1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Speak to the spirit of a man, Life, and he will rise to his place of king-ship and priesthood. See a man after the flesh (natural-man), and you become an accomplice to his downfall and destruction.

Samuel was a prophet who was called and anointed by God to speak for Him. Prophets in that day and time were called seers, meaning they knew things about the future that most people did not know. The prophets that were lead of God knew what they knew because God would reveal it to them. They were not demon influenced like the soothsayers, clairvoyants, fortune-tellers and psychic.

God had sent Samuel on an assignment for Him to anoint the next king of Israel, who was to be David, one of the sons of Jesse. Now, Samuel went forth and began doing what the Lord instructed him to do. He was in the right place, at the right moment and all was in line with God’s command. Now for whatever reason Samuel decided to second guess God, as if he knew God’s thoughts better than he really did. Samuel veered from the path of being lead by God with one single sense lead thought. He judged God’s instruction after the flesh. He allowed his natural eye sight and human prejudices to influence his judgment. He was probably basing his decision from cultural influences and traditions, which would have probably been permissible if this were not kingdom business? God’s kingdom does not operate like natural earthly kingdoms; God’s kingdom is God ruled no if’s ands or buts’ about it. God makes all the decisions, rules, standards, and choices in His kingdom that settles it.

We must never assume we know what God is going to say next, we must learn to wait on the Lord and lean not to our own understanding. Samuel could have made a tragic error in the history of a nation by choosing the wrong king. This could have been catastrophic and resulted in years of sorrow and needless pain for Israel had God not intervened and spoke to the prophet. It is a good thing that Samuel was an obedience prophet, one who feared God and sought to hear and do His will. Even when we error if our heart is tender toward God to do the right thing God will always help us get back in His perfect will.

God interrupted Samuel’s erroneous thought process by revealing to Him, that He did not see the way man sees………………..thank you Jesus. I am so glad God is God and we are not. God said to Samuel, “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Isn’t that the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! People many times, unlike the nature and character of God, judge others by what they see on the outside. These judgments are most oftentimes influenced by past experiences, traditions, culture etc. Some people’s lives are totally destroyed just because of human judgment. People have lived and died and missed their entire destinies just because they listened to the wrong opinion concerning their future. Words can produce life or death, blessing or cursing, choose them wisely.

God taught the prophet Samuel and us a very valuable lesson that day. If God started the journey you are on let Him finish it, allow Him to reveal to you each step along the way and every word to say. Don’t jump ahead or lag to far behind, keep up and stay in step with God’s mind. He will be sure to guide us and help us finish our course and every assignment on time.

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ http://www.detoxiyfingthesoul.com

It is such a tragedy to see some people let their God given gifts and talents waste away through mere neglect.

Proverbs 29:18 (AMP)
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.

Following after man-made plans is just like having no vision at all because if it is not from God it will not amount to anything. God did not create man to follow after their own lusts and desires. God created us with a purpose already prepared.

The scriptures declare: For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10 AMP).

God has a good life prepared for each and every one of us. He has not prepared a life of pain and misery for us, He loves us. The devil is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy not God. The devil is the one who robs a person of their destiny and true purpose in life. Satan is stealth with his lies and deceit to enslave and bring into bondage anyone who will not resist his bait or deceitful speech. His thoughts and imagines flood the mind of innocent people, he poises as a friend but really is a foe. He assaults the mind and brain through spiritual seduction and sometimes violent acts of spiritual rape, impregnating the soul with tainted seeds of destruction. He is a sinister being, he is filled with evil and corruption.

However, Jesus is our Savior, He came so that we could receive true life and have the good life more abundantly. He came to redeem us from a life of bondage and corruption. He gave His life so that you and I could have eternal life, never again to be under the dominion of sin and death. He came so that we could live the good life. However, we must be willing to put God first, He should always be our first love.

God has prepared paths for us; however, we are the ones who must seek them out. So many times people are treading through life doing their own thing not regarding God’s plans and purposes for their lives. They meet up with frustration after frustration, as if swimming through thick muddy waters. They blame God on the delays, disappointments and lack of progress in their lives yet they never seek Him on any consistent basis to find out the true purpose and plan for their lives. They struggle, fret and then regret the dawning of every new day.

A pitiful sight to behold one would tend to think but what is it that actually keeps them from the will of God? Is it deception? Is it laziness or self-centeredness? Is it rebellion or hidden pride? Is it a lack of direction or mere cloudy perception? Is it spiritual malnutrition or just a simple lack of spiritual attention? Are they feeble minded or do they just not care? Is it condemnation or past failures? Is it depression or oppression or an old familiar family curse?

Maybe it’s not for me to know the cause but rather continue to remind them of the answer: JESUS LOVES YOU AND HE HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO. YOUR LIFE IS IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE TO GOD AND THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE NEED YOU TO TAKE YOUR PLACE AND FINISH YOUR RACE; WE WILL BE THERE RIGHT BESIDE YOU. WE ARE A FAMILY, THE FAMILY OF GOD; WE ARE ONE IN THE LORD. WE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU SHIPWRECKED ON THE SHORES OF LIFE. TAKE OUR HAND WE WILL HELP YOU STAND TALL AGAIN. WE WILL NOT JUDGE YOU OR TURN OUR BACK ON YOU, WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU AND RESTORE YOU. SO BE STRONG MY BROTHER, MY SISTER THIS LOVE WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE YOU. YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE IT, GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH YOU. YOUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL AHEAD OF YOU!

NURTURING NUGGETS IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ http://www.detoxifyingthesoul.com

1John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Confidence defined:
•Belief or trust in somebody or something, or in the ability of somebody or something to act in a proper, trustworthy, or reliable manner.

It is so important for us to have confidence in God. Many people may think that when you become a Christian that this happens automatically but it does not. Human experience can often-times interfere with our confidence. For instance if a person had trust issues prior to being born-again due to failed relationships such as abandonment through divorce or neglect through improper parenting from childhood, it may be difficult not impossible, for them to immediately trust God with every area of their lives. They truly love God but they need detoxifying of their soul (mind, will and emotions) and body from the hurtful incidences of their past. Trust is established through experience. If someone tells you they will be there for you when you need them then when opportunity arises they fail to come through this can cause disappointment which in turn nurtures insecurities and cultivates mistrust. When a baby is born there is a phase of normal growth and development called trust versus mistrust. If trust is to be established in that child’s life they must experience repeated positive interactions with the one in whom the trust is to be established with. This has to be done on a consistent basis to form a sort of bond with the other person. The child learns to trust or mistrust you based on your response to their needs. If you are consistent to come and attend to their needs when they cry they begin to trust and rely on you above all others. When they see your face come into a room they get so excited because they trust you and they know you will protect them, feed them, change them, comfort them, etc. Some of these things you may have never even done for them yet but because of your consistent positive response in other areas of their lives they trust you to be the same regarding new adventures as well.

God is trustworthy. But the best way to establish trust in any relationship is by experience. You can say that you trust God because of what you’ve heard Him do for others but nothing compares to your own experiences with God, they become priceless as you grow and develop in your relationship with God.

Another way that we can begin to develop confidence in God is through consistent meditation in His Word. God’s Word is alive, it is spirit, it is life. The Word of God has the ability to create supernatural knowledge and understanding in your spirit and soul to the point where you begin to know God in ways you have never known Him before through spiritual intimacy and fellowship. This kind of relationship is obtained through spiritual hunger and diligent seeking. His Word creates the bond of trust through the supernatural unveiling of who He is.

Trust and/or confidence promotes dependency. When you trust God you will begin to depend on Him for everything. You will come to Him for anything and involve Him in all things. You begin to understand and take full advantage of His love for you. You know without a shadow of a doubt that He will withhold nothing good from you. You become bold and confident in prayer knowing that your will is to do His will. Your confidence is unshakable concerning the Father. You know that He loves you and that He hears you and that He answers you.

NURTURING NUGGETS BLOG IS AN EXTENSION OF CATHY HARRIS MINISTRIES. VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ http://www.detoxifyingthesoul.com