Take Courage

 Be Bold and Courageous
Back in the day growing up in Buru Buru estate, we would have kids from the neighboring Jericho estate come over to harass us and steal our footballs and even bikes. Sometimes you would have this tiny kid walk up to a group of older kids and this tiny fellow would harass them and take off with their ball. At times he would be so bold as to insult and push them around. Looking at the situation you would wonder where this tiny kid is getting the boldness and courage to push around other kids twice his size. Little did you know that the tinny fellow was not alone, right around the corner he had a whole crowd of older boys on his side waiting to pounce on you if you messed up with the little fellow.
Thinking of that situation reminded me of what God told Joshua.

Joshua 1:9 (AMP)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Lord your God is with you wherever you go! Wow, knowing this should make us bold whatever the situation. Looking at some of the stories in the Old Testament we find people who knew that God was with them and they faced their situations with courage and boldness. Moses, David, Daniel, Esther Shadrach and his friends, all these were people who knew God was with them.

Looking at what we have been learning this week, first that God loves you unconditionally, then that He predestined your existence and that you are not a mistake but part of his grand plan that should give you such confidence and courage. We came to the understanding that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose and yesterday we came to the understanding that the Holy Spirit our helper is always with us, forever. This ought to make us bold and courageous, knowing that we have a backup that can never fail and that we are not alone. Being on Gods side means that any time the enemy tries to mess up with us then God himself will deal with him.

Though the journey may be rough at times and we will face challenges and discouragements, always remember that you are not alone so be bold and courageous and like Joshua go on to conquer.

Declaration
I will be bold and courageous no matter what situations come my way because the Lord my God is always with me. He makes a table for me in the presence of my enemies. I will not be dismayed or terrified. I have the victory
[6:22 AM, 1/29/2018] Family Media 316: #MorningDevotion   Bearing Much Fruit
John: 15:8
 8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.

Have you ever been at a place in your life where you looked up to the heavens and asked God to just tell you what he wants you to do? “God, just tell me in simple plain language what you want me to do and I will do it!” Jesus makes it clear for us what God is looking for in each and every one of us, He is looking for fruit, much fruit.
Many times, we are so engrossed by what people see on the outside. We go to great lengths to look the part so that we can fit in forgetting that what God is looking for from each and every one of us who believe, is fruit, much fruit.

Matthew 21:18
18 Now early in the morning, as Jesus was coming back to the city, He was hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree at the roadside, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it; and He said to it, “Never again will fruit come from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.

One of the things I leant is that the fig tree actually produces fruit before the leaves and thus to see leaves on a fig tree means that there is fruit. Jesus saw the leaves on the fig tree and naturally because He was hungry he went on expecting he would find fruit but he found none. The tree was advertising what it did not have, the tree was a hypocrite just like the Pharisees. Jesus says that bearing much fruit is proof that you are a true disciple and that is what God is looking out for. Fruits are generated from what is on the inside and that is why Jesus says in;

Matthew 7:18 (AMP)
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

God is looking for fruit because when we connect to the vine and stay connected then fruit is the inevitable result. Jesus says that fruit is so important to God that those who do not produce fruit will be cut off from the vine while at the same time those who are bearing fruit He will prune so they can bear much fruit.
I look at it this way, one way or the other you will be cut, I would rather be pruned so as to bear much fruit that to be cut off.

Declaration
I am good soil, I will embrace the word and go through the process. I will allow the word to take root in my life, I will stay connected to the vine because I know what God requires of me. I will bear much fruit!