expected income. Honestly, it was a stretch, but I decided to do it by faith. I sowed financial seed based on my anticipated return. The very next day, I received ten times more than what I had planted! I am not saying that we should give in order to receive, nor am I advocating that we will always receive an instant harvest. Nevertheless, the Bible teaches us that seeds have power to produce of their own kind. A seed can produce harvest that is thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. The Bible also says, “The God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised” (Deuteronomy 1:11 NLT). 

The Scripture says, “You will always harvest what you plant” (Galatians 6:7 NLT). The law of sowing and reaping is not limited only to finances; it works in every area of your life. Seed produces its own kind. So whatever you lack, sow a seed by faith. If you need healing in your body, pray for someone else to be healed. If you want more friends, become a friend. If you need encouragement, inspire someone. If you want more love, start loving the people God puts in your path—starting with your own family. 

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25). Generosity is always a response to faith and a reflection of our hearts. Victor Hugo in Les Misérables said, “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.” 

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives” (John 12:24 NLT). That is exactly what Jesus did for all of us. He loved us so much that He laid down His life so that all who believe in Him can inherit eternal life—that is millions and billions of us! 

The Kingdom of God is set up to meet your every need regardless of what goes on here on earth. You no longer have to bear the weight of your own provision. You do not have to be anxious or worried as you enter into this faith mentality. You have the legal right to access the benefits and blessings of the Kingdom. 

If you are sick, God wants you healed! If you are addicted, God wants to set you free. If you are broke, God wants to prosper you. If you feel hurt, God wants to comfort you. God promises to save your whole household. Your faith can bring heaven on earth. Put your faith to work! When you believe, and declare God’s Word over your situation, your faith goes to work. Dying on the cross, Jesus paid the price for everything you will ever need to thrive in life. 

1 Kings 17 tells the story of a widow and her young son in Zerephath. They were on the verge of starvation. When Elijah the prophet shows up, he asks her to prepare a meal for him. It was an outrageous demand. But God never asks us to do something without blessing us in return. He does not need our stuff. He is after our hearts. Elijah made the widow an interesting promise—if she serves him first, her supply of flour and oil would never run out. The woman did as she was asked and she witnessed a miracle of abundance. She and her household ate for many days to come because the jar of flour was not spent, nor did the jug of oil go empty. 

I believe that God wants us to enlarge our capacity to receive so that we can become a blessing to the world. Since you are connected to the Source, your supply will never run out. Enlarge your measure of giving. Sow seeds of love, kindness, time, resources, and friendship. Volunteer at your church, school, or another organization. Reach out to the elderly. Invite people to your home and be hospitable. If we give a spoonful, we will receive a spoonful. If we give a bucket, we will get the same in return. If we give from a place of in abundance, we will receive an overflow. Whatever you make happen for others, God will make happen for you—many times over!

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity” (Luke 6:38 MSG). 

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Enlarge Your Vision

Are you tired, dissatisfied, or bored with your life? Do you wonder, “Is this all there is?” God did not create you for mediocrity. You are not an average. Your life is not meaningless. If you want to enjoy and experience God’s best, then you have to enlarge your vision. 

Limited thinking will result in a limited life. A friend recently asked me, “Sandy, what is your motivation for success in life?” I replied, “Hunger and a desire to impact the world with the gospel.” As I align my thoughts with God’s, it shapes my vision. You too can change your future by changing the thoughts that are playing in your mind. Your vision is your most valuable asset. 

Abraham was living in a tent when God told him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are… for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever” (Genesis 13:14-15). You may be in a limited environment right now, but do not let that limited mindset get in you. You may be surrounded by poverty, mediocrity, sickness, or an addiction. That may be where you are but that is not who you are. You were created for greatness and meant to leave your mark on this planet. 

I heard about a sixth grader who was tasked to write down what he wanted to be when he grew up. The young boy wrote that he wanted to make people laugh on the television. When the teacher saw his answer, she asked, “Does anyone in your family work in television?” The boy replied, “No, ma’am.” The teacher told him, “You need to write something more realistic.” 

The young boy was very disheartened. He went home and told his dad what had happened at school. His dad put the paper on the top drawer in his room. He told his son, “Before you go to school and before you go to bed each day, look at this paper and thank God that you will be on television one day. The boy did just that. Today, you can find Funny Man Steve Harvey on TV making people laugh, seven days a week. 

Friend, people may try to belittle or discredit you. Your loved ones mean well but God did not put the vision in them. That is why they do not understand the big dreams that God has placed in you. Do not be discouraged! People did not breathe life into you. Your critics did not call you to do great things. God did! Just because someone does not believe in your dream does not mean it is not going to happen. What God promised will come to pass. Write down what He has said and thank Him for it in advance. That is called faith. Whatever you can see with your eyes of faith, you can hold in your hand. 

Sometimes we limit our own thinking. If you put a lid on your potential, it will dwarf possibilities. I encourage you to stretch yourself. Think bigger. When we embrace the vision God has for us, we can make a big difference in the world. 

This is what happened to a man named Gideon. God told him to lead His people against the opposing army. An angel appeared to Gideon and said, “You are a mighty man of fearless courage!” But Gideon was confused. He answered, “I am the least in my family and my tribe in the weakest.” He started to make excuses. Does that sound familiar? How often has God put a dream in our heart, and we try to reason it away? Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God”. 

God did not call Gideon who he thought he was. God saw his potential. He told him what he could become. Gideon felt weak, insecure, and intimidated but God called him a mighty man of courage. He went on to defeat his enemies. Friend, God wants to do some extraordinary things in and through your life. Like Abraham, whatever you can see, God will give it to you. He wants to save your whole family. You can beat that illness. You are going to give birth to that child that you have been praying for. You will get the contract that you were hoping for. You can live free from debt, depression, and addiction. He wants you to start that house church. You can build that orphanage. Enlarge your vision. You are not who people say you are. You are who God says you are—a child of the Most High King! God has a wide-open and specious life for you. Think big! Pray bold prayers! Expect more! God will take you places that you have never imagined! 

“I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13 MSG). 

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Building People. Spreading Hope.

Prepared for Promotion

We all go through seasons of trials and testing. You are doing the right thing but feel like you are going backwards instead of forwards. When our dreams take longer than we expected, we tend to get discouraged. I want to remind you what God says, “Do not get discouraged. Payday is coming!” 

Just as there are seasons of growth, there is a season for preparation. During these waiting times, God is working on our character, separating the impurities, and polishing the rough edges. It may be uncomfortable but if we stay on the potter’s wheel, we are going to come out better off than we were before. We will have more peace, joy, health, fulfillment, purpose, promotion, and vindication. 

On a mission trip to China, I learned about the Chinese bamboo tree. This remarkable plant is different from most others that grow in the region. Unlike other plants that show consistent growth, bamboo does not break through the ground for the first four years. In the fifth year, however, an amazing phenomenon happens, and the plant begins to grow at an astonishing rate. Over the next five weeks, it reaches the height of eighty feet. 

Life is similar in many ways. You must first put down deep roots through the building of character, developing good habits, and sharpening your skills. You may not see progress right away, but overtime things will begin to take off. Suddenly your business thrives and becomes profitable. Your marriage becomes stronger. You move into your dream house. Your church begins to explode. Your life becomes more meaningful and significant. 

Do not fight off what seems uncomfortable in your life. God is using the very thing you are trying to pray away. I recently spoke with a friend whose entire family was infected with COVID-19. My 55-year-old friend told me that he kept a positive attitude. For years, he has suffered from severe back pain. COVID-19 causes inflammation. As a result, the pinched nerve came loose, and he has no more back pain. He has been pain free for six months! God knows how to deliver you from pain, struggle, hardship, heartache, and troubles. 

When you find yourself in a season of preparation, you may not understand everything that happens along the way. You may not like the delays and the detours, but God is setting you up. You may have lost your current job, but He is orchestrating a better one in your future. You may have suffered a setback in your health, but God will restore health back unto you. Finances may be tight, but He will bring you to a place of abundance. You may have been trying to have a baby, and this could be the year it happens. When you see and feel the least, that is when God is working the most. 

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. This is what happened to Abraham when God put a dream in his heart that he would become the father of many nations. Twenty-four years went by and there was still no sign of a baby. Abraham and Sarah were nearly 100 years old. It looked impossible. The enemy must have whispered in their ears how it was impossible. They could have talked themselves out of it. Yet, the Bible says that “Abraham grew strong in faith by giving praise to God.” When you praise God in times of difficulty, it gives you strength to persevere. When Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born. God fulfilled His promise. 

Friend, your business may be slow, your child may be off track, your health may not be up to par, and your marriage may be struggling. The key is to praise God in the mist of the trials and testing. When you anticipate a miracle, and wait patiently with a good attitude, you will come into your promotion. Like the Chinese bamboo, you will see sudden growth. Like my friend, your health will turn around. And like Abraham, you will see your dreams come true. Now prepare yourself, for the promotion that is coming. What the Lord promised you will come to pass. 

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV). 

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2021: The Year of Restoration

Last year was difficult for most all of us—a pandemic, an economic collapse, and political upheaval wrought havoc in many lives. The enemy may have robbed you of your peace, finances, health, or relationships, but God is in the restoration business. He will restore everything that has been taken from you. 

This past Thanksgiving, I was returning to Dallas from Houston when I got a call from my neighbor. He informed me that my house was flooded. When my family and I got home, we discovered the service line in the toilet had broken causing major water damage and a huge fiasco. We got the mitigation company to come out and my insurance agent got us all situated.  It was over a month of inconvenience and difficulty, especially this time of year.

The Bible says, “What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn for your good!” Before the flooding, I was contemplating having the house repainted and the carpets replaced in addition to some other repairs. See, God knows what we need, when we need it, and how to get it to us. My house is now fully restored, and it looks better than ever.

God knows how to restore everything–and not only does he restore it to its original condition. His restoration is always greater in quality, quantity, or both (Exodus 22:1). Our God is full of compassion and mercy. It does not matter if you made the mistake, or it was someone else’s fault, or life just happened, God will bring you out better off than you were before. Why don’t you trust and surrender to Him? He loves you and has your best interest at heart. The mercies of God are greater than any mistake you ever made. Rise up in faith and declare, “Father, restore!”

Do you feel like the enemy has consumed your years? Perhaps you suffered from a chronic illness, miscarriage, depression, the loss of a job, or a loved one? Let the word of the Lord strengthen your heart today. Our God is a God of restoration. He is most able and willing to restore what you have lost.

In the Bible, Joseph spent 13 years being mistreated, betrayed by his brothers, and put in prison for something that he did not do. It was not easy, but he kept honoring God with his life. One morning, the guard came to Joseph and said, “The Pharaoh wants to see you!” Joseph did not know the king because he was a foreigner and a slave locked away in a dungeon. You, too, may be sitting in a dark place feeling forgotten and overlooked. Do not be discouraged! The One who matters has His eyes on you. God will never leave you or forsake you.

When Joseph walked into Pharaoh’s magnificent palace, he must have felt intimidated. Nevertheless, God was with Joseph just as He is with you. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. The king was so impressed that he made Joseph second-in-command on the spot. Think about that! Joseph woke up that morning as a slave and went to bed that night as the Prime Minister over all of Egypt. God promoted and vindicated Joseph because our God knows how to restore!

Friend, you may have lost something valuable, but God is not going to let you end in a minus. Do not be discouraged by what is not changing. Make pleasing God your highest priority even when you do not see any improvement. Rest assured, God remembers you. Payday is coming. God has some destiny moments in store for you. He is going to thrust you to a new level of peace, joy, fulfillment, increase, and influence. God is going to restore your health, bring salvation to your entire family, and give you the nations for your possession. He will multiply you a thousand times more (Exodus 1:11 NLT). The right people will come looking for you. Promotion, opportunity, and vindication will track you down and follow you.

Now do your part and put your faith in God! When we encounter loss, it is easy to get discouraged, to settle where we are, and to stop expecting good things. I challenge you to get your hopes up and expect God’s best. Your expectation sets the limits for your life.

Jesus said, “Have what your faith expects” (Matthew 9:29). Let me ask you a question: What are you expecting in life? Big things? Small things? Or nothing at all? Learn to have a restoration mindset. Live each day filled with anticipation that God is going to bless you abundantly so that you can become a blessing to the world. My prayer is that you experience an unprecedented manifestation of His restoration in every area of your life in 2021. May His grace, profound peace, and divine protection cover you and your loved ones! Get ready for your year of restoration!

“We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance” (Psalm 66:12 NLT).  

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