Cedric Dukes's Blog, page 5
March 31, 2019
Faith is Unseen
Faith is the formula for success. 10 steps are good but it doesn’t solve problems instantly. With faith, you must have something to believe in bigger than you. This means that 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.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Prayer – Father, I believe that my faith is as tiny as a mustard seed. And I will see things first spiritually then physically. I look to you to lean not to my understanding, my education or personal experience. I am trusting this process of faith and in you to reveal your plan to me. In Jesus name Amen.
Battle of Wills
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. Goals can’t become self-serving. 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 and my family. I ask that you use us for your glory for your good pleasure. I will follow your Spirit so I may know which way to go to accomplish my purpose. Holy Spirit teach us right from wrong. I give you the authority to speak to us in Jesus name. Father, help us to deal with our flesh so we can follow your Spirit. Amen.
March 28, 2019
Praise your way through obstacles
Mountains are obstacles that are difficult to maneuver. Sometimes you have to go over it, around it or even through it to get to the other side. Obstacles, hardships, and mountains expend all of the energy just to maneuver. Zechariah 4:6-7 says, “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
Praise is the only way we can make our way through. God knows that you don’t have the strength, stamina, and fight to continue. We were never meant to physically conquert obstacles. He wants to help. Start praising and thanking God to eliminate your obstacle and watch it fall right before your very eyes.
Prayer – Father, I praise and thank you for taking care of the obstacles in my life. They are too big for me, too tough and cost too much to get rid of. I thank you that you are going to flatten, eliminate and heal me from this. I thank you for taking care of all of my details. There is know way that I can do this. In Jesus name, Amen.
March 17, 2019
Closed Fists
Sometimes your obedience is someone else disobedience. This is what happened to Joseph in Genesis 40 – 41. When he solved Pharaoh’s dream and told the chief cupbearer the interpretation, he prophesied to him that Pharaoh will restore his position in his kingdom. Joseph asked the cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh so he can get out of prison for an unjust act that he did not do. When the cupbearer left prison, he did not remember Joseph at all and forgot to tell him. The cupbearer went on with living life happily being restored to a position of prominence.
In chapter 41 verse 9, the cupbearer was with Pharaoh trying to interpret another dream and immediately he remembered Joseph. He was brought to Pharaoh; interpreted the dream and eventually released and become the chief distributor of food for Pharaoh during the famine. This did not happen until the cupbearer opens his fist and mentioned Joseph’s name. Sometimes people who could help, focus on themselves and forget to reach back and help those who are in need. Or in some case as in the cupbearer, they feel powerless that they can change a situation. We can’t blame them. They are fixated on themselves and not understanding that God has given them favor to help others in that same situation.
What do we do? We are to pray for their closed fist. The closed fist represents selfishness, holding on to something that means something of value. God wants to use that of value to help others. Ask God to soften their heart and use them to help us in time of need. This could be your boss, your creditor, family or friend. God can change their heart. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will”. God is continuously working on people. He uses relationships to accomplish His purpose. So forgive, refuse to slander or get angry. Deliverance happens when we forgive and get to the obedience we are asked by God.
Prayer – Father in the name of Jesus, I ask that you open up the minds and hearts of those who have the authority to change the situation in our lives. I ask that you release them from self centeredness and bring them into salvation trusting you. Show them you have a good plan for them. And Father I ask for my forgiveness of slander, anger and rushing to judgment. Use me like you used Joseph. I thank you in Jesus name, Amen.
March 14, 2019
January 14, 2019
Worry Adds Nothing
Worrying does not add a single second to your life? I have come to learn that worrying makes us feel good for a momentary second. It gives us something to do. It occupies our mind until something else comes up. Worrying gives us the battle scars. On the contrary it does not nothing good for the body, mind and soul. It causes headaches, body aches and lessens our immune system. It does nothing good because if you tell another person your problem that person has to decide if they want to take on that problem to worry also. And 9 times out of 10, they don’t want to take on your problem. It’s hard for a busy person not to worry because his nature states that he is not doing anything without worrying. To operate in less worry, pray more. Talk to God because he is the only one that can direct you to fix the problem.
Psalm 37:25 – I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.
Luke 12:25 – And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Prayer – Father, I ask for your peace so I am not worrying about my situation. In Jesus name, amen.
January 6, 2019
Your Victory
Though it may look bleak and defeat is surely certain, give it one more try. David had an insurmountable trial against the lion in the den. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers then reunited with them. God parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites. Jesus healed the woman with the issues of blood. We are in a unique position where we can go to the Father and ask him to do the hardest things for us. No problem is too hard. He doesn’t work the way man work. His ways are all His. He works independently on His own time and schedule. The only thing that He requires is our faith and work. The problem is already solved before we ask. The victory is ours. Adhere to His will for the victory.
Deuteronomy 20:4 – for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
I Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:4 – For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Prayer – Thank you Jesus for securing the victory for me. Continue to fight against the enemies and those things that I cannot see. Thank you that I have the victory over every entity that is against me. And I thank you that my faith can overcome the world in Jesus name amen.
December 31, 2018
Your Strength
Today’s world says being strong is an attribute of a successful person. Strength is a relative term in the eye of the beholder. When a person sees one strong they are seeing the physical result not the pain or suffering. Real strength in the time of hardship does not necessarily come from human capability but it comes from the Lord who through your experiences has made you strong. When we are weak, He is strong for us. God likes to take our shortcomings and weakness and make it our strength. That weaknesses brings him so much joy and glory because of your dependence upon Him. God’s strength now becomes our strength and we can do anything that He asked us to do.
Nehemiah 8:10 – Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Psalm 46:1-3 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Prayer – Father in Jesus name, I am strong in the Lord. His joy brings me strength. I know that you will take care of me so I thank you for what you are doing for me right now. Amen.
