To piggyback from last weeks message No Excuses - ADJUSTMENTS, we all can admit once again that the problems of our past hurt and even the problems we are currently face are painful and irritating. However, I want to remind you that you those things that will help you bounce back are built into you. Sometimes we can attach to things that are no good for us and life has a way of cutting it off. Jesus said in Matthew 5:30 "And if your right-hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to cast away." With that being said, it's my duty to encourage you to examine and evaluate who and what you are connected to. Often times, we sacrifice entire portions of our life when truth be told if we would've cut off that one person sooner or stopped that one habit sooner, we would be a lot further. Now, of course, we shouldn’t dwell on the past, on the other hand, we must take notes from our past and every so often review them to be refreshed. Same with the word of God. I don't know if you grow up in the church as I did but if so, I'm sure you have plenty of scripture stored up within you. You may not be able to recall each scripture immediately but the fact that it's in you means you're connected to A WORD from GOD that STILL HAS POWER. The seasoned saints in the little Pentecostal church I grew up in believed in praying the Word of God back to God as a reminder to Him and ourselves. Many of those prayers would start off with "Lord you said... and God, your word says" because what is there to back up your promise if it's not written in His Word. The wisdom and knowledge of God that's stored in you are your roots and foundation. Your branches are only as strong as your roots. Nevertheless, it's hard to cut off a branch that is producing good fruit and any branch that doesn't should be cut off. As we prepare for 2020, let's stop crying and worrying about people who are cut out of our life. Let's stop crying about the habits we should be cutting out of our lives, and let's stop making excuses for the things that need to cut down in our life. God has already connected us to everything we need. We are rooted in the very place that will help us produce no matter what. All we have to do is stay connected to the tree because He said in His word "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." Know this - it's not your time to wither up and die! Trees don’t cry over cut off branches because they know within there roots is the potential to produce stronger branches. Today is the day for you to be that strong branch. When you abide in him and you know He abides in you, you ought to honor God knowing that as long as you’re connected to him, you have a way of escape. Not sure about you but I am determined to be pruned like a growing tree or vine in the vineyard, because I want to continue to produce.Stop compromising and cut it off.
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