keepmoving | NEW LIFE

” We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

It is only 23 days into the New Year and yet some if not most of us have already experienced some type of loss, hurt, pain, trauma, heartache, disappointment, misunderstanding, betrayal, etc. So to the point that you are already trying to rush the year through, throwing your up your hands as a sign of giving up or even wanting to throw in the towel already. Even in the midst of all of what seems to be a year that has already not started on the right foot, yet there is something on the inside of me that is pushing me to keep moving forward.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things that are not seen”

I was reminded this morning in a song by John Lakin that says:

Things are going to get better
Things are going to get better
Don’t be discouraged by what it seems
God gave me a promise if I just believe. Things are going to get better, better for me.

This is going to be the year where our Faith is really going to be tested and challenged to see if we truly stand and if we truly. Though we say it out of our mouth, does our life exemplify the very thing in which we speak. We aren’t going to be able to say it and not live it, speak it and not be in alignment. What got us to this point will not be the thing alone that will keep us or take us to the next level in God. We are going to have to “Man Up” as they say and increase upon the things that got us to this point.

I am encouraged in knowing that because God gave me a promise and if I would just believe and trust his plan for my life, that he will complete the work that he has began in me.

Refocus your eyes and your attention back to God and watch him work it all out for your good. Follow his plan and His instructions. It is going to cost you something in this season, but don’t worry it will be worth it in the end.

Song List
“The Promise” by John Lakin

https://youtu.be/SUJKG5fjQE8

Read

Galatians 5:7

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth“

Thought For The Day

Friday Night I was traveling to Richmond, V.A. and we had just passed the state sign saying, “Welcome to Virginia”. I had yelled out, “Yes” because I knew we were almost to our destination.

Maybe 30 minutes or so after that Pastor Lacy said, what is that and as I looked all I saw was the tail end of something as it hit the front of the car and heard the bumps as it went underneath the car. I looked back in my rear view mirror, but I didn’t see anything.

It all happened so fast. It was as if someone literally threw something at the car. We were trying to figure out what in the world did we just hit. It had to have been a deer or something. It threw me for a loop because I wasn’t expecting that at all.

When we finally got to the hotel we got out and looked at the car and we saw the evidence of what had to be a deer. The front of the car was damaged. I was grateful to God that he spared our lives, because had we not been in a bigger car it would have been a little different. But yet, my heart was sad.

Needless to say I didn’t sleep well that night. I started thinking about the what if’s. I also wondered if the deer made it out ok. I had never hit a deer before, so I was a little traumatized. I prayed that it was ok.

When I woke up the next morning I was still trying to analyze what had happened and I heard the Lord say,

Don’t panic, it’s just a bump in the road

One of the things I dislike most about speed bumps is that I feel they are so unnecessary. Especially if I am in a hurry to get somewhere. Sometimes there are just too many in the same location. I even sometimes forget they are there until I run up on them. However, I do realize that those speed bumps were created in areas where we need to slow down.

Even though the speed bumps are permanent fixtures within the road, they only cause you to temporarily slow down. The only things that becomes permenent in our lives are the ones that we choose to.

Have you ever had anything happen in your life that caused a slight delay. It caused you to stop, pause, think and reflect. Maybe it even has caused you some discomfort, some pain, some heartache, some scars and some bruises. There are some things that can happen to us in life that will totally catch us off gaurd and if we aren’t careful it will keep us from moving forward.

God simply reminded me that the bumps I am experiencing in my life are only temporary and he’s using them to create a greater purpose in my life. As hard and as challenging as the process can sometimes be, we must remain focused and keep going.

Reflection

What are some of your bumps in the road? Have some of those bumps hindered you from moving forward? Are there areas in your life where you might need to slow down?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for who you are in all of your glory. I am grateful that in spite of the detours, delays and mishaps they didn’t cause me to check out before my time. Thank you that you have a purpose for everything that happens in my life and that you are causing them all to work together for my good.

Song List

“It Is Well” by Tori Kelly