"Fruits to Persevere"

When I think of my journey as a young adult up to this point, it seemed as if I went through more hell saved than while in the world. The fact of the matter is the hell I went through wasn’t necessarily the enemy’s doing most times; In fact, it was due to my repetitive, total disobedience to God. I was extremely hardheaded and had to have control. I was ignorant to the fact that my Savior was simply trying to save me from Me. He had soooo much better for me but I wanted to live in filth. I was bound mentally and fleshly for a very long time, not producing any fruit, while preparing my place in hell.

I am so grateful that the blood of Jesus covers over a multitude of sins. I appreciate the nine years of bondage because it taught me how to surrender and persevere through the Word of God. This is for the stubborn and hard headed individuals who are still trying to control their lives OUT SIDE OF THE WILL OF GOD….. Yes, I am talking to you. Hebrews 10: 26-31 “if WE deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but the fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…..How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Stop playing with God before you run out of repentance and learn how to preserve. 

How do we preserve? Perseverance comes through the meditation of the Word of God (Psalm 119). Being persistent in this along with fasting and prayer will produce good fruit. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3) The Word of God keeps us hydrated and nourished. So, the more we eat, the more we produce. Since I’ve submitted my heart over to God, I am producing better fruit. I’ve grown to be sincere in my obedience and how to truly put this flesh under submission (Romans 8). 

There are a ton of scriptures I could use to elaborate this in greater detail, but in the mean time let's talk about my fruitfully thrifted outfit. My entire outfit (besides the shoes) is thrifted. My earrings are thrifted from the Neighborhood Thrift Store in Huntsville, Al. My dress and belt are thrifted from the Downtown Rescue Mission Thrift Store in Huntsville, Al. My blouse was picked up from a clothing drive. My shoes are Gianni Bini (my best bud Lac picked these out) purchased from Dillards. 

I have no thrifty tip today. Instead I would like to encourage you to do the following: release whomever or whatever is causing your supply to the living Word of God to be cut off; meditate on the Word of God DAILY; understand that God only has the best for you because He is; stop using this stupid excuse to sin, “God knows my heart”; learn to fast, pray, and listen; and ask God for a heart to seek after Him solely. Jesus loves you and only has His best just for you.

There is no such thing as living as the world and living for/ loving  God....NONE.  I can’t afford to make the same mistakes, living in the same sin that the blood of Jesus has covered, neither can you.

-Sheika, Team TT