When you write out a grocery list, whether physically/on paper, or mentally/in your head, whatever is on that list, are your expectations for you to receive what you want on that list. You are in control of that list. Therefore, whatever you chose to get, not get, or add to that list is up to you, based on what you have to spend.

When you pray and ask God for something, you may have a prayer list of things that you’re asking for. Your expectations of God is to give you what you ask for from that prayer list. Just like your grocery list, you are in control of that prayer list. Therefore, whatever you chose to get, not get, or add to your prayer list is up to you, based on your faith, and lining up with the will of God.

You are in control of what you want or don’t want. God gave you power. Your faith is your spending money — your power. He said for you to ask him. So, those things that you want, and they align with His word and His will, pray — and believing, and you will receive it.

Isaiah 40:29 (KJV) – he giveth the power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Matthew 21:22 (KJV) – and all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Luke 19:19 (KJV) – behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

I John 5:15 (KJV) – and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

We need to understand when to move and when not to move. When to step in, and when to get out of the way.

There’s a time for everything, we just have to know when that time is. We won’t always know when, but if we follow the word of God, He will guide you and let you know when the time is right. Sometimes we step in God’s way by helping others when He is trying to open their eyes. Don’t get me wrong, God wants us to help others. But there are times, when God is trying to show them something, to help themselves. We want to keep stepping in whenever they are in need, but God can’t show them because we wont get out of His way.

Understandable, we don’t want our loved ones to suffer, but we also have to stop and realize that we are hindering them from moving forward in there lives, because we are in the way of what God is trying to teach them.

When we go through the same thing over and over, it’s because we are making the same wrong decisions. And why is that? It’s because, we don’t change out thinking and we don’t stop to ask ourselves; ‘what am I doing wrong, what is God trying to tell me through this’. And when we pray, we’re not listening to our Father, or paying attention to the signs to see what He is telling us.

We must read His word, get in tune with the word of God, and don’t always do all the talking, but listen. Listen to what He has to say. You may not hear Him right away, but you will. Through a message heard, a book read, a trusted friend, or even a stranger. But we also must be open to hearing the truth. When we don’t listen to him, we miss the mark, and there we go again through the same situation.

So, to those who want to help, know when to step in and help, and know when to get out of God’s way. Pray on it and God will show you what to do. And those who are on the receiving end, listen to God and He will show you the way. Your blessings aren’t always coming from where you think they should. They will come from where you lest expect it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) – to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Romans 12:2 (KJV) – and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) – trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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.