Have you seen God today?  If not, better check your vision.

If natural vision is one of the most important senses we have, spiritual vision is even more important.  Vision is necessary as we are told to seek: God, his kingdom, and his righteousness.  Spiritual vision is so important that the Bible is full of references to the healing those who lack it.  Jesus often healed natural blindness to make us aware of the state of spiritual blindness.  Spiritual vision has purpose and power. Without it we can not accomplish all that we should.  It is tied to the fulfillment of the ultimate plan of God for the kingdom, the church, and you the individual believer.

The plan of God for the kingdom, the church, and the individual believer cries out for fulfillment.  In order to fulfill divine purpose, your vision must be sharper than 20/20.  Specifically, you must be able to see far above what “normal” people can see.  To see above what is considered normal is to see supernaturally.  This type of sight is to enable you to make the intangibility of faith tangible.  Sharp spiritual vision positions you to do the impossible.  Are you ready to do the impossible? I hope so, because God is ready for you to do it. To sharpen your spiritual vision you must take into proper account the following:  being born again and practicing purity. Being born again gives the provision to see but purity opens you up to the experience.   

Today, I invite you to improve your visual acuity by first being born again and then embracing greater purity in your life.  Purity should be demonstrated in thoughts, words, and actions.  This will open the door to sharper vision. 

Remember, Matthew 5:8,” blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”  

Blessings today and always,

MC

Today, let’s talk about stress.  Most of the time when we think of stress all the negative consequences of it flood our thoughts.  Yet, God has a plan for stress in your life and we should consider his perspective for our continued spiritual growth and maturity.

My first job after graduating from college was  in the Cardio-Pulmonary department of a regional hospital; where among a plethora of other things, cardiac stress tests were performed.  A cardiac stress test is a medical test that evaluates the level of blood flow to the heart during physical exercise.   The results of the tests help cardiologists confirm diagnoses, prepare treatment plans, and otherwise advise their patients.  Likewise, God performs spiritual “stress” tests on us to confirm diagnoses, prepare treatment plans, and otherwise move us to a place of experiencing abundant life.  Medically, when a patient participates in the cardiac stress test, they are monitored and their exercise or physical activity load is increased.  During the test, the doctor and other team members monitor blood pressure, heart rate, etc., and document abnormalities in blood flow.  A stress test can help detect abnormalities which can lead to further treatment but it can also provide information on the level of fitness a patient has obtained.  All the information obtained from test, positive and negative, is useful in the hand of a skilled physician.

Spiritually, when God leads or allows us to go through a spiritual stress test it is to prove that which is in us. His aim is to clearly reveal the level of the blood flow through us when we are under pressure.    Spiritual stress tests reveal any abnormalities as well as determine our level of fitness.  This is important because we are to be people involved in the advancement of the God’s kingdom.  To be an active participant in kingdom advancement requires that we are not only born again but whole, holy, and spiritually fit.  We must obey the word of the Lord in all things, and sometimes the spiritual stress test is the best way to find out what is really in you.  Some things are only apparent when you are under pressure.

Consider this. Many people think kindly towards themselves in spiritual issues but the spiritual stress test really proves what’s there.  Proverbs 16:2 states, “all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but he Lord weigheth the spirits.”    Pressing a little farther, it’s easy to think that we are full of love when we sit at home alone.  The challenge comes when we are being pressed on every side and rejected.  Are you truly able to exhibit God’s love? Another example, it‘s easy to think that you are an obedient servant of the Lord when all that is required of you are things that you want and love to do.  But can you and will you obey when you don’t understand it all or it’s not easy? Once final example, it’s easy to think we trust God when milk and honey are flowing in our lives but when there is no water or the water is bitter, do you still trust and rely on Him as your source?   Remember, God does not look on the outward appearance, nor is he moved by your personal thoughts or imaginations.  He allows circumstances, situations, and issues of life to put pressure on us to prove us. 

Consider this the next time you face a difficult situation in your life.  God may be allowing you to go through a spiritual stress test.   He just might be assessing your level of spiritual fitness.  It’s an opportunity to reveal what God has placed in you.

 Know this you have been created to be a powerful, contributing force to the Kingdom of God.  God revealed through you brings Him glory.  I pray that you will maximize everyday of your life learning to grow and glorify God in all things.

Be Blessed Today and Always,

MC

adapted from the message Stressed, Stuck, and Saved

    If your goal is to experience the abundant life Christ speaks of in John 10 then it is imperative to walk in freedom.  True freedom can be defined as the ability to do what you should without hindrance.  My questions today are the same as they were  in part 1.  Are you really free?  Is there anything that hinders you from freely pursuing and living the life God designed for you?  If there are hindrances, know that you can overcome them.  With Christ in your life, you have already been declared the victor!

     The practical experience of freedom from hindrances comes as you embrace the truth of God’s word about the issue. In order to change your actions you must expand your thinking. More specifically, your thinking must be in line with the will and word of God.  God desires that we are able to pursue and fulfill the purpose he set for our lives.  A life trapped behind hindrances can impact the expansion of the kingdom.  Procrastination, fear, and lack of life balance are a few examples of hindrances that deny you true fulfillment of purpose.  Surely, they sound familiar.

     Everyone deals with these issues at some point in their lives.   Confirmation of this is found by looking at the sheer number of  methods, tools, and catch phrases on the market today.  At almost any retail store you can find planners and organizers. Statements  like “don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” and “just do it,” are perfectly crafted to help you move into action.   Each of these things  can be helpful but without a foundation of faith they lack the power to go the distance and provide eternal victory.  

    Believers must address these issues from the aspect of  faith.  Failure to do so will only contribute to their continued “choke hold” on your life.  Admittedly, temporary relief may be found by employing new ideas and methods in accordance with your will; but eventually that which is not based on the word of God will not prevail.  As a believer you must learn to continually cultivate the  ground of your faith. Use methods as tools.  Action or methods employed without the foundation of faith are unfruitful and do not produce God’s abundant life.  

     The world may teach that you can simply take a broken system, employ a few new surface methods, and voila! The system is now fixed and you can now succeed.   But Christ teaches us that it is faith, along with the renovation and transformation of the mind that produces success and pleases God.   So, I encourage you to walk and live by faith and use methods and strategies in proportion to your faith in God. Address hinderances in your life at the level of belief and you will overcome.   Ultimately, recognize that your faith in God is the fuel for your success and freedom.  

If you completed the exercise from part 1 of this post ( remember you were asked to think about things that hinder you).  Take out your list now and begin to address your hindrances at the level of faith.  When you do this you are definitely on the path to experiencing a new level of freedom.  As promised,  here are some tips on overcoming a few of the common challenges that get in the way of our success. 

Procrastination  Spiritual truth: Proverbs 27:1 “do not boast of [yourself and] tomorrow, for you  know not what a day may bring forth. AMP

• practical application: recognize that you have a problem, embrace Gods word and do not take time for granted, determine to do what is required. God will supply your needs.

Fear spiritual basis: 1 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self- control.” AMP

• practical application:  acknowledge and confess the issue to God.  Stand on the provision he has made for your victory over fear.  When we experience fear, we are being challenged to  release power, love, or self discipline into a situation.  In order to overcome determine to give the situation what it requires.

Lack of  life balance: spiritual truth:  Matthew 6:33 ” But seek (aim and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (his way of doing  and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. ”  AMP

• practical application:   believe it or not a life out of balance is an indicator of spiritual imbalance.  The mandate here is clear. Seek God first.  Before you seek success or solutions look for and get under God’s  authority.  Then seek and employ his righteousness. When you do this God will increase you. 

Blessings to you today and always,

MC

      Our understanding of freedom is sometimes too limited.  When I was a teenager, I thought the ultimate in freedom was not having anyone tell you what to do.  Then, I left for college and it seemed that everyone was telling me what to do—Citibank, Discover, and American Express.  I quickly realized that my definition of freedom was too narrow. Now, as a wife, mother, and pastor, my definition is a little more refined.  True freedom is being able to do what is right or good at all times. It requires obedience.  It encompasses our words, thoughts, and actions. (This is righteous living.)

      God wants us to experience true freedom.  Recall John 8:32,”And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  In other words, you shall experience truth and that experience shall cause you to do what is right, good, and pleasing to the Lord at any time.

      In order to really experience the God level of freedom, we must be willing to free ourselves from anything that would be a threat to righteous living.  We must also obey God’s word completely. Threats to our freedom show up in our lives daily. Procrastination, fear, and indecision are a few easy ones to identify.   When there is a lack of freedom, your ability to pursue and accomplish goals is diminished-if not all together lost.  Fulfilling purpose, accomplishing goals, and pursuing your dreams are all tied to the level of true freedom you have in your life.

       For example, if you have a divine assignment to become an elementary school teacher but fear keeps you from completing the certification process; you are not free to impact the lives of others the way you should.  Maybe, you are to write songs or books but each day you find a reason to wait until tomorrow; you are not free to get your message out to the world.  Or perhaps, you have two great business ideas and can’t decide which one to start first, so you do nothing. This leaves you unable to move towards the goal of being a successful entrepreneur.   Recognize that you have a divinely designed life from the Father and he wants you to live it in freedom and with power.  He wants you able to do that which is right in thought, word, and deed always.  

          Today,  consider your own thoughts of freedom.  Is your definition narrowly defined or does it have enough depth to touch God’s reality for your life?  How does your understanding of freedom relate to fulfilling your purpose?   Next time, I’ll  talk more about hindrances and share some tips  on overcoming them on the path to experiencing more abundant living.
      
      Be Blessed Today and Always,
     
      MC