Encouragement

Thought for the week...

‍‍

Treasure II

‍
There’s not one individual who is not going through some type of adversity. If we’re not
going through now, we've just come out of it or we’re getting ready to go through it; but
we can be assured that we are not going through on our own. The Holy Spirit is with us,
He’s encouraging us, helping us, strengthening us, standing with us, counseling us,
interceding for us, and advocating on our behalf.
 
As we go through these adverse circumstances and situations we must be very careful
that we do not allow the adversary to deposit a spirit of depression or oppression nor
believe his whispering lies of defeat. It is during these adverse times that we must
consistently keep ourselves focused on God, the author and finisher of our faith and
trust in Him and His Word. He promised that when we go through the waters that they
would not overtakes us. He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. He
promised that greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world. He promised that no
weapon formed against us would prosper. He promised that all things—circumstances,
situations, testing, trials, etc.—would work toward our good. He promised that the
weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through Him to the pulling down of
strongholds. So, with that being said, the next time that we are faced with adversities
that seem beyond our control, we must remember that we have a gift within us—the
wealth and richest of the blessings and promises of God—that is able to do exceeding
abundantly more than we can think or ask. We must remember that all we need do is go
to God and lay down everything at His altar, surrendering it and ourselves, knowing that
this too shall pass. We don’t have to see it, but just believe it knowing that God cannot
and will not lie.
 
Listen and take heed…

But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy]
earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the
power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves (2
Corinthians 4:7 — AMP).

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the week...

Resist II

It is a given, we are and will be faced with one challenge after another and at times, if
we tell the truth, we are sick and tired of the adversities that the challenges present. As
a born again believer, we must understand that we will always be faced with challenges
because the enemy, none other than Satan himself, has waged an all-out war against
the believer and he wants us to fall prey to his tactics, traps, tricks, and stratagems. In
fact, he won’t be satisfied until he can get us to turn back to those things we participated
in prior to our salvation.
There are times when the adversities come so fast that we hardly have time to
breathe/recuperate from the previous one. The challenges and situations that we go
through may be devastating and drain us of our reserve to fight and forge ahead; but we
are not left alone to our own devices. The Holy Spirit is our helper. He strengthens us,
encourages us, stands by us, intercedes for us, and advocates on our behalf. The Word
tells us that we have not because we asked not. So, we need to call upon the Lord and
request the support of the Holy Spirit. Listen my brothers and sisters, we were never
meant to stand alone, let alone fight the adversary. God gave us His Word and it was
His Word, Jesus Christ, that was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for
our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we
are healed. He strived and forged ahead; even in the midst of the pain and rejections
that He faced, He strived. And, it is that striving that enables us, the born again believer
to forge ahead. Once we come to the understanding of the price that Jesus paid for us,
we will begin to count it all joy when we go [through] various and diverse trials. With that being
said, the next time that we go through challenging situations, all we need [to] do is position
ourselves, standing firmly and fixed on the Word of God, raise our arm and shoot a free
throw, releasing the effects of [the] trial, understanding that Jesus paid the price and all we
need do is rest in Him.

Listen and take heed…

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility
against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you
may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.
You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted
and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood. (Hebrews 12:3-4 — AMPC)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the week...

Resist

We are a funny people; we want everything our heart desires, but we’re generally not
willing to give up anything to get them. We want the whole party, ice cream, cake, party
hats, and gifts just to be given to us. But, as with anything, we must be willing to forego
the things we think are important to get the greater that God has for us. Oh, don’t get
me wrong, I love the party and its goodies just as much as the other person, but I’m
learning that that which comes easy is not always the means by which God has for me;
and neither is it for you. And more often than not, we tend to take things for granted
when we haven’t had to work for [them] or put anything into that which we receive.
We must learn that it is only every good and perfect gift that comes from God, and we
must have a keen sense of discernment so that we know which is from God and which
is from Satan. We have to learn how to oppose, turn down, refuse, forgo and repel that
which is from the adversary and maintain our position of steadfastness in saying no to
him and his items. It is also importance that we learn to endure, bear up under, contend,
counteract, persevere, persist, stand up to, remain firm in our conviction, and weather
the storms of life when they come; and they will come. In fact, if we haven’t just come
out of a storm we’re getting ready to go into one; however, we must remember that we
are not left all alone without any hope. The Holy Spirit is with us, enabling us to bear up
under the onslaught that comes against us and, with His help, we can run with the
footmen so that we will be able to contend with the horsemen in this race of life and
receive the ultimate gift that comes with the party of a lifetime, worshipping with the
heavenly host of the great cloud of witnesses and angels singing forever and forever
and forever. HALLELUJAH to God be the glory.

Listen and take heed…

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will
flee from you. (James 4:7 — AMP)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the week...

Hope

We all have an expectation and a reasonable confidence that that which we’ve prayed
for will transpire. And, no matter how long it takes before the manifestation of our
hope/expectation comes to fruition, we must not give up on that which we believe and/or
are trusting God for. Of course, there will be times when we feel as though our prayers
are not being answered or that we’ve prayed in vain; however, we must not lose faith
but continue to believe God’s promises and blessings.

As we walk by faith, we do so with a spirit of endurance that in spite of the wait, we
ambitiously believe, with assured expectation that which we’ve desired, longed for and
prayed for shall come to fruition. We must know without a doubt that we serve a God
who is able to do exceeding abundantly more that we can think or ask. Therefore, when
that old sleuth footed devil comes lurking around with his deceitfulness, we must not
allow him to lull us into believing that God will not answer our petitions. We must call him the
liar that he is and continue to hold on, resting with confident assurance that God will do
exactly what He said He would do, and that is bless His children.
 
Listen and take heed…

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation
are from Him. He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my
Fortress, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 62:5-6 — AMPC)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the week...

Treasure

‍God is the supplier of all that we need; there is never a time that He isn’t providing. Too
often we look to individuals when we have a need when we should be looking to God
who knows what we need and when we need it. When we look to God for our needs, we
are letting Him know that we acknowledge Him as our provider.  
Before we were born, God had already set aside everything that we would need as we
journey through this life. He has a wealth of riches stored up for His children and is just
waiting for us to reach out and receive them. Even amid adversities and adversarial
oppositions we’ll face, God sees all and knows all; in fact, He’s worked them out for our
good. It may not seem like it, but there’s not a moment that God is not thinking about us.
He knows exactly what we need and has retained and securely kept His promises and
blessings stored up for us and will reveal them at the appropriate time. We need never
fear that God won’t meet our needs; He will pour out the wealth of His riches as a liquid
libation to wash over us and quench the thirst of our soul. Therefore, the next time that
we have a need, we must not look to individuals but lift our eyes/spirit upward and lay
our petitions before God so that He can wash us with the wealth of His abundant cache
of riches. What is it that you stand in need of?

Listen and take heed…

My son, accept my words and store up my commands. Turn your ear toward wisdom,
and stretch your mind toward understanding. Call out for insight, and cry aloud for
understanding. Seek it like silver; search for it like hidden treasure. Then you will
understand the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5 —
CEB)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the week...

Identity

‍Too many individuals have no clue as to who they are and as a result, they have
allowed others to define them. However, when they don’t measure up to people’s
expectations, they find themselves lost in the dredges of who they could be and find it
hard to crawl out of the pit of "fall-shortism." Until we acknowledge, comprehend, and
understand that we were created in God’s image, we’ll never be able to truly achieve
that which He destined for us to accomplish and live forever in His Presence.
 
When we let people dictate our steps, we are living in the shadow of their
measurements and beliefs and allowing them to define who we are and should be. We
give them the power to manipulate and dictate our every move when, in essence, they
are not even able to take care of themselves without that which God has provided. God
did not create us to live in man’s shadow, but to live under the shadow and His wings.
It’s time that we start living according to God’s Word instead of man’s; it’s God’s image
that we were created in, and His promises and blessings will always produce that which
it states. Time truly is of the essence. It is only as we surrender to Jesus, accepting Him
as our personal Savior we will be able to understand who we are, whose we are, what
we were created to accomplish, and reach our eternal heavenly home. With that being
said, it is imperative that we stop looking to one another for answers, relinquish our
hold on man’s belief and rely on the Word of God which cannot and will not lie. We are
fearfully and wonderfully made, and God’s work is marvelous. Whose report will you
believe, God’s or man’s?

Listen and take heed…

For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not
discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the
glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4
— AMPC)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

‍

Thought for the week...

Comfort

‍As we come to the close of another week, let’s continue to praise God. Even in spite of
all that has transpired this week, God is yet moving on our behalf. It’s common
knowledge that the adversary devises some traps for us; but praise be to God, we still
have the surpassing victory in Christ Jesus.
 
It is imperative that we remember that God has not left us or forgotten us. God has
allowed some of the things that have transpired as a teaching tool and a strengthening
mechanism. And God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, is right in it with us, keeping us,
helping us, counseling us, seeing us through, interceding for us, and advocating on our
behalf. Oh yes, the Holy Spirit will soothe, console and reassure us in the midst of the
afflictions, circumstances, obstacles, situations, tests, trials, and tribulations that we
experience. And, it is because of this that we can be assured—in spite of the
adversarial opposition and adversities—that God will bring us through. His Word is true;
no weapon formed against us will prosper and all things work to our good. Listen, when
we are helped, we can and are to help others. The question is, do we believe it?

Be encouraged…

What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source
of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our
hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled,
needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and
comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 — TLB)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the week...

Accomplish

It’s a known fact that some people are just talented/gifted, and it appears as though all they have to do is open their mouth and/or put their hands to the task and they achieve success. And then there are those whom the adversary does not want to realize their talents/gifts, who they are and what they have been gifted to do so he’ll do all that he can to keep them bogged down and steeped in the things of this world. We all have been given talents and/or gifts that we’ll be successful at, but we have to understand and be able to discern the process to bring those talents and/or gifts to fruition. If God has given us tasks to complete, He’ll provide everything we need to finish them.

Listen and take heed…

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

…we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. (Romans 8:28, 37 — AMP)

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

‍

Thought for the week...

Peace II

I don’t know what it is, but we spend more time being anxious and worried about things that we should have long ago surrendered to God. The adversary loves it when he can instill a spirit of fear in us and uses that to build upon his ploys and tactics to weaken our resolve of resting in God.

As long as we live in this world, we will be faced with challenges, circumstances, obstacles, oppositions, tests, trials, and tribulation. There will be situations that we have no control over or situations that we have allowed because we did not use sound judgments. However, we must not allow those things to steal our joy, have us wallow in a pool of self-pity, and have us live in a state of condemnation. If we find that we’ve fallen prey to adversarial opposition, then we must immediately repent and accept God’s forgiveness. With that being said, we have the power and authority of the Holy Spirit to take back our serenity and tranquility as we denounce the works of anxiety. And, even in the midst of dealing with the consequences of our actions, we can rest in the embrace of God’s love as He gives us the strength and power to endure.

Listen and take heed…

Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (Philippians 4:6-7 — AMP)

‍

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

Thought for the holiday week...

Gratitude II

What was the first thing that you thought about as your mind came into consciousness today? If it wasn’t words of thankfulness to God for another day, begin to put that into practice. All you need do is open your mouth and tell God what you’re thankful for.

When we wake up with our mind stayed on Jesus, it really does have an effect on how our day will play out. It is when we have an attitude of thankfulness and truly walk by faith that we’re able to keep our composure and praise God even when we are presented with adversities and adversarial oppositions. When we understand the blessings and promises of God, we’ll be able to walk in a spirit of confident expectation, knowing that His Word is true, that no weapon formed against us will prosper. God is always at work in our life, meeting our needs; in fact, He meets needs that we’re not even aware of. We must not take God for granted, not only thanking and praising Him when He answers our prayers and petitions, but thanking Him for all things. With that being said, it is imperative that we make it our daily priority to worship God, singing psalms and hymns and making melodies in our heart.

Listen and take heed.

I will give You thanks with all my heart; I sing praises to You before the [pagan] gods. I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word together with Your name. On the day I called, You answered me; And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life. (Psalm 138:1-3 — AMP)

‍

Rev. Donna M. Humphries

Heaven Gates Ministries, Inc.

‍