Continuing today with the Book of Daniel we witness Daniel continually defeating all the distractions that tried to remove his focus off of God. While the Book of Daniel is filled with distractions I want to bring the key distractions to your attention. · Daniel had to be enduring jealously from some of the children of Judah. (This is not written in the Word but I can imagine this scenario.) There is always someone that becomes jealous of another receiving favor. I can see all the gossiping going on behind David’s by his own people. “He thinks he’s better than us. Won’t eat the King’s food. Who does he think he is?” Can you see that? · Daniel had enemies that were scheming behind his back that were not of the tribe of Judah. (Daniel 6:7) “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” · Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel 6:10-14, " Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” My God! I see nothing but distractions. But Daniel kept his eyes on God. He refused to look at everything that was going on around him. Once again he refused to compromise! Oh that we would have a spirit like Daniel. Tossed into the lion’s den and still held his focus. No screaming for help from Daniel. He kept his focus and trusted God to save him. Today if you are in the midst of the lion’s den, stay focus and keep all your trust in God, for as He did with Daniel, so shall He do for you. Keep your eyes on God! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) (www.fearnotministries.com)
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Distractions are something that every believer must contend with and learn how to defeat so that they will keep their focus on the Lord. We can learn a lot from Daniel if we pay close attention. He faced many distractions just as we do, but He knew that to give in would change his life. He belonged to God and wanted to keep it that way.
Daniel 1:4-17 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were so focused on God that they did not allow themselves to partake of the defiled food that the king offered them. Can you imagine what kind of distractions surrounded them? They were not the only children of Judah in the household, BUT they were the only ones that did not give in to the distractions. Now let’s think about this. • The Bible did not say that they were on a fast. • The smell of a lot of meat and other tempting aromas were assaulting them every day and almost all day. • and if the others were eating, don’t you think they were pressuring them to eat too. • The eunuchs were also pressuring them to eat of the meat. They were pressuring them to eat because they were afraid that if these boys began to lose weight or get sick then their life would be in danger because they were the Kings property. (vs. 10) Lose their heads. • The 4 decided that they would not eat the food because it had been offered to false gods and therefore it was defiled. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah made a choice and stuck by it. They made a choice not to give in to all the distractions they faced daily. They decided not to compromise what they knew to be true. No matter what the cost. Even if it meant their lives. "12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.”" For the 4 boys this was a true test of their faith. A test of where their focus laid. And because they did not give into all the distractions around them God blessed them with many gifts. "17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." We must keep our focus on God at all times to keep us from making unnecessary detours in our walk. Eyes on Jesus! So stop looking at the situation like it's going to pull you down. Keeping your eyes and thoughts on Jesus will bring you favor and bring you through. Tell yourselves that it is just a distraction and then begin to adjust your vision. We must stay focused on God and His plan for our lives. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies You know it sometimes seem like so many things in this life has the power to frighten us, but this is what it means to be deceived. It seems like. It seems like I won't have enough to pay the rent. It seems like they will be cutting my lights off. It seems like no one will hire me. It seems like I can't get through this. It seems like we've been having bad vision. Taken our eyes off of the one thing that has power over everything on this earth. Jesus. That has been the goal of the enemy from the start. To distract you and to get you to believe the lie. He can't do that without showing you the wrong picture. The wrong vision. 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 says, "5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Being at home in the body will distort your vision, but walking in the spirit will keep us in the presence of the Lord which will give us the clear and truthful vision that we desire. The vision that dispels all fear. The vision that we all need in order to be able to move forward in God. If you have a true heart for the Father then you desire nothing but the truth so don't allow the enemy to cloud your mind with false visions. Tell yourself today, "No more false visions. I will begin to see what God sees and I WILL walk by faith and NOT by sight." Let's go beyond the fake by taking a true walk of faith because things are really never what they seem. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Your failings and your trials were your life lessons. If you forget the past you forget the lesson and you can very well end up back where you started from.
More importantly these life lessons were for more than just you. They are your testimonies. Golden Seeds. "Yes, I use to do drugs, but it brought me nothing but heartache and held me back from my purpose." "Yes, I use to steal to get the things I wanted and needed, but my God now provides all my needs." "Yes, I served time in jail, but when I gave my life to God, He saved me from ever going back." And your life stories help others to not have to take the long road to their destination. Let me explain what I mean. I think of my life lessons as my Golden Seeds. . And please don't misuse the scripture, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) KJV This just mean that in YOUR life those things are dead. It doesn't mean they never happened. They are just dead so you cannot return to them. Not only are they dead to you, but they become this new thing to you and to others. THEY BECOME JUST AS TRANSFORMED AS YOU HAVE BECOME. The truth is that for many it is pride that keeps them from admitting their past. Don't be bound in that. Get free from it by speaking it. Your past was always meant to be your testimony. They become YOUR testimonies, YOUR Golden Seeds. Seeds that are meant to be planted. To not plant them is to be disobedient to the Father. For His Word tells us, "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) KJV You have to stop trying to hide your past. Be the witness and begin to plant YOUR Golden Seeds. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Do you fight with feelings of being inadequate? The enemy within me. This is a fight within and the hardest battle to defeat. Am I living up to my full potential? Am I being obedient to God? I messed up once again. God said that he forgives me, but so He really? These are questions that we all ask ourselves at one time or another. I want you to know that this isn't you. This is words whispered at your mind. Thoughts that entered through the suggestions of the enemy because he knows that if he can make you fill guilty, he has a chance of persuading you to take that step out of alignment with God. If you beat yourself up it opens the door for him to beat you down even more. Just stop it. That's right. Stop them thoughts the minute they begin. Begin to take on the thoughts of God. Does He not say in His Word: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) God's thoughts for us never change. He knows us better than we know ourselves so let's begin to see ourselves as God sees us. We have to stop listening to the report that does not belong to God. When those thoughts enter your mind begin to cast them out immediately. And if you begin to feel you are losing the battle in your mind, then you better go up. Use your spirit language because our spirit knows how battle even better than you. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Now is not the time to give in! God is trying to do something in you and that's why it feels so hard. But you can't stop now! Just keep telling yourself, "I got to get there!" There is a testimony waiting to be birth and only you can carry that baby. Many are waiting on you and relying on you to overcome so they to may overcome. Tell yourself, "I won't let them down!' Now go! Complete the mission! The blessing is in your completion! 1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Be blessed and complete the mission! Evangelist Cheryl Davies (Fear Not Ministries) Years back the Lord showed me a place that I would be entering into in the future. Now when He showed me this place I can remember my heart gripping in fear and a desire to run from it so terrifying the vision was. I've recently seen this vision again and the fear was gone. That's how our Father works. He prepares you for what is to come and once you are prepared, all fear will leave. I want to encourage you today if you are still bound in fear. Know that God is preparing you for your future. a future that contains no fear, but He has to show you it now so that He can deal with it now as part of your preparation. Hold on to your faith because I promise you, it is the one major thing that is going to see you through to the other side of that fear. Pay attention to what the Father is saying in these days. He is speaking words of strength to your spirit. Continue to meditate on His Scriptures telling you to 'fear not' and to be not afraid'. He wrote those words for you for this time. They are alive and will strengthen your spirit even as you are reading and speaking them. Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." God has only done a small percentage of what He is planning to do in you in this season of preparation. Be encourage and as always be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies It is not my job to change anyone. My job is just to encourage you to the best of my ability and to love on you the way Jesus loves on me. The rest is up to you and God. God is the transformer of man's spirit, soul, and body. This is what happened to me. God transformed me from the inside out. But He didn’t do it without my permission. You know, that free will thing. Yes, God will not get in the way of your will, but when you turn your will over to Him… Change is coming. On the Potter’s Wheel. Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” That was just the beginning. God is still trying to mold us. Jeremiah 18:6 ““O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!” We all are in the Father’s hand when we begin to agree with Him. Even as I am writing these words, I’m spinning and being molded into something beautiful. The funny thing is that when I was in the world I saw myself as beautiful. But my eyes had been covered in scales. I only saw what the world saw and that was not everlasting. The moment that I said yes to God I began to get a whole new picture and what I saw wasn’t beautiful at all. I was ashamed of myself and God even took THAT away. He slowly began to fix the broken things inside of me so that I would be able draw from His strength and not my own. On the Potter’s Wheel. You need to know that God is asking you to say just one little word. A word that is so small that it seems insignificant, but it means so much. It is the word that will truly begin to change you and your life. “YES.” That’s all God needs is your, “YES.” Wet me up Lord with that Living Water so that I may soften and become pliable. On the Potter’s Wheel. And you know what? I don’t ever want to stop spinning because when I come off the wheel I will be in one of two places, back at the beginning starting all over again (because I can never give up trying) or united with sweet Jesus in heaven once again. So yes Father. I will be the clay. So here is my question for you today: Will you be the clay also? Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies This is so important! It is one of your keys toward walking into your purpose. If they are not going where you are going they will become a distraction and can possible send you towards detours. I love to be with people that look like me, and by me I mean they also are a reflection of Jesus. What kind of reflection do you see in your friends? Evangelist Cheryl Davies Fear Not Ministries When you are struggling it doesn't necessarily mean that sin is standing on the sideline waiting to devour you. The majority of the time our struggles are the hand of God trying to teach us something or take us to new territory that has not been conquered yet. I depend on the struggle because I refuse to stay the same. Stagnated. Rutted. God can't use that! Nothing can stop my flow! Allow God to take you to and through the struggles. And when they seem too hard, keep telling yourself, "I'm going somewhere and I'm not going to be the same when I come out of this struggle. I'm going up." This is why I rejoice when it's a struggle. I'm telling God that I know He can handle anything that I can't and I'm willing to submit myself to Him to teach me how to handle it myself. Hebrews 5:14, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." That's called "Meat Eating Maturity." No more milk for me! I've learned how to chew. Now, what about you? Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies Today I feel that I need to talk about the power of God that lives in you. This is a power that you can depend on. Inside of each of us is a Prayer Warrior. It is more focused in some of us but we all carry this spirit. How focused you are tells of how you see things. Mark 14:37-38, "Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”" Earlier in this Chapter it says that He took Peter, James, and John with Him. Jesus asked all 4 to watch and pray, yet He rebuked only Peter. Could it be that Peter was a more focused Prayer Warrior and more was expected of him. Nevertheless, Jesus asked them all to pray. Luke 22:39-40, "Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”" If you are in Christ, then you to are called to "Watch and Pray". I now understand why the majority of the time that I am praying I keep my eyes open and am watching what is going on around me and I’m not looking in the natural. As we pray we need to be alert to what is going on around us in the spirit realm, less the enemy creeps in and distract you. Watch and Pray. Yes there is nothing wrong with closing your eyes while you pray but there are times when you need to be watching. The power of prayer forces things to change. To watch the change will allow you to know whether you are praying the right prayers. Here is an example. In one prayer session I began to come against an addiction and I spoke the wrong words trying to kill the thirst for the substance my words became tangled. I immediately saw a change in the atmosphere and stopped praying to see what it was that was wrong. The words were just sitting there waiting for me see my error. I began to pull them back from out of the atmosphere and changed my words to words of life. To watch for some has a different meaning than for others. Some see through their natural eyes and some see through their spirit eyes. This also goes for prayers. You can pray in the natural and you can pray in the spirit. Which is more powerful? The prayers that we pray in the spirit. The reason why is because everything happens in the spirit realm before it happens in the natural. So this isn't a watch in the natural sense. This is a watch in the spiritual sense. Watch and Pray. No matter what level you are at, we all can and should be praying. Even if you don't think you pray very good, keep praying. The more you pray the stronger God becomes in you. Prayer is an activator. We need to be activating things in our lives daily through the power of prayer. Things are moving swiftly right now and this is not the time for us to be distracted. God is moving and Jesus is asking us to, Watch and Pray. Be blessed. Evangelist Cheryl Davies ( Fear Not Ministries ) So we have been through a season of battles. Faint not though because there was purpose in the battle. God sometimes have to tear things down before they can be rebuilt in manner He decreed. The reason for this is that we take on so much of the world that it becomes hard to tell the difference between what is godly and what is worldly. Even though we can’t see the difference sometimes, God always sees. He knows when we make a wrong turn and so in order to get us back on track he has to break some things down and then rebuild them the way He intended them to be. This takes going through a battle because our flesh does not want to let go. Our flesh hates change. Be honest with yourself. If you have a particular way of doing things, and you have always done things that way, you know you don’t want no one coming in and tell you a different way to do it. Now God is telling you, that way was wrong. That’s right. It was all wrong. Now do you think your flesh is going to take that without rebelling? No. 1 Corinthians 15:31, "[I assure you] by the pride which I have in you in [your fellowship and union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily [I face death every day and die to self]" (AMP) It is a battle to die to the flesh. Paul says we are to die to the flesh daily. If it’s easy for you then you have not defeated a thing. Just as quickly as you agreed to God’s way of doing things you will go back to what you are use to. And then some ways down the road you will realize that you are back where you started. Wasting time. I don’t want to waste any time going through the same thing over and over again. I need the battle so that I can remember what it took for me to get to this place. Look at history. Even though we ourselves have not fought the past battles how many battles can you name off the top of your head that the World has fought? World War 1, World War 2, Civil War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War. It’s not easy to forget a war that’s been fought. And when you are the one fighting the war, you know you will remember every mistake you make, because you won’t want to make that mistake again. But you don’t only remember the mistakes – you remember even more the victories and what you did to become triumphant!! That’s why it’s so important to know what season you are in. Are you in a Season of Battle or are you in a Season of Birthing. Because we know that after the flesh has been defeated God births something new in the spirit because now you have made room for what He has. So the battle has been won and now it’s time to get into the birthing position. 1King 18:41-44, “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not." (KJV) Verse 42 says that Elijah cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. He got in his birthing position. He was ready to birth some rain upon the earth. What is your birthing position? You’re birthing position may not be the same as mine. My birthing position is prostrate before the Lord. I know some whose position is kneeling and others bent over, and even others who stand or walk during the birthing process. Know your position. This is the birthing season, but what position are you in? Are you prepared to give birth? The baby will struggle to be born if you are not in the proper position to help it make the transition into this world. This world needs what you are carrying so you have got to get into your birthing position. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies Fear Not Ministries Years ago, I would give everything that I had out to others. I would always get myself burned out, and would have to go back to God to get replenished. My pastor at that time gave me an analogy that I have never forgotten....I would get my bucket full, and then give out, and had to go back and have my bucket filled back up. Your bucket should always be under the running facet, and you give out of the overflow....Our time in worship with the Lord should always be first, and then we give out of the abundance that God has given us. That analogy changed my life. Have a great day! Sherry Devine Let's move forward. 1. Stay on the path! No side-steppin allowed. You are headed in only 1 direction. 2. Be steady! That means no stopping and wavering. Set your mind to go forward and keep going. 3. Pour into your brothers and sisters! Don't think someone is using you. We need to help each other. What God gives you is for sharing and sometimes because we are all at different levels of our walk what your sibling does might hurt you, but if they love Christ you keep on pouring. It helps them to mature when we don't turn away at their faults. Remember the mistakes you made at first? Let's look beyond the mistakes of others and see what God is trying to create in them. It is YOUR actions that Jesus is concerned about. If you retaliate with anger, then the battle is lost AND a life could be lost. As we move forward we want to propel others forward. I can't succeed without you succeeding. One body! Ephesians 4 The Message (MSG) "1-3 In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences." Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies Fear Not Ministries) Everything in your life does not happen in the same season. I hear people say often that this is their season, but do you understand which season you are in?
The word says in Ecclesiastics 3:1,2,6,7 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; So are you planting or are you plucking? Keeping or casting away? Keeping silent or speaking? These are very important questions. You must know which season you are in if you are going to operate effectively both in the spirit and in the natural. And know this, we are all just as different as our seasons are different, so don't follow someone else's season. To do that has the potential to twist your seasons up. Know your season. When you operate in your rightful season it will become very fruitful both for you and for others. Psalm 145:15 "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season." Be blessed. Evangelist Cheryl Davies You know how we are always saying that Jesus resides inside of us and that gives us power? Well that power is being executed right now. As you read this post God is speaking to you personally. Not me, but Jesus. I don’t know what you need at this moment and unless you tell me I probably never will. Only one person can feel that need without you saying one word to Him or anyone else. That’s God. I’m just a person, no greater or better than you, that allows God to use me by giving Him access to my will. I have given Him totally access and that is how these words have found their way to you at the just the right time. This is why these words become a blessing to you. “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 These were the words of submission to the Father that Jesus spoke even while He was hanging on the cross for our sins. These are the words that I speak daily to the Father. “Nevertheless not my will, but Yours, be done.” It is in my allowing God to have His way in my life that He chooses to use me for you. Today God is asking you a question. “How will you allow me to use you?” Once you have the right answer to this question, God will begin to show you your purpose. Why? Purpose is so life changing that you must be prepared to make the transition. Changing everything about you, (your thoughts, heart, actions and how you speak) takes your total submission to God and God alone. You learn that it’s no longer about you. It becomes only about how God can use you for His glory. A puffed up person becomes that way because he has no knowledge of his purpose. In purpose the words “I” and God become complete opposites. If you are still concerned about “I” then there is no room for God. God is complete and needs the total you in order to complete you and transition you into purpose. I am trying to help you here. God wants you to get to a place where He can reveal much more than your purpose to you. However, there are some things that must go first. These words will keep you from your promotion into your purpose: worry, hate, jealousy, fear, lust, anger, hurt, pride, gluttony, revenge and envy. To reach your purpose you have to cultivate these words into your life: love, hope, humility, forgiveness, trust, peace, and faith. Do you really know yourself? Take a good look right now. If you don’t look now your purpose might slip right on pass you. You have to make a change. James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” What do you look like? Do you look like the things of this world or Christ? It really makes a big difference. I am talking about your spirit here. What does your spirit resemble? Do God need to cut some things out of you. Submit yourself to God and He will do it. Preparation leads to purpose. Be blessed! C. D. I want to show you something today. Last Sunday my Pastor's message was on the same scriptures that God had given to me Friday. I love it when that happens because it is just confirmation that a person is hearing the truth. Same message different wording. He spoke on Saul and this was the revelation God gave him: Only God can take your enemy and turn him into your brother. Acts 9:21-22 "Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ." This is why we cannot judge others. We don't know what God is doing or is planning to do with this precious life. We can't understand what kind of preparation someone is going through to get to his destination. So as we are being prepared, be mindful of how others are also being prepared. No one shares the exact same journey. 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 says, "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation," I know I've been changed and every person will have that same opportunity eventually. This is the desire of the Father and no man should stand in His way. Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies Fear Not Ministries Have you ever wondered why God had to go to such extremes to get Saul’s attention? Most people bow down just from the sound of Jesus’ voice, but He blinded Saul. Acts 9:3-4 says, “As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”” (New King James) Talk about being blinded by the light! This is how I see it, Saul was so enamored with this world and the things of the world, money and everything else that tends to excite man, that God had to first take his view of the world away. Saul had a purpose that He didn’t even know he had. Before he was born God had chosen him to lead His people. But he didn’t know this. He wasn’t raised up to believe in the now of Christ. In fact, he believed that Jesus was against everything that he was raised to believe in. He thought He was an imposter to the Word. Saul believed that his purpose in life was to persecute those who believed and he was proud to do it. But that wasn’t his purpose. He had a higher purpose in life and he was chosen to have knowledge of his purpose in a harsh way. You see desire begins in the eyes before it sinks into the heart. And Saul had many desires and at the top of his list was power. Wow! He had no idea of what power really was, but he was about to learn. So Jesus blinded him with a bright light and accused him of sinning against Him. That would have been enough for me to turn around, but apparently it was not enough for Saul. Yet God knew just what he needed to get to the place He wanted him to be in. Direction. Jesus gave Saul specific directions. He told him to go into the city. Yes, God had a plan that would usher Saul into his destiny. Do you know that God also has a plan for you? A plan to get you to your purpose and maybe you don’t see it yet, but know that God does have a plan and a purpose for you. I look back on the days when everyone thought that I had it all, money, nice car and beautiful clothes. But there was no happiness in those things. There was only emptiness that made me think that I needed more. I’m sure Saul had been feeling this same emptiness. But no more! This is why God has to sometimes wait to tell us our purpose, we aren’t ready for it. Purpose is life changing and until you are truly ready to change your life without any regrets you won’t know your purpose. It took time for me to want to change and when I finally did I opened my mouth and declare that my life belonged to God to do whatever He wanted to do with it. Then came the preparation. I still did not know my purpose, but I became oh so thirsty for the Lord and everything about Him. I wanted to know Him intimately. So I began to study the Word and God began to speak to me. And my belly would become full and Season arrived. Once you know your purpose it cannot be denied. For everything there is a Season and until your Season comes eat of the Word of God until your belly becomes full. Keep your focus on God and not the world because until your eyes are fully upon God, it won’t be your time. Everyone needs purpose and everything that you are doing now is to move you closer to yours. You are in a place of preparation even now. Be blessed! |
Evangelist -
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