Colossians 1:16-18 For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him that is, by His activity and for Him. And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe. He is also the head the life-source and leader of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place He will stand supreme and be preeminent in everything.

Have you ever felt like everything around you is spinning out of control? Nothing you do seems to be going right. You’ve tried everything you know to do, but nothing makes sense anymore. At times, it can seem that way, especially when it comes to things that have a point of uncertainty. Stepping out into the unknown can literally shake your world causing you to be a little unsettled about the future.  It could be a new location you’re moving to or a new job position. Maybe you’re going off to college or getting married. Perhaps God has spoken to you to step out out into a particular area of ministry. You may be even wondering what’s going to happen after next month’s presidential election. Our life can be filled with situations and circumstances that seem to be beyond our control.

But, I’ve got some good news! God is in control of it all! In the scripture above, Paul tells us that God is “the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.” He is the one who created it all and He holds it all together. That means He’s not planning on leaving us. When we feel like our world is spinning out of control, He’s the controlling force that holds them all together. The best thing we can do is to stay focused on the One who created us. He knows our situation and He holds our future. He knows what’s going to happen next. He already knows what decisions you will make. He knows where you’re going to college. He knows who you will marry. He knows what ministry steps you will take. If you make mistakes, He knows that too. He already knows who the next president will be. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows how it’s all going to turn out. No matter how out of control things seem, God has it all together. So, hold onto the one who is in control of all things and holds you in the palm of His hand. Before you know it, those things around you want seem so out of control anymore.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There is a season a time appointed for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven— A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to keep silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

We’ve all read this scripture at one time or another in our life. There’s even been a song written with these words. But, have we really thought about the “time” we’re given on Earth? Sure, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. But, we’ve each been given an allotted time to worship God and fulfill His purpose for our lives. It’s up to us to discover that plan because He has a great plan for us!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.

It is a given that no matter what age we are, we are all called to worship God, read and study His word, and establish a solid prayer life. But, what about the everyday areas of our lives? As children we’re called to obey our parents, learn in school, play with our friends, and grow with our families. As we grow older, our plans get a little more complicated. We decide whether or not to pursue college, establish a career pathway in the secular or spiritual world, get married or stay single, and whether or not to have children or adopt or remain childless. As we grow older, we make decisions about retirement and how we spend the twilight years of our lives.

The little details in between can be clear at times while being troublesome and confusing at others. We all want to make sure the decisions we make are on track in God’s will and His timing. So, how can we know for sure if the direction we’re pursuing is the right one? What if we make a mistake and go the wrong way? First, let me assure you that if you do make a mistake and go the wrong way, God is not disturbed by this nor does He disown you. He’ll simply nudge you back in the right direction. You can never go too far that He can’t find you! So, how do we know how to follow the plan God has for us?

First, we must walk by faith.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to walk with God and please Him, for whoever comes near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.

We must put our trust in God and follow His leading. He will show you the way! God never gives you something He has not already equipped you to do. If you have an interest in the human anatomy, chances are that you are called into the medical field. If you enjoy showing others how to do things, chances are that you are called into the teaching field. If you have an interest the justice system, chances are that you are called to pursue a career in law or law enforcement. If you look deep inside yourself, what you enjoy doing most is probably what your called to. God would never call you into something you hate. So, step out in faith in the thing that you love to do most.

Secondly, follow the peace of God.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My perfect peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.

Jesus left us with His peace to face any situation that comes our way. This means that no matter what decision we make, if we have a peace about it, then chances are it is a God decision. Have you ever had that feeling deep inside you that says, “This doesn’t feel right. Something is a little off.”? That’s probably the Holy Spirit telling you to back up and regroup and think through what you are about to do. On the other hand, have you ever felt like the decision you are about to make is the right thing to do even though you feel unfortable about the idea or everything seems to be going wrong? That’s the peace of God directing you on the inside. By no means am I telling you to go by feelings or basing your decision on circumstances around you. But, if you are truly a child of God, then you will know it deep within you the direction God is leading. He gives us his peace, even in the midst of fear or uncertainty, when He is showing us the way.

So, step out in faith and follow the peace of God in every area of your life today. As you do, you’ll be on your way to fulfilling the destiny God has planned for your life!

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Paul tells us in this scripture to rejoice! That word rejoice doesn’t mean we have to be happy all the time. Our emotions can fluctuate depending on how we feel physically, psychologically, or even spirituality. We live in a world that’s not perfect, therefore our reactions to it can change at any given moment. In the Greek language, the word rejoice is chairo, which means to delight in or experienc God’s grace. Now that puts a whole new spin on things! That’s something the world can’t give us! Keep in mind that God’s grace is more than just His favor. Grace literally means the power and ability to do that which we could not otherwise do. That’s good news because it’s not based on our happiness. It’s all based on Him!

if we stay focused on God and His Word, we’ll gain strength and contentment giving us access to abilities we’ve not yet thought of. It’s through His ability, not ours that we can do all things. So as we get into God’s presence, He will reveal answers to questions that we didn’t have an answer for. Through His grace, therefore, we can have God ideas for every area of our lives.

On the flip side, If we look to the world’s way of doing things, we may gain some measure of success, but never be totally fulfilled. Sometimes the decisions we make on our own are a hit or miss situation; you win some, you lose some. We can only go so far with our own intellect and at times it can even fail us. It’s like running a battery at 75 percent power. In a way, operating on the world’s way of doing things is not utilizing our abilities to their fullest potential.

Is it possible to utilize our abilities to their fullest potential?What if I told you that you can run on 100 percent power all the time? What if I told you every decision you make can be a win/win situation? It is possible. But, it will take dedication and commitment. It will take spending time in God’s Word and prayer. It will mean looking at the way God does things instead of the way the world does them. But, God’s power and ability will ensure you a 100 percent chance of success. Paul sums it up in one word…… REJOICE!!! So get out there and do what the Word says. God not on has great ideas in store for you, He has God ideas no one has even thought of yet!

Many times in our walk with the Lord, we seek direction for what we should do with our lives. Once we ask God, however, we quickly go on our way with our daily lives, not really expecting an answer or one we really want to hear. So, when we do hear God’s still small voice telling us to do something, we automatically look around and ask the question, “Who me?” It’s only natural! Moses did this very thing when he saw the burning bush.

Exodus 3:10-11 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and then bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

Moses was minding his own business with his daily routine when God spoke to him. I can only imagine how inadequate he must have felt when God spoke to him the task at hand. He was comfortable with his life, but he also had a stuttering problem. You might say he was satisfied with his current lifestyle. God, however, overlooked the fact that Moses was content and had a disability and told him to go anyway.

How many times have you been comfortable in the place where you were? You were satisfied with your daily routine and lifestyle. You like the house you’re living in. You like your job. You like the city you’re living in. You like the car you drive. You like the food you eat. You like your circle of friends you hang out with. You like this or you like that. The list goes on. Then, one day, just like Moses, God wants to move you out of your comfort zone. He wants to change your daily routine and lifestyle. He tells you to move to another city, change jobs, eat healthier, exercise more, quit hanging out with that crowd, etc. And, just like Moses, with all your inadequacies, you turn around and ask, “Who me?”

During these times, it is uncomfortable to make a change. We are all creatures of habit and sometimes change is hard to do. But, if we will obey God in the things He tells us to do, we will reap many benefits. Just look at Moses. He led the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage because he got past the “Who me?” question and took a step of faith in the direction God wanted him to go.

You may not want to eat healthier, but if you do, you will have more energy to do things you enjoy. You may not want to exercise, but if you do, you’ll gain muscle tone. You may not want to move to another city or change jobs, but if you do, you will gain a greater blessing in the place he is sending you. You may not want to stop hanging around that same old crowd, but if you do, God will send you friends that will help you grow in faith and encourage in the things of God. It’s all a matter of being obedient to the things He speaks into your life.

Yes, it’s a risk to step out into the unknown. But, God has great things in store for you if you will heed to that still small voice urging you to make a change. He has a plan specifically designed for you. So, get past the question of “Who me?” and answer with “Why not me?” as you go forward with confidence in the next great adventure God has for you!

Acts 17:6 But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too;

In the verses before the above scripture, we read that Paul and Silas had went to Thessalonica to tell everyone about Jesus. They spent three sabbath days explaining the scripture in the synagogue. This was not acceptable to the local folks. So, they stirred up trouble for Paul and Silas. This leads us up to the point that says, these men have turned the world upside down. That’s a powerful statement! So, what did Paul and Silas do to get such a reputation?

In Acts 16, several things happened during their travels that may indicate why they turned the world upside down. First of all, they were going around city to city encouraging the churches in the faith. While, this blessed the believers by enabling the church to grow, it made the devil mad. This caused a demon possessed woman to be dispatched to remedy the problem. But, she was no match for Paul and Silas. The Spirit of God gave them wisdom about this situation and they rebuked the devil in her and she got saved. This only made her owners mad and Paul and Silas were thrown in Jail. While in jail, these two mean of God began to worship and sing praises to God so much that an earthquake occurred and the jailer almost killed himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. Instead, the jailer got saved when he was assured all were present and accounted for. Afterwards, Paul and Silas were released and asked to leave the city. In Thessalonica, they faced a religious attitude, that stirred up the locals against them. Wow! That’s amazing stuff. In fact, that’s down right radical living. Now the term radical simply means very new and different from what is traditional or ordinary. Paul and Silas certainly did that. They went against what was traditional and ordinary everywhere they went.

So, what does that mean to the believer today? How can we turn our world upside down for Jesus? In other words, how can we experience radical living? We do what Paul and Silas did.

1. We encourage the body of Christ around us.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

Everyone needs a word of encouragement every now and again! Let’s start building each other up in the Word. Start sharing the love of God that’s in your heart. Tell someone they’re doing a great job or let someone know how nice they look today. You don’t have to preach a sermon. A smile can speak volumes. Instead of speaking negative words all the time, speak positive ones, even if the situation looks bad. As the world sees us happy about being around each other, then we will grow in number making us an unstoppable force in these last days.

2. Rebuke the Devil

Satan is not going to like you spreading the Word of God. He may dispatch his imps to derail you. He may even throw a circumstance or two to get you off track. It’s no fun when people or things come against us. Many believers just sit back and say, “poor, pitiful me. I can’t stand this. The devil is after me. I can’t take this any longer.” That’s why the world sees us as wimps! We need to do what the Word tells us to do.

James 4:7 So submit to the authority of God. Resist the devil stand firm against him and he will flee from you.

God has already given us His authority to rebuke the devil. So get radical and stop him in his tracks. As you do, those around you will see a new you, someone who is untraditional, an extraordinary believer.

3. Praise God at all times

It doesn’t matter whether things are going good or bad, keep on praising God. Let His joy be your strength (Neh. 8:10). Yes, continue to work on that fortress of joy. It’s radical to be happy all the time. Even if the gas prizes go up, praise Him. Even if you have stressful situations at work, praise Him. Even if your family gets on your nerves, praise Him. Even if your sick, praise Him. If Satan can’t get your joy, he can’t get your goods!

4. Come against religious attitudes

Break out of all those religious thoughts! Get in the Word and find out what God has to say about your situation. God’s not making you sick to teach you a lesson. The Word says by His stripes you were healed (Isa. 53:1-4). You don’t have to live in poverty and lack. The Word says that He will supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). Stop living from church service to church service on what the Pastor tells you. Get in the Word of God for yourself and find out what it has to say. Before you know it, God will show you things you’ve never thought of before. Who knows, He might even show you the key to getting that lost friend or loved one saved.

If you’ll follow these guidelines, you’ll be on your way to turning your world upside down and experiencing the radical life God created you to live!

I love to watch a good spy movie. They are always full of mystery and intrigue, with a touch of cloak and dagger. In them, you always have the usual characters; heroes, villains, suspects, victims, and of course, the mole. Now a mole in the spy world is not a furry little critter, but rather a person. This person is considered a double agent who works both sides of the fence gathering information that usually only benefits themselves.

Let’s take this concept and enter it into the spiritual realm. We are living our daily lives building our fortress of joy. The foundation of salvation has been laid and we’re on our way in building the walls of our fortress as we study the Word. Satan is trying to stop us every way possible by throwing darts of doubt, fear, and unbelief our way. We are very aware of his attacks. But, there is another problem that stands in our way. I submit to you that in our walk with God, that there is a mole in our midst! This mole is gathering information to destroy us from within. This mole is feeding us information to discourage us and get us off track by getting his or her way. Who is this mole? Our flesh – our own stinking flesh! You see our flesh only cares about what it can have to benefit itself. If it wants to be lazy, we give it laziness. If it wants junk food, even though we’re trying to lose weight, then we give it a doughnut. No matter what the flesh wants, it usually gets. This will ultimately be our downfall without Satan ever launching an attack against us. We must take action.

So, what do we do about this mole? We feed it information to get it to work for our spiritual benefit. How do we do this? First, we must always stay in the Word. Your flesh will fight you at first, but the more Word you put in your spirit, the more your flesh will yield to it. You see, your flesh likes to be on the winning side. All moles usually do! So, the more full of the Word you become, the more your flesh will benefit through peace, joy, healing, etc. Secondly, pray. Your flesh hates it when you start talking to God because in the natural, this makes no sense. But, the more you do, the more God will speak to you, then results will come and the flesh will begin to see the benefits.

It’s all a matter of walking in the spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

So, continue building your fortress of joy. Resist the devil and his attacks. And always remember to keep the mole in check by doing what the Spirit of God tells you to do. Then, you’ll be on your way to having a joy filled life that you were always meant to have.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then Ezra said to them, “Go your way, eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.”

We’ve all read this scripture and have even sung songs in church based on the joy of the the Lord.  The scripture above even tells us that its’ our strength. But, in the Amplified Bible it says, “…..for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.” Notice here that joy is our stronghold which means a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack, a fortress. Wow, that’s amazing! We can live inside a fortress of joy in our lives! If we will let the joy of the the Lord fill our lives, then we can thwart off the attacks of the enemy. No matter what the devil throws our way, the joy of the Lord will protect us.

So, how do we get this joy? By spending time with the Lord. Jesus said in John 15:10-11 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. Therefore, the key to building a fortress of joy is to build a relationship with God. It is vitally important that we spend time in His presence through His Word and prayer. The closer we get to God the more fortified our fortress of joy becomes. Even when the attacks of Satan come your way, you’ll be able to defeat him with the overflow of joy that floods your spirit.

The joy of the Lord will protect you and keep you safe. So, put your trust in God and start building a fortress of joy through your relationship with Him. As you do, you will become stronger everyday and the devil will not be able to take away the truths that God has placed in your heart. You’ll never be the same, guaranteed!

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies dedicating all of yourselves, set apart as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational logical, intelligent act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world any longer with its superficial values and customs, but be transformed and progressively changed as you mature spiritually by the renewing of your mind focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for you.

The word transform in this scripture means make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of. It’s where we get the term metamorphosis from. We are all familiar with how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. It wraps itself up in a cocoon for a set time, then undergoes a transformation of a new creation as it breaks out of its’ protective covering. Though there is struggle in the process, without it, the caterpillar would not become the beautiful butterfly it was created to be.

As believers, we go through the same thing! There are many things we experience in life, both good and bad, spiritual and physical. These things shape us into who we are. It’s what we wrap ourselves up in for protection. But when the time comes, we have to breakthrough the cocoon we have around us to become what God wants us to be. Yes, it will be difficult at times, especially if it is a deep rooted habit God wants you to get rid of or a new habit He wants you to grow into.  It may even be that God wants you to step out in an area you are uncomfortable with. The change could be as small as changing the way you eat or as big as making a career change or move to another city. Whatever the case may be, you will gain strength in the struggle! You will grow and become all that God has called you to be.

So, be encouraged! If you are going through a tough time right now or you just don’t understand what you are supposed to do next. Stay focused on the Word of God. Praise Him in the midst of your situation and stand firm. Seek His wisdom and His way, not what you think or what someone else tells you to do. Follow His leading because God’s got a plan and he’s making you into the creation He designed you to be!

Prosperity. What does that word mean to you? To most it means having a lot of money, a big house, and a fancy car. Some people feel that they have to have the best money can buy to be prosperous. Yes, all these things are nice to have. But, what does it really mean to be prosperous?

The Bible says in 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health physically, just as I know your soul prospers spiritually.  Wow! Prosperity goes beyond material things according to the Word. John tells us that we can prosper both physically and Spiritually. That means that if you are experiencing good health, then you are prosperous. If you can walk, breath, speak, see, or hear, then you are rich! That means if you are born again and walk according to the Word you are prosperous. If you can read and study the the Bible or pray and talk to God, then you are rich! Having material things is only a very small part of prosperity according to the Word. It’s much more beneficial to be rich in your body and your Spirit.

So, if you are hurting in your body today, then ask for healing. God wants you to be rich in health. He has a plan for your life and He needs you to be physically wealthy to handle the job. God loves you and He wants you well! If you are not hearing from God, then dust off your Bible and start digging in the World. God wants you Spiritually wealthy so you can be blessed and shine the light of His love in this dark world we live in. God has an answer for every situation you face and he has a plan for you to touch the lives of those  around you. He wants you to share the wealth of his love to everyone you meet.  Remember, material things are not what makes you prosperous in this life, living for God does! I promise you that you will be much more joyful with the true prosperity that God gives, which will last forever, rather than the prosperity of this world, which is only temporary. So, get out there and let the love of God shine through, you rich thing you!

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision no revelation of God and His word, the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law of God.

Anytime you take a long trip with a group of people in a vehicle, inevitably someone is going to ask the question, “Are we there yet?” It could be that this question is asked because of the anticipation of arriving at the destination or maybe it’s boredom from the long ride. either way, there was much excitement at the beginning of the journey. A vision of things ahead are presented to us. During the journey, we just can’t wait to get there, but sometimes we get tired along the way.

Many times it feels that way with our walk with God. He speaks to us what he has in store for us. Therefore, we are excited about the journey He has for us. We just can’t wait to get there and enjoy the vision He has given us. That vision keeps us going forward, even when the road is bumpy or detours happen along the way. However, there are times when we get tired and weary and wonder how much longer is it going to take before we are there. During these times, we question ourselves. We may think that we took a wrong turn somewhere or maybe we didn’t hear from God at all.

Yes, the journey may get long. Yes, there may be detours along the way. Yes, there may be tiredness and weariness. But, if we keep our eyes focused on the vision He gave us, we can enjoy the journey. We can see the beauty of the things He is doing along the way. We can enjoy the journey. We can hang on when we feel like giving up. Who knows? Today, just might be the day you arrive at your destination. Remember, God is doing the driving and no matter how many times you ask Him, “Are we there yet?”, He’s going to make sure those dreams and visions that He put inside you will surely come to pass!