Archive for Personal Development
Think on These Things!
Posted by: | CommentsYour most dominant thoughts will determine what you will acquire most out of life. Too often, we go around allowing negative thinking to cloud our mind. For many, the glass is half empty when it should be half full.
But if you make a decision to change the way you think, you will surely see a change in life. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the way we think is tied to our faith. In other words, If you think that you’ll never rise to a new level in life, then that’s the level you’ll achieve. If you think that you’ll never be made whole, then you’re limiting God’s healing power on your life. If you think you don’t have the talents, abilities or the skills then you will never fulfill what Philippians 4:13 says about you- that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “So as a man thinketh, so is he.” If you think about things that are mediocre, or things that are not admirable, or things that aren’t worthy of praise, then you’re setting a low ceiling for your level of faith.
But I dare you to do what the Apostle Paul declares in Philippians 4:8, “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, whatever is lovely, admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” This is a guideline of how we should think.
Notice the scripture doesn’t say whatever is deceiving, lacking virtue, detestable, evil, whatever is full of doubt, whatever is depressing, or Read More→
Be Intentional In Every Area of Life
Posted by: | CommentsMany times we live life just going through the motions. For some, life is like a game of dice. They shake it up, throw it out there and hope it lands on a good number.
Sometimes you can’t just live life going wherever the wind takes you. You can’t just spend the wheel and hope to get a good pick. No, you have to be intentional about the things of life. You have do things with a purpose in mind.
For instance, many people will sow a seed simply because it’s “the thing” to do. For some, giving has become common place. They’re just going through the motions. And that’s fine as long as you’re consistently putting seed in the ground. But it’s important that you do it with intention. You should never forget the reason for giving.
When you tip the waitress at the restaurant, don’t just do it because that’s the thing you’re supposed to do. No, use that as an opportunity to be intentional. Look at it as a seed that you’re putting in the ground. When you give to others your intention is to help them and in return you will reap a harvest.
When you let someone in front of you at the grocery store line, do it with intention. Let it serve a purpose. For the scriptures remind you to treat others the way you want to be treated. In other words, when you show favor to someone else, favor will come back to you.
My friend, don’t just go through the ropes of life. If you want to make it to Read More→
His Power Works In You!
Posted by: | CommentsI like to call Him an Ephesians 3:20 God. That means He’s a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we may ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. It’s amazing to know that through Christ, we can achieve anything we set our minds to do. We serve a God who can conquer anything.
Yes it’s true, without Him we’re nothing. But with Him no weapon formed against you shall prosper.
The scriptures remind us that there’s nothing too hard for God. And with Him, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. If God be for you, no one can be against you.
My friend, it’s time to lift up your head and stick your shoulders back and boldly approach whatever comes your way with confidence. You have the power to achieve anything that you put your mind to.
Romans 8:11 says that the same power that raised Jesus from dead lives in you. It’s time to tap into that power. Be encouraged today and know that you have the ability to achieve great things.
When you feel like your skills don’t measure up, when you Read More→
He Has A Purpose for You!
Posted by: | Comments“For i know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God has a plan for all of our lives. From time to time, you might get tempted to think, “well, I don’t have any gifts or talents.” You might think that you have no purpose, but God has a plan even for you!
He assures you that even before you were formed in the womb, He knew you and He set you apart. Isn’t that amazing? That God had something great in store for you even before you were thought of?
I believe that if you seek the Lord God, He will show you the plans He has in store for you. Notice the scripture didn’t say He has plans for you to just barely get by. No, it says He has plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future!
I dare you to walk around in expectation! He has gifts and talents waiting on you but in order for them to revealed you have to seek after Him. You have to inquire about your purpose and His plan for your life!
Not only does he have a plan for you but He’ll carry it on until the end. I don’t believe it’s God’s will for you to give up on your gifts and talents. The apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:6, “I am confident of this, He who Read More→
Your Work Is Not In Vain
Posted by: | CommentsToo often, we validate our work as either worthy or worthless work. We’re very quick to go and work an eight-to-five because we know that we’re going to get a paycheck at the end of the week.
As teenagers, we were eager to cut the neighbor’s yard or sale lemonade at the the corner stand because we knew that we would earn a tip. A waitress knows the importance of working with a great attitude because she knows the more they like her service, the better the tip she will receive.
In fact I’m reminded of a time when I was younger, my first job was a bag boy at the local supermarket. One of the things I always remember is helping the people out to their cars. At the time I wasn’t as mature in Christ, so I always looked forward to the tip they would give me as I walked away.
Unfortunately, if we don’t get the tip we think we should get, we feel like all of our hard work and the great attitude we possessed along the way was in vain. We forget that God is the ultimate rewarder of everything we do.
Instead of getting discouraged, we should work like we’re working for Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 encourages you to work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
You see, man can give you a tip. They can give you only a small proportion of what you truly deserve, but God gives you the ultimate inheritance. The great thing is that God is always watching you. He sees everything you do and He knows your motives.
When you work a daily job, your supervisor may not see everything little thing you do. They’re not there to see you dot all your “I’s” and cross all your “T’s” but God is there Read More→
Be The Change You Want To See!
Posted by: | CommentsIn the New Testament, when Jesus came on the scene, He set an example. He didn’t go around condemning the people and making them feel bad about their short comings. No, He simply became the change that He wanted to see.
He was the ultimate example that pleased God. Jesus simply became the change by preaching love and showing us how to serve others. He simply went around doing good.
He preached the importance of being salt and light in the world. I found out, that in the Old Testament, whenever the people would bring a sacrifice or burnt offering to the priest in the temple, they had to purify it with salt. The salt was the preservative that preserved the meat that was offered up as a sacrifice. The salt was part of the change that made the offering an acceptable sacrifice in God’s eyes.
So when Jesus says we’re to be salt and light, He’s saying we’re to be a pure example for others to follow. We’re to be a light so that all men, who walk in the darkness, can see their way.
Just like Jesus, we should strive to be the positive change people need to see. Instead, of complaining and looking at what someone else is not doing or what they should be doing better, look at what you’re doing. Read More→
Be Open to a Higher Way of Thinking
Posted by: | CommentsOften times we don’t understand the ways of God. When reading the scriptures, we might say to ourselves, “well that doesn’t make sense, why would I pray for someone who persecutes me” such as Matthew 5:44 indicates.
To the natural man, this doesn’t make sense. That’s because we’re trying to reason it with our logical mind. We have to remember that when it comes to God, we can’t compare His Word against that of the natural mind.
Isaiah 55:9 says, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” That means, that we can’t comprehend the ways and thoughts of the Lord. His thoughts are on a higher plane. He sees the bigger picture.
You see with man, logically four plus four equals eight. You can go down the street and ask your neighbor what four plus four is and, if they know their arithmetic, they’ll tell you it’s eight. You can go across the country and ask what four plus four is, they’ll tell you eight. You can even go overseas and ask what four plus four is, they may speak a different language, the numbers may look different but when it all comes down to it, their four plus four will equal eight too.
Here’s the thing, God’s four plus four may very well equal sixteen– or thirty-two- or anything else but eight. Why? Because His logic isn’t the same as our logic. His ways are above ours ways.
Come to think about it, if God’s ways were the same as man’s, you and I wouldn’t be alive today. God would have taken us out long ago. But because of the forgiving love of Christ (which by the way doesn’t reason with the logic of man) you and I have the right to a tree of life. We may not understand His grace and mercy, but it’s those same mercies that wakes us up everyday.
So next time man tries to sum you up with the logic of this world, contradict that equation Read More→
Don’t Hold On To The Pain
Posted by: | CommentsIn the natural, we have a tendency to put up a wall when others do us wrong. As a result we may find ourselves retaliating in many different ways. Some may use offensive words as defense, some resort to physical acts, and others may stir up mess against the wrongdoer.
However one of the worst things that one can do is hold in the hurt. When someone does you wrong, talk to a close friend or relative. You may want to seek further counsel such as a spiritual adviser or a counselor. If the wrongdoer is a close friend or family member, you might want to consider sitting down with them, after you’ve calmed down, and talk the situation out. It could be a total misunderstanding.
Whatever the level the misunderstanding is, don’t hold it in. Small misunderstandings can escalate to bigger ones over time. And the longer you hold onto past hurt, pain, or disappointments the more unhealthy they become for you.
Don’t let hurts of the past plague your future. I once heard a wise man say, “you can’t move forward while looking in the rear view mirror.” When someone has wronged you, do everything you can to release the hurt and forgive them. When forgiving someone you’re doing it for your benefit. You see, when practicing forgiveness you’re making an effort to bring peace back to your life.
A wrongdoer may not even be aware of the offense, therefore they’re Read More→
Dealing With Difficult People
Posted by: | CommentsEvery once in a while, you may run into people who are particularly hard to get along with. Whether it be family, friends, or people you’re confronted with when you’re out and about, there will come a time when attitudes, anger, bitterness and egos get in the way.
You may be dealing will someone who wants to be intentionally difficult or someone who difficult and unaware. One main thing to remember, is that people will be people. In other words, no one is perfect. No one has hit that mark where they’ve arrived.
If you’re dealing with a friend who is hard to deal with, try taking a peaceful route. Try making peace and talking the situation out. Know that you don’t have to agree with their ways but instead remember that they are human and let be an Read More→
Be Effective Not Affected
Posted by: | CommentsDo not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2
One of the most difficult things to do when living the Christian life is being in the world and not of the world. There are so many opportunities to conform to the ways of the world. Many opportunities to be led astray. But I believe that God wants you to be the light that this world needs to see.
Instead of trying to fit in and be who the world wants you to be, try to be the positive and refreshing change that the world needs to see. Too often were told to that we can’t go out with friends and have fun.
But know today that you can hangout with friends and be effective and not affected. Set a tone that is positive and light. Let them know that you can have fun and be Read More→
