SALUTATIONS: Greetings Fam! As a reminder, the Announcements, Healthy Living Tips, and other information that used to succeed the Reflections and Power in Prayer are now exclusively on my blogs. So, at your leisure, be sure to check that out. Also, your suggestions for improvement are always welcome, so feel free to provide feedback anytime.
Now, when you think about a pitstop, what comes to mind? I think about the stops racers make to get their car refueled or checked to increase their chances of winning the race. Well, we as humans require occasional pitstops along the race of life. In this lesson, we'll discover the pitstop's purpose and how we optimize ourselves by engaging in the pitstops. Let's get into it. Your continued support is always appreciated. Keep spreading God's Gospel, and feel free to share the Scripture of the Week with the hashtag SOW. Enjoy! **Disclaimer: Production and distribution days of the SOW are subject to change without warning**
PRAISE REPORTS: We have breath in our lungs and the ability to see and read. Hallelujah! If you have a specific praise report, please share it because we "overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony" (Revelation 12:11, KJV). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**
PRAYER REQUESTS: Let us pray for the Lord to provide clarity of the vision for the calling in which He's purposed us. Refrain from confessing the problem caused by the enemy; ALWAYS pray for the desired result, NOT the unfavorable outcome (refer to the book The Tongue – A Creative Force by Charles Capps; you can download your FREE copy here https://rb.gy/niy4go). If you or someone you know needs prayer, let me know, and your request will be added to the following SOW. **NOTE: All prayer requests are shared referencing your name and need unless anonymity is specified**
BE ENCOURAGED: NEVER lose sight of God amidst adversity… Ponder this: "Life is like an F1 race, so make sure your pauses are pitstops and not pitfalls." (https://hyderabadyfc.org). I'm no theological scholar. Even if I were a pastor or an expert on God's Word, I would still advise you NEVER to take someone else's word as solid truth; "Study to show thyself approved" (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV), and CHALLENGE EVERYTHING by comparing it to the Word of God. If what you see, hear, or read does NOT fall in line with the Word of God, then it is NOT true... The rest of this day isn't promised, let alone tomorrow, so why not strengthen your faith TODAY? Feed your body healthy nutrition, and be cautious of what things you allow your eyes, ears, and spirit to be exposed to (e.g., media, books, TV, music, etc.) so that YOU can start anew and become a better you NOW rather than later. Let's hold each other accountable.
OPENING PRAYER: Yahweh, please let your presence set the tone for how this lesson will flow and how we will grow from it. Clear our minds and open our eyes, ears, and hearts so that we may be decreased in self and increased in you. Fill us with your presence through the Holy Spirit to see as we look, listen as we hear, and come into alignment with your Word and will. Help us to receive, believe in, and apply your Truth so that we may be transformed by your intended message from this fellowship and become better as a result of it. In the name of Yeshua, we thank you, Amen!
KEY PASSAGE(S) – ECCLESIASTES 10:10: "If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success."
**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) ® Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations were retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted.**
PRAISE REPORTS: We have breath in our lungs and the ability to see and read. Hallelujah! If you have a specific praise report, please share it because we "overcame [the adversary] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of [our] testimony" (Revelation 12:11, KJV). **NOTE: All praise reports are shared referencing your name unless anonymity is specified**
PRAYER REQUESTS: Let us pray for the Lord to provide clarity of the vision for the calling in which He's purposed us. Refrain from confessing the problem caused by the enemy; ALWAYS pray for the desired result, NOT the unfavorable outcome (refer to the book The Tongue – A Creative Force by Charles Capps; you can download your FREE copy here https://rb.gy/niy4go). If you or someone you know needs prayer, let me know, and your request will be added to the following SOW. **NOTE: All prayer requests are shared referencing your name and need unless anonymity is specified**
BE ENCOURAGED: NEVER lose sight of God amidst adversity… Ponder this: "Life is like an F1 race, so make sure your pauses are pitstops and not pitfalls." (https://hyderabadyfc.org). I'm no theological scholar. Even if I were a pastor or an expert on God's Word, I would still advise you NEVER to take someone else's word as solid truth; "Study to show thyself approved" (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV), and CHALLENGE EVERYTHING by comparing it to the Word of God. If what you see, hear, or read does NOT fall in line with the Word of God, then it is NOT true... The rest of this day isn't promised, let alone tomorrow, so why not strengthen your faith TODAY? Feed your body healthy nutrition, and be cautious of what things you allow your eyes, ears, and spirit to be exposed to (e.g., media, books, TV, music, etc.) so that YOU can start anew and become a better you NOW rather than later. Let's hold each other accountable.
OPENING PRAYER: Yahweh, please let your presence set the tone for how this lesson will flow and how we will grow from it. Clear our minds and open our eyes, ears, and hearts so that we may be decreased in self and increased in you. Fill us with your presence through the Holy Spirit to see as we look, listen as we hear, and come into alignment with your Word and will. Help us to receive, believe in, and apply your Truth so that we may be transformed by your intended message from this fellowship and become better as a result of it. In the name of Yeshua, we thank you, Amen!
KEY PASSAGE(S) – ECCLESIASTES 10:10: "If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success."
**Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations originate from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) ® Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations were retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage regardless of the translation quoted.**
REFLECTIONS: When you hear the term pitstop, you probably think about a quick stop you make before you reach your destination, or you think of the Indy 500. But in today's lesson, we're talking about the pitstops in the race of life. For this reference, let's define a pitstop as an opportunity for you to rejuvenate, reenergize, and recommit to your goal. A pitstop, in any sense of the word, is meant to serve as a brief stop or pause that you make to grab some essentials and refuel (that could be literal or figurative). As a Nascar driver, you would need a quick tuneup, tire change, or refueling. As a parent, you might need a moment of silence or a massage. You might need to stop and commit to a therapy session for yourself as a therapist. It's supposed to be your refresher, not your downfall – a pitstop, not a pitfall (a hidden danger or difficulty).
So then, a distraction would be the polar opposite of a pitstop. A distraction is when your thoughts or attention is drawn away and hinders your focus. We are responsible for our attention; nothing can present as a distraction unless you give up your focus for a lesser thing that could delay your destiny. Our commitment to our goals depends on where we invest our attention. Your attention/focus is part of your communication to yourself and others; it reveals your level of appreciation and respect for a person or thing.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as multi-tasking – it does NOT exist! You cannot split your attention to multiple tasks at once – instead, you're rapidly switching jobs, leading to possible mistakes and neglect of one responsibility over the other. However, in our neverending attempts to master multi-tasking, we become overwhelmed and exhausted by the experience of doing, forgetting that we are called human beings, not human doings. Herein is where the pitstop comes into play.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as multi-tasking – it does NOT exist! You cannot split your attention to multiple tasks at once – instead, you're rapidly switching jobs, leading to possible mistakes and neglect of one responsibility over the other. However, in our neverending attempts to master multi-tasking, we become overwhelmed and exhausted by the experience of doing, forgetting that we are called human beings, not human doings. Herein is where the pitstop comes into play.
Our pitstops are the moments in time that we dedicate to being with God – it's where we prioritize time with Him over doing work for Him. Remember the story of Martha and Mary? Let's read Luke 10:40, "40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.' 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" Did you notice that Martha was doing a great thing? She was making preparations to be hospitable to Jesus – to serve Him. But did you also peep how her doing a good service became the thing that distracted her?
We often get so caught up in our service to the Lord, serving on the praise team, leading a ministry, helping the needy, lending a helping hand to a loved one, and working a 9 to 5, all while also trying to parent or complete higher education. These are all beautiful things, but have we appreciated or even recognized our need for the pitstop? The Lord commanded us to "remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8) so that we would find time in His presence to be rejuvenated for the next assignment. This pause is to help us refocus our attention on why we're running the race. In our key passage, we're warned that we "must exert more strength" when we don't keep our edges sharp. For the Nascar driver, the pitstop keeps their car sharp, so their chances of winning remain high. For us, those stops look different from person to person, but their purpose is universal; we are called to be in God's presence so that He can align us with His purpose for the thing(s) He's called us to do.
Don't let your pitstop become a distraction. If your focus is divided among several things, then nothing is a priority, leading to fear of not getting it all done and burnout. Your work can distract you from God. But suppose you can recognize your need for time with God and commit to engaging in the pitstops (entering His presence with your undivided attention). In that case, Elohim will provide the clarity to recognize and avoid distractions, increase your efficiency, increase your capacity for productivity, and optimize your chances to experience holistic success more often. The gurus teach us to grind and to "live hard or die trying," but there is no refreshing in the grind; don't choose the thing you want (success, money, companionship, etc.) over the thing that makes everything possible (the Source - Yahweh).
POWER IN PRAYER: Elohim, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Rapha, help us believe, receive, and accept who your Word says you are in our lives - Provider, Refuge, Healer. Lord, we know that you have assigned us to a greater purpose beyond our human understanding. Please give us the clarity of vision that you have purposed us for; give us the wisdom, knowledge, skill, and willingness to move in the direction you're leading. Equip us with the confidence needed to trust your guidance even when we cannot find logic in it. Reveal our need for pitstops along this race of life, and help us commit to stopping and engaging in your presence so that our pitstops don't become pitfalls. Please help us to maintain our focus on you, and help us to prioritize goals according to their importance, one task at a time so that no duty is left neglected. Meet us where we are, Abba, and help us to live a transformed life. As your angels and Holy Spirit do your bidding on Earth and Heaven, protect them and us with your recourse as you bind, loose, and cast out the demonic spirits of distraction, destruction, retaliation, revenge, and backlash. We ask and thank you for all these things in the matchless name of Yeshua. Amen!
As always, be mindful of the things you feed your body physically and figuratively. Be safe, be blessed, and prioritize your health and well-being! #SOW
Respectfully,
Tylesha "Tye" Allen
Author | Mobile Notary | Founder of FMBS Inc.
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· Change begins within; work on becoming a better You, now not later.
· "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)
