Category Archives: Endurance

September 24th 2018 – Poor In Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

This is a popular verse that is spoken alot in recovery programs.. however often people get confused with what it means.

Jesus is speaking about a kind of spiritual poverty. Simply this: We must be humble in our spirits. If you put the word “humble” in place of the word “poor,” you will understand what He is speaking about.

Taken from the Beatutides.  Let us begin today with the first “beattitude to be in our lives”: the attitude of humility.  By talking about being “poor in spirit” Jesus is saying that this is the opposite of self-sufficiency.  “Poor in spirit” speaks of those who realize that they are totally helpless and lost apart from God.  The person who is poor in spirit realizes his own utter helplessness without the Lord, and puts his whole trust in God.

When we think we are ok because we are a good person, we are depending on our own self-righteousness.  But self-righteousness will not make you happy.  Self-righteousness will not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Apart from God, we are totally lost.  It is only by God’s grace that we can be saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9) says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We have to remember that going to church will not save us.  Reading our Bible will not save us.  Praying will not save us.  Only a relationship with Jesus will save us.  Only making Him Lord of our lives will save us.  Good works are good, but salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, :I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

When we come to this place of knowing that all we are, and ever will be, is because of Jesus, life takes a big turn for the better.  Being poor in heart, this true humility of soul, says, “Lord, You are the great Shepherd.  I have messed up my life in so many ways.  Today, I give it to you and I know that You will make a success out of it.”

That is true humility!  That is knowing that He is Lord, and giving Him the lordship of your life.  So today, do not back down.  Go ahead and live the abundant life by being poor in spirit.  When we are poor in spirit, we are rich in life, because He gives us His Kingdom.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father. I thank you for your presense in my life, I pray that will draw me close during this time of heartache and pain. I continue to choose to let humility of heart rule within me.  Jesus You are lordship of my life, and I know that You will guide me in the best path for my life. I love you Jesus.. in Your precious name, Amen.

Facing life without Jesus will get overwhelming. If you do not know Him personally, I encourage you not to pass up the precious gift of His love and eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Jesus loves us and wants to help us through the storms. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 22nd 2018 – The Journey

“Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.” (Genesis 28:10-11)

Jacob had quite a journey in front of him. He would be traveling hundreds of miles to eventually reach his destination. Even though Rebekah and Isaac sent him to find a wife, the reality of his brother Esau wanting to kill him was there. This journey was not like the journey we would be taking today. This would be a journey in a wilderness, traveled by foot. At this point in the journey Jacob had been walking all day. He was tired enough to lay his head on a stone and fall asleep.

Right before this journey we see that Jacob received a promise from his father. He was told that he would have the fat of the land, plenty of grain and wheat, people would serve him, and that he would inherit land. Now in the wilderness, on the run from his brother, that thought had to be conflicting. It would be to anyone? Jacob had been told that he would inherit the promise, but the promise was yet to come.

Do you find yourself there today? Has God given you a word for your life, but you are stuck between the promise and fulfillment of the promise. Take heart because God is using scenarios in your life to do an amazing work in your life. God will fulfill His promise in due time. In the meantime He is doing a transformative work in your life.

“When you find yourself in the place between the promises and fulfillment, Take heart that He is doing a transformative work in you.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for always working on my behalf. Give me the strength to Trust You in the good times and bad. I am thankful You are always faithful even when I question or don’t understand. Continue to do Your work in my heart. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 20th 2018 – The Spiritual Solution

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right” (Psalm 84:11)

As Christian’s there are times in our lives where we experience times and situations where things look rather bleak. We may not understand why, but what we need to remember is to call on the name of the Lord, and He will intervene.

Here in our nation, if you watch the news and listen to the arguments and pointing fingers between the political parties, things are looking rather bleak. But God says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

This is basically what God is saying, “Check this out. Call on Me, and watch what I will do. Pray right now for a revival in your land. Watch how I will intervene.”

It is God’s desire to bless us. And did you know that God wants to bless us even more than we want to be blessed? Psalm 84:11 tells us, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

Often the reason we pray is because we have a need, we have a crisis. We need a healing . . . we need direction . . . we need financial provision. We pray because we are in trouble. It is not as though God simply gives us everything we have ever wanted and our lives are free of problems or conflicts. Rather, God will allow conflict in our lives so we will see our own weakness and then see the greatness of God as we depend on Him.

I don’t believe the ultimate need of our nation will be solved by a new president or by new members of Congress and Senate. I believe the real need for America will be met by a spiritual solution. Therefore, we need to pray for true healing for our nation and ask for revival!

“God will allow conflict in our lives so we will see our own weakness.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the Bible. It is through these pages that we find life and light. Within Your Word, there is the story of our salvation in Christ and instruction on how we can live victorious lives. Teach me Your ways and help me grow in wisdom and understanding. Father, we pray not for shallow selfish ends, but for Your great glory and kingdom. Cause us to come to You in true humility, brokenness and contriteness of heart. May this be time Lord, that this nation falls on its knees in prayer and that a revival sweeps across our land and true healing can begin because of changed hearts, A Great Awakening! In Jesus’ Glorious and Holy Name. Amen!

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

 

September 17th 2018 – What Flavor Are You

“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.” (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Often, when we minister to others, we will find ourselves put to the test. Certainly Paul experienced this as he traveled place to place sharing the Gospel. What’s important about those times of trial is that it usually exposes the reality of our hearts.

I personally am very particular when it comes to drinking tea, I am not a big fan of any of the red teas, however I like the green teas. When we want to know the flavor of a particular tea is, we pour very hot water on it to find out what it taste like. This is also true with our lives. God knows what sins or attitudes dwell inside our hearts, but often times, we don’t until we are backed up against a wall. Not only does it reveal our own heart, but trials can also show who our true friends are. If all these things are true, why do we often run from trials? Instead, let’s endure them with watchful eyes looking for areas in need of God’s miraculous changing power. As we do, we will continue to be molded more and more into the image of Jesus.

“Trials often reveal in our life and relationships what’s really in our heart.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for trials in life. While it may be hard to say that in the middle of suffering, I am thankful that You use those times to help me. Give me eyes to see the truth of my heart’s condition and the wisdom and strength to apply Your Word to those areas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life?

If not, pray this prayer and start a new life in Christ.

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I admit that I am not right with You, and I want to be right with You. I ask You to forgive me of all my sins. The Bible says if I confess with my mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved (Rom. 10:9). I believe with my heart and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for saving me!
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer for the first time, we would like to know. Click here to send us an e-mail or share your testimony.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 16th 2018 – Trusting God In All Things

“But [Joseph] did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus” (Matthew 1:25)

Some people are good at the immediate. They can jump right into anything, but they are not always good at “keeping on keeping on.” And other people are good at lasting, but it takes them a long time to get there.

To live the exciting life of faith that God has planned for you, you need to be good at both the immediate and the lasting. And both of those require that you keep on trusting in God.

Joseph didn’t understand what it meant for Jesus to have a virgin birth, he didn’t understand Jesus would be God in human flesh. But he knew what God told him to do, so Joseph kept on trusting. He was a newlywed who didn’t get a honeymoon, and his new marriage was not anything like he planned, but he still kept trusting.

What are you going to do when life doesn’t work out like you planned or wanted?

I want to encouraged you by what the Apostle Paul says in (2 Corinthians 4:8) “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit”.

I don’t know why some people are diagnosed with terminal cancer. I don’t know why some children rebel so strongly against their parents. I don’t know why so many things happen that don’t make sense. So it’s encouraging to hear one of the greatest men of faith say, “I don’t know why things happen as they do, but I still choose to not give up.”

It’s good to know that we can trust God and that he knows things we don’t. He has promised that one day He will set everything right. One day He will bring together everyone who trusts in him.

Until then there are two ways you can live your life. You can live feeling like God owes you an explanation or you can live realizing God has given you great gifts.

If you live life feeling like God owes you an explanation, you will only wind up in a constant state of bitterness, because God doesn’t owe you anything.

But even though He doesn’t owe you anything, He has given you everything. He gave you his own Son. He gave you the gift of eternal life. He gave you the promise of being together with him forever. Those are great gifts.

“Do you trust God for the things that you don’t understand? Or do you seek the answers for yourself”

“When we don’t understand what God is doing in our life, consider the source – Who is it that you’re trusting, God or yourself?”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask that you place within me your obedient spirit so that I may be obedient to your instruction.  Help me Lord to walk by faith and not by sight.  I don’t always understand what you’re doing in my life, but I make a decision to trust you God, In all things, I ask that you place within me your spirit of joy, peace and rest to endure all that comes my way. Right now, I make a decision to trust you Lord because I know that you’re in control of my life even when my life seems to be out of control. Lord, I thank you for clarity, guidance, provision and strength.  I pray and ask for these things in Jesus name’ Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you have never asked Jesus into your heart or want to recommit. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 12th 2018 -Downhearted and Discouraged

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

Have you ever felt troubled in your heart? Maybe agitated, stressed out, or uncertain about tomorrow?

There is a lot to be afraid of these days, isn’t there? Maybe something has happened to you recently that has turned your world upside down. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering whether God really is aware of the problems you’re facing right now.

That is exactly how the disciples of Jesus felt. They were downhearted and discouraged. When they were all gathered in the Upper Room for the Passover feast, Jesus told them that one of them was going to betray Him. Then He identified Judas Iscariot as the betrayer. Not only that, but Jesus also said that Simon Peter would deny Him—not once, not twice, but three times. Peter! Could it really be? The whole world turned upside down for these men. And then, worst of all, Jesus began talking about leaving them, about being crucified. Can you blame them for wondering, What in the world is going on here?

Maybe you feel that way. Maybe there is uncertainty in your future. As you survey your fears and concerns today, take a few minutes to consider what Jesus said to His disciples and to us in that tense Upper Room: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). This verse could also be translated, “Let not your heart be agitated or disturbed or thrown into confusion.”

In other words, “Don’t let these things throw you! Put your full trust and faith in Me!”

God does not want us to ever to be overcome by feelings of defeat and despair in spite of the crushing blows we receive. He has given us His powerful word full of encouragement and hope to strengthen us instead. Ultimately, His will for us is that we live our lives in victory.

“When your lost and can’t seem to find your way, Considder God and seek Him for guidance, encouragement and hope!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I ask You to replace sadness my with joy, defeat with victory, and weariness with praise.  Help me when I feel defeated, weary or sad to focus on Your blessings in my life rather than on my circumstances.   Remind me to praise You the Father at all times so I may obtain life and hope.  I ask that You bring all things to my memory that concern You and Your plans in my life.  Holy Spirit, please increase my hope as I focus on Your Word.   Help me to not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind.  Strengthen and renew me in my innermost being.  Destroy the fiery darts of the enemy that attempt to pierce my souls.  May always always hear Your voice and obey Your will.  Father, help me to overcome today fears. Thank You for the ones in my life that Love me. I praise You and Love You Lord in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Here is a list of crisis numbers for 24 hour help line. Click on the link for help —-> Broken Believers

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 10th 2018 – Overburdened

“On the third day, we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.” (Acts 27:19)

Here is a cool fact, Did you know that ships have a line drawn along the hull to indicate their burden? If the line goes too far beneath the water, the sailors know there is too much cargo on board. This allows the sailor to take the necessary steps to avoid disaster. Wouldn’t it be great if we had indicators on us? In Acts 27, Paul, now a prisoner, was taken by ship to Rome where he and the ship’s crew encounter a mighty storm. In danger of shipwreck, the ship’s crew threw overboard the cargo they once had considered necessities. Timing and events can really change the way we look at things. We fill our lives with ‘tackle’ and ‘rigging’ that is not important to the eternal plan. Often, we get distracted by those things and cling to them rather than to God. We think… “Oh, I need this” or “I just can’t live without that,” but soon, overburdened, we hit a storm and sink.

(Hebrews 12:1) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.”

What’s in your cargo hold? Are you carrying bitterness? Is there someone you need to forgive? Is your ship laden with shame? Are you hauling around guilt or sin? In (Matthew 11:28-30), Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Why carry burdens around when you don’t have to? Won’t you lay your burdens at the foot of the cross?

“Lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross, before you sink”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for my sins and show me the burdens I carry that You want to remove. There may be things I’m not aware of that are distracting me from the best that You have for me. Please show me these things so that I can give them over to You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 7th 2018 – Cultivate Hope and Faith

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Have you ever prayed for someone and the situations in their life got worse, or their ilness got worse, maybe they even died?

In our estimation, sometimes things go the wrong way. We may pray, “Lord, heal this person. Be glorified through this.”

But the Lord might say, “I will be glorified, but I’m not going to do it the way you want Me to. I have a different plan instead.”

Sometimes God will remove the affliction. Sometimes God will heal the illness. Sometimes God will take away the cancer. But sometimes the person will get worse.

We don’t usually like that. But it is in these times that God can be glorified. Everyone suffers in life. Christians suffer too. When a Christian is suffering and can still glorify God, that is a powerful testimony to a lost world. When non-Christians see us honoring the Lord through our suffering, it shows them how real our faith is. And guess what? It shows us how real our faith is too.

“When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:2-3)

Do you think that our faith would get stronger if everything were easy in life? Unfortunately, the truth is that our faith can only get stronger through our hardships. The opening scripture today teaches us that we develop hope and faith through tribulation. Romans 5:3–4 “But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Hope grows in the garden of pain. It doesn’t grow without challenges or difficulty. It grows in hard times. We develop strength through our weaknesses. This is true in our spiritual lives as well.

Jesus is the only one who can give me the fruitful life I long for. I cannot get it by trying harder, but rather by opening my life to Him, letting Him eradicate the weeds of worry in our lives while cultivating contentment and trust. Hope along with trust grows when we surrender to Jesus.

“In life, we should think more about how great God is and less about how great our troubles are.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I love You and give You praises for still being here and loving us in such a time like this. The world is ungreatful and broken.. I know that I can often lose sight of hope and faith while I’m in the middle of hard times. Help me to be mindful of Your love, mercy, compassion and strength so that I can endure and even rejoice in the middle of my troubles and pain. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may live in hope and have an abundance of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He loves us and wants to help us. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus it’s the greatest decision you will ever make.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

 

 

September 2nd 2018 – How Much Longer

“They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” (Revelation 6:10)

In chapter 6 of the book Revelation, we read about those who were put to death for their faith. They are in Heaven, aware of the injustice, aware of the fact there were fellow servants still on earth being mistreated. So they prayed this prayer to the Father: ”O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world to avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”. In other words, Hey, Lord, this isn’t right, How much longer? When are You going to do something about it?

Here was God’s response to their prayers:

Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their.  fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them. (Revelation 6:11)

God’s timing is not always our timing. The Bible says that “He has made everything beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

It kind of reminds me of taking a trip when my children were young. You are driving along, about hour into the trip you hear “How Much Longer before we get there?”

What do you say? “We are almost there. A little bit longer, or we are almost there”

The martyred saints were asking when they would be avenged. And God was saying, Just a little bit longer.

We say things like, “Lord, when are You going to come back?” He says, Just a little bit longer. “When is my prayer going to be answered?” Just a little bit longer. Be patient, I am in control. I am doing everything according to My perfect will.

“God’s delays are not necessarily His denials. So keep praying.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, deliver us from anxiousness when we have been falsly accused or wronged. Continue to keep us quickened to deliver Your message of salvation to everyone who will listen, until that day we die or You return again. We thank you for Your love and presence,  Lord protect us in this time so that we may continue share Your gosple until the very end. We praise You for the day when Jesus returns. Amen.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Don’t wait! “In a flash of a second it could be too late!” Click Here to read Four Simple Steps to Jesus.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 31st 2018 – Wait A Minute, Something Is Missing

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Were you robbed? Has your joy been stolen? No deadbolt was compromised, no alarm system was set off, you just know at some point your joy had been taken from you. Was it all of a sudden or was it a gradual sinking into despair, so subtle a shift you barely noticed until it was too late?

The enemy is that despised thief who steals from us. He tries to mess with us and take everything good in our lives Jesus painstakingly suffered and died for us to have.

Through the blood of Jesus at His crucifixion we have complete authority over the enemy . No matter what he tries to do to us, we will always win! The Bible says that Jesus died for us to have a blessed, full, and happy life.

The enemy has no place in our lives, he is below us, he is under our feet. When we feel ourselves getting down, depressed, frustrated or fearful, we must be armed and ready for battle. We must know The Word of God so we are constantly equipped with the necessary defense!

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

This scripture clearly states that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow even those from under the earth. The enemy must bow down to Jesus, and he must flee!

How do we get back those things the enemy steals from us? How do we restore and maintain our joy? The good news is that God is in the restoration business. He will give us back double for our trouble and beauty for our ashes!

The story of Job in the Bible is an amazing example of God’s pure loving kindness and faithfulness. The enemy took everything from Job, his family, his home, his wealth, his joy and his health. All through this trial, Job praised God and never gave up. Because of his faith, God restored everything back to Job. He gave Job so much more than he ever lost for the trouble and anguish he had to endure. Job let his faith be bigger than his fear and he got his joy back and was completely restored in every way!

The Bible says where there is pain in the night, joy comes in the morning. We are to have the mind of Christ and be completely transformed in God’s image. God says He will fight your battles for you and you will not even have to lift a finger in your own defense! The great I AM is never too busy or on a God hiatus. He’s always ready to fight for us. Call on Jesus … Jesus!!! He will never leave you or forsake you. He rescues you in times of trouble. He will honor you and deliver you from all evil. He will always cause you to triumph and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. With God you are always more than a conqueror!

When you are feeling down and feel your joy and peace slipping away, get in the presence God and boldly confess that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Pray continuously and trust that God can and will perfect all that concerns you. He will fight for you always … all ways!

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with JOY in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Grant to us the royalty of inward happiness, and the serenity which comes from living close to You. Renew in us the sense of joy daily, and let Your eternal spirit dwell deep in our souls and bodies, filling every corner of our hearts with light and grace. Continue to fill us with all that is good so that we will reflect You Lord in our daily lives. I give praise to You for all you have blessed me with. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

2017-07-21-05-57-35

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org