Rooting up the weeds 
This morning I woke up during a dream. As I pondered on the dream, and the constant struggle I have faced trying to know God's Will, to recognize and follow is leading; I had an epiphany (or inspiration). Just as the farmer has to get rid of weeds for the plants to grow properly, giving it better sunlight. God in a similar way will remove people or things that are like weeds in our lives, which often blurs or hinders our vision of what God really wants for us. Eventually, anything that doesn't "belong" will disappear and then we will see clearly the things or the direction that God is pointing us to. I know this is a very technical topic, but it is crucial to know your God and to be able to recognize his voice and guiding hand. I am definitely not pro in this area but I pray that God will use this time to speak to you and give you clarity concerning His Will (or direction) for your life. 
                  
             Don't let selfishness and disobedience get in the way!!                               
In my own life, I have realized how easy it is for us to be distracted by what is "seemingly right". What is wrong with what is right or seems to be right? One, something that is right may not be good for you. Two, that which is what is good may not be the"good" God wants for you. As I was saying, our focus on what God desire for us could be easily fogged by our own selfishness and disobedience to follow God's way. Enough that God's Will is no longer a priority in our lives. But the Will of God is inescapable and unless you face it and yield to it, then you would have no peace of mind, because you're battling the one thing that will bring the most gain. Submission to God's Way and Will is a dagger for Satan, because there is no room in your life for him to bring confusion, doubts and fear. "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"- Isaiah 26:3 (NLT). If you trust God, then you will walk humbly in obedience to His Will no matter the 'forecast'.  
             
    When we get to know God, We will get to know and possibly                                 understand His Will for our lives.
Sometimes we make things harder than they really are, like finding and knowing God's Will. You don't need a prophet to speak into your life; or a preacher to give you a powerful sermon; or some magical dream or a big revelation from God. God' uses different means to speak to us according to our individual needs. But knowing the Will of God starts with submission to His control over your life, allowing Him to transform your will or desires to His Will or allow Him to guide you in everything that you do. Well, what about my desires? Doesn't God promise to give us the desire our heart? Yes, indeed. "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires."- Psalm 37:4 (NLT). But you must first choose to follow Him with all your heart. You have to love God and serve Him with all your heart. This is His Will, while giving you the desire of your heart is a promise to us, if we first do His Will. The Bible is flooded with God's Will for our lives. It is up to us to embrace and enjoy the fullness of its blessings. We must seek the Lord in constant prayer and study His Word. this will help us to know His Will for our lives. 

I think the ultimate goal is identifying the direction that God wants us to go; to be able to recognize His guiding hands. Where is God leading me? What is the best choice? Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.- Psalm 3:5-6 (NASB). His Will here is for us to trust Him. His promise is to give us clarity on the path we should take in life. Where ever you perceive God is leading you, it is His Will. God's Holy Spirit will prompt you but we must be careful because all promptings do not come from God. Therefore you need to be able to discern the things of God, and the only way of doing so is by having the presence of His Holy Spirit in your life.1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)-"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." You will have a sense of God's speaking to you through the prompting or leading that you get. His Holy Spirit will enable you to know. The Holy Spirit is one key essential in knowing God's Will for your life. 

God will direct your path, and you will know. Below are three essentials that I have learned in my experience in knowing and walking in the direction that God wants me to go. 

1. The Will of God has stability and consistency. You will get a constant prompting from the Holy Spirit. Be mindful of repetitions. I am not saying that you may not have doubts, but when doubts arise, fear rises up. You may have obstacles, but if it is truly God's Will, then even through the storm you will a constant peace, an assurance in your heart that will keep you standing even when the strong winds blow. If God is the Sailor of your life, your life will never be without sail or it can never loose track of the path it should go. God's way is the best compass for our lives. Learn to follow it with all your heart. You just have to keep trusting that you have the best architect, pilot, doctor on board. Relax and enjoy the ride. Note that God's Will is constant with His Word and His Word is constant with His Character. God won't lead you into something if He forbids it in His word. 

2. The Will of God comes with an unspeakable peace (and Joy). -1 Corinthians 14:33. 
Psalms 119:165 "Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble." If you sense God's peace about the matter, it is His Holy Spirit guiding you in the path God intends for you to take. The peace of God is one of the key indicators of God's guidance. Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Peace is the umpire of our heart, which echos to our inner being "You are safe (in God's Will.)" Note that Satan is a destroyer therefore He is never a peaceful  feller but causes constant chaos, and will lead you only to destruction. God will guide you and bring you success. It is Satan's utmost wish that you walk away from God's Will and instead follow his path of "what seems to be right and good". God's peace will take you through the greatest tests. It keeps the tempter away.

3. The Will of God is what will bring most Glory and Honor to Himself.  No matter the direction God is leading you, from beginning to end, His name will be glorified through it all. It's a two-way-stream- even if we don't deserve it- but it is God's Will that we receive good things (Psalm 84:11); we get the good He gets the Glory. Imagine, He gives us everything that we need, and all He wants is that His name be glorified in and through our lives. You may ask your self, that which you think is God's Will: Is it profitable? Is it edifying to you and others (involved)? Does it or will it glorify God? (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). You may not always have loads of support from others when you indicate that you are doing God's Will, but what matters is that you walk in obedience to Him and He is glorified in your life. 

Definition: Delay may be referred to as a postponement of an event or function; to cause to be later or slower than expected or desired; or a disruption of continuation (of a plan).

How often do you face delay?  I have experienced several delays in my own life, and trust me, delays are not the sound of good news (or so we think). When you've been told that the dentist can't attend to you (in all your pain) no sooner than the next two months, it instantly discourages you. Or when the employer who interview you tells you that they would love to hire you, but we apologize that  there is no vacancy at this point. We will keep your documents on file for future reference; it may instantly depress you. When you have an urgent surgery that has already been scheduled  but the doctors tell you sorry that they will have to postpone to a later date, you can easily loose hope. 

Our immediate reaction to delay would most likely often be feelings of anger, disappointment, or frustration which may lead to depression. To the hearer, a delay is bad news because there was an expectancy or desire that it will happen within a certain  time. In times like these, it isn't easy to think straight or be positive. But, don't be discouraged, delays are not always bad news. If you are Christian, you will rest firmly on God's promise that "all things works together for good to them who love the Lord; to them who are called according to His purposes." -Romans 8:28. 

In fact a delay could be the best news you may have ever received and if we believe that God does all things well then we won't worry about the timing in which that which was expected is accomplished. Not only does God does everything without flaw, but He is always on time. Your surgery may have delayed because God wants to give you the best doctors. You may have not been hired yet because God wants to bless you with a better job. While waiting on your air-flight to arrive, the representative announced that there has been a delay in your flight. Most likely this news will be disappointing but God may be using delays to either save you from troubles or to get you ready for something better. 


A delay may mean any or all of the following:

1. An opportunity for God's training or better preparation.  
2. God's desire to bless you with the best or something better. 
3. God's way of reminding you that His way is best.
4. A test of your faith in God. (You must trust God's guidance)
5. God wants to teach you the importance of waiting (on His timing).

The length of your delay doesn't avoid these possibilities. Be it a short or long or a very long delay God can use them for your good. Just trust Him! He knows what's best for you, has the best for you and He knows how to do it best. 


Here's what not to do when you face delay: (save yourself some stress!)

• Don't fear! There isn't any situation in life that you face alone. God is facing each one with you. Believe or not, yes, He is there with you. We tend to forget that and when we do we become fearful. Fear keeps you in the wilderness. So, don't fear! Be strong and of a good courage. God won't leave you alone. 

• Don't fret! "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him ; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the ma who bringeth wicked devices to pass." Pslam 37:7-8,    " Wait and trust in the Lord. don't be upset when others get rich or when someone else's plans succeed. Don't get angry. Don't be upset, it only leads to trouble. (NCV). Fretting leads to worry and worry leads to a lack of faith. Don't fret, but be faithful to God. Don't get uptight, instead get upright with God. Be patient and trust God's timing. Eccl. 3:11, "God has set the right time for everything." His timing is perfect.

• Don't faint! When you face delays in life, it's not the time to loose heart and give up. Instead, keep believing, keep praying, trust God and wait. He will give you the strength to wait. "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." -Isaiah 40:31

• Don't forget! You may going through a delay phase right now. You're praying about something and it has not yet happened. "Well, either God did not hear me or he has forgotten about me." No, my friend God has not forgotten you! He heard you, and He will answer. "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." -Isaiah 65:24. A delayed answer does not mean unanswered. But it is simply God''s way of saying just wait. It is great opportunity to show God how much you love and trust Him because if we truly love and believe in him there is no condition that could deter us from loving Him. God is faithful to us, but how faithful are we to Him? Don't forget, God's timing is best!  His delays doesn't mean denial but it could simply mean that you are not ready for that blessing . He knows what we need, when we need it. He will be there just in time. He will not fail you! 

We  are tempted every day. Often by things that are seemingly attractive, beautiful or not so wrong.
We are tempted to follow the wrong friends, listen to bad advise, visit bad places, accommodate evil or
destructive thoughts. We are tempted to do the wrong instead of what is right. It is easy to be tempted but it is often difficult to resist temptation.
 
Temptation is simply the urge to do or get involved in anything that is bad for your soul, body and mind.  It is the wolf in sheep's clothing which Satan uses to destroy our lives. It comes in all kinds of packages. It's like icing on the cake. You don't know how good the cake taste unless you would have eaten pass the icing. That's what Satan does to us, he imitates God to distract us from  the things that may lead only to our destruction. It may look good but unless you taste of that piece of pie you can't tell exactly what it taste like. Satan can make things look so good and so right when in truth it is only a way to trap us in the dark. But it is not impossible to overcome temptation. 

You can do only three things when tempted. Yield and prepare to face the consequence; pray or  run and be safe from the dangers there of. Whenever we are tempted, our choice to do what's right and good
 is at risk of failure. Each day comes with new temptations or may be even greater than the ones yesterday. At the moment, you may feel it is an easy way out. It is easier to give into temptation when we're are most desperately needy, but temptation is a the devils scheme of manipulating God's will. 

Be ready! Be Prepared! Temptation may strike with thousands of thorns. Don't be caught. Protect yourself, take precaution!

1. Beware! Satan in out to destroy you. He will entice you and present alluring things to make you shift your focus on God or to turn you a way from the right path in life. Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:..

2. Pray without ceasing! Don't take your life for granted. Don't be ignorant of the fact that you are in need of help from a Supernatural Being. Matthew 26:41- Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

3. God will make a way of escape. Don't feel like you are obligated to yield to temptation due to its intensity. God will provide you with the grace to endure.  1 Corinthians 10:13- No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

4. You can say, "No!" to temptation. If you resist the devil he will be defeated. Yield and he will laugh at you. Don't let the Satan have the best of you. Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is to just say, "No!" but it is when we say no some of our greatest battles are won.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.




Posted by Tamra Brathwaite  September, 2014.

                                                                                              Conquering the Fears of the Unknown
Life is full of uncertainties. We were made with curious minds that won't stop until it find answers to our many questions. We worry about the future we cannot predict; the healing, the deliverance or breakthrough we have not yet experienced. We become concern and sometimes fearful simply because we just  "don't know". Obviously we tend to be more at peace when we would have come to know that which was unknown. How reviving it would be if we were to know the very next thing that will happen in every second we live.

Expectancy is like a rainbow in the soul but when you don't know what to expect it's like a poisoned fruit. 
"A state of expectancy is a great asset; a state of uncertainty - one moment thinking "perhaps"and the next moment thinking "I don't know" -will never get desired results."- Ernest Holmes

It is sometimes to difficult to expect when there is no sign of something in making. But if we focus on The One Who Knows and Has Perfectly Planned Our Future we can have confidence that our future is bright and secured no matter how uncertain it may seem. "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", Jeremiah 29:11-NIV. 

The song writer says..,And I don't worry about the future
'Cause I know what Jesus said And today I'm gonna walk right beside Him
'Cause He's the one who knows what is ahead

There are things about tomorrow
That I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

Many of life circumstances has helped me to grow and learn as an individual, and has helped me become aware of some fundamental truths that no one could go without in life and be truly successful. These truths have helped me rationalize and deal with the unknown in a far more relaxing and peaceful way. Knowing and resting on God's promises to us can help us conquer the fears of the unknown. In times like these I remind my self constantly that God is faithful; His love for me is unending; and what the devil meant for bad, God meant it for good. I measure the times that He has failed me with the times he has come through for me. The conclusion remains the same. God is still God and He never change and so my future and my life is safe in His hand. It is in fact impossible for Him to change. "I, the LORD do not change." -Malachai 3:6
"Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows" (James 1:17). God is the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever; the Beginning and The End (Revelation 1:8). "Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

I have come to realize that I have a God of Angel Armies who is always by my side. He is All-Knowing  (John 3:20 - "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.") and Almighty. There is a peace that surpasses all understanding; and that peace you can have in the midst of the unknown. Knowing that the One who has holds tomorrow will take care of you come what may. 

Those who put their hope and trust in God can have a height of assurance and confidence that even though we are unable to see ahead of  us, God can sustain us in the times of  life's uncertainties. We have a hope that God will provide us with everything that we need in this life even though we cannot predict the future or face uncertainties in life.  Romans 8:31, 32 –What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  

We can be confident in God's love towards us and that because of His love for us we can rest assured that He will bring good to us when we  faithfully serve Him; and even when we fail Him His mercies will endure forever.
Romans 8:38, 39 - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God loves us (you and me) unconditionally and even though bad things happen; though we do not understand today and though we cannot vision our tomorrow or we are unable to know and understand things we wished we could; God always has good plans for us and He will prosper us as we keep our eyes focused on Him and trade in our will for His will for our lives. Romans 8:28 -And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Therefore, whatever your expectations are in life; let your expectancy be of God. 

You don't have to live in fear of the unknown. Trust the God who knows your beginning and your end. Submit in obedience to His will and Power; wait patiently, and watch Him work miraculously and beautifully in your life, even through the unknown. 

"For God has not given us s a spirit of fear but of power and of live and of a sound mind." 
                                                                                                                                     -2 Timothy 2:17 
When we learn to trust God with our lives, the expectancy of our future or the unknown will become a journey of great success. 

And though we continue to face uncertainties in this life, we as Children of the Living God have a hope that we will one day experience eternal life in God's Kingdom. This is one thing we can be sure about!


My Prayer:
I pray that God would grant you the grace and sufficiency that you need in the midst of the uncertainties in life. I pray that your heart will take courage in God, and in the hope of the future that He has planned for you. May your heart and mind be humbled to His Will for your life. That He would in turn preserve you fully and flourish your life in ways that you have never expected. I pray that you will come to fully acknowledge God's preeminence over your life including your future and may you find peace with God and peace in the midst of the unknown. In Jesus Name, Amen. 


 Posted by Tamra Brathwaite  September, 2014