Devotions - Prayer

NEGATIVE THINKING

By Bob / April 16, 2024

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.”   Philippians 4:8
We all struggle with negative thinking at times; it’s a common battle.
And that’s why it’s important to recognize negative thought patterns and learn how to re-route them.
** The good news is we can have control over what we think.

*When we’re down, sad or hopeless, let’s take inventory of our thoughts.
*When we find ourselves jumping to conclusions, doling out guilt trips on others or replaying arguments in our mind, let’s consciously change our thinking.
*When I get in a self-pity party, often it’s because I’ve focused too much on what’s bad.

The apostle Paul advises us in our key verse, Philippians 4:8, to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

The next time you’re fighting negative thoughts, “rattle your cage” by remembering you have the mind of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
*Take each negative thought captive and replace it with what Paul describes in our key verse.

Scripture promises that when we align our thoughts with God’s, His peace, which passes all understanding, will keep our hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.

Lord, give me Your ability to bring every thought captive. Help me to refute negative thoughts with Your truth from Your word. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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HAVE YOU EVER FAILED?

By Bob / April 14, 2024

 THIS IS THE VICTORY
The true purpose of our Christian walk is to freely lay down our lives so God’s Love can pour through us to others.

“Greater love has no one than this; that one lay down His Life for his friends.” John 15:13

“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John5:4).  (see 1 John 4:4 also)

Have you failed?

*Is there a sin that easily besets you?

*Do you feel like a weakened coward, unable to get the victory over secret sin?
*But with that weakness in you, is there also a consuming hunger for God?
*Do you yearn for Him, reach to Him?

*That hunger and thirst is the key to your victory

That hunger sets you apart. You must keep that hunger alive. Keep thirsting after righteousness (moral orderliness).   Never justify your weakness, never give in to it, and never accept it as a part of your life.

Faith is your victory.


Sure, you have failed. Maybe yesterday—or even today! We all have!

*But do you believe Jesus has the power to ultimately free you from sin’s power?

*Do you believe the cross of Jesus means sin’s bondage is broken?

*Do you accept the fact that He has promised to deliver you from the snare of Satan?

 

Where the victory lies.
***Let your heart accept all the promises of victory in Jesus.
**Then let your faith tell your heart,
* “I may not be what I want to be yet but God is at work in me, and He has the power to loose sin’s hold on me.
* I am not the devil’s puppet and I will not be his victim.
*I am a weak child of God, wanting the strength of Jesus.
*I am going to come forth as pure gold tried in the fire.
*God is for me! I commit it all to Him who is able to keep me from falling and present me faultless before the throne of God—with exceeding great joy.”

This is a universal truth. Wisdom comes from obedience, not knowledge. When we have been tested and proven, the reality of our faith results in possessions from God that we would never receive if we had not gone through those trials.

Christ beside me, Christ before me ,Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

Dear Lord, thank You for calling us Your children. And for making a home within us, so we may rest secure in You. Because You are our dwelling place, we are never alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

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Hurt and Alone

By Bob / April 12, 2024

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13 (NIV)

 Hurt and being alone can be found in most of our lives, but what joy there is when a friend steps in with a gentle smile and a few simple words of encouragement and suddenly you’re not alone.

Things one can say to a friend. Romans 12:12-13, in a section titled “Love.”

1. “You’re wonderful.”

(Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope …”)

The world is quick to tell us all the ways we fall short. We are hyperaware of our faults and frailties.

So, what a precious gift to remind a friend of specific ways they are a wonderful friend, a wonderful Jesus person, a wonderful wife/husband, a wonderful co-worker, a wonderful person.

2. “Me too.”

(Romans 12:12, “… patient in affliction …”)

What a blessing to remind a friend we all have afflictions, hurts, faults and tender places. We all get sick both emotionally and physically.

The patient friend freely gives grace because they so desperately needs it themself. “Me too” acknowledges I’m no better than you, but together we are stronger. It’s such a loving and disarming admission that we’re all in this together.

3. “I’ll pray.”

(Romans 12:12, “… faithful in prayer.”)

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to tell a friend you will absolutely be faithful in praying for them?

4. “I’ll share.”

(Romans 12:13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need …”)

When we notice a need in a friend’s life, might we be willing to step in and be part of the solution?

We may not be the full cure, but we may of helped build a foundation of restoration and give this person the assurance God was working on their behalf.

5. “Come over.”

(Romans 12:13, “Practice hospitality.”)

Welcoming a friend inside the sacred space of our home is such a needed gesture. There’s just something about relationships that are less misunderstood when we get eye-to-eye, voice-to-voice and talk. Really talk.

I’ve found as we purposefully ease the loneliness ache in others, we will see it is beautifully eased in us.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of friendship. Please show me who I can encourage today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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PRIDE DESTROYS RELATIONSHIPS

By Bob / March 7, 2024

Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves” (Philippians 2:3b ).

Pride destroys relationships. It shows up in a lot of different ways, like criticism, competition, stubbornness, and superficiality.

The problem with pride is it’s self-deceiving. Everybody else can see it in us but us. When you have a problem with pride, you don’t see it in your life.

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride leads to destruction; a proud attitude brings ruin”.     I love this verse in the Message paraphrase: “First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”

  • Pride destroys relationships, but humility is the antidote to pride.
  • Humility builds relationships.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:8, “Live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble”.

How are you and I going to grow in humility?

It happens by letting Jesus Christ begin to control our thoughts and hearts and attitudes and reactions. He’s got to be a part of this. Ephesians 4:23-24 says, “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person” .

How do you become a new person? How do you start to think in a different way?

The basic law of relationships is this: You tend to become like the people you spend time with.

  • If you spend time with grumpy people, you get grumpier.
  • If you spend time with people in addictions, you get addicted.
  • If you spend time with people that have gratitude, you have gratitude.
  • If you spend time with happy people, you get happier.
  • If you spend time with selfish people, you become selfish.
  • If you spend time with people who do not respect others, you will not respect others.

If you want to have more humility, spend time with Jesus Christ. He is humble. He wants a relationship with you. He wants you to spend time with him in prayer and reading his Word and talking to him. He is humble, and as you get to know him, you’ll become more like him.

“Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves … You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to” (Philippians 2:3b, 5-6.

No one has done anything more humble than Jesus, coming from Heaven to Earth to become a man, live for us, give his life for us, and be resurrected for us.

When you spend time with him, it makes you more humble, and that builds your relationships.

 

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STRONGHOLDS OF THE ENEMY

By Bob / March 5, 2024

Join us tonight for communityfestmn.com    from 5 to 8 for prayer, healing free food and music!

A stronghold is a fortress of thoughts that controls and influences our attitudes.

Some of the things God brings up from our hidden chambers have been lifelong strongholds of the enemy. They may appear as “giants” when we seek to break free of them, but God is already the Victor! You will see His salvation if you faint not.
“But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.'” Exodus 14:13

Remember:*EACH person is given something to do that SHOWS who God is!  This gifting God has given each one of us is an OUTLET for the OVERFLOW of GOD’S LOVE in our lives for others.

Coming Out of the Stronghold

“Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the
land of Judah“… – 1 Samuel 22:5

David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life’s down-and-out had come and joined David’s army.
David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety.
Then, God’s prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah.
When life beats down on us and we get to the place where we want to hide in a cave, God often places people around us who prod us into moving in the right direction.
God does not want us to remain in the place of discouragement. He wants us to move into the land of “praise.”
Judah means “praise.”


Our attitude must move from discouragement to praise.
*
It is when we move past discouragement to praise that we begin living above our problems.

The way is open for you to come boldly before the Lord’s throne of grace.
Do not be afraid or hesitate.  Come and let Him speak to your heart, for you need wisdom and direction for the days ahead.
Listen for the Lord’s still small voice, and you will hear.  “I will guide your steps, and lead you to  victory.”
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of  grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God help me to put my trust in You today. To trust in my relationship with You and my knowledge of Your love, justice and righteousness. Amen

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IN A DANGEROUS PIT?

By Bob / February 14, 2024

Psalms 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord’s help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.
2 He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure.

We all have pits we fall into—that’s just life—but God’s Word shows us that as Christians we are to face our pits through eyes of faith.

Maybe you are stuck in a pit right now.

*It could be a difficult relationship, a financial hole, an illness—something you’ve been caught in for a while—and you wonder if you’ll ever be able to climb out.

*Your situation may look fatal & terminal but God’s saying you won’t die; you’ll live to declare the goodness of the Lord.
James 1:2  My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.

One type of pit is the kind we create for ourselves.
*We may fall back into an old sin habit or unhealthy life pattern that keeps us going in circles.
*We find ourselves drifting, wandering, moving farther away from the abundant life God has provided.
*But it does not matter what kind of pit we are in. Our merciful Lord makes a way for us out of every one of them.

Psalms 34:19 Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all;

“Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?” (Matthew 12:11).

Jesus says, “It doesn’t matter if you created your pit. Even the law won’t stop Me from coming to lift you out of it.”
 
2 Corinthians 5:17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

Today, make the decision to shake off any negative, self-defeating mindsets.

*Choose to cooperate with God.
*Trust that He is preparing you for promotion.
*As you keep an attitude of faith, expectancy and thanks giving, He will lift you up out of the pit and set you on the solid path of victory He has in store for you!

 

Thank You Lord, for using every situation in my life for my good. I bless You today no matter what is going on around me, knowing that You have a good plan for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

” We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.” (Ro. 8:28)

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Overcome The Dark Days.

By Bob / February 6, 2024

Psalm 126:5-6  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.   

The Bible is 100 percent Truth, so faithful to life. It doesn’t give us a rosy, false picture of what life is like.
It shows us both the dark and the light, the evil and the good, the hard and the enjoyable, the bitter and the sweet.

And the Bible says that, in effect, if we want to reap we are going to have to sow.

That’s a law of life; it’s a law of the universe.

It says that sowing will be done with tears, but reaping will come with joy.

 

That’s faith, you see. You’ve got to go out with your seed even in tears, to scatter the seed and be willing to wait, and to wait upon God and let Him bring forth the harvest which He’s promised.

But the promise is so beautiful, “He that goes out weeping carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him.” 

Let this be a message to you and me. If we are feeling discouraged, if we are feeling that somehow things aren’t going the way we want them to, that we are working and seeing so few and such indeterminate results, just be prepared to weep.
But go on sowing, because God has promised that if you sow the good seed, even weeping, there will come a day when you’ll carry back your arms full of sheaves with songs of joy.



Don’t be afraid to sow even in tears, you’ll reap with songs of joy.

The Bible has the best remedy for us to help overcome the dark days.

Psalm 92:1-2 tells us that: “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…”

**Do you need to see some “good” right now because you’re going through a challenging time?

**Or do you also struggle to notice the simple blessings in the midst of your hectic days?

 

Psalms 61:2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. “

Today, let’s begin to look for the blessings(gratitude)He’s given us and praise Him for them.
Dear Lord, please turn our “bad” days into praise.  Help us notice Your blessings all around us. Open our eyes to Your promises–In the Bible. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

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Letting Go of Past And Start New!

By Bob / February 3, 2024

Today’s opportunities erase yesterday’s failures. –Gene Brown

Around the country are houses for rehabilitation, also called “halfway houses,” where men and women who have fallen on hard times–incarceration, addiction, mental illness–have the opportunity to get a fresh start.

In these homes they learn, some for the first time, the skills that will help them function well as they reenter society–filling out a job application, opening a bank account, shopping for groceries on a budget, and so forth. Every day these men and women face a choice:

  • They can look backward, allowing their past to determine their identity,
  • or they can imagine a brighter future moving forward for themselves.
  • Which ones succeed?
  • Which ones realize the destiny God has planned for them?

Those of us facing obstacles of our own have the same choice and challenge every day. Like the Bible character Ruth, we can choose to let go of the past and start the future in a new land (Ruth 1:16).

Ruth was a woman of excellence because she wasn’t held hostage to her past.

We can learn from yesterday, but we aren’t to live in it.

The devil would love for us to stay stuck in the past. He wouldn’t even mind if, dreaming of an unrealistic future, we slacked off on what God has for us today. Each day we have the choice to embrace the future God has prepared for us.

How have you been tempted to allow an experience from the past, or a difficult season in your life, define who you are?

Living in the past or in the future means we’re not really living in the present at all. How can a clear vision of the future impact your living today?

God, I believe Your mercies are new every morning. I release yesterday to You, and I purpose to live today as the kingdom Person You’ve made me to be.  Let me exalt You for any success and share with you any disappointments.  Guide me to reflect on this glorious day with fond remembrance and look forward to another.   Amen.

 

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I AM BANKRUPT

By Bob / January 21, 2024

The First Truth in the 8 Truths to Master Life.  

1.    I confess my spiritual and moral bankruptcy and agree with Jesus’ words: “without me you can do nothing.”

Result: I am fully accepted and welcomed into God’s Family.

I am “Accepted.”

*When this happens, I am fully accepted into God’s family.  Upon receiving Jesus and His work on the cross, of bearing my sin and His victory over death through His resurrection—I have the gift of eternal life. 

Isaiah 55:1. “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free!”
*Salvation is a gift from God. Gods thoughts and ways are far above our ways , when you accept his invitation. His invitation is for everyone “he that hath ears let him hear”.
Salvation is free a gift from God.

You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:4-6).

Notice the difference: “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” The inner eye of the heart sees the nature of God. And the result? Job says, “I despise myself.”  That is repentance.

 

Job has never been in this place before. He is learning at last the hardest lesson of life, what God seeks to teach us all: the problem is never in others or in God; the problem is in us.
And it is a problem that only God can handle.

 

It looks as though God has humiliated Job and brought this poor, broken-hearted man down into the dust almost cruelly.
Yet it is not cruelty, it is love—because, at this point, when Job has finally given up trying to defend and justify himself, God begins to heal and pour into this man’s life blessings he never dreamed of.

 

Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, the men and women who are bankrupt in themselves, who stop counting on what they have to make it. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
God will begin to heal a life that repents before Him, and He will fill it with blessing and honor and glory and power.

None of the prideful things to which we cling will be worth the smallest portion of the glory and joy we have discovered in coming into a relationship with God Himself.
Thank You, Father, for this penetrating look at my own heart. How proud I have been, how filled with self-justification with complaints before You. Teach me to put my hand upon my mouth and admit to You that the problem lies so often with me so that You will heal and restore me.  Amen

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Experience Forgiveness

By Bob / January 20, 2024

Psalms 139:

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!

16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Ruth Bell Graham once said, “A great marriage is the union of two forgivers.

When you forgive your spouse, you are ultimately saying to them, “I choose to give up the right to punish you for how you have hurt me.”

When we forgive another person, it doesn’t mean we forget. And it doesn’t brush it away and pretend that it didn’t happen.

Forgiveness says, “I refuse to dwell on my anger and hurt.” It is an essential step to healing and restoring oneness.

Christ’s death on the cross—His forgiveness—restored our relationship to God. Trust that God can use your forgiveness to restore your relationship and change you both for the better.

Here are 4 steps that will help you express and experience forgiveness:

  1. Do it privately: Go to God in prayer and say, “God, I forgive _________ for hurting me. I choose to give up the right to punish __________.”
  2. Do it publicly and specifically: Go to the person and be specific, “I forgive you for ________.”
  3. Do it graciously: Keep the bigger goal in mind, which is restoring your relationship and rebuilding trust. That means giving up your right to punish!
  4. Do it generously: Acknowledge your own failings to maintain balance; not one of us is perfect! And once you’ve forgiven, refuse to bring up the matter again in a hurtful way.

Forgiveness gives us the opportunity to re-establish our relationship and make things right with our spouse or a family member.

It removes the issue that creates isolation in a relationship and empowers us to grow in oneness.

10 Keys to Forgiveness:(Emmett I. Aldrich)

1)      Let Go of the Anger

2)      Don’t be Stubborn

3)      Stop Thinking of yourself as a Victim

4)      Focus on the Future

5)      Re-Learn to Trust

6)      Be Reasonable in your expectations of Others

7)      Expect that it will take time to Forgive

8)      Examine your Heart

9)      Let Forgiveness become an Everyday Practice

10) Ask God for Guidance

Lord, Help me see and experience forgiveness in my life, knowing You are the God of restoration.  Help me be patient, knowing Your timing is Perfect!

Help us dear God to put aside resentment, hurt, hostility and bitterness so that we may have reconciliation with those who have offended us, and whom we have offended. Amen

 

 

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LET GO OF FAILURES

By Bob / January 17, 2024

Christ is actively working within you to shape your character and empower your obedience.

John 15:26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.

We need to leave our failures behind and he keep moving forward.

Two wonderful absolutes.

1. The first absolute: GOD REALLY LOVES ME.
*God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.
*Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition.
*Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love.
*Just rest in that wonderful love. Don’t panic. Deliverance will come.

 

2. The second absolute: IT IS MY FAITH THAT PLEASES HIM THE MOST!
“Without faith, it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).
*God counts our trust as righteousness.  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness”. (Romans 4:3).

I may not understand why He sometimes seems to take a long time to intervene, but I know He will keep His word to me.

*God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.(Read Romans 8).
*Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition.
*Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love.
*Just rest in that wonderful love. Don’t panic. Deliverance will come.

*When Adam sinned, he tried to hide from God.
*When Jonah refused to preach to Nineveh, his fear drove him into the ocean to flee from the presence of the Lord.
*When Peter denied Christ, he was afraid to face Him.

God has shown us a truth: Something much worse than failure is the fear that goes with it.
**Adam, Jonah and Peter ran away from God not because they had lost their love for Him, but because they were afraid He was too angry with them to understand.
Satan uses such fear to make people think there is no use trying.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Jesus,  Help me see your Character in people as well as myself—-Knowing we all are Your Masterpieces.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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FORGIVING MYSELF

By Bob / January 3, 2024

Ever Felt like you are not GOOD-ENOUGH for God?

Never feel embarrassed to tell him how bad you have sinned .

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

*God’s forgiveness is complete, entire, whole, immediate.

When you don’t come to God to be forgiven, it is as if you refuse to listen to Him.
By not hearing God, you separate yourself from Him.

Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ — and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
*When you ask for forgiveness, God forgives you.  It is as if  He removes the earplugs from your ears, and you can hear Him again.

I’ve been told for years that when I forgive myself I’ll be free.

1 John 1:9 offers a promise. When we hold up our sin before God, He is faithful and just to forgive ALL our sins.

Faithful to us? Yes, to us. But also faithful to who He is, and His plan for our forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as JESUS bore OUR sin.

But it doesn’t end there. You see, when we are forgiven, our sin is re-framed.
*Yes it still happened.
*But God removes it from us as far as the east is from the west.
Psalm 103:12  He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Perhaps you carry shame, guilt or fear. You’ve been trying to forgive yourself, but realize you can’t undo the past.
You’ve said you’re sorry. You have changed. But the guilt or burden remains.
Hand that shame to your Savior today, and allow Him to hurl it as far as the east is from the west.

It’s not your burden to carry any longer.

Romans 8:1 So now there is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

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When we Blow It

By Bob / December 27, 2022

Even when we blow it badly and fail to remain an open, cleansed vessel for the Lord, He doesn’t stop loving us.

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord…When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

 

” Then he(Jesus) said to them(disciples), “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”” (Mt 26:38).
*Jesus shares his burden with his disciples. He cared about his disciples and valued His relationship with them. Relationships are important to Jesus. Even as a leader, He shows His humility.
*In times of sorrow and despair Jesus prays.
Even Jesus, who has a perfect relationship with God, still needs to pray..how much more do we need to pray to remain in the Fathers will?
*When we pray we align our will to His. It’s accepting God’s call….not changing God but me.
*Can we tell God that it’s ok to do things His way? Do we trust Him enough? Can we submit? And obey? (Read Psalms 139:23-24)

*Obeying God is a decision WE make.

Hebrews 5: 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 

Often the place of our greatest pain becomes the place of our greatest triumph.
Gethsemane was the place of Jesus’ greatest trial.
Three times He asked the Father to let this trial pass. It was not to be.

*The Father sent His Son to the cross to pay a debt owed by humanity.
*It was a personal battle to persevere.

The Word of God makes it clear that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13); “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20); and “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). No one has ever been denied the opportunity to accept salvation (Ti. 2:11).

 

“We Fight FROM Victory—Not FOR Victory!
John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Thank You Lord that You are always there for us, watching over us, protecting us, and giving us strength. No matter what we’re facing today, Thank You that I can just turn to You. Help me Believe and Know that Jesus will pull us through anything because He will without question.  (Col. 2:2-3). Amen

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Forgiving Ourselves

By Bob / December 9, 2022

Once we have confessed and repented of our sins, we must relinquish them to God. He will not violate our free will by taking them from us, so we must CHOOSE to hand them over.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

*We are forgiven by grace, from the first time we confessed our sin. God will never bring it up again.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

*Quit feeling guilty for the things you have confessed to God.
*Quit doing things that you know you will feel guilty about later.
*Root yourself in God’s word.

Get off the performance treadmill and rest in His grace.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

The hardest person to forgive sometimes is ourselves.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

It is especially hard for high achievers to forgive themselves.
*We think we are above such failure. (Pride)

However, the Bible says we all sin and it is impossible to remedy that sin by ourselves.
Romans 3: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives?” (1 John 1:8,10).


The question is not whether we will sin, the question is what we will do when we do sin.

There is only one thing for us to do. Go to the cross.

Jesus paid for that sin by dying on the cross.

Picture yourself writing your sin on a white piece of paper, then pinning it to the cross.

Now, leave it there. The cross is for sinners. We all make mistakes!!  Self Pity is of the devil.

When Jesus looks at you, He no longer sees your sin. He cannot see the sin because He can only see the cross.

When you come to Jesus with your sin, there is nothing more you can do besides confessing and renouncing your sin.
*Sometimes it may require restitution with others. However, once you confess your sin and ask forgiveness, it is no longer on the ledger of debts.

Why not choose to walk free. The cell has been opened.

Father, I want to walk in your grace. I want to take off the yoke of guilt and put on the yoke of grace today. Lord, help me to eliminate the negative self-talk in my life. Help me to focus my mind on the positive things. Help read my Bible every day and memorize it and meditate on it. And as I read it, (the Bible has over 8000 promises for US) remind me again and again how much you love me.  Amen

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EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE

By Bob / September 2, 2022

ETERNAL HAPPINESS= NOT WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND ME—IT’S ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN ME

 

It is through the reading of the Word and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that Christ in His fullness is known.
*What a privilege it is today to have God’s Word in our own language.

Philippians 3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

THE BIG IDEA:

God wants to get me THROUGH whatever is grieving my heart. (God sympathizes with my weakness because he was tempted just like me…)
GOD SEES!  GOD CARES!  GOD HELPS!

EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE = rehashing hurts of past.

*RELEASE HURT TO GOD
*STOP FOCUSING ON PAST (Philippians 3:13-14)

*IT’S NOT ABOUT ME (get off SELFISH attitudes/behaviors).

Three options to pain:
1. Repress them
2. Rehearse them
3. Resent (retalliate) them
*RELEASE IT….Romans 12:19-21 (“I will repay……”)

I’ve been abandoned but I can repress my feelings and resent those who’ve hurt me OR I CAN GIVE IT ALL TO GOD!  (Romans 1:18)

WE ARE COMFORTED BY:
1. THE WORD
2. THE CHURCH BODY
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT

Peter said “Save me Jesus” (walking on water, but started looking at storm and grew afraid).

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Father, I know You want me to share the love I have found in You. Forgive me for the many times I have been too busy to see the needs around me. Break my heart for those who are in pain and feel hopeless. Encourage them through me, Lord. Fill my heart with Your love so that I can give it away. In Jesus name, Amen.

*  “And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.”. Jeremiah 24:7

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