Are you a talker or a listener? Are you trying to get your point across on someone else’s circumstances?

We are so anxious sometimes to tell someone something, that we start talking and the other person haven’t finished saying what it is they have to say. They are trying to get their point across, but we keep butting in, trying to get our point across. Sometimes, we want to answer before they can finish the question.

These type of conversations can sometimes turn into one-sided conversations, or forgetting the importance of what truly needs to be said — missing the point.

Some of us want to be the ‘winner’ in a conversation. We’re trying to let the other person know, we knew what they were going to say by speaking it first, while the other person is trying to tell it. It’s not even a race, and sometimes what we spoke is not the same thing the other person was trying to say. Also, most of us want to be right, and be on the smart end of the stick. But by doing so, you shame yourself.

We are to be quick to listen to what one has to say, then be slow to speak. If you just stop talking and listen, you will find some things have opened your eyes to yourself in some of these conversations.

Proverbs 18:13 (KJV) – he that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

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

Are you ashamed . . . of the gospel? Of Jesus Christ?

Has there been a time in your life when you knew you should have said something to someone, to reveal Christ to them, and you didn’t? Do you not bless your food, pray over your food, in public because of what one may think of you? If that is the case, you are denying God.

We rob ourselves of our own blessings, by not doing what we should. The Holy Spirit lives within us to remind of things, and to guide us. We are ambassadors of Christ, and therefore, we are to speak boldly. When we speak boldly, it is Christ that speaks within us.

Don’t be denied before God, by worrying about what others think. You are the light of the world. God will make you stand out in the presence of others. You are not of this world, so don’t be like the world.

Trust God in everything and never be ashamed of Him. He’s not ashamed of you.

Matthew 10:33 (KJV) – but whosever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

II Timothy 2:12-13 (KJV) – if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Matthew 5:14 (KJV) – ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

John 15:19 (KJV) – if ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Ephesians 6:20 (KJV) – for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

John 7:26 (KJV) – but, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

Psalm 31:1 (KJV) – in thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Whatever it is you are focusing on, is whats grabing your full attention and occupying your thoughts. It’s the BIG picture!

We are so concerned about this, and worried about that, that we can’t enjoy our lives. Some of us feel obligated to worry about people and things. Therefore, we feel guilty if we enjoy ourselves for a moment or two.

We “say” we want peace, but don’t “act” like we want it. We have this problem by thinking we know more than God, therefore we focus on the circumstances. Or we may give it to God, and quickly take it back.

God is telling us how to have peace, how to have joy, but we dont want to do what it takes to get it. There is a reason why God wants us to give him our cares, our worries. He wants us to live in abundance.

He is freely giving it to us. He said, cast your cares on me and I will give you rest. He said, peace I give to you.

Therefore, give your cares, your burdens to God, let Him give you peace, and live the life God wants you to live . . . a life of abundance!

II Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) – casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

John 14:27 (KJV) – peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 10:10 (KJV) – the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I Peter 5:7 (KJV) – casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you.

We go through life struggling, doing things we think are meant for us to do. We try to create relationships with people we think are meant for us to be with.

Everything that comes our way is not meant for us to have or to keep for ourselves. Some things that come our way are there for a season. Some things are there to teach us, or to teach the other person, to make us stronger, to push us forward, or in the direction God wants us to go. But all things that come our way, are there for a reason.

Some things are just obvious that they are not meant for us, but we force it, and don’t understand why it’s not working for us. That’s because we’re blinded by what we want, and what we want to do.

There are consequences when we go against what God is showing us or calling us to do. When we rebel against God, and be disobedient, sooner or later, He opens our eyes to what we have done. We can’t escape it.

Seeing things as coming from God, will help you to make decisions so much easier. You will be able to discern the truth of God and the lies of satan. You will see that God does love you, and know that all things are working out for your good.

Remember, every good gift, and every perfect gift is from God. Everything is of God, through God, and to God.

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

Joshua 22:22 (KJV) – and he Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day).

Titus 2:12 (KJV) – teaching us that, denying ungodliness and the worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Romans 8:28 (KJV) – and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

James 1:17 (KJV) – every good gift and every perfect gift is from God above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Romans 11:36 (KJV) – for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Trust is a major factor in our lives. There is trust in everything we do, and in everyone we encounter.

One thing is for sure — we put our trust more in man than in God, which is a curse. We will reach out to man first, for what we want or need. When we have exhausted all of our resources, we call upon God. Which is what we should do first, for everything.

God is your source. He knows everything. He wants you to bring your request to Him, to trust him, and he will give you what you need, and what you ask for. He will speak to the heart of those that he wants to use, to bless you. Not to who you think you need to speak to, to bless you.

God is your Father, trust in him always.

Psalm 118:8 (KJV) – it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV) – thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV) – be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

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

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.

If you had a choice to have your home build, there would be much to consider to making sure your home is build like you like it. However you choose to build your home, what you focus on the most will determine your priority. Whether it be the walls, the floors, the foundation, or the type of materials used, will determine if your home will be able to withstand the elements.

If you build your home on materials that look good, but are not durable, how long will your home stand? Storms come, and your home sways from one side to the other, and the materials of your home are slowly being blown away. But one strong storm comes, and takes away your home. That’s when you realize, but it’s too late, it’s not about the look, but the strength and the material of the foundation of which you’ve build your home.

We are God’s building, and He is our foundation. If we build on God’s foundation with the things of this world, every storm of life will have its way with us. Every storm will slowly take away a piece of us, destroying us, until satan is ruling us.

We must be wise what goes inside of us, and that it aligns with what God has build within us. How we continue to build on God’s foundation, will determine if we are able to stand against the storms of life. If we continue to build ourselves with the word of God, no storm and no man will be able to stand against us.

Let’s not be concerned about how good we look with what we have around others. But, by keeping your foundation strong by reading and meditating on the word of God, praying to our Father, listening to him, waiting upon Him, and trusting that he will see you through. By doing so, no weapon will prosper against you.

Matthew 7:24-27 (KJV) – therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

I Corinthians 3:9-11 (KJV) – for we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builder thereon. But let every man heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 54:17 (KJV) – no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.