God got me through yet another week, and I’m grateful for the things He teaches me daily! This may be a shorter blog, but gotta give God His props! For this blog, we are talking about June 3rd-June 10th.
Fighting Off Discouragement
One of the big things for me last week was fighting off discouragement. As I explained in the previous faith post, even though my rent was paid, I felt discouraged because I did not want to ask anyone when the next month came around. So, that’s what I was fighting off most of last week. When you feel this way, the most important thing to do is not to pull away from God. The devil can use discouragement as an open door to destroy everything you’ve been working on for God! So, don’t allow it to cause a rift between you and Jesus.
Keep Going
While praying last week, I asked God about my situation and how I could move forward and be better. The first thing He told me was that we don’t have time to be discouraged. Sometimes, it can feel good to wallow in self-pity and feel bad, but God said to wrap it up. He gave me about one day and was like, okay, we have work to do! Your purpose is too great to be down and out. Psalm 30:5 says, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Whatever happened, that is only for a moment; God has something better for you anyway.
I had to wrap up the sadness and get to work because God was not playing. Part of the urgency is that we don’t have much time left on this Earth. The most we have is 44 years until the return of Jesus and the Rapture, so whatever God has you doing, you must do it now. And even as I’m writing this, I’m realizing how many things I need to catch up on so I can be more productive for God.
One of the things I prayed heavily at the beginning of the month was that I would be more productive for God’s kingdom. And as I’m writing this, I know I have not been as productive as I’ve wanted to be. Discouragement is sneaky, and you feel as if you have a right to feel that way, but it’s really just a way for the enemy to distract you from your God-given purpose and goal.
God Needs You to Be Productive
Last week, I can say that one thing that I was struggling with was sleep—and not getting enough sleep but getting too much sleep. Or always wanted to take a nap, but Proverbs 20:13 says, “If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!” Sleeping too much can make you poor, and I realized that I was not that productive last week. Even this week, I could’ve been more productive, but I am determined to change that because I want to be used for God’s kingdom. And there’s so much He has placed on my heart that I don’t want to disappoint Him, but I am not doing it. So, sometimes you have to lose some sleep, maybe get 5-6 hours, 2-3 times a week, so that you can get everything done.
We stay up late to watch TV, be on TikTok, social media, etc., but what about doing the Lord’s work? Isn’t that more important? You have to ask yourself these questions, and this is something I must work on if I want to see God’s vision come to fruition in my life. You have to do what no one else is willing to do to be successful. Everyone wants the success without the hard work but you have to put in the work. If you work with God, He will work with you. So, pray that God gives you a new fire and passion for His work because it is necessary for these end times.
Finish What You Started
Continuing with my next point, you must finish what you start. This may seem straightforward, but I know many people, especially my age, get distracted easily. So, completing a task before starting another one can be difficult. I’ve fallen victim to this but have been better at holding myself accountable. God has been on me about this, so if I’m making a post for social media, do not stop in the middle to scroll on TikTok or make food. This is an excellent practice to have in everyday life. Finish the task at hand, then move on.
This helps me remain focused and also helps me be more productive. Productivity overall has been something that God has been on me about because, as I said, we don’t have much time left on Earth. The Rapture can happen at any moment, so I want to make sure I am making the most impact for Christ that I can. I understand that sometimes it can be overwhelming, but we can’t allow that to stop us. You must do what God has called you. You don’t know who you can bless and how you can be blessed by obeying God. God always tells us to do something for our benefit, so start doing more for God!
The Theif Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy
The devil can use anything to get you distracted. It can even be something as simple as talking to a friend. But there comes a time when you have to pull away and do work. Proverbs 14:23 says, “In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.” Make sure you are continually checking in with God about everything. How long should your break be? How long should I talk to my sister or friend? Should I sleep longer or get up? Because you don’t want anything to take your attention away from what God told you to do.
I’ve found myself in this position where I talk for too long; I take too long of a break, and that five-minute snooze turns into an extra hour. You have to put God above everything and trust that He will bring a wonderful outcome if you just obey. The devil steals a little bit of time here and there so that we have no time to do what God told us to do. So, be mindful of how you spend your days, get rid of idle time, and be productive for the Lord. The devil is sneaky, so be aware of His tactics and avoid them.
Continue to Believe in God’s Promises
When you’re discouraged, the enemy tries to convince you that God’s word doesn’t work. However, that is a lie! The word of God is powerful and alive and never fails. So, no matter what happens, know that you can always trust God’s word. Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” God’s word will always be above everything else. Nothing can stand against His word! Even though I was feeling discouraged, God told me to look to His word and build my faith.
Toward the end of the week, I started looking at scriptures concerning my situation. Also, I am doing my morning declarations and speaking. Speaking is huge when it comes to believing God’s promises. II Corinthians 4:13 says, “We, having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written: “I believed and therefore have I spoken” — we also believe and therefore speak,” No matter the circumstance, speak the word of God and agree with it! God’s word is the only thing that will bring you victory, so don’t neglect it.
Gather scriptures concerning your situation and spend time reciting them. The devil wants you defeated, but you must fight the good fight of faith. What you say shows what you believe, so make sure it is the word of God. You will have whatever you say, so make sure it aligns with God’s will.
Guidance for the Next Steps
Amid it all, I asked God for guidance in my next steps. Admitting that you need a new direction can be humbling, but it is necessary. God will not allow you to continue to go down the wrong path; He will give you a sign that you need redirection. And that’s what He gave me, so I humbled myself and asked God, “What should I do?” He told me His ideas, and I’m running with it.
You cannot allow discouragement to keep you from moving forward. You must move on and do better! That’s what God wants from you. You can be such a blessing to someone if you just keep going. So, get your Holy Spirit guidance and continue to seek God’s face. There is better for you; you just have to partner with God. Humility will bring you through, allowing you to see your mistakes and ask God to fix them.
Even though I didn’t necessarily want to change what I was doing, I did because I know God has greater for me! Be encouraged and know that your next steps will be better than what you were doing before. God’s guidance will always lead you toward peace, joy, and prosperity! So, I hope this helped, and God bless!
A Call to Salvation
If you are someone who doesn’t know where they would end up if you were to die or if the Rapture were to happen, I want you to say this prayer.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I repent of my sins, turn my back to them, and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I accept Him into my heart now; I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart Jesus is Lord. By faith, I give Him my whole life, heart, mind, and soul. Amen!” If you said this prayer, go to the I Just Got Saved page for church recommendations, a Bible, and a journal!
God bless you all!
