Waiting in Style

This is a devotional from one of my bible plans entitled "21 Days of Powerful Breakthroughs". I completed it back in October but I needed it TODAY!

I decided to share it just in case one of you needed it too. It is designed to be completed in 21 days so you can either read through it all now or come back each day.

However you decide...I pray it blesses and encourages you like it did and does me.

Day 1 - The Lord will see us through

Do you understand how powerful this scripture is? We know no matter who has plotted against us; God promises to help us through! Whether on our jobs, within our relationships, or while in school, we can trust God is there to help us. We do not have to be fearful because God has already promised victory.

Reflection: Think about a time you worried about an issue and God gave you victory. Remember, He is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will certainly help you once again! This should make you feel like saying, “The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?” Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:6,8)

Day 2 - Worry not, pray always

For so often, many of the battles we are worrying about are things God never intended for our lives. We must begin to adopt a mindset to seek Him first prior to making any decisions on our own. You have to begin to ask yourself, "Is this God approved?" James 1:12 tells us when a man has been approved; he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to anyone who loves Him. Let God lead you before you begin your day, turn on the news, or get the kids ready for school. Take time to ask God for His guidance. Ask Him to guide your decisions, thoughts, words and mindset, so you can live the life God has purposed for you! It will not grieve you then and only then, you may go through trials and tribulations, but it will not grieve you. You will find yourself with a sense of peace, neglecting to worry, blessed day in and day out, and living a fulfilled life because each decision has already been pre-approved by God!

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you sought God's guidance and how the situation worked out for your good. Remember, He promises to be your shepherd so you will want for nothing. God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him. (James 1:12) One day he prayed to Israel's God, “Please bless me and give me a lot of land. Be with me so I will be safe from harm.” And God did just what Jabez had asked. (1 Chronicles 4:10) I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn't like the peace this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid. (John 14:27) You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. (Psalm 23:1)

Day 3 - Fret for nothing

Have you ever wanted something so bad from God you found yourself waiting anxiously? As a result, you thought about receiving His goodness "day in" and "day out" you literally neglected everything else. These scriptures tell us to fret for nothing, but pray about everything! It tells us in doing so; God will give us a peace others cannot understand. He will guard our hearts against all harm and danger. God will guard you! I love the word guard. It is defined as a precautionary measure warding off impending danger, damage, or injury. Isn't that good to know? God is listening to your prayer requests, providing you peace and protecting you from any danger a premature prayer approval is certain to cause! James 1:12 says, "For when He has been approved, He will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." No matter what, be consistent throughout life, there are three stages you may find yourself: waiting, receiving, or moving to the next stage of your life's journey. No matter what stage you are in, it is important to be consistent throughout.

Reflection: Think back when you were waiting anxiously for an answered prayer and you decided to stand on faith and let go and let God. Can you recall when He moved mountains just to meet your needs? Whatever you are concerned about today, let go and watch your faith move the mountains in your life. Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. (Phillipians 4:6-7) The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. (Isaiah 26:3)

Day 4 - Day of contentment

"This is only a test!" So often, we hear these words during the late night hours via our televisions. Please understand these great words can also be applied to our lives as well. These scriptures remind us to remain content. Each and everyday as we go through the journey of life, God is testing us to see if we are ready for a promotion. As a result, we are often confronted by trials and tribulations where God is testing us to see how we will respond. Remember, this is only a test! Proverbs 3:25-26 reminds us not to be afraid but to be confident in the Lord. Praise at all times He has already promised to see us through. Will you stay consistent and content when adversities come knocking at your door? Or will everyone around you know you are going through an unfortunate event? God wants you to rejoice when you are being blessed and also when you are facing a trial. God will make a way He promises when you go through the fires of life you will be unharmed. Just as He has helped Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, God wants the same for you. Do you believe today He is making a way for you and destroying your mountains? The Lord states, "I myself will prepare your way, leveling mountains and hills. I will break down bronze gates and smash their iron bars." We have to stay in a place trusting and believing through prayer things will work out. Do not keep your eyes on your issues, but on God. In doing so, He promises you will not fall.

Reflection: Begin today declaring whatever comes your way, whether good or bad, you will continue to rejoice knowing He is already fighting for you. What things are you rejoicing for today? I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. (Philippians 4:11-12) So don't be afraid of sudden disasters or storms that strike those who are evil. You can be sure that the Lord will protect you from harm. (Proverbs 3:25-26) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. (Acts 16:25-26) and the king's high officials, governors, and advisors all crowded around them. The men were not burned, their hair wasn't scorched, and their clothes didn't even smell like smoke. (Daniel 3:27) The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won't fall. (Psalm 37:24)

Day 5 - Wait on the Lord

If you are at a place in your life where you are tired of being sick and tired, today you have to commit to wait on the Lord. This scripture is a great reminder that if you wait on Him, you will have a sense of peace and renewed strength. Yield to His Word many times in our lives, our battles wear us down, because we are moving at our own speed. Our "to do lists" tend to grow longer and our time with our Master only grows shorter. God promises in His Word, if we yield, wait on Him to move, He promises He is good to those who wait on Him! It tells us the Lord is good to those who wait on Him and to the soul that continues to seek Him. It advises us to continue to quietly wait and hope in the Lord. As you wait, He will direct you. It is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It speaks of fishermen who toiled all night but caught nothing; given up they decided to call it quits. Jesus appeared to them and instructed them to cast their nets out to the right side of the ship. They caught so much it was difficult to carry it in! If you wait on Him, He will not only be good to you but you will prosper beyond what you can ever imagine! Change your strategy if you have been doing the same old thing you are destined to get the same result. Acts 3:2-7 describes a man who had been lame since birth. Throughout his life, he would lay in front of the temple asking for money. Peter and John, upon seeing this man, instructed him to arise and walk in Jesus' name and immediately he did! Are you battling the same issues for some time? What can you do differently today? Declare you are arising and walking today!

Reflection: If you are facing a challenge you have been battling for some time, make a decision today you will wait for Him to carry you through. Like my mother says, "Lets just wait and see what God's going to do!" Trust the Lord! Be brave and strong and trust the Lord. (Psalm 27:14) The Lord is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys him. It is good to wait patiently for the Lord to save us. (Lamentations 3:25-26) Simon Peter said, “I'm going fishing!” The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night. Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?” “No!” they answered. So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.” They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat. (John 21:3-6) A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in. The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, “Look up at us!” The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, “I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking.” Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, (Acts 3:2-7)

Day 6- Standing up to adversities

How will you react when difficulties come your way? Will you begin fearing what man can do or will you look at your adversary straight in the eye and stand on God's Word? It reminds us that we have to trust God no matter how it looks and fear nothing or no one. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). The Word tells us to rejoice no matter what. Of course you are not rejoicing because you are facing a trial, but simply rejoicing because God is in control and He promises He will do what He says He will do. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But, let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing‚" (James 1:2-4). So count it all joy because God is up to something! His words are true. Ezekiel 12:28 reminds us, "There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God". You too can rejoice knowing not only will God work on your behalf, but He also promises to do it speedily. He said on this day it is done! There is no reason to be concerned or worried, because God is in control. So on this day, stand up to your issues, and greet it with a smile because we know God promises to fight our battles on our behalf.

Reflection: Think on a time when God fought a battle on your behalf. How did you know it was God? Did it seem impossible initially? How did you feel after your victory. but even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you. I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me. (Psalm 56:3-4)

Day 7 - Remain quiet during your storms

Many times when we go through trials, we tend to immediately pick up the phone, speak with a friend or update our status bar to determine what to do. Before long, everybody knows you are going through it. You are no longer walking around with zeal, but wearing a ton of problems on your face. You seek the help of others before seeking the help of God. As our scripture reads, be still and know He is God! It is important to understand you do not have to consult others without consulting Him first. He will tell you who to call, where to go or to simply be quiet and He promises to work for you. Be still and quiet. I have to give credit to my uncle for the material for this day of the devotional. He is a very quiet man and most often when he faces trials our family never knows. More importantly, he walks in joy consistently. It is only after he is victorious; he shares his testimony with us. Call upon Him. "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Psalm 50:15). You can begin to rejoice because it says in His Word; He will deliver you in the day of trouble! "He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor,"(Psalm 72:4). So there is no longer a need to worry. He says He will fight for you and tear those who have oppressed you in pieces!

Reflection: If you are facing a situation in your life, make a sound decision to keep the trial to yourself. Pray over it with God, recite and meditate on His scriptures and then and only then after the trial has passed share it with others in the form of a testimony. Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me.” (Psalm 46:10)

Day 8- Keep praying no matter what

Luke 18:1 says no matter what, you have to keep praying. I can recall a time when I was deeply worried about a person lying about me to others. I prayed and finally decided I had enough, so I simply stopped praying about it. Keep praying. One morning, God began to deal with me. He made it quite clear to continue to pray about the person. Not understanding, because of course, I had dealt with it for so long, I began to believe it was simply going to be this way for the rest of my life. Be careful not to believe the lies of the devil! But, out of obedience, I decided to pray about the situation once more. Do you know, shortly afterwards, God revealed this person‚ lies to everyone? He not only brought the situation to an end, but He led me to Exodus 14:13 and promised me I would see this person no more. It will turn around. I am here to tell you things will and can turn around. The scripture says, "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:19). It does not matter how it looks today or even how it feels. God promises in His Word through prayer, things will certainly turn around. We know this is true because in Isaiah 55:11 it states, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." If there is ever a time to really pray and believe, it is when you have been counted out, a relationship looks dead, an opportunity seems too far to obtain or something seems hopeless! Make a commitment to keep praying!

Reflection: Have you been dealing with a situation for a period time? I challenge you to continue to pray about the situation and no matter how hard it looks, God will turn it around in His time. Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up (Luke 18:1) But Moses answered, “Don't be afraid! Be brave, and you will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. (Exodus 14:13)

Day 9 - Preparation reduces worry

Whatever it is you are hoping and expecting, it is important to be prepared for it. How can you say, one day I will do this or that, but are lacking to put yourself in a position to be able to receive it? In Jeremiah 31:17, God says there is hope in your future. This lets us know the very thing you are hoping shall come to pass. Prepare and expect. There are ten women who set out on a journey - all expecting to meet the bridegroom to attend a marriage. There is something very powerful about this passage -ALL TEN WERE EXPECTING! So, if all ten were expecting to meet the bridegroom, why is it only half were prepared? A chosen few. Many times when we set out on our journeys with hopes, aspirations and dreams we may all start at the same place, but only a selected few obtain victory because of simply preparing in advance. So, what are you expecting from God today? Is it success on your job, a long and healthy life, a marriage, financial success or simply peace? You have to begin to not only believe, but also start preparing yourself today.

Reflection: Take time today to list five things you have been expecting and praying for from God. Next to each item, list what preparations you can begin to take in order to be prepared to receive it. So don't lose hope. I, the Lord, have spoken. (Jeremiah 31:17) Then in the middle of the night someone shouted, “Here's the groom! Come to meet him!” When the women got up and started getting their lamps ready, the foolish ones said to the others, “Let us have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out.” Those who were wise answered, “There's not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves.” While the foolish ones were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The five who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed. (Matthew 25:6-10)

Day 10 -It's not always going to be this way

Even if it looks like the odds are stacked against you, if you only believe, I promise it will not always be this way. Romans 4:16-17 tells us through our faith and His grace the promise will be fulfilled for all believers. It also tells us, for it is not because of our good deeds or even our bad ones, but because of His grace we will receive the promise. Never give up. Growing up in a single parent home, I know firsthand how things can change. I witnessed my mother making many sacrifices to make ends meet. She constantly believed we would succeed no matter what. For this reason, she never gave up on us. After a while, her prayers were answered. My siblings and I each graduated from college as an attorney, professor, nurse and engineer. Consistently, God has continued to bless her financially, physically and spiritually. These days, she does not have to worry about making ends meet. In fact, she often blesses us! Declare and decree. Romans 4:17 states to declare what you are expecting from God no matter how it looks right now. So, whatever you are expecting to turn around put the words into the atmosphere. Declare dead situations have now risen. Know death and life are in the power of the tongue. Begin to recite scriptures that relate to your situation daily.

Reflection: Think about your journey in life and what God has saved you from. Meditate on how God has rescued you from these times. Know because He is such an awesome God, He will do it again! Everything depends on having faith in God, so that God's promise is assured by his gift of undeserved grace. This promise isn't only for Abraham's descendants who have the Law. It is for all who are Abraham's descendants because they have faith, just as he did. Abraham is the ancestor of us all. The Scriptures say that Abraham would become the ancestor of many nations. This promise was made to Abraham because he had faith in God, who raises the dead to life and creates new things. (Romans 4:16-17)

Day 11 - And Suddenly

Just recently, God instructed me to praise Him for things I have been praying for. He said, "No longer pray for these petitions as if it has not happened, but begin to praise as if it has already happened!" For a stronger confirmation, I opened my Bible and my eyes fell on Acts 16:25-26 and I knew God was speaking to me once again. Praise Him in the valleys. The scriptures speak of Paul and Silas who were put into jail for merely performing the great works of God. The act of being placed in jail represents the trials and tribulations we too face today. The key behind the scriptures informs us Paul and Silas did not view their current situation as hopeless, but they praised God for what He was going to do. They praised God with such an awesome power that all the prisoners throughout the jail heard their praise. Suddenly! The scripture tells us suddenly, there was a great earthquake, the prison began to shake and all the doors opened and each prisoner's band loosen. The word suddenly is defined as something happening quickly. If you want to see God make big changes in your life, begin to praise Him big and immediately God will begin to work on your behalf! Start now to praise God in advance. And suddenly, you will see your mountains being leveled and your crooked places made straight!

Reflection: I challenge you to begin to praise God for prayers you expect to come to pass! And suddenly, you will see God do a big thing in your life. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. (Acts 16:25-26) As I lead you, I will level mountains and break the iron bars on bronze gates of cities. (Isaiah 45:2)

Day 12 - Problems are temporary

Whether it is a bad relationship, a loved one has been called home, or financial distress, there are certain to be moments in life where you ask God, "why?" God could be using us to help someone else. There are many disappointments in my life that have actually turned out to be blessings for others and also for myself. Because of these experiences, I am now in a position to help others who may be experiencing similar issues and I am able to see them to victory, with God's help. He reminds us, His grace alone is sufficient. So, no matter what you are going through, God promises to see you through - gracefully. Only for a moment. I want to let you know you can rejoice, because problems are only temporary. The Word says affliction is just for a moment. Another scripture reads - joy cometh in the morning! No matter what you are going through, you have to remain steadfast, trusting and believing God's Word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. In His Word, He promises He will never leave you or forsake you. Trust His strategy not your own. We all have our own plans. We all know where we want to be this time next year and know, if it is God's will, you will certainly be there, however if it is not, He will lead you another way - a better way. Sometimes we do not understand it, but lean not to your own understanding, but on His. You must understand, life is like a long road, and your eyes can only see so far ahead. Isn't it good to know God can see all the way down the road? So, when life take you for an unexpected turn or things do not quite work out the way you envisioned, stand still and know God still cares for you. Lift up your hands and continue to pray because one day you will be able to say, God, I thank you for seeing me through this.

Reflection: Close your eyes and imagine your victory. Begin to praise God as if it has already happened! It will manifest. But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. (2Corinthians 12:9) These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. (2Corinthians 4:17 Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate. (Psalm 30:5) Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. (Hebrews 13:5) With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. (Proverbs 3:5)

Day 13: Consider your ways

These scriptures speak of a person who is attempting to live right, but there is a certain area of his or her life, which does not align with the Word of God. You have to ask God to reveal to you both sins, known and unknown, that may hinder your prayers from being answered. Although you may live a Christian life, if you choose to obey God in some areas of your life without obeying Him in other areas, your life will flourish only partially. Moving to His agenda. As you continue to grow in God, your desires will soon align with His will and purpose for your life. You will have a stronger desire to please Him. This process requires diligently seeking Him each and every day, keeping His commandments and getting to know His Word. It is only because of our lack of communication with God we fail to understand where He wants us to be. Commit today to take time to listen to what He has in store for you. Remember, it is never too late to start again. Acknowledge your sins. This scripture states God will go away until His people acknowledge Him and seek Him. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land‚" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Once you acknowledge all your sins and turn away from them, it is then and only then, God will begin to hear your prayers.

Reflection: Ask God to reveal anything to you that does not align with His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be obedient in all areas of your life. Stand on faith knowing you will begin to live God's way. Remember that the Lord All-Powerful had said to them and to the people: You say this isn't the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses, while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what's happening. You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don't keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes. (Haggai 1:2-6) Then I'll return to my temple until they confess their guilt and worship me, until they are desperate and beg for my help. (Hosea 5:15)

Day 14 - Keep your hope in the Lord

So often, we want to move at our own pace but fail to move at God's. God makes it clear that whatever you desire of Him, if you keep your hope in Him, He will renew your strength. Sometimes waiting on God can be challenging. We are saying, "God, when? God, why? God, what are you doing with me? God, I don't quite understand it." No good thing will be withheld from you. It is not for us to know when, why or even to understand His plans for our lives. It is more relevant to understand He loves us so much He will not leave or forsake us. He even loves us so much that He will not hurt us and He only desires the best for us. He will not withhold anything good from us. Isn't this great to know? God is like a virus protector. He will make certain it does not come your way! There is hope. If you find yourself waiting on God today, stand on His Word. He says there is hope in your future. Just hold on, knowing you will live a full life here on earth. Wait for Him and quietly place all your hope in the Lord. In doing so, He will provide you with the strength to keep going and give you victory.

Reflection: If there is something you have been waiting for from the Lord, begin to declare right now God is working it out for you and it will come in God's time. Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. (Hebrews 13:5) Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. (Psalm 84:11) So don't lose hope. I, the Lord, have spoken. (Jeremiah 31:17) It is good to wait patiently for the Lord to save us. (Lamentations 3:26)

Day 15 -Whose report are you going to believe?

Often in life, you will hear the devil speak to you, saying things like you are too fat, too skinny, too poor, not smart or even not beautiful enough. You must recognize these voices are of the devil. But remember, God made you beautiful. God had a plan for me. See, I understand what you are going through. I too used to listen to these voices and what is even worse, started to believe them. Although God already had a plan for my life, I mean a big plan beyond my thoughts. The devil knew if I believed the lies he had construed in my head, it would stop me from moving into the direction God already had for me. God knew my future and more importantly He deemed I would have success. Fight back with God's Word "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart," (Hebrews 4:12). When those voices come against you, you have to fight back with the Word of God. It is the most powerful weapon you will ever own. Therefore, it is important to memorize the Word and be able to recite it immediately. You may find yourself in situations where your Bible may not be accessible and in order to obtain success, you must quickly fight back with the Word. Put it in the atmosphere. Make a commitment you will no longer allow the lies of the devil to linger. Declare God's Word and you will win each and every time.

Reflection: Whose report will you believe? Have you received any negative reports lately? Speak against these reports, proclaiming the powerful Word of God. and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. (Psalm 139:14)

Day 16 - Trust Him even when you can't trace Him

Sometimes, we face life's issues and wonder why God has not stepped in to help. Perhaps He has already helped us, but we may not see it yet. Even more so, we do not know how God intends to work out our issues because it is not how we expected it. Lean not to your understanding. When we don't quite understand what is going on in our lives it is important to put it in God's hands. It tells us, lean not to our own limited understanding, but stand confident knowing we can both trust and depend on God. Do you believe He is working it out for your good? I promise He is. And when this trial is over, you will understand, with the help of the Holy Spirit, God's wisdom and knowledge for your life. Trust Him no matter what. Begin today letting God know you trust Him no matter what it looks like. God knows when to step in at the right time and turn things around. Remember, He knows and sees all. Therefore, the direction you desperately want to travel, God may instruct you that it may not be time just yet. Or the person you are praying for may need a little growing first. Whatever it is, God knows best. God will remain faithful knowing He will bless you just when you put it all in His hands, but first you have to trust God. Reflection: Declare you will trust Him and let every anxiety, worry, and surrender it all to His will. With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. (Proverbs 3:5) Day 17 - Ask Him to lead you It was laid on my heart today to ask God for His guidance and allow Him to lead me. Sometimes in life, we have an idea of how we want our life to unfold, but God already knows what is in our future. God already has a plan for our lives. We simply need to ask Him to reveal it to us, get on board and trust Him to be our source and light! Ask for direction. I had a conversation with my mother and this thought really came to light. Our conversation was really like no other. Out of the blue, (or should I say God purposed her) she spoke to me about how she chose her career. My mother stated at the age of eight, she asked God to reveal to her what He wanted her to do. He revealed to her she should be a special education teacher. Having a sister with special needs, she understood the importance of her calling. He will give you grace She stated, "God gave her grace to perform her job and she never once regretted her decision." She found herself in situations others would complain about, such as changing young adult students' diapers, keeping students clean, and simply going beyond the call of duty. But, what really stood out is that she enjoyed every minute. While it was a requirement to wear a mask, she chose not to because she wanted her students to know she loved them and had a great deal of compassion for them. God provided her with the stamina to make it through these times, and when that chapter of her life was over, He revealed to her it was time to move on.

Reflection: If you are unclear regarding the direction of your life, ask God what does He desire of you. And whatever He reveals to you ask Him for His grace to do His will. I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)

Day 18- Just because it looks like nothing doesn't mean God isn't up to something

Elijah believed God would end the drought therefore, he continued to pray for rain. I bet people thought he was crazy because he kept believing when it really looked like a dead situation. However, he trusted God would stay faithful to His promise. Persistence is key. We can apply this lesson in our lives today. Are we willing to be persistent and continue to pray in a land of drought? In this passage, we see persistence plus prayer is key. Elijah was not only persistent but he did not take "no" for an answer. Each time his servant came back to report there was no sign of rain, he instructed him to go back a total of seven times before there was even a small sign of cloud. Then again. Many times in life we give up too easily - when the doctor says "no," when we have one bad day, an opportunity falls through or our kids are acting a certain way. But, we must realize our prayers are providing a constant and powerful breakthrough. God sent Elijah a small sign - a cloud and soon after there was a heavy rain. Although you may not see huge progress today, God is forming small clouds on your behalf. So is there an area in your life you have given up? Are you just another touch away from victory? Stand strong knowing God is forming clouds for you!

Reflection: Have you been praying about something and ignoring the small progress? Begin to thank God for the small victories in your life. These small victories will certain to bring about a big movement in the future. and said to his servant, “Look toward the sea.” The servant left. And when he came back, he said, “I looked, but I didn't see anything.” Elijah told him to look seven more times. After the seventh time the servant replied, “I see a small cloud coming this way. But it's no bigger than a fist.” Elijah told him, “Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.” (1Kings 18:43-44)

Day 19 - Receiving the praises of God

John 12:43 speaks of receiving the praise of God and not of man. Most often as we go about our days, we may seek several likes on our social media page, hope to be retweeted on our status bar, or simply wishing friends and family would validate who we are. What is even worse, we also seek the praises from those we do not like, hoping for a "good job," "you are the best" or "I appreciate you," but instead, we should seek the praises of our Heavenly Father. Follow His will. So, how do we get the praises from God up above? Begin by seeking and implementing God's will for our lives. Love doing what is right and follow His commandments. Let go of any idols you have placed above God. Knowing if we follow His will, we will not only have a fulfilled life, but we will obtain the praises of the Heavenly Father. He has started a good work "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had ordained that we should walk in them‚" (Ephesians 2:10). God expects us to walk into the good work He has already implemented in our lives. We have been created and designed for God's use. Begin today listening to your heart, asking God how your life can be used to give Him praise. Cease to live a self-fulfilled life, and let God begin to use you for His purpose. Then you will begin to receive the praises of God.

Reflection: Ask God today to reveal to you how you can begin to receive His praises in your life. And besides, the leaders liked praise from others more than they liked praise from God. (John 12:43)

Day 20 - Losing a loved one

God promises if your mother or father forsakes you, He will remain. In His Word, it tells us depend on no one, but stand and lean on God alone. Not your parents, your spouse, children, but only God. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man"(Psalm 118:8). Let them go. Throughout life, we may lose a loved one or a relationship may come to a sudden end, and we may find ourselves stuck in the moment. If you have been dependent on someone or grieving the loss of a loved one, ask God to see you through. Be determined, no matter what, that you will depend on God during this difficult period in your life. Know your tears are only temporary and there will be a time when you will not have to cry anymore. It is not God's desire for you to remain in your past. He desires for you to remove anything holding you back from following and trusting Him. For this reason Luke 9:59-60 states, "Follow me!" He also states, "Let the dead bury the dead." Live again. Sometimes, when we lose a loved one or friend, there is a part of us that dies too. But, begin to ask God to bring this part of your life back. Let go of your tears. God wants to replace them with joy. Let go of the very moment when you lost your loved one, and leave the past in the past. Know God is doing a new thing in your life. Rejoice now! He is taking everything in your past and turning around for your good. Do you really believe He can? Begin to trust Him and Him alone. I pray you receive this and pray God will do a new thing for you.

Reflection: Ask God today to remove any dependence on people or merely living in the past. Ask God to remove this dependence and fill it with His presence. Remember, God is always there for you. Even if my father and mother should desert me, you will take care of me. (Psalm 27:10) These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. (2Corinthians 4:17)

Day 21 - He wants all of you

For such a long time, I thought giving God most of me was good enough. I thought since I prayed, attended church and would attempt to do what is right, that was enough for God. The reality is, God wants all of our lives, not just a part of it. Partial obedience = disobedience. What does it mean to give God your all? It means to stop clinching your fists and to stretch out your hands to God. For so long, I put things, people, relationships, and careers over God. I thought if I was a little obedient, or if I took a short cut, I would still receive the promises of God. But, when God says obey, He will not settle for partial obedience. For this reason, anytime I would step out of the will of God; I would immediately be convicted and corrected. But anytime I was obedient, God truly blessed me beyond my belief. Surrender. When you decide to give God your all, it requires surrendering every area of your life to Him. Even when it does not make sense, I have learned to obey Him. You know what really amazes me? Every time I let go of something, He usually gives it right back, but with lagniappe. Lagniappe is a word often used in New Orleans, which means a little something extra! Obedience is better than sacrifice. I love the passage in the Bible that speaks about Abraham preparing to sacrifice his one and only son. As soon as he prepares his son for sacrifice, God exclaims, "Do not lay a hand on the boy," He said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son‚" (Genesis 22:12). The angel of the Lord proclaimed, "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars...your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me" (Genesis 22:17-18). God is no different in our lives. The moment you follow Him, surrender, and let go, God promises He will bless you. You have to trust that God knows what is best for you. If something is not working in your life, you have to give it up to Him. When you surrender and align your plans with His, it may hurt for a moment, but God will turn your sadness into joy and give you strength. You will get to a place and wonder, why didn't I trust God in the first place? He will give you more than your heart could have ever imagined. I promise, you will obtain peace, which the world cannot give to you.

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have not been obedient? Ask God to help you to be obedient in this area. Request the Holy Spirit to give you the grace to be obedient. Let the Holy Spirit reveal what steps you should take as you become more like Christ. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ (Mark 12:30) If you willingly obey me, the best crops in the land will be yours. (Isaiah 1:19) Nehemiah told the people, “Enjoy good food and wine and share some with those who didn't have anything to bring. Don't be sad! This is a special day for the Lord, and he will make you happy and strong.” (Nehemiah 8:10)