You Ain't All That!

       In 2 Kings 5, the Bible records a story about a man who had prestige and influence. Verse 1 describes this man, Naaman, as captain of the host of the king of Syria who was a great man with his master, and honorable. Naaman had

1) power

 He was the captain of the army.

2) prestige

He was influential as the captain of the army. He was the man who commanded the Syrian soldiers.

3) prominence

He stood out. Wherever he went in Syria, he was considered a man of importance. Not only did he stand out as captain, but he also stood out because was a leper (verse 1).

The Bible describes him as a mighty man of valor. This was Naaman’s reputation in the land of Syria. Chapter 5 goes on to inform the reader that Naaman, by way of his wife’s servant, sought help for his leprosy in the land of Israel. The problem here is that Naaman thought that his power, his prestige, and his prominence that he had in Syria should have granted him exceptional privilege and favor with the man of God in Israel. 2 Kings 5:9 lets us know that Elisha, the man of God, did not favor Naaman with any special privilege. Elisha sent his messenger with a word for Naaman. Naaman, who had power, prestige, and prominence in his own country was highly offended in the land of Israel.

This story reminds every believer that we are not to think of ourselves more highly than we are. Just because you are important in one place does not mean that you are important somewhere else!

Romans 12:3

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Your Layover Is Not Your Destiny!

Understand that your present condition or situation is temporary. Whatever it is that you are facing will soon be over. It is only for a season. The Word of God promises that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

　

　

Understand that the enemy wants to make you believe that where you are is the way it is going to be. The devil is a liar! He wants you to buy into the phrase that says, “it is what it is”. However, I must let you know that things change, situations change and people change. Regardless to how bad things look, feel or seem, things do change. Too often, the darkest hour is just before daybreak.

I am reminded of the Bible story of Jacob wrestling with the angel. According to the Bible, Jacob wrestled with the angel all night long. The angel tried to get away from Jacob. However, Jacob relentlessly continued to wrestle with the angel and announced to the angel that he would not let go until the angel blessed him. According to the story, right around daybreak, the angel of the Lord blessed Jacob with a new name and a new destiny. No longer was he called Jacob (the trickster). He was then called Israel. No longer did he have to rest his head upon rocks, but according to the scripture, he returns with great riches. … (Gen. 32:22-31)

This Bible account reminds me to remind you that your midnight experience is not in vain. The dawn will come and when it comes, the morning brings a new destiny - a day that you have never seen and an experience that you can not fathom. Hang on in there! Where you are now is just a layover. Your layover may delay you, but it will not deny you!

Turn The Page !

　There are chapters in every novel.  Metaphorically speaking, the life that we are given is one big novel.  It begins with conception and ends with death.  Some people have short novels, while others have very long novels.  Within each novel, there are chapters in our lives.  Some are filled with joy, peace, abundance, bliss, approval, acceptance and all that is good.  However, there are also chapters that are filled with sadness, sorrow, disappointment, rejection, etc.  In time, people change and situations change - often resulting in chapters that we refer to as “good” or “bad“.

   Too often, we get stuck in what we view as a very painful, embarrassing, helpless chapter.  That is exactly where the enemy wants us.  He wants us to feel rejected, abandoned and hopeless.  Why does he want this?  I’m glad you asked.  He wants us to feel this way because feeling this way
1) blinds our outlook,
2) stunts our spiritual growth, and
3) forces us to dwell on the problem (as opposed to looking for a possible solution).

    The Bible promises us that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Cor. 2:9) Therefore, you and I  CANNOT fathom the solution that God has in store for us.  Our minds are too finite!

What then, do you do when you are stuck in a chapter?

1. Recognize that you are not alone.  Jesus promised in Matthew 28, 
    "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. "

2. Realize that where you are now is temporary.  Just because it is raining
    in your life now does not mean that it will be raining tomorrow.

2 Cor. 4:18

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Psalm 30:5

…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

3. TURN THE PAGE ! You will never experience the next chapter if you
never turn the page at the end of the last chapter.

Philippians 3:13

… forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before

Thought For Today

Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there.

~Author Unknown

I came across this thought today.  I wanted to share it with you.  Have a blessed day!

Product Review

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Prayer Of Thanks - (For God's Word)

Thank you, Father, that your WORD does not fail me.

Your WORD is true.
 
It is sharper than any two-headed sword.

Unlike, man, your WORD does not lie, but it accomplishes everything that it was sent forth to do. 

Thank you for your WORD that comforts in a time of sorrow,
strengthens in times of weakness,
heals in times of sickness,
provides in times of lack,
nourishes in times of famine,
gives freedom in times of bondage,
protects in times of danger and has the ability to make possible any and every impossible situation!

In the name of JESUS, I thank you and I exalt you!

Everything is going to be alright!

Although he (the enemy, the adversary, the devil) slay me, yet will I trust HIM (God) (
Job 13:15 KJV )

Everything is going to be alright!

Although I can not see it ,nor do I feel it; I must hold on to the belief that everything will be alright!

How do I know this?

1. The psalmist wrote in (Psalm 30:5), … weeping may endure for a night,

    but joy cometh in the morning.

2. Apostle Paul wrote,

(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we are perplexed , but not in despair ; Persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed;

(2 Corinthians 4:18)

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal .
　

　

Have confidence within your spirit man that , "Everything is going to be alright! " Despite what it looks like, what it seems like and what the evidence shows - "Everything is going to be alright! "

It does not matter what the doctor's report shows,
it does not matter what the judge has pronounced,
nor does it matter what the psychiatric evaluation states, 
"Everything is going to be alright! "