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Isaiah 26:21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

Nahum 1:2 LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.

There are so many misconceptions about the One true living God. Based on the scriptures above, and other scriptures in the Old Covenant, there are so many people who still believe the nature of God is punishment, wrath, and vengeance. People believe if we sin, we should expect punishment from God in the form of a car wreck or our house being burglarized. If God is having a good day, He may be willing to throw us a blessing. With this misconception, no wonder there are so many atheists. If punishment is going to occur whether we serve Him or not, why choose to believe and serve this angry God?

Now, God did have a zero tolerance policy towards mankind’s sins in the Old Covenant because no one could pay the price for sins. Therefore, punishment occurred for sins unless a sin offering was made by the priest with the shedding of animal blood.

Today, we live under a New Covenant. The true nature of God is love (1 John 4:8). God’s love sent His Son Jesus to shed His blood for mankind’s sins (John 3:16). All the punishment and wrath for sins was poured out on Jesus (1 John 4:10). God’s not waiting to punish us every time we miss the mark. That punishment was received by Jesus. It’s through Jesus all of our past, present, and future sins have been forgiven (Col. 2:13, 14).

Since God’s punishment for sin was received by Jesus for our sakes, the only thing God has left to give us is love, grace, mercy, peace, wisdom, joy and all the good things in life. This is the God we serve. He is not holding a grudge and He is not counting our sins against us (2 Cor. 5:19). Let’s renew our minds and receive the true nature of God.

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 provides a list on the way we should think. It’s important to think according to this list because how we think will determine how we speak and how we speak will determine what we experience in our lives (see Proverbs 18:21).

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

For instance, it tells us to think on things that are pure. If we spend our time thinking on things that are impure, we’ll eventually speak and act on those impure things. Those actions don’t honor God. If we think on things of a negative report instead of a good report, we’ll eventually begin to speak negatively about our lives or the lives of others.

We’ve been given power and authority with our speech, however, if our thinking is out of control then our speech will be out of control. If our speech is out of control, we can never experience God’s best.

Psalm 92:13 Those that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

As believers, it’s important for us to find a church home. Being planted in a church that God called us to causes us to flourish. We may be doing well now, but being established in a church will prosper us even more. 

We live in a time where people are saying, “I can be a Christian without going to church” which is true, but think of all the opportunities we’re missing. Not being established in a church causes us to miss out on a prophetic Word of God specifically pertaining to our lives. This Word is not limited to the pastor and his sermons, but it can be from other like-minded believers as well. 

We would miss out on an opportunity to serve in the Kingdom of God. Serving the Kingdom of God ensures us all our needs will be met (Matt. 6:33). 

Finally, we’ll miss out on an opportunity to be a blessing (Gen. 12:2). People from all walks of life, come to the church looking to be helped, restored, and encouraged. The pastor may not be able to reach everyone. There is something in all of us that can help those hurting people. 

The emphasis in this scripture is the word “planted.” If we’re going from church to church every other year, we’re not guaranteed to flourish. So, find a church home and begin to flourish. 

James 1:6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

If we’ve asked God to protect, provide, and prosper our lives, we need to trust that He’ll do that and not doubt. If we doubt, we display our lack of trust in God and our instability in the things we do.

We know we have doubt in these areas when we attempt to handle it ourselves. For instance, if we’ve asked God to protect us, but in lieu of the violence we’ve seen on the news, we’ve updated our security around the house, purchased numerous guns, and are paranoid when we’re approached by a stranger. Do we really believe that God will protect us?

Or, we’ve asked God to provide for us, but we can’t see how God is going to do it so, we get extra jobs, work longer hours, or cut back on the things we enjoy all to maintain our provision. If God didn’t tell us to do those things, we doubt God’s ability to provide for us.

Whatever we’ve asked for from God, let the how and when go, and believe it shall manifest.

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—

God loves you beyond measure. His love is infinite and it’s not predicated on our behavior. God loves you in spite of your shortcomings, past, or what we may do in the future.

Haven’t been to church in a while? God loves you. Haven’t prayed in a few years? It’s okay. God loves you. Did something awful and you don’t anyone to know? Don’t worry. God loves you. Have I mentioned that God loves you?

When we solidify within ourselves that God’s love is genuinely unconditional and everlasting, fear, stress, worry, depression, and guilt will leave our lives forever.

God loves us, therefore, He’s forgiven us and He’s not mad at us. God loves us, therefore, He ensures us that all our needs are met. God loves us, therefore, He answers our prayers. God loves us, therefore, He protects us. God loves us, therefore, He’ll provide comfort during this troubling time. God loves us, therefore, He provides wisdom.

Every blessing or promise is backed by God’s love. Receive it and don’t allow anyone to tell you differently.

James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

There are so many people who believe God is tempting them with this or that, as if He’s testing our will power or our devotion to Him. This is a misconception in the body of Christ. God is not tempting us with that attractive man/woman, those expensive shoes, or that alcoholic beverage. These temptations are built-in sin tendencies the devil is trying to exploit.

We must identify our own temptations we’re drawn to and we must recognize when we’re being tempted. When we’re tempted, don’t blame God. Take the necessary steps to overcome that temptation.
1. Submit to God’s will above the temptation.
2. Rely on God’s strength inside of us to resist that temptation.
3. If we do fall into temptation, receive God’s forgiveness and understand there is no condemnation to those in Christ.

It’s not God. It’s our flesh. Overcome the flesh with the Word of God.

Ezekiel 3:10 Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.

God told Ezekiel to hear His Words and receive His Words into his heart. Obviously, God is showing a distinction between hearing and receiving His Word and there are benefits for both.

It’s important to hear the Word of God because that how faith comes (Rom. 10:17). The more Word we hear, the more faith or belief we have in His Word.

Although hearing God’s Word is important, it’s not enough. God’s Word must be recieved into our hearts. We can go to church and hear God’s Word for years, but still haven’t received it. We can read the Bible for hours, but still haven’t received it. To receive the Word of God means we’ve established it in our hearts as the Truth. Regardless of how it looks, people’s opinions, or historical facts, God’s Word is the Truth above anything else. 

To receive God’s Word is to eliminate the word “impossible” from our vocabulary because with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). To receive God’s Word means to remove the concept of failure from our minds because we know all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). 

Learn to hear and receive the Word of God. It will make a positive impact in our lives and in our relationship with God.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

People are hesitant when it comes to speaking in our heavenly language (praying in the Spirit). A lot of it is based on ignorance. People don’t want to feel silly because they feel like they’re speaking gibberish and they don’t want to be possessed by some unknown “spirit” taking over their bodies. All of this is far from the truth.

If we carefully read the Word of God, it tells us when we speak in our heavenly language; it’s a controlled language that only God understands (1 Corinthians 14:2). Regardless of what we see at certain churches, it’s not a language where we have to jerk, fall out on the ground, or have our eyes rolled in the back of our heads.

This language has benefits. When we speak in our heavenly language, we strengthen ourselves (1 Cor. 14:4), we obtain the wisdom of God in all areas (1 Cor. 2:6-13), and we keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:20, 21). The same way we can believe Jesus is the Son of God because it’s in the Word of God, we can believe we’re strengthening ourselves, obtaining the wisdom of God, and keeping ourselves in the love of God because it’s in the Word of God.

Don’t miss out. Use this heavenly language as an advantage in every area of our lives.

Genesis 3:5 For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Here is an interesting scripture where we can identify one of Satan’s traps to attempt to ruin our lives.

In the beginning, Satan ruined the lives of Adam and Eve by tempting them with the thought that God was hiding knowledge from them. The curiosity for additional knowledge ultimately led them astray from God’s Word and to their destruction. 
There is nothing new under the sun. Satan is still up to his old tricks today. With new discoveries in history and new theories, Satan is making some of us believe that the Word of God is not enough and there are additional resources that will lead us to the “truth”.

Some people will read books and listen to lectures that will intelligently contradict the Word of God. People become so fascinated with this new found knowledge until it makes them question the validity in the Word. This thought process can lead people astray from God’s Word, cause them to doubt, which will ultimately ruin their lives. 

I’m not saying don’t read books outside of the Bible or don’t listen to lectures outside of Christianity, but don’t let those things supersede the Word of God. Let God and His Word be true, but everything else a lie (Rom. 3:4). Don’t get fooled by the knowledge trap. 

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

As a born-again believer, we don’t have to compare ourselves with anyone else as far as holiness, righteous living, and acts of kindness. Sure, someone may read the Bible more than us, pray longer than us, and active in a certain ministry at church but, that doesn’t make them better than us.

If we get that feeling of not being where we want to be spiritually, don’t fret because inwardly, we’re being renewed day by day. This renewal is going to take some effort from us but, it’s not impossible. We should be spending more time with God now than we did two years ago. We should be more consistent in our church attendance now than we did in the past. Our temper should be more in control now than it was previously. Why? It’s because inwardly, we’re being renewed.

Let’s listen to the voice of God to help improve our inward development. It will allow us to have a more enjoyable life and we’ll better reflect the image of Christ.

Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) Now to Him who is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams, according to His power that is at work within us,

One key phrase we should focus on in the amplified version of this scripture is “dare ask.”

A lot of us have big dreams and desires, but are we bold enough to ask God for those desires or do we limit our desires based on what seems reasonable? Some of us are not daring enough to ask God for our biggest dream because we don’t want to make it too hard on God or we don’t see how God is going to do it so, we don’t even ask. We don’t want to dream big and be disappointed if it doesn’t come to pass. That’s doubt.

God is telling us, whatever we can conjure up in our minds (big or gigantic) and be daring enough to ask for that desire, He is able to do it. God may not give it to us immediately or within the next five years based on our maturity, but if that desire still burns inside of us and we don’t back down from our confession, God will eventually fulfill His promise to us.

I challenge everyone reading this post to think of your biggest desire and I dare you to ask God for that desire and maintain your belief that God will fulfill His promise to you. I dare you.

Matthew 5:45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

God allows blessings to fall upon the just (righteous) and the unjust (unrighteous). Most of us can comprehend why the righteous are receiving blessings, promotions, and increase in their lives. They’re living a holy life and honoring God in all their decisions, therefore, they’re blessed. However, a lot of us can’t understand why God will bless the unrighteous. They don’t honor God, they engage in unrighteous activities, and they’re living however they feel. This can leave a righteous person, who’s trying their best to honor God, confused or possibly jealous. Why would God bless the unrighteous?

The answer can be found in Romans 2:4 which says, don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

At one point in our lives, we weren’t always living a holy life and yet, God blessed us in spite of our ways. This is grace and mercy. We didn’t deserve anything from God, but He blessed us, protected us, and increased us anyway. These blessings got our attention, motivated us to repent, and now we’re in a constant state of gratitude.

So, don’t be confused or jealous when we see the unrighteous getting blessed. Like us, God is just trying to get their attention to lead them to repentance.

Dear God,

Thank You for all that you’ve done for me. Thank You for Your many blessings you have given to me. Thank You for your protection over my life. I thank God for Your protection over and me and Your angels surrounding me. I am healed of all sickness and disease and nothing will harm me. Continue to bless my life and allow Your favor to fall upon me. In Jesus name, Amen.

The only problem with this prayer is it doesn’t include anyone else. What about our family and our friends? What about the homeless and the less fortunate? What about our city or country?

Jesus, our example, is compassionate. He cared about people and their well-being. As believers, we should have the same compassion towards others. We all know people, who are close to us, who need us to intercede for them in prayer. We have a voice and authority. The same way we desire God’s blessings, protection, and healing power over our lives is the same way we should desire those things for others.

Let’s not be so inward focused by only praying for things associated with us. Remember others during the time of prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1 – I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL men;

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

You’re too fat. Your teeth aren’t straight. You have nappy hair. Your nose is too big. You’re too short. Those are all lies sent to discourage us and minimize God’s creation.

It doesn’t matter what other people think or say. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator. If they don’t like how we look, they’re speaking negatively on God’s creation. On a psychological level, people who degrade another person don’t like something in themselves.

Every freckle, your skin tone, and even that weird thing on your body was a creation from God. Love yourself because Love created you and He loves His creation.

Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Democrats and/or Republicans are not our problem; immigrants are not our problem, and a person of a different race is not our problem. Our problem and our real enemy is the devil. These groups can be influenced by Satan, but the problem is not the group itself. 

Anytime we think someone or something else, outside of Satan, is our problem, we’re being deceived. It’s a distraction to get our minds off of him. It would be better for Satan to see us destroy ourselves than for us to collectively destroy everything he created. 

Let’s stop the bickering between one another and focus our efforts on dismantling Satan’s empire. 

Proverbs 11:24 Though they join hand to hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the descendants of the righteous shall be delivered.

There are two awesome promises at the end of this verse.

The first promise has to do with a seed or descendants. God promises every born-again believer a child. It doesn’t matter how old we are or the medical diagnosis the doctors gave us, God promises the righteous a child. Once again, righteousness has nothing to do with our daily behavior. If we’ve accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we’ve been made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21).

The second promise is the deliverance of that child. As children grow up, thinking they know everything, they will make some mistakes. They may experiment with drugs and alcohol, be rebellious towards authority, or dishonest. No matter how far or how long they’ve strayed away from a righteous pathway, the Word of God declares their deliverance. 

This is good news on all fronts. God can’t promise the deliverance of a child if there’s no child to deliver. Praise God for these promises and more, but they’re only available for those who are willing to believe in the finished works of Jesus. Believe and be blessed.

Ezekiel 34:4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

We’re living in a time where people seem to have self on their minds. They make sure that they’re okay, they have enough money, their family is taken care of, and their life is figured out. They’re not concerning themselves with anyone else, just themselves. We shouldn’t be too surprised about this. 2 Timothy 3:2 tells us in the last days that people will become lovers of only themselves.

Based on this scripture and other scriptures in the Bible, God prioritizes people and He desires that EVERYONE enjoys their lives. The main way He does that is through us. He surrounds us with people who will need assistance in one area or another. He may tell us to buy that person’s groceries, He may tell us to pray for our coworker, or He may tell us to help someone out with their mortgage. However, if we’re only self-focused, we’ll miss out on an opportunity to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2). 

Even if it’s a quick call to say hello to someone, let’s reach outside ourselves to impact someone else. 

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

There are some who say cursing is a form of expression. It frees our lips from constraints and it’s therapeutic during an emotional time. Then there’s another group that asks, what is a curse word? The Bible doesn’t clearly define cursing. For all we know, curse words are made up just like the rest of the words we use.

For those who have these opinions about cursing, I’ll counter with this question, what do you think the Bible means when it says corrupt communication? Another version of this scripture says unwholesome talk. If we don’t want our little children to use these words and we don’t say these words at church, why do we feel like it’s acceptable any other time? Finally, do you think these words will be used in heaven? If no, then make the adjustment now because even now, we’re in the presence of the Lord and we’ll be held accountable for every word that comes out of our mouths (Matthew 12:36-37).

There are so many vocabulary words to express how we feel without cursing. Pick one and honor God in your communication.

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Unfortunately, we’re living in a time where people are so easily offended. If we attempt to correct someone, even if it’s done in love, they feel like you’re trying to belittle them or make them feel inferior. A lot of us are on guard, trying to protect ourselves because we don’t want to get our feelings hurt. We can’t allow this form of protection to lead us down a path of stupidity.

This hatred of correction is influenced by Satan. If he can convince us that a person’s correction is only criticism, we’ll reject the very thing that’s trying to help us. This is also known as pride. If we’ll appropriately receive the correction, this will improve our character, our performance, and/or our productivity which will eventually improve the quality of our lives. Satan doesn’t want that.

God’s sends people in our lives to help us. Don’t be prideful and stupid. Receive this correction and make the necessary adjustments to improve in every area of life.

Proverbs 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

In today’s world, it almost seems like it’s cool to be mean, critical, or judgmental towards others. There are entire TV shows and websites devoted to magnifying the worst in people and criticizing what someone says, how they’re dressed, or what they look like.

At times it’s comical, but God’s Word hasn’t changed. In a dark world where “shade” is being spread daily, God still requires us to be a light (Matthew 5:16). Our light comes in the form of love, kindness, honesty, and compassion towards others. How does it benefit society by criticizing someone’s setbacks or harping on what they could have done better? It doesn’t and God is not glorified.

Although it’s popular to be negative and it feels good to point out the flaws in someone else to make us feel better about ourselves… let’s make this world a better place by being positive and kind. As a reward for our kindness, we receive favor from God AND man.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, 24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

If we should work for a large retail company (Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Foot Locker, etc.), many times these companies give their employees discounts on items at their store. If an item cost $50.00, with their employee discount, they can receive the item for $30.00.

This concept is not new. It’s been done in the Kingdom of God since the beginning. If we would put forth the effort in the Kingdom of God (physically and financially), not only will we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), but God promises employee discounts. Our employee discount comes in the form of favor. God’s favor is God using somebody, somewhere, to use their power, their ability, and their influence to help us.

The favor of God includes things we didn’t work for falling into our laps; additional money somehow being saved in our accounts, or jobs coming available at the right time.

All these things and more are available for those sold out for the Kingdom of God. When we prioritize God’s Kingdom, God makes it a priority to bless our lives. Take advantage of this employee discount by believing it’s available for us and expecting the favor of God to impact our lives.

Proverbs 8:35 “For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD.

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

From Satan in Matthew 4:1-11 to a criminal on the cross, there were numerous people who questioned or doubted Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Jesus had every opportunity to do the super miraculous and convince the world He was the Son of God. He could have performed “Red Sea” type of miracles for thousands of people every day, but He chose to teach and perform miracles on a personal level to have people believe in Him.

Aren’t you believing God for a new car? Where is it? Aren’t you standing in faith for a new job? Did you get it? Aren’t you believing God for a new house? How’s that coming?

As long as we’re publically standing in faith for something, there will be people who question the materialization of our belief. Some sincerely want to know if our desires manifested, but others, want us to question or doubt our belief in God.

We don’t have to prove our faith to anyone else, but God. Don’t allow questions of doubt to contaminate your faith. Believe in God and hold on to that belief until manifestations take place.

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 31:20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Exodus 33:14 LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

The presence of God is all we need. The presence of God is more powerful than any weapon we can carry ourselves and more fortified than any bunker we can create. The presence of God provides an endless supply of joy and pleasures forevermore. The presence of God allows us to have favor wherever we go and it gives us rest.

Unlike the people in the old covenant, the presence of God doesn’t come and go as the Lord sees fit. Through the blood of Jesus and His sacrifice for us, God’s presence is always with those who are willing to believe.

We can be confident in a job interview because the presence of the Lord is with us. We can complete a seemingly difficult task because the presence of the Lord is with us. We can witness to the unsaved in problematic parts of a city without fear because the presence of the Lord is with us. We don’t have to have it all figured out before we start because God’s presence is there to lead and guide us. Whatever is going on in our lives, be confident, fearless, and at rest knowing the presence of God is with us.

Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.