I remember a time when I was on a missions trip and I started to argue with the missions leader. It was really bad, but I felt so justified in the moment. I was breaking records and producing more than anyone before me, but my leader was raising his voice in anger, not directly to me, but to the team... even though I knew he was referring to me. He was saying, "Make sure you're doing it how we're supposed to"... He was yelling, and then I would respond raising my voice... but what was really happening? I was crying out to be affirmed. I wanted to be acknowledged. I wanted my success to be praised.... But even deeper... I had daddy wounds... areas in my heart where I didn't feel seen or accepted and his tone and demeanor were coming off to me like rejection. I had attached my worth to my success and because my success was not being praised, I saw it as rejection So I was yelling saying, "ACCEPT ME, PLEASE! ACCEPT MEEEE" 🙂‍↕️ People yell when they don't feel heard. The volume is just their subconscious and conscious way of saying.. I want you to hear my needs. You are not yelling so much for them.... You're yelling out internal fears and wounds. So listen... what are you really saying. Stop blaming the other individual... really you need to look at your internal needs and allow God to fill them. HOW? You need to Speak over yourself what you need.... For me that would be: "I'm Loved, Seen and Accepted" I don't know what you need, but its time to stop putting your internal, invisible wounds on other people and blaming them for not filling your cup. Fill your own cup! Do you need words of affirmation... Speak Life over Yourself. Do you need Quality Time? Spend some deep time with the Lord. Do you enjoy acts of service? Sow that into someone else for the Lord. But your life is no longer going to be blamed on you being a victim of not being loved or cared for. You take the initiative and Speak what you've been looking to receive from others. **Write in the comments something you wish someone would say to you or what you need to hear.**

I'm learning as a New Pastor how to Shepherd. There are three main roles of a natural shepherd: Leading Feeding and Protecting The leading, i'm learning, is just following well. If i'm following Jesus correctly, the sheep will move in the right direction. I don't need to be overbearing or constantly correcting and redirecting... it's actually the Holy Spirit who does those tasks. For a shepherd he uses a tool called a shepherd's crook to lead and redirect but Psalms 23 says The Lord is our Shepherd and his rod and staff comfort us... but rods are used for war and staffs are used to redirect... God can even make correction comforting. Feeding is again the work of the Holy Spirit... I've had the experience of preparing a sermon and I thought it would be an encouraging message, yet the congregation says they were convicted or felt beat up by the word...but if you have a problem child and you preach on their known issue.... it's like their the only one who didn't answer the alter call, didn't respond to the message and actually preferred your previous message. Lol The Holy Spirit is the one feeding... as im seeing... Being a Shepherd is more like being the best lamb... the lamb closest to God. Protecting works like this. If i'm safe... the sheep are safe as long as they stay close and follow instructions, but the Bible says, "Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter." If im wounded or overwhelmed then the sheep are in danger. This is showing the importance of my dependency on Christ and not pointing to any authority or skill that I have to lead, guide, protect or feed. The paradox is im learning... to be a good shepherd... I don't need to do more, I actually need to do less. I need to trust that God is working and give him room, making sure not to interfere. No matter who you are reading this... if you have any natural or spiritual authority over another... then these points are true for you. Are you a Father, Mother, Employer or Minister? Then you have a role to play in being a sheep closest to our Shepherd, because this is the beginning of leading... learning how to follow well.

Post a scripture that has a promise you're standing on in the comments 🥳 God's Word is not based on feelings. You are blessed and highly favored, not because you feel that way, but because God says you are. You are the head and not the tail, above and not below. God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. No reward or promotion comes without a trial or battle. Are you in a battle my friend? Are you going through a test? Well its not a test of your finances, of your marriage or of your health. The Bible says its a test of your faith. James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. You must declare God's promises over your situation and watch them change. You are the lender, not the borrower, in Jesus' name! Don't look at your situation. We walk by faith, not by sight! I need you to understand this mystery. Your situation is not outside of you; it is created by you and through you. God created all things by His word. You are not someone who borrows; you are someone who lends! Even when you owe money! You must declare this because it is the truth! Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." You declare the truth, believe the truth, and reject the lie, no matter how real the lie may seem. That means if you don't have enough... your situation is a lie... because the word of God says "God will supply al of your needs" If you can't sleep.... your situation is a lie... the word says "God gives his beloved rest" Let the word of God be true, and every man a liar. God has placed His Word above His name. If you say you are a debtor, you're poor, you're sick etc, then you are either saying that God is lying, or that His Word does not apply to you.

I want you to understand this mystery: I was invited to preach at a local church in my city last night, so I preached in the morning at The River BH and then I preached at this other church. The service was powerful, we did an altar call and ministered to the people but after the service the Pastor brought up a couple people who wanted prayer for specific things like healing… Well the line kept growing and before I knew it everyone was back in line for prayer again. (I had to take today off because I was spiritually drained but it was glorious) What I noticed though at the end of the night, the Pastors wife was the last to get prayer… she opened up that she had been going through depression for years. Why this is important is because multiple women throughout the night I had received words that they had been fighting with depression. Many of the people were weeping as the Lord was giving prophetic words but this depression had come up in at least three other people. One being the worship leader, and another being the Pastors daughter. Understand that you are a Sheild to those under your covering. Maybe that’s your children, your employees or those in your ministry. However the enemy attacks you… he will attack those under you with. If you win the battle… they have a GREAT CHANCE of also winning or not even encountering the attack… But if you loose the battle… they now have to face the sane foe… and many will loose or be tormented without cause. There is so much that I could say but understand… if God has placed you over people, you have a responsibility both naturally and spiritually. Your life is not your own. A man who cannot control his spirit is like a city without walls. If you are conquered… if a strong man is conquered… then his home can be plundered. Don’t allow the enemy access. The other side to this is your battles are usually connected to your personal ministry… so if you have overcome addiction or depression… many times God will send you those fighting with those same issues because your purpose is to show them how to overcome, just like you did.

Welcome @Melvyn Louis its great to have you sir. I was just reading about Jacob serving and working for Rachel for 7 years... What's something you've done consistently for the last 7 years? No matter what it is... If you've done it for that long, then I believe you have a grace or supernatural empowerment in that area. God gave Jacob grace to serve for Rachel, especially when the Bible says the times past like it was just a moment. Next we see that Rachel was favored but Leah was tolerated... The BIble says God resists the proud, but gives Grace to the humble. God gave Leah grace to have children.. why? Because he saw she was "hated". The bible actually uses that word. Genesis 29:31 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved (hated in KJV), he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” Understand in your hardest times, if you choose not to become bitter, but allow life to humble you... God will empower you... even more than those that seem to be in glorious seasons. God said to Paul.... in your weakness I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. There is a power you do not yet know until you become weak. His strength is MADE perfect or full in your weakness. There is a forcing, a place where its not optional, but God must empower you in weakness because he cannot go back on His word! Finally we see Rachel get desperate... Genesis 30:1-3 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” 2 Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”