by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“For His (God’s) anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime and in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5, Amplified
For years, I placed my hope in my circumstances. When things were going well, I would experience happiness, but when difficulties arose, I would give myself over to anxiety and discouragement. All the while, JOY was waiting for me.
At that time, I did not know the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is temporal, fleshly and dependent on “things” in the natural world – how much money we have in our bank account, how many items of clothing we have in our closet, how we look, how well our children perform at school or how much acknowledgment we receive from our peers and the list goes on and on! Now, don’t get me wrong, all of these “things” can be wonderful and feel fabulous, but the happiness we receive from the things of this world are temporary, and can be taken away from us at any moment.
Joy on the other hand is stable, unmoving, and can stand solid in the most difficult of situations. While happiness is based on outward circumstances, joy is based upon our belief in God and the condition of our heart.
Nehemiah 8:10 states that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Another word for strength is endurance, which is the Greek word “hupomone.” “Hupo” literally means under and “mone” means to remain. Therefore, endurance can be defined as the capacity to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful (joyful) fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat!
Joy is supernatural, it gives us the strength we need to actively resists weariness and defeat. Joy is always above what the world has to offer. You see, God’s joy is solely dependent on His Word and what He says about our situation. No matter what you are currently going through – you can experience joy as you wait expectantly for God to move on your behalf! I encourage you to take your eyes off of your situation and place them on the Solution – God. As you do this, God will fill you with His joy and you can rest assured that your victory is at hand.
Prayer:
“Lord, forgive me for allowing my circumstances to dictate how I feel. I ask for You to fill me with supernatural joy. I need endurance. I long to bear up under difficult circumstances with a hopeful fortitude. Help me to resist weariness and defeat and receive Your supernatural joy. I declare that as I fix my eyes on You, the Author and Finisher of my faith that you will perfect that which concerns me this day (Psalm 138:8). Amen.”
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by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say on the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14
“That’s not fair!” shouted a small child at his frazzled mother trying to load her groceries onto the conveyer belt at the local grocery store. The mother in return gave her son what I call, “the look” and quickly replied, “Honey, sometimes life just isn’t fair.” And although this statement can be true, I began thinking about the fact that God’s favor also isn’t fair and how this is good news for you and me!
In the world, people receive undeserved favor because of who they know or what family they come from. And if you know the right people, or have the right family name, it doesn’t take near as much effort to become a success. But did you know that you are connected to the King of Kings and you come from a Royal line? When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, you entered into His unmerited favor. And it is because you are a child of God that I can say with confidence, God will do for you exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). It is my personal prayer that you will leave this post knowing who you are and to whom you belong.
Just look at the recent winner of American Idol. Kris Allen, a worship leader and follower of Jesus Christ took the title because he is highly favored of God. The world thought that Adam Lambert had the title in the bag, but they forgot to factor in the favor of God. What you may not know is that behind the scenes, Kris Allen was always helping the other contestants. He was stated by the judges to be one of the most humble contestants American Idol has even had on the show. Friends, I believe that Kris’ character pleased God, which in return released the supernatural favor of God on his life.
God’s favor is unfair, undeserved and unmerited and when our lives line up with Biblical principles the world will see us lifted up and it will declare, “that’s not fair!” To which we will respond, “You’re right, it’s not fair – it’s the favor of God!”
No matter how things may appear in the natural, I want to encourage you today that you have the supernatural favor of God. The world may tell you that you won’t amount to much, but God says that He has plans to prosper you! It doesn’t matter who you are or whom you are connected to on earth, you have the favor of God on your side and all things are possible with Him!
Prayer:
“Lord, when I gave you my life I entered into your supernatural favor. Thank you for loving me and covering my life with the unmerited, undeserved favor of God. I will no longer strive and look to man for approval. I declare that Your favor is enough! When the world tells me I can’t, You tell me I can. May my life bring you much glory. Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.” Proverbs 14:29, The Message
“…A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7b
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19
Most of you know my story, but what many of you do not know is that for years I hid my testimony out of shame. I feared what people would think of me if they knew that I once was an abused, depressed, suicidal, gothic teenager. After all, look at me now – I am a blonde-haired, optimistic woman, who loves Jesus and likes to wear all the colors of the rainbow. I only wear the color black now because it makes me look thinner. LOL! Can I get an Amen for the slimming color of black ladies?
I have a great respect for all individuals who SPEAK UP for what they believe in, even when I beg to differ. The problem as I see it, is that it is “culturally okay” for someone to share about their liberal views, but when it comes to sharing conservative views, you are met with severe criticism. The media seems to favor liberals who SPEAK UP, but they expect Christians to remain silent or as they call it “tolerant”.
As Christians we are commanded by God to love everyone, however we can love someone without changing our beliefs to do this. We don’t have to compromise our beliefs in order to love someone else for who they are. If the world’s definition of “tolerance” means agreeing with their lifestyle or their beliefs then I will never be “tolerant” as long as their beliefs and lifestyles contradict the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a time for everything…there is a time to keep silence, but there is a time to SPEAK UP.” Carrie Prejean, Miss California had a choice to make in the recent Miss America Pageant. And I am so proud of Carrie because she decided within a moments notice to SPEAK UP and tell the world her personal view on the institution of marriage. Carrie agrees with our Founding Fathers and the belief of our Country for over 200 years that marriage is between a man and a woman. To hear Carrie’s answer: click Here.
The truth is whether you agree with her or not, we should all celebrate that Carrie Prejean made the choice to SPEAK UP. Her view being a conservative one has been met with much criticism (hence reiterating my point that it is culturally okay for someone to share their liberal views, but when it comes to sharing conservative views, you are met with severe disparagement). To hear Carrie’s recent interview with Sean Hannity: Click here.
My point in sharing Carrie’s story with you today is that it is time for all of us to SPEAK UP and tell the world what we believe. So many times when asked a difficult question, we change the subject or give a pat answer. I believe strongly that it is time for God’s people to SPEAK UP. Will you join me and make the decision to SPEAK UP for God? And will you accept that when you SPEAK UP and declare that you believe in Jesus Christ that the world may hate you (John 15:18-19)? It is my prayer that we will long for God’s approval more than man’s approval.
I realize this is not your typical “Tuesdays With Tracy,” however I pray that you leave this post today encouraged to SPEAK UP! This choice will come with persecution from the world, but let us remember that our life on earth is temporal and our heavenly home is eternal.
Prayer:
“Lord, I declare that I will SPEAK UP and declare my belief in God whenever given the chance. I will not compromise my beliefs in order to obtain the approval of man. I declare that a God-devoted country is strong and that a God-avoided country leaves people weak. Speak to the heart of our leaders, help them to SPEAK UP and not compromise their belief in God, for this alone will keep our Country strong. Amen.”
by Tracy | Bad Day Blues, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Philippians 4:8, The Message
Have you ever had one of those days when all you seem to hear is bad news? Maybe it was a telephone call, an email or your local news that brought these dreadful reports to your attention and before you knew it, you were sinking into a state of hopelessness! And although it would not be wise to totally ignore such issues, Paul clearly states in the verse above that it is in our best interest not to meditate on the worst, but on the best of things.
Every day it is important for us to find at least one positive report to meditate on. It may be the testimony of a friend who got a breakthrough, a family member who received a raise or you may have gotten a good report from your doctor, but even if you can’t seem to think of anything praiseworthy on earth, you can always ponder God’s Word. I have found that just one Word from God can change your life!
In honor of thinking upon what is true, noble, reputable, compelling and gracious, I am going to share with you a few scriptures to meditate on when you are longing to think upon the best and not the worst:
My God can take me higher than my circumstances:
“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. For you have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.” Psalm 61:1-4
If God is for me, who can be against me:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore I 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 swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall keep her, just at the break of dawn.” Psalm 46:1-5
When I speak the Word of God out loud, it will move mountains on my behalf:
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Let’s make a choice to think upon good things this day. Even when we are dealing with difficult circumstances we can have joy within our heart as we meditate on things worthy to be praised.
Prayer:
“Lord, I lift up every negative report to You today. I ask that while I think upon the good things, that You would move on my behalf. I declare that You are above every circumstance in my life and I will not fear. You tell us in Psalm 46, that we do not need to fear because You are our refuge and strength and our very present help in trouble. I love You and I choose today to think upon what is true, noble and praise-worthy. Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
Dear Tuesdays With Tracy Reader: I have had difficulty with my feedblitz account, therefore the past few weeks you have not been getting my devotions on Tuesdays – I am truly sorry and we are working on getting this fixed. Thanks for your patience! I pray blessings upon each of you!
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26, NKJ
“Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat – refreshing!” Proverbs 25:13, The Message
Many of us are longing for so many things in life – money, beauty, a clean house or maybe your like me and would just love an occasional nap! But no matter who you are or where you come from, I think we can all agree that God-centered friendships are priceless and a gift from Heaven above!
Just a last week, I met a friend for a cup of coffee. We shared what God was currently doing in our lives. We laughed, we cried and most importantly we filled one another up with God’s Word. I left her presence that morning energized and ready to conquer my day – as the scripture states above, this reliable friend was a cool drink to me on a hot day! You see, I can talk to anyone about today’s weather or the hit show American Idol, but when I can share of my love for God with someone – I leave that conversation truly refreshed!
Don’t get me wrong, I believe we need to spend time with those who do not know Christ, but we need to be the one affecting them rather than vice-versa. As Joyce Meyer stated in one her teachings, “I can hang-out with anyone as long as I affect them and they do not infect me.” The people we hang out with regularly will affect our destiny whether we realize it or not.
The truth is, if we have just one God-centered friendship – we are truly blessed. When the trails of life come knocking at our door, it is important for us to know whom to call upon for prayer and support. I often think about when Jesus himself asked a few disciples to come and pray with him at the Garden of Gethsemane. Isn’t that amazing? I mean, just think about this for a moment…even Jesus needed his most dependable friends near him during the darkest hours of his life. This fact has given me a new freedom. When the storms of life begin to blow, I immediately run to the shelter of God’s Word and I also know it is okay for me to call upon a few reliable friends to stand with me in prayer. We don’t have to fight the battles of life alone. We can call upon God and His people to stand by our side.
My prayer for you today is for God to shine a light on your reliable friends – those He has called to stand with you. And do not forget that YOU can be a reliable friend to those in your life! In Christ you have the power to offer a cool drink to a person in need today – now that’s refreshing!
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for always being with me. You are with me at every mountaintop and valley throughout my life. Please help me to be a reliable friend to those in need today. Shine Your light on the individuals You have called to stand with me for such a time as this. Thank you God for always being my most dependable friend. Amen.”
by Tracy | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 NIV
“Lord, thank You for taking care of me and everything on my heart because You love me.” This has been my personal mantra the past few weeks. When worry or fear would try to plague my mind, I would rest in the fact that God will take care of me simply because He loves me!
As I think about my daughter, Alyssa, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. If she had a sniffle, I would be right there to wipe her nose. If she became hungry, I would fix her a snack. If she woke up scared, I would pray over her until she fell back asleep. And I do these things simply because I love her! There is nothing my daughter could do or not-do to change the fact that I love her. And this is how God loves you and me. Selah (pause and think about this for a moment).
My friend Kelly recently shared with me that “it is not our trials that get God’s attention, but it is our cries that brings Him to action on our behalf.” Isn’t that good? When God hears your cries, He is moved to action simply because He loves you! God longs to wipe your tears, fight your battles and draw you to Himself today because He loves you.
God loves you so much that He gave His only Son on the cross for you. The precious blood of Jesus was shed so that you and I could cry out, “Abba –father.” And according to the scripture above, Jesus is currently interceding for us! Romans 8:35-39 goes on to tell us, that nothing can separate us from God’s love – not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine. We are more than conquerors because God loves us. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers will be able to separate us from the love of God. Isn’t this amazing? We can rest in the fact that God loves us.
Will you receive this simple truth today? Will you say this with me, “God loves me. I can rest in His awesome love for me. I may not know what my future holds, but I know that my God will supply all of my needs because He loves me.” My friend, it is time to drink in His love for you. You may have come to my website empty, but after you leave this post, I know that God will fill you to overflowing as you rest in His great love for you!
Happy Easter!
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for loving me. I take authority over worry, fear, depression, doubt or anything trying to keep me from resting in Your love for me this day. I declare that You are Lord over my life and You are sitting at the right hand of God! You are alive and I will tell the world of Your amazing love! Happy Easter Jesus – You have Risen, You have Risen indeed! Amen.”
Set your DVR and watch Tracy on The Babbie Mason Show – airing Monday, April 13th at 5:00 on Channel 57 (WATC) & Nationwide on Sky Angel
- Also, don’t miss “Tips With Tracy” which airs every Thursday at 12:40 on The Dottie Coffman Show –1300 AM or online @ www.bigstickradio.com. April Series: “Turning A New Leaf: The New You with Boundaries”
