Trust is very important in any relationship. Without trust there’s doubts.

We put our trust in the wrong things, like other people, a paycheck, a lottery ticket, or a promise. When we should be putting our trust solely in God. When circumstances arise, we put our trust in people to change, or to fix the problem. Our hope and focus should not be on others, but God.

God, our Father is who saves us from others, and from ourselves. Whatever the circumstances, take it to Him. Pour out your heart to God, He will be your refuge. He will lift you up.

Psalm 62:8 (KJV) – trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) – trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

There’s nothing wrong with looking good, but we should not speak with our own mouth to say how good we look in a bragging or boasting way. That is for someone else to say.

Proverbs 27:2 (K. JV) – let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Do you believe what you ask for in prayer?

Believing what you see over what you believe is an hinderance. It will keep you from believing what you ask for. Walk by faith, not by sight.

If what you pray for aligns with God’s will, you will receive what you pray for. Believe it and receive it.

Mark 9:24 (KJV) – and straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 11:24 (KJV) – therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) – for we walk by faith, not by sight.

I John 5:14-15 (KJV) – and this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Do you set goals? Do you make New Year’s resolutions? What’s the difference? Goals are something you want to accomplish, that’s tied to a timeframe. New Year’s resolutions are traditions that are normally done in the beginning of the year, when we try to change a bad behavior or trait to improve our life. In either, both are saying what you “will” do.

Setting goals and making resolutions are both showing accountability. The vast majority of people do not like to, or do not want to set goals because they know, they have to stick to it, they have to be accountable. They don’t want to take the extra effort of doing something more, but to do things when they want to do it. If I do it, I’ll do it. If I don’t, I don’t. They don’t want to be accountable.

Most people don’t realize, not setting goals truly hinders you from knowledge, knowing the potential within yourself, knowing how strong and courageous you are, and knowing “you can”.

If you don’t set goals, start. If you already do, add more goals. Push yourself! Stretch yourself further! Reach for those things that are ahead! You can achieve more than you think you can. There is great joy in knowing something you have set out to do and have achieved it!

Philippians 3:13 (KJV) – brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

We do it all the time. How much will you pay to have peace in your life?

It’s not expensive. It just takes a little effort to have it. But, it can be expensive, by not doing those things to obtain peace. It depends on how bad you want it.

We want peace, but dont want to do what it takes to make that peace happen. We have to stop in our tracks, and make sacrifices to have peace. Not to be quick to jump-start an argument because our feelings stepped in, or having the last word because our pride showed up. There is no peace in that, and yet it’s too costly. Costing your joy, costing time spent in love, costing healthy communication, and costing you your blessings.

Let’s learn to hold our tongue. We don’t always have to speak what’s on our mind. Go into a closet, or somewhere else and blurt it out, get it out of your system. But, not to the other person. You’d be surprised the peace you will have, just by bitting your tongue to someone else, and not shooting off at the mouth.

Proverbs 14:29 (KJV) – he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 15:2 (KJV) – the tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 (KJV) – the words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

James 1:19 (KJV) – wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

Can you be honest with yourself? If you’re honest with yourself, you can be honest to someone else. But, if you can’t be honest with yourself — watch out people!

If you’ve wronged someone, can you put your pride aside and admit your wrong to the other person? You will never heal if you won’t confess your faults

James 4:10 (KJV) – humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 5:16 (KJV) – confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

God is our protector, not man. God has protected us from so many things, our mind cannot fathom. With His protection we have peace of mind, and His grace.

Think about those times when you have forgot things like your keys. The times when something deep within you told you to stay where you are. It all happens for a reason. Maybe from an accident, to save your life, from being in the middle of trouble, to help someone, or maybe God needed you to hear something.

God sees all, and goes before us to protect us. Not to discount man, but man cannot do that. Take man off the hook to supply your needs and be your protector. That is from God.

Job 34:21 (KJV) – for His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

Proverbs 5:21 (KJV) – for the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondered all his goings.

Do you believe “almost” everything you hear? Do you research to know that it’s a true statement? Or do you just speak it because you heard it, and it sounds good and true. We should all know what we’re talking about before we speak on things.

Just because you said it, or just because you heard it, doesn’t mean that it’s true. If you hear something long enough, you may quote it yourself, or even believe it, especially if it’s something you grew up on.

Some teach scripture because of what was heard, but don’t go to the word of God to see if it’s true.

We need to know that the words that are coming out of our mouth are the real deal. We don’t know who’s watching us, and who we are influencing.

Let’s do our homework before we try to teach others. . . we may learn something for ourselves, along the way. Read His word, before you teach His word.

I Timothy 4:7 (KJV) – but refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Those things that are hard and seem unbearable, are the very things that break you to move you forward, increase you, strengthen you, make you stronger.

Don’t give up! Keep going! Don’t give up! Keep it moving! Don’t . . . give up!

Joshua 1:7 KJV) – only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

Praying in tune with God is not easy, if you don’t know what God wants. If you’re just asking for what you want in prayer, and it’s not His will, you’re just asking. But, there’s nothing wrong with praying for what you want. God said, I will supply all your needs. Therefore, God already knows what your in need of.

Asking for the desires of your heart, are to be prayed for with conviction, believing that you have received them, and you will. BUT, they must be in alignment with God’s will for you.

You can’t pray and ask God for something that doesn’t belong to you. And you can’t manipulate the circumstances to help God to give you what you pray for.

So you ask — how do I know what to pray for? And how do I pray? It’s all in His word, and you have to read it. No one can tell you, and you do it, and it’s done. You have to put in the work yourself, and that takes time. Don’t put a time table or a stop watch on it, that will lead to frustration, which will lead you to quickly give up. Get to know God and His word, just like you get to know a person and their ways.

But, I will tell you this, it has to “truly”, and with all sincerity, come from your heart. Most of all, if you don’t know what to pray for, pray; Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) – . . .Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 21:23 (KJV) – and all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV) – but my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.