Blog

Refreshing & Affirmation for God’s Single Daughters:

In a time when encouragement for single women who have been taking a stand for Christ is scarce, It was so refreshing for me to hear the below sermon from Pastor Tony Evans. The name of the teaching series this sermon is found in is called Marriage Matters Part I. It’s a 7 part CD series. I’ve only posted one part, and that is the sermon called, “A Lesson on Romance.”

The lesson looks at the Song of Solomon and it affirms women who have been taking a stand for Christ. It reminds us that it is okay to expect God’s best. There is something that brings freedom and removes the tension, confusion, and shame often associated with being single for a long period of time, when a man of God not only echoes our deep-seated desires for a godly mate, but says with great strength, surety, and authority that yes this is what we should expect and stand on as women of God.

Some key points made were the man God is sending will affirm the woman’s value in how she sees herself, women should not descend in character or identity to accommodate getting a man, women should cause a man instead to ascend to her God-given standard—This is done by her maintaining her standard, no matter how hard it gets for a woman of character she should still continue to maintain her character through the hard times, and a woman who is of noble character still needs protecting.

The woman Should Not Descend in Character
A common question that a woman who has been set apart by God has is whether she has to lower herself or not to get a man. In some cases, women are looked at as being Jezebaals for taking a stand on the standard that God has given her. She is looked at as too rigid, pompous, or imbalanced when within herself she just wants to be loved in the correct way. She is gracious about her stance, but firm and sure.

Pastor Evans says that a woman should not descend in character to get a man. He sets this woman at ease as he explains that a woman should require a man to respect her and to ascend to the standard God has given her to hold on to.

Continue to Maintain Character During Hard Times
Pastor Evans uses the story of the woman from the Song of Solomon, who had been through some hard things, and yet she has resolved to maintain her integrity throughout the midst of it. Likewise, Pastor Evans encourages single women to continue to maintain their integrity in spite of the hard times. All of us who have been standing as singles know just how hard the times can get, but God has taken this into account when he gave us his word, and his word will help us to stand in the hard times. Continue to be resilient and resolved to stand during hard times.

The Right Man Will Affirm who We Are in Christ
Again, single women are comforted to know that it is okay not to just choose the current man available, yet unqualified. We should be looking for specific qualities such as a man affirming who we are in Christ. If how he is treating us or what he is calling us isn’t lining up with what God is calling us, and how Christ treats us, he isn’t the one. Move on.

A Woman who Stands for Christ Still Needs Protecting
There is a scripture that Pastor Evans brings out that talks about how to deal with a woman who is a door and one who is a wall:
“If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. Song of Solomon 8:9”
The way that Pastor Evans explained it is the woman who is the wall (Not easy, not giving it up) is to be celebrated and built up so that she will continue in doing so. He explained the scripture in such a way where it does not take for granted that because the woman has stood for a long time that she is cool, and will automatically continue to stand. Her brothers, who understand the value of what she is doing stand with her because they value her as their sister.

The other side of the scripture is explained in such a way as to protect the girl who does not understand her worth nor the value of holding out until marriage. She is the door letting any visitor come on in. She obviously needs to be protected, hidden, and on lock down until she can get it together.
I thought it was awesome that the scripture explained to protect both girls and to remind both girls of their worth, and not just the girl who was a door. The sermon made me feel like as a woman that it is okay for me to desire to be protected, covered, and loved the way that God said I should be–like Christ loves the church. If standing through all of the pain and disappointment ensued is the way to get there; then I will continue to stand empowered that I do not have to stand alone. God is backing us along with his word and other godly men and women like Pastor Tony Evans.

To order the full series from Pastor Tony Evans, Click the following link: Click here!
Listen to the complete sermon below, and also order the full teaching series at his website:

0

Book Review – Love Your Status: A Quick Guide for the Single Woman by KJ Hansel

This book does just what it says it will do which is to persuade or remind us as single women to love our status. It pin-points some very important and enjoyable facts that are unique to the single woman’s experience such as the ability to enjoy the initial pursuit of an appropriate suitor.

In discerning, the suitor according to his actions and not by what he says, we also enjoy the ability to demand to be treated like ladies. She boldly reminds us that being concrete on our God-given standards and some additional preferences that we are willing to embody ourselves will ensure us that we get just what we are worthy of and that is God’s best.

I love some  of the helpful tips that KJ, the author,  includes to keep us stable while checking out a brother or even waiting and not talking to anyone at all. Tips include having a thankful journal, questions for each phase of dating, and not taking things past a first date when certain red-flags are in view.

The thankful journal is where she jots down big and small things that she is thankful for. The  thankful journal helps to have the right perspective in our season of waiting. Some of her key advice for the first date is not to ask too serious questions, but allow the questions to be broad enough to allow us to see if we’d like to continue to a second date.

One question we should ask initially:

If you were not a ________________ (current job title) what would you do? She shared how this question will reveal his passions.

One question that we should ask  later on:

Share your thoughts on ____________. (The blank could be filled with any moral issue of importance to you.) She shared this is a good way to see if you all are compatible on controversial issues that may be of importance to you.

She tackles the selfish attitude that many singles can acquire, and ways to combat selfishness. She answers the question of rather a soul-mate is actually a thing, suggests helpful relationship resources, and encourages women to live in the present.

Of course, my favorite parts are those that give women that extra empowerment boost that we need.

​See quote below:
“Insist he earn your investment on the grounds that you are a woman of high value. I’m not saying you should play emotional games. What I am suggesting is that I know many women who delve headfirst into a relationship as soon as a feller shows even a hint of interest. This generally scares guys, and by giving him your full investment up front, there’s no work he has to put in to win your heart.”Love this! Her book is available on Amazon and and her blog is kjhansel.com​​

0

Cece Winans Returns with New Music After Nearly 9 Years Since her Last Album:

Cece Winans is one of those artists where you already know that she will be coming strong. She is gospel royalty not only because she can sing, and comes from the Winans family, but because of her sincerity in her relationship with God.

Cece recently, stopped by Urban Praise Radio sharing how despite the much success that she has garnered throughout the years; it’s easy for her to stay humble. She sees staying humble as the most important thing.
She discussed how all of us have an anointing by God, and the importance of walking out our own individual anointing in which God has given us. She continued saying, “When we go before God in judgment, he will not ask us how many awards we’ve won, but he will say do we have his heart?”
Her latest record was produced by her son Alvin Jr. III. She had reservations with his ideas for the album, but finally submitted to it. She is proud at the depth displayed in the lyrics written by her son:

“Like the three Hebrew boys that day
Ooh, forced to take their fate to flames
I, too, have had the choice to break
And serve the world instead
But I stood on the Word and did not bow
Endured the steps the Lord allowed
I came out stronger shouting “WOW…
God’s never failed me yet!”

Above are lyrics written by her son from the song, “He’s Never Felled Me Yet.”

When asked about balancing life with family, she discussed how at one point she home-schooled her kids on the road bringing in a teacher. This went on for a few years prior to allowing the children to go back to school.

She closed out by stating that our relationship with God is the most important thing. The industry changes going up and down with popularity and acceptance, and if we get our acceptance from God we will be okay.

Her album is currently the number one gospel album, and in the top 20 urban right now. It is called, “Let Them Fall In Love” and was released February 3rd of this year.

0

Bouncing Back From Brokenness – Part II

Continuing from last week’s two keys to bounce back from brokenness. Below are three more important keys that we will need to have.

Have a Close Unit of Godly Friends:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down,one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (KJV)

The above scripture is often applied to married people, but it is just as applicable to single individuals as well. God often puts together godly ties with other believers to protect his children. Contrary to what some may believe as a single man or woman, you do not have to walk alone. Learn to be thankful for those relationships that God has put in your life such as friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers. Utilize these relationships to help you to stand with support knowing that you aren’t in this alone. You are stronger together. These relationships often bring about healing that we don’t even realize.

Guard Yourself from Toxic People:
Tamar, in the story discussed in part one did well to isolate herself from Amnon. Now knowing his character, he isn’t one to hang around. It can only be wise to guard ourselves from being too close from those who do not value us. The danger in allowing ourselves to be close to those who do not value us is that it will eventually cause us not to value ourselves, and that can get us stuck. It isn’t God’s will for us to be stuck, but for us to always be moving forward in the identity and purpose that God has pre-ordained for us. Thus, we gotta cut some people sometimes and that is okay.

Do something Cool, Nice, New, or Fun for Yourself:
What do you like to do for fun? What do you like to do to remind yourself that you are worth it? Worth what? Worth love, affection, and experiencing the best that life has to offer. Some things that I do for myself include  taking myself out to eat almost every week while I read a book as I am waiting on my food. If I am in a new neighborhood for something, I may explore the neighborhood looking at unfamiliar restaurants, and stores. Recently, I had to go to a new neighborhood for a television interview, and I explored a restaurant that had some amazing Jambalaya.

Prepping for my video blogs allows me to try different makeup looks which I love to do. It is so much fun being a woman. We can try different hairstyles, fashion, and makeup looks all the time. It is so exciting. I even recently perfected applying false lashes lol. It took me some time to get this child!

Scripture admonishes women to adorn ourselves. There is a reason why it is important for us to adorn ourselves. We need to see ourselves as the beautiful women that God has made us to be. We are just to do this in a manner that doesn’t bring inappropriate attention. Many focus on the part of scripture that says to dress modestly, but not on the command to adorn ourselves which means to dress up, celebrate, or decorate ourselves.

This is so important. Another thing that I love to do for myself is to get dressed up and go to a concert of one of my favorite artists and take pics of course. It’s all appropriate self-love and self-care. We will need to carry this habit into our marriages when the Lord does bless us one day, so that we do not lose who we are in the responsibilities of marriage, children, and family life. These things should be a blessing to us and not a burden.
When marriage and family become a burden; It may be time for appropriate self-care.

We cannot wait for someone else to come into our lives and remind us that we are worth it. We have to be willing to do this for ourselves. We have to capture every negative thought as 2 Corinthians 10:5 says and get on with living.
There is complete healing and restoration that can take place after brokenness if we follow these guidelines and choose not to give up. Things will get better, and after a while the hurt that we once felt from the brokenness will seem oh so far away. Let’s enjoy this journey of life, and enjoy being made whole in Christ

0

Bouncing Back From Brokenness Part I

Recently, I did an interview regarding accepting God’s no which feels like brokenness and confusion while we are experiencing it. Sometimes it is hard to get back to life as we’ve known it before the brokenness because we’ve learned to function from a different position. A position of lowliness, and often the wrong perspective because of our circumstance. I think about Job and all of the various emotions, questioning, and conversations he had during his ordeal.

If we maintain the wrong perspective, we could begin to function from a place lower than who we are, and certainly lower than what God intended. So, what do we do to restore that wholeness, that pep in our step, that ease of living in a way? 

​Below are some things that can help us bounce back from brokenness.

Intimacy with Jesus Check:
First things first. We want to make sure our intentionality in seeking the Lord is on ten. There can be a resistance in drawing near to the Lord after a hard time of brokenness because we sometimes feel that God could have prevented us from going through it, but he did not. We may question if he is really good. Despite, the questioning, we still need to pursue him, and as we do, he will change our perspective to showing us the reason he has allowed us to go through to make us stronger and strengthen our faith. This intimacy with God will condition us to be able to withstand all else that life has to offer.

For example, the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair performed a very intimate act of worship in front of naysayers in a man named Simon’s house. She had become a spectacle to her community. Everyone knew her faults and what she had been through, but she was able to endure the negative energy from others almost blocking it out completely because of her intimacy with God.

Intimacy with God produces endurance. God uses the trials of life to temper us to be able to handle the many challenges that will come with living for his glory. Remember if God’s glory is to be revealed in us we have to be able to endure suffering for Christ. Intimacy with God has a way of healing us right in the midst of the suffering, and causing us to be able to endure until the end.

Make Sure You Have Forgiven others:
This forgiveness enables you to get on living your life. There was a woman in the Bible named Tamar, who had a terrible thing happen to her that was not her fault at all, but because of what happened to her she made the choice to live in her brother’s house for the rest of her life as a desolate woman. Meaning she isolated herself from the possibility of having something more, something different all because of what happened to her.

She had been raped by her half brother Amnon. Her brother Absalom protected her afterward allowing her to live with him. He avenged her rape with the murder of his half brother Amon. However, I don’t want to focus on Absalom, but Tamar. She had a choice to get on living her life. It was her who made the choice to live in isolation from the possibilities of experiencing anything better than what had already befallen her.

Negative experiences in our lives can sometimes cause us to see life through a negative lense where we avoid the possibilities of something better, something positive, and something new. It may even blind us to the good things around us that are happening. In a sense, Absalom, protecting his sister and allowing her to live with him was a positive thing that should have affirmed her worth, and ability to be loved, but she did not see it that way. She saw her life as a sentence of isolation.

Yes, there was a stigma for girls back then who were no longer virgins, but she was not a woman of the night. She was a daughter of the king. It is almost as if she had forgotten who she was and decided to live as though she did not know her worth.

As a daughter of the king, do you know how many men would have been happy to marry into her royal family? How many men good men, who could have loved Tamar were avoided through her choice to isolate herself?

The Bible says that she was beautiful. She was so beautiful, that unfortunately, her brother chose not to control himself. He looked at her so highly when he was in his lust, and despised her so adamantly after satisfying his lust.

Tamar, the beautiful virgin who at one point wore the veil of many colors signifying her virginity, and availability to be wifed as a virgin gave up that dream after her self-worth was taken from her through rape. However, her value did not change.

She was still the king’s daughter, and the king could have covered her in the event that a man would have taken her as his bride (See Deuteronomy 22:17). The point is Tamar, even after experiencing her hardship, had a choice to live, and she chose not to due to unforgiveness and the wrong perspectives that not dealing with the hurt, and pain caused produced in her life.

We have a choice. A choice to forgive, to deal with the pain ensued, get God’s perspective, and move on with our lives choosing to live in spite of what we’ve loss. When God decides to bring retribution, he always pays us back more than what we’ve lost. We have to trust God with our wounds and forgive.

0

3 Lessons to Take Away From Fences Pt. 3: Celebrating and Honoring Our Fathers…

Celebrating and Honoring Our Fathers is Necessary:

After making up our minds to forgive our fathers of their shortcomings and deciding to honor them, it becomes easier to honor them when we look for the good in them. There was definitely good in Troy as there is good in most all men.
Troy tried to teach both his sons, Cory and Lyons the importance of hard work. He encouraged Cory to prioritize money based on needs versus wants first. He encouraged the importance of accepting the responsibility to take care of one’s family to Cory. He loved him in the best way that he knew how. He felt that he prepared him for the world in the best way that he knew how.

He encouraged his other son Lyons not to just focus on the passion of music, but to work also, so he would not have to borrow and beg while pursuing music. He was looked at as being harsh to Lyons for being reluctant to loan him money, but that is what fathers do. Fathers give hard lessons to attempt to make their sons men. These were all good qualities that Troy had. When we focus on our father’s good qualities like those of Troy, it makes it easier to celebrate and honor our fathers.

If for nothing else, we should honor them for the fact that they stayed in our lives to do what it is that they knew to do. In most cases, what many men have known to do is to provide. If nothing else, a man often always knows about that responsibility, and there are many men out there who do it well.
Instead of dishonoring our fathers, we should be sure to cherish them, talk with them, build relationship whenever possible even through times of hurtful forgiveness. Because like Troy, one day he isn’t going to be there, and we will wish we had of honored him while we had the chance. Our fathers our needed, and worthy of love and respect even through their imperfections.

0

3 Lessons to Take Away From Fences Pt.2: Our Father’s Imperfections…

OUR FATHER’S IMPERFECTIONS DO NOT GIVE US LEISURE TO DISHONOR HIM:

So, Troy made some poor choices. He had an affair, and a child outside of his marriage. He held his son back from a possibly great opportunity. He was a bit stubborn not realizing that the world around him was changing, and he needed not be so closed minded.

Who doesn’t know a Black father like that to some degree. Those actions still do not qualify us as children to dishonor our fathers. The Bible is clear that we are to honor both our fathers and mothers so our days will be long on the earth (Exodus 20:12). Scripture does not tell us to honor our parents if they are perfect. It doesn’t say if your parents do no wrong honor them. It simply says to honor them.
​
Honoring our parents is important as children because we are going to be the ones to see the majority of their mistakes due to the close proximity of living space. God knew this. He knew that seeing our parents especially our father’s faults would tempt us to look at him in a lesser or demeaning way, and God says not so.

It is God’s will that we are so whole in Christ that we began to learn through our relationships with our imperfect parents how to forgive and love Biblically like Christ. Christ sees our imperfections and still makes the choice to love us. Our homes our actually our first, and best training grounds to being true and successful believers. If we can get through our homes, we can get through anything. Seeing our parents imperfections and still deciding to love and forgive them not only ministers to our parents, but it in turn ministers to us.

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20-21


I am speaking from experience in dealing with my father who is a good man just imperfect like everyone else. When my brothers and I, choose to continue to honor him in the face of dishonor or faults and frailties exposed, we are actually making a positive impact on him while freeing ourselves from the bondage of un-forgiveness, anger, bitterness, and rage.

This has proved to bring conviction in my father’s heart encouraging him to change and reconsider some of his stubborn ways just like the scripture says above. We will bring coals over his head. I believe the metaphor, “to heap burning coals on his head”, means to temper a situation that could be out of control. Similar to how a fire can get out of control, but coals are something that are used to temper fire, electricity, and things that can cause an explosion outside of one’s control turning out bad.

On the contrary, when we choose to honor our parents, we take an otherwise combustible situation and turn it around so that God can use it for his good. You never know if God will use your obedience in honoring your father to minister to your father. We have to remember that they have issues from their childhood also. Much like Troy, who in the film was on his own since the young age of 14 years old.

0

3 Lessons to Take Away From Fences Pt. 1: We Have a Choice…

We Have a Choice in How We Turn Out Despite How Our Fathers Are:

I love the film Fences because it just makes us appreciate our fathers even more despite imperfections they may have. Father’s are held to a higher standard of accountability, and face more crucial scrutiny than others because of the responsibility that comes with the role.
 
The role of a  Father’s impact is undeniable in the home as clearly seen in Troy’s character. His decisions affected the temperament of the whole household and in a way served as a roadmap as to where his children would end up.
 
Troy, in the film, was like many father’s who sought to control the outcome of his son’s life. He attempted to protect Cory from the racial discrimination he felt he had experienced in his days of playing ball by preventing his son from an opportunity to be observed by a sports recruiter, and encouraging his son only to work. This along with the infidelity embittered his son Cory. The first lesson that we should take away from this is that despite the negative things that our father’s may have done in our eyes; we still have a choice as children as to how we will allow it to affect our futures.

We do not have to settle under the lie that bad choices have to be continued, and thus undermine the future of a child due to poor choices of a father. One great thing about Troy is that he was there, and he offered what he felt was his best. There are worst situations between fathers and their sons and daughters. Some situations are the lack of a father’s presence, verbal and physical abuse, and inability to affirm his love toward his children.

Despite what negative or positive influences we receive or do not receive from our fathers we have a choice as to where we will end up. I say this all the time and will not stop. Our parents give us what they can, and what they cannot, God stands in and takes responsibility for. God makes sure that we all have a chance at a positive future
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. – Psalms 27:10

I am a personal witness to the above scripture. Areas where my parents did not have the wherewithal to develop or protect me in, God has placed others in my life intentionally to show me that there is another way, and no I don’t have to be stuck with what I am familiar with. I have a choice. Not only did God send examples to represent him, but he also showed himself as a father in my life personally. This does not undermine our natural father or his role, but it serves in the child getting a more balanced and fair chance due to exposure to something more than what the natural father could bring.

0

An Invitation to Wholeness Through Submission to Christ:

Is God requiring you to submit a particular area of your life over to him? Last week, I was reminded of the familiar story of when Jacob wrestled with God. I had always been curious about this story and how it could apply to my life. Well, last week is when the Lord would give me revelation on this story that directly applies to my personal life.

Just before Jacob settles into a place where he wrestles with God; he is confronted with his past. This past of his brings about anxieties within him that cause him to fear for his very life. In his past, he had tricked his brother, Essau, out of his birthright. The last encounter that he had with his brother was that of an angry Essau, who desired to kill his brother.

Years had gone by since Jacob and Essau had talked. Seeing how he did not leave his brother on peaceful terms, his lack of knowing what to expect from this meeting with his brother only produced much fear and anxiety. He devised ways to keep the situation under control by sending his servants to the front of his entourage to offer gifts, and splitting his entourage into two companies saying if one is attacked perhaps the other can get away. After, Jacob did everything within his power to pacify his brother in preparation to meet him, he prayed to the Lord.

Full of anxiety, he began to remind the Lord of his promise mentioning what God had promised to his father Abraham that he would make his seed as the sands of the earth. Later, that night, he began to wrestle with the Lord. The Bible says that when God knew he was not going to prevail against him; he grabbed his hip and caused it to be out of place. From then on, Jacob walked with a limp.

This has always intrigued me. Why would God not be able to overcome a mere man in a wrestling match? I believe that the wrestling was symbolic of not a physical wrestling match, but a wrestling match of wills and a wrestling match of trust in God. Jacob was so upset about the fear of meeting with his brother that I believe it was hard for him to completely entrust the ordeal completely over to God, How many of us have wrestled with something that we tried to figure out, control, and cope with on our own only to find that our answer is just as simple as submitting that area over to God, and letting him have it.

I believe God wrestling with Jacob was symbolic of God asking him to submit this fear and anxiety to him–To submit his trust in the Lord in this particular area. When God saw that Jacob was bent more on the fear than trusting in him; God had to allow him to be broken to make him dependent on him. I believe that God will allow brokenness in our lives to re-center us back to submitting our trust to him in the area where we are most broken. I believe God wrestling with him was sharing with him that he wanted that broken place not for Jacob to remain broken, but through Christ that God could use brokenness to make him whole.

Wholeness in some areas of our lives will only be realized when we learn to depend on God in those areas. We see that Jacob was preparing to run from the confrontation with his brother. He had separated his entourage into two companies saying to himself, “If Essau attacks one company, the other will have a chance to run and get away.” He was still strategizing on his own to fix the situation that had already been fixed. God had already changed Essau’s heart causing him to desire to reconcile with his brother in forgiveness.

What areas of our lives are we still striving to overcome in? Areas that Jesus has already invited us to walk in freedom in if we only submit those areas over to him. Submitting the areas that we struggle with over to God result in trust in God. When we aren’t so willing to do this, and when we continue to wrestle with God on these issues, he will sometimes cause brokenness or allow brokenness in order to cause us to depend on him.

The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite spirit and those who give God this offering will see that it isn’t despised (Psalms 51:17). In the place of being broken, we find that God is near to us (Psalms 34:18). This is why brokenness is so important. There are times when all of us as believers must be broken to be whole.

The end result of Jacob’s encounter with God was that his name was changed to Israel. Israel was the name of the nation that was promised to Abraham. God’s response was not only to confirm his promise, but to better upgrade Jacob’s identity into one who had become ready for the promise. He reconciled with his brother. They both fell on one another’s neck and kissed one another. What was once a question of fear, anxiety, and possible death in the end began a story of triumph, restoration, and trust in God. This is what God desires to do in us when we give him our broken places.

Let’s invite God into the personal broken places in our lives. The ugly ones, as well as those that aren’t so ugly and see what he does with it.

0

A Time to Fight & A Time to Stand:

There is a time to Fight and there is a time to Stand Resting in God’s Promises

Don’t forget, after having done all to stand, just stand (Ephesians 6:13-14). Many of us have been in a battle for some time that has intensified to the point of almost being unbearable within the last two years. Of which, we have used all of the Word of God inside of us to fight and to stand. However, when we are so used to fighting such an intense battle, it can be easy for us not to discern when it is time for us to rest from such intense fighting, and to simply stand in that which we believe. Sidenote: We enter into God’s rest through believing (Hebrews 4:3).

I was reminded of this when reading a story about King David in the Bible. David was older and he had fought much of his life to remain in position to obtain the promises of God including taking the throne of Israel. He had gone out to war with his men, and the Bible says that he was exhausted. His exhaustion had placed him in a vulnerable position where he was about to be killed. A young man named Abishai saved his life. After this encounter, David’s men scolded him saying how they forbade him to go out to war with them again so that the light of Israel would not be put out. Light of Israel statement showed David’s value to the men. He was highly respected, regarded, and valued just like we are, but may fail to realize due to the distraction of the fight.

Resting helps us to take into account what we have really done, and accomplished. It helps us to see that life although, it is made up of challenges, is not all about overcoming challenges, and fighting. It is also about enjoying the fruit of the labor that has already been given. This can only be truly taken into account through seasons of rest.

There is a time where it is necessary to fight, and there is also a time where it is necessary to just stand. What are we standing on? We are simply standing on the promises of God. We are standing on the fact that we are loved by God with an everlasting love. We are standing on the fact that God’s love is unfailing. We are standing on the fact that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are standing on the fact that God’s word will not come back void, so everything that he has spoken out of his mouth will come to pass.

It is not God’s will for us to spend our whole lives exhausted fighting a war that has already been won. When we simply stand; We allow ourselves to take a rest. While taking a rest, God will send reinforcements like he did with David. One of the younger men actually saved his life, and gave him wisdom to remain preserved.

T.D. Jakes said something very wise. He said that a person who is tired cannot handle harvest because harvest is work. It is actually wisdom to rest between the season of fighting and the season of reaping the harvest. Let’s be bold in Christ as we rest in him standing on his promises.

0