Cedric Dukes's Blog, page 4

Golf and Life

Here is a golf analogy that some may be able to relate to. Just like golf, life has a short and long game. The success of the short game meaning hitting the ball within 200 yards to the pin depends on how well your long game is. The long game has to endure sand traps, ponds, trees, and other obstacles but once you get through it the view of the flag at the hole is a wonderous site. Don’t discount what you have to do to get there. Small beginnings grow to something bigger. Continue to hope and wait for that specific thing to manifest in your life. You will feel frustrated, deserted, and forgotten but know that God is carrying you through every step.

Each day is a journey. Some days the completion of the journey seems around the corner. The other days seems like it is light years away. Don’t worry about the time and hour of the breakthrough of your dream and or situation. Keep praying and keep believing. The Lord will show up in our answers sooner than we think. 

Psalm 27:7 – Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

Psalm 37:7  – Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Zechariah 4:10a – For who has despised the day of small things?

Prayer – Father in the name of Jesus, help me to become patient and wait on you for the right time.  I ask that you give me strength and courage and excitement about the promise you made to me. Use my obedience to bless me in this process. Amen.

Why we are the problem sometimes?

When we go through our valleys, mountains, and deserts in life, humility is the last thing that we think about. Sometimes we don’t understand that WE are the problem. It is hard to recognize that we are since everything around is not going according to plan. Humility is not a learned characteristic. Once we recognize that we are, we can move to bigger and better things in life. It is hard to learn a lesson if we don’t reflect in our own mirror. Introspection looks at those spots on your heart that no one notices but you. Pride can come from doing things your own way in the form of self-centeredness.  

Walking in humility is the Holy Spirit giving you insight on your pride without condemnation. That pride comes from your own thoughts. Let’s allow the mind of Christ into our hearts and take over our pride so we can have humility wherever we go. 

Proverbs 3:34 – Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.

Ephesians 4:2 –  With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 

James 4:6 – God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.

Prayer – Father in Jesus name, show me through the Holy Spirit how to have humility. Continue to give me the grace as I want to change for the better. Allow me not to think I am better than anyone else. Use me to help others. Amen.

Am I listening?

Listening to the Heavenly Father is one of the most fundamental attributes of our relationship with Him. Talking and pouring our hearts to Him is the most preferred way that we like to do but it is not as beneficial as listening. While you may have a litany of words for  God on your request, He is not like you. He may say a few words that put the conversation to a finish like the word “wait” or “not now” or “keep praying”. When you hear these words, wait on for the next instruction. God wants an intimate relationship with you. You are His child and He is your Father who is the author of your life. He really cares about your situation so He wants to tell you things that only you need to hear. He wants you to seek him first not last. 

Hearing from God can happen when you get to a quiet place in your mind, sitting and waiting on Him.  Continue to have your antennas (ears) up as He may use people, events or His own word. When you hear it, write it down as your mind will be racing to try to translate it when He is saying other things also. After that, ask Him what does that mean in terms of your life and how will it impact you. He will confirm it to you through one of the methods discussed prior. 

Mark 4:24 – Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear.  With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

John 16:13 – However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

James 1:19 – So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 

Prayer – Holy Spirit, give me excellent hearing and guide me to hear from you in what the Father is saying about my situation in Jesus name, Amen.

God vs. My Will

Sometimes or even most of the times, your will is in conflict with God’s will. I know mine is. My will says go left and God’s will says to go right. When I do that I delay the blessing that God has for me because I have to turn back around and get back on the right path. It takes longer to get to a destination point when you go in the wrong direction. The Israelites took 40 years to get to the promised land when it only should have taken 11 days. I normally think my way is right but it is not the best way for me to go. God’s will is a journey to a destination point where He needs you to go. Along the way, you will interact with people that will propel and encourage you to get there without ever knowing they were purposed for you. Goals and plans are wonderful but sometimes they become selfish catering to our own flesh and become self-serving. 

Watch and wait  for what God has for you. We can’t rush it and make him do anything. He is putting people in places that will benefit His will and for your good. We can’t see the entire picture but He is orchestrating every move. If you are not in tune with the Holy Spirit, then what you think and believe can become a hardship. That hardship becomes trial and error trying everything that comes in front of you which produces frustration with God, others and even you. In your journey with Him, God will not show you everything. If He did, you would not develop the faith to a level where He is taking you. Understand this is a process and it takes time to develop. All awhile ask God what you need to specifically do to get there and to develop yourself. 

Matthew 6:10 –  Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Romans 8: 6 – 8  –  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Philippians 2:12-13 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Prayer – Father in Jesus name, I ask that your will be done on earth for me. I ask that you use me for your glory for your good pleasure. I will follow your Spirit so I may know which way to go to accomplish your purpose. Holy Spirit teach me right from wrong. I give you the authority to speak to us in Jesus name. Father, help me to deal with my flesh so I can follow your Spirit.  Amen.

Help, I’m Stuck

Being stuck is not a fun feeling. The responsibility of being stuck is on you from our unbelief. That is an unbelief that you will never get out of a situation. Getting unstuck may depend on your obedience and listening to what He has to say about the situation like Jonah in the belly of the whale. The Bible says that God assigned that fish to him until he thanked God and repented. God will move when we move. 

To get unstuck from belief, you have to deny yourself of unbelief similar to believing the false thing about your situation is not true. What we read in the news or in social media or television can form our opinions on beliefs that nothing will ever change. Try turning those things off and begin to see those changes in your mind that changes will happen. Once you redirect your thinking, your belief will come back. God will do the rest. It may not happen overnight but it will come to past in your situation when you start seeing signs of manifestation.  

Mark 11:23 – For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

John 8:32 – And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Prayer – Father, help me to get myself unstuck from myself. Let me realize why I am here and my purpose. It’s not your plan that I am in the dark. I believe that you are going to bring me out when I start walking in your purpose. And I don’t believe those lies about myself in my mind. In Jesus name, Amen.

Frustrated with the process?

Frustration is apart of life as it is breathing. Frustration comes from the lack of patience waiting for something or someone. It comes from a personal will of wanting something to happen. Frustration with time creates conflict. Frustration comes because we can’t control the situation, people or plans that have materialized. Remember that time is key in all of this.

The remedy of lack of frustration is to sit back, pray, do what you can do and allow  God to do the rest directing people and moving pieces in place for its completion. He directs people hearts and minds in order to get alignment with His purpose and destiny.  Pray for the answer to manifest itself. Most likely the answer to solve the problem has a greater significance in all of this. God is interested in our pain and wants nothing but our success.

Exodus 14:14  –  The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

Psalm 62:5 – 8  – My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation;  He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Prayer – Lord, help me deal with my frustrations about my situation. Help me to deal with my frustrations with people and even you. Please forgive me. I know that you have my best interest in mind. I trust you. I trust your Word and I trust the people that you have brought in my life to help me accomplish it. Lord, have your angels to fight for me and help me to personally get in peace. In Jesus name, Amen.

Understanding of Favor

Favor is the restoration of something that was lost or even not obtained which comes from the approval of people or even God not manufactured. To obtain God’s favor, it would be through obedience from Him which is doing what we are asked to do. Obedience plays a major role in how we move to the next level of success. When you are obedient to what you have and to the principle of it, success will always be a part of it. 

God’s favor is following you. When you accept Him and the plan for your life, blessings will follow. Favor can be could be monetary, physical, mental or spiritual healing. God works out everything for His own will. Yes, I understand there is the frustration of doing things ourselves and not seeing it succeed but He will never withhold anything from you if you follow His word and obey.

Ephesians 1:11 – In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Psalm 84:11 – 12 – 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. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer – Lord, I thank you for the favor and not withhold any good thing  from me. You are leading me through the tough times and I know that you are setting up the perfect opportunity for me before my enemies. You have anointed me to do the work that you have assigned me to do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Fear as a trait

Fear is a common trait everyone experience. There is a fear of heights, fear of being in danger, fear of the current and fear of the future.  Fear is prevalent unless it is acted upon. That is acting on whatever we believe at that time. Fear comes from all forms, colors, and challenges. Fear is an innate feeling where there is a physical lack of something or someone. It comes from anxiety and abandonment that rocks your past. 

God has promised not to give us a spirit of fear because it is not HIs nature. When God made us in his image, He gave us a complete makeover to be like Jesus to have his mindset and his thoughts with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus doesn’t want us to worry as each day has its own problems which He will help us solve them if we let him. Those worldly problems can’t do anything except stare us in the face. They can’t speak to us; they can’t scare us because we have a Savior who has said that our problems are His if we give them to them. That fear will dissipate as we give God everything.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

Matthew 6:34 – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Romans 8:28 –  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Prayer – Lord I rebuke the spirit of fear that is in me. You have given me the power to do the work that is assigned to my hands. I know that you love me because I’m called to your purpose for this time. I know that you will give me complete vindication as I take my fears for your peace. In Jesus name, Amen.

Faith has no formula

Faith has no formula to success but belief. It is not following someone else or following 10 steps to success or reading or listening to something motivational though it has its benefits. Faith is believing. With faith, you can’t see faith with your eyes. You can only see it in your mind. Failures and pitfalls will come but if you have that faith of a tiny mustard then God will do exactly what He said. 

Faith starts out as a seed sown by the Word of God. It takes root in your heart with consistent prayer and praising which will cause it to ultimately grow. Your belief will also make it grow. The manifestation of your faith will ripen as that thing you were hoping for will manifest. In other words, the Word will manifest itself in your life.

You have the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God’s deposit in you that you are  His child. That is His gift to you. You now have the advantage and the edge in any situation. The Holy Spirit speaks not on his own volition to you but it is speaking from the throne of heaven. He is there to teach and remind us of what Jesus did on this earth and how we can live like him. God may use the Holy Spirit in any situation through people, radio, TV, etc. to get His message to you – His special child. The Holy Spirit gives us that dynamic strength for daily activities. He helps us at work, school, and home. He wants to be a part of our daily lives. The working of the Holy Spirit can change your mind and heart with a thought similar to a  seed while it begins to grow in your heart and all of a sudden you’re thinking like your Heavenly Father.

God’s spirit gives you your insight when you don’t know what or how to do it. He gives you the look ahead in the future and the lessons learned from past mistakes. He will comfort never condemn you. You can sense him redirecting you to the correct path in your life. We can engage him anytime in prayer and feed the Spirit with the Word of God. He may not talk to you in the language of the Bible but your own language that you can understand.

Acts 1:8 –  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 –  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone]defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 6:19  –  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Prayer – Holy Spirit comes inside of me to do your work so I can be God’s witness. I need to know what God wants me to do in this situation now. I am making myself available to you to receive the next steps in my journey. In Jesus name, Amen.