TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF YOUR WAIT ON GOD

 
Don’t you just want to scream sometimes when you know God is going to do it but the wait is killing you? We all go through this and if we keep on living, we’ll go through it again.
 
Have you noticed waiting on God is the only time that we feel the weight of our faith? Faith under pressure is the condition that challenges us to trust God on a new level, to walk in peace even though we’re in pieces.
 
I remember a time when I was in God’s waiting room and everything that could go wrong went wrong. Everything that was supposed to go right went wrong. The longer I waited, the more stuff seemed to go wrong. If you’ve ever been in that position, or maybe you are now, you know that keeping your sanity is a job all by itself. After I put down the weight, I thought to myself, “If God is real, this has to be a setup.” The fact that we’re in the waiting room is evidence that it is a setup. God said, “All things work together for the good.” That means all!
 
It’s hard to see a setup when emotions are hot when we’re stressed up and borderline desperate. When it has to happen on our schedule, when it has to go the way we planned it, when it has to do what we want it to do or they have to do what we want them to do when we want them to do it, the wait is 10 times worse. Eventually, we realize or God forces us to understand, no amount of worry, no amount of tears, no amount of frustration, no amount of anger will make God do anything. Only faith and work can do that (Hebrews 11:6).
 
Put This In Your Spirit: The thing you’re waiting on is the very thing that God is going to use to grow you with. When you’re waiting on God, God is growing you in an area that almost always hinders you from walking in peace when you’re going through the process.
 
God’s waiting room is always about preparation. Even when the deadline is coming, or passed, it’s always about preparation. Even when we think the worse is going to happen or is already happening, it’s still about preparation.
 
When we’re in God’s waiting room, it’s never about what we’re waiting for, it’s about what God is waiting for. What God is waiting on to grow inside of us. There is nothing wrong with putting a timer on a blessing or a breakthrough, as long as we don’t forget these 3 things:
 
  1. We’re never waiting on God to do something, we’re growing to what God has already done. (Psalm 139:16)
  2. God does not work on our schedule. He works things together for the good when the time is good. (Romans 8:28)
  3. God is not working on what we want, God is working on what we need — the two can be the same but the fact that we’re in the waiting room says that what we wanted or when we wanted does not line up with God’s plans. (Philippians 4:19)
 
Remember the bible says, “Be anxious for nothing…” This is not always easy to do and the harder it is for us to do it, the longer the wait will be. “Be anxious for nothing,” doesn’t mean don’t do anything while you’re waiting, it just means that trust in God has to go up in order for our focus to stay on our peace rather than on God’s timing.
 
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

 

If you’re in God’s waiting room, no matter how long or no matter what for, focus on keeping your peace while you keep walking. The bible says, “…And hope will never make us ashamed,” so as long as we hope right, walk right and wait right, God will make everything turn outright. Stay focused, talk to yourself, encourage yourself, you got this!
 
Pastor Patrick
 
 
 

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL: DON’T BITE

“A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression” – Proverbs 19:11
 
We learn, the hard way or the easy way, that every time somebody says something or does something ignorant, a response is not necessary.
 
We’ve all been in a situation, sometimes in our own house, when we wanted to clap back, strike back or tell somebody off — after all, they gave us the scissors to cut them when they opened their mouth…(Proverbs 18:6).
 
The truth is, when we bite or get sucked into tongue fights every time somebody says something ignorant, rude or foolish, we have to leave our peace to, “get them back.” To cut them, we have to literally suspend all thoughts about any and everything else we could be thinking about to go run them down and give them a piece of our mind (Philippians 4:8).
 
Put This In Your Spirit: The bible says, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). When folks come for you, they either don’t know you or they know you well enough to know that their behavior is going to provoke you. Either way, the goal is the same — to get you to bite, clap back or to act up. What you do next is either going to cause them to win or cause them to recognize that they don’t have that much power over you.
 
Anybody that says putting somebody in their place who gets out of line is not tempting, is a liar. It’s tempting because we, in that moment, believe we’re defending our honor, our intelligence or our rights. Sometimes we are, and sometimes a response is necessary but the key is, only the right response is going to make a difference.
 
See, it’s one thing to cuss somebody out or go off, it’s another thing to make a difference. The bible put it this way, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). It’s not what we say, it’s how we say it that not only determines if it makes a difference but also if we have to leave our post to make it.
 
When they, them or that causes us to act ignorant, act up, act a fool, go off, erupt or just plain slice and dice like the best of them, ultimately all we really did was show somebody that our power can be cheaply rented by foolery.  When we burn down our emotional house to get back at somebody, we might have, “got them,” but we have to go back to emotional ashes.
 
When the bible says, “Anger but sin not,” it’s talking about saying it without leaving our post. Our post is our power, our character, our intelligence, our peace. If and when we have to respond, we decide if that response is going to be powerful or pitiful (Proverbs 14:17, 14:29).
 
Personal power, purposeful responses, intentional words are more effective than a simple tongue beating. It’s one thing to throw wood on the fire, it’s another thing to put the fire out, shut them down or leave them with nothing to respond to. A foolish conversation needs your words to keep it going — they need you to give up your power and step into their world of crazy.
 
It does not matter whether the person is a stranger, a relative or a spouse, ignorant conversations don’t solve anything. They have one purpose: make the other person bleed. If you keep it up, especially with a spouse or a relative, the relationship will become a constant boxing ring and eventually, love will leave the building. You cannot keep cutting people you love and expect them to be the same or to stay (Proverbs 27:5-6).
 
Head check. If the conversation pushes your button, it’s the spirit of strife operating through them, or it, to pull you away from your post. You always have a decision to make — play with the devil or shut the devil down with power. Walk away or use words that prevent you from walking away from your character. This takes practice, thought, and more practice, especially if you enjoy cutting people or are easily provoked to anger. 
 
I’m not saying that there won’t be times when we have to turn over some tables like Christ did, I’m saying that when we know how beautiful we are when we walk in power, talk with power, foolery will loose it’s ability to be a remote control for our character.  Power is bad, it cannot be mistaken for foolery, it’s always intentional, it shows out without acting up, and it is never purchased cheap.
 
Make it powerful, not messy.
 
 
 
Follow Pastor Patrick
Together we can reach more and do more! Through the financial support of friends and partners, FAITHHILL is on a mission to impact, teach and transform lives in community and around the world.  Thank you for believing in God’s vision.
 
 
To read previous blogs or to sign up to be notified by email of new blog posts by Pastor Patrick, Click Here.
 
Join us at the HILL, FAITHHILL Church this Sunday as we dig deeper and put difficulty in check with practical application for every situation!
 
 


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ACTIVATE YOUR DO NOT CARE SPIRIT

We have to stop letting people who do so little for our life have so much control over our emotions. We tend to give out power to non-factors more than we do thoughts and people that support our greatness.
 
We put valuable emotions into opinions that don’t matter, and most of the time, they don’t even come from people who mean us any good. Look back over the troubles that God brought you through, then look at the people who supported you when you went through. It’s amazing that the people who sit in our bleachers, who have never walked a mile in our valley, can be given power that they haven’t even earned.
 
We have to build faith wealth. Faith that is too expensive for foolery. Faith that does not offer discount access to peace or care what people think who think above their pay grade. Faith wealth that is guarded and kept out of the reach of emotional vampires.
 
This is your season for activating your do not care spirit. If it does not promote you, grow you, inspire you or feed you, activate your do not care spirit. You cannot carry garbage and stay in peace. You cannot make a home for drama and stay in your right mind. You cannot let negative people and their opinions live in your head rent free.
 
It’s time for spring cleaning. Start fresh, start anew, start your next chapter of not caring about what does not support your greatness or give God the glory.  A friend to your weakness is an enemy to your grace, Godliness and greatness.
 
Put This In Your Spirit: It’s called self-esteem not others-esteem for a reason. God is a jealous God, and He said that we cannot serve two masters. When it comes to the opinion that matters in your life, if it contradicts God’s opinion, you must delete it — don’t keep it and worship it.
 
After you live long enough, go through enough, have seen enough, you know that it is impossible to walk in victory by holding on to thoughts or people who belong in your history. Family included. Love is not defined by distance, love is defined by sincerity — some people have to be loved sincerely far enough away from you to prevent them from hurting you.
 
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
 
When you stop caring, folks will say you’re acting funny.  Folks will think and say, you’re acting like you’re too good.  Nobody who supports your greatness will have a problem with you creating boundaries that support your greatness.
 
“Pay attention when people react with anger and hostility to your boundaries.  You have found the edge where their respect for you ends.”
 
A do not care spirit is not a selfish or negative attitude.  It’s an attitude that steps aside and lets anything or anybody pass that does not belong in your head, your life or God’s plans for walking in victory. You have to stop feeling guilty for wanting to be healthy. This is your personal circle, and you get to decide who’s in it.
 
Walking in victory requires some tough decisions.  Regularly.  Personal power is costly.  You will give up some people to be your best self.  You will grow out of people, places and conversations when you’re growing faith wealth.  Your tastes will change, your expectations will change and your walk with God will change when you choose power over mess.
 
It’s your time.  You’ve earned this.  Go now and start spring cleaning.  You’ve got to make room to be great.
 
 
 
 
Follow Pastor Patrick
Together we can reach more and do more! Through the financial support of friends and partners, FAITHHILL is on a mission to impact, teach and transform lives in community and around the world.  Thank you for believing in God’s vision.
 
 
To read previous blogs or to sign up to be notified by email of new blog posts by Pastor Patrick, Click Here.
 
Join us at the HILL, FAITHHILL Church this Sunday as we put “Dealing With Difficult People,” in check with practical, powerful application of the word for walking in victory.
 
Get ready for a radical shift in your do not care spirit with this powerful 30 Day eBook Devotional by Pastor Patrick.  Real talk for real people for real power.  Download your copy today! 
 
 
 
 


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DON’T BE AFRAID TO DISAPPOINT

 

We have to learn to be OK with not wasting valuable time, precious energy trying to be liked, fit in or go along to get along.  Some think it’s love or faith that keeps us holding on to what’s killing us but that’s a lie.  It’s fear of letting go — we’ve all been there with loved one’s, relationships, friends and people who knew us back when.
 
Put This In Your Spirit: This is your life and you’re trying to fulfill God’s divine plans for your peace, joy, potential and destiny. Everybody who wants to be a part of your life is not eligible to be a part of your plans. The bible says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3).  If they don’t agree with the plans that God has for your life, don’t be afraid to disappoint!
 
Some might say, “Well, that seems shallow.”  Well, the alternative is to treat your life like it doesn’t matter.  You are not being fair or true to you by cooperating with what destroys you (Proverbs 14:7).  Walk alone if you have to but don’t hold on to what’s killing you — The only people who will have a problem with your boundaries for joy, peace and power are the people who are not meant to walk with you.
 
Don’t be afraid to disappoint! Nobody knows better than you what it takes to be you.  Nobody is responsible for your peace, guarding your heart and keeping your life drama free but you.  Before every plane takes off, the pilot has to make sure that the plane is not overweight.  Every life, like every plane, can only carry so much weight — don’t let the weight of wrong people, wrong decisions, history relationships cause your life to stay stuck on the ground (Hebrews 12:1).
 
Put This In Your Spirit: The top 5 people that we spend 80% of our personal time with, influence our conversation, our direction and our elevation.  You know better than anybody that intruders throw your prayer life off, they interrupt thoughts, they distract you from your fight and they keep you majoring in minor things.  When we’re afraid to disappoint the right people, we let the wrong people have power over our lives.  
 
If they cannot handle the requirements of you, that’s OK.  If they cannot handle your boundaries, that’s OK.  If they cannot appreciate your need to be healthy, stable and positive, that’s OK. If they cannot handle the fact that you need to keep them in your prayers but put them out of your life, that’s OK.  If they cannot handle you letting go of people that are killing you, keeping you stuck, holding you back, that’s OK.  This is not their life, it’s yours and you get to make up the healthy rules that keep you from losing your mind (Micah 2:10).
 
Every tree is a seed that refused to be held down.  No amount of dirt, no amount of darkness, no amount difficulty kept that seed from becoming who it was created to be.  When you refuse to allow anything or anybody to keep you from becoming who God created you to be, you are walking in agreement with God’s plans for you: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20, Matthew 7:6).
 
God desires to bless us but we have to protect our inheritance from wrong people and wrong decisions.  Doing right by you, positions you to be blessed. Esau was the firstborn son to Isaac and Rebekah, but he made a bad choice that forfeited his inheritance (Genesis 25:29-34).  Don’t be afraid to disappoint when your inheritance is on the line!
 
Share and be blessed.
 
 
 
Follow Pastor Patrick
To read previous blogs or to sign up to be notified by email of new blog posts by Pastor Patrick, Click Here.
 
 
Join us at the HILL, FAITHHILL Church, every Sunday for a life changing message for your destiny! Click Here for information about us.
 

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