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”
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.”
