Selfless - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) January 9, 2024

1 Corinthians 10:24 - No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

I recently read this verse and to be honest, my heart skipped a beat. It wasn't with the flutter of adoration and the 'squishiness' a girl has for a boy they like. Nope, my heart jumped in a panic because I wondered, Lord, how am I supposed to do this? How can I ever become so selfless?

God in His mercy gave me some understanding by reminding me that His Holy Spirit is more than able to keep me mindful of this instruction as well as show me how and when to put it into action.

The worry remained until I got to the last verse of the chapter. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:33 - I try to please everyone in every way. I don't think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved.

That's when I got it! I grasped why it is important to be more concerned about others than just myself. The objective is the salvation of souls and the role I can play in reconciling people with God.

If I am conscious of the need to be selfless, the Holy Spirit will guide me to be more selfless. And in being more selfless, I could earn a soul for the Lord. Knowing what's at stake reminded me of Christ's time on earth. He walked for miles, talked to countless people, and spent hours healing the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the dumb. He tirelessly freed individuals from the demons that tormented them. All of this must have been taxing on His human body but He gave selflessly because He knew that each soul was precious and needed to be freed from the devil's clutches. That's also why He bore the embarrassment, hunger, and pain of crucifixion for people who despised Him as well as those yet unborn like you and me.

Praise God, we are not expected to give up our lives. Yet, if we remember the instruction to be selfless, our behavior could lead a soul to Christ. The reverse is true too - our behavior could lead a soul away from the Savior. However, with the Holy Spirit as our guide, we'll make godly and righteous choices that draw people to the Lord - even if just one person.

And when that happens, the heavens will sing for the one who was set free from sin. Jesus said in Luke 15:10 - In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

The year is still young and I pray you will remember to be selfless. You might not get it right at first, but trust the Lord to help you get better daily as you become the vessel He uses to introduce others to Him. The Lord will help us all IJMN Amen.

See you at Noon EST.

Onward Christian Soldier - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) January 5, 2024

How many of us realize that when we signed up to have Jesus as our Lord and Savior we also signed up to be a part of an army? As believers in the Lord and what He stands for, we have joined the Army of God. You likely didn't understand that your choice meant voluntary conscription into military service but that is exactly what has happened.

The devil knows this only too well, however. And that is one reason why it attacks you in numerous ways. Its goal is to weaken you on the battlefield and remove you from the equation (John 10:10). If you become an ineffective soldier, the area you were meant to defend suddenly becomes susceptible to the devil.

This is why many people report that their lives got worse when they chose to walk with God - when a person truly commits to the Lord that the enemy sees them as a threat. Once that happens, it will do everything it can to get that individual to give up their position in God's army. That way, the territory under their protection is left undefended and is easy to attack. That territory could be the person's family, their office, their neighborhood, or even a specific individual God wanted them to cover with the anointing upon their life.

​Do you see why it is so crucial to keep forging ahead with the Lord even when things get difficult? Think about the countless lives that will be affected if you drop your spiritual weapons and walk away from your duty post. Job experienced this. The devil wanted him to curse God and turn from Him. If Job had submitted to satan's will, his friends would not have been blessed when he prayed for them. Additionally, he would not have received the double restoration God had waiting (Job 42:10).

This should remind us why praying for others is so important as opposed to just praying for ourselves and our loved ones. Each of us has someone or something God wants us to prayerfully watch over. He has given us the authority to wield the weapons of our heavenly warfare and determine the outcome of situations for individuals, families, nations, and even generations (Psalm 149).

Are we going to let satan punk us out of our assigned position? Shall we go AWOL from the battlefield abandoning the vulnerable that need us? Will we leave our fellow Christian soldiers undefended? Will we let the enemy win?

This year, we have to be mindful of our status as soldiers in God's army. He has strategically positioned us to bring His light into dark places. Put on your uniform, Christian soldier. Pick up your weapons of prayer, praise, fasting, evangelism, and intimate time with God's word. Strike the enemy down wherever it is trespassing, knowing that this earth, along with everything in it, belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1). Remember that Jesus has given us great power. Luke 10:19 - I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

We are well-equipped soldiers in God's army and cannot be harmed by the enemy. Plus, no weapon formed will prosper, by His grace. So, sign up for the Lord's army today, and don't quit. Don't let the enemy convince you to give up on God and His plans for you. Be on the offensive, using Your spiritual weapons to wage war as Your Commander instructs. Onward, Christian Soldier. Onward.

Shift Your Perspective - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) January 2, 2024

It is so easy to enter into a new year thinking about all the things you failed to do in the year that just ended. It is equally easy to focus on all the things you are waiting on the Lord to do. You look at all the promises you hoped to see that seemingly remain unfulfilled.

If that's how you felt on New Year's Day, or if that's how you feel right now, you are not alone. There's something about stepping into a calendar year that gets people sentimental. And in some cases, melancholy.

However, you cannot allow such attitudes to become the theme of your year. It just will not do to be burdened with what shoulda or coulda been. Instead, you have to take a moment or two, to remember what the Lord did for you in the last year. Things you never could have achieved on your own You can't afford to forget what God has done for your loved ones and yourself.

And as you remember those Jericho Moments - the wins God gave you along the way - you will no longer focus on what you are yet to see. You will instead focus on what God is bringing your way. There will be a shift in attitude and perspective. You'll go from sadness to the joy of the Lord. You'll fulfill Isaiah 61:3's guidance of replacing the spirit of despair with the garment of despair. This will be accomplished by singing and playing music that praises the Lord and dancing in anticipation of what's coming by His grace. After all, He promised that those who wait on Him will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11). Plus, He said in Proverbs 23:18 - ...you have a bright future (GNT). That commitment belongs to every child of God who believes in it.

Has your mind turned to the verse on "hope deferred"? Then, I want you to remember something. Proverbs 13:12 tells us, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life (NKJV). This verse is true and you might have lifted it up to the Lord to encourage Him to swiftly fulfill your desire. There is nothing wrong with that, except if your request is detestable to Him. Nevertheless, keep the following in mind: God can defer our desires to strengthen our faith and increase our patience.

If either of those is the reason why you are still waiting, then buckle up and be prepared to wait a little longer. We can't skip any classes with the Lord. Remember, He has taken full responsibility for you, His child. You must therefore be raised properly to become effective tools for His purpose here on earth. Thus, if you signed up to be His child, then you've signed up to learn what He has to teach the way He wants to teach you.

So, as we place some distance between 2023 and each new day, turn your gaze to the God who has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Plans that will not fail but will surely come to pass as we cooperate with Him and allow Him to help us with everything.

I hope to see you at Noon EST when we'll worship the Lord and pray for others. See you then!

Please read the following New Year's posts from the past:

1. Lose To Win​

2. Acknowledge God​

3. New Year, New Attitude