Author: Chocolate Vent

The Same Love

God’s love is unconditional…it’s not based on what someone says, what someone does, how someone responds or behaves – God just loves – period.
The good news is, that SAME LOVE that God has He has also given YOU…He has given you the power, and the ability, to LOVE like He Loves!
Romans 5:5 reads And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Once we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, then God’s Spirit (in the form of the Holy Spirit) comes to dwell on the inside of us. It’s His Love that lives inside you that causes you to be able to love like He loves.
So no matter who has wronged you, misused you, or even verbally or physically abused you – you are still free to love them.
Though it may not make sense to your mind, and may not feel good to the flesh, Love, as a force, can cause you to take control of your life, remain in right-standing with God, and live free from feelings of turmoil and hatred, thus causing God’s windows of heaven to be opened for you simply because you choose to love – in spite of.
So I challenge you to love like God loves and pray for those who have wronged you – you can do it – the power to do so is deep down on the inside of you.
*Originally published on Kim on the Web.

Ask Him For Help

“So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD…” (2 Chronicles 20:4, NKJV)

Scripture says that we are to acknowledge God in all of our ways. One way to acknowledge God is to simply ask for His help. On the way to the grocery store, under your breath, “God, help me to find what I’m looking for. Help this to be a productive trip.” That’s acknowledging God. You’re saying in effect, “God, I need You right now. I want You in my life.”

That simple acknowledgement is an act of faith. It opens the door for Him to direct your steps, even in the little things. God will help you find what you may not have found. He will put you at the right place at the right time. And sure, you can do this without God’s help. You can do it in your own strength. But when you learn to hear His voice in the little things, you’ll be confident to hear Him in the big things. When you acknowledge God, He breathes His favor on you. You’ll come into an anointing of ease. What should have been a struggle won’t be a struggle. That’s God crowning your efforts with success.

Today and every day, ask Him for help and let Him lead you and guide you in every area of your life!

Father, today I confess that I need You. I ask for Your help. I don’t want to try to do it on my own. I know that Your ways are higher. Your ways are better. Lead me and guide me as I daily surrender to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Press Forward & Upward

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, ESV)

God is constantly calling us to higher places in Him. He wants us to know Him more. He wants us to know His ways, walk in His ways, and experience His victory.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians that he was pressing on toward the goal of Christ’s calling. How did he press forward? In verse 13 he says, “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.” See, in order to press forward, we have to let go of the weight of the past. We let go by forgiving and choosing not to dwell on things that can hold us back. We have to lighten our load, so to speak, so that we can rise higher in the things God has for us.

Today, if you are struggling in an area, ask God what you need to let go of. Sometimes, we need to let go of the good as well as the bad. “Good” can be the very thing that keeps you from “great.” Let go of the past, forgive, and press forward and upward to the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ!

Father, today I release the past. I let go of the good and the bad. Search my heart. Show me any area where I need to make adjustments so I can move forward and upward with You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Through Disappointments

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
—1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

People will disappoint you. Life will disappoint you. Things will happen that you did not expect to happen, and you have to believe in the power of God and be able to say, “I can do whatever I need to do through Christ who strengthens me.” God will never allow more to come to us than we can bear, so it’s foolish to say, “I can’t stand this. I can’t do this.” We don’t always understand why, but we know God has His reasons, and we can get through it.

Nobody can keep you unhappy if you don’t want to be unhappy. Stop giving somebody else the responsibility for your joy. If you’ll start to do what you can do and stop worrying about what you can’t do, God can get involved and make some miraculous things happen in your life. I know that hurts are deep and painful, but we have to be very careful about just sitting in our boat and nursing our wounds for too long. There’s a time to grieve, and there’s a time you have to move on.

Lord, my joy is found in You, and I can’t rely upon others or life to bring me happiness. Help me to live in the strength You give. Amen.

–  Joyce Meyers

Step By Step

Every step of obedience is a step toward your destiny.
Whatever God calls you to do, do it with your whole heart. (Colossians 3:23)
In prayer, if God asks you to do something, whether it’s change careers, move to a certain place, let go of a certain friend, speak a Word to another person – do it.
You know it’s God’s voice when it lines up with His Word and His will.  
The more you draw near to God, the more He’ll draw near to you.  (James 4:8)
No good thing will He withhold from you, but it takes every step of obedience to make sure you get there. (Psalm 84:11)
Though it sometimes may not make sense to the natural eye, there is always a blessing on the other side of obedience; for we walk by faith and not by sight.  (2 Corinthians 5:7)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.  Psalm 37:23