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His Work not Ours

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/eph.3.20-21.niv

Have you ever looked at your life and said, “I’m tired!”  You are busy going here and there, doing this and that, working day in and out!  A hamster on the wheel effect!!! You wonder, “Should life be this hard!”  Well the answer to that my friend is “No!”  Life should not be that hard and God did not design it that way.  

In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.  He created the Garden of Eden, which had everything in it for man and animal to survive.  Scripture says, “God placed man in the garden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15 NIV); therefore man did not labor the garden from a non-existent state.      

Plants, trees, vegetables, fruits, water, shelter was already there.  All man had to do was enjoy the surroundings and continue nurturing what God cultivated.  

What made me think about life and the rat-race our world deems is normal was the daily scripture.  Today’s verse says that God can give immeasurably more than what we can think or ask.  But to me, the kicker is the second part, which declares it’s according to His power that works within us.  We have to live our life including God in the picture for the unimaginable to happen!  When we give Him control, He knows how to make our rough places smooth and our crooked paths straight (Isaiah 42:16 NIV & Isaiah 45:2 KJV).

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”  Isaiah 42:16 NIV

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/isa.42.16.niv

“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:” Isaiah 45:2 KJV

https://www.bible.com/bible/1/isa.45.2.kjv

So, if we live and work with God, skies the limit!  

God’s Power puts us at the right place at the right time!

God’s Power has us accomplishing more in less time!

God’s Power preserves energy not depletes it!

God’s Power gives us uncommon favor!

God’s Power increases spiritual growth and decreases mediocre thinking!

So, if life has you tired, do what Jesus says and take His yoke because it is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV).  

Cast your cares upon God for He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22 NIV).

And, know that with God in the driver seat, He is able to do immeasurably more than you can imagine or ask!

Be Blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen ~

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Pure Heart & Steadfast Spirit

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10 NIV

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/psa.51.10.niv

Isn’t it amazing how God can speak to you and I, and confirm His presence in our life!

On my phone, I receive daily devotion scriptures to remind me of God’s Word.  Well today’s scripture focused on having a pure heart and being steadfast in the Word of God.  So, as I read the verse for today, I began to think about what a clean heart is and how my heart seems to carry a lot of burdens. Then I looked up the definition of clean, pure, and steadfast because educating myself toward each meaning would help me to understand the condition my heart needs to be in for a steadfast Spirit.

“Clean” means free from dirt, foreign or extraneous matter, pollution, irregularity (dictionary.com)

“Pure” means free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind, extraneous matter, foreign elements (dictionary.com)

“Steadfast” means fixed in direction, firm in a purpose, unwavering, firmly established (dictionary.com)

After pondering these two definitions, I decided to read my daily devotion for today and guess what?  The devotion focused on human hearts!

“Can you say God is in the House!”

So, as I read and reflected on the devotion, it compared the human heart to soil. Yes dirt!!!

Our heart is like a feeding ground and the ideas, thoughts, and attitudes we entertain impact the condition of our heart.

Now, as we live in a world that knows good and evil (Genesis 2:17; 3:22 NIV) our heart can develop weeds of negativity, corruption, selfishness, malice, bitterness, hurt, etc. And, as humans we do not have the ability to free our heart from this chaos.  We can only be freed by the presence, touch, and work of our Almighty God!

So, as the devotion enlighten me to this factor, I then redirected my thoughts back to today’s verse!  “Create in me a pure heart and steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10 NIV).

And, what came to mind is:

  • You cannot have a steadfast spirit without a pure, clean heart!
  • We are all subject to the evil of this world, so our heart is vulnerable!
  • A heart that is hard, dry, and hopeless cannot remain steadfast, joyful, kind, loving, peaceful, gentle, or transformed.
  • The only way to be a steadfast spirit and the soil of your heart to fertilized and nurtured is by the Word and Presence of God!

So, I leave with you a parable spoken by Jesus Christ to reflect on the condition and the soil of your heart!

Luke 8: 4-15 NIV

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

Luke 8:5-8, 10-15 NIV

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/luk.8.5-8,10-15.niv

May God’s presence and Word heal your heart creating a steadfast spirit! 

In Jesus Christ name, Amen ~

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Straight Paths

“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. ”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.3.3.niv

When you think about the word “straight” what comes to mind? As I was reading this particular verse of scripture in the account of John the Baptist, the word straight paths really stuck with me.
In the account of John the Baptist, he is preaching repentance to the people of Israel.  He is warning the people to repent of their sins and to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  John wants the people to turn from their wicked ways, idolatry, and hypocrisy so that they can live a life, which God intended the Israelite nation live.
Now, thousands of years later the proclamation of John the Baptist is no different for us today. As Christians, we are the church and we are called to not only make straight paths for other yet believers, but also to be straight paths ourselves within our Christian walk.


The Bible tells us that no one is perfect (Romans 3:10 & Ecclesiastes 7:20 NIV).
We must pray for others (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
We must love one another (John 13:34 NIV)
We must love God with all our heart, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37 & Luke 10:27 NIV)
We must live by the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23 NIV)


As I reflect on each of these scriptures, they reveal the straight paths that John the Baptist was referring to.
So, how’s your path? Are you seeking to walk a straight path?
Not a path that is perfect but a path that is submissive to God and seeks His forgiveness, will, wisdom! 
My dear friends, it’s never too late to walk on the straight path.  God is prepared to accept all who come to Him in the name of Jesus Christ. He knows that we are broken vessels, but He is the only one who can heal us and put us on His path to eternal living.

Be Blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen~