Hebrews 13:5 ESV, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Even when the going is tough and rough, or you are feeling like you are in the battle alone. Or you feel like no one knows or cares about your situation. Understand that God knows all about you and he has never left you alone.

Don’t allow your minds to get muddled in the struggle of this daily life. You are only where you are because God knows you are strong enough to make it through.

Don’t focus on your lack or the things you don’t have. Rather think on or remind yourself of all that you do have. Then take a deep breath and relax – in the presence of the Lord.

God is intimately involved in your right now. He is with you in the heat of your right now – whatever that is. Relax in him. He has your back, your front, your left and right sides. Trust in him.

The presence of the Lord is here!

You can be content in where you are right now because God is with you. Allow yourself to be free. And rejoice in the great God we serve.

Have a great day.

1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Have you ever been at the place where you are just marking time or marching in place spiritually? A place where you understand your gifting and calling, but the road to take for the next phase of your journey seems clouded? A place where you seem to be waiting on God to reveal what’s next?

God is awesome and amazing and forever faithful. He cannot deny his word. Whatever he has spoken he will bring it to pass. We must always remember this.

A lot of times we get in our emotions and expect God to recognize our sincerity because of them. But this is a false idea. God is only moved by 1 thing – our faith in his word.

This great big God of love that we serve is looking for those that are standing upon his word by faith. He is drawn to those that fight the enemy of their soul (Satan) by faith in his word. Just as Jesus did, after he had fasted 40 day/nights, when he was taken up to be tempted by this same enemy.

Jesus victoriously used holy scripture as his weapon against the enemy. As he is our perfect example, we must do the same.

Colossians 1:6 ESV, “which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you.”

Right now we only have partial/limited vision of God’s plan for our lives. However, this glimpse from God is enough to sustain us. It is sufficient to not only get started on our purpose, but to also thrive and achieve.

1 Corinthians reminds us that God knows us. He has greatly invested in us. He has given us his spirit, his word, and his love. He has given us everything we need to be effective. It is our job to receive the instructions (that partial or limited vision) by faith and run with it. As we walk this thing out in faith God tweaks the vision as we go providing some clarity along the way. It is still not the full vision. Honestly, if it was there would be no need for faith. And as the scripture says repeated “ the just shall live by his faith.”

The more we operate in faith – standing on the word of God – the more we bear fruit and increase. We will touch the lives of the people that God has called us to. Conversely, when we are too afraid to step out on faith, people are adversely impacted . Romans 8 tells us that the people are waiting for us to take our place.

Sometimes we question our own fruit. Or if we are being effective. But do not allow yourself to get caught on that hamster wheel. As you are operating in your gift/calling look around. Are people being blessed by your work? If the answer is yes, then you are bearing fruit. It may not look how you have imagined, but we must align our definition of success or effectiveness with God’s. Change your perspective.

It is at this point in our walk that we must keep going. Not give into insecurity. Most definitely keep seeking God to make sure we are operating as he wills. Make changes, corrections, and updates as he leads. Do not let other people dictate how you should proceed. If God brought you this far he can and will take you all the way. This is how we increase.

Remember God knows you and chose you for the work. You may not see in yourself what he did, but trust the God who called you. Keep taking those tiny steps forward and before you know it you will have made it farther than you could ever imagine.

Bear fruit & increase. Have a blessed night!

Questions, concerns or comments? Please contact us at: otp.ministry1@gmail.com.