Challenge Your Thoughts

You need to challenge the negative thoughts that come our way on a daily basis which come through social media,

newspapers, the people in our circles, WhatsApp and so many other channels.

There is just so much negativity out there than can get you depressed, fearful, stressed, anxious and worried

The enemy would love for the negative thoughts to take root in your heart and mind but you can’t let him.

Challenge the negative thoughts.

I think of the Israelites who were by the gate of the promise land but when they saw giants and walls they

freaked out. They got fearful and instead of possessing what God promised them they turned back.

They didn’t challenge the fear.

God had done so much for them up to that point and all they had to do was remember the great things He did.

But they didn’t and ended up losing what God had promised them.

Caleb and Joshua were the only two people who challenged the fear.

And that’s how we should challenge the negative thoughts – with the Word of God.

We counter the negative with the Truth!

And that’s why it’s so important to spend more and more time with God.

We need to read more of His word so the TRUTH becomes our truth!

We need to challenge the enemy’s lies with God’s truth.

We can’t let the negativity around us become our truth. We must fight the negative thoughts.

God has amazing things in store for us and we need to think on them more and more.

Bless you friends

Rolain

Start speaking better today.

“From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things.”

Proverbs 13:2

 

This is another thing God has been speaking to me about this year. I have been challenged

to improve the quality of my words. It’s especially hard to speak life when things don’t

seem to be going our way or when things are just bad but we need to. The word is very

very clear when it comes to the words we speak.

If you want to enjoy good things then start speaking better. Don’t allow yourself to speak

negatively when things are not going your way.

 

“From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands

brings them reward.”

Proverbs 12:14

 

It’s easy to speak positively when everything is going well but quite another story when we are

on the ground and losing. Speaking life doesn’t just happen, it’s a choice on our part. And just to

be clear I am not talking about pumping yourself up with motivational words only. I am talking about

declaring the word of God in your situations. Any one can say “everything is going to be okay” but

it is something else when you take God’s word and declare it as truth for yourself. Declaring

the word of God is powerful.

 

“From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled, with the harvest of their lips they are

satisfied.”

Proverbs 18:20

 

What are you trusting God for? Declare it, speak it out. Don’t let your faith remain silent. Speak

out what you believing for. Let’s this truth be something you use more and more in your life.

And not just in your life but in the life of others. Your friend may not have enough faith to declare

Healing over themselves but you can do it on their behalf. Use your words to encourage and inspire.

It’s time to work on the words that come out of our mouths today. Things begin to happen when we

speak out God’s word in our situations!

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

When faced with the impossible…

“Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘I am too old to have a baby? 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

No! I will return to you at the right time a year from now. And Sarah will have a son.” 

Genesis 18:13, 14

 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

 

The Lord was trying to show Sarah that her seemly “impossible” situation was not impossible for Him.

It really was impossible in human standards but not to God. He is bigger than anything we deem “impossible”.

What are you facing right now that seems “impossible”?

 

I am facing an “impossible” situation as well in this season. There doesn’t seem to be an answer to the

situation I am faced with. There is an option of just giving in to fear and hopelessness but this word

spoke to me.

 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

 

I know God is challenging me to look to Him and trust. He has been speaking to me through that

verse. There is absolutely nothing in this world that is too big for Him to handle.

Where we make the mistake is trying to go on by ourselves in our own strength but that

won’t work. We will always fail when we try to do it in our own strength.

 

This is not a new struggle. I think of Moses who doubted God’s power and capacity. The Lord had

to remind Him how big He really was.

 

 “The Lord said to Moses, 

Has the Lord’s hand (His ability and power) become short (thwarted and inadequate)?

You shall see now whether My word shall come to pass for you or not.” 

Numbers 11:23

 

Your “impossible” situation may seem like a Mount Everest standing in your way but remember

there is nothing too big for God to handle.

 

 

Bring your fears, your anxiety, and your worries to Him. Put all your hope in Him.

There is nothing too hard for Him!

 

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

Let faith lead you and not doubt, anxiety and fear.

“The just shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11

 

I was challenged a few days ago as I thought about this scripture and what it meant for me.

It’s not talking about having faith occasionally and it’s not talking about faith as an event.

Instead this verse talks about faith as a lifestyle, as the driving force behind everything we

do.

As I live my life there needs to be an expectation that God sees and is working things out

for my good. I need to believe He is faithful to what He promised and even though

things are hard, He will deliver me and that my best days are yet to come.

I am not where I am by accident, so there needs to be a conviction that God has led me here

and He is directing my every step. The things that are happening in my life are not a coincidence.

The things I am believing for will come to pass. He has a purpose and plan for the gifts and talents

He has given me. I was not an after thought when He made me so there is so much more in store.

That’s what it means to live by faith and that’s what I feel I was challenged about as I read that

verse.

 

When things don’t go the way we want or we encounter difficult times that’s when

it becomes harder to hold on to faith, to live by faith. The difficult things we face can distort our

vision. We can lose sight of how great God is and instead of living by faith the doubts, fear, and anxiety

lead us. Instead of faith we become discouraged and hopeless. We lose sight of the big picture and

go into survival mode. But that’s not the way God wants us to live.

 

The just shall live by faith. 

 

In everything, He wants us to trust Him. In sickness, He wants us to trust Him for healing, in financial

turmoil He wants us to trust He will provide, in economic hardship He wants us to hold on to the truth

that He is our provider. When the door is closed He wants us to believe He can open the door.

When faced with a dark and grim life, He wants us to believe He has a future and an expected end

for us, that our lives will get better.

 

Don’t fall into the trap of getting by. As you work, or go to school have faith. He wants you to believe.

Because the truth of the matter is this;

 

The Lord is working on your behalf

The Lord is directing your every step

He is your Shepherd so you won’t lack

You were created for a purpose

Your life has meaning and relevance so even though it doesn’t feel that way, He is busy making sure

everything He planned and promised for you comes to pass!

 

Be expectant. Don’t take your life for granted. Don’t give up hope.

The Lord is in control and that’s all that matters.

Live by faith!

 

Blessings to you friends.

 

Rolain

 

 

What’s the answer to the pressures we face??

“Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him teach. 

Martha became angry because she had so much work to do. She went in and said, “Lord, don’t 

You care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me!”

Luke 10:39, 40

 

This story spoke to me today. I know I have made Martha’s mistake so many times. Instead

of sitting at Yeshua’s feet I have been hard at work doing, and doing and doing.

I would like to believe Mary was as hard working as Martha but when Yeshua came to their house

she knew what was more important.

 

“Martha became angry because she had so much work to do.”

 

I was challenged to spend more time at His feet when I read this. I tend to be really busy and not spend time

at His feet.

The fact of the matter is, we need to spend time at His feet as much as we can. We cannot go far if we

are busy all the time. I know this scripture is used a lot in the context of serving in the church but

it goes deeper than that. Sitting at His feet should be natural for us. Let’s look at how Yeshua responded

to Martha,

 

“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. 

Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will never be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41

 

Wow! What a statement!! There is peace, comfort, wisdom, love, joy, clarity and so much more at His feet.

I neglect all that when I am always busy, when I don’t make sitting at His feet a top priority like Mary did.

To deal with the pressures of life we need to stop and spend time with Him. Sitting at His feet is the

answer and it’s exactly what we need right now. You could be facing situations that are getting you

stressed and frazzled but the answer is taking the time to sit at His feet. Don’t ignore Him.

Make time for Him. He has all the answers you need!

Blessings to you friends…..

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

Expect Him to move in your life today…..

“Expect the Holy Spirit to move.

Your faith will never rise higher than your level of expectation”

 

This statement was a wake up call to me this week. It was a wake up call to be expectant.

Am I expectant all the time? Not really.

Sometimes the cares of the world weigh me down and I get stuck. But YAH doesn’t want me there.

He is great and mighty and cares for me and wants to be there for me…..

 

The level of my expectation needs to rise. The higher my expectation the higher my faith level.

The woman with the issue of blood comes to mind. She wasn’t like, “oh well, let me see if I can get

a healing. If Yeshua heals me, great but if He doesn’t, at least I tried.”

What!!! Crazy right??!! The woman had a high expectation. She wasn’t thinking, “what if”.

She was going to get her healing full stop! (Luke 8:43-48)

 

Friends, we need to raise our expectancy level. We can’t have a ‘whatever happens, happens’ approach to YAH.

Expect the Holy Spirit to move in you and through you because He is going to move! (that’s for me!!)

Another friend of mine shared her thoughts about expectation,

 

“The definition of expectation is, “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in

the future.” 

Our expectations for Yeshua can be set high.”

 

We need to turn the level up of our expectation. We can’t be mediocre about this. Our expectation will

always be challenged but let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us live expectant every single day.

What areas in your life is your expectation low or non existent?

Bring those areas to Him. Let Him breath new life into those dead areas.

I have found that because of deferred hope/disappointments our expectations can be hampered but I believe

YAH wants us to be expectant in Him again. No matter what has happened in the past we need to live expectant.

We need His help to do this.

Let me share a scripture with you,

 

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the

power that worketh in us.”

Ephesians 3:20

 

Nothing is impossible for Him, so be expectant!

Expect, hope and trust without restraint!

That’s my challenge and your challenge in this season!

Bless you friends….

 

Rolain

Patience in the fire……

“And I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My
hand and swore that I would give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the Lord [you have
the pledge of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].

Moses told this to the Israelites, but they refused to listen to Moses
because of their impatience and anguish of spirit and because of their
cruel bondage.”
Exodus 6:8, 9

 

This verse spoke to me this week. In the midst of crazy battles this scripture spoke to me.
The Israelites had a word from YAH but they refused to listen to Him
because of their impatience, anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

The fact they were impatient spoke to me because in the midst of storms
and trials we need to be patient. It’s not an easy thing to be patient when you are in a fire.
In the trials I am facing in this season I am have been challenged to be patient.
Patience is important because it reflects our faith in YAH’s ability to bring us through the storm.

No matter what you going through be patient. He will carry you through the storm soon enough.                                                     He will deliver you most definitely.
Let’s look at one more scripture that brought everything into perspective for me concerning being patient,

“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exalt and triumph in our troubles and
rejoice in our sufferings knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce
patient and unswerving endurance.
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity).
And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.”
Romans 5:3-5

Amazing right, or crazy depending on how you see it! Exalt and triumph in your troubles!
Rejoice in your sufferings!
It’s really hard to do if I am to be honest. The pressure can get so much that rejoicing
is the last thing I want to do but one thing is clear from reading this scripture,
YAH has a plan in the storm. The enemy has a plan too, to destroy but not YAH.
He is thinking about growth, blessing, new levels, maturity, endurance and so much more….

We need to change how we look at trials and challenges. We don’t need to be afraid. YAH will bring us

through. He is at work for our good.

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

One way to ensure your faith is alive and active……..

“So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up),

by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

But someone will say [to you then], you [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works.

Now show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can],

and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.”

James 2:17, 18

 

The book of James was part of my daily reading this week.

I am always so challenged when I read the scripture I just shared.

But something happened this week that brought it to life for me.

I was at training this week and after we were done we prayed.

The guy praying thanked God for divine healing.

He thanked God for keeping us healthy and he also prayed that

God would keep us in good health!

 

We always pray but this week the prayer struck something in me.

I realized I was looking at faith and action working hand in hand.

We have a desire to be healthy and fit so we train but our faith is

in God to grant us a healthy life!

 

That got me thinking about faith and action.

James 2:18 is not suggesting faith works if there is action. It’s telling

us that faith only works when there is action!

Faith without works is dead!

 

One person acting out of his or her faith can do more than 100 people

professing their faith without action!

 

It’s so true friends. I want to be that person who shows they have faith by

their works.

I really needed to be reminded of this truth!

 

Now, it’s not my place to tell you what action you need to take.

That’s between you and God. You are the one who knows what steps

God wants you to take.

As I read this verse I knew almost instantly the things I needed to be doing

right now that I was not doing.

Now remember, you can’t just act for the sake of  doing

something. God will ask you to do something specific for the thing you having

faith for. Allow Him to show what that thing is.

He may want you to be patient and wait,

He may want you to give into something,

He may want you to befriend someone,

He may want you to start writing that first chapter of that book,

He may want you to serve in a specific area at your church,

and the list goes on and on……

You need to be sensitive to His leading.

Remember, don’t act for the sake of acting.

That could do more harm than good.

God is surgical in the way He works.

What action is it that God wants you to be doing right now?

 

One thing is crystal clear though,

 

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

James 2:26

 

We have work to do friends……

Bless you.

 

Rolain

When the woman put her trust in God…….

“Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel

grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”

And she said, “let your maidservant find favor in your sight.”

So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer

sad. “

1 Samuel 1:17, 18

 

This story is very close to my heart. Hannah’s story encourages

me every time I read it.

I want to touch on something that I noticed as I read her story

again.

 

How many of us can identify with Hannah? She was trusting God

for a child. In the meantime she was been ridiculed and verbally

abused by Peninnah. How hard that must of been.

 

Let’s look at another important point.

 

“This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice

to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh.”

1 Samuel 1:3

 

The bible doesn’t tell us the exact amount of years they went to

worship. All we know is that Hannah couldn’t have children.

But every year she went to worship and every year she had to deal

with the onslaught of words from Peninnah. That must of being so

hard to deal with.

 

But there is something I want you to see.

When Eli spoke to her she did something amazing. Let’s look

at the scripture,

 

“Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel

grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”

And she said, Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.

So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer 

sad. “

1 Samuel 1:17, 18

 

“She went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad”

 

That act really spoke to me.

She believed the word. She had faith she had her answer and

changed her attitude and behavior!

 

I haven’t been doing that enough.

I should live with an attitude of faith.

If I am going to receive what God has promised me

there has to be a change of heart, there has to be a change of attitude,

and a change of behavior. I can’t have faith and walk around like nothing

is going to happen. I can’t have faith in God and live like God hasn’t

heard me. That was such a powerful revelation for me.

Hannah didn’t hesitate when she heard the word.

And look at what happened when she did that,

 

“Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the 

Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. 

And Elkanah knew his wife, and the Lord remembered her.

So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived 

and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “

because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

1 Samuel 1:19, 20 (emphasis mine)

 

Not only did she change her attitude and behavior but she

worshiped the Lord with her husband!

Worship is so important in the life of a believer.

In her mind her prayer had been answered and that’s

why she worshiped the Lord!

I don’t know about you but that blows my mind.

What are you worshiping God for today?

If you have your answer worship!

If you don’t see your answer still worship!

We need to live a life of worship.

We don’t just worship when we get stuff,

we also worship Him because He is God!

 

What did their worship sound like?

I think they were worshiping the Lord for giving them a child.

They were worshiping Him because He heard their prayers.

That is amazing.

 

Even the words she spoke changed!

Her faith in God had an impact on what came out of her mouth.

Your faith should be spoken out, friends.

You can’t speak negatively and say you have faith.

You can’t speak negatively and see your breakthrough!

The way you speak must change if you have faith.

You should be worshiping the Lord for the great things He has done for you!

 

As I close I would like you to think about how you are speaking?

What is your attitude and behavior like?

Are you complaining, are you talking about how things

are not going to workout or are you speaking out what you believe?

 

And that is my challenge to you today friends…..

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

 

 

What true wisdom looks like……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Hey friends!!

I hope I find you all well!

As the year closes I want to talk to you about something I was

thinking about recently.

 

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they

say, behold a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors

and [especially wicked] sinners!

Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does (her 

deeds) and by her children. “

Matthew 11:19

 

“Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does

(her deeds) and by her children.”

 

I was challenged by this verse. Do I really have wisdom?

After all, wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds and by

her children (fruit)

Wisdom is reflected by action and fruit!

Is there fruit in my life?

I can say I have wisdom but is it translating into works and am I

bearing fruit?

If there is no fruit in my life I am not really wise!

If I am really wise there will be action and there will be fruit

in abundance!

Wisdom will compel us to act, to stand up and make the

change! Wisdom does that.

 

This was hard to receive because I realized I haven’t really

taken the time to meditate on the things I have received.

I haven’t really put acting out what I know as the top

priority.

I need to be more deliberate and determined about applying

the wisdom I have received. It’s not enough to acquire

information.

 

Wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does (her

deeds) and by her children.

 

I want to really walk in wisdom. I am not content on just knowing

stuff cause that is not wisdom. Real wisdom is followed by action

and fruit! With real wisdom comes change.

If there is no improvement in my life and no fruit to show ‘

then I am living deceived!

 

If you are in the same boat I am in there is hope! We can start

2017 anew. We can make a decision to start again but this

time with a new understanding.

The Holy Spirit will help us if our desire is to walk in real

wisdom. I truly believe it. We may have blown it but we have a

second chance at this.

Have an amazing 2017 friends.

Bless you

 

Rolain