Anointed for a Future Season

1 Chronicles 10:13-14(NASB) So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

In I Samuel Chapter 16, we learn of the anointing of David to be the next king.  Saul had the job for the time being, but I must make note that in verse 13 we see "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward." (NASB)  It's also important to note that in verse 14 we see "the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul." (NASB)

David knew he had been anointed by the prophet Samuel, but he didn't force his turn.  He waited patiently, did his job(s), and maintained his heart for God.  God's plan is always perfect, and He knows the perfect time to bring about a change.  It wasn't that David couldn't have been king at the time of his anointing; it's that God had a plan to handle Saul's departure before David's appointment.  Just because the Spirit of the Lord has come mightily upon you, and the anointing is fresh and strong with you, doesn't mean that your season has arrived.

Allow God to create the circumstances of your season.  Don't force your turn; prepare while you're waiting.  Seek God's counsel, read His Word, be after His heart, and TRUST HIS PLAN.  You can't set it up better than He can anyway.  He sees the end before you ever see the beginning.  He knows what steps you need to take to walk into your season with every blessing He has promised you.  Enjoy where you are on your journey, and understand that God knows the plans He has for you.

You Are the Majority!

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31 NASB)

It is often said that the majority rules. Well, I just stopped by to tell you today that it doesn't matter if the so-called "majority" is against you. There are people who just do not want you to succeed. There are people who will make up lies about you to get the "majority" on their side and off yours. There are still other people who will just go along with the crowd (hive mind). These people may outnumber your supporters, but they are NOT the majority.

If you are walking in God's will for your life, doing all you know is right, He is on your side. God cannot be outnumbered! Earlier in Romans chapter 8 (verse 28 specifically), it talks about everything working together for your good. All the naysayers, all the hatred, all the lies, all the attacks, all the negativity are working together to make you better. The trials are what prepare us for the next level of glory. The tribulation strengthens our resolve to live for the Lord.

Trust that God knows what's best for you. He is preparing you, developing you for what He has in His perfect plan for you. Have faith that the wicked only appear to win for a short time. God will not forsake or abandon you; He promised that. Keep walking with Him, and He is for you. And if God is for you, YOU ARE THE MAJORITY! YOU RULE!

Don't Waste Your Time

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. (Psalm 37:10 NASB)

The 37th Psalm starts off by telling us not to worry about evil people. We spend so much time worrying about what devices and schemes wicked people are plotting against us, that we miss out on enjoying the abundant life God has given us. You have absolutely no control over the actions of another person. It's time that you turned that enemy over to God.

We all have that one person that we let get under our skin. Everything s/he does is a personal assault to us. Sometimes it's just our imagination, and sometimes we are really being attacked. Guess what? It doesn't matter. We have to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. If we can focus on our Savior, our enemies will matter less and less, until one day, we will look around and wonder where they went.

Jesus Christ must be the center of our universe in order for our priorities to align themselves accordingly. Everything we do, everything we say, everything we are should have Kingdom motives. Wickedness can't live in the Kingdom; therefore wickedness can't remain around you if you are focused on the Kingdom of God. It will disappear if you don't feed it. Hang in there for yet a little while.

It's Only A Test

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3 NASB)

No matter what you are facing right now, know that you can have perfect peace if you put your trust in the Lord. We often fret about our tests and trials, and obstacles that the enemy drops onto our paths. If we believe that God is omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful), then we must also believe that He knew we would be facing that difficult situation and has already made a way through it. We just need to trust in Him.

There is calm during the storm, if we can only believe all things are working for our good. We may not like it, we may be uncomfortable in it, but peace is a state of mind. As Job stated in chapter 13, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him...". Can we trust God in the fire? Can we trust God during the storm? Can we trust God in foreclosure, illness, unemployment, persecution, repossession, etc.?

Keep your mind stayed on Jesus through the good times, so you are prepared to do so in the bad times. It really is the only way to find peace. VaShawn Mitchell wrote a song several years back called "It's Only A Test", and that is what that menacing situation is for you: only a test. Keep the faith, don't give up; it's only a test!

Humility is Necessary

"But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Matthew 23:12(NLT)

Humility is definitely not en vogue these days. Self-promotion has gone to an entirely different level. We've gone beyond the informational "Look at what I'm doing" to the opinionated "Look how great I am." We need to be careful to always let the glory pass through us to God. We are taught in the Bible that promotion comes from God, not from man. All we need to do is our best, and turn the rest over to God's mighty hand. Humility is a result of our realizing that we are nothing without God and can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pride is the enemy of humility. We cannot allow ourselves to take pride in our abilities. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, and He prefers an humble servant. James 4:6(NLT) let's us know that "...God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” I don't know about you, but I need God's favor, not His opposition. Don't worry about recognition; don't worry about exposure. Those things will come as you yield to God's will for your life. He will exalt you if you remain humble; it's a promise!

You Can't Stop Lies

"Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed." Proverbs 12:19 NLT

We often get upset when we find out that someone has lied about us. It is merely a trick of the enemy to get us focused on the pain of betrayal. He doesn't want us to stay in the will of God. Satan wants us distracted from the prize, so we won't press toward it. He wants us to waste time lashing out about it and trying to fix it.

God wants us to forget about those things behind us. How can we see the road ahead of us while looking backwards? We need to let things go. We must forgive the people who hurt us with their lies. We must disassociate ourselves from messy people and love them from a distance. Some lies get told because of our associations, but even cutting those bad relationships loose, lies will still be told.

Satan is the father of lies. Recognize the enemy for who he is, and stop trying to fight battles God has already won. You don't need to defend yourself against a lie. Lies die...if YOU let them. Let people make up stories about you all they want, but you continue to do what is right in the sight of God. The lies will soon be exposed! As for the people who want to believe lies (gossip), pray for them and keep them out of your business! People don't need to know everything God has revealed to you, and they certainly don't need to know everything going on with you.

The most important relationship you have is that between you and Jesus Christ. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. Leave liars be, and let lies fade into vapors without you stirring them up, giving them power over you. God's Word is the truth, and it will stand forever! Rebut every lie told against you with the Word of God, and be encouraged in the Lord!

Between an Army and a Red Sea

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27(KJV)

I can't even imagine how the Israelites must have felt when they came up on the Red Sea, knowing Pharoah's army was hot on their trail. They fussed out Moses for leading them on this futile mission. But Moses stood tall and said for them to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The truth of the matter was that Moses was a little apprehensive as well, but he believed God NOT WHAT HE SAW.

We often look at our situation in the natural and believe that it's hopeless and that we are helpless. There is, however, only one truth, and that truth is God's. If He has to part a sea for His will to be accomplished, then that's just what He will do. We see God move on our behalf time and time again, but we still fear the unknown. I don't know how He's going to work it out. I cannot imagine this relationship being restored. The doctors have given me all the facts about why I can't be healed.

My friends, the devil is still a liar. He shows you your reality. He will never show you God's ability. I am so guilty of looking at what is instead of looking through that to what God says will be. I have to believe that with God ALL things are possible. I must stand still in the face of adversity and see the salvation of the Lord. He alone holds my destiny and gives me which path to take at the appropriate time. He doesn't need to give me the detailed step-by-step plan from start to finish. That's why trust and faith in God are critical. I believe God! I believe that with God all things are possible!