God’s Exit Strategy

Today’s Scripture: There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13

Song to Meditate On: Kirk Franklin – More Than I Can Bear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ysrUtdC5gw)

An Exit Strategy is a “pre-planned means of removing oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant.”  It is said that all investors should have some sort of exit strategy and it should be included in all business plans.

Ladies today’s scripture is telling us that God always have an exit strategy ready for when we are tempted. He does not promise us that temptations will not come but He promises us that He will provide a way out so that we can bear the temptations.

Have you ever been in a situation where temptation comes and the phone rang, or you are reminded of something someone said? Have you ever been in a tempting situation and the perfect opportunity comes for you to run? Ladies, these are examples of exit strategies that the Lord has provided, however a lot of times we do not take them because the temptation itself is very enticing and satisfies our lusts or desires.

1 Peter 5:8 implores us to be alert and sober in mind because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. As such when we do not take the way out that the Lord has provided we are only giving the devil space to devour us.

Today’s scripture also tells us that there is no temptation that will take hold of you that is not common to man and it further tells us that God is faithful and He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can bear. It simply means that whatever we are tempted with we have the power to endure and it will not kill us.

Ladies today my I challenge you to take the way out of the temptation remembering that others throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings so all we have to do is to resist the enemy and stand firm in our faith (1 Peter 5:9)

Let’s Pray,

Mighty God, thank you for providing a way of escape for us during times of temptations. Help us to be strong and endure.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

You Have Farther To Go

Song to Meditate On: I Know The Plans I Have - Martha Munizzi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja2XaS_JeDk)

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favourite scriptures, it says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This scripture gives me so much hope knowing that where I am today is not my destination. It allows me to realize that there is so much more that God has in store for me, things that I cannot even imagine.

Another scripture I just love is 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

These two scripture fills me with so much excitement because I know that my God has so much more in store for me. It excites me even more because there is a future that God has in store for me that I do not even know about and as –Rosalia de Castro, author and poet puts it “I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.”

Ladies today be encouraged by these scriptures knowing that God has a plan for your future, knowing that what you have achieved today is only a part of God’s plan for you. Where you are on your journey is just a part of the way because you have much farther to go.

On this journey it is very important that you trust God knowing that He has prepared and equipped you for the next phase. It is also very important that you know that the vision that God has for you is bigger than you. As another favourite scripture of mine says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

So ladies in case you had any doubt about where your journey ends, just meditate on these scriptures and get excited about where God is taking you next.

Let’s Pray,

Oh Lord, thank you for thinking so highly of us. Lord we submit to you tonight so that you can take us farther, higher and deeper according to your will.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

God Will Save Me

Main Scripture: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James 2:14

Song to Meditate On: Forever – Chris Tomlin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUH_NzfRmbs)

The story is told of a fellow who was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you." The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me." So the rowboat went on.

Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you." To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith." So the motorboat went on.

Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety." To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."

So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.

Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!" To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"

So many of us are like this fellow, we pray to God for help, however when He sends it we do not recognize because it does not come in the form we expected.

Ladies when you pray for food do not expect God to rain manna from Heaven (truth is maybe He would because He can) but it is more likely that He will provide an opportunity for a job instead. Therefore do not just sit like the man in this story expecting God to literally come down from heaven and save Him. He needed to jump in the rowboat or motorboat or grab the rope because this was how God intended to save him.

Today’s scripture tells us quite clearly that it profits us nothing if we have faith and we do not have works. So ladies, God will save you for sure but do not allow the opportunities to pass you by because you just sat by and did not take advantage of them. Like the fellow in the story you will die for sure.

Let’s Pray,

Lord thank you for being so faithful when we ask for your help. Teach us to discern your ways so that the opportunities that you provide will not pass us by.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

Lord, Why Must This Be?

Main Scripture: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Song to Meditate On: Dottie Rambo – In The Valley (He Restoreth My Soul) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYYYeto21AY)

One song writer wrote “When it's dark as a dungeon, and the sun seldom shines, I question, 'Lord, why must this be?”

Similarly when we are faced with troubles or when things are not going our way we ask this question. However, we ask this question because we tend to focus on the situation and not on the outcome.

Ladies, the song writer did not stop there, she went further to say “But He tells me there's strength in my sorrow, And there's victory in trials for me.”

Isn’t it wonderful that God always has a plan to strengthen us and to give us hope and joy? That is why today’s scripture encourages us to glory in our tribulations (troubles, problems, and misfortunes). Tribulations help us to become patient (enduring, persistent, and longsuffering). Patience brings experience that strengthens our character which will then build our hope and confidence in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore ladies today instead of asking Lord, why must this be? Ask Lord, Why shouldn’t this be? Knowing that this situation that your are going through is meant to strengthen you and will cause you be a better person eventually.

Also, be reminded that the Lord who started a good work in you will perfect it (Phil 1:6). Therefore He will not leave you while you are going through your trials instead he will give you peace and renew your strength so that you may endure.

Let’s Pray,

Mighty God, we bless your name. We thank you for restoring us during our times of tribulations, knowing full well that we will be victorious.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

Persecuted

Main Scripture: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”  Job 13:15 (KJV)

Song to Meditate On: I’ll Stand Until - Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ-6sA-LLLw)

Ladies, have you ever been mistreated, offended, abused, lied on or wronged. Well you are in good company. You are in the company of many of those great patriarchs from the Bible such as Moses, David, Job, Peter, Stephen, Paul to name a few. These men were persecuted for what they believed in, they were persecuted for their faith. Sometimes God protected them from persecution, sometimes He didn’t.

The same thing applies to our lives today, many times we find ourselves in situations where we are persecuted. Sometimes we ask God for help and this help is not forthcoming. This is so because every situation that God takes us through is meant to make us stronger. Every situation is meant to bring us closer to fulfilling our purpose on this earth.

Therefore ladies, today my encouragement to you is not to despise the process that God is taking you through. Yes you are being persecuted and you may even die but be resolved like Job in your mind to trust God. Make up in your mind that no matter what they might do to you, you will trust God. God understands what you are going through because He was also persecuted while He was here on earth.

The Apostle Paul dealt with his persecutions by allowing God to take over because He knew that when He was going through the tough times that He could not handle, God will strengthen him. He said in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Let’s Pray,

Oh Lord, we thank you for the process that we are going through. Though it might seem hard now, we will take our focus off of our situations and magnify you, believing and trusting you to make us stronger.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

The Battle Is Not Yours

Main Scripture:  He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV)

Song to Meditate On: The Battle Is Not Yours – Yolanda Adams (

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXbV1axOxZ8)

The background to today scripture sees where a great army declared war on King Jehoshaphat. Just like any of us when we are faced with frightening situations, King Jehoshaphat became afraid and sought the Lord for guidance. He also commanded the people to fast. In the midst of the people seeking God, He answered them and told them not to be afraid because He will fight their battle.

Ladies, God has not changed, He is the same today, yesterday and forever. Therefore whatever you are going through God is still faithful to fight your battles for you, however, you have to trust Him.  You have to acknowledge that God is able to deliver you from the situation and leave it to him

God was able to fight the battle for King Jehosophat because:

1.   He committed the situation to God, acknowledging that only God could save the nation

2.   He sought God’s favour because his people were God’s people

3.   He acknowledged God’s sovereignty over the current situation

4.   He praised God’s glory and took comfort in His promises

5.   He professed complete dependence on God, not himself for deliverance.

Today, you may not have a literal battle but you may be sick or tempted to do something you should not. You may be faced with a situation that you cannot find the solution but just remember that the battle is not yours it is the Lords. Therefore just surrender it all to Him, stand and watch God deliver you from it.

Let’s Pray,

Mighty God this morning we place everything problem, every situation, and every sickness in your hands today. We acknowledge Lord that you are sovereign and that we need not worry, we need not fight, we not to fret instead we wait on you Lord Jesus.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

God’s Goodness and Mercies

Main Scripture: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:6 (KJV)

Song to Meditate On: Great Is Your Mercy – Donnie McClurkin (

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKeTQ1ZHqgA)

In an effort to encourage me a friend of mine told me that whenever he is going through he listens to today’s song - Great is Your Mercies towards me by Donnie McClurkin.

This song reminded me of today’s scripture which tells us that goodness and mercies shall follow us all the days of our lives. In the Hebrew this means that, God’s favour, and the blessed and comfortable effects of it; shall pursue us, every single day until we die.

It really comforts me to know that God favours me and that He is looking out for me all the time. I am also reminded of the scripture that says “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12. (NIV)

I am also reminded of Lamentations 3:22-24 “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”

Ladies today, be encouraged because no matter what you are going through, whether good or bad, day or night, God’s favour, His love and His contentment are with you. He will take you through whatever it is you are going through.

In the last part of the scripture David said “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Ladies, like David whatever you do, at all times desire to be in God’s presence because where God dwells, love, joy and peace dwells.   

 Let’s Pray,

Lord thank you for you mercies that is new every morning. Thank you for giving your angels charge over us to protect and keep us. Help us to dwell in your presence always Father

  

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

Teachers

Main Scripture: Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers; because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:1-2 (NIV)

May 5 to 9, 2014 is celebrated as Teachers Appreciation week in the United States and May 5, 2014 is celebrated as Teachers Appreciation Day. This day is also celebrated in Jamaica.

This day is described as "a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives". Indeed teachers are to be celebrated and honoured, to most of us they are considered second to our parents and very frequently considered as parents away from home - the people who give us education, knowledge and guidance, the most important jewels of our life. Aristotle  once said “Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.”

Being a teacher is a very important role and should not be taken lightly according to today’s scripture. Teachers are not only expected to teach but they are also expected to be examples to those who they impact. This can be an awesome responsibility as we are humans and we are not perfect. It was William Arthur Ward that said “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

Today let us pray for those teachers (in the classroom or otherwise) that have impacted our lives and inspired us to be who we are today. Encourage them when you see them and honour them often.

Let’s Pray,

Father we pray for all teachers today, wherever they are. We pray that you will strengthen them, cause them to be prosperous in well-being and financially. God we thank you for them and pray that you will keep them always.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies