Word for the day "The struggle is real"
Psalm 103:10 (NKJV) He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
The struggle is real but necessary to fulfill your destiny.
Most of us have the bad habit of rationalizing our sin and our errors. We all struggle with our consciences, with our goal to make peace within our own hearts.In order to gain peace, you may deny what you’ve done, find excuses, or try to escape out from under the responsibility and consequences of your wrongdoing.You may work hard to be “Good” to compensate for your mistakes. Are you doing everything you can to even the score?I am learning until you confess your faults to God, you'll not have fulfilled your destiny.The dictionary defines struggle as a forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint or resist attack. We all will experience the struggle in our relationship with God.We will have struggles to resist attacks from the enemy. Throughout my walk with the Lord, I have experienced various kinds of struggle.I must confess many struggles have caused deep-seated shame and remorse. However, when I have embraced being honest about my struggles and come clean within in myself and others the Lord has done amazing exploits in my life (Daniel 11:29).
The necessary actions of honesty and taking responsibility for your life, gives us liberating access to the Lord.
God holds everyone accountable. We are like people who have committed crimes but who refuse to accept the charges brought against them.You may have spent years constructing alibis, coming up with excuses, and trying to be exonerated.But if you’re sincerely seeking spiritual healing, now is the time to come clean. It’s time to admit what you know deep down inside to be true: “I’m guilty as charged.”Remind yourself that it is nearly impossible to predict the end of the story when you are still living in the middle of it.Remind yourself that the God of the stories in the Bible is the same God over your story.I wanted to share with someone reading today’s message, even amidst struggle, we can choose to praise God. His character hasn’t changed, even if our circumstances have.That joy of the Lord may not look the way we might expect, the joy isn’t always smiling and fun.The joy may be choosing to sing through the tears, pray through the pain, or choosing to trust in the Lord when you are afraid it might mean having to let go of your dream.Christ endured the Cross for the joy set before Him and in the same breath, we call him a Man of Sorrows.Let Christ be your example of perfect joy and perfect grief expressed through perfect praise in your life today.
Point to ponder
In speaking this truth, you stop fighting and admit that you’re wrong. Without confession to God, there’s no real freedom.And what a relief it is to finally release the burden of your lies and excuses by admitting them to God. This is the very reason Jesus came.Remember He died not because we were good people,but because we’d gone our own way. Come back to the Lord he is waiting for you!
Special thanks!
Our Leadership team is especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of October 2018 by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Mr. William Wilson, Ms. Kersha Brown, Ms. Quiana Volney, Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Cynthia George, Ms. Rita Mcguffin, Mother Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Angela Harrison, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Mrs. Linda Patterson, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.Thank you for using the Word Cup devotionals brought to you through Grace and Truth Leadership. Why don’t you take the opportunity to write to us on our blog and let us know how we are doing in serving you, Great people.We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry. If you have been touched by these daily devotionals and would like to make a monthly pledge or a special gift of any amount, please use the link below to give as the Lord leads.Follow me on Twitter @James Baker_jr as I endeavor to encourage and empower leaders of today and tomorrow!Kingdom Blessings,Pastor James Baker, Jr.