Protected in Purpose

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I could say a mouthful, or I can share what’s really important. There’s an adversary who seeks to devour anything in his path that could hinder his sinister plans for humanity. He is the adversary of life itself and is characterized as “the destroyer” in The Word of God due to his destructive nature. Even up to the moment breath graces the lungs of a precious newborn, the adversary was working diligently to destroy him. But the adversary’s efforts don’t end with his first breath; they end with the last. Thankfully, there’s God, Who has the power to destroy the destroyer and has given us, His children, access to that same power through Him. He is a Father Who loves His children so greatly that He sent His only Son from Heaven to Earth to ensure that we have life with him forever, even after death. His son’s name is Jesus Christ (John 3:16, John 10:10). Maybe I’ve already shared a mouth, but there’s more. The adversary, previously referred to as Lucifer, meaning “morning star”, was once a high-ranking “mighty angelic guardian”. He was beautifully crafted with gemstones and gold and was anointed by God. Lucifer held a special position and dwelt with God. Although it’s hard to believe, he was blameless before God; until arrogance and pride overtook him. Shortly after, Lucifer became so infatuated with himself that he wanted to take God’s place. God, Who shares His Sovereignty with no one, kicked Lucifer out of His presence to earth. (Ezekiel 28:14-17). This was the beginning of the seemingly endless war between good and evil. Lucifer, also known as Satan, became an adversary to God and anything God loves. Revelation 12 provides a dramatic symbolism of the adversary’s wrath towards God’s people and his desire to devour them. The scriptures portray the image of a dragon (the adversary or Satan) standing before a pregnant woman (God’s Beloved) who was preparing to give birth to devour the baby (Jesus, our Savior). The dragon’s plan was (and is) ultimately to destroy all of God’s people. After the woman gave birth, God took the baby up and led her into the wilderness to preserve her. Satan’s mission failed, even though he was right there in the presence of the baby and the woman. This is a demonstration of God’s sovereignty and Love for His children.

Although there is a more profound revelation behind Revelation 12, you now have an idea of why the adversary seeks to destroy every aspect of your being; this is because you are loved by God. In the exact manner in which God took that precious baby up before the devourer, He keeps you lifted above the head of Satan. Jesus had, and still has, a purpose to fulfill on the earth, and so do you. Jesus’s life on earth wasn’t the easiest, and maybe yours isn’t either. But Jesus left us many instructions for navigating life’s journey with purpose. There is a difference between gracing the earth and gracing it with purpose. And maybe you’ve been doing the latter of the two. Perhaps this is why you have been subject to the ongoing attacks of the adversary. The word of God tells us that Satan’s time of evil is short, and he’s not a happy camper about that. You, my friend, have been giving him a hard time. You’ve been walking in purpose as a disciple and soldier for Christ. And if I’ve been living a life free from the enemy’s attacks, I’d be pretty concerned about whether I’m in Jesus’s army or his. But God wants you to know that the purpose He has destined for you will be fulfilled, and He will keep you covered in His arms as you do His Will. I don’t know what God recently told you to do, but He told Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you (Jeremiah 1:8, NIV).” Not necessarily that your warfare will be a battle of life or death, but He will rescue you from anything that seeks to devour you. This is His promise to all who go before the presence of their enemies to do His Will. David, who found himself constantly troubled and oppressed by his enemies wrote Psalm in 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth us out of them all (KJV). Paul wrote in Romans 8:31 regarding Christian persecution and opposition, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

In other words, who is more powerful than God?

– Dr. M. Monae

Shake the Dust off Your Feet

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It’s Time to Move Forward

Walk Into New Territories

Have you ever dealt with the seeping wounds of rejection? The distinguished pain, discomfort and displeasure that derive from those wounds cannot be forgotten. First, there’s the discomfort you feel as the wounds are being created from the realization that you aren’t welcomed. Then comes the pain, because those wounds are very real, and the silent pursuit to understand why you’re the outcast just intensifies those feelings. And finally, there’s the discomfort in reliving moments emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically, because some people just aren’t changing their minds about you. Rejection sucks!

However, if we must, the ultimate undeserving, award goes to none other than the Savior of all humanity, Jesus Christ. He is the most rejected on the earth today and has been for over two thousand years.

But truly, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for many of you, your season of dusting off your feet has now arrived. If you are slightly clueless of what this expression means, you may be relieved to know that it comes directly from the mouth of Jesus Himself, and it signifies a powerful response to rejection.

One day, Jesus was preparing to send His disciples on a mission to do mighty works in the towns of Galilee. Jesus was a great teacher, and would always give the disciples thorough instructions. In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus made sure that His disciples understood the significance and value of their works for the Kingdom of God. He encouraged them to only dwell amongst the people who were worthy of receiving those works, and to remove themselves from those who weren’t willing to embrace them. In Matthew 10:14 (NIV), Jesus stated, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” He then explained that the consequences of those who rejected them would be unbearable. It is dangerous to reject a servant sent by God.

Dusting off your feet was a Jewish gesture that signified one’s departure from people who rejected the Kingdom of God or the gospel. It meant that the disciple no longer saw the people as worthy of sharing the good news due to their refusal to accept it. These people would then be subject to whatever consequences that followed. In Matthew 7:6 (NIV) Jesus taught the same principle saying, “Don’t cast your pearls before swine and Don’t give what is Holy unto the dogs.” In other words, be selective of your audience because some will refuse to see any value in your message.

Rejection in any circumstance can be life altering and is powerful enough to ignite self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors. People who face rejection have the tendency to point the finger at the mirror with anger and frustration because the authentic reason for the rejection is sometimes hidden behind the actions of others. Other times, people may openly express their disapproval with the rejected, but have no intentions on reasoning with them. Either way, rejection can have long-lasting effects, even from childhood to the end of life, therefore, choosing the best response to rejection is critical for our present and future.

Jesus taught His disciples about their worth and power, and they were confident for the mission. He also knew that they would face rejection on their journey, and that the right response to rejection would be a critical factor in the completion and effectiveness of their ministry. What if Jesus chose to forfeit His ministry in response to the rejection, lies, and persecution He often faced? Humanity would be doomed.

Even as Jesus’ disciples today, we are still expected to abide by His principles in response to rejection. Not only when sharing the good news, but in every circumstance. Jesus is still ultimately rejected today, and intimately knows the physical, mental, and emotional agony that it brings.

I pray that God will continue to reveal His Love and Approval for you as His beloved child, and that you will no longer remain in territories that are unworthy of your greatness.

Love,

– Dr. M. Monae

My Child, It’s Because of Your Light!

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We are a beacon of Light for Jesus Christ

In Matthew 10:22, Jesus warned His disciples that they would experience hatred in this world because of Him. Then, He shared a tall glass of hope by telling them that whoever remained firm, enduring the hatred until the end, would be saved for eternity. This by far is the greatest reward for being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

In case you’ve spent a precious portion of your life deeply concerned about this, the reason you constantly face persecution is because you’ve chosen to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. This is also the reason for the blind hatred you often receive through the people of this world. Did you notice I said through the people and not from the people of this world? Ephesians 6:12 shares that our battles are not with those who look like us, but rather the unseen powers of darkness and evil entities that function through and around them. Now, take a moment to exhale in relief of knowing that the rejection, hatred, and persecution is not directly concerning you, but our Savior Jesus Christ. And although it is nothing short of painful, Jesus prepared us for these moments.

In Matthew 16:24 (NIV), Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Now, imagine what Jesus’ persecution not only looked like, but felt like, even prior to carrying His cross. And just because He was the son of God in human form on earth, didn’t mean that His life was as sweet as apple pie either. Jesus was perfect, and still dealt with rejection, hatred, and persecution. I mean, He was even spat on after being hung on the cross, as if nailing Him there without a justifiable reason wasn’t mentally and physically agonizing enough! But Jesus knew that He had to fulfill His purpose, and He did. And so should we.

Today, over two thousand years later, the persecution Jesus faced continues with His disciples all over the world; and depending on where you live, it could be as gruesome as what Jesus experienced on the cross. This means that we are still living in the same ole evil world, with the same ole evil leader in charge, Satan! However, the same God that sent Jesus to the cross to die, and then raised Him from the dead, is the same sovereign God over the universe today. Satan has absolutely nothing on God!

So my friend, all along, your persecution was, is, and will always be connected to King Jesus, and that’s a huge compliment! It means that your presence carries His light and you allow His light to shine through you. Demons typically begin to manifest through others because they are afraid of what and Who you carry inside of you. Your light illuminates the reality of others, helping them see their imperfections and iniquities, which probably doesn’t feel pleasant. But don’t be fooled, people are more drawn to you than you might imagine, simply because you carry the light of Christ magnificently well. Yes, the Glory of God looks amazing on you!

So, just remember, whenever you feel weak, tired, and ready to give up, there’s still that tall glass of hope that reminds us of our glorious eternity with Him. Take a sip of the Living Water of God, and It will always give you the strength you need to keep on keeping on. Just like in Luke 22:42, when Jesus requested that God remove all the suffering he was enduring. Immediately following His request, Jesus remembered that His suffering was still God’s plan for the redemption of humanity, and He surrendered to God yet again. In that very moment, God sent Jesus an angel to restore His strength.

On this journey, God will continue to nurture, nourish, and replenish you, especially when you feel incapable of keeping on. Peter 5:8-11 reminds us that persecution won’t last forever, and your brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world are enduring the same sufferings. You may often feel lonely, but it’s impossible for you to be alone. This is because Immanuel, your God, is always with you. Even now, angels surround you waiting for your next command or God’s instructions concerning your life.

We are all a work in progress, yet we are chosen by God to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ! Even when our lives are a complete train wreck, God still cleans us up, and proudly shows the world that we are His children. As I continue to write, I’m envisioning God holding up a brightly shining baby, proudly showing you off to the world. This vision reminds me of the moment God said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I Am well-pleased in Matthew chapter 17:5, validating the work of Jesus Christ. You are making God extremely proud, and not only will He validate you, but He will also vindicate you for the world to see throughout your life. God is about to prepare the finest table for you, right in front of your enemies, as referenced in the 23rd Psalm. My friend, you are such a beautiful beacon of God’s Glorious light exposing what’s hidden in the darkness of the earth, and sometimes what’s hidden includes the wicked deeds, intentions, and characteristics of others.

Ephesians 5:11 (NLT) – Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you’ve been causing His name to ring in the ears of many, and many souls will be blessed because of that. You are definitely a walking testament of Jesus Christ! Well-done! God created and sent you to do even greater works than our Savior did in the earth. Now that’s a badge of honor, and you will wear it with pride and joy!

God Bless you all,

Dr. M. Monae

Ministering Through My Storm

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Brothers and sisters in Christ, I minister to you while I remain in my storm. Don’t wait until your storm is over to dwell in the peace of God. I use to tell myself, “Whenever I receive this breakthrough, I’m going to be as happy as I can be, but until then, I have the right to be angry.” That’s exactly what the enemy wanted from me. Truth be told, I’m still waiting to reap the blessings from my breakthrough, but peacefully and faithfully. Yes, my prayers have been answered, but my blessings seem to be prolonged. It feels as if the enemy is on the other end of my blessing holding on with all his might but I have rebuked the enemy’s hands from my blessings and now I will let God’s will be done. God said to be still and know that He Is God. This isn’t my battle, it’s God’s battle and I have received strength from His teachings to endure until it is over. See, I believed Him when He said that all things will work together for good, which is why I can minister to you while I am in the midst of my very own storm. And although my storm is almost completely over, I can still feel the heavy rain and strong winds…so to speak. I believe that the devil is the author of all confusion but God has the AUTHORity to change the story and add the perfect ending. But here’s what I have learned in the midst of my storm.

I finally learned to let my Faith consume my worries, doubts and fears and grow even stronger. The enemy is still waiting for me to turn away from my God, especially since I teach God’s Word every week with my husband, but mainly because of what I can see with my natural eyes, my flesh. However, when I look into the supernatural realm, I see myself reaping my desires and needs because I’m enduring as I speak to you. I’m filled with the Knowledge of God and I believe every word It tells me. How can I turn away from the Truth to believe the enemy’s lies? God gave me too much wisdom to be that ignorant of the enemy’s device. Even when those around me are stirred up by the witnessing of my personal afflictions, I refuse to be moved, because God gave me peace a long time ago…the peace that has definitely exceeded their understanding of why I still smile after “worldly losses”; but it should, because I STAND ON God’s Word, so I STAND OUT from the average person’s way of doing things. But despite my worldly losses, I gained the victory when Jesus died for me. Besides, when we leave this world, we will return to dust and the things we are oppressed by, such as desiring to be luxurious, will no longer matter. So, I will never pity myself when the enemy attempts to persecute me, instead, I will put and keep on the full armor of God. I am blessed because I am a member of a Church that teaches me how to be a strong woman of God. I am beyond blessed to be the wife of a Deacon who is rooted and grounded in God’s Word. And even though it may be expected, I learned to never fold or bend again because I am strong and not weak. I will remain standing because I know just what the enemy came to do but I also know what Jesus Came and Done. I’m resting in my Savior not man, who can’t even be trusted. I choose to have Faith. I choose to enjoy life. I choose to be happy. I choose to be worry-free. Could you have done it? God is performing miracles in front of my spectators. If they choose to keep following my circumstances, they will turn into a valuable witnesses. Nothing will separate me from God, not even my trials. Hopefully my Faith can encourage you to have Faith in the midst of your own afflictions when they arrive. For we KNOW that they are sure to COME. BUT… Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivers him out of them ALL. God commanded us to be strong in every situation.
If we actually studied, learned, accepted AND obeyed God’s Word, we wouldn’t be so stressed out, destroying our minds and bodies. WE Must REST IN HIM. He is our PEACE.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Galatians 6:9 (KJV) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As I minister to you in my storm, I believe that blessings are coming your way also. So have peace in your storm, for it will soon be over. Can you minister to someone in your storm? When things aren’t going your way? When you have to accept losses? When you feel alone? When you barely have the strength to uplift yourself? Those are the greatest times to determine your strength. LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG.”
– Dr. M. Monae