All of our talking/ complaining/hoping doesn’t accomplish what God can do in and through us as we seek Him in prayer! HE should be our FIRST “go to” as we make this life journey. Are you ready to connect with Him? He’s ready!
PRAY!
hope
Don’t Give Up!!
God doesn’t expect us to make this life journey with Him without any mistakes! He doesn’t only want to be with us when everything is going well and everything looks perfect – when we are on the “mountaintop.” But, He also wants to be with us when we are in the “valley” – when we are walking in our low places.
We are in the process of becoming who He has called us to be. It is a process…a molding and shaping…a going forward one step at a time. And there will be times we will fall down; we will get dirty; we will skin our knees; and we will want to give up.
DON’T GIVE UP!! Father God is right beside you. He helps you up when you fall. He washes you off when you are dirty. He heals you when you are hurt physically, emotionally, or spiritually. He heals us from the inside out.
Would you invite God to join you today – right in the middle of your mess? He is ready…
Raise Us Up, O Lord!!
As I was sitting on the porch in the quiet of the morning and the coolness of the gentle breeze flowing over me, I drew near to the Lord and rested in His presence.
I began seeking Him for His word for the new year 2021. A scripture flowed through my mind but did not stay. Then the scripture above settled and I began to meditate on it.
The New Year is a time of making new resolutions and new plans. We begin to list all of the things we want to change, make better, or simply add to our lives. Usually, they are good and healthy things. Some things we may want to get rid of altogether.
There is nothing wrong with doing a “life check” and judging where we are and where we need to be. But, it is important to let God be a part of our “life check.”
We tend to have our own ideas, thoughts, and plans and never realize that the Lord has even BETTER ideas, thoughts, and plans for our lives!
I believe this new year will be a time of the unexpected. What WE think will happen and how it will be accomplished is thinking at a level far below that of the Lord.
Do we truly trust our God? May 2021 be a time of maturing – in our faith, in our hope, and in our love. May we SPEAK our trust and belief! May our words align with the heart and will of God! May our ways and thoughts be raised to God’s level and may we not try and bring His down to our level.
RAISE US UP, O GOD!!
I’m entering 2021 with high expectations of God and in His ability to do more than we can even ask or think!!
~Tina Roach
REJOICE!!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
For many this Christmas will look differently than any Christmas in the past. Some will not be able to spend time with loved ones due to death, sickness, or quarantine. Some will be unable to afford gifts due to loss of income.
Yes, circumstances change. Everything around us can be shaken and uprooted. Nothing is guaranteed. So where do we put our hope – in our government, in our jobs, in our doctors, in our church, in our family, in our friends, in our own ability and strength?
Dearest ones, if we choose to place our hope in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. Circumstances change and people change. But Jesus doesn’t change. He is the same – yesterday, today, and forever! Hallelujah!!
During this Christmas season, let us remember that we have been given the greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! He is our strong anchor. He is our strong foundation. He is our source of strength, healing, wisdom, love, joy, and peace.
Let us celebrate Jesus! Let us not only celebrate Him during this Christmas season, but let us celebrate Him every day of our lives. REJOICE!!
PRAISE HIM!!!
Are you waiting? The door is slowly opening… Do you see the faint sliver of light? Do you feel that quiver of expectation and hope stirring in your spirit? Praise Him in the waiting…praise Him in the doing…praise Him in the resting! PRAISE HIM BELOVED!! HE IS OUR GOD AND HE IS WORTHY!!!!!
Take Every Thought Captive!
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”. (2 Corinthians 10:5 )
I want to be transparent with you about my weak moments. I know this scripture in 2 Corinthians and have even taught it. But, just because we know God’s truth does not mean it is easy to walk it out in our lives.
I have to admit that the isolation and social distancing during COVID-19 has been hard for me. There are some days that I wake up and I can feel the heavy blanket of depression trying to take over my thoughts. And that is not a good place to be! Not only does it affect me but it affects those closest to me.
Brothers and Sisters! We all have times when we may feel despair, doubt, fear, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. But, we need to make sure that we have the right response when and if it happens.
We are told in God’s word that we are to TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE to the obedience of Jesus! We are to DESTROY speculations and every lofty thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God.
In other words, are our thoughts in alignment with our knowledge of who God is and in alignment with who God says we are?
We don’t have to act upon every thought! We don’t have to allow our thoughts to dictate how we feel about ourselves or others. We don’t have to allow our thoughts to be the “rudder” of our lives!
WE are in control of what thoughts we allow to take hold in our lives! If the thoughts we are having are causing us to fear, to hate, to be judgmental, or to feel depressed and unworthy —then we are to TAKE AUTHORITY over our thoughts and replace them with GOD’S TRUTH!!
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
LORD, thank You for being the Giver of Truth! Thank You for empowering us through Your Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and to not be ruled by them. We bring our thoughts into obedience to YOU!! Thank You, Jesus, for being the way, and the truth, and the life! It is in Your Name that we pray. AMEN!!
~Tina K. Roach
Acceptable Words & Thoughts!
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 NASB
I have been thinking alot about my words lately. I have to admit that with everything that has been going on during the last 3 ½ months, sometimes my words may not be acceptable to the LORD. I have allowed words of negativity and complaining to flow from my mouth. Forgive me, LORD!
As I look at the meditation of my heart, I see the same problem. My words are connected to what I am thinking – to what is in my heart. God’s Word tells us that out of the heart the mouth speaks.
What words do we find ourselves speaking to others and even to ourselves? Are they words of life…words of encouragement? Or are they words of discouragement and discontent? What do we meditate on during the day? What do we allow our thoughts to dwell on?
LORD, may Your Holy Spirit help us to filter our words and our thoughts. May we lift up and encourage all who we come into contact with. May we take every thought captive and bring our thoughts into alignment with You and Your life-giving truth. May we be vessels of reconciliation and peace. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. AMEN!
~Tina K. Roach
Thanksgiving & Prayer
“I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23 NRSV
What powerful scriptures of thanksgiving and prayer! Do you ever think about using scripture as a basis for your prayers? As I read this today, I wanted to use it not only as a groundwork for writing my devotional, but to use it to pray for you.
Brothers & Sisters, I love hearing about your faith in Jesus and your love towards others as we continue on this life journey through the covid-19 season. I am indeed thankful for all you do!
I pray that as you draw closer to the Lord:
- a spirit of wisdom and revelation will enlighten the eyes of your heart.
- You may know what is the hope to which He has called you.
- You may know what are the riches of His glorious inheritance.
- You may know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.
Father God has put this great power to work in Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places. This is the immeasurable power that is at work for us!
Jesus is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. He is above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
Father God has put all things under Jesus’ feet and has made Him the head over all things for the church.
We, the church, are the body of Christ. And as His body, we have His fullness – His presence, His power, His wisdom, His revelation, and the riches of His glorious inheritance. HALLELUJAH!!
DURING THESE DAYS OF LACK…MAY WE REMIND OURSELVES OF ALL THAT WE POSSESS!!! AMEN!
Reflection of Glory! 