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30-DAYS OF ENCOURAGMENT
DAY 1
As we go through this 30-day lockdown, it's easy for us to fall into the spirit of fear, doubt and even depression. But to help you remain encouraged and motivated to simply look for and think on the good out of the chaos.
DAY 2
G R A T I T U D E
We must always obtain the attitude of gratitude. Whether we're dealing with our marriage, children, finances, work, school, even this coronavirus - the attitude of gratitude is what we must possess! Truth is, our attitude will either take us up or it will bring us down. It's all in our hands on where we want to take our lives. Therefore - rejoice always, add prayer to your life, and bring gratitude to everything that you do!
DAY 3
H O P E
As we are dealing with such times a this, or difficult times in general, we must follow the example of Abraham and KEEP ON HOPING. We need to assure that we have pitched our tent, our mind, our spirit - in the land of HOPE. Not in unbelief, not in fear, not in doubt - in HOPE!
DAY 4
L O V E
Most times we forget the true meaning of love, that we believe just saying it is good enough. It's convenient for us to say "I love you", but what about SHOWING it? Throughout this lockdown as we're obeying the law of the land and keeping our social distance, that shouldn't refrain us from showing love to one another. Call someone. Check on someone. Help someone. Encourage someone. All in all, reflect God in these times, because God is LOVE.
DAY 5
G R A C E
The number FIVE represents GRACE! What is grace? It's the unmerited, undeserved and unearned favor from God! WE must learn to truly rest and trust in God's grace; know that the faithfulness of ourselves! Jesus + water, lysol, toilet paper, hand sanitizer will NEVER be enough. Jesus, ALONE, is ENOUGH!
His GRACE is ENOUGH!
DAY 6
T R U S T
In times of uncertainty, what are we doing with our trust? Are we placing its in God? or are we allowing it to waiver?
The most opportune time for you to develop your trust, is in the time of uncertainty. In the time of doubt. In the time of fear. In the time of testing. However, yo must know this: placing your trust in man...will always fail. But when you place your trust in God, He will never fail you, and He will direct your path as you go through your valleys and storms of uncertainty. Trust God, today. Tomorrow. And forever more.
DAY 7
R E S T
If God rested on the seventh day, m what makes you think that you don't need to rest?
To rest is not to be lazy. To ret is to be still and peaceful in God's presence. We're always TRYING so hard in life, when we should be RESTING in God. As it says in Matthew, rather than carrying our burdens...we must take up God's yoke, for it is easy; carry His burden, for it is light. Why? Because He'll give us rest when we do so. When we occupy ourselves with our own burdens, we avoid resting in God.
Selft-reflect - When was the last time you rested in God?
DAY 8
N E W
We all love to hear the word "new"...but in orderer us to receive NEW, we must release the OLD! To enter into the NEW YOU, you must get rid of the OLD YOU; withholding no condemnation!
There's a difference between morning and mourning, and what separates the two is U! Psalms 30 says, "weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." As Pastor Laki had said, it doesn't mean the physical time or physical night - it means when YOU spiritually wake up! Get our of your mourning, and enter into your NEW morning, for it is a NEW season!
DAY 9
C O U R A G E
As the word instructs, "Be strong and VERY courageous!" During your time of tragedy, of death, of chaos, of a time such as this that we're currently in with #COVID19 - we must be strong and have courage! Pastor Laki had shared, the number 9 represents a full cycle, as well as maturity and patience. Therefore, have patience throughout this quarantine, everyone. Don't allow the media to fill you with all the junk of doubt and fear - be STRONG and have COURAGE!
DAY 10
S E R V E
"It's impossibe to serve God, without serving one another." It's good to serve yourself, but it's even GREATER to serve OTHERS. Serving others will not only refrain you from being focused on your situations, but it will also help DECREASE your situations! Ain't that something? We are never too high or too low than anybody that we aren't able to serve people. Jesus served, so why shouldn't we? Obtain a TRUE heart of a servant, folks you'll experience such amazing growth within your life!
DAY 11
C O N S I S T E N C Y
"Consistency is the key to any breakthrough!"
If you're in expectation for a breakthrough, REMAIN CONSISTENT. Yes, we can go before God and pray to Him...but we must also do our part! How can we do our part? By not growing wary in doing good; by having consistency.
[Read Galatians 6:9]
Whatever you're doing, be consistent in it. [IF it brings glory to God, IF it brings you real growth]
DAY 12
T O G E T H E R
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Life is better TOGETHER! This doesn't apply for the married couples, only this applies for families, friends, etc. Call someone, reach out to them, there is strength in numbers! Better, together. Stronger, together. Greater, together. Life is better TOGETHER, especially when it's for the RIGHT CAUSE.
DAY 13
T I M I N G
When we try to rush things on our own time, they will only fall apart. We need to grasp the fact that it's better for us to wait, and trust God's in timing, for things to fall in place. Rather than stressing yourself out, have faith and be patient. God's timing will always be the right time!
DAY 14
C H O I C E
"Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make, makes you!" You cannot blame anyone else for your life. Where you are at right now, is due to your choices. The choice of us getting hurt may not have been our own, but the choice of how we deal with the hurt, is our won. We can either be better, or we can be bitter. Choose life. Choose to make every storm, every challenge, every hurt as a catapult rather than a crutch.
DAY 15
P L A N
Our discrepancy of planning will lead to the demise of our life! It's important for us to create and maintain plans for our life, or else we'll end up someplace we aren't supposed to be. Or even somewhere God didn't even plan for us to be. With that being said, we must not only plan intentionally, but we must plan with God's purpose.
Self-Reflect: When was the last time your wrote out your plans?
If you aren't proud of the answer, start today. If you are, stay consistent!
DAY 16
N E E D
While being on this quarantine, we must truly take the time to identify our wants and our NEEDS. Just because we really want something, it doesn't mean we really need it. So what DO we need? We need our spouse. We need our children. We need our home. We need GOD. We need His word! A want is only for the moment, while a need is for a lifetime.
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Create a list today of your wants and needs. You'll know if it's a need, if you can't live without it and if it's essential to your life.
DAY 17
C H I L L
Not ice-cold chill...
Chill, as in SELAH. Relax. Be at peace. ESPECIALLY during this time of COVID19, we just need to CHILL.
When we know that God restores our soul...When we know that He is with us...We can CHILL.
Dont be anxious about anything, just chill.
DAY 18
C O M M O M S E N S E
There are just some things that money can't buy...like manner, morals and common sense. Know this: When you have common sense, you will be blessed, and less stressed. Hear the following assets that you experience/have, when you have COMMON SENSE.
DAY 19
A S S O C I A T I O N
Take your time when thinking on these...
Do they uplift me? or do they bring me down?
Do they stretch me? or do they keep me the same?
Do they correct me with the truth?
Do they bring me closer to God? or do they pull me away from Him?
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Vice versa, you must ask yourself, if you're benefiting them. There must be reciprocity within your association. If all someone is doing is just taking withdrawals, without replenishing deposit, that's an indication that they're not the right association for you.
ASSOCITION MATTERS!
DAY 20
F O R G I V E
"It's one of the greatest gifts to give yourself, to forgive."
When we forgive, we don't free anyone, but ourselves. We must understand this, because we were first forgiven, we must be willing to forgive others. At the end of the day, we don't have to forgive, we GET to forgive.
DAY 21
M A T U R E
Maturity isn't determined by how you look, but how you choose to look at things. There's a quote that says, "I knew I matured when I realized every situation doesn't need a reaction."
As Pastor Laki had said, the more you become mature, the more you realize that your most precious commodity is your PEACE. While physical maturity is based upon your years, spiritual maturity is based upon your obedience to God's word.
DAY 22
V A L U E
Your values reflect what is important to you, as well as they way you live. It's vital to attain the right values for yourself, because they'll anchor you throughout life; in the good, and more especially, in the bad.
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If you'd struggle / can't live without it - value.
If it doesn't bring any hindrance - value.
if it glorifies God - value.
Identify and set some values today.
DAY 23
B E C O M E
BEFORE anything can happen, the process of BECOME must happen first. For new things to BECOME, let go of the old things. To BECOME who God created you to be, let go of who you are.
Understand this though, there's a PROCESS. If you don't respect the process of becoming, then the process will make your respect it, it will make you become humble. BECOME the best version of yourself, by letting go of everything that's holding you back! Trust God, respect the process, and watch how GREAT you BECOME. Don't just receive it, walk in it!
DAY 24
R E N O V A T E
It isn't easy, but it's definitely worth it! Renovation ALWAYS starts with demolition. With that being said, rather than adding things, we must be will to remove and demolish. As the word says, we can't place old wine into new wineskin. Trying to add more things only diminishes the true purpose of renovating. We must demolish, and restore from the ground, up!
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Self-Reflect: What areas in my life entail serious renovation?
DAY 25
S I L E N T
"The silence of God, does NOT determine the absence of God."
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Understand this: When God is silent, it doesn't mean He's absent; He is still present. Teachers don't talk during tests. Therefore, in your season of silence, surrender your anxiety, be patient and trust God.
DAY 26
T H I S, T O O, S H A L L P A S S
The bad times, the storms, the trials and tribulations - THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS. Understand this as well; the good times, the moments of overflow, they shall also pass.
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Be humble. Be content with where God currently has you at. Keep your head lifted. Know that this, too, shall pass!
DAY 27
B E N E F I C I A L
1 Corinthians 10:23, "You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' but not everything is good for you. You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' but not everything is beneficial."
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Just because you're permitted to do anything, it doesn't mean that everything is beneficial; it Don's mean that everything will work out to your benefit / advantage. Make sure that you're around people who are beneficial, but also make sure that you [yourself] are beneficial to others. The only way you can truly grow is by having things that are TRULY BENEFICIAL in your life!
DAY 28
D E T O U R
Thank God for every detour in your life! Detours can be good or bad, depending on how you choose to perceive it. Just like how God deals us measure of faith, it's up to us on whether we activate it or not. How life deals us a set of cards, it's up to us on how we play our hand.
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We must also have discernment on whether a detour is from God, or from ourselves. Some things in life, we inflict upon ourselves and ask God to heal it, but how can God heal it, if He didn't inflict it? God did bring it forth, than Him for the detour!
DAY 29
S A F E T Y
Simple and short: Make sure that your place of safety [your refuge, your fortress, your shelter, your home] remains in His presence.
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God knew us before we were in the womb. He declared such prosperous plans for us. He has our very best interests at heart, therefore, we should always find safety in Him!
DAY 30
F I N I S H S T R O N G
Concluding our 30-Day Devotional, we must continue to run our race and FINISH STRONG. Get tired of quitting before finishing. Get tired of starting things and not finishing. God is a finisher, and because we were created in His image and likeness, we are finishers too!
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Now that you have been encouraged for 30 days, don't stop there. It's time for you to ENCOURAGE YOURSELF.