WEEKLY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Life brings us many challenges!  Those challenges often come unexpectantly and when they do we need a word of encouragement.  Every week on the Yvette Steele Podcast, you will receive a Weekly Word of Encouragement.

This radio podcast gives a Refreshing Word of Encouragement, Empowerment, Healing & Deliverance provided by Associate Pastor and Award Winning Author Yvette Steele of Yvette Steele Ministries & Just A Diva Encouraging Ministries and is available on multiple platforms.

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 https://www.yvettesteele.com/yvettesteelepodcast.html


Be Encouraged
Pastor Yvette Steele


© Copyright 2019 Just A Diva Encouraging Ministries, All rights reserved

WHAT GROUND ARE YOU STANDING ON?

To Stand your Ground means you will not move or deter from what you believe or what your missions/assignment is, even when you have many that may oppose or trying to make you change.

To Stand your Ground is determination and faith in what you are standing for and on.

The dilemma doesn’t come when we stand our ground; it comes from the type of ground we are standing on.

What Ground are you standing on?  Who are you aligning yourself with?

Are you standing on:

Quicksand which sinks anything standing or set on it. Meaning you will go down for anything somebody tells you.

Asphalt when under extreme Heat/Cold or certain partials placed on it (i.e., salt for snow removal. etc.) will lead it to swell and split. Does this sound like you?  When going through the fire/storms of life you buckle under the pressure and crack.

Marble when cracked the default in the foundation part of the stone or marble may be damaged. This is a person trying to lay stuff on a faulty foundation which is your mess, instead of God’s Foundation which is the Word of God.  Choosing only those parts of God’s Word, they like or makes them feel good!

Does any of this sound like the grounds you are standing on or individuals you’ve connected yourself too?  If so, these are dangerous grounds to be standing on! You must stand on the foundation that was established before the earth. The sole foundation that will never default, be recalled, or require a do over.  The Word of God!

Many will seek to discourage you from standing on solid ground. Some will even suggest to you that’s overly complicated and requires too much. Obedience is better than sacrifice!!!

You can’t worry about:

• Who’s talking about you, WHILE STANDING YOU GROUND!

• Who likes you and don’t like you, WHILE STANDING YOU GROUND!

• How many likes you get on Social Media, WHILE STANDING YOU GROUND!

• Who supports or don’t support what God has called you to do, WHILE STANDING YOU GROUND!

God will set individuals in position to help you get where he’s taking you, just like he placed Rahab in position for the Jews and stop expecting it to always be your friends or someone you may know.

Stop fretting about if it makes sense or not to the common man. We serve a Radical God. He is a Miracle Working God.  You must have a made-up mind I will be obedient and stand my ground on the foundation of God’s Word, even if it means encouraging myself while doing it! Speak to yourself when discouragement rears its hideous skull.

•       Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY (Psalms 30:5)

•       Greater is He that is in me, greater than he who is in the world (1John 4:4)

•       No weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)

•       He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1)

•       The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want (Psalms 23:1)

•       Yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil (Psalms 23:4)

•       I’m Complete in Him(Colossians 2:10)

•       I know Who I am and Whose I am (1Peter 2:5)

•       I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:31)

•       There is POWER in name of JESUS (Matthew 28:18)

•       I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

•       The BLOOD STILL has it POWER! (Revelation 12:11)

Obedience, faith, and dependence on God made Joshua one of Israel’s strongest leaders. He provided a bold example for us to follow. Like us, other voices often besieged Joshua, but he followed God, and he did it faithfully.

Check the ground, the foundation you are standing on, and if it’s not the ground of The Word of God, it’s time to move to a stronger foundation.

Now ask yourself, WHAT GROUND ARE YOU STANDING ON?

Be Encouraged!

Pastor Yvette Steele


© Copyright 2019 Just A Diva Encouraging Ministries, All rights reserved

LETTING GO!

Many of us have heard the saying, “Let Go and Let God,” yet this is usually extremely difficult for most. Understanding it’s not that most don’t wish to trust God, we are just unsure what will take place if we let go.  It’s like if and you let go, you will fall and crumble.  What many of us don’t seem to realize is by constantly hanging on, we are falling and crumbling.  The very thing we don’t wish to let go of is hurting us and God wants us to trust Him that when we do release it, it’s for our good and we will be okay whether it appears otherwise to the natural eyes.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.' Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Letting go of something or someone not only requires releasing it and trusting it was for the best, but that it will produce a change to our situation. God is informing us not merely does letting go require releasing it, but change will take place, and it is for our best.

'But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.'  Isaiah 43:18 (NLT)

We become complacent in our relationships, friendships, churches, jobs and surroundings and are scared of change because change brings growth as well as the unknown and the unknown brings the lack of having control.  Most of us like to be in control! 

For some, it’s been time to let go of that stale job because God has greater for you. You've been feeling the nudge to apply for something better than what you are doing but the prospect of letting go of your comfortability and change holds you back from walking into the greater.  Others are in stale relationships that God never intended you to be in.  That’s not who God has for you and because of the comfortability with already knowing the person's ways or feeling as though you’ve devoted considerable time and have no desire to get to know someone else all over is holding you from your blessing and who God truly has for you.

Letting go of emotional holds often are the toughest we manage to transport these from relationship to relationship, job to job, church to church, and surroundings to surroundings, without even recognizing the control it possesses over us and the damage it's doing along the way.  But, God is saying you no longer have to bear those things, and it’s not only okay to let go of them, it’s time!

·     It’s time to release the hurt and pain others caused you and the hurt and pain you’ve caused others.

·     It’s time to release the disappointments you've had in others, and the disappointments you've caused others.

·     It’s time to release the lies that were told to you, and the lies you've told to others.

·     It’s time to release the un-forgiveness you bear, and the burden that others may never forgive you.

·     It’s time to release the mistakes that others have made, and the mistakes you've made.

·     It’s time to release low self-esteem and the negative things others have spoken over you.

·     It’s time to release the anger.

·     It’s time to release the toxic relationships and friendships.

·     and it’s time to release guilt and shame.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Ephesians 4:31(NLT)

A lot of what we've encountered is because we’ve held on to individuals and things longer than we should have.  Holding on to situations and individuals that God designed for us to let go will produce more damage than we are capable to recognize.

Letting go of some things and individuals will not always be easy and there will be stings along the process, but God will never leave us even during these times. Understanding that God cares for us so much and only wants what’s best for us even when we look in the mirror and see our former failures. At that moment, God loves us even more.  However; you must have a made-up mind that you are ready for better, for greater and for all that God has for you.  

'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.'  Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

It’s time to let go and trust God! Trust that God has forgiven you, and that He will restore you from all the emotional afflictions you’ve been carrying. Trust that the direction He is guiding you will be better and brighter than the road you were traveling.

'All you people: Trust in him at all times! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our refuge! Selah'. Psalms 62:8 (CEB)

 Be Encouraged!
Evangelist Yvette Steele

© Copyright 2018 YES- Just A Diva Encouraging, All rights reserved

IT'S NOT FINISHED, WHEN GOD IS IN IT!

It’s always darkest before the dawn is a saying that many of us have heard but never paused for a moment to consider what that means.  Life will present its set of challenges, whether it is personal, financial and/or physical, a test will come. The thing that separates individuals is how they handle those challenges when they occur.  Do you deal with them head on by struggling to fix everything yourself? Do you stress out and panic? Do you hold on to things and individuals when you need to let go? Do you run and tell anyone who will listen?  Do you seek others to figure out the challenge for you? Or, do you hold still, resting on faith while seeking Christ through prayer and his word while listening for His guidance and instructions?  Do you trust God?

An impossible situation does not mean God has left you.  I’ve grown to understand that it always seems to get a little harder the closer your breakthrough is.  You feel at your weakest and surrendering appears to be the best option right before deliverance. But hold on, because when God is it, it is not finished.  He has the final say.(Proverbs 16:1 We humans make plans, but the Lord has the final word.)

No matter what your finances look like, whether the bills are overdue, collection notices coming left and right, you’ve gotten off course because the medical bills keep piling up, car note behind and repo company keeps calling. And, if that is not enough, you have received an eviction or a foreclosure notice.  

But, when God is it, it is not finished!

You may have just come from a routine exam and you first walked in expecting to hear all is normal.  But, instead you walked out with your mouth wide open and feeling like this must be a dream because of the diagnoses that was just given to you. 

But, when God is it, it is not finished!

Your marriage is a mess.  There is disrespect, adultery, lying or you two are just not on one accord (clicking).  Your frustration level is at an all-time high! 

But, when God is it, it is not finished!

Do you understand what is being said?  No matter what you are facing, there is one who is omni-present.  He was in your yesterday; He is in your today and He is already in your tomorrow.  (Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors].)  Don’t react to what is happening at this moment, instead turn to the one who “IS”, seeking Him for guidance and direction.  Let him be your advocate, your confidante, your physician, your marriage counselor because if he’s in it, it is not finished until he speaks so.  Once He says it’s finished, it is complete, understanding it all will be working for your good.(8.28 God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him: Or “All things work for the good of everyone who loves God” or “God's Spirit always works for the good of everyone who loves God.” They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,)

When God is it, it is not finished!

Be Encouraged!

Evangelist Yvette Steele