Are You the Deliverer Amongst the Defilers?

     Often times in life, we find ourselves in situations where we question our presence. Whether we're questioning why we're in a broken home or marriage, an unsafe neighborhood, or even a poverty-stricken way of life. While it is very understandable to have feelings of doubt, perplexity, and self pity, I've come to realize that there is always a reason for the season!
     Moses dwelt amongst the Egyptians as one of them for about 40 years of his life. For all of that time he was, essentially, living with the enemy. In your case the enemy may be that bad relationship, that unsafe neighborhood, that constant financial struggle, or even that promiscuous element of your character.The Egyptians were very cruel to the Israelites and made them slaves in their environments, just as you may be feeling like slaves to your circumstances. Little did Moses know, he was the deliverer dwelling amongst the defilers. God would, in His own time, call Moses from the midst of his situation and guide him in the deliverance of his people. Although Moses was raised as an Egyptian, he felt a strong sense of obligation to stand up for the mistreatment of his true people. He was special. His unease led him to channel his discomfort into deliverance. It is very important to recognize that Moses would not have been able to deliver his people without God's help and guidance. We cannot expect to be delivered from our situations if we fail to follow the instructions of our Father.
      Only upon Moses being faced with a situation that forced him to flee from his familiar environment, was it then that God spoke to him and gave him the instructions for his appointed task. Sometimes our circumstances leave us too distracted to hear God's word; too distracted to walk in our purpose. With that being said, it would be safe to say that we must wait patiently in the midst of those circumstances and wait on God. Moses was able to use the skill and wisdom he acquired during his upbringing to deliver the Israelites. Although your circumstances might not seem the most desireable right now, just hold on and open your heart for God to use you.
    I love the story of Preachers of L.A's Bishop Ron Gibson. He grew up in the impoverished ghetto but ultimately gave his life over to God and is now being guided to deliver his peope faced with the same unfortunate challenges as he. So to the wife dealing with an unfaithful husband, forgive and find the strength to help other wives or couples facing the same problems. To the young man living in the bad neighborhood, turn your heart to God and help to deliver other young boys. To the young woman who spent a lot of time sleeping around and partying, turn away from your old ways and help other young girls; And to the couple who struggled financially for many years before reaching your breakthrough, ask God for guidance, and work together to help other couples become financially empowered.
   I know that life is not easy; but God never promised us easy lives. We can glorify God by humbling ourselves and acknowledging that we can't get through tough times on our own. We need him in every aspect of our lives. Once he turns our mess into a message, we can then allow him to use us to deliver someone else!

Free Yourself

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him..."  ~Psalms 103;12
       Women, I know that there may be some things from your past that you are not proud of. Maybe some things  you said or did, or even some ways you may have acted. When we are young and immature, we often carry ourselves in ways that aren't conducive to how a virtuous woman would behave. But realize that I said young and IMMATURE. Yes I was speaking of being mentally immature but also being spiritually immature. Unfortunately most people don't necessarily become that spiritually mature until they become adults. For us women, the years leading up to this point of maturity are often filled with careless and impulsive decisions that we later come to regret.
      How great it is to know that God not only forgives us for our sins, but remembers them no more! His word tells us that He removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. That's extremely far apart! So women, no matter what you may have done in your past, if you make the conscious decision to repent and accept Christ into your life and start living a God-fearing life, then there is no need to beat yourself up. There is no need to feel unworthy, ashamed, or insecure all because of your past mistakes. God loves us all and he wants you to love yourselves just as much. Mothers, no matter what mistakes our children make don't we still love them and want them to feel just as good about themselves as we do? Don't we want them to see in themselves what we see in them? So then just imagine how God must feel. He handcrafted each and every one of us with his own two hands. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. So choose to love yourselves today and let go of the feelings of regret, shame, and worthlessness. As Fantasia said "Go Ahead and Free Yourself!"

Forgiveness

The Lord placed it on my heart to share with you that it is not a part of his plan for anyone to harbor pain, hurt or resentment. With that being said, no one ever said life would not, at some point, present situations that would lead us to any of these feelings. What truly matters is how we acknowledge,  accept and associate these emotions.
 Colossians 1:16-17 states:
      For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him and he is before all things and in him all things hold together.
No matter what you are faced with, God already knew about it and he knows exactly what's on the other side; But we have to have faith that he knows what's best for us and that he would never ever put more on us than we can bear. Notice it states that all things were created through him and FOR him. God had a plan all along; Your getting hurt was just a part of it, unfortunately. Whether it was to make you a better person or the offender a better person, God had a plan in it all along. For example, you could take what you have learned from your experience and minister to other people who may be going through the same exact thing. 
 I know first hand that when someone hurts you it's hard to forgive and let it go because you feel like that person needs to pay. But, in hindsight you're only getting in your own way. Romans 12:19 States:
   Beloved, never avenge yourselves but leave it to the wrath of God for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay, saith the Lord.
So remember although we feel like we might be doing everything in our power to get back at that person we can't even begin to scrape the surface of the magnitude of things that God can do. Plus you will personally feel a whole lot better. The Bible also talks about a person that harbors resentment and unforgiveness. Until you let go of your unforgiveness, you can't make a true connection with God even through your prayers. How do you expect him to listen to your prayers and grant you all the desires of your heart and to forgive you for your sins when you can't even forgive your brother or your sister? 
    I hope that I was able to help someone with this message. God wants us to feel peace in our hearts; not sorrow and pain. So whatever you're holding onto that is stopping you from reaching your true connection with God, let it go today and give it to him. Trust me you'll feel a whole lot better!  Have a blessed day everyone and remember you should love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. :-)