by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Hear my cry, o God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:1-2, NKJ
The high place….it’s a place above the chaos that can so easily weigh us down. It’s a place of rest and tranquility for our weary mind. It’s a place where God’s perspective Reigns and where Supernatural peace abounds. Although trials may come our way, there is a higher place to which we can run and receive comfort and grace – it’s the place of God’s Presence.
It is through this high place of God that we are lifted up and out of our circumstances. The emotions and thoughts of our flesh must bow in the high place of God thus allowing our spirit to rule. It was in this high place where David was able to declare in Psalm 46:1-4, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God.” This high place in God quiets our heart and gives us a heavenly vantage point to view our circumstances below.
The past few months, it has been my goal to remain the high place of God. Some days were easier than others, but even when my emotions and thoughts began to overwhelm me, I immediately cried out to God to take me higher. It was through reading His Word, listening to worship music, praying to God alone and with faithful sisters in Christ that I was able to come up and out of my circumstances and into the high place of God.
Is it time for you to come up friend? Has the trials of life been pulling you down? I promise there is a sweet presence of God waiting for you in the high place. God is longing to take you up and out of the bondages that hold you down and show you His wonderful plan for your life. He longs to give you His heavenly perspective and shower you with His wisdom and grace. Will you join me today in going to the high place of God?
Prayer:
“Lord, take me to the high place today. I give you my hurt and disappointment. I run to Your Word and ask that it speak to me for such a time as this. Show me how to go higher in You and give me the strategy for the situations on earth. I declare that You are my refuge and strength and I will not fear. Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37, KJV
We are triune beings – spirit, body and soul. From the moment you were conceived, you were a spirit. Your body was uniquely formed in the womb of your mother with the purpose to house your spirit and soul. Your soul is made up of your will, emotions, intellect and imagination. As believers, God’s Spirit within us is to reign over the soul and body, however this will not happen without the help of the Holy Spirit because the soul wants to dominate. Our soul is moved by what it sees, feels, hears and touches. It longs to be entertained and if we are not careful – our feelings, intellect, and personality can rule our lives rather than God’s Spirit.
Roberts Liardion states in his book, Sharpen Your Discernment, “An unharnessed soul wants to be the center of attention of everything. If the atmosphere is not exactly what the soul wants, it becomes depressed. If the soul doesn’t get what it wants, it becomes unhappy. If someone wrongs the soul, it becomes bitter. If someone hurts the soul, it becomes engulfed in self-pity. If the soul is in a hurry, it pressures everyone. If the soul does not like someone, it becomes rude. If the soul is rejected, it becomes obsessive or withdrawn. If something scares the soul, the soul worries. If someone has what it wants, the soul becomes jealous. If the soul thinks it has to please everyone, it becomes phony and deceitful.”
Our mind, will and emotions are gifts from God, but these gifts are never to dominate over God’s spirit within us. When trials come our way, it is vital that only God’s Spirit direct our plans. This is why we need to make sure that our body and soul are submitted under the Word of God and not vice-versa. It is extremely important that we hear directly from God concerning every area of our lives for such a time as this.
There are places God longs to take us. People God desires to touch through us. And God is currently repositioning His people for Kingdom purposes. So, let me ask you: Who is ruling your life? Is God’s Spirit reigning or are you allowing your thoughts and emotions to run your life? I can tell you from personal experience that when my thoughts and emotions rule my life, I live in a state of constant anxiety, confusion, fear and depression. But when I let God direct me and rule my soul, then I can remain in perfect peace no matter what is going on around me.
Prayer:
“Lord I ask that Your Spirit within me arise once again. I declare that my thoughts and emotions must submit to the Word of God. No matter what is going on around me, I declare that if God is for me, who can be against me. I give you permission to correct me and re-align my life for Your purposes for such a time as this. Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
“People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.” Proverbs 6:30-31
Spiritually speaking, the enemy is a thief that continually tries to steal from God’s people. In the verse above it states that we will not despise a thief who steals to satisfy himself when he is starving, but trust me when I tell you that the devil is not starving! Therefore, according to our scripture above, the devil has to restore back to you sevenfold what he has stolen from your life. Maybe he has stolen the innocence of your childhood, your bank account or your peace of mind, but no matter what he has stolen from you, he must give it back in abundance!
We serve a God of total restoration and no one can steal God’s dream for your life. I believe from the bottom of my heart, that whenever it seems that God is withholding something good from us, He is only setting us up to be blessed. He takes what the enemy meant to destroy us and uses it to propel us into our destiny.
I want to encourage you today to never give up on God’s dream for your life. It may look impossible, but ALL things are possible with God. It may appear that the enemy has won, BUT God isn’t finished yet! Hold on because your greatest days are yet ahead.
Prayer:
“Lord, I acknowledge that the devil has stolen from my life and I declare “no more” in Jesus Name! I rebuke the devourer and command that he must give back sevenfold what he has stolen from me. I declare that I will never give up on my dreams. God will bring them to pass as I trust in Him. I wait expectantly for vindication, restoration and promotion. I ask for God’s Spirit to blow through my life this day. Amen.”
Check this out: “Tips With Tracy” airs every Monday morning at 11:45 on The Dottie Coffman Show For Women, 1300 AM or on the Internet: www.bigstickradio.com
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6
Have you ever received the cold shoulder or silent treatment from a friend and had no idea why? When someone you care about behaves this way, we have a few choices to make. We can either chose to not let their behavior affect us, accept that this is probably their issue and not ours, or we can try to figure out why they are treating us this way. No matter your response, I have found that when people mistreat us, we simply need to hold on because our God will exonerate us in due time!
I will never forget a precious woman walking up to me after I shared my testimony in church one morning. She proceeded to tell me that she needed to ask me for forgiveness. I was perplexed with her request because as far as I knew she was a friend of mine. I immediately said, “yes, I forgive you” without even knowing why. Then she told me that someone in the church had spoken badly of me and that she believed what they said to be true, yet now she realized they had their own agenda at hand and it was untrue (I will add here that this news really hurt my feelings because I had been nothing but nice to the women who spoke wrongly of me, but I chose to forgive and trusted God to exonerate me).
As a counselor, I am quick to tell my clients that 2% of the population just won’t like you! Isn’t that a burden lifting fact? For no apparent reason, 2% of the people you meet throughout your life will not like you. Period. But, let me ask you the same question: Do you like everyone you meet? Selah (pause and think about that for a moment.
We serve a God who will exonerate us in due time. The truth is, I didn’t even know the issue above existed, but God did and He exonerated me! A nugget I want us to chew on today is that God is always moving on our behalf. All we need to do is be who God created us to be and He will take care of the rest.
Today, let’s grab onto good and shun evil. Speak life and not death. Let’s choose to forgive and not hold offence. And let’s trust that God will always exonerate us in due time!
Prayer:
“Lord, I rest in the fact that You will always exonerate me. I don’t have to try and prove my worth or value to anyone because I am accepted in You. You love me so much that You went to the cross on my behalf. I choose to bless those who have cursed me. I ask for Your grace to follow me all the days of my life. Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commands or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2
“This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears our complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us, but against the Lord.” Exodus 16:8
When the challenges of life seem to be piling up around us to the point that we can barely breathe because of it’s weight – hold on – because it is just a test! The truth is that all of us will be tested on this side of heaven, but it is important to remember that this world is temporal and heaven is eternal! No matter what we are going through on earth, it is just a test and God will see us through.
Lately, my husband and I have been tested in areas of integrity, giving, and false responsibility. And although these tests may seem trivial to you, they have been huge for us. Yet, God has reminded me that this is just a test and that with His grace we can overcome every obstacle that comes our way!
Could it be that your current struggles are just a test? I declare to you today that what you are going through is temporal and that your true destiny is to reign forever with God in heaven where there is no sorrow or lack! What you are going through at this time is just a test!
So, if your situation is just a test then I have to ask you, how are you responding to it? Are you freaking out and complaining to yourself and everyone around you or are you grabbing onto Jesus and His Word. Are you deep in discouragement or praising Him before you see your breakthrough? Are you doubting and questioning God’s faithfulness or are you rehearsing all that God has done for you in the past and choosing to praise Him in advance for moving on your behalf? Are you running away from God or running to Him? Are you allowing bitterness and envy to poison your heart or are you rejoicing with those around you who are in a season of prosperity? Selah (pause and think about this for a moment).
My prayer is that we continually remember that EVERYTHING we encounter on this side of heaven is just a test and if we stay close to Jesus, we will pass with flying colors! Let’s choose this day to keep our eyes toward heaven and declare: “This is just a test and I am going to pass in Jesus Name!”
Prayer:
“Lord, forgive me for grumbling and complaining. I have been so earthly-focused. I choose this day to look toward heaven and declare that what I am going through is just a test! God is faithful and with His help, I will pass this test with an A! I give you my life God and I ask that You strengthen me at this time. May Your goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life. Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.” Genesis 24: 16-20
You may be wondering how the scripture above can be applied to your everyday, ordinary life, but if you will take a closer look at this story with me, I will show you how miracles can happen around you while you perform the mundane tasks of your day. First, let me mention that Rebekah is the eldest daughter in her home and she is simply going about her daily ritual of drawing water from the well. Upon her return she notices a foreign gentlemen approaching her along the path. He asks her for a drink of water from her pitcher and amazingly Rebekah not only agrees to draw water for him to drink, but also for his camels as well!
May I just add here, that no one would have known if she chose to deny this stranger a sip of water. Perhaps Rebekah was having a bad hair day or had a list of things yet to accomplish on her to-do list, but instead of wallowing in self-piety or self-preoccupation, Rebekah chose to serve a complete stranger for no reward or wage.
Our Rebekah is a beautiful picture of a servant who is faithful to perform not only her daily tasks, but available to serve others. Yet what she did not know was that this man was on assignment from God to select a wife for Issac. And it was her faithfulness in her everyday, ordinary life that positioned her to be God’s choice for His Kingdom purposes. The fact that she gave this stranger water from her pitcher and then went above and beyond his request shows us the integrity and quality of her character, and why God would place her in the right place, at the right time, with the right person who would unlock her destiny.
It was through Rebekah’s willingness to embrace her everyday, ordinary life that opened wide her destiny for the Kingdom of God! You see, although Rebekah was a mighty woman in her own right, she would later become the mother of Jacob and the grandmother to Joseph, who wore the coat of many colors. Her family line and legacy of faith is still teaching and influencing our generation today.
I know that it is easy to become bored with our daily routine in life. And many of you today may be wondering if you are making a difference for the Kingdom of God? But I am here to declare to you today: You are a blessing! And if you also will be faithful in your everyday, ordinary life, God will meet you there and miracles will be revealed before your eyes. God will put you in the right place, at the right time and in front of the right people for Kingdom purposes!
Prayer:
“Lord, help me to be faithful in my everyday, ordinary life. I confess that I have lost my ability to expect miracles as I go about my day. Open my eyes to see that You are always with me. Open my ears to hear Your direction for me today. Open my heart to have the same willingness of Rebekah to serve a stranger in need. As I am faithful in little, God can entrust me with much. Amen.”
