by Tracy | Tuesdays With Tracy
“For God so loved the word, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3;16, KJV
One evening last week, we were hanging out in our living room, when Alyssa ran up to us with her newly drawn picture from Sunday School and stated, “Let me read this to you Mom & Dad: Dear God, be in my heart.” Immediately we stood up and applauded and with our prompting she proceeding to “read” it again and again. It brought tears to our eyes knowing that our two-year-old daughter was now on the beginnings of her own path to salvation.
Isn’t it amazing that God, the Creator of the Universe, made the gospel so simple that even a child could understand it? Let me ask you, when did you ask God into your heart? Can you remember where you were? What you said? And how your life changed from that moment forward? I want to encourage you to take time this week to reminisce when you asked God into your heart and ponder all that He has done since that day. With Easter approaching, there couldn’t be a better time to thank Jesus for the gift of Salvation through the Cross.
Let me also state that if you can’t remember asking God into your heart – no worries -because you can ask Him into your heart today and I will be your witness! The truth is that it is never too late to surrender your life to God. God loves you so much. God sent His own Son to the cross to pay the price for your sin. The Blood of Jesus was shed for your forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that all you need to do is confess Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you are saved. Let’s pray this together, shall we? “Jesus, I ask You to come into my heart and I believe that You were raised from the dead and You are the Son of God who now sits at the right hand of God. I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. Please take my life and transform it for Your purposes. Amen.” My friend, you are officially saved and I celebrate with you! If you prayed this prayer, please click on my contact page and let me know – I want to pray for you and I declare that the best is yet ahead for you!!
Prayer:
“Lord, with Easter approaching I cannot help but thank You for the Cross. May I never take for granted the precious Blood that was shed for me. You are an amazing God. Thank you for making the gospel so simple. I give you my life and ask that I bring You glory each day. Amen.”
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 | Inspirational, Tuesdays With Tracy
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!” Proverbs 3:5-8, The Message
One morning last week I was pondering the difficulties of my own life and those around me while driving down the road. And needless to say, my heart was extremely heavy as I could not figure out “why” these challenges were going on or “what” to do about them. These thoughts led me to feelings of helplessness, but then a thought came across my mind, “I may not know why these situations are going on or what to do about them, but I know who my God is.” Within an instant I began to feel better. I got my eyes off the problem and onto God – The Solution.
The truth is, we may never understand “why” we are walking through dark times, but we know who our God is! He is faithful and He is everything we need! Join me today in declaring who God is:
When my body is sick – He is my Healer.
When I cannot pay my bills – He is my Provider.
When my mind is filled with worry – He is my Peace.
When my family forsakes me – He is my Father, Mother, Sister and Brother.
When my heart is filled with anger – He is my Forgiving Father.
When strife is all around me – He is my Protector.
When my friend betrays me – He is my Loyal Companion.
When I am rejected – He is my Acceptance.
When I don’t know what to do – He is my Wisdom.
When I do or say the wrong thing – He is my Grace.
When I can barely get out of the bed – He is the Lifter of my head.
When I am afraid – He is my Perfect Love that casts out all fear.
No matter what you are going through, God is everything you need at this time. Run to Him and as the scripture states your body will glow with health and your bones will vibrate with life!
Prayer:
“Lord, You are everything I need today. I give you every situation on my heart. Please be my healer, provider, peace, protector, wisdom, grace and lifter of my head. I choose to get my eyes off of the problem and onto You – the Solution! I love you and I plead the Blood of Jesus over me, my family and those I love this day! 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 | 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 | 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.”
