by Tracy | Inspirational, Practical, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well – your life is at stake!” Proverbs 4:10-13, The Message
Last week we discussed how a wrong association would bring destruction to your life, but did you know that even a right association at the wrong time would still bring wrong results? Think about this with me for a moment. You can have a right relationship, but if you embrace this relationship in the wrong season, it can bring frustration and wrong results – can I get an amen from someone? This right friendship may have been a huge blessing at one time and it may even be once again in the future, but if we hold onto a right association at the wrong time – it will eventually self-destruct.
Here is what God has shown me:
A right association in a right season = right results
A wrong association in any season = wrong results
And a right association in a wrong season = wrong results
The word “season” in the Greek is “karios.” “Karios” is defined in the Strong’s Concordance as, “an opportune time, set time, appointed time, definitive time, proper time for action and tells us of special happenings that are to occur during a certain time frame.” It is important that we know the season we are in and whom we are to associate with for such a time as this.
There are seasonal places to live, positions of employment, friendships to enjoy and such that are right associations in the right season, but if we apply these in a wrong season, they will eventually self-destruct. This is why we need God’s supernatural wisdom in every area of our life! Next week we will be looking at the three levels of friendships: Friendships for a lifetime, friendships for a season & friendships for a moment.
Proverbs 7:4-5 in the NKJV states, “Say to Wisdom, you are my sister, and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from *wrong relationships, from *wrong associations who flatter with their lips.” (*Words changed from immoral woman and seductress to wrong associations/relationships by author).
We are entering a season where it is vital that we heed God’s wisdom in our lives. Our obedience is vital to the Kingdom of God. It is time for us to let go of the childish things and grab onto Jesus with all of your might. Jesus is the Right association all the time!!!!
Prayer:
“Lord, I cry out for Wisdom this day. I give you permission to show me any wrong associations in my life. Help me to let them go in order to grab onto You and the right associations for such a time as this. I want to go higher in You and I declare that You are the Right association at all times! Show me the times and seasons. Amen.”
Photo above is from: www.freefotocom
by Tracy | General
For years I have studied the book of Proverbs, but every time I came to Chapter six and the “Warning On Adultery,” I would simply skip over this portion of scripture as I felt it did not apply to me. After all, this was not an area of temptation for me. I like men and these warnings address a seductive female and her tactics to pull a man into her bed! But recently I approached this normally skipped over portion of scripture by praying, “Lord, I ask you for Wisdom to show me how I can apply this to my life.” Within an instant, I heard a still small voice say, “Tracy, an adulterous woman is a wrong association.” With this revelation, I immediately replaced all the words of warning about adultery to that of having a wrong association in my life.
So buckle your seat belts because what I am about to share with you is God’s wisdom concerning wrong associations and how they can destroy you! The scripture below is taken from Proverbs 6:20-33, The Message Translation and the words of warning about an adulterous women was changed to wrong associations by the author:
“Good friend, follow your father’s good advice; don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings. Wrap yourself in them from head to foot; wear them like a scarf around your neck. Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you; wherever you rest, they’ll guard you; when you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next. For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path.
They’ll protect you from wrong associations, from the ‘to good to be true’ talk of a wrong business adventure. Don’t lustfully fantasize about the worlds deemed ‘beautiful people,’ nor be taken in by gossip or dishonest ways to obtain money. You can buy an hour with a fortune teller with a few dollars, but these wrong advisors will eat you alive.
Can you build a fire in your lap and not burn your pants? Can you walk barefoot on hot coals and not get blisters? It is the same when you become entangled with wrong relationships which pull you away from God and seeking HIs Wisdom. Come into contact with them and you’ll pay for it. No excuses. Hunger is no excuse for a thief to steal; when he is caught he has to pay it back, even if he has to put his whole house in hock.
Holding onto unhealthy relationships is a brainless act, but can be soul destroying, self-destructive; expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good.”
Isn’t this good? I wonder just how many times I have overlooked a passage of scripture thinking it didn’t apply to my life, all the while, God longed to show me His Wisdom? I know more than ever that EVERY scripture can be applied to our lives – we just need to seek God for His Wisdom. I pray God’s blessings over each of you. May God give you wisdom on any wrong associations in your life and I declare His strength to help you let go of them. Jesus is the only One we are to hold tightly onto – He is the right association at all times!
Prayer:
“Lord, keep me from wrong associations that will pull me away from You. I give you permission to show me any wrong associations and what I need to do about it. I long for Your Wisdom and counsel. Keep me from turning to anyone other than You for Wisdom. Surround me with godly counselors and those who have my best interest in mind. Thank You for giving me Wisdom this day and protecting me from relationships that would bring destruction to me and my family. Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
Every January, God calls my husband and I to fast and pray concerning the New Year and He always meets us in extraordinary ways. It is a time of giving God our everything – our time, our thoughts, our desires, our weaknesses and our plans for the upcoming year. While our flesh longs to run to temporary pleasures, such as, food, television or things of this world to fill a void within, the truth is, real joy only comes from spending time in God’s Presence. What we “think” will satisfy us never does. What we “think” is the solution never is because Jesus is everything we need. It is God who will show us the path of life. It is through spending time with Jesus that we will experience an overflowing joy that will fill the God-shaped hole within our soul.
I believe that you, like me, long to be like Jesus. You want to think like Him, love like Him and walk in obedience as He walked. You desire for people’s lives be changed, souls to be saved and bodies to be healed. But you are also aware that true transformation is not possible without God. With man it is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
My question for you today is: To whom or what are you leaning on for the year 2009? Are you leaning on man, money, prestige, losing weight or anything of this world? I am all too familiar with these trappings and how each faulty solution tells us the same lie… “if you will just do this or purchase that – then you will be happy.” Yet happiness my friend fades, it is temporary and dependent on our circumstances, but God’s joy is eternal and is greater than any trial or circumstance we may endure on earth.
Our scripture above makes it clear as to where our joy comes from – it is found in the presence of God. It is time for us to stop looking to the things of this world to fill us up. Nothing (losing 10 pounds, eating a piece of chocolate cake, getting a promotion, getting married, obtaining a degree, winning the lottery, etc) can give you joy unspeakable and full of glory, except for Jesus.
Prayer:
“Lord, I give you my life and ask that You fill me with Your joy unspeakable and full of glory. Forgive me for turning to the things of this world in hope to fill the God-shaped hole in my soul. It is only in Your presence that eternal joy is found. I give you my life and ask that you direct my paths in 2009. Open doors to my destiny in Christ. And may my life bring you glory all of my days. Amen.”
by Tracy | General
Dear Friends,
It is with great excitement that I announce to you, National Worship
Leader, Song Writer (of over 1,000 songs), Minister and personal
friend, Tony Sutherland, will be featured on TBN this coming Monday,
January 19th. Please tune in and enjoy the best worship you have
ever heard in your life!! Tony and his wife Sherri, have been one
of our very best friends for over 12 years now. My husband and I
give Tony our highest recommendation and endorsement.
The details are as follows:
Monday, January 19th
Tony Sutherland will be featured on TBN Praise Program hosted by
Jentezen Franklin
5:00 & 10:00 p.m. EST
2:00 & 7:00 p.m. PST
Log onto www.tbn.org for viewing details
I hope you can tune in because I know you will be blessed! For more
information about Tony, log onto his website: http://www.tonysutherland.com
See you tomorrow for "Tuesdays With Tracy!"
Blessings,
Tracy Hurst
by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy
“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV)
I have tasted the mountain tops and sat in the valleys, but through it all, I have gained a most wonderful treasure – the ability to hear God’s voice. And lately, I have been hearing that “now is the time for God’s favor and salvation (restoration) for His people.” I understand that it may not look like it or feel like it, but I declare to you, “now is the time of God’s favor” for your life and the Kingdom of God. I realize that the year 2008 was a difficult one for lots of us. Many of God’s children had precious things stolen from them, but I am here to declare to you today – No More in Jesus Name! This is the time of God’s favor and restoration to fall upon us for His purposes. What used to be hard will become easy and what used to be missing will now be restored. Friends, be expectant because NOW is the time for God’s favor and salvation throughout the nations.
It is no mistake that there is currently an all-out war for Gaza because the Nation of Israel is greatly tied to the end times. However, we are not to fear, Matthew 24:6 tells us, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.“ You may be asking –birth pains to what? My friend, it is the birth pains of the Return of Christ. But before His return, we are to use our God-given authority and power through the Cross of Jesus to make the enemies of God a footstool (Hebrews 10:13).
And as God’s chosen people, we are called to prepare the way of the Lord. My friend, it is no mistake that you are alive at this time and whether you realize it or not – you are called. BUT in order to prepare the way of the Second Coming of Christ, we must first become kingdom-focused and not self-focused.
There is a sifting going on in the body of Christ at this time- those who will serve God versus those who will only serve themselves. My question for you today is – which will you choose: Will you surrender your life to God and give Him all the Glory or will you choose self-preoccupation and receive the glory unto youself? Will you serve your desires or Gods desires? Now is the time we must choose. God’s favor and salvation is here.
Prayer:
“Lord, I realize that I have a choice today of serving You or myself. I give You my life and choose to serve You for such a time as this. Change the way I think and allow me to become Kingdom-focused rather than me-focused. I want to be one of those who prepare the way of Your return! I declare that NOW is the time for God’s favor and salvation over my life and over the Nations. Amen.”
