Tag: faith

Spiritual

Purifying Trials

Dr. R. A.

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Sometimes it seems like the trials you are going through is going to destroy you. They come at you from various angles swiftly. The sudden blows sucker punches the air from your lungs, leaving you curled up in a ball squirming and unable to breathe.Every time the impact of each blows lessens, and you manage to stagger to your feet, without notice you find yourself once again face down to the ground. This leaves you not wanting to muster up the courage to stand up again to fight.

Sometimes you even question in your mind whether or not it has a purpose. But I’m here to remind you that nothing in your life happens haphazardly.  Every step and every situation has been purposefully designed. The trials you face are just to purify, cleanse and refine you. God’s objective is to make you clean and shiny. He is ensuring that you become more and more like Him. Guaranteeing that you are without spot, blemish or wrinkles. Yes, you were created in His image, but His nature is being developed in you. He does not want you to be just a form without power. As such, the pressure comes so that the oil can flow. So that when you see yourself and others see you they can’t help but give Him glory. Be encouraged your trials are a part of the process of you being a reflection of God! !!!

9/30/17 Dr.R.A.

Daily Post, Spiritual

Stay Focused

Dr. R. A.

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At the onset of pursuing our dreams, we are usually very spunked. However, as time progress we tend to lose the initial level of enthusiasm as we may not have accurately calculated the cost of pursuit.  Less and less effort is exerted to accomplish something that once consumed every waking thought.  Nevertheless, to achieve the desired outcome then we need to get back on track. Our goals need to be realigned to the center of our focal point.

It is the plan and work of the enemy to prevent us from accomplishing our goals through various forms of distractions (loss of loved ones, ridicule, discomfort, shame, poverty, discouragement, sickness, challenges, obstacles, etc.). Nevertheless, I dare say, STAY FOCUSED! Stay focus on the prize and not the pain. Focus on the pleasure to gain not the injury. Shut out the negative voices that echo with cynical remarks as it pertains to your abilities. Remember no one knows your true potential except God. Let your dreams be anchored in Him. Do not get caught up in focusing on your current environmental conditions. Where you are now is not where you will be forever. Storms don’t last always. Seasons will change. Mornings will come after every night season. And in case you forget joy is a by-product of the mornings.

Pull up your bootstraps and press on. Put blinders on if you must, so that you can stay focused.

09/26/2017 Dr. R.A.

via Daily Prompt: Focused

Daily Post, Spiritual

Blessing in the Crumbs

Dr. R. A.

Image result for crumb that fall from the masters table

We are often of the persuasion that to be blessed then we have to receive all of that which we desire.  However, this concept is extremely twisted and needs realignment. Quite contrary to the popular belief even a crumb can be a can be a huge blessing.

A story was told in the Bible of a woman who was in need of her daughter being healed.  She was not of the fold of Israel and knew that going to ask Jesus for healing was a huge risk. Nevertheless, she did not allow her fears or the consequences of her actions to dissuade her from obtaining her goal.

After mustering up the courage she went to ask Jesus to heal her daughter. To her surprise, after being ignored she was slapped with a seemingly insulting comment (“it is not meat to take the children’s bread and give to dogs”). Although her instincts told her to forget about what she desired she brushed them aside, swallowed her pride and continued to press for that which she desired the most. Her response was quite alarming to Jesus. She said, “true Lord but even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”.  He, in turn, granted her request.

This shows that there is a blessing in the crumb. You may not always receive a whole loaf of the bread that you desire, but if you can shift your mindset to accept the crumbs, you will realize that the crumb is and has always been more than sufficient to satisfy your need. Never forget that there is a blessing in the crumbs.

09/20/2017 Dr. R.A.

via Daily Prompt: Crumb

Daily Post, Spiritual

Tentative

Dr. R. A.

Image result for tentative

 

Decisively I place my feet

In the footsteps that You have engraved

Along the pathway, You have laid

I am now clearly aware that I am the called

Therefore, I no longer give tentative efforts

As without a doubt, I know there is a prize to be gained

I no longer focus on the strenuosity of each trail

Because I now know there are really strength revealers

Therefore, I steadfastly push against the winds

Until I come before Your glorious presence

Beholding Your beautiful face

Awakening and realizing that I have been transformed

Into an exquisite reflection of Your image.

09/19/2017 Dr. R.A.

via Daily Prompt: Tentative

life, Spiritual

Soar

Dr. R. A.

Image result for eagles soaring

Life has a way of presenting circumstances that if we are not careful can clip our wings thus disempowering us from soaring to great heights. These wing clippers come in the form of losing (job, home, loved ones, cars, etc.), disappointments, discouragement, etc. They often come without warnings like a tsunami or earthquake. These circumstances often leave us feeling broken and like there is no hope or need to carry on. They force us to live in cooped up like chickens. However, we were never designed to live that way. We were formed and fashioned by the Creator to live like eagles that soar.

Eagles were never meant to live in chicken coops. They were made to fly at heights where no other bird can go. They were even designed to fly above the storms. Whenever storm clouds are setting in they would get excited because they use the storm winds to lift themselves higher. Eagles recognized that the storms of life came to assist them in getting to heights that they may not be able to get to themselves without the force of the winds from the storm. They have the storm bring it attitude as they know they can handle any storm as their Creator would not give them more than they can bear.

There are times, however, when these magnificent creatures get weak. In their time of weakness, they do not roll over and die. They instead they go to a higher place. If it gets weak, it goes to a high place on the mountain and plucks out its feathers and knocks its beak off until it is completely bare. He stays there until new feathers are grown.  The higher place that they go to is a representation of the secret place that we need to go in God and remain until we have been completely refreshed and renewed. It represents the intimate and honest relationship we need to have with our Creator.

I say to you don’t hang around with chickens as you are not a chicken regardless of what your circumstances tell you. You were created as an eagle with the ability to soar. Yes, they will talk about you, but that is because they are jealous of the liberty you possess. Afterall, they can’t really fly, and they are confined to a coop. Spread your wings eagles and soar. Rise above the criticisms, back-bitings, backstabbing, brokenness, etc. Be who you were designed to be. Don’t be confined by the coop others and circumstances try to trap you in, break off that beak, pluck out those feathers that are old and weighing you down.  Lay aside every weight that easily beset you. Retreat into God so that He can show you exactly what you need to do. Listen only to God’s voice and be obedient. Remember the storm was not sent to destroy you, it was meant to help you get to new heights. So soar as you were designed to and enjoy the picturesque view.

9/18/17 Dr. R.A.

life, Spiritual

Greatness Incubated

Dr. R. A.

Image result for greatness

Our idea of the pathway to greatness is different from God’s way. We often think that this path should be straight and without any form of hindrance. We believe that it is one with only fun and relaxation. It is probably hedged with our favorite flowers and the sun is bright and at the right temperature. On the road, we envision there is no struggle and everything we could possibly desire comes easily at the blink of an eye. To the contrary, however, God’s way is almost polar opposites from ours. For instance, God’s way to being exalted is for us to humble ourselves. His way for us to have much fruit requires a grain to fall into the earth and die.  Seemingly ironic God also uses tools that cause great pain for us to come to the place and become the person that He has called us to be. Unfortunately, rejection is one of those tools in the box that is necessary for us to become great. I say unfortunately because no one likes to know that they are not accepted into their social arena or the social class that they are trying to get in.

Rejection is God’s way of incubating our greatness. This method often causes painful thoughts. And if it occurs frequently it causes us to question our worth. But before we allow the enemy to infiltrate our minds with negative thoughts we should remember that any person who has been great had to experience rejection and sometimes on many accounts. In addition, they have had to live a life of loneliness and experience they varied emotions that come with this process. Nevertheless, their experiences did not devalue them in any way in the eyes of God. People like Moses, David, Joseph, and Jesus were all rejected. God employs these wonderful tools for incubating greatness within us because He cannot afford for us to be socially dependent upon anyone. Life has a way of misguiding us and manipulating us into thinking that people and things are our sources. As such, God makes us into misfits because He has chosen to raise us up and cause the greatness within to be put on display. He also wants the fact that He is our source to be embedded within. It does not matter what our needs are He is more than capable of supplying all of it in abundance.

Sometimes it may seem like our entire life is just chaotic and everything is screwed up, but God is doing it on purpose as He is an intentional God. Therefore, the fact that people are hurting our feelings, talking about us, being jealous and manipulative of us and backbiting, backstabbing and rejecting us is just His methodology of getting us into that great and exalted place. He is building up our resistance. He is taking us to a place where we have been delivered from people, the things they do and say. As such, don’t react to the things they do and say so that you can be used by God in a great way. Let their actions roll off you like water on a duck’s back. Remember that the stone that the builder refused has become the corner stone.

The rejection you are facing is incubating your greatness. In just a little while God will put it on display. So keep fervently seeking and worshipping God.

08/29/2017 Dr.R.A.

Spiritual

Opposition or Opportunity

Dr. R. A.

Image result for opposition vs opportunity

While travelling on the railway of life opportunity is often clothed in opposition. This often leads to us becoming frustrated and wanting to change direction, instead of remaining on the course. However, sometimes in order for us to truly become victorious then we must push through every hindrance with the power that we have been endued with.  This simply means that we must persevere to be successful and bring into manifestation all the things that God has revealed or has been prophesied to us. It, therefore, means that we cannot let opposition cause us to loose our inheritance.

Many of the heroes of old had to face and relentlessly persevere until they obtained that which was promised. David for instance, although he was anointed as the king of Israel, had to wait until Saul was dead before he could sit on the throne. During this period of wait, he had to run for his life, hide in caves and even pretended to be mad. And to add insult to injury, so to speak, the very people that he was fighting with turned against him, he had no one to encourage him. In that seemingly hopeless situation, he encouraged himself in the Lord. And in spite of all these obstacles, he held on to the promise of God until it manifested. He used the eyes of the spirit and saw every opposition as an opportunity. He mixed the word with his faith until he had the victory over every situation. Also, Joseph was given a vision that others were bowing down to him. When he shared it with his family the despised him and plotted to kill him. They later changed their mind regarding killing him and instead sold him into slavery. He became the head slave and thought that things were looking up when he was lied on. This lie got him thrown into prison with seemingly no hope. However, God rescued him just like he promised and promoted him just like he said because he chose to hold onto God’s word.

Like David, Joseph and others did, it is our responsibility to mix that word (rehma word) with faith. Mixing these ingredients is like baking a cake. When baking a cake the ingredients must be properly mixed together to get the desired finished product. While mixing the word (promise) with faith do not let people or anything prevent you as it is their responsibility run you away from what God has ordained for you. Keep you eyes on God and hold onto the word that He has spoken. There is always a gulf or crater between what you have heard and who you are and who you have been destined to become. However, hold on and P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens). After all, what shall separate you from God? Look at every opposition as an opportunity and act accordingly /o that you can obtain your inheritance.

08/21/2017 Dr.R.A.

Daily Post, life, Spiritual

Solitary

Dr. R. A.

Image result for solitary

Sometimes life has a way of eroding things that seem to have been connected to us

This result is us feeling like we have been sentenced to solitary confinement.

We feel like we have been transported to a sea-stack surrounded  by water

At the onset, we loose sight of the fact that we have been positioned for greatness because of the isolation that is felt.

But I dare you to take another look.

You have been “isolated for intimacy with the Creator

The water you are surrounded by is His word

Take a dive,

Emerge yourself in His word

Allow Him to develop the greatness inside in this alone time

Cause in the fullness of time the treasure that is on the inside will be revealed for all to see.

08/18/2017 Dr.R.A.

via Daily Prompt: Solitary

Spiritual

Trust God when it doesn’t make sense

Dr. R. A.

Image result for trust God when it doesn't make sense

Life has a way of screaming emphatically to us that it does not make sense to trust God. As believers, we often think that as we make a request to God, that instantaneously our request should be granted.  The fact that our prayers are seemingly not answered in the blink of an eye can lead to frustration and further resulting is a skewed concept of who God is.  This is because we make a request for help in what we would consider a bad situation and instead of receiving the help needed from God, He allows the circumstances to get even worse. In fact, our most severe problems become outright impossible to be resolved. As such, our mind begins to formulate questions regarding God’s location, His character, His nature, and sometimes even His very existence. We start to wonder whether or not the promises of God is true. We deliberate as to whether or not God really cares.

We feel like we have been brought to a precipice and are being forced to plunge headway to our death. However, it was said that if God brings us to the edge of a cliff and tells us to step off, either of two things will happen. One, He will catch us when we fall or two, He will teach us to fly. Either way, we will be safe from harm.

I want to remind you that although your current situation may be deafening with the thought that it does not make sense to trust God that you are not alone and that it will all work out for your good. How do I know this? Well, from the lives of the patriarchs of old.  The Bible tells us a story at the beginning about a man named Noah. Noah was asked to build a boat to house animals and people as it was going to rain. Now in Noah’s days, it had never rained before. Building a ship to protect both animals and individuals from something that had never happened before just does not make sense. The ark took years to construct, and one can only imagine the ridicule that Noah endured as He built this ark expecting rain. As if that was not bad enough it did not begin to rain immediately after the ark has been constructed.  Noah could have felt like it just did make sense to trust God to build the ark after enduring all the ridicule and looking stupid throughout the process.  However, as soon as all the animals and Noah and his family were safely in the ark the floods came. God proved to Noah that His words are true and that it pays to trust Him even when it does not make sense.

As a child, I used to play a game where a person would stand behind, and I would fall back into their arms. There was no fear or uncertainty within me as to the ability of that person to catch my fall. However, as I grow older and bigger, I became more apprehensive to play that game as I became aware that it is a game of trust. To fall back unreservedly into the arms of someone behind without looking requires us having faith in that individual. Is it possible that God wants us to fall back into His arms without reservations? Could it be that our situations moved from bad to worse and from worse to impossible because God wants us to trust Him even when it does not make sense? I must admit that having that kind of confidence will expose us to ridicule, loneliness, pain, hurt, etc. But is it possible that God wants us to trust Him even when we are feeling lonely, hurt and unpopular? Won’t you trust God when it does not make sense in your impossible situation?

Prayer: God in our most desperate time of need when we feel like it does not make sense to trust You we are asking for Your wisdom and direction. We pray that all the doubts hidden in our hearts will be vanished and replaced with faith in You. We request that the knowledge of who You are, and that You have our best interest at heart and will work everything out for our good will be reaffirmed in us. Empower us to fall back in Your arms without hesitation or reservation. Amen.

Dr.R.A, 6/18/17

life, Spiritual

What are you gravitating towards?

Dr. R. A.

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There are so many things in life that vie for our attention. The gravitational force around these things can be so powerful that if we are not careful, we lose sight of our purpose. The distraction can be so hypnotic that we become lackadaisical, weary, complacent and just wanting to fit into society’s mold. The pull to be normal beckons and we find ourselves effortlessly drawing closer and closer to its magnetic field. Little resistance is made as we wander away from opportunities because they are wrapped in problems/challenges. We encamp at the base of the mount as its steep and rigorous sides exclaim “it’s too difficult to try and climb.” Additionally, the need to take others along the journey dissuade us from continuing the path.  Excuses, excuses fills our backpacks. And whenever asked or pushed to continue the route we simply pull one out.

We allow fear to disarm our shield of faith. While authorizing doubt to keep the sword of the spirit in a shield. The whisper of the enemy persuades us to think that the promised inheritance is sour. Our need for comfort having feasted on the menu of the world causes us to remove the belt of truth that girds our loins. The desire to feel the wind in our hair coax us to remove the helmet of salvation. Shame convince us to cover the breastplate of righteousness with a cloak. The turmoil within and without robbed us of our gospel of peace shoes. Aimlessly and passively we stroll along life’s meandering path.  Not taking into account that we are being robbed of our present and future. Our eyes fixated on the accomplishments and victories of yesterday, yester-months and yesteryears. While our zeal, passion, and flames for that which is ours have been blown out by the winds of life. Procrastination becomes the way of life as our attention has been captivated by the glitter of an easy and simple life. We are completely unaware of the urgency to become that which we have been designed to be, so that we can achieve our heart’s longing desire. Instead, we are just being led by the pull of life’s magnetic field.

As you walk this journey called life what are you gravitating towards? Are you gravitating to the familiar when you have an opportunity to walk in the faith field? Are you leaning towards the base of the mountain when the advantageous circumstance exist for you to be on the top of the mountain? What has compelled you to slacken your pace to progress? What it is that has paralyzed your desire to accomplish? What is pulling you or has pulled you off the path that you have been destined to walk? Have your emotions kept you bound?

Yes, walking by faith is lonely, cold, dark and scary but the benefit that lies ahead cannot be compared to anything. Can you not hear the sound of endless victories beckoning to you? They are echoing your name. Their sound waves are penetrating the gravitational force field around you. You were not meant to abound in this lowly place. Muster up the courage and vigor needed to step out by faith and be the “called,” be the “chosen,” be the “king” that you were designed to be. Don’t let fear paralyze you from achieving what God has designed for you to inherit. There is nothing dim as it pertains to the plans that God has for you. Your future is shining bright with white light and waiting for you to step in. You have been designed to possess your promised inheritance. Break loose from the force field of worldly desires and gravitate to that which God has prepared for you.

Prayer: Father, today we ask that the magnetic field of the desires of the world be shattered from our lives.  May our skewed perspective of being normal be realigned, so that we will recognize how awesome it is to be the peculiar people that You have called us to be. Increase our desire for more of You and more of the things of Your kingdom. Open our eyes so we can clearly see the advantages in following hard after You. Let our emotions be grounded in You. Amen.

6/13/17 Dr.R.A.