Endure, For The Crown
James 1:12 AMP: 12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines ENDURANCE as “the ability to withstand hardship or adversity”. There is also a saying that “only the fittest will survive” this race called LIFE. I wish I could tell you that life is a bed of roses but it isn’t. Life throws so much at us and sometimes it can even feel like you’re drowning. Here’s the good news about the trials and temptations we face in life: they build us up and take us to the next level if we are able to stand and overcome them. Trials increase our capacity for life and give us stamina to withstand. It grows us and we gain wisdom through them.
If you are currently experiencing any trial of any kind, if you feel like you can’t go on any longer, let this scripture press deeply on your heart. Have faith and stand firm and you will see the victory of the Lord. There’s a crown of life at the end of it so I pray that the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to make it through this season. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena
He Gave Us BLESSINGS
Welcome to number Seven (7). The Seventh (7th) gift we received through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ as revealed in Revelations 5:12 AMP is BLESSING. “Worthy and deserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
Seven (7) is a number of completion - where God settles and perfects everything that concerns us. The blessings of God are real and tangible. I am a daily recipient of this grace and if I have to share my testimonies, you’d be reading daily for another year or more. Proverbs 10:22 ESV declares that “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it”. This scripture is true and yeah! God can truly favor a man and bless him or her with all blessings in heavenly places and His blessing will not destroy you. It comes with a level of peace and joy that’s inexplicable. If you can start counting all your blessings and number them, you’ll be amazed what God has done. When He opens a door, no man can shut it. When He blesses you, no man can reverse it. Joseph in prison was still a blessed man. You could be hiding in a cave somewhere and if the blessing of God is upon you, you’ll still be blessed.
If you are desiring to see God’s blessings in your life, declare with me like Jabez and let’s call upon the God of Israel, “‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’” (1 Chronicles 4:10).
And God has granted us this in Jesus’ name. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena
He Gave Us GLORY
The Sixth (6th) gift we received through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ as confirmed in Revelations 5:12 AMP is GLORY. “Worthy and deserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
The glory of God is the radiance of His spirit. It is not a tangible kind of radiance but it can manifest physically. In Exodus 34:29-35, we see that Moses' face shone so bright with the glory and radiance of God when he came down from Mt. Sinai. The Israelites couldn’t even look at him because of the light that was emanating from His face. Moses had to put a veil on his face in a way to help them out. That is what the presence of God does to us! We are children of light - our Father Jesus is light and through his resurrection power, we have become the bearer of His light. During the transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), we see the physical manifestation of God’s glory on Jesus, so much so that the disciples were struggling to see through the light.
I contend daily for God’s light to cover all over me because darkness flees at the sight of even a tiny flame of light. So, like Jesus commanded us in Matthew 5:14-16 AMP, “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
May the GLORY of GOD be seen in and around your life daily. AMEN!
XOXO,
Lady Abena.