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James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kind,

When we’re getting blessed and things are going our way, by default, we tend to have a joyous positive attitude. Based on this scripture, God instructs us to have joyous attitude in the midst of troubling times. What God is showing us is, whether a situation is good or bad, we can control our attitude for that day. 

God desires that we maintain a joyous positive attitude but like everything else, our daily attitude is our decision. We can allow external situations to negatively effect our emotions or choose to have joy. It’s up to us. 

Satan is always in our ear attempting to magnify the problem. That will only lead to anger, moodiness, or some other negative emotion. We have to choose to look beyond the problem, focus on the finished works of Jesus, and because of His sacrifice, maintain our joy. 

Control your attitude by being consistent with joy. 

From the time we pray to the time we receive our desire, we may experience delay. Unfortunately, for some of us, we’ll experience a significant delay in receiving God’s promises.

One of the reasons for significant delay is disobedience. If we’re assembling a blender and we choose to deviate from the instructions, if it’s incorrectly assembled, it will cause delay. When we’re not following the instructions of God, our disobedience causes us to experience a significant delay.

Significant delay can also occur because we ask with wrong motives (James 4:2-3). If we’re asking God for a desire, but He knows we’re too immature to receive that desire now, we’ll have to wait. Would we give our 7 year old a car even if they asked for one? Of course not. God loves us and He’s not in the habit of giving us things that we’re not ready to receive.

A final reason for significant delay is demonic influences (Ephesians 6:12). Demonic forces influence the minds of people to disobey God’s instructions. They know they hear God or “something inside” telling them to cut us a deal in spite of our credit or offer us the job in spite of our experience, but those demonic influences are telling them to do the opposite.

We may not be able to control delay because of God’s perfect timing, but the good news is we can control significant delay. We can make up our minds to obey God’s instructions, ask God to reveal improvement areas in our lives, and use our God-given authority to remove demonic influences from the minds of people (Luke 10:19). Regardless of our delay, our patience during that delay causes us to gain maturity (James 1:3-4).

Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done God’s will, you will receive what He has promised. 37 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.

Romans 4:21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

In order to receive the promises of God, we have to be convinced of His Word. We can’t doubt His Word, we can’t be partially convinced; we have to be fully convinced of His Word.

We have to be convinced of His Word in spite of our behavior or shortcomings. A lot of times we think God’s Word won’t come to pass because of our mistakes. We may think His Word will work for this other person because they lead a Bible study, work in a soup kitchen, and pray every day, but our good behavior is not the prerequisite for God’s Word coming to pass. Our belief in what Jesus accomplished on the cross is the only thing that’s needed to receive the promises of God.

If we made Jesus Lord at an older age, if we made numerous mistakes in our past, or if we don’t have it all together now, we’re still eligible to receive the promises of God.

Don’t let anyone, including yourself, talk you out of the promises of God. If God said it, be convinced that it will come to pass.

Luke 16:10 Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Time plays a factor in faithfulness. God’s Word tells us if we’re faithful in little, we will be faithful in much. Matthew 25:23 says if we’re faithful with a few things, we can be entrusted with many things. We all want more, but our faithfulness cannot be displayed without time.

We want a better car, but we have to be faithful with the car we have. Over time, we have to clean the car and keep the car well maintained. We want a better job, but we have to be faithful at our current job. We have to consistently arrive at work on time and work unto the Lord (Col. 3:23).

Even the world’s system honors faithfulness. People honor commitment. It’s difficult to show our resume of faithfulness if we’ve been at 6 jobs within a year.

Don’t be so anxious to move on to the next best thing. Understand that during the delay of more, we have an opportunity to exercise our faithfulness. Place your faith in God and exercise faithfulness, and God guarantees we’ll receive more.

If a farmer plants an immature tree in the ground and tells everyone it’s an orange tree, would anyone doubt him? Most people wouldn’t. We would think the farmer is knowledgeable about plants and he knows what type of tree he bought. That tree is watered and cared for. It grows taller and stronger, but still has no oranges. The farmer tells everyone that the tree is an orange tree. Would anyone doubt him? Probably not. Most people would think it’s a matter of time before the oranges appear. After some time, the tree eventually produces oranges.

What’s the point? Just because the tree didn’t produce oranges at first, doesn’t negate the fact that it still was an orange tree.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are perfect, holy, righteous, and blessed. Although we may not produce the fruits of holiness, righteousness, or manifested blessings at first doesn’t negate the truth that we’re all that God says we are.

We can honestly tell everyone that we’re holy, perfect, and righteous through Jesus Christ. Unlike that orange tree, people may doubt us or tell us we’re not because they don’t see our fruit. But, if we continue to declare who we are in Christ and take the necessary steps to produce that fruit, people will eventually see the truth.

We don’t have to have it all together before we declare the truth about our lives. By faith, we can declare who we are in Christ and eventually the fruit will follow.

Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Inspired by Pastor Creflo Dollar

1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

What has the final authority in your life? Is it logic, the popular opinion, how we feel, the Word of God, or a mixture? Of course, the final authority should be the Word of God but, it’s easier said than done.

When decisions need to be made concerning our lives, everything must reflect the Word of God. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make sense or how we feel about the situation. What does God’s Word say about the situation?

When the doctor says we have an “incurable” disease, do we believe the doctor or do we stand in faith that through His stripes we’re healed (Isaiah 53:5)? When the popular opinion says it’s okay to fornicate or be homosexual, do we go along with the majority or do we reserve our sexuality in a heterosexual marriage (1 Corinthians 6:18)? When the news says the economy is bad and we should prepare for the worse, do we believe the news or believe regardless of the situation, all our needs are met and we are victorious in every situation (Philippians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 15:57)?

When our final authority is based in the Word of God, we honor God with our lives. When we honor God He assures us that our lives will be prosperous (Isaiah 1:19; Job 36:11). Resist the urge to conform to the ideas of this world and make your final authority the Word of God. Our logic, the popular opinion and how we feel will all change and pass away, but the Word of God remains forever.

Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus had a choice. He could do the will of God and sacrifice Himself for mankind or not suffer or be separated from the Father. Praise God He chose to do the will of God for our benefit.

There’s a lesson in this for us. Although it was uncomfortable, Jesus put His feelings aside to do the will of God. Everything God calls us to do may not be easy or comfortable, but as we put our feelings aside and choose His will above our own, we’re putting God first.

Since Jesus put God first in His sacrifice for us, God awarded Him with the greatest reward ever. God made His name higher than any other name. If we would push past our discomfort to do the will of God, there’s a reward in it for us. It may be a breakthrough, wisdom, or favor, but God promises us a blessing for our obedience.

Do the will of God. We may be tired, it may be uncomfortable, and it may be intimidating, but choose to do the will of God over the will of self.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

One man is attempting to justify himself before God based on self-righteousness. He boasts about all the good works he’s done and how he’s better than others. What he failed to realize was all of his righteous works are filthy works in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). The other man understands he doesn’t deserve anything from God and he’s totally relying on God’s grace and mercy. Jesus informs us the second man is justified in the sight of God.

For those of us who’ve been saved for a little while, if we walk around with an attitude of self-righteousness based on what we’ve done, we’ll never be in position to be justified by God. But if we understand that we’re nothing without the grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, then we become justified.

For those who are still trying to understand their righteousness through Jesus Christ, realize the devil is deceptive. He’ll make us think that because we’re not perfect in our behavior and we’ve missed the mark in a certain area, we’re not worthy to be in God’s presence. That’s not true. The very fact that we have and acknowledge our flaws, but rely on the righteousness of Jesus Christ, qualifies us to receive God’s grace and mercy. Through Jesus we’re made perfect, holy, and acceptable in the sight of God.

We should continue to improve in our ways to be more Christ-like in the world, but always remember it is through Christ and Christ alone, that we’re justified.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Psalm 91:11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

After looking at the news or reading an article online, it can make the toughest person be afraid to go out of the house without feeling a sense of paranoia. God never intended for us to live our lives looking over our shoulders every five minutes.

In God’s Word, He promises to be our fortified tower, He has His angels protecting us, and He vowed to not allow anything to harm us. With these scriptures in mind, God established an ultimate protection package. This protection is not automatic. With any promise from God, it requires our belief in what He said to receive these promises.

Our belief and confidence in these promises, causes us to have unusual peace. While everyone else is freaking out over the things that are occurring in this world, the believers in these promises are cool and calm because of their confidence in God’s Word. The difference between the believers and the unbelievers of these promises should be so apparent until it causes the unbelievers to question our behavior.

Get your ultimate protection package by placing your unwavering belief in God’s promises. This offer never expires.

Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

This is a popular verse that everyone seems to know. A lot of us like to highlight the second half of this verse. We like to know that God is our Provider and He’ll never cause us to lack. Praise God He’s our provider, but in order to maximize on His provisions, we have to allow Him to be our Shepherd.

The job of the shepherd is to lead his sheep. David made the decision to be led by God and we must make the decision to be led by God. We must ask ourselves, when times are comfortable or uncomfortable, are we willing to allow God to lead us or will we wander off the pathway He set for us? Will we forgive our enemies, walk in the ways of righteousness, and do everything without complaining? These are all things the Shepherd leads us to do.

God knows and only wants what’s best for us. Let’s be good sheep and follow our Shepherd. 

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endures but for a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

A lot of people read this scripture and conclude joy comes after weeping. That’s not what the scripture says. The scripture says weeping may endure for a night. That means it’s a choice to weep during difficult times. To be honest, there are difficult times that rock us to the core. During those difficult times, we may weep and it’s okay. But, weeping is not a requirement for joy.

God promises us joy without weeping. God promises us everlasting joy (Isaiah 35:10). This means during difficult times, we can decide to maintain our joy. In spite of all we may be going through, we still can have joy.

Our joy is maintained because our trust and hope is in God (Romans 15:13). We understand that this difficult time is temporary and God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). He delivered us from tough times before and He will do it again. We believe all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Finally, we can use our God-given authority to command joy to remain in our lives (Mark 11:23).

Understanding all these promises, we can magnify God’s Word above the difficult times and make the decision to maintain our joy. Whether times are good or not preferable, choose to have joy.

We all are or should be standing in faith for something. Some of us are standing in faith for healing in our bodies, a new career, or simply a better situation. As we stand in faith, at times, it seems like the situation gets worse. Additional complications occur in our bodies, we lose the job we currently have while in faith for our new career, or our situation gets worse. What do we do when the situation gets worse?

We remain consistent. When things worsen, two opportunities are presented. We can quit and say this faith stuff doesn’t work or we can remain consistent in applying our faith for the desires we want to see. Worse situations will also tempt us to place limits on our faith. Initially, we stood in faith for a new car, but when too much time passed, we’ll settle for a used car. Be consistent.

Consistency is the key to our breakthrough. When we remain consistent in our faith and don’t waiver or doubt, our desires MUST manifest themselves. Our confidence in the manifestation of our desires is based on our confidence in God’s Word. God set His Word higher than anything else and He vowed that His Word will not return to Him without producing results (Ps. 138:2; Isa. 55:11). Based on His Word, it’s a matter of time before things change in our favor.

We may not have complications in our bodies or an uncomfortable situation, but we still have God’s unchanging Word and a mouth to declare what we desire to see. When things worsen, don’t quit, remain consistent.

Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

When we get saved, some of us feel like we can just sit back, wait on our blessings, and go to heaven when we die. We have work to do and we work unto the Lord.

Our work of the Lord consists of the following:
Preach the Gospel – Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Make Disciples – Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Feed Sheep – John 21:17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things; he replied, “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Preaching the gospel, making disciples, and feeding the sheep of Jesus are not responsibilities only for the pastor. This responsibility is for every born-again believer. Some people may not respect a minister, but they will listen to us. They may not visit a church, but they will visit with us.

Not only do we have work, but we should be abounding or flourishing in our work. Our Lord has done everything for us. The least we can do is do work by reaching out to people to preach the gospel, make disciples, and feed the sheep of Jesus.

Ezekiel 17:24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “‘I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'”

Some of us are unsettled with where we are in life. We want better for ourselves and we want better for our families. Don’t be discouraged about where you are. In an instant, God can take us from a low point to a more successful state. Regardless of our background, if we’re willing to believe, God can prosper us far beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20).

Even if we appear successful in other people’s eyes, if we want better, God can give us better. Let’s be clear, this better must be accompanied with a heart of selflessness. Having better can’t just be to have more money, more cars, and a bigger home. We must have a mindset to expand the Kingdom of God and to be more of a blessing to others in need.

Never settle and don’t be discouraged. Stand in faith and believe God’s will is for us to continuously prosper.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, since you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Faith: When we pray for a desire, the moment we pray, we are to believe that we have received it from God. This is faith in action. We haven’t seen the desire materialize in front of our eyes and the situation may not have instantly changed, but we are to believe that we have received our desire when we prayed. We don’t have to ask for it again just because it hasn’t manifested yet. He heard us. We are to maintain our belief that it has been received.

Praise: Since we’ve received our desire, what’s stopping us from giving God praise? We’ve received it, so let’s praise Him. We praise God because we know it’s been given to us. We praise God because we know it’s only a matter of time before our desires manifest. We praise God because He heard us and since He heard us, we have whatever we asked for in prayer (1 John 5:15).

Faith should always be accompanied with praise. Even if it takes two years or more, combat thoughts of doubt of our desire not coming to pass and continue to praise God for that desire.

Psalm 118:21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and have become my salvation.

John 9:41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

The Word of God is always giving birth to new revelation. Once we know the truth and have received its revelation, we’re now liable to act on what we know. We can no longer say we didn’t know or we didn’t understand. It’s our responsibility to act on what we know.

For instance, everyone who has heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, being the One Who came from the Father, sacrificed Himself on our behalf, and is the only pathway to God, is now liable to act on that truth and receive Jesus as Lord. A person who dies and hasn’t received Jesus Christ as Lord is held accountable for their inaction. They can’t tell God they didn’t know. They knew, but they rejected or didn’t act on the truth.

We’re liable for many topics throughout the Word of God. We’re liable to live by grace instead of the Law, receive and be led by the Holy Spirit, give tithes and offering, and much more. It doesn’t matter how we feel about the topic, if it’s in the Word of God and the message is given in the correct context, we’re now liable to act on the truth.

Don’t be stubborn. Change your mindset and act upon the Word of God once it’s known and received.

God has promises available to everyone who is willing to believe. Not everyone knows or is willing to research His Word for those promises. We can’t release our faith for a promise if it’s not known. Here is a small list of promises available to every born-again believer. 

We are blessed (Galatians 3:14). 

We are healed of all sickness, disease, and pain in our bodies (Isaiah 53:5).

We are forgiven of all our past, present, and future sins (Hebrews 10:1-18).

We are righteous, in spite of our behavior (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We are protected (Psalm 91:11).

We are loved by God in spite of what we do (Romans 8:35-39).

We can prosper in any area of our lives (relationally, educationally, etc.) (3 John 1:2).

 We can be wealthy (Psalm 112:1-3). 

We can have children (Psalm 127:3).

We can have sweet sleep (Proverbs 3:24). 

We can have a long satisfying life up to 120 years (Psalm 91:16; Genesis 6:3).

There are more promises but, if we’re willing to believe, we can have at least every promise mentioned above. It doesn’t matter how old we are, how many sins we’ve committed, or where we are in life, we’ve been given a “yes, let it be done unto them” to receive all of God’s promises. 

2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Teenagers endure violence to be accepted into gangs, college students endure hazing to be accepted into fraternities or sororities, and people do things outside of their character to be accepted into a certain group. With God, He accepts us just the way we are. We don’t have to put on airs, act like fools, or be tortured to be accepted by God.

We often value the opinion of others and some of us are willing to do whatever needs to be done to gain their acceptance. If a certain person or group rejects us, that rejection has the potential to negatively impact the way we view ourselves. It hurts to the core if a parent rejects us. We feel bad because we put our best foot forward and they still reject us. When everyone else has rejected us, our confidence should be in knowing that God has accepted us.

We’re humans living in a sin contaminated body and we’ll miss the mark from time to time. Satan will attempt to make us feel like God has rejected us based on our sin. Lies!!! The blood of Jesus has forgiven all of our sins (past, present, and future) and although we’ve missed the mark, with flaws and all, God accepts us (Hebrews 9:26).

Receive this acceptance. Know that you are God’s beloved child. No matter how many people reject us, through Jesus Christ, God has accepted us and vowed to never let us go.

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

There’s a difference between the parents of biological and adopted children. Parents tend to accept biological children a little bit more due to the fact they see a little bit of themselves in that child. It doesn’t matter if they have tantrums, misbehave, or have a bad attitude; most parents are willing to endure their children’s issues and raise them.

Parents of adopted children can be a little bit different. There’s a reason why everyone is not rushing out to adopt a child. It takes a special person to truly love and embrace a child who is not their own and who looks nothing like them. If adopted children have too many issues, some parents are quick to put them back into the system.

Parents of biological children tend to intensely love their children by default, while good parents of adopted children make the decision to love.

With flaws and all, God chose and decided to love us. Not only did He love us, He sent Jesus to save us from eternal damnation. He could have stopped there, but He loved us enough to adopt us into His family and give us an inheritance we didn’t deserve. This is our Father. He decided to love us and not allow anything to separate us from His love.

Romans 8:39 (NLT) No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 

We’re living in a time where it seems like everything offends everyone. What people say, how people act, and what people stand for all have an opportunity to offend us. It’s a choice to be offended, and as believers, we shouldn’t be so easily offended.

What keeps us from being offended is the Word of God. The Word of God keeps us in a state of great peace. We’re at peace because we value the promises in the Word of God over what someone else may say or do. 

If someone says something harsh or negative towards us, our first response should not be to react with anger because of offense. Our response should be love and blessings based on Matthew 5:44. When we respond with love, we’ll reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7), we’ll receive good from God (Eph. 6:8), and God is glorified because we let our light shine (Matt. 5:16). 

If we think about it long enough, we can be offended by anything, but what good will that do in our lives or in the world? Throughout our lives, we’ll have an opportunity to practice not being offended. Sow that Word in your hearts and don’t take offense.