Whose Report Will You Believe?
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16b-17
 
I am committed to not only reading and studying the word, but listening to different preachers via CDs or videos. It’s nothing like hearing a rich and inspiring word that speaks to your right now situations and circumstances to give you a new perspective and help bring you up and out of whatever we are minds have been muddling in and over (jobs, children, finances, sickness, etc.). It aids in helping not only to enlighten but to remind us of who we are and who we serve and WHO is in control. The word is alive, full of energy and vigor and it’s always fresh. I have heard some good word over the past couple of days that really encouraged my heart and put a little extra pep in my step, more stride in my glide, and some additional moves in my Holy Ghost groove!
 
We must learn throughout our walk that we must guard our hearts and minds and not allow the cares and the woes of the world infiltrate our process of thinking. He will not only wreak havoc if we allow him but will in turn have you convinced to do or say some things and before you know it, you’ve done it. If we could ask those who have committed heinous crimes or committed suicide, they would tell you that it all began with a thought. The scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5, to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We have to do this continually because the enemy is always presenting us with something; he will take advantage of any and every situation and use anyone that will let him, shut him down at all cost.
 
If we stay in the word of God and constantly feed our spirit by hearing it, whether by reading or by listening, this is what will keep us in spite of all else going on in and around us. The word speaks to all things that concern us; hearing the word strengthens our faith and thus and gives hope to continue on. Henry said it best, “the beginning, progress, and strength of faith is by hearing. But it is only hearing the word, as the word of God that will strengthen faith. So, whose report will you believe? I can tell you I’m going to believe the report of the Lord! If God’s word says it, then that settles it for me.
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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The Mantle of Elijah
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
The Mantle of Elijah
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, where is the Lord God of Elijah? II Kings 2:9-14
 
When the Lord first gave me this thought, I knew the story but had not done any research on the subject. As destiny would have it, I received a prophetic word that would cause me find information to support it. This is a very familiar passage and most of us know the story of Elijah, the prophet, being caught up in a whirlwind in a chariot of fire and horses. When he is lifted up toward heaven, he drops his mantle. After reading the story again, I became so intrigued that I wanted to know more details about his life. It led me to dig deeper and read more. There are certain historic events that we associate with Elijah but I was fascinated and knew there had to be so much more to his story. If you are not familiar with his journey, it makes for a good read and honestly, second to none in drama. After reading, I concluded that Elijah had a certain quality of mystery about him. His life was interesting and his characteristics could be described in several words like bold, direct, and authoritative to name a few. The things he did over the course of his ministry showed that He truly was a man who trusted, believed, and walked in the power and the authority of God. He stood firm that His God was the one and only true God and proved it. 

In this passage of scripture, Elijah is being taken up by a whirlwind on a chariot of fire and his successor, Elisha has picked up the dropped mantle. The mantle automatically marked a man as a prophet, or a spokesman for God and this mantle was a symbol of Elijah's power as well as, his authority as a prophet. It is also known as a symbol of sacrifice and commitment. Before Elijah’s departure, it had already been established and purposed by God that Elisha would succeed him. He had been anointed to take over; although, it is hard to see by Elisha's response here in the scripture. Elijah had been being with him daily for years as a father, a teacher, and a confidant and watching him ascend into the heavens could not have been easy. Elijah passing on the mantle symbolizes the passing of prophetic authority which signifies that he was literally transferring his prophetic ministry to his student, Elisha, the man chosen and anointed by God to succeed in his stead.

Jesus has done the same; He has spiritually transferred that mantle to us, his heirs, to carry on in His stead until He returns. No, we don't have a physical mantle to speak of, but the Spirit of God is our mantle, our source of power, our source of authority, and our source of strength for what He has purposed for us. Oftentimes, the Lord calls us to do more than we think we can or are able to do, but He always supplies us with the strength and equips us for kingdom work. He is looking for someone to pick up the mantle with power and authority. He needs someone with passion and fervor; someone with the same obedience, sacrifice and commitment of an Elijah and an Elisha; someone who is bold and confident that will walk in authority; someone will speak, live, and walk in truth, as well as teach the truth with compassion, grace, and love.
 
In my mind, I saw Elijah tossing the mantle down to Elisha, giving him that look and saying, "It's now your turn to carry on in my stead, go and do greater works." As he caught it, he wrapped it around himself in obedience and carried the mantle of Elijah to complete the mission that the Lord would give him. Let's be encouraged and inspired to do the same.
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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A Total Transformation
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
 
As I was meditating, clearly I heard there is not only a need for the people of God to be transformed but there is urgency for a total transformation. And not just of the mind, body and soul, but in every aspect of our lives that does not align itself with the will of God. Paul’s message in this passage to the Romans begins with him asking earnestly for them to present themselves wholly to God and not try to fit in with the world but transform your lives by remembering what you’ve been taught because a life of righteousness is a life to be lived. Without a doubt, the enemy would have us to believe that we are right where we need to be, doing what we need to do and still be in the will of God. He is good at intentionally misleading and misinforming, because that's his job, to deceive.
             
When we look at the word transformation, it simply means a complete change. Although there are several definitions we could consider; a conversion in nature, in condition; to convert, which means to change from one use, function, or purpose to another and adapt to a new or different purpose. This brought another scripture to mind, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor 5:7). This tells us that God wants a complete and total conversion because we cannot represent Him as Christians or children of the Most High God and still live our same old man life with our same old ways. We can't have it our way or have our own agendas and do it in the name of Jesus. Where is the change? If we are to conform to this walk, then all the old ways must die (Eph 4:22-24).
 
Of course, we will be constantly bombarded with the enticements of the world, and the enemy will try to make us believe that we can still have the best of both worlds. Not so. Yes, we must live, work and do business in it, but it cannot be our way of life any longer but a life of righteousness... but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: (Phil 3:13-15). We must be a true testament to who we profess to be, especially if we say we love God (read reference: I John 2:4-6, 15-16). How do I know, because it reflects in our actions, our reactions, and in our attitudes. The Word requires us to do a self evaluation and examination daily to see if we are where we need to be; presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, keeping it holy and pleasing to God, because this is the least we can do in our service to the Lord. Renewing our minds continuously so we exemplify what is good and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
 
The Lord wants transformed lives; lives that reflect Him. We must represent Him at all times and not just on Sunday in the presence of the church. Trust me, God is not fooled, for He knows all and He sees all and is yet, merciful.  It's time to take a hard look to see where we are falling short of the glory of God and make an honest effort to work on getting a total and complete transformation today! You'll love the new look!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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The Aroma of Christ
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
 
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.  II Cor 2:14-15 ESV
 
What excites me is hearing the words “sweet fragrance or the aroma of Christ.” This passage always reminds me of a moment in time when the Lord visited me one cold and early morning in October. I was house sitting and prior to sleeping; I had been reading, praying and talking to the Lord regarding my life, my situation and circumstances. I don’t remember when the praying stopped and sleeping began when I was awakened at 4 am.
 
It was still dark outside and as I lifted my head and propped up on my elbows, a slight gush of wind brushed across my face. What followed that wind was the most beautiful fragrance I had ever experienced (I am a lover of scents and fragrances) and it lingered momentarily and then it was gone. Needless to say, I was left in total amazement and somewhat unnerved.  I jumped up, cut on the light and immediately went to check the windows which of course were shut and locked. It would have been impossible for a wind to come through and brush my face on the opposite side of the room, not to mention where such a beautiful fragrance that accompanied it might have come from.
 
As I quickly began to search for scriptures that dealt with fragrances or aromas (and there were many); it was this scripture the Lord confirmed in me that morning. I knew at that moment the Lord heard me and His sweet presence had come to let me know that He was there. It assured me; He had witnessed my devotion and consecration and was well pleased. He was showing me that my laboring and sacrifice had not gone unnoticed. The Lord was letting me know that He said that we are as a sweet fragrance to Him because of our obedience and sacrifice and that He was well pleased and all that concerned me would be perfected. How encouraging is this as a believer? It is also an awesome way to be awakened and be assured by the Lord Himself that I am with you and the victory was mine! Just stay the course because He was working it out for my good.
 
This is exactly what was conveyed to my spirit this morning as I was delightfully reminded that He loves me and is concerned about every aspect of my life, no matter how small or how large; He is always there. The Lord let me know with out a shadow of a doubt that He still hears my cries and He has not left me. Sometimes we don’t hear from Him as we think or would like, but then He will show up in some form or fashion to let us know He is always with us and will awe us with His presence!
 
Let’s strive to be that sweet fragrance that is pleasing to God in all that we say and do as we continue on this journey. This is turn will permeate and filter into our natural walk and others will not only see but be attracted to us whether they are who are saved and among those who are perishing because we are the aroma of Christ to God among them. Like bees to a flower, we can and will attract others to Christ!
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Your Mountain Knows Your Voice
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23
 
Some time ago, I caught the end of a program and what I heard was, "your mountain knows your voice." The statement alone hit me like a ton of bricks and it sent my mind in so many directions. Not to mention, I felt like screaming, jumping, and shouting just at the thought of my mountains actually knowing my voice. Initially, I thought if I had only been able to hear this man’s entire thought process on the subject and then I realized that perhaps it was all the Lord wanted me to hear and He would work out the rest in me.

We all have mountains, obstacles, or hindrances in our life that we need to overcome and immediately, this scripture came to mind. I've always loved its content and the comfort it brings, especially during those times when I remember that Jesus said that all I need to do is speak to the mountain in my life. However, it has never been as powerful as it was that day and it spoke volumes to my spirit as if I had heard it for the first time. This confirms once again that the scriptures are yet alive and they speak to every situation and sometimes differently, depending on the circumstances.
 
This was such an eye-opener for me; the thought of a mountain removing itself at the very sound of my voice and from my command. As I continued to meditate on it, my thought was, if it's my mountain, why wouldn't it know my voice? Isn't this what Jesus was trying to convey here? He says, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” Powerful right? However, there is a condition to the mountain actually heeding to your voice; there cannot be any doubt and you must believe in what you have said and then you can have what you say! He's given us power to speak to our mountains. 
 
Do you have that kind of faith, that kind of mustard seed faith which says if you speak it, you can have it? We are not talking about the size of the mountain because He doesn't care about the size of the mountain, just the size of your faith. A small amount of faith is all that's needed in order to move those mountains. Get this phrase down in your spirit "my mountain knows my voice!"  And then go ahead and speak to that mountain today!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Divinely Positioned
Cynde Layne Wilkerson

 
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Acts 9:3-6 ESV

We are often told how we must position ourselves to hear from the Lord in order to be blessed of Him.  While this is also true, in this particular instance, Saul was put in the position to hear and not by choice. He certainly was not thinking about positioning himself, in fact, he was very focused on tending to the business of persecuting the Jewish Christians.  At that moment, on the road to Damascus, he would have argued with you that he was not in the right place at the right time. Saul had no idea when he started his day, what his plight would be or that he was about to experience what it meant to be divinely positioned for purpose.  The Lord is in the business of positioning you right where he wants and needs you in order to be used for His purpose. And not only so you will be able to hear from Him, but to know that unmistakably and undeniably it’s Him calling you. Just ask Saul.

Most of the time, we are going through the motions and just doing busy work and haven’t sought the Lord in regards to our purpose. We then become like Saul, drifting through this journey thinking we are doing the work of the Lord and not being effective in the ministry. Perhaps, finding ourselves not doing His will but doing what we think is best for us to do; going through our walk with Christ, doing our own thing and doing it our own way. Like Saul, we have our own agendas and we’ve chosen our own direction and what we plan on doing and how we plan on doing it when we have not been divinely positioned or purposed for the task.  Consequently, we can find ourselves in a confused state and out of control, again like Paul, convinced that we are doing the work of the Lord. The Lord has a purpose and a plan for our life and we can know him in the power of His might! We just need to heed to His call and His directives. Look at what happens after his conversion to Paul, his work for the ministry and his testimony is documented throughout the New Testament.

When God has positioned you for His purpose, you can believe without a doubt that you are the right person that He has chosen for the work. Saul would not have believed he was the right person based on who he was and what he had been doing, but God convinced him otherwise.  It was not by happenstance that He met the Lord as he traveled that day. When we are in our rightful place in ministry, we will see God work in our favor and with His power. When we have been divinely positioned, we can expect the anointing of God and we will experience the move of God as He intended. We will begin to see God transition us to the place where he wants us to be, just as he did with Saul, and greater works we’ll do. We don't have to position ourselves, but wait and allow God to divinely position us for His purpose!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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A Song for Love
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. Psalm 98:1
 
For as long as I can remember, I have gravitated towards songs made for love; songs that are sung to express the love we hold in our hearts. We identified with some of these songs, especially, when we were feeling some kind of way or when it perfectly described to another what we wanted to reveal in words. When I begin to reflect on my love for God and His love for us, it made me think of His unfailing and unconditional love; a love that is not going to change depending on how He’s treated or if we are feeling some kind of way today and perhaps differently tomorrow. For His love is pure, consistent and extraordinarily wonderful. Now, these are expressions that make songs for a true love.
 
While driving yesterday, I found myself singing. It was a song from my heart with its own melody; a new song that beautifully expressed how I was feeling, it was a song for love. Of course, the words fully described my emotions for the one I love and for all He is to me. He is the one that my heart conveys all the joy that is within me. I thought about the amazing things that the Lord has done, as well as graciously allowing me to be a part of His plan for salvation, counted as one of His own and used for His glory, all for love.
 
Even when I consider my life and every aspect of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly; every milestone, every triumph, every mountain and every valley, as well as the love, mercy, favor, and grace that He’s provided throughout the years, it doesn’t diminish my love, it only enhances it the more. I hold dear the love of the one who saw fit to bless me regardless of my faults, my flaws and my shortcomings. He loves me, for me. It would be impossible for me not to bless Him and sing songs of love to Him. There is an indescribable joy that bubbles from the depths of my soul and it brings about a song of praise, which translates into a song of love. It reminds me of the feeling Jeremiah had when he said, “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones.” That’s the kind of feeling I’m having and I’ve got to get it out, I have to tell it. In this case, I've got to sing it! I've got to tell of His breathtaking love and all of the remarkable things that He has done, just for me. This song that He has put down in my heart; this new song of praise and thanksgiving, makes my soul literally dance as it sings a song for love unto the Lord!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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He's With Us
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God. Isaiah 43:1-3
 
I love this very simple, yet powerful passage and often it is my go to scripture for comfort. It tells me that He is with me, as well as my source for relief and reassurance. The words soothe, encourage and console my heart, and let me know that no matter what I go through, the Lord is not going to allow anything overtake me.
 
Honestly, isn’t that what we want? Isn’t that what we are believing God for? To feel as if He is with us to ease our pain and to be our source for release from the anxieties, worries, and cares of this world and be our hope. In this instance, He assures Israel through the prophet that they are safe from anything that they were facing or would come up against with this natural analogy to remind them as to who He is and what He has done. He tells them none of these things; not water, fire, or rivers would He allow to harm them. I will be your source of protection, your hope, as I have always been.
 
God speaks comforting words that we can apply to our lives. He lets us know that when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overtake you: because it cannot spread beyond the limits that I’ve given it. I don’t care how swift it flows or how turbulent it gets or how deep it runs, I contain it, I control it, and I have authority over it. Then He said, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; God is saying that the fire might be burning all around you and it might get hot but it will not come near you and neither will a flame kindle upon you; it won’t burn you and it certainly won’t consume you.
 
Simply, there will be difficult situations and conditions that we will experience and face in this life because life does happen whether we are ready or not. Yet, God is saying these things will not overtake us. We will go through a variety of occurrences that are beyond our control, however, He is in control of all things. We can take comfort in knowing that He will be there no matter what this life may bring our way. Sometimes we need a gentle reminder that He said, “I AM the Lord thy God and I will be with you.”
 
The Lord knows I needed one today. Thank you for always being so mindful of us.
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Trust While You Wait
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Psalms 25:20-21

I have found on my journey, countless numbers of stories from those who find themselves deep in the heat of the fire of circumstances and the sufferings of life (and I thought it was just me). Most, if we were honest, have a hard time just trying to understand the why of it all, especially when the trials seem so extreme and the stress and strain of the outcome (losing a home, job, or financial difficulties, etc.) outweighs your reasonable and rational thoughts. Naturally, this causes doubt, worry, anxiety, and yes, shame to some degree. However, the scripture tells us to stand in integrity and on the principles of God while He protects and keeps us. We must not only trust but wait on Him to bring us out of our situations, even when we don’t understand them. We cannot be concerned with what others may think or say because they will not always understand who we are, why we do what we do, or why God has chosen us to go through various trials. God knows what He is doing and what our outcome will be, as well as the place He is trying to get us to, as He equips us for the kingdom.

All that matters is that our actions are pleasing to God so that He gets the glory. It doesn’t matter who stays in our corner or who leaves; even when some have turned against us, God always has our back. Our integrity should be the basis of our testimony and our ability to maintain godly morals and principles. Our standards, our honesty, and most importantly, our uprightness are what preserves us and keeps us while we are waiting. It is in that, where we find our total reliance, our confidence and our trust. David communicates that message here in spite of what was going on with him when he penned this psalm. He had the confidence and the trust that God would deliver and restore him and he would wait until that happened. We have to be as David and put our complete trust in the fact that we believe that the Lord is going to protect, sustain, and uphold us while we stand firmly in what we know is right, regardless of how bleak our situation may appear from the outside looking in.

My prayer is keep me Lord, keep me mind, and keep my heart so that I am not ever ashamed, nor become disappointed because I have put my trust in you. Even if all hell breaks loose around me, let your sovereignty, your righteousness, and your peace maintain me while I continue to put my confidence, my trust and hope in the God of my salvation. Let your love envelope and embrace me while I wait for you.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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An Invitation to Praise
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Psalm 8:3-4, 8

There is location near the ocean where I still away to think, read or just meditate. However, more often than not, while gazing out over the water, I find myself reflecting on the magnificence of God and marveling at His glory. It’s all around us, in every intricate and minute detail, especially if you are looking through spiritual eyes. It’s impossible not to give praise for His excellent handiwork.

I found myself thinking about the vastness of the ocean and how it reminds me of the book of Genesis where God spoke everything into place with purpose and order. I considered how carefully and artfully He positioned the heavens, the moon and the stars into existence, along with the countless things that we could name that He has done in all the earth. How could we not praise Him for His attention to detail in every aspect of that which He created, including us? At a very young age, I was in awe of God although I had very little information and questioned as to why He made me and His purpose for my life. Needless to say, I am still in awe.

This psalm is an invitation to praise God for His wondrous works and His mindfulness toward us. The psalmist speaks directly to God and makes it personal as he expresses himself, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent, how grand, how magnificent is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens; it’s so high, how can I attain it? From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, I wonder what is man that you are so mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? The psalmist considered and then lets us know that God spent time and thought into orchestrating His desires into fruition. As he wrote this psalm, he succeeded in creatively putting into words what his heart held about the One whom he loved and served.

I realized as I was meditating that our thoughts, our imaginations cannot fathom nor comprehend His magnificence. It’s impossible to capture the very essence of His glory even in our efforts to express creativity those thoughts in words. We cannot fully express the excellency of God. We cannot obtain His knowledge, because it would be too much for us to handle. However, we experience His goodness and His awesomeness through His creation and as His creation every second of the day. We should give Him praise because of what He has done (and doing) not only for us but around us because His glory is reflected in all.

Take a moment to consider, as the psalmist does, on the goodness of God and how mindful He has been to us in every aspect of our lives. How He continues to care for us and takes time to concern Himself with our needs, our wants, our desires, and our well-being; and how He extends His mercies to us that are new every morning (Lam 3:22-23)! And after considering all of what’s been said, please except my invitation to go ahead and give God some praise!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Kept by the King
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
…He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7b-8 NIV
 
I had a wonderful, lengthy and engaging conversation with a very good friend as we talked, laughed, and shared about various things. It’s good to be able to laugh and be free to express yourself. Laughter is good for the soul because it makes for a merry and joyful heart (Proverbs 17:22). I can’t stress enough how important it is to surround yourself with uplifting, well-rounded and balanced individuals; it is like the icing on the cake, especially when they are also believers. Our discussion and our subject matter consisted of so many things and as always, we delved into the deep matters of the heart concerning our life in the Lord. One thing we definitely agreed upon was that God is a keeper and He is and has continually watched over our lives; our coming, as well as our going. He knows what He’s doing concerning us even when we don’t. He knows the purpose as to why He does what He does and we have to trust and walk in that.  She encourages my heart.
 
This psalm, in particular, seemed best to close out the week because it is one of the fifteen that exemplifies praise, exultation and elevation; known as the song of ascents. These are encouraging and uplifting songs that were sung while traveling on the road to Jerusalem. These songs were instrumental in preparing the worshippers as they traveled in order to usher themselves into the very presence of God. This was essential in order to bring them to a place of rejoicing as they made their arrival to the Temple. They wanted to have the right attitude as they were bringing their sacrifices to God.
 
So often as believers, we forget that God is patiently waiting for our heart, our mind and our soul to take hold of the proper attitude to exalt His name and bring Him our sacrifice of praise. We are no different than those who prepared themselves on the way to the Temple; finding ourselves worshipping God and rejoicing as we get ready to move into His presence. It helps when we remember what He has done and that He is the one who sustains our life, protects, and guards us. No matter what we face and through it all, God assures us that He will watch over our life, as well as watch over our coming and going both now and forever as we believe that all of our help comes from Him.
 
What a privilege and an honor to be kept and continuously watched over. That alone is encouraging to know that He is always with us and concerned with every aspect of our lives. He is willing and certainly He is able to be that very present help because He comes with power and He comes in His strength to our rescue. We have His assurance that He will keep us in the process of everything we face in this life. He’s got this, we just have to trust, have faith and believe. We can use this as our affirmation, “we are kept by the King!”
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Stay Wrapped in Love
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 21-22
 
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Who said life would be a flowery bed of ease?”  It sounds wonderful when you imagine floating through life on a bed of flowers free from worry, free from stress, free from the cares of the world, and free from some folks. However, as believers, life is not going to give us a free pass and especially, from any of the abovementioned. Everyday is not going to go as planned or as we might hope. We can expect that there will be some hiccups, some bumps in the road and even some surprise impacts that we can’t possibly anticipate. Many of those darts will come from the antics of the enemy as he uses whatever and whomever he chooses. He is an expert at using the people closest to us; friends, family and loved ones; however, we have to master the art of recognizing his tactics and adjust ourselves accordingly.
 
Earlier in this passage of Jude, the writer said, “Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, in the last days there will be people who won’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat what’s been taught like a joke; they will ridicule it, laugh and mock it and make religion to fit their ideas and desires in order to follow their own ungodly desires. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit, but you, dear friends, must continue on by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.” We can’t say that the love of God is keeping us and then outwardly, people see something different in us because things aren’t going our way or someone has said or done something to douse our spirit. We have to, as Jude said, “building ourselves up in our most holy faith and praying, it’s essential to this life and could save someone else.
 
What this passage tells me is that we must stay focused on the Lord, what we have been taught and continue to keep ourselves securely fastened in His love, because we are definitely going to encounter things that will come to disturb our peace. There is so much going on in every place; at home, work, church, and in the world that we cannot get distracted by the thing that comes to hinder us or knock us off balance. Staying engulfed in God’s love helps us along this journey. It also helps us to stay in His peace as we wait for Him to work out and perfect every situation or circumstance that concerns us (Psalm 138:8). As hard as that may be at times, it is imperative that we keep it at all cost. Otherwise, we would be running off on a tangent more often than not which accomplishes absolutely nothing except mental and emotional chaos. The enemy loves to see this happen so we have to make a conscious choice to stay in perfect peace by trusting God (Is 26:3).
 
I decided to look up the phrase, “a flowery bed of ease” to see where it originated. It actually derived from a hymn called “Am I a Solider of the Cross” written by Issac Watts in the 1700s. He wrote the hymn with this scripture as a base, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." In other words, keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, be determined, be steadfast, be unwavering, unyielding and persevere (1 Corinthians 16:13). It also goes on to say in verse 14, “and love without stopping.” How befitting, because aren’t we soldiers of the cross?
 
We are going to have to endure some battles in this way as soldiers in this army. Yes, we will get weak sometimes, wounded, and even worn but we can’t stop fighting or stop being concerned about the cause in which we fight. We are to hold up the blood stain banner right? We’ll need to continue in the action of watching, guarding, as well as keeping our eye on what’s going on around us so we’ll know how to proceed as we fight the good fight of faith, Continue being the pillar of love, displaying compassion, and giving hope; we who are in Christ. If we are staying wrapped in love, which is our shield of protection, we should be giving off said love and making a difference, amen?
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Exceedingly Abundantly
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
 
I had two words bubble up in me today and I began to sing them. Unfortunately, I only knew those two words and the melody that came with them. I didn’t know the name of the song or even the artist. So, I began a search and after finding several references, I selected one and the first choice was the right choice. As I continued to listen, the song ministered to me and encouraged my heart. Here are some of the words, “Exceedingly abundantly, above all, all you can ask or think, according to the power that works in you. God is able to do just what he said he would do.” The lyrics to the song, like our scripture today, let us know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Can you imagine how the bubble up went on into a full blown praise? How the spirit of the Lord orchestrates and blesses me is a discussion for another day!
 
In this passage, Paul continues his talk with the Ephesians and is praying that they will come to a realization as to who they are in Christ. He reminds them that you’ve heard, from me, about the grace of God that has been given to you. You understand all that has been afforded to you in Christ and you have been made heirs to His promise. This gift and this grace were given to all of us by the effectual working of God’s power so that we would be strengthened by His might and by His Spirit for our growth. He wanted them to grasp what had been done for them and to take hold of it by faith and in turn, get rooted and grounded with what you’ve been taught. Stop living beneath what God provided and receive all that He has for you.
 
Paul gives such powerful words to get them (and us) motivated about the wealth they possessed. He wanted them to remain faithful in prayer, be humble and continue to reverence God in their hearts as they continued live and walk in His presence. He lets them know that when you do this, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above anything you could possibly fathom. Just like the Ephesians, we cannot even comprehend naturally what He can and is able to do for us, yet, God is able to provide us with what we need to sustain our lives. He has given us this wonderful indwelling keeping power; power that helps to keep us in His will, teaches, counsels, and guides us along this way, which is the evidence of the exceeding greatness of the power of God.
 
The definition of exceedingly means "to an unusually high degree or measure" and abundantly means "plentiful, but personally I like, "to present in great quantities." I believe God is going to make evident (tangibly) to us in unusually great quantities above all that we can ask and or think possible for our lives, especially, when we are walking in faith and obedient to the will and the word of God. He is not only able but willing to do for us according to His riches in glory. The lyrics went on to say, “God is able to do just what He said he would do. He's gonna fulfill every promise to you. Don't give up on God, cause He won't give up on you, He's able.”
 
God by His power; the power that’s working within us is able to carry out His purpose and do far above all that we would dare to ask or think; even beyond our desires, our thoughts, our hopes, or our dreams. Now, can you see why I got so excited about those two words together? My two words for today, exceedingly abundantly!
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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Not in the Wisdom of Men
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:2-5
 
In our vast search for information, the internet has become a handy and convenient tool. However, it is crucial that we are able to discern the content, especially, when searching for biblical insight or history.  Case and point: I stumbled across a site that truly vexed my spirit and as I read the discussions that were posted, some of the questions, as well as the answers at first glance, met all the acceptable conditions for attracting real people with real questions, looking for real answers from a man who claimed to be a pastor. By all standards, as I mentioned, the site gave the “appearance” of being legitimate and he sounded convincing by the stimulating words that provoked thought. However, as I continued to read his responses to the questions posted, I realized that he was clearly leading people astray with his persuasive and well-expressed wording. He offered scripture to support himself and gave answers that would appease the readers because he sounded so wonderful and full of knowledge.
 
It was apparent that he did not have the wisdom or the knowledge of God, because his was speaking clearly of his own wisdom. He disputed responses that were biblically based and sound, and spirit-filled answers from others because it contradicted what he was saying. I am thankful for those who were willing to speak up and give truthful responses so that the readers could have something to seek God for in the furtherance of their studies. I left the site needless to say, a bit upset but not before posting a comment along with the scripture in II Timothy 4:2-4: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction..." Now, we would be naïve to think that these types of sites are not in existence because anyone can create a website, post their thoughts and share their belief system. The web is the place where anything goes and we take everything at face value, including the gospel. Unfortunately, if we don’t know our Bible or don’t have an understanding of the word, or not have the spirit of God to help us, the information given can actually seem valid and could possibly lead one astray.
 
Now, Paul was speaking to the Corinthians to let them know that I determined that I know nothing, even though he was an educated and well versed man. He said truly all I can really attest to is that I know Christ and Christ crucified. He told them even though I was weak among you, fearful and trembling I still preached not of myself, and not on my own but in the wisdom and the power of the Holy Ghost!  
 
We are living in a time when people are searching and looking for truths and the word tells us that there will be those who will falsely mislead. As believers, we are carrying this truth and God has entrusted us to deposit that truth. Pastors, teachers, evangelists, or ministers are not expected to deliver disrespectful babble, idle and ungodly chatter or vain and empty words. And certainly, not deliberately deceive others according to what we think; nor our opinions, causing others who are not mature in the word or converted to miss the mark regarding the faith, but everything should be by the word of God.  The word is not up for any private interpretations (2 Peter 1:20-21). If we are going to speak wisdom among the people, let’s speak in the wisdom, in the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost so that we are not speaking with enticing words of our own wisdom. We have to be aware of what is circulating, so that we can address it because our faith is not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God!
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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