Matthew 14:²⁸ And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”²⁹ So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw ^[a]that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (NKJV)

In life, it’s inevitable that we’re going to go through trials and tribulations (storms) of many kind…

[1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”-NKJV]

[James 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience]

When we read and think about the physical storm Peter, and the other disciples, were in, we have to also remember who was there with them. As it was brought to my remembrance that: the very same storm they were in when Jesus calmed the sea was the very same storm that was taking place when Peter decided to take a leap of faith and walk on water. He heard the voice of Jesus comand him to “come” and he felt that it was safe to step outside of “the boat” and literally walk on water.(metaphorically, the boat could represent our comfort zones) With as great of faith as that, Peter trusted The Lord BUT, he began to get distracted by the conditions of the storm. He took his eyes and attention off of Jesus and fear began to grip Peter, causing him to sink.

How many times have we received a word from the Lord to launch out into the deep and out of shallow places but, allowed fear to grip us; hindering us from making further steps into where we were commanded to go? How many times have we allowed fear to take the place of faith in our lives because of what we’re hearing, seeing and feeling within the storm; causing us to take our attention off of The Problem Solver and onto the problem? Have we forgotten His Word(s) because we’re blinded mentally and spiritually by fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, oppression and everything else that hinders us from staying afloat and focused? (refer to Hebrews 12:1). Have we forgotten about what God has done and what He’s capable of doing?

God has already spoken The Word on several occasions to TRUST HIM and yet many of us allow things we experience and see, in the midst of a storm, to blind and distract us from His Truth. He told us these things will be so that we can prepare. His Word says that we’re being pruned and molded. So these things we’re experiencing in life, particularly during this pandemic, aren’t only DISTRACTIONS to keep us from clearly discerning and hearing God but, they’re illusions as well. What some of us think is happening isn’t happening. Many of our discernment has been tampered with by The Accuser (the one who deceives). He has come as a false witness/prophet to the ones who were once strong in the faith & are now gradually beginning to doubt and question God saying, “Lord, if this is really you, then…”. THE LORD has never changed on us but, many times we get into situations and all of a sudden we’re questioning if God is actually there in the midst of it to deliver us out.

We don’t have to panic or lose our focus in any storm IF we trust God and stand firmly on His Word and His promises. No matter how strong the winds may blow: [no matter what you see/hear in the media, no matter how much pain you may feel right now, physically and/or emotionally, no matter how many times you’ve heard what “they” had to say, no matter what your relationship status looks like right now] or how hard the rain may fall, STAY FOCUSED!! STAY AFLOAT!! We can think we’re so strong in our faith walk until we’re hit with a test or challenge that reveals just how strong we truly are. Many of us, as believers, are being exposed during this 2020/2021 pandemic. So many has put their faith and confidence in what man has said instead of us putting our weight & confidence on what God has already said, long before any world crisis began.

FEAR was the very thing that distracted Peter from walking all the way to Jesus. Yes, he stepped out on faith but, he didn’t remain confident. God remains faithful even when we don’t. Yes, He’ll come through and deliver us but, He expects us to never waiver in our faith because without it, it’s impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6; also refer to Romans 5:1-5).

[2Tim. 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”]

This message is also a reminder for me to go the distance in my faith walk and never waiver. We can talk the talk but, are we totally walking the walk…all the way? Are we practicing what we’re preaching when it comes to FAITH IN GOD? You don’t have to answer out loud but, many of us are already being exposed either way. NOW is the time to redirect your attention and spiritual eyes BACK towards God and walk confidently with Him. He knew we would face obstacles and He has already provided a way for us to escape and conquer them, when we’re faced with them. Don’t allow any emotions, that you may currently be feeling, separate you (or continue to keep a wedge/distance) away from God and all He has to offer. Yes, He’s always ready to deliver us if and/or when we fall but, we don’t have to if we put less faith in people, places and things and more faith in The Almighty God, who is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24).

Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.]

First, let’s define what it means to detox, the benefits detoxification has on our body and how/why it’s just as crucial to our physical health as it is our spiritual health.

Detoxification, through regimen or treatment, is purification of intoxicating or addictive substances from our body.

Simply put, to detox is to become clean and pure of waste and toxins that could destroy and kill us from the inside out. There are several different ways to detox and cleanse our body of these toxins. What we eat and intake could cause our body to become full of impurities and/or backed up with waste so, eating better & healthier is a great place to start in the detoxication process. I’ve learned that purification on the inside also causes our skin to become healthier as well. So the cleansing within manifests outwardly; including in the way we further live our lives; becoming more confident and consciously aware about what we’re putting in our bodies.

Now, how does all of this relate to me spiritually, you might ask? In our day to day, we spiritually eat (intake) certain things that are poisonous or toxic to our spiritual being. Words we regularly allow to enter our gateways are sometimes detrimental to our spiritual growth/health; we wear the environment(s) we’re regularly in and gradually become a product of that environment. If the environments are filled with impurities, our soul feeds on that; just as it would a positive, clean environment. What are spiritually impure? Let’s refer to The Word of God:

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (NIV)

Galatians 5: ¹⁹ The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual immorality, impurity and wild living, ²⁰ worshiping false gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, ²¹ having envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not be in God’s kingdom. (ICB)

These that are listed, according to God, are impure. They may feel good to us physically. Some of us may even indulge heavily in a number of these and get a great bit of pleasure in fulfilling these but, spiritually they lead to our eternal death. If you believe in Heaven and Hell & God and Satan, then you already know that if scripture says impurities aren’t welcome in God’s kingdom, it’s welcomed in Satan’s. Simple. There comes a time in our life that if we want better, we have to choose to do and become better. Not just better in our eyes (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25) but, in the eyes of God if we want access in His Kingdom. The First thing we must do is go through the purification process by confessing ALL our sins to God (1 John 1:9)…REPENTANCE!

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each of you know how to [d]possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

[Also refer to 2 Corinthians 7:1 and Proverbs 51:7-10]

Then, once we become cleansed and pure, we must STAY pure! We become spiritually backed up with waste when we hold on to bitterness and hate, when we become unforgiven and confrontational, easily offended by The Truth, envious and vengeful. We also become filled with toxins by returning back to toxic situations and/or relationships and environments. The easy part maybe to confess and believe we’re free (FAITH) but, the sanctification process is THE WORK we must put in in order to continue living a life that’s God-pleasing. In order to maintain toxin free, we have to stay away from toxins. Simple as that. The same discipline we have for our physical body to detox and refrain from impurities, we need that same discipline for our spiritual body. We can’t do that though without God coaching and teaching us. Self control is a fruit of the spirit that we grow by doing our part, morally and spiritually. Aren’t fruits a healthy part of our physical body as well?

THINK ABOUT IT: Everything we do here on Earth is parallel to the spirit realm. Life on Earth (our physical body) however is temporary but, our spiritual body is eternal. Take care of it.

#ThePowerOfTheTongue #VoiceCommand

What we speak and believe, we cause to activate in our life. When we hear & speak something enough, we begin to believe it; We become it by ACTING upon it. You can call it “The Law of Attraction” or FAITH.

There’s a realm higher than the Earth that is sensitive to our voice (even our voice in our mind). Things activate in those realms (in high places) by what we command here on Earth. For example: just like Alexa, Google Home or any other voice activated device. They don’t work until we SPEAK THE WORD(S).

We have more power than many of us know! “Not our will but, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” is not just something we’re commanded to pray just bcuz it sounds good. Those words activates Heaven & causes things to happen in our life that’s in alignment with the will of God.

May I encourage you to be more intentional and aware about what you’re speaking into and over your life? Be more mindful about who and what you believe (words spoken in the mind/heart) that opens up certain portals & causes certain commands to become active over your life. WORDS HAVE POWER!!! Not just the words we speak out into the atmosphere but, also the words we speak within has just as much power to destroy us from the inside out. #Guardyourgateways

Eph6:10-18

2Corinthians10:3-6

Philippians4:4-9

👉🏾DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK “HARD” QUESTIONS👈🏾
(I’m referring to relationships of any kind); Especially if we wanna grow. We have to challenge ourselves at becoming a better partner, parent and an overall better person, in general by asking questions that may make us a bit uncomfortable to hear but, nurturing for our spiritual growth. 💧🌱🌳🍏

Some ppl shy away or refrain from asking certain questions because they are afraid and/or not mentally/emotionally mature enough to handle the response. 9x out of 10, the fear of asking comes from us already knowing the answer to the question(s) at hand. (THE TRUTH)
Some ppl just think not acknowledging reality keeps them “safe” & secure in their comfortable, false sense of reality. It’s an illusion, y’all…springing up from the seed of DELUSION!! #2Cor10:4-5 #2Thess2:9-12

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True safety and freedom comes from becoming #transparent and honest. The safest place, ever, is in THE WILL OF GOD! He wants to uncover (expose) us from the blanket of sin (guilt, shame, darkness) & clothe/cover us with His love, Truth & light. Once we begin to #confess some things with our mouth, we break free from it’s bondage/stronghold(s). It’s one thing to speak within but, {as I shared before} certain commands opens certain portals into the spirit realm once we open up our mouth and speak the words. #1John1:9

We live what we believe but, are we living lies or are we living THE TRUTH?

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FYI: not our truth bcuz our truth is often what we, flawed individuals, thought up ourselves