Author: Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.

God bless you! I'm a husband, father and ordained Minister since 1996. I serve as an Associate Minister at Oak Spring Church Arlington TN, a suburb of Memphis. I'm a professional Copywriter for a Fortune 500 company, published Gospel songwriter and owner of an independent label, Al-Go-Rhythm Music. My main spiritual gift is Exhortation...I'm a natural encourager. I love the word of God and sharing it from a "Wow, I never thought of it like that before" perspective. There's so much fresh revelation in God's word that is just as relevant today as it was as it unfolded. I hope my daily devotionals enhance your walk with God, taking you beyond BLESSED to BLESSTIFIED.

CONQUERING MONDAY

TGIM!!!! So many times as Christians we love to proclaim, “I’m more than a conqueror”…but we find ourselves dreading Monday. It’s not danger…or nakedness…or famine…or nakedness…or the sword…but Monday morning. Sometimes we might not even sleep well on Sunday night thinking about the trouble, hardship, projects, debts, deadend jobs, supervisors, managers, subordinates, exams, doctors visits, test results, etc. waiting for us on Monday morning. Whatever may make Mondays cloudy and deadful in our minds doesn’t  diminish the fact that every Monday is a blessing from God. We are blessed to have a family, a job and that no matter what we are going through…God IS sustaining us, and has equipped us to conquer anything that we encounter on Monday to His glory.

Let me encourage you with what I call the 4 P’s to start any day. PRAYER, PASSAGES, PRAISE, and a PROCLAMATION.

  • PRAY to God first thing every morning, then let Him speak to you by reading some.
  • PASSAGES of scripture from His Word.
  • PRAISE Him for a few moments with with the fruit of your lips.
  • PROCLAIM Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it”!

Beginning every day with this devotion of the “The 4 P’s” before you eat, or check social media can not only equip you to conquer Monday, but each day of the week. So don’t wait until Friday to thank God…TGIM! Enjoy your Monday!! #TGIM

Romans:8:35,36

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

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CONSISTENT

In Matthew 23, Jesus sharply rebukes and scolds the Scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders, those who were supposed to set the example about being hypocrites. They were more than devout in some areas of their devotion to God, while totally ignoring others. But, did this behavior only reveal that what outwardly appeared to be devotion to God, was actually devotion to themselves, and their desire for authority, honor and glory?

Before we point a self-righteous finger at the Pharisees, let us examine ourselves.
We prove how and where we want God to move in our lives, and how and where we want to be close to Him in where we’re CONSISTENT with Him. For example, some people are CONSISTENT and faithful in giving because, when they’re honest with themselves, they want to continue being blessed financially, or don’t want anything to go wrong. Paying their tithes, firstfruits, or however they give has become nothing more than a BLESSING BILL that they pay just as they do their utilities, so they aren’t cut off. It’s not done out of love or concern for ministry, but self. Some of these same people are perfectly content not being CONSISTENT in READING and STUDYING to know God better. As much as God expects us to be faithful in giving, there are MANY MORE (weightier) scriptures about reading and studying His word, being loving and kind, being patient and longsuffering, exercising self-control and sharing our faith that we must be very careful not to be INCONSISTENT. It’s easy to be more faithful in our relationship with God when it comes to the areas of our lives we want Him to move the most. But, let us strive to be CONSISTENT that we are honoring Him in all areas of our lives.

We prove what’s important too us in things with which we’re CONSISTENT. Many Christians check their social media, emails, voice mails or messages first thing each morning, and off-and-on through out the day, but will claim they don’t have time to read, study or pray regularly and CONSISTENTLY. If we have time to see what the world has to say, then we have time to regularly fellowship with God, as He commanded us. Sometimes we will CONSISTENTLY talk about our favorite teams, celebrities, what’s going on in the world, but seldom share our faith. In regard giving while ignoring other areas that are just as important… in Matthew 23:23 Jesus told the leaders, ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” He chastised them for being faithful in some areas while ignoring others. He rebuked them for being CONSISTENT in some, while leaving some that are MORE IMPORTANT (weightier matters) undone.  Are there areas of your walk with God in which you’re consistent while ignoring others? Are you growing and thriving in some areas while withering away in others?

Brothers and sisters, let us strive to be consistent in all areas of our relationship with God…He demands it.

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IF THE DEVIL WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO CONFRONT JESUS…(WHEN THE PAWN CONFRONTED THE KING)

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WHEN THE PAWN CONFRONTED THE KING (MATTHEW 4:1-11)

Criminals, thugs and bullies typically like to prey on those who they view as weak.

But our adversary the devil is different. He isn’t overly concerned with the weak.  There’s no need for him put much effort into those who are weak in the faith because they are already ineffective in the Kingdom of God.

He wants to make the strong grow weaker…catch them…or provoke them into weak moments.

The devil launches his most vicious attacks on those who are strong in the faith…

Those who are intentional about pursuing their purpose…

Those who are bearing good fruit…

Those who are effective in the Kingdom of God.

Remember the devil had the nerve to approach Jesus, Yeshua, Himself in the wildersness.

If the devil was bold enough to confront Jesus in the wilderness (John 4:1-11), the Son of God, the Living Word that even spoke Him into existence, then you know he doesn’t have a problem attacking you.  The enemy loves to prey on the STRONG…so he can break them down and make them weaker and ineffective. The devil wants to derail you from you purpose. He wants you to think that God has abandoned you. He wants you to say, “Why try?” The devil knows the power you have through your faith, so he tries to crush you…emotionally, physically and spiritually. He wants to break your will.

Here’s the good news! God let’s us know in…

1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”.

God has promised us power over the enemy.

He told us that if we resist the devil, he has no choice but to flee.

When it seems the devil’s attack is at its worse…know that God trusts His strongest soldiers with the most fierce battles.

Remember…

Ephesians 6: 10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Be encouraged…

Stay strong…

God’s got you!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

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FORGETTING THE PAST (HOW TO LOOK BACK)

wp-1483190396732.jpgPhilippians 3:13 (NIV)
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,”

Forgetting the past…We are encouraged that in order to move forward that we must forget the past…but how? It’s impossible to not think of things that hurt us? shameful things we did? painful days? Some of those things, when we’re honest with ourselves, we will always remember. So, why does Paul say, “forgetting the past?” How can you say you will never look back again? The key isn’t in not remembering, but how you remember. It’s not in not looking back, but why you look back.

It’s your frame of mind. Remember Lot’s wife? God allowed Lots family to escape the destruction of Sodom, but was warned to not look back. (Genesis 19:17). They were leaving behind an evil city. They were leaving behind friends, they were leaving behind belongings. The bible doesn’t say why she looked back, but why do we look back on something that we liked or enjoyed and are forced to suddenly leave it? We sometimes look back with fondness and regret of leaving it behind. Paul used to persecute the church. It’s certain that he never ‘forgot’ those shameful days, so how could he say ‘forgetting the past’? The key is forgetting how you view the past. It’s forgetting your frame of mind. Paul didn’t look back fondly on his shameful days. In fact, his mind couldn’t see how he could have let himself behave that way. HE FORGOT HOW TO THINK THAT WAY. Have you ever dated someone, or been in a relationship that at one time you felt you couldn’t live without that person? You were sooooo deep in love. But, after that relationship ended, suddenly one day you just didn’t feel that way anymore. You couldn’t even see, or remember how you felt so deeply in love with them. You may even say, “I can’t even see what I saw in them”. Think about it and fill in the blank in this statement…”I can’t even see what I used to enjoy about________.”

See how you can remember your past and forget it at the same time? When your frame of mind changes, the way you think about something, your attitude towards something changes…you have forgotten that aspect if your past. You CAN’T think of it that way any more, even if you try. It’s like a food or drink that you used to love, and now not only can you not stand the taste, but can’t remember how you once enjoyed it.That’s the essence of repentance. Repentance isn’t asking for forgiveness to avoid punishment, but it’s godly sorrow over what you’ve done, and committing to turn from that behavior (2 Corinthians 7:10), but that’s another lesson…coming soon:-) For now, see I told you that you can FORGET THE PAST.
Luke 17:32
Remember Lot’s wife

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DOES GOD KNOW YOU?

wp-1486217605345.jpgHow horrible would it be to live a life with someone only to find out you never REALLY knew them?! Either they lived a lie or you did. Now, I’m not talking about little lapses in their character, but when they were truly portraying themselves to be someone they weren’t…for what ever reason.

Jesus said there will be many that say ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And His response will be, ‘depart from me, I NEVER KNEW YOU, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23). This implies that though they outwardly did good, their motives or lack of true faith made Jesus view them as evil. Even though these people CLAIMED to profess His name, their hearts were not with Him. This is the essence of hypocrisy, which He scolded the Pharisees for in Matthew 23. I don’t want Jesus to tell me He never knew me. The bible says that we are to examine ourselves, to see whether or not we are REALLY in the faith (1 Corinthians 13:5).

Make it a point to regularly be honest with yourself about your intentions and true faith. With Jesus it just as much about WHY you do as it is WHAT you do for Him…or is it really for you? Are you giving selfishly, only so you can be blessed? Are you forgiving selfishly only to remove your own guilt? Are you serving selfishly for your own glory and reputation? Are you using your anointing for yourself? Do you serve God simply because you want His joy to be full in you? Do you try to avoid certain behaviors because you don’t want to go to Hell, or because you love Him and don’t want to hurt Him? Examine yourself! Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart..(1 Samuel 16:7). God doesn’t KNOW you by how you look on the outside, but by who you are on the inside. In some bible translations when a husband intimate with his wife, it says he KNEW his wife. God wants to be intimate with us spiritually. Does God know you?

You may go to church every week…but does God know you?

You may preaching…but does God know you?

You may be in the choir…but does God know you?

You may be the biggest contributor to the church financially…but does God know you?

You may go on mission trips…but does God know you?

DOES GOD REALLY KNOW YOU?

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