Greetings this morning,

I chose last night, to stay home, rest, and pray, when the new year came in I was down on my knees in spiritual warfare. Normally, I post my thoughts from my devotion.

Paul instructs us to forget the things that are behind us, I am having difficulty with the forget part in an area of my life, I trust that all of you who know how to reach heaven will pray for me as I work that part. I thought she was a preacher, I did too. Thanks for the reminder, Serve God not the preacher, we follow the preacher as the preacher follow God, but use your common sense and study (seek for the mastery if the WORD for yourself) that is essential as you travel through life. If the preacher get off track with God, pray for your leader, who is flesh and blood, being used by God.

When you walk away, talk about the preacher and church hop, guess what? Thanks for asking, you just stepped out of line yourself. It takes 99 percent of your time to manage the God in you. The other one percent of your time should be spent praying and asking God to help you clear your eyes, so that you can refocus on Him.

Matthew 7:5 NIV reads, You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s (sister’s) eye.

Daily, I ask God to help me to be closer to Him, to help me to do what is right even when people hurt me. He is doing that. Never make decisions when you are angry. That is why the WORD, instructs us to be angry but do not sin.

Ephesians 4:26 KJV reads Be ye angry, and sin not. Our human nature especially as women, is to lash out at those who hurt us. I admit that I still struggle with the lash out part. When I am open with myself and the world, Jesus can help me. That is why I live by the serenity prayer. Trust me, it works.

When God gives you an assignment, trust that He will equip you with what is necessary to complete that assignment. Listen to that quiet voice inside reminding you of who you are and whose you are. Yesterday, I discovered that taking a walk with just you and God will bring clarity of purpose and the time to refocus on what your assignment is with God. What is she talking about? Thanks for asking, when God chooses you, He chooses you because He has tried you in the fire, your soul (gold) was found untarnished, and He knows that you will not be intimidated by Satan. He knows that Satan will not be able to touch your soul.
Each day we must separate from our flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to rule in our thoughts, our actions, and our deeds. If it cause me my life, I am on a mission to please God.

I pray that you will search, your hearts, and put on the full armor of God in this season to “Be Ready” You cannot serve God with a proverbial “thin skin” The devil will “sift you as wheat” Paul in Ephesians 6:11 reads “Put on the whole Armour of God so that we may be able to stand against the (darts) of the devil”. (KJV)

NIV “Put on the full armor of God so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand.” Living for Jesus is no easy plight on this earth. Working for Jesus is tougher than just living for Him. Make sure you are chosen and not called. There is a big difference. Happy New Year.

I close with two things that I borrowed off two special people’s status.
Every end has a new beginning. “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow” – Albert Einstein. May this year bring new happiness, new goals, new achievements, and a lot of new life inspirations. Wishing you a year fully loaded with happiness.

Happy New Year Sister Ricketts Candee Love and PGLLR Juan Cox.