Are you judging, instead of helping? (From my "God, for Sinners" Devotional Series)

Something God told me this morning: "Don't be so busy judging others that you fail to help them."

Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Re: God introduced a young woman into my life that isn't the typical type of woman I'd associate with. In fact, the young lady reminded me of some of the people I had come in contact with during my time in the world. I remember thinking to myself upon introduction, O.K. this girl and I have nothing in common so I won't be hanging with her...in fact, I'll be honest, I called her "ratchet" in my mind and wrote her off.

A few weeks later, I ran into the girl again and we chatted a bit. I learned the young woman was actually quite intelligent, she had goals, dreams, etc. she'd just had a really tough life and no one to help her understand Christ loved her and she was valuable and could be made whole (in Him). So I thought, okay God, maybe I'll give it a try. Not long after, the young woman got involved with some old influences (and new one) and the behaviors I'd seen initially returned. The things she'd talk about were all things the old me would revel in, but who I am today, would not...could not. So, I distanced myself, yet again, and this time I didn't bother to change my opinion. Based on some statements she' made about a good friend of hers who was trying to help her (and how she "wasn't changing for nobody") I figured she was a lost cause and moved on with my life.

I'd hear things about the girl and shake my head in judgment (as if my sins were any less offensive to God) and reiterate why I didn't develop a friendship with her using whatever I'd just learned as justification - but it was nothing but condemnation and I have no right to condemn anyone....especially turning up my nose to the very people Christ would have witnessed to and died for!

 “The Spirit of God, the Master, is on Me [Christ] because God anointed Me. He sent Me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1

So this morning in my devotion time, God started to speak and explain some things ....why I had been enduring some things that I did not understand. In the process, He touched on some of the places He's moved us and the people we have come in contact with - along with the reasons why. He showed me all the people whom He put in my path to plant a seed for Him that another brother or sister in Christ would later water and His Holy Spirit would grow to maturity. Out of all the people God had brought across my path, this particular young woman stood out in my head…she was one of those people I was to plant a seed within, but I’d gotten so wrapped up in my pain and "self-righteousness" that I couldn't see this young woman as the child of God she is. Instead...all I saw was her sin. How ignorant and arrogant of me? As a result I’ve missed NUMEROUS opportunities to share the good news of Christ with this young woman and testify to the truth of how He totally transformed my life! As I type this…I realize, even now, it’s not too late.

The most surprising thing in all this, I didn’t even realize I had developed this attitude/mindset against this woman. I grew up in the hood, finances were always strained in the home, when I was in my early 20’s/late teens I was totally “ratchet” and went out of my way to be “hood”, so it wasn’t a case of classism. I pre-judged her desire to know God and willingness to accept Him before even giving her the opportunity to hear of His love, mercy and grace. I’d done to her what people had done to me: I pre-judged this girl, held her trial, condemned her to death, had the funeral, and buried the casket in hell. I, in essence, had allowed myself to take the place of God when it came to this woman and refused to even associate with her; because, I assumed (through my erroneous judgment based on EXTREMELY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE/OPINIONS) that she was not fit for God. Ohhh, the number of people who have told me I was not/am not fit for God and how angry it made me! How could I ever do that to someone else?

It's so amazing how we can become self-righteous and indignant within ourselves when it comes to looking at what someone else is doing. In fact, someone is reading this right now judging me for this (though I have repented and received God’s forgiveness and I now write to you that you may also be free) instead of looking within themselves to see what God may be saying to them through this message! There’s a reason you’re reading this, you know? And it’s not just because you clicked the link, or saw a status…you saw this because God meant for you to see it. Ask Him, why?

I thank God so much for making this clear to me today that I might repent and share the word with my fellow brothers & sisters in Christ. We are called to a great commission and on the surface some of those God tells us to witness too may seem like they have NO interest in what you have to say about God. They may live lives that are totally against God, they might not even acknowledge Him as real, or true, or the Only – but that is neither here nor there as far as we are concerned. We are to share His truth with ALL PEOPLE...and the worse you think the sinner may be (key words you think, all sin is equally abominable before our Holy Father) the MORE we should desire and be willing to witness to them! Afterall, isn’t that why Christ came …

 “God looked out from his high holy place; from heaven he surveyed the earth. He listened to the groans of the doomed, he opened the doors of their death cells.” Psalm 102:19-20 (MSG)

“God frees prisoners—He gives sight to the blind, He lifts up the fallen.” Psalm 146:9 (MSG)

God came for all of us, therefore we are called to witness to ALL PEOPLE. We’re all so deep in sin that we need Him and without Him we can’t come into the light. We do NOT have the liberty or authority to choose whom we’ll share the gospel with, and we do NOT have the authority and/or liberty to judge and condemn. It’s not like we are sinless…even as children of God. And imagine, what if God had looked at you and judged without sharing His truth? Jesus went so far to save us that He gave His LIFE for people who treated Him as an enemy! How far are you willing to go for your fellow man (regardless how they act or treat you)….better yet, how far are you willing to go for Christ? Selah.

Remember 1 Corinthians 1:26-31J 

“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (MSG)

Friends in Christ!

It is so refreshing...and fulfilling...to come across people who are as excited about and in love with God as you are. Sometimes, when you don't have these people...you can be surrounded by many and feel so alone because His Spirit within longs for fellowship, with those who are also in Him.

I'm not talking about "fellowship" with "religious/church folk" on Sunday then the rest of the week we living like heathens and aint got but 3 minutes for Jesus ...I'm talking about fellowship with people who are serving God in Spirit and Truth...sacrificing their own life...will...desires...time...energy...all that they are to Him, for Him, by His might. It's such a gift when God brings these people into your life. Cherish them, dearly...they are few. Those who are will understand.

It's not "easter" it's Resurrection Sunday. We must unlearn tradition, and learn TRUTH.

This article troubles me...intensely. Why? The bible tells us God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6). Sadly, many churches don't teach this (the origin of many of the holidays we celebrate and the proper festivals we as believers should actually celebrate) and many christians don't take it upon themselves to "study to show ourselves approved" (2 Timothy 2:15). So we ignorantly celebrate holidays named after the very pagan god/godesses we stand against. It's sad, this holiday is more about the easter bunny, eggs, baskets, the fashion show and eating than what it should be about for christians - the Resurrection of Christ. I only recently became aware myself of the true origin and error of me celebrating this tradition. Thank God for making me aware...now to make others aware.

...thank God for His Holy Spirit....

Do you struggle with doubt in your walk with Christ? You are not alone!

Do you struggle with doubt in your walk with Christ? You are not alone.

When you face doubt, be like the father in Mark 9 who was honest enough to admit his doubt and ask for Christ's help in believing. Christ is our High Priest, He is our intercessor, He gave His life for us!

Do you think He did all that just to let you fail when you have a moment of doubt? NO! Ask God to help, and He WILL help you! I am a living witness to this truth. Selah.

Mark 9 (The Message Bible)
23 Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

24 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

I get weary in my Faith too....

I think people erroneously think at times that I have this super faith....like it's never shaken....that's not true. My trust in God is day by day...sometimes minute by minute. Sometimes I don't even "feel" it. I battle with doubt at times when things don't go a certain way. I get frustrated seeing people lead lives that don't at all glorify Him - and yet they continue to prosper. People who claim His name yet their lives don't reflect this and they attack, slander and lie on those whose lives do. Sometimes I pray and God moves before I even finish. Other times I pray and I await the answer....and await the answer....and even now, I still wait.

There things that people have said about me - horrible things, terrible lies, utter bull crap - for anyone who truly knows me - and being a woman of God I can't retaliate like I'd done in the past..sometimes God tells me to shuttup altogether and won't even let me acknowledge the foolishness...though I hear it, every bit of it. Even the words people think are "private".You think I always want to hold my tongue against the accusations, especially when I know they are untrue? Absolutely not, yet - God reminds me Whose I am and that I am called to act in accordance with His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and NOT in the ways of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

Sometimes I look at the world and see all these people living however they want.... I get glimpses into the world of wealth and see all the frivolous spending of the wealthy who at the same time complain about higher taxes and discounted health insurance - congress members claiming they need a raise....while children of God barely make ends meet...and I have to ask God, how can we reach people in all of this? How can we help people to see you when bills are backed up, baby crying for food, home is in foreclosure and momma aint had a job in 9 months - and her unemployment has run out --- I say God....it's all just too much at times.

So when I talk about my God, don't think I'm doing it from a place of naivety or I'm some Jesus fanatic who has lost touch reality. I speak from experience as someone who is enduring with God in spite of what my flesh wants to do. And no it's not always easy. I don't always "feel like" praying, reading His word, or praising and worshiping....I don't always want to take the high road and let things go...or be the social outcast when I can't do the things everyone else does...even when they tell me "oh, it's okay" because they don't fully get it...no, it is NOT always fun being the godly one....and sometimes I even wonder if it's all worth it...

...but when I think of going back to who I used to be - with all those insecurities, all that anger, fear, always wanting to be better than and feeling the need to "prove myself" to people who don't matter.... the mess, the drama...the fact that I was foolish enough to care and how it all came crashing down without warning...and those people who claimed to care - were actually the ones laughing and sharing with anyone who would listen........na, nevermind. I'd rather stick with my God - trusting Him with peace in my boring old "Jesus" life...than to be out there in the world stressed, frustrated and pissed off without Him. So, I endure.

You can too, little by little...day by day...minute by minute. And you will get tired, sometimes you'll question God. Sometimes you might even doubt and think your former life is better - but I encourage you, as a sister in Christ. ENDURE.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."-  1 Peter 5:10

Tough times...

The enemy wants you to quit. he wants you to give up, curse God and die (a spiritual death) where you end up just like him, condemned and separated from God - because he wants you to forfeit your harvest! Don't let him shake your faith in our Lord and Savior! God is NOT a man that He can or should lie! Whatever He has spoken to you will indeed come to pass, the enemy is putting in overtime to turn you away because a transition is coming and those who have been faithful in spite of it all - will be the heads and not the tails. Pray all the more. Read His Word all the more. Worship and praise all the more. EVEN when you don't feel it - ESPECIALLY when you don't feel it.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 ...but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Who will stand for the Lord?

Sometimes...God will test you to see just how serious you are in your walk with Him. Like Job, sometimes you might have to trust in God in spite of what you see and what you hear - even from other Christians. Like Christ, you might have to stand alone when the hour of testing comes. Like John and Mary Magdalene, you might have to look in the face of what seems to be the end (as they looked on Christ's death at the crucifixion) and yet, stand anyway - still faithful. Still willing. Still with faith. Then, you shall see the Face of God. This is when you shall see the victory - and it may not be immediately, but stand strong, firm in your faith - that it WILL come - because God is NOT a man that He can or will lie.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10

"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" - 1 Samuel 12:16

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today." - Exodus 14:13

"You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."- 1 Chronicles 20:17

"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." - Joshua 1:9

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 34:8

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."- Isaiah 41:10 

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." - 2 Chronicles 15:7

They can't judge - whom God has forgiven.

"They cannot judge you for your past and your shortcomings when I, Jehova-Gmolah [God of Recompense], have forgiven you. Who is your judge but Me?" - El Elyon (God Most High) 

NOTE: Forgiveness comes with repentance (1 John 1:9) and also your willingness to forgive others (Matthew 5:23, 6:12).

A word from the Lord 4.5.14

YOU who are praying for deliverance, favor and breakthrough - expecting I AM (God) to move on your behalf, while refusing to develop your relationship with Christ....Be ye NOT deceived, God will NOT be mocked. Where/What you sow, is where/what you will reap. We cannot sow all (or most) of our time, energy, talents, skills, words, money, etc. into the world's foolishness (who does not know or acknowledge Him), yet expect to reap a harvest from His hand. (Galatians 6:7) Selah.

How do I develop a relationship with Christ?

1. Accept Christ if you have not already (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10) Visit this link to learn more.

2. Investing in the study of His Word, on your own apart from Church or watching sermons, reading books about His word (we need to read HIS word). (2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 10:17, Colossians 3:16)

3. Daily communication with Him, through prayer.  (Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:1, Jude 1:20)

4. Allowing yourself to be transformed by His Spirit. That is, turning from things of the world/ways of the flesh that you know displease God, instead of excusing yourself with the old "I'm only human, not Christ" whenever you know you are acting against the ways of His Spirit. It's a lie and an excuse.

We know this because, 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, " Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!". WAY TOO MANY "CHRISTIANS" excuse their flesh, when we should be dying to the flesh that His Spirit might live (Romans 12:2)

NOTE: Transformation by His Holy Spirit is a gradual, ongoing process throughout your life - at no point while we are in our fleshly bodies will we be "perfect" in Christ - so we are to be continuously transformed - "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

5. It is important to find a church home, or a place to fellowship with other believers who are operating in His Spirit. We also need hear His Word from those who are more mature in the Spirit (sermons, articles, etc. from pastors, teachers, etc).

In the internet age - many churches now broadcast services online for those who don't have access or can't get to a church nearby; or who may not feel welcome at traditional churches. Check out www.JoyceMeyer.org,  www.live.lifechurch.tv, or www.tdjakes.org/echurch/index.php for a few options. NOTE: one cannot substitute attending church for studying the word of God and praying on their own. BOTH are important!  If you want to please God, you must not only attend church but you MUST  allow His Holy Spirit to develop in you through your own PERSONAL TIME with God.

Don't Just Pray, When You Can Help!

We need to stop using prayer as a way to get out of helping others. It ticks God off to see able Christians hear or see a need and only offer prayer when they can do more. Now don't misread or read more into what I'm saying here - I am in no way denouncing prayer, or saying that prayer doesn't work - absolutely NOT! When something happens prayer is the FIRST thing believers should do – because prayer is our direct line to God and He is all and knows all, therefore His wisdom is warranted in all situations, especially those tough ones.

Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Prayer is important, it is first and foremost (along with studying His Word) in your walk with Christ; but the service of love is equally important, in fact when you love others, you keep the entire law according to Christ:

Galatians 5:14 - For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

So what is loving a neighbor as yourself? Well think of what you'd do for yourself – if you were hungry you'd want to be fed. If you couldn't feed yourself and had the courage to confide in someone in hopes of help, you certainly wouldn't want them to only offer prayer when they could also offer a meal or bless you with a grocery card! Sadly, this is what many Christians do these days. I can't tell you how many times I personally have seen a need and said “Oh that’s so sad, I’ll pray for you” when I could help! It wasn't until God placed me in a situation and opened my eyes to see how much it hurts Him, His kingdom and the persons in need when we fail to help those in need as we are called.

James 2:14 – 17 -“What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but has no actions to prove it? Is such “faith” able to save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, and someone says to him, “Shalom! Keep warm and eat hearty!” without giving him what he needs, what good does it do? Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.”

Deuteronomy 15:7- “If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.”

Thankfully, His Holy Spirit convicted me on this one day as someone confided in me they needed something and I went into my typical, Oh I’ll pray for you and be encouraged in the Lord, yada yada speech when I heard the Lord ask “Why can't you do it?”. I had no answer, every answer I prepared sounded so selfish – well God, I was going to buy me something (I wanted but didn’t need)….I was going to go to this restaurant (when I had a ton of food at home)…well I wanted to use that money to go to this concert (a secular one at that!)…or I just don’t want to, what if something come up and I need this (which is not trusting God and just an excuse to be selfish, it’s not like it was a life’s savings).

Eventually, I realized it was just better to honor God by blessing someone in need, because you know what – blessing someone in need is the PERFECT opportunity to show the goodness, grace, mercy and love of God! More important, if the one receiving does not know God, their hearts might be softened towards Him that they may receive Christ’s salvation and come to know God for themselves! If the one receiving is already a believer, then your help becomes a reminder of God’s provision and faithfulness, reminding them that He hears their prayers, sees their needs, and He is working on their behalf – this refreshes the spirit and reinvigorates our faith in our Father, the Most High, El Elyon!

Since that time, I've found so much joy in blessing those in need. If I hear a need and I have the means I pray for them, but I also help them with what I can. This is why God blesses His children – that we might be a blessing to others!

2 Corinthians 9: 6-15: “Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot… God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. In all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works.  It is written, “They have spread their gifts around to poor people. Their good works continue forever.” (Psalm 112:9).

God supplies seed to the planter…God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed…the results of your good works. You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God. Your gifts meet the needs of God’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God…So people will praise God because you obey him…They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else. Their hearts will be filled with longing for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything.”

Do understand, as with all things, God will not force you (2 Corinthians 9:7). He desires a willing spirit, someone who wants to give – not someone who is giving out of compulsion or with ulterior motives (i.e. if I bless this person, maybe God will do this). Yet, it is important to understand: those who don’t give, those who give out of force, and those who give just so they can get will not reap the same harvest as those who give out of love for God and love for his fellow man – this type of giving glorifies God, while the latter only glorifies self – and anything that glorifies self, over God, is sin.

So the next time, you hear or see someone in need, definitely pray for them – God is pleased with your prayers for others; but, if you really want to glorify our gracious and generous Father take it a step further and put your faith into work by being the blessing you are praying for. Start with what you have! Don't let the enemy fool you into thinking you have to be rich to bless. Even if it sometimes means tithing directly to a person in need! I've done this many times (giving my tithe directly to a person in need instead of a ministry or church) when necessary! NOT TO SAY that you should not tithe to your church because YOU SHOULD [don't let the enemy deceive you into reading what is not here]; but, in times when I don't have an additional offering to give I have blessed with tithes, this is what the church should be doing with tithes anyway – helping those in need.  

We need to be willing to really get into the whole “love your neighbor as yourself” command, because if we did this…if we were really walking in love as listed in 1 Corinthians 13 we wouldn't see a person in need and claim we can’t help when we know we can – even if that means you might have to sacrifice something(s) you WANT (keyword: want, not need) or it might be an inconvenience.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7: “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs. Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up.”

The scripture above is God’s love….ask yourself what does my love look like? If it’s not in line with God’s love, now is the time to repent and straighten up. Be the light we are called to be! God’s children, collectively, have the ability to eradicate hunger, homelessness and so much more if we would only use our means to glorify Him, instead of focusing on amassing more for ourselves. Selah.

On your own:

Be honest (in your devotional journal). If you have been convicted in this area, that’s okay! I’ve been there, now is the time to repent – go to our Father in prayer, confess your sin and turn from it, committing to help those in need through prayer and works – using what you have to bless others. If you have already been blessing others, awesome! Keep giving glory to God!

Next, spend some time in prayer asking God to show you the needs of those around you along with how you can (and who you should) help. When you do help people, make it a point to give credit and glory to God that they might praise Him or come to know Him if they do not. Also give in private, don’t tell Facebook, Instagram, twitter, etc – let this be between you, the receiver and God (and your spouse if necessary due to finances).  

Taken from the: “God, For Sinners.” Devotional Series - written by Trista R. Ashley