Matters of the Heart
Temporada 1
por Kimberly S. Davis, Ed.D.
Are you suited for battle? For our struggle is not against people but the spiritual forces of darkness in this world that attack us daily. We must put on the full armor of God to defend ourselves against these attacks. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 for the Full Armor of God, which is Salvation, Righteousness, Truth, Gospel of Peace, Faith, the Spirit, and Prayer.
Tests and trials lead to joy. They are seeds that will bring a harvest, but we have to grow, heal, and overcome them. Tests and trials train us, humble us, remind us to be dependent on God, develop our character, and becomes our testimony. Therefore, we must navigate them well and get through them because they will produce in us all that God has called us to be.
LIFE and death are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 We will reap the fruit (good or bad) of what we speak. In all instances, I believe it is important to think before we speak and to be mindful of the things we speak about and to ourselves and others.
For as he thinks within himself, so he is. Proverbs 23:7 Our mind can be our greatest enemy if we do not get our thoughts under control because our thoughts lead to action. Thoughts have the power to harm or do good. Take time to assess your thoughts and make adjustments where necessary.
I pray God's blessings, favor, strength, healing, peace, guidance, and love over each and every one of you. May you be blessed and strengthened by this prayer. Amen. I Love You!
What are your core values? What do people get when they get you? What do you value? Is there evidence of it in your life? Our core values are the beliefs and guiding principles that we live and behave from. They determine how we treat others and live our lives. Are you adding value to the environments and people you engage with daily? Take a moment and identify and write down your core values; Who do you admire the most; Consider your experiences; Identify a central theme (Mine is Love). Be authentic and live out your core values.
Not only are the different adversities we face meant to build our character and take us from glory to glory, level to level, but they are meant to help others as well. We go through things that allow us to gather a testimony and become the blueprint for others to use to obtain victory and overcome the storms of life. Your life is the blueprint for others to read and use to help them navigate the different tests and trials that come to help develop, mold, and shape us into the men and women we're called to be. Therefore, you cannot give up or give in. Keep the faith, stay focused, and slay your giant(s). You are the blueprint in your sphere of influence.
God is a “God of Progression”. He wants to take us from glory to glory, level to level; therefore, we have to be prepared for the next level of our lives. The adversity we face comes to build and strengthen our character and foundation in God. Our character is how we treat people, handle adversity, our attitude towards failure and disappointment and the higher we go the deeper our foundation in God and the better our character needs to be. Don’t lose faith, don’t lose focus, pass the test(s), and allow God to move you to your next level. God has better and He wants to prepare us to receive and walk into our better. Heal, grow, and trust His timing, pace, removal, and renewal. Get Ready for Your Better!
The devil is after our hearts because if our heart is tainted, we are not emotionally stable to handle our next. Whatever we attach our hearts to provides an entry to us; therefore, loss can lead to setbacks that can affect how we live, move, receive, or steward what God has entrusted to us. We must stop hanging on to the past, to what is not for us, or what we cannot change and allow God to help us move into our future. It is ok to cry about what we've lost, but it is important that we do not dwell on that loss but expect God to give us what we need in response to that loss.
Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7 When we get better spiritually, everything gets better. The following Spiritual Disciplines can help produce spiritual growth and lead to godliness: Prayer, Worship, Fasting, Service, Solitude, Study.