A successful plan

Proverbs 16 v 3

Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself.  Then every plan you make will succeed. 

To succeed means to achieve the desired aim or result.  It's the ability to reach our goals in life whatever those goals may be.  Success means progress, attainment or accomplishment.  It's not always an end goal, but a journey toward something that will ultimately develop skills and character to attain the desired goal and success.

What are we doing in our journey of life to attain success?  What spiritual skills and character can we build to help us in our journey of success? 

In the old testament, King David was a man who repeatedly inquired of God for guidance before making any important decisions.  As he did this throughout his leadership, it was clear that God gave David divine protection and favour.  This concept highlights to all of us that seeking God before making a decision is key to our success. 

1 Samuel 30 v 8

And David inquired of the Lord, "shall I pursue this raiding party"?  "Will I overtake them"?  "Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue". 

1 Samuel 18 v 14

In everything David did, he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 

God wants our journey of life to be a successful one in all we do.  As we commit our way to him, allow God to gently show you the best way you should go and how to get there.  Trust in him and lean into him.  As you pray, God will gently guide you by giving you peace and by opening up new opportunities, relationships and blessings along the way.  We may not always recognise what God might be doing and we might not know all the answers to our burning  questions, or the direction we are going.  However, God does, if we have asked him to direct us, and why we need to trust in him daily in all we do. 

Any difficulties we encounter a long the way, if we have committed it to God first, then despite the storm, we are able to endure knowing God is with us and will not leave us. Knowing we have committed our success to God can also give us immense peace and confidence.  

Romans 5 v 3-4 

Because we know that suffering produces endurance, endurance, character, and character, hope. 

Psalm 16 v 8

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.  With him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 

What important decisions do we need to make today and have we first asked God about what we should do?  May we learn to pray and seek God about the direction of our lives; that we will make the right decisions at the right time, and trust him in all we do. 

What is God trusting you with today?

Luke 16 v 10

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 

As Christians, God does want to give us good things and give us purpose but can he trust us with it? 

To live in our purpose God will need to give us things, it may be gifts, talents, resources and relationships.  However, can God trust us with the things he may want to give us? 

For instance, if God called you to be a Pastor - could he trust you with that responsibility?  God needs to trust you to care for the people under you, that you will use your leadership gift to help and love people and not to use it to manipulate or deceive people, or use the position for your own gratifications and pride. It's a big responsibility to carry and godly character will be tried and tested constantly. Many pastors may speak of the many times they have faced difficulties and trials of many kinds and why we can learn so much from them. 

Proverbs 17 v 3

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 

Obviously, we are not all called to be a Pastor, but even in the small things in our lives, can we be trusted?  As it says above, those who can be trusted with little can be trusted with much.  Do we carry integrity in all we do and think?  This isn't very easy is it as we are all human, but as we learn to live this way, then be sure to watch your life soar to new heights with God.  Be sure to know, God will give you much more responsibility and influence in his kingdom. 

The verse in Proverbs is a metaphor for testing and refining. It points us to the process of melting silver and gold to remove impurities, which symbolizes God's refining of his people through the trials and challenges that they may face in life. These trials, like the heat of the crucible, are to purity and strengthen faith and character in each of us.

May be we need to ask ourselves the question, if we are thinking of pursuing something for God, am I trustworthy enough for God to use me in this way? Will my character stand up when things get tough?  Will my thoughts and actions reflect God or will they reflect my many temptations such as pride, immoral thoughts and actions, and dishonestly.  What parts of my character do I need to strengthen and refine? 

Small lies and deceit is still wrong in God's eyes and why the bible says, whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So what can God trust you with today and what can we change in our own lives to ensure we can carry the call of God with integrity? 

As we go through the many trials and temptations that life may throw at us, may God help us to come out of the refiners fire as pure gold and where the saying comes from 'having a heart of gold' - pure and invaluable! 

Our words hold power

Proverbs 15 v 1-2

A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word sits up anger.  The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 

We can use our words for good or for bad.  We can speak life into people or we can speak negatively.  The way we speak can really impact us and those around us. 

Think about the type of people you want to be around and spend time with; it's often those people that are positive and speak positively.  Their words somehow lift us up and make us feel more comfortable.  We naturally gravitate towards people who make us feel included, who use their words for kindness and make us feel good about ourselves.

Harsh words can cause divisions in relationships and the damage it causes, may not be able to be repaired easily, so we need to take heed in how we say things before the words roll out of our mouths!  Divisions can also cause anger which can then lead to unforgiveness and hurts. Sometimes it might not be easy if someone has upset us, our first instinct is to retaliate and fight back.  However, the bible says we must respond with a gentle answer.  Wow, what a challenge to us!  I'm sure many us can say we have responded to situations with anger. 

Gentleness is not something we talk about much in today's world, as I believe people seem to see that as a weakness, but what does God say about it? We do know that it is one of the fruits of the spirit:

Col 3 v 12

Therefore as God's chosen people holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. 

Phil 4 v 5

Let your gentleness be evident to all

Jesus was gentle and kind but his resilience in carrying out God's will was evident.  He wasn't weak because he was kind, far from it, he was much stronger in character than we could ever fathom!  People hated him, even putting him to death on a cross, but he still had kind words for people and forgave them. He didn't speak harshly but responded with wise words and often words filled with compassion.  For even as he hung on the cross he said, 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do'.  

What an example to follow; Jesus who was wise, kind, compassionate and forgiving!  How can we build more character today, to be more like Jesus?  What changes can we make in our own lives to live as Jesus did? 

In it for the long haul

Recently, I was praying about quitting something, then to my amazement I look up from my passenger seat on the motorway to read the words on a lorry next to me....'In it for the long haul'.  I had to smile, as knew God was trying to tell me something.

We often say to ourselves, we want a new beginning, a new start at something where excitement and exhilaration can rule. Everything seems exiting to start with, however, what is God telling us to commit to in 2025? We are often drawn to doing new things, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying those, but there may be other pursuits where it is right that we keep moving forward in them for an extended period of time.  Some things we do are for seasons, other things are to be persisted in, so something can become established and deep rooted in our lives, and we need wisdom to know the difference. 

Some pursuits and commitments we carry out may take grit and determination to carry on with them, and we may need perseverance for the long road ahead.  The road ahead may have its ups and downs as well, it may not always be easy and we may want to give up but are we going to decide to persevere when the going gets tough?  It says in:

Romans 5 v 3, Because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character, hope.  

We all want to possess character, but are we willing to commit to the perseverance that having character may take?  It takes a stronger person to commit to things for a long time. God wants us to develop character, hope and fruit that will last.  Jesus reminds us to invest in our lives for the eternal, not just the temporary. The only way we bear lasting fruit is by staying close to Jesus for the long haul. The journey of faith will surely have its ups and downs, but definitely won't be tedious with God directing your steps into greater purpose and meaning. It's an exhilarating and exciting road, leading us to self reflection, greater values and lasting peace.  

John 15, 16 - You didn't chose me, I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. 

Lv Caroline x 

 

A friend loves at all times

Proverbs 17 v 17 - A friend loves at all times.

Our friends are amazing people who are able to stick by us, no matter what problems and issues we are facing, they always seem to have time for us. They are precious treasures that have been given to us. I'm not talking about fake and shallow friends, but the ones that remain with us over a long period of time, the ones that really love us for who we are, the ones that do not judge us, but celebrate and encourage us through all aspects of our lives. 

You may not have many really close friends, but when you find one, the love these type of friends give us can be related to God's own love for us.  This love is robust - whether we do good or bad.  They may even correct us along the way when we've gone wrong because they want the best for us, they laugh with you and cry with you, they forgive, they talk through the hard things and celebrate you. It says in the bible:

Proverbs 18, 24 - God is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Some friendships may go beyond family connections. This is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. They are dependable and make time for us to listen.  Just like God, he wants us to talk to him like you would a close friend, we don't need to use fancy words or eloquence, we just need to be ourselves and come to God with honesty and humility.  God wants you to come to him this way.  God is not a far off God but someone who wants to be closer to you than a brother.  We are deeply and unconditionally loved by God.

To start a close friendship, we must first be willing to open ourselves up to the person.  There needs to be some vulnerability to connect fully to someone.  We cannot be closed off all the time to build a healthy relationship, and this is no different with God.  He wants us to be fully open with him about all aspects of our lives and in doing so, we are able to build a relationship up with God as an intimate friend. Just to ponder on what God did for us on the cross; that he was willing to lay his life down for us, fills us with wonder! 

Through prayer we can build a true friendship with God and become more like him. By becoming more like him, we have a greater capacity to love others. To love others may mean loving someone that has very different beliefs, political opinions or lifestyle than you.  This isn't easy is it, as it's easier to love someone you relate to and have things in common with. Someone may not have your faith either and reject what you have to say about it.  However, God wants us to love all people as he does, and when you do love like God, think of all the lives you may be able to enrich!  As the saying goes, 'We don't need to be fixed, we just need to be loved'. A lot of problems may begin to dissipate, if people just felt loved. It also says in the bible: 

Mark 12, 31 - Love your neighbour as yourself

It may cost you time and resources to love the people in your world, but it is God's command to us.  It may mean we need to forgive and drop the negative narrative we might have about the people around us.  It is both a command and a choice as to whether we will follow through on it.  We need to accept God's unconditional love and understand that your ability to love others is an extension and demonstration of your relationship with God.  The more you love and know God (and his attributes), the more you are able to love like him. Wow, what a thought!  What is your love saying about your relationship with God? 

John 15, 13 - Greater love has no one than this, that he lay his life down for his friends.

John 3, 16 - For God so loved YOU, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. 

Love Caroline x 

Unlimited

Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to be unlimited.  Unlimited in your gifts and talents, and in our potential and love.  What a thought!

Other words to describe unlimited; are absolute, boundless, endless. immeasurable, immense, incalculable, indefinite, infinite, limitless, unconditional, unfettered, universal, unrestrained, unrestricted, untold and vast!  I love reading all of these words, because in the confines of our humanity we can feel very limited and restricted, so these words speak to me of freedom and power.

The quest for power has been a desperate endeavour throughout the whole of history. Many leaders in our world have ravished our societies through war and pain for their own glorification. On the flip side, leaders we admire are those that were willing to lead us through darker seasons and change things for the better, such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Tereasa, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela to name a few. May be at the time, they didn't realise how significant their fortitude and leadership would impact the world.  What would you do if you were given leadership power? How would you use it; for yourself or for the betterment of others? 

The bible describes God's power as omnipotent, meaning that God can do anything he wants as his power and authority is unlimited.  God's power in also inherent and seen throughout the creation. If we believe God created everything, we only need to look at each other; how much we love; how we are so unique and look at how beautifully powerful the creation is, to realise how powerful God really is. 

So if God is absolute, boundless, endless. immeasurable, immense, incalculable, indefinite, infinite, limitless, unconditional, unfettered, universal, unrestrained, unrestricted, untold and vast, and if God is the creator of the universe, then what power are we talking of here?  Not only that, but the God who holds all this power actually wants to know us personally and have a relationship with us! Then surely as we pray and become more like God, we can also share in some of that potential. 

We receive the power of God at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This happened to Jesus, as when he came up from the water in the lake when he was baptised, the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and filled Jesus.  From that moment Jesus was then empowered to do miracles, signs and wonders.  Just as Jesus, the Holy Spirit equips us for works of service, giving us a greater power for our giftings and love.  The power of the Holy Spirit, also known as the anointing, is a spiritual resource that's made available to fulfil our God given assignments and maximise our potential and giftings.  This power is God putting his extra on our ordinary.  Anyone can have a wonderful gift, but only God's power can remove burdens and chains from people's lives, so if we want to be fully empowered then we need the anointing on those gifts to make the difference.  With the Holy Spirit you can really soar in your full potential! 

If you were given leadership power but this time from God (the anointing), how would you use it?  Would you use it for the betterment of others or for your own ego?  The heart of God is always to restore people back to love. Are we willing to help people to see God's heart, are we going to help them recover from burdens and problems, are we going to lead them back to God?  We may not have God's unlimited power, but we can share in his immeasurable power and partner with him in helping others. This is so exciting for any new Christian or for those more seasoned in their faith journey.  We can all share in receiving God's power in our lives and soar!  Romans 8, 11, says that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.....what a thought to ponder on!

Jer 10 v 12 - It is he who made the earth by this power, who established the world by this wisdom and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. 

Jer 32, v 17 - Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you. 

Matthew 19 v 26 - Jesus says, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. 

Isaiah 10 v 27 - And at the day shall his burden be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. 

(This defines the anointing as the burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God.  The anointing is what delivers God's people and sets captives free). 

When I feel non existent

There are times when we feel completely ignored by people, be it friends or family. Sometimes we feel like no-one understands us completely.  Our dreams, our needs and our hopes to be cared for become invisible.  It's almost like we could be standing screaming and no-one would bat an eyelid, we literally feel invisible and feel treated that way by others. How do we combat our negative thoughts?

No matter how we are feeling, every single person is deserving of love and is valuable. Without question, you are a wonder of God's creation and here for a reason. There's so much positivity to be found in and around you. 

Think positively

Our thoughts are very powerful, as the saying goes 'we become what we think'. So what are you thinking about yourself today?  Our thoughts about ourselves can change how we act and how others may even react to us. Thinking positively about ourselves is important for our well being and mental health, it keeps us alive and strong for a new day.  It keeps us passionate to carry on doing the things that make a difference to the world. The world really does needs your positivity to make a difference today. Can you remember the last time your positive thoughts and actions made a difference in someone else's life?  Philippians 4, 8. 'Finally brothers and sisters, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy then meditate on these things'.

Look to people that love you who you can trust

When we are going through difficult emotions and seasons, sometimes it's a heavy burden to carry alone.  When we carry our burdens alone, it's easy to get tired and feel burnt out.  The weight of the burden can take is toll on us physically, emotionally and spiritually.  However, having even just one trusted friend, family member or confidant to talk to can allow the burden to be shared.  As the saying goes, 'a burden shared is a burden halved'.  Is there anyone in your world you could reach out to when the going gets tough? Don't try and carry things alone but reach out to others, you may find they have been through similar problems and can really help. 

Say a prayer

When things become overwhelming where do we go to for help? It says in Psalm 94, 19 - 'When anxiety became great within me, your consolation brought me joy'. When our worry and anxiety seems to be drowning us. God's comfort can bring us into a more peaceful place. We can rest in knowing that as we pray, God's guidance, help and protection will not leave us. His hand will guide us through every circumstance we may face and bring us through safely. When you feel completely alone, lost or ignored, a sincere prayer to God will not go unnoticed or unheard.  Psalm 66, 19 - 'The Lord has heard my prayer. Thanks to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his loving devotion'.

Be grateful

Being grateful for all the things we already have is a really powerful way to become more positive about our lives.  Scientists have now proven that when we express gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters that are responsible for our emotions and they make us feel good. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy inside.  This is certainly a power booster for feeling positive. 

Pick yourself back up again

Psalm 40, 2 - 'He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire and set my feet upon a rock'. Through a time of grieving and lost hope, there comes a time when we must decide to pick ourselves back up again. It may be time to start looking forward, rather the back.  It may be time to look at the possibilities and not the obstacles, it may be time to start growing rather than shrinking, to start thriving rather than surviving and start serving rather than receiving.  There's always something new around the corner when your perspective changes. With God's help we will discover our true value and it will lift us from the pit of despair and grief. 

Reach out and help others
Reaching out to help others will put you in a happy place!  Rather than dwelling on negative things about ourselves, when we focus on others, it takes the focus off ourselves. Science has proven helping others releases the chemical oxytocin in your brain which creates feelings of connection, satisfaction and well being. It also contributes to a sense of purpose, boosts self esteem and helps you feel connected to others.  No wonder the bible talks about reaching out to others such a lot, it's not just good for the receiver but for the giver! Wow. 

Put your trust in God

Finally, put your trust in God in whatever circumstance and whatever season you are in, in your life.  He has promised to never ever leave you alone. In Proverbs 18, 24, it says, God is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. God can be the closest friend you'll ever have, this verse specifically states that a true friend can be closer than a family member or sibling, implying that God's love and presence is always with you, even more so than a family member. Deuteronomy 31, 8, 'The Lord himself will go before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged'.  

Love Caroline x