God's Roadmap

Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 TPT).


Thursday, April 17, 2025

2 Reasons Christ's Disciples Didn't Believe Mary's Resurrection Report


by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Even though Jesus warned the disciples more than once about the future suffering He would endure, they still didn't get it (Matthew 16:21).

Despite Christ’s warnings, His followers, like the rest of Israel, waited for a Messiah with military might. The Israelites conquered other nations and entered the Promised Land through war. Their history involved conquering and being conquered. Centuries later, when the Romans ruled over their country they assumed their long-awaited Messiah would rescue them through armed conflict.

The Master Teacher tried to prepare His companions for what lay ahead. But they couldn’t even stay awake to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Mary Magdalene was the first one Christ appeared to after the resurrection, and He gave her the task of proclaiming the good news that He was alive.

She went to the hidden followers and told them she had seen the Lord’s immortal body. They still didn’t pay attention to this eyewitness.

When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark 16:11)

Here are 2 possible reasons they doubted Mary's report.

1. They Were Too Focused on the Natural

Their minds did not always perceive the spiritual reason the Almighty sent His Son to earth.

Christ’s supporters saw miracles unlike any the world had ever experienced before. But as soon as the miraculous was over they reverted to their constrained way of thinking.

A few hours after the loaves and fish multiplication they struggled through a storm and thought a ghost walked on the water until their Redeemer called out to them (Matthew 14:25). At least Peter reverted to faith momentarily and got out of the boat to walk toward His Master on the water.

The second time they were in the same predicament where a crowd needed food, they didn’t refer to the previous miraculous expansion of bread and fish for they still wondered what to do.

His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” (Matthew 15:33)

Except for the event on the mountain where Peter, James, and John watched as the Son of Man transfigured into the glory of the Son of God, His body was as natural as theirs. They knew He was divine, but they still had to deal with the flesh and blood limitations of His humanity.

2, They Didn’t Understand His Mission

Jesus's band of followers either didn’t remember what He said, or they just didn’t get the meaning.

They knew He came to save the lost, but they still waited for the glorious defeat of the Roman empire.

Flogging massacred His flesh. John is the only one who was at the cross and watched Him die, but the others knew what crucifixion did. The darkness of a grave enclosed His corpse.

Wasn’t the Messiah supposed to be their great leader who would free them from bondage?

Heaven’s miracle worker raised others from the dead, so why didn’t He stop what happened? Now all they saw was a stone in front of the tomb’s entrance.

They didn’t understand His mission was twofold. First, He had to destroy sin by becoming the sacrificial lamb. In the future, He would judge the world and rule in justice on the earth.

These apostles were Jewish men who also knew the Scriptures and prophecies. But they didn’t rely on them to discern the Savior’s purpose.

The risen Christ told the couple from Emmaus, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)

Their Unbelief Didn’t Last

Death took away their Lord and Master. Their mental focus on the natural world and lack of understanding the prophecies kept His companions from accepting the resurrection at first. The King of kings Himself was the witness they needed to dispel their doubt.

The Passover Lamb materialized to them in a room with a closed door. Thomas wasn’t at this meeting, and he still didn’t perceive the truth when his friends told them the risen Christ visited them (John 20:19-20).

Thomas wanted substantial proof and Divinity gave it to him on the next visit. But the Lord also told this disciple that it was better to see by faith than see with their eyes (John 20:29).

But we shouldn’t be too hard on these eleven men. We may have been among the doubters too. Now we have the advantage of hindsight and over 2,000 years of biblical history.

After the Holy Spirit filled them, their boldness and witness traveled the then known world and changed history. According to tradition, all but John were martyred for their faith and message, and John was exiled because of His testimony.

They understood the message of the gospel and His redemptive purpose on earth.

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

Because of what they did the good news came to us. Despite the emperors, dictators, atheists, and agnostics who have attempted to disprove the Bible and wipe out Christianity, the Word of God still thrives.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

We can take the words Christ said to Thomas for ourselves. We can’t see Him now with our eyes, but we can trust because we see with our hearts. The Scriptures themselves are our testimony that He is risen just as He said.

May this Resurrection Day be a blessed celebration for you!

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

We don't have to see Jesus with our physical eyes to know He is alive. We can trust the Scripture that proves His is risen just as He said. (Click to share on X)

Image by Ken Thief 🕊 from Pixabay 

Thursday, April 3, 2025

How Does Perfect Love Cast Out Fear?

 


by Barbara Latta

What does the Bible mean when it talks about perfect love?

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. (1 John 4:18a NKJV)

I used to think the perfect love this verse talked about meant I had to display perfect love toward God and others for anxiety to leave me.

But after I heard someone explain this Scripture, the light came on in my mind. (Sometimes I'm slow!)

This verse speaks of God's love, not ours, because His love is the only perfection. We can't express perfect love no matter how close to Him we grow because we still have our flesh (mind and emotions) to deal with.

The second part of that verse says, But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18b)

How does perfect love cast out fear? 

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Consistency is the Key to Success

 


by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Do you ever suffer with being wishy-washy, inconsistent in accomplishing goals, or procrastinate like Scarlett O'Hara?

I often struggle with these ailments and frustration follows because of uncompleted tasks.

When I prayed about my dilemma, I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Consistency is the key."

Consistency is the key. What does that mean, Lord?

Thursday, March 6, 2025

4 Scriptures to Overcome Thoughts of Condemnation and Guilt

 

4 Scriptures to overcome thoughts of condemnation and guilt

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Does your mind play games with your conscience over past sins? Do you suffer with guilt even though you know you are forgiven?

Sometimes the words of others can ignite those thoughts and bring the hammer down on any positive progression we have made in our souls.

I have heard these words from people before. "(Name of person) told me I have cancer because there must be sin in my life."

Or thoughts and accusations come after a disaster or tragedy such as, "This happened because of what I did." (Meaning they think they are being punished because of a past sin, not a consequence of a bad decisions such as having a wreck because of speeding.)

This way of thinking stems from traditions, someone's opinion (that may even be hundreds of years old), or Old Testament stories.

We look to the Old Testament accounts where God punished Israel for their sins and we bring these forward to today. The Lord had to give a penalty to them to keep the decay of transgressions from multiplying to the point of no return. Animal sacrifices offered a temporary reprieve but could not cleanse a person.

The Old Testament is given to us for a reason, but we need to keep reading and discover that Jesus set up a new covenant for believers. He is the One who paid for all sin for all time (Hebrews 10:12-14), and it is a done deal.

Even after we are born again, we can still beat ourselves up over our past.

But this is not the way He wants us as His body on the earth to function.

Because Jesus forgave us, He doesn't want us acting like defeated members of His Church who have no power to overcome. We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)

God hasn't changed. Sin does still need to be dealt with, but Jesus is the One who dealt with it for us. The Father inflicted the punishment for all sin upon His precious Son so that we wouldn't be punished for it.

Our part is to accept Christ's payment for us. If you are still bound by guilt over past sins, let go of the condemnation. Don't hold on to baggage that weighs so heavy on you that you can't move forward in your spiritual life.

Our enemy, the devil, can't take away our salvation. But he wants to paralyze us by keeping us focused on our wrongdoing. He uses these reminders to put condemnation in our minds. But we are told to focus on Christ's victory rather than the wrong we have done.

There is no iniquity more powerful than the blood of Jesus. Nothing is so bad that hasn't already been forgiven.

When your thoughts, or even other people, remind you of what may have transpired in your life, throw those words at the cross. The pure blood of Jesus has made your clean.

Talk to yourself with 4 simple confessions based on these Scriptures when you feel the downward spiral of judgment swirl around your soul.

I am loved. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV)

I am accepted. To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV))

I am forgiven. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NKJV)

I am free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1 NKJV)

Win the war in your mind by saying no to guilt and shame. We have the yes of victory in Christ.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

Does your mind play games with your conscience over past sins? Do you suffer with guilt even though you know you are forgiven? Here are 4 Scriptures to overcome thoughts of condemnation. (click to share on X)

 

 

 

 

Image by Mariya Muschard from Pixabay 4 poppies

Thursday, February 20, 2025

3 Ways to Win Spiritual Battles with the Sword of the Spirit

 


By Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

In ancient Rome, the army of Caesar was an institution to be feared. Everywhere they marched, these soldiers conquered. To resist them meant certain death.

They were heavily armed, trained, and disciplined. They had at their disposal an arsenal of weapons. Among these were various types of swords.

A heavy double-edged sword, too large and heavy to use in battle, was a training tool. This strengthened the soldier’s muscles so that when they wielded their fighting swords in battle they did not grow fatigued and weak.

The spatha was a long sword used in the Roman cavalry and gladiator games. A soldier could swing this instrument of death with a long reach while still on horseback. 

But the gladius was the weapon of the foot soldiers. With a double edge and triangular tip, its reputation was the sword that conquered the world. Just the sight of this sword and the decimation left behind would strike fear in the hearts of an enemy. It was used in close contact because it could penetrate the body between chinks in armor, remove limbs, and slice throats. 

Gladius is the Latin term for this type of sword which in Greek is machaira. And this Greek word is the term Paul used in Ephesians 6:17 when he refers to the sword of the Spirit. The deadly sword Paul tells us to use against our enemy. The machaira of the Spirit.

The devil cannot stand against the Word of God. This weapon strikes fear in this fallen angel because he knows he has no power against those razor-sharp edges. The sword that conquered the spirit world is the sword of redemption. 

Our use of machaira against the enemy of mankind reminds the devil of this. That’s why he fights so hard against our knowledge of the Word of God. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). 

When we receive the revelation of what Christ did for us, we hold the power against our spiritual enemy. It is God’s power in our hands, His sword, and we can eliminate any threat because this weapon strikes behind the devil’s armor—his lies. 

Here are 3 ways to win spiritual battles with the Sword of the Spirit:

1. Strengthen our soul by training (constant immersion in the Word). Then we can stand against our enemy without fatigue or weakness. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

2. Stand in our rightful place of redemption. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Three times in Ephesians 6:10-18, we are told to stand or withstand. The devil is under our feet. We are not under his. 

3. Stay in a sound mind and do not let fear rule. We have been given the spirit of power. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Roman soldiers won battles because they were heavily armed, trained, and disciplined. When we arm ourselves with the Sword of God, train ourselves in His Word, and discipline our souls to only listen to the truth, we are a force that strikes fear in the spiritual wickedness in high places.

We are victorious because our Leader has already won the war for redemption. Our fighting takes place in the battlefield of the mind. Truth conquers lies and the Sword of the Spirit cuts away the false images the defeated enemy shows us. 

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31b-32).

The truth makes us free. 

What are other ways you can think of that help us win spiritual battles with the Sword of the Spirit? Share your thoughts.

When we know what Christ did for us, we have His power to use against our spiritual enemy. (click to tweet)








Thursday, February 6, 2025

3 Benefits of God's Love

 


by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Love is the foundation upon which all biblical doctrines rest. It is the cement that holds all other revelations together. How can we trust our heavenly Father to save us, provide for us, or heal us if we question the depth of His affection?

We may not feel His heart at times, but that doesn’t change the truth. We should believe He is passionate toward us because He said so.

We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19 NKJV). We can’t love God first because there isn’t anything in us to love Him with until we receive for ourselves the life He extends to us.

Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). We don’t deserve His mercy, but He gives it to us because of His grace.

God's love gives us more than we can ever count, but here are 3 benefits we can live out daily.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Remedies for Emotions That Can Create Thoughts of Insignificance


Remedies for emotions that cause thoughts of insignificance

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Have you ever felt insignificant? Hidden from God? That your life doesn't really matter?

The Bible provides examples of women who felt less than worthy. They didn’t feel as if their existence contributed to anything or anyone. Lives full of pain, despair, brokenness, and condemnation were all they knew.

Since the Bible does tell us about these women, we know their story is important. Their lives had a special meaning we can all learn from.

These biblical women are examples of how God overcame their difficulties and redeemed their souls. He will do the same for us with these remedies for emotions that can create thoughts of insignificance.