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We recently focused on the need to Put God's Concerns First. In that message, we also learned that when we prioritize our human concerns over those of the Lord, there is a risk of being used by satan to speak or act contrary to God's will. Today, we examine this issue further by looking at Job's wife. Her story begins when the devil sought a human to torment, and God recommended His servant Job, knowing that he would never break under the pressure the enemy would place on him. The Bible tells us that satan took Job's wealth, children, and health. Job's friends came to commiserate with him. However, they soon deemed their friend guilty of having done something to deserve the disasters he'd faced. Through it all, Job maintained that he hadn't sinned against God. The Book of Job also mentions his wife, although she is not given a name. As her husband endured horrible sores, we are told that she encouraged him to "[c]urse God and die!” (Job 2:9). It is important to realize that these were arguably the words of a woman speaking from a place of great pain. We can't forget that she lost ten children in a freak accident. She also watched her husband's wealth and reputation go down the drain. Then, she saw her husband become sick, his body covered in pus-filled sores. All that loss, pain, and having to care for a sick husband produced frustration and impatience in her. All of which was a perfect recipe for her to become satan's mouthpiece. Think about it, do you think she would have said what she did under normal circumstances? ​ And we must realize that when the 'right' buttons are pushed, we too could become like Job's wife - a man/woman pushed by grief, pain, and trauma to say something that glorifies the enemy instead of the God who loves us. This is why it is so important to seek out and maintain an ever-deepening relationship with the Lord. You need to position ourselves at the well to draw from the everlasting water Jesus provides. Remember the Jericho Moments when He brought down walls and gave you reason to testify. What about the miraculous ways His Holy Spirit kept you safe? These and other situations build the connection that will restrict what you say when things go wrong in your life. Consistent Bible study will teach you what you should or shouldn't even allow yourself to even think in the tough moments. Weekly and scriptural fasting will also help you to accept and receive the Holy Spirit's guidance to walk in godly humility and reverence for the Lord. That intimate relationship will enable you to hear God speaking through whatever vessel He chooses and will convict you to submit to His instruction. These are some of the Kingdom Keys God gave His children so that they don't stray from the path of righteousness just because things don't go their way. They also help to keep His people from unknowingly becoming satan's mouthpiece, the way Peter and Job's wife did. Because when that happens, an individual can go from just saying to doing satan's bidding. May we all allow the Lord to have His way and place a guard on our lips so our words are never worthless but worthwhile for the glory of God our King, IJN, Amen. To learn more, please read the following: 1. Idle Words Block Blessings 2. The Sin of Disbelief 3. On Grief & Freedom 4. The devil's Underlying Scheme 5. Put God's Concerns First 6. Topic: Don't Break Faith with God 7. Topic: How satan speaks 8. Topic: satan's Lies

Today's question stems from a conversation God had with one of His servants in the Bible. High Priest Samuel was instructed to change how he perceived people by paying more attention to how the Lord saw them. 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Consider the last few words of that scripture once more - the LORD looks at the heart. They convey a caution to us on how we look at others. Those few words equally reveal how God will look at us. Since He sees past our exterior, ask yourselves - What would God see when He looks at your heart? It's very easy to have opinions on other people, but we don't spend enough time examining ourselves and what lies at the very heart of us. Are we carrying the Spirit of God? And are we doing so in a way that makes our hearts a comfortable place for the Lord to reside? Or are we habitually gossiping, fornicating, cheating on our taxes, and using our mouths as satan does to speak lies? Do we enjoy our sinful desires and elevate them above God's wishes? If so, then we do not look as good as we think. Are we allowing the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to counsel and transform us so we walk in humility, are not petty, and show others grace and forgiveness? How about the Royal Law - are we treating people as we would like to be treated? Are we obeying God's law by not dabbling in New Age practices and the occult? If the answer is 'no', then it is time to repent and turn from our wicked ways so the blood of the Lamb can finish its work in us. We may think we are Christians and saved, but if we aren't choosing to live in obedience to God's word, then we are no better than those who don't know about Jesus and the sacrifice He made for mankind. If sin rules over us, then we cannot claim, as Jesus did, that satan has no hold over us. And that would be a shame because Jesus died to give us that privilege. It is for us to agree with this aspect of God's plan so it can be real for us (Job 22:21). Believers must be more concerned with how we look to Him. We therefore need to focus on what's going on in our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 warns, Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (NLT). The heart is impacted by what we see, think, say, and do. However, when we allow the Holy Spirit to refine every area of our lives, our hearts get healed and look good to God. Plus, we become vessels He can use for His purpose (2 Timothy 2:21). Fruitful vineyards for His glory.  For those who do not believe that any of this matters, please keep in mind that Jesus said there will be those who preached, cast our demons and performed miracles in His name only to be called evildoers at the judgment (Matthew 7:23). These types will be 'good,' churchgoing folks but because their heart posture did not please the Lord, they will not make it to heaven. Their title in church won't matter. What others think of them will be irrelevant. God, seeing who they truly are and not what they package themselves to look like, will judge them unworthy to enter His heavenly kingdom. God seeks those who are fully committed and submitted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). He desires His children to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). God desires for the real you to look good to Him. He wants those who belong to Him to focus on how He sees them instead of what the world thinks of them. When we look good to God, He will honor us and make every necessary adjustment in us so others see us the way He does.  If you don't think you have a heart that would bring a smile to God's face, today is the day to change that. Tomorrow may be too late (Isaiah 55:6).  So, give your life to Christ or recommit yourself to Him. This requires a choice to submit to Him, and while it isn't easy in practice, He is patient and will hold your hand as you walk that path with Him. Don't worry about not being perfect. God never sought out the perfect in the first place. It was always the broken, the unsure, the poor, and the weary that Jesus went looking for. God the Father is compassionate. He desires to heal and make people whole. If that is you, read the post below and watch the video it contains.  The Lord will help us all, IJMN, Amen. And I hope to see you at Noon EST when we will praise the Lord, pray for the needs of other people, then pray for grace to have pure hearts that please the Lord. God bless you. To learn more, please read: 1. Be a Fruitful Vineyard 2. Contentment 3. The Pruning 4. You are being built for the Lord 5. For My Own Good?​ 6. Packaging​ 7. Godly Contentment 8. The Fruitful Vineyard & Its Caretaker​ 9. Don't Fake It Till You Make It 10. True Beauty

Remember when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!” in Mark 8:33? Are you also familiar with what He said next - “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Why did the Savior say those words, and what do they reveal about the human condition as it relates to the walk with God? For context, Jesus rebuked Peter and called him Satan because the disciple had scolded Him for sharing that He would be persecuted and killed. Peter loved Jesus and couldn't bear to hear Him speak about His future hardship. Knowing God's plan for His life, Jesus had to oppose Peter's words and feelings. It didn't matter that they came from a good place. He needed to stay focused on God's plan, not his friend's feelings. And that is something many of us overlook. Unlike Jesus, we fail to prioritize God's concerns. We get distracted by our feelings and desires. Over time, God's will for our lives often becomes insignificant to us. Yes, we say we want God's will and think we mean it, but when it’s time to decide, we usually choose ourselves. We even put other people and things before Him. How many of us can admit to putting our significant others, children, or loved ones ahead of God and His plans? What about our jobs, favorite shows, or other activities? Far too often, we focus on everything except God and what He wants for us or for those He created us to influence. ​ Look at what Jesus said once more - “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Peter went from being a man whom Jesus had called His friend, to being labeled satan because he put his interests above God's plan. He didn't even realize he was doing this, by the way. He was just being his normal self - a fierce defender of those he loved. Unfortunately, his emotions and desires made him insensitive to the revelation Jesus shared about God's plan. He effectively became satan's mouthpiece when he tried to discourage Jesus from what was coming. And that is another lesson to take from this incident. When we elevate our desires above those of the Lord, we may open the door for satan to step in and use us to speak or act contrary to God's will. If that happens, we are at risk of disobeying God and becoming a tool satan can use in achieving its evil schemes on the earth. When in actuality, we are to be tools and vessels for God alone. Thank God for Jesus and His redeeming grace. Despite his mistake, Peter went on to serve God's purposes. Also, in John 15:3, He told His disciples, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." We too are recipients of that same cleansing grace as detailed in 1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Therefore, the blood of the Lamb does a cleansing work in the children of God, constantly redeeming us from sin as we walk in the light of God's word and in fellowship with our fellow faithful believers. That promise of the Lord gives us another opportunity to correct our ways and go from prioritizing ourselves to making God's concerns most important. It is God's mercy that our failures don't always eliminate us from His larger plan. And the Lord will continue to help us, IJMN Amen. To learn more, please read: 1. To want or to give? That is the question 2. The Impact of Your Relationship With God (10/25/24) 3. Desire God's More For Yourself (6/27/25) 4. Topic: God is responsible for you