“You are my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb.Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you.I’ve put my life in your hands.You won’t drop me; you’ll never let me down.I hate all this silly religion, but you, God I trust.”Psalm 31: 3-6, The Message
Family, friends, circumstances and even our church may disappoint us, but we can rest assured that our God never will.I love the scripture above because it clearly states that when others fail us, God will never drop us or let us down.When we are unsure of which way to go, God is our travel guide and shelter from the storms of life.
If you are weary and tired today, I want to encourage you to give your circumstances and life completely to Jesus.We may never understand why we are forced to walk a treacherous path at this time, but you can rest assured that God will take care of you and everything that is on your heart and mind.The truth is, God cares more about you and your situation than you do!He is longing to be your safe leader and mountain guide.He knows just how to get you from point A to point B; all you have to do is ask for His help and He will show you the right path.God can give you His heavenly viewpoint and free you from hidden traps of the enemy.He is a cave that you can always run to for shelter.
I know that many of us are walking through personal struggles at this time, butI want you to be encouraged today my precious friends – Hold on, because your breakthrough and greatest hours are just ahead in Jesus Name!
Prayer:
“Lord, I choose to run to You today.I feel lost and alone and I need You to be my guide.Show me which way to go and give me the grace to walk out Your will for my life.I acknowledge that You are the One that I can always trust.You will never let me down and I run to You for help and wisdom this day.Amen.”
Check this out: I will be on The Dottie Coffman Show LIVE (1300 AM) on Monday, October 6th from 11:00-11:30, tune in if you can!!!) I will be talking about my new book and how as women, we can move from overwhelmed to overflowing in our everyday, ordinary life.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.” John 16:13-15
Just a few years ago you would have found me on any given morning studying God’s Word for hours at a time (and I mean hours).I would arise early with my Strong’s Concordance in hand and delve into God’s Word, looking up the Greek and Hebrew to better understand the context and the root meaning of each precious word.Ah…those were the good old days.And although these hours of study were rich and powerful, I am on a new journey – the journey of motherhood and boy has things changed concerning my quiet time!!!
Now a day, you will find me asking for supernatural help just to get out of bed. Sometimes I hit my elliptical machine with my Bible and devotional propped on its stand and other days you will find me sipping coffee and thanking God for just twenty minutes of quiet to be with Him!And although I used to think that the former days of deep study were better, I have sense changed my mind.
You see, there is a time to study, but there is also a time to rest – can I get an Amen from someone?I have come to an amazing revelation that God loves me whether I spend hours with Him or just ten minutes!Spending time with God is not for His benefit, but it is for my benefit alone.And whether I have hours or just a few minutes to spend with Him, my time can be rich and powerful because my sweet Jesus will meet me where I am in life. God knows just what I need and in His omnipotence He surpasses earthly time.
Trust me, I know that our lives are hectic and that finding time with God can be a challenge, but let me encourage you that just a few minutes with God can change your day and your life!Jesus longs to be with you and all you have to do is acknowledge His Presence and spend a few moments praising Him and welcoming Him into your everyday, ordinary life. Hours or minutes ladies, it doesn’t matter, just inviting God into your daily schedule will transform you inside and out.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for Your grace and meeting me where I am in life.I choose this day to find time to spend with You, whether it is hours or minutes You will meet me when I acknowledge Your name.I need You each day.I ask for a windfall of Your Presence and Peace to fill my mind and spirit as I walk through each day with You.I love You and I will worship You all the days of my life.Amen.”
“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.”
“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?ButI 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.”
2. You can talk to bookstore owners near you about selling my book in their store.Also, if the Women’s Department at your church is looking for a speaker, feel free to pass along my name and website. I would love to come and speak to the women at your church!
3. You may have contacts in the media or book industry that can help get Tuesdays with Tracy into the hands of women across the globe. I am currently booking television, radio and speaking engagements for Spring 2009.
4. You can agree with me in prayer for God’s favor to be upon the book. My prayer is that Hewill place Tuesdays With Tracy in the hands of women who are longing to draw closer to Him.
5. Buy a copy today for you, your family and friends! It’s easy to buy Tuesdays with Tracy! Just click here or on the book icon on my websitewww.tracyhurst.com. You can purchase a copy online through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Xulonpress.com and coming soon to Target.com and Borders.com.
Please know that it is an honor to be with you every Tuesday as we dig into God’s Word and learn how to apply it to everyday life. I am so grateful that our paths have crossed for such a time as this. Many thanks to you for helping me to create a successful launch for Tuesdays With Tracy!
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
Has God given you a dream that has yet to come to pass? If your answer is “yes,” then I am sure you are aware that a God-inspired dream can be fulfilled in just 20 minutes or it can take up to 20 years! The problem is that during our waiting season, we often get anxious and try to fulfill our God-given dreams without God! But our self-effort only leads to frustration and failure!
Lets face it, if God gives us a dream; it is ridiculous for us to think that we can do it without His help! Zechariah 4:6 clearly tells us that it is not by might (wealth, position or prestige) or by power (our own physical strength and intelligence), but it is by the Spirit of God (His supernatural movement) that our God-given dreams will be accomplished here on earth.
Just take a moment right now and think about the dreams and desires God has placed within your heart. Go ahead and think about it and I will wait for you right here. Okay, now let me ask you: Have you given up on your dreams? Have you tried to fulfill them on your own? Are you waiting expectantly for God to bring them to pass?No matter your response, I want to encourage you today that your God-given dream is worth the wait! It is time for you to dream again. It is time for you to wait in anticipation of your dreams because they WILL come to pass in due time. Whether it is twenty minutes or twenty years for you to see the fulfillment – God is faithful and He will fulfill His promise!
Prayer:
“Lord, I give you the dreams that you have placed within my heart. I declare that You will bring them to pass in due time. You are faithful and I trust that I will see the fulfillment of my dreams according to Your Spirit. No matter how long I must wait I declare that it will be worth it! Amen.”
“Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!” Psalm 16:5-6 NLT
I think all of us have heard the phrase, “When someone mimics or copies you, it is the best form of a compliment.” And although this statement may be true, when someone imitates us in one way or another, we have a choice to make: Will we become fearful and insecure or will we remain confident that our destiny is secure in Christ and speak blessings over them?
It is sad to say that many times without even realizing it, we can give into the spirit of fear and begin to speak badly of these individuals. We can fall prey to gossip, slander and even vengeance, all of which stem from our battle with doubt and fear. Yet all the while God has promised to guard all that is ours! Selah (pause and think about this for a moment).
Our destiny is not in the hands of men; the King of Kings is guarding our destiny! Psalm 16 clearly states, “You (God) guard all that is mine.” Your life is secure in Christ. Isn’t that a breathe of fresh air to your weary soul? We can rest assured that we have a good inheritance and that Jesus is our cup of blessing.
Remain close to God in this season. Talk to him, spend time in His Word, and choose to bless and not curse. And let us continue to meditate on this truth: “My life is secure in Christ and He guards all that is mine.”
Prayer:“Lord, I am so grateful for the Blood of Jesus and for that fact that I am forgiven, healed and made whole through the power of the Cross. I declare today that I have a good inheritance. You guard all that is mine and the land that you have given me is pleasant land. I choose to give freely to others because You have freely given to me. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power and a sound mind. Thank you for a wonderful inheritance! Amen.”
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32
Our culture today tells us to: “Look out for #1, don’t trust anyone and I’ll scratch your back, if you scratch mine.” What people don’t realize is that this type of living is fear-based. 1 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.Fear encourages us to horde, withhold and to only give with strings attached. But as children of God, we are able to freely give because our Father in heaven freely gave His son, Jesus on the cross for us.
Giving with no strings attached is freedom not only for you, but also for the person to whom you are giving the gift, because there is no form of control or manipulation involved. Giving freely is under the covenant of grace, but giving with strings attached is under the law. Nothing can hold us captive if we can freely give with no strings attached. No position, amount of money, title, or status symbol can have control over us if we are able to freely give.
I want to encourage you to bless someone today and when you give to him or her, do it freely, expecting nothing in return. Maybe you can help someone pay a bill, pray for someone in a time of need or drop off some groceries to a person in need – just because!
The truth is, we can give with no stings attached because we can trust that our Father in heaven will always provide for us. He will always take care of us in abundance. Psalm 37:25-26 states, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendant begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and His descendants are blessed.”You are not forgotten. Trust in God and keep your eyes on Him. He will bring whatever you need to pass as you freely give to others.
Prayer:”Lord, thank you for loving me with no strings attached. I am secure in the fact that You love me and have good plans for my life. Help me to not give into fear, but allow Your power, love and a sound mind to change the way I think. Show me someone who is in need today. I choose to give freely because You gave freely to me. I love you Jesus. Amen.”
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11, NLT
It is one thing to say that we trust God, but it is another thing to trust Him during the darkest hours of our lives. Our faith is kind of like hand-selecting an orange to eat. It may appear that we have picked a perfect orange, but we truly do not know the state of the fruit inside until the orange is either peeled or crushed. We may think we trust God, but when our circumstances come crushing down on us, it is only then that we are truly aware of our level of faith in Him.
The truth is that I cannot boast of my faith in God, but I can boast in His faith in me. Selah (pause and think about this for a moment). Personally, I have found that the key to trusting God is for me to focus on Gods love and trust in me rather than my love and trust in Him. Lets think about this for a moment, shall we? God entrusted His only Son, Jesus to die on a cross for you and me. He did this in order to regain relationship with us. God loves us and John 3:16 clearly states that God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave His only begotten son that we might have eternal life. When life hits us hard, we can trust in God because He loves us with an everlasting love. Just let this truth sink in: God loves me. I can trust God during hard times simply because He loves me and God trusts me to carry His Presence wherever I go.
If you are struggling to trust God, be at rest my friend and begin to meditate on God’s love for you. It is out of His love for you, that you can trust Him at all times. He is a faithful father and everything you need this day.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for the cross. Thank you for praying for me daily. I long to trust You at all times. Help me to fully understand the height and depth of your love for me. I want to be still and know that You are God in my life. I can boast in the fact that You love me and that my sins are covered in Your Blood. I am the righteousness of God. I love you Jesus and I will declare Your name to those I come into contact with this day. Amen.”
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgement. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends with God. Romans 5:8-11, NLT
Do you know that God loves you? Seriously, do you really understand that there is nothing you can do about the fact that God loves you? His love for you will never change. For years I knew that God loved me, but I thought I had to “do” things in order to keep His love, but I have come to realize that no matter what, God loves me.
This revelation has brought much freedom and peace. You see, I am a doer by nature and in the past I was totally consumed with works of self and doing things in order to please God. Don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful to spend time in prayer, to read the Bible and to fast, but these things do not make God love you. His love for us is constant and is not dependent on us participating in various spiritual disciplines. Here is the question I have learned to ask myself, “Am I doing this spiritual discipline in order to get something from God or am I doing it out of my love for Him?” If we participate in works in order to receive something from God, we are missing the point! God loves us no matter what. Spiritual disciplines are only to be done out of our love for Him, and let’s remember that He first loved us. Selah (pause and think about that for a moment).
Let me remind you today that Jesus went to the cross and bore your sin, sickness and every curse of the devil. His precious blood has given us relationship with God without the works of the law. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin, He sees us covered in the blood of Jesus. Our faith is never to be in our works, but in God’s grace. There is nothing we can “do” to be saved, but it is by the grace of God that we are saved.
It is because of God’s unconditional love for us, that we want topray, read His Word and spend time in fellowship with Him (not out of obligation or to make Him love us), but out of thankfulness for Jesus and His blood. His grace is greater than your sin, sickness or anything you encounter on earth. He loves you my friend. I pray that you relish in this awesome truth today. Be free from works of the flesh and simply receive the greatest gift ever given – grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer:
“Lord, thank you for your love and grace. I am amazed that you love me unconditionally. This means that even if I were to mess up today – you still love me. Help me to receive this truth. I declare Your grace over my life today. Cover me with Your blood. I am forgiven, redeemed, healed and restored through the cross. You did the last “work” ever needed. You went to the cross for me and all I need to do is enjoy my relationship with You. Your love is amazing! Amen.”
Tracy became a Christian at the age of 16 and her life was changed forever. She went from being a depressed, suicidal, rebellious teenager to a dynamic leader for Christ. Immediately after accepting Jesus as her Savior, Tracy fought the school board in order to begin a Bible study on school grounds at her high school in Illinois. The dramatic transformation in Tracy's life has inspired many, including her own mother, to give their lives to Christ.
