Michael Mitchell’s Post

TRUST IN THE LORD Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6  In our fast-paced world, it's easy to become caught up in our plans and ambitions. We often set goals and lay out step-by-step plans to achieve them, believing we have complete control over our lives. However, as Christians, we are reminded that God's plans for us are far greater than anything we could imagine. Our passage from Proverbs encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to rely not on our own understanding. This can be challenging, especially when things don't go as we planned. We may question why certain doors remain closed or why unexpected obstacles appear. Yet, it is in these moments of uncertainty that our faith is truly tested and refined. When we submit our ways to God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and wisdom. This doesn't mean we abandon planning or stop striving for our goals; rather, we remain open to God's guidance and allow Him to direct our paths. By doing so, we align our lives with His divine purpose, which leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Take a moment today to reflect on areas where you may be relying too heavily on your plans. Ask the Lord to reveal His plans for you and to give you the courage to follow His lead. 

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.          —2 Timothy 1:7 Self-control. You can’t succeed without it. No athlete consistently wins without it. No musician achieves excellence without it. No weight-loss program is maintained without it. No exercise regimen works without it. No knowledge is increased without it. No temptation is defeated without it. Self-control. Those who have it are winners; those who don’t are losers. Reinhold Niebuhr, in his Serenity Prayer, zeroed in on two issues that all of us face— things that cannot be changed and things that can be: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.” This is where self-control comes into play. You cannot control others, but you are the only one with the password to your attitude and actions. You will be what you are tomorrow because of the choices you make today.

Sometimes battles are invitations! Let me explain… Many times the Lord will use an enemy to bring about your promotion . Think about DAVID, without a Goliath his greatness would not have been exposed. It took the presence of a giant in the land to bring the public promotion that began with private pain in the wilderness. What if David had ran from the wilderness? What if DAVID had gotten stuck in bitterness? What if DAVID did not take his pain and bring it into the presence of the Lord? Maybe you find yourself in the midst of the battle today. Perhaps you have been wrongly accused or attacked? Well, there’s an opportunity in the pain because it can lead you to deeper levels and realms of the presence of God. It’s very important that you recognize some battles are actually invitations to purpose. The Lord will use an enemy to bring exaltation in your life. The Lord will use a wilderness experience to bring you to a place of tranquility and study that brings elevation. The important thing is that you discern your moment and your season. Don’t waste precious time being disgruntled about something that is actually a catalyst for your promotion! Stay in prayer—-let The Lord guide you and maximize your moment. #Godfidence

Joshua 1:9 says: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." In this verse, God is speaking to Joshua as he prepares to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses. The key messages in this verse are: 1. Command to Be Strong and Courageous: God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous, indicating that leadership and the tasks ahead will require bravery and strength. 2. Prohibition Against Fear and Discouragement : God tells Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged, acknowledging that challenges and fears will arise but emphasizing that these should not deter him. 3. Assurance of God's Presence : The promise that the Lord will be with Joshua wherever he goes provides assurance and encouragement. It reinforces the idea that Joshua is not alone and that God's presence will guide and support him in his mission. This verse is often seen as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, courage, and reliance on God's presence in the face of challenges and uncertainties.

Being 💯 I have been told to #humble myself a time or two in my life… When you think of humiliy, what comes to mind? In our #world, humility is not something often celebrated. We would rather be seen as powerful, influential, and competent. 🫵🏼 If humility is weakness, #pride is strength. But is it, really? Pride can feel good, but it can hold us back from who God made us to be. It makes us think that if we try hard enough, we can become good enough. If we’re doing great, pride makes our confidence soar! But if we’re going through a rough season, pride makes us sensitive to our failures. Pride links our worth to our accomplishments, and it prevents us from seeing who we truly are. Humility helps us realize that we are not enough but #God is enough for us. Humility will often ask us to risk something. It might mean laying down our social standing, our reputation, our financial security, our sense of authority, or our expertise. Surrendering our self-sufficiency, surrending our pride, lets us embrace God’s authority. Our God did miracles through Moses, established David as king of Israel, worked through Isaiah in the midst of chaos, publicly honored Mary, abundantly provided for Peter, and glorified #Jesus by raising Him from the dead. When we surrender ourselves to God, we allow Him to be glorified through us. Humility might cost us something but it leads to abundant #life. So today, how can we humble ourselves before God? 🤔 💭 Take a few moments and process what we need to lay down in order to draw closer to God within the upcoming weeks..

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/k62AyNb #newblogpost Without self-control, we’re ruled by bad habits that lead to a “spiritual” weight gain only patience and discipline can shed. But what a wonderful God we serve! In His wisdom, He renews us spiritually, physically, and emotionally when we wait on Him. Though this waiting is challenging and tests our patience, it builds trust in the Lord. When it’s over, we emerge with new strength, hope, endurance, and faith to finish the race before us. https://lnkd.in/g5rKf9Nf

When we walk by sight, we calculate everything from the human perspective, and this always leads to discouragement. But when we walk by faith, God comes into the equation, and that changes the results. From the human perspective, Goliath looked like a giant too big and powerful to defeat; but from David's godly perspective Goliath looked like a target too big to miss! David's encouragement came from God and this is one of the secrets of his life. "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam. 30:6). Despite criticism and discouraging counsel and bad advice, David trusted the Lord his God; and God rewarded his faith. Today you will consider reasons to live by faith or by sight. Life is a continual presentation of choices. When we choose to live by sight, transformation goes the direction of ineffectiveness, immobility, and insignificance. But when we choose to live by faith, trusting in God to direct our lives, transformation goes in th direction of godly usefulness, action, and significance. Whatever giants you face right now, take a moment to look higher and see that they are dwarfed by the God who cares for you and loves you.

Stop Being Intimidated ‘God did not give us a spirit of timidity.’ 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV (1984 Edition) The Bible says, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God’ (Hebrews 11:6 NIV 2011 Edition). So, don’t get involved in anything that doesn’t require you to use your faith. The key to momentum is always having something to look forward to and believe God for what you need. You either venture, or you vegetate. Jesus deliberately sent His disciples into a storm. Why? To develop their faith, and show them that with Him on board you can get through anything! God will keep exposing you to difficult situations because He knows it’s the only way your faith will grow. Nineteenth-century American preacher and abolitionist Phillips Brooks wrote, ‘Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your power, pray for power equal to your tasks.’ You don’t tap into God’s resources until you attempt something that seems humanly impossible. That’s when you discover: ‘I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power’ (Philippians 4:13 TLB). All progress involves risk. In baseball, you can’t steal second base while your foot’s still on first base. And progress involves overcoming fear. One day when David was tending his sheep, ‘there came a lion’ (1 Samuel 17:34 KJV). But in God’s strength he defeated it - plus a bear, and later a giant called Goliath. That lion was just an opportunity in disguise. If David had wavered or run away, he’d have missed his chance to become king of Israel. So, when a lion of fear comes into your life, recognize it for what it is: an opportunity from God to rise up in faith and conquer.

Daily Devotion 17/12/2024. *YOU HAVE TO BREAK FREE.* *It matters very little to me what you think of me,* *Even less where I rank in popular opinion.* (1 Corinthians 4:3–4, MSG) One of the great servants of the Lord, loved by some and hated by many, said that the secret to living a fulfilled life on earth is to break free from the slavery of pleasing people above God. *Apostle Paul lived to please an audience of One, the One who called him to be an apostle.* He was saying, “You have to do only what God puts in your heart and not let what others think matter. *Pursue the goals and dreams that He’s placed in you. Don’t miss your greatness because you’re dependent on people approving you.”* Are you sacrificing who you are because you’re addicted to others’ approval? You can’t follow what God put in your heart if you’re always trying to play up to what other people think and approve. *You have to break free from that.* *You don’t have to have their approval; you have Almighty God’s approval. Be bold and be courageous to please Him. He’s the One who holds your destiny.* Prayer: *“Father, thank You that You see the greatness that is in me and You love me just the way You made me. When others don’t give me their approval or affirm me, help me to let it go. I believe that Your approval is all that really matters in life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”* Further Reading: *1 Samuel 15: 22 - 26.*

Have you ever made a decision motivated by fear? I have. Plenty of times. Whether its a fear of failure; fear of disappointing someone; fear rooted in a childhood wound… Allowing fear to drive our decisions is common. But fear is not of God. So, making a decision rooted in fear is typically not in accord with our flourishing, with what’s best for us. St. Teresa of Avila, the 16th century nun and mystic, encourages us to find an interior place where nothing frightens us, nothing disturbs us. After her death this short poem was found as a bookmark in her breviary: Let nothing disturb you,  Let nothing frighten you,  All things are passing away:  God never changes.  Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing;  God alone suffices. Next time you’re making a decision – whether big or small – look internally to understand why you’re making the decision. Is it based on hope, trust, confidence, joy? Or is the decision based in fear? If a decision is based in fear, you can decide to rationally override the fear – even though it may be uncomfortable – to make a decision based on trust and hope. Trust + hope > fear.