Your Daily Cup of Inspiration!

Transition is Good...

Going through changes... literally and figuratively? Is it rough? If so, I want to give you a reassuring message today. That is, transition is a good thing if you don't faint when it gets thick and heavy. You've gotta hold fast to your faith without wavering and surely, you'll see the salvation of the Lord in your situation. Of course change can be a bit off-putting, but it's a good thing nonetheless.

You know why?

Because it is God's way of positioning you for the enlargement of your territory. Just as He delivered the Children of Israel out of Egypt, miraculously brought them out of the wilderness into Canaan--their promised land, the land "flowing with milk and honey"; so too, will He bring you into your land of promise. But you  must travel through your own wilderness of transition first before you get there.

He's moving you away from what you've grown used to and comfortable with, in order to perform an awesome work in your life. You may be thinking, "Sure, that sounds good, but I don't know where all this is going. And I don't like the feeling of not knowing."

Oh, that's all right.

A little bit of uncertainty is inevitable when you're undergoing any kind of transformation in your life. But keep trusting God right through the ambiguity.  Before you know it, He'll give you newfound clarity and insight into His plan and purpose. In the meantime, just  go with the flow and  rest in Him.

Don't wrestle with it another day. Just take God at His word and thank Him when you don't understand. Praise Him while He prunes and purges you. Say yes to Him as continues weeding out all those extraneous people and things from your life to make room for your destiny.

Remember this: You must first break away before you can break through and break out. Don't ever fight  or fear the process that leads to progress.

If you just so happen to be going through a major change or many major changes all at once, then you know I'm talking directly to you. God has great things ahead on the other side of this transition... it's not very far ahead either. Just you wait and see!

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

You're Not By Yourself

I remember being in college and struggling through science and math courses. Oh my word. It was awful. Although English Literature came naturally for me-- I love to read and write-- math and science... well, that's another subject entirely.

No pun intended.

At the time I felt like everyone had the answers except me. No one else seemed to be struggling. None of my peers appeared to suffer from the same challenges as me. It was hard.

But you know what? After talking to a few people... years later... I discovered that I wasn't the only one. There were others that were similarly situated. They weren't proficient in math and science either. They had just as difficult a time as I did, if not worse. I didn't know it then, but I wasn't by myself. 

Similarly, when you're going through difficult storms and tests in life, it often feels like you're the only doesn't it? Everyone around you seems to have more blessings, favor, peace, prosperity, and answers than you. But you know what? Looks can be deceiving. Whether you know it or not, the very situation you're facing is confronting someone else close to you. Of course each of our circumstances are unique in one way or another, but there are similar obstacles that face us all.

I just want to encourage you today to hold on and be strong through the trials you're facing. Many folks are dealing with the same stuff. But somebody's gotta trust God. It may as well be you. I don't care how many things are being thrown at you right now, the Lord has given you the power and authority to overcome. Remember this: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19 KJV).

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

What This Is About...

I talked to you very pointedly yesterday about God's desire to take you on an alternate route to help you reach your destiny in Him. I want to reiterate that point so you'll fully grab hold to what I'm saying. It can be very difficult to understand God's mind--actually, it's impossible---which is why it behooves us to get in His face and seek Him regarding our choices.

We can't just make a series of decisions and expect God to back up our agenda. NO. We have to do it the Bible way: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6 KJV). 

The storm you may be facing today is not about you. It's about your purpose. It's not about what you want to do, or how you would prefer to see things take place; it's about the work God wants to fulfill in and through you.

That's what this is about.

As long as you agree with God you'll see positive changes occur in your life... and they'll happen very quickly to boot. Now, when I say "agree with God" I'm not talking about merely giving Him a yes with your lips; I'm talking about saying yes through your surrender; that is, by allowing Him to order your steps and direct all of your decision-making.

So, if you're ready for God to give you a life makeover and set you on the path to purpose, just give Him a yes. That's what all this is about...

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

An Alternate Route

My husband Kenya is great with directions. He can figure out two or three ways to get to the same destination. I, on the other hand, am very one-dimensional in my thinking when it comes to figuring out routes. I have to do it one way and stick to that way only. When I veer off the path I most understand, and am most comfortable with, I tend to get lost. Very lost. For very long periods of time. It's pretty sad.

Similarly, many of us are too one-dimensional in our thinking when it comes to how and what God does in our lives. When He doesn't choose a path for us that we're comfortable or familiar with, we feel lost and discouraged. We begin to think He's forgotten about His word concerning us.

It's almost like we get a one-track-mind when it comes to the blessings of the Lord. You know how it can be... God will speak to you, and immediately you begin reading into what He's saying, right? So you condition your mind to think that things are going to happen somewhat exactly like you picture it.

Then... when it doesn't... all your hopes and dreams are dashed. Utter devastation. You  come unglued. You feel like your world is crashing down around you. You also feel disillusioned and wonder why you ever even got your hopes up in the first place.

But wait.

God never promised He would do things our way. Although He may have partially revealed the "what," He didn't necessarily disclose the "how". In fact, most times, He only reveals the what in part, with plenty of details missing. That's why we have to be careful not to jump ahead of God. As I always say, only He knows the end from the beginning. We don't.

I just believe that there's someone reading this blog right now, and recently you got some really disappointing news. You thought something was going to work out and it didn't. Things look pretty bad right now and you don't know how the situation is going to come together. But God wants you to know that He has an alternate route for you to take. He's not going to leave you hanging out there with no solutions.

But here's what you must know.

He has a different path laid out for you. It ultimately leads to what you want... it's just not going to happen the way you thought. That's all.  Everything you're going through right now is all happening so the Lord can get you to the exact place He wants you to be. I know how bad it seems, but the answers are already awaiting you. Doors are going to open for you in ways you least expect them to.

Listen; just because your blessing, breakthrough, and deliverance didn't come the way you thought it would, doesn't mean that it won't ever come. It also doesn't mean that God has failed you. It also doesn't mean that you misheard or misunderstood what God was saying.

All it means is that the way God's plans will manifest in your life will dramatically differ from what you were thinking. That's it.

I want you to remember this. God is going to do everything He's spoken over your life. Everything. And that door that recently was slammed shut in your face was just a setup to get you to take the alternate route that God had waiting for you all along.

When you get on His set path things will be smoother and simpler than you ever imagined. I'll leave the words with you that God spoke to Joshua: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9 NKJV).

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Just Don't Quit

There's no way to accomplish anything of worth and value without suffering setbacks from time-to-time; it's a natural part of learning and growing. There will be moments when you face rejection, make mistakes...sometimes BIG mistakes, but that's all right. You'll come through it. Whatever you do, just don't quit.

I know things might not be panning out the way you would like them to. Situations may be taking longer to work out than you had hoped. But don't be discouraged. The word of God reminds us that "the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong..." (See Ecclesiastes 9:11)

You have to stick around to see the conclusion of the matter. Don't get out of the race just because you run into some unexpected obstacles along the way.

You must be strong and resolute; I know it's hard. In truth, one of the hardest things to do in the midst of adversity is to keep going. Everything in you says, "Give up. It's not worth it. Things won't ever work out."

But don't let uncertainty about the outcome stop you from  persevering to the end.

Please be warned, however. When you're at your lowest point, the enemy will work to exploit your vulnerabilities. He'll tell you that you won't make it. He'll show you all the odds that are stacked against you. And trust me when I tell you, he'll make what seems to be a pretty compelling case for why you should abandon your visions and dreams. But don't be deceived by his lies; rather, get in God's face. Only God can build you up when you get weak. Only He can encourage you in your most disappointing times.Only He can give you the strength to run on.

That's why it's so important to fortify your spirit during times of trials and testing. Stay in touch with God so you don't sink under the pressure. You've got to encourage yourself in the Lord. Get in the Word. Let God be your refuge.
"For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock" (Psalm 27:5 NKJV).

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust” (Psalm 91:1,2 NKJV)

He alone is your keeper, so be sure to run to Him, and not away from Him.  And I must add... don't, under any circumstances, give into those negative voices and buy into the lies of the enemy; otherwise, you'll end up forfeiting your destiny.

Even when you don't know how things will work out, just continue putting one foot in front of the other. It's up to you to keep moving; it's up to God to ensure that you arrive at your destination.

If you keep your end of the bargain by not quitting in the day of adversity, He'll no doubt see things through to completion in your life. 

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Anointed to Grow

Whatever you touch is anointed to grow; it may not appear that way all the time, but it's still true. God has given you the grace and power to accomplish things with Him that you could never do on your own. Now, that doesn't mean you'll never have struggles and hardships. Even though God is with you, He never promised that everyday would be all sunshine and no rain. You can expect that you'll endure some heartaches, suffering, and setbacks.

Nevertheless, the Lord is with you, guiding you through the process. Remarkably, as you continue to lean on His word, His wisdom, and His favor, He'll take you to places you never thought you would go.

Perhaps your present circumstances don't reflect the promises that God spoke over your life. Maybe you're experiencing some major debilitating circumstances today. If that's the case, I don't want you to get stuck on your "right now". Focus instead on your future and the fact that God intends to carry you far beyond where you are today.

You're anointed to grow in every area: Business, relationships, ministry, finances, and more. Simply trust God to carry you to the place He predestined you to be before the foundations of the world.


As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Because You Belong to God...

Have you ever had one of those "crazy" seasons in your life when it looked like your whole world was turned upside down, and you were going down for the count? Lord knows I have!

Now, I'm not talking about some minor turbulence, a few bumps in the road, or a small interruption in your life. Nooo, I mean something MAJOR that looked like it was going to take you under for sure. Have you ever been there?

I'm sure you have, at least at one time or another.

And since you're sitting here reading this blog post I suppose it's also safe to assume that you came through your "crazy season" in tact; am I right? Certainly, I'm not suggesting that you didn't experience some emotional trauma or some inconvenient setbacks. I'm merely pointing out that those great obstacles you faced didn't at all change the fact that you serve an even greater God whose constantly looking out for you.

No matter where you go or what you go through, remember this: Because you belong to God, you're in good hands. He always takes care of His own. Your situation can only go so far before He will pull you up out of that horrible pit, with a mighty and an outstretched hand. 

I'll leave you with this thought: Don't ever lose your expectation of a positive outcome even in the midst of negative circumstances.

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

The Blessing of the Closed Door

We all like to praise God for opening doors in our lives. That's always exciting. But what about when He closes doors? Do we thank Him out of a recognition that only He ultimately knows what is best for us, or do we get upset and begin questioning whether the Lord is really on our side?

God is not only the God of the open door, but He's the God of the closed door too.

You know why? Because if He doesn't close some doors, we'll wind up walking into some situations that we'll later come to regret. I know it's upsetting not to get the things you want... or even the things you feel like you need, but God knows best.

Have you considered that the door He closed was His way of blessing you? Have you taken time to mull over the idea that God is trying to show you a better way? Of course, we much prefer coming up with our own  ideas though, don't we? We think we've got things all figured out, and if God would just get with our strategy, then everything would be all right, and everybody would end up happy.

Sorry. Doesn't work like that. The word of God tells us how it actually does work: "Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand" (Proverbs 19:21 NASB). In other words, we can come up with our own plans, ideas, and strategies... but GOD has the final say.

I think you and I can safely assume that His final say will be NO from time-to-time. Chances are, He'll say no a lot more frequently than we would like Him to; although being told no never feels good, God has to step in and save us from ourselves sometimes.

I just believe I'm talking somebody today...

When God says no, quite often you initially feel upset, hurt, and perplexed. Why couldn't God just make things work out for you? You prayed about it, believed God for it, and even praised Him in advance... but that door got slammed in your face.

WHY?

You didn't get the job; the relationship didn't work out; God didn't work a miracle; you didn't get the finances you needed in time... and I'm sure the list can go on and on.

Again... you want to know why. Perhaps you talked to the Lord and asked, "Why  didn't things go my way God? I needed you to come through for me and you didn't. Now I don't know what I'm gonna do. I trusted you. I feel so let down."

Well, here's your answer.

Hear His voice through this blog post today. He's saying, "I closed the door to help you. I closed it to protect you. I closed it to elevate you. I closed it because I've got something much better in store for you. If you continue to trust me and never doubt, you will see my glory revealed in your life not many days hence. THINGS WILL WORK OUT."

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Thank God Through It All!

There's a song I love called "Through It All". Ever heard it? If not, here are the lyrics:

"Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word."


When you're going through your darkest night and your toughest storm, you've got to learn to do two things: Thank and Trust. Thank God for the ups and thank Him for the downs; thank Him when everything is going well and thank Him when things are going poorly, and never stop trusting in His perfect timing and provision.

Anyone can thank God during a good season, right? But few still express the same level of praise and adulation when the seas get stormy and the road gets rocky.

God is looking for somebody who will thank Him through it all. Are you the one?

When all the walls seem to be closing in, and nothing works out right can you still lift up your hands and say, "God I yet praise you! You're awesome! You reign! You're worthy of all the honor"? Or do you start moping and doubting; fretting and panicking; crying and wavering?

The Bible tells us how we should behave despite the circumstance or obstacle. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (KJV). The Amplified Bible says it this way: "Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]."

So today, whatever you may be going through as you read this, I want you to stop focusing on the problem and starting praising God in advance for your answer. Begin thanking Him for it... even though it doesn't feel good, thank Him; even when you'd rather give up, thank God instead; even when you can't see your way clearly and it looks like He has forgotten about you, thank Him anyway!

Why am I telling you this? Because when you adopt an attitude of gratitude you'll begin seeing God's hand at work in your life. And although everything may not be happening the way you want it to right now, if you take a closer look through eyes of thanksgiving, rather than eyes of pessimism and frustration, you'll begin seeing God's plan for your life emerging.

When you begin trusting, thanking, and praising, the enemy doesn't know what to do with that. Praise changes the atmosphere and the outcome of your situation. So don't complain. Just give thanks.

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper! "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 136:1 KJV).

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

When You Don't Understand...

There are some seasons where God moves us out of once place into another for our own good. During these uncertain times, we will often sense a war raging in our  souls--a tug-of-war of sorts, all because we can't clearly see God's plan. But just because you can't see God's plan, doesn't mean He is without one. When you don't understand, don't be discouraged. It's all apart of your journey.

Consider the great Prophets of old. Do you think they understood every command, directive, or challenge given to them by God? Of course not. On many occasions, they felt utterly confused and exasperated because of their lack of understanding. It's easy to read the scriptures and readily point out where these great men and women of faith faltered. But what about you and me? How do we react in times of uncertainty and confusion?

I know personally how hard it can be while you're waiting on the Lord for answers; it can be extremely frustrating not to know God's mind. Nevertheless, He's faithful to perform His word in our lives and see us through every challenge. Granted, trials don't seem helpful at all when we're right in the middle of them. When we're facing lack, opposition, tragedy, and uncertainty our natural inclination is to give into feelings of distress, despondency, bewilderment, and discouragement.

But know this; you may not understand what God is doing right now, but what He will produce from this wilderness will far and away exceed your wildest expectations. You may be drowning in a sea of problems  with no hope of deliverance in sight, but when you least expect it, God will reveal Himself; after you have learned the lessons you need to learn, God will reveal Himself; after you move out of your comfort zone and take Him at His word, God will reveal Himself.

Just continue to trust Him even when it's difficult. Our wisdom and understanding is limited, but God is omniscient and omnipotent. All knowledge, wisdom, and power belongs to God! So rest assured, you're in the best hands.

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com