“Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world” (1 John 4:1 NLT).

Why Am I Stuck?

It’s almost April! Are you asking, “Why can’t I seem to move forward?” At the beginning of the year, you might have identified new pursuits and resolved to reach higher goals quarterly this year. But now the first quarter of the year is ending, and your goals seem further away rather than within reach.  Like David in Psalm 13:2, you may ask, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts?” Why can’t I seem to move forward? Why Am I stuck?

It just may be that you are subconsciously listening to the wrong voices. There are many spirits in the world that are not from God. Their assignment is to keep us from moving forward. They wait with bated breath to remind you at every opportunity of your past and of why you cannot overcome the obstacles and succeed. But remember this!  It is not what lies behind you or what lies ahead of you, but what lies within you that matters. (Paraphrased quote from H. D. Thoreau)

Those spirit voices that are hindering you are not from God! You are from God and have already overcome those spirits, those demonic voices, those false prophets who are telling you that you cannot. You overcame them when you allowed Jesus to come into your life. You have overcome them because the One who is in you is greater than those lying spirits that are in the world!

We were challenged by our pastor this Holy Week to spend quality time with the LORD. Perhaps, you have been fasting this week, praying more fervently, reading and studying His word more intentionally. When we spend quality time with Jesus, His voice becomes clearer, and the other voices become faint. He shares with us the secrets to moving forward. “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him… He shall pluck my feet out of the net” (Psalm 25:14-15). He will free your feet so you can move, walk, run toward your worthy goals!

Focus Quote: “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”                                          –Psalm 40:1 NLT.

I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me that I am His own. And the joys we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

                                –From “In the Garden” by C. Austin Miles 

Coming Soon! Faith For Fiery Trials, Men’s Ed. Vol. 2, Co-authored by A. Sumner!  Website: altonesumner.com