Trust The Shepherd

Life is so complex; we cannot begin to fathom its depth. The world has obstacles and hurdles that may surprise you but they do not surprise God. 

Psalms 23: 2-3 says, “He lies me down in green pastures, leads me beside quiet waters, restores my soul, guides me in the path of righteousness for his names sake.” How can we fear the walk of life when our shepherd is God? 

No matter where we are in life, God has been there. The moment you are in may feel hopeless but God has made a path for you. All we have to do is walk the path in trust in the lord. It is easy to be fooled into thinking that God doesn’t care about your problems. I can assure you that nothing is further from the truth. The Bible says God loves you so much he has the hairs of your head numbered. We are God's children and He cares for us, deeply. So the next time life gets scary or you feel lonely remember these steps. 

1. Check your faith in God. 
Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in the lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path”. Often, the first problem is that our faith is rocked by our situation. Check your faith regularly to make sure you’re believing in God not your circumstance. 

2. Remind yourself that God is right there with you. 
Isaiah 41: 10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” The world wants you to feel alone. When you are isolated, you are weaker and more vulnerable. Ignore this attack, it is never true. God is always with you. He will never leave you never forsake you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

3. Pray and Believe 
Mark 11: 24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Prayer brings you closer to God and when you get closer to God, you are further from your problems. 

4. Be positive. 
Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” God’s children should be filled with joy. Even when it’s hard put a smile on your face because you know God has won the battle for you already. This world cannot break you if your joy is in the lord! Follow the above steps and the difficulties of life will become less of a problem and more of an opportunity for you! 

- Joseph Avery

Leaving the COMFORT ZONE

The comfort zone is a place where we get stuck; where our roots are ground deep; where we do and say just enough to stay where we are, who we are, and what we are.

Our futures crumble beneath the rot. We say things like, "Not today". That turns into "Next year" and it eventually becomes the thing that never happened. We live in our comforts, some of us will even die there. 

Our marriages are in trouble because the comfort zone says we’ve loved each other enough and marriage is too much work. Our finances barely get us through because we found a job that’s easy and paying bills isn’t fun.

The church is in “jeopardy” because the pews got comfy and we started sleeping on God. The faith of the public is a fading ember because we decided to give up on the work of Christ. The comfort zone traps us and keeps us hidden from God's glory. The comfort zone tells you pity is easier than prayer. 

Today ask yourself, what if Jesus stayed in his comfort zone? What if he was never born in a manger and instead stayed seated the right hand of God? What if he never carried the cross because the comfort zone said he didn’t have to? What if he never rose on the third day because it was easier that way? What if Jesus left the weight of my sin on me?  I am so glad Jesus left the biggest of comfort zones in heaven. He did what he knew he must do not what was easy, and he bought eternity for us all.

Don’t get stuck. Don’t let the devil imprison you in the comfort zone. God has more for you but you can’t receive what's next if you’re not willing to let go of what you’ve got. Maybe you’ve got to lose the job you have now to get the finances you’ve been praying for. Maybe you had to go through rough patch in your marriage to build trust. Maybe God's waiting on you to say that confident prayer to heal you. 

Who knows what God has in store for you but I can tell you none of it is in the comfort zone.

-Joseph Avery

Fight The Resistance

Resistance - It’s something we all face at some point in our life. We try to do our best but inevitably the world tries to hold you down. Maybe you didn’t get the promotion you worked for or maybe things didn’t pan out for you in the way you’d hoped. These moments can make us feel like we aren’t good enough; like we should just give up. These feelings are natural and aren’t something you should be ashamed of but they are avoidable. The bible says in 2nd chronicles 15:7 “be strong and do not lose courage, for there is a reward for your work.” This scripture is telling you that if you just push through and keep fighting the lord will provide. Our God is watching you, cheering you on and telling you to keep up the hard work. Don’t let the negativity of the world make you forgot that God has plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11 says “for I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.” God is trying to tell you to fight back, keep up the hard work because he has good plans for you. The struggle you face now is not His plan for you. He says not for trouble but for a good future and hope. So see past the struggle in your life because God is waiting on the other side of resistance ready to bless you.