If you want to be a success at anything in this life you have to go after it; from raising a family, being a good saint, advancing on your job, starting a business and so on. . So I want to give you these two words you need to keep in your spirit, consistent and persistent. Consistent is holding on to the same principles or practice. Persistent is continuing especially in the face of opposition. These two words work hand in hand because we have to continue to do right even when things are coming against us..

First let’s look at being consistent. All of us should know the more we do something the better we get at it; for instance your job, sports,cooking, praying, and other things like these. Being consistent can work in a negative way. The more we do wrong things the better we become at them. So we need to set our minds on doing the right things.

Now let’s deal with being persistent, which like I said before is continuing especially in the face of opposition. When you become consistent in trying to do the right thing, you are going to have to be persistent. The enemy is going to come at you from every direction. He is going to use the things that matter to you most. Satan uses these distractions as a smoke screen to get you off the path Jesus laid out for you. Remember God’s path is straight, it doesn’t go to the left or the right. So if Satan get you confused and off the right path, always turn back toward Jesus. John 14:6 says” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
I want to give you one more word to remember because it has a big impact on your life. The word is procrastination or to procrastinate. The definition is to put off taking action, postpone, or delay. You know there are things that have to be taken care of as soon as possible and what do we do, we put them off to later. Don’t you know a lot of opportunities are missed because of this. This is how we get out of line for our blessings. If we do what we are suppose to do when it needs to be done, we are in God’s will. But if we drag our feet so to speak we miss out on or delay what God has for us. I know a lot of you can testify to this. If your life is not where it suppose to be, you probably procrastinated along the way.
Now let’s apply these principles to the word of God.You know if you want to have true complete success, you will need God’s word. 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 says “All scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the scripture the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.” This is telling me we must have the word of God.
My brothers and sisters whatever you do don’t quit. Some things you will have to stop, rethink and do another way but don’t just give up. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, even if you are taking three steps foward and getting knocked two steps back, at least you are making progress. If whatever you are doing is right before God and you are really trusting and believing in Him, He is going to bless it some kind of way. I just want to encourage you to keep going. I get the urge to quit from time to time. When this notion enters my spirit I start quoting Galatians 5:9 and it says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Another good scripture to quote is 2 Corinthians 5:7 and it says, “… we walk by faith and not by sight…” So my brothers and sisters keep your head up and keep moving toward the prize.

I have been studying the books of 1&2 Kings and one particular thing jumped out at me. I noticed the high places and the troubles they caused. High places are places of pagan or idol worship usually located at an elevated location. In the book of Exodus 34:13,14 God told the Israelites to destroy all of the images and idols unless they would be tempted to worship them.
When God brings us into salvation, He wants us to drive out all the unclean things in our lives and put the acceptable things in their place. God wants us to worship Him and Him only. He promised us certain things if we worship Him such as found in Deuteronmy chapter 28. Don’t you want the promises of God? I have another question for you: Is your life in order? I know if you are not saved your life is out of order anyway because God is not first. But what about you who are saved and may have been saved for a while and things are still not right? Maybe your high place or places are remaining or the thing or things you had ahead of God are still there. It don’t have to be, but can be, something like drugs, alcohol, sex, job, child, significant or things like these. It can also be something like television, video games, computer, exercising, and so on. I’m not saying these things are wrong, as long as they are done in moderation and don’t mess with your time with God. God is a jealous God as it is stated in Exodus 34:14. Please read your Bible and see how God reacted when His people went after other things outside of Him.
I know when you did get saved or rededicated your life, you put God above everything else or tore down your high places. You were determined to keep it that way, but something happened that was beyond your control. It hurt so deeply and you couldn’t seem to recover. You prayed to God and nothing seem to happen and the pain still remained. Instead of continuing to trust God’s will for your life and ask Him what to do next, you rebuild the high places or find ways to block out the pain because God is not moving fast enough. Really we are getting in the flesh because our minds natural reaction is to protect itself. So it tries to find the quickest fix to the pain and its usually not God. After doing something we don’t suppose to, we start to feel guilty and ashamed. You feel like you let God down and you have, but He will forgive you no matter what.
These things that you elevate above God, make a commitment to get rid of them or put them in their proper place. Start by praying, in the name of Jesus, for God to reveal all these things because some of them may seem to be everyday activities. Then ask for forgiveness and repent or turn back towards God. Start and end your day with Him. Keep looking up! GOD BLESS

PRAYER

First giving honor to You God who is the Lord over our lives. Thank You for patience with us because if You were not rich in grace and mercy we would have been dead a long time ago. Right now in the name of Jesus we ask You to show us our high places no matter how small and unimportant we think they are. When You show them , help us to put them in their proper place. Lord please continue to bear with us. In Jesus we pray. Amen

Have you ever cursed or cussed someone out before? When using these curse words did you understand what you were saying? I believe if you take a survey, over half the people don’t really know what the words mean. They probably use them because they heard someone else or they use them to add strong expression to their argument or conversation. In other words they are letting you know they mean business. On the other hand there are alot of people who know what cursing is and mean it. Before I go any further let’s look at the definition of curse. The meaning is wishing to God or gods to bring ill injury on someone or something. When God allows someone to be cursed it comes out of disobedience. In Deuteronomy 28:15-68 God listed a number of curses that would befall the Israelites if they didn’t obey His covenant. If its your intent to get God to curse someone or something, you can’t. But if you are calling on other gods, such as Satan, it may be a different story.2 Corinthians 4:4 calls Satan the god of this age. Are you confessing to be in alligence with Satan? Witches and witchdoctors put curses on people. Are you one of the two? We know where Satan and his followers are going to end up so choose your words carefully.
What aggravates me are the men and women of God or the so called men and women of God that use these curse words everyday. Anger is the main reason they use such language. Your flesh or your natural man has a voice independent of your spiritual man and the flesh is the side that wants to curse. That is why the Apostle Paul says Galatians 5:16,17 to “Walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill lust of the flesh. For the flesh lust against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Paul also says in Romans 12-14 to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” We have to be Christ conscious at all times, not just around the pastor or other brother and sisters in Christ. Being a Christian is a full time job meaning 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Like I’ve said before in order to walk in the spirit, you must spend a sufficient amount of time in the God’s presence. Don’t get me wrong, I know we are not going to be perfect but we should strive to please God daily. Colossians 8-10 says “But now yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in the knowledge according to the image of Him who created Him.” The question now is have you put off the old man and put on the new? If you really love the Lord, you’re not going to continually on purpose do things that are contrary to His word. James 1:26 is another strong scripture concerning foul mouthed Christians. It says “If anyone among you think he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this ones religion is useless.” How can you lead someone to Christ cursing somebody out every other day? What you are teaching them is how to be a hypocrite or fake Christian and this is what is giving the church a bad name.
It may not be easy to stop doing something you have been doing most of your life but its possible with Christ. If you have been saved for a while and still put down a piece of cussing, you need to take another look at your relationship with God. Daily seek God through our Lord Jesus Christ and He will help you bring your flesh under control. Choose your words carefully and don’t let your emotions get the best of you.
If you are not saved you don’t have access to God’s promises. If you want Jesus to come into your life so you can, please pray this prayer right now: Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I come unto you just as I am. I am a sinner Lord. I have sinned against you and against heaven. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to forgive me and to come into my heart and save my soul. Let me be born again by the Spirit of the living God. I give my life to You, Lord Jesus. I do believe that you are the Son of God. I believe that You are Jesus Christ who was sent to save my soul from hell. I give you thanks and praise and honor for redeeming me by Your precious blood.
Now start reading your Bible and attending church regularly and let the Holy Spirt guide you.
PRAYER
Father God we love and adore You. We place You above everything in our lives. We do not claim to be perfect and during those times of imperfection we tend to say things that are contrary to your word. We know cursing is not right in Your eyes, but anger sometimes gets the best of us. Lord lead us in a closer walk with You because the closer we are to You the less mistakes we make. Lead us to be Christ conscious everyday. In Jesus name we pray. Amen GOD BLESS