How To Take What You Do And Do It Well: Devotional 2k3217

HOW TO TAKE WHAT YOU DO AND DO IT WELL

DEVOTIONAL

MARTINA MORRIS

AuthorHouse™ 1663 Liberty Drive Bloomington, IN 47403 www.authorhouse.com Phone: 1 (800) 839-8640

© 2017 Martina Morris. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/19/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9106-6 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-5246-9105-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017906956

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thank You God for inspiring me to write this book. Thanks to Bishop Pedescleaux for your impartation. Thank You to Sam! You are a great friend, and I really do appreciate you. Thanks to anyone else who has encouraged me in some way -- to write this book.

This book “How To Take What You Do and Do It Well” has literally been years in the making, but now it is finally here. It was written to inform and inspire someone in their daily life. This book will also help you to realign yourself back to God. So, I trust that these 21 different topics will spark and saturate your thinking -- in order to be a better you.

Table of Contents

Be Faithful

Hold On To Your Dreams

Be Humble

Have An Ear To Hear

Expand Your Possibilities

Let Go Of The Past

Strive To Finish

Be ionate

Deposit In Others

Keep Knocking

Stir Up Your Gift

The Devil Is A Liar

Be A Giver

Have A Repentant Heart

Be Purposeful

Be A Worshiper

Be Forgiving

Launch Out

Be Patient

Be Positioned For Transition

Put Your Heart Into It

Unless under wise indicated, all Scriptures quotations are taken from the Holy Bible in the King James Version and New King James Version.

BE FAITHFUL

Faith is similar to a sturdy tree truck, it can not be easily moved, but your emotions are like the wind that blows back and forth, and for every emotion you are sure to have a distraction. First, your emotions can take you into a different direction. Therefore, it is important to keep your faith during trying times, when you become too emotional. At times, it might be necessary to get counseling if you find yourself being overly emotional. Also, you can handle your emotions by praying through them. Secondly, beware of distractions when trying times come. Trust me; the devil would like to get you at your weakest moment, so keep in mind that distractions are put in place to get your mind off of what God calls you to do. But, keep your focus on God, so that you can see God as greater than your distractions. greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1John 4:4) Therefore, run the race God has given you. And, keep going in the direction you know God wants you to go in.

Sometime in your faith walk, your promise will not come as quick as you would like it to. And, it may seem like everyone else promise comes to more quickly. So, what do you do while you wait? The answer is to celebrate others’ victories, so that you can rejoice in yours. Ask yourself what has God called you to do? Then take what God has called you to do and make the most of it. faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Your faith will produce strength. Though, it will take you out of your comfort zone. Faith will cause you to have expectations. Faith has patience. Where there is true faith it brings about rewards. Though sometimes your faith can be challenged, because life has a way of presenting issues. Just in challenging times to be faithful.

Fully Faithful

Become fully faithful and open to learn what God has called you to do. Likewise, do not compare yourself to others, but celebrate yourself. no one is just like you. God made each and every one of us unique in order that our destinies will be fulfilled. It takes the pressure off of you when you stop being critical of what you are not. No one can beat you when you do what God calls you to do! God is not looking for ability but availability! God does not measure your abilities, but he looks at your heart. Just be faithful with your gift because your gift will make room for you. Your faith manifests both those things that you see and do not see. Therefore, make room for what is to come; because, if you are faithful over a few things, He will make you a ruler over many. Faithfulness to God will promote you. Promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another (Psalm 75:6-7). , the person who faces the toughest challenges is not the person who has the most money, holds the highest title, or has the biggest house; but, the one who is faithful in the kingdom of God. When you operate in faith and come into the knowledge of God by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you take on the spirit of the Lord.

You no longer operate by your five senses only. You are in fact submitting to a higher calling, which sets you free and brings you into truth. Noah is an example of a man who was operating in faith. Consider when God spoke to Noah about building an ark; he could have ignored God, but he did not. (See Genesis 6:13-22). God spoke to him, and told him it would rain on the earth. At that time, it had never rained on the earth, so I bet this was hard to believe initially. Noah trusted God though. He had an expectation (or faith) that it was going to rain. He did not stop doing what God instructed him to do, though people sometimes made fun of him. So, you have to expect God will do exactly what he said even if it has never been done before. With God, all things are possible. He just wants you to believe he is able. When you expect God to do something, you show that you trust him. Therefore, trust that God will fulfill his promises by being faithful to Him.

HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS

When God gives you a dream or vision you must pray that He fulfills it. If it’s not something from the Lord—pray that it be cancelled, or seek God for interpretation. Prayer invites God into your circumstances. The main purpose of prayer is to help God fulfill His purpose on earth. A dream can be unlocked through prayer because God can give you special instructions on how to bring that dream to . So, if your dream is from the Lord, begin to prepare yourself for it. Do not lose faith if your dream is delayed. And, know that sin can kill a dream. Therefore, it is important to constantly keep yourself in check with the Holy Spirit.

Pursue It

You have to pursue your dream (or vision) because it will not happen automatically. Once you begin working toward your dream you will get a reward for what you have done. The reward will be your blessing. Your blessing is not your gift; it is your reward for your labor. Just have confidence and expect God to do exactly what he said. Treat those things that are not happening, as if they were actually happening already. Your declaration to God sets you up for a blessing. The bible says that whatsoever you bind or loose on Earth. God will bind or loose in Heaven (see Matthew 16:19). So, there are some things that God will not do until you make the first move. You have to be brave enough to take the first step.

So, What is Your Dream?

What is your dream or vision for your life? Once you know your vision (or

dream); write it out and make it plain (see Habakkuk 2:2). Know that your dream is not so much dependent upon people, because you and God are the majority. If God is in agreement with you, that is all you need; because, God will open doors that no man can shut - and close doors that torment you. I also think that your dream or vision can be your assignment. Anyone who has been to school, knows that an assignment is not so much your decision, but a task meant to teach and spark discovery. If you fail to complete an assignment, you cheat yourself out of that knowledge. Likewise, God can only put a dream in your heart - you have to act on it. Your dream will only come to based on your faith and actions. Your dream (once it comes to ) can be geographical, so where you are determines who you can reach. This can even require a season of preparation, the purpose of which is to acclimate you to your mission field, and/or teach you to endure hard times.

BE HUMBLE

One key to being successful is to maintain humbleness. The opposite of being humble is being prideful. Everyone knows what pride can do to you— it can bring you down of course. The bible says pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). So, if you are in a high position, you will eventually fall down low, because the nature of pride simply will not let you humble yourself. Being prideful can also cause one to drift away from the things of God. Drifting away from God is already easy, but a haughty spirit makes it even harder to anchor yourself to God – because you have to fight against your own prideful flesh, as well as the devil. Drifting away can happen by being in the wrong environment, by feeling disappointed, by allowing others to dictate your lifestyle, by being around people who do not show God honor, or by simply chasing after your own plans. Though we do not always see ourselves drifting away, it can happen. Just like a ship that is not anchored in the ocean can drift away, people can do the same. However, you can get anchored back to God by having a decided mind to keep God first. When you keep God first, you are able to keep everything else in proper perspective and balance. The Word of God is designed to keep us in balance. There is something in the bible for any and every situation you might encounter, no matter how tough it is. But, you must read it to obtain the knowledge. , knowledge is power.

Being Anointed and Humble

Keep in mind that it is God’s anointing on your life that is making you look good, not you. By doing this you will be able to keep things in the proper perspective; which helps you to stay humble too. This will also help you to continually give God the glory for what He has done in your life. Staying humble helps you not to take the anointing of God for granted. It is sad to say, but, so many times we take our current status in life for granted. However, God

uses whomever He wishes—period! Take for instance King Saul when he decided not to obey God’s Prophet, Samuel, concerning the burnt offering. He was replaced by David, a man after God’s own heart. The scripture says that when Samuel found out what Saul had done, he said “Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee” (1 Samuel 13:13). Then, of course, God told Samuel to seek to anoint a new king to reign over Israel. Samuel selected David. David was not considered the best choice by most people, because people tend to look at outward appearance, while God looks at the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7). David was young, and a keeper of the sheep; so, no one would have guessed he would been Israel’s next king. However, God saw potential. It is an amazing thing when God sees potential in you because you never know what great thing will happen next!

Having the Right Attitude

Thus, I believe that Saul had an opportunity to get things right with the Lord; however, instead he decided to do things his way. By doing things his way, he was in reality saying that he does not need God’s help, which was neither the right attitude nor very realistic. But, being humble can help you keep the right attitude. In today’s world your attitude means a lot. It can take you places that your money can not. When you have a good attitude, you know how to treat others. Likewise, your attitude comes from the way you think. For as a man (woman) thinks in his (her) heart, so is he (her) (Proverb 23:7). If Saul’s attitude about the burnt offering was different, his outcome would have been different. This goes to show you that God will replace you too, if he must.

HAVE AN EAR TO HEAR

Once you find yourself in a state of humility, you will notice that God will give you extra insight, because humility helps you to be more sensitive to the voice of the Lord. Just one word from the Lord can change your entire life! Therefore, it is important to have an ear to hear.

Choices

In life, you will have choices to make, and with every choice comes a consequence. Your consequence can be good or bad. In addition, all choices that are made are based upon information - some based on truth others based on false information. So ask yourself, “Who are you listening to?”, or even better, “Where are they getting their information from?”. Because, there comes a point in your life where you must make choices. In the book of 1 Kings 12 we learn that King Rehoboham consulted with the elders concerning the people wanting their workload to be lighter. They felt that their workload was heavy due to King Rehoboam’s father. Therefore King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon, his father, while he was alive, and said, “How do you advise that I answer the people?” And they spoke unto him, saying, “If thou will be a servant unto this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever.(1 Kings 12:67) It seemed like he would have listened to the elders, because they were experienced with great wisdom. But instead of going with their advice, he decided to go with the advice of the young men he had grown up with. Their advice, of course, was totally different from that of the elders. They said, “Thus shall thou speak unto this people that spoke unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shall thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicken than my father lions” (1 King 12:10). This meant that their work load would be increased, and the people were upset of course because he did not listen to them.

So, the moral of this story is to seek advice from experienced people, not those who just want to boost your ego. Listening to your peers can sometimes be a very dangerous thing, because they are on the same level as you. Contrarily, be aware that not all old people are wise, so you will have to use discretion to know who to talk to, who to listen to, and what to receive. Know that if you are not studying to show yourself approved, you might overlook the truth –which can set us free. You do not always have to go seeking advice from other people, because there is a word for your situation in your Holy Bible – and the Word of God is a sure word of prophecy!

Think on this

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of the sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalms 1:1-6)

Thus God will speak to you however he deems necessary. You just have to have an ear to hear. By having an ear to hear, you are sensitive to God’s directions – which can be a matter of life or death in some situations. When you are sensitive to God’s directions, you are not focused on how you feel, rather on God’s will.

EXPAND YOUR POSSIBILITIES

There is so much greatness in you that you have not begun to tap into yet. You have the possibility to do more great things in God. Just when you think you have done everything you can imagine, God will say to you, “make room for what is to come.” Is that not amazing! So your God given gift can not be used up, because God has promised to give you more than you give him. Yes, there is so much greatness in you that there can no longer be any room for the negative feelings you may have had about yourself. Only make room for positivity in your emotional space. You have the potential to do great things. God’s grace will allow you to do what you desire to do. Therefore, you do not know what can be accomplished through you, until you step out on faith. Likewise, God wants to do marvelous things in your life, but you have to trust God and let Him have His way.

Enlarge Your Perspective

In order to expand your possibilities you have to think bigger. By thinking bigger, you allow yourself to enlarge your perspective. And, by enlarging your perspective you will find yourself considering other people too. Your idea could be the solution to someone’s problem. Yes, just one little idea can change the world. In fact, there are countless amazing ideas just waiting to be discovered. Therefore, it is important to have a broader perspective about life.

Don’t worry about how your dreams will come to fruition; worrying about the future only hinders effort for today. Worrying shows a lack of confidence, and it is more harmful than helpful. But, your possibilities are endless when you put worrying to rest, because you know God has your best interest at heart. Yes, there is an incredible sense of satisfaction when you do what God calls you to do. When you become a new creature in Christ Jesus, your possibilities will be multiply. Therefore, do not waste important years of your life not doing what God calls you to do. There should not be something you wish you had done in this lifetime—just make an effort, and God will do the rest.

LET GO OF THE PAST

Letting go of the past is often a difficult task. But, I believe that once you realize that God wants to do something new, it can be a much easier process. So as you let go, expect something new, because God can do a new thing – just as Isaiah 43:18-19 says, ye not former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Likewise, God never takes you back from where he brought you from. Letting go of the past is a part of life, I like to think that it just another way to cleanse your heart. Just like spring cleaning for your home, letting go of past troubles exposes and refreshes the “dark corners” of your life to make room for God’s new plans. If you are unwilling to let go of something, it might be that you are thinking too small. So, why not let go of your past to enjoy a new and broader perspective on life? Maybe God was just wanting you to let go in order to promote you to a greater position. Therefore do not get stuck in the past, because you will not get anything accomplished sitting around thinking on the past.

Set-Up for a Come Back

You can not let go, without letting God prevail in the situation. Also, anything you can not let go of yourself, allow God to take it away. God will always replace your mess with a message, if you allow Him. He is always looking to do something great in your life, but you have to first be willing to allow God to have His way. Certainly, setbacks will arise as you relinquish control to God, but keep in mind that a setback can also be your set-up for something greater than you could ever imagine. However, if you continually dwell on your past, you will find it hard to move forward. Therefore, do not allow your setbacks to hinder you from growing and achieving in the things of God.

Opportunity

In life, you will have many opportunities to fulfill your destiny. So, embrace each opportunity that comes your way. Decide that you will fulfill your destiny regardless of what setbacks arise. And please, do not give up in the midst of your setbacks when there is so much to gain. Just know that your setbacks are intentionally designed to set you up for a comeback, and give you an even greater testimony. Regardless of where you are in life, embrace the Word of God. There is deliverance for whatever you may be going through within the Word of God. No matter the season you are in; do not allow your problems to hinder your progress or purpose in life. Let go, and let God; and , no setback should overwhelm you enough to keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

STRIVE TO FINISH

You have to strive to finish when you are doing the right thing, because there will be obstacles that get in the way. Sometimes the obstacles are invisible, which can make them more challenging to defeat. This reminds me of my 12:30 am cookie cravings, when I know they are not in my diet! These are the silent battles that we fight in our mind; and the mind is the easiest battle ground for the enemy to attack. That is why it is important to take control of your mind, and recognize when the enemy comes to challenge you. By having faith, you are equipped in knowing that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (see Isaiah 54:17). By accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior, you will have assurance that the goals you are striving for are not in vain. Sometimes it might feel as if you are striving alone, but God is always there. Take for instance, a college athlete who wants to be in the Olympics. He or she will have to maintain a proper diet to ensure that their body is ready if he or she is chosen. This person is in fact striving to enter into the Olympics, so no donuts, cake, ice cream or candy for this individual. And, if you ever watch the runners in the Olympics you can see in their facial expression - they have no intentions of giving up. Even if something bad happens, their aim is to get right back out there and try again. As Christians we should adopt the same mindset as the Olympians, and strive to finish the race that is set before us. As mentioned earlier, striving requires that you have faith. I believe James 2:1720 explains faith well, where it reads: “Even so, faith if it hath not works, is dead being alone. Yea, a man may say, thou has faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith with works. Thou believes that there is one God; thou does well: The devil believes, and tremble. But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” In short, you have to have faith as well as works – but please know that the devil will place distractions in your way to keep you from obtaining what is yours. “We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual

wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6: 12). Therefore, do not fight with someone else; just pray for that individual. The devil wants to distract you from God’s agenda by tricking you into picking fights and blaming people. He knows his time is short, and he has no control except that which you allow him, so you must always stay focused and strive to finish your race. Today, let’s decide that we will pray when the enemy comes in like a flood. Choose to be strong and zealous, so that you can say that you have fought a good fight and have finished your course and kept the faith (See 2 Timothy 4:7).

Pursuing

Pursuing is another term I would like to use for striving, because when you pursue you are in fact striving for what is yours. Things will not just be handed to you, but you have to actively pursue what is yours. Sometimes this might involve taking what you might consider to be a risk. Just do not be afraid to take that risk. When pursuing what is yours, expect the devil to fight back. All you have to do is continue to fight the good fight of faith. Likewise, take advantage of the time that you are in, because it is preparation for the future, and do not waste another day not pursuing what is yours.

BE IONATE

Where is your ion? That feeling of being driven to fulfill your God-ordained assignment in spite of setback. That ion to help others to be all that God has called them to be. When your ion is to fulfill your God ordained purpose, you must submit to God’s will. In addition, your ion must be controlled by the Word of the God. Therefore, righteousness should be your ion as well. By allowing your ion to be controlled by the Word of God, you are able to stay in control of it. Having ion also allows you to become an expert in what you are pursuing. The word “expert” is derived from the word experience. Experience is not what happens to you, but how you learn from what happens to you or someone else. You can lose your ion, however, when you choose not to embrace the desire of God. Experience teaches us that some of the biggest issues in the world often go ignored, because only a few people are ionate enough to focus on them. True ion, then, requires you to do something about a problem, rather than watch it unravel. Therefore when you really know your purpose, you are not in competition with anyone else because you are driven by ion. Your competition is eliminated because no one can beat you when you do what God calls you to do!

ion and Comion

With your ion, you will find yourself having comion. When you have comion, you dare not set back and watch others fall. Esther, from the bible, displayed comion when Haman sought to destroy the Jews. She ordered Mordecai to gather all the Jews, that were present in Shushan to fast for her, neither eat or drink three days, night or day. And, Esther as well as her maidens fast likewise; so she would find favour in the king’s sight. Though, it was not according to the law for her to go unto the king, she went instead and said, “If I perish, I perish” (see Esther 4:15-16). Esther found favor in the king’s sight, who eventually recognized how evil Haman was. Therefore, Esther’s display of comion saved many Jews. Another example of comion occurred when

God spoke to Moses about delivering his people out of Egypt. Moses trusted that God would have comion for the people, in spite of their negative attitudes. David, the King of Israel, also showed comion after Jonathan, his best friend had died. He sought to show kindness for anyone who was left in the house of Saul. Saul was Jonathan’s father as well as the king of Israel, and though Saul and David did not have the best relationship, David was a close friend to his son Jonathan. So as a result, David found that Jonathan had yet a son, who was lame on his feet (II Samuel 9:3). And, David restored all the land of Saul, and Jonathan’s son was able to eat bread at David’s table continually (II Samuel 9:7). David’s comion gave a lame (crippled) man a new chapter in life, thus the importance of comion. This is why, you too should look for opportunities to be comionate daily because one simple act of kindness can literally change the course of someone’s life for the better.

DEPOSIT IN OTHERS

Sow seeds into the lives of others by encouraging their efforts. Everyone needs to feel valued and everyone enjoys feeling appreciated. We all need someone who will look beyond our shortcomings and problems to see our potential; so, speak faith into someone else’s life. When you vocalize your belief that someone can do great things, he or she will rise to meet your expectations. Therefore, do not withhold God’s blessings - look for people you can build up! Look for good soil in which to deposit. Even the most accomplished people need a word of encouragement. When you deposit in others, God will compensate you in return. Therefore, you should be making consistent deposits in others, so that God can make more deposits in you. God has promised that he will always give you more than you give him, so you will not ever feel used up! Likewise, there is an incredible sense of satisfaction when you help others to be all that they can be. On the other hand, there is no need to ask God for anything else if you are not using your God given gift(s) and depositing in others now. In addition, you have to see yourself as the salt of the earth. The definition of salt in this content is to add value to something. Salt seasons, it creates thirst, and it removes impurities. You are the salt of the earth. Consider these scriptures:

Matthew 5:13-16 reads …

¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Leaving a Legacy

If you make deposits in others, your legacy will continue to walk the earth long after you. By leaving a legacy, you will be able to influence not only this generation, but generations to come. Therefore, do not be afraid to make a deposit into someone. Many times a person may not be who you expect, but I have found that God often likes to work with the person whom everyone else takes for granted. God can turn people from nobodies into somebodies. There are no hopeless cases to Jesus – anybody can be changed! You never know, he or she might be the most reliable friend you have never met. Your deposits into other people have the power to positively affect their entire lives. A word of encouragement, a word of prayer, or even a simple good deed can impact the trajectory of someone’s life for the better. Yes, just one deposit can literally change a person’s life! So, learn to give of yourself; because, eventually, you want to hear your words through the mouths of people in whom you have deposited. , if you do not help others, you will have no legacy for the future. Now is the time to sow a seed for your future!

KEEP KNOCKING

When you come to the door of Jesus, He is always at home. You will not leave disappointed. Keep on knocking, and the door shall be opened. Every time you knock on the door of Jesus, your knock will not only just help you, but someone else too. In this sense, to knock is to pray. Whenever you knock, you make a pounding noise. This is done so that you get the attention of the person who is on the other side, so they will grant you access. So, it is important to knock, (or pray) because this is how you get doors opened – and prayers answered. Knocking is God’s will; however, you have to be certain that your request lines up with God’s will. Luke 11:10 reads: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be open. God is a very great help in times of trouble, but you have to keep knocking. God can change your situation in a second; you just have to keep knocking. When you knock on a door, how important is it to you that the other person opens that door? I hope that it is very important. So know that every time you go to God’s door, He stands ready to answer. But you must stand at the door, regardless of how long it might take to get your request fulfilled.

God is not like people, he truly desires to answer your request. So, this is not a one way relationship. Jesus is the key to opening the door because no man comes to the father except by Him. Trust me, God wants to get to you as much as you want to get to Him. Consider this scripture:

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me

Believe

God is looking for knockers. He is looking for people who actually believe what he says, so check to see if you are in line with what God says. I know, it can be a struggle to believe in God’s promises sometimes, but it is vitally important that you believe. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had to believe that she would bare the son of God. She was blessed because she believed and waited for the manifestation of God. Where there is no belief, there is no manifestation! Another example in the scripture on belief happens in Mark 9 :23-24. This age of scripture reads as follows: Jesus said unto him, “if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”. In this age of scripture, a father believes that his child would be healed, and he recognized that he had an issue with unbelief. Shortly afterward, the child was healed. See how important it is to believe! Believing unlocks the door to greater abundance because God is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all you can ask or think according to the power that works in you (Ephesians 3:20).

But are you willing to wait on the manifestation? God will open doors; all you have to do is keep knocking. Prayer is the key to unlocking a door, but your faith will get you to the door. In addition, you will notice that after you knock for so long, someone else will want to help you too. The key is not giving up, because there is an appointed season for your breakthrough!

STIR UP YOUR GIFT

When you stir something, you move it around until you are pleased with the results. Just like a baker has to stir in ingredients to get to their final product, your God-given gift has to be stirred sometimes to rekindle the flame that once existed. When you are stirring up your gift, you are in fact stirring up your faith. Your faith has to be stirred to ignite the flame inside of you, because a flame can go out if you are not paying proper attention to it. Therefore, I am challenging you to stir up your gift. No matter how long you have been waiting, you still have time to make a difference with your gift. So, ignite the gift that still resides inside of you. And , your gift is not so much about your abilities, but your availability.

Knowing Who You Are

Sometimes you do not know what lies within you until you begin to work with what you already have. Only the person who planted the seed knows what that seed will become. God is the one who has planted seeds in you, so you must look to Him to know who you are. Knowing who you are is a critical because your thoughts about yourself, help shape your future. Therefore, it is important to see yourself, the way that God sees you, because you want to grow and stir up each seed that is given to you. After the seed has been planted, you will notice that God will put you in remembrance of your gift. Sometimes you need to put yourself in remembrance of who you are. Consider these scriptures:

II Peter 1:12-13 ¹² Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

¹³ Yea, I think it is meet (right), as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.

Be Zealous

Be zealous about your gift, and hang around others who are zealous about your and their gift(s) as well. Zealous people love excellence! Zealous people change the atmosphere by bringing about change and growth. They have fresh ideas, and they are able to stay motivated. Many times they may not know how a vision will play out; however, they know God sees the end result of everything. This is where their confidence lies.

List of things that hinder your zeal:

1. Confusion • God is not the author of confusion; so when confusion comes into your circle, it hinders zeal. 2. Being over-worked • Being over-worked can cause physical exhaustion, which causes you not to do your best. 3. Lack of knowledge for a plan • Where there is no plan, you will lose motivation to complete a task. 4. Being taken for granted • When labor is not taken seriously by others, you might start to feel unappreciated.

5. No sign of change • When there is no evidence of change, or growth, an under-zealous person might be tempted to quit or give up. 6. Listening to negative people • Negative people bring in unbelief and fear, which hinders faith from being used. 7. Taking on extra work • Your time is your money, so use it wisely. Taking on extra projects can cause you to put lots of energy toward a losing cause, while missing out on what God truly wants you to put your energy toward.

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR

The devil is desperate because he realizes he has but a short time. The devil hates us with a ion. He is angry at the Saints because Jesus has defeated him. And, yes, he is the father of liars! He will have you thinking that everyone is against you! But, at the mention of the name of Jesus, the devil has to flee. The devil always brings up your past mistakes, but instead of receiving your past, remind him of his future; which is the lake of fire. He has assigned people to distract you and bring you down, but do not fall for the bait. , your fight is not with one another. Your neighbor is not your enemy, nor your issue. So, today know you are destined to win this battle and … you wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the ruler of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, do not be carnal minded, but spiritual minded. You have the God-given power to overtake the devil, whether you realize it or not. You have the power to take back all that the devil has stolen from you. Even in your weakness, God is made strong. God works best when you are weak. So, let go and let God shine through you. And , the devil is still a liar!

BE A GIVER

God never forgets a seed sowed. Do not even doubt that, because doubt is a seed sowed by the enemy. Doubt tries to steal your seed, but you must protect your seed. Likewise, one key to bringing blessing(s) into your life is to be a giver. Giving comes in all sizes, meaning it does not matter how much you give as long as you give something. You can give your time, your life, your money and etc… Givers give cheerfully and strive to fulfill their commitments. They are used by God as a channel through which He flows. They are unique in their gift, and blessed because of it. They are sensitive to the needs of others, and keep no record of what they have given – because God does the recording for them, and He will reward them accordingly. Givers have a peace and a joy about giving. God is glorified by their giving and, they are blessed.

Blessings

For every good seed you have sown, there is a blessing. Know that there is a place where God will command the blessing, but you have to be in that place. God can command the blessing before you enter into that place. Sometimes it is a place you may not want to be in. However, when God commands the blessing, the devil can not block it or stop it. In addition, your greatest test can offer the greatest blessing. Therefore, continue to walk in the light of love, regardless of the circumstances that are presented, because God can speak life into your situation. There is a harvest that is due to you once that seed has been sown, but you must trust God and wait on the manifestation.

Consider this scripture… Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sow, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).

The blessings of the Lord it makes rich, and he added no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)

HAVE A REPENTANT HEART

Repenting is like a fresh, spring shower for the soul, so it is extremely important that you learn how to practice repentance. To repent is to confess your sins. Your confession must comply with what is in your heart. Likewise, you can not be cleansed until you confess. However, the devil does not want you to make any type of confession, because he wants you to wallow in filth and justify yourself. But by confessing your sins, it stops the enemy from condemning you, and it releases you from your own offenses or hidden sins. Also, it restores you back to a fellowship with God. Thus, confession is good for the soul.

Consider these scriptures…

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Act 3:19)

Then Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of Holy Ghost”. (Acts 2:38)

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)

And saying, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 3:2)

BE PURPOSEFUL

You have to know deep down in your heart that God has anointed you for a purpose. The purpose and destiny you have is tied to God. Your purpose is always bigger than you, because in the process of you fulfilling your purpose, God can bring you into situations where you positively affect other people. That is why you need to be ionate about your purpose, because someone else could benefit from it. Your purpose will promote you, and it will cause you to be exalted. Also, several benefits will follow you as you walk in your purpose they include:

• It will give you contentment • It will give you confidence • It will give you an objective • It will give you a reason to pray

Therefore, your purpose is more powerful than you will ever probably realize. When your purpose is one that glorifies God, it will not just establish you, but prove God’s anointing in your life. Likewise, in order to be purposeful you have to be careful what you give your time to, and continually operate in your purpose to make a greater impact.

Position on Purpose

Samuel from the bible was positioned for purpose. His mother, Hannah, dedicated him to the Lord, before he was born. She vowed that no razor would come upon his head, this was called a Nazirite vow (see 1 Samuel 1:11). Taking a Nazirite vow meant that a particular person’s life was devoted to the Lord. Hence, after Samuel was weaned he was brought to abide in the tabernacle (forever) to serve under Eli, the priest (see 1 Samuel 1:22-28). At a time when prophecies and visions were uncommon, the Lord spoke to Samuel. As time ed, Samuel was proven to be a prophet of the Lord throughout Israel, and God continued to unveil His Word to His people through Samuel (see 1 Samuel 3:20-21). But, in all of this, Samuel had to be willing to allow the Lord to use him. He had to be okay with the position God placed him in, because his purpose depending on him being okay. Therefore, learn to be okay with the place in which God has positioned you, because you are there for a purpose. You have been strategically placed to grow and blossom into what God wants you to be. And, eventually, your purpose in life will exceed anything that you could have imagined. Therefore, do not be in hurry to be where God has not placed you. When you are in a hurry, you can become moody and emotional. This can cause you to not fully operate, or be purposeful with the task at hand. It also can cause you to make emotional decisions. So bloom where you are, and wait on the Lord to reveal His purpose for you.

Serve the Lord with Gladness

Serve the Lord with gladness, says Psalm 100:2, and in whatever you do be purposeful. Purpose in your heart to do what God has instructed. Even if it is something small, do it with gladness. Serving the Lord with gladness means to be joyful about what you do. Joy is not based on having a certain calling, or certain things, but it is based on the condition of your heart – or your attitude. Likewise,

in order to serve the Lord you have to be obedient and flexible. God does not work the same way every time, he has many ways of bringing his agenda to fruition. Therefore, it is important to decide in your heart to follow His instructions no matter where they may lead you.

BE A WORSHIPER

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshiper shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)

Worship means to adore, to reverence, and to obey. Worship is often expressed through the act of obedience. In order to have a worship experience, you have to walk in obedience to God. Worship is a lifestyle. Your lifestyle will draw other people to Christ, if you are truly worshiping God. Worship is a spiritual expression, and a true worshiper’s prayers accomplish great things. So, a true worshiper is one who is empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out, and up to, the Word of God daily. It is impossible to worship God and not get His attention, because worship is when the spotlight of attention gets thrown from wherever it was, and onto God. Take, for instance, the woman (from the Bible) who used her alabaster box, which was filled with an expensive, fragrant oil to anoint Jesus for His burial. She took what was of value to her, in order to give to Jesus, which in turn shifted the atmosphere to that of a calm and peaceful one. Prior to this of course, there was a plot to crucify Jesus – which He had knowledge of – but by her pouring out her fragrant oil, it soothed or changed the atmosphere. Though the disciples were upset because they thought the fragrant oil was too expensive to just pour out (See Matthew 26:6-12). She continued to anoint Jesus with that precious oil. Therefore, worship requires that you relinquish your very best in service to the Lord.

Having a Humble and Grateful Heart

Being a worshiper also requires you to have a humble and grateful heart. A grateful heart is the overflow of a humble heart, just as complaining and faultfinding can be the overflow of a prideful heart. Having a humble and a grateful heart will cause The Lord to draw near to you, which causes His light to shine through you, too. For instance, a person who just received a heart transplant is definitely grateful to their donor, because he or she was given a new chapter in life. That person should also, however, be even more grateful to God for sparing their life! Because it is God who is the giver of all life, when a life is spared, it will only bring more glory to God. The faith, patience and prayer that it takes to survive such an ordeal could inspire others to turn towards God and away from sin. Therefore, it is important to have a humble and grateful heart because it will show God, and others, how truly wonderful He really is.

BE FORGIVING

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (Colossians 3:13)

Forgiveness is very important, because it is the greatest victory you will ever achieve. To forgive is to willingly release a person from an offense he or she has committed to you or others. Praying for others helps you to walk in forgiveness as well. You can even forgive people without telling them. There is so much power in forgiveness, because it sets others free as well as you. Therefore, it is impossible to continue to walk in the knowledge of Christ and never forgive someone. Forgiveness is the key to unleashing God’s power in you, so that you are not seen as just judging people, but also introducing a path to redemption from the faults that plague all people – no matter how good they claim to be.

Consider this age of Scripture

Matthew 7: 1-5 says: Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholds thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how will thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

This verse is basically saying that you have to judge yourself, before you can help someone else. For instance, what good is it for you to counsel someone else on finances, when you are so behind on bills you are about to file for

bankruptcy? Not that you could not give sound advice, but what credibility do you have for them to trust you? Also, forgiveness can be deeply connected to your personal healing. That is why it is important to continually walk in forgiveness, because you do not want your heart to be hardened. If you do not forgive others of their offenses to you, both spiritual and physical reactions in the forms of stress, anxiety or fear will keep you from receiving the peace that God promises you.

LAUNCH OUT

To launch out is to start something new or do something you have never tried before. Launching out requires you to trust God, because it will take you out of your comfort zone. To trust is to have a secure belief in something or someone. The bible teaches us to trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Trusting requires you to be open to God’s direction, too. His direction may not be the way you want to take; but, God’s ways (direction) is much better than anything you could devise on your own. God can create a way out of no way – and with God’s way, there is always a plan. His plan is for you to prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prosper (3 John 1:2). Though launching out is not easy, and there will be obstacles to overcome, it is worth it in the end.

Consider this age of scripture…

And it came to , that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the Word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesret. And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s and asked him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught to the people from the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch. And Simon answering said unto him, Master we have toiled all the night, and have caught nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both on the ships, so that they began to sink. (Luke 5:1-7)

In this age of scripture, the fishermen had been fishing for a very long time,

and had caught nothing. However, under the instruction of Jesus, they launched out into the deep, and caught more fish than they could have imagined. Likewise, by “launching into the deep” in your life, you will see the supernatural works of God which enables you to be a blessing to the Kingdom of God. Though, you may not be comfortable with God’s direction—it is for the greater good. God always has a way of working things out. “The blessings of God can overtake you if you hearken unto his voice and do as he says… (Deuteronomy 28:2)”. The key is to launch out into the deep when God speaks, if you want an extraordinary blessing.

BE PATIENT

Patience is the ability to put up with problems, without complaining or losing control of a situation. It is trusting God, while also waiting for the manifestation of His will to be done. Some things will only happen according to God’s perfect plan, so you can not rush God. But, there is an appointed time for your promise, regardless of the trials you may face. In the meantime, while you are waiting, God is also working in you so that you can be better prepared for your promise.

The Valley

It is God’s will to fulfill every promise He has spoken over your life. And for every promise, there is a valley you must go through. In the valley of your life is where you often face the greatest challenges. However, in the valley is where you build spiritual muscle too. You can build spiritual muscles by praying, by fasting, by reading The Word of God, or even by being a part of a local church; these are all great ways to build your spiritual muscles. In everyday life, the more muscles you have, the more you can withstand physically. A professional boxer has the ability to physically endure the numerous hits their opponents attack him or her with, because of their rigorous workout routine. Without their physical strength, that person is sure to succumb to their opponent. Therefore, if you want to withstand the spiritual blows that the enemy is sure to land, it is vitally important to build up and exercise your spiritual muscles too.

Waiting is Giving you Time

While you are waiting for your promises to be fulfilled in your life, you should be growing stronger. Waiting is not about sitting around doing nothing, rather it is about getting stronger and pressing on to greater things. So, if your promise has not come to yet—just keep on pressing! If an athlete is not chosen to be on a particular team, he or she does not just give up. If he or she really wants to be part of a team, that person will continue getting stronger and faster with the hope of eventually being picked for a team. Yes, it would be easy for that athlete to grow weary and give up on their hopes and dreams, but it takes courage to rise to the challenges that are presented. So, while you are waiting grow stronger in your faith.

Consider these scriptures…

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Know that it takes great faith and confidence in God’s word to produce enough patience to wait on the promises of God’s word. Thankfully, between the promise and the manifestation, you should also receive a revelation. A revelation is like having a postdated check, it may seem worthless now, but eventually you will be able to receive the funds from that check. Therefore, your revelation helps to seal the vision, and will help you to cling stronger to your faith. It brings about truth, and it also brings forth a transformation in the way you go about daily life.

BE POSITIONED FOR TRANSITION

Position

Position has to do with status or rank. Transition deals with change and movement. When taking a position, you must know there is always a “preposition” prior to putting you into a position. It can be dangerous to be in a position if you are not trained. When someone is in a position without proper training, it causes hardship - mainly because others will have to take on their load. That is why it is important to be positioned for transition. You can best position yourself by walking in the Word of the Lord. You also keep yourself in position by knowing that man shall not eat by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). It is also a great joy to the Lord when you are not so much looking for a position, but you have a heart to blossom in the position that God has assigned you to already.

Transition

Change, or transition, is necessary for every season in your life. A change can be a shift in ordinary events like the birth of a child, or a new career, or retirement, but all so that new doors will be opened for you. God causes a shift, so that you have the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life and spread His love. God will also use you to bring a shift in the earthly realm to help bring about something truly great. The devil, however, comes to move you out of position in order that you might walk in deception. By walking in deception you can develop a false anointing, which can mislead you and give you a false impression of yourself. If the devil can get you to walk in deception, he can cause you to question God enough that you doubt Him. There are three factors that can produce deception which include:

• Pride • Selfishness • Continually being dishonest

These three factors can send you down the wrong road fast!

Always that when you are put into a position, you should also become a greater servant— a servant to the things of God. So, refuse to allow the devil to push you out of your position by giving him room to operate in your life. The devil can wreak havoc in your life if you allow him into your personal space. Therefore, use the authority that has been given to you to take charge of your position, because you have so much in store for you if you can only believe it and receive it!

PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT

Putting your heart into something can cost you, because there is a cost to doing what God tells you to do. However when you do what God tells you to do, you will experience life more abundantly, too. When God gives you instruction, and you do what He tells you to do, you will always be blessed. His light will shine through you, which means that others will see His good works coming from you. Once His light is shining, do not hide it because it can bring hope and a brighter day for someone else. Know that the purpose of putting your heart into something is to make a greater impact. Although at times it might seem like you have lost the battle, that the battle is not yours – it is the Lord’s; and, in due time you will reap, if you faint not. So today, decide that you will put your whole heart into whatever Godly thing you do best, regardless of the cost.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Thank you for reading my book. I pray that something was read to inspire, encourage, motivate, or transform someone.

You can me at [email protected] or facebook me at Martina Annetta Morris

Martina A. Morris