May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Psalm 20:3-5 NIV

It’s a wonderful feeling when you are approached and even though you may not know the person, they have remembered you; they’ve remembered your kindness or your words of encouragement. Perhaps it was just your loving spirit that stood out and you’re complimented on how you’ve touched their heart. I’ve heard on occasion that “people may not always remember what you say, but they always remember what you do.” It’s simply nice to be remembered even for the smallest of things.

This is a very encouraging psalm written by David telling us to trust in the Lord. He reminds us that God remembers, not some, but all of our sacrifices and in return gives us favor to fulfill our purpose. He not only remembers but gives us the desire of our hearts and makes all of our plans succeed. This reminds me of the words of Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” What a wonderful declaration! Not sure about you, but I needed that confirmation today!

We cannot get discouraged because we don’t understand how God is working out our situations or our circumstances, we simply must trust Him. Trusting that He knows what's best for us. I remind myself that His ways are not my ways and that His thoughts are not my thoughts and that He really does know what’s best for me. If we would stop and think about all the many blessings and benefits that the Lord bestows upon us every day, all day; those we know about and those we don't, those we can see and those we can’t see; we would praise Him continually for who He is and how mindful He is of us. He takes care of us even when we don’t realize that we are being taken care of or gently carried through. David also tells us that he would bless the Lord at all times and His praise would continually be in his mouth… we’ve got to learn to do it like David did!

Today’s scripture ends by saying that we will shout for joy over our deliverance, over our victory and how He has answered our petitions. We will lift up our voices in praise for our God who has remembered us, He who has not forgotten. God reveals Himself, not only to us, His anointed, but to those who know and see our lives. It is a testament as to how great and powerful He is and how His name alone is worthy of all praise for the things He has done! He hears and He will answer us in His time for those of us who continuously put our trust in the God of all flesh.

Be encouraged on today because He has not forgotten you or your labor of love!

Until the morning, be blessed!
Cynde

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:6-7

This is a profound, yet comforting word on so many levels today and it is of course, a very familiar passage. However, because the Word is alive, it speaks to our “now”; it speaks to where we are and what God wants us to understand in the season that we are in ... presently. Please catch that in your spirit.

Paul encourages Timothy in this passage. He reminds him that he had been given these wonderful spiritual gifts from the laying on of hands and given the gifts of wisdom and teaching (which in my opinion are two of the most important gifts in the ministry). Paul tells Timothy to stir up those gifts that are in you … wake them up, shift, move, or shake them loose ... do something! God gave you the gifts along with the power to be used for the ministry. Timothy already had the kind of genuine faith needed to move forward in the work of the Lord but Paul needed to let him know you can do this Timothy … so stir up what has already been placed in you. This reminds me of Jeremiah and the Lord telling him, “for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee…” (Jer 1:4-10).

Along with these two great examples, be confident that you too can do this. Just as Paul reminded Timothy, the Lord wants to remind us to be encouraged and begin to move and operate in our gifting and to stir up what has already been placed in you. Whatever word or phrase works for you, use it… the point is to motivate yourself in your gift… put what you say you have been given into action. It does not do any good if it's not being used, someone needs to hear a word from you. Everything you need to be effective and move forward in the ministry is already in you. It's our responsibility to get fired up, study and be fervent in the work of the Lord. Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed or apprehensive or feel as if we are too young like Jeremiah, or not knowledgeable enough just yet to go and do and be as the Lord has called, however keep this in mind, that if He has told you to go then he has already equipped you.

Also know this, Paul has written that God did not give us the spirit of fear so let's not procrastinate, drag our feet, put off, cast blame, or make excuses in whatever area of ministry that we have been given by God. Remember that the gift comes with the power and the authority to fulfill the purpose of God and the good news today is, that it's already in you!

Until the morning, be blessed!
Cynde