Category: Spiritual Growth

Daily Promises – August 5 – God has cared for us from the moment we were born

Psalm 71:6 KJV

6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.


Promise #217: I have cared for you from the moment you were born.
In this Psalm David makes that declaration that it was actually God that took him out of his mother’s womb. The Message Bible, this verse says ‘I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth, the day you took me from the cradle;’.  The NIV Bible says ‘From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.’

What an amazing promise! Our God and Father was there on the day you were born! Many people carry around the feeling that their parents didn’t plan their birth, so they feel like they were an accident. This Bible promise says the exact opposite! Not one person who has ever been born has been a mistake! God planned each birth and was in the delivery room to welcome all of us into the world.

If you struggle to feel that you belong in this world, I pray that this promise will go deep into your heart. God knit you together in your mother’s womb and He has cared for you from the moment you were born until today.

And He will never stop caring for you because you are the apple of His eye!
Photo by Barry Adams

God’s love will cause even the worst situation to turn out for good

1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV
34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good;
for his mercy endureth for ever.

Promise #216: I am good and My mercy is everlasting.

In the Garden of Eden, when Satan tempted Adam and Eve, he was primarily questioning the goodness of God. “Did God really say…” He tried to portray a view of God that was skewed and distorted.  That God was insecure and didn’t want the best for Adam and Eve. That God wasn’t good.

The enemy’s tactics have remained the same up until today. He continues to question the goodness of God at every turn. My encouragement to you today is to believe the truth about God and make a declaration to the heavens that He is really good and His love endures forever!

The love that God has for us will not change today, tomorrow or in eternity. It will endure forever! The very foundation of our God and Father’s heart is goodness and love. No matter what happens in life, I would encourage you to not side with the accuser and question your Father’s goodness. Our God is good and He is loving beyond comprehension.

In the midst of any storm that you are going through, His love will cause even the worst situation to turn for good (Romans 8:28). May faith rise up in our hearts to know this on a level that is deeper than we have ever known it before.
Photo by Carl Dyck

Daily Promises – August 3 – Trust in God’s Faithfulness

Psalm 33:4 KJV
4 For the word of the LORD is right;
and all his works are done in truth.

Promise #215: You can trust in My faithfulness because My Word is true.

If I would make a promise to my children and they would question the integrity of what I promised, that would hurt me deeply. As a father, it is my hope that my children would have confidence in my character and my word. If they doubted what I said, then I would feel that they question the very core of who I am. I believe that the foundation of any relationship is trust. If there is no trust, then the relationship is on shaking ground.

In today’s promise, the Psalmist is singing praises to God and makes the declaration that the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. The NLT Bibles says Psalm 33:4 this way… For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

If we struggle to believe that God’s word is true and we cannot trust Him completely, then we are in effect doubting God’s very character. Every time we question God’s Word or His goodness, we are agreeing with the Father of Lies and the continual accusations he brings against God. Just as this would hurt an earthly father, I believe that it deeply grieves the Father of Lights.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith, it is impossible to please God. I believe that our God and Father loves it when His kids simply believe every word He says… Just like a little child believes everything their mom or dad has to say to them.

My prayer today is that Holy Spirit would make us aware of the unbelieving thoughts that come into our mind and we would break any power of agreement with them, for the Word of the LORD is right and we can trust everything that He does!

Daily Promises – August 2 – The Kings belong to God

(My Note: The last few weeks have been nerve-wracking, at best. Those of us who depend on Social Security, the military, and any others who were threatened that we might not get our checks tomorrow or later this month, or anyone who may feel any other repercussion of this situation, were tested as to how strong our faith is.

Knowing that God is the King of all the earth, knowing that He allows all of the things to happen around us, and that He will carry us through it is where our only sure Hope lies.

The world truly is shaking around us.   But we know He will carry us through this crisis.

We know He wants no harm to come to us.

He promises that all will work out for our good.

Holding onto Him during this time of potential financial crisis is our real comfort.

We all should feel that we are truly blessed to know, as well as feel, His constant presence.)

Psalm 47:7-9 KJV
7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

Promise #214: I rule the earth and all the kings belong to Me.God is the King of all the earth. Jesus is proclaimed as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There is no disputing the absolute and complete power of the living God. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. While our adversary the devil, has limited power for a short season as the prince of the power of the air, the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it!When everything around us seems to be shaken… Wars, economies, governments, etc., have no fear! God is seated in the heavens and He rules the earth. May we rise up and worship Him today for His goodness and His mercy and His majesty!Hollywood often projects the battle of good versus evil as two equal, opposing forces clashing for victory. The truth is that our God is all powerful and ever present. He is so huge, that the universe cannot contain Him. We are not locked in a battle between good and evil that has an uncertain outcome. We win! Jesus has already declared the victory through His death and resurrection!

While we know that in this world we will have trouble, may each one of us be encouraged today in knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and that our heavenly Dad is the God and Father over all creation (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Discipleship: Looking Back is Double-mindedness

August 2nd, 2011 → 2:00 am @ admin

By Jon Walker

Someone else said, “I will follow you, sir; but first let me go and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus said to him, “Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61-62 (TEV)

“The trouble about this third would-be disciple is that at the very moment he expresses his willingness to follow, he ceases to want to follow at all. By making his offer on his own terms, he alters the whole position, for discipleship can tolerate no conditions which might come between Jesus and our obedience to him.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

When we follow Jesus, we cannot stipulate our own terms. Discipleship is not, Bonhoeffer notes, like a career we map out for ourselves: “I’ll do this for Jesus after I get the kids through school and build my retirement fund.” We cannot arrange things to suit ourselves; otherwise, Bonhoeffer says, we end up serving Jesus “in accordance with the standards of a rational ethic.”

This still leaves us in control, deciding our service on what makes sense. We may accomplish good things, but that doesn’t make us disciples of Jesus. Jesus says, “Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62 TEV).

Looking back is double-mindedness. It makes us unstable and uncertain, and that’s the exact opposite of the focused following Jesus expects of us. It means there are moments in our relationship with Jesus when we say, ‘I’ll get back to you, Jesus, just as soon as I finish with my priorities.’ It is the creature putting the Creator on hold.

Jon Walker is the author of Costly Grace: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer’s ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ and Growing with Purpose. He has served on staff at Saddleback Church and Purpose Driven Ministries and is currently the managing editor of Rick Warren’s Daily Devotionals and the Ministry Toolbox. Contact him at questions@gracecreates.com. This article is copyrighted 2011 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

Daily Promises – August 1 – No excuse for not knowing God is real

(Note: As you are aware, I don’t add a lot of notes. The messages I find are generally so self-sufficient, adding to them is not required. However, because of what just happened to me, I wanted to share with you.

I usually read through a complete message, and then decide how to title it. This time, I looked at the picture, immediately thought of Romans 1:20, and made up the title before reading the message.

If there ever was a confirmation that God was in a title, this shows it.

I love it when He let’s me know I’m on the right track in my thinking.

It thrills me.

Our goal is to always been on the same page with Him.

Isn’t God cute?

It’s the little things, huh?)

Psalm 19:1 KJV
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Promise #213: The heavens declare My glory and reveal My handiwork.In Romans 1:20 in the NLT Bible it says…
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (NLT)Nature is continually revealing the character and nature of God. Every tree, every stream, every animal on the face of the planet bears witness to the glory and majesty of the Triune God. There is simply no excuse. Nature proves not only that God exists, but that He is kind and gracious to all that He has made.I love this photo of the northern lights in Canada. What an amazing display of the glory of God! Today’s promise simply states that the heavens declare His glory and the skies show off His handiwork. My prayer for all of us today is that there will be a heightened awareness to the eternal power of God that is clearly displayed in the world around us. The next time you look at a sunrise or sunset, or billowing clouds, or a clear starry night, may the love of God overwhelm you and may you see His glory revealed through all that He has created.
Photo by Carl Dyck

Daily Promises – July 31 – God’s Promises are True

Numbers 23:19 KJV
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:
hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Promise #212: Every promise that I make is true for I do not lie or change My mind.

In today’s promise, Numbers 23:19 clearly tells us that God is not a man, that he should lie. One of the problems that we have relating to God is the ability to trust Him completely. The reason why we struggle to trust him is that we have learned from life’s experiences that people do not always keep their promises.

While I don’t think we intentionally make the same assumptions about God, there is something in the human heart that can sometimes project onto God the same disappointments that we have experienced with people close to us. Because God says that He is the perfect Father, many times we can assume that God will treat us just like our earthly fathers did. If we struggled to trust our parents, then we may struggle to trust God.

But this promise clearly says that God is not like any person on earth. He does not lie or change His mind. Every promise that He makes is completely and absolutely true! The work that God has called us to is to simply believe that He is who He says He is. May faith rise up in our hearts today that cries out ‘Yes and Amen!’ to every promise that God makes! He is true! He is faithful! …And He always keeps His promises.
Photo by Mark Gyde

What is Faith?

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:11 NIV

Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see.

Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel’s angel.

Eyes see storms. Faith sees Noah’s rainbow.

Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.

Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees his blood.

Daily Promises – July 30

Revelation 22:4 KJV
 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Promise #211: One day, you will see My face and My name will be on your forehead.

In the book of Genesis, the story begins with our God and Father creating the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. In the book of Revelation, the Bible ends with the promise that we will see God face to face and His name will be written on our foreheads.  What an amazing hope that we all have to look forward to.

In the Old Testament, no man could see God and live. When we get to heaven, we will be able to look face to face into His loving eyes and have His name imprinted upon us.  I pray that God will open the eyes of our hearts today so that by faith we will be able to look forward to that day when He will wipe all our tears away.

This is our destiny. This is where we are headed if we have received the free gift of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s life. We have nothing to fear. We have nothing to dread. Just an eternity of glorious bliss, gazing into the eyes of the One who loved us before the creation of the world. Hallelujah!
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 29

1 John 3:2 KJV
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 Promise #210: You are My children now, and you will be just like Jesus when He appears.

When Jesus returns, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. This Scripture tells us that at this point, we don’t know what that will look like. All we know is that when we fix our eyes on Jesus, there will be a final transformation that will take place to conform us into His image completely.

While this promise gives us hope for the future, it also speaks directly into our present situation. The Apostle John encourages us that we are sons of God now! We do not have to wait until we see Jesus face to face to experience the tangible reality of being God’s kids. We are His children now, and one day, we will see all of the human trappings of our flesh consumed in the fire of the presence of Jesus when we see him face to face.

But until then, we have an amazing promise that we are already the children of God right now! May each one of us be able to see with our spiritual eyes today that the promise of God is not only for the future, but for the present.

Photo by Barry Adams

Our Next Door Savior

Anything you did even for the least of my people here, you did also for me.

Matthew 25:40

What is the sign of the saved?

Their scholarship?

Their willingness to go to foreign lands?

Their ability to amass an audience and preach?

Their skillful pens and hope-filled volumes?

No.

The sign of the saved is their love for the least . . .

No fanfare.

No hoopla.

No media coverage.

Just good people doing good things.

For when we do good things to others we do good things to God.

~ Max Lucado

Second Birth

God is being patient with you . . . He wants all people to change their hearts and lives.”  2 Peter 3:9

In many ways your new birth is like your first: In your new birth God provides what you need; someone else feels the pain, and someone else does the work. And just as parents are patient with their newborn, so God is patient with you. But there is one difference. The first time you had no choice about being born; this time you do.

The power is God’s.

The effort is God’s.

The pain is God’s.

But the choice is yours.

~ Max Lucado

Verse of the Day – July 28 – Press toward the Goal

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14 NKJV

Hebrews 12 NIV

 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Daily Promises – July 28 – When all around us is shaking

Revelation 3:12 KJV
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Promise #209: Those who overcome will be made pillars in My temple forever.

The Bible says that life is but a vapor. The span of a person’s life is but a twinkle of the eye in the perspective of all eternity. That is why it is so important for us to have an eternal mindset rather than a temporal one. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, the NIV Bible says … 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV)

When the pressures of life get too much. When the worries of an uncertain future cloud our thought life. When we are discouraged with the circumstances around us. No matter what situation you find yourself in today, take a moment, and think about eternity.  In today’s Scripture, Jesus Himself, promises that He is going to make us as pillars in the temple of His God forever and write on each one of us a new name!

When all around us begins to shake, be encouraged that God is giving us a kingdom that cannot be shaken. One day, all those who belong to Jesus will stand firm forever in the city of our God, the New Jerusalem!
Photo by Mark Gyde

He sings over you

The Lord God is like a sun and shield; the Lord gives us kindness and honor.

Psalm 84:11

Rejections are like speed bumps on the road.

They come with the journey.

You can’t keep people from rejecting you.

But you can keep rejections from enraging you.

How? By letting God’s acceptance compensate for their rejection.

When others reject you, let God accept you.

He is not frowning.

He is not mad.

He sings over you.

Take a long drink from His limitless love.

~Max Lucado

The Fear of Man


by Neil Anderson – July 27

Psalm 118:6-8
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man

 

David’s question in Psalm 118:6 introduces a common fear among Christians: the fear of man. The timid man is quick to respond to the question, “I’ll tell you what man can do to me. He can abuse me, he can fire me from my job, and he can even kill me.”

True, but Jesus tells us to lay those fears aside: “Do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). If you fail to take God as your refuge, the fear of man will control your life.

God appointed Saul to be the first king of Israel and commanded him to utterly destroy Amalek, along with all of his family, followers and possessions. Unfortunately, Saul didn’t completely obey. Samuel confronted Saul, and after Saul’s excuses ran out, he confessed, “I have sinned . . . because I feared the people and listened to their voice” (1 Samuel 15:24). Then the Lord rejected Saul as king of Israel. More than one king has fallen for fearing man more than God.

Suppose you are intimidated by your boss. You work in fear of him from eight to five. What power does he have over you? He could fire you! How could you overcome that power? You could quit or be willing to quit. By not allowing your boss to hold the job over your head, you would free yourself from his intimidations. God’s Word says, “Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” (1 Peter 3:14, 15).

I’m not suggesting that you rebel against your boss or become irresponsible. Servants are to obey their masters, and we are to work heartily as for the Lord rather than men (Colossians 3:22, 23). However, when you make God your sanctuary, you free yourself to live a responsible life. If you lose your job in the process, you have the assurance that God will meet all your needs.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be a God-pleaser, not a people-pleaser. Give me strength to stand up for the truth no matter what the cost.

Daily Promises – July 27 – God will take care of you

Matthew 6:25-26 KJV
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?


Promise #208: Don’t worry, I will take care of you.

This is a relatively short promise compared to the lengthy corresponding Bible text. But if you look at the simple message that Jesus is saying, the promise is short and sweet. When I was growing up, I was taught that worry was a sign of being responsible. If I didn’t worry, then I didn’t care.

As I get older, I am learning that many of the things that I was told were actually not the truth. Worry is not helpful to us. Worry is not a sign of responsibility. While worry cannot extend our lives, studies show that it can shorten our lives because over 70% of illnesses are stress related. This only goes to show that our bodies were not created to deal with a lot of stress.

Jesus encourages us to ‘take no thought for our life’…period. The reason why we don’t have to worry is because we have a Father in heaven who has promised to take care of us all of the days of our lives. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus tells how His Father cares for the birds of the air who do not sow or reap or store into barns. He then asks the question… How much more valuable are you than the birds?

Worry is a sign that we are not yet convinced of our value to God. Don’t worry about how much you worry though! Just ask God to give you a deeper revelation of your worth to Him. Fathers provide for their children. Children don’t have to beg for their provision, they can just rest in the knowledge that they are being cared for by a loving Dad. Don’t worry… God will take care of you!
Photo by Jeff Epp

What’s in store for you?


The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too.

Isaiah 58:11 NLT

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.

William Williams

A step at a time

Wouldn’t you like to know now what is in store for you a year from now? God leads us a day a time, a step at a time. No need to worry about distant events. The Welsh hymn writer William Williams compared the Christian life to the Israelite’s trek through the wilderness. We may not know the route by which God is leading us, but we humbly count on His guidance.

As a college student, Williams prepared for a career in medicine. But one Sunday morning he heard a man preaching in a Welsh churchyard. Williams responded in faith, and his life was radically changed. For forty-three years he preached and sang throughout Wales. “He sang Wales into piety,” said one writer. He was the poet laureate of the Welsh revival. Soon, all of Wales was singing their way to the coal mines and soccer matches. And their favorite hymn was this marching song by one of their own: “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah.…Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee.”

Adapted from The One Year Book of Bible Prayers (Tyndale House) entry for January 12

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Daily Promises – July 26

Psalm 86:7 KJV
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee:
for thou wilt answer me.

Promise: When problems arise, call to Me and I will answer you.
Jesus told us that in the world, we would have trouble. He went on to encourage us that we could be cheerful because He had overcome the world. In this Psalm, David is calling out to God to help him. David is aware of the many promises that God made to Israel and was confident that when trouble came, God would answer him.

Sometimes I think that God is there for the really big problems, but He is leaving me to my own resources for the little problems that pop up in every day life. I believe that God is ready, willing and able to help me in whatever problems I face today. Big or small. He promised to be a Father to me (2 Corinthians 6:18) and fathers are there for their children all the time. Whatever trouble you might face today, be encouraged in knowing that when problems do arise, you can call out to your heavenly Father and He will answer you.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 25

Deuteronomy 4:7 KJV
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them,
as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

Promise: I am near to you whenever you cry out.
In this particular Bible verse, the nation of Israel is marvelling that there is no other nation on the earth that has a God that is so close to them that He is near whenever they cry out. What an advantage over every other nation of the day! They worshipped a God who was near and attentive to the cries of His people.

And that was the Old Covenant relationship with God. In the New Covenant, God is even closer! He lives within those who have accepted the free gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are the very temple of the living God! He is closer to each one of us that we could possibly imagine.  My prayer today is that each one of us would be aware of the tangible presence that dwells within us and that we would know that our God is really close to us when we cry out to Him.
Photo by Jeff Epp

How should I pray?

 

For days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:4 NLT

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

Aligning my will to God’s

E. Stanley Jones described the effect of prayer on us like this:

Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God. Aligned to God’s redemptive will, anything, everything can happen in character, conduct, and creativeness. The whole person is heightened by that prayer contact. In that contact I find health for my body, illumination for my mind, and moral and spiritual reinforcement for my soul. “Prayer is a time exposure to God,” so I expose myself to God for an hour and a half or two hours a day, asking less and less for things and more and more for Himself. For having Him, I have everything. He gives me what I need for character, conduct, and creativeness, so I’m rich with His riches, strong in His strength, pure in His purity, and able in His ability.

quoted by R. Kent Hughes in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes (Tyndale House) p 326

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

How is your prayer life?

Our prayers bring us into God’s presence.

 

The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Psalm 145:17-19 NLT

Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”

1 Samuel 14:36 NLT

The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

Mark 1:35 NLT

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

About this promise

The most universally practiced yet least understood of human experiences, prayer is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Its simplest definition is communication with God. Yet so often we approach prayer like a one-way telephone conversation, forgetting that God also wants to speak to us. Prayer appears nearly on every page of the Bible as the very essence of a faith relationship with the living God.

From the TouchPoint Bible (Tyndale House) p 1246

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

How can I make my prayers effective?


I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT

Praying effectively

Paul urges Timothy to lift up requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving.

A request is a need, a deep desire for something we don’t have — something only God can supply.

A prayer is a word of praise and adoration. A more accurate translation of this word from the original Greek might be to “worship in earnest.”

Intercession is praying on behalf of others. Our prayers should regularly reflect this kind of selfless lifestyle.

Thanksgiving involved remembering those past prayers that have already been answered, acknowledging that we not only trust God’s supremacy and involvement in our life but also how his hand has moved and guided us in the past.

When we pray effectively, we do more than communicate with God — we commune with him. We become one in mind and spirit and purpose. Today, let the focus of your prayer time be to connect with God in a very real and personal way, not as a slave would petition his master, but as a son would enjoy the company of a loving and gracious father.

Adapted from a devotional by Frank M. Martin in Embracing Eternity (Tyndale House) p 36

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

What is the best time to pray?

 

We can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:14-15

I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Psalm 116:1-2

Seize any time

And talking of sleepiness, I entirely agree with you that no one in his senses, if he has any power of ordering his own day, would reserve his chief prayers for bedtime — obviously the worst possible hour for any action which needs concentration. The trouble is that thousands of unfortunate people can hardly find any other. Even for us, who are the lucky ones, it is not always easy. My own plan, when hard-pressed, is to seize any time and place, however unsuitable, in preference to the last waking moment. On a day of travelling — with, perhaps, some ghastly meeting at the end of it — I’d rather pray sitting in a crowded train than put it off till midnight when one reaches a hotel bedroom with aching head and dry throat and one’s mind partly in a stupor and partly in a whirl. On other, and slightly less crowded, days a bench in a park or a back street where one can pace up and down will do.

C. S. Lewis in Letters to Malcolm
Quoted in The Quotable Lewis edited by Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root (Tyndale House) p 493)

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

What should be our attitude in prayer?

 

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went back to bed. And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Yes, your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:8-10 NLT

Speak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on Thee; hushed my heart to listen in expectancy.
Speak, O blessed Master, in this quiet hour, let me see Thy face, Lord, feel Thy touch of power.

Emily May Grimes

God revealed

God revealed himself mightily to the prophet Elijah, sending fire to burn the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. But later, as Elijah moped on the mountain, the Lord taught him an important lesson. There was a wind, an earthquake, and a fire — but the Lord was not in any of these. Then came a still, small voice. That was how God chose to speak to His prophet.

The same is true today. We long for fire from heaven to silence the skeptics once and for all, but God doesn’t usually work that way. Long ago He revealed Himself as a helpless baby sleeping in a dirty feed trough, and today He speaks quietly to ordinary people like you and me—if only we are still enough to listen. That is the sentiment expressed by Emily May Grimes in the words of the hymn, “Speak, Lord, in the Stillness.”

From The One Year Book of Hymns (Tyndale House) entry for September 5

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

How can I deal with feelings of hopelessness?

 

“The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT

A future and a hope

Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite verse of many, but it comes in a context that may add even greater meaning.

It appears in the middle of the prophet’s announcement. The people of Israel were going to spend a long exile away from their homeland — 70 years — as God’s discipline. After that, God would return them to the land. In other words, God had a plan for their future.

Our sinfulness often leads to dismal situations and feelings of despair. But we must always remember that hopelessness does not come from God. God is the author of hope. Even the Exile, with its seeming hopelessness, was part of God’s long-range plan for his people. And his plans were good.

If you are facing hopelessness, you may be inheriting the results of some other person’s sinful decisions and actions. Or you may be reaping your own bad rewards. You may not have really discovered the hope that is found in God’s love for you through Jesus Christ. Reject despair and seek out God’s plan — and his hopes — for you.

Adapted from the TouchPoint Bible
(Tyndale House) p 660

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Daily Promises – July 24

Hebrews 4:9-10 KJV
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Promise: If you enter into My rest, you will find rest from all your striving.
One thing that marks the orphan world system that we live in is the absense of the ability to rest. Busy, busy, busy. There is so much to do and too little time to do it. Rushing from work to home, rushing from home to work. Rushing to do the groceries, driving the kids to sports, going to church, etc. Throw in the thousands of media messages that we all get bombarded with every day. Busy, busy, busy.

It is exhausting just thinking about it. God is calling each one of us into a deep Sabbath rest in the very core of our being. While on the outside this might appear like pure inactivity and therefore unproductive, I believe the very opposite is true. When we allow ourselves to come into a place in our hearts where we cease from our own works, we are demonstrating in a very practical way that we are relying on God to work on our behalf.

This very real form of trust moves the heart of our heavenly Dad in a way that nothing else can. As long as we try to do all the work ourselves, carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, we will be trying to do the work in our own strength. When we come to a place where we can slow down in our hearts and quiet the busyness that resides in the depths of our soul, we will find the Prince of Peace waiting for us to join Him.

Sure work needs to get done, groceries need to get bought, kids need to be driven to their various activities. But I believe it is our Papa’s heart that we enter into a deep Sabbath rest in our hearts where we cease from our own striving and join Him in His rest. May God give each one of us wisdom today to show us how we can labor to enter into that place of rest.
Photo by Steve Taylor

What bad consequences does anger have?

by Paul J. Bucknell

Angry People find it very difficult to admit the evil nature of anger.
Perhaps this is because the spirit of anger is so close at hand.

A review of the consequences of anger can help motivate those with a spirit of anger to get rid of their anger.

Anger or angry is used 433 times in the Bible. Much research can be done on these passages. In what passage did Jesus expose the need to eliminate anger from our lives?

• Anger is unacceptable before God.
  

We can never accomplish God’s ways with anger.
    James 1:19-20
   “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to  hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

• Anger leads to more anger.

     If you think ones anger is bad now, it will get worse unless you take a strong course of action.
    Proverbs 10:12
” Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.”

• Anger becomes addictive.
 

Angry people don’t simply change.
    Proverbs 19:19
” [A man of] great anger shall bear the penalty, For if you rescue [him,] you will only have to do it again.”

• Anger leads to hostility and lawsuits.

  Anger easily leads to extra expensive and stressful situations that otherwise could have been avoided.
    Matthew 5:25
“Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.”

• Anger always needs reconciliation.

Anger produces strained relationships which must be solved before we go on in our spiritual lives.
    Matthew 5:23
“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

• Anger always needs restoration.

Angry people are constantly hurting people and causing offenses.
    Proverbs 14:17
“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.”

If you do not enjoy relationships but are tense, mean and critical, there is a good chance that you have an angry spirit.

People don’t like to be around angry people. It simply follows that if a person has an angry and bitter attitude, he will more than likely have problems in his interpersonal relationships. Ask yourself the following questions?

  •  When was the last time you lost your temper?
  •  Did you ever physically hurt someone through your anger?
  •  What are some of the phrases that you use when angry?
  •  Have you ever apologized for your anger?
  •  What relationships are being stressed because of unresolved anger?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is centered around God’s love for us and through us. We cannot tolerate anger in our lives. Anger brings physical, emotional and social damages to our lives and others. All these serious consequences point to our need of the gospel of Christ’s love.

Daily Promises – July 23

Isaiah 58:7-8 KJV
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

Promise: If you share with the needy, My glory will guard your back.
God’s heart is always for the poor and those who are in need. It is simply a foundational part of the heart of God. He protects the widows and the orphans. He says that the poor of this world are called to inherit the riches of His everlasting kingdom.

In this promise, God says that if we look after the needs of the poor and our own family, there are many benefits that will come our way. Our light will break forth like the dawn, healing will quickly appear, righteousness will go before us, and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. (NIV) I love how the NLT Bible says verse 8… 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. (NLT)

God’s heart is always for the underdog. He is always thinking of those who are need. When we really connect to the heart of our God and Father, we will share His concern for those around us. The stronger His heart beat becomes in us, the more we will share what we have with others and the more His glory will guard our back. May each one of us become more aware of the immediate needs of those around us today.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 21

 

Jeremiah 30:17 KJV
17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds,
saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying,
This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Promise: I will restore your health and heal all your hurts.
In this fallen orphan world that we live in, sickness is part of every day life. We all know someone who is struggling with some form of infirmity, or we ourselves may be struggling. When Jesus taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer, He said for us to ask our Father to bring His kingdom to this world. Since there is no sickness in heaven, we can receive comfort in knowing that healing is part of the good news of the gospel.

In today’s promise, God promises to restore health to our bodies and to bring healing to all our wounds. How the fulfillment of that promise applies to us personally is as unique as each one of us is different. God’s ways are not our ways and the fulfillment of this promise is tailored uniquely to our own circumstance.

Personally, I have suffered partial deafness as a result of a childhood ear infection. I can’t count the number of times that I have received prayer for healing. While the healing has not yet manifested itself, I still hold on to the promise that God is faithful and healing is part of the New Covenant bought and paid for by Jesus Christ.

Though there are times when I feel disappointment for not yet receiving my healing, I continue to open up my heart for more prayer. Sometimes that feeling of disappointment can open the door to disillusionment about healing. It is times like this that I need healing of the wounds of my soul. In Jeremiah 30:17, God promises to bring health to our bodies and healing to all the wounds we suffer in our heart.  I pray that whatever your circumstance is today, that faith would rise up in your heart and you would believe God for the healing you need for both your body and your soul.
Photo by Barry Adams

Daily Promises – July 20

Psalm 30:11 KJV
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:
thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.

Promise: I will turn your mourning into dancing and surround you with joy.

We all struggle with grief at one time or another in life. We lose those we love. We suffer the loss of many things. In a life that ebbs and flows, there are seasons of mourning and seasons of dancing. In Ecclesiastes we read that there is a season for all things. The promise for today acknowledges there is a season for grieving in our lives but it also points to the time when our God and Father will turn that season of mourning into a season of dancing. It is God Himself who will throw off our clothes of sadness and clothes us with joy!In times of grief and heartbreak, God promises to be close to us. So if you are in that season, allow the love of God to fill your soul and carry you in your weakest moment. But be encouraged, that there is a time coming when God Himself will turn your mourning into dancing and will surround you with His own joy.
Photo by Jeff Epp

Signs of a Healthy Prayer Life

Have you ever experienced the discouragement of an unanswered prayer? Have you found yourself questioning God, wondering “Why didn’t he answer my prayer?” and “Why is he silent now when I need him the most?” As you sit there, you may realize that prayer sometimes seems like a one-sided event, even though we know God’s there.

How do you respond to his silence? Do you try to “figure” God out—the purpose behind it all—asking “Was it because I sinned?” “Is a better opportunity coming?”or “Have I lost God’s favor?” Answering these questions will most likely leave you disappointed and confused. After all, our Lord’s ways are mysterious.

Instead of resorting to gimmicks stating to “pray this and receive,” it’s time to deepen your understanding of prayer itself.

The Bible shows us:

  • How to pray.
  • Four kinds of prayer (ACTS).
  • Three destable prayer forms.
  • How Jesus prayed.
  • Phrase-by-phrase analysis of the Lord’s Prayer .
  • Denied prayers throughout the Bible.
  • What to do when God seems silent.
  • What to do when waiting for an answer.
  • Over 100 biblical examples of prayer.

8 Signs of a Healthy Prayer Life

  1. Prays frequently and persistently
  2. Asks in faith
  3. Acknowledges God’s will
  4. Depends on the Holy Spirit
  5. Avoids selfish and hypocritical prayers
  6. Accepts when God says no
  7. Knows what to do when God seems silent
  8. Listens for God to answer

 

From Rose Publishing

Daily Promises – July 19

 

Ephesians 6:11 KJV
11 Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Promise: My armor will help you stand against the plans of the enemy.

In Ephesians 6, Paul the Apostle exhorts the church at Ephesus to put on the full armor of God in order to be able to stand against the tricks of the enemy. It is interesting to note that the armor does not belong to us, but it belongs to God. It is His armor.

He has given us His helmet of salvation to guard our mind and give us peace. He has given us His breastplate of righteousness to protect our heart. He has given us His belt of truth so that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. He has prepared our feet with shoes of peace so we can proclaim the good news wherever we go. He has given us His shield of faith so that when we lift it up, we quench all of the fiery arrows from the enemy.

And last but not least, He has given us an offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God so we can advance the kingdom. Our God and Father has given us everything we need to live a godly life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We stand in His armor, His power, His protection… not our own. So having done all to stand in the power of God’s might, continue to stand today.
Photo by Barry Adams

Note: I was amazed at the new understanding that this author relates. It is much of a relief to know that God has us covered. We just choose to let Him handle everything. It’s our willingness to put on God’s armor that He is interested in.

Daily Promises – July 18

Psalm 5:11 KJV
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Promise: I will blanket My protection over all who trust in Me.

In the NLT & NIV Bible versions of this verse, the psalmist asks God to ‘spread His protection over them‘. The Amplified Bible says ‘make a covering over them’. When I think of this promise, I imagine that Papa God spreads a huge canopy, a nice warm comforting blanket over us that provides warmth, protection and shelter all the days of our life.

The knowledge of a loving God that is brooding over us and protecting us will cause us to trust Him even more and fill us to overflowing with unspeakable joy. I chose this particular photo of cloud cover to remind me that just as the clouds can shield us from the heat of the sun’s rays, so God’s love covers us and shields us from the harshness that life can bring our way.  May each one of us snuggle under the blanket of God’s protecting love today and may our hearts be filled with joy knowing that we are safe and secure today and for the rest of our lives.
Photo by Barry Adams

His Perfect Love will banish fear from your heart

1 John 4:18 KJV
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Promise: My perfect love will banish fear from your heart.According to the Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for ‘perfect’ is complete. Imagine a love that is complete in every way. The love of a father, the love of a mother, the love of a friend, the love of a brother, the love of a spouse, etc. Whatever love we need, the true source is found in the completeness of God’s love.In this passage, the word for love used here is the Greek word ‘agape‘, which often describes the love that comes from God. In 1 John 4:16, God Himself is described as the complete expression of love and then two verses later the Apostle John says that God’s perfect love will violently throw out all fear from our hearts. The root of worry is fear. The root of insecurity is fear. Fear of man, fear of the future, fear of the present, fear of lack, etc.  There are many things in this world that cause us to be afraid but God continually is telling His kids “Do not fear!”I believe He says it 365 times in the Bible, one encouragement for every day of the year! What an amazing promise! Fear cannot co-habit with love. When love comes, fear is banished forever! God is love.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God!

Today, allow the perfect, complete love that flows from the heart of Almighty God to fill your heart to overflowing and fear will have no option but to flee in response.

Daily Promises – July 15

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet,
and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord:
neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Promise: Do not be sad for My joy is your strength.

In this passage of Scripture, Israel had assembled to listen to the Word of the Lord. It sounds like it was a very intense time and people were weeping in such a solemn assembly. No doubt they might have been surprised when they heard the Lord’s encouragement for them not to be sad, but to rely on the joy of the Lord to find their true strength.

The word strength here in the Hebrew means a fortified place, a fort, a rock, a strong hold from the Strong’s Concordance. Just think of it…the joy of the Lord is your personal fortress! Whenever you are faced with sadness, run into the strong hold of the Lord’s joy and that is where you will find your strength.

God is filled with joy! Joy is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is described as righteousness, peace and joy. Jesus said that He came that our joy might be full. In His presence is fullness of joy! The joy of the Lord is our unshakeable strong hold in the midst of a world that is continually being shaken. No matter what comes your way in life, take refuge in Papa God’s joy over you today. It is a safe place where you can live forever!

Photo by Barry Adams

You are immersed in it

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.

Psalm 126:3 NKJV

You have not been sprinkled with forgiveness.

You have not been spattered with grace.

You have not been dusted with kindness.

You have been immersed in it.

You are submerged in mercy.

You are a minnow in the ocean of God’s mercy.

Let it change you!

Max Lucado

Life is too short . . .

Laugh when you can.

Apologize when you should.

And let go of what you can’t change.

Love deeply and forgive quickly.

Take chances and give your everything.

Life is too short to be anything but happy.

You have to take the good with the bad.

Love what you have.

Always remember what you had.

Forgive and forget.

And always remember that life goes on.

Almost

“We don’t live following our sinful selves,

but we live following the Spirit.”

Romans 8:4

ALMOST. How many times do these six letters find their way into despairing epitaphs?

“She almost chose not to leave him.” “He almost became a Christian.”

Jesus . . . demands absolute obedience. He never has room for “almost” in his vocabulary. You are either with him or against him . . . With the Master, “almost” is just as good as “never.”

Max Lucado

Daily Promises – July 14

Psalm 28:9 KJV
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance:
feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Promise #195: I will shepherd My inheritance and carry them forever.

In this Bible verse, David is crying out for God to save His people, bless His inheritance, feed them and lift them up for ever. In the NIV and NLT versions, he cries out for God to be their shepherd and carry them for ever. We know that David was a man after God’s own heart. As a boy, David learned a thing or two about the heart of a shepherd. In this Scripture passage, David is acknowledging that God is the ultimate Shepherd who has promised to feed His people and carry them in His arms forever! In Isaiah 40:11, there is an amazing picture of God as a loving shepherd…  11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (NIV Bible) In Psalm 23, David takes time to describe the many benefits of being shepherded by the living God.  Whatever challenges you are facing in your life today, be comforted in knowing that God has promised to shepherd you, bless you, feed you and carry you forever!
Photo by Barry Adams

Was Jesus ever angry?

When Jesus cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal-sellers, He showed great emotion and anger (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-22). Jesus’ emotion was described as “zeal” for God’s house (John 2:17). His anger was pure and completely justified because at its root was concern for God’s holiness and worship. Because these were at stake, Jesus took quick and decisive action. Another time Jesus showed anger was in the synagogue of Capernaum. When the Pharisees refused to answer Jesus’ questions, “He looked around at them in anger, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts” (Mark 3:5).

Many times, we think of anger as a selfish, destructive emotion that we should eradicate from our lives altogether. However, the fact that Jesus did sometimes become angry indicates that anger itself, as an emotion, is amoral. This is borne out elsewhere in the New Testament. Ephesians 4:26 instructs us “in your anger do not sin” and not to let the sun go down on our anger. The command is not to “avoid anger” (or suppress it or ignore it) but to deal with it properly, in a timely manner. We note the following facts about Jesus’ displays of anger:

1) His anger had the proper motivation. In other words, He was angry for the right reasons. Jesus’ anger did not arise from petty arguments or personal slights against Him. There was no selfishness involved.

2) His anger had the proper focus. He was not angry at God or at the “weaknesses” of others. His anger targeted sinful behavior and true injustice.

3) His anger had the proper supplement. Mark 3:5 says that His anger was attended by grief over the Pharisees’ lack of faith. Jesus’ anger stemmed from love for the Pharisees and concern for their spiritual condition. It had nothing to do with hatred or ill will.

4) His anger had the proper control. Jesus was never out of control, even in His wrath. The temple leaders did not like His cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:47), but He had done nothing sinful. He controlled His emotions; His emotions did not control Him.

5) His anger had the proper duration. He did not allow His anger to turn into bitterness; He did not hold grudges. He dealt with each situation properly, and He handled anger in good time.

6) His anger had the proper result. Jesus’ anger had the inevitable consequence of godly action. Jesus’ anger, as with all His emotions, was held in check by the Word of God; thus, Jesus’ response was always to accomplish God’s will.

When we get angry, too often we have improper control or an improper focus. We fail in one or more of the above points. This is the wrath of man, of which we are told “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20). Jesus did not exhibit man’s anger, but the righteous indignation of God.

Article from http://www.gotquestions.org/

How can I overcome feelings of rejection?

We are all prone to disappointment and feelings of rejection, and that is especially true in the aftermath of a broken relationship. However, as born-again believers we have a resource in God’s Word that can bring comfort and clarity to the situation. One person’s rejection does not mean we are unlovable. But we can allow that one rejection to determine how we feel and allow that feeling to color our idea of who we are, or we can choose to put that behind us and move forward on the basis of something that is far more lasting.

What is that? For believers, it is our position in Christ. When we are born again, we are accepted. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Even though we do not deserve it nor can we earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and has made us accepted in Him. This acceptance is His gift of grace, and it transcends any and all other “feelings” we may have because it is not based on “hope so” but on “know so.” We know that this is true because God’s Word tells us, and as we appropriate this truth by faith, it becomes reality in our hearts and lives.

Walking by our feelings is like walking through the world with our heart on our sleeve. We are bound to be hurt, and we are bound to be disappointed, for we live in a fallen world. What we choose to do with that hurt and disappointment will either allow us to grow stronger in our walk with the Lord or it will mean that we are walking wounded. Both outcomes are our choice. God makes it possible for us to walk through the disappointments in life with a knowledge that His provision for us works. His grace and His comfort are ours as we rest in Him. Every born-again child of God has all of these provisions and blessings in Christ, but we have to choose to utilize them. It is sort of like having a million dollars in the bank and choosing to starve to death because we don’t use that money to buy food. It is also true that we cannot use what we do not know. Therefore, it behooves every believer to “know” the God who knows us and loves us, and that means more than a devotional reading of God Word but study that changes our perspective (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and allows us to face life armed with real understanding about the reality of walking by faith.

As believers we are not defined by our past failures or by disappointment or by the rejection of others. We are defined as children of God, born again to newness of life and endowed with every spiritual blessing and accepted in Christ Jesus. That is the defining factor when it comes to victorious living. God has prepared for each of us unique opportunities to walk through the “all things” of this life. We can either walk in our own strength and what the Apostle Paul calls our “flesh,” or we can walk in the power of the provision God has made for us through the Holy Spirit. It is our choice. God has provided us with armor (Ephesians 6:11-18), but it is up to us to put it on by faith.

Therefore, if you are a child of God, you may suffer disappointment in this life, but you need to remember that as a child of the King, this rejection is a momentary bump in the road. You have a choice to either allow that bump to derail you and walk wounded, or you can choose to claim the heritage of a child of God and move forward in grace. Forgiveness of others and of self is a gift that you can give because it is the gift given to you by the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:32).

Article from http://www.gotquestions.org/overcome-rejection.html

What does the Bible say about anger?

 

Question: “What does the Bible say about anger?”

Answer: Handling anger is an important topic. Christian counselors report that 50 percent of people who come in for counseling have problems dealing with anger. Anger can shatter communication and tear apart relationships, and it ruins both the joy and health of many. Sadly, people tend to justify their anger instead of accepting responsibility for it. Everyone struggles, to varying degrees, with anger. Thankfully, God’s Word contains principles regarding how to handle anger in a godly manner, and how to overcome sinful anger.

Anger is not always sin. There is a type of anger of which the Bible approves, often called “righteous indignation.” God is angry (Psalm 7:11; Mark 3:5), and believers are commanded to be angry (Ephesians 4:26). Two Greek words are used in the New Testament for our English word “anger.” One means “passion, energy” and the other means “agitated, boiling.” Biblically, anger is God-given energy intended to help us solve problems. Examples of biblical anger include Paul’s confronting Peter because of his wrong example in Galatians 2:11-14, David’s being upset over hearing Nathan the prophet sharing an injustice (2 Samuel 12), and Jesus’ anger over how some of the Jews had defiled worship at God’s temple in Jerusalem (John 2:13-18). Notice that none of these examples of anger involved self-defense, but a defense of others or of a principle.

Anger turns to sin when it is selfishly motivated (James 1:20), when God’s goal is distorted (1 Corinthians 10:31), or when anger is allowed to linger (Ephesians 4:26-27). Instead of using the energy generated by anger to attack the problem at hand, it is the person who is attacked. Ephesians 4:15-19 says we are to speak the truth in love and use our words to build others up, not allow rotten or destructive words to pour from our lips. Unfortunately, this poisonous speech is a common characteristic of fallen man (Romans 3:13-14). Anger becomes sin when it is allowed to boil over without restraint, resulting in a scenario in which hurt is multiplied (Proverbs 29:11), leaving devastation in its wake, often with irreparable consequences. Anger also becomes sin when the angry one refuses to be pacified, holds a grudge, or keeps it all inside (Ephesians 4:26-27). This can cause depression and irritability over little things, often things unrelated to the underlying problem.

We can handle anger biblically by recognizing and admitting our selfish anger and/or our wrong handling of anger as sin (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). This confession should be both to God and to those who have been hurt by our anger. We should not minimize the sin by excusing it or blame-shifting.

We can handle anger biblically by seeing God in the trial. This is especially important when people have done something to offend us. James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28-29, and Genesis 50:20 all point to the fact that God is sovereign and in complete control over every circumstance and person that enters our path. Nothing happens to us that He does not cause or allow. And as these verses share, God is a good God (Psalm 145:8, 9, 17) who allows all things in our lives for our good and the good of others. Reflecting on this truth until it moves from our heads to our hearts will alter how we react to those who hurt us.

We can handle anger biblically by making room for God’s wrath. This is especially important in cases of injustice, when “evil” men abuse “innocent” people. Genesis 50:19 and Romans 12:19 both tell us to not play God. God is righteous and just, and we can trust Him who knows all and sees all to act justly (Genesis 18:25).

We can handle anger biblically by not returning evil for good (Genesis 50:21; Romans 12:21). This is key to converting our anger into love. As our actions flow from our hearts, so also our hearts can be altered by our actions (Matthew 5:43-48). That is, we can change our feelings toward another by changing how we choose to act toward that person.

We can handle anger biblically by communicating to solve the problem. There are four basic rules of communication shared in Ephesians 4:15, 25-32:

1) Be honest and speak (Ephesians 4:15, 25). People cannot read our minds. We must speak the truth in love.

2) Stay current (Ephesians 4:26-27). We must not allow what is bothering us to build up until we lose control. Dealing with and sharing what is bothering us before it gets to that point is important.

3) Attack the problem, not the person (Ephesians 4:29, 31). Along this line, we must remember the importance of keeping the volume of our voices low (Proverbs 15:1).

4) Act, not react (Ephesians 4:31-32). Because of our fallen nature, our first impulse is often a sinful one (v. 31). The time spent in “counting to ten” should be used to reflect upon the godly way to respond (v. 32) and to remind ourselves how anger is to be used to solve problems and not create bigger ones.

Finally, we must act to solve our part of the problem (Acts 12:18). We cannot control how others act or respond, but we can make the changes that need to be made on our part. Overcoming a temper is not accomplished overnight. But through prayer, Bible study, and reliance upon God’s Holy Spirit, ungodly anger can be overcome. Just as we may have allowed anger to become entrenched in our lives by habitual practice, we must also practice responding correctly until it becomes a habit itself.

Recommended Resource: The Other Side of Love: Handling Anger in a Godly Way by Gary Chapman.

 

Article from GotQuestions.org Home

The Rule of the Kingdom

We must not become tired of doing good.

Galatians 6:9

When we are mistreated, our animalistic response is to go on the hunt. Instinctively, we double up our fists. Getting even is only natural. Which incidentally, is precisely the problem. Revenge is natural, not spiritual. Getting even is the rule of the jungle. Giving grace is the rule of the kingdom . . .

To forgive someone is to admit our limitations. We’ve been given only one piece of life’s jigsaw puzzle. Only God has the cover of the box.

Max Lucado

The Mythology of Forgiveness

The Mythology of Forgiveness

Posted: 02 Jan 2009 01:00 AM CST

By Jon Walker

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25 (NIV)

Jesus doesn’t categorize sins by which ones to forgive instantly and which ones we can hold over the offender’s head until we decide it’s time to forgive.

We live in mythology when we think forgiveness is based on our feelings, or on our authority. Some of the myths we live by are explained by Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life:

  • “I’ll forgive when he proves he should be forgiven.” Biblical forgiveness doesn’t carry any conditions. It can’t be earned; it isn’t deserved; it can’t be part of a bargain as in, “Do this and I’ll forgive you.” God gives you forgiveness freely because Jesus paid the bloody price of your sin debt on the cross.
  • “If I forgive, she’ll get away with what she did.” Forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone or agree with what has happened. When you forgive, you’re not letting her get away with what she did; she’ll still face the consequences of her behavior. You may choose to remove some, or all, of the consequences, but that is a choice independent of forgiveness.
  • “If I forgive him, he’ll keep hurting me.” Forgiveness doesn’t mean your relationship remains the same. You may need time to trust again, to see if his repentance is genuine, and if he’s faithful toward rebuilding your trust in him. And if his offense is abusive or places you in danger, you can forgive him, but maintain your distance.
  • “If I forgive her, she’ll be free to do it again.” Frankly, she’s free to do it again anyway, whether or not you forgive her. On the other hand, you’re free to forgive her, even if she doesn’t seek forgiveness or show any sign of remorse.

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

Forgive—Again?

Forgive—Again?

By Jon Walker

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21–22 (NIV)

Just because someone sins again, doesn’t mean you can revoke, in a sense, the forgiveness you’ve already given. Forgiveness is a choice, so you don’t take it back so much as you choose to be offended again.

Peter struggled with this dilemma and thought he was being generous, under Jewish law, when he suggested to Jesus that he should forgive someone up to seven times.

But Jesus emphasized the unlimited generosity of forgiveness by expanding beyond the limits of Peter’s capacity to forgive; not seven times, said Jesus, but seventy-seven times.

God’s forgiveness is ever-expanding; we can’t run beyond its borders; we can’t bankrupt the account. In God’s refrigerator of grace, the container filled with forgiveness never goes stale and always has a current freshness date.

I’d hate to think my conversion to Christianity is dependent upon being perfect after my conversion instead of being dependent upon God’s infinite, indestructible, and immovable grace. If it is dependent upon my perfection, then I fell from the race long ago.

And perhaps you did, too?

There’s always a flip side to our conflicts with other people. When we’re hesitant to give grace, we forget that we, too, need grace.

Jesus says we will be judged by the standard by which we judge. Is it seven? Seventy-seven? Or, unlimited?

Didn’t Jesus say it only had to be seventy-seven? Yes, but he didn’t say you couldn’t go higher, and he wasn’t speaking about his own unlimited capacity to forgive. If each of us only had seventy-seven forgiveness tickets per person per lifetime, then I ran out many, many, many years ago. Thank God that he is faithful to forgive and actively seeking to restore each of us into the family of God.

If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

Forgiveness

I was particularly drawn to this subject because of the problem I’ve had in my life when it comes to forgiveness and anger.

I had a seething anger that dominated my thinking and affected everything for 52 years of my 63 years of life. When I chose to finally address it (by the way it was a problem with my grandmother who had preached hell, fire, and damnation and was totally anal when it came to anything that didn’t fit within her scope of thinking from her spiritual point of view. She had been extremely judgmental and required us to follow her ideas or never hear the end of it. When I was a child, she would come into our home, requiring my mother to leave the room when she wanted to speak to my father. She would rant and rave to us if we had on shorts, or lipstick, and tell us we were going to go to hell, etc., ad nauseum. Being the adamant, outspoken upstart that I was, I would cringe with anger and inwardly want to beat the crap out of her.)

These feelings, as I mentioned pervaded my subconscious thoughts, and I think I acted them out toward other people, rather than my grandmother, for most of my life.

Why? ‘Cause I was taught NOT to be disrespectful to my elders when I was a child, so certainly I couldn’t say a word in my growing-up home life. I moved away from my hometown and lived far away for years until I was 52. Then I moved back to my hometown area at that time. Consequently I was in closer proximity to her (I called her the battle-axe).

Long story, hopefully a little shorter now:

One day I purposely decided to go see my grandmother. My husband and daughter and I went and picked her up from a group home and took her for a picnic. I had determined I was going to address that old lady right then and there and give her a piece of my mind. (Obviously, she had already possessed a piece of my mind for all those years, ’cause I had allowed her to.) LOL

Lo and behold, as I talked to her, it hit me like a ton of bricks as I listened to her side of the story (after having told her how I had hated her all those years).

I allowed myself to try to see her point of view from her.  As I listened, I realized she actually had had a horrible life herself.

Something inside of me snapped into place during that time with her. God worked a miracle inside of me, and I was able to actually love her and forgive her.

You see, anger had eaten me alive. 

Unforgiveness had done the same. In those moments, I realized that “unforgiveness” and turning from anger is actually more detrimental to the one who holds onto those feelings, not the one those feelings are related to. 

I realized we have choices. We can either give those thoughts and feelings over to God and let Him be in charge, or we can go our own way full of anger and unforgiveness and let it gnaw away at us like a cancer.

I hope if you relate to this story, you’ll feel free to share it with me.

Sharon

You Have Value… Just As You Are

With you very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me. Psalm 119:73 MSG

Listen closely, Jesus’ love does not depend on what we do for him. Not at all. In the eye of the King, you have value simply because you are. You don’t have to look nice or perform well, Your value is inborn.

You are valuable…not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. Remember that.

God takes you however he finds you. No need to clean up or climb up. Just look up.

Excerpted from Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms by Max Lucado.

God Thinks You’re Wonderful!

…It may be difficult for you to believe that God knows your name…but He does.Written on His hand. Spoken by His mouth. Whispered by His lips. Your name.

You have captured the heart of God. He cannot bear to live without you.

God’s dream is to make you right with Him. And the path to the cross tells us exactly how far God will go to call us back.

It is not our love for God: it is God’s love for us in sending His Son to be the way. If you want to touch God’s heart, use the name He loves to hear. Call Him “Father”.

He thinks you’re wonderful!

I have written your name on My hand. Isaiah 49:16

Excerpted from the Book, God Thinks You’re Wonderful! by Max Lucado »

Forgiven

Forgiven

Grace is the kindness
and favor of God
extended to you. It is nothing
you can earn or deserve.
Grace is God saying to you,
You can do nothing to
to save yourself;
there is no need to even try
because I have done it all.
I have given My Son
to die for you and He has
made the perfect sacrifice
for your sin.
Come and receive
My free gift.

The scripture reference that I would like to share with you follows:


Psalm 103 (NKJV)

A Psalm of David.

 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 6 The LORD executes righteousness
         And justice for all who are oppressed.
 7 He made known His ways to Moses,
         His acts to the children of Israel.
 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
         Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
 9 He will not always strive with us,
         Nor will He keep His anger forever.
 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
         Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
         So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
 12 As far as the east is from the west,
         So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
 13 As a father pities his children,
         So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
 14 For He knows our frame;
         He remembers that we are dust.

 15 As for man, his days are like grass;
         As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
         And its place remembers it no more.[a]
 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
         On those who fear Him,
         And His righteousness to children’s children,
 18 To such as keep His covenant,
         And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

 19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
         And His kingdom rules over all.

 20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
         Who excel in strength, who do His word,
         Heeding the voice of His word.
 21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
         You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
 22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
         In all places of His dominion.

         Bless the LORD, O my soul!

He gave His blood

“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” 

Hebrews 10:4 NIV

Sacrifices could offer temporary solutions, but only God could offer the eternal one.

So he did.

Beneath the rubble of a fallen world, he pierced his hands. In the wreckage of a collapsed humanity, he ripped open his side . . . He gave his blood.

It was all he had.

Max Lucado

Some of the Greatest, Ugliest, Deadliest things in the world

The most destructive habit………………………………..Worry

The greatest Joy………………………………………………Giving

The greatest loss…………………………Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work…………………….Helping others

The ugliest personality trait………………………Selfishness

The most endangered species……….Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource……………………..Our youth

The greatest “shot in the arm”…………..Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome……………………..Fear

The most effective sleeping pill……………Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease…………………Excuses

The most powerful force in life……………………………Love

The most dangerous pariah……………………….A gossiper

The world’s most incredible computer…………The brain

The worst thing to be without……………………………. Hope

The deadliest weapon……………………………….The tongue

The two most power-filled words…………………….”I Can”

The greatest asset………………………………………………Faith

The most worthless emotion…………………………Self-pity

The most beautiful attire……………………………..A SMILE!

The most prized possession………………………….Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication…Prayer

The most contagious spirit………………………Enthusiasm

Spiritual Warfare

(Scripture is from The New Living Translation)

For the purposes of discussion, let’s call this spiritual warfare Good vs. Evil.

Good influence is from God.

The source of evil influence is from Satan.

We can grow spiritually by involving ourselves in the fight against any form of evil.

Of course we know that this spiritual warfare is far-reaching and encompasses much more than the simplistic terms of good vs. evil, but at least this is a beginning to understand the opposed forces that are present around us.

Spiritual growth means deciding to do whatever is necessary to move closer to God. It is similar to our human relationships.

If we don’t exercise movement toward the other person, we become stagnant, and are in jeopardy of even moving in the other direction.

We have powerful resources from God to grow spiritually. They are

  • the Bible (His Word),
  • the power of love,
  • God’s grace,
  • the Holy Spirit,
  • spiritual leaders,
  • and our understanding of truth and reality.

Knowing the truth is what sets free.

The opposite forces that influence us are powerful forces too:

  • hate,
  • bigotry,
  • selfishness,
  • fear,
  • ignorance and
  • falsehood.

When we can at least recognize that we are in a spiritual battle and understand the forces that are influencing our lives, we can become victorious through God by using the powerful resources He has given us.

From the moment we are born, we have two forces pulling us.

One is God.

The other is Satan.

Since we are in the middle, we need to have scripture and knowledge to recognize the forces that each use to influence us. God tells us in Romans 1:19-20:

19
For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.

20
From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

As the scripture states in these verses, there is no excuse for not knowing God. He put a natural inquiring nature in each of us to search for our Creator. We look around us and know there is someone who created all things.

God pulls us to know Him, to know Jesus his only begotten son.

John 3:16-21:

16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

17
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Satan is constantly doing everything he can to hold us back from seeking the Creator and doing good. God has given us scripture that clearly shows us that this is true:

John 3:18-21:

18
“There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.

19
Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

20
They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished.

21
But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.

So, how do we determine good? It is expressed through knowing God and His terms. We can test the spirits–fear and confusion is not of God. 

It could be a simple analysis of whether one is

  • “doing unto others as he would have them do unto him.” 
  • we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love others as we love ourselves.

A person would therefore show unselfishness, always putting others first, be always caring and considering what is best for others, what is best for their spiritual growth and well-being. These are God’s ways.

Conversely, Evil is expressed through extreme selfishness, seeking our own desires, and totally disregarding the well being of others.

That could be manifest through many forms such as

  • stealing,
  • lying,
  • murder,
  • rape,
  • gossip, and
  • misuse of the name of the Lord, our God,
  • and all other of the 10 commandments.

Evil is further shown through refusing to follow God.

Test what the Holy Spirit says within us.

Romans 1:21-32

21
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

22
Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

23
And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.

24
So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.

25
Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.

26
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

27
And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved. 28When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.

29
Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.

30
They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.

31
They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.

32
They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Before we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and have a personal relationship with us as our Lord and Master, our conscience lets us know what is right and wrong, good or evil.

After we are saved, the Holy Spirit resides in us to quicken our spirits to know the difference. If Satan can delude us into thinking he doesn’t exist, then we will not recognize that we need to fight. And without fighting, we will be automatically tripped up. Without going into the battle wearing the whole armor of God, we will also be tripped up. God shows us truth, and truth will set us free.

We don’t need to overemphasize Satan, but we do need to recognize that we are in the battle. Since Jesus already defeated Satan when He died on the cross, then winning the battle is in recognizing Satan yipping at our heels, trying to trip us up, and trusting God’s armor to shield us during the battle. 

Satan can only fight. 

He can’t win. 

He can fight in a myriad of ways, but we need to remember the battle has already been won.

God’s victory in us is won when we remain faithful to Him with constant determination to “NEVER GIVE UP”.

When we love unconditionally, as God does (agape love), no matter what, we give our trust to God.

Putting On the Whole Armor of God


Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. NKJV

Ephesians 6:13

To Read and Understand the Bible, as well as to walk with the Lord, you need, everyday to put on the “Whole Armor of God”.

Each part of the armor is very, very important!

  1.     The helmet covers your mind,
  2.     the breastplate covers your heart,
  3.     the shoes teach you how to walk,
  4.     the shield protects you
  5.     and the sword helps you to win the war.

Each part of the armor also shows us what God has done for us.

The whole armor is very important for Living the Christian Life and Studying the Word of God.

A new heart

“You were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person.”  Ephesians 4:23

What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off, and your life is led by the heart of the Christ. His priorities govern your actions. His passions drive your decisions. His love directs your behavior . . .

Would people notice a change? Would you still do what you had planned to do for the next twenty-four hours?

Max Lucado

What do I do when Satan attacks?

God will guard us from the evil one. 

As we are aware of God’s Word, and choose to follow God’s Way to resist the devil, the devil has no choice but to flee from us.

Memorizing Scripture helps to bring to our minds the right thing to say to diffuse the attack. Our words hold no power over the enemy, but God’s words are as powerful as a two-edged sword.


Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.

James 4:7-8 NLT

What is a blessing?

God is faithful to those who love him

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers.

Psalm 1:1 NLT

A lot of public figures end their public appearances by saying, “God bless America.” This week, we’re going to look at what God’s blessing means — to us as individuals and as a nation.

Blessings have to do with both giving and receiving. It was a vital part of life in Bible times. To bless someone meant many things…to praise them, pray for them, and commit them to God’s care. It also meant to dedicate and challenge them to live forever committed to God, to keep hold of spiritual things. It was a call for abundance and prosperity for another. And it was also a way of officially passing on the family inheritance to the oldest son.

Wishes for a rich and abundant life were inherent in a blessing, although not always in a material sense. God was recognized as the ultimate source of the blessing. The person blessed would walk with the Lord and receive his benefits.

To receive God’s blessing meant not only to enjoy innumerable tangible gifts but in a much deeper way to be welcomed into a special relationship with him, a relationship to be affirmed and practiced. Part of this, in turn, means being a blessing to others, a way of saying we have been a godly help for others.

adapted from the TouchPoint Bible Tyndale House Publishers, p 1158

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Finding and Fulfilling Your Destiny

For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.
—1 Corinthians 16:9

God promotes us into the fullness of His will in degrees or stages. Satan opposes each new phase of our progress. If we do not understand this fact we will become confused and think we have made a mistake.

Satan seeks to wear us out. He wants to bring such opposition against us that we become so weary and discouraged we give up. With opportunity comes opposition.

We must beware of compromise. Satan doesn’t want us in the will of God, fulfilling our destiny. If he cannot keep us completely out of God’s will, his next tactic is to tempt us to do a little less than what God has said.

Satan tempts us to compromise. But he fails to tell us that in the end we will feel empty, regretful, lonely, discouraged, and unfulfilled.

Procrastination is another deceptive tool of the devil. Good intentions do not bring us into the blessings of God—only obedience does. Our willful choice to obey God promptly is the lifeline between heart’s desire and finished product.

Press on! Don’t look back! Satan may think he is destroying you, but often he is giving you valuable experience that will keep you out of trouble.


“No more deals. No more compromise and procrastination. Henceforth, I am walking in the will of God.”

What is the difference between a need and a want?

A need facilitates something.

The object of need is like the road to your destination.
There are also different levels of needs.

For example, we need air more than we need clothes,
and we need a heart more than we need a hand.

Our greatest need is God because he is the source
(facilitator) of all good things.

A want, in essence, does not affect the course.
It simply makes the journey more enjoyable.

~A MountainWings Original, Coyette Clunie, Jamaica W.I.~

10 Rules for A Good Day

 1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:

       If someone is rude,

if someone is impatient,

       if someone is unkind

I will not respond in a
 like manner.

 2. TODAY I WILL ASK FOR BLESSINGS ON MY “ENEMY”:

       If I come across someone who treats me harshly
 or unfairly,

I will quietly ask to bless that individual.

 I understand my idea of the “enemy” could be a

family member,

neighbor,

co-worker,

or a stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:

       I will carefully choose and guard my words

being certain that I do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:

       I will find ways to help share the burden

of  another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:

       I will forgive any hurts or injuries

that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE,
       WHETHER DONE OPENLY OR SECRETLY:

I will reach out and bless

the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:

        I will practice the golden rule –

“Do unto others as I would have them do unto me” –

with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE:

        My smile,

my words,

my expression of support,

can make  the difference to someone

who is wrestling life.

9. TODAY I WILL NUTURE MY BODY:

        I will try to eat less and

I will try to eat only healthy foods.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:

         I will spend a little more time in prayer today:

I will begin reading something spiritual

or inspirational today;

I will find a quiet place ( at some point during
the day )

and listen for,  and to, God’s  voice,

and obey!

You have won!

“This is the victory that conquers the world—our faith.” 

1 John 5:4

What is unique about the kingdom of God is that you are assured of victory. You have won!

If you have no faith in the future, then you have no power in the present.

If you have no faith in the life beyond this life, then your present life is going to be powerless.

But if you believe in the future and are assured of victory, then there should be a dance in your step and a smile on your face.

Max Lucado

Learning to Live Loved


God’s love does not hinge on yours.

The abundance of your love does not increase his.

The lack of your love does not diminish his.

Your goodness does not enhance his love,

nor does your weakness dilute it.

What Moses said to Israel is what God says to us:

“The LORD did not choose you and lavish his love on you

because you were larger or greater than other nations,

for you were the smallest of all nations!

It was simply because

the LORD loves you.” (Deut. 7:7-8 NLT)

God loves you simply because he has chosen to do so.

He loves you when you don’t feel lovely.

He loves you when no one else loves you.

Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you,

but God will love you. Always. No matter what.

This is his sentiment: “I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies;

I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved.”

(Rom. 9:25 MSG).

This is his promise. “I have loved you, my people,

with an everlasting love.

With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. (Jer. 31:3 NLT).

Our love depends on the receiver of the love.

Let a thousand people pass before us,

and we will not feel the same about each.

Our love will be regulated by their appearance,

by their personalities.

Even when we find a few people we like,

our feelings will fluctuate.

How they treat us will affect how we love them.

the receiver regulates our love.

Not so with the love of God.

We have no thermostatic impact on his love for us.

The love of God is born from within him,

not from what he finds in us.

His love is uncaused and spontaneous.

As Charles Wesley said, “He hath loved us.

He hath loved us.

Because he would love.”


Does he love us because of our goodness?

Because of our kindness?

Because of our great faith?

No, he loves us because of his goodness,

 kindness, and great faith.

John says it like this: “This is love: not that we loved God,

but that he loved us” (I John 4:10 NIV).

Do you know what else that means?

You have a deep aquifer of love from which to draw.

When you find it hard to love,

 then you need a drink!

Drink deeply! Drink daily!

Don’t forget, love is a fruit.

Step into the orchard of God’s work,

and what is the first fruit you see?

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, and self-control” (Gal.5:22 NIV, emphasis mine).

Love is a fruit.

A fruit of whom?

Of your hard work?

Of your deep faith?

Of your rigorous resolve?

No.

Love is a fruit of the Spirit of God.

 “The Spirit produces the fruit” (Gal.5:22).

And, this is so important,

you are a branch on the vine of God.

“I am the vine, and you are the branches” (John 15:5).

Need a refresher course on how vines function?

What is the role of the branch in the bearing of fruit?

Branches don’t exert a lot of energy.

You never hear of gardeners treating branches for exhaustion.

Branches don’t attend clinics on stress management.

Nor do they groan and grunt.

I’ve got to get this grape out.

I’m going to bear this grape if it kills me!”

No, the branch does none of that.

The branch has one job–to receive nourishment

from the vine.

And you have one job–to receive nourishment from Jesus.

“I am the Vine, you are the branches.

When you’re joined with me and I with you,

the relation is intimate and organic,

the harvest is sure to be abundant.

Separated, you can’t produce a thing” (John 15:5 MSG).

Our Lord gets no argument from us on that last line, does he?

We have learned the hard way apart from him we can’t produce a thing.

 Don’t you think it’s time we learn what happens

if we stay attached?

His job is to bear fruit.

Our job is to stay put.

The more tightly we are attached to

Jesus, the more purely his love can pass through us.

And oh, what a love it is!

Patient.


Kind.

Does not envy.

Does not boast.

Is not proud.

Let’s rewrite 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 one more time.

Not with your name or Jesus’ name but with both.

Read it aloud with your name in the blank, and see what you think.

Christ in _____ is patient, Christ in _____ is kind. Christ in _____ does not envy,

Christ in _____ does not boast, Christ in _____ is not proud.

Christ in _____ is not rude, Christ in _____ is not self-seeking,

Christ in _____ is not easily angered,

Christ in _____ keeps no record of wrongs.

Christ in _____ does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth.

Christ in _____ always protects, always perseveres.

Christ in _____ never fails.

Will we ever love like that?

will we ever love perfectly?

No.

This side of heaven only God will.

but we will love better than we have.

By being loved, we will love.

My Wish For You

  • Where there is pain; I wish you peace and mercy.
  • Where there is self-doubting, I wish you a renewed
    confidence in your ability to work through it.
  • Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I wish you
    understanding, patience, and renewed strength.
  • Where there is fear; I wish you love, and courage.

 www.maxlucado.com

INSTALLING LOVE

INSTALLING LOVE
Tech Support: Yes, … how can I help you?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I’ve decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I’m not very technical, but I think I’m ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?
Tech Support: What programs are running?
Customer: Let’s see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now
Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don’t know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to the Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, “Error – Program not run on external components .” What should I do?
Tech Support: Don’t worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.
Customer: So, what should I do?
Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.
Customer: Okay, done.
Tech Support: Now, copy them to the “My Heart” directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also,you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?
Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.
Customer: Thank you.

WHOLENESS AND MEANING IN LIFE

by Neil Anderson
July 7

Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus

Several years ago a 17-year-old girl drove a great distance to talk with me. I have never met a girl who had so much going for her. She was cover-girl pretty with a wonderful figure. She was immaculately dressed. She had completed 12 years of school in 11 years, graduating with a very high grade point average. As a talented musician, she had received a music scholarship to a Christian university. And she drove a brand-new sports car her parents gave her for graduation. I was amazed that one person could have so much.

She talked with me for half an hour and I realized that what I saw on the outside wasn’t matching what I was beginning to see on the inside. “Mary,” I said finally, “have you ever cried yourself to sleep at night because you felt inadequate and wished you were somebody else?”

She began to cry. “How did you know?”

“Truthfully, Mary,” I answered, “I’ve learned that people who appear to have it all together are often far from being together inside.”

Often what we show on the outside is a false front designed to disguise who we really are and cover up the secret hurts we feel about our identity. Somehow we believe that if we appear attractive or perform well or enjoy a certain amount of status, then we will have it all together inside as well. But that’s not necessarily true. External appearance, accomplishment and recognition don’t necessarily reflect–or produce–internal peace and maturity. All the stuff and status you can acquire don’t add up to personal wholeness. Millions of people climb those ladders to success, only to discover when they reach the top that they are leaning against the wrong wall!

Wholeness and meaning in life are not the products of what you have or don’t have, what you’ve done or haven’t done. You are already a whole person and possess a life of infinite meaning and purpose because of who you are–a child of God. The only identity equation that works in God’s kingdom is you plus Christ equals wholeness and meaning.

Prayer: Father God, I wouldn’t trade the wholeness and meaning You have brought to my life for anything the world can produce.

Love The LORD Your God

 Love The LORD Your God

“The LORD your God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Do we love the LORD our God with ALL our heart, ALL our soul and ALL our might? If so, we will be doing what He has commanded us to do here, to share with our children our love for the LORD and all that He has done for us.

Think about the legacy that we have been given to pass on to our children and to our children’s children. What joy to be able to share with them the love of the Lord and all that He is to us and has been throughout our walk with Him! We can pass on to them the wonder of His grace and forgiveness. We can share our joy in being the sons and daughters of the King!

 There is no greater gift that we can give to our children than to pass on to them the excitement and joy of knowing the LORD. It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world and to let weariness overtake us, but when we sit down to dinner with our families let us resolve today that we will talk of the way the LORD has led us and that we will share with our children the things He has done for us.

When we kiss them good night, let the love of the LORD be on our lips, so the last thing that they are thinking about before they slip into sleep is Him.

Keep the legacy going: tell your children, or your grandchildren, or a niece or a nephew what the LORD has done in your life and watch that seed take root in their hearts.

Father, Your love has reached me and it is changing me. Help me to leave my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews the legacy of that love. Help me to express to them just what a wonderful Father You are.

Help me to live in such a way that they will see it is good to walk with You. May Your presence be evident in every part of my life. Use me to draw your little ones to You. Amen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Long to be more loving?

“Let us love one another, for love is of God.” 

I John 4:7, NKJV

Long to be more loving? Begin by accepting your place as a dearly loved child.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children”

(Ephesians 5:1, NIV).

Want to learn to forgive? Then consider how you’ve been forgiven.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”

(Ephesians 4:32, NIV)

Max Lucado

The State of your Heart

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.”

Luke 6:45, NIV

When you are offered a morsel of gossip marinated in slander, do you turn it down or pass it on? That depends on the state of your heart . . . The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or taste God’s mercy.

Max Lucado

Can evil overcome me?

Can evil overcome me?

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth!

He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you and will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Psalm 121 NLT

Protection for the soul

Psalm 121 is one of a collection of “songs of ascent” sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for one of Israel’s great feasts. Basically it is hymn of trust that God will watch over his people as they journey along potentially dangerous roads, up through the hills of Judea to the Holy City.

Does God say that his people will never encounter trouble? No. The awful truth is that even Christians get robbed and mugged, raped and murdered. Statistics indicate that more followers of Jesus were martyred for their faith in the twentieth century than in the previous nineteen centuries combined. You will not find any biblical evidence to suggest that believers are exempt from the ugly violence of a fallen world.

As Jesus said in Matthew 10:28: At worst, evil people “can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul.”

Based on Praying God’s Promises in Tough Times by Len Woods (Tyndale) p 94

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

God sees your future with perfect clarity

From the world’s point of view the future seems unclear, uncertain, and unstable.

When it comes to your future, God has a different point of view.  God sees your future with perfect clarity, He knows your future with absolute certainty, and He is directing your future toward a glorious destiny.

How can you be assured of the future God has for you?  You can be assured because God is already there, because He is preparing the way ahead of you, and because He will take you by the hand lead you into His plans for your future.

You can trust Him with your future because He is wise and will not make a mistake; He is all-knowing and will not lose His way; He is good and will not bring you harm.

God does not ask you to plan your future, but He does ask you to trust Him and follow His plan.  Trusting His plan will keep you from being worried, fearful, or anxious about the future.  Your future is as bright as the promises of God.

As you think about your future, let your faith embrace these bright promises of God:

“God’s way is perfect.  All the LORD’s promises prove true.” II Samuel 22:31 NLT

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

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.”” Psalm 32:8 NLT

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:12 NLT

Roy Lessin
Co-founder DaySpring Cards