Hello September

Wow, I cant believe how fast the much anticipated "2012" is passing by! I promise you, it seems like yesterday the year just began. So much has happened this year. I've definitely seen highs and lows, but most importantly.....growth.

I've shared a few devotionals from Joyce Meyer's book Love Out Loud this year, and I'd love to share another. Purpose and destiny have been heavy on my heart for a while now. I believe that God is trying to put things in perspective, with HIM being on the forefront. The world is in such disarray that often times, God is placed on the back-burner. When things go wrong, we often lean to our own understanding, and in turn  make matters worse.....when we can give it to God and allow him to fight our battles.

Exodus 14: 13-14

Moses answered the people, " Do not be afraid, Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will FIGHT for you; you only need to be STILL. "

There are many biblical assurances confirming that God will take care of what we cannot. It has been heavy on my heart to share with as many as I can that God is still in control. No matter what our circumstances look like, or what society says, God has the final say. Every day should be a day that we seek his will for our lives. Today in church, the Pastor talked about "Survival Instincts." He stated that our basic human instinct is to seek comfort as opposed to trials and tribulations. When a situation arises that takes us out of our comfort zones, our initial reaction is "I don't want this." While only natural to feel this way, sometimes we have to be taken out of our comfortable zones in order to move to the next level or wherever it is that we are supposed to be. The outcome will be much more impactful than the process it took to get there.

Getting back to today's devotional, Joyce Meyer discusses what she calls the "Failure Syndrome." This concept deals with something that many of us battle. Many can relate to feelings of inadequacy on some level. In order to be great, to be what God has called us to be in Christ, we must shake all feelings of doubt. It all comes down to the fact that God has equipped us all to do what he's made us to do. I can go on and on lol, here is an excerpt from the devotional that I found to be a blessing along with today's message:


      "The devil knows that someone without confidence will never step out to do anything edifying for the Kingdom of God. He does not want you to fulfill God's plan for your life. He can make you believe that you are incapable, and then you won't even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. Even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which you probably expected from the beginning because of your lack of confidence. This is what is often referred to as "The Failure Syndrome."

         God wants you to know that the devil is already a defeated foe. Jesus triumphed over him on the cross and made a public display of his disgrace in the spirit realm. Jesus' victory means that you can get rid of the failure syndrome. His ability to bring his will to pass in your life is determined by your faith in him and in his word. That is reason for confidence!"

Make up in your mind today, right now, that you will no longer be held back by doubt and fear. Be great, live a life pleasing to God by doing ALL you can, whenever you can. We are all meant to shine, as Marianne Williamson stated in her "Our Deepest Fear" quote( one of my ALL time favorites!),  "OUr deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure." Allow the gifts that God has blessed you with, and the light you have in Christ to shine as bright as possible.


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

" I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength."
-Philippians 4:13



Love,

Dany