Devotions - Prayer
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away”.
* Doubtful thoughts DO come, BUT we do not sin until we Entertain Them.
*God does not tempt us; He is holy and beyond any sin. We commit sin when we are enticed by our own desires and GIVE IN to temptation– Instead of remembering our Victory in Christ.
*God does not tempt us nor can God be tempted!
WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY! (John 4:4)
*Don’t Be Afraid—Christ in you is bigger than the Satan of this world- “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
*Always Remember– The Lord–What HE Has done for you!!
*When your burden is too heavy to carry, when you feel like you cannot take it anymore just remember Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!
*The Lord has loaded ME with BENEFITS!
***BENEFITS INCLUDE FORGIVENESS, HEALING, REDEEMING ME FROM THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION AND RESTORING ME LIKE BRAND NEW, HE CROWNS US WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES.
*That is when you will know the joy of walking in repentance.
*Fight For Your Cause–Let your cause ignite a passion in you!
Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.”
*A temptation can be a difficult situation or a pressure.
*Contrary to popular belief, God is not the source of our temptation.
* James 1:13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
OUR HOPE!
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, (Pharisees) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
*The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and pointing to the sins of others. **Jesus chose to spend time, not with these proud, self-righteous religious leaders, but with people who sensed their own sin and knew that they were not good enough for God.
* When we are under pressure, it is important to realize that God is not trying to entrap us. Satan is called the tempter (Mt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5).
Then why did Jesus instruct us to pray that the Father would not lead us into temptation?
*This was simply a request for guidance so that we could be delivered from evil.
Jesus himself was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4, Lk. 4). He trusted God fully for Provision, Protection, and Purpose. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread.
*But as stated in James 4:2, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Both “give us our daily bread” and “lead us not into temptation” are simply requests for what has “Already been Provided” for us.
This part of prayer serves as a reminder to us of God’s promised protection (Ps. 91) and gives us an opportunity to release our faith and appropriate what has already been provided.
“No temptation has seized you but such as is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:13 ).
** The victory demonstrated by Jesus is available to us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). He has given it to you.
*Believe and receive it.
**REPLACE Temptation and Sin with Kingdom Values. (See Matthew 5:1-10)
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” ((Ecclesiastes 12:1) Remembering God does not mean merely thinking about Him once in awhile. It means to relate to Him, walk with Him, discover Him, learn to know Him while you are young.
Temptation is all around us; it is subtle, it is powerful.
*The appeal of the world and the flesh is constantly with us, turning thousands of people away from the truth of God.
*But it gets worse the older you grow. The pressures to conform are greater as you Move Out into Life and business.
How good it is to know the living God, to know that He controls what comes into your life.
* He expects you to make choices; Scripture always encourages that.
* But rejoice in the wisdom of a Father’s heart and richly enjoy what is handed you day-by-day; that is the secret of life.
Such a one “seldom reflects on the days of his life” because God will keep him occupied “with gladness of heart.”
*Yes, Lord. It is so good to know You and be given the freedom to enjoy all that You provide for me day by day.
Come to the Truth of The Word in all things. Only in Truth can your faith be established and exercised to overcome adversity.
The Lord has given you precious promises of victory and the authority to succeed.
** It is of vital importance that you control your thoughts and emotions as you put your Trust in Jesus.
**Refuse to allow Temptation and Fear to gain any ground in you.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.
We that are struggling may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing and share your secrets with safe people. Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets!
Matthew 5:7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. AMEN AMEN
What is Salvation? Deliverance from sin and its consequences.
“To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” Luke 1:77
** Salvation means that you and I must change to become a new creation.
God by His Holy Spirit will change our nature to make it holy. Our heart will be changed so that we will love all people — even our enemies. We will hate sin and walk in the light.
** Salvation means that we are no longer under Satan’s authority.
The Bible says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14).
In Acts 4:12 the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Christ came to save us by shedding his blood on the cross. (Watch “The Passion of the Christ” movie by Mel Gibson for a passionate vision).
Hebrews 9:22 states, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”.
How Can I Receive Salvation?
Step 1: Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Step 2: Come to Him and repent of your sins. Ask him to forgive you and change your heart. Pray a simple prayer with ALL your heart.
Step 3: Read the Bible daily and connect with a church in your community.
(For More– go to movingforwardwithhope.com and read the “Steps to Peace” by Billy Graham).
If a Person cannot get through to God it may be there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up – I will admit I have done wrong, but I no more intend to give up that thing than fly.
*Ones that are struggling– may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing and share your secrets with safe people.
***Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets! Let’s get rid of Pride and be “All IN” for Christ!
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?
*The real Christian person is the one who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
*In John 8:31 Jesus said, “If you obey my teaching …you are really my disciples.”
* In John 17:3 says: To know Jesus is to have Eternal Life!
Followers of Jesus walk with him every moment of their life, obeying his commands and loving him.
*When there is forgiveness of sin, there is life and all blessedness. We do not obtain forgiveness of sin by good work but through Jesus finish work on the cross.
Psalm 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
**What is my purpose/destiny?” – this is it. I’m created for the distinct purpose of being sanctified toward Christ that I might be zealous for good works in righteousness and intimacy with Him.
(Read Titus 2:11-14).
Luke 3:9 we must pursue the things of the Gospel. To be ACTIVE in the pursuit of holiness. to seek the Lord while He can be found!
SALVATION BEGINS NOW
MATTHEW 6:10, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
*His Kingdom comes in us when we allow Him to reign!
*His will is done on earth when we offer our lives to His control, to use us as He wishes in His redemptive work in this world!
We do not have to live a beggarly existence here on this earth and just wait till we all get to heaven to begin to experience the benefits of our salvation. Jesus told us to pray “thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” In heaven, He will “wipe away all tears from our eyes” (Rev. 21:4), so here on earth we can pray and believe to receive “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).
Our salvation is not just “pie in the sky,” but it IS Victory in this present life. Today believe God to start receiving every benefit of your salvation here in this life, and help others to receive what has been Purchased for them also. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven.
It is important as you continue to come to maturity that you maintain a healthy
spiritual atmosphere. I am referring to your own personal environment because you must establish the divine kingdom personally before it can extend beyond you to your family, church and work. The Lord’s work through you will always be an overflow of your Relationship with Jesus and your Obedience to His word.
* It all begins with the first and great commandment and seeking the kingdom first.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and
great commandment.”
*Salvation is God’s thought, not man’s.
*Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience.
*Experience is only a gateway by which salvation comes into our conscious life. Never preach the experience; preach the great thought of God behind the experience.
*When we preach we are not proclaiming how man can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying “Good News About God”!
Lord, Thank You for my salvation. Thank You that I have found my freedom in Christ. Thank You Jesus, for Your death on the Cross and saving a sinner like me. Lord I want to have a deeper passion for you all the time. I want to put You first in all my life. Lord help me to have a burning passion for You. Lord as I partner with You in reaching out to people, I ask for the help and guidance to accomplish what You came to do, and that is to reach the lost. “I LOVE YOU LORD. AMEN!”
Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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1. The Hope Connection: www.movingforwardwithhope.com
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Read MoreOur word should be our bond!
*Personal Integrity is needed in us, with that in our heart the Core Values as Christ unique giftedness will be fulfilled.
*Let your vision define your future. Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No -Be reliable and Trustworthy!
“When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”
*I need to be careful What I promise the Lord and How I carry through.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
“It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:5
*Pray Constantly….Complaining Is a Sin!
**The best antidote for complaining is Thanksgiving.
“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”.
Matthew 5: 33-37 (Msg)
A person who has to swear or make a promise to validate his statements is a person whose word is no good. The thrust of Jesus’ teaching here is that we should live in such a manner that no one would ever have to have additional proof that we are telling the truth.
* Our word should be our bond!
We have all heard the story of the young shepherd boy who cried wolf when there was no wolf until finally no one believed him when the wolf really came.
Our lack of integrity in performing our word has the same effect on people today.
Throughout history, we have seen people use oaths to declare when they are really speaking the truth and not lying.
Jesus, however, holds us to a higher standard: your word should be your bond (connection, relation, association, and tie).
When I have time to think about it, I will tell the whole truth. But there have been many times that I have told a “little white lie” at the spur of the moment.
I usually regret it later (sometimes moments later), then I am too embarrassed to admit it. This is an area of further growth for most of us.
I was blessed in Business in the 70’s-80’s to be able to do much Business on a hand shake and their word–knowing a person’s word was Truth. Today, Very few people conduct business anymore with their word and a handshake. Even contracts are not sacred if an individual can not afford a good enough lawyer. BUT this is not the way God intended it.
The Bible says that our real problem with this, is that every one of us is building our Identity on something besides Jesus. Whether it’s to succeed in our chosen field–or get our own selfish way– or to have a certain relationship—or even to get up and walk—we’re saying, “If only I have that, if I get my deepest wish, then everything will be okay without any Values.
God has fulfilled every word He has ever spoken. We ARE created in His image and He planned for us to be the same way.
Even our physical bodies respond adversely when we LIE. That’s why lie detectors work.
*Jeremiah 9:6 They pile wrong upon wrong, stack lie upon lie, and refuse to know me.” God’s Decree.
*Colossians 3:9 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.
*Ephesians 4: 25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
*The root problem with lies is a hardness of the heart.
*We want what we want when we want it.
*The hardness darkens our understanding (shady spot). We don’t see Gods will for our life because of this obscurity. (We are lying when we Suppress the Truth. Ro. 1:18)
Today, commit yourself to be a new man or woman of your word. You will not only experience a new respect from others, BUT you will find the JOY of a clear heart and mind. (Peace: Philippians 4:4-9)
God’s commandments are not intended to make us miserable–they’re meant for our own happiness. Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden caused Eve to question God’s motives behind His command (Genesis 3:5).
You can’t control other people–not even your mate. But through obeying the Lord, you can control yourself and have fullness of joy. God’s commands tell us what will produce true happiness for us.
“The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life, do not make me the way I am, but reveal the way I am” [Dr. Sam Peeples].
Forgiving Father, thank you for forgiving us and loving us. Help us to be humble, honest and loving people who release others into your forgiveness. Father, help me to always tell the truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Revelation 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
*When you tell your personal testimony, you tell everyone that God is good in everything by the way He Changed You!
* As long as you are ashamed of your testimony you will not be able to relate to real people honestly!
ARE WE THE SALT AND THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD?
**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
Sometimes being different from others because of our faith in Christ is difficult.
*But Jesus desires us to stand up for the Truth He proclaimed so that people will see a flavorful difference in us.
*That difference will begin to add some flavor to their life and can begin to change lives.
*Jesus desires us to shine his love in a way that is so different that people can’t help but see the flavor of our faith.
God’s Love eternally embraces the poor, the afflicted, the broken and the unlovely.
* “…the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners…”Isaiah 61:1
“IS it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” He said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’ ” (Matthew. 21:12-13).
*People would come to the temple and present sacrifices to God. *Merchants were selling doves and calves to the people of the temple to present to the Lord.
*Jesus found the workplace believers of the day seeing His house as a place for profit, not prayer. *Jesus got angry, turned over the tables, and said that His house was a house of prayer.
*They had stepped into a place of complacency that was not acceptable to the Lord.
*Instead, Jesus wants us to present ourselves as a gift to God. Use your life to honor Him.
When we begin to blend in with the moral condition of an ungodly world, we begin losing God’s perspective on life.
It is easy to begin blending in with our culture and to accept what is being modeled by the ungodly.
*God called us to be salt in a world that needs much salt. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Mt. 5:13).
Each of us must ask ourselves if we have lost our salt. Are we having an impact on our world? Or is our world having an impact on us? Ask God to give you a vision for how you can be salt to your world today.
When we become a Christian we are full of God. We never really “lose God” but we gain other things, good and bad. Salt is salty, right? In order for salt to lose IT’S flavor, you have to Add other things to it.
We have God all our lives as a Christian but when we Add things like sin and other lifestyles that don’t bring glorify to God, He kinda gets watered down and crowded out by the other things in life. Not necessarily bad things, but things that keep God from sticking out.
God’s Love expressed through us is the only thing that will bring our spouses, children, relatives and friends to Christ.
* “…may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men…”Colossians 3:12
*Let God’s Agape Love and Light radiate from within you today!
* “..for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness…But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love…”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
The Lord’s banner over you is Victory. If you will look and if you will spiritually connect with Jesus, you will see you are destined to victory. No matter what the odds, no matter how intense the war, no matter the level of correction that is necessary, no matter what it might be that you are going through at this time, understand that it is a time of war and the enemy is after you. Your enemy is chaos, and he will create those situations and those things that will be a deterrent to you. But, make the determination today to win because the “I am” is with you, always leading you in triumph, always bringing you through, and watching over you. You are not alone in this battle. I encourage you to continue to fight the good fight of faith. Rise up and declare your victory into the heavenlies. Write a decree of victory over your life. Arise and go forth into the battle. The Lord is with you and remember, we as believers Fight FROM Victory. (Cross)
1John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
Lord help us to have this same Kind of zeal and righteous indignation so that when you reveal to us sinful things lingering in our lives, we get rid of them. Help us to immediately cast them out! Help us to “give no place to the Devil” and “make no provision for the flesh. Lord, help me to follow You so closely that my life will add flavor to those I have an opportunity to encounter on this journey of life for Your Glory. Lord keep reminding us that “As God’s chosen people”: We have a New identity -we have the Power to overcome and we are chosen for a Kingdom purpose! Thank You Jesus! Amen
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. “Let the Light in US Shine”!
If you have asked Jesus into your heart, His Love has taken residence there also.
* ” I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”. John 17:26
What God really wants!
The only way other people are going to experience the reality of our Christianity is by our love. Not everyone sees our devotion to God, but the love we show others is the visible evidence of our faith.
* “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
1 John 3:17
Can you imagine what our marriage, families, churches, and communities would be like if more of us were walking in God’s unconditional Love?
* “…they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47
Those who look to the Lord are radiant!
Psalm 34:5
*Let God’s Agape Love and Light radiate from within you today!
* “..for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness…But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love…”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
“Come back to me and live”! Amos 5:4.
* ‘LIVE’ is the big word. We will LIVE the life He has for us, the best for you and me.
*Often feeling that I have to take responsibility for my own actions and my life, I forget that when something seems too big to handle on my own I can send it through to Him.
God has offered us His strength to face all life-changing situations. We need to recognize when it is time to do so.
What God really wants!
*God wants our heart–not vain, empty ritual. He wants us to have an authentic relationship with him.
*We need to be mindful of our thoughts and actions and be careful not to fall into a mechanical routine.
* God wants us to place HIM at the center of all we do and all we are!
*We alone are empty shells, selfish, breakable, self-centerd, frail, fragile, hollow!
* And God knows that – which is why he demands and reminds constantly, to keep Him at the Center of ALL we do and in particular, our worship lives, both public and private.
*Without Him in His rightful place, it’s just “noisy ego-music”
” “I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice-oceans of it. I want fairness-rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want.”
Amos 5:21-24 (Msg.).
*God could not be anymore direct. He wants our righteous living and humble praise. God hit all of us and our ways of worship. Whether we praise and shout or have a quiet and serious service it all is nothing to God without “Daily Righteousness”.
*My worship is empty and hollow if it does not include Actions of justice that are never ending. What is done in the sanctuary must be seen in the streets.
*God seeks justice and righteousness and looks for the same from God’s people.
*Going through religious motions does not matter to God. God looks to the Heart, our Intentions and how we Impact the world.
“Come back to me and live”! Amos 5:4.
God’s Definition of Fasting!
“…. Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like? “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ Isaiah 58:5-9(msg).
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
God wants us to be humble, sensitive and yielded enough to hear His still small voice prompting us to show His Love to the stranger, the outcast, the wounded and the forgotten.
* “…Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”Matthew 25:40
Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
*Jesus is saying that persecution should actually cause us to rejoice. There are many positive things about persecution but one of the best reasons to rejoice is because of the reward awaiting us in heaven.
Jesus takes the persecution of His saints very seriously as can be seen during the Damascus road experience of the apostle Paul. The Lord asked Paul (then Saul), “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) He didn’t say, “Why are you persecuting my people?” but “Why are you persecuting me?”
*It is not actually us that people are rejecting but they are rejecting the One we represent. Therefore, Jesus promised to share His reward with us. All the glory and honor that Jesus has and will receive will be shared with those who have suffered shame for His name’s sake (Rom. 8:17). What a great reward!
“Come back to me and live”! Amos 5:4.
Matthew 6:31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
*Jesus is commanding us not to worry or be anxious about our material needs being met.
* We are simply not to be preoccupied with thinking about riches or spending our time worrying about necessities. **These things will be added unto us as we seek FIRST the Kingdom of God.
** Doubtful thoughts DO come, BUT we do not sin until we Entertain Them.
Speak only things that will express your faith, trust, and confidence in the Lord and not your fear about the situations you face.
God, today I give You my all: my hands, my mouth, my mind, my body, my money and my time. Everything I have is Yours. I want to do Your will today and have You Jesus, the Center of All roles in my life, so I can continually Move Forward with You.
Lord, today I make a fresh commitment to be a giver and invest myself, my time, and my money in Your work. Daily help me to: “Come back to YOU and live”! Amen
John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Knowledge comes to us at a blinding pace, and Understanding comes from God or experience. Without Godly understanding we cannot make wise choices.
“If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”
2 Corinthians 1:6
*God must love you a lot! He doesn’t allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life.
*God doesn’t want us to be a lone ranger. He gives us discernment in choosing wise and godly counselors to help us make choices that will please Him.
A “faith experience” is an event or “spiritual marker” in your life about which you can say, “That is where I saw God personally moving in my life.” It is an unmistakable event in which God showed Himself personally to you.
* It was the burning bush for Moses;
* the crossing of the Red Sea or the Jordan River for the nation of Israel;
*It was the time when YOU saw God working in your life, knowing that what happened was in fact a God given blessing- there you knew you were with God face to face in your life situation and only HE could of got you through.
If God has plans of using you in the lives of many others, you can expect that He is going to allow certain faith experiences to come into your life in order to build a foundation that will be solid.
That foundation is what you will be able to look back on to keep you faithful to Him in the times of testing.
* Each of us must have personal faith experiences in which we experience God personally so that we can move in Faith to whatever He may call us.
Hebrews 5: 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.
Although adversity may never be a blessing, God in His grace can bring blessing out of our adversity. The key is releasing the hurt and pain to the Lord so He can bring the needed healing to our lives.
Why not give your circumstance to the Lord today and let Him use it in the lives of others. This will be the first step toward healing-to be able to give it away.
Revelation 12: 11 And they overcame him(devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
*This verse really struck me in the sense of it being so true of how we are ever able to advance the kingdom in our lives.
It’s a question:
* Do I love my life so much that I shrink from dying to the things Jesus wants me to die to?
*Or do I instead come up boldly and Choose to die to myself so that Christ might become greater in me?
**It’s a great question that deserves our answer.
Do you need a personal faith experience right now in your life?
Pray that God will reveal Himself to you. He delights in doing that.
Proverbs tell us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors.
Proverbs 11: 14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
** Submitting our decisions to others for confirmation protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart.
This process will protect us from presumption and encourage us to move in faith.
The next time you believe God is directing you toward a specific action, consult with your spouse first, then some close, spiritual friends who will take the time to prayerfully consider your request.
*If you don’t have consensus, wait until you do before you move forward.
*God will move through this process to His desired will for the matter.
God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves – a life that is dependent on His grace and power to achieve things we never thought possible through our lives. This is His plan for your life.
The apostle Paul prayed that He might experience the power of the resurrection in his life. This power is available to you and me to live for a cause greater than ourselves.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
I believe that God is showing us that he wants us to rely on Him rather then ourselves. And that he shows us trials to grow us closer to Him.
Thank you God for hearing me; you. always do. Father help me to trust in You in every area of my life…. Lord I will trust in you with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding. Sometimes this journey gets tough but I know you are with me. When I’m standing alone you are with me, when I don’t know which way to go you lead me. Sometimes life gets tough but you did say “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord shall deliver them out of them all. In all my ways I will acknowledge you and I know you will direct my path. My prayer for today Is that you bless someone else who may need a decision made for their lives. Don’t let them loose hope but hold on to what you promised them and trust that you will see them through.
“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. Thank You Lord. Amen
FORGIVENESS verses UNFORGIVENESS!
Forgiveness is probably the most difficult act we do, as humans–it is a God-like trait to be forgiving. It takes faith to forgive those who have offended us. Remember, among Jesus’ last words on the cross–“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
This morning, in prayer I was reminded of the last two weeks of communication with so many people in so many different situations and the one most common conversation we all had was: FORGIVENESS verses UNFORGIVENESS!
*So here goes a short thought on what I believe is one of the major problems we ALL phase in one area or another!
FORGIVENESS verses UNFORGIVENESS!
What are some Biblical verses to see what Jesus says:
* Matthew 6:13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (From the Lord’s Prayer).
*Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
* Hebrews 12:15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
*Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
*Romans 12:19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
*Christ sets is free!
My favorite Two verses and most convicting to me is:
1. Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
*Forgiveness – God loves us so much that He sent Christ to surrender his life so we might be free from sin. He also promised us grace to see us through; but as mortals we fall short of His glory and He is quick to forgive when we repent. As sons of God, we should learn to forgive, though the hurt is hard to forget.
*Just because I can’t forget the hurt someone posed on me doesn’t mean I don’t forgive them. I forgive, move on with my life and wait for God to bless and heal me. Not forgetting keeps you from getting hurt the same way again and makes you grow spiritually. Amen
2. Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
*What this verse is trying to explain is that we as humans need to be KIND, TENDER and FORGIVING to each other SO we can be more like Christ Because Christ is kind and forgiving to ALL of us. We cannot be hateful and unforgiving and be with Christ the one and only Lord. GOD GAVE ALL-HIS SON JESUS!
*Our body is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:24-26
** FORGIVENESS: Giving of the resentment against someone and our right to get even, no matter what has been done to us.
*Forgiveness is the “Surrendering of MY Right” to hurt you back if you hurt me.
** UNFORGIVENESS: The deliberate willful refusal to give up one’s resentment an right to get the wrong done.
The Nature of Unforgiveness is like a match that can be lit at any time.
* Nothing good can come from unforgiveness.
* Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, bitterness will eat away at our soul like acid in a paper cup.
The Scripture is Clear Concerning God’s View of Unforgiveness.
** The Terrible Consequences of Unforgiveness: (As humans we All try to come up with reasons to try to justify bitterness and unforgiveness).
* Develop a spirit of bitterness. (Hebrews 12:15)
** Unforgiveness has a harmful effect upon every aspect of your spiritual life.
* Prayer life is affected. (MATT 6:14-15)
* By praying and not forgiving we develop a callousness to the spirit of God, deceiving ourselves (1 JOHN 1:8)
** Unforgiveness has a detrimental effect upon one’s physical health.
*Heart problems, high blood pressure, etc. all documented.
* I would say through years of listening to people that 90% of people that seek counseling have an unforgiving spirit.
**Unforgiveness affects all other relationships.
* A child that sees unforgiveness and anger in their parents goes through life and sees that exhibited in their own life later in life.
*Unforgiveness begets bitterness; the things just like itself: hurt, pain, more deep-seated unforgiveness.
**Unforgiveness gives Satan a foothold in our lives.
*Each time we do not forgive Satan’s foothold gets a little deeper.
THE KEY IS: HOW DO WE DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS!
*Paul said, lay aside the things that pull you down. (HEB 12:1) He would not have said that if it was not possible through Christ.
Unforgiveness– IT. IS. A. DECISION. YOU MUST LAY IT DOWN.
1. Treat it as a serious offense in the eyes of God.
2. Assume full responsibility for your unforgiving spirit.
3. Confess your resentment
*Don’t just confess “Unforgiveness”. Be Honest with God about what you really FEEL(He knows your thoughts. And heart and motives anyway): do you want vengeance? Do you want to get even? Do you want to harm someone?
4. Acknowledge it is un-Christ-like, violation of the Word!!
5. Ask God to enable you to forgive.
6. Ask God to forgive you.
7. Begin praying for the other person. (LUKE 6:28)
8. If they are aware may have to ask them to forgive you.
* if the Holy Spirit leads you–go to them and tell them, this is what happened and I nurtured a heart of bitterness. I want to ask you to forgive me for my heart of bitterness. Will you forgive me?
9. Ask God if He would have you do something specific on behalf of the other person. Act of kindness.
10. Suppose reminded of hurt, don’t give in; Satanic trap. Thank God for his forgiveness.
11. If the other person is not alive address with God.
Prayer is that master key that unlocks all the blessings promised us by our Father. Though the vision may tarry, wait for it. So many of us want instant answers to prayers, but Gods time is the best. Whenever we pray, believe that God is able to keep His promises; and that promise is ‘God will supply all your needs according to His riches through Christ Jesus.
*Miracles happen every second. Some people are just blind to see. I don’t know what you are going through, but I know who will see you through. JESUS!
** How will you know you have truly forgiven the other person?
1. Feelings about the other person.
2. Feelings of concern, caring.
3. Willing to accept them as they are.
4. Seek the Lord to understand why they acted the way they did.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
*God really does heal our broken hearts, and make us clean again.
” This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”1 John 4:10-11
Lord, we NEED YOU!!! COME and take over my life!! I surrender ALL to YOU JESUS! REVEAL my True HURTS! I want to be HEALED! RELEASE the people involved, the ones I know and don’t Know. Lord, REFOCUS me on Your plan for MY life with no more unforgiveness in my heart. Set me FREE Lord, knowing You are in Control and have our Best interests in mind for your Glory and our Joy. Thank You For Guiding Us Through This Darkness To YOUR Light.
Thank you for Your promise of Psalms 32:8 The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
In Jesus’ Name We Pray, Amen.
OTHER VERSES:
Romans 12:20
Luke 6:35-38
Proverbs 20:22
John 13:34-4:8
Psalms 66:16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.
*God often uses our testimonies as a link to someone else’s life.
Acts 22:15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.
*Our testimony is simply a personal account of the work that God began in our lives, put to words to share with others.
*Testimonies proclaim God’s faithfulness, power, and glory to all who hear. God does wonderful and miraculous things in our lives, which are meant to be shared. Your testimony will bring God glory and encourage someone, which may lead them to a relationship with Christ. Don’t hide your light under a basket.
*The only thing that can change the hearts of those around us, is the Holy Spirit. So when we share our testimony, we share the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives, presenting an opportunity for the Spirit to move in someone else’s life.
*Your Personal Testimony of what Jesus has done for YOU has power!
Revelation 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
*When you tell your testimony, you tell everyone that God is good in everything.
* As long as you are ashamed of your testimony you will not be able to relate to real people.
God’s Love eternally embraces the poor, the afflicted, the broken and the unlovely.
* “…the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners…”Isaiah 61:1
We all long to hear Jesus say “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
When we hear those words, it’s because of our intimate relationship and time spent with Him… more so than what we DID for Him! ( Psalm 107:1-5).
* “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
**Only when our hearts are ruled by God’s Love are we given the Hope that transcends Emotion or Circumstance.
*”…we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts…”
Romans 5:3-5
Jesus is “The Lamb of God” and
“The Light of the World”.
*Ask Him to lead and light your path today as you follow in His footsteps.
* “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom…” Isaiah 40:11
Revelation 12: 11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
*You are the only one who can unlock the door of your heart and allow God’s Love to enter in.
*The devils biggest trick is to make you think Your in control not Jesus. God forgave us, so we have no right to judge.
*One reason Jesus allows us to be hurt and suffer- is so we can have Kindness, Compassion and Forgiveness to others and be able to help and encourage, saying I know what your going through you can make it.
Eph. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
“I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.” – John 3:11
*The converts in the early Church changed the world they lived in because of what they saw and heard.
*It was the “Power of the Gospel” that changed lives, not what they learned from mere teaching.
*This power drew people to Christ. Things happened that could not be explained as anything other than the activity of God.
*Is that the kind of faith you are experiencing in your life?
**Many of us live a wholesome, moral life, but those we associate with do not see this activity as anything that cannot also be achieved by themselves. That is why many are not drawn to our lives. God’s power is not evident.
Jesus was the ultimate disciple maker. He states both his mission and his vision.
Mission is the purpose and Vision is how they will accomplish that. He made disciples and disciple makers. Everyone should be on a mission but not everyone is intended to be a missionary. Shouldn’t you be working on your purpose with everyone you know?
Be vigilant: so that this world does not consume us. (See Luke 10:1-7).
We are God’s own children…accepted, complete, forgiven, chosen, beloved and free. What an incredible identity He has given us! Let us Share our Hope!
* “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.”1 John 3:1
With just a little push, you can more easily access victory in your circumstances than at other times. This is a time when your spiritual atmosphere is charged with favor and blessings. Take advantage of this time to move forward to achieve your goals as you Trust JESUS to bring you through. Let go of all past failures that continue to undermine your confidence and boldness. This is a new day.
Psalms 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
*Know and believe what Jesus did for you on the cross.
*Be prepared to tell your story of what Jesus has done for you. You are His Masterpiece!
2 Timothy 1:8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
*As we proclaim to be Christians, people should see us living with confidence. It’s not a Sunday show, it’s a lifestyle.
John 1: 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
*To be the light of the world, is to have the knowledge of God. The more the revelation,the more the light that you shine.
*The whole world is seeking to know Him. And God is trusting US to shine this light thru our Love for Him and our fellow human’s.
*Christ is the true Light that we bear in us of God. So let us arise and shine!
Lord, Thank You for all You have done for me. Help me now to take Your Goodness to others with these testimonies for Your Glory. Father, I pray that I can show others your love through my actions 24/7. Amen
1 John 5: 9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true.
Do we need a Foot Washing?
*We are to help people come to
salvation by sharing the correcting, healing, washing, comforting Word of God.
God’s Love is as necessary to human life as the air we breathe or the water we drink.
* “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God.”Psalm 42:1
God’s Love eternally embraces the poor, the afflicted, the broken and the unlovely.
* “…the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners…”Isaiah 61:1
We are to take up the towel of God’s mercy and go to that hurting one.
* In the special love of Jesus we are not to judge him, expose him, lecture or find fault.
* Instead we are to commit to being his friend. We are to help him come to
salvation by sharing the correcting, healing, washing, comforting Word of God.
“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
If you want to be kindhearted—to take up the towel to restore a brother or
sister—you do not need to know the details of how that person got dirty.
*Jesus did not ask His disciples, “How did you get such filthy feet?” He wanted
only to get the dust off of them. His love for them was unconditional.
Likewise, those who walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ must have this
Attitude of love toward those with dirty feet. We are not to ask for details.
Instead, we are to say, “Let me wash your feet.”
Too often Christians want to dive into all the gory details of a situation.
They come to a believer who has dirty feet, saying, “I want to wash your feet.
BUT tell me, what happened? How’d you get so dirty?”
At some point in the story of failure, the curious comforter realizes, “Oh, my,
this is worse than I thought. I can’t get involved in this.” And after a few
more details, he comes to the end of his puny human mercy.
** He judges the person as too evil, beyond help, and he drops his towel and goes his way.
***We cannot wash feet in a judge’s robes. *We have to take off our self-righteous garments before we can do any cleansing.
Paul says we are to be gentle and patient with all people:
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Paul is saying, “You must be tenderhearted with everyone, willing to wash their feet. God will have mercy on them and deliver them from their sin.”
In a famous passage in John 13, Jesus took a towel and a basin and washed the feet of His disciples. He told them “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).
The disciples were twelve men beloved of God—precious in His eyes, full of
love for His Son, pure of heart, in full communion with Jesus. Yet they had
dirt on their feet!
Jesus, in essence, was saying to these men, “Your hearts and hands are clean,
but your feet are not. They have become dirty in your daily walk with Me. You do not need your whole body to be washed—only your feet.”
**The dirt Jesus mentions here has nothing to do with natural dirt. It is about SIN—our faults and failures, our giving in to temptations.
I wonder how many of us this past week fell into a temptation or failed God in some way?
It is not that we have turned our
back on the Lord. On the contrary, we love the Savior more passionately than
ever, BUT we fell and now we are grieving—because our feet are dirty.
Scripture tells us: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who
are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
The Greek word for trespass here
means “a fall, a sin.” We are to restore every Christian who falls into sin
if there is a repentant heart.
Foot washing, in its deepest meaning, has to do with our Attitude about the
dirt we see on our brother or sister. So I ask you: What do you do when you are
face to face with someone who has fallen into a sin or transgression?
As Jesus served His disciples, He calls us to serve others. He is calling us to see people through the eyes of God and with His love meet their needs.
But how?
(John 13: 3) Jesus was profoundly anchored in the love of the Father. His identity was secure.
We need a radical receiving of His love!
** We need to be Filled with God’s love (our cup overflowing) in order to give others our richness of love.
Jesus was teaching us how important it is to Humble ourselves before one another and also that we are all equal in Gods eyes. He said that we are to love one another unconditionally– this is how we will know the ones who are called and annointed of God. They will be Love.
1 John 2:9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
Jesus, You showed true humility by washing the disciples feet. Jesus, Help each one of us to be more humble this day and follow Your example of Truth and Love so others may be set FREE for Your Glory. Amen
Mark 9:41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
GOD DELIGHTS IN MERCY
” But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!).”( Ephesians 2:4-5)
Psalm 103:17 But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
*God’s commandments are not intended to make us miserable–they’re meant for our own happiness. Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden caused Eve to question God’s motives behind His command (Genesis 3:5).
*Let us remember the good things God has done and how much He loves us.
Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
* Despite of your hardships and slips ups– you are still here. The reason you are still here is because God Is ABLE.
* No matter what lies ahead it will be well because God is still able.
***God is still able:
1. To keep us from falling.
He is able to keep you from falling right Now. God will keep you if you want to be kept. You got to fight for your faith.
2. To present us faultless.
We will be presenting faultless because we been redeemed. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can bring us this. It never loses its power. Hold on and hang on.
3. To keep us faithful.
*The same God with you every month is still Able. Who was with you through rough times is still Able. Hang in there, he’s still able.
None of us deserve the mercy of the Lord. Not one of us walking the earth deserve His mercy- BUT because He loves us so much, The Father shows us mercy. What is mercy?
*Mercy is compassion, kindness, favor!
Even when some of us went our own way and committed unspeakable sins the Lord had mercy on us.
*Today if you are reading this devotion it is because of the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear Him, upon those that reverence are in awe of Him.
The Lord’s mercy never ends. That’s what everlasting means it goes on and on.
We should be Living Grateful and Thankful Lives unto God the Father, even some of us who are not walking with God as we should be.
We must, be grateful that He allows us to open our eyes and see another day, another day to turn our hearts to Him completely.
“11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. “(Hebrews 12:11).
God is talking about disciplining His own heart here, as well as ours. His are
not joyous to Him, but grievous and painful. Yet when God moves in to judge, He hovers over His children as He disciplines (chastens) them.
**God looks for even the slightest
sign of sorrow or repentance and He lets up at the first inkling of one.
**God longs to say, “Enough—no more. It pains Me too much to punish you.”
We must come to grips with this matter of God’s pain. When others are
trying to hurt you, you have to bring your thoughts into captivity, and say,
“Oh, Lord, let me pray for my enemies, for those who are trying to wound me.”
God loves the most wicked, vile sinner on the street and if He loves that
person, how much more does He love the Christian who hurts you and has made himself your enemy?
Perhaps you have an idea by now of how far we are from the heart of God. We have so much yet to learn of His heart.
No, God does not delight in judgment. He takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked, nor in His disciplining of His children. On the contrary, it pains Him awfully.
Let me tell you what the Lord delights in:
” Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” (Micah7:18-19).
Thank God for His great compassion, available to all. He delights in mercy!
Pay attention to the rhythm of life as you endeavor to move in the flow of the Lord’s Spirit. If you try to make things happen instead of waiting for opportunities to come to you, you will get out of the flow and become unfruitful. Trust the Lord to put you in proper position to complete your assignments in the perfect order of your responsibilities and giftings. Be bold; be strong, for the Lord is with you.
** Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
* Our lives are short and will be forgotten. Only God and His love is everlasting.
*God loves mercy. It is His specialty according to His Word. I am so grateful for His mercy and grace.
God, thank you for having mercy on us and loving us. Thank you for giving us life and for creating us. Help me to use my short time on earth to honor You and share You with others. Keep me focused and not tempted by distractions.
Father, thank You that when You came into my life, You granted me wisdom from above. Teach me to listen and live by the wisdom You give through Your Word. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.”
(2 Thess. 2:16-17)
Amen
Gen. 19:16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
*When a friend is close enough to me to know that there’s something in my life that needs to be worked on, I should be grateful, rather than hurt and offended. That’s what true friends are for; they are to call me higher in my spiritual walk.
As we look around at our churches, our families and our friends, we see that many of us are dying from lack of love.
* “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12
WHAT IS TRUE FRIENDSHIP
Friendships take: Time- Energy-Emotion
Investment!
BEST FRIENDS: Are the people in life that make You Laugh a little louder, Smile a little Brighter, and live a little better.
Real and true friendship involves freedom of choice, accountability, truth, and forgiveness.
Peter and Jesus give us this example: Peter, afraid for his life after Jesus is led away from the Garden of Gethsemane, denies knowing Jesus (John 18). As He is led away by His accusers, Jesus casts a look toward Peter that says, “I knew you would deny Me, and I forgive you” (John 21).
*Real friendship looks at the heart, not just the “packaging.
*Genuine friendship loves for love’s sake, not just for what it can Get in Return.
*True friendship is both challenging and exciting. It risks, it overlooks faults, and it loves unconditionally, but it also involves being Truthful, even though it may hurt.
*Genuine friendship, also called “agape” love, comes from the Lord. The Lord Jesus calls us His friends and He laid down His life for us (John 15).
“A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.” Proverbs 27:19
* Just like looking at yourself in the mirror, God can see what is in your heart. He sees everything and he knows if your heart is truthful.
The main ingredient that will bind a friendship not only through this life, but also throughout eternity is Jesus.
The Bible tells us “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Who would stick closer than a brother or sister? ***Jesus, of course! He transcends even our earthly family relationships.
***5 Traits of True Christian Friends
So, what does a true Christian friendship look like? Let’s break it down into traits that are easy to identify.
1. Christian Friends Love Sacrificially!
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
*Jesus is the finest example of a true Christian friend. His love for us is sacrificial, never selfish.
*Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
By valuing your friend’s needs above your own, you’ll be on your way to loving like Jesus. In the process, you’ll likely gain a true friend.
2. Christian Friends Accept Unconditionally!
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
*We discover the best of friendships with brothers and sisters who know and accept our weaknesses and imperfections.
If we’re easily offended or hold on to Bitterness, we’ll have a hard time making friends.
3. Christian Friends Trust Completely! Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
*This proverb reveals that a true Christian friend is trustworthy, indeed, but emphasizes a second important truth as well. We should only expect to share complete trust with a few loyal friends. Trusting too easily can lead to ruin, so be careful about putting your confidence in a mere companion.
4. Christian Friends Keep Healthy Boundaries!
*If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong. Likewise, if you feel used or abused, something is amiss. Recognizing what’s best for someone and giving that person space are signs of a healthy relationship.
**We should never let a friend come between us and our spouse. A true Christian friend will wisely avoid intruding and recognize your need to maintain other relationships.
5. Christian Friends Give Mutual Edification!
*True Christian friends will build each other up emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Friends like to be together simply because it feels good.
*We receive strength, encouragement, and love. We talk, we cry, we listen. But at times we also have to say the difficult things our dearest friend needs to hear.
Yet, because of the shared trust and acceptance, we are the one person who can impact our friend’s heart, for we know how to deliver the hard message with truth and grace.
I believe this is what Proverbs 27:17 means when it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
My hope is that these five traits will show you areas that may need a little work in your effort to build stronger friendships. But if you don’t have lots of close friends, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, true Christian friendships are rare treasures.
They take time to nurture, but in the process we grow more Christ like.
Do you need a friend? God wants to be your true friend. Are you longing for companionship? God is always with you (Hebrews 13:5).
Who do you know who needs a true friend today? God wants you to befriend others. He calls us to be His hands and feet in a world starving for true friendship.
My actions / responses are an outpouring of what is in my heart. Does my heart overflow with the Holy Spirit or is flesh still the owner?
God – show me the areas of my heart that need to be crucified for you.
Father, My heart is yours. Help me to be the Christian you have made me to be. My mind and heart need to be in sync, and with your guidance and encouragement, mold me to be who you want me to be. I am yours! Father, help me be a reflection of you to my friends and all others I come in contact with. Lord, I am not perfect and will never live up to You. However, you set the perfect example here on earth and provided us with a roadmap of how we are supposed to act. Help me become more like you in my daily actions. Thank You for my current and past friends that have helped shape me to the man I am this day. Thank You for my Truest Friend-my friend and wife Laura. What a blessing life is to have Friends!!! Amen
What a friend we have in Jesus..!!!!!!!
*Storms will come throughout our life time.
*These storms, though none of us likes them, reveals where we really stand with the Lord.
*Storms are to test our standing in the Lord, accept them!
*Yes, I could not said it any better than what James did! Storms shows where we stand in our faith and then helps us grow more and more like Jesus! (James 1: 2-4).
Mark 4:37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
*Well as you see, we have a problem here or as the old cliche states “Houston we have a problem.”
*Some of us work very hard to hide & suppress the storms in our lives.
The Bible says: “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Romans 1:18
* Try to internalize the storms. They come despite our best attempts.
*Some give into the storm and then our life, faith and relationships are BATTERED.
**** DONT IGNORE THE PRE-STORM WARNING SIGNS! Acts 27
The whole chapter of Acts 27 is filled with bad things happening-the outlook on the whole situation is a shipwreck. *What is a spiritual shipwreck in my life? Negativity. Loneliness. Speaking & thinking negatively about others and self.
*God knows about our turbulence. He knows everything even the secret storms.
*We have to let God be God in our lives.
God has always been there throughout the storm. I believe God has the power to overcome the storm.
Acts 27 Vs 4 – winds were against us
Vs 7 – the wind did not allow us to go
Vs 9 – dangerous
Vs 11 – injury and loss predicted by Paul
*This is obvious in how we are doing in some relationships .
*We choose to ignore the signs. Ignore our friends.
1 Thess. 5:14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
Vs 18 – violently storm tossed.
We give way to the tempest. To be just driven along.
A life resigned –we may say. ” I can’t change. They are not going to change. It doesn’t work. It is what it is. The things that I’ve done. Things done to me. This is my life. This will always be my life.”
Vs 20- despair. “all hope was gone”.
Given up on your marriage.
Given up on besetting sin.
Given up on reconciling a relationship.
This is a frightening place to be when all hope is gone!!
When despair hits we say–“Leave me alone to self medicate and put on my mask. I don’t even know whom I am anymore.”
In despair we need to Move Forward in Wisdom which refers to Actions that are controlled by the revelation of God.
In Romans 12:2 Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world [do not run after all the attractive, illusive dreams shouted at you constantly by the world], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Think Christianly about life! Look at what you are going through, not from the standpoint of what seems right but upon what IS Right(Truth) according to the Word of God. Here is True Wisdom:
*“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Acts 27 vs 12 can be the place where GRACE INVADES.
Finally we are ready to listen to the voices we have been ignoring so long.
Sometimes we need desperate times before we are ready to let grace invade. But Know Victory has been won for us!
1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
GOD WILL NOT WALK OUT ON YOU!
Psalm 107 has been called “the Old Testament love feast.” One of the most
encouraging passages in all of God’s Word, it is for those needing
forgiveness, deliverance or restoration.
The final verse promises us an
understanding of who God truly is:
“ Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.” (Psalm
107:43).
” Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.” (Psalm 107:1-5).
* Storms cause us to realize that Jesus enters our storms. His peace invades our storms. He takes our place In the greatest storms.
** God has provided a solution. “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” (Psalm 107:6-7).
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! God has done so much for us, and we have so much to thank him. He wants us to tell everyone all that he has done.
Psalm 107 speaks of sharing your joy. It says we should give thanks to the Lord. It is an entreat for us to offer thanksgiving to Him for His goodness and His mercy. It initiates a recollection of how good and merciful He has been to us.
*Its second verse offers us a simple how-to on sharing our joy. It says those who have been redeemed showed say so. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” No one else can say it like us. No one else can express like we can. We know He’s done a miracle on our behalf and has saved us from the clutches of the enemy and an eternity in darkness.
*Now we have joy. We have a newfound joy. Are you really excited about what God has done for you? Can you recall what an effort He made to redeem you? If so, say so. If it is real to you, say it and share it. Only those who truly know can say so.
*Because of the Son of God and the sacrifice He made for our sins, we are Redeemed this day..
*Redeemed- Understand it (we were once all held captive of something).
” And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony……” Revelation 12:11
*Know and believe what Jesus did for you on the cross.
*Be prepared to tell your story of what Jesus has done for YOU.
Friend,”Stay with the ship.” God promises to never leave us, never to forsake us, no matter how ugly the waves of life get, Stay with your faith anchored IN Christ who knows right where you are.
Day-break is coming, God will allow the sun to shine again, no matter how bad things may be, Stay with the ship, even if its on a broken plank, God will use it to get each of us safely to the shore.
How wonderful to know that we are loved – all the time – by our Father. I am in awe of all the miracles I have personally experienced – the first being saved by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I tell everyone about the power, grace, and mercy there for us if we just open to this powerful Love.
Thank you Jesus for showing me the way and directing me through the storms of life and through those storms I now have Testimonies of Your Perfect Love to Glorify You. The Lord’s Goodness and Mercy is like the Energizer Bunny…….It Keeps Going, and Going, and Going, and Going………..
Lord, You provide me with the wisdom that frees, though many reject it because it does not always make sense by the world’s standards. Renew our minds each day by the wisdom found in Your Word, through Your Spirit.
Thank you Jesus for Your Grace and saving a sinner like me. Amen!
Though God loves us while we’re yet sinners, His Love relentlessly guides us toward wholeness in Him.
**” I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD.”
Hosea 2:19-20
* God’s love for us is unrelenting & unconditional. He doesn’t see us as we are, BUT what we can/will be.
*Gods way isn’t always the easiest way but the Best Way!!
*God will never stop loving, pursuing us. Surrender yourself to Him! “FREEDOM”
** The Pull of Sin and The Power of God
” Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, OLORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:13-14
I think we have all been here at one time or another. Due to the pull and power of sin on our flesh, we struggle with some behavior that we know is not pleasing to God.
Some really do struggle with gossip, negative attitudes, anger issues, pornography, adultery, and lying to mention a few.
*These sins are ALL controllable and yet they along with others pull on our flesh.
The Psalmist calls them deliberate sins; which could mean they are premeditated in one way or another.
The Psalmist gives to us, I believe, a key component to overcoming this battle. It is found in the word “meditation.” The Psalmist prayer was to have the meditations of his heart acceptable before God.
God certainly gives to each of us a free will, we are not puppets on a string. So, may God strengthen our ability to meditate upon Him because in doing so, He helps us to rise above sinful desires.
We meditate and He defeats. So stop trying to do what you can’t do (defeat) and work on what you can do (meditate).
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Sin is Also a “double pain” to God — The first part of God’s “double pain” is when we sin in His presence, against His light and love. The sin itself is not what grieves God, however, but the fact that He knows the consequences of our sin. God knows our sin is going to drive us to grief and misery!!!
The second part of God’s “double pain” is that our sin compels Him to keep His
Word in judging us. He has to stand by like a loving father and listen to our
cries of anguish as He disciplines us—ALL for the purpose of producing Godly
character in us!!!
At one time I came to a crisis—to the end of my rope. Slanderous things were
being said about me and after this had gone on for some time, I began to remind God of His Word:
* “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish” (Proverbs 19:9).
** Lord you know my heart and I cannot fool you. Renew my mind my Lord, make me anew so that I will know what is right and act on it.
* “A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful (destructive) tongue” (17:4).
** It is not only wrong to be the one gossiping but just as wrong to listen to gossip and slander!
**Make sure your goals line up with God’s.
After some time, I cried out in despair: “Oh, God, how long will You let this
go on? The lies keep changing so much, I don’t even know what they are from day to day.
God, You are my defender and You say You will avenge Your people. But
I don’t see You working any justice.”
There are many righteous people today who are enduring awful trials because evil words are being spoken against them.
“Why, Lord?” I prayed. “Why do You continue allowing Your people to be hurt?”
The Lord answered “David, I am merciful, longsuffering and slow to anger because it pains Me to mete out My justice. If you could feel My pain, you would never, ever, desire to see My judgment fall. You would understand why I wait so long to bring it down. You know how painful it is to discipline your
children. It is the same for Me. It pains Me to chasten those I love!”
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
*The primary purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth was not forgiveness of sins, but to give us eternal life.
Sin separated us from God so Jesus dealt with sin. However, His payment for sin was just a step toward His ultimate purpose of reconciling man to God.
If someone believes that Jesus died for their sins but doesn’t go on to enter into the close fellowship with God that Jesus made available, then they are missing eternal life.
Eternal life is not a length of life, but rather a quality of life. Eternal life is intimacy with the Father and Jesus (Jn. 17:3).
Many people have been done a disservice in being told that Jesus came to forgive us of our sins “period’. If it had been all that He did, it would have been wonderful–and much more than we deserved–but much less than what He actually accomplished.
Today, take full advantage of your salvation and go beyond the basic forgiveness of your sins into intimacy with Almighty God.
Be careful what you share with others. Your words will either build up or tear down everyone who hears you. Expressing your worry, discouragement, disappointment, and anger will result in defiling those around you, and you will be held accountable for every negative or idle word spoken. (Mt. 12:36) Set a new standard for yourself to only speak as led by the Spirit, and refuse to backbite, gossip, Lie, criticize, judge, or tear people down. The Lord is calling us, His Church, to a new spiritual level that can only be attained through righteousness and integrity. Don’t miss the opportunities to access these greater heights.
James 3:6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
*Why is our tongue so important? What makes it do powerful?
*** The tongue reveals our sin.
*My new goal is to not handle myself like unbelievers when I am faced with problems, temptations to sin and stressful situations– BUT to be an example of a victorious overcoming believer— because people are watching me and I don’t want my actions to turn people away from God! I pray that God helps me be an example of faith everyday! And Know–We fight From Victory–Not for Victory! (1 John 4:4).
*David knew that I can be the biggest obstacle in my walk with Christ. I do not see my own faults nearly as well as I see others. This is why David asks God to declare him innocent of these. I pray that God will do the same for me.
* My power to keep from sinning is limited, but I can do all things through Christ. I need to remember to ask the Lord to keep my words and heart focused on Jesus!!!
Lord Forgive the sins I fail to see and keep me from hurting You and others by feeling my desires are more important than loving You and my brother or sister. God,There are things in my mind that seem innocent, but could be discerned as an error. I am aware that hidden faults exists – please help me continue in Your Word and stay on the course! Not only forgive my hidden faults, but keep me from those willful ones as well — although I may be tempted — please don’t let them rule over me so I can be innocent of great SINS. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Read More*FEAR is the enemy of Faith for it festers in unbelief and doubt.
*Fear comes through lack of faith in the power of God.
*Fear exists to oppose faith and God’s power.
*Fear torments us to rob us of joy.
*Fear stops us from Moving Forward!.
What does the Word of God say?
*2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
*Numbers 14:9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
***”When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you… Do not fear, for I am with you…”
Isaiah 43:2, 5
Perfect Love casts out all fear!
JESUS is Perfect Agape Love!
*Do not be afraid of what may be coming in the near future! Embrace what God HAS for you and never forget where he brought you from! For he will always be with you. From start till finish! Until his work is accomplished he will stand by you!!!!!!
When we really understand how much He loves us, we will no longer fear the circumstances He allows in our lives.
*”The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”
(Psalm 27:1)
*God didn’t give us a spirit of fear! Though the enemy constantly tries to plant that into of minds and hearts. In even the worst of circumstances we should not fear anything.
BUT to trust in God that God will see us through all our struggles.
* We must learn to hand that fear over and not let fear manifest in our hearts.
* We must learn to not let worldly things consume us to the point we lose focus.
*The blood of Jesus has saved us. All we need is faith the size of a mustard seed!!
*No matter what God will not forsake you! He will not leave you to fight the battle alone.
Fear is set in by insecurities that we form in our own minds. Something that we feel God will not help us get through.
BUt God will!!! Nothing is greater then God! Nothing can tear from the blood of Jesus that saves us as long as we stay focused! And trust that we will be taken care of!!
You are the only one who can unlock the door of your heart and allow God’s Love to enter in.
* “Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.” Deut.10:16
*God wants us to obey his commands. David said obedience is better than sacrifice.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
This is the Question to ask Ourselves:
* Have You merely invited Jesus into your home as a guest. Or have You given Jesus the keys to Your home [heart] and You are Jesus servant??
So often many of us enter a relationship with God that brings us salvation. This is the gospel of salvation.
**But what God really desires for us is to experience the gospel of the Kingdom.
*God wants us to experience His power and presence every day of our lives and to see His hand at work IN us.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. “Action”
Luke 17:21 The Kingdom is within you.
The question is “Do I have the power to yield to God’s Spirit prompting me to love like Christ in any situation, no matter how hard?”
* This only happens when we give Him the key to our life; Jesus must be more than an honored guest.
Where are you today? Has your life with God been more like an honored-guest relationship, or does He have the key to your life?
How do you please God? In many places in Scripture we are told that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is faith that pleases Him, belief that He is there and that everything in life comes from His hand.
Underscore in your minds the word all. Pain, sorrow, bereavement, disappointment, as well as gladness, happiness, and joy—all these things are gifts of God.
When we see life in those terms, any and every element of life can have its measure of joy—even sorrow, pain, and grief. These things were given to us to enjoy.
This is also the message of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
It is also the message of: Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We at Times need to Change our Focus:
A) You cant depend on past success to sustain you.
B) You cant allow your past failures to possess and paralyze you.
We should Clarify our Focus – discover what God wants for you by:
A) Seeing yourself as God sees you.
B) Seeing your possibilities as God sees them.
Commit Yourself To God’s Plan and Move Forward with Trust and Hope!
Romans 12: 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Father, all things come from Your hands. I thank You that You sent Your Son that I might have Your joy within me. Help me to Let Jesus teach me!
Earthy circumstances are able to steal are happiness from us but nothing can take the joy of you loving Christ and Christ loving you!. The next time a trial is headed my way I will count the reasons to be joyous and look to God to protect me from the inadequate feelings of fear and of life with out Him. Joy truly is the test that determines whether or not we have set our course by remaining in the presence of God.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7
Amen
Only when our hearts are ruled by God’s Love are we given the hope that transcends emotion or circumstance.
*”…we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts…”
Romans 5:3-5
*We must absolutely know that Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice that no one could ever make. It is a showing of how good God’s love is because He knew that we couldn’t do anything within ourselves and the only true way to come to the Father is through Jesus.
*Thank you God that tribulations eventually lead to Hope. We must Place your Hope in the Only place it can truly be found; God.
Psalm 102 – Suffering Hope!
*David got down quite a bit, as we see in the psalms regularly. But he always cried out to God when he did…
*This psalm is great comfort for those in distress and that are currently suffering or depressed.
This Psalms provides many truths that we can build our faith on!
1) Our lives are limited and our days are numbered.
*We must focus not on our plans, but those plans of God!
*We should be thinking how we can spread the Truths that we have been shown to the unbelievers so that they may enjoy the gift of eternal life and not perish.
2) The psalmist foreshadows Christ’s return in the rebuilding of Zion and that the world will worship the One true King!
*This should be something we eagerly wait for!
3) God is unchanging! He is the same as yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
*We can Trust Him and place our Hope in Him!
**We will ALL endure suffering and pain in this lifetime, but those moments are Opportunities for Your Faith to grow the most! These moments help us realize our dependence on God!
*God uses times of suffering to get us to focus on Him and let us know that He is capable of handling ALL of our issues!
*We have a mighty God that will return in the form of Jesus and we must continue to pray daily that we will honor the Lord and live the lives that He planned for us!
I encourage you to read Psalm 102 and trust that God is indeed your Deliverer in all troubles! See the Hope!
**Psalms 102 is a picture of a man in deep dejection, loneliness, despair.
*He feels his life is withering away like the evening shadows and there’s so little time left for him. He says, “I’m withering away like grass.” Psalms 102:11.
Have you ever felt like that? And what do you do if you ever feel like that?
*Do what that man did. He looked away from himself, his own situation, he lifted up his eyes to the Lord and he saw the Lord by faith, on His throne, and he realized that the Lord “doesn’t change” with OUR situations and circumstances.
The Lord is always on His throne. He never leaves it or takes a break; He’s always in “Total Control”.
*Psalms 102:12 But you, OLORD, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
*And then he realizes that there’s going to come a time of compassion and mercy.
He says in verse 13, “It’s time to show favor to Zion; the appointed time has come.”
Psalms 102:1 LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!
*Once we understand what Jesus did for us. Depression and the rest cant stand!
***Joy, Peace, Happiness is a natural outflow when you have revelation(Something revealed that was not known) of what Jesus did for you.
**Titus 2:14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
**Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
**Matthew 6: 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
In our trials, it’s easy to focus on our circumstances and lose the big picture. *We need to “Look Up” and not around.
Although the trials seem huge at the time, they are temporary. Keep Moving Forward and Looking Up to Jesus!
Romans 12: 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
So let’s look away from our problems, our distresses, our anxieties. Let’s look, like the psalmist, up to the throne of God, see God there on His throne and realize He’s ready to show mercy.
Jesus knows our frame. He remembers that we are but dust (Ps. 103:14). It is not a sin to doubt, but it becomes sin if we harbor those doubts. We should bring our doubts to the Lord. Let’s allow Him to deal with them.
The Lord’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isa. 55:8). To see His miraculous power in our lives, we must do “whatsoever” He tells us to do regardless of how foolish it may seem.
“The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:25). Today, whatsoever He says unto you, do it!
Prayer is an acknowledgement of our need for God!
*The issue isn’t how much time we spend with God in prayer but Seeking Him and Knowing that He’s there 24/7!
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Cor 3:7
God, thank you for loving me enough to call my name before the creation of the world, thank you for guiding my life in sovereign fashion, and thank you for holding on to me even when I don’t hold on to you. Lord- I need to put You first. Everything else on earth will wear out and fade away. You will be the same forever. Look down upon us, Lord Jesus; and bring us into the glorious liberty of thy children, that we may bless and praise thy name and give You ALL the Glory. May we always look “UP” first! Thank You Jesus. Amen.
*‘I will sing of Your love… I will walk with integrity of heart…’(101:1-2).