The Pride of False Humility

Family,

 

I woke up one particular morning and heard irritation in the Lord’s voice. He brought to my remembrance Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

Let me clarify the word irritation when it comes to God. It’s like when sin had risen up to heaven and the Lord sent the fire to Sodom and Gomorrah. In another instance like the irritation Jesus portrayed with His disciples in the Gospels particularly Matthew 17:17 when he said “how long must I be with this generation.”  Understanding my own inadequacies and  failures, caused me to pray. I pleaded, “Lord, I’m sorry, help my unbelief.” Suddenly, the question below came out of my heart. 

How do I keep from feeling so small when I’m close to you like this?” 

He responded: “You are small, but you must learn to abide in My presence without looking at yourself. You will not be able to hear from Me or speak for Me if you are looking at yourself. You will always be inadequate. You will always be unworthy for what I call you to do, but it will never be your adequacy or worthiness that causes Me to use you. You must not look at your inadequacy, but look to My adequacy. You must stop looking at your own unworthiness and look to My righteousness. When you are used, it is because of who I AM, not who you are. You did feel My anger as you began to look at yourself. This is the anger I felt toward Moses when he started to complain about how inadequate he was in speech. This only reveals that you are looking to yourself more than to Me. This  is the main reason why I am able to use so few of My people for what I desire to do. This false humility is actually a form of  pride that caused the fall of man. Adam and Eve began to feel inadequate and that they needed to be more than I made them to be. They took it upon themselves to determine who they should be. You can never make yourself into who you should be, but you must trust Me to mold you into who you should be.”

Although I had never related false humility to the fall of man in the Garden, I knew that this was a major stumbling block preventing many from becoming useful to the Lord. Now in His presence, my own false humility was revealed and looked even worse than I had ever seen. This form of pride was repulsive, and I could understand why it caused the anger of the Lord to burn. Family, this kind of revelation does not come to those who choose to operate in pride or a false way of humility. 

Be encouraged. 

Love your sister in Christ, Latoya

Fruit to Bear and Share with Truth

What fruit aren’t you bearing?

Family, 

Truth be told many of us think bearing fruit is a misnomer, it’s not! See John 15. When we think of the Fruit of the Spirit some of us allow it to just be a scripture in Galatians 5:22-23; while others say “I am a work in progress.” The vast majority of the world would argue that they are indeed bearing fruit. The tagline is usually “I could’ve done it this way “but” I let the love of God show forth.” In reality the fruit of the Spirit is actually bearing evidence of Christ in your life.

How can we let the love of God show forth when he gave us love through Christ Jesus? That’s always been a question for me. God gave me this answer during morning prayer: When the fruit of the Spirit is operating there are certain characteristics from our old nature that subsides. When we truly understand “God is love,” then we have no problem with joy, peace, self-control, longsuffering, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, and  kindness. To be clear when you are operating in the laws of natural man (flesh) sin will be present but when operating in the fruit of the Spirit sin has no power or rule over these fruits - see Galatians 5:23b. Let’s look at the law (natural mindset) versus the fruit of the Spirit (new creature) below:

LAW                                       VS.                                    FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Immorality NASB (Repetitive - MSG)	Love
Impurity NASB (Loveless – MSG)	Love
Sensuality NASB (cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness – MSG)	Self-control
Idolatry NASB (trinket gods – MSG)	Faithfulness
Sorcery NASB (magic-show religion – MSG)	Peace
Enmities NASB (Paranoid loneliness – MSG)	Peace
Strife NASB (Cutthroat competition – MSG)	Gentleness
Jealousy NASB (All consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants – MSG)	Love
Outburst of anger NASB (A brutal temper – MSG)	Joy, Kindness
Disputes NASB (An impotence to love or be loved – MSG)	Longsuffering
Dissension NASB (Divided home and divided lives – MSG)	Longsuffering
Factions NASB (Small-minded and lopsided pursuits – MSG)	Gentleness
Envying NASB (the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into rival – MSG)	Longsuffering
Drunkenness NASB (Uncontrolled and Uncontrollable additions – MSG)	Self-control
Carousing NASB (Ugly parodies of community- MSG)	Goodness

Whew! After looking at all of that it truly makes me aware of how great and merciful God is considering He is Omniscient and really knows everything about us ~ see Psalm 139. Thankfully, He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, oh what a great love. We serve a mighty God.

As we meditate on the word of God in the book of Galatians 5:16-25 let’s remember that in Galatians 5:23b it says “against such there is no law.”  The commandments written before Christ are the law. For after Him there was grace and the two greatest commandments; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (intellect).  This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.  And the second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as (you do) yourself.  These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets. – Matthew 22:37-40 (AMP). 

Solomon concluded in the book of Ecclesiastes with this “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

It’s imperative to share the gospel and know God.

Be encouraged.

Your sister in Christ, Latoya

Welcome!

Welcome to the Family!

I decided to start a blog to inspire and motivate people. Over the last few years, the Lord has shown me that he will use me to reach all. When you visit my blog you will receive a few things Motivation, Wisdom, Truth, but most importantly a family with an abundance of love. God has a purpose for each and every one of us. Will you take one small step a day to get closer to Him and the abundant life he has for you? 

Lets walk together. 

Love your sister in Christ, 

Latoya aka Lola

What does God expect from us

Family,

We are living in times where people are really struggling to accept that the world is not getting any better. No amount of money, babies being born, social distancing, cognitive thinking, or messy wisdom will be able to stop the course this world has taken. You can attempt to create your own reality, but one day it will all be gone because Christ is going to return.

This does not have to be doom and gloom it is a message of hope. Someone (God), loves us so much that He has prepared a place for us to dwell in and is waiting for us to come, ref. John 14:1-4.

It’s critical to remember during these times the absolute truth; we cannot predict anything but God is ever present to give sound instruction through his Word and through His chosen people. Are we ready to listen? Do we understand our purpose? Are we ready to be used in a capacity beyond our own contemplation? If yes, surrendering to Jesus’ teaching is the only way to become wise and tell yourself the truth. Not one thing can be done for God outside of Jesus Christ.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV) we find some profound truths: To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven: A time [a]to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

Be encouraged.

Love your sister in Christ, Latoya

We are living in some tumultuous times and we can all speculate but the best resource about the Source is the B.I.B.L.E. - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. 

So what does the word say about war? And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.~Matthew 24:6

So what does the word say about evil? Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:16

So what does the word say about man? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.~John 14:6

So what does the word say about friendship? A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. ~ Proverbs 17:17

High Definition Faith

Faith is the greatest attribute of the believer! But what about faith in High Definition…

Family,

 

Think about streaming a movie or tv show via tv, tablet or phone. Technology has improved so much that we now have options in the quality of output that we watch; a lot of streaming services ask if we want standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD) in a nutshell, the difference between high definition and standard definition images is the number of pixels contained in the image on display. HD images have more pixels per square inch than standard definition videos. ... it means that HD images can show much finer detail than SD images, in our viewing options (sighted by digital media mom). 

Now, let’s look at the spiritual aspect of visibility according to Colossians 3:10 (please read v.9 for context) which says: and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. So, seeing clearly makes a world of a difference, especially in relationships. Just imagine meeting someone for the first time at church, work, or the store you have no prior history of who they really are. The visual you get is the standard version of them. As time goes on, you interact with them more and more and now their life is beginning to show itself. You begin to see the HD version of who they really are and what their life somewhat consists of. Fun fact: God always looks beyond the SD version of us for He sees the true image of what he created us to be, that’s HD all day! Choosing to see the world in HD brings the clearest and most life-like picture. 

Now that we know how seeing clearly makes a world of a difference let’s talk. In order to have faith in high definition, meaning “the greatest detail possible”, we must know that requires faith for without faith we cannot please our Creator as Hebrews 11:6 says: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

Next we must diligently seek to see his ways clearly in all things. We have been given an example to aid us in this pursuit. In Hebrews 12:2 it states we must ”Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Through Jesus Christ  We have hope to see clearly. 

The most freeing thing is to see with clarity, nothing distorting your view. 

Be encouraged this day to live in Christ Jesus!

Love your sister in Christ,

Latoya

Breathing is like praying to me…

Family,

In 2008, during a retreat, the Lord led me in a teaching on how to pray. One thing that stood out to me was breathing is similar to prayer, you literally cannot live without either one. We find many ways to pray but when you know “Who” you are talking to, it is something to behold. It’s like when the disciples asked Jesus, “Master how should we pray”...let’s look at Matthew 6:9-13: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

What an astonishing prayer that Jesus gave His disciples. This prayer is still used widely today. Breathe for me and read a more extensive approach from one of my many studies by Tommy Higle called Journey Into Discipleship, this was the closest to the already modeled prayer of our Lord Jesus to approaching God like Christ. After realizing Tommy Higle’s summary of prayer was on one-accord with the already spoken word of Christ, this wisdom inspired me to seek God and find scriptures to help me pray effectively. So, let us pray in the most powerful way using five simple acts listed below.

Confession - 1 John 1:9-10 ~ if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Adoration - Psalms 145:1-4 KJV ~ I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name forever and ever.  Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name forever and ever.  Great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  Psalm 139:14 ~ I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy works and that my soul knows right well.

Thanksgiving - 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 ~ Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Intercession - and Jesus is on the right hand of God making intercession for the saints, He is the greatest intercessor! ^ Romans 8:34 ~ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Petition - Philippians 4:6-7~ Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,  will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

If you approach the Lord as the bible says, wisely with truth and childlike faith all you need to do from here is sit back and breathe and watch God move. Prayers will be answered so be sure to write your prayers down— especially, petitions!

Be encouraged.

Love your sister in Christ, Latoya

Blessings just becasue!

Family, 

Just for a moment, think with me: have you ever been in a place where the blessings just kept coming? Do you even know what blessing means? If not, here is the definition according to (Merriam Webster) it is the act or words of one that blesses, approval/encouragement, a thing conducive to happiness or welfare, and lastly grace which is God's favor and protection.

The thought of being blessed is enough to cause me to say as David said in Psalm 24 ~ The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me, To eat[a] up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord, All the days of my life, To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be [c]lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of [d]joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed, that I would see the goodness of the Lord, In the land of the living. Wait] on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

No matter where life seems to have you now, whether in a great place, or a not so great place, the blessings of God are building a path for you to acknowledge all things that are in your life and all things that could’ve caused you to fall. It’s something when you know a force of prayer is being put on your life without you doing one thing. One day we will look up and say, “I cannot recall one time God did not come through.” I call that blessed just because. 

Let me end with this family, Matthew 5:1-12 defines some bountiful blessings that actually will aid you in any situation especially if you are new to what being spiritually blessed means. 

Be encouraged. 

Love your sister in Christ, Latoya