Determined To Win

I’ve been doing a series on ‘winning’ all coming from Ephesians 2:10. The first was Designed to Win as we are the workmanship/masterpiece of God and therefore he designed us to WIN! Then we looked at being Destined to Win because the ‘good works’ that God designed us for he ‘prepared them beforehand’ therefore making us destined to WIN! As we explore Ephesians 2:10 even more we see that God did design and destined us to win but we also see that we have a part to fulfill, we have to be: Determined to Win! 

Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are His workmanship (design), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand (destined) that we should walk in them (determined)”. God says ‘I’ve given you the foundation for you to build on, I’ve given you the assurance that you were designed and destined for success and I’ve given you the insurance by my death on that old rugged cross’. Essentially God is saying ‘I’ve given you what works – now work it!’

When we read ‘that we should walk in them’ the word walk denotes that some action has to take place on our part. God opens doors for us but what good is an open door if we don’t walk through it! No matter what season you’re in, no matter if things are good or bad, no matter if you have a ton of support or no support at all, God is calling you to WALK in those things that he as prepared for you beforehand. You have to have a determination that says no matter what comes my way, no matter the setbacks, setups, set asides or whatever – you have to be determined to win!

Determination to win can help you withstand any circumstance if you choose to fight through. Determination to win can help you keep your head above water even when outside factors dictate that you should be drowning. Having a determination to win will often times confuse the enemy because in the enemy’s eyes you should be sullen, sulking, and surly. But because of your determination and unwillingness to give up, outside factors cannot and will not keep you down!

Sis, put yo’ walkin’ shoes on!

It's time to walk in your purpose!

It’s time to walk in your anointing!

It’s time to walk in your victory!

(In Stilettos of course!)

You were Design to Win!

You are Destined to Win!

You must be Determined to Win!

Destined to Win

Last week I pray you were encouraged by the post Designed to Win coming from Ephesians 2:10: http://www.girrrlstop.com/2019/08/designed-to-win.html 

This week I just want to encourage you even more to let you know that not only were you ‘designed to win’ but you were also Destined to Win! Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”.

Exploring Ephesians 2:10 some more, we see that we are God’s workmanship (design) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ‘prepared beforehand’ (destined)! Know that God didn’t just make this stuff up on the fly but planning and preparation went into you woman of God – beforehand! This is exciting news because it doesn’t matter what things look like, how circumstances turn out, or even if it looks like you’re losing – God says you WIN because He has destined you to WIN!

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. All things! The good, the bad, the ugly, the unfair, the hurtful, the exciting, the great, the rough and even the tough things all work together for your good. All things help us in some way. Whether they teach us, develop us, encourage us, promote us, humble us or whatever, they ALL work together for our good!

When you are a child of the Most High God, know that you are winning even when you’re losing because you are destined to win – it was prepared for you beforehand!

It's amazing with You, I win even if I lose
Everything's working for my good for always

-Kirk Franklin, Love Theory

Designed To Win!

This post is for those who may feel like they are NOT winning right now! Life is tough for you in this season. Finances are haywire, relationships are fragmented, job satisfaction is unimaginable, and things in general are just not going your way! You feel weary, depleted and at your wit’s end.

No matter what the story looks like today, just know that it’s not how the story will end – why? You were designed to win! Ephesians 2:10  (NKJV) tells says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” If we look at this verse in the New Living Translation is reads, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” The words ‘workmanship’ and ‘masterpiece’ shows God as our Creator or our Designer! We are all custom made, there are no duplicates, everyone of you has been handcrafted by the Master! Because your ‘Designer’ is Jesus Christ, you are indeed Designed to Win!

Winning is your protocol, it is your destiny based on who the Designer is. The truth of the matter is, what you were able to go through and handle would have took the average person down BUT GOD! You have been able to persevere through it all and you’re still standing!

Regardless of your circumstances - you are a winner! Regardless of what life is throwing you right now – you are a winner!

Winning doesn’t have to do with anything material but rather how the Lord is keeping you through it all. Yeah, even in the valley, you winning! Now just wait until God decides to send the SHIFT!

(Somebody shout in advance!)

I Woke Up Like This - I Side-Eyed God

This morning I side-eyed God. I actually do this a lot because He moves in such an unconventional and non-traditional way. Sometimes I’m thrown by how the Lord operates, specifically with me. This particular week has been challenging to say the least. For starters, my character was attacked in my workplace causing tension on my team. Then I conducted an exit interview with an ex-boyfriend (yes, I do this because I am a complete wreck) so that I could gain more insight into why he decided to leave the company of Reebs; my findings were not all favorable. The financial storm I’m in is becoming unbearable and the pressure seems to be mounting up. I devised a possible solution but that solution requires the participation of another party and this week my first request was denied. 

I don’t recall but I don’t believe I have ever woke up with tears in my eyes which lends a new meaning to Bey’s ‘I Woke Up Like This’. So where did the side-eye come in? After I woke up and dried my own tears, my phone buzzed with a text message from a friend requesting prayer because of a storm they are going through. 

Really God? You want me to pray for someone else when I’m in a mess myself? How am I going to minister to anybody when it seems I’m unable to minister to and encourage myself? As these questions entered my head the tears came streaming down even more and it was in that instant, I heard the Holy Spirit instruct me to pray for my friend. As I prayed for her, I felt a calmness come over me. Anxiety exited stage left and the tears dried up. After I prayed she continued to text me things that were on her mind and bothering her - she texted me her heart. I heard the Lord speak loud and clear and instruct me on what to write back to her. One of my responses was this: 

“The Lord hears you and sees you. One of His many names is El Roi - the God who sees. He sees us in our struggle and He knows exactly what we are facing and going through. Be comforted in knowing that the Lord sees your situation and that He is working it out. Have faith in that and stand firm.”

This morning I side-eyed God because He used me to minister to and encourage someone while simultaneously causing me to minister to myself. Yeah - I Woke Up Like This!