Devise2bWise
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Are You OCD?
Read this blog post to find out if you display signs associated with OCD. |
Are you Obedient to the Lord, Committed to God's plan for your life, and Desperate for the Holy Spirit's constant presence? If so, dear reader, then you are OCD! I bet you have never been so happy to be diagnosed with anything in your whole life! If you have symptoms associated with OCD, then you are in good shape! Below are some tips to help you cultivate and foster obedience, commitment, and desperation for the triune Alpha and Omega!
1. Obedience to the Lord: When I think about obedience, I often think of authority figures in my life: parents, teachers, doctors, bosses, etc. Many people in our current, hedonistic society frown on obedience and smile on rebellion. If you are a believer, you know that obeying God is part of the call He has placed on your life. You also know that it can be a bizarre, risk-taking, and unreasonable call by earthly standards! Isaiah 55:9 says it well: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Sometimes, we don't understand God's plan, but we must be obedient. There is a level of worship in childlike obedience that blesses God beyond measure. With obedience comes blessing on your life! Isn't that awesome? We are called to be obedient, and because we do what we are supposed to do, God blesses us! What an AWESOME, GENEROUS, LOVING God we serve! However, do remember to "test everything. Hold on to the good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
2. Commitment to God's plan: Have you ever done something for someone to get something in return? I know I have. I find that many people pray to God with attached conditions. Question: Who are we to tell God what we will do ONLY if He does something for us in return? Answer: We are people saved by grace (by the blood of God's OWN son, I might add), yet NOT deserving of anything! Let us remain humble and staid on God's Word and His plans. God is ALL GOOD ALL THE TIME. His plans for us are that we would prosper and have hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Just because this is God's best for us does not mean that we always reap His best if we are not sowing obedience! Why should He give us His best yet we try to give Him our lukewarm efforts based on emotion? News Flash: Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, but we know that they are good for us--like cutting back on sugar, exercising, following rules, etc. God makes this promise to us in Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Let's commit to the TRUTH of God's Word with unwavering faith! I promise He won't disappoint.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.” |
Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Lo and Behold!
"I don't build no heathen temples/Where the Lord has done laid his hand."--James Taylor |
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13) |
Our souls are like gardens. They must be tended properly, checked often for weeds, dead roots, and bad fruit; they must also be fertilized with good soil. When we give our lives to Christ, we are no longer to live for ourselves, but instead we are to live for HIM. We are to fulfill God's purposes with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As James Taylor once sang in his song, Lo and Behold, "I don't build no heathen temples/Where the Lord has done laid His hand." Be careful of what you let into your body, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You MUST guard your heart, because it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). Glorify the Lord with your body in action, thought, and word. As you continue in this purging process, you will become holy, set apart, sanctified in the name of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:13-16 urges us to "prepare [our] minds for action; be self-controlled; set [our] hope fully on the grace to be given [us] when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires [we] had when [we] lived in ignorance. But just as he who called [us] is holy, so be holy in all [we] do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Now, that is a TALL order, but it's possible with Christ (Philippians 4:13)! Pursue righteousness and be comforted in this: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).
Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Defeet Illness with High Heals
"The same power that conquered the grave lives in me."--Dave George, Grant Vater Pankratz |
Do you believe in miracles? How many times have you asked someone that question? How many times have you been asked that question? You must be willing to suspend your unbelief! When you ask for anything from God, including healing, you must NOT doubt like a wave in the sea that is tossed about by the wind. Should you be double-minded, you will not receive anything from God (James 1:6-7). God requires faith on our part to trust Him with our problems. Don't you want your significant other, sibling/s, child/children, etc. to trust that you will come through for them when necessary? Well, God wants the same thing from us, His children! Through Him, ALL things are possible, but what seems the hardest part sometimes is for us to actually BELIEVE that what we are praying for will indeed occur (Philippians 4:13). Now, understand that if your request is not in line with biblical teaching or God's Will for your life, He will still answer you! It may not be the answer you want, but God knows what is best for your life! His plans are for you to live abundantly and with hope (Jeremiah 29:11)! If you are seeking God first and truly believing Him to be all that His Word says He is, then many things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). His Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). He is not a liar! The Lord knows what we need before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8)! Isn't that so awesome?!? Well, in March of 2009, I had two hardcore women on fire for God lay hands on me and pray for a miracle. And, guess what? I got my (really, God's) miracle!
After these two women laid hands on me in March 2009, I was super excited to get my next colonoscopy. Sounds a bit strange, I know! Anyway, my doctor decided to move by annual colonoscopy up from late 2009 to closer to mid 2009. I was so excited! I went in for my annual scope in 2009 and 2010, and my doctor said there was only scar tissue but no evidence of disease. Last October, I told my doctor before being anesthetized that he was not going to find ANYTHING! Guess what? I was right! I had been believing God for several years to prove Himself, and He did! My doctor said that my colon looked like a normal, healthy colon! Psalm 103:3 says that the Lord heals our diseases! Psalm 30:2 says: "Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me." Reader, there is power in prayer! The Lord bends His ear to the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29). Believe the Lord to bless you abundantly! With obedience comes blessing and favour. Remember not to be double-minded as the book of James reminds us. We serve an Awesome, Almighty God! Start believing God for some Awesome, Almighty healing!
Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!
Monday, August 27, 2012
The Sound of Silence
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29) |
1. The Silence of Noise: Can you effectively listen while talking at the same time? You may think you can, but you are definitely missing out on important information if your full attention is not devoted to the speaker. Our faith is strengthened when we are still. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Be still so that you can know God (Psalm 46:10). We make sacrifices and compromises every day when we are in relationship with people; we must apply the same formula to our relationship with God. In Proverbs 9:13, we learn that, "The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge." With silence, comes the voice of the Holy Spirit. If we are still, we can learn discipline and wisdom, through the Holy Spirit's impartment. These two qualities are vitally important in the character of a Christian. Finally, get rid of the noise! Fast from anything that is keeping you from spending time with God. Be careful NOT to create your own noise. "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him" (Proverbs 28:9).
2. The Silence of the Tongue: We've all heard the saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." This is actually a biblical principle! From the overflow of our hearts, our mouths speak (Luke 6:45)! This is another reason we need to be STILL. Being still promotes faith, discernment and purification! When we are pure, our hearts are pure, which means our words are pure! Be careful what you say, because "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21). Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be." Our words carry tremendous power, and with anointing, can bring healing and peace. However, without the blessing of the Lord, our words can bring death and chaos. Certainly, death and chaos (the absence of peace) are not of God. As Christians, we should aim to fulfill the command of 2 Timothy 2:16-17, which says the following: "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene." As believers in Christ, let us edify one another and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.
Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!
**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine. For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com. If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**
Friday, August 24, 2012
Get Your Mind INTO the GUTter
"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely haste leads to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5) |
Have you ever gotten yourself into a situation that you felt unsettled about, but did not have enough confidence in yourself to trust the warning signs? Well, recently, I got myself into one of the biggest pickles of my life by ignoring a host of foreboding signs because I lacked confidence in my judgment and in the strength of God's voice within me. Through this experience, I realized that discernment AND diligence must be cultivated in our lives daily so that we can know what our gut is telling us. Discernment as defined by dictionary.com is: acuteness of judgment and understanding. Diligence as defined by dictionary.com is: the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.
By pursuing God consistently and committing His Word[s] of wisdom to our memories and hearts, we are being transformed into His likeness daily (2 Corinthians 3:18), thus pursuing righteousness, ultimately leading to discernment and diligence. God hears the prayers of the righteous (John 9:31)! His clarity and peace surround the righteous! After all, righteousness and peace kiss one another (Psalm 85:10). When you are in God's Will, your spirit promotes confidence within your being. Your spirit, your heart of hearts where Jesus lives, is where your gut feeling can be heard. This is the place in which the Holy Spirit speaks into your life His will for your life.
TIPS TO STAY ON GUARD:
1. Your ability to employ discernment and diligence is an ability that should not be taken for granted. Your ability can and will get rusty if you do not properly attend to it.
2. Also, if your spirit is telling you something, and you ignore it, be prepared to suffer the consequences as I am doing right now! Although the consequences can be great, the consequence of not following the Holy Spirit's promptings are even greater.
Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :)
**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine. For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com. If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Pants on the Ground? Tighten your Bible belt!
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13) |
"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11) |
1. Truth: If we hold to Jesus' teachings, "[we] will know the truth, and the truth will set [us] free" (John 8:32). God's Word is truth (John 17:17). When we are free, we are living in a state of "peace that transcends all understanding and are made privy to a guarded heart and mind in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). We must guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life! (Proverbs 4:23).
2. Righteousness: In order to avoid confusion, we must strive for righteousness. Psalm 85:10 says that "righteousness and peace kiss each other." The very eyes of the Lord are focused on the righteous! The Lord's ears are attentive to the prayers of a righteous man! (1 Peter 3:12). In the latter part of Ephesians 6, we are implored to pray! Let's be righteous, so the Lord will be focused on us and hear our cries!
3. Readiness and Peace: Can you wake up one morning and decide to run 4 miles without ever having trained in your life? I'm guessing not. Being prepared helps alleviate anxiety and confusion and promotes discernment and wisdom. Every day is a gift from God; let us not waste it with idleness, which encourages gossip and nosiness (1 Timothy 5:13). The Bible commands us to fix our eyes on all things noble. His Word is the truth. Knowing God's Word equips us with truth, which sets us free, and infuses us with peace! The enemy cannot compete with God's peace.
4. Faith: We are to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). "To the faithful, [God] show[s] [Himself] faithful" (2 Samuel 22:26). In Galatians 3:11, we learn that "the righteous will live by faith." Basically, if you are pursuing righteousness already, then living by faith will fall into place. Knowing God's Word and knowing your identity in Christ will increase your faith.
5. Salvation: Nothing I have written means anything if you are not born again in Christ Jesus. Romans 10:13 says that if you call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved. Once you are saved, all of the words on the pages in the Bible suddenly start to make sense--more so than ever before! Your salvation is made possible by the grace of God. You cannot earn it. You just have to receive it. When you value your salvation, you will begin to crave the Word of God so that you can be prepared to fight the powers of darkness that war against you daily.
6. Word of God: "The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). All the Holy Spirit needs is a minute portion of the heart to be softened, and the spirit can penetrate a person's life. What better way to defeat Satan than planting seeds in a nonbeliever's life? Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :)
**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine. For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com. If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**
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