Now, the scriptures instruct us, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding but in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path. Proverbs 3:5-6

In order for us to fully trust God we must spend time with Him and get to know Him. This takes deliberate acts of focusing, this takes discipline. The Apostle Paul said, “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him…”

The word determined means: having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it. This kind of attitude is what helps to regulate our focus. When we determine to seek the Lord and His will then this becomes our focus. Colossians 3:1-3 says, keep seeking, this denotes continued efforts, not every now and then.  The Apostle Paul also said,

For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], Philippians 2:10

Now, you may ask, how can I know what God’s plans are for my life so that I can follow them? You may have noticed in the scriptures above that we are told to – set our minds and keep them habitually focused on the things above – this involves giving devoted attention and time to God’s Word. Spending time reading and meditating in God’s Word will keep us focused on God’s thoughts, plans and purposes. Taking the time to fellowship (building a relationship) with God through His Word gives us the opportunity to get to know Him in a deeper and more intimate way. Relationships don’t just happen, you build and develop them through spending time with one another, through communication and established trust.

God specifically tells us in His Word to ask Him for wisdom if we need it (James 1:5). Well if you want to ask someone for something then that means you need to be with them and talking to them. God says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

From time to time in talking with different people I ask them what their particular gift from God is, and/ or what they believe their purpose in life is. Their answer to the question many times causes me to wonder if people really believe and/or understand how significant their life and God given gifting(s) are in this life.

I remember back in the early 1990’s I set out to seek God so that I could find out some specific details about my life and purpose. Prior to this I had set aside times throughout my day to study the Word of God and learn more about the Lord, His thoughts, ways and acts. I believe this time spent in the Word of God created a desire in me to want to know my purpose and calling in life.

Psalms 37: 4-5 declares,

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

I wanted to know God’s plan and purpose for my life so desperately I sought Him diligently. No, I don’t mean that I had to beg God to reveal His plan to me, He was more than happy to tell me so that I could accomplish His will. However, I had to prepare myself in the Word of God so that I could receive faith in order to receive His plans and purpose. The bible tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Anything we receive from God must come by faith.  We are sometimes so accustom to being the captain of our own lives that we forget to humble ourselves under the Mighty Hand of God. (1 Peter 5:6)

The Kingdom of God requires that we have faith to receive.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Many times we ask God for things before we receive faith from His Word to actually believe and receive what we desire.

(Get Your Focus Back continued in next blog) Talk To You Soon!

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Hello and welcome to my blog.

May the peace and presence of God be with you always. 

Thank you for taking the time to invest in your future by ingesting some vital nutrients from the Word of God. My prayer for you is that as you read and meditate on what God is saying to you through these scriptures you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and receive strength for your journey. 

God the Father says to us, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

So be encouraged, you are chosen and loved of God – He will not fail you!

Now my friend, today I would like to talk to you about getting your focus back. It is so very vital that you understand God’s plan and purpose for your life. Your life is valuable to God and to those in whom He has entrusted to you to cross their paths in this life. However, what you choose to focus your attention on from day to day can determine how your life will turn out even though God has a specific plan, just for you. A vision without focus is generally an accident waiting to happen.

Focus defined:

• The center of interest or activity
• An act of concentrating interest or activity on something

As you can see from the above definition, focus is what captures (imprisons) your attention. It is the center piece of the table of your life. No matter what angle you look at your life this interest, thing, person, place, thoughts, imaginations, affection etc. has become the center of your concentration.

So let me ask you a few questions:

1. What have you been concentrating on in your life?
2. Has it caused you to drift away from God’s original instructions for your life?
3. How often do you think and/or meditate on it?
4. The things that currently have the majority of your attention and affection are they causing you to draw nearer to God or is it stealing time from your relationship with God?

Focus can be powerfully life changing. Focus can cause you to succeed or fail.

The bible teaches us to focus our attention on specific things, this does not mean you won’t be able to glance at other things as you travel life’s journey. However focus is a more deliberate, intense, single-mindedness kind of approach to something rather than just merely glancing at something from time to time. The bible instructs us;

Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

From these scriptures we see that focus is something we must practice. Continued practice eventually makes habits, good or bad. Habits help establish how we conduct our everyday lives. Habits are the things we do on a regular basis, sometimes without even thinking about it. We don’t just happen to focus on something or someone, it becomes intentional. Focus is trained behavior, purposeful activity.

We must deliberately direct our thoughts and affections toward God’s plans, it doesn’t just happen by mere coincidence.
(Get Your Focus Back continued tomorrow) Talk To You Soon!

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Romans 13:14

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

There are certain things Christian’s should not wear. We must dress for success. I am speaking of our spiritual garments not a dress you buy at Macy’s.

We must dress everyday for victory. The scripture says, “Put on the Lord Jesus”. Everything Jesus represents and is should be in and on us.

We must on purpose strip off wrong, harmful attitudes and BEHAVIORS. We must refuse to wear the garment of division and strife. We must never enter the store of worldly lust with the intent to buy or sell. We must never borrow clothes of offense.

In the fashion world, some colors or patterns don’t match. We cannot wear some garments of the flesh and some of the spirit, they clash.

Before you leave the house, look in the spiritual mirror, the Bible. The Bible is our perfect standard and guide book for, WHAT NOT TO WEAR.

Put on love, gentleness, self-control, peace, and joy. Slip on the sweater on faithfulness. Put on your hat of truth. Look at you, you’re looking good now. Walk with confidence, you got the look.

If you are fashion illiterate, seek help today. There is no limit to YOUR ACCOUNT, go ahead splurge, God’s got the tab.

Visit our website www.harrisministriesint.com, www.detoxifyingthesoul.com www.nurturingnuggets.net, www.themarriagemanual.net, www.beyondyourweight.com, and www.fellasofgod.com

Romans 13:14

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

There are certain things Christian’s should not wear. We must dress for success. I am speaking of our spiritual garments not a dress you buy at Macy’s.

We must dress everyday for victory. The scripture says, “Put on the Lord Jesus”. Everything Jesus represents and is should be in and on us.

We must on purpose strip off wrong, harmful attitudes and BEHAVIORS. We must refuse to wear the garment of division and strife. We must never enter the store of worldly lust with the intent to buy or sell. We must never borrow clothes of offense.

In the fashion world, some colors or patterns don’t match. We cannot wear some garments of the flesh and some of the spirit, they clash.

Before you leave the house, look in the spiritual mirror, the Bible. The Bible is our perfect standard and guide book for, WHAT NOT TO WEAR.

Put on love, gentleness, self-control, peace, and joy. Slip on the sweater on faithfulness. Put on your hat of truth. Look at you, you’re looking good now. Walk with confidence, you got the look.

If you are fashion illiterate, seek help today. There is no limit to YOUR ACCOUNT, go ahead splurge, God’s got the tab.

Visit our website www.harrisministriesint.com, www.detoxifyingthesoul.com www.nurturingnuggets.net, www.themarriagemanual.net, www.beyondyourweight.com, and www.fellasofgod.com

Many things in life can drain you of physical and spiritual strength if you allow them the opportunity. The enemy seeks your demise and there are no if’s, and’s or but’s about that statement. He will stop at nothing to suffocate your dreams and abort your God given destiny and purpose. However, you must do your part to stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might by putting on the full armor of God.

Let’s go deeper. Come on, let’s uncover and exterminate the enemy’s strategies to make null and void the strength of the Almighty in your life.

Have you ever been in a hot place? I mean a place so hot it was difficult to take a deep breath. Direct heat can be very exhausting on the physical body. It can drain you of strength necessary to complete your daily task. Certain outside temperatures can cause the body to become so hot that it begins to lose vital electrolytes and bodily fluids causing a person to have blurred vision, mental confusion, physical weakness and lethargy, muscle spasms and more. If no intervention is taken to remove the heat source and reverse its effects the person can end up in a critical life or death situation.

If we compare this same scenario to the spiritual life of a believer, we can begin to see some similarities. John 10:10 reminds us that, Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. Whenever he has opportunity he will turn up the heat in your life with the intent to drain you of spiritual strength, blur your spiritual vision and try to cause question or confusion concerning the direction in which God would have you take. Heat or fire is one of his strategies to try to make you doubt the word of God and withdraw from the good fight of faith. Heat often can produce a feeling of suffocation or a lack of good air exchange which can cause panic.

Suffocate defined:

• To feel uncomfortable through excessive heat and lack of fresh air, or make somebody feel uncomfortable in this way.

• To confine and restrict somebody or something with adverse effects, or be or feel confined and restricted in development or self-expression.

The enemies purpose in this is to restrict, confine, and enslave you so that your spiritual growth and development will be retarded and cause you to become shipwrecked so that you do not complete your course in Christ. However, John 10:10, also reveals to us that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

If you are wondering why the word “might” is present in that verse, it is because you have a part to play. God needs your cooperation in order for you to live a victorious abundant life. God’s plan for your life is that you finish your course and finish it strong! Gird up the loins of your mind. Put on the full armor of God. You are a child of God. You are more than a Conqueror. Pick up the slack, tell the devil to pack, get off your property and don’t come back. WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST! WE ARE THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD! Lift your head, square your shoulders; focus your sight and purpose in your heart to MARCH ON and FINISH STRONG!

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2Corinthians 10:4-5

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

When you are faced with a tough situation, what weapons do you use? When someone wrongs you, do you reach for the weapon of retaliation and revenge or do you reach for forgiveness and peace? When life circumstances seem impossible what weapons do you reach for? Do you reach for self-pity, food,  medication, human confirmation or do you reach for the word of God and see yourself as God sees you? Do you reach for assurance and confirmation in His Word? The weapons of our warfare are not natural human weapons but our weapons are spiritual and they are from the Father God, who always wins!

We must use these weapons from God to reject, resist and remove every thought and imagination that opposes God’s will in our lives. We must use these weapons to maintain our enemies defeat. God did not leave us here on the earth without protection and provision. He did not leave us here to be a victim of the enemy. We have weapons that win!

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Ezekiel 37: 3-6

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

God showed Ezekiel a situation that seemed impossible in the natural. God showed him a valley of old dead bones. Now these bones that God showed Ezekiel were not only old and dry but they were scattered all over the valley. God asked Ezekiel a very crucial question because the prophets’ answer would determine if God could use him in this situation. God needed Ezekiel to be open to do and believe whatever He said. Ezekiel must had known possibly by experience or good teaching that whenever God asked you a question we need to ask Him what the answer is not lean to our own understanding. We must be willing to trust and accept whatever God says and agree with Him. If God says no then we say no, if God says yes then we say yes, if God says stop then we must stop and not go one inch further. God performed a great miracle through the prophet because He obeyed God’s command. What would have been totally impossible in human ability God made a reality through one man’s faith in God. Ezekiel did exactly what God told him to do and he saw exactly what God said He would do.

Sometimes in our lives we may be faced with situations that seem down -right impossible but God has a word for every impossible situation. When we take the time to hear what God has to say and then say only what He commands us to say we will always see favorable results. It is impossible for God to lie, so if God says it, it shall come to pass. If you read the whole chapter of Ezekiel 37 you will see that when God began to perform this miracle through Ezekiel there was a part when the miracle was not complete. Everything had happen just like God said but there was no breath yet. God had said that He would put breath in them. However Ezekiel did not fret, murmur or complain. He did not settle for 95% either because He knew God was not a 95% God. Ezekiel waited on the word of God to command him in what to do next and God spoke and told him what to do. Ezekiel did not get in pride and try to do it himself, no; he waited on God because he knew God was not finished. God fully expects to do everything He says not just half but all.

We must stay in faith and allow God to accomplish His full complete will in our lives as well. We must not run ahead of God or try to figure things out for ourselves we must trust God. God is not a man that He should lie, He will always keep His word, and He will always do what He said He would do, 100%.

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Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. 

For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Deceived defined:

• To mislead or deliberately hide the truth from somebody

• To convince yourself of something that is not true

The worst kind of deception is self deception. The scripture warns us not to be deceived because God is not mocked. If we live a life of pretense we will reap the results.

It is deception to think you will receive things only obtained by faith, yet you don’t live a life governed by faith. It is deception to think you will receive the benefits of prayer when you never spend time with God. To pretend that you are doing something and you really aren’t is insanity. Many times people try to pretend they are people of prayer but the only time they pray is when they are around other people of prayer. They live a life of mere outward show and lip service. We must be honest with ourselves and examine our lives and motives before we are caught holding the bag of pretense. If we are true to our own heart we will examine our lives and make the necessary adjustments and begin to live a life untainted by deception.

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God is such a wonderful loving Heavenly Father. His love is so incredible and truly incomprehensible. God’s love brings healing to the spirit, soul and body. It matters not who you are or where you come from, God loves you so very much. God’s love is unconditional and it is non-condemning.

One definition of the word heal is to repair or restore. Heal also can mean to get rid of a wrong, evil, or painful affliction.

God’s love can repair and restore anything. Maybe you have had somethings taken from you in the past however don’t allow wrong feelings to corrupt you future, just allow God’s unfailing love restore you of the lost. Maybe you are hurting with deep emotional pain, I want you to know that God loves you and wants to bring supernatural joy and peace into your life. Even if it is physical pain that you have been suffering from know this God’s love heals.

Love is a gift that we must be willing to receive in order for it to benefit our lives. But know this, God will always love you even if you don’t receive or respond to His love for you.There is nothing that you could ever do to stop Him from loving you. That’s right, no matter what you’ve done in the past, present or future God will always love you. However you must choose to love Him back, He will never force you. God’s love for you is not like human love, His love will never end. When you choose to allow the Love of God in your life you choose healing!

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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Philippians 4:15-17 (AMP)

And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time. Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].

What’s in your account? Have you checked you balance lately? Do you keep an accurate register of all withdraws and all deposits?

Paul was talking to the saints in Philippi about giving and receiving. Now we know, Paul was speaking expressly concerning natural financial giving and receiving but I believe there is a dual meaning here, spiritual and natural. The Philippian church partnered with Paul and supported him financially yet they reaped from God’s supernatural store house in the spirit realm. For Paul let them know that God would supply all their needs according to His riches in glory. So we see here that even though these Christian’s were giving something of natural origin, such as money, their harvest originated from a spiritual source, God. They were working a spiritual principal set for by God.

Whenever you obey God and take Him at His word you are in for a great blessing. God takes notice when we obey His Word. He will personally take responsibility for your harvest.

If you have been obeying God’s word, no matter what the particular area, there are blessings accumulating to your account. But sometimes people don’t know what’s in their account because they never check the balance or maybe they are looking in the wrong places. God is faithful to His word and if we obey His word we will receive increase, spiritual and natural. God is no respecter of persons, He will bless whosoever will believe and act upon His word. God just says, “Have faith in God.”

Most accounts are opened or established with the intent of depositing and withdrawing. In the natural we are accustomed to managing our own accounts and being in charge of everything. However, as Christian’s, children of the Most High God, we are now operating in a whole new kingdom, The Kingdom of God and in His Kingdom He ruleth over all. He is the King! Whenever we give or receive in His Kingdom we must do it with the understanding that it all originated from Him. He gives us seed to sow then He provides the power for it to grow then He fills your storehouses or accounts to overflow! God will and does supply! We just need to cooperate with His system and His plan.

Go ahead enter you security code and access your heavenly account and check out what’s been deposited into your account, the account that’s attached to obedience that is.

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